Samuelpepys Diário
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Nelson Tomelin JuniorSamuelpepys Diário
Uploaded by
Nelson Tomelin JuniorThe Diary of Samuel
Pepys, Complete
by Samuel Pepys
Styled by LimpidSoft
Contents
PREFACE 5 DECEMBER 1660 314
JANUARY 1659-1660 50 JANUARY 1660-1661 332
FEBRUARY 1659-1660 83 FEBRUARY 1660-61 354
MARCH 1659-1660 113 MARCH 1660-1661 370
APRIL 1660 137 APRIL 1661 383
MAY 1660 154 MAY 1661 407
JUNE 1660 195 JUNE 1661 423
JULY 1660 215 JULY 1661 438
AUGUST 1660 235 AUGUST 1661 450
SEPTEMBER 1660 255 SEPTEMBER 1661 468
OCTOBER 1660 273 OCTOBER 1661 488
NOVEMBER 1660 292 NOVEMBER 1661 501
2
CONTENTS
DECEMBER 1661 518 JUNE 1663 940
JANUARY 1661-1662 537 JULY 1663 975
FEBRUARY 1661-1662 553 AUGUST 1663 1016
MARCH 1661-1662 567 SEPTEMBER 1663 1045
APRIL 1662 582 OCTOBER 1663 1070
MAY 1662 596 NOVEMBER 1663 1102
JUNE 1662 615 DECEMBER 1663 1138
JULY 1662 638 JANUARY 1663-1664 1173
AUGUST 1662 659 FEBRUARY 1663-1664 1199
SEPTEMBER 1662 686 MARCH 1663-1664 1232
OCTOBER 1662 711 APRIL 1664 1262
NOVEMBER 1662 742 MAY 1664 1288
DECEMBER 1662 765 JUNE 1664 1310
JANUARY 1662-1663 794 JULY 1664 1334
FEBRUARY 1662-1663 821 AUGUST 1664 1365
MARCH 1662-1663 848 SEPTEMBER 1664 1391
APRIL 1663 871 OCTOBER 1664 1412
MAY 1663 897 NOVEMBER 1664 1433
3
CONTENTS
DECEMBER 1664 1450 JUNE 1666 1896
JANUARY 1664-1665 1474 JULY 1666 1938
FEBRUARY 1664-1665 1497 AUGUST 1666 1972
MARCH 1664-1665 1515 SEPTEMBER 1666 2003
APRIL 1665 1536 OCTOBER 1666 2035
MAY 1665 1554 NOVEMBER 1666 2077
JUNE 1665 1571 DECEMBER 1666 2113
JULY 1665 1599 JANUARY 1666-1667 2145
AUGUST 1665 1631 FEBRUARY 1666-1667 2177
SEPTEMBER 1665 1658 MARCH 1666-1667 2219
OCTOBER 1665 1693 APRIL 1667 2262
NOVEMBER 1665 1726 MAY 1667 2306
DECEMBER 1665 1751 JUNE 1667 2351
JANUARY 1665-1666 1779 JULY 1667 2408
FEBRUARY 1665-1666 1806 AUGUST 1667 2458
MARCH 1665-1666 1829 SEPTEMBER 1667 2492
APRIL 1666 1850 OCTOBER 1667 2529
MAY 1666 1873 NOVEMBER 1667 2575
4
CONTENTS
DECEMBER 1667 2609 SEPTEMBER 1668 2879
JANUARY 1667-1668 2649 OCTOBER 1668 2901
FEBRUARY 1667-1668 2686 NOVEMBER 1668 2917
MARCH 1667-1668 2727 DECEMBER 1668 2948
APRIL 1668 2765 JANUARY 1668-1669 2972
MAY 1668 2792 FEBRUARY 1668-1669 2994
JUNE 1668 2823 MARCH 1668-1669 3016
JULY 1668 2844 APRIL 1669 3052
AUGUST 1668 2858 MAY 1669 3080
5
The present document was derived from text pro-
vided by Project Gutenberg (document 4200) which
was made available free of charge. This document is
also free of charge.
The present document was derived from text pro-
vided by Project Gutenberg (document 4200) which
was made available free of charge. This document is
also free of charge.
PREFACE
Although the Diary of Samuel Pepys has been in the hands of
the public for nearly seventy years, it has not hitherto appeared
in its entirety. In the original edition of 1825 scarcely half of the
manuscript was printed. Lord Braybrooke added some passages
as the various editions were published, but in the preface to his
last edition he wrote: “there appeared indeed no necessity to
amplify or in any way to alter the text of the Diary beyond the
correction of a few verbal errors and corrupt passages hitherto
overlooked.”
The public knew nothing as to what was left unprinted, and
there was therefore a general feeling of gratification when it was
announced some eighteen years ago that a new edition was to be
published by the Rev. Mynors Bright, with the addition of new
matter equal to a third of the whole. It was understood that at last
the Diary was to appear in its entirety, but there was a passage
in Mr. Bright’s preface which suggested a doubt respecting the
necessary completeness. He wrote: “It would have been tedious
to the reader if I had copied from the Diary the account of his
daily work at the office.”
As a matter of fact, Mr. Bright left roughly speaking about one-
fifth of the whole Diary still unprinted, although he transcribed
the whole, and bequeathed his transcript to Magdalene College.
8
PREFACE
It has now been decided that the whole of the Diary shall be
made public, with the exception of a few passages which can-
not possibly be printed. It may be thought by some that these
omissions are due to an unnecessary squeamishness, but it is
not really so, and readers are therefore asked to have faith in
the judgment of the editor. Where any passages have been omit-
ted marks of omission are added, so that in all cases readers will
know where anything has been left out.
Lord Braybrooke made the remark in his “Life of Pepys,” that
“the cipher employed by him greatly resembles that known by
the name of ‘Rich’s system.”’ When Mr. Bright came to decipher
the MS., he discovered that the shorthand system used by Pepys
was an earlier one than Rich’s, viz., that of Thomas Shelton, who
made his system public in 1620.
In his various editions Lord Braybrooke gave a large number
of valuable notes, in the collection and arrangement of which he
was assisted by the late Mr. John Holmes of the British Museum,
and the late Mr. James Yeowell, sometime sub-editor of “Notes
and Queries.” Where these notes are left unaltered in the present
edition the letter “B.” has been affixed to them, but in many in-
stances the notes have been altered and added to from later infor-
mation, and in these cases no mark is affixed. A large number of
additional notes are now supplied, but still much has had to be
left unexplained. Many persons are mentioned in the Diary who
were little known in the outer world, and in some instances it has
been impossible to identify them. In other cases, however, it has
been possible to throw light upon these persons by reference to
different portions of the Diary itself. I would here ask the kind
assistance of any reader who is able to illustrate passages that
have been left unnoted. I have received much assistance from
the various books in which the Diary is quoted. Every writer on
the period covered by the Diary has been pleased to illustrate his
subject by quotations from Pepys, and from these books it has
often been possible to find information which helps to explain
9
PREFACE
difficult passages in the Diary.
Much illustrative matter of value was obtained by Lord Bray-
brooke from the “Diurnall” of Thomas Rugge, which is preserved
in the British Museum (Add. MSS. 10,116, 10,117). The follow-
ing is the description of this interesting work as given by Lord
Braybrooke “MERCURIUS POLITICUS REDIVIVUS;
or, A Collection of the most materiall occurrances and trans-
actions in Public Affairs since Anno Dni, 1659, untill 28 March,
1672, serving as an annuall diurnall for future satisfaction and in-
formation, BY THOMAS RUGGE. Est natura hominum novitatis
avida.–Plinius. “This MS. belonged, in 1693, to Thomas Grey,
second Earl of Stamford. It has his autograph at the commence-
ment, and on the sides are his arms (four quarterings) in gold. In
1819, it was sold by auction in London, as part of the collection of
Thomas Lloyd, Esq. (No. 1465), and was then bought by Thomas
Thorpe, bookseller. Whilst Mr. Lloyd was the possessor, the MS.
was lent to Dr. Lingard, whose note of thanks to Mr. Lloyd is pre-
served in the volume. From Thorpe it appears to have passed to
Mr. Heber, at the sale of whose MSS. in Feb. 1836, by Mr. Evans,
of Pall Mall, it was purchased by the British Museum for £8 8s.
“Thomas Rugge was descended from an ancient Norfolk family,
and two of his ancestors are described as Aldermen of Norwich.
His death has been ascertained to have occurred about 1672; and
in the Diary for the preceding year he complains that on account
of his declining health, his entries will be but few. Nothing has
been traced of his personal circumstances beyond the fact of his
having lived for fourteen years in Covent Garden, then a fash-
ionable locality.”
Another work I have found of the greatest value is the late Mr.
J. E. Doyle’s “Official Baronage of England” (1886), which con-
tains a mass of valuable information not easily to be obtained
elsewhere. By reference to its pages I have been enabled to cor-
rect several erroneous dates in previous notes caused by a very
natural confusion of years in the case of the months of January,
10
PREFACE
February, and March, before it was finally fixed that the year
should commence in January instead of March. More confusion
has probably been introduced into history from this than from
any other cause of a like nature. The reference to two years, as
in the case of, say, Jan. 5, 1661-62, may appear clumsy, but it
is the only safe plan of notation. If one year only is mentioned,
the reader is never sure whether or not the correction has been
made. It is a matter for sincere regret that the popular support
was withheld from Mr. Doyle’s important undertaking, so that
the author’s intention of publishing further volumes, containing
the Baronies not dealt with in those already published, was frus-
trated.
My labours have been much lightened by the kind help which
I have received from those interested in the subject. Lovers of
Pepys are numerous, and I have found those I have applied to
ever willing to give me such information as they possess. It is a
singular pleasure, therefore, to have an opportunity of express-
ing publicly my thanks to these gentlemen, and among them
I would especially mention Messrs. Fennell, Danby P. Fry, J.
Eliot Hodgkin, Henry Jackson, J. K. Laughton, Julian Marshall,
John Biddulph Martin, J. E. Matthew, Philip Norman, Richard B.
Prosser, and Hugh Callendar, Fellow of Trinity College, who ver-
ified some of the passages in the manuscript. To the Master and
Fellows of Magdalene College, also, I am especially indebted for
allowing me to consult the treasures of the Pepysian Library, and
more particularly my thanks are due to Mr. Arthur G. Peskett,
the Librarian. H. B. W. BRAMPTON, OPPIDANS ROAD, LON-
DON, N.W. February, 1893.
PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE DIARY.
I. Memoirs of Samuel Pepys, Esq., F.R.S., Secretary to the Ad-
miralty in the reigns of Charles II. and James II., comprising his
Diary from 1659 to 1669, deciphered by the Rev. John Smith, A.B.,
of St. John’s College, Cambridge, from the original Shorthand
MS. in the Pepysian Library, and a Selection from his Private
11
PREFACE
Correspondence. Edited by Richard, Lord Braybrooke. In two
volumes. London, Henry Colburn... 1825. 4vo.
2. Memoirs of Samuel Pepys, Esq., F.R.S.... Second edition. In
five volumes. London, Henry Colburn.... 1828. 8vo.
3. Diary and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys, F.R.S., Secre-
tary to the Admiralty in the reigns of Charles II. and James II.;
with a Life and Notes by Richard, Lord Braybrooke; the third
edition, considerably enlarged. London, Henry Colburn.... 1848-
49. 5 vols. sm. 8vo.
4. Diary and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys, F.R.S.... The
fourth edition, revised and corrected. In four volumes. London,
published for Henry Colburn by his successors, Hurst and Black-
ett... 1854. 8vo.
The copyright of Lord Braybrooke’s edition was purchased by
the late Mr. Henry G. Bohn, who added the book to his Historical
Library.
5. Diary and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys, Esq., F.R.S.,
from his MS. Cypber in the Pepysian Library, with a Life and
Notes by Richard, Lord Braybrooke. Deciphered, with additional
notes, by the Rev. Mynors Bright, M.A.... London, Bickers and
Son, 1875-79. 6 vols. 8vo.
Nos. 1, 2 and 3 being out of copyright have been reprinted by
various publishers.
No. 5 is out of print. PARTICULARS OF THE LIFE OF
SAMUEL PEPYS.
The family of Pepys is one of considerable antiquity in the east
of England, and the Hon. Walter Courtenay Pepys1 says that
the first mention of the name that he has been able to find is
1 Mr. W. C. Pepys has paid great attention to the history of his family, and
in 1887 he published an interesting work entitled “Genealogy of the Pepys
Family, 1273-1887,” London, George Bell and Sons, which contains the fullest
pedigrees of the family yet issued.
12
PREFACE
in the Hundred Rolls (Edw. I, 1273), where Richard Pepis and
John Pepes are registered as holding lands in the county of Cam-
bridge. In the next century the name of William Pepis is found
in deeds relating to lands in the parish of Cottenham, co. Cam-
bridge, dated 1329 and 1340 respectively (Cole MSS., British Mu-
seum, vol. i., p. 56; vol. xlii., p. 44). According to the Court Roll
of the manor of Pelhams, in the parish of Cottenham, Thomas
Pepys was “bayliffe of the Abbot of Crowland in 1434,” but in
spite of these references, as well as others to persons of the same
name at Braintree, Essex, Depedale, Norfolk, &c., the first ances-
tor of the existing branches of the family from whom Mr. Walter
Pepys is able to trace an undoubted descent, is “William Pepis
the elder, of Cottenham, co. Cambridge,” whose will is dated
20th March, 1519.
In 1852 a curious manuscript volume, bound in vellum, and
entitled “Liber Talboti Pepys de instrumentis ad Feoda pertinen-
tibus exemplificatis,” was discovered in an old chest in the parish
church of Bolney, Sussex, by the vicar, the Rev. John Dale, who
delivered it to Henry Pepys, Bishop of Worcester, and the book
is still in the possession of the family. This volume contains var-
ious genealogical entries, and among them are references to the
Thomas Pepys of 1434 mentioned above, and to the later William
Pepys. The reference to the latter runs thus:– “A Noate written
out of an ould Booke of my uncle William Pepys.” “William
Pepys, who died at Cottenham, 10 H. 8, was brought up by
the Abbat of Crowland, in Huntingdonshire, and he was borne
in Dunbar, in Scotland, a gentleman, whom the said Abbat did
make his Bayliffe of all his lands in Cambridgeshire, and placed
him in Cottenham, which William aforesaid had three sonnes,
Thomas, John, and William, to whom Margaret was mother nat-
urallie, all of whom left issue.”
In illustration of this entry we may refer to the Diary of June
12th, 1667, where it is written that Roger Pepys told Samuel that
“we did certainly come out of Scotland with the Abbot of Crow-
13
PREFACE
land.” The references to various members of the family settled
in Cottenham and elsewhere, at an early date already alluded to,
seem to show that there is little foundation for this very positive
statement.
With regard to the standing of the family, Mr. Walter Pepys
writes:– “The first of the name in 1273 were evidently but small
copyholders. Within 150 years (1420) three or four of the name
had entered the priesthood, and others had become connected
with the monastery of Croyland as bailiffs, &c. In 250 years (1520)
there were certainly two families: one at Cottenham, co. Cam-
bridge, and another at Braintree, co. Essex, in comfortable cir-
cumstances as yeomen farmers. Within fifty years more (1563),
one of the family, Thomas, of Southcreeke, co. Norfolk, had en-
tered the ranks of the gentry sufficiently to have his coat-of-arms
recognized by the Herald Cooke, who conducted the Visitation
of Norfolk in that year. From that date the majority of the fam-
ily have been in good circumstances, with perhaps more than the
average of its members taking up public positions.”
There is a very general notion that Samuel Pepys was of ple-
beian birth because his father followed the trade of a tailor, and
his own remark, “But I believe indeed our family were never
considerable,”–[February 10th, 1661-62.] has been brought for-
ward in corroboration of this view, but nothing can possibly be
more erroneous, and there can be no doubt that the Diarist was
really proud of his descent. This may be seen from the inscrip-
tion on one of his book-plates, where he is stated to be:– “Samuel
Pepys of Brampton in Huntingdonshire, Esq., Secretary of the
Admiralty to his Matr. King Charles the Second: Descended from
ye antient family of Pepys of Cottenham in Cambridgeshire.”
Many members of the family have greatly distinguished them-
selves since the Diarist’s day, and of them Mr. Foss wrote
(“Judges of England,” vol. vi., p. 467):– “In the family of Pepys
is illustrated every gradation of legal rank from Reader of an Inn
of Court to Lord High Chancellor of England.”
14
PREFACE
The William Pepys of Cottenham who commences the pedi-
gree had three sons and three daughters; from the eldest son
(Thomas) descended the first Norfolk branch, from the second
son (John Pepys of Southcreeke) descended the second Norfolk
branch, and from the third son (William) descended the Imping-
ton branch. The latter William had four sons and two daughters;
two of these sons were named Thomas, and as they were both
living at the same time one was distinguished as “the black” and
the other as “the red.” Thomas the red had four sons and four
daughters. John, born 1601, was the third son, and he became
the father of Samuel the Diarist. Little is known of John Pepys,
but we learn when the Diary opens that he was settled in London
as a tailor. He does not appear to have been a successful man,
and his son on August 26th, 1661, found that there was only £45
owing to him, and that he owed about the same sum. He was a
citizen of London in 1650, when his son Samuel was admitted to
Magdalene College, but at an earlier period he appears to have
had business relations with Holland.
In August, 1661, John Pepys retired to a small property at
Brampton (worth about £80 per annum), which had been left to
him by his eldest brother, Robert Pepys, where he died in 1680.
The following is a copy of John Pepys’s will: “MY FATHER’S
WILL. [Indorsement by S. Pepys.@@ “Memorandum. That I,
John Pepys of Ellington, in the county of Huntingdon, Gent.”,
doe declare my mind in the disposall of my worldly goods as fol-
loweth: “First, I desire that my lands and goods left mee by my
brother, Robert Pepys, deceased, bee delivered up to my eldest
son, Samuell Pepys, of London, Esqr., according as is expressed
in the last Will of my brother Robert aforesaid. “Secondly, As
for what goods I have brought from London, or procured since,
and what moneys I shall leave behind me or due to me, I desire
may be disposed of as followeth: “Imprimis, I give to the stock
of the poore of the parish of Brampton, in which church I de-
sire to be enterred, five pounds. “Item. I give to the Poore of
15
PREFACE
Ellington forty shillings. “Item. I desire that my two grandsons,
Samuell and John Jackson, have ten pounds a piece. “Item. I
desire that my daughter, Paulina Jackson, may have my largest
silver tankerd. “Item. I desire that my son John Pepys may have
my gold seale-ring. “Lastly. I desire that the remainder of what
I shall leave be equally distributed between my sons Samuel and
John Pepys and my daughter Paulina Jackson. “All which I leave
to the care of my eldest son Samuel Pepys, to see performed, if
he shall think fit. “In witness hereunto I set my hand.”
His wife Margaret, whose maiden name has not been discov-
ered, died on the 25th March, 1667, also at Brampton. The fam-
ily of these two consisted of six sons and five daughters: John
(born 1632, died 1640), Samuel (born 1633, died 1703), Thomas
(born 1634, died 1664), Jacob (born 1637, died young), Robert
(born 1638, died young), and John (born 1641, died 1677); Mary
(born 1627), Paulina (born 1628), Esther (born 1630), Sarah (born
1635; these four girls all died young), and Paulina (born 1640,
died 1680), who married John Jackson of Brampton, and had two
sons, Samuel and John. The latter was made his heir by Samuel
Pepys.
Samuel Pepys was born on the 23rd February, 1632-3, but the
place of birth is not known with certainty. Samuel Knight, D.D.,
author of the “Life of Colet,” who was a connection of the family
(having married Hannah Pepys, daughter of Talbot Pepys of Im-
pington), says positively that it was at Brampton. His statement
cannot be corroborated by the registers of Brampton church, as
these records do not commence until the year 1654.
Samuel’s early youth appears to have been spent pretty
equally between town and country. When he and his brother
Tom were children they lived with a nurse (Goody Lawrence) at
Kingsland, and in after life Samuel refers to his habit of shoot-
ing with bow and arrow in the fields around that place. He then
went to school at Huntingdon, from which he was transferred to
St. Paul’s School in London. He remained at the latter place until
16
PREFACE
1650, early in which year his name was entered as a sizar on the
boards of Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He was admitted on the 21st
June, but subsequently he transferred his allegiance to Magda-
lene College, where he was admitted a sizar on the 1st October
of this same year. He did not enter into residence until March
5th, 1650-51, but in the following month he was elected to one of
Mr. Spendluffe’s scholarships, and two years later (October 14th,
1653) he was preferred to one on Dr. John Smith’s foundation.
Little or nothing is known of Pepys’s career at college, but soon
after obtaining the Smith scholarship he got into trouble, and,
with a companion, was admonished for being drunk.2 His time,
however, was not wasted, and there is evidence that he carried
into his busy life a fair stock of classical learning and a true love
of letters. Throughout his life he looked back with pleasure to
the time he spent at the University, and his college was remem-
bered in his will when he bequeathed his valuable library. In
this same year, 1653, he graduated B.A. On the 1st of December,
1655, when he was still without any settled means of support, he
married Elizabeth St. Michel, a beautiful and portionless girl of
fifteen. Her father, Alexander Marchant, Sieur de St. Michel, was
of a good family in Anjou, and son of the High Sheriff of Bauge
(in Anjou). Having turned Huguenot at the age of twenty-one,
when in the German service, his father disinherited him, and he
also lost the reversion of some £20,000 sterling which his uncle,
a rich French canon, intended to bequeath to him before he left
the Roman Catholic church. He came over to England in the ret-
inue of Henrietta Maria on her marriage with Charles I, but the
queen dismissed him on finding that he was a Protestant and
did not attend mass. Being a handsome man, with courtly man-
2 October 21st, 1653. “Memorandum: that Peapys and Hind were
solemnly admonished by myself and Mr. Hill, for having been scandalously
over-served with drink ye night before. This was done in the presence of all
the Fellows then resident, in Mr. Hill’s chamber.–JOHN WOOD, Registrar.”
(From the Registrar’s-book of Magdalene College.)
17
PREFACE
ners, he found favour in the sight of the widow of an Irish squire
(daughter of Sir Francis Kingsmill), who married him against the
wishes of her family. After the marriage, Alexander St. Michel
and his wife having raised some fifteen hundred pounds, started,
for France in the hope of recovering some part of the family prop-
erty. They were unfortunate in all their movements, and on their
journey to France were taken prisoners by the Dunkirkers, who
stripped them of all their property. They now settled at Bideford
in Devonshire, and here or near by were born Elizabeth and the
rest of the family. At a later period St. Michel served against
the Spaniards at the taking of Dunkirk and Arras, and settled at
Paris. He was an unfortunate man throughout life, and his son
Balthasar says of him: “My father at last grew full of whimsies
and propositions of perpetual motion, &c., to kings, princes and
others, which soaked his pocket, and brought all our family so
low by his not minding anything else, spending all he had got
and getting no other employment to bring in more.” While he
was away from Paris, some “deluding papists” and “pretended
devouts” persuaded Madame St. Michel to place her daughter in
the nunnery of the Ursulines. When the father heard of this, he
hurried back, and managed to get Elizabeth out of the nunnery
after she had been there twelve days. Thinking that France was
a dangerous place to live in, he removed his family to England,
where soon afterwards his daughter was married, although, as
Lord Braybrooke remarks, we are not told how she became ac-
quainted with Pepys. St. Michel was greatly pleased that his
daughter had become the wife of a true Protestant, and she her-
self said to him, kissing his eyes: “Dear father, though in my
tender years I was by my low fortune in this world deluded to
popery, by the fond dictates thereof I have now (joined with my
riper years, which give me some understanding) a man to my
husband too wise and one too religious to the Protestant religion
to suffer my thoughts to bend that way any more.”3 Alexander
3 These particulars are obtained from an interesting letter from Balthasar
18
PREFACE
St. Michel kept up his character for fecklessness through life, and
took out patents for curing smoking chimneys, purifying water,
and moulding bricks. In 1667 he petitioned the king, asserting
that he had discovered King Solomon’s gold and silver mines,
and the Diary of the same date contains a curious commentary
upon these visions of wealth:– “March 29, 1667. 4s. a week which
his (Balty St. Michel’s) father receives of the French church is all
the subsistence his father and mother have, and about; £20 a year
maintains them.”
As already noted, Pepys was married on December 1st, 1655.
This date is given on the authority of the Registers of St. Mar-
garet’s Church, Westminster,4 but strangely enough Pepys him-
self supposed his wedding day to have been October 10th. Lord
Braybrooke remarks on this, “It is notorious that the registers in
those times were very ill kept, of which we have here a striking
instance.... Surely a man who kept a diary could not have made
such a blunder.”
What is even more strange than Pepys’s conviction that he was
married on October 10th is Mrs. Pepys’s agreement with him: On
October 10th, 1666, we read, “So home to supper, and to bed, it
being my wedding night, but how many years I cannot tell; but
my wife says ten.”
Here Mrs. Pepys was wrong, as it was eleven years; so she may
have been wrong in the day also. In spite of the high authority of
Mr. and Mrs. Pepys on a question so interesting to them both, we
must accept the register as conclusive on this point until further
St. Michel to Pepys, dated “Deal, Feb. 8, 1673-4,” and printed in “Life, Jour-
nals, and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys,” 1841, vol. i., pp. 146-53.
4 The late Mr. T. C. Noble kindly communicated to me a copy of the orig-
inal marriage certificate, which is as follows: “Samuell Peps of this parish
Gent. & Elizabeth De Snt. Michell of Martins in the fields, Spinster. Pub-
lished October 19tn, 22nd, 29th 1655, and were married by Richard Sherwin
Esqr one of the justices of the Peace of the Cittie and Lyberties of Westm.
December 1st. (Signed) Ri. Sherwin.”
19
PREFACE
evidence of its incorrectness is forthcoming.
Sir Edward Montage (afterwards Earl of Sandwich), who was
Pepys’s first cousin one remove (Pepys’s grandfather and Mon-
tage’s mother being brother and sister), was a true friend to his
poor kinsman, and he at once held out a helping hand to the im-
prudent couple, allowing them to live in his house. John Pepys
does not appear to have been in sufficiently good circumstances
to pay for the education of his son, and it seems probable that
Samuel went to the university under his influential cousin’s pa-
tronage. At all events he owed his success in life primarily to
Montage, to whom he appears to have acted as a sort of agent.
On March 26th, 1658, he underwent a successful operation for
the stone, and we find him celebrating each anniversary of this
important event of his life with thanksgiving. He went through
life with little trouble on this score, but when he died at the
age of seventy a nest of seven stones was found in his left kid-
ney.5 In June, 1659, Pepys accompanied Sir Edward Montage in
the “Naseby,” when the Admiral of the Baltic Fleet and Algernon
Sidney went to the Sound as joint commissioners. It was then
that Montage corresponded with Charles II., but he had to be
very secret in his movements on account of the suspicions of Sid-
ney. Pepys knew nothing of what was going on, as he confesses
in the Diary: “I do from this raise an opinion of him, to be one of
the most secret men in the world, which I was not so convinced
of before.”
On Pepys’s return to England he obtained an appointment in
the office of Mr., afterwards Sir George Downing, who was one
of the Four Tellers of the Receipt of the Exchequer. He was clerk
to Downing when he commenced his diary on January 1st, 1660,
and then lived in Axe Yard, close by King Street, Westminster, a
5 “June 10th, 1669. I went this evening to London, to carry Mr. Pepys to
my brother Richard, now exceedingly afflicted with the stone, who had been
successfully cut, and carried the stone, as big as a tennis ball, to show him
and encourage his resolution to go thro’ the operation.”–Evelyn’s Diary.
20
PREFACE
place on the site of which was built Fludyer Street. This, too, was
swept away for the Government offices in 1864-65. His salary
was £50 a year. Downing invited Pepys to accompany him to
Holland, but he does not appear to have been very pressing,
and a few days later in this same January he got him appointed
one of the Clerks of the Council, but the recipient of the favour
does not appear to have been very grateful. A great change was
now about to take place in Pepys’s fortunes, for in the follow-
ing March he was made secretary to Sir Edward Montage in his
expedition to bring about the Restoration of Charles II., and on
the 23rd he went on board the “Swiftsure” with Montage. On
the 30th they transferred themselves to the “Naseby.” Owing
to this appointment of Pepys we have in the Diary a very full
account of the daily movements of the fleet until, events hav-
ing followed their natural course, Montage had the honour of
bringing Charles II. to Dover, where the King was received with
great rejoicing. Several of the ships in the fleet had names which
were obnoxious to Royalists, and on the 23rd May the King came
on board the “Naseby” and altered there–the “Naseby” to the
“Charles,” the “Richard” to the “Royal James,” the “Speaker” to
the “Mary,” the “Winsby” to the “Happy Return,” the “Wake-
field” to the “Richmond,” the “Lambert” to the “Henrietta,” the
“Cheriton” to the “Speedwell,” and the “Bradford” to the “Suc-
cess.” This portion of the Diary is of particular interest, and the
various excursions in Holland which the Diarist made are de-
scribed in a very amusing manner.
When Montagu and Pepys had both returned to London, the
former told the latter that he had obtained the promise of the
office of Clerk of the Acts for him. Many difficulties occurred
before Pepys actually secured the place, so that at times he was
inclined to accept the offers which were made to him to give it
up. General Monk was anxious to get the office for Mr. Turner,
who was Chief Clerk in the Navy Office, but in the end Mon-
tagu’s influence secured it for Pepys. Then Thomas Barlow, who
had been appointed Clerk of the Acts in 1638, turned up, and ap-
21
PREFACE
peared likely to become disagreeable. Pepys bought him off with
an annuity of too, which he did not have to pay for any length of
time, as Barlow died in February, 1664-65. It is not in human na-
ture to be greatly grieved at the death of one to whom you have to
pay an annuity, and Pepys expresses his feelings in a very naive
manner:– “For which God knows my heart I could be as sorry
as is possible for one to be for a stranger by whose death he gets
£100 per annum, he being a worthy honest man; but when I come
to consider the providence of God by this means unexpectedly to
give me £100 a year more in my estate, I have cause to bless God,
and do it from the bottom of my heart.”
This office was one of considerable importance, for not only
was the holder the secretary or registrar of the Navy Board, but
he was also one of the principal officers of the navy, and, as mem-
ber of the board, of equal rank with the other commissioners.
This office Pepys held during the whole period of the Diary, and
we find him constantly fighting for his position, as some of the
other members wished to reduce his rank merely to that of sec-
retary. In his contention Pepys appears to have been in the right,
and a valuable MS. volume in the Pepysian library contains an
extract from the Old Instructions of about 1649, in which this
very point is argued out. The volume appears to have been made
up by William Penn the Quaker, from a collection of manuscripts
on the affairs of the navy found in his father’s, “Sir William
Penn’s closet.” It was presented to Charles II., with a dedica-
tion ending thus:– “I hope enough to justifie soe much freedome
with a Prince that is so easie to excuse things well intended as
this is “BY “Great Prince, “Thy faithfull subject, “WM. PENN”
“London, the 22 of the Mo. called June, 1680.”
It does not appear how the volume came into Pepys’s posses-
sion. It may have been given him by the king, or he may have
taken it as a perquisite of his office. The book has an index, which
was evidently added by Pepys; in this are these entries, which
show his appreciation of the contents of the MS.:– “Clerk of the
22
PREFACE
Acts, his duty, his necessity and usefulness.”
The following description of the duty of the Clerk of the Acts
shows the importance of the office, and the statement that if the
clerk is not fitted to act as a commissioner he is a blockhead and
unfit for his employment is particularly racy, and not quite the
form of expression one would expect to find in an official doc-
ument: “CLERKE OF THE ACTS. “The clarke of the Navye’s
duty depends principally upon rateing (by the Board’s approba-
tion) of all bills and recording of them, and all orders, contracts &
warrants, making up and casting of accompts, framing and writ-
ing answers to letters, orders, and commands from the Councell,
Lord High Admirall, or Commissioners of the Admiralty, and
he ought to be a very able accomptant, well versed in Navall af-
fairs and all inferior officers dutyes. “It hath been objected by
some that the Clarke of the Acts ought to be subordinate to the
rest of the Commissioners, and not to be joyned in equall power
with them, although he was so constituted from the first institu-
tion, which hath been an opinion only of some to keep him at a
distance, least he might be thought too forward if he had joynt
power in discovering or argueing against that which peradven-
ture private interest would have concealed; it is certaine no man
sees more of the Navye’s Transactions than himselfe, and possi-
bly may speak as much to the project if required, or else he is a
blockhead, and not fitt for that imployment. But why he should
not make as able a Commissioner as a Shipp wright lett wise men
judge.”
In Pepys’s patent the salary is stated to be £33 6s. 8d., but this
was only the ancient “fee out of the Exchequer,” which had been
attached to the office for more than a century. Pepys’s salary had
been previously fixed at £350 a-year.
Neither of the two qualifications upon which particular stress
is laid in the above Instructions was possessed by Pepys. He
knew nothing about the navy, and so little of accounts that appar-
ently he learned the multiplication table for the first time in July,
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PREFACE
1661. We see from the particulars given in the Diary how hard
he worked to obtain the knowledge required in his office, and
in consequence of his assiduity he soon became a model official.
When Pepys became Clerk of the Acts he took up his residence at
the Navy Office, a large building situated between Crutched Fri-
ars and Seething Lane, with an entrance in each of those places.
On July 4th, 1660, he went with Commissioner Pett to view the
houses, and was very pleased with them, but he feared that the
more influential officers would jockey him out of his rights. His
fears were not well grounded, and on July 18th he records the
fact that he dined in his own apartments, which were situated in
the Seething Lane front.
On July 24th, 1660, Pepys was sworn in as Lord Sandwich’s
deputy for a Clerkship of the Privy Seal. This office, which he did
not think much of at first, brought him “in for a time £3 a day.”
In June, 1660, he was made Master of Arts by proxy, and soon
afterwards he was sworn in as a justice of the Peace for Middle-
sex, Essex, Kent, and Hampshire, the counties in which the chief
dockyards were situated.
Pepys’s life is written large in the Diary, and it is not necessary
here to do more than catalogue the chief incidents of it in chrono-
logical order. In February, 1661-62, he was chosen a Younger
Brother of the Trinity House, and in April, 1662, when on an
official visit to Portsmouth Dockyard, he was made a burgess
of the town. In August of the same year he was appointed one
of the commissioners for the affairs of Tangier. Soon afterwards
Thomas Povy, the treasurer, got his accounts into a muddle, and
showed himself incompetent for the place, so that Pepys replaced
him as treasurer to the commission.
In March, 1663-64, the Corporation of the Royal Fishery was
appointed, with the Duke of York as governor, and thirty-two as-
sistants, mostly “very great persons.” Through Lord Sandwich’s
influence Pepys was made one of these.
The time was now arriving when Pepys’s general ability and
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PREFACE
devotion to business brought him prominently into notice. Dur-
ing the Dutch war the unreadiness of the ships, more particu-
larly in respect to victualling, was the cause of great trouble. The
Clerk of the Acts did his utmost to set things right, and he was
appointed Surveyor-General of the Victualling Office. The kind
way in which Mr. Coventry proposed him as “the fittest man
in England” for the office, and the Duke of York’s expressed ap-
proval, greatly pleased him.
During the fearful period when the Plague was raging, Pepys
stuck to his business, and the chief management of naval affairs
devolved upon him, for the meetings at the Navy Office were but
thinly attended. In a letter to Coventry he wrote:– “The sickness
in general thickens round us, and particularly upon our neigh-
bourhood. You, sir, took your turn of the sword; I must not,
therefore, grudge to take mine of the pestilence.”
At this time his wife was living at Woolwich, and he himself
with his clerks at Greenwich; one maid only remained in the
house in London.
Pepys rendered special service at the time of the Fire of Lon-
don. He communicated the king’s wishes to the Lord Mayor, and
he saved the Navy Office by having up workmen from Woolwich
and Deptford Dockyards to pull down the houses around, and so
prevent the spread of the flames.
When peace was at length concluded with the Dutch, and peo-
ple had time to think over the disgrace which the country had
suffered by the presence of De Ruyter’s fleet in the Medway, it
was natural that a public inquiry into the management of the
war should be undertaken. A Parliamentary Committee was ap-
pointed in October, 1667, to inquire into the matter. Pepys made
a statement which satisfied the committee, but for months af-
terwards he was continually being summoned to answer some
charge, so that he confesses himself as mad to “become the hack-
ney of this office in perpetual trouble and vexation that need it
least.”
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PREFACE
At last a storm broke out in the House of Commons against
the principal officers of the navy, and some members demanded
that they should be put out of their places. In the end they were
ordered to be heard in their own defence at the bar of the House.
The whole labour of the defence fell upon Pepys, but having
made out his case with great skill, he was rewarded by a most un-
expected success. On the 5th March, 1667-68, he made the great
speech of his life, and spoke for three hours, with the effect that
he so far removed the prejudice against the officers of the Navy
Board, that no further proceedings were taken in parliament on
the subject. He was highly praised for his speech, and he was
naturally much elated at his brilliant success.
About the year 1664 we first hear of a defect in Pepys’s eye-
sight. He consulted the celebrated Cocker, and began to wear
green spectacles, but gradually this defect became more pro-
nounced, and on the 31st of May, 1669, he wrote the last words
in his Diary: “And thus ends all that I doubt I shall ever be able
to do with my own eyes in the keeping of my journal, I being not
able to do it any longer, having done now as long as to undo my
eyes almost every time that I take a pen in my hand.”
He feared blindness and was forced to desist, to his lasting re-
gret and our great loss.
At this time he obtained leave of absence from the duties of
his office, and he set out on a tour through France and Holland
accompanied by his wife. In his travels he was true to the oc-
cupation of his life, and made collections respecting the French
and Dutch navies. Some months after his return he spoke of
his journey as having been “full of health and content,” but no
sooner had he and his wife returned to London than the latter
became seriously ill with a fever. The disease took a fatal turn,
and on the 10th of November, 1669, Elizabeth Pepys died at the
early age of twenty-nine years, to the great grief of her husband.
She died at their house in Crutched Friars, and was buried at St.
Olave’s Church, Hart Street, where Pepys erected a monument
26
PREFACE
to her memory.
Pepys’s successful speech at the bar of the House of Commons
made him anxious to become a member, and the Duke of York
and Sir William Coventry heartily supported him in his reso-
lution. An opening occurred in due course, at Aldborough, in
Suffolk, owing to the death of Sir Robert Brooke in 1669, but,
in consequence of the death of his wife, Pepys was unable to
take part in the election. His cause was warmly espoused by
the Duke of York and by Lord Henry Howard (afterwards Earl of
Norwich and sixth Duke of Norfolk), but the efforts of his sup-
porters failed, and the contest ended in favour of John Bruce,
who represented the popular party. In November, 1673, Pepys
was more successful, and was elected for Castle Rising on the
elevation of the member, Sir Robert Paston, to the peerage as Vis-
count Yarmouth. His unsuccessful opponent, Mr. Offley, peti-
tioned against the return, and the election was determined to be
void by the Committee of Privileges. The Parliament, however,
being prorogued the following month without the House’s com-
ing to any vote on the subject, Pepys was permitted to retain his
seat. A most irrelevant matter was introduced into the inquiry,
and Pepys was charged with having a crucifix in his house, from
which it was inferred that he was “a papist or popishly inclined.”
The charge was grounded upon reported assertions of Sir John
Banks and the Earl of Shaftesbury, which they did not stand to
when examined on the subject, and the charge was not proved
to be good.6 It will be seen from the extracts from the Journals of
6 “The House then proceeding upon the debate touching the Election for
Castle Rising, between Mr. Pepys and Mr. Offley, did, in the first place, take
into consideration what related personally to Mr. Pepys. Information being
given to the House that they had received an account from a person of qual-
ity, that he saw an Altar with a Crucifix upon it, in the house of Mr. Pepys;
Mr. Pepys, standing up in his place, did heartily and flatly deny that he ever
had any Altar or Crucifix, or the image or picture of any Saint whatsoever
in his house, from the top to the bottom of it; and the Members being called
upon to name the person that gave them the information, they were unwill-
27
PREFACE
the House of Commons given in the note that Pepys denied ever
having had an altar or crucifix in his house. In the Diary there
is a distinct statement of his possession of a crucifix, but it is not
clear from the following extracts whether it was not merely a var-
nished engraving of the Crucifixion which he possessed: July 20,
1666. “So I away to Lovett’s, there to see how my picture goes on
to be varnished, a fine crucifix which will be very fine.” August
2. “At home find Lovett, who showed me my crucifix, which
will be very fine when done.” Nov. 3. “This morning comes Mr.
Lovett and brings me my print of the Passion, varnished by him,
and the frame which is indeed very fine, though not so fine as I
ing to declare it without the order of the House; which, being made, they
named the Earl of Shaftesbury; and the House being also informed that Sir
J. Banks did likewise see the Altar, he was ordered to attend the Bar of the
House, to declare what he knew of this matter. ‘Ordered that Sir William
Coventry, Sir Thomas Meeres, and Mr. Garraway do attend Lord Shaftes-
bury on the like occasion, and receive what information his Lordship, can
give on this matter.”’–Journals of the House of Commons, vol. ix., p. 306.–”
13th February, Sir W. Coventry reports that they attended the Earl of Shaftes-
bury, and received from him the account which they had put in writing. The
Earl of Shaftesbury denieth that he ever saw an Altar in Mr. Pepys’s house
or lodgings; as to the Crucifix, he saith he hath, some imperfect memory of
seeing somewhat which he conceived to be a Crucifix. When his Lordship
was asked the time, he said it was before the burning of the Office of the
Navy. Being asked concerning the manner, he said he could not remember
whether it were painted or carved, or in what manner the thing was; and
that his memory was so very imperfect in it, that if he were upon his oath he
could give no testimony.”–. Ibid., vol. ix., p. 309.–” 16th February–Sir John
Banks was called in–The Speaker desired him to answer what acquaintance
he had with; Mr. Pepys, and whether he used to have recourse to him to his
house and had ever seen there any Altar or Crucifix, or whether he knew of
his being a Papist, or Popishly inclined. Sir J. Banks said that he had known
and had been acquainted with Mr. Pepys several years, and had often vis-
ited him and conversed with him at the Navy Office, and at his house there
upon several occasions, and that he never saw in his house there any Altar or
Crucifix, and that he does not believe him to be a Papist, or that way inclined
in the least, nor had any reason or ground to think or believe it.”–Ibid., vol,
ix., p. 310.
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PREFACE
expected; but pleases me exceedingly.”
Whether he had or had not a crucifix in his house was a matter
for himself alone, and the interference of the House of Commons
was a gross violation of the liberty of the subject.
In connection with Lord Shaftesbury’s part in this matter, the
late Mr. W. D. Christie found the following letter to Sir Thomas
Meres among the papers at St. Giles’s House, Dorsetshire:–
‘Exeter House, February 10th, 1674.
“Sir,–That there might be no mistake, I thought best
to put my answer in writing to those questions that
yourself, Sir William Coventry, and Mr. Garroway
were pleased to propose to me this morning from the
House of Commons, which is that I never designed to
be a witness against any man for what I either heard
or saw, and therefore did not take so exact notice of
things inquired of as to be able to remember them so
clearly as is requisite to do in a testimony upon hon-
our or oath, or to so great and honourable a body as
the House of Commons, it being some years distance
since I was at Mr. Pepys his lodging. Only that par-
ticular of an altar is so signal that I must needs have
remembered it had I seen any such thing, which I am
sure I do not. This I desire you to communicate with
Sir William Coventry and Mr. Garroway to be deliv-
ered as my answer to the House of Commons, it being
the same I gave you this morning.
“I am, Sir,
“Your most humble servant,
“SHAFTESBURY.”
After reading this letter Sir William Coventry very justly re-
marked, “There are a great many more Catholics than think
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PREFACE
themselves so, if having a crucifix will make one.” Mr. Christie
resented the remarks on Lord Shaftesbury’s part in this persecu-
tion of Pepys made by Lord Braybrooke, who said, “Painful in-
deed is it to reflect to what length the bad passions which party
violence inflames could in those days carry a man of Shaftes-
bury’s rank, station, and abilities.” Mr. Christie observes, “It is
clear from the letter to Meres that Shaftesbury showed no malice
and much scrupulousness when a formal charge, involving im-
portant results, was founded on his loose private conversations.”
This would be a fair vindication if the above attack upon Pepys
stood alone, but we shall see later on that Shaftesbury was the
moving spirit in a still more unjustifiable attack.
Lord Sandwich died heroically in the naval action in South-
wold Bay, and on June 24th,1672, his remains were buried with
some pomp in Westminster Abbey. There were eleven earls
among the mourners, and Pepys, as the first among “the six Ban-
nerolles,” walked in the procession.
About this time Pepys was called from his old post of Clerk
of the Acts to the higher office of Secretary of the Admiralty. His
first appointment was a piece of favouritism, but it was due to his
merits alone that he obtained the secretaryship. In the summer of
1673, the Duke of York having resigned all his appointments on
the passing of the Test Act, the King put the Admiralty into com-
mission, and Pepys was appointed Secretary for the Affairs of the
Navy.7 He was thus brought into more intimate connection with
Charles II., who took the deepest interest in shipbuilding and all
naval affairs. The Duke of Buckingham said of the King:– “The
great, almost the only pleasure of his mind to which he seemed
7 The office generally known as Secretary of the Admiralty dates back
many years, but the officer who filled it was sometimes Secretary to the
Lord High Admiral, and sometimes to the Commission for that office. “His
Majesties Letters Patent for ye erecting the office of Secretary of ye Admi-
ralty of England, and creating Samuel Pepys, Esq., first Secretary therein,” is
dated June 10th, 1684.
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PREFACE
addicted was shipping and sea affairs, which seemed to be so
much his talent for knowledge as well as inclination, that a war
of that kind was rather an entertainment than any disturbance to
his thoughts.”
When Pepys ceased to be Clerk of the Acts he was able to
obtain the appointment for his clerk, Thomas Hayter, and his
brother, John Pepys, who held it jointly. The latter does not ap-
pear to have done much credit to Samuel. He was appointed
Clerk to the Trinity House in 1670 on his brother’s recommenda-
tion, and when he died in 1677 he was in debt £300 to his em-
ployers, and this sum Samuel had to pay. In 1676 Pepys was
Master of the Trinity House, and in the following year Master of
the Clothworkers’ Company, when he presented a richly-chased
silver cup, which is still used at the banquets of the company. On
Tuesday, 10th September, 1677, the Feast of the Hon. Artillery
Company was held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall, when the Duke
of York, the Duke of Somerset, the Lord Chancellor, and other
distinguished persons were present. On this occasion Viscount
Newport, Sir Joseph Williamson, and Samuel Pepys officiated as
stewards.
About this time it is evident that the secretary carried him-
self with some haughtiness as a ruler of the navy, and that this
was resented by some. An amusing instance will be found in
the Parliamentary Debates. On May 11th, 1678, the King’s verbal
message to quicken the supply was brought in by Mr. Secretary
Williamson, when Pepys spoke to this effect: “When I promised
that the ships should be ready by the 30th of May, it was upon the
supposition of the money for 90 ships proposed by the King and
voted by you, their sizes and rates, and I doubt not by that time
to have 90 ships, and if they fall short it will be only from the fail-
ing of the Streights ships coming home and those but two..... “Sir
Robert Howard then rose and said, ‘Pepys here speaks rather like
an Admiral than a Secretary, “I” and “we.” I wish he knows half
as much of the Navy as he pretends.”’
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PREFACE
Pepys was chosen by the electors of Harwich as their member
in the short Parliament that sat from March to July, 1679, his col-
league being Sir Anthony Deane, but both members were sent
to the Tower in May on a baseless charge, and they were super-
seded in the next Parliament that met on the 17th October, 1679.
The high-handed treatment which Pepys underwent at this
time exhibits a marked instance of the disgraceful persecution
connected with the so-called Popish plot. He was totally uncon-
nected with the Roman Catholic party, but his association with
the Duke of York was sufficient to mark him as a prey for the
men who initiated this “Terror” of the seventeenth century. Sir.
Edmund Berry Godfrey came to his death in October, 1678, and
in December Samuel Atkins, Pepys’s clerk, was brought to trial as
an accessory to his murder. Shaftesbury and the others not hav-
ing succeeded in getting at Pepys through his clerk, soon after-
wards attacked him more directly, using the infamous evidence
of Colonel Scott. Much light has lately been thrown upon the
underhand dealings of this miscreant by Mr. G. D. Scull, who
printed privately in 1883 a valuable work entitled, “Dorothea
Scott, otherwise Gotherson, and Hogben of Egerton House, Kent,
1611-1680.”
John Scott (calling himself Colonel Scott) ingratiated himself
into acquaintance with Major Gotherson, and sold to the latter
large tracts of land in Long Island, to which he had no right what-
ever. Dorothea Gotherson, after her husband’s death, took steps
to ascertain the exact state of her property, and obtained the assis-
tance of Colonel Francis Lovelace, Governor of New York. Scott’s
fraud was discovered, and a petition for redress was presented
to the King. The result of this was that the Duke of York com-
manded Pepys to collect evidence against Scott, and he accord-
ingly brought together a great number of depositions and infor-
mation as to his dishonest proceedings in New England, Long
Island, Barbadoes, France, Holland, and England, and these pa-
pers are preserved among the Rawlinson Manuscripts in the
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PREFACE
Bodleian. Scott had his revenge, and accused Pepys of betray-
ing the Navy by sending secret particulars to the French Gov-
ernment, and of a design to dethrone the king and extirpate the
Protestant religion. Pepys and Sir Anthony Deane were commit-
ted to the Tower under the Speaker’s warrant on May 22nd, 1679,
and Pepys’s place at the Admiralty was filled by the appointment
of Thomas Hayter. When the two prisoners were brought to the
bar of the King’s Bench on the 2nd of June, the Attorney-General
refused bail, but subsequently they were allowed to find security
for £30,000.
Pepys was put to great expense in collecting evidence against
Scott and obtaining witnesses to clear himself of the charges
brought against him. He employed his brother-in-law, Balthasar
St. Michel, to collect evidence in France, as he himself explains
in a letter to the Commissioners of the Navy:– “His Majesty of
his gracious regard to me, and the justification of my innocence,
was then pleased at my humble request to dispence with my
said brother goeing (with ye shippe about that time designed for
Tangier) and to give leave to his goeing into France (the scene of
ye villannys then in practice against me), he being the only per-
son whom (from his relation to me, together with his knowledge
in the place and language, his knowne dilligence and particular
affection towards mee) I could at that tyme and in soe greate a
cause pitch on, for committing the care of this affaire of detecting
the practice of my enemies there.”
In the end Scott refused to acknowledge to the truth of his
original deposition, and the prisoners were relieved from their
bail on February 12th, 1679-80. John James, a butler previously
in Pepys’s service, confessed on his deathbed in 1680 that he
had trumped up the whole story relating to his former master’s
change of religion at the instigation of Mr. William Harbord, M.P.
for Thetford.
Pepys wrote on July 1st, 1680, to Mrs. Skinner: “I would not
omit giving you the knowledge of my having at last obtained
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PREFACE
what with as much reason I might have expected a year ago, my
full discharge from the bondage I have, from one villain’s prac-
tice, so long lain under.”
William Harbord, of Cadbury, co. Somerset, second son of Sir
Charles Harbord, whom he succeeded in 1682 as Surveyor. Gen-
eral of the Land Revenues of the Crown, was Pepys’s most persis-
tent enemy. Several papers referring to Harbord’s conduct were
found at Scott’s lodging after his flight, and are now preserved
among the Rawlinson MSS. in the Bodleian. One of these was
the following memorandum, which shows pretty plainly Pepys’s
opinion of Harbord:– “That about the time of Mr. Pepys’s surren-
der of his employment of Secretary of the Admiralty, Capt. Rus-
sell and myself being in discourse about Mr. Pepys, Mr. Russell
delivered himself in these or other words to this purport: That he
thought it might be of advantage to both, if a good understand-
ing were had between his brother Harbord and Mr. Pepys, asking
me to propose it to Mr. Pepys, and he would to his brother, which
I agreed to, and went immediately from him to Mr. Pepys, and
telling him of this discourse, he gave me readily this answer in
these very words: That he knew of no service Mr. Harbord could
doe him, or if he could, he should be the last man in England
he would receive any from.”8 Besides Scott’s dishonesty in his
dealings with Major Gotherson, it came out that he had cheated
the States of Holland out of £7,000, in consequence of which he
was hanged in effigy at the Hague in 1672. In 1682 he fled from
England to escape from the law, as he had been guilty of wilful
murder by killing George Butler, a hackney coachman, and he
reached Norway in safety, where he remained till 1696. In that
year some of his influential friends obtained a pardon for him
from William III., and he returned to England.
8 William Harbord sat as M.P. for Thetford in several parliaments. In 1689
he was chosen on the Privy Council, and in 1690 became Vice- Treasurer
for Ireland. He was appointed Ambassador to Turkey in 1692, and died at
Belgrade in July of that year.
34
PREFACE
In October, 1680, Pepys attended on Charles II. at Newmarket,
and there he took down from the King’s own mouth the narra-
tive of his Majesty’s escape from Worcester, which was first pub-
lished in 1766 by Sir David Dalrymple (Lord Hailes) from the
MS., which now remains in the Pepysian library both in short-
hand and in longhand? It is creditable to Charles II. and the
Duke of York that both brothers highly appreciated the abilities
of Pepys, and availed themselves of his knowledge of naval af-
fairs.
In the following year there was some chance that Pepys might
retire from public affairs, and take upon himself the headship of
one of the chief Cambridge colleges. On the death of Sir Thomas
Page, the Provost of King’s College, in August, 1681, Mr. S.
Maryon, a Fellow of Clare Hall, recommended Pepys to apply to
the King for the appointment, being assured that the royal man-
date if obtained would secure his election. He liked the idea, but
replied that he believed Colonel Legge (afterwards Lord Dart-
mouth) wanted to get the office for an old tutor. Nothing further
seems to have been done by Pepys, except that he promised if
he were chosen to give the whole profit of the first year, and at
least half of that of each succeeding year, to “be dedicated to the
general and public use of the college.” In the end Dr. John Cople-
stone was appointed to the post.
On May 22nd, 1681, the Rev. Dr. Milles, rector of St. Olave’s,
who is so often mentioned in the Diary, gave Pepys a certificate
as to his attention to the services of the Church. It is not quite
clear what was the occasion of the certificate, but probably the
Diarist wished to have it ready in case of another attack upon
him in respect to his tendency towards the Church of Rome.
Early in 1682 Pepys accompanied the Duke of York to Scot-
land, and narrowly escaped shipwreck by the way. Before letters
could arrive in London to tell of his safety, the news came of the
wreck of the “Gloucester” (the Duke’s ship), and of the loss of
many lives. His friends’ anxiety was relieved by the arrival of
35
PREFACE
a letter which Pepys wrote from Edinburgh to Hewer on May
8th, in which he detailed the particulars of the adventure. The
Duke invited him to go on board the “Gloucester” frigate, but he
preferred his own yacht (the “Catherine ”), in which he had more
room, and in consequence of his resolution he saved himself from
the risk of drowning. On May 5th the frigate struck upon the
sand called “The Lemon and Oar,” about sixteen leagues from
the mouth of the Humber. This was caused by the carelessness
of the pilot, to whom Pepys imputed “an obstinate over-weening
in opposition to the contrary opinions of Sir I. Berry, his master,
mates, Col. Legg, the Duke himself, and several others, concur-
ring unanimously in not being yet clear of the sands.” The Duke
and his party escaped, but numbers were drowned in the sink-
ing ship, and it is said that had the wreck occurred two hours
earlier, and the accompanying yachts been at the distance they
had previously been, not a soul would have escaped.
Pepys stayed in Edinburgh for a short time, and the Duke of
York allowed him to be present at two councils. He then vis-
ited; with Colonel George Legge, some of the principal places in
the neighbourhood, such as Stirling, Linlithgow, Hamilton, and
Glasgow. The latter place he describes as “a very extraordinary
town indeed for beauty and trade, much superior to any in Scot-
land.”
Pepys had now been out of office for some time, but he was
soon to have employment again. Tangier, which was acquired at
the marriage of the King to Katharine of Braganza, had long been
an incumbrance, and it was resolved at last to destroy the place.
Colonel Legge (now Lord Dartmouth) was in August, 1683, con-
stituted Captain-General of his Majesty’s forces in Africa, and
Governor of Tangier, and sent with a fleet of about twenty sail
to demolish and blow up the works, destroy the harbour, and
bring home the garrison. Pepys received the King’s commands
to accompany Lord Dartmouth on his expedition, but the latter’s
instructions were secret, and Pepys therefore did not know what
36
PREFACE
had been decided upon. He saw quite enough, however, to form
a strong opinion of the uselessness of the place to England. Lord
Dartmouth carried out his instructions thoroughly, and on March
29th, 1684, he and his party (including Pepys) arrived in the En-
glish Channel.
The King himself now resumed the office of Lord High Ad-
miral, and appointed Pepys Secretary of the Admiralty, with a
salary of £500 per annum. In the Pepysian Library is the original
patent, dated June 10th, 1684: “His Majesty’s Letters Patent for ye
erecting the office of Secretary of ye Admiralty of England, and
creating Samuel Pepys, Esq., first Secretary therein.” In this office
the Diarist remained until the period of the Revolution, when his
official career was concluded.
A very special honour was conferred upon Pepys in this year,
when he was elected President of the Royal Society in succes-
sion to Sir Cyril Wyche, and he held the office for two years.
Pepys had been admitted a fellow of the society on February
15th, 1664-65, and from Birch’s “History” we find that in the fol-
lowing month he made a statement to the society:–
“Mr. Pepys gave an account of what information he had re-
ceived from the Master of the Jersey ship which had been in com-
pany with Major Holmes in the Guinea voyage concerning the
pendulum watches (March 15th, 1664-5).”
The records of the society show that he frequently made him-
self useful by obtaining such information as might be required
in his department. After he retired from the presidency, he con-
tinued to entertain some of the most distinguished members of
the society on Saturday evenings at his house in York Buildings.
Evelyn expressed the strongest regret when it was necessary to
discontinue these meetings on account of the infirmities of the
host.
In 1685 Charles II. died, and was succeeded by James, Duke
of York. From his intimate association with James it might have
37
PREFACE
been supposed that a long period of official life was still before
Pepys, but the new king’s bigotry and incapacity soon made
this a practical impossibility. At the coronation of James II.
Pepys marched in the procession immediately behind the king’s
canopy, as one of the sixteen barons of the Cinque Ports.
In the year 1685 a new charter was granted to the Trinity Com-
pany, and Pepys was named in it the first master, this being the
second time that he had held the office of master.
Evelyn specially refers to the event in his Diary, and mentions
the distinguished persons present at the dinner on July 20th.
It is evident that at this time Pepys was looked upon as a spe-
cially influential man, and when a parliament was summoned to
meet on May 19th, 1685, he was elected both for Harwich and for
Sandwich. He chose to serve for Harwich, and Sir Philip Parker
was elected to fill his place at Sandwich.
This parliament was dissolved by proclamation July 2nd, 1687,
and on August 24th the king declared in council that another par-
liament should be summoned for November 27th, 1688, but great
changes took place before that date, and when the Convention
Parliament was called together in January and February, 1689-
90, Pepys found no place in it. The right-hand man of the exiled
monarch was not likely to find favour in the eyes of those who
were now in possession. When the election for Harwich came on,
the electors refused to return him, and the streets echoed to the
cry of “No Tower men, no men out of the Tower!” They did not
wish to be represented in parliament by a disgraced official.
We have little or no information to guide us as to Pepys’s pro-
ceedings at the period of the Revolution. We know that James II.
just before his flight was sitting to Kneller for a portrait intended
for the Secretary to the Admiralty, and that Pepys acted in that
office for the last time on 20th February, 1688-89, but between
those dates we know nothing of the anxieties and troubles that
he must have suffered. On the 9th March an order was issued
38
PREFACE
from the Commissioners of the Admiralty for him to deliver up
his books, &c., to Phineas Bowies, who superseded him as secre-
tary.
Pepys had many firm friends upon whom he could rely, but he
had also enemies who lost no opportunity of worrying him. On
June 10th, 1690, Evelyn has this entry in his Diary, which throws
some light upon the events of the time:– “Mr. Pepys read to me
his Remonstrance, skewing with what malice and injustice he
was suspected with Sir Anth. Deane about the timber of which
the thirty ships were built by a late Act of Parliament, with the
exceeding danger which the fleete would shortly be in, by reason
of the tyranny and incompetency of those who now managed the
Admiralty and affairs of the Navy, of which he gave an accurate
state, and shew’d his greate ability.”
On the 25th of this same month Pepys was committed to the
Gatehouse at Westminster on a charge of having sent information
to the French Court of the state of the English navy. There was
no evidence of any kind against him, and at the end of July he
was allowed to return to his own house on account of ill-health.
Nothing further was done in respect to the charge, but he was
not free till some time after, and he was long kept in anxiety, for
even in 1692 he still apprehended some fresh persecution.
Sir Peter Palavicini, Mr. James Houblon, Mr. Blackburne, and
Mr. Martin bailed him, and he sent them the following circular
letter:–
“October 15, 1690.
“Being this day become once again a free man in ev-
ery respect, I mean but that of my obligation to you
and the rest of my friends, to whom I stand indebted
for my being so, I think it but a reasonable part of my
duty to pay you and them my thanks for it in a body;
but know not how otherwise to compass it than by
39
PREFACE
begging you, which I hereby do, to take your share
with them and me here, to-morrow, of a piece of mut-
ton, which is all I dare promise you, besides that of
being ever,
“Your most bounden and faithful humble servant,
“S. P.”
He employed the enforced idleness caused by being thrust out
of his employment in the collection of the materials for the valu-
able work which he published in 1690, under the title of “Mem-
oirs of the Navy.” Little more was left for him to do in life, but
as the government became more firmly established, and the ab-
solute absurdity of the idea of his disloyalty was proved, Pepys
held up his head again as a man to be respected and consulted,
and for the remainder of his life he was looked upon as the
Nestor of the Navy.
There is little more to be told of Pepys’s life. He continued to
keep up an extended correspondence with his many friends, and
as Treasurer of Christ’s Hospital he took very great interest in the
welfare of that institution. He succeeded in preserving from im-
pending ruin the mathematical foundation which had been orig-
inally designed by him, and through his anxious solicitations en-
dowed and cherished by Charles II. and James II. One of the last
public acts of his life was the presentation of the portrait of the
eminent Dr. John Wallis, Savilian Professor of Geometry, to the
University of Oxford.
In 1701 he sent Sir Godfrey Kneller to Oxford to paint the por-
trait, and the University rewarded him with a Latin diploma con-
taining in gorgeous language the expression of thanks for his mu-
nificence.’
On the 26th May, 1703, Samuel Pepys, after long continued suf-
fering, breathed his last in the presence of the learned Dr. George
Hickes, the nonjuring Dean of Worcester, and the following letter
40
PREFACE
from John Jackson to his uncle’s lifelong friend Evelyn contains
particulars as to the cause of death:
Mr. Jackson to Mr. Evelyn.
‘Clapham, May 28th, 1703.
“Friday night.
“Honoured Sir, “‘Tis no small addition to my grief,
to be obliged to interrupt the quiet of your happy re-
cess with the afflicting tidings of my Uncle Pepys’s
death: knowing how sensibly you will partake with
me herein. But I should not be faithful to his desires,
if I did not beg your doing the honour to his mem-
ory of accepting mourning from him, as a small in-
stance of his most affectionate respect and honour for
you. I have thought myself extremely unfortunate to
be out of the way at that only time when you were
pleased lately to touch here, and express so great a
desire of taking your leave of my Uncle; which could
not but have been admitted by him as a most wel-
come exception to his general orders against being in-
terrupted; and I could most heartily wish that the cir-
cumstances of your health and distance did not forbid
me to ask the favour of your assisting in the holding
up of the pawll at his interment, which is intended
to be on Thursday next; for if the manes are affected
with what passes below, I am sure this would have
been very grateful to his. “I must not omit acquaint-
ing you, sir, that upon opening his body, (which the
uncommonness of his case required of us, for our
own satisfaction as well as public good) there was
found in his left kidney a nest of no less than seven
stones, of the most irregular, figures your imagina-
tion can frame, and weighing together four ounces
and a half, but all fast linked together, and adher-
ing to his back; whereby they solve his having felt
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PREFACE
no greater pains upon motion, nor other of the ordi-
nary symptoms of the stone. Some other lesser de-
fects there also were in his body, proceeding from the
same cause. But his stamina, in general, were mar-
vellously strong, and not only supported him, under
the most exquisite pains, weeks beyond all expecta-
tions; but, in the conclusion, contended for nearly
forty hours (unassisted by any nourishment) with the
very agonies of death, some few minutes excepted,
before his expiring, which were very calm. “There
remains only for me, under this affliction, to beg the
consolation and honour of succeeding to your patron-
age, for my Uncle’s sake; and leave to number my-
self, with the same sincerity he ever did, among your
greatest honourers, which I shall esteem as one of the
most valuable parts of my inheritances from him; be-
ing also, with the faithfullest wishes of health and a
happy long life to you,
“Honoured Sir,
“Your most obedient and
“Most humble Servant,
“J. JACKSON.
“Mr. Hewer, as my Uncle’s Executor, and equally
your faithful Servant, joins with me in every part
hereof. “The time of my Uncle’s departure was
about three-quarters past three on Wednesday morn-
ing last.”
Evelyn alludes in his Diary to Pepys’s death and the present
to him of a suit of mourning. He speaks in very high terms of
his friend:– ”1703, May 26th. This day died Mr. Sam Pepys, a
very worthy, industrious, and curious person, none in England
exceeding him in knowledge of the navy, in which he had passed
thro’ all the most considerable offices, Clerk of the Acts and Sec-
42
PREFACE
retary of the Admiralty, all which he performed with great in-
tegrity. When K. James II. went out of England, he laid down
his office, and would serve no more, but withdrawing himselfe
from all public affaires, he liv’d at Clapham with his partner
Mr. Hewer, formerly his clerk, in a very noble and sweete place,
where he enjoy’d the fruits of his labours in greate prosperity. He
was universally belov’d, hospitable, generous, learned in many
things, skilfd in music, a very greate cherisher of learned men of
whom he had the conversation .... Mr. Pepys had been for neere
40 yeeres so much my particular friend that Mr. Jackson sent me
compleat mourning, desiring me to be one to hold up the pall
at his magnificent obsequies, but my indisposition hinder’d me
from doing him this last office.”
The body was brought from Clapham and buried in St. Olave’s
Church, Hart Street, on the 5th June, at nine o’clock at night, in a
vault just beneath the monument to the memory of Mrs. Pepys.
Dr. Hickes performed the last sad offices for his friend.
Pepys’s faithful friend, Hewer, was his executor, and his
nephew, John Jackson, his heir. Mourning was presented to forty
persons, and a large number of rings to relations, godchildren,
servants, and friends, also to representatives of the Royal Soci-
ety, of the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, of the Admi-
ralty, and of the Navy Office. The bulk of the property was be-
queathed to Jackson, but the money which was left was much
less than might have been expected, for at the time of Pepys’s
death there was a balance of £28,007 2s. 1d. due to him from the
Crown, and none of this was ever paid. The books and other col-
lections were left to Magdalene College, Cambridge, but Jackson
was to have possession of them during his lifetime. These were
the most important portion of Pepys’s effects, for with them was
the manuscript of the immortal Diary. The following are the di-
rections for the disposition of the library, taken from Harl. MS.,
No. 7301:
“For the further settlement and preservation of my
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PREFACE
said library, after the death of my nephew. John
Jackson, I do hereby declare, That could I be sure of
a constant succession of heirs from my said nephew,
qualified like himself for the use of such a library, I
should not entertain a thought of its ever being alien-
ated from them. But this uncertainty considered,
with the infinite pains, and time, and cost employed
in my collecting, methodising and reducing the same
to the state it now is, I cannot but be greatly solici-
tous that all possible provision should be made for
its unalterable preservation and perpetual security
against the ordinary fate of such collections falling
into the hands of an incompetent heir, and thereby
being sold, dissipated, or embezzled. And since it
has pleased God to visit me in a manner that leaves
little appearance of being myself restored to a condi-
tion of concerting the necessary measures for attain-
ing these ends, I must and do with great confidence
rely upon the sincerity and direction of my executor
and said nephew for putting in execution the pow-
ers given them, by my forementioned will relating
hereto, requiring that the same be brought to a deter-
mination in twelve months after my decease, and that
special regard be had therein to the following partic-
ulars which I declare to be my present thoughts and
prevailing inclinations in this matter, viz.:
”1. That after the death of my said nephew, my said
library be placed and for ever settled in one of our
universities, and rather in that of Cambridge than Ox-
ford.
”2. And rather in a private college there, than in the
public library.
”3. And in the colleges of Trinity or Magdalen
preferably to all others.
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PREFACE
”4. And of these too, ‘caeteris paribus’, rather in the
latter, for the sake of my own and my nephew’s edu-
cation therein.
”5. That in which soever of the two it is, a fair roome
be provided therein.
”6. And if in Trinity, that the said roome be con-
tiguous to, and have communication with, the new
library there.
”7. And if in Magdalen, that it be in the new build-
ing there, and any part thereof at my nephew’s elec-
tion.
”8. That my said library be continued in its present
form and no other books mixed therein, save what
my nephew may add to theirs of his own collecting,
in distinct presses.
”9. That the said room and books so placed and
adjusted be called by the name of ‘Bibliotheca
Pepysiana.’
”10. That this ‘Bibliotheca Pepysiana’ be under the
sole power and custody of the master of the college
for the time being, who shall neither himself convey,
nor suffer to be conveyed by others, any of the said
books from thence to any other place, except to his
own lodge in the said college, nor there have more
than ten of them at a time; and that of those also a
strict entry be made and account kept, at the time of
their having been taken out and returned, in a book
to be provided, and remain in the said library for that
purpose only.
”11. That before my said library be put into the pos-
session of either of the said colleges, that college for
which it shall be designed, first enter into covenants
for performance of the foregoing articles.
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PREFACE
”12. And that for a yet further security herein, the
said two colleges of Trinity and Magdalen have a re-
ciprocal check upon one another; and that college
which shall be in present possession of the said li-
brary, be subject to an annual visitation from the
other, and to the forfeiture thereof to the life, pos-
session, and use of the other, upon conviction of any
breach of their said covenants.
“S. PEPYS.”
The library and the original book-cases were not transferred
to Magdalene College until 1724, and there they have been pre-
served in safety ever since.
A large number of Pepys’s manuscripts appear to have re-
mained unnoticed in York Buildings for some years. They never
came into Jackson’s hands, and were thus lost to Magdalene Col-
lege. Dr. Rawlinson afterwards obtained them, and they were
included in the bequest of his books to the Bodleian Library.
Pepys was partial to having his portrait taken, and he sat to
Savill, Hales, Lely, and Kneller. Hales’s portrait, painted in 1666,
is now in the National Portrait Gallery, and an etching from the
original forms the frontispiece to this volume. The portrait by
Lely is in the Pepysian Library. Of the three portraits by Kneller,
one is in the hall of Magdalene College, another at the Royal So-
ciety, and the third was lent to the First Special Exhibition of
National Portraits, 1866, by the late Mr. Andrew Pepys Cock-
erell. Several of the portraits have been engraved, but the most
interesting of these are those used by Pepys himself as book-
plates. These were both engraved by Robert White, and taken
from paintings by Kneller.
The church of St. Olave, Hart Street, is intimately associated
with Pepys both in his life and in his death, and for many years
the question had been constantly asked by visitors, “Where is
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PREFACE
Pepys’s monument?” On Wednesday, July 5th, 1882, a meeting
was held in the vestry of the church, when an influential com-
mittee was appointed, upon which all the great institutions with
which Pepys was connected were represented by their masters,
presidents, or other officers, with the object of taking steps to
obtain an adequate memorial of the Diarist. Mr. (now Sir) Al-
fred Blomfield, architect of the church, presented an appropri-
ate design for a monument, and sufficient subscriptions having
been obtained for the purpose, he superintended its erection. On
Tuesday afternoon, March 18th, 1884, the monument, which was
affixed to the wall of the church where the gallery containing
Pepys’s pew formerly stood, was unveiled in the presence of a
large concourse of visitors. The Earl of Northbrook, First Lord
of the Admiralty, consented to unveil the monument, but he was
at the last moment prevented by public business from attending.
The late Mr. Russell Lowell, then the American Minister, took
Lord Northbrook’s place, and made a very charming and appre-
ciative speech on the occasion, from which the following pas-
sages are extracted:– “It was proper,” his Excellency said, “that
he should read a note he had received from Lord Northbrook.
This was dated that day from the Admiralty, and was as follows:
“‘My dear Mr. Lowell,
“‘I am very much annoyed that I am prevented from
assisting at the ceremony to-day. It would be very
good if you would say that nothing but very urgent
business would have kept me away. I was anxious to
give my testimony to the merits of Pepys as an Ad-
miralty official, leaving his literary merits to you. He
was concerned with the administration of the Navy
from the Restoration to the Revolution, and from 1673
as secretary. I believe his merits to be fairly stated in
a contemporary account, which I send.
“‘Yours very truly,
“‘NORTHBROOK.
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PREFACE
“The contemporary account, which Lord Northbrook was
good enough to send him, said: “‘Pepys was, without exception,
the greatest and most useful Minister that ever filled the same
situations in England, the acts and registers of the Admiralty
proving this beyond contradiction. The principal rules and estab-
lishments in present use in these offices are well known to have
been of his introducing, and most of the officers serving therein
since the Restoration, of his bringing- up. He was a most stu-
dious promoter and strenuous asserter of order and discipline.
Sobriety, diligence, capacity, loyalty, and subjection to command
were essentials required in all whom he advanced. Where any of
these were found wanting, no interest or authority was capable of
moving him in favour of the highest pretender. Discharging his
duty to his Prince and country with a religious application and
perfect integrity, he feared no one, courted no one, and neglected
his own fortune.’ “That was a character drawn, it was true, by
a friendly hand, but to those who were familiar with the life of
Pepys, the praise hardly seemed exaggerated. As regarded his
official life, it was unnecessary to dilate upon his peculiar merits,
for they all knew how faithful he was in his duties, and they all
knew, too, how many faithful officials there were working on in
obscurity, who were not only never honoured with a monument
but who never expected one. The few words, Mr. Lowell went
on to remark, which he was expected to say upon that occasion,
therefore, referred rather to what he believed was the true mo-
tive which had brought that assembly together, and that was by
no means the character of Pepys either as Clerk of the Acts or as
Secretary to the Admiralty. This was not the place in which one
could go into a very close examination of the character of Pepys
as a private man. He would begin by admitting that Pepys was a
type, perhaps, of what was now called a ‘Philistine’. We had no
word in England which was equivalent to the French adjective
Bourgeois; but, at all events, Samuel Pepys was the most per-
fect type that ever existed of the class of people whom this word
described. He had all its merits as well as many of its defects.
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PREFACE
With all those defects, however perhaps in consequence of them–
Pepys had written one of the most delightful books that it was
man’s privilege to read in the English language or in any other.
Whether Pepys intended this Diary to be afterwards read by the
general public or not–and this was a doubtful question when it
was considered that he had left, possibly by inadvertence, a key
to his cypher behind him–it was certain that he had left with us
a most delightful picture, or rather he had left the power in our
hands of drawing for ourselves some, of the most delightful pic-
tures, of the time in which he lived. There was hardly any book
which was analogous to it..... If one were asked what were the
reasons for liking Pepys, it would be found that they were as nu-
merous as the days upon which he made an entry in his Diary,
and surely that was sufficient argument in his favour. There was
no book, Mr. Lowell said, that he knew of, or that occurred to
his memory, with which Pepys’s Diary could fairly be compared,
except the journal of L’Estoile, who had the same anxious curios-
ity and the same commonness, not to say vulgarity of interest,
and the book was certainly unique in one respect, and that was
the absolute sincerity of the author with himself. Montaigne is
conscious that we are looking over his shoulder, and Rousseau
secretive in comparison with him. The very fact of that sincerity
of the author with himself argued a certain greatness of charac-
ter. Dr. Hickes, who attended Pepys at his deathbed, spoke of
him as ‘this great man,’ and said he knew no one who died so
greatly. And yet there was something almost of the ridiculous in
the statement when the ‘greatness’ was compared with the gar-
rulous frankness which Pepys showed towards himself. There
was no parallel to the character of Pepys, he believed, in respect
of ‘naivete’, unless it were found in that of Falstaff, and Pepys
showed himself, too, like Falstaff, on terms of unbuttoned fa-
miliarity with himself. Falstaff had just the same ‘naivete’, but
in Falstaff it was the ‘naivete’ of conscious humour. In Pepys
it was quite different, for Pepys’s ‘naivete’ was the inoffensive
vanity of a man who loved to see himself in the glass. Falstaff
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PREFACE
had a sense, too, of inadvertent humour, but it was questionable
whether Pepys could have had any sense of humour at all, and
yet permitted himself to be so delightful. There was probably,
however, more involuntary humour in Pepys’s Diary than there
was in any other book extant. When he told his readers of the
landing of Charles II. at Dover, for instance, it would be remem-
bered how Pepys chronicled the fact that the Mayor of Dover pre-
sented the Prince with a Bible, for which he returned his thanks
and said it was the ‘most precious Book to him in the world.’
Then, again, it would be remembered how, when he received a
letter addressed ‘Samuel Pepys, Esq.,’ he confesses in the Diary
that this pleased him mightily. When, too, he kicked his cook-
maid, he admits that he was not sorry for it, but was sorry that
the footboy of a worthy knight with whom he was acquainted
saw him do it. And the last instance he would mention of poor
Pepys’s ‘naivete’ was when he said in the Diary that he could not
help having a certain pleasant and satisfied feeling when Barlow
died. Barlow, it must be remembered, received during his life the
yearly sum from Pepys of £100. The value of Pepys’s book was
simply priceless, and while there was nothing in it approaching
that single page in St. Simon where he described that thunder of
courtierly red heels passing from one wing of the Palace to an-
other as the Prince was lying on his death-bed, and favour was
to flow from another source, still Pepys’s Diary was unequalled
in its peculiar quality of amusement. The lightest part of the Di-
ary was of value, historically, for it enabled one to see London
of 200 years ago, and, what was more, to see it with the eager
eyes of Pepys. It was not Pepys the official who had brought that
large gathering together that day in honour of his memory: it
was Pepys the Diarist.”
In concluding this account of the chief particulars of Pepys’s
life it may be well to add a few words upon the pronunciation of
his name. Various attempts appear to have been made to repre-
sent this phonetically. Lord Braybrooke, in quoting the entry of
death from St. Olave’s Registers, where the spelling is “Peyps,”
50
PREFACE
wrote, “This is decisive as to the proper pronunciation of the
name.” This spelling may show that the name was pronounced
as a monosyllable, but it is scarcely conclusive as to anything else,
and Lord Braybrooke does not say what he supposes the sound
of the vowels to have been. At present there are three pronunci-
ations in use–Peps, which is the most usual; Peeps, which is the
received one at Magdalene College, and Peppis, which I learn
from Mr. Walter C. Pepys is the one used by other branches of
the family. Mr. Pepys has paid particular attention to this point,
and in his valuable “Genealogy of the Pepys Family” (1887) he
has collected seventeen varieties of spelling of the name, which
are as follows, the dates of the documents in which the form ap-
pears being attached:
1. Pepis (1273); 2. Pepy (1439); 3. Pypys (1511); 4. Pipes (1511);
5. Peppis (1518); 6. Peppes (1519); 7. Pepes (1520); 8. Peppys
(1552); 9. Peaps (1636); 10. Pippis (1639); 11. Peapys (1653); 12.
Peps (1655); 13. Pypes (1656); 14. Peypes (1656); 15. Peeps (1679);
16. Peepes (1683); 17. Peyps (1703). Mr. Walter Pepys adds:–
“The accepted spelling of the name ‘Pepys’ was adopted gener-
ally about the end of the seventeenth century, though it occurs
many years before that time. There have been numerous ways
of pronouncing the name, as ‘Peps,’ ‘Peeps,’ and ‘Peppis.’ The
Diarist undoubtedly pronounced it ‘Peeps,’ and the lineal de-
scendants of his sister Paulina, the family of ‘Pepys Cockerell’
pronounce it so to this day. The other branches of the family all
pronounce it as ‘Peppis,’ and I am led to be satisfied that the lat-
ter pronunciation is correct by the two facts that in the earliest
known writing it is spelt ‘Pepis,’ and that the French form of the
name is ‘Pepy.”’
The most probable explanation is that the name in the seven-
teenth century was either pronounced ‘Pips’ or ‘Papes’; for both
the forms ‘ea’ and ‘ey’ would represent the latter pronunciation.
The general change in the pronunciation of the spelling ‘ea’ from
‘ai’ to ‘ee’ took place in a large number of words at the end of the
51
PREFACE
seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth-century, and three
words at least (yea, break, and great) keep this old pronuncia-
tion still. The present Irish pronunciation of English is really
the same as the English pronunciation of the seventeenth cen-
tury, when the most extensive settlement of Englishmen in Ire-
land took place, and the Irish always pronounce ea like ai (as, He
gave him a nate bating–neat beating). Again, the ‘ey’ of Peyps
would rhyme with they and obey. English literature is full of il-
lustrations of the old pronunciation of ea, as in “Hudibras;”
“Doubtless the pleasure is as great
In being cheated as to cheat,”
which was then a perfect rhyme. In the “Rape of the Lock” tea
(tay) rhymes with obey, and in Cowper’s verses on Alexander
Selkirk sea rhymes with survey.’ It is not likely that the pronunci-
ation of the name was fixed, but there is every reason to suppose
that the spellings of Peyps and Peaps were intended to represent
the sound Pepes rather than Peeps.
In spite of all the research which has brought to light so many
incidents of interest in the life of Samuel Pepys, we cannot but
feel how dry these facts are when placed by the side of the living
details of the Diary. It is in its pages that the true man is dis-
played, and it has therefore not been thought necessary here to
do more than set down in chronological order such facts as are
known of the life outside the Diary. A fuller “appreciation” of
the man must be left for some future occasion.
H. B. W.
52
JANUARY 1659-1660
(The year did not legally begin in England before the 25th March
until the act for altering the style fixed the 1st of January as the
first day of the year, and previous to 1752 the year extended from
March 25th to the following March 24th. Thus since 1752 we have
been in the habit of putting the two dates for the months of Jan-
uary and February and March 1 to 24–in all years previous to
1752. Practically, however, many persons considered the year to
commence with January 1st, as it will be seen Pepys did. The
1st of January was considered as New Year’s day long before
Pepys’s time. The fiscal year has not been altered; and the na-
tional accounts are still reckoned from old Lady Day, which falls
on the 6th of April.9 Pepys was successfully cut for the stone on
March 26th, 1658. See March 26th below. Although not suffering
from this cause again until the end of his life, there are frequent
references in the Diary to pain whenever he caught cold. In a
letter from Pepys to his nephew Jackson, April 8th, 1700, there
is a reference to the breaking out three years before his death of
the wound caused by the cutting for the stone: “It has been my
calamity for much the greatest part of this time to have been kept
bedrid, under an evil so rarely known as to have had it matter
9 Blessed be God, at the end of the last year I was in very good health,
without any sense of my old pain, but upon taking of cold.
53
JANUARY 1659-1660
of universal surprise and with little less general opinion of its
dangerousness; namely, that the cicatrice of a wound occasioned
upon my cutting for the stone, without hearing anything of it in
all this time, should after more than 40 years’ perfect cure, break
out again.” At the post-mortem examination a nest of seven
stones, weighing four and a half ounces, was found in the left
kidney, which was entirely ulcerated.10 Pepys’s house was on the
south side of King Street, Westminster; it is singular that when he
removed to a residence in the city, he should have settled close to
another Axe Yard. Fludyer Street stands on the site of Axe Yard,
which derived its name from a great messuage or brewhouse on
the west side of King Street, called “The Axe,” and referred to in a
document of the 23rd of Henry VIII–B.11 [Ed. note:.... are used to
denote censored passages12 John Lambert, major-general in the
Parliamentary army. The title Lord was not his by right, but it
was frequently given to the republican officers. He was born in
1619, at Calton Hall, in the parish of Kirkby-in-Malham-Dale, in
the West Riding of Yorkshire. In 1642 he was appointed captain
of horse under Fairfax, and acted as major-general to Cromwell
in 1650 during the war in Scotland. After this Parliament con-
ferred on him a grant of lands in Scotland worth £1000 per an-
num. He refused to take the oath of allegiance to Cromwell,
for which the Protector deprived him of his commission. Af-
ter Cromwell’s death he tried to set up a military government.
The Commons cashiered Lambert, Desborough, and other offi-
cers, October 12th, 1659, but Lambert retaliated by thrusting out
the Commons, and set out to meet Monk. His men fell away
from him, and he was sent to the Tower, March 3rd, 1660, but
10 I lived in Axe Yard,
11 having my wife, and servant Jane, and no more in family than us three.
My wife.... gave me hopes of her being with child, but on the last day of the
year....[the hope was belied.
12 The condition of the State was thus; viz. the Rump, after being dis-
turbed by my Lord Lambert,
54
JANUARY 1659-1660
escaped. In 1662 he was tried on a charge of high treason and
condemned, but his life was spared. It is generally stated that he
passed the remainder of his life in the island of Guernsey, but this
is proved to be incorrect by a MS. in the Plymouth Athenaeum,
entitled “Plimmouth Memoirs collected by James Yonge, 1684”
This will be seen from the following extracts quoted by Mr. R.
J. King, in “Notes and Queries,” ”1667 Lambert the arch-rebel
brought to this island [St. Nicholas, at the entrance of Plymouth
harbour].” ”1683 Easter day Lambert that olde rebell dyed this
winter on Plimmouth Island where he had been prisoner 15 years
and more.”13 Sir John Lawson, the son of a poor man at Hull,
entered the navy as a common sailor, rose to the rank of admi-
ral, and distinguished himself during the Protectorate. Though
a republican, he readily closed with the design of restoring the
King. He was vice-admiral under the Earl of Sandwich, and com-
manded the “London” in the squadron which conveyed Charles
II. to England. He was mortally wounded in the action with the
Dutch off Harwich, June, 1665. He must not be confounded with
another John Lawson, the Royalist, of Brough Hall, in Yorkshire,
who was created a Baronet by Charles II, July 6th, 1665.14 “The
City sent and invited him [Monk] to dine the next day at Guild-
hall, and there he declared for the members whom the army
had forced away in year forty-seven and forty-eight, who were
known by the names of secluded members.”–Burnet’s Hist. of
13 was lately returned to sit again. The officers of the Army all forced to
yield. Lawson
14 lies still in the river, and Monk–[George Monk, born 1608, created Duke
of Albemarle, 1660, married Ann Clarges, March, 1654, died January 3rd,
1676.]–is with his army in Scotland. Only my Lord Lambert is not yet come
into the Parliament, nor is it expected that he will without being forced to it.
The new Common Council of the City do speak very high; and had sent to
Monk their sword-bearer, to acquaint him with their desires for a free and
full Parliament, which is at present the desires, and the hopes, and expecta-
tion of all. Twenty-two of the old secluded members
55
JANUARY 1659-1660
his Own Time, book i.15 George Downing was one of the Four
Tellers of the Receipt of the Exchequer, and in his office Pepys
was a clerk. He was the son of Emmanuel Downing of the Inner
Temple, afterwards of Salem, Massachusetts, and of Lucy, sister
of Governor John Winthrop. He is supposed to have been born in
August, 1623. He and his parents went to New England in 1638,
and he was the second graduate of Harvard College. He returned
to England about 1645, and acted as Colonel Okey’s chaplain be-
fore he entered into political life. Anthony a Wood (who incor-
rectly describes him as the son of Dr. Calybute Downing, vicar
of Hackney) calls Downing a sider with all times and changes:
skilled in the common cant, and a preacher occasionally. He was
sent by Cromwell to Holland in 1657, as resident there. At the
Restoration, he espoused the King’s cause, and was knighted
and elected M.P. for Morpeth, in 1661. Afterwards, becoming
Secretary to the Treasury and Commissioner of the Customs, he
was in 1663 created a Baronet of East Hatley, in Cambridgeshire,
and was again sent Ambassador to Holland. His grandson of
the same name, who died in 1749, was the founder of Downing
College, Cambridge. The title became extinct in 1764, upon the
decease of Sir John Gerrard Downing, the last heir-male of the
family. Sir George Downing’s character will be found in Lord
Clarendon’s “Life,” vol. iii. p. 4. Pepys’s opinion seems to be
somewhat of a mixed kind. He died in July, 1684.)
Jan. 1st (Lord’s day). This morning (we living lately in the
garret,) I rose, put on my suit with great skirts, having not
lately worn any other, clothes but them. Went to Mr. Gun-
ning’s16 chapel at Exeter House, where he made a very good ser-
15 having been at the House-door the last week to demand entrance, but it
was denied them; and it is believed that [neither] they nor the people will be
satisfied till the House be filled. My own private condition very handsome,
and esteemed rich, but indeed very poor; besides my goods of my house,
and my office, which at present is somewhat uncertain. Mr. Downing master
of my office.
16 Peter Gunning, afterwards Master of St. John’s College, Cambridge,
56
JANUARY 1659-1660
mon upon these words:–“That in the fulness of time God sent
his Son, made of a woman,” &c.; showing, that, by “made under
the law,” is meant his circumcision, which is solemnized this day.
Dined at home in the garret, where my wife dressed the remains
of a turkey, and in the doing of it she burned her hand. I staid
at home all the afternoon, looking over my accounts; then went
with my wife to my father’s, and in going observed the great
posts which the City have set up at the Conduit in Fleet-street.
Supt at my father’s, where in came Mrs. The. Turner–[Theophila
Turner, daughter of Sergeant John and Jane Turner, who married
Sir Arthur Harris, Bart. She died 1686.]–and Madam Morrice,
and supt with us. After that my wife and I went home with them,
and so to our own home.
2nd. In the morning before I went forth old East brought me a
dozen of bottles of sack, and I gave him a shilling for his pains.
Then I went to Mr. Sheply,–[Shepley was a servant of Admiral Sir
Edward Montagu]–who was drawing of sack in the wine cellar to
send to other places as a gift from my Lord, and told me that my
Lord had given him order to give me the dozen of bottles. Thence
I went to the Temple to speak with Mr. Calthropp about the £60
due to my Lord,17 but missed of him, he being abroad. Then I
and successively Bishop of Chichester and Ely. He had continued to read
the Liturgy at the chapel at Exeter House when the Parliament was most
predominant, for which Cromwell often rebuked him. Evelyn relates that
on Christmas Day, 1657, the chapel was surrounded with soldiers, and the
congregation taken prisoners, he and his wife being among them. There
are several notices of Dr. Gunning in Evelyn’s Diary. When he obtained
the mastership of St. John’s College upon the ejection of Dr. Tuckney, he
allowed that Nonconformist divine a handsome annuity during his life. He
was a great controversialist, and a man of great reading. Burnet says he “was
a very honest sincere man, but of no sound judgment, and of no prudence
in affairs” (“Hist. of his Own. Time”). He died July 6th, 1684, aged seventy-
one.
17 Sir Edward Montagu, born 1625, son of Sir Sidney Montagu, by Paulina,
daughter of John Pepys of Cottenham, married Jemima, daughter of John
57
JANUARY 1659-1660
went to Mr. Crew’s18 and borrowed £10 of Mr. Andrewes for
my own use, and so went to my office, where there was nothing
to do. Then I walked a great while in Westminster Hall, where
I heard that Lambert was coming up to London; that my Lord
Fairfax19 was in the head of the Irish brigade, but it was not cer-
Crew of Stene. He died in action against the Dutch in Southwold Bay, May
28th, 1672. The title of “My Lord” here applied to Montagu before he was
created Earl of Sandwich is of the same character as that given to General
Lambert.
18 John Crew, born 1598, eldest son of Sir Thomas Crew, Sergeant-at- Law
and Speaker of the House of Commons. He sat for Brackley in the Long
Parliament. Created Baron Crew of Stene, in the county of Northampton,
at the coronation of Charles II. He married Jemima, daughter and co-heir
of Edward Walgrave (or Waldegrave) of Lawford, Essex. His house was in
Lincoln’s Inn Fields. He died December 12th, 1679.
19 Thomas, Lord Fairfax, Generalissimo of the Parliament forces. After the
Restoration, he retired to his country seat, where he lived in private till his
death, 1671. In a volume (autograph) of Lord Fairfax’s Poems, preserved in
the British Museum, 11744, f. 42, the following lines occur upon the 30th of
January, on which day the King was beheaded. It is believed that they have
never been printed.
“O let that day from time be bloted quitt,
And beleef of ‘t in next age be waved,
In depest silence that act concealed might,
That so the creadet of our nation might be saved;
But if the powre devine hath ordered this,
His will’s the law, and our must aquiess.” These wretched verses have ob-
viously no merit; but they are curious as showing that Fairfax, who had
refused to act as one of Charles I’s judges; continued long afterwards to en-
tertain a proper horror for that unfortunate monarch’s fate. It has recently
been pointed out to me, that the lines were not originally composed by Fair-
fax, being only a poor translation of the spirited lines of Statius (Sylvarum
lib. v. cap. ii. l. 88)
“Excidat illa dies aevo, ne postera credant
Secula, nos certe taceamus; et obruta multa
Nocte tegi propria patiamur crimina gentis.”
These verses were first applied by the President de Thou to the massacre of
St. Bartholomew, 1572; and in our day, by Mr. Pitt, in his memorable speech
in the House of Commons, January, 1793, after the murder of Louis XVI.–B.
58
JANUARY 1659-1660
tain what he would declare for. The House was to-day upon fin-
ishing the act for the Council of State, which they did; and for
the indemnity to the soldiers; and were to sit again thereupon
in the afternoon. Great talk that many places have declared for
a free Parliament; and it is believed that they will be forced to
fill up the House with the old members. From the Hall I called
at home, and so went to Mr. Crew’s (my wife she was to go
to her father’s), thinking to have dined, but I came too late, so
Mr. Moore and I and another gentleman went out and drank
a cup of ale together in the new market, and there I eat some
bread and cheese for my dinner. After that Mr. Moore and I
went as far as Fleet-street together and parted, he going into the
City, I to find Mr. Calthrop, but failed again of finding him, so
returned to Mr. Crew’s again, and from thence went along with
Mrs. Jemimah20 home, and there she taught me how to play at
cribbage. Then I went home, and finding my wife gone to see
Mrs. Hunt, I went to Will’s,21 and there sat with Mr. Ashwell
talking and singing till nine o’clock, and so home, there, having
not eaten anything but bread and cheese, my wife cut me a slice
of brawn which. I received from my Lady;–[Jemima, wife of Sir
Edward Montagu, daughter of John Crew of Stene, afterwards
Lord Crew.]–which proves as good as ever I had any. So to bed,
and my wife had a very bad night of it through wind and cold.
3rd. I went out in the morning, it being a great frost, and
walked to Mrs. Turner’s22 to stop her from coming to see me to-
day, because of Mrs. Jem’s corning, thence I went to the Temple
20 Mrs. Jemimah, or Mrs. Jem, was Jemima, eldest daughter of Sir Edward
Montagu. At this time she and her sister, Mrs. Ann, seem to have been living
alone with their maids in London, and Pepys’s duty was to look after them.
21 Pepys constantly visited “Will’s” about this time; but this could not be
the famous coffee-house in Covent Garden, because he mentions visiting
there for the first time, February 3rd, 1663-64. It was most probably the house
of William Joyce, who kept a place of entertainment at Westminster (see Jan.
29th).
22 Jane, daughter of John Pepys of South Creake, Norfolk, married to John
59
JANUARY 1659-1660
to speak with Mr. Calthrop, and walked in his chamber an hour,
but could not see him, so went to Westminster, where I found
soldiers in my office to receive money, and paid it them. At noon
went home, where Mrs. Jem, her maid, Mr. Sheply, Hawly, and
Moore dined with me on a piece of beef and cabbage, and a col-
lar of brawn. We then fell to cards till dark, and then I went
home with Mrs. Jem, and meeting Mr. Hawly got him to bear me
company to Chancery Lane, where I spoke with Mr. Calthrop,
he told me that Sir James Calthrop was lately dead, but that he
would write to his Lady, that the money may be speedily paid.
Thence back to White Hall, where I understood that the Parlia-
ment had passed the act for indemnity to the soldiers and officers
that would come in, in so many days, and that my Lord Lambert
should have benefit of the said act. They had also voted that all
vacancies in the House, by the death of any of the old members,
shall be filled up; but those that are living shall not be called in.
Thence I went home, and there found Mr. Hunt and his wife,
and Mr. Hawly, who sat with me till ten at night at cards, and so
broke up and to bed.
4th. Early came Mr. Vanly–[Mr Vanley appears to have been
Pepys’s landlord; he is mentioned again in the Diary on Septem-
ber 20th, 1660.]–to me for his half-year’s rent, which I had not in
the house, but took his man to the office and there paid him. Then
I went down into the Hall and to Will’s, where Hawly brought a
piece of his Cheshire cheese, and we were merry with it. Then
into the Hall again, where I met with the Clerk and Quarter Mas-
ter of my Lord’s troop, and took them to the Swan’ and gave
them their morning’s draft,23 they being just come to town. Mr.
Jenkins shewed me two bills of exchange for money to receive
Turner, Sergeant-at-law, Recorder of York; their only child, Theophila, fre-
quently mentioned as The. or Theoph., became the wife of Sir Arthur Harris,
Bart., of Stowford, Devon, and died 1686, s.p.
23 It was not usual at this time to sit down to breakfast, but instead a morn-
ing draught was taken at a tavern.
60
JANUARY 1659-1660
upon my Lord’s and my pay. It snowed hard all this morning,
and was very cold, and my nose was much swelled with cold.
Strange the difference of men’s talk! Some say that Lambert must
of necessity yield up; others, that he is very strong, and that the
Fifth-monarchy-men [will] stick to him, if he declares for a free
Parliament. Chillington was sent yesterday to him with the vote
of pardon and indemnity from the Parliament. From the Hall I
came home, where I found letters from Hinchinbroke24 and news
of Mr. Sheply’s going thither the next week. I dined at home,
and from thence went to Will’s to Shaw, who promised me to go
along with me to Atkinson’s about some money, but I found him
at cards with Spicer and D. Vines, and could not get him along
with me. I was vext at this, and went and walked in the Hall,
where I heard that the Parliament spent this day in fasting and
prayer; and in the afternoon came letters from the North, that
brought certain news that my Lord Lambent his forces were all
forsaking him, and that he was left with only fifty horse, and that
he did now declare for the Parliament himself; and that my Lord
Fairfax did also rest satisfied, and had laid down his arms, and
that what he had done was only to secure the country against
24 Hinchinbroke was Sir Edward Montagu’s seat, from which he after-
wards took his second title. Hinchinbroke House, so often mentioned in
the Diary, stood about half a mile to the westward of the town of Hunting-
don. It was erected late in the reign of Elizabeth, by Sir Henry Cromwell,
on the site of a Benedictine nunnery, granted at the Dissolution, with all its
appurtenances, to his father, Richard Williams, who had assumed the name
of Cromwell, and whose grandson, Sir Oliver, was the uncle and godfather
of the Protector. The knight, who was renowned for, his hospitality, had the
honour of entertaining King James at Hinchinbroke, but, getting into pecu-
niary difficulties, was obliged to sell his estates, which were conveyed, July
28th, 1627, to Sir Sidney Montagu of Barnwell, father of the first Earl of Sand-
wich, in whose descendant they are still vested. On the morning of the 22nd
January, 1830, during the minority of the seventh Earl, Hinchinbroke was
almost entirely destroyed by fire, but the pictures and furniture were mostly
saved, and the house has been rebuilt in the Elizabethan style, and the inte-
rior greatly improved, under the direction of Edward Blore, Esq., R.A.–B.
61
JANUARY 1659-1660
my Lord Lambert his raising of money, and free quarter. I went
to Will’s again, where I found them still at cards, and Spicer had
won 14s. of Shaw and Vines. Then I spent a little time with G.
Vines and Maylard at Vines’s at our viols.25 So home, and from
thence to Mr. Hunt’s, and sat with them and Mr. Hawly at cards
till ten at night, and was much made of by them. Home and so to
bed, but much troubled with my nose, which was much swelled.
5th. I went to my office, where the money was again expected
from the Excise office, but none brought, but was promised to
be sent this afternoon. I dined with Mr. Sheply, at my Lord’s
lodgings, upon his turkey-pie. And so to my office again; where
the Excise money was brought, and some of it told to soldiers
till it was dark. Then I went home, and after writing a letter to
my Lord and told him the news that the Parliament hath this
night voted that the members that were discharged from sit-
ting in the years 1648 and 49, were duly discharged; and that
there should be writs issued presently for the calling of others
in their places, and that Monk and Fairfax were commanded up
to town, and that the Prince’s lodgings were to be provided for
Monk at Whitehall. Then my wife and I, it being a great frost,
went to Mrs. Jem’s, in expectation to eat a sack-posset, but Mr.
Edward–[Edward Montage, son of Sir Edward, and afterwards
Lord Hinchinbroke.]–not coming it was put off; and so I left my
wife playing at cards with her, and went myself with my lan-
thorn to Mr. Fage, to consult concerning my nose, who told me
it was nothing but cold, and after that we did discourse concern-
ing public business; and he told me it is true the City had not
time enough to do much, but they are resolved to shake off the
soldiers; and that unless there be a free Parliament chosen, he
did believe there are half the Common Council will not levy any
25 It was usual to have a “chest of viols,” which consisted of six, viz., two
trebles, two tenors, and two basses (see note in North’s “Memoirs of Mu-
sick,” ed. Rimbault, p. 70). The bass viol was also called the ‘viola da
gamba’, because it was held between the legs.
62
JANUARY 1659-1660
money by order of this Parliament. From thence I went to my fa-
ther’s, where I found Mrs. Ramsey and her grandchild, a pretty
girl, and staid a while and talked with them and my mother, and
then took my leave, only heard of an invitation to go to dinner
to-morrow to my cosen Thomas Pepys.–[Thomas Pepys, proba-
bly the son of Thomas Pepys of London (born, 1595), brother of
Samuel’s father, John Pepys.]–I went back to Mrs. Jem, and took
my wife and Mrs. Sheply, and went home.
6th. This morning Mr. Sheply and I did eat our breakfast at
Mrs. Harper’s, (my brother John’ being with me,)26 upon a cold
turkey-pie and a goose. From thence I went to my office, where
we paid money to the soldiers till one o’clock, at which time we
made an end, and I went home and took my wife and went to
my cosen, Thomas Pepys, and found them just sat down to din-
ner, which was very good; only the venison pasty was palpable
beef, which was not handsome. After dinner I took my leave,
leaving my wife with my cozen Stradwick,–[Elizabeth, daugh-
ter of Richard Pepys, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, and wife
of Thomas Stradwick.]–and went to Westminster to Mr. Vines,
where George and I fiddled a good while, Dick and his wife
(who was lately brought to bed) and her sister being there, but
Mr. Hudson not coming according to his promise, I went away,
and calling at my house on the wench, I took her and the lan-
thorn with me to my cosen Stradwick, where, after a good sup-
per, there being there my father, mother, brothers, and sister, my
cosen Scott and his wife, Mr. Drawwater and his wife, and her
brother, Mr. Stradwick, we had a brave cake brought us, and in
the choosing, Pall was Queen and Mr. Stradwick was King. After
that my wife and I bid adieu and came home, it being still a great
frost.
7th. At my office as I was receiving money of the probate
of wills, in came Mrs. Turner, Theoph., Madame Morrice, and
26 John Pepys was born in 1641, and his brother Samuel took great interest
in his welfare, but he did not do any great credit to his elder.
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JANUARY 1659-1660
Joyce, and after I had done I took them home to my house and
Mr. Hawly came after, and I got a dish of steaks and a rabbit for
them, while they were playing a game or two at cards. In the
middle of our dinner a messenger from Mr. Downing came to
fetch me to him, so leaving Mr. Hawly there, I went and was
forced to stay till night in expectation of the French Embassador,
who at last came, and I had a great deal of good discourse with
one of his gentlemen concerning the reason of the difference be-
tween the zeal of the French and the Spaniard. After he was gone
I went home, and found my friends still at cards, and after that
I went along with them to Dr. Whores (sending my wife to Mrs.
Jem’s to a sack-posset), where I heard some symphony and songs
of his own making, performed by Mr. May, Harding, and Mal-
lard. Afterwards I put my friends into a coach, and went to Mrs.
Jem’s, where I wrote a letter to my Lord by the post, and had
my part of the posset which was saved for me, and so we went
home, and put in at my Lord’s lodgings, where we staid late, eat-
ing of part of his turkey-pie, and reading of Quarles’ Emblems.
So home and to bed.
8th (Sunday). In the morning I went to Mr. Gunning’s, where
a good sermon, wherein he showed the life of Christ, and told us
good authority for us to believe that Christ did follow his father’s
trade, and was a carpenter till thirty years of age. From thence
to my father’s to dinner, where I found my wife, who was forced
to dine there, we not having one coal of fire in the house, and it
being very hard frosty weather. In the afternoon my father, he
going to a man’s to demand some money due to my Aunt Bells
my wife and I went to Mr. Mossum’s, where a strange doctor
made a very good sermon. From thence sending my wife to my
father’s, I went to Mrs. Turner’s, and staid a little while, and then
to my father’s, where I found Mr. Sheply, and after supper went
home together. Here I heard of the death of Mr. Palmer, and that
he was to be buried at Westminster tomorrow.
9th. For these two or three days I have been much troubled
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JANUARY 1659-1660
with thoughts how to get money to pay them that I have bor-
rowed money of, by reason of my money being in my uncle’s
hands. I rose early this morning, and looked over and cor-
rected my brother John’s speech, which he is to make the next
apposition,–[Declamations at St. Paul’s School, in which there
were opponents and respondents.]–and after that I went towards
my office, and in my way met with W. Simons, Muddiman, and
Jack Price, and went with them to Harper’s and in many sorts of
talk I staid till two of the clock in the afternoon. I found Mud-
diman a good scholar, an arch rogue; and owns that though he
writes new books for the Parliament, yet he did declare that he
did it only to get money; and did talk very basely of many of
them. Among other things, W. Simons told me how his uncle
Scobel was on Saturday last called to the bar, for entering in the
journal of the House, for the year 1653, these words: “This day
his Excellence the Lord General Cromwell dissolved this House;”
which words the Parliament voted a forgery, and demanded of
him how they came to be entered. He answered that they were
his own handwriting, and that he did it by virtue of his office,
and the practice of his predecessor; and that the intent of the
practice was to–let posterity know how such and such a Parlia-
ment was dissolved, whether by the command of the King, or by
their own neglect, as the last House of Lords was; and that to this
end, he had said and writ that it was dissolved by his Excellence
the Lord G[eneral]; and that for the word dissolved, he never at
the time did hear of any other term; and desired pardon if he
would not dare to make a word himself when it was six years
after, before they came themselves to call it an interruption; but
they were so little satisfied with this answer, that they did chuse a
committee to report to the House, whether this crime of Mr. Sco-
bell’s did come within the act of indemnity or no. Thence I went
with Muddiman to the Coffee-House, and gave 18d. to be en-
tered of the Club. Thence into the Hall, where I heard for certain
that Monk was coming to London, and that Bradshaw’s 2 lodg-
ings were preparing for him. Thence to Mrs. Jem’s, and found
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JANUARY 1659-1660
her in bed, and she was afraid that it would prove the small-
pox. Thence back to Westminster Hall, where I heard how Sir
H. Vane–[Sir Harry Vane the younger, an inflexible republican.
He was executed in 1662, on a charge of conspiring the death
of Charles I.]–was this day voted out of the House, and to sit no
more there; and that he would retire himself to his house at Raby,
as also all the rest of the nine officers that had their commissions
formerly taken away from them, were commanded to their far-
thest houses from London during the pleasure of the Parliament.
Here I met with the Quarter Master of my Lord’s troop, and his
clerk Mr. Jenings, and took them home, and gave them a bottle
of wine, and the remainder of my collar of brawn; and so good
night. After that came in Mr. Hawly, who told me that I was
mist this day at my office, and that to-morrow I must pay all the
money that I have, at which I was put to a great loss how I should
get money to make up my cash, and so went to bed in great trou-
ble.
10th. Went out early, and in my way met with Greatorex,–
[Ralph Greatorex, the well-known mathematical instrument
maker of his day. He is frequently mentioned by Pepys.]–and
at an alehouse he showed me the first sphere of wire that ever
he made, and indeed it was very pleasant; thence to Mr. Crew’s,
and borrowed £10, and so to my office, and was able to pay my
money. Thence into the Hall, and meeting the Quarter Master,
Jenings, and Captain Rider, we four went to a cook’s to din-
ner. Thence Jenings and I into London (it being through heat
of the sun a great thaw and dirty) to show our bills of return,
and coming back drank a pint of wine at the Star in Cheapside.
So to Westminster, overtaking Captain Okeshott in his silk cloak,
whose sword got hold of many people in walking. Thence to the
Coffee-house, where were a great confluence of gentlemen; viz.
Mr. Harrington, Poultny, chairman, Gold, Dr. Petty; &c., where
admirable discourse till at night. Thence with Doling to Mother
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JANUARY 1659-1660
Lams, who told me how this day Scott27 was made Intelligencer,
and that the rest of the members that were objected against last
night, their business was to be heard this day se’nnight. Thence
I went home and wrote a letter, and went to Harper’s, and staid
there till Tom carried it to the postboy at Whitehall. So home to
bed.
11th. Being at Will’s with Captain Barker, who hath paid me
£300 this morning at my office, in comes my father, and with him
I walked, and leave him at W. Joyce’s, and went myself to Mr.
Crew’s, but came too late to dine, and therefore after a game at
shittle-cocks–[The game of battledore and shuttlecock was for-
merly much played even in tennis courts, and was a very vio-
lent game.]–with Mr. Walgrave and Mr. Edward, I returned to
my father, and taking him from W. Joyce’s, who was not abroad
himself, we inquired of a porter, and by his direction went to an
alehouse, where after a cup or two we parted. I went towards
London, and in my way went in to see Crowly, who was now
grown a very great loon and very tame. Thence to Mr. Steven’s
with a pair of silver snuffers, and bought a pair of shears to cut
silver, and so homeward again. From home I went to see Mrs.
Jem, who was in bed, and now granted to have the small-pox.
Back again, and went to the Coffee-house, but tarried not, and so
home.
12th. I drink my morning at Harper’s with Mr. Sheply and a
seaman, and so to my office, where Captain Holland came to see
me, and appointed a meeting in the afternoon. Then wrote letters
to Hinchinbroke and sealed them at Will’s, and after that went
home, and thence to the Half Moon, where I found the Captain
and Mr. Billingsly and Newman, a barber, where we were very
27 Thomas Scott, M.P., was made Secretary of State to the Commonwealth
on the 17th of this same January. He signed the death warrant of Charles I.,
for which he was executed at Charing Cross, October 16th, 1660. He gloried
in his offence, and desired to have written on his tombstone, “Thomas Scott
who adjudged to death the late king.”
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JANUARY 1659-1660
merry, and had the young man that plays so well on the Welsh
harp. Billingsly paid for all. Thence home, and finding my let-
ters this day not gone by the carrier I new sealed them, but my
brother Tom coming we fell into discourse about my intention to
feast the Joyces. I sent for a bit of meat for him from the cook’s,
and forgot to send my letters this night. So I went to bed, and in
discourse broke to my wife what my thoughts were concerning
my design of getting money by, &c.
13th. Coming in the morning to my office, I met with Mr. Fage
and took him to the Swan? He told me how high Haselrigge,
and Morly, the last night began at my Lord Mayor’s to exclaim
against the City of London, saying that they had forfeited their
charter. And how the Chamberlain of the City did take them
down, letting them know how much they were formerly behold-
ing to the City, &c. He also told me that Monk’s letter that came to
them by the sword-bearer was a cunning piece, and that which
they did not much trust to; but they were resolved to make no
more applications to the Parliament, nor to pay any money, un-
less the secluded members be brought in, or a free Parliament
chosen. Thence to my office, where nothing to do. So to Will’s
with Mr. Pinkney, who invited me to their feast at his Hall the
next Monday. Thence I went home and took my wife and dined
at Mr. Wades, and after that we went and visited Catan. From
thence home again, and my wife was very unwilling to let me
go forth, but with some discontent would go out if I did, and I
going forth towards Whitehall, I saw she followed me, and so
I staid and took her round through Whitehall, and so carried
her home angry. Thence I went to Mrs. Jem, and found her up
and merry, and that it did not prove the small-pox, but only the
swine-pox; so I played a game or two at cards with her. And so to
Mr. Vines, where he and I and Mr. Hudson played half-a-dozen
things, there being there Dick’s wife and her sister. After that I
went home and found my wife gone abroad to Mr. Hunt’s, and
came in a little after me.–So to bed.
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JANUARY 1659-1660
14th. Nothing to do at our office. Thence into the Hall, and just
as I was going to dinner from Westminster Hall with Mr. Moore
(with whom I had been in the lobby to hear news, and had spoke
with Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper about my Lord’s lodgings) to
his house, I met with Captain Holland, who told me that he hath
brought his wife to my house, so I posted home and got a dish
of meat for them. They staid with me all the afternoon, and went
hence in the evening. Then I went with my wife, and left her
at market, and went myself to the Coffee-house, and heard ex-
ceeding good argument against Mr. Harrington’s assertion, that
overbalance of propriety [i.e., property] was the foundation of
government. Home, and wrote to Hinchinbroke, and sent that
and my other letter that missed of going on Thursday last. So to
bed.
15th. Having been exceedingly disturbed in the night with the
barking of a dog of one of our neighbours that I could not sleep
for an hour or two, I slept late, and then in the morning took
physic, and so staid within all day. At noon my brother John
came to me, and I corrected as well as I could his Greek speech to
say the Apposition, though I believe he himself was as well able
to do it as myself. After that we went to read in the great Officiale
about the blessing of bells in the Church of Rome. After that my
wife and I in pleasant discourse till night, then I went to supper,
and after that to make an end of this week’s notes in this book,
and so to bed. It being a cold day and a great snow my physic
did not work so well as it should have done.
16th. In the morning I went up to Mr. Crew’s, and at his bed-
side he gave me direction to go to-morrow with Mr. Edward to
Twickenham, and likewise did talk to me concerning things of
state; and expressed his mind how just it was that the secluded
members should come to sit again. I went from thence, and in
my way went into an alehouse and drank my morning draft with
Matthew Andrews and two or three more of his friends, coach-
men. And of one of them I did hire a coach to carry us to-morrow
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JANUARY 1659-1660
to Twickenham. From thence to my office, where nothing to do;
but Mr. Downing he came and found me all alone; and did men-
tion to me his going back into Holland, and did ask me whether
I would go or no, but gave me little encouragement, but bid me
consider of it; and asked me whether I did not think that Mr.
Hawly could perform the work of my office alone or no. I con-
fess I was at a great loss, all the day after, to bethink myself how
to carry this business. At noon, Harry Ethall came to me and
went along with Mr. Maylard by coach as far as Salsbury Court,
and there we set him down, and we went to the Clerks, where we
came a little too late, but in a closet we had a very good dinner
by Mr. Pinkny’s courtesy, and after dinner we had pretty good
singing, and one, Hazard, sung alone after the old fashion, which
was very much cried up, but I did not like it. Thence we went
to the Green Dragon, on Lambeth Hill, both the Mr. Pinkney’s,
Smith, Harrison, Morrice, that sang the bass, Sheply and I, and
there we sang of all sorts of things, and I ventured with good
success upon things at first sight, and after that I played on my
flageolet, and staid there till nine o’clock, very merry and drawn
on with one song after another till it came to be so late. After that
Sheply, Harrison and myself, we went towards Westminster on
foot, and at the Golden Lion, near Charing Cross, we went in and
drank a pint of wine, and so parted, and thence home, where I
found my wife and maid a-washing. I staid up till the bell-man
came by with his bell just under my window as I was writing of
this very line, and cried, “Past one of the clock, and a cold, frosty,
windy morning.” I then went to bed, and left my wife and the
maid a-washing still.
17th. Early I went to Mr. Crew’s, and having given Mr. Ed-
ward money to give the servants, I took him into the coach that
waited for us and carried him to my house, where the coach
waited for me while I and the child went to Westminster Hall,
and bought him some pictures. In the Hall I met Mr. Woodfine,
and took him to Will’s and drank with him. Thence the child and
I to the coach, where my wife was ready, and so we went towards
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JANUARY 1659-1660
Twickenham. In our way, at Kensington we understood how that
my Lord Chesterfield had killed another gentleman about half
an hour before, and was fled.28 We went forward and came about
one of the clock to Mr. Fuller’s, but he was out of town, so we
had a dinner there, and I gave the child 40s. to give to the two
ushers. After that we parted and went homewards, it being mar-
ket day at Brainford [Brentford]. I set my wife down and went
with the coach to Mr. Crew’s, thinking to have spoke with Mr.
Moore and Mrs. Jem, he having told me the reason of his melan-
choly was some unkindness from her after so great expressions
of love, and how he had spoke to her friends and had their con-
sent, and that he would desire me to take an occasion of speaking
with her, but by no means not to heighten her discontent or dis-
taste whatever it be, but to make it up if I can. But he being out
of doors, I went away and went to see Mrs. Jem, who was now
very well again, and after a game or two at cards, I left her. So I
went to the Coffee Club, and heard very good discourse; it was
in answer to Mr. Harrington’s answer, who said that the state of
28 Philip Stanhope, second Earl of Chesterfield, ob. 1713, act. suae 80. We
learn, from the memoir prefixed to his “Printed Correspondence,” that he
fought three duels, disarming and wounding his first and second antago-
nists, and killing the third. The name of the unfortunate gentleman who fell
on this occasion was Woolly. Lord Chesterfield, absconding, went to Breda,
where he obtained the royal pardon from Charles II. He acted a busy part in
the eventful times in which he lived, and was remarkable for his steady ad-
herence to the Stuarts. Lord Chesterfield’s letter to Charles II., and the King’s
answer granting the royal pardon, occur in the Correspondence published
by General Sir John Murray, in 1829. “Jan. 17th, 1659. The Earl of Chester-
field and Dr. Woolly’s son of Hammersmith, had a quarrel about a mare of
eighteen pounds price; the quarrel would not be reconciled, insomuch that a
challenge passed between them. They fought a duel on the backside of Mr.
Colby’s house at Kensington, where the Earl and he had several passes. The
Earl wounded him in two places, and would fain have then ended, but the
stubbornness and pride of heart of Mr. Woolly would not give over, and the
next pass [he] was killed on the spot. The Earl fled to Chelsea, and there took
water and escaped. The jury found it chance-medley.”–Rugge’s “Diurnal,”
Addit MSS., British Museum.–B.
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JANUARY 1659-1660
the Roman government was not a settled government, and so it
was no wonder that the balance of propriety [i.e., property] was
in one hand, and the command in another, it being therefore al-
ways in a posture of war; but it was carried by ballot, that it was
a steady government, though it is true by the voices it had been
carried before that it was an unsteady government; so to-morrow
it is to be proved by the opponents that the balance lay in one
hand, and the government in another. Thence I went to Westmin-
ster, and met Shaw and Washington, who told me how this day
Sydenham29 was voted out of the House for sitting any more this
Parliament, and that Salloway was voted out likewise and sent
to the Tower, during the pleasure of the House. Home and wrote
by the Post, and carried to Whitehall, and coming back turned
in at Harper-‘s, where Jack Price was, and I drank with him and
he told me, among other, things, how much the Protector30 is al-
tered, though he would seem to bear out his trouble very well,
yet he is scarce able to talk sense with a man; and how he will say
that “Who should a man trust, if he may not trust to a brother and
an uncle;” and “how much those men have to answer before God
Almighty, for their playing the knave with him as they did.” He
told me also, that there was; £100,000 offered, and would have
been taken for his restitution, had not the Parliament come in as
they did again; and that he do believe that the Protector will live
29 Colonel William Sydenham had been an active officer during the Civil
Wars, on the Parliament side; M.P. for Dorsetshire, Governor of Melcombe,
and one of the Committee of Safety. He was the elder brother of the cele-
brated physician of that name.–B.
30 Richard Cromwell, third son of Oliver Cromwell, born October 4th,
1626, admitted a member of Lincoln’s Inn, May 27th, 1647, fell into debt
and devoted himself to hunting and field sports. His succession to his father
as Protector was universally accepted at first, but the army soon began to
murmur because he was not a general. Between the dissensions of various
parties he fell, and the country was left in a state of anarchy: He went abroad
early in the summer of 1660, and lived abroad for some years, returning to
England in 1680. After his fall he bore the name of John Clarke. Died at
Cheshunt, July 12th, 1712.
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JANUARY 1659-1660
to give a testimony of his valour and revenge yet before he dies,
and that the Protector will say so himself sometimes. Thence I
went home, it being late and my wife in bed.
18th. To my office and from thence to Will’s, and there Mr.
Sheply brought me letters from the carrier and so I went home.
After that to Wilkinson’s, where we had a dinner for Mr. Talbot,
Adams, Pinkny and his son, but his son did not come. Here we
were very merry, and while I was here Mr. Fuller came thither
and staid a little, while.
After that we all went to my Lord’s, whither came afterwards
Mr. Harrison, and by chance seeing Mr. Butler–[Mr. Butler is
usually styled by Pepys Mons. l’Impertinent.]–coming by I called
him in and so we sat drinking a bottle of wine till night. At which
time Mistress Ann–[Probably Mrs. (afterwards Lady) Anne Mon-
tagu, daughter of Sir Edward Montagu, and sister to Mrs. Jem.]–
came with the key of my Lord’s study for some things, and so we
all broke up and after I had gone to my house and interpreted my
Lord’s letter by his character–[The making of ciphers was a pop-
ular amusement about this time. Pepys made several for Mon-
tagu, Downing, and others.]–I came to her again and went with
her to her lodging and from thence to Mr. Crew’s, where I ad-
vised with him what to do about my Lord’s lodgings and what
answer to give to Sir Ant. Cooper and so I came home and to
bed. All the world is at a loss to think what Monk will do: the
City saying that he will be for them, and the Parliament saying
he will be for them.
19th. This morning I was sent for to Mr. Downing, and at his
bed side he told me, that he had a kindness for me, and that he
thought that he had done me one; and that was, that he had got
me to be one of the Clerks of the Council; at which I was a little
stumbled, and could not tell what to do, whether to thank him
or no; but by and by I did; but not very heartily, for I feared that
his doing of it was but only to ease himself of the salary which
he gives me. After that Mr. Sheply staying below all this time
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JANUARY 1659-1660
for me we went thence and met Mr. Pierce,31 so at the Harp and
Ball drank our morning draft and so to Whitehall where I met
with Sir Ant. Cooper and did give him some answer from my
Lord and he did give us leave to keep the lodgings still. And
so we did determine thereupon that Mr. Sheply might now go
into the country and would do so to-morrow. Back I went by Mr.
Downing’s order and staid there till twelve o’clock in expectation
of one to come to read some writings, but he came not, so I staid
all alone reading the answer of the Dutch Ambassador to our
State, in answer to the reasons of my Lord’s coming home, which
he gave for his coming, and did labour herein to contradict my
Lord’s arguments for his coming home. Thence to my office and
so with Mr. Sheply and Moore, to dine upon a turkey with Mrs.
Jem, and after that Mr. Moore and I went to the French Ordinary,
where Mr. Downing this day feasted Sir Arth. Haselrigge, and
a great many more of the Parliament, and did stay to put him
in mind of me. Here he gave me a note to go and invite some
other members to dinner tomorrow. So I went to White Hall, and
did stay at Marsh’s, with Simons, Luellin, and all the rest of the
Clerks of the Council, who I hear are all turned out, only the two
Leighs, and they do all tell me that my name was mentioned the
last night, but that nothing was done in it. Hence I went and did
leave some of my notes at the lodgings of the members and so
home. To bed.
20th. In the morning I went to Mr. Downing’s bedside and
gave him an account what I had done as to his guests, land I went
thence to my Lord Widdrington who I met in the street, going to
seal the patents for the judges to-day, and so could not come to
dinner. I called upon Mr. Calthrop about the money due to my
Lord. Here I met with Mr. Woodfine and drank with him at the
31 Pepys had two friends named Pierce, one the surgeon and the other the
purser; he usually (but not always) distinguishes them. The one here alluded
to was probably the surgeon, and husband of pretty Mrs. Pierce. After the
Restoration James Pearse or Pierce became Surgeon to the Duke of York, and
he was also Surgeon-General of the Fleet.
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JANUARY 1659-1660
Sun in Chancery Lane and so to Westminster Hall, where at the
lobby I spoke with the rest of my guests and so to my office. At
noon went by water with Mr. Maylard and Hales to the Swan
in Fish Street at our Goal Feast, where we were very merry at
our Jole of Ling, and from thence after a great and good dinner
Mr. Falconberge would go drink a cup of ale at a place where I
had like to have shot at a scholar that lay over the house of of-
fice. Thence calling on Mr. Stephens and Wootton (with whom
I drank) about business of my Lord’s I went to the Coffee Club
where there was nothing done but choosing of a Committee for
orders. Thence to Westminster Hall where Mrs. Lane and the
rest of the maids had their white scarfs, all having been at the
burial of a young bookseller in the Hall.32 Thence to Mr. Sheply’s
and took him to my house and drank with him in order to his
going to-morrow. So parted and I sat up late making up my ac-
counts before he go. This day three citizens of London went to
meet Monk from the Common Council! “Jan. 20th. Then there
went out of the City, by desire of the Lord Mayor and Court of
Aldermen, Alderman Fowke and Alderman Vincett, alias Vin-
cent, and Mr. Broomfield, to compliment General Monk, who lay
at Harborough Town, in Leicestershire.” “Jan. 21st. Because the
Speaker was sick, and Lord General Monk so near London, and
everybody thought that the City would suffer for their affronts
to the soldiery, and because they had sent the sword- bearer to,
the General without the Parliament’s consent, and the three Al-
dermen were gone to give him the welcome to town, these four
lines were in almost everybody’s mouth: “Monk under a hood,
not well understood, The City pull in their horns; The Speaker is
out, and sick of the gout, And the Parliament sit upon thorns.”
–Rugge’s ‘Diurnal.’–B.”
32 These stationers and booksellers, whose shops disfigured Westminster
Hall down to a late period, were a privileged class. In the statutes for ap-
pointing licensers and regulating the press, there is a clause exempting them
from the pains and penalties of these obnoxious laws.
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JANUARY 1659-1660
21st. Up early in finishing my accounts and writing to my Lord
and from thence to my Lord’s and took leave of Mr. Sheply and
possession of all the keys and the house. Thence to my office for
some money to pay Mr. Sheply and sent it him by the old man.
I then went to Mr. Downing who chid me because I did not give
him notice of some of his guests failed him but I told him that
I sent our porter to tell him and he was not within, but he told
me that he was within till past twelve o’clock. So the porter or
he lied. Thence to my office where nothing to do. Then with Mr.
Hawly, he and I went to Mr. Crew’s and dined there. Thence into
London, to Mr. Vernon’s and I received my £25 due by bill for
my troopers’ pay. Then back again to Steadman’s. At the Mitre,
in Fleet street, in our way calling on Mr. Fage, who told me how
the City have some hopes of Monk. Thence to the Mitre, where
I drank a pint of wine, the house being in fitting for Banister to
come hither from Paget’s. Thence to Mrs. Jem and gave her £5.
So home and left my money and to Whitehall where Luellin and
I drank and talked together an hour at Marsh’s and so up to the
clerks’ room, where poor Mr. Cook, a black man, that is like to
be put out of his clerk’s place, came and railed at me for endeav-
ouring to put him out and get myself in, when I was already in a
good condition. But I satisfied him and after I had wrote a letter
there to my Lord, wherein I gave him an account how this day
Lenthall took his chair again, and [the House] resolved a decla-
ration to be brought in on Monday next to satisfy the world what
they intend to do. So home and to bed.
22nd. I went in the morning to Mr. Messum’s, where I met
with W. Thurburn and sat with him in his pew. A very eloquent
sermon about the duty of all to give good example in our lives
and conversation, which I fear he himself was most guilty of not
doing. After sermon, at the door by appointment my wife met
me, and so to my father’s to dinner, where we had not been to my
shame in a fortnight before. After dinner my father shewed me a
letter from Mr. Widdrington, of Christ’s College, in Cambridge,
wherein he do express very great kindness for my brother, and
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JANUARY 1659-1660
my father intends that my brother shall go to him. To church in
the afternoon to Mr. Herring, where a lazy poor sermon. And
so home with Mrs. Turner and sitting with her a while we went
to my father’s where we supt very merry, and so home. This
day I began to put on buckles to my shoes, which I have bought
yesterday of Mr. Wotton.
23rd. In the morning called out to carry £20 to Mr. Downing,
which I did and came back, and finding Mr. Pierce, the surgeon,
I took him to the Axe and gave him his morning draft. Thence to
my office and there did nothing but make up my balance. Came
home and found my wife dressing of the girl’s head, by which
she was made to look very pretty. I went out and paid Wilkinson
what I did owe him, and brought a piece of beef home for dinner.
Thence I went out and paid Waters, the vintner, and went to see
Mrs. Jem, where I found my Lady Wright, but Scott was so drunk
that he could not be seen. Here I staid and made up Mrs. Ann’s
bills, and played a game or two at cards, and thence to Westmin-
ster Hall, it being very dark. I paid Mrs. Michell, my bookseller,
and back to Whitehall, and in the garden, going through to the
Stone Gallery–[The Stone Gallery was a long passage between
the Privy Garden and the river. It led from the Bowling Green
to the Court of the Palace]–I fell into a ditch, it being very dark.
At the Clerk’s chamber I met with Simons and Luellin, and went
with them to Mr. Mount’s chamber at the Cock Pit, where we had
some rare pot venison, and ale to abundance till almost twelve at
night, and after a song round we went home. This day the Parlia-
ment sat late, and resolved of the declaration to be printed for the
people’s satisfaction, promising them a great many good things.
24th. In the morning to my office, where, after I had drank my
morning draft at Will’s with Ethell and Mr. Stevens, I went and
told part of the excise money till twelve o’clock, and then called
on my wife and took her to Mr. Pierces, she in the way being ex-
ceedingly troubled with a pair of new pattens, and I vexed to go
so slow, it being late. There when we came we found Mrs. Car-
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JANUARY 1659-1660
rick very fine, and one Mr. Lucy, who called one another husband
and wife, and after dinner a great deal of mad stir. There was
pulling off Mrs. bride’s and Mr. bridegroom’s ribbons;33 with a
great deal of fooling among them that I and my wife did not like.
Mr. Lucy and several other gentlemen coming in after dinner,
swearing and singing as if they were mad, only he singing very
handsomely. There came in afterwards Mr. Southerne, clerk to
Mr. Blackburne, and with him Lambert, lieutenant of my Lord’s
ship, and brought with them the declaration that came out to-day
from the Parliament, wherein they declare for law and gospel,
and for tythes; but I do not find people apt to believe them. Af-
ter this taking leave I went to my father’s, and my wife staying
there, he and I went to speak with Mr. Crumlum (in the mean-
33 The scramble for ribbons, here mentioned by Pepys in connection with
weddings (see also January 26th, 1660-61, and February 8th, 1662-3), doubt-
less formed part of the ceremony of undressing the bridegroom, which, as
the age became more refined, fell into disuse. All the old plays are silent on
the custom; the earliest notice of which occurs in the old ballad of the wed-
ding of Arthur O’Bradley, printed in the Appendix to “Robin Hood,” 1795,
where we read– “Then got they his points and his garters, And cut them
in pieces like martyrs; And then they all did play For the honour of Arthur
O’Bradley.” Sir Winston Churchill also observes (“Divi Britannici,” p. 340)
that James I. was no more troubled at his querulous countrymen robbing him
than a bridegroom at the losing of his points and garters. Lady Fanshawe, in
her “Memoirs,” says, that at the nuptials of Charles II. and the Infanta, “the
Bishop of London declared them married in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost; and then they caused the ribbons her Majesty wore to
be cut in little pieces; and as far as they would go, every one had some.” The
practice still survives in the form of wedding favours. A similar custom is
still of every day’s occurrence at Dieppe. Upon the morrow after their mar-
riage, the bride and bridegroom perambulate the streets, followed by a nu-
merous cortege, the guests at the wedding festival, two and two; each indi-
vidual wearing two bits of narrow ribbon, about two inches in length, of dif-
ferent colours, which are pinned crossways upon the breast. These morsels
of ribbons originally formed the garters of the bride and bridegroom, which
had been divided amidst boisterous mirth among the assembled company,
the moment the happy pair had been formally installed in the bridal bed.–
Ex. inf. Mr. William.Hughes, Belvedere, Jersey.–B.
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JANUARY 1659-1660
time, while it was five o’clock, he being in the school, we went to
my cozen Tom Pepys’ shop, the turner in Paul’s Churchyard, and
drank with him a pot of ale); he gave my father directions what
to do about getting my brother an exhibition, and spoke very
well of my brother. Thence back with my father home, where he
and I spoke privately in the little room to my sister Pall about
stealing of things as my wife’s scissars and my maid’s book, at
which my father was much troubled. Hence home with my wife
and so to Whitehall, where I met with Mr. Hunt and Luellin, and
drank with them at Marsh’s, and afterwards went up and wrote
to my Lord by the post. This day the Parliament gave order that
the late Committee of Safety should come before them this day
se’nnight, and all their papers, and their model of Government
that they had made, to be brought in with them. So home and
talked with my wife about our dinner on Thursday.
25th. Called up early to Mr. Downing; he gave me a Charac-
ter, such a one as my Lord’s, to make perfect, and likewise gave
me his order for £500 to carry to Mr. Frost, which I did and so
to my office, where I did do something about the character till
twelve o’clock. Then home find found my wife and the maid at
my Lord’s getting things ready against to-morrow. I went by wa-
ter to my Uncle White’s’ to dinner, where I met my father, where
we alone had a fine jole of Ling to dinner. After dinner I took
leave, and coming home heard that in Cheapside there had been
but a little before a gibbet set up, and the picture of Huson34 hung
34 John Hewson, who, from a low origin, became a colonel in the Parlia-
ment army, and sat in judgment on the King: he escaped hanging by flight,
and died in 1662, at Amsterdam. A curious notice of Hewson occurs in
Rugge’s “Diurnal,” December 5th, 1659, which states that “he was a cobbler
by trade, but a very stout man, and a very good commander; but in regard of
his former employment, they [the city apprentices] threw at him old shoes,
and slippers, and turniptops, and brick-bats, stones, and tiles.”... “At this
time [January, 1659-60] there came forth, almost every day, jeering books:
one was called ‘Colonel Hewson’s Confession; or, a Parley with Pluto,’ about
his going into London, and taking down the gates of Temple-Bar.” He had
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JANUARY 1659-1660
upon it in the middle of the street. I called at Paul’s Churchyard,
where I bought Buxtorf’s Hebrew Grammar; and read a decla-
ration of the gentlemen of Northampton which came out this af-
ternoon. Thence to my father’s, where I staid with my mother
a while and then to Mr. Crew’s about a picture to be sent into
the country, of Mr. Thomas Crew, to my Lord. So [to] my Lady
Wright to speak with her, but she was abroad, so Mr. Evans, her
butler, had me into his buttery, and gave me sack and a lesson on
his lute, which he played very well. Thence I went to my Lord’s
and got most things ready against tomorrow, as fires and laying
the cloth, and my wife was making of her tarts and larding of her
pullets till eleven o’clock. This evening Mr. Downing sent for me,
and gave me order to go to Mr. Jessop for his papers concerning
his dispatch to Holland which were not ready, only his order for
a ship to transport him he gave me. To my Lord’s again and so
home with my wife, tired with this day’s work.
26th. To my office for £20 to carry to Mr. Downing, which I
did and back again. Then came Mr. Frost to pay Mr. Downing
his £500, and I went to him for the warrant and brought it Mr.
Frost. Called for some papers at Whitehall for Mr. Downing, one
of which was an Order of the Council for £1800 per annum, to be
paid monthly; and the other two, Orders to the Commissioners
of Customs, to let his goods pass free. Home from my office to
my Lord’s lodgings where my wife had got ready a very fine
dinner–viz. a dish of marrow bones; a leg of mutton; a loin of
veal; a dish of fowl, three pullets, and two dozen of larks all in
a dish; a great tart, a neat’s tongue, a dish of anchovies; a dish
of prawns and cheese. My company was my father, my uncle
Fenner, his two sons, Mr. Pierce, and all their wives, and my
brother Tom. We were as merry as I could frame myself to be
in the company, W. Joyce talking after the old rate and drinking
hard, vexed his father and mother and wife. And I did perceive
that Mrs. Pierce her coming so gallant, that it put the two young
but one eye, which did not escape the notice of his enemies.–B.
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JANUARY 1659-1660
women quite out of courage. When it became dark they all went
away but Mr. Pierce, and W. Joyce, and their wives and Tom,
and drank a bottle of wine afterwards, so that Will did heartily
vex his father and mother by staying. At which I and my wife
were much pleased. Then they all went and I fell to writing of
two characters for Mr. Downing, and carried them to him at nine
o’clock at night, and he did not like them but corrected them,
so that to-morrow I am to do them anew. To my Lord’s lodging
again and sat by the great log, it being now a very good fire, with
my wife, and ate a bit and so home. The news this day is a letter
that speaks absolutely Monk’s concurrence with this Parliament,
and nothing else, which yet I hardly believe. After dinner to-day
my father showed me a letter from my Uncle Robert, in answer
to my last, concerning my money which I would have out of my
Coz. Beck’s’ hand, wherein Beck desires it four months longer,
which I know not how to spare.
27th. Going to my office I met with Tom Newton, my old com-
rade, and took him to the Crown in the Palace, and gave him his
morning draft. And as he always did, did talk very high what he
would do with the Parliament, that he would have what place he
would, and that he might be one of the Clerks to the Council if
he would. Here I staid talking with him till the offices were all
shut, and then I looked in the Hall, and was told by my book-
seller, Mrs. Michell, that Mr. G. Montagu had inquired there for
me. So I went to his house, and was forced by him to dine with
him, and had a plenteous brave dinner and the greatest civility
that ever I had from any man. Thence home and so to Mrs. Jem,
and played with her at cards, and coming home again my wife
told me that Mr. Hawly had been there to speak with me, and
seemed angry that I had not been at the office that day, and she
told me she was afraid that Mr. Downing may have a mind to
pick some hole in my coat. So I made haste to him, but found
no such thing from him, but he sent me to Mr. Sherwin’s about
getting Mr. Squib to come to him tomorrow, and I carried him an
answer. So home and fell a writing the characters for Mr. Down-
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JANUARY 1659-1660
ing, and about nine at night Mr. Hawly came, and after he was
gone I sat up till almost twelve writing, and–wrote two of them.
In the morning up early and wrote another, my wife lying in bed
and reading to me.
28th. I went to Mr. Downing and carried him three characters,
and then to my office and wrote another, while Mr. Frost staid
telling money. And after I had done it Mr. Hawly came into the
office and I left him and carried it to Mr. Downing, who then
told me that he was resolved to be gone for Holland this morn-
ing. So I to my office again, and dispatch my business there, and
came with Mr. Hawly to Mr. Downing’s lodging, and took Mr.
Squib from White Hall in a coach thither with me, and there we
waited in his chamber a great while, till he came in; and in the
mean time, sent all his things to the barge that lay at Charing-
Cross Stairs. Then came he in, and took a very civil leave of me,
beyond my expectation, for I was afraid that he would have told
me something of removing me from my office; but he did not, but
that he would do me any service that lay in his power. So I went
down and sent a porter to my house for my best fur cap, but he
coming too late with it I did not present it to him. Thence I went
to Westminster Hall, and bound up my cap at Mrs. Michell’s,
who was much taken with my cap, and endeavoured to overtake
the coach at the Exchange and to give it him there, but I met with
one that told me that he was gone, and so I returned and went
to Heaven,35 where Luellin and I dined on a breast of mutton all
alone, discoursing of the changes that we have seen and the hap-
piness of them that have estates of their own, and so parted, and
I went by appointment to my office and paid young Mr. Walton
£500; it being very dark he took £300 by content. He gave me
half a piece and carried me in his coach to St. Clement’s, from
35 A place of entertainment within or adjoining Westminster Hall. It is
called in “Hudibras,” “False Heaven, at the end of the Hall.” There were
two other alehouses near Westminster Hall, called Hell and Purgatory. “Nor
break his fast In Heaven and Hell.” Ben Jonson’s Alchemist, act v. SC. 2.
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JANUARY 1659-1660
whence I went to Mr. Crew’s and made even with Mr. Andrews,
and took in all my notes and gave him one for all. Then to my
Lady Wright and gave her my Lord’s letter which he bade me
give her privately. So home and then to Will’s for a little news,
then came home again and wrote to my Lord, and so to Whitehall
and gave them to the post-boy. Back again home and to bed.
29th. In the morning I went to Mr. Gunning’s, where he made
an excellent sermon upon the 2d of the Galatians, about the dif-
ference that fell between St. Paul and St. Peter (the feast day of
St. Paul being a day or two ago), whereby he did prove, that,
contrary to the doctrine of the Roman Church, St. Paul did never
own any dependance, or that he was inferior to St. Peter, but
that they were equal, only one a particular charge of preaching
to the Jews, and the other to the Gentiles. Here I met with Mr.
Moore, and went home with him to dinner to Mr. Crew’s, where
Mr. Spurrier being in town did dine with us. From thence I went
home and spent the afternoon in casting up my accounts, and do
find myself to be worth £40 and more, which I did not think, but
am afraid that I have forgot something. To my father’s to sup-
per, where I heard by my brother Tom how W. Joyce would the
other day have Mr. Pierce and his wife to the tavern after they
were gone from my house, and that he had so little manners as
to make Tom pay his share notwithstanding that he went upon
his account, and by my father I understand that my uncle Fen-
ner and my aunt were much pleased with our entertaining them.
After supper home without going to see Mrs. Turner.
30th. This morning, before I was up, I fell a-singing of my
song, “Great, good, and just,” &c.36 and put myself thereby in
36 This is the beginning of the Marquis of Montrose’s verses on the exe-
cution of Charles I., which Pepys had set to music: “Great, good, and just,
could I but rate My grief and thy too rigid fate, I’d weep the world to such
a strain That it should deluge once again. But since thy loud-tongued blood
demands supplies More from Briareus’ hands, than Argus eyes, I’ll sing
thy obsequies with trumpet sounds, And write thy epitaph with blood and
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JANUARY 1659-1660
mind that this was the fatal day, now ten years since, his Majesty
died. Scull the waterman came and brought me a note from the
Hope from Mr. Hawly with direction, about his money, he tarry-
ing there till his master be gone. To my office, where I received
money of the excise of Mr. Ruddyer, and after we had done went
to Will’s and staid there till 3 o’clock and then I taking my £12
10s. 0d. due to me for my last quarter’s salary, I went with them
by water to London to the house where Signr. Torriano used to
be and staid there a while with Mr. Ashwell, Spicer and Ruddier.
Then I went and paid £12 17s. 6d. due from me to Captn. Dick
Matthews according to his direction the last week in a letter. Af-
ter that I came back by water playing on my flageolette and not
finding my wife come home again from her father’s I went and
sat awhile and played at cards with Mrs. Jam, whose maid had
newly got an ague and was ill thereupon. So homewards again,
having great need to do my business, and so pretending to meet
Mr. Shott the wood monger of Whitehall I went and eased my-
self at the Harp and Ball, and thence home where I sat writing till
bed-time and so to bed. There seems now to be a general cease
of talk, it being taken for granted that Monk do resolve to stand
to the Parliament, and nothing else. Spent a little time this night
in knocking up nails for my hat and cloaks in my chamber.
31st. In the morning I fell to my lute till 9 o’clock. Then to
my Lord’s lodgings and set out a barrel of soap to be carried to
Mrs. Ann. Here I met with Nick Bartlet, one that had been a
servant of my Lord’s at sea and at Harper’s gave him his morn-
ing draft. So to my office where I paid; £1200 to Mr. Frost and
at noon went to Will’s to give one of the Excise office a pot of
ale that came to-day to tell over a bag of his that wanted; £7 in
it, which he found over in another bag. Then home and dined
with my wife when in came Mr. Hawly newly come from ship-
board from his master, and brought me a letter of direction what
to do in his lawsuit with Squib about his house and office. Af-
wounds.”
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JANUARY 1659-1660
ter dinner to Westminster Hall, where all we clerks had orders
to wait upon the Committee, at the Star Chamber that is to try
Colonel Jones,37 and were to give an account what money we had
paid him; but the Committee did not sit to-day. Hence to Will’s,
where I sat an hour or two with Mr. Godfrey Austin, a scrivener
in King Street. Here I met and afterwards bought the answer to
General Monk’s letter, which is a very good one, and I keep it by
me. Thence to Mrs. Jem, where I found her maid in bed in a fit
of the ague, and Mrs. Jem among the people below at work and
by and by she came up hot and merry, as if they had given her
wine, at which I was troubled, but said nothing; after a game at
cards, I went home and wrote by the post and coming back called
in at Harper’s and drank with Mr. Pulford, servant to Mr. Wa-
terhouse, who tells me, that whereas my Lord Fleetwood should
have answered to the Parliament to-day, he wrote a letter and de-
sired a little more time, he being a great way out of town. And
how that he is quite ashamed of himself, and confesses how he
had deserved this, for his baseness to his brother. And that he is
like to pay part of the money, paid out of the Exchequer during
the Committee of Safety, out of his own purse again, which I am
glad of. Home and to bed, leaving my wife reading in Polixan-
dre.38 I could find nothing in Mr. Downing’s letter, which Hawly
brought me, concerning my office; but I could discern that Hawly
had a mind that I would get to be Clerk of the Council, I suppose
that he might have the greater salary; but I think it not safe yet to
change this for a public employment.
37 Colonel John Jones, impeached, with General Ludlow and Miles Corbet,
for treasonable practices in Ireland.
38 “Polexandre,” by Louis Le Roy de Gomberville, was first published in
1632. “The History of Polexander” was “done into English by W. Browne,”
and published in folio, London, 1647. It was the earliest of the French heroic
romances, and it appears to have been the model for the works of Calprenede
and Mdlle. de Scuderi; see Dunlop’s “History of Fiction” for the plot of the
romance.
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FEBRUARY 1659-1660
February 1st. In the morning went to my office where after-
wards the old man brought me my letters from the carrier. At
noon I went home and dined with my wife on pease porridge
and nothing else. After that I went to the Hall and there met
with Mr. Swan and went with him to Mr. Downing’s Counsel-
lor, who did put me in very little hopes about the business be-
tween Mr. Downing and Squib, and told me that Squib would
carry it against him, at which I was much troubled, and with
him went to Lincoln’s Inn and there spoke with his attorney, who
told me the day that was appointed for the trial. From thence I
went to Sir Harry Wright’s and got him to give me his hand for
the £60 which I am to-morrow to receive from Mr. Calthrop and
from thence to Mrs. Jem and spoke with Madam Scott and her
husband who did promise to have the thing for her neck done
this week. Thence home and took Gammer East, and James the
porter, a soldier, to my Lord’s lodgings, who told me how they
were drawn into the field to-day, and that they were ordered to
march away to-morrow to make room for General Monk; but
they did shut their Colonel Fitch, and the rest of the officers out
of the field, and swore they would not go without their money,
and if they would not give it them, they would go where they
might have it, and that was the City. So the Colonel went to the
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FEBRUARY 1659-1660
Parliament, and commanded what money could be got, to be got
against to-morrow for them, and all the rest of the soldiers in
town, who in all places made a mutiny this day, and do agree
together. Here I took some bedding to send to Mrs. Ann for her
to lie in now she hath her fits of the ague. Thence I went to Will’s
and staid like a fool there and played at cards till 9 o’clock and so
came home, where I found Mr. Hunt and his wife who staid and
sat with me till 10 and so good night.
2d. Drank at Harper’s with Doling, and so to my office, where
I found all the officers of the regiments in town, waiting to re-
ceive money that their soldiers might go out of town, and what
was in the Exchequer they had. At noon after dining at home I
called at Harper’s for Doling, and he and I met with Luellin and
drank with him at the Exchequer at Charing Cross, and thence
he and I went to the Temple to Mr. Calthrop’s chamber, and from
thence had his man by water to London Bridge to Mr. Calthrop,
a grocer, and received £60 for my Lord. In our way we talked
with our waterman, White, who told us how the watermen had
lately been abused by some that had a desire to get in to be wa-
termen to the State, and had lately presented an address of nine
or ten thousand hands to stand by this Parliament, when it was
only told them that it was to a petition against hackney coaches;
and that to-day they had put out another to undeceive the world
and to clear themselves, and that among the rest Cropp, my wa-
terman and one of great practice, was one that did cheat them
thus. After I had received the money we went to the Bridge Tav-
ern and drank a quart of wine and so back by water, landing Mr.
Calthrop’s man at the Temple and we went homewards, but over
against Somerset House, hearing the noise of guns, we landed
and found the Strand full of soldiers. So I took my money and
went to Mrs. Johnson, my Lord’s sempstress, and giving her my
money to lay up, Doling and I went up stairs to a window, and
looked out and see the foot face the horse and beat them back,
and stood bawling and calling in the street for a free Parliament
and money. By and by a drum was heard to beat a march coming
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FEBRUARY 1659-1660
towards them, and they got all ready again and faced them, and
they proved to be of the same mind with them; and so they made
a great deal of joy to see one another. After all this, I took my
money, and went home on foot and laying up my money, and
changing my stockings and shoes, I this day having left off my
great skirt suit, and put on my white suit with silver lace coat,
and went over to Harper’s, where I met with W. Simons, Doling,
Luellin and three merchants, one of which had occasion to use
a porter, so they sent for one, and James the soldier came, who
told us how they had been all day and night upon their guard at
St. James’s, and that through the whole town they did resolve to
stand to what they had began, and that to-morrow he did believe
they would go into the City, and be received there. After all this
we went to a sport called, selling of a horse for a dish of eggs and
herrings, and sat talking there till almost twelve o’clock and then
parted, they were to go as far as Aldgate. Home and to bed.
3rd. Drank my morning draft at Harper’s, and was told there
that the soldiers were all quiet upon promise of pay. Thence to
St. James’s Park, and walked there to my place for my flageolet
and then played a little, it being a most pleasant morning and
sunshine. Back to Whitehall, where in the guard-chamber I saw
about thirty or forty ‘prentices of the City, who were taken at
twelve o’clock last night and brought prisoners hither. Thence to
my office, where I paid a little more money to some of the sol-
diers under Lieut.-Col. Miller (who held out the Tower against
the Parliament after it was taken away from Fitch by the Commit-
tee of Safety, and yet he continued in his office). About noon Mrs.
Turner came to speak with me, and Joyce, and I took them and
shewed them the manner of the Houses sitting, the doorkeeper
very civilly opening the door for us. Thence with my cozen Roger
Pepys,39 it being term time, we took him out of the Hall to Priors,
39 Roger Pepys, son of Talbot Pepys of Impington, a barrister of the Middle
Temple, M.P. for Cambridge, 1661-78, and Recorder of that town, 1660-88.
He married, for the third time, Parnell, daughter and heiress of John Duke,
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FEBRUARY 1659-1660
the Rhenish wine-house, and there had a pint or two of wine and
a dish of anchovies, and bespoke three or four dozen bottles of
wine for him against his wedding. After this done he went away,
and left me order to call and pay for all that Mrs. Turner would
have. So we called for nothing more there, but went and bespoke
a shoulder of mutton at Wilkinson’s to be roasted as well as it
could be done, and sent a bottle of wine home to my house. In
the meantime she and I and Joyce went walking all over White
Hall, whither General Monk was newly come, and we saw all his
forces march by in very good plight and stout officers. Thence to
my house where we dined, but with a great deal of patience, for
the mutton came in raw, and so we were fain to stay the stewing
of it. In the meantime we sat studying a Posy40 for a ring for her
which she is to have at Roger Pepys his wedding. After dinner
I left them and went to hear news, but only found that the Par-
liament House was most of them with Monk at White Hall, and
that in his passing through the town he had many calls to him
for a free Parliament, but little other welcome. I saw in the Palace
Yard how unwilling some of the old soldiers were yet to go out of
town without their money, and swore if they had it not in three
days, as they were promised, they would do them more mischief
in the country than if they had staid here; and that is very likely,
the country being all discontented. The town and guards are al-
ready full of Monk’s soldiers. I returned, and it growing dark I
and they went to take a turn in the park, where Theoph. (who
was sent for to us to dinner) outran my wife and another poor
woman, that laid a pot of ale with me that she would outrun her.
of Workingham, co. Suffolk, and this was the wedding for which the posy
ring was required.
40 It is supposed that the fashion of having mottoes inscribed on rings was
of Roman origin. In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries the posy was in-
scribed on the outside of the ring, and in the sixteenth and seventeenth cen-
turies it was placed inside. A small volume was published in 1674, entitled
“Love’s Garland: or Posies for Rings, Handkerchers and Gloves, and such
pretty tokens that Lovers send their Loves.”
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After that I set them as far as Charing Cross, and there left them
and my wife, and I went to see Mrs. Ann, who began very high
about a flock bed I sent her, but I took her down. Here I played
at cards till 9 o’clock. So home and to bed.
4th. In the morning at my lute an hour, and so to my office,
where I staid expecting to have Mr. Squib come to me, but he
did not. At noon walking in the Hall I found Mr. Swan and
got him and Captain Stone together, and there advised about Mr.
Downing’s business. So to Will’s, and sat there till three o’clock
and then to Mr. Swan’s, where I found his wife in very genteel
mourning for her father, and took him out by water to the Coun-
sellor at the Temple, Mr. Stephens, and from thence to Gray’s
Inn, thinking to speak with Sotherton Ellis, but found him not,
so we met with an acquaintance of his in the walks, and went
and drank, where I ate some bread and butter, having ate noth-
ing all day, while they were by chance discoursing of Marriot,
the great eater, so that I was, I remember, ashamed to eat what I
would have done. Here Swan shewed us a ballad to the tune of
Mardike which was most incomparably wrote in a printed hand,
which I borrowed of him, but the song proved but silly, and so
I did not write it out. Thence we went and leaving Swan at his
master’s, my Lord Widdrington, I met with Spicer, Washington,
and D. Vines in Lincoln’s Inn Court, and they were buying of a
hanging jack to roast birds on of a fellow that was there selling
of some. I was fain to slip from there and went to Mrs. Crew’s
to her and advised about a maid to come and be with Mrs. Jem
while her maid is sick, but she could spare none. Thence to Sir
Harry Wright’s, but my lady not being within I spoke to Mrs.
Carter about it, who will get one against Monday. So with a link
boy41 to Scott’s, where Mrs. Ann was in a heat, but I spoke not to
her, but told Mrs. Jem what I had done, and after that went home
and wrote letters into the country by the post, and then played
awhile on my lute, and so done, to supper and then to bed. All
41 Links were torches of tow or pitch to light the way. Ed.
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FEBRUARY 1659-1660
the news to-day is, that the Parliament this morning voted the
House to be made up four hundred forthwith. This day my wife
killed her turkeys that Mr. Sheply gave her, that came out of
Zealand with my Lord, and could not get her m’d Jane by no
means at any time to kill anything.
5th,(Lord’s day). In the morning before church time Mr.
Hawly, who had for this day or two looked something sadly,
which methinks did speak something in his breast concerning
me, came to me telling me that he was out £24 which he could not
tell what was become of, and that he do remember that he had
such a sum in a bag the other day, and could not tell what he did
with it, at which I was very sorry but could not help him. In the
morning to Mr. Gunning, where a stranger, an old man, preached
a good honest sermon upon “What manner of love is this that we
should be called the sons of God.” After sermon I could not find
my wife, who promised to be at the gate against my coming out,
and waited there a great while; then went to my house and find-
ing her gone I returned and called at the Chequers, thinking to
dine at the ordinary with Mr. Chetwind and Mr. Thomas, but
they not being there I went to my father and found her there,
and there I dined. To their church in the afternoon, and in Mrs.
Turner’s pew my wife took up a good black hood and kept it.
A stranger preached a poor sermon, and so read over the whole
book of the story of Tobit. After sermon home with Mrs. Turner,
staid with her a little while, then she went into the court to a
christening and we to my father’s, where I wrote some notes for
my brother John to give to the Mercers’ to-morrow, it being the
day of their apposition. After supper home, and before going to
bed I staid writing of this day its passages, while a drum came
by, beating of a strange manner of beat, now and then a single
stroke, which my wife and I wondered at, what the meaning of
it should be. This afternoon at church I saw Dick Cumberland
newly come out of the country from his living, but did not speak
to him.
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6th. Before I went to my office I went to Mr. Crew’s and paid
Mr. Andrews the same £60 that he had received of Mr. Calthrop
the last week. So back to Westminster and walked with him
thither, where we found the soldiers all set in the Palace Yard,
to make way for General Monk to come to the House. At the
Hall we parted, and meeting Swan, he and I to the Swan and
drank our morning draft. So back again to the Hall, where I stood
upon the steps and saw Monk go by, he making observance to the
judges as he went along. At noon my father dined with me upon
my turkey that was brought from Denmark, and after dinner he
and I to the Bull Head Tavern, where we drank half a pint of wine
and so parted. I to Mrs. Ann, and Mrs. Jem being gone out of
the chamber she and I had a very high bout, I rattled her up, she
being in her bed, but she becoming more cool, we parted pretty
good friends. Thence I went to Will’s, where I staid at cards till
10 o’clock, losing half a crown, and so home to bed.
7th. In the morning I went early to give Mr. Hawly notice of
my being forced to go into London, but he having also business
we left our office business to Mr. Spicer and he and I walked as
far as the Temple, where I halted a little and then went to Paul’s
School, but it being too soon, went and drank my morning draft
with my cozen Tom Pepys the turner, and saw his house and
shop, thence to school, where he that made the speech for the
seventh form in praise of the founder, did show a book which Mr.
Crumlum had lately got, which is believed to be of the Founder’s
own writing. After all the speeches, in which my brother John
came off as well as any of the rest, I went straight home and
dined, then to the Hall, where in the Palace I saw Monk’s sol-
diers abuse Billing and all the Quakers, that were at a meeting-
place there, and indeed the soldiers did use them very roughly
and were to blame.42 So after drinking with Mr. Spicer, who had
42 “Fox, or some other ‘weighty’ friend, on hearing of this, complained
to Monk, who issued the following order, dated March 9th: ‘I do require all
officers and soldiers to forbear to disturb peaceable meetings of the Quakers,
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FEBRUARY 1659-1660
received £600 for me this morning, I went to Capt. Stone and
with him by coach to the Temple Gardens (all the way talking of
the disease of the stone), where we met Mr. Squib, but would
do nothing till to-morrow morning. Thence back on foot home,
where I found a letter from my Lord in character [private cryp-
tic code Ed.], which I construed, and after my wife had shewn
me some ribbon and shoes that she had taken out of a box of
Mr. Montagu’s which formerly Mr. Kipps had left here when
his master was at sea, I went to Mr. Crew and advised with
him about it, it being concerning my Lord’s coming up to Town,
which he desires upon my advice the last week in my letter.
Thence calling upon Mrs. Ann I went home, and wrote in char-
acter to my Lord in answer to his letter. This day Mr. Crew told
me that my Lord St. John is for a free Parliament, and that he is
very great with Monk, who hath now the absolute command and
power to do any thing that he hath a mind to do. Mr. Moore told
me of a picture hung up at the Exchange of a great pair of but-
tocks shooting of a turd into Lawson’s mouth, and over it was
wrote “The thanks of the house.” Boys do now cry “Kiss my
Parliament, instead of “Kiss my [rump],” so great and general a
contempt is the Rump come to among all the good and bad.
8th. A little practice on my flageolet, and afterwards walking
in my yard to see my stock of pigeons, which begin now with the
spring to breed very fast. I was called on by Mr. Fossan, my fel-
they doing nothing prejudicial to the Parliament or the Commonwealth of
England. George Monk.’ This order, we are told, had an excellent effect on
the soldiers.”–A. C. Bickley’s ‘George Fox and the Early Quakers, London,
1884, p. 179. The Quakers were at this time just coming into notice. The first
preaching of George Fox, the founder, was in 1648, and in 1655 the preachers
of the sect numbered seventy-three. Fox computed that there were seldom
less than a thousand quakers in prison. The statute 13 and 14 Car. II. cap. i.
(1662) was “An act for preventing the mischiefs and dangers that may arise
by certain persons called quakers and others, refusing to take lawful oaths.”
Billing is mentioned again on July 22nd, 1667, when he addressed Pepys in
Westminster Hall.
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low pupil at Cambridge, and I took him to the Swan in the Palace
yard, and drank together our morning draft. Thence to my of-
fice, where I received money, and afterwards Mr. Carter, my old
friend at Cambridge, meeting me as I was going out of my office
I took him to the Swan, and in the way I met with Captain Lid-
cott, and so we three went together and drank there, the Captain
talking as high as ever he did, and more because of the fall of his
brother Thurlow.43 Hence I went to Captain Stone, who told me
how Squib had been with him, and that he could do nothing with
him, so I returned to Mr. Carter and with him to Will’s, where I
spent upon him and Monsieur L’Impertinent, alias Mr. Butler,
who I took thither with me, and thence to a Rhenish wine house,
and in our way met with Mr. Hoole, where I paid for my cozen
Roger Pepys his wine, and after drinking we parted. So I home,
in my way delivering a letter which among the rest I had from
my Lord to-day to Sir N. Wheeler. At home my wife’s brother
brought her a pretty black dog which I liked very well, and went
away again. Hence sending a porter with the hamper of bottles
to the Temple I called in my way upon Mrs. Jem, who was much
frighted till I came to tell her that her mother was well. So to the
Temple, where I delivered the wine and received the money of
my cos. Roger that I laid out, and thence to my father’s, where he
shewed me a base angry letter that he had newly received from
my uncle Robert about my brother John, at which my father was
very sad, but I comforted him and wrote an answer. My brother
John has an exhibition granted him from the school. My father
and I went down to his kitchen, and there we eat and drank, and
about 9 o’clock I went away homewards, and in Fleet Street, re-
ceived a great jostle from a man that had a mind to take the wall,
43 John Thurloe, born 1616; Secretary of State to Cromwell; M.P. for Ely,
1656, and for the University of Cambridge in Richard Cromwell’s Parliament
of December, 1658. He was never employed after the Restoration, although
the King solicited his services. He died February 21st, 1668. Pepys spells the
name Thurlow, which was a common spelling at the time.
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which I could not help?44 I came home and to bed. Went to bed
with my head not well by my too much drinking to-day, and I
had a boil under my chin which troubled me cruelly.
9th. Soon as out of my bed I wrote letters into the country to
go by carrier to-day. Before I was out of my bed, I heard the sol-
diers very busy in the morning, getting their horses ready where
they lay at Hilton’s, but I knew not then their meaning in so do-
ing: After I had wrote my letters I went to Westminster up and
down the Hall, and with Mr. Swan walked a good [deal] talking
about Mr. Downing’s business. I went with him to Mr. Phelps’s
house where he had some business to solicit, where we met Mr.
Rogers my neighbour, who did solicit against him and talked
very high, saying that he would not for a £1000 appear in a busi-
ness that Swan did, at which Swan was very angry, but I believe
he might be guilty enough. In the Hall I understand how Monk
is this morning gone into London with his army; and met with
Mr. Fage, who told me that he do believe that Monk is gone to
secure some of the Common-council of the City, who were very
high yesterday there, and did vote that they would not pay any
taxes till the House was filled up. I went to my office, where I
wrote to my Lord after I had been at the Upper Bench, where
Sir Robert Pye45 this morning came to desire his discharge from
the Tower; but it could not be granted. After that I went to Mrs.
44 This was a constant trouble to the pedestrian until the rule of passing
to the right of the person met was generally accepted. Gay commences his
“Trivia” with an allusion to this– “When to assert the wall, and when resign–
” and the epigram on the haughty courtier and the scholar is well known.
45 Sir Robert Pye, the elder, was auditor of the Exchequer, and a staunch
Royalist. He garrisoned his house at Faringdon, which was besieged by his
son, of the same names, a decided Republican, son- in-law to Hampden, and
colonel of horse under Fairfax. The son, here spoken of, was subsequently
committed to the Tower for presenting a petition to the House of Commons
from the county of Berks, which he represented in Parliament, complaining
of the want of a settled form of government. He had, however, the courage
to move for an habeas corpus, but judge Newdigate decided that the courts
of law had not the power to discharge him. Upon Monk’s coming to London,
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Jem, who I had promised to go along with to her Aunt Wright’s,
but she was gone, so I went thither, and after drinking a glass
of sack I went back to Westminster Hall, and meeting with Mr.
Pierce the surgeon, who would needs take me home, where Mr.
Lucy, Burrell, and others dined, and after dinner I went home
and to Westminster Hall, where meeting Swan I went with him
by water to the Temple to our Counsel, and did give him a fee
to make a motion to-morrow in the Exchequer for Mr. Downing.
Thence to Westminster Hall, where I heard an action very finely
pleaded between my Lord Dorset and some other noble persons,
his lady and other ladies of quality being here, and it was about;
£330 per annum, that was to be paid to a poor Spittal, which was
given by some of his predecessors; and given on his side. Thence
Swan and I to a drinking-house near Temple Bar, where while he
wrote I played on my flageolet till a dish of poached eggs was got
ready for us, which we eat, and so by coach home. I called at Mr.
Harper’s, who told me how Monk had this day clapt up many of
the Common-council, and that the Parliament had voted that he
should pull down their gates and portcullisses, their posts and
their chains, which he do intend to do, and do lie in the City all
night. I went home and got some ahlum to my mouth, where I
have the beginnings of a cancer, and had also a plaster to my boil
underneath my chin.
10th. In the morning I went to Mr. Swan, who took me to
the Court of Wards, where I saw the three Lords Commission-
ers sitting upon some cause where Mr. Scobell was concerned,
and my Lord Fountaine took him up very roughly about some
things that he said. After that we went to the Exchequer, where
the Barons were hearing of causes, and there I made affidavit that
Mr. Downing was gone into Holland by order of the Council of
State, and this affidavit I gave to Mr. Stevens our lawyer. Thence
to my office, where I got money of Mr. Hawly to pay the lawyer,
the secluded members passed a vote to liberate Pye, and at the Restoration
he was appointed equerry to the King. He died in 1701.–B.
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and there found Mr. Lenard, one of the Clerks of the Coun-
cil, and took him to the Swan and gave him his morning draft.
Then home to dinner, and after that to the Exchequer, where I
heard all the afternoon a great many causes before the Barons; in
the end came ours, and Squib proved clearly by his patent that
the house and office did now belong to him. Our lawyer made
some kind of opposition, but to no purpose, and so the cause
was found against us, and the foreman of the jury brought in £10
damages, which the whole Court cried shame of, and so he cried
12d. Thence I went home, vexed about this business, and there I
found Mr. Moore, and with him went into London to Mr. Fage
about the cancer in my mouth, which begins to grow dangerous,
who gave me something for it, and also told me what Monk had
done in the City, how he had pulled down the most part of the
gates and chains that they could break down, and that he was
now gone back to White Hall. The City look mighty blank, and
cannot tell what in the world to do; the Parliament having this
day ordered that the Common-council sit no more; but that new
ones be chosen according to what qualifications they shall give
them. Thence I went and drank with Mr. Moore at the Sugar
Loaf by Temple Bar, where Swan and I were last night, and so
we parted. At home I found Mr. Hunt, who sat talking with me
awhile, and so to bed.
11th. This morning I lay long abed, and then to my office,
where I read all the morning my Spanish book of Rome. At noon
I walked in the Hall, where I heard the news of a letter from
Monk, who was now gone into the City again, and did resolve
to stand for the sudden filling up of the House, and it was very
strange how the countenance of men in the Hall was all changed
with joy in half an hour’s time. So I went up to the lobby, where I
saw the Speaker reading of the letter; and after it was read, Sir A.
Haselrigge came out very angry, and Billing–[The quaker men-
tioned before on the 7th of this month.]–standing at the door,
took him by the arm, and cried, “Thou man, will thy beast carry
thee no longer? thou must fall!” The House presently after rose,
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and appointed to meet again at three o’clock. I went then down
into the Hall, where I met with Mr. Chetwind, who had not dined
no more than myself, and so we went toward London, in our way
calling at two or three shops, but could have no dinner. At last,
within Temple Bar, we found a pullet ready roasted, and there we
dined. After that he went to his office in Chancery Lane, calling
at the Rolls, where I saw the lawyers pleading. Then to his of-
fice, where I sat in his study singing, while he was with his man
(Mr. Powell’s son) looking after his business. Thence we took
coach for the City to Guildhall, where the Hall was full of people
expecting Monk and Lord Mayor to come thither, and all very
joyfull. Here we stayed a great while, and at last meeting with a
friend of his we went to the 3 Tun tavern and drank half a pint of
wine, and not liking the wine we went to an alehouse, where we
met with company of this third man’s acquaintance, and there
we drank a little. Hence I went alone to Guildhall to see whether
Monk was come again or no, and met with him coming out of
the chamber where he had been with the Mayor and Aldermen,
but such a shout I never heard in all my life, crying out, “God
bless your Excellence.” Here I met with Mr. Lock, and took him
to an alehouse, and left him there to fetch Chetwind; when we
were come together, Lock told us the substance of the letter that
went from Monk to the Parliament; wherein, after complaints
that he and his officers were put upon such offices against the
City as they could not do with any content or honour, that there
are many members now in the House that were of the late tyran-
nical Committee of Safety. That Lambert and Vane are now in
town, contrary to the vote of Parliament. That there were many
in the House that do press for new oaths to be put upon men;
whereas we have more cause to be sorry for the many oaths that
we have already taken and broken. That the late petition of the
fanatique people presented by Barebone, for the imposing of an
oath upon all sorts of people, was received by the House with
thanks. That therefore he [Monk] do desire that all writs for fill-
ing up of the House be issued by Friday next, and that in the
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mean time, he would retire into the City and only leave them
guards for the security of the House and Council. The occasion
of this was the order that he had last night to go into the City and
disarm them, and take away their charter; whereby he and his of-
ficers say that the House had a mind to put them upon things that
should make them odious; and so it would be in their power to
do what they would with them. He told us that they [the Parlia-
ment] had sent Scott and Robinson to him [Monk] this afternoon,
but he would not hear them. And that the Mayor and Aldermen
had offered him their own houses for himself and his officers;
and that his soldiers would lack for nothing. And indeed I saw
many people give the soldiers drink and money, and all along
in the streets cried, “God bless them!” and extraordinary good
words. Hence we went to a merchant’s house hard by, where
Lock wrote a note and left, where I saw Sir Nich. Crisp, and
so we went to the Star Tavern (Monk being then at Benson’s),
where we dined and I wrote a letter to my Lord from thence. In
Cheapside there was a great many bonfires, and Bow bells and
all the bells in all the churches as we went home were a-ringing.
Hence we went homewards, it being about ten o’clock. But the
common joy that was every where to be seen! The number of
bonfires, there being fourteen between St. Dunstan’s and Tem-
ple Bar, and at Strand Bridge’ I could at one view tell thirty-one
fires. In King-street seven or eight; and all along burning, and
roasting, and drinking for rumps. There being rumps tied upon
sticks and carried up and down. The butchers at the May Pole in
the Strand rang a peal with their knives when they were going
to sacrifice their rump. On Ludgate Hill there was one turning
of the spit that had a rump tied upon it, and another basting of
it. Indeed it was past imagination, both the greatness and the
suddenness of it. At one end of the street you would think there
was a whole lane of fire, and so hot that we were fain to keep still
on the further side merely for heat. We came to the Chequers at
Charing Cross, where Chetwind wrote a letter and I gave him an
account of what I had wrote for him to write. Thence home and
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sent my letters to the posthouse in London, and my wife and I
(after Mr. Hunt was gone, whom I found waiting at my house)
went out again to show her the fires, and after walking as far as
the Exchange we returned and to bed.
12th. In the morning, it being Lord’s day, Mr. Pierce came
to me to enquire how things go. We drank our morning draft
together and thence to White Hall, where Dr. Hones preached;
but I staid not to hear, but walking in the court, I heard that Sir
Arth. Haselrigge was newly gone into the City to Monk, and
that Monk’s wife removed from White Hall last night. Home
again, where at noon came according to my invitation my cos.
Thos. Pepys and his partner and dined with me, but before din-
ner we went and took a walk round the park, it being a most
pleasant day as ever I saw. After dinner we three went into Lon-
don together, where I heard that Monk had been at Paul’s in the
morning, and the people had shouted much at his coming out of
the church. In the afternoon he was at a church in Broad-street,
whereabout he do lodge. But not knowing how to see him we
went and walked half a hour in Moorfields, which were full of
people, it being so fine a day. Here I took leave of them, and so
to Paul’s, where I met with Mr. Kirton’s’ apprentice (the crooked
fellow) and walked up and down with him two hours, some-
times in the street looking for a tavern to drink in, but not find-
ing any open, we durst not knock; other times in the churchyard,
where one told me that he had seen the letter printed. Thence
to Mr. Turner’s, where I found my wife, Mr. Edw. Pepys, and
Roger’ and Mr. Armiger being there, to whom I gave as good an
account of things as I could, and so to my father’s, where Charles
Glascocke was overjoyed to see how things are now; who told me
the boys had last night broke Barebone’s windows. Hence home,
and being near home we missed our maid, and were at a great
loss and went back a great way to find her, but when we could
not see her we went homewards and found her there, got before
us which we wondered at greatly. So to bed, where my wife and
I had some high words upon my telling her that I would fling the
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dog which her brother gave her out of window if he [dirtied] the
house any more.
13th. To my office till noon, thence home to dinner, my mouth
being very bad of the cancer and my left leg beginning to be sore
again. After dinner to see Mrs. Jem, and in the way met with
Catan on foot in the street and talked with her a little, so home
and took my wife to my father’s. In my way I went to Playford’s,
and for two books that I had and 6s. 6d. to boot I had my great
book of songs which he sells always for r 4s. At my father’s I
staid a while, while my mother sent her maid Bess to Cheapside
for some herbs to make a water for my mouth. Then I went to see
Mr. Cumberland, and after a little stay with him I returned, and
took my wife home, where after supper to bed. This day Monk
was invited to White Hall to dinner by my Lords; not seeming
willing, he would not come. I went to Mr. Fage from my father’s,
who had been this afternoon with Monk, who do promise to live
and die with the City, and for the honour of the City; and indeed
the City is very open-handed to the soldiers, that they are most
of them drunk all day, and have money given them. He did give
me something for my mouth which I did use this night.
14th. Called out in the morning by Mr. Moore, whose voice
my wife hearing in my dressing-chamber with me, got herself
ready, and came down and challenged him for her valentine, this
being the day.46 To Westminster Hall, there being many new re-
monstrances and declarations from many counties to Monk and
the City, and one coming from the North from Sir Thomas Fair-
fax. Hence I took him to the Swan and gave him his morning
draft. So to my office, where Mr. Hill of Worcestershire came
to see me and my partner in our office, with whom we went to
Will’s to drink. At noon I went home and so to Mr. Crew’s, but
they had dined, and so I went to see Mrs. Jem where I stayed a
while, and home again where I stayed an hour or two at my lute,
46 The practice of choosing valentines was very general at this time, but
some of the best examples of the custom are found in this Diary.
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and so forth to Westminster Hall, where I heard that the Parlia-
ment hath now changed the oath so much talked of to a promise;
and that among other qualifications for the members that are to
be chosen, one is, that no man, nor the son of any man that hath
been in arms during the life of the father, shall be capable of being
chosen to sit in Parliament. To Will’s, where like a fool I staid and
lost 6d. at cards. So home, and wrote a letter to my Lord by the
post. So after supper to bed. This day, by an order of the House,
Sir H. Vane was sent out of town to his house in Lincolnshire.
15th. Called up in the morning by Captain Holland and Cap-
tain Cuttance, and with them to Harper’s, thence to my office,
thence with Mr. Hill of Worcestershire to Will’s, where I gave
him a letter to Nan Pepys, and some merry pamphlets against
the Rump to carry to her into the country. So to Mr. Crew’s,
where the dining room being full, Mr. Walgrave and I dined
below in the buttery by ourselves upon a good dish of but-
tered salmon. Thence to Hering’ the merchant about my Lord’s
Worcester money and back to Paul’s Churchyard, where I staid
reading in Fuller’s History of the Church of England an hour or
two, and so to my father’s, where Mr. Hill came to me and I gave
him direction what to do at Worcester about the money. Thence
to my Lady Wright’s and gave her a letter from my Lord privily.
So to Mrs. Jem and sat with her, who dined at Mr. Crew’s to-day,
and told me that there was at her coming away at least forty gen-
tlemen (I suppose members that were secluded, for Mr. Walgrave
told me that there were about thirty met there the last night) came
dropping in one after another thither. Thence home and wrote
into the country against to-morrow by the carrier and so to bed.
At my father’s I heard how my cousin Kate Joyce had a fall yes-
terday from her horse and had some hurt thereby. No news to-
day, but all quiet to see what the Parliament will do about the
issuing of the writs to-morrow for filling up of the House, ac-
cording to Monk’s desire.
16th, In the morning at my lute. Then came Shaw and Hawly,
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and I gave them their morning draft at my house. So to my office,
where I wrote by the carrier to my Lord and sealed my letter at
Will’s, and gave it old East to carry it to the carrier’s, and to take
up a box of china oranges and two little barrels of scallops at my
house, which Captain Cuttance sent to me for my Lord. Here I
met with Osborne and with Shaw and Spicer, and we went to the
Sun Tavern in expectation of a dinner, where we had sent us only
two trenchers-full of meat, at which we were very merry, while
in came Mr. Wade and his friend Capt. Moyse (who told us of
his hopes to get an estate merely for his name’s sake), and here
we staid till seven at night, I winning a quart of sack of Shaw
that one trencherfull that was sent us was all lamb and he that it
was veal. I by having but 3d. in my pocket made shift to spend
no more, whereas if I had had more I had spent more as the rest
did, so that I see it is an advantage to a man to carry little in his
pocket. Home, and after supper, and a little at my flute, I went to
bed.
17th. In the morning Tom that was my Lord’s footboy came to
see me and had 10s. of me of the money which I have to keep of
his. So that now I have but 35s. more of his. Then came Mr. Hills
the instrument maker, and I consulted with him about the alter-
ing my lute and my viall. After that I went into my study and
did up my accounts, and found that I am about; £40 beforehand
in the world, and that is all. So to my office and from thence
brought Mr. Hawly home with me to dinner, and after dinner
wrote a letter to Mr. Downing about his business and gave it
Hawly, and so went to Mr. Gunning’s to his weekly fast, and af-
ter sermon, meeting there with Monsieur L’Impertinent, we went
and walked in the park till it was dark. I played on my pipe at the
Echo, and then drank a cup of ale at Jacob’s. So to Westminster
Hall, and he with me, where I heard that some of the members
of the House were gone to meet with some of the secluded mem-
bers and General Monk in the City. Hence we went to White Hall,
thinking to hear more news, where I met with Mr. Hunt, who
told me how Monk had sent for all his goods that he had here
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into the City; and yet again he told me, that some of the mem-
bers of the House had this day laid in firing into their lodgings
at White Hall for a good while, so that we are at a great stand to
think what will become of things, whether Monk will stand to the
Parliament or no. Hence Mons. L’Impertinent and I to Harper’s,
and there drank a cup or two to the King, and to his fair sis-
ter Frances–[Frances Butler, the great beauty, who is sometimes
styled. la belle Boteler.]–good health, of whom we had much dis-
course of her not being much the worse for the small pox, which
she had this last summer. So home and to bed. This day we are
invited to my uncle Fenner’s wedding feast, but went not, this
being the 27th year.
18th. A great while at my vial and voice, learning to sing “Fly
boy, fly boy,” without book. So to my office, where little to do.
In the Hall I met with Mr. Eglin and one Looker, a famous gar-
dener, servant to my Lord Salsbury, and among other things the
gardener told a strange passage in good earnest.... Home to din-
ner, and then went to my Lord’s lodgings to my turret there and
took away most of my books, and sent them home by my maid.
Thither came Capt. Holland to me who took me to the Half Moon
tavern and Mr. Southorne, Blackburne’s clerk. Thence he took
me to the Mitre in Fleet Street, where we heard (in a room over
the music room) very plainly through the ceiling. Here we parted
and I to Mr. Wotton’s, and with him to an alehouse and drank
while he told me a great many stories of comedies that he had
formerly seen acted, and the names of the principal actors, and
gave me a very good account of it. Thence to Whitehall, where I
met with Luellin and in the clerk’s chamber wrote a letter to my
Lord. So home and to bed. This day two soldiers were hanged in
the Strand for their late mutiny at Somerset-house.
19th (Lord’s day). Early in the morning I set my books that I
brought home yesterday up in order in my study. Thence forth to
Mr. Harper’s to drink a draft of purle,–[Purl is hot beer flavoured
with wormwood or other aromatic herbs. The name is also given
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to hot beer flavoured with gin, sugar, and ginger.]–whither by
appointment Monsieur L’Impertinent, who did intend too upon
my desire to go along with me to St. Bartholomew’s, to hear one
Mr. Sparks, but it raining very hard we went to Mr. Gunning’s
and heard an excellent sermon, and speaking of the character
that the Scripture gives of Ann the mother of the blessed Vir-
gin, he did there speak largely in commendation of widowhood,
and not as we do to marry two or three wives or husbands, one
after another. Here I met with Mr. Moore, and went home with
him to dinner, where he told me the discourse that happened
between the secluded members and the members of the House,
before Monk last Friday. How the secluded said, that they did
not intend by coming in to express revenge upon these men, but
only to meet and dissolve themselves, and only to issue writs
for a free Parliament. He told me how Haselrigge was afraid to
have the candle carried before him, for fear that the people see-
ing him, would do him hurt; and that he is afraid to appear in
the City. That there is great likelihood that the secluded mem-
bers will come in, and so Mr. Crew and my Lord are likely to
be great men, at which I was very glad. After diner there was
many secluded members come in to Mr. Crew, which, it being
the Lord’s day, did make Mr. Moore believe that there was some-
thing extraordinary in the business. Hence home and brought
my wife to Mr. Mossum’s to hear him, and indeed he made a
very good sermon, but only too eloquent for a pulpit. Here Mr.
L’Impertinent helped me to a seat. After sermon to my father’s;
and fell in discourse concerning our going to Cambridge the next
week with my brother John. To Mrs. Turner where her brother,
Mr. Edward Pepys, was there, and I sat a great while talking of
public business of the times with him. So to supper to my Fa-
ther’s, all supper talking of John’s going to Cambridge. So home,
and it raining my wife got my mother’s French mantle and my
brother John’s hat, and so we went all along home and to bed.
20th. In the morning at my lute. Then to my office, where my
partner and I made even our balance. Took him home to din-
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ner with me, where my brother John came to dine with me. Af-
ter dinner I took him to my study at home and at my Lord’s,
and gave him some books and other things against his going
to Cambridge. After he was gone I went forth to Westminster
Hall, where I met with Chetwind, Simons, and Gregory. And
with them to Marsh’s at Whitehall to drink, and staid there a
pretty while reading a pamphlet well writ and directed to Gen-
eral Monk, in praise of the form of monarchy which was settled
here before the wars.47 They told me how the Speaker Lenthall do
refuse to sign the writs for choice of new members in the place
of the excluded; and by that means the writs could not go out to-
day. In the evening Simons and I to the Coffee Club, where noth-
ing to do only I heard Mr. Harrington, and my Lord of Dorset
and another Lord, talking of getting another place as the Cock-
pit, and they did believe it would come to something. After a
small debate upon the question whether learned or unlearned
subjects are the best the Club broke up very poorly, and I do not
think they will meet any more. Hence with Vines, &c. to Will’s,
and after a pot or two home, and so to bed.
21st. In the morning going out I saw many soldiers going to-
wards Westminster, and was told that they were going to admit
the secluded members again. So I to Westminster Hall, and in
Chancery Row I saw about twenty of them who had been at
White Hall with General Monk, who came thither this morning,
and made a speech to them, and recommended to them a Com-
monwealth, and against Charles Stuart. They came to the House
and went in one after another, and at last the Speaker came. But
it is very strange that this could be carried so private, that the
47 This pamphlet is among the Thomason Collection of Civil War Tracts
(British Museum), and dated in MS. this same day, February 20th– “A Plea
for Limited Monarchy as it was established in this Nation before the late
War. In an Humble Address to his Excellency General Monck. By a Zealot
for the good old Laws of his Country, before any Faction or Caprice, with ad-
ditions.” “An Eccho to the Plea for Limited Monarchy, &c.,” was published
soon afterwards.
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other members of the House heard nothing of all this, till they
found them in the House, insomuch that the soldiers that stood
there to let in the secluded members, they took for such as they
had ordered to stand there to hinder their coming in. Mr. Prin
came with an old basket-hilt sword on, and had a great many
great shouts upon his going into the Hall. They sat till noon, and
at their coming out Mr. Crew saw me, and bid me come to his
house, which I did, and he would have me dine with him, which
I did; and he very joyful told me that the House had made Gen-
eral Monk, General of all the Forces in England, Scotland, and
Ireland; and that upon Monk’s desire, for the service that Law-
son had lately done in pulling down the Committee of Safety,
he had the command of the Sea for the time being. He advised
me to send for my Lord forthwith, and told me that there is no
question that, if he will, he may now be employed again; and
that the House do intend to do nothing more than to issue writs,
and to settle a foundation for a free Parliament. After dinner I
back to Westminster Hall with him in his coach. Here I met with
Mr. Lock and Pursell, Masters of Music,–[Henry Purcell, father of
the celebrated composer, was gentleman of the Chapel Royal.]–
and with them to the Coffee House, into a room next the water,
by ourselves, where we spent an hour or two till Captain Taylor
came to us, who told us, that the House had voted the gates of
the City to be made up again, and the members of the City that
are in prison to be set at liberty; and that Sir G. Booth’s’ case be
brought into the House to-morrow. Here we had variety of brave
Italian and Spanish songs, and a canon for eight voices, which
Mr. Lock had lately made on these words: “Domine salvum fac
Regem,” an admirable thing. Here also Capt. Taylor began a dis-
course of something that he had lately writ about Gavelkind in
answer to one that had wrote a piece upon the same subject; and
indeed discovered a great deal of study in antiquity in his dis-
course. Here out of the window it was a most pleasant sight to
see the City from one end to the other with a glory about it, so
high was the light of the bonfires, and so thick round the City,
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and the bells rang everywhere. Hence home and wrote to my
Lord, afterwards came down and found Mr. Hunt (troubled at
this change) and Mr. Spong, who staid late with me singing of a
song or two, and so parted. My wife not very well, went to bed
before. This morning I met in the Hall with Mr. Fuller, of Christ’s,
and told him of my design to go to Cambridge, and whither. He
told me very freely the temper of Mr. Widdrington, how he did
oppose all the fellows in the College, and that there was a great
distance between him and the rest, at which I was very sorry,
for that he told me he feared it would be little to my brother’s
advantage to be his pupil.
22nd. In the morning intended to have gone to Mr. Crew’s
to borrow some money, but it raining I forbore, and went to my
Lord’s lodging and look that all things were well there. Then
home and sang a song to my viall, so to my office and to Will’s,
where Mr. Pierce found me out, and told me that he would go
with me to Cambridge, where Colonel Ayre’s regiment, to which
he was surgeon, lieth. Walking in the Hall, I saw Major-General
Brown, who had along time been banished by the Rump, but
now with his beard overgrown, he comes abroad and sat in the
House. To my father’s to dinner, where nothing but a small dish
of powdered beef–[Boiled salt beef. To powder was to sprinkle
with salt, and the powdering tub a vessel in which meat was
salted.]–and dish of carrots; they being all busy to get things
ready for my brother John to go to-morrow. After dinner, my
wife staying there, I went to Mr. Crew’s, and got; £5 of Mr. An-
drews, and so to Mrs. Jemimah, who now hath her instrument
about her neck, and indeed is infinitely, altered, and holds her
head upright. I paid her, maid 40s. of the money that I have re-
ceived of Mr. Andrews. Hence home to my study, where I only
wrote thus much of this day’s passages to this * and so out again.
To White Hall, where I met with Will. Simons and Mr. Mabbot at
Marsh’s, who told me how the House had this day voted that the
gates of the City should be set up at the cost of the State. And that
Major-General Brown’s being proclaimed a traitor be made void,
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and several other things of that nature. Home for my lanthorn
and so to my father’s, where I directed John what books to put
for Cambridge. After that to supper, where my Uncle Fenner and
my Aunt, The. Turner, and Joyce, at a brave leg of veal roasted,
and were very merry against John’s going to Cambridge. I ob-
served this day how abominably Barebone’s windows are broke
again last night. At past 9 o’clock my wife and I went home.
23rd. Thursday, my birthday, now twenty-seven years. A
pretty fair morning, I rose and after writing a while in my study I
went forth. To my office, where I told Mr. Hawly of my thoughts
to go out of town to-morrow. Hither Mr. Fuller comes to me and
my Uncle Thomas too, thence I took them to drink, and so put
off my uncle. So with Mr. Fuller home to my house, where he
dined with me, and he told my wife and me a great many stories
of his adversities, since these troubles, in being forced to travel
in the Catholic countries, &c. He shewed me his bills, but I had
not money to pay him. We parted, and I to Whitehall, where I
was to see my horse which Mr. Garthwayt lends me to-morrow.
So home, where Mr. Pierce comes to me about appointing time
and place where and when to meet tomorrow. So to Westmin-
ster Hall, where, after the House rose, I met with Mr. Crew, who
told me that my Lord was chosen by 73 voices, to be one of the
Council of State. Mr. Pierpoint had the most, 101, and himself the
next, too. He brought me in the coach home. He and Mr. Anslow
being in it. I back to the Hall, and at Mrs. Michell’s shop staid
talking a great while with her and my Chaplain, Mr. Mumford,
and drank a pot or two of ale on a wager that Mr. Prin is not of
the Council. Home and wrote to my Lord the news of the choice
of the Council by the post, and so to bed.
24th. I rose very early, and taking horse at Scotland Yard, at
Mr. Garthwayt’s stable, I rode to Mr. Pierces, who rose, and in a
quarter of an hour, leaving his wife in bed (with whom Mr. Lucy
methought was very free as she lay in bed), we both mounted,
and so set forth about seven of the clock, the day and the way
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very foul. About Ware we overtook Mr. Blayton, brother-in-law
to Dick Vines, who went thenceforwards with us, and at Puck-
eridge we baited, where we had a loin of mutton fried, and were
very merry, but the way exceeding bad from Ware thither. Then
up again and as far as Foulmer, within six miles of Cambridge,
my mare being almost tired: here we lay at the Chequer, play-
ing at cards till supper, which was a breast of veal roasted. I lay
with Mr. Pierce, who we left here the next morning upon his go-
ing to Hinchingbroke to speak with my Lord before his going to
London, and we two come to Cambridge by eight o’clock in the
morning.
25th. To the Falcon, in the Petty Cury,48 where we found my
father and brother very well. After dressing myself, about ten
o’clock, my father, brother, and I to Mr. Widdririgton, at Christ’s
College, who received us very civilly, and caused my brother to
be admitted, while my father, he, and I, sat talking. After that
done, we take leave. My father and brother went to visit some
friends, Pepys’s, scholars in Cambridge, while I went to Magda-
lene College, to Mr. Hill, with whom I found Mr. Zanchy, Bur-
ton, and Hollins, and was exceeding civilly received by them. I
took leave on promise to sup with them, and to my Inn again,
where I dined with some others that were there at an ordinary.
48 The old Falcon Inn is on the south side of Petty Cury. It is now divided
into three houses, one of which is the present Falcon Inn, the other two being
houses with shops. The Falcon yard is but little changed. From the size of the
whole building it must have been the principal inn of the town. The room
said to have been used by Queen Elizabeth for receptions retains its original
form.–M. B. The Petty Cury. The derivation of the name of this street, so
well known to all Cambridge men, is a matter of much dispute among anti-
quaries. (See “Notes and Queries.”) The most probable meaning of it is the
Parva Cokeria, or little cury, where the cooks of the town lived, just as “The
Poultry,” where the Poulters (now Poulterers) had their shops. “The Forme
of Cury,” a Roll of Antient English Cookery, was compiled by the principal
cooks of that “best and royalest viander of all Christian Kings,” Richard the
Second, and edited with a copious Index and Glossary by Dr. Samuel Pegge,
1780.–M. B.
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After dinner my brother to the College, and my father and I to
my Cozen Angier’s, to see them, where Mr. Fairbrother came to
us. Here we sat a while talking. My father he went to look af-
ter his things at the carrier’s, and my brother’s chamber, while
Mr. Fairbrother, my Cozen Angier, and Mr. Zanchy, whom I met
at Mr. Merton’s shop (where I bought ‘Elenchus Motuum’, hav-
ing given my former to Mr. Downing when he was here), to the
Three Tuns, where we drank pretty hard and many healths to the
King, &c., till it began to be darkish: then we broke up and I and
Mr. Zanchy went to Magdalene College, where a very handsome
supper at Mr. Hill’s chambers, I suppose upon a club among
them, where in their discourse I could find that there was noth-
ing at all left of the old preciseness in their discourse, specially
on Saturday nights. And Mr. Zanchy told me that there was no
such thing now-a-days among them at any time. After supper
and some discourse then to my Inn, where I found my father in
his chamber, and after some discourse, and he well satisfied with
this day’s work, we went to bed, my brother lying with me, his
things not being come by the carrier that he could not lie in the
College.
26th (Sunday). My brother went to the College to Chapel. My
father and I went out in the morning, and walked out in the fields
behind King’s College, and in King’s College Chapel Yard, where
we met with Mr. Fairbrother, who took us to Botolph’s Church,
where we heard Mr. Nicholas, of Queen’s College, who I knew
in my time to be Tripos,49 with great applause, upon this text,
“For thy commandments are broad.” Thence my father and I to
49 The Tripos or Bachelor of the Stool, who made the speech on Ash
Wednesday, when the senior Proctor called him up and exhorted him to be
witty but modest withal. Their speeches, especially after the Restoration,
tended to be boisterous, and even scurrilous. ”26 Martii 1669. Da Hollis,
fellow of Clare Hall is to make a publick Recantation in the Bac. Schools for
his Tripos speeche.” The Tripos verses still come out, and are circulated on
Ash Wednesday. The list of successful candidates for honours is printed on
the same paper, hence the term “Tripos” applied to it.
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Mr. Widdrington’s chamber to dinner, where he used us very
courteously again, and had two Fellow Commoners at table with
him, and Mr. Pepper, a Fellow of the College. After dinner, while
we sat talking by the fire, Mr. Pierces man came to tell me that
his master was come to town, so my father and I took leave, and
found Mr. Pierce at our Inn, who told us that he had lost his
journey, for my Lord was gone from Hinchingbroke to London
on Thursday last, at which I was a little put to a stand. So after a
cup of drink I went to Magdalene College to get the certificate of
the College for my brother’s entrance there, that he might save
his year. I met with Mr. Burton in the Court, who took me to
Mr. Pechell’s chamber, where he was and Mr. Zanchy. By and
by, Mr. Pechell and Sanchy and I went out, Pechell to Church,
Sanchy and I to the Rose Tavern, where we sat and drank till
sermon done, and then Mr. Pechell came to us, and we three sat
drinking the King’s and his whole family’s health till it began
to be dark. Then we parted; Sanchy and I went to my lodging,
where we found my father and Mr. Pierce at the door, and I took
them both and Mr. Blayton to the Rose Tavern, and there gave
them a quart or two of wine, not telling them that we had been
there before. After this we broke up, and my father, Mr. Zanchy,
and I to my Cosen Angier to supper, where I caused two bottles
of wine to be carried from the Rose Tavern; that was drunk up,
and I had not the wit to let them know at table that it was I that
paid for them, and so I lost my thanks for them. After supper Mr.
Fairbrother, who supped there with us, took me into a room by
himself, and shewed me a pitiful copy of verses upon Mr. Prinn
which he esteemed very good, and desired that I would get them
given to Mr. Prinn, in hopes that he would get him some place
for it, which I said I would do, but did laugh in my sleeve to think
of his folly, though indeed a man that has always expressed great
civility to me. After that we sat down and talked; I took leave
of all my friends, and so to my Inn, where after I had wrote a
note and enclosed the certificate to Mr. Widdrington, I bade good
night to my father, and John went to bed, but I staid up a little
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while, playing the fool with the lass of the house at the door of
the chamber, and so to bed.
27th. Up by four o’clock, and after I was ready, took my leave
of my father, whom I left in bed, and the same of my brother
John, to whom I gave 10s. Mr. Blayton and I took horse and
straight to Saffron Walden, where at the White Hart, we set up
our horses, and took the master of the house to shew us Audley
End House, who took us on foot through the park, and so to the
house, where the housekeeper shewed us all the house, in which
the stateliness of the ceilings, chimney-pieces, and form of the
whole was exceedingly worth seeing. He took us into the cel-
lar, where we drank most admirable drink, a health to the King.
Here I played on my flageolette, there being an excellent echo.
He shewed us excellent pictures; two especially, those of the four
Evangelists and Henry VIII. After that I gave the man 2s. for his
trouble, and went back again. In our going, my landlord car-
ried us through a very old hospital or almshouse, where forty
poor people was maintained; a very old foundation; and over the
chimney in the mantelpiece was an inscription in brass: “Orate
pre anima Thomae Bird,” &c.; and the poor box also was on the
same chimney-piece, with an iron door and locks to it, into which
I put 6d. They brought me a draft of their drink in a brown bowl,
tipt with silver, which I drank off, and at the bottom was a picture
of the Virgin and the child in her arms, done in silver. So we went
to our Inn, and after eating of something, and kissed the daugh-
ter of the house, she being very pretty, we took leave, and so that
night, the road pretty good, but the weather rainy to Ep[p]ing,
where we sat and played a game at cards, and after supper, and
some merry talk with a plain bold maid of the house, we went to
bed.
28th. Up in the morning, and had some red herrings to our
breakfast, while my boot-heel was a-mending, by the same to-
ken the boy left the hole as big as it was before. Then to horse,
and for London through the forest, where we found the way
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good, but only in one path, which we kept as if we had rode
through a canal all the way. We found the shops all shut, and the
militia of the red regiment in arms at the Old Exchange, among
whom I found and spoke to Nich. Osborne, who told me that it
was a thanksgiving-day through the City for the return of the
Parliament. At Paul’s I light, Mr. Blayton holding my horse,
where I found Dr. Reynolds’ in the pulpit, and General Monk
there, who was to have a great entertainment at Grocers’ Hall.
So home, where my wife and all well. Shifted myself,–[Changed
his dress.]–and so to Mr. Crew’s, and then to Sir Harry Wright’s,
where I found my Lord at dinner, who called for me in, and was
glad to see me. There was at dinner also Mr. John Wright and his
lady, a very pretty lady, Alderman Allen’s daughter. I dined here
with Will. Howe, and after dinner went out with him to buy a
hat (calling in my way and saw my mother), which we did at the
Plough in Fleet Street by my Lord’s direction, but not as for him.
Here we met with Mr. Pierce a little before, and he took us to the
Greyhound Tavern, and gave us a pint of wine, and as the rest
of the seamen do, talked very high again of my Lord. After we
had done about the hat we went homewards, he to Mr. Crew’s
and I to Mrs. Jem, and sat with her a little. Then home, where I
found Mr. Sheply, almost drunk, come to see me, afterwards Mr.
Spong comes, with whom I went up and played with him a Duo
or two, and so good night. I was indeed a little vexed with Mr.
Sheply, but said nothing, about his breaking open of my study
at my house, merely to give him the key of the stair door at my
Lord’s, which lock he might better have broke than mine.
29th. To my office, and drank at Will’s with Mr. Moore, who
told me how my Lord is chosen General at Sea by the Council,
and that it is thought that Monk will be joined with him therein.
Home and dined, after dinner my wife and I by water to London,
and thence to Herring’s, the merchant in Coleman Street, about
£50 which he promises I shall have on Saturday next. So to my
mother’s, and then to Mrs. Turner’s, of whom I took leave, and
her company, because she was to go out of town to-morrow with
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Mr. Pepys into Norfolk. Here my cosen Norton gave me a brave
cup of metheglin,50 the first I ever drank. To my mother’s and
supped there.
She shewed me a letter to my father from my uncle inviting
him to come to Brampton while he is in the country. So home
and to bed. This day my Lord came to the House, the first time
since he came to town; but he had been at the Council before.
50 A liquor made of honey and water, boiled and fermenting. By 12
Charles II. cap. 23, a grant of certain impositions upon beer, ale, and other
liquors, a duty of 1d. per gallon was laid upon “all metheglin or mead.”
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MARCH 1659-1660
March 1st. In the morning went to my Lord’s lodgings, think-
ing to have spoke with Mr. Sheply, having not been to visit him
since my coming to town. But he being not within I went up,
and out of the box where my Lord’s pamphlets lay, I chose as
many as I had a mind to have for my own use and left the rest.
Then to my office, where little to do, abut Mr. Sheply comes to
me, so at dinner time he and I went to Mr. Crew’s, whither Mr.
Thomas was newly come to town, being sent with Sir H. Yelver-
ton, a my old school-fellow at Paul’s School, to bring the thanks
of the county to General Monk for the return of the Parliament.
But old Mr. Crew and my Lord not coming home to dinner, we
tarried late before we went to dinner, it being the day that John,
Mr. John Crew’s coachman, was to be buried in the afternoon, he
being a day or two before killed with a blow of one of his horses
that struck his skull into his brain. From thence Mr. Sheply and
I went into London to Mr. Laxton’s; my Lord’s apothecary, and
so by water to Westminster, where at the Sun [tavern] he and I
spent two or three hours in a pint or two of wine, discoursing
of matters in the country, among other things telling me that my
uncle did to him make a very kind mention of me, and what he
would do for me. Thence I went home, and went to bed betimes.
This day the Parliament did vote that they would not sit longer
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than the 15th day of this month.
2d. This morning I went early to my Lord at Mr. Crew’s, where
I spoke to him. Here were a great many come to see him, as Sec-
retary Thurlow who is now by this Parliament chosen again Sec-
retary of State. There were also General Monk’s trumpeters to
give my Lord a sound of their trumpets this morning. Thence I
went to my office, and wrote a letter to Mr. Downing about the
business of his house. Then going home, I met with Mr. Eglin,
Chetwind, and Thomas, who took me to the Leg [another tavern]
in King’s street, where we had two brave dishes of meat, one of
fish, a carp and some other fishes, as well done as ever I ate any.
After that to the Swan tavern, where we drank a quart or two of
wine, and so parted. So I to Mrs. Jem and took Mr. Moore with
me (who I met in the street), and there I met W. Howe and Sheply.
After that to Westminster Hall, where I saw Sir G. Booth at liberty.
This day I hear the City militia is put into good posture, and it is
thought that Monk will not be able to do any great matter against
them now, if he have a mind. I understand that my Lord Lambert
did yesterday send a letter to the Council, and that to-night he is
to come and appear to the Council in person. Sir Arthur Hasel-
rigge do not yet appear in the House. Great is the talk of a single
person, and that it would now be Charles, George, or Richard
again.–[Charles II., or George Monk, or Richard Cromwell.]–For
the last of which, my Lord St. John is said to speak high. Great
also is the dispute now in the House, in whose name the writs
shall run for the next Parliament; and it is said that Mr. Prin, in
open House, said, “In King Charles’s.” From Westminster Hall
home. Spent the evening in my study, and so after some talk with
my wife, then to bed.
3d. To Westminster Hall, where I found that my Lord was last
night voted one of the Generals at Sea, and Monk the other. I
met my Lord in the Hall, who bid me come to him at noon. I
met with Mr. Pierce the purser, Lieut. Lambert, Mr. Creed, and
Will. Howe, and went with them to the Swan tavern. Up to my
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office, but did nothing. At noon home to dinner to a sheep’s
head. My brother Tom came and dined with me, and told me
that my mother was not very well, and that my Aunt Fenner was
very ill too. After dinner I to Warwick House, in Holborn, to my
Lord, where he dined with my Lord of Manchester, Sir Dudley
North, my Lord Fiennes, and my Lord Barkly. I staid in the great
hall, talking with some gentlemen there, till they all come out.
Then I, by coach with my Lord, to Mr. Crew’s, in our way talk-
ing of publick things, and how I should look after getting of his
Commissioner’s despatch. He told me he feared there was new
design hatching, as if Monk had a mind to get into the saddle.
Here I left him, and went by appointment to Hering, the mer-
chant, but missed of my money, at which I was much troubled,
but could not help myself. Returning, met Mr. Gifford, who took
me and gave me half a pint of wine, and told me, as I hear this
day from many, that things are in a very doubtful posture, some
of the Parliament being willing to keep the power in their hands.
After I had left him, I met with Tom Harper, who took me into a
place in Drury Lane, where we drank a great deal of strong water,
more than ever I did in my life at onetime before. He talked huge
high that my Lord Protector would come in place again, which
indeed is much discoursed of again, though I do not see it pos-
sible. Hence home and wrote to my father at Brampton by the
post. So to bed. This day I was told that my Lord General Fleet-
wood told my lord that he feared the King of Sweden is dead of
a fever at Gottenburg.
4th. Lord’s day. Before I went to church I sang Orpheus’ Hymn
to my viall. After that to Mr. Gunning’s, an excellent sermon
upon charity. Then to my mother to dinner, where my wife and
the maid were come. After dinner we three to Mr. Messum’s
where we met Mons. L’Impertinent, who got us a seat and told
me a ridiculous story how that last week he had caused a simple
citizen to spend; £80 in entertainments of him and some friends
of his upon pretence of some service that he would do him in
his suit after a widow. Then to my mother again, and after sup-
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per she and I talked very high about religion, I in defence of the
religion I was born in. Then home.
5th. Early in the morning Mr. Hill comes to string my theo-
rbo,51 which we were about till past ten o’clock, with a great deal
of pleasure. Then to Westminster, where I met with Mr. Sheply
and Mr. Pinkney at Will’s, who took me by water to Billings-
gate, at the Salutation Tavern, whither by-and-by, Mr. Talbot and
Adams came, and bring a great [deal of] good meat, a ham of
bacon, &c. Here we staid and drank till Mr. Adams began to be
overcome. Then we parted, and so to Westminster by water, only
seeing Mr. Pinkney at his own house, where he shewed me how
he had alway kept the Lion and Unicorn, in the back of his chim-
ney, bright, in expectation of the King’s coming again. At home
I found Mr. Hunt, who told me how the Parliament had voted
that the Covenant be printed and hung in churches again. Great
hopes of the King’s coming again. To bed.
6th. (Shrove Tuesday.) I called Mr. Sheply and we both went
up to my Lord’s lodgings at Mr. Crew’s, where he bade us to go
home again, and get a fire against an hour after. Which we did
at White Hall, whither he came, and after talking with him and
me about his going to sea, he called me by myself to go along
with him into the garden, where he asked me how things were
with me, and what he had endeavoured to do with my uncle to
get him to do something for me but he would say nothing too.
He likewise bade me look out now at this turn some good place,
and he would use all his own, and all the interest of his friends
that he had in England, to do me good. And asked me whether
51 The theorbo was a bass lute. Having gut strings it was played with the
fingers. There is a humorous comparison of the long waists of ladies, which
came into fashion about 1621, with the theorbo, by Bishop Corbet: “She was
barr’d up in whale-bones, that did leese None of the whale’s length, for they
reached her knees; Off with her head, and then she hath a middle As her
waste stands, just like the new found fiddle, The favourite Theorbo, truth
to tell ye, Whose neck and throat are deeper than the belly.” Corbet, ‘Iter
Boreale’.
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MARCH 1659-1660
I could, without too much inconvenience, go to sea as his secre-
tary, and bid me think of it. He also began to talk of things of
State, and told me that he should want one in that capacity at
sea, that he might trust in, and therefore he would have me to
go. He told me also, that he did believe the King would come
in, and did discourse with me about it, and about the affection of
the people and City, at which I was full glad. After he was gone,
I waiting upon him through the garden till he came to the Hall,
where I left him and went up to my office, where Mr. Hawly
brought one to me, a seaman, that had promised Rio to him if he
get him a purser’s place, which I think to endeavour to do. Here
comes my uncle Tom, whom I took to Will’s and drank with, poor
man, he comes to inquire about the knights of Windsor, of which
he desires to get to be one.52 While we were drinking, in comes
Mr. Day, a carpenter in Westminster, to tell me that it was Shrove
Tuesday, and that I must go with him to their yearly Club upon
this day, which I confess I had quite forgot. So I went to the Bell,
where were Mr. Eglin, Veezy, Vincent a butcher, one more, and
Mr. Tanner, with whom I played upon a viall, and he a viallin,
after dinner, and were very merry, with a special good dinner, a
leg of veal and bacon, two capons and sausages and fritters, with
abundance of wine. After that I went home, where I found Kate
Sterpin who hath not been here a great while before. She gone I
went to see Mrs. Jem, at whose chamber door I found a couple
of ladies, but she not being there, we hunted her out, and found
that she and another had hid themselves behind a door. Well,
they all went down into the dining-room, where it was full of
52 The body of Poor Knights of Windsor was founded by Edward III. The
intention of the king with regard to the poor knights was to provide relief
and comfortable subsistence for such valiant soldiers as happened in their
old age to fall into poverty and decay. On September 20th, 1659, a Report
having been read respecting the Poor Knights of Windsor, the House “or-
dered that it be referred to a Committee, to look into the revenue for mainte-
nance of the Poor Knights of Windsor,” &c. (See Tighe and Davis’s “Annals
of Windsor.”)
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tag, rag, and bobtail, dancing, singing, and drinking, of which I
was ashamed, and after I had staid a dance or two I went away.
Going home, called at my Lord’s for Mr. Sheply, but found him
at the Lion with a pewterer, that he had bought pewter to-day
of. With them I drank, and so home and wrote by the post, by
my Lord’s command, for J. Goods to come up presently. For my
Lord intends to go forthwith into the Swiftsure till the Nazeby be
ready. This day I hear that the Lords do intend to sit, and great
store of them are now in town, and I see in the Hall to-day. Over-
ton at Hull do stand out, but can, it is thought, do nothing; and
Lawson, it is said, is gone with some ships thither, but all that is
nothing. My Lord told me, that there was great endeavours to
bring in the Protector again; but he told me, too, that he did be-
lieve it would not last long if he were brought in; no, nor the King
neither (though he seems to think that he will come in), unless he
carry himself very soberly and well. Every body now drinks the
King’s health without any fear, whereas before it was very pri-
vate that a man dare do it. Monk this day is feasted at Mercers’
Hall, and is invited one after another to all the twelve Halls in
London! Many think that he is honest yet, and some or more
think him to be a fool that would raise himself, but think that he
will undo himself by endeavouring it. My mind, I must needs re-
member, has been very much eased and joyed at my Lord’s great
expressions of kindness this day, and in discourse thereupon my
wife and I lay awake an hour or two in our bed.
7th. (Ash Wednesday.) In the morning I went to my Lord at
Mr. Crew’s, in my way Washington overtook me and told me
upon my question whether he knew of any place now void that I
might have, by power over friends, that this day Mr. G. Montagu
was to be made ‘Custos Rotulorum’ for Westminster, and that by
friends I might get to be named by him Clerk of the Peace, with
which I was, as I am at all new things, very much joyed, so when
I came to Mr. Crew’s, I spoke to my Lord about it, who told me
he believed Mr. Montagu had already promised it, and that it
was given him only that he might gratify one person with the
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place I look for. Here, among many that were here, I met with
Mr. Lynes, the surgeon, who promised me some seeds of the sen-
sitive plant.53 I spoke too with Mr. Pierce the surgeon, who gave
me great encouragement to go to sea with my Lord. Thence go-
ing homewards, my Lord overtook me in his coach, and called
me in, and so I went with him to St. James’s, and G. Montagu
being gone to White Hall, we walked over the Park thither, all
the way he discoursing of the times, and of the change of things
since the last year, and wondering how he could bear with so
great disappointment as he did. He did give me the best advice
that he could what was best for me, whether to stay or go with
him, and offered all the ways that could be, how he might do
me good, with the greatest liberty and love that could be. I left
him at Whitehall, and myself went to Westminster to my office,
whither nothing to do, but I did discourse with Mr. Falconbridge
about Le Squire’s place, and had his consent to get it if I could.
I afterwards in the Hall met with W. Simons, who put me in the
best way how to get it done. Thence by appointment to the Angel
in King Street, where Chetwind, Mr. Thomas and Doling were at
oysters, and beginning Lent this day with a fish dinner. After din-
ner Mr. Thomas and I by water to London, where I went to Her-
ring’s and received the £50 of my Lord’s upon Frank’s bill from
Worcester. I gave in the bill and set my hand to his bill. Thence
I went to the Pope’s Head Alley and called on Adam Chard, and
bought a catcall there, it cost me two groats. Thence went and
gave him a cup of ale. After that to the Sun behind the Exchange,
where meeting my uncle Wight by the way, took him with me
thither, and after drinking a health or two round at the Cock (Mr.
Thomas being gone thither), we parted, he and I homewards,
parted at Fleet Street, where I found my father newly come home
from Brampton very well. He left my uncle with his leg very
53 Evelyn, about the same date (August 9th, 1661), “tried several exper-
iments on the sensitive plant and humilis, which contracted with the least
touch of the sun through a burning glass, though it rises and opens only
when it shines on it”
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dangerous, and do believe he cannot continue in that condition
long. He tells me that my uncle did acquaint him very largely
what he did intend to do with his estate, to make me his heir and
give my brother Tom something, and that my father and mother
should have likewise something, to raise portions for John and
Pall. I pray God he may be as good as his word. Here I staid
and supped and so home, there being Joyce Norton there and
Ch. Glascock. Going home I called at Wotton’s and took home a
piece of cheese. At home Mr. Sheply sat with me a little while,
and so we all to bed. This news and my Lord’s great kindness
makes me very cheerful within. I pray God make me thankful.
This day, according to order, Sir Arthur [Haselrigge] appeared
at the House; what was done I know not, but there was all the
Rumpers almost come to the House to-day. My Lord did seem
to wonder much why Lambert was so willing to be put into the
Tower, and thinks he has some design in it; but I think that he
is so poor that he cannot use his liberty for debts, if he were at
liberty; and so it is as good and better for him to be there, than
any where else.
8th. To Whitehall to bespeak some firing for my father at
Short’s, and likewise to speak to Mr. Blackburne about Batters
being gunner in the “Wexford.” Then to Westminster Hall, where
there was a general damp over men’s minds and faces upon some
of the Officers of the Army being about making a remonstrance
against Charles Stuart or any single person; but at noon it was
told, that the General had put a stop to it, so all was well again.
Here I met with Jasper, who was to look for me to bring me to
my Lord at the lobby; whither sending a note to my Lord, he
comes out to me and gives me direction to look after getting some
money for him from the Admiralty, seeing that things are so un-
safe, that he would not lay out a farthing for the State, till he had
received some money of theirs. Home about two o’clock, and
took my wife by land to Paternoster Row, to buy some Paragon
for a petticoat and so home again. In my way meeting Mr. Moore,
who went home with me while I ate a bit and so back to Whitehall
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again, both of us. He waited at the Council for Mr. Crew. I to the
Admiralty, where I got the order for the money, and have taken
care for the getting of it assigned upon Mr. Hutchinson, Trea-
surer for the Navy, against tomorrow. Hence going home I met
with Mr. King that belonged to the Treasurers at War and took
him to Harper’s, who told me that he and the rest of his fellows
are cast out of office by the new Treasurers. This afternoon, some
of the Officers of the Army, and some of the Parliament, had a
conference at White Hall to make all right again, but I know not
what is done. This noon I met at the Dog tavern Captain Philip
Holland, with whom I advised how to make some advantage of
my Lord’s going to sea, which he told me might be by having
of five or six servants entered on board, and I to give them what
wages I pleased, and so their pay to be mine; he was also very
urgent to have me take the Secretary’s place, that my Lord did
proffer me. At the same time in comes Mr. Wade and Mr. Sterry,
secretary to the plenipotentiary in Denmark, who brought the
news of the death of the King of Sweden at Gottenburgh the 3rd
of the last month, and he told me what a great change he found
when he came here, the secluded members being restored. He
also spoke very freely of Mr. Wades profit, which he made while
he was in Zeeland, how he did believe that he cheated Mr. Pow-
ell, and that he made above £500 on the voyage, which Mr. Wade
did very angrily deny, though I believe he was guilty enough.
9th. To my Lord at his lodging, and came to Westminster with
him in the coach, with Mr. Dudley with him, and he in the
Painted Chamber54 walked a good while; and I telling him that
I was willing and ready to go with him to sea, he agreed that I
should, and advised me what to write to Mr. Downing about it,
which I did at my office, that by my Lord’s desire I offered that
54 The Painted Chamber, or St. Edward’s Chamber, in the old Palace at
Westminster. The first name was given to it from the curious paintings on
the walls, and the second from the tradition that Edward the Confessor died
in it.
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my place might for a while be supplied by Mr. Moore, and that
I and my security should be bound by the same bond for him. I
went and dined at Mr. Crew’s, where Mr. Hawly comes to me,
and I told him the business and shewed him the letter promising
him £20 a year, which he liked very well of. I did the same to
Mr. Moore, which he also took for a courtesy. In the afternoon
by coach, taking Mr. Butler with me to the Navy Office, about
the £500 for my Lord, which I am promised to have to-morrow
morning. Then by coach back again, and at White Hall at the
Council Chamber spoke with my Lord and got him to sign the
acquittance for the £500, and he also told me that he had spoke
to Mr. Blackburne to put off Mr. Creed and that I should come
to him for direction in the employment. After this Mr. Butler
and I to Harper’s, where we sat and drank for two hours till ten
at night; the old woman she was drunk and began to talk fool-
ishly in commendation of her son James. Home and to bed. All
night troubled in my thoughts how to order my business upon
this great change with me that I could not sleep, and being over-
heated with drink I made a promise the next morning to drink
no strong drink this week, for I find that it makes me sweat and
puts me quite out of order. This day it was resolved that the writs
do go out in the name of the Keepers of the Liberty, and I hear
that it is resolved privately that a treaty be offered with the King.
And that Monk did check his soldiers highly for what they did
yesterday.
10th. In the morning went to my father’s, whom I took in his
cutting house,–[His father was a tailor, and this was his cutting-
out room.]–and there I told him my resolution to go to sea with
my Lord, and consulted with him how to dispose of my wife,
and we resolved of letting her be at Mr. Bowyer’s. Thence to the
Treasurer of the Navy, where I received £500 for my Lord, and
having left £200 of it with Mr. Rawlinson at his house for Sheply, I
went with the rest to the Sun tavern on Fish Street Hill, where Mr.
Hill, Stevens and Mr. Hater of the Navy Office had invited me,
where we had good discourse and a fine breakfast of Mr. Hater.
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Then by coach home, where I took occasion to tell my wife of my
going to sea, who was much troubled at it, and was with some
dispute at last willing to continue at Mr. Bowyer’s in my absence.
After this to see Mrs. Jem and paid her maid £7, and then to Mr.
Blackburne, who told me what Mr. Creed did say upon the news
of my coming into his place, and that he did propose to my Lord
that there should be two Secretaries, which made me go to Sir H.
Wright’s where my Lord dined and spoke with him about it, but
he seemed not to agree to the motion. Hither W. Howe comes to
me and so to Westminster. In the way he told me, what I was to
provide and so forth against my going. He went with me to my
office, whither also Mr. Madge comes half foxed and played the
fool upon the violin that made me weary. Then to Whitehall and
so home and set many of my things in order against my going.
My wife was late making of caps for me, and the wench making
an end of a pair of stockings that she was knitting of. So to bed.
11th. (Sunday.) All the day busy without my band on, putting
up my books and things, in order to my going to sea. At night
my wife and I went to my father’s to supper, where J. Norton and
Chas. Glascocke supt with us, and after supper home, where the
wench had provided all things against tomorrow to wash, and so
to bed, where I much troubled with my cold and coughing.
12th. This day the wench rose at two in the morning to wash,
and my wife and I lay talking a great while. I by reason of my
cold could not tell how to sleep. My wife and I to the Exchange,
where we bought a great many things, where I left her and went
into London, and at Bedells the bookseller’s at the Temple gate I
paid £12 10s. 6d. for Mr. Fuller by his direction. So came back
and at Wilkinson’s found Mr. Sheply and some sea people, as
the cook of the Nazeby and others, at dinner. Then to the White
Horse in King Street, where I got Mr. Buddle’s horse to ride to
Huntsmore to Mr. Bowyer’s, where I found him and all well, and
willing to have my wife come and board with them while I was
at sea, which was the business I went about. Here I lay and took
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a thing for my cold, namely a spoonful of honey and a nutmeg
scraped into it, by Mr. Bowyer’s direction, and so took it into my
mouth, which I found did do me much good.
13th. It rained hard and I got up early, and got to London by 8
o’clock at my Lord’s lodgings, who told me that I was to be sec-
retary, and Creed to be deputy treasurer to the Fleet, at which I
was troubled, but I could not help it. After that to my father’s to
look after things, and so at my shoemaker’s and others. At night
to Whitehall, where I met with Simons and Luellin at drink with
them at Roberts at Whitehall. Then to the Admiralty, where I
talked with Mr. Creed till the Brothers, and they were very seem-
ingly willing and glad that I have the place since my Lord would
dispose of it otherwise than to them. Home and to bed. This day
the Parliament voted all that had been done by the former Rump
against the House of Lords be void, and to-night that the writs go
out without any qualification. Things seem very doubtful what
will be the end of all; for the Parliament seems to be strong for
the King, while the soldiers do all talk against.
14th. To my Lord, where infinity of applications to him and to
me. To my great trouble, my Lord gives me all the papers that
was given to him, to put in order and give him an account of
them. Here I got half-a-piece of a person of Mr. Wright’s rec-
ommending to my Lord to be Preacher of the Speaker frigate.
I went hence to St. James’s and Mr. Pierce the surgeon with
me, to speak with Mr. Clerke, Monk’s secretary, about getting
some soldiers removed out of Huntingdon to Oundle, which my
Lord told me he did to do a courtesy to the town, that he might
have the greater interest in them, in the choice of the next Parlia-
ment; not that he intends to be chosen himself, but that he might
have Mr. G. Montagu and my Lord Mandeville chose there in
spite of the Bernards. This done (where I saw General Monk and
methought he seemed a dull heavy man), he and I to Whitehall,
where with Luellin we dined at Marsh’s. Coming home telling
my wife what we had to dinner, she had a mind to some cabbage,
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and I sent for some and she had it. Went to the Admiralty, where
a strange thing how I am already courted by the people. This
morning among others that came to me I hired a boy of Jenkins
of Westminster and Burr to be my clerk. This night I went to
Mr. Creed’s chamber where he gave me the former book of the
proceedings in the fleet and the Seal. Then to Harper’s where
old Beard was and I took him by coach to my Lord’s, but he was
not at home, but afterwards I found him out at Sir H. Wright’s.
Thence by coach, it raining hard, to Mrs. Jem, where I staid a
while, and so home, and late in the night put up my things in a
sea-chest that Mr. Sheply lent me, and so to bed.
15th. Early packing up my things to be sent by cart with the
rest of my Lord’s. So to Will’s, where I took leave of some of my
friends. Here I met Tom Alcock, one that went to school with me
at Huntingdon, but I had not seen him these sixteen years. So in
the Hall paid and made even with Mrs. Michell; afterwards met
with old Beale, and at the Axe paid him this quarter to Ladyday
next. In the afternoon Dick Mathews comes to dine, and I went
and drank with him at Harper’s. So into London by water, and
in Fish Street my wife and I bought a bit of salmon for 8d. and
went to the Sun Tavern and ate it, where I did promise to give her
all that I have in the world but my books, in case I should die at
sea. From thence homewards; in the way my wife bought linen
for three smocks and other things. I went to my Lord’s and spoke
with him. So home with Mrs. Jem by coach and then home to my
own house. From thence to the Fox in King-street to supper on a
brave turkey of Mr. Hawly’s, with some friends of his there, Will
Bowyer, &c. After supper I went to Westminster Hall, and the
Parliament sat till ten at night, thinking and being expected to
dissolve themselves to-day, but they did not. Great talk to-night
that the discontented officers did think this night to make a stir,
but prevented. To the Fox again. Home with my wife, and to bed
extraordinary sleepy.
16th. No sooner out of bed but troubled with abundance of
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clients, seamen. My landlord Vanly’s man came to me by my di-
rection yesterday, for I was there at his house as I was going to
London by water, and I paid him rent for my house for this quar-
ter ending at Lady day, and took an acquittance that he wrote
me from his master. Then to Mr. Sheply, to the Rhenish Tavern
House, where Mr. Pim, the tailor, was, and gave us a morning
draft and a neat’s tongue. Home and with my wife to London,
we dined at my father’s, where Joyce Norton and Mr. Armiger
dined also. After dinner my wife took leave of them in order to
her going to-morrow to Huntsmore. In my way home I went to
the Chapel in Chancery Lane to bespeak papers of all sorts and
other things belonging to writing against my voyage. So home,
where I spent an hour or two about my business in my study.
Thence to the Admiralty, and staid a while, so home again, where
Will Bowyer came to tell us that he would bear my wife company
in the coach to-morrow. Then to Westminster Hall, where I heard
how the Parliament had this day dissolved themselves, and did
pass very cheerfully through the Hall, and the Speaker without
his mace. The whole Hall was joyful thereat, as well as them-
selves, and now they begin to talk loud of the King. To-night I am
told, that yesterday, about five o’clock in the afternoon, one came
with a ladder to the Great Exchange, and wiped with a brush
the inscription that was upon King Charles, and that there was a
great bonfire made in the Exchange, and people called out “God
bless. King Charles the Second!”55 From the Hall I went home to
55 “Then the writing in golden letters, that was engraven under the statue
of Charles I, in the Royal Exchange (‘Exit tyrannus, Regum ultimus, anno
libertatis Angliae, anno Domini 1648, Januarie xxx.) was washed out by
a painter, who in the day time raised a ladder, and with a pot and brush
washed the writing quite out, threw down his pot and brush and said it
should never do him any more service, in regard that it had the honour to
put out rebels’ hand-writing. He then came down, took away his ladder,
not a misword said to him, and by whose order it was done was not then
known. The merchants were glad and joyful, many people were gathered
together, and against the Exchange made a bonfire. “Rugge’s Diurnal.” In
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bed, very sad in mind to part with my wife, but God’s will be
done.
17th. This morning bade adieu in bed to the company of my
wife. We rose and I gave my wife some money to serve her for
a time, and what papers of consequence I had. Then I left her to
get her ready and went to my Lord’s with my boy Eliezer to my
Lord’s lodging at Mr. Crew’s. Here I had much business with my
Lord, and papers, great store, given me by my Lord to dispose of
as of the rest. After that, with Mr. Moore home to my house and
took my wife by coach to the Chequer in Holborn, where, after
we had drank, &c., she took coach and so farewell. I staid behind
with Tom Alcock and Mr. Anderson, my old chamber fellow at
Cambridge his brother, and drank with them there, who were
come to me thither about one that would have a place at sea.
Thence with Mr. Hawly to dinner at Mr. Crew’s. After dinner
to my own house, where all things were put up into the dining-
room and locked up, and my wife took the keys along with her.
This day, in the presence of Mr. Moore (who made it) and Mr.
Hawly, I did before I went out with my wife, seal my will to
her, whereby I did give her all that I have in the world, but my
books which I give to my brother John, excepting only French
books, which my wife is to have. In the evening at the Admiralty,
I met my Lord there and got a commission for Williamson to be
captain of the Harp frigate, and afterwards went by coach taking
Mr. Crips with me to my Lord and got him to sign it at table as he
was at supper. And so to Westminster back again with him with
me, who had a great desire to go to sea and my Lord told me that
he would do him any favour. So I went home with him to his
the Thomason Collection of Civil War Tracts at the British Museum is a pam-
phlet which is dated in MS. March 21st, 1659-60, where this act is said to be
by order of Monk: “The Loyal Subjects Teares for the Sufferings and Absence
of their Sovereign Charles II., King of England, Scotland, and Ireland; with
an Observation upon the expunging of ‘Exit Tyrannus, Regum ultimus’, by
order of General Monk, and some Advice to the Independents, Anabaptists,
Phanatiques, &c. London, 1660.”
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mother’s house by me in Axe Yard, where I found Dr. Clodius’s
wife and sat there talking and hearing of old Mrs. Crisp playing
of her old lessons upon the harpsichon till it was time to go to
bed. After that to bed, and Laud, her son lay with me in the best
chamber in her house, which indeed was finely furnished.
18th. I rose early and went to the barber’s (Jervas) in Palace
Yard and I was trimmed by him, and afterwards drank with him
a cup or two of ale, and did begin to hire his man to go with
me to sea. Then to my Lord’s lodging where I found Captain
Williamson and gave him his commission to be Captain of the
Harp, and he gave me a piece of gold and 20s. in silver. So to
my own house, where I staid a while and then to dinner with
Mr. Shepley at my Lord’s lodgings. After that to Mr. Mossum’s,
where he made a very gallant sermon upon “Pray for the life of
the King and the King’s son.” (Ezra vi. 10.) From thence to Mr.
Crew’s, but my Lord not being within I did not stay, but went
away and met with Mr. Woodfine, who took me to an alehouse in
Drury Lane, and we sat and drank together, and ate toasted cakes
which were very good, and we had a great deal of mirth with the
mistress of the house about them. From thence homewards, and
called at Mr. Blagrave’s, where I took up my note that he had
of mine for 40s., which he two years ago did give me as a pawn
while he had my lute. So that all things are even between him
and I. So to Mrs. Crisp, where she and her daughter and son and
I sat talking till ten o’clock at night, I giving them the best advice
that I could concerning their son, how he should go to sea, and
so to bed.
19th. Early to my Lord, where infinity of business to do, which
makes my head full; and indeed, for these two or three days, I
have not been without a great many cares and thoughts concern-
ing them. After that to the Admiralty, where a good while with
Mr. Blackburne, who told me that it was much to be feared that
the King would come in, for all good men and good things were
now discouraged. Thence to Wilkinson’s, where Mr. Sheply and
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I dined; and while we were at dinner, my Lord Monk’s lifeguard
come by with the Serjeant at Arms before them, with two Procla-
mations, that all Cavaliers do depart the town; but the other that
all officers that were lately disbanded should do the same. The
last of which Mr. R. Creed, I remember, said, that he looked
upon it as if they had said, that all God’s people should depart
the town. Thence with some sea officers to the Swan, where we
drank wine till one comes to me to pay me some money from
Worcester, viz., £25. His name is Wilday. I sat in another room
and took my money and drank with him till the rest of my com-
pany were gone and so we parted. Going home the water was
high, and so I got Crockford to carry me over it. So home, and
left my money there. All the discourse now-a-day is, that the
King will come again; and for all I see, it is the wishes of all; and
all do believe that it will be so. My mind is still much troubled for
my poor wife, but I hope that this undertaking will be worth my
pains. To Whitehall and staid about business at the Admiralty
late, then to Tony Robins’s, where Capt. Stokes, Mr. Ludding-
ton and others were, and I did solicit the Captain for Laud Crisp,
who gave me a promise that he would entertain him. After that
to Mrs. Crisp’s where Dr. Clodius and his wife were. He very
merry with drink. We played at cards late and so to bed. This
day my Lord dined at my Lord Mayor’s [Allen], and Jasper was
made drunk, which my Lord was very angry at.
20th. This morning I rose early and went to my house to put
things in a little order against my going, which I conceive will
be to-morrow (the weather still very rainy). After that to my
Lord, where I found very great deal of business, he giving me
all letters and papers that come to him about business, for me to
give him account of when we come on shipboard. Hence with
Capt. Isham by coach to Whitehall to the Admiralty. He and I
and Chetwind, Doling and Luellin dined together at Marsh’s at
Whitehall. So to the Bull Head whither W. Simons comes to us
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and I gave them my foy56 against my going to sea; and so we took
leave one of another, they promising me to write to me to sea.
Hither comes Pim’s boy, by my direction, with two monteeres–
[Monteeres, montero (Spanish), a kind of huntsman’s cap.]–for
me to take my choice of, and I chose the saddest colour and left
the other for Mr. Sheply. Hence by coach to London, and took a
short melancholy leave of my father and mother, without having
them to drink, or say anything of business one to another. And
indeed I had a fear upon me I should scarce ever see my mother
again, she having a great cold then upon her. Then to Westmin-
ster, where by reason of rain and an easterly wind, the water was
so high that there was boats rowed in King Street and all our yard
was drowned, that one could not go to my house, so as no man
has seen the like almost, most houses full of water.57 Then back
by coach to my Lord’s; where I met Mr. Sheply, who staid with
me waiting for my Lord’s coming in till very late. Then he and
I, and William Howe went with our swords to bring my Lord
home from Sir H. Wright’s. He resolved to go to-morrow if the
wind ceased. Sheply and I home by coach. I to Mrs. Crisp’s,
who had sat over a good supper long looking for me. So we sat
talking and laughing till it was very late, and so Laud and I to
bed.
21st. To my Lord’s, but the wind very high against us, and the
weather bad we could not go to-day; here I did very much busi-
ness, and then to my Lord Widdrington’s from my Lord, with
his desire that he might have the disposal of the writs of the
56 Foy. A feast given by one who is about to leave a place. In Kent, accord-
ing to Grose, a treat to friends, either at going abroad or coming home. See
Diary, November 25th, 1661.
57 “In this month the wind was very high, and caused great tides, so that
great hurt was done to the inhabitants of Westminster, King Street being
quite drowned. The Maidenhead boat was cast away, and twelve persons
with her. Also, about Dover the waters brake in upon the mainland; and in
Kent was very much damage done; so that report said, there was £20,000
worth of harm done.”–Rugge’s Diurnal.–B.
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Cinque Ports. My Lord was very civil to me, and called for wine,
and writ a long letter in answer. Thence I went to a tavern over
against Mr. Pierce’s with judge Advocate Fowler and Mr. Burr,
and sat and drank with them two or three pints of wine. After
that to Mr. Crew’s again and gave my Lord an account of what
I had done, and so about my business to take leave of my fa-
ther and mother, which by a mistake I have put down yesterday.
Thence to Westminster to Crisp’s, where we were very merry; the
old woman sent for a supper for me, and gave me a handkercher
with strawberry buttons on it, and so to bed.
22nd. Up very early and set things in order at my house, and
so took leave of Mrs. Crispe and her daughter (who was in bed)
and of Mrs. Hunt. Then to my Lord’s lodging at the gate and did
so there, where Mr. Hawly came to me and I gave him the key of
my house to keep, and he went with me to Mr. Crew’s, and there
I took my last leave of him. But the weather continuing very bad
my Lord would not go to-day. My Lord spent this morning pri-
vate in sealing of his last will and testament with Mr. W. Moun-
tagu. After that I went forth about my own business to buy a pair
of riding grey serge stockings and sword and belt and hose, and
after that took Wotton and Brigden to the Pope’s Head Tavern in
Chancery Lane, where Gilb. Holland and Shelston were, and we
dined and drank a great deal of wine, and they paid all. Strange
how these people do now promise me anything; one a rapier, the
other a vessel of wine or a gun, and one offered me his silver hat-
band to do him a courtesy. I pray God to keep me from being
proud or too much lifted up hereby. After that to Westminster,
and took leave of Kate Sterpin who was very sorry to part with
me, and after that of Mr. George Mountagu, and received my
warrant of Mr. Blackburne, to be Secretary to the two Generals
of the Fleet. Then to take my leave of the Clerks of the Council,
and thence Doling and Luellin would have me go with them to
Mount’s chamber, where we sat and talked and then I went away.
So to my Lord (in my way meeting Chetwind and Swan and bade
them farewell) where I lay all night with Mr. Andrews. This day
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MARCH 1659-1660
Mr. Sheply went away on board and I sent my boy with him.
This day also Mrs. Jemimah went to Marrowbone, so I could not
see her. Mr. Moore being out of town to-night I could not take
leave of him nor speak to him about business which troubled me
much. I left my small case therefore with Mr. Andrews for him.
23rd. Up early, carried my Lord’s will in a black box to Mr.
William Montagu for him to keep for him. Then to the barber’s
and put on my cravat there. So to my Lord again, who was al-
most ready to be gone and had staid for me. Hither came Gilb.
Holland, and brought me a stick rapier and Shelston a sugar-loaf,
and had brought his wife who he said was a very pretty woman
to the Ship tavern hard by for me to see but I could not go. Young
Reeve also brought me a little perspective glass which I bought
for my Lord, it cost me 8s. So after that my Lord in Sir H. Wright’s
coach with Captain Isham, Mr. Thomas, John Crew, W. Howe,
and I in a Hackney to the Tower, where the barges staid for us;
my Lord and the Captain in one, and W. Howe and I, &c., in the
other, to the Long Reach, where the Swiftsure lay at anchor; (in
our way we saw the great breach which the late high water had
made, to the loss of many £1000 to the people about Limehouse.)
Soon as my Lord on board, the guns went off bravely from the
ships. And a little while after comes the Vice-Admiral Lawson,
and seemed very respectful to my Lord, and so did the rest of the
Commanders of the frigates that were thereabouts. I to the cabin
allotted for me, which was the best that any had that belonged to
my Lord. I got out some things out of my chest for writing and
to work presently, Mr. Burr and I both. I supped at the deck table
with Mr. Sheply. We were late writing of orders for the getting
of ships ready, &c.; and also making of others to all the seaports
between Hastings and Yarmouth, to stop all dangerous persons
that are going or coming between Flanders and there. After that
to bed in my cabin, which was but short; however I made shift
with it and slept very well, and the weather being good I was not
sick at all yet, I know not what I shall be.
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24th. At work hard all the day writing letters to the Council,
&c. This day Mr. Creed came on: board and dined very boldly
with my Lord, but he could not get a bed there. At night Capt.
Isham who had been at Gravesend all last night and to-day came
and brought Mr. Lucy (one acquainted with Mrs. Pierce, with
whom I had been at her house), I drank with him in the Captain’s
cabin, but my business could not stay with him. I despatch many
letters to-day abroad and it was late before we could get to bed.
Mr. Sheply and Howe supped with me in my cabin. The boy
Eliezer flung down a can of beer upon my papers which made
me give him a box of the ear, it having all spoiled my papers and
cost me a great deal of work. So to bed.
25th. (Lord’s day). About two o’clock in the morning, letters
came from London by our coxon, so they waked me, but I would
not rise but bid him stay till morning, which he did, and then
I rose and carried them in to my Lord, who read them a-bed.
Among the rest, there was the writ and mandate for him to dis-
pose to the Cinque Ports for choice of Parliament-men. There
was also one for me from Mr. Blackburne, who with his own
hand superscribes it to S.P. Esq., of which God knows I was not a
little proud. After that I wrote a letter to the Clerk of Dover Cas-
tle, to come to my Lord about issuing of those writs. About ten
o’clock Mr. Ibbott, at the end of the long table, begun to pray and
preach and indeed made a very good sermon, upon the duty of
all Christians to be stedfast in faith. After that Captain Cuttance
and I had oysters, my Lord being in his cabin not intending to
stir out to-day. After that up into the great cabin above to dinner
with the Captain, where was Captain Isham and all the officers of
the ship. I took place of all but the Captains; after dinner I wrote
a great many letters to my friends at London. After that, sermon
again, at which I slept, God forgive me! After that, it being a fair
day, I walked with the Captain upon the deck talking. At night I
supped with him and after that had orders from my Lord about
some business to be done against to-morrow, which I sat up late
and did and then to bed.
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26th. This day it is two years since it pleased God that I was cut
of the stone at Mrs. Turner’s in Salisbury Court. And did resolve
while I live to keep it a festival, as I did the last year at my house,
and for ever to have Mrs. Turner and her company with me. But
now it pleases God that I am where I am and so prevented to do it
openly; only within my soul I can and do rejoice, and bless God,
being at this time blessed be his holy name, in as good health
as ever I was in my life. This morning I rose early, and went
about making of an establishment of the whole Fleet, and a list of
all the ships, with the number of men and guns: About an hour
after that, we had a meeting of the principal commanders and
seamen, to proportion out the number of these things. After that
to dinner, there being very many commanders on board. All the
afternoon very many orders were made, till I was very weary. At
night Mr. Sheply and W. Howe came and brought some bottles
of wine and some things to eat in my cabin, where we were very
merry, remembering the day of being cut for the stone. Captain
Cuttance came afterwards and sat drinking a bottle of wine till
eleven, a kindness he do not usually do the greatest officer in the
ship. After that to bed.
27th. Early in the morning at making a fair new establishment
of the Fleet to send to the Council. This morning, the wind came
about, and we fell into the Hope,–[A reach of the Thames near
Tilbury.]–and in our passing by the Vice-Admiral, he and the rest
of the frigates, with him, did give us abundance of guns and we
them, so much that the report of them broke all the windows in
my cabin and broke off the iron bar that was upon it to keep any-
body from creeping in at the Scuttle.–[“A small hole or port cut
either in the deck or side of a ship, generally for ventilation. That
in the deck is a small hatch-way.”–Smyth’s Sailor’s Word-Book.]–
This noon I sat the first time with my Lord at table since my com-
ing to sea. All the afternoon exceeding busy in writing of letters
and orders. In the afternoon, Sir Harry Wright came onboard us,
about his business of being chosen Parliament-man. My Lord
brought him to see my cabin, when I was hard a-writing. At
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night supped with my Lord too, with the Captain, and after that
to work again till it be very late. So to bed.
28th. This morning and the whole day busy, and that the
more because Mr. Burr was about his own business all the day
at Gravesend. At night there was a gentleman very well bred,
his name was Banes, going for Flushing, who spoke French and
Latin very well, brought by direction from Captain Clerke hither,
as a prisoner, because he called out of the vessel that he went
in, “Where is your King, we have done our business, Vive le
Roi.” He confessed himself a Cavalier in his heart, and that he
and his whole family had fought for the King; but that he was
then drunk, having been all night taking his leave at Gravesend
the night before, and so could not remember what it was that he
said; but in his words and carriage showed much of a gentleman.
My Lord had a great kindness for him, but did not think it safe
to release him, but commanded him to be used civilly, so he was
taken to the Master’s Cabin and had supper there. In the mean-
time I wrote a letter to the Council about him, and an order for
the vessel to be sent for back that he was taken out of. But a while
after, he sent a letter down to my Lord, which my Lord did like
very well, and did advise with me what was best to be done. So
I put in something to my Lord and then to the Captain that the
gentleman was to be released and the letter stopped, which was
done. So I went up and sat and talked with him in Latin and
French, and drank a bottle or two with him; and about eleven
at night he took boat again, and so God bless him. Thence I to
my cabin and to bed. This day we had news of the election at
Huntingdon for Bernard and Pedly, at which my Lord was much
troubled for his friends’ missing of it.
29th. We lie still a little below Gravesend. At night Mr. Sheply
returned from London, and told us of several elections for the
next Parliament. That the King’s effigies was new making to be
set up in the Exchange again. This evening was a great whisper-
ing of some of the Vice-Admiral’s captains that they were dissat-
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MARCH 1659-1660
isfied, and did intend to fight themselves, to oppose the General.
But it was soon hushed, and the Vice-Admiral did wholly deny
any such thing, and protested to stand by the General. At night
Mr. Sheply, W. Howe, and I supped in my cabin. So up to the
Master’s cabin, where we sat talking, and then to bed.
30th. I was saluted in the morning with two letters, from some
that I had done a favour to, which brought me in each a piece of
gold. This day, while my Lord and we were at dinner, the Nazeby
came in sight towards us, and at last came to anchor close by us.
After dinner my Lord and many others went on board her, where
every thing was out of order, and a new chimney made for my
Lord in his bedchamber, which he was much pleased with. My
Lord, in his discourse, discovered a great deal of love to this ship.
31st. This morning Captain Jowles of the “Wexford” came on
board, for whom I got commission from my Lord to be comman-
der of the ship. Upon the doing thereof he was to make the 20s.
piece that he sent me yesterday, up £5; wherefore he sent me a bill
that he did owe me £4., which I sent my boy to Gravesend with
him, and he did give the boy £4 for me, and the boy gave him
the bill under his hand. This morning, Mr. Hill that lives in Axe-
yard was here on board with the Vice-Admiral. I did give him a
bottle of wine, and was exceedingly satisfied of the power that I
have to make my friends welcome. Many orders to make all the
afternoon. At night Mr. Sheply, Howe, Ibbott, and I supped in
my cabin together.
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APRIL 1660
April 1st (Lord’s day). Mr. Ibbott preached very well. After din-
ner my Lord did give me a private list of all the ships that were to
be set out this summer, wherein I do discern that he bath made
it his care to put by as much of the Anabaptists as he can. By
reason of my Lord and my being busy to send away the packet
by Mr. Cooke of the Nazeby, it was four o’clock before we could
begin sermon again. This day Captain Guy come on board from
Dunkirk, who tells me that the King will come in, and that the
soldiers at Dunkirk do drink the King’s health in the streets. At
night the Captain, Sir R. Stayner, Mr. Sheply, and I did sup to-
gether in the Captain’s cabin. I made a commission for Captain
Wilgness, of the Bear, to-night, which got me 30s. So after writing
a while I went to bed.
2d. Up very early, and to get all my things and my boy’s
packed up. Great concourse of commanders here this morning
to take leave of my Lord upon his going into the Nazeby, so that
the table was full, so there dined below many commanders, and
Mr. Creed, who was much troubled to hear that he could not go
along with my Lord, for he had already got all his things thither,
thinking to stay there, but W. Howe was very high against it, and
he indeed did put him out, though everybody was glad of it. Af-
ter dinner I went in one of the boats with my boy before my Lord,
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APRIL 1660
and made shift before night to get my cabin in pretty good order.
It is but little, but very convenient, having one window to the sea
and another to the deck, and a good bed. This morning comes
Mr. Ed. Pickering, like a coxcomb as he always was. He tells me
that the King will come in, but that Monk did resolve to have the
doing of it himself, or else to hinder it.
3d. Late to bed. About three in the morning there was great
knocking at my cabin, which with much difficulty (so they say)
waked me, and I rose, but it was only for a packet, so went to my
bed again, and in the morning gave it my Lord. This morning
Capt. Isham comes on board to see my Lord and drunk his wine
before he went into the Downs, there likewise come many mer-
chants to get convoy to the Baltique, which a course was taken
for. They dined with my Lord, and one of them by name Alder-
man Wood talked much to my Lord of the hopes that we have
now to be settled, (under the King he meant); but my Lord took
no notice of it. After dinner which was late my Lord went on
shore, and after him I and Capt. Sparling went in his boat, but
the water being almost at low water we could not stay for fear of
not getting into our boat again. So back again. This day come the
Lieutenant of the Swiftsure, who was sent by my Lord to Hast-
ings, one of the Cinque Ports, to have got Mr. Edward Montagu
to have been one of their burgesses, but could not, for they were
all promised before. After he had done his message, I took him
and Mr. Pierce, the surgeon (who this day came on board, and
not before), to my cabin, where we drank a bottle of wine. At
night, busy a-writing, and so to bed. My heart exceeding heavy
for not hearing of my dear wife, and indeed I do not remember
that ever my heart was so apprehensive of her absence as at this
very time.
4th. This morning I dispatch many letters of my own pri-
vate business to London. There come Colonel Thomson with the
wooden leg, and General Pen,58 and dined with my Lord and Mr.
58 This is the first mention in the Diary of Admiral (afterwards Sir William)
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APRIL 1660
Blackburne, who told me that it was certain now that the King
must of necessity come in, and that one of the Council told him
there is something doing in order to a treaty already among them.
And it was strange to hear how Mr. Blackburne did already be-
gin to commend him for a sober man, and how quiet he would be
under his government, &c. I dined all alone to prevent company,
which was exceeding great to-day, in my cabin. After these two
were gone Sir W. Wheeler and Sir John Petters came on board and
staid about two or three hours, and so went away. The Commis-
sioners came to-day, only to consult about a further reducement
of the Fleet, and to pay them as fast as they can. I did give Davis,
their servant, £5 10s. to give to Mr. Moore from me, in part of the
£7 that I borrowed of him, and he is to discount the rest out of the
36s. that he do owe me. At night, my Lord resolved to send the
Captain of our ship to Waymouth and promote his being chosen
there, which he did put himself into a readiness to do the next
morning.
5th. Infinity of business all the morning of orders to make, that
I was very much perplexed that Mr. Burr had failed me of com-
ing back last night, and we ready to set sail, which we did about
noon, and came in the evening to Lee roads and anchored. At
Penn, with whom Pepys was subsequently so particularly intimate. At this
time admirals were sometimes styled generals. William Penn was born at
Bristol in 1621, of the ancient family of the Penns of Penn Lodge, Wilts. He
was Captain at the age of twenty-one; Rear-Admiral of Ireland at twenty-
three; Vice-Admiral of England and General in the first Dutch war, at thirty-
two. He was subsequently M.P. for Weymouth, Governor of Kingsale, and
Vice- Admiral of Munster. He was a highly successful commander, and in
1654 he obtained possession of Jamaica. He was appointed a Commissioner
of the Navy in 1660, in which year he was knighted. After the Dutch fight
in 1665, where he distinguished himself as second in command under the
Duke of York, he took leave of the sea, but continued to act as a Commis-
sioner for the Navy till 1669, when he retired to Wanstead, on account of his
bodily infirmities, and dying there, September 16th, 1670, aged forty-nine,
was buried in the church of St. Mary Redcliffe, in Bristol, where a monu-
ment to his memory was erected.
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night Mr. Sheply overtook us who had been at Gray’s Market
this morning. I spent all the afternoon upon the deck, it being
very pleasant weather. This afternoon Sir Rich. Stayner and Mr.
Creed, after we were come to anchor, did come on board, and
Creed brought me £30, which my Lord had ordered him to pay
me upon account, and Captain Clerke brought me a noted cau-
dle. At night very sleepy to bed.
6th. This morning came my brother-in-law Balty to see me,
and to desire to be here with me as Reformado,–[“a broken or
disbanded officer.”] which did much trouble me. But after din-
ner (my Lord using him very civilly, at table) I spoke to my Lord,
and he presented me a letter to Captain Stokes for him that he
should be there. All the day with him walking and talking, we
under sail as far as the Spitts. In the afternoon, W. Howe and I
to our viallins, the first time since we came on board. This after-
noon I made even with my Lord to this day, and did give him
all the money remaining in my hands. In the evening, it being
fine moonshine, I staid late walking upon the quarter-deck with
Mr. Cuttance, learning of some sea terms; and so down to supper
and to bed, having an hour before put Balty into Burr’s cabin, he
being out of the ship.
7th. This day, about nine o’clock in the morning, the wind grew
high, and we being among the sands lay at anchor; I began to be
dizzy and squeamish. Before dinner my Lord sent for me down
to eat some oysters, the best my Lord said that ever he ate in his
life, though I have ate as good at Bardsey. After dinner, and all
the afternoon I walked upon the deck to keep myself from being
sick, and at last about five o’clock, went to bed and got a caudle
made me, and sleep upon it very well. This day Mr. Sheply went
to Sheppy.
8th (Lord’s day). Very calm again, and I pretty well, but my
head aked all day. About noon set sail; in our way I see many
vessels and masts, which are now the greatest guides for ships.
We had a brave wind all the afternoon, and overtook two good
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APRIL 1660
merchantmen that overtook us yesterday, going to the East In-
dies. The lieutenant and I lay out of his window with his glass,
looking at the women that were on board them, being pretty
handsome. This evening Major Willoughby, who had been here
three or four days on board with Mr. Pickering, went on board a
catch [ketch] for Dunkirk. We continued sailing when I went to
bed, being somewhat ill again, and Will Howe, the surgeon, par-
son, and Balty supped in the Lieutenant’s cabin and afterwards
sat disputing, the parson for and I against extemporary prayers,
very hot.
9th. We having sailed all night, were come in sight of the Nore
and South Forelands in the morning, and so sailed all day. In
the afternoon we had a very fresh gale, which I brooked better
than I thought I should be able to do. This afternoon I first saw
France and Calais, with which I was much pleased, though it was
at a distance. About five o’clock we came to the Goodwin, so
to the Castles about Deal; where our Fleet lay, among whom we
anchored. Great was the shout of guns from the castles and ships,
and our answers, that I never heard yet so great rattling of guns.
Nor could we see one another on board for the smoke that was
among us, nor one ship from another. Soon as we came to anchor,
the captains came from on board their ships all to us on board.
This afternoon I wrote letters for my Lord to the Council, &c.,
which Mr. Dickering was to carry, who took his leave this night
of my Lord, and Balty after I had wrote two or three letters by
him to my wife and Mr. Bowyer, and had drank a bottle of wine
with him in my cabin which J. Goods and W. Howe brought on
purpose, he took leave of me too to go away to-morrow morning
with Mr. Dickering. I lent Balty 15s. which he was to pay to my
wife. It was one in the morning before we parted. This evening
Mr. Sheply came on board, having escaped a very great danger
upon a sand coming from Chatham.
10th. This morning many or most of the commanders in the
Fleet came on board and dined here, so that some of them and I
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dined together in the Round-house, where we were very merry.
Hither came the Vice-Admiral to us, and sat and talked and
seemed a very good-natured man. At night as I was all alone
in my cabin, in a melancholy fit playing on my viallin, my Lord
and Sir R. Stayner came into the coach59 and supped there, and
called me out to supper with them. After that up to the Lieu-
tenant’s cabin, where he and I and Sir Richard sat till 11 o’clock
talking, and so to bed. This day my Lord Goring returned from
France, and landed at Dover.
11th. A Gentleman came this morning from my Lord of
Manchester to my Lord for a pass for Mr. Boyle,’ which was
made him. I ate a good breakfast by my Lord’s orders with him
in the great cabin below. The wind all this day was very high,
so that a gentleman that was at dinner with my Lord that came
along with Sir John Bloys (who seemed a fine man) was forced
to rise from table. This afternoon came a great packet of letters
from London directed to me, among the rest two from my wife,
the first that I have since coming away from London. All the
news from London is that things go on further towards a King.
That the Skinners’ Company the other day at their entertaining
of General Monk had took down the Parliament Arms in their
Hall, and set up the King’s. In the evening my Lord and I had a
great deal of discourse about the several Captains of the Fleet and
his interest among them, and had his mind clear to bring in the
King. He confessed to me that he was not sure of his own Cap-
tain [Cuttance] to be true to him, and that he did not like Captain
Stokes. At night W. Howe and I at our viallins in my cabin, where
Mr. Ibbott and the lieutenant were late. I staid the lieutenant late,
shewing him my manner of keeping a journal. After that to bed.
It comes now into my mind to observe that I am sensible that I
59 “A sort of chamber or apartment in a large ship of war, just before the
great cabin. The floor of it is formed by the aftmost part of the quarter
deck, and the roof of it by the poop: it is generally the habitation of the
flag-captain.”–Smyth’s Sailor’s Word-Book.
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have been a little too free to make mirth with the minister of our
ship, he being a very sober and an upright man.
12th. This day, the weather being very bad, we had no
strangers on board. In the afternoon came the Vice-Admiral on
board, with whom my Lord consulted, and I sent a packet to Lon-
don at night with several letters to my friends, as to my wife
about my getting of money for her when she should need it, to
Mr. Bowyer that he tell me when the Messieurs of the offices be
paid, to Mr. Moore about the business of my office, and mak-
ing even with him as to matter of money. At night after I had
despatched my letters, to bed.
13th. This day very foul all day for rain and wind. In the af-
ternoon set my own things in my cabin and chests in better order
than hitherto, and set my papers in order. At night sent another
packet to London by the post, and after that was done I went
up to the lieutenant’s cabin and there we broached a vessel of
ale that we had sent for among us from Deal to-day. There was
the minister and doctor with us. After that till one o’clock in the
morning writing letters to Mr. Downing about my business of
continuing my office to myself, only Mr. Moore to execute it for
me. I had also a very serious and effectual letter from my Lord
to him to that purpose. After that done then to bed, and it be-
ing very rainy, and the rain coming upon my bed, I went and lay
with John Goods in the great cabin below, the wind being so high
that we were faro to lower some of the masts. I to bed, and what
with the goodness of the bed and the rocking of the ship I slept
till almost ten o’clock, and then–
14th. Rose and drank a good morning draught there with Mr.
Sheply, which occasioned my thinking upon the happy life that
I live now, had I nothing to care for but myself. The sea was
this morning very high, and looking out of the window I saw
our boat come with Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, in it in great danger,
who endeavouring to come on board us, had like to have been
drowned had it not been for a rope. This day I was informed
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that my Lord Lambert is got out of the Towers and that there is
£100 proffered to whoever shall bring him forth to the Council of
State.60 My Lord is chosen at Waymouth this morning; my Lord
had his freedom brought him by Captain Tiddiman of the port of
Dover, by which he is capable of being elected for them. This day
I heard that the Army had in general declared to stand by what
the next Parliament shall do. At night supped with my Lord.
15th (Lord’s day). Up early and was trimmed by the barber
in the great cabin below. After that to put my clothes on and
then to sermon, and then to dinner, where my Lord told us that
the University of Cambridge had a mind to choose him for their
burgess, which he pleased himself with, to think that they do
look upon him as a thriving man, and said so openly at table.
At dinner-time Mr. Cook came back from London with a packet
which caused my Lord to be full of thoughts all day, and at night
he bid me privately to get two commissions ready, one for Capt.
Robert Blake to be captain of the Worcester, in the room of Capt.
Dekings, an anabaptist, and one that had witnessed a great deal
of discontent with the present proceedings. The other for Capt.
60 The manner of the escape of John Lambert, out of the Tower, on the 11th
inst., as related by Rugge:–“That about eight of the clock at night he escaped
by a rope tied fast to his window, by which he slid down, and in each hand
he had a handkerchief; and six men were ready to receive him, who had a
barge to hasten him away. She who made the bed, being privy to his escape,
that night, to blind the warder when he came to lock the chamber-door, went
to bed, and possessed Colonel Lambert’s place, and put on his night-cap. So,
when the said warder came to lock the door, according to his usual manner,
he found the curtains drawn, and conceiving it to be Colonel John Lambert,
he said, ‘Good night, my Lord.’ To which a seeming voice replied, and pre-
vented all further jealousies. The next morning, on coming to unlock the
door, and espying her face, he cried out, ‘In the name of God, Joan, what
makes you here? Where is my Lord Lambert?’ She said, ‘He is gone; but I
cannot tell whither.’ Whereupon he caused her to rise, and carried her before
the officer in the Tower, and [she] was committed to custody. Some said that
a lady knit for him a garter of silk, by which he was conveyed down, and
that she received £100 for her pains.”–B
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Coppin to come out of that into the Newbury in the room of
Blake, whereby I perceive that General Monk do resolve to make
a thorough change, to make way for the King. From London I
hear that since Lambert got out of the Tower, the Fanatiques had
held up their heads high, but I hope all that will come to nothing.
Late a writing of letters to London to get ready for Mr. Cook.
Then to bed.
16th. And about 4 o’clock in the morning Mr. Cook waked me
where I lay in the great cabin below, and I did give him his packet
and directions for London. So to sleep again. All the morning
giving out orders and tickets to the Commanders of the Fleet to
discharge all supernumeraries that they had above the number
that the Council had set in their last establishment. After dinner
busy all the afternoon writing, and so till night, then to bed.
17th. All the morning getting ready commissions for the Vice-
Admiral and the Rear-Admiral, wherein my Lord was very care-
ful to express the utmost of his own power, commanding them to
obey what orders they should receive from the Parliament, &c.,
or both or either of the Generals.61 The Vice-Admiral dined with
us, and in the afternoon my Lord called me to give him the com-
mission for him, which I did, and he gave it him himself. A very
pleasant afternoon, and I upon the deck all the day, it was so clear
that my Lord’s glass shewed us Calais very plain, and the cliffs
were as plain to be seen as Kent, and my Lord at first made me
believe that it was Kent. At night, after supper, my Lord called
for the Rear-Admiral’s commission, which I brought him, and I
sitting in my study heard my Lord discourse with him concern-
ing D. King’s and Newberry’s being put out of commission. And
by the way I did observe that my Lord did speak more openly his
mind to me afterwards at night than I can find that he did to the
61 Sir Edward Montagu afterwards recommended the Duke of York as
High Admiral, to give regular and lawful commissions to the Commanders
of the Fleet, instead of those which they had received from Sir Edward him-
self, or from the Rump Parliament.–Kennett’s Register, p. 163.
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Rear-Admiral, though his great confidant. For I was with him an
hour together, when he told me clearly his thoughts that the King
would carry it, and that he did think himself very happy that he
was now at sea, as well for his own sake, as that he thought he
might do his country some service in keeping things quiet. To
bed, and shifting myself from top to toe, there being J. Goods
and W. Howe sat late by my bedside talking. So to sleep, every
day bringing me a fresh sense of the pleasure of my present life.
18th. This morning very early came Mr. Edward Montagu on
board, but what was the business of his coming again or before
without any servant and making no stay at all I cannot guess.
This day Sir R. Stayner, Mr. Sheply, and as many of my Lord’s
people as could be spared went to Dover to get things ready
against to-morrow for the election there. I all the afternoon dic-
tating in my cabin (my own head being troubled with multiplic-
ity of business) to Burr, who wrote for me above a dozen letters,
by which I have made my mind more light and clear than I have
had it yet since I came on board. At night sent a packet to Lon-
don, and Mr. Cook returned hence bringing me this news, that
the Sectaries do talk high what they will do, but I believe all to
no purpose, but the Cavaliers are something unwise to talk so
high on the other side as they do. That the Lords do meet every
day at my Lord of Manchester’s, and resolve to sit the first day
of the Parliament. That it is evident now that the General and the
Council do resolve to make way for the King’s coming. And it is
now clear that either the Fanatiques must now be undone, or the
gentry and citizens throughout England, and clergy must fall, in
spite of their militia and army, which is not at all possible I think.
At night I supped with W. Howe and Mr. Luellin (being the first
time that I had been so long with him) in the great cabin below.
After that to bed, and W. Howe sat by my bedside, and he and I
sang a psalm or two and so I to sleep.
19th. A great deal of business all this day, and Burr being gone
to shore without my leave did vex me much. At dinner news was
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brought us that my Lord was chosen at Dover. This afternoon
came one Mr. Mansell on board as a Reformado, to whom my
Lord did shew exceeding great respect, but upon what account
I do not yet know. This day it has rained much, so that when I
came to go to bed I found it wet through, so I was fain to wrap
myself up in a dry sheet, and so lay all night.
20th. All the morning I was busy to get my window altered,
and to have my table set as I would have it, which after it was
done I was infinitely pleased with it, and also to see what a com-
mand I have to have every one ready to come and go at my com-
mand. This evening came Mr. Boyle on board, for whom I writ
an order for a ship to transport him to Flushing. He supped with
my Lord, my Lord using him as a person of honour. This evening
too came Mr. John Pickering on board us. This evening my head
ached exceedingly, which I impute to my sitting backwards in my
cabin, otherwise than I am used to do. To-night Mr. Sheply told
me that he heard for certain at Dover that Mr. Edw. Montagu did
go beyond sea when he was here first the other day, and I am apt
to believe that he went to speak with the King. This day one told
me how that at the election at Cambridge for knights of the shire,
Wendby and Thornton by declaring to stand for the Parliament
and a King and the settlement of the Church, did carry it against
all expectation against Sir Dudley North and Sir Thomas Willis!
I supped to-night with Mr. Sheply below at the half-deck table,
and after that I saw Mr. Pickering whom my Lord brought down
to his cabin, and so to bed.
21st. This day dined Sir John Boys62 and some other gentle-
men formerly great Cavaliers, and among the rest one Mr. Nor-
wood, for whom my Lord give a convoy to carry him to the Brill,–
[Brielle, or Den Briel, a seaport town in the province of South
62 Of Bonnington and Sandwich, Gentleman of the Privy-Chamber to
Charles I. He defended Donnington Castle, Berkshire, for the King against
Jeremiah Horton, 1644, and received an augmentation to his arms in conse-
quence.
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Holland.]–but he is certainly going to the King. For my Lord
commanded me that I should not enter his name in my book.
My Lord do show them and that sort of people great civility. All
their discourse and others are of the King’s coming, and we be-
gin to speak of it very freely. And heard how in many churches in
London, and upon many signs there, and upon merchants’ ships
in the river, they had set up the King’s arms. In the afternoon the
Captain would by all means have me up to his cabin, and there
treated me huge nobly, giving me a barrel of pickled oysters, and
opened another for me, and a bottle of wine, which was a very
great favour. At night late singing with W. Howe, and under the
barber’s hands in the coach. This night there came one with a
letter from Mr. Edw. Montagu to my Lord, with command to
deliver it to his own hands. I do believe that he do carry some
close business on for the King.63 This day I had a large letter from
Mr. Moore, giving me an account of the present dispute at Lon-
don that is like to be at the beginning of the Parliament, about the
House of Lords, who do resolve to sit with the Commons, as not
thinking themselves dissolved yet. Which, whether it be granted
or no, or whether they will sit or no, it will bring a great many
inconveniences. His letter I keep, it being a very well writ one.
22d (Easter Sunday). Several Londoners, strangers, friends of
the Captains, dined here, who, among other things told us, how
the King’s Arms are every day set up in houses and churches,
particularly in Allhallows Church in Thames-street, John Simp-
son’s church, which being privately done was, a great eye-sore to
his people when they came to church and saw it. Also they told
us for certain, that the King’s statue is making by the Mercers’
Company (who are bound to do it) to set up in the Exchange.
After sermon in the afternoon I fell to writing letters against to-
63 Pepys’s guess at E. Montagu’s business is confirmed by Clarendon’s ac-
count of his employment of him to negotiate with Lord Sandwich on behalf
of the King. (“History of the Rebellion,” book xvi.)–Notes and Queries, vol.
x. p. 3–M. B.
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morrow to send to London. After supper to bed.
23rd. All the morning very busy getting my packet ready for
London, only for an hour or two had the Captain and Mr. Sheply
in my cabin at the barrel of pickled oysters that the Captain did
give me on Saturday last. After dinner I sent Mr. Dunn to Lon-
don with the packet. This afternoon I had 40s. given me by Cap-
tain Cowes of the Paradox.’ In the evening the first time that we
had any sport among the seamen, and indeed there was extraor-
dinary good sport after my Lord had done playing at ninepins.
After that W. Howe and I went to play two trebles in the great
cabin below, which my Lord hearing, after supper he called for
our instruments, and played a set of Lock’s, two trebles, and a
base, and that being done, he fell to singing of a song made upon
the Rump, with which he played himself well, to the tune of “The
Blacksmith.” After all that done, then to bed.64 24th. This morn-
ing I had Mr. Luellin and Mr. Sheply to the remainder of my oys-
ters that were left yesterday. After that very busy all the morn-
ing. While I was at dinner with my Lord, the Coxon of the Vice-
Admiral came for me to the Vice-Admiral to dinner. So I told
my Lord and he gave me leave to go. I rose therefore from table
and went, where there was very many commanders, and very
pleasant we were on board the London, which hath a state-room
much bigger than the Nazeby, but not so rich. After that, with
the Captain on board our own ship, where we were saluted with
the news of Lambert’s being taken, which news was brought to
London on Sunday last. He was taken in Northamptonshire by
Colonel Ingoldsby, at the head of a party, by which means their
whole design is broke, and things now very open and safe. And
every man begins to be merry and full of hopes. In the afternoon
my Lord gave a great large character to write out, so I spent all
64 “The Blacksmith” was the same tune as “Green Sleeves.” The earliest
known copy of “The Praise of the Blacksmith” is in “An Antidote against
Melancholy,” 1661. See “Roxburghe Ballads,” ed. W. Chappell, 1872, vol. ii.
p. 126. (Ballad Society:)
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APRIL 1660
the day about it, and after supper my Lord and we had some
more very good musique and singing of “Turne Amaryllis,” as it
is printed in the song book, with which my Lord was very much
pleased. After that to bed.
25th. All the morning about my Lord’s character. Dined to-day
with Captain Clerke on board the Speaker (a very brave ship)
where was the Vice-Admiral, Rear-Admiral, and many other
commanders. After dinner home, not a little contented to see
how I am treated, and with what respect made a fellow to the best
commanders in the Fleet. All the afternoon finishing of the char-
acter, which I did and gave it my Lord, it being very handsomely
done and a very good one in itself, but that not truly Alphabet-
ical. Supped with Mr. Sheply, W. Howe, &c. in Mr. Pierce, the
Purser’s cabin, where very merry, and so to bed. Captain Isham
came hither to-day.
26th. This day came Mr. Donne back from London, who
brought letters with him that signify the meeting of the Parlia-
ment yesterday. And in the afternoon by other letters I hear,
that about twelve of the Lords met and had chosen my Lord of
Manchester’ Speaker of the House of Lords (the young Lords that
never sat yet, do forbear to sit for the present); and Sir Harbot-
tle Grimstone, Speaker for the House of Commons. The House
of Lords sent to have a conference with the House of Commons,
which, after a little debate, was granted. Dr. Reynolds’ preached
before the Commons before they sat. My Lord told me how Sir
H. Yelverton (formerly my school-fellow) was chosen in the first
place for Northamptonshire and Mr. Crew in the second. And
told me how he did believe that the Cavaliers have now the up-
per hand clear of the Presbyterians. All the afternoon I was writ-
ing of letters, among the rest one to W. Simons, Peter Luellin and
Tom Doling, which because it is somewhat merry I keep a copy
of. After that done Mr. Sheply, W. Howe and I down with J.
Goods into my Lord’s storeroom of wine and other drink, where
it was very pleasant to observe the massy timbers that the ship is
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made of. We in the room were wholly under water and yet a deck
below that. After that to supper, where Tom Guy supped with us,
and we had very good laughing, and after that some musique,
where Mr. Pickering beginning to play a bass part upon the viall
did it so like a fool that I was ashamed of him. After that to bed.
27th. This morning Burr was absent again from on board,
which I was troubled at, and spoke to Mr. Pierce, Purser, to
speak to him of it, and it is my mind. This morning Pim [the
tailor] spent in my cabin, putting a great many ribbons to a suit.
After dinner in the afternoon came on board Sir Thomas Hatton
and Sir R. Maleverer going for Flushing; but all the world know
that they go where the rest of the many gentlemen go that every
day flock to the King at Breda.65 They supped here, and my Lord
treated them as he do the rest that go thither, with a great deal of
civility. While we were at supper a packet came, wherein much
news from several friends. The chief is that, that I had from Mr.
Moore, viz. that he fears the Cavaliers in the House will be so
high, that the others will be forced to leave the House and fall
in with General Monk, and so offer things to the King so high
on the Presbyterian account that he may refuse, and so they will
endeavour some more mischief; but when I told my Lord it, he
shook his head and told me, that the Presbyterians are deceived,
for the General is certainly for the King’s interest, and so they
will not be able to prevail that way with him. After supper the
two knights went on board the Grantham, that is to convey them
to Flushing. I am informed that the Exchequer is now so low,
that there is not £20 there, to give the messenger that brought the
news of Lambert’s being taken; which story is very strange that
he should lose his reputation of being a man of courage now at
one blow, for that he was not able to fight one stroke, but desired
65 The King arrived at Breda on the 14th April. Sir W. Lower writes
(“Voiage and Residence of Charles II. in Holland,” p. 5): “Many consider-
ations obliged him to depart the territories under the obedience of the King
of Spain in this conjuncture of affairs.”
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of Colonel Ingoldsby several times for God’s sake to let him es-
cape. Late reading my letters, my mind being much troubled to
think that, after all our hopes, we should have any cause to fear
any more disappointments therein. To bed. This day I made even
with Mr. Creed, by sending him my bill and he me my money by
Burr whom I sent for it.
28th. This morning sending a packet by Mr. Dunne to London.
In the afternoon I played at ninepins with Mr. Pickering, I and
Mr. Pett against him and Ted Osgood, and won a crown apiece
of him. He had not money enough to pay me. After supper my
Lord exceeding merry, and he and I and W. Howe to sing, and so
to bed.
29th (Sunday). This day I put on first my fine cloth suit made
of a cloak that had like to have been [dirted] a year ago, the very
day that I put it on. After sermon in the morning Mr. Cook came
from London with a packet, bringing news how all the young
lords that were not in arms against the Parliament do now sit.
That a letter is come from the King to the House, which is locked
up by the Council ‘till next Tuesday that it may be read in the
open House when they meet again, they having adjourned till
then to keep a fast tomorrow. And so the contents is not yet
known. £13,000 of the £20,000 given to General Monk is paid
out of the Exchequer, he giving £12 among the teller clerks of Ex-
chequer. My Lord called me into the great cabin below, where I
opened my letters and he told me that the Presbyterians are quite
mastered by the Cavaliers, and that he fears Mr. Crew did go a
little too far the other day in keeping out the young lords from
sitting. That he do expect that the King should be brought over
suddenly, without staying to make any terms at all, saying that
the Presbyterians did intend to have brought him in with such
conditions as if he had been in chains. But he shook his shoul-
ders when he told me how Monk had betrayed him, for it was he
that did put them upon standing to put out the lords and other
members that came not within the qualifications, which he [Mon-
155
APRIL 1660
tagu] did not like, but however he [Monk] had done his business,
though it be with some kind of baseness. After dinner I walked a
great while upon the deck with the chyrurgeon and purser, and
other officers of the ship, and they all pray for the King’s coming,
which I pray God send.
30th. All the morning getting instructions ready for the
Squadron of ships that are going to-day to the Streights, among
others Captain Teddiman, Curtis, and Captain Robert Blake to
be commander of the whole Squadron. After dinner to ninepins,
W. Howe and I against Mr. Creed and the Captain. We lost 5s.
apiece to them. After that W. Howe, Mr. Sheply and I got my
Lord’s leave to go to see Captain Sparling. So we took boat and
first went on shore, it being very pleasant in the fields; but a very
pitiful town Deal is. We went to Fuller’s (the famous place for
ale), but they have none but what was in the vat. After that to
Poole’s, a tavern in the town, where we drank, and so to boat
again, and went to the Assistance, where we were treated very
civilly by the Captain, and he did give us such music upon the
harp by a fellow that he keeps on board that I never expect to hear
the like again, yet he is a drunken simple fellow to look on as any
I ever saw. After that on board the Nazeby, where we found my
Lord at supper, so I sat down and very pleasant my Lord was
with Mr. Creed and Sheply, who he puzzled about finding out
the meaning of the three notes which my Lord had cut over the
chrystal of his watch. After supper some musique. Then Mr.
Sheply, W. Howe and I up to the Lieutenant’s cabin, where we
drank, and I and W. Howe were very merry, and among other
frolics he pulls out the spigot of the little vessel of ale that was
there in the cabin and drew some into his mounteere, and after
he had drank, I endeavouring to dash it in his face, he got my
velvet studying cap and drew some into mine too, that we made
ourselves a great deal of mirth, but spoiled my clothes with the
ale that we dashed up and down. After that to bed very late with
drink enough in my head.
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MAY 1660
May 1st. This morning I was told how the people of Deal have
set up two or three Maypoles, and have hung up their flags upon
the top of them, and do resolve to be very merry to-day. It be-
ing a very pleasant day, I wished myself in Hide Park. This day
I do count myself to have had full two years of perfect cure for
the stone, for which God of heaven be blessed. This day Cap-
tain Parker came on board, and without his expectation I had a
commission for him for the Nonsuch frigate66 (he being now in
the Cheriton), for which he gave me a French pistole. Captain
H. Cuttance has commission for the Cheriton. After dinner to
nine-pins, and won something. The rest of the afternoon in my
cabin writing and piping. While we were at supper we heard a
great noise upon the Quarter Deck, so we all rose instantly, and
found it was to save the coxon of the Cheriton, who, dropping
overboard, could not be saved, but was drowned. To-day I put
on my suit that was altered from the great skirts to little ones.
To-day I hear they were very merry at Deal, setting up the King’s
flag upon one of their maypoles, and drinking his health upon
their knees in the streets, and firing the guns, which the soldiers
of the Castle threatened; but durst not oppose.
66 The “Nonsuch” was a fourth-rate of thirty-two guns, built at Deptford
in 1646 by Peter Pett, jun. The captain was John Parker.
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MAY 1660
2nd. In the morning at a breakfast of radishes at the Purser’s
cabin. After that to writing till dinner. At which time comes
Dunne from London, with letters that tell us the welcome news
of the Parliament’s votes yesterday, which will be remembered
for the happiest May-day that bath been many a year to England.
The King’s letter was read in the House, wherein he submits him-
self and all things to them, as to an Act of Oblivion to all,67 unless
they shall please to except any, as to the confirming of the sales of
the King’s and Church lands, if they see good. The House upon
reading the letter, ordered £50,000 to be forthwith provided to
send to His Majesty for his present supply; and a committee cho-
sen to return an answer of thanks to His Majesty for his gracious
letter; and that the letter be kept among the records of the Parlia-
ment; and in all this not so much as one No. So that Luke Robin-
son himself stood up and made a recantation for what he had
done, and promises to be a loyal subject to his Prince for the time
to come. The City of London have put a Declaration, wherein
they do disclaim their owing any other government but that of
a King, Lords, and Commons. Thanks was given by the House
to Sir John Greenville,68 one of the bedchamber to the King, who
brought the letter, and they continued bare all the time it was
67 “His Majesty added thereunto an excellent Declaration for the safety
and repose of those, who tortured in their consciences, for having partaken
in the rebellion, might fear the punishment of it, and in that fear might op-
pose the tranquillity of the Estate, and the calling in of their lawful Prince.
It is printed and published as well as the letter, but that shall not hinder me
to say, that there was never seen a more perfect assemblage of all the most
excellent natural qualities, and of all the venues, as well Royal as Christian,
wherewith a great Prince may be endowed, than was found in those two
wonderful productions.”–Sir William Lowers ‘Relation ... of the voiage and
Residence Which... Charles the II. Hath made in Holland,’ Hague, 1660, fo-
lio, p. 3.
68 Created Earl of Bath, 1661; son of Sir Bevil Grenville, killed at the battle
of Lansdowne; he was, when a boy, left for dead on the field at the sec-
ond battle of Newbury, and said to have been the only person entrusted by
Charles II. and Monk in bringing about the Restoration.
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MAY 1660
reading. Upon notice made from the Lords to the Commons, of
their desire that the Commons would join with them in their vote
for King, Lords, and Commons; the Commons did concur and
voted that all books whatever that are out against the Govern-
ment of King, Lords, and Commons, should be brought into the
House and burned. Great joy all yesterday at London, and at
night more bonfires than ever, and ringing of bells, and drink-
ing of the King’s health upon their knees in the streets, which
methinks is a little too much. But every body seems to be very
joyfull in the business, insomuch that our sea-commanders now
begin to say so too, which a week ago they would not do.69 And
our seamen, as many as had money or credit for drink, did do
nothing else this evening. This day came Mr. North (Sir Dud-
ley North’s son) on board, to spend a little time here, which my
Lord was a little troubled at, but he seems to be a fine gentleman,
and at night did play his part exceeding well at first sight. After
musique I went up to the Captain’s Cabin with him and Lieu-
tenant Ferrers, who came hither to-day from London to bring this
news to my Lord, and after a bottle of wine we all to bed.
3d. This morning my Lord showed me the King’s declara-
tion and his letter to the two Generals to be communicated to
the fleet.70 The contents of the letter are his offer of grace to all
that will come in within forty days, only excepting them that the
69 “The picture of King Charles II. was often set up in houses, without the
least molestation, whereas a while ago, it was almost a hanging matter so to
do; but now the Rump Parliament was so hated and jeered at, that the butch-
ers’ boys would say, ‘Will you buy any Parliament rumps and kidneys?’ And
it was a very ordinary thing to see little children make a fire in the streets,
and burn rumps.” –Rugge’s Diurnal.–B.
70 “King Charles II. his Declaration to all his loving Subjects of the King-
dome of England, dated from his Court at Breda in Holland 4/14 of April,
1660, and read in Parliament with his Majesties Letter of the same date to
his Excellence the Ld. Gen. Monck to be communicated to the Ld. President
of the Council of State and to the Officers of the Army under his Command.
London, Printed by W. Godbid for John Playford in the Temple, 1660.” 40,
pp. 8.
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MAY 1660
Parliament shall hereafter except. That the sales of lands during
these troubles, and all other things, shall be left to the Parliament,
by which he will stand. The letter dated at Breda, April, 4 1660,
in the 12th year of his reign. Upon the receipt of it this morning
by an express, Mr. Phillips, one of the messengers of the Council
from General Monk, my Lord summoned a council of war, and
in the mean time did dictate to me how he would have the vote
ordered which he would have pass this council. Which done, the
Commanders all came on board, and the council sat in the coach
(the first council of war that had been in my time), where I read
the letter and declaration; and while they were discoursing upon
it, I seemed to draw up a vote, which being offered, they passed.
Not one man seemed to say no to it, though I am confident many
in their hearts were against it. After this was done, I went up to
the quarter-deck with my Lord and the Commanders, and there
read both the papers and the vote; which done, and demanding
their opinion, the seamen did all of them cry out, “God bless King
Charles!” with the greatest joy imaginable. That being done, Sir
R. Stayner, who had invited us yesterday, took all the Comman-
ders and myself on board him to dinner, which not being ready, I
went with Captain Hayward to the Plimouth and Essex, and did
what I had to do there and returned, where very merry at din-
ner. After dinner, to the rest of the ships (staid at the Assistance
to hear the harper a good while) quite through the fleet. Which
was a very brave sight to visit all the ships, and to be received
with the respect and honour that I was on board them all; and
much more to see the great joy that I brought to all men; not one
through the whole fleet showing the least dislike of the business.
In the evening as I was going on board the Vice-Admiral, the
General began to fire his guns, which he did all that he had in the
ship, and so did all the rest of the Commanders, which was very
gallant, and to hear the bullets go hissing over our heads as we
were in the boat. This done and finished my Proclamation, I re-
turned to the Nazeby, where my Lord was much pleased to hear
how all the fleet took it in a transport of joy, showed me a private
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MAY 1660
letter of the King’s to him, and another from the Duke of York
in such familiar style as to their common friend, with all kind-
ness imaginable. And I found by the letters, and so my Lord told
me too, that there had been many letters passed between them
for a great while, and I perceive unknown to Monk. And among
the rest that had carried these letters Sir John Boys is one, and
that Mr. Norwood, which had a ship to carry him over the other
day, when my Lord would not have me put down his name in
the book. The King speaks of his being courted to come to the
Hague, but do desire my Lord’s advice whither to come to take
ship. And the Duke offers to learn the seaman’s trade of him,
in such familiar words as if Jack Cole and I had writ them. This
was very strange to me, that my Lord should carry all things so
wisely and prudently as he do, and I was over joyful to see him
in so good condition, and he did not a little please himself to tell
me how he had provided for himself so great a hold on the King.
After this to supper, and then to writing of letters till twelve at
night, and so up again at three in the morning. My Lord seemed
to put great confidence in me, and would take my advice in many
things. I perceive his being willing to do all the honour in the
world to Monk, and to let him have all the honour of doing the
business, though he will many times express his thoughts of him
to be but a thick-sculled fool. So that I do believe there is some
agreement more than ordinary between the King and my Lord
to let Monk carry on the business, for it is he that must do the
business, or at least that can hinder it, if he be not flattered and
observed. This, my Lord will hint himself sometimes. My Lord,
I perceive by the King’s letter, had writ to him about his father,
Crew,–[When only seventeen years old, Montagu had married
Jemima, daughter of John Crew, created afterwards Baron Crew
of Stene.]–and the King did speak well of him; but my Lord tells
me, that he is afeard that he hath too much concerned himself
with the Presbyterians against the House of Lords, which will do
him a great discourtesy.
161
MAY 1660
4th. I wrote this morning many letters, and to all the copies
of the vote of the council of war I put my name, that if it should
come in print my name maybe at it. I sent a copy of the vote
to Doling, inclosed in this letter: “SIR, “He that can fancy a fleet
(like ours) in her pride, with pendants loose, guns roaring, caps
flying, and the loud ‘Vive le Roys,’ echoed from one ship’s com-
pany to another, he, and he only, can apprehend the joy this in-
closed vote was received with, or the blessing he thought himself
possessed of that bore it, and is “Your humble servant.”
About nine o’clock I got all my letters done, and sent them by
the messenger that came yesterday. This morning came Captain
Isham on board with a gentleman going to the King, by whom
very cunningly, my Lord tells me, he intends to send an account
of this day’s and yesterday’s actions here, notwithstanding he
had writ to the Parliament to have leave of them to send the King
the answer of the fleet. Since my writing of the last paragraph,
my Lord called me to him to read his letter to the King, to see
whether I could find any slips in it or no. And as much of the let-
ter’ as I can remember, is thus: “May it please your Most Excel-
lent Majesty,” and so begins. “That he yesterday received from
General Monk his Majesty’s letter and direction; and that Gen-
eral Monk had desired him to write to the Parliament to have
leave to send the vote of the seamen before he did send it to him,
which he had done by writing to both Speakers; but for his pri-
vate satisfaction he had sent it thus privately (and so the copy of
the proceedings yesterday was sent him), and that this come by
a gentleman that came this day on board, intending to wait upon
his Majesty, that he is my Lord’s countryman, and one whose
friends have suffered much on his Majesty’s behalf. That my
Lords Pembroke and Salisbury are put out of the House of Lords.
That my Lord is very joyful that other countries do pay him the
civility and respect due to him; and that he do much rejoice to
see that the King do resolve to receive none of their assistance
(or some such words), from them, he having strength enough in
the love and loyalty of his own subjects to support him. That his
162
MAY 1660
Majesty had chosen the best place, Scheveling,–[Schevingen, the
port of the Hague]–for his embarking, and that there is nothing
in the world of which he is more ambitious, than to have the hon-
our of attending his Majesty, which he hoped would be speedy.
That he had commanded the vessel to attend at Helversluce–
[Hellevoetsluis, in South Holland] –till this gentleman returns,
that so if his Majesty do not think it fit to command the fleet him-
self, yet that he may be there to receive his commands and bring
them to his Lordship. He ends his letter, that he is confounded
with the thoughts of the high expressions of love to him in the
King’s letter, and concludes, “Your most loyall, dutifull, faithfull
and obedient subject and servant, E. M.”
The rest of the afternoon at ninepins. In the evening came a
packet from London, among the rest a letter from my wife, which
tells me that she has not been well, which did exceedingly trou-
ble me, but my Lord sending Mr. Cook at night, I wrote to her
and sent a piece of gold enclosed to her, and wrote also to Mrs.
Bowyer, and enclosed a half piece to her for a token. After supper
at the table in the coach, my Lord talking concerning the uncer-
tainty of the places of the Exchequer to them that had them now;
he did at last think of an office which do belong to him in case
the King do restore every man to his places that ever had been
patent, which is to be one of the clerks of the signet, which will
be a fine employment for one of his sons. After all this discourse
we broke up and to bed.
In the afternoon came a minister on board, one Mr. Sharpe,
who is going to the King; who tells me that Commissioners are
chosen both of Lords and Commons to go to the King; and that
Dr. Clarges71 is going to him from the Army, and that he will be
71 Thomas Clarges, physician to the army, created a baronet, 1674, died
1695. He had been previously knighted; his sister Anne married General
Monk. “The Parliament also permitted General Monk to send Mr. Clarges,
his brother-in-law, accompanied with some officers of the army, to assure his
Majesty of the fidelity and obedience of the army, which had made publick
163
MAY 1660
here to-morrow. My letters at night tell me, that the House did
deliver their letter to Sir John Greenville, in answer to the King’s
sending, and that they give him £500 for his pains, to buy him a
jewel, and that besides the £50,000 ordered to be borrowed of the
City for the present use of the King, the twelve companies of the
City do give every one of them to his Majesty, as a present, £1000.
5th. All the morning very busy writing letters to London, and
a packet to Mr. Downing, to acquaint him with what had been
done lately in the fleet. And this I did by my Lord’s command,
who, I thank him, did of himself think of doing it, to do me a
kindness, for he writ a letter himself to him, thanking him for his
kindness to me. All the afternoon at ninepins, at night after sup-
per good musique, my Lord, Mr. North, I and W. Howe. After
that to bed. This evening came Dr. Clarges to Deal, going to the
King; where the towns-people strewed the streets with herbes
against his coming, for joy of his going. Never was there so gen-
eral a content as there is now. I cannot but remember that our
parson did, in his prayer to-night, pray for the long life and hap-
piness of our King and dread Soveraign, that may last as long as
the sun and moon endureth.
6th (Lord’s day). This morning while we were at sermon
comes in Dr. Clarges and a dozen gentlemen to see my Lord,
who, after sermon, dined with him; I remember that last night
upon discourse concerning Clarges my Lord told me that he
was a man of small entendimiento.–[Entendimiento, Spanish: the
understanding.]–This afternoon there was a gentleman with me,
an officer of Dunkirk going over, who came to me for an or-
der and told me he was lately with my uncle and Aunt Fenner
and that Kate’s fits of the convulsions did hold her still. It fell
very well to-day, a stranger preached here for Mr. Ibbot, one
and solemn protestations thereof, after the Letter and Declaration was com-
municated unto them by the General.”–Sir William Lowers Relation... of the
Voiage and Residence which... Charles the II. Hath made in Holland, Hague,
1660, folio.
164
MAY 1660
Mr. Stanley, who prayed for King Charles, by the Grace of God,
&c., which gave great contentment to the gentlemen that were on
board here, and they said they would talk of it, when they come
to Breda, as not having it done yet in London so publickly. Af-
ter they were gone from on board, my Lord writ a letter to the
King and give it to me to carry privately to Sir William Comp-
ton’ on board the Assistance, which I did, and after a health to
his Majesty on board there, I left them under sail for Breda. Back
again and found them at sermon. I went up to my cabin and
looked over my accounts, and find that, all my debts paid and
my preparations to sea paid for, I have £640 clear in my purse.
After supper to bed.
7th. This morning Captain Cuttance sent me 12 bottles of Mar-
gate ale. Three of them I drank presently with some friends in
the Coach. My Lord went this morning about the flag-ships in
a boat, to see what alterations there must be, as to the arms and
flags. He did give me order also to write for silk flags and scarlett
waistcloathes.72 For a rich barge; for a noise of trumpets,73 and a
set of fidlers. Very great deal of company come today, among
others Mr. Bellasses, Sir Thomas Lenthropp, Sir Henry Chichley,
Colonel Philip Honiwood, and Captain Titus, the last of whom
my Lord showed all our cabins, and I suppose he is to take notice
what room there will be for the King’s entertainment. Here were
also all the Jurates of the town of Dover come to give my Lord a
visit, and after dinner all went away. I could not but observe that
the Vice-Admiral after dinner came into the great cabin below,
where the Jurates and I and the commanders for want of room
dined, and there told us we must drink a health to the King, and
himself called for a bottle of wine, and begun his and the Duke
72 Waist-cloths are the painted canvas coverings of the hammocks which
are stowed in the waist-nettings.
73 A set or company of musicians, an expression constantly used by old
writers without any disparaging meaning. It is sometimes applied to voices
as well as to instruments.
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MAY 1660
of York’s. In the afternoon I lost 5s. at ninepins. After supper
musique, and to bed. Having also among us at the Coach table
wrote a letter to the French ambassador, in French, about the re-
lease of a ship we had taken. After I was in bed Mr. Sheply and
W. Howe came and sat in my cabin, where I gave them three bot-
tles of Margate ale, and sat laughing and very merry, till almost
one o’clock in the morning, and so good night.
8th. All the morning busy. After dinner come several persons
of honour, as my Lord St. John and others, for convoy to Flush-
ing, and great giving of them salutes. My Lord and we at nine-
pins: I lost 9s. While we were at play Mr. Cook brings me word of
my wife. He went to Huntsmore to see her, and brought her and
my father Bowyer to London, where he left her at my father’s,
very well, and speaks very well of her love to me. My letters
to-day tell me how it was intended that the King should be pro-
claimed to-day in London, with a great deal of pomp. I had also
news who they are that are chosen of the Lords and Commons
to attend the King. And also the whole story of what we did the
other day in the fleet, at reading of the King’s declaration, and
my name at the bottom of it. After supper some musique and
to bed. I resolving to rise betimes to-morrow to write letters to
London.
9th. Up very early, writing a letter to the King, as from the
two Generals of the fleet, in answer to his letter to them, wherein
my Lord do give most humble thanks for his gracious letter and
declaration; and promises all duty and obedience to him. This
letter was carried this morning to Sir Peter Killigrew,74 who came
hither this morning early to bring an order from the Lords’ House
to my Lord, giving him power to write an answer to the King.
74 Sir Peter Killigrew, Knight, of Arwenack, Cornwall, was known as “Pe-
ter the Post,” from the alacrity with which he despatched “like wild fire” all
the messages and other commissions entrusted to him in the King’s cause.
His son Peter, who succeeded his uncle as second baronet in 1665, was M.P.
for Camelford in 1660.
166
MAY 1660
This morning my Lord St. John and other persons of honour
were here to see my Lord, and so away to Flushing. After they
were gone my Lord and I to write letters to London, which we
sent by Mr. Cook, who was very desirous to go because of seeing
my wife before she went out of town. As we were sitting down
to dinner, in comes Noble with a letter from the House of Lords
to my Lord, to desire him to provide ships to transport the Com-
missioners to the King, which are expected here this week. He
brought us certain news that the King was proclaimed yesterday
with great pomp, and brought down one of the Proclamations,
with great joy to us all; for which God be praised. After dinner to
ninepins and lost 5s. This morning came Mr. Saunderson,75 that
writ the story of the King, hither, who is going over to the King.
He calls me cozen and seems a very knowing man. After supper
to bed betimes, leaving my Lord talking in the Coach with the
Captain.
10th. This morning came on board Mr. Pinkney and his son,
going to the King with a petition finely writ by Mr. Whore, for
to be the King’s embroiderer; for whom and Mr. Saunderson I
got a ship. This morning come my Lord Winchelsea and a great
deal of company, and dined here. In the afternoon, while my
Lord and we were at musique in the great cabin below, comes
in a messenger to tell us that Mr. Edward Montagu,76 my Lord’s
son, was come to Deal, who afterwards came on board with Mr.
Pickering with him. The child was sick in the evening. At night,
while my Lord was at supper, in comes my Lord Lauderdale and
Sir John Greenville, who supped here, and so went away. After
they were gone, my Lord called me into his cabin, and told me
75 Afterwards Sir William Sanderson, gentleman of the chamber, author
of the “History of Mary Queen of Scots, James I., and Charles I.” His wife,
Dame Bridget, was mother of the maids.
76 Sir Edward Montagu’s eldest son, afterwards second Earl of Sandwich,
called by Pepys “The child.”
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MAY 1660
how he was commanded to set sail presently for the King,77 and
was very glad thereof, and so put me to writing of letters and
other work that night till it was very late, he going to bed. I got
him afterwards to sign things in bed. After I had done some more
work I to bed also.
11th. Up very early in the morning, and so about a great deal of
business in order to our going hence to-day. Burr going on shore
last night made me very angry. So that I sent for Mr. Pitts to
come tome from the Vice-Admiral’s, intending not to have em-
ployed Burr any more. But Burr by and by coming and desir-
ing humbly that I would forgive him and Pitts not coming I did
set him to work. This morning we began to pull down all the
State’s arms in the fleet, having first sent to Dover for painters
and others to come to set up the King’s. The rest of the morning
writing of letters to London which I afterwards sent by Dunne.
I had this morning my first opportunity of discoursing with Dr.
Clarke,78 whom I found to be a very pretty man and very know-
ing. He is now going in this ship to the King. There dined here
my Lord Crafford and my Lord Cavendish, and other Scotch-
men whom I afterwards ordered to be received on board the Ply-
mouth, and to go along with us. After dinner we set sail from
the Downs, I leaving my boy to go to Deal for my linen. In
the afternoon overtook us three or four gentlemen; two of the
Berties, and one Mr. Dormerhoy, a Scotch gentleman, whom I af-
terwards found to be a very fine man, who, telling my Lord that
they heard the Commissioners were come out of London to-day,
my Lord dropt anchor over against Dover Castle (which give us
about thirty guns in passing), and upon a high debate with the
77 “Ordered that General Montagu do observe the command of His
Majesty for the disposing of the fleet, in order to His Majesty’s returning
home to England to his kingly government: and that all proceedings in law
be in His Majesty’s name.”–Rugge’s Diurnal.–B.
78 Timothy Clarke, M. D., one of the original Fellows of the Royal Society.
He was appointed one of the physicians in ordinary to Charles II. on the
death of Dr. Quartermaine in 1667.
168
MAY 1660
Vice and Rear Admiral whether it were safe to go and not stay
for the Commissioners, he did resolve to send Sir R. Stayner to
Dover, to enquire of my Lord Winchelsea, whether or no they are
come out of London, and then to resolve to-morrow morning of
going or not; which was done. It blew very hard all this night
that I was afeard of my boy. About 11 at night came the boats
from Deal, with great store of provisions, by the same token John
Goods told me that above 20 of the fowls are smothered, but my
boy was put on board the Northwich. To bed.
12th. This morning I inquired for my boy, whether he was
come well or no, and it was told me that he was well in bed.
My Lord called me to his chamber, he being in bed, and gave me
many orders to make for direction for the ships that are left in
the Downs, giving them the greatest charge in the world to bring
no passengers with them, when they come after us to Scheveling
Bay, excepting Mr. Edward Montagu, Mr. Thomas Crew, and Sir
H. Wright. Sir R. Stayner hath been here early in the morning and
told my Lord, that my Lord Winchelsea understands by letters,
that the Commissioners are only to come to Dover to attend the
coming over of the King. So my Lord did give order for weigh-
ing anchor, which we did, and sailed all day. In our way in the
morning, coming in the midway between Dover and Calais, we
could see both places very easily, and very pleasant it was to me
that the further we went the more we lost sight of both lands. In
the afternoon at cards with Mr. North and the Doctor.–[Clarke]–
There by us, in the Lark frigate, Sir R. Freeman and some others,
going from the King to England, come to see my Lord and so on-
ward on their voyage. In the afternoon upon the quarterdeck the
Doctor told Mr. North and me an admirable story called “The
Fruitless Precaution,” an exceeding pretty story and worthy my
getting without book when I can get the book.[??] This evening
came Mr. Sheply on board, whom we had left at Deal and Dover
getting of provision and borrowing of money. In the evening late,
after discoursing with the Doctor, &c., to bed.
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13th (Lord’s day). Trimmed in the morning, after that to the
cook’s room with Mr. Sheply, the first time that I was there this
voyage. Then to the quarter-deck, upon which the tailors and
painters were at work, cutting out some pieces of yellow cloth
into the fashion of a crown and C. R. and put it upon a fine sheet,
and that into the flag instead of the State’s arms, which after din-
ner was finished and set up after it had been shewn to my Lord,
who took physic to-day and was in his chamber, and liked it so
well as to bid me give the tailors 20s. among them for doing of
it. This morn Sir J. Boys and Capt. Isham met us in the Nonsuch,
the first of whom, after a word or two with my Lord, went for-
ward, the other staid. I heard by them how Mr. Downing had
never made any address to the King, and for that was hated ex-
ceedingly by the Court, and that he was in a Dutch ship which
sailed by us, then going to England with disgrace. Also how Mr.
Morland was knighted by the King this week, and that the King
did give the reason of it openly, that it was for his giving him in-
telligence all the time he was clerk to Secretary Thurloe. In the
afternoon a council of war, only to acquaint them that the Harp
must be taken out of all their flags,79 it being very offensive to
the King. Mr. Cook, who came after us in the Yarmouth, bring-
ing me a letter from my wife and a Latin letter from my brother
John, with both of which I was exceedingly pleased. No sermon
all day, we being under sail, only at night prayers, wherein Mr.
Ibbott prayed for all that were related to us in a spiritual and
fleshly way. We came within sight of Middle’s shore. Late at
night we writ letters to the King of the news of our coming, and
Mr. Edward Picketing carried them. Capt. Isham went on shore,
79 In May, 1658, the old Union Jack (being the crosses of St. George and St.
Andrew combined) was revived, with the Irish harp over the centre of the
flag. This harp was taken off at the Restoration. (See “The National Flags
of the Commonwealth,” by H. W. Henfrey,” Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc.,” vol.
xxxi, p. 54.) The sign of the “Commonwealth Arms” was an uncommon one,
but a token of one exists– “Francis Wood at ye Commonwealth arms in Mary
Maudlens” [St. Mary Magdalen, Old Fish Street].
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nobody showing of him any respect; so the old man very fairly
took leave of my Lord, and my Lord very coldly bid him “God be
with you,” which was very strange, but that I hear that he keeps a
great deal of prating and talking on shore, on board, at the King’s
Courts, what command he had with my Lord, &c. After letters
were gone then to bed.
14th. In the morning when I woke and rose, I saw myself out
of the scuttle close by the shore, which afterwards I was told to be
the Dutch shore; the Hague was clearly to be seen by us. My Lord
went up in his nightgown into the cuddy,80 to see how to dispose
thereof for himself and us that belong to him, to give order for
our removal to-day. Some nasty Dutchmen came on board to
proffer their boats to carry things from us on shore, &c., to get
money by us. Before noon some gentlemen came on board from
the shore to kiss my Lord’s hands. And by and by Mr. North
and Dr. Clerke went to kiss the Queen of Bohemia’s’ hands, from
my Lord, with twelve attendants from on board to wait on them,
among which I sent my boy, who, like myself, is with child to see
any strange thing. After noon they came back again after hav-
ing kissed the Queen of Bohemia’s hand, and were sent again
by my Lord to do the same to the Prince of Orange.81 So I got
the Captain to ask leave for me to go, which my Lord did give,
and I taking my boy and judge Advocate with me, went in com-
pany with them. The weather bad; we were sadly washed when
we came near the shore, it being very hard to land there. The
shore is, as all the country between that and the Hague, all sand.
The rest of the company got a coach by themselves; Mr. Creed
and I went in the fore part of a coach wherein were two very
80 “A sort of cabin or cook-room, generally in the fore-part, but sometimes
near the stern of lighters and barges of burden.”–Smyth’s Sailor’s Word-
Book.
81 Son of the Prince of Orange and Mary, eldest daughter of Charles I. –
afterwards William III. He was then in his tenth year, having been born in
1650.
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pretty ladies, very fashionable and with black patches, who very
merrily sang all the way and that very well, and were very free
to kiss the two blades that were with them. I took out my fla-
geolette and piped, but in piping I dropped my rapier-stick, but
when I came to the Hague, I sent my boy back again for it and
he found it, for which I did give him 6d., but some horses had
gone over it and broke the scabbard. The Hague is a most neat
place in all respects. The houses so neat in all places and things
as is possible. Here we walked up and down a great while, the
town being now very full of Englishmen, for that the Londoners
were come on shore today. But going to see the Prince,–[Prince
of Orange, afterwards William III.]–he was gone forth with his
governor, and so we walked up and down the town and court to
see the place; and by the help of a stranger, an Englishman, we
saw a great many places, and were made to understand many
things, as the intention of may-poles, which we saw there stand-
ing at every great man’s door, of different greatness according
to the quality of the person. About 10 at night the Prince comes
home, and we found an easy admission. His attendance very in-
considerable as for a prince; but yet handsome, and his tutor a
fine man, and himself a very pretty boy. It was bright moonshine
to-night. This done we went to a place we had taken to sup in,
where a sallet and two or three bones of mutton were provided
for a matter of ten of us which was very strange. After supper
the Judge and I to another house, leaving them there, and he and
I lay in one press bed, there being two more in the same room,
but all very neat and handsome, my boy sleeping upon a bench
by me.
15th. We lay till past three o’clock, then up and down the town,
to see it by daylight, where we saw the soldiers of the Prince’s
guard, all very fine, and the burghers of the town with their
arms and muskets as bright as silver. And meeting this morn-
ing a schoolmaster that spoke good English and French, he went
along with us and shewed us the whole town, and indeed I can-
not speak enough of the gallantry of the town. Every body of
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MAY 1660
fashion speaks French or Latin, or both. The women many of
them very pretty and in good habits, fashionable and black spots.
He went with me to buy a couple of baskets, one of them for Mrs.
Pierce, the other for my wife. After he was gone, we having first
drank with him at our lodging, the judge and I to the Grande
Salle where we were shewed the place where the States General
sit in council. The hall is a great place, where the flags that they
take from their enemies are all hung up; and things to be sold, as
in Westminster Hall, and not much unlike it, but that not so big,
but much neater. After that to a bookseller’s and bought for the
love of the binding three books: the French Psalms in four parts,
Bacon’s Organon, and Farnab. Rhetor.82 After that the judge, I
and my boy by coach to Scheveling again, where we went into
a house of entertainment and drank there, the wind being very
high, and we saw two boats overset and the gallants forced to be
pulled on shore by the heels, while their trunks, portmanteaus,
hats, and feathers, were swimming in the sea. Among others I
saw the ministers that come along with the Commissioners (Mr.
Case among the rest) sadly dipped.83 So they came in where we
were, and I being in haste left my Copenhagen knife, and so lost
it. Having staid here a great while a gentleman that was going to
kiss my Lord’s hand, from the Queen of Bohemia, and I hired a
Dutch boat for four rixdollars to carry us on board. We were fain
to wait a great while before we could get off from the shore, the
sea being very rough. The Dutchman would fain have made all
pay that came into our boat besides us two and our company,
there being many of our ship’s company got in who were on
82 “Index Rhetoricus” of Thomas Farnaby was a book which went through
several editions. The first was published at London by R. Allot in 1633.
83 Thomas Case, born 1598, was a famous preacher and a zealous advo-
cate for the Solemn League and Covenant, a member of the assembly of di-
vines, and rector of St. Giles’s-in-the-Fields. He was one of the deputation
to Charles II. at Breda, and appointed a royal chaplain. He was ejected by
the Act of Uniformity, but remained in London after his ejection. Died May
30th, 1682.
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shore, but some of them had no money, having spent all on shore.
Coming on board we found all the Commissioners of the House
of Lords at dinner with my Lord, who after dinner went away for
shore. Mr. Morland, now Sir Samuel, was here on board, but I do
not find that my Lord or any body did give him any respect, he
being looked upon by him and all men as a knave. Among others
he betrayed Sir Rich. Willis84 that married Dr. F. Jones’s daugh-
ter, that he had paid him £1000 at one time by the Protector’s and
Secretary Thurloe’s order, for intelligence that he sent concern-
ing the King. In the afternoon my Lord called me on purpose to
show me his fine cloathes which are now come hither, and indeed
are very rich as gold and silver can make them, only his sword
he and I do not like. In the afternoon my Lord and I walked to-
gether in the coach two hours, talking together upon all sorts of
discourse: as religion, wherein he is, I perceive, wholly sceptical,
as well as I, saying, that indeed the Protestants as to the Church
of Rome are wholly fanatiques: he likes uniformity and form of
prayer; about State-business, among other things he told me that
his conversion to the King’s cause (for so I was saying that I won-
dered from what time the King could look upon him to become
his friend), commenced from his being in the Sound, when he
found what usage he was likely to have from a Commonwealth.
My Lord, the Captain, and I supped in my Lord’s chamber, where
I did perceive that he did begin to show me much more respect
than ever he did yet. After supper, my Lord sent for me, intend-
84 This is somewhat different to the usual account of Morland’s connection
with Sir Richard Willis. In the beginning of 1659 Cromwell, Thurloe, and
Willis formed a plot to inveigle Charles II. into England and into the hands
of his enemies. The plot was discussed in Thurloe’s office, and Morland, who
pretended to be asleep, heard it and discovered it. Willis sent for Morland,
and received him in a cellar. He said that one of them must have discovered
the plot. He laid his hand upon the Bible and swore that he had not been the
discoverer, calling upon Morland to do the same. Morland, with presence
of mind, said he was ready to do so if Willis would give him a reason why
he should suspect him. By this ready answer he is said to have escaped the
ordeal (see Birch’s “Life of Thurloe”).
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ing to have me play at cards with him, but I not knowing crib-
bage, we fell into discourse of many things, till it was so rough
sea and the ship rolled so much that I was not able to stand, and
so he bid me go to bed.
16th. Soon as I was up I went down to be trimmed below in
the great cabin, but then come in some with visits, among the
rest one from Admiral Opdam,85 who spoke Latin well, but not
French nor English, to whom my Lord made me to give his an-
swer and to entertain; he brought my Lord a tierce of wine and
a barrel of butter, as a present from the Admiral. After that to
finish my trimming, and while I was doing of it in comes Mr.
North very sea-sick from shore, and to bed he goes. After that
to dinner, where Commissioner Pett was come to take care to
get all things ready for the King on board. My Lord in his best
suit, this the first day, in expectation to wait upon the King. But
Mr. Edw. Pickering coming from the King brought word that the
King would not put my Lord to the trouble of coming to him;
but that he would come to the shore to look upon the fleet to-
day, which we expected, and had our guns ready to fire, and our
scarlet waistcloathes out and silk pendants, but he did not come.
My Lord and we at ninepins this afternoon upon the Quarter-
deck, which was very pretty sport. This evening came Mr. John
Pickering on board, like an ass, with his feathers and new suit
that he had made at the Hague. My Lord very angry for his stay-
ing on shore, bidding me a little before to send to him, telling
me that he was afraid that for his father’s sake he might have
some mischief done him, unless he used the General’s name. To
supper, and after supper to cards. I stood by and looked on till
11 at night and so to bed. This afternoon Mr. Edwd. Pickering
told me in what a sad, poor condition for clothes and money the
85 The admiral celebrated in Lord Dorset’s ballad, “To all you ladies now
at land.” “Should foggy Opdam chance to know Our sad and dismal story;
The Dutch would scorn so weak a foe, And quit their fort at Goree For what
resistance can they find From men who’ve left their hearts behind?”–B.
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King was, and all his attendants, when he came to him first from
my Lord, their clothes not being worth forty shillings the best of
them.86 And how overjoyed the King was when Sir J. Greenville
brought him some money; so joyful, that he called the Princess
Royal and Duke of York to look upon it as it lay in the portman-
teau before it was taken out. My Lord told me, too, that the Duke
of York is made High Admiral of England.
17th. Up early to write down my last two days’ observations.
Dr. Clerke came to me to tell me that he heard this morning, by
some Dutch that are come on board already to see the ship, that
there was a Portuguese taken yesterday at the Hague, that had
a design to kill the King. But this I heard afterwards was only
the mistake upon one being observed to walk with his sword
naked, he having lost his scabbard. Before dinner Mr. Edw.
Pickering and I, W. Howe, Pim, and my boy,–[Edward Montagu,
afterwards Lord Hinchinbroke.]–to Scheveling, where we took
coach, and so to the Hague, where walking, intending to find
one that might show us the King incognito, I met with Captain
Whittington (that had formerly brought a letter to my Lord from
the Mayor of London) and he did promise me to do it, but first
we went and dined at a French house, but paid 16s. for our part
of the club. At dinner in came Dr. Cade, a merry mad parson of
the King’s. And they two after dinner got the child and me (the
others not being able to crowd in) to see the King, who kissed
the child very affectionately. Then we kissed his, and the Duke
of York’s, and the Princess Royal’s hands. The King seems to
be a very sober man; and a very splendid Court he hath in the
number of persons of quality that are about him, English very
86 Andrew Marvell alludes to the poor condition, for clothes and money,
in which the King was at this time, in “A Historical Poem”:– “At length, by
wonderful impulse of fate, The people call him back to help the State; And
what is more, they send him money, too, And clothe him all from head to
foot anew.”
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rich in habit. From the King to the Lord Chancellor,87 who did
lie bed-rid of the gout: he spoke very merrily to the child and
me. After that, going to see the Queen of Bohemia, I met with Dr.
Fullers whom I sent to a tavern with Mr. Edw. Pickering, while I
and the rest went to see the Queen,–[Henrietta Maria.]–who used
us very respectfully; her hand we all kissed. She seems a very
debonaire, but plain lady. After that to the Dr.‘s, where we drank
a while or so. In a coach of a friend’s of Dr. Cade we went to see a
house of the Princess Dowager’s in a park about half-a-mile or a
mile from the Hague, where there is one, the most beautiful room
for pictures in the whole world. She had here one picture upon
the top, with these words, dedicating it to the memory of her
husband:–“Incomparabili marito, inconsolabilis vidua.”88 Here I
met with Mr. Woodcock of Cambridge, Mr. Hardy and another,
and Mr. Woodcock beginning we had two or three fine songs, he
and I, and W. Howe to the Echo, which was very pleasant, and
the more because in a heaven of pleasure and in a strange coun-
try, that I never was taken up more with a sense of pleasure in
my life. After that we parted and back to the Hague and took a
tour or two about the Forehault,–[The Voorhout is the principal
street of the Hague, and it is lined with handsome trees.]–where
the ladies in the evening do as our ladies do in Hide Park. But
for my life I could not find one handsome, but their coaches very
rich and themselves so too. From thence, taking leave of the Doc-
tor, we took wagon to Scheveling, where we had a fray with the
Boatswain of the Richmond, who would not freely carry us on
board, but at last he was willing to it, but then it was so late we
durst not go. So we returned between 10 and 11 at night in the
87 On January 29th, 1658, Charles II. entrusted the Great Seal to Sir Edward
Hyde, with the title of Lord Chancellor, and in that character Sir Edward
accompanied the King to England.
88 Mary, Princess Royal, eldest daughter of Charles I., and widow of
William of Nassau, Prince of Orange. She was not supposed to be incon-
solable, and scandal followed her at the court of Charles II., where she died
of small-pox, December 24th, 1660.
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dark with a wagon with one horse to the Hague, where being
come we went to bed as well as we could be accommodated, and
so to sleep.
18th. Very early up, and, hearing that the Duke of York, our
Lord High Admiral, would go on board to-day, Mr. Picker-
ing and I took waggon for Scheveling, leaving the child in Mr.
Pierces hands, with directions to keep him within doors all day
till he heard from me. But the wind being very high that no
boats could get off from shore, we returned to the Hague (having
breakfasted with a gentleman of the Duke’s, and Commissioner
Pett, sent on purpose to give notice to my Lord of his coming),
where I hear that the child is gone to Delfe to see the town. So
we all and Mr. Ibbott, the Minister, took a schuit–[The trekschuit
(drag-boat) along the canal is still described as an agreeable con-
veyance from Leyden to Delft.]–and very much pleased with the
manner and conversation of the passengers, where most speak
French; went after them, but met them by the way. But how-
ever we went forward making no stop. Where when we were
come we got a smith’s boy of the town to go along with us, but
could speak nothing but Dutch, and he showed us the church
where Van Trump lies entombed with a very fine monument.
His epitaph concluded thus:–“Tandem Bello Anglico tantum non
victor, certe invictus, vivere et vincere desiit.” There is a sea-
fight cut in marble, with the smoke, the best expressed that ever
I saw in my life. From thence to the great church, that stands
in a fine great market-place, over against the Stadt-house, and
there I saw a stately tomb of the old Prince of Orange, of mar-
ble and brass; wherein among other rarities there are the angels
with their trumpets expressed as it were crying. Here were very
fine organs in both the churches. It is a most sweet town, with
bridges, and a river in every street. Observing that in every house
of entertainment there hangs in every room a poor-man’s box,
and desiring to know the reason thereof, it was told me that it
is their custom to confirm all bargains by putting something into
the poor people’s box, and that binds as fast as any thing. We
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also saw the Guesthouse, where it was very pleasant to see what
neat preparation there is for the poor. We saw one poor man
a-dying there. After we had seen all, we light by chance of an
English house to drink in, where we were very merry, discours-
ing of the town and the thing that hangs up in the Stadthouse
like a bushel, which I was told is a sort of punishment for some
sort of offenders to carry through the streets of the town over
his head, which is a great weight. Back by water, where a pretty
sober Dutch lass sat reading all the way, and I could not fasten
any discourse upon her. At our landing we met with Commis-
sioner Pett going down to the water-side with Major Harly, who
is going upon a dispatch into England. They having a coach I left
the Parson and my boy and went along with Commissioner Pett,
Mr. Ackworth and Mr. Dawes his friends, to the Princess Dowa-
ger’s house again. Thither also my Lord Fairfax and some other
English Lords did come to see it, and my pleasure was increased
by seeing of it again. Besides we went into the garden, wherein
are gallant nuts better than ever I saw, and a fine Echo under the
house in a vault made on purpose with pillars, where I played
on my flageolette to great advantage. Back to the Hague, where
not finding Mr. Edward, I was much troubled, but went with the
Parson to supper to Commissioner Pett, where we sat late. And
among other mirth Mr. Ackworth vyed wives, each endeavour-
ing to set his own wife out to the best advantage, he having as
they said an extraordinary handsome wife. But Mr. Dawes could
not be got to say anything of his. After that to our lodging where
W. Howe and I exceeding troubled not to know what is become
of our young gentleman. So to bed.
19th. Up early, hearing nothing of the child, and went to
Scheveling, where I found no getting on board, though the Duke
of York sent every day to see whether he could do it or no. Here
I met with Mr. Pinkney and his sons, and with them went back
to the Hague, in our way lighting and going to see a woman that
makes pretty rock-work in shells, &c., which could I have car-
ried safe I would have bought some of. At the Hague we went
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MAY 1660
to buy some pictures, where I saw a sort of painting done upon
woollen cloth, drawn as if there was a curtain over it, which was
very pleasant, but dear. Another pretty piece of painting I saw,
on which there was a great wager laid by young Pinkney and me
whether it was a principal or a copy. But not knowing how to de-
cide, it was broken off, and I got the old man to lay out as much
as my piece of gold come to, and so saved my money, which had
been 24s. lost, I fear. While we were here buying of pictures, we
saw Mr. Edward and his company land. Who told me that they
had been at Leyden all night, at which I was very angry with
Mr. Pierce, and shall not be friends I believe a good while. To
our lodging to dinner. After that out to buy some linen to wear
against to-morrow, and so to the barber’s. After that by waggon
to Lausdune, where the 365 children were born. We saw the hill
where they say the house stood and sunk wherein the children
were born. The basins wherein the male and female children
were baptized do stand over a large table that hangs upon a wall,
with the whole story of the thing in Dutch and Latin, beginning,
“Margarita Herman Comitissa,” &c. The thing was done about
200 years ago.
The town is a little small village which answers much to one of
our small villages, such a one as Chesterton in all respects, and
one could have thought it in England but for the language of the
people. We went into a little drinking house where there were a
great many Dutch boors eating of fish in a boorish manner, but
very merry in their way. But the houses here as neat as in the
great places. From thence to the Hague again playing at crambo–
[Crambo is described as “a play at short verses in which a word is
given, and the parties contend who can find most rhymes to it.”]–
in the waggon, Mr. Edward, Mr. Ibbott, W. Howe, Mr. Pinkney,
and I. When we were come thither W. Howe, and Mr. Ibbott, and
Mr. Pinckney went away for Scheveling, while I and the child
to walk up and down the town, where I met my old chamber-
fellow, Mr. Ch. Anderson, and a friend of his (both Physicians),
Mr. Wright, who took me to a Dutch house, where there was an
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MAY 1660
exceeding pretty lass, and right for the sport, but it being Satur-
day we could not have much of her company, but however I staid
with them (having left the child with my uncle Pickering, whom
I met in the street) till 12 at night. By that time Charles was al-
most drunk, and then broke up, he resolving to go thither again,
after he had seen me at my lodging, and lie with the girl, which
he told me he had done in the morning. Going to my lodging we
met with the bellman, who struck upon a clapper, which I took
in my hand, and it is just like the clapper that our boys frighten
the birds away from the corn with in summer time in England.
To bed.
20th. Up early, and with Mr. Pickering and the child by wag-
gon to Scheveling, where it not being yet fit to go off, I went to lie
down in a chamber in the house, where in another bed there was
a pretty Dutch woman in bed alone, but though I had a month’s-
mind89 I had not the boldness to go to her. So there I slept an hour
or two. At last she rose, and then I rose and walked up and down
the chamber, and saw her dress herself after the Dutch dress, and
talked to her as much as I could, and took occasion, from her
ring which she wore on her first finger, to kiss her hand, but had
not the face to offer anything more. So at last I left her there and
went to my company. About 8 o’clock I went into the church
at Scheveling, which was pretty handsome, and in the chancel a
very great upper part of the mouth of a whale, which indeed was
of a prodigious bigness, bigger than one of our long boats that
belong to one of our ships. Commissioner Pett at last came to
our lodging, and caused the boats to go off; so some in one boat
and some in another we all bid adieu to the shore. But through
badness of weather we were in great danger, and a great while
before we could get to the ship, so that of all the company not
one but myself that was not sick. I keeping myself in the open air,
89 Month’s-mind. An earnest desire or longing, explained as alluding to
“a woman’s longing.” See Shakespeare, “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” act i.
sc. 2: “I see you have a month’s mind to them.”–M. B.
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though I was soundly wet for it. This hath not been known four
days together such weather at this time of year, a great while. In-
deed our fleet was thought to be in great danger, but we found all
well, and Mr. Thos. Crew came on board. I having spoke a word
or two with my Lord, being not very well settled, partly through
last night’s drinking and want of sleep, I lay down in my gown
upon my bed and slept till the 4 o’clock gun the next morning
waked me, which I took for 8 at night, and rising ... mistook the
sun rising for the sun setting on Sunday night.
21st. So into my naked bed90 and slept till 9 o’clock, and then
John Goods waked me, [by] and by the captain’s boy brought me
four barrels of Mallows oysters, which Captain Tatnell had sent
me from Murlace.–[Apparently Mallows stands for St. Malo and
Murlace for Morlaise.]–The weather foul all this day also. After
dinner, about writing one thing or other all day, and setting my
papers in order, having been so long absent. At night Mr. Pierce,
Purser (the other Pierce and I having not spoken to one another
since we fell out about Mr. Edward), and Mr. Cook sat with
me in my cabin and supped with me, and then I went to bed.
By letters that came hither in my absence, I understand that the
Parliament had ordered all persons to be secured, in order to a
trial, that did sit as judges in the late King’s death, and all the
officers too attending the Court. Sir John Lenthall moving in the
House, that all that had borne arms against the King should be
exempted from pardon, he was called to the bar of the House,
and after a severe reproof he was degraded his knighthood. At
Court I find that all things grow high. The old clergy talk as
being sure of their lands again, and laugh at the Presbytery; and
90 This is a somewhat late use of an expression which was once universal.
It was formerly the custom for both sexes to sleep in bed without any night-
linen. “Who sees his true love in her naked bed, Teaching the sheets a whiter
hue than white.” Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis. Nares (“Glossary”) notes
the expression so late as in the very odd novel by T. Amory, called “John
Bunde,” where a young lady declares, after an alarm, “that she would never
go into naked bed on board ship again.” Octavo edition, vol. i. p. 90.
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it is believed that the sales of the King’s and Bishops’ lands will
never be confirmed by Parliament, there being nothing now in
any man’s, power to hinder them and the King from doing what
they have a mind, but every body willing to submit to any thing.
We expect every day to have the King and Duke on board as soon
as it is fair. My Lord do nothing now, but offers all things to the
pleasure of the Duke as Lord High Admiral. So that I am at a loss
what to do.
22nd. Up very early, and now beginning to be settled in my
wits again, I went about setting down my last four days’ observa-
tions this morning. After that, was trimmed by a barber that has
not trimmed me yet, my Spaniard being on shore. News brought
that the two Dukes are coming on board, which, by and by, they
did, in a Dutch boats the Duke of York in yellow trimmings, the
Duke of Gloucester91 in grey and red. My Lord went in a boat to
meet them, the Captain, myself, and others, standing at the enter-
ing port. So soon as they were entered we shot the guns off round
the fleet. After that they went to view the ship all over, and were
most exceedingly pleased with it. They seem to be both very fine
gentlemen. After that done, upon the quarter-deck table, under
the awning, the Duke of York and my Lord, Mr. Coventry,92 and
I, spent an hour at allotting to every ship their service, in their re-
91 Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the youngest child of Charles L, born July
6th, 16–, who, with his sister Elizabeth, was allowed a meeting with his fa-
ther on the night before the King’s execution. Burnet says: “He was ac-
tive, and loved business; was apt to have particular friendships, and had an
insinuating temper which was generally very acceptable. The King loved
him much better than the Duke of York.” He died of smallpox at Whitehall,
September 13th, 1660, and was buried in Henry VII’s Chapel.
92 William Coventry, to whom Pepys became so warmly attached after-
wards, was the fourth son of Thomas, first Lord Coventry, the Lord Keeper.
He was born in 1628, and entered at Queen’s College, Oxford, in 1642; after
the Restoration he became private secretary to the Duke of York, his commis-
sion as Secretary to the Lord High Admiral not being conferred until 1664;
elected M.P. for Great Yarmouth in 1661. In 1662 he was appointed an extra
Commissioner of the Navy, an office he held until 1667; in 1665, knighted
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MAY 1660
turn to England; which having done, they went to dinner, where
the table was very full: the two Dukes at the upper end, my Lord
Opdam next on one side, and my Lord on the other. Two guns
given to every man while he was drinking the King’s health, and
so likewise to the Duke’s health. I took down Monsieur d’Esquier
to the great cabin below, and dined with him in state alone with
only one or two friends of his. All dinner the harper belonging
to Captain Sparling played to the Dukes. After dinner, the Dukes
and my Lord to see the Vice and Rear-Admirals; and I in a boat
after them. After that done, they made to the shore in the Dutch
boat that brought them, and I got into the boat with them; but
the shore was so full of people to expect their coming, as that it
was as black (which otherwise is white sand), as every one could
stand by another. When we came near the shore, my Lord left
them and came into his own boat, and General Pen and I with
him; my Lord being very well pleased with this day’s work. By
the time we came on board again, news is sent us that the King
is on shore; so my Lord fired all his guns round twice, and all the
fleet after him, which in the end fell into disorder, which seemed
very handsome. The gun over against my cabin I fired myself to
the King, which was the first time that he had been saluted by
his own ships since this change; but holding my head too much
over the gun, I had almost spoiled my right eye. Nothing in the
world but going of guns almost all this day. In the evening we
began to remove cabins; I to the carpenter’s cabin, and Dr. Clerke
with me, who came on board this afternoon, having been twice
ducked in the sea to-day coming from shore, and Mr. North and
and sworn a Privy Councillor, and, in 1667, constituted a Commissioner of
the Treasury; but, having been forbid the court on account of his challenging
the Duke of Buckingham, he retired into the country, nor could he subse-
quently be prevailed upon to accept of any official employment. Burnet calls
Sir William Coventry the best speaker in the House of Commons, and “a man
of the finest and best temper that belonged to the court,” and Pepys never
omits an opportunity of paying a tribute to his public and private worth. He
died, 1686, of gout in the stomach.
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MAY 1660
John Pickering the like. Many of the King’s servants came on
board to-night; and so many Dutch of all sorts came to see the
ship till it was quite dark, that we could not pass by one another,
which was a great trouble to us all. This afternoon Mr. Downing
(who was knighted yesterday by the King’) was here on board,
and had a ship for his passage into England, with his lady and
servants.93 By the same token he called me to him when I was
going to write the order, to tell me that I must write him Sir G.
Downing. My Lord lay in the roundhouse to-night. This evening
I was late writing a French letter myself by my Lord’s order to
Monsieur Kragh, Embassador de Denmarke a la Haye, which my
Lord signed in bed. After that I to bed, and the Doctor, and sleep
93 “About midnight arrived there Mr. Downing, who did the affairs
of England to the Lords the Estates, in quality of Resident under Oliver
Cromwell, and afterward under the pretended Parliament, which having
changed the form of the government, after having cast forth the last Protec-
tor, had continued him in his imploiment, under the quality of Extraordi-
nary Envoy. He began to have respect for the King’s person, when he knew
that all England declared for a free parliament, and departed from Holland
without order, as soon as he understood that there was nothing that could
longer oppose the re- establishment of monarchal government, with a design
to crave letters of recommendation to General Monk. This lord considered
him, as well because of the birth of his wife, which is illustrious, as because
Downing had expressed some respect for him in a time when that eminent
person could not yet discover his intentions. He had his letters when he ar-
rived at midnight at the house of the Spanish Embassador, as we have said.
He presented them forthwith to the King, who arose from table a while after,
read the letters, receiv’d the submissions of Downing, and granted him the
pardon and grace which he asked for him to whom he could deny nothing.
Some daies after the King knighted him, and would it should be believed,
that the strong aversions which this minister of the Protector had made ap-
pear against him on all occasions, and with all sorts of persons indifferently,
even a few daies before the publick and general declaration of all England,
proceeded not from any evil intention, but only from a deep dissimulation,
wherewith he was constrained to cover his true sentiments, for fear to preju-
dice the affairs of his Majesty.”–Sir William Lowers Relation... of the Voiage
and Residence which... Charles the II. hath made in Holland, Hague, 1660,
folio, pp. 72-73.
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MAY 1660
well.
23rd. The Doctor and I waked very merry, only my eye was
very red and ill in the morning from yesterday’s hurt. In the
morning came infinity of people on board from the King to go
along with him. My Lord, Mr. Crew, and others, go on shore to
meet the King as he comes off from shore, where Sir R. Stayner
bringing His Majesty into the boat, I hear that His Majesty did
with a great deal of affection kiss my Lord upon his first meeting.
The King, with the two Dukes and Queen of Bohemia, Princess
Royal, and Prince of Orange, came on board, where I in their
coming in kissed the King’s, Queen’s, and Princess’s hands, hav-
ing done the other before. Infinite shooting off of the guns, and
that in a disorder on purpose, which was better than if it had
been otherwise. All day nothing but Lords and persons of hon-
our on board, that we were exceeding full. Dined in a great deal
of state, the Royall company by themselves in the coach, which
was a blessed sight to see. I dined with Dr. Clerke, Dr. Quarter-
man, and Mr. Darcy in my cabin. This morning Mr. Lucy came
on board, to whom and his company of the King’s Guard in an-
other ship my Lord did give three dozen of bottles of wine. He
made friends between Mr. Pierce and me. After dinner the King
and Duke altered the name of some of the ships, viz. the Nazeby
into Charles; the Richard, James; the Speakers Mary; the Dunbar
(which was not in company with us), the Henry; Winsly, Happy
Return; Wakefield, Richmond; Lambert; the Henrietta; Cheriton,
the Speedwell; Bradford, the Success. That done, the Queen,
Princess Royal, and Prince of Orange, took leave of the King, and
the Duke of York went on board the London, and the Duke of
Gloucester, the Swiftsure. Which done, we weighed anchor, and
with a fresh gale and most happy weather we set sail for Eng-
land. All the afternoon the King walked here and there, up and
down (quite contrary to what I thought him to have been), very
active and stirring. Upon the quarterdeck he fell into discourse
of his escape from Worcester,@@For the King’s own account of
his escape dictated to Pepys, see “Boscobel” (Bohn’s “Standard
186
MAY 1660
Library”).94 This was at Brighton. The inn was the “George,” and
the innkeeper was named Smith. Charles related this circum-
stance again to Pepys in October, 1680. He then said, “And here
also I ran into another very great danger, as being confident I
was known by the master of the inn; for, as I was standing after
supper by the fireside, leaning my hand upon a chair, and all the
rest of the company being gone into another room, the master of
the inn came in and fell a- talking with me, and just as he was
looking about, and saw there was nobody in the room, he upon
a sudden kissed my hand that was upon the back of the chair,
and said to me, ‘God bless you wheresoever you go! I do not
doubt before I die, but to be a lord, and my wife a lady.’ So I
laughed, and went away into the next room.”95 On Saturday, Oc-
tober 11th, 1651, Colonel Gunter made an agreement at Chich-
ester with Nicholas Tettersell, through Francis Mansell (a French
merchant), to have Tettersell’s vessel ready at an hour’s warning.
Charles II., in his narrative dictated to Pepys in 1680, said, “We
94 where it made me ready to weep to hear the stories that he told of his
difficulties that he had passed through, as his travelling four days and three
nights on foot, every step up to his knees in dirt, with nothing but a green
coat and a pair of country breeches on, and a pair of country shoes that made
him so sore all over his feet, that he could scarce stir. Yet he was forced to
run away from a miller and other company, that took them for rogues. His
sitting at table at one place, where the master of the house, that had not seen
him in eight years, did know him, but kept it private; when at the same table
there was one that had been of his own regiment at Worcester, could not
know him, but made him drink the King’s health, and said that the King
was at least four fingers higher than he. At another place he was by some
servants of the house made to drink, that they might know him not to be a
Roundhead, which they swore he was. In another place at his inn, the master
of the house,
95 As the King was standing with his hands upon the back of a chair by the
fire-side, kneeled down and kissed his hand, privately, saying, that he would
not ask him who he was, but bid God bless him whither he was going. Then
the difficulty of getting a boat to get into France, where he was fain to plot
with the master thereof to keep his design from the four men and a boy
(which was all his ship’s company), and so got to Fecamp in France.
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MAY 1660
went to a place, four miles off Shoreham, called Brighthelmstone,
where we were to meet with the master of the ship, as thinking
it more convenient to meet there than just at Shoreham, where
the ship was. So when we came to the inn at Brighthelmstone
we met with one, the merchant Francis Mansell] who had hired
the vessel, in company with her master [Tettersell], the merchant
only knowing me, as having hired her only to carry over a person
of quality that was escaped from the battle of Worcester without
naming anybody.” The boat was supposed to be bound for Poole,
but Charles says in his narrative: “As we were sailing the master
came to me, and desired me that I would persuade his men to use
their best endeavours with him to get him to set us on shore in
France, the better to cover him from any suspicion thereof, upon
which I went to the men, which were four and a boy.” After the
Restoration Mansell was granted a pension of £200 a year, and
Tettersell one of £100 a year. (See “Captain Nicholas Tettersell
and the Escape of Charles II.,” by F. E. Sawyer, F.S.A., “Sussex
Archaeological Collections,” vol. xxxii. pp. 81-104).)
At Rouen he looked so poorly, that the people went into the
rooms before he went away to see whether he had not stole some-
thing or other. In the evening I went up to my Lord to write let-
ters for England, which we sent away with word of our coming,
by Mr. Edw. Pickering. The King supped alone in the coach; af-
ter that I got a dish, and we four supped in my cabin, as at noon.
About bed-time my Lord Bartlett96 (who I had offered my service
to before) sent for me to get him a bed, who with much ado I did
get to bed to my Lord Middlesex in the great cabin below, but I
was cruelly troubled before I could dispose of him, and quit my-
self of him. So to my cabin again, where the company still was,
and were talking more of the King’s difficulties; as how he was
fain to eat a piece of bread and cheese out of a poor boy’s pocket;
96 A mistake for Lord Berkeley of Berkeley, who had been deputed, with
Lord Middlesex and four other Peers, by the House of Lords to present an
address of congratulation to the King.–B.
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MAY 1660
how, at a Catholique house, he was fain to lie in the priest’s hole
a good while in the house for his privacy. After that our com-
pany broke up, and the Doctor and I to bed. We have all the
Lords Commissioners on board us, and many others. Under sail
all night, and most glorious weather.
24th. Up, and made myself as fine as I could, with the Tin-
ning stockings on and wide canons–[“Cannions, boot hose tops;
an old-fashioned ornament for the legs.” That is to say, a partic-
ular addition to breeches.]–that I bought the other day at Hague.
Extraordinary press of noble company, and great mirth all the
day. There dined with me in my cabin (that is, the carpenter’s)
Dr. Earle97 and Mr. Hollis,98 the King’s Chaplins, Dr. Scarbor-
ough,99 Dr. Quarterman, and Dr. Clerke, Physicians, Mr. Darcy,
97 John Earle, born about 1601; appointed in 1643 one of the Westminster
Assembly of Divines, but his principles did not allow him to act. He ac-
companied Charles II. when he was obliged to fly from England. Dean of
Westminster at the Restoration, Bishop of Worcester, November 30th, 1662,
and translated to Salisbury, September 28th, 1663. He was tender to the Non-
conformists, and Baxter wrote of him, “O that they were all such!” Author
of “Microcosmography.” Died November 17th, 1665, and was buried in the
chapel of Merton College, of which he had been a Fellow. Charles II. had the
highest esteem for him.
98 Denzil Holles, second son of John, first Earl of Clare, born at Houghton,
Notts, in 1597. He was one of the five members charged with high treason
by Charles I. in 1641. He was a Presbyterian, and one of the Commissioners
sent by Parliament to wait on Charles II. at the Hague. Sir William Lower,
in his “Relation,” 1660, writes: “All agreed that never person spake with
more affection nor expressed himself in better terms than Mr. Denzil Hollis,
who was orator for the Deputies of the Lower House, to whom those of
London were joined.” He was created Baron Holles on April 20th, 1661, on
the occasion of the coronation of Charles II.
99 Charles Scarburgh, M.D., an eminent physician who suffered for the
royal cause during the Civil Wars. He was born in London, and educated
at St. Paul’s School and Caius College, Cambridge. He was ejected from his
fellowship at Caius, and withdrew to Oxford. He entered himself at Merton
College, then presided over by Harvey, with whom he formed a lifelong
friendship. He was knighted by Charles II. in 1669, and attended the King
189
MAY 1660
and Mr. Fox100 (both very fine gentlemen), the King’s servants,
where we had brave discourse. Walking upon the decks, where
persons of honour all the afternoon, among others, Thomas Kil-
ligrew (a merry droll, but a gentleman of great esteem with the
King), who told us many merry stories: one, how he wrote a let-
ter three or four days ago to the Princess Royal, about a Queen
Dowager of Judaea and Palestine, that was at the Hague incog-
nita, that made love to the King, &c., which was Mr. Cary (a
courtier’s) wife that had been a nun, who are all married to Je-
sus. At supper the three Drs. of Physic again at my cabin; where
I put Dr. Scarborough in mind of what I heard him say about the
use of the eyes, which he owned, that children do, in every day’s
experience, look several ways with both their eyes, till custom
teaches them otherwise. And that we do now see but with one
eye, our eyes looking in parallel lines. After this discourse I was
called to write a pass for my Lord Mandeville to take up horses
to London, which I wrote in the King’s name,–[This right of pur-
veyance was abolished in Charles’s reign.]–and carried it to him
to sign, which was the first and only one that ever he signed in
the ship Charles. To bed, coming in sight of land a little before
night.
25th. By the morning we were come close to the land, and
every body made ready to get on shore. The King and the two
Dukes did eat their breakfast before they went, and there being
set some ship’s diet before them, only to show them the manner
of the ship’s diet, they eat of nothing else but pease and pork,
in his last illness. He was also physician to James II. and to William III., and
died February 26th, 1693-4.
100 Stephen Fox, born 1627, and said to have been a choir-boy in Salisbury
Cathedral. He was the first person to announce the death of Cromwell to
Charles II., and at the Restoration he was made Clerk of the Green Cloth, and
afterwards Paymaster of the Forces. He was knighted in 1665. He married
Elizabeth, daughter of William Whittle of Lancashire. (See June 25th, 1660.)
Fox died in 1716. His sons Stephen and Henry were created respectively Earl
of Ilchester and Lord Holland.
190
MAY 1660
and boiled beef. I had Mr. Darcy in my cabin and Dr. Clerke,
who eat with me, told me how the King had given £50 to Mr.
Sheply for my Lord’s servants, and £500 among the officers and
common men of the ship. I spoke with the Duke of York about
business, who called me Pepys by name, and upon my desire did
promise me his future favour. Great expectation of the King’s
making some Knights, but there was none. About noon (though
the brigantine that Beale made was there ready to carry him) yet
he would go in my Lord’s barge with the two Dukes. Our Cap-
tain steered, and my Lord went along bare with him. I went,
and Mr. Mansell, and one of the King’s footmen, with a dog
that the King loved,101 (which [dirted] the boat, which made us
laugh, and me think that a King and all that belong to him are
but just as others are), in a boat by ourselves, and so got on shore
when the King did, who was received by General Monk with
all imaginable love and respect at his entrance upon the land of
Dover. Infinite the crowd of people and the horsemen, citizens,
and noblemen of all sorts. The Mayor of the town came and gave
him his white staff, the badge of his place, which the King did
give him again. The Mayor also presented him from the town a
very rich Bible, which he took and said it was the thing that he
loved above all things in the world. A canopy was provided for
him to stand under, which he did, and talked awhile with Gen-
101 Charles II.‘s love of dogs is well known, but it is not so well known that
his dogs were continually being stolen from him. In the “Mercurius Publi-
cus,” June 28-July 5, 1660, is the following advertisement, apparently drawn
up by the King himself: “We must call upon you again for a Black Dog be-
tween a greyhound and a spaniel, no white about him, onely a streak on his
brest, and his tayl a little bobbed. It is His Majesties own Dog, and doubtless
was stoln, for the dog was not born nor bred in England, and would never
forsake His master. Whoesoever findes him may acquaint any at Whitehal
for the Dog was better known at Court, than those who stole him. Will they
never leave robbing his Majesty! Must he not keep a Dog? This dog’s place
(though better than some imagine) is the only place which nobody offers to
beg.” (Quoted in “Notes and Queries,” 7th S., vii. 26, where are printed two
other advertisements of Charles’s lost dogs.)
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MAY 1660
eral Monk and others, and so into a stately coach there set for
him, and so away through the town towards Canterbury, with-
out making any stay at Dover. The shouting and joy expressed
by all is past imagination. Seeing that my Lord did not stir out
of his barge, I got into a boat, and so into his barge, whither Mr.
John Crew stepped, and spoke a word or two to my Lord, and so
returned, we back to the ship, and going did see a man almost
drowned that fell out of his boat into the sea, but with much
ado was got out. My Lord almost transported with joy that he
had done all this without any the least blur or obstruction in the
world, that could give an offence to any, and with the great hon-
our he thought it would be to him. Being overtook by the brigan-
tine, my Lord and we went out of our barge into it, and so went
on board with Sir W. Batten,102 and the Vice and Rear-Admirals.
At night my Lord supped and Mr. Thomas Crew with Captain
Stoakes, I supped with the Captain, who told me what the King
had given us. My Lord returned late, and at his coming did give
me order to cause the marke to be gilded, and a Crown and C.
R. to be made at the head of the coach table, where the King to-
102 Clarendon describes William Batten as an obscure fellow, and, although
unknown to the service, a good seaman, who was in 1642 made Surveyor to
the Navy; in which employ he evinced great animosity against the King.
The following year, while Vice-Admiral to the Earl of Warwick, he chased
a Dutch man-of-war into Burlington Bay, knowing that Queen Henrietta
Maria was on board; and then, learning that she had landed and was lodged
on the quay, he fired above a hundred shot upon the house, some of which
passing through her majesty’s chamber, she was obliged, though indisposed,
to retire for safety into the open fields. This act, brutal as it was, found favour
with the Parliament. But Batten became afterwards discontented; and, when
a portion of the fleet revolted, he carried the “Constant Warwick,” one of the
best ships in the Parliament navy, over into Holland, with several seamen
of note. For this act of treachery he was knighted and made a Rear-Admiral
by Prince Charles. We hear no more of Batten till the Restoration, when he
became a Commissioner of the Navy, and was soon after M.P. for Rochester.
See an account of his second wife, in note to November 24th, 1660, and of his
illness and death, October 5th, 1667. He had a son, Benjamin, and a daughter,
Martha, by his first wife.–B.
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MAY 1660
day with his own hand did mark his height, which accordingly I
caused the painter to do, and is now done as is to be seen.
26th. Thanks to God I got to bed in my own poor cabin, and
slept well till 9 o’clock this morning. Mr. North and Dr. Clerke
and all the great company being gone, I found myself very un-
couth all this day for want thereof. My Lord dined with the Vice-
Admiral to-day (who is as officious, poor man! as any spaniel
can be; but I believe all to no purpose, for I believe he will not
hold his place), so I dined commander at the coach table to-day,
and all the officers of the ship with me, and Mr. White of Dover.
After a game or two at nine-pins, to work all the afternoon, mak-
ing above twenty orders. In the evening my Lord having been
a-shore, the first time that he hath been a-shore since he came
out of the Hope (having resolved not to go till he had brought
his Majesty into England), returned on board with a great deal of
pleasure. I supped with the Captain in his cabin with young Cap-
tain Cuttance, and afterwards a messenger from the King came
with a letter, and to go into France, and by that means we supped
again with him at 12 o’clock at night. This night the Captain told
me that my Lord had appointed me £30 out of the 1000 ducats
which the King had given to the ship, at which my heart was
very much joyed. To bed.
27th (Lord’s day). Called up by John Goods to see the Garter
and Heralds coat, which lay in the coach, brought by Sir Edward
Walker,103 King at Arms, this morning, for my Lord. My Lord
hath summoned all the Commanders on board him, to see the
103 Edward Walker was knighted February 2nd, 1644-5, and on the 24th
of the same month was sworn in as Garter King at Arms. He adhered to
the cause of the king, and published “Iter Carolinum”, being a succinct ac-
count of the necessitated marches, retreats, and sufferings of his Majesty
King Charles I., from Jan. 10, 1641, to the time of his death in 1648, collected
by a daily attendant upon his sacred Majesty during all that time: He joined
Charles II. in exile, and received the reward of his loyalty at the Restoration.
He died at Whitehall, February 19th, 1676-7, and was buried at Stratford-on-
Avon, his daughter having married Sir John Clepton of that place.
193
MAY 1660
ceremony, which was thus: Sir Edward putting on his coat, and
having laid the George and Garter, and the King’s letter to my
Lord, upon a crimson cushion (in the coach, all the Commanders
standing by), makes three congees to him, holding the cushion
in his arms. Then laying it down with the things upon it upon
a chair, he takes the letter, and delivers it to my Lord, which my
Lord breaks open and gives him to read. It was directed to our
trusty and well beloved Sir Edward Montagu, Knight, one of our
Generals at sea, and our Companion elect of our Noble Order of
the Garter. The contents of the letter is to show that the Kings of
England have for many years made use of this honour, as a spe-
cial mark of favour, to persons of good extraction and virtue (and
that many Emperors, Kings and Princes of other countries have
borne this honour), and that whereas my Lord is of a noble fam-
ily, and hath now done the King such service by sea, at this time,
as he hath done; he do send him this George and Garter to wear
as Knight of the Order, with a dispensation for the other cere-
monies of the habit of the Order, and other things, till hereafter,
when it can be done. So the herald putting the ribbon about his
neck, and the Garter about his left leg, he salutes him with joy
as Knight of the Garter, and that was all. After that was done,
and the Captain and I had breakfasted with Sir Edward while
my Lord was writing of a letter, he took his leave of my Lord,
and so to shore again to the King at Canterbury, where he yester-
day gave the like honour to General Monk,104 who are the only
two for many years that have had the Garter given them, before
they had other honours of Earldom, or the like, excepting only
the Duke of Buckingham, who was only Sir George Villiers when
he was made Knight of the Garter. A while after Mr. Thos. Crew
and Mr. J. Pickering (who had staid long enough to make all the
world see him to be a fool), took ship for London. So there now
104 “His Majesty put the George on his Excellency, and the two Dukes put
on the Garter. The Princes thus honoured the Lord-General for the restora-
tion of that lawful family.”–Rugge’s Diurnal.
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MAY 1660
remain no strangers with my Lord but Mr. Hetley, who had been
with us a day before the King went from us. My Lord and the
ship’s company down to sermon. I staid above to write and look
over my new song book, which came last night to me from Lon-
don in lieu of that that my Lord had of me. The officers being
all on board, there was not room for me at table, so I dined in
my cabin, where, among other things, Mr. Drum brought me a
lobster and a bottle of oil, instead of a bottle of vinegar, whereby
I spoiled my dinner. Many orders in the ordering of ships this
afternoon. Late to a sermon. After that up to the Lieutenant’s
cabin, where Mr. Sheply, I, and the Minister supped, and after
that I went down to W. Howe’s cabin, and there, with a great
deal of pleasure, singing till it was late. After that to bed.
28th. Called up at two in the morning for letters for my Lord
from the Duke of York, but I went to bed again till 5. Trimmed
early this morning. This morning the Captain did call over all
the men in the ship (not the boys), and give every one of them a
ducat of the King’s money that he gave the ship, and the officers
according to their quality. I received in the Captain’s cabin, for
my share, sixty ducats. The rest of the morning busy writing
letters. So was my Lord that he would not come to dinner. After
dinner to write again in order to sending to London, but my Lord
did not finish his, so we did not send to London to-day. A great
part of the afternoon at nine-pins with my Lord and Mr. Hetley.
I lost about 4s. Supped with my Lord, and after that to bed. At
night I had a strange dream of–myself, which I really did, and
having kicked my clothes off, I got cold; and found myself all
much wet in the morning, and had a great deal of pain... which
made me very melancholy.
29th. The King’s birthday. Busy all the morning writing letters
to London, among the rest one to Mr. Chetwind to give me an
account of the fees due to the Herald for the Order of the Garter,
which my Lord desires to know. After dinner got all ready and
sent away Mr. Cook to London with a letter and token to my
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MAY 1660
wife. After that abroad to shore with my Lord (which he offered
me of himself, saying that I had a great deal of work to do this
month, which was very true). On shore we took horses, my Lord
and Mr. Edward, Mr. Hetly and I, and three or four servants, and
had a great deal of pleasure in riding. Among other things my
Lord showed me a house that cost a great deal of money, and is
built in so barren and inconvenient a place that my Lord calls it
the fool’s house. At last we came upon a very high cliff by the
sea-side, and rode under it, we having laid great wagers, I and
Dr. Mathews, that it was not so high as Paul’s; my Lord and Mr.
Hetly, that it was. But we riding under it, my Lord made a pretty
good measure of it with two sticks, and found it to be not above
thirty-five yards high, and Paul’s is reckoned to be about ninety.
From thence toward the barge again, and in our way found the
people at Deal going to make a bonfire for joy of the day, it being
the King’s birthday, and had some guns which they did fire at my
Lord’s coming by. For which I did give twenty shillings among
them to drink. While we were on the top of the cliffe, we saw and
heard our guns in the fleet go off for the same joy. And it being a
pretty fair day we could see above twenty miles into France. Be-
ing returned on board, my Lord called for Mr. Sheply’s book of
Paul’s, by which we were confirmed in our wager. After that to
supper and then to musique, and so to bed. The pain that I have
got last night by cold is not yet gone, but troubles me at the time
of.... This day, it is thought, the King do enter the city of Lon-
don.105 30th. About eight o’clock in the morning the lieutenant
came to me to know whether I would eat a dish of mackerel,
newly catched, for my breakfast, which the Captain and we did
in the coach. All yesterday and to-day I had a great deal of pain...
105 “Divers maidens, in behalf of themselves and others, presented a pe-
tition to the Lord Mayor of London, wherein they pray his Lordship to
grant them leave and liberty to meet His Majesty on the day of his passing
through the city; and if their petition be granted, that they will all be clad
in white waistcoats and crimson petticoats, and other ornaments of triumph
and rejoicing.”-Rugge’s Diurnal, May, 1660.–B.
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MAY 1660
and in my back, which made me afeard. But it proved nothing
but cold, which I took yesterday night. All this morning mak-
ing up my accounts, in which I counted that I had made myself
now worth about £80, at which my heart was glad, and blessed
God. Many Dover men come and dine with my Lord. My Lord
at ninepins in the afternoon. In the afternoon Mr. Sheply told
me how my Lord had put me down for 70 guilders among the
money which was given to my Lord’s servants, which my heart
did much rejoice at. My Lord supped alone in his chamber. Sir
R. Stayner supped with us, and among other things told us how
some of his men did grumble that no more of the Duke’s money
come to their share and so would not receive any; whereupon
he called up those that had taken it, and gives them three shares
apiece more, which was very good, and made good sport among
the seamen. To bed.
31st. This day my Lord took physic, and came not out of his
chamber.
All the morning making orders. After dinner a great while be-
low in the great cabin trying with W. Howe some of Mr. Laws’
songs,’ particularly that of “What is a kiss,” with which we had a
great deal of pleasure. After that to making of orders again. Cap-
tain Sparling of the Assistance brought me a pair of silk stockings
of a light blue, which I was much pleased with. The Captain and
I to supper, and after that a most pleasant walk till to at night
with him upon the deck, it being a fine evening. My pain was
gone again that I had yesterday, blessed be God. This day the
month ends, I in very good health, and all the world in a merry
mood because of the King’s coming. This day I began to teach
Mr. Edward; who I find to have a very good foundation laid
for his Latin by Mr. Fuller. I expect every minute to hear how
my poor wife do. I find myself in all things well as to body and
mind, but troubled for the absence of my wife.
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JUNE 1660
June 1st. This morning Mr. Sheply disposed of the money that
the Duke of York did give my Lord’s servants, 22 ducatoons 3
came to my share, whereof he told me to give Jaspar something
because my Lord left him out.106 I did give Mr. Sheply the fine
pair of buckskin gloves that I bought myself about five years ago.
My Lord took physic to-day, and so come not out all day. The
Captain on shore all day. After dinner Captain Jefferys and W.
Howe, and the Lieutenant and I to ninepins, where I lost about
two shillings and so fooled away all the afternoon. At night Mr.
Cooke comes from London with letters, leaving all things there
very gallant and joyful. And brought us word that the Parliament
had ordered the 29th of May, the King’s birthday, to be for ever
kept as a day of thanksgiving for our redemption from tyranny,
and the King’s return to his Government, he entering London
that day. My wife was in London when he came thither, and had
been there a week with Mr. Bowyer and his wife. My poor wife
has not been well a week before, but thanks be to God is well
again. She would fain see me and be at her house again, but we
must be content. She writes word how the Joyces grow very rich
106 Foreign coins were in frequent use at this time. A Proclamation, January
29th, 1660-61, declared certain foreign gold and silver coins to be current at
certain rates. The rate of the ducatoon was at 5s. 9d.
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JUNE 1660
and very proud, but it is no matter, and that there was a talk that
I should
be knighted by the King, which they (the Joyces) laugh at; but
I think myself happier in my wife and estate than they are in
theirs. To bed. The Captain come on board, when I was going to
bed, quite fuddled; and himself the next morning told me so too,
that the Vice-Admiral, Rear-Admiral, and he had been drinking
all day.
2d. Being with my Lord in the morning about business in his
cabin, I took occasion to give him thanks for his love to me in
the share that he had given me of his Majesty’s money, and the
Duke’s. He told the he hoped to do me a more lasting kindness,
if all things stand as they are now between him and the King,
but, says he, “We must have a little patience and we will rise to-
gether; in the mean time I will do you all the good jobs I can.”
Which was great content for me to hear from my Lord. All the
morning with the Captain, computing how much the thirty ships
that come with the King from Scheveling their pay comes to for
a month (because the King promised to give them all a month’s
pay), and it comes to £6,538, and the Charles particularly £777. I
wish we had the money. All the afternoon with two or three cap-
tains in the Captain’s cabin, drinking of white wine and sugar,
and eating pickled oysters, where Captain Sparling told us the
best story that ever I heard, about a gentleman that persuaded a
country fool to let him gut his oysters or else they would stink.
At night writing letters to London and Weymouth, for my Lord
being now to sit in the House of Peers he endeavours to get Mr.
Edward Montagu for Weymouth and Mr. George for Dover. Mr.
Cooke late with me in my cabin while I wrote to my wife, and
drank a bottle of wine and so took leave of me on his journey
and I to bed.
3d. Waked in the morning by one who when I asked who it
was, he told me one from Bridewell, which proved Captain Hol-
land. I rose presently to him. He is come to get an order for the
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setting out of his ship, and to renew his commission. He tells me
how every man goes to the Lord Mayor to set down their names,
as such as do accept of his Majesty’s pardon, and showed me a
certificate under the Lord Mayor’s hand that he had done so.
At sermon in the morning; after dinner into my cabin, to cast
my accounts up, and find myself to be worth near £100, for which
I bless Almighty God, it being more than I hoped for so soon, be-
ing I believe not clearly worth £25 when I came to sea besides my
house and goods. Then to set my papers in order, they being in-
creased much upon my hands through want of time to put them
in order. The ship’s company all this while at sermon. After ser-
mon my Lord did give me instruction to write to London about
business, which done, after supper to bed.
4th. Waked in the morning at four o’clock to give some money
to Mr. Hetly, who was to go to London with the letters that I
wrote yesterday night. After he was gone I went and lay down
in my gown upon my bed again an hour or two. At last waked
by a messenger come for a Post Warrant for Mr. Hetly and Mr.
Creed, who stood to give so little for their horses that the men
would not let them have any without a warrant, which I sent
them. All the morning getting Captain Holland’s commission
done, which I did, and he at noon went away. I took my leave of
him upon the quarter-deck with a bottle of sack, my Lord being
just set down to dinner. Then he being gone I went to dinner and
after dinner to my cabin to write. This afternoon I showed my
Lord my accounts, which he passed, and so I think myself to be
worth near £100 now. In the evening I made an order for Captain
Sparling of the Assistance to go to Middleburgh, to fetch over
some of the King’s goods. I took the opportunity to send all my
Dutch money, 70 ducatoons and 29 gold ducats to be changed, if
he can, for English money, which is the first venture that ever I
made, and so I have been since a little afeard of it. After supper
some music and so to bed. This morning the King’s Proclama-
tion against drinking, swearing, and debauchery, was read to our
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ships’ companies in the fleet, and indeed it gives great satisfac-
tion to all.107 5th. A-bed late. In the morning my Lord went on
shore with the Vice-Admiral a-fishing, and at dinner returned.
In the afternoon I played at ninepins with my Lord, and when
he went in again I got him to sign my accounts for £115, and so
upon my private balance I find myself confirmed in my estima-
tion that I am worth £100. In the evening in my cabin a great
while getting the song without book, “Help, help Divinity, &c.”
After supper my Lord called for the lieutenant’s cittern, and with
two candlesticks with money in them for symballs, we made bar-
ber’s music,108 with which my Lord was well pleased. So to bed.
6th. In the morning I had letters come, that told me among
other things, that my Lord’s place of Clerk of the Signet was
fallen to him, which he did most lovingly tell me that I should
execute, in case he could not get a better employment for me at
the end of the year. Because he thought that the Duke of York
would command all, but he hoped that the Duke would not re-
move me but to my advantage.
I had a great deal of talk about my uncle Robert,109 and he told
me that he could not tell how his mind stood as to his estate, but
he would do all that lay in his power for me. After dinner came
Mr. Gooke from London, who told me that my wife he left well
at Huntsmore, though her health not altogether so constant as it
used to be, which my heart is troubled for. Mr. Moore’s letters
107 The King’s “Proclamation against vicious, debauched, and prophane
Persons” is dated May 30th. It is printed in “Somers’s Tracts,” ed. 1812, vol.
vii. p. 423.
108 In the “Notices of Popular Histories,” printed for the Percy Society,
there is a curious woodcut representing the interior of a barber’s shop, in
which, according to the old custom, the person waiting to be shaved is play-
ing on the “ghittern” till his turn arrives. Decker also mentions a “barber’s
cittern,” for every serving-man to play upon. This is no doubt “the barber’s
music” with which Lord Sandwich entertained himself.–B.
109 Robert Pepys of Brampton, eldest son of Thomas Pepys the red, and
brother of Samuel’s father.
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JUNE 1660
tell me that he thinks my Lord will be suddenly sent for up to
London, and so I got myself in readiness to go.
My letters tell me, that Mr. Calamy110 had preached before the
King in a surplice (this I heard afterwards to be false); that my
Lord, Gen. Monk, and three more Lords, are made Commission-
ers for the Treasury;111 that my Lord had some great place con-
ferred on him, and they say Master of the Wardrobe;112 that the
two Dukes–[Duke of York and Duke of Gloucester.]–do haunt
the Park much, and that they were at a play, Madam Epicene,–
[“Epicene, or the Silent Woman,” a comedy, by Ben Jonson.]–the
other day; that Sir. Ant. Cooper, Mr. Hollis, and Mr. Annesly,&
late President of the Council of State, are made Privy Councillors
to the King. At night very busy sending Mr. Donne away to Lon-
don, and wrote to my father for a coat to be made me against I
come to London, which I think will not be long. At night Mr. Ed-
ward Montagu came on board and staid long up with my Lord.
I to bed and about one in the morning,
7th. W. Howe called me up to give him a letter to carry to my
Lord that came to me to-day, which I did and so to, sleep again.
About three in the morning the people began to wash the deck,
110 Edmund Calamy, D.D., the celebrated Nonconformist divine, born
February, 1600, appointed Chaplain to Charles II., 1660. He refused the bish-
opric of Lichfield which was offered to him. Died October 29th, 1666.
111 The names of the Commissioners were–Sir Edward Hyde, afterwards
Earl of Clarendon, General Monk, Thomas, Earl of Southampton, John, Lord
Robartes, Thomas, Lord Colepeper, Sir Edward Montagu, with Sir Edward
Nicholas and Sir William Morrice as principal Secretaries of State. The
patents are dated June 19th, 1660.
112 The duty of the Master of the Wardrobe was to provide “proper fur-
niture for coronations, marriages, and funerals” of the sovereign and royal
family, “cloaths of state, beds, hangings, and other necessaries for the houses
of foreign ambassadors, cloaths of state for Lord Lieutenant of Ireland,
Prince of Wales, and ambassadors abroad,” as also to provide robes for Min-
isters of State, Knights of the Garter, &c. The last Master of the Wardrobe
was Ralph, Duke of Montague, who died 1709.
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and the water came pouring into my mouth, which waked me,
and I was fain to rise and get on my gown, and sleep leaning on
my table. This morning Mr. Montagu went away again. After
dinner come Mr. John Wright and Mr. Moore, with the sight
of whom my heart was very glad. They brought an order for
my Lord’s coming up to London, which my Lord resolved to do
tomorrow. All the afternoon getting my things in order to set
forth to-morrow. At night walked up and down with Mr. Moore,
who did give me an account of all things at London. Among
others, how the Presbyterians would be angry if they durst, but
they will not be able to do any thing. Most of the Commanders
on board and supped with my Lord. Late at night came Mr. Edw.
Pickering from London, but I could not see him this night. I went
with Mr. Moore to the Master’s cabin, and saw him there in order
to going to bed. After that to my own cabin to put things in order
and so to bed.
8th. Out early, took horses at Deale. I troubled much with the
King’s gittar, and Fairbrother, the rogue that I intrusted with the
carrying of it on foot, whom I thought I had lost. Col. Dixwell’s
horse taken by a soldier and delivered to my Lord, and by him
to me to carry to London. Came to Canterbury, dined there. I
saw the minster and the remains of Becket’s tomb. To Sittilig-
borne and Rochester. At Chatham and Rochester the ships and
bridge. Mr. Hetly’s mistake about dinner. Come to Gravesend. A
good handsome wench I kissed, the first that I have seen a great
while. Supped with my Lord, drank late below with Penrose, the
Captain. To bed late, having first laid out all my things against
to-morrow to put myself in a walking garb. Weary and hot to
bed to Mr. Moore.
9th. Up betimes, 25s. the reckoning for very bare. Paid the
house and by boats to London, six boats. Mr. Moore, W. Howe,
and I, and then the child in the room of W. Howe. Landed at the
Temple. To Mr. Crew’s. To my father’s and put myself into a
handsome posture to wait upon my Lord, dined there. To White
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Hall with my Lord and Mr. Edwd. Montagu. Found the King in
the Park. There walked. Gallantly great.
10th. (Lord’s day.) At my father’s found my wife and to walk
with her in Lincoln’s Inn walks.
11th. Betimes to my Lord. Extremely much people and busi-
ness. So with him to Whitehall to the Duke. Back with him by
coach and left him in Covent Garden. I back to Will’s and the
Hall to see my father. Then to the Leg in King Street with Mr.
Moore, and sent for. L’Impertinent to dinner with me. After that
with Mr. Moore about Privy Seal business. To Mr. Watkins, so
to Mr. Crew’s. Then towards my father’s met my Lord and with
him to Dorset House to the Chancellor. So to Mr. Crew’s and saw
my Lord at supper, and then home, and went to see Mrs. Turner,
and so to bed.
12th. Visited by the two Pierces, Mr. Blackburne, Dr. Clerk and
Mr. Creed, and did give them a ham of bacon. So to my Lord and
with him to the Duke of Gloucester. The two Dukes dined with
the Speaker, and I saw there a fine entertainment and dined with
the pages. To Mr. Crew’s, whither came Mr. Greatorex, and with
him to the Faithornes, and so to the Devils tavern. To my Lord’s
and staid till 12 at night about business. So to my father’s, my
father and mother in bed, who had been with my uncle Fenner,
&c., and my wife all day and expected me. But I found Mr. Cook
there, and so to bed.
13th. To my Lord’s and thence to the Treasurer’s of the Navy,’
with Mr. Creed and Pierce the Purser to Rawlinson’s, whither my
uncle Wight came, and I spent 12s. upon them. So to Mr. Crew’s,
where I blotted a new carpet–[It was customary to use carpets as
table cloths.]–that was hired, but got it out again with fair wa-
ter. By water with my Lord in a boat to Westminster, and to the
Admiralty, now in a new place. After business done there to the
Rhenish wine-house with Mr. Blackburne, Creed, and Wivell. So
to my Lord’s lodging and to my father’s, and to bed.
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14th. Up to my Lord and from him to the Treasurer of the Navy
for £500. After that to a tavern with Washington the Purser, very
gallant, and ate and drank. To Mr. Crew’s and laid my money. To
my Lady Pickering with the plate that she did give my Lord the
other day. Then to Will’s and met William Symons and Doling
and Luellin, and with them to the Bull-head, and then to a new
alehouse in Brewer’s Yard, where Winter that had the fray with
Stoakes, and from them to my father’s.
15th. All the morning at the Commissioners of the Navy about
getting out my bill for £650 for the last quarter, which I got
done with a great deal of ease, which is not common. After
that with Mr. Turner to the Dolphin and drunk, and so by wa-
ter to W. Symons, where D. Scobell with his wife, a pretty and
rich woman. Mrs. Symons, a very fine woman, very merry af-
ter dinner with marrying of Luellin and D. Scobell’s kinswoman
that was there. Then to my Lord who told me how the King has
given him the place of the great Wardrobe. My Lord resolves to
have Sarah again. I to my father’s, and then to see my uncle and
aunt Fenner. So home and to bed.
16th. Rose betimes and abroad in one shirt, which brought
me a great cold and pain. Murford took me to Harvey’s by my
father’s to drink and told me of a business that I hope to get £5
by. To my Lord, and so to White Hall with him about the Clerk
of the Privy Seal’s place, which he is to have.
Then to the Admiralty, where I wrote same letters. Here Coll.
Thompson told me, as a great secret; that the Nazeby was on
fire when the King was there, but that is not known; when God
knows it is quite false. Got a piece of gold from Major Holmes for
the horse of Dixwell’s I brought to town. Dined at Mr. Crew’s,
and after dinner with my Lord to Whitehall. Court attendance
infinite tedious. Back with my Lord to my Lady Wright’s and
staid till it had done raining, which it had not done a great while.
After that at night home to my father’s and to bed.
17th (Lord’s day). Lay long abed. To Mr. Mossum’s; a good
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JUNE 1660
sermon. This day the organs did begin to play at White Hall be-
fore the King.–[All organs were removed from churches by an
ordinance dated 1644.]–Dined at my father’s. After dinner to Mr.
Mossum’s again, and so in the garden, and heard Chippell’s fa-
ther preach, that was Page to the Protector, and just by the win-
dow that I stood at sat Mrs. Butler, the great beauty. After sermon
to my Lord. Mr. Edward and I into Gray’s Inn walks, and saw
many beauties. So to my father’s, where Mr. Cook, W. Bowyer,
and my coz Roger Wharton supped and to bed.
18th. To my Lord’s, where much business and some hopes of
getting some money thereby. With him to the Parliament House,
where he did intend to have gone to have made his appearance
to-day, but he met Mr. Crew upon the stairs, and would not go
in. He went to Mrs. Brown’s, and staid till word was brought
him what was done in the House. This day they made an end of
the twenty men to be excepted from pardon to their estates. By
barge to Stepny with my Lord, where at Trinity House we had
great entertainment. With, my Lord there went Sir W. Pen, Sir
H. Wright, Hetly, Pierce; Creed, Hill, I and other servants. Back
again to the Admiralty, and so to my Lord’s lodgings, where he
told me that he did look after the place of the Clerk of the Acts–
[The letters patent appointing Pepys to the office of Clerk of the
Acts is dated July 13th, 1660.]–for me. So to Mr. Crew’s and my
father’s and to bed. My wife went this day to Huntsmore for her
things, and I was very lonely all night. This evening my wife’s
brother, Balty, came to me to let me know his bad condition and
to get a place for him, but I perceive he stands upon a place for
a gentleman, that may not stain his family when, God help him,
he wants bread.
19th. Called on betimes by Murford, who showed me five
pieces to get a business done for him and I am resolved to do it.,
Much business at my Lord’s. This morning my Lord went into
the House of Commons, and there had the thanks of the House,
in the name of the Parliament and Commons of England, for his
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late service to his King and Country. A motion was made for a
reward for him, but it was quashed by Mr. Annesly, who, above
most men, is engaged to my Lord’s and Mr. Crew’s families.
Meeting with Captain Stoakes at Whitehall, I dined with him
and Mr. Gullop, a parson (with whom afterwards I was much
offended at his importunity and impertinence, such another as
Elborough),113 and Mr. Butler, who complimented much after the
same manner as the parson did. After that towards my Lord’s at
Mr. Crew’s, but was met with by a servant of my Lady Pickering,
who took me to her and she told me the story of her husband’s
case and desired my assistance with my Lord, and did give me,
wrapped up in paper, £5 in silver. After that to my Lord’s, and
with him to Whitehall and my Lady Pickering. My Lord went at
night with the King to Baynard’s Castle’ to supper, and I home
to my father’s to bed. My wife and the girl and dog came home
to-day. When I came home I found a quantity of chocolate left
for me, I know not from whom. We hear of W. Howe being sick
to-day, but he was well at night.
20th. Up by 4 in the morning to write letters to sea and a com-
mission for him that Murford solicited for. Called on by Cap-
tain Sparling, who did give me my Dutch money again, and so
much as he had changed into English money, by which my mind
was eased of a great deal of trouble. Some other sea captains.
I did give them a good morning draught, and so to my Lord
(who lay long in bed this day, because he came home late from
supper with the King). With my Lord to the Parliament House,
and, after that, with him to General Monk’s, where he dined at
the Cock-pit. I home and dined with my wife, now making all
things ready there again. Thence to my Lady Pickering, who did
give me the best intelligence about the Wardrobe. Afterwards to
the Cockpit to my Lord with Mr. Townsend, one formerly and
now again to be employed as Deputy of the Wardrobe. Thence
113 Thomas Elborough was one of Pepys’s schoolfellows, and afterwards
curate of St. Lawrence Poultney.
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to the Admiralty, and despatched away Mr. Cooke to sea; whose
business was a letter from my Lord about Mr. G. Montagu to be
chosen as a Parliament-man in my Lord’s room at Dover;’ and
another to the Vice-Admiral to give my Lord a constant account
of all things in the fleet, merely that he may thereby keep up his
power there; another letter to Captn. Cuttance to send the barge
that brought the King on shore, to Hinchingbroke by Lynne. To
my own house, meeting G. Vines, and drank with him at Char-
ing Cross, now the King’s Head Tavern. With my wife to my
father’s, where met with Swan,–[William Swan is called a fanatic
and a very rogue in other parts of the Diary.]–an old hypocrite,
and with him, his friend and my father, and my cozen Scott to
the Bear Tavern. To my father’s and to bed.
21st. To my Lord, much business. With him to the Council
Chamber, where he was sworn; and the charge of his being ad-
mitted Privy Counsellor is £26. To the Dog Tavern at Westmin-
ster, where Murford with Captain Curle and two friends of theirs
went to drink. Captain Curle, late of the Maria, gave me five
pieces in gold and a silver can for my wife for the Commission
I did give him this day for his ship, dated April 20, 1660 last.
Thence to the Parliament door and came to Mr. Crew’s to din-
ner with my Lord, and with my Lord to see the great Wardrobe,
where Mr. Townsend brought us to the governor of some poor
children in tawny clothes; who had been maintained there these
eleven years, which put my Lord to a stand how to dispose of
them, that he may have the house for his use. The children did
sing finely, and my Lord did bid me give them five pieces in gold
at his going away. Thence back to White Hall, where, the King
being gone abroad, my Lord and I walked a great while discours-
ing of the simplicity of the Protector, in his losing all that his
father had left him. My Lord told me, that the last words that
he parted with the Protector with (when he went to the Sound),
were, that he should rejoice more to see him in his grave at his re-
turn home, than that he should give way to such things as were
then in hatching, and afterwards did ruin him: and the Protector
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JUNE 1660
said, that whatever G. Montagu, my Lord Broghill, Jones, and
the Secretary, would have him to do, he would do it, be it what
it would. Thence to my wife, meeting Mr. Blagrave, who went
home with me, and did give me a lesson upon the flageolet, and
handselled my silver can with my wife and me. To my father’s,
where Sir Thomas Honeywood and his family were come of a
sudden, and so we forced to lie all together in a little chamber,
three stories high.
22d. To my Lord, where much business. With him to White
Hall, where the Duke of York not being up, we walked a good
while in the Shield Gallery. Mr. Hill (who for these two or three
days hath constantly attended my Lord) told me of an offer of
£500 for a Baronet’s dignity, which I told my Lord of in the bal-
cone in this gallery, and he said he would think of it. I to my
Lord’s and gave order for horses to be got to draw my Lord’s
great coach to Mr. Crew’s. Mr. Morrice the upholsterer came
himself to-day to take notice what furniture we lack for our lodg-
ings at Whitehall. My dear friend Mr. Fuller of Twickenham and
I dined alone at the Sun Tavern, where he told me how he had
the grant of being Dean of St. Patrick’s, in Ireland; and I told
him my condition, and both rejoiced one for another. Thence
to my Lord’s, and had the great coach to Brigham’s, who went
with me to the Half Moon, and gave me a can of good julep,
and told me how my Lady Monk deals with him and others for
their places, asking him £500, though he was formerly the King’s
coach-maker, and sworn to it. My Lord abroad, and I to my house
and set things in a little order there. So with Mr. Moore to my fa-
ther’s, I staying with Mrs. Turner who stood at her door as I
passed. Among other things she told me for certain how my old
Lady Middlesex—-herself the other day in the presence of the
King, and people took notice of it. Thence called at my father’s,
and so to Mr. Crew’s, where Mr. Hetley had sent a letter for me,
and two pair of silk stockings, one for W. Howe, and the other for
me. To Sir H. Wright’s to my Lord, where he, was, and took di-
rection about business, and so by link home about 11 o’clock. To
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JUNE 1660
bed, the first time since my coming from sea, in my own house,
for which God be praised.
23d. By water with Mr. Hill towards my Lord’s lodging and
so to my Lord. With him to Whitehall, where I left him and
went to Mr. Holmes to deliver him the horse of Dixwell’s that
had staid there fourteen days at the Bell. So to my Lord’s lodg-
ings, where Tom Guy came to me, and there staid to see the King
touch people for the King’s evil. But he did not come at all, it
rayned so; and the poor people were forced to stand all the morn-
ing in the rain in the garden. Afterward he touched them in the
Banquetting-house.114 With my Lord, to my Lord Frezendorfe’s,
114 This ceremony is usually traced to Edward the Confessor, but there is
no direct evidence of the early Norman kings having touched for the evil. Sir
John Fortescue, in his defence of the House of Lancaster against that of York,
argued that the crown could not descend to a female, because the Queen is
not qualified by the form of anointing her, used at the coronation, to cure the
disease called the King’s evil. Burn asserts, “History of Parish Registers,”
1862, p. 179, that “between 1660 and 1682, 92,107 persons were touched for
the evil.” Everyone coming to the court for that purpose, brought a certifi-
cate signed by the minister and churchwardens, that he had not at any time
been touched by His Majesty. The practice was supposed to have expired
with the Stuarts, but the point being disputed, reference was made to the
library of the Duke of Sussex, and four several Oxford editions of the Book
of Common Prayer were found, all printed after the accession of the house
of Hanover, and all containing, as an integral part of the service, “The Office
for the Healing.” The stamp of gold with which the King crossed the sore of
the sick person was called an angel, and of the value of ten shillings. It had
a hole bored through it, through which a ribbon was drawn, and the angel
was hanged about the patient’s neck till the cure was perfected. The stamp
has the impression of St. Michael the Archangel on one side, and a ship in
full sail on the other. “My Lord Anglesey had a daughter cured of the King’s
evil with three others on Tuesday.”–MS. Letter of William Greenhill to Lady
Bacon, dated December 31st, 1629, preserved at Audley End. Charles II.
“touched” before he came to the throne. “It is certain that the King hath very
often touched the sick, as well at Breda, where he touched 260 from Saturday
the 17 of April to Sunday the 23 of May, as at Bruges and Bruxels, during the
residence he made there; and the English assure... it was not without suc-
210
JUNE 1660
where he dined to-day. Where he told me that he had obtained a
promise of the Clerk of the Acts place for me, at which I was glad.
Met with Mr. Chetwind, and dined with him at Hargrave’s, the
Cornchandler, in St. Martin’s Lane, where a good dinner, where
he showed me some good pictures, and an instrument he called
an Angelique.115 With him to London, changing all my Dutch
money at Backwell’s116 for English, and then to Cardinal’s Cap,
where he and the City Remembrancer who paid for all. Back
to Westminster, where my Lord was, and discoursed with him
awhile about his family affairs. So he went away, I home and
wrote letters into the country, and to bed.
24th. Sunday. Drank my morning draft at Harper’s, and
bought a pair of gloves there. So to Mr. G. Montagu, and told
him what I had received from Dover, about his business likely to
be chosen there. So home and thence with my wife towards my
father’s. She went thither, I to Mr. Crew’s, where I dined and my
Lord at my Lord Montagu of Boughton in Little Queen Street. In
the afternoon to Mr. Mossum’s with Mr. Moore, and we sat in
Mr. Butler’s pew. Then to Whitehall looking for my Lord but in
vain, and back again to Mr. Crew’s where I found him and did
cess, since it was the experience that drew thither every day, a great number
of those diseased even from the most remote provinces of Germany.”–Sir
William Lower’s Relation of the Voiage and Residence which Charles the II.
hath made in Holland, Hague, 1660, p. 78. Sir William Lower gives a long
account of the touching for the evil by Charles before the Restoration.
115 An angelique is described as a species of guitar in Murray’s “New En-
glish Dictionary,” and this passage from the Diary is given as a quotation.
The word appears as angelot in Phillips’s “English Dictionary” (1678), and
is used in Browning’s “Sordello,” as a “plaything of page or girl.”
116 Alderman Edward Backwell, an eminent banker and goldsmith, who is
frequently mentioned in the Diary. His shop was in Lombard Street. He was
ruined by the closing of the Exchequer by Charles II. in 1672. The crown then
owed him £295,994 16s. 6d., in lieu of which the King gave him an annuity
of £17,759 13s. 8d. Backwell retired into Holland after the closing of the
Exchequer, and died there in 1679. See Hilton Price’s “Handbook of London
Bankers,” 1876.
211
JUNE 1660
give him letters. Among others some simple ones from our Lieu-
tenant, Lieut. Lambert to him and myself, which made Mr. Crew
and us all laugh. I went to my father’s to tell him that I would
not come to supper, and so after my business done at Mr. Crew’s
I went home and my wife within a little while after me, my mind
all this while full of thoughts for my place of Clerk of the Acts.
25th. With my Lord at White Hall, all the morning. I spoke
with Mr. Coventry about my business, who promised me all
the assistance I could expect. Dined with young Mr. Powell,
lately come from the Sound, being amused at our great changes
here, and Mr. Southerne, now Clerk to Mr. Coventry, at the Leg
in King-street. Thence to the Admiralty, where I met with Mr.
Turner117 of the Navy-office, who did look after the place of Clerk
of the Acts. He was very civil to me, and I to him, and shall be
so. There came a letter from my Lady Monk to my Lord about it
this evening, but he refused to come to her, but meeting in White
Hall, with Sir Thomas Clarges, her brother, my Lord returned
answer, that he could not desist in my business; and that he be-
lieved that General Monk would take it ill if my Lord should
name the officers in his army; and therefore he desired to have
the naming of one officer in the fleet. With my Lord by coach to
Mr. Crew’s, and very merry by the way, discoursing of the late
changes and his good fortune. Thence home, and then with my
wife to Dorset House, to deliver a list of the names of the justices
of the peace for Huntingdonshire. By coach, taking Mr. Fox part
of the way with me, that was with us with the King on board the
Nazeby, who I found to have married Mrs. Whittle, that lived
at Mr. Geer’s so long. A very civil gentleman. At Dorset House
I met with Mr. Kipps, my old friend, with whom the world is
117 Thomas Turner (or Tourner) was General Clerk at the Navy Office, and
on June 30th he offered Pepys £150 to be made joint Clerk of the Acts with
him. In a list of the Admiralty officers just before the King came in, pre-
served in the British Museum, there occur, Richard Hutchinson; Treasury
of the Navy, salary £1500; Thomas Tourner, General Clerk, for himself and
clerk, £100.
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JUNE 1660
well changed, he being now sealbearer to the Lord Chancellor,
at which my wife and I are well pleased, he being a very good
natured man. Home and late writing letters. Then to my Lord’s
lodging, this being the first night of his coming to Whitehall to
lie since his coming from sea.
26th. My Lord dined at his lodgings all alone to-day. I went to
Secretary Nicholas118 to carry him my Lord’s resolutions about
his title, which he had chosen, and that is Portsmouth.119 I met
with Mr. Throgmorton, a merchant, who went with me to the
old Three Tuns, at Charing Cross, who did give me five pieces
of gold for to do him a small piece of service about a convoy to
Bilbo, which I did. In the afternoon, one Mr. Watts came to me, a
merchant, to offer me £500 if I would desist from the Clerk of the
Acts place. I pray God direct me in what I do herein. Went to my
house, where I found my father, and carried him and my wife to
Whitefriars, and myself to Puddlewharf, to the Wardrobe, to Mr.
Townsend, who went with me to Backwell, the goldsmith’s, and
there we chose £100 worth of plate for my Lord to give Secretary
Nicholas. Back and staid at my father’s, and so home to bed.
27th. With my Lord to the Duke, where he spoke to Mr. Coven-
try to despatch my business of the Acts, in which place every
body gives me joy, as if I were in it, which God send.120 Dined
with my Lord and all the officers of his regiment, who invited
118 Sir Edward Nicholas, Secretary of State to Charles I. and II. He was
dismissed from his office through the intrigues of Lady Castlemaine in 1663.
He died 1669, aged seventy-seven.
119 Montagu changed his mind, and ultimately took his title from the town
of Sandwich, leaving that of Portsmouth for the use of a King’s mistress.
120 The letters patent, dated July 13th, 12 Charles II., recite and revoke let-
ters patent of February 16th, 14 Charles I., whereby the office of Clerk of
the Ships had been given to Dennis Fleming and Thomas Barlow, or the
survivor. D. F. was then dead, but T. B. living, and Samuel Pepys was ap-
pointed in his room, at a salary of £33 6s. 8d. per annum, with 3s. 4d. for
each day employed in travelling, and £6 per annum for boathire, and all fees
due. This salary was only the ancient “fee out of the Exchequer,” which had
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JUNE 1660
my Lord and his friends, as many as he would bring, to dinner,
at the Swan, at Dowgate, a poor house and ill dressed, but very
good fish and plenty. Here Mr. Symons, the Surgeon, told me
how he was likely to lose his estate that he had bought, at which
I was not a little pleased. To Westminster, and with Mr. Howe
by coach to the Speaker’s, where my Lord supped with the King,
but I could not get in. So back again, and after a song or two
in my chamber in the dark, which do (now that the bed is out)
sound very well, I went home and to bed.
28th. My brother Tom came to me with patterns to choose for
a suit. I paid him all to this day, and did give him £10 upon ac-
count. To Mr. Coventry, who told me that he would do me all
right in my business. To Sir G. Downing, the first visit I have
made him since he came. He is so stingy a fellow I care not to see
him; I quite cleared myself of his office, and did give him liberty
to take any body in. Hawly and he are parted too, he is going
to serve Sir Thos. Ingram. I went also this morning to see Mrs.
Pierce, the chirurgeon[‘s wife]. I found her in bed in her house in
Margaret churchyard. Her husband returned to sea. I did invite
her to go to dinner with me and my wife to-day. After all this to
my Lord, who lay a-bed till eleven o’clock, it being almost five be-
fore he went to bed, they supped so late last night with the King.
This morning I saw poor Bishop Wren121 going to Chappel, it be-
ing a thanksgiving-day122 for the King’s return. After my Lord
was awake, I went up to him to the Nursery, where he do lie,
and, having talked with him a little, I took leave and carried my
wife and Mrs. Pierce to Clothworkers’-Hall, to dinner, where Mr.
Pierce, the Purser, met us. We were invited by Mr. Chaplin, the
been attached to the office for more than a century. Pepys’s salary had been
previously fixed at £350 a year.
121 Matthew Wren, born 1585, successively Bishop of Hereford, Norwich,
and Ely. At the commencement of the Rebellion he was sent to the Tower,
and remained a prisoner there eighteen years. Died April 24th, 1667.
122 “A Proclamation for setting apart a day of Solemn and Publick Thanks-
giving throughout the whole Kingdom,” dated June 5th, 1660.
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JUNE 1660
Victualler, where Nich. Osborne was. Our entertainment very
good, a brave hall, good company, and very good music. Where
among other things I was pleased that I could find out a man
by his voice, whom I had never seen before, to be one that sang
behind the curtaine formerly at Sir W. Davenant’s opera. Here
Dr. Gauden and Mr. Gauden the victualler dined with us. After
dinner to Mr. Rawlinson’s,123 to see him and his wife, and would
have gone to my Aunt Wight, but that her only child, a daughter,
died last night. Home and to my Lord, who supped within, and
Mr. E. Montagu, Mr. Thos. Crew, and others with him sat up
late. I home and to bed.
29th. This day or two my maid Jane–[Jane Wayneman.]–has
been lame, that we cannot tell what to do for want of her. Up and
to White Hall, where I got my warrant from the Duke to be Clerk
of the Acts. Also I got my Lord’s warrant from the Secretary
for his honour of Earle of Portsmouth, and Viscount Montagu of
123 Daniel Rawlinson kept the Mitre in Fenchurch Street, and there is a far-
thing token of his extant, “At the Mitetr in Fenchurch Streete, D. M. R.” The
initials stand for Daniel and Margaret Rawlinson (see “Boyne’s Trade To-
kens,” ed. Williamson, vol. i., 1889, p. 595) In “Reliquiae Hearnianae” (ed.
Bliss, 1869, vol. ii. p. 39) is the following extract from Thomas Rawlinson’s
Note Book R.: “Of Daniel Rawlinson, my grandfather, who kept the Mitre
tavern in Fenchurch Street, and of whose being sequestred in the Rump time
I have heard much, the Whiggs tell this, that upon the king’s murder he
hung his signe in mourning. He certainly judged right. The honour of the
Mitre was much eclipsed through the loss of so good a parent of the church
of England. These rogues say, this endeared him so much to the churchmen
that he soon throve amain and got a good estate.” Mrs. Rawlinson died
of the plague (see August 9th, 1666), and the house was burnt in the Great
Fire. Mr. Rawlinson rebuilt the Mitre, and he had the panels of the great
room painted with allegorical figures by Isaac Fuller. Daniel was father of
Sir Thomas Rawlinson, of whom Thomas Hearne writes (October 1st, 1705):
“Sir Thomas Rawlinson is chosen Lord Mayor of London for ye ensueing
notwithstanding the great opposition of ye Whigg party” (Hearne’s “Collec-
tions,” ed. Doble, 1885, vol. i. p. 51). The well-known antiquaries, Thomas
and Richard Rawlinson, sons of Sir Thomas, were therefore grandsons of
Daniel.
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JUNE 1660
Hinchingbroke. So to my Lord, to give him an account of what I
had done. Then to Sir Geffery Palmer, to give them to him to have
bills drawn upon them, who told me that my Lord must have
some good Latinist to make the preamble to his Patent, which
must express his late service in the best terms that he can, and he
told me in what high flaunting terms Sir J. Greenville had caused
his to be done, which he do not like; but that Sir Richard Fan-
shawe had done General Monk’s very well. Back to Westminster,
and meeting Mr. Townsend in the Palace, he and I and another or
two went and dined at the Leg there. Then to White Hall, where
I was told by Mr. Hutchinson at the Admiralty, that Mr. Barlow,
my predecessor, Clerk of the Acts, is yet alive, and coming up to
town to look after his place, which made my heart sad a little.
At night told my Lord thereof, and he bade me get possession of
my Patent; and he would do all that could be done to keep him
out. This night my Lord and I looked over the list of the Cap-
tains,. and marked some that my Lord had a mind to have put
out. Home and to bed. Our wench very lame, abed these two
days.
30th. By times to Sir R. Fanshawe to draw up the preamble
to my Lord’s Patent. So to my Lord, and with him to White
Hall, where I saw a great many fine antique heads of marble,
that my Lord Northumberland had given the King. Here meet-
ing with Mr. De Cretz, he looked over many of the pieces, in
the gallery with me and told me [by] whose hands they were,
with great pleasure. Dined at home and Mr. Hawly with me
upon six of my pigeons, which my wife has resolved to kill here.
This day came Will,124 my boy, to me; the wench continuing lame,
so that my wife could not be longer without somebody to help
her. In the afternoon with Sir Edward Walker, at his lodgings by
St. Giles Church, for my Lord’s pedigree, and carried it to Sir R.
Fanshawe. To Mr. Crew’s, and there took money and paid Mrs.
124 William Wayneman was constantly getting into trouble, and Pepys had
to cane him. He was dismissed on July 7th, 1663.
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JUNE 1660
Anne, Mrs. Jemima’s maid, off quite, and so she went away and
another came to her. To White Hall with Mr. Moore, where I met
with a letter from Mr. Turner, offering me £150 to be joined with
me in my patent, and to advise me how to improve the advan-
tage of my place, and to keep off Barlow. To my Lord’s till late at
night, and so home.
217
JULY 1660
July 1st. This morning came home my fine Camlett cloak,125 with
gold buttons, and a silk suit, which cost me much money, and
I pray God to make me able to pay for it. I went to the cook’s
and got a good joint of meat, and my wife and I dined at home
alone. In the afternoon to the Abbey, where a good sermon by
a stranger, but no Common Prayer yet. After sermon called in
at Mrs. Crisp’s, where I saw Mynheer Roder, that is to marry
Sam Hartlib’s sister, a great fortune for her to light on, she be-
ing worth nothing in the world. Here I also saw Mrs. Greenlife,
who is come again to live in Axe Yard with her new husband Mr.
Adams. Then to my Lord’s, where I staid a while. So to see for
Mr. Creed to speak about getting a copy of Barlow’s patent. To
my Lord’s, where late at night comes Mr. Morland, whom I left
prating with my Lord, and so home.
2nd. Infinite of business that my heart and head and all were
full. Met with purser Washington, with whom and a lady, a
friend of his, I dined at the Bell Tavern in King Street, but the
rogue had no more manners than to invite me and to let me pay
my club. All the afternoon with my Lord, going up and down
125 Camlet was a mixed stuff of wool and silk. It was very expensive, and
later Pepys gave £24 for a suit. (See June 1st, 1664.)
218
JULY 1660
the town; at seven at night he went home, and there the princi-
pal Officers of the Navy,@@A list of the Officers of the Admiralty,
May 31st, 1660. From a MS. in the Pepysian Library in Pepys’s
own handwriting. His Royal Highness James, Duke of York,
Lord High Admiral. Sir George Carteret, Treasurer. Sir Robert
Slingsby, (soon after) Comptroller. Sir William Batten, Surveyor.
Samuel Pepys, Esq., Clerk of the Acts. John, Lord Berkeley (of
Stratton,)| Sir William Penn, | Commissioners. Peter Pett, Esq.–
B,] |
among the rest myself was reckoned one. We had order to meet
to-morrow, to draw up such an order of the Council as would put
us into action before our patents were passed. At which my heart
was glad. At night supped with my Lord, he and I together, in
the great dining-room alone by ourselves, the first time I ever did
it in London. Home to bed, my maid pretty well again.
3d. All the morning the Officers and Commissioners of the
Navy, we met at Sir G. Carteret’s126 chamber, and agreed upon
orders for the Council to supersede the old ones, and empower
us to act. Dined with Mr. Stephens, the Treasurer’s man of the
Navy, and Mr. Turner, to whom I offered £50 out of my own
purse for one year, and the benefit of a Clerk’s allowance beside,
which he thanked me for; but I find he hath some design yet in
his head, which I could not think of. In the afternoon my heart
was quite pulled down, by being told that Mr. Barlow was to en-
126 Sir George Carteret, born 1599, had originally been bred to the sea ser-
vice, and became Comptroller of the Navy to Charles I., and Governor of Jer-
sey, where he obtained considerable reputation by his gallant defence of that
island against the Parliament forces. At the Restoration he was made Vice-
Chamberlain to the King, Treasurer of the Navy, and a Privy Councillor, and
in 1661 he was elected M.P. for Portsmouth. In 1666 he exchanged the Trea-
surership of the Navy with the Earl of Anglesea for the Vice-Treasurership of
Ireland. He became a Commissioner of the Admiralty in 1673. He continued
in favour with Charles II. till his death, January 14th, 1679, in his eightieth
year. He married his cousin Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Philip Carteret, Knight
of St. Ouen, and had issue three sons and five daughters.
219
JULY 1660
quire to-day for Mr. Coventry; but at night I met with my Lord,
who told me that I need not fear, for he would get me the place
against the world. And when I came to W. Howe, he told me that
Dr. Petty had been with my Lord, and did tell him that Barlow
was a sickly man, and did not intend to execute the place him-
self, which put me in great comfort again. Till 2 in the morning
writing letters and things for my Lord to send to sea. So home to
my wife to bed.
4th. Up very early in the morning and landing my wife at
White Friars stairs, I went to the Bridge and so to the Treasurer’s
of the Navy, with whom I spake about the business of my of-
fice, who put me into very good hopes of my business. At his
house comes Commissioner Pett, and he and I went to view the
houses in Seething Lane, belonging to the Navy,127 where I find
the worst very good, and had great fears in my mind that they
will shuffle me out of them, which troubles me. From thence
to the Excise Office in Broad Street, where I received £500 for
my Lord, by appointment of the Treasurer, and went afterwards
down with Mr. Luddyard and drank my morning draft with him
and other officers. Thence to Mr. Backewell’s, the goldsmith,
where I took my Lord’s £100 in plate for Mr. Secretary Nicholas,
and my own piece of plate, being a state dish and cup in chased
work for Mr. Coventry, cost me above £19. Carried these and
the money by coach to my Lord’s at White Hall, and from thence
carried Nicholas’s plate to his house and left it there, intending
to speak with him anon. So to Westminster Hall, where meeting
with M. L’Impertinent and W. Bowyer, I took them to the Sun
Tavern, and gave them a lobster and some wine, and sat talking
like a fool till 4 o’clock. So to my Lord’s, and walking all the af-
127 The Navy Office was erected on the site of Lumley House, formerly be-
longing to the Fratres Sancta Crucis (or Crutched Friars), and all business
connected with naval concerns was transacted there till its removal to Som-
erset House.–The ground was afterwards occupied by the East India Com-
pany’s warehouses. The civil business of the Admiralty was removed from
Somerset House to Spring Gardens in 1869.
220
JULY 1660
ternoon in White Hall Court, in expectation of what shall be done
in the Council as to our business. It was strange to see how all
the people flocked together bare, to see the King looking out of
the Council window. At night my Lord told me how my orders
that I drew last night about giving us power to act, are granted
by the Council. At which he and I were very glad. Home and to
bed, my boy lying in my house this night the first time.
5th. This morning my brother Tom brought me my jackanapes
coat with silver buttons. It rained this morning, which makes
us fear that the glory of this great day will be lost; the King and
Parliament being to be entertained by the City to-day with great
pomp.128 Mr. Hater’ was with me to-day, and I agreed with him
to be my clerk.129 Being at White Hall, I saw the King, the Dukes,
and all their attendants go forth in the rain to the City, and it
bedraggled many a fine suit of clothes. I was forced to walk all
the morning in White Hall, not knowing how to get out because
of the rain. Met with Mr. Cooling, my Lord Chamberlain’s secre-
tary, who took me to dinner among the gentlemen waiters, and
after dinner into the wine-cellar. He told me how he had a project
for all us Secretaries to join together, and get money by bringing
all business into our hands. Thence to the Admiralty, where Mr.
Blackburne and I (it beginning to hold up) went and walked an
hour or two in the Park, he giving of me light in many things in
my way in this office that I go about. And in the evening I got
my present of plate carried to Mr. Coventry’s. At my Lord’s at
128 “July 5th. His Majesty, the two Dukes, the House of Lords, and the
House of Commons, and the Privy Council, dined at the Guildhall. Ev-
ery Hall appeared with their colours and streamers to attend His Majesty;
the Masters in gold chains. Twelve pageants in the streets between Temple
Bar and Guildhall. Forty brace of bucks were that day spent in the City of
London.”–Rugge’s Diurnal.–B.
129 Thomas Hayter. He remained with Pepys for some time; and by his
assistance was made Petty Purveyor of Petty Missions. He succeeded Pepys
as Clerk of the Acts in 1673, and in 1679 he was Secretary of the Admiralty,
and Comptroller of the Navy from 1680 to 1682.
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JULY 1660
night comes Dr. Petty to me, to tell me that Barlow had come to
town, and other things, which put me into a despair, and I went
to bed very sad.
6th. In the morning with my Lord at Whitehall, got the order of
the Council for us to act. From thence to Westminster Hall, and
there met with the Doctor that shewed us so much kindness at
the Hague, and took him to the Sun tavern, and drank with him.
So to my Lord’s and dined with W. Howe and Sarah, thinking it
might be the last time that I might dine with them together. In the
afternoon my Lord and I, and Mr. Coventry and Sir G. Carteret,
went and took possession of the Navy Office, whereby my mind
was a little cheered, but my hopes not great. From thence Sir G.
Carteret and I to the Treasurer’s Office, where he set some things
in order. And so home, calling upon Sir Geoffry Palmer, who did
give me advice about my patent, which put me to some doubt to
know what to do, Barlow being alive. Afterwards called at Mr.
Pim’s, about getting me a coat of velvet, and he took me to the
Half Moon, and the house so full that we staid above half an hour
before we could get anything. So to my Lord’s, where in the dark
W. Howe and I did sing extemporys, and I find by use that we
are able to sing a bass and a treble pretty well. So home, and to
bed.
7th. To my Lord, one with me to buy a Clerk’s place, and I did
demand £100. To the Council Chamber, where I took an order
for the advance of the salaries of the officers of the Navy, and I
find mine to be raised to £350 per annum. Thence to the Change,
where I bought two fine prints of Ragotti from Rubens, and af-
terwards dined with my Uncle and Aunt Wight, where her sister
Cox and her husband were. After that to Mr. Rawlinson’s with
my uncle, and thence to the Navy Office, where I began to take
an inventory of the papers, and goods, and books of the office.
To my Lord’s, late writing letters. So home to bed.
8th (Lord’s day). To White Hall chapel, where I got in with
ease by going before the Lord Chancellor with Mr. Kipps. Here
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I heard very good music, the first time that ever I remember
to have heard the organs and singing-men in surplices in my
life.130 The Bishop of Chichester preached before the King, and
made a great flattering sermon, which I did not like that Clergy
should meddle with matters of state. Dined with Mr. Luellin
and Salisbury at a cook’s shop. Home, and staid all the after-
noon with my wife till after sermon. There till Mr. Fairebrother
came to call us out to my father’s to supper. He told me how he
had perfectly procured me to be made Master in Arts by proxy,
which did somewhat please me, though I remember my cousin
Roger Pepys was the other day persuading me from it. While
we were at supper came Win. Howe to supper to us, and after
supper went home to bed.
9th. All the morning at Sir G. Palmer’s advising about getting
my bill drawn. From thence to the Navy office, where in the after-
noon we met and sat, and there I begun to sign bills in the Office
the first time. From thence Captain Holland and Mr. Browne of
Harwich took me to a tavern and did give me a collation. From
130 During the Commonwealth organs were destroyed all over the country,
and the following is the title of the Ordinances under which this destruc-
tion took place: “Two Ordinances of the Lords and Commons assembled in
Parliament, for the speedy demolishing of all organs, images, and all mat-
ters of superstitious monuments in all Cathedrals and Collegiate or Parish
Churches and Chapels throughout the Kingdom of England and the domin-
ion of Wales; the better to accomplish the blessed reformation so happily
begun, and to remove all offences and things illegal in the worship of God.
Dated May 9th, 1644.” When at the period of the Restoration music again ob-
tained its proper place in the services of the Church, there was much work
for the organ builders. According to Dr. Rimbault (“Hopkins on the Organ,”
1855, p. 74), it was more than fifty years after the Restoration when our
parish churches began commonly to be supplied with organs. Drake says, in
his “Eboracum” (published in 1733), that at that date only one parish church
in the city of York possessed an organ. Bernard Schmidt, better known as
“Father Smith,” came to England from Germany at the time of the Restora-
tion, and he it was who built the organ at the Chapel Royal. He was in high
favour with Charles II., who allowed, him apartments in Whitehall Palace.
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thence to the Temple to further my bills being done, and so home
to my Lord, and thence to bed.
10th. This day I put on first my new silk suit, the first that
ever I wore in my life. This morning came Nan Pepys’ husband
Mr. Hall to see me being lately come to town. I had never seen
him before. I took him to the Swan tavern with Mr. Eglin and
there drank our morning draft. Home, and called my wife, and
took her to Dr. Clodius’s to a great wedding of Nan Hartlib
to Mynheer Roder, which was kept at Goring House with very
great state, cost, and noble company. But, among all the beauties
there, my wife was thought the greatest. After dinner I left the
company, and carried my wife to Mrs. Turner’s. I went to the
Attorney-General’s, and had my bill which cost me seven pieces.
I called my wife, and set her home. And finding my Lord in
White Hall garden, I got him to go to the Secretary’s, which he
did, and desired the dispatch of his and my bills to be signed by
the King. His bill is to be Earl of Sandwich, Viscount Hinching-
broke, and Baron of St. Neot’s.131 Home, with my mind pretty
quiet: not returning, as I said I would, to see the bride put to bed.
11th. With Sir W. Pen by water to the Navy office, where we
met, and dispatched business. And that being done, we went all
to dinner to the Dolphin, upon Major Brown’s invitation. After
that to the office again, where I was vexed, and so was Commis-
sioner Pett, to see a busy fellow come to look out the best lodg-
131 The motive for Sir Edward Montagu’s so suddenly altering his intended
title is not explained; probably, the change was adopted as a compliment
to the town of Sandwich, off which the Fleet was lying before it sailed to
bring Charles from Scheveling. Montagu had also received marked atten-
tions from Sir John Boys and other principal men at Sandwich; and it may
be recollected, as an additional reason, that one or both of the seats for
that borough have usually been placed at the disposal of the Admiralty.
The title of Portsmouth was given, in 1673, for her life, to the celebrated
Louise de Querouaille, and becoming extinct with her, was, in 1743, con-
ferred upon John Wallop, Viscount Lymington, the ancestor of the present
Earl of Portsmouth.–B.
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ings for my Lord Barkley, and the combining between him and
Sir W. Pen; and, indeed, was troubled much at it. Home to White
Hall, and took out my bill signed by the King, and carried it to
Mr. Watkins of the Privy Seal to be despatched there, and going
home to take a cap, I borrowed a pair of sheets of Mr. Howe,
and by coach went to the Navy office, and lay (Mr. Hater, my
clerk, with me) at Commissioner Willoughby’s’ house, where I
was received by him very civilly and slept well.
12th. Up early and by coach to White Hall with Commissioner
Pett, where, after we had talked with my Lord, I went to the Privy
Seal and got my bill perfected there, and at the Signet: and then
to the House of Lords, and met with Mr. Kipps, who directed me
to Mr. Beale to get my patent engrossed; but he not having time
to get it done in Chancery-hand, I was forced to run all up and
down Chancery-lane, and the Six Clerks’ Office132 but could find
none that could write the hand, that were at leisure. And so in a
despair went to the Admiralty, where we met the first time there,
my Lord Montagu, my Lord Barkley, Mr. Coventry, and all the
rest of the principal Officers and Commissioners, [except] only
the Controller, who is not yet chosen. At night to Mr. Kipps’s
lodgings, but not finding him, I went to Mr. Spong’s and there I
found him and got him to come to me to my Lord’s lodgings at 11
o’clock of night, when I got him to take my bill to write it himself
132 The Six Clerks’ Office was in Chancery Lane, near the Holborn end. The
business of the office was to enrol commissions, pardons, patents, warrants,
&c., that had passed the Great Seal; also other business in Chancery. In the
early history of the Court of Chancery, the Six Clerks and their under-clerks
appear to have acted as the attorneys of the suitors. As business increased,
these under-clerks became a distinct body, and were recognized by the court
under the denomination of ‘sworn clerks,’ or ‘clerks in court.’ The advance
of commerce, with its consequent accession of wealth, so multiplied the sub-
jects requiring the judgment of a Court of Equity, that the limits of a public
office were found wholly inadequate to supply a sufficient number of offi-
cers to conduct the business of the suitors. Hence originated the ‘Solicitors’
of the “Court of Chancery.” See Smith’s “Chancery Practice,” p. 62, 3rd edit.
The “Six Clerks” were abolished by act of Parliament, 5 Vict. c. 5.
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(which was a great providence that he could do it) against to-
morrow morning. I late writing letters to sea by the post, and
so home to bed. In great trouble because I heard at Mr. Beale’s
to-day that Barlow had been there and said that he would make
a stop in the business.
13th. Up early, the first day that I put on my black camlett
coat with silver buttons. To Mr. Spong, whom I found in his
night-down writing of my patent, and he had done as far as he
could “for that &c.” by 8 o’clock. It being done, we carried it to
Worcester House to the Chancellor, where Mr. Kipps (a strange
providence that he should now be in a condition to do me a kind-
ness, which I never thought him capable of doing for me), got
me the Chancellor’s recepi to my bill; and so carried it to Mr.
Beale for a dockett; but he was very angry, and unwilling to do
it, because he said it was ill writ (because I had got it writ by
another hand, and not by him); but by much importunity I got
Mr. Spong to go to his office and make an end of my patent; and
in the mean time Mr. Beale to be preparing my dockett, which
being done, I did give him two pieces, after which it was strange
how civil and tractable he was to me. From thence I went to the
Navy office, where we despatched much business, and resolved
of the houses for the Officers and Commissioners, which I was
glad of, and I got leave to have a door made me into the leads.
From thence, much troubled in mind about my patent, I went
to Mr. Beale again, who had now finished my patent and made
it ready for the Seal, about an hour after I went to meet him at
the Chancellor’s. So I went away towards Westminster, and in
my way met with Mr. Spong, and went with him to Mr. Lilly
and ate some bread and cheese, and drank with him, who still
would be giving me council of getting my patent out, for fear
of another change, and my Lord Montagu’s fall. After that to
Worcester House, where by Mr. Kipps’s means, and my pressing
in General Montagu’s name to the Chancellor, I did, beyond all
expectation, get my seal passed; and while it was doing in one
room, I was forced to keep Sir G. Carteret (who by chance met
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me there, ignorant of my business) in talk, while it was a doing.
Went home and brought my wife with me into London, and some
money, with which I paid Mr. Beale £9 in all, and took my patent
of him and went to my wife again, whom I had left in a coach
at the door of Hinde Court, and presented her with my patent at
which she was overjoyed; so to the Navy office, and showed her
my house, and were both mightily pleased at all things there, and
so to my business. So home with her, leaving her at her mother’s
door. I to my Lord’s, where I dispatched an order for a ship to
fetch Sir R. Honywood home, for which I got two pieces of my
Lady Honywood by young Mr. Powell. Late writing letters; and
great doings of music at the next house, which was Whally’s; the
King and Dukes there with Madame Palmer,133 a pretty woman
that they have a fancy to, to make her husband a cuckold. Here
at the old door that did go into his lodgings, my Lord, I, and W.
Howe, did stand listening a great while to the music. After that
home to bed. This day I should have been at Guildhall to have
borne witness for my brother Hawly against Black Collar, but I
could not, at which I was troubled. To bed with the greatest quiet
of mind that I have had a great while, having ate nothing but a
bit of bread and cheese at Lilly’s to-day, and a bit of bread and
butter after I was a-bed.
14th. Up early and advised with my wife for the putting of
all our things in a readiness to be sent to our new house. To my
Lord’s, where he was in bed very late. So with Major Tollhurst
133 Barbara Villiers, only child of William, second Viscount Grandison,
born November, 1640, married April 14th, 1659, to Roger Palmer, cre-
ated Earl of Castlemaine, 1661. She became the King’s mistress soon af-
ter the Restoration, and was in 1670 made Baroness Nonsuch, Countess of
Southampton, and Duchess of Cleveland. She had six children by the King,
one of them being created Duke of Grafton, and the eldest son succeeding
her as Duke of Cleveland. She subsequently married Beau Fielding, whom
she prosecuted for bigamy. She died October 9th, 1709, aged sixty-nine. Her
life was written by G. Steinman Steinman, and privately printed 1871, with
addenda 1874, and second addenda 1878.
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and others to Harper’s, and I sent for my barrel of pickled oysters
and there ate them; while we were doing so, comes in Mr. Pagan
Fisher; the poet, and promises me what he had long ago done,
a book in praise of the King of France, with my armes, and a
dedication to me very handsome. After him comes Mr. Sheply
come from sea yesterday, whom I was glad to see that he may
ease me of the trouble of my Lord’s business. So to my Lord’s,
where I staid doing his business and taking his commands. After
that to Westminster Hall, where I paid all my debts in order to
my going away from hence. Here I met with Mr. Eglin, who
would needs take me to the Leg in King Street and gave me a
dish of meat to dinner; and so I sent for Mons. L’Impertinent,
where we sat long and were merry. After that parted, and I took
Mr. Butler [Mons. L’Impertinent] with me into London by coach
and shewed him my house at the Navy Office, and did give order
for the laying in coals. So into Fenchurch Street, and did give him
a glass of wine at Rawlinson’s, and was trimmed in the street. So
to my Lord’s late writing letters, and so home, where I found my
wife had packed up all her goods in the house fit for a removal.
So to bed.
15th. Lay long in bed to recover my rest. Going forth met with
Mr. Sheply, and went and drank my morning draft with him at
Wilkinson’s, and my brother Spicer.–[Jack Spicer, brother clerk of
the Privy Seal.]–After that to Westminster Abbey, and in Henry
the Seventh’s Chappell heard part of a sermon, the first that ever
I heard there. To my Lord’s and dined all alone at the table with
him. After dinner he and I alone fell to discourse, and I find
him plainly to be a sceptic in all things of religion, and to make
no great matter of anything therein, but to be a perfect Stoic. In
the afternoon to Henry the Seventh’s Chappell, where I heard
service and a sermon there, and after that meeting W. Bowyer
there, he and I to the Park, and walked a good while till night.
So to Harper’s and drank together, and Captain Stokes came to
us and so I fell into discourse of buying paper at the first hand
in my office, and the Captain promised me to buy it for me in
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France. After that to my Lord’s lodgings, where I wrote some
business and so home. My wife at home all the day, she having
no clothes out, all being packed up yesterday. For this month
I have wholly neglected anything of news, and so have beyond
belief been ignorant how things go, but now by my patent my
mind is in some quiet, which God keep. I was not at my father’s
to-day, I being afraid to go for fear he should still solicit me to
speak to my Lord for a place in the Wardrobe, which I dare not
do, because of my own business yet. My wife and I mightily
pleased with our new house that we hope to have. My patent
has cost me a great deal of money, about £40, which is the only
thing at present which do trouble me much. In the afternoon to
Henry the Seventh’s chapel, where I heard a sermon and spent
(God forgive me) most of my time in looking upon Mrs. Butler.
After that with W. Bowyer to walk in the Park. Afterwards to
my Lord’s lodgings, and so home to bed, having not been at my
father’s to-day.
16th, This morning it proved very rainy weather so that I could
not remove my goods to my house. I to my office and did busi-
ness there, and so home, it being then sunrise, but by the time
that I got to my house it began to rain again, so that I could not
carry my goods by cart as I would have done. After that to my
Lord’s and so home and to bed.
17th. This morning (as indeed all the mornings nowadays)
much business at my Lord’s. There came to my house before I
went out Mr. Barlow, an old consumptive man, and fair condi-
tioned, with whom I did discourse a great while, and after much
talk I did grant him what he asked, viz., £50 per annum, if my
salary be not increased, and (100 per annum, in case it be to £350),
at which he was very well pleased to be paid as I received my
money and not otherwise. Going to my Lord’s I found my Lord
had got a great cold and kept his bed, and so I brought him to my
Lord’s bedside, and he and I did agree together to this purpose
what I should allow him. That done and the day proving fair I
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went home and got all my goods packed up and sent away, and
my wife and I and Mrs. Hunt went by coach, overtaking the carts
a-drinking in the Strand. Being come to my house and set in the
goods, and at night sent my wife and Mrs. Hunt to buy some-
thing for supper; they bought a Quarter of Lamb, and so we ate
it, but it was not half roasted. Will, Mr. Blackburne’s nephew,
is so obedient, that I am greatly glad of him. At night he and I
and Mrs. Hunt home by water to Westminster. I to my Lord, and
after having done some business with him in his chamber in the
Nursery, which has been now his chamber since he came from
sea, I went on foot with a linkboy to my home, where I found my
wife in bed and Jane washing the house, and Will the boy sleep-
ing, and a great deal of sport I had before I could wake him. I to
bed the first night that I ever lay here with my wife.
18th. This morning the carpenter made an end of my door out
of my chamber upon the leads.
This morning we met at the office: I dined at my house in
Seething Lane, and after that, going about 4 o’clock to Westmin-
ster, I met with Mr. Carter and Mr. Cooke coming to see me in a
coach, and so I returned home. I did also meet with Mr. Pierce,
the surgeon, with a porter with him, with a barrel of Lemons,
which my man Burr sends me from sea. I took all these people
home to my house and did give them some drink, and after them
comes Mr. Sheply, and after a little stay we all went by water to
Westminster as far as the New Exchange. Thence to my Lord
about business, and being in talk in comes one with half a buck
from Hinchinbroke, and it smelling a little strong my Lord did
give it me (though it was as good as any could be). I did carry
it to my mother, where I had not been a great while, and indeed
had no great mind to go, because my father did lay upon me
continually to do him a kindness at the Wardrobe, which I could
not do because of my own business being so fresh with my Lord.
But my father was not at home, and so I did leave the venison
with her to dispose of as she pleased. After that home, where
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W. Hewer now was, and did lie this night with us, the first night.
My mind very quiet, only a little trouble I have for the great debts
which I have still upon me to the Secretary, Mr. Kipps, and Mr.
Spong for my patent.
19th. I did lie late a-bed. I and my wife by water, landed her at
Whitefriars with her boy with an iron of our new range which is
already broke and my wife will have changed, and many other
things she has to buy with the help of my father to-day. I to my
Lord and found him in bed. This day I received my commission
to swear people the oath of allegiance and supremacy delivered
me by my Lord. After talk with my Lord I went to Westminster
Hall, where I took Mr. Michell and his wife, and Mrs. Murford
we sent for afterwards, to the Dog Tavern, where I did give them
a dish of anchovies and olives and paid for all, and did talk of our
old discourse when we did use to talk of the King, in the time of
the Rump, privately; after that to the Admiralty Office, in White
Hall, where I staid and writ my last observations for these four
days last past. Great talk of the difference between the Episcopal
and Presbyterian Clergy, but I believe it will come to nothing. So
home and to bed.
20th. We sat at the office this morning, Sir W. Batten and Mr.
Pett being upon a survey to Chatham. This morning I sent my
wife to my father’s and he is to give me £5 worth of pewter. Af-
ter we rose at the office, I went to my father’s, where my Uncle
Fenner and all his crew and Captain Holland and his wife and
my wife were at dinner at a venison pasty of the venison that I
did give my mother the other day. I did this time show so much
coldness to W. Joyce that I believe all the table took notice of it.
After that to Westminster about my Lord’s business and so home,
my Lord having not been well these two or three days, and I hear
that Mr. Barnwell at Hinchinbroke is fallen sick again. Home and
to bed.
21st. This morning Mr. Barlow had appointed for me to bring
him what form I would have the agreement between him and
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me to pass, which I did to his lodgings at the Golden Eagle in the
new street–[Still retains the name New Street.]–between Fetter
Lane and Shoe Lane, where he liked it very well, and I from him
went to get Mr. Spong to engross it in duplicates. To my Lord
and spoke to him about the business of the Privy Seal for me
to be sworn, though I got nothing by it, but to do Mr. Moore
a kindness, which he did give me a good answer to. Went to
the Six Clerks’ office to Mr. Spong for the writings, and dined
with him at a club at the next door, where we had three voices to
sing catches. So to my house to write letters and so to Whitehall
about business of my Lord’s concerning his creation,–[As Earl of
Sandwich.]–and so home and to bed.
22nd. Lord’s day. All this last night it had rained hard. My
brother Tom came this morning the first time to see me, and I
paid him all that I owe my father to this day. Afterwards I went
out and looked into several churches, and so to my uncle Fen-
ner’s, whither my wife was got before me, and we, my father
and mother, and all the Joyces, and my aunt Bell, whom I had
not seen many a year before. After dinner to White Hall (my
wife to church with K. Joyce), where I find my Lord at home, and
walked in the garden with him, he showing me all the respect
that can be. I left him and went to walk in the Park, where great
endeavouring to get into the inward Park,–[This is still railed off
from St. James’s Park, and called the Enclosure.]–but could not
get in; one man was basted by the keeper, for carrying some peo-
ple over on his back through the water. Afterwards to my Lord’s,
where I staid and drank with Mr. Sheply, having first sent to get
a pair of oars. It was the first time that ever I went by water on
the Lord’s day. Home, and at night had a chapter read; and I read
prayers out of the Common Prayer Book, the first time that ever
I read prayers in this house. So to bed.
23rd. This morning Mr. Barlow comes to me, and he and I went
forth to a scrivener in Fenchurch Street, whom we found sick
of the gout in bed, and signed and sealed our agreement before
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him. He urged to have these words (in consideration whereof)
to be interlined, which I granted, though against my will. Met
this morning at the office, and afterwards Mr. Barlow by ap-
pointment came and dined with me, and both of us very pleasant
and pleased. After dinner to my Lord, who took me to Secretary
Nicholas, and there before him and Secretary Morris, my Lord
and I upon our knees together took our oaths of Allegiance and
Supremacy; and the Oath of the Privy Seal, of which I was much
glad, though I am not likely to get anything by it at present; but
I do desire it, for fear of a turn-out of our office. That done and
my Lord gone from me, I went with Mr. Cooling and his brother,
and Sam Hartlibb, little Jennings and some others to the King’s
Head Tavern at Charing Cross, where after drinking I took boat
and so home, where we supped merrily among ourselves (our
little boy proving a droll) and so after prayers to bed. This day
my Lord had heard that Mr. Barnwell was dead, but it is not so
yet, though he be very ill. I was troubled all this day with Mr.
Cooke, being willing to do him good, but my mind is so taken
up with my own business that I cannot.
24th. To White Hall, where I did acquaint Mr. Watkins with
my being sworn into the Privy Seal, at which he was much trou-
bled, but put it up and did offer me a kinsman of his to be my
clerk, which I did give him some hope of, though I never intend
it. In the afternoon I spent much time in walking in White Hall
Court with Mr. Bickerstaffe, who was very glad of my Lord’s be-
ing sworn, because of his business with his brother Baron, which
is referred to my Lord Chancellor, and to be ended to-morrow.
Baron had got a grant beyond sea, to come in before the rever-
sionary of the Privy Seal. This afternoon Mr. Mathews came to
me, to get a certificate of my Lord’s and my being sworn, which
I put in some forwardness, and so home and to bed.
25th. In the morning at the office, and after that down to
Whitehall, where I met with Mr. Creed, and with him and a
Welsh schoolmaster, a good scholar but a very pedagogue, to the
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ordinary at the Leg in King Street.’ I got my certificate of my
Lord’s and my being sworn. This morning my Lord took leave
of the House of Commons, and had the thanks of the House
for his great services to his country. In the afternoon (but this
is a mistake, for it was yesterday in the afternoon) Monsieur
L’Impertinent and I met and I took him to the Sun and drank
with him, and in the evening going away we met his mother
and sisters and father coming from the Gatehouse; where they
lodge, where I did the first time salute them all, and very pretty
Madame Frances–[Frances Butler, the beauty.]–is indeed. After
that very late home and called in Tower Street, and there at a
barber’s was trimmed the first time. Home and to bed.
26th. Early to White Hall, thinking to have a meeting of my
Lord and the principal officers, but my Lord could not, it being
the day that he was to go and be admitted in the House of Lords,
his patent being done, which he presented upon his knees to the
Speaker; and so it was read in the House, and he took his place.
I at the Privy Seal Office with Mr. Hooker, who brought me ac-
quainted with Mr. Crofts of the Signet, and I invited them to a
dish of meat at the Leg in King Street, and so we dined there and
I paid for all and had very good light given me as to my em-
ployment there. Afterwards to Mr. Pierces, where I should have
dined but I could not, but found Mr. Sheply and W. Howe there.
After we had drunk hard we parted, and I went away and met
Dr. Castle, who is one of the Clerks of the Privy Seal, and told
him how things were with my Lord and me, which he received
very gladly. I was this day told how Baron against all expecta-
tion and law has got the place of Bickerstaffe, and so I question
whether he will not lay claim to wait the next month, but my
Lord tells me that he will stand for it. In the evening I met with
T. Doling, who carried me to St. James’s Fair,134 and there meet-
134 August, 1661: “This year the Fair, called St. James’s Fair, was kept
the full appointed time, being a fortnight; but during that time many lewd
and infamous persons were by his Majesty’s express command to the Lord
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JULY 1660
ing with W. Symons and his wife, and Luellin, and D. Scobell’s
wife and cousin, we went to Wood’s at the Pell Mell135 (our old
house for clubbing), and there we spent till 10 at night, at which
time I sent to my Lord’s for my clerk Will to come to me, and so
by link home to bed. Where I found Commissioner Willoughby
had sent for all his things away out of my bedchamber, which is a
little disappointment, but it is better than pay too dear for them.
27th: The last night Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen came to their
houses at the office. Met this morning and did business till noon.
Dined at home and from thence to my Lord’s where Will, my
clerk, and I were all the afternoon making up my accounts, which
we had done by night, and I find myself worth about £100 after
all my expenses. At night I sent to W. Bowyer to bring me £100,
being that he had in his hands of my Lord’s. in keeping, out of
which I paid Mr. Sheply all that remained due to my Lord upon
my balance, and took the rest home with me late at night. We got
a coach, but the horses were tired and could not carry us farther
than St. Dunstan’s. So we ‘light and took a link and so home
weary to bed.
28th. Early in the morning rose, and a boy brought me a letter
from Poet Fisher, who tells me that he is upon a panegyrique of
the King, and desired to borrow a piece of me; and I sent him half
a piece. To Westminster, and there dined with Mr. Sheply and W.
Howe, afterwards meeting with Mr. Henson, who had formerly
had the brave clock that went with bullets (which is now taken
away from him by the King, it being his goods).136 I went with
Chamberlain, and his Lordship’s direction to Robert Nelson, Esq., commit-
ted to the House of Correction.”–Rugge’s Diurnal. St; James’s fair was held
first in the open space near St. James’s Palace, and afterwards in St. James’s
Market. It was prohibited by the Parliament in 1651, but revived at the
Restoration. It was, however, finally suppressed before the close of the reign
of Charles II.
135 This is one of the earliest references to Pall Mall as an inhabited street,
and also one of the earliest uses of the word clubbing.
136 Some clocks are still made with a small ball, or bullet, on an inclined
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JULY 1660
him to the Swan Tavern and sent for Mr. Butler, who was now all
full of his high discourse in praise of Ireland, whither he and his
whole family are going by Coll. Dillon’s persuasion, but so many
lies I never heard in praise of anything as he told of Ireland. So
home late at night and to bed.
29th. Lord’s day. I and my boy Will to Whitehall, and I with my
Lord to White Hall Chappell, where I heard a cold sermon of the
Bishop of Salisbury’s, and the ceremonies did not please me, they
do so overdo them. My Lord went to dinner at Kensington with
my Lord Camden. So I dined and took Mr. Birfett, my Lord’s
chaplain, and his friend along with me, with Mr. Sheply at my
Lord’s. In the afternoon with Dick Vines and his brother Payton,
we walked to Lisson Green and Marybone and back again, and
finding my Lord at home I got him to look over my accounts,
which he did approve of and signed them, and so we are even
to this day. Of this I was glad, and do think myself worth clear
money about £120. Home late, calling in at my father’s without
stay. To bed.
30th. Sat at our office to-day, and my father came this day the
first time to see us at my new office. And Mrs. Crisp by chance
came in and sat with us, looked over our house and advised
about the furnishing of it. This afternoon I got my £50, due to
me for my first quarter’s salary as Secretary to my Lord, paid to
Tho. Hater for me, which he received and brought home to me,
plane, which turns every minute. The King’s clocks probably dropped bul-
lets. Gainsborough the painter had a brother who was a dissenting minister
at Henley-on-Thames, and possessed a strong genius for mechanics. He in-
vented a clock of a very peculiar construction, which, after his death, was
deposited in the British Museum. It told the hour by a little bell, and was
kept in motion by a leaden bullet, which dropped from a spiral reservoir at
the top of the clock, into a little ivory bucket. This was so contrived as to
discharge it at the bottom, and by means of a counter-weight was carried
up to the top of the clock, where it received another bullet, which was dis-
charged as the former. This seems to have been an attempt at the perpetual
motion.–Gentleman’s Magazine, 1785, p. 931.–B.
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JULY 1660
of which I am full glad. To Westminster and among other things
met with Mr. Moore, and took him and his friend, a bookseller
of Paul’s Churchyard, to the Rhenish Winehouse, and drinking
there the sword-bearer of London (Mr. Man) came to ask for
us, with whom we sat late, discoursing about the worth of my
office of Clerk of the Acts, which he hath a mind to buy, and I
asked four years’ purchase. We are to speak more of it to-morrow.
Home on foot, and seeing him at home at Butler’s merry, he lent
me a torch, which Will carried, and so home.
31st. To White Hall, where my Lord and the principal offi-
cers met, and had a great discourse about raising of money for
the Navy, which is in very sad condition, and money must be
raised for it. Mr. Blackburne, Dr. Clerke, and I to the Quaker’s
and dined there. I back to the Admiralty, and there was doing
things in order to the calculating of the debts of the Navy and
other business, all the afternoon. At night I went to the Privy
Seal, where I found Mr. Crofts and Mathews making up all their
things to leave the office tomorrow, to those that come to wait the
next month. I took them to the Sun Tavern and there made them
drink, and discoursed concerning the office, and what I was to
expect tomorrow about Baron, who pretends to the next month.
Late home by coach so far as Ludgate with Mr. Mathews, and
thence home on foot with W. Hewer with me, and so to bed.
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August 1st. Up very early, and by water to Whitehall to my
Lord’s, and there up to my Lord’s lodging (Win. Howe being
now ill of the gout at Mr. Pierce’s), and there talked with him
about the affairs of the Navy, and how I was now to wait today
at the Privy Seal. Commissioner Pett went with me, whom I de-
sired to make my excuse at the office for my absence this day.
Hence to the Privy Seal Office, where I got (by Mr. Mathews’
means) possession of the books and table, but with some expec-
tation of Baron’s bringing of a warrant from the King to have this
month. Nothing done this morning, Baron having spoke to Mr.
Woodson and Groome (clerks to Mr. Trumbull of the Signet) to
keep all work in their hands till the afternoon, at which time he
expected to have his warrant from the King for this month.–[The
clerks of the Privy Seal took the duty of attendance for a month
by turns.]–I took at noon Mr. Harper to the Leg in King Street,
and did give him his dinner, who did still advise me much to act
wholly myself at the Privy Seal, but I told him that I could not,
because I had other business to take up my time. In the afternoon
at, the office again, where we had many things to sign; and I went
to the Council Chamber, and there got my Lord to sign the first
bill, and the rest all myself; but received no money today. After
I had signed all, I went with Dick Scobell and Luellin to drink at
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AUGUST 1660
a bottle beer house in the Strand, and after staying there a while
(had sent W. Hewer home before), I took boat and homewards
went, and in Fish Street bought a Lobster, and as I had bought
it I met with Winter and Mr. Delabarr, and there with a piece of
sturgeon of theirs we went to the Sun Tavern in the street and ate
them. Late home and to bed.
2d. To Westminster by water with Sir W. Batten and Sir W.
Pen (our servants in another boat) to the Admiralty; and from
thence I went to my Lord’s to fetch him thither, where we stayed
in the morning about ordering of money for the victuailers, and
advising how to get a sum of money to carry on the business of
the Navy. From thence dined with Mr. Blackburne at his house
with his friends (his wife being in the country and just upon her
return to London), where we were very well treated and merry.
From thence W. Hewer and I to the office of Privy Seal, where
I stayed all the afternoon, and received about £40 for yesterday
and to-day, at which my heart rejoiced for God’s blessing to me,
to give me this advantage by chance, there being of this £40 about
£10 due to me for this day’s work. So great is the present profit of
this office, above what it was in the King’s time; there being the
last month about 300 bills; whereas in the late King’s time it was
much to have 40. With my money home by coach, it, being the
first time that I could get home before our gates were shut since
I came to the Navy office. When I came home I found my wife
not very well of her old pain.... which she had when we were
married first. I went and cast up the expense that I laid out upon
my former house (because there are so many that are desirous of
it, and I am, in my mind, loth to let it go out of my hands, for fear
of a turn). I find my layings-out to come to about £20, which with
my fine will come to about £22 to him that shall hire my house of
me.–[Pepys wished to let his house in Axe Yard now that he had
apartments at the Navy Office.]–To bed.
3rd. Up betimes this morning, and after the barber had done
with me, then to the office, where I and Sir William Pen only did
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AUGUST 1660
meet and despatch business. At noon my wife and I by coach to
Dr. Clerke’s to dinner: I was very much taken with his lady, a
comely, proper woman, though not handsome; but a woman of
the best language I ever heard. Here dined Mrs. Pierce and her
husband. After dinner I took leave to go to Westminster, where
I was at the Privy Seal Office all day, signing things and taking
money, so that I could not do as I had intended, that is to return
to them and go to the Red Bull Playhouse,137 but I took coach and
went to see whether it was done so or no, and I found it done. So
I returned to Dr. Clerke’s, where I found them and my wife, and
by and by took leave and went away home.
4th. To White Hall, where I found my Lord gone with the King
by water to dine at the Tower with Sir J. Robinson,’ Lieutenant.
I found my Lady Jemimah–[Lady Jemima Montage, daughter
of Lord Sandwich, previously described as Mrs. Jem.]–at my
Lord’s, with whom I staid and dined, all alone; after dinner to
the Privy Seal Office, where I did business. So to a Committee
of Parliament (Sir Hen[eage] Finch, Chairman), to give them an
answer to an order of theirs, “that we could not give them any
account of the Accounts of the Navy in the years 36, 37, 38, 39,
40, as they desire.” After that I went and bespoke some linen
of Betty Lane in the Hall, and after that to the Trumpet, where I
sat and talked with her, &c. At night, it being very rainy, and it
thundering and lightning exceedingly, I took coach at the Trum-
pet door, taking Monsieur L’Impertinent along with me as far as
the Savoy, where he said he went to lie with Cary Dillon,138 and is
137 This well-known theatre was situated in St. John’s Street on the site of
Red Bull Yard. Pepys went there on March 23rd, 1661, when he expressed
a very poor opinion of the place. T. Carew, in some commendatory lines on
Sir William. Davenant’s play, “The just Italian,” 1630, abuses both audiences
and actors:– “There are the men in crowded heaps that throng To that adul-
terate stage, where not a tongue Of th’ untun’d kennel can a line repeat Of
serious sense.” There is a token of this house (see “Boyne’s Trade Tokens,”
ed. Williamson, vol. i., 1889, p. 725).
138 Colonel Cary Dillon, a friend of the Butlers, who courted the fair
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AUGUST 1660
still upon the mind of going (he and his whole family) to Ireland.
Having set him down I made haste home, and in the courtyard, it
being very dark, I heard a man inquire for my house, and having
asked his business, he told me that my man William (who went
this morning–out of town to meet his aunt Blackburne) was come
home not very well to his mother, and so could not come home
to-night. At which I was very sorry. I found my wife still in pain.
To bed, having not time to write letters, and indeed having so
many to write to all places that I have no heart to go about them.
Mrs. Shaw did die yesterday and her husband so sick that he is
not like to live.
5th. Lord’s day. My wife being much in pain, I went this morn-
ing to Dr. Williams (who had cured her once before of this busi-
ness), in Holborn, and he did give me an ointment which I sent
home by my boy, and a plaister which I took with me to West-
minster (having called and seen my mother in the morning as I
went to the doctor), where I dined with Mr. Sheply (my Lord
dining at Kensington). After dinner to St. Margaret’s, where the
first time I ever heard Common Prayer in that Church. I sat with
Mr. Hill in his pew; Mr. Hill that married in Axe Yard and that
was aboard us in the Hope. Church done I went and Mr. Sheply
to see W. Howe at Mr. Pierces, where I staid singing of songs and
psalms an hour or two, and were very pleasant with Mrs. Pierce
and him. Thence to my Lord’s, where I staid and talked and
drank with Mr. Sheply. After that to Westminster stairs, where
I saw a fray between Mynheer Clinke, a Dutchman, that was at
Hartlibb’s wedding, and a waterman, which made good sport.
After that I got a Gravesend boat, that was come up to fetch some
bread on this side the bridge, and got them to carry me to the
bridge, and so home, where I found my wife. After prayers I to
bed to her, she having had a very bad night of it. This morn-
ing before I was up Will came home pretty well again, he having
Frances; but the engagement was subsequently broken off, see December
31 st, 1661.
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AUGUST 1660
been only weary with riding, which he is not used to.
6th. This morning at the office, and, that being done, home
to dinner all alone, my wife being ill in pain a-bed, which I was
troubled at, and not a little impatient. After dinner to Whitehall
at the Privy Seal all the afternoon, and at night with Mr. Man to
Mr. Rawlinson’s in Fenchurch Street, where we staid till eleven
o’clock at night. So home and to bed, my wife being all this day
in great pain. This night Mr. Man offered me £1000 for my office
of Clerk of the Acts, which made my mouth water; but yet I dare
not take it till I speak with my Lord to have his consent.
7th. This morning to Whitehall to the Privy Seal, and took
Mr. Moore and myself and dined at my Lord’s with Mr. Sheply.
While I was at dinner in come Sam. Hartlibb and his brother-in-
law, now knighted by the King, to request my promise of a ship
for them to Holland, which I had promised to get for them. After
dinner to the Privy Seal all the afternoon. At night, meeting Sam.
Hartlibb, he took me by coach to Kensington, to my Lord of Hol-
land’s; I staid in the coach while he went in about his business.
He staying long I left the coach and walked back again before
on foot (a very pleasant walk) to Kensington, where I drank and
staid very long waiting for him. At last he came, and after drink-
ing at the inn we went towards Westminster. Here I endeavoured
to have looked out Jane that formerly lived at Dr. Williams’ at
Cambridge, whom I had long thought to live at present here, but
I found myself in an error, meeting one in the place where I ex-
pected to have found her, but she proved not she though very
like her. We went to the Bullhead, where he and I sat and drank
till 11 at night, and so home on foot. Found my wife pretty well
again, and so to bed.
8th. We met at the office, and after that to dinner at home, and
from thence with my wife by water to Catan Sterpin, with whom
and her mistress Pye we sat discoursing of Kate’s marriage to
Mons. Petit, her mistress and I giving the best advice we could
for her to suspend her marriage till Mons. Petit had got some
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place that may be able to maintain her, and not for him to live
upon the portion that she shall bring him. From thence to Mr.
Butler’s to see his daughters, the first time that ever we made
a visit to them. We found them very pretty, and Coll. Dillon
there, a very merry and witty companion, but methinks they live
in a gaudy but very poor condition. From thence, my wife and
I intending to see Mrs. Blackburne, who had been a day or two
again to see my wife, but my wife was not in condition to be seen,
but she not being at home my wife went to her mother’s and I
to the Privy Seal. At night from the Privy Seal, Mr. Woodson
and Mr. Jennings and I to the Sun Tavern till it was late, and
from thence to my Lord’s, where my wife was come from Mrs.
Blackburne’s to me, and after I had done some business with my
Lord, she and I went to Mrs. Hunt’s, who would needs have us
to lie at her house to-night, she being with my wife so late at my
Lord’s with us, and would not let us go home to-night. We lay
there all night very pleasantly and at ease...
9th. Left my wife at Mrs. Hunt’s and I to my Lord’s, and
from thence with judge Advocate Fowler, Mr. Creed, and Mr.
Sheply to the Rhenish Wine-house, and Captain Hayward of the
Plymouth, who is now ordered to carry my Lord Winchelsea,
Embassador to Constantinople. We were very merry, and judge
Advocate did give Captain Hayward his Oath of Allegiance and
Supremacy. Thence to my office of Privy Seal, and, having signed
some things there, with Mr. Moore and Dean Fuller to the Leg
in King Street, and, sending for my wife, we dined there very
merry, and after dinner, parted. After dinner with my wife to
Mrs. Blackburne to visit her. She being within I left my wife
there, and I to the Privy Seal, where I despatch some business,
and from thence to Mrs. Blackburne again, who did treat my
wife and me with a great deal of civility, and did give us a fine
collation of collar of beef, &c. Thence I, having my head full of
drink from having drunk so much Rhenish wine in the morning,
and more in the afternoon at Mrs. Blackburne’s, came home and
so to bed, not well, and very ill all night.
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10th. I had a great deal of pain all night, and a great loosing
upon me so that I could not sleep. In the morning I rose with
much pain and to the office. I went and dined at home, and after
dinner with great pain in my back I went by water to Whitehall
to the Privy Seal, and that done with Mr. Moore and Creed to
Hide Park by coach, and saw a fine foot-race three times round
the Park between an Irishman and Crow, that was once my Lord
Claypoole’s footman. (By the way I cannot forget that my Lord
Claypoole did the other day make enquiry of Mrs. Hunt, con-
cerning my House in Axe-yard, and did set her on work to get it
of me for him, which methinks is a very great change.) Crow beat
the other by above two miles. Returned from Hide Park, I went to
my Lord’s, and took Will (who waited for me there) by coach and
went home, taking my lute home with me. It had been all this
while since I came from sea at my Lord’s for him to play on. To
bed in some pain still. For this month or two it is not imaginable
how busy my head has been, so that I have neglected to write
letters to my uncle Robert in answer to many of his, and to other
friends, nor indeed have I done anything as to my own family,
and especially this month my waiting at the Privy Seal makes me
much more unable to think of anything, because of my constant
attendance there after I have done at the Navy Office. But blessed
be God for my good chance of the Privy Seal, where I get every
day I believe about £3. This place I got by chance, and my Lord
did give it me by chance, neither he nor I thinking it to be of the
worth that he and I find it to be. Never since I was a man in the
world was I ever so great a stranger to public affairs as now I am,
having not read a new book or anything like it, or enquiring after
any news, or what the Parliament do, or in any wise how things
go. Many people look after my house in Axe-yard to hire it, so
that I am troubled with them, and I have a mind to get the money
to buy goods for my house at the Navy Office, and yet I am loth
to put it off because that Mr. Man bids me £1000 for my office,
which is so great a sum that I am loth to settle myself at my new
house, lest I should take Mr. Man’s offer in case I found my Lord
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willing to it.
11th. I rose to-day without any pain, which makes me think
that my pain yesterday was nothing but from my drinking too
much the day before. To my Lord this morning, who did give
me order to get some things ready against the afternoon for the
Admiralty where he would meet. To the Privy Seal, and from
thence going to my own house in Axeyard, I went in to Mrs.
Crisp’s, where I met with Mr. Hartlibb; for whom I wrote a letter
for my Lord to sign for a ship for his brother and sister, who went
away hence this day to Gravesend, and from thence to Holland. I
found by discourse with Mrs. Crisp that he is very jealous of her,
for that she is yet very kind to her old servant Meade. Hence to
my Lord’s to dinner with Mr. Sheply, so to the Privy Seal; and at
night home, and then sent for the barber, and was trimmed in the
kitchen, the first time that ever I was so. I was vexed this night
that W. Hewer was out of doors till ten at night but was pretty
well satisfied again when my wife told me that he wept because
I was angry, though indeed he did give me a good reason for his
being out; but I thought it a good occasion to let him know that I
do expect his being at home. So to bed.
12th. Lord’s day. To my Lord, and with him to White Hall
Chappell, where Mr. Calamy preached, and made a good ser-
mon upon these words “To whom much is given, of him much
is required.” He was very officious with his three reverences to
the King, as others do. After sermon a brave anthem of Cap-
tain Cooke’s,139 which he himself sung, and the King was well
139 Henry Cooke, chorister of the Chapel Royal, adhered to the royal cause
at the breaking out of the Civil Wars, and for his bravery obtained a captain’s
commission. At the Restoration he received the appointment of Master of
the Children of the Chapel Royal; he was an excellent musician, and three of
his pupils turned out very distinguished musicians, viz, Pelham Humphrey,
John Blow, and Michael Wise. He was one of the original performers in the
“Siege, of Rhodes.” He died July 13th, 1672,: and was buried in the cloisters
of Westminster Abbey. In another place, Pepys says, “a vain coxcomb he is,
though he sings so well.”
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AUGUST 1660
pleased with it. My Lord dined at my Lord Chamberlain’s, and I
at his house with Mr. Sheply. After dinner I did give Mr. Donne;
who is going to sea, the key of my cabin and direction for the
putting up of my things.
After, that I went to walk, and meeting Mrs. Lane of Westmin-
ster Hall, I took her to my Lord’s, and did give her a bottle of
wine in the garden, where Mr. Fairbrother, of Cambridge, did
come and found us, and drank with us. After that I took her to
my house, where I was exceeding free in dallying with her, and
she not unfree to take it. At night home and called at my father’s,
where I found Mr. Fairbrother, but I did not stay but went home-
wards and called in at Mr. Rawlinson’s, whither my uncle Wight
was coming and did come, but was exceeding angry (he being a
little fuddled, and I think it was that I should see him in that case)
as I never saw him in my life, which I was somewhat troubled at.
Home and to bed.
13th. A sitting day at our office. After dinner to Whitehall;
to the Privy Seal, whither my father came to me, and staid talk-
ing with me a great while, telling me that he had propounded
Mr. John Pickering for Sir Thomas Honywood’s daughter, which
I think he do not deserve for his own merit: I know not what
he may do for his estate. My father and Creed and I to the old
Rhenish Winehouse, and talked and drank till night. Then my
father home, and I to my Lord’s; where he told me that he would
suddenly go into the country, and so did commend the business
of his sea commission to me in his absence. After that home by
coach, and took my £100 that I had formerly left at Mr. Rawlin-
son’s, home with me, which is the first that ever I was master of
at once. To prayers, and to bed.
14th. To the Privy Seal, and thence to my Lord’s, where Mr.
Pim, the tailor, and I agreed upon making me a velvet coat. From
thence to the Privy Seal again, where Sir Samuel Morland came
in with a Baronet’s grant to pass, which the King had given him
to make money of. Here he staid with me a great while; and told
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me the whole manner of his serving the King in the time of the
Protector; and how Thurloe’s bad usage made him to do it; how
he discovered Sir R. Willis, and how he hath sunk his fortune
for the King; and that now the King hath given him a pension
of £500 per annum out of the Post Office for life, and the benefit
of two Baronets; all which do make me begin to think that he
is not so much a fool as I took him to be. Home by water to
the Tower, where my father, Mr. Fairbrother, and Cooke dined
with me. After dinner in comes young Captain Cuttance of the
Speedwell, who is sent up for the gratuity given the seamen that
brought the King over. He brought me a firkin of butter for my
wife, which is very welcome. My father, after dinner, takes leave,
after I had given him 40s. for the last half year for my brother
John at Cambridge. I did also make even with Mr. Fairbrother
for my degree of Master of Arts, which cost me about £9 16s. To
White Hall, and my wife with me by water, where at the Privy
Seal and elsewhere all the afternoon. At night home with her by
water, where I made good sport with having the girl and the boy
to comb my head, before I went to bed, in the kitchen.
15th. To the office, and after dinner by water to White Hall,
where I found the King gone this morning by 5 of the clock to see
a Dutch pleasure-boat below bridge,140 where he dines, and my
Lord with him. The King do tire all his people that are about him
with early rising since he came. To the office, all the afternoon I
staid there, and in the evening went to Westminster Hall, where
I staid at Mrs. Michell’s, and with her and her husband sent for
some drink, and drank with them. By the same token she and
Mrs. Murford and another old woman of the Hall were going a
gossiping tonight. From thence to my Lord’s, where I found him
within, and he did give me direction about his business in his
140 A yacht which was greatly admired, and was imitated and improved by
Commissioner Pett, who built a yacht for the King in 1661, which was called
the “Jenny.” Queen Elizabeth had a yacht, and one was built by Phineas Pett
in 1604.
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AUGUST 1660
absence, he intending to go into the country to-morrow morning.
Here I lay all night in the old chamber which I had now given
up to W. Howe, with whom I did intend to lie, but he and I fell
to play with one another, so that I made him to go lie with Mr.
Sheply. So I lay alone all night.
16th. This morning my Lord (all things being ready) carried
me by coach to Mr. Crew’s, (in the way talking how good he did
hope my place would be to me, and in general speaking that it
was not the salary of any place that did make a man rich, but
the opportunity of getting money while he is in the place) where
he took leave, and went into the coach, and so for Hinchinbroke.
My Lady Jemimah and Mr. Thomas Crew in the coach with him.
Hence to Whitehall about noon, where I met with Mr. Madge,
who took me along with him and Captain Cooke (the famous
singer) and other masters of music to dinner at an ordinary about
Charing Cross where we dined, all paying their club. Hence to
the Privy Seal, where there has been but little work these two
days. In the evening home.
17th. To the office, and that done home to dinner where Mr.
Unthanke, my wife’s tailor, dined with us, we having nothing
but a dish of sheep’s trotters. After dinner by water to Whitehall,
where a great deal of business at the Privy Seal. At night I and
Creed and the judge-Advocate went to Mr. Pim, the tailor’s, who
took us to the Half Moon, and there did give us great store of
wine and anchovies, and would pay for them all. This night I
saw Mr. Creed show many the strangest emotions to shift off his
drink I ever saw in my life. By coach home and to bed.
18th. This morning I took my wife towards Westminster by
water, and landed her at Whitefriars, with £5 to buy her a petti-
coat, and I to the Privy Seal. By and by comes my wife to tell me
that my father has persuaded her to buy a most fine cloth of 26s. a
yard, and a rich lace, that the petticoat will come to £5, at which I
was somewhat troubled, but she doing it very innocently, I could
not be angry. I did give her more money, and sent her away, and I
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AUGUST 1660
and Creed and Captain Hayward (who is now unkindly put out
of the Plymouth to make way for Captain Allen to go to Con-
stantinople, and put into his ship the Dover, which I know will
trouble my Lord) went and dined at the Leg in King Street, where
Captain Ferrers, my Lord’s Cornet, comes to us, who after din-
ner took me and Creed to the Cockpitt play,141 the first that I have
had time to see since my coming from sea, “The Loyall Subject,”
where one Kinaston, a boy, acted the Duke’s sister, but made the
loveliest lady that ever I saw in my life, only her voice not very
good. After the play done, we three went to drink, and by Cap-
tain Ferrers’ means, Kinaston and another that acted Archas, the
General, came and drank with us. Hence home by coach, and
after being trimmed, leaving my wife to look after her little bitch,
which was just now a-whelping, I to bed.
19th (Lord’s day). In the morning my wife tells me that the
bitch has whelped four young ones and is very well after it, my
wife having had a great fear that she would die thereof, the dog
that got them being very big. This morning Sir W. Batten, Pen,
and myself, went to church to the churchwardens, to demand a
pew, which at present could not be given us, but we are resolved
to have one built. So we staid and heard Mr. Mills;’ a very, good
minister. Home to dinner, where my wife had on her new petti-
coat that she bought yesterday, which indeed is a very fine cloth
and a fine lace; but that being of a light colour, and the lace all
silver, it makes no great show. Mr. Creed and my brother Tom
dined with me. After dinner my wife went and fetched the little
puppies to us, which are very pretty ones. After they were gone, I
went up to put my papers in order, and finding my wife’s clothes
lie carelessly laid up, I was angry with her, which I was troubled
for. After that my wife and I went and walked in the garden, and
141 The Cockpit Theatre, situated in Drury Lane, was occupied as a play-
house in the reign of James I. It was occupied by Davenant and his company
in 1658, and they remained in it until November 15th, 1660, when they re-
moved to Salisbury Court.
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AUGUST 1660
so home to bed.
20th (Office day). As Sir W. Pen and I were walking in the
garden, a messenger came to me from the Duke of York to fetch
me to the Lord Chancellor. So (Mrs. Turner with her daughter
The. being come to my house to speak with me about a friend of
hers to send to sea) I went with her in her coach as far as Worces-
ter House, but my Lord Chancellor being gone to the House of
Lords, I went thither, and (there being a law case before them this
day) got in, and there staid all the morning, seeing their manner
of sitting on woolpacks, &c., which I never did before.142 After
the House was up, I spoke to my Lord, and had order from him
to come to him at night. This morning Mr. Creed did give me
the Papers that concern my Lord’s sea commission, which he left
in my hands and went to sea this day to look after the gratuity
money.
This afternoon at the Privy Seal, where reckoning with Mr.
Moore, he had got £100 for me together, which I was glad of,
guessing that the profits of this month would come to £100.
In the evening I went all alone to drink at Mr. Harper’s, where
I found Mrs. Crisp’s daughter, with whom and her friends I staid
and drank, and so with W. Hewer by coach to Worcester House,
where I light, sending him home with the £100 that I received
to-day. Here I staid, and saw my Lord Chancellor come into his
Great Hall, where wonderful how much company there was to
expect him at a Seal. Before he would begin any business, he
took my papers of the state of the debts of the Fleet, and there
viewed them before all the people, and did give me his advice
privately how to order things, to get as much money as we can
of the Parliament. That being done, I went home, where I found
all my things come home from sea (sent by desire by Mr. Dun),
142 It is said that these woolpacks were placed in the House of Lords for the
judges to sit on, so that the fact that wool was a main source of our national
wealth might be kept in the popular mind. The Lord Chancellor’s seat is
now called the Woolsack.
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AUGUST 1660
of which I was glad, though many of my things are quite spoilt
with mould by reason of lying so long a shipboard, and my cabin
being not tight. I spent much time to dispose of them tonight, and
so to bed.
21st. This morning I went to White Hall with Sir W. Pen by wa-
ter, who in our passage told me how he was bred up under Sir
W. Batten. We went to Mr. Coventry’s chamber, and consulted
of drawing my papers of debts of the Navy against the afternoon
for the Committee. So to the Admiralty, where W. Hewer and I
did them, and after that he went to his Aunt’s Blackburn (who
has a kinswoman dead at her house to-day, and was to be buried
to-night, by which means he staid very late out). I to Westmin-
ster Hall, where I met Mr. Crew and dined with him, where there
dined one Mr. Hickeman, an Oxford man, who spoke very much
against the height of the now old clergy, for putting out many of
the religious fellows of Colleges, and inveighing against them for
their being drunk, which, if true, I am sorry to hear. After that to-
wards Westminster, where I called on Mr. Pim, and there found
my velvet coat (the first that ever I had) done, and a velvet man-
tle, which I took to the Privy Seal Office, and there locked them
up, and went to the Queen’s Court, and there, after much wait-
ing, spoke with Colonel Birch, who read my papers, and desired
some addition, which done I returned to the Privy Seal, where
little to do, and with Mr. Moore towards London, and in our
way meeting Monsieur Eschar (Mr. Montagu’s man), about the
Savoy, he took us to the Brazennose Tavern, and there drank and
so parted, and I home by coach, and there, it being post-night,
I wrote to my Lord to give him notice that all things are well;
that General Monk is made Lieutenant of Ireland, which my Lord
Roberts (made Deputy) do not like of, to be Deputy to any man
but the King himself. After that to bed.
22nd. Office, which done, Sir W. Pen took me into the gar-
den, and there told me how Mr. Turner do intend to petition the
Duke for an allowance extra as one of the Clerks of the Navy,
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AUGUST 1660
which he desired me to join with him in the furthering of, which
I promised to do so that it did not reflect upon me or to my dam-
age to have any other added, as if I was not able to perform my
place; which he did wholly disown to be any of his intention, but
far from it. I took Mr. Hater home with me to dinner, with whom
I did advise, who did give me the same counsel. After dinner he
and I to the office about doing something more as to the debts of
the Navy than I had done yesterday, and so to Whitehall to the
Privy Seal, and having done there, with my father (who came to
see me) to Westminster Hall and the Parliament House to look
for Col. Birch, but found him not. In the House, after the Com-
mittee was up, I met with Mr. G. Montagu, and joyed him in
his entrance (this being his 3d day) for Dover. Here he made me
sit all alone in the House, none but he and I, half an hour, dis-
coursing how things stand, and in short he told me how there
was like to be many factions at Court between Marquis Ormond,
General Monk, and the Lord Roberts, about the business of Ire-
land; as there is already between the two Houses about the Act
of Indemnity; and in the House of Commons, between the Epis-
copalian and Presbyterian men. Hence to my father’s (walking
with Mr. Herring, the minister of St. Bride’s), and took them
to the Sun Tavern, where I found George, my old drawer, come
again. From thence by water, landed them at Blackfriars, and so
home and to bed.
23rd. By water to Doctors’ Commons to Dr. Walker, to give
him my Lord’s papers to view over concerning his being empow-
ered to be Vice-Admiral under the Duke of York. There meeting
with Mr. Pinkney, he and I to a morning draft, and thence by wa-
ter to White Hall, to the Parliament House, where I spoke with
Colonel Birch, and so to the Admiralty chamber, where we and
Mr. Coventry had a meeting about several businesses. Amongst
others, it was moved that Phineas Pett (kinsman to the Commis-
sioner) of Chatham, should be suspended his employment till he
had answered some articles put in against him, as that he should
formerly say that the King was a bastard and his mother a whore.
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AUGUST 1660
Hence to Westminster Hall, where I met with my father Bowyer,
and Mr. Spicer, and them I took to the Leg in King Street, and
did give them a dish or two of meat, and so away to the Privy
Seal, where, the King being out of town, we have had nothing
to do these two days. To Westminster Hall, where I met with W.
Symons, T. Doling, and Mr. Booth, and with them to the Dogg,
where we eat a musk melon143 (the first that I have eat this year),
and were very merry with W. Symons, calling him Mr. Dean, be-
cause of the Dean’s lands that his uncle had left him, which are
like to be lost all. Hence home by water, and very late at night
writing letters to my Lord to Hinchinbroke, and also to the Vice-
Admiral in the Downs, and so to bed.
24th. Office, and thence with Sir William Batten and Sir
William Pen to the parish church to find out a place where to
build a seat or a gallery to sit in, and did find one which is to be
done speedily. Hence with them to dinner at a tavern in Thames
Street, where they were invited to a roasted haunch of venison
and other very good victuals and company. Hence to Whitehall
to the Privy Seal, but nothing to do. At night by land to my fa-
ther’s, where I found my mother not very well. I did give her a
pint of sack. My father came in, and Dr. T. Pepys, who talked
with me in French about looking out for a place for him. But I
found him a weak man, and speaks the worst French that ever I
heard of one that had been so long beyond sea. Hence into Pant’s
Churchyard and bought Barkley’s Argenis in Latin, and so home
and to bed. I found at home that Captain Burr had sent me 4
dozen bottles of wine today. The King came back to Whitehall
to-night.
25th. This morning Mr. Turner and I by coach from our office
to Whitehall (in our way I calling on Dr. Walker for the papers I
did give him the other day, which he had perused and found that
143 “Melons were hardly known in England till Sir George Gardiner
brought one from Spain, when they became in general estimation. The ordi-
nary price was five or six shillings.”–Quarterly Review, vol, xix.
253
AUGUST 1660
the Duke’s counsel had abated something of the former draught
which Dr. Walker drew for my Lord) to Sir G. Carteret, where
we there made up an estimate of the debts of the Navy for the
Council. At noon I took Mr. Turner and Mr. Moore to the Leg in
King Street, and did give them a dinner, and afterward to the Sun
Tavern, and did give Mr. Turner a glass of wine, there coming to
us Mr. Fowler the apothecary (the judge’s son) with a book of
lute lessons which his father had left there for me, such as he
formerly did use to play when a young man, and had the use
of his hand. To the Privy Seal, and found some business now
again to do there. To Westminster Hall for a new half-shirt of
Mrs. Lane, and so home by water. Wrote letters by the post to
my Lord and to sea. This night W. Hewer brought me home from
Mr. Pim’s my velvet coat and cap, the first that ever I had. So to
bed.
26th (Lord’s day). With Sir W. Pen to the parish church,
where we are placed in the highest pew of all, where a stranger
preached a dry and tedious long sermon. Dined at home. To
church again in the afternoon with my wife; in the garden and
on the leads at night, and so to supper and to bed.
27th. This morning comes one with a vessel of Northdown ale
from Mr. Pierce, the purser, to me, and after him another with
a brave Turkey carpet and a jar of olives from Captain Cuttance,
and a pair of fine turtle-doves from John Burr to my wife. These
things came up to-day in our smack, and my boy Ely came along
with them, and came after office was done to see me. I did give
him half a crown because I saw that he was ready to cry to see
that he could not be entertained by me here. In the afternoon to
the Privy Seal, where good store of work now toward the end of
the month. From thence with Mr. Mount, Luellin, and others to
the Bull head till late, and so home, where about to o’clock Major
Hart came to me, whom I did receive with wine and anchovies,
which made me so dry that I was ill with them all night, and was
fain to have the girle rise and fetch me some drink.
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AUGUST 1660
28th. At home looking over my papers and books and house
as to the fitting of it to my mind till two in the afternoon. Some
time I spent this morning beginning to teach my wife some scale
in music, and found her apt beyond imagination. To the Privy
Seal, where great store of work to-day. Colonel Scroope–[Colonel
Adrian Scroope, one of the persons who sat in judgment upon
Charles I.]–is this day excepted out of the Act of Indemnity,
which has been now long in coming out, but it is expected to-
morrow. I carried home £80 from the Privy Seal, by coach, and
at night spent a little more time with my wife about her music
with great content. This day I heard my poor mother had then
two days been very ill, and I fear she will not last long. To bed,
a little troubled that I fear my boy Will144 is a thief and has stole
some money of mine, particularly a letter that Mr. Jenkins did
leave the last week with me with half a crown in it to send to his
son.
29th (Office day). Before I went to the office my wife and I
examined my boy Will about his stealing of things, but he denied
all with the greatest subtlety and confidence in the world. To the
office, and after office then to the Church, where we took another
view of the place where we had resolved to build a gallery, and
have set men about doing it. Home to dinner, and there I found
my wife had discovered my boy Will’s theft and a great deal more
than we imagined, at which I was vexed and intend to put him
away. To my office at the Privy Seal in the afternoon, and from
thence at night to the Bull Head, with Mount, Luellin, and others,
and hence to my father’s, and he being at my uncle Fenner’s, I
went thither to him, and there sent for my boy’s father and talked
with him about his son, and had his promise that if I will send
home his boy, he will take him notwithstanding his indenture.
Home at night, and find that my wife had found out more of the
boy’s stealing 6s. out of W. Hewer’s closet, and hid it in the house
144 Pepys refers to two Wills. This was Will Wayneman; the other was
William Hewer.
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AUGUST 1660
of office, at which my heart was troubled. To bed, and caused the
boy’s clothes to be brought up to my chamber. But after we were
all a-bed, the wench (which lies in our chamber) called us to listen
of a sudden, which put my wife into such a fright that she shook
every joint of her, and a long time that I could not get her out of it.
The noise was the boy, we did believe, got in a desperate mood
out of his bed to do himself or William [Hewer] some mischief.
But the wench went down and got a candle lighted, and finding
the boy in bed, and locking the doors fast, with a candle burning
all night, we slept well, but with a great deal of fear.
30th. We found all well in the morning below stairs, bu the
boy in a sad plight of seeming sorrow; but he is the most cun-
ning rogue that ever I met with of his age. To White Hall, where
I met with the Act of Indemnity–[12 Car. II. cap. II, an act of free
and general pardon, indemnity, and oblivion.]–(so long talked of
and hoped for), with the Act of Rate for Pole-money, an for judi-
cial proceedings. At Westminster Hall I met with Mr. Paget the
lawyer, and dined with him at Heaven. This afternoon my wife
went to Mr. Pierce’s wife’s child’s christening, and was urged to
be godmother, but I advised her before-hand not to do it, so she
did not, but as proxy for my Lady Jemimah. This the first day
that ever I saw my wife wear black patches since we were mar-
ried!145 My Lord came to town to-day, but coming not home till
very late I staid till 10 at night, and so home on foot. Mr. Sheply
and Mr. Childe this night at the tavern.
31st. Early to wait upon my Lord at White Hall, and with him
to the Duke’s chamber. So to my office in Seething Lane. Dined at
home, and after dinner to my Lord again, who told me that he is
ordered to go suddenly to sea, and did give me some orders to be
drawing up against his going. This afternoon I agreed to let my
house quite out of my hands to Mr. Dalton (one of the wine sell-
145 The fashion of placing black patches on the face was introduced to-
wards the close of the reign of Charles I., and the practice is ridiculed in
the “Spectator.”
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AUGUST 1660
ers to the King, with whom I had drunk in the old wine cellar two
or three times) for £41. At night made even at Privy Seal for this
month against tomorrow to give up possession, but we know not
to whom, though we most favour Mr. Bickerstaffe, with whom
and Mr. Matthews we drank late after office was done at the Sun,
discoursing what to do about it tomorrow against Baron, and so
home and to bed. Blessed be God all things continue well with
and for me. I pray God fit me for a change of my fortune.
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SEPTEMBER 1660
September 1st. This morning I took care to get a vessel to carry
my Lord’s things to the Downs on Monday next, and so to White
Hall to my Lord, where he and I did look over the Commission
drawn for him by the Duke’s Council, which I do not find my
Lord displeased with, though short of what Dr. Walker did for-
merly draw for him. Thence to the Privy Seal to see how things
went there, and I find that Mr. Baron had by a severe warrant
from the King got possession of the office from his brother Bick-
erstaffe, which is very strange, and much to our admiration, it
being against all open justice. Mr. Moore and I and several oth-
ers being invited to-day by Mr. Goodman, a friend of his, we
dined at the Bullhead upon the best venison pasty that ever I eat
of in my life, and with one dish more, it was the best dinner I
ever was at. Here rose in discourse at table a dispute between
Mr. Moore and Dr. Clerke, the former affirming that it was es-
sential to a tragedy to have the argument of it true, which the
Doctor denied, and left it to me to be judge, and the cause to be
determined next Tuesday morning at the same place, upon the
eating of the remains of the pasty, and the loser to spend 10s. All
this afternoon sending express to the fleet, to order things against
my Lord’s coming and taking direction of my Lord about some
rich furniture to take along with him for the Princess!–[Mary,
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SEPTEMBER 1660
Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, who died in December
of this year.]–And talking of this, I hear by Mr. Townsend, that
there is the greatest preparation against the Prince de Ligne’s a
coming over from the King of Spain, that ever was in England
for their Embassador. Late home, and what with business and
my boy’s roguery my mind being unquiet, I went to bed.
2nd (Sunday). To Westminster, my Lord being gone before my
coming to chapel. I and Mr. Sheply told out my money, and made
even for my Privy Seal fees and gratuity money, &c., to this day
between my Lord and me. After that to chappell, where Dr. Fern,
a good honest sermon upon “The Lord is my shield.” After ser-
mon a dull anthem, and so to my Lord’s (he dining abroad) and
dined with Mr. Sheply. So, to St. Margarett’s, and heard a good
sermon upon the text “Teach us the old way,” or something like
it, wherein he ran over all the new tenets in policy and religion,
which have brought us into all our late divisions. From church to
Mrs. Crisp’s (having sent Win. Hewer home to tell my wife that
I could not come home to-night because of my Lord’s going out
early to-morrow morning), where I sat late, and did give them a
great deal of wine, it being a farewell cup to Laud Crisp. I drank
till the daughter began to be very loving to me and kind, and I
fear is not so good as she should be. To my Lord’s, and to bed
with Mr. Sheply.
3rd. Up and to Mr.—–, the goldsmith near the new Exchange,
where I bought my wedding ring, and there, with much ado, got
him to put a gold ring to the jewell, which the King of Sweden did
give my Lord: out of which my Lord had now taken the King’s
picture, and intends to make a George of it. This morning at my
Lord’s I had an opportunity to speak with Sir George Downing,
who has promised me to give me up my bond, and to pay me for
my last quarter while I was at sea, that so I may pay Mr. Moore
and Hawly. About noon my Lord, having taken leave of the King
in the Shield Gallery (where I saw with what kindness the King
did hug my Lord at his parting), I went over with him and saw
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SEPTEMBER 1660
him in his coach at Lambeth, and there took leave of him, he go-
ing to the Downs, which put me in mind of his first voyage that
ever he made, which he did begin like this from Lambeth. In the
afternoon with Mr. Moore to my house to cast up our Privy Seal
accounts, where I found that my Lord’s comes to 400 and odd
pounds, and mine to £132, out of which I do give him as good as
£25 for his pains, with which I doubt he is not satisfied, but my
heart is full glad. Thence with him to Mr. Crew’s, and did fetch
as much money as did make even our accounts between him and
me. Home, and there found Mr. Cooke come back from my Lord
for me to get him some things bought for him to be brought af-
ter them, a toilet cap and comb case of silk, to make use of in
Holland, for he goes to the Hague, which I can do to-morrow
morning. This day my father and my uncle Fenner, and both his
sons, have been at my house to see it, and my wife did treat them
nobly with wine and anchovies. By reason of my Lord’s going
to-day I could not get the office to meet to-day.
4th. I did many things this morning at home before I went out,
as looking over the joiners, who are flooring my diningroom, and
doing business with Sir Williams146 both at the office, and so to
Whitehall, and so to the Bullhead, where we had the remains of
our pasty, where I did give my verdict against Mr. Moore upon
last Saturday’s wager, where Dr. Fuller coming in do confirm
me in my verdict. From thence to my Lord’s and despatched Mr.
Cooke away with the things to my Lord. From thence to Axe
Yard to my house, where standing at the door Mrs. Diana comes
by, whom I took into my house upstairs, and there did dally with
her a great while, and found that in Latin “Nulla puella negat.”
So home by water, and there sat up late setting my papers in or-
der, and my money also, and teaching my wife her music lesson,
in which I take great pleasure. So to bed.
5th. To the office. From thence by coach upon the desire of
146 “Both Sir Williams” is a favourite expression with Pepys, meaning Sir
William Batten and Sir William Penn.
260
SEPTEMBER 1660
the principal officers to a Master of Chancery to give Mr. Stow-
ell his oath, whereby he do answer that he did hear Phineas Pett
say very high words against the King a great while ago. Com-
ing back our coach broke, and so Stowell and I to Mr. Rawlin-
son’s, and after a glass of wine parted, and I to the office, home
to dinner, where (having put away my boy in the morning) his
father brought him again, but I did so clear up my boy’s roguery
to his father, that he could not speak against my putting him
away, and so I did give him 10s. for the boy’s clothes that I
made him, and so parted and tore his indenture. All the after-
noon with the principal officers at Sir W. Batten’s about Pett’s
business (where I first saw Col. Slingsby, who has now his ap-
pointment for Comptroller), but did bring it to no issue. This
day I saw our Dedimus to be sworn in the peace by, which will
be shortly. In the evening my wife being a little impatient I went
along with her to buy her a necklace of pearl, which will cost
£4 10s., which I am willing to comply with her in for her en-
couragement, and because I have lately got money, having now
above £200 in cash beforehand in the world. Home, and having
in our way bought a rabbit and two little lobsters, my wife and I
did sup late, and so to bed. Great news now-a-day of the Duke
d’Anjou’s147 desire to marry the Princesse Henrietta. Hugh Pe-
ters is said to be taken,148 and the Duke of Gloucester is ill, and it
147 Philip, Duke of Anjou, afterwards Duke of Orleans, brother of Louis
XIV. (born 1640, died 1701), married the Princess Henrietta, youngest daugh-
ter of Charles I., who was born June 16th, 1644, at Exeter. She was known
as “La belle Henriette.” In May, 1670, she came to Dover on a political mis-
sion from Louis XIV. to her brother Charles II., but the visit was undertaken
much against the wish of her husband. Her death occurred on her return to
France, and was attributed to poison. It was the occasion of one of the finest
of Bossuet’s “Oraisons Funebres.”
148 Hugh Peters, born at Fowey, Cornwall, and educated at Trinity Col-
lege, Cambridge, where he graduated M.A. 1622. He was tried as one of
the regicides, and executed. A broadside, entitled “The Welsh Hubub, or
the Unkennelling and earthing of Hugh Peters that crafty Fox,” was printed
October 3rd, 1660.
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SEPTEMBER 1660
is said it will prove the small-pox.
6th. To Whitehall by water with Sir W. Batten, and in our pas-
sage told me how Commissioner Pett did pay himself for the en-
tertainment that he did give the King at Chatham at his coming
in, and 20s. a day all the time he was in Holland, which I wonder
at, and so I see there is a great deal of envy between the two. At
Whitehall I met with Commissioner Pett, who told me how Mr.
Coventry and Fairbank his solicitor are falling out, one complain-
ing of the other for taking too great fees, which is too true. I find
that Commissioner Pett is under great discontent, and is loth to
give too much money for his place, and so do greatly desire me
to go along with him in what we shall agree to give Mr. Coventry,
which I have promised him, but am unwilling to mix my fortune
with him that is going down the wind. We all met this morn-
ing and afterwards at the Admiralty, where our business is to ask
provision of victuals ready for the ships in the Downs, which we
did, Mr. Gauden promising to go himself thither and see it done.
Dined Will and I at my Lord’s upon a joint of meat that I sent
Mrs. Sarah for. Afterwards to my office and sent all my books to
my Lord’s, in order to send them to my house that I now dwell
in. Home and to bed.
7th. Not office day, and in the afternoon at home all the day,
it being the first that I have been at home all day since I came
hither. Putting my papers, books and other things in order, and
writing of letters. This day my Lord set sail from the Downs for
Holland.
8th. All day also at home. At night sent for by Sir W. Pen, with
whom I sat late drinking a glass of wine and discoursing, and I
find him to be a very sociable man, and an able man, and very
cunning.
9th (Sunday). In the morning with Sir W. Pen to church, and a
very good sermon of Mr. Mills. Home to dinner, and Sir W. Pen
with me to such as I had, and it was very handsome, it being the
first time that he ever saw my wife or house since we came hither.
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Afternoon to church with my wife, and after that home, and there
walked with Major Hart, who came to see me, in the garden, who
tells me that we are all like to be speedily disbanded;149 and then
I lose the benefit of a muster. After supper to bed.
10th (Office day). News of the Duke’s intention to go tomor-
row to the fleet for a day or two to meet his sister. Col. Slingsby
and I to Whitehall, thinking to proffer our service to the Duke
to wait upon him, but meeting with Sir G. Carteret he sent us
in all haste back again to hire two Catches for the present use of
the Duke. So we returned and landed at the Bear at the Bridge
foot, where we saw Southwark Fair (I having not at all seen
Bartholomew Fair), and so to the Tower wharf, where we did
hire two catches. So to the office and found Sir W. Batten at din-
ner with some friends upon a good chine of beef, on which I ate
heartily, I being very hungry. Home, where Mr. Snow (whom af-
terwards we called one another cozen) came to me to see me, and
with him and one Shelston, a simple fellow that looks after an
employment (that was with me just upon my going to sea last),
to a tavern, where till late with them. So home, having drunk too
much, and so to bed.
11th. At Sir W. Batten’s with Sir W. Pen we drank our morning
draft, and from thence for an hour in the office and dispatch a lit-
tle business. Dined at Sir W. Batten’s, and by this time I see that
we are like to have a very good correspondence and neighbour-
hood, but chargeable. All the afternoon at home looking over my
carpenters. At night I called Thos. Hater out of the office to my
house to sit and talk with me. After he was gone I caused the girl
to wash the wainscot of our parlour, which she did very well,
which caused my wife and I good sport. Up to my chamber to
read a little, and wrote my Diary for three or four days past. The
Duke of York did go to-day by break of day to the Downs. The
149 The Trained Bands were abolished in 1663, but those of the City of Lon-
don were specially excepted. The officers of the Trained Bands were sup-
plied by the Hon. Artillery Company.
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SEPTEMBER 1660
Duke of Gloucester ill. The House of Parliament was to adjourn
to-day. I know not yet whether it be done or no. To bed.
12th (Office day). This noon I expected to have had my cousin
Snow and my father come to dine with me, but it being very
rainy they did not come. My brother Tom came to my house with
a letter from my brother John, wherein he desires some books:
Barthol. Anatom., Rosin. Rom. Antiq., and Gassend. Astronom.,
the last of which I did give him, and an angel–[A gold coin vary-
ing in value at different times from 6s. 8d. to 10s.]–against my
father buying of the others. At home all the afternoon looking af-
ter my workmen, whose laziness do much trouble me. This day
the Parliament adjourned.
13th. Old East comes to me in the morning with letters, and
I did give him a bottle of Northdown ale, which made the poor
man almost drunk. In the afternoon my wife went to the burial
of a child of my cozen Scott’s, and it is observable that within
this month my Aunt Wight was brought to bed of two girls, my
cozen Stradwick of a girl and a boy, and my cozen Scott of a
boy, and all died. In the afternoon to Westminster, where Mr.
Dalton was ready with his money to pay me for my house, but
our writings not being drawn it could not be done to-day. I
met with Mr. Hawly, who was removing his things from Mr.
Bowyer’s, where he has lodged a great while, and I took him and
W. Bowyer to the Swan and drank, and Mr. Hawly did give me
a little black rattoon,–[Probably an Indian rattan cane.]–painted
and gilt. Home by water. This day the Duke of Gloucester died
of the small-pox, by the great negligence of the doctors.
14th (Office day). I got £42 15s. appointed me by bill for my
employment of Secretary to the 4th of this month, it being the last
money I shall receive upon that score. My wife went this after-
noon to see my mother, who I hear is very ill, at which my heart
is very sad. In the afternoon Luellin comes to my house, and
takes me out to the Mitre in Wood Street, where Mr. Samford, W.
Symons and his wife, and Mr. Scobell, Mr. Mount and Chetwind,
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SEPTEMBER 1660
where they were very merry, Luellin being drunk, and I being to
defend the ladies from his kissing them, I kissed them myself
very often with a great deal of mirth. Parted very late, they by
coach to Westminster, and I on foot.
15th. Met very early at our office this morning to pick out the
twenty-five ships which are to be first paid off: After that to West-
minster and dined with Mr. Dalton at his office, where we had
one great court dish, but our papers not being done we could
[not] make an end of our business till Monday next. Mr. Dalton
and I over the water to our landlord Vanly, with whom we agree
as to Dalton becoming a tenant. Back to Westminster, where I
met with Dr. Castles, who chidd me for some errors in our Privy-
Seal business; among the rest, for letting the fees of the six judges
pass unpaid, which I know not what to say to, till I speak to Mr.
Moore. I was much troubled, for fear of being forced to pay the
money myself. Called at my father’s going home, and bespoke
mourning for myself, for the death of the Duke of Gloucester. I
found my mother pretty well. So home and to bed.
16th (Sunday). To Dr. Hardy’s church, and sat with Mr. Rawl-
inson and heard a good sermon upon the occasion of the Duke’s
death. His text was, “And is there any evil in the city and the
Lord hath not done it?” Home to dinner, having some sport with
Win. [Hewer], who never had been at Common Prayer before.
After dinner I alone to Westminster, where I spent my time walk-
ing up and down in Westminster Abbey till sermon time with
Ben. Palmer and Fetters the watchmaker, who told me that my
Lord of Oxford is also dead of the small-pox; in whom his fam-
ily dies, after 600 years having that honour in their family and
name. From thence to the Park, where I saw how far they had
proceeded in the Pell-mell, and in making a river through the
Park, which I had never seen before since it was begun.150 Thence
to White Hall garden, where I saw the King in purple mourning
150 This is the Mall in St. James’s Park, which was made by Charles II., the
former Mall (Pall Mall) having been built upon during the Commonwealth.
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SEPTEMBER 1660
for his brother.151 So home, and in my way met with Dinah, who
spoke to me and told me she had a desire to speak too about some
business when I came to Westminster again. Which she spoke in
such a manner that I was afraid she might tell me something that
I would not hear of our last meeting at my house at Westminster.
Home late, being very dark. A gentleman in the Poultry had a
great and dirty fall over a waterpipe that lay along the channel.
17th. Office very early about casting up the debts of those
twenty-five ships which are to be paid off, which we are to
present to the Committee of Parliament. I did give my wife £15
this morning to go to buy mourning things for her and me, which
she did. Dined at home and Mr. Moore with me, and after-
wards to Whitehall to Mr. Dalton and drank in the Cellar, where
Mr. Vanly according to appointment was. Thence forth to see
the Prince de Ligne, Spanish Embassador, come in to his audi-
ence, which was done in very great state. That being done, Dal-
ton, Vanly, Scrivener and some friends of theirs and I to the Axe,
and signed and sealed our writings, and hence to the Wine cellar
again, where I received £41 for my interest in my house, out of
which I paid my Landlord to Michaelmas next, and so all is even
between him and me, and I freed of my poor little house. Home
by link with my money under my arm. So to bed after I had
looked over the things my wife had bought to-day, with which
being not very well pleased, they costing too much, I went to
bed in a discontent. Nothing yet from sea, where my Lord and
the Princess are.
18th. At home all the morning looking over my workmen in
my house. After dinner Sir W. Batten, Pen, and myself by coach
to Westminster Hall, where we met Mr. Wayte the lawyer to the
Charles II. also formed the canal by throwing the several small ponds into
one.
151 “The Queen-mother of France,” says Ward, in his Diary, p. 177, “died at
Agrippina, 1642, and her son Louis, 1643, for whom King Charles mourned
in Oxford in purple, which is Prince’s mourning.”
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SEPTEMBER 1660
Treasurer, and so we went up to the Committee of Parliament,
which are to consider of the debts of the Army and Navy, and
did give in our account of the twenty-five ships. Col. Birch was
very impertinent and troublesome. But at last we did agree to fit
the accounts of our ships more perfectly for their view within a
few days, that they might see what a trouble it is to do what they
desire. From thence Sir Williams both going by water home, I
took Mr. Wayte to the Rhenish winehouse, and drank with him
and so parted. Thence to Mr. Crew’s and spoke with Mr. Moore
about the business of paying off Baron our share of the dividend.
So on foot home, by the way buying a hat band and other things
for my mourning to-morrow. So home and to bed. This day I
heard that the Duke of York, upon the news of the death of his
brother yesterday, came hither by post last night.
19th (Office day). I put on my mourning and went to the office.
At noon thinking to have found my wife in hers, I found that the
tailor had failed her, at which I was vexed because of an invita-
tion that we have to a dinner this day, but after having waited
till past one o’clock I went, and left her to put on some other
clothes and come after me to the Mitre tavern in Wood-street (a
house of the greatest note in London), where I met W. Symons,
and D. Scobell, and their wives, Mr. Samford, Luellin, Chetwind,
one Mr. Vivion, and Mr. White,152 formerly chaplin to the Lady
Protectresse–[Elizabeth, wife of Oliver Cromwell.]–(and still so,
and one they say that is likely to get my Lady Francess for his
wife). Here we were very merry and had a very good dinner, my
wife coming after me hither to us.
152 According to Noble, Jeremiah White married Lady Frances Cromwell’s
waiting-woman, in Oliver’s lifetime, and they lived together fifty years.
Lady Frances had two husbands, Mr. Robert Rich and Sir John Russell of
Chippenham, the last of whom she survived fifty-two years dying 1721-22
The story is, that Oliver found White on his knees to Frances Cromwell, and
that, to save himself, he pretended to have been soliciting her interest with
her waiting-woman, whom Oliver compelled him to marry. (Noble’s “Life
of Cromwell,” vol. ii. pp. 151, 152.) White was born in 1629 and died 1707.
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SEPTEMBER 1660
Among other pleasures some of us fell to handycapp,153 a sport
that I never knew before, which was very good. We staid till it
was very late; it rained sadly, but we made shift to get coaches.
So home and to bed.
20th. At home, and at the office, and in the garden walking
with both Sir Williams all the morning. After dinner to Whitehall
to Mr. Dalton, and with him to my house and took away all my
papers that were left in my closet, and so I have now nothing
more in the house or to do with it. We called to speak with my
Landlord Beale, but he was not within but spoke with the old
woman, who takes it very ill that I did not let her have it, but I did
give her an answer. From thence to Sir G. Downing and staid late
there (he having sent for me to come to him), which was to tell me
how my Lord Sandwich had disappointed him of a ship to bring
over his child and goods, and made great complaint thereof; but
I got him to write a letter to Lawson, which it may be may do
the business for him, I writing another also about it. While he
was writing, and his Lady and I had a great deal of discourse
in praise of Holland. By water to the Bridge, and so to Major
Hart’s lodgings in Cannon-street, who used me very kindly with
wine and good discourse, particularly upon the ill method which
Colonel Birch and the Committee use in defending of the army
and the navy; promising the Parliament to save them a great deal
of money, when we judge that it will cost the King more than
if they had nothing to do with it, by reason of their delays and
scrupulous enquirys into the account of both. So home and to
bed.
21st (Office day). There all the morning and afternoon till 4
153 “A game at cards not unlike Loo, but with this difference, the winner
of one trick has to put in a double stake, the winner of two tricks a triple
stake, and so on. Thus, if six persons are playing, and the general stake is
1s., suppose A gains the three tricks, he gains 6s., and has to ‘hand i’ the
cap,’ or pool, 4s. for the next deal. Suppose A gains two tricks and B one,
then A gains 4s. and B 2s., and A has to stake 3s. and B 2s. for the next
deal.”–Hindley’s Tavern Anecdotes.–M. B.
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SEPTEMBER 1660
o’clock. Hence to Whitehall, thinking to have put up my books
at my Lord’s, but am disappointed from want of a chest which
I had at Mr. Bowyer’s. Back by water about 8 o’clock, and
upon the water saw the corpse of the Duke of Gloucester brought
down Somerset House stairs, to go by water to Westminster, to
be buried to-night. I landed at the old Swan and went to the
Hoop Tavern, and (by a former agreement) sent for Mr. Chaplin,
who with Nicholas Osborne and one Daniel came to us and we
drank off two or three quarts of wine, which was very good; the
drawing of our wine causing a great quarrel in the house between
the two drawers which should draw us the best, which caused a
great deal of noise and falling out till the master parted them, and
came up to us and did give us a large account of the liberty that
he gives his servants, all alike, to draw what wine they will to
please his customers; and we did eat above 200 walnuts. About
to o’clock we broke up and so home, and in my way I called in
with them at Mr. Chaplin’s, where Nicholas Osborne did give
me a barrel of samphire,154 and showed me the keys of Mardyke
Fort,155 which he that was commander of the fort sent him as a to-
ken when the fort was demolished, which I was mightily pleased
to see, and will get them of him if I can. Home, where I found
my boy (my maid’s brother) come out of the country to-day, but
was gone to bed and so I could not see him to-night. To bed.
22nd. This morning I called up my boy, and found him a pretty,
well-looked boy, and one that I think will please me. I went this
morning by land to Westminster along with Luellin, who came to
my house this morning to get me to go with him to Capt. Allen
to speak with him for his brother to go with him to Constantino-
154 Samphire was formerly a favourite pickle; hence the “dangerous trade”
of the samphire gatherer (“King Lear,” act iv. sc. 6) who supplied the de-
mand. It was sold in the streets, and one of the old London cries was “I ha’
Rock Samphier, Rock Samphier!”
155 A fort four miles east of Dunkirk, probably dismantled when that town
was sold to Louis XIV.
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SEPTEMBER 1660
ple, but could not find him. We walked on to Fleet street, where
at Mr. Standing’s in Salsbury Court we drank our morning draft
and had a pickled herring. Among other discourse here he told
me how the pretty woman that I always loved at the beginning of
Cheapside that sells child’s coats was served by the Lady Bennett
(a famous strumpet), who by counterfeiting to fall into a swoon
upon the sight of her in her shop, became acquainted with her,
and at last got her ends of her to lie with a gentleman that had
hired her to procure this poor soul for him. To Westminster to my
Lord’s, and there in the house of office vomited up all my break-
fast, my stomach being ill all this day by reason of the last night’s
debauch. Here I sent to Mr. Bowyer’s for my chest and put up
my books and sent them home. I staid here all day in my Lord’s
chamber and upon the leads gazing upon Diana, who looked out
of a window upon me. At last I went out to Mr. Harper’s, and
she standing over the way at the gate, I went over to her and ap-
pointed to meet to-morrow in the afternoon at my Lord’s. Here I
bought a hanging jack. From thence by coach home by the way
at the New Exchange156 I bought a pair of short black stockings,
to wear over a pair of silk ones for mourning; and here I met
with The. Turner and Joyce, buying of things to go into mourn-
ing too for the Duke, (which is now the mode of all the ladies in
town), where I wrote some letters by the post to Hinchinbroke
to let them know that this day Mr. Edw. Pickering is come from
my Lord, and says that he left him well in Holland, and that he
156 In the Strand; built, under the auspices of James I., in 1608, out of the sta-
bles of Durham House, the site of the present Adelphi. The New Exchange
stood where Coutts’s banking-house now is. “It was built somewhat on the
model of the Royal Exchange, with cellars beneath, a walk above, and rows
of shops over that, filled chiefly with milliners, sempstresses, and the like.” It
was also called “Britain’s Burse.” “He has a lodging in the Strand... to watch
when ladies are gone to the china houses, or to the Exchange, that he may
meet them by chance and give them presents, some two or three hundred
pounds worth of toys, to be laughed at”–Ben Jonson, The Silent Woman, act
i. sc. 1.
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SEPTEMBER 1660
will be here within three or four days. To-day not well of my last
night’s drinking yet. I had the boy up to-night for his sister to
teach him to put me to bed, and I heard him read, which he did
pretty well.
23rd (Lord’s day). My wife got up to put on her mourning to-
day and to go to Church this morning. I up and set down my
journall for these 5 days past. This morning came one from my
father’s with a black cloth coat, made of my short cloak, to walk
up and down in. To church my wife and I, with Sir W. Batten,
where we heard of Mr. Mills a very good sermon upon these
words, “So run that ye may obtain.” After dinner all alone to
Westminster. At Whitehall I met with Mr. Pierce and his wife
(she newly come forth after childbirth) both in mourning for the
Duke of Gloucester. She went with Mr. Child to Whitehall chapel
and Mr. Pierce with me to the Abbey, where I expected to hear
Mr. Baxter or Mr. Rowe preach their farewell sermon, and in
Mr. Symons’s pew I sat and heard Mr. Rowe. Before sermon I
laughed at the reader, who in his prayer desires of God that He
would imprint his word on the thumbs of our right hands and on
the right great toes of our right feet. In the midst of the sermon
some plaster fell from the top of the Abbey, that made me and all
the rest in our pew afeard, and I wished myself out. After sermon
with Mr. Pierce to Whitehall, and from thence to my Lord, but
Diana did not come according to our agreement. So calling at my
father’s (where my wife had been this afternoon but was gone
home) I went home. This afternoon, the King having news of the
Princess being come to Margate, he and the Duke of York went
down thither in barges to her.
24th (Office day). From thence to dinner by coach with my
wife to my Cozen Scott’s, and the company not being come, I
went over the way to the Barber’s. So thither again to dinner,
where was my uncle Fenner and my aunt, my father and mother,
and others. Among the rest my Cozen Rich. Pepys,157 their elder
157 Richard Pepys, eldest son of Richard Pepys, Lord Chief Justice of Ire-
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SEPTEMBER 1660
brother, whom I had not seen these fourteen years, ever since he
came from New England. It was strange for us to go a gossiping
to her, she having newly buried her child that she was brought to
bed of. I rose from table and went to the Temple church, where
I had appointed Sir W. Batten to meet him; and there at Sir He-
neage Finch Sollicitor General’s chambers, before him and Sir W.
Wilde,158 Recorder of London (whom we sent for from his cham-
ber) we were sworn justices of peace for Middlesex, Essex, Kent,
and Southampton; with which honour I did find myself mightily
pleased, though I am wholly ignorant in the duty of a justice of
peace. From thence with Sir William to Whitehall by water (old
Mr. Smith with us) intending to speak with Secretary Nicholas
about the augmentation of our salaries, but being forth we went
to the Three Tuns tavern, where we drank awhile, and then came
in Col. Slingsby and another gentleman and sat with us. From
thence to my Lord’s to enquire whether they have had any thing
from my Lord or no. Knocking at the door, there passed me
Mons. L’Impertinent [Mr. Butler] for whom I took a coach and
went with him to a dancing meeting in Broad Street, at the house
that was formerly the glass-house, Luke Channel, Master of the
School, where I saw good dancing, but it growing late, and the
room very full of people and so very hot, I went home.
25th. To the office, where Sir W. Batten, Colonel Slingsby, and I
sat awhile, and Sir R. Ford159 coming to us about some business,
land. He went to Boston, Mass., in 1634, and returned to England about
1646.
158 William Wilde, elected Recorder on November 3rd, 1659, and appointed
one of the commissioners sent to Breda to desire Charles II. to return to Eng-
land immediately. He was knighted after the King’s return, called to the
degree of Serjeant, and created a baronet, all in the same year. In 1668 he
ceased to be Recorder, and was appointed judge of the Court of Common
Pleas. In 1673 he was removed to the King’s Bench. He was turned out of
his office in 1679 on account of his action in connection with the Popish Plot,
and died November 23rd of the same year.
159 Sir Richard Ford was one of the commissioners sent to Breda to desire
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SEPTEMBER 1660
we talked together of the interest of this kingdom to have a peace
with Spain and a war with France and Holland; where Sir R. Ford
talked like a man of great reason and experience. And afterwards
I did send for a cup of tee’160 (a China drink) of which I never had
drank before, and went away. Then came Col. Birch and Sir R.
Browne by a former appointment, and with them from Tower
wharf in the barge belonging to our office we went to Deptford
to pay off the ship Success, which (Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Pen
coming afterwards to us) we did, Col. Birch being a mighty busy
man and one that is the most indefatigable and forward to make
himself work of any man that ever I knew in my life. At the
Globe we had a very good dinner, and after that to the pay again,
which being finished we returned by water again, and I from
our office with Col. Slingsby by coach to Westminster (I setting
him down at his lodgings by the way) to inquire for my Lord’s
coming thither (the King and the Princess161 coming up the river
Charles II. to return to England immediately.
160 That excellent and by all Physicians, approved, China drink, called by
the Chineans Tcha, by other nations Tay alias Tee, is sold at the Sultaness
Head Coffee-House, in Sweetings Rents, by the “Royal Exchange, London.”
“Coffee, chocolate, and a kind of drink called tee, sold in almost every
street in 1659.”–Rugge’s Diurnal. It is stated in “Boyne’s Trade Tokens,” ed.
Williamson, vol. i., 1889, p. 593 “that the word tea occurs on no other tokens
than those issued from ‘the Great Turk’ (Morat ye Great) coffeehouse in Ex-
change Alley. The Dutch East India Company introduced tea into Europe in
1610, and it is said to have been first imported into England from Holland
about 1650. The English “East India Company” purchased and presented
2 lbs. of tea to Charles II. in 1660, and 23 lbs. in 1666. The first order for
its importation by the company was in 1668, and the first consignment of
it, amounting to 143 lbs., was received from Bantam in 1669 (see Sir George
Birdwood’s “Report on the Old Records at the India Office,” 1890, p. 26). By
act 12 Car. II., capp. 23, 24, a duty of 8d. per gallon was imposed upon the
infusion of tea, as well as on chocolate and sherbet.
161 “The Princess Royall came from Gravesend to Whitehall by water, at-
tended by a noble retinue of about one hundred persons, gentry, and ser-
vants, and tradesmen, and tirewomen, and others, that took that opportu-
nity to advance their fortunes, by coming in with so excellent a Princess as
273
SEPTEMBER 1660
this afternoon as we were at our pay), and I found him gone to
Mr. Crew’s, where I found him well, only had got some corns
upon his foot which was not well yet. My Lord told me how the
ship that brought the Princess and him (The Tredagh) did knock
six times upon the Kentish Knock,162 which put them in great fear
for the ship; but got off well. He told me also how the King had
knighted Vice-Admiral Lawson and Sir Richard Stayner. From
him late and by coach home, where the plasterers being at work
in all the rooms in my house, my wife was fain to make a bed
upon the ground for her and me, and so there we lay all night.
26th. Office day. That done to the church, to consult about
our gallery. So home to dinner, where I found Mrs. Hunt, who
brought me a letter for me to get my Lord to sign for her husband,
which I shall do for her. At home with the workmen all the after-
noon, our house being in a most sad pickle. In the evening to the
office, where I fell a-reading of Speed’s Geography for a while.
So home thinking to have found Will at home, but he not being
come home but gone somewhere else I was very angry, and when
he came did give him a very great check for it, and so I went to
bed.
27th. To my Lord at Mr. Crew’s, and there took order about
some business of his, and from thence home to my workmen all
the afternoon. In the evening to my Lord’s, and there did read
over with him and Dr. Walker my lord’s new commission for
sea, and advised thereupon how to have it drawn. So home and
to bed.
28th (Office day). This morning Sir W. Batten and Col. Slingsby
without question she is.”-Rugge’s Diurnal. A broadside, entitled “Ourania,
the High and Mighty Lady the Princess Royal of Aurange, congratulated on
her most happy arrival, September the 25th, 1660,” was printed on the 29th.
162 A shoal in the North Sea, off the Thames mouth, outside the Long Sand,
fifteen miles N.N.E. of the North Foreland. It measures seven miles north-
eastward, and about two miles in breadth. It is partly dry at low water. A
revolving light was set up in 1840.
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SEPTEMBER 1660
went with Col. Birch and Sir Wm. Doyly to Chatham to pay off
a ship there. So only Sir W. Pen and I left here in town. All the
afternoon among my workmen till 10 or 11 at night, and did give
them drink and very merry with them, it being my luck to meet
with a sort of drolling workmen on all occasions. To bed.
29th. All day at home to make an end of our dirty work of the
plasterers, and indeed my kitchen is now so handsome that I did
not repent of all the trouble that I have been put to, to have it
done. This day or yesterday, I hear, Prince Rupert163 is come to
Court; but welcome to nobody.
30th (Lord’s day). To our Parish church both forenoon and
afternoon all alone. At night went to bed without prayers, my
house being every where foul above stairs.
163 This is the first mention in the Diary of this famous prince, third son of
Frederick, Prince Palatine of the Rhine, and Elizabeth, daughter of James I.,
born December 17th, 1619. He died at his house in Spring Gardens, Novem-
ber 29th, 1682.
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OCTOBER 1660
October 1st. Early to my Lord to Whitehall, and there he did
give me some work to do for him, and so with all haste to the
office. Dined at home, and my father by chance with me. After
dinner he and I advised about hangings for my rooms, which
are now almost fit to be hung, the painters beginning to do their
work to-day. After dinner he and I to the Miter, where with my
uncle Wight (whom my father fetched thither), while I drank a
glass of wine privately with Mr. Mansell, a poor Reformado of
the Charles, who came to see me. Here we staid and drank three
or four pints of wine and so parted. I home to look after my
workmen, and at night to bed. The Commissioners are very busy
disbanding of the army, which they say do cause great robbing.
My layings out upon my house an furniture are so great that I
fear I shall not be able to go through them without breaking one
of my bags of £100, I having but £200 yet in the world.
2nd. With Sir Wm. Pen by water to Whitehall, being this morn-
ing visited before I went out by my brother Tom, who told me
that for his lying out of doors a day and a night my father had
forbade him to come any more into his house, at which I was
troubled, and did soundly chide him for doing so, and upon con-
fessing his fault I told him I would speak to my father. At White-
hall I met with Captain Clerk, and took him to the Leg in King
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Street, and did give him a dish or two of meat, and his purser that
was with him, for his old kindness to me on board. After dinner
I to Whitehall, where I met with Mrs. Hunt, and was forced to
wait upon Mr. Scawen at a committee to speak for her husband,
which I did. After that met with Luellin, Mr. Fage, and took them
both to the Dog, and did give them a glass of wine. After that at
Will’s I met with Mr. Spicer, and with him to the Abbey to see
them at vespers. There I found but a thin congregation already.
So I see that religion, be it what it will, is but a humour,164 and
so the esteem of it passeth as other things do. From thence with
him to see Robin Shaw, who has been a long time ill, and I have
not seen him since I came from sea. He is much changed, but
in hopes to be well again. From thence by coach to my father’s,
and discoursed with him about Tom, and did give my advice to
take him home again, which I think he will do in prudence rather
than put him upon learning the way of being worse. So home,
and from home to Major Hart, who is just going out of town to-
morrow, and made much of me, and did give me the oaths of
supremacy and allegiance, that I may be capable of my arrears.
So home again, where my wife tells me what she has bought to-
day, namely, a bed and furniture for her chamber, with which
very well pleased I went to bed.
3d. With Sir W. Batten and Pen by water to White Hall, where a
meeting of the Dukes of York and Albemarle, my Lord Sandwich
and all the principal officers, about the Winter Guard, but we de-
termined of nothing. To my Lord’s, who sent a great iron chest
to White Hall; and I saw it carried, into the King’s closet, where
I saw most incomparable pictures. Among the rest a book open
upon a desk, which I durst have sworn was a reall book, and back
164 The four humours of the body described by the old physicians were
supposed to exert their influence upon the mind, and in course of time the
mind as well as the body was credited with its own particular humours. The
modern restricted use of the word humour did not become general until the
eighteenth century.
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again to my Lord, and dined all alone with him, who do treat me
with a great deal of respect; and after dinner did discourse an
hour with me, and advise about some way to get himself some
money to make up for all his great expenses, saying that he be-
lieved that he might have any thing that he would ask of the
King. This day Mr. Sheply and all my Lord’s goods came from
sea, some of them laid of the Wardrobe and some brought to my
Lord’s house. From thence to our office, where we met and did
business, and so home and spent the evening looking upon the
painters that are at work in my house. This day I heard the Duke
speak of a great design that he and my Lord of Pembroke have,
and a great many others, of sending a venture to some parts of
Africa to dig for gold ore there. They intend to admit as many
as will venture their money, and so make themselves a company.
£250 is the lowest share for every man. But I do not find that
my Lord do much like it. At night Dr. Fairbrother (for so he is
lately made of the Civil Law) brought home my wife by coach, it
being rainy weather, she having been abroad today to buy more
furniture for her house.
4th. This morning I was busy looking over papers at the office
all alone, and being visited by Lieut. Lambert of the Charles (to
whom I was formerly much beholden), I took him along with me
to a little alehouse hard by our office, whither my cozen Thomas
Pepys the turner had sent for me to show me two gentlemen that
had a great desire to be known to me, one his name is Pepys, of
our family, but one that I never heard of before, and the other a
younger son of Sir Tho. Bendishes, and so we all called cozens.
After sitting awhile and drinking, my two new cozens, myself,
and Lieut. Lambert went by water to Whitehall, and from thence
I and Lieut. Lambert to Westminster Abbey, where we saw Dr.
Frewen translated to the Archbishoprick of York. Here I saw the
Bishops of Winchester, Bangor, Rochester, Bath and Wells, and
Salisbury, all in their habits, in King Henry Seventh’s chappell.
But, Lord! at their going out, how people did most of them look
upon them as strange creatures, and few with any kind of love
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OCTOBER 1660
or respect. From thence at 2 to my Lord’s, where we took Mr.
Sheply and Wm. Howe to the Raindeer, and had some oysters,
which were very good, the first I have eat this year. So back to my
Lord’s to dinner, and after dinner Lieut. Lambert and I did look
upon my Lord’s model, and he told me many things in a ship
that I desired to understand. From thence by water I (leaving
Lieut. Lambert at Blackfriars) went home, and there by promise
met with Robert Shaw and Jack Spicer, who came to see me, and
by the way I met upon Tower Hill with Mr. Pierce the surgeon
and his wife, and took them home and did give them good wine,
ale, and anchovies, and staid them till night, and so adieu. Then
to look upon my painters that are now at work in my house. At
night to bed.
5th. Office day; dined at home, and all the afternoon at home
to see my painters make an end of their work, which they did to-
day to my content, and I am in great joy to see my house likely
once again to be clean. At night to bed.
6th. Col. Slingsby and I at the office getting a catch ready for
the Prince de Ligne to carry his things away to-day, who is now
going home again. About noon comes my cozen H. Alcock, for
whom I brought a letter for my Lord to sign to my Lord Broghill
for some preferment in Ireland, whither he is now a-going. Af-
ter him comes Mr. Creed, who brought me some books from
Holland with him, well bound and good books, which I thought
he did intend to give me, but I found that I must pay him. He
dined with me at my house, and from thence to Whitehall to-
gether, where I was to give my Lord an account of the stations
and victualls of the fleet in order to the choosing of a fleet fit for
him to take to sea, to bring over the Queen, but my Lord not com-
ing in before 9 at night I staid no longer for him, but went back
again home and so to bed.
7th (Lord’s day). To White Hall on foot, calling at my father’s
to change my long black cloak for a short one (long cloaks be-
ing now quite out); but he being gone to church, I could not
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get one, and therefore I proceeded on and came to my Lord be-
fore he went to chapel and so went with him, where I heard
Dr. Spurstow preach before the King a poor dry sermon; but a
very good anthem of Captn. Cooke’s afterwards. Going out of
chapel I met with Jack Cole, my old friend (whom I had not seen
a great while before), and have promised to renew acquaintance
in London together. To my Lord’s and dined with him; he all
dinner time talking French to me, and telling me the story how
the Duke of York hath got my Lord Chancellor’s daughter with
child,165 and that she, do lay it to him, and that for certain he did
promise her marriage, and had signed it with his blood, but that
he by stealth had got the paper out of her cabinet. And that the
King would have him to marry her, but that he will not.166 So
that the thing is very bad for the Duke, and them all; but my
Lord do make light of it, as a thing that he believes is not a new
thing for the Duke to do abroad. Discoursing concerning what
if the Duke should marry her, my Lord told me that among his
father’s many old sayings that he had wrote in a book of his, this
is one–that he that do get a wench with child and marry her af-
terwards is as if a man should—-in his hat and then clap it on his
head. I perceive my Lord is grown a man very indifferent in all
matters of religion, and so makes nothing of these things. After
dinner to the Abbey, where I heard them read the church-service,
but very ridiculously, that indeed I do not in myself like it at all.
A poor cold sermon of Dr. Lamb’s, one of the prebends, in his
habit, came afterwards, and so all ended, and by my troth a piti-
ful sorry devotion that these men pay. So walked home by land,
and before supper I read part of the Marian persecution in Mr.
165 Anne Hyde, born March 12th, 1637, daughter of Edward, first Earl of
Clarendon. She was attached to the court of the Princess of Orange, daughter
of Charles I., 1654, and contracted to James, Duke of York, at Breda, Novem-
ber 24th, 1659. The marriage was avowed in London September 3rd, 1660.
She joined the Church of Rome in 1669, and died March 31st, 1671.
166 The Duke of York married Anne Hyde, and he avowed the marriage
September 3rd, so that Pepys was rather behindhand in his information.
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Fuller. So to supper, prayers, and to bed.
8th. Office day, and my wife being gone out to buy some
household stuff, I dined all alone, and after dinner to Westmin-
ster, in my way meeting Mr. Moore coming to me, who went back
again with me calling at several places about business, at my fa-
ther’s about gilded leather for my dining room, at Mr. Crew’s
about money, at my Lord’s about the same, but meeting not Mr.
Sheply there I went home by water, and Mr. Moore with me, who
staid and supped with me till almost 9 at night. We love one an-
other’s discourse so that we cannot part when we do meet. He
tells me that the profit of the Privy Seal is much fallen, for which
I am very sorry. He gone and I to bed.
9th. This morning Sir W. Batten with Colonel Birch to Dept-
ford, to pay off two ships. Sir W. Pen and I staid to do busi-
ness, and afterwards together to White Hall, where I went to my
Lord, and found him in bed not well, and saw in his chamber his
picture,–[Lord Sandwich’s portrait by Lely, see post, 22nd of this
same month.]–very well done; and am with child167 till I get it
copied out, which I hope to do when he is gone to sea. To White-
hall again, where at Mr. Coventry’s chamber I met with Sir W.
Pen again, and so with him to Redriffe by water, and from thence
walked over the fields to Deptford (the first pleasant walk I have
had a great while), and in our way had a great deal of merry
discourse, and find him to be a merry fellow and pretty good na-
tured, and sings very bawdy songs. So we came and found our
gentlemen and Mr. Prin at the pay. About noon we dined to-
gether, and were very merry at table telling of tales. After dinner
to the pay of another ship till 10 at night, and so home in our
barge, a clear moonshine night, and it was 12 o’clock before we
got home, where I found my wife in bed, and part of our cham-
bers hung to-day by the upholster, but not being well done I was
167 A figurative expression for an eager longing desire, used by Udall and
by Spenser. The latest authority given by Dr. Murray in the “New English
Dictionary,” is Bailey in 1725.
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fretted, and so in a discontent to bed. I found Mr. Prin a good,
honest, plain man, but in his discourse not very free or pleas-
ant. Among all the tales that passed among us to-day, he told
us of one Damford, that, being a black man, did scald his beard
with mince-pie, and it came up again all white in that place, and
continued to his dying day. Sir W. Pen told us a good jest about
some gentlemen blinding of the drawer, and who he catched was
to pay the reckoning, and so they got away, and the master of the
house coming up to see what his man did, his man got hold of
him, thinking it to be one of the gentlemen, and told him that he
was to pay the reckoning.
10th. Office day all the morning. In the afternoon with the up-
holster seeing him do things to my mind, and to my content he
did fit my chamber and my wife’s. At night comes Mr. Moore,
and staid late with me to tell me how Sir Hards. Waller–[Sir
Hardress Waller, Knt., one of Charles I. judges. His sentence was
commuted to imprisonment for life.]–(who only pleads guilty),
Scott, Coke, Peters, Harrison,168 &c. were this day arraigned at
the bar at the Sessions House, there being upon the bench the
Lord Mayor, General Monk, my Lord of Sandwich, &c.; such a
bench of noblemen as had not been ever seen in England! They
all seem to be dismayed, and will all be condemned without
question. In Sir Orlando Bridgman’s charge, he did wholly rip
up the unjustness of the war against the King from the beginning,
and so it much reflects upon all the Long Parliament, though the
King had pardoned them, yet they must hereby confess that the
King do look upon them as traitors. To-morrow they are to plead
what they have to say. At night to bed.
11th. In the morning to my Lord’s, where I met with Mr. Creed,
and with him and Mr. Blackburne to the Rhenish wine house,
168 General Thomas Harrison, son of a butcher at Newcastle-under-Lyme,
appointed by Cromwell to convey Charles I. from Windsor to Whitehall, in
order to his trial. He signed the warrant for the execution of the King. He
was hanged, drawn, and quartered on the 13th.
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where we sat drinking of healths a great while, a thing which Mr.
Blackburne formerly would not upon any terms have done. After
we had done there Mr. Creed and I to the Leg in King Street, to
dinner, where he and I and my Will had a good udder to dinner,
and from thence to walk in St. James’s Park, where we observed
the several engines at work to draw up water, with which sight I
was very much pleased. Above all the rest, I liked best that which
Mr. Greatorex brought, which is one round thing going within all
with a pair of stairs round; round which being laid at an angle of
45 deg., do carry up the water with a great deal of ease. Here, in
the Park, we met with Mr. Salisbury, who took Mr. Creed and
me to the Cockpitt to see “The Moore of Venice,” which was well
done. Burt acted the Moore; ‘by the same token, a very pretty
lady that sat by me, called out, to see Desdemona smothered.
From thence with Mr. Creed to Hercules Pillars, where we drank
and so parted, and I went home.
12th. Office day all the morning, and from thence with Sir W.
Batten and the rest of the officers to a venison pasty of his at the
Dolphin, where dined withal Col. Washington, Sir Edward Brett,
and Major Norwood, very noble company. After dinner I went
home, where I found Mr. Cooke, who told me that my Lady
Sandwich is come to town to-day, whereupon I went to West-
minster to see her, and found her at super, so she made me sit
down all alone with her, and after supper staid and talked with
her, she showing me most extraordinary love and kindness, and
do give me good assurance of my uncle’s resolution to make me
his heir. From thence home and to bed.
13th. To my Lord’s in the morning, where I met with Cap-
tain Cuttance, but my Lord not being up I went out to Charing
Cross, to see Major-general Harrison hanged, drawn; and quar-
tered; which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man
could do in that condition. He was presently cut down, and his
head and heart shown to the people, at which there was great
shouts of joy. It is said, that he said that he was sure to come
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shortly at the right hand of Christ to judge them that now had
judged him; and that his wife do expect his coming again. Thus
it was my chance to see the King beheaded at White Hall, and
to see the first blood shed in revenge for the blood of the King
at Charing Cross. From thence to my Lord’s, and took Captain
Cuttance and Mr. Sheply to the Sun Tavern, and did give them
some oysters. After that I went by water home, where I was an-
gry with my wife for her things lying about, and in my passion
kicked the little fine basket, which I bought her in Holland, and
broke it, which troubled me after I had done it. Within all the
afternoon setting up shelves in my study. At night to bed.
14th (Lord’s day). Early to my Lord’s, in my way meeting
with Dr. Fairbrother, who walked with me to my father’s back
again, and there we drank my morning draft, my father having
gone to church and my mother asleep in bed. Here he caused
me to put my hand among a great many honorable hands to a
paper or certificate in his behalf. To White Hall chappell, where
one Dr. Crofts made an indifferent sermon, and after it an an-
them, ill sung, which made the King laugh. Here I first did see
the Princess Royal since she came into England. Here I also ob-
served, how the Duke of York and Mrs. Palmer did talk to one an-
other very wantonly through the hangings that parts the King’s
closet and the closet where the ladies sit. To my Lord’s, where I
found my wife, and she and I did dine with my Lady (my Lord
dining with my Lord Chamberlain), who did treat my wife with
a good deal of respect. In the evening we went home through
the rain by water in a sculler, having borrowed some coats of Mr.
Sheply. So home, wet and dirty, and to bed.
15th. Office all the morning. My wife and I by water; I landed
her at Whitefriars, she went to my father’s to dinner, it being my
father’s wedding day, there being a very great dinner, and only
the Fenners and Joyces there. This morning Mr. Carew169 was
hanged and quartered at Charing Cross; but his quarters, by a
169 John Carew signed the warrant for the execution of Charles I. He held
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great favour, are not to be hanged up. I was forced to go to my
Lord’s to get him to meet the officers of the Navy this afternoon,
and so could not go along with her, but I missed my Lord, who
was this day upon the bench at the Sessions house. So I dined
there, and went to White Hall, where I met with Sir W. Batten and
Pen, who with the Comptroller, Treasurer, and Mr. Coventry (at
his chamber) made up a list of such ships as are fit to be kept out
for the winter guard, and the rest to be paid off by the Parliament
when they can get money, which I doubt will not be a great while.
That done, I took coach, and called my wife at my father’s, and so
homewards, calling at Thos. Pepys the turner’s for some things
that we wanted. And so home, where I fell to read “The Fruitless
Precaution” (a book formerly recommended by Dr. Clerke at sea
to me), which I read in bed till I had made an end of it, and do
find it the best writ tale that ever I read in my life. After that
done to sleep, which I did not very well do, because that my wife
having a stopping in her nose she snored much, which I never
did hear her do before.
16th. This morning my brother Tom came to me, with whom
I made even for my last clothes to this day, and having eaten a
dish of anchovies with him in the morning, my wife and I did
intend to go forth to see a play at the Cockpit this afternoon, but
Mr. Moore coming to me, my wife staid at home, and he and I
went out together, with whom I called at the upholsters and sev-
eral other places that I had business with, and so home with him
to the Cockpit, where, understanding that “Wit without money”
was acted, I would not stay, but went home by water, by the way
reading of the other two stories that are in the book that I read
last night, which I do not like so well as it. Being come home,
Will. told me that my Lord had a mind to speak with me to-
night; so I returned by water, and, coming there, it was only to
the religion of the Fifth Monarchists, and was tried October 12th, 1660. He
refused to avail himself of many opportunities of escape, and suffered death
with much composure.
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enquire how the ships were provided with victuals that are to go
with him to fetch over the Queen, which I gave him a good ac-
count of. He seemed to be in a melancholy humour, which, I was
told by W. Howe, was for that he had lately lost a great deal of
money at cards, which he fears he do too much addict himself to
now-a-days. So home by water and to bed.
17th. Office day. At noon came Mr. Creed to me, whom I took
along with me to the Feathers in Fish Street, where I was invited
by Captain Cuttance to dinner, a dinner made by Mr. Dawes
and his brother. We had two or three dishes of meat well done;
their great design was to get me concerned in a business of theirs
about a vessel of theirs that is in the service, hired by the King,
in which I promise to do them all the service I can. From thence
home again with Mr. Crew, where I finding Mrs. The. Turner
and her aunt Duke I would not be seen but walked in the garden
till they were gone, where Mr. Spong came to me and Mr. Creed,
Mr. Spong and I went to our music to sing, and he being gone,
my wife and I went to put up my books in order in closet, and I
to give her her books. After that to bed.
18th. This morning, it being expected that Colonel Hacker and
Axtell should die, I went to Newgate, but found they were re-
prieved till to-morrow. So to my aunt Fenner’s, where with her
and my uncle I drank my morning draft. So to my father’s, and
did give orders for a pair of black baize linings to be made me for
my breeches against to-morrow morning, which was done. So to
my Lord’s, where I spoke with my Lord, and he would have had
me dine with him, but I went thence to Mr. Blackburne, where
I met my wife and my Will’s father and mother (the first time
that ever I saw them), where we had a very fine dinner. Mr.
Creed was also there. This day by her high discourse I found
Mrs. Blackburne to be a very high dame and a costly one. Home
with my wife by coach. This afternoon comes Mr. Chaplin and
N. Osborn to my house, of whom I made very much, and kept
them with me till late, and so to bed. At my coming home. I did
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find that The. Turner hath sent for a pair of doves that my wife
had promised her; and because she did not send them in the best
cage, she sent them back again with a scornful letter, with which
I was angry, but yet pretty well pleased that she was crossed.
19th. Office in the morning. This morning my dining-room
was finished with green serge hanging and gilt leather, which is
very handsome. This morning Hacker and Axtell were hanged
and quartered, as the rest are. This night I sat up late to make
up my accounts ready against to-morrow for my Lord. I found
him to be above £80 in my debt, which is a good sight, and I bless
God for it.
20th. This morning one came to me to advise with me where
to make me a window into my cellar in lieu of one which Sir W.
Batten had stopped up, and going down into my cellar to look I
stepped into a great heap of—-by which I found that Mr. Turner’s
house of office is full and comes into my cellar, which do trouble
me, but I shall have it helped. To my Lord’s by land, calling at
several places about business, where I dined with my Lord and
Lady; when he was very merry, and did talk very high how he
would have a French cook, and a master of his horse, and his lady
and child to wear black patches; which methought was strange,
but he is become a perfect courtier; and, among other things, my
Lady saying that she could get a good merchant for her daughter
Jem., he answered, that he would rather see her with a pedlar’s
pack at her back, so she married a gentleman, than she should
marry a citizen. This afternoon, going through London, and call-
ing at Crowe’s the upholster’s, in Saint Bartholomew’s, I saw the
limbs of some of our new traitors set upon Aldersgate, which
was a sad sight to see; and a bloody week this and the last have
been, there being ten hanged, drawn, and quartered. Home, and
after writing a letter to my uncle by the post, I went to bed.
21st (Lord’s day). To the Parish church in the morning, where
a good sermon by Mr. Mills. After dinner to my Lord’s, and from
thence to the Abbey, where I met Spicer and D. Vines and others
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of the old crew. So leaving my boy at the Abbey against I came
back, we went to Prior’s by the Hall back door, but there being
no drink to be had we went away, and so to the Crown in the
Palace Yard, I and George Vines by the way calling at their house,
where he carried me up to the top of his turret, where there is
Cooke’s head set up for a traytor, and Harrison’s set up on the
other side of Westminster Hall. Here I could see them plainly,
as also a very fair prospect about London. From the Crown to
the Abbey to look for my boy, but he was gone thence, and so he
being a novice I was at a loss what was become of him. I called
at my Lord’s (where I found Mr. Adams, Mr. Sheply’s friend)
and at my father’s, but found him not. So home, where I found
him, but he had found the way home well enough, of which I
was glad. So after supper, and reading of some chapters, I went
to bed. This day or two my wife has been troubled with her boils
in the old place, which do much trouble her. Today at noon (God
forgive me) I strung my lute, which I had not touched a great
while before.
22nd. Office day; after that to dinner at home upon some ribs
of roast beef from the Cook’s (which of late we have been forced
to do because of our house being always under the painters’ and
other people’s hands, that we could not dress it ourselves). After
dinner to my Lord’s, where I found all preparing for my Lord’s
going to sea to fetch the Queen tomorrow. At night my Lord
came home, with whom I staid long, and talked of many things.
Among others I got leave to have his picture, that was done by
Lilly,170 copied, and talking of religion, I found him to be a perfect
Sceptic, and said that all things would not be well while there
was so much preaching, and that it would be better if nothing
but Homilies were to be read in Churches. This afternoon (he
told me) there hath been a meeting before the King and my Lord
170 Peter Lely, afterwards knighted. He lived in the Piazza, Covent Garden.
This portrait was bought by Lord Braybrooke at Mr. Pepys Cockerell’s sale
in 1848, and is now at Audley End.
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Chancellor, of some Episcopalian and Presbyterian Divines; but
what had passed he could not tell me. After I had done talk with
him, I went to bed with Mr. Sheply in his chamber, but could
hardly get any sleep all night, the bed being ill made and he a
bad bedfellow.
23rd. We rose early in the morning to get things ready for My
Lord, and Mr. Sheply going to put up his pistols (which were
charged with bullets) into the holsters, one of them flew off, and
it pleased God that, the mouth of the gun being downwards, it
did us no hurt, but I think I never was in more danger in my
life, which put me into a great fright. About eight o’clock my
Lord went; and going through the garden my Lord met with Mr.
William Montagu, who told him of an estate of land lately come
into the King’s hands, that he had a mind my Lord should beg.
To which end my Lord writ a letter presently to my Lord Chan-
cellor to do it for him, which (after leave taken of my Lord at
White Hall bridge) I did carry to Warwick House to him; and
had a fair promise of him, that he would do it this day for my
Lord. In my way thither I met the Lord Chancellor and all the
judges riding on horseback and going to Westminster Hall, it
being the first day of the term, which was the first time I ever
saw any such solemnity. Having done there I returned to White-
hall, where meeting with my brother Ashwell and his cozen Sam.
Ashwell and Mr. Mallard, I took them to the Leg in King Street
and gave them a dish of meat for dinner and paid for it. From
thence going to Whitehall I met with Catan Stirpin in mourning,
who told me that her mistress was lately dead of the small pox,
and that herself was now married to Monsieur Petit, as also what
her mistress had left her, which was very well. She also took
me to her lodging at an Ironmonger’s in King Street, which was
but very poor, and I found by a letter that she shewed me of her
husband’s to the King, that he is a right Frenchman, and full of
their own projects, he having a design to reform the universities,
and to institute schools for the learning of all languages, to speak
them naturally and not by rule, which I know will come to noth-
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OCTOBER 1660
ing. From thence to my Lord’s, where I went forth by coach to
Mrs. Parker’s with my Lady, and so to her house again. From
thence I took my Lord’s picture, and carried it to Mr. de Cretz to
be copied. So to White Hall, where I met Mr. Spong, and went
home with him and played, and sang, and eat with him and his
mother. After supper we looked over many books, and instru-
ments of his, especially his wooden jack in his chimney, which
goes with the smoke, which indeed is very pretty. I found him
to be as ingenious and good-natured a man as ever I met with in
my life, and cannot admire him enough, he being so plain and
illiterate a man as he is. From thence by coach home and to bed,
which was welcome to me after a night’s absence.
24th. I lay and slept long to-day. Office day. I took occasion to
be angry with my wife before I rose about her putting up of half
a crown of mine in a paper box, which she had forgot where she
had lain it. But we were friends again as we are always. Then
I rose to Jack Cole, who came to see me. Then to the office, so
home to dinner, where I found Captain Murford, who did put
£3 into my hands for a friendship I had done him, but I would
not take it, but bade him keep it till he has enough to buy my
wife a necklace. This afternoon people at work in my house to
make a light in my yard into my cellar. To White Hall, in my
way met with Mr. Moore, who went back with me. He tells me,
among other things, that the Duke of York is now sorry for his ly-
ing with my Lord Chancellor’s daughter, who is now brought to
bed of a boy. From Whitehall to Mr. De Cretz, who I found about
my Lord’s picture. From thence to Mr. Lilly’s, where, not finding
Mr. Spong, I went to Mr. Greatorex, where I met him, and so to
an alehouse, where I bought of him a drawing-pen; and he did
show me the manner of the lamp-glasses, which carry the light
a great way, good to read in bed by, and I intend to have one of
them. So to Mr. Lilly’s with Mr. Spong, where well received,
there being a club to-night among his friends. Among the rest
Esquire Ashmole, who I found was a very ingenious gentleman.
With him we two sang afterward in Mr. Lilly’s study. That done,
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we all pared; and I home by coach, taking Mr. Booker’ with me,
who did tell me a great many fooleries, which may be done by
nativities, and blaming Mr. Lilly for writing to please his friends
and to keep in with the times (as he did formerly to his own dis-
honour), and not according to the rules of art, by which he could
not well err, as he had done. I set him down at Lime-street end,
and so home, where I found a box of Carpenter’s tools sent by my
cozen, Thomas Pepys, which I had bespoke of him for to employ
myself with sometimes. To bed.
25th. All day at home doing something in order to the fitting
of my house. In the evening to Westminster about business. So
home and to bed. This night the vault at the end of the cellar was
emptied.
26th. Office. My father and Dr. Thomas Pepys dined at my
house, the last of whom I did almost fox with Margate ale. My
father is mightily pleased with my ordering of my house. I did
give him money to pay several bills. After that I to Westminster
to White Hall, where I saw the Duke de Soissons go from his au-
dience with a very great deal of state: his own coach all red velvet
covered with gold lace, and drawn by six barbes, and attended
by twenty pages very rich in clothes. To Westminster Hall, and
bought, among, other books, one of the Life of our Queen, which
I read at home to my wife; but it was so sillily writ, that we did
nothing but laugh at it: among other things it is dedicated to that
paragon of virtue and beauty, the Duchess of Albemarle. Great
talk as if the Duke of York do now own the marriage between
him and the Chancellor’s daughter.
27th. In London and Westminster all this day paying of money
and buying of things for my house. In my going I went by chance
by my new Lord Mayor’s house (Sir Richard Browne), by Gold-
smith’s Hall, which is now fitting, and indeed is a very pretty
house. In coming back I called at Paul’s Churchyard and bought
Alsted’s Encyclopaedia,’ which cost me 38s. Home and to bed,
my wife being much troubled with her old pain.
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OCTOBER 1660
28th (Lord’s day). There came some pills and plaister this
morning from Dr. Williams for my wife. I to Westminster Abbey,
where with much difficulty, going round by the cloysters, I got in;
this day being a great day for the consecrating of five Bishopps,
which was done after sermon; but I could not get into Henry the
Seventh’s chappell. So I went to my Lord’s, where I dined with
my Lady, and my young Lord, and Mr. Sidney, who was sent for
from Twickenham to see my Lord Mayor’s show to-morrow. Mr.
Child did also dine with us. After dinner to White Hall chappell;
my Lady and my Lady Jemimah and I up to the King’s closet
(who is now gone to meet the Queen). So meeting with one Mr.
Hill, that did know my Lady, he did take us into the King’s closet,
and there we did stay all service-time, which I did think a great
honour. We went home to my Lord’s lodgings afterwards, and
there I parted with my Lady and went home, where I did find
my wife pretty well after her physic. So to bed.
29th. I up early, it being my Lord Mayor’s day,171 (Sir Richd.
Browne), and neglecting my office I went to the Wardrobe, where
171 When the calendar was reformed in England by the act 24 Geo. II. c. 23,
different provisions were made as regards those anniversaries which affect
directly the rights of property and those which do not. Thus the old quarter
days are still noted in our almanacs, and a curious survival of this is brought
home to payers of income tax. The fiscal year still begins on old Lady-day,
which now falls on April 6th. All ecclesiastical fasts and feasts and other
commemorations which did not affect the rights of property were left on
their nominal days, such as the execution of Charles I. on January 30th and
the restoration of Charles II. on May 29th. The change of Lord Mayor’s day
from the 29th of October to the 9th of November was not made by the act for
reforming the calendar (c. 23), but by another act of the same session (c. 48),
entitled “An Act for the Abbreviation of Michaelmas Term,” by which it was
enacted, “that from and after the said feast of St. Michael, which shall be
in the year 1752, the said solemnity of presenting and swearing the mayors
of the city of London, after every annual election into the said office, in the
manner and form heretofore used on the 29th day of October, shall be kept
and observed on the ninth day of November in every year, unless the same
shall fall on a Sunday, and in that case on the day following.”
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OCTOBER 1660
I met my Lady Sandwich and all the children; and after drinking
of some strange and incomparable good clarett of Mr. Rumball’s
he and Mr. Townsend did take us, and set the young Lords at one
Mr. Nevill’s, a draper in Paul’s churchyard; and my Lady and my
Lady Pickering and I to one Mr. Isaacson’s, a linendraper at the
Key in Cheapside; where there was a company of fine ladies, and
we were very civilly treated, and had a very good place to see the
pageants, which were many, and I believe good, for such kind of
things, but in themselves but poor and absurd. After the ladies
were placed I took Mr. Townsend and Isaacson to the next door, a
tavern, and did spend 5s. upon them. The show being done, we
got as far as Paul’s with much ado, where I left my Lady in the
coach, and went on foot with my Lady Pickering to her lodging,
which was a poor one in Blackfryars, where she never invited me
to go in at all, which methought was very strange for her to do.
So home, where I was told how my Lady Davis is now come to
our next lodgings, and has locked up the leads door from me,
which puts me into so great a disquiet that I went to bed, and
could not sleep till morning at it.
30th. Within all the morning and dined at home, my mind
being so troubled that I could not mind nor do anything till I
spoke with the Comptroller to whom the lodgings belong. In
the afternoon, to ease my mind, I went to the Cockpit all alone,
and there saw a very fine play called “The Tamer Tamed;” very
well acted. That being done, I went to Mr. Crew’s, where I had
left my boy, and so with him and Mr. Moore (who would go a
little way with me home, as he will always do) to the Hercules
Pillars to drink, where we did read over the King’s declaration
in matters of religion, which is come out to-day, which is very
well penned, I think to the satisfaction of most people. So home,
where I am told Mr. Davis’s people have broken open the bolt of
my chamber door that goes upon the leads, which I went up to
see and did find it so, which did still trouble me more and more.
And so I sent for Griffith, and got him to search their house to
see what the meaning of it might be, but can learn nothing to-
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OCTOBER 1660
night. But I am a little pleased that I have found this out. I hear
nothing yet of my Lord, whether he be gone for the Queen from
the Downs or no; but I believe he is, and that he is now upon
coming back again.
31st Office day. Much troubled all this morning in my mind
about the business of my walk on the leads. I spoke of it to the
Comptroller and the rest of the principal officers, who are all un-
willing to meddle in anything that may anger my Lady Davis.
And so I am fain to give over for the time that she do continue
therein. Dined at home, and after dinner to Westminster Hall,
where I met with Billing the quaker at Mrs. Michell’s shop, who
is still of the former opinion he was of against the clergymen of
all sorts, and a cunning fellow I find him to be. Home, and there
I had news that Sir W. Pen is resolved to ride to Sir W. Batten’s
country house to-morrow, and would have me go with him, so
I sat up late, getting together my things to ride in, and was fain
to cut an old pair of boots to make leathers for those I was to
wear. This month I conclude with my mind very heavy for the
loss of the leads, as also for the greatness of my late expenses,
insomuch that I do not think that I have above £150 clear money
in the world, but I have, I believe, got a great deal of good house-
hold stuff: I hear to-day that the Queen is landed at Dover, and
will be here on Friday next, November 2nd. My wife has been so
ill of late of her old pain that I have not known her this fortnight
almost, which is a pain to me.
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November 1st. This morning Sir W. Pen and I were mounted
early, and had very merry discourse all the way, he being very
good company. We came to Sir W. Batten’s, where he lives like a
prince, and we were made very welcome. Among other things
he showed us my Lady’s closet, where was great store of rari-
ties; as also a chair, which he calls King Harry’s chair, where he
that sits down is catched with two irons, that come round about
him, which makes good sport. Here dined with us two or three
more country gentle men; among the rest Mr. Christmas, my old
school-fellow, with whom I had much talk. He did remember
that I was a great Roundhead when I was a boy, and I was much
afraid that he would have remembered the words that I said the
day the King was beheaded (that, were I to preach upon him,
my text should be “The memory of the wicked shall rot”); but
I found afterwards that he did go away from school before that
time.172 He did make us good sport in imitating Mr. Case, Ash,
and Nye, the ministers, which he did very well, but a deadly
drinker he is, and grown exceeding fat. From his house to an ale-
172 Pepys might well be anxious on this point, for in October of this year
Phieas Pett, assistant master shipwright at Chatham, was dismissed from his
post for having when a Child spoken disrespectfully of the King. See ante,
August 23rd.
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house near the church, where we sat and drank and were merry,
and so we mounted for London again, Sir W. Batten with us. We
called at Bow and drank there, and took leave of Mr. Johnson of
Blackwall, who dined with us and rode with us thus far. So home
by moonlight, it being about 9 o’clock before we got home.
2nd. Office. Then dined at home, and by chance Mr. Hol-
liard173 called at dinner time and dined with me, with whom I
had great discourse concerning the cure of the King’s evil, which
he do deny altogether any effect at all. In the afternoon I went
forth and saw some silver bosses put upon my new Bible, which
cost me 6s. 6d. the making, and 7s. 6d. the silver, which, with
9s. 6d. the book, comes in all to £1 3s. 6d. From thence with
Mr. Cooke that made them, and Mr. Stephens the silversmith to
the tavern, and did give them a pint of wine. So to White Hall,
where when I came I saw the boats going very thick to Lambeth,
and all the stairs to be full of people. I was told the Queen was
a-coming;174 so I got a sculler for sixpence to carry me thither and
back again, but I could not get to see the Queen; so come back,
and to my Lord’s, where he was come; and I supt with him, he be-
ing very merry, telling merry stories of the country mayors, how
they entertained the King all the way as he come along; and how
the country gentlewomen did hold up their heads to be kissed
by the King, not taking his hand to kiss as they should do. I took
leave of my Lord and Lady, and so took coach at White Hall and
173 Thomas Holliard or Hollier was appointed in 1638 surgeon for scald
heads at St. Thomas’s Hospital, and on January 25th, 1643-4, he was cho-
sen surgeon in place of Edward Molins. In 1670 his son of the same names
was allowed to take his place during his illness. Ward, in his Diary, p. 235,
mentions that the porter at St. Thomas’s Hospital told him, in 1661, of Mr.
Holyard’s having cut thirty for the stone in one year, who all lived.
174 “Nov. 2. The Queen-mother and the Princess Henrietta came into
London, the Queen having left this land nineteen years ago. Her coming
was very private, Lambeth-way, where the King, Queen, and the Duke of
York, and the rest, took water, crossed the Thames, and all safely arrived at
Whitehall.–“Rugge’s Diurnal.”
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carried Mr. Childe as far as the Strand, and myself got as far as
Ludgate by all the bonfires, but with a great deal of trouble; and
there the coachman desired that I would release him, for he durst
not go further for the fires. So he would have had a shilling or
6d. for bringing of me so far; but I had but 3d. about me and did
give him it. In Paul’s church-yard I called at Kirton’s, and there
they had got a mass book for me, which I bought and cost me
twelve shillings; and, when I came home, sat up late and read in
it with great pleasure to my wife, to hear that she was long ago
so well acquainted with. So to bed. I observed this night very
few bonfires in the City, not above three in all London, for the
Queen’s coming; whereby I guess that (as I believed before) her
coming do please but very few.
3d. Saturday. At home all the morning. In the afternoon
to White Hall, where my Lord and Lady were gone to kiss the
Queene’s hand. To Westminster Hall, where I met with Tom Dol-
ing, and we two took Mrs. Lane to the alehouse, where I made
her angry with commending of Tom Newton and her new sweet-
heart to be both too good for her, so that we parted with much
anger, which made Tom and me good sport. So home to write
letters by the post, and so to bed.
4th (Lord’s day). In the morn to our own church, where
Mr. Mills did begin to nibble at the Common Prayer, by saying
“Glory be to the Father, &c.” after he had read the two psalms;
but the people had been so little used to it, that they could not tell
what to answer. This declaration of the King’s do give the Pres-
byterians some satisfaction, and a pretence to read the Common
Prayer, which they would not do before because of their former
preaching against it. After dinner to Westminster, where I went
to my Lord’s, and having spoke with him, I went to the Abbey,
where the first time that ever I heard the organs in a cathedral!
Thence to my Lord’s, where I found Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, and
with him and Mr. Sheply, in our way calling at the Bell to see the
seven Flanders mares that my Lord has bought lately, where we
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drank several bottles of Hull ale. Much company I found to come
to her, and cannot wonder at it, for she is very pretty and wan-
ton. Hence to my father’s, where I found my mother in greater
and greater pain of the stone. I staid long and drank with them,
and so home and to bed. My wife seemed very pretty to-day, it
being the first time I had given her leave to wear a black patch.
5th (Office day). Being disappointed of money, we failed of go-
ing to Deptford to pay off the Henrietta to-day. Dined at home,
and at home all day, and at the office at night, to make up an ac-
count of what the debts of nineteen of the twenty-five ships that
should have been paid off, is increased since the adjournment of
the Parliament, they being to sit again to-morrow. This 5th of
November is observed exceeding well in the City; and at night
great bonfires and fireworks. At night Mr. Moore came and sat
with me, and there I took a book and he did instruct me in many
law notions, in which I took great pleasure. To bed.
6th. In the morning with Sir W. Batten and Pen by water to
Westminster, where at my Lord’s I met with Mr. Creed. With
him to see my Lord’s picture (now almost done), and thence to
Westminster Hall, where we found the Parliament met to-day,
and thence meeting with Mr. Chetwind, I took them to the Sun,
and did give them a barrel of oysters, and had good discourse;
among other things Mr. Chetwind told me how he did fear that
this late business of the Duke of York’s would prove fatal to my
Lord Chancellor. From thence Mr. Creed and I to Wilkinson’s,
and dined together, and in great haste thence to our office, where
we met all, for the sale of two ships by an inch of candle175 (the
first time that ever I saw any of this kind), where I observed how
they do invite one another, and at last how they all do cry,–[To
cry was to bid.]–and we have much to do to tell who did cry
last. The ships were the Indian, sold for £1,300, and the Half-
175 The old-fashioned custom of sale by auction by inch of candle was con-
tinued in sales by the Admiralty to a somewhat late date. See September 3rd,
1662.
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moon, sold for £830. Home, and fell a-reading of the tryalls of
the late men that were hanged for the King’s death, and found
good satisfaction in reading thereof. At night to bed, and my
wife and I did fall out about the dog’s being put down into the
cellar, which I had a mind to have done because of his fouling the
house, and I would have my will, and so we went to bed and lay
all night in a quarrel. This night I was troubled all night with a
dream that my wife was dead, which made me that I slept ill all
night.
7th (Office day). This day my father came to dine at my house,
but being sent for in the morning I could not stay, but went by
water to my Lord, where I dined with him, and he in a very
merry humour (present Mr. Borfett and Childe) at dinner: he,
in discourse of the great opinion of the virtue–gratitude (which
he did account the greatest thing in the world to him, and had,
therefore, in his mind been often troubled in the late times how
to answer his gratitude to the King, who raised his father), did
say it was that did bring him to his obedience to the King; and
did also bless himself with his good fortune, in comparison to
what it was when I was with him in the Sound, when he durst
not own his correspondence with the King; which is a thing that
I never did hear of to this day before; and I do from this raise an
opinion of him, to be one of the most secret men in the world,
which I was not so convinced of before. After dinner he bid all
go out of the room, and did tell me how the King had promised
him £4000 per annum for ever, and had already given him a bill
under his hand (which he showed me) for £4000 that Mr. Fox is
to pay him. My Lord did advise with me how to get this received,
and to put out £3000 into safe hands at use, and the other he will
make use of for his present occasion. This he did advise with me
about with much secresy. After all this he called for the fiddles
and books, and we two and W. Howe, and Mr. Childe, did sing
and play some psalmes of Will. Lawes’s, and some songs; and
so I went away. So I went to see my Lord’s picture, which is al-
most done, and do please me very well. Hence to Whitehall to
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find out Mr. Fox, which I did, and did use me very civilly, but I
did not see his lady, whom I had so long known when she was
a maid, Mrs. Whittle. From thence meeting my father Bowyer,
I took him to Mr. Harper’s, and there drank with him. Among
other things in discourse he told me how my wife’s brother had
a horse at grass with him, which I was troubled to hear, it being
his boldness upon my score. Home by coach, and read late in the
last night’s book of Trials, and told my wife about her brother’s
horse at Mr. Bowyer’s, who is also much troubled for it, and do
intend to go to-morrow to inquire the truth. Notwithstanding
this was the first day of the King’s proclamation against hackney
coaches coming into the streets to stand to be hired, yet I got one
to carry me home.176 8th. This morning Sir Wm. and the Trea-
surer and I went by barge with Sir Wm. Doyley and Mr. Prin to
Deptford, to pay off the Henrietta, and had a good dinner. I went
to Mr. Davys’s and saw his house (where I was once before a
great while ago) and I found him a very pretty man. In the after-
noon Commissioner Pett and I went on board the yacht, which
indeed is one of the finest things that ever I saw for neatness and
room in so small a vessel. Mr. Pett is to make one to outdo this
for the honour of his country, which I fear he will scarce better.
From thence with him as far as Ratcliffe, where I left him going
by water to London, and I (unwilling to leave the rest of the offi-
cers) went back again to Deptford, and being very much troubled
with a sudden looseness, I went into a little alehouse at the end
of Ratcliffe, and did give a groat for a pot of ale, and there I did...
So went forward in my walk with some men that were going
that way a great pace, and in our way we met with many merry
seamen that had got their money paid them to-day. We sat very
176 “A Proclamation to restrain the abuses of Hackney Coaches in the Cities
of London and Westminster and the Suburbs thereof.” This is printed in
“Notes and Queries,” First Series, vol. viii. p. 122. “In April, 1663, the poor
widows of hackney-coachmen petitioned for some relief, as the parliament
had reduced the number of coaches to 400; there were before, in and about
London, more than 2,000.” –Rugge’s Diurnal.
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NOVEMBER 1660
late doing the work and waiting for the tide, it being moonshine
we got to London before two in the morning. So home, where I
found my wife up, she shewed me her head which was very well
dressed to-day, she having been to see her father and mother. So
to bed.
9th. Lay long in bed this morning though an office day, because
of our going to bed late last night. Before I went to my office Mr.
Creed came to me about business, and also Mr. Carter, my old
Cambridge friend, came to give me a visit, and I did give them a
morning draught in my study. So to the office, and from thence
to dinner with Mr. Wivell at the Hoop Tavern, where we had
Mr. Shepley, Talbot, Adams, Mr. Chaplin and Osborne, and our
dinner given us by Mr. Ady and another, Mr. Wine, the King’s
fishmonger. Good sport with Mr. Talbot, who eats no sort of
fish, and there was nothing else till we sent for a neat’s tongue.
From thence to Whitehall where I found my Lord, who had an
organ set up to-day in his dining-room, but it seems an ugly one
in the form of Bridewell. Thence I went to Sir Harry Wright’s,
where my Lord was busy at cards, and so I staid below with Mrs.
Carter and Evans (who did give me a lesson upon the lute), till
he came down, and having talked with him at the door about
his late business of money, I went to my father’s and staid late
talking with my father about my sister Pall’s coming to live with
me if she would come and be as a servant (which my wife did
seem to be pretty willing to do to-day), and he seems to take it
very well, and intends to consider of it. Home and to bed.
10th. Up early. Sir Wm. Batten and I to make up an account
of the wages of the officers and mariners at sea, ready to present
to the Committee of Parliament this afternoon. Afterwards came
the Treasurer and Comptroller, and sat all the morning with us
till the business was done. So we broke up, leaving the thing to
be wrote over fair and carried to Trinity House for Sir Wm. Bat-
ten’s hand. When staying very long I found (as appointed) the
Treasurer and Comptroller at Whitehall, and so we went with a
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NOVEMBER 1660
foul copy to the Parliament house, where we met with Sir Thos.
Clarges and Mr. Spry, and after we had given them good sat-
isfaction we parted. The Comptroller and I to the coffee-house,
where he shewed me the state of his case; how the King did owe
him about £6000. But I do not see great likelihood for them to
be paid, since they begin already in Parliament to dispute the
paying of the just sea-debts, which were already promised to be
paid, and will be the undoing of thousands if they be not paid.
So to Whitehall to look but could not find Mr. Fox, and then to
Mr. Moore at Mr. Crew’s, but missed of him also. So to Paul’s
Churchyard, and there bought Montelion, which this year do not
prove so good as the last was; so after reading it I burnt it. After
reading of that and the comedy of the Rump, which is also very
silly, I went to bed. This night going home, Will and I bought a
goose.
11th (Lord’s day). This morning I went to Sir W. Batten’s about
going to Deptford to-morrow, and so eating some hog’s pudding
of my Lady’s making, of the hog that I saw a fattening the other
day at her house, he and I went to Church into our new gallery,
the first time it was used, and it not being yet quite finished, there
came after us Sir W. Pen, Mr. Davis, and his eldest son. There
being no woman this day, we sat in the foremost pew, and behind
us our servants, and I hope it will not always be so, it not being
handsome for our servants to sit so equal with us. This day also
did Mr. Mills begin to read all the Common Prayer, which I was
glad of. Home to dinner, and then walked to Whitehall, it being
very cold and foul and rainy weather. I found my Lord at home,
and after giving him an account of some business, I returned and
went to my father’s where I found my wife, and there we supped,
and Dr. Thomas Pepys, who my wife told me after I was come
home, that he had told my brother Thomas that he loved my wife
so well that if she had a child he would never marry, but leave all
that he had to my child, and after supper we walked home, my
little boy carrying a link, and Will leading my wife. So home and
to prayers and to bed. I should have said that before I got to my
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Lord’s this day I went to Mr. Fox’s at Whitehall, when I first saw
his lady, formerly Mrs. Elizabeth Whittle, whom I had formerly
a great opinion of, and did make an anagram or two upon her
name when I was a boy. She proves a very fine lady, and mother
to fine children. To-day I agreed with Mr. Fox about my taking
of the; £4000 of him that the King had given my Lord.
12th. Lay long in bed to-day. Sir Wm. Batten went this morn-
ing to Deptford to pay off the Wolf. Mr. Comptroller and I sat
a while at the office to do business, and thence I went with him
to his house in Lime Street, a fine house, and where I never was
before, and from thence by coach (setting down his sister at the
new Exchange) to Westminster Hall, where first I met with Jack
Spicer and agreed with him to help me to tell money this after-
noon. Hence to De Cretz, where I saw my Lord’s picture finished,
which do please me very well. So back to the Hall, where by
appointment I met the Comptroller, and with him and three or
four Parliament men I dined at Heaven, and after dinner called
at Will’s on Jack Spicer, and took him to Mr. Fox’s, who saved me
the labour of telling me the money by giving me; £3000 by con-
sent (the other £1000 I am to have on Thursday next), which I car-
ried by coach to the Exchequer, and put it up in a chest in Spicer’s
office. From thence walked to my father’s, where I found my
wife, who had been with my father to-day, buying of a tablecloth
and a dozen of napkins of diaper the first that ever I bought in
my life. My father and I took occasion to go forth, and went and
drank at Mr. Standing’s, and there discoursed seriously about
my sister’s coming to live with me, which I have much mind for
her good to have, and yet I am much afeard of her ill-nature.
Coming home again, he and I, and my wife, my mother and Pall,
went all together into the little room, and there I told her plainly
what my mind was, to have her come not as a sister in any re-
spect, but as a servant, which she promised me that she would,
and with many thanks did weep for joy, which did give me and
my wife some content and satisfaction. So by coach home and to
bed. The last night I should have mentioned how my wife and
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I were troubled all night with the sound of drums in our ears,
which in the morning we found to be Mr. Davys’s jack,177 but not
knowing the cause of its going all night, I understand to-day that
they have had a great feast to-day.
13th. Early going to my Lord’s I met with Mr. Moore, who was
going to my house, and indeed I found him to be a most careful,
painful,–[Painful, i.e. painstaking or laborious. Latimer speaks of
the “painful magistrates.”]–and able man in business, and took
him by water to the Wardrobe, and shewed him all the house;
and indeed there is a great deal of room in it, but very ugly till
my Lord hath bestowed great cost upon it. So to the Exchequer,
and there took Spicer and his fellow clerks to the Dog tavern, and
did give them a peck of oysters, and so home to dinner, where I
found my wife making of pies and tarts to try, her oven with,
which she has never yet done, but not knowing the nature of it,
did heat it too hot, and so a little overbake her things, but knows
how to do better another time. At home all the afternoon. At
night made up my accounts of my sea expenses in order to my
clearing off my imprest bill of £30 which I had in my hands at
the beginning of my voyage; which I intend to shew to my Lord
to-morrow. To bed.
14th (Office day). But this day was the first that we do begin to
sit in the afternoon, and not in the forenoon, and therefore I went
into Cheapside to Mr. Beauchamp’s, the goldsmith, to look out a
177 The date of the origin of smoke jacks does not appear to be known,
but the first patent taken out for an improved smoke-jack by Peter Clare is
dated December 24th, 1770. The smoke jack consists of a wind-wheel fixed
in the chimney, which communicates motion by means of an endless band
to a pulley, whence the motion is transmitted to the spit by gearing. In the
valuable introduction to the volume of “Abridgments of Specifications re-
lating to Cooking, 1634-1866” (Patent Office), mention is made of an Italian
work by Bartolomeo Scappi, published first at Rome in 1572, and afterwards
reprinted at Venice in 1622, which gives a complete account of the kitchens
of the time and the utensils used in them. In the plates several roasting-jacks
are represented, one worked by smoke or hot air and one by a spring.
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piece of plate to give Mr. Fox from my Lord, for his favour about
the £4,000, and did choose a gilt tankard. So to Paul’s Church-
yard and bought “Cornelianum dolium:”178 So home to dinner,
and after that to the office till late at night, and so Sir W. Pen, the
Comptroller, and I to the Dolphin, where we found Sir W. Bat-
ten, who is seldom a night from hence, and there we did drink
a great quantity of sack and did tell many merry stories, and in
good humours we were all. So home and to bed.
15th. To Westminster, and it being very cold upon the water I
went all alone to the Sun and drank a draft of mulled white wine,
and so to Mr. de Cretz, whither I sent for J. Spicer (to appoint him
to expect me this afternoon at the office, with the other £1000
from Whitehall), and here we staid and did see him give some
finishing touches to my Lord’s picture, so at last it is complete
to my mind, and I leave mine with him to copy out another for
himself, and took the original by a porter with me to my Lord’s,
where I found my Lord within, and staid hearing him and Mr.
Child playing upon my Lord’s new organ, the first time I ever
heard it. My Lord did this day show me the King’s picture, which
was done in Flanders, that the King did promise my Lord before
he ever saw him, and that we did expect to have had at sea before
the King came to us; but it came but to-day, and indeed it is the
most pleasant and the most like him that ever I saw picture in my
life. As dinner was coming on table, my wife came to my Lord’s,
and I got her carried in to my Lady, who took physic to-day, and
was just now hiring of a French maid that was with her, and they
could not understand one another till my wife came to interpret.
Here I did leave my wife to dine with my Lord, the first time he
ever did take notice of her as my wife, and did seem to have a
178 “Cornelianum dolium” is a Latin comedy, by T. R., published at London
in 1638. Douce attributed it to Thomas Randolph (d. 1635). The book has
a frontispiece representing the sweating tub which, from the name of the
patient, was styled Cornelius’s tub. There is a description of the play in the
“European Magazine,” vol. xxxvii. (1805), p. 343
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just esteem for her. And did myself walk homewards (hearing
that Sir W. Pen was gone before in a coach) to overtake him and
with much ado at last did in Fleet Street, and there I went in to
him, and there was Sir Arnold Brames, and we all three to Sir
W. Batten’s to dinner, he having a couple of Servants married to-
day; and so there was a great number of merchants, and others of
good quality on purpose after dinner to make an offering, which,
when dinner was done, we did, and I did give ten shillings and
no more, though I believe most of the rest did give more, and
did believe that I did so too. From thence to Whitehall again
by water to Mr. Fox and by two porters carried away the other
£1000. He was not within himself, but I had it of his kinsman,
and did give him £4. and other servants something; but whereas
I did intend to have given Mr. Fox himself a piece of plate of £50
I was demanded £100, for the fee of the office at 6d. a pound,
at which I was surprised, but, however, I did leave it there till I
speak with my Lord. So I carried it to the Exchequer, where at
Will’s I found Mr. Spicer, and so lodged it at his office with the
rest. From thence after a pot of ale at Will’s I took boat in the
dark and went for all that to the old Swan, and so to Sir Wm.
Batten’s, and leaving some of the gallants at cards I went home,
where I found my wife much satisfied with my Lord’s discourse
and respect to her, and so after prayers to bed.
16th. Up early to my father’s, where by appointment Mr.
Moore came to me, and he and I to the Temple, and thence to
Westminster Hall to speak with Mr. Wm. Montagu about his
looking upon the title of those lands which I do take as security
for £3000 of my Lord’s money. That being done Mr. Moore and
I parted, and in the Hall I met with Mr. Fontleroy (my old ac-
quaintance, whom I had not seen a long time), and he and I to the
Swan, and in discourse he seems to be wise and say little, though
I know things are changed against his mind. Thence home by
water, where my father, Mr. Snow, and Mr. Moore did dine with
me. After dinner Mr. Snow and I went up together to discourse
about the putting out of £80 to a man who lacks the money and
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would give me £15 per annum for 8 years for it, which I did not
think profit enough, and so he seemed to be disappointed by my
refusal of it, but I would not now part with my money easily. He
seems to do it as a great favour to me to offer to come in upon
a way of getting of money, which they call Bottomry,179 which I
do not yet understand, but do believe there may be something in
it of great profit. After we were parted I went to the office, and
there we sat all the afternoon, and at night we went to a barrel of
oysters at Sir W. Batten’s, and so home, and I to the setting of my
papers in order, which did keep me up late. So to bed.
17th. In the morning to Whitehall, where I inquired at the
Privy Seal Office for a form for a nobleman to make one his Chap-
lain. But I understanding that there is not any, I did draw up one,
and so to my Lord’s, and there I did give him it to sign for Mr.
Turner to be his first Chaplain. I did likewise get my Lord to sign
my last sea accounts, so that I am even to this day when I have
received the balance of Mr. Creed. I dined with my Lady and my
Lady Pickering, where her son John dined with us, who do con-
tinue a fool as he ever was since I knew him. His mother would
fain marry him to get a portion for his sister Betty but he will not
hear of it. Hither came Major Hart this noon, who tells me that
the Regiment is now disbanded, and that there is some money
coming to me for it. I took him to my Lord to Mr. Crew’s, and
from thence with Mr. Shepley and Mr. Moore to the Devil Tav-
ern, and there we drank. So home and wrote letters by the post.
179 “The contract of bottomry is a negotiable instrument, which may be put
in suit by the person to whom it is transferred; it is in use in all countries of
maritime commerce and interests. A contract in the nature of a mortgage
of a ship, when the owner of it borrows money to enable him to carry on
the voyage, and pledges the keel or bottom of the ship as a security for the
repayment. If the ship be lost the lender loses his whole money; but if it
returns in safety, then he shall receive back his principal, and also the pre-
mium stipulated to be paid, however it may exceed the usual or legal rate of
interest.”–Smyth’s “Sailor’s Word Book”.
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Then to my lyra viall,180 and to bed.
18th (Lord’s day). In the morning to our own church, Where
Mr. Powel (a crook legged man that went formerly with me to
Paul’s School), preached a good sermon. In the afternoon to our
own church and my wife with me (the first time that she and my
Lady Batten came to sit in our new pew), and after sermon my
Lady took us home and there we supped with her and Sir W.
Batten, and Pen, and were much made of. The first time that ever
my wife was there. So home and to bed.
19th (Office day). After we had done a little at the office this
morning, I went with the Treasurer in his coach to White Hall,
and in our way, in discourse, do find him a very good-natured
man; and, talking of those men who now stand condemned for
murdering the King, he says that he believes that, if the law
would give leave, the King is a man of so great compassion that
he would wholly acquit them. Going to my Lord’s I met with
Mr. Shepley, and so he and I to the Sun, and I did give him a
morning draft of Muscadine.181 And so to see my Lord’s picture
at De Cretz, and he says it is very like him, and I say so too. Af-
ter that to Westminster Hall, and there hearing that Sir W. Batten
was at the Leg in the Palace, I went thither, and there dined with
him and some of the Trinity House men who had obtained some-
thing to-day at the House of Lords concerning the Ballast Office.
After dinner I went by water to London to the Globe in Cornhill,
and there did choose two pictures to hang up in my house, which
my wife did not like when I came home, and so I sent the picture
of Paris back again. To the office, where we sat all the afternoon
till night. So home, and there came Mr. Beauchamp to me with
180 The lyre viol is a viol with extra open bass strings, holding the same re-
lation to the viol as the theorbo does to the lute. A volume entitled “Musick’s
Recreation on the Lyra Viol,” was printed by John Playford in 1650.
181 Muscadine or muscadel, a rich sort of wine. ‘Vinum muscatum quod
moschi odorem referat.’ “Quaffed off the muscadel, and threw the sops All
in the sexton’s face.” Shakespeare, Taming of the Shrew, act iii. SC. 2.–M. B.
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the gilt tankard, and I did pay him for it £20. So to my musique
and sat up late at it, and so to bed, leaving my wife to sit up till 2
o’clock that she may call the wench up to wash.
20th. About two o’clock my wife wakes me, and comes to bed,
and so both to sleep and the wench to wash. I rose and with
Will to my Lord’s by land, it being a very hard frost, the first we
have had this year. There I staid with my Lord and Mr. Shep-
ley, looking over my Lord’s accounts and to set matters straight
between him and Shepley, and he did commit the viewing of
these accounts to me, which was a great joy to me to see that
my Lord do look upon me as one to put trust in. Hence to the or-
gan, where Mr. Child and one Mr Mackworth (who plays finely
upon the violin) were playing, and so we played till dinner and
then dined, where my Lord in a very good humour and kind to
me. After dinner to the Temple, where I met Mr. Moore and dis-
coursed with him about the business of putting out my Lord’s
£3000, and that done, Mr. Shepley and I to the new Play-house
near Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields (which was formerly Gibbon’s tennis-
court), where the play of “Beggar’s Bush” was newly begun; and
so we went in and saw it, it was well acted: and here I saw the
first time one Moone,182 who is said to be the best actor in the
world, lately come over with the King, and indeed it is the finest
play-house, I believe, that ever was in England. From thence, af-
ter a pot of ale with Mr. Shepley at a house hard by, I went by
link home, calling a little by the way at my father’s and my uncle
Fenner’s, where all pretty well, and so home, where I found the
house in a washing pickle, and my wife in a very joyful condition
when I told her that she is to see the Queen next Thursday, which
puts me in mind to say that this morning I found my Lord in bed
182 Michael Mohun, or Moone, the celebrated actor, who had borne a ma-
jor’s commission in the King’s army. The period of his death is uncertain,
but he is known to have been dead in 1691. Downes relates that an eminent
poet [Lee] seeing him act Mithridates “vented suddenly this saying: ‘Oh,
Mohun, Mohun, thou little man of mettle, if I should write a 100, I’d write a
part for thy mouth.”’ –Roscius Anglicanus, p. 17.
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late, he having been with the King, Queen, and Princess, at the
Cockpit183 all night, where. General Monk treated them; and af-
ter supper a play, where the King did put a great affront upon
Singleton’s’ musique, he bidding them stop and bade the French
musique play, which, my Lord says, do much outdo all ours. But
while my Lord was rising, I went to Mr. Fox’s, and there did
leave the gilt tankard for Mrs. Fox, and then to the counting-
house to him, who hath invited me and my wife to dine with
him on Thursday next, and so to see the Queen and Princesses.
21st. Lay long in bed. This morning my cozen Thomas Pepys,
the turner, sent me a cupp of lignum vitae184 for a token. This
morning my wife and I went to Paternoster Row, and there we
bought some green watered moyre for a morning wastecoate.
And after that we went to Mr. Cade’s’ to choose some pictures
for our house. After that my wife went home, and I to Pope’s
Head, and bought me an aggate hafted knife, which cost me 5s.
So home to dinner, and so to the office all the afternoon, and at
night to my viallin (the first time that I have played on it since
I came to this house) in my dining room, and afterwards to my
lute there, and I took much pleasure to have the neighbours come
forth into the yard to hear me. So down to supper, and sent for
the barber, who staid so long with me that he was locked into the
house, and we were fain to call up Griffith, to let him out. So up
to bed, leaving my wife to wash herself, and to do other things
against to-morrow to go to court.
22d. This morning came the carpenters to make me a door at
the other side of my house, going into the entry, which I was
much pleased with. At noon my wife and I walked to the Old
Exchange, and there she bought her a white whisk185 and put it
183 The Cockpit at Whitehall. The plays at the Cockpit in Drury Lane were
acted in the afternoon.
184 A hard, compact, black-green wood, obtained from ‘Guaiacum offci-
nale’, from which pestles, ship-blocks, rollers, castors, &c., are turned.
185 A gorget or neckerchief worn by women at this time. “A woman’s neck
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on, and I a pair of gloves, and so we took coach for Whitehall
to Mr. Fox’s, where we found Mrs. Fox within, and an alder-
man of London paying £1000 or £1500 in gold upon the table
for the King, which was the most gold that ever I saw together
in my life. Mr. Fox came in presently and did receive us with
a great deal of respect; and then did take my wife and I to the
Queen’s presence-chamber; where he got my wife placed behind
the Queen’s chair, and I got into the crowd, and by and by the
Queen and the two Princesses came to dinner. The Queen a
very little plain old woman, and nothing more in her presence
in any respect nor garb than any ordinary woman. The Princess
of Orange I had often seen before. The Princess Henrietta is very
pretty, but much below my expectation; and her dressing of her-
self with her hair frized short up to her ears, did make her seem
so much the less to me. But my wife standing near her with two
or three black patches on, and well dressed, did seem to me much
handsomer than she. Dinner being done, we went to Mr. Fox’s
again, where many gentlemen dined with us, and most princely
dinner, all provided for me and my friends, but I bringing none
but myself and wife, he did call the company to help to eat up so
much good victuals. At the end of dinner, my Lord Sandwich’s
health was drunk in the gilt tankard that I did give to Mrs. Fox
the other day. After dinner I had notice given me by Will my
man that my Lord did inquire for me, so I went to find him, and
met him and the Duke of York in a coach going towards Char-
ing Cross. I endeavoured to follow them but could not, so I re-
turned to Mr. Fox, and after much kindness and good discourse
we parted from thence. I took coach for my wife and me home-
wards, and I light at the Maypole in the Strand, and sent my wife
home. I to the new playhouse and saw part of the “Traitor,” a
very good Tragedy; Mr. Moon did act the Traitor very well. So
to my Lord’s, and sat there with my Lady a great while talking.
whisk is used both plain and laced, and is called of most a gorget or falling
whisk, because it falleth about the shoulders.” –Randle Hohnt (quoted by
Planche).
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NOVEMBER 1660
Among other things, she took occasion to inquire (by Madame
Dury’s late discourse with her) how I did treat my wife’s father
and mother. At which I did give her a good account, and she
seemed to be very well opinioned of my wife. From thence to
White Hall at about 9 at night, and there, with Laud the page
that went with me, we could not get out of Henry the Eighth’s
gallery into the further part of the boarded gallery, where my
Lord was walking with my Lord Ormond; and we had a key of
Sir S. Morland’s, but all would not do; till at last, by knocking,
Mr. Harrison the door-keeper did open us the door, and, after
some talk with my Lord about getting a catch to carry my Lord
St. Albans a goods to France, I parted and went home on foot, it
being very late and dirty, and so weary to bed.
23rd. This morning standing looking upon the workmen doing
of my new door to my house, there comes Captain Straughan the
Scot (to whom the King has given half of the money that the two
ships lately sold do bring), and he would needs take me to the
Dolphin, and give me a glass of ale and a peck of oysters, he and
I. He did talk much what he is able to advise the King for good
husbandry in his ships, as by ballasting them with lead ore and
many other tricks, but I do believe that he is a knowing man in
sea-business. Home and dined, and in the afternoon to the office,
where till late, and that being done Mr. Creed did come to speak
with me, and I took him to the Dolphin, where there was Mr.
Pierce the purser and his wife and some friends of theirs. So I did
spend a crown upon them behind the bar, they being akin to the
people of the house, and this being the house where Mr. Pierce
was apprentice. After they were gone Mr. Creed and I spent an
hour in looking over the account which he do intend to pass in
our office for his lending moneys, which I did advise about and
approve or disapprove of as I saw cause. After an hour being,
serious at this we parted about 11 o’clock at night. So I home and
to bed, leaving my wife and the maid at their linen to get up.
24th. To my Lord’s, where after I had done talking with him
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Mr. Townsend, Rumball, Blackburn, Creed and Shepley and I
to the Rhenish winehouse, and there I did give them two quarts
of Wormwood wine,186 and so we broke up. So we parted, and
I and Mr. Creed to Westminster Hall and looked over a book
or two, and so to my Lord’s, where I dined with my lady, there
being Mr. Child and Mrs. Borfett, who are never absent at dinner
there, under pretence of a wooing. From thence I to Mr. de Cretz
and did take away my Lord’s picture, which is now finished for
me, and I paid £3 10s. for it and the frame, and am well pleased
with it and the price. So carried it home by water, Will being
with me. At home, and had a fire made in my closet, and put my
papers and books and things in order, and that being done I fell
to entering these two good songs of Mr. Lawes, “Helpe, helpe,
O helpe,” and “O God of Heaven and Hell” in my song book, to
which I have got Mr. Child to set the base to the Theorbo, and
that done to bed.
25th (Lord’s day). In the forenoon I alone to our church, and
after dinner I went and ranged about to many churches, among
the rest to the Temple, where I heard Dr. Wilkins’ a little (late
Maister of Trinity in Cambridge). That being done to my father’s
to see my mother who is troubled much with the stone, and that
being done I went home, where I had a letter brought me from
my Lord to get a ship ready to carry the Queen’s things over to
France, she being to go within five or six days. So to supper and
to bed.
26th (Office day). To it all the morning, and dined at home
where my father come and dined with me, who seems to take
much pleasure to have a son that is neat in his house. I being
now making my new door into the entry, which he do please
himself much with. After dinner to the office again, and there till
186 Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is celebrated for its intensely bitter,
tonic, and stimulating qualities, which have caused it to be used in various
medicinal preparations, and also in the making of liqueurs, as wormwood
wine and creme d’absinthe.
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NOVEMBER 1660
night. And that being done the Comptroller and I to the Mitre to
a glass of wine, when we fell into a discourse of poetry, and he
did repeat some verses of his own making which were very good.
Home, there hear that my Lady Batten had given my wife a visit
(the first that ever she made her), which pleased me exceedingly.
So after supper to bed.
27th. To Whitehall, where I found my Lord gone abroad to the
Wardrobe, whither he do now go every other morning, and do
seem to resolve to understand and look after the business him-
self. From thence to Westminster Hall, and in King Street there
being a great stop of coaches, there was a falling out between a
drayman and my Lord Chesterfield’s coachman, and one of his
footmen killed. At the Hall I met with Mr. Creed, and he and I to
Hell to drink our morning draught, and so to my Lord’s again,
where I found my wife, and she and I dined with him and my
Lady, and great company of my Lord’s friends, and my Lord did
show us great respect. Soon as dinner was done my wife took
her leave, and went with Mr. Blackburne and his wife to London
to a christening of a Brother’s child of his on Tower Hill, and I to
a play, “The Scorn-full Lady,” and that being done, I went home-
wards, and met Mr. Moore, who had been at my house, and took
him to my father’s, and we three to Standing’s to drink. Here
Mr. Moore told me how the House had this day voted the King
to have all the Excise for ever. This day I do also hear that the
Queen’s going to France is stopt, which do like, me well, because
then the King will be in town the next month, which is my month
again at the Privy Seal. From thence home, where when I come
I do remember that I did leave my boy Waineman at Whitehall
with order to stay there for me in the court, at which I was much
troubled, but about 11 o’clock at night the boy came home well,
and so we all to bed.
28th. This morning went to Whitehall to my Lord’s, where Ma-
jor Hart did pay me; £23 14s. 9d., due to me upon my pay in my
Lord’s troop at the time of our disbanding, which is a great bless-
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ing to have without taking any law in the world for. But now
I must put an end to any hopes of getting any more, so that I
bless God for this. From thence with Mr. Shepley and Pinkney to
the Sun, and did give them a glass of wine and a peck of oysters
for joy of my getting this money. So home, where I found that
Mr. Creed had sent me the £11 5s. that is due to me upon the re-
mains of account for my sea business, which is also so much clear
money to me, and my bill of impresse187 for £30 is also cleared, so
that I am wholly clear as to the sea in all respects. To the office,
and was there till late at night, and among the officers do hear
that they may have our salaries allowed by the Treasurer, which
do make me very glad, and praise God for it. Home to supper,
and Mr. Hater supped with me, whom I did give order to take
up my money of the Treasurer to-morrow if it can be had. So to
bed.
29th. In the morning seeing a great deal of foul water come
into my parlour from under the partition between me and Mr.
Davis, I did step thither to him and tell him of it, and he did seem
very ready to have it stopt, and did also tell me how thieves did
attempt to rob his house last night, which do make us all afraid.
This noon I being troubled that the workmen that I have to do my
door were called to Mr. Davis’s away, I sent for them, when Mr.
Davis sent to inquire a reason of, and I did give him a good one,
that they were come on purpose to do some work with me that
they had already begun, with which he was well pleased, and I
glad, being unwilling to anger them. In the afternoon Sir W. Bat-
ten and I met and did sell the ship Church for £440; and we asked
£391, and that being done, I went home, and Dr. Petty came to
me about Mr. Barlow’s money, and I being a little troubled to be
so importuned before I had received it, and that they would have
187 For “bill of impress” In Italian ‘imprestare’ means “to lend.” In the
ancient accounts of persons officially employed by the crown, money ad-
vanced, paid on, account, was described as “de prestito,” or “in prestitis.”–
M. B.
315
NOVEMBER 1660
it stopt in Mr. Fenn’s hands, I did force the Doctor to go fetch the
letter of attorney that he had to receive it only to make him same
labour, which he did bring, and Mr. Hales came along with him
from the Treasury with my money for the first quarter (Michael-
mas last) that ever I received for this employment. So I paid the
Dr. £25 and had £62 10s. for myself, and £7 10s. to myself also
for Will’s salary, which I do intend yet to keep for myself. With
this my heart is much rejoiced, and do bless Almighty God that
he is pleased to send so sudden and unexpected payment of my
salary so soon after my great disbursements. So that now I am
worth £200 again. In a great ease of mind and spirit I fell about
the auditing of Mr. Shepley’s last accounts with my Lord by my
Lord’s desire, and about that I sat till 12 o’clock at night, till I be-
gan to doze, and so to bed, with my heart praising God for his
mercy to us.
30th (Office day). To the office, where Sir G. Carteret did give
us an account how Mr. Holland do intend to prevail with the Par-
liament to try his project of discharging the seamen all at present
by ticket, and so promise interest to all men that will lend money
upon them at eight per cent., for so long as they are unpaid;
whereby he do think to take away the growing debt, which do
now lie upon the kingdom for lack of present money to discharge
the seamen. But this we are, troubled at as some diminution to
us. I having two barrels of oysters at home, I caused one of them
and some wine to be brought to the inner room in the office, and
there the Principal Officers did go and eat them. So we sat till
noon, and then to dinner, and to it again in the afternoon till
night. At home I sent for Mr. Hater, and broke the other barrel
with him, and did afterwards sit down discoursing of sea terms
to learn of him. And he being gone I went up and sat till twelve
at night again to make an end of my Lord’s accounts, as I did the
last night. Which at last I made a good end of, and so to bed.
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DECEMBER 1660
December 1st. This morning, observing some things to be laid
up not as they should be by the girl, I took a broom and basted
her till she cried extremely, which made me vexed, but before I
went out I left her appeased. So to Whitehall, where I found Mr.
Moore attending for me at the Privy Seal, but nothing to do to-
day. I went to my Lord St. Albans lodgings, and found him in
bed, talking to a priest (he looked like one) that leaned along over
the side of the bed, and there I desired to know his mind about
making the catch stay longer, which I got ready for him the other
day. He seems to be a fine civil gentleman. To my Lord’s, and
did give up my audit of his accounts, which I had been then two
days about, and was well received by my Lord. I dined with my
Lord and Lady, and we had a venison pasty. Mr. Shepley and I
went into London, and calling upon Mr. Pinkney, the goldsmith,
he took us to the tavern, and gave us a pint of wine, and there fell
into our company old Mr. Flower and another gentleman; who
tell us how a Scotch knight was killed basely the other day at
the Fleece in Covent Garden, where there had been a great many
formerly killed. So to Paul’s Churchyard, and there I took the
little man at Mr. Kirton’s and Mr. Shepley to Ringstead’s at the
Star, and after a pint of wine I went home, my brains somewhat
troubled with so much wine, and after a letter or two by the post
317
DECEMBER 1660
I went to bed.
2d (Lord’s day). My head not very well, and my body out of
order by last night’s drinking, which is my great folly. To church,
and Mr. Mills made a good sermon; so home to dinner. My wife
and I all alone to a leg of mutton, the sawce of which being made
sweet, I was angry at it, and eat none, but only dined upon the
marrow bone that we had beside. To church in the afternoon, and
after sermon took Tom Fuller’s Church History and read over
Henry the 8th’s life in it, and so to supper and to bed.
3rd. This morning I took a resolution to rise early in the morn-
ing, and so I rose by candle, which I have not done all this win-
ter, and spent my morning in fiddling till time to go to the office,
where Sir G. Carteret did begin again discourse on Mr. Holland’s
proposition, which the King do take very ill, and so Sir George in
lieu of that do propose that the seamen should have half in ready
money and tickets for the other half, to be paid in three months
after, which we judge to be very practicable. After office home
to dinner, where come in my cozen Snow by chance, and I had
a very good capon to dinner. So to the office till night, and so
home, and then come Mr. Davis, of Deptford (the first time that
ever he was at my house), and after him Mons. L’Impertinent,
who is to go to Ireland to-morrow, and so came to take his leave
of me. They both found me under the barber’s hand; but I had
a bottle of good sack in the house, and so made them very wel-
come. Mr. Davis sat with me a good while after the other was
gone, talking of his hard usage and of the endeavour to put him
out of his place in the time of the late Commissioners, and he do
speak very highly of their corruption. After he was gone I fell a
reading ‘Cornelianum dolium’ till 11 o’clock at night with great
pleasure, and after that to bed.
4th. To Whitehall to Sir G. Carteret’s chamber, where all the of-
ficers met, and so we went up to the Duke of York, and he took us
into his closet, and we did open to him our project of stopping the
growing charge of the fleet by paying them in hand one moyety,
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DECEMBER 1660
and the other four months hence. This he do like, and we re-
turned by his order to Sir G. Carteret’s chamber, and there we did
draw up this design in order to be presented to the Parliament.
From thence I to my Lord’s, and dined with him and told him
what we had done to-day. Sir Tho. Crew dined with my Lord to-
day, and we were very merry with Mrs. Borfett, who dined there
still as she has always done lately. After dinner Sir Tho. and
my Lady to the Playhouse to see “The Silent Woman.” I home
by water, and with Mr. Hater in my chamber all alone he and I
did put this morning’s design into order, which being done I did
carry it to Sir W. Batten, where I found some gentlemen with him
(Sir W. Pen among the rest pretty merry with drink) playing at
cards, and there I staid looking upon them till one o’clock in the
morning, and so Sir W. Pen and I went away, and I to bed. This
day the Parliament voted that the bodies of Oliver, Ireton, Brad-
shaw, &c., should be taken up out of their graves in the Abbey,
and drawn to the gallows, and there hanged and buried under it:
which (methinks) do trouble me that a man of so great courage as
he was, should have that dishonour, though otherwise he might
deserve it enough.
5th. This morning the Proposal which I wrote the last night I
showed to the officers this morning, and was well liked of, and I
wrote it fair for Sir. G. Carteret to show to the King, and so it is to
go to the Parliament. I dined at home, and after dinner I went to
the new Theatre and there I saw “The Merry Wives of Windsor”
acted, the humours of the country gentleman and the French doc-
tor very well done, but the rest but very poorly, and Sir J. Falstaffe
t as bad as any. From thence to Mr. Will. Montagu’s chamber to
have sealed some writings tonight between Sir R. Parkhurst and
myself about my Lord’s £2000, but he not coming, I went to my
father’s and there found my mother still ill of the stone, and had
just newly voided one, which she had let drop into the chimney,
and looked and found it to shew it me. From thence home and to
bed.
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DECEMBER 1660
6th. This morning some of the Commissioners of Parliament
and Sir W. Batten went to Sir G. Carteret’s office here in town,
and paid off the Chesnut. I carried my wife to White Friars
and landed her there, and myself to Whitehall to the Privy Seal,
where abundance of pardons to seal, but I was much troubled
for it because that there are no fees now coming for them to me.
Thence Mr. Moore and I alone to the Leg in King Street, and
dined together on a neat’s tongue and udder. From thence by
coach to Mr. Crew’s to my Lord, who told me of his going out of
town to-morrow to settle the militia in Huntingdonshire, and did
desire me to lay up a box of some rich jewels and things that there
are in it, which I promised to do. After much free discourse with
my Lord, who tells me his mind as to his enlarging his family,
&c., and desiring me to look him out a Master of the Horse and
other servants, we parted. From thence I walked to Greatorex
(he was not within), but there I met with Mr. Jonas Moore,188 and
took him to the Five Bells,’ and drank a glass of wine and left
him. To the Temple, when Sir R. Parkhurst (as was intended the
last night) did seal the writings, and is to have the £2000 told to-
morrow. From, thence by water to Parliament Stairs, and there at
an alehouse to Doling (who is suddenly to go into Ireland to ven-
ture his fortune); Simonds (who is at a great loss for £200 present
money, which I was loth to let him have, though I could now do
it, and do love him and think him honest and sufficient, yet loth-
ness to part with money did dissuade me from it); Luellin (who
was very drowsy from a dose that he had got the last night), Mr.
Mount and several others, among the rest one Mr. Pierce, an
army man, who did make us the best sport for songs and sto-
ries in a Scotch tone (which he do very well) that ever I heard in
188 Jonas Moore was born at Whitley, Lancashire, February 8th, 1617, and
was appointed by Charles I. tutor to the Duke of York. Soon after the
Restoration he was knighted and made Surveyor-General of the Ordnance.
He was famous as a mathematician, and was one of the founders of the Royal
Society. He died August 27th, 1679, and at his funeral sixty pieces of ord-
nance were discharged at the Tower.
320
DECEMBER 1660
my life. I never knew so good a companion in all my observa-
tion. From thence to the bridge by water, it being a most pleasant
moonshine night, with a waterman who did tell such a company
of bawdy stories, how once he carried a lady from Putney in such
a night as this, and she bade him lie down by her, which he did,
and did give her content, and a great deal more roguery. Home
and found my girl knocking at the door (it being 11 o’clock at
night), her mistress having sent her out for some trivial business,
which did vex me when I came in, and so I took occasion to go
up and to bed in a pet. Before I went forth this morning, one
came to me to give me notice that the justices of Middlesex do
meet to-morrow at Hicks Hall, and that I as one am desired to be
there, but I fear I cannot be there though I much desire it.
7th. This morning the judge Advocate Fowler came to see me,
and he and I sat talking till it was time to go to the office. To
the office and there staid till past 12 o’clock, and so I left the
Comptroller and Surveyor and went to Whitehall to my Lord’s,
where I found my Lord gone this morning to Huntingdon, as he
told me yesterday he would. I staid and dined with my Lady,
there being Laud the page’s mother’ there, and dined also with
us, and seemed to have been a very pretty woman and of good
discourse. Before dinner I examined Laud in his Latin and found
him a very pretty boy and gone a great way in Latin. After din-
ner I took a box of some things of value that my Lord had left
for me to carry to the Exchequer, which I did, and left them with
my Brother Spicer, who also had this morning paid £1000 for me
by appointment to Sir R. Parkhurst. So to the Privy Seal, where I
signed a deadly number of pardons, which do trouble me to get
nothing by. Home by water, and there was much pleased to see
that my little room is likely to come to be finished soon. I fell
a-reading Fuller’s History of Abbys, and my wife in Great Cyrus
till twelve at night, and so to bed.
8th. To Whitehall to the Privy Seal, and thence to Mr. Pierces
the Surgeon to tell them that I would call by and by to go to din-
321
DECEMBER 1660
ner. But I going into Westminster Hall met with Sir G. Carteret
and Sir W. Pen (who were in a great fear that we had committed
a great error of £100,000 in our late account gone into the Par-
liament in making it too little), and so I was fain to send order
to Mr. Pierces to come to my house; and also to leave the key
of the chest with Mr. Spicer; wherein my Lord’s money is, and
went along with Sir W. Pen by water to the office, and there with
Mr. Huchinson we did find that we were in no mistake. And
so I went to dinner with my wife and Mr. and Mrs. Pierce the
Surgeon to Mr. Pierce, the Purser (the first time that ever I was
at his house) who does live very plentifully and finely. We had
a lovely chine of beef and other good things very complete and
drank a great deal of wine, and her daughter played after din-
ner upon the virginals,189 and at night by lanthorn home again,
and Mr. Pierce and his wife being gone home I went to bed, hav-
ing drunk so much wine that my head was troubled and was not
very well all night, and the wind I observed was rose exceedingly
before I went to bed.
9th (Lord’s day). Being called up early by Sir W. Batten I rose
and went to his house and he told me the ill news that he had this
morning from Woolwich, that the Assurance (formerly Captain
Holland’s ship, and now Captain Stoakes’s, designed for Guiny
and manned and victualled), was by a gust of wind sunk down
to the bottom. Twenty men drowned. Sir Williams both went by
barge thither to see how things are, and I am sent to the Duke
of York to tell him, and by boat with some other company going
to Whitehall from the Old Swan. I went to the Duke. And first
calling upon Mr. Coventry at his chamber, I went to the Duke’s
bed-side, who had sat up late last night, and lay long this morn-
ing, who was much surprised, therewith. This being done I went
to chappell, and sat in Mr. Blagrave’s pew, and there did sing my
part along with another before the King, and with much ease.
189 All instruments of the harpsichord and spinet kind were styled vir-
ginals.
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DECEMBER 1660
From thence going to my Lady I met with a letter from my Lord
(which Andrew had been at my house to bring me and missed
me), commanding me to go to Mr. Denham, to get a man to go
to him to-morrow to Hinchinbroke, to contrive with him about
some alterations in his house, which I did and got Mr. Kennard.
Dined with my Lady and staid all the afternoon with her, and
had infinite of talk of all kind of things, especially of beauty of
men and women, with which she seems to be much pleased to
talk of. From thence at night to Mr. Kennard and took him to Mr.
Denham, the Surveyor’s. Where, while we could not speak with
him, his chief man (Mr. Cooper) did give us a cup of good sack.
From thence with Mr. Kennard to my Lady who is much pleased
with him, and after a glass of sack there; we parted, having taken
order for a horse or two for him and his servant to be gone to-
morrow. So to my father’s, where I sat while they were at sup-
per, and I found my mother below, stairs and pretty well. Thence
home, where I hear that the Comptroller had some business with
me, and (with Giffin’s lanthorn) I went to him and there staid in
discourse an hour ‘till late, and among other things he showed
me a design of his, by the King’s making an Order of Knights of
the Seal to give an encouragement for persons of honour to un-
dertake the service of the sea, and he had done it with great pains
and very ingeniously. So home and to prayers and to bed.
10th. Up exceedingly early to go to the Comptroller, but he
not being up and it being a very fine, bright, moonshine morn-
ing I went and walked all alone twenty turns in Cornhill, from
Gracious Street corner to the Stockes and back again, from 6
o’clock till past 7, so long that I was weary, and going to the
Comptroller’s thinking to find him ready, I found him gone, at
which I was troubled, and being weary went home, and from
thence with my wife by water to Westminster, and put her to my
father Bowyer’s (they being newly come out of the country), but
I could not stay there, but left her there. I to the Hall and there
met with Col. Slingsby. So hearing that the Duke of York is gone
down this morning, to see the ship sunk yesterday at Woolwich,
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DECEMBER 1660
he and I returned by his coach to the office, and after that to din-
ner. After dinner he came to me again and sat with me at my
house, ands among other discourse he told me that it is expected
that the Duke will marry the Lord Chancellor’s daughter at last
which is likely to be the ruin of Mr. Davis and my Lord Barkley,
who have carried themselves so high against the Chancellor; Sir
Chas. Barkley swearing that he and others had lain with her of-
ten, which all believe to be a lie. He and I in the evening to the
Coffee House in Cornhill, the first time that ever I was there, and
I found much pleasure in it, through the diversity of company
and discourse. Home and found my wife at my Lady Batten’s,
and have made a bargain to go see the ship sunk at Woolwich,
where both the Sir Williams are still since yesterday, and I do re-
solve to go along with them. From thence home and up to bed,
having first been into my study, and to ease my mind did go to
cast up how my cash stands, and I do find as near as I can that
I am worth in money clear £240, for which God be praised. This
afternoon there was a couple of men with me with a book in each
of their hands, demanding money for pollmoney,190 and I over-
looked the book and saw myself set down Samuel Pepys, gent.
10s. for himself and for his servants 2s., which I did presently
pay without any dispute, but I fear I have not escaped so, and
therefore I have long ago laid by £10 for them, but I think I am
not bound to discover myself.
11th. My wife and I up very early this day, and though the
weather was very bad and the wind high, yet my Lady Batten
and her maid and we two did go by our barge to Woolwich (my
Lady being very fearfull) where we found both Sir Williams and
much other company, expecting the weather to be better, that
they might go about weighing up the Assurance, which lies there
(poor ship, that I have been twice merry in, in Captn. Holland’s
190 Pepys seems to have been let off very easily, for, by Act of Parliament 18
Car. II. cap. I (1666), servants were to pay one shilling in the pound of their
wages, and others from one shilling to three shillings in the pound.
324
DECEMBER 1660
time,) under water, only the upper deck may be seen and the
masts. Captain Stoakes is very melancholy, and being in search
for some clothes and money of his, which he says he hath lost out
of his cabin. I did the first office of a justice of Peace to examine a
seaman thereupon, but could find no reason to commit him. This
last tide the Kingsale was also run aboard and lost her mainmast,
by another ship, which makes us think it ominous to the Guiny
voyage, to have two of her ships spoilt before they go out. After
dinner, my Lady being very fearfull she staid and kept my wife
there, and I and another gentleman, a friend of Sir W. Pen’s, went
back in the barge, very merry by the way, as far as Whitehall in
her. To the Privy Seal, where I signed many pardons and some
few things else. From thence Mr. Moore and I into London to
a tavern near my house, and there we drank and discoursed of
ways how to put out a little money to the best advantage, and at
present he has persuaded me to put out £250 for £50 per annum
for eight years, and I think I shall do it. Thence home, where I
found the wench washing, and I up to my study, and there did
make up an even £100, and sealed it to lie by. After that to bed.
12th. Troubled with the absence of my wife. This morning
I went (after the Comptroller and I had sat an hour at the of-
fice) to Whitehall to dine with my Lady, and after dinner to the
Privy Seal and sealed abundance of pardons and little else. From
thence to the Exchequer and did give my mother Bowyer a visit
and her daughters, the first time that I have seen them since I
went last to sea. From thence up with J. Spicer to his office and
took £100, and by coach with it as far as my father’s, where I
called to see them, and my father did offer me six pieces of gold,
in lieu of six pounds that he borrowed of me the other day, but it
went against me to take it of him and therefore did not, though
I was afterwards a little troubled that I did not. Thence home,
and took out this £100 and sealed it up with the other last night,
it being the first £200 that ever I saw together of my own in my
life. For which God be praised. So to my Lady Batten, and sat
an hour or two, and talked with her daughter and people in the
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DECEMBER 1660
absence of her father and mother and my wife to pass away the
time. After that home and to bed, reading myself asleep, while
the wench sat mending my breeches by my bedside.
13th. All the day long looking upon my workmen who this day
began to paint my parlour. Only at noon my Lady Batten and my
wife came home, and so I stepped to my Lady’s, where were Sir
John Lawson and Captain Holmes, and there we dined and had
very good red wine of my Lady’s own making in England.
14th. Also all this day looking upon my workmen. Only met
with the Comptroller at the office a little both forenoon and af-
ternoon, and at night step a little with him to the Coffee House
where we light upon very good company and had very good dis-
course concerning insects and their having a generative faculty as
well as other creatures. This night in discourse the Comptroller
told me among other persons that were heretofore the principal
officers of the Navy, there was one Sir Peter Buck, a Clerk of the
Acts, of which to myself I was not a little proud.
15th. All day at home looking upon my workmen, only at noon
Mr. Moore came and brought me some things to sign for the
Privy Seal and dined with me. We had three eels that my wife
and I bought this morning of a man, that cried them about, for
our dinner, and that was all I did to-day.
16th. In the morning to church, and then dined at home. In the
afternoon I to White Hall, where I was surprised with the news
of a plot against the King’s person and my Lord Monk’s; and
that since last night there are about forty taken up on suspicion;
and, amongst others, it was my lot to meet with Simon Beale, the
Trumpeter, who took me and Tom Doling into the Guard in Scot-
land Yard, and showed us Major-General Overton, where I heard
him deny that he is guilty of any such things; but that whereas it
is said that he is found to have brought many arms to town, he
says it is only to sell them, as he will prove by oath. From thence
with Tom Doling and Boston and D. Vines (whom we met by the
way) to Price’s, and there we drank, and in discourse I learnt a
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DECEMBER 1660
pretty trick to try whether a woman be a maid or no, by a string
going round her head to meet at the end of her nose, which if she
be not will come a great way beyond. Thence to my Lady’s and
staid with her an hour or two talking of the Duke of York and
his lady, the Chancellor’s daughter, between whom, she tells me,
that all is agreed and he will marry her. But I know not how true
yet. It rained hard, and my Lady would have had me have the
coach, but I would not, but to my father’s, where I met my wife,
and there supped, and after supper by link home and to bed.
17th. All day looking after my workmen, only in the afternoon
to the office where both Sir Williams were come from Woolwich,
and tell us that, contrary to their expectations, the Assurance is
got up, without much damage to her body, only to the goods that
she hath within her, which argues her to be a strong, good ship.
This day my parlour is gilded, which do please me well.
18th. All day at home, without stirring at all, looking after my
workmen.
19th. At noon I went and dined with my Lady at Whitehall,
and so back again to the office, and after that home to my work-
men. This night Mr. Gauden sent me a great chine of beef and
half a dozen of tongues.
20th. All day at home with my workmen, that I may get all
done before Christmas. This day I hear that the Princess Royal
has the small pox.
21st. By water to Whitehall (leaving my wife at Whitefriars go-
ing to my father’s to buy her a muff and mantle), there I signed
many things at the Privy Seal, and carried £200 from thence to the
Exchequer, and laid it up with Mr. Hales, and afterwards took
him and W. Bowyer to the Swan and drank with them. They told
me that this is St. Thomas’s [day], and that by an old custom, this
day the Exchequer men had formerly, and do intend this night to
have a supper; which if I could I promised to come to, but did
not. To my Lady’s, and dined with her: she told me how dan-
gerously ill the Princess Royal is and that this morning she was
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DECEMBER 1660
said to be dead. But she hears that she hath married herself to
young Jermyn, which is worse than the Duke of York’s marrying
the Chancellor’s daughter, which is now publicly owned. After
dinner to the office all the afternoon. At seven at night I walked
through the dirt to Whitehall to see whether my Lord be come to
town, and I found him come and at supper, and I supped with
him. He tells me that my aunt at Brampton has voided a great
stone (the first time that ever I heard she was troubled therewith)
and cannot possibly live long, that my uncle is pretty well, but
full of pain still. After supper home and to bed.
22nd. All the morning with my painters, who will make an
end of all this day I hope. At noon I went to the Sun tavern; on
Fish Street hill, to a dinner of Captn. Teddimans, where was my
Lord Inchiquin (who seems to be a very fine person), Sir W. Pen,
Captn. Cuttance, and one Mr. Lawrence (a fine gentleman now
going to Algiers), and other good company, where we had a very
fine dinner, good musique, and a great deal of wine. We staid
here very late, at last Sir W. Pen and I home together, he so over-
come with wine that he could hardly go; I was forced to lead him
through the streets and he was in a very merry and kind mood.
I home (found my house clear of the workmen and their work
ended), my head troubled with wine, and I very merry went to
bed, my head akeing all night.
23rd (Lord’s day). In the morning to Church, where our pew
all covered with rosemary and baize. A stranger made a dull
sermon. Home and found my wife and maid with much ado had
made shift to spit a great turkey sent me this week from Charles
Carter, my old colleague, now minister in Huntingdonshire, but
not at all roasted, and so I was fain to stay till two o’clock, and
after that to church with my wife, and a good sermon there was,
and so home. All the evening at my book, and so to supper and
to bed.
24th. In the morning to the office and Commissioner Pett (who
seldom comes there) told me that he had lately presented a piece
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DECEMBER 1660
of plate (being a couple of flaggons) to Mr. Coventry, but he did
not receive them, which also put me upon doing the same too;
and so after dinner I went and chose a payre of candlesticks to be
made ready for me at Alderman Backwell’s. To the office again
in the afternoon till night, and so home, and with the painters till
10 at night, making an end of my house and the arch before my
door, and so this night I was rid of them and all other work, and
my house was made ready against to-morrow being Christmas
day. This day the Princess Royal died at Whitehall.
25th (Christmas day). In the morning very much pleased to see
my house once more clear of workmen and to be clean, and in-
deed it is so, far better than it was that I do not repent of my trou-
ble that I have been at. In the morning to church, where Mr. Mills
made a very good sermon. After that home to dinner, where my
wife and I and my brother Tom (who this morning came to see
my wife’s new mantle put on, which do please me very well), to
a good shoulder of mutton and a chicken. After dinner to church
again, my wife and I, where we had a dull sermon of a stranger,
which made me sleep, and so home, and I, before and after sup-
per, to my lute and Fuller’s History, at which I staid all alone in
my chamber till 12 at night, and so to bed.
26th. In the morning to Alderman Backwell’s for the candle-
sticks for Mr. Coventry, but they being not done I went away,
and so by coach to Mr. Crew’s, and there took some money of
Mr. Moore’s for my Lord, and so to my Lord’s, where I found Sir
Thomas Bond (whom I never saw before) with a message from
the Queen about vessells for the carrying over of her goods, and
so with him to Mr. Coventry, and thence to the office (being
soundly washed going through the bridge) to Sir Wm. Batten
and Pen (the last of whom took physic to-day), and so I went up
to his chamber, and there having made an end of the business I
returned to White Hall by water, and dined with my Lady Sand-
wich, who at table did tell me how much fault was laid upon Dr.
Frazer and the rest of the Doctors, for the death of the Princess!
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DECEMBER 1660
My Lord did dine this day with Sir Henry Wright, in order to
his going to sea with the Queen. Thence to my father Bowyer’s
where I met my wife, and with her home by water.
27th. In the morning to Alderman Backwell’s again, where
I found the candlesticks done, and went along with him in his
coach to my Lord’s and left the candlesticks with Mr. Shepley. I
staid in the garden talking much with my Lord, who do show me
much of his love and do communicate his mind in most things to
me, which is my great content. Home and with my wife to Sir W.
Batten’s to dinner, where much and good company. My wife not
very well went home, I staid late there seeing them play at cards,
and so home to bed. This afternoon there came in a strange lord
to Sir William Batten’s by a mistake and enters discourse with
him, so that we could not be rid of him till Sir Arn. Breames
and Mr. Bens and Sir W. Pen fell a-drinking to him till he was
drunk, and so sent him away. About the middle of the night I
was very ill–I think with eating and drinking too much–and so
I was forced to call the maid, who pleased my wife and I in her
running up and down so innocently in her smock, and vomited
in the bason, and so to sleep, and in the morning was pretty well,
only got cold, and so had pain.... as I used to have.
28th. Office day. There all the morning. Dined at home alone
with my wife, and so staid within all the afternoon and evening;
at my lute, with great pleasure, and so to bed with great content.
29th. Within all the morning. Several people to speak with me;
Mr. Shepley for £100; Mr. Kennard and Warren, the merchant,
about deals for my Lord. Captain Robert Blake lately come from
the Straights about some Florence Wine for my Lord, and with
him I went to Sir W. Pen, who offering me a barrel of oysters
I took them both home to my house (having by chance a good
piece of roast beef at the fire for dinner), and there they dined
with me, and sat talking all the afternoon-good company. Thence
to Alderman Backwell’s and took a brave state-plate and cupp in
lieu of the candlesticks that I had the other day and carried them
330
DECEMBER 1660
by coach to my Lord’s and left them there. And so back to my fa-
ther’s and saw my mother, and so to my uncle Fenner’s, whither
my father came to me, and there we talked and drank, and so
away; I home with my father, he telling me what bad wives both
my cozen Joyces make to their husbands, which I much won-
dered at. After talking of my sister’s coming to me next week, I
went home and to bed.
30th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, and being up, I went with
Will to my Lord’s, calling in at many churches in my way. There
I found Mr. Shepley, in his Venetian cap, taking physique in his
chamber, and with him I sat till dinner. My Lord dined abroad
and my Lady in her chamber, so Mr. Hetly, Child and I dined
together, and after dinner Mr. Child and I spent some time at the
lute, and so promising to prick me some lessons to my theorbo he
went away to see Henry Laws, who lies very sick. I to the Abby
and walked there, seeing the great confusion of people that come
there to hear the organs. So home, calling in at my father’s, but
staid not, my father and mother being both forth. At home I fell
a-reading of Fuller’s Church History till it was late, and so to bed.
31st. At the office all the morning and after that home, and not
staying to dine I went out, and in Paul’s Church-yard I bought
the play of “Henry the Fourth,” and so went to the new Theatre
(only calling at Mr. Crew’s and eat a bit with the people there at
dinner) and saw it acted; but my expectation being too great, it
did not please me, as otherwise I believe it would; and my hav-
ing a book, I believe did spoil it a little. That being done I went
to my Lord’s, where I found him private at cards with my Lord
Lauderdale and some persons of honour. So Mr. Shepley and
I over to Harper’s, and there drank a pot or two, and so parted.
My boy taking a cat home with him from my Lord’s, which Sarah
had given him for my wife, we being much troubled with mice.
At Whitehall inquiring for a coach, there was a Frenchman with
one eye that was going my way, so he and I hired the coach be-
tween us and he set me down in Fenchurch Street. Strange how
331
DECEMBER 1660
the fellow, without asking, did tell me all what he was, and how
he had ran away from his father and come into England to serve
the King, and now going back again. Home and to bed. ETEXT
EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS FOR 1960 N.S. PEPY’S DIARY A very
fine dinner A good handsome wench I kissed, the first that I
have seen Among all the beauties there, my wife was thought
the greatest An exceeding pretty lass, and right for the sport An
offer of £500 for a Baronet’s dignity And in all this not so much
as one Asleep, while the wench sat mending my breeches by my
bedside Barkley swearing that he and others had lain with her
often Bought for the love of the binding three books Boy up to-
night for his sister to teach him to put me to bed But we were
friends again as we are always But I think I am not bound to
discover myself Cavaliers have now the upper hand clear of the
Presbyterians Confusion of years in the case of the months of Jan-
uary (etc.) Court attendance infinite tedious Cure of the King’s
evil, which he do deny altogether Diana did not come according
to our agreement Did not like that Clergy should meddle with
matters of state Dined with my wife on pease porridge and noth-
ing else Dined upon six of my pigeons, which my wife has re-
solved to kill Do press for new oaths to be put upon men Drink
at a bottle beer house in the Strand Drinking of the King’s health
upon their knees in the streets Duke of York and Mrs. Palmer
did talk to one another very wanton Else he is a blockhead, and
not fitt for that imployment Fashionable and black spots Find-
ing my wife’s clothes lie carelessly laid up First time I had given
her leave to wear a black patch First time that ever I heard the
organs in a cathedral Five pieces of gold for to do him a small
piece of service Fixed that the year should commence in January
instead of March Formerly say that the King was a bastard and
his mother a whore Gave him his morning draft Gentlewomen
did hold up their heads to be kissed by the King God help him,
he wants bread. Had no more manners than to invite me and to
let me pay Hand i’ the cap Hanging jack to roast birds on Have
her come not as a sister in any respect, but as a servant Have not
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DECEMBER 1660
known her this fortnight almost, which is a pain to me He and
I lay in one press bed, there being two more He is, I perceive,
wholly sceptical, as well as I He that must do the business, or
at least that can hinder it He was fain to lie in the priest’s hole a
good while He did very well, but a deadly drinker he is He made
the great speech of his life, and spoke for three hours He knew
nothing about the navy Hired her to procure this poor soul for
him How the Presbyterians would be angry if they durst I fear
is not so good as she should be I never designed to be a witness
against any man I was demanded £100, for the fee of the office
at 6d. a pound I took a broom and basted her till she cried ex-
tremely I pray God to make me able to pay for it. I was angry
with her, which I was troubled for I went to the cook’s and got
a good joint of meat I was exceeding free in dallying with her,
and she not unfree I was a great Roundhead when I was a boy
If it should come in print my name maybe at it Ill all this day
by reason of the last night’s debauch In discourse he seems to be
wise and say little In comes Mr. North very sea-sick from shore
In perpetual trouble and vexation that need it least Inoffensive
vanity of a man who loved to see himself in the glass It not being
handsome for our servants to sit so equal with us John Picker-
ing on board, like an ass, with his feathers King do tire all his
people that are about him with early rising King’s Proclamation
against drinking, swearing, and debauchery Kiss my Parliament,
instead of “Kiss my [rump]” Kissed them myself very often with
a great deal of mirth £100 worth of plate for my Lord to give
Secretary Nicholas Learned the multiplication table for the first
time in 1661 Learnt a pretty trick to try whether a woman be a
maid or no Long cloaks being now quite out Made to drink, that
they might know him not to be a Roundhead Montaigne is con-
scious that we are looking over his shoulder Most of my time
in looking upon Mrs. Butler Mottoes inscribed on rings was of
Roman origin Much troubled with thoughts how to get money
My luck to meet with a sort of drolling workmen on all occasions
My new silk suit, the first that ever I wore in my life My wife
333
DECEMBER 1660
and I had some high words My wife was very unwilling to let
me go forth My wife was making of her tarts and larding of her
pullets My Lord, who took physic to-day and was in his cham-
ber Nothing in it approaching that single page in St. Simon Offer
me £500 if I would desist from the Clerk of the Acts place Peti-
tion against hackney coaches Playing the fool with the lass of the
house Posies for Rings, Handkerchers and Gloves Presbyterians
against the House of Lords Protestants as to the Church of Rome
are wholly fanatiques Put to a great loss how I should get money
to make up my cash Resolve to have the doing of it himself, or
else to hinder it Sceptic in all things of religion She had six chil-
dren by the King Show many the strangest emotions to shift off
his drink Sit up till 2 o’clock that she may call the wench up to
wash Smoke jack consists of a wind-wheel fixed in the chimney
So we went to bed and lay all night in a quarrel So I took occa-
sion to go up and to bed in a pet Some merry talk with a plain
bold maid of the house Strange thing how I am already courted
by the people Strange how civil and tractable he was to me The
present Irish pronunciation of English The rest did give more,
and did believe that I did so too The ceremonies did not please
me, they do so overdo them There being ten hanged, drawn, and
quartered This afternoon I showed my Lord my accounts, which
he passed This day I began to put on buckles to my shoes Thus
it was my chance to see the King beheaded at White Hall To see
the bride put to bed To the Swan and drank our morning draft To
see Major-general Harrison hanged, drawn; and quartered Upon
the leads gazing upon Diana We cannot tell what to do for want
of her (the maid) Wedding for which the posy ring was required
Went to bed with my head not well by my too much drinking
to-day Where I find the worst very good Which I did give him
some hope of, though I never intend it Woman that they have a
fancy to, to make her husband a cuckold
334
JANUARY 1660-1661
1660-61. At the end of the last and the beginning of this year, I do
live in one of the houses belonging to the Navy Office, as one of
the principal officers, and have done now about half a year. After
much trouble with workmen I am now almost settled; my fam-
ily being, myself, my wife, Jane, Will. Hewer, and Wayneman,–
[Will Wayneman appears by this to have been forgiven for his
theft (see ante). He was dismissed on July 8th, 1663.]–my girle’s
brother. Myself in constant good health, and in a most hand-
some and thriving condition. Blessed be Almighty God for it.
I am now taking of my sister to come and live with me. As to
things of State.–The King settled, and loved of all. The Duke
of York matched to my Lord Chancellor’s daughter, which do
not please many. The Queen upon her return to France with the
Princess Henrietta. The Princess of Orange lately dead, and we
into new mourning for her. We have been lately frighted with a
great plot, and many taken up on it, and the fright not quite over.
The Parliament, which had done all this great good to the King,
beginning to grow factious, the King did dissolve it December
29th last, and another likely to be chosen speedily. I take myself
now to be worth £300 clear in money, and all my goods and all
manner of debts paid, which are none at all.
January 1st. Called up this morning by Mr. Moore, who
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JANUARY 1660-1661
brought me my last things for me to sign for the last month, and
to my great comfort tells me that my fees will come to £80 clear
to myself, and about £25 for him, which he hath got out of the
pardons, though there be no fee due to me at all out of them.
Then comes in my brother Thomas, and after him my father, Dr.
Thomas Pepys, my uncle Fenner and his two sons (Anthony’s’
only child dying this morning, yet he was so civil to come, and
was pretty merry) to breakfast; and I had for them a barrel of oys-
ters, a dish of neat’s tongues, and a dish of anchovies, wine of all
sorts, and Northdown ale. We were very merry till about eleven
o’clock, and then they went away. At noon I carried my wife by
coach to my cozen, Thomas Pepys, where we, with my father, Dr.
Thomas, cozen Stradwick, Scott, and their wives, dined. Here I
saw first his second wife, which is a very respectfull woman, but
his dinner a sorry, poor dinner for a man of his estate, there be-
ing nothing but ordinary meat in it. To-day the King dined at a
lord’s, two doors from us. After dinner I took my wife to White-
hall, I sent her to Mrs. Pierces (where we should have dined
today), and I to the Privy Seal, where Mr. Moore took out all his
money, and he and I went to Mr. Pierces; in our way seeing the
Duke of York bring his Lady this day to wait upon the Queen,
the first time that ever she did since that great business; and the
Queen is said to receive her now with much respect and love;
and there he cast up the fees, and I told the money, by the same
token one £100 bag, after I had told it, fell all about the room,
and I fear I have lost some of it. That done I left my friends and
went to my Lord’s, but he being not come in I lodged the money
with Mr. Shepley, and bade good night to Mr. Moore, and so
returned to Mr. Pierces, and there supped with them, and Mr.
Pierce, the purser, and his wife and mine, where we had a calf’s
head carboned,191 but it was raw, we could not eat it, and a good
191 Meat cut crosswise and broiled was said to be carboned. Falstaff says in
“King Henry IV.,” Part L, act v., sc. 3, “Well, if Percy be alive, I’ll pierce him.
If he do come in my way, so; if he do not, if I come in his willingly, let him
336
JANUARY 1660-1661
hen. But she is such a slut that I do not love her victualls. After
supper I sent them home by coach, and I went to my Lord’s and
there played till 12 at night at cards at Best with J. Goods and N.
Osgood, and then to bed with Mr. Shepley.
2d. Up early, and being called up to my Lord he did give me
many commands in his business. As about taking care to write
to my uncle that Mr. Barnewell’s papers should be locked up, in
case he should die, he being now suspected to be very ill. Also
about consulting with Mr. W. Montagu for the settling of the
£4000 a-year that the King had promised my Lord. As also about
getting of Mr. George Montagu to be chosen at Huntingdon this
next Parliament, &c. That done he to White Hall stairs with much
company, and I with him; where we took water for Lambeth,
and there coach for Portsmouth. The Queen’s things were all in
White Hall Court ready to be sent away, and her Majesty ready
to be gone an hour after to Hampton Court to-night, and so to
be at Ports mouth on Saturday next. I by water to my office, and
there all the morning, and so home to dinner, where I found Pall
(my sister) was come; but I do not let her sit down at table with
me, which I do at first that she may not expect it hereafter from
me. After dinner I to Westminster by water, and there found my
brother Spicer at the Leg with all the rest of the Exchequer men
(most of whom I now do not know) at dinner. Here I staid and
drank with them, and then to Mr. George Montagu about the
business of election, and he did give me a piece in gold; so to
my Lord’s and got the chest of plate brought to the Exchequer,
and my brother Spicer put it into his treasury. So to Will’s with
them to a pot of ale, and so parted. I took a turn in the Hall, and
bought the King and Chancellor’s speeches at the dissolving the
Parliament last Saturday. So to my Lord’s, and took my money
I brought ‘thither last night and the silver candlesticks, and by
coach left the latter at Alderman Backwell’s, I having no use for
them, and the former home. There stood a man at our door, when
make a carbonado of me.”
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JANUARY 1660-1661
I carried it in, and saw me, which made me a little afeard. Up
to my chamber and wrote letters to Huntingdon and did other
business. This day I lent Sir W. Batten and Captn. Rider my
chine of beef for to serve at dinner tomorrow at Trinity House,
the Duke of Albemarle being to be there and all the rest of the
Brethren, it being a great day for the reading over of their new
Charter, which the King hath newly given them.
3d. Early in the morning to the Exchequer, where I told over
what money I had of my Lord’s and my own there, which I found
to be £970. Thence to Will’s, where Spicer and I eat our dinner
of a roasted leg of pork which Will did give us, and after that
to the Theatre, where was acted “Beggars’ Bush,” it being very
well done; and here the first time that ever I saw women come
upon the stage.192 From thence to my father’s, where I found my
mother gone by Bird, the carrier, to Brampton, upon my uncle’s
great desire, my aunt being now in despair of life. So home.
4th. Office all the morning, my wife and Pall being gone to
my father’s to dress dinner for Mr. Honiwood, my mother being
gone out of town. Dined at home, and Mr. Moore with me, with
whom I had been early this morning at White Hall, at the Jewell
Office,193 to choose a piece of gilt plate for my Lord, in return of
his offering to the King (which it seems is usual at this time of
year, and an Earl gives twenty pieces in gold in a purse to the
King). I chose a gilt tankard, weighing 31 ounces and a half, and
he is allowed 30; so I paid 12s. for the ounce and half over what
he is to have; but strange it was for me to see what a company of
192 Downes does not give the cast of this play. After the Restoration the act-
ing of female characters by women became common. The first English pro-
fessional actress was Mrs. Coleman, who acted Ianthe in Davenant’s “Siege
of Rhodes,” at Rutland House in 1656.
193 Several of the Jewel Office rolls are in the British Museum. They recite
all the sums of money given to the King, and the particulars of all the plate
distributed in his name, as well as gloves and sweetmeats. The Museum
possesses these rolls for the 4th, 9th, 18th, 30th, and 31st Eliz.; for the 13th
Charles I.; and the 23rd, 24th, 26th, and 27th of Charles II.–B.
338
JANUARY 1660-1661
small fees I was called upon by a great many to pay there, which,
I perceive, is the manner that courtiers do get their estates. After
dinner Mr. Moore and I to the Theatre, where was “The Scornful
Lady,” acted very well, it being the first play that ever he saw.
Thence with him to drink a cup of ale at Hercules Pillars, and so
parted. I called to see my father, who told me by the way how
Will and Mary Joyce do live a strange life together, nothing but
fighting, &c., so that sometimes her father has a mind to have
them divorced. Thence home.
5th. Home all the morning. Several people came to me about
business, among others the great Tom Fuller, who came to de-
sire a kindness for a friend of his, who hath a mind to go to
Jamaica with these two ships that are going, which I promised
to do. So to Whitehall to my Lady, whom I found at dinner
and dined with her, and staid with her talking all the afternoon,
and thence walked to Westminster Hall. So to Will’s, and drank
with Spicer, and thence by coach home, staying a little in Paul’s
Churchyard, to bespeak Ogilby’s AEsop’s Fables and Tully’s Of-
ficys to be bound for me. So home and to bed.
6th (Lord’s day). My wife and I to church this morning, and
so home to dinner to a boiled leg of mutton all alone. To church
again, where, before sermon, a long Psalm was set that lasted an
hour, while the sexton gathered his year’s contribucion through
the whole church. After sermon home, and there I went to my
chamber and wrote a letter to send to Mr. Coventry, with a piece
of plate along with it, which I do preserve among my other let-
ters. So to supper, and thence after prayers to bed.
7th. This morning, news was brought to me to my bedside,
that there had been a great stir in the City this night by the Fa-
natiques, who had been up and killed six or seven men, but all
are fled.194 My Lord Mayor and the whole City had been in arms,
194 “A great rising in the city of the Fifth-monarchy men, which did very
much disturb the peace and liberty of the people, so that all the train-bands
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JANUARY 1660-1661
above 40,000. To the office, and after that to dinner, where my
brother Tom came and dined with me, and after dinner (leaving
12d. with the servants to buy a cake with at night, this day being
kept as Twelfth day) Tom and I and my wife to the Theatre, and
there saw “The Silent Woman.” The first time that ever I did see
it, and it is an excellent play. Among other things here, Kinaston,
the boy; had the good turn to appear in three shapes: first, as a
poor woman in ordinary clothes, to please Morose; then in fine
clothes, as a gallant, and in them was clearly the prettiest woman
in the whole house, and lastly, as a man; and then likewise did
appear the handsomest man in the house. From thence by link to
my cozen Stradwick’s, where my father and we and Dr. Pepys,
Scott, and his wife, and one Mr. Ward and his; and after a good
supper, we had an excellent cake, where the mark for the Queen
was cut, and so there was two queens, my wife and Mrs. Ward;
and the King being lost, they chose the Doctor to be King, so we
made him send for some wine, and then home, and in our way
home we were in many places strictly examined, more than in
the worst of times, there being great fears of these Fanatiques
rising again: for the present I do not hear that any of them are
arose in arms, both in London and Westminster, as likewise all the king’s
guards; and most of the noblemen mounted, and put all their servants on
coach horses, for the defence of his Majesty, and the peace of his kingdom.”–
Rugge’s Diurnal. The notorious Thomas Venner, the Fifth-monarchy man,
a cooper and preacher to a conventicle in Swan Alley, Coleman Street, with
a small following (about fifty in number) took arms on the 6th January for
the avowed purpose of establishing the Millennium. He was a violent en-
thusiast, and persuaded his followers that they were invulnerable. After
exciting much alarm in the City, and skirmishing with the Trained Bands,
they marched to Caen Wood. They were driven out by a party of guards, but
again entered the City, where they were overpowered by the Trained Bands.
The men were brought to trial and condemned; four, however, were acquit-
ted and two reprieved. The execution of some of these men is mentioned
by Pepys under date January 19th and 21st. “A Relation of the Arraignment
and Trial of those who made the late Rebellious Insurrections in London,
1661,” is reprinted in “Somers Tracts,” vol. vii. (1812), p. 469.
340
JANUARY 1660-1661
taken. Home, it being a clear moonshine and after 12 o’clock at
night. Being come home we found that my people had been very
merry, and my wife tells me afterwards that she had heard that
they had got young Davis and some other neighbours with them
to be merry, but no harm.
8th. My wife and I lay very long in bed to-day talking and
pleasing one another in discourse. Being up, Mr. Warren came,
and he and I agreed for the deals that my Lord is to, have. Then
Will and I to Westminster, where I dined with my Lady. Af-
ter dinner I took my Lord Hinchinbroke and Mr. Sidney to the
Theatre, and shewed them “The Widdow,” an indifferent good
play, but wronged by the women being to seek in their parts.
That being done, my Lord’s coach waited for us, and so back to
my Lady’s, where she made me drink of some Florence wine,
and did give me two bottles for my wife. From thence walked
to my cozen Stradwick’s, and there chose a small banquet and
some other things against our entertainment on Thursday next.
Thence to Tom Pepys and bought a dozen of trenchers, and so
home. Some talk to-day of a head of Fanatiques that do appear
about Barnett, but I do not believe it. However, my Lord Mayor,
Sir Richd. Browne, hath carried himself very honourably, and
hath caused one of their meeting-houses in London to be pulled
down.
9th. Waked in the morning about six o’clock, by people run-
ning up and down in Mr. Davis’s house, talking that the Fana-
tiques were up in arms in the City. And so I rose and went forth;
where in the street I found every body in arms at the doors. So I
returned (though with no good courage at all, but that I might not
seem to be afeared), and got my sword and pistol, which, how-
ever, I had no powder to charge; and went to the door, where I
found Sir R. Ford, and with him I walked up and down as far
as the Exchange, and there I left him. In our way, the streets full
of Train-band, and great stories, what mischief these rogues have
done; and I think near a dozen have been killed this morning on
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JANUARY 1660-1661
both sides. Seeing the city in this condition, the shops shut, and
all things in trouble, I went home and sat, it being office day, till
noon. So home, and dined at home, my father with me, and after
dinner he would needs have me go to my uncle Wight’s (where I
have been so long absent that I am ashamed to go). I found him
at home and his wife, and I can see they have taken my absence
ill, but all things are past and we good friends, and here I sat with
my aunt till it was late, my uncle going forth about business. My
aunt being very fearful to be alone. So home to my lute till late,
and then to bed, there being strict guards all night in the City,
though most of the enemies, they say, are killed or taken. This
morning my wife and Pall went forth early, and I staid within.
10th. There comes Mr. Hawley to me and brings me my money
for the quarter of a year’s salary of my place under Downing
that I was at sea. So I did give him half, whereof he did in his
nobleness give the odd 5s, to my Jane. So we both went forth
(calling first to see how Sir W. Pen do, whom I found very ill), and
at the Hoop by the bridge we drank two pints of wormwood and
sack. Talking of his wooing afresh of Mrs. Lane, and of his going
to serve the Bishop of London. Thence by water to Whitehall,
and found my wife at Mrs. Hunt’s. Leaving her to dine there,
I went and dined with my Lady, and staid to talk a while with
her. After dinner Will. comes to tell me that he had presented
my piece of plate to Mr. Coventry, who takes it very kindly, and
sends me a very kind letter, and the plate back again; of which my
heart is very glad. So to Mrs. Hunt, where I found a Frenchman,
a lodger of hers, at dinner, and just as I came in was kissing my
wife, which I did not like, though there could not be any hurt
in it. Thence by coach to my Uncle Wight’s with my wife, but
they being out of doors we went home, where, after I had put
some papers in order and entered some letters in my book which
I have a mind to keep, I went with my wife to see Sir W. Pen,
who we found ill still, but he do make very much of it. Here we
sat a great while, at last comes in Mr. Davis and his lady (who
takes it very ill that my wife never did go to see her), and so we
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fell to talk. Among other things Mr. Davis told us the particular
examinations of these Fanatiques that are taken: and in short it
is this, of all these Fanatiques that have done all this, viz., routed
all the Trainbands that they met with, put the King’s life-guards
to the run, killed about twenty men, broke through the City gates
twice; and all this in the day-time, when all the City was in arms;
are not in all about 31. Whereas we did believe them (because
they were seen up and down in every place almost in the City,
and had been about Highgate two or three days, and in several
other places) to be at least 500. A thing that never was heard of,
that so few men should dare and do so much mischief. Their
word was, “The King Jesus, and the heads upon the gates.” Few
of them would receive any quarter, but such as were taken by
force and kept alive; expecting Jesus to come here and reign in
the world presently, and will not believe yet but their work will
be carried on though they do die. The King this day came to
town.
11th. Office day. This day comes news, by letters from
Portsmouth, that the Princess Henrietta is fallen sick of the mea-
zles on board the London, after the Queen and she was under
sail. And so was forced to come back again into Portsmouth har-
bour; and in their way, by negligence of the pilot, run upon the
Horse sand. The Queen and she continue aboard, and do not
intend to come on shore till she sees what will become of the
young Princess. This news do make people think something in-
deed, that three of the Royal Family should fall sick of the same
disease, one after another. This morning likewise, we had order
to see guards set in all the King’s yards; and so we do appoint
who and who should go to them. Sir Wm. Batten to Chatham,
Colonel Slingsby and I to Deptford and Woolwich. Portsmouth
being a garrison, needs none. Dined at home, discontented that
my wife do not go neater now she has two maids. After din-
ner comes in Kate Sterpin (whom we had not seen a great while)
and her husband to see us, with whom I staid a while, and then
to the office, and left them with my wife. At night walked to
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Paul’s Churchyard, and bespoke some books against next week,
and from thence to the Coffeehouse, where I met Captain Mor-
rice, the upholster, who would fain have lent me a horse to-night
to have rid with him upon the Cityguards, with the Lord Mayor,
there being some new expectations of these rogues; but I refused
by reason of my going out of town tomorrow. So home to bed.
12th. With Colonel Slingsby and a friend of his, Major Wa-
ters (a deaf and most amorous melancholy gentleman, who is
under a despayr in love, as the Colonel told me, which makes
him bad company, though a most good-natured man), by water
to Redriffe, and so on foot to Deptford (our servants by water),
where we fell to choosing four captains to command the guards,
and choosing the places where to keep them, and other things in
order thereunto. We dined at the Globe, having our messenger
with us to take care for us. Never till now did I see the great
authority of my place, all the captains of the fleet coming cap in
hand to us. Having staid very late there talking with the Colonel,
I went home with Mr. Davis, storekeeper (whose wife is ill and so
I could not see her), and was there most prince-like lodged, with
so much respect and honour that I was at a loss how to behave
myself.
13th. In the morning we all went to church, and sat in the
pew belonging to us, where a cold sermon of a young man that
never had preached before. Here Commissioner came with his
wife and daughters, the eldest being his wife’s daughter is a very
comely black woman.–[The old expression for a brunette.]–So
to the Globe to dinner, and then with Commissioner Pett to his
lodgings there (which he hath for the present while he is build-
ing the King’s yacht, which will be a pretty thing, and much be-
yond the Dutchman’s), and from thence with him and his wife
and daughter-in-law by coach to Greenwich Church, where a
good sermon, a fine church, and a great company of handsome
women. After sermon to Deptford again; where, at the Commis-
sioner’s and the Globe, we staid long. And so I to Mr. Davis’s
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to bed again. But no sooner in bed, but we had an alarm, and
so we rose: and the Comptroller comes into the Yard to us; and
seamen of all the ships present repair to us, and there we armed
with every one a handspike, with which they were as fierce as
could be. At last we hear that it was only five or six men that
did ride through the guard in the town, without stopping to the
guard that was there; and, some say, shot at them. But all being
quiet there, we caused the seamen to go on board again: And so
we all to bed (after I had sat awhile with Mr. Davis in his study,
which is filled with good books and some very good song books)
I likewise to bed.
14th. The arms being come this morning from the Tower, we
caused them to be distributed. I spent much time walking with
Lieutenant Lambert, walking up and down the yards, who did
give me much light into things there, and so went along with me
and dined with us. After dinner Mrs. Pett, her husband being
gone this morning with Sir W. Batten to Chatham, lent us her
coach, and carried us to Woolwich, where we did also dispose
of the arms there and settle the guards. So to Mr. Pett’s, the
shipwright, and there supped, where he did treat us very hand-
somely (and strange it is to see what neat houses all the officers of
the King’s yards have), his wife a proper woman, and has been
handsome, and yet has a very pretty hand. Thence I with Mr.
Ackworth to his house, where he has a very pretty house, and a
very proper lovely woman to his wife, who both sat with me in
my chamber, and they being gone, I went to bed, which was also
most neat and fine.
15th. Up and down the yard all the morning and seeing the
seamen exercise, which they do already very handsomely. Then
to dinner at Mr. Ackworth’s, where there also dined with us one
Captain Bethell, a friend of the Comptroller’s. A good dinner
and very handsome. After that and taking our leaves of the of-
ficers of the yard, we walked to the waterside and in our way
walked into the rope-yard, where I do look into the tar-houses
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and other places, and took great notice of all the several works
belonging to the making of a cable. So after a cup of burnt
wine–[Burnt wine was somewhat similar to mulled wine, and
a favourite drink]–at the tavern there, we took barge and went to
Blackwall and viewed the dock and the new Wet dock, which is
newly made there, and a brave new merchantman which is to be
launched shortly, and they say to be called the Royal Oak. Hence
we walked to Dick-Shore, and thence to the Towre and so home.
Where I found my wife and Pall abroad, so I went to see Sir W.
Pen, and there found Mr. Coventry come to see him, and now
had an opportunity to thank him, and he did express much kind-
ness to me. I sat a great while with Sir Wm. after he was gone,
and had much talk with him. I perceive none of our officers care
much for one another, but I do keep in with them all as much as
I can. Sir W. Pen is still very ill as when I went. Home, where
my wife not yet come home, so I went up to put my papers in
order, and then was much troubled my wife was not come, it be-
ing 10 o’clock just now striking as I write this last line. This day
I hear the Princess is recovered again. The King hath been this
afternoon at Deptford, to see the yacht that Commissioner Pett is
building, which will be very pretty; as also that that his brother
at Woolwich is in making. By and by comes in my boy and tells
me that his mistress do lie this night at Mrs. Hunt’s, who is very
ill, with which being something satisfied, I went to bed.
16th. This morning I went early to the Comptroller’s and so
with him by coach to Whitehall, to wait upon Mr. Coventry to
give him an account of what we have done, which having done,
I went away to wait upon my Lady; but coming to her lodgings
I find that she is gone this morning to Chatham by coach, think-
ing to meet me there, which did trouble me exceedingly, and I
did not know what to do, being loth to follow her, and yet could
not imagine what she would do when she found me not there.
In this trouble, I went to take a walk in Westminster Hall and
by chance met with Mr. Child, who went forth with my Lady
to-day, but his horse being bad, he come back again, which then
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did trouble me more, so that I did resolve to go to her; and so
by boat home and put on my boots, and so over to Southwarke
to the posthouse, and there took horse and guide to Dartford
and thence to Rochester (I having good horses and good way,
come thither about half-an-hour after daylight, which was before
6 o’clock and I set forth after two), where I found my Lady and
her daughter Jem., and Mrs. Browne’ and five servants, all at a
great loss, not finding me here, but at my coming she was over-
joyed. The sport was how she had intended to have kept herself
unknown, and how the Captain (whom she had sent for) of the
Charles had forsoothed195 her, though he knew her well and she
him. In fine we supped merry and so to bed, there coming sev-
eral of the Charles’s men to see me before, I got to bed. The page
lay with me.
17th. Up, and breakfast with my Lady. Then come Captains
Cuttance and Blake to carry her in the barge on board; and so we
went through Ham Creeke to the Soverayne (a goodly sight all
the way to see the brave ships that lie here) first, which is a most
noble ship. I never saw her before. My Lady Sandwich, my Lady
Jemimah, Mrs. Browne, Mrs. Grace, and Mary and the page, my
lady’s servants and myself, all went into the lanthorn together.
From thence to the Charles, where my lady took great pleasure to
see all the rooms, and to hear me tell her how things are when my
Lord is there. After we had seen all, then the officers of the ship
had prepared a handsome breakfast for her, and while she was
pledging my Lord’s health they give her five guns. That done,
we went off, and then they give us thirteen guns more. I confess
it was a great pleasure to myself to see the ship that I begun my
good fortune in. From thence on board the Newcastle, to show
my Lady the difference between a great and a small ship. Among
these ships I did give away £7. So back again and went on shore
195 To forsooth is to address in a polite and ceremonious manner. “Your
city-mannerly word forsooth, use it not too often in any case.”–Ben Jonson’s
Poetaster, act iv., sc. 1.
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at Chatham, where I had ordered the coach to wait for us. Here
I heard that Sir William Batten and his lady (who I knew were
here, and did endeavour to avoyd) were now gone this morning
to London. So we took coach, and I went into the coach, and
went through the town, without making stop at our inn, but left J.
Goods to pay the reckoning. So I rode with my lady in the coach,
and the page on the horse that I should have rid on–he desiring
it. It begun to be dark before we could come to Dartford, and to
rain hard, and the horses to fayle, which was our great care to
prevent, for fear of my Lord’s displeasure, so here we sat up for
to-night, as also Captains Cuttance and Blake, who came along
with us. We sat and talked till supper, and at supper my Lady
and I entered into a great dispute concerning what were best for
a man to do with his estate–whether to make his elder son heir,
which my Lady is for, and I against, but rather to make all equall.
This discourse took us much time, till it was time to go to bed;
but we being merry, we bade my Lady goodnight, and intended
to have gone to the Post-house to drink, and hear a pretty girl
play of the cittern (and indeed we should have lain there, but by
a mistake we did not), but it was late, and we could not hear her,
and the guard came to examine what we were; so we returned
to our Inn and to bed, the page and I in one bed, and the two
captains in another, all in one chamber, where we had very good
mirth with our most abominable lodging.
18th. The Captains went with me to the post-house about 9
o’clock, and after a morning draft I took horse and guide for Lon-
don; and through some rain, and a great wind in my face, I got
to London at eleven o’clock. At home found all well, but the
monkey loose, which did anger me, and so I did strike her till
she was almost dead, that they might make her fast again, which
did still trouble me more. In the afternoon we met at the office
and sat till night, and then I to see my father who I found well,
and took him to Standing’s’ to drink a cup of ale. He told me my
aunt at Brampton is yet alive and my mother well there. In comes
Will Joyce to us drunk, and in a talking vapouring humour of his
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state, and I know not what, which did vex me cruelly. After him
Mr. Hollier had learned at my father’s that I was here (where I
had appointed to meet him) and so he did give me some things
to take for prevention. Will Joyce not letting us talk as I would I
left my father and him and took Mr. Hollier to the Greyhound,
where he did advise me above all things, both as to the stone
and the decay of my memory (of which I now complain to him),
to avoid drinking often, which I am resolved, if I can, to leave
off. Hence home, and took home with me from the bookseller’s
Ogilby’s AEsop, which he had bound for me, and indeed I am
very much pleased with the book. Home and to bed.
19th. To the Comptroller’s, and with him by coach to White
Hall; in our way meeting Venner and Pritchard upon a sledge,
who with two more Fifth Monarchy men were hanged to-day,
and the two first drawn and quartered. Where we walked up and
down, and at last found Sir G. Carteret, whom I had not seen a
great while, and did discourse with him about our assisting the
Commissioners in paying off the Fleet, which we think to decline.
Here the Treasurer did tell me that he did suspect Thos. Hater to
be an informer of them in this work, which we do take to be a
diminution of us, which do trouble me, and I do intend to find
out the truth. Hence to my Lady, who told me how Mr. Hetley
is dead of the small-pox going to Portsmouth with my Lord. My
Lady went forth to dinner to her father’s, and so I went to the Leg
in King Street and had a rabbit for myself and my Will, and after
dinner I sent him home and myself went to the Theatre, where
I saw “The Lost Lady,” which do not please me much. Here I
was troubled to be seen by four of our office clerks, which sat
in the half-crown box and I in the 1s. 6d. From thence by link,
and bought two mouse traps of Thomas Pepys, the Turner, and
so went and drank a cup of ale with him, and so home and wrote
by post to Portsmouth to my Lord and so to bed.
20th (Lord’s day). To Church in the morning. Dined at home.
My wife and I to Church in the afternoon, and that being done we
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went to see my uncle and aunt Wight. There I left my wife and
came back, and sat with Sir W. Pen, who is not yet well again.
Thence back again to my wife and supped there, and were very
merry and so home, and after prayers to write down my journall
for the last five days, and so to bed.
21st. This morning Sir W. Batten, the Comptroller and I to
Westminster, to the Commissioners for paying off the Army and
Navy, where the Duke of Albemarle was; and we sat with our
hats on, and did discourse about paying off the ships and do find
that they do intend to undertake it without our help; and we are
glad of it, for it is a work that will much displease the poor sea-
men, and so we are glad to have no hand in it. From thence to the
Exchequer, and took £200 and carried it home, and so to the office
till night, and then to see Sir W. Pen, whither came my Lady Bat-
ten and her daughter, and then I sent for my wife, and so we sat
talking till it was late. So home to supper and then to bed, having
eat no dinner to-day. It is strange what weather we have had all
this winter; no cold at all; but the ways are dusty, and the flyes
fly up and down, and the rose-bushes are full of leaves, such a
time of the year as was never known in this world before here.
This day many more of the Fifth Monarchy men were hanged.
22nd. To the Comptroller’s house, where I read over his pro-
posals to the Lord Admiral for the regulating of the officers of
the Navy, in which he hath taken much pains, only he do seem
to have too good opinion of them himself. From thence in his
coach to Mercer’s Chappell, and so up to the great hall, where
we met with the King’s Councell for Trade, upon some proposals
of theirs for settling convoys for the whole English trade, and
that by having 33 ships (four fourth-rates, nineteen fifths, ten
sixths) settled by the King for that purpose, which indeed was
argued very finely by many persons of honour and merchants
that were there. It pleased me much now to come in this condi-
tion to this place, where I was once a petitioner for my exhibition
in Paul’s School; and also where Sir G. Downing (my late mas-
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ter) was chairman, and so but equally concerned with me. From
thence home, and after a little dinner my wife and I by coach into
London, and bought some glasses, and then to Whitehall to see
Mrs. Fox, but she not within, my wife to my mother Bowyer, and
I met with Dr. Thomas Fuller, and took him to the Dog, where he
tells me of his last and great book that is coming out: that is, his
History of all the Families in England;’ and could tell me more
of my own, than I knew myself. And also to what perfection he
hath now brought the art of memory; that he did lately to four
eminently great scholars dictate together in Latin, upon different
subjects of their proposing, faster than they were able to write, till
they were tired; and by the way in discourse tells me that the best
way of beginning a sentence, if a man should be out and forget
his last sentence (which he never was), that then his last refuge is
to begin with an Utcunque. From thence I to Mr. Bowyer’s, and
there sat a while, and so to Mr. Fox’s, and sat with them a very
little while, and then by coach home, and so to see Sir Win. Pen,
where we found Mrs. Martha Batten and two handsome ladies
more, and so we staid supper and were very merry, and so home
to bed.
23rd. To the office all the morning. My wife and people
at home busy to get things ready for tomorrow’s dinner. At
noon, without dinner, went into the City, and there meeting with
Greatorex, we went and drank a pot of ale. He told me that he
was upon a design to go to Teneriffe to try experiments there.
With him to Gresham Colledge196 (where I never was before), and
saw the manner of the house, and found great company of per-
sons of honour there; thence to my bookseller’s, and for books,
and to Stevens, the silversmith, to make clean some plate against
to-morrow, and so home, by the way paying many little debts
196 Gresham College occupied the house of Sir Thomas Gresham, in Bish-
opsgate Street, from 1596, when Lady Gresham, Sir Thomas’s widow, died.
The meeting which Pepys attended was an early one of the Royal Society,
which was incorporated by royal charter in 1663.
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for wine and pictures, &c., which is my great pleasure. Home
and found all things in a hurry of business, Slater, our messen-
ger, being here as my cook till very late. I in my chamber all the
evening looking over my Osborn’s works and new Emanuel The-
saurus Patriarchae. So late to bed, having ate nothing to-day but
a piece of bread and cheese at the ale-house with Greatorex, and
some bread and butter at home.
24th. At home all day. There dined with me Sir William Batten
and his lady and daughter, Sir W. Pen, Mr. Fox (his lady be-
ing ill could not come), and Captain Cuttance; the first dinner I
have made since I came hither. This cost me above £5, and merry
we were–only my chimney smokes. In the afternoon Mr. Hater
bringing me my last quarter’s salary, which I received of him,
and so I have now Mr. Barlow’s money in my hands. The com-
pany all go away, and by and by Sir Wms. both and my Lady
Batten and his daughter come again and supped with me and
talked till late, and so to bed, being glad that the trouble is over.
25th. At the office all the morning. Dined at home and Mr.
Hater with me, and so I did make even with him for the last
quarter. After dinner he and I to look upon the instructions of my
Lord Northumberland’s, but we were interrupted by Mr. Salis-
bury’s coming in, who came to see me and to show me my Lord’s
picture in little, of his doing. And truly it is strange to what a per-
fection he is come in a year’s time. From thence to Paul’s Church-
yard about books, and so back again home. This night comes two
cages, which I bought this evening for my canary birds, which
Captain Rooth this day sent me. So to bed.
26th. Within all the morning. About noon comes one that had
formerly known me and I him, but I know not his name, to bor-
row £5 of me, but I had the wit to deny him. There dined with
me this day both the Pierces’ and their wives, and Captain Cut-
tance, and Lieutenant Lambert, with whom we made ourselves
very merry by taking away his ribbans and garters, having made
him to confess that he is lately married. The company being gone
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I went to my lute till night, and so to bed.
27th (Lord’s day). Before I rose, letters come to me from
Portsmouth, telling me that the Princess is now well, and my
Lord Sandwich set sail with the Queen and her yesterday from
thence for France. To church, leaving my wife sick.... at home, a
poor dull sermon of a stranger. Home, and at dinner was very an-
gry at my people’s eating a fine pudding (made me by Slater, the
cook, last Thursday) without my wife’s leave. To church again,
a good sermon of Mr. Mills, and after sermon Sir W. Pen and I
an hour in the garden talking, and he did answer me to many
things, I asked Mr. Coventry’s opinion of me, and Sir W. Batten’s
of my Lord Sandwich, which do both please me. Then to Sir
W. Batten’s, where very merry, and here I met the Comptroller
and his lady and daughter (the first time I ever saw them) and
Mrs. Turner, who and her husband supped with us here (I hav-
ing fetched my wife thither), and after supper we fell to oysters,
and then Mr. Turner went and fetched some strong waters, and
so being very merry we parted, and home to bed. This day the
parson read a proclamation at church, for the keeping of Wednes-
day next, the 30th of January, a fast for the murther of the late
King.
28th. At the office all the morning; dined at home, and after
dinner to Fleet Street, with my sword to Mr. Brigden (lately made
Captain of the Auxiliaries) to be refreshed, and with him to an
ale-house, where I met Mr. Davenport; and after some talk of
Cromwell, Ireton and Bradshaw’s bodies being taken out of their
graves to-day,197 I went to Mr. Crew’s and thence to the Theatre,
where I saw again “The Lost Lady,” which do now please me
better than before; and here I sitting behind in a dark place, a
lady spit backward upon me by a mistake, not seeing me, but
197 “The bodies of Oliver Cromwell, Henry Ireton, John Bradshaw, and
Thomas Pride, were dug up out of their graves to be hanged at Tyburn, and
buried under the gallows. Cromwell’s vault having been opened, the people
crowded very much to see him.”–Rugge’s Diurnal.
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after seeing her to be a very pretty lady, I was not troubled at it at
all. Thence to Mr. Crew’s, and there met Mr. Moore, who came
lately to me, and went with me to my father’s, and with him to
Standing’s, whither came to us Dr. Fairbrother, who I took and
my father to the Bear and gave a pint of sack and a pint of claret.
He do still continue his expressions of respect and love to me,
and tells me my brother John will make a good scholar. Thence
to see the Doctor at his lodging at Mr. Holden’s, where I bought
a hat, cost me 35s. So home by moonshine, and by the way was
overtaken by the Comptroller’s coach, and so home to his house
with him. So home and to bed. This noon I had my press set up
in my chamber for papers to be put in.
29th. Mr. Moore making up accounts with me all this morning
till Lieut. Lambert came, and so with them over the water to
Southwark, and so over the fields to Lambeth, and there drank, it
being a most glorious and warm day, even to amazement, for this
time of the year. Thence to my Lord’s, where we found my Lady
gone with some company to see Hampton Court, so we three
went to Blackfryers (the first time I ever was there since plays
begun), and there after great patience and little expectation, from
so poor beginning, I saw three acts of “The Mayd in ye Mill”
acted to my great content. But it being late, I left the play and
them, and by water through bridge home, and so to Mr. Turner’s
house, where the Comptroller, Sir William Batten, and Mr. Davis
and their ladies; and here we had a most neat little but costly and
genteel supper, and after that a great deal of impertinent mirth by
Mr. Davis, and some catches, and so broke up, and going away,
Mr. Davis’s eldest son took up my old Lady Slingsby in his arms,
and carried her to the coach, and is said to be able to carry three
of the biggest men that were in the company, which I wonder at.
So home and to bed.
30th (Fast day). The first time that this day hath been yet
observed: and Mr. Mills made a most excellent sermon, upon
“Lord forgive us our former iniquities;” speaking excellently of
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the justice of God in punishing men for the sins of their ancestors.
Home, and John Goods comes, and after dinner I did pay him £30
for my Lady, and after that Sir W. Pen and I into Moorfields and
had a brave talk, it being a most pleasant day, and besides much
discourse did please ourselves to see young Davis and Whitton,
two of our clerks, going by us in the field, who we observe to take
much pleasure together, and I did most often see them at play to-
gether. Back to the Old James in Bishopsgate Street, where Sir W.
Batten and Sir Wm. Rider met him about business of the Trinity
House. So I went home, and there understand that my mother
is come home well from Brampton, and had a letter from my
brother John, a very ingenious one, and he therein begs to have
leave to come to town at the Coronacion. Then to my Lady Bat-
ten’s; where my wife and she are lately come back again from
being abroad, and seeing of Cromwell, Ireton, and Bradshaw
hanged and buried at Tyburn. Then I home.198 31st. This morn-
ing with Mr. Coventry at Whitehall about getting a ship to carry
my Lord’s deals to Lynne, and we have chosen the Gift. Thence
at noon to my Lord’s, where my Lady not well, so I eat a mouth-
full of dinner there, and thence to the Theatre, and there sat in
the pit among the company of fine ladys, &c.; and the house was
exceeding full, to see Argalus and Parthenia, the first time that
it hath been acted: and indeed it is good, though wronged by
my over great expectations, as all things else are. Thence to my
father’s to see my mother, who is pretty well after her journey
from Brampton. She tells me my aunt is pretty well, yet can-
not live long. My uncle pretty well too, and she believes would
198 “Jan. 30th was kept as a very solemn day of fasting and prayer. This
morning the carcases of Cromwell, Ireton, and Bradshaw (which the day
before had been brought from the Red Lion Inn, Holborn), were drawn upon
a sledge to Tyburn, and then taken out of their coffins, and in their shrouds
hanged by the neck, until the going down of the sun. They were then cut
down, their heads taken off, and their bodies buried in a grave made under
the gallows. The coffin in which was the body of Cromwell was a very rich
thing, very full of gilded hinges and nails.”–Rugge’s Diurnal.
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marry again were my aunt dead, which God forbid. So home.
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FEBRUARY 1660-61
February 1st (Friday). A full office all this morning, and busy
about answering the Commissioners of Parliament to their let-
ter, wherein they desire to borrow two clerks of ours, which we
will not grant them. After dinner into London and bought some
books, and a belt, and had my sword new furbished. To the ale-
house with Mr. Brigden and W. Symons. At night home. So after
a little music to bed, leaving my people up getting things ready
against to-morrow’s dinner.
2nd. Early to Mr. Moore, and with him to Sir Peter Ball, who
proffers my uncle Robert much civility in letting him continue
in the grounds which he had hired of Hetley who is now dead.
Thence home, where all things in a hurry for dinner, a strange
cook being come in the room of Slater, who could not come.
There dined here my uncle Wight and my aunt, my father and
mother, and my brother Tom, Dr. Fairbrother and Mr. Mills, the
parson, and his wife, who is a neighbour’s daughter of my uncle
Robert’s, and knows my Aunt Wight and all her and my friends
there; and so we had excellent company to-day. After dinner I
was sent for to Sir G. Carteret’s, where he was, and I found the
Comptroller, who are upon writing a letter to the Commission-
ers of Parliament in some things a rougher stile than our last,
because they seem to speak high to us. So the Comptroller and
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I thence to a tavern hard by, and there did agree upon drawing
up some letters to be sent to all the pursers and Clerks of the
Cheques to make up their accounts. Then home; where I found
the parson and his wife gone. And by and by the rest of the com-
pany, very well pleased, and I too; it being the last dinner I intend
to make a great while, it having now cost me almost £15 in three
dinners within this fortnight. In the evening comes Sir W. Pen,
pretty merry, to sit with me and talk, which we did for an hour
or two, and so good night, and I to bed.
3d (Lord’s day). This day I first begun to go forth in my coat
and sword, as the manner now among gentlemen is. To White-
hall. In my way heard Mr. Thomas Fuller preach at the Savoy
upon our forgiving of other men’s trespasses, shewing among
other things that we are to go to law never to revenge, but only
to repayre, which I think a good distinction. So to White Hall;
where I staid to hear the trumpets and kettle-drums, and then
the other drums, which are much cried up, though I think it dull,
vulgar musique. So to Mr. Fox’s, unbid; where I had a good din-
ner and special company. Among other discourse, I observed one
story, how my Lord of Northwich, at a public audience before
the King of France, made the Duke of Anjou cry, by making ugly
faces as he was stepping to the King, but undiscovered.199 And
how Sir Phillip Warwick’s’ lady did wonder to have Mr. Darcy’
199 This story relates to circumstances which had occurred many years pre-
viously. George, Lord Goring, was sent by Charles I. as Ambassador Extraor-
dinary to France in 1644, to witness the oath of Louis XIV. to the observance
of the treaties concluded with England by his father, Louis XIII., and his
grandfather, Henry IV. Louis XIV. took this oath at Ruel, on July 3rd, 1644,
when he was not yet six years of age, and when his brother Philippe, then
called Duke of Anjou, was not four years old. Shortly after his return home,
Lord Goring was created, in September, 1644, Earl of Norwich, the title by
which he is here mentioned. Philippe, Duke of Anjou, who was frightened
by the English nobleman’s ugly faces, took the title of Duke of Orleans after
the death of his uncle, Jean Baptiste Gaston, in 1660. He married his cousin,
Henrietta of England.–B.
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send for several dozen bottles of Rhenish wine to her house, not
knowing that the wine was his. Thence to my Lord’s; where I am
told how Sir Thomas Crew’s Pedro, with two of his countrymen
more, did last night kill one soldier of four that quarrelled with
them in the street, about 10 o’clock. The other two are taken; but
he is now hid at my Lord’s till night, that he do intend to make his
escape away. So up to my Lady, and sat and talked with her long,
and so to Westminster Stairs, and there took boat to the bridge,
and so home, where I met with letters to call us all up to-morrow
morning to Whitehall about office business.
4th. Early up to Court with Sir W. Pen, where, at Mr. Coven-
try’s chamber, we met with all our fellow officers, and there after
a hot debate about the business of paying off the Fleet, and how
far we should join with the Commissioners of Parliament, which
is now the great business of this month more to determine, and
about which there is a great deal of difference between us, and
then how far we should be assistants to them therein. That be-
ing done, he and I back again home, where I met with my fa-
ther and mother going to my cozen Snow’s to Blackwall, and had
promised to bring me and my wife along with them, which we
could not do because we are to go to the Dolphin to-day to a din-
ner of Capt. Tayler’s. So at last I let my wife go with them, and
I to the tavern, where Sir William Pen and the Comptroller and
several others were, men and women; and we had a very great
and merry dinner; and after dinner the Comptroller begun some
sports, among others the naming of people round and afterwards
demanding questions of them that they are forced to answer their
names to, which do make very good sport. And here I took plea-
sure to take the forfeits of the ladies who would not do their duty
by kissing of them; among others a pretty lady, who I found af-
terwards to be wife to Sir W. Batten’s son. Home, and then with
my wife to see Sir W. Batten, who could not be with us this day
being ill, but we found him at cards, and here we sat late, talking
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with my Lady and others and Dr. Whistler,200 who I found good
company and a very ingenious man. So home and to bed.
5th. Washing-day. My wife and I by water to Westminster. She
to her mother’s and I to Westminster Hall, where I found a full
term, and here I went to Will’s, and there found Shaw and Ash-
well and another Bragrave (who knew my mother wash-maid to
my Lady Veere), who by cursing and swearing made me weary of
his company and so I went away. Into the Hall and there saw my
Lord Treasurer (who was sworn to-day at the Exchequer, with a
great company of Lords and persons of honour to attend him) go
up to the Treasury Offices, and take possession thereof; and also
saw the heads of Cromwell, Bradshaw, and Ireton, set up upon
the further end of the Hall. Then at Mrs. Michell’s in the Hall
met my wife and Shaw, and she and I and Captain Murford to
the Dog, and there I gave them some wine, and after some mirth
and talk (Mr. Langley coming in afterwards) I went by coach to
the play-house at the Theatre, our coach in King Street breaking,
and so took another. Here we saw Argalus and Parthenia, which
I lately saw, but though pleasant for the dancing and singing, I
do not find good for any wit or design therein. That done home
by coach and to supper, being very hungry for want of dinner,
and so to bed.
6th. Called up by my Cozen Snow, who sat by me while I was
trimmed, and then I drank with him, he desiring a courtesy for a
friend, which I have done for him. Then to the office, and there
sat long, then to dinner, Captain Murford with me. I had a dish
of fish and a good hare, which was sent me the other day by
Goodenough the plasterer. So to the office again, where Sir W.
200 Daniel Whistler, M.D., Fellow of Merton College, whose inaugural dis-
sertation on Rickets in 1645 contains the earliest printed account of that dis-
ease. He was Gresham Professor of Geometry, 1648-57, and held several
offices at the College of Physicians, being elected President in 1683. He was
one of the original Fellows of the Royal Society. Dr. Munk, in his “Roll of
the Royal College of Physicians,” speaks very unfavourably of Whistler, and
says that he defrauded the college. He died May 11th, 1684.
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Pen and I sat all alone, answering of petitions and nothing else,
and so to Sir W. Batten’s, where comes Mr. Jessop (one whom I
could not formerly have looked upon, and now he comes cap in
hand to us from the Commissioners of the Navy, though indeed
he is a man of a great estate and of good report), about some
business from them to us, which we answered by letter. Here I
sat long with Sir W., who is not well, and then home and to my
chamber, and some little, music, and so to bed.
7th. With Sir W. Batten and Pen to Whitehall to Mr. Coventry’s
chamber, to debate upon the business we were upon the other
day morning, and thence to Westminster Hall. And after a walk
to my Lord’s; where, while I and my Lady were in her chamber
in talk, in comes my Lord from sea, to our great wonder. He
had dined at Havre de Grace on Monday last, and came to the
Downs the next day, and lay at Canterbury that night; and so to
Dartford, and thence this morning to White Hall. All my friends
his servants well. Among others, Mr. Creed and Captain Ferrers
tell me the stories of my Lord Duke of Buckingham’s and my
Lord’s falling out at Havre de Grace, at cards; they two and my
Lord St. Alban’s playing. The Duke did, to my Lord’s dishonour,
often say that he did in his conscience know the contrary to what
he then said, about the difference at cards; and so did take up
the money that he should have lost to my Lord. Which my Lord
resenting, said nothing then, but that he doubted not but there
were ways enough to get his money of him. So they parted that
night; and my Lord sent for Sir R. Stayner and sent him the next
morning to the Duke, to know whether he did remember what he
said last night, and whether he would own it with his sword and
a second; which he said he would, and so both sides agreed. But
my Lord St. Alban’s, and the Queen and Ambassador Montagu,
did waylay them at their lodgings till the difference was made
up, to my Lord’s honour; who hath got great reputation thereby.
I dined with my Lord, and then with Mr. Shepley and Creed
(who talked very high of France for a fine country) to the tavern,
and then I home. To the office, where the two Sir Williams had
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staid for me, and then we drew up a letter to the Commissioners
of Parliament again, and so to Sir W. Batten, where I staid late in
talk, and so home, and after writing the letter fair then I went to
bed.
8th. At the office all the morning. At noon to the Exchange to
meet Mr. Warren the timber merchant, but could not meet with
him. Here I met with many sea commanders, and among oth-
ers Captain Cuttle, and Curtis, and Mootham, and I, went to the
Fleece Tavern to drink; and there we spent till four o’clock, telling
stories of Algiers, and the manner of the life of slaves there! And
truly Captn. Mootham and Mr. Dawes (who have been both
slaves there) did make me fully acquainted with their condition
there: as, how they eat nothing but bread and water. At their re-
demption they pay so much for the water they drink at the public
fountaynes, during their being slaves. How they are beat upon
the soles of their feet and bellies at the liberty of their padron.
How they are all, at night, called into their master’s Bagnard;
and there they lie. How the poorest men do use their slaves best.
How some rogues do live well, if they do invent to bring their
masters in so much a week by their industry or theft; and then
they are put to no other work at all. And theft there is counted
no great crime at all. Thence to Mr. Rawlinson’s, having met my
old friend Dick Scobell, and there I drank a great deal with him,
and so home and to bed betimes, my head aching.
9th. To my Lord’s with Mr. Creed (who was come to me this
morning to get a bill of imprest signed), and my Lord being gone
out he and I to the Rhenish wine-house with Mr. Blackburne. To
whom I did make known my fears of Will’s losing of his time,
which he will take care to give him good advice about. After-
wards to my Lord’s and Mr. Shepley and I did make even his ac-
counts and mine. And then with Mr. Creed and two friends of his
(my late landlord Jones’ son one of them), to an ordinary to din-
ner, and then Creed and I to Whitefriars’ to the Play-house, and
saw “The Mad Lover,” the first time I ever saw it acted, which I
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like pretty well, and home.
10th (Lord’s day). Took physique all day, and, God forgive
me, did spend it in reading of some little French romances. At
night my wife and I did please ourselves talking of our going
into France, which I hope to effect this summer. At noon one
came to ask for Mrs. Hunt that was here yesterday, and it seems
is not come home yet, which makes us afraid of her. At night to
bed.
11th. At the office all the morning. Dined at home, and then
to the Exchequer, and took Mr. Warren with me to Mr. Kennard,
the master joiner, at Whitehall, who was at a tavern, and there
he and I to him, and agreed about getting some of my Lord’s
deals on board to-morrow. Then with young Mr. Reeve home
to his house, who did there show me many pretty pleasures in
perspectives,201 that I have not seen before, and I did buy a little
glass of him cost me 5s. And so to Mr. Crew’s, and with Mr.
Moore to see how my father and mother did, and so with him to
Mr. Adam Chard’s’ (the first time I ever was at his house since he
was married) to drink, then we parted, and I home to my study,
and set some papers and money in order, and so to bed.
12th. To my Lord’s, and there with him all the morning, and
then (he going out to dinner) I and Mr. Pickering, Creed, and
Captain Ferrers to the Leg in the Palace to dinner, where strange
Pickering’s impertinences. Thence the two others and I after a
great dispute whither to go, we went by water to Salsbury Court
play-house, where not liking to sit, we went out again, and by
coach to the Theatre, and there saw “The Scornfull Lady,” now
done by a woman, which makes the play appear much better
than ever it did to me. Then Creed and I (the other being lost
201 ‘Telescope’ and ‘microscope’ are both as old as Milton, but for long
while ‘perspective’ (glass being sometimes understood and sometimes ex-
pressed) did the work of these. It is sometimes written ‘prospective.’ Our
present use of ‘perspective’ does not, I suppose, date farther back than
Dryden.–Trench’s Select Glossary.–M. B.
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in the crowd) to drink a cup of ale at Temple Bar, and there we
parted, and I (seeing my father and mother by the way) went
home.
13th. At the office all the morning; dined at home, and poor Mr.
Wood with me, who after dinner would have borrowed money
of me, but I would lend none. Then to Whitehall by coach with
Sir W. Pen, where we did very little business, and so back to Mr.
Rawlinson’s, where I took him and gave him a cup of wine, he
having formerly known Mr. Rawlinson, and here I met my uncle
Wight, and he drank with us, and with him to Sir W. Batten’s,
whither I sent for my wife, and we chose Valentines’ against to-
morrow.202 My wife chose me, which did much please me; my
Lady Batten Sir W. Pen, &c. Here we sat late, and so home to
bed, having got my Lady Batten to give me a spoonful of honey
for my cold.
14th (Valentine’s day). Up early and to Sir W. Batten’s, but
would not go in till I asked whether they that opened the door
was a man or a woman, and Mingo, who was there, answered a
woman, which, with his tone, made me laugh; so up I went and
took Mrs. Martha for my Valentine (which I do only for com-
placency), and Sir W. Batten he go in the same manner to my
wife, and so we were very merry. About 10 o’clock we, with
a great deal of company, went down by our barge to Deptford,
and there only went to see how forward Mr. Pett’s yacht is; and
so all into the barge again, and so to Woolwich, on board the
Rose-bush, Captain Brown’s’ ship, that is brother-in-law to Sir W.
Batten, where we had a very fine dinner, dressed on shore, and
great mirth and all things successfull; the first time I ever carried
my wife a-ship-board, as also my boy Wayneman, who hath all
this day been called young Pepys, as Sir W. Pen’s boy young Pen.
202 The observation of St. Valentine’s day is very ancient in this country.
Shakespeare makes Ophelia sing “To-morrow is Saint Valentine’s day, All in
the morning betime, And I a maid at your window To be your Valentine.”
Hamlet, act iv. sc. 5.–M. B.
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So home by barge again; good weather, but pretty cold. I to my
study, and began to make up my accounts for my Lord, which
I intend to end tomorrow. To bed. The talk of the town now
is, who the King is like to have for his Queen: and whether Lent
shall be kept with the strictness of the King’s proclamation;@@“A
Proclamation for restraint of killing, dressing, and eating of Flesh
in Lent or on fish-dayes appointed by the law to be observed,”
was dated 29th January, 1660-61].
which it is thought cannot be, because of the poor, who cannot
buy fish. And also the great preparation for the King’s crowning
is now much thought upon and talked of.
15th. At the office all the morning, and in the afternoon at
making up my accounts for my Lord to-morrow; and that being
done I found myself to be clear (as I think) £350 in the world,
besides my goods in my house and all things paid for.
16th. To my Lord in the morning, who looked over my ac-
counts and agreed to them. I did also get him to sign a bill (which
do make my heart merry) for £60 to me, in consideration of my
work extraordinary at sea this last voyage, which I hope to get
paid. I dined with my Lord and then to the Theatre, where I saw
“The Virgin Martyr,” a good but too sober a play for the com-
pany. Then home.
17th (Lord’s day). A most tedious, unreasonable, and imperti-
nent sermon, by an Irish Doctor. His text was “Scatter them, O
Lord, that delight in war.” Sir Wm. Batten and I very much angry
with the parson. And so I to Westminster as soon as I came home
to my Lord’s, where I dined with Mr. Shepley and Howe. After
dinner (without speaking to my Lord), Mr. Shepley and I into the
city, and so I home and took my wife to my uncle Wight’s, and
there did sup with them, and so home again and to bed.
18th. At the office all the morning, dined at home with a very
good dinner, only my wife and I, which is not yet very usual. In
the afternoon my wife and I and Mrs. Martha Batten, my Valen-
tine, to the Exchange, and there upon a payre of embroydered
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and six payre of plain white gloves I laid out 40s. upon her. Then
we went to a mercer’s at the end of Lombard Street, and there
she bought a suit of Lutestring–[More properly called “lustring”;
a fine glossy silk.]–for herself, and so home. And at night I got the
whole company and Sir Wm. Pen home to my house, and there
I did give them Rhenish wine and sugar, and continued together
till it was late, and so to bed. It is much talked that the King is
already married to the niece of the Prince de Ligne,203 and that he
hath two sons already by her: which I am sorry to hear; but yet
am gladder that it should be so, than that the Duke of York and
his family should come to the crown, he being a professed friend
to the Catholiques.
19th. By coach to Whitehall with Colonel Slingsby (carrying
Mrs. Turner with us) and there he and I up into the house, where
we met with Sir G. Carteret: who afterwards, with the Duke of
York, my Lord Sandwich, and others, went into a private room
to consult: and we were a little troubled that we were not called
in with the rest. But I do believe it was upon something very
private. We staid walking in the gallery; where we met with Mr.
Slingsby, that was formerly a great friend of Mons. Blondeau,
who showed me the stamps of the King’s new coyne; which is
strange to see, how good they are in the stamp and bad in the
money, for lack of skill to make them. But he says Blondeau will
shortly come over, and then we shall have it better, and the best
in the world.204 The Comptroller and I to the Commissioners of
Parliament, and after some talk away again and to drink a cup of
ale. He tells me, he is sure that the King is not yet married, as it
is said; nor that it is known who he will have. To my Lord’s and
203 The Prince de Ligne had no niece, and probably Pepys has made some
mistake in the name. Charles at one time made an offer of marriage to
Mazarin’s niece, Hortense Mancini.
204 Peter Blondeau, medallist, was invited to London from Paris in 1649,
and appointed by the Council of State to coin their money; but the moneyers
succeeded in driving him out of the country. Soon after the Restoration he
returned, and was appointed engineer to the mint.
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found him dined, and so I lost my dinner, but I staid and played
with him and Mr. Child, &c., some things of four parts, and so it
raining hard and bitter cold (the first winter day we have yet had
this winter), I took coach home and spent the evening in reading
of a Latin play, the “Naufragium Joculare.” And so to bed.
20th. All the morning at the office, dined at home and my
brother Tom with me, who brought me a pair of fine slippers
which he gave me. By and by comes little Luellin and friend to
see me, and then my coz Stradwick, who was never here before.
With them I drank a bottle of wine or two, and to the office again,
and there staid about business late, and then all of us to Sir W.
Pen’s, where we had, and my Lady Batten, Mrs. Martha, and my
wife, and other company, a good supper, and sat playing at cards
and talking till 12 at night, and so all to our lodgings.
21st. To Westminster by coach with Sir W. Pen, and in our way
saw the city begin to build scaffolds against the Coronacion. To
my Lord, and there found him out of doors. So to the Hall and
called for some caps that I have a making there, and here met
with Mr. Hawley, and with him to Will’s and drank, and then by
coach with Mr. Langley our old friend into the city. I set him
down by the way, and I home and there staid all day within,
having found Mr. Moore, who staid with me till late at night
talking and reading some good books. Then he went away, and I
to bed.
22nd. All the morning at the office. At noon with my wife and
Pall to my father’s to dinner, where Dr. Thos. Pepys and my coz
Snow and Joyce Norton. After dinner came The. Turner, and so
I home with her to her mother, good woman, whom I had not
seen through my great neglect this half year, but she would not
be angry with me. Here I staid all the afternoon talking of the
King’s being married, which is now the town talk, but I believe
false. In the evening Mrs. The. and Joyce took us all into the
coach home, calling in Bishopsgate Street, thinking to have seen
a new Harpsicon–[The harpsichord is an instrument larger than a
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FEBRUARY 1660-61
spinet, with two or three strings to a note.]–that she had a making
there, but it was not done, and so we did not see it. Then to my
home, where I made very much of her, and then she went home.
Then my wife to Sir W. Batten’s, and there sat a while; he having
yesterday sent my wife half-a-dozen pairs of gloves, and a pair
of silk stockings and garters, for her Valentine’s gift. Then home
and to bed.
23rd. This my birthday, 28 years. This morning Sir W. Batten,
Pen, and I did some business, and then I by water to Whitehall,
having met Mr. Hartlibb by the way at Alderman Backwell’s. So
he did give me a glass of Rhenish wine at the Steeleyard, and so
to Whitehall by water. He continues of the same bold imperti-
nent humour that he was always of and will ever be. He told
me how my Lord Chancellor had lately got the Duke of York and
Duchess, and her woman, my Lord Ossory’s and a Doctor, to
make oath before most of the judges of the kingdom, concerning
all the circumstances of their marriage. And in fine, it is con-
fessed that they were not fully married till about a month or two
before she was brought to bed; but that they were contracted long
before, and time enough for the child to be legitimate.205 But I do
not hear that it was put to the judges to determine whether it was
so or no. To my Lord and there spoke to him about his opinion of
the Light, the sea-mark that Captain Murford is about, and do of-
fer me an eighth part to concern myself with it, and my Lord do
give me some encouragement in it, and I shall go on. I dined
herewith Mr. Shepley and Howe. After dinner to Whitehall
Chappell with Mr. Child, and there did hear Captain Cooke and
his boy make a trial of an Anthem against tomorrow, which was
brave musique. Then by water to Whitefriars to the Play-house,
and there saw “The Changeling,” the first time it hath been acted
these twenty years, and it takes exceedingly. Besides, I see the
gallants do begin to be tyred with the vanity and pride of the the-
205 The Duke of York’s marriage took place September 3rd, 1660. Anne
Hyde was contracted to the Duke at Breda, November 24th, 1659.
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atre actors who are indeed grown very proud and rich. Then by
link home, and there to my book awhile and to bed. I met to-day
with Mr. Townsend, who tells me that the old man is yet alive in
whose place in the Wardrobe he hopes to get my father, which I
do resolve to put for. I also met with the Comptroller, who told
me how it was easy for us all, the principal officers, and proper
for us, to labour to get into the next Parliament; and would have
me to ask the Duke’s letter, but I shall not endeavour it because
it will spend much money, though I am sure I could well obtain
it. This is now 28 years that I am born. And blessed be God, in
a state of full content, and great hopes to be a happy man in all
respects, both to myself and friends.
24th (Sunday). Mr. Mills made as excellent a sermon in the
morning against drunkenness as ever I heard in my life. I dined
at home; another good one of his in the afternoon. My Valentine
had her fine gloves on at church to-day that I did give her. After
sermon my wife and I unto Sir Wm. Batten and sat awhile. Then
home, I to read, then to supper and to bed.
25th. Sir Wm. Pen and I to my Lord Sandwich’s by coach in
the morning to see him, but he takes physic to-day and so we
could not see him. So he went away, and I with Luellin to Mr.
Mount’s chamber at the Cockpit, where he did lie of old, and
there we drank, and from thence to W. Symons where we found
him abroad, but she, like a good lady, within, and there we did
eat some nettle porrige, which was made on purpose to-day for
some of their coming, and was very good. With her we sat a
good while, merry in discourse, and so away, Luellin and I to my
Lord’s, and there dined. He told me one of the prettiest stories,
how Mr. Blurton, his friend that was with him at my house three
or four days ago, did go with him the same day from my house
to the Fleet tavern by Guildhall, and there (by some pretence)
got the mistress of the house into their company, and by and by
Luellin calling him Doctor she thought that he really was so, and
did privately discover her disease to him, which was only some
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ordinary infirmity belonging to women, and he proffering her
physic, she desired him to come some day and bring it, which he
did. After dinner by water to the office, and there Sir W. Pen and
I met and did business all the afternoon, and then I got him to
my house and eat a lobster together, and so to bed.
26th (Shrove Tuesday). I left my wife in bed, being indis-
posed... I to Mrs. Turner’s, who I found busy with The. and Joyce
making of things ready for fritters, so to Mr. Crew’s and there
delivered Cotgrave’s Dictionary’ to my Lady Jemimah, and then
with Mr. Moore to my coz Tom Pepys, but he being out of town
I spoke with his lady, though not of the business I went about,
which was to borrow £1000 for my Lord. Back to Mrs. Turner’s,
where several friends, all strangers to me but Mr. Armiger, dined.
Very merry and the best fritters that ever I eat in my life. Af-
ter that looked out at window; saw the flinging at cocks.206 Then
Mrs. The. and I, and a gentleman that dined there and his daugh-
ter, a perfect handsome young and very tall lady that lately came
out of the country, and Mr. Thatcher the Virginall Maister to Bish-
opsgate Street, and there saw the new Harpsicon made for Mrs.
The. We offered £12, they demanded £14. The Master not being
at home, we could make no bargain, so parted for to-night. So
all by coach to my house, where I found my Valentine with my
wife, and here they drank, and then went away. Then I sat and
talked with my Valentine and my wife a good while, and then
saw her home, and went to Sir W. Batten to the Dolphin, where
Mr. Newborne, &c., were, and there after a quart or two of wine,
we home, and I to bed....
27th. At the office all the morning, that done I walked in the
garden with little Captain Murford, where he and I had some dis-
course concerning the Light-House again, and I think I shall ap-
pear in the business, he promising me that if I can bring it about,
206 The cruel custom of throwing at cocks on Shrove Tuesday is of consid-
erable antiquity. It is shown in the first print of Hogarth’s “Four Stages of
Cruelty.”
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FEBRUARY 1660-61
it will be worth £100 per annum. Then came into the garden to
me young Mr. Powell and Mr. Hooke that I once knew at Cam-
bridge, and I took them in and gave them a bottle of wine, and so
parted. Then I called for a dish of fish, which we had for dinner,
this being the first day of Lent; and I do intend to try whether I
can keep it or no. My father dined with me and did show me a
letter from my brother John, wherein he tells us that he is cho-
sen Schollar of the house,’ which do please me much, because
I do perceive now it must chiefly come from his merit and not
the power of his Tutor, Dr. Widdrington, who is now quite out
of interest there and hath put over his pupils to Mr. Pepper, a
young Fellow of the College. With my father to Mr. Rawlin-
son’s, where we met my uncle Wight, and after a pint or two
away. I walked with my father (who gave me an account of the
great falling out between my uncle Fenner and his son Will) as
far as Paul’s Churchyard, and so left him, and I home. This day
the Commissioners of Parliament begin to pay off the Fleet, be-
ginning with the Hampshire, and do it at Guildhall, for fear of
going out of town into the power of the seamen, who are highly
incensed against them.
28th. Early to wait on my Lord, and after a little talk with him
I took boat at Whitehall for Redriffe, but in my way overtook
Captain Cuttance and Teddiman in a boat and so ashore with
them at Queenhithe, and so to a tavern with them to a barrel of
oysters, and so away. Capt. Cuttance and I walked from Redriffe
to Deptford, where I found both Sir Williams and Sir G. Carteret
at Mr. Uthwayt’s, and there we dined, and notwithstanding my
resolution, yet for want of other victualls, I did eat flesh this Lent,
but am resolved to eat as little as I can. After dinner we went to
Captain Bodilaw’s, and there made sale of many old stores by the
candle, and good sport it was to see how from a small matter bid
at first they would come to double and treble the price of things.
After that Sir W. Pen and I and my Lady Batten and her daughter
by land to Redriffe, staying a little at halfway house, and when
we came to take boat, found Sir George, &c., to have staid with
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the barge a great while for us, which troubled us. Home and to
bed. This month ends with two great secrets under dispute but
yet known to very few: first, Who the King will marry; and What
the meaning of this fleet is which we are now sheathing to set out
for the southward. Most think against Algier against the Turk, or
to the East Indys against the Dutch who, we hear, are setting out
a great fleet thither.
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March 1st. All the morning at the office. Dined at home only
upon fish, and Mr. Shepley and Tom Hater with me. After dinner
Mr. Shepley and I in private talking about my Lord’s intentions
to go speedily into the country, but to what end we know not.
We fear he is to go to sea with this fleet now preparing. But we
wish that he could get his £4000 per annum settled before he do
go. Then he and I walked into London, he to the Wardrobe and I
to Whitefryars, and saw “The Bondman” acted; an excellent play
and well done. But above all that ever I saw, Betterton do the
Bond man the best. Then to my father’s and found my mother
ill. After staying a while with them, I went home and sat up late,
spending my thoughts how to get money to bear me out in my
great expense at the Coronacion, against which all provide, and
scaffolds setting up in every street. I had many designs in my
head to get some, but know not which will take. To bed.
2d. Early with Mr. Moore about Sir Paul Neale’s’ business
with my uncle and other things all the morning. Dined with him
at Mr. Crew’s, and after dinner I went to the Theatre, where I
found so few people (which is strange, and the reason I did not
know) that I went out again, and so to Salsbury Court, where the
house as full as could be; and it seems it was a new play, “The
Queen’s Maske,” wherein there are some good humours: among
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others, a good jeer to the old story of the Siege of Troy, making
it to be a common country tale. But above all it was strange to
see so little a boy as that was to act Cupid, which is one of the
greatest parts in it. Then home and to bed.
3rd (Lord’s day): Mr. Woodcocke preached at our church
a very good sermon upon the imaginacions of the thoughts of
man’s heart being only evil. So home, where being told that my
Lord had sent for me I went, and got there to dine with my Lord,
who is to go into the country tomorrow. I did give up the mort-
gage made to me by Sir R. Parkhurst for £2,000. In the Abby all
the afternoon. Then at Mr. Pierces the surgeon, where Shepley
and I supped. So to my Lord’s, who comes in late and tells us
how news is come to-day of Mazarin’s being dead, which is very
great news and of great consequence.–[This report of the death of
Cardinal Mazarin appears to have been premature, for he did not
die until the 9th of March, 1661.]–I lay tonight with Mr. Shepley
here, because of my Lord’s going to-morrow.
4th. My Lord went this morning on his journey to Hinching-
broke, Mr. Parker with him; the chief business being to look over
and determine how, and in what manner, his great work of build-
ing shall be done. Before his going he did give me some jewells
to keep for him, viz., that that the King of Sweden did give him,
with the King’s own picture in it, most excellently done; and a
brave George, all of diamonds, and this with the greatest expres-
sions of love and confidence that I could imagine or hope for,
which is a very great joy to me. To the office all the forenoon.
Then to dinner and so to Whitehall to Mr. Coventry about sev-
eral businesses, and then with Mr. Moore, who went with me to
drink a cup of ale, and after some good discourse then home and
sat late talking with Sir W. Batten. So home and to bed.
5th. With Mr. Pierce, purser, to Westminster Hall, and there
met with Captain Cuttance, Lieut. Lambert, and Pierce, surgeon,
thinking to have met with the Commissioners of Parliament, but
they not sitting, we went to the Swan, where I did give them a
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barrel of oysters; and so I to my Lady’s and there dined, and had
very much talk and pleasant discourse with my Lady, my esteem
growing every day higher and higher in her and my Lord. So to
my father Bowyer’s where my wife was, and to the Commission-
ers of Parliament, and there did take some course about having
my Lord’s salary paid tomorrow when; the Charles is paid off,
but I was troubled to see how high they carry themselves, when
in good truth nobody cares for them. So home by coach and my
wife. I then to the office, where Sir Williams both and I set about
making an estimate of all the officers’ salaries in ordinary in the
Navy till 10 o’clock at night. So home, and I with my head full
of thoughts how to get a little present money, I eat a bit of bread
and cheese, and so to bed.
6th. At the office all the morning. At dinner Sir W. Batten came
and took me and my wife to his house to dinner, my Lady be-
ing in the country, where we had a good Lenten dinner. Then
to Whitehall with Captn. Cuttle, and there I did some business
with Mr. Coventry, and after that home, thinking to have had
Sir W. Batten, &c., to have eat a wigg–[Wigg, a kind of north
country bun or tea-cake, still so called, to my knowledge, in
Staffordshire.–M. B.]–at my house at night. But my Lady being
come home out of the country ill by reason of much rain that has
fallen lately, and the waters being very high, we could not, and
so I home and to bed.
7th. This morning Sir Williams both went to Woolwich to sell
some old provisions there. I to Whitehall, and up and down
about many businesses. Dined at my Lord’s, then to Mr. Crew to
Mr. Moore, and he and I to London to Guildhall to see the sea-
men paid off, but could not without trouble, and so I took him
to the Fleece tavern, where the pretty woman that Luellin lately
told me the story of dwells, but I could not see her. Then towards
home and met Spicer, D. Vines, Ruddiard, and a company more
of my old acquaintance, and went into a place to drink some ale,
and there we staid playing the fool till late, and so I home. At
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home met with ill news that my hopes of getting some money
for the Charles were spoiled through Mr. Waith’s perverseness,
which did so vex me that I could not sleep at night. But I wrote
a letter to him to send to-morrow morning for him to take my
money for me, and so with good words I thought to coy with
him. To bed.
8th. All the morning at the office. At noon Sir W. Batten,
Col. Slingsby and I by coach to the Tower, to Sir John Robin-
son’s, to dinner; where great good cheer. High company; among
others the Duchess of Albemarle, who is ever a plain homely
dowdy. After dinner, to drink all the afternoon. Towards night
the Duchess and ladies went away. Then we set to it again till
it was very late. And at last came in Sir William Wale, almost
fuddled; and because I was set between him and another, only
to keep them from talking and spoiling the company (as we did
to others), he fell out with the Lieutenant of the Tower; but with
much ado we made him under stand his error, and then all quiet.
And so he carried Sir William Batten and I home again in his
coach, and so I almost overcome with drink went to bed. I was
much contented to ride in such state into the Tower, and be re-
ceived among such high company, while Mr. Mount, my Lady
Duchess’s gentleman usher, stood waiting at table, whom I ever
thought a man so much above me in all respects; also to hear the
discourse of so many high Cavaliers of things past. It was a great
content and joy to me.
9th. To Whitehall and there with Mr. Creed took a most pleas-
ant walk for two hours in the park, which is now a very fair place.
Here we had a long and candid discourse one to another of one
another’s condition, and he giving me an occasion I told him of
my intention to get £60 paid me by him for a gratuity for my
labour extraordinary at sea. Which he did not seem unwilling to,
and therefore I am very glad it is out. To my Lord’s, where we
found him lately come from Hinchingbroke, where he left my
uncle very well, but my aunt not likely to live. I staid and dined
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with him. He took me aside, and asked me what the world spoke
of the King’s marriage. Which I answering as one that knew
nothing, he enquired no further of me. But I do perceive by it that
there is something in it that is ready to come out that the world
knows not of yet. After dinner into London to Mrs. Turner’s and
my father’s, made visits and then home, where I sat late making
of my journal for four days past, and so to bed.
10th (Lord’s day). Heard Mr. Mills in the morning, a good
sermon. Dined at home on a poor Lenten dinner of coleworts
and bacon. In the afternoon again to church, and there heard one
Castle, whom I knew of my year at Cambridge. He made a dull
sermon. After sermon came my uncle and aunt Wight to see us,
and we sat together a great while. Then to reading and at night
to bed.
11th. At the office all the morning, dined at home and my
father and Dr. Thos. Pepys with him upon a poor dinner, my
wife being abroad. After dinner I went to the theatre, and there
saw “Love’s Mistress” done by them, which I do not like in some
things as well as their acting in Salsbury Court. At night home
and found my wife come home, and among other things she hath
got her teeth new done by La Roche, and are indeed now pretty
handsome, and I was much pleased with it. So to bed.
12th. At the office about business all the morning, so to the
Exchange, and there met with Nick Osborne lately married, and
with him to the Fleece, where we drank a glass of wine. So home,
where I found Mrs. Hunt in great trouble about her husband’s
losing of his place in the Excise. From thence to Guildhall, and
there set my hand to the book before Colonel King for my sea
pay, and blessed be God! they have cast me at midshipman’s
pay, which do make my heart very glad. So, home, and there
had Sir W. Batten and my Lady and all their company and Capt.
Browne and his wife to a collation at my house till it was late,
and then to bed.
13th. Early up in the morning to read “The Seaman’s Grammar
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and Dictionary” I lately have got, which do please me exceed-
ing well. At the office all the morning, dined at home, and Mrs.
Turner, The. Joyce, and Mr. Armiger, and my father and mother
with me, where they stand till I was weary of their company and
so away. Then up to my chamber, and there set papers and things
in order, and so to bed.
14th. With Sir W. Batten and Pen to Mr. Coventry’s, and there
had a dispute about my claim to the place of Purveyor of Petty-
provisions, and at last to my content did conclude to have my
hand to all the bills for these provisions and Mr. Turner to pur-
vey them, because I would not have him to lose the place. Then
to my Lord’s, and so with Mr. Creed to an alehouse, where he
told me a long story of his amours at Portsmouth to one of Mrs.
Boat’s daughters, which was very pleasant. Dined with my Lord
and Lady, and so with Mr. Creed to the Theatre, and there saw
“King and no King,” well acted. Thence with him to the Cock
alehouse at Temple Bar, where he did ask my advice about his
amours, and I did give him it, which was to enquire into the con-
dition of his competitor, who is a son of Mr. Gauden’s, and that
I promised to do for him, and he to make [what] use he can of it
to his advantage. Home and to bed.
15th. At the office all the morning. At noon Sir Williams both
and I at a great fish dinner at the Dolphin, given us by two tax
merchants, and very merry we were till night, and so home.
This day my wife and Pall went to see my Lady Kingston, her
brother’s lady.
16th. Early at Sir Wm. Pen’s, and there before Mr. Turner did
reconcile the business of the purveyance between us two. Then
to Whitehall to my Lord’s, and dined with him, and so to White-
friars and saw “The Spanish Curate,” in which I had no great
content. So home, and was very much troubled that Will. staid
out late, and went to bed early, intending not to let him come in,
but by and by he comes and I did let him in, and he did tell me
that he was at Guildhall helping to pay off the seamen, and cast
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the books late. Which since I found to be true. So to sleep, being
in bed when he came.
17th (Lord’s day). At church in the morning, a stranger
preached a good honest and painfull sermon. My wife and I
dined upon a chine of beef at Sir W. Batten’s, so to church again.
Then home, and put some papers in order. Then to supper at Sir
W. Batten’s again, where my wife by chance fell down and hurt
her knees exceedingly. So home and to bed.
18th. This morning early Sir W. Batten went to Rochester,
where he expects to be chosen Parliament man. At the office all
the morning, dined at home and with my wife to Westminster,
where I had business with the Commissioner for paying the sea-
men about my Lord’s pay, and my wife at Mrs. Hunt’s. I called
her home, and made inquiry at Greatorex’s and in other places to
hear of Mr. Barlow (thinking to hear that he is dead), but I cannot
find it so, but the contrary. Home and called at my Lady Batten’s,
and supped there, and so home. This day an ambassador from
Florence was brought into the town in state. Good hopes given
me to-day that Mrs. Davis is going away from us, her husband
going shortly to Ireland. Yesterday it was said was to be the day
that the Princess Henrietta was to marry the Duke d’Anjou’ in
France. This day I found in the newes-booke that Roger Pepys is
chosen at Cambridge for the town, the first place that we hear of
to have made their choice yet. To bed with my head and mind
full of business, which do a little put me out of order, and I do
find myself to become more and more thoughtful about getting
of money than ever heretofore.
19th. We met at the office this morning about some particular
business, and then I to Whitehall, and there dined with my Lord,
and after dinner Mr. Creed and I to White-Fryars, where we saw
“The Bondman” acted most excellently, and though I have seen
it often, yet I am every time more and more pleased with Bet-
terton’s action. From thence with him and young Mr. Jones to
Penell’s in Fleet Street, and there we drank and talked a good
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while, and so I home and to bed.
20th. At the office all the morning, dined at home and Mr.
Creed and Mr. Shepley with me, and after dinner we did a good
deal of business in my study about my Lord’s accounts to be
made up and presented to our office. That done to White Hall to
Mr. Coventry, where I did some business with him, and so with
Sir W. Pen (who I found with Mr. Coventry teaching of him upon
the map to understand Jamaica).207 By water in the dark home,
and so to my Lady Batten’s where my wife was, and there we sat
and eat and drank till very late, and so home to bed. The great
talk of the town is the strange election that the City of London
made yesterday for Parliament-men; viz. Fowke, Love, Jones,
and... men that are so far from being episcopall that they are
thought to be Anabaptists; and chosen with a great deal of zeal,
in spite of the other party that thought themselves very strong,
calling out in the Hall, “No Bishops! no Lord Bishops!” It do
make people to fear it may come to worse, by being an example
to the country to do the same. And indeed the Bishops are so
high, that very few do love them.
21st. Up very early, and to work and study in my chamber, and
then to Whitehall to my Lord, and there did stay with him a good
while discoursing upon his accounts. Here I staid with Mr. Creed
all the morning, and at noon dined with my Lord, who was very
merry, and after dinner we sang and fiddled a great while. Then
I by water (Mr. Shepley, Pinkney, and others going part of the
way) home, and then hard at work setting my papers in order,
and writing letters till night, and so to bed. This day I saw the
Florence Ambassador go to his audience, the weather very foul,
and yet he and his company very gallant. After I was a-bed Sir
W. Pen sent to desire me to go with him to-morrow morning to
meet Sir W. Batten coming from Rochester.
207 Sir William Penn was well fitted to give this information, as it was he
who took the island from the Spaniards in 1655.
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22nd. This morning I rose early, and my Lady Batten knocked
at her door that comes into one of my chambers, and called me
to know whether I and my wife were ready to go. So my wife got
her ready, and about eight o’clock I got a horseback, and my Lady
and her two daughters, and Sir W. Pen into coach, and so over
London Bridge, and thence to Dartford. The day very pleasant,
though the way bad. Here we met with Sir W. Batten, and some
company along with him, who had assisted him in his election at
Rochester; and so we dined and were very merry. At 5 o’clock we
set out again in a coach home, and were very merry all the way.
At Deptford we met with Mr. Newborne, and some other friends
and their wives in a coach to meet us, and so they went home
with us, and at Sir W. Batten’s we supped, and thence to bed, my
head akeing mightily through the wine that I drank to-day.
23d. All the morning at home putting papers in order, dined
at home, and then out to the Red Bull (where I had not been
since plays come up again), but coming too soon I went out again
and walked all up and down the Charterhouse yard and Alder-
sgate street. At last came back again and went in, where I was
led by a seaman that knew me, but is here as a servant, up to
the tireing-room, where strange the confusion and disorder that
there is among them in fitting themselves, especially here, where
the clothes are very poor, and the actors but common fellows. At
last into the Pitt, where I think there was not above ten more than
myself, and not one hundred in the whole house. And the play,
which is called “All’s lost by Lust,” poorly done; and with so
much disorder, among others, that in the musique-room the boy
that was to sing a song, not singing it right, his master fell about
his ears and beat him so, that it put the whole house in an uprore.
Thence homewards, and at the Mitre met my uncle Wight, and
with him Lieut.-Col. Baron, who told us how Crofton, the great
Presbyterian minister that had lately preached so highly against
Bishops, is clapped up this day into the Tower. Which do please
some, and displease others exceedingly. Home and to bed.
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24th (Lord’s day). My wife and I to church, and then home
with Sir W. Batten and my Lady to dinner, where very merry,
and then to church again, where Mr. Mills made a good sermon.
Home again, and after a walk in the garden Sir W. Batten’s two
daughters came and sat with us a while, and I then up to my
chamber to read.
25th (Lady day). This morning came workmen to begin the
making of me a new pair of stairs up out of my parler, which,
with other work that I have to do, I doubt will keep me this two
months and so long I shall be all in dirt; but the work do please
me very well. To the office, and there all the morning, dined
at home, and after dinner comes Mr. Salisbury to see me, and
shewed me a face or two of his paynting, and indeed I perceive
that he will be a great master. I took him to Whitehall with me by
water, but he would not by any means be moved to go through
bridge, and so we were fain to go round by the Old Swan. To
my Lord’s and there I shewed him the King’s picture, which
he intends to copy out in little. After that I and Captain Fer-
rers to Salisbury Court by water, and saw part of the “Queene’s
Maske.” Then I to Mrs. Turner, and there staid talking late. The.
Turner being in a great chafe, about being disappointed of a room
to stand in at the Coronacion. Then to my father’s, and there
staid talking with my mother and him late about my dinner to-
morrow. So homewards and took up a boy that had a lanthorn,
that was picking up of rags, and got him to light me home, and
had great discourse with him how he could get sometimes three
or four bushells of rags in a day, and got 3d. a bushell for them,
and many other discourses, what and how many ways there are
for poor children to get their livings honestly. So home and I to
bed at 12 o’clock at night, being pleased well with the work that
my workmen have begun to-day.
26th. Up early to do business in my study. This is my great day
that three years ago I was cut of the stone, and, blessed be God,
I do yet find myself very free from pain again. All this morning
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I staid at home looking after my workmen to my great content
about my stairs, and at noon by coach to my father’s, where Mrs.
Turner, The. Joyce, Mr. Morrice, Mr. Armiger, Mr. Pierce, the
surgeon, and his wife, my father and mother, and myself and my
wife. Very merry at dinner; among other things, because Mrs.
Turner and her company eat no flesh at all this Lent, and I had
a great deal of good flesh which made their mouths water. After
dinner Mrs. Pierce and her husband and I and my wife to Sal-
isbury Court, where coming late he and she light of Col. Boone
that made room for them, and I and my wife sat in the pit, and
there met with Mr. Lewes and Tom Whitton, and saw “The Bond-
man” done to admiration. So home by coach, and after a view of
what the workmen had done to-day I went to bed.
27th. Up early to see my workmen at work. My brother Tom
comes to me, and among other things I looked over my old
clothes and did give him a suit of black stuff clothes and a hat and
some shoes. At the office all the morning, where Sir G. Carteret
comes, and there I did get him to promise me some money upon
a bill of exchange, whereby I shall secure myself of £60 which oth-
erwise I should not know how to get. At noon I found my stairs
quite broke down, that I could not get up but by a ladder; and my
wife not being well she kept her chamber all this day. To the Dol-
phin to a dinner of Mr. Harris’s, where Sir Williams both and my
Lady Batten, and her two daughters, and other company, where
a great deal of mirth, and there staid till 11 o’clock at night; and
in our mirth I sang and sometimes fiddled (there being a noise of
fiddlers there), and at last we fell to dancing, the first time that
ever I did in my life, which I did wonder to see myself to do. At
last we made Mingo, Sir W. Batten’s black, and Jack, Sir W. Pen’s,
dance, and it was strange how the first did dance with a great
deal of seeming skill. Home, where I found my wife all day in
her chamber. So to bed.
28th. Up early among my workmen, then Mr. Creed coming
to see me I went along with him to Sir Robert Slingsby (he being
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newly maister of that title by being made a Baronett) to discourse
about Mr. Creed’s accounts to be made up, and from thence by
coach to my cozen Thomas Pepys, to borrow £1000 for my Lord,
which I am to expect an answer to tomorrow. So to my Lord’s,
and there staid and dined, and after dinner did get my Lord to
view Mr. Shepley’s accounts as I had examined them, and also to
sign me a bond for my £500. Then with Mr. Shepley to the The-
atre and saw “Rollo” ill acted. That done to drink a cup of ale and
so by coach to London, and having set him down in Cheapside I
went home, where I found a great deal of work done to-day, and
also £70 paid me by the Treasurer upon the bill of exchange that
I have had hopes of so long, so that, my heart in great content; I
went to bed.
29th. Up among my workmen with great pleasure. Then to the
office, where I found Sir W. Pen sent down yesterday to Chatham
to get two great ships in readiness presently to go to the East
Indies upon some design against the Dutch, we think, at Goa but
it is a great secret yet. Dined at home, came Mr. Shepley and
Moore, and did business with both of them. After that to Sir W.
Batten’s, where great store of company at dinner. Among others
my schoolfellow, Mr. Christmas, where very merry, and hither
came letters from above for the fitting of two other ships for the
East Indies in all haste, and so we got orders presently for the
Hampshire and Nonsuch. Then home and there put some papers
in order, and not knowing what to do, the house being so dirty, I
went to bed.
30th. At the office we and Sir W. Rider to advise what sort of
provisions to get ready for these ships going to the Indies. Then
the Comptroller and I by water to Mr. Coventry, and there dis-
coursed upon the same thing. So to my coz. Tho. Pepys, and
got him to promise me £1,000 to lend my Lord upon his and my
uncle Robert’s and my security. So to my Lord’s, and there got
him to sign a bond to him, which I also signed too, and he did
sign counter security to us both. Then into London up and down
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and drank a pint of wine with Mr. Creed, and so home and sent
a letter and the bonds to my uncle to sign for my Lord. This day I
spoke with Dr. Castle about making up the dividend for the last
quarter, and agreed to meet about it on Monday.
31st (Sunday). At church, where a stranger preached like a
fool. From thence home and dined with my wife, she staying at
home, being unwilling to dress herself, the house being all dirty.
To church again, and after sermon I walked to my father’s, and
to Mrs. Turner’s, where I could not woo The. to give me a lesson
upon the harpsicon and was angry at it. So home and finding
Will abroad at Sir W. Batten’s talking with the people there (Sir
W. and my Lady being in the country), I took occasion to be angry
with him, and so to prayers and to bed.
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April 1st, 1661. This day my waiting at the Privy Seal comes in
again. Up early among my workmen. So to the once, and went
home to dinner with Sir W. Batten, and after that to the Goat tav-
ern by Charing Cross to meet Dr. Castle, where he and I drank
a pint of wine and talked about Privy Seal business. Then to the
Privy Seal Office and there found Mr. Moore, but no business
yet. Then to Whitefryars, and there saw part of “Rule a wife and
have a wife,” which I never saw before, but do not like it. So to
my father, and there finding a discontent between my father and
mother about the maid (which my father likes and my mother
dislikes), I staid till 10 at night, persuading my mother to under-
stand herself, and that in some high words, which I was sorry
for, but she is grown, poor woman, very froward. So leaving
them in the same discontent I went away home, it being a brave
moonshine, and to bed.
2d. Among my workmen early and then along with my wife
and Pall to my Father’s by coach there to have them lie a while
till my house be done. I found my mother alone weeping upon
my last night’s quarrel and so left her, and took my wife to Char-
ing Cross and there left her to see her mother who is not well.
So I into St. James’s Park, where I saw the Duke of York play-
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APRIL 1661
ing at Pelemele,208 the first time that ever I saw the sport. Then
to my Lord’s, where I dined with my Lady, and after we had
dined in comes my Lord and Ned Pickering hungry, and there
was not a bit of meat left in the house, the servants having eat
up all, at which my Lord was very angry, and at last got some-
thing dressed. Then to the Privy Seal, and signed some things,
and so to White-fryars and saw “The Little Thiefe,” which is a
very merry and pretty play, and the little boy do very well. Then
to my Father’s, where I found my mother and my wife in a very
good mood, and so left them and went home. Then to the Dol-
phin to Sir W. Batten, and Pen, and other company; among others
Mr. Delabar; where strange how these men, who at other times
are all wise men, do now, in their drink, betwitt and reproach
one another with their former conditions, and their actions as in
public concernments, till I was ashamed to see it. But parted all
friends at 12 at night after drinking a great deal of wine. So home
and alone to bed.
3rd. Up among my workmen, my head akeing all day from last
night’s debauch. To the office all the morning, and at noon dined
with Sir W. Batten and Pen, who would needs have me drink
two drafts of sack to-day to cure me of last night’s disease, which
I thought strange but I think find it true.209 Then home with my
workmen all the afternoon, at night into the garden to play on
my flageolette, it being moonshine, where I staid a good while,
and so home and to bed. This day I hear that the Dutch have
sent the King a great present of money, which we think will stop
the match with Portugal; and judge this to be the reason that our
so great haste in sending the two ships to the East Indys is also
208 The game was originally played in the road now styled Pall Mall, near
St. James’s Square, but at the Restoration when sports came in fashion again
the street was so much built over, that it became necessary to find another
ground. The Mall in St. James’s Park was then laid out for the purpose.
209 The proverb, “A hair of the dog that bit you,” which probably had orig-
inally a literal meaning, has long been used to inculcate the advice of the two
Sir Williams.
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APRIL 1661
stayed.
4th. To my workmen, then to my Lord’s, and there dined with
Mr. Shepley. After dinner I went in to my Lord and there we had
a great deal of musique, and then came my cozen Tom Pepys and
there did accept of the security which we gave him for his £1000
that we borrow of him, and so the money to be paid next week.
Then to the Privy Seal, and so with Mr. Moore to my father’s,
where some friends did sup there and we with them and late
went home, leaving my wife still there. So to bed.
5th: Up among my workmen and so to the office, and then
to Sir W. Pen’s with the other Sir William and Sir John Lawson
to dinner, and after that, with them to Mr. Lucy’s, a merchant,
where much good company, and there drank a great deal of wine,
and in discourse fell to talk of the weight of people, which did
occasion some wagers, and where, among others, I won half a
piece to be spent. Then home, and at night to Sir W. Batten’s, and
there very merry with a good barrell of oysters, and this is the
present life I lead. Home and to bed.
6th. Up among my workmen, then to Whitehall, and there at
Privy Seal and elsewhere did business, and among other things
met with Mr. Townsend, who told of his mistake the other day,
to put both his legs through one of his knees of his breeches, and
went so all day. Then with Mr. Creed and Moore to the Leg in
the Palace to dinner which I gave them, and after dinner I saw
the girl of the house, being very pretty, go into a chamber, and
I went in after her and kissed her. Then by water, Creed and
I, to Salisbury Court and there saw “Love’s Quarrell” acted the
first time, but I do not like the design or words. So calling at my
father’s, where they and my wife well, and so home and to bed.
7th (Lord’s day). All the morning at home making up my ac-
counts (God forgive me!) to give up to my Lord this afternoon.
Then about 11 o’clock out of doors towards Westminster and put
in at Paul’s, where I saw our minister, Mr. Mills, preaching be-
fore my Lord Mayor. So to White Hall, and there I met with Dr.
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APRIL 1661
Fuller of Twickenham, newly come from Ireland; and took him
to my Lord’s, where he and I dined; and he did give my Lord and
me a good account of the condition of Ireland, and how it come
to pass, through the joyning of the Fanatiques and the Presbyte-
rians, that the latter and the former are in their declaration put
together under the names of Fanatiques. After dinner, my Lord
and I and Mr. Shepley did look over our accounts and settle mat-
ters of money between us; and my Lord did tell me much of his
mind about getting money and other things of his family, &c.
Then to my father’s, where I found Mr. Hunt and his wife at sup-
per with my father and mother and my wife, where after supper
I left them and so home, and then I went to Sir W. Batten’s and
resolved of a journey tomorrow to Chatham, and so home and to
bed.
8th. Up early, my Lady Batten knocking at her door that comes
into one of my chambers. I did give directions to my people and
workmen, and so about 8 o’clock we took barge at the Tower,
Sir William Batten and his lady, Mrs. Turner, Mr. Fowler and I.
A very pleasant passage and so to Gravesend, where we dined,
and from thence a coach took them and me, and Mr. Fowler with
some others came from Rochester to meet us, on horseback. At
Rochester, where alight at Mr. Alcock’s and there drank and had
good sport, with his bringing out so many sorts of cheese. Then
to the Hillhouse at Chatham, where I never was before, and I
found a pretty pleasant house and am pleased with the arms that
hang up there. Here we supped very merry, and late to bed; Sir
William telling me that old Edgeborrow, his predecessor, did die
and walk in my chamber, did make me some what afeard, but
not so much as for mirth’s sake I did seem. So to bed in the trea-
surer’s chamber.
9th. And lay and slept well till 3 in the morning, and then
waking, and by the light of the moon I saw my pillow (which
overnight I flung from me) stand upright, but not bethinking my-
self what it might be, I was a little afeard, but sleep overcame all
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APRIL 1661
and so lay till high morning, at which time I had a candle brought
me and a good fire made, and in general it was a great pleasure
all the time I staid here to see how I am respected and honoured
by all people; and I find that I begin to know now how to receive
so much reverence, which at the beginning I could not tell how to
do. Sir William and I by coach to the dock and there viewed all
the storehouses and the old goods that are this day to be sold,
which was great pleasure to me, and so back again by coach
home, where we had a good dinner, and among other strangers
that come, there was Mr. Hempson and his wife, a pretty woman,
and speaks Latin; Mr. Allen and two daughters of his, both very
tall and the youngest very handsome, so much as I could not
forbear to love her exceedingly, having, among other things, the
best hand that ever I saw. After dinner, we went to fit books and
things (Tom Hater being this morning come to us) for the sale,
by an inch of candle, and very good sport we and the ladies that
stood by had, to see the people bid. Among other things sold
there was all the State’s arms, which Sir W. Batten bought; in-
tending to set up some of the images in his garden, and the rest
to burn on the Coronacion night. The sale being done, the ladies
and I and Captain Pett and Mr. Castle took barge and down we
went to see the Sovereign, which we did, taking great pleasure
therein, singing all the way, and, among other pleasures, I put
my Lady, Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Hempson, and the two Mrs. Allens
into the lanthorn and I went in and kissed them, demanding it as
a fee due to a principall officer, with all which we were exceed-
ing merry, and drunk some bottles of wine and neat’s tongue, &c.
Then back again home and so supped, and after much mirth to
bed.
10th. In the morning to see the Dockhouses. First, Mr. Pett’s,
the builder, and there was very kindly received, and among other
things he did offer my Lady Batten a parrot, the best I ever saw,
that knew Mingo so soon as it saw him, having been bred for-
merly in the house with them; but for talking and singing I never
heard the like. My Lady did accept of it: Then to see Commis-
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APRIL 1661
sioner Pett’s house, he and his family being absent, and here I
wondered how my Lady Batten walked up and down with envi-
ous looks to see how neat and rich everything is (and indeed both
the house and garden is most handsome), saying that she would
get it, for it belonged formerly to the Surveyor of the Navy. Then
on board the Prince, now in the dock, and indeed it has one and
no more rich cabins for carved work, but no gold in her. After
that back home, and there eat a little dinner. Then to Rochester,
and there saw the Cathedrall, which is now fitting for use, and
the organ then a-tuning. Then away thence, observing the great
doors of the church, which, they say, was covered with the skins
of the Danes,210 and also had much mirth at a tomb, on which was
“Come sweet Jesu,” and I read “Come sweet Mall,” &c., at which
Captain Pett and I had good laughter. So to the Salutacion tavern,
where Mr. Alcock and many of the town came and entertained
210 Traditions similar to that at Rochester, here alluded to, are to be found
in other places in England. Sir Harry Englefield, in a communication made
to the Society of Antiquaries, July 2nd, 1789, called attention to the curious
popular tale preserved in the village of Hadstock, Essex, that the door of the
church had been covered with the skin of a Danish pirate, who had plun-
dered the church. At Worcester, likewise, it was asserted that the north doors
of the cathedral had been covered with the skin of a person who had sacrile-
giously robbed the high altar. The date of these doors appears to be the latter
part of the fourteenth century, the north porch having been built about 1385.
Dart, in his “History of the Abbey Church of St. Peter’s, Westminster,” 1723
(vol. i., book ii., p. 64), relates a like tradition then preserved in reference
to a door, one of three which closed off a chamber from the south transept–
namely, a certain building once known as the Chapel of Henry VIII., and
used as a “Revestry.” This chamber, he states, “is inclosed with three doors,
the inner cancellated, the middle, which is very thick, lined with skins like
parchment, and driven full of nails. These skins, they by tradition tell us,
were some skins of the Danes, tann’d and given here as a memorial of our
delivery from them.” Portions of this supposed human skin were examined
under the microscope by the late Mr. John Quekett of the Hunterian Mu-
seum, who ascertained, beyond question, that in each of the cases the skin
was human. From a communication by the late Mr. Albert Way, F.S.A., to
the late Lord Braybrooke.
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APRIL 1661
us with wine and oysters and other things, and hither come Sir
John Minnes to us, who is come to-day to see “the Henery,” in
which he intends to ride as Vice-Admiral in the narrow seas all
this summer. Here much mirth, but I was a little troubled to stay
too long, because of going to Hempson’s, which afterwards we
did, and found it in all things a most pretty house, and rarely
furnished, only it had a most ill access on all sides to it, which
is a greatest fault that I think can be in a house. Here we had,
for my sake, two fiddles, the one a base viall, on which he that
played, played well some lyra lessons, but both together made
the worst musique that ever I heard. We had a fine collacion, but
I took little pleasure in that, for the illness of the musique and
for the intentness of my mind upon Mrs. Rebecca Allen. After
we had done eating, the ladies went to dance, and among the
men we had, I was forced to dance too; and did make an ugly
shift. Mrs. R. Allen danced very well, and seems the best hu-
moured woman that ever I saw. About 9 o’clock Sir William and
my Lady went home, and we continued dancing an hour or two,
and so broke up very pleasant and merry, and so walked home, I
leading Mrs. Rebecca, who seemed, I know not why, in that and
other things, to be desirous of my favours and would in all things
show me respects. Going home, she would needs have me sing,
and I did pretty well and was highly esteemed by them. So to
Captain Allen’s (where we were last night, and heard him play
on the harpsicon, and I find him to be a perfect good musician),
and there, having no mind to leave Mrs. Rebecca, what with talk
and singing (her father and I), Mrs. Turner and I staid there till
2 o’clock in the morning and was most exceeding merry, and I
had the opportunity of kissing Mrs. Rebecca very often. Among
other things Captain Pett was saying that he thought that he had
got his wife with child since I came thither. Which I took hold of
and was merrily asking him what he would take to have it said
for my honour that it was of my getting? He merrily answered
that he would if I would promise to be godfather to it if it did
come within the time just, and I said that I would. So that I must
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remember to compute it when the time comes.
11th. At 2 o’clock, with very great mirth, we went to our lodg-
ing and to bed, and lay till 7, and then called up by Sir W. Bat-
ten, so I arose and we did some business, and then came Captn.
Allen, and he and I withdrew and sang a song or two, and among
others took pleasure in “Goe and bee hanged, that’s good-bye.”
The young ladies come too, and so I did again please myself with
Mrs. Rebecca, and about 9 o’clock, after we had breakfasted, we
sett forth for London, and indeed I was a little troubled to part
with Mrs. Rebecca, for which God forgive me. Thus we went
away through Rochester, calling and taking leave of Mr. Alcock
at the door, Capt. Cuttance going with us. We baited at Dartford,
and thence to London, but of all the journeys that ever I made
this was the merriest, and I was in a strange mood for mirth.
Among other things, I got my Lady to let her maid, Mrs. Anne,
to ride all the way on horseback, and she rides exceeding well;
and so I called her my clerk, that she went to wait upon me. I met
two little schoolboys going with pitchers of ale to their school-
master to break up against Easter, and I did drink of some of one
of them and give him two pence. By and by we come to two little
girls keeping cows, and I saw one of them very pretty, so I had
a mind to make her ask my blessing, and telling her that I was
her godfather, she asked me innocently whether I was not Ned
Wooding, and I said that I was, so she kneeled down and very
simply called, “Pray, godfather, pray to God to bless me,” which
made us very merry, and I gave her twopence. In several places,
I asked women whether they would sell me their children, but
they denied me all, but said they would give me one to keep
for them, if I would. Mrs. Anne and I rode under the man that
hangs upon Shooter’s Hill,211 and a filthy sight it was to see how
his flesh is shrunk to his bones. So home and I found all well, and
211 Shooter’s Hill, Kent, between the eighth and ninth milestones on the
Dover road. It was long a notorious haunt of highwaymen. The custom was
to leave the bodies of criminals hanging until the bones fell to the ground.
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a deal of work done since I went. I sent to see how my wife do,
who is well, and my brother John come from Cambridge. To Sir
W. Batten’s and there supped, and very merry with the young la-
dles. So to bed very sleepy for last night’s work, concluding that
it is the pleasantest journey in all respects that ever I had in my
life.
12th. Up among my workmen, and about 7 o’clock comes my
wife to see me and my brother John with her, who I am glad
to see, but I sent them away because of going to the office, and
there dined with Sir W. Batten, all fish dinner, it being Good Fri-
day. Then home and looking over my workmen, and then into
the City and saw in what forwardness all things are for the Coro-
nacion, which will be very magnificent. Then back again home
and to my chamber, to set down in my diary all my late jour-
ney, which I do with great pleasure; and while I am now writing
comes one with a tickett to invite me to Captain Robert Blake’s
buriall, for whose death I am very sorry, and do much wonder at
it, he being a little while since a very likely man to live as any I
knew. Since my going out of town, there is one Alexander Rosse
taken and sent to the Counter by Sir Thomas Allen, for counter-
feiting my hand to a ticket, and we this day at the office have
given order to Mr. Smith to prosecute him. To bed.
13th. To Whitehall by water from Towre-wharf, where we
could not pass the ordinary way, because they were mending of
the great stone steps against the Coronacion. With Sir W. Pen,
then to my Lord’s, and thence with Capt. Cuttance and Capt.
Clark to drink our morning draught together, and before we
could get back again my Lord was gone out. So to Whitehall
again and, met with my Lord above with the Duke; and after a
little talk with him, I went to the Banquethouse, and there saw
the King heal, the first time that ever I saw him do it; which he
did with great gravity, and it seemed to me to be an ugly office
and a simple one. That done to my Lord’s and dined there, and
so by water with parson Turner towards London, and upon my
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APRIL 1661
telling of him of Mr. Moore to be a fit man to do his business with
Bishop Wren, about which he was going, he went back out of
my boat into another to Whitehall, and so I forwards home and
there by and by took coach with Sir W. Pen and Captain Terne
and went to the buriall of Captain Robert Blake, at Wapping, and
there had each of us a ring, but it being dirty, we would not go
to church with them, but with our coach we returned home, and
there staid a little, and then he and I alone to the Dolphin (Sir W.
Batten being this day gone with his wife to Walthamstow to keep
Easter), and there had a supper by ourselves, we both being very
hungry, and staying there late drinking I became very sleepy, and
so we went home and I to bed.
14th (Easter. Lord’s day). In the morning towards my father’s,
and by the way heard Mr. Jacomb, at Ludgate, upon these words,
“Christ loved you and therefore let us love one another,” and
made a lazy sermon, like a Presbyterian. Then to my father’s
and dined there, and Dr. Fairbrother (lately come to town) with
us. After dinner I went to the Temple and there heard Dr. Grif-
fith, a good sermon for the day; so with Mr. Moore (whom I met
there) to my Lord’s, and there he shewed me a copy of my Lord
Chancellor’s patent for Earl, and I read the preamble, which is
very short, modest, and good. Here my Lord saw us and spoke
to me about getting Mr. Moore to come and govern his house
while he goes to sea, which I promised him to do and did after-
wards speak to Mr. Moore, and he is willing. Then hearing that
Mr. Barnwell was come, with some of my Lord’s little children,
yesterday to town, to see the Coronacion, I went and found them
at the Goat, at Charing Cross, and there I went and drank with
them a good while, whom I found in very good health and very
merry Then to my father’s, and after supper seemed willing to
go home, and my wife seeming to be so too I went away in a dis-
content, but she, poor wretch, followed me as far in the rain and
dark as Fleet Bridge to fetch me back again, and so I did, and lay
with her to-night, which I have not done these eight or ten days
before.
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APRIL 1661
15th. From my father’s, it being a very foul morning for the
King and Lords to go to Windsor, I went to the office and there
met Mr. Coventry and Sir Robt. Slingsby, but did no busi-
ness, but only appoint to go to Deptford together tomorrow. Mr.
Coventry being gone, and I having at home laid up £200 which
I had brought this morning home from Alderman Backwell’s, I
went home by coach with Sir R. Slingsby and dined with him,
and had a very good dinner. His lady’ seems a good woman and
very desirous they were to hear this noon by the post how the
election has gone at Newcastle, wherein he is concerned, but the
letters are not come yet. To my uncle Wight’s, and after a little
stay with them he and I to Mr. Rawlinson’s, and there staid all
the afternoon, it being very foul, and had a little talk with him
what good I might make of these ships that go to Portugal by
venturing some money by them, and he will give me an answer
to it shortly. So home and sent for the Barber, and after that to
bed.
16th. So soon as word was brought me that Mr. Coventry
was come with the barge to the Towre, I went to him, and found
him reading of the Psalms in short hand (which he is now busy
about), and had good sport about the long marks that are made
there for sentences in divinity, which he is never like to make use
of. Here he and I sat till the Comptroller came and then we put
off for Deptford, where we went on board the King’s pleasure
boat that Commissioner Pett is making, and indeed it will be a
most pretty thing. From thence to Commr. Pett’s lodging, and
there had a good breakfast, and in came the two Sir Wms. from
Walthamstow, and so we sat down and did a great deal of public
business about the fitting of the fleet that is now going out. That
done we went to the Globe and there had a good dinner, and by
and by took barge again and so home. By the way they would
have me sing, which I did to Mr. Coventry, who went up to Sir
William Batten’s, and there we staid and talked a good while,
and then broke up and I home, and then to my father’s and there
lay with my wife.
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APRIL 1661
17th. By land and saw the arches, which are now almost done
and are very fine, and I saw the picture of the ships and other
things this morning, set up before the East Indy House, which
are well done. So to the office, and that being done I went to din-
ner with Sir W. Batten, and then home to my workmen, and saw
them go on with great content to me. Then comes Mr. Allen of
Chatham, and I took him to the Mitre and there did drink with
him, and did get of him the song that pleased me so well there
the other day, “Of Shitten come Shites the beginning of love.”
His daughters are to come to town to-morrow, but I know not
whether I shall see them or no. That done I went to the Dolphin
by appointment and there I met Sir Wms. both and Mr. Castle,
and did eat a barrel of oysters and two lobsters, which I did give
them, and were very merry. Here we had great talk of Mr. War-
ren’s being knighted by the King, and Sir W. B. seemed to be very
much incensed against him. So home.
18th. Up with my workmen and then about 9 o’clock took
horse with both the Sir Williams for Walthamstow, and there we
found my Lady and her daughters all; and a pleasant day it was,
and all things else, but that my Lady was in a bad mood, which
we were troubled at, and had she been noble she would not have
been so with her servants, when we came thither, and this Sir W.
Pen took notice of, as well as I. After dinner we all went to the
Church stile, and there eat and drank, and I was as merry as I
could counterfeit myself to be. Then, it raining hard, we left Sir
W. Batten, and we two returned and called at Mr.—-and drank
some brave wine there, and then homewards again and in our
way met with two country fellows upon one horse, which I did,
without much ado, give the way to, but Sir W. Pen would not,
but struck them and they him, and so passed away, but they giv-
ing him some high words, he went back again and struck them
off their horse, in a simple fury, and without much honour, in my
mind, and so came away. Home, and I sat with him a good while
talking, and then home and to bed.
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APRIL 1661
19th. Among my workmen and then to the office, and after
that dined with Sir W. Batten, and then home, where Sir W. War-
ren came, and I took him and Mr. Shepley and Moore with me to
the Mitre, and there I cleared with Warren for the deals I bought
lately for my Lord of him, and he went away, and we staid af-
terwards a good while and talked, and so parted, it being so foul
that I could not go to Whitehall to see the Knights of the Bath
made to-day, which do trouble me mightily. So home, and hav-
ing staid awhile till Will came in (with whom I was vexed for
staying abroad), he comes and then I went by water to my fa-
ther’s, and then after supper to bed with my wife.
20th. Here comes my boy to tell me that the Duke of York
had sent for all the principal officers, &c., to come to him to-
day. So I went by water to Mr. Coventry’s, and there staid and
talked a good while with him till all the rest come. We went up
and saw the Duke dress himself, and in his night habitt he is a
very plain man. Then he sent us to his closett, where we saw
among other things two very fine chests, covered with gold and
Indian varnish, given him by the East Indy Company of Hol-
land. The Duke comes; and after he had told us that the fleet
was designed for Algier (which was kept from us till now), we
did advise about many things as to the fitting of the fleet, and so
went away. And from thence to the Privy Seal, where little to do,
and after that took Mr. Creed and Moore and gave them their
morning draught, and after that to my Lord’s, where Sir W. Pen
came to me, and dined with my Lord. After dinner he and others
that dined there went away, and then my Lord looked upon his
pages’ and footmen’s liverys, which are come home to-day, and
will be handsome, though not gaudy. Then with my Lady and
my Lady Wright to White Hall; and in the Banqueting-house saw
the King create my Lord Chancellor and several others, Earls,
and Mr. Crew and several others, Barons: the first being led up
by Heralds and five old Earls to the King, and there the patent
is read, and the King puts on his vest, and sword, and coronet,
and gives him the patent. And then he kisseth the King’s hand,
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and rises and stands covered before the king. And the same for
the Barons, only he is led up but by three of the old Barons, and
are girt with swords before they go to the King. That being done
(which was very pleasant to see their habits), I carried my Lady
back, and I found my Lord angry, for that his page had let my
Lord’s new beaver be changed for an old hat; then I went away,
and with Mr. Creed to the Exchange and bought some things, as
gloves and bandstrings, &c. So back to the Cockpitt, and there,
by the favour of one Mr. Bowman, he and I got in, and there
saw the King and Duke of York and his Duchess (which is a
plain woman, and like her mother, my Lady Chancellor). And
so saw “The Humersome Lieutenant” acted before the King, but
not very well done.
But my pleasure was great to see the manner of it, and so many
great beauties, but above all Mrs. Palmer, with whom the King
do discover a great deal of familiarity. So Mr. Creed and I (the
play being done) went to Mrs. Harper’s, and there sat and drank,
it being about twelve at night. The ways being now so dirty,
and stopped up with the rayles which are this day set up in the
streets, I would not go home, but went with him to his lodging
at Mr. Ware’s, and there lay all night.
21st (Lord’s day). In the morning we were troubled to hear it
rain as it did, because of the great show tomorrow. After I was
ready I walked to my father’s and there found the late maid to
be gone and another come by my mother’s choice, which my fa-
ther do not like, and so great difference there will be between my
father and mother about it. Here dined Doctor Thos. Pepys and
Dr. Fayrebrother; and all our talk about to-morrow’s show, and
our trouble that it is like to be a wet day. After dinner comes in
my coz. Snow and his wife, and I think stay there till the show be
over. Then I went home, and all the way is so thronged with peo-
ple to see the triumphal arches, that I could hardly pass for them.
So home, people being at church, and I got home unseen, and
so up to my chamber and saw done these last five or six days’
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diarys. My mind a little troubled about my workmen, which,
being foreigners,–[Foreigners were workmen dwelling outside
the city.]–are like to be troubled by a couple of lazy rogues that
worked with me the other day, that are citizens, and so my work
will be hindered, but I must prevent it if I can.
22d. KING’S GOING FROM YE TOWER TO WHITE
HALL.212 Up early and made myself as fine as I could, and put
on my velvet coat, the first day that I put it on, though made half
a year ago. And being ready, Sir W. Batten, my Lady, and his two
daughters and his son and wife, and Sir W. Pen and his son and
I, went to Mr. Young’s, the flag-maker, in Corne-hill;213 and there
we had a good room to ourselves, with wine and good cake, and
saw the show very well. In which it is impossible to relate the
glory of this day, expressed in the clothes of them that rid, and
their horses and horses clothes, among others, my Lord Sand-
wich’s. Embroidery and diamonds were ordinary among them.
The Knights of the Bath was a brave sight of itself; and their Es-
quires, among which Mr. Armiger was an Esquire to one of the
Knights. Remarquable were the two men that represent the two
Dukes of Normandy and Aquitane. The Bishops come next after
Barons, which is the higher place; which makes me think that the
next Parliament they will be called to the House of Lords. My
Lord Monk rode bare after the King, and led in his hand a spare
horse, as being Master of the Horse. The King, in a most rich
embroidered suit and cloak, looked most noble. Wadlow,214 the
212 The king in the early morning of the 22nd went from Whitehall to the
Tower by water, so that he might proceed from thence through the City to
Westminster Abbey, there to be crowned.
213 The members of the Navy Office appear to have chosen Mr. Young’s
house on account of its nearness to the second triumphal arch, situated near
the Royal Exchange, which was dedicated to the Navy.
214 Simon Wadlow was the original of “old Sir Simon the king,” the
favourite air of Squire Western in “Tom Jones.” “Hang up all the poor hop-
drinkers, Cries old Sim, the king of skinkers.” Ben Jonson, Verses over the
door into the Apollo.
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vintner, at the Devil; in Fleetstreet, did lead a fine company of
soldiers, all young comely men, in white doublets. There fol-
lowed the Vice-Chamberlain, Sir G. Carteret, a company of men
all like Turks; but I know not yet what they are for. The streets all
gravelled, and the houses hung with carpets before them, made
brave show, and the ladies out of the windows, one of which over
against us I took much notice of, and spoke of her, which made
good sport among us. So glorious was the show with gold and
silver, that we were not able to look at it, our eyes at last being so
much overcome with it. Both the King and the Duke of York took
notice of us, as he saw us at the window. The show being ended,
Mr. Young did give us a dinner, at which we were very merry,
and pleased above imagination at what we have seen. Sir W.
Batten going home, he and I called and drunk some mum215 and
laid our wager about my Lady Faulconbridge’s name,216 which
he says not to be Mary, and so I won above 20s. So home, where
Will and the boy staid and saw the show upon Towre Hill, and
Jane at T. Pepys’s, The. Turner, and my wife at Charles Glassec-
ocke’s, in Fleet Street. In the evening by water to White Hall to
my Lord’s, and there I spoke with my Lord. He talked with me
about his suit, which was made in France, and cost him £200,
and very rich it is with embroidery. I lay with Mr. Shepley, and
CORONACION DAY.
23d. About 4 I rose and got to the Abbey, where I followed Sir
J. Denham, the Surveyor, with some company that he was lead-
ing in. And with much ado, by the favour of Mr. Cooper, his
man, did get up into a great scaffold across the North end of the
Abbey, where with a great deal of patience I sat from past 4 till 11
before the King came in. And a great pleasure it was to see the
215 Mum. Ale brewed with wheat at Brunswick. “Sedulous and stout With
bowls of fattening mum.” J. Phillips, Cyder, Vol. ii. p. 231.
216 Mary, third daughter of Oliver Cromwell, and second wife of Thomas
Bellasis, second Viscount Fauconberg, created Earl of Fauconberg, April 9th,
1689.
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APRIL 1661
Abbey raised in the middle, all covered with red, and a throne
(that is a chair) and footstool on the top of it; and all the offi-
cers of all kinds, so much as the very fidlers, in red vests. At last
comes in the Dean and Prebends of Westminster, with the Bish-
ops (many of them in cloth of gold copes), and after them the
Nobility, all in their Parliament robes, which was a most mag-
nificent sight. Then the Duke, and the King with a scepter (car-
ried by my Lord Sandwich) and sword and mond217 before him,
and the crown too. The King in his robes, bare-headed, which
was very fine. And after all had placed themselves, there was a
sermon and the service; and then in the Quire at the high altar,
the King passed through all the ceremonies of the Coronacon,
which to my great grief I and most in the Abbey could not see.
The crown being put upon his head, a great shout begun, and
he came forth to the throne, and there passed more ceremonies:
as taking the oath, and having things read to him by the Bishop;
and his lords (who put on their caps as soon as the King put on
his crown)218 and bishops come, and kneeled before him. And
three times the King at Arms went to the three open places on
the scaffold, and proclaimed, that if any one could show any rea-
son why Charles Stewart should not be King of England, that
now he should come and speak. And a Generall Pardon also was
read by the Lord Chancellor, and meddalls flung up and down
by my Lord Cornwallis, of silver, but I could not come by any.
But so great a noise that I could make but little of the musique;
and indeed, it was lost to every body. But I had so great a lust
to.... that I went out a little while before the King had done all
his ceremonies, and went round the Abbey to Westminster Hall,
all the way within rayles, and 10,000 people, with the ground
217 Mond or orb of gold, with a cross set with precious stones, carried by
the Duke of Buckingham.
218 As yet barons had no coronet. A grant of that outward mark of dignity
was made to them by Charles soon after his coronation. Queen Elizabeth
had assigned coronets to viscounts.–B.
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covered with blue cloth; and scaffolds all the way. Into the Hall
I got, where it was very fine with hangings and scaffolds one
upon another full of brave ladies; and my wife in one little one,
on the right hand. Here I staid walking up and down, and at
last upon one of the side stalls I stood and saw the King come in
with all the persons (but the soldiers) that were yesterday in the
cavalcade; and a most pleasant sight it was to see them in their
several robes. And the King came in with his crown on, and his
sceptre in his hand, under a canopy borne up by six silver staves,
carried by Barons of the Cinque Ports,219 and little bells at every
end. And after a long time, he got up to the farther end, and all
set themselves down at their several tables; and that was also a
brave sight: and the King’s first course carried up by the Knights
of the Bath. And many fine ceremonies there was of the Heralds
leading up people before him, and bowing; and my Lord of Albe-
marle’s going to the kitchin and eat a bit of the first dish that was
to go to the King’s table. But, above all, was these three Lords,
Northumberland, and Suffolk, and the Duke of Ormond, coming
before the courses on horseback, and staying so all dinner-time,
and at last to bring up [Dymock] the King’s Champion, all in
armour on horseback, with his spear and targett carried before
him. And a Herald proclaims “That if any dare deny Charles
Stewart to be lawful King of England, here was a Champion that
would fight with him;”220 and with these words, the Champion
219 Pepys was himself one of the Barons of the Cinque Ports at the Corona-
tion of James II.
220 The terms of the Champion’s challenge were as follows: “If any person
of what degree soever, high or low, shall deny or gainsay our Soveraigne
Lord King Charles the Second, King of England, Scotland, France and Ire-
land, defender of the faith, Sonne and next heire to our Soveraigne Lord
Charles the First, the last King deceased, to be right heire to the Imperiall
Crowne of this Realme of England, or that bee ought not to enjoy the same;
here is his champion, who sayth that he lyeth and is a false Traytor, being
ready in person to combate with him, and in this quarrell will venture his
life against him, on what day soever hee shall be appointed.”
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APRIL 1661
flings down his gauntlet, and all this he do three times in his go-
ing up towards the King’s table. At last when he is come, the
King drinks to him, and then sends him the cup which is of gold,
and he drinks it off, and then rides back again with the cup in
his hand. I went from table to table to see the Bishops and all
others at their dinner, and was infinitely pleased with it. And
at the Lords’ table, I met with William Howe, and he spoke to
my Lord for me, and he did give me four rabbits and a pullet,
and so I got it and Mr. Creed and I got Mr. Michell to give us
some bread, and so we at a stall eat it, as every body else did
what they could get. I took a great deal of pleasure to go up and
down, and look upon the ladies, and to hear the musique of all
sorts, but above all, the 24 violins: About six at night they had
dined, and I went up to my wife, and there met with a pretty
lady (Mrs. Frankleyn, a Doctor’s wife, a friend of Mr. Bowyer’s),
and kissed them both, and by and by took them down to Mr.
Bowyer’s. And strange it is to think, that these two days have
held up fair till now that all is done, and the King gone out of the
Hall; and then it fell a-raining and thundering and lightening as
I have not seen it do for some years: which people did take great
notice of; God’s blessing of the work of these two days, which is
a foolery to take too much notice of such things. I observed lit-
tle disorder in all this, but only the King’s footmen had got hold
of the canopy, and would keep it from the Barons of the Cinque
Ports,221 which they endeavoured to force from them again, but
221 Bishop Kennett gives a somewhat fuller account of this unseemly broil:
“No sooner had the aforesaid Barons brought up the King to the foot of
the stairs in Westminster Hall, ascending to his throne, and turned on the
left hand (towards their own table) out of the way, but the King’s footmen
most insolently and violently seized upon the canopy, which the Barons en-
deavouring to keep and defend, were by their number and strength dragged
clown to the lower end of the Hall, nevertheless still keeping their hold; and
had not Mr. Owen York Herald, being accidentally near the Hall door, and
seeing the contest, caused the same to be shut, the footmen had certainly
carried it away by force. But in the interim also (speedy notice hereof having
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could not do it till my Lord Duke of Albemarle caused it to be
put into Sir R. Pye’s’ hand till tomorrow to be decided. At Mr.
Bowyer’s; a great deal of company, some I knew, others I did not.
Here we staid upon the leads and below till it was late, expect-
ing to see the fire-works, but they were not performed to-night:
only the City had a light like a glory round about it with bonfires.
At last I went to Kingstreet, and there sent Crockford to my fa-
ther’s and my house, to tell them I could not come home tonight,
because of the dirt, and a coach could not be had. And so after
drinking a pot of ale alone at Mrs. Harper’s I returned to Mr.
Bowyer’s, and after a little stay more I took my wife and Mrs.
Frankleyn (who I proffered the civility of lying with my wife at
Mrs. Hunt’s to-night) to Axe-yard, in which at the further end
there were three great bonfires, and a great many great gallants,
men and women; and they laid hold of us, and would have us
drink the King’s health upon our knees, kneeling upon a faggot,
which we all did, they drinking to us one after another. Which
we thought a strange frolique; but these gallants continued thus
a great while, and I wondered to see how the ladies did tipple.
At last I sent my wife and her bedfellow to bed, and Mr. Hunt
and I went in with Mr. Thornbury (who did give the company
all their wine, he being yeoman of the wine-cellar to the King)
to his house; and there, with his wife and two of his sisters, and
some gallant sparks that were there, we drank the King’s health,
and nothing else, till one of the gentlemen fell down stark drunk,
been given the King) one of the Querries were sent from him, with command
to imprison the footmen, and dismiss them out of his service, which put an
end to the present disturbance. These footmen were also commanded to
make their submission to the Court of Claims, which was accordingly done
by them the 30th April following, and the canopy then delivered back to the
said Barons.” Whilst this disturbance happened, the upper end of the first ta-
ble, which had been appointed for the Barons of the Cinque Ports, was taken
up by the Bishops, judges, &c., probably nothing loth to take precedence of
them; and the poor Barons, naturally unwilling to lose their dinner, were
necessitated to eat it at the bottom of the second table, below the Masters of
Chancery and others of the long robe.-B.
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and there lay spewing; and I went to my Lord’s pretty well. But
no sooner a-bed with Mr. Shepley but my head began to hum,
and I to vomit, and if ever I was foxed it was now, which I cannot
say yet, because I fell asleep and slept till morning. Only when I
waked I found myself wet with my spewing. Thus did the day
end with joy every where; and blessed be God, I have not heard
of any mischance to any body through it all, but only to Serjt.
Glynne, whose horse fell upon him yesterday, and is like to kill
him, which people do please themselves to see how just God is
to punish the rogue at such a time as this; he being now one of
the King’s Serjeants, and rode in the cavalcade with Maynard, to
whom people wish the same fortune. There was also this night
in King-street, [a woman] had her eye put out by a boy’s flinging
a firebrand into the coach. Now, after all this, I can say that, be-
sides the pleasure of the sight of these glorious things, I may now
shut my eyes against any other objects, nor for the future trouble
myself to see things of state and show, as being sure never to see
the like again in this world.
24th. Waked in the morning with my head in a sad taking
through the last night’s drink, which I am very sorry for; so rose
and went out with Mr. Creed to drink our morning draft, which
he did give me in chocolate222 to settle my stomach. And after
that I to my wife, who lay with Mrs. Frankelyn at the next door
to Mrs. Hunt’s, and they were ready, and so I took them up in
a coach, and carried the ladies to Paul’s, and there set her down,
and so my wife and I home, and I to the office. That being done
my wife and I went to dinner to Sir W. Batten, and all our talk
about the happy conclusion of these last solemnities. After din-
ner home, and advised with my wife about ordering things in
222 Chocolate was introduced into England about the year 1652. In the
“Publick Advertiser” of Tuesday, June 16-22, 1657, we find the following;
“In Bishopsgate Street in Queen’s Head Alley, at a Frenchman’s house, is an
excellent West India drink called chocolate, to be sold, where you may have
it ready at any time, and also unmade at reasonable rates.”–M. B.
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my house, and then she went away to my father’s to lie, and I
staid with my workmen, who do please me very well with their
work. At night, set myself to write down these three days’ di-
ary, and while I am about it, I hear the noise of the chambers,–[A
chamber is a small piece of ordnance.]–and other things of the
fire-works, which are now playing upon the Thames before the
King; and I wish myself with them, being sorry not to see them.
So to bed.
25th. All the morning with my workmen with great pleasure to
see them near coming to an end. At noon Mr. Moore and I went
to an Ordinary at the King’s Head in Towre Street, and there had
a dirty dinner. Afterwards home and having done some business
with him, in comes Mr. Sheply and Pierce the surgeon, and they
and I to the Mitre and there staid a while and drank, and so home
and after a little rending to bed.
26th. At the office all the morning, and at noon dined by myself
at home on a piece of meat from the cook’s, and so at home all the
afternoon with my workmen, and at night to bed, having some
thoughts to order my business so as to go to Portsmouth the next
week with Sir Robert Slingsby.
27th. In the morning to my Lord’s, and there dined with my
Lady, and after dinner with Mr. Creed and Captain Ferrers to
the Theatre to see “The Chances,” and after that to the Cock ale-
house, where we had a harp and viallin played to us, and so
home by coach to Sir W. Batten’s, who seems so inquisitive when
my house will be made an end of that I am troubled to go thither.
So home with some trouble in my mind about it.
28th (Lord’s day). In the morning to my father’s, where I
dined, and in the afternoon to their church, where come Mrs.
Turner and Mrs. Edward Pepys, and several other ladies, and so
I went out of the pew into another. And after sermon home with
them, and there staid a while and talked with them and was sent
for to my father’s, where my cozen Angier and his wife, of Cam-
bridge, to whom I went, and was glad to see them, and sent for
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APRIL 1661
wine for them, and they supped with my father. After supper my
father told me of an odd passage the other night in bed between
my mother and him, and she would not let him come to bed to
her out of jealousy of him and an ugly wench that lived there
lately, the most ill-favoured slut that ever I saw in my life, which
I was ashamed to hear that my mother should be become such a
fool, and my father bid me to take notice of it to my mother, and
to make peace between him and her. All which do trouble me
very much. So to bed to my wife.
29th. Up and with my father towards my house, and by the
way met with Lieut. Lambert, and with him to the Dolphin in
Tower Street and drank our morning draught, he being much
troubled about his being offered a fourth rate ship to be Lieu-
tenant of her now he has been two years Lieutenant in a first
rate. So to the office, where it is determined that I should go
to-morrow to Portsmouth. So I went out of the office to White-
hall presently, and there spoke with Sir W. Pen and Sir George
Carteret and had their advice as to my going, and so back again
home, where I directed Mr. Hater what to do in order to our go-
ing to-morrow, and so back again by coach to Whitehall and there
eat something in the buttery at my Lord’s with John Goods and
Ned Osgood. And so home again, and gave order to my work-
men what to do in my absence. At night to Sir W. Batten’s, and
by his and Sir W. Pen’s persuasion I sent for my wife from my
father’s, who came to us to Mrs. Turner’s, where we were all at a
collacion to-night till twelve o’clock, there being a gentlewoman
there that did play well and sang well to the Harpsicon, and very
merry we were. So home and to bed, where my wife had not lain
a great while.
30th. This morning, after order given to my workmen, my wife
and I and Mr. Creed took coach, and in Fishstreet took up Mr.
Hater and his wife, who through her mask seemed at first to be
an old woman, but afterwards I found her to be a very pretty
modest black woman. We got a small bait at Leatherhead, and
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APRIL 1661
so to Godlyman, where we lay all night, and were very merry,
having this day no other extraordinary rencontre, but my hat
falling off my head at Newington into the water, by which it was
spoiled, and I ashamed of it. I am sorry that I am not at Lon-
don, to be at Hide-parke to-morrow, among the great gallants
and ladies, which will be very fine.
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MAY 1661
May 1st. Up early, and bated at Petersfield, in the room which
the King lay in lately at his being there. Here very merry, and
played us and our wives at bowls. Then we set forth again, and
so to Portsmouth, seeming to me to be a very pleasant and strong
place; and we lay at the Red Lyon, where Haselrigge and Scott
and Walton did hold their councill, when they were here, against
Lambert and the Committee of Safety. Several officers of the Yard
came to see us to-night, and merry we were, but troubled to have
no better lodgings.
2nd. Up, and Mr. Creed and I to walk round the town upon
the walls. Then to our inn, and there all the officers of the Yard
to see me with great respect, and I walked with them to the Dock
and saw all the stores, and much pleased with the sight of the
place. Back and brought them all to dinner with me, and treated
them handsomely; and so after dinner by water to the Yard, and
there we made the sale of the old provisions. Then we and our
wives all to see the Montagu, which is a fine ship, and so to the
town again by water, and then to see the room where the Duke of
Buckingham was killed by Felton.–1628. So to our lodging, and
to supper and to bed. To-night came Mr. Stevens to town to help
us to pay off the Fox.
3rd. Early to walk with Mr. Creed up and down the town,
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MAY 1661
and it was in his and some others’ thoughts to have got me made
free of the town, but the Mayor, it seems, unwilling, and so they
could not do it. Then to the payhouse, and there paid off the ship,
and so to a short dinner, and then took coach, leaving Mrs. Hater
there to stay with her husband’s friends, and we to Petersfield,
having nothing more of trouble in all my journey, but the exceed-
ing unmannerly and most epicure-like palate of Mr. Creed. Here
my wife and I lay in the room the Queen lately lay at her going
into France.
4th. Up in the morning and took coach, and so to Gilford,
where we lay at the Red Lyon, the best Inn, and lay in the room
the King lately lay in, where we had time to see the Hospital,
built by Archbishop Abbott, and the free school, and were civilly
treated by the Mayster. So to supper, and to bed, being very
merry about our discourse with the Drawers concerning the min-
ister of the Town, with a red face and a girdle. So to bed, where
we lay and sleep well.
5th (Lord’s day). Mr. Creed and I went to the red-faced Par-
son’s church, and heard a good sermon of him, better than I
looked for. Then home, and had a good dinner, and after din-
ner fell in some talk in Divinity with Mr. Stevens that kept us
till it was past Church time. Anon we walked into the garden,
and there played the fool a great while, trying who of Mr. Creed
or I could go best over the edge of an old fountain well, and I
won a quart of sack of him. Then to supper in the banquet house,
and there my wife and I did talk high, she against and I for Mrs.
Pierce (that she was a beauty), till we were both angry. Then to
walk in the fields, and so to our quarters, and to bed.
6th. Up by four o’clock and took coach. Mr. Creed rode, and
left us that we know not whither he went. We went on, thinking
to be at home before the officers rose, but finding we could not
we staid by the way and eat some cakes, and so home, where
I was much troubled to see no more work done in my absence
than there was, but it could not be helped. I sent my wife to
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MAY 1661
my father’s, and I went and sat till late with my Lady Batten,
both the Sir Williams being gone this day to pay off some ships
at Deptford. So home and to bed without seeing of them. I hear
to-night that the Duke of York’s son is this day dead, which I
believe will please every body; and I hear that the Duke and his
Lady themselves are not much troubled at it.
7th. In the morning to Mr. Coventry, Sir G. Carteret, and my
Lord’s to give them an account of my return. My Lady, I find, is,
since my going, gone to the Wardrobe. Then with Mr. Creed into
London, to several places about his and my business, being much
stopped in our way by the City traynebands, who go in much
solemnity and pomp this day to muster before the King and the
Duke, and shops in the City are shut up every where all this day.
He carried me to an ordinary by the Old Exchange, where we
come a little too late, but we had very good cheer for our 18d.
a-piece, and an excellent droll too, my host, and his wife so fine
a woman; and sung and played so well that I staid a great while
and drunk a great deal of wine. Then home and staid among my
workmen all day, and took order for things for the finishing of
their work, and so at night to Sir W. Batten’s, and there supped
and so home and to bed, having sent my Lord a letter to-night
to excuse myself for not going with him to-morrow to the Hope,
whither he is to go to see in what condition the fleet is in.
8th. This morning came my brother John to take his leave of
me, he being to return to Cambridge to-morrow, and after I had
chid him for going with my Will the other day to Deptford with
the principal officers, I did give him some good counsell and 20s.
in money, and so he went away. All this day I staid at home
with my workmen without eating anything, and took much plea-
sure to see my work go forward. At night comes my wife not
well from my father’s, having had a fore-tooth drawn out to-
day, which do trouble me, and the more because I am now in
the greatest of all my dirt. My Will also returned to-night pretty
well, he being gone yesterday not very well to his father’s. To-
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day I received a letter from my uncle, to beg an old fiddle of me
for my Cozen Perkin, the miller, whose mill the wind hath lately
broke down, and now he hath nothing to live by but fiddling, and
he must needs have it against Whitsuntide to play to the country
girls; but it vexed me to see how my uncle writes to me, as if he
were not able to buy him one. But I intend tomorrow to send
him one. At night I set down my journal of my late journey to
this time, and so to bed. My wife not being well and I very angry
with her for her coming hither in that condition.
9th. With my workmen all the morning, my wife being ill and
in great pain with her old pain, which troubled me much because
that my house is in this condition of dirt. In the afternoon I went
to Whitehall and there spoke with my Lord at his lodgings, and
there being with him my Lord Chamberlain, I spoke for my old
waterman Payne, to get into White’s place, who was waterman
to my Lord Chamberlain, and is now to go master of the barge
to my Lord to sea, and my Lord Chamberlain did promise that
Payne should be entertained in White’s place with him. From
thence to Sir G. Carteret, and there did get his promise for the
payment of the remainder of the bill of Mr. Creed’s, wherein of
late I have been so much concerned, which did so much rejoice
me that I meeting with Mr. Childe took him to the Swan Tavern
in King Street, and there did give him a tankard of white wine
and sugar,–[The popular taste was formerly for sweet wines, and
sugar was frequently mixed with the wine.]–and so I went by
water home and set myself to get my Lord’s accounts made up,
which was till nine at night before I could finish, and then I
walked to the Wardrobe, being the first time I was there since
my Lady came thither, who I found all alone, and so she shewed
me all the lodgings as they are now fitted, and they seem pretty
pleasant. By and by comes in my Lord, and so, after looking over
my accounts, I returned home, being a dirty and dark walk. So
to bed.
10th. At the office all the morning, and the afternoon among
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my workmen with great pleasure, because being near an end of
their work. This afternoon came Mr. Blackburn and Creed to see
me, and I took them to the Dolphin, and there drank a great deal
of Rhenish wine with them and so home, having some talk with
Mr. Blackburn about his kinsman my Will, and he did give me
good satisfaction in that it is his desire that his kinsman should
do me all service, and that he would give him the best counsel
he could to make him good. Which I begin of late to fear that he
will not because of the bad company that I find that he do begin
to take. This afternoon Mr. Hater received for me the £225 due
upon Mr. Creed’s bill in which I am concerned so much, which
do make me very glad. At night to Sir W. Batten and sat a while.
So to bed.
11th. This morning I went by water with Payne (Mr. Moore
being with me) to my Lord Chamberlain at Whitehall, and there
spoke with my Lord, and he did accept of Payne for his water-
man, as I had lately endeavoured to get him to be. After that
Mr. Cooling did give Payne an order to be entertained, and so I
left him and Mr. Moore, and I went to Graye’s Inne, and there
to a barber’s, where I was trimmed, and had my haire cut, in
which I am lately become a little curious, finding that the length
of it do become me very much. So, calling at my father’s, I went
home, and there staid and saw my workmen follow their work,
which this night is brought to a very good condition. This after-
noon Mr. Shepley, Moore, and Creed came to me all about their
several accounts with me, and we did something with them all,
and so they went away. This evening Mr. Hater brought my last
quarter’s salary, of which I was very glad, because I have lost
my first bill for it, and so this morning was forced to get another
signed by three of my fellow officers for it. All this evening till
late setting my accounts and papers in order, and so to bed.
12th. My wife had a very troublesome night this night and in
great pain, but about the morning her swelling broke, and she
was in great ease presently as she useth to be. So I put in a vent
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(which Dr. Williams sent me yesterday) into the hole to keep it
open till all the matter be come out, and so I question not that she
will soon be well again. I staid at home all this morning, being the
Lord’s day, making up my private accounts and setting papers in
order. At noon went with my Lady Montagu at the Wardrobe,
but I found it so late that I came back again, and so dined with
my wife in her chamber. After dinner I went awhile to my cham-
ber to set my papers right. Then I walked forth towards West-
minster and at the Savoy heard Dr. Fuller preach upon David’s
words, “I will wait with patience all the days of my appointed
time until my change comes;” but methought it was a poor dry
sermon. And I am afeard my former high esteem of his preach-
ing was more out of opinion than judgment. From thence home-
wards, but met with Mr. Creed, with whom I went and walked
in Grayes-Inn-walks, and from thence to Islington, and there eat
and drank at the house my father and we were wont of old to go
to; and after that walked homeward, and parted in Smithfield:
and so I home, much wondering to see how things are altered
with Mr. Creed, who, twelve months ago, might have been got
to hang himself almost as soon as go to a drinking-house on a
Sunday.
13th. All the morning at home among my workmen. At noon
Mr. Creed and I went to the ordinary behind the Exchange,
where we lately were, but I do not like it so well as I did. So
home with him and to the office, where we sat late, and he did
deliver his accounts to us. The office being done I went home
and took pleasure to see my work draw to an end.
14th. Up early and by water to Whitehall to my Lord, and
there had much talk with him about getting some money for him.
He told me of his intention to get the Muster Master’s place for
Mr. Pierce, the purser, who he has a mind to carry to sea with
him, and spoke very slightingly of Mr. Creed, as that he had
no opinion at all of him, but only he was forced to make use of
him because of his present accounts. Thence to drink with Mr.
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Shepley and Mr. Pinkny, and so home and among my workmen
all day. In the evening Mr. Shepley came to me for some money,
and so he and I to the Mitre, and there we had good wine and a
gammon of bacon. My uncle Wight, Mr. Talbot, and others were
with us, and we were pretty merry. So at night home and to bed.
Finding my head grow weak now-a-days if I come to drink wine,
and therefore hope that I shall leave it off of myself, which I pray
God I could do.
15th. With my workmen all day till the afternoon, and then to
the office, where Mr. Creed’s accounts were passed. Home and
found all my joyner’s work now done, but only a small job or
two, which please me very well. This afternoon there came two
men with an order from a Committee of Lords to demand some
books of me out of the office, in order to the examining of Mr.
Hutchinson’s accounts, but I give them a surly answer, and they
went away to complain, which put me into some trouble with
myself, but I resolve to go to-morrow myself to these Lords and
answer them. To bed, being in great fear because of the shavings
which lay all up and down the house and cellar, for fear of fire.
16th. Up early to see whether the work of my house be quite
done, and I found it to my mind. Staid at home all the morning,
and about 2 o’clock went in my velvet coat by water to the Savoy,
and there, having staid a good while, I was called into the Lords,
and there, quite contrary to my expectations, they did treat me
very civilly, telling me that what they had done was out of zeal
to the King’s service, and that they would joyne with the gover-
nors of the chest with all their hearts, since they knew that there
was any, which they did not before. I give them very respectful
answer and so went away to the Theatre, and there saw the lat-
ter end of “The Mayd’s Tragedy,” which I never saw before, and
methinks it is too sad and melancholy. Thence homewards, and
meeting Mr. Creed I took him by water to the Wardrobe with me,
and there we found my Lord newly gone away with the Duke
of Ormond and some others, whom he had had to the collation;
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MAY 1661
and so we, with the rest of the servants in the hall, sat down and
eat of the best cold meats that ever I eat on in all my life. From
thence I went home (Mr. Moore with me to the waterside, telling
me how kindly he is used by my Lord and my Lady since his
coming hither as a servant), and to bed.
17th. All the morning at home. At noon Lieutenant Lambert
came to me, and he and I to the Exchange, and thence to an or-
dinary over against it, where to our dinner we had a fellow play
well upon the bagpipes and whistle like a bird exceeding well,
and I had a fancy to learn to whistle as he do, and did promise
to come some other day and give him an angell to teach me. To
the office, and sat there all the afternoon till 9 at night. So home
to my musique, and my wife and I sat singing in my chamber a
good while together, and then to bed.
18th. Towards Westminster, from the Towre, by water, and was
fain to stand upon one of the piers about the bridge,223 before
the men could drag their boat through the lock, and which they
could not do till another was called to help them. Being through
bridge I found the Thames full of boats and gallys, and upon
inquiry found that there was a wager to be run this morning. So
spying of Payne in a gully, I went into him, and there staid, think-
ing to have gone to Chelsy with them. But upon, the start, the
wager boats fell foul one of another, till at last one of them gives
over, pretending foul play, and so the other row away alone, and
all our sport lost. So, I went ashore, at Westminster; and to the
Hall I went, where it was very pleasant to see the Hall in the con-
dition it is now with the judges on the benches at the further end
of it, which I had not seen all this term till now. Thence with
Mr. Spicer, Creed and some others to drink. And so away home-
wards by water with Mr. Creed, whom I left in London going
about business and I home, where I staid all the afternoon in the
223 The dangers of shooting the bridge were so great that a popular proverb
has it–London Bridge was made for wise men to go over and fools to go
under.
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MAY 1661
garden reading “Faber Fortunae” with great pleasure. So home
to bed.
19th. (Lord’s day) I walked in the morning towards Westmin-
ster, and seeing many people at York House, I went down and
found them at mass, it being the Spanish ambassodors; and so I
go into one of the gallerys, and there heard two masses done, I
think, not in so much state as I have seen them heretofore. After
that into the garden, and walked a turn or two, but found it not
so fine a place as I always took it for by the outside. Thence to
my Lord’s and there spake with him about business, and then he
went to Whitehall to dinner, and Capt. Ferrers and Mr. Howe
and myself to Mr. Wilkinson’s at the Crown, and though he had
no meat of his own, yet we happened to find our cook Mr. Robin-
son there, who had a dinner for himself and some friends, and so
he did give us a very fine dinner. Then to my Lord’s, where we
went and sat talking and laughing in the drawing-room a great
while. All our talk about their going to sea this voyage, which
Capt. Ferrers is in some doubt whether he shall go or no, but
swears that he would go, if he were sure never to come back
again; and I, giving him some hopes, he grew so mad with joy
that he fell a-dancing and leaping like a madman. Now it fell
out so that the balcone windows were open, and he went to the
rayle and made an offer to leap over, and asked what if he should
leap over there. I told him I would give him £40 if he did not go
to sea. With that thought I shut the doors, and W. Howe hin-
dered him all we could; yet he opened them again, and, with a
vault, leaps down into the garden:–the greatest and most desper-
ate frolic that ever I saw in my life. I run to see what was become
of him, and we found him crawled upon his knees, but could not
rise; so we went down into the garden and dragged him to the
bench, where he looked like a dead man, but could not stir; and,
though he had broke nothing, yet his pain in his back was such
as he could not endure. With this, my Lord (who was in the little
new room) come to us in amaze, and bid us carry him up, which,
by our strength, we did, and so laid him in East’s bed, by the
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door; where he lay in great pain. We sent for a doctor and chyrur-
geon, but none to be found, till by-and-by by chance comes in Dr.
Clerke, who is afeard of him. So we sent to get a lodging for him,
and I went up to my Lord, where Captain Cooke, Mr. Gibbons,
and others of the King’s musicians were come to present my Lord
with some songs and symphonys, which were performed very
finely. Which being done I took leave and supped at my father’s,
where was my cozen Beck come lately out of the country. I am
troubled to see my father so much decay of a suddain, as he do
both in his seeing and hearing, and as much to hear of him how
my brother Tom do grow disrespectful to him and my mother. I
took leave and went home, where to prayers (which I have not
had in my house a good while), and so to bed.
20th. At home all the morning; paid £50 to one Mr. Grant for
Mr. Barlow, for the last half year, and was visited by Mr. An-
derson, my former chamber fellow at Cambridge, with whom I
parted at the Hague, but I did not go forthwith him, only gave
him a morning draft at home. At noon Mr. Creed came to me,
and he and I to the Exchange, and so to an ordinary to dinner, and
after dinner to the Mitre, and there sat drinking while it rained
very much. Then to the office, where I found Sir Williams both,
choosing of masters for the new fleet of ships that is ordered to
be set forth, and Pen seeming to be in an ugly humour, not will-
ing to gratify one that I mentioned to be put in, did vex me. We
sat late, and so home. Mr. Moore came to me when I was going
to bed, and sat with me a good while talking about my Lord’s
business and our own and so good night.
21st. Up early, and, with Sir R. Slingsby (and Major Wa-
ters the deaf gentleman, his friend, for company’s sake) to the
Victualling-office (the first time that I ever knew where it was),
and there staid while he read a commission for enquiry into some
of the King’s lands and houses thereabouts, that are given his
brother. And then we took boat to Woolwich, where we staid
and gave order for the fitting out of some more ships presently.
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And then to Deptford, where we staid and did the same; and so
took barge again, and were overtaken by the King in his barge, he
having been down the river with his yacht this day for pleasure
to try it; and, as I hear, Commissioner Pett’s do prove better than
the Dutch one, and that that his brother built. While we were
upon the water, one of the greatest showers of rain fell that ever
I saw. The Comptroller and I landed with our barge at the Tem-
ple, and from thence I went to my father’s, and there did give
order about some clothes to be made, and did buy a new hat,
cost between 20 and 30 shillings, at Mr. Holden’s. So home.
22nd. To Westminster, and there missed of my Lord, and so
about noon I and W. Howe by water to the Wardrobe, where my
Lord and all the officers of the Wardrobe dined, and several other
friends of my Lord, at a venison pasty. Before dinner, my Lady
Wright and my Lady Jem. sang songs to the harpsicon. Very
pleasant and merry at dinner. And then I went away by water to
the office, and there staid till it was late. At night before I went to
bed the barber came to trim me and wash me, and so to bed, in
order to my being clean to-morrow.
23rd. This day I went to my Lord, and about many other things
at Whitehall, and there made even my accounts with Mr. Shep-
ley at my Lord’s, and then with him and Mr. Moore and John
Bowles to the Rhenish wine house, and there came Jonas Moore,
the mathematician, to us, and there he did by discourse make us
fully believe that England and France were once the same conti-
nent, by very good arguments, and spoke very many things, not
so much to prove the Scripture false as that the time therein is not
well computed nor understood. From thence home by water, and
there shifted myself into my black silk suit (the first day I have
put it on this year), and so to my Lord Mayor’s by coach, with
a great deal of honourable company, and great entertainment.
At table I had very good discourse with Mr. Ashmole, wherein
he did assure me that frogs and many insects do often fall from
the sky, ready formed. Dr. Bates’s singularity in not rising up
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nor drinking the King’s nor other healths at the table was very
much observed.224 From thence we all took coach, and to our of-
fice, and there sat till it was late; and so I home and to bed by
day-light. This day was kept a holy-day through the town; and it
pleased me to see the little boys walk up and down in procession
with their broom-staffs in their hands, as I had myself long ago
gone.225 24th. At home all the morning making up my private ac-
counts, and this is the first time that I do find myself to be clearly
worth £500 in money, besides all my goods in my house, &c. In
the afternoon at the office late, and then I went to the Wardrobe,
where I found my Lord at supper, and therefore I walked a good
while till he had done, and I went in to him, and there he looked
over my accounts. And they were committed to Mr. Moore to see
me paid what remained due to me. Then down to the kitchen to
eat a bit of bread and butter, which I did, and there I took one of
the maids by the chin, thinking her to be Susan, but it proved to
be her sister, who is very like her. From thence home.
25th. All the morning at home about business. At noon to the
Temple, where I staid and looked over a book or two at Play-
ford’s, and then to the Theatre, where I saw a piece of “The
224 Dr. William Bates, one of the most eminent of the Puritan divines, and
who took part in the Savoy Conference. His collected writings were pub-
lished in 1700, and fill a large folio volume. The Dissenters called him silver-
tongued Bates. Calamy affirmed that if Bates would have conformed to the
Established Church he might have been raised to any bishopric in the king-
dom. He died in 1699, aged seventy-four.
225 Pepys here refers to the perambulation of parishes on Holy Thursday,
still observed. This ceremony was sometimes enlivened by whipping the
boys, for the better impressing on their minds the remembrance of the day,
and the boundaries of the parish, instead of beating houses or stones. But
this would not have harmonized well with the excellent Hooker’s practice
on this day, when he “always dropped some loving and facetious observa-
tions, to be remembered against the next year, especially by the boys and
young people.” Amongst Dorsetshire customs, it seems that, in perambulat-
ing a manor or parish, a boy is tossed into a stream, if that be the boundary;
if a hedge, a sapling from it is applied for the purpose of flagellation.–B.
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Silent Woman,” which pleased me. So homewards, and in my
way bought “The Bondman” in Paul’s Churchyard, and so home,
where I found all clean, and the hearth and range, as it is now en-
larged, set up, which pleases me very much.
26th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed. To church and heard a good
sermon at our own church, where I have not been a great many
weeks. Dined with my wife alone at home pleasing myself in that
my house do begin to look as if at last it would be in good order.
This day the Parliament received the communion of Dr. Gun-
ning at St. Margaret’s, Westminster. In the afternoon both the Sir
Williams came to church, where we had a dull stranger. After
church home, and so to the Mitre, where I found Dr. Burnett, the
first time that ever I met him to drink with him, and my uncle
Wight and there we sat and drank a great deal, and so I to Sir W.
Batten’s, where I have on purpose made myself a great stranger,
only to get a high opinion a little more of myself in them. Here I
heard how Mrs. Browne, Sir W. Batten’s sister, is brought to bed,
and I to be one of the godfathers, which I could not nor did deny.
Which, however, did trouble me very much to be at charge to
no purpose, so that I could not sleep hardly all night, but in the
morning I bethought myself, and I think it is very well I should
do it. Sir W. Batten told me how Mr. Prin (among the two or
three that did refuse to-day to receive the sacrament upon their
knees) was offered by a mistake the drink afterwards, which he
did receive, being denied the drink by Dr. Gunning, unless he
would take it on his knees; and after that by another the bread
was brought him, and he did take it sitting, which is thought
very preposterous. Home and to bed.
27th. To the Wardrobe, and from thence with my Lords Sand-
wich and Hinchinbroke to the Lords’ House by boat at Westmin-
ster, and there I left them. Then to the lobby, and after waiting for
Sir G. Downing’s coming out, to speak with him about the giving
me up of my bond for my honesty when I was his clerk, but to no
purpose, I went to Clerke’s at the Legg, and there I found both
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Mr. Pierces, Mr. Rolt, formerly too great a man to meet upon
such even terms, and there we dined very merry, there coming
to us Captain Ferrers, this being the first day of his going abroad
since his leap a week ago, which I was greatly glad to see. By
water to the office, and there sat late, Sir George Carteret coming
in, who among other things did inquire into the naming of the
maisters for this fleet, and was very angry that they were named
as they are, and above all to see the maister of the Adventure
(for whom there is some kind of difference between Sir W. Pen
and me) turned out, who has been in her list. The office done, I
went with the Comptroller to the Coffee house, and there we dis-
coursed of this, and I seem to be fond of him, and indeed I find
I must carry fair with all as far as I see it safe, but I have got of
him leave to have a little room from his lodgings to my house, of
which I am very glad, besides I do open him a way to get lodg-
ings himself in the office, of which I should be very glad. Home
and to bed.
28th. This morning to the Wardrobe, and thence to a little ale-
house hard by, to drink with John Bowies, who is now going to
Hinchinbroke this day. Thence with Mr. Shepley to the Exchange
about business, and there, by Mr. Rawlinson’s favour, got into a
balcone over against the Exchange; and there saw the hangman
burn, by vote of Parliament, two old acts, the one for constituting
us a Commonwealth, and the others I have forgot. Which still do
make me think of the greatness of this late turn, and what people
will do tomorrow against what they all, through profit or fear,
did promise and practise this day. Then to the Mitre with Mr.
Shepley, and there dined with D. Rawlinson and some friends of
his very well. So home, and then to Cheapside about buying a
piece of plate to give away to-morrow to Mrs. Browne’s child. So
to the Star in Cheapside, where I left Mr. Moore telling £5 out for
me, who I found in a great strait for my coming back again, and
so he went his way at my coming. Then home, where Mr. Cook
I met and he paid me 30s., an old debt of his to me. So to Sir W.
Pen’s, and there sat alone with him till ten at night in talk with
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great content, he telling me things and persons that I did not un-
derstand in the late times, and so I home to bed. My cozen John
Holcroft (whom I have not seen many years) this morning came
to see me.
29th (King’s birth-day). Rose early and having made myself
fine, and put six spoons and a porringer of silver in my pocket to
give away to-day, Sir W. Pen and I took coach, and (the weather
and ways being foul) went to Walthamstowe; and being come
there heard Mr. Radcliffe, my former school fellow at Paul’s (who
is yet a mere boy), preach upon “Nay, let him take all, since my
Lord the King is returned,” &c. He reads all, and his sermon
very simple, but I looked for new matter. Back to dinner to Sir
William Batten’s; and then, after a walk in the fine gardens, we
went to Mrs. Browne’s, where Sir W. Pen and I were godfathers,
and Mrs. Jordan and Shipman godmothers to her boy. And there,
before and after the christening; we were with the woman above
in her chamber; but whether we carried ourselves well or ill, I
know not; but I was directed by young Mrs. Batten. One passage
of a lady that eat wafers with her dog did a little displease me.
I did give the midwife 10s. and the nurse 5s. and the maid of
the house 2s. But for as much I expected to give the name to the
child, but did not (it being called John), I forbore then to give my
plate till another time after a little more advice. All being done,
we went to Mrs. Shipman’s, who is a great butter-woman, and
I did see there the most of milk and cream, and the cleanest that
ever I saw in my life. After we had filled our bellies with cream,
we took our leaves and away. In our way, we had great sport
to try who should drive fastest, Sir W. Batten’s coach, or Sir W.
Pen’s chariott, they having four, and we two horses, and we beat
them. But it cost me the spoiling of my clothes and velvet coat
with dirt. Being come home I to bed, and give my breeches to be
dried by the fire against to-morrow.
30th. To the Wardrobe and there, with my Lord, went into his
new barge to try her, and found her a good boat, and like my
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Lord’s contrivance of the door to come out round and not square
as they used to do. Back to the Wardrobe with my Lord, and
then with Mr. Moore to the Temple, and thence to. Greatorex,
who took me to Arundell-House, and there showed me some
fine flowers in his garden, and all the fine statues in the gallery,
which I formerly had seen, and is a brave sight, and thence to
a blind dark cellar, where we had two bottles of good ale, and
so after giving him direction for my silver side-table, I took boat
at Arundell stairs, and put in at Milford.... So home and found
Sir Williams both and my Lady going to Deptford to christen
Captain Rooth’s child, and would have had me with them, but
I could not go. To the office, where Sir R. Slingsby was, and he
and I into his and my lodgings to take a view of them, out of
a desire he has to have mine of me to join to his, and give me
Mr. Turner’s. To the office again, where Sir G. Carteret came and
sat a while, he being angry for Sir Williams making of the mais-
ters of this fleet upon their own heads without a full table. Then
the Comptroller and I to the Coffee House, and there sat a great
while talking of many things. So home and to bed. This day, I
hear, the Parliament have ordered a bill to be brought in for the
restoring the Bishops to the House of Lords; which they had not
done so soon but to spite Mr. Prin, who is every day so bitter
against them in his discourse in the House.
31st. I went to my father’s thinking to have met with my cozen
John Holcroft, but he came not, but to my great grief I found my
father and mother in a great deal of discontent one with another,
and indeed my mother is grown now so pettish that I know not
how my father is able to bear with it. I did talk to her so as did not
indeed become me, but I could not help it, she being so unsuffer-
ably foolish and simple, so that my father, poor man, is become a
very unhappy man. There I dined, and so home and to the office
all the afternoon till 9 at night, and then home and to supper and
to bed. Great talk now how the Parliament intend to make a col-
lection of free gifts to the King through the Kingdom; but I think
it will not come to much.
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June 1st. Having taken our leaves of Sir W. Batten and my Lady,
who are gone this morning to keep their Whitsuntide, Sir W. Pen
and I and Mr. Gauden by water to Woolwich, and there went
from ship to ship to give order for and take notice of their for-
wardness to go forth, and then to Deptford and did the like, hav-
ing dined at Woolwich with Captain Poole at the tavern there.
From Deptford we walked to Redriffe, calling at the half-way
house, and there come into a room where there was infinite of
new cakes placed that are made against Whitsuntide, and there
we were very merry. By water home, and there did businesses of
the office. Among others got my Lord’s imprest of £1000 and Mr.
Creed’s of £10,000 against this voyage their bills signed. Having
wrote letters into the country and read some things I went to bed.
2nd (Whitsunday). The barber having done with me, I went to
church, and there heard a good sermon of Mr. Mills, fit for the
day. Then home to dinner, and then to church again, and going
home I found Greatorex (whom I expected today at dinner) come
to see me, and so he and I in my chamber drinking of wine and
eating of anchovies an hour or two, discoursing of many things in
mathematics, and among others he showed me how it comes to
pass the strength that levers have, and he showed me that what
is got as to matter of strength is lost by them as to matter of time.
426
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It rained very hard, as it hath done of late so much that we begin
to doubt a famine, and so he was forced to stay longer than I
desired. At night after prayers to bed.
3rd. To the Wardrobe, where discoursing with my Lord, he
did instruct me as to the business of the Wardrobe, in case, in his
absence, Mr. Townsend should die, and told me that he do intend
to joyne me and Mr. Moore with him as to the business, now he
is going to sea, and spoke to me many other things, as to one that
he do put the greatest confidence in, of which I am proud. Here
I had a good occasion to tell him (what I have had long in my
mind) that, since it has pleased God to bless me with something,
I am desirous to lay out something for my father, and so have
pitched upon Mr. Young’s place in the Wardrobe, which I desired
he would give order in his absence, if the place should fall that I
might have the refusal. Which my Lord did freely promise me,
at which I was very glad, he saying that he would do that at the
least. So I saw my Lord into the barge going to Whitehall, and
I and Mr. Creed home to my house, whither my father and my
cozen Scott came to dine with me, and so we dined together very
well, and before we had done in comes my father Bowyer and
my mother and four daughters, and a young gentleman and his
sister, their friends, and there staid all the afternoon, which cost
me great store of wine, and were very merry. By and by I am
called to the office, and there staid a little. So home again, and
took Mr. Creed and left them, and so he and I to the Towre, to
speak for some ammunition for ships for my Lord; and so he and
I, with much pleasure, walked quite round the Towre, which I
never did before. So home, and after a walk with my wife upon
the leads, I and she went to bed. This morning I and Dr. Peirce
went over to the Beare at the Bridge foot, thinking to have met
my Lord Hinchinbroke and his brother setting forth for France;
but they being not come we went over to the Wardrobe, and there
found that my Lord Abbot Montagu being not at Paris, my Lord
hath a mind to have them stay a little longer before they go.
427
JUNE 1661
4th. The Comptroller came this morning to get me to go see
a house or two near our office, which he would take for himself
or Mr. Turner, and then he would have me have Mr. Turner’s
lodgings and himself mine and Mr. Davis’s. But the houses did
not like us, and so that design at present is stopped. Then he
and I by water to the bridge, and then walked over the Bank-side
till we came to the Temple, and so I went over and to my fa-
ther’s, where I met with my cozen J. Holcroft, and took him and
my father and my brother Tom to the Bear tavern and gave them
wine, my cozen being to go into the country again to-morrow.
From thence to my Lord Crew’s to dinner with him, and had
very good discourse about having of young noblemen and gen-
tlemen to think of going to sea, as being as honourable service
as the land war. And among other things he told us how, in
Queen Elizabeth’s time, one young nobleman would wait with
a trencher at the back of another till he came to age himself. And
witnessed in my young Lord of Kent, that then was, who waited
upon my Lord Bedford at table, when a letter came to my Lord
Bedford that the Earldom of Kent was fallen to his servant, the
young Lord; and so he rose from table, and made him sit down
in his place, and took a lower for himself, for so he was by place
to sit. From thence to the Theatre and saw “Harry the 4th,” a
good play. That done I went over the water and walked over the
fields to Southwark, and so home and to my lute. At night to
bed.
5th. This morning did give my wife £4 to lay out upon lace and
other things for herself. I to Wardrobe and so to Whitehall and
Westminster, where I dined with my Lord and Ned Dickering
alone at his lodgings. After dinner to the office, where we sat and
did business, and Sir W. Pen and I went home with Sir R. Slingsby
to bowls in his ally, and there had good sport, and afterwards
went in and drank and talked. So home Sir William and I, and it
being very hot weather I took my flageolette and played upon the
leads in the garden, where Sir W. Pen came out in his shirt into his
leads, and there we staid talking and singing, and drinking great
428
JUNE 1661
drafts of claret, and eating botargo226 and bread and butter till 12
at night, it being moonshine; and so to bed, very near fuddled.
6th. My head hath aked all night, and all this morning, with
my last night’s debauch. Called up this morning by Lieutenant
Lambert, who is now made Captain of the Norwich, and he and
I went down by water to Greenwich, in our way observing and
discoursing upon the things of a ship, he telling me all I asked
him, which was of good use to me. There we went and eat and
drank and heard musique at the Globe, and saw the simple mo-
tion that is there of a woman with a rod in her hand keeping
time to the musique while it plays, which is simple, methinks.
Back again by water, calling at Captain Lambert’s house, which
is very handsome and neat, and a fine prospect at top. So to the
office, where we sat a little, and then the Captain and I again to
Bridewell to Mr. Holland’s, where his wife also, a plain dowdy,
and his mother was. Here I paid Mrs. Holland the money due
from me to her husband. Here came two young gentlewomen to
see Mr. Holland, and one of them could play pretty well upon
the viallin, but, good God! how these ignorant people did cry
her up for it! We were very merry. I staid and supped there, and
so home and to bed. The weather very hot, this night I left off my
wastecoat.
7th. To my Lord’s at Whitehall, but not finding him I went
to the Wardrobe and there dined with my Lady, and was very
kindly treated by her. After dinner to the office, and there till late
at night. So home, and to Sir William Batten’s, who is come this
day from Chatham with my Lady, who is and has been much
troubled with the toothache. Here I staid till late, and so home
and to bed.
226 “Botarga. The roe of the mullet pressed flat and dried; that of commerce,
however, is from the tunny, a large fish of passage which is common in the
Mediterranean. The best kind comes from Tunis.” –Smyth’s Sailor’s Word-
Book. Botargo was chiefly used to promote drinking by causing thirst, and
Rabelais makes Gargantua eat it.
429
JUNE 1661
8th. To Whitehall to my Lord, who did tell me that he would
have me go to Mr. Townsend, whom he had ordered to discover
to me the whole mystery of the Wardrobe, and none else but me,
and that he will make me deputy with him for fear that he should
die in my Lord’s absence, of which I was glad. Then to the Cook’s
with Mr. Shepley and Mr. Creed, and dined together, and then
I went to the Theatre and there saw Bartholomew Faire, the first
time it was acted now a-days. It is a most admirable play and
well acted, but too much prophane and abusive. From thence,
meeting Mr. Creed at the door, he and I went to the tobacco
shop under Temple Bar gate, and there went up to the top of the
house and there sat drinking Lambeth ale a good while. Then
away home, and in my way called upon Mr. Rawlinson (my un-
cle Wight being out of town), for his advice to answer a letter
of my uncle Robert, wherein he do offer me a purchase to lay
some money upon, that joynes upon some of his own lands, and
plainly telling me that the reason of his advice is the convenience
that it will give me as to his estate, of which I am exceeding glad,
and am advised to give up wholly the disposal of my money to
him, let him do what he will with it, which I shall do. So home
and to bed.
9th (Lord’s day). This day my wife put on her black silk gown,
which is now laced all over with black gimp lace, as the fashion
is, in which she is very pretty. She and I walked to my Lady’s at
the Wardrobe, and there dined and was exceeding much made
of. After dinner I left my wife there, and I walked to Whitehall,
and then went to Mr. Pierce’s and sat with his wife a good while
(who continues very pretty) till he came, and then he and I, and
Mr. Symons (dancing master), that goes to sea with my Lord, to
the Swan tavern, and there drank, and so again to White Hall,
and there met with Dean Fuller, and walked a great while with
him; among other things discoursed of the liberty the Bishop (by
name the of Galloway) takes to admit into orders any body that
will; among others, Roundtree, a simple mechanique that was a
person [parson?] formerly in the fleet. He told me he would com-
430
JUNE 1661
plain of it. By and by we went and got a sculler, and landing him
at Worcester House, I and W. Howe, who came to us at Whitehall,
went to the Wardrobe, where I met with Mr. Townsend, who is
very willing he says to communicate anything for my Lord’s ad-
vantage to me as to his business. I went up to Jane Shore’s towre,
and there W. Howe and I sang, and so took my wife and walked
home, and so to bed. After I came home a messenger came from
my Lord to bid me come to him tomorrow morning.
10th. Early to my Lord’s, who privately told me how the
King had made him Embassador in the bringing over the
Queen.227 That he is to go to Algier, &c., to settle the business,
and to put the fleet in order there; and so to come back to Lis-
bone with three ships, and there to meet the fleet that is to follow
him. He sent for me, to tell me that he do intrust me with the
seeing of all things done in his absence as to this great prepara-
tion, as I shall receive orders from my Lord Chancellor and Mr.
Edward Montagu. At all which my heart is above measure glad;
for my Lord’s honour, and some profit to myself, I hope. By and
by, out with Mr. Shepley Walden, Parliament-man for Hunting-
don, Rolt, Mackworth, and Alderman Backwell, to a house hard
by, to drink Lambeth ale. So I back to the Wardrobe, and there
found my Lord going to Trinity House, this being the solemn
day of choosing Master, and my Lord is chosen, so he dines there
to-day. I staid and dined with my Lady; but after we were set,
comes in some persons of condition, and so the children and I
rose and dined by ourselves, all the children and I, and were very
merry and they mighty fond of me. Then to the office, and there
sat awhile. So home and at night to bed, where we lay in Sir R.
Slingsby’s lodgings in the dining room there in one green bed,
227 Katherine of Braganza, daughter of John IV. of Portugal, born 1638, mar-
ried to Charles II., May 21st, 1662. After the death of the king she lived for
some time at Somerset House, and then returned to Portugal, of which coun-
try she became Regent in 1704 on the retirement of her brother Don Pedro.
She died December 31st, 1705.
431
JUNE 1661
my house being now in its last work of painting and whiting.
11th. At the office this morning, Sir G. Carteret with us; and
we agreed upon a letter to the Duke of York, to tell him the sad
condition of this office for want of money; how men are not able
to serve us more without some money; and that now the credit of
the office is brought so low, that none will sell us any thing with-
out our personal security given for the same. All the afternoon
abroad about several businesses, and at night home and to bed.
12th. Wednesday, a day kept between a fast and a feast, the
Bishops not being ready enough to keep the fast for foul weather
before fair weather came; and so they were forced to keep it be-
tween both.228 I to Whitehall, and there with Captain Rolt and
Ferrers we went to Lambeth to drink our morning draft, where
at the Three Mariners, a place noted for their ale, we went and
staid awhile very merry, and so away. And wanting a boat, we
found Captain Bun going down the river, and so we went into his
boat having a lady with him, and he landed them at Westminster
and me at the Bridge. At home all day with my workmen, and
doing several things, among others writing the letter resolved of
yesterday to the Duke. Then to White Hall, where I met my Lord,
who told me he must have £300 laid out in cloth, to give in Bar-
bary, as presents among the Turks. At which occasion of getting
something I was very glad. Home to supper, and then to Sir R.
Slingsby, who with his brother and I went to my Lord’s at the
228 A Form of Prayer was published to be used in London on the 12th, and
in the country on the 19th of June, being the special days appointed for a gen-
eral fast to be kept in the respective places for averting those sicknesses and
diseases, that dearth and scarcity, which justly may be feared from the late
immoderate rain and waters: for a thanksgiving also for the blessed change
of weather; and the begging the continuance of it to us for our comfort: And
likewise for beseeching a Blessing upon the High Court of Parliament now
assembled: Set forth by his Majesty’s authority. A sermon was preached
before the Commons by Thomas Greenfield, preacher of Lincoln’s Inn. The
Lords taxed themselves for the poor–an earl, 30s., a baron, 20s. Those absent
from prayers were to pay a forfeit.–B.
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Wardrobe, and there staid a great while, but he being now tak-
ing his leave of his friends staid out late, and so they went away.
Anon came my Lord in, and I staid with him a good while, and
then to bed with Mr. Moore in his chamber.
13th. I went up and down to Alderman Backwell’s, but his ser-
vants not being up, I went home and put on my gray cloth suit
and faced white coat, made of one of my wife’s pettycoates, the
first time I have had it on, and so in a riding garb back again and
spoke with Mr. Shaw at the Alderman’s, who offers me £300 if
my Lord pleases to buy this cloth with, which pleased me well.
So to the Wardrobe and got my Lord to order Mr. Creed to im-
prest so much upon me to be paid by Alderman Backwell. So
with my Lord to Whitehall by water, and he having taken leave
of the King, comes to us at his lodgings and from thence goes
to the garden stairs and there takes barge, and at the stairs was
met by Sir R. Slingsby, who there took his leave of my Lord, and
I heard my Lord thank him for his kindness to me, which Sir
Robert answered much to my advantage. I went down with my
Lord in the barge to Deptford, and there went on board the Dutch
yacht and staid there a good while, W. Howe not being come
with my Lord’s things, which made my Lord very angry. By and
by he comes and so we set sayle, and anon went to dinner, my
Lord and we very merry; and after dinner I went down below
and there sang, and took leave of W. Howe, Captain Rolt, and
the rest of my friends, then went up and took leave of my Lord,
who give me his hand and parted with great respect. So went
and Captain Ferrers with me into our wherry, and my Lord did
give five guns, all they had charged, which was the greatest re-
spect my Lord could do me, and of which I was not a little proud.
So with a sad and merry heart I left them sailing pleasantly from
Erith, hoping to be in the Downs tomorrow early. We toward
London in our boat. Pulled off our stockings and bathed our legs
a great while in the river, which I had not done some years be-
fore. By and by we come to Greenwich, and thinking to have
gone on the King’s yacht, the King was in her, so we passed by,
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JUNE 1661
and at Woolwich went on shore, in the company of Captain Poole
of Jamaica and young Mr. Kennersley, and many others, and so
to the tavern where we drank a great deal both wine and beer. So
we parted hence and went home with Mr. Falconer, who did give
us cherrys and good wine. So to boat, and young Poole took us
on board the Charity and gave us wine there, with which I had
full enough, and so to our wherry again, and there fell asleep till
I came almost to the Tower, and there the Captain and I parted,
and I home and with wine enough in my head, went to bed.
14th. To Whitehall to my Lord’s, where I found Mr. Edward
Montagu and his family come to lie during my Lord’s absence. I
sent to my house by my Lord’s order his shipp–[Qy. glass omit-
ted after shipp.]–and triangle virginall. So to my father’s, and did
give him order about the buying of this cloth to send to my Lord.
But I could not stay with him myself, for having got a great cold
by my playing the fool in the water yesterday I was in great pain,
and so went home by coach to bed, and went not to the office at
all, and by keeping myself warm, I broke wind and so came to
some ease. Rose and eat some supper, and so to bed again.
15th. My father came and drank his morning draft with me,
and sat with me till I was ready, and so he and I about the busi-
ness of the cloth. By and by I left him and went and dined with
my Lady, who, now my Lord is gone, is come to her poor house-
keeping again. Then to my father’s, who tells me what he has
done, and we resolved upon two pieces of scarlet, two of purple,
and two of black, and £50 in linen. I home, taking £300 with me
home from Alderman Backwell’s. After writing to my Lord to let
him know what I had done I was going to bed, but there coming
the purser of the King’s yacht for victualls presently, for the Duke
of York is to go down to-morrow, I got him to promise stowage
for these things there, and so I went to bed, bidding Will go and
fetch the things from the carrier’s hither, which about 12 o’clock
were brought to my house and laid there all night.
16th (Lord’s day). But no purser coming in the morning for
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JUNE 1661
them, and I hear that the Duke went last night, and so I am at
a great loss what to do; and so this day (though the Lord’s day)
staid at home, sending Will up and down to know what to do.
Sometimes thinking to continue my resolution of sending by the
carrier to be at Deal on Wednesday next, sometimes to send them
by sea by a vessel on purpose, but am not yet come to a resolu-
tion, but am at a very great loss and trouble in mind what in
the world to do herein. The afternoon (while Will was abroad)
I spent in reading “The Spanish Gypsey,” a play not very good,
though commended much. At night resolved to hire a Margate
Hoy, who would go away to-morrow morning, which I did, and
sent the things all by him, and put them on board about 12 this
night, hoping to have them as the wind now serves in the Downs
to-morrow night. To-bed with some quiet of mind, having sent
the things away.
17th. Visited this morning by my old friend Mr. Ch. Carter,
who staid and went to Westminster with me, and there we
parted, and I to the Wardrobe and dined with my Lady. So home
to my painters, who are now about painting my stairs. So to the
office, and at night we all went to Sir W. Pen’s, and there sat and
drank till 11 at night, and so home and to bed.
18th. All this morning at home vexing about the delay of my
painters, and about four in the afternoon my wife and I by wa-
ter to Captain Lambert’s, where we took great pleasure in their
turret-garden, and seeing the fine needle-works of his wife, the
best I ever saw in my life, and afterwards had a very handsome
treat and good musique that she made upon the harpsicon, and
with a great deal of pleasure staid till 8 at night, and so home
again, there being a little pretty witty child that is kept in their
house that would not let us go without her, and so fell a-crying
by the water-side. So home, where I met Jack Cole, who staid
with me a good while, and is still of the old good humour that
we were of at school together, and I am very glad to see him. He
gone, I went to bed.
435
JUNE 1661
19th. All the morning almost at home, seeing my stairs fin-
ished by the painters, which pleases me well. So with Mr. Moore
to Westminster Hall, it being term, and then by water to the
Wardrobe, where very merry, and so home to the office all the
afternoon, and at night to the Exchange to my uncle Wight about
my intention of purchasing at Brampton. So back again home
and at night to bed. Thanks be to God I am very well again of my
late pain, and to-morrow hope to be out of my pain of dirt and
trouble in my house, of which I am now become very weary. One
thing I must observe here while I think of it, that I am now be-
come the most negligent man in the world as to matters of news,
insomuch that, now-a-days, I neither can tell any, nor ask any of
others.
20th. At home the greatest part of the day to see my workmen
make an end, which this night they did to my great content.
21st. This morning going to my father’s I met him, and so he
and I went and drank our morning draft at the Samson in Paul’s
Churchyard, and eat some gammon of bacon, &c., and then
parted, having bought some green Say–[A woollen cloth. “Saye
clothe serge.”–Palsgrave.]–for curtains in my parler. Home, and
so to the Exchequer, where I met with my uncle Wight, and home
with him to dinner, where among others (my aunt being out of
town), Mr. Norbury and I did discourse of his wife’s house and
land at Brampton, which I find too much for me to buy. Home,
and in the afternoon to the office, and much pleased at night to
see my house begin to be clean after all the dirt.
22nd. Abroad all the morning about several businesses. At
noon went and dined with my Lord Crew, where very much
made of by him and his lady. Then to the Theatre, “The
Alchymist,”–[Comedy by Ben Jonson, first printed in 1612.]–
which is a most incomparable play. And that being done I met
with little Luellin and Blirton, who took me to a friend’s of theirs
in Lincoln’s Inn fields, one Mr. Hodges, where we drank great
store of Rhenish wine and were very merry. So I went home,
436
JUNE 1661
where I found my house now very clean, which was great con-
tent to me.
23rd (Lord’s day). In the morning to church, and my wife not
being well, I went with Sir W. Batten home to dinner, my Lady
being out of town, where there was Sir W. Pen, Captain Allen
and his daughter Rebecca, and Mr. Hempson and his wife. Af-
ter dinner to church all of us and had a very good sermon of a
stranger, and so I and the young company to walk first to Graye’s
Inn Walks, where great store of gallants, but above all the ladies
that I there saw, or ever did see, Mrs. Frances Butler (Monsieur
L’Impertinent’s sister) is the greatest beauty. Then we went to
Islington, where at the great house I entertained them as well as
I could, and so home with them, and so to my own home and
to bed. Pall, who went this day to a child’s christening of Kate
Joyce’s, staid out all night at my father’s, she not being well.
24th (Midsummer-day). We kept this a holiday, and so went
not to the office at all. All the morning at home. At noon my
father came to see my house now it is done, which is now very
neat. He and I and Dr. Williams (who is come to see my wife,
whose soare belly is now grown dangerous as she thinks) to the
ordinary over against the Exchange, where we dined and had
great wrangling with the master of the house when the reckoning
was brought to us, he setting down exceeding high every thing.
I home again and to Sir W. Batten’s, and there sat a good while.
So home.
25th. Up this morning to put my papers in order that are come
from my Lord’s, so that now I have nothing there remaining
that is mine, which I have had till now. This morning came Mr.
Goodgroome229 to me (recommended by Mr. Mage), with whom
I agreed presently to give him 20s. entrance, which I then did,
229 Theodore Goodgroome, Pepys’s singing-master. He was probably re-
lated to John Goodgroome, a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, who is also
referred to in the Diary.
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JUNE 1661
and 20s. a month more to teach me to sing, and so we began,
and I hope I have come to something in it. His first song is “La
cruda la bella.” He gone my brother Tom comes, with whom I
made even with my father and the two drapers for the cloths I
sent to sea lately. At home all day, in the afternoon came Captain
Allen and his daughter Rebecca and Mr. Hempson, and by and
by both Sir Williams, who sat with me till it was late, and I had a
very gallant collation for them. At night to bed.
26th. To Westminster about several businesses, then to dine
with my Lady at the Wardrobe, taking Dean Fuller along with
me; then home, where I heard my father had been to find me
about special business; so I took coach and went to him, and
found by a letter to him from my aunt that my uncle Robert is
taken with a dizziness in his head, so that they desire my father
to come down to look after his business, by which we guess that
he is very ill, and so my father do think to go to-morrow. And so
God’s will be done. Back by water to the office, there till night,
and so home to my musique and then to bed.
27th. To my father’s, and with him to Mr. Starling’s to drink
our morning draft, and there I told him how I would have him
speak to my uncle Robert, when he comes thither, concerning
my buying of land, that I could pay ready money £600 and the
rest by £150 per annum, to make up as much as will buy £50 per
annum, which I do, though I not worth above £500 ready money,
that he may think me to be a greater saver than I am. Here I
took my leave of my father, who is going this morning to my
uncle upon my aunt’s letter this week that he is not well and so
needs my father’s help. At noon home, and then with my Lady
Batten, Mrs. Rebecca Allen, Mrs. Thompson, &c., two coaches
of us, we went and saw “Bartholomew Fayre” acted very well,
and so home again and staid at Sir W. Batten’s late, and so home
to bed. This day Mr. Holden sent me a bever, which cost me £4
5s.230 28th. At home all the morning practising to sing, which is
230 Whilst a hat (see January 28th, 1660-61, ante) cost only 35s. See also
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JUNE 1661
now my great trade, and at noon to my Lady and dined with her.
So back and to the office, and there sat till 7 at night, and then Sir
W. Pen and I in his coach went to Moorefields, and there walked,
and stood and saw the wrestling, which I never saw so much
of before, between the north and west countrymen. So home,
and this night had our bed set up in our room that we called
the Nursery, where we lay, and I am very much pleased with the
room.
29th. By a letter from the Duke complaining of the delay of
the ships that are to be got ready, Sir Williams both and I went
to Deptford and there examined into the delays, and were satis-
fyed. So back again home and staid till the afternoon, and then I
walked to the Bell at the Maypole in the Strand, and thither came
to me by appointment Mr. Chetwind, Gregory, and Hartlibb, so
many of our old club, and Mr. Kipps, where we staid and drank
and talked with much pleasure till it was late, and so I walked
home and to bed. Mr. Chetwind by chewing of tobacco is become
very fat and sallow, whereas he was consumptive, and in our dis-
course he fell commending of “Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity,” as
the best book, and the only one that made him a Christian, which
puts me upon the buying of it, which I will do shortly.
30th (Lord’s day). To church, where we observe the trade of
briefs is come now up to so constant a course every Sunday, that
we resolve to give no more to them.231 A good sermon, and then
home to dinner, my wife and I all alone. After dinner Sir Williams
both and I by water to Whitehall, where having walked up and
Lord Sandwich’s vexation at his beaver being stolen, and a hat only left in
lieu of it, April 30th, 1661, ante; and April 19th and 26th, 1662, Post.–B.
231 It appears, from an old MS. account-book of the collections in the church
of St. Olave, Hart Street, beginning in 1642, still extant, that the money
gathered on the 30th June, 1661, “for several inhabitants of the parish of
St. Dunstan in the West towards their losse by fire,” amounted to “xxs. vi-
iid.” Pepys might complain of the trade in briefs, as similar contributions
had been levied fourteen weeks successively, previous to the one in question
at St. Olave’s church. Briefs were abolished in 1828.–B.
439
JUNE 1661
down, at last we met with the Duke of York, according to an or-
der sent us yesterday from him, to give him an account where the
fault lay in the not sending out of the ships, which we find to be
only the wind hath been against them, and so they could not get
out of the river. Hence I to Graye’s Inn Walk, all alone, and with
great pleasure seeing the fine ladies walk there. Myself humming
to myself (which now-a-days is my constant practice since I be-
gun to learn to sing) the trillo, and found by use that it do come
upon me. Home very weary and to bed, finding my wife not sick,
but yet out of order, that I fear she will come to be sick. This day
the Portuguese Embassador came to White Hall to take leave of
the King; he being now going to end all with the Queen, and to
send her over. The weather now very fair and pleasant, but very
hot. My father gone to Brampton to see my uncle Robert, not
knowing whether to find him dead or alive. Myself lately un-
der a great expense of money upon myself in clothes and other
things, but I hope to make it up this summer by my having to do
in getting things ready to send with the next fleet to the Queen.
Myself in good health, but mighty apt to take cold, so that this
hot weather I am fain to wear a cloth before my belly.
440
JULY 1661
July 1st. This morning I went up and down into the city, to buy
several things, as I have lately done, for my house. Among other
things, a fair chest of drawers for my own chamber, and an In-
dian gown for myself. The first cost me 33s., the other 34s. Home
and dined there, and Theodore Goodgroome, my singing mas-
ter, with me, and then to our singing. After that to the office, and
then home.
2nd. To Westminster Hall and there walked up and down, it
being Term time. Spoke with several, among others my cozen
Roger Pepys, who was going up to the Parliament House, and
inquired whether I had heard from my father since he went to
Brampton, which I had done yesterday, who writes that my uncle
is by fits stupid, and like a man that is drunk, and sometimes
speechless. Home, and after my singing master had done, took
coach and went to Sir William Davenant’s Opera; this being the
fourth day that it hath begun, and the first that I have seen it.
To-day was acted the second part of “The Siege of Rhodes.” We
staid a very great while for the King and the Queen of Bohemia.
And by the breaking of a board over our heads, we had a great
deal of dust fell into the ladies’ necks and the men’s hair, which
made good sport. The King being come, the scene opened; which
indeed is very fine and magnificent, and well acted, all but the
441
JULY 1661
Eunuch, who was so much out that he was hissed off the stage.
Home and wrote letters to my Lord at sea, and so to bed.
3rd. To Westminster to Mr. Edward Montagu about business
of my Lord’s, and so to the Wardrobe, and there dined with my
Lady, who is in some mourning for her brother, Mr. Saml. Crew,
who died yesterday of the spotted fever. So home through Duck
Lane’ to inquire for some Spanish books, but found none that
pleased me. So to the office, and that being done to Sir W. Bat-
ten’s with the Comptroller, where we sat late talking and dis-
puting with Mr. Mills the parson of our parish. This day my
Lady Batten and my wife were at the burial of a daughter of Sir
John Lawson’s, and had rings for themselves and their husbands.
Home and to bed.
4th. At home all the morning; in the afternoon I went to the
Theatre, and there I saw “Claracilla” (the first time I ever saw
it), well acted. But strange to see this house, that used to be so
thronged, now empty since the Opera begun; and so will con-
tinue for a while, I believe. Called at my father’s, and there I
heard that my uncle Robert–[Robert Pepys, of Brampton, who
died on the following day.]–continues to have his fits of stupe-
faction every day for 10 or 12 hours together. From thence to
the Exchange at night, and then went with my uncle Wight to
the Mitre and were merry, but he takes it very ill that my father
would go out of town to Brampton on this occasion and would
not tell him of it, which I endeavoured to remove but could not.
Here Mr. Batersby the apothecary was, who told me that if my
uncle had the emerods–[Haemorrhoids or piles.]–(which I think
he had) and that now they are stopped, he will lay his life that
bleeding behind by leeches will cure him, but I am resolved not
to meddle in it. Home and to bed.
5th. At home, and in the afternoon to the office, and that being
done all went to Sir W. Batten’s and there had a venison pasty,
and were very merry. At night home and to bed.
6th. Waked this morning with news, brought me by a messen-
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JULY 1661
ger on purpose, that my uncle Robert is dead, and died yester-
day; so I rose sorry in some respect, glad in my expectations in
another respect. So I made myself ready, went and told my un-
cle Wight, my Lady, and some others thereof, and bought me a
pair of boots in St. Martin’s, and got myself ready, and then to
the Post House and set out about eleven and twelve o’clock, tak-
ing the messenger with me that came to me, and so we rode and
got well by nine o’clock to Brampton, where I found my father
well. My uncle’s corps in a coffin standing upon joynt-stools in
the chimney in the hall; but it begun to smell, and so I caused it
to be set forth in the yard all night, and watched by two men. My
aunt I found in bed in a most nasty ugly pickle, made me sick to
see it. My father and I lay together tonight, I greedy to see the
will, but did not ask to see it till to-morrow.
7th (Lord’s day). In the morning my father and I walked in the
garden and read the will; where, though he gives me nothing at
present till my father’s death, or at least very little, yet I am glad
to see that he hath done so well for us, all, and well to the rest
of his kindred. After that done, we went about getting things, as
ribbands and gloves, ready for the burial. Which in the afternoon
was done; where, it being Sunday, all people far and near come
in; and in the greatest disorder that ever I saw, we made shift to
serve them what we had of wine and other things; and then to
carry him to the church, where Mr. Taylor buried him, and Mr.
Turners preached a funerall sermon, where he spoke not partic-
ularly of him anything, but that he was one so well known for
his honesty, that it spoke for itself above all that he could say for
it. And so made a very good sermon. Home with some of the
company who supped there, and things being quiet, at night to
bed.
8th, 9th, Loth, 11th, 12th, 13th. I fell to work, and my father to
look over my uncle’s papers and clothes, and continued all this
week upon that business, much troubled with my aunt’s base,
ugly humours. We had news of Tom Trice’s putting in a caveat
443
JULY 1661
against us, in behalf of his mother, to whom my uncle hath not
given anything, and for good reason therein expressed, which
troubled us also. But above all, our trouble is to find that his es-
tate appears nothing as we expected, and all the world believes;
nor his papers so well sorted as I would have had them, but all in
confusion, that break my brains to understand them. We missed
also the surrenders of his copyhold land, without which the land
would not come to us, but to the heir at law, so that what with
this, and the badness of the drink and the ill opinion I have of the
meat, and the biting of the gnats by night and my disappoint-
ment in getting home this week, and the trouble of sorting all the
papers, I am almost out of my wits with trouble, only I appear
the more contented, because I would not have my father trou-
bled. The latter end of the week Mr. Philips comes home from
London, and so we advised with him and have the best counsel
he could give us, but for all that we were not quiet in our minds.
14th (Lord’s day). At home, and Robert Barnwell with us,
and dined, and in the evening my father and I walked round
Portholme and viewed all the fields, which was very pleasant.
Thence to Hinchingbroke, which is now all in dirt, because of my
Lord’s building, which will make it very magnificent. Back to
Brampton, and to supper and to bed.
15th. Up by three o’clock this morning, and rode to Cam-
bridge, and was there by seven o’clock, where, after I was
trimmed, I went to Christ College, and found my brother John
at eight o’clock in bed, which vexed me. Then to King’s Col-
lege chappell, where I found the scholars in their surplices at the
service with the organs, which is a strange sight to what it used
in my time to be here. Then with Dr. Fairbrother (whom I met
there) to the Rose tavern, and called for some wine, and there met
fortunately with Mr. Turner of our office, and sent for his wife,
and were very merry (they being come to settle their son here),
and sent also for Mr. Sanchy, of Magdalen, with whom and other
gentlemen, friends of his, we were very merry, and I treated them
444
JULY 1661
as well as I could, and so at noon took horse again, having taken
leave of my cozen Angier, and rode to Impington, where I found
my old uncle232 sitting all alone, like a man out of the world: he
can hardly see; but all things else he do pretty livelyly. Then
with Dr. John Pepys and him, I read over the will, and had their
advice therein, who, as to the sufficiency thereof confirmed me,
and advised me as to the other parts thereof. Having done there,
I rode to Gravely with much ado to inquire for a surrender of my
uncle’s in some of the copyholders’ hands there, but I can hear of
none, which puts me into very great trouble of mind, and so with
a sad heart rode home to Brampton, but made myself as cheerful
as I could to my father, and so to bed.
16th, 17th, 18th, 19th. These four days we spent in putting
things in order, letting of the crop upon the ground, agreeing
with Stankes to have a care of our business in our absence, and
we think ourselves in nothing happy but in lighting upon him to
be our bayly; in riding to Offord and Sturtlow, and up and down
all our lands, and in the evening walking, my father and I about
the fields talking, and had advice from Mr. Moore from London,
by my desire, that the three witnesses of the will being all lega-
tees, will not do the will any wrong. To-night Serjeant Bernard, I
hear, is come home into the country. To supper and to bed. My
aunt continuing in her base, hypocritical tricks, which both Jane
Perkin (of whom we make great use), and the maid do tell us
every day of.
20th. Up to Huntingdon this morning to Sir Robert Bernard,
with whom I met Jaspar Trice. So Sir Robert caused us to sit
down together and began discourse very fairly between us, so
232 Talbot Pepys, sixth son of John Pepys of Impington, was born 1583, and
therefore at this time he was seventy-eight years of age. He was educated at
Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1605.
He was M.P. for Cambridge in 1625, and Recorder of Cambridge from 1624
to 1660, in which year he was succeeded by his son Roger. He died of the
plague, March, 1666, aged eighty-three.
445
JULY 1661
I drew out the Will and show it him, and [he] spoke between us
as well as I could desire, but could come to no issue till Tom Trice
comes. Then Sir Robert and I fell to talk about the money due to
us upon surrender from Piggott, £164., which he tells me will go
with debts to the heir at law, which breaks my heart on the other
side. Here I staid and dined with Sir Robert Bernard and his lady,
my Lady Digby, a very good woman. After dinner I went into
the town and spent the afternoon, sometimes with Mr. Phillips,
sometimes with Dr. Symcottes, Mr. Vinter, Robert Ethell, and
many more friends, and at last Mr. Davenport, Phillips, Jaspar
Trice, myself and others at Mother—–over against the Crown we
sat and drank ale and were very merry till 9 at night, and so broke
up. I walked home, and there found Tom Trice come, and he
and my father gone to Goody Gorum’s, where I found them and
Jaspar Trice got before me, and Mr. Greene, and there had some
calm discourse, but came to no issue, and so parted. So home
and to bed, being now pretty well again of my left hand, which
lately was stung and very much swelled.
21st (Lord’s day). At home all the morning, putting my papers
in order against my going to-morrow and doing many things else
to that end. Had a good dinner, and Stankes and his wife with us.
To my business again in the afternoon, and in the evening came
the two Trices, Mr. Greene, and Mr. Philips, and so we began
to argue. At last it came to some agreement that for our giving
of my aunt £10 she is to quit the house, and for other matters
they are to be left to the law, which do please us all, and so we
broke up, pretty well satisfyed. Then came Mr. Barnwell and
J. Bowles and supped with us, and after supper away, and so
I having taken leave of them and put things in the best order I
could against to-morrow I went to bed. Old William Luffe having
been here this afternoon and paid up his bond of £20, and I did
give him into his hand my uncle’s surrender of Sturtlow to me
before Mr. Philips, R. Barnwell, and Mr. Pigott, which he did
acknowledge to them my uncle did in his lifetime deliver to him.
446
JULY 1661
22nd. Up by three, and going by four on my way to London;
but the day proves very cold, so that having put on no stockings
but thread ones under my boots, I was fain at Bigglesworth to
buy a pair of coarse woollen ones, and put them on. So by de-
grees till I come to Hatfield before twelve o’clock, where I had a
very good dinner with my hostess, at my Lord of Salisbury’s Inn,
and after dinner though weary I walked all alone to the Vineyard,
which is now a very beautiful place again; and coming back I met
with Mr. Looker, my Lord’s gardener (a friend of Mr. Eglin’s),
who showed me the house, the chappell with brave pictures, and,
above all, the gardens, such as I never saw in all my life; nor so
good flowers, nor so great gooseberrys, as big as nutmegs. Back
to the inn, and drank with him, and so to horse again, and with
much ado got to London, and set him up at Smithfield; so called
at my uncle Fenner’s, my mother’s, my Lady’s, and so home, in
all which I found all things as well as I could expect. So weary
and to bed.
23rd. Put on my mourning. Made visits to Sir W. Pen and
Batten. Then to Westminster, and at the Hall staid talking with
Mrs. Michell a good while, and in the afternoon, finding myself
unfit for business, I went to the Theatre, and saw “Brenoralt,” I
never saw before. It seemed a good play, but ill acted; only I sat
before Mrs. Palmer, the King’s mistress, and filled my eyes with
her, which much pleased me. Then to my father’s, where by my
desire I met my uncle Thomas, and discoursed of my uncle’s will
to him, and did satisfy [him] as well as I could. So to my uncle
Wight’s, but found him out of doors, but my aunt I saw and staid
a while, and so home and to bed. Troubled to hear how proud
and idle Pall is grown, that I am resolved not to keep her.
24th. This morning my wife in bed tells me of our being robbed
of our silver tankard, which vexed me all day for the negligence
of my people to leave the door open. My wife and I by water
to Whitehall, where I left her to her business and I to my cozen
Thomas Pepys, and discoursed with him at large about our busi-
447
JULY 1661
ness of my uncle’s will. He can give us no light at all into his
estate, but upon the whole tells me that he do believe that he
has left but little money, though something more than we have
found, which is about £500. Here came Sir G. Lane by chance,
seeing a bill upon the door to hire the house, with whom my
coz and I walked all up and down, and indeed it is a very pretty
place, and he do intend to leave the agreement for the House,
which is £400 fine, and £46 rent a year to me between them. Then
to the Wardrobe, but come too late, and so dined with the ser-
vants. And then to my Lady, who do shew my wife and me the
greatest favour in the world, in which I take great content. Home
by water and to the office all the afternoon, which is a great plea-
sure to me again, to talk with persons of quality and to be in
command, and I give it out among them that the estate left me
is £200 a year in land, besides moneys, because I would put an
esteem upon myself. At night home and to bed after I had set
down my journals ever since my going from London this jour-
ney to this house. This afternoon I hear that my man Will hath
lost his clock with my tankard, at which I am very glad.
25th. This morning came my box of papers from Brampton of
all my uncle’s papers, which will now set me at work enough.
At noon I went to the Exchange, where I met my uncle Wight,
and found him so discontented about my father (whether that
he takes it ill that he has not been acquainted with things, or
whether he takes it ill that he has nothing left him, I cannot tell),
for which I am much troubled, and so staid not long to talk with
him. Thence to my mother’s, where I found my wife and my aunt
Bell and Mrs. Ramsey, and great store of tattle there was between
the old women and my mother, who thinks that there is, God
knows what fallen to her, which makes me mad, but it was not
a proper time to speak to her of it, and so I went away with Mr.
Moore, and he and I to the Theatre, and saw “The Jovial Crew,”
the first time I saw it, and indeed it is as merry and the most in-
nocent play that ever I saw, and well performed. From thence
home, and wrote to my father and so to bed. Full of thoughts to
448
JULY 1661
think of the trouble that we shall go through before we come to
see what will remain to us of all our expectations.
26th. At home all the morning, and walking met with Mr. Hill
of Cambridge at Pope’s Head Alley with some women with him
whom he took and me into the tavern there, and did give us wine,
and would fain seem to be very knowing in the affairs of state,
and tells me that yesterday put a change to the whole state of
England as to the Church; for the King now would be forced to
favour Presbytery, or the City would leave him: but I heed not
what he says, though upon enquiry I do find that things in the
Parliament are in a great disorder. Home at noon and there found
Mr. Moore, and with him to an ordinary alone and dined, and
there he and I read my uncle’s will, and I had his opinion on it,
and still find more and more trouble like to attend it. Back to the
office all the afternoon, and that done home for all night. Having
the beginning of this week made a vow to myself to drink no
wine this week (finding it to unfit me to look after business), and
this day breaking of it against my will, I am much troubled for it,
but I hope God will forgive me.
27th. To Westminster, where at Mr. Montagu’s chamber I heard
a Frenchman play, a friend of Monsieur Eschar’s, upon the gui-
tar, most extreme well, though at the best methinks it is but a
bawble. From thence to Westminster Hall, where it was expected
that the Parliament was to have been adjourned for two or three
months, but something hinders it for a day or two. In the lobby
I spoke with Mr. George Montagu, and advised about a ship to
carry my Lord Hinchingbroke and the rest of the young gentle-
men to France, and they have resolved of going in a hired vessell
from Rye, and not in a man of war. He told me in discourse that
my Lord Chancellor is much envied, and that many great men,
such as the Duke of Buckingham and my Lord of Bristoll, do en-
deavour to undermine him, and that he believes it will not be
done; for that the King (though he loves him not in the way of a
companion, as he do these young gallants that can answer him
449
JULY 1661
in his pleasures), yet cannot be without him, for his policy and
service. From thence to the Wardrobe, where my wife met me,
it being my Lord of Sandwich’s birthday, and so we had many
friends here, Mr. Townsend and his wife, and Captain Ferrers
lady and Captain Isham, and were very merry, and had a good
venison pasty. Mr. Pargiter, the merchant, was with us also. Af-
ter dinner Mr. Townsend was called upon by Captain Cooke: so
we three went to a tavern hard by, and there he did give us a song
or two; and without doubt he hath the best manner of singing in
the world. Back to my wife, and with my Lady Jem. and Pall
by water through bridge, and showed them the ships with great
pleasure, and then took them to my house to show it them (my
Lady their mother having been lately all alone to see it and my
wife, in my absence in the country), and we treated them well,
and were very merry. Then back again through bridge, and set
them safe at home, and so my wife and I by coach home again,
and after writing a letter to my father at Brampton, who, poor
man, is there all alone, and I have not heard from him since my
coming from him, which troubles me. To bed.
28th (Lord’s day). This morning as my wife and I were going
to church, comes Mrs. Ramsay to see us, so we sent her to church,
and we went too, and came back to dinner, and she dined with
us and was wellcome. To church again in the afternoon, and then
come home with us Sir W. Pen, and drank with us, and then went
away, and my wife after him to see his daughter that is lately
come out of Ireland. I staid at home at my book; she came back
again and tells me that whereas I expected she should have been
a great beauty, she is a very plain girl. This evening my wife gives
me all my linen, which I have put up, and intend to keep it now
in my own custody. To supper and to bed.
29th. This morning we began again to sit in the mornings at the
office, but before we sat down. Sir R. Slingsby and I went to Sir
R. Ford’s to see his house, and we find it will be very convenient
for us to have it added to the office if he can be got to part with
450
JULY 1661
it. Then we sat down and did business in the office. So home to
dinner, and my brother Tom dined with me, and after dinner he
and I alone in my chamber had a great deal of talk, and I find that
unless my father can forbear to make profit of his house in Lon-
don and leave it to Tom, he has no mind to set up the trade any
where else, and so I know not what to do with him. After this I
went with him to my mother, and there told her how things do
fall out short of our expectations, which I did (though it be true)
to make her leave off her spending, which I find she is nowadays
very free in, building upon what is left to us by my uncle to bear
her out in it, which troubles me much. While I was here word is
brought that my aunt Fenner is exceeding ill, and that my mother
is sent for presently to come to her: also that my cozen Charles
Glassecocke, though very ill himself, is this day gone to the coun-
try to his brother, John Glassecocke, who is a-dying there. Home.
30th. After my singing-master had done with me this morn-
ing, I went to White Hall and Westminster Hall, where I found
the King expected to come and adjourn the Parliament. I found
the two Houses at a great difference, about the Lords challeng-
ing their privileges not to have their houses searched, which
makes them deny to pass the House of Commons’ Bill for search-
ing for pamphlets and seditious books. Thence by water to the
Wardrobe (meeting the King upon the water going in his barge
to adjourn the House) where I dined with my Lady, and there
met Dr. Thomas Pepys, who I found to be a silly talking fel-
low, but very good-natured. So home to the office, where we met
about the business of Tangier this afternoon. That done, at home
I found Mr. Moore, and he and I walked into the City and there
parted. To Fleet Street to find when the Assizes begin at Cam-
bridge and Huntingdon, in order to my going to meet with Roger
Pepys for counsel. So in Fleet Street I met with Mr. Salisbury,
who is now grown in less than two years’ time so great a limner–
that he is become excellent, and gets a great deal of money at it. I
took him to Hercules Pillars to drink, and there came Mr. Whore
(whom I formerly have known), a friend of his to him, who is a
451
JULY 1661
very ingenious fellow, and there I sat with them a good while,
and so home and wrote letters late to my Lord and to my father,
and then to bed.
31st. Singing-master came to me this morning; then to the
office all the morning. In the afternoon I went to the Theatre,
and there I saw “The Tamer Tamed” well done. And then home,
and prepared to go to Walthamstow to-morrow. This night I was
forced to borrow £40 of Sir W. Batten.
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AUGUST 1661
August 1st. This morning Sir Williams both, and my wife and
I and Mrs. Margarett Pen (this first time that I have seen her
since she came from Ireland) went by coach to Walthamstow, a-
gossiping to Mrs. Browne, where I did give her six silver spoons–
[But not the porringer of silver. See May 29th, 1661.–M. B]–for her
boy. Here we had a venison pasty, brought hot from London, and
were very merry. Only I hear how nurse’s husband has spoken
strangely of my Lady Batten how she was such a man’s whore,
who indeed is known to leave her her estate, which we would
fain have reconciled to-day, but could not and indeed I do believe
that the story is true. Back again at night home.
2d. At the office all the morning. At noon Dr. Thos. Pepys
dined with me, and after dinner my brother Tom came to me and
then I made myself ready to get a-horseback for Cambridge. So
I set out and rode to Ware, this night, in the way having much
discourse with a fellmonger,–[A dealer in hides.]–a Quaker, who
told me what a wicked man he had been
all his life-time till within this two years. Here I lay, and
3rd. Got up early the next morning and got to Barkway, where
I staid and drank, and there met with a letter-carrier of Cam-
bridge, with whom I rode all the way to Cambridge, my horse
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being tired, and myself very wet with rain. I went to the Castle
Hill, where the judges were at the Assizes; and I staid till Roger
Pepys rose and went with him, and dined with his brother, the
Doctor, and Claxton at Trinity Hall. Then parted, and I went to
the Rose, and there with Mr. Pechell, Sanchy, and others, sat and
drank till night and were very merry, only they tell me how high
the old doctors are in the University over those they found there,
though a great deal better scholars than themselves; for which
I am very sorry, and, above all, Dr. Gunning. At night I took
horse, and rode with Roger Pepys and his two brothers to Imp-
ington, and there with great respect was led up by them to the
best chamber in the house, and there slept.
4th (Lord’s day). Got up, and by and by walked into the or-
chard with my cozen Roger, and there plucked some fruit, and
then discoursed at large about the business I came for, that is,
about my uncle’s will, in which he did give me good satisfac-
tion, but tells me I shall meet with a great deal of trouble in it.
However, in all things he told me what I am to expect and what
to do. To church, and had a good plain sermon, and my uncle
Talbot went with us and at our coming in the country-people all
rose with so much reverence; and when the parson begins, he
begins “Right worshipfull and dearly beloved” to us. Home to
dinner, which was very good, and then to church again, and so
home and to walk up and down and so to supper, and after sup-
per to talk about publique matters, wherein Roger Pepys–(who
I find a very sober man, and one whom I do now honour more
than ever before for this discourse sake only) told me how basely
things have been carried in Parliament by the young men, that
did labour to oppose all things that were moved by serious men.
That they are the most prophane swearing fellows that ever he
heard in his life, which makes him think that they will spoil all,
and bring things into a warr again if they can. So to bed.
5th. Early to Huntingdon, but was fain to stay a great while at
Stanton because of the rain, and there borrowed a coat of a man
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for 6d., and so he rode all the way, poor man, without any. Staid
at Huntingdon for a little, but the judges are not come hither: so I
went to Brampton, and there found my father very well, and my
aunt gone from the house, which I am glad of, though it costs us
a great deal of money, viz. £10. Here I dined, and after dinner
took horse and rode to Yelling, to my cozen Nightingale’s, who
hath a pretty house here, and did learn of her all she could tell
me concerning my business, and has given me some light by her
discourse how I may get a surrender made for Graveley lands.
Hence to Graveley, and there at an alehouse met with Chancler
and Jackson (one of my tenants for Cotton closes) and another
with whom I had a great deal of discourse, much to my satis-
faction. Hence back again to Brampton and after supper to bed,
being now very quiet in the house, which is a content to us.
6th. Up early and went to Mr. Phillips, but lost my labour, he
lying at Huntingdon last night, so I went back again and took
horse and rode thither, where I staid with Thos. Trice and Mr.
Philips drinking till noon, and then Tom Trice and I to Brampton,
where he to Goody Gorum’s and I home to my father, who could
discern that I had been drinking, which he did never see or hear
of before, so I eat a bit of dinner and went with him to Gorum’s,
and there talked with Tom Trice, and then went and took horse
for London, and with much ado, the ways being very bad, got to
Baldwick, and there lay and had a good supper by myself. The
landlady being a pretty woman, but I durst not take notice of her,
her husband being there. Before supper I went to see the church,
which is a very handsome church, but I find that both here, and
every where else that I come, the Quakers do still continue, and
rather grow than lessen. To bed.
7th. Called up at three o’clock, and was a-horseback by four;
and as I was eating my breakfast I saw a man riding by that rode
a little way upon the road with me last night; and he being going
with venison in his pan-yards to London, I called him in and
did give him his breakfast with me, and so we went together all
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the way. At Hatfield we bayted and walked into the great house
through all the courts; and I would fain have stolen a pretty dog
that followed me, but I could not, which troubled me. To horse
again, and by degrees with much ado got to London, where I
found all well at home and at my father’s and my Lady’s, but
no news yet from my Lord where he is. At my Lady’s (whither I
went with Dean Fuller, who came to my house to see me just as
I was come home) I met with Mr. Moore, who told me at what a
loss he was for me, for to-morrow is a Seal day at the Privy Seal,
and it being my month, I am to wait upon my Lord Roberts, Lord
Privy Seal, at the Seal. Home and to bed.
8th. Early in the mornink to Whitehall, but my Lord Privy
Seal came not all the morning. At noon Mr. Moore and I to
the Wardrobe to dinner, where my Lady and all merry and well.
Back again to the Privy Seal; but my Lord comes not all the af-
ternoon, which made me mad and gives all the world reason to
talk of his delaying of business, as well as of his severity and ill
using of the Clerks of the Privy Seal. In the evening I took Mons.
Eschar and Mr. Moore and Dr. Pierce’s brother (the souldier) to
the tavern next the Savoy, and there staid and drank with them.
Here I met with Mr. Mage, and discoursing of musique Mons.
Eschar spoke so much against the English and in praise of the
French that made him mad, and so he went away. After a stay
with them a little longer we parted and I home.
9th. To the office, where word is brought me by a son-in-law
of Mr. Pierces; the purser, that his father is a dying and that he
desires that I would come to him before he dies. So I rose from
the table and went, where I found him not so ill as I thought that
he had been ill. So I did promise to be a friend to his wife and
family if he should die, which was all he desired of me, but I do
believe he will recover. Back again to the office, where I found
Sir G. Carteret had a day or two ago invited some of the officers
to dinner to-day at Deptford. So at noon, when I heard that he
was a-coming, I went out, because I would see whether he would
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send to me or no to go with them; but he did not, which do a lit-
tle trouble me till I see how it comes to pass. Although in other
things I am glad of it because of my going again to-day to the
Privy Seal. I dined at home, and having dined news is brought
by Mr. Hater that his wife is now falling into labour, so he is
come for my wife, who presently went with him. I to White Hall,
where, after four o’clock, comes my Lord Privy Seal, and so we
went up to his chamber over the gate at White Hall, where he
asked me what deputacon I had from My Lord. I told him none;
but that I am sworn my Lord’s deputy by both of the Secretarys,
which did satisfy him. So he caused Mr. Moore to read over all
the bills as is the manner, and all ended very well. So that I see
the Lyon is not so fierce as he is painted. That being done Mons.
Eschar (who all this afternoon had been waiting at the Privy Seal
for the Warrant for £5,000 for my Lord of Sandwich’s preparation
for Portugal) and I took some wine with us and went to visit la
belle Pierce, who we find very big with child, and a pretty lady,
one Mrs. Clifford, with her, where we staid and were extraor-
dinary merry. From thence I took coach to my father’s, where I
found him come home this day from Brampton (as I expected)
very well, and after some discourse about business and it being
very late I took coach again home, where I hear by my wife that
Mrs. Hater is not yet delivered, but continues in her pains. So to
bed.
10th. This morning came the maid that my wife hath lately
hired for a chamber maid. She is very ugly, so that I cannot care
for her, but otherwise she seems very good. But however she do
come about three weeks hence, when my wife comes back from
Brampton, if she go with my father. By and by came my father to
my house, and so he and I went and found out my uncle Wight
at the Coffee House, and there did agree with him to meet the
next week with my uncle Thomas and read over the Captain’s
will before them both for their satisfaction. Having done with
him I went to my Lady’s and dined with her, and after dinner
took the two young gentlemen and the two ladies and carried
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them and Captain Ferrers to the Theatre, and shewed them “The
merry Devill of Edmunton,” which is a very merry play, the first
time I ever saw it, which pleased me well. And that being done
I took them all home by coach to my house and there gave them
fruit to eat and wine. So by water home with them, and so home
myself.
11th (Lord’s day). To our own church in the forenoon, and in
the afternoon to Clerkenwell Church, only to see the two233 fayre
Botelers;–[Mrs. Frances Butler and her sister.]–and I happened to
be placed in the pew where they afterwards came to sit, but the
pew by their coming being too full, I went out into the next, and
there sat, and had my full view of them both, but I am out of con-
ceit now with them, Colonel Dillon being come back from Ireland
again, and do still court them, and comes to church with them,
which makes me think they are not honest. Hence to Graye’s-Inn
walks, and there staid a good while; where I met with Ned Pick-
ering, who told me what a great match of hunting of a stagg the
King had yesterday; and how the King tired all their horses, and
come home with not above two or three able to keep pace with
him. So to my father’s, and there supped, and so home.
12th. At the office this morning. At home in the afternoon,
and had notice that my Lord Hinchingbroke is fallen ill, which
I fear is with the fruit that I did give them on Saturday last at
my house: so in the evening I went thither and there found him
very ill, and in great fear of the smallpox. I supped with my
Lady, and did consult about him, but we find it best to let him
lie where he do; and so I went home with my heart full of trou-
ble for my Lord Hinchinabroke’s sickness, and more for my Lord
Sandwich’s himself, whom we are now confirmed is sick ashore
at Alicante, who, if he should miscarry, God knows in what con-
233 A comedy acted at the Globe, and first printed in 1608. In the original
entry in the Stationers’ books it is said to be by T. B., which may stand for
Tony or Anthony Brewer. The play has been attributed without authority
both to Shakespeare and to Drayton.
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dition would his family be. I dined to-day with my Lord Crew,
who is now at Sir H. Wright’s, while his new house is making fit
for him, and he is much troubled also at these things.
13th. To the Privy Seal in the morning, then to the Wardrobe to
dinner, where I met my wife, and found my young Lord very ill.
So my Lady intends to send her other three sons, Sidney, Oliver,
and John, to my house, for fear of the small-pox. After dinner
I went to my father’s, where I found him within, and went up
to him, and there found him settling his papers against his re-
moval, and I took some old papers of difference between me and
my wife and took them away. After that Pall being there I spoke
to my father about my intention not to keep her longer for such
and such reasons, which troubled him and me also, and had like
to have come to some high words between my mother and me,
who is become a very simple woman. By and by comes in Mrs.
Cordery to take her leave of my father, thinking he was to go
presently into the country, and will have us to come and see her
before he do go. Then my father and I went forth to Mr. Rawl-
inson’s, where afterwards comes my uncle Thomas and his two
sons, and then my uncle Wight by appointment of us all, and
there we read the will and told them how things are, and what
our thoughts are of kindness to my uncle Thomas if he do carry
himself peaceable, but otherwise if he persist to keep his caveat
up against us. So he promised to withdraw it, and seemed to be
very well contented with things as they are. After a while drink-
ing, we paid all and parted, and so I home, and there found my
Lady’s three sons come, of which I am glad that I am in condi-
tion to do her and my Lord any service in this kind, but my mind
is yet very much troubled about my Lord of Sandwich’s health,
which I am afeard of.
14th. This morning Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen and I, waited
upon the Duke of York in his chamber, to give him an account of
the condition of the Navy for lack of money, and how our own
very bills are offered upon the Exchange, to be sold at 20 in the
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100 loss. He is much troubled at it, and will speak to the King and
Council of it this morning. So I went to my Lady’s and dined
with her, and found my Lord Hinchingbroke somewhat better.
After dinner Captain Ferrers and I to the Theatre, and there saw
“The Alchymist;” and there I saw Sir W. Pen, who took us when
the play was done and carried the Captain to Paul’s and set him
down, and me home with him, and he and I to the Dolphin, but
not finding Sir W. Batten there, we went and carried a bottle of
wine to his house, and there sat a while and talked, and so home
to bed. At home I found a letter from Mr. Creed of the 15th of
July last, that tells me that my Lord is rid of his pain (which was
wind got into the muscles of his right side) and his feaver, and
is now in hopes to go aboard in a day or two, which do give me
mighty great comfort.
15th. To the Privy Seal and Whitehall, up and down, and at
noon Sir W. Pen carried me to Paul’s, and so I walked to the
Wardrobe and dined with my Lady, and there told her, of my
Lord’s sickness (of which though it hath been the town-talk this
fortnight, she had heard nothing) and recovery, of which she was
glad, though hardly persuaded of the latter. I found my Lord
Hinchingbroke better and better, and the worst past. Thence to
the Opera, which begins again to-day with “The Witts,” never
acted yet with scenes; and the King and Duke and Duchess were
there (who dined to-day with Sir H. Finch, reader at the Temple,
in great state); and indeed it is a most excellent play, and ad-
mirable scenes. So home and was overtaken by Sir W. Pen in his
coach, who has been this afternoon with my Lady Batten, &c.,
at the Theatre. So I followed him to the Dolphin, where Sir W.
Batten was, and there we sat awhile, and so home after we had
made shift to fuddle Mr. Falconer of Woolwich. So home.
16th. At the office all the morning, though little to be done;
because all our clerks are gone to the buriall of Tom Whitton, one
of the Controller’s clerks, a very ingenious, and a likely young
man to live, as any in the Office. But it is such a sickly time both
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in City and country every where (of a sort of fever), that never
was heard of almost, unless it was in a plague-time.
Among others, the famous Tom Fuller is dead of it; and Dr.
Nichols, Dean of Paul’s; and my Lord General Monk is very dan-
gerously ill. Dined at home with the children and were merry,
and my father with me; who after dinner he and I went forth
about business. Among other things we found one Dr. John
Williams at an alehouse, where we staid till past nine at night,
in Shoe Lane, talking about our country business, and I found
him so well acquainted with the matters of Gravely that I expect
he will be of great use to me. So by link home. I understand my
Aunt Fenner is upon the point of death.
17th. At the Privy Seal, where we had a seal this morning.
Then met with Ned Pickering, and walked with him into St.
James’s Park (where I had not been a great while), and there
found great and very noble alterations. And, in our discourse,
he was very forward to complain and to speak loud of the lewd-
ness and beggary of the Court, which I am sorry to hear, and
which I am afeard will bring all to ruin again. So he and I to the
Wardrobe to dinner, and after dinner Captain Ferrers and I to the
Opera, and saw “The Witts” again, which I like exceedingly. The
Queen of Bohemia was here, brought by my Lord Craven. So the
Captain and I and another to the Devil tavern and drank, and so
by coach home. Troubled in mind that I cannot bring myself to
mind my business, but to be so much in love of plays. We have
been at a great loss a great while for a vessel that I sent about
a month ago with, things of my Lord’s to Lynn, and cannot till
now hear of them, but now we are told that they are put into
Soale Bay, but to what purpose I know not.
18th (Lord’s day). To our own church in the morning and so
home to dinner, where my father and Dr. Tom Pepys came to me
to dine, and were very merry. After dinner I took my wife and
Mr. Sidney to my Lady to see my Lord Hinchingbroke, who is
now pretty well again, and sits up and walks about his chamber.
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So I went to White Hall, and there hear that my Lord General
Monk continues very ill: so I went to la belle Pierce and sat with
her; and then to walk in St. James’s Park, and saw great variety of
fowl which I never saw before and so home. At night fell to read
in “Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity,” which Mr. Moore did give me
last Wednesday very handsomely bound; and which I shall read
with great pains and love for his sake. So to supper and to bed.
19th. At the office all the morning; at noon the children are sent
for by their mother my Lady Sandwich to dinner, and my wife
goes along with them by coach, and she to my father’s and dines
there, and from thence with them to see Mrs. Cordery, who do
invite them before my father goes into the country, and thither I
should have gone too but that I am sent for to the Privy Seal, and
there I found a thing of my Lord Chancellor’s234 to be sealed this
afternoon, and so I am forced to go to Worcester House, where
severall Lords are met in Council this afternoon. And while I am
waiting there, in comes the King in a plain common riding-suit
and velvet cap, in which he seemed a very ordinary man to one
that had not known him. Here I staid till at last, hearing that my
Lord Privy Seal had not the seal here, Mr. Moore and I hired a
coach and went to Chelsy, and there at an alehouse sat and drank
and past the time till my Lord Privy Seal came to his house, and
so we to him and examined and sealed the thing, and so home-
234 This “thing” was probably one of those large grants which Clarendon
quietly, or, as he himself says, “without noise or scandal,” procured from the
king. Besides lands and manors, Clarendon states at one time that the king
gave him a “little billet into his hand, that contained a warrant of his own
hand-writing to Sir Stephen Fox to pay to the Chancellor the sum of £20,000,–
[approximately 10 million dollars in the year 2000]–of which nobody could
have notice.” In 1662 he received £5,000 out of the money voted to the king
by the Parliament of Ireland, as he mentions in his vindication of himself
against the impeachment of the Commons; and we shall see that Pepys, in
February, 1664, names another sum of £20,000 given to the Chancellor to
clear the mortgage upon Clarendon Park; and this last sum, it was believed,
was paid from the money received from France by the sale of Dunkirk.–B.
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wards, but when we came to look for our coach we found it gone,
so we were fain to walk home afoot and saved our money. We
met with a companion that walked with us, and coming among
some trees near the Neate houses, he began to whistle, which did
give us some suspicion, but it proved that he that answered him
was Mr. Marsh (the Lutenist) and his wife, and so we all walked
to Westminster together, in our way drinking a while at my cost,
and had a song of him, but his voice is quite lost. So walked
home, and there I found that my Lady do keep the children at
home, and lets them not come any more hither at present, which
a little troubles me to lose their company. This day my aunt Fen-
ner dyed.
20th. At the office in the morning and all the afternoon at home
to put my papers in order. This day we come to some agreement
with Sir R. Ford for his house to be added to the office to enlarge
our quarters.
21st. This morning by appointment I went to my father, and
after a morning draft he and I went to Dr. Williams, but he not
within we went to Mrs. Terry, a daughter of Mr. Whately’s, who
lately offered a proposal of her sister for a wife for my brother
Tom, and with her we discoursed about and agreed to go to her
mother this afternoon to speak with her, and in the meantime
went to Will. Joyce’s and to an alehouse, and drank a good while
together, he being very angry that his father Fenner will give him
and his brother no more for mourning than their father did give
him and my aunt at their mother’s death, and a very trouble-
some fellow I still find him to be, that his company ever wearys
me. From thence about two o’clock to Mrs. Whately’s, but she be-
ing going to dinner we went to Whitehall and there staid till past
three, and here I understand by Mr. Moore that my Lady Sand-
wich is brought to bed yesterday of a young Lady, and is very
well. So to Mrs. Whately’s again, and there were well received,
and she desirous to have the thing go forward, only is afeard
that her daughter is too young and portion not big enough, but
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offers £200 down with her. The girl is very well favoured„ and
a very child, but modest, and one I think will do very well for
my brother: so parted till she hears from Hatfield from her hus-
band, who is there; but I find them very desirous of it, and so
am I. Hence home to my father’s, and I to the Wardrobe, where
I supped with the ladies, and hear their mother is well and the
young child, and so home.
22nd. To the Privy Seal, and sealed; so home at noon, and there
took my wife by coach to my uncle Fenner’s, where there was
both at his house and the Sessions, great deal of company, but
poor entertainment, which I wonder at; and the house so hot,
that my uncle Wight, my father and I were fain to go out, and
stay at an alehouse awhile to cool ourselves. Then back again
and to church, my father’s family being all in mourning, doing
him the greatest honour, the world believing that he did give us
it: so to church, and staid out the sermon, and then with my aunt
Wight, my wife, and Pall and I to her house by coach, and there
staid and supped upon a Westphalia ham, and so home and to
bed.
23rd. This morning I went to my father’s, and there found him
and my mother in a discontent, which troubles me much, and in-
deed she is become very simple and unquiet. Hence he and I to
Dr. Williams, and found him within, and there we sat and talked
a good while, and from him to Tom Trice’s to an alehouse near,
and there sat and talked, and finding him fair we examined my
uncle’s will before him and Dr. Williams, and had them sign the
copy and so did give T. Trice the original to prove, so he took
my father and me to one of the judges of the Court, and there we
were sworn, and so back again to the alehouse and drank and
parted. Dr. Williams and I to a cook’s where we eat a bit of mut-
ton, and away, I to W. Joyce’s, where by appointment my wife
was, and I took her to the Opera, and shewed her “The Witts,”
which I had seen already twice, and was most highly pleased
with it. So with my wife to the Wardrobe to see my Lady, and
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then home.
24th. At the office all the morning and did business; by and
by we are called to Sir W. Batten’s to see the strange creature
that Captain Holmes hath brought with him from Guiny; it is a
great baboon, but so much like a man in most things, that though
they say there is a species of them, yet I cannot believe but that
it is a monster got of a man and she-baboon. I do believe that it
already understands much English, and I am of the mind it might
be taught to speak or make signs. Hence the Comptroller and I
to Sir Rd. Ford’s and viewed the house again, and are come to a
complete end with him to give him £200 per an. for it. Home and
there met Capt. Isham inquiring for me to take his leave of me,
he being upon his voyage to Portugal, and for my letters to my
Lord which are not ready. But I took him to the Mitre and gave
him a glass of sack, and so adieu, and then straight to the Opera,
and there saw “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark,” done with scenes
very well, but above all, Betterton235 did the prince’s part beyond
imagination. Hence homeward, and met with Mr. Spong and
took him to the Sampson in Paul’s churchyard, and there staid
till late, and it rained hard, so we were fain to get home wet, and
so to bed.
25th (Lord’s day). At church in the morning, and dined at
home alone with my wife very comfortably, and so again to
church with her, and had a very good and pungent sermon of Mr.
Mills, discoursing the necessity of restitution. Home, and I found
my Lady Batten and her daughter to look something askew upon
my wife, because my wife do not buckle to them, and is not solic-
itous for their acquaintance, which I am not troubled at at all. By
and by comes in my father (he intends to go into the country to-
morrow), and he and I among other discourse at last called Pall
235 Sir William Davenant introduced the use of scenery. The character of
Hamlet was one of Betterton’s masterpieces. Downes tells us that he was
taught by Davenant how the part was acted by Taylor of the Blackfriars,
who was instructed by Shakespeare himself.
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AUGUST 1661
up to us, and there in great anger told her before my father that I
would keep her no longer, and my father he said he would have
nothing to do with her. At last, after we had brought down her
high spirit, I got my father to yield that she should go into the
country with my mother and him, and stay there awhile to see
how she will demean herself. That being done, my father and
I to my uncle Wight’s, and there supped, and he took his leave
of them, and so I walked with [him] as far as Paul’s and there
parted, and I home, my mind at some rest upon this making an
end with Pall, who do trouble me exceedingly.
26th. This morning before I went out I made even with my
maid Jane, who has this day been my maid three years, and is this
day to go into the country to her mother. The poor girl cried, and
I could hardly forbear weeping to think of her going, for though
she be grown lazy and spoilt by Pall’s coming, yet I shall never
have one to please us better in all things, and so harmless, while
I live. So I paid her her wages and gave her 2s. 6d. over, and
bade her adieu, with my mind full of trouble at her going. Hence
to my father, where he and I and Thomas together setting things
even, and casting up my father’s accounts, and upon the whole I
find that all he hath in money of his own due to him in the world
is but £45, and he owes about the same sum: so that I cannot but
think in what a condition he had left my mother if he should have
died before my uncle Robert. Hence to Tom Trice for the probate
of the will and had it done to my mind, which did give my father
and me good content. From thence to my Lady at the Wardrobe
and thence to the Theatre, and saw the “Antipodes,” wherein
there is much mirth, but no great matter else. Hence with Mr.
Bostock whom I met there (a clerk formerly of Mr. Phelps) to
the Devil tavern, and there drank and so away. I to my uncle
Fenner’s, where my father was with him at an alehouse, and so
we three went by ourselves and sat talking a great while about
a broker’s daughter that he do propose for a wife for Tom, with
a great portion, but I fear it will not take, but he will do what
he can. So we broke up, and going through the street we met
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with a mother and son, friends of my father’s man, Ned’s, who
are angry at my father’s putting him away, which troubled me
and my father, but all will be well as to that. We have news this
morning of my uncle Thomas and his son Thomas being gone
into the country without giving notice thereof to anybody, which
puts us to a stand, but I fear them not. At night at home I found
a letter from my Lord Sandwich, who is now very well again of
his feaver, but not yet gone from Alicante, where he lay sick, and
was twice let blood. This letter dated the 22nd July last, which
puts me out of doubt of his being ill. In my coming home I called
in at the Crane tavern at the Stocks by appointment, and there
met and took leave of Mr. Fanshaw, who goes to-morrow and
Captain Isham toward their voyage to Portugal. Here we drank
a great deal of wine, I too much and Mr. Fanshaw till he could
hardly go. So we took leave one of another.
27th. This morning to the Wardrobe, and there took leave of
my Lord Hinchingbroke and his brother, and saw them go out
by coach toward Rye in their way to France, whom God bless.
Then I was called up to my Lady’s bedside, where we talked an
hour about Mr. Edward Montagu’s disposing of the £5000 for my
Lord’s departure for Portugal, and our fears that he will not do it
to my Lord’s honour, and less to his profit, which I am to enquire
a little after. Hence to the office, and there sat till noon, and then
my wife and I by coach to my cozen, Thos. Pepys, the Executor,
to dinner, where some ladies and my father and mother, where
very merry, but methinks he makes but poor dinners for such
guests, though there was a poor venison pasty. Hence my wife
and I to the Theatre, and there saw “The Joviall Crew,” where the
King, Duke and Duchess, and Madame Palmer, were; and my
wife, to her great content, had a full sight of them all the while.
The play full of mirth. Hence to my father’s, and there staid to
talk a while and so by foot home by moonshine. In my way and
at home, my wife making a sad story to me of her brother Balty’s
a condition, and would have me to do something for him, which
I shall endeavour to do, but am afeard to meddle therein for fear
467
AUGUST 1661
I shall not be able to wipe my hands of him again, when I once
concern myself for him. I went to bed, my wife all the while
telling me his case with tears, which troubled me.
28th. At home all the morning setting papers in order. At noon
to the Exchange, and there met with Dr. Williams by appoint-
ment, and with him went up and down to look for an attorney,
a friend of his, to advise with about our bond of my aunt Pepys
of £200, and he tells me absolutely that we shall not be forced to
pay interest for the money yet. I do doubt it very much. I spent
the whole afternoon drinking with him and so home. This day I
counterfeited a letter to Sir W. Pen, as from the thief that stole his
tankard lately, only to abuse and laugh at him.
29th. At the office all the morning, and at noon my father,
mother, and my aunt Bell (the first time that ever she was at my
house) come to dine with me, and were very merry. After dinner
the two women went to visit my aunt Wight, &c., and my father
about other business, and I abroad to my bookseller, and there
staid till four o’clock, at which time by appointment I went to
meet my father at my uncle Fenner’s. So thither I went and with
him to an alehouse, and there came Mr. Evans, the taylor, whose
daughter we have had a mind to get for a wife for Tom, and then
my father, and there we sat a good while and talked about the
business; in fine he told us that he hath not to except against us
or our motion, but that the estate that God hath blessed him with
is too great to give where there is nothing in present possession
but a trade and house; and so we friendly ended. There parted,
my father and I together, and walked a little way, and then at
Holborn he and I took leave of one another, he being to go to
Brampton (to settle things against my mother comes) tomorrow
morning. So I home.
30th. At noon my wife and I met at the Wardrobe, and there
dined with the children, and after dinner up to my Lady’s bed-
side, and talked and laughed a good while. Then my wife end I
to Drury Lane to the French comedy, which was so ill done, and
468
AUGUST 1661
the scenes and company and every thing else so nasty and out
of order and poor, that I was sick all the while in my mind to be
there. Here my wife met with a son of my Lord Somersett, whom
she knew in France, a pretty man; I showed him no great coun-
tenance, to avoyd further acquaintance. That done, there being
nothing pleasant but the foolery of the farce, we went home.
31st. At home and the office all the morning, and at noon
comes Luellin to me, and he and I to the tavern and after that
to Bartholomew fair, and there upon his motion to a pitiful ale-
house, where we had a dirty slut or two come up that were
whores, but my very heart went against them, so that I took
no pleasure but a great deal of trouble in being there and get-
ting from thence for fear of being seen. From hence he and I
walked towards Ludgate and parted. I back again to the fair
all alone, and there met with my Ladies Jemimah and Paulina,
with Mr. Pickering and Madamoiselle, at seeing the monkeys
dance, which was much to see, when they could be brought to
do so, but it troubled me to sit among such nasty company. After
that with them into Christ’s Hospitall, and there Mr. Pickering
bought them some fairings, and I did give every one of them a
bauble, which was the little globes of glass with things hanging
in them, which pleased the ladies very well. After that home
with them in their coach, and there was called up to my Lady,
and she would have me stay to talk with her, which I did I think
a full hour. And the poor lady did with so much innocency tell
me how Mrs. Crispe had told her that she did intend, by means
of a lady that lies at her house, to get the King to be godfather to
the young lady that she is in childbed now of; but to see in what a
manner my Lady told it me, protesting that she sweat in the very
telling of it, was the greatest pleasure to me in the world to see
the simplicity and harmlessness of a lady. Then down to supper
with the ladies, and so home, Mr. Moore (as he and I cannot eas-
ily part) leading me as far as Fenchurch Street to the Mitre, where
we drank a glass of wine and so parted, and I home and to bed.
469
AUGUST 1661
Thus ends the month. My maid Jane newly gone, and Pall
left now to do all the work till another maid comes, which shall
not be till she goes away into the country with my mother. My-
self and wife in good health. My Lord Sandwich in the Straits
and newly recovered of a great sickness at Alicante. My father
gone to settle at Brampton, and myself under much business and
trouble for to settle things in the estate to our content. But what
is worst, I find myself lately too much given to seeing of plays,
and expense, and pleasure, which makes me forget my business,
which I must labour to amend. No money comes in, so that I
have been forced to borrow a great deal for my own expenses,
and to furnish my father, to leave things in order. I have some
trouble about my brother Tom, who is now left to keep my fa-
ther’s trade, in which I have great fears that he will miscarry for
want of brains and care. At Court things are in very ill condition,
there being so much emulacion, poverty, and the vices of drink-
ing, swearing, and loose amours, that I know not what will be the
end of it, but confusion. And the Clergy so high, that all people
that I meet with do protest against their practice. In short, I see
no content or satisfaction any where, in any one sort of people.
The Benevolence236 proves so little, and an occasion of so much
discontent every where; that it had better it had never been set
up. I think to subscribe £20. We are at our Office quiet, only for
lack of money all things go to rack. Our very bills offered to be
sold upon the Exchange at 10 per cent. loss. We are upon get-
ting Sir R. Ford’s house added to our Office. But I see so many
difficulties will follow in pleasing of one another in the dividing
of it, and in becoming bound personally to pay the rent of £200
per annum, that I do believe it will yet scarce come to pass. The
season very sickly every where of strange and fatal fevers.
236 A voluntary contribution made by the subjects to their sovereign. Upon
this occasion the clergy alone gave £33,743: See May 31st, 1661.–B
470
SEPTEMBER 1661
September 1st (Lord’s day). Last night being very rainy [the rain]
broke into my house, the gutter being stopped, and spoiled all
my ceilings almost. At church in the morning, and dined at home
with my wife. After dinner to Sir W. Batten’s, where I found Sir
W. Pen and Captain Holmes. Here we were very merry with Sir
W. Pen about the loss of his tankard, though all be but a cheat,
and he do not yet understand it; but the tankard was stole by Sir
W. Batten, and the letter, as from the thief, wrote by me, which
makes: very good sport. Here I staid all the afternoon, and then
Captain Holmes and I by coach to White Hall; in our way, I
found him by discourse, to be a great friend of my Lord’s, and
he told me there was many did seek to remove him; but they
were old seamen, such as Sir J. Minnes (but he would name no
more, though I do believe Sir W. Batten is one of them that do
envy him), but he says he knows that the King do so love him,
and the Duke of York too, that there is no fear of him. He seems
to be very well acquainted with the King’s mind, and with all
the several factions at Court, and spoke all with so much frank-
ness, that I do take him to be my Lord’s good friend, and one
able to do him great service, being a cunning fellow, and one (by
his own confession to me) that can put on two several faces, and
look his enemies in the face with as much love as his friends. But,
471
SEPTEMBER 1661
good God! what an age is this, and what a world is this! that a
man cannot live without playing the knave and dissimulation.
At Whitehall we parted, and I to Mrs. Pierce’s, meeting her and
Madam Clifford in the street, and there staid talking and laugh-
ing with them a good while, and so back to my mother’s, and
there supped, and so home and to bed.
2nd. In the morning to my cozen Thos. Pepys, executor,
and there talked with him about my uncle Thomas, his being
in the country, but he could not advise me to anything therein,
not knowing what the other has done in the country, and so we
parted. And so to Whitehall, and there my Lord Privy Seal, who
has been out of town this week, not being yet come, we can have
no seal, and therefore meeting with Mr. Battersby the apothe-
cary in Fenchurch Street to the King’s Apothecary’s chamber in
Whitehall, and there drank a bottle or two of wine, and so he
and I by water towards London. I landed at Blackfriars and so to
the Wardrobe and dined, and then back to Whitehall with Cap-
tain Ferrers, and there walked, and thence to Westminster Hall,
where we met with Mr. Pickering, and so all of us to the Rhenish
wine house (Prior’s), where the master of the house is laying out
some money in making a cellar with an arch in his yard, which is
very convenient for him. Here we staid a good while, and so Mr.
Pickering and I to Westminster Hall again, and there walked an
hour or two talking, and though he be a fool, yet he keeps much
company, and will tell all he sees or hears, and so a man may
understand what the common talk of the town is, and I find by
him that there are endeavours to get my Lord out of play at sea,
which I believe Mr. Coventry and the Duke do think will make
them more absolute; but I hope, for all this, they will not be able
to do it. He tells me plainly of the vices of the Court, and how
the pox is so common there, and so I hear on all hands that it is
as common as eating and swearing. From him by water to the
bridge, and thence to the Mitre, where I met my uncle and aunt
Wight come to see Mrs. Rawlinson (in her husband’s absence out
of town), and so I staid with them and Mr. Lucas and other com-
472
SEPTEMBER 1661
pany, very merry, and so home, Where my wife has been busy all
the day making of pies, and had been abroad and bought things
for herself, and tells that she met at the Change with my young
ladies of the Wardrobe and there helped them to buy things, and
also with Mr. Somerset, who did give her a bracelet of rings,
which did a little trouble me, though I know there is no hurt yet
in it, but only for fear of further acquaintance. So to bed. This
night I sent another letter to Sir W. Pen to offer him the return of
his tankard upon his leaving of 30s. at a place where it should be
brought. The issue of which I am to expect.
3rd. This day some of us Commissioners went down to Dept-
ford to pay off some ships, but I could not go, but staid at
home all the morning setting papers to rights, and this morn-
ing Mr. Howell, our turner, sent me two things to file papers
on very handsome. Dined at home, and then with my wife to
the Wardrobe, where my Lady’s child was christened (my Lord
Crew and his Lady, and my Lady Montagu, my Lord’s mother-
in-law, were the witnesses), and named Katherine237 (the Queen
elect’s name); but to my and all our trouble, the Parson of the
parish christened her, and did not sign the child with the sign of
the cross. After that was done, we had a very fine banquet, the
best I ever was at, and so (there being very little company) we by
and by broke up, and my wife and I to my mother, who I took a
liberty to advise about her getting things ready to go this week
into the country to my father, and she (being become now-a-days
very simple) took it very ill, and we had a great deal of noise and
wrangling about it. So home by coach.
4th. In the morning to the Privy Seal to do some things of the
last month, my Lord Privy Seal having been some time out of
town. Then my wife came to me to Whitehall, and we went and
237 Lady Katherine Montagu, youngest daughter of Lord Sandwich, mar-
ried, first, Nicholas Bacon, eldest son and heir of Sir Nicholas Bacon, K.B.,
of Shrubland Hall, co. Suffolk; and, secondly, the Rev. Balthazar Gardeman.
She died January 15th, 1757, at ninety-six years, four months.–B.
473
SEPTEMBER 1661
walked a good while in St. James’s Park to see the brave alter-
ations, and so to Wilkinson’s, the Cook’s, to dinner, where we
sent for Mrs. Sarah and there dined and had oysters, the first I
have eat this year, and were pretty good. After dinner by agree-
ment to visit Mrs. Symonds, but she is abroad, which I wonder at,
and so missing her my wife again to my mother’s (calling at Mrs.
Pierce’s, who we found brought to bed of a girl last night) and
there staid and drank, and she resolves to be going to-morrow
without fail. Many friends come in to take their leave of her, but
a great deal of stir I had again tonight about getting her to go to
see my Lady Sandwich before she goes, which she says she will
do tomorrow. So I home.
5th. To the Privy Seal this morning about business, in my way
taking leave of my mother, who goes to Brampton to-day. But
doing my business at the Privy Seal pretty soon, I took boat and
went to my uncle Fenner’s, and there I found my mother and
my wife and Pall (of whom I had this morning at my own house
taken leave, and given her 20s. and good counsel how to carry
herself to my father and mother), and so I took them, it being
late, to Beard’s, where they were staid for, and so I put them into
the waggon, and saw them going presently, Pall crying exceed-
ingly. Then in with my wife, my aunt Bell and Charles Pepys,
whom we met there, and drank, and so to my uncle Fenner’s
to dinner (in the way meeting a French footman with feathers,
who was in quest of my wife, and spoke with her privately, but I
could not tell what it was, only my wife promised to go to some
place to-morrow morning, which do trouble my mind how to
know whither it was), where both his sons and daughters were,
and there we were merry and dined. After dinner news was
brought that my aunt Kite, the butcher’s widow in London, is
sick ready to die and sends for my uncle and me to come to take
charge of things, and to be entrusted with the care of her daugh-
ter. But I through want of time to undertake such a business, I
was taken up by Antony Joyce, which came at last to very high
words, which made me very angry, and I did not think that he
474
SEPTEMBER 1661
would ever have been such a fool to meddle with other people’s
business, but I saw he spoke worse to his father than to me and
therefore I bore it the better, but all the company was offended
with him, so we parted angry he and I, and so my wife and I
to the fair, and I showed her the Italians dancing the ropes, and
the women that do strange tumbling tricks and so by foot home
vexed in my mind about Antony Joyce.
6th. This morning my uncle Fenner by appointment came and
drank his morning draft with me, and from thence he and I go
to see my aunt Kite (my wife holding her resolution to go this
morning as she resolved yesterday, and though there could not
be much hurt in it, yet my own jealousy put a hundred things
into my mind, which did much trouble me all day), whom we
found in bed and not like to live as we think, and she told us her
mind was that if she should die she should give all she had to
her daughter, only £5 apiece to her second husband’s children,
in case they live to come out of their apprenticeships, and that if
her daughter should die before marrying, then £10 to be divided
between Sarah Kite’s children and the rest as her own daughter
shall dispose of it, and this I set down that I may be able to swear
in case there should be occasion. From thence to an alehouse
while it rained, which kept us there I think above two hours, and
at last we were fain to go through the rainy street home, calling
on his sister Utbeck and drank there. Then I home to dinner all
alone, and thence my mind being for my wife’s going abroad
much troubled and unfit for business, I went to the Theatre, and
saw “Elder Brother” ill acted; that done, meeting here with Sir
G. Askew, Sir Theophilus Jones, and another Knight, with Sir W.
Pen, we to the Ship tavern, and there staid and were merry till
late at night, and so got a coach, and Sir Wm. and I home, where
my wife had been long come home, but I seemed very angry, as
indeed I am, and did not all night show her any countenance,
neither before nor in bed, and so slept and rose discontented.
7th. At the office all the morning. At noon Mr. Moore dined
475
SEPTEMBER 1661
with me, and then in comes Wm. Joyce to answer a letter of mine
I wrote this morning to him about a maid of his that my wife
had hired, and she sent us word that she was hired to stay longer
with her master, which mistake he came to clear himself of; and
I took it very kindly. So I having appointed the young ladies at
the Wardrobe to go with them to a play to-day, I left him and my
brother Tom who came along with him to dine, and my wife and I
took them to the Theatre, where we seated ourselves close by the
King, and Duke of York, and Madame Palmer, which was great
content; and, indeed, I can never enough admire her beauty. And
here was “Bartholomew Fayre,” with the puppet-show, acted to-
day, which had not been these forty years (it being so satyricall
against Puritanism, they durst not till now, which is strange they
should already dare to do it, and the King do countenance it), but
I do never a whit like it the better for the puppets, but rather the
worse. Thence home with the ladies, it being by reason of our
staying a great while for the King’s coming, and the length of the
play, near nine o’clock before it was done, and so in their coach
home, and still in discontent with my wife, to bed, and rose so
this morning also.
8th (Lord’s day). To church, it being a very wet night last night
and to-day, dined at home, and so to church again with my wife
in the afternoon, and coming home again found our new maid
Doll asleep, that she could not hear to let us in, so that we were
fain to send the boy in at a window to open the door to us. So
up to my chamber all alone, and troubled in mind to think how
much of late I have addicted myself to expense and pleasure, that
now I can hardly reclaim myself to look after my great business
of settling Gravely business, until now almost too late. I pray
God give me grace to begin now to look after my business, but it
always was, and I fear will ever be, my foible that after I am
once got behind-hand with business, I am hard to set to it again
to recover it. In the evening I begun to look over my accounts and
upon the whole I do find myself, by what I can yet see, worth
476
SEPTEMBER 1661
near £600, for which God be blessed, which put me into great
comfort. So to supper and to bed.
9th. To the Privy Seal in the morning, but my Lord did not
come, so I went with Captain Morrice at his desire into the King’s
Privy Kitchen to Mr. Sayres, the Master Cook, and there we had
a good slice of beef or two to our breakfast, and from thence
he took us into the wine cellar where, by my troth, we were
very merry, and I drank too much wine, and all along had great
and particular kindness from Mr. Sayres, but I drank so much
wine that I was not fit for business, and therefore at noon I went
and walked in Westminster Hall a while, and thence to Salisbury
Court play house, where was acted the first time “‘Tis pity Shee’s
a Whore,” a simple play and ill acted, only it was my fortune
to sit by a most pretty and most ingenious lady, which pleased
me much. Thence home, and found Sir Williams both and much
more company gone to the Dolphin to drink the 30s. that we got
the other day of Sir W. Pen about his tankard. Here was Sir R.
Slingsby, Holmes, Captn. Allen, Mr. Turner, his wife and daugh-
ter, my Lady Batten, and Mrs. Martha, &c., and an excellent com-
pany of fiddlers; so we exceeding merry till late; and then we
begun to tell Sir W. Pen the business, but he had been drinking
to-day, and so is almost gone, that we could not make him under-
stand it, which caused us more sport. But so much the better, for
I believe when he do come to understand it he will be angry, he
has so talked of the business himself and the letter up and down
that he will be ashamed to be found abused in it. So home and to
bed.
10th. At the office all the morn, dined at home; then my wife
into Wood Street to buy a chest, and thence to buy other things
at my uncle Fenner’s (though by reason of rain we had ill walk-
ing), thence to my brother Tom’s, and there discoursed with him
about business, and so to the Wardrobe to see my Lady, and after
supper with the young ladies, bought a link and carried it myself
till I met one that would light me home for the link. So he light
477
SEPTEMBER 1661
me home with his own, and then I did give him mine. This night
I found Mary, my cozen W. Joyce’s maid, come to me to be my
cook maid, and so my house is full again. So to bed.
11th. Early to my cozen Thomas Trice to discourse about our
affairs, and he did make demand of the £200 and the interest
thereof. But for the £200 I did agree to pay him, but for the other
I did desire to be advised. So from him to Dr. Williams, who did
carry me into his garden, where he hath abundance of grapes;
and did show me how a dog that he hath do kill all the cats that
come thither to kill his pigeons, and do afterwards bury them;
and do it with so much care that they shall be quite covered; that
if but the tip of the tail hangs out he will take up the cat again,
and dig the hole deeper. Which is very strange; and he tells me
that he do believe that he hath killed above 100 cats. After he
was ready we went up and down to inquire about my affairs and
then parted, and to the Wardrobe, and there took Mr. Moore to
Tom Trice, who promised to let Mr. Moore have copies of the
bond and my aunt’s deed of gift, and so I took him home to my
house to dinner, where I found my wife’s brother, Balty, as fine
as hands could make him, and his servant, a Frenchman, to wait
on him, and come to have my wife to visit a young lady which
he is a servant to, and have hope to trepan and get for his wife.
I did give way for my wife to go with him, and so after dinner
they went, and Mr. Moore and I out again, he about his busi-
ness and I to Dr. Williams: to talk with him again, and he and
I walking through Lincoln’s Fields observed at the Opera a new
play, “Twelfth Night”238 was acted there, and the King there; so
I, against my own mind and resolution, could not forbear to go
in, which did make the play seem a burthen to me, and I took
no pleasure at all in it; and so after it was done went home with
my mind troubled for my going thither, after my swearing to my
wife that I would never go to a play without her. So that what
238 Pepys seldom liked any play of Shakespeare’s, and he sadly blundered
when he supposed “Twelfth Night” was a new play.
478
SEPTEMBER 1661
with this and things going so cross to me as to matters of my un-
cle’s estate, makes me very much troubled in my mind, and so to
bed. My wife was with her brother to see his mistress today, and
says she is young, rich, and handsome, but not likely for him to
get.
12th. Though it was an office day, yet I was forced to go to the
Privy Seal, at which I was all the morning, and from thence to
my Lady’s to dinner at the Wardrobe; and in my way upon the
Thames, I saw the King’s new pleasure-boat that is come now
for the King to take pleasure in above bridge; and also two Gun-
daloes239 that are lately brought, which are very rich and fine.
After dinner I went into my Lady’s chamber where I found her
up now out of her childbed, which I was glad to see, and after an
hour’s talk with her I took leave and to Tom Trice again, and sat
talking and drinking with him about our business a great while.
I do find I am likely to be forced to pay interest for the £200. By
and by in comes my uncle Thomas, and as he was always a close
cunning fellow, so he carries himself to me, and says nothing of
what his endeavours are, though to my trouble I know that he
is about recovering of Gravely, but neither I nor he began any
discourse of the business. From thence to Dr. Williams (at the
little blind alehouse in Shoe Lane, at the Gridiron, a place I am
ashamed to be seen to go into), and there with some bland coun-
sel of his we discuss our matters, but I find men of so different
minds that by my troth I know not what to trust to. It being late
I took leave, and by link home and called at Sir W. Batten’s, and
there hear that Sir W. Pen do take our jest of the tankard very ill,
which Pam sorry for.
13th. This morning I was sent for by my uncle Fenner to come
239 “Two long boats that were made in Venice, called gondolas, were by
the Duke of Venice (Dominico Contareni) presented to His Majesty; and the
attending watermen, being four, were in very rich clothes, crimson satin;
very big were their breeches and doublets; they wore also very large shirts
of the same satin, very richly laced.” –Rugge’s Diurnal.–B.
479
SEPTEMBER 1661
and advise about the buriall of my aunt, the butcher, who died
yesterday; and from thence to the Anchor, by Doctor’s Com-
mons, and there Dr. Williams and I did write a letter for my
purpose to Mr. Sedgewick, of Cambridge, about Gravely busi-
ness, and after that I left him and an attorney with him and went
to the Wardrobe, where I found my wife, and thence she and I to
the water to spend the afternoon in pleasure; and so we went to
old George’s, and there eat as much as we would of a hot shoul-
der of mutton, and so to boat again and home. So to bed, my
mind very full of business and trouble.
14th. At the office all the morning, at noon to the Change, and
then home again. To dinner, where my uncle Fenner by appoint-
ment came and dined with me, thinking to go together to my
aunt Kite’s that is dead; but before we had dined comes Sir R.
Slingsby and his lady, and a great deal of company, to take my
wife and I out by barge to shew them the King’s and Duke’s
yachts. So I was forced to leave my uncle and brother Tom at
dinner and go forth with them, and we had great pleasure, see-
ing all four yachts, viz., these two and the two Dutch ones. And
so home again, and after writing letters by post, to bed.
15th (Lord’s day). To my aunt Kite’s in the morning to help my
uncle Fenner to put things in order against anon for the buriall,
and at noon home again; and after dinner to church, my wife and
I, and after sermon with my wife to the buriall of my aunt Kite,
where besides us and my uncle Fenner’s family, there was none
of any quality, but poor rascally people. So we went to church
with the corps, and there had service read at the grave, and back
again with Pegg Kite who will be, I doubt, a troublesome carrion
to us executors; but if she will not be ruled, I shall fling up my
executorship. After that home, and Will Joyce along with me
where we sat and talked and drank and ate an hour or two, and
so he went away and I up to my chamber and then to prayers
and to bed.
16th. This morning I was busy at home to take in my part of
480
SEPTEMBER 1661
our freight of Coles, which Sir G. Carteret, Sir R. Slingsby, and
myself sent for, which is 10 Chaldron, 8 of which I took in, and
with the other to repay Sir W. Pen what I borrowed of him a little
while ago. So that from this day I should see how long 10 chal-
dron of coals will serve my house, if it please the Lord to let me
live to see them burned. In the afternoon by appointment to meet
Dr. Williams and his attorney, and they and I to Tom Trice, and
there got him in discourse to confess the words that he had said
that his mother did desire him not to see my uncle about her £200
bond while she was alive. Here we were at high words with T.
Trice and then parted, and we to Standing’s, in Fleet Street, where
we sat and drank and talked a great while about my going down
to Gravely Court,240 which will be this week, whereof the Doctor
had notice in a letter from his sister this week. In the middle of
our discourse word was brought me from my brother’s that there
is a fellow come from my father out of the country, on purpose to
speak to me, so I went to him and he made a story how he had
lost his letter, but he was sure it was for me to go into the coun-
try, which I believed, and thought it might be to give me notice
of Gravely Court, but I afterwards found that it was a rogue that
did use to play such tricks to get money of people, but he got
none of me. At night I went home, and there found letters-from
my father informing me of the Court, and that I must come down
and meet him at Impington, which I presently resolved to do,
17th. And the next morning got up, telling my wife of my jour-
ney, and she with a few words got me to hire her a horse to go
along with me. So I went to my Lady’s and elsewhere to take
leave, and of Mr. Townsend did borrow a very fine side-saddle
for my wife; and so after all things were ready, she and I took
coach to the end of the town towards Kingsland, and there got
upon my horse and she upon her pretty mare that I hired for her,
240 The manorial court of Graveley, in Huntingdonshire, to which Imping-
ton owed suit or service, and under which the Pepys’s copyhold estates were
held. See July 8th, 1661, ante.–B.
481
SEPTEMBER 1661
and she rides very well. By the mare at one time falling she got
a fall, but no harm; so we got to Ware, and there supped, and to
bed very merry and pleasant.
18th. The next morning up early and begun our march; the
way about Puckridge–[Puckeridge, a village in Hertfordshire six
and a half miles N.N.E, of Ware.]–very bad, and my wife, in the
very last dirty place of all, got a fall, but no hurt, though some
dirt. At last she begun, poor wretch, to be tired, and I to be an-
gry at it, but I was to blame; for she is a very good companion as
long as she is well. In the afternoon we got to Cambridge, where
I left my wife at my cozen Angier’s while I went to Christ’s Col-
lege, and there found my brother in his chamber, and talked with
him; and so to the barber’s, and then to my wife again, and re-
mounted for Impington, where my uncle received me and my
wife very kindly. And by and by in comes my father, and we
supped and talked and were merry, but being weary and sleepy
my wife and I to bed without talking with my father anything
about our business.
19th. Up early, and my father and I alone into the garden, and
there talked about our business, and what to do therein. So after
I had talked and advised with my coz Claxton, and then with my
uncle by his bedside, we all horsed away to Cambridge, where
my father and I, having left my wife at the Beare with my brother,
went to Mr. Sedgewicke, the steward of Gravely, and there talked
with him, but could get little hopes from anything that he would
tell us; but at last I did give him a fee, and then he was free to
tell me what I asked, which was something, though not much
comfort. From thence to our horses, and with my wife went and
rode through Sturbridge241 but the fair was almost done. So we
241 Sturbridge fair is of great antiquity. The first trace of it is found in a
charter granted about 1211 by King John to the Lepers of the Hospital of St.
Mary Magdalen at Sturbridge by Cambridge, a fair to be held in the close of
the hospital on the vigil and feast of the Holy Cross (see Cornelius Walford’s
“Fairs Past and Present,” 1883, p. 54).
482
SEPTEMBER 1661
did not ‘light there at all, but went back to Cambridge, and there
at the Beare we had some herrings, we and my brother, and after
dinner set out for Brampton, where we come in very good time,
and found all things well, and being somewhat weary, after some
talk about tomorrow’s business with my father, we went to bed.
20th. Will Stankes and I set out in the morning betimes for
Gravely, where to an ale-house and drank, and then, going to-
wards the Court House, met my uncle Thomas and his son
Thomas, with Bradly, the rogue that had betrayed us, and one
Young, a cunning fellow, who guides them. There passed no un-
kind words at all between us, but I seemed fair and went to drink
with them. I said little till by and by that we come to the Court,
which was a simple meeting of a company of country rogues,
with the Steward, and two Fellows of Jesus College, that are lords
of the town where the jury were sworn; and I producing no sur-
render, though I told them I was sure there is and must be one
somewhere, they found my uncle Thomas heir at law, as he is,
and so, though I did tell him and his son that they would find
themselves abused by these fellows, and did advise them to for-
bear being admitted this Court (which they could have done, but
that these rogues did persuade them to do it now), my uncle was
admitted, and his son also, in reversion after his father, which he
did well in to secure his money. The father paid a year and a half
for his fine, and the son half a year, in all £48, besides about £3
fees; so that I do believe the charges of his journeys, and what
he gives those two rogues, and other expenses herein, cannot be
less than £70, which will be a sad thing for them if a surrender
be found. After all was done, I openly wished them joy in it,
and so rode to Offord with them and there parted fairly without
any words. I took occasion to bid them money for their half acre
of land, which I had a mind to do that in the surrender I might
secure Piggott’s, which otherwise I should be forced to lose. So
with Stankes home and supped, and after telling my father how
things went, I went to bed with my mind in good temper, be-
cause I see the matter and manner of the Court and the bottom of
483
SEPTEMBER 1661
my business, wherein I was before and should always have been
ignorant.
21st. All the morning pleasing myself with my father, going
up and down the house and garden with my father and my
wife, contriving some alterations. After dinner (there coming this
morning my aunt Hanes and her son from London, that is to live
with my father) I rode to Huntingdon, where I met Mr. Philips,
and there put my Bugden242 matter in order against the Court,
and so to Hinchingbroke, where Mr. Barnwell shewed me the
condition of the house, which is yet very backward, and I fear
will be very dark in the cloyster when it is done. So home and to
supper and to bed, very pleasant and quiet.
22nd (Lord’s day). Before church time walking with my father
in the garden contriving. So to church, where we had common
prayer, and a dull sermon by one Mr. Case, who yet I heard sing
very well. So to dinner, and busy with my father about his ac-
counts all the afternoon, and people came to speak with us about
business. Mr. Barnwell at night came and supped with us. So
after setting matters even with my father and I, to bed.
23rd. Up, and sad to hear my father and mother wrangle as
they used to do in London, of which I took notice to both, and
told them that I should give over care for anything unless they
would spend what they have with more love and quiet. So (John
Bowles coming to see us before we go) we took horse and got
early to Baldwick; where there was a fair, and we put in and eat a
mouthfull of pork, which they made us pay 14d. for, which vexed
us much. And so away to Stevenage, and staid till a showre was
over, and so rode easily to Welling, where we supped well, and
had two beds in the room and so lay single, and still remember
it that of all the nights that ever I slept in my life I never did
pass a night with more epicurism of sleep; there being now and
242 Bugden, or Buckden, a village and parish in the St. Neots district of
Huntingdonshire, four miles S.W. of Huntingdon.
484
SEPTEMBER 1661
then a noise of people stirring that waked me, and then it was a
very rainy night, and then I was a little weary, that what between
waking and then sleeping again, one after another, I never had
so much content in all my life, and so my wife says it was with
her.
24th. We rose, and set forth, but found a most sad alteration in
the road by reason of last night’s rains, they being now all dirty
and washy, though not deep. So we rode easily through, and
only drinking at Holloway, at the sign of a woman with cakes in
one hand and a pot of ale in the other, which did give good occa-
sion of mirth, resembling her to the maid that served us, we got
home very timely and well, and finding there all well, and let-
ters from sea, that speak of my Lord’s being well, and his action,
though not considerable of any side, at Argier.–[Algiers]–I went
straight to my Lady, and there sat and talked with her, and so
home again, and after supper we to bed somewhat weary, hear-
ing of nothing ill since my absence but my brother Tom, who is
pretty well though again.
25th. By coach with Sir W. Pen to Covent Garden. By the way,
upon my desire, he told me that I need not fear any reflection
upon my Lord for their ill success at Argier, for more could not be
done than was done. I went to my cozen, Thos. Pepys, there, and
talked with him a good while about our country business, who
is troubled at my uncle Thomas his folly, and so we parted; and
then meeting Sir R. Slingsby in St. Martin’s Lane, he and I in his
coach through the Mewes, which is the way that now all coaches
are forced to go, because of a stop at Charing Cross, by reason of
a drain there to clear the streets. To Whitehall, and there to Mr.
Coventry, and talked with him, and thence to my Lord Crew’s
and dined with him, where I was used with all imaginable kind-
ness both from him and her. And I see that he is afraid that my
Lord’s reputacon will a little suffer in common talk by this late
success; but there is no help for it now. The Queen of England (as
she is now owned and called) I hear doth keep open Court, and
485
SEPTEMBER 1661
distinct at Lisbon. Hence, much against my nature and will, yet
such is the power of the Devil over me I could not refuse it, to the
Theatre, and saw “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” ill done. And
that ended, with Sir W. Pen and Sir G. More to the tavern, and
so home with him by coach, and after supper to prayers and to
bed. In full quiet of mind as to thought, though full of business,
blessed be God.
26th. At the office all the morning, so dined at home, and then
abroad with my wife by coach to the Theatre to shew her “King
and no King,” it being very well done. And so by coach, though
hard to get it, being rainy, home. So to my chamber to write
letters and the journal for these six last days past.
27th. By coach to Whitehall with my wife (where she went
to see Mrs. Pierce, who was this day churched, her month of
childbed being out). I went to Mrs. Montagu and other busi-
nesses, and at noon met my wife at the Wardrobe; and there
dined, where we found Captain Country (my little Captain that
I loved, who carried me to the Sound), come with some grapes
and millons243 from my Lord at Lisbon, the first that ever I saw
any, and my wife and I eat some, and took some home; but the
grapes are rare things. Here we staid; and in the afternoon comes
Mr. Edwd. Montagu (by appointment this morning) to talk with
my Lady and me about the provisions fit to be bought, and sent
to my Lord along with him. And told us, that we need not trou-
ble ourselves how to buy them, for the King would pay for all,
and that he would take care to get them: which put my Lady and
me into a great deal of ease of mind. Here we staid and supped
too, and, after my wife had put up some of the grapes in a basket
for to be sent to the King, we took coach and home, where we
found a hampire of millons sent to me also.
243 The antiquity of the cultivation of the melon is very remote. Both the
melon (cucaimis melo) and the water-melon (cucumis citrullus) were intro-
duced into England at the end of the sixteenth century. See vol. i., p. 228.
486
SEPTEMBER 1661
28th. At the office in the morning, dined at home, and then Sir
W. Pen and his daughter and I and my wife to the Theatre, and
there saw “Father’s own Son,” a very good play, and the first
time I ever saw it, and so at night to my house, and there sat and
talked and drank and merrily broke up, and to bed.
29th (Lord’s day). To church in the morning, and so to dinner,
and Sir W. Pen and daughter, and Mrs. Poole, his kinswoman,
Captain Poole’s wife, came by appointment to dinner with us,
and a good dinner we had for them, and were very merry, and
so to church again, and then to Sir W. Pen’s and there supped,
where his brother, a traveller, and one that speaks Spanish very
well, and a merry man, supped with us, and what at dinner and
supper I drink I know not how, of my own accord, so much wine,
that I was even almost foxed, and my head aked all night; so
home and to bed, without prayers, which I never did yet, since I
came to the house, of a Sunday night: I being now so out of order
that I durst not read prayers, for fear of being perceived by my
servants in what case I was. So to bed.
30th. This morning up by moon-shine, at 5 o’clock, to White
Hall, to meet Mr. Moore at the Privy Seal, but he not being come
as appointed, I went into King Street to the Red Lyon’ to drink my
morning draft, and there I heard of a fray between the two Em-
bassadors of Spain and France; and that, this day, being the day
of the entrance of an Embassador from Sweden, they intended to
fight for the precedence! Our King, I heard, ordered that no En-
glishman should meddle in the business,244 but let them do what
they would. And to that end all the soldiers in the town were
244 The Comte de Brienne insinuates, in his “Memoirs,” that Charles pur-
posely abstained from interfering, in the belief that it was for his interest
to let France and Spain quarrel, in order to further his own designs in the
match with Portugal. Louis certainly held that opinion; and he afterwards
instructed D’Estrades to solicit from the English court the punishment of
those Londoners who had insulted his ambassador, and to demand the dis-
missal of De Batteville. Either no Londoner had interfered, or Louis’s de-
mand had not in England the same force as in Spain; for no one was pun-
487
SEPTEMBER 1661
in arms all the day long, and some of the train-bands in the City;
and a great bustle through the City all the day. Then I to the Privy
Seal, and there Mr. Moore and a gentleman being come with him,
we took coach (which was the business I come for) to Chelsy, to
my Lord Privy Seal, and there got him to seal the business. Here
I saw by day-light two very fine pictures in the gallery, that a lit-
tle while ago I saw by night; and did also go all over the house,
and found it to be the prettiest contrived house that ever I saw
in my life. So to coach back again; and at White Hall light, and
saw the soldiers and people running up and down the streets. So
I went to the Spanish Embassador’s and the French, and there
saw great preparations on both sides; but the French made the
most noise and vaunted most, the other made no stir almost at
all; so that I was afraid the other would have had too great a con-
quest over them. Then to the Wardrobe, and dined there, end
then abroad and in Cheapside hear that the Spanish hath got the
best of it, and killed three of the French coach-horses and several
men, and is gone through the City next to our King’s coach; at
which, it is strange to see how all the City did rejoice. And in-
deed we do naturally all love the Spanish, and hate the French.
But I, as I am in all things curious, presently got to the water-side,
and there took oars to Westminster Palace, thinking to have seen
them come in thither with all the coaches, but they being come
and returned, I ran after them with my boy after me through all
the dirt and the streets full of people; till at last, at the Mewes,
I saw the Spanish coach go, with fifty drawn swords at least to
guard it, and our soldiers shouting for joy. And so I followed
the coach, and then met it at York House, where the embassador
lies; and there it went in with great state. So then I went to the
French house, where I observe still, that there is no men in the
world of a more insolent spirit where they do well, nor before
they begin a matter, and more abject if they do miscarry, than
ished. The latter part of his request it was clearly not for Charles to entertain,
much less enforce.–B.
488
SEPTEMBER 1661
these people are; for they all look like dead men, and not a word
among them, but shake their heads. The truth is, the Spaniards
were not only observed to fight most desperately, but also they
did outwitt them; first in lining their own harness with chains
of iron that they could not be cut, then in setting their coach in
the most advantageous place, and to appoint men to guard every
one of their horses, and others for to guard the coach, and others
the coachmen. And, above all, in setting upon the French horses
and killing them, for by that means the French were not able to
stir. There were several men slain of the French, and one or two of
the Spaniards, and one Englishman by a bullet. Which is very ob-
servable, the French were at least four to one in number, and had
near 100 case of pistols among them, and the Spaniards had not
one gun among them; which is for their honour for ever, and the
others’ disgrace. So, having been very much daubed with dirt,
I got a coach, and home where I vexed my wife in telling of her
this story, and pleading for the Spaniards against the French. So
ends this month; myself and family in good condition of health,
but my head full of my Lord’s and my own and the office busi-
ness; where we are now very busy about the business of sending
forces to Tangier,245 and the fleet to my Lord of Sandwich, who
245 This place so often mentioned, was first given up to the English fleet un-
der Lord Sandwich, by the Portuguese, January 30th, 1662; and Lord Peter-
borough left governor, with a garrison. The greatest pains were afterwards
taken to preserve the fortress, and a fine mole was constructed at a vast ex-
pense, to improve the harbour. At length, after immense sums of money had
been wasted there, the House of Commons expressed a dislike to the man-
agement of the garrison, which they suspected to be a nursery for a popish
army, and seemed disinclined to maintain it any longer. The king conse-
quently, in 1683, sent Lord Dartmouth to bring home the troops, and destroy
the works; which he performed so effectually, that it would puzzle all our en-
gineers to restore the harbour. It were idle to speculate on the benefits which
might have accrued to England, by its preservation and retention; Tangier
fell into the hands of the Moors, its importance having ceased, with the de-
molition of the mole. Many curious views of Tangier were taken by Hollar,
during its occupation by the English; and his drawings are preserved in the
489
SEPTEMBER 1661
is now at Lisbon to bring over the Queen, who do now keep a
Court as Queen of England. The business of Argier hath of late
troubled me, because my Lord hath not done what he went for,
though he did as much as any man in the world could have done.
The want of money puts all things, and above all things the Nary,
out of order; and yet I do not see that the King takes care to bring
in any money, but thinks of new designs to lay out money.
British Museum. Some have been engraved by himself; but the impressions
are of considerable rarity.–B.
490
OCTOBER 1661
October 1st. This morning my wife and I lay long in bed, and
among other things fell into talk of musique, and desired that I
would let her learn to sing, which I did consider, and promised
her she should. So before I rose, word was brought me that my
singing master, Mr. Goodgroome, was come to teach me and
so she rose and this morning began to learn also. To the office,
where busy all day. So to dinner and then to the office again till
night, and then to my study at home to set matters and papers
in order, which, though I can hardly bring myself to do, yet do
please me much when it is done. So eat a bit of bread and cheese,
and to bed.
2nd. All this morning at Pegg Kite’s with my uncle Fenner, and
two friends of his, appraising her goods that her mother has left;
but the slut is like to prove so troublesome that I am out of heart
with troubling myself in her business. After we had done we all
went to a cook’s shop in Bishopsgate Street and dined, and then
I took them to the tavern and did give them a quart of sack, and
so parted. I home and then took my wife out, and in a coach of
a gentlewoman’s that had been to visit my Lady Batten and was
going home again our way, we went to the Theatre, but coming
late, and sitting in an ill place, I never had so little pleasure in a
play in my life, yet it was the first time that ever I saw it, “Victoria
491
OCTOBER 1661
Corombona.” Methinks a very poor play. Then at night troubled
to get my wife home, it being very dark, and so we were forced
to have a coach. So to supper and to bed.
3rd. At the office all the morning; dined at home, and in the
afternoon Mr. Moore came to me, and he and I went to Tower
Hill to meet with a man, and so back all three to my house, and
there I signed a bond to Mr. Battersby, a friend of Mr. Moore’s,
who lends me £50, the first money that ever I borrowed upon
bond for my own occasion, and so I took them to the Mitre and a
Portugal millon with me; there sat and discoursed in matters of
religion till night with great pleasure, and so parted, and I home,
calling at Sir W. Batten’s, where his son and his wife were, who
had yesterday been at the play where we were, and it was good
sport to hear how she talked of it with admiration like a fool.
So home, and my head was not well with the wine that I drank
to-day.
4th. By coach to White Hall with Sir W. Pen. So to Mr. Mon-
tagu, where his man, Mons. Eschar, makes a great com plaint
against the English, that they did help the Spaniards against the
French the other day; and that their Embassador do demand jus-
tice of our King, and that he do resolve to be gone for France
the next week; which I, and all that I met with, are very glad of.
Thence to Paternoster Row, where my Will did receive the £50 I
borrowed yesterday. I to the Wardrobe to dinner, and there staid
most of the afternoon very merry with the ladies. Then Captain
Ferrers and I to the Theatre, and there came too late, so we staid
and saw a bit of “Victoria,” which pleased me worse than it did
the other day. So we staid not to see it out, but went out and
drank a bottle or two of China ale, and so home, where I found
my wife vexed at her people for grumbling to eat Suffolk cheese,
which I also am vexed at. So to bed.
5th. At the office all the morning, then dined at home, and so
staid at home all the afternoon putting up my Lord’s model of
the Royal James, which I borrowed of him long ago to hang up
492
OCTOBER 1661
in my room. And at night Sir W. Pen and I alone to the Dolphin,
and there eat some bloat-herrings246 and drank good sack. Then
came in Sir W. Warren and another and staid a while with us,
and then Sir Arnold Brames, with whom we staid late and till we
had drank too much wine. So home and I to bed pleased at my
afternoon’s work in hanging up the shipp. So to bed.
6th (Lord’s day). To church in the morning; Mr. Mills
preached, who, I expect, should take in snuffe [anger] that my
wife not come to his child’s christening the other day. The winter
coming on, many of parish ladies are come home and appear at
church again; among others, the three sisters the Thornbury’s, a
very fine, and the most zealous people that ever I saw in my life,
even to admiration, if it were true zeal. There was also my pretty
black girl, Mrs. Dekins, and Mrs. Margaret Pen, this day come to
church in a new flowered satin suit that my wife helped to buy
her the other day. So me to dinner, and to church in the afternoon
to St. Gregory’s, by Paul’s, where I saw Mr. Moose in the gallery
and went up to him and heard a good sermon of Dr. Buck’s, one I
never heard before, a very able man. So home, and in the evening
I went to my Valentine, her father and mother being out of town,
to fetch her to supper to my house, and then came Sir W. Pen and
would have her to his, so with much sport I got them all to mine,
and we were merry, and so broke up and to bed.
7th. Up in the morning and to my uncle Fenner’s, thinking
to have met Peg Kite about her business but she comes not, so
I went to Dr. Williams, where I found him sick in bed and was
sorry for it. So about business all day, troubled in my mind till
I can hear from Brampton, how things go on at Sturtlow, at the
Court, which I was cleared in at night by a letter, which tells me
246 To bloat is to dry by smoke, a method chiefly used to cure herrings or
bloaters. “I have more smoke in my mouth than would blote a hundred
herrings.”–Beaumont and Fletcher, Island Princess. “Why, you stink like so
many bloat-herrings newly taken out of the chimney.”–Ben Jonson, “Masque
of Augurs.”
493
OCTOBER 1661
that my cozen Tom was there to be admitted, in his father’s name,
as heir-at-law, but that he was opposed, and I was admitted by
proxy, which put me out of great trouble of mind.
8th. At the office all the morning. After office done, went and
eat some Colchester oysters with Sir W. Batten at his house, and
there, with some company; dined and staid there talking all the
afternoon; and late after dinner took Mrs. Martha out by coach,
and carried her to the Theatre in a frolique, to my great expense,
and there shewed her part of the “Beggar’s Bush,” without much
pleasure, but only for a frolique, and so home again.
9th. This morning went out about my affairs, among others
to put my Theorbo out to be mended, and then at noon home
again, thinking to go with Sir Williams both to dinner by in-
vitation to Sir W. Rider’s, but at home I found Mrs. Pierce, la
belle, and Madam Clifford, with whom I was forced to stay, and
made them the most welcome I could; and I was (God knows)
very well pleased with their beautiful company, and after din-
ner took them to the Theatre, and shewed them “The Chances;”
and so saw them both at home and back to the Fleece tavern, in
Covent Garden, where Luellin and Blurton, and my old friend
Frank Bagge, was to meet me, and there staid till late very merry.
Frank Bagge tells me a story of Mrs. Pepys that lived with my
Lady Harvy, Mr. Montagu’s sister, a good woman; that she had
been very ill, and often asked for me; that she is in good condi-
tion, and that nobody could get her to make her will; but that she
did still enquire for me, and that now she is well she desires to
have a chamber at my house. Now I do not know whether this is
a trick of Bagge’s, or a good will of hers to do something for me;
but I will not trust her, but told him I should be glad to see her,
and that I would be sure to do all that I could to provide a place
for her. So by coach home late.
10th. At the office all the morning; dined at home, and after
dinner Sir W. Pen and my wife and I to the Theatre (she first going
into Covent Garden to speak a word with a woman to enquire of
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her mother, and I in the meantime with Sir W. Pen’s coach staying
at W. Joyce’s), where the King came to-day, and there was “The
Traytor” most admirably acted; and a most excellent play it is.
So home, and intended to be merry, it being my sixth wedding
night; but by a late bruise.... I am in so much pain that I eat my
supper and in pain to bed, yet my wife and I pretty merry.
11th: All day in bed with a cataplasm.... and at night rose a
little, and to bed again in more ease than last night. This noon
there came my brother and Dr. Tom and Snow to dinner, and by
themselves were merry.
12th. In bed the greatest part of this day also, and my swelling
in some measure gone. I received a letter this day from my father,
that Sir R. Bernard do a little fear that my uncle has not observed
exactly the custom of Brampton in his will about his lands there,
which puts me to a great trouble in mind, and at, night wrote to
him and to my father about it, being much troubled at it.
13th (Lord’s day). Did not stir out all day, but rose and dined
below, and this day left off half skirts and put on a wastecoate,
and my false taby wastecoate with gold lace; and in the evening
there came Sir W. Batten to see me, and sat and supped very
kindly with me, and so to prayers and to bed.
14th. This morning I ventured by water abroad to Westminster,
but lost my labour, for Mr. Montagu was not in town. So to the
Wardrobe, and there dined with my Lady, which is the first time
I have seen her dine abroad since her being brought to bed of my
Lady Katherine. In the afternoon Captain Ferrers and I walked
abroad to several places, among others to Mr. Pim’s, my Lord’s
Taylour’s, and there he went out with us to the Fountain tavern
and did give us store of wine, and it being the Duke of York’s
birthday, we drank the more to his health. But, Lord! what a sad
story he makes of his being abused by a Dr. of Physique who is
in one part of the tenement wherein he dwells. It would make
one laugh, though I see he is under a great trouble in it. Thence
home by link and found a good answer from my father that Sir
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R. Bernard do clear all things as to us and our title to Brampton,
which puts my heart in great ease and quiet.
15th. At the office all the morning, and in the afternoon to
Paul’s Churchyard to a blind place, where Mrs. Goldsborough
was to meet me (who dare not be known where she lives) to treat
about the difference which remains between my uncle and her.
But, Lord! to hear how she talks and how she rails against my
uncle would make one mad. But I seemed not to be troubled at
it, but would indeed gladly have an agreement with her. So I ap-
point Mr. Moore and she another against Friday next to look into
our papers and to see what can be done to conclude the matter.
So home in much pain by walking too much yesterday.... which
much troubles me.
16th. In bed till 12 o’clock. This morning came several maids
to my wife to be hired, and at last she pitched upon one Nell,
whose mother, an old woman, came along with her, but would
not be hired under half a year, which I am pleased at their droll-
ness. This day dined by appointment with me, Dr. Thos. Pepys
and my Coz: Snow, and my brother Tom, upon a fin of ling and
some sounds, neither of which did I ever know before, but most
excellent meat they are both, that in all my life I never eat the
like fish. So after dinner came in W. Joyce and eat and drank
and were merry. So up to my chamber, and put all my papers,
at rights, and in the evening our maid Mary. (who was with us
upon trial for a month) did take leave of us, going as we suppose
to be married, for the maid liked us and we her, but all she said
was that she had a mind to live in a tradesman’s house where
there was but one maid. So to supper and to bed.
17th. At the office all the morning, at noon my wife being gone
to my coz Snow’s with Dr. Thomas Pepys and my brother Tom
to a venison pasty (which proved a pasty of salted pork); by ap-
pointment I went with Captain David Lambert to the Exchequer,
and from thence by appointment he and I were to meet at a cook’s
shop to dine. But before I went to him Captain. Cock, a merchant
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I had not long known, took me to the Sun tavern and gave me a
glass of sack, and being a man of great observation and repute,
did tell me that he was confident that the Parliament, when it
comes the next month to sit again, would bring trouble with it,
and enquire how the King had disposed of offices and money,
before they will raise more; which, I fear, will bring all things to
ruin again. Thence to the Cook’s and there dined with Captain
Lambert and his father-in-law, and had much talk of Portugall;
from whence he is lately come, and he tells me it is a very poor
dirty place; I mean the City and Court of Lisbon; that the King is
a very rude and simple fellow; and, for reviling of somebody a
little while ago, and calling of him cuckold, was run into.... with
a sword and had been killed, had he not told them that he was
their king. That there are there no glass windows, nor will they
have any; which makes sport among our merchants there to talk
of an English factor that, being newly come thither, writ into Eng-
land that glass would be a good commodity to send thither, &c.
That the King has his meat sent up by a dozen of lazy guards and
in pipkins, sometimes, to his own table; and sometimes nothing
but fruits, and, now and then, half a hen. And now that the In-
fanta is become our Queen, she is come to have a whole hen or
goose to her table, which is not ordinary. So home and to look
over my papers that concern the difference between Mrs. Golds-
borough and us; which cost me much pains, but contented me
much after it was done. So at home all the evening and to supper
and to bed.
18th. To White Hall, to Mr. Montagu’s, where I met with Mr.
Pierce, the purser, to advise about the things to be sent to my
Lord for the Queen’s provision, and was cleared in it, and now
there is all haste made, for the fleet’s going. At noon to my Lord’s
to dinner, and in the afternoon, leaving my wife there, Mr. Moore
and I to Mrs. Goldsborough, who sent for a friend to meet with
us, and so we were talking about the difference between us till
10 at night. I find it very troublesome, and have brought it into
some hopes of an agreement, I offering to forgive her £10 that is
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yet due according to my uncle’s accounts to us. So we left her
friend to advise about it, and I hope to hear of her, for I would
not by any means go to law with a woman of so devilish a tongue
as she has. So to my Lady’s, where I left my wife to lie with
Mademoiselle all night, and I by link home and to bed. This night
lying alone, and the weather cold, and having this last 7 or 8 days
been troubled with a tumor... which is now abated by a poultice
of a good handful of bran with half a pint of vinegar and a pint of
water boiled till it be thick, and then a spoonful of honey put to it
and so spread in a cloth and laid to it, I first put on my waistcoat
to lie in all night this year, and do not intend to put it off again
till spring. I met with complaints at home that my wife left no
victuals for them all this day.
19th. At the office all the morning, and at noon Mr. Coventry,
who sat with us all the morning, and Sir G. Carteret, Sir W. Pen,
and myself,. by coach to Captain Marshe’s, at Limehouse, to a
house that hath been their ancestors for this 250 years, close by
the lime-house which gives the name to the place. Here they have
a design to get the King to hire a dock for the herring busses,
which is now the great design on foot, to lie up in. We had a very
good and handsome dinner, and excellent wine. I not being neat
in clothes, which I find a great fault in me, could not be so merry
as otherwise, and at all times I am and can be, when I am in good
habitt, which makes me remember my father Osborne’s’ rule for
a gentleman to spare in all things rather than in that. So by coach
home, and so to write letters by post, and so to bed.
20th (Lord’s day). At home in bed all the morning to ease
my late tumour, but up to dinner and much offended in mind
at a proud trick my man Will hath got, to keep his hat on in the
house, but I will not speak of it to him to-day; but I fear I shall
be troubled with his pride and laziness, though in other things
he is good enough. To church in the afternoon, where a sleepy
Presbyter preached, and then to Sir W. Batten who is to go to
Portsmouth to-morrow to wait upon the Duke of York, who goes
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to take possession and to set in order the garrison there. Supped
at home and to bed.
21st. Early with Mr. Moore by coach to Chelsy, to my Lord
Privy Seal’s, but have missed of coming time enough; and hav-
ing taken up Mr. Pargiter, the goldsmith (who is the man of the
world that I do most know and believe to be a cheating rogue),
we drank our morning draft there together of cake and ale, and
did make good sport of his losing so much by the King’s com-
ing in, he having bought much of Crown lands, of which, God
forgive me! I am very glad. At Whitehall, at the Privy Seal, did
with Sir W. Pen take advice about passing of things of his there
that concern his matters of Ireland. Thence to the Wardrobe and
dined, and so against my judgment and conscience (which God
forgive, for my very heart knows that I offend God in breaking
my vows herein) to the Opera, which is now newly begun to act
again, after some alteracion of their scene, which do make it very
much worse; but the play, “Love and Honour,” being the first
time of their acting it, is a very good plot, and well done. So
on foot home, and after a little business done in my study and
supper, to bed.
22nd. At the office all the morning, where we had a deputation
from the Duke in his absence, he being gone to Portsmouth, for
us to have the whole disposal and ordering of the Fleet. In the
afternoon about business up and down, and at night to visit Sir
R. Slingsby, who is fallen sick of this new disease, an ague and
fever. So home after visiting my aunt Wight and Mrs. Norbury
(who continues still a very pleasant lady), and to supper, and so
to bed.
23rd. To Whitehall, and there, to drink our morning, Sir W.
Pen and I to a friend’s lodging of his (Col. Pr. Swell), and at
noon he and I dined together alone at the Legg in King Street,
and so by coach to Chelsy to my Lord Privy Seal’s about business
of Sir William’s, in which we had a fair admittance to talk with
my Lord, and had his answer, and so back to the Opera, and
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there I saw again “Love and Honour,” and a very good play it is.
And thence home, calling by the way to see Sir Robert Slingsby,
who continues ill, and so home. This day all our office is invited
against Tuesday next, my Lord Mayor’s day, to dinner with him
at Guildhall. This evening Mr. Holliard came and sat with us,
and gave us both directions to observe.
24th. At the office all morning, at noon Luellin dined with me,
and then abroad to Fleet Street, leaving my wife at Tom’s while
I went out and did a little business. So home again, and went to
see Sir Robert [Slingsby], who continues ill, and this day has not
spoke at all, which makes them all afeard of him. So home.
25th. To Whitehall, and so to dinner at the Wardrobe, where
my wife met me, and there we met with a venison pasty, and my
Lady very merry and very handsome, methought. After dinner
my wife and I to the Opera, and there saw again “Love and Hon-
our,” a play so good that it has been acted but three times and I
have seen them all, and all in this week; which is too much, and
more than I will do again a good while. Coming out of the house
we met Mrs. Pierce and her comrade Mrs. Clifford, and I seem-
ing willing to stay with them to talk my wife grew angry, and
whether she be jealous or no I know, not, but she loves not that I
should speak of Mrs. Pierce. Home on foot very discontented, in
my way I calling at the Instrument maker, Hunt’s, and there saw
my lute, which is now almost done, it being to have a new neck
to it and to be made to double strings. So home and to bed. This
day I did give my man Will a sound lesson about his forbearing
to give us the respect due to a master and mistress.
26th. This morning Sir W. Pen and I should have gone out of
town with my Lady Batten, to have met Sir William coming back
from Portsmouth; at Kingston, but could not, by reason that my
Lord of Peterborough (who is to go Governor of Tangier) came
this morning, with Sir G. Carteret, to advise with us about com-
pleting of the affairs and preparacions for that place. So at the
office all the morning, and in the afternoon Sir W. Pen, my wife
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and I to the Theatre, and there saw “The Country Captain,” the
first time it hath been acted this twenty-five years, a play of my
Lord Newcastle’s, but so silly a play as in all my life I never saw,
and the first that ever I was weary of in my life. So home again,
and in the evening news was brought that Sir R. Slingsby, our
Comptroller (who hath this day been sick a week), is dead; which
put me into so great a trouble of mind, that all the night I could
not sleep, he being a man that loved me, and had many qualitys
that made me to love him above all the officers and commission-
ers in the Navy. Coming home we called at Dan Rawlinson’s;
and there drank good sack, and so home.
27th (Lord’s day). At church in the morning; where in the
pew both Sir Williams and I had much talk about the death of
Sir Robert, which troubles me much; and them in appearance,
though I do not believe it; because I know that he was a cheque
to their engrossing the whole trade of the Navy office. Home
to dinner, and in the afternoon to church again, my wife with
me, whose mourning is now grown so old that I am ashamed
to go to church with her. And after church to see my uncle and
aunt Wight, and there staid and talked and supped with them,
and were merry as we could be in their company. Among other
things going up into their chamber to see their two pictures,
which I am forced to commend against my judgment, and also
she showed us her cabinet, where she had very pretty medals
and good jewels. So home and to prayers and to bed.
28th. At the office all the morning, and dined at home, and
so to Paul’s Churchyard to Hunt’s, and there found my Theorbo
done, which pleases me very well, and costs me 26s. to the alter-
ing. But now he tells me it is as good a lute as any is in England,
and is worth well £10. Hither I sent for Captain Ferrers to me,
who comes with a friend of his, and they and I to the Theatre,
and there saw “Argalus and Parthenia,” where a woman acted
Parthenia, and came afterwards on the stage in men’s clothes,
and had the best legs that ever I saw, and I was very well pleased
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with it. Thence to the Ringo alehouse, and thither sent for a belt-
maker, and bought of him a handsome belt for second mourning,
which cost me 24s., and is very neat.
29th. This day I put on my half cloth black stockings and
my new coat of the fashion, which pleases me well, and with
my beaver I was (after office was done) ready to go to my Lord
Mayor’s feast, as we are all invited; but the Sir Williams were
both loth to go, because of the crowd, and so none of us went,
and I staid and dined with them, and so home, and in evening,
by consent, we met at the Dolphin, where other company came
to us, and should have been merry, but their wine was so naught,
and all other things out of order, that we were not so, but staid
long at night, and so home and to bed. My mind not pleased
with the spending of this day, because I had proposed a great
deal of pleasure to myself this day at Guildhall. This Lord Mayor,
it seems, brings up again the Custom of Lord Mayors going the
day of their installment to Paul’s, and walking round about the
Cross, and offering something at the altar.
30th. All the morning at the office. At noon played on my
Theorbo, and much pleased therewith; it is now altered with a
new neck. In the afternoon Captain Lambert called me out by
appointment, and we walked together to Deptford, and there
in his ship, the Norwich, I got him to shew me every hole and
corner of the ship, much to my information, and the purpose of
my going. So home again, and at Sir W. Batten’s heard how he
had been already at Sir R. Slingsby’s, as we were all invited, and
I intended this night to go, and there he finds all things out of
order, and no such thing done to-night, but pretending that the
corps stinks, they will bury it to-night privately, and so will unbe-
speak all their guests, and there shall be no funerall, which I am
sorry for, that there should be nothing done for the honour of Sir
Robert, but I fear he hath left his family in great distraction. Here
I staid till late at cards with my Lady and Mrs. Martha, and so
home. I sent for a bottle or two of wine thither. At my coming
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home I am sorry to find my wife displeased with her maid Doll,
whose fault is that she cannot keep her peace, but will always be
talking in an angry manner, though it be without any reason and
to no purpose, which I am sorry for and do see the inconvenience
that do attend the increase of a man’s fortune by being forced to
keep more servants, which brings trouble. Sir Henry Vane, Lam-
bert, and others, are lately sent suddenly away from the Tower,
prisoners to Scilly; but I do not think there is any plot as is said,
but only a pretence; as there was once pretended often against
the Cavaliers.
31st. This morning comes Prior of Brampton to me about the
house he has to buy of me, but I was forced to be at the office all
the morning, and so could not talk with him. And so, after the
office was done, and dined at home, I went to my brother Tom’s,
and there met him. He demanded some abatement, he having
agreed with my father for Barton’s house, at a price which I told
him I could not meddle with, but that as for anything to secure
his title to them I was ready, and so we parted. Thence to Sir
Robert Bernard, and as his client did ask his advice about my un-
cle Thomas’s case and ours as to Gravely, and in short he tells
me that there is little hopes of recovering it or saving his annuity,
which do trouble me much, but God’s will be done. Hence, with
my mind full of trouble, to my uncle Fenner’s, when at the ale-
house I found him drinking and very jolly and youthsome, and
as one that I believe will in a little time get a wife. So home.
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November 1st. I went this morning with Sir W. Pen by coach to
Westminster, and having done my business at Mr. Montagu’s, I
went back to him at Whitehall, and from thence with him to the 3
Tun Tavern, at Charing Cross, and there sent for up the maister of
the house’s dinner, and dined very well upon it, and afterwards
had him and his fayre sister (who is very great with Sir W. Batten
and Sir W. Pen in mirth) up to us, and looked over some medals
that they shewed us of theirs; and so went away to the Theatre,
to “The Joviall Crew,” and from hence home, and at my house
we were very merry till late, having sent for his son, Mr. William
Pen,247 lately come from Oxford. And after supper parted, and to
bed.
2d. At the office all the morning; where Sir John Minnes, our
new comptroller, was fetched by Sir Wm. Pen and myself from
Sir Wm. Batten’s, and led to his place in the office. The first time
that he had come hither, and he seems a good fair condition man,
and one that I am glad hath the office. After the office done, I to
the Wardrobe, and there dined, and in the afternoon had an hour
or two’s talk with my Lady with great pleasure. And so with the
two young ladies by coach to my house, and gave them some
247 The celebrated Quaker, and founder of Pennsylvania.
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entertainment, and so late at night sent them home with Captain
Ferrers by coach. This night my boy Wayneman, as I was in my
chamber, I overheard him let off some gunpowder; and hearing
my wife chide him below for it, and a noise made, I call him up,
and find that it was powder that he had put in his pocket, and
a match carelessly with it, thinking that it was out, and so the
match did give fire to the powder, and had burnt his side and
his hand that he put into his pocket to put out the fire. But upon
examination, and finding him in a lie about the time and place
that he bought it, I did extremely beat him, and though it did
trouble me to do it, yet I thought it necessary to do it. So to write
by the post, and to bed.
3rd (Lord’s day). This day I stirred not out, but took physique,
and it did work very well, and all the day as I was at leisure I did
read in Fuller’s Holy Warr, which I have of late bought, and did
try to make a song in the praise of a liberall genius (as I take my
own to be) to all studies and pleasures, but it not proving to my
mind I did reject it and so proceeded not in it. At night my wife
and I had a good supper by ourselves of a pullet hashed, which
pleased me much to see my condition come to allow ourselves a
dish like that, and so at night to bed.
4th. In the morning, being very rainy, by coach with Sir W. Pen
and my wife to Whitehall, and sent her to Mrs. Bunt’s, and he
and I to Mr. Coventry’s about business, and so sent for her again,
and all three home again, only I to the Mitre (Mr. Rawlinson’s),
where Mr. Pierce, the Purser, had got us a most brave chine of
beef, and a dish of marrowbones. Our company my uncle Wight,
Captain Lambert, one Captain Davies, and purser Barter, Mr.
Rawlinson, and ourselves; and very merry. After dinner I took
coach, and called my wife at my brother’s, where I left her, and
to the Opera, where we saw “The Bondman,” which of old we
both did so doat on, and do still; though to both our thinking not
so well acted here (having too great expectations), as formerly at
Salisbury-court. But for Betterton he is called by us both the best
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actor in the world. So home by coach, I lighting by the way at my
uncle Wight’s and staid there a little, and so home after my wife,
and to bed.
5th. At the office all the morning. At noon comes my brother
Tom and Mr. Armiger to dine with me, and did, and we were
very merry. After dinner, I having drunk a great deal of wine,
I went away, seeming to go about business with Sir W. Pen, to
my Lady Batten’s (Sir William being at Chatham), and there sat
a good while, and then went away (before I went I called at
home to see whether they were gone, and found them there, and
Armiger inviting my wife to go to a play, and like a fool would
be courting her, but he is an ass, and lays out money with Tom,
otherwise I should not think him worth half this respect I shew
him). To the Dolphin, where he and I and Captain Cocke sat late
and drank much, seeing the boys in the streets flying their crack-
ers, this day being kept all the day very strictly in the City. At last
broke up, and called at my Lady Batten’s again and would have
gone to cards, but Sir W. Pen was so fuddled that we could not
try him to play, and therefore we parted, and I home and to bed.
6th. Going forth this morning I met Mr. Davenport and a
friend of his, one Mr. Furbisher, to drink their morning draft
with me, and I did give it them in good wine, and anchovies,
and pickled oysters, and took them to the Sun in Fish Street, there
did give them a barrel of good ones, and a great deal of wine, and
sent for Mr. W. Bernard (Sir Robert’s son), a grocer thereabouts,
and were very merry, and cost me a good deal of money, and at
noon left them, and with my head full of wine, and being invited
by a note from Luellin, that came to my hands this morning in
bed, I went to Nick Osborne’s at the Victualling Office, and there
saw his wife, who he has lately married, a good sober woman,
and new come to their home. We had a good dish or two of
marrowbones and another of neats’ tongues to dinner, and that
being done I bade them adieu and hastened to Whitehall (calling
Mr. Moore by the way) to my Lord Privy Seal, who will at last
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force the clerks to bring in a table of their fees, which they have
so long denied, but I do not join with them, and so he is very
respectful to me. So he desires me to bring in one which I ob-
serve in making of fees, which I will speedily do. So back again,
and endeavoured to speak with Tom Trice (who I fear is hatching
some mischief), but could not, which vexed me, and so I went
home and sat late with pleasure at my lute, and so to bed.
7th. This morning came one Mr. Hill (sent by Mr. Hunt, the
Instrument maker), to teach me to play on the Theorbo, but I do
not like his play nor singing, and so I found a way to put him off.
So to the office. And then to dinner, and got Mr. Pett the Com-
missioner to dinner with me, he and I alone, my wife not being
well, and so after dinner parted. And I to Tom Trice, who in short
shewed me a writt he had ready for my father, and I promised to
answer it. So I went to Dr. Williams (who is now pretty well got
up after his sickness), and after that to Mr. Moore to advise, and
so returned home late on foot, with my mind cleared, though not
satisfied. I met with letters at home from my Lord from Lisbone,
which speak of his being well; and he tells me he had seen at
the court there the day before he wrote this letter, the Juego de
Toro.–[A bull fight. See May 24th, 1662.–B:]–So fitted myself for
bed. Coming home I called at my uncle Fenner’s, who tells that
Peg Kite now hath declared she will have the beggarly rogue the
weaver, and so we are resolved neither to meddle nor make with
her.
8th. This morning up early, and to my Lord Chancellor’s with
a letter to him from my Lord, and did speak with him; and he did
ask me whether I was son to Mr. Talbot Pepys or no (with whom
he was once acquainted in the Court of Requests), and spoke to
me with great respect. Thence to Westminster Hall (it being Term
time) and there met with Commissioner Pett, and so at noon he
and I by appointment to the Sun in New Fish Street, where Sir
J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and we all were to dine, at an invita-
tion of Captain Stoaks and Captain Clerk, and were very merry,
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and by discourse I found Sir J. Minnes a fine gentleman and a
very good scholler. After dinner to the Wardrobe, and thence to
Dr. Williams, who went with me (the first time that he has been
abroad a great while) to the Six Clerks Office to find me a clerk
there able to advise me in my business with Tom Trice, and after
I had heard them talk, and had given me some comfort, I went
to my brother Tom’s, and took him with me to my coz. Turner at
the Temple, and had his opinion that I should not pay more than
the principal £200, with which I was much pleased, and so home.
9th. At the office all the morning. At noon Mr. Davenport,
Phillips, and Mr. Wm. Bernard and Furbisher, came by appoint-
ment and dined with me, and we were very merry. After dinner
I to the Wardrobe, and there staid talking with my Lady all the
afternoon till late at night. Among other things my Lady did
mightily urge me to lay out money upon my wife, which I per-
ceived was a little more earnest than ordinary, and so I seemed
to be pleased with it, and do resolve to bestow a lace upon her,
and what with this and other talk, we were exceeding merry. So
home at night.
10th (Lord’s day). At our own church in the morning, where
Mr. Mills preached. Thence alone to the Wardrobe to dinner
with my Lady, where my Lady continues upon yesterday’s dis-
course still for me to lay out money upon my wife, which I think
it is best for me to do for her honour and my own. Last night
died Archibald, my Lady’s butler and Mrs. Sarah’s brother, of
a dropsy, which I am troubled at. In the afternoon went and
sat with Mr. Turner in his pew at St. Gregory’s, where I hear
our Queen Katherine, the first time by name as such, publickly
prayed for, and heard Dr. Buck upon “Woe unto thee, Corazin,”
&c., where he started a difficulty, which he left to another time to
answer, about why God should give means of grace to those peo-
ple which he knew would not receive them, and deny to others
which he himself confesses, if they had had them, would have
received them, and they would have been effectual too. I would
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I could hear him explain this, when he do come to it. Thence
home to my wife, and took her to my Aunt Wight’s, and there sat
a while with her (my uncle being at Katharine hill), and so home,
and I to Sir W. Batten’s, where Captain Cock was, and we sent for
two bottles of Canary to the Rose, which did do me a great deal
of hurt, and did trouble me all night, and, indeed, came home so
out of order that I was loth to say prayers to-night as I am used
ever to do on Sundays, which my wife took notice of and people
of the house, which I was sorry for.
11th. To the Wardrobe, and with Mr. Townsend and Moore to
the Saracen’s Head to a barrel of oysters, and so Mr. Moore and
I to Tom Trice’s, with whom I did first set my hand to answer to
a writt of his this tearm. Thence to the Wardrobe to dinner, and
there by appointment met my wife, who had by my direction
brought some laces for my Lady to choose one for her. And after
dinner I went away, and left my wife and ladies together, and
all their work was about this lace of hers. Captain Ferrers and
I went together, and he carried me the first time that ever I saw
any gaming house, to one, entering into Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields, at
the end of Bell Yard, where strange the folly of men to lay and
lose so much money, and very glad I was to see the manner of
a gamester’s life, which I see is very miserable, and poor, and
unmanly. And thence he took me to a dancing school in Fleet
Street, where we saw a company of pretty girls dance, but I do
not in myself like to have young girls exposed to so much vanity.
So to the Wardrobe, where I found my Lady had agreed upon
a lace for my wife of £6, which I seemed much glad of that it
was no more, though in my mind I think it too much, and I pray
God keep me so to order myself and my wife’s expenses that no
inconvenience in purse or honour follow this my prodigality. So
by coach home.
12th. At the office all the morning. Dined at home alone. So
abroad with Sir W. Pen. My wife and I to “Bartholomew Fayre,”
with puppets which I had seen once before, and Ate play without
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puppets often, but though I love the play as much as ever I did,
yet I do not like the puppets at all, but think it to be a lessening to
it. Thence to the Greyhound in Fleet Street, and there drank some
raspberry sack and eat some sasages, and so home very merry.
This day Holmes come to town; and we do expect hourly to hear
what usage he hath from the Duke and the King about this late
business of letting the Swedish Embassador go by him without
striking his flag.248 13th. By appointment, we all went this morn-
ing to wait upon the Duke of York, which we did in his chamber,
as he was dressing himself in his riding suit to go this day by
sea to the Downs. He is in mourning for his wife’s grandmother,
which is thought a great piece of fondness.249 After we had given
him our letter relating the bad condition of the Navy for want
248 And that, too, in the river Thames itself. The right of obliging ships of
all nations to lower topsails, and strike their flag to the English, whilst in
the British seas, and even on the French coasts, had, up to this time, been
rigidly enforced. When Sully was sent by Henry IV., in 1603, to congratu-
late James I. on his accession, and in a ship commanded by a vice-admiral
of France, he was fired upon by the English Admiral Mansel, for daring to
hoist the flag of France in the presence of that of England, although within
sight of Calais. The French flag was lowered, and all Sully’s remonstrances
could obtain no redress for the alleged injury. According to Rugge, Holmes
had insisted upon the Swede’s lowering his flag, and had even fired a shot
to enforce the observance of the usual tribute of respect, but the ambassador
sent his secretary and another gentleman on board the English frigate, to
assure the captain, upon the word and honour of an ambassador, that the
king, by a verbal order, had given him leave and a dispensation in that par-
ticular, and upon this false representation he was allowed to proceed on his
voyage without further question. This want of caution, and disobedience of
orders, fell heavily on Holmes, who was imprisoned for two months, and
not re-appointed to the same ship. Brahe afterwards made a proper submis-
sion for the fault he had committed, at his own court. His conduct reminds
us of Sir Henry Wotton’s definition of an ambassador–that he is an honest
man sent to lie abroad for the good of his country. A pun upon the term
lieger–ambassador.–B.
249 Fondness, foolishness. “Fondness it were for any, being free, To covet
fetters, tho’ they golden be.” Spenser, Sonnet 37,–M. B.
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of money, he referred it to his coming back and so parted, and
I to Whitehall and to see la belle Pierce, and so on foot to my
Lord Crew’s, where I found him come to his new house, which is
next to that he lived in last; here I was well received by my Lord
and Sir Thomas, with whom I had great talk: and he tells me in
good earnest that he do believe the Parliament (which comes to
sit again the next week), will be troublesome to the Court and
Clergy, which God forbid! But they see things carried so by my
Lord Chancellor and some others, that get money themselves,
that they will not endure it. From thence to the Theatre, and there
saw “Father’s own Son” again, and so it raining very hard I went
home by coach, with my mind very heavy for this my expense-
full life, which will undo me, I fear, after all my hopes, if I do not
take up, for now I am coming to lay out a great deal of money
in clothes for my wife, I must forbear other expenses. To bed,
and this night began to lie in the little green chamber, where the
maids lie, but we could not a great while get Nell to lie there, be-
cause I lie there and my wife, but at last, when she saw she must
lie there or sit up, she, with much ado, came to bed.
4th. At the office all the morning. At noon I went by appoint-
ment to the Sun in Fish Street to a dinner of young Mr. Bernard’s
for myself, Mr. Phillips, Davenport, Weaver, &c., where we had a
most excellent dinner, but a pie of such pleasant variety of good
things, as in all my life I never tasted. Hither came to me Cap-
tain Lambert to take his leave of me, he being this day to set sail
for the Straights. We drank his farewell and a health to all our
friends, and were very merry, and drank wine enough. Hence to
the Temple to Mr. Turner about drawing up my bill in Chancery
against T. Trice, and so to Salisbury Court, where Mrs. Turner is
come to town to-night, but very ill still of an ague, which I was
sorry to see. So to the Wardrobe and talked with my Lady, and
so home and to bed.
15th. At home all the morning, and at noon with my wife to
the Wardrobe to dinner, and there, did shew herself to my Lady
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in the handkercher that she bought the lace for the other day,
and indeed it is very handsome. Here I left my wife and went
to my Lord Privy Seal to Whitehall, and there did give him a
copy of the Fees of the office as I have received them, and he was
well pleased with it. So to the Opera, where I met my wife and
Captain Ferrers and Madamoiselle Le Blanc, and there did see
the second part of “The Siege of Rhodes” very well done; and
so by coach set her home, and the coach driving down the hill
through Thames Street, which I think never any coach did before
from that place to the bridge-foot, but going up Fish Street Hill
his horses were so tired, that they could not be got to go up the
hill, though all the street boys and men did beat and whip them.
At last I was fain to send my boy for a link, and so light out of
the coach till we got to another at the corner of Fenchurch Street,
and so home, and to bed.
16th. At the office all the morning. Dined at home, and so
about my business in the afternoon to the Temple, where I found
my Chancery bill drawn against T. Trice, which I read and like it,
and so home.
17th (Lord’s day). To our own church, and at noon, by invi-
tation, Sir W. Pen dined with me, and I took Mrs. Hester, my
Lady Batten’s kinswoman, to dinner from church with me, and
we were very merry. So to church again, and heard a simple fel-
low upon the praise of Church musique, and exclaiming against
men’s wearing their hats on in the church, but I slept part of the
sermon, till latter prayer and blessing and all was done without
waking which I never did in my life. So home, and by and by
comes my uncle Wight and my aunt and Mr. Norbury and his
lady, and we drank hard and were very merry till supper time,
and then we parted, my wife and I being invited to Sir W. Pen’s,
where we also were very merry, and so home to prayers and to
bed.
18th. By coach with Sir W. Pen; my wife and I toward Westmin-
ster, but seeing Mr. Moore in the street I light and he and I went to
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Mr. Battersby’s the minister, in my way I putting in at St. Paul’s,
where I saw the quiristers in their surplices going to prayers, and
a few idle poor people and boys to hear them, which is the first
time I have seen them, and am sorry to see things done so out of
order, and there I received £50 more, which make up £100 that I
now have borrowed of him, and so I did burn the old bond for
£50, and paying him the use of it did make a new bond for the
whole £100. Here I dined and had a good dinner, and his wife
a good pretty woman. There was a young Parson at the table
that had got himself drunk before dinner, which troubled me to
see. After dinner to Mr. Bowers at Westminster for my wife, and
brought her to the Theatre to see “Philaster,” which I never saw
before, but I found it far short of my expectations. So by coach
home.
19th. At the office all the morning, and coming home found
Mr. Hunt with my wife in the chamber alone, which God forgive
me did trouble my head, but remembering that it was washing
and that there was no place else with a fire for him to be in, it
being also cold weather, I was at ease again. He dined with us,
and after dinner took coach and carried him with us as far as my
cozen Scott’s, where we set him down and parted, and my wife
and I staid there at the christening of my cozens boy, where my
cozen Samuel Pepys, of Ireland, and I were godfathers, and I did
name the child Samuel. There was a company of pretty women
there in the chamber, but we staid not, but went with the minister
into another room and eat and drank, and at last, when most of
the women were gone, Sam and I went into my cozen Scott, who
was got off her bed, and so we staid and talked and were very
merry, my she-cozen, Stradwick, being godmother. And then
I left my wife to go home by coach, and I walked to the Tem-
ple about my law business, and there received a subpoena for
T. Trice. I carried it myself to him at the usual house at Doctors
Commons and did give it him, and so home and to bed. It cost
me 20s, between the midwife and the two nurses to-day.
513
NOVEMBER 1661
20th. To Westminster Hall by water in the morning, where I
saw the King going in his barge to the Parliament House; this be-
ing the first day of their meeting again. And the Bishops, I hear,
do take their places in the Lords House this day. I walked long
in the Hall, but hear nothing of news, but what Ned Pickering
tells me, which I am troubled at, that Sir J. Minnes should send
word to the King, that if he did not remove all my Lord Sand-
wich’s captains out of this fleet, he believed the King would not
be master of the fleet at its coming again: and so do endeavour to
bring disgrace upon my Lord. But I hope all that will not do, for
the King loves him. Hence by water to the Wardrobe, and dined
with my Lady, my Lady Wright being there too, whom I find to
be a witty but very conceited woman and proud. And after din-
ner Mr. Moore and I to the Temple, and there he read my bill and
likes it well enough, and so we came back again, he with me as
far as the lower end of Cheapside, and there I gave him a pint
of sack and parted, and I home, and went seriously to look over
my papers touching T. Trice, and I think I have found some that
will go near to do me more good in this difference of ours than
all I have before. So to bed with my mind cheery upon it, and lay
long reading “Hobbs his Liberty and Necessity,” and a little but
very shrewd piece, and so to sleep.
21st. In the morning again at looking over my last night’s pa-
pers, and by and by comes Mr. Moore, who finds that my pa-
pers may do me much good. He staid and dined with me, and
we had a good surloyne of rost beefe, the first that ever I had of
my own buying since I kept house; and after dinner he and I to
the Temple, and there showed Mr. Smallwood my papers, who
likes them well, and so I left them with him, and went with Mr.
Moore to Gray’s Inn to his chamber, and there he shewed me his
old Camden’s “Britannica”, which I intend to buy of him, and
so took it away with me, and left it at St. Paul’s Churchyard to
be bound, and so home and to the office all the afternoon; it be-
ing the first afternoon that we have sat, which we are now to do
always, so long as the Parliament sits, who this day have voted
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NOVEMBER 1661
the King L 120,000250 to be raised to pay his debts. And after the
office with Sir W. Batten to the Dolphin, and drank and left him
there, and I again to the Temple about my business, and so on
foot home again and to bed.
22nd. Within all the morning, and at noon with my wife, by ap-
pointment to dinner at the Dolphin, where Sir W. Batten, and his
lady and daughter Matt, and Captain Cocke and his lady, a Ger-
man lady, but a very great beauty, and we dined together, at the
spending of some wagers won and lost between him and I; and
there we had the best musique and very good songs, and were
very merry and danced, but I was most of all taken with Madam
Cocke and her little boy, which in mirth his father had given to
me. But after all our mirth comes a reckoning of £4, besides 40s.
to the musicians, which did trouble us, but it must be paid, and
so I took leave and left them there about eight at night. And on
foot went to the Temple, and then took my cozen Turner’s man
Roger, and went by his advice to Serjeant Fountaine and told him
our case, who gives me good comfort in it, and I gave him 30s.
fee. So home again and to bed. This day a good pretty maid was
sent my wife by Mary Bowyer, whom my wife has hired.
23rd. To Westminster with my wife (she to her father’s), and
about 10 o’clock back again home, and there I to the office a little,
and thence by coach with Commissioner Pett to Cheapside to one
Savill, a painter, who I intend shall do my picture and my wife’s.
Thence I to dinner at the Wardrobe, and so home to the office, and
there all the afternoon till night, and then both Sir Williams to my
house, and in comes Captain Cock, and they to cards. By and by
Sir W. Batten and Cock, after drinking a good deal of wine, went
away, and Sir W. Pen staid with my wife and I to supper, very
pleasant, and so good night. This day I have a chine of beef sent
home, which I bespoke to send, and did send it as a present to
my uncle Wight.
250 A mistake. According to the journals, £1,200,000. And see Diary, Febru-
ary 29th, 1663-64.–M. B.
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NOVEMBER 1661
24th (Lord’s day). Up early, and by appointment to St. Clement
Danes to church, and there to meet Captain Cocke, who had of-
ten commended Mr. Alsopp, their minister, to me, who is indeed
an able man, but as all things else did not come up to my expecta-
tions. His text was that all good and perfect gifts are from above.
Thence Cocke and I to the Sun tavern behind the Exchange, and
there met with others that are come from the same church, and
staid and drank and talked with them a little, and so broke up,
and I to the Wardrobe and there dined, and staid all the afternoon
with my Lady alone talking, and thence to see Madame Turner,
who, poor lady, continues very ill, and I begin to be afraid of her.
Thence homewards, and meeting Mr. Yong, the upholster, he
and I to the Mitre, and with Mr. Rawlinson sat and drank a quart
of sack, and so I to Sir W. Batten’s and there staid and supped,
and so home, where I found an invitation sent my wife and I to
my uncle Wight’s on Tuesday next to the chine of beef which I
presented them with yesterday. So to prayers and to bed.
25th. To Westminster Hall in the morning with Captain Lam-
bert, and there he did at the Dog give me and some other friends
of his, his foy, he being to set sail to-day towards the Streights.
Here we had oysters and good wine. Having this morning met
in the Hall with Mr. Sanchy, we appointed to meet at the play
this afternoon. At noon, at the rising of the House, I met with Sir
W. Pen and Major General Massy,251 who I find by discourse to
be a very ingenious man, and among other things a great mas-
ter in the secresys of powder and fireworks, and another knight
to dinner, at the Swan, in the Palace yard, and our meat brought
from the Legg; and after dinner Sir W. Pen and I to the Theatre,
251 Major-General Edward Massey (or Massie), son of John Massie, was
captain of one of the foot companies of the Irish Expedition, and had Oliver
Cromwell as his ensign (see Peacock’s “Army Lists in 1642,” p. 65). He
was Governor of Gloucester in its obstinate defence against the royal forces,
1643; dismissed by the self- denying ordinance when he entered Charles II’s
service. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester, September 3rd,
1651, but escaped abroad.
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NOVEMBER 1661
and there saw “The Country Captain,” a dull play, and that be-
ing done, I left him with his Torys252 and went to the Opera, and
saw the last act of “The Bondman,” and there found Mr. Sanchy
and Mrs. Mary Archer, sister to the fair Betty, whom I did ad-
mire at Cambridge, and thence took them to the Fleece in Covent
Garden, there to bid good night to Sir W. Pen who staid for me;
but Mr. Sanchy could not by any argument get his lady to trust
herself with him into the tavern, which he was much troubled at,
and so we returned immediately into the city by coach, and at the
Mitre in Cheapside there light and drank, and then yet her at her
uncle’s in the Old Jewry. And so he and I back again thither, and
drank till past 12 at night, till I had drank something too much.
He all the while telling me his intention to get a girl who is worth
£1000, and many times we had her sister Betty’s health, whose
memory I love. At last parted, and I well home, only had got
cold and was hoarse and so to bed.
27th. This morning our maid Dorothy and my wife parted,
which though she be a wench for her tongue not to be borne with,
yet I was loth to part with her, but I took my leave kindly of her
and went out to Savill’s, the painter, and there sat the first time
for my face with him; thence to dinner with my Lady; and so after
an hour or two’s talk in divinity with my Lady, Captain Ferrers
and Mr. Moore and I to the Theatre, and there saw “Hamlett”
very well done, and so I home, and found that my wife had been
with my aunt Wight and Ferrers to wait on my Lady to-day this
afternoon, and there danced and were very merry, and my Lady
very fond as she is always of my wife. So to bed.
28th. At home all the morning; at noon Will brought me from
Whitehall, whither I had sent him, some letters from my Lord
Sandwich, from Tangier; where he continues still, and hath done
252 This is a strange use of the word Tory, and an early one also. The word
originally meant bogtrotters or wild Irish, and as Penn was Governor of Kil-
dare these may have been some of his Irish followers. The term was not used
politically until about 1679.
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NOVEMBER 1661
some execution upon the Turks, and retaken an Englishman from
them, of one Mr. Parker’s, a merchant in Marke-lane. In the af-
ternoon Mr. Pett and I met at the office; there being none more
there than we two I saw there was not the reverence due to us ob-
served, and so I took occasion to break up and took Mr. Gawdon
along with me, and he and I (though it rained) were resolved to
go, he to my Lord Treasurer’s and I to the Chancellor’s with a let-
ter from my Lord to-day. So to a tavern at the end of Mark Lane,
and there we staid till with much ado we got a coach, and so
to my Lord Treasurer’s and lost our labours, then to the Chan-
cellor’s, and there met with Mr. Dugdale, and with him and
one Mr. Simons, I think that belongs to my Lord Hatton, and
Mr. Kipps and others, to the Fountain tavern, and there staid till
twelve at night drinking and singing, Mr. Simons and one Mr.
Agar singing very well. Then Mr. Gawdon being almost drunk
had the wit to be gone, and so I took leave too, and it being a fine
moonshine night he and I footed it all the way home, but though
he was drunk he went such a pace as I did admire how he was
able to go. When I came home I found our new maid Sarah–
[Sarah did not stay long with Mrs. Pepys, who was continually
falling out with her. She left to enter Sir William Penn’s service.]–
come, who is a tall and a very well favoured wench, and one that
I think will please us. So to bed.
29th. I lay long in bed, till Sir Williams both sent me word that
we were to wait upon the Duke of York to-day; and that they
would have me to meet them at Westminster Hall, at noon: so I
rose and went thither; and there I understand that they are gone
to Mr. Coventry’s lodgings, in the Old Palace Yard, to dinner
(the first time I knew he had any); and there I met them two and
Sir G. Carteret, and had a very fine dinner, and good welcome,
and discourse; and so, by water, after dinner to White Hall to
the Duke, who met us in his closet; and there he did discourse
to us the business of Holmes, and did desire of us to know what
hath been the common practice about making of forrayne ships
to strike sail to us, which they did all do as much as they could;
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NOVEMBER 1661
but I could say nothing to it, which I was sorry for. So indeed
I was forced to study a lie, and so after we were gone from the
Duke, I told Mr. Coventry that I had heard Mr. Selden often
say, that he could prove that in Henry the 7th’s time, he did give
commission to his captains to make the King of Denmark’s ships
to strike to him in the Baltique. From thence Sir W. Pen and I to
the Theatre, but it was so full that we could hardly get any room,
so he went up to one of the boxes, and I into the 18d. places, and
there saw “Love at first sight,” a play of Mr. Killigrew’s, and the
first time that it hath been acted since before the troubles, and
great expectation there was, but I found the play to be a poor
thing, and so I perceive every body else do. So home, calling at
Paul’s Churchyard for a “Mare Clausum,” having it in my mind
to write a little matter, what I can gather, about the business of
striking sayle, and present it to the Duke, which I now think will
be a good way to make myself known. So home and to bed.
30th. In the morning to the Temple, Mr. Philips and Dr.
Williams about my several law matters, and so to the Wardrobe
to dinner, and after dinner stole away, my Lady not dining out
of her chamber, and so home and then to the office all the af-
ternoon, and that being done Sir W. Batten and I and Captain
Cock got a bottle of sack into the office, and there we sat late
and drank and talked, and so home and to bed. I am this day in
very good health, only got a little cold. The Parliament has sat
a pretty while. The old condemned judges of the late King have
been brought before the Parliament, and like to be hanged. I am
deep in Chancery against Tom Trice, God give a good issue; and
myself under great trouble for my late great expending of money
vainly, which God stop for the future. This is the last day for the
old State’s coyne253 to pass in common payments, but they say it
253 In a speech of Lord Lucas in the House of Lords, the 22nd February,
1670-1 (which speech was burnt by the common hangman), he thus adverted
to that coin: “It is evident that there is scarcity of money; for all the parlia-
ment’s money called breeches (a fit stamp for the coin of the Rump) is wholly
519
NOVEMBER 1661
is to pass in publique payments to the King three months still.
vanished–the king’s proclamation and the Dutch have swept it all away, and
of his now majesty’s coin there appears but very little; so that in effect we
have none left for common use, but a little old lean coined money of the
late three former princes. And what supply is preparing for it, my lords?
I hear of none, unless it be of copper farthings, and this is the metal that
is to vindicate, according to the inscription on it, the dominion of the four
seas.”–Quoted in Penn’s “Memorials of Sir Wm. Penn,” ii. 264.
520
DECEMBER 1661
December 1st (Lord’s day). In the morning at church and heard
Mr. Mills. At home dined and with me by appointment Mr.
Sanchy, who should have brought his mistress, Mrs. Mary
Archer, of Cambridge, but she could not come, but we had a good
dinner for him. And so in the afternoon my wife went to church,
and he and I stayed at home and drank and talked, and he stayed
with me till night and supped with me, when I expected to have
seen Jack Cole and Lem. Wagstaffe, but they did not come. We
this day cut a brave collar of brawn from Winchcombe which
proves very good, and also opened the glass of girkins which
Captain Cocke did give my wife the other day, which are rare
things. So at night to bed. There hath lately been great clap-
ping up of some old statesmen, such as Ireton, Moyer, and oth-
ers, and they say, upon a great plot, but I believe no such thing;
but it is but justice that they should be served as they served the
poor Cavaliers; and I believe it will oftentimes be so as long as I
live, whether there be cause or no. This evening my brother Tom
was with me, and I did talk again to him about Mr. Townsend’s
daughter, and I do intend to put the business in hand. I pray God
give a good end to it.
2nd. To Savill the painter’s, but he not being well I could do
nothing there, and so I returned home, and in my way met Mr.
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DECEMBER 1661
Moore and took him with me home; where we staid and talked
all the morning, and he dined with me, and after dinner went
away to the Privy Seal, this being our first day this month. By
and by called on by Mr. Sanchy and his mistress, and with them
by coach to the Opera, to see “The Mad Lover,” but not much
pleased with the play. That done home all to my house, where
they staid and supped and were merry, and at last late bid good
night and so we to bed.
3rd. To the Paynter’s and sat and had more of my picture
done; but it do not please me, for I fear it will not be like me. At
noon from thence to the Wardrobe, where dinner not being ready
Mr. Moore and I to the Temple about my little business at Mr.
Turner’s, and so back again, and dinner being half done I went
in to my Lady, where my Lady Wright was at dinner with her,
and all our talk about the great happiness that my Lady Wright
says there is in being in the fashion and in variety of fashions, in
scorn of others that are not so, as citizens’ wives and country gen-
tlewomen, which though it did displease me enough, yet I said
nothing to it. Thence by water to the office through bridge, being
carried by him in oars that the other day rowed in a scull faster
than my oars to the Towre, and I did give him 6d. At the office all
the afternoon, and at night home to read in “Mare Clausum” till
bedtime, and so to bed, but had a very bad night by dreams of
my wife’s riding with me and her horse throwing her and break-
ing her leg, and then I dreamed that I.. [was] in such pain that
I waked with it, and had a great deal of pain there a very great
while till I fell asleep again, and such apprehension I had of it
that when I rose and trussed up myself thinking that it had been
no dream. Till in the daytime I found myself very well at ease,
and remembered that I did dream so, and that Mr. Creed was
with me, and that I did complain to him of it, and he said he had
the same pain in his left that I had in my right... which pleased
me much to remember.
4th. To Whitehall with both Sir Williams, thence by water,
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where I saw a man lie dead upon Westminster Stairs that had
been drowned yesterday. To the Temple, and thence to Mr.
Phillips and got my copy of Sturtlow lands. So back to the 3
Tuns at Charing Cross, and there met the two Sir Williams and
Col. Treswell and Mr. Falconer, and dined there at Sir W. Pen’s
cost, and after dinner by water to Cheapside to the painter’s, and
there found my wife, and having sat a little she and I by coach
to the Opera and Theatre, but coming too late to both, and my-
self being a little out of tune we returned, and I settled to read in
“Mare Clausum “till bedtime, and so to bed.
5th. This morning I went early to the Paynter’s and there sat
for my picture the fourth time, but it do not yet please me, which
do much trouble me. Thence to the Treasury Office, where I
found Sir W. Batten come before me, and there we sat to pay
off the St. George. By and by came Sir W. Pen, and he and I
staid while Sir W. Batten went home to dinner, and then he came
again, and Sir W. Pen and I went and dined at my house, and
had two mince pies sent thither by our order from the messen-
ger Slater, that had dressed some victuals for us, and so we were
very merry, and after dinner rode out in his coach, he to White-
hall, and my wife and I to the Opera, and saw “Hamlett” well
performed. Thence to the Temple and Mrs. Turner’s (who con-
tinues still very ill), and so home and to bed.
6th. Lay long in bed, and then to Westminster Hall and there
walked, and then with Mr. Spicer, Hawly, Washington, and little
Mr. Ashwell (my old friends at the Exchequer) to the Dog, and
gave them two or three quarts of wine, and so away to White
Hall, where, at Sir G. Carteret’s, Sir Williams both and I dined
very pleasantly; and after dinner, by appointment, came the Gov-
ernors of the East India Company, to sign and seal the contract
between us254 (in the King’s name) and them. And that done,
we all went to the King’s closet, and there spoke with the King
254 Charles II.‘s charter to the Company, confirming and extending the for-
mer charter, is dated April 3rd, 1661. Bombay, just acquired as part of Queen
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DECEMBER 1661
and the Duke of York, who promise to be very careful of the In-
dia trade to the utmost. So back to Sir G. Carteret’s and ended
our business, and so away homewards, but Sir W. Batten offer-
ing to go to the 3 Tuns at Charing Cross, where the pretty maid
the daughter of the house is; I was saying that, that tickled Sir W.
Pen, he seemed to take these words very captiously and angrily,
which I saw, and seemed indifferent to go home in his coach with
them, and so took leave to go to the Council Chamber to speak
with my Lord Privy Seal, which I did, but they did stay for me,
which I was pleased at, but no words passed between him and
me in all our way home. So home and to bed.
7th. This morning comes Captain Ferrers and the German,
Emanuel Luffe, who goes as one of my Lord’s footmen, though
he deserves a much better preferment, to take their leave of me,
and here I got the German to play upon my theorbo, which he
did both below and in my wife’s chamber, who was in bed. He
plays bravely. I find by him that my lute is a most excellent lute.
I did give them a mince pie and a collar of brawn and some wine
for their breakfast, and were very merry, and sent for Mr. Adam-
son’s neighbour to drink Mr. Shepley’s health. At last we all
parted, but within a quarter of an hour after they were gone, and
my wife and I were talking about buying of a fine scallop which
is brought her this morning by a woman to be sold, which is to
cost her 45s., in comes the German back again, all in a goare of
blood, which I wondered at, and tells me that he is afeard that the
Captain is killed by the watermen at Towre Stayres; so I presently
went thither, and found that upon some rude pressing of the wa-
termen to ply the Captain, he struck one of them with his cane,
which they would not take, but struck him again, and then the
German drew his sword and ran at one of them, but they were
both soundly beaten.255 The Captain is, however, got to the boy
Katherine’s dowry, was made over to the Company by Letters Patent dated
March 27th, 1669.
255 See a similar outrage, committed by Captain Ferrers, September 12th,
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DECEMBER 1661
that carries him and the pages to the Downs, and I went into
the alehouse at the Stayres and got them to deliver the Captain’s
feathers, which one from the Captain was come to demand, and
went home again, and there found my wife dressing of the Ger-
man’s head, and so did [give] him a cravett for his neck, and a
crown in his purse, and sent him away again. Then came Mr.
Moore, and he and I to Westminster and to Worcester House to
see Mr. Montagu before he goes away (this night), but could not
see him, nor do I think he has a mind to see us for fear of our
demanding of money of him for anything. So back to White-
hall, and eat a bit of meat at Wilkinson’s, and then to the Privy
Seal, and sealed there the first time this month; and, among other
things that passed, there was a patent for Roger Palmer (Madam
Palmer’s husband) to be Earl of Castlemaine and Baron of Lim-
bricke in Ireland; but the honour is tied up to the males got of the
body of this wife, the Lady Barbary: the reason whereof every
body knows. That done, by water to the office, when I found Sir
W. Pen had been alone all the night and was just rose, and so I to
him, and with him I found Captain Holmes, who had wrote his
case, and gives me a copy, as he hath many among his friends,
and presented the same to the King and Council. Which I shall
make use of in my attempt of writing something concerning the
business of striking sail, which I am now about. But he do cry
out against Sir John Minnes, as the veriest knave and rogue and
coward in the world, which I was glad to hear, because he has
given out bad words concerning my Lord, though I am sorry it
is so. Here Captain Cox then came in, and he and I staid a good
while and so good night. Home and wrote by the post to my
father, and so to bed.
8th (Lord’s day). In bed all the morning thinking to take
physique, but it being a frost my wife would not have me. So to
dinner at the Wardrobe, and after a great deal of good discourse
with my Lady after dinner, and among other things of the great
1662. Swords were usually worn by footmen. See May 4th, 1662, host.–B.
525
DECEMBER 1661
christening yesterday at Mr. Rumbell’s, and courtiers and pomp
that was there, which I wonder at, I went away up and down
into all the churches almost between that place and my house,
and so home. And then came my brother Tom, and staid and
talked with me, and I hope he will do very well and get money.
So to supper and to bed. This morning as I was in bed, one brings
me T. Trice’s answer to my bill in chancery from Mr. Smallwood,
which I am glad to see, though I am afraid it will do me hurt.
9th. To Whitehall, and thence to the Rhenish wine-house,
where I met Mons. Eschar and there took leave of him, he being
to go this night to the Downs towards Portugall, and so spent all
the morning. At noon to dinner to the Wardrobe; where my Lady
Wright was, who did talk much upon the worth and the desert
of gallantry; and that there was none fit to be courtiers, but such
as have been abroad and know fashions. Which I endeavoured
to oppose; and was troubled to hear her talk so, though she be
a very wise and discreet lady in other things. From thence Mr.
Moore and I to the Temple about my law business with my cozen
Turner, and there we read over T. Trice’s answer to my bill and
advised thereupon what to do in his absence, he being to go out
of town to-morrow. Thence he and I to Mr. Walpole, my attorney,
whom I never saw before, and we all to an alehouse hard by, and
there we talked of our business, and he put me into great hopes,
but he is but a young man, and so I do not depend so much upon
his encouragement. So by coach home, and to supper, and to
bed, having staid up till 12 at night writing letters to my Lord
Sandwich and all my friends with him at sea, to send to-morrow
by Mons. Eschar, who goes tomorrow post to the Downs to go
along with the fleet to Portugall.
10th. To Whitehall, and there finding Mons. Eschar to be gone,
I sent my letters by a porter to the posthouse in Southwark to be
sent by despatch to the Downs. So to dinner to my Lord Crew’s
by coach, and in my way had a stop of above an hour and a half,
which is a great trouble this Parliament time, but it cannot be
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DECEMBER 1661
helped. However I got thither before my Lord come from the
House, and so dined with him, and dinner done, home to the
office, and there sat late and so home.
11th. My brother Tom and then Mr. Moore came to me this
morning, and staid a while with me, and then I went out, and
in my way met with Mr. Howell the Turner, who invited me to
dine this day at Mr. Rawlinson’s with some friends of his, of-
ficers of the Towre, at a venison pasty, which I promised him,
and so I went to the Old Bayly, and there staid and drank with
him, who told me the whole story how Pegg Kite has married
herself to a weaver, an ugly fellow, to her undoing, of which I
am glad that I have nothing to do in it. From thence home and
put on my velvet coat, and so to the Mitre to dinner according to
my promise this morning, but going up into the room I found at
least 12 or more persons, and knew not the face of any of them,
so I went down again, and though I met Mr. Yong the uphol-
ster yet I would not be persuaded to stay, but went away and
walked to the Exchequer, and up and down, and was very hun-
gry, and from thence home, when I understand Mr. Howell was
come for me to go thither, but I am glad I was not at home, and
my wife was gone out by coach to Clerkenwell to see Mrs. Mar-
garet Pen, who is at school there. So I went to see Sir W. Pen,
who for this two or three days has not been well, and he and I
after some talk took a coach and went to Moorfields, and there
walked, though it was very cold, an hour or two, and went into
an alehouse, and there I drank some ale and eat some bread and
cheese, but he would not eat a bit, and so being very merry we
went home again. He to his lodgings and I by promise to Sir W.
Batten’s, where he and my lady have gone out of town, and so
Mrs. Martha was at home alone, and Mrs. Moore and there I
supped upon some good things left of yesterday’s dinner there,
where dined a great deal of company–Sir R. Browne and others–
and by and by comes in Captain Cox who promised to be here
with me, but he staid very late, and had been drinking some-
where and was very drunk, and so very capricious, which I was
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DECEMBER 1661
troubled to see in a man that I took for a very wise and wary man.
So I home and left him there, and so to bed.
12th. We lay long in bed, then up and made me ready, and
by and by come Will Bowyer and Mr. Gregory, my old Exche-
quer friend, to see me, and I took them to the Dolphin and there
did give them a good morning draft, and so parted, and invited
them and all my old Exchequer acquaintance to come and dine
with me there on Wednesday next. From thence to the Wardrobe
and dined with my Lady, where her brother, Mr. John Crew,
dined also, and a strange gentlewoman dined at the table as a
servant of my Lady’s; but I knew her not, and so I am afeard that
poor Madamoiselle was gone, but I since understand that she is
come as housekeeper to my Lady, and is a married woman. From
thence to Westminster to my Lord’s house to meet my Lord Privy
Seal, who appointed to seal there this afternoon, but by and by
word is brought that he is come to Whitehall, and so we are fain
to go thither to him, and there we staid to seal till it was so late
that though I got leave to go away before he had done, yet the
office was done before I could get thither, and so to Sir W. Pen’s,
and there sat and talked and drank with him, and so home.
13th. At home all the morning, being by the cold weather,
which for these two days has been frost, in some pain in my blad-
der. Dined at home and then with my wife to the Paynter’s, and
there she sat the first time to be drawn, while I all the while stood
looking on a pretty lady’s picture, whose face did please me ex-
tremely. At last, he having done, I found that the dead colour
of my wife is good, above what I expected, which pleased me
exceedingly. So home and to the office about some special busi-
ness, where Sir Williams both were, and from thence with them
to the Steelyard, where my Lady Batten and others came to us,
and there we drank and had musique and Captain Cox’s com-
pany, and he paid all, and so late back again home by coach, and
so to bed.
14th. All the morning at home lying in bed with my wife till 11
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DECEMBER 1661
o’clock. Such a habit we have got this winter of lying long abed.
Dined at home, and in the afternoon to the office. There sat late,
and so home and to bed.
15th (Lord’s day). To church in the morning, where our young
Reader begun the first day to read. Sir W. Pen dined with me and
we were merry. Again to church and so home, and all alone read
till bedtime, and so to prayers and to bed. I have been troubled
this day about a difference between my wife and her maid Nell,
who is a simple slut, and I am afeard we shall find her a cross-
grained wench. I am now full of study about writing something
about our making of strangers strike to us at sea; and so am al-
together reading Selden and Grotius, and such other authors to
that purpose.
16th. Up by five o’clock this morning by candlelight (which
I have not done for many a day), being called upon by one Mr.
Bollen by appointment, who has business to be done with my
Lord Privy Seal this morning, and so by coach, calling Mr. Moore
at the Wardrobe, to Chelsy, and there did get my Lord to seal it.
And so back again to Westminster Hall, and thence to my Lord
Sandwich’s lodging, where I met my wife (who had been to see
Mrs. Hunt who was brought to bed the other day of a boy), and
got a joint of meat thither from the Cook’s, and she and I and
Sarah dined together, and after dinner to the Opera, where there
was a new play (“Cutter of Coleman Street”),256 made in the year
1658, with reflections much upon the late times; and it being the
first time, the pay was doubled, and so to save money, my wife
and I went up into the gallery, and there sat and saw very well;
and a very good play it is. It seems of Cowly’s making. From
thence by coach home, and to bed.
17th. Up and to the Paynter’s to see how he went forward in
our picture. So back again to dinner at home, and then was sent
256 Cutter, an old word for a rough swaggerer: hence the title of Cowley’s
play. It was originally called “The Guardian,” when acted before Prince
Charles at Trinity College, Cambridge, on March 12th, 1641.
529
DECEMBER 1661
for to the Privy Seal, whither I was forced to go and stay so long
and late that I was much vexed. At last we got all done, and then
made haste to the office, where they were sat, and there we sat
late, and so home to supper and to Selden, “Mare Clausum,” and
so to bed.
18th. At the office upon business extraordinary all the morn-
ing, then to my Lady Sandwich’s to dinner, whither my wife,
who had been at the painter’s, came to me, and there dined, and
there I left her, and to the Temple my brother and I to see Mrs.
Turner, who begins to be better, and so back to my Lady’s, where
much made of, and so home to my study till bed-time, and so to
bed.
19th. This morning my wife dressed herself fine to go to the
christening of Mrs. Hunt’s child, and so she and I in the way
in the morning went to the Paynter s, and there she sat till noon,
and I all the while looking over great variety of good prints which
he had, and by and by comes my boy to tell us that Mrs. Hunt
has been at our house to tell us that the christening is not till
Saturday next. So after the Paynter had done I did like the picture
pretty well, and my wife and I went by coach home, but in the
way I took occasion to fall out with my wife very highly about
her ribbands being ill matched and of two colours, and to very
high words, so that, like a passionate fool, I did call her whore,
for which I was afterwards sorry. But I set her down at home,
and went myself by appointment to the Dolphin, where Sir W.
Warren did give us all a good dinner, and that being done, to the
office, and there sat late, and so home.
20th. Lay long in bed, and then up, and so to the Wardrobe to
dinner, and from thence out with Mr. Moore towards my house,
and in our way met with Mr. Swan (my old acquaintance), and
we to a tavern, where we had enough of his old simple religious
talk, and he is still a coxcomb in these things as he ever was, and
tells me he is setting out a book called “The unlawfull use of law-
full things;” but a very simple fellow he is, and so I leave him. So
530
DECEMBER 1661
we drank and at last parted, and Mr. Moore and I into Cornhill,
it being dark night, and in the street and on the Exchange dis-
coursed about Dominion of the Sea, wherein I am lately so much
concerned, and so I home and sat late up reading of Mr. Selden,
and so to bed.
21st. To White Hall to the Privy Seal, where my Lord Privy
Seal did tell us he could seal no more this month, for that he goes
thirty miles out of town to keep his Christmas. At which I was
glad, but only afeard lest any thing of the King’s should force us
to go after him to get a seal in the country. Thence to Westminster
Hall (having by the way drank with Mrs. Sarah and Mrs. Betty at
my Lord’s lodgings), and thence taken by some Exchequer men
to the Dogg, where, being St. Thomas’s day, by custom they have
a general meeting at dinner. There I was and all very merry, and
there I spoke to Mr. Falconberge to look whether he could out of
Domesday Book, give me any thing concerning the sea, and the
dominion thereof; which he says he will look after. Thence taking
leave to my brother’s, and there by appointment met with Prior
of Brampton who had money to pay me, but desiring some ad-
vice he stays till Monday. So by coach home to the office, where
I was vexed to see Sir Williams both seem to think so much that
I should be a little out of the way, saying that without their Reg-
ister they were not a Committee, which I took in some dudgeon,
and see clearly that I must keep myself at a little distance with
them and not crouch, or else I shall never keep myself up even
with them. So home and wrote letters by the post. This evening
my wife come home from christening Mrs. Hunt’s son, his name
John, and a merchant in Mark Lane came along with her, that was
her partner. So after my business was done, and read something
in Mr. Selden, I went to bed.
22nd. To church in the morning, where the Reader made a
boyish young sermon. Home to dinner, and there I took occasion,
from the blacknesse of the meat as it came out of the pot, to fall
out with my wife and my maid for their sluttery, and so left the
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DECEMBER 1661
table, and went up to read in Mr. Selden till church time, and then
my wife and I to church, and there in the pew, with the rest of the
company, was Captain Holmes, in his gold-laced suit, at which
I was troubled because of the old business which he attempted
upon my wife. So with my mind troubled I sat still, but by and
by I took occasion from the rain now holding up (it raining when
we came into the church) to put my wife in mind of going to
the christening (which she was invited to) of N. Osborne’s child,
which she did, and so went out of the pew, and my mind was
eased. So home after sermon and there came by appointment
Dr. T. Pepys, Will. Joyce, and my brother Tom, and supped with
me, and very merry they were, and I seemed to be, but I was not
pleased at all with their company. So they being gone we went
to bed.
23rd. Early up and by coach (before daylight) to the Wardrobe,
and took up Mr. Moore, and he and I to Chelsy to my Lord Privy
Seal, and there sealed some things, he being to go out of town
for all Christmas to-morrow. So back again to Westminster, and
from thence by water to the Treasury Office, where I found Sir
W. Pen paying off the Sophia and Griffen, and there I staid with
him till noon, and having sent for some collar of beef and a mince
pie, we eat and drank, and so I left him there and to my brother’s
by appointment to meet Prior, but he came not, so I went and
saw Mrs. Turner who continues weak, and by and by word was
brought me that Prior’s man was come to Tom’s, and so I went
and told out £128 which I am to receive of him, but Prior not com-
ing I went away and left the money by his desire with my brother
all night, and they to come to me to-morrow morning. So I took
coach, and lighting at my bookseller’s in Paul’s Churchyard, I
met with Mr. Crumlum and the second master of Paul’s School,
and thence I took them to the Starr, and there we sat and talked,
and I had great pleasure in their company, and very glad I was
of meeting him so accidentally, I having omitted too long to go to
see him. Here in discourse of books I did offer to give the school
what books he would choose of £5. So we parted, and I home,
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DECEMBER 1661
and to Mr. Selden, and then to bed.
24th. Home all the morning and dined at home, and in the
afternoon to the office. So home.
25th. In the morning to church, where at the door of our pew I
was fain to stay, because that the sexton had not opened the door.
A good sermon of Mr. Mills. Dined at home all alone, and taking
occasion from some fault in the meat to complain of my maid’s
sluttery, my wife and I fell out, and I up to my chamber in a
discontent. After dinner my wife comes up to me and all friends
again, and she and I to walk upon the leads, and there Sir W. Pen
called us, and we went to his house and supped with him, but
before supper Captain Cock came to us half drunk, and began to
talk, but Sir W. Pen knowing his humour and that there was no
end of his talking, drinks four great glasses of wine to him, one
after another, healths to the king, and by that means made him
drunk, and so he went away, and so we sat down to supper, and
were merry, and so after supper home and to bed.
26th. This morning Sir W. Pen and I to the Treasury office,
and there we paid off the Amity (Captain Stokes’s ship that was
at Guinny) and another ship, and so home, and after dinner Sir
William came to me, and he and his son and Aaugliter, and I and
my wife, by coach to Moorfields to walk; but it was most foul
weather, and so we went into an alehouse and there eat some
cakes and ale, and a washeallbowle [“The wenches with their
wassall bowls About the streets are singing.” –Wither’s Christ-
mas Carol. The old custom of carrying the wassail bowl from
door to door, with songs and merriment, in Christmas week, is
still observed in some of our rural districts.–B.@@woman and girl
came to us and sung to us. And after all was done I called my boy
(Wayneman) to us to eat some cake that was left, and the woman
of the house told us that he had called for two cakes and a pot of
ale for himself, at which I was angry, and am resolved to correct
him for it. So home, and Sir W. Pen and his son and daughter to
supper to me to a good turkey, and were merry at cards, and so
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DECEMBER 1661
to bed.
27th. In the morning to my Bookseller’s to bespeak a
Stephens’s Thesaurus, for which I offer £4, to give to Paul’s
School; and from thence to Paul’s Church; and there I heard Dr.
Gunning preach a good sermon upon the day (being St. John’s
day), and did hear him tell a story, which he did persuade us
to believe to be true, that St. John and the Virgin Mary did ap-
pear to Gregory, a Bishopp, at his prayer to be confirmed in the
faith, which I did wonder to hear from him. Here I met with
Mr. Crumlum (and told him of my endeavour to get Stephens’s
Thesaurus for the school), and so home, and after dinner comes
Mr. Faulconberge to see me, and at his desire I sent over for his
kinsman Mr. Knightly, the merchant, and so he came over and
sat and drank with us, and at his request I went over with him,
and there I sat till the evening, and till both Mr. Knightly and Mr.
Faulconberge (for whom I sent my boy to get a coach to carry
him to Westminster) were both drunk, and so home, but better
wine I never drank in all my life. So home, and finding my wife
gone to Sir W. Pen’s, I went thither, and there I sat and played at
cards and supped, and so home and to bed.
28th. At home all the morning; and in the afternoon all of us
at the office, upon a letter from the Duke for the making up of
a speedy estimate of all the debts of the Navy, which is put into
good forwardness. I home and Sir W. Pen to my house, who with
his children staid playing cards late, and so to bed.
29th (Lord’s day). Long in bed with my wife, and though I had
determined to go to dine with my wife at my Lady’s, (chiefly
to put off dining with Sir W. Pen to-day because Holmes dined
there), yet I could not get a coach time enough to go thither, and
so I dined at home, and my brother Tom with me, and then a
coach came and I carried my wife to Westminster, and she went
to see Mrs. Hunt, and I to the Abbey, and there meeting with
Mr. Hooper, he took me in among the quire, and there I sang
with them their service, and so that being done, I walked up and
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DECEMBER 1661
down till night for that Mr. Coventry was not come to Whitehall
since dinner again. At last I went thither and he was come, and
I spoke with him about some business of the office, and so took
leave of him, and sent for my wife and the coach, and so to the
Wardrobe and supped, and staid very long talking with my Lady,
who seems to doat every day more and more upon us. So home
and to prayers, and to bed.
30th. At the office about this estimate and so with my wife
and Sir W. Pen to see our pictures, which do not much displease
us, and so back again, and I staid at the Mitre, whither I had in-
vited all my old acquaintance of the Exchequer to a good chine
of beef, which with three barrels of oysters and three pullets, and
plenty of wine and mirth, was our dinner, and there was about
twelve of us, among others Mr. Bowyer, the old man, and Mr.
Faulconberge, Shadwell, Taylor, Spicer, Woodruffe (who by rea-
son of some friend that dined with him came to us after dinner),
Servington, &c., and here I made them a foolish promise to give
them one this day twelvemonth, and so for ever while I live, but
I do not intend it. Mere I staid as long as I could keep them, and
so home to Sir W. Pen, who with his children and my wife has
been at a play to-day and saw “D’Ambois,” which I never saw.
Here we staid late at supper and playing at cards, and so home
and
31st. My wife and I this morning to the Paynter’s, and there
she sat the last time, and I stood by and did tell him some lit-
tle things to do, that now her picture I think will please me very
well; and after her, her little black dogg sat in her lap; and was
drawn, which made us very merry; so home to dinner, and so
to the office; and there late finishing our estimate of the debts
of the Navy to this day; and it come to near £374,000. So home,
and after supper, and my barber had trimmed me, I sat down
to end my journell for this year, and my condition at this time,
by God’s blessing, is thus: my health (only upon catching cold,
which brings great pain in my back... as it used to be when I
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had the stone) is very good, and so my wife’s in all respects: my
servants, W. Hewer, Sarah, Nell, and Wayneman: my house at
the Navy Office. I suppose myself to be worth about £500 clear
in the world, and my goods of my house my own, and what is
coming to me from Brampton, when my father dies, which God
defer. But, by my uncle’s death, the whole care and trouble of all,
and settling of all lies upon me, which is very great, because of
law-suits, especially that with T. Trice, about the interest of £200,
which will, I hope, be ended soon. My chiefest thought is now to
get a good wife for Tom, there being one offered by the Joyces, a
cozen of theirs, worth £200 in ready money. I am also upon writ-
ing a little treatise to present to the Duke, about our privilege in
the seas, as to other nations striking their flags to us. But my
greatest trouble is, that I have for this last half year been a very
great spendthrift in all manner of respects, that I am afeard to
cast up my accounts, though I hope I am worth what I say above.
But I will cast them up very shortly. I have newly taken a solemn
oath about abstaining from plays and wine, which I am resolved
to keep according to the letter of the oath which I keep by me.
The fleet hath been ready to sail for Portugall, but hath lacked
wind this fortnight, and by that means my Lord is forced to keep
at sea all this winter, till he brings home the Queen, which is the
expectation of all now, and the greatest matter of publique talk.
A most tedious, unreasonable, and impertinent sermon A play
not very good, though commended much A great baboon, but so
much like a man in most things A little while since a very likely
man to live as any I knew A lady spit backward upon me by a
mistake After dinner my wife comes up to me and all friends
again Ambassador–that he is an honest man sent to lie abroad
And so by coach, though hard to get it, being rainy, home As all
things else did not come up to my expectations Begun to smell,
and so I caused it to be set forth (corpse) Being sure never to see
the like again in this world Believe that England and France were
once the same continent Bleeding behind by leeches will cure him
But she loves not that I should speak of Mrs. Pierce By chewing
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DECEMBER 1661
of tobacco is become very fat and sallow Cannot bring myself to
mind my business Chocolate was introduced into England about
the year 1652 Comely black woman.–[The old expression for a
brunette.] Coming to lay out a great deal of money in clothes for
my wife Cruel custom of throwing at cocks on Shrove Tuesday
Day I first begun to go forth in my coat and sword Did extremely
beat him, and though it did trouble me to do it Did trouble me
very much to be at charge to no purpose Difference there will
be between my father and mother about it Discontented that my
wife do not go neater now she has two maids Dominion of the
Sea Durst not take notice of her, her husband being there Eat of
the best cold meats that ever I eat on in all my life Exclaiming
against men’s wearing their hats on in the church Faced white
coat, made of one of my wife’s pettycoates Family being all in
mourning, doing him the greatest honour Fear I shall not be able
to wipe my hands of him again Fell to dancing, the first time
that ever I did in my life Finding my wife not sick, but yet out
of order Foolery to take too much notice of such things Found
my brother John at eight o’clock in bed, which vexed me Found
him not so ill as I thought that he had been ill Frogs and many
insects do often fall from the sky, ready formed From some fault
in the meat to complain of my maid’s sluttery Gamester’s life,
which I see is very miserable, and poor Get his lady to trust her-
self with him into the tavern God! what an age is this, and what
a world is this Good God! how these ignorant people did cry
her up for it! Good wine, and anchovies, and pickled oysters (for
breakfast) Greedy to see the will, but did not ask to see it till to-
morrow Have been so long absent that I am ashamed to go His
company ever wearys me I could not forbear to love her exceed-
ingly I took occasion to be angry with him I had the opportunity
of kissing Mrs. Rebecca very often I would fain have stolen a
pretty dog that followed me I broke wind and so came to some
ease I was as merry as I could counterfeit myself to be I went
in and kissed them, demanding it as a fee due In men’s clothes,
and had the best legs that ever I saw Inconvenience that do at-
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DECEMBER 1661
tend the increase of a man’s fortune Instructed by Shakespeare
himself Jealousy of him and an ugly wench that lived there lately
Justice of God in punishing men for the sins of their ancestors
King, Duke and Duchess, and Madame Palmer, were Lady Bat-
ten how she was such a man’s whore Lady Batten to give me a
spoonful of honey for my cold Lately too much given to seeing
of plays, and expense Lay with her to-night, which I have not
done these eight(days) Lewdness and beggary of the Court Like
a passionate fool, I did call her whore Look askew upon my wife,
because my wife do not buckle to them Made a lazy sermon, like
a Presbyterian Man cannot live without playing the knave and
dissimulation My head was not well with the wine that I drank
to-day My great expense at the Coronacion My wife and I fell
out None will sell us any thing without our personal security
given Oliver Cromwell as his ensign Quakers do still continue,
and rather grow than lessen Sat before Mrs. Palmer, the King’s
mistress, and filled my eyes Seemed much glad of that it was no
more She hath got her teeth new done by La Roche She would
not let him come to bed to her out of jealousy She is a very good
companion as long as she is well Sir W. Pen was so fuddled that
we could not try him to play So the children and I rose and dined
by ourselves So home and to bed, where my wife had not lain a
great while So much wine, that I was even almost foxed Sorry in
some respect, glad in my expectations in another respec Still in
discontent with my wife, to bed, and rose so this morn Strange
the folly of men to lay and lose so much money That I might not
seem to be afeared The Lords taxed themselves for the poor–an
earl, s. The unlawfull use of lawfull things The barber came to
trim me and wash me “The Alchymist,”–[Comedy by Ben Jon-
son The monkey loose, which did anger me, and so I did strike
her This week made a vow to myself to drink no wine this week
This day churched, her month of childbed being out Those ab-
sent from prayers were to pay a forfeit To be so much in love of
plays Took occasion to fall out with my wife very highly Took
physique, and it did work very well Tory–The term was not used
538
DECEMBER 1661
politically until about 1679 Troubled to see my father so much
decay of a suddain Vices of the Court, and how the pox is so com-
mon there Was kissing my wife, which I did not like We do natu-
rally all love the Spanish, and hate the French We are to go to law
never to revenge, but only to repayre We had a good surloyne
of rost beefe What they all, through profit or fear, did promise
What people will do tomorrow Who seems so inquisitive when
my house will be made an end of Who we found ill still, but he
do make very much of it Woman with a rod in her hand keeping
time to the musique Wronged by my over great expectations
539
JANUARY 1661-1662
January 1st. Waking this morning out of my sleep on a sudden,
I did with my elbow hit my wife a great blow over her face and
nose, which waked her with pain, at which I was sorry, and to
sleep again. Up and went forth with Sir W. Pen by coach towards
Westminster, and in my way seeing that the “Spanish Curate”
was acted today, I light and let him go alone, and I home again
and sent to young Mr. Pen and his sister to go anon with my wife
and I to the Theatre. That done, Mr. W. Pen came to me and he
and I walked out, and to the Stacioner’s, and looked over some
pictures and traps for my house, and so home again to dinner,
and by and by came the two young Pens, and after we had eat
a barrel of oysters we went by coach to the play, and there saw
it well acted, and a good play it is, only Diego the Sexton did
overdo his part too much. From thence home, and they sat with
us till late at night at cards very merry, but the jest was Mr. W.
Pen had left his sword in the coach, and so my boy and he run
out after the coach, and by very great chance did at the Exchange
meet with the coach and got his sword again. So to bed.
2nd. An invitation sent us before we were up from my Lady
Sandwich’s, to come and dine with her: so at the office all the
morning, and at noon thither to dinner, where there was a good
and great dinner, and the company, Mr. William Montagu and
540
JANUARY 1661-1662
his Lady (but she seemed so far from the beauty that I expected
her from my Lady’s talk to be, that it put me into an ill humour
all the day, to find my expectation so lost), Mr. Rurttball and
Townsend and their wives. After dinner, borne by water, and so
to the office till night, and then I went forth, by appointment, to
meet with Mr. Grant, who promised to meet me at the Coffee-
house to bring me acquainted with Cooper the great limner in
little, but they deceived me, and so I went home, and there sat at
my lute and singing till almost twelve at night, and so to bed. Sir
Richd. Fanshaw is come suddenly from Portugall, but nobody
knows what his business is.
3rd. Lay long in bed, and so up and abroad to several places
about petty businesses. Among others to Tom’s, who I find great
hopes of that he will do well, which I am glad of, and am not
now so hasty to get a wife for him as I was before. So to dinner
to my Lord Crew’s with him and his Lady, and after dinner to
Faithorne’s, and there bought some pictures of him; and while I
was there, comes by the King’s life-guard, he being gone to Lin-
coln’s Inn this afternoon to see the Revells there; there being, ac-
cording to an old custom, a prince and all his nobles, and other
matters of sport and charge. So home, and up to my chamber
to look over my papers and other things, my mind being much
troubled for these four or five days because of my present great
expense, and will be so till I cast up and see how my estate stands,
and that I am loth to do for fear I have spent too much, and delay
it the rather that I may pay for my pictures and my wife’s, and
the book that I am buying for Paul’s School before I do cast up
my accompts.
4th. At home most of the morning hanging up pictures, and
seeing how my pewter sconces that I have bought will become
my stayres and entry, and then with my wife by water to West-
minster, whither she to her father’s and I to Westminster Hall,
and there walked a turn or two with Mr. Chetwin (who had a
dog challenged of him by another man that said it was his, but
541
JANUARY 1661-1662
Mr. Chetwin called the dog, and the dog at last would follow
him, and not his old master, and so Chetwin got the dog) and W.
Symons, and thence to my wife, who met me at my Lord’s lodg-
ings, and she and I and old East to Wilkinson’s to dinner, where
we had some rost beef and a mutton pie, and a mince-pie, but
none of them pleased me. After dinner by coach my wife and I
home, and I to the office, and there till late, and then I and my
wife to Sir W. Pen’s to cards and supper, and were merry, and
much correspondence there has been between our two families
all this Christmas. So home and to bed.
5th (Lord’s day). Left my wife in bed not well... and I to
church, and so home to dinner, and dined alone upon some mar-
row bones, and had a fine piece of rost beef, but being alone I
eat none. So after dinner comes in my brother Tom, and he tells
me how he hath seen the father and mother of the girl which my
cozen Joyces would have him to have for a wife, and they are
much for it, but we are in a great quandary what to do therein,
£200 being but a little money; and I hope, if he continues as he
begins, he may look out for one with more. To church, and before
sermon there was a long psalm, and half another sung out while
the Sexton gathered what the church would give him for this last
year. I gave him 3s., and have the last week given the Clerk 2s.,
which I set down that I may know what to do the next year, if
it please the Lord that I live so long; but the jest was, the Clerk
begins the 25th psalm, which hath a proper tune to it, and then
the 116th, which cannot be sung with that tune, which seemed
very ridiculous. After church to Sir W. Batten’s, where on pur-
pose I have not been this fortnight, and I am resolved to keep
myself more reserved to avoyd the contempt which otherwise I
must fall into, and so home and six and talked and supped with
my wife, and so up to prayers and to bed, having wrote a letter
this night to Sir J. Mennes in the Downs for his opinion in the
business of striking of flags.
6th (Twelfth day). This morning I sent my lute to the Payn-
542
JANUARY 1661-1662
ter’s, and there I staid with him all the morning to see him paint
the neck of my lute in my picture, which I was not pleased with
after it was done. Thence to dinner to Sir W. Pen’s, it being a
solemn feast day with him, his wedding day, and we had, be-
sides a good chine of beef and other good cheer, eighteen mince
pies in a dish, the number of the years that he hath been mar-
ried, where Sir W. Batten and his Lady, and daughter was, and
Colonel Treswell and Major Holmes, who I perceive would fain
get to be free and friends with my wife, but I shall prevent it, and
she herself hath also a defyance against him. After dinner they
set in to drinking, so that I would stay no longer, but went away
home, and Captain Cock, who was quite drunk, comes after me,
and there sat awhile and so away, and anon I went again after the
company was gone, and sat and played at cards with Sir W. Pen
and his children, and so after supper home, and there I hear that
my man Gull was gone to bed, and upon enquiry I hear that he
did vomit before he went to bed, and complained his head ached,
and thereupon though he was asleep I sent for him out of his bed,
and he rose and came up to me, and I appeared very angry and
did tax him with being drunk, and he told me that he had been
with Mr. Southerne and Homewood at the Dolphin, and drank a
quart of sack, but that his head did ache before he went out. But
I do believe he has drunk too much, and so I did threaten him to
bid his uncle dispose of him some other way, and sent him down
to bed and do resolve to continue to be angry with him. So to bed
to my wife, and told her what had passed.
7th. Long in bed, and then rose and went along with Sir W. Pen
on foot to Stepny to Mrs. Chappell’s (who has the pretty boy to
her son), and there met my wife and Sir W. Pen’s children all, and
Mrs. Poole and her boy, and there dined and’ were very merry,
and home again by coach and so to the office. In the afternoon
and at night to Sir W. Pen’s, there supped and played at cards
with them and were merry, the children being to go all away to
school again to-morrow. Thence home and to bed.
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JANUARY 1661-1662
8th. I rose and went to Westminster Hall, and there walked up
and down upon several businesses, and among others I met with
Sir W. Pen, who told me that he had this morning heard Sir G.
Carteret extremely angry against my man Will that he is every
other day with the Commissioners of Parliament at Westminster,
and that his uncle was a rogue, and that he did tell his uncle
every thing that passes at the office, and Sir William, though he
loves the lad, did advise me to part with him, which did with
this surprise mightily trouble me, though I was already angry
with him, and so to the Wardrobe by water, and all the way did
examine Will about the business, but did not tell him upon what
score, but I find that the poor lad do suspect something. To din-
ner with my Lady, and after dinner talked long with her, and so
home, and to Sir W. Batten’s, and sat and talked with him, and
so home troubled in mind, and so up to my study and read the
two treaties before Mr. Selden’s “Mare Clausum,” and so to bed.
This night come about £100 from Brampton by carrier to me, in
holsters from my father, which made me laugh.
9th. At the office all the morning private with Sir G. Carteret
(who I expected something from about yesterday’s business, but
he said nothing), Sir W. Batten, and Sir W. Pen, about drawing;
up an answer to several demands of my Lord Treasurer, and late
at it till 2 o’clock. Then to dinner, and my wife to Sir W. Pen’s,
and so to the office again and sat till late; and so home, where
I found Mr. Armiger below talking with my wife, but being of-
fended with him for his leaving of my brother Tom I shewed him
no countenance, but did take notice of it to him plainly, and I per-
ceive he was troubled at it, but I am glad I told him of it. Then
(when he was gone) up to write several letters by the post, and
so to set my papers and things in order, and to bed. This morn-
ing we agreed upon some things to answer to the Duke about
the practice of striking of the flags, which will now put me upon
finishing my resolution of writing something upon the subject.
10th. To White Hall, and there spoke with Sir Paul Neale’ about
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JANUARY 1661-1662
a mathematical request of my Lord’s to him, which I did deliver
to him, and he promised to employ somebody to answer it, some-
thing about observation of the moon and stars, but what I did not
mind. Here I met with Mr. Moore, who tells me that an injuncon
is granted in Chancery against T. Trice, at which I was very glad,
being before in some trouble for it. With him to Westminster Hall,
where I walked till noon talking with one or other, and so to the
Wardrobe to dinner, where tired with Mr. Pickering’s company
I returned to Westminster, by appointment, to meet my wife at
Mrs. Hunt’s to gossip with her, which we did alone, and were
very merry, and did give her a cup and spoon for my wife’s god-
child, and so home by coach, and I late reading in my chamber
and then to bed, my wife being angry that I keep the house so
late up.
11th. My brother Tom came to me, and he and I to Mr. Turner
the Draper’s, and paid £15 to him for cloth owing to him by my
father for his mourning for my uncle, and so to his house, and
there invited all the Honiwood’s to dinner on Monday next. So to
the Exchange, and there all the news is of the French and Dutch
joyning against us; but I do not think it yet true. So home to
dinner, and in the afternoon to the office, and so to Sir W. Bat-
ten’s, where in discourse I heard the custom of the election of the
Dukes of Genoa, who for two years are every day attended in
the greatest state; and four or five hundred men always waiting
upon him as a king; and when the two years are out, and another
is chose, a messenger is, sent to him, who stands at the bottom of
the stairs, and he at the top, and says, “Va. Illustrissima Serenita
sta finita, et puede andar en casa.”–“Your serenity is now ended;
and now you may be going home,” and so claps on his hat. And
the old Duke (having by custom sent his goods home before),
walks away, it may be but with one man at his heels; and the
new one brought immediately in his room, in the greatest state
in the world. Another account was told us, how in the Dukedom
of Ragusa, in the Adriatique (a State that is little, but more an-
cient, they say, than Venice, and is called the mother of Venice,
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JANUARY 1661-1662
and the Turks lie round about it), that they change all the officers
of their guard, for fear of conspiracy, every twenty-four hours, so
that nobody knows who shall be captain of the guard to-night;
but two men come to a man, and lay hold of him as a prisoner,
and carry him to the place; and there he hath the keys of the garri-
son given him, and he presently issues his orders for that night’s
watch: and so always from night to night. Sir Win. Rider told the
first of his own knowledge; and both he and Sir W. Batten con-
firm the last. Hence home and to read, and so to bed, but very
late again.
12th (Lord’s day). To church, where a stranger made a very
good sermon. At noon Sir W. Pen and my good friend Dean
Fuller, by appointment, and my wife’s brother by chance, dined
with me very merry and handsomely. After dinner the Dean, my
wife and I by Sir W. Pen’s coach left us, he to Whitehall, and my
wife and I to visit Mrs. Pierce and thence Mrs. Turner, who con-
tinues very ill still, and The. is also fallen sick, which do trouble
me for the poor mother. So home and to read, I being troubled
to hear my wife rate though not without cause at her mayd Nell,
who is a lazy slut. So to prayers and to bed.
13th. All the morning at home, and Mr. Berkenshaw (whom I
have not seen a great while, came to see me), who staid with me
a great while talking of musique, and I am resolved to begin to
learn of him to compose, and to begin to-morrow, he giving of
me so great hopes that I shall soon do it. Before twelve o’clock
comes, by appointment, Mr. Peter and the Dean, and Collonel
Noniwood, brothers, to dine with me; but so soon that I was trou-
bled at it. But, however, I entertained them with talk and oysters
till one o’clock, and then we sat down to dinner, not staying for
my uncle and aunt Wight, at which I was troubled, but they came
by and by, and so we dined very merry, at least I seemed so,
but the dinner does not please me, and less the Dean and Col-
lonel, whom I found to be pitiful sorry gentlemen, though good-
natured, but Mr. Peter above them both, who after dinner did
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JANUARY 1661-1662
show us the experiment (which I had heard talk of) of the chymi-
call glasses, which break all to dust by breaking off a little small
end; which is a great mystery to me. They being gone, my aunt
Wight and my wife and I to cards, she teaching of us how to play
at gleeke, which is a pretty game; but I have not my head so free
as to be troubled with it. By and by comes my uncle Wight back,
and so to supper and talk, and then again to cards, when my wife
and I beat them two games and they us one, and so good night
and to bed.
14th. All the morning at home, Mr. Berkenshaw by ap-
pointment yesterday coming to me, and begun composition of
musique, and he being gone I to settle my papers and things in
my chamber, and so after dinner in the afternoon to the office,
and thence to my chamber about several businesses of the of-
fice and my own, and then to supper and to bed. This day my
brave vellum covers to keep pictures in, come in, which pleases
me very much.
15th. This morning Mr. Berkenshaw came again, and after he
had examined me and taught me something in my work, he and
I went to breakfast in my chamber upon a collar of brawn, and
after we had eaten, asked me whether we had not committed a
fault in eating to-day; telling me that it is a fast day ordered by
the Parliament, to pray for more seasonable weather; it having
hitherto been summer weather, that it is, both as to warmth and
every other thing, just as if it were the middle of May or June,
which do threaten a plague (as all men think) to follow, for so it
was almost the last winter; and the whole year after hath been a
very sickly time to this day. I did not stir out of my house all day,
but conned my musique, and at night after supper to bed.
16th. Towards Cheapside; and in Paul’s Churchyard saw the
funeral of my Lord Cornwallis, late Steward of the King’s House,
a bold profane talking man, go by, and thence I to the Paynter’s,
and there paid him £6 for the two pictures, and 36s. for the two
frames. From thence home, and Mr. Holliard and my brother
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JANUARY 1661-1662
Tom dined with me, and he did give me good advice about my
health. In the afternoon at the office, and at night to Sir W. Batten,
and there saw him and Captain Cock and Stokes play at cards,
and afterwards supped with them. Stokes told us, that notwith-
standing the country of Gambo is so unhealthy, yet the people
of the place live very long, so as the present king there is 150
years old, which they count by rains: because every year it rains
continually four months together. He also told us, that the kings
there have above 100 wives a-piece, and offered him the choice
of any of his wives to lie with, and so he did Captain Holmes. So
home and to bed.
17th. To Westminster with Mr. Moore, and there, after several
walks up and down to hear news, I met with Lany, the French-
man, who told me that he had a letter from France last night, that
tells him that my Lord Hinchingbroke is dead,–[proved false]–
and that he did die yesterday was se’nnight, which do surprise
me exceedingly (though we know that he hath been sick these
two months), so I hardly ever was in my life; but being fearfull
that my Lady should come to hear it too suddenly, he and I went
up to my Lord Crew’s, and there I dined with him, and after
dinner we told him, and the whole family is much disturbed by
it: so we consulted what to do to tell my Lady of it; and at last
we thought of my going first to Mr. George Montagu’s to hear
whether he had any news of it, which I did, and there found all
his house in great heaviness for the death of his son, Mr. George
Montagu, who did go with our young gentlemen into France,
and that they hear nothing at all of our young Lord; so believing
that thence comes the mistake, I returned to my Lord Crew (in
my way in the Piazza seeing a house on fire, and all the streets
full of people to quench it), and told them of it, which they are
much glad of, and conclude, and so I hope, that my Lord is well;
and so I went to my Lady Sandwich, and told her all, and after
much talk I parted thence with my wife, who had been there all
the day, and so home to my musique, and then to bed.
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JANUARY 1661-1662
18th. This morning I went to Dr. Williams, and there he told
me how T. Trice had spoke to him about getting me to meet that
our difference might be made up between us by ourselves, which
I am glad of, and have appointed Monday next to be the day.
Thence to the Wardrobe, and there hearing it would be late be-
fore they went to dinner, I went and spent some time in Paul’s
Churchyard among some books, and then returned thither, and
there dined with my Lady and Sir H. Wright and his lady, all glad
of yesterday’s mistake, and after dinner to the office, and then
home and wrote letters by the post to my father, and by and by
comes Mr. Moore to give me an account how Mr. Montagu was
gone away of a sudden with the fleet, in such haste that he hath
left behind some servants, and many things of consequence; and
among others, my Lord’s commission for Embassador. Where-
upon he and I took coach, and to White Hall to my Lord’s lodg-
ings, to have spoke with Mr. Ralph Montagu, his brother (and
here we staid talking with Sarah and the old man); but by and
by hearing that he was in Covent Garden, we went thither: and
at my Lady Harvy’s, his sister, I spoke with him, and he tells me
that the commission is not left behind. And so I went thence by
the same coach (setting down Mr. Moore) home, and after hav-
ing wrote a letter to my Lord at 12 o’clock at night by post I went
to bed.
19th (Lord’s day). To church in the morning, where Mr. Mills
preached upon Christ’s being offered up for our sins, and there
proving the equity with what justice God would lay our sins
upon his Son, he did make such a sermon (among other things
pleading, from God’s universal sovereignty over all his creatures,
the power he has of commanding what he would of his Son by
the same rule as that he might have made us all, and the whole
world from the beginning to have been in hell, arguing from the
power the potter has over his clay), that I could have wished he
had let it alone; and speaking again, the Father is now so satisfied
by our security for our debt, that we might say at the last day as
many of us as have interest in Christ’s death: Lord, we owe thee
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JANUARY 1661-1662
nothing, our debt is paid. We are not beholden to, thee for any-
thing, for thy debt is paid to thee to the full; which methinks were
very bold words. Home to dinner, and then my wife and I on foot
to see Mrs. Turner, who continues still sick, and thence into the
Old Bayly by appointment to speak with Mrs. Norbury who lies
at (it falls out) next door to my uncle Fenner’s; but as God would
have it, we having no desire to be seen by his people, he having
lately married a midwife that is old and ugly, and that hath al-
ready brought home to him a daughter and three children, we
were let in at a back door. And here she offered me the refusall of
some lands of her’s at Brampton, if I have a mind to buy, which
I answered her I was not at present provided to do. She took oc-
casion to talk of her sister Wight’s making much of the Wights,
who for namesake only my uncle do shew great kindness to, so
I fear may do us that are nearer to him a great deal of wrong, if
he should die without children, which I am sorry for. Thence to
my uncle Wight’s, and there we supped and were merry, though
my uncle hath lately lost 200 or 300 at sea, and I am troubled to
hear that the Turks do take more and more of our ships in the
Straights, and that our merchants here in London do daily break,
and are still likely to do so. So home, and I put in at Sir W. Bat-
ten’s, where Major Holmes was, and in our discourse and drink-
ing I did give Sir J. Mennes’ health, which he swore he would not
pledge, and called him knave and coward (upon the business of
Holmes with the Swedish ship lately), which we all and I partic-
ularly did desire him to forbear, he being of our fraternity, which
he took in great dudgeon, and I was vexed to hear him persist in
calling him so, though I believe it to be true, but however he is
to blame and I am troubled at it. So home and to prayers, and to
bed.
20th. This morning Sir Win. Batten and Pen and I did begin
the examining the Treasurer’s accounts, the first time ever he had
passed in the office, which is very long, and we were all at it till
noon, and then to dinner, he providing a fine dinner for us, and
we eat it at Sir W. Batten’s, where we were very merry, there be-
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ing at table the Treasurer and we three, Mr. Wayth, Ferrer, Smith,
Turner, and Mr. Morrice, the wine cooper, who this day did di-
vide the two butts, which we four did send for, of sherry from
Cales, and mine was put into a hogshead, and the vessel filled
up with four gallons of Malaga wine, but what it will stand us
in I know not: but it is the first great quantity of wine that I ever
bought. And after dinner to the office all the afternoon till late at
night, and then home, where my aunt and uncle Wight and Mrs.
Anne Wight came to play at cards (at gleek which she taught me
and my wife last week) and so to supper, and then to cards and
so good night. Then I to my practice of musique and then at 12
o’clock to bed. This day the workmen began to make me a sellar
door out of the back yard, which will much please me.
21st. To the finishing of the Treasurer’s accounts this morning,
and then to dinner again, and were merry as yesterday, and so
home, and then to the office till night, and then home to write
letters, and to practise my composition of musique, and then to
bed. We have heard nothing yet how far the fleet hath got toward
Portugall, but the wind being changed again, we fear they are
stopped, and may be beat back again to the coast of Ireland.
22d. After musique-practice, to White Hall, and thence to
Westminster, in my way calling at Mr. George Montagu’s, to con-
dole him the loss of his son, who was a fine gentleman, and it is
no doubt a great discomfort to our two young gentlemen, his
companions in France. After this discourse he told me, among
other news, the great jealousys that are now in the Parliament
House. The Lord Chancellor, it seems, taking occasion from this
late plot to raise fears in the people, did project the raising of an
army forthwith, besides the constant militia, thinking to make
the Duke of York General thereof. But the House did, in very
open terms, say, they were grown too wise to be fooled again
into another army; and said they had found how that man that
hath the command of an army is not beholden to any body to
make him King. There are factions (private ones at Court) about
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Madam Palmer; but what it is about I know not. But it is some-
thing about the King’s favour to her now that the Queen is com-
ing. He told me, too, what sport the King and Court do make
at Mr. Edward Montagu’s leaving his things behind him. But
the Chancellor (taking it a little more seriously) did openly say
to my Lord Chamberlain, that had it been such a gallant as my
Lord Mandeville his son, it might have; been taken as a frolique;
but for him that would be thought a grave coxcomb, it was very
strange. Thence to the Hall, where I heard the House had ordered
all the King’s murderers, that remain, to be executed, but Fleet-
wood and Downes. So to the Wardrobe and there dined, meeting
my wife there, who went after dinner with my Lady to see Mr.
George Montagu’s lady, and I to have a meeting by appointment
with Tho. Trice and Dr. Williams in order to a treating about the
difference between us, but I find there is no hopes of ending it
but by law, and so after a pint or two of wine we parted. So to
the Wardrobe for my wife again, and so home, and after writing
and doing some things to bed.
23rd. All the morning with Mr. Berkenshaw, and after him Mr.
Moore in discourse of business, and in the afternoon by coach
by invitacon to my uncle Fenner’s, where I found his new wife,
a pitiful, old, ugly, illbred woman in a hatt, a midwife. Here
were many of his, and as many of her relations, sorry, mean peo-
ple; and after choosing our gloves, we all went over to the Three
Crane Tavern,’ and though the best room in the house, in such
a narrow dogg-hole we were crammed, and I believe we were
near forty, that it made me loathe my company and victuals; and
a sorry poor dinner it was too. After dinner, I took aside the two
Joyce’s, and took occasion to thank them for their kind thoughts
for a wife for Tom: but that considering the possibility there is of
my having no child, and what then I shall be able to leave him, I
do think he may expect in that respect a wife with more money,
and so desired them to think no more of it. Now the jest was
Anthony mistakes and thinks that I did all this while encourage
him (from my thoughts of favour to Tom) to pursue the match till
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Will Joyce tells him that he was mistaken. But how he takes it I
know not, but I endeavoured to tell it him in the most respectful
way that I could. This done with my wife by coach to my aunt
Wight’s, where I left her, and I to the office, and that being done
to her again, and sat playing at cards after supper till 12 at night,
and so by moonshine home and to bed.
24th. This morning came my cozen Thos. Pepys the Execu-
tor, to speak with me, and I had much talk with him both about
matters of money which my Lord Sandwich has of his and I am
bond for, as also of my uncle Thomas, who I hear by him do
stand upon very high terms. Thence to my painter’s, and there I
saw our pictures in the frames, which please me well. Thence to
the Wardrobe, where very merry with my Lady, and after dinner
I seat for the pictures thither, and mine is well liked; but she is
much offended with my wife’s, and I am of her opinion, that it
do much wrong her; but I will have it altered. So home, in my
way calling at Pope’s Head alley, and there bought me a pair of
scissars and a brass square. So home and to my study and to bed.
25th. At home and the office all the morning. Walking in the
garden to give the gardener directions what to do this year (for I
intend to have the garden handsome), Sir W. Pen came to me, and
did break a business to me about removing his son from Oxford
to Cambridge to some private college. I proposed Magdalene,
but cannot name a tutor at present; but I shall think and write
about it. Thence with him to the Trinity-house to dinner; where
Sir Richard Brown (one of the clerks of the Council, and who is
much concerned against Sir N. Crisp’s project of making a great
sasse257 in the King’s lands about Deptford, to be a wett-dock to
hold 200 sail of ships. But the ground, it seems, was long since
given by the King to Sir Richard) was, and after the Trinity-house
men had done their business, the master, Sir William Rider, came
257 A kind of weir with flood-gate, or a navigable sluice. This project is
mentioned by Evelyn, January 16th, 1661-62, and Lysons’ “Environs” vol.
iv., p. 392.–B.
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to bid us welcome; and so to dinner, where good cheer and dis-
course, but I eat a little too much beef, which made me sick, and
so after dinner we went to the office, and there in a garden I went
in the dark and vomited, whereby I did much ease my stomach.
Thence to supper with my wife to Sir W. Pen’s, his daughter be-
ing come home to-day, not being very well, and so while we were
at supper comes Mr. Moore with letters from my Lord Sandwich,
speaking of his lying still at Tangier, looking for the fleet; which,
we hope, is now in a good way thither. So home to write let-
ters by the post to-night, and then again to Sir W. Pen’s to cards,
where very merry, and so home and to bed.
26th (Lord’s day). To church in the morning, and then home to
dinner alone with my wife, and so both to church in the afternoon
and home again, and so to read and talk with my wife, and to
supper and to bed. It having been a very fine clear frosty day-
God send us more of them!–for the warm weather all this winter
makes us fear a sick summer. But thanks be to God, since my
leaving drinking of wine, I do find myself much better and do
mind my business better, and do spend less money, and less time
lost in idle company.
27th. This morning, both Sir Williams and I by barge to
Deptford-yard to give orders in businesses there; and called on
several ships, also to give orders, and so to Woolwich, and there
dined at Mr. Falconer’s of victuals we carried ourselves, and one
Mr. Dekins, the father of my Morena, of whom we have lately
bought some hemp. That being done we went home again. This
morning, going to take water upon Tower-hill, we met with three
sleddes standing there to carry my Lord Monson and Sir H. Mild-
may and another, to the gallows and back again, with ropes about
their necks; which is to be repeated every year, this being the day
of their sentencing the King.
28th. This morning (after my musique practice with Mr.
Berkenshaw) with my wife to the Paynter’s, where we staid very
late to have her picture mended, which at last is come to be very
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like her, and I think well done; but the Paynter, though a very
honest man, I found to be very silly as to matter of skill in shad-
ows, for we were long in discourse, till I was almost angry to hear
him talk so simply. So home to dinner and then to the office, and
so home for all night.
29th. To Westminster, and at the Parliament door spoke with
Mr. Coventry about business, and so to the Wardrobe to dinner,
and thence to several places, and so home, where I found Mrs.
Pen and Mrs. Rooth and Smith, who played at cards with my
wife, and I did give them a barrel of oysters, and had a pullet
to supper for them, and when it was ready to come to table, the
foolish girl had not the manners to stay and sup with me, but
went away, which did vex me cruelly. So I saw her home, and
then to supper, and so to musique practice, and to bed.
30th. Fast-day for the murthering of the late King. I went to
church, and Mr. Mills made a good sermon upon David’s words,
“Who can lay his hands upon the Lord’s Anoynted and be guilt-
less?” So home and to dinner, and employed all the afternoon in
my chamber, setting things and papers to rights, which pleased
me very well, and I think I shall begin to take pleasure in being
at home and minding my business. I pray God I may, for I find a
great need thereof. At night to supper and to bed.
31st. All the morning, after musique practice, in my cellar,
ordering some alteracons therein, being much pleased with my
new door into the back yard. So to dinner, and all the afternoon
thinking upon business. I did by night set many things in order,
which pleased me well, and puts me upon a resolution of keep-
ing within doors and minding my business and the business of
the office, which I pray God I may put in practice. At night to
bed.
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February 1st. This morning within till 11 o’clock, and then with
Commissioner Pett to the office; and he staid there writing, while
I and Sir W. Pen walked in the garden talking about his business
of putting his son to Cambridge; and to that end I intend to write
to-night to Dr. Fairebrother, to give me an account of Mr. Burton
of Magdalene. Thence with Mr. Pett to the Paynter’s; and he
likes our pictures very well, and so do I. Thence he and I to the
Countess of Sandwich, to lead him to her to kiss her hands: and
dined with her, and told her the news (which Sir W. Pen told me
to-day) that express is come from my Lord with letters, that by a
great storm and tempest the mole of Argier is broken down, and
many of their ships sunk into the mole. So that God Almighty
hath now ended that unlucky business for us; which is very good
news. After dinner to the office, where we staid late, and so I
home, and late writing letters to my father and Dr. Fairebrother,
and an angry letter to my brother John for not writing to me, and
so to bed.
2nd (Lord’s day). To church in the morning, and then home
and dined with my wife, and so both of us to church again, where
we had an Oxford man give us a most impertinent sermon upon
“Cast your bread upon the waters, &c. So home to read, supper,
and to prayers, and then to bed.
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3rd. After musique practice I went to the office, and there
with the two Sir Williams all the morning about business, and at
noon I dined with Sir W. Batten with many friends more, it being
his wedding-day, and among other froliques, it being their third
year, they had three pyes, whereof the middlemost was made of
an ovall form, in an ovall hole within the other two, which made
much mirth, and was called the middle piece; and above all the
rest, we had great striving to steal a spooneful out of it; and I re-
member Mrs. Mills, the minister’s wife, did steal one for me and
did give it me; and to end all, Mrs. Shippman did fill the pye full
of white wine, it holding at least a pint and a half, and did drink
it off for a health to Sir William and my Lady, it being the greatest
draft that ever I did see a woman drink in my life. Before we had
dined came Sir G. Carteret, and we went all three to the office
and did business there till night, and then to Sir W. Batten again,
and I went along with my lady and the rest of the gentlewomen
to Major Holmes’s, and there we had a fine supper, among oth-
ers, excellent lobsters, which I never eat at this time of the year
before. The Major bath good lodgings at the Trinity House. Here
we staid, and at last home, and, being in my chamber, we do
hear great noise of mirth at Sir William Batten’s, tearing the rib-
bands from my Lady and him.–[As if they were a newly-married
couple.]–So I to bed.
4th. To Westminster Hall, where it was full term. Here all
the morning, and at noon to my Lord Crew’s, where one Mr.
Tempter (an ingenious man and a person of honour he seems
to be) dined; and, discoursing of the nature of serpents, he told
us some that in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great
bigness, and that do feed upon larks, which they take thus: They
observe when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till
they come to be just underneath them; and there they place them-
selves with their mouths uppermost, and there, as is conceived,
they do eject poyson up to the bird; for the bird do suddenly
come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into
the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange. He is a great
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traveller; and, speaking of the tarantula, he says that all the har-
vest long (about which times they are most busy) there are fidlers
go up and down the fields every where, in expectation of being
hired by those that are stung. Thence to the office, where late,
and so to my chamber and then to bed, my mind a little troubled
how to put things in order to my advantage in the office in readi-
ness to the Duke’s orders lately sent to us, and of which we are to
treat at the office to-morrow morning. This afternoon, going into
the office, one met me and did serve a subpoena upon me for one
Field, whom we did commit to prison the other day for some ill
words he did give the office. The like he had for others, but we
shall scour him for it.
5th. Early at the office. Sir G. Carteret, the two Sir Williams
and myself all alone reading of the Duke’s institutions for the
settlement of our office, whereof we read as much as concerns
our own duties, and left the other officers for another time. I did
move several things for my purpose, and did ease my mind. At
noon Sir W. Pen dined with me, and after dinner he and I and my
wife to the Theatre, and went in, but being very early we went
out again to the next door, and drank some Rhenish wine and
sugar, and so to the House again, and there saw “Rule a Wife and
have a Wife” very well done. And here also I did look long upon
my Lady Castlemaine, who, notwithstanding her late sickness,
continues a great beauty. Home and supped with Sir W. Pen and
played at cards with him, and so home and to bed, putting some
cataplasm to my.... which begins to swell again.
6th. At my musique practice, and so into my cellar to my
workmen, and I am very much pleased with my alteracon there.
About noon comes my uncle Thomas to me to ask for his annuity,
and I did tell him my mind freely. We had some high words, but
I was willing to end all in peace, and so I made him’ dine with
me, and I have hopes to work my end upon him. After dinner
the barber trimmed me, and so to the office, where I do begin to
be exact in my duty there and exacting my privileges, and shall
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continue to do so. None but Sir W. Batten and me here to-night,
and so we broke up early, and I home and to my chamber to put
things in order, and so to bed. My swelling I think do begin to go
away again.
7th. Among my workmen this morning. By and by by water to
Westminster with Commissioner Pett (landing my wife at Black
Friars) where I hear the prisoners in the Tower that are to die are
come to the Parliament-house this morning. To the Wardrobe to
dinner with my Lady; where a civitt cat, parrot, apes, and many
other things are come from my Lord by Captain Hill, who dined
with my Lady with us to-day. Thence to the Paynter’s, and am
well pleased with our pictures. So by coach home, where I found
the joyners putting up my chimney-piece in the dining-room,
which pleases me well, only the frame for a picture they have
made so massy and heavy that I cannot tell what to do with it.
This evening came my she cozen Porter to see us (the first time
that we had seen her since we came to this end of the town) and
after her Mr. Hart, who both staid with us a pretty while and so
went away. By and by, hearing that Mr. Turner was much trou-
bled at what I do in the office, and do give ill words to Sir W. Pen
and others of me, I am much troubled in my mind, and so went
to bed; not that I fear him at all, but the natural aptness I have to
be troubled at any thing that crosses me.
8th. All the morning in the cellar with the colliers, removing
the coles out of the old cole hole into the new one, which cost
me 8s. the doing; but now the cellar is done and made clean, it
do please me exceedingly, as much as any thing that was ever yet
done to my house. I pray God keep me from setting my mind too
much upon it. About 3 o’clock the colliers having done I went up
to dinner (my wife having often urged me to come, but my mind
is so set upon these things that I cannot but be with the workmen
to see things done to my mind, which if I am not there is seldom
done), and so to the office, and thence to talk with Sir W. Pen,
walking in the dark in the garden some turns, he telling me of the
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ill management of our office, and how Wood the timber merchant
and others were very knaves, which I am apt to believe. Home
and wrote letters to my father and my brother John, and so to
bed. Being a little chillish, intending to take physique to-morrow
morning.
9th (Lord’s day). I took physique this day, and was all day in
my chamber, talking with my wife about her laying out of £20,
which I had long since promised her to lay out in clothes against
Easter for herself, and composing some ayres, God forgive me!
At night to prayers and to bed.
10th. Musique practice a good while, then to Paul’s Church-
yard, and there I met with Dr. Fuller’s “England’s Worthys,” the
first time that I ever saw it; and so I sat down reading in it, till it
was two o’clock before I, thought of the time going, and so I rose
and went home to dinner, being much troubled that (though he
had some discourse with me about my family and arms) he says
nothing at all, nor mentions us either in Cambridgeshire or Nor-
folk. But I believe, indeed, our family were never considerable.
At home all the afternoon, and at night to bed.
11th. Musique, then my brother Tom came, and spoke to him
about selling of Sturtlow, he consents to, and I think will be the
best for him, considering that he needs money, and has no mind
to marry. Dined at home, and at the office in the afternoon. So
home to musique, my mind being full of our alteracons in the
garden, and my getting of things in the office settled to the ad-
vantage of my clerks, which I found Mr. Turner much troubled
at, and myself am not quiet in mind. But I hope by degrees to
bring it to it. At night begun to compose songs, and begin with
“Gaze not on Swans.” So to bed.
12th. This morning, till four in the afternoon, I spent abroad,
doing of many and considerable businesses at Mr. Phillips the
lawyer, with Prior, Westminster, my Lord Crew’s, Wardrobe, &c.,
and so home about the time of day to dinner with my mind very
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highly contented with my day’s work, wishing I could do so ev-
ery day. Then to my chamber drawing up writings, in expecta-
tion of my uncle Thomas corning. So to my musique and then to
bed. This night I had half a 100 poor Jack–[The “poor john” is a
hake salted and dried. It is frequently referred to in old authors
as poor fare.]–sent me by Mr. Adis.
13th. After musique comes my cozen Tom Pepys the execu-
tor, and he did stay with me above two hours discoursing about
the difference between my uncle Thomas and me, and what way
there may be to make it up, and I have hopes we may do good of
it for all this. Then to dinner, and then came Mr. Kennard, and
he and I and Sir W. Pen went up and down his house to view
what may be the contrivance and alterations there to the best ad-
vantage. So home, where Mr. Blackburne (whom I have not seen
a long time) was come to speak with me, and among other dis-
course he do tell me plain of the corruption of all our Treasurer’s
officers, and that they hardly pay any money under ten per cent.;
and that the other day, for a mere assignation of £200 to some
counties, they took £15 which is very strange. So to the office
till night, and then home and to write by the post about many
businesses, and so to bed. Last night died the Queen of Bohemia.
14th (Valentine’s day). I did this day purposely shun to be
seen at Sir W. Batten’s, because I would not have his daughter
to be my Valentine, as she was the last year, there being no great
friendship between us now, as formerly. This morning in comes
W. Bowyer, who was my wife’s Valentine, she having, at which
I made good sport to myself, held her hands all the morning,
that she might not see the paynters that were at work in gilding
my chimney-piece and pictures in my diningroom. By and by
she and I by coach with him to Westminster, by the way leav-
ing at Tom’s and my wife’s father’s lodgings each of them some
poor Jack, and some she carried to my father Bowyer’s, where
she staid while I walked in the Hall, and there among others met
with Serj’. Pierce, and I took him aside to drink a cup of ale, and
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he told me the basest thing of Mr. Montagu’s and his man Es-
char’s going away in debt, that I am troubled and ashamed, but
glad to be informed of. He thinks he has left £1000 for my Lord
to pay, and that he has not laid out £3,000 Out of the £5,000 for
my Lord’s use, and is not able to make an account of any of the
money. My wife and I to dinner to the Wardrobe, and then to talk
with my Lady, and so by coach, it raining hard, home, and so to
do business and to bed.
15th. With the two Sir Williams to the Trinity-house; and there
in their society had the business debated of Sir Nicholas Crisp’s
sasse at Deptford. Then to dinner, and after dinner I was sworn a
Younger Brother; Sir W. Rider being Deputy Master for my Lord
of Sandwich; and after I was sworn, all the Elder Brothers shake
me by the hand: it is their custom, it seems. Hence to the of-
fice, and so to Sir Wm. Batten’s all three, and there we staid till
late talking together in complaint of the Treasurer’s instruments.
Above all Mr. Waith, at whose child’s christening our wives and
we should have been to-day, but none of them went and I am
glad of it, for he is a very rogue, So home, and drew up our re-
port for Sir N. Crispe’s sasse, and so to bed. No news yet of our
fleet gone to Tangier, which we now begin to think long.
16th (Lord’s day). To church this morning, and so home and
to dinner. In the afternoon I walked to St. Bride’s to church, to
hear Dr. Jacomb preach upon the recovery, and at the request of
Mrs. Turner, who came abroad this day, the first time since her
long sickness. He preached upon David’s words, “I shall not die,
but live, and declare the works of the Lord,” and made a pretty
good sermon, though not extraordinary. After sermon I led her
home, and sat with her, and there was the Dr. got before us;
but strange what a command he hath got over Mrs. Turner, who
was so carefull to get him what he would, after his preaching, to
drink, and he, with a cunning gravity, knows how to command,
and had it, and among other things told us that he heard more of
the Common Prayer this afternoon (while he stood in the vestry,
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before he went up into the pulpitt) than he had heard this twenty
years. Thence to my uncle Wight to meet my wife, and with other
friends of hers and his met by chance we were very merry, and
supped, and so home, not being very well through my usual pain
got by cold. So to prayers and to bed, and there had a good draft
of mulled ale brought me.
17th. This morning, both Sir Williams, myself, and Captain
Cocke and Captain Tinker of the Convertine, which we are going
to look upon (being intended to go with these ships fitting for the
East Indys), down to Deptford; and thence, after being on ship-
board, to Woolwich, and there eat something. The Sir Williams
being unwilling to eat flesh,258 Captain Cocke and I had a breast
of veal roasted. And here I drank wine upon necessity, being ill
for want of it, and I find reason to fear that by my too sudden
leaving off wine, I do contract many evils upon myself. Going
and coming we played at gleeke, and I won 9s. 6d. clear, the
most that ever I won in my life. I pray God it may not tempt me
to play again. Being come home again we went to the Dolphin,
where Mr. Alcock and my Lady and Mrs. Martha Batten came to
us, and after them many others (as it always is where Sir W. Bat-
ten goes), and there we had some pullets to supper. I eat though
I was not very well, and after that left them, and so home and to
bed.
18th. Lay long in bed, then up to the office (we having changed
our days to Tuesday and Saturday in the morning and Thursday
at night), and by and by with Sir W. Pen, Mr. Kennard, and oth-
ers to survey his house again, and to contrive for the alterations
there, which will be handsome I think. After we had done at the
office, I walked to the Wardrobe, where with Mr. Moore and Mr.
258 In Lent, of which the observance, intermitted for nineteen years, was
now reviving. We have seen that Pepys, as yet, had not cast off all show of
Puritanism. “In this month the Fishmongers’ Company petitioned the King
that Lent might be kept, because they had provided abundance of fish for
this season, and their prayer was granted.”–Rugge.–B.
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FEBRUARY 1661-1662
Lewis Phillips after dinner we did agree upon the agreement be-
tween us and Prior and I did seal and sign it. Having agreed with
Sir Wm. Pen and my wife to meet them at the Opera, and find-
ing by my walking in the streets, which were every where full
of brick-battes and tyles flung down by the extraordinary wind
the last night (such as hath not been in memory before, unless at
the death of the late Protector), that it was dangerous to go out of
doors; and hearing how several persons had been killed to-day
by the fall of things in the streets, and that the pageant in Fleet-
street is most of it blown down, and hath broke down part of
several houses, among others Dick Brigden’s; and that one Lady
Sanderson, a person of quality in Covent Garden, was killed by
the fall of the house, in her bed, last night; I sent my boy home to
forbid them to go forth. But he bringing me word that they are
gone, I went thither and there saw “The Law against Lovers,” a
good play and well performed, especially the little girl’s (whom
I never saw act before) dancing and singing; and were it not for
her, the loss of Roxalana would spoil the house. So home and to
musique, and so to bed.
19th. Musique practice: thence to the Trinity House to con-
clude upon our report of Sir N. Crisp’s project, who came to us
to answer objections, but we did give him no ear, but are resolved
to stand to our report; though I could wish we had shewn him
more justice and had heard him. Thence to the Wardrobe and
dined with my Lady, and talked after dinner as I used to do, and
so home and up to my chamber to put things in order to my good
content, and so to musique practice.
20th. This morning came Mr. Child to see me, and set me
something to my Theorbo, and by and by come letters from Tang-
ier from my Lord, telling me how, upon a great defete given
to the Portuguese there by the Moors, he had put in 300 men
into the town, and so he is in possession, of which we are very
glad, because now the Spaniard’s designs of hindering our get-
ting the place are frustrated. I went with the letter inclosed to
564
FEBRUARY 1661-1662
my Lord Chancellor to the House of Lords, and did give it him
in the House. And thence to the Wardrobe with my Lady’s, and
there could not stay dinner, but went by promise to Mr. Savill’s,
and there sat the first time for my picture in little, which pleaseth
me well. So to the office till night and then home.259 21st, All
the morning putting things in my house in order, and packing
up glass to send into the country to my father, and books to my
brother John, and then to my Lord Crew’s to dinner; and thence
to Mr. Lewes Philip’s chamber, and there at noon with him for
business, and received £80 upon Jaspar Trice’s account, and so
home with it, and so to my chamber for all this evening, and
then to bed.
22nd. At the office busy all the morning, and thence to dinner
to my Lady Sandwich’s, and thence with Mr. Moore to our At-
torney, Wellpoole’s, and there found that Godfry has basely taken
out a judgment against us for the £40, for which I am vexed. And
thence to buy a pair of stands and a hanging shelf for my wife’s
259 “Sunday, Jan. 12. This morning, the Portuguese, 140 horse in Tang-
ier, made a salley into the country for booty, whereof they had possessed
about 400 cattle, 30 camels, and some horses, and 35 women and girls, and
being six miles distant from Tangier, were intercepted by 100 Moors with
harquebusses, who in the first charge killed the Aidill with a shot in the
head, whereupon the rest of the Portuguese ran, and in the pursuit 51 were
slain, whereof were 11 of the knights, besides the Aidill. The horses of the 51
were also taken by the Moors, and all the booty relieved. “Tuesday, Jan. 14.
This morning, Mr. Mules came to me from the Governor, for the assistance
of some of our men into the castle. “Thursday, Jan. 16. About 80 men out
of my own ship, and the Princess, went into Tangier, into the lower castle,
about four of the clock in the afternoon. “Friday, Jan. 17. In the morning, by
eight o’clock, the ‘Martyr’ came in from Cales (Cadiz) with provisions, and
about ten a clock I sent Sir Richard Stayner, with 120 men, besides officers,
to the assistance of the Governor, into Tangier.”–Lord Sandwich’s Journal,
in Kennet’s Register. On the 23rd, Lord Sandwich put one hundred more
men into Tangier; on the 29th and 30th, Lord Peterborough and his garrison
arrived from England, and received possession from the Portuguese; and,
on the 31st, Sir Richard Stayner and the seamen re-embarked on board Lord
Sandwich’s fleet.–B.
565
FEBRUARY 1661-1662
chamber, and so home, and thither came Mr. Savill with the pic-
tures, and we hung them up in our dining-room. It comes now to
appear very handsome with all my pictures. This evening I wrote
letters to my father; among other things acquainting him with
the unhappy accident which hath happened lately to my Lord of
Dorset’s two oldest sons, who, with two Belasses and one Squire
Wentworth, were lately apprehended for killing and robbing of
a tanner about Newington’ on Wednesday last, and are all now
in Newgate. I am much troubled for it, and for the grief and dis-
grace it brings to their familys and friends. After this, having got
a very great cold, I got something warm to-night, and so to bed.
23rd (Lord’s day). My cold being increased, I staid at home
all day, pleasing myself with my dining-room, now graced with
pictures, and reading of Dr. Fuller’s “Worthys.” So I spent the
day, and at night comes Sir W. Pen and supped and talked with
me. This day by God’s mercy I am 29 years of age, and in very
good health, and like to live and get an estate; and if I have a heart
to be contented, I think I may reckon myself as happy a man as
any is in the world, for which God be praised. So to prayers and
to bed.
24th. Long with Mr. Berkenshaw in the morning at my
musique practice; finishing my song of “Gaze not on Swans,” in
two parts, which pleases me well, and I did give him £5 for this
month or five weeks that he hath taught me, which is a great deal
of money and troubled me to part with it. Thence to the Paynter
s, and set again for my picture in little, and thence over the wa-
ter to Southwark to Mr. Berkenshaw’s house, and there sat with
him all the afternoon, he showing me his great card of the body
of musique, which he cries up for a rare thing, and I do believe it
cost much pains, but is not so useful as he would have it. Then
we sat down and set “Nulla, nulla sit formido,” and he has set
it very finely. So home and to supper, and then called Will up,
and chid him before my wife for refusing to go to church with
the maids yesterday, and telling his mistress that he would not
566
FEBRUARY 1661-1662
be made a slave of, which vexes me. So to bed.
25th. All the morning at the office. At noon with Mr. Moore to
the Coffee-house, where among other things the great talk was of
the effects of this late great wind; and I heard one say that he had
five great trees standing together blown down; and, beginning to
lop them, one of them, as soon as the lops were cut off, did, by
the weight of the root, rise again and fasten. We have letters from
the forest of Deane, that above 1000 Oakes and as many beeches
are blown down in one walk there. And letters from my father
tell me of £20 hurt done to us at Brampton. This day in the news-
book I find that my Lord Buckhurst and his fellows have printed
their case as they did give it in upon examination to a justice of
Peace, wherein they make themselves a very good tale that they
were in pursuit of thieves, and that they took this man for one of
them, and so killed him; and that he himself confessed it was the
first time of his robbing; and that he did pay dearly for it, for he
was a dead man. But I doubt things will be proved otherwise, as
they say. Home to dinner, and by and by comes Mr. Hunt and
his wife to see us and staid a good, while with us. Then parted,
and I to my study in the office. The first time since the alteracon
that I have begun to do business myself there, and I think I shall
be well pleased with it. At night home to supper and to bed.
26th. Mr. Berkenshaw with me all the morning composing of
musique to “This cursed jealousy, what is it,” a song of Sir W.
Davenant’s. After dinner I went to my Bookseller’s, W. Joyce’s,
and several other places to pay my debts and do business, I be-
ing resolved to cast up my accounts within a day or two, for I
fear I have run out too far. In coming home I met with a face I
knew and challenged him, thinking it had been one of the The-
atre musicians, and did enquire for a song of him, but finding it
a mistake, and that it was a gentleman that comes sometimes to
the office, I was much ashamed, but made a pretty good excuse
that I took him for a gentleman of Gray’s Inn who sings well, and
so parted. Home for all night and set things in order and so to
567
FEBRUARY 1661-1662
bed.
27th. This morning came Mr. Berkenshaw to me and in our
discourse I, finding that he cries up his rules for most perfect
(though I do grant them to be very good, and the best I believe
that ever yet were made), and that I could not persuade him to
grant wherein they were somewhat lame, we fell to angry words,
so that in a pet he flung out of my chamber and I never stopped
him, having intended to put him off today, whether this had hap-
pened or no, because I think I have all the rules that he hath to
give. And so there remains not the practice now to do me good,
and it is not for me to continue with him at; £5 per month. So I
settled to put all his rules in fair order in a book, which was my
work all the morning till dinner. After dinner to the office till late
at night, and so home to write by the post, and so to bed.
28th. The boy failing to call us up as I commanded, I was angry,
and resolved to whip him for that and many other faults, to-day.
Early with Sir W. Pen by coach to Whitehall, to the Duke of York’s
chamber, and there I presented him from my Lord a fine map of
Tangier, done by one Captain Beckman, a Swede, that is with my
Lord. We staid looking it over a great while with the Duke af-
ter he was ready. Thence I by water to the Painter’s, and there
sat again for my face in little, and thence home to dinner, and
so at home all the afternoon. Then came Mr. Moore and staid
and talked with me, and then I to the office, there being all the
Admiralty papers brought hither this afternoon from Mr. Black-
burne’s, where they have lain all this while ever since my coming
into this office. This afternoon Mr. Hater received half a year’s
salary for me, so that now there is not owing me but this quarter,
which will be out the next month. Home, and to be as good as
my word, I bade Will get me a rod, and he and I called the boy
up to one of the upper rooms of the Comptroller’s house towards
the garden, and there I reckoned all his faults, and whipped him
soundly, but the rods were so small that I fear they did not much
hurt to him, but only to my arm, which I am already, within a
568
FEBRUARY 1661-1662
quarter of an hour, not able to stir almost. After supper to bed.
569
MARCH 1661-1662
March 1st. This morning I paid Sir W. Batten £40, which I have
owed him this half year, having borrowed it of him. Then to
the office all the morning, so dined at home, and after dinner
comes my uncle Thomas, with whom I had some high words of
difference, but ended quietly, though I fear I shall do no good by
fair means upon him. Thence my wife and I by coach, first to see
my little picture that is a drawing, and thence to the Opera, and
there saw “Romeo and Juliet,” the first time it was ever acted; but
it is a play of itself the worst that ever I heard in my life, and the
worst acted that ever I saw these people do, and I am resolved
to go no more to see the first time of acting, for they were all of
them out more or less. Thence home, and after supper and wrote
by the post, I settled to what I had long intended, to cast up my
accounts with myself, and after much pains to do it and great
fear, I do find that I am 1500 in money beforehand in the world,
which I was afraid I was not, but I find that I had spent above
£250 this last half year, which troubles me much, but by God’s
blessing I am resolved to take up, having furnished myself with
all things for a great while, and to-morrow to think upon some
rules and obligations upon myself to walk by. So with my mind
eased of a great deal of trouble, though with no great content to
find myself above £100 worse now than I was half a year ago, I
570
MARCH 1661-1662
went to bed.
2nd (Lord’s day). With my mind much eased talking long in
bed with my wife about our frugall life for the time to come,
proposing to her what I could and would do if I were worth
£2,000, that is, be a knight, and keep my coach, which pleased
her,260 and so I do hope we shall hereafter live to save something,
for I am resolved to keep myself by rules from expenses. To
church in the morning: none in the pew but myself. So home
to dinner, and after dinner came Sir William and talked with me
till church time, and then to church, where at our going out I
was at a loss by Sir W. Pen’s putting me upon it whether to take
my wife or Mrs. Martha (who alone was there), and I began to
take my wife, but he jogged me, and so I took Martha, and led
her down before him and my wife. So set her at home, and Sir
William and my wife and I to walk in the garden, and anon hear-
ing that Sir G. Carteret had sent to see whether we were at home
or no, Sir William and I went to his house, where we waited a
good while, they being at prayers, and by and by we went up to
him; there the business was about hastening the East India ships,
about which we are to meet to-morrow in the afternoon. So home
to my house, and Sir William supped with me, and so to bed.
3rd. All the morning at home about business with my brother
Tom, and then with Mr. Moore, and then I set to make some strict
rules for my future practice in my expenses, which I did bind
myself in the presence of God by oath to observe upon penalty
therein set down, and I do not doubt but hereafter to give a good
account of my time and to grow rich, for I do find a great deal
more of content in these few days, that I do spend well about
my business, than in all the pleasure of a whole week, besides
the trouble which I remember I always have after that for the ex-
260 Lord Braybrooke wrote, “This reminds me of a story of my father’s,
when he was of Merton College, and heard Bowen the porter wish that he
had £100 a-year, to enable him to keep a couple of hunters and a pack of
foxhounds.”
571
MARCH 1661-1662
pense of my money. Dined at home, and then up to my chamber
again about business, and so to the office about despatching of
the East India ships, where we staid till 8 at night, and then after
I had been at Sir W. Pen’s awhile discoursing with him and Mr.
Kenard the joiner about the new building in his house, I went
home, where I found a vessel of oysters sent me from Chatham,
so I fell to eat some and then to supper, and so after the barber
had done to bed. I am told that this day the Parliament hath
voted 2s. per annum for every chimney in England, as a constant
revenue for ever to the Crown.261 4th. At the office all the morn-
ing, dined at home at noon, and then to the office again in the
afternoon to put things in order there, my mind being very busy
in settling the office to ourselves, I having now got distinct offices
for the other two. By and by Sir W. Pen and I and my wife in his
coach to Moore Fields, where we walked a great while, though it
was no fair weather and cold; and after our walk we went to the
Pope’s Head, and eat cakes and other fine things, and so home,
and I up to my chamber to read and write, and so to bed.
5th. In the morning to the Painter’s about my little picture.
Thence to Tom’s about business, and so to the pewterer’s, to buy
a poore’s-box to put my forfeits in, upon breach of my late vows.
So to the Wardrobe and dined, and thence home and to my office,
and there sat looking over my papers of my voyage, when we
fetched over the King, and tore so many of these that were worth
nothing, as filled my closet as high as my knees. I staid doing
this till 10 at night, and so home and to bed.
6th. Up early, my mind full of business, then to the office,
261 Although fumage or smoke money was as old as the Conquest, the first
parliamentary levy of hearth or chimney money was by statute 13 and 14
Car. II., c. 10, which gave the king an hereditary revenue of two shillings
annually upon every hearth in all houses paying church or poor rate. This
act was repealed by statute I William and Mary, c. 10, it being declared in
the preamble as “not only a great oppression to the poorer sort, but a badge
of slavery upon the whole people, exposing every man’s house to be entered
into and searched at pleasure by persons unknown to him.”
572
MARCH 1661-1662
where the two Sir Williams and I spent the morning passing the
victualler’s accounts, the first I have had to do withal. Then
home, where my Uncle Thomas (by promise and his son Tom)
were come to give me his answer whether he would have me
go to law or arbitracon with him, but he is unprovided to an-
swer me, and desires two days more. I left them to dine with my
wife, and myself to Mr. Gauden and the two knights at dinner at
the Dolphin, and thence after dinner to the office back again till
night, we having been these four or five days very full of busi-
ness, and I thank God I am well pleased with it, and hope I shall
continue of that temper, which God grant. So after a little being
at Sir W. Batten’s with Sir G. Carteret talking, I went home, and
so to my chamber, and then to bed, my mind somewhat troubled
about Brampton affairs. This night my new camelott riding coat
to my coloured cloth suit came home. More news to-day of our
losses at Brampton by the late storm.
7th. Early to White Hall to the chappell, where by Mr. Bla-
grave’s means I got into his pew, and heard Dr. Creeton, the
great Scotchman, preach before the King, and Duke and Duchess,
upon the words of Micah:–“Roule yourselves in dust.” He made
a most learned sermon upon the words; but, in his application,
the most comical man that ever I heard in my life. Just such a
man as Hugh Peters; saying that it had been better for the poor
Cavalier never to have come with the King into England again;
for he that hath the impudence to deny obedience to the law-
ful magistrate, and to swear to the oath of allegiance, &c., was
better treated now-a-days in Newgate, than a poor Royalist, that
hath suffered all his life for the King, is at White Hall among
his friends. He discoursed much against a man’s lying with his
wife in Lent, saying that he might be as incontinent during that
time with his own wife as at another time in another man’s bed.
Thence with Mr. Moore to Whitehall and walked a little, and so
to the Wardrobe to dinner, and so home to the office about busi-
ness till late at night by myself, and so home and to bed.
573
MARCH 1661-1662
8th. By coach with both Sir Williams to Westminster; this being
a great day there in the House to pass the business for chimney-
money, which was done. In the Hall I met with Serjeant Pierce;
and he and I to drink a cup of ale at the Swan, and there he told
me how my Lady Monk hath disposed of all the places which
Mr. Edwd. Montagu hoped to have had, as he was Master of the
Horse to the Queen; which I am afraid will undo him, because
he depended much upon the profit of what he should make by
these places. He told me, also, many more scurvy stories of him
and his brother Ralph, which troubles me to hear of persons of
honour as they are. About one o’clock with both Sir Williams
and another, one Sir Rich. Branes, to the Trinity House, but came
after they had dined, so we had something got ready for us. Here
Sir W. Batten was taken with a fit of coughing that lasted a great
while and made him very ill, and so he went home sick upon
it. Sir W. Pen. and I to the office, whither afterward came Sir G.
Carteret; and we sent for Sir Thos. Allen, one of the Aldermen
of the City, about the business of one Colonel Appesley, whom
we had taken counterfeiting of bills with all our hands and the
officers of the yards, so well counterfeited that I should never
have mistrusted them. We staid about this business at the office
till ten at night, and at last did send him with a constable to the
Counter; and did give warrants for the seizing of a complice of
his, one Blinkinsopp. So home and wrote to my father, and so to
bed.
9th (Lord’s day). Church in the morning: dined at home, then
to Church again and heard Mr. Naylor, whom I knew formerly of
Keye’s College, make a most eloquent sermon. Thence to Sir W.
Batten’s to see how he did, then to walk an hour with Sir W. Pen
in the garden: then he in to supper with me at my house, and so
to prayers and to bed.
10th. At the office doing business all the morning, and my
wife being gone to buy some things in the city I dined with Sir
W. Batten, and in the afternoon met Sir W. Pen at the Treasury
574
MARCH 1661-1662
Office, and there paid off the Guift, where late at night, and so
called in and eat a bit at Sir W. Batten’s again, and so home and
to bed, to-morrow being washing day.
11th. At the office all the morning, and all the afternoon rum-
maging of papers in my chamber, and tearing some and sorting
others till late at night, and so to bed, my wife being not well all
this day. This afternoon Mrs. Turner and The. came to see me,
her mother not having been abroad many a day before, but now
is pretty well again and has made me one of the first visits.
12th. At the office from morning till night putting of papers in
order, that so I may have my office in an orderly condition. I took
much pains in sorting and folding of papers. Dined at home, and
there came Mrs. Goldsborough about her old business, but I did
give her a short answer and sent away. This morning we had
news from Mr. Coventry, that Sir G. Downing (like a perfidious
rogue, though the action is good and of service to the King,262 yet
he cannot with any good conscience do it) hath taken Okey, Cor-
bet, and Barkestead at Delfe, in Holland, and sent them home in
the Blackmore. Sir W. Pen, talking to me this afternoon of what a
strange thing it is for Downing to do this, he told me of a speech
he made to the Lords States of Holland, telling them to their faces
that he observed that he was not received with the respect and
observance now, that he was when he came from the traitor and
rebell Cromwell: by whom, I am sure, he hath got all he hath in
the world,–and they know it too.263 13th. All day, either at the
office or at home, busy about business till late at night, I having
262 (“And hail the treason though we hate the traitor.”) On the 21st Charles
returned his formal thanks to the States for their assistance in the matter.–B.
263 Charles, when residing at Brussels, went to the Hague at night to pay
a secret visit to his sister, the Princess of Orange. After his arrival, “an old
reverend-like man, with a long grey beard and ordinary grey clothes,” en-
tered the inn and begged for a private interview. He then fell on his knees,
and pulling off his disguise, discovered himself to be Mr. Downing, then
ambassador from Cromwell to the States-General. He informed Charles that
the Dutch had guaranteed to the English Commonwealth to deliver him into
575
MARCH 1661-1662
lately followed my business much, I find great pleasure in it, and
a growing content.
14th. At the office all the morning. At noon Sir W. Pen and I
making a bargain with the workmen about his house, at which I
did see things not so well contracted for as I would have, and I
was vexed and made him so too to see me so critical in the agree-
ment. Home to dinner. In the afternoon came the German Dr.
Kuffler,264 to discourse with us about his engine to blow up ships.
We doubted not the matter of fact, it being tried in Cromwell’s
time, but the safety of carrying them in ships; but he do tell us,
that when he comes to tell the King his secret (for none but the
Kings, successively, and their heirs must know it), it will appear
to be of no danger at all. We concluded nothing; but shall dis-
course with the Duke of York to-morrow about it. In the after-
noon, after we had done with him, I went to speak with my uncle
Wight and found my aunt to have been ill a good while of a mis-
carriage, I staid and talked with her a good while. Thence home,
where I found that Sarah the maid had been very ill all day, and
my wife fears that she will have an ague, which I am much trou-
bled for. Thence to my lute, upon which I have not played a week
or two, and trying over the two songs of “Nulla, nulla,” &c., and
“Gaze not on Swans,” which Mr. Berkenshaw set for me a lit-
tle while ago, I find them most incomparable songs as he has set
their hands should he ever set foot in their territory. This warning probably
saved Charles’s liberty.–M. B.
264 This is the secret of Cornelius van Drebbel (1572-1634), which is referred
to again by Pepys on November 11th, 1663. Johannes Siberius Kuffler was
originally a dyer at Leyden, who married Drebbel’s daughter. In the “Cal-
endar of State Papers, Domestic,” 1661-62 (p. 327), is the following entry:
“Request of Johannes Siberius Kuffler and Jacob Drebble for a trial of their
father Cornelius Drebble’s secret of sinking or destroying ships in a moment;
and if it succeed, for a reward of £10,000. The secret was left them by will,
to preserve for the English crown before any other state.” Cornelius van
Drebbel settled in London, where he died. James I. took some interest in
him, and is said to have interfered when he was in prison in Austria and in
danger of execution.
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MARCH 1661-1662
them, of which I am not a little proud, because I am sure none in
the world has them but myself, not so much as he himself that
set them. So to bed.
15th. With Sir G. Carteret and both the Sir Williams at White-
hall to wait on the Duke in his chamber, which we did about
getting money for the Navy and other things. So back again to
the office all the morning. Thence to the Exchange to hire a ship
for the Maderas, but could get none. Then home to dinner, and
Sir G. Carteret and I all the afternoon by ourselves upon business
in the office till late at night. So to write letters and home to bed.
Troubled at my maid’s being ill.
16th (Lord’s day). This morning, till churches were done, I
spent going from one church to another and hearing a bit here
and a bit there. So to the Wardrobe to dinner with the young
Ladies, and then into my Lady’s chamber and talked with her a
good while, and so walked to White Hall, an hour or two in the
Park, which is now very pleasant. Here the King and Duke came
to see their fowl play. The Duke took very civil notice of me. So
walked home, calling at Tom’s, giving him my resolution about
my boy’s livery. Here I spent an hour walking in the garden with
Sir W. Pen, and then my wife and I thither to supper, where his
son William is at home not well. But all things, I fear, do not go
well with them; they look discontentedly, but I know not what
ails them. Drinking of cold small beer here I fell ill, and was
forced to go out and vomit, and so was well again and went home
by and by to bed. Fearing that Sarah would continue ill, wife and
I removed this night to our matted chamber and lay there.
17th. All the morning at the office by myself about setting
things in order there, and so at noon to the Exchange to see and
be seen, and so home to dinner and then to the office again till
night, and then home and after supper and reading a while to
bed. Last night the Blackmore pink265 brought the three prison-
ers, Barkestead, Okey, and Corbet, to the Tower, being taken at
265 A “pink” was a form of vessel now obsolete, and had a very narrow
577
MARCH 1661-1662
Delfe in Holland; where, the Captain tells me, the Dutch were a
good while before they could be persuaded to let them go, they
being taken prisoners in their land. But Sir G. Downing would
not be answered so: though all the world takes notice of him for
a most ungrateful villain for his pains.
18th. All the morning at the office with Sir W. Pen. Dined at
home, and Luellin and Blurton with me. After dinner to the office
again, where Sir G. Carteret and we staid awhile, and then Sir W.
Pen and I on board some of the ships now fitting for East Indys
and Portugall, to see in what forwardness they are, and so back
home again, and I write to my father by the post about Brampton
Court, which is now coming on. But that which troubles me is
that my Father has now got an ague that I fear may endanger his
life. So to bed.
19th. All the morning and afternoon at my office putting things
in order, and in the evening I do begin to digest my uncle the
Captain’s papers into one book, which I call my Brampton book,
for the clearer understanding things how they are with us. So
home and supper and to bed. This noon came a letter from T.
Pepys, the turner, in answer to one of mine the other day to
him, wherein I did cheque him for not coming to me, as he had
promised, with his and his father’s resolucion about the differ-
ence between us. But he writes to me in the very same slighting
terms that I did to him, without the least respect at all, but word
for word as I did him, which argues a high and noble spirit in
him, though it troubles me a little that he should make no more
of my anger, yet I cannot blame him for doing so, he being the
elder brother’s son, and not depending upon me at all.
20th. At my office all the morning, at noon to the Exchange,
and so home to dinner, and then all the afternoon at the office
till late at night, and so home and to bed, my mind in good ease
stern. The “Blackmoor” was a sixth-rate of twelve guns, built at Chatham
by Captain Tayler in 1656.
578
MARCH 1661-1662
when I mind business, which methinks should be a good argu-
ment to me never to do otherwise.
21st. With Sir W. Batten by water to Whitehall, and he to West-
minster. I went to see Sarah and my Lord’s lodgings, which are
now all in dirt, to be repaired against my Lord’s coming from sea
with the Queen. Thence to Westminster Hall; and there walked
up and down and heard the great difference that hath been be-
tween my Lord Chancellor and my Lord of Bristol, about a pro-
viso that my Lord Chancellor would have brought into the Bill
for Conformity, that it shall be in the power of the King, when
he sees fit, to dispense with the Act of Conformity; and though it
be carried in the House of Lords, yet it is believed it will hardly
pass in the Commons. Here I met with Chetwind, Parry, and sev-
eral others, and went to a little house behind the Lords’ house to
drink some wormwood ale, which doubtless was a bawdy house,
the mistress of the house having the look and dress: Here we
staid till noon and then parted, I by water to the Wardrobe to
meet my wife, but my Lady and they had dined, and so I dined
with the servants, and then up to my Lady, and there staid and
talked a good while, and then parted and walked into Cheap-
side, and there saw my little picture, for which I am to sit again
the next week. So home, and staid late writing at my office, and
so home and to bed, troubled that now my boy is also fallen sick
of an ague we fear.
22nd. At the office all the morning. At noon Sir Williams both
and I by water down to the Lewes, Captain Dekins, his ship, a
merchantman, where we met the owners, Sir John Lewes and Al-
derman Lewes, and several other great merchants; among oth-
ers one Jefferys, a merry man that is a fumbler, and he and I
called brothers, and he made all the mirth in the company. We
had a very fine dinner, and all our wives’ healths, with seven or
nine guns apiece; and exceeding merry we were, and so home
by barge again, and I vexed to find Griffin leave the office door
open, and had a design to have carried away the screw or the
579
MARCH 1661-1662
carpet in revenge to him, but at last I would not, but sent for him
and chid him, and so to supper and to bed, having drank a great
deal of wine.
23rd (Lord’s day). This morning was brought me my boy’s fine
livery, which is very handsome, and I do think to keep to black
and gold lace upon gray, being the colour of my arms, for ever.
To church in the morning, and so home with Sir W. Batten, and
there eat some boiled great oysters, and so home, and while I
was at dinner with my wife I was sick, and was forced to vomit
up my oysters again, and then I was well. By and by a coach
came to call me by my appointment, and so my wife and I carried
to Westminster to Mrs. Hunt’s, and I to Whitehall, Worcester
House, and to my Lord Treasurer’s to have found Sir G. Carteret,
but missed in all these places. So back to White Hall, and there
met with Captn. Isham, this day come from Lisbon, with letters
from the Queen to the King. And he did give me letters which
speak that our fleet is all at Lisbon;266 and that the Queen do not
intend to embarque sooner than tomorrow come fortnight. So
having sent for my wife, she and I to my Lady Sandwich, and
after a short visit away home. She home, and I to Sir G. Carteret’s
about business, and so home too, and Sarah having her fit we
went to bed.
266 One of these letters was probably from John Creed. Mr. S. J. Davey,
of 47, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, in 1889 had in his possession nine
long letters from Creed to Pepys. In the first of these, dated from Lisbon,
March, 1662, Creed wrote: “My Lord Embassador doth all he can to hasten
the Queen’s Majestie’s embarquement, there being reasons enough against
suffering any unnecessary delay.” There appear to have been considerable
delays in the arrangements for the following declaration of Charles II. was
dated June 22nd, 1661: “Charles R. Whereas his Maj. is resolved to declare,
under his Royall hand and seale, the most illustrious Lady Infanta of Portu-
gall to be his lawfull wife, before the Treaty shall be signed by the King of
Portugall; which is to be done only for the better expediting the marriage,
without sending to Rome for a dispensation, which the laws of Portugall
would require if the said most Illustrious Infanta were to be betrothed in
that Kingdome,” &c.
580
MARCH 1661-1662
24th. Early Sir G. Carteret, both Sir Williams and I on board
the Experiment, to dispatch her away, she being to carry things
to the Madeiras with the East Indy fleet. Here (Sir W. Pen go-
ing to Deptford to send more hands) we staid till noon talking,
and eating and drinking a good ham of English bacon, and hav-
ing put things in very good order home, where I found Jane, my
old maid, come out of the country, and I have a mind to have
her again. By and by comes La Belle Pierce to see my wife, and
to bring her a pair of peruques of hair, as the fashion now is for
ladies to wear; which are pretty, and are of my wife’s own hair,
or else I should not endure them. After a good whiles stay, I
went to see if any play was acted, and I found none upon the
post, it being Passion week. So home again, and took water with
them towards Westminster; but as we put off with the boat Grif-
fin came after me to tell me that Sir G. Carteret and the rest were
at the office, so I intended to see them through the bridge and
come back again, but the tide being against us, when we were
almost through we were carried back again with much danger,
and Mrs. Pierce was much afeard and frightened. So I carried
them to the other side and walked to the Beare, and sent them
away, and so back again myself to the office, but finding nobody
there I went again to the Old Swan, and thence by water to the
New Exchange, and there found them, and thence by coach car-
ried my wife to Bowes to buy something, and while they were
there went to Westminster Hall, and there bought Mr. Grant’s
book of observations upon the weekly bills of mortality, which
appear to me upon first sight to be very pretty. So back again and
took my wife, calling at my brother Tom’s, whom I found full of
work, which I am glad of, and thence at the New Exchange and
so home, and I to Sir W. Batten’s, and supped there out of pure
hunger and to save getting anything ready at home, which is a
thing I do not nor shall not use to do. So home and to bed.
26th. Up early. This being, by God’s great blessing, the fourth
solemn day of my cutting for the stone this day four years, and
am by God’s mercy in very good health, and like to do well, the
581
MARCH 1661-1662
Lord’s name be praised for it. To the office and Sir G. Carteret’s
all the morning about business. At noon come my good guests,
Madame Turner, The., and Cozen Norton, and a gentleman, one
Mr. Lewin of the King’s Life-Guard; by the same token he told us
of one of his fellows killed this morning in a duel. I had a pretty
dinner for them, viz., a brace of stewed carps, six roasted chick-
ens, and a jowl of salmon, hot, for the first course; a tanzy267 and
two neats’ tongues, and cheese the second; and were very merry
all the afternoon, talking and singing and piping upon the fla-
geolette. In the evening they went with great pleasure away, and
I with great content and my wife walked half an hour in the gar-
den, and so home to supper and to bed. We had a man-cook to
dress dinner to-day, and sent for Jane to help us, and my wife
and she agreed at £3 a year (she would not serve under) till both
could be better provided, and so she stays with us, and I hope we
shall do well if poor Sarah were but rid of her ague.
27th. Early Sir G. Carteret, both Sir Williams and I by coach to
Deptford, it being very windy and rainy weather, taking a codd
and some prawnes in Fish Street with us. We settled to pay the
Guernsey, a small ship, but come to a great deal of money, it hav-
ing been unpaid ever since before the King came in, by which
means not only the King pays wages while the ship has lain still,
but the poor men have most of them been forced to borrow all
the money due for their wages before they receive it, and that
at a dear rate, God knows, so that many of them had very lit-
tle to receive at the table, which grieved me to see it. To dinner,
very merry. Then Sir George to London, and we again to the pay,
and that done by coach home again and to the office, doing some
business, and so home and to bed.
267 Tansy (tanacetum), a herb from which puddings were made. Hence any
pudding of the kind. Selden (“Table Talk”) says: “Our tansies at Easter have
reference to the bitter herbs.” See in Wordsworth’s “University Life in the
Eighteenth Century” recipes for “an apple tansey,” “a bean tansey,” and “a
gooseberry tansey.”–M. B.
582
MARCH 1661-1662
28th (Good Friday). At home all the morning, and dined with
my wife, a good dinner. At my office all the afternoon. At night
to my chamber to read and sing, and so to supper and to bed.
29th. At the office all the morning. Then to the Wardrobe, and
there coming late dined with the people below. Then up to my
Lady, and staid two hours talking with her about her family busi-
ness with great content and confidence in me. So calling at sev-
eral places I went home, where my people are getting the house
clean against to-morrow. I to the office and wrote several letters
by post, and so home and to bed.
30th (Easter day). Having my old black suit new furbished, I
was pretty neat in clothes to-day, and my boy, his old suit new
trimmed, very handsome. To church in the morning, and so
home, leaving the two Sir Williams to take the Sacrament, which
I blame myself that I have hitherto neglected all my life, but once
or twice at Cambridge.268 Dined with my wife, a good shoulder
of veal well dressed by Jane, and handsomely served to table,
which pleased us much, and made us hope that she will serve
our turn well enough. My wife and I to church in the afternoon,
and seated ourselves, she below me, and by that means the prece-
dence of the pew, which my Lady Batten and her daughter takes,
is confounded; and after sermon she and I did stay behind them
in the pew, and went out by ourselves a good while after them,
which we judge a very fine project hereafter to avoyd contention.
So my wife and I to walk an hour or two on the leads, which
begins to be very pleasant, the garden being in good condition.
So to supper, which is also well served in. We had a lobster to
supper, with a crabb Pegg Pen sent my wife this afternoon, the
reason of which we cannot think; but something there is of plot
or design in it, for we have a little while carried ourselves pretty
strange to them. After supper to bed.
268 This does not accord with the certificate which Dr. Mines wrote in 1681,
where he says that Pepys was a constant communicant. See Life of Pepys in
vol. i.
583
MARCH 1661-1662
31st. This morning Mr. Coventry and all our company met
at the office about some business of the victualling, which being
dispatched we parted. I to my Lord Crew’s to dinner (in my way
calling upon my brother Tom, with whom I staid a good while
and talked, and find him a man like to do well, which contents
me much), where used with much respect, and talking with him
about my Lord’s debts, and whether we should make use of an
offer of Sir G. Carteret’s to lend my Lady 4 or £500, he told me by
no means, we must not oblige my Lord to him, and by the by he
made a question whether it was not my Lord’s interest a little to
appear to the King in debt, and for people to clamor against him
as well as others for their money, that by that means the King
and the world may see that he do lay out for the King’s honour
upon his own main stock, which many he tells me do, that in fine
if there be occasion he and I will be bound for it. Thence to Sir
Thomas Crew’s lodgings. He hath been ill, and continues so, un-
der fits of apoplexy. Among other things, he and I did discourse
much of Mr. Montagu’s base doings, and the dishonour that he
will do my Lord, as well as cheating him of 2 or £3,000, which is
too true. Thence to the play, where coming late, and meeting with
Sir W. Pen, who had got room for my wife and his daughter in
the pit, he and I into one of the boxes, and there we sat and heard
“The Little Thiefe,” a pretty play and well done. Thence home,
and walked in the garden with them, and then to the house to
supper and sat late talking, and so to bed.
584
APRIL 1662
April 1st. Within all the morning and at the office. At noon my
wife and I (having paid our maid Nell her whole wages, who has
been with me half a year, and now goes away for altogether) to
the Wardrobe, where my Lady and company had almost dined.
We sat down and dined. Here was Mr. Herbert, son to Sir Charles
Herbert, that lately came with letters from my Lord Sandwich to
the King. After some discourse we remembered one another to
have been together at the tavern when Mr. Fanshaw took his
leave of me at his going to Portugall with Sir Richard. After din-
ner he and I and the two young ladies and my wife to the play-
house, the Opera, and saw “The Mayde in the Mill,” a pretty
good play. In the middle of the play my Lady Paulina, who had
taken physique this morning, had need to go forth, and so I took
the poor lady out and carried her to the Grange, and there sent
the maid of the house into a room to her, and she did what she
had a mind to, and so back again to the play; and that being
done, in their coach I took them to Islington, and then, after a
walk in the fields, I took them to the great cheese-cake house and
entertained them, and so home, and after an hour’s stay with my
Lady, their coach carried us home, and so weary to bed.
2nd. Mr. Moore came to me, and he and I walked to the Spit-
tle an hour or two before my Lord Mayor and the blewcoat boys
585
APRIL 1662
come, which at last they did, and a fine sight of charity it is in-
deed. We got places and staid to hear a sermon; but, it being a
Presbyterian one, it was so long, that after above an hour of it we
went away, and I home and dined; and then my wife and I by
water to the Opera, and there saw “The Bondman” most excel-
lently acted; and though we had seen it so often, yet I never liked
it better than to-day, Ianthe acting Cleora’s part very well now
Roxalana is gone. We are resolved to see no more plays till Whit-
suntide, we having been three days together. Met Mr. Sanchy,
Smithes; Gale, and Edlin at the play, but having no great mind to
spend money, I left them there. And so home and to supper, and
then dispatch business, and so to bed.
3rd. At home and at the office all day. At night to bed.
4th. By barge Sir George, Sir Williams both and I to Deptford,
and there fell to pay off the Drake and Hampshire, then to dinner,
Sir George to his lady at his house, and Sir Wm. Pen to Wool-
wich, and Sir W. Batten and I to the tavern, where much com-
pany came to us and our dinner, and somewhat short by reason
of their taking part away with them. Then to pay the rest of the
Hampshire and the Paradox, and were at it till 9 at night, and so
by night home by barge safe, and took Tom Hater with some that
the clerks had to carry home along with us in the barge, the rest
staying behind to pay tickets, but came home after us that night.
So being come home, to bed. I was much troubled to-day to see a
dead man lie floating upon the waters, and had done (they say)
these four days, and nobody takes him up to bury him, which is
very barbarous.
5th. At the office till almost noon, and then broke up. Then
came Sir G. Carteret, and he and I walked together alone in the
garden, taking notice of some faults in the office, particularly of
Sir W. Batten’s, and he seemed to be much pleased with me, and
I hope will be the ground of a future interest of mine in him,
which I shall be glad of. Then with my wife abroad, she to the
Wardrobe and there dined, and I to the Exchange and so to the
586
APRIL 1662
Wardrobe, but they had dined. After dinner my wife and the two
ladies to see my aunt Wight, and thence met me at home. From
thence (after Sir W. Batten and I had viewed our houses with a
workman in order to the raising of our roofs higher to enlarge
our houses) I went with them by coach first to Moorfields and
there walked, and thence to Islington and had a fine walk in the
fields there, and so, after eating and drinking, home with them,
and so by water with my wife home, and after supper to bed.
6th (Lord’s day). By water to White Hall, to Sir G. Carteret, to
give him an account of the backwardness of the ships we have
hired to Portugall: at which he is much troubled. Thence to the
Chappell, and there, though crowded, heard a very honest ser-
mon before the King by a Canon of Christ Church, upon these
words, “Having a form of godliness, but denying,” &c. Among
other things, did much insist upon the sin of adultery: which
methought might touch the King, and the more because he forced
it into his sermon, methinks, besides his text. So up and saw the
King at dinner; and thence with Sir G. Carteret to his lodgings to
dinner, with him and his lady, where I saluted her, and was well
received as a stranger by her; she seems a good lady, and all their
discourse, which was very much, was upon their sufferings and
services for the King. Yet not without some trouble, to see that
some that had been much bound to them, do now neglect them;
and others again most civil that have received least from them:
and I do believe that he hath been a good servant to the King.
Thence to walk in the Park, where the King and Duke did walk
round the Park. After I was tired I went and took boat to Milford
stairs, and so to Graye’s Inn walks, the first time I have been there
this year, and it is very pleasant and full of good company. When
tired I walked to the Wardrobe, and there staid a little with my
Lady, and so by water from Paul’s Wharf (where my boat staid
for me), home and supped with my wife with Sir W. Pen, and so
home and to bed.
7th. By water to Whitehall and thence to Westminster, and
587
APRIL 1662
staid at the Parliament-door long to speak with Mr. Coventry,
which vexed me. Thence to the Lords’ House, and stood within
the House, while the Bishops and Lords did stay till the Chan-
cellor’s coming, and then we were put out, and they to prayers.
There comes a Bishop; and while he was rigging himself, he bid
his man listen at the door, whereabout in the prayers they were
but the man told him something, but could not tell whereabouts
it was in the prayers, nor the Bishop neither, but laughed at the
conceit; so went in: but, God forgive me! I did tell it by and by to
people, and did say that the man said that they were about some-
thing of saving their souls, but could not tell whereabouts in the
prayers that was. I sent in a note to my Lord Privy Seal, and he
came out to me; and I desired he would make another deputy
for me, because of my great business of the Navy this month;
but he told me he could not do it without the King’s consent,
which vexed me. So to Dr. Castle’s, and there did get a promise
from his clerk that his master should officiate for me to-morrow.
Thence by water to Tom’s, and there with my wife took coach
and to the old Exchange, where having bought six large Holland
bands, I sent her home, and myself found out my uncle Wight
and Mr. Rawlinson, and with them went to the tatter’s house to
dinner, and there had a good dinner of cold meat and good wine,
but was troubled in my head after the little wine I drank, and so
home to my office, and there did promise to drink no more wine
but one glass a meal till Whitsuntide next upon any score. Mrs.
Bowyer and her daughters being at my house I forbore to go to
them, having business and my head disturbed, but staid at my
office till night, and then to walk upon the leads with my wife,
and so to my chamber and thence to bed. The great talk is, that
the Spaniards and the Hollanders do intend to set upon the Por-
tuguese by sea, at Lisbon, as soon as our fleet is come away; and
by that means our fleet is not likely to come yet these two months
or three; which I hope is not true.
8th. Up very early and to my office, and there continued till
noon. So to dinner, and in comes uncle Fenner and the two
588
APRIL 1662
Joyces. I sent for a barrel of oysters and a breast of veal roasted,
and were very merry; but I cannot down with their dull com-
pany and impertinent. After dinner to the office again. So at
night by coach to Whitehall, and Mr. Coventry not being there
I brought my business of the office to him, it being almost dark,
and so came away and took up my wife. By the way home and
on Ludgate Hill there being a stop I bought two cakes, and they
were our supper at home.
9th. Sir George Carteret, Sir Williams both and myself all the
morning at the office passing the Victualler’s accounts, and at
noon to dinner at the Dolphin, where a good chine of beef and
other good cheer. At dinner Sir George showed me an account
in French of the great famine, which is to the greatest extremity
in some part of France at this day, which is very strange.269 So to
the Exchange, Mrs. Turner (who I found sick in bed), and several
other places about business, and so home. Supper and to bed.
10th. To Westminster with the two Sir Williams by water, and
did several businesses, and so to the Wardrobe with Mr. Moore to
dinner. Yesterday came Col. Talbot with letters from Portugall,
that the Queen is resolved to embarque for England this week.
Thence to the office all the afternoon. My Lord Windsor came to
us to discourse of his affairs, and to take his leave of us; he being
to go Governor of Jamaica with this fleet that is now going. Late
at the office. Home with my mind full of business. So to bed.
11th. Up early to my lute and a song, then about six o’clock
with Sir W. Pen by water to Deptford; and among the ships now
going to Portugall with men and horse, to see them dispatched.
So to Greenwich; and had a fine pleasant walk to Woolwich, hav-
ing in our company Captn. Minnes, with whom I was much
pleased to hear him talk in fine language, but pretty well for
269 On the 5th of June following, Louis, notwithstanding the scarcity, gave
that splendid carousal in the court before the Tuileries, from which the place
has ever since taken its name.–B.
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APRIL 1662
all that. Among other things, he and the other Captains that
were with us tell me that negros drowned look white and lose
their blackness, which I never heard before. At Woolwich, up
and down to do the same business; and so back to Greenwich by
water, and there while something is dressing for our dinner, Sir
William and I walked into the Park, where the King hath planted
trees and made steps in the hill up to the Castle, which is very
magnificent. So up and down the house, which is now repayring
in the Queen’s lodgings. So to dinner at the Globe, and Captain
Lambert of the Duke’s pleasure boat came to us and dined with
us, and were merry, and so home, and I in the evening to the Ex-
change, and spoke with uncle Wight, and so home and walked
with my wife on the leads late, and so the barber came to me, and
so to bed very weary, which I seldom am.
12th. At the office all the morning, where, among other things,
being provoked by some impertinence of Sir W. Batten’s, I called
him unreasonable man, at which he was very angry and so was
I, but I think we shall not much fall out about it. After dinner to
several places about business, and so home and wrote letters at
my office, and one to Mr. Coventry about business, and at the
close did excuse my not waiting on him myself so often as others
do for want of leisure. So home and to bed.
13th (Lord’s day). In the morning to Paul’s, where I heard a
pretty good sermon, and thence to dinner with my Lady at the
Wardrobe; and after much talk with her after dinner, I went to
the Temple to Church, and there heard another: by the same to-
ken a boy, being asleep, fell down a high seat to the ground, ready
to break his neck, but got no hurt. Thence to Graye’s Inn walkes;
and there met Mr. Pickering and walked with him two hours
till 8 o’clock till I was quite weary. His discourse most about the
pride of the Duchess of York; and how all the ladies envy my
Lady Castlemaine. He intends to go to Portsmouth to meet the
Queen this week; which is now the discourse and expectation of
the town. So home, and no sooner come but Sir W. Warren comes
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APRIL 1662
to me to bring me a paper of Field’s (with whom we have lately
had a great deal of trouble at the office), being a bitter petition
to the King against our office for not doing justice upon his com-
plaint to us of embezzlement of the King’s stores by one Turpin.
I took Sir William to Sir W. Pen’s (who was newly come from
Walthamstow), and there we read it and discoursed, but we do
not much fear it, the King referring it to the Duke of York. So we
drank a glass or two of wine, and so home and I to bed, my wife
being in bed already.
14th. Being weary last night I lay very long in bed to-day, talk-
ing with my wife, and persuaded her to go to Brampton, and take
Sarah with her, next week, to cure her ague by change of ayre,
and we agreed all things therein. We rose, and at noon dined,
and then we to the Paynter’s, and there sat the last time for my
little picture, which I hope will please me. Then to Paternoster
Row to buy things for my wife against her going. So home and
walked upon the leads with my wife, and whether she suspected
anything or no I know not, but she is quite off of her going to
Brampton, which something troubles me, and yet all my design
was that I might the freer go to Portsmouth when the rest go to
pay off the yards there, which will be very shortly. But I will get
off if I can. So to supper and to bed.
15th. At the office all the morning. Dined at home. Again at
the office in the afternoon to despatch letters and so home, and
with my wife, by coach, to the New Exchange, to buy her some
things; where we saw some new-fashion pettycoats of sarcenett,
with a black broad lace printed round the bottom and before,
very handsome, and my wife had a mind to one of them, but we
did not then buy one. But thence to Mr. Bowyer’s, thinking to
have spoke to them for our Sarah to go to Huntsmore for a while
to get away her ague, but we had not opportunity to do it, and
so home and to bed.
16th. Up early and took my physique; it wrought all the morn-
ing well. At noon dined, and all the afternoon, Mr. Hater to that
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end coming to me, he and I did go about my abstracting all the
contracts made in the office since we came into it. So at night to
bed.
17th. To Mr. Holliard’s in the morning, thinking to be let blood,
but he was gone out. So to White Hall, thinking to have had a
Seal at Privy Seal, but my Lord did not come, and so I walked
back home and staid within all the afternoon, there being no of-
fice kept to-day, but in the evening Sir W. Batten sent for me to
tell me that he had this day spoke to the Duke about raising our
houses, and he hath given us leave to do it, at which, being glad,
I went home merry, and after supper to bed.
18th. This morning sending the boy down into the cellar for
some beer I followed him with a cane, and did there beat him for
his staying of awards and other faults, and his sister came to me
down and begged for him. So I forebore, and afterwards, in my
wife’s chamber, did there talk to Jane how much I did love the
boy for her sake, and how much it do concern to correct the boy
for his faults, or else he would be undone. So at last she was well
pleased. This morning Sir G. Carteret, Sir W. Batten and I met
at the office, and did conclude of our going to Portsmouth next
week, in which my mind is at a great loss what to do with my
wife, for I cannot persuade her to go to Brampton, and I am loth
to leave her at, home. All the afternoon in several places to put
things in order for my going. At night home and to bed.
19th. This morning, before we sat, I went to Aldgate; and at the
corner shop, a draper’s, I stood, and did see Barkestead, Okey,
and Corbet, drawn towards the gallows at Tiburne; and there
they were hanged and quartered. They all looked very cheerful;
but I hear they all die defending what they did to the King to be
just; which is very strange. So to the office and then home to din-
ner, and Captain David Lambert came to take his leave of me, he
being to go back to Tangier there to lie. Then abroad about busi-
ness, and in the evening did get a bever, an old one, but a very
good one, of Sir W. Batten, for which I must give him something;
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but I am very well pleased with it. So after writing by the post to
bed.
20th (Lord’s day). My intention being to go this morning to
White Hall to hear South, my Lord Chancellor’s chaplain, the fa-
mous preacher and oratour of Oxford, (who the last Lord’s day
did sink down in the pulpit before the King, and could not pro-
ceed,) it did rain, and the wind against me, that I could by no
means get a boat or coach to carry me; and so I staid at Paul’s,
where the judges did all meet, and heard a sermon, it being the
first Sunday of the term; but they had a very poor sermon. So
to my Lady’s and dined, and so to White Hall to Sir G. Carteret,
and so to the Chappell, where I challenged my pew as Clerk of
the Privy Seal and had it, and then walked home with Mr. Bla-
grave to his old house in the Fishyard, and there he had a pretty
kinswoman that sings, and we did sing some holy things, and af-
terwards others came in and so I left them, and by water through
the bridge (which did trouble me) home, and so to bed.
21st: This morning I attempted to persuade my wife in bed
to go to Brampton this week, but she would not, which troubles
me, and seeing that I could keep it no longer from her, I told
her that I was resolved to go to Portsmouth to-morrow. Sir W.
Batten goes to Chatham to-day, and will be back again to come
for Portsmouth after us on Thursday next. I went to Westmin-
ster and several places about business. Then at noon dined with
my Lord Crew; and after dinner went up to Sir Thos. Crew’s
chamber, who is still ill. He tells me how my Lady Duchess of
Richmond and Castlemaine had a falling out the other day; and
she calls the latter Jane Shore, and did hope to see her come to
the same end that she did. Coming down again to my Lord, he
told me that news was come that the Queen is landed; at which I
took leave, and by coach hurried to White Hall, the bells ringing
in several places; but I found there no such matter, nor anything
like it. So I went by appointment to Anthony Joyce’s, where I sat
with his wife and Matt. Joyce an hour or two, and so her hus-
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APRIL 1662
band not being at home, away I went and in Cheapside spied
him and took him into the coach. Home, and there I found my
Lady Jemimah, and Anne, and Madamoiselle come to see my
wife, whom I left, and to talk with Joyce about a project I have of
his and my joyning, to get some money for my brother Tom and
his kinswoman to help forward with her portion if they should
marry. I mean in buying of tallow of him at a low rate for the
King, and Tom should have the profit; but he tells me the profit
will be considerable, at which I was troubled, but I have agreed
with him to serve some in my absence. He went away, and then
came Mr. Moore and sat late with me talking about business, and
so went away and I to bed.
22nd. After taking leave of my wife, which we could hardly
do kindly, because of her mind to go along with me, Sir W. Pen
and I took coach and so over the bridge to Lambeth, W. Bodham
and Tom Hewet going as clerks to Sir W. Pen, and my Will for
me. Here we got a dish of buttered eggs, and there staid till Sir
G. Carteret came to us from White Hall, who brought Dr. Clerke
with him, at which I was very glad, and so we set out, and I was
very much pleased with his company, and were very merry all
the way .... We came to Gilford and there passed our time in the
garden, cutting of sparagus for supper, the best that ever I eat in
my life but in the house last year. Supped well, and the Doctor
and I to bed together, calling cozens from his name and my office.
23d. Up early, and to Petersfield, and there dined well; and
thence got a countryman to guide us by Havant, to avoid going
through the Forest; but he carried us much out of the way, and
upon our coming we sent away an express to Sir W. Batten to
stop his coming, which I did project to make good my oath, that
my wife should come if any of our wives came, which my Lady
Batten did intend to do with her husband. The Doctor and I lay
together at Wiard’s, the chyrurgeon’s, in Portsmouth, his wife a
very pretty woman. We lay very well and merrily; in the morn-
ing, concluding him to be of the eldest blood and house of the
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APRIL 1662
Clerkes, because that all the fleas came to him and not to me.
24th. Up and to Sir G. Carteret’s lodgings at Mrs. Stephens’s,
where we keep our table all the time we are here. Thence all
of us to the Pay-house; but the books not being ready, we went
to church to the lecture, where there was my Lord Ormond and
Manchester, and much London company, though not so much
as I expected. Here we had a very good sermon upon this text:
“In love serving one another;” which pleased me very well. No
news of the Queen at all. So to dinner; and then to the Pay all
the afternoon. Then W. Pen and I walked to the King’s Yard, and
there lay at Mr. Tippets’s, where exceeding well treated.
25th. All the morning at Portsmouth, at the Pay, and then to
dinner, and again to the Pay; and at night got the Doctor to go lie
with me, and much pleased with his company; but I was much
troubled in my eyes, by reason of the healths I have this day been
forced to drink.
26th. Sir George’ and I, and his clerk Mr. Stephens, and Mr.
Holt our guide, over to Gosport; and so rode to Southampton.
In our way, besides my Lord Southampton’s’ parks and lands,
which in one view we could see £6,000 per annum, we observed
a little church-yard, where the graves are accustomed to be all
sowed with sage.270 At Southampton we went to the Mayor’s
and there dined, and had sturgeon of their own catching the last
week, which do not happen in twenty years, and it was well or-
dered. They brought us also some caveare, which I attempted
to order, but all to no purpose, for they had neither given it salt
enough, nor are the seedes of the roe broke, but are all in berryes.
The towne is one most gallant street, and is walled round with
stone, &c., and Bevis’s picture upon one of the gates; many old
270 Gough says, “It is the custom at this day all over Wales to strew the
graves, both within and without the church, with green herbs, branches of
box, flowers, rushes, and flags, for one year, after which such as can afford
it lay down a stone.”–Brand’s Popular Antiquities, edited W. C. Hazlitt, vol.
ii., p. 218.
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APRIL 1662
walls of religious houses, and the key, well worth seeing. After
dinner to horse again, being in nothing troubled but the badness
of my hat, which I borrowed to save my beaver. Home by night
and wrote letters to London, and so with Sir W. Pen to the Dock
to bed.
27th (Sunday). Sir W. Pen got trimmed before me, and so took
the coach to Portsmouth to wait on my Lord Steward to church,
and sent the coach for me back again. So I rode to church, and
met my Lord Chamberlain upon the walls of the garrison, who
owned and spoke to me. I followed him in the crowd of gal-
lants through the Queen’s lodgings to chappell; the rooms being
all rarely furnished, and escaped hardly being set on fire yes-
terday. At chappell we had a most excellent and eloquent ser-
mon. And here I spoke and saluted Mrs. Pierce, but being in
haste could not learn of her where her lodgings are, which vexes
me. Thence took Ned Pickering to dinner with us, and the two
Marshes, father and Son, dined with us, and very merry. Af-
ter dinner Sir W. Batten and I, the Doctor, and Ned Pickering by
coach to the Yard, and there on board the Swallow in the dock
hear our navy chaplain preach a sad sermon, full of nonsense and
false Latin; but prayed for the Right Honourable the principal of-
ficers.271 After sermon took him to Mr. Tippets’s to drink a glass
of wine, and so at 4 back again by coach to Portsmouth, and then
visited the Mayor, Mr. Timbrell, our anchor-smith, who showed
us the present they have for the Queen; which is a salt-sellar of
silver, the walls christall, with four eagles and four greyhounds
standing up at the top to bear up a dish; which indeed is one of
the neatest pieces of plate that ever I saw, and the case is very
pretty also.272 This evening came a merchantman in the harbour,
which we hired at London to carry horses to Portugall; but, Lord!
what running there was to the seaside to hear what news, think-
271 Principal officers of the navy, of which body Pepys was one as Clerk of
the Acts.
272 A salt-cellar answering this description is preserved at the Tower.
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APRIL 1662
ing it had come from the Queen. In the evening Sir George, Sir
W. Pen and I walked round the walls, and thence we two with
the Doctor to the yard, and so to supper and to bed.
28th. The Doctor and I begun philosophy discourse exceeding
pleasant. He offers to bring me into the college of virtuosoes–
[The Royal Society.]–and my Lord Brouncker’s acquaintance, and
to show me some anatomy, which makes me very glad; and I
shall endeavour it when I come to London. Sir W. Pen much
troubled upon letters came last night. Showed me one of Dr.
Owen’s273 to his son,–[William Penn, the celebrated Quaker.]–
whereby it appears his son is much perverted in his opinion by
him; which I now perceive is one thing that hath put Sir William
so long off the hooks. By coach to the Pay-house, and so to work
again, and then to dinner, and to it again, and so in the evening
to the yard, and supper and bed.
29th. At the pay all the morning, and so to dinner; and then
to it again in the afternoon, and after our work was done, Sir
G. Carteret, Sir W. Pen and I walked forth, and I spied Mrs.
Pierce and another lady passing by. So I left them and went to
the ladies, and walked with them up and down, and took them
to Mrs. Stephens, and there gave them wine and sweetmeats,
and were very merry; and then comes the Doctor, and we car-
ried them by coach to their lodging, which was very poor, but
the best they could get, and such as made much mirth among
us. So I appointed one to watch when the gates of the town were
ready to be shut, and to give us notice; and so the Doctor and I
staid with them playing and laughing, and at last were forced to
bid good night for fear of being locked into the town all night.
So we walked to the yard, designing how to prevent our going
to London tomorrow, that we might be merry with these ladies,
which I did. So to supper and merrily to bed.
273 John Owen, D.D., a learned Nonconformist divine, and a voluminous
theological writer, born 1616, made Dean of Christ Church in 1653 by the
Parliament, and ejected in 1659-60. He died at Ealing in 1683.
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30th. This morning Sir G. Carteret came down to the yard, and
there we mustered over all the men and determined of some reg-
ulations in the yard, and then to dinner, all the officers of the yard
with us, and after dinner walk to Portsmouth, there to pay off the
Success, which we did pretty early, and so I took leave of Sir W.
Pen, he desiring to know whither I went, but I would not tell
him. I went to the ladies, and there took them and walked to the
Mayor’s to show them the present, and then to the Dock, where
Mr. Tippets made much of them, and thence back again, the Doc-
tor being come to us to their lodgings, whither came our supper
by my appointment, and we very merry, playing at cards and
laughing very merry till 12 o’clock at night, and so having staid
so long (which we had resolved to stay till they bade us be gone),
which yet they did not do but by consent, we bade them good
night, and so past the guards, and went to the Doctor’s lodg-
ings, and there lay with him, our discourse being much about
the quality of the lady with Mrs. Pierce, she being somewhat old
and handsome, and painted and fine, and had a very handsome
maid with her, which we take to be the marks of a bawd. But
Mrs. Pierce says she is a stranger to her and met by chance in the
coach, and pretends to be a dresser. Her name is Eastwood. So to
sleep in a bad bed about one o’clock in the morning. This after-
noon after dinner comes Mr. Stephenson, one of the burgesses of
the town, to tell me that the Mayor and burgesses did desire my
acceptance of a burgess-ship, and were ready at the Mayor’s to
make me one. So I went, and there they were all ready, and did
with much civility give me my oath, and after the oath, did by
custom shake me all by the hand. So I took them to a tavern and
made them drink, and paying the reckoning, went away. They
having first in the tavern made Mr. Waith also a burgess, he com-
ing in while we were drinking. It cost me a piece in gold to the
Town Clerk, and 10s. to the Bayliffes, and spent 6s.
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May 1st. Sir G. Carteret, Sir W. Pen, and myself, with our clerks,
set out this morning from Portsmouth very early, and got by
noon to Petersfield; several officers of the Yard accompanying
us so far. Here we dined and were merry. At dinner comes my
Lord Carlingford from London, going to Portsmouth: tells us
that the Duchess of York is brought to bed of a girl,–[Mary, after-
wards Queen of England.]–at which I find nobody pleased; and
that Prince Rupert and the Duke of Buckingham are sworn of the
Privy Councell. He himself made a dish with eggs of the butter of
the Sparagus, which is very fine meat, which I will practise here-
after. To horse again after dinner, and got to Gilford, where after
supper I to bed, having this day been offended by Sir W. Pen’s
foolish talk, and I offending him with my answers. Among oth-
ers he in discourse complaining of want of confidence, did ask
me to lend him a grain or two, which I told him I thought he was
better stored with than myself, before Sir George. So that I see I
must keep a greater distance than I have done, and I hope I may
do it because of the interest which I am making with Sir George.
To bed all alone, and my Will in the truckle bed.274 2nd. Early
to coach again and to Kingston, where we baited a little, and
274 According to the original Statutes of Corpus Christi Coll. Oxon, a
Scholar slept in a truckle bed below each Fellow. Called also “a trindle bed.”
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presently to coach again and got early to London, and I found
all well at home, and Mr. Hunt and his wife had dined with
my wife to-day, and been very kind to my wife in my absence.
After I had washed myself, it having been the hottest day that
has been this year, I took them all by coach to Mrs. Hunt’s, and
I to Dr. Clerke’s lady, and gave her her letter and token. She
is a very fine woman, and what with her person and the num-
ber of fine ladies that were with her, I was much out of counte-
nance, and could hardly carry myself like a man among them;
but however, I staid till my courage was up again, and talked
to them, and viewed her house, which is most pleasant, and so
drank and good-night. And so to my Lord’s lodgings, where by
chance I spied my Lady’s coach, and found her and my Lady
Wright there, and so I spoke to them, and they being gone went
to Mr. Hunt’s for my wife, and so home and to bed.
3rd. Sir W. Pen and I by coach to St. James’s, and there to the
Duke’s Chamber, who had been a-hunting this morning and is
come back again. Thence to Westminster, where I met Mr. Moore,
and hear that Mr. Watkins’ is suddenly dead since my going. To
dinner to my Lady Sandwich, and Sir Thomas Crew’s children
coming thither, I took them and all my Ladys to the Tower and
showed them the lions275 and all that was to be shown, and so
took them to my house, and there made much of them, and so
saw them back to my Lady’s. Sir Thomas Crew’s children be-
ing as pretty and the best behaved that ever I saw of their age.
Thence, at the goldsmith’s, took my picture in little,–[Miniature
by Savill]–which is now done, home with me, and pleases me
exceedingly and my wife. So to supper and to bed, it being ex-
ceeding hot.
Compare Hall’s description of an obsequious tutor: “He lieth in a truckle
bed While his young master lieth o’er his head.” Satires, ii. 6, 5. The bed was
drawn in the daytime under the high bed of the tutor. See Wordsworth’s
“University Life in the Eighteenth Century.”–M. B.
275 The Tower Menagerie was not abolished until the reign of William IV.
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4th (Lord’s day). Lay long talking with my wife, then Mr. Hol-
liard came to me and let me blood, about sixteen ounces, I being
exceedingly full of blood and very good. I begun to be sick; but
lying upon my back I was presently well again, and did give him
5s. for his pains, and so we parted, and I, to my chamber to
write down my journall from the beginning of my late journey
to this house. Dined well, and after dinner, my arm tied up with
a black ribbon, I walked with my wife to my brother Tom’s; our
boy waiting on us with his sword, which this day he begins to
wear, to outdo Sir W. Pen’s boy, who this day, and Six W. Batten’s
too, begin to wear new livery; but I do take mine to be the neatest
of them all. I led my wife to Mrs. Turner’s pew, and the church
being full, it being to hear a Doctor who is to preach a probacon
sermon, I went out to the Temple and there walked, and so when
church was done went to Mrs. Turner’s, and after a stay there,
my wife and I walked to Grays Inn, to observe fashions of the
ladies, because of my wife’s making some clothes. Thence home-
wards, and called in at Antony Joyce’s, where we found his wife
brought home sick from church, and was in a convulsion fit. So
home and to Sir W. Pen’s and there supped, and so to prayers at
home and to bed.
5th. My arme not being well, I staid within all the morning,
and dined alone at home, my wife being gone out to buy some
things for herself, and a gown for me to dress myself in. And so
all the afternoon looking over my papers, and at night walked
upon the leads, and so to bed.
6th. This morning I got my seat set up on the leads, which
pleases me well. So to the office, and thence to the Change, but
could not meet with my uncle Wight. So home to dinner and
then out again to several places to pay money and to understand
my debts, and so home and walked with my wife on the leads,
and so to supper and to bed. I find it a hard matter to settle to
business after so much leisure and pleasure.
7th. Walked to Westminster; where I understand the news that
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Mr. Montagu is this last night come to the King with news,
that he left the Queen and fleet in the Bay of Biscay, coming
this wayward; and that he believes she is now at the Isle of
Scilly. So at noon to my Lord Crew’s and there dined, and af-
ter dinner Sir Thos. Crew and I talked together, and among
other instances of the simple light discourse that sometimes is
in the Parliament House, he told me how in the late business of
Chymny money, when all occupiers were to pay, it was ques-
tioned whether women were under that name to pay, and some-
body rose and said that they were not occupiers, but occupied.
Thence to Paul’s Church Yard; where seeing my Lady’s Sand-
wich and Carteret, and my wife (who this day made a visit the
first time to my Lady Carteret), come by coach, and going to
Hide Park, I was resolved to follow them; and so went to Mrs.
Turner’s: and thence found her out at the Theatre, where I saw
the last act of the “Knight of the Burning Pestle,” which pleased
me not at all. And so after the play done, she and The. Turner
and Mrs. Lucin and I, in her coach to the Park; and there found
them out, and spoke to them; and observed many fine ladies,
and staid till all were gone almost. And so to Mrs. Turner’s, and
there supped, and so walked home, and by and by comes my
wife home, brought by my Lady Carteret to the gate, and so to
bed.
8th. At the office all the morning doing business alone, and
then to the Wardrobe, where my Lady going out with the chil-
dren to dinner I staid not, but returned home, and was overtaken
in St. Paul’s Churchyard by Sir G. Carteret in his coach, and so
he carried me to the Exchange, where I staid awhile. He told
me that the Queen and the fleet were in Mount’s Bay on Mon-
day last, and that the Queen endures her sickness pretty well.
He also told me how Sir John Lawson hath done some execution
upon the Turks in the Straight, of which I am glad, and told the
news the first on the Exchange, and was much followed by mer-
chants to tell it. So home and to dinner, and by and by to the
office, and after the rest gone (my Lady Albemarle being this day
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at dinner at Sir W. Batten’s) Sir G. Carteret comes, and he and I
walked in the garden, and, among other discourse, tells me that
it is Mr. Coventry that is to come to us as a Commissioner of the
Navy; at which he is much vexed, and cries out upon Sir W. Pen,
and threatens him highly. And looking upon his lodgings, which
are now enlarging, he in passion cried, “Guarda mi spada; for,
by God, I may chance to keep him in Ireland, when he is there:”
for Sir W. Pen is going thither with my Lord Lieutenant. But it is
my design to keep much in with Sir George; and I think I have
begun very well towards it. So to the office, and was there late
doing business, and so with my head full of business I to bed.
9th. Up and to my office, and so to dinner at home, and then
to several places to pay my debts, and then to Westminster to Dr.
Castle, who discoursed with me about Privy Seal business, which
I do not much mind, it being little worth, but by Watkins’s–[clerk
of the Privy Seal]–late sudden death we are like to lose money.
Thence to Mr. de Cretz, and there saw some good pieces that he
hath copyed of the King’s pieces, some of Raphael and Michael
Angelo; and I have borrowed an Elizabeth of his copying to hang
up in my house, and sent it home by Will. Thence with Mr. Salis-
bury, who I met there, into Covent Garden to an alehouse, to see
a picture that hangs there, which is offered for 20s., and I offered
fourteen–but it is worth much more money–but did not buy it, I
having no mind to break my oath. Thence to see an Italian pup-
pet play that is within the rayles there, which is very pretty, the
best that ever I saw, and great resort of gallants. So to the Temple
and by water home, and so walk upon the leads, and in the dark
there played upon my flageolette, it being a fine still evening, and
so to supper and to bed. This day I paid Godfrey’s debt of 40 and
odd pounds. The Duke of York went last night to Portsmouth; so
that I believe the Queen is near.
10th. By myself at the office all the morning drawing up in-
structions for Portsmouth yard in those things wherein we at our
late being there did think fit to reform, and got them signed this
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morning to send away to-night, the Duke being now there. At
noon to the Wardrobe; there dined. My Lady told me how my
Lady Castlemaine do speak of going to lie in at Hampton Court;
which she and all our ladies are much troubled at, because of the
King’s being forced to show her countenance in the sight of the
Queen when she comes. Back to the office and there all after-
noon, and in the evening comes Sir G. Carteret, and he and I did
hire a ship for Tangier, and other things together; and I find that
he do single me out to join with me apart from the rest, which I
am much glad of. So home, and after being trimmed, to bed.
11th (Lord’s day). To our church in the morning, where, our
Minister being out of town, a dull, flat Presbiter preached. Dined
at home, and my wife’s brother with us, we having a good dish of
stewed beef of Jane’s own dressing, which was well done, and a
piece of sturgeon of a barrel sent me by Captain Cocke. In the
afternoon to White Hall; and there walked an hour or two in
the Park, where I saw the King now out of mourning, in a suit
laced with gold and silver, which it was said was out of fash-
ion. Thence to the Wardrobe; and there consulted with the ladies
about our going to Hampton Court to-morrow, and thence home,
and after settled business there my wife and I to the Wardrobe,
and there we lay all night in Captain Ferrers’ chambers, but the
bed so soft that I could not sleep that hot night.
12th. Mr. Townsend called us up by four o’clock; and by five
the three ladies, my wife and I, and Mr. Townsend, his son and
daughter, were got to the barge and set out. We walked from
Mortlake to Richmond, and so to boat again. And from Ted-
dington to Hampton Court Mr. Townsend and I walked again.
And then met the ladies, and were showed the whole house by
Mr. Marriott; which is indeed nobly furnished, particularly the
Queen’s bed, given her by the States of Holland; a looking-glass
sent by the Queen-mother from France, hanging in the Queen’s
chamber, and many brave pictures. So to Mr. Marriott’s, and
there we rested ourselves and drank. And so to barge again, and
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MAY 1662
there we had good victuals and wine, and were very merry; and
got home about eight at night very well. So my wife and I took
leave of my Ladies, and home by a hackney-coach, the easiest
that ever I met with, and so to bed.
14th. All the morning at Westminster and elsewhere about
business, and dined at the Wardrobe; and after dinner, sat talking
an hour or two alone with my Lady. She is afeard that my Lady
Castlemaine will keep still with the King, and I am afeard she
will not, for I love her well. Thence to my brother’s, and finding
him in a lie about the lining of my new morning gown, saying
that it was the same with the outside, I was very angry with him
and parted so. So home after an hour stay at Paul’s Churchyard,
and there came Mr. Morelock of Chatham, and brought me a
stately cake, and I perceive he has done the same to the rest, of
which I was glad; so to bed.
15th. To Westminster; and at the Privy Seal I saw Mr. Coven-
try’s seal for his being Commissioner with us, at which I know
not yet whether to be glad or otherwise. So doing several things
by the way, I walked home, and after dinner to the office all the
afternoon. At night, all the bells of the town rung, and bonfires
made for the joy of the Queen’s arrival, who came and landed at
Portsmouth last night. But I do not see much thorough joy, but
only an indifferent one, in the hearts of people, who are much
discontented at the pride and luxury of the Court, and running
in debt.
16th. Up early, Mr. Hater and I to the office, and there I made
an end of my book of contracts which I have been making an
abstract of. Dined at home, and spent most of the day at the
office. At night to supper and bed.
17th. Upon a letter this morning from Mr. Moore, I went to my
cozen Turner’s chamber, and there put him drawing a replication
to Tom Trice’s answer speedily. So to Whitehall and there met
Mr. Moore, and I walked long in Westminster Hall, and thence
605
MAY 1662
with him to the Wardrobe to dinner, where dined Mrs. Sander-
son, the mother of the maids, and after dinner my Lady and she
and I on foot to Pater Noster Row to buy a petticoat against the
Queen’s coming for my Lady, of plain satin, and other things; and
being come back again, we there met Mr. Nathaniel Crew276 at
the Wardrobe with a young gentleman, a friend and fellow stu-
dent of his, and of a good family, Mr. Knightly, and known to
the Crews, of whom my Lady privately told me she hath some
thoughts of a match for my Lady Jemimah. I like the person very
well, and he hath £2000 per annum. Thence to the office, and
there we sat, and thence after writing letters to all my friends
with my Lord at Portsmouth, I walked to my brother Tom’s to
see a velvet cloak, which I buy of Mr. Moore. It will cost me £8
10s.; he bought it for £6 10s., but it is worth my money. So home
and find all things made clean against to-morrow, which pleases
me well. So to bed.
18th (Whitsunday). By water to White Hall, and thereto chap-
pell in my pew belonging to me as Clerk of the Privy Seal; and
there I heard a most excellent sermon of Dr. Hacket, Bishop of
Lichfield and Coventry, upon these words: “He that drinketh this
water shall never thirst.” We had an excellent anthem, sung by
Captain Cooke and another, and brave musique. And then the
King came down and offered, and took the sacrament upon his
knees; a sight very well worth seeing. Hence with Sir G. Carteret
to his lodging to dinner with his Lady and one Mr. Brevin, a
French Divine, we were very merry, and good discourse, and I
had much talk with my Lady. After dinner, and so to chappell
again; and there had another good anthem of Captain Cooke’s.
276 Nathaniel Crew, born 1633, fifth son of John, first Lord Crew; he himself
became third Lord Crew in 1697. Sub-Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford,
1659. Took orders in 1664, and was Rector of Lincoln College in 1668; Dean
of Chichester, 1669; Bishop of Oxford, 1671; Bishop of Durham, 1674; sworn
of the Privy Council in 1676. He was very subservient to James II., and at the
Revolution was excepted from the general pardon of May, 1690, but he was
allowed to keep possession of the bishopric of Durham.
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MAY 1662
Thence to the Councell-chamber; where the King and Councell
sat till almost eleven o’clock at night, and I forced to walk up
and down the gallerys till that time of night. They were reading
all the bills over that are to pass to-morrow at the House, before
the King’s going out of town and proroguing the House. At last
the Councell risen, and Sir G. Carteret telling me what the Coun-
cell hath ordered about the ships designed to carry horse from
Ireland to Portugall, which is now altered. I got a coach and so
home, sending the boat away without me. At home I found my
wife discontented at my being abroad, but I pleased her. She was
in her new suit of black sarcenet and yellow petticoat very pretty.
So to bed.
19th. Long in bed, sometimes scolding with my wife, and then
pleased again, and at last up, and put on my riding cloth suit,
and a camelott coat new, which pleases me well enough. To the
Temple about my replication, and so to my brother Tom’s, and
there hear that my father will be in town this week. So home,
the shops being but some shut and some open. I hear that the
House of Commons do think much that they should be forced
to huddle over business this morning against the afternoon, for
the King to pass their Acts, that he may go out of town.277 But he,
I hear since, was forced to stay till almost nine o’clock at night
277 To ears accustomed to the official words of speeches from the throne
at the present day, the familiar tone of the following extracts from Charles’s
speech to the Commons, on the 1st of March; will be amusing: “I will con-
clude with putting you in mind of the season of the year, and the conve-
nience of your being in the country, in many respects, for the good and wel-
fare of it; for you will find much tares have been sowed there in your absence.
The arrival of my wife, who I expect some time this month, and the necessity
of my own being out of town to meet her, and to stay some time before she
comes hither, makes it very necessary that the Parliament be adjourned be-
fore Easter, to meet again in the winter. .... The mention of my wife’s arrival
puts me in mind to desire you to put that compliment upon her, that her
entrance into the town may be with more decency than the ways will now
suffer it to be; and, to that purpose, I pray you would quickly pass such laws
as are before you, in order to the amending those ways, and that she may not
607
MAY 1662
before he could have done, and then he prorogued them; and so
to Gilford, and lay there. Home, and Mr. Hunt dined with me,
and were merry. After dinner Sir W. Pen and his daughter, and I
and my wife by coach to the Theatre, and there in a box saw “The
Little Thief” well done. Thence to Moorefields, and walked and
eat some cheesecake and gammon of bacon, but when I was come
home I was sick, forced to vomit it up again. So my wife walking
and singing upon the leads till very late, it being pleasant and
moonshine, and so to bed.
10th. Sir W. Pen and I did a little business at the office, and
so home again. Then comes Dean Fuller after we had dined, but
I got something for him, and very merry we were for an hour
or two, and I am most pleased with his company and goodness.
At last parted, and my wife and I by coach to the Opera, and
there saw the 2nd part of “The Siege of Rhodes,” but it is not so
well done as when Roxalana was there, who, it is said, is now
owned by my Lord of Oxford.278 Thence to Tower-wharf, and
there took boat, and we all walked to Halfeway House, and there
eat and drank, and were pleasant, and so finally home again in
the evening, end so good night, this being a very pleasant life that
we now lead, and have long done; the Lord be blessed, and make
us thankful. But, though I am much against too much spending,
yet I do think it best to enjoy some degree of pleasure now that
we have health, money, and opportunity, rather than to leave
pleasures to old age or poverty, when we cannot have them so
properly.
21st. My wife and I by water to Westminster, and after she had
seen her father (of whom lately I have heard nothing at all what
find Whitehall surrounded with water.” Such a bill passed the Commons on
the 24th June. From Charles’s Speech, March 1st, 1662.–B.
278 For note on Mrs. Davenport, who was deceived by a pretended mar-
riage with the Earl of Oxford, see ante. Lord Oxford’s first wife died in 1659.
He married, in 1672, his second wife, Diana Kirke, of whom nothing more
need be said than that she bore an inappropriate Christian name.
608
MAY 1662
he does or her mother), she comes to me to my Lord’s lodgings,
where she and I staid walking in White Hall garden. And in the
Privy-garden saw the finest smocks and linnen petticoats of my
Lady Castlemaine’s, laced with rich lace at the bottom, that ever
I saw; and did me good to look upon them. So to Wilkinson’s,
she and I and Sarah to dinner, where I had a good quarter of
lamb and a salat. Here Sarah told me how the King dined at my
Lady Castlemaine’s, and supped, every day and night the last
week; and that the night that the bonfires were made for joy of
the Queen’s arrivall, the King was there; but there was no fire at
her door, though at all the rest of the doors almost in the street;
which was much observed: and that the King and she did send
for a pair of scales and weighed one another; and she, being with
child, was said to be heaviest. But she is now a most disconso-
late creature, and comes not out of doors, since the King’s going.
But we went to the Theatre to “The French Dancing Master,” and
there with much pleasure gazed upon her (Lady Castlemaine);
but it troubles us to see her look dejectedly and slighted by peo-
ple already. The play pleased us very well; but Lacy’s part, the
Dancing Master, the best in the world. Thence to my brother
Tom’s, in expectation to have met my father to-night come out
of the country, but he is not yet come, but here we found my
uncle Fenner and his old wife, whom I had not seen since the
wedding dinner, nor care to see her. They being gone, my wife
and I went and saw Mrs. Turner, whom we found not well, and
her two boys Charles and Will come out of the country, grown
very plain boys after three years being under their father’s care
in Yorkshire. Thence to Tom’s again, and there supped well, my
she cozen Scott being there and my father being not come, we
walked home and to bed.
22d. This morning comes an order from the Secretary of State,
Nicholas, for me to let one Mr. Lee, a Councellor, to view what
papers I have relating to passages of the late times, wherein Sir H.
Vane’s hand is employed, in order to the drawing up his charge;
which I did, and at noon he, with Sir W. Pen and his daughter,
609
MAY 1662
dined with me, and he to his work again, and we by coach to
the Theatre and saw “Love in a Maze.” The play hath little in it
but Lacy’s part of a country fellow, which he did to admiration.
So home, and supped with Sir W. Pen, where Sir W. Batten and
Captn. Cocke came to us, to whom I have lately been a great
stranger. This night we had each of us a letter from Captain Ted-
diman from the Streights, of a peace made upon good terms, by
Sir J. Lawson, with the Argier men, which is most excellent news?
He hath also sent each of us some anchovies, olives, and muscatt;
but I know not yet what that is, and am ashamed to ask. After
supper home, and to bed, resolving to make up this week in see-
ing plays and pleasure, and so fall to business next week again
for a great while.
23rd. At the office good part of the morning, and then about
noon with my wife on foot to the Wardrobe. My wife went up to
the dining room to my Lady Paulina, and I staid below talking
with Mr. Moore in the parley, reading of the King’s and Chancel-
lor’s late speeches at the proroguing of the Houses of Parliament.
And while I was reading, news was brought me that my Lord
Sandwich is come and gone up to my Lady, which put me into
great suspense of joy, so I went up waiting my Lord’s coming out
of my Lady’s chamber, which by and by he did, and looks very
well, and my soul is glad to see him. He very merry, and hath
left the King and Queen at Portsmouth, and is come up to stay
here till next Wednesday, and then to meet the King and Queen at
Hampton Court. So to dinner, Mr. Browne, Clerk of the House of
Lords, and his wife and brother there also; and my Lord mighty
merry; among other things, saying that the Queen is a very agree-
able lady, and paints still. After dinner I showed him my letter
from Teddiman about the news from Argier, which pleases him
exceedingly; and he writ one to the Duke of York about it, and
sent it express. There coming much company after dinner to my
Lord, my wife and I slunk away to the Opera, where we saw
“Witt in a Constable,” the first time that it is acted; but so silly a
play I never saw I think in my life. After it was done, my wife and
610
MAY 1662
I to the puppet play in Covent Garden, which I saw the other day,
and indeed it is very pleasant. Here among the fidlers I first saw
a dulcimere279 played on with sticks knocking of the strings, and
is very pretty. So by water home, and supped with Sir William
Pen very merry, and so to bed.
24th. To the Wardrobe, and there again spoke with my Lord,
and saw W. Howe, who is grown a very pretty and is a sober fel-
low. Thence abroad with Mr. Creed, of whom I informed myself
of all I had a mind to know. Among other things, the great diffi-
culty my Lord hath been in all this summer for lack of good and
full orders from the King; and I doubt our Lords of the Councell
do not mind things as the late powers did, but their pleasures
or profit more. That the Juego de Toros is a simple sport, yet the
greatest in Spain. That the Queen hath given no rewards to any of
the captains or officers, but only to my Lord Sandwich; and that
was a bag of gold, which was no honourable present, of about
£1400 sterling. How recluse the Queen hath ever been, and all
the voyage never come upon the deck, nor put her head out of
her cabin; but did love my Lord’s musique, and would send for
it down to the state-room, and she sit in her cabin within hear-
ing of it. That my Lord was forced to have some clashing with
the Council of Portugall about payment of the portion, before he
could get it; which was, besides Tangier and a free trade in the
Indys, two millions of crowns, half now, and the other half in
twelve months. But they have brought but little money; but the
rest in sugars and other commoditys, and bills of exchange. That
the King of Portugall is a very fool almost, and his mother do all,
and he is a very poor Prince. After a morning draft at the Star
in Cheapside, I took him to the Exchange, thence home, but my
wife having dined, I took him to Fish Street, and there we had
a couple of lobsters, and dined upon them, and much discourse.
279 The dulcimer (or psaltery) consisted of a flat box, acting as a resonating
chamber, over which strings of wire were stretched: These were struck by
little hammers.
611
MAY 1662
And so I to the office, and that being done, Sir W. Pen and I to
Deptford by water to Captain Rooth’s to see him, he being very
sick, and by land home, calling at Halfway house, where we eat
and drank. So home and to bed.
25th (Lord’s day). To trimming myself, which I have this
week done every morning, with a pumice stone,–[Shaving with
pumice stone.]–which I learnt of Mr. Marsh, when I was last at
Portsmouth; and I find it very easy, speedy, and cleanly, and shall
continue the practice of it. To church, and heard a good sermon
of Mr. Woodcocke’s at our church; only in his latter prayer for a
woman in childbed, he prayed that God would deliver her from
the hereditary curse of child-bearing, which seemed a pretty
strange expression. Dined at home, and Mr. Creed with me. This
day I had the first dish of pease I have had this year. After dis-
course he and I abroad, and walked up and down, and looked
into many churches, among others Mr. Baxter’s at Blackfryers.
Then to the Wardrobe, where I found my Lord takes physic, so
I did not see him, but with Captn. Ferrers in Mr. George Mon-
tagu’s coach to Charing Cross; and there at the Triumph tavern
he showed me some Portugall ladys, which are come to town be-
fore the Queen. They are not handsome, and their farthingales
a strange dress.280 Many ladies and persons of quality come to
see them. I find nothing in them that is pleasing; and I see they
have learnt to kiss and look freely up and down already, and I do
believe will soon forget the recluse practice of their own coun-
try. They complain much for lack of good water to drink. So
to the Wardrobe back on foot and supped with my Lady, and so
home, and after a walk upon the leads with my wife, to prayers
and bed. The King’s guards and some City companies do walk
up and down the town these five or six days; which makes me
280 Farthingales had gone out of fashion in England during the reign of
Charles I., and therefore their use by the Portuguese ladies astonished the
English. Evelyn also remarks in his Diary on this ugly custom (May 30th,
1662).
612
MAY 1662
think, and they do say, there are some plots in laying. God keep
us.
26th. Up by four o’clock in the morning, and fell to the prepar-
ing of some accounts for my Lord of Sandwich. By and by, by
appointment comes Mr. Moore, and, by what appears to us at
present, we found that my Lord is above £7,000 in debt, and
that he hath money coming into him that will clear all, and so
we think him clear, but very little money in his purse. So to my
Lord’s, and after he was ready, we spent an hour with him, giv-
ing him an account thereof; and he having some £6,000 in his
hands, remaining of the King’s, he is resolved to make use of that,
and get off of it as well as he can, which I like well of, for else I
fear he will scarce get beforehand again a great while. Thence
home, and to the Trinity House; where the Brethren (who have
been at Deptford choosing a new Maister; which is Sir J. Minnes,
notwithstanding Sir W. Batten did contend highly for it: at which
I am not a little pleased, because of his proud lady) about three
o’clock came hither, and so to dinner. I seated myself close by Mr.
Prin, who, in discourse with me, fell upon what records he hath
of the lust and wicked lives of the nuns heretofore in England,
and showed me out of his pocket one wherein thirty nuns for
their lust were ejected of their house, being not fit to live there,
and by the Pope’s command to be put, however, into other nun-
nerys. I could not stay to end dinner with them, but rose, and pri-
vately went out, and by water to my brother’s, and thence to take
my wife to the Redd Bull, where we saw “Doctor Faustus,” but
so wretchedly and poorly done, that we were sick of it, and the
worse because by a former resolution it is to be the last play we
are to see till Michaelmas. Thence homewards by coach, through
Moorefields, where we stood awhile, and saw the wrestling. At
home, got my lute upon the leads, and there played, and so to
bed.
27th. To my Lord this morning, and thence to my brother’s,
where I found my father, poor man, come, which I was glad to
613
MAY 1662
see. I staid with him till noon, and then he went to my cozen
Scott’s to dinner, who had invited him. He tells me his alterations
of the house and garden at Brampton, which please me well. I
could not go with him, and so we parted at Ludgate, and I home
to dinner, and to the office all the afternoon, and musique in my
chamber alone at night, and so to bed.
28th. Up early to put things in order in my chamber, and then
to my Lord’s, with whom I spoke about several things, and so
up and down in several places about business with Mr. Creed,
among others to Mr. Wotton’s the shoemaker, and there drank
our morning draft, and then home about noon, and by and by
comes my father by appointment to dine with me, which we did
very merrily, I desiring to make him as merry as I can, while the
poor man is in town. After dinner comes my uncle Wight and
sat awhile and talked with us, and thence we three to the Mum
House at Leadenhall, and there sat awhile. Then I left them, and
to the Wardrobe, where I found my Lord gone to Hampton Court.
Here I staid all the afternoon till late with Creed and Captain
Ferrers, thinking whether we should go to-morrow together to
Hampton Court, but Ferrers his wife coming in by and by to the
house with the young ladies (with whom she had been abroad),
she was unwilling to go, whereupon I was willing to put off our
going, and so home, but still my mind was hankering after our
going to-morrow. So to bed.
29th. At home all the morning. At noon to the Wardrobe, and
dined with my Lady, and after dinner staid long talking with her;
then homeward, and in Lumbard Street was called out of a win-
dow by Alderman Backwell, where I went, and saluted his lady,
a very pretty woman. Here was Mr. Creed, and it seems they
have been under some disorder in fear of a fire at the next door,
and had been removing their goods, but the fire was over before
I came. Thence home, and with my wife and the two maids, and
the boy, took boat and to Foxhall,281 where I had not been a great
281 Foxhall, Faukeshall, or Vauxhall, a manor in Surrey, properly Fulke’s.
614
MAY 1662
while. To the Old Spring Garden, and there walked long, and
the wenches gathered pinks. Here we staid, and seeing that we
could not have anything to eat, but very dear, and with long stay,
we went forth again without any notice taken of us, and so we
might have done if we had had anything. Thence to the New
one, where I never was before, which much exceeds the other;
and here we also walked, and the boy crept through the hedge
and gathered abundance of roses, and, after a long walk, passed
out of doors as we did in the other place, and here we had cakes
and powdered beef–[salt beef]–and ale, and so home again by
water with much pleasure. This day, being the King’s birth-day,
was very solemnly observed; and the more, for that the Queen
this day comes to Hampton Court. In the evening, bonfires were
made, but nothing to the great number that was heretofore at the
burning of the Rump. So to bed.
30th. This morning I made up my accounts, and find myself
‘de claro’ worth about £530, and no more, so little have I in-
creased it since my last reckoning; but I confess I have laid out
much money in clothes. Upon a suddaine motion I took my wife,
and Sarah and Will by water, with some victuals with us, as low
as Gravesend, intending to have gone into the Hope to the Royal
James, to have seen the ship and Mr. Shepley, but meeting Mr.
Shepley in a hoy, bringing up my Lord’s things, she and I went
Hall, and so called from Fulke de Breaute, the notorious mercenary follower
of King John. The manor house was afterwards known as Copped or Copt
Hall. Sir Samuel Morland obtained a lease of the place, and King Charles
made him Master of Mechanics, and here “he (Morland), anno 1667, built
a fine room,” says Aubrey, “the inside all of looking-glass and fountains,
very pleasant to behold.” The gardens were formed about 1661, and origi-
nally called the “New Spring Gardens,” to distinguish them from the “Old
Spring Gardens” at Charing Cross, but according to the present description
by Pepys there was both an Old and a New Spring Garden at Vauxhall.
Balthazar Monconys, who visited England early in the reign of Charles II.,
describes the ‘Jardins Printemps’ at Lambeth as having lawns and gravel
walks, dividing squares of twenty or thirty yards enclosed with hedges of
gooseberry trees, within which were planted roses.
615
MAY 1662
on board, and sailed up with them as far as half-way tree, very
glad to see Mr. Shepley. Here we saw a little Turk and a negroe,
which are intended for pages to the two young ladies. Many
birds and other pretty noveltys there was, but I was afeard of be-
ing louzy, and so took boat again, and got to London before them,
all the way, coming and going, reading in the “Wallflower” with
great pleasure. So home, and thence to the Wardrobe, where Mr.
Shepley was come with the things. Here I staid talking with my
Lady, who is preparing to go to-morrow to Hampton Court. So
home, and at ten o’clock at night Mr. Shepley came to sup with
me. So we had a dish of mackerell and pease, and so he bid us
good night, going to lie on board the hoy, and I to bed.
31st. Lay long in bed, and so up to make up my Journall for
these two or three days past. Then came Anthony Joyce, who
duns me for money for the tallow which he served in lately by
my desire, which vexes me, but I must get it him the next by my
promise. By and by to White Hall, hearing that Sir G. Carteret
was come to town, but I could not find him, and so back to Tom’s,
and thence I took my father to my house, and there he dined
with me, discoursing of our businesses with uncle Thomas and T.
Trice. After dinner he departed and I to the office where we met,
and that being done I walked to my Brother’s and the Wardrobe
and other places about business, and so home, and had Sarah
to comb my head clean, which I found so foul with powdering
and other troubles, that I am resolved to try how I can keep my
head dry without powder; and I did also in a suddaine fit cut off
all my beard, which I had been a great while bringing up, only
that I may with my pumice-stone do my whole face, as I now
do my chin, and to save time, which I find a very easy way and
gentile. So she also washed my feet in a bath of herbs, and so to
bed. This month ends with very fair weather for a great while
together. My health pretty well, but only wind do now and then
torment me... extremely. The Queen is brought a few days since
to Hampton Court; and all people say of her to be a very fine and
handsome lady, and very discreet; and that the King is pleased
616
MAY 1662
enough with her which, I fear, will put Madam Castlemaine’s
nose out of joynt. The Court is wholly now at Hampton. A peace
with Argier is lately made; which is also good news. My father is
lately come to town to see us, and though it has cost and will cost
more money, yet I am pleased with the alteraeons on my house
at Brampton. My Lord Sandwich is lately come with the Queen
from sea, very well and in good repute. Upon an audit of my
estate I find myself worth about £530 ‘de claro’. The Act for Uni-
formity is lately printed,282 which, it is thought, will make mad
work among the Presbyterian ministers. People of all sides are
very much discontented; some thinking themselves used, con-
trary to promise, too hardly; and the other, that they are not re-
warded so much as they expected by the King. God keep us all. I
have by a late oath obliged myself from wine and plays, of which
I find good effect.
282 “An Act for the Uniformity of public prayers and administration of
sacraments and other rites and ceremonies, and for establishing the form
of making, ordaining, and consecrating bishops, priests, and deacons in the
Church of England.”
617
JUNE 1662
June 1st (Lord’s day). At church in the morning. A stranger made
a very good sermon. Dined at home, and Mr. Spong came to see
me; so he and I sat down a little to sing some French psalms, and
then comes Mr. Shepley and Mr. Moore, and so we to dinner,
and after dinner to church again, where a Presbyter made a sad
and long sermon, which vexed me, and so home, and so to walk
on the leads, and supper and to prayers and bed.
2nd. Up early about business and then to the Wardrobe with
Mr. Moore, and spoke to my Lord about the exchange of the cru-
sados283 into sterling money, and other matters. So to my father
at Tom’s, and after some talk with him away home, and by and
by comes my father to dinner with me, and then by coach, set-
ting him down in Cheapside, my wife and I to Mrs. Clarke’s at
Westminster, the first visit that ever we both made her yet. We
found her in a dishabille, intending to go to Hampton Court to-
morrow. We had much pretty discourse, and a very fine lady she
is. Thence by water to Salisbury Court, and Mrs. Turner not be-
ing at home, home by coach, and so after walking on the leads
283 Cruzado, a Portuguese coin of 480 reis. It is named from a cross which it
bears on one side, the arms of Portugal being on the other. It varied in value
at different periods from 2s. 3d. to 4s.
618
JUNE 1662
and supper to bed. This day my wife put on her slasht waste-
coate, which is very pretty.
3rd. Up by four o’clock and to my business in my chamber, to
even accounts with my Lord and myself, and very fain I would
become master of £1000, but I have not above £530 toward it
yet. At the office all the morning, and Mr. Coventry brought his
patent and took his place with us this morning. Upon our mak-
ing a contract, I went, as I use to do, to draw the heads thereof,
but Sir W. Pen most basely told me that the Comptroller is to
do it, and so begun to employ Mr. Turner about it, at which I
was much vexed, and begun to dispute; and what with the letter
of the Duke’s orders, and Mr. Barlow’s letter, and the practice
of our predecessors, which Sir G. Carteret knew best when he
was Comptroller, it was ruled for me. What Sir J. Minnes will
do when he comes I know not, but Sir W. Pen did it like a base
raskall, and so I shall remember him while I live. After office
done, I went down to the Towre Wharf, where Mr. Creed and
Shepley was ready with three chests of the crusados, being about
£6000, ready to bring to shore to my house, which they did, and
put it in my further cellar, and Mr. Shepley took the key. I to my
father and Dr. Williams and Tom Trice, by appointment, in the
Old Bayly, to Short’s, the alehouse, but could come to no terms
with T. Trice. Thence to the Wardrobe, where I found my Lady
come from Hampton Court, where the Queen hath used her very
civilly; and my Lady tells me is a most pretty woman, at which I
am glad. Yesterday (Sir R. Ford told me) the Aldermen of the City
did attend her in their habits, and did present her with a gold
Cupp and £1000 in gold therein. But, he told me, that they are so
poor in their Chamber, that they were fain to call two or three Al-
dermen to raise fines to make up this sum, among which was Sir
W. Warren. Home and to the office, where about 8 at night comes
Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Batten, and so we did some business,
and then home and to bed, my mind troubled about Sir W. Pen,
his playing the rogue with me to-day, as also about the charge of
money that is in my house, which I had forgot; but I made the
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JUNE 1662
maids to rise and light a candle, and set it in the dining-room, to
scare away thieves, and so to sleep.
4th. Up early, and Mr. Moore comes to me and tells me that Mr.
Barnwell is dead, which troubles me something, and the more for
that I believe we shall lose Mr. Shepley’s company. By and by Sir
W. Batten and I by water to Woolwich; and there saw an experi-
ment made of Sir R. Ford’s Holland’s yarn (about which we have
lately had so much stir; and I have much concerned myself for
our ropemaker, Mr. Hughes, who has represented it as bad), and
we found it to be very bad, and broke sooner than, upon a fair
triall, five threads of that against four of Riga yarn; and also that
some of it had old stuff that had been tarred, covered over with
new hemp, which is such a cheat as hath not been heard of. I
was glad of this discovery, because I would not have the King’s
workmen discouraged (as Sir W. Batten do most basely do) from
representing the faults of merchants’ goods, where there is any.
After eating some fish that we had bought upon the water at Fal-
coner’s, we went to Woolwich, and there viewed our frames of
our houses, and so home, and I to my Lord’s, who I find resolved
to buy Brampton Manor of Sir Peter Ball,284 at which I am glad.
Thence to White Hall, and showed Sir G. Carteret the cheat, and
so to the Wardrobe, and there staid and supped with my Lady.
My Lord eating nothing, but writes letters to-night to several
places, he being to go out of town to-morrow. So late home and
to bed.
5th. To the Wardrobe, and there my Lord did enquire my opin-
ion of Mr. Moore, which I did give to the best advantage I could,
and by that means shall get him joined with Mr. Townsend in
the Wardrobe business. He did also give me all Mr. Shepley’s
and Mr. Moore’s accounts to view, which I am glad of, as being
his great trust in me, and I would willingly keep up a good in-
284 Sir Peter Ball was the Queen’s Attorney-General, and Evelyn mentions,
in his Diary (January 11th, 1661-62), having received from him the draft of
an act against the nuisance of the smoke of London.
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JUNE 1662
terest with him. So took leave of him (he being to go this day)
and to the office, where they were just sat down, and I showed
them yesterday’s discovery, and have got Sir R. Ford to be my en-
emy by it; but I care not, for it is my duty, and so did get his bill
stopped for the present. To dinner, and found Dr. Thos. Pepys at
my house; but I was called from dinner by a note from Mr. Moore
to Alderman Backwell’s, to see some thousands of my Lord’s cru-
sados weighed, and we find that 3,000 come to about £530 or 40
generally. Home again and found my father there; we talked a
good while and so parted. We met at the office in the afternoon
to finish Mr. Gauden’s accounts, but did not do them quite. In
the evening with Mr. Moore to Backwell’s with another 1,200
crusados and saw them weighed, and so home and to bed.
6th. At my office all alone all the morning, and the smith be-
ing with me about other things, did open a chest that hath stood
ever since I came to the office, in my office, and there we found
a modell of a fine ship, which I long to know whether it be the
King’s or Mr. Turner’s. At noon to the Wardrobe by appoint-
ment to meet my father, who did come and was well treated by
my Lady, who tells me she has some thoughts to send her two lit-
tle boys to our house at Brampton, but I have got leave for them
to go along with me and my wife to Hampton Court to-morrow
or Sunday. Thence to my brother Tom’s, where we found a let-
ter from Pall that my mother is dangerously ill in fear of death,
which troubles my father and me much, but I hope it is other-
wise, the letter being four days old since it was writ. Home and
at my office, and with Mr. Hater set things in order till evening,
and so home and to bed by daylight. This day at my father’s de-
sire I lent my brother Tom £20, to be repaid out of the proceeds of
Sturtlow when we can sell it. I sent the money all in new money
by my boy from Alderman Backwell’s.
7th. To the office, where all the morning, and I find Mr. Coven-
try is resolved to do much good, and to enquire into all the mis-
carriages of the office. At noon with him and Sir W. Batten to din-
621
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ner at Trinity House; where, among others, Sir J. Robinson, Lieu-
tenant of the Tower, was, who says that yesterday Sir H. Vane
had a full hearing at the King’s Bench, and is found guilty; and
that he did never hear any man argue more simply than he in
all his life, and so others say. My mind in great trouble whether
I should go as I intended to Hampton Court to-morrow or no.
At last resolved the contrary, because of the charge thereof, and
I am afraid now to bring in any accounts for journeys, and so
will others I suppose be, because of Mr. Coventry’s prying into
them. Thence sent for to Sir G. Carteret’s, and there talked with
him a good while. I perceive, as he told me, were it not that Mr.
Coventry had already feathered his nest in selling of places, he
do like him very well, and hopes great good from him. But he
complains so of lack of money, that my heart is very sad, under
the apprehension of the fall of the office. At my office all the af-
ternoon, and at night hear that my father is gone into the country,
but whether to Richmond as he intended, and thence to meet us
at Hampton Court on Monday, I know not, or to Brampton. At
which I am much troubled. In the evening home and to bed.
8th (Lord’s day). Lay till church-time in bed, and so up and to
church, and there I found Mr. Mills come home out of the coun-
try again, and preached but a lazy sermon. Home and dined
with my wife, and so to church again with her. Thence walked to
my Lady’s, and there supped with her, and merry, among other
things, with the parrott which my Lord hath brought from the
sea, which speaks very well, and cries Pall so pleasantly, that
made my Lord give it my Lady Paulina; but my Lady, her mother,
do not like it. Home, and observe my man Will to walk with his
cloak flung over his shoulder, like a Ruffian, which, whether it
was that he might not be seen to walk along with the footboy,
I know not, but I was vexed at it; and coming home, and after
prayers, I did ask him where he learned that immodest garb, and
he answered me that it was not immodest, or some such slight
answer, at which I did give him two boxes on the ears, which I
never did before, and so was after a little troubled at it.
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9th. Early up and at the office with Mr. Hater, making my
alphabet of contracts, upon the dispatch of which I am now very
intent, for that I am resolved much to enquire into the price of
commodities. Dined at home, and after dinner to Greatorex’s,
and with him and another stranger to the Tavern, but I drank no
wine. He recommended Bond, of our end of the town, to teach
me to measure timber, and some other things that I would learn,
in order to my office. Thence back again to the office, and there
T. Hater and I did make an end of my alphabet, which did much
please me. So home to supper and to bed.
10th. At the office all the morning, much business; and great
hopes of bringing things, by Mr. Coventry’s means, to a good
condition in the office. Dined at home, Mr. Hunt with us; to the
office again in the afternoon, but not meeting, as was intended,
I went to my brother’s and bookseller’s, and other places about
business, and paid off all for books to this day, and do not in-
tend to buy any more of any kind a good while, though I had
a great mind to have bought the King’s works, as they are new
printed in folio, and present it to my Lord; but I think it will be
best to save the money. So home and to bed.285 11th. At the office
285 There is a beautiful copy of “The Workes of King Charles the Martyr,
and Collections of Declarations, Treaties, &c.” (2 vols. folio, 1662), in the
Pepysian Library, with a very interesting note in the first volume by Pepys
(dated October 7th, 1700), to the effect that he had collated it with a copy
in Lambeth Library, presented by Dr. Zachary Cradock, Provost of Eton.
“This book being seized on board an English ship was delivered, by order
of the Inquisition of Lisbon, to some of the English Priests to be perused
and corrected according to the Rules of the ‘Index Expurgatorius.’ Thus cor-
rected it was given to Barnaby Crafford, English merchant there, and by him
it was given to me, the English preacher resident there A.D. 1670, and by
me as I then received it to the Library at Lambeth to be there preserved.
Nov. 2, 1678. ‘Ita testor’, Zach. Cradock.–From which (through the favour of
the most Reverend Father in God and my most honoured Friend his Grace
the present Archbishop of Canterbury) I have this 7th of October, 1700, had
an opportunity given me there (assisted by my clerk, Thomas Henderson),
leisurely to overlook, and with my uttermost attention to note the said Ex-
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all the morning, Sir W. Batten, Sir W. Pen, and I about the Vict-
ualler’s accounts. Then home to dinner and to the office again
all the afternoon, Mr. Hater and I writing over my Alphabet fair,
in which I took great pleasure to rule the lines and to have the
capitall words wrote with red ink. So home and to supper. This
evening Savill the Paynter came and did varnish over my wife’s
picture and mine, and I paid him for my little picture £3, and so
am clear with him. So after supper to bed. This day I had a letter
from my father that he is got down well, and found my mother
pretty well again. So that I am vexed with all my heart at Pall for
writing to him so much concerning my mother’s illness (which
I believe was not so great), so that he should be forced to hasten
down on the sudden back into the country without taking leave,
or having any pleasure here.
12th. This morning I tried on my riding cloth suit with close
knees, the first that ever I had; and I think they will be very con-
venient, if not too hot to wear any other open knees after them.
At the office all the morning, where we had a full Board, viz.,
Sir G. Carteret, Sir John Mennes, Sir W. Batten, Mr. Coventry, Sir
W. Pen, Mr. Pett, and myself. Among many other businesses, I
did get a vote signed by all, concerning my issuing of warrants,
which they did not smell the use I intend to make of it; but it is to
plead for my clerks to have their right of giving out all warrants,
at which I am not a little pleased. But a great difference happened
between Sir G. Carteret and Mr. Coventry, about passing the Vict-
ualler’s account, and whether Sir George is to pay the Victualler
his money, or the Exchequer; Sir George claiming it to be his place
to save his threepences. It ended in anger, and I believe will come
to be a question before the King and Council. I did what I could
to keep myself unconcerned in it, having some things of my own
to do before I would appear high in anything. Thence to dinner,
purgations through each part of this my own Book.” Whole sentences in the
book are struck through, as well as such words as Martyr, Defender of the
Faith, More than Conqueror, &c.
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by Mr. Gauden’s invitation, to the Dolphin, where a good din-
ner; but what is to myself a great wonder; that with ease I past
the whole dinner without drinking a drop of wine. After dinner
to the office, my head full of business, and so home, and it being
the longest day in the year,–[That is, by the old style. The new
style was not introduced until 1752]–I made all my people go to
bed by daylight. But after I was a-bed and asleep, a note came
from my brother Tom to tell me that my cozen Anne Pepys, of
Worcestershire, her husband is dead, and she married again, and
her second husband in town, and intends to come and see me
to-morrow.
13th. Up by 4 o’clock in the morning, and read Cicero’s Sec-
ond Oration against Catiline, which pleased me exceedingly; and
more I discern therein than ever I thought was to be found in
him; but I perceive it was my ignorance, and that he is as good
a writer as ever I read in my life. By and by to Sir G. Carteret’s,
to talk with him about yesterday’s difference at the office; and
offered my service to look into any old books or papers that I
have, that may make for him. He was well pleased therewith,
and did much inveigh against Mr. Coventry; telling me how he
had done him service in the Parliament, when Prin had drawn up
things against him for taking of money for places; that he did at
his desire, and upon his, letters, keep him off from doing it. And
many other things he told me, as how the King was beholden
to him, and in what a miserable condition his family would be,
if he should die before he hath cleared his accounts. Upon the
whole, I do find that he do much esteem of me, and is my friend,
and I may make good use of him. Thence to several places about
business, among others to my brother’s, and there Tom Beneere
the barber trimmed me. Thence to my Lady’s, and there dined
with her, Mr. Laxton, Gibbons, and Goldgroove with us, and af-
ter dinner some musique, and so home to my business, and in the
evening my wife and I, and Sarah and the boy, a most pleasant
walk to Halfway house, and so home and to bed.
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14th. Up by four o’clock in the morning and upon business at
my office. Then we sat down to business, and about 11 o’clock,
having a room got ready for us, we all went out to the Tower-
hill; and there, over against the scaffold, made on purpose this
day, saw Sir Henry Vane brought.286 A very great press of peo-
ple. He made a long speech, many times interrupted by the Sher-
iff and others there; and they would have taken his paper out
of his hand, but he would not let it go. But they caused all the
books of those that writ after him to be given the Sheriff; and the
trumpets were brought under the scaffold that he might not be
heard. Then he prayed, and so fitted himself, and received the
blow; but the scaffold was so crowded that we could not see it
done. But Boreman, who had been upon the scaffold, came to
us and told us, that first he began to speak of the irregular pro-
ceeding against him; that he was, against Magna Charta, denied
to have his exceptions against the indictment allowed; and that
there he was stopped by the Sheriff. Then he drew out his, pa-
per of notes, and begun to tell them first his life; that he was
born a gentleman, that he was bred up and had the quality of a
gentleman, and to make him in the opinion of the world more a
gentleman, he had been, till he was seventeen years old, a good
fellow, but then it pleased God to lay a foundation of grace in his
heart, by which he was persuaded, against his worldly interest,
to leave all preferment and go abroad, where he might serve God
with more freedom. Then he was called home, and made a mem-
ber of the Long Parliament; where he never did, to this day, any
thing against his conscience, but all for the glory of God. Here
he would have given them an account of the proceedings of the
286 Sir Harry Vane the younger was born 1612. Charles signed on June 12th
a warrant for the execution of Vane by hanging at Tyburn on the 14th, which
sentence on the following day “upon humble suit made” to him, Charles was
“graciously pleased to mitigate,” as the warrant terms it, for the less igno-
minious punishment of beheading on Tower Hill, and with permission that
the head and body should be given to the relations to be by them decently
and privately interred.– Lister’s Life of Clarendon, ii, 123.
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Long Parliament, but they so often interrupted him, that at last
he was forced to give over: and so fell into prayer for England in
generall, then for the churches in England, and then for the City
of London: and so fitted himself for the block, and received the
blow. He had a blister, or issue, upon his neck, which he desired
them not hurt: he changed not his colour or speech to the last, but
died justifying himself and the cause he had stood for; and spoke
very confidently of his being presently at the right hand of Christ;
and in all, things appeared the most resolved man that ever died
in that manner, and showed more of heat than cowardize, but
yet with all humility and gravity. One asked him why he did not
pray for the King. He answered, “Nay,” says he, “you shall see
I can pray for the King: I pray God bless him!” The King had
given his body to his friends; and, therefore, he told them that he
hoped they would be civil to his body when dead; and desired
they would let him die like a gentleman and a Christian, and
not crowded and pressed as he was. So to the office a little, and
so to the Trinity-house all of us to dinner; and then to the office
again all the afternoon till night. So home and to bed. This day, I
hear, my Lord Peterborough is come unexpected from Tangier, to
give the King an account of the place, which, we fear, is in none
of the best condition. We had also certain news to-day that the
Spaniard is before Lisbon with thirteen sail; six Dutch, and the
rest his own ships; which will, I fear, be ill for Portugall. I writ a
letter of all this day’s proceedings to my Lord, at Hinchingbroke,
who, I hear, is very well pleased with the work there.
15th (Lord’s day). To church in the morning and home to din-
ner, where come my brother Tom and Mr. Fisher, my cozen,
Nan Pepys’s second husband, who, I perceive, is a very good-
humoured man, an old cavalier. I made as much of him as I
could, and were merry, and am glad she hath light of so good a
man. They gone, to church again; but my wife not being dressed
as I would have her, I was angry, and she, when she was out of
doors in her way to church, returned home again vexed. But I to
church, Mr. Mills, an ordinary sermon. So home, and found my
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wife and Sarah gone to a neighbour church, at which I was not
much displeased. By and by she comes again, and, after a word
or two, good friends. And then her brother came to see her, and
he being gone she told me that she believed he was married and
had a wife worth £500 to him, and did inquire how he might dis-
pose the money to the best advantage, but I forbore to advise her
till she could certainly tell me how things are with him, being
loth to meddle too soon with him. So to walk upon the leads,
and to supper, and to bed.
16th. Up before four o’clock, and after some business took Will
forth, and he and I walked over the Tower Hill, but the gate not
being open we walked through St. Catharine’s and Ratcliffe (I
think it is) by the waterside above a mile before we could get
a boat, and so over the water in a scull (which I have not done a
great while), and walked finally to Deptford, where I saw in what
forwardness the work is for Sir W. Batten’s house and mine, and
it is almost ready. I also, with Mr. Davis, did view my cozen
Joyce’s tallow, and compared it with the Irish tallow we bought
lately, and found ours much more white, but as soft as it; now
what is the fault, or whether it be or no a fault, I know not. So
walked home again as far as over against the Towre, and so over
and home, where I found Sir W. Pen and Sir John Minnes dis-
coursing about Sir John Minnes’s house and his coming to live
with us, and I think he intends to have Mr. Turner’s house and
he to come to his lodgings, which I shall be very glad of. We three
did go to Mr. Turner’s to view his house, which I think was to
the end that Sir John Minnes might see it. Then by water with my
wife to the Wardrobe, and dined there; and in the afternoon with
all the children by water to Greenwich, where I showed them the
King’s yacht, the house, and the park, all very pleasant; and so
to the tavern, and had the musique of the house, and so merrily
home again. Will and I walked home from the Wardrobe, having
left my wife at the Tower Wharf coming by, whom I found gone
to bed not very well.... So to bed.
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17th. Up, and Mr. Mayland comes to me and borrowed 30s.
of me to be paid again out of the money coming to him in the
James and Charles for his late voyage. So to the office, where
all the morning. So home to dinner, my wife not being well, but
however dined with me. So to the office, and at Sir W. Batten’s,
where we all met by chance and talked, and they drank wine; but
I forebore all their healths. Sir John Minnes, I perceive, is most
excellent company. So home and to bed betimes by daylight.
18th. Up early; and after reading a little in Cicero, I made me
ready and to my office, where all the morning very busy. At noon
Mr. Creed came to me about business, and he and I walked as
far as Lincoln’s Inn Fields together. After a turn or two in the
walks we parted, and I to my Lord Crew’s and dined with him;
where I hear the courage of Sir H. Vane at his death is talked
on every where as a miracle. Thence to Somerset House to Sir
J. Winter’s chamber by appointment, and met Mr. Pett, where
he and I read over his last contract with the King for the Forest of
Dean, whereof I took notes because of this new one that he is now
in making. That done he and I walked to Lilly’s, the painter’s,
where we saw among other rare things, the Duchess of York, her
whole body, sitting instate in a chair, in white sattin, and an-
other of the King, that is not finished; most rare things. I did
give the fellow something that showed them us, and promised
to come some other time, and he would show me Lady Castle-
maine’s, which I could not then see, it being locked up! Thence
to Wright’s, the painter’s: but, Lord! the difference that is be-
tween their two works. Thence to the Temple, and there spoke
with my cozen Roger, who gives me little hopes in the business
between my Uncle Tom and us. So Mr. Pett (who staid at his
son’s chamber) and I by coach to the old Exchange, and there
parted, and I home and at the office till night. My windows at
my office are made clean to-day and a casement in my closet. So
home, and after some merry discourse in the kitchen with my
wife and maids as I now-a-days often do, I being well pleased
with both my maids, to bed.
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19th. Up by five o’clock, and while my man Will was getting
himself ready to come up to me I took and played upon my lute
a little. So to dress myself, and to my office to prepare things
against we meet this morning. We sat long to-day, and had a
great private business before us about contracting with Sir W.
Rider, Mr. Cutler, and Captain Cocke, for 500 ton of hemp, which
we went through, and I am to draw up the conditions. Home to
dinner, where I found Mr. Moore, and he and I cast up our ac-
counts together and evened them, and then with the last chest of
crusados to Alderman Backwell’s, by the same token his lady go-
ing to take coach stood in the shop, and having a gilded glassfull
of perfumed comfits given her by Don Duarte de Silva, the Por-
tugall merchant, that is come over with the Queen, I did offer at
a taste, and so she poured some out into my hand, and, though
good, yet pleased me the better coming from a pretty lady. So
home and at the office preparing papers and things, and indeed
my head has not been so full of business a great while, and with
so much pleasure, for I begin to see the pleasure it gives. God
give me health. So to bed.
20th. Up by four or five o’clock, and to the office, and there
drew up the agreement between the King and Sir John Winter
about the Forrest of Deane; and having done it, he came him-
self (I did not know him to be the Queen’s Secretary before, but
observed him to be a man of fine parts); and we read it, and
both liked it well. That done, I turned to the Forrest of Deane,
in Speede’s Mapps, and there he showed me how it lies; and
the Lea-bayly, with the great charge of carrying it to Lydny, and
many other things worth my knowing; and I do perceive that I
am very short in my business by not knowing many times the
geographical part of my business. At my office till Mr. Moore
took me out and at my house looked over our papers again, and
upon our evening accounts did give full discharges one to the
other, and in his and many other accounts I perceive I shall be
better able to give a true balance of my estate to myself within a
day or two than I have been this twelve months. Then he and I
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JUNE 1662
to Alderman Backwell’s and did the like there, and I gave one re-
ceipt for all the money I have received thence upon the receipt of
my Lord’s crusados. Then I went to the Exchange, and hear that
the merchants have a great fear of a breach with the Spaniard; for
they think he will not brook our having Tangier, Dunkirk, and
Jamaica; and our merchants begin to draw home their estates as
fast as they can. Then to Pope’s Head Ally, and there bought me
a pair of tweezers, cost me 14s., the first thing like a bawble I
have bought a good while, but I do it with some trouble of mind,
though my conscience tells me that I do it with an apprehension
of service in my office to have a book to write memorandums in,
and a pair of compasses in it; but I confess myself the willinger
to do it because I perceive by my accounts that I shall be better
by £30 than I expected to be. But by tomorrow night I intend
to see to the bottom of all my accounts. Then home to dinner,
where Mr. Moore met me. Then he went away, and I to the office
and dispatch much business. So in the evening, my wife and I
and Jane over the water to the Halfway-house, a pretty, pleasant
walk, but the wind high. So home again and to bed.
21st. Up about four o’clock, and settled some private busi-
ness of my own, then made me ready and to the office to prepare
things for our meeting to-day. By and by we met, and at noon Sir
W. Pen and I to the Trinity House; where was a feast made by the
Wardens, when great good cheer, and much, but ordinary com-
pany. The Lieutenant of the Tower, upon my demanding how
Sir H. Vane died, told me that he died in a passion; but all con-
fess with so much courage as never man died. Thence to the
office, where Sir W. Rider, Capt. Cocke, and Mr. Cutler came by
appointment to meet me to confer about the contract between us
and them for 500 tons of hemp. That being done, I did other busi-
ness and so went home, and there found Mr. Creed, who staid
talking with my wife and me an hour or two, and I put on my
riding cloth suit, only for him to see how it is, and I think it will
do very well. He being gone, and I hearing from my wife and the
maids’ complaints made of the boy, I called him up, and with my
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whip did whip him till I was not able to stir, and yet I could not
make him confess any of the lies that they tax him with. At last,
not willing to let him go away a conqueror, I took him in task
again, and pulled off his frock to his shirt, and whipped him till
he did confess that he did drink the whey, which he had denied,
and pulled a pink, and above all did lay the candlestick upon
the ground in his chamber, which he had denied this quarter of
a year. I confess it is one of the greatest wonders that ever I met
with that such a little boy as he could possibly be able to suffer
half so much as he did to maintain a lie. I think I must be forced
to put him away. So to bed, with my arm very weary.
22nd (Lord’s day). This day I first put on my slasht doublet,
which I like very well. Mr. Shepley came to me in the morning,
telling me that he and my Lord came to town from Hinchinbroke
last night. He and I spend an hour in looking over his account,
and then walked to the Wardrobe, all the way discoursing of my
Lord’s business. He tells me to my great wonder that Mr. Barn-
well is dead £500 in debt to my Lord. By and by my Lord came
from church, and I dined, with some others, with him, he very
merry, and after dinner took me aside and talked of state and
other matters. By and by to my brother Tom’s and took him out
with me homewards (calling at the Wardrobe to talk a little with
Mr. Moore), and so to my house, where I paid him all I owed
him, and did make the £20 I lately lent him up to £40, for which
he shall give bond to Mr. Shepley, for it is his money. So my wife
and I to walk in the garden, where all our talk was against Sir
W. Pen, against whom I have lately had cause to be much preju-
diced. By and by he and his daughter came out to walk, so we
took no notice of them a great while, at last in going home spoke
a word or two, and so good night, and to bed. This day I am
told of a Portugall lady, at Hampton Court, that hath dropped
a child already since the Queen’s coming, but the king would
not have them searched whose it is; and so it is not commonly
known yet. Coming home to-night, I met with Will. Swan, who
do talk as high for the Fanatiques as ever he did in his life; and
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do pity my Lord Sandwich and me that we should be given up
to the wickedness of the world; and that a fall is coming upon
us all; for he finds that he and his company are the true spirit of
the nation, and the greater part of the nation too, who will have
liberty of conscience in spite of this “Act of Uniformity,” or they
will die; and if they may not preach abroad, they will preach in
their own houses. He told me that certainly Sir H. Vane must be
gone to Heaven, for he died as much a martyr and saint as ever
man did; and that the King hath lost more by that man’s death,
than he will get again a good while. At all which I know not what
to think; but, I confess, I do think that the Bishops will never be
able to carry it so high as they do.
23rd. Up early, this morning, and my people are taking down
the hangings and things in my house because of the great dust
that is already made by the pulling down of Sir W. Batten’s
house, and will be by my own when I come to it. To my of-
fice, and there hard at work all the morning. At noon to the
Exchange to meet Dr. Williams, who sent me this morning no-
tice of his going into the country tomorrow, but could not find
him, but meeting with Frank Moore, my Lord Lambeth’s man
formerly, we, and two or three friends of his did go to a tavern,
and there they drank, but I nothing but small beer. In the next
room one was playing very finely of the dulcimer, which well
played I like well, but one of our own company, a talking fel-
low, did in discourse say much of this Act against Seamen,287 for
their being brought to account; and that it was made on purpose
for my Lord Sandwich, who was in debt £100,000, and hath been
forced to have pardon oftentimes from Oliver for the same: at
which I was vexed at him, but thought it not worth my trouble
to oppose what he said, but took leave and went home, and after
a little dinner to my office again, and in the evening Sir W. War-
287 In 1662 was passed “An Act for providing of carriage by land and by
water for the use of His Majesty’s Navy and Ordinance” (13-14 Gar. II., cap.
20), which gave power for impressing seamen, &c.
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ren came to me about business, and that being done, discoursing
of deals, I did offer to go along with him among his deal ships,
which we did to half a score, where he showed me the difference
between Dram, Swinsound, Christiania, and others, and told me
many pleasant notions concerning their manner of cutting and
sawing them by watermills, and the reason how deals become
dearer and cheaper, among others, when the snow is not so great
as to fill up the values that they may pass from hill to hill over
the snow, then it is dear carriage. From on board he took me to
his yard, where vast and many places of deals, sparrs, and bulks,
&c., the difference between which I never knew before, and in-
deed am very proud of this evening’s work. He had me into his
house, which is most pretty and neat and well furnished. After a
glass, not of wine, for I would not be tempted to drink any, but a
glass of mum, I well home by water, but it being late was forced
to land at the Custom House, and so home and to bed, and after
I was a-bed, letters came from the Duke for the fitting out of four
ships forthwith from Portsmouth (I know not yet for what) so I
was forced to make Will get them wrote, and signed them in bed
and sent them away by express. And so to sleep.
24th (Midsummer day). Up early and to my office, putting
things in order against we sit. There came to me my cozen Harry
Alcocke, whom I much respect, to desire (by a letter from my
father to me, where he had been some days) my help for him
to some place. I proposed the sea to him, and I think he will
take it, and I hope do well. Sat all the morning, and I bless God
I find that by my diligence of late and still, I do get ground in
the office every day. At noon to the Change, where I begin to be
known also, and so home to dinner, and then to the office all the
afternoon dispatching business. At night news is brought me that
Field the rogue hath this day cast me at Guildhall in £30 for his
imprisonment, to which I signed his commitment with the rest of
the officers; but they having been parliament-men, that he hath
begun the law with me; and threatens more, but I hope the Duke
of York will bear me out. At night home, and Mr. Spong came
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to me, and so he and I sat singing upon the leads till almost ten
at night and so he went away (a pretty, harmless, and ingenious
man), and I to bed, in a very great content of mind, which I hope
by my care still in my business will continue to me.
25th. Up by four o’clock, and put my accounts with my Lord
into a very good order, and so to my office, where having put
many things in order I went to the Wardrobe, but found my Lord
gone to Hampton Court. After discourse with Mr. Shepley we
parted, and I into Thames Street, beyond the Bridge, and there
enquired among the shops the price of tarre and oyle, and do
find great content in it, and hope to save the King money by this
practice. So home to dinner, and then to the Change, and so home
again, and at the office preparing business against to-morrow all
the afternoon. At night walked with my wife upon the leads, and
so to supper and to bed. My wife having lately a great pain in her
ear, for which this night she begins to take physique, and I have
got cold and so have a great deal of my old pain.
26th. Up and took physique, but such as to go abroad with,
only to loosen me, for I am bound. So to the office, and there all
the morning sitting till noon, and then took Commissioner Pett
home to dinner with me, where my stomach was turned when
my sturgeon came to table, upon which I saw very many little
worms creeping, which I suppose was through the staleness of
the pickle. He being gone, comes Mr. Nicholson, my old fellow-
student at Magdalene, and we played three or four things upon
the violin and basse, and so parted, and I to my office till night,
and there came Mr. Shepley and Creed in order to settling some
accounts of my Lord to-night, and so to bed.
27th. Up early, not quite rid of my pain. I took more physique,
and so made myself ready to go forth. So to my Lord, who rose
as soon as he heard I was there; and in his nightgown and shirt
stood talking with me alone two hours,. I believe, concerning his
greatest matters of state and interest. Among other things, that
his greatest design is, first, to get clear of all debts to the King
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for the Embassy money, and then a pardon. Then, to get his land
settled; and then to, discourse and advise what is best for him,
whether to keep his sea employment longer or no. For he do dis-
cern that the Duke would be willing to have him out, and that
by Coventry’s means. And here he told me, how the terms at
Argier were wholly his; and that he did plainly tell Lawson and
agree with him, that he would have the honour of them, if they
should ever be agreed to; and that accordingly they did come
over hither entitled, “Articles concluded on by Sir J. Lawson, ac-
cording to instructions received from His Royal Highness James
Duke of York, &c., and from His Excellency the Earle of Sand-
wich.” (Which however was more than needed; but Lawson tells
my Lord in his letter, that it was not he, but the Council of Warr
that would have “His Royal Highness” put into the title, though
he did not contribute one word to it.) But the Duke of York did
yesterday propose them to the Council, to be printed with this
title: “Concluded on, by Sir J. Lawson, Knt.” and my Lord quite
left out. Here I find my Lord very politique; for he tells me, that
he discerns they design to set up Lawson as much as they can
and that he do counterplot them by setting him up higher still;
by which they will find themselves spoiled of their design, and
at last grow jealous of Lawson. This he told me with much plea-
sure; and that several of the Duke’s servants, by name my Lord
Barkeley [of Stratton], Mr. Talbot, and others, had complained to
my Lord, of Coventry, and would have him out. My Lord do ac-
knowledge that his greatest obstacle is Coventry. He did seem to
hint such a question as this: “Hitherto I have been supported by
the King and Chancellor against the Duke; but what if it should
come about, that it should be the Duke and Chancellor against
the King?” which, though he said it in these plain words, yet I
could not fully understand it; but may more here after. My Lord
did also tell me, that the Duke himself at Portsmouth did thank
my Lord for all his pains and care; and that he perceived it must
be the old Captains that must do the business; and that the new
ones would spoil all. And that my Lord did very discreetly tell
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the Duke (though quite against his judgement and inclination),
that, however, the King’s new captains ought to be borne with
a little and encouraged. By which he will oblige that party, and
prevent, as much as may be, their envy; but he says that certainly
things will go to rack if ever the old captains should be wholly
out, and the new ones only command. Then we fell to talk of Sir
J. Minnes, of whom my Lord hath a very slight opinion, and that
at first he did come to my Lord very displeased and sullen, and
had studied and turned over all his books to see whether it had
ever been that two flags should ride together in the main-top, but
could not find it, nay, he did call his captains on board to consult
them. So when he came by my Lord’s side, he took down his flag,
and all the day did not hoist it again, but next day my Lord did
tell him that it was not so fit to ride without a flag, and therefore
told him that he should wear it in the fore-top, for it seems my
Lord saw his instructions, which were that he should not wear
his flag in the maintop in the presence of the Duke or my Lord.
But that after that my Lord did caress him, and he do believe him
as much his friend as his interest will let him. I told my Lord of
the late passage between Swan and me, and he told me another
lately between Dr. Dell and himself when he was in the country.
At last we concluded upon dispatching all his accounts as soon as
possible, and so I parted, and to my office, where I met Sir W. Pen,
and he desired a turn with me in the garden, where he told me the
day now was fixed for his going into Ireland;–[Penn was Gover-
nor of Kinsale.-B.]–and that whereas I had mentioned some ser-
vice he could do a friend of mine there, Saml. Pepys,288 he told
me he would most readily do what I would command him, and
then told me we must needs eat a dish of meat together before
he went, and so invited me and my wife on Sunday next. To all
which I did give a cold consent, for my heart cannot love or have
a good opinion of him since his last playing the knave with me,
288 Mentioned elsewhere as “My cousin in Ireland.” He was son of Lord
Chief Justice Richard Pepys.
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but he took no notice of our difference at all, nor I to him, and so
parted, and I by water to Deptford, where I found Sir W. Batten
alone paying off the yard three quarters pay. Thence to dinner,
where too great a one was prepared, at which I was very much
troubled, and wished I had not been there. After dinner comes
Sir J. Minnes and some captains with him, who had been at a
Councill of Warr to-day, who tell us they have acquitted Captain
Hall, who was accused of cowardice in letting of old Winter, the
Argier pyrate, go away from him with a prize or two; and also
Captain Diamond of the murder laid to him of a man that he had
struck, but he lived many months after, till being drunk, he fell
into the hold, and there broke his jaw and died, but they say there
are such bawdy articles against him as never were heard of .... To
the pay again, where I left them, and walked to Redriffe, and so
home, and there came Mr. Creed and Shepley to me, and staid
till night about my Lord’s accounts, our proceeding to set them
in order, and so parted and I to bed. Mr. Holliard had been with
my wife to-day, and cured her of her pain in her ear by taking out
a most prodigious quantity of hard wax that had hardened itself
in the bottom of the ear, of which I am very glad.
28th. Up to my Lord’s and my own accounts, and so to the of-
fice, where all the forenoon sitting, and at noon by appointment
to the Mitre, where Mr. Shepley gave me and Mr. Creed, and I
had my uncle Wight with us, a dish of fish. Thence to the office
again, and there all the afternoon till night, and so home, and af-
ter talking with my wife to bed. This day a genteel woman came
to me, claiming kindred of me, as she had once done before, and
borrowed 10s. of me, promising to repay it at night, but I hear
nothing of her. I shall trust her no more. Great talk there is of a
fear of a war with the Dutch; and we have order to pitch upon
twenty ships to be forthwith set out; but I hope it is but a scare-
crow to the world, to let them see that we can be ready for them;
though, God knows! the King is not able to set out five ships at
this present without great difficulty, we neither having money,
credit, nor stores. My mind is now in a wonderful condition of
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quiet and content, more than ever in all my life, since my mind-
ing the business of my office, which I have done most constantly;
and I find it to be the very effect of my late oaths against wine
and plays, which, if God please, I will keep constant in, for now
my business is a delight to me, and brings me great credit, and
my purse encreases too.
29th (Lord’s day). Up by four o’clock, and to the settling of my
own accounts, and I do find upon my monthly ballance, which I
have undertaken to keep from month to month, that I am worth
£650, the greatest sum that ever I was yet master of. I pray God
give me a thankfull, spirit, and care to improve and encrease it.
To church with my wife, who this day put on her green petti-
coat of flowred satin, with fine white and gimp lace of her own
putting on, which is very pretty. Home with Sir W. Pen to din-
ner by appointment, and to church again in the afternoon, and
then home, Mr. Shepley coming to me about my Lord’s accounts,
and in the evening parted, and we to supper again to Sir W. Pen.
Whatever the matter is, he do much fawn upon me, and I per-
ceive would not fall out with me, and his daughter mighty offi-
cious to my wife, but I shall never be deceived again by him, but
do hate him and his traitorous tricks with all my heart. It was an
invitation in order to his taking leave of us to-day, he being to go
for Ireland in a few days. So home and prayers, and to bed.
30th. Up betimes, and to my office, where I found Griffen’s girl
making it clean, but, God forgive me! what a mind I had to her,
but did not meddle with her. She being gone, I fell upon boring
holes for me to see from my closet into the great office, without
going forth, wherein I please myself much. So settled to busi-
ness, and at noon with my wife to the Wardrobe, and there dined,
and staid talking all the afternoon with my Lord, and about four
o’clock took coach with my wife and Lady, and went toward my
house, calling at my Lady Carteret’s, who was within by chance
(she keeping altogether at Deptford for a month or two), and so
we sat with her a little. Among other things told my Lady how
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my Lady Fanshaw is fallen out with her only for speaking in be-
half of the French, which my Lady wonders at, they having been
formerly like sisters, but we see there is no true lasting friend-
ship in the world. Thence to my house, where I took great pride
to lead her through the Court by the hand, she being very fine,
and her page carrying up her train. She staid a little at my house,
and then walked through the garden, and took water, and went
first on board the King’s pleasure boat, which pleased her much.
Then to Greenwich Park; and with much ado she was able to
walk up to the top of the hill, and so down again, and took boat,
and so through bridge to Blackfryers, and home, she being much
pleased with the ramble in every particular of it. So we supped
with her, and then walked home, and to bed.
OBSERVATIONS. This I take to be as bad a juncture as ever I
observed. The King and his new Queen minding their pleasures
at Hampton Court. All people discontented; some that the King
do not gratify them enough; and the others, Fanatiques of all
sorts, that the King do take away their liberty of conscience; and
the height of the Bishops, who I fear will ruin all again. They do
much cry up the manner of Sir H. Vane’s death, and he deserves
it. They clamour against the chimney-money, and say they will
not pay it without force. And in the mean time, like to have war
abroad; and Portugall to assist, when we have not money to pay
for any ordinary layings-out at home. Myself all in dirt about
building of my house and Sir W. Batten’s a story higher. Into
a good way, fallen on minding my business and saving money,
which God encrease; and I do take great delight in it, and see the
benefit of it. In a longing mind of going to see Brampton, but
cannot get three days time, do what I can. In very good health,
my wife and myself.
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July 1st. To the office, and there we sat till past noon, and then
Captain Cuttance and I by water to Deptford, where the Royal
James (in which my Lord went out the last voyage, though [he]
came back in the Charles) was paying off by Sir W. Batten and Sir
W. Pen. So to dinner, where I had Mr. Sheply to dine with us, and
from thence I sent to my Lord to know whether she should be a
first rate, as the men would have her, or a second. He answered
that we should forbear paying the officers and such whose pay
differed upon the rate of the ship, till he could speak with his
Royal Highness. To the Pay again after dinner, and seeing of
Cooper, the mate of the ship, whom I knew in the Charles, I spoke
to him about teaching the mathematiques, and do please myself
in my thoughts of learning of him, and bade him come to me in
a day or two. Towards evening I left them, and to Redriffe by
land, Mr. Cowly, the Clerk of the Cheque, with me, discoursing
concerning the abuses of the yard, in which he did give me much
light. So by water home, and after half an hour sitting talking
with my wife, who was afeard I did intend to go with my Lord
to fetch the Queen mother over, in which I did clear her doubts,
I went to bed by daylight, in order to my rising early to-morrow.
2nd. Up while the chimes went four, and to put down my
journal, and so to my office, to read over such instructions as con-
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cern the officers of the Yard; for I am much upon seeing into the
miscarriages there. By and by, by appointment, comes Commis-
sioner Pett; and then a messenger from Mr. Coventry, who sits in
his boat expecting us, and so we down to him at the Tower, and
there took water all, and to Deptford (he in our passage taking
notice how much difference there is between the old Captains for
obedience and order, and the King’s new Captains, which I am
very glad to hear him confess); and there we went into the Store-
house, and viewed first the provisions there, and then his books,
but Mr. Davis himself was not there, he having a kinswoman
in the house dead, for which, when by and by I saw him, he do
trouble himself most ridiculously, as if there was never another
woman in the world; in which so much laziness, as also in the
Clerkes of the Cheque and Survey (which after one another we
did examine), as that I do not perceive that there is one-third of
their duties performed; but I perceive, to my great content, Mr.
Coventry will have things reformed. So Mr. Coventry to London,
and Pett and I to the Pay, where Sir Williams both were paying
off the Royal James still, and so to dinner, and to the Pay again,
where I did relieve several of my Lord Sandwich’s people, but
was sorry to see them so peremptory, and at every word would,
complain to my Lord, as if they shall have such a command over
my Lord. In the evening I went forth and took a walk with Mr.
Davis, and told him what had passed at his office to-day, and did
give him my advice, and so with the rest by barge home and to
bed
3rd. Up by four o’clock and to my office till 8 o’clock, writing
over two copies of our contract with Sir W. Rider, &c., for 500
ton of hempe, which, because it is a secret, I have the trouble of
writing over as well as drawing. Then home to dress myself, and
so to the office, where another fray between Sir R. Ford and my-
self about his yarn, wherein I find the board to yield on my side,
and was glad thereof, though troubled that the office should fall
upon me of disobliging Sir Richard. At noon we all by invitation
dined at the Dolphin with the Officers of the Ordnance; where Sir
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JULY 1662
W. Compton, Mr. O’Neale,‘and other great persons, were, and a
very great dinner, but I drank as I still do but my allowance of
wine. After dinner, was brought to Sir W. Compton a gun to dis-
charge seven times, the best of all devices that ever I saw, and
very serviceable, and not a bawble; for it is much approved of,
and many thereof made. Thence to my office all the afternoon
as long as I could see, about setting many businesses in order.
In the evening came Mr. Lewis to me, and very ingeniously did
enquire whether I ever did look into the business of the Chest at
Chatham;289 and after my readiness to be informed did appear to
him, he did produce a paper, wherein he stated the government
of the Chest to me; and upon the whole did tell me how it hath
ever been abused, and to this day is; and what a meritorious act it
would be to look after it; which I am resolved to do, if God bless
me; and do thank him very much for it. So home, and after a
turn or two upon the leads with my wife, who has lately had but
little of my company, since I begun to follow my business, but is
contented therewith since she sees how I spend my time, and so
to bed.
4th. Up by five o’clock, and after my journall put in order, to
my office about my business, which I am resolved to follow, for
every day I see what ground I get by it. By and by comes Mr.
Cooper, mate of the Royall Charles, of whom I intend to learn
mathematiques, and do begin with him to-day, he being a very
able man, and no great matter, I suppose, will content him. After
an hour’s being with him at arithmetique (my first attempt being
to learn the multiplication-table); then we parted till to-morrow.
And so to my business at my office again till noon, about which
289 Pepys gives some particulars about the Chest on November 13th, 1662.
“The Chest at Chatham was originally planned by Sir Francis Drake and Sir
John Hawkins in 1588, after the defeat of the Armada; the seamen voluntar-
ily agreed to have ‘defalked’ out of their wages certain sums to form a fund
for relief. The property became considerable, as well as the abuses, and in
1802 the Chest was removed to Greenwich. In 1817, the stock amounted to
£300,000 Consols.”–Hist. of Rochester, p. 346.–B.
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JULY 1662
time Sir W. Warren did come to me about business, and did begin
to instruct me in the nature of fine timber and deals, telling me
the nature of every sort; and from that we fell to discourse of
Sir W. Batten’s corruption and the people that he employs, and
from one discourse to another of the kind. I was much pleased
with his company, and so staid talking with him all alone at my
office till 4 in the afternoon, without eating or drinking all day,
and then parted, and I home to eat a bit, and so back again to my
office; and toward the evening came Mr. Sheply, who is to go out
of town to-morrow, and so he and I with much ado settled his
accounts with my Lord, which, though they be true and honest,
yet so obscure, that it vexes me to see in what manner they are
kept. He being gone, and leave taken of him as of a man likely
not to come to London again a great while, I eat a bit of bread
and butter, and so to bed. This day I sent my brother Tom, at his
request, my father’s old Bass Viall which he and I have kept so
long, but I fear Tom will do little good at it.
5th. To my office all the morning, to get things ready against
our sitting, and by and by we sat and did business all the morn-
ing, and at noon had Sir W. Pen, who I hate with all my heart for
his base treacherous tricks, but yet I think it not policy to declare
it yet, and his son William, to my house to dinner, where was also
Mr. Creed and my cozen Harry Alcocke. I having some venison
given me a day or two ago, and so I had a shoulder roasted, an-
other baked, and the umbles290 baked in a pie, and all very well
done. We were merry as I could be in that company, and the
more because I would not seem otherwise to Sir W. Pen, he being
within a day or two to go for Ireland. After dinner he and his
son went away, and Mr. Creed would, with all his rhetoric, have
persuaded me to have gone to a play; and in good earnest I find
my nature desirous to have gone, notwithstanding my promise
290 The umbles are the liver, kidneys, and other portions of the inside of
the deer. They were usually made into pies, and old cookery books contain
directions for the making of ‘umble pies.’
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JULY 1662
and my business, to which I have lately kept myself so close, but I
did refuse it, and I hope shall ever do so, and above all things it is
considerable that my mind was never in my life in so good a con-
dition of quiet as it has been since I have followed my business
and seen myself to get greater and greater fitness in my employ-
ment, and honour every day more than other. So at my office
all the afternoon, and then my mathematiques at night with Mr.
Cooper, and so to supper and to bed.
6th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed to-day with my wife merry
and pleasant, and then rose and settled my accounts with my
wife for housekeeping, and do see that my kitchen, besides wine,
fire, candle, sope, and many other things, comes to about 30s. a
week, or a little over. To church, where Mr. Mills made a lazy
sermon. So home to dinner, where my brother Tom dined with
me, and so my wife and I to church again in the afternoon, and
that done I walked to the Wardrobe and spent my time with Mr.
Creed and Mr. Moore talking about business; so up to supper
with my Lady [Sandwich], who tells me, with much trouble, that
my Lady Castlemaine is still as great with the King, and that the
King comes as often to her as ever he did, at which, God forgive
me, I am well pleased. It began to rain, and so I borrowed a hat
and cloak of Mr. Moore and walked home, where I found Cap-
tain Ferrer with my wife, and after speaking a matter of an hour
with him he went home and we all to bed. Jack Cole, my old
friend, found me out at the Wardrobe; and, among other things,
he told me that certainly most of the chief ministers of London
would fling up their livings; and that, soon or late, the issue
thereof would be sad to the King and Court.
7th. Up and to my office early, and there all the morning
alone till dinner, and after dinner to my office again, and about
3 o’clock with my wife by water to Westminster, where I staid in
the Hall while my wife went to see her father and mother, and
she returning we by water home again, and by and by comes Mr.
Cooper, so he and I to our mathematiques, and so supper and to
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bed. My morning’s work at the office was to put the new books
of my office into order, and writing on the backsides what books
they be, and transcribing out of some old books some things into
them.
8th. At the office all the morning and dined at home, and after
dinner in all haste to make up my accounts with my Lord, which
I did with some trouble, because I had some hopes to have made
a profit to myself in this account and above what was due to me
(which God forgive me in), but I could not, but carried them
to my Lord, with whom they passed well. So to the Wardrobe,
where alone with my Lord above an hour; and he do seem still
to have his old confidence in me; and tells me to boot, that Mr.
Coventry hath spoke of me to him to great advantage; wherein I
am much pleased. By and by comes in Mr. Coventry to visit my
Lord; and so my Lord and he and I walked together in the great
chamber a good while; and I found him a most ingenuous man
and good company. He being gone I also went home by water,
Mr. Moore with me for discourse sake, and then parted from me,
Cooper being there ready to attend me, so he and I to work till it
was dark, and then eat a bit and by daylight to bed.
9th. Up by four o’clock, and at my multiplicacion-table hard,
which is all the trouble I meet withal in my arithmetique. So
made me ready and to the office, where all the morning busy, and
Sir W. Pen came to my office to take his leave of me, and desiring
a turn in the garden, did commit the care of his building to me,
and offered all his services to me in all matters of mine. I did,
God forgive me! promise him all my service and love, though
the rogue knows he deserves none from me, nor do I intend to
show him any; but as he dissembles with me, so must I with
him. Dined at home, and so to the office again, my wife with
me, and while I was for an hour making a hole behind my seat
in my closet to look into the office, she was talking to me about
her going to Brampton, which I would willingly have her to do
but for the cost of it, and to stay here will be very inconvenient
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because of the dirt that I must have when my house is pulled
down. Then to my business till night, then Mr. Cooper and I to
our business, and then came Mr. Mills, the minister, to see me,
which he hath but rarely done to me, though every day almost
to others of us; but he is a cunning fellow, and knows where the
good victuals is, and the good drink, at Sir W. Batten’s. However,
I used him civilly, though I love him as I do the rest of his coat.
So to supper and to bed.
10th. Up by four o’clock, and before I went to the office I prac-
tised my arithmetique, and then, when my wife was up, did call
her and Sarah, and did make up a difference between them, for
she is so good a servant as I am loth to part with her. So to the
office all the morning, where very much business, but it vexes me
to see so much disorder at our table, that, every man minding a
several business, we dispatch nothing. Dined at home with my
wife, then to the office again, and being called by Sir W. Batten,
walked to the Victualler’s office, there to view all the several of-
fices and houses to see that they were employed in order to give
the Council an account thereof. So after having taken an oath or
two of Mr. Lewes and Captain Brown and others I returned to
the office, and there sat despatching several businesses alone till
night, and so home and by daylight to bed.
11th. Up by four o’clock, and hard at my multiplicacion-table,
which I am now almost master of, and so made me ready and
to my office, where by and by comes Mr. Pett, and then a mes-
senger from Mr. Coventry, who stays in his boat at the Tower for
us. So we to him, and down to Deptford first, and there viewed
some deals lately served in at a low price, which our officers, like
knaves, would untruly value in their worth, but we found them
good. Then to Woolwich, and viewed well all the houses and
stores there, which lie in very great confusion for want of store-
houses, and then to Mr. Ackworth’s and Sheldon’s to view their
books, which we found not to answer the King’s service and se-
curity at all as to the stores. Then to the Ropeyard, and there
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viewed the hemp, wherein we found great corruption, and then
saw a trial between Sir R. Ford’s yarn and our own, and found
great odds. So by water back again. About five in the afternoon
to Whitehall, and so to St. James’s; and at Mr. Coventry’s cham-
ber, which is very neat and fine, we had a pretty neat dinner,
and after dinner fell to discourse of business and regulation, and
do think of many things that will put matters into better order,
and upon the whole my heart rejoices to see Mr. Coventry so
ingenious, and able, and studious to do good, and with much
frankness and respect to Mr. Pett and myself particularly. About
9 o’clock we broke up after much discourse and many things
agreed on in order to our business of regulation, and so by water
(landing Mr. Pett at the Temple) I went home and to bed.
12th. Up by five o’clock, and put things in my house in order to
be laid up, against my workmen come on Monday to take down
the top of my house, which trouble I must go through now, but it
troubles me much to think of it. So to my office, where till noon
we sat, and then I to dinner and to the office all the afternoon
with much business. At night with Cooper at arithmetique, and
then came Mr. Creed about my Lord’s accounts to even them,
and he gone I to supper and to bed.
13th (Lord’s day).... I had my old pain all yesterday and this
morning, and so kept my bed all this morning. So up and af-
ter dinner and some of my people to church, I set about taking
down my books and papers and making my chamber fit against
to-morrow to have the people come to work in pulling down the
top of my house. In the evening I walked to the garden and sent
for Mr. Turner (who yesterday did give me occasion of speak-
ing to him about the difference between him and me), and I told
him my whole mind, and how it was in my power to do him a
discourtesy about his place of petty purveyance, and at last did
make him see (I think) that it was his concernment to be friendly
to me and what belongs to me. After speaking my mind to him
and he to me, we walked down and took boat at the Tower and
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to Deptford, on purpose to sign and seal a couple of warrants,
as justice of peace in Kent, against one Annis, who is to be tried
next Tuesday, at Maidstone assizes, for stealing some lead out
of Woolwich Yard. Going and coming I did discourse with Mr.
Turner about the faults of our management of the business of our
office, of which he is sensible, but I believe is a very knave. Come
home I found a rabbit at the fire, and so supped well, and so to
my journall and to bed.
14th. Up by 4 o’clock and to my arithmetique, and so to my of-
fice till 8, then to Thames Street along with old Mr. Green, among
the tarr-men, and did instruct myself in the nature and prices of
tarr, but could not get Stockholm for the use of the office under
£10 15s. per last, which is a great price. So home, and at noon
Dr. T. Pepys came to me, and he and I to the Exchequer, and so
back to dinner, where by chance comes Mr. Pierce, the chyrur-
geon, and then Mr. Battersby, the minister, and then Mr. Dun,
and it happened that I had a haunch of venison boiled, and so
they were very wellcome and merry; but my simple Dr. do talk
so like a fool that I am weary of him. They being gone, to my
office again, and there all the afternoon, and at night home and
took a few turns with my wife in the garden and so to bed. My
house being this day almost quite untiled in order to its rising
higher. This night I began to put on my waistcoat also. I found
the pageant in Cornhill taken down, which was pretty strange.
15th. Up by 4 o’clock, and after doing some business as to set-
tling my papers at home, I went to my office, and there busy till
sitting time. So at the office all the morning, where J. Southern,
Mr. Coventry’s clerk, did offer me a warrant for an officer to sign
which I desired, claiming it for my clerk’s duty, which however
did trouble me a little to be put upon it, but I did it. We broke
up late, and I to dinner at home, where my brother Tom and Mr.
Cooke came and dined with me, but I could not be merry for
my business, but to my office again after dinner, and they two
and my wife abroad. In the evening comes Mr. Cooper, and
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I took him by water on purpose to tell me things belonging to
ships, which was time well spent, and so home again, and my
wife came home and tells me she has been very merry and well
pleased with her walk with them. About bedtime it fell a-raining,
and the house being all open at top, it vexed me; but there was
no help for it.
16th. In the morning I found all my ceilings, spoiled with rain
last night, so that I fear they must be all new whited when the
work is done. Made me ready and to my office, and by and by
came Mr. Moore to me, and so I went home and consulted about
drawing up a fair state of all my Lord’s accounts, which being
settled, he went away, and I fell to writing of it very neatly, and
it was very handsome and concisely done. At noon to my Lord’s
with it, but found him at dinner, and some great company with
him, Mr. Edward Montagu and his brother, and Mr. Coventry,
and after dinner he went out with them, and so I lost my labour;
but dined with Mr. Moore and the people below, who after din-
ner fell to talk of Portugall rings, and Captain Ferrers offered five
or six to sell, and I seeming to like a ring made of a coco-nutt
with a stone done in it, he did offer and would give it me. By
and by we went to Mr. Creed’s lodging, and there got a dish or
two of sweetmeats, and I seeing a very neat leaden standish to
carry papers, pen, and ink in when one travels I also got that of
him, and that done I went home by water and to finish some of
my Lord’s business, and so early to bed. This day I was told that
my Lady Castlemaine (being quite fallen out with her husband)
did yesterday go away from him, with all her plate, jewels, and
other best things; and is gone to Richmond to a brother of her’s;
which, I am apt to think, was a design to get out of town, that
the King might come at her the better. But strange it is how for
her beauty I am willing to construe all this to the best and to pity
her wherein it is to her hurt, though I know well enough she is a
whore.
17th. To my office, and by and by to our sitting; where much
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business. Mr. Coventry took his leave, being to go with the Duke
over for the Queen-Mother. I dined at home, and so to my Lord’s,
where I presented him with a true state of all his accounts to last
Monday, being the 14th of July, which did please him, and to my
great joy I continue in his great esteem and opinion. I this day
took a general acquittance from my Lord to the same day. So that
now I have but very few persons to deal withall for money in the
world. Home and found much business to be upon my hands,
and was late at the office writing letters by candle light, which is
rare at this time of the year, but I do it with much content and joy,
and then I do please me to see that I begin to have people direct
themselves to me in all businesses. Very late I was forced to send
for Mr. Turner, Smith, Young, about things to be sent down early
to-morrow on board the King’s pleasure boat, and so to bed with
my head full of business, but well contented in mind as ever in
my life.
18th. Up very early, and got a-top of my house, seeing the de-
sign of my work, and like it very well, and it comes into my head
to have my dining-room wainscoated, which will be very pretty.
By-and-by by water to Deptford, to put several things in order,
being myself now only left in town, and so back again to the of-
fice, and there doing business all the morning and the afternoon
also till night, and then comes Cooper for my mathematiques,
but, in good earnest, my head is so full of business that I cannot
understand it as otherwise I should do. At night to bed, being
much troubled at the rain coming into my house, the top being
open.
19th. Up early and to some business, and my wife coming to
me I staid long with her discoursing about her going into the
country, and as she is not very forward so am I at a great loss
whether to have her go or no because of the charge, and yet in
some considerations I would be glad she was there, because of
the dirtiness of my house and the trouble of having of a fam-
ily there. So to my office, and there all the morning, and then
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to dinner and my brother Tom dined with me only to see me.
In the afternoon I went upon the river to look after some tarr I
am sending down and some coles, and so home again; it raining
hard upon the water, I put ashore and sheltered myself, while the
King came by in his barge, going down towards the Downs to
meet the Queen: the Duke being gone yesterday. But methought
it lessened my esteem of a king, that he should not be able to
command the rain. Home, and Cooper coming (after I had dis-
patched several letters) to my mathematiques, and so at night to
bed to a chamber at Sir W. Pen’s, my own house being so foul
that I cannot lie there any longer, and there the chamber lies so
as that I come into it over my leads without going about, but yet
I am not fully content with it, for there will be much trouble to
have servants running over the leads to and fro.
20th (Lord’s day). My wife and I lay talking long in bed, and at
last she is come to be willing to stay two months in the country,
for it is her unwillingness to stay till the house is quite done that
makes me at a loss how to have her go or stay. But that which
troubles me most is that it has rained all this morning so furiously
that I fear my house is all over water, and with that expectation I
rose and went into my house and find that it is as wet as the open
street, and that there is not one dry-footing above nor below in
my house. So I fitted myself for dirt, and removed all my books
to the office and all day putting up and restoring things, it raining
all day long as hard within doors as without. At last to dinner,
we had a calf’s head and bacon at my chamber at Sir W. Pen’s,
and there I and my wife concluded to have her go and her two
maids and the boy, and so there shall be none but Will and I left at
home, and so the house will be freer, for it is impossible to have
anybody come into my house while it is in this condition, and
with this resolution all the afternoon we were putting up things
in the further cellar against next week for them to be gone, and
my wife and I into the office and there measured a soiled flag
that I had found there, and hope to get it to myself, for it has
not been demanded since I came to the office. But my wife is
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not hasty to have it, but rather to stay a while longer and see the
event whether it will be missed or no. At night to my office, and
there put down this day’s passages in my journall, and read my
oaths, as I am obliged every Lord’s day. And so to Sir W. Pen’s
to my chamber again, being all in dirt and foul, and in fear of
having catched cold today with dabbling in the water. But what
has vexed me to-day was that by carrying the key to Sir W. Pen’s
last night, it could not in the midst of all my hurry to carry away
my books and things, be found, and at last they found it in the
fire that we made last night. So to bed.
21st. Up early, and though I found myself out of order and
cold, and the weather cold and likely to rain, yet upon my
promise and desire to do what I intended, I did take boat and
down to Greenwich, to Captain Cocke’s, who hath a most pleas-
ant seat, and neat. Here I drank wine, and eat some fruit off
the trees; and he showed a great rarity, which was two or three
of a great number of silver dishes and plates, which he bought
of an embassador that did lack money, in the edge or rim of
which was placed silver and gold medalls, very ancient, and I
believe wrought, by which, if they be, they are the greatest rar-
ity that ever I saw in my life, and I will show Mr. Crumlum
them. Thence to Woolwich to the Rope-yard; and there looked
over several sorts of hemp, and did fall upon my great survey
of seeing the working and experiments of the strength and the
charge in the dressing of every sort; and I do think have brought
it to so great a certainty, as I have done the King great service in
it: and do purpose to get it ready against the Duke’s coming to
town to present to him. I breakfasted at Mr. Falconer’s well, and
much pleased with my inquiries. Thence to the dock, where we
walked in Mr. Shelden’s garden, eating more fruit, and drink-
ing, and eating figs, which were very good, and talking while
the Royal James was bringing towards the dock, and then we
went out and saw the manner and trouble of docking such a ship,
which yet they could not do, but only brought her head into the
Dock, and so shored her up till next tide. But, good God! what
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a deal of company was there from both yards to help to do it,
when half the company would have done it as well. But I see it
is impossible for the King to have things done as cheap as other
men. Thence by water, and by and by landing at the riverside
somewhere among the reeds, we walked to Greenwich, where
to Cocke’s house again and walked in the garden, and then in
to his lady, who I find is still pretty, but was now vexed and did
speak very discontented and angry to the Captain for disappoint-
ing a gentleman that he had invited to dinner, which he took like
a wise man and said little, but she was very angry, which put
me clear out of countenance that I was sorry I went in. So af-
ter I had eat still some more fruit I took leave of her in the garden
plucking apricots for preserving, and went away and so by water
home, and there Mr. Moore coming and telling me that my Lady
goes into the country to-morrow, I carried my wife by coach to
take her leave of her father, I staying in Westminster Hall, she
going away also this week, and thence to my Lady’s, where we
staid and supped with her, but found that my Lady was truly an-
gry and discontented with us for our neglecting to see her as we
used to do, but after a little she was pleased as she was used to
be, at which we were glad. So after supper home to bed.
22d. Among my workmen early: then to the office, and there
I had letters from the Downs from Mr. Coventry; who tells me
of the foul weather they had last Sunday, that drove them back
from near Boulogne, whither they were going for the Queen,
back again to the Downs, with the loss of their cables, sayles, and
masts; but are all safe, only my Lord Sandwich, who went before
with the yachts; they know not what is become of him, which
do trouble me much; but I hope he got ashore before the storm
begun; which God grant! All day at the office, only at home at
dinner, where I was highly angry with my wife for her keys being
out of the way, but they were found at last, and so friends again.
All the afternoon answering letters and writing letters, and at
night to Mr. Coventry an ample letter in answer to all his and the
Duke’s business. Late at night at the office, where my business is
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great, being now all alone in town, but I shall go through it with
pleasure. So home and to bed.
23rd. This morning angry a little in the morning, and my house
being so much out of order makes me a little pettish. I went to
the office, and there dispatched business by myself, and so again
in the afternoon; being a little vexed that my brother Tom, by his
neglect, do fail to get a coach for my wife and maid this week,
by which she will not be at Brampton Feast, to meet my Lady at
my father’s. At night home, and late packing up things in order
to their going to Brampton to-morrow, and so to bed, quite out
of sorts in my mind by reason that the weather is so bad, and
my house all full of wet, and the trouble of going from one house
to another to Sir W. Pen’s upon every occasion. Besides much
disturbed by reason of the talk up and down the town, that my
Lord Sandwich is lost; but I trust in God the contrary.
24th. Up early this morning sending the things to the carrier’s,
and my boy, who goes to-day, though his mistress do not till next
Monday. All the morning at the office, Sir W. Batten being come
to town last night. I hear, to my great content, that my Lord
Sandwich is safe landed in France. Dined at our chamber, where
W. Bowyer with us, and after much simple talk with him, I left
him, and to my office, where all the afternoon busy till 9 at night,
among other things improving my late experiment at Woolwich
about hemp. So home and to bed.
25th. At the office all the morning, reading Mr. Holland’s’ dis-
course of the Navy, lent me by Mr. Turner, and am much pleased
with them, they hitting the very diseases of the Navy, which we
are troubled with now-a-days. I shall bestow writing of them
over and much reading thereof. This morning Sir W. Batten came
in to the office and desired to speak with me; he began by telling
me that he observed a strangeness between him and me of late,
and would know the reason of it, telling me he heard that I was
offended with merchants coming to his house and making con-
tracts there. I did tell him that as a friend I had spoke of it to Sir
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W. Pen and desired him to take a time to tell him of it, and not
as a backbiter, with which he was satisfied, but I find that Sir W.
Pen has played the knave with me, and not told it from me as a
friend, but in a bad sense. He also told me that he heard that ex-
ceptions were taken at his carrying his wife down to Portsmouth,
saying that the King should not pay for it, but I denied that I had
spoke of it, nor did I. At last he desired the difference between
our wives might not make a difference between us, which I was
exceedingly glad to hear, and do see every day the fruit of look-
ing after my business, which I pray God continue me in, for I do
begin to be very happy. Dined at home, and so to the office all
the afternoon again, and at night home and to bed.
26th. Sir W. Batten, Mr. Pett, and I at the office sitting all the
morning. So dined at home, and then to my office again, causing
the model hanging in my chamber to be taken down and hung
up in my office, for fear of being spoilt by the workmen, and for
my own convenience of studying it. This afternoon I had a letter
from Mr. Creed, who hath escaped narrowly in the King’s yacht,
and got safe to the Downs after the late storm; and that there the
King do tell him, that he is sure that my Lord is landed at Callis
safe, of which being glad, I sent news thereof to my Lord Crew,
and by the post to my Lady into the country. This afternoon I
went to Westminster; and there hear that the King and Queen
intend to come to White Hall from Hampton Court next week,
for all winter. Thence to Mrs. Sarah, and there looked over my
Lord’s lodgings, which are very pretty; and White Hall garden
and the Bowling-ally (where lords and ladies are now at bowles),
in brave condition. Mrs. Sarah told me how the falling out be-
tween my Lady Castlemaine and her Lord was about christening
of the child lately,291 which he would have, and had done by a
291 The boy was born in June at Lady Castlemaine’s house in King Street.
By the direction of Lord Castlemaine, who had become a Roman Catholic,
the child was baptized by a priest, and this led to a final separation between
husband and wife. Some days afterwards the child was again baptized by
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priest: and, some days after, she had it again christened by a
minister; the King, and Lord of Oxford, and Duchesse of Suffolk,
being witnesses: and christened with a proviso, that it had not
already been christened. Since that she left her Lord, carrying
away every thing in the house; so much as every dish, and cloth,
and servant but the porter. He is gone discontented into France,
they say, to enter a monastery; and now she is coming back again
to her house in Kingstreet. But I hear that the Queen did prick
her out of the list presented her by the King;292 desiring that she
the rector of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, in presence of the godparents, the
King, Aubrey De Vere, Earl of Oxford, and Barbara, Countess of Suffolk, first
Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen and Lady Castlemaine’s aunt. The
entry in the register of St. Margaret’s is as follows: ”1662 June 18 Charles
Palmer Ld Limbricke, s. to ye right honorble Roger Earl of Castlemaine by
Barbara” (Steinman’s “Memoir of Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland,” 1871, p.
33). The child was afterwards called Charles Fitzroy, and was created Duke
of Southampton in 1674. He succeeded his mother in the dukedom of Cleve-
land in 1709, and died 1730.
292 “By the King’s command Lord Clarendon, much against his inclination,
had twice visited his royal mistress with a view of inducing her, by persua-
sions which he could not justify, to give way to the King’s determination to
have Lady Castlemaine of her household.... Lord Clarendon has given a full
account of all that transpired between himself, the King and the Queen, on
this very unpleasant business (‘Continuation of Life of Clarendon,’ 1759, ff.
168-178).”–Steinman’s Memoir of Duchess of Cleveland, p. 35. “The day at
length arrived when Lady Castlemaine was to be formally admitted a Lady
of the Bedchamber. The royal warrant, addressed to the Lord Chamberlain,
bears date June 1, 1663, and includes with that of her ladyship, the names
of the Duchess of Buckingham, the Countesses of Chesterfield and Bath, and
the Countess Mareshall. A separate warrant of the same day directs his lord-
ship to admit the Countess of Suffolk as Groom of the Stole and first Lady of
the Bedchamber, to which undividable offices she had, with the additional
ones of Mistress of the Robes and Keeper of the Privy Purse, been nomi-
nated by a warrant dated April 2, 1662, wherein the reception of her oath is
expressly deferred until the Queen’s household shall be established. We here
are furnished with the evidence that Charles would not sign the warrants for
the five until Catherine had withdrawn her objection to his favourite one.”–
Addenda to Steinman’s Memoir of Duchess of Cleveland (privately printed),
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might have that favour done her, or that he would send her from
whence she come: and that the King was angry and the Queen
discontented a whole day and night upon it; but that the King
hath promised to have nothing to do with her hereafter. But I
cannot believe that the King can fling her off so, he loving her
too well: and so I writ this night to my Lady to be my opinion;
she calling her my lady, and the lady I admire. Here I find that
my Lord hath lost the garden to his lodgings, and that it is turn-
ing into a tennis-court. Hence by water to the Wardrobe to see
how all do there, and so home to supper and to bed.
27th (Lord’s day). At church alone in the pew in the morn-
ing. In the afternoon by water I carried my wife to Westminster,
where she went to take leave of her father,293 and I to walk in the
Park, which is now every day more and more pleasant, by the
new works upon it. Here meeting with Laud Crispe, I took him
to the farther end, and sat under a tree in a corner, and there sung
some songs, he singing well, but no skill, and so would sing false
sometimes. Then took leave of him, and found my wife at my
Lord’s lodging, and so took her home by water, and to supper in
Sir W. Pen’s balcony, and Mrs. Keene with us, and then came my
wife’s brother, and then broke up, and to bed.
28th. Up early, and by six o’clock, after my wife was ready, I
walked with her to the George, at Holborn Conduit, where the
coach stood ready to carry her and her maid to Bugden, but that
not being ready, my brother Tom staid with them to see them
1874, p. i.
293 Mrs. Pepys’s father was Alexander Marchant, Sieur de St. Michel, a
scion of a good family in Anjou. Having turned Huguenot at the age of
twenty-one, his father disinherited him, and he was left penniless. He came
over in the retinue of Henrietta Maria, on her marriage with Charles I., as one
of her Majesty’s gentlemen carvers, but the Queen dismissed him on finding
out he was a Protestant and did not go to mass. He described himself as
being captain and major of English troops in Italy and Flanders.–Wheatley’s
Pepys and the World he lived in, pp. 6, 250. He was full of schemes; see
September 22nd, 1663, for account of his patent for curing smoky chimneys.
658
JULY 1662
gone, and so I took a troubled though willing goodbye, because
of the bad condition of my house to have a family in it. So I took
leave of her and walked to the waterside, and there took boat
for the Tower; hearing that the Queen-Mother is come this morn-
ing already as high as Woolwich: and that my Lord Sandwich
was with her; at which my heart was glad, and I sent the water-
man, though yet not very certain of it, to my wife to carry news
thereof to my Lady. So to my office all the morning abstracting
the Duke’s instructions in the margin thereof. So home all alone
to dinner, and then to the office again, and in the evening Cooper
comes, and he being gone, to my chamber a little troubled and
melancholy, to my lute late, and so to bed, Will lying there at my
feet, and the wench in my house in Will’s bed.
29th. Early up, and brought all my money, which is near £300,
out of my house into this chamber; and so to the office, and there
we sat all the morning, Sir George Carteret and Mr. Coventry be-
ing come from sea. This morning among other things I broached
the business of our being abused about flags, which I know doth
trouble Sir W. Batten, but I care not. At noon being invited I went
with Sir George and Mr. Coventry to Sir W. Batten’s to dinner,
and there merry, and very friendly to Sir Wm. and he to me,
and complies much with me, but I know he envies me, and I do
not value him. To the office again, and in the evening walked
to Deptford (Cooper with me talking of mathematiques), to send
a fellow to prison for cutting of buoy ropes, and to see the dif-
ference between the flags sent in now-a-days, and I find the old
ones, which were much cheaper, to be wholly as good. So I took
one of a sort with me, and Mr. Wayth accompanying of me a
good way, talking of the faults of the Navy, I walked to Redriffe
back, and so home by water, and after having done, late, at the
office, I went to my chamber and to bed.
30th. Up early, and to my office, where Cooper came to me
and begun his lecture upon the body of a ship, which my having
of a modell in the office is of great use to me, and very pleasant
659
JULY 1662
and useful it is. Then by water to White Hall, and there waited
upon my Lord Sandwich; and joyed him, at his lodgings, of his
safe coming home after all his danger, which he confesses to be
very great. And his people do tell me how bravely my Lord did
carry himself, while my Lord Crofts did cry; and I perceive it is
all the town talk how poorly he carried himself. But the best was
of one Mr. Rawlins, a courtier, that was with my Lord; and in
the greatest danger cried, “God damn me, my Lord, I won’t give
you three-pence for your place now.” But all ends in the honour
of the pleasure-boats; which, had they not been very good boats,
they could never have endured the sea as they did. Thence with
Captain Fletcher, of the Gage, in his ship’s boat with 8 oars (but
every ordinary oars outrowed us) to Woolwich, expecting to find
Sir W. Batten there upon his survey, but he is not come, and so
we got a dish of steaks at the White Hart, while his clarkes and
others were feasting of it in the best room of the house, and after
dinner playing at shuffleboard,294 and when at last they heard I
was there, they went about their survey. But God help the King!
what surveys, shall be taken after this manner! I after dinner
about my business to the Rope-yard, and there staid till night,
repeating several trialls of the strength, wayte, waste, and other
things of hemp, by which I have furnished myself enough to fin-
ish my intended business of stating the goodness of all sorts of
hemp. At night home by boat with Sir W. Warren, who I landed
by the way, and so being come home to bed.
294 The game of shovelboard was played by two players (each provided
with five coins) on a smooth heavy table. On the table were marked with
chalk a series of lines, and the play was to strike the coin on the edge of the
table with the hand so that it rested between these lines. Shakespeare uses
the expression “shove-groat shilling,” as does Ben Jonson. These shillings
were usually smooth and worn for the convenience of playing. Strutt says
(“Sports and Pastimes”), “I have seen a shovel-board table at a low pub-
lic house in Benjamin Street, near Clerkenwell Green, which is about three
feet in breadth and thirty-nine feet two inches in length, and said to be the
longest at this time in London.”
660
JULY 1662
31st. Up early and among my workmen, I ordering my rooms
above, which will please me very well. So to my office, and there
we sat all the morning, where I begin more and more to grow
considerable there. At noon Mr. Coventry and I by his coach
to the Exchange together; and in Lumbard-street met Captain
Browne of the Rosebush: at which he was cruel angry: and did
threaten to go to-day to the Duke at Hampton Court, and get him
turned out because he was not sailed. But at the Exchange we re-
solved of eating a bit together, which we did at the Ship behind
the Exchange, and so took boat to Billingsgate, and went down
on board the Rosebush at Woolwich, and found all things out
of order, but after frightening the officers there, we left them to
make more haste, and so on shore to the yard, and did the same
to the officers of the yard, that the ship was not dispatched. Here
we found Sir W. Batten going about his survey, but so poorly and
unlike a survey of the Navy, that I am ashamed of it, and so is
Mr. Coventry. We found fault with many things, and among oth-
ers the measure of some timber now serving in which Mr. Day
the assistant told us of, and so by water home again, all the way
talking of the office business and other very pleasant discourse,
and much proud I am of getting thus far into his books, which I
think I am very much in. So home late, and it being the last day
of the month, I did make up my accounts before I went to bed,
and found myself worth about £650, for which the Lord God be
praised, and so to bed. I drank but two glasses of wine this day,
and yet it makes my head ake all night, and indisposed me all
the next day, of which I am glad. I am now in town only with
my man Will and Jane, and because my house is in building, I do
lie at Sir W. Pen’s house, he being gone to Ireland. My wife, her
maid and boy gone to Brampton. I am very well entered into the
business and esteem of the office, and do ply it close, and find
benefit by it.
661
AUGUST 1662
August 1st. Up, my head aching, and to my office, where Cooper
read me another lecture upon my modell very pleasant. So to
my business all the morning, which increases by people coming
now to me to the office. At noon to the Exchange, where meeting
Mr. Creed and Moore we three to a house hard by (which I was
not pleased with) to dinner, and after dinner and some discourse
ordinary by coach home, it raining hard, and so at the office all
the afternoon till evening to my chamber, where, God forgive me,
I was sorry to hear that Sir W. Pen’s maid Betty was gone away
yesterday, for I was in hopes to have had a bout with her before
she had gone, she being very pretty. I had also a mind to my own
wench, but I dare not for fear she should prove honest and refuse
and then tell my wife. I staid up late, putting things in order for
my going to Chatham to-morrow, and so to bed, being in pain...
with the little riding in a coach to-day from the Exchange, which
do trouble me.
2nd. Up early, and got me ready in my riding clothes, and so
to the office, and there wrote letters to my father and wife against
night, and then to the business of my office, which being done,
I took boat with Will, and down to Greenwich, where Captain
Cocke not being at home I was vexed, and went to walk in the
Park till he come thither to me: and Will’s forgetting to bring
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AUGUST 1662
my boots in the boat did also vex me, for I was forced to send
the boat back again for them. I to Captain Cocke’s along with
him to dinner, where I find his lady still pretty, but not so good
a humour as I thought she was. We had a plain, good dinner,
and I see they do live very frugally. I eat among other fruit much
mulberrys, a thing I have not eat of these many years, since I
used to be at Ashted, at my cozen Pepys’s. After dinner we to
boat, and had a pleasant passage down to Gravesend, but it was
nine o’clock before we got thither, so that we were in great doubt
what to do, whether to stay there or no; and the rather because I
was afeard to ride, because of my pain...; but at the Swan, finding
Mr. Hemson and Lieutenant Carteret of the Foresight come to
meet me, I borrowed Mr. Hemson’s horse, and he took another,
and so we rode to Rochester in the dark, and there at the Crown
Mr. Gregory, Barrow, and others staid to meet me. So after a
glass of wine, we to our barge, that was ready for me, to the Hill-
house, where we soon went to bed, before we slept I telling upon
discourse Captain Cocke the manner of my being cut of the stone,
which pleased him much. So to sleep.
3rd (Lord’s day). Up early, and with Captain Cocke to the
dock-yard, a fine walk, and fine weather. Where we walked till
Commissioner Pett come to us, and took us to his house, and
showed us his garden and fine things, and did give us a fine
breakfast of bread and butter, and sweetmeats and other things
with great choice, and strong drinks, with which I could not
avoyde making my head ake, though I drank but little. Thither
came Captain Allen of the Foresight, and the officers of the yard
to see me. Thence by and by to church, by coach, with the Com-
missioner, and had a dull sermon. A full church, and some pretty
women in it; among others, Beck Allen, who was a bride-maid to
a new married couple that came to church to-day, and, which was
pretty strange, sat in a pew hung with mourning for a mother of
the bride’s, which methinks should have been taken down. After
dinner going out of the church saluted Mrs. Pett, who came after
us in the coach to church, and other officers’ wives. The Com-
663
AUGUST 1662
missioner staid at dinner with me, and we had a good dinner,
better than I would have had, but I saw there was no helping of
it. After dinner the Commissioner and I left the company and
walked in the garden at the Hill-house, which is very pleasant,
and there talked of our businesses and matters of the navy. So
to church again, where quite weary, and so after sermon walked
with him to the yard up and down and the fields, and saw the
place designed for the wet dock. And so to his house, and had
a syllabub, and saw his closet, which come short of what I ex-
pected, but there was fine modells of ships in it indeed, whose
worth I could not judge of. At night walked home to the Hill-
house, Mr. Barrow with me, talking of the faults of the yard,
walking in the fields an hour or two, and so home to supper,
and so Captain Cocke and I to bed. This day among other sto-
ries he told me how despicable a thing it is to be a hangman in
Poland, although it be a place of credit. And that, in his time,
there was some repairs to be made of the gallows there, which
was very fine of stone; but nobody could be got to mend it till
the Burgomaster, or Mayor of the town, with all the companies
of those trades which were necessary to be used about those re-
pairs, did go in their habits with flags, in solemn procession to
the place, and there the Burgomaster did give the first blow with
the hammer upon the wooden work; and the rest of the Masters
of the Companys upon the works belonging to their trades; that
so workmen might not be ashamed to be employed upon doing
of the gallows’ works.
4th. Up by four o’clock in the morning and walked to the
Dock, where Commissioner Pett and I took barge and went to the
guardships and mustered them, finding them but badly manned;
thence to the Sovereign, which we found kept in good order
and very clean, which pleased us well, but few of the officers
on board. Thence to the Charles, and were troubled to see her
kept so neglectedly by the boatswain Clements, who I always
took for a very good officer; it is a very brave ship. Thence to
Upnor Castle, and there went up to the top, where there is a
664
AUGUST 1662
fine prospect, but of very small force; so to the yard, and there
mustered the whole ordinary, where great disorder by multitude
of servants and old decrepid men, which must be remedied. So
to all the storehouses and viewed the stores of all sorts and the
hemp, where we found Captain Cocke’s (which he came down
to see along with me) very bad, and some others, and with much
content (God forgive me) I did hear by the Clerk of the Rope-
yard how it was by Sir W. Batten’s private letter that one parcel
of Alderman Barker’s’ was received. At two o’clock to dinner to
the Hill-house, and after dinner dispatched many people’s busi-
ness, and then to the yard again, and looked over Mr. Gregory’s
and Barrow’s houses to see the matter of difference between them
concerning an alteration that Barrow would make, which I shall
report to the board, but both their houses very pretty, and de-
serve to be so, being well kept. Then to a trial of several sorts
of hemp, but could not perform it here so well as at Woolwich,
but we did do it pretty well. So took barge at the dock and to
Rochester, and there Captain Cocke and I and our two men took
coach about 8 at night and to Gravesend, where it was very dark
before we got thither to the Swan; and there, meeting with Don-
caster, an old waterman of mine above bridge, we eat a short
supper, being very merry with the drolling, drunken coachman
that brought us, and so took water. It being very dark, and the
wind rising, and our waterman unacquainted with this part of
the river, so that we presently cast upon the Essex shore, but got
off again, and so, as well as we could, went on, but I in such fear
that I could not sleep till we came to Erith, and there it begun to
be calm, and the stars to shine, and so I began to take heart again,
and the rest too, and so made shift to slumber a little. Above
Woolwich we lost our way, and went back to Blackwall, and up
and down, being guided by nothing but the barking of a dog,
which we had observed in passing by Blackwall, and so,
5th. Got right again with much ado, after two or three circles
and so on, and at Greenwich set in Captain Cocke, and I set for-
ward, hailing to all the King’s ships at Deptford, but could not
665
AUGUST 1662
wake any man: so that we could have done what we would with
their ships. At last waked one man; but it was a merchant ship,
the Royall Catharine: so to the Towerdock and home, where the
girl sat up for me. It was about three o’clock, and putting Mr.
Boddam out of my bed, went to bed, and lay till nine o’clock, and
so to the office, where we sat all the morning, and I did give some
accounts of my service. Dined alone at home, and was glad my
house is begun tiling. And to the office again all the afternoon,
till it was so dark that I could not see hardly what it is that I now
set down when I write this word, and so went to my chamber
and to bed, being sleepy.
6th. Up early, and, going to my office, met Sir G. Carteret in
coming through the yard, and so walked a good while talking
with him about Sir W. Batten, and find that he is going down
the wind in every body’s esteem, and in that of his honesty by
this letter that he wrote to Captn. Allen concerning Alderman
Barker’s hemp. Thence by water to White Hall; and so to St.
James’s; but there found Mr. Coventry gone to Hampton Court.
So to my Lord’s; and he is also gone: this being a great day at
the Council about some business at the Council before the King.
Here I met with Mr. Pierce, the chyrurgeon, who told me how
Mr. Edward Montagu hath lately had a duell with Mr. Cholmely,
that is first gentleman-usher to the Queen, and was a messenger
from the King to her in Portugall, and is a fine gentleman; but had
received many affronts from Mr. Montagu, and some unkindness
from my Lord, upon his score (for which I am sorry). He proved
too hard for Montagu, and drove him so far backward that he
fell into a ditch, and dropt his sword, but with honour would
take no advantage over him; but did give him his life: and the
world says Mr. Montagu did carry himself very poorly in the
business, and hath lost his honour for ever with all people in
it, of which I am very glad, in hopes that it will humble him. I
hear also that he hath sent to my Lord to borrow £400, giving his
brother Harvey’s’ security for it, and that my Lord will lend it
him, for which I am sorry. Thence home, and at my office all the
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AUGUST 1662
morning, and dined at home, and can hardly keep myself from
having a mind to my wench, but I hope I shall not fall to such
a shame to myself. All the afternoon also at my office, and did
business. In the evening came Mr. Bland the merchant to me,
who has lived long in Spain, and is concerned in the business
of Tangier, who did discourse with me largely of it, and after he
was gone did send me three or four printed things that he hath
wrote of trade in general and of Tangier particularly, but I do not
find much in them. This afternoon Mr. Waith was with me, and
did tell me much concerning the Chest, which I am resolved to
look into; and I perceive he is sensible of Sir W. Batten’s carriage;
and is pleased to see any thing work against him. Who, poor
man, is, I perceive, much troubled, and did yesterday morning
walk in the garden with me, did tell me he did see there was
a design of bringing another man in his room, and took notice
of my sorting myself with others, and that we did business by
ourselves without him. Part of which is true, but I denied, and
truly, any design of doing him any such wrong as that. He told
me he did not say it particularly of me, but he was confident there
was somebody intended to be brought in, nay, that the trayne
was laid before Sir W. Pen went, which I was glad to hear him
say. Upon the whole I see he perceives himself tottering, and that
he is suspected, and would be kind to me, but I do my business in
the office and neglect him. At night writing in my study a mouse
ran over my table, which I shut up fast under my shelf’s upon
my table till to-morrow, and so home and to bed.
7th. Up by four o’clock and to my office, and by and by Mr.
Cooper comes and to our modell, which pleases me more and
more. At this till 8 o’clock, and so we sat in the office and staid all
the morning, my interest still growing, for which God be praised.
This morning I got unexpectedly the Reserve for Mr. Cooper to
be maister of, which was only by taking an opportune time to
motion [it], which is one good effect of my being constant at the
office, that nothing passes without me; and I have the choice of
my own time to propose anything I would have. Dined at home,
667
AUGUST 1662
and to the office again at my business all the afternoon till night,
and so to supper and to bed. It being become a pleasure to me
now-a-days to follow my business, and the greatest part may be
imputed to my drinking no wine, and going to no plays.
8th. Up by four o’clock in the morning, and at five by water to
Woolwich, there to see the manner of tarring, and all the morn-
ing looking to see the several proceedings in making of cordage,
and other things relating to that sort of works, much to my sat-
isfaction. At noon came Mr. Coventry on purpose from Hamp-
ton Court to see the same, and dined with Mr. Falconer, and
after dinner to several experiments of Hemp, and particularly
some Milan hemp that is brought over ready dressed. Thence we
walked talking, very good discourse all the way to Greenwich,
and I do find most excellent discourse from him. Among other
things, his rule of suspecting every man that proposes any thing
to him to be a knave; or, at least, to have some ends of his own in
it. Being led thereto by the story of Sir John Millicent, that would
have had a patent from King James for every man to have had
leave to have given him a shilling; and that he might take it of
every man that had a mind to give it, and being answered that
that was a fair thing, but what needed he a patent for it, and what
he would do to them that would not give him. He answered, he
would not force them; but that they should come to the Council
of State, to give a reason why they would not. Another rule is a
proverb that he hath been taught, which is that a man that cannot
sit still in his chamber (the reason of which I did not understand
him), and he that cannot say no (that is, that is of so good a na-
ture that he cannot deny any thing, or cross another in doing any
thing), is not fit for business. The last of which is a very great fault
of mine, which I must amend in. Thence by boat; I being hot, he
put the skirt of his cloak about me; and it being rough, he told
me the passage of a Frenchman through London Bridge, where,
when he saw the great fall, he begun to cross himself and say
his prayers in the greatest fear in the world, and soon as he was
over, he swore “Morbleu! c’est le plus grand plaisir du monde,”
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AUGUST 1662
being the most like a French humour in the world.295 To Dept-
ford, and there surprised the Yard, and called them to a muster,
and discovered many abuses, which we shall be able to under-
stand hereafter and amend. Thence walked to Redriffe, and so to
London Bridge, where I parted with him, and walked home and
did a little business, and to supper and to bed.
9th. Up by four o’clock or a little after, and to my office,
whither by and by comes Cooper, to whom I told my getting for
him the Reserve, for which he was very thankful, and fell to work
upon our modell, and did a good morning’s work upon the rig-
ging, and am very sorry that I must lose him so soon. By and by
comes Mr. Coventry, and he and I alone sat at the office all the
morning upon business. And so to dinner to Trinity House, and
thence by his coach towards White Hall; but there being a stop at
the Savoy, we ‘light and took water, and my Lord Sandwich being
out of town, we parted there, all the way having good discourse,
and in short I find him the most ingenuous person I ever found
in my life, and am happy in his acquaintance and my interest in
him. Home by water, and did business at my office. Writing a
letter to my brother John to dissuade him from being Modera-
tor of his year, which I hear is proffered him, of which I am very
glad. By and by comes Cooper, and he and I by candlelight at
my modell, being willing to learn as much of him as is possible
before he goes. So home and to bed.
10th (Lord’s day). Being to dine at my brother’s, I walked to
St. Dunstan’s, the church being now finished; and here I heard
Dr. Bates,’ who made a most eloquent sermon; and I am sorry I
295 When the first editions of this Diary were printed no note was required
here. Before the erection of the present London Bridge the fall of water at
the ebb tide was great, and to pass at that time was called “Shooting the
bridge”. It was very hazardous for small boats. The ancient mode, even in
Henry VIII.‘s time, of going to the Tower and Greenwich, was to land at the
Three Cranes, in Upper Thames Street, suffer the barges to shoot the bridge,
and to enter them again at Billingsgate. See Cavendish’s “Wolsey,” p. 40, ed.
1852
669
AUGUST 1662
have hitherto had so low an opinion of the man, for I have not
heard a neater sermon a great while, and more to my content. So
to Tom’s, where Dr. Fairebrother, newly come from Cambridge,
met me, and Dr. Thomas Pepys. I framed myself as pleasant
as I could, but my mind was another way. Hither came my un-
cle Fenner, hearing that I was here, and spoke to me about Pegg
Kite’s business of her portion, which her husband demands, but
I will have nothing to do with it. I believe he has no mind to part
with the money out of his hands, but let him do what he will with
it. He told me the new service-book–[The Common Prayer Book
of 1662, now in use.]–(which is now lately come forth) was laid
upon their deske at St. Sepulchre’s for Mr. Gouge to read; but he
laid it aside, and would not meddle with it: and I perceive the
Presbyters do all prepare to give over all against Bartholomew-
tide.296 Mr. Herring, being lately turned out at St. Bride’s, did
read the psalm to the people while they sung at Dr. Bates’s,
which methought is a strange turn. After dinner to St. Bride’s,
and there heard one Carpenter, an old man, who, they say, hath
been a Jesuit priest, and is come over to us; but he preaches very
well. So home with Mrs. Turner, and there hear that Mr. Calamy
hath taken his farewell this day of his people, and that others will
do so the next Sunday. Mr. Turner, the draper, I hear, is knighted,
made Alderman, and pricked for Sheriffe, with Sir Thomas Blud-
del, for the next year, by the King, and so are called with great
honour the King’s Sheriffes. Thence walked home, meeting Mr.
Moore by the way, and he home with me and walked till it was
dark in the garden, and so good night, and I to my closet in my
office to perfect my Journall and to read my solemn vows, and so
to bed.
11th. All the morning at the office. Dined at home all alone,
296 Thomas Gouge (1609-1681), an eminent Presbyterian minister, son of
William Gouge, D.D. (lecturer at and afterwards Rector of St. Anne’s, Black-
friars). He was vicar of the parish of St. Sepulchre from 1638 until the Act of
Uniformity, in 1662, forced him to resign his living.
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AUGUST 1662
and so to my office again, whither Dean Fuller came to see me,
and having business about a ship to carry his goods to Dublin,
whither he is shortly to return, I went with him to the Hermitage,
and the ship happening to be Captn. Holland’s I did give orders
for them to be well looked after, and thence with him to the Cus-
tom House about getting a pass for them, and so to the Dolphin
tavern, where I spent 6d. on him, but drank but one glass of
wine, and so parted. He tells me that his niece, that sings so well,
whom I have long longed to see, is married to one Mr. Boys, a
wholesale man at the Three Crowns in Cheapside. I to the office
again, whither Cooper came and read his last lecture to me upon
my modell, and so bid me good bye, he being to go to-morrow
to Chatham to take charge of the ship I have got him. So to my
business till 9 at night, and so to supper and to bed, my mind a
little at ease because my house is now quite tiled.
12th. Up early at my office, and I find all people beginning to
come to me. Among others Mr. Deane, the Assistant of Wool-
wich, who I find will discover to me the whole abuse that his
Majesty suffers in the measuring of timber, of which I shall be
glad. He promises me also a modell of a ship, which will please
me exceedingly, for I do want one of my own. By and by we
sat, and among other things Sir W. Batten and I had a difference
about his clerk’s making a warrant for a Maister, which I would
not suffer, but got another signed, which he desires may be re-
ferred to a full board, and I am willing to it. But though I did get
another signed of my own clerk’s, yet I will give it to his clerk,
because I would not be judged unkind, and though I will stand
upon my privilege. At noon home and to dinner alone, and so
to the office again, where busy all the afternoon till to o’clock at
night, and so to supper and to bed, my mind being a little disqui-
eted about Sir W. Batten’s dispute to-day, though this afternoon I
did speak with his man Norman at last, and told him the reason
of my claim.
13th. Up early, and to my office, where people come to me
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about business, and by and by we met on purpose to enquire
into the business of the flag-makers, where I am the person that
do chiefly manage the business against them on the King’s part;
and I do find it the greatest cheat that I have yet found; they
having eightpence per yard allowed them by pretence of a con-
tract, where no such thing appears; and it is threepence more
than was formerly paid, and than I now offer the Board to have
them done. We did not fully end it, but refer it to another time.
At noon Commr. Pett and I by water to Greenwich, and on board
the pleasure-boats to see what they wanted, they being ordered
to sea, and very pretty things I still find them, and so on shore
and at the Shipp had a bit of meat and dined, there waiting upon
us a barber of Mr. Pett’s acquaintance that plays very well upon
the viollin. Thence to Lambeth; and there saw the little pleasure-
boat in building by the King, my Lord Brunkard, and the virtu-
osoes of the town, according to new lines, which Mr. Pett cries
up mightily, but how it will prove we shall soon see. So by water
home, and busy at my study late, drawing a letter to the yards of
reprehension and direction for the board to sign, in which I took
great pains. So home and to bed.
14th. Up early and to look on my works, and find my house
to go on apace. So to my office to prepare business, and then we
met and sat till noon, and then Commissioner Pett and I being
invited, went by Sir John Winter’s coach sent for us, to the Mitre,
in Fenchurch street, to a venison-pasty; where I found him a very
worthy man; and good discourse. Most of which was concerning
the Forest of Dean, and the timber there, and iron-workes with
their great antiquity, and the vast heaps of cinders which they
find, and are now of great value, being necessary for the making
of iron at this day; and without which they cannot work: with the
age of many trees there left at a great fall in Edward the Third’s
time, by the name of forbid-trees, which at this day are called
vorbid trees. Thence to my office about business till late, and so
home and to bed.
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15th. Up very early, and up about seeing how my work pro-
ceeds, and am pretty well pleased therewith; especially my wife’s
closet will be very pretty. So to the office and there very busy,
and many people coming to me. At noon to the Change, and
there hear of some Quakers that are seized on, that would have
blown up the prison in Southwark where they are put. So to the
Swan, in Old Fish Street, where Mr. Brigden and his father-in-
law, Blackbury, of whom we had bought timber in the office, but
have not dealt well with us, did make me a fine dinner only to
myself; and after dinner comes in a jugler, which shewed us very
pretty tricks. I seemed very pleasant, but am no friend to the
man’s dealings with us in the office. After an hour or two sitting
after dinner talking about office business, where I had not spent
any time a great while, I went to Paul’s Church Yard to my book-
seller’s; and there I hear that next Sunday will be the last of a
great many Presbyterian ministers in town, who, I hear, will give
up all. I pray God the issue may be good, for the discontent is
great. Home and to my office till 9 at night doing business, and
so to bed. My mind well pleased with a letter I found at home
from Mr. Coventry, expressing his satisfaction in a letter I writ
last night, and sent him this morning, to be corrected by him in
order to its sending down to all the Yards as a charge to them.
17th (Lord’s day). Up very early, this being the last Sunday
that the Presbyterians are to preach, unless they read the new
Common Prayer and renounce the Covenant,297 and so I had a
mind to hear Dr. Bates’s farewell sermon, and walked thither,
calling first at my brother’s, where I found that he is come home
after being a week abroad with Dr. Pepys, nobody knows where,
nor I but by chance, that he was gone, which troubles me. So
I called only at the door, but did not ask for him, but went to
Madam Turner’s to know whether she went to church, and to
297 On St. Bartholomew’s day, August 24th, 1662, the Act of Uniformity
took effect, and about two hundred Presbyterian and Independent ministers
lost their preferments.
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AUGUST 1662
tell her that I would dine with her; and so walked to St. Dun-
stan’s, where, it not being seven o’clock yet, the doors were not
open; and so I went and walked an hour in the Temple-garden,
reading my vows, which it is a great content to me to see how I
am a changed man in all respects for the better, since I took them,
which the God of Heaven continue to me, and make me thankful
for. At eight o’clock I went, and crowded in at a back door among
others, the church being half-full almost before any doors were
open publicly; which is the first time that I have done so these
many years since I used to go with my father and mother, and so
got into the gallery, beside the pulpit, and heard very well. His
text was, “Now the God of Peace–;” the last Hebrews, and the
20th verse: he making a very good sermon, and very little reflec-
tions in it to any thing of the times. Besides the sermon, I was
very well pleased with the sight of a fine lady that I have often
seen walk in Graye’s Inn Walks, and it was my chance to meet
her again at the door going out, and very pretty and sprightly
she is, and I believe the same that my wife and I some years since
did meet at Temple Bar gate and have sometimes spoke of. So
to Madam Turner’s, and dined with her. She had heard Parson
Herring take his leave; tho’ he, by reading so much of the Com-
mon Prayer as he did, hath cast himself out of the good opinion
of both sides. After dinner to St. Dunstan’s again; and the church
quite crowded before I came, which was just at one o’clock; but I
got into the gallery again, but stood in a crowd and did exceed-
ingly sweat all the time. He pursued his text again very well;
and only at the conclusion told us, after this manner: “I do be-
lieve that many of you do expect that I should say something to
you in reference to the time, this being the last time that possi-
bly I may appear here. You know it is not my manner to speak
any thing in the pulpit that is extraneous to my text and business;
yet this I shall say, that it is not my opinion, fashion, or humour
that keeps me from complying with what is required of us; but
something which, after much prayer, discourse, and study yet
remains unsatisfied, and commands me herein. Wherefore, if it
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is my unhappiness not to receive such an illumination as should
direct me to do otherwise, I know no reason why men should not
pardon me in this world, and am confident that God will pardon
me for it in the next.” And so he concluded. Parson Herring read
a psalm and chapters before sermon; and one was the chapter in
the Acts, where the story of Ananias and Sapphira is. And after
he had done, says he, “This is just the case of England at present.
God he bids us to preach, and men bid us not to preach; and if we
do, we are to be imprisoned and further punished. All that I can
say to it is, that I beg your prayers, and the prayers of all good
Christians, for us.” This was all the exposition he made of the
chapter in these very words, and no more. I was much pleased
with Dr. Bates’s manner of bringing in the Lord’s Prayer after his
own; thus, “In whose comprehensive words we sum up all our
imperfect desires; saying, ‘Our Father,”’ &c. Church being done
and it raining I took a hackney coach and so home, being all in
a sweat and fearful of getting cold. To my study at my office,
and thither came Mr. Moore to me and walked till it was quite
dark. Then I wrote a letter to my Lord Privy Seale as from my
Lord for Mr.——-to be sworn directly by deputy to my Lord, he
denying to swear him as deputy together with me. So that I am
now clear of it, and the profit is now come to be so little that I am
not displeased at my getting off so well. He being gone I to my
study and read, and so to eat a bit of bread and cheese and so to
bed. I hear most of the Presbyters took their leaves to-day, and
that the City is much dissatisfied with it. I pray God keep peace
among us, and make the Bishops careful of bringing in good men
in their rooms, or else all will fly a-pieces; for bad ones will not
[go] down with the City.
18th. Up very early, and up upon my house to see how work
goes on, which do please me very well. So about seven o’clock
took horse and rode to Bowe, and there staid at the King’s Head,
and eat a breakfast of eggs till Mr. Deane of Woolwich came to
me, and he and I rid into Waltham Forest, and there we saw many
trees of the King’s a-hewing; and he showed me the whole mys-
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tery of off square,298 wherein the King is abused in the timber that
he buys, which I shall with much pleasure be able to correct. Af-
ter we had been a good while in the wood, we rode to Illford, and
there, while dinner was getting ready, he and I practised measur-
ing of the tables and other things till I did understand measuring
of timber and board very well. So to dinner and by and by, being
sent for, comes Mr. Cooper, our officer in the Forest, and did give
me an account of things there, and how the country is backward
to come in with their carts. By and by comes one Mr. Marshall, of
whom the King has many carriages for his timber, and they staid
and drank with me, and while I am here, Sir W. Batten passed
by in his coach, homewards from Colchester, where he had been
seeing his son-in-law, Lemon, that lies a-dying, but I would take
no notice of him, but let him go. By and by I got a horseback
again and rode to Barking, and there saw the place where they
ship this timber for Woolwich; and so Deane and I home again,
and parted at Bowe, and I home just before a great showre of
rayne, as God would have it. I find Deane a pretty able man, and
able to do the King service; but, I think, more out of envy to the
rest of the officers of the yard, of whom he complains much, than
true love, more than others, to the service. He would fain seem a
modest man, and yet will commend his own work and skill, and
vie with other persons, especially the Petts, but I let him alone to
hear all he will say. Whiled away the evening at my office try-
ing to repeat the rules of measuring learnt this day, and so to bed
with my mind very well pleased with this day’s work.
19th. Up betimes and to see how my work goes on. Then Mr.
Creed came to me, and he and I walked an hour or two till 8
o’clock in the garden, speaking of our accounts one with another
and then things public. Among other things he tells me that my
Lord has put me into Commission with himself and many no-
blemen and others for Tangier, which, if it be, is not only great
honour, but may be of profit too, and I am very glad of it. By
298 Off-square is evidently a mistake, in the shorthand MS., for half square.
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and by to sit at the office; and Mr. Coventry did tell us of the
duell between Mr. Jermyn, nephew to my Lord St. Albans, and
Colonel Giles Rawlins, the latter of whom is killed, and the first
mortally wounded, as it is thought. They fought against Captain
Thomas Howard, my Lord Carlisle’s brother, and another un-
known; who, they say, had armour on that they could not be hurt,
so that one of their swords went up to the hilt against it. They had
horses ready, and are fled. But what is most strange, Howard
sent one challenge, but they could not meet, and then another,
and did meet yesterday at the old Pall Mall at St. James’s, and
would not to the last tell Jermyn what the quarrel was; nor do
any body know. The Court is much concerned in this fray, and
I am glad of it; hoping that it will cause some good laws against
it. After sitting, Sir G. Carteret and I walked a good while in the
garden, who told me that Sir W. Batten had made his complaint
to him that some of us had a mind to do him a bad turn, but I
do not see that Sir George is concerned for him at all, but rather
against him. He professes all love to me, and did tell me how
he had spoke of me to my Lord Chancellor, and that if my Lord
Sandwich would ask my Lord Chancellor, he should know what
he had said of me to him to my advantage, of which I am very
glad, and do not doubt that all things will grow better and better
every day for me. Dined at home alone, then to my office, and
there till late at night doing business, and so home, eat a bit, and
to bed.
20th. Up early, and to my office, and thence to my Lord Sand-
wich, whom I found in bed, and he sent for me in. Among other
talk, he do tell me that he hath put me into commission with
a great many great persons in the business of Tangier, which is a
very great honour to me, and may be of good concernment to me.
By and by comes in Mr. Coventry to us, whom my Lord tells that
he is also put into the commission, and that I am there, of which
he said he was glad; and did tell my Lord that I was indeed the
life of this office, and much more to my commendation beyond
measure. And that, whereas before he did bear me respect for his
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sake, he do do it now much more for my own; which is a great
blessing to me. Sir G. Carteret having told me what he did yes-
terday concerning his speaking to my Lord Chancellor about me.
So that on all hands, by God’s blessing, I find myself a very rising
man. By and by comes my Lord Peterborough in, with whom we
talked a good while, and he is going tomorrow towards Tangier
again. I perceive there is yet good hopes of peace with Guyland,–
[A Moorish usurper, who had put himself at the head of an army
for the purpose of attacking Tangier.–B.]–which is of great con-
cernment to Tangier. And many other things I heard which yet
I understand not, and so cannot remember. My Lord and Lord
Peterborough going out to the Solicitor General about the draw-
ing up of this Commission, I went to Westminster Hall with Mr.
Moore, and there meeting Mr. Townsend, he would needs take
me to Fleet Street, to one Mr. Barwell, squire sadler to the King,
and there we and several other Wardrobe-men dined. We had a
venison pasty, and other good plain and handsome dishes; the
mistress of the house a pretty, well-carriaged woman, and a fine
hand she hath; and her maid a pretty brown lass. But I do find
my nature ready to run back to my old course of drinking wine
and staying from my business, and yet, thank God, I was not
fully contented with it, but did stay at little ease, and after dinner
hastened home by water, and so to my office till late at night. In
the evening Mr. Hayward came to me to advise with me about
the business of the Chest, which I have now a mind to put in
practice, though I know it will vex Sir W. Batten, which is one of
the ends (God forgive me) that I have in it. So home, and eat a
bit, and to bed.
21st. Up early, and to my office, and by and by we sat all
the morning. At noon, though I was invited to my uncle Fen-
ner’s to dinner to a haunch of venison I sent him yesterday, yet
I did not go, but chose to go to Mr. Rawlinson’s, where my un-
cle Wight and my aunt, and some neighbour couples were at a
very good venison pasty. Hither came, after we were set down,
a most pretty young lady (only her hands were not white nor
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handsome), which pleased me well, and I found her to be sister
to Mrs. Anne Wight that comes to my uncle Wight’s. We were
good company, and had a very pretty dinner. And after dinner
some talk, I with my aunt and this young lady about their being
[at] Epsom, from whence they came to-day, and so home and to
my office, and there doing business till past 9 at night, and so
home and to bed. But though I drank no wine to-day, yet how
easily was I of my own accord stirred up to desire my aunt and
this pretty lady (for it was for her that I did it) to carry them to
Greenwich and see the pleasure boats. But my aunt would not
go, of which since I am much glad.
22nd. About three o’clock this morning I waked with the
noise of the rayne, having never in my life heard a more violent
shower; and then the catt was lockt in the chamber, and kept a
great mewing, and leapt upon the bed, which made me I could
not sleep a great while. Then to sleep, and about five o’clock rose,
and up to my office, and about 8 o’clock went down to Dept-
ford, and there with Mr. Davis did look over most of his stores;
by the same token in the great storehouse, while Captain Badily
was talking to us, one from a trap-door above let fall unawares a
coyle of cable, that it was 10,000 to one it had not broke Captain
Badily’s neck, it came so near him, but did him no hurt. I went
on with looking and informing myself of the stores with great de-
light, and having done there, I took boat home again and dined,
and after dinner sent for some of my workmen and did scold at
them so as I hope my work will be hastened. Then by water to
Westminster Hall, and there I hear that old Mr. Hales did lately
die suddenly in an hour’s time. Here I met with Will Bowyer,
and had a promise from him of a place to stand to-morrow at
his house to see the show. Thence to my Lord’s, and thither sent
for Mr. Creed, who came, and walked together talking about
business, and then to his lodgings at Clerke’s, the confectioner’s,
where he did give me a little banquet, and I had liked to have
begged a parrot for my wife, but he hath put me in a way to
get a better from Steventon; at Portsmouth. But I did get of him a
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draught of Tangier to take a copy by, which pleases me very well.
So home by water and to my office, where late, and so home to
bed.
23d. Up early, and about my works in my house, to see what
is done and design more. Then to my office, and by and by we
sat till noon at the office. After sitting, Mr. Coventry and I did
walk together a great while in the Garden, where he did tell me
his mind about Sir G. Carteret’s having so much the command of
the money, which must be removed. And indeed it is the bane of
all our business. He observed to me also how Sir W. Batten begins
to struggle and to look after his business, which he do indeed a
little, but it will come to nothing. I also put him upon getting an
order from the Duke for our inquiries into the Chest, which he
will see done. So we parted, and Mr. Creed by appointment be-
ing come, he and I went out together, and at an ordinary in Lum-
bard Streete dined together, and so walked down to the Styll-
yard, and so all along Thames-street, but could not get a boat: I
offered eight shillings for a boat to attend me this afternoon, and
they would not, it being the day of the Queen’s coming to town
from Hampton Court. So we fairly walked it to White Hall, and
through my Lord’s lodgings we got into White Hall garden, and
so to the Bowling-green, and up to the top of the new Banquet-
ing House there, over the Thames, which was a most pleasant
place as any I could have got; and all the show consisted chiefly
in the number of boats and barges; and two pageants, one of a
King, and another of a Queen, with her Maydes of Honour sit-
ting at her feet very prettily; and they tell me the Queen is Sir.
Richard Ford’s daughter. Anon come the King and Queen in a
barge under a canopy with 10,000 barges and boats, I think, for
we could see no water for them, nor discern the King nor Queen.
And so they landed at White Hall Bridge, and the great guns
on the other side went off: But that which pleased me best was,
that my Lady Castlemaine stood over against us upon a piece
of White Hall, where I glutted myself with looking on her. But
methought it was strange to see her Lord and her upon the same
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place walking up and down without taking notice one of another,
only at first entry he put off his hat, and she made him a very civil
salute, but afterwards took no notice one of another; but both of
them now and then would take their child, which the nurse held
in her armes, and dandle it. One thing more; there happened a
scaffold below to fall, and we feared some hurt, but there was
none, but she of all the great ladies only run down among the
common rabble to see what hurt was done, and did take care
of a child that received some little hurt, which methought was
so noble. Anon there came one there booted and spurred that
she talked long with. And by and by, she being in her hair, she
put on his hat, which was but an ordinary one, to keep the wind
off. But methinks it became her mightily, as every thing else do.
The show being over, I went away, not weary with looking on
her, and to my Lord’s lodgings, where my brother Tom and Dr.
Thomas Pepys were to speak with me. So I walked with them
in the garden, and was very angry with them both for their go-
ing out of town without my knowledge; but they told me the
business, which was to see a gentlewoman for a wife for Tom,
of Mr. Cooke’s providing, worth £500, of good education, her
name Hobell, and lives near Banbury, demands £40 per annum
joynter. Tom likes her, and, they say, had a very good reception,
and that Cooke hath been very serviceable therein, and that she
is committed to old Mr. Young, of the Wardrobe’s, tuition. After
I had told them my mind about their folly in going so unadvis-
edly, I then begun to inquire after the business, and so did give
no answer as to my opinion till I have looked farther into it by
Mr. Young. By and by, as we were walking in my Lord’s walk,
comes my Lord, and so we broke our discourse and went in with
him, and after I had put them away I went in to my Lord, and he
and I had half an hour’s private discourse about the discontents
of the times, which we concluded would not come to anything of
difference, though the Presbyters would be glad enough of it; but
we do not think religion will so soon cause another war. Then to
his own business. He asked my advice there, whether he should
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go on to purchase more land and to borrow money to pay for
it, which he is willing to do, because such a bargain as that of
Mr. Buggins’s, of Stukely, will not be every day to be had, and
Brampton is now perfectly granted him by the King–I mean the
reversion of it–after the Queen’s death; and, in the meantime, he
buys it of Sir Peter Ball his present right. Then we fell to talk of
Navy business, and he concludes, as I do, that he needs not put
himself upon any more voyages abroad to spend money, unless a
war comes; and that by keeping his family awhile in the country,
he shall be able to gather money. He is glad of a friendship with
Mr. Coventry, and I put him upon increasing it, which he will
do, but he (as Mr. Coventry do) do much cry against the course
of our payments and the Treasurer to have the whole power in
his own hands of doing what he will, but I think will not meddle
in himself. He told me also that in the Commission for Tangier
Mr. Coventry had advised him that Mr. Povy, who intended to
be Treasurer,299 and it is intended him, may not be of the Com-
mission itself, and my Lord I think will endeavour to get him to
be contented to be left out of the Commission, and it is a very
good rule indeed that the Treasurer in no office ought to be of
the Commission. Here we broke off, and I bid him good night,
and so with much ado, the streets being at nine o’clock at night
crammed with people going home to the city, for all the borders
of the river had been full of people, as the King had come, to a
miracle got to the Palace Yard, and there took boat, and so to the
299 Thomas Povy, who had held, under Cromwell, a high situation in the
Office of Plantations, was appointed in July, 1660, Treasurer and Receiver-
General of the Rents and Revenues of James, Duke of York; but his royal
master’s affairs falling into confusion, he surrendered his patent on the 27th
July, 1668, for a consideration of £2,000. He was also First Treasurer for Tang-
ier, which office he resigned to Pepys. Povy, had apartments at Whitehall,
besides his lodgings in Lincoln’s Inn, and a villa near Hounslow, called the
Priory, which he had inherited from Justinian Povy, who purchased it in
1625. He was one of the sons of Justinian Povy, Auditor-General to Queen
Anne of Denmark in 1614, whose father was John Povy, citizen and embroi-
derer of London.
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Old Swan, and so walked home, and to bed very weary.
24th (Lord’s day). Slept till 7 o’clock, which I have not done a
very great while, but it was my weariness last night that caused
it. So rose and to my office till church time, writing down my
yesterday’s observations, and so to church, where I all alone, and
found Will Griffin and Thomas Hewett got into the pew next to
our backs, where our maids sit, but when I come, they went out;
so forward some people are to outrun themselves. Here we had
a lazy, dull sermon. So home to dinner, where my brother Tom
came to me, and both before and after dinner he and I walked all
alone in the garden, talking about his late journey and his mis-
tress, and for what he tells me it is like to do well. He being gone,
I to church again, where Mr. Mills, making a sermon upon con-
fession, he did endeavour to pull down auricular confession, but
did set it up by his bad arguments against it, and advising people
to come to him to confess their sins when they had any weight
upon their consciences, as much as is possible, which did vex me
to hear. So home, and after an hour’s being in my office alone,
looking over the plates and globes, I walked to my uncle Wight’s,
the truth is, in hopes to have seen and been acquainted with the
pretty lady that came along with them to dinner the other day
to Mr. Rawlinson, but she is gone away. But here I staid sup-
per, and much company there was; among others, Dr. Burnett,
Mr. Cole the lawyer, Mr. Rawlinson, and Mr. Sutton, a brother
of my aunt’s, that I never saw before. Among other things they
tell me that there hath been a disturbance in a church in Friday
Street; a great many young people knotting together and crying
out “Porridge”300 often and seditiously in the church, and took
the Common Prayer Book, they say, away; and, some say, did
300 A nickname given by the Dissenters to the Prayer-Book. In Mrs. Behn’s
“City Heiress” (1682), Sir Anthony says to Sir Timothy, “You come from
Church, too.” Sir Timothy replies, “Ay, needs must when the Devil drives–I
go to save my bacon, as they say, once a month, and that too after the Por-
ridge is served up.” Scott quotes, in his notes to “Woodstock,” a pamphlet
entitled, “Vindication of the Book of Common Prayer, against the contume-
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tear it; but it is a thing which appears to me very ominous. I pray
God avert it. After supper home and to bed.
25th. Up early, and among my workmen when they came, and
set them in good order at work on all hands, which, though it
at first began angrily, yet I pleased myself afterwards in seeing it
put into a good posture, and so I left them, and away by water to
Woolwich (calling in my way in Hamcreek, where I have never
been before, and there found two of the King’s ships lie there
without any living creature aboard, which troubled me, every
thing being stole away that can be), where I staid seeing a cable
of 14 inches laid, in which there was good variety. Then to Mr.
Falconer’s, and there eat a bit of roast meat off of the spit, and
so away to the yard, and there among other things mustered the
yard, and did things that I perceive people do begin to value me,
and that I shall be able to be of command in all matters, which
God be praised for. Then to Mr. Pett’s, and there eat some fruit
and drank, and so to boat again, and to Deptford, calling there
about the business of my house only, and so home, where by
appointment I found Mr. Coventry, Sir W. Batten, and Mr. Waith
met at Sir W. Batten’s, and thither I met, and so agreed upon a
way of answering my Lord Treasurer’s letter. Here I found Mr.
Coventry had got a letter from the Duke, sent us for looking into
the business of the Chest, of which I am glad. After we had done
here I went home, and up among my workmen, and found they
had done a good day’s work, and so to my office till late ordering
of several businesses, and so home and to bed, my mind, God be
praised, full of business, but great quiet.
26th. Up betimes and among my works and workmen, and
with great pleasure seeing them go on merrily, and a good many
hands, which I perceive makes good riddance, and so to the of-
fice, where we sat all the morning, and at noon dined alone with
Sir W. Batten, which I have not done a great while, but his lady
being out of the way I was the willinger to do it, and after dinner
lious Slanders of the Fanatic party terming it Porridge.”
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he and I by water to Deptford, and there found Sir G. Carteret
and my Lady at dinner, and so we sat down and eat another din-
ner of venison with them, and so we went to the payhouse, and
there staid till to o’clock at night paying off the Martin and Kin-
sale, being small but troublesome ships to pay, and so in the dark
by water home to the Custom House, and so got a lanthorn to
light us home, there being Mr. Morrice the wine cooper with us,
he having been at Deptford to view some of the King’s casks we
have to sell. So to bed.
27th. Up and among my workmen, my work going on still
very well. So to my office all the morning, and dined again with
Sir W. Batten, his Lady being in the country. Among other stories,
he told us of the Mayor of Bristoll’s reading a pass with the bot-
tom upwards; and a barber that could not read, that flung a letter
in the kennel when one came to desire him to read the superscrip-
tion, saying, “Do you think I stand here to read letters?” Among
my workmen again, pleasing myself all the afternoon there, and
so to the office doing business till past 9 at night, and so home
and to bed. This afternoon Mrs. Hunt came to see me, and I
did give her a Muske Millon. To-day my hogshead of sherry I
have sold to Sir W. Batten, and am glad of my money instead of
wine. After I had wrote this at my office (as I have of late alto-
gether done since my wife has been in the country) I went into
my house, and Will having been making up books at Deptford
with other clerks all day, I did not think he was come home, but
was in fear for him, it being very late, what was become of him.
But when I came home I found him there at his ease in his study,
which vexed me cruelly, that he should no more mind me, but
to let me be all alone at the office waiting for him. Whereupon
I struck him, and did stay up till 12 o’clock at night chiding him
for it, and did in plain terms tell him that I would not be served
so, and that I am resolved to look out some boy that I may have
the bringing up of after my own mind, and which I do intend to
do, for I do find that he has got a taste of liberty since he came to
me that he will not leave. Having discharged my mind, I went to
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AUGUST 1662
bed.
28th. I observe that Will, whom I used to call two or three times
in a morning, would now wake of himself and rise without call-
ing. Which though angry I was glad to see. So I rose and among
my workmen, in my gown, without a doublet, an hour or two
or more, till I was afraid of getting an ague, and so to the office,
and there we sat all the morning, and at noon Mr. Coventry and
I dined at Sir W. Batten’s, where I have now dined three days
together, and so in the afternoon again we sat, which we intend
to do two afternoons in a week besides our other sitting. In the
evening we rose, and I to see how my work goes on, and so to my
office, writing by the post and doing other matters, and so home
and to bed late.
29th. Up betimes and among my workmen, where I did stay
with them the greatest part of the morning, only a little at the
office, and so to dinner alone at home, and so to my workmen
again, finding my presence to carry on the work both to my mind
and with more haste, and I thank God I am pleased with it. At
night, the workmen being gone, I went to my office, and among
other businesses did begin to-night with Mr. Lewes to look into
the nature of a purser’s account, and the business of victualling,
in which there is great variety; but I find I shall understand it,
and be able to do service there also. So being weary and chill,
being in some fear of an ague, I went home and to bed.
30th. Up betimes among my workmen, and so to the office,
where we sat all the morning, and at noon rose and had news
that Sir W. Pen would be in town from Ireland, which I much
wonder at, he giving so little notice of it, and it troubled me ex-
ceedingly what to do for a lodging, and more what to do with my
goods, that are all in his house; but at last I resolved to let them
lie there till Monday, and so got Griffin to get a lodging as near as
he could, which is without a door of our back door upon Tower
Hill, a chamber where John Pavis, one of our clerks, do lie in, but
he do provide himself elsewhere, and I am to have his chamber.
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AUGUST 1662
So at the office all the afternoon and the evening till past to at
night expecting Sir W. Pen’s coming, but he not coming to-night
I went thither and there lay very well, and like my lodging well
enough. My man Will after he had got me to bed did go home
and lay there, and my maid Jane lay among my goods at Sir W.
Pen’s.
31st (Lord’s day). Waked early, but being in a strange house,
did not rise till 7 o’clock almost, and so rose and read over my
oaths, and whiled away an hour thinking upon businesses till
Will came to get me ready, and so got ready and to my office, and
thence to church. After sermon home and dined alone. News
is brought me that Sir W. Pen is come. But I would take no no-
tice thereof till after dinner, and then sent him word that I would
wait on him, but he is gone to bed. So to my office, and there
made my monthly accounts, and find myself worth in money
about £686 19s. 2 1/2d., for which God be praised; and indeed
greatly I hope to thank Almighty God, who do most manifestly
bless me in my endeavours to do the duties of my office, I now
saving money, and my expenses being little. My wife is still in
the country; my house all in dirt; but my work in a good for-
wardness, and will be much to my mind at last. In the afternoon
to church, and there heard a simple sermon of a stranger upon
David’s words, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the way
of the ungodly,” &c., and the best of his sermon was the degrees
of walking, standing, and sitting, showing how by steps and de-
grees sinners do grow in wickedness. After sermon to my brother
Tom’s, who I found has taken physic to-day, and I talked with
him about his country mistress, and read Cook’s letter, wherein
I am well satisfied, and will appear in promoting it; so back and
to Mr. Rawlinson’s, and there supped with him, and in came
my uncle Wight and my aunt. Our discourse of the discontents
that are abroad, among, and by reason of the Presbyters. Some
were clapped up to-day, and strict watch is kept in the City by the
train-bands, and letters of a plot are taken. God preserve us! for
all these things bode very ill. So home, and after going to wel-
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AUGUST 1662
come home Sir W. Pen, who was unready, going to bed, I staid
with him a little while, and so to my lodging and to bed.
688
SEPTEMBER 1662
September 1st. Up betimes at my lodging and to my office and
among my workmen, and then with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen
by coach to St. James’s, this being the first day of our meeting
there by the Duke’s order; but when we come, we found him
going out by coach with his Duchess, and he told us he was to
go abroad with the Queen to-day (to Durdans, it seems, to dine
with my Lord Barkeley, where I have been very merry when I
was a little boy); so we went and staid a little at Mr. Coventry’s
chamber, and I to my Lord Sandwich’s, who is gone to wait upon
the King and Queen today. And so Mr. Paget being there, Will
Howe and I and he played over some things of Locke’s that we
used to play at sea, that pleased us three well, it being the first
music I have heard a great while, so much has my business of
late taken me off from all my former delights. By and by by water
home, and there dined alone, and after dinner with my brother
Tom’s two men I removed all my goods out of Sir W. Pen’s house
into one room that I have with much ado got ready at my house,
and so I am to be quit of any further obligation to him. So to
my office, but missing my key, which I had in my hand just now,
makes me very angry and out of order, it being a thing that I hate
in others, and more in myself, to be careless of keys, I thinking
another not fit to be trusted that leaves a key behind their hole.
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SEPTEMBER 1662
One thing more vexes me: my wife writes me from the country
that her boy plays the rogue there, and she is weary of him, and
complains also of her maid Sarah, of which I am also very sorry.
Being thus out of temper, I could do little at my office, but went
home and eat a bit, and so to my lodging to bed.
2nd. Up betimes and got myself ready alone, and so to my
office, my mind much troubled for my key that I lost yesterday,
and so to my workmen and put them in order, and so to my of-
fice, and we met all the morning, and then dined at Sir W. Bat-
ten’s with Sir W. Pen, and so to my office again all the afternoon,
and in the evening wrote a letter to Mr. Cooke, in the country, in
behalf of my brother Tom, to his mistress, it being the first of my
appearing in it, and if she be as Tom sets her out, it may be very
well for him. So home and eat a bit, and so to my lodging to bed.
3rd. Up betimes, but now the days begin to shorten, and so
whereas I used to rise by four o’clock, it is not broad daylight
now till after five o’clock, so that it is after five before I do rise.
To my office, and about 8 o’clock I went over to Redriffe, and
walked to Deptford, where I found Mr. Coventry and Sir W. Pen
beginning the pay, it being my desire to be there to-day because
it is the first pay that Mr. Coventry has been at, and I would be
thought to be as much with Mr. Coventry as I can. Here we staid
till noon, and by that time paid off the Breda, and then to din-
ner at the tavern, where I have obtained that our commons is not
so large as they used to be, which I am glad to see. After din-
ner by water to the office, and there we met and sold the Wey-
mouth, Successe, and Fellowship hulkes, where pleasant to see
how backward men are at first to bid; and yet when the candle
is going out, how they bawl and dispute afterwards who bid the
most first. And here I observed one man cunninger than the rest
that was sure to bid the last man, and to carry it; and inquiring
the reason, he told me that just as the flame goes out the smoke
descends, which is a thing I never observed before, and by that
he do know the instant when to bid last, which is very pretty. In
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SEPTEMBER 1662
our discourse in the boat Mr. Coventry told us how the Fana-
tiques and the Presbyters, that did intend to rise about this time,
did choose this day as the most auspicious to them in their en-
deavours against monarchy: it being fatal twice to the King, and
the day of Oliver’s death.301 But, blessed be God! all is likely to be
quiet, I hope. After the sale I walked to my brother’s, in my way
meeting with Dr. Fairbrother, of whom I enquired what news in
Church matters. He tells me, what I heard confirmed since, that
it was fully resolved by the King’s new Council that an indul-
gence should be granted the Presbyters; but upon the Bishop of
London’s speech302 (who is now one of the most powerful men
in England with the King), their minds were wholly turned. And
it is said that my Lord Albemarle did oppose him most; but that I
do believe is only in appearance. He told me also that most of the
Presbyters now begin to wish they had complied, now they see
that no Indulgence will be granted them, which they hoped for;
and that the Bishop of London hath taken good care that places
are supplied with very good and able men, which is the only
thing that will keep all quiet. I took him in the tavern at Pud-
dle dock, but neither he nor I drank any of the wine we called
for, but left it, and so after discourse parted, and Mr. Townsend
not being at home I went to my brother’s, and there heard how
his love matter proceeded, which do not displease me, and so by
water to White Hall to my Lord’s lodgings, where he being to go
to Hinchingbroke to-morrow morning, I staid and fiddled with
Will. Howe some new tunes very pleasant, and then my Lord
came in and had much kind talk with him, and then to bed with
301 Cromwell had considered the 3rd of September as the most fortunate
day of his life, on account of his victories at Dunbar and Worcester. It was
also remarkable for the great storm that occurred at the time of his death;
and as being the day on which the Fire of London, in 1666, burnt with the
greatest fury.–B.
302 Gilbert Sheldon, born July 19th, 1598; Fellow of All Souls, Oxford, 1622;
Warden, 1635; Bishop of London, 1660-63; Archbishop of Canterbury, 1663.
Died November 9th, 1677.
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SEPTEMBER 1662
Mr. Moore there alone. So having taken my leave of my Lord
before I went to bed, I resolved to rise early and be gone without
more speaking to him–
4th. Which I did, and by water betimes to the Tower and so
home, where I shifted myself, being to dine abroad, and so being
also trimmed, which is a thing I have very seldom done of late,
I gat to my office and then met and sit all the morning, and at
noon we all to the Trinity House, where we treated, very dearly, I
believe, the officers of the Ordnance; where was Sir W. Compton
and the rest and the Lieutenant of the Tower. We had much and
good music, which was my best entertainment. Sir Wm. Comp-
ton I heard talk with great pleasure of the difference between the
fleet now and in Queen Elisabeth’s days; where, in 88, she had
but 36 sail great and small, in the world; and ten rounds of pow-
der was their allowance at that time against the Spaniard. After
Sir W. Compton and Mr. Coventry, and some of the best of the
rest were gone, I grew weary of staying with Sir Williams both,
and the more for that my Lady Batten and her crew, at least half
a score, come into the room, and I believe we shall pay size for it;
but ‘tis very pleasant to see her in her hair under her hood, and
how by little and little she would fain be a gallant; but, Lord! the
company she keeps about her are like herself, that she may be
known by them what she is. Being quite weary I stole from them
and to my office, where I did business till 9 at night, and so to my
lodgings to bed.
5th. Up by break of day at 5 o’clock, and down by water to
Woolwich: in my way saw the yacht lately built by our virtu-
osoes (my Lord Brunkard and others, with the help of Commis-
sioner Pett also) set out from Greenwich with the little Dutch
bezan, to try for mastery; and before they got to Woolwich the
Dutch beat them half-a-mile (and I hear this afternoon, that, in
coming home, it got above three miles); which all our people are
glad of. Here I staid and mustered the yard and looked into the
storehouses; and so walked all alone to Greenwich, and thence
692
SEPTEMBER 1662
by water to Deptford, and there examined some stores, and did
some of my own business in hastening my work there, and so
walked to Redriffe, being by this time pretty weary and all in a
sweat; took boat there for the Tower, which made me a little fear-
ful, it being a cold, windy morning. So to my lodgings and there
rubbed myself clean, and so to Mr. Bland’s, the merchant, by in-
vitation, I alone of all our company of this office; where I found
all the officers of the Customs, very grave fine gentlemen, and I
am very glad to know them; viz.–Sir Job Harvy, Sir John Wolsten-
holme, Sir John Jacob, Sir Nicholas Crisp, Sir John Harrison, and
Sir John Shaw: very good company. And among other pretty dis-
course, some was of Sir Jerom Bowes, Embassador from Queene
Elizabeth to the Emperor of Russia;303 who, because some of the
noblemen there would go up the stairs to the Emperor before
him, he would not go up till the Emperor had ordered those two
men to be dragged down stairs, with their heads knocking upon
every stair till they were killed. And when he was come up, they
demanded his sword of him before he entered the room. He told
them, if they would have his sword, they should have his boots
too. And so caused his boots to be pulled off, and his night-gown
and night-cap and slippers to be sent for; and made the Emperor
stay till he could go in his night-dress, since he might not go as
a soldier. And lastly, when the Emperor in contempt, to show
his command of his subjects, did command one to leap from the
window down and broke his neck in the sight of our Embassador,
he replied that his mistress did set more by, and did make better
use of the necks of her subjects but said that, to show what her
subjects would do for her, he would, and did, fling down his
gantlett before the Emperor; and challenged all the nobility there
to take it up, in defence of the Emperor against his Queen: for
303 In 1583; the object of his mission being to persuade the Muscovite (Ivan
IV. the Terrible) to a peace with John, King of Sweden. He was also employed
to confirm the trade of the English with Russia, and having incurred some
personal danger, was received with favour on his return by the Queen. He
died in 1616.
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SEPTEMBER 1662
which, at this very day, the name of Sir Jerom Bowes is famous
and honoured there. After dinner I came home and found Sir
John Minnes come this day, and I went to him to Sir W. Batten’s,
where it pleased me to see how jealous Sir Williams both are of
my going down to Woolwich, &c., and doing my duty as I nowa-
days do, and of my dining with the Commission of the Customs.
So to my office, and there till 9 at night, and so to my lodgings
to bed. I this day heard that Mr. Martin Noell is knighted by
the King, which I much wonder at; but yet he is certainly a very
useful man.
6th. Lay long, that is, till 6 and past before I rose, in order to
sweat a little away the cold which I was afraid I might have got
yesterday, but I bless God I am well. So up and to my office, and
then we met and sat till noon, very full of business. Then Sir John
Minnes, both Sir Williams and I to the Trinity House, where we
had at dinner a couple of venison pasties, of which I eat but little,
being almost cloyed, having been at five pasties in three days,
namely, two at our own feast, and one yesterday, and two to-day.
So home and at the office all the afternoon, busy till nine at night,
and so to my lodging and to bed. This afternoon I had my new
key and the lock of my office door altered, having lost my key
the other day, which vexed me.
7th (Lord’s day). Up betimes and round about by the streets
to my office, and walked in the garden and in my office till my
man Will rose, and then sent to tell Sir J. Minnes that I would go
with him to Whitehall, which anon we did, in his coach, and to
the Chapell, where I heard a good sermon of the Dean of Ely’s,
upon returning to the old ways, and a most excellent anthem,
with symphonys between, sung by Captain Cooke. Then home
with Mr. Fox and his lady; and there dined with them, where
much company come to them. Most of our discourse was what
ministers are flung out that will not conform: and the care of the
Bishop of London that we are here supplied with very good men.
Thence to my Lord’s, where nobody at home but a woman that
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SEPTEMBER 1662
let me in, and Sarah above, whither I went up to her and played
and talked with her... After I had talked an hour or two with
her I went and gave Mr. Hunt a short visit, he being at home
alone, and thence walked homewards, and meeting Mr. Pierce,
the chyrurgeon, he took me into Somersett House; and there car-
ried me into the Queen-Mother’s presence-chamber, where she
was with our own Queen sitting on her left hand (whom I did
never see before); and though she be not very charming, yet she
hath a good, modest, and innocent look, which is pleasing. Here
I also saw Madam Castlemaine, and, which pleased me most, Mr.
Crofts, the King’s bastard, a most pretty spark of about 15 years
old, who, I perceive, do hang much upon my Lady Castlemaine,
and is always with her; and, I hear, the Queens both of them are
mighty kind to him.304 By and by in comes the King, and anon
the Duke and his Duchess; so that, they being all together, was
such a sight as I never could almost have happened to see with so
much ease and leisure. They staid till it was dark, and then went
away; the King and his Queen, and my Lady Castlemaine and
young Crofts, in one coach and the rest in other, coaches. Here
were great store of great ladies, but very few handsome. The
King and Queen were very merry; and he would have made the
Queen-Mother believe that his Queen was with child, and said
that she said so. And the young Queen answered, “You lye;”
which was the first English word that I ever heard her say which
made the King good sport; and he would have taught her to say
in English, “Confess and be hanged.” The company being gone
I walked home with great content as I can be in for seeing the
greatest rarity, and yet a little troubled that I should see them
304 James, the son of Charles II. by Lucy Walter, daughter of William Walter,
of Roch Castle, co. Pembroke. He was born April 9th, 1649, and landed in
England with the Queen-Mother, July 28th, 1662, when he bore the name of
Crofts, after Lord Crofts, his governor. He was created Duke of Monmouth,
February 14th, 1663, and married Lady Anne Scott, daughter and heiress of
Francis, second Earl of Buccleuch, on April 20th following. In 1673 he took
the name of Scott, and was created Duke of Buccleuch.
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SEPTEMBER 1662
before my wife’s coming home, I having made a promise that I
would not, nor did I do it industriously and by design, but by
chance only. To my office, to fit myself for waiting on the Duke
to-morrow morning with the rest of our company, and so to my
lodgings and to bed.
8th. Up betimes and to my office preparing an account to give
the Duke this morning of what we have of late done at the office.
About 7 o’clock I went forth thinking to go along with Sir John
Minnes and the rest, and I found them gone, which did vex me,
so I went directly to the old Swan and took boat before them to
Sir G. Carteret’s lodgings at Whitehall, and there staying till he
was dressed talking with him, he and I to St. James’s, where
Sir Williams both and Sir John were come, and so up with Mr.
Coventry to the Duke; who, after he was out of his bed, did send
for us in; and, when he was quite ready, took us into his closet,
and there told us that he do intend to renew the old custom for
the Admirals to have their principal officers to meet them once
a-week, to give them an account what they have done that week;
which I am glad of: and so the rest did tell his Royal Highness
that I could do it best for the time past. And so I produced my
short notes, and did give him an account of all that we have of
late done; and proposed to him several things for his commands,
which he did give us, and so dismissed us. The rest to Deptford,
I to the Exchequer to meet Mr. Townsend, where I hear he is
gone to the Sun tavern, and there found him with some friends
at breakfast, which I eat with him, and so we crossed the water
together, and in walking I told him my brother Tom’s intentions
for a wife, which he would do me all favour in to Mr. Young,
whose kinswoman he do look after. We took boat again at the
Falcon, and there parted, and I to the old Swan, and so to the
Change, and there meeting Sir W. Warren did step to a tavern,
and there sat and talked about price of masts and other things,
and so broke up and to my office to see what business, and so we
took water again, and at the Tower I over to Redriffe, and there
left him in the boat and walked to Deptford, and there up and
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SEPTEMBER 1662
down the yard speaking with people, and so Sir W. Pen coming
out of the payhouse did single me out to tell me Sir J. Minnes’
dislike of my blinding his lights over his stairs (which indeed is
very bad) and blocking up the house of office on the leads. Which
did trouble me. So I went into the payhouse and took an occasion
of speaking with him alone, and did give him good satisfaction
therein, so as that I am well pleased and do hope now to have my
closet on the leads without any more trouble, for he do not object
against my having a door upon the leads, but that all my family
should not make it a thoroughfare, which I am contented with.
So to the pay, and in the evening home in the barge, and so to my
office, and after doing some business there to my lodgings, and
so to bed.
9th. At my office betimes, and by and by we sat, and at noon
Mr. Coventry, Sir J. Minnes, Mr. Pett, and myself by water to
Deptford, where we met Sir G. C., Sir W. B., and Sir W. P. At
the pay of a ship, and we dined together on a haunch of good
venison boiled, and after dinner returned again to the office,
and there met several tradesmen by our appointment to know of
them their lowest rates that they will take for their several pro-
visions that they sell to us, for I do resolve to know that, and to
buy no dearer, that so when we know the lowest rate, it shall be
the Treasurer’s fault, and not ours, that we pay dearer. This after-
noon Sir John Minnes, Mr. Coventry, and I went into Sir John’s
lodgings, where he showed us how I have blinded all his lights,
and stopped up his garden door, and other things he takes notice
of that he resolves to abridge me of, which do vex me so much
that for all this evening and all night in my bed, so great a fool I
am, and little master of my passion, that I could not sleep for the
thoughts of my losing the privilege of the leads, and other things
which in themselves are small and not worth half the trouble.
The more fool am I, and must labour against it for shame, es-
pecially I that used to preach up Epictetus’s rule:305 Late at my
305 “Some things are in our power, others are not” Pepys means, “I ought
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SEPTEMBER 1662
office, troubled in mind, and then to bed, but could hardly sleep
at night.
10th. Up and to my house, and there contrived a way how Sir
John Minnes shall come into the leads, and yet I save part of the
closet I hoped for, which, if it will not please him, I am a madman
to be troubled at it. To my office, and then at my house among my
lazy workmen all day. In the afternoon to the Wardrobe to speak
with Mr. Townsend, who tells me that he has spoke with Mr.
Young about my brother Tom’s business, and finds that he has
made enquiry of him, and do hear him so well spoken of that he
doubts not that the business will take with ordinary endeavours.
So to my brother’s, and there finding both door and hatch open, I
went in and knocked 3 or 4 times, and nobody came to me, which
troubled me mightily; at last came Margaret, who complained of
Peter, who by and by came in, and I did rattle him soundly for
it. I did afterwards take occasion to talk seriously alone with
Margaret, who I find a very discreet, good woman, and tells me,
upon my demand, that her master is a very good husband, and
minds his business well, but his fault is that he has not command
over his two men, but they do what they list, and care not for
his commands, and especially on Sundays they go whither they
please, and not to church, which vexes me mightily, and I am
resolved to school [him] soundly for it, it being so much unlike
my father, that I cannot endure it in myself or him. So walked
home and in my way at the Exchange found my uncle Wight,
and he and I to an alehouse to drink a cup of beer, and so away,
and I home and at the office till 9 o’clock and past, and so to my
lodgings. I forgot that last night Mr. Cooke came to me to make
his peace for inviting my brother lately out of town without my
leave, but he do give me such a character of the lady that he has
found out for him that I do much rejoice at, and did this night
write a letter to her, which he enclosed in one of his, and by the
report that I hear of her I confess I am much pleased with the
not to vex myself about what I cannot control.”
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SEPTEMBER 1662
match.
11th. Up, but not so soon as I have of late practised, my little
trouble of mind and the shortness of the days making me to lie a
little longer than I used to do, but I must make it up by sitting up
longer of nights. To my office, whither my brother Tom, whom I
chide sufficiently for yesterday’s work. So we sat at the office all
the morning, some of us at Deptford paying the ordinary there;
at noon Sir W. Pen took me to his lodgings to dinner, and after
dinner I to my office again, and now and then to see how my
work goes on, and so to my office late, and so to my lodgings,
and after staying up till past 12 at night, at my musique upon
my lute, to bed. This night Tom came to show me a civil letter
sent him from his mistress. I am pleased well enough with the
business.
12th. Up betimes and to my office, and up to my workmen,
which goes on slowly and troubles me much. Besides, my mind
is troubled till I see how Sir John Minnes will carry himself to
me about my lodgings, for all my fear is that he will get my best
chamber from me, for as for the leads I care not a farthing for
them. At my office all the morning, Mr. Lewes teaching me to
understand the method of making up Purser’s accounts, which
is very needful for me and very hard. Dined at home all in dirt,
and my mind weary of being thus out of order, but I hope in God
it will away, but for the present I am very melancholy, as I have
been a great while. All the afternoon till 9 at night at my office,
and then home and eat an egg or two, and so to my lodgings and
to bed. This day, by letters from my father, I hear that Captain
Ferrers, who is with my Lord in the country, was at Brampton
(with Mr. Creed) to see him; and that a day or two ago, being
provoked to strike one of my Lord’s footmen, the footman drew
his sword, and hath almost cut the fingers of one of his hands
off; which I am sorry for: but this is the vanity of being apt to
command and strike.
13th. Up betimes and to my office, and we sat all the morning,
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and then at noon dined alone at home, and so among my work
folks studying how to get my way sure to me to go upon the
leads, which I fear at last I must be contented to go without, but,
however, my mind is troubled still about it. We met again in the
afternoon to set accounts even between the King and the masters
of ships hired to carry provisions to Lisbon, and in the evening
Mr. Moore came to me and did lie with me at my lodgings. It
is great pleasure to me his company and discourse, and did talk
also about my law business, which I must now fall upon minding
again, the term coming on apace. So to bed.
14th (Lord’s day). Up very early, and Mr. Moore taking leave
of me the barber came and trimmed me (I having him now to
come to me again after I have used a pumice-stone a good while,
not but what I like this where I cannot conveniently have a bar-
ber, but here I cannot keep my hair dry without one), and so by
water to White Hall, by the way hearing that the Bishop of Lon-
don had given a very strict order against boats going on Sundays,
and as I come back again, we were examined by the masters of
the company in another boat; but I told them who I was. But
the door not being open to Westminster stairs there, called in at
the Legg and drank a cup of ale and a toast, which I have not
done many a month before, but it served me for my two glasses
of wine to-day. Thence to St. James’s to Mr. Coventry, and there
staid talking privately with him an hour in his chamber of the
business of our office, and found him to admiration good and
industrious, and I think my most true friend in all things that
are fair. He tells me freely his mind of every man and in every
thing. Thence to White Hall chapel, where sermon almost done,
and I heard Captain Cooke’s new musique. This the first day
of having vialls and other instruments to play a symphony be-
tween every verse of the anthem; but the musique more full than
it was the last Sunday, and very fine it is.306 But yet I could dis-
306 Charles II. determined to form his own chapel on the model of that at
Versailles. Twenty-four instrumentalists were engaged, and this was the first
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cern Captain Cooke to overdo his part at singing, which I never
did before. Thence up into the Queen’s presence, and there saw
the Queen again as I did last Sunday, and some fine ladies with
her; but, my troth, not many. Thence to Sir G. Carteret’s, and
find him to have sprained his foot and is lame, but yet hath been
at chappell, and my Lady much troubled for one of her daugh-
ters that is sick. I dined with them, and a very pretty lady, their
kinswoman, with them. My joy is, that I do think I have good
hold on Sir George and Mr. Coventry. Sir George told me of a
chest of drawers that were given Sir W. B. by Hughes the rope-
maker, whom he has since put out of his employment, and now
the fellow do cry out upon Sir W. for his cabinet. So home again
by water and to church, and from church Sir Williams both and
Sir John Minnes into the garden, and anon Sir W. Pen and I did
discourse about my lodgings and Sir J. Minnes, and I did open
all my mind to him, and he told me what he had heard, and I
do see that I shall hardly keep my best lodging chamber, which
troubles me, but I did send for Goodenough the plasterer, who
tells me that it did ever belong to my lodgings, but lent by Mr.
Payles to Mr. Smith, and so I will strive hard for it before I lose
it. So to supper with them at Sir W. Batten’s, and do counterfeit
myself well pleased, but my heart is troubled and offended at
the whole company. So to my office to prepare notes to read to
the Duke to-morrow morning, and so to my lodgings and to bed,
my mind a little eased because I am resolved to know the worst
day upon which they were brought into requisition. Evelyn alludes to the
change in his Diary, but he puts the date down as the 21st instead of the
14th. “Instead of the antient, grave and solemn wind musiq accompanying
the organ, was introduc’d a concert of 24 violins between every pause after
the French fantastical light way, better suiting a tavern or playhouse than a
church. This was the first time of change, and now we no more heard the
cornet which gave life to the organ, that instrument quite left off in which
the English were so skilful.” A list of the twenty-four fiddlers in 1674, taken
from an Exchequer document, “The names of the Gents of his Majesties Pri-
vate Musick paid out of the Exchequer,” is printed in North’s “Memoires of
Musick,” ed. Rimbault, 1846, p. 98 (note).
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concerning my lodgings tomorrow. Among other things Sir W.
Pen did tell me of one of my servants looking into Sir J. Minnes’
window when my Lady Batten lay there, which do much trouble
them, and me also, and I fear will wholly occasion my loosing
the leads. One thing more he told me of my Jane’s cutting off
a carpenter’s long mustacho, and how the fellow cried, and his
wife would not come near him a great while, believing that he
had been among some of his wenches. At which I was merry,
though I perceive they discourse of it as a crime of hers, which I
understand not.
15th. Up betimes to meet with the plasterer and bricklayer that
did first divide our lodgings, and they do both tell me that my
chamber now in dispute did ever belong to my lodgings, which
do put me into good quiet of mind. So by water with Sir Wm.
Pen to White Hall; and, with much ado, was fain to walk over
the piles through the bridge, while Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes
were aground against the bridge, and could not in a great while
get through. At White Hall we hear that the Duke of York is gone
a-hunting to-day; and so we returned: they going to the Duke
of Albemarle’s, where I left them (after I had observed a very
good picture or two there), and so home, and there did resolve to
give up my endeavours for access to the leads, and to shut up my
doors lest the being open might give them occasion of longing for
my chamber, which I am in most fear about. So to Deptford, and
took my Lady Batten and her daughter and Mrs. Turner along
with me, they being going through the garden thither, they to
Mr. Unthwayte’s and I to the Pay, and then about 3 o’clock went
to dinner (Sir W. Pen and I), and after dinner to the Pay again,
and at night by barge home all together, and so to my lodgings
and to bed, my mind full of trouble about my house.
16th. Up and to my workmen, and then to the office, and there
we sat till noon; then to the Exchange, and in my way met with
the housekeeper of this office, and he did give me so good an
account of my chamber in my house about which I am so much
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SEPTEMBER 1662
troubled that I am well at ease in my mind. At my office all the
afternoon alone. In the evening Sir J. M. and I walked together
a good while in the garden, very pleasant, and takes no notice
that he do design any further trouble to me about my house. At
night eat a bit of bread and cheese, and so to my lodgings and to
bed, my mind ill at ease for these particulars: my house in dirt,
and like to lose my best chamber. My wife writes me from the
country that she is not pleased there with my father nor mother,
nor any of her servants, and that my boy is turned a very rogue.
I have £30 to pay to the cavaliers: then a doubt about my being
forced to leave all my business here, when I am called to the court
at Brampton; and lastly, my law businesses, which vex me to my
heart what I shall be able to do next term, which is near at hand.
17th. At my office all the morning, and at noon to the Ex-
change, where meeting Mr. Moore and Mr. Stucky, of the
Wardrobe, we to an ordinary to dinner, and after dinner Mr.
Moore and I about 3 o’clock to Paul’s school, to wait upon Mr.
Crumlum (Mr. Moore having a hopeful lad, a kinsman of his,
there at school), who we take very luckily, and went up to his
chamber with him, where there was also an old fellow student of
Mr. Crumlum’s, one Mr. Newell, come to see him, of whom he
made so much, and of me, that the truth is he with kindness did
drink more than I believe he used to do, and did begin to be a lit-
tle impertinent, the more when after all he would in the evening
go forth with us and give us a bottle of wine abroad, and at the
tavern met with an acquaintance of his that did occasion imperti-
nent discourse, that though I honour the man, and he do declare
abundance of learning and worth, yet I confess my opinion is
much lessened of him, and therefore let it be a caution to myself
not to love drink, since it has such an effect upon others of greater
worth in my own esteem. I could not avoid drinking of 5 glasses
this afternoon with him, and after I had parted with him Mr.
Moore and I to my house, and after we had eaten something to
my lodgings, where the master of the house, a very ordinary fel-
low, was ready to entertain me and took me into his dining-room
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SEPTEMBER 1662
where his wife was, a pretty and notable lady, too fine surely for
him, and too much wit too. Here I was forced to stay with them a
good while and did drink again, there being friends of theirs with
them. At last being weary of his idle company, I bid good-night
and so to my chamber and Mr. [Moore] and I to bed, neither of us
well pleased with our afternoon’s work, merely from our being
witnesses of Mr. Crumlum’s weakness. This day my boy is come
from Brampton, and my wife I think the next week.
18th. At the office all the morning, and at noon Sir G. Carteret,
Mr. Coventry, and I by invitation to dinner to Sheriff Maynell’s,
the great money-man; he, Alderman Backwell, and much noble
and brave company, with the privilege of their rare discourse,
which is great content to me above all other things in the world.
And after a great dinner and much discourse, we arose and took
leave, and home to the business of my office, where I thank God
I take delight, and in the evening to my lodging and to bed.
Among other discourse, speaking concerning the great charity
used in Catholic countrys, Mr. Ashburnham did tell us, that this
last year, there being great want of corn in Paris, and so a col-
lection made for the poor, there was two pearls brought in, no-
body knew from whom (till the Queen, seeing them, knew whose
they were, but did not discover it), which were sold for 200,000
crownes.
19th. Up betimes and to my office, and at 9 o’clock, none of the
rest going, I went alone to Deptford, and there went on where
they left last night to pay Woolwich yard, and so at noon dined
well, being chief at the table, and do not see but every body be-
gins to give me as much respect and honour as any of the rest.
After dinner to Pay again, and so till 9 at night, my great trouble
being that I was forced to begin an ill practice of bringing down
the wages of servants, for which people did curse me, which I
do not love. At night, after I had eaten a cold pullet, I walked
by brave moonshine, with three or four armed men to guard me,
to Redriffe, it being a joy to my heart to think of the condition
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SEPTEMBER 1662
that I am now in, that people should of themselves provide this
for me, unspoke to. I hear this walk is dangerous to walk alone
by night, and much robbery committed here. So from thence by
water home, and so to my lodgings to bed.
20th. Up betimes and to my office, where I found my brother
Tom, who tells me that his mistress’s mother has wrote a letter to
Mr. Lull of her full satisfaction about Tom, of which I was glad,
and do think the business will take. All this morning we sat at the
office, Sir J. Minnes and I. And so dined at home, and among my
workmen all the afternoon, and in the evening Tom brought Mr.
Lull to me, a friend of his mistress, a serious man, with whom I
spoke, and he gives me a good account of her and of their sat-
isfaction in Tom, all which pleases me well. We walked a good
while in the garden together, and did give him a glass of wine
at my office, and so parted. So to write letters by the post and
news of this to my father concerning Tom, and so home to sup-
per and to my lodgings and to bed. To-night my barber sent me
his man to trim me, who did live in King Street in Westminster
lately, and tells me that three or four that I knew in that street,
tradesmen, are lately fallen mad, and some of them dead, and
the others continue mad. They live all within a door or two one
of another.
21st (Lord’s day). Got up betimes and walked to St. James’s,
and there to Mr. Coventry, and sat an hour with him, talking
of business of the office with great pleasure, and I do perceive
he do speak his whole mind to me. Thence to the Park, where
by appointment I met my brother Tom and Mr. Cooke, and there
spoke about Tom’s business, and to good satisfaction. The Queen
coming by in her coach, going to her chappell at St. James’s’ (the
first time it hath been ready for her), I crowded after her, and I
got up to the room where her closet is; and there stood and saw
the fine altar, ornaments, and the fryers in their habits, and the
priests come in with their fine copes and many other very fine
things. I heard their musique too; which may be good, but it did
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SEPTEMBER 1662
not appear so to me, neither as to their manner of singing, nor
was it good concord to my ears, whatever the matter was. The
Queene very devout: but what pleased me best was to see my
dear Lady Castlemaine, who, tho’ a Protestant, did wait upon the
Queen to chappell. By and by, after mass was done, a fryer with
his cowl did rise up and preach a sermon in Portuguese; which
I not understanding, did go away, and to the King’s chappell,
but that was done; and so up to the Queen’s presence-chamber,
where she and the King was expected to dine: but she staying at
St. James’s, they were forced to remove the things to the King’s
presence [chamber]; and there he dined alone, and I with Mr. Fox
very finely; but I see I must not make too much of that liberty
for my honour sake only, not but that I am very well received.
After dinner to Tom’s, and so home, and after walking a good
while in the garden I went to my uncle Wight’s, where I found
my aunt in mourning and making sad stories for the loss of her
dear sister Nicholls, of which I should have been very weary but
that pretty Mrs. Margaret Wight came in and I was much pleased
with her company, and so all supper did vex my aunt talking
in commendation of the mass which I had been at to-day, but
excused it afterwards that it was only to make mirth. And so
after supper broke up and home, and after putting my notes in
order against to-morrow I went to bed.
22nd. Up betimes among my workmen, hastening to get things
ready against my wife’s coming, and so with Sir J. M., Sir W. B.,
and Sir W. P., by coach to St. James’s, and there with the Duke.
I did give him an account of all things past of late; but I stood
in great pain, having a great fit of the colic, having catched cold
yesterday by putting off my stockings to wipe my toes, but at
last it lessened, and then I was pretty well again, but in pain
all day more or less. Thence I parted from them and walked
to Greatorex’s, and there with him did overlook many pretty
things, new inventions, and have bespoke a weather glass of
him. Thence to my Lord Crew’s, and dined with the servants,
he having dined; and so, after dinner, up to him, and sat an hour
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SEPTEMBER 1662
talking with him of publique, and my Lord’s private businesses,
with much content. So to my brother Tom’s, where Mr. Cooke
expected me, and did go with me to see Mr. Young and Mr. Lull
in Blackfryers, kindred of Tom’s mistress, where I was very well
used, and do find things to go in the business to my good con-
tent. Thence to Mr. Townsend, and did there talk with Mr. Young
himself also, and then home and to my study, and so to my lodg-
ings and to bed.
23rd. Up betimes and with my workmen, taking some plea-
sure to see my work come towards an end, though I am vexed
every day enough with their delay. We met and sat all the morn-
ing, dined at home alone, and with my workmen all the after-
noon, and in the evening by water and land to Deptford to give
order for things about my house, and came back again by coach
with Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Batten (who has been at a Pay
to-day), and to my office and did some business, and so to sup-
per and to my lodgings, and so to bed. In our coming home Sir
G. Carteret told me how in most cabaretts in France they have
writ upon the walls in fair letters to be read, “Dieu te regarde,”
as a good lesson to be in every man’s mind, and have also, as in
Holland, their poor’s box; in both which places at the making all
contracts and bargains they give so much, which they call God’s
penny.
24th. Up betimes and among my workmen, and among them
all the morning till noon, and then to my Lord Crew’s, and there
dined alone with him, and among other things he do advise me
by all means to keep my Lord Sandwich from proceeding too far
in the business of Tangier. First, for that he is confident the King
will not be able to find money for the building the Mole; and
next, for that it is to be done as we propose it by the reducing
of the garrison; and then either my Lord must oppose the Duke
of York, who will have the Irish regiment under the command
of Fitzgerald continued, or else my Lord Peterborough, who is
concerned to have the English continued, and he, it seems, is
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SEPTEMBER 1662
gone back again merely upon my Lord Sandwich’s encourage-
ment. Thence to Mr. Wotton, the shoemaker’s, and there bought
a pair of boots, cost me 30s., and he told me how Bird hath lately
broke his leg, while he was fencing in “Aglaura,” upon the stage,
and that the new theatre of all will be ready against term. So
to my brother’s, and there discoursed with him and Mr. Cooke
about their journey to Tom’s mistress again, and I did speak with
Mr. Croxton about measuring of silk flags. So by water home and
to my workmen, and so at night till late at my office, inditing a
letter from Tom to his mistress upon his sending her a watch for
a token, and so home and to supper, and to my lodgings and to
bed. It is my content that by several hands to-day I hear that I
have the name of good-natured man among the poor people that
come to the office.
25th. Up betimes and to my workmen, and then to the office,
where we sat all the morning. So home to dinner alone and then
to my workmen till night, and so to my office till bedtime, and so
after supper to my lodgings and to bed. This evening I sat awhile
at Sir W. Batten’s with Sir J. Minnes, &c., where he told us among
many other things how in Portugal they scorn to make a seat for
a house of office, but they do .... all in pots and so empty them in
the river. I did also hear how the woman, formerly nurse to Mrs.
Lemon (Sir W. Batten’s daughter), her child was torn to pieces by
two doggs at Walthamstow this week, and is dead, which is very
strange.
26th. Up betimes and among my workmen. By and by to Sir
W. Batten, who with Sir J. M. are going to Chatham this morn-
ing, and I was in great pain till they were gone that I might see
whether Sir John do speak any thing of my chamber that I am
afraid of losing or no. But he did not, and so my mind is a little
at more ease. So all day long till night among my workmen, and
in the afternoon did cause the partition between the entry and
the boy’s room to be pulled down to lay it all into one, which I
hope will please me and make my coming in more pleasant. Late
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SEPTEMBER 1662
at my office at night writing a letter of excuse to Sir G. Carteret
that I cannot wait upon him to-morrow morning to Chatham as
I promised, which I am loth to do because of my workmen and
my wife’s coming to town to-morrow. So to my lodgings and to
bed.
27th. Up betimes and among my workmen, and with great
pleasure see the posts in the entry taken down beyond expecta-
tion, so that now the boy’s room being laid into the entry do make
my coming in very handsome, which was the only fault remain-
ing almost in my house. We sat all the morning, and in the after-
noon I got many jobbs done to my mind, and my wife’s chamber
put into a good readiness against her coming, which she did at
night, for Will did, by my leave to go, meet her upon the road,
and at night did bring me word she was come to my brother’s,
by my order. So I made myself ready and put things at home in
order, and so went thither to her. Being come, I found her and her
maid and dogg very well, and herself grown a little fatter than
she was. I was very well pleased to see her, and after supper to
bed, and had her company with great content and much mutual
love, only I do perceive that there has been falling out between
my mother and she, and a little between my father and she; but
I hope all is well again, and I perceive she likes Brampton House
and seat better than ever I did myself, and tells me how my Lord
hath drawn a plot of some alteracions to be made there, and hath
brought it up, which I saw and like well. I perceive my Lord and
Lady have been very kind to her, and Captn. Ferrers so kind that
I perceive I have some jealousy of him, but I know what is the
Captain’s manner of carriage, and therefore it is nothing to me.
She tells me of a Court like to be in a little time, which troubles
me, for I would not willingly go out of town.
28th (Lord’s day). Waked early, and fell talking one with an-
other with great pleasure of my house at Brampton and that here,
and other matters. She tells me what a rogue my boy is, and
strange things he has been found guilty of, not fit to name, which
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SEPTEMBER 1662
vexes [me], but most of all the unquiett life that my mother makes
my father and herself lead through her want of reason. At last I
rose, and with Tom to the French Church at the Savoy, where
I never was before–a pretty place it is–and there they have the
Common Prayer Book read in French, and, which I never saw
before, the minister do preach with his hat off, I suppose in fur-
ther conformity with our Church. So to Tom’s to dinner with my
wife, and there came Mr. Cooke, and Joyce Norton do also dine
there, and after dinner Cooke and I did talk about his journey
and Tom’s within a day or two about his mistress. And I did tell
him my mind and give him my opinion in it. So I walked home
and found my house made a little clean, and pleases me better
and better, and so to church in the afternoon, and after sermon to
my study, and there did some things against to-morrow that I go
to the Duke’s, and so walked to Tom’s again, and there supped
and to bed with good content of mind.
29th (Michaelmas day). This day my oaths for drinking of wine
and going to plays are out, and so I do resolve to take a liberty
to-day, and then to fall to them again. Up and by coach to White
Hall, in my way taking up Mr. Moore, and walked with him,
talking a good while about business, in St. James’s Park, and
there left him, and to Mr. Coventry’s, and so with him and Sir W.
Pen up to the Duke, where the King came also and staid till the
Duke was ready. It being Collarday, we had no time to talk with
him about any business. They went out together. So we parted,
and in the park Mr. Cooke by appointment met me, to whom I
did give my thoughts concerning Tom’s match and their journey
tomorrow, and did carry him by water to Tom’s, and there tak-
ing up my wife, maid, dog, and him, did carry them home, where
my wife is much pleased with my house, and so am I fully. I sent
for some dinner and there dined, Mrs. Margaret Pen being by, to
whom I had spoke to go along with us to a play this afternoon,
and then to the King’s Theatre, where we saw “Midsummer’s
Night’s Dream,” which I had never seen before, nor shall ever
again, for it is the most insipid ridiculous play that ever I saw
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SEPTEMBER 1662
in my life. I saw, I confess, some good dancing and some hand-
some women, which was all my pleasure. Thence set my wife
down at Madam Turner’s, and so by coach home, and having de-
livered Pegg Pen to her father safe, went home, where I find Mr.
Deane, of Woolwich, hath sent me the modell he had promised
me; but it so far exceeds my expectations, that I am sorry almost
he should make such a present to no greater a person; but I am
exceeding glad of it, and shall study to do him a courtesy for it.
So to my office and wrote a letter to Tom’s mistress’s mother to
send by Cooke to-morrow. Then came Mr. Moore thinking to
have looked over the business of my Brampton papers against
the Court, but my mind was so full of other matters (as it is my
nature when I have been a good while from a business, that I
have almost forgot it, I am loth to come to it again) that I could
not set upon it, and so he and I past the evening away in dis-
course, and to my lodgings and to bed.
30th. We rose, and he about his business, and I to my house to
look over my workmen; but good God! how I do find myself by
yesterday’s liberty hard to be brought to follow business again,
but however, I must do it, considering the great sweet and plea-
sure and content of mind that I have had since I did leave drink
and plays, and other pleasures, and followed my business. So to
my office, where we sat till noon, and then I to dinner with Sir W.
Pen, and while we were at it coming my wife to the office, and
so I sent for her up, and after dinner we took coach and to the
Duke’s playhouse, where we saw “The Duchess of Malfy” well
performed, but Betterton and Ianthe to admiration. That being
done, home again, by coach, and my wife’s chamber got ready
for her to lie in to-night, but my business did call me to my of-
fice, so that staying late I did not lie with her at home, but at
my lodgings. Strange to see how easily my mind do revert to
its former practice of loving plays and wine, having given my-
self a liberty to them but these two days; but this night I have
again bound myself to Christmas next, in which I desire God to
bless me and preserve me, for under God I find it to be the best
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SEPTEMBER 1662
course that ever I could take to bring myself to mind my busi-
ness. I have also made up this evening my monthly ballance,
and find that, notwithstanding the loss of £30 to be paid to the
loyall and necessitous cavaliers by act of Parliament,307 yet I am
worth about £680, for which the Lord God be praised. My condi-
tion at present is this:–I have long been building, and my house
to my great content is now almost done. But yet not so but that
I shall have dirt, which troubles me too, for my wife has been
in the country at Brampton these two months, and is now come
home a week or two before the house is ready for her. My mind
is somewhat troubled about my best chamber, which I question
whether I shall be able to keep or no. I am also troubled for the
journey which I must needs take suddenly to the Court at Bramp-
ton, but most of all for that I am not provided to understand my
business, having not minded it a great while, and at the best shall
be able but to make a bad matter of it, but God, I hope, will guide
all to the best, and I am resolved to-morrow to fall hard to it. I
pray God help me therein, for my father and mother and all our
well-doings do depend upon my care therein. My Lord Sand-
wich has lately been in the country, and very civil to my wife,
and hath himself spent some pains in drawing a plot of some al-
terations in our house there, which I shall follow as I get money.
As for the office, my late industry hath been such, as I am be-
come as high in reputation as any man there, and good hold I
have of Mr. Coventry and Sir G. Carteret, which I am resolved,
and it is necessary for me, to maintain by all fair means. Things
are all quiett, but the King poor, and no hopes almost of his be-
ing otherwise, by which things will go to rack, especially in the
Navy. The late outing of the Presbyterian clergy by their not re-
307 Two acts were passed in 1662 for this purpose, viz., 13 and 14 Car. II.
cap. 8: “An act for distribution of threescore thousand pounds amongst the
truly loyal and indigent commission officers, and for assessing of offices and
distributing the monies thereby raised for their further supply;” and cap. 9,
“An act for the relief of poor and maimed officers and soldiers who have
faithfully served his Majesty and his royal father in the late wars.”
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SEPTEMBER 1662
nouncing the Covenant as the Act of Parliament commands, is
the greatest piece of state now in discourse. But for ought I see
they are gone out very peaceably, and the people not so much
concerned therein as was expected. My brother Tom is gone out
of town this day, to make a second journey to his mistress at Ban-
bury, of which I have good expectations, and pray God to bless
him therein. My mind, I hope, is settled to follow my business
again, for I find that two days’ neglect of business do give more
discontent in mind than ten times the pleasure thereof can repair
again, be it what it will.
713
OCTOBER 1662
October 1st. Up with my mind pretty well at rest about my ac-
counts and other business, and so to my house and there put my
work to business, and then down to Deptford to do the same
there, and so back and with my workmen all the afternoon, and
my wife putting a chamber in order for us to lie in. At night to
look over some Brampton papers against the Court which I ex-
pect every day to hear of, and that done home and with my wife
to bed, the first time I have lain there these two months and more,
which I am now glad to do again, and do so like the chamber as
it is now ordered that all my fear is my not keeping it. But I hope
the best, for it would vex me to the heart to lose it.
2nd. Up and to the office, where we sat till noon, and then to
dinner, and Mr. Moore came and dined with me, and after dinner
to look over my Brampton papers, which was a most necessary
work, though it is not so much to my content as I could wish. I
fear that it must be as it can, and not as I would. He being gone I
to my workmen again, and at night by coach towards Whitehall
took up Mr. Moore and set him at my Lord’s, and myself, hearing
that there was a play at the Cockpit (and my Lord Sandwich, who
came to town last night, at it), I do go thither, and by very great
fortune did follow four or five gentlemen who were carried to a
little private door in a wall, and so crept through a narrow place
714
OCTOBER 1662
and come into one of the boxes next the King’s, but so as I could
not see the King or Queene, but many of the fine ladies, who yet
are really not so handsome generally as I used to take them to be,
but that they are finely dressed. Here we saw “The Cardinall,”
a tragedy I had never seen before, nor is there any great matter
in it. The company that came in with me into the box, were all
Frenchmen that could speak no English, but Lord! what sport
they made to ask a pretty lady that they got among them that
understood both French and English to make her tell them what
the actors said. Thence to my Lord’s, and saw him, and staid
with him half an hour in his chamber talking about some of mine
and his own business, and so up to bed with Mr. Moore in the
chamber over my Lord’s.
3rd. Rose, and without taking leave or speaking to my Lord
went out early and walked home, calling at my brother’s and
Paul’s Churchyard, but bought nothing because of my oath,
though I had a great mind to it. At my office, and with my work-
men till noon, and then dined with my wife upon herrings, the
first I have eat this year, and so to my workmen again. By and
by comes a gentleman to speak with my wife, and I found him to
be a gentleman that had used her very civilly in her coming up
out of the country, on which score I showed him great respect,
and found him a very ingenious gentleman, and sat and talked
with him a great while. He gone, to my workmen again, and in
the evening comes Captain Ferrers, and sat and talked a great
while, and told me the story of his receiving his cut in the hand
by falling out with one of my Lord’s footmen. He told me also
of the impertinence and mischief that Ned Pickering has made in
the country between my Lord and all his servants almost by his
finding of faults, which I am vexed to hear, it being a great dis-
grace to my Lord to have the fellow seen to be so great still with
him. He brought me a letter from my father, that appoints the
day for the Court at Brampton to be the 13th of this month; but
I perceive he has kept the letter in his pocket these three days,
so that if the day had been sooner, I might have been spilt. So
715
OCTOBER 1662
that it is a great folly to send letters of business by any friend
that require haste. He being gone I to my office all the evening,
doing business there till bedtime, it being now my manner since
my wife is come to spend too much of my daytime with her and
the workmen and do my office business at night, which must not
be after the work of the house is done. This night late I had no-
tice that Dekins, the merchant, is dead this afternoon suddenly,
for grief that his daughter, my Morena, who has long been ill, is
given over by the Doctors. For both which I am very sorry. So
home and to bed.
4th. To my office all the morning, after I was up (my wife be-
ginning to make me lie long a mornings), where we sat till noon,
and then dined at home, and after a little with my workmen to
my office till 9 at night, among other things examining the par-
ticulars of the miscarriage of the Satisfaction, sunk the other day
on the Dutch coast through the negligence of the pilott.
5th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed talking with my wife, and
among other things fell out about my maid Sarah, whom my wife
would fain put away, when I think her as good a servant as ever
came into a house, but it seems my wife would have one that
would dress a head well, but we were friends at last. I to church;
and this day the parson has got one to read with a surplice on. I
suppose himself will take it up hereafter, for a cunning fellow he
is as any of his coat. Dined with my wife, and then to talk again
above, chiefly about her learning to dance against her going next
year into the country, which I am willing she shall do. Then to
church to a tedious sermon, and thence walked to Tom’s to see
how things are in his absence in the country, and so home and in
my wife’s chamber till bedtime talking, and then to my office to
put things in order to wait on the Duke to-morrow morning, and
so home and to bed.
6th. Sir W. Pen and I early to St. James’s by water, where Mr.
Coventry, finding the Duke in bed, and not very well, we did
not stay to speak with him, but to White Hall, and there took
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OCTOBER 1662
boat and down to Woolwich we went. In our way Mr. Coventry
telling us how of late upon enquiry into the miscarriages of the
Duke’s family, Mr. Biggs, his steward, is found very faulty, and is
turned out of his employment. Then we fell to reading of a book
which I saw the other day at my Lord Sandwich’s, intended for
the late King, finely bound up, a treatise concerning the benefit
the Hollanders make of our fishing, but whereas I expected great
matters from it, I find it a very impertinent [book], and though
some things good, yet so full of tautologies, that we were weary
of it. At Woolwich we mustered the yard, and then to the Hart to
dinner, and then to the Rope-yard, where I did vex Sir W. Pen I
know to appear so well acquainted, I thought better than he, in
the business of hemp; thence to Deptford, and there looked over
several businesses, and wakened the officers there; so walked to
Redriffe, and thence, landing Sir W. Pen at the Tower, I to White
Hall with Mr. Coventry, and so to my Lord Sandwich’s lodgings,
but my Lord was not within, being at a ball this night with the
King at my Lady Castlemaine’s at next door. But here to my trou-
ble I hear that Mr. Moore is gone very sick to the Wardrobe this
afternoon, which troubles me much both for his own sake and
for mine, because of my law business that he does for me and
also for my Lord’s matters. So hence by water, late as it was, to
the Wardrobe, and there found him in a high fever, in bed, and
much cast down by his being ill. So thought it not convenient
to stay, but left him and walked home, and there weary went to
supper, and then the barber came to me, and after he had done,
to my office to set down my journall of this day, and so home and
to bed.
7th. At the office all the morning, dined at home with my wife.
After dinner with her by coach to see Mr. Moore, who contin-
ues ill. I took his books of accounts, and did discourse with him
about my Lord’s and my own businesses, and there being Mr.
Battersby by, did take notice of my having paid him the £100 bor-
rowed of him, which they both did confess and promise to return
me my bond. Thence by water with Will. Howe to Westminster,
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OCTOBER 1662
and there staying a little while in the Hall (my wife’s father and
mother being abroad, and so she returning presently) thence by
coach to my Lord’s, and there I left money for Captain Ferrers
to buy me two bands. So towards the New Exchange, and there
while my wife was buying things I walked up and down with
Dr. Williams, talking about my law businesses, and thence took
him to my brother’s, and there gave him a glass of wine, and so
parted, and then by coach with my wife home, and Sir J. M. and
Sir W. B. being come from Chatham Pay I did go see them for
complaisance, and so home and to bed.
8th. Up and by water to my Lord Sandwich’s, and was with
him a good while in his chamber, and among other things to my
extraordinary joy, he did tell me how much I was beholding to
the Duke of York, who did yesterday of his own accord tell him
that he did thank him for one person brought into the Navy, nam-
ing myself, and much more to my commendation, which is the
greatest comfort and encouragement that ever I had in my life,
and do owe it all to Mr. Coventry’s goodness and ingenuity. I
was glad above measure of this. Thence to Mr. Moore, who, I
hope, is better than he was, and so home and dined at home, and
all the afternoon busy at my office, and at night by coach to my
Lord’s again, thinking to speak with him, but he is at White Hall
with the King, before whom the puppet plays I saw this sum-
mer in Covent-garden are acted this night. Hither this night my
scallop,308 bought and got made by Captain Ferrers’ lady, is sent,
and I brought it home, a very neat one. It cost me about £3, and
£3 more I have given him to buy me another. I do find myself
much bound to go handsome, which I shall do in linen, and so
the other things may be all the plainer. Here I staid playing some
new tunes to parts with Wm. Howe, and, my Lord not coming
home, I came home late on foot, my boy carrying a link, and
308 A lace band, the edges of which were indented with segments of circles,
so as to resemble a scallop shell. The word “scallop” was used till recently
for a part of a lady’s dress embroidered and cut to resemble a scallop shell.
718
OCTOBER 1662
so eat a bit and to bed, my head full of ordering of businesses
against my journey to-morrow, that there may be nothing done
to my wrong in my absence. This day Sir W. Pen did speak to me
from Sir J. Minnes to desire my best chamber of me, and my great
joy is that I perceive he do not stand upon his right, which I was
much afraid of, and so I hope I shall do well enough with him for
it, for I will not part with it by fair means, though I contrive to let
him have another room for it.
9th. Up early about my business to get me ready for my jour-
ney. But first to the office; where we sat all the morning till noon,
and then broke up; and I bid them adieu for a week, having the
Duke’s leave got me by Mr. Coventry. To whom I did give thanks
for my newes yesterday of the Duke’s words to my Lord Sand-
wich concerning me, which he took well; and do tell me so freely
his love and value of me, that my mind is now in as great a state
of quiett as to my interest in the office, as I could ever wish to be.
I should this day have dined at Sir W. Pen’s at a venison pasty
with the rest of our fellows, but I could not get time, but sent for
a bit home, and so between one and two o’clock got on horseback
at our back gate, with my man Will with me, both well-mounted
on two grey horses. We rode and got to Ware before night; and so
resolved to ride on to Puckeridge, which we did, though the way
was bad, and the evening dark before we got thither, by help of
company riding before us; and among others, a gentleman that
took up at the same inn, the Falcon, with me, his name Mr. Brian,
with whom I supped, and was very good company, and a scholar.
He tells me, that it is believed the Queen is with child, for that the
coaches are ordered to ride very easily through the streets. After
supper we paid the reckoning together, and so he to his chamber
and I to bed, very well, but my feet being much cramped by my
new hard boots that I bought the other day of Wotton were in
much pain. Will lay in another bed in the chamber with me.
10th. Up, and between eight and nine mounted again; but my
feet so swelled with yesterday’s pain, that I could not get on my
719
OCTOBER 1662
boots, which vexed me to the blood, but was forced to pay 4s.
for a pair of old shoes of my landlord’s, and so rid in shoes to
Cambridge; but the way so good that but for a little rain I had
got very well thither, and set up at the Beare: and there being
spied in the street passing through the town my cozen Angier
came to me, and I must needs to his house, which I did; and
there found Dr. Fairbrother, with a good dinner, a barrel of good
oysters, a couple of lobsters, and wine. But, above all, telling
me that this day there is a Congregation for the choice of some
officers in the University, he after dinner gets me a gown, cap,
and hood, and carries me to the Schooles, where Mr. Pepper, my
brother’s tutor, and this day chosen Proctor, did appoint a M.A.
to lead me into the Regent House, where I sat with them, and did
[vote] by subscribing papers thus: “Ego Samuel Pepys eligo Mag-
istrum Bernardum Skelton, (and which was more strange, my old
schoolfellow and acquaintance, and who afterwards did take no-
tice of me, and we spoke together), alterum e taxatoribus hujus
Academiae in annum sequentem.” The like I did for one Biggs,
for the other Taxor, and for other officers, as the Vice-Proctor (Mr.
Covell), for Mr. Pepper, and which was the gentleman that did
carry me into the Regent House. This being done, and the Con-
gregation dissolved by the Vice-Chancellor, I did with much con-
tent return to my Cozen Angier’s, being much pleased of doing
this jobb of work, which I had long wished for and could never
have had such a time as now to do it with so much ease. Thence
to Trinity Hall, and there staid a good while with Dr. John Pepys,
who tells me that [his] brother Roger has gone out of town to
keep a Court; and so I was forced to go to Impington, to take
such advice as my old uncle and his son Claxton could give me.
Which I did, and there supped and talked with them, but not of
my business till by and by after supper comes in, unlooked for,
my cozen Roger, with whom by and by I discoursed largely, and
in short he gives me good counsel, but tells me plainly that it is
my best way to study a composition with my uncle Thomas, for
that law will not help us, and that it is but a folly to flatter our-
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OCTOBER 1662
selves, with which, though much to my trouble, yet I was well
satisfied, because it told me what I am to trust to, and so to bed.
11th. Up betimes, and after a little breakfast, and a very poor
one, like our supper, and such as I cannot feed on, because of
my she-cozen Claxton’s gouty hands; and after Roger had car-
ried me up and down his house and orchards, to show me them,
I mounted, and rode to Huntingdon, and so to Brampton; where
I found my father and two brothers, and Mr. Cooke, my mother
and sister. So we are now all together, God knows when we shall
be so again. I walked up and down the house and garden, and
find my father’s alteracions very handsome. But not so but that
there will be cause enough of doing more if ever I should come to
live there, but it is, however, very well for a country being as any
little thing in the country. So to dinner, where there being noth-
ing but a poor breast of mutton, and that ill-dressed, I was much
displeased, there being Mr. Cooke there, who I invited to come
over with my brother thither, and for whom I was concerned to
make much of. I told my father and mother of it, and so had it
very well mended for the time after, as long as I staid, though I
am very glad to see them live so frugally. But now to my busi-
ness. I found my uncle Thomas come into the country, and do
give out great words, and forwarns all our people of paying us
rent, and gives out that he will invalidate the Will, it being but
conditional, we paying debts and legacies, which we have not
done, but I hope we shall yet go through well enough. I settled
to look over papers, and discourse of business against the Court
till the evening; and then rode to Hinchingbroke (Will with me),
and there to my Lady’s chamber and saw her, but, it being night,
and my head full of business, staid not long, but drank a cup of
ale below, and so home again, and to supper, and to bed, being
not quiet in mind till I speak with Piggott, to see how his busi-
ness goes, whose land lies mortgaged to my late uncle, but never
taken up by him, and so I fear the heire at law will do it and
that we cannot, but my design is to supplant him by pretend-
ing bonds as well as a mortgage for the same money, and so as
721
OCTOBER 1662
executor have the benefit of the bonds.
12th (Lord’s day). Made myself fine with Captain Ferrers’s lace
band, being lothe to wear my own new scallop, it is so fine; and,
after the barber had done with us, to church, where I saw most of
the gentry of the parish; among others, Mrs. Hanbury, a proper
lady, and Mr. Bernard and his Lady, with her father, my late Lord
St. John, who looks now like a very plain grave man. Mr. Wells
preached a pretty good sermon, and they say he is pretty well in
his witts again. So home to dinner, and so to walk in the garden,
and then to Church again, and so home, there coming several
people about business, and among others Mr. Piggott, who gives
me good assurance of his truth to me and our business, in which I
am very much pleased, and tells me what my uncle Thomas said
to him and what he designs, which (in fine) is to be admitted to
the estate as well as we, which I must endeavour to oppose as
well as I can. So to supper, but my mind is so full of our business
that I am no company at all, and then their drink do not please
me, till I did send to Goody Stanks for some of her’s which is very
small and fresh, with a little taste of wormewood, which ever af-
ter did please me very well. So after supper to bed, thinking of
business, but every night getting my brother John to go up with
me for discourse sake, while I was making unready.309 13th. Up
to Hinchingbroke, and there with Mr. Sheply did look all over
the house, and I do, I confess, like well of the alteracions, and
do like the staircase, but there being nothing to make the outside
more regular and modern, I am not satisfied with it, but do think
it to be too much to be laid out upon it. Thence with Sheply to
Huntingdon to the Crown, and there did sit and talk, and eat a
breakfast of cold roast beef, and so he to St. Ives Market, and I
to Sir Robert Bernard’s for council, having a letter from my Lord
Sandwich to that end. He do give it me with much kindness in
309 That is, “undressing.” So of the French lords leaping over the walls
in their shirts “Alenc. How now, my lords! what all unready so? Bast.
Unready! ay, and glad we ‘scaped so well.” Henry VI., act ii., sc. i.–M. B.
722
OCTOBER 1662
appearance, and upon my desire do promise to put off my un-
cle’s admittance, if he can fairly, and upon the whole do make
my case appear better to me than my cozen Roger did, but not
so but that we are liable to much trouble, and that it will be best
to come to an agreement if possible. With my mind here also
pretty well to see things proceed so well I returned to Brampton,
and spent the morning in looking over papers and getting my
copies ready against to-morrow. So to dinner, and then to walk
with my father and other business, when by and by comes in
my uncle Thomas and his son Thomas to see us, and very calm
they were and we to them. And after a short How do you, and
drinking a cup of beer, they went away again, and so by and by
my father and I to Mr. Phillips, and there discoursed with him
in order to to-morrow’s business of the Court and getting several
papers ready, when presently comes in my uncle Thomas and his
son thither also, but finding us there I believe they were disap-
pointed and so went forth again, and went to the house that Prior
has lately bought of us (which was Barton’s) and there did make
entry and forbade paying rent to us, as now I hear they have
done everywhere else, and that that was their intent in coming to
see us this day. I perceive most of the people that do deal with
us begin to be afraid that their title to what they buy will not be
good. Which troubled me also I confess a little, but I endeav-
oured to remove all as well as I could. Among other things they
make me afraid that Barton was never admitted to that that my
uncle bought of him, but I hope the contrary. Thence home, and
with my father took a melancholy walk to Portholme, seeing the
country-maids milking their cows there, they being there now at
grass, and to see with what mirth they come all home together
in pomp with their milk, and sometimes they have musique go
before them. So back home again, and to supper, and in comes
Piggott with a counterfeit bond which by agreement between us
(though it be very just in itself) he has made, by which I shall lay
claim to the interest of the mortgage money, and so waiting with
much impatience and doubt the issue of to-morrow’s Court, I to
723
OCTOBER 1662
bed, but hardly slept half an hour the whole night, my mind did
so run with fears of to-morrow.
14th. Up, and did digest into a method all I could say in our
defence, in case there should be occasion, for I hear he will have
counsel to plead for him in the Court, and so about nine o’clock to
the court at the Lordshipp where the jury was called; and there
being vacancies, they would have had my father, in respect to
him, [to] have been one of the Homage, but he thought fit to
refuse it, he not knowing enough the customs of the town. They
being sworn and the charge given them, they fell to our business,
finding the heir-at-law to be my uncle Thomas; but Sir Robert
[Bernard] did tell them that he had seen how the estate was de-
vised to my father by my uncle’s will, according to the custom of
the manour, which they would have denied, first, that it was not
according to the custom of the manour, proposing some difficulty
about the half-acre of land which is given the heir-at-law accord-
ing to custom, which did put me into great fear lest it might not
be in my uncle’s possession at his death, but mortgaged with
other to T. Trice (who was there, and was with my good will ad-
mitted to Taylor’s house mortgaged to him if not being worth
the money for which it was mortgaged, which I perceive he now,
although he lately bragged the contrary, yet is now sensible of,
and would have us to redeem it with money, and he would now
resurrender it to us rather than the heir-at-law) or else that it was
part of Goody Gorum’s in which she has a life, and so might not
be capable of being according to the custom given to the heir-
at-law, but Will Stanks tells me we are sure enough against all
that. Then they fell to talk of Piggott’s land mortgaged to my un-
cle, but he never admitted to it, which they now as heir would
have admitted to. But the steward, as he promised me, did find
pretensions very kindly and readily to put off their admittance,
by which I find they are much defeated, and if ever, I hope, will
now listen to a treaty and agreement with us, at our meeting at
London. So they took their leaves of the steward and Court, and
went away, and by and by, after other business many brought
724
OCTOBER 1662
in, they broke up to dinner. So my father and I home with great
content to dinner; my mind now as full against the afternoon
business, which we sat upon after dinner at the Court, and did
sue out a recovery, and cut off the intayle; and my brothers there,
to join therein. And my father and I admitted to all the lands;
he for life, and I for myself and my heirs in reversion, and then
did surrender according to bargain to Prior, Greene, and Shep-
heard the three cottages with their appurtenances that they have
bought of us, and that being done and taken leave of the stew-
ard, I did with most compleat joy of mind go from the Court
with my father home, and in a quarter of an hour did get on
horseback, with my brother Tom, Cooke, and Will, all mounted,
and without eating or drinking, take leave of father, mother, Pall,
to whom I did give 10s., but have shown no kindness since I
come, for I find her so very ill-natured that I cannot love her, and
she so cruel a hypocrite that she can cry when she pleases, and
John and I away, calling in at Hinchingbroke, and taking leave in
three words of my Lady, and the young ladies; and so by moon-
light most bravely all the way to Cambridge, with great pleasure,
whither we come at about nine o’clock, and took up at the Bear,
but the house being full of guests we had very ill lodging, which
troubled me, but had a supper, and my mind at good ease, and
so to bed. Will in another bed in my chamber.
15th. My mind, though out of trouble, yet intent upon my jour-
ney home, being desirous to know how all my matters go there, I
could hardly sleep, but waked very early; and, when it was time,
did call up Will, and we rose, and musique (with a bandore310 for
the base) did give me a levett;311 and so we got ready; and while
310 A musical instrument with wire strings, and sounded with a plectrum;
used as a bass to the cittern. The banjo is a modification of the bandore, as
the name is a negro corruption of that word.
311 A blast of trumpets, intended as a ‘reveillee’, from French lever.
“First he that led the Cavalcade
Wore a Sow-gelder’s Flagellet,
725
OCTOBER 1662
breakfast was providing, I went forth (by the way finding Mr.
George Mountagu and his Lady, whom I saluted, going to take
their coach thus early to proceed on their journey, they having
lodged in the chamber just under me all this night) and showed
Mr. Cooke King’s College Chapel, Trinity College, and St. John’s
College Library; and that being done, to our inn again: where I
met Dr. Fairbrother brought thither by my brother Tom, and he
did breakfast with us, a very good-natured man he is, and told
us how the room we were in was the room where Cromwell and
his associated officers did begin to plot and act their mischiefs in
these counties. Having eat well, only our oysters proving bad,
we mounted, having a pair of boots that I borrowed and carried
with me from Impington, my own to be sent from Cambridge to
London, and took leave of all, and begun our journey about nine
o’clock. After we had rode about 10 miles we got out of our way
into Royston road, which did vex me cruelly, and the worst for
that my brother’s horse, which was lame yesterday, grows worse
to-day, that he could not keep pace with us. At last with much
ado we got into the road again, having misguided also a gentle-
man’s man who had lost his master and thought us to be going
the same way did follow us, but coming into the road again we
met with his master, by his coat a divine, but I perceiving Tom’s
horse not able to keep with us, I desired Mr. Cooke and him to
take their own time, and Will and I we rode before them keeping
a good pace, and came to Ware about three o’clock in the after-
noon, the ways being every where but bad. Here I fell into ac-
quaintance and eat and drank with the divine, but know not who
he is, and after an hour’s bait to myself and horses he, though re-
solved to have lodged there, yet for company would out again,
and so we remounted at four o’clock, and he went with me as far
almost as Tibbald’s and there parted with us, taking up there for
all night, but finding our horses in good case and the night being
On which he blew as strong a Levet
As well-feed Lawyer on his breviate.” Hudibras, II. ii. v. 609.
726
OCTOBER 1662
pretty light, though by reason of clouds the moon did not shine
out, we even made shift from one place to another to reach Lon-
don, though both of us very weary. And having left our horses
at their masters, walked home, found all things well, and with
full joy, though very weary, came home and went to bed, there
happening nothing since our going to my discontent in the least
degree; which do so please me, that I cannot but bless God for my
journey, observing a whole course of success from the beginning
to the end of it, and I do find it to be the reward of my diligence,
which all along in this has been extraordinary, for I have not had
the least kind of divertisement imaginable since my going forth,
but merely carrying on my business which God has been pleased
to bless. So to bed very hot and feverish by being weary, but early
morning the fever was over.
16th. And so I rose in good temper, finding a good chim-
neypiece made in my upper dining-room chamber, and the din-
ingroom wainscoat in a good forwardness, at which I am glad,
and then to the office, where by T. Hater I found all things to my
mind, and so we sat at the office till noon, and then at home to
dinner with my wife. Then coming Mr. Creede in order to some
business with Sir J. Minnes about his accounts, this afternoon I
took him to the Treasury office, where Sir John and I did stay late
paying some money to the men that are saved out of the Satis-
faction that was lost the other day. The King gives them half-pay,
which is more than is used in such cases, for they never used
to have any thing, and yet the men were most outrageously dis-
contented, and did rail and curse us till I was troubled to hear
it, and wished myself unconcerned therein. Mr. Creede seeing
us engaged took leave of us. Here late, and so home, and at the
office set down my journey-journall to this hour, and so shut up
my book, giving God thanks for my good success therein, and
so home, and to supper, and to bed. I hear Mr. Moore is in a
way of recovery. Sir H. Bennet made Secretary of State in Sir Ed-
ward Nicholas’s stead; not known whether by consent or not. My
brother Tom and Cooke are come to town I hear this morning,
727
OCTOBER 1662
and he sends me word that his mistress’s mother is also come
to treat with us about her daughter’s portion and her jointure,
which I am willing should be out of Sturtlow lands.
17th. This morning Tom comes to me, and I advise him how to
deal with his mistress’s mother about his giving her a joynture,
but I intend to speak with her shortly, and tell her my mind. Then
to my Lord Sandwich by water, and told him how well things do
go in the country with me, of which he was very glad, and seems
to concern himself much for me. Thence with Mr. Creed to West-
minster Hall, and by and by thither comes Captn. Ferrers, upon
my sending for him, and we three to Creed’s chamber, and there
sat a good while and drank chocolate. Here I am told how things
go at Court; that the young men get uppermost, and the old se-
rious lords are out of favour; that Sir H. Bennet, being brought
into Sir Edward Nicholas’s place, Sir Charles Barkeley is made
Privy Purse; a most vicious person, and one whom Mr. Pierce,
the surgeon, to-day (at which I laugh to myself), did tell me that
he offered his wife £300 per annum to be his mistress. He also
told me that none in Court hath more the King’s ear now than Sir
Charles Barkeley, and Sir H. Bennet, and my Lady Castlemaine,
whose interest is now as great as ever and that Mrs. Haslerigge,
the great beauty, is got with child, and now brought to bed, and
lays it to the King or the Duke of York.312 He tells me too that my
Lord St. Albans’ is like to be Lord Treasurer: all which things do
trouble me much. Here I staid talking a good while, and so by
water to see Mr. Moore, who is out of bed and in a way to be
well, and thence home, and with Commr. Pett by water to view
Wood’s masts that he proffers to sell, which we found bad, and
so to Deptford to look over some businesses, and so home and I
to my office, all our talk being upon Sir J. M. and Sir W. B.‘s base
carriage against him at their late being at Chatham, which I am
sorry to hear, but I doubt not but we shall fling Sir W. B. upon his
back ere long. At my office, I hearing Sir W. Pen was not well, I
312 The child was owned by neither of the royal brothers.–B.
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OCTOBER 1662
went to him to see, and sat with him, and so home and to bed.
18th. This morning, having resolved of my brother’s enter-
taining his mistress’s mother to-morrow, I sent my wife thither
to-day to lie there to-night and to direct him in the business, and
I all the morning at the office, and the afternoon intent upon my
workmen, especially my joyners, who will make my dining room
very pretty. At night to my office to dispatch business, and then
to see Sir W. Pen, who continues in great pain, and so home and
alone to bed, but my head being full of my own and my brother
Tom’s business I could hardly sleep, though not in much trouble,
but only multitude of thoughts.
19th (Lord’s day). Got me ready in the morning and put on my
first new laceband; and so neat it is, that I am resolved my great
expense shall be lacebands, and it will set off any thing else the
more. So walked to my brother’s, where I met Mr. Cooke, and
discoursing with him do find that he and Tom have promised a
joynture of £50 to his mistress, and say that I did give my con-
sent that she should be joyntured in £30 per ann. for Sturtlow,
and the rest to be made up out of her portion. At which I was
stark mad, and very angry the business should be carried with
so much folly and against my mind and all reason. But I was
willing to forbear discovering of it, and did receive Mrs. Butler,
her mother, Mr. Lull and his wife, very civil people, very kindly,
and without the least discontent, and Tom had a good and neat
dinner for us. We had little discourse of any business, but leave
it to one Mr. Smith on her part and myself on ours. So we staid
till sermon was done, and I took leave, and to see Mr. Moore,
who recovers well; and his doctor coming to him, one Dr. Merrit,
we had some of his very good discourse of anatomy, and other
things, very pleasant. By and by, I with Mr. Townsend walked in
the garden, talking and advising with him about Tom’s business,
and he tells me he will speak with Smith, and says I offer fair to
give her £30 joynture and no more. Thence Tom waiting for me
homewards towards my house, talking and scolding him for his
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OCTOBER 1662
folly, and telling him my mind plainly what he has to trust to if
he goes this way to work, for he shall never have her upon the
terms they demand of £50. He left me, and I to my uncle Wight,
and there supped, and there was pretty Mistress Margt. Wight,
whom I esteem very pretty, and love dearly to look upon her. We
were very pleasant, I droning with my aunt and them, but I am
sorry to hear that the news of the selling of Dunkirk313 is taken so
generally ill, as I find it is among the merchants; and other things,
as removal of officers at Court, good for worse; and all things else
made much worse in their report among people than they are.
And this night, I know not upon what ground, the gates of the
City ordered to be kept shut, and double guards every where.
So home, and after preparing things against to-morrow for the
Duke, to bed. Indeed I do find every body’s spirit very full of
trouble; and the things of the Court and Council very ill taken;
so as to be apt to appear in bad colours, if there should ever be a
beginning of trouble, which God forbid!
20th. Up and in Sir J. Minnes’s coach with him and Sir W. Bat-
ten to White Hall, where now the Duke is come again to lodge:
and to Mr. Coventry’s little new chamber there. And by and
by up to the Duke, who was making himself ready; and there
among other discourse young Killigrew did so commend “The
Villaine,” a new play made by Tom Porter; and acted only on Sat-
urday at the Duke’s house, as if there never had been any such
play come upon the stage. The same yesterday was told me by
313 A treaty was signed on the 27th October by which Dunkirk was sold
to France for five million livres, two of which were to be paid immediately,
and the remaining three by eight bills at dates varying from three months
to two years; during which time the King of England was to contribute the
aid of a naval force, if necessary, for defence against Spain. Subsequently
the remaining three millions were reduced to 2,500,000 to be paid at Paris,
and 254,000 in London. It is not known that Clarendon suggested the sale of
Dunkirk, but it is certain that he adopted the measure with zeal. There is also
no doubt that he got as much as France could be induced to give.–Lister’s
Life of Clarendon, ii. 173-4.
730
OCTOBER 1662
Captain Ferrers; and this morning afterwards by Dr. Clerke, who
saw it. Insomuch that after I had done with the Duke, and thence
gone with Commissioner Pett to Mr. Lilly’s, the great painter,
who came forth to us; but believing that I come to bespeak a
picture, he prevented us by telling us, that he should not be at
leisure these three weeks; which methinks is a rare thing. And
then to see in what pomp his table was laid for himself to go to
dinner; and here, among other pictures, saw the so much desired
by me picture of my Lady Castlemaine, which is a most blessed
picture; and that that I must have a copy of. And having thence
gone to my brother’s, where my wife lodged last night, and eat
something there, I took her by coach to the Duke’s house, and
there was the house full of company: but whether it was in over-
expecting or what, I know not, but I was never less pleased with
a play in my life. Though there was good singing and dancing,
yet no fancy in the play, but something that made it less content-
ing was my conscience that I ought not to have gone by my vow,
and, besides, my business commanded me elsewhere. But, how-
ever, as soon as I came home I did pay my crown to the poor’s
box, according to my vow, and so no harm as to that is done, but
only business lost and money lost, and my old habit of pleasure
wakened, which I will keep down the more hereafter, for I thank
God these pleasures are not sweet to me now in the very enjoy-
ing of them. So by coach home, and after a little business at my
office, and seeing Sir W. Pen, who continues ill, I went to bed.
Dunkirk, I am confirmed, is absolutely sold; for which I am very
sorry.
21st. Up, and while I was dressing myself, my brother Tom
being there I did chide him for his folly in abusing himself about
the match, for I perceive he do endeavour all he can to get her,
and she and her friends to have more than her portion deserves,
which now from 6 or £700 is come to £450. I did by several steps
shew Tom how he would not be £100 the better for her accord-
ing to the ways he took to joynture her. After having done with
him to the office, and there all the morning, and in the middle of
731
OCTOBER 1662
our sitting my workmen setting about the putting up of my rails
upon my leads, Sir J. Minnes did spy them and fell a-swearing,
which I took no notice of, but was vexed, and am still to the very
heart for it, for fear it should put him upon taking the closett and
my chamber from me, which I protest I am now afraid of. But it
is my very great folly to be so much troubled at these trifles, more
than at the loss of £100, or things of greater concernment; but I
forget the lesson I use to preach to others. After dinner to my
office with my head and heart full of troublesome business, and
thence by water with Mr. Smith, to Mr. Lechmore, the Counsel-
lor at the Temple, about Field’s business; and he tells me plainly
that, there being a verdict against me, there is no help for it, but it
must proceed to judgment. It is £30 damage to me for my joining
with others in committing Field to prison, we being not justices of
the Peace in the City, though in Middlesex; this troubled me, but
I hope the King will make it good to us. Thence to Mr. Smith, the
scrivener, upon Ludgate Hill, to whom Mrs. Butler do committ
her business concerning her daughter and my brother. He tells
me her daughter’s portion is but £400, at which I am more trou-
bled than before; and they find fault that his house is too little.
So after I had told him my full mind, I went away to meet again
to-morrow, but I believe the business will be broke off, which for
Tom’s sake I am much grieved for, but it cannot be helped with-
out his ruin. Thence to see Mr. Moore, who is pretty well again,
and we read over and discoursed about Mrs. Goldsborough’s
business, and her son coming by my appointment thither, I did
tell him our resolution as to her having her estate reconveyed to
her. Hither also came my brother, and before Mr. Moore I did ad-
vise and counsel him about his match, and how we had all been
abused by Mr. Cooke’s folly. So home and to my office, and there
settled many businesses, and so home and to supper, and so to
bed, Sir W. Pen being still in great pain.
22nd. Up, and carrying my wife and her brother to Covent
Garden, near their father’s new lodging, by coach, I to my Lord
Sandwich’s, who receives me now more and more kindly, now
732
OCTOBER 1662
he sees that I am respected in the world; and is my most noble
patron. Here I staid and talked about many things, with my Lord
and Mr. Povy, being there about Tangier business, for which the
Commission is a taking out. Hence (after talking with Mr. Cooke,
whom I met here about Mrs. Butler’s portion, he do persist to say
that it will be worth £600 certain, when he knows as well as I do
now that it is but £400, and so I told him, but he is a fool, and has
made fools of us). So I by water to my brother’s, and thence to
Mr. Smith’s, where I was, last night, and there by appointment
met Mrs. Butler, with whom I plainly discoursed and she with
me. I find she will give but £400, and no more, and is not will-
ing to do that without a joynture, which she expects and I will
not grant for that portion, and upon the whole I find that Cooke
has made great brags on both sides, and so has abused us both,
but know not how to help it, for I perceive she had much greater
expectations of Tom’s house and being than she finds. But how-
ever we did break off the business wholly, but with great love and
kindness between her and me, and would have been glad we had
known one another’s minds sooner, without being misguided by
this fellow to both our shames and trouble. For I find her a very
discreet, sober woman, and her daughter, I understand and be-
lieve, is a good lady; and if portions did agree, though she finds
fault with Tom’s house, and his bad imperfection in his speech,
I believe we should well agree in other matters. After taking a
kind farewell, I to Tom’s, and there did give him a full account
of this sad news, with which I find he is much troubled, but do
appear to me to be willing to be guided herein, and apprehends
that it is not for his good to do otherwise, and so I do persuade
[him] to follow his business again, and I hope he will, but for
Cooke’s part and Dr. Pepys, I shall know them for two fools an-
other time. Hence, it raining hard, by coach home, being first
trimmed here by Benier, who being acquainted with all the play-
ers, do tell me that Betterton is not married to Ianthe, as they say;
but also that he is a very sober, serious man, and studious and
humble, following of his studies, and is rich already with what
733
OCTOBER 1662
he gets and saves, and then to my office till late, doing great deal
of business, and settling my mind in pretty good order as to my
business, though at present they are very many. So home and
to bed. This night was buried, as I hear by the bells at Barking
Church, my poor Morena,314 whose sickness being desperate, did
kill her poor father; and he being dead for sorrow, she could not
recover, nor desire to live, but from that time do languish more
and more, and so is now dead and buried.
23rd. Up and among my workmen, and so to the office, and
there sitting all the morning we stept all out to visit Sir W. Bat-
ten, who it seems has not been well all yesterday, but being let
blood is now pretty well, and Sir W. Pen after office I went to see,
but he continues in great pain of the gout and in bed, cannot stir
hand nor foot but with great pain. So to my office all the evening
putting things public and private in order, and so at night home
and to supper and to bed, finding great content since I am come
to follow my business again, which God preserve in me.
24th. After with great pleasure lying a great while talking and
sporting in bed with my wife (for we have been for some years
now, and at present more and more, a very happy couple, blessed
be God), I got up and to my office, and having done there some
business, I by water, and then walked to Deptford to discourse
with Mr. Lowly and Davis about my late conceptions about keep-
ing books of the distinct works done in the yards, against which
I find no objection but their ignorance and unwillingness to do
anything of pains and what is out of their ordinary dull road, but
I like it well, and will proceed in it. So home and dined there
with my wife upon a most excellent dish of tripes of my own di-
recting, covered with, mustard, as I have heretofore seen them
done at my Lord Crew’s, of which I made a very great meal, and
sent for a glass of wine for myself, and so to see Sir W. Pen, who
314 The burial of Elizabeth, daughter of John Dekins or Dickens, is recorded
in the parish register of All Hallows, Barking, as having taken place on Oc-
tober 22nd. See ante, October 3rd
734
OCTOBER 1662
continues bed-rid in great pain, and hence to the Treasury to Sir
J. Minnes paying off of tickets, and at night home, and in my
study (after seeing Sir W. Batten, who also continues ill) I fell to
draw out my conceptions about books for the clerk that cheques
in the yard to keep according to the distinct works there, which
pleases me very well, and I am confident it will be of great use.
At 9 at night home, and to supper, and to bed. This noon came
to see me and sat with me a little after dinner Mr. Pierce, the
chyrurgeon, who tells me how ill things go at Court: that the
King do show no countenance to any that belong to the Queen;
nor, above all, to such English as she brought over with her, or
hath here since, for fear they should tell her how he carries him-
self to Mrs. Palmer;–[Lady Castlemaine.]–insomuch that though
he has a promise, and is sure of being made her chyrurgeon, he
is at a loss what to do in it, whether to take it or no, since the
King’s mind is so altered in favour to all her dependants, whom
she is fain to let go back into Portugall (though she brought them
from their friends against their wills with promise of preferment),
without doing any thing for them. But he tells me that her own
physician did tell him within these three days that the Queen do
know how the King orders things, and how he carries himself
to my Lady Castlemaine and others, as well as any body; but
though she hath spirit enough, yet seeing that she do no good
by taking notice of it, for the present she forbears it in policy; of
which I am very glad. But I pray God keep us in peace; for this,
with other things, do give great discontent to all people.
25th. Up and to the office, and there with Mr. Coventry sat all
the morning, only we two, the rest being absent or sick. Dined at
home with my wife upon a good dish of neats’ feet and mustard,
of which I made a good meal. All the afternoon alone at my office
and among my workmen, who (I mean the joyners) have even
ended my dining room, and will be very handsome and to my
full content. In the evening at my office about one business or
another, and so home and to bed, with my mind every day more
and more quiet since I come to follow my business, and shall be
735
OCTOBER 1662
very happy indeed when the trouble of my house is over.
26th (Lord’s day).Up and put on my new Scallop, and is very
fine. To church, and there saw the first time Mr. Mills in a sur-
plice; but it seemed absurd for him to pull it over his ears in the
reading-pew, after he had done, before all the church, to go up
to the pulpitt, to preach without it. Home and dined, and Mr.
Sympson, my joyner that do my diningroom, and my brother
Tom with me to a delicate fat pig. Tom takes his disappointment
of his mistress to heart; but all will be well again in a little time.
Then to church again, and heard a simple Scot preach most te-
diously. So home, and to see Sir W. Batten, who is pretty well
again, and then to my uncle Wight’s to show my fine band and
to see Mrs. Margaret Wight, but she was not there. All this day
soldiers going up and down the town, there being an alarm and
many Quakers and others clapped up; but I believe without any
reason: only they say in Dorsetshire there hath been some rising
discovered. So after supper home, and then to my study, and
making up my monthly account to myself. I find myself, by my
expense in bands and clothes this month, abated a little of my
last, and that I am worth £679 still; for which God be praised. So
home and to bed with quiett mind, blessed be God, but afeard of
my candle’s going out, which makes me write thus slubberingly.
27th. Up, and after giving order to the plasterer now to set
upon the finishing of my house, then by water to wait upon the
Duke, and walking in the matted Gallery, by and by comes Mr.
Coventry and Sir John Minnes, and then to the Duke, and after he
was ready, to his closet, where I did give him my usual account of
matters, and afterwards, upon Sir J. Minnes’ desire to have one
to assist him in his employment, Sir W. Pen is appointed to be
his, and Mr. Pett to be the Surveyor’s assistant. Mr. Coventry
did desire to be excused, and so I hope (at least it is my present
opinion) to have none joined with me, but only Mr. Coventry do
desire that I would find work for one of his clerks, which I did not
deny, but however I will think of it, whether without prejudice to
736
OCTOBER 1662
mine I can do it. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, who now-a-days
calls me into his chamber, and alone did discourse with me about
the jealousy that the Court have of people’s rising; wherein he do
much dislike my Lord Monk’s being so eager against a company
of poor wretches, dragging them up and down the street; but
would have him rather to take some of the greatest ringleaders
of them, and punish them; whereas this do but tell the world the
King’s fears and doubts. For Dunkirk; he wonders any wise peo-
ple should be so troubled thereat, and scorns all their talk against
it, for that he says it was not Dunkirk, but the other places, that
did and would annoy us, though we had that, as much as if we
had it not. He also took notice of the new Ministers of State, Sir
H. Bennet and Sir Charles Barkeley, their bringing in, and the
high game that my Lady Castlemaine plays at Court (which I
took occasion to mention as that that the people do take great
notice of), all which he confessed. Afterwards he told me of
poor Mr. Spong, that being with other people examined before
the King and Council (they being laid up as suspected persons;
and it seems Spong is so far thought guilty as that they intend to
pitch upon him to put to the wracke or some other torture), he do
take knowledge of my Lord Sandwich, and said that he was well
known to Mr. Pepys. But my Lord knows, and I told him, that
it was only in matter of musique and pipes, but that I thought
him to be a very innocent fellow; and indeed I am very sorry for
him. After my Lord and I had done in private, we went out, and
with Captain Cuttance and Bunn did look over their draught of
a bridge for Tangier, which will be brought by my desire to our
office by them to-morrow. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there
walked long with Mr. Creed, and then to the great half-a-crown
ordinary, at the King’s Head, near Charing Cross, where we had
a most excellent neat dinner and very high company, and in a no-
ble manner. After dinner he and I into another room over a pot
of ale and talked. He showed me our commission, wherein the
Duke of York, Prince Rupert, Duke of Albemarle, Lord Peterbor-
ough, Lord Sandwich, Sir G. Carteret, Sir William Compton, Mr.
737
OCTOBER 1662
Coventry, Sir R. Ford, Sir William Rider, Mr. Cholmley, Mr. Povy,
myself, and Captain Cuttance, in this order are joyned for the
carrying on the service of Tangier, which I take for a great hon-
our to me. He told me what great faction there is at Court; and
above all, what is whispered, that young Crofts is lawful son to
the King, the King being married to his mother.315 How true this
is, God knows; but I believe the Duke of York will not be fooled
in this of three crowns. Thence to White Hall, and walked long in
the galleries till (as they are commanded to all strange persons),
one come to tell us, we not being known, and being observed to
walk there four or five hours (which was not true, unless they
count my walking there in the morning), he was commanded to
ask who we were; which being told, he excused his question, and
was satisfied. These things speak great fear and jealousys. Here
we staid some time, thinking to stay out the play before the King
to-night, but it being “The Villaine,” and my wife not being there,
I had no mind. So walk to the Exchange, and there took many
turns with him; among other things, observing one very pretty
315 There has been much confusion as to the name and parentage of
Charles’s mistress. Lucy Walter was the daughter of William Walter of Roch
Castle, co. Pembroke, and Mr. S. Steinman, in his “Althorp Memoirs” (pri-
vately printed, 1869), sets out her pedigree, which is a good one. Roch Castle
was taken and burnt by the Parliamentary forces in 1644, and Lucy was in
London in 1648, where she made the acquaintance of Colonel Algernon Sid-
ney. She then fell into the possession of his brother, Colonel Robert Sidney.
In September of this same year she was taken up by Charles, Prince of Wales.
Charles terminated his connection with her on October 30th, 1651, and she
died in 1658, as appears by a document (administration entry in the Regis-
ter of the Prerogative Court) met with by the late Colonel Chester. William
Erskine, who had served Charles as cupbearer in his wanderings, and was
appointed Master of the Charterhouse in December, 1677, had the care of
Lucy Walter, and buried her in Paris. He declared that the king never had
any intention of marrying her, and she did not deserve it. Thomas Ross, the
tutor of her son, put the idea of this claim into his head, and asked Dr. Cosin
to certify to a marriage. In consequence of this he was removed from his of-
fice, and Lord Crofts took his place (Steinman’s “Althorp Memoirs”). Lucy
Walter took the name of Barlow during her wanderings.
738
OCTOBER 1662
Exchange lass, with her face full of black patches, which was a
strange sight. So bid him good-night and away by coach to Mr.
Moore, with whom I staid an hour, and found him pretty well
and intends to go abroad tomorrow, and so it raining hard by
coach home, and having visited both Sir Williams, who are both
sick, but like to be well again, I to my office, and there did some
business, and so home and to bed. At Sir W. Batten’s I met with
Mr. Mills, who tells me that he could get nothing out of the maid
hard by (that did poyson herself) before she died, but that she did
it because she did not like herself, nor had not liked herself, nor
anything she did a great while. It seems she was well-favoured
enough, but crooked, and this was all she could be got to say,
which is very strange.
28th. At the office sitting all the morning, and then home to
dinner with my wife, and after dinner she and I passing an hour
or two in ridiculous talk, and then to my office, doing business
there till 9 at night, and so home and to supper and to bed. My
house is now in its last dirt, I hope, the plasterer and painter now
being upon winding up all my trouble, which I expect will now
in a fortnight’s time, or a little more, be quite over.
29th (Lord Mayor’s day). Intended to have made me fine, and
by invitation to have dined with the Lord Mayor to-day, but go-
ing to see Sir W. Batten this morning, I found Sir G. Carteret and
Sir J. Minnes going with Sir W. Batten and myself to examine
Sir G. Carteret’s accounts for the last year, whereupon I settled
to it with them all the day long, only dinner time (which Sir G.
Carteret gave us), and by night did as good as finish them, and
so parted, and thence to my office, and there set papers in order
and business against to-morrow. I received a letter this day from
my father, speaking more trouble about my uncle Thomas his
business, and of proceeding to lay claim to Brampton and all my
uncle left, because it is given conditional that we should pay lega-
cys, which to him we have not yet done, but I hope that will do us
no hurt; God help us if it should, but it disquiets my mind. I have
739
OCTOBER 1662
also a letter from my Lord Sandwich desiring me upon matters
of concernment to be with him early tomorrow morning, which
I wonder what it should be. So my mind full of thoughts, and
some trouble at night, home and to bed. Sir G. Carteret, who had
been at the examining most of the late people that are clapped
up, do say that he do not think that there hath been any great
plotting among them, though they have a good will to it; but
their condition is so poor, and silly, and low, that they do not fear
them at all.
30th. Could sleep but little to-night for thoughts of my busi-
ness. So up by candlelight and by water to Whitehall, and so to
my Lord Sandwich, who was up in his chamber and all alone, did
acquaint me with his business; which was, that our old acquain-
tance Mr. Wade (in Axe Yard) hath discovered to him £7,000 hid
in the Tower, of which he was to have two for discovery; my Lord
himself two, and the King the other three, when it was found;
and that the King’s warrant runs for me on my Lord’s part, and
one Mr. Lee for Sir Harry Bennet, to demand leave of the Lieu-
tenant of the Tower for to make search. After he had told me the
whole business, I took leave and hastened to my office, expect-
ing to be called by a letter from my Lord to set upon the busi-
ness, and so there I sat with the officers all the morning. At noon
when we were up comes Mr. Wade with my Lord’s letter, and
tells me the whole business. So we consulted for me to go first
to Sir H. Bennet, who is now with many of the Privy Counsellors
at the Tower, examining of their late prisoners, to advise with
him when to begin. So I went; and the guard at the Tower Gate,
making me leave my sword at the gate, I was forced to stay so
long in the ale-house hard by, till my boy run home for my cloak,
that my Lord Mayor that now is, Sir John Robinson, Lieutenant
of the Tower, with all his company, was gone with their coaches
to his house in Minchen Lane. So my cloak being come, I walked
thither; and there, by Sir G. Carteret’s means, did presently speak
with Sir H. Bennet, who did show and give me the King’s war-
rant to me and Mr. Leigh, and another to himself, for the paying
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OCTOBER 1662
of £2,000 to my Lord, and other two to the discoverers. After a
little discourse, dinner come in; and I dined with them. There
was my Lord Mayor, my Lord Lauderdale, Mr. Secretary Mor-
ris, to whom Sir H. Bennet would give the upper hand; Sir Wm.
Compton, Sir G. Carteret, and myself, and some other company,
and a brave dinner. After dinner, Sir H. Bennet did call aside the
Lord Mayor and me, and did break the business to him, who did
not, nor durst appear the least averse to it, but did promise all
assistance forthwith to set upon it. So Mr. Lee and I to our office,
and there walked till Mr. Wade and one Evett his guide did come,
and W. Griffin, and a porter with his picke-axes, &c.; and so they
walked along with us to the Tower, and Sir H. Bennet and my
Lord Mayor did give us full power to fall to work. So our guide
demands, a candle, and down into the cellars he goes, inquiring
whether they were the same that Baxter316 always had. We went
into several little cellars, and then went out a-doors to view, and
to the Cole Harbour; but none did answer so well to the marks
which was given him to find it by, as one arched vault. Where,
after a great deal of council whether to set upon it now, or delay
for better and more full advice, we set to it, to digging we went to
almost eight o’clock at night, but could find nothing. But, how-
ever, our guides did not at all seem discouraged; for that they
being confident that the money is there they look for, but having
never been in the cellars, they could not be positive to the place,
and therefore will inform themselves more fully now they have
been there, of the party that do advise them. So locking the door
after us, we left work to-night, and up to the Deputy Governor
(my Lord Mayor, and Sir H. Bennet, with the rest of the company
being gone an hour before); and he do undertake to keep the key
of the cellars, that none shall go down without his privity. But,
Lord! to see what a young simple fantastique coxcombe is made
Deputy Governor, would make one mad; and how he called out
316 Intended for John Barkstead, Lieutenant of the Tower under Cromwell.
Committed to the Tower (see March 17th, 1661-62).
741
OCTOBER 1662
for his night-gown of silk, only to make a show to us; and yet for
half an hour I did not think he was the Deputy Governor, and so
spoke not to him about the business, but waited for another man;
at last I broke our business to him; and he promising his care, we
parted. And Mr. Leigh and I by coach to White Hall, where I did
give my Lord Sandwich an account of our proceedings, and some
encouragement to hope for something hereafter, and so bade him
good-night, and so by coach home again, where to my trouble I
found that the painter had not been here to-day to do any thing,
which vexes me mightily. So to my office to put down my jour-
nal, and so home and to bed. This morning, walking with Mr.
Coventry in the garden, he did tell me how Sir G. Carteret had
carried the business of the Victuallers’ money to be paid by him-
self, contrary to old practice; at which he is angry I perceive, but I
believe means no hurt, but that things maybe done as they ought.
He expects Sir George should not bespatter him privately, in re-
venge, but openly. Against which he prepares to bedaub him,
and swears he will do it from the beginning, from Jersey to this
day. And as to his own taking of too large fees or rewards for
places that he had sold, he will prove that he was directed to it
by Sir George himself among others. And yet he did not deny
Sir G. Carteret his due, in saying that he is a man that do take
the most pains, and gives himself the most to do business of any
man about the Court, without any desire of pleasure or diver-
tisements; which is very true. But which pleased me mightily, he
said in these words, that he was resolved, whatever it cost him, to
make an experiment, and see whether it was possible for a man
to keep himself up in Court by dealing plainly and walking up-
rightly, with any private game a playing: in the doing whereof, if
his ground do slip from under him, he will be contented; but he
is resolved to try, and never to baulke taking notice of any thing
that is to the King’s prejudice, let it fall where it will; which is
a most brave resolucion. He was very free with me; and by my
troth, I do see more reall worth in him than in most men that I
do know. I would not forget two passages of Sir J. Minnes’s at
742
OCTOBER 1662
yesterday’s dinner. The one, that to the question how it comes to
pass that there are no boars seen in London, but many sows and
pigs; it was answered, that the constable gets them a-nights. The
other, Thos. Killigrew’s way of getting to see plays when he was
a boy. He would go to the Red Bull, and when the man cried to
the boys, “Who will go and be a devil, and he shall see the play
for nothing?” then would he go in, and be a devil upon the stage,
and so get to see plays.
31st. Lay pretty long in bed, and then up and among my work-
men, the carpenters being this day laying of my floor of my din-
ing room, with whom I staid a good while, and so to my office,
and did a little business, and so home to dinner, and after dinner
all the afternoon with my carpenters, making them lay all my
boards but one in my dining room this day, which I am confident
they would have made two good days work of if I had not been
there, and it will be very pleasant. At night to my office, and
there late doing of my office business, and so home to supper
and bed. Thus ends this month, I and my family in good health,
but weary heartily of dirt, but now in hopes within two or three
weeks to be out of it. My head troubled with much business,
but especially my fear of Sir J. Minnes claiming my bed-chamber
of me, but I hope now that it is almost over, for I perceive he is
fitting his house to go into it the next week. Then my law busi-
nesses for Brampton makes me mad almost, for that I want time
to follow them, but I must by no means neglect them. I thank
God I do save money, though it be but a little, but I hope to find
out some job or other that I may get a sum by to set me up. I
am now also busy in a discovery for my Lord Sandwich and Sir
H. Bennett by Mr. Wade’s means of some of Baxter’s [Barkstead]
money hid in one of his cellars in the Tower. If we get it it may be
I may be 10 or £20 the better for it. I thank God I have no crosses,
but only much business to trouble my mind with. In all other
things as happy a man as any in the world, for the whole world
seems to smile upon me, and if my house were done that I could
diligently follow my business, I would not doubt to do God, and
743
OCTOBER 1662
the King, and myself good service. And all I do impute almost
wholly to my late temperance, since my making of my vowes
against wine and plays, which keeps me most happily and con-
tentfully to my business; which God continue! Public matters are
full of discontent, what with the sale of Dunkirk, and my Lady
Castlemaine, and her faction at Court; though I know not what
they would have more than to debauch the king, whom God pre-
serve from it! And then great plots are talked to be discovered,
and all the prisons in town full of ordinary people, taken from
their meeting-places last Sunday. But for certain some plots there
hath been, though not brought to a head.
744
NOVEMBER 1662
November 1st. Up and after a little while with my workmen I
went to my office, and then to our sitting all the morning. At
noon with Mr. Creede, whom I found at my house, to the Trinity
House, to a great dinner there, by invitacion, and much company.
It seems one Captain Evans makes his Elder Brother’s dinner to-
day. Among other discourses one Mr. Oudant, secretary to the
late Princesse of Orange, did discourse of the convenience as to
keeping the highways from being deep, by their horses, in Hol-
land (and Flanders where the ground is as miry as ours is), going
in their carts and, waggons as ours in coaches, wishing the same
here as an expedient to make the ways better, and I think there
is something in it, where there is breadth enough. Thence to my
office, sent for to meet Mr. Leigh again; from Sir H. Bennet. And
he and I, with Wade and his intelligencer and labourers, to the
Tower cellars, to make one tryall more; where we staid two or
three hours digging, and dug a great deal all under the arches,
as it was now most confidently directed, and so seriously, and
upon pretended good grounds, that I myself did truly expect to
speed; but we missed of all: and so we went away the second
time like fools. And to our office, whither, a coach being come,
Mr. Leigh goes home to Whitehall; and I by appointment to the
Dolphin Tavern, to meet Wade and the other, Captn. Evett, who
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NOVEMBER 1662
now do tell me plainly, that he that do put him upon this is one
that had it from Barkestead’s own mouth, and was advised with
by him, just before the King’s coming in, how to get it out, and
had all the signs told him how and where it lay, and had always
been the great confident of Barkestead even to the trusting him
with his life and all he had. So that he did much convince me
that there is good ground for what we go about. But I fear it may
be that he did find some conveyance of it away, without the help
of this man, before he died. But he is resolved to go to the party
once more, and then to determine what we shall do further. So
we parted, and I to my office, where after sending away my let-
ters to the post I do hear that Sir J. Minnes is resolved to turn part
of our entry into a room and to divide the back yard between Sir
W. Pen and him, which though I do not see how it will annoy me
much particularly, yet it do trouble me a little for fear it should,
but I do not see how it can well unless in his desiring my coming
to my back stairs, but for that I shall do as well as himself or Sir
W. Pen, who is most concerned to look after it.
2nd (Lord’s day). Lay long with pleasure talking with my wife,
in whom I never had greater content, blessed be God! than now,
she continuing with the same care and thrift and innocence, so
long as I keep her from occasions of being otherwise, as ever she
was in her life, and keeps the house as well. To church, where Mr.
Mills, after he had read the service, and shifted himself as he did
the last day, preached a very ordinary sermon. So home to dinner
with my wife. Then up into my new rooms which are, almost
finished, and there walked with great content talking with my
wife till church time, and then to church, and there being a lazy
preacher I slept out the sermon, and so home, and after visiting
the two Sir Williams, who are both of them mending apace, I
to my office preparing things against to-morrow for the Duke,
and so home and to bed, with some pain,... having taken cold
this morning in sitting too long bare-legged to pare my corns.
My wife and I spent a good deal of this evening in reading “Du
Bartas’ Imposture” and other parts which my wife of late has
746
NOVEMBER 1662
taken up to read, and is very fine as anything I meet with.
3d. Up and with Sir J. Minnes in his coach to White Hall, to
the Duke’s; but found him gone out a-hunting. Thence to my
Lord Sandwich, from whom I receive every day more and more
signs of his confidence and esteem of me. Here I met with Pierce
the chyrurgeon, who tells me that my Lady Castlemaine is with
child; but though it be the King’s, yet her Lord being still in town,
and sometimes seeing of her, though never to eat or lie together,
it will be laid to him. He tells me also how the Duke of York
is smitten in love with my Lady Chesterfield317 (a virtuous lady,
daughter to my Lord of Ormond); and so much, that the duchess
of York hath complained to the King and her father about it, and
my Lady Chesterfield is gone into the country for it. At all which
I am sorry; but it is the effect of idleness, and having nothing
else to employ their great spirits upon. Thence with Mr. Creede
and Mr. Moore (who is got upon his legs and come to see my
Lord) to Wilkinson’s, and there I did give them and Mr. Howe
their dinner of roast beef, cost me 5s., and after dinner carried Mr.
Moore as far as Paul’s in a coach, giving him direction about my
law business, and there set him down, and I home and among
my workmen, who happened of all sorts to meet to their making
an end of a great many jobbs, so that after to-morrow I shall have
but a little plastering and all the painting almost to do, which was
good content to me. At night to my office, and did business; and
there came to me Mr. Wade and Evett, who have been again with
317 Lady Elizabeth Butler, daughter of James Butler, first Duke of Ormond,
second wife of Philip Stanhope, second Earl of Chesterfield. She died July,
1665 (see “Memoires de Grammont,” chap. viii.). Peter Cunningham thinks
that this banishment was only temporary, for, according to the Grammont
Memoirs, she was in town when the Russian ambassador was in London,
December, 1662, and January, 1662- 63. “It appears from the books of the
Lord Steward’s office... that Lord Chesterfield set out for the country on the
12th May, 1663, and, from his ‘Short Notes’ referred to in the Memoirs before
his Correspondence, that he remained at Bretby, in Derbyshire, with his wife,
throughout the summer of that year” (“Story of Nell Gwyn,” 1852, p. 189).
747
NOVEMBER 1662
their prime intelligencer, a woman, I perceive: and though we
have missed twice, yet they bring such an account of the proba-
bility of the truth of the thing, though we are not certain of the
place, that we shall set upon it once more; and I am willing and
hopefull in it. So we resolved to set upon it again on Wednesday
morning; and the woman herself will be there in a disguise, and
confirm us in the place. So they took leave for the night, and I to
my business, and then home to my wife and to supper and bed,
my pain being going away. So by God’s great blessing my mind
is in good condition of quiet.
4th. Lay long talking pleasantly with my wife in bed, it having
rained, and do still, very much all night long. Up and to the
office, where we sat till noon. This morning we had news by
letters that Sir Richard Stayner is dead at sea in the Mary, which
is now come into Portsmouth from Lisbon; which we are sorry
for, he being a very stout seaman. But there will be no great miss
of him for all that. Dined at home with my wife, and all the
afternoon among my workmen, and at night to my office to do
business there, and then to see Sir W. Pen, who is still sick, but
his pain less than it was. He took occasion to talk with me about
Sir J. Minnes’s intention to divide the entry and the yard, and so
to keep him out of the yard, and forcing him to go through the
garden to his house. Which he is vexed at, and I am glad to see
that Sir J. Minnes do use him just as he do me, and so I perceive
it is not anything extraordinary his carriage to me in the matter
of our houses, for this is worse than anything he has done to me,
that he should give order for the stopping up of his way to his
house without so much as advising with him or letting of him
know it, and I confess that it is very highly and basely done of
him. So to my office again, and after doing business there, then
home to supper and to bed.
5th. Up and with my painters painting my dining room all day
long till night, not stirring out at all. Only in the morning my
Lady Batten did send to speak with me, and told me very civilly
748
NOVEMBER 1662
that she did not desire, nor hoped I did, that anything should
pass between us but what was civill, though there was not the
neighbourliness between her and my wife that was fit to be, and
so complained of my maid’s mocking of her; when she called
“Nan” to her maid within her own house, my maid Jane in the
garden overheard her, and mocked her, and some other such like
things she told me, and of my wife’s speaking unhandsomely of
her; to all which I did give her a very respectfull answer, such as
did please her, and am sorry indeed that this should be, though I
do not desire there should be any acquaintance between my wife
and her. But I promised to avoid such words and passages for
the future. So home, and by and by Sir W. Pen did send for me
to his bedside; and tell me how really Sir J. Minnes did resolve to
have one of my rooms, and that he was very angry and hot, and
said he would speak to the Duke. To which, knowing that all this
was but to scare me, and to get him to put off his resolution of
making up the entry, I did tell him plainly how I did not value
his anger more, than he did mine, and that I should be willing to
do what the Duke commanded, and I was sure to have justice of
him, and that was all I did say to him about it, though I was much
vexed, and after a little stay went home; and there telling my wife
she did put me into heart, and resolve to offer him to change
lodgings, and believe that that will one way or other bring us to
some end in this dispute. At night I called up my maids, and
schooled Jane, who did answer me so humbly and drolly about
it, that though I seemed angry, I was much pleased with her and
[my] wife also. So at night to bed.
6th. At the office forenoon and afternoon till late at night, very
busy answering my Lord Treasurer’s letter, and my mind trou-
bled till we come to some end with Sir J. Minnes about our lodg-
ings, and so home. And after some pleasant discourse and sup-
per to bed, and in my dream much troubled by being with Will.
Swan, a great fanatic, my old acquaintance, and, methought,
taken and led up with him for a plotter, all our discourse being
at present about the late plots.
749
NOVEMBER 1662
7th. Up and being by appointment called upon by Mr. Lee,
he and I to the Tower, to make our third attempt upon the cellar.
And now privately the woman, Barkestead’s great confident, is
brought, who do positively say that this is the place which he did
say the money was hid in, and where he and she did put up the
£50,000318 in butter firkins; and the very day that he went out of
England did say that neither he nor his would be the better for
that money, and therefore wishing that she and hers might. And
so left us, and we full of hope did resolve to dig all over the cel-
lar, which by seven o’clock at night we performed. At noon we
sent for a dinner, and upon the head of a barrel dined very mer-
rily, and to work again. Between times, Mr. Lee, who had been
much in Spain, did tell me pretty stories of the customs and other
things, as I asked him, of the country, to my great content. But at
last we saw we were mistaken; and after digging the cellar quite
through, and removing the barrels from one side to the other, we
were forced to pay our porters, and give over our expectations,
though I do believe there must be money hid somewhere by him,
or else he did delude this woman in hopes to oblige her to fur-
ther serving him, which I am apt to believe. Thence by coach to
White Hall, and at my Lord’s lodgings did write a letter, he not
being within, to tell him how things went, and so away again,
only hearing that Mrs. Sarah is married, I did go up stairs again
and joy her and kiss her, she owning of it; and it seems it is to
a cook. I am glad she is disposed of, for she grows old, and is
very painfull,–[painstaking]–and one I have reason to wish well
for her old service to me. Then to my brother’s, where my wife,
by my order, is tonight to stay a night or two while my house is
made clean, and thence home, where I am angry to see, instead
of the house made in part clean, all the pewter goods and other
things are brought up to scouring, which makes the house ten
times worse, at which I was very much displeased, but cannot
318 Thus in the MS., although the amount was first stated as £7,000 (see
October 30th, 1662)
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NOVEMBER 1662
help it. So to my office to set down my journal, and so home and
to bed.
8th. All the morning sitting at the office, and after that dined
alone at home, and so to the office again till 9 o’clock, being loth
to go home, the house is so dirty, and my wife at my brother’s.
So home and to bed.
9th (Lord’s day). Lay alone a good while, my mind busy about
pleading to-morrow to the Duke if there shall be occasion for this
chamber that I lie in against Sir J., Minnes. Then up, and after
being ready walked to my brother’s, where my wife is, calling
at many churches, and then to the Temple, hearing a bit there
too, and observing that in the streets and churches the Sunday
is kept in appearance as well as I have known it at any time.
Then to dinner to my brother’s, only he and my wife, and after
dinner to see Mr. Moore, who is pretty well, and he and I to St.
Gregory’s, where I escaped a great fall down the staires of the
gallery: so into a pew there and heard Dr. Ball make a very good
sermon, though short of what I expected, as for the most part it
do fall out. So home with Mr. Moore to his chamber, and after a
little talk I walked home to my house and staid at Sir W. Batten’s.
Till late at night with him and Sir J. Minnes, with whom we did
abundance of most excellent discourse of former passages of sea
commanders and officers of the navy, and so home and to bed,
with my mind well at ease but only as to my chamber, which I
fear to lose.
10th. Up betimes and to set my workmen to work, and then
a little to the office, and so with Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and
myself by coach to White Hall, to the Duke, who, after he was
ready, did take us into his closett. Thither come my Lord Gen-
eral Monk, and did privately talk with the Duke about having
the life-guards pass through the City today only for show and
to fright people, for I perceive there are great fears abroad; for
all which I am troubled and full of doubt that things will not go
well. He being gone, we fell to business of the Navy. Among
751
NOVEMBER 1662
other things, how to pay off this fleet that is now come from
Portugall; the King of Portugall sending them home, he having
no more use for them, which we wonder at, that his condition
should be so soon altered. And our landmen also are coming
back, being almost starved in that poor country. Having done
here I went by my Lord Sandwich’s, who was not at home, and
so to Westminster Hall, where full of term, and here met with
many about business, among others my cozen Roger Pepys, who
is all for a composition with my uncle Thomas, which upon any
fair terms I am for also and desire it. Thence by water, and so by
land to my Lord Crew’s, and dined with him and his brother, I
know not his name; where very good discourse; among others,
of France’s intention to make a patriarch of his own, indepen-
dent from the Pope, by which he will be able to cope with the
Spaniard in all councils, which hitherto he has never done. My
Lord Crew told us how he heard my Lord of Holland say that,
being Embassador about the match with the Queene-Mother that
now is, the King of France–[Louis XIII., in 1624.]–insisted upon
a dispensation from the Pope, which my Lord Holland making a
question of, and that he was commanded to yield to nothing to
the prejudice of our religion, says the King of France, “You need
not fear that, for if the Pope will not dispense with the match, my
Bishopp of Paris shall.” By and by come in great Mr. Swinfen,
the Parliament-man, who, among other discourse of the rise and
fall of familys, told us of Bishopp Bridgeman (brother of Sir Or-
lando) who lately hath bought a seat anciently of the Levers, and
then the Ashtons; and so he hath in his great hall window (hav-
ing repaired and beautified the house) caused four great places
to be left for coates of armes. In one, he hath put the Levers, with
this motto, “Olim.” In another the Ashtons, with this, “Heri.” In
the next his own, with this, “Hodie.” In the fourth nothing but
this motto, “Cras nescio cujus.” Thence towards my brother’s;
met with Jack Cole in Fleet Street, and he and I went into his
cozen Mary Cole’s (whom I never saw since she was married),
and drank a pint of wine and much good discourse. I found him
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NOVEMBER 1662
a little conceited, but he had good things in him, and a man may
know the temper of the City by him, he being of a general con-
versation, and can tell how matters go; and upon that score I will
encourage his acquaintance. Thence to my brother’s, and taking
my wife up, carried her to Charing Cross, and there showed her
the Italian motion, much after the nature of what I showed her
a while since in Covent Garden. Their puppets here are some-
what better, but their motions not at all. Thence by coach to my
Lady’s, and, hiding my wife with Sarah below, I went up and
heard some musique with my Lord, and afterwards discoursed
with him alone, and so good night to him and below, having sent
for Mr. Creed, had thought to have shown my wife a play be-
fore the King, but it is so late that we could not, and so we took
coach, and taking up Sarah at my brother’s with their night geare
we went home, and I to my office to settle matters, and so home
and to bed. This morning in the Duke’s chamber Sir J. Minnes
did break to me his desire about my chamber, which I did put off
to another time to discourse of, he speaking to me very kindly
to make me the less trouble myself, hoping to save myself and
to contrive something or other to pleasure him as well, though I
know not well what. The town, I hear, is full of discontents, and
all know of the King’s new bastard by Mrs. Haslerigge, and as far
as I can hear will never be contented with Episcopacy, they are so
cruelly set for Presbytery, and the Bishopps carry themselves so
high, that they are never likely to gain anything upon them.
11th. All the morning sitting at the office, and then to dinner
with my wife, and so to the office again (where a good while Mr.
Bland was with me, telling me very fine things in merchandize,
which, but that the trouble of my office do so cruelly hinder me, I
would take some pains in) till late at night. Towards the evening
I, as I have done for three or four nights, studying something
of Arithmetique, which do please me well to see myself come
forward. So home, to supper, and to bed.
12th. At my office most of the morning, after I had done among
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my painters, and sent away Mr. Shaw and Hawly, who came to
give me a visit this morning. Shaw it seems is newly re-married
to a rich widow. At noon dined at home with my wife, and by
and by, by my wife’s appointment came two young ladies, sis-
ters, acquaintances of my wife’s brother’s, who are desirous to
wait upon some ladies, and proffer their service to my wife. The
youngest, indeed, hath a good voice, and sings very well, be-
sides other good qualitys; but I fear hath been bred up with too
great liberty for my family, and I fear greater inconveniences of
expenses, and my wife’s liberty will follow, which I must study
to avoid till I have a better purse; though, I confess, the gentle-
woman, being pretty handsome, and singing, makes me have a
good mind to her. Anon I took them by coach and carried them
to a friend’s of theirs, in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and there I left them
and I to the Temple by appointment to my cousin Roger’s cham-
ber, where my uncle Thomas and his son Thomas met us, I hav-
ing hoped that they would have agreed with me to have had [it]
ended by my cozen Roger, but they will have two strangers to be
for them against two others of mine, and so we parted without
doing any thing till the two send me the names of their arbiters.
Thence I walked home, calling a little in Paul’s Churchyard, and,
I thank God, can read and never buy a book, though I have a
great mind to it. So to the Dolphin Tavern near home, by appoint-
ment, and there met with Wade and Evett, and have resolved to
make a new attempt upon another discovery, in which God give
us better fortune than in the other, but I have great confidence
that there is no cheat in these people, but that they go upon good
grounds, though they have been mistaken in the place of the first.
From thence, without drinking a drop of wine, home to my office
and there made an end, though late, of my collection of the prices
of masts for these twelve years to this day, in order to the buying
of some of Wood, and I bound it up in painted paper to lie by as
a book for future use. So home and to supper and to bed, and
a little before and after we were in bed we had much talk and
difference between us about my wife’s having a woman, which
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I seemed much angry at, that she should go so far in it without
consideration and my being consulted with. So to bed.
13th. Up and began our discontent again and sorely angered
my wife, who indeed do live very lonely, but I do perceive that
it is want of work that do make her and all other people think of
ways of spending their time worse, and this I owe to my building,
that do not admit of her undertaking any thing of work, because
the house has been and is still so dirty. I to my office, and there
sat all the morning and dined with discontent with my wife at
noon, and so to my office, and there this afternoon we had our
first meeting upon our commission of inspecting the Chest, and
there met Sir J. Minnes, Sir Francis Clerke, Mr. Heath, Attur-
ney of the Dutchy, Mr. Prinn, Sir W. Rider, Captn. Cocke, and
myself. Our first work to read over the Institution, which is a de-
cree in Chancery in the year 1617, upon an inquisition made at
Rochester about that time into the revenues of the Chest, which
had then, from the year 1588 or 1590, by the advice of the Lord
High Admiral and principal officers then being, by consent of
the seamen, been settled, paying sixpence per month, according
to their wages then, which was then but 10s. which is now 24s.
We adjourned to a fortnight hence. So broke up, and I to see Sir
W. Pen, who is now pretty well, but lies in bed still; he cannot
rise to stand. Then to my office late, and this afternoon my wife
in her discontent sent me a letter, which I am in a quandary what
to do, whether to read it or not, but I purpose not, but to burn
it before her face, that I may put a stop to more of this nature.
But I must think of some way, either to find her some body to
keep her company, or to set her to work, and by employment to
take up her thoughts and time. After doing what I had to do I
went home to supper, and there was very sullen to my wife, and
so went to bed and to sleep (though with much ado, my mind
being troubled) without speaking one word to her.
14th. She begun to talk in the morning and to be friends, be-
lieving all this while that. I had read her letter, which I perceive
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by her discourse was full of good counsel, and relating the reason
of her desiring a woman, and how little charge she did intend it
to be to me, so I begun and argued it as full and plain to her, and
she to reason it highly to me, to put her away, and take one of the
Bowyers if I did dislike her, that I did resolve when the house is
ready she shall try her for a while; the truth is, I having a mind
to have her come for her musique and dancing. So up and about
my papers all the morning, and her brother coming I did tell him
my mind plain, who did assure me that they were both of the
sisters very humble and very poor, and that she that we are to
have would carry herself so. So I was well contented and spent
part of the morning at my office, and so home and to dinner, and
after dinner, finding Sarah to be discontented at the news of this
woman, I did begin in my wife’s chamber to talk to her and tell
her that it was not out of unkindness to her, but my wife came
up, and I perceive she is not too reconciled to her whatever the
matter is, that I perceive I shall not be able to keep her, though
she is as good a servant (only a little pettish) that ever I desire to
have, and a creditable servant. So she desired leave to go out to
look [for] a service, and did, for which I am troubled, and fell out
highly afterwards with my wife about it. So to my office, where
we met this afternoon about answering a great letter of my Lord
Treasurer’s, and that done to my office drawing up a letter to
him, and so home to supper.
15th. All the morning at the office sitting, dined with my wife
pleasantly at home, then among my painters, and by and by went
to my Civil Lawyers about my uncle’s suit, and so home again
and saw my painters make an end of my house this night, which
is my great joy, and so to my office and did business till ten at
night, and so home and to supper, and after reading part of Bussy
d’Ambois, a good play I bought to-day, to bed.
16th (Lord’s day). About 3 o’clock in the morning waked with
a rude noise among Sir J. Minnes his servants (he not being yet
come to his lodgings), who are the rudest people but they that
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lived before, one Mrs. Davis, that ever I knew in my life. To
sleep again, and after long talking pleasantly with my wife, up
and to church, where Mrs. Goodyer, now Mrs. Buckworth, was
churched. I love the woman for her gravity above any in the
parish. So home and to dinner with my wife with great con-
tent, and after dinner walked up and down my house, which is
now almost finished, there being nothing to do but the glazier
and furniture to put up. By and by comes Tom, and after a little
talk I with him towards his end, but seeing many strangers and
coaches coming to our church, and finding that it was a sermon
to be preached by a probationer for the Turkey Company,–[The
Turkey or Levant Company was established in 1581.]–to be sent
to Smyrna, I returned thither. And several Turkey merchants
filled all the best pews (and some in ours) in the Church, but a
most pitiful sermon it was upon a text in Zachariah, and a great
time he spent to show whose son Zachary was, and to prove
Malachi to be the last prophet before John the Baptist. Home
and to see Sir W. Pen, who gets strength, but still keeps his bed.
Then home and to my office to do some business there, and so
home to supper and to bed.
17th. To the Duke’s to-day, but he is gone a-hunting, and there-
fore I to my Lord Sandwich’s, and having spoke a little with him
about his businesses, I to Westminster Hall and there staid long
doing many businesses, and so home by the Temple and other
places doing the like, and at home I found my wife dressing by
appointment by her woman–[Mrs. Gosnell.]–that I think is to be,
and her other sister being here to-day with her and my wife’s
brother, I took Mr. Creed, that came to dine, to an ordinary
behind the Change, and there dined together, and after dinner
home and there spent an hour or two till almost dark, talking
with my wife, and making Mrs. Gosnell sing; and then, there be-
ing no coach to be got, by water to White Hall; but Gosnell not
being willing to go through bridge, we were forced to land and
take water, again, and put her and her sister ashore at the Temple.
I am mightily pleased with her humour and singing. At White
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Hall by appointment, Mr. Creed carried my wife and I to the
Cockpitt, and we had excellent places, and saw the King, Queen,
Duke of Monmouth, his son, and my Lady Castlemaine, and all
the fine ladies; and “The Scornfull Lady,” well performed. They
had done by eleven o’clock, and it being fine moonshine, we took
coach and home, but could wake nobody at my house, and so
were fain to have my boy get through one of the windows, and
so opened the door and called up the maids, and went to supper
and to bed, my mind being troubled at what my wife tells me,
that her woman will not come till she hears from her mother, for
I am so fond of her that I am loth now not to have her, though I
know it will be a great charge to me which I ought to avoid, and
so will make it up in other things. So to bed.
18th. Up and to the office, where Mr. Phillip the lawyer came
to me, but I put him off to the afternoon. At noon I dined at Sir
W. Batten’s, Sir John Minnes being here, and he and I very kind,
but I every day expect to pull a crow with him about our lodg-
ings. My mind troubled about Gosnell and my law businesses.
So after dinner to Mr. Phillips his chamber, where he demands
an abatement for Piggott’s money, which vexes me also, but I
will not give it him without my father’s consent, which I will
write to him to-night about, and have done it. Here meeting my
uncle Thomas, he and I to my cozen Roger’s chamber, and there
I did give my uncle him and Mr. Philips to be my two arbiters
against Mr. Cole and Punt, but I expect no great good of the mat-
ter. Thence walked home, and my wife came home, having been
abroad to-day, laying out above £12 in linen, and a copper, and a
pot, and bedstead, and other household stuff, which troubles me
also, so that my mind to-night is very heavy and divided. Late
at my office, drawing up a letter to my Lord Treasurer, which we
have been long about, and so home, and, my mind troubled, to
bed.
20th. All the morning sitting at the office, at noon with Mr.
Coventry to the Temple to advise about Field’s, but our lawyers
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NOVEMBER 1662
not being in the way we went to St. James’s, and there at his
chamber dined, and I am still in love more and more with him
for his real worth. I broke to him my desire for my wife’s brother
to send him to sea as a midshipman, which he is willing to agree
to, and will do it when I desire it. After dinner to the Temple, to
Mr. Thurland; and thence to my Lord Chief Baron, Sir Edward
Hale’s, and back with Mr. Thurland to his chamber, where he
told us that Field will have the better of us; and that we must
study to make up the business as well as we can, which do much
vex and trouble us: but I am glad the Duke is concerned in it.
Thence by coach homewards, calling at a tavern in the way (be-
ing guided by the messenger in whose custody Field lies), and
spoke with Mr. Smith our messenger about the business, and so
home, where I found that my wife had finished very neatly my
study with the former hangings of the diningroom, which will
upon occasion serve for a fine withdrawing room. So a little to
my office and so home, and spent the evening upon my house,
and so to supper and to bed.
21St. Within all day long, helping to put up my hangings in
my house in my wife’s chamber, to my great content. In the af-
ternoon I went to speak to Sir J. Minnes at his lodgings, where
I found many great ladies, and his lodgings made very fine in-
deed. At night to supper and to bed: this night having first put
up a spitting sheet, which I find very convenient. This day come
the King’s pleasure-boats from Calais, with the Dunkirk money,
being 400,000 pistolles.
22nd. This morning, from some difference between my wife
and Sarah, her maid, my wife and I fell out cruelly, to my great
discontent. But I do see her set so against the wench, whom I take
to be a most extraordinary good servant, that I was forced for the
wench’s sake to bid her get her another place, which shall cost
some trouble to my wife, however, before I suffer to be. Thence
to the office, where I sat all the morning, then dined; Mr. Moore
with me, at home, my wife busy putting her furniture in order.
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Then he and I out, and he home and I to my cozen Roger Pepys to
advise about treating with my uncle Thomas, and thence called
at the Wardrobe on Mr. Moore again, and so home, and after do-
ing much business at my office I went home and caused a new
fashion knocker to be put on my door, and did other things to
the putting my house in order, and getting my outward door
painted, and the arch. This day I bought the book of country
dances against my wife’s woman Gosnell comes, who dances
finely; and there meeting Mr. Playford he did give me his Latin
songs of Mr. Deering’s, which he lately printed. This day Mr.
Moore told me that for certain the Queen-Mother is married to
my Lord St. Albans, and he is like to be made Lord Treasurer.
Newes that Sir J. Lawson hath made up a peace now with Tunis
and Tripoli, as well as Argiers, by which he will come home very
highly honoured.
23rd (Lord’s day). Up, after some talk with my wife, soberly,
upon yesterday’s difference, and made good friends, and to
church to hear Mr. Mills, and so home, and Mr. Moore and my
brother Tom dined with me. My wife not being well to-day did
not rise. In the afternoon to church again, and heard drowsy Mr.
Graves, and so to see Sir W. Pen, who continues ill in bed, but
grows better and better every day. Thence to Sir W. Batten’s, and
there staid awhile and heard how Sir R. Ford’s daughter is mar-
ried to a fellow without friends’ consent, and the match carried
on and made up at Will Griffin’s, our doorkeeper’s. So to my of-
fice and did a little business, and so home and to bed. I talked
to my brother to-day, who desires me to give him leave to look
after his mistress still; and he will not have me put to any trou-
ble or obligation in it, which I did give him leave to do. I hear
to-day how old rich Audley is lately dead, and left a very great
estate, and made a great many poor familys rich, not all to one.
Among others, one Davis, my old schoolfellow at Paul’s, and
since a bookseller in Paul’s Church Yard: and it seems do forgive
one man £60,000 which he had wronged him of, but names not
his name; but it is well known to be the scrivener in Fleet Street,
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NOVEMBER 1662
at whose house he lodged. There is also this week dead a poul-
terer, in Gracious Street, which was thought rich, but not so rich,
that hath left £800 per annum, taken in other men’s names, and
40,000 Jacobs in gold.319 24th. Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and I,
going forth toward White Hall, we hear that the King and Duke
are come this morning to the Tower to see the Dunkirk money! So
we by coach to them, and there went up and down all the mag-
azines with them; but methought it was but poor discourse and
frothy that the King’s companions (young Killigrew among the
rest) about the codpieces of some of the men in armour there to be
seen, had with him. We saw none of the money, but Mr. Slingsby
did show the King, and I did see, the stamps of the new money
that is now to be made by Blondeau’s fashion,320 which are very
neat, and like the King. Thence the King to Woolwich, though a
very cold day; and the Duke to White Hall, commanding us to
come after him, which we did by coach; and in his closett, my
Lord Sandwich being there, did discourse with us about getting
some of this money to pay off the Fleets, and other matters; and
then away hence, and, it being almost dinner time, I to my Lord
Crew’s, and dined with him, and had very good discourse, and
he seemed to be much pleased with my visits. Thence to Mr.
Phillips, and so to the Temple, where met my cozen Roger Pepys
and his brother, Dr. John, as my arbitrators against Mr. Cole and
Mr. John Bernard for my uncle Thomas, and we two with them
by appointment. They began very high in their demands, and
my friends, partly being not so well acquainted with the will,
and partly, I doubt, not being so good wits as they, for which
319 A jacobus was a gold coin of the value of twenty-five shillings, called
after James I, in whose reign it was first coined.
320 Peter Blondeau was employed by the Commonwealth to coin their
money. After the Restoration, November 3rd, 1662, he received letters of
denization, and a grant for being engineer of the Mint in the Tower of Lon-
don, and for using his new invention for coining gold and silver with the
mill and press, with the fee of £100 per annum (Walpole’s “Anecdotes of
Painting”).
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NOVEMBER 1662
I blame my choosing of relations (who besides that are equally
engaged to stand for them as me), I was much troubled thereat,
and taking occasion to deny without my father’s consent to bind
myself in a bond of £2000 to stand to their award, I broke off
the business for the present till I hear and consider further, and
so thence by coach (my cozen, Thomas Pepys, being in another
chamber busy all the while, going along with me) homeward,
and I set him down by the way; but, Lord! how he did endeav-
our to find out a ninepence to clubb with me for the coach, and
for want was forced to give me a shilling, and how he still cries
“Gad!” and talks of Popery coming in, as all the Fanatiques do,
of which I was ashamed. So home, finding my poor wife very
busy putting things in order, and so to bed, my mind being very
much troubled, and could hardly sleep all night, thinking how
things are like to go with us about Brampton, and blaming my-
self for living so high as I do when for ought I know my father
and mother may come to live upon my hands when all is done.
25th. Up and to the office all the morning, and at noon with the
rest, by Mr. Holy, the ironmonger’s invitation, to the Dolphin,
to a venison pasty, very good, and rare at this time of the year,
and thence by coach with Mr. Coventry as far as the Temple,
and thence to Greatorex’s, where I staid and talked with him,
and got him to mend my pocket ruler for me, and so by coach to
my Lord’s lodging, where I sat with Mr. Moore by appointment,
making up accounts for my Lord Sandwich, which done he and
I and Capt. Ferrers and W. Howe very merry a good while in the
great dining room, and so it being late and my Lord not coming
in, I by coach to the Temple, and thence walked home, and so to
my study to do some business, and then home and to bed. Great
talk among people how some of the Fanatiques do say that the
end of the world is at hand, and that next Tuesday is to be the
day. Against which, whenever it shall be, good God fit us all.
26th. In the morning to the Temple to my cozen Roger, who
now desires that I would excuse him from arbitrating, he not
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being able to stand for me as he would do, without appearing
too high against my uncle Thomas, which will raise his clamour.
With this I am very well pleased, for I did desire it, and so I shall
choose other counsel. Thence home, he being busy that I could
not speak more with him. All day long till twelve o’clock at night
getting my house in order, my wife putting up the red hangings
and bed in her woman’s chamber, and I my books and all other
matters in my chamber and study, which is now very pretty. So
to bed.
27th. At my waking, I found the tops of the houses covered
with snow, which is a rare sight, that I have not seen these three
years. Up, and put my people to perfect the cleaning of my
house, and so to the office, where we sat till noon; and then we all
went to the next house upon Tower Hill, to see the coming by of
the Russia Embassador; for whose reception all the City trained-
bands do attend in the streets, and the King’s life-guards, and
most of the wealthy citizens in their black velvet coats, and gold
chains (which remain of their gallantry at the King’s coming in),
but they staid so long that we went down again home to dinner.
And after I had dined, I heard they were coming, and so I walked
to the Conduit in the Quarrefowr,321 at the end of Gracious-street
and Cornhill; and there (the spouts thereof running very near
me upon all the people that were under it) I saw them pretty
well go by. I could not see the Embassador in his coach; but his
attendants in their habits and fur caps very handsome, comely
men, and most of them with hawkes upon their fists to present
to the King. But Lord! to see the absurd nature of Englishmen,
that cannot forbear laughing and jeering at every thing that looks
strange. So back and to the office, and there we met and sat till
321 In two ordinances of the reign of Edward III., printed in Riley’s “Memo-
rials of London” (pp. 300, 389), this is called the “Carfukes,” which nearly
approaches the name of the “Carfax,” at Oxford, where four ways also met.
Pepys’s form of the word is nearer quatre voies, the French equivalent of
quadrivium.
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NOVEMBER 1662
seven o’clock, making a bargain with Mr. Wood for his masts
of New England; and then in Mr. Coventry’s coach to the Tem-
ple, but my cozen Roger Pepys not being at leisure to speak to me
about my business, I presently walked home, and to my office till
very late doing business, and so home, where I found my house
more and more clear and in order, and hope in a day or two now
to be in very good condition there and to my full content. Which
God grant! So to supper and to bed.
28th. A very hard frost; which is news to us after having none
almost these three years. Up and to Ironmongers’ Hall by ten
o’clock to the funeral of Sir Richard Stayner. Here we were, all
the officers of the Navy, and my Lord Sandwich, who did dis-
course with us about the fishery, telling us of his Majesty’s reso-
lution to give £200 to every man that will set out a Busse;322 and
advising about the effects of this encouragement, which will be
a very great matter certainly. Here we had good rings, and by
and by were to take coach; and I being got in with Mr. Creed into
a four-horse coach, which they come and told us were only for
the mourners, I went out, and so took this occasion to go home.
Where I staid all day expecting Gosnell’s coming, but there came
an excuse from her that she had not heard yet from her mother,
but that she will come next week,
which I wish she may, since I must keep one that I may have
some pleasure therein. So to my office till late writing out a copy
of my uncle’s will, and so home and to bed.
29th. Before I went to the office my wife’s brother did come
to us, and we did instruct him to go to Gosnell’s and to see
what the true matter is of her not coming, and whether she do
intend to come or no, and so I to the office; and this morning
come Sir G. Carteret to us (being the first time we have seen him
since his coming from France): he tells us, that the silver which
he received for Dunkirk did weigh 120,000 weight. Here all the
322 A small sea-vessel used in the Dutch herring-fishery.
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NOVEMBER 1662
morning upon business, and at noon (not going home to dinner,
though word was brought me that Will. Joyce was there, whom I
had not seen at my house nor any where else these three or four
months) with Mr. Coventry by his coach as far as Fleet Street,
and there stepped into Madam Turner’s, where was told I should
find my cozen Roger Pepys, and with him to the Temple, but not
having time to do anything I went towards my Lord Sandwich’s.
(In my way went into Captn. Cuttance’s coach, and with him to
my Lord’s.) But the company not being ready I did slip down
to Wilkinson’s, and having not eat any thing to-day did eat a
mutton pie and drank, and so to my Lord’s, where my Lord and
Mr. Coventry, Sir Wm. Darcy, one Mr. Parham (a very knowing
and well-spoken man in this business), with several others, did
meet about stating the business of the fishery, and the manner of
the King’s giving of this £200 to every man that shall set out a
new-made English Busse by the middle of June next. In which
business we had many fine pretty discourses; and I did here see
the great pleasure to be had in discoursing of publique matters
with men that are particularly acquainted with this or that busi-
ness. Having come to some issue, wherein a motion of mine was
well received, about sending these invitations from the King to
all the fishing-ports in general, with limiting so many Busses to
this, and that port, before we know the readiness of subscribers,
we parted, and I walked home all the way, and having wrote a
letter full of business to my father, in my way calling upon my
cozen Turner and Mr. Calthrop at the Temple, for their consent
to be my arbitrators, which they are willing to. My wife and
I to bed pretty pleasant, for that her brother brings word that
Gosnell, which my wife and I in discourse do pleasantly call our
Marmotte, will certainly come next week without fail, which God
grant may be for the best.
30th (Lord’s day). To church in the morning, and Mr. Mills
made a pretty good sermon. It is a bitter cold frost to-day. Dined
alone with my wife to-day with great content, my house being
quite clean from top to bottom. In the afternoon I to the French
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NOVEMBER 1662
church here323 in the city, and stood in the aisle all the sermon,
with great delight hearing a very admirable sermon, from a very
young man, upon the article in our creed, in order of catechism,
upon the Resurrection. Thence home, and to visit Sir W. Pen, who
continues still bed-rid. Here was Sir W. Batten and his Lady, and
Mrs. Turner, and I very merry, talking of the confidence of Sir R.
Ford’s new-married daughter, though she married so strangely
lately, yet appears at church as brisk as can be, and takes place of
her elder sister, a maid. Thence home and to supper, and then,
cold as it is, to my office, to make up my monthly accounts, and
I do find that, through the fitting of my house this month, I have
spent in that and kitchen £50 this month; so that now I am worth
but £660, or thereabouts. This being done and fitted myself for
the Duke to-morrow, I went home, and to prayers and to bed.
This day I first did wear a muffe, being my wife’s last year’s
muffe,324 and now I have bought her a new one, this serves me
very well. Thus ends this month; in great frost; myself and fam-
ily all well, but my mind much disordered about my uncle’s law
business, being now in an order of being arbitrated between us,
which I wish to God it were done. I am also somewhat uncer-
tain what to think of my going about to take a woman-servant
into my house, in the quality of a woman for my wife. My wife
promises it shall cost me nothing but her meat and wages, and
that it shall not be attended with any other expenses, upon which
termes I admit of it; for that it will, I hope, save me money in
having my wife go abroad on visits and other delights; so that I
hope the best, but am resolved to alter it, if matters prove oth-
erwise than I would have them. Publique matters in an ill con-
323 The French Protestant Church was founded by Edward VI. in the church
of St. Anthony’s Hospital in Threadneedle Street. This was destroyed in the
Great Fire, and rebuilt, but demolished for the approaches of the new Royal
Exchange. The church was then removed to St. Martin’s-le-Grand, but this
was also removed in 1888 to make room for the new Post Office buildings.
324 The fashion of men wearing muffs appears to have been introduced
from France in this reign.
766
NOVEMBER 1662
dition of discontent against the height and vanity of the Court,
and their bad payments: but that which troubles most, is the
Clergy, which will never content the City, which is not to be rec-
onciled to Bishopps: the more the pity that differences must still
be. Dunkirk newly sold, and the money brought over; of which
we hope to get some to pay the Navy: which by Sir J. Lawson’s
having dispatched the business in the Straights, by making peace
with Argier,–[The ancient name for Algiers.]–Tunis, and Tripoli
(and so his fleet will also shortly come home), will now every
day grow less, and so the King’s charge be abated; which God
send!
767
DECEMBER 1662
December 1st. Up and by coach with Sir John Minnes and Sir W.
Batten to White Hall to the Duke’s chamber, where, as is usual,
my Lord Sandwich and all of us, after his being ready, to his
closett, and there discoursed of matters of the Navy, and here
Mr. Coventry did do me the great kindness to take notice to the
Duke of my pains in making a collection of all contracts about
masts, which have been of great use to us. Thence I to my Lord
Sandwich’s, to Mr. Moore, to talk a little about business; and
then over the Parke (where I first in my life, it being a great frost,
did see people sliding with their skeates,325 which is a very pretty
art), to Mr. Coventry’s chamber to St. James’s, where we all met
to a venison pasty, and were very merry, Major Norwood be-
ing with us, whom they did play upon for his surrendering of
Dunkirk. Here we staid till three or four o’clock; and so to the
Council Chamber, where there met the Duke of York, Prince Ru-
pert, Duke of Albemarle, my Lord Sandwich, Sir Win. Compton,
Mr. Coventry, Sir J. Minnes, Sir R. Ford, Sir W. Rider, myself, and
Captain Cuttance, as Commissioners for Tangier. And after our
Commission was read by Mr. Creed, who I perceive is to be our
325 Iron skates appear to have been introduced by the Dutch, as the name
certainly was; but we learn from Fitzstephen that bone skates (although not
so called) were used in London in the twelfth century.
768
DECEMBER 1662
Secretary, we did fall to discourse of matters: as, first, the supply-
ing them forthwith with victualls; then the reducing it to make
way for the money, which upon their reduction is to go to the
building of the Mole; and so to other matters, ordered as against
next meeting. This done we broke up, and I to the Cockpitt, with
much crowding and waiting, where I saw “The Valiant Cidd”–
[Translated from the “Cid” of Corneille]–acted, a play I have read
with great delight, but is a most dull thing acted, which I never
understood before, there being no pleasure in it, though done by
Betterton and by Ianthe, And another fine wench that is come in
the room of Roxalana nor did the King or queen once smile all
the whole play, nor any of the company seem to take any plea-
sure but what was in the greatness and gallantry of the company.
Thence to my Lord’s, and Mr. Moore being in bed I staid not, but
with a link walked home and got thither by 12 o’clock, knocked
up my boy, and put myself to bed.
2nd. Before I went to the office my wife and I had another
falling out about Sarah, against whom she has a deadly hate,
I know not for what, nor can I see but she is a very good ser-
vant. Then to my office, and there sat all the morning, and then
to dinner with my wife at home, and after dinner did give Jane a
very serious lesson, against we take her to be our chamber-maid,
which I spoke so to her that the poor girl cried and did promise
to be very dutifull and carefull. So to the office, where we sat as
Commissioners for the Chest, and so examined most of the old
accountants to the Chest about it, and so we broke up, and I to
my office till late preparing business, and so home, being cold,
and this night first put on a wastecoate. So to bed.
3rd. Called up by Commissioner Pett, and with him by water,
much against my will, to Deptford, and after drinking a warm
morning draft, with Mr. Wood and our officers measuring all the
morning his New England masts, with which sight I was much
pleased for my information, though I perceive great neglect and
indifference in all the King’s officers in what they do for the King.
769
DECEMBER 1662
That done, to the Globe, and there dined with Mr. Wood, and so
by water with Mr. Pett home again, all the way reading his Chest
accounts, in which I did see things did not please me; as his al-
lowing himself 1300 for one year’s looking to the business of the
Chest, and £150 per annum for the rest of the years. But I found
no fault to him himself, but shall when they come to be read at
the Board. We did also call at Limehouse to view two Busses that
are building, that being a thing we are now very hot upon. Our
call was to see what dimensions they are of, being 50 feet by the
keel and about 60 tons. Home and did a little business, and so
taking Mr. Pett by the way, we walked to the Temple, in our way
seeing one of the Russia Embassador’s coaches go along, with his
footmen not in liverys, but their country habits; one of one colour
and another of another, which was very strange. At the Temple
spoke with Mr. Turner and Calthrop, and so walked home again,
being in some pain through the cold which I have got to-day by
water, which troubles me. At the office doing business a good
while, and so home and had a posset, and so to bed.
4th. At the office all the morning setting about business, and
after dinner to it again, and so till night, and then home look-
ing over my Brampton papers against to-morrow that we are to
meet with our counsel on both sides toward an arbitration, upon
which I was very late, and so to bed.
5th. Up, it being a snow and hard frost, and being up I did
call up Sarah, who do go away to-day or to-morrow. I paid her
her wages, and gave her 10s. myself, and my wife 5s. to give
her. For my part I think never servant and mistress parted upon
such foolish terms in the world as they do, only for an opinion in
my wife that she is ill-natured, in all other things being a good
servant. The wench cried, and I was ready to cry too, but to
keep peace I am content she should go, and the rather, though
I say nothing of that, that Jane may come into her place. This be-
ing done, I walked towards Guildhall, thither being summoned
by the Commissioners for the Lieutenancy; but they sat not this
770
DECEMBER 1662
morning. So meeting in my way W. Swan, I took him to a house
thereabouts, and gave him a morning draft of buttered ale;326 he
telling me still much of his Fanatique stories, as if he were a great
zealot, when I know him to be a very rogue. But I do it for
discourse, and to see how things stand with him and his party;
who I perceive have great expectation that God will not bless the
Court nor Church, as it is now settled, but they must be purified.
The worst news he tells me, is that Mr. Chetwind is dead, my
old and most ingenious acquaintance. He is dead, worth £3,000,
which I did not expect, he living so high as he did always and
neatly. He hath given W. Symons his wife £300, and made Will
one of his executors. Thence to the Temple to my counsel, and
thence to Gray’s Inn to meet with Mr. Cole but could not, and
so took a turn or two in the garden, being very pleasant with the
snow and frost. Thence to my brother’s, and there I eat some-
thing at dinner and transcribed a copy or two of the state of my
uncle’s estate, which I prepared last night, and so to the Temple
Church, and there walked alone till 4 or 5 o’clock, and then to my
cozen Turner’s chamber and staid there, up and down from his
to Calthrop’s and Bernard’s chambers, till so late, that Mr. Cole
not coming, we broke up for meeting this night, and so taking
my uncle Thomas homewards with me by coach, talking of our
desire to have a peace, and set him down at Gracious-street end,
and so home, and there I find Gosnell come, who, my wife tells
me, is like to prove a pretty companion, of which I am glad. So
to my office for a little business and then home, my mind having
been all this day in most extraordinary trouble and care for my
father, there being so great an appearance of my uncle’s going
away with the greatest part of the estate, but in the evening by
Gosnell’s coming I do put off these thoughts to entertain myself
with my wife and her, who sings exceeding well, and I shall take
great delight in her, and so merrily to bed.
326 Buttered ale must have been a horrible concoction, as it is described as
ale boiled with lump sugar and spice.
771
DECEMBER 1662
6th. Up and to the office, and there sat all the morning, Mr.
Coventry and I alone, the rest being paying off of ships. Dined
at home with my wife and Gosnell, my mind much pleased with
her, and after dinner sat with them a good while, till my wife
seemed to take notice of my being at home now more than at
other times. I went to the office, and there I sat till late, doing of
business, and at 9 o’clock walked to Mr. Rawlinson’s, thinking
to meet my uncle Wight there, where he was, but a great deal
of his wife’s kindred-women and I knew not whom (which Mr.
Rawlinson did seem to me to take much notice of his being led by
the nose by his wife), I went away to my office again, and doing
my business there, I went home, and after a song by Gosnell we
to bed.
7th (Lord’s day). A great snow, and so to church this morn-
ing with my wife, which is the first time she hath been at church
since her going to Brampton, and Gosnell attending her, which
was very gracefull. So home, and we dined above in our dining
room, the first time since it was new done, and in the afternoon
I thought to go to the French church; but finding the Dutch con-
gregation there, and then finding the French congregation’s ser-
mon begun in the Dutch, I returned home, and up to our gallery,
where I found my wife and Gosnell, and after a drowsy sermon,
we all three to my aunt Wight’s, where great store of her usu-
all company, and here we staid a pretty while talking, I differing
from my aunt, as I commonly do, in our opinion of the hand-
someness of the Queen, which I oppose mightily, saying that if
my nose be handsome, then is her’s, and such like. After much
discourse, seeing the room full, and being unwilling to stay all
three, I took leave, and so with my wife only to see Sir W. Pen,
who is now got out of his bed, and sits by the fireside. And after
some talk, home and to supper, and after prayers to bed. This
night came in my wife’s brother and talked to my wife and Gos-
nell about his wife, which they told me afterwards of, and I do
smell that he I doubt is overreached in thinking that he has got a
rich wife,’ and I fear she will prove otherwise. So to bed.
772
DECEMBER 1662
8th. Up, and carrying Gosnell by coach, set her down at Tem-
ple Barr, she going about business of hers today. By the way she
was telling me how Balty did tell her that my wife did go every
day in the week to Court and plays, and that she should have
liberty of going abroad as often as she pleased, and many other
lies, which I am vexed at, and I doubt the wench did come in
some expectation of, which troubles me. So to the Duke and Mr.
Coventry, and alone, the rest being at a Pay and elsewhere, and
alone with Mr. Coventry I did read over our letter to my Lord
Treasurer, which I think now is done as well as it can be. Then to
my Lord Sandwich’s, and there spent the rest of the morning in
making up my Lord’s accounts with Mr. Moore, and then dined
with Mr. Moore and Battersby his friend, very well and merry,
and good discourse. Then into the Park, to see them slide with
their skeates, which is very pretty. And so to the Duke’s, where
the Committee for Tangier met: and here we sat down all with
him at a table, and had much good discourse about the business,
and is to my great content. That done, I hearing what play it was
that is to be acted before the King to-night, I would not stay, but
home by coach, where I find my wife troubled about Gosnell,
who brings word that her uncle, justice Jiggins, requires her to
come three times a week to him, to follow some business that her
mother intrusts her withall, and that, unless she may have that
leisure given her, he will not have her take any place; for which
we are both troubled, but there is no help for it, and believing
it to be a good providence of God to prevent my running be-
hindhand in the world, I am somewhat contented therewith, and
shall make my wife so, who, poor wretch, I know will consider of
things, though in good earnest the privacy of her life must needs
be irksome to her. So I made Gosnell and we sit up looking over
the book of Dances till 12 at night, not observing how the time
went, and so to prayers and to bed.
9th. Lay long with my wife, contenting her about the business
of Gosnell’s going, and I perceive she will be contented as well
as myself, and so to the office, and after sitting all the morning
773
DECEMBER 1662
in hopes to have Mr. Coventry dine with me, he was forced to
go to White Hall, and so I dined with my own company only,
taking Mr. Hater home with me, but he, poor man, was not very
well, and so could not eat any thing. After dinner staid within all
the afternoon, being vexed in my mind about the going away of
Sarah this afternoon, who cried mightily, and so was I ready to
do, and Jane did also, and then anon went Gosnell away, which
did trouble me too; though upon many considerations, it is better
that I am rid of the charge. All together makes my house appear
to me very lonely, which troubles me much, and in a melancholy
humour I went to the office, and there about business sat till I
was called to Sir G. Carteret at the Treasury office about my Lord
Treasurer’s letter, wherein he puts me to a new trouble to write it
over again. So home and late with Sir John Minnes at the office
looking over Mr. Creed’s accounts, and then home and to supper,
and my wife and I melancholy to bed.
10th. This morning rose, receiving a messenger from Sir G.
Carteret and a letter from Mr. Coventry, one contrary to another,
about our letter to my Lord Treasurer, at which I am troubled,
but I went to Sir George, and being desirous to please both, I
think I have found out a way to do it. So back to the office with
Sir J. Minnes, in his coach, but so great a snow that we could
hardly pass the streets. So we and Sir W. Batten to the office, and
there did discourse of Mr. Creed’s accounts, and I fear it will be
a good while before we shall go through them, and many things
we meet with, all of difficulty. Then to the Dolphin, where Sir J.
Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and I, did treat the Auditors of the Exche-
quer, Auditors Wood and Beale, and hither come Sir G. Carteret
to us. We had a good dinner, cost us £5 and 6s., whereof my share
26s., and after dinner did discourse of our salarys and other mat-
ters, which I think now they will allow. Thence home, and there
I found our new cook-mayde Susan come, who is recommended
to us by my wife’s brother, for which I like her never the better,
but being a good well-looked lass, I am willing to try, and Jane
begins to take upon her as a chamber-mayde. So to the office,
774
DECEMBER 1662
where late putting papers and my books and businesses in order,
it being very cold, and so home to supper.
11th. Up, it being a great frost upon the snow, and we sat all
the morning upon Mr. Creed’s accounts, wherein I did him some
service and some disservice. At noon he dined with me, and we
sat all the afternoon together, discoursing of ways to get money,
which I am now giving myself wholly up to, and in the evening
he went away and I to my office, concluding all matters concern-
ing our great letter so long in doing to my Lord Treasurer, till
almost one in the morning, and then home with my mind much
eased, and so to bed.
12th. From a very hard frost, when I wake, I find a very great
thaw, and my house overflown with it, which vexed me. At the
office and home, doing business all the morning. Then dined
with my wife and sat talking with her all the afternoon, and then
to the office, and there examining my copy of Mr. Holland’s book
till 10 at night, and so home to supper and bed.
13th. Slept long to-day till Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten were
set out towards Portsmouth before I rose, and Sir G. Carteret
came to the office to speak with me before I was up. So I started
up and down to him. By and by we sat, Mr. Coventry and I
(Sir G. Carteret being gone), and among other things, Field and
Stint did come, and received the £41 given him by the judgement
against me and Harry Kem;327 and we did also sign bonds in £500
to stand to the award of Mr. Porter and Smith for the rest: which,
however, I did not sign to till I got Mr. Coventry to go up with me
to Sir W. Pen; and he did promise me before him to bear his share
in what should be awarded, and both concluded that Sir W. Bat-
ten would do no less. At noon broke up and dined with my wife,
and then to the office again, and there made an end of last night’s
examination, and got my study there made very clean and put in
327 Fine for the imprisonment of Field (see February 4th, 1661-62, and Oc-
tober 21st, 1662).
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DECEMBER 1662
order, and then to write by the post, among other letters one to Sir
W. Batten about this day’s work with Field, desiring his promise
also. The letter I have caused to be entered in our public book of
letters. So home to supper and to bed.
14th (Lord’s day). Lay with great content talking with my
wife in bed, and so up and to church and then home, and had
a neat dinner by ourselves, and after dinner walked to White
Hall and my Lord’s, and up and down till chappell time, and
then to the King’s chappell, where I heard the service, and so to
my Lord’s, and there Mr. Howe and Pagett, the counsellor, an
old lover of musique. We sang some Psalms of Mr. Lawes, and
played some symphonys between till night, that I was sent for
to Mr. Creed’s lodging, and there was Captain Ferrers and his
lady and W. Howe and I; we supped very well and good sport in
discourse. After supper I was sent for to my Lord, with whom I
staid talking about his, and my owne, and the publique affairs,
with great content, he advising me as to my owne choosing of Sir
R. Bernard for umpire in the businesses between my uncle and
us, that I would not trust to him upon his direction, for he did
not think him a man to be trusted at all; and so bid him good
night, and to Mr. Creed’s again; Mr. Moore, with whom I in-
tended to have lain, lying physically without sheets; and there,
after some discourse, to bed, and lay ill, though the bed good,
my stomach being sicke all night with my too heavy supper.
15th. Up and to my Lord’s and thence to the Duke, and fol-
lowed him into the Park, where, though the ice was broken and
dangerous, yet he would go slide upon his scates, which I did not
like, but he slides very well. So back and to his closett, whither
my Lord Sandwich comes, and there Mr. Coventry and we three
had long discourse together about the matters of the Navy; and,
indeed, I find myself more and more obliged to Mr. Coventry,
who studies to do me all the right he can in every thing to the
Duke. Thence walked a good while up and down the gallerys;
and among others, met with Dr. Clerke, who in discourse tells
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DECEMBER 1662
me, that Sir Charles Barkeley’s greatness is only his being pimp
to the King, and to my Lady Castlemaine. And yet for all this,
that the King is very kind to the Queen; who, he says, is one of the
best women in the world. Strange how the King is bewitched to
this pretty Castlemaine. Thence to my Lord’s, and there with Mr.
Creed, Moore, and Howe to the Crown and dined, and thence
to Whitehall, where I walked up and down the gallerys, spend-
ing my time upon the pictures, till the Duke and the Committee
for Tangier met (the Duke not staying with us), where the only
matter was to discourse with my Lord Rutherford, who is this
day made Governor of Tangier, for I know not what reasons; and
my Lord of Peterborough to be called home; which, though it is
said it is done with kindness, yet all the world may see it is done
otherwise, and I am sorry to see a Catholick Governor sent to
command there, where all the rest of the officers almost are such
already. But God knows what the reason is! and all may see how
slippery places all courtiers stand in. Thence by coach home,
in my way calling upon Sir John Berkenheade, to speak about
my assessment of £42 to the Loyal Sufferers; which, I perceive, I
cannot help; but he tells me I have been abused by Sir R. Ford,
which I shall hereafter make use of when it shall be fit. Thence
called at the Major-General’s, Sir R. Browne, about my being as-
sessed armes to the militia; but he was abroad; and so driving
through the backside of the Shambles in Newgate Market, my
coach plucked down two pieces of beef into the dirt, upon which
the butchers stopped the horses, and a great rout of people in the
street, crying that he had done him 40s and £5 worth of hurt; but
going down, I saw that he had done little or none; and so I give
them a shilling for it and they were well contented, and so home,
and there to my Lady Batten’s to see her, who tells me she hath
just now a letter from Sir William, how that he and Sir J. Minnes
did very narrowly escape drowning on the road, the waters are
so high; but is well. But, Lord! what a hypocrite-like face she
made to tell it me. Thence to Sir W. Pen and sat long with him
in discourse, I making myself appear one of greater action and
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DECEMBER 1662
resolution as to publique business than I have hitherto done, at
which he listens, but I know is a rogue in his heart and likes not,
but I perceive I may hold up my head, and the more the better, I
minding of my business as I have done, in which God do and will
bless me. So home and with great content to bed, and talk and
chat with my wife while I was at supper, to our great pleasure.
16th. Up and to the office, and thither came Mr. Coventry and
Sir G. Carteret, and among other business was Strutt’s the purser,
against Captn. Browne, Sir W. Batten’s brother-in-law, but, Lord!
though I believe the Captain has played the knave, though I seem
to have a good opinion of him and to mean him well, what a most
troublesome fellow that Strutt is, such as I never did meet with
his fellow in my life. His talking and ours to make him hold his
peace set my head off akeing all the afternoon with great pain.
So to dinner, thinking to have had Mr. Coventry, but he could
not go with me; and so I took Captn. Murford. Of whom I do
hear what the world says of me; that all do conclude Mr. Coven-
try, and Pett, and me, to be of a knot; and that we do now carry
all things before us; and much more in particular of me, and my
studiousnesse, &c., to my great content. After dinner came Mrs.
Browne, the Captain’s wife, to see me and my wife, and I showed
her a good countenance, and indeed her husband has been civil
to us, but though I speak them fair, yet I doubt I shall not be
able to do her husband much favour in this business of Strutt’s,
whom without doubt he has abused. So to the office, and hence,
having done some business, by coach to White Hall to Secretary
Bennet’s, and agreed with Mr. Lee to set upon our new adven-
ture at the Tower to-morrow. Hence to Col. Lovelace in Cannon
Row about seeing how Sir R. Ford did report all the officers of
the navy to be rated for the Loyal Sufferers, but finding him at
the Rhenish wine-house I could not have any answer, but must
take another time. Thence to my Lord’s, and having sat talk-
ing with Mr. Moore bewailing the vanity and disorders of the
age, I went by coach to my brother’s, where I met Sarah, my late
mayde, who had a desire to speak with me, and I with her to
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DECEMBER 1662
know what it was, who told me out of good will to me, for she
loves me dearly, that I would beware of my wife’s brother, for he
is begging or borrowing of her and often, and told me of her Scal-
lop whisk, and her borrowing of 50s. for Will, which she believes
was for him and her father. I do observe so much goodness and
seriousness in the mayde, that I am again and again sorry that
I have parted with her, though it was full against my will then,
and if she had anything in the world I would commend her for
a wife for my brother Tom. After much discourse and her pro-
fessions of love to me and all my relations, I bade her good night
and did kiss her, and indeed she seemed very well-favoured to
me to-night, as she is always. So by coach home and to my office,
did some business, and so home to supper and to bed.
17th. This morning come Mr. Lee, Wade, and Evett, intending
to have gone upon our new design to the Tower today; but it
raining, and the work being to be done in the open garden, we
put it off to Friday next. And so I to the office doing business, and
then dined at home with my poor wife with great content, and
so to the office again and made an end of examining the other
of Mr. Holland’s books about the Navy, with which I am much
contented, and so to other businesses till night at my office, and
so home to supper, and after much dear company and talk with
my wife, to bed.
18th. Up and to the office, Mr. Coventry and I alone sat till
two o’clock, and then he inviting himself to my house to dinner,
of which I was proud; but my dinner being a legg of mutton and
two capons, they were not done enough, which did vex me; but
we made shift to please him, I think; but I was, when he was
gone, very angry with my wife and people. This afternoon came
my wife’s brother and his wife, and Mrs. Lodum his landlady
(my old friend Mr. Ashwell’s sister), Balty’s wife is a most little
and yet, I believe, pretty old girl, not handsome, nor has anything
in the world pleasing, but, they say, she plays mighty well on the
Base Violl. They dined at her father’s today, but for ought I hear
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DECEMBER 1662
he is a wise man, and will not give any thing to his daughter till
he sees what her husband do put himself to, so that I doubt he
has made but a bad matter of it, but I am resolved not to meddle
with it. They gone I to the office, and to see Sir W. Pen, with my
wife, and thence I to Mr. Cade the stationer, to direct him what
to do with my two copies of Mr. Holland’s books which he is
to bind, and after supplying myself with several things of him, I
returned to my office, and so home to supper and to bed.
19th. Up and by appointment with Mr. Lee, Wade, Evett, and
workmen to the Tower, and with the Lieutenant’s leave set them
to work in the garden, in the corner against the mayne-guard, a
most unlikely place. It being cold, Mr. Lee and I did sit all the day
till three o’clock by the fire in the Governor’s house; I reading a
play of Fletcher’s, being “A Wife for a Month,” wherein no great
wit or language. Having done we went to them at work, and
having wrought below the bottom of the foundation of the wall,
I bid them give over, and so all our hopes ended; and so went
home, taking Mr. Leigh with me, and after drunk a cup of wine
he went away, and I to my office, there reading in Sir W. Petty’s
book, and so home and to bed, a little displeased with my wife,
who, poor wretch, is troubled with her lonely life, which I know
not how without great charge to help as yet, but I will study how
to do it.
20th. Up and had £100 brought me by Prior of Brampton in
full of his
purchase money for Barton’s house and some land. So to the
office, and thence with Mr. Coventry in his coach to St. James’s,
with great content and pride to see him treat me so friendly;
and dined with him, and so to White Hall together; where we
met upon the Tangier Commission, and discoursed many things
thereon; but little will be done before my Lord Rutherford comes
there, as to the fortification or Mole. That done, my Lord Sand-
wich and I walked together a good while in the Matted Gallery,
he acquainting me with his late enquiries into the Wardrobe busi-
780
DECEMBER 1662
ness to his content; and tells me how things stand. And that the
first year was worth about £3000 to him, and the next about as
much; so that at this day, if he were paid, it will be worth about
£7000 to him. But it contents me above all things to see him trust
me as his confidant: so I bid him good night, he being to go into
the country, to keep his Christmas, on Monday next. So by coach
home and to my office, being post night, and then home and to
bed.
21st (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, so up to Church, and so
home to dinner alone with my wife very pleasant. After dinner
I walked to my brother’s, where he told me some hopes he had
of bringing his business to pass still of his mistress, but I do find
they do stand upon terms that will not be either fit or in his power
to grant, and therefore I did dislike his talk and advised him to
give it quite over. Thence walked to White Hall, and there to
chappell, and from thence up stairs, and up and down the house
and gallerys on the King’s and Queen’s side, and so through the
garden to my Lord’s lodgings, where there was Mr. Gibbons,
Madge, and Mallard, and Pagett; and by and by comes in my
Lord Sandwich, and so we had great store of good musique. By
and by comes in my simple Lord Chandois, who (my Lord Sand-
wich being gone out to Court) began to sing psalms, but so dully
that I was weary of it. At last we broke up; and by and by comes
in my Lord Sandwich again, and he and I to talk together about
his businesses, and so he to bed and I and Mr. Creed and Captain
Ferrers fell to a cold goose pye of Mrs. Sarah’s, heartily, and so
spent our time till past twelve o’clock, and then with Creed to his
lodgings, and so with him to bed, and slept till
22nd. Six or seven o’clock and so up, and by the fireside read
a good part of “The Advice to a Daughter,” which a simple cox-
comb has wrote against Osborne, but in all my life I never did
nor can expect to see so much nonsense in print Thence to my
Lord’s, who is getting himself ready for his journey to Hinching-
broke. And by and by, after eating something, and talking with
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DECEMBER 1662
me about many things, and telling me his mind, upon my asking
about Sarah (who, it seems, only married of late, but is also said
to be turned a great drunkard, which I am ashamed of), that he
likes her service well, and do not love a strange face, but will not
endure the fault, but hath bade me speak to her and advise her
if she hath a mind to stay with him, which I will do. My Lord
and his people being gone, I walked to Mr. Coventry’s cham-
ber, where I found him gone out into the Park with the Duke,
so the boy being there ready with my things, I shifted myself
into a riding-habitt, and followed him through White Hall, and
in the Park Mr. Coventry’s people having a horse ready for me
(so fine a one that I was almost afeard to get upon him, but I
did, and found myself more feared than hurt) and I got up and
followed the Duke, who, with some of his people (among oth-
ers Mr. Coventry) was riding out. And with them to Hide Park.
Where Mr. Coventry asking leave of the Duke, he bid us go to
Woolwich. So he and I to the waterside, and our horses com-
ing by the ferry, we by oars over to Lambeth, and from thence,
with brave discourse by the way, rode to Woolwich, where we
eat and drank at Mr. Peat’s, and discoursed of many businesses,
and put in practice my new way of the Call-book, which will be
of great use. Here, having staid a good while, we got up again
and brought night home with us and foul weather. So over to
Whitehall to his chamber, whither my boy came, who had staid
in St. James’s Park by my mistake all day, looking for me. Thence
took my things that I put off to-day, and by coach, being very wet
and cold, on my feet home, and presently shifted myself, and so
had the barber come; and my wife and I to read “Ovid’s Meta-
morphoses,” which I brought her home from Paul’s Churchyard
to-night, having called for it by the way, and so to bed,
23rd. And slept hard till 8 o’clock this morning, and so up and
to the office, where I found Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten come
unexpectedly home last night from Portsmouth, having done the
Pay there before we could have, thought it. Sat all the morning,
and at noon home to dinner with my wife alone, and after dinner
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DECEMBER 1662
sat by the fire, and then up to make up my accounts with her, and
find that my ordinary housekeeping comes to £7 a month, which
is a great deal. By and by comes Dr. Pierce, who among other
things tells me that my Lady Castlemaine’s interest at Court in-
creases, and is more and greater than the Queen’s; that she hath
brought in Sir H. Bennet, and Sir Charles Barkeley; but that the
queen is a most good lady, and takes all with the greatest meek-
ness that may be. He tells me too that Mr. Edward Montagu is
quite broke at Court with his repute and purse; and that he lately
was engaged in a quarrell against my Lord Chesterfield: but that
the King did cause it to be taken up. He tells me, too, that the
King is much concerned in the Chancellor’s sickness, and that
the Chancellor is as great, he thinks, as ever he was with the King.
He also tells me what the world says of me, “that Mr. Coventry
and I do all the business of the office almost:” at which I am
highly proud. He being gone I fell to business, which was very
great, but got it well over by nine at night, and so home, and after
supper to bed.
24th. Lay pleasantly, talking to my wife, till 8 o’clock, then up
and to Sir W. Batten’s to see him and Sir G. Carteret and Sir J.
Minnes take coach towards the Pay at Chatham, which they did
and I home, and took money in my pocket to pay many reckon-
ings to-day in the town, as my bookseller’s, and paid at another
shop £4 10s. for “Stephens’s Thesaurus Graecae Linguae,” given
to Paul’s School: So to my brother’s and shoemaker, and so to my
Lord Crew’s, and dined alone with him, and after dinner much
discourse about matters. Upon the whole, I understand there are
great factions at Court, and something he said that did imply
a difference like to be between the King and the Duke, in case
the Queen should not be with child. I understand, about this
bastard.328 He says, also, that some great man will be aimed at
when Parliament comes to sit again; I understand, the Chancel-
328 James Crofts, son of Charles II. by Lucy Walter, created Duke of Mon-
mouth in 1663, Duke of Buccleuch in 1673, when he took the name of Scott.
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DECEMBER 1662
lor: and that there is a bill will be brought in, that none that have
been in arms for the Parliament shall be capable of office. And
that the Court are weary of my Lord Albemarle and Chamberlin.
He wishes that my Lord Sandwich had some good occasion to
be abroad this summer which is coming on, and that my Lord
Hinchingbroke were well married, and Sydney had some place
at Court. He pities the poor ministers that are put out, to whom,
he says, the King is beholden for his coming in, and that if any
such thing had been foreseen he had never come in. After this,
and much other discourse of the sea, and breeding young gen-
tlemen to the sea, I went away, and homeward, met Mr. Creed
at my bookseller’s in Paul’s Church-yard, who takes it ill my let-
ter last night to Mr. Povy, wherein I accuse him of the neglect of
the Tangier boats, in which I must confess I did not do altogether
like a friend; but however it was truth, and I must own it to be
so, though I fall wholly out with him for it. Thence home and to
my office alone to do business, and read over half of Mr. Bland’s
discourse concerning Trade, which (he being no scholler and so
knows not the rules of writing orderly) is very good. So home to
supper and to bed, my wife not being well.... This evening Mr.
Gauden sent me, against Christmas, a great chine of beef and
three dozen of tongues. I did give 5s. to the man that brought
it, and half-a-crown to the porters. This day also the parish-clerk
brought the general bill of mortality, which cost me half-a-crown
more.329 25th (Christmas Day). Up pretty early, leaving my wife
not well in bed, and with my boy walked, it being a most brave
cold and dry frosty morning, and had a pleasant walk to White
329 The Bills of Mortality for London were first compiled by order of
Thomas Cromwell about 1538, and the keeping of them was commenced
by the Company of Parish Clerks in the great plague year of 1593. The bills
were issued weekly from 1603. The charter of the Parish Clerks’ Company
(1611) directs that “each parish clerk shall bring to the Clerks’ Hall weekly a
note of all christenings and burials.” Charles I. in 1636 granted permission
to the Parish Clerks to have a printing press and employ a printer in their
hall for the purpose of printing their weekly bills.
784
DECEMBER 1662
Hall, where I intended to have received the Communion with
the family, but I came a little too late. So I walked up into the
house and spent my time looking over pictures, particularly the
ships in King Henry the VIIIth’s Voyage to Bullen;330 marking
the great difference between their build then and now. By and
by down to the chappell again where Bishopp Morley preached
upon the song of the Angels, “Glory to God on high, on earth
peace, and good will towards men.” Methought he made but
a poor sermon, but long, and reprehending the mistaken jollity
of the Court for the true joy that shall and ought to be on these
days, he particularized concerning their excess in plays and gam-
ing, saying that he whose office it is to keep the gamesters in or-
der and within bounds, serves but for a second rather in a duell,
meaning the groom-porter. Upon which it was worth observ-
ing how far they are come from taking the reprehensions of a
bishopp seriously, that they all laugh in the chappell when he re-
flected on their ill actions and courses. He did much press us to
joy in these publique days of joy, and to hospitality. But one that
stood by whispered in my ear that the Bishopp himself do not
spend one groat to the poor himself. The sermon done, a good
anthem followed, with vialls, and then the King came down to
receive the Sacrament. But I staid not, but calling my boy from
my Lord’s lodgings, and giving Sarah some good advice, by my
Lord’s order, to be sober and look after the house, I walked home
again with great pleasure, and there dined by my wife’s bed-side
with great content, having a mess of brave plum-porridge331 and
a roasted pullet for dinner, and I sent for a mince-pie abroad, my
wife not being well to make any herself yet. After dinner sat talk-
330 Boulogne. These pictures were given by George III. to the Society of
Antiquaries, who in return presented to the king a set of Thomas Hearne’s
works, on large paper. The pictures were reclaimed by George IV., and are
now at Hampton Court. They were exhibited in the Tudor Exhibition, 1890.
331 The national Christmas dish of plum pudding is a modern evolution
from plum porridge, which was probably similar to the dish still produced
at Windsor Castle.
785
DECEMBER 1662
ing a good while with her, her [pain] being become less, and then
to see Sir W. Pen a little, and so to my office, practising arithme-
tique alone and making an end of last night’s book with great
content till eleven at night, and so home to supper and to bed.
26th. Up, my wife to the making of Christmas pies all day, be-
ing now pretty well again, and I abroad to several places about
some businesses, among others bought a bake-pan in Newgate
Market, and sent it home, it cost me 16s. So to Dr. Williams, but
he is out of town, then to the Wardrobe. Hither come Mr. Bat-
tersby; and we falling into a discourse of a new book of drollery
in verse called Hudebras,332 I would needs go find it out, and
met with it at the Temple: cost me 2s. 6d. But when I came
to read it, it is so silly an abuse of the Presbyter Knight going
to the warrs, that I am ashamed of it; and by and by meeting
at Mr. Townsend’s at dinner, I sold it to him for 18d. Here we
dined with many tradesmen that belong to the Wardrobe, but I
was weary soon of their company, and broke up dinner as soon
as I could, and away, with the greatest reluctancy and dispute
(two or three times my reason stopping my sense and I would
go back again) within myself, to the Duke’s house and saw “The
Villaine,” which I ought not to do without my wife, but that my
time is now out that I did undertake it for. But, Lord! to consider
how my natural desire is to pleasure, which God be praised that
he has given me the power by my late oaths to curb so well as
I have done, and will do again after two or three plays more.
Here I was better pleased with the play than I was at first, under-
standing the design better than I did. Here I saw Gosnell and her
sister at a distance, and could have found it in my heart to have
accosted them, but thought not prudent. But I watched their go-
ing out and found that they came, she, her sister and another
332 The first edition of Butler’s “Hudibras” is dated 1663, and it probably
had only been published a few days when Pepys bought it and sold it at
a loss. He subsequently endeavoured to appreciate the work, but was not
successful. The edition in the Pepysian Library is dated 1689.
786
DECEMBER 1662
woman, alone, without any man, and did go over the fields a
foot. I find that I have an inclination to have her come again,
though it is most against my interest either of profit or content
of mind, other than for their singing. Home on foot, in my way
calling at Mr. Rawlinson’s and drinking only a cup of ale there.
He tells me my uncle has ended his purchase, which cost him
£4,500, and how my uncle do express his trouble that he has with
his wife’s relations, but I understand his great intentions are for
the Wights that hang upon him and by whose advice this estate is
bought. Thence home, and found my wife busy among her pies,
but angry for some saucy words that her mayde Jane has given
her, which I will not allow of, and therefore will give her warn-
ing to be gone. As also we are both displeased for some slight
words that Sarah, now at Sir W. Pen’s, hath spoke of us, but it is
no matter. We shall endeavour to joyne the lion’s skin to the fox’s
tail. So to my office alone a while, and then home to my study
and supper and bed. Being also vexed at my boy for his staying
playing abroad when he is sent of errands, so that I have sent him
to-night to see whether their country carrier be in town or no, for
I am resolved to keep him no more.
27th. Up, and while I am dressing I sent for my boy’s brother,
William, that lives in town here as a groom, to whom and their
sister Jane I told my resolution to keep the boy no longer. So upon
the whole they desire to have him stay a week longer, and then
he shall go. So to the office, and there Mr. Coventry and I sat till
noon, and then I stept to the Exchange, and so home to dinner,
and after dinner with my wife to the Duke’s Theatre, and saw the
second part of “Rhodes,” done with the new Roxalana; which do
it rather better in all respects for person, voice, and judgment,
then the first Roxalana. Home with great content with my wife,
not so well pleased with the company at the house to-day, which
was full of citizens, there hardly being a gentleman or woman
in the house; a couple of pretty ladies by us that made sport in
it, being jostled and crowded by prentices. So home, and I to
my study making up my monthly accounts, which is now fallen
787
DECEMBER 1662
again to £630 or thereabouts, which not long since was £680, at
which I am sorry, but I trust in God I shall get it up again, and in
the meantime will live sparingly. So home to supper and to bed.
28th (Lord’s day). Up and, with my wife to church, and com-
ing out, went out both before my Lady Batten, he not being there,
which I believe will vex her. After dinner my wife to church
again, and I to the French church, where I heard an old man make
a tedious, long sermon, till they were fain to light candles to bap-
tize the children by. So homewards, meeting my brother Tom, but
spoke but little with him, and calling also at my uncle Wight’s,
but met him and her going forth, and so I went directly home,
and there fell to the renewing my last year’s oaths, whereby it
has pleased God so much to better myself and practise, and so
down to supper, and then prayers and bed.
29th. Up and walked to Whitehall, where the Duke and Mr.
Coventry being gone forth I went to Westminster Hall, where I
staid reading at Mrs. Mitchell’s shop, and sent for half a pint of
sack for her. Here she told me what I heard not of before, the
strange burning of Mr. De Laun, a merchant’s house in Loath-
bury, and his lady (Sir Thomas Allen’s daughter) and her whole
family; not one thing, dog nor cat, escaping; nor any of the neigh-
bours almost hearing of it till the house was quite down and
burnt. How this should come to pass, God knows, but a most
strange thing it is! Hither came Jack Spicer to me, and I took him
to the Swan, where Mr. Herbert did give me my breakfast of cold
chine of pork; and here Spicer and I talked of Exchequer matters,
and how the Lord Treasurer’ hath now ordered all monies to be
brought into the Exchequer, and hath settled the King’s revenue,
and given to every general expence proper assignments; to the
Navy £200,000 and odd. He also told me of the great vast trade of
the goldsmiths in supplying the King with money at dear rates.
Thence to White Hall, and got up to the top gallerys in the Ban-
quetting House, to see the audience of the Russia Embassadors;
which [took place] after long waiting and fear of the falling of the
788
DECEMBER 1662
gallery (it being so full, and part of it being parted from the rest,
for nobody to come up merely from the weakness thereof): and
very handsome it was. After they were come in, I went down and
got through the croude almost as high as the King and the Em-
bassadors, where I saw all the presents, being rich furs, hawks,
carpets, cloths of tissue, and sea-horse teeth. The King took two
or three hawks upon his fist, having a glove on, wrought with
gold, given him for the purpose. The son of one of the Embas-
sadors was in the richest suit for pearl and tissue, that ever I did
see, or shall, I believe. After they and all the company had kissed
the King’s hand, then the three Embassadors and the son, and no
more, did kiss the Queen’s. One thing more I did observe, that
the chief Embassador did carry up his master’s letters in state be-
fore him on high; and as soon as he had delivered them, he did
fall down to the ground and lay there a great while. After all was
done, the company broke up; and I spent a little while walking
up and down the gallery seeing the ladies, the two Queens, and
the Duke of Monmouth with his little mistress, which is very lit-
tle, and like my brother-in-law’s wife. So with Mr. Creed to the
Harp and Ball, and there meeting with Mr. How, Goodgroom,
and young Coleman, did drink and talk with them, and I have
almost found out a young gentlewoman for my turn, to wait on
my wife, of good family and that can sing. Thence I went away,
and getting a coach went home and sat late talking with my wife
about our entertaining Dr. Clerke’s lady and Mrs. Pierce shortly,
being in great pain that my wife hath never a winter gown, be-
ing almost ashamed of it, that she should be seen in a taffeta one;
when all the world wears moyre;–[By moyre is meant mohair.-
B.]–so to prayers and to bed, but we could not come to any reso-
lution what to do therein, other than to appear as she is.
30th. Up and to the office, whither Sir W. Pen came, the first
time that he has come downstairs since his late great sickness of
the gout. We with Mr. Coventry sat till noon, then I to the Change
ward, to see what play was there, but I liked none of them, and so
homeward, and calling in at Mr. Rawlinson’s, where he stopped
789
DECEMBER 1662
me to dine with him and two East India officers of ships and
Howell our turner. With the officers I had good discourse, partic-
ularly of the people at the Cape of Good Hope, of whom they of
their own knowledge do tell me these one or two things: viz ....
that they never sleep lying, but always sitting upon the ground,
that their speech is not so articulate as ours, but yet [they] un-
derstand one another well, that they paint themselves all over
with the grease the Dutch sell them (who have a fort there) and
soot. After dinner drinking five or six glasses of wine, which lib-
erty I now take till I begin my oath again, I went home and took
my wife into coach, and carried her to Westminster; there vis-
ited Mrs. Ferrer, and staid talking with her a good while, there
being a little, proud, ugly, talking lady there, that was much cry-
ing up the Queen-Mother’s Court at Somerset House above our
own Queen’s; there being before no allowance of laughing and
the mirth that is at the other’s; and indeed it is observed that the
greatest Court now-a-days is there. Thence to White Hall, where
I carried my wife to see the Queen in her presence-chamber; and
the maydes of honour and the young Duke of Monmouth play-
ing at cards. Some of them, and but a few, were very pretty;
though all well dressed in velvet gowns. Thence to my Lord’s
lodgings, where Mrs. Sarah did make us my Lord’s bed, and Mr.
Creed I being sent for, sat playing at cards till it was late, and so
good night, and with great pleasure to bed.
31st. Lay pretty long in bed, and then I up and to Westminster
Hall, and so to the Swan, sending for Mr. W. Bowyer, and there
drank my morning draft, and had some of his simple discourse.
Among other things he tells me how the difference comes be-
tween his fair cozen Butler and Collonell Dillon, upon his open-
ing letters of her brother’s from Ireland, complaining of his knav-
ery, and forging others to the contrary; and so they are long ago
quite broke off. Thence to a barber’s and so to my wife, and
at noon took her to Mrs. Pierces by invitacion to dinner, where
there came Dr. Clerke and his wife and sister and Mr. Knight,
chief chyrurgeon to the King and his wife. We were pretty merry,
790
DECEMBER 1662
the two men being excellent company, but I confess I am wed-
ded from the opinion either of Mrs. Pierces beauty upon discov-
ery of her naked neck to-day, being undrest when we came in,
or of Mrs. Clerke’s genius, which I so much admired, I finding
her to be so conceited and fantastique in her dress this day and
carriage, though the truth is, witty enough. After dinner with
much ado the doctor and I got away to follow our business for a
while, he to his patients and I to the Tangier Committee, where
the Duke of York was, and we staid at it a good while, and thence
in order to the despatch of the boats and provisions for Tangier
away, Mr. Povy, in his coach, carried Mr. Gauden and I into Lon-
don to Mr. Bland’s, the merchant, where we staid discoursing
upon the reason of the delay of the going away of these things
a great while. Then to eat a dish of anchovies, and drink wine
and syder, and very merry, but above all things pleased to hear
Mrs. Bland talk like a merchant in her husband’s business very
well, and it seems she do understand it and perform a great deal.
Thence merry back, Mr. Povy and, I to White Hall; he carrying
me thither on purpose to carry me into the ball this night before
the King. All the way he talking very ingenuously, and I find him
a fine gentleman, and one that loves to live nobly and neatly, as
I perceive by his discourse of his house, pictures, and horses. He
brought me first to the Duke’s chamber, where I saw him and the
Duchess at supper; and thence into the room where the ball was
to be, crammed with fine ladies, the greatest of the Court. By and
by comes the King and Queen, the Duke and Duchess, and all the
great ones: and after seating themselves, the King takes out the
Duchess of York; and the Duke, the Duchess of Buckingham; the
Duke of Monmouth, my Lady Castlemaine; and so other lords
other ladies: and they danced the Bransle. “Branle. Espece de
danse de plusieurs personnes, qui se tiennent par la main, et qui
se menent tour-a-tour. “Dictionnaire de l’Academie. A coun-
try dance mentioned by Shakespeare and other dramatists under
the form of brawl, which word continued to be used in the eigh-
teenth century.
791
DECEMBER 1662
“My grave Lord Keeper led the brawls;
The seals and maces danced before him.”
Gray, ‘A Long Story.’
After that, the King led a lady a single Coranto–[swift and
lively]–and then the rest of the lords, one after another, other
ladies very noble it was, and great pleasure to see. Then to coun-
try dances; the King leading the first, which he called for; which
was, says he, “Cuckolds all awry,” the old dance of England. Of
the ladies that danced, the Duke of Monmouth’s mistress, and
my Lady Castlemaine, and a daughter of Sir Harry de Vicke’s,
were the best. The manner was, when the King dances, all the
ladies in the room, and the Queen herself, stand up: and indeed
he dances rarely, and much better that the Duke of York. Having
staid here as long as I thought fit, to my infinite content, it being
the greatest pleasure I could wish now to see at Court, I went
out, leaving them dancing, and to Mrs. Pierces, where I found
the company had staid very long for my coming, but all gone but
my wife, and so I took her home by coach and so to my Lord’s
again, where after some supper to bed, very weary and in a little
pain from my riding a little uneasily to-night in the coach.
Thus ends this year with great mirth to me and my wife: Our
condition being thus:–we are at present spending a night or two
at my Lord’s lodgings at White Hall. Our home at the Navy-
office, which is and hath a pretty while been in good condition,
finished and made very convenient. My purse is worth about
£650, besides my goods of all sorts, which yet might have been
more but for my late layings out upon my house and public as-
sessment, and yet would not have been so much if I had not
lived a very orderly life all this year by virtue of the oaths that
God put into my heart to take against wine, plays, and other ex-
penses, and to observe for these last twelve months, and which
I am now going to renew, I under God owing my present con-
tent thereunto. My family is myself and wife, William, my clerk;
Jane, my wife’s upper mayde, but, I think, growing proud and
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DECEMBER 1662
negligent upon it: we must part, which troubles me; Susan, our
cook-mayde, a pretty willing wench, but no good cook; and
Wayneman, my boy, who I am now turning away for his naughty
tricks. We have had from the beginning our healths to this day
very well, blessed be God! Our late mayde Sarah going from
us (though put away by us) to live with Sir W. Pen do trouble
me, though I love the wench, so that we do make ourselves a
little strange to him and his family for it, and resolve to do so.
The same we are for other reasons to my Lady Batten and hers.
We have lately had it in our thoughts, and I can hardly bring
myself off of it, since Mrs. Gosnell cannot be with us, to find
out another to be in the quality of a woman to my wife that can
sing or dance, and yet finding it hard to save anything at the
year’s end as I now live, I think I shall not be such a fool till I
am more warm in my purse, besides my oath of entering into no
such expenses till I am worth £1000. By my last year’s diligence
in my office, blessed be God! I am come to a good degree of
knowledge therein; and am acknowledged so by all–the world,
even the Duke himself, to whom I have a good access and by
that, and my being Commissioner with him for Tangier, he takes
much notice of me; and I doubt not but, by the continuance of
the same endeavours, I shall in a little time come to be a man
much taken notice of in the world, specially being come to so
great an esteem with Mr. Coventry. The only weight that lies
heavy upon my mind is the ending the business with my un-
cle Thomas about my-dead uncle’s estate, which is very ill on
our side, and I fear when all is done I must be forced to main-
tain my father myself, or spare a good deal towards it out of my
own purse, which will be a very great pull back to me in my for-
tune. But I must be contented and bring it to an issue one way
or other. Publique matters stand thus: The King is bringing, as
is said, his family, and Navy, and all other his charges, to a less
expence. In the mean time, himself following his pleasures more
than with good advice he would do; at least, to be seen to all
the world to do so. His dalliance with my Lady Castlemaine be-
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DECEMBER 1662
ing publique, every day, to his great reproach; and his favouring
of none at Court so much as those that are the confidants of his
pleasure, as Sir H. Bennet and Sir Charles Barkeley; which, good
God! put it into his heart to mend, before he makes himself too
much contemned by his people for it! The Duke of Monmouth
is in so great splendour at Court, and so dandled by the King,
that some doubt, if the King should have no child by the Queen
(which there is yet no appearance of), whether he would not be
acknowledged for a lawful son; and that there will be a differ-
ence follow upon it between the Duke of York and him; which
God prevent! My Lord Chancellor is threatened by people to be
questioned, the next sitting of the Parliament, by some spirits
that do not love to see him so great: but certainly he is a good
servant to the King. The Queen-Mother is said to keep too great
a Court now; and her being married to my Lord St. Albans is
commonly talked of; and that they had a daughter between them
in France, how true, God knows. The Bishopps are high, and go
on without any diffidence in pressing uniformity; and the Pres-
byters seem silent in it, and either conform or lay down, though
without doubt they expect a turn, and would be glad these en-
deavours of the other Fanatiques would take effect; there having
been a plot lately found, for which four have been publickly tried
at the Old Bayley and hanged. My Lord Sandwich is still in good
esteem, and now keeping his Christmas in the country; and I in
good esteem, I think, as any man can be, with him. Mr. Moore
is very sickly, and I doubt will hardly get over his late fit of sick-
ness, that still hangs on him. In fine, for the good condition of
myself, wife, family, and estate, in the great degree that it is, and
for the public state of the nation, so quiett as it is, the Lord God
be praised! ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS FOR DIARY OF
SAMUEL PEPYS, 1962 N.S.: Afeard of being louzy Afeard that
my Lady Castlemaine will keep still with the King Afraid now to
bring in any accounts for journeys After taking leave of my wife,
which we could hardly do kindly Agreed at £3 a year (she would
not serve under) All may see how slippery places all courtiers
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DECEMBER 1662
stand in All made much worse in their report among people than
they are All the fleas came to him and not to me Aptness I have
to be troubled at any thing that crosses me As much his friend as
his interest will let him Badge of slavery upon the whole people
(taxes) Bewailing the vanity and disorders of the age Bowling-
ally (where lords and ladies are now at bowles) Cannot but be
with the workmen to see things done to my mind Care not for his
commands, and especially on Sundays Catched cold yesterday
by putting off my stockings Charles Barkeley’s greatness is only
his being pimp to the King Comb my head clean, which I found
so foul with powdering Command of an army is not beholden
to any body to make him King Deliver her from the hereditary
curse of child-bearing Did much insist upon the sin of adultery
Discontented at the pride and luxury of the Court Discoursed
much against a man’s lying with his wife in Lent Enjoy some
degree of pleasure now that we have health, money Fanatiques
do say that the end of the world is at hand Fear she should prove
honest and refuse and then tell my wife Fearing that Sarah would
continue ill, wife and I removed God forgive me! what a mind I
had to her Goldsmiths in supplying the King with money at dear
rates Hard matter to settle to business after so much leisure Hate
in others, and more in myself, to be careless of keys He made
but a poor sermon, but long Holes for me to see from my closet
into the great office Hopes to have had a bout with her before
she had gone I fear that it must be as it can, and not as I would
I know not yet what that is, and am ashamed to ask Joyne the
lion’s skin to the fox’s tail King dined at my Lady Castlemaine’s,
and supped, every day Lady Castlemaine do speak of going to
lie in at Hampton Court Lady Castlemaine is still as great with
the King Lady Castlemaine’s interest at Court increases Last of a
great many Presbyterian ministers Laughing and jeering at every
thing that looks strange Let me blood, about sixteen ounces, I be-
ing exceedingly full Lord! to see the absurd nature of Englishmen
Lust and wicked lives of the nuns heretofore in England Lying a
great while talking and sporting in bed with my wife Muske Mil-
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DECEMBER 1662
lon My Jane’s cutting off a carpenter’s long mustacho My first
attempt being to learn the multiplication-table No good by tak-
ing notice of it, for the present she forbears Only wind do now
and then torment me... extremely Parliament hath voted 2s. per
annum for every chimney in England Parson is a cunning fel-
low he is as any of his coat Peruques of hair, as the fashion now
is for ladies to wear Pleasures are not sweet to me now in the
very enjoying of them Raising of our roofs higher to enlarge our
houses See her look dejectedly and slighted by people already
See a dead man lie floating upon the waters Sermon; but, it being
a Presbyterian one, it was so long She so cruel a hypocrite that
she can cry when she pleases She also washed my feet in a bath
of herbs, and so to bed Short of what I expected, as for the most
part it do fall out Sir W. Pen did it like a base raskall, and so I shall
remember Slight answer, at which I did give him two boxes on
the ears So good a nature that he cannot deny any thing Sorry to
hear that Sir W. Pen’s maid Betty was gone away Strange things
he has been found guilty of, not fit to name Then to church to a
tedious sermon They were not occupiers, but occupied (women)
To Mr. Holliard’s in the morning, thinking to be let blood Trum-
pets were brought under the scaffold that he not be heard Up and
took physique, but such as to go abroad with Up early and took
my physique; it wrought all the morning well When the candle
is going out, how they bawl and dispute Whether she suspected
anything or no I know not Whether he would have me go to law
or arbitracon with him Will upon occasion serve for a fine with-
drawing room Will put Madam Castlemaine’s nose out of joynt
With my whip did whip him till I was not able to stir
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JANUARY 1662-1663
January 1st, Lay with my wife at my Lord’s lodgings, where I
have been these two nights, till 10 o’clock with great pleasure
talking, then I rose and to White Hall, where I spent a little time
walking among the courtiers, which I perceive I shall be able to
do with great confidence, being now beginning to be pretty well
known among them. Then to my wife again, and found Mrs.
Sarah with us in the chamber we lay in. Among other discourse,
Mrs. Sarah tells us how the King sups at least four or [five] times
every week with my Lady Castlemaine; and most often stays till
the morning with her, and goes home through the garden all
alone privately, and that so as the very centrys take notice of it
and speak of it. She tells me, that about a month ago she [Lady
Castlemaine] quickened at my Lord Gerard’s at dinner, and cried
out that she was undone; and all the lords and men were fain to
quit the room, and women called to help her. In fine, I find that
there is nothing almost but bawdry at Court from top to bottom,
as, if it were fit, I could instance, but it is not necessary; only they
say my Lord Chesterfield, groom of the stole to the Queen, is ei-
ther gone or put away from the Court upon the score of his lady’s
having smitten the Duke of York, so as that he is watched by the
Duchess of York, and his lady is retired into the country upon it.
How much of this is true, God knows, but it is common talk. Af-
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JANUARY 1662-1663
ter dinner I did reckon with Mrs. Sarah for what we have eat and
drank here, and gave her a crown, and so took coach, and to the
Duke’s House, where we saw “The Villaine” again; and the more
I see it, the more I am offended at my first undervaluing the play,
it being very good and pleasant, and yet a true and allowable
tragedy. The house was full of citizens, and so the less pleasant,
but that I was willing to make an end of my gaddings, and to set
to my business for all the year again tomorrow. Here we saw the
old Roxalana in the chief box, in a velvet gown, as the fashion is,
and very handsome, at which I was glad. Hence by coach home,
where I find all well, only Sir W. Pen they say ill again. So to my
office to set down these two or three days’ journall, and to close
the last year therein, and so that being done, home to supper, and
to bed, with great pleasure talking and discoursing with my wife
of our late observations abroad.
2nd. Lay long in bed, and so up and to the office, where all the
morning alone doing something or another. So dined at home
with my wife, and in the afternoon to the Treasury office, where
Sir W. Batten was paying off tickets, but so simply and arbitrarily,
upon a dull pretence of doing right to the King, though to the
wrong of poor people (when I know there is no man that means
the King less right than he, or would trouble himself less about
it, but only that he sees me stir, and so he would appear doing
something, though to little purpose), that I was weary of it. At
last we broke up, and walk home together, and I to see Sir W.
Pen, who is fallen sick again. I staid a while talking with him,
and so to my office, practising some arithmetique, and so home
to supper and bed, having sat up late talking to my poor wife
with great content.
3rd. Up and to the office all the morning, and dined alone with
my wife at noon, and then to my office all the afternoon till night,
putting business in order with great content in my mind. Having
nothing now in my mind of trouble in the world, but quite the
contrary, much joy, except only the ending of our difference with
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JANUARY 1662-1663
my uncle Thomas, and the getting of the bills well over for my
building of my house here, which however are as small and less
than any of the others. Sir W. Pen it seems is fallen very ill again.
So to my arithmetique again to-night, and so home to supper and
to bed.
4th (Lord’s day). Up and to church, where a lazy sermon, and
so home to dinner to a good piece of powdered beef, but a little
too salt. At dinner my wife did propound my having of my sister
Pall at my house again to be her woman, since one we must have,
hoping that in that quality possibly she may prove better than she
did before, which I take very well of her, and will consider of it,
it being a very great trouble to me that I should have a sister of so
ill a nature, that I must be forced to spend money upon a stranger
when it might better be upon her, if she were good for anything.
After dinner I and she walked, though it was dirty, to White Hall
(in the way calling at the Wardrobe to see how Mr. Moore do,
who is pretty well, but not cured yet), being much afeard of be-
ing seen by anybody, and was, I think, of Mr. Coventry, which
so troubled me that I made her go before, and I ever after loi-
tered behind. She to Mr. Hunt’s, and I to White Hall Chappell,
and then up to walk up and down the house, which now I am
well known there, I shall forbear to do, because I would not be
thought a lazy body by Mr. Coventry and others by being seen,
as I have lately been, to walk up and down doing nothing. So to
Mr. Hunt’s, and there was most prettily and kindly entertained
by him and her, who are two as good people as I hardly know
any, and so neat and kind one to another. Here we staid late, and
so to my Lord’s to bed.
5th. Up and to the Duke, who himself told me that Sir J. Law-
son was come home to Portsmouth from the Streights, who is
now come with great renown among all men, and, I perceive,
mightily esteemed at Court by all. The Duke did not stay long
in his chamber; but to the King’s chamber, whither by and by
the Russia Embassadors come; who, it seems, have a custom that
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they will not come to have any treaty with our or any King’s
Commissioners, but they will themselves see at the time the face
of the King himself, be it forty days one after another; and so
they did to-day only go in and see the King; and so out again to
the Council-chamber. The Duke returned to his chamber, and so
to his closett, where Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten,
Mr. Coventry, and myself attended him about the business of the
Navy; and after much discourse and pleasant talk he went away.
And I took Sir W. Batten and Captain Allen into the wine cel-
lar to my tenant (as I call him, Serjeant Dalton), and there drank
a great deal of variety of wines, more than I have drunk at one
time, or shall again a great while, when I come to return to my
oaths, which I intend in a day or two. Thence to my Lord’s lodg-
ing, where Mr. Hunt and Mr. Creed dined with us, and were
very merry. And after dinner he and I to White Hall, where
the Duke and the Commissioners for Tangier met, but did not
do much: my Lord Sandwich not being in town, nobody mak-
ing it their business. So up, and Creed and I to my wife again,
and after a game or two at cards, to the Cockpitt, where we saw
“Claracilla,” a poor play, done by the King’s house (but neither
the King nor Queen were there, but only the Duke and Duchess,
who did show some impertinent and, methought, unnatural dal-
liances there, before the whole world, such as kissing, and lean-
ing upon one another); but to my very little content, they not
acting in any degree like the Duke’s people. So home (there be-
ing here this night Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Martha Batten of our
office) to my Lord’s lodgings again, and to a game at cards, we
three and Sarah, and so to supper and some apples and ale, and
to bed with great pleasure, blessed be God!
6th (Twelfth Day). Up and Mr. Creed brought a pot of choco-
late ready made for our morning draft, and then he and I to the
Duke’s, but I was not very willing to be seen at this end of the
town, and so returned to our lodgings, and took my wife by
coach to my brother’s, where I set her down, and Creed and I to
St. Paul’s Church-yard, to my bookseller’s, and looked over sev-
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JANUARY 1662-1663
eral books with good discourse, and then into St. Paul’s Church,
and there finding Elborough, my old schoolfellow at Paul’s, now
a parson, whom I know to be a silly fellow, I took him out and
walked with him, making Creed and myself sport with talking
with him, and so sent him away, and we to my office and house
to see all well, and thence to the Exchange, where we met with
Major Thomson, formerly of our office, who do talk very highly
of liberty of conscience, which now he hopes for by the King’s
declaration, and that he doubts not that if he will give him, he
will find more and better friends than the Bishopps can be to
him, and that if he do not, there will many thousands in a lit-
tle time go out of England, where they may have it. But he says
that they are well contented that if the King thinks it good, the
Papists may have the same liberty with them. He tells me, and
so do others, that Dr. Calamy is this day sent to Newgate for
preaching, Sunday was se’nnight, without leave, though he did
it only to supply the place; when otherwise the people must have
gone away without ever a sermon, they being disappointed of a
minister but the Bishop of London will not take that as an ex-
cuse. Thence into Wood Street, and there bought a fine table
for my dining-room, cost me 50s.; and while we were buying
it, there was a scare-fire333 in an ally over against us, but they
quenched it. So to my brother’s, where Creed and I and my
wife dined with Tom, and after dinner to the Duke’s house, and
there saw “Twelfth Night”334 acted well, though it be but a silly
play, and not related at all to the name or day. Thence Mr. Bat-
tersby the apothecary, his wife, and I and mine by coach together,
and setting him down at his house, he paying his share, my wife
and I home, and found all well, only myself somewhat vexed at
333 Scar-fire or scarefire. An alarm of fire. One of the little pieces in Her-
rick’s “Hesperides” is entitled “The Scar-fire,” but the word sometimes was
used, as in the text, for the fire itself. Fuller, in his “Worthies,” speaks of
quenching scare-fires.
334 Pepys saw “Twelfth Night” for the first time on September 11th, 1661,
when he supposed it was a new play, and “took no pleasure at all in it.”
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JANUARY 1662-1663
my wife’s neglect in leaving of her scarf, waistcoat, and night-
dressings in the coach today that brought us from Westminster,
though, I confess, she did give them to me to look after, yet it was
her fault not to see that I did take them out of the coach. I believe
it might be as good as 25s. loss or thereabouts. So to my office,
however, to set down my last three days’ journall, and writing
to my Lord Sandwich to give him an account of Sir J. Lawson’s
being come home, and to my father about my sending him some
wine and things this week, for his making an entertainment of
some friends in the country, and so home. This night making
an end wholly of Christmas, with a mind fully satisfied with the
great pleasures we have had by being abroad from home, and I
do find my mind so apt to run to its old want of pleasures, that
it is high time to betake myself to my late vows, which I will to-
morrow, God willing, perfect and bind myself to, that so I may,
for a great while, do my duty, as I have well begun, and increase
my good name and esteem in the world, and get money, which
sweetens all things, and whereof I have much need. So home to
supper and to bed, blessing God for his mercy to bring me home,
after much pleasure, to my house and business with health and
resolution to fall hard to work again.
7th. Up pretty early, that is by seven o’clock, it being not yet
light before or then. So to my office all the morning, signing the
Treasurer’s ledger, part of it where I have not put my hand, and
then eat a mouthful of pye at home to stay my stomach, and so
with Mr. Waith by water to Deptford, and there among other
things viewed old pay-books, and found that the Commanders
did never heretofore receive any pay for the rigging time, but
only for seatime, contrary to what Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten
told the Duke the other day. I also searched all the ships in the
Wett Dock for fire, and found all in good order, it being very dan-
gerous for the King that so many of his ships lie together there. I
was among the canvass in stores also, with Mr. Harris, the sayle-
maker, and learnt the difference between one sort and another, to
my great content, and so by water home again, where my wife
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JANUARY 1662-1663
tells me stories how she hears that by Sarah’s going to live at Sir
W. Pen’s, all our affairs of my family are made known and dis-
coursed of there and theirs by my people, which do trouble me
much, and I shall take a time to let Sir W. Pen know how he has
dealt in taking her without our full consent. So to my office, and
by and by home to supper, and so to prayers and bed.
8th. Up pretty early, and sent my boy to the carrier’s with some
wine for my father, for to make his feast among his Brampton
friends this Christmas, and my muff to my mother, sent as from
my wife. But before I sent my boy out with them, I beat him for
a lie he told me, at which his sister, with whom we have of late
been highly displeased, and warned her to be gone, was angry,
which vexed me, to see the girl I loved so well, and my wife,
should at last turn so much a fool and unthankful to us. So to
the office, and there all the morning, and though without and a
little against the advice of the officers did, to gratify him, send
Thomas Hater to-day towards Portsmouth a day or two before
the rest of the clerks, against the Pay next week. Dined at home;
and there being the famous new play acted the first time to-day,
which is called “The Adventures of Five Hours,” at the Duke’s
house, being, they say, made or translated by Colonel Tuke, I did
long to see it; and so made my wife to get her ready, though we
were forced to send for a smith, to break open her trunk, her
mayde Jane being gone forth with the keys, and so we went; and
though early, were forced to sit almost out of sight, at the end
of one of the lower forms, so full was the house. And the play,
in one word, is the best, for the variety and the most excellent
continuance of the plot to the very end, that ever I saw, or think
ever shall, and all possible, not only to be done in the time, but
in most other respects very admittable, and without one word
of ribaldry; and the house, by its frequent plaudits, did show
their sufficient approbation. So home; with much ado in an hour
getting a coach home, and, after writing letters at my office, I
went home to supper and to bed, now resolving to set up my rest
as to plays till Easter, if not Whitsuntide next, excepting plays at
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JANUARY 1662-1663
Court.
9th. Waking in the morning, my wife I found also awake, and
begun to speak to me with great trouble and tears, and by de-
grees from one discourse to another at last it appears that Sarah
has told somebody that has told my wife of my meeting her at my
brother’s and making her sit down by me while she told me sto-
ries of my wife, about her giving her scallop to her brother, and
other things, which I am much vexed at, for I am sure I never
spoke any thing of it, nor could any body tell her but by Sarah’s
own words. I endeavoured to excuse my silence herein hitherto
by not believing any thing she told me, only that of the scallop
which she herself told me of. At last we pretty good friends,
and my wife begun to speak again of the necessity of her keep-
ing somebody to bear her company; for her familiarity with her
other servants is it that spoils them all, and other company she
hath none, which is too true, and called for Jane to reach her out
of her trunk, giving her the keys to that purpose, a bundle of pa-
pers, and pulls out a paper, a copy of what, a pretty while since,
she had wrote in a discontent to me, which I would not read, but
burnt. She now read it, and it was so piquant, and wrote in En-
glish, and most of it true, of the retiredness of her life, and how
unpleasant it was; that being wrote in English, and so in danger
of being met with and read by others, I was vexed at it, and de-
sired her and then commanded her to tear it. When she desired
to be excused it, I forced it from her, and tore it, and withal took
her other bundle of papers from her, and leapt out of the bed and
in my shirt clapped them into the pocket of my breeches, that she
might not get them from me, and having got on my stockings and
breeches and gown, I pulled them out one by one and tore them
all before her face, though it went against my heart to do it, she
crying and desiring me not to do it, but such was my passion and
trouble to see the letters of my love to her, and my Will wherein
I had given her all I have in the world, when I went to sea with
my Lord Sandwich, to be joyned with a paper of so much dis-
grace to me and dishonour, if it should have been found by any
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JANUARY 1662-1663
body. Having torn them all, saving a bond of my uncle Robert’s,
which she hath long had in her hands, and our marriage license,
and the first letter that ever I sent her when I was her servant,335 I
took up the pieces and carried them into my chamber, and there,
after many disputes with myself whether I should burn them or
no, and having picked up, the pieces of the paper she read to-
day, and of my Will which I tore, I burnt all the rest, and so went
out to my office troubled in mind. Hither comes Major Tolhurst,
one of my old acquaintance in Cromwell’s time, and sometimes
of our clubb, to see me, and I could do no less than carry him to
the Mitre, and having sent for Mr. Beane, a merchant, a neigh-
bour of mine, we sat and talked, Tolhurst telling me the manner
of their collierys in the north. We broke up, and I home to din-
ner. And to see my folly, as discontented as I am, when my wife
came I could not forbear smiling all dinner till she began to speak
bad words again, and then I began to be angry again, and so to
my office. Mr. Bland came in the evening to me hither, and sat
talking to me about many things of merchandise, and I should
be very happy in his discourse, durst I confess my ignorance to
him, which is not so fit for me to do. There coming a letter to
me from Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, by my desire appointing his
and Dr. Clerke’s coming to dine with me next Monday, I went
to my wife and agreed upon matters, and at last for my honour
am forced to make her presently a new Moyre gown to be seen by
Mrs. Clerke, which troubles me to part with so much money, but,
however, it sets my wife and I to friends again, though I and she
never were so heartily angry in our lives as to-day almost, and I
doubt the heartburning will not [be] soon over, and the truth is
I am sorry for the tearing of so many poor loving letters of mine
from sea and elsewhere to her. So to my office again, and there
the Scrivener brought me the end of the manuscript which I am
going to get together of things of the Navy, which pleases me
335 The usual word at this time for a lover. We have continued the correla-
tive term “mistress,” but rejected that of “servant.”
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JANUARY 1662-1663
much. So home, and mighty friends with my wife again, and so
to bed.
10th. Up and to the office. From thence, before we sat, Sir W.
Pen sent for me to his bedside to talk (indeed to reproach me
with my not owning to Sir J. Minnes that he had my advice in
the blocking up of the garden door the other day, which is now
by him out of fear to Sir J. Minnes opened again), to which I an-
swered him so indifferently that I think he and I shall be at a
distance, at least to one another, better than ever we did and love
one another less, which for my part I think I need not care for. So
to the office, and sat till noon, then rose and to dinner, and then
to the office again, where Mr. Creed sat with me till late talking
very good discourse, as he is full of it, though a cunning knave
in his heart, at least not to be too much trusted, till Sir J. Minnes
came in, which at last he did, and so beyond my expectation he
was willing to sign his accounts, notwithstanding all his objec-
tions, which really were very material, and yet how like a doting
coxcomb he signs the accounts without the least satisfaction, for
which we both sufficiently laughed at him and Sir W. Batten after
they had signed them and were gone, and so sat talking together
till 11 o’clock at night, and so home and to bed.
11th (Lord’s day). Lay long talking pleasant with my wife, then
up and to church, the pew being quite full with strangers come
along with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, so after a pitifull ser-
mon of the young Scott, home to dinner. After dinner comes a
footman of my Lord Sandwich’s (my Lord being come to town
last night) with a letter from my father, in which he presses me to
carry on the business for Tom with his late mistress, which I am
sorry to see my father do, it being so much out of our power or
for his advantage, as it is clear to me it is, which I shall think of
and answer in my next. So to my office all the afternoon writing
orders myself to have ready against to-morrow, that I might not
appear negligent to Mr. Coventry. In the evening to Sir W. Pen’s,
where Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten, and afterwards came Sir
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JANUARY 1662-1663
G. Carteret. There talked about business, and afterwards to Sir
W. Batten’s, where we staid talking and drinking Syder, and so I
went away to my office a little, and so home and to bed.
12th. Up, and to Sir W. Batten’s to bid him and Sir J. Minnes
adieu, they going this day towards Portsmouth, and then to Sir
W. Pen’s to see Sir J. Lawson, who I heard was there, where I
found him the same plain man that he was, after all his success in
the Straights, with which he is come loaded home. Thence to Sir
G. Carteret, and with him in his coach to White Hall, and first I to
see my Lord Sandwich (being come now from Hinchingbrooke),
and after talking a little with him, he and I to the Duke’s chamber,
where Mr. Coventry and he and I into the Duke’s closett and Sir J.
Lawson discoursing upon business of the Navy, and particularly
got his consent to the ending some difficulties in Mr. Creed’s
accounts. Thence to my Lord’s lodgings, and with Mr. Creed to
the King’s Head ordinary, but people being set down, we went to
two or three places; at last found some meat at a Welch cook’s at
Charing Cross, and here dined and our boys. After dinner to the
‘Change to buy some linen for my wife, and going back met our
two boys. Mine had struck down Creed’s boy in the dirt, with his
new suit on, and the boy taken by a gentlewoman into a house to
make clean, but the poor boy was in a pitifull taking and pickle;
but I basted my rogue soundly. Thence to my Lord’s lodging, and
Creed to his, for his papers against the Committee. I found my
Lord within, and he and I went out through the garden towards
the Duke’s chamber, to sit upon the Tangier matters; but a lady
called to my Lord out of my Lady Castlemaine’s lodging, telling
him that the King was there and would speak with him. My Lord
could not tell what to bid me say at the Committee to excuse his
absence, but that he was with the King; nor would suffer me to
go into the Privy Garden (which is now a through-passage, and
common), but bid me to go through some other way, which I
did; so that I see he is a servant of the King’s pleasures too, as
well as business. So I went to the Committee, where we spent
all this night attending to Sir J. Lawson’s description of Tangier
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and the place for the Mole,336 of which he brought a very pretty
draught. Concerning the making of the Mole, Mr. Cholmely did
also discourse very well, having had some experience in it. Being
broke up, I home by coach to Mr. Bland’s, and there discoursed
about sending away of the merchant ship which hangs so long
on hand for Tangier. So to my Lady Batten’s, and sat with her
awhile, Sir W. Batten being gone out of town; but I did it out of
design to get some oranges for my feast to-morrow of her, which
I did. So home, and found my wife’s new gown come home, and
she mightily pleased with it. But I appeared very angry that there
were no more things got ready against to-morrow’s feast, and in
that passion sat up long, and went discontented to bed.
13th. So my poor wife rose by five o’clock in the morning, be-
fore day, and went to market and bought fowls and many other
things for dinner, with which I was highly pleased, and the chine
of beef was down also before six o’clock, and my own jack, of
which I was doubtfull, do carry it very well. Things being put in
order, and the cook come, I went to the office, where we sat till
noon and then broke up, and I home, whither by and by comes
Dr. Clerke and his lady, his sister, and a she-cozen, and Mr. Pierce
and his wife, which was all my guests. I had for them, after oys-
ters, at first course, a hash of rabbits, a lamb, and a rare chine of
beef. Next a great dish of roasted fowl, cost me about 30s., and a
tart, and then fruit and cheese. My dinner was noble and enough.
I had my house mighty clean and neat; my room below with a
good fire in it; my dining-room above, and my chamber being
made a withdrawing-chamber; and my wife’s a good fire also.
I find my new table very proper, and will hold nine or ten peo-
ple well, but eight with great room. After dinner the women to
336 The construction of this Mole or breakwater turned out a very costly
undertaking. In April, 1663, it was found that the charge for one year’s work
was £13,000. In March, 1665, £36,000 had been spent upon it. The wind and
sea exerted a very destructive influence over this structure, although it was
very strongly built, and Colonel Norwood reported in 1668 that a breach had
been made in the Mole, which cost a considerable sum to repair.
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cards in my wife’s chamber, and the Dr. and Mr. Pierce in mine,
because the dining-room smokes unless I keep a good charcoal
fire, which I was not then provided with. At night to supper,
had a good sack posset and cold meat, and sent my guests away
about ten o’clock at night, both them and myself highly pleased
with our management of this day; and indeed their company was
very fine, and Mrs. Clerke a very witty, fine lady, though a little
conceited and proud. So weary, so to bed. I believe this day’s
feast will cost me near £5.
14th. Lay very long in bed, till with shame forced to rise, being
called up by Mr. Bland about business. He being gone I went and
staid upon business at the office and then home to dinner, and
after dinner staid a little talking pleasant with my wife, who tells
me of another woman offered by her brother that is pretty and
can sing, to which I do listen but will not appear over forward,
but I see I must keep somebody for company sake to my wife, for
I am ashamed she should live as she do. So to the office till 10 at
night upon business, and numbering and examining part of my
sea-manuscript with great pleasure, my wife sitting working by
me. So home to supper and to bed.
15th. Up and to my office preparing things, by and by we met
and sat Mr. Coventry and I till noon, and then I took him to
dine with me, I having a wild goose roasted, and a cold chine of
beef and a barrel of oysters. We dined alone in my chamber, and
then he and I to fit ourselves for horseback, he having brought
me a horse; and so to Deptford, the ways being very dirty. There
we walked up and down the Yard and Wett Dock, and did our
main business, which was to examine the proof of our new way
of the call-books, which we think will be of great use. And so to
horse again, and I home with his horse, leaving him to go over
the fields to Lambeth, his boy at my house taking home his horse.
I vexed, having left my keys in my other pocket in my chamber,
and my door is shut, so that I was forced to set my boy in at the
window, which done I shifted myself, and so to my office till late,
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and then home to supper, my mind being troubled about Field’s
business and my uncle’s, which the term coming on I must think
to follow again. So to prayers and to bed, and much troubled in
mind this night in my dreams about my uncle Thomas and his
son going to law with us.
16th. Lay long talking in bed with my wife. Up, and Mr. Bat-
tersby, the apothecary, coming to see me, I called for the cold
chine of beef and made him eat, and drink wine, and talked,
there being with us Captain Brewer, the paynter, who tells me
how highly the Presbyters do talk in the coffeehouses still, which
I wonder at. They being gone I walked two or three hours with
my brother Tom, telling him my mind how it is troubled about
my father’s concernments, and how things would be with them
all if it should please God that I should die, and therefore de-
sire him to be a good husband and follow his business, which
I hope he do. At noon to dinner, and after dinner my wife be-
gan to talk of a woman again, which I have a mind to have, and
would be glad Pall might please us, but she is quite against hav-
ing her, nor have I any great mind to it, but only for her good
and to save money flung away upon a stranger. So to my office
till 9 o’clock about my navy manuscripts, and there troubled in
my mind more and more about my uncle’s business from a letter
come this day from my father that tells me that all his tenants are
sued by my uncle, which will cost me some new trouble, I went
home to supper and so to bed.
17th. Waked early with my mind troubled about our law mat-
ters, but it came into my mind that [sayings] of Epictetus, which
did put me to a great deal of ease, it being a saying of great rea-
son. Up to the office, and there sat Mr. Coventry, Mr. Pett, new
come to town, and I. I was sorry for signing a bill and guiding
Mr. Coventry to sign a bill to Mr. Creed for his pay as Deputy
Treasurer to this day, though the service ended 5 or 6 months ago,
which he perceiving did blot out his name afterwards, but I will
clear myself to him from design in it. Sat till two o’clock and then
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JANUARY 1662-1663
home to dinner, and Creed with me, and after dinner, to put off
my mind’s trouble, I took Creed by coach and to the Duke’s play-
house, where we did see “The Five Hours” entertainment again,
which indeed is a very fine play, though, through my being out
of order, it did not seem so good as at first; but I could discern
it was not any fault in the play. Thence with him to the China
alehouse, and there drank a bottle or two, and so home, where I
found my wife and her brother discoursing about Mr. Ashwell’s
daughter, whom we are like to have for my wife’s woman, and
I hope it may do very well, seeing there is a necessity of having
one. So to the office to write letters, and then home to supper and
to bed.
18th (Lord’s day). Up, and after the barber had done, and
I had spoke with Mr. Smith (whom I sent for on purpose to
speak of Field’s business, who stands upon £250 before he will
release us, which do trouble me highly), and also Major Allen
of the Victualling Office about his ship to be hired for Tangier, I
went to church, and thence home to dinner alone with my wife,
very pleasant, and after dinner to church again, and heard a dull,
drowsy sermon, and so home and to my office, perfecting my
vows again for the next year, which I have now done, and sworn
to in the presence of Almighty God to observe upon the respec-
tive penalties thereto annexed, and then to Sir W. Pen’s (though
much against my will, for I cannot bear him, but only to keep
him from complaint to others that I do not see him) to see how
he do, and find him pretty well, and ready to go abroad again.
19th. Up and to White Hall, and while the Duke is dressing
himself I went to wait on my Lord Sandwich, whom I found not
very well, and Dr. Clerke with him. He is feverish, and hath sent
for Mr. Pierce to let him blood, but not being in the way he puts it
off till night, but he stirs not abroad to-day. Then to the Duke, and
in his closett discoursed as we use to do, and then broke up. That
done, I singled out Mr. Coventry into the Matted Gallery, and
there I told him the complaints I meet every day about our Trea-
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JANUARY 1662-1663
surer’s or his people’s paying no money, but at the goldsmith’s
shops, where they are forced to pay fifteen or twenty sometimes
per cent. for their money, which is a most horrid shame, and that
which must not be suffered. Nor is it likely that the Treasurer (at
least his people) will suffer Maynell the Goldsmith to go away
with £10,000 per annum, as he do now get, by making people
pay after this manner for their money. We were interrupted by
the Duke, who called Mr. Coventry aside for half an hour, walk-
ing with him in the gallery, and then in the garden, and then
going away I ended my discourse with Mr. Coventry. But by the
way Mr. Coventry was saying that there remained nothing now
in our office to be amended but what would do of itself every
day better and better, for as much as he that was slowest, Sir W.
Batten, do now begin to look about him and to mind business. At
which, God forgive me! I was a little moved with envy, but yet I
am glad, and ought to be, though it do lessen a little my care to
see that the King’s service is like to be better attended than it was
heretofore. Thence by coach to Mr. Povy’s, being invited thither
by [him] came a messenger this morning from him, where really
he made a most excellent and large dinner, of their variety, even
to admiration, he bidding us, in a frolique, to call for what we
had a mind, and he would undertake to give it us: and we did for
prawns, swan, venison, after I had thought the dinner was quite
done, and he did immediately produce it, which I thought great
plenty, and he seems to set off his rest in this plenty and the neat-
ness of his house, which he after dinner showed me, from room
to room, so beset with delicate pictures, and above all, a piece
of perspective in his closett in the low parler; his stable, where
was some most delicate horses, and the very-racks painted, and
mangers, with a neat leaden painted cistern, and the walls done
with Dutch tiles, like my chimnies. But still, above all things, he
bid me go down into his wine-cellar, where upon several shelves
there stood bottles of all sorts of wine, new and old, with labells
pasted upon each bottle, and in the order and plenty as I never
saw books in a bookseller’s shop; and herein, I observe, he puts
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JANUARY 1662-1663
his highest content, and will accordingly commend all that he
hath, but still they deserve to be so. Here dined with me Dr.
Whore and Mr. Scawen. Therewith him and Mr. Bland, whom
we met by the way, to my Lord Chancellor’s, where the King was
to meet my Lord Treasurer, &c., many great men, to settle the
revenue of Tangier. I staid talking awhile there, but the King not
coming I walked to my brother’s, where I met my cozen Scotts
(Tom not being at home) and sent for a glass of wine for them,
and having drunk we parted, and I to the Wardrobe talking with
Mr. Moore about my law businesses, which I doubt will go ill
for want of time for me to attend them. So home, where I found
Mrs. Lodum speaking with my wife about her kinswoman which
is offered my wife to come as a woman to her. So to the office and
put things in order, and then home and to bed, it being my great
comfort that every day I understand more and more the plea-
sure of following of business and the credit that a man gets by
it, which I hope at last too will end in profit. This day, by Dr.
Clerke, I was told the occasion of my Lord Chesterfield’s going
and taking his lady (my Lord Ormond’s daughter) from Court.
It seems he not only hath been long jealous of the Duke of York,
but did find them two talking together, though there were others
in the room, and the lady by all opinions a most good, virtuous
woman. He, the next day (of which the Duke was warned by
somebody that saw the passion my Lord Chesterfield was in the
night before), went and told the Duke how much he did appre-
hend himself wronged, in his picking out his lady of the whole
Court to be the subject of his dishonour; which the Duke did
answer with great calmness, not seeming to understand the rea-
son of complaint, and that was all that passed but my Lord did
presently pack his lady into the country in Derbyshire, near the
Peake; which is become a proverb at Court, to send a man’s wife
to the Devil’s arse a’ Peake, when she vexes him. This noon I
did find out Mr. Dixon at Whitehall, and discoursed with him
about Mrs. Wheatly’s daughter for a wife for my brother Tom,
and have committed it to him to enquire the pleasure of her fa-
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JANUARY 1662-1663
ther and mother concerning it. I demanded £300.
20th. Up betimes and to the office, where all the morning.
Dined at home, and Mr. Deane of Woolwich with me, talking
about the abuses of the yard. Then to the office about business all
the afternoon with great pleasure, seeing myself observed by ev-
ery body to be the only man of business of us all, but Mr. Coven-
try. So till late at night, and then home to supper and bed.
21st. Up early leaving my wife very ill in bed... and to my of-
fice till eight o’clock, there coming Ch. Pepys337 to demand his
legacy of me, which I denied him upon good reason of his father
and brother’s suing us, and so he went away. Then came Com-
missioner Pett, and he and I by agreement went to Deptford, and
after a turn or two in the yard, to Greenwich, and thence walked
to Woolwich. Here we did business, and I on board the Tangier-
merchant, a ship freighted by us, that has long lain on hand in
her despatch to Tangier, but is now ready for sailing. Back, and
dined at Mr. Ackworth’s, where a pretty dinner, and she a pretty,
modest woman; but above all things we saw her Rocke, which
is one of the finest things done by a woman that ever I saw. I
must have my wife to see it. After dinner on board the Elias, and
found the timber brought by her from the forest of Deane to be
exceeding good. The Captain gave each of us two barrels of pick-
led oysters put up for the Queen mother. So to the Dock again,
and took in Mrs. Ackworth and another gentlewoman, and car-
ried them to London, and at the Globe tavern, in Eastcheap, did
give them a glass of wine, and so parted. I home, where I found
my wife ill in bed all day, and her face swelled with pain. My
Will has received my last two quarters salary, of which I am glad.
So to my office till late and then home, and after the barber had
done, to bed.
337 Charles Pepys was second son of Thomas Pepys, elder brother of
Samuel’s father. Samuel paid part of the legacy to Charles and his elder
brother Thomas on May 25th, 1664.
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22nd. To the office, where Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes are
come from Portsmouth. We sat till dinner time. Then home, and
Mr. Dixon by agreement came to dine, to give me an account of
his success with Mr. Wheatly for his daughter for my brother;
and in short it is, that his daughter cannot fancy my brother be-
cause of his imperfection in his speech, which I am sorry for, but
there the business must die, and we must look out for another.
There came in also Mrs. Lodum, with an answer from her brother
Ashwell’s daughter, who is likely to come to me, and with her
my wife’s brother, and I carried Commissioner Pett in with me,
so I feared want of victuals, but I had a good dinner, and mirth,
and so rose and broke up, and with the rest of the officers to Mr.
Russell’s buriall, where we had wine and rings, and a great and
good company of aldermen and the livery of the Skinners’ Com-
pany. We went to St. Dunstan’s in the East church, where a ser-
mon, but I staid not, but went home, and, after writing letters, I
took coach to Mr. Povy’s, but he not within I left a letter there
of Tangier business, and so to my Lord’s, and there find him not
sick, but expecting his fit to-night of an ague. Here was Sir W.
Compton, Mr. Povy, Mr. Bland, Mr. Gawden and myself; we
were very busy about getting provisions sent forthwith to Tang-
ier, fearing that by Mr. Gawden’s neglect they might want bread.
So among other ways thought of to supply them I was empow-
ered by the Commissioners of Tangier that were present to write
to Plymouth and direct Mr. Lanyon to take up vessels great or
small to the quantity of 150 tons, and fill them with bread of Mr.
Gawden’s lying ready there for Tangier, which they undertake to
bear me out in, and to see the freight paid. This I did. About 10
o’clock we broke up, and my Lord’s fit was coming upon him,
and so we parted, and I with Mr. Creed, Mr. Pierce, Win. Howe
and Captn. Ferrers, who was got almost drunk this afternoon,
and was mighty capricious and ready to fall out with any body,
supped together in the little chamber that was mine heretofore
upon some fowls sent by Mr. Shepley, so we were very merry till
12 at night, and so away, and I lay with Mr. Creed at his lodgings,
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JANUARY 1662-1663
and slept well.
23rd. Up and hastened him in despatching some business re-
lating to Tangier, and I away homewards, hearing that my Lord
had a bad fit to-night, called at my brother’s, and found him sick
in bed, of a pain in the sole of one of his feet, without swelling,
knowing not how it came, but it will not suffer him to stand these
two days. So to Mr. Moore, and Mr. Lovell, our proctor, be-
ing there, discoursed of my law business. Thence to Mr. Grant,
to bid him come for money for Mr. Barlow, and he and I to a
coffee-house, where Sir J. Cutler was;338 and in discourse, among
other things, he did fully make it out that the trade of England
is as great as ever it was, only in more hands; and that of all
trades there is a greater number than ever there was, by reason of
men taking more ‘prentices, because of their having more money
than heretofore. His discourse was well worth hearing. Com-
ing by Temple Bar I bought “Audley’s Way to be Rich,” a serious
pamphlett and some good things worth my minding. Thence
homewards, and meeting Sir W. Batten, turned back again to a
coffee-house, and there drunk more till I was almost sick, and
here much discourse, but little to be learned, but of a design in
the north of a rising, which is discovered, among some men of
condition, and they sent for up. Thence to the ‘Change, and so
home with him by coach, and I to see how my wife do, who is
pretty well again, and so to dinner to Sir W. Batten’s to a cod’s
head, and so to my office, and after stopping to see Sir W. Pen,
where was Sir J. Lawson and his lady and daughter, which is
pretty enough, I came back to my office, and there set to business
pretty late, finishing the margenting my Navy-Manuscript. So
338 Citizen and grocer of London; most severely handled by Pope. Two
statues were erected to his memory–one in the College of Physicians, and
the other in the Grocers’ Hall. They were erected and one removed (that in
the College of Physicians) before Pope stigmatized “sage Cutler.” Pope says
that Sir John Cutler had an only daughter; in fact, he had two: one married
to Lord Radnor; the other, mentioned afterwards by Pepys, the wife of Sir
William Portman.–B.
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home and to bed.
24th. Lay pretty long, and by lying with my sheet upon my
lip, as I have of old observed it, my upper lip was blistered in
the morning. To the office all the morning, sat till noon, then to
the Exchange to look out for a ship for Tangier, and delivered my
manuscript to be bound at the stationer’s. So to dinner at home,
and then down to Redriffe, to see a ship hired for Tangier, what
readiness she was in, and found her ready to sail. Then home,
and so by coach to Mr. Povy’s, where Sir W. Compton, Mr. Bland,
Gawden, Sir J. Lawson and myself met to settle the victualling of
Tangier for the time past, which with much ado we did, and for a
six months’ supply more. So home in Mr. Gawden’s coach, and
to my office till late about business, and find that it is business
that must and do every day bring me to something.–[In earlier
days Pepys noted for us each few pounds or shillings of graft
which he annexed at each transaction in his office.]–So home to
supper and to bed.
25th (Lord’s day). Lay till 9 a-bed, then up, and being trimmed
by the barber, I walked towards White Hall, calling upon Mr.
Moore, whom I found still very ill of his ague. I discoursed with
him about my Lord’s estate against I speak with my Lord this
day. Thence to the King’s Head ordinary at Charing Cross, and
sent for Mr. Creed, where we dined very finely and good com-
pany, good discourse. I understand the King of France is upon
consulting his divines upon the old question, what the power
of the Pope is? and do intend to make war against him, unless
he do right him for the wrong his Embassador received;339 and
339 On the 20th of August, the Duc de Crequi, then French ambassador
at Rome, was insulted by the Corsican armed police, a force whose igno-
ble duty it was to assist the Sbirri; and the pope, Alexander VII., at first
refused reparation for the affront offered to the French. Louis, as in the case
of D’Estrades, took prompt measures. He ordered the papal nuncio forth-
with to quit France; he seized upon Avignon, and his army prepared to en-
ter Italy. Alexander found it necessary to submit. In fulfilment of a treaty
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banish the Cardinall Imperiall,340 which I understand this day is
not meant the Cardinall belonging or chosen by the Emperor, but
the name of his family is Imperiali. Thence to walk in the Park,
which we did two hours, it being a pleasant sunshine day though
cold. Our discourse upon the rise of most men that we know,
and observing them to be the results of chance, not policy, in any
of them, particularly Sir J. Lawson’s, from his declaring against
Charles Stuart in the river of Thames, and for the Rump. Thence
to my Lord, who had his ague fit last night, but is now pretty
well, and I staid talking with him an hour alone in his chamber,
about sundry publique and private matters. Among others, he
wonders what the project should be of the Duke’s going down
to Portsmouth just now with his Lady, at this time of the year:
it being no way, we think, to increase his popularity, which is
not great; nor yet safe to do it, for that reason, if it would have
any such effect. By and by comes in my Lady Wright, and so I
went away, end after talking with Captn. Ferrers, who tells me of
my Lady Castlemaine’s and Sir Charles Barkeley being the great
favourites at Court, and growing every day more and more; and
that upon a late dispute between my Lord Chesterfield, that is
the Queen’s Lord Chamberlain, and Mr. Edward Montagu, her
Master of the Horse, who should have the precedence in taking
the Queen’s upperhand abroad out of the house, which Mr. Mon-
tagu challenges, it was given to my Lord Chesterfield. So that I
perceive he goes down the wind in honour as well as every thing
else, every day. So walk to my brother’s and talked with him,
who tells me that this day a messenger is come, that tells us how
signed at Pisa in 1664, Cardinal Chigi, the pope’s nephew, came to Paris, to
tender the pope’s apology to Louis. The guilty individuals were punished;
the Corsicans banished for ever from the Roman States; and in front of the
guard-house which they had occupied a pyramid was erected, bearing an
inscription which embodied the pope’s apology. This pyramid Louis per-
mitted Clement IX. to destroy on his accession.-B.
340 Lorenzo Imperiali, of Genoa. He had been appointed Governor of Rome
by Innocent X., and he had acted in that capacity at the time of the tumult.–B.
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Collonel Honiwood, who was well yesterday at Canterbury, was
flung by his horse in getting up, and broke his scull, and so is
dead. So home and to the office, despatching some business, and
so home to supper, and then to prayers and to bed.
26th. Up and by water with Sir W. Batten to White Hall, drink-
ing a glass of wormewood wine at the Stillyard, and so up to
the Duke, and with the rest of the officers did our common ser-
vice; thence to my Lord Sandwich’s, but he was in bed, and had
a bad fit last night, and so I went to, Westminster Hall, it being
Term time, it troubling me to think that I should have any busi-
ness there to trouble myself and thoughts with. Here I met with
Monsieur Raby, who is lately come from France. [He] tells me
that my Lord Hinchingbroke and his brother do little improve
there, and are much neglected in their habits and other things;
but I do believe he hath a mind to go over as their tutour, and so
I am not apt to believe what he says therein. But I had a great
deal of very good discourse with him, concerning the difference
between the French and the Pope, and the occasion, which he
told me very particularly, and to my great content; and of most
of the chief affairs of France, which I did enquire: and that the
King is a most excellent Prince, doing all business himself; and
that it is true he hath a mistress, Mademoiselle La Valiere, one of
the Princess Henriette’s women, that he courts for his pleasure
every other day, but not so as to make him neglect his publique
affairs. He tells me how the King do carry himself nobly to the re-
lations of the dead Cardinall,–[Cardinal Mazarin died March 9th,
1661.]–and will not suffer one pasquill to come forth against him;
and that he acts by what directions he received from him before
his death. Having discoursed long with him, I took him by coach
and set him down at my Lord Crew’s, and myself went and dined
at Mr. Povy’s, where Orlando Massam, Mr. Wilks, a Wardrobe
man, myself and Mr. Gawden, and had just such another din-
ner as I had the other day there. But above all things I do the
most admire his piece of perspective especially, he opening me
the closett door, and there I saw that there is nothing but only a
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plain picture hung upon the wall. After dinner Mr. Gauden and
I to settle the business of the Tangier victualling, which I perceive
none of them yet have hitherto understood but myself. Thence
by coach to White Hall, and met upon the Tangier Commission,
our greatest business the discoursing of getting things ready for
my Lord Rutherford to go about the middle of March next, and
a proposal of Sir J. Lawson’s and Mr. Cholmely’s concerning
undertaking the Mole, which is referred to another time. So by
coach home, being melancholy, overcharged with business, and
methinks I fear that I have some ill offices done to Mr. Coventry,
or else he observes that of late I have not despatched business so
as I did use to do, which I confess I do acknowledge. But it may
be it is but my fear only, he is not so fond as he used to be of me.
But I do believe that Sir W. Batten has made him believe that I
do too much crow upon having his kindness, and so he may on
purpose to countenance him seem a little more strange to me, but
I will study hard to bring him back again to the same degree of
kindness. So home, and after a little talk with my wife, to the of-
fice, and did a great deal of business there till very late, and then
home to supper and to bed.
27th. Up and to the office, where sat till two o’clock, and then
home to dinner, whither by and by comes Mr. Creed, and he and
I talked of our Tangier business, and do find that there is nothing
in the world done with true integrity, but there is design along
with it, as in my Lord Rutherford, who designs to have the profit
of victualling of the garrison himself, and others to have the ben-
efit of making the Mole, so that I am almost discouraged from
coming any more to the Committee, were it not that it will possi-
bly hereafter bring me to some acquaintance of great men. Then
to the office again, where very busy till past ten at night, and so
home to supper and to bed. I have news this day from Cam-
bridge that my brother hath had his bachelor’s cap put on; but
that which troubles me is, that he hath the pain of the stone, and
makes bloody water with great pain, it beginning just as mine
did. I pray God help him.
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JANUARY 1662-1663
28th. Up and all the morning at my office doing business,
and at home seeing my painters’ work measured. So to dinner
and abroad with my wife, carrying her to Unthank’s, where she
alights, and I to my Lord Sandwich’s, whom I find missing his
ague fit to-day, and is pretty well, playing at dice (and by this I
see how time and example may alter a man; he being now ac-
quainted with all sorts of pleasures and vanities, which hereto-
fore he never thought of nor loved, nor, it may be, hath allowed)
with Ned Pickering and his page Laud. Thence to the Temple
to my cozen Roger Pepys, and thence to Serjt. Bernard to ad-
vise with him and retain him against my uncle, my heart and
head being very heavy with the business. Thence to Wotton’s,
the shoemaker, and there bought another pair of new boots, for
the other I bought my last would not fit me, and here I drank
with him and his wife, a pretty woman, they broaching a vessel
of syder a-purpose for me. So home, and there found my wife
come home, and seeming to cry; for bringing home in a coach
her new ferrandin341 waistecoate, in Cheapside, a man asked her
whether that was the way to the Tower; and while she was an-
swering him, another, on the other side, snatched away her bun-
dle out of her lap, and could not be recovered, but ran away with
it, which vexes me cruelly, but it cannot be helped. So to my of-
fice, and there till almost 12 at night with Mr. Lewes, learning to
understand the manner of a purser’s account, which is very hard
and little understood by my fellow officers, and yet mighty nec-
341 Ferrandin, which was sometimes spelt farendon, was a stuff made of
silk mixed with some other material, like what is now called poplin. Both
mohair and farendon are generally cheap materials; for in the case of Manby
v. Scott, decided in the Exchequer Chamber in 1663, and reported in the
first volume of “Modern Reports,” the question being as to the liability of a
husband to pay for goods supplied against his consent to his wife, who had
separated from him, Mr. Justice Hyde (whose judgment is most amusing)
observes, in putting various supposed cases, that “The wife will have a vel-
vet gown and a satin petticoat, and the husband thinks a mohair or farendon
for a gown, and watered tabby for a petticoat, is as fashionable, and fitter for
her quality.”–B.
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JANUARY 1662-1663
essary. So at last with great content broke up and home to supper
and bed.
29th. Lay chiding, and then pleased with my wife in bed, and
did consent to her having a new waistcoate made her for that
which she lost yesterday. So to the office, and sat all the morning.
At noon dined with Mr. Coventry at Sir J. Minnes his lodgings,
the first time that ever I did yet, and am sorry for doing it now,
because of obliging me to do the like to him again. Here dined
old Captn. Marsh of the Tower with us. So to visit Sir W. Pen,
and then to the office, and there late upon business by myself,
my wife being sick to-day. So home and to supper and to bed.
30th. A solemn fast for the King’s murther, and we were forced
to keep it more than we would have done, having forgot to take
any victuals into the house. I to church in the forenoon, and Mr.
Mills made a good sermon upon David’s heart smiting him for
cutting off the garment of Saul.342 Home, and whiled away some
of the afternoon at home talking with my wife. So to my office,
and all alone making up my month’s accounts, which to my great
trouble I find that I am got no further than £640. But I have had
great expenses this month. I pray God the next may be a little
better, as I hope it will. In the evening my manuscript is brought
home handsomely bound, to my full content; and now I think I
have a better collection in reference to the Navy, and shall have
by the time I have filled it, than any of my predecessors. So home
and eat something such as we have, bread and butter and milk,
and so to bed.
31st. Up and to my office, and there we sat till noon. I home to
dinner, and there found my plate of the Soverayne with the table
to it come from Mr. Christopher Pett, of which I am very glad. So
to dinner late, and not very good, only a rabbit not half roasted,
which made me angry with my wife. So to the office, and there
342 Samuel, chap. xxiv. v. 5, “And it came to pass afterward, that David’s
heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.”
822
JANUARY 1662-1663
till late, busy all the while. In the evening examining my wife’s
letter intended to my Lady, and another to Mademoiselle; they
were so false spelt that I was ashamed of them, and took occasion
to fall out about them with my wife, and so she wrote none, at
which, however, I was, sorry, because it was in answer to a letter
of Madam about business. Late home to supper and to bed.
823
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
February 1st (Lord’s day). Up and to church, where Mr. Mills, a
good sermon, and so home and had a good dinner with my wife,
with which I was pleased to see it neatly done, and this troubled
me to think of parting with Jane, that is come to be a very good
cook. After dinner walked to my Lord Sandwich, and staid with
him in the chamber talking almost all the afternoon, he being not
yet got abroad since his sickness. Many discourses we had; but,
among others, how Sir R. Bernard is turned out of his Recorder-
ship of Huntingdon by the Commissioners for Regulation, &c., at
which I am troubled, because he, thinking it is done by my Lord
Sandwich, will act some of his revenge, it is likely, upon me in my
business, so that I must cast about me to get some other counsel
to rely upon. In the evening came Mr. Povey and others to see
my Lord, and they gone, my Lord and I and Povey fell to the
business of Tangier, as to the victualling, and so broke up, and I,
it being a fine frost, my boy lighting me I walked home, and after
supper up to prayers, and then alone with my wife and Jane did
fall to tell her what I did expect would become of her since, after
so long being my servant, she had carried herself so as to make
us be willing to put her away, and desired God to bless [her], but
bid her never to let me hear what became of her, for that I could
never pardon ingratitude. So I to bed, my mind much troubled
824
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
for the poor girl that she leaves us, and yet she not submitting
herself, for some words she spoke boldly and yet I believe inno-
cently and out of familiarity to her mistress about us weeks ago,
I could not recall my words that she should stay with me. This
day Creed and I walking in White Hall garden did see the King
coming privately from my Lady Castlemaine’s; which is a poor
thing for a Prince to do; and I expressed my sense of it to Creed
in terms which I should not have done, but that I believe he is
trusty in that point.
2nd. Up, and after paying Jane her wages, I went away, be-
cause I could hardly forbear weeping, and she cried, saying it
was not her fault that she went away, and indeed it is hard to
say what it is, but only her not desiring to stay that she do now
go. By coach with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten to the Duke;
and after discourse as usual with him in his closett, I went to
my Lord’s: the King and Duke being gone to chappell, it be-
ing collar-day, it being Candlemas-day; where I staid with him a
while until towards noon, there being Jonas Moore talking about
some mathematical businesses, and thence I walked at noon to
Mr. Povey’s, where Mr. Gawden met me, and after a neat and
plenteous dinner as is usual, we fell to our victualling business,
till Mr. Gawden and I did almost fall out, he defending him-
self in the readiness of his provision, when I know that the ships
everywhere stay for them. Thence Mr. Povey and I walked to
White Hall, it being a great frost still, and after a turn in the Park
seeing them slide, we met at the Committee for Tangier, a good
full Committee, and agreed how to proceed in the dispatching
of my Lord Rutherford, and treating about this business of Mr.
Cholmely and Sir J. Lawson’s proposal for the Mole. Thence
with Mr. Coventry down to his chamber, where among other
discourse he did tell me how he did make it not only his desire,
but as his greatest pleasure, to make himself an interest by doing
business truly and justly, though he thwarts others greater than
himself, not striving to make himself friends by addresses; and
by this he thinks and observes he do live as contentedly (now
825
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
he finds himself secured from fear of want), and, take one time
with another, as void of fear or cares, or more, than they that (as
his own termes were) have quicker pleasures and sharper ago-
nies than he. Thence walking with Mr. Creed homewards we
turned into a house and drank a cup of Cock ale and so parted,
and I to the Temple, where at my cozen Roger’s chamber I met
Madam Turner, and after a little stay led her home and there left
her, she and her daughter having been at the play to-day at the
Temple, it being a revelling time with them.343 Thence called at
my brother’s, who is at church, at the buriall of young Cumber-
land, a lusty young man. So home and there found Jane gone, for
which my wife and I are very much troubled, and myself could
hardly forbear shedding tears for fear the poor wench should
come to any ill condition after her being so long with me. So
to my office and setting papers to rights, and then home to sup-
per and to bed. This day at my Lord’s I sent for Mr. Ashwell, and
his wife came to me, and by discourse I perceive their daughter
is very fit for my turn if my family may be as much for hers, but I
doubt it will be to her loss to come to me for so small wages, but
that will be considered of.
3rd. To the office all the morning, at noon to dinner, where Mr.
Creed dined with me, and Mr. Ashwell, with whom after dinner
I discoursed concerning his daughter coming to live with us. I
find that his daughter will be very fit, I think, as any for our turn,
but the conditions I know not what they will be, he leaving it
wholly to her, which will be agreed on a while hence when my
wife sees her. After an hour’s discourse after dinner with them, I
to my office again, and there about business of the office till late,
and then home to supper and to bed.
4th. Up early and to Mr. Moore, and thence to Mr. Lovell about
my law
343 The revels were held in the Inner Temple Hall. The last revel in any of
the Inns of Court was held in the Inner Temple in 1733.
826
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
business, and from him to Paul’s School, it being Apposition-
day there. I heard some of their speeches, and they were just as
schoolboys’ used to be, of the seven liberal sciences; but I think
not so good as ours were in our time. Away thence and to Bow
Church, to the Court of Arches, where a judge sits, and his proc-
tors about him in their habits, and their pleadings all in Latin.
Here I was sworn to give a true answer to my uncle’s libells, and
so paid my fee for swearing, and back again to Paul’s School,
and went up to see the head forms posed in Latin, Greek, and
Hebrew, but I think they did not answer in any so well as we did,
only in geography they did pretty well: Dr. Wilkins and Outram
were examiners. So down to the school, where Dr. Crumlum
did me much honour by telling many what a present I had made
to the school, shewing my Stephanus, in four volumes, cost me
£4 10s. He also shewed us, upon my desire, an old edition of
the grammar of Colett’s, where his epistle to the children is very
pretty; and in rehearsing the creed it is said “borne of the cleane
Virgin Mary.” Thence with Mr. Elborough (he being all of my
old acquaintance that I could meet with here) to a cook’s shop to
dinner, but I found him a fool, as he ever was, or worse. Thence
to my cozen Roger Pepys and Mr. Phillips about my law busi-
nesses, which stand very bad, and so home to the office, where
after doing some business I went home, where I found our new
mayde Mary, that is come in Jane’s place.
5th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
then home to dinner, and found it so well done, above what I did
expect from my mayde Susan, now Jane is gone, that I did call
her in and give her sixpence. Thence walked to the Temple, and
there at my cozen Roger Pepys’s chamber met by appointment
with my uncle Thomas and his son Thomas, and there I shewing
them a true state of my uncle’s estate as he has left it with the
debts, &c., lying upon it, we did come to some quiett talk and
fair offers against an agreement on both sides, though I do offer
quite to the losing of the profit of the whole estate for 8 or 10
years together, yet if we can gain peace, and set my mind at a
827
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
little liberty, I shall be glad of it. I did give them a copy of this
state, and we are to meet tomorrow with their answer. So walked
home, it being a very great frost still, and to my office, there late
writing letters of office business, and so home to supper and to
bed.
6th. Up and to my office about business, examining people
what they could swear against Field, and the whole is, that he
has called us cheating rogues and cheating knaves, for which we
hope to be even with him. Thence to Lincoln’s Inn Fields; and
it being too soon to go to dinner, I walked up and down, and
looked upon the outside of the new theatre, now a-building in
Covent Garden, which will be very fine. And so to a bookseller’s
in the Strand, and there bought Hudibras again, it being certainly
some ill humour to be so against that which all the world cries up
to be the example of wit; for which I am resolved once again to
read him, and see whether I can find it or no. So to Mr. Povy’s,
and there found them at dinner, and dined there, there being,
among others, Mr. Williamson, Latin Secretary, who, I perceive,
is a pretty knowing man and a scholler, but, it may be, thinks
himself to be too much so. Thence, after dinner, to the Temple,
to my cozen Roger Pepys, where met us my uncle Thomas and
his son; and, after many high demands, we at last came to a kind
of agreement upon very hard terms, which are to be prepared in
writing against Tuesday next. But by the way promising them to
pay my cozen Mary’s’ legacys at the time of her marriage, they
afterwards told me that she was already married, and married
very well, so that I must be forced to pay it in some time. My
cozen Roger was so sensible of our coming to agreement that he
could not forbear weeping, and, indeed, though it is very hard,
yet I am glad to my heart that we are like to end our trouble.
So we parted for to-night, and I to my Lord Sandwich and there
staid, there being a Committee to sit upon the contract for the
Mole, which I dare say none of us that were there understood,
but yet they agreed of things as Mr. Cholmely and Sir J. Lawson
demanded, who are the undertakers, and so I left them to go on
828
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
to agree, for I understood it not. So home, and being called by a
coachman who had a fare in him, he carried me beyond the Old
Exchange, and there set down his fare, who would not pay him
what was his due, because he carried a stranger with him, and
so after wrangling he was fain to be content with 6d., and being
vexed the coachman would not carry me home a great while,
but set me down there for the other 6d., but with fair words he
was willing to it, and so I came home and to my office, setting
business in order, and so to supper and to bed, my mind being
in disorder as to the greatness of this day’s business that I have
done, but yet glad that my trouble therein is like to be over.
7th. Up and to my office, whither by agreement Mr. Coven-
try came before the time of sitting to confer about preparing an
account of the extraordinary charge of the Navy since the King’s
coming, more than is properly to be applied and called the Navy
charge. So by and by we sat, and so till noon. Then home to din-
ner, and in the afternoon some of us met again upon something
relating to the victualling, and thence to my writing of letters late,
and making my Alphabet to my new Navy book very pretty. And
so after writing to my father by the post about the endeavour to
come to a composition with my uncle, though a very bad one,
desiring him to be contented therewith, I went home to supper
and to bed.
8th (Lord’s day). Up, and it being a very great frost, I walked to
White Hall, and to my Lord Sandwich’s by the fireside till chapel
time, and so to chappell, where there preached little Dr. Duport,
of Cambridge, upon Josiah’s words,–“But I and my house, we
will serve the Lord.” But though a great scholler, he made the
most flat dead sermon, both for matter and manner of delivery,
that ever I heard, and very long beyond his hour, which made
it worse. Thence with Mr. Creed to the King’s Head ordinary,
where we dined well, and after dinner Sir Thomas Willis and an-
other stranger, and Creed and I, fell a-talking; they of the errours
and corruption of the Navy, and great expence thereof, not know-
829
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
ing who I was, which at last I did undertake to confute, and dis-
abuse them: and they took it very well, and I hope it was to good
purpose, they being Parliament-men. By and by to my Lord’s,
and with him a good while talking upon his want of money, and
ways of his borrowing some, &c., and then by other visitants, I
withdrew and away, Creed and I and Captn. Ferrers to the Park,
and there walked finely, seeing people slide, we talking all the
while; and Captn. Ferrers telling me, among other Court pas-
sages, how about a month ago, at a ball at Court, a child was
dropped by one of the ladies in dancing, but nobody knew who,
it being taken up by somebody in their handkercher. The next
morning all the Ladies of Honour appeared early at Court for
their vindication, so that nobody could tell whose this mischance
should be. But it seems Mrs. Wells344 fell sick that afternoon, and
hath disappeared ever since, so that it is concluded that it was
her. Another story was how my Lady Castlemaine, a few days
since, had Mrs. Stuart to an entertainment, and at night began a
frolique that they two must be married, and married they were,
with ring and all other ceremonies of church service, and rib-
bands and a sack posset in bed, and flinging the stocking; but in
the close, it is said that my Lady Castlemaine, who was the bride-
groom, rose, and the King came and took her place with pretty
Mrs. Stuart. This is said to be very true. Another story was
how Captain Ferrers and W. Howe both have often, through my
Lady Castlemaine’s window, seen her go to bed and Sir Charles
Barkeley in the chamber all the while with her. But the other day
Captn. Ferrers going to Sir Charles to excuse his not being so
timely at his arms the other day, Sir Charles swearing and curs-
ing told him before a great many other gentlemen that he would
not suffer any man of the King’s Guards to be absent from his
lodging a night without leave. Not but that, says he, once a week
344 Winifred Wells, maid of honour to the Queen, who figures in the “Gram-
mont Memoirs.” The king is supposed to have been father of the child. A
similar adventure is told of Mary Kirke (afterwards married to Sir Thomas
Vernon), who figures in the “Grammont Memoirs” as Miss Warmestre.
830
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
or so I know a gentleman must go..., and I am not for denying
it to any man, but however he shall be bound to ask leave to lie
abroad, and to give account of his absence, that we may know
what guard the King has to depend upon. The little Duke of
Monmouth, it seems, is ordered to take place of all Dukes, and
so to follow Prince Rupert now, before the Duke of Buckingham,
or any else. Whether the wind and the cold did cause it or no
I know not, but having been this day or two mightily troubled
with an itching all over my body’ which I took to be a louse or
two that might bite me, I found this afternoon that all my body
is inflamed, and my face in a sad redness and swelling and pim-
pled, so that I was before we had done walking not only sick but
ashamed of myself to see myself so changed in my countenance,
so that after we had thus talked we parted and I walked home
with much ado (Captn. Ferrers with me as far as Ludgate Hill
towards Mr. Moore at the Wardrobe), the ways being so full of
ice and water by peoples’ trampling. At last got home and to
bed presently, and had a very bad night of it, in great pain in my
stomach, and in great fever.
9th. Could not rise and go to the Duke, as I should have done
with the rest, but keep my bed and by the Apothecary’s advice,
Mr. Battersby, I am to sweat soundly, and that will carry all this
matter away which nature would of itself eject, but they will as-
sist nature, it being some disorder given the blood, but by what
I know not, unless it be by my late quantitys of Dantzic-girkins
that I have eaten. In the evening came Sir J. Minnes and Sir W.
Batten to see me, and Sir J. Minnes advises me to the same thing,
but would not have me take anything from the apothecary, but
from him, his Venice treacle being better than the others, which I
did consent to and did anon take and fell into a great sweat, and
about 10 or 11 o’clock came out of it and shifted myself, and slept
pretty well alone, my wife lying in the red chamber above.
10th. In the morning most of my disease, that is, itching and
pimples, were gone. In the morning visited by Mr. Coventry
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FEBRUARY 1662-1663
and others, and very glad I am to see that I am so much inquired
after and my sickness taken notice of as I did. I keep my bed
all day and sweat again at night, by which I expect to be very
well to-morrow. This evening Sir W. Warren came himself to the
door and left a letter and box for me, and went his way. His
letter mentions his giving me and my wife a pair of gloves; but,
opening the box, we found a pair of plain white gloves for my
hand, and a fair state dish of silver, and cup, with my arms, ready
cut upon them, worth, I believe, about £18, which is a very noble
present, and the best I ever had yet. So after some contentful talk
with my wife, she to bed and I to rest.
11th. Took a clyster in the morning and rose in the afternoon.
My wife and I dined on a pullet and I eat heartily, having eat
nothing since Sunday but water gruel and posset drink, but must
needs say that our new maid Mary has played her part very well
in her readiness and discretion in attending me, of which I am
very glad. In the afternoon several people came to see me, my un-
cle Thomas, Mr. Creed, Sir J. Minnes (who has been, God knows
to what end, mighty kind to me and careful of me in my sick-
ness). At night my wife read Sir H. Vane’s tryall to me, which
she began last night, and I find it a very excellent thing, worth
reading, and him to have been a very wise man. So to supper
and to bed.
12th. Up and find myself pretty well, and so to the office, and
there all the morning. Rose at noon and home to dinner in my
green chamber, having a good fire. Thither there came my wife’s
brother and brought Mary Ashwell with him, whom we find a
very likely person to please us, both for person, discourse, and
other qualitys. She dined with us, and after dinner went away
again, being agreed to come to us about three weeks or a month
hence. My wife and I well pleased with our choice, only I pray
God I may be able to maintain it. Then came an old man from
Mr. Povy, to give me some advice about his experience in the
stone, which I [am] beholden to him for, and was well pleased
832
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
with it, his chief remedy being Castle soap in a posset. Then in
the evening to the office, late writing letters and my Journall since
Saturday, and so home to supper and to bed.
13th. Lay very long with my wife in bed talking with great
pleasure, and then rose. This morning Mr. Cole, our timber mer-
chant, sent me five couple of ducks. Our maid Susan is very ill,
and so the whole trouble of the house lies upon our maid Mary,
who do it very contentedly and mighty well, but I am sorry she
is forced to it. Dined upon one couple of ducks to-day, and af-
ter dinner my wife and I by coach to Tom’s, and I to the Temple
to discourse with my cozen Roger Pepys about my law business,
and so back again, it being a monstrous thaw after the long great
frost, so that there is no passing but by coach in the streets, and
hardly that. Took my wife home, and I to my office. Find my-
self pretty well but fearful of cold, and so to my office, where late
upon business; Mr. Bland sitting with me, talking of my Lord
Windsor’s being come home from Jamaica, unlooked-for; which
makes us think that these young Lords are not fit to do any ser-
vice abroad, though it is said that he could not have his health
there, but hath razed a fort of the King of Spain upon Cuba,
which is considerable, or said to be so, for his honour. So home
to supper and to bed. This day I bought the second part of Dr.
Bates’s Elenchus, which reaches to the fall of Richard, and no
further, for which I am sorry. This evening my wife had a great
mind to choose Valentines against to-morrow, I Mrs. Clerke, or
Pierce, she Mr. Hunt or Captain Ferrers, but I would not because
of getting charge both to me for mine and to them for her, which
did not please her.
14th. Up and to my office, where we met and sate all the morn-
ing, only Mr. Coventry, which I think is the first or second time he
has missed since he came to the office, was forced to be absent. So
home to dinner, my wife and I upon a couple of ducks, and then
by coach to the Temple, where my uncle Thomas, and his sons
both, and I, did meet at my cozen Roger’s and there sign and
833
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
seal to an agreement. Wherein I was displeased at nothing but
my cozen Roger’s insisting upon my being obliged to settle upon
them as the will do all my uncle’s estate that he has left, without
power of selling any for the payment of debts, but I would not
yield to it without leave of selling, my Lord Sandwich himself
and my cozen Thos. Pepys being judges of the necessity thereof,
which was done. One thing more that troubles me was my being
forced to promise to give half of what personal estate could be
found more than £372, which I reported to them, which though I
do not know it to be less than what we really have found, yet he
would have been glad to have been at liberty for that, but at last
I did agree to it under my own handwriting on the backside of
the report I did make and did give them of the estate, and have
taken a copy of it upon the backside of one that I have. All be-
ing done I took the father and his son Thos. home by coach, and
did pay them £30, the arrears of the father’s annuity, and with
great seeming love parted, and I presently to bed, my head ake-
ing mightily with the hot dispute I did hold with my cozen Roger
and them in the business.
15th (Lord’s day). This morning my wife did wake me being
frighted with the noise I made in my sleep, being a dream that
one of our sea maisters did desire to see the St. John’s Isle of my
drawing, which methought I showed him, but methought he did
handle it so hard that it put me to very horrid pain.... Which what
a strange extravagant dream it was. So to sleep again and lay
long in bed, and then trimmed by the barber, and so sending Will
to church, myself staid at home, hanging up in my green chamber
my picture of the Soveraigne, and putting some things in order
there. So to dinner, to three more ducks and two teals, my wife
and I. Then to Church, where a dull sermon, and so home, and
after walking about the house awhile discoursing with my wife,
I to my office there to set down something and to prepare busi-
nesses for tomorrow, having in the morning read over my vows,
which through sicknesse I could not do the last Lord’s day, and
not through forgetfulness or negligence, so that I hope it is no
834
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breach of my vow not to pay my forfeiture. So home, and after
prayers to bed, talking long with my wife and teaching her things
in astronomy.
16th. Up and by coach with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes to
White Hall, and, after we had done our usual business with the
Duke, to my Lord Sandwich and by his desire to Sir W. Wheeler,
who was brought down in a sedan chair from his chamber, being
lame of the gout, to borrow £1000 of him for my Lord’s occasions,
but he gave me a very kind denial that he could not, but if any
body else would, he would be bond with my Lord for it. So to
Westminster Hall, and there find great expectation what the Par-
liament will do, when they come two days hence to sit again, in
matters of religion. The great question is, whether the Presbyters
will be contented to have the Papists have the same liberty of
conscience with them, or no, or rather be denied it themselves:
and the Papists, I hear, are very busy designing how to make
the Presbyters consent to take their liberty, and to let them have
the same with them, which some are apt to think they will. It
seems a priest was taken in his vests officiating somewhere in
Holborn the other day, and was committed by Secretary Morris,
according to law; and they say the Bishop of London did give
him thanks for it. Thence to my Lord Crew’s and dined there,
there being much company, and the above-said matter is now
the present publique discourse. Thence about several businesses
to Mr. Phillips my attorney, to stop all proceedings at law, and
so to the Temple, where at the Solicitor General’s I found Mr.
Cholmely and Creed reading to him the agreement for him to
put into form about the contract for the Mole at Tangier, which
is done at 13s. the Cubical yard, though upon my conscience not
one of the Committee, besides the parties concerned, do under-
stand what they do therein, whether they give too much or too
little. Thence with Mr. Creed to see Mr. Moore, who continues
sick still, within doors, and here I staid a good while after him
talking of all the things either business or no that came into my
mind, and so home and to see Sir W. Pen, and sat and played
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FEBRUARY 1662-1663
at cards with him, his daughter, and Mrs. Rooth, and so to my
office a while, and then home and to bed.
17th. Up and to my office, and there we sat all the morning,
and at noon my wife being gone to Chelsey with her brother and
sister and Mrs. Lodum, to see the wassell at the school, where
Mary Ashwell is, I took home Mr. Pett and he dined with me all
alone, and much discourse we had upon the business of the of-
fice, and so after dinner broke up and with much ado, it raining
hard, which it has not done a great while now, but only frost
a great while, I got a coach and so to the Temple, where dis-
coursed with Mr. W. Montagu about borrowing some money for
my Lord, and so by water (where I have not been a good while
through cold) to Westminster to Sir W. Wheeler’s, whom I found
busy at his own house with the Commissioners of Sewers, but I
spoke to him about my Lord’s business of borrowing money, and
so to my Lord of Sandwich, to give him an account of all, whom
I found at cards with Pickering; but he made an end soon: and so
all alone, he and I, after I had given him an account, he told me
he had a great secret to tell me, such as no flesh knew but him-
self, nor ought; which was this: that yesterday morning Eschar,
Mr. Edward Montagu’s man, did come to him from his master
with some of the Clerks of the Exchequer, for my Lord to sign to
their books for the Embassy money; which my Lord very civilly
desired not to do till he had spoke with his master himself. In
the afternoon, my Lord and my Lady Wright being at cards in
his chamber, in comes Mr. Montagu; and desiring to speak with
my Lord at the window in his chamber, he begun to charge my
Lord with the greatest ingratitude in the world: that he that had
received his earldom, garter, £4000 per annum, and whatever he
is in the world, from him, should now study him all the dishon-
our that he could; and so fell to tell my Lord, that if he should
speak all that he knew of him, he could do so and so. In a word,
he did rip up all that could be said that was unworthy, and in
the basest terms they could be spoken in. To which my Lord an-
swered with great temper, justifying himself, but endeavouring
836
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to lessen his heat, which was a strange temper in him, knowing
that he did owe all he hath in the world to my Lord, and that he
is now all that he is by his means and favour. But my Lord did
forbear to increase the quarrel, knowing that it would be to no
good purpose for the world to see a difference in the family; but
did allay him so as that he fell to weeping. And after much talk
(among other things Mr. Montagu telling him that there was a
fellow in the town, naming me, that had done ill offices, and that
if he knew it to be so, he would have him cudgelled) my Lord
did promise him that, if upon account he saw that there was not
many tradesmen unpaid, he would sign the books; but if there
was, he could not bear with taking too great a debt upon him.
So this day he sent him an account, and a letter assuring him
there was not above £200 unpaid; and so my Lord did sign to
the Exchequer books. Upon the whole, I understand fully what
a rogue he is, and how my Lord do think and will think of him
for the future; telling me that thus he has served his father my
Lord Manchester, and his whole family, and now himself: and
which is worst, that he hath abused, and in speeches every day
do abuse, my Lord Chancellor, whose favour he hath lost; and
hath no friend but Sir H. Bennet, and that (I knowing the rise of
the friendship) only from the likeness of their pleasures, and ac-
quaintance, and concernments, they have in the same matters of
lust and baseness; for which, God forgive them! But he do flat-
ter himself, from promises of Sir H. Bennet, that he shall have a
pension of £2000 per annum, and be made an Earl. My Lord told
me he expected a challenge from him, but told me there was no
great fear of him, for there was no man lies under such an im-
putation as he do in the business of Mr. Cholmely, who, though
a simple sorry fellow, do brave him and struts before him with
the Queen, to the sport and observation of the whole Court. He
did keep my Lord at the window, thus reviling and braving him
above an hour, my Lady Wright being by; but my Lord tells me
she could not hear every word, but did well know what their
discourse was; she could hear enough to know that. So that he
837
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commands me to keep it as the greatest secret in the world, and
bids me beware of speaking words against Mr. Montagu, for fear
I should suffer by his passion thereby. After he had told me this
I took coach and home, where I found my wife come home and
in bed with her sister in law in the chamber with her, she not
being able to stay to see the wassel, being so ill..., which I was
sorry for. Hither we sent for her sister’s viall, upon which she
plays pretty well for a girl, but my expectation is much deceived
in her, not only for that, but in her spirit, she being I perceive a
very subtle witty jade, and one that will give her husband trouble
enough as little as she is, whereas I took her heretofore for a very
child and a simple fool. I played also, which I have not done this
long time before upon any instrument, and at last broke up and I
to my office a little while, being fearful of being too much taken
with musique, for fear of returning to my old dotage thereon,
and so neglect my business as I used to do. Then home and to
bed. Coming home I brought Mr. Pickering as far as the Temple,
who tells me the story is very true of a child being dropped at the
ball at Court; and that the King had it in his closett a week after,
and did dissect it; and making great sport of it, said that in his
opinion it must have been a month and three hours old; and that,
whatever others think, he hath the greatest loss (it being a boy,
as he says), that hath lost a subject by the business. He tells me,
too, that the other story, of my Lady Castlemaine’s and Stuart’s
marriage, is certain, and that it was in order to the King’s coming
to Stuart, as is believed generally. He tells me that Sir H. Bennet
is a Catholique, and how all the Court almost is changed to the
worse since his coming in, they being afeard of him. And that
the Queen-Mother’s Court is now the greatest of all; and that our
own Queen hath little or no company come to her, which I know
also to be very true, and am sorry to see it.
18th. Up, leaving my wife sick as last night in bed. I to my
office all the morning, casting up with Captain Cocke their ac-
counts of 500 tons of hemp brought from Riga, and bought by
him and partners upon account, wherein are many things worth
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my knowledge. So at noon to dinner, taking Mr. Hater with me
because of losing them, and in the afternoon he and I alone at
the office, finishing our account of the extra charge of the Navy,
not properly belonging to the Navy, since the King’s coming in to
Christmas last; and all extra things being abated, I find that the
true charge of the Navy to that time hath been after the rate of
£374,743 a-year. I made an end by eleven o’clock at night, and so
home to bed almost weary. This day the Parliament met again,
after their long prorogation; but I know not any thing what they
have done, being within doors all day.
19th. Up and to my office, where abundance of business all the
morning. Dined by my wife’s bedside, she not being yet well.
We fell out almost upon my discourse of delaying the having of
Ashwell, where my wife believing that I have a mind to have
Pall, which I have not, though I could wish she did deserve to
be had. So to my office, where by and by we sat, this afternoon
being the first we have met upon a great while, our times being
changed because of the parliament sitting. Being rose, I to my
office till twelve at night, drawing out copies of the overcharge
of the Navy, one to send to Mr. Coventry early to-morrow. So
home and to bed, being weary, sleepy, and my eyes begin to fail
me, looking so long by candlelight upon white paper. This day I
read the King’s speech to the Parliament yesterday; which is very
short, and not very obliging; but only telling them his desire to
have a power of indulging tender consciences, not that he will
yield to have any mixture in the uniformity of the Church’s dis-
cipline; and says the same for the Papists, but declares against
their ever being admitted to have any offices or places of trust in
the kingdom; but, God knows, too many have.
20th. Up and by water with Commissioner Pett to Deptford,
and there looked over the yard, and had a call, wherein I am very
highly pleased with our new manner of call-books, being my in-
vention. Thence thinking to have gone down to Woolwich in the
Charles pleasure boat, but she run aground, it being almost low
839
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
water, and so by oars to the town, and there dined, and then to
the yard at Mr. Ackworth’s, discoursing with the officers of the
yard about their stores of masts, which was our chief business,
and having done something therein, took boat and to the plea-
sure boat, which was come down to fetch us back, and I could
have been sick if I would in going, the wind being very fresh, but
very pleasant it was, and the first time I have sailed in any one of
them. It carried us to Cuckold’s Point, and so by oars to the Tem-
ple, it raining hard, where missed speaking with my cosen Roger,
and so walked home and to my office; there spent the night till
bed time, and so home to supper and to bed.
21st. Up and to the office, where Sir J. Minnes (most of the
rest being at the Parliament-house), all the morning answering
petitions and other business. Towards noon there comes a man
in as if upon ordinary business, and shows me a writ from the
Exchequer, called a Commission of Rebellion, and tells me that I
am his prisoner in Field’s business; which methought did strike
me to the heart, to think that we could not sit in the middle of the
King’s business. I told him how and where we were employed,
and bid him have a care; and perceiving that we were busy, he
said he would, and did withdraw for an hour: in which time Sir
J. Minnes took coach and to Court, to see what he could do from
thence; and our solicitor against Field came by chance and told
me that he would go and satisfy the fees of the Court, and would
end the business. So he went away about that, and I staid in my
closett, till by and by the man and four more of his fellows came
to know what I would do; I told them stay till I heard from the
King or my Lord Chief Baron, to both whom I had now sent. With
that they consulted, and told me that if I would promise to stay
in the house they would go and refresh themselves, and come
again, and know what answer I had: so they away, and I home
to dinner, whither by chance comes Mr. Hawley and dined with
me. Before I had dined, the bayleys come back again with the
constable, and at the office knock for me, but found me not there;
and I hearing in what manner they were come, did forbear letting
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FEBRUARY 1662-1663
them know where I was; so they stood knocking and enquiring
for me. By and by at my parler-window comes Sir W. Batten’s
Mungo, to tell me that his master and lady would have me come
to their house through Sir J. Minnes’s lodgings, which I could not
do; but, however, by ladders, did get over the pale between our
yards, and so to their house, where I found them (as they have
reason) to be much concerned for me, my lady especially. The
fellows staid in the yard swearing with one or two constables,
and some time we locked them into the yard, and by and by let
them out again, and so kept them all the afternoon, not letting
them see me, or know where I was. One time I went up to the
top of Sir W. Batten’s house, and out of one of their windows
spoke to my wife out of one of ours; which methought, though I
did it in mirth, yet I was sad to think what a sad thing it would
be for me to be really in that condition. By and by comes Sir J.
Minnes, who (like himself and all that he do) tells us that he can
do no good, but that my Lord Chancellor wonders that we did
not cause the
seamen to fall about their ears: which we wished we could
have done without our being seen in it; and Captain Grove being
there, he did give them some affront, and would have got some
seamen to have drubbed them, but he had not time, nor did we
think it fit to have done it, they having executed their commis-
sion; but there was occasion given that he did draw upon one
of them and he did complain that Grove had pricked him in the
breast, but no hurt done; but I see that Grove would have done
our business to them if we had bid him. By and by comes Mr.
Clerke, our solicitor, who brings us a release from our adverse
atturney, we paying the fees of the commission, which comes to
five marks, and pay the charges of these fellows, which are called
the commissioners, but are the most rake-shamed rogues that
ever I saw in my life; so he showed them this release, and they
seemed satisfied, and went away with him to their atturney to be
paid by him. But before they went, Sir W. Batten and my lady
did begin to taunt them, but the rogues answered them as high
841
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as themselves, and swore they would come again, and called me
rogue and rebel, and they would bring the sheriff and untile his
house, before he should harbour a rebel in his house, and that
they would be here again shortly. Well, at last they went away,
and I by advice took occasion to go abroad, and walked through
the street to show myself among the neighbours, that they might
not think worse than the business is. Being met by Captn. Taylor
and Bowry, whose ship we have hired for Tangier, they walked
along with me to Cornhill talking about their business, and after
some difference about their prices we agreed, and so they would
have me to a tavern, and there I drank one glass of wine and dis-
coursed of something about freight of a ship that may bring me a
little money, and so broke up, and I home to Sir W. Batten’s again,
where Sir J. Lawson, Captain Allen, Spragg, and several others,
and all our discourse about the disgrace done to our office to be
liable to this trouble, which we must get removed. Hither comes
Mr. Clerke by and by, and tells me that he hath paid the fees
of the Court for the commission; but the men are not contented
with under; £5 for their charges, which he will not give them,
and therefore advises me not to stir abroad till Monday that he
comes or sends to me again, whereby I shall not be able to go to
White Hall to the Duke of York, as I ought. Here I staid vexing,
and yet pleased to see every body, man and woman, my Lady
and Mr. Turner especially, for me, till 10 at night; and so home,
where my people are mightily surprized to see this business, but
it troubles me not very much, it being nothing touching my par-
ticular person or estate. Being in talk to-day with Sir W. Batten he
tells me that little is done yet in the Parliament-house, but only
this day it was moved and ordered that all the members of the
House do subscribe to the renouncing of the Covenant, which is
thought will try some of them. There is also a bill brought in for
the wearing of nothing but cloth or stuffs of our own manufac-
ture, and is likely to be passed. Among other talk this evening,
my lady did speak concerning Commissioner Pett’s calling the
present King bastard, and other high words heretofore; and Sir
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FEBRUARY 1662-1663
W. Batten did tell us, that he did give the Duke or Mr. Coventry
an account of that and other like matters in writing under oath, of
which I was ashamed, and for which I was sorry, but I see there
is an absolute hatred never to be altered there, and Sir J. Minnes,
the old coxcomb, has got it by the end, which troubles me for the
sake of the King’s service, though I do truly hate the expressions
laid to him. To my office and set down this day’s journall, and
so home with my mind out of order, though not very sad with
it, but ashamed for myself something, and for the honour of the
office much more. So home and to bed.
22d (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed and went not out all day; but
after dinner to Sir W. Batten’s and Sir W. Pen’s, where discoursing
much of yesterday’s trouble and scandal; but that which troubled
me most was Sir J. Minnes coming from Court at night, and in-
stead of bringing great comfort from thence (but I expected no
better from him), he tells me that the Duke and Mr. Coventry
make no great matter of it. So at night discontented to prayers,
and to bed.
23d. Up by times; and not daring to go by land, did (Griffin
going along with me for fear), slip to White Hall by water; where
to Mr. Coventry, and, as we used to do, to the Duke; the other
of my fellows being come. But we said nothing of our business,
the Duke being sent for to the King, that he could not stay to
speak with us. This morning came my Lord Windsor to kiss the
Duke’s hand, being returned from Jamaica. He tells the Duke,
that from such a degree of latitude going thither he begun to be
sick, and was never well till his coming so far back again, and
then presently begun to be well. He told the Duke of their tak-
ing the fort of St. Jago, upon Cuba, by his men; but, upon the
whole, I believe that he did matters like a young lord, and was
weary of being upon service out of his own country, where he
might have pleasure. For methought it was a shame to see him
this very afternoon, being the first day of his coming to town, to
be at a playhouse. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, who though he
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has been abroad again two or three days is falling ill again, and
is let blood this morning, though I hope it is only a great cold
that he has got. It was a great trouble to me (and I had great ap-
prehensions of it) that my Lord desired me to go to Westminster
Hall, to the Parliament-house door, about business; and to Sir
Wm. Wheeler, which I told him I would do, but durst not go for
fear of being taken by these rogues; but was forced to go to White
Hall and take boat, and so land below the Tower at the Iron-gate;
and so the back way over Little Tower Hill; and with my cloak
over my face, took one of the watermen along with me, and staid
behind a wall in the New-buildings behind our garden, while he
went to see whether any body stood within the Merchants’ Gate,
under which we pass to go into our garden, and there standing
but a little dirty boy before the gate, did make me quake and
sweat to think he might be a Trepan. But there was nobody, and
so I got safe into the garden, and coming to open my office door,
something behind it fell in the opening, which made me start.
So that God knows in what a sad condition I should be in if I
were truly in the condition that many a poor man is for debt:
and therefore ought to bless God that I have no such reall reason,
and to endeavour to keep myself, by my good deportment and
good husbandry, out of any such condition. At home I found Mr.
Creed with my wife, and so he dined with us, I finding by a note
that Mr. Clerke in my absence hath left here, that I am free; and
that he hath stopped all matters in Court; I was very glad of it,
and immediately had a light thought of taking pleasure to rejoice
my heart, and so resolved to take my wife to a play at Court to-
night, and the rather because it is my birthday, being this day
thirty years old, for which let me praise God. While my wife
dressed herself, Creed and I walked out to see what play was
acted to-day, and we find it “The Slighted Mayde.” But, Lord! to
see that though I did know myself to be out of danger, yet I durst
not go through the street, but round by the garden into Tower
Street. By and by took coach, and to the Duke’s house, where
we saw it well acted, though the play hath little good in it, be-
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ing most pleased to see the little girl dance in boy’s apparel, she
having very fine legs, only bends in the hams, as I perceive all
women do. The play being done, we took coach and to Court,
and there got good places, and saw “The Wilde Gallant,” per-
formed by the King’s house, but it was ill acted, and the play so
poor a thing as I never saw in my life almost, and so little an-
swering the name, that from beginning to end, I could not, nor
can at this time, tell certainly which was the Wild Gallant. The
King did not seem pleased at all, all the whole play, nor any body
else, though Mr. Clerke whom we met here did commend it to
us. My Lady Castlemaine was all worth seeing tonight, and lit-
tle Steward.–[Mrs. Stuart]–Mrs. Wells do appear at Court again,
and looks well; so that, it may be, the late report of laying the
dropped child to her was not true. It being done, we got a coach
and got well home about 12 at night. Now as my mind was but
very ill satisfied with these two plays themselves, so was I in
the midst of them sad to think of the spending so much money
and venturing upon the breach of my vow, which I found myself
sorry for, I bless God, though my nature would well be contented
to follow the pleasure still. But I did make payment of my forfei-
ture presently, though I hope to save it back again by forbearing
two plays at Court for this one at the Theatre, or else to forbear
that to the Theatre which I am to have at Easter. But it being my
birthday and my day of liberty regained to me, and lastly, the
last play that is likely to be acted at Court before Easter, because
of the Lent coming in, I was the easier content to fling away so
much money. So to bed. This day I was told that my Lady Castle-
maine hath all the King’s Christmas presents, made him by the
peers, given to her, which is a most abominable thing; and that at
the great ball she was much richer in jewells than the Queen and
Duchess put both together.
24th. Slept hard till 8 o’clock, then waked by Mr. Clerke’s be-
ing come to consult me about Field’s business, which we did by
calling him up to my bedside, and he says we shall trounce him.
Then up, and to the office, and at 11 o’clock by water to West-
845
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
minster, and to Sir W. Wheeler’s about my Lord’s borrowing of
money that I was lately upon with him, and then to my Lord,
who continues ill, but will do well I doubt not. Among other
things, he tells me that he hears the Commons will not agree to
the King’s late declaration, nor will yield that the Papists have
any ground given them to raise themselves up again in England,
which I perceive by my Lord was expected at Court. Thence
home again by water presently, and with a bad dinner, being not
looked for, to the office, and there we sat, and then Captn. Cocke
and I upon his hemp accounts till 9 at night, and then, I not very
well, home to supper and to bed. My late distemper of heat and
itching being come upon me again, so that I must think of sweat-
ing again as I did before.
25th. Up and to my office, where with Captain Cocke making
an end of his last night’s accounts till noon, and so home to din-
ner, my wife being come in from laying out about £4 in provision
of several things against Lent. In the afternoon to the Temple, my
brother’s, the Wardrobe, to Mr. Moore, and other places, called
at about small businesses, and so at night home to my office and
then to supper and to bed. The Commons in Parliament, I hear,
are very high to stand to the Act of Uniformity, and will not in-
dulge the Papists (which is endeavoured by the Court Party) nor
the Presbyters.
26th. Up and drinking a draft of wormewood wine with Sir
W. Batten at the Steelyard, he and I by water to the Parliament-
house: he went in, and I walked up and down the Hall. All the
news is the great odds yesterday in the votes between them that
are for the Indulgence to the Papists and Presbyters, and those
that are against it, which did carry it by 200 against 30. And
pretty it is to consider how the King would appear to be a stiff
Protestant and son of the Church; and yet would appear willing
to give a liberty to these people, because of his promise at Breda.
And yet all the world do believe that the King would not have
this liberty given them at all. Thence to my Lord’s, who, I hear,
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has his ague again, for which I am sorry, and Creed and I to the
King’s Head ordinary, where much good company. Among the
rest a young gallant lately come from France, who was full of
his French, but methought not very good, but he had enough to
make him think himself a wise man a great while. Thence by
water from the New Exchange home to the Tower, and so sat at
the office, and then writing letters till 11 at night. Troubled this
evening that my wife is not come home from Chelsey, whither
she is gone to see the play at the school where Ashwell is, but she
came at last, it seems, by water, and tells me she is much pleased
with Ashwell’s acting and carriage, which I am glad of. So home
and to supper and bed.
27th. Up and to my office, whither several persons came to
me about office business. About 11 o’clock, Commissioner Pett
and I walked to Chyrurgeon’s Hall (we being all invited thither,
and promised to dine there); where we were led into the Theatre;
and by and by comes the reader, Dr. Tearne, with the Master
and Company, in a very handsome manner: and all being set-
tled, he begun his lecture, this being the second upon the kid-
neys, ureters, &c., which was very fine; and his discourse be-
ing ended, we walked into the Hall, and there being great store
of company, we had a fine dinner and good learned company,
many Doctors of Phisique, and we used with extraordinary great
respect. Among other observables we drank the King’s health
out of a gilt cup given by King Henry VIII. to this Company, with
bells hanging at it, which every man is to ring by shaking after
he hath drunk up the whole cup. There is also a very excellent
piece of the King, done by Holbein, stands up in the Hall, with
the officers of the Company kneeling to him to receive their Char-
ter. After dinner Dr. Scarborough took some of his friends, and
I went along with them, to see the body alone, which we did,
which was a lusty fellow, a seaman, that was hanged for a rob-
bery. I did touch the dead body with my bare hand: it felt cold,
but methought it was a very unpleasant sight. It seems one Dil-
lon, of a great family, was, after much endeavours to have saved
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FEBRUARY 1662-1663
him, hanged with a silken halter this Sessions (of his own prepar-
ing), not for honour only, but it seems, it being soft and sleek, it
do slip close and kills, that is, strangles presently: whereas, a stiff
one do not come so close together, and so the party may live the
longer before killed. But all the Doctors at table conclude, that
there is no pain at all in hanging, for that it do stop the circula-
tion of the blood; and so stops all sense and motion in an instant.
Thence we went into a private room, where I perceive they pre-
pare the bodies, and there were the kidneys, ureters [&c.], upon
which he read to-day, and Dr. Scarborough upon my desire and
the company’s did show very clearly the manner of the disease
of the stone and the cutting and all other questions that I could
think of... how the water [comes] into the bladder through the
three skins or coats just as poor Dr. Jolly has heretofore told me.
Thence with great satisfaction to me back to the Company, where
I heard good discourse, and so to the afternoon Lecture upon
the heart and lungs, &c., and that being done we broke up, took
leave, and back to the office, we two, Sir W. Batten, who dined
here also, being gone before. Here late, and to Sir W. Batten’s to
speak upon some business, where I found Sir J. Minnes pretty
well fuddled I thought: he took me aside to tell me how being at
my Lord Chancellor’s to-day, my Lord told him that there was a
Great Seal passing for Sir W. Pen, through the impossibility of the
Comptroller’s duty to be performed by one man; to be as it were
joynt-comptroller with him, at which he is stark mad; and swears
he will give up his place, and do rail at Sir W. Pen the cruellest; he
I made shift to encourage as much as I could, but it pleased me
heartily to hear him rail against him, so that I do see thoroughly
that they are not like to be great friends, for he cries out against
him for his house and yard and God knows what. For my part,
I do hope, when all is done, that my following my business will
keep me secure against all their envys. But to see how the old
man do strut, and swear that he understands all his duty as eas-
ily as crack a nut, and easier, he told my Lord Chancellor, for his
teeth are gone; and that he understands it as well as any man in
848
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
England; and that he will never leave to record that he should be
said to be unable to do his duty alone; though, God knows, he
cannot do it more than a child. All this I am glad to see fall out
between them and myself safe, and yet I hope the King’s service
well done for all this, for I would not that should be hindered by
any of our private differences. So to my office, and then home to
supper and to bed.
28th. Waked with great pain in my right ear (which I find my-
self much subject to) having taken cold. Up and to my office,
where we sat all the morning, and I dined with Sir W. Batten
by chance, being in business together about a bargain of New
England masts. Then to the Temple to meet my uncle Thomas,
who I found there, but my cozen Roger not being come home I
took boat and to Westminster, where I found him in Parliament
this afternoon. The House have this noon been with the King
to give him their reasons for refusing to grant any indulgence
to Presbyters or Papists; which he, with great content and seem-
ing pleasure, took, saying, that he doubted not but he and they
should agree in all things, though there may seem a difference in
judgement, he having writ and declared for an indulgence: and
that he did believe never prince was happier in a House of Com-
mons, than he was in them. Thence he and I to my Lord Sand-
wich, who continues troubled with his cold. Our discourse most
upon the outing of Sir R. Bernard, and my Lord’s being made
Recorder of Huntingdon in his stead, which he seems well con-
tented with, saying, that it may be for his convenience to have
the chief officer of the town dependent upon him, which is very
true. Thence he and I to the Temple, but my uncle being gone we
parted, and I walked home, and to my office, and at nine o’clock
had a good supper of an oxe’s cheek, of my wife’s dressing and
baking, and so to my office again till past eleven at night, making
up my month’s account, and find that I am at a stay with what I
was last, that is £640. So home and to bed. Coming by, I put in at
White Hall, and at the Privy Seal I did see the docquet by which
Sir W. Pen is made the Comptroller’s assistant, as Sir J. Minnes
849
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
told me last night, which I must endeavour to prevent.
850
MARCH 1662-1663
March 1st (Lord’s day). Up and walked to White Hall, to the
Chappell, where preached one Dr. Lewes, said heretofore to have
been a great witt; but he read his sermon every word, and that so
brokenly and so low, that nobody could hear at any distance, nor
I anything worth hearing that sat near. But, which was strange,
he forgot to make any prayer before sermon, which all wonder at,
but they impute it to his forgetfulness. After sermon a very fine
anthem; so I up into the house among the courtiers, seeing the
fine ladies, and, above all, my Lady Castlemaine, who is above
all, that only she I can observe for true beauty. The King and
Queen being set to dinner I went to Mr. Fox’s, and there dined
with him. Much genteel company, and, among other things,
I hear for certain that peace is concluded between the King of
France and the Pope; and also I heard the reasons given by our
Parliament yesterday to the King why they dissent from him in
matter of Indulgence, which are very good quite through, and
which I was glad to hear. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, who con-
tinues with a great cold, locked up; and, being alone, we fell into
discourse of my uncle the Captain’s death and estate, and I took
the opportunity of telling my Lord how matters stand, and read
his will, and told him all, what a poor estate he hath left, at all
which he wonders strangely, which he may well do. Thence after
851
MARCH 1662-1663
singing some new tunes with W. Howe I walked home, whither
came Will. Joyce, whom I have not seen here a great while, nor
desire it a great while again, he is so impertinent a coxcomb, and
yet good natured, and mightily concerned for my brother’s late
folly in his late wooing at the charge to no purpose, nor could in
any probability expect it. He gone, we all to bed, without prayers,
it being washing day to-morrow.
2nd. Up early and by water with Commissioner Pett to Dept-
ford, and there took the Jemmy yacht (that the King and the
Lords virtuosos built the other day) down to Woolwich, where
we discoursed of several matters both there and at the Rope-
yard, and so to the yacht again, and went down four or five miles
with extraordinary pleasure, it being a fine day, and a brave gale
of wind, and had some oysters brought us aboard newly taken,
which were excellent, and ate with great pleasure. There also
coming into the river two Dutchmen, we sent a couple of men on
board and bought three Hollands cheeses, cost 4d. a piece, ex-
cellent cheeses, whereof I had two and Commissioner Pett one.
So back again to Woolwich, and going aboard the Hulke to see
the manner of the iron bridles, which we are making of for to
save cordage to put to the chain, I did fall from the shipside into
the ship (Kent), and had like to have broke my left hand, but I
only sprained some of my fingers, which, when I came ashore I
sent to Mrs. Ackworth for some balsam, and put to my hand,
and was pretty well within a little while after. We dined at the
White Hart with several officers with us, and after dinner went
and saw the Royal James brought down to the stern of the Docke
(the main business we came for), and then to the Ropeyard, and
saw a trial between Riga hemp and a sort of Indian grass, which
is pretty strong, but no comparison between it and the other for
strength, and it is doubtful whether it will take tarre or no. So
to the yacht again, and carried us almost to London, so by our
oars home to the office, and thence Mr. Pett and I to Mr. Grant’s
coffee-house, whither he and Sir J. Cutler came to us and had
much discourse, mixed discourse, and so broke up, and so home
852
MARCH 1662-1663
where I found my poor wife all alone at work, and the house foul,
it being washing day, which troubled me, because that tomorrow
I must be forced to have friends at dinner. So to my office, and
then home to supper and to bed.
3rd (Shrove Tuesday). Up and walked to the Temple, and by
promise calling Commissioner Pett, he and I to White Hall to give
Mr. Coventry an account of what we did yesterday. Thence I to
the Privy Seal Office, and there got a copy of Sir W. Pen’s grant
to be assistant to Sir J. Minnes, Comptroller, which, though there
be not much in it, yet I intend to stir up Sir J. Minnes to oppose,
only to vex Sir W. Pen. Thence by water home, and at noon, by
promise, Mrs. Turner and her daughter, and Mrs. Morrice, came
along with Roger Pepys to dinner. We were as merry as I could
be, having but a bad dinner for them; but so much the better,
because of the dinner which I must have at the end of this month.
And here Mrs. The. shewed me my name upon her breast as her
Valentine, which will cost me 20s. After dinner I took them down
into the wine-cellar, and broached my tierce of claret for them.
Towards the evening we parted, and I to the office awhile, and
then home to supper and to bed, the sooner having taken some
cold yesterday upon the water, which brings me my usual pain.
This afternoon Roger Pepys tells me, that for certain the King is
for all this very highly incensed at the Parliament’s late opposing
the Indulgence; which I am sorry for, and fear it will breed great
discontent.
4th. Lay long talking with my wife about ordering things in
our family, and then rose and to my office, there collecting an
alphabet for my Navy Manuscript, which, after a short dinner,
I returned to and by night perfected to my great content. So to
other business till 9 at night, and so home to supper and to bed.
5th. Rose this morning early, only to try with intention to begin
my last summer’s course in rising betimes. So to my office a little,
and then to Westminster by coach with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W.
Batten, in our way talking of Sir W. Pen’s business of his patent,
853
MARCH 1662-1663
which I think I have put a stop to wholly, for Sir J. Minnes swears
he will never consent to it. Here to the Lobby, and spoke with my
cozen Roger, who is going to Cambridge to-morrow. In the Hall
I do hear that the Catholiques are in great hopes for all this, and
do set hard upon the King to get Indulgence. Matters, I hear, are
all naught in Ireland, and that the Parliament has voted, and the
people, that is, the Papists, do cry out against the Commissioners
sent by the King; so that they say the English interest will be lost
there. Thence I went to see my Lord Sandwich, who I found very
ill, and by his cold being several nights hindered from sleep, he
is hardly able to open his eyes, and is very weak and sad upon
it, which troubled me much. So after talking with Mr. Cooke,
whom I found there, about his folly for looking and troubling me
and other friends in getting him a place (that is, storekeeper of the
Navy at Tangier) before there is any such thing, I returned to the
Hall, and thence back with the two knights home again by coach,
where I found Mr. Moore got abroad, and dined with me, which
I was glad to see, he having not been able to go abroad a great
while. Then came in Mr. Hawley and dined with us, and after
dinner I left them, and to the office, where we sat late, and I do
find that I shall meet with nothing to oppose my growing great
in the office but Sir W. Pen, who is now well again, and comes
into the office very brisk, and, I think, to get up his time that he
has been out of the way by being mighty diligent at the office,
which, I pray God, he may be, but I hope by mine to weary him
out, for I am resolved to fall to business as hard as I can drive,
God giving me health. At my office late, and so home to supper
and to bed.
6th. Up betimes, and about eight o’clock by coach with four
horses, with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten, to Woolwich, a pleas-
ant day. There at the yard we consulted and ordered several mat-
ters, and thence to the rope yard and did the like, and so into Mr.
Falconer’s, where we had some fish, which we brought with us,
dressed; and there dined with us his new wife, which had been
his mayde, but seems to be a genteel woman, well enough bred
854
MARCH 1662-1663
and discreet. Thence after dinner back to Deptford, where we did
as before, and so home, good discourse in our way, Sir J. Minnes
being good company, though a simple man enough as to the busi-
ness of his office, but we did discourse at large again about Sir
W. Pen’s patent to be his assistant, and I perceive he is resolved
never to let it pass. To my office, and thence to Sir W. Batten’s,
where Major Holmes was lately come from the Streights, but do
tell me strange stories of the faults of Cooper his master, put in
by me, which I do not believe, but am sorry to hear and must
take some course to have him removed, though I believe that the
Captain is proud, and the fellow is not supple enough to him.
So to my office again to set down my Journall, and so home and
to bed. This evening my boy Waynman’s brother was with me,
and I did tell him again that I must part with the boy, for I will
not keep him. He desires my keeping him a little longer till he
can provide for him, which I am willing for a while to do. This
day it seems the House of Commons have been very high against
the Papists, being incensed by the stir which they make for their
having an Indulgence; which, without doubt, is a great folly in
them to be so hot upon at this time, when they see how averse al-
ready the House have showed themselves from it. This evening
Mr. Povy was with me at my office, and tells me that my Lord
Sandwich is this day so ill that he is much afeard of him, which
puts me to great pain, not more for my own sake than for his
poor family’s.
7th. Up betimes, and to the office, where some of us sat all
the morning. At noon Sir W. Pen began to talk with me like a
counterfeit rogue very kindly about his house and getting bills
signed for all our works, but he is a cheating fellow, and so I let
him talk and answered nothing. So we parted. I to dinner, and
there met The. Turner, who is come on foot in a frolique to beg
me to get a place at sea for John, their man, which is a rogue; but,
however, it may be, the sea may do him good in reclaiming him,
and therefore I will see what I can do. She dined with me; and
after dinner I took coach, and carried her home; in our way, in
855
MARCH 1662-1663
Cheapside, lighting and giving her a dozen pair of white gloves
as my Valentine. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, who is gone to
Sir W. Wheeler’s for his more quiet being, where he slept well
last night, and I took him very merry, playing at cards, and much
company with him. So I left him, and Creed and I to Westminster
Hall, and there walked a good while. He told me how for some
words of my Lady Gerard’s345 against my Lady Castlemaine to
the Queen, the King did the other day affront her in going out to
dance with her at a ball, when she desired it as the ladies do, and
is since forbid attending the Queen by the King; which is much
talked of, my Lord her husband being a great favourite. Thence
by water home and to my office, wrote by the post and so home
to bed.
8th (Lord’s day). Being sent to by Sir J. Minnes to know
whether I would go with him to White Hall to-day, I rose but
could not get ready before he was gone, but however I walked
thither and heard Dr. King, Bishop of Chichester, make a good
and eloquent sermon upon these words, “They that sow in tears,
shall reap in joy.” Thence (the chappell in Lent being hung with
black, and no anthem sung after sermon, as at other times), to
my Lord Sandwich at Sir W. Wheeler’s. I found him out of or-
der, thinking himself to be in a fit of an ague, but in the afternoon
he was very cheery. I dined with Sir William, where a good but
short dinner, not better than one of mine commonly of a Sunday.
After dinner up to my Lord, there being Mr. Kumball. My Lord,
among other discourse, did tell us of his great difficultys passed
in the business of the Sound, and of his receiving letters from the
King there, but his sending them by Whetstone was a great folly;
345 Jane, wife of Lord Gerard (see ante, January 1st, 1662-63). The king
had previously put a slight upon Lady Gerard, probably at the instigation of
Lady Castlemaine, as the two ladies were not friends. On the 4th of January
of this same year Lady Gerard had given a supper to the king and queen,
when the king withdrew from the party and proceeded to the house of Lady
Castlemaine, and remained there throughout the evening (see Steinman’s
“Memoir of Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland,” 1871, p. 47).
856
MARCH 1662-1663
and the story how my Lord being at dinner with Sydney, one of
his fellow plenipotentiarys and his mortal enemy, did see Whet-
stone, and put off his hat three times to him, but the fellow would
not be known, which my Lord imputed to his coxcombly humour
(of which he was full), and bid Sydney take notice of him too,
when at the very time he had letters in his pocket from the King,
as it proved afterwards. And Sydney afterwards did find it out
at Copenhagen, the Dutch Commissioners telling him how my
Lord Sandwich had hired one of their ships to carry back Whet-
stone to Lubeck, he being come from Flanders from the King. But
I cannot but remember my Lord’s aequanimity in all these affairs
with admiration. Thence walked home, in my way meeting Mr.
Moore, with whom I took a turn or two in the street among the
drapers in Paul’s Churchyard, talking of business, and so home
to bed.
9th. Up betimes, to my office, where all the morning. About
noon Sir J. Robinson, Lord Mayor, desiring way through the gar-
den from the Tower, called in at the office and there invited me
(and Sir W. Pen, who happened to be in the way) to dinner, which
we did; and there had a great Lent dinner of fish, little flesh. And
thence he and I in his coach, against my will (for I am resolved
to shun too great fellowship with him) to White Hall, but came
too late, the Duke having been with our fellow officers before we
came, for which I was sorry. Thence he and I to walk one turn
in the Park, and so home by coach, and I to my office, where
late, and so home to supper and bed. There dined with us to-
day Mr. Slingsby, of the Mint, who showed us all the new pieces
both gold and silver (examples of them all), that are made for
the King, by Blondeau’s’ way; and compared them with those
made for Oliver. The pictures of the latter made by Symons, and
of the King by one Rotyr, a German, I think, that dined with us
also. He extolls those of Rotyr’s above the others; and, indeed,
I think they are the better, because the sweeter of the two; but,
upon my word, those of the Protector are more like in my mind,
than the King’s, but both very well worth seeing. The crowns of
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Cromwell are now sold, it seems, for 25s. and 30s. apiece.
10th. Up and to my office all the morning, and great pleasure
it is to be doing my business betimes. About noon Sir J. Minnes
came to me and staid half an hour with me in my office talking
about his business with Sir W. Pen, and (though with me an old
doter) yet he told me freely how sensible he is of Sir W. Pen’s
treachery in this business, and what poor ways he has taken all
along to ingratiate himself by making Mr. Turner write out things
for him and then he gives them to the Duke, and how he directed
him to give Mr. Coventry £100 for his place, but that Mr. Coven-
try did give him £20 back again. All this I am pleased to hear
that his knavery is found out. Dined upon a poor Lenten dinner
at home, my wife being vexed at a fray this morning with my
Lady Batten about my boy’s going thither to turn the watercock
with their maydes’ leave, but my Lady was mighty high upon it
and she would teach his mistress better manners, which my wife
answered aloud that she might hear, that she could learn little
manners of her. After dinner to my office, and there we sat all
the afternoon till 8 at night, and so wrote my letters by the post
and so before 9 home, which is rare with me of late, I staying
longer, but with multitude of business my head akes, and so I
can stay no longer, but home to supper and to bed.
11th. Up betimes, and to my office, walked a little in the gar-
den with Sir W. Batten, talking about the difference between his
Lady and my wife yesterday, and I doubt my wife is to blame.
About noon had news by Mr. Wood that Butler, our chief wit-
ness against Field, was sent by him to New England contrary to
our desire, which made me mad almost; and so Sir J. Minnes, Sir
W. Pen, and I dined together at Trinity House, and thither sent for
him to us and told him our minds, which he seemed not to value
much, but went away. I wrote and sent an express to Waltham-
stow to Sir W. Pen, who is gone thither this morning, to tell him
of it. However, in the afternoon Wood sends us word that he
has appointed another to go, who shall overtake the ship in the
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MARCH 1662-1663
Downes. So I was late at the office, among other things writing
to the Downes, to the Commander-in-Chief, and putting things
into the surest course I could to help the business. So home and
to bed.
12th. Up betimes and to my office all the morning with Cap-
tain Cocke ending their account of their Riga contract for hemp.
So home to dinner, my head full of business against the office.
After dinner comes my uncle Thomas with a letter to my father,
wherein, as we desire, he and his son do order their tenants to
pay their rents to us, which pleases me well. In discourse he tells
me my uncle Wight thinks much that I do never see them, and
they have reason, but I do apprehend that they have been too far
concerned with my uncle Thomas against us, so that I have had
no mind hitherto, but now I shall go see them. He being gone, I
to the office, where at the choice of maisters and chyrurgeons for
the fleet now going out, I did my business as I could wish, both
for the persons I had a mind to serve, and in getting the warrants
signed drawn by my clerks, which I was afeard of. Sat late, and
having done I went home, where I found Mary Ashwell come to
live with us, of whom I hope well, and pray God she may please
us, which, though it cost me something, yet will give me much
content. So to supper and to bed, and find by her discourse and
carriage to-night that she is not proud, but will do what she is
bid, but for want of being abroad knows not how to give the re-
spect to her mistress, as she will do when she is told it, she having
been used only to little children, and there was a kind of a mis-
tress over them. Troubled all night with my cold, I being quite
hoarse with it that I could not speak to be heard at all almost.
13th. Up pretty early and to my office all the morning busy. At
noon home to dinner expecting Ashwell’s father, who was here
in the morning and promised to come but he did not, but there
came in Captain Grove, and I found him to be a very stout man,
at least in his discourse he would be thought so, and I do think
that he is, and one that bears me great respect and deserves to
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MARCH 1662-1663
be encouraged for his care in all business. Abroad by water with
my wife and Ashwell, and left them at Mr. Pierce’s, and I to
Whitehall and St. James’s Park (there being no Commission for
Tangier sitting to-day as I looked for) where I walked an hour or
two with great pleasure, it being a most pleasant day. So to Mrs.
Hunt’s, and there found my wife, and so took them up by coach,
and carried them to Hide Park, where store of coaches and good
faces. Here till night, and so home and to my office to write by
the post, and so to supper and to bed.
14th. Up betimes and to my office, where we sat all the morn-
ing, and a great rant I did give to Mr. Davis, of Deptford, and
others about their usage of Michell, in his Bewpers,–[Bewpers is
the old name for bunting.]–which he serves in for flaggs, which
did trouble me, but yet it was in defence of what was truth. So
home to dinner, where Creed dined with me, and walked a good
while in the garden with me after dinner, talking, among other
things, of the poor service which Sir J. Lawson did really do in
the Streights, for which all this great fame and honour done him
is risen. So to my office, where all the afternoon giving maisters
their warrants for this voyage, for which I hope hereafter to get
something at their coming home. In the evening my wife and I
and Ashwell walked in the garden, and I find she is a pretty in-
genuous346 girl at all sorts of fine work, which pleases me very
well, and I hope will be very good entertainment for my wife
without much cost. So to write by the post, and so home to sup-
per and to bed.
15th (Lord’s day). Up and with my wife and her woman Ash-
well the first time to church, where our pew was so full with Sir J.
Minnes’s sister and her daughter, that I perceive, when we come
all together, some of us must be shut out, but I suppose we shall
come to some order what to do therein. Dined at home, and to
346 For ingenious. The distinction of the two words ingenious and ingen-
uous by which the former indicates mental, and the second moral qualities,
was not made in Pepys’s day.
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MARCH 1662-1663
church again in the afternoon, and so home, and I to my office till
the evening doing one thing or other and reading my vows as I
am bound every Lord’s day, and so home to supper and talk, and
Ashwell is such good company that I think we shall be very lucky
in her. So to prayers and to bed. This day the weather, which
of late has been very hot and fair, turns very wet and cold, and
all the church time this afternoon it thundered mightily, which I
have not heard a great while.
16th. Up very betimes and to my office, where, with several
Masters of the King’s ships, Sir J. Minnes and I advising upon
the business of Slopps, wherein the seaman is so much abused
by the Pursers, and that being done, then I home to dinner, and
so carried my wife to her mother’s, set her down and Ashwell
to my Lord’s lodging, there left her, and I to the Duke, where
we met of course, and talked of our Navy matters. Then to the
Commission of Tangier, and there, among other things, had my
Lord Peterborough’s Commission read over; and Mr. Secretary
Bennet did make his querys upon it, in order to the drawing one
for my Lord Rutherford more regularly, that being a very extrav-
agant thing. Here long discoursing upon my Lord Rutherford’s
despatch, and so broke up, and so going out of the Court I met
with Mr. Coventry, and so he and I walked half an hour in the
long Stone Gallery, where we discoursed of many things, among
others how the Treasurer doth intend to come to pay in course,
which is the thing of the world that will do the King the great-
est service in the Navy, and which joys my heart to hear of. He
tells me of the business of Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Pen, which I
knew before, but took no notice or little that I did know it. But
he told me it was chiefly to make Mr. Pett’s being joyned with
Sir W. Batten to go down the better, and do tell me how he well
sees that neither one nor the other can do their duties without
help. But however will let it fall at present without doing more
in it to see whether they will do their duties themselves, which
he will see, and saith they do not. We discoursed of many other
things to my great content and so parted, and I to my wife at my
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MARCH 1662-1663
Lord’s lodgings, where I heard Ashwell play first upon the harp-
sicon, and I find she do play pretty well, which pleaseth me very
well. Thence home by coach, buying at the Temple the printed
virginal-book for her, and so home and to my office a while, and
so home and to supper and to bed.
17th. Up betimes and to my office a while, and then home and
to Sir W. Batten, with whom by coach to St. Margaret’s Hill in
Southwark, where the judge of the Admiralty came, and the rest
of the Doctors of the Civill law, and some other Commissioners,
whose Commission of Oyer and Terminer was read, and then
the charge, given by Dr. Exton, which methought was somewhat
dull, though he would seem to intend it to be very rhetoricall,
saying that justice had two wings, one of which spread itself over
the land, and the other over the water, which was this Admiralty
Court. That being done, and the jury called, they broke up, and to
dinner to a tavern hard by, where a great dinner, and I with them;
but I perceive that this Court is yet but in its infancy (as to its ris-
ing again), and their design and consultation was, I could over-
hear them, how to proceed with the most solemnity, and spend
time, there being only two businesses to do, which of themselves
could not spend much time. In the afternoon to the court again,
where, first, Abraham, the boatswain of the King’s pleasure boat,
was tried for drowning a man; and next, Turpin, accused by our
wicked rogue Field, for stealing the King’s timber; but after full
examination, they were both acquitted, and as I was glad of the
first, for the saving the man’s life, so I did take the other as a very
good fortune to us; for if Turpin had been found guilty, it would
have sounded very ill in the ears of all the world, in the business
between Field and us. So home with my mind at very great ease,
over the water to the Tower, and thence, there being nobody at
the office, we being absent, and so no office could be kept. Sir W.
Batten and I to my Lord Mayor’s, where we found my Lord with
Colonel Strangways and Sir Richard Floyd, Parliament-men, in
the cellar drinking, where we sat with them, and then up; and
by and by comes in Sir Richard Ford. In our drinking, which
862
MARCH 1662-1663
was always going, we had many discourses, but from all of them
I do find Sir R. Ford a very able man of his brains and tongue,
and a scholler. But my Lord Mayor I find to be a talking, brag-
ging Bufflehead, a fellow that would be thought to have led all
the City in the great business of bringing in the King, and that
nobody understood his plots, and the dark lanthorn he walked
by; but led them and plowed with them as oxen and asses (his
own words) to do what he had a mind when in every discourse
I observe him to be as very a coxcomb as I could have thought
had been in the City. But he is resolved to do great matters in
pulling down the shops quite through the City, as he hath done
in many places, and will make a thorough passage quite through
the City, through Canning-street, which indeed will be very fine.
And then his precept, which he, in vain-glory, said he had drawn
up himself, and hath printed it, against coachmen and carrmen
affronting of the gentry in the street; it is drawn so like a fool, and
some faults were openly found in it, that I believe he will have
so much wit as not to proceed upon it though it be printed. Here
we staid talking till eleven at night, Sir R. Ford breaking to my
Lord our business of our patent to be justices of the Peace in the
City, which he stuck at mightily; but, however, Sir R. Ford knows
him to be a fool, and so in his discourse he made him appear,
and cajoled him into a consent to it: but so as I believe when he
comes to his right mind tomorrow he will be of another opinion;
and though Sir R. Ford moved it very weightily and neatly, yet
I had rather it had been spared now. But to see how he do rant,
and pretend to sway all the City in the Court of Aldermen, and
says plainly that they cannot do, nor will he suffer them to do,
any thing but what he pleases; nor is there any officer of the City
but of his putting in; nor any man that could have kept the City
for the King thus well and long but him. And if the country can
be preserved, he will undertake that the City shall not dare to stir
again. When I am confident there is no man almost in the City
cares a turd for him, nor hath he brains to outwit any ordinary
tradesman. So home and wrote a letter to Commissioner Pett to
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MARCH 1662-1663
Chatham by all means to compose the business between Major
Holmes and Cooper his master, and so to bed.
18th. Wake betimes and talk a while with my wife about a
wench that she has hired yesterday, which I would have enquired
of before she comes, she having lived in great families, and so up
and to my office, where all the morning, and at noon home to din-
ner. After dinner by water to Redriffe, my wife and Ashwell with
me, and so walked and left them at Halfway house; I to Deptford,
where up and down the store-houses, and on board two or three
ships now getting ready to go to sea, and so back, and find my
wife walking in the way. So home again, merry with our Ash-
well, who is a merry jade, and so awhile to my office, and then
home to supper, and to bed. This day my tryangle, which was
put in tune yesterday, did please me very well, Ashwell playing
upon it pretty well.
19th. Up betimes and to Woolwich all alone by water, where
took the officers most abed. I walked and enquired how all
matters and businesses go, and by and by to the Clerk of the
Cheque’s house, and there eat some of his good Jamaica brawne,
and so walked to Greenwich. Part of the way Deane walking
with me; talking of the pride and corruption of most of his fellow
officers of the yard, and which I believe to be true. So to Deptford,
where I did the same to great content, and see the people begin to
value me as they do the rest. At noon Mr. Wayth took me to his
house, where I dined, and saw his wife, a pretty woman, and had
a good fish dinner, and after dinner he and I walked to Redriffe
talking of several errors in the Navy, by which I learned a great
deal, and was glad of his company. So by water home, and by
and by to the office, where we sat till almost 9 at night. So after
doing my own business in my office, writing letters, &c., home
to supper, and to bed, being weary and vexed that I do not find
other people so willing to do business as myself, when I have
taken pains to find out what in the yards is wanting and fitting
to be done.
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MARCH 1662-1663
20th. Up betimes and over the water, and walked to Deptford,
where up and down the yarde, and met the two clerks of the
Cheques to conclude by our method their callbooks, which we
have done to great perfection, and so walked home again, where
I found my wife in great pain abed.... I staid and dined by her,
and after dinner walked forth, and by water to the Temple, and in
Fleet Street bought me a little sword, with gilt handle, cost 23s.,
and silk stockings to the colour of my riding cloth suit, cost I 5s.,
and bought me a belt there too, cost 15s., and so calling at my
brother’s I find he has got a new maid, very likely girl, I wish he
do not play the fool with her. Thence homewards, and meeting
with Mr. Kirton’s kinsman in Paul’s Church Yard, he and I to
a coffee-house; where I hear how there had like to have been a
surprizall of Dublin by some discontented protestants, and other
things of like nature; and it seems the Commissioners have car-
ried themselves so high for the Papists that the others will not
endure it. Hewlett and some others are taken and clapped up;
and they say the King hath sent over to dissolve the Parliament
there, who went very high against the Commissioners. Pray God
send all well! Hence home and in comes Captain Ferrers and
by and by Mr. Bland to see me and sat talking with me till 9 or
10 at night, and so good night. The Captain to bid my wife to
his child’s christening. So my wife being pretty well again and
Ashwell there we spent the evening pleasantly, and so to bed.
21st. Up betimes and to my office, where busy all the morn-
ing, and at noon, after a very little dinner, to it again, and by
and by, by appointment, our full board met, and Sir Philip War-
wick and Sir Robert Long came from my Lord Treasurer to speak
with us about the state of the debts of the Navy; and how to set-
tle it, so as to begin upon the new foundation of £200,000 per
annum, which the King is now resolved not to exceed. This dis-
course done, and things put in a way of doing, they went away,
and Captain Holmes being called in he began his high complaint
against his Master Cooper, and would have him forthwith dis-
charged. Which I opposed, not in his defence but for the justice
865
MARCH 1662-1663
of proceeding not to condemn a man unheard, upon [which] we
fell from one word to another that we came to very high terms,
such as troubled me, though all and the worst that I ever said was
that that was insolently or ill mannerdly spoken. When he told
me that it was well it was here that I said it. But all the officers,
Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and Sir W. Pen cried
shame of it. At last he parted and we resolved to bring the dis-
pute between him and his Master to a trial next week, wherein I
shall not at all concern myself in defence of any thing that is un-
handsome on the Master’s part nor willingly suffer him to have
any wrong. So we rose and I to my office, troubled though sensi-
ble that all the officers are of opinion that he has carried himself
very much unbecoming him. So wrote letters by the post, and
home to supper and to bed.
22d (Lord’s day). Up betimes and in my office wrote out our
bill for the Parliament about our being made justices of Peace in
the City. So home and to church, where a dull formall fellow
that prayed for the Right Hon. John Lord Barkeley, Lord Presi-
dent of Connaught, &c. So home to dinner, and after dinner my
wife and I and her woman by coach to Westminster, where be-
ing come too soon for the Christening we took up Mr. Creed and
went out to take some ayre, as far as Chelsey and further, I light-
ing there and letting them go on with the coach while I went to
the church expecting to see the young ladies of the school, Ash-
well desiring me, but I could not get in far enough, and so came
out and at the coach’s coming back went in again and so back to
Westminster, and led my wife and her to Captain Ferrers, and I
to my Lord Sandwich, and with him talking a good while; I find
the Court would have this Indulgence go on, but the Parliament
are against it. Matters in Ireland are full of discontent. Thence
with Mr. Creed to Captain Ferrers, where many fine ladies; the
house well and prettily furnished. She [Mrs. Ferrers] lies in, in
great state, Mr. G. Montagu, Collonel Williams, Cromwell that
866
MARCH 1662-1663
was,347 and Mrs. Wright as proxy for my Lady Jemimah, were
witnesses. Very pretty and plentiful entertainment, could not get
away till nine at night, and so home. My coach cost me 7s. So to
prayers, and to bed. This day though I was merry enough yet I
could not get yesterday’s quarrel out of my mind, and a natural
fear of being challenged by Holmes for the words I did give him,
though nothing but what did become me as a principal officer.
23rd. Up betimes and to my office, before noon my wife and
I eat something, thinking to have gone abroad together, but in
comes Mr. Hunt, who we were forced to stay to dinner, and
so while that was got ready he and I abroad about 2 or 3 small
businesses of mine, and so back to dinner, and after dinner he
went away, and my wife and I and Ashwell by coach, set my
wife down at her mother’s and Ashwell at my Lord’s, she going
to see her father and mother, and I to Whitehall, being fearful al-
most, so poor a spirit I have, of meeting Major Holmes. By and by
the Duke comes, and we with him about our usual business, and
then the Committee for Tangier, where, after reading my Lord
Rutherford’s commission and consented to, Sir R. Ford, Sir W.
Rider, and I were chosen to bring in some laws for the Civill
government of it, which I am little able to do, but am glad to
be joyned with them, for I shall learn something of them. Thence
to see my Lord Sandwich, and who should I meet at the door
but Major Holmes. He would have gone away, but I told him
347 Colonel Williams–“Cromwell that was”–appears to have been Henry
Cromwell, grandson of Sir Oliver Cromwell, and first cousin, once removed,
to the Protector. He was seated at Bodsey House, in the parish of Ram-
sey, which had been his father’s residence, and held the commission of a
colonel. He served in several Parliaments for Huntingdonshire, voting, in
1660, for the restoration of the monarchy; and as he knew the name of
Cromwell would not be grateful to the Court, he disused it, and assumed
that of Williams, which had belonged to his ancestors; and he is so styled
in a list of knights of the proposed Order of the Royal Oak. He died at
Huntingdon, 3rd August, 1673. (Abridged from Noble’s “Memoirs of the
Cromwells,” vol. i., p. 70.)–B.
867
MARCH 1662-1663
I would not spoil his visitt, and would have gone, but however
we fell to discourse and he did as good as desire excuse for the
high words that did pass in his heat the other day, which I was
willing enough to close with, and after telling him my mind we
parted, and I left him to speak with my Lord, and I by coach
home, where I found Will. Howe come home to-day with my
wife, and staid with us all night, staying late up singing songs,
and then he and I to bed together in Ashwell’s bed and she with
my wife. This the first time that I ever lay in the room. This
day Greatorex brought me a very pretty weather-glass for heat
and cold.348 24th. Lay pretty long, that is, till past six o’clock,
and them up and W. Howe and I very merry together, till having
eat our breakfast, he went away, and I to my office. By and by
Sir J. Minnes and I to the Victualling Office by appointment to
meet several persons upon stating the demands of some people
of money from the King. Here we went into their Bakehouse, and
saw all the ovens at work, and good bread too, as ever I would
desire to eat. Thence Sir J. Minnes and I homewards calling at
Browne’s, the mathematician in the Minnerys, with a design of
buying White’s ruler to measure timber with, but could not agree
on the price. So home, and to dinner, and so to my office, where
we sat anon, and among other things had Cooper’s business tried
against Captain Holmes, but I find Cooper a fuddling, trouble-
some fellow, though a good artist, and so am contented to have
him turned out of his place, nor did I see reason to say one word
348 The thermometer was invented in the sixteenth century, but it is dis-
puted who the inventor was. The claims of Santorio are supported by Borelli
and Malpighi, while the title of Cornelius Drebbel is considered undoubted
by Boerhaave. Galileo’s air thermometer, made before 1597, was the founda-
tion of accurate thermometry. Galileo also invented the alcohol thermome-
ter about 1611 or 1612. Spirit thermometers were made for the Accademia
del Cimento, and described in the Memoirs of that academy. When the
academy was dissolved by order of the Pope, some of these thermometers
were packed away in a box, and were not discovered until early in the nine-
teenth century. Robert Hooke describes the manufacture and graduation of
thermometers in his “Micrographia” (1665).
868
MARCH 1662-1663
against it, though I know what they did against him was with
great envy and pride. So anon broke up, and after writing let-
ters, &c., home to supper and to bed.
25th (Lady-day). Up betimes and to my office, where all the
morning, at noon dined and to the Exchange, and thence to the
Sun Tavern, to my Lord Rutherford, and dined with him, and
some others, his officers, and Scotch gentlemen, of fine discourse
and education. My Lord used me with great respect, and dis-
coursed upon his business as with one that he did esteem of,
and indeed I do believe that this garrison is likely to come to
something under him. By and by he went away, forgetting to
take leave of me, my back being turned, looking upon the aviary,
which is there very pretty, and the birds begin to sing well this
spring. Thence home and to my office till night, reading over
and consulting upon the book and Ruler that I bought this morn-
ing of Browne concerning the lyne of numbers, in which I find
much pleasure. This evening came Captain Grove about hiring
ships for Tangier. I did hint to him my desire that I could make
some lawfull profit thereof, which he promises that he will tell
me of all that he gets and that I shall have a share, which I did
not demand, but did silently consent to it, and money I perceive
something will be got thereby. At night Mr. Bland came and sat
with me at my office till late, and so I home and to bed. This day
being washing day and my maid Susan ill, or would be thought
so, put my house so out of order that we had no pleasure almost
in anything, my wife being troubled thereat for want of a good
cook-maid, and moreover I cannot have my dinner as I ought in
memory of my being cut for the stone, but I must have it a day
or two hence.
26th. Up betimes and to my office, leaving my wife in bed to
take her physique, myself also not being out of some pain to-
day by some cold that I have got by the sudden change of the
weather from hot to cold. This day is five years since it pleased
God to preserve me at my being cut of the stone, of which I bless
869
MARCH 1662-1663
God I am in all respects well. Only now and then upon taking
cold I have some pain, but otherwise in very good health always.
But I could not get my feast to be kept to-day as it used to be,
because of my wife’s being ill and other disorders by my servants
being out of order. This morning came a new cook-maid at £4
per annum, the first time I ever did give so much, but we hope it
will be nothing lost by keeping a good cook. She did live last at
my Lord Monk’s house, and indeed at dinner did get what there
was very prettily ready and neat for me, which did please me
much. This morning my uncle Thomas was with me according
to agreement, and I paid him the £50, which was against my heart
to part with, and yet I must be contented; I used him very kindly,
and I desire to continue so voyd of any discontent as to my estate,
that I may follow my business the better. At the Change I met
him again, with intent to have met with my uncle Wight to have
made peace with him, with whom by my long absence I fear I
shall have a difference, but he was not there, so we missed. All
the afternoon sat at the office about business till 9 or 10 at night,
and so dispatch business and home to supper and to bed. My
maid Susan went away to-day, I giving her something for her
lodging and diet somewhere else a while that I might have room
for my new maid.
27th. Up betimes and at my office all the morning, at noon to
the Exchange, and there by appointment met my uncles Thomas
and Wight, and from thence with them to a tavern, and there
paid my uncle Wight three pieces of gold for himself, my aunt,
and their son that is dead, left by my uncle Robert, and read over
our agreement with my uncle Thomas and the state of our debts
and legacies, and so good friendship I think is made up between
us all, only we have the worst of it in having so much money
to pay. Thence I to the Exchequer again, and thence with Creed
into Fleet Street, and calling at several places about business; in
passing, at the Hercules pillars he and I dined though late, and
thence with one that we found there, a friend of Captain Ferrers
I used to meet at the playhouse, they would have gone to some
870
MARCH 1662-1663
gameing house, but I would not but parted, and staying a little in
Paul’s Churchyard, at the foreign Bookseller’s looking over some
Spanish books, and with much ado keeping myself from laying
out money there, as also with them, being willing enough to have
gone to some idle house with them, I got home, and after a while
at my office, to supper, and to bed.
28th. Up betimes and to my office, where all the morning.
Dined at home and Creed with me, and though a very cold day
and high wind, yet I took him by land to Deptford, my com-
mon walk, where I did some little businesses, and so home again
walking both forwards and backwards, as much along the street
as we could to save going by water. So home, and after being
a little while hearing Ashwell play on the tryangle, to my office,
and there late, writing a chiding letter–to my poor father about
his being so unwilling to come to an account with me, which I
desire he might do, that I may know what he spends, and how to
order the estate so as to pay debts and legacys as far as may be.
So late home to supper and to bed.
29th (Lord’s day). Waked as I used to do betimes, but being
Sunday and very cold I lay long, it raining and snowing very
hard, which I did never think it would have done any more this
year. Up and to church, home to dinner. After dinner in comes
Mr. Moore, and sat and talked with us a good while; among
other things telling me, that [neither] my Lord nor he are under
apprehensions of the late discourse in the House of Commons,
concerning resumption of Crowne lands, which I am very glad
of. He being gone, up to my chamber, where my wife and Ash-
well and I all the afternoon talking and laughing, and by and
by I a while to my office, reading over some papers which I
found in my man William’s chest of drawers, among others some
old precedents concerning the practice of this office heretofore,
which I am glad to find and shall make use of, among others an
oath, which the Principal Officers were bound to swear at their
entrance into their offices, which I would be glad were in use
871
MARCH 1662-1663
still. So home and fell hard to make up my monthly accounts,
letting my family go to bed after prayers. I staid up long, and
find myself, as I think, fully worth £670. So with good comfort to
bed, finding that though it be but little, yet I do get ground every
month. I pray God it may continue so with me.
30th. Up betimes and found my weather-glass sunk again just
to the same position which it was last night before I had any
fire made in my chamber, which had made it rise in two hours
time above half a degree. So to my office where all the morn-
ing and at the Glass-house, and after dinner by coach with Sir
W. Pen I carried my wife and her woman to Westminster, they to
visit Mrs. Ferrers and Clerke, we to the Duke, where we did our
usual business, and afterwards to the Tangier Committee, where
among other things we all of us sealed and signed the Contract
for building the Mole with my Lord Tiviott, Sir J. Lawson, and
Mr. Cholmeley. A thing I did with a very ill will, because a thing
which I did not at all understand, nor any or few of the whole
board. We did also read over the propositions for the Civill gov-
ernment and Law Merchant of the town, as they were agreed on
this morning at the Glasshouse by Sir R. Ford and Sir W. Rider,
who drew them, Mr. Povy and myself as a Committee appointed
to prepare them, which were in substance but not in the man-
ner of executing them independent wholly upon the Governor
consenting to. Thence to see my Lord Sandwich, who I found
very merry and every day better and better. So to my wife, who
waited my coming at my Lord’s lodgings, and took her up and
by coach home, where no sooner come but to bed, finding my-
self just in the same condition I was lately by the extreme cold
weather, my pores stopt and so my body all inflamed and itch-
ing. So keeping myself warm and provoking myself to a moder-
ate sweat, and so somewhat better in the morning,
31st. And to that purpose I lay long talking with my wife about
my father’s coming, which I expect to-day, coming up with the
horses brought up for my Lord. Up and to my office, where do-
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MARCH 1662-1663
ing business all the morning, and at Sir W. Batten’s, whither Mr.
Gauden and many others came to us about business. Then home
to dinner, where W. Joyce came, and he still a talking impertinent
fellow. So to the office again, and hearing by and by that Madam
Clerke, Pierce, and others were come to see my wife I stepped in
and staid a little with them, and so to the office again, where late,
and so home to supper and to bed.
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APRIL 1663
April 1st. Up betimes and abroad to my brother’s, but he be-
ing gone out I went to the Temple to my Cozen Roger Pepys, to
see and talk with him a little; who tells me that, with much ado,
the Parliament do agree to throw down Popery; but he says it
is with so much spite and passion, and an endeavour of bring-
ing all Non-conformists into the same condition, that he is afeard
matters will not yet go so well as he could wish. Thence back to
my brother’s, in my way meeting Mr. Moore and talking with
him about getting me some money, and calling at my brother’s
they tell me that my brother is still abroad, and that my father is
not yet up. At which I wondered, not thinking that he was come,
though I expected him, because I looked for him at my house.
So I up to his bedside and staid an hour or two talking with
him. Among other things he tells me how unquiett my mother
is grown, that he is not able to live almost with her, if it were not
for Pall. All other matters are as well as upon so hard conditions
with my uncle Thomas we can expect them. I left him in bed,
being very weary, to come to my house to-night or tomorrow,
when he pleases, and so I home, calling on the virginall maker,
buying a rest for myself to tune my tryangle, and taking one of
his people along with me to put it in tune once more, by which
I learned how to go about it myself for the time to come. So to
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APRIL 1663
dinner, my wife being lazily in bed all this morning. Ashwell and
I dined below together, and a pretty girl she is, and I hope will
give my wife and myself good content, being very humble and
active, my cook maid do also dress my meat very well and neatly.
So to my office all the afternoon till night, and then home, call-
ing at Sir W. Batten’s, where was Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Pen, I
telling them how by my letter this day from Commissioner Pett I
hear that his Stempeese349 he undertook for the new ship at Wool-
wich, which we have been so long, to our shame, in looking for,
do prove knotty and not fit for service. Lord! how Sir J. Minnes,
like a mad coxcomb, did swear and stamp, swearing that Com-
missioner Pett hath still the old heart against the King that ever
he had, and that this was his envy against his brother that was
to build the ship, and all the damnable reproaches in the world,
at which I was ashamed, but said little; but, upon the whole, I
find him still a fool, led by the nose with stories told by Sir W.
Batten, whether with or without reason. So, vexed in my mind to
see things ordered so unlike gentlemen, or men of reason, I went
home and to bed.
2nd. Up by very betimes and to my office, where all the morn-
ing till towards noon, and then by coach to Westminster Hall
with Sir W. Pen, and while he went up to the House I walked
in the Hall with Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, that I met there, talk-
ing about my business the other day with Holmes, whom I told
my mind, and did freely tell how I do depend upon my care and
diligence in my employment to bear me out against the pride of
Holmes or any man else in things that are honest, and much to
that purpose which I know he will make good use of. But he did
advise me to take as few occasions as I can of disobliging Com-
manders, though this is one that every body is glad to hear that
he do receive a check. By and by the House rises and I home
again with Sir W. Pen, and all the way talking of the same busi-
349 Stemples, cross pieces which are put into a frame of woodwork to cure
and strengthen a shaft.
875
APRIL 1663
ness, to whom I did on purpose tell him my mind freely, and let
him see that it must be a wiser man than Holmes (in these very
words) that shall do me any hurt while I do my duty. I to remem-
ber him of Holmes’s words against Sir J. Minnes, that he was a
knave, rogue, coward, and that he will kick him and pull him
by the ears, which he remembered all of them and may have oc-
casion to do it hereafter to his owne shame to suffer them to be
spoke in his presence without any reply but what I did give him,
which, has caused all this feud. But I am glad of it, for I would
now and then take occasion to let the world know that I will not
be made a novice. Sir W. Pen took occasion to speak about my
wife’s strangeness to him and his daughter, and that believing at
last that it was from his taking of Sarah to be his maid, he hath
now put her away, at which I am glad. He told me, that this
day the King hath sent to the House his concurrence wholly with
them against the Popish priests, Jesuits, &c., which gives great
content, and I am glad of it. So home, whither my father comes
and dines with us, and being willing to be merry with him I made
myself so as much as I could, and so to the office, where we sat all
the afternoon, and at night having done all my business I went
home to my wife and father, and supped, and so to bed, my fa-
ther lying with me in Ashwell’s bed in the red chamber.
3rd. Waked betimes and talked half an hour with my father,
and so I rose and to my office, and about 9 o’clock by water
from the Old Swan to White Hall and to chappell, which be-
ing most monstrous full, I could not go into my pew, but sat
among the quire. Dr. Creeton, the Scotchman, preached a most
admirable, good, learned, honest and most severe sermon, yet
comicall, upon the words of the woman concerning the Virgin,
“Blessed is the womb that bare thee (meaning Christ) and the
paps that gave thee suck; and he answered, Nay; rather is he
blessed that heareth the word of God, and keepeth it.” He railed
bitterly ever and anon against John Calvin, and his brood, the
Presbyterians, and against the present term, now in use, of “ten-
der consciences.” He ripped up Hugh Peters (calling him the exe-
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crable skellum–[A villain or scoundrel; the cant term for a thief.]–
), his preaching and stirring up the maids of the city to bring in
their bodkins and thimbles. Thence going out of White Hall, I
met Captain Grove, who did give me a letter directed to myself
from himself. I discerned money to be in it, and took it, knowing,
as I found it to be, the proceed of the place I have got him to be,
the taking up of vessels for Tangier. But I did not open it till I
came home to my office, and there I broke it open, not looking
into it till all the money was out, that I might say I saw no money
in the paper, if ever I should be questioned about it. There was
a piece in gold and £4 in silver. So home to dinner with my fa-
ther and wife, and after dinner up to my tryangle, where I found
that above my expectation Ashwell has very good principles of
musique and can take out a lesson herself with very little pains,
at which I am very glad. Thence away back again by water to
Whitehall, and there to the Tangier Committee, where we find
ourselves at a great stand; the establishment being but £70,000
per annum, and the forces to be kept in the town at the least es-
timate that my Lord Rutherford can be got to bring it is £53,000.
The charge of this year’s work of the Mole will be £13,000; be-
sides £1000 a-year to my Lord Peterborough as a pension, and the
fortifications and contingencys, which puts us to a great stand,
and so unsettled what to do therein we rose, and I to see my
Lord Sandwich, whom I found merry at cards, and so by coach
home, and after supper a little to my office and so home and to
bed. I find at Court that there is some bad news from Ireland of
an insurrection of the Catholiques there, which puts them into an
alarm. I hear also in the City that for certain there is an embargo
upon all our ships in Spayne, upon this action of my Lord Wind-
sor’s at Cuba, which signifies little or nothing, but only he hath
a mind to say that he hath done something before he comes back
again. Late tonight I sent to invite my uncle Wight and aunt with
Mrs. Turner to-morrow.
4th. Up betimes and to my office. By and by to Lombard street
by appointment to meet Mr. Moore, but the business not being
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ready I returned to the office, where we sat a while, and, being
sent for, I returned to him and there signed to some papers in
the conveying of some lands mortgaged by Sir Rob. Parkhurst
in my name to my Lord Sandwich, which I having done I re-
turned home to dinner, whither by and by comes Roger Pepys,
Mrs. Turner her daughter, Joyce Norton, and a young lady, a
daughter of Coll. Cockes, my uncle Wight, his wife and Mrs.
Anne Wight. This being my feast, in lieu of what I should have
had a few days ago for my cutting of the stone, for which the
Lord make me truly thankful. Very merry at, before, and after
dinner, and the more for that my dinner was great, and most
neatly dressed by our own only maid. We had a fricasee of rab-
bits and chickens, a leg of mutton boiled, three carps in a dish, a
great dish of a side of lamb, a dish of roasted pigeons, a dish of
four lobsters, three tarts, a lamprey pie (a most rare pie), a dish of
anchovies, good wine of several sorts, and all things mighty no-
ble and to my great content. After dinner to Hide Park; my aunt,
Mrs. Wight and I in one coach, and all the rest of the women
in Mrs. Turner’s; Roger being gone in haste to the Parliament
about the carrying this business of the Papists, in which it seems
there is great contest on both sides, and my uncle and father stay-
ing together behind. At the Park was the King, and in another
coach my Lady Castlemaine, they greeting one another at every
tour.@@The company drove round and round the Ring in Hyde
Park. The following two extracts illustrate this, and the second
one shows how the circuit was called the Tour: “Here (1697) the
people of fashion take the diversion of the Ring. In a pretty high
place, which lies very open, they have surrounded a circumfer-
ence of two or three hundred paces diameter with a sorry kind
of balustrade, or rather with postes placed upon stakes but three
feet from the ground; and the coaches drive round this. When
they have turned for some time round one way they face about
and turn t’other: so rowls the world!”–Wilson’s Memoirs, 1719,
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p. 126.]350 Here about an hour, and so leaving all by the way we
home and found the house as clean as if nothing had been done
there to-day from top to bottom, which made us give the cook
12d. a piece, each of us. So to my office about writing letters by
the post, one to my brother John at Brampton telling him (hoping
to work a good effect by it upon my mother) how melancholy my
father is, and bidding him use all means to get my mother to live
peaceably and quietly, which I am sure she neither do nor I fear
can ever do, but frightening her with his coming down no more,
and the danger of her condition if he should die I trust may do
good. So home and to bed.
5th (Lord’s day). Up and spent the morning, till the Barber
came, in reading in my chamber part of Osborne’s Advice to his
Son (which I shall not never enough admire for sense and lan-
guage), and being by and by trimmed, to Church, myself, wife,
Ashwell, &c. Home to dinner, it raining, while that was prepared
to my office to read over my vows with great affection and to
very good purpose. So to dinner, and very well pleased with
it. Then to church again, where a simple bawling young Scot
preached. So home to my office alone till dark, reading some
papers of my old navy precedents, and so home to supper, and,
after some pleasant talk, my wife, Ashwell, and I to bed.
6th. Up very betimes and to my office, and there made an end
of reading my book that I have of Mr. Barlow’s of the Journal
of the Commissioners of the Navy, who begun to act in the year
1628 and continued six years, wherein is fine observations and
precedents out of which I do purpose to make a good collection.
By and by, much against my will, being twice sent for, to Sir G.
Carteret’s to pass his accounts there, upon which Sir J. Minnes,
Sir W. Batten, Sir W. Pen, and myself all the morning, and again
after dinner to it, being vexed at my heart to see a thing of that
350 “It is in this Park where the Grand Tour or Ring is kept for the Ladies
to take the air in their coaches, and in fine weather I have seen above three
hundred at a time.”–[Macky’s] Journey through England, 1724, vol. i., p. 75.
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importance done so slightly and with that neglect for which God
pardon us, and I would I could mend it. Thence leaving them
I made an excuse and away home, and took my wife by coach
and left her at Madam Clerk’s, to make a visit there, and I to
the Committee of Tangier, where I found, to my great joy, my
Lord Sandwich, the first time I have seen him abroad these some
months, and by and by he rose and took leave, being, it seems,
this night to go to Kensington or Chelsey, where he hath taken
a lodging for a while to take the ayre. We staid, and after busi-
ness done I got Mr. Coventry into the Matted Gallery and told
him my whole mind concerning matters of our office, all my dis-
content to see things of so great trust carried so neglectfully, and
what pitiful service the Controller and Surveyor make of their
duties, and I disburdened my mind wholly to him and he to me
his own, many things, telling me that he is much discouraged by
seeing things not to grow better and better as he did well hope
they would have done. Upon the whole, after a full hour’s pri-
vate discourse, telling one another our minds, we with great con-
tent parted, and with very great satisfaction for my [having] thus
cleared my conscience, went to Dr. Clerk’s and thence fetched
my wife, and by coach home. To my office a little to set things in
order, and so home to supper and to bed.
7th. Up very betimes, and angry with Will that he made no
more haste to rise after I called him. So to my office, and all the
morning there. At noon to the Exchange, and so home to din-
ner, where I found my wife had been with Ashwell to La Roche’s
to have her tooth drawn, which it seems aches much, but my
wife could not get her to be contented to have it drawn after the
first twich, but would let it alone, and so they came home with
it undone, which made my wife and me good sport. After din-
ner to the office, where Sir J. Minnes did make a great complaint
to me alone, how my clerk Mr. Hater had entered in one of the
Sea books a ticket to have been signed by him before it had been
examined, which makes the old fool mad almost, though there
was upon enquiry the greatest reason in the world for it. Which
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though it vexes me, yet it is most to see from day to day what a
coxcomb he is, and that so great a trust should lie in the hands
of such a fool. We sat all the afternoon, and I late at my office, it
being post night, and so home to supper, my father being come
again to my house, and after supper to bed, and after some talk
to sleep.
8th. Up betimes and to my office, and by and by, about
8 o’clock, to the Temple to Commissioner Pett lately come to
town and discoursed about the affairs of our office, how ill they
go through the corruption and folly of Sir W. Batten and Sir J.
Minnes. Thence by water to White Hall, to chappell; where
preached Dr. Pierce, the famous man that preached the sermon
so much cried up, before the King against the Papists. His mat-
ter was the Devil tempting our Saviour, being carried into the
Wilderness by the spirit. And he hath as much of natural elo-
quence as most men that ever I heard in my life, mixed with so
much learning. After sermon I went up and saw the ceremony
of the Bishop of Peterborough’s paying homage upon the knee to
the King, while Sir H. Bennet, Secretary, read the King’s grant of
the Bishopric of Lincoln, to which he is translated. His name is
Dr. Lany. Here I also saw the Duke of Monmouth, with his Order
of the Garter, the first time I ever saw it. I am told that the Uni-
versity of Cambridge did treat him a little while since with all the
honour possible, with a comedy at Trinity College, and banquet;
and made him Master of Arts there. All which, they say, the King
took very well. Dr. Raynbow, Master of Magdalen, being now
Vice-Chancellor. Home by water to dinner, and with my father,
wife, and Ashwell, after dinner, by water towards Woolwich, and
in our way I bethought myself that we had left our poor little dog
that followed us out of doors at the waterside, and God knows
whether he be not lost, which did not only strike my wife into
a great passion but I must confess myself also; more than was
becoming me. We immediately returned, I taking another boat
and with my father went to Woolwich, while they went back to
find the dog. I took my father on board the King’s pleasure boat
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and down to Woolwich, and walked to Greenwich thence and
turning into the park to show my father the steps up the hill, we
found my wife, her woman, and dog attending us, which made
us all merry again, and so took boats, they to Deptford and so
by land to Half-way house, I into the King’s yard and overlook
them there, and eat and drank with them, and saw a company
of seamen play drolly at our pence, and so home by water. I a
little at the office, and so home to supper and to bed, after having
Ashwell play my father and me a lesson upon her Tryangle.
9th. Up betimes and to my office, and anon we met upon fin-
ishing the Treasurer’s accounts. At noon dined at home and am
vexed to hear my wife tell me how our maid Mary do endeavour
to corrupt our cook maid, which did please me very well, but I
am resolved to rid the house of her as soon as I can. To the office
and sat all the afternoon till 9 at night, and an hour after home
to supper and bed. My father lying at Tom’s to-night, he dining
with my uncle Fenner and his sons and a great many more of the
gang at his own cost to-day. To bed vexed also to think of Sir J.
Minnes finding fault with Mr. Hater for what he had done the
other day, though there be no hurt in the thing at all but only the
old fool’s jealousy, made worse by Sir W. Batten.
10th. Up very betimes and to my office, where most hard at
business alone all the morning. At noon to the Exchange, where
I hear that after great expectation from Ireland, and long stop of
letters, there is good news come, that all is quiett after our great
noise of troubles there, though some stir hath been as was re-
ported. Off the Exchange with Sir J. Cutler and Mr. Grant to the
Royall Oak Tavern, in Lumbard Street, where Alexander Broome
the poet was, a merry and witty man, I believe, if he be not a
little conceited, and here drank a sort of French wine, called Ho
Bryan,351 that hath a good and most particular taste that I never
met with. Home to dinner, and then by water abroad to White-
hall, my wife to see Mrs. Ferrers, I to Whitehall and the Park,
351 Haut Brion, a claret; one of the first growths of the red wines of Medoc.
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doing no business. Then to my Lord’s lodgings, met my wife,
and walked to the New Exchange. There laid out 10s. upon pen-
dents and painted leather gloves, very pretty and all the mode.
So by coach home and to my office till late, and so to supper and
to bed.
11th. Up betimes and to my office, where we sat also all the
morning till noon, and then home to dinner, my father being
there but not very well. After dinner in comes Captain Lambert
of the Norwich, this day come from Tangier, whom I am glad to
see. There came also with him Captain Wager, and afterwards in
came Captain Allen to see me, of the Resolution. All staid a pretty
while, and so away, and I a while to my office, then abroad into
the street with my father, and left him to go to see my aunt Wight
and uncle, intending to lie at Tom’s to-night, or my cozen Scott’s,
where it seems he has hitherto lain and is most kindly used there.
So I home and to my office very late making up my Lord’s navy
accounts, wherein I find him to stand debtor £1200. So home to
supper and to bed.
12th (Lord’s day). Lay till 8 o’clock, which I have not done
a great while, then up and to church, where I found our pew
altered by taking some of the hind pew to make ours bigger, be-
cause of the number of women, more by Sir J. Minnes company
than we used to have. Home to dinner, and after dinner, intend-
ing to go to Chelsey to my Lord Sandwich, my wife would needs
go with me, though she walked on foot to Whitehall. Which she
did and staid at my Lord’s lodgings while Creed and I took a
turn at Whitehall, but no coach to be had, and so I returned to
them and sat talking till evening, and then got a coach and to
Gray’s Inn walks, where some handsome faces, and so home and
there to supper, and a little after 8 o’clock to bed, a thing I have
not done God knows when. Coming home to-night, a drunken
boy was carrying by our constable to our new pair of stocks to
handsel them, being a new pair and very handsome.
13th. Up by five o’clock and to my office, where hard at work
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till towards noon, and home and eat a bit, and so going out met
with Mr. Mount my old acquaintance, and took him in and drank
a glass or two of wine to him and so parted, having not time to
talk together, and I with Sir W. Batten to the Stillyard, and there
eat a lobster together, and Wyse the King’s fishmonger coming in
we were very merry half an hour, and so by water to Whitehall,
and by and by being all met we went in to the Duke and there
did our business and so away, and anon to the Tangier Commit-
tee, where we had very fine discourse from Dr. Walker and Wise-
man, civilians, against our erecting a court-merchant at Tangier,
and well answered in many things by my Lord Sandwich (whose
speaking I never till now observed so much to be very good) and
Sir R. Ford. By and by the discourse being ended, we fell to my
Lord Rutherford’s dispatch, which do not please him, he being a
Scott, and one resolved to scrape every penny that he can get by
any way, which the Committee will not agree to. He took offence
at something and rose away, without taking leave of the board,
which all took ill, though nothing said but only by the Duke of
Albemarle, who said that we ought to settle things as they ought
to be, and if he will not go upon these terms another man will, no
doubt. Here late, quite finishing things against his going, and so
rose, and I walked home, being accompanied by Creed to Tem-
ple Bar, talking of this afternoon’s passage, and so I called at the
Wardrobe in my way home, and there spoke at the Horn tav-
ern with Mr. Moore a word or two, but my business was with
Mr. Townsend, who is gone this day to his country house, about
sparing Charles Pepys some money of his bills due to him when
he can, but missing him lost my labour. So walked home, finding
my wife abroad, at my aunt, Wight’s, who coming home by and
by, I home to supper and to bed.
14th. Up betimes to my office, where busy till 8 o’clock that Sir
W. Batten, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Pen and I down by barge to Wool-
wich, to see “The Royal James” launched, where she has been
under repair a great while. We staid in the yard till almost noon,
and then to Mr. Falconer’s to a dinner of fish of our own send-
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ing, and when it was just ready to come upon the table, word is
brought that the King and Duke are come, so they all went away
to shew themselves, while I staid and had a little dish or two by
myself, resolving to go home, and by the time I had dined they
came again, having gone to little purpose, the King, I believe, tak-
ing little notice of them. So they to dinner, and I staid a little with
them, and so good bye. I walked to Greenwich, studying the
slide rule for measuring of timber, which is very fine. Thence to
Deptford by water, and walked through the yard, and so walked
to Redriffe, and so home pretty weary, to my office, where anon
they all came home, the ship well launched, and so sat at the of-
fice till 9 at night, and I longer doing business at my office, and so
home to supper, my father being come, and to bed. Sir G. Carteret
tells me to-night that he perceives the Parliament is likely to make
a great bustle before they will give the King any money; will call
all things into question; and, above all, the expences of the Navy;
and do enquire into the King’s expences everywhere, and into
the truth of the report of people being forced to sell their bills at
15 per cent. loss in the Navy; and, lastly, that they are in a very
angry pettish mood at present, and not likely to be better.
15th. Up betimes, and after talking with my father awhile, I
to my office, and there hard at it till almost noon, and then went
down the river with Maynes, the purveyor, to show a ship’s lad-
ing of Norway goods, and called at Sir W. Warren’s yard, and so
home to dinner. After dinner up with my wife and Ashwell a lit-
tle to the Tryangle, and so I down to Deptford by land about look-
ing out a couple of catches fitted to be speedily set forth in answer
to a letter of Mr. Coventry’s to me. Which done, I walked back
again, all the way reading of my book of Timber measure, com-
paring it with my new Sliding Rule brought home this morning
with great pleasure. Taking boat again I went to Shishe’s yard,
but he being newly gone out towards Deptford I followed him
thither again, and there seeing him I went with him and pitched
upon a couple, and so by water home, it being late, past 8 at
night, the wind cold, and I a little weary. So home to my office,
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then to supper and bed.
16th. Up betimes and to my office, met to pass Mr. Pitt’s (anon
Sir J. Lawson’s Secretary and Deputy Treasurer) accounts for the
voyage last to the Streights, wherein the demands are strangely
irregular, and I dare not oppose it alone for making an enemy
and do no good, but only bring a review upon my Lord Sand-
wich, but God knows it troubles my heart to see it, and to see
the Comptroller, whose duty it is, to make no more matter of it.
At noon home for an hour to dinner, and so to the office public
and private till late at night, so home to supper and bed with my
father.
17th. Up by five o’clock as I have long done and to my office
all the morning, at noon home to dinner with my father with
us. Our dinner, it being Good Friday, was only sugarsopps and
fish; the only time that we have had a Lenten dinner all this Lent.
This morning Mr. Hunt, the instrument maker, brought me home
a Basse Viall to see whether I like it, which I do not very well,
besides I am under a doubt whether I had best buy one yet or no,
because of spoiling my present mind and love to business. After
dinner my father and I walked into the city a little, and parted
and to Paul’s Church Yard, to cause the title of my English “Mare
Clausum”352 to be changed, and the new title, dedicated to the
King, to be put to it, because I am ashamed to have the other
352 Selden’s work was highly esteemed, and Charles I. made an order in
council that a copy should be kept in the Council chest, another in the Court
of Exchequer, and a third in the Court of Admiralty. The book Pepys refers
to is Nedham’s translation, which was entitled, “Of the Dominion or Own-
ership of the Sea. Two Books..., written at first in Latin and entituled Mare
Clausum, by John Selden. Translated into English by Marchamont Nedham.
London, 1652.” This has the Commonwealth arms on the title-page and a
dedication “To the Supreme Autoritie of the Nation-The Parliament of the
Commonwealth of England.” The dedication to Charles I. in Selden’s origi-
nal work was left out. Apparently a new title-page and dedication was pre-
pared in 1663, but the copy in the British Museum, which formerly belonged
to Charles Killigrew, does not contain these additions.
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seen dedicated to the Commonwealth. So home and to my office
till night, and so home to talk with my father, and supper and
to bed, I have not had yet one quarter of an hour’s leisure to sit
down and talk with him since he came to town, nor do I know
till the holidays when I shall.
18th. Up betimes and to my office, where all the morning. At
noon to dinner. With us Mr. Creed, who has been deeply en-
gaged at the office this day about the ending of his accounts,
wherein he is most unhappy to have to do with a company of
fools who after they have signed his accounts and made bills
upon them yet dare not boldly assert to the Treasurer that they
are satisfied with his accounts. Hereupon all dinner, and walk-
ing in the garden the afternoon, he and I talking of the ill man-
agement of our office, which God knows is very ill for the King’s
advantage. I would I could make it better. In the evening to my
office, and at night home to supper and bed.
19th (Easter day). Up and this day put on my close-kneed
coloured suit, which, with new stockings of the colour, with belt,
and new gilt-handled sword, is very handsome. To church alone,
and so to dinner, where my father and brother Tom dined with
us, and after dinner to church again, my father sitting below in
the chancel. After church done, where the young Scotchman
preaching I slept all the while, my father and I to see my un-
cle and aunt Wight, and after a stay of an hour there my father
to my brother’s and I home to supper, and after supper fell in
discourse of dancing, and I find that Ashwell hath a very fine
carriage, which makes my wife almost ashamed of herself to see
herself so outdone, but to-morrow she begins to learn to dance
for a month or two. So to prayers and to bed. Will being gone,
with my leave, to his father’s this day for a day or two, to take
physique these holydays.
20th. Up betimes as I use to do, and in my chamber begun
to look over my father’s accounts, which he brought out of the
country with him by my desire, whereby I may see what he has
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received and spent, and I find that he is not anything extravagant,
and yet it do so far outdo his estate that he must either think of
lessening his charge, or I must be forced to spare money out of
my purse to help him through, which I would willing do as far
as £20 goes. So to my office the remaining part of the morning
till towards noon, and then to Mr. Grant’s. There saw his prints,
which he shewed me, and indeed are the best collection of any
things almost that ever I saw, there being the prints of most of
the greatest houses, churches, and antiquitys in Italy and France
and brave cutts. I had not time to look them over as I ought, and
which I will take time hereafter to do, and therefore left them and
home to dinner. After dinner, it raining very hard, by coach to
Whitehall, where, after Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, Mr. Coven-
try and I had been with the Duke, we to the Committee of Tangier
and did matters there dispatching wholly my Lord Teviott, and
so broke up. With Sir G. Carteret and Sir John Minnes by coach
to my Lord Treasurer’s, thinking to have spoken about getting
money for paying the Yards; but we found him with some ladies
at cards: and so, it being a bad time to speak, we parted, and
Sir J. Minnes and I home, and after walking with my wife in the
garden late, to supper and to bed, being somewhat troubled at
Ashwell’s desiring and insisting over eagerly upon her going to
a ball to meet some of her old companions at a dancing school
here in town next Friday, but I am resolved she shall not go. So
to bed. This day the little Duke of Monmouth was marryed at
White Hall, in the King’s chamber; and tonight is a great supper
and dancing at his lodgings, near Charing-Cross. I observed his
coat at the tail of his coach he gives the arms of England, Scot-
land, and France, quartered upon some other fields, but what it
is that speaks his being a bastard I know not.
21st. Up betimes and to my office, where first I ruled with
red ink my English “Mare Clausum,” which, with the new or-
thodox title, makes it now very handsome. So to business, and
then home to dinner, and after dinner to sit at the office in the
afternoon, and thence to my study late, and so home to supper to
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play a game at cards with my wife, and so to bed. Ashwell plays
well at cards, and will teach us to play; I wish it do not lose too
much of my time, and put my wife too much upon it.
22nd. Up betimes and to my office very busy all the morning
there, entering things into my Book Manuscript, which pleases
me very much. So to the Change, and so to my uncle Wight’s,
by invitation, whither my father, wife, and Ashwell came, where
we had but a poor dinner, and not well dressed; besides, the very
sight of my aunt’s hands and greasy manner of carving, did al-
most turn my stomach. After dinner by coach to the King’s Play-
house, where we saw but part of “Witt without mony,” which I
do not like much, but coming late put me out of tune, and it cost-
ing me four half-crowns for myself and company. So, the play
done, home, and I to my office a while and so home, where my
father (who is so very melancholy) and we played at cards, and
so to supper and to bed.
23rd. St. George’s day and Coronacion, the King and Court
being at Windsor, at the installing of the King of Denmark by
proxy and the Duke of Monmouth. I up betimes, and with my
father, having a fire made in my wife’s new closet above, it be-
ing a wet and cold day, we sat there all the morning looking over
his country accounts ever since his going into the country. I find
his spending hitherto has been (without extraordinary charges)
at full £100 per annum, which troubles me, and I did let him ap-
prehend it, so as that the poor man wept, though he did make it
well appear to me that he could not have saved a farthing of it. I
did tell him how things stand with us, and did shew my distrust
of Pall, both for her good nature and housewifery, which he was
sorry for, telling me that indeed she carries herself very well and
carefully, which I am glad to hear, though I doubt it was but his
doting and not being able to find her miscarriages so well nowa-
days as he could heretofore have done. We resolve upon sending
for Will Stankes up to town to give us a right understanding in
all that we have in Brampton, and before my father goes to settle
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every thing so as to resolve how to find a living for my father
and to pay debts and legacies, and also to understand truly how
Tom’s condition is in the world, that we may know what we are
like to expect of his doing ill or well. So to dinner, and after din-
ner to the office, where some of us met and did a little business,
and so to Sir W. Batten’s to see a little picture drawing of his by
a Dutchman which is very well done. So to my office and put a
few things in order, and so home to spend the evening with my
father. At cards till late, and being at supper, my boy being sent
for some mustard to a neat’s tongue, the rogue staid half an hour
in the streets, it seems at a bonfire, at which I was very angry, and
resolve to beat him to-morrow.
24th. Up betimes, and with my salt eel353 went down in the
parler and there got my boy and did beat him till I was fain to
take breath two or three times, yet for all I am afeard it will make
the boy never the better, he is grown so hardened in his tricks,
which I am sorry for, he being capable of making a brave man,
and is a boy that I and my wife love very well. So made me
ready, and to my office, where all the morning, and at noon home,
whither came Captain Holland, who is lately come home from
sea, and has been much harassed in law about the ship which
he has bought, so that it seems in a despair he endeavoured to
cut his own throat, but is recovered it; and it seems whether
by that or any other persuasion (his wife’s mother being a great
zealot) he is turned almost a Quaker, his discourse being nothing
but holy, and that impertinent, that I was weary of him. At last
pretending to go to the Change we walked thither together, and
there I left him and home to dinner, sending my boy by the way
to enquire after two dancing masters at our end of the town for
my wife to learn, of whose names the boy brought word. After
dinner all the afternoon fiddling upon my viallin (which I have
not done many a day) while Ashwell danced above in my upper
353 A salt eel is a rope’s end cut from the piece to be used on the back of a
culprit. “Yeow shall have salt eel for supper” is an emphatic threat.
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APRIL 1663
best chamber, which is a rare room for musique, expecting this
afternoon my wife to bring my cozen Scott and Stradwick, but
they came not, and so in the evening we by ourselves to Half-
way house to walk, but did not go in there, but only a walk and
so home again and to supper, my father with us, and had a good
lobster intended for part of our entertainment to these people to-
day, and so to cards, and then to bed, being the first day that I
have spent so much to my pleasure a great while.
25th. Up betimes and to my vyall and song book a pretty while,
and so to my office, and there we sat all the morning. Among
other things Sir W. Batten had a mind to cause Butler (our chief
witness in the business of Field, whom we did force back from an
employment going to sea to come back to attend our law sute) to
be borne as a mate on the Rainbow in the Downes in compen-
sation for his loss for our sakes. This he orders an order to be
drawn by Mr. Turner for, and after Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten,
and Sir W. Pen had signed it, it came to me and I was going to
put it up into my book, thinking to consider of it and give them
my opinion upon it before I parted with it, but Sir W. Pen told
me I must sign it or give it him again, for it should not go with-
out my hand. I told him what I meant to do, whereupon Sir W.
Batten was very angry, and in a great heat (which will bring out
any thing which he has in his mind, and I am glad of it, though it
is base in him to have a thing so long in his mind without speak-
ing of it, though I am glad this is the worst, for if he had worse
it would out as well as this some time or other) told me that I
should not think as I have heretofore done, make them sign or-
ders and not sign them myself. Which what ignorance or worse
it implies is easy to judge, when he shall sign to things (and the
rest of the board too as appears in this business) for company and
not out of their judgment for. After some discourse I did con-
vince them that it was not fit to have it go, and Sir W. Batten first,
and then the rest, did willingly cancel all their hands and tear
the order, for I told them, Butler being such a rogue as I know
him, and we have all signed him to be to the Duke, it will be in
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his power to publish this to our great reproach, that we should
take such a course as this to serve ourselves in wronging the King
by putting him into a place he is no wise capable of, and that in
an Admiral ship. At noon we rose, Sir W. Batten ashamed and
vexed, and so home to dinner, and after dinner walked to the old
Exchange and so all along to Westminster Hall, White Hall, my
Lord Sandwich’s lodgings, and going by water back to the Tem-
ple did pay my debts in several places in order to my examining
my accounts tomorrow to my great content. So in the evening
home, and after supper (my father at my brother’s) and merrily
practising to dance, which my wife hath begun to learn this day
of Mr. Pembleton,354 but I fear will hardly do any great good at it,
because she is conceited that she do well already, though I think
no such thing. So to bed. At Westminster Hall, this day, I buy
a book lately printed and licensed by Dr. Stradling, the Bishop
of London’s chaplin, being a book discovering the practices and
designs of the papists, and the fears of some of our own fathers
of the Protestant church heretofore of the return to Popery as it
were prefacing it.
The book is a very good book; but forasmuch as it touches one
of the Queenmother’s fathers confessors, the Bishop, which trou-
bles many good men and members of Parliament, hath called it
in, which I am sorry for. Another book I bought, being a col-
lection of many expressions of the great Presbyterian Preachers
upon publique occasions, in the late times, against the King and
his party, as some of Mr. Marshall, Case, Calamy, Baxter, &c.,
which is good reading now, to see what they then did teach, and
the people believe, and what they would seem to believe now.
Lastly, I did hear that the Queen is much grieved of late at the
King’s neglecting her, he having not supped once with her this
quarter of a year, and almost every night with my Lady Castle-
354 Pembleton, the dancing-master, made Pepys very jealous, and there are
many allusions to him in the following pages. His lessons ceased on May
27th.
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APRIL 1663
maine; who hath been with him this St. George’s feast at Wind-
sor, and came home with him last night; and, which is more, they
say is removed as to her bed from her own home to a chamber
in White Hall, next to the King’s own; which I am sorry to hear,
though I love her much.
26th (Lord’s-day). Lay pretty long in bed talking with my wife,
and then up and set to the making up of my monthly accounts,
but Tom coming, with whom I was angry for botching my cam-
lott coat, to tell me that my father and he would dine with me,
and that my father was at our church, I got me ready and had
a very good sermon of a country minister upon “How blessed a
thing it is for brethren to live together in unity!” So home and all
to dinner, and then would have gone by coach to have seen my
Lord Sandwich at Chelsey if the man would have taken us, but
he denying it we staid at home, and I all the afternoon upon my
accounts, and find myself worth full £700, for which I bless God,
it being the most I was ever yet worth in money. In the evening
(my father being gone to my brother’s to lie to-night) my wife,
Ashwell, and the boy and I, and the dogg, over the water and
walked to Half-way house, and beyond into the fields, gathering
of cowslipps, and so to Half-way house, with some cold lamb we
carried with us, and there supped, and had a most pleasant walk
back again, Ashwell all along telling us some parts of their mask
at Chelsey School, which was very pretty, and I find she hath a
most prodigious memory, remembering so much of things acted
six or seven years ago. So home, and after reading my vows,
being sleepy, without prayers to bed, for which God forgive me!
27th. Up betimes and to my office, where doing business alone
a good while till people came about business to me. Will Grif-
fin tells me this morning that Captain Browne, Sir W. Batten’s
brother-in-law, is dead of a blow given him two days ago by a
seaman, a servant of his, being drunk, with a stone striking him
on the forehead, for which I am sorry, he having a good woman
and several small children. At the office all the morning, at noon
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APRIL 1663
dined at home with my wife, merry, and after dinner by water to
White Hall; but found the Duke of York gone to St. James’s for
this summer; and thence with Mr. Coventry, to whose chamber I
went, and Sir W. Pen up to the Duke’s closett. And a good while
with him about our Navy business; and so I to White Hall, and
there alone a while with my Lord Sandwich discoursing about
his debt to the Navy, wherein he hath given me some things to
resolve him in. Thence to my Lord’s lodging, and thither came
Creed to me, and he and I walked a great while in the garden, and
thence to an alehouse in the market place to drink fine Lambeth
ale, and so to Westminster Hall, and after walking there a great
while, home by coach, where I found Mary gone from my wife,
she being too high for her, though a very good servant, and my
boy too will be going in a few days, for he is not for my family,
he is grown so out of order and not to be ruled, and do himself,
against his brother’s counsel, desire to be gone, which I am sorry
for, because I love the boy and would be glad to bring him to
good. At home with my wife and Ashwell talking of her going
into the country this year, wherein we had like to have fallen out,
she thinking that I have a design to have her go, which I have not,
and to let her stay here I perceive will not be convenient, for she
expects more pleasure than I can give her here, and I fear I have
done very ill in letting her begin to learn to dance. The Queen
(which I did not know) it seems was at Windsor, at the late St.
George’s feast there; and the Duke of Monmouth dancing with
her with his hat in his hand, the King came in and kissed him,
and made him put on his hat, which every body took notice of.
After being a while at my office home to supper and to bed, my
Will being come home again after being at his father’s all the last
week taking physique.
28th. Up betimes and to my office, and there all the morning,
only stepped up to see my wife and her dancing master at it, and
I think after all she will do pretty well at it. So to dinner, Mr.
Hunt dining with us, and so to the office, where we sat late, and
then I to my office casting up my Lord’s sea accounts over again,
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and putting them in order for payment, and so home to supper
and to bed.
29th. Up betimes, and after having at my office settled some
accounts for my Lord Sandwich, I went forth, and taking up my
father at my brother’s, took coach and towards Chelsey, ‘light-
ing at an alehouse near the Gatehouse at Westminster to drink
our morning draught, and so up again and to Chelsey, where we
found my Lord all alone at a little table with one joynt of meat
at dinner; we sat down and very merry talking, and mightily
extolling the manner of his retirement, and the goodness of his
diet, which indeed is so finely dressed: the mistress of the house,
Mrs. Becke, having been a woman of good condition heretofore,
a merchant’s wife, and hath all things most excellently dressed;
among others, her cakes admirable, and so good that my Lord’s
words were, they were fit to present to my Lady Castlemaine.
From ordinary discourse my Lord fell to talk of other matters to
me, of which chiefly the second part of the fray, which he told
me a little while since of, between Mr. Edward Montagu and
himself, which is that after that he had since been with him three
times and no notice taken at all of any difference between them,
and yet since that he hath forborn coming to him almost two
months, and do speak not only slightly of my Lord every where,
but hath complained to my Lord Chancellor of him, and arro-
gated all that ever my Lord hath done to be only by his direction
and persuasion. Whether he hath done the like to the King or no,
my Lord knows not; but my Lord hath been with the King since,
and finds all things fair; and my Lord Chancellor hath told him
of it, but with so much contempt of Mr. Montagu, as my Lord
knows himself very secure against any thing the fool can do; and
notwithstanding all this, so noble is his nature, that he professes
himself ready to show kindness and pity to Mr. Montagu on any
occasion. My Lord told me of his presenting Sir H. Bennet with
a gold cupp of £100, which he refuses, with a compliment; but
my Lord would have been glad he had taken it, that he might
have had some obligations upon him which he thinks possible
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APRIL 1663
the other may refuse to prevent it; not that he hath any reason
to doubt his kindness. But I perceive great differences there are
at Court; and Sir H. Bennet and my Lord Bristol, and their fac-
tion, are likely to carry all things before them (which my Lord’s
judgment is, will not be for the best), and particularly against the
Chancellor, who, he tells me, is irrecoverably lost: but, however,
that he will not actually joyne in anything against the Chancel-
lor, whom he do own to be his most sure friend, and to have
been his greatest; and therefore will not openly act in either, but
passively carry himself even. The Queen, my Lord tells me, he
thinks he hath incurred some displeasure with, for his kindness
to his neighbour, my Lady Castlemaine. My Lord tells me he
hath no reason to fall for her sake, whose wit, management, nor
interest, is not likely to hold up any man, and therefore he thinks
it not his obligation to stand for her against his own interest. The
Duke and Mr. Coventry my Lord says he is very well with, and
fears not but they will show themselves his very good friends,
specially at this time, he being able to serve them, and they need-
ing him, which he did not tell me wherein. Talking of the busi-
ness of Tangier, he tells me that my Lord Tiviott is gone away
without the least respect paid to him, nor indeed to any man, but
without his commission; and (if it be true what he says) having
laid out seven or eight thousand pounds in commodities for the
place; and besides having not only disobliged all the Commis-
sioners for Tangier, but also Sir Charles Barkeley the other day,
who, speaking in behalf of Colonel Fitz-Gerald, that having been
deputy-governor there already, he ought to have expected and
had the governorship upon the death or removal of the former
governor. And whereas it is said that he and his men are Irish,
which is indeed the main thing that hath moved the King and
Council to put in Tiviott to prevent the Irish having too great and
the whole command there under Fitz-Gerald; he further said that
there was never an Englishman fit to command Tangier; my Lord
Tiviott answered yes, that there were many more fit than himself
or Fitz-Gerald either. So that Fitz-Gerald being so great with the
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APRIL 1663
Duke of York, and being already made deputy-governor, inde-
pendent of my Lord Tiviott, and he being also left here behind
him for a while, my Lord Sandwich do think that, putting all
these things together, the few friends he hath left, and the ill pos-
ture of his affairs, my Lord Tiviott is not a man of the conduct
and management that either people take him to be, or is fit for the
command of the place. And here, speaking of the Duke of York
and Sir Charles Barkeley, my Lord tells me that he do very much
admire the good management, and discretion, and nobleness of
the Duke, that whatever he may be led by him or Mr. Coventry
singly in private, yet he did not observe that in publique mat-
ters, but he did give as ready hearing and as good acceptance
to any reasons offered by any other man against the opinions of
them, as he did to them, and would concur in the prosecution of
it. Then we came to discourse upon his own sea accompts, and
came to a resolution what and how to proceed in them; wherein
he resolved, though I offered him a way of evading the greatest
part of his debt honestly, by making himself debtor to the Par-
liament, before the King’s time, which he might justly do, yet he
resolved to go openly and nakedly in it, and put himself to the
kindness of the King and Duke, which humour, I must confess,
and so did tell him (with which he was not a little pleased) had
thriven very well with him, being known to be a man of candid
and open dealing, without any private tricks or hidden designs
as other men commonly have in what they do. From that we had
discourse of Sir G. Carteret, who he finds kind to him, but it may
be a little envious, and most other men are, and of many others;
and upon the whole do find that it is a troublesome thing for a
man of any condition at Court to carry himself even, and with-
out contracting enemys or envyers; and that much discretion and
dissimulation is necessary to do it. My father staid a good while
at the window and then sat down by himself while my Lord and
I were thus an hour together or two after dinner discoursing, and
by and by he took his leave, and told me he would stay below for
me. Anon I took leave, and coming down found my father un-
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APRIL 1663
expectedly in great pain and desiring for God’s sake to get him a
bed to lie upon, which I did, and W. Howe and I staid by him, in
so great pain as I never saw, poor wretch, and with that patience,
crying only: Terrible, terrible pain, God help me, God help me,
with the mournful voice, that made my heart ake. He desired
to rest a little alone to see whether it would abate, and W. Howe
and I went down and walked in the gardens, which are very fine,
and a pretty fountayne, with which I was finely wetted, and up
to a banquetting house, with a very fine prospect, and so back
to my father, who I found in such pain that I could not bear the
sight of it without weeping, never thinking that I should be able
to get him from thence, but at last, finding it like to continue, I
got him to go to the coach, with great pain, and driving hard, he
all the while in a most unsufferable torment (meeting in the way
with Captain Ferrers going to my Lord, to tell him that my Lady
Jemimah is come to town, and that Will Stankes is come with my
father’s horses), not staying the coach to speak with any body,
but once, in St. Paul’s Churchyard, we were forced to stay, the
jogging and pain making my father vomit, which it never had
done before. At last we got home, and all helping him we got
him to bed presently, and after half an hour’s lying in his naked
bed (it being a rupture [with] which he is troubled, and has been
this 20 years, but never in half the pain and with so great swelling
as now, and how this came but by drinking of cold small beer and
sitting long upon a low stool and then standing long after it he
cannot tell).... After which he was at good ease, and so contin-
ued, and so fell to sleep, and we went down whither W. Stankes
was come with his horses. But it is very pleasant to hear how he
rails at the rumbling and ado that is in London over it is in the
country, that he cannot endure it. He supped with us, and very
merry, and then he to his lodgings at the Inne with the horses,
and so we to bed, I to my father who is very well again, and both
slept very well.
30th. Up, and after drinking my morning draft with my father
and W. Stankes, I went forth to Sir W. Batten, who is going (to
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APRIL 1663
no purpose as he uses to do) to Chatham upon a survey. So to
my office, where till towards noon, and then to the Exchange,
and back home to dinner, where Mrs. Hunt, my father, and W.
Stankes; but, Lord! what a stir Stankes makes with his being
crowded in the streets and wearied in walking in London, and
would not be wooed by my wife and Ashwell to go to a play, nor
to White Hall, or to see the lyons,355 though he was carried in a
coach. I never could have thought there had been upon earth a
man so little curious in the world as he is. At the office all the
afternoon till 9 at night, so home to cards with my father, wife,
and Ashwell, and so to bed.
355 The Tower menagerie, with its famous lions, which was one of the chief
sights of London, and gave rise to a new English word, was not abolished
until the early part of the present century.
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MAY 1663
May 1st. Up betimes and my father with me, and he and I all the
morning and Will Stankes private, in my wife’s closet above, set-
tling our matters concerning our Brampton estate, &c., and I find
that there will be, after all debts paid within £100, £50 per an-
num clear coming towards my father’s maintenance, besides £25
per annum annuities to my Uncle Thomas and Aunt Perkins. Of
which, though I was in my mind glad, yet thought it not fit to let
my father know it thoroughly, but after he had gone out to visit
my uncle Thomas and brought him to dinner with him, and after
dinner I got my father, brother Tom, and myself together, I did
make the business worse to them, and did promise £20 out of my
own purse to make it £50 a year to my father, propounding that
Stortlow may be sold to pay £200 for his satisfaction therein and
the rest to go towards payment of debts and legacies. The truth is
I am fearful lest my father should die before debts are paid, and
then the land goes to Tom and the burden of paying all debts will
fall upon the rest of the land. Not that I would do my brother any
real hurt. I advised my father to good husbandry and to living
within the compass of £50 a year, and all in such kind words, as
not only made, them but myself to weep, and I hope it will have
a good effect. That being done, and all things agreed on, we went
down, and after a glass of wine we all took horse, and I, upon a
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MAY 1663
horse hired of Mr. Game, saw him out of London, at the end of
Bishopsgate Street, and so I turned and rode, with some trouble,
through the fields, and then Holborn, &c., towards Hide Park,
whither all the world, I think, are going, and in my going, almost
thither, met W. Howe coming galloping upon a little crop black
nag; it seems one that was taken in some ground of my Lord’s, by
some mischance being left by his master, a thief; this horse being
found with black cloth ears on, and a false mayne, having none
of his own; and I back again with him to the Chequer, at Charing
Cross, and there put up my own dull jade, and by his advice sad-
dled a delicate stone-horse of Captain Ferrers’s, and with that rid
in state to the Park, where none better mounted than I almost,
but being in a throng of horses, seeing the King’s riders show-
ing tricks with their managed horses, which were very strange,
my stone-horse was very troublesome, and begun to, fight with
other horses, to the dangering him and myself, and with much
ado I got out, and kept myself out of harm’s way.. Here I saw
nothing good, neither the King, nor my Lady Castlemaine, nor
any great ladies or beauties being there, there being more plea-
sure a great deal at an ordinary day; or else those few good faces
that there were choked up with the many bad ones, there being
people of all sorts in coaches there, to some thousands, I think.
Going thither in the highway, just by the Park gate, I met a boy in
a sculler boat, carried by a dozen people at least, rowing as hard
as he could drive, it seems upon some wager. By and by, about
seven or eight o’clock, homeward; and changing my horse again,
I rode home, coaches going in great crowds to the further end
of the town almost. In my way, in Leadenhall Street, there was
morris-dancing which I have not seen a great while. So set my
horse up at Game’s, paying 5s. for him. And so home to see Sir
J. Minnes, who is well again, and after staying talking with him
awhile, I took leave and went to hear Mrs. Turner’s daughter, at
whose house Sir J. Minnes lies, play on the harpsicon; but, Lord!
it was enough to make any man sick to hear her; yet I was forced
to commend her highly. So home to supper and to bed, Ashwell
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MAY 1663
playing upon the tryangle very well before I went to bed. This
day Captain Grove sent me a side of pork, which was the odd-
est present, sure, that was ever made any man; and the next, I
remember I told my wife, I believe would be a pound of candles,
or a shoulder of mutton; but the fellow do it in kindness, and is
one I am beholden to. So to bed very weary, and a little galled for
lack of riding, praying to God for a good journey to my father, of
whom I am afeard, he being so lately ill of his pain.
2nd. Being weary last night, I slept till almost seven o’clock,
a thing I have not done many a day. So up and to my office
(being come to some angry words with my wife about neglect-
ing the keeping of the house clean, I calling her beggar, and she
me pricklouse, which vexed me) and there all the morning. So
to the Exchange and then home to dinner, and very merry and
well pleased with my wife, and so to the office again, where we
met extraordinary upon drawing up the debts of the Navy to my
Lord Treasurer. So rose and up to Sir W. Pen to drink a glass of
bad syder in his new far low dining room, which is very noble,
and so home, where Captain Ferrers and his lady are come to see
my wife, he being to go the beginning of next week to France to
sea and I think to fetch over my young Lord Hinchinbroke. They
being gone I to my office to write letters by the post, and so home
to supper and to bed.
3rd (Lord’s day). Up before 5 o’clock and alone at setting my
Brampton papers to rights according to my father’s and my com-
putation and resolution the other day to my good content, I find-
ing that there will be clear saved to us £50 per annum, only a debt
of it may be £100. So made myself ready and to church, where Sir
W. Pen showed me the young lady which young Dawes, that sits
in the new corner-pew in the church, hath stole away from Sir
Andrew Rickard, her guardian, worth £1000 per annum present,
good land, and some money, and a very well-bred and hand-
some lady: he, I doubt, but a simple fellow. However, he got this
good luck to get her, which methinks I could envy him with all
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MAY 1663
my heart. Home to dinner with my wife, who not being very
well did not dress herself but staid at home all day, and so I to
church in the afternoon and so home again, and up to teach Ash-
well the grounds of time and other things on the tryangle, and
made her take out a Psalm very well, she having a good ear and
hand. And so a while to my office, and then home to supper and
prayers, to bed, my wife and I having a little falling out because I
would not leave my discourse below with her and Ashwell to go
up and talk with her alone upon something she has to say. She
reproached me but I had rather talk with any body than her, by
which I find I think she is jealous of my freedom with Ashwell,
which I must avoid giving occasion of.
4th. Up betimes and to setting my Brampton papers in or-
der and looking over my wardrobe against summer, and laying
things in order to send to my brother to alter. By and by took boat
intending to have gone down to Woolwich, but seeing I could not
get back time enough to dinner, I returned and home. Whither by
and by the dancing-master’ came, whom standing by, seeing him
instructing my wife, when he had done with her, he would needs
have me try the steps of a coranto, and what with his desire and
my wife’s importunity, I did begin, and then was obliged to give
him entry-money 10s., and am become his scholler. The truth is,
I think it a thing very useful for a gentleman, and sometimes I
may have occasion of using it, and though it cost me what I am
heartily sorry it should, besides that I must by my oath give half
as much more to the poor, yet I am resolved to get it up some
other way, and then it will not be above a month or two in a year.
So though it be against my stomach yet I will try it a little while;
if I see it comes to any great inconvenience or charge I will fling
it off. After I had begun with the steps of half a coranto, which I
think I shall learn well enough, he went away, and we to dinner,
and by and by out by coach, and set my wife down at my Lord
Crew’s, going to see my Lady Jem. Montagu, who is lately come
to town, and I to St. James’s; where Mr. Coventry, Sir W. Pen and
I staid a good while for the Duke’s coming in, but not coming,
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we walked to White Hall; and meeting the King, we followed
him into the Park, where Mr. Coventry and he talked of build-
ing a new yacht, which the King is resolved to have built out
of his privy purse, he having some contrivance of his own. The
talk being done, we fell off to White Hall, leaving the King in the
Park, and going back, met the Duke going towards St. James’s
to meet us. So he turned back again, and to his closett at White
Hall; and there, my Lord Sandwich present, we did our weekly
errand, and so broke up; and I down into the garden with my
Lord Sandwich (after we had sat an hour at the Tangier Commit-
tee); and after talking largely of his own businesses, we begun
to talk how matters are at Court: and though he did not flatly
tell me any such thing, yet I do suspect that all is not kind be-
tween the King and the Duke, and that the King’s fondness to
the little Duke do occasion it; and it may be that there is some
fear of his being made heir to the Crown. But this my Lord did
not tell me, but is my guess only; and that my Lord Chancellor
is without doubt falling past hopes. He being gone to Chelsey
by coach I to his lodgings, where my wife staid for me, and she
from thence to see Mrs. Pierce and called me at Whitehall stairs
(where I went before by land to know whether there was any play
at Court to-night) and there being none she and I to Mr. Creed
to the Exchange, where she bought something, and from thence
by water to White Fryars, and wife to see Mrs. Turner, and then
came to me at my brother’s, where I did give him order about my
summer clothes, and so home by coach, and after supper to bed
to my wife, with whom I have not lain since I used to lie with my
father till to-night.
5th. Up betimes and to my office, and there busy all the morn-
ing, among other things walked a good while up and down with
Sir J. Minnes, he telling many old stories of the Navy, and of the
state of the Navy at the beginning of the late troubles, and I am
troubled at my heart to think, and shall hereafter cease to won-
der, at the bad success of the King’s cause, when such a knave as
he (if it be true what he says) had the whole management of the
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fleet, and the design of putting out of my Lord Warwick, and car-
rying the fleet to the King, wherein he failed most fatally to the
King’s ruin. Dined at home, and after dinner up to try my dance,
and so to the office again, where we sat all the afternoon. In the
evening Deane of Woolwich went home with me and showed me
the use of a little sliding ruler, less than that I bought the other
day, which is the same with that, but more portable; however I
did not seem to understand or even to have seen anything of it
before, but I find him an ingenious fellow, and a good servant in
his place to the King. Thence to my office busy writing letters,
and then came Sir W. Warren, staying for a letter in his business
by the post, and while that was writing he and I talked about
merchandise, trade, and getting of money. I made it my business
to enquire what way there is for a man bred like me to come to
understand anything of trade. He did most discretely answer me
in all things, shewing me the danger for me to meddle either in
ships or merchandise of any sort or common stocks, but what I
have to keep at interest, which is a good, quiett, and easy profit,
and once in a little while something offers that with ready money
you may make use of money to good profit. Wherein I concur
much with him, and parted late with great pleasure and content
in his discourse, and so home to supper and to bed. It has been
this afternoon very hot and this evening also, and about 11 at
night going to bed it fell a-thundering and lightening, the great-
est flashes enlightening the whole body of the yard, that ever I
saw in my life.
6th. Up betimes and to my office a good while at my new
rulers, then to business, and towards noon to the Exchange with
Creed, where we met with Sir J. Minnes coming in his coach
from Westminster, who tells us, in great heat, that, by God, the
Parliament will make mad work; that they will render all men
incapable of any military or civil employment that have borne
arms in the late troubles against the King, excepting some per-
sons; which, if it be so, as I hope it is not, will give great cause
of discontent, and I doubt will have but bad effects. I left them
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at the Exchange and walked to Paul’s Churchyard to look upon
a book or two, and so back, and thence to the Trinity House,
and there dined, where, among other discourse worth hearing
among the old seamen, they tell us that they have catched often
in Greenland in fishing whales with the iron grapnells that had
formerly been struck into their bodies covered over with fat; that
they have had eleven hogsheads of oyle out of the tongue of a
whale. Thence after dinner home to my office, and there busy
till the evening. Then home and to supper, and while at supper
comes Mr. Pembleton, and after supper we up to our dancing
room and there danced three or four country dances, and after
that a practice of my coranto I began with him the other day, and
I begin to think that I shall be able to do something at it in time.
Late and merry at it, and so weary to bed.
7th. Up betimes and to my office awhile, and then by water
with my wife, leaving her at the new Exchange, and I to see Dr.
Williams, and spoke with him about my business with Tom Trice,
and so to my brother’s, who I find very careful now-a-days, more
than ordinary in his business and like to do well. From thence to
Westminster, and there up and down from the Hall to the Lobby,
the Parliament sitting. Sir Thomas Crew this day tells me that the
Queen, hearing that there was £40,000 per annum brought into
her account among the other expences of the Crown to the Com-
mittee of Parliament, she took order to let them know that she
hath yet for the payment of her whole family received but £4,000,
which is a notable act of spirit, and I believe is true. So by coach
to my Lord Crew’s, and there dined with him. He tells me of
the order the House of Commons have made for the drawing an
Act for the rendering none capable of preferment or employment
in the State, but who have been loyall and constant to the King
and Church; which will be fatal to a great many, and makes me
doubt lest I myself, with all my innocence during the late times,
should be brought in, being employed in the Exchequer; but, I
hope, God will provide for me. This day the new Theatre Royal
begins to act with scenes the Humourous Lieutenant, but I have
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not time to see it, nor could stay to see my Lady Jemimah lately
come to town, and who was here in the house, but dined above
with her grandmother. But taking my wife at my brother’s home
by coach, and the officers being at Deptford at a Pay we had no
office, but I took my wife by water and so spent the evening, and
so home with great pleasure to supper, and then to bed.
8th. Up very early and to my office, there preparing letters to
my father of great import in the settling of our affairs, and putting
him upon a way [of] good husbandry, I promising to make out of
my own purse him up to £50 per annum, till either by my uncle
Thomas’s death or the fall of the Wardrobe place he be otherwise
provided. That done I by water to the Strand, and there viewed
the Queen-Mother’s works at Somersett House, and thence to the
new playhouse, but could not get in to see it. So to visit my Lady
Jemimah, who is grown much since I saw her; but lacks mightily
to be brought into the fashion of the court to set her off: Thence
to the Temple, and there sat till one o’clock reading at Playford’s
in Dr. Usher’s ‘Body of Divinity’ his discourse of the Scripture,
which is as much, I believe, as is anywhere said by any man, but
yet there is room to cavill, if a man would use no faith to the tra-
dition of the Church in which he is born, which I think to be as
good an argument as most is brought for many things, and it may
be for that among others. Thence to my brother’s, and there took
up my wife and Ashwell to the Theatre Royall, being the second
day of its being opened. The house is made with extraordinary
good contrivance, and yet hath some faults, as the narrowness
of the passages in and out of the Pitt, and the distance from the
stage to the boxes, which I am confident cannot hear; but for all
other things it is well, only, above all, the musique being below,
and most of it sounding under the very stage, there is no hearing
of the bases at all, nor very well of the trebles, which sure must
be mended. The play was “The Humerous Lieutenant,” a play
that hath little good in it, nor much in the very part which, by the
King’s command, Lacy now acts instead of Clun. In the dance,
the tall devil’s actions was very pretty. The play being done, we
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home by water, having been a little shamed that my wife and
woman were in such a pickle, all the ladies being finer and better
dressed in the pitt than they used, I think, to be. To my office
to set down this day’s passage, and, though my oath against go-
ing to plays do not oblige me against this house, because it was
not then in being, yet believing that at the time my meaning was
against all publique houses, I am resolved to deny myself the
liberty of two plays at Court, which are in arreare to me for the
months of March and April, which will more than countervail
this excess, so that this month of May is the first that I must claim
a liberty of going to a Court play according to my oath. So home
to supper, and at supper comes Pembleton, and afterwards we
all up to dancing till late, and so broke up and to bed, and they
say that I am like to make a dancer.
9th. Up betimes and to my office, whither sooner than ordi-
nary comes Mr. Hater desiring to speak a word to me alone,
which I was from the disorder of his countenance amused at, and
so the poor man began telling me that by Providence being the
last Lord’s day at a meeting of some Friends upon doing of their
duties, they were surprised, and he carried to the Counter, but
afterwards released; however, hearing that Sir W. Batten do hear
of [it,] he thought it good to give me an account of it, lest it might
tend to any prejudice to me. I was extraordinary surprised with
it, and troubled for him, knowing that now it is out it is impos-
sible for me to conceal it, or keep him in employment under me
without danger to myself. I cast about all I could, and did give
him the best advice I could, desiring to know if I should promise
that he would not for the time to come commit the same, he told
me he desired that I would rather forbear to promise that, for he
durst not do it, whatever God in His providence shall do with
him, and that for my part he did bless God and thank me for all
the love and kindness I have shewed him hitherto. I could not
without tears in my eyes discourse with him further, but at last
did pitch upon telling the truth of the whole to Mr. Coventry
as soon as I could, and to that end did use means to prevent Sir
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MAY 1663
W. Batten (who came to town last night) from going to that end
to-day, lest he might doe it to Sir G. Carteret or Mr. Coventry
before me; which I did prevail and kept him at the office all the
morning. At noon dined at home with a heavy heart for the poor
man, and after dinner went out to my brother’s, and thence to
Westminster, where at Mr. Jervas’s, my old barber, I did try two
or three borders and perriwiggs, meaning to wear one; and yet
I have no stomach [for it,] but that the pains of keeping my hair
clean is so great. He trimmed me, and at last I parted, but my
mind was almost altered from my first purpose, from the trou-
ble that I foresee will be in wearing them also. Thence by water
home and to the office, where busy late, and so home to supper
and bed, with my mind much troubled about T. Hater.
10th (Lord’s day). Up betimes, and put on a black cloth suit,
with white lynings under all, as the fashion is to wear, to appear
under the breeches. So being ready walked to St. James’s, where
I sat talking with Mr. Coventry, while he made himself ready,
about several businesses of the Navy, and afterwards, the Duke
being gone out, he and I walked to White Hall together over the
Park, I telling him what had happened to Tom Hater, at which he
seems very sorry, but tells me that if it is not made very publique,
it will not be necessary to put him away at present, but give him
good caution for the time to come. However, he will speak to
the Duke about it and know his pleasure. Parted with him there,
and I walked back to St. James’s, and was there at mass, and
was forced in the crowd to kneel down; and mass being done, to
the King’s Head ordinary, whither I sent for Mr. Creed and there
we dined, where many Parliament-men; and most of their talk
was about the news from Scotland, that the Bishop of Galloway
was besieged in his house by some woman, and had like to have
been outraged, but I know not how he was secured; which is
bad news, and looks just as it did in the beginning of the late
troubles. From thence they talked of rebellion; and I perceive
they make it their great maxime to be sure to master the City
of London, whatever comes of it or from it. After that to some
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other discourse, and, among other things, talking of the way of
ordinaries, that it is very convenient, because a man knows what
he hath to pay: one did wish that, among many bad, we could
learn two good things of France, which were that we would not
think it below the gentleman, or person of honour at a tavern, to
bargain for his meat before he eats it; and next, to take no servant
without certificate from some friend or gentleman of his good
behaviour and abilities. Hence with Creed into St. James’s Park,
and there walked all the afternoon, and thence on foot home,
and after a little while at my office walked in the garden with
my wife, and so home to supper, and after prayers to bed. My
brother Tom supped with me, and should have brought my aunt
Ellen with him; she was not free to go abroad.
11th. Up betimes, and by water to Woolwich on board the Roy-
all James, to see in what dispatch she is to be carried about to
Chatham. So to the yard a little, and thence on foot to Greenwich,
where going I was set upon by a great dogg, who got hold of my
garters, and might have done me hurt; but, Lord, to see in what
a maze I was, that, having a sword about me, I never thought
of it, or had the heart to make use of it, but might, for want of
that courage, have been worried. Took water there and home,
and both coming and going did con my lesson on my Ruler to
measure timber, which I think I can well undertake now to do.
At home there being Pembleton I danced, and I think shall come
on to do something in a little time, and after dinner by coach
with Sir W. Pen (setting down his daughter at Clerkenwell), to
St. James’s, where we attended the Duke of York: and, among
other things, Sir G. Carteret and I had a great dispute about the
different value of the pieces of eight rated by Mr. Creed at 4s. and
5d., and by Pitts at 4s. and 9d., which was the greatest husbandry
to the King? he persisting that the greatest sum was; which is as
ridiculous a piece of ignorance as could be imagined. However,
it is to be argued at the Board, and reported to the Duke next
week; which I shall do with advantage, I hope. Thence to the
Tangier Committee, where we should have concluded in sending
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MAY 1663
Captain Cuttance and the rest to Tangier to deliberate upon the
design of the Mole before they begin to work upon it, but there
being not a committee (my Lord intending to be there but was
taken up at my Lady Castlemayne’s) I parted and went home-
ward, after a little discourse with Mr. Pierce the surgeon, who
tells me that my Lady Castlemaine hath now got lodgings near
the King’s chamber at Court; and that the other day Dr. Clerke
and he did dissect two bodies, a man and a woman; before the
King, with which the King was highly pleased. By water and
called upon Tom Trice by appointment with Dr. Williams, but
the Dr. did not come, it seems by T. Trice’s desire, not thinking
he should be at leisure. However, in general we talked of our
business, and I do not find that he will come to any lower terms
than £150, which I think I shall not give him but by law, and so
we parted, and I called upon Mr. Crumlum, and did give him
the 10s. remaining, not laid out of the £5 I promised him for the
school, with which he will buy strings, and golden letters upon
the books I did give them. I sat with him and his wife a great
while talking, and she is [a] pretty woman, never yet with child,
and methinks looks as if her mouth watered now and then upon
some of her boys. Then upon Tom Pepys, the Turner, desiring
his father and his letter to Piggott signifying his consent to the
selling of his land for the paying of us his money, and so home,
and finding Pembleton there we did dance till it was late, and so
to supper and to bed.
12th. Up between four and five, and after dressing myself then
to my office to prepare business against the afternoon, where all
the morning, and dined at noon at home, where a little angry
with my wife for minding nothing now but the dancing-master,
having him come twice a day, which is a folly. Again, to my
office. We sat till late, our chief business being the reconciling
the business of the pieces of eight mentioned yesterday before
the Duke of York, wherein I have got the day, and they are all
brought over to what I said, of which I am proud. Late writing
letters, and so home to supper and to bed. Here I found Creed
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staying for me, and so after supper I staid him all night and lay
with me, our great discourse being the folly of our two doting
knights, of which I am ashamed.
13th. Lay till 6 o’clock and then up, and after a little talk and
mirth, he went away, and I to my office, where busy all the morn-
ing, and at noon home to dinner, and after dinner Pembleton
came and I practised. But, Lord! to see how my wife will not
be thought to need telling by me or Ashwell, and yet will plead
that she has learnt but a month, which causes many short fallings
out between us. So to my office, whither one-eyed Cooper came
to see me, and I made him to show me the use of platts, and to
understand the lines, and how to find how lands bear, &c., to my
great content. Then came Mr. Barrow, storekeeper of Chatham,
who tells me many things, how basely Sir W. Batten has carried
himself to him, and in all things else like a passionate dotard, to
the King’s great wrong. God mend all, for I am sure we are but in
an ill condition in the Navy, however the King is served in other
places. Home to supper, to cards, and to bed.
14th. Up betimes and put up some things to send to Bramp-
ton. Then abroad to the Temple, and up and down about busi-
ness, and met Mr. Moore; and with him to an alehouse in Hol-
born; where in discourse he told me that he fears the King will
be tempted to endeavour the setting the Crown upon the little
Duke, which may cause troubles; which God forbid, unless it be
his due! He told me my Lord do begin to settle to business again,
which I am glad of, for he must not sit out, now he has done his
own business by getting his estate settled, and that the King did
send for him the other day to my Lady Castlemaine’s, to play at
cards, where he lost £50; for which I am sorry, though he says my
Lord was pleased at it, and said he would be glad at any time to
lose £50 for the King to send for him to play, which I do not so
well like. Thence home, and after dinner to the office, where we
sat till night, and then made up my papers and letters by the post,
and so home to dance with Pembleton. This day we received a
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baskett from my sister Pall, made by her of paper, which hath a
great deal of labour in it for country innocent work. After sup-
per to bed, and going to bed received a letter from Mr. Coventry
desiring my coming to him to-morrow morning, which troubled
me to think what the business should be, fearing it must be some
bad news in Tom Hater’s business.
15th. Up betimes and walked to St. James’s, where Mr. Coven-
try being in bed I walked in the Park, discoursing with the keeper
of the Pell Mell, who was sweeping of it; who told me of what
the earth is mixed that do floor the Mall, and that over all there is
cockle-shells powdered, and spread to keep it fast; which, how-
ever, in dry weather, turns to dust and deads the ball. Thence to
Mr. Coventry; and sitting by his bedside, he did tell me that he
sent for me to discourse upon my Lord Sandwich’s allowances
for his several pays, and what his thoughts are concerning his
demands; which he could not take the freedom to do face to face,
it being not so proper as by me: and did give me a most friendly
and ingenuous account of all; telling me how unsafe, at this junc-
ture, while every man’s, and his actions particularly, are des-
canted upon, it is either for him to put the Duke upon doing, or
my Lord himself to desire anything extraordinary, ‘specially the
King having been so bountifull already; which the world takes
notice of even to some repinings. All which he did desire me to
discourse with my Lord of; which I have undertook to do. We
talked also of our office in general, with which he told me that
he was now-a-days nothing so satisfied as he was wont to be. I
confess I told him things are ordered in that way that we must
of necessity break in a little time a pieces. After done with him
about these things, he told me that for Mr. Hater the Duke’s word
was in short that he found he had a good servant, an Anabaptist,
and unless he did carry himself more to the scandal of the of-
fice, he would bear with his opinion till he heard further, which
do please me very much. Thence walked to Westminster, and
there up and down in the Hall and the Parliament House all the
morning; at noon by coach to my Lord Crew’s, hearing that Lord
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Sandwich did dine there; where I told him what had passed be-
tween Mr. Coventry and myself; with which he was contented,
though I could perceive not very well pleased. And I do believe
that my Lord do find some other things go against his mind in
the House; for in the motion made the other day in the House by
my Lord Bruce, that none be capable of employment but such as
have been loyal and constant to the King and Church, the Gen-
eral [Monk] and my Lord were mentioned to be excepted; and
my Lord Bruce did come since to my Lord, to clear himself that
he meant nothing to his prejudice, nor could it have any such ef-
fect if he did mean it. After discourse with my Lord; to dinner
with him; there dining there my Lord Montagu of Boughton, Mr.
William Montagu his brother, the Queen’s Sollicitor, &c., and a
fine dinner. Their talk about a ridiculous falling-out two days ago
at my Lord of Oxford’s house, at an entertainment of his, there
being there my Lord of Albemarle, Lynsey, two of the Porters,
my Lord Bellasses, and others, where there were high words and
some blows, and pulling off of perriwiggs; till my Lord Monk
took away some of their swords, and sent for some soldiers to
guard the house till the fray was ended. To such a degree of
madness the nobility of this age is come! After dinner I went
up to Sir Thomas Crew, who lies there not very well in his head,
being troubled with vapours and fits of dizziness: and there I sat
talking with him all the afternoon from one discourse to another,
the most was upon the unhappy posture of things at this time;
that the King do mind nothing but pleasures, and hates the very
sight or thoughts of business; that my Lady Castlemaine rules
him, who, he says, hath all the tricks of Aretin356 that are to be
practised to give pleasure. In which he is too able .... but what is
the unhappiness in that, as the Italian proverb says, “lazzo dritto
non vuolt consiglio.” If any of the sober counsellors give him
356 An allusion to Aretin’s infamous letters and sonnets accompanying the
as infamous “Postures” engraved by Marc Antonio from the designs of Julio
Romano (Steinman’s “Memoir of Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland,” privately
printed, 1871).
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MAY 1663
good advice, and move him in anything that is to his good and
honour, the other part, which are his counsellers of pleasure, take
him when he is with my Lady Castlemaine, and in a humour of
delight, and then persuade him that he ought not to hear nor lis-
ten to the advice of those old dotards or counsellors that were
heretofore his enemies: when, God knows! it is they that now-a-
days do most study his honour. It seems the present favourites
now are my Lord Bristol, Duke of Buckingham, Sir H. Bennet,
my Lord Ashley, and Sir Charles Barkeley; who, among them,
have cast my Lord Chancellor upon his back, past ever getting
up again; there being now little for him to do, and he waits at
Court attending to speak to the King as others do: which I pray
God may prove of good effects, for it is feared it will be the same
with my Lord Treasurer shortly. But strange to hear how my Lord
Ashley, by my Lord Bristol’s means (he being brought over to
the Catholique party against the Bishopps, whom he hates to the
death, and publicly rails against them; not that he is become a
Catholique, but merely opposes the Bishopps; and yet, for aught
I hear, the Bishopp of London keeps as great with the King as
ever) is got into favour, so much that, being a man of great busi-
ness and yet of pleasure, and drolling too, he, it is thought, will
be made Lord Treasurer upon the death or removal of the good
old man. My Lord Albemarle, I hear, do bear through and bus-
tle among them, and will not be removed from the King’s good
opinion and favour, though none of the Cabinett; but yet he is en-
vied enough. It is made very doubtful whether the King do not
intend the making of the Duke of Monmouth legitimate;357 but
357 Thomas Ross, Monmouth’s tutor, put the idea into his head that Charles
II. had married his mother. The report was sedulously spread abroad, and
obtained some kind of credence, until, in June, 1678, the king set the matter
at rest by publishing a declaration, which was entered in the Council book
and registered in Chancery. The words of the declaration are: “That to avoid
any dispute which might happen in time to come concerning the succession
of the Crown, he (Charles) did declare, in the presence of Almighty God,
that he never gave, nor made any contract of marriage, nor was married to
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surely the Commons of England will never do it, nor the Duke
of York suffer it, whose lady, I am told, is very troublesome to
him by her jealousy. But it is wonderful that Sir Charles Barkeley
should be so great still, not [only] with the King, but Duke also;
who did so stiffly swear that he had lain with her.358 And another
one Armour that he rode before her on horseback in Holland I
think.... No care is observed to be taken of the main chance, ei-
ther for maintaining of trade or opposing of factions, which, God
knows, are ready to break out, if any of them (which God forbid!)
should dare to begin; the King and every man about him mind-
ing so much their pleasures or profits. My Lord Hinchingbroke, I
am told, hath had a mischance to kill his boy by his birding-piece
going off as he was a-fowling. The gun was charged with small
shot, and hit the boy in the face and about the temples, and he
lived four days. In Scotland, it seems, for all the newes-books
tell us every week that they are all so quiett, and everything in
the Church settled, the old woman had like to have killed, the
other day, the Bishop of Galloway, and not half the Churches
of the whole kingdom conform. Strange were the effects of the
late thunder and lightning about a week since at Northampton,
coming with great rain, which caused extraordinary floods in a
few hours, bearing away bridges, drowning horses, men, and
cattle. Two men passing over a bridge on horseback, the arches
before and behind them were borne away, and that left which
they were upon: but, however, one of the horses fell over, and
was drowned. Stacks of faggots carried as high as a steeple, and
other dreadful things; which Sir Thomas Crew showed me let-
ters to him about from Mr. Freemantle and others, that it is very
Mrs. Barlow, alias Waters, the Duke of Monmouth’s mother, nor to any other
woman whatsoever, but to his present wife, Queen Catherine, then living.”
358 The conspiracy of Sir Charles Berkeley, Lord Arran, Jermyn, Talbot, and
Killigrew to traduce Anne Hyde was peculiarly disgraceful, and the conduct
of all the actors in the affair of the marriage, from Lord Clarendon down-
wards, was far from creditable (see Lister’s “Life of Clarendon,” ii. 68-79)
916
MAY 1663
true. The Portugalls have choused us,359 it seems, in the Island of
Bombay, in the East Indys; for after a great charge of our fleets
being sent thither with full commission from the King of Portu-
gall to receive it, the Governour by some pretence or other will
not deliver it to Sir Abraham Shipman, sent from the King, nor
to my Lord of Marlborough; which the King takes highly ill, and
I fear our Queen will fare the worse for it. The Dutch decay there
exceedingly, it being believed that their people will revolt from
them there, and they forced to give over their trade. This is talked
of among us, but how true I understand not. Sir Thomas showed
me his picture and Sir Anthony Vandike’s, in crayon in little,
done exceedingly well. Having thus freely talked with him, and
of many more things, I took leave, and by coach to St. James’s,
and there told Mr. Coventry what I had done with my Lord with
great satisfaction, and so well pleased home, where I found it al-
most night, and my wife and the dancing-master alone above,
not dancing but talking. Now so deadly full of jealousy I am that
my heart and head did so cast about and fret that I could not
do any business possibly, but went out to my office, and anon
late home again and ready to chide at every thing, and then sud-
denly to bed and could hardly sleep, yet durst not say any thing,
but was forced to say that I had bad news from the Duke con-
cerning Tom Hater as an excuse to my wife, who by my folly has
too much opportunity given her with the man, who is a pretty
neat black man, but married. But it is a deadly folly and plague
that I bring upon myself to be so jealous and by giving myself
such an occasion more than my wife desired of giving her an-
other month’s dancing. Which however shall be ended as soon
as I can possibly. But I am ashamed to think what a course I did
359 The word chouse appears to have been introduced into the language
at the beginning of the seventeenth century. In 1609, a Chiaus sent by Sir
Robert Shirley, from Constantinople to London, had chiaused (or choused)
the Turkish and Persian merchants out of £4,000, before the arrival of his
employer, and had decamped. The affair was quite recent in 1610, when
Jonson’s “Alchemist” appeared, in which it is alluded to.
917
MAY 1663
take by lying to see whether my wife did wear drawers to-day as
she used to do, and other things to raise my suspicion of her, but
I found no true cause of doing it.
16th. Up with my mind disturbed and with my last night’s
doubts upon me, for which I deserve to be beaten if not really
served as I am fearful of being, especially since God knows that
I do not find honesty enough in my own mind but that upon
a small temptation I could be false to her, and therefore ought
not to expect more justice from her, but God pardon both my sin
and my folly herein. To my office and there sitting all the morn-
ing, and at noon dined at home. After dinner comes Pembleton,
and I being out of humour would not see him, pretending busi-
ness, but, Lord! with what jealousy did I walk up and down
my chamber listening to hear whether they danced or no, which
they did, notwithstanding I afterwards knew and did then be-
lieve that Ashwell was with them. So to my office awhile, and,
my jealousy still reigning, I went in and, not out of any pleasure
but from that only reason, did go up to them to practise, and did
make an end of “La Duchesse,” which I think I should, with a
little pains, do very well. So broke up and saw him gone. Then
Captain Cocke coming to me to speak about my seeming discour-
tesy to him in the business of his hemp, I went to the office with
him, and there discoursed it largely and I think to his satisfaction.
Then to my business, writing letters and other things till late at
night, and so home to supper and bed. My mind in some better
ease resolving to prevent matters for the time to come as much
as I can, it being to no purpose to trouble myself for what is past,
being occasioned too by my own folly.
17th (Lord’s day). Up and in my chamber all the morning,
preparing my great letters to my father, stating to him the perfect
condition of our estate. My wife and Ashwell to church, and after
dinner they to church again, and I all the afternoon making an
end of my morning’s work, which I did about the evening, and
then to talk with my wife till after supper, and so to bed having
918
MAY 1663
another small falling out and myself vexed with my old fit of
jealousy about her dancing-master. But I am a fool for doing it.
So to bed by daylight, I having a very great cold, so as I doubt
whether I shall be able to speak to-morrow at our attending the
Duke, being now so hoarse.
18th. Up and after taking leave of Sir W. Batten, who is gone
this day towards Portsmouth (to little purpose, God knows)
upon his survey, I home and spent the morning at dancing; at
noon Creed dined with us and Mr. Deane Woolwich, and so af-
ter dinner came Mr. Howe, who however had enough for his
dinner, and so, having done, by coach to Westminster, she to
Mrs. Clerke and I to St. James’s, where the Duke being gone
down by water to-day with the King I went thence to my Lord
Sandwich’s lodgings, where Mr. Howe and I walked a while,
and going towards Whitehall through the garden Dr. Clerk and
Creed called me across the bowling green, and so I went thither
and after a stay went up to Mrs. Clerke who was dressing herself
to go abroad with my wife. But, Lord! in what a poor condi-
tion her best chamber is, and things about her, for all the outside
and show that she makes, but I found her just such a one as Mrs.
Pierce, contrary to my expectation, so much that I am sick and
sorry to see it. Thence for an hour Creed and I walked to White
Hall, and into the Park, seeing the Queen and Maids of Honour
passing through the house going to the Park. But above all, Mrs.
Stuart is a fine woman, and they say now a common mistress
to the King,360 as my Lady Castlemaine is; which is a great pity.
Thence taking a coach to Mrs. Clerke’s, took her, and my wife,
and Ashwell, and a Frenchman, a kinsman of hers, to the Park,
where we saw many fine faces, and one exceeding handsome, in
a white dress over her head, with many others very beautiful.
Staying there till past eight at night, I carried Mrs. Clerke and
360 The king said to ‘la belle’ Stuart, who resisted all his importunities, that
he hoped he should live to see her “ugly and willing” (Lord Dartmouth’s
note to Burnet’s “Own Time,” vol. i., p. 436, ed. 1823).
919
MAY 1663
her Frenchman, who sings well, home, and thence home our-
selves, talking much of what we had observed to-day of the poor
household stuff of Mrs. Clerke and mere show and flutter that
she makes in the world; and pleasing myself in my own house
and manner of living more than ever I did by seeing how much
better and more substantially I live than others do. So to supper
and bed.
19th. Up pretty betimes, but yet I observe how my dancing
and lying a morning or two longer than ordinary for my cold
do make me hard to rise as I used to do, or look after my busi-
ness as I am wont. To my chamber to make an end of my papers
to my father to be sent by the post to-night, and taking copies of
them, which was a great work, but I did it this morning, and so to
my office, and thence with Sir John Minnes to the Tower; and by
Mr. Slingsby, and Mr. Howard, Controller of the Mint, we were
shown the method of making this new money, from the begin-
ning to the end, which is so pretty that I did take a note of every
part of it and set them down by themselves for my remembrance
hereafter. That being done it was dinner time, and so the Con-
troller would have us dine with him and his company, the King
giving them a dinner every day. And very merry and good dis-
course about the business we have been upon, and after dinner
went to the Assay Office and there saw the manner of assaying of
gold and silver, and how silver melted down with gold do part,
just being put into aqua-fortis, the silver turning into water, and
the gold lying whole in the very form it was put in, mixed of
gold and silver, which is a miracle; and to see no silver at all but
turned into water, which they can bring again into itself out of
the water. And here I was made thoroughly to understand the
business of the fineness and coarseness of metals, and have put
down my lessons with my other observations therein. At table
among other discourse they told us of two cheats, the best I ever
heard. One, of a labourer discovered to convey away the bits of
silver cut out pence by swallowing them down into his belly, and
so they could not find him out, though, of course, they searched
920
MAY 1663
all the labourers; but, having reason to doubt him, they did, by
threats and promises, get him to confess, and did find £7 of it in
his house at one time. The other of one that got a way of coyning
money as good and passable and large as the true money is, and
yet saved fifty per cent. to himself, which was by getting moulds
made to stamp groats like old groats, which is done so well, and
I did beg two of them which I keep for rarities, that there is not
better in the world, and is as good, nay, better than those that
commonly go, which was the only thing that they could find out
to doubt them by, besides the number that the party do go to put
off, and then coming to the Comptroller of the Mint, he could not,
I say, find out any other thing to raise any doubt upon, but only
their being so truly round or near it, though I should never have
doubted the thing neither. He was neither hanged nor burned,
the cheat was thought so ingenious, and being the first time they
could ever trap him in it, and so little hurt to any man in it, the
money being as good as commonly goes. Thence to the office till
the evening, we sat, and then by water (taking Pembleton with
us), over the water to the Halfway House, where we played at
nine-pins, and there my damned jealousy took fire, he and my
wife being of a side and I seeing of him take her by the hand in
play, though I now believe he did [it] only in passing and sport.
Thence home and being 10 o’clock was forced to land beyond the
Custom House, and so walked home and to my office, and hav-
ing dispatched my great letters by the post to my father, of which
I keep copies to show by me and for my future understanding, I
went home to supper and bed, being late. The most observables
in the making of money which I observed to-day, is the steps of
their doing it.
1. Before they do anything they assay the bullion, which is
done, if it be gold, by taking an equal weight of that and of silver,
of each a small weight, which they reckon to be six ounces or half
a pound troy; this they wrap up in within lead. If it be silver, they
put such a quantity of that alone and wrap it up in lead, and then
putting them into little earthen cupps made of stuff like tobacco
921
MAY 1663
pipes, and put them into a burning hot furnace, where, after a
while, the whole body is melted, and at last the lead in both is
sunk into the body of the cupp, which carries away all the cop-
per or dross with it, and left the pure gold and silver embodyed
together, of that which hath both been put into the cupp together,
and the silver alone in these where it was put alone in the leaden
case. And to part the silver and the gold in the first experiment,
they put the mixed body into a glass of aqua-fortis, which sep-
arates them by spitting out the silver into such small parts that
you cannot tell what it becomes, but turns into the very water
and leaves the gold at the bottom clear of itself, with the silver
wholly spit out, and yet the gold in the form that it was dou-
bled together in when it was a mixed body of gold and silver,
which is a great mystery; and after all this is done to get the sil-
ver together out of the water is as strange. But the nature of the
assay is thus: the piece of gold that goes into the furnace twelve
ounces, if it comes out again eleven ounces, and the piece of sil-
ver which goes in twelve and comes out again eleven and two
pennyweight, are just of the alloy of the standard of England. If
it comes out, either of them, either the gold above eleven, as very
fine will sometimes within very little of what it went in, or the sil-
ver above eleven and two pennyweight, as that also will some-
times come out eleven and ten penny weight or more, they are
so much above the goodness of the standard, and so they know
what proportion of worse gold and silver to put to such a quan-
tity of the bullion to bring it to the exact standard. And on the
contrary, [if] it comes out lighter, then such a weight is beneath
the standard, and so requires such a proportion of fine metal to
be put to the bullion to bring it to the standard, and this is the
difference of good and bad, better and worse than the standard,
and also the difference of standards, that of Seville being the best
and that of Mexico worst, and I think they said none but Seville
is better than ours.
2. They melt it into long plates, which, if the mould do take
ayre, then the plate is not of an equal heaviness in every part of
922
MAY 1663
it, as it often falls out.
3. They draw these plates between rollers to bring them to an
even thickness all along and every plate of the same thickness,
and it is very strange how the drawing it twice easily between
the rollers will make it as hot as fire, yet cannot touch it.
4. They bring it to another pair of rollers, which they call ad-
justing it, which bring it to a greater exactness in its thickness
than the first could be.
5. They cut them into round pieces, which they do with the
greatest ease, speed, and exactness in the world.
6. They weigh these, and where they find any to be too heavy
they file them, which they call sizeing them; or light, they lay
them by, which is very seldom, but they are of a most exact
weight, but however, in the melting, all parts by some accident
not being close alike, now and then a difference will be, and, this
filing being done, there shall not be any imaginable difference al-
most between the weight of forty of these against another forty
chosen by chance out of all their heaps.
7. These round pieces having been cut out of the plates, which
in passing the rollers are bent, they are sometimes a little crooked
or swelling out or sinking in, and therefore they have a way of
clapping 100 or 2 together into an engine, which with a screw
presses them so hard that they come out as flat as is possible.
8. They blanch them.
9. They mark the letters on the edges, which is kept as the
great secret by Blondeau, who was not in the way, and so I did
not speak with him to-day.361 10. They mill them, that is, put on
361 Professor W. C. Roberts-Austen, C.B., F.R.S., chemist to the Royal Mint,
refers to Pepys’s Diary and to Blondeau’s machine in his Cantor Lectures on
“Alloys used for Coinage,” printed in the “journal of the Society of Arts”
(vol. xxxii.). He writes, “The hammer was still retained for coining in the
Mint in the Tower of London, but the question of the adoption of the screw-
923
MAY 1663
the marks on both sides at once with great exactness and speed,
and then the money is perfect. The mill is after this manner: one
press by the Moneyers appears to have been revived in 1649, when the Coun-
cil of State had it represented to them that the coins of the Government might
be more perfectly and beautifully done, and made equal to any coins in Eu-
rope. It was proposed to send to France for Peter Blondeau, who had in-
vented and improved a machine and method for making all coins ‘with the
most beautiful polish and equality on the edge, or with any proper inscrip-
tion or graining.’ He came on the 3rd of September, and although a Commit-
tee of the Mint reported in favour of his method of coining, the Company of
Moneyers, who appear to have boasted of the success of their predecessors
in opposing the introduction of the mill and screw-press in Queen Eliza-
beth’s reign, prevented the introduction of the machinery, and consequently
he did not produce pattern pieces until 1653.... It is certain that Blondeau
did not invent, but only improved the method of coining by the screw-press,
and I believe his improvements related chiefly to a method for ‘rounding the
pieces before they are sized, and in making the edges of the moneys with let-
ters and graining,’ which he undertook to reveal to the king. Special stress is
laid on the engines wherewith the rims were marked, ‘which might be kept
secret among few men.’ I cannot find that there is any record in the Paris
mint of Blondeau’s employment there, and the only reference to his inven-
tion in the Mint records of this country refers to the ‘collars,’ or perforated
discs of metal surrounding the ‘blank’ while it was struck into a coin. There
is, however, in the British Museum a MS. believed to be in Blondeau’s hand,
in which he claims his process, ‘as a new invention, to make a handsome
coyne, than can be found in all the world besides, viz., that shall not only
be stamped on both flat sides, but shall even be marked with letters on the
thickness of the brim.’ The letters were raised. The press Blondeau used was,
I believe, the ordinary screw-press, and I suppose that the presses drawn in
Akerman’s well-known plate of the coining-room of the Mint in the Tower,
published in 1803 [‘Microcosm of London,’ vol. ii., p. 202], if not actually
the same machines, were similar to those erected in 1661-62 by Sir William
Parkhurst and Sir Anthony St. Leger, wardens of the Mint, at a cost of £1400,
Professor Roberts-Austen shows that Benvenuto Cellini used a similar press
to that attributed to Blondeau, and he gives an illustration of this in his lec-
ture (p. 810). In a letter to the editor the professor writes: “Pepys’s account
of the operations of coining, and especially of assaying gold and silver, is
very interesting and singularly accurate considering that he could not have
had technical knowledge of the subject.”
924
MAY 1663
of the dyes, which has one side of the piece cut, is fastened to a
thing fixed below, and the other dye (and they tell me a payre
of dyes will last the marking of £10,000 before it be worn out,
they and all other their tools being made of hardened steel, and
the Dutchman who makes them is an admirable artist, and has
so much by the pound for every pound that is coyned to find
a constant supply of dyes) to an engine above, which is move-
able by a screw, which is pulled by men; and then a piece be-
ing clapped by one sitting below between the two dyes, when
they meet the impression is set, and then the man with his fin-
ger strikes off the piece and claps another in, and then the other
men they pull again and that is marked, and then another and
another with great speed. They say that this way is more charge
to the King than the old way, but it is neater, freer from clipping
or counterfeiting, the putting of the words upon the edges being
not to be done (though counterfeited) without an engine of the
charge and noise that no counterfeit will be at or venture upon,
and it employs as many men as the old and speedier. They now
coyne between £16 and £24,000 in a week. At dinner they did
discourse very finely to us of the probability that there is a vast
deal of money hid in the land, from this:–that in King Charles’s
time there was near ten millions of money coyned, besides what
was then in being of King James’s and Queene Elizabeth’s, of
which there is a good deal at this day in being. Next, that there
was but £750,000 coyned of the Harp and Crosse money,362 and of
this there was £500,000 brought in upon its being called in. And
from very good arguments they find that there cannot be less
of it in Ireland and Scotland than £100,000; so that there is but
£150,000 missing; and of that, suppose that there should be not
362 The Commonwealth coins (stamped with the cross and harp, and the
inscription, “The Commonwealth of England”) were called in by proclama-
tion, September, 1660, and when brought to the Mint an equal amount of
lawful money was allowed for them, weight for weight, deducting only for
the coinage (Ruding’s “Annals of the Coinage,” 18 19, vol. iii., p. 293). The
harp was taken out of the naval flags in May, 1660.
925
MAY 1663
above 650,000 still remaining, either melted down, hid, or lost,
or hoarded up in England, there will then be but £100,000 left to
be thought to have been transported. Now, if £750,000 in twelve
years’ time lost but a £100,000 in danger of being transported,
then within thirty-five years’ time will have lost but £3,888,880
and odd pounds; and as there is £650,000 remaining after twelve
years’ time in England, so after thirty-five years’ time, which was
within this two years, there ought in proportion to have been
resting £6,111,120 or thereabouts, beside King James’s and Queen
Elizabeth’s money. Now that most of this must be hid is evi-
dent, as they reckon, because of the dearth of money immediately
upon the calling-in of the State’s money, which was £500,000 that
came in; and yet there was not any money to be had in this City,
which they say to their own observation and knowledge was so.
And therefore, though I can say nothing in it myself, I do not
dispute it.
20th. Up and to my office, and anon home and to see my wife
dancing with Pembleton about noon, and I to the Trinity House
to dinner and after dinner home, and there met Pembleton, who
I perceive has dined with my wife, which she takes no notice
of, but whether that proceeds out of design, or fear to displease
me I know not, but it put me into a great disorder again, that I
could mind nothing but vexing, but however I continued my res-
olution of going down by water to Woolwich, took my wife and
Ashwell; and going out met Mr. Howe come to see me, whose
horse we caused to be set up, and took him with us. The tide
against us, so I went ashore at Greenwich before, and did my
business at the yard about putting things in order as to their pro-
ceeding to build the new yacht ordered to be built by Christopher
Pett,363 and so to Woolwich town, where at an alehouse I found
363 In the minutes of the Royal Society is the following entry: “June 11,
1662. Dr. Pett’s brother shewed a draught of the pleasure boat which he
intended to make for the king” (Birch’s “History of the Royal Society,” vol.
i., p. 85). Peter Pett had already built a yacht for the king at Deptford.
926
MAY 1663
them ready to attend my coming, and so took boat again, it be-
ing cold, and I sweating, with my walk, which was very pleasant
along the green come and pease, and most of the way sang, he
and I, and eat some cold meat we had, and with great pleasure
home, and so he took horse again, and Pembleton coming, we
danced a country dance or two and so broke up and to bed, my
mind restless and like to be so while she learns to dance. God
forgive my folly.
21st. Up, but cannot get up so early as I was wont, nor my
mind to business as it should be and used to be before this danc-
ing. However, to my office, where most of the morning talking
of Captain Cox of Chatham about his and the whole yard’s dif-
ference against Mr. Barrow the storekeeper, wherein I told him
my mind clearly, that he would be upheld against the design of
any to ruin him, he being we all believed, but Sir W. Batten his
mortal enemy, as good a servant as any the King has in the yard.
After much good advice and other talk I home and danced with
Pembleton, and then the barber trimmed me, and so to dinner,
my wife and I having high words about her dancing to that de-
gree that I did enter and make a vow to myself not to oppose
her or say anything to dispraise or correct her therein as long as
her month lasts, in pain of 2s. 6d. for every time, which, if God
pleases, I will observe, for this roguish business has brought us
more disquiett than anything [that] has happened a great while.
After dinner to my office, where late, and then home; and Pem-
bleton being there again, we fell to dance a country dance or two,
and so to supper and bed. But being at supper my wife did say
something that caused me to oppose her in, she used the word
devil, which vexed me, and among other things I said I would
not have her to use that word, upon which she took me up most
scornfully, which, before Ashwell and the rest of the world, I
know not now-a-days how to check, as I would heretofore, for
less than that would have made me strike her. So that I fear with-
out great discretion I shall go near to lose too my command over
her, and nothing do it more than giving her this occasion of danc-
927
MAY 1663
ing and other pleasures, whereby her mind is taken up from her
business and finds other sweets besides pleasing of me, and so
makes her that she begins not at all to take pleasure in me or
study to please me as heretofore. But if this month of her dancing
were but out (as my first was this night, and I paid off Pembleton
for myself) I shall hope with a little pains to bring her to her old
wont. This day Susan that lived with me lately being out of ser-
vice, and I doubt a simple wench, my wife do take her for a little
time to try her at least till she goes into the country, which I am
yet doubtful whether it will be best for me to send her or no, for
fear of her running off in her liberty before I have brought her to
her right temper again.
22nd. Up pretty betimes, and shall, I hope, come to myself and
business again, after a small playing the truant, for I find that
my interest and profit do grow daily, for which God be praised
and keep me to my duty. To my office, and anon one tells me
that Rundall, the house-carpenter of Deptford, hath sent me a
fine blackbird, which I went to see. He tells me he was offered
20s. for him as he came along, he do so whistle. So to my office,
and busy all the morning, among other things, learning to under-
stand the course of the tides, and I think I do now do it. At noon
Mr. Creed comes to me, and he and I to the Exchange, where I
had much discourse with several merchants, and so home with
him to dinner, and then by water to Greenwich, and calling at the
little alehouse at the end of the town to wrap a rag about my lit-
tle left toe, being new sore with walking, we walked pleasantly
to Woolwich, in our way hearing the nightingales sing. So to
Woolwich yard, and after doing many things there, among oth-
ers preparing myself for a dispute against Sir W. Pen in the busi-
ness of Bowyer’s, wherein he is guilty of some corruption to the
King’s wrong, we walked back again without drinking, which I
never do because I would not make my coming troublesome to
any, nor would become obliged too much to any. In our going
back we were overtook by Mr. Steventon, a purser, and uncle to
my clerk Will, who told me how he was abused in the passing of
928
MAY 1663
his accounts by Sir J. Minnes to the degree that I am ashamed to
hear it, and resolve to retrieve the matter if I can though the poor
man has given it over. And however am pleased enough to see
that others do see his folly and dotage as well as myself, though
I believe in my mind the man in general means well.
Took boat at Greenwich and to Deptford, where I did the same
thing, and found Davis, the storekeeper, a knave, and shuffling
in the business of Bewpers, being of the party with Young and
Whistler to abuse the King, but I hope I shall be even with them.
So walked to Redriffe, drinking at the Half-way house, and so
walked and by water to White Hall, all our way by water com-
ing and going reading a little book said to be writ by a person of
Quality concerning English gentry to be preferred before titular
honours, but the most silly nonsense, no sense nor grammar, yet
in as good words that ever I saw in all my life, but from begin-
ning to end you met not with one entire and regular sentence. At
White Hall Sir G. Carteret was out of the way, and so returned
back presently, and home by water and to bed.
23rd. Waked this morning between four and five by my black-
bird, which whistles as well as ever I heard any; only it is the
beginning of many tunes very well, but there leaves them, and
goes no further. So up and to my office, where we sat, and among
other things I had a fray with Sir J. Minnes in defence of my Will
in a business where the old coxcomb would have put a foot upon
him, which was only in Jack Davis and in him a downright piece
of knavery in procuring a double ticket and getting the wrong
one paid as well as the second was to the true party. But it ap-
peared clear enough to the board that Will was true in it. Home
to dinner, and after dinner by water to the Temple, and there took
my Lyra Viall book bound up with blank paper for new lessons.
Thence to Greatorex’s, and there seeing Sir J. Minnes and Sir W.
Pen go by coach I went in to them and to White Hall; where, in
the Matted Gallery, Mr. Coventry was, who told us how the Par-
liament have required of Sir G. Carteret and him an account what
929
MAY 1663
money shall be necessary to be settled upon the Navy for the or-
dinary charge, which they intend to report £200,000 per annum.
And how to allott this we met this afternoon, and took their pa-
pers for our perusal, and so we parted. Only there was walking
in the gallery some of the Barbary company, and there we saw a
draught of the arms of the company, which the King is of, and
so is called the Royall Company, which is, in a field argent an
elephant proper, with a canton on which England and France is
quartered, supported by two Moors. The crest an anchor winged,
I think it is, and the motto too tedious: “Regio floret, patrocinio
commercium, commercioque Regnum.” Thence back by water
to Greatorex’s, and there he showed me his varnish which he
had invented, which appears every whit as good, upon a stick
which he hath done, as the Indian, though it did not do very well
upon my paper ruled with musique lines, for it sunk and did not
shine. Thence home by water, and after a dance with Pembleton
to my office and wrote by the post to Sir W. Batten at Portsmouth
to send for him up against next Wednesday, being our triall day
against Field at Guildhall, in which God give us good end. So
home: to supper and to bed.
24th (Lord’s day). Having taken one of Mr. Holliard’s pills
last night it brought a stool or two this morning, and so forebore
going to church this morning, but staid at home looking over my
papers about Tom Trice’s business, and so at noon dined, and
my wife telling me that there was a pretty lady come to church
with Peg Pen to-day, I against my intention had a mind to go
to church to see her, and did so, and she is pretty handsome.
But over against our gallery I espied Pembleton, and saw him
leer upon my wife all the sermon, I taking no notice of him, and
my wife upon him, and I observed she made a curtsey to him
at coming out without taking notice to me at all of it, which with
the consideration of her being desirous these two last Lord’s days
to go to church both forenoon and afternoon do really make me
suspect something more than ordinary, though I am loth to think
the worst, but yet it put and do still keep me at a great loss in
930
MAY 1663
my mind, and makes me curse the time that I consented to her
dancing, and more my continuing it a second month, which was
more than she desired, even after I had seen too much of her
carriage with him. But I must have patience and get her into the
country, or at least to make an end of her learning to dance as
soon as I can. After sermon to Sir W. Pen’s, with Sir J. Minnes
to do a little business to answer Mr. Coventry to-night. And so
home and with my wife and Ashwell into the garden walking
a great while, discoursing what this pretty wench should be by
her garb and deportment; with respect to Mrs. Pen she may be
her woman, but only that she sat in the pew with her, which I
believe he would not let her do. So home, and read to my wife
a fable or two in Ogleby’s AEsop, and so to supper, and then to
prayers and to bed. My wife this evening discoursing of making
clothes for the country, which I seem against, pleading lack of
money, but I am glad of it in some respects because of getting her
out of the way from this fellow, and my own liberty to look after
my business more than of late I have done. So to prayers and to
bed. This morning it seems Susan, who I think is distracted, or
however is since she went from me taught to drink, and so gets
out of doors 2 or 3 times a day without leave to the alehouse,
did go before 5 o’clock to-day, making Griffin rise in his shirt
to let her out to the alehouse, she said to warm herself, but her
mistress, falling out with her about it, turned her out of doors
this morning, and so she is gone like an idle slut. I took a pill also
this night.
25th. Up, and my pill working a little I staid within most of
the morning, and by and by the barber came and Sarah Kite my
cozen, poor woman, came to see me and borrow 40s. of me,
telling me she will pay it at Michaelmas again to me. I was glad it
was no more, being indifferent whether she pays it me or no, but
it will be a good excuse to lend her nor give her any more. So I
did freely at first word do it, and give her a crown more freely to
buy her child something, she being a good-natured and painful
wretch, and one that I would do good for as far as I can that I
931
MAY 1663
might not be burdened. My wife was not ready, and she coming
early did not see her, and I was glad of it. She gone, I up and
then hear that my wife and her maid Ashwell had between them
spilled the pot.... upon the floor and stool and God knows what,
and were mighty merry making of it clean. I took no great notice,
but merrily. Ashwell did by and by come to me with an errand
from her mistress to desire money to buy a country suit for her
against she goes as we talked last night, and so I did give her
£4, and believe it will cost me the best part of 4 more to fit her
out, but with peace and honour I am willing to spare anything
so as to be able to keep all ends together, and my power over her
undisturbed. So to my office and by and by home, where my wife
and her master were dancing, and so I staid in my chamber till
they had done, and sat down myself to try a little upon the Lyra
viall, my hand being almost out, but easily brought to again. So
by and by to dinner, and then carried my wife and Ashwell to
St. James’s, and there they sat in the coach while I went in, and
finding nobody there likely to meet with the Duke, but only Sir J.
Minnes with my Lord Barkely (who speaks very kindly, and in-
vites me with great compliments to come now and then and eat
with him, which I am glad to hear, though I value not the thing,
but it implies that my esteem do increase rather than fall), and
so I staid not, but into the coach again, and taking up my wife’s
taylor, it raining hard, they set me down, and who should our
coachman be but Carleton the Vintner, that should have had Mrs.
Sarah, at Westminster, my Lord Chancellor’s, and then to Pater-
noster Row. I staid there to speak with my Lord Sandwich, and
in my staying, meeting Mr. Lewis Phillips of Brampton, he and
afterwards others tell me that news came last night to Court, that
the King of France is sick of the spotted fever, and that they are
struck in again; and this afternoon my Lord Mandeville is gone
from the King to make him a visit; which will be great news, and
of great import through Europe. By and by, out comes my Lord
Sandwich, and he and I talked a great while about his business,
of his accounts for his pay, and among other things he told me
932
MAY 1663
that this day a vote hath passed that the King’s grants of land
to my Lord Monk and him should be made good; which pleases
him very well. He also tells me that things don’t go right in the
House with Mr. Coventry; I suppose he means in the business
of selling of places; but I am sorry for it. Thence by coach home,
where I found Pembleton, and so I up to dance with them till the
evening, when there came Mr. Alsopp, the King’s brewer, and
Lanyon of Plymouth to see me. Mr. Alsopp tells me of a horse
of his that lately, after four days’ pain, voided at his fundament
four stones, bigger than that I was cut of, very heavy, and in the
middle of each of them either a piece of iron or wood. The King
has two of them in his closett, and a third the College of Physi-
cians to keep for rarity, and by the King’s command he causes the
turd of the horse to be every day searched to find more. At night
to see Sir W. Batten come home this day from Portsmouth. I met
with some that say that the King of France is poisoned, but how
true that is is not known. So home to supper and to bed pleasant.
26th. Lay long in bed talking and pleasing myself with my
wife. So up and to my office a while and then home, where I
found Pembleton, and by many circumstances I am led to con-
clude that there is something more than ordinary between my
wife and him, which do so trouble me that I know not at this very
minute that I now write this almost what either I write or am do-
ing, nor how to carry myself to my wife in it, being unwilling
to speak of it to her for making of any breach and other incon-
veniences, nor let it pass for fear of her continuing to offend me
and the matter grow worse thereby. So that I am grieved at the
very heart, but I am very unwise in being so. There dined with
me Mr. Creed and Captain Grove, and before dinner I had much
discourse in my chamber with Mr. Deane, the builder of Wool-
wich, about building of ships. But nothing could get the busi-
ness out of my head, I fearing that this afternoon by my wife’s
sending every [one] abroad and knowing that I must be at the
office she has appointed him to come. This is my devilish jeal-
ousy, which I pray God may be false, but it makes a very hell in
933
MAY 1663
my mind, which the God of heaven remove, or I shall be very
unhappy. So to the office, where we sat awhile. By and by my
mind being in great trouble I went home to see how things were,
and there I found as I doubted Mr. Pembleton with my wife, and
nobody else in the house, which made me almost mad, and go-
ing up to my chamber after a turn or two I went out again and
called somebody on pretence of business and left him in my little
room at the door (it was the Dutchman, commander of the King’s
pleasure boats, who having been beat by one of his men sadly,
was come to the office to-day to complain) telling him I would
come again to him to speak with him about his business. So in
great trouble and doubt to the office, and Mr. Coventry nor Sir G.
Carteret being there I made a quick end of our business and de-
sired leave to be gone, pretending to go to the Temple, but it was
home, and so up to my chamber, and as I think if they had any
intention of hurt I did prevent doing anything at that time, but
I continued in my chamber vexed and angry till he went away,
pretending aloud, that I might hear, that he could not stay, and
Mrs. Ashwell not being within they could not dance. And, Lord!
to see how my jealousy wrought so far that I went softly up to see
whether any of the beds were out of order or no, which I found
not, but that did not content me, but I staid all the evening walk-
ing, and though anon my wife came up to me and would have
spoke of business to me, yet I construed it to be but impudence,
and though my heart full yet I did say nothing, being in a great
doubt what to do. So at night, suffered them to go all to bed, and
late put myself to bed in great discontent, and so to sleep.
27th. So I waked by 3 o’clock, my mind being troubled, and so
took occasion by making water to wake my wife, and after hav-
ing lain till past 4 o’clock seemed going to rise, though I did it
only to see what she would do, and so going out of the bed she
took hold of me and would know what ailed me, and after many
kind and some cross words I began to tax her discretion in yester-
day’s business, but she quickly told me my own, knowing well
enough that it was my old disease of jealousy, which I denied,
934
MAY 1663
but to no purpose. After an hour’s discourse, sometimes high
and sometimes kind, I found very good reason to think that her
freedom with him is very great and more than was convenient,
but with no evil intent, and so after awhile I caressed her and
parted seeming friends, but she crying in a great discontent. So
I up and by water to the Temple, and thence with Commissioner
Pett to St. James’s, where an hour with Mr. Coventry talking
of Mr. Pett’s proceedings lately in the forest of Sherwood, and
thence with Pett to my Lord Ashley, Chancellor of the Exchequer;
where we met the auditors about settling the business of the ac-
counts of persons to whom money is due before the King’s time
in the Navy, and the clearing of their imprests for what little of
their debts they have received. I find my Lord, as he is reported, a
very ready, quick, and diligent person. Thence I to Westminster
Hall, where Term and Parliament make the Hall full of people;
no further news yet of the King of France, whether he be dead or
not. Here I met with my cozen Roger Pepys, and walked a good
while with him, and among other discourse as a secret he hath
committed to nobody but myself, and he tells me that his sister
Claxton now resolving to give over the keeping of his house at
Impington, he thinks it fit to marry again, and would have me,
by the help of my uncle Wight or others, to look him out a widow
between thirty and forty years old, without children, and with a
fortune, which he will answer in any degree with a joynture fit
for her fortune. A woman sober, and no high-flyer, as he calls it.
I demanded his estate. He tells me, which he says also he hath
not done to any, that his estate is not full £800 per annum, but
it is £780 per annum, of which £200 is by the death of his last
wife, which he will allot for a joynture for a wife, but the rest,
which lies in Cambridgeshire, he is resolved to leave entire for
his eldest son. I undertook to do what I can in it, and so I shall.
He tells me that the King hath sent to them to hasten to make
an end by midsummer, because of his going into the country; so
they have set upon four bills to dispatch: the first of which is, he
says, too devilish a severe act against conventicles; so beyond all
935
MAY 1663
moderation, that he is afeard it will ruin all: telling me that it is
matter of the greatest grief to him in the world, that he should be
put upon this trust of being a Parliament-man, because he says
nothing is done, that he can see, out of any truth and sincerity,
but mere envy and design. Thence by water to Chelsey, all the
way reading a little book I bought of “Improvement of Trade,”
a pretty book and many things useful in it. So walked to Little
Chelsey, where I found my Lord Sandwich with Mr. Becke, the
master of the house, and Mr. Creed at dinner, and I sat down with
them, and very merry. After dinner (Mr. Gibbons being come in
also before dinner done) to musique, they played a good Fancy,
to which my Lord is fallen again, and says he cannot endure a
merry tune, which is a strange turn of his humour, after he has
for two or three years flung off the practice of Fancies and played
only fidlers’ tunes. Then into the Great Garden up to the Ban-
queting House; and there by his glass we drew in the species very
pretty. Afterwards to ninepins, where I won a shilling, Creed and
I playing against my Lord and Cooke. This day there was great
thronging to Banstead Downs, upon a great horse-race and foot-
race. I am sorry I could not go thither. So home back as I came,
to London Bridge, and so home, where I find my wife in a musty
humour, and tells me before Ashwell that Pembleton had been
there, and she would not have him come in unless I was there,
which I was ashamed of; but however, I had rather it should be
so than the other way. So to my office, to put things in order
there, and by and by comes Pembleton, and word is brought me
from my wife thereof that I might come home. So I sent word
that I would have her go dance, and I would come presently. So
being at a great loss whether I should appear to Pembleton or
no, and what would most proclaim my jealousy to him, I at last
resolved to go home, and took Tom Hater with me, and staid a
good while in my chamber, and there took occasion to tell him
how I hear that Parliament is putting an act out against all sorts
936
MAY 1663
of conventicles,364 and did give him good counsel, not only in his
own behalf, but my own, that if he did hear or know anything
that could be said to my prejudice, that he would tell me, for
in this wicked age (specially Sir W. Batten being so open to my
reproaches, and Sir J. Minnes, for the neglect of their duty, and
so will think themselves obliged to scandalize me all they can to
right themselves if there shall be any inquiry into the matters of
the Navy, as I doubt there will) a man ought to be prepared to
answer for himself in all things that can be inquired concerning
him. After much discourse of this nature to him I sent him away,
and then went up, and there we danced country dances, and sin-
gle, my wife and I; and my wife paid him off for this month also,
and so he is cleared. After dancing we took him down to sup-
per, and were very merry, and I made myself so, and kind to him
as much as I could, to prevent his discourse, though I perceive
to my trouble that he knows all, and may do me the disgrace to
publish it as much as he can. Which I take very ill, and if too
much provoked shall witness it to her. After supper and he gone
we to bed.
28th. Up this morning, and my wife, I know not for what
cause, being against going to Chelsey to-day, it being a holy day
(Ascension Day) and I at leisure, it being the first holy day almost
that we have observed ever since we came to the office, we did
give Ashwell leave to go by herself, and I out to several places
about business. Among others to Dr. Williams, to reckon with
him for physique that my wife has had for a year or two, coming
to almost £4. Then to the Exchange, where I hear that the King
364 16 Car. II., cap. 4, “An Act to prevent and suppresse seditious Conven-
ticles.” It was enacted that anyone of the age of sixteen or upwards present
at an unlawful assembly or conventicle was to incur fine or imprisonment.
A conventicle was defined as an assembly of more than five persons besides
the members of a family met together for holding worship not according to
the rites of the Church of England. The act was amended 22 Car. II., cap. i
(1670), and practically repealed by the Toleration Act of 1689, but the act 22
Car. II., cap. i, was specially repealed 52 Geo. III., cap. 155, s. 1.
937
MAY 1663
had letters yesterday from France that the King there is in a [way]
of living again, which I am glad to hear. At the coffee-house in
Exchange Alley I bought a little book, “Counsell to Builders,” by
Sir Balth. Gerbier. It is dedicated almost to all the men of any
great condition in England, so that the Epistles are more than
the book itself, and both it and them not worth a turd, that I am
ashamed that I bought it. Home and there found Creed, who
dined with us, and after dinner by water to the Royall Theatre;
but that was so full they told us we could have no room. And
so to the Duke’s House; and there saw “Hamlett” done, giving
us fresh reason never to think enough of Betterton. Who should
we see come upon the stage but Gosnell, my wife’s maid? but
neither spoke, danced, nor sung; which I was sorry for. But she
becomes the stage very well. Thence by water home, after we had
walked to and fro, backwards and forwards, six or seven times in
the Temple walks, disputing whether to go by land or water. By
land home, and thence by water to Halfway House, and there eat
some supper we carried with us, and so walked home again, it
being late we were forced to land at the dock, my wife and they,
but I in a humour not willing to daub my shoes went round by
the Custom House. So home, and by and by to bed, Creed lying
with me in the red chamber all night.
29th. This day is kept strictly as a holy-day, being the King’s
Coronation. We lay long in bed, and it rained very hard, rain and
hail, almost all the morning. By and by Creed and I abroad, and
called at several churches; and it is a wonder to see, and by that
to guess the ill temper of the City at this time, either to religion in
general, or to the King, that in some churches there was hardly
ten people in the whole church, and those poor people. So to a
coffee-house, and there in discourse hear the King of France is
likely to be well again. So home to dinner, and out by water to
the Royall Theatre, but they not acting to-day, then to the Duke’s
house, and there saw “The Slighted Mayde,” wherein Gosnell
acted Pyramena, a great part, and did it very well, and I believe
will do it better and better, and prove a good actor. The play is
938
MAY 1663
not very excellent, but is well acted, and in general the actors, in
all particulars, are better than at the other house. Thence to the
Cocke alehouse, and there having drunk, sent them with Creed
to see the German Princess,365 at the Gatehouse, at Westminster,
and I to my brother’s, and thence to my uncle Fenner’s to have
seen my aunt James (who has been long in town and goes away
to-morrow and I not seen her), but did find none of them within,
which I was glad of, and so back to my brother’s to speak with
him, and so home, and in my way did take two turns forwards
and backwards through the Fleete Ally to see a couple of pretty
[strumpets] that stood off the doors there, and God forgive me I
could scarce stay myself from going into their houses with them,
so apt is my nature to evil after once, as I have these two days, set
upon pleasure again. So home and to my office to put down these
two days’ journalls, then home again and to supper, and then
Creed and I to bed with good discourse, only my mind troubled
about my spending my time so badly for these seven or eight
days; but I must impute it to the disquiet that my mind has been
in of late about my wife, and for my going these two days to
plays, for which I have paid the due forfeit by money and abating
the times of going to plays at Court, which I am now to remember
that I have cleared all my times that I am to go to Court plays to
365 Mary Moders, alias Stedman, a notorious impostor, who pretended to
be a German princess. Her arrival as the German princess “at the Exchange
Tavern, right against the Stocks betwixt the Poultry and Cornhill, at 5 in the
morning...., with her marriage to Carleton the taverner’s wife’s brother,” are
incidents fully narrated in Francis Kirkman’s “Counterfeit Lady Unveiled,”
1673 (“Boyne’s Tokens,” ed. Williamson, vol. i., p. 703). Her adventures
formed the plot of a tragi-comedy by T. P., entitled “A Witty Combat, or
the Female Victor,” 1663, which was acted with great applause by persons
of quality in Whitsun week. Mary Carleton was tried at the Old Bailey for
bigamy and acquitted, after which she appeared on the stage in her own
character as the heroine of a play entitled “The German Princess.” Pepys
went to the Duke’s House to see her on April 15th, 1664. The rest of her
life was one continued course of robbery and fraud, and in 1678 she was
executed at Tyburn for stealing a piece of plate in Chancery Lane.
939
MAY 1663
the end of this month, and so June is the first time that I am to
begin to reckon.
30th. Up betimes, and Creed and I by water to Fleet Street,
and my brother not being ready, he and I walked to the New Ex-
change, and there drank our morning draught of whay, the first I
have done this year; but I perceive the lawyers come all in as they
go to the Hall, and I believe it is very good. So to my brother’s,
and there I found my aunt James, a poor, religious, well-meaning,
good soul, talking of nothing but God Almighty, and that with so
much innocence that mightily pleased me. Here was a fellow that
said grace so long like a prayer; I believe the fellow is a cunning
fellow, and yet I by my brother’s desire did give him a crown,
he being in great want, and, it seems, a parson among the fana-
tiques, and a cozen of my poor aunt’s, whose prayers she told me
did do me good among the many good souls that did by my fa-
ther’s desires pray for me when I was cut of the stone, and which
God did hear, which I also in complaisance did own; but, God
forgive me, my mind was otherwise. I had a couple of lobsters
and some wine for her, and so, she going out of town to-day, and
being not willing to come home with me to dinner, I parted and
home, where we sat at the office all the morning, and after dinner
all the afternoon till night, there at my office getting up the time
that I have of late lost by not following my business, but I hope
now to settle my mind again very well to my business. So home,
and after supper did wash my feet, and so to bed.
31st (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed talking with my wife, and
do plainly see that her distaste (which is beginning now in her
again) against Ashwell arises from her jealousy of me and her,
and my neglect of herself, which indeed is true, and I to blame;
but for the time to come I will take care to remedy all. So up and
to church, where I think I did see Pembleton, whatever the rea-
son is I did not perceive him to look up towards my wife, nor she
much towards him; however, I could hardly keep myself from
being troubled that he was there, which is a madness not to be
940
MAY 1663
excused now that his coming to my house is past, and I hope all
likelyhood of her having occasion to converse with him again.
Home to dinner, and after dinner up and read part of the new
play of “The Five Houres’ Adventures,” which though I have
seen it twice; yet I never did admire or understand it enough,
it being a play of the greatest plot that ever I expect to see, and
of great vigour quite through the whole play, from beginning to
the end. To church again after dinner (my wife finding herself
ill.... did not go), and there the Scot preaching I slept most of the
sermon. This day Sir W. Batten’s son’s child is christened in the
country, whither Sir J. Minnes, and Sir W, Batten, and Sir W. Pen
are all gone. I wonder, and take it highly ill that I am not invited
by the father, though I know his father and mother, with whom
I am never likely to have much kindness, but rather I study the
contrary, are the cause of it, and in that respect I am glad of it.
Being come from church, I to make up my month’s accounts, and
find myself clear worth £726, for which God be praised, but yet
I might have been better by £20 almost had I forborne some lay-
ings out in dancing and other things upon my wife, and going
to plays and other things merely to ease my mind as to the busi-
ness of the dancing-master, which I bless God is now over and
I falling to my quiet of mind and business again, which I have
for a fortnight neglected too much. This month the greatest news
is, the height and heat that the Parliament is in, in enquiring into
the revenue, which displeases the Court, and their backwardness
to give the King any money. Their enquiring into the selling of
places do trouble a great many among the chief, my Lord Chan-
cellor (against whom particularly it is carried), and Mr. Coven-
try; for which I am sorry. The King of France was given out to
be poisoned and dead; but it proves to be the measles: and he
is well, or likely to be soon well again. I find myself growing in
the esteem and credit that I have in the office, and I hope falling
to my business again will confirm me in it, and the saving of
money which God grant! So to supper, prayers, and bed. My
whole family lying longer this morning than was fit, and besides
941
MAY 1663
Will having neglected to brush my clothes, as he ought to do, till
I was ready to go to church, and not then till I bade him, I was
very angry, and seeing him make little matter of it, but seeming
to make it a matter indifferent whether he did it or no, I did give
him a box on the ear, and had it been another day should have
done more. This is the second time I ever struck him.
942
JUNE 1663
June 1st. Begun again to rise betimes by 4 o’clock, and made an
end of “The Adventures of Five Houres,” and it is a most excel-
lent play. So to my office, where a while and then about sev-
eral businesses, in my way to my brother’s, where I dined (being
invited) with Mr. Peter and Dean Honiwood, where Tom did
give us a very pretty dinner, and we very pleasant, but not very
merry, the Dean being but a weak man, though very good. I was
forced to rise, being in haste to St. James’s to attend the Duke,
and left them to end their dinner; but the Duke having been a-
hunting to-day, and so lately come home and gone to bed, we
could not see him, and Mr. Coventry being out of the house too,
we walked away to White Hall and there took coach, and I with
Sir J. Minnes to the Strand May-pole; and there ‘light out of his
coach, and walked to the New Theatre, which, since the King’s
players are gone to the Royal one, is this day begun to be em-
ployed by the fencers to play prizes at. And here I came and saw
the first prize I ever saw in my life: and it was between one Math-
ews, who did beat at all weapons, and one Westwicke, who was
soundly cut several times both in the head and legs, that he was
all over blood: and other deadly blows they did give and take
in very good earnest, till Westwicke was in a most sad pickle.
They fought at eight weapons, three bouts at each weapon. It
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was very well worth seeing, because I did till this day think that
it has only been a cheat; but this being upon a private quarrel,
they did it in good earnest; and I felt one of their swords, and
found it to be very little, if at all blunter on the edge, than the
common swords are. Strange to see what a deal of money is
flung to them both upon the stage between every bout. But a
woful rude rabble there was, and such noises, made my head
ake all this evening. So, well pleased for once with this sight, I
walked home, doing several businesses by the way. In my way
calling to see Commissioner Pett, who lies sick at his daughter, a
pretty woman, in Gracious Street, but is likely to be abroad again
in a day or two. At home I found my wife in bed all this day
.... I went to see Sir Wm. Pen, who has a little pain of his gout
again, but will do well. So home to supper and to bed. This day
I hear at Court of the great plot which was lately discovered in
Ireland, made among the Presbyters and others, designing to cry
up the Covenant, and to secure Dublin Castle and other places;
and they have debauched a good part of the army there, promis-
ing them ready money.366 Some of the Parliament there, they say,
are guilty, and some withdrawn upon it; several persons taken,
and among others a son of Scott’s, that was executed here for
the King’s murder. What reason the King hath, I know not; but it
seems he is doubtfull of Scotland: and this afternoon, when I was
there, the Council was called extraordinary; and they were open-
ing the letters this last post’s coming and going between Scotland
and us and other places. Blessed be God, my head and hands are
clear, and therefore my sleep safe. The King of France is well
again.
2d. Up and by water to White Hall and so to St. James’s, to Mr.
Coventry; where I had an hour’s private talk with him. Most of
366 This was known as “Blood’s Plot,” and was named after Colonel
Thomas Blood, afterwards notorious for his desperate attack upon the Duke
of Ormond in St. James’s Street (1670) and for his robbery of the crown jew-
els in the Tower (1671). He died August 24th, 1680.
944
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it was discourse concerning his own condition, at present being
under the censure of the House, being concerned with others in
the Bill for selling of offices. He tells me, that though he thinks
himself to suffer much in his fame hereby, yet he values noth-
ing more of evil to hang over him for that it is against no statute,
as is pretended, nor more than what his predecessors time out
of mind have taken; and that so soon as he found himself to be
in an errour, he did desire to have his fees set, which was done;
and since that he hath not taken a token more. He undertakes to
prove, that he did never take a token of any captain to get him
employed in his life beforehand, or demanded any thing: and
for the other accusation, that the Cavaliers are not employed, he
looked over the list of them now in the service, and of the twenty-
seven that are employed, thirteen have been heretofore always
under the King; two neutralls, and the other twelve men of great
courage, and such as had either the King’s particular commands,
or great recommendation to put them in, and none by himself.
Besides that, he says it is not the King’s nor Duke’s opinion that
the whole party of the late officers should be rendered desperate.
And lastly, he confesses that the more of the Cavaliers are put in,
the less of discipline hath followed in the fleet; and that, when-
ever there comes occasion, it must be the old ones that must do
any good, there being only, he says, but Captain Allen good for
anything of them all. He tells me, that he cannot guess whom all
this should come from; but he suspects Sir G. Carteret, as I also
do, at least that he is pleased with it. But he tells me that he will
bring Sir G. Carteret to be the first adviser and instructor of him
what to make his place of benefit to him; telling him that Smith
did make his place worth £5000 and he believed £7000 to him the
first year; besides something else greater than all this, which he
forbore to tell me. It seems one Sir Thomas Tomkins of the House,
that makes many mad motions, did bring it into the House, say-
ing that a letter was left at his lodgings, subscribed by one Benson
(which is a feigned name, for there is no such man in the Navy),
telling him how many places in the Navy have been sold. And
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by another letter, left in the same manner since, nobody appear-
ing, he writes him that there is one Hughes and another Butler
(both rogues, that have for their roguery been turned out of their
places), that will swear that Mr. Coventry did sell their places
and other things. I offered him my service, and will with all my
heart serve him; but he tells me he do not think it convenient to
meddle, or to any purpose, but is sensible of my love therein. So
I bade him good morrow, he being out of order to speak anything
of our office business, and so away to Westminster Hall, where
I hear more of the plot from Ireland; which it seems hath been
hatching, and known to the Lord Lieutenant a great while, and
kept close till within three days that it should have taken effect.
The term ended yesterday, and it seems the Courts rose sooner,
for want of causes, than it is remembered to have done in the
memory of man. Thence up and down about business in several
places, as to speak with Mr. Phillips, but missed him, and so to
Mr. Beacham, the goldsmith, he being one of the jury to-morrow
in Sir W. Batten’s case against Field. I have been telling him our
case, and I believe he will do us good service there. So home,
and seeing my wife had dined I went, being invited, and dined
with Sir W. Batten, Sir J. Minnes, and others, at Sir W. Batten’s,
Captain Allen giving them a Foy’ dinner, he being to go down
to lie Admiral in the Downs this summer. I cannot but think it
a little strange that having been so civil to him as I have been he
should not invite me to dinner, but I believe it was but a sudden
motion, and so I heard not of it. After dinner to the office, where
all the afternoon till late, and so to see Sir W. Pen, and so home
to supper and to bed. To-night I took occasion with the vintner’s
man, who came by my direction to taste again my tierce of claret,
to go down to the cellar with him to consult about the drawing
of it; and there, to my great vexation, I find that the cellar door
hath long been kept unlocked, and above half the wine drunk. I
was deadly mad at it, and examined my people round, but no-
body would confess it; but I did examine the boy, and afterwards
Will, and told him of his sitting up after we were in bed with the
946
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maids, but as to that business he denies it, which I can [not] rem-
edy, but I shall endeavour to know how it went. My wife did also
this evening tell me a story of Ashwell stealing some new ribbon
from her, a yard or two, which I am sorry to hear, and I fear my
wife do take a displeasure against her, that they will hardly stay
together, which I should be sorry for, because I know not where
to pick such another out anywhere.
3rd. Up betimes, and studying of my double horizontal diall
against Dean Honiwood comes to me, who dotes mightily upon
it, and I think I must give it him. So after talking with Sir W.
Batten, who is this morning gone to Guildhall to his trial with
Field, I to my office, and there read all the morning in my statute-
book, consulting among others the statute against selling of of-
fices, wherein Mr. Coventry is so much concerned; and though
he tells me that the statute do not reach him, yet I much fear that
it will. At noon, hearing that the trial is done, and Sir W. Batten
come to the Sun behind the Exchange I went thither, where he
tells me that he had much ado to carry it on his side, but that at
last he did, but the jury, by the judge’s favour, did give us but; £10
damages and the charges of the suit, which troubles me; but it is
well it went not against us, which would have been much worse.
So to the Exchange, and thence home to dinner, taking Deane of
Woolwich along with me, and he dined alone with my wife being
undressed, and he and I spent all the afternoon finely, learning of
him the method of drawing the lines of a ship, to my great satis-
faction, and which is well worth my spending some time in, as I
shall do when my wife is gone into the country. In the evening
to the office and did some business, then home, and, God forgive
me, did from my wife’s unwillingness to tell me whither she had
sent the boy, presently suspect that he was gone to Pembleton’s,
and from that occasion grew so discontented that I could hardly
speak or sleep all night.
4th. Up betimes, and my wife and Ashwell and I whiled away
the morning up and down while they got themselves ready, and I
947
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did so watch to see my wife put on drawers, which poor soul she
did, and yet I could not get off my suspicions, she having a mind
to go into Fenchurch Street before she went out for good and all
with me, which I must needs construe to be to meet Pembleton,
when she afterwards told me it was to buy a fan that she had not
a mind that I should know of, and I believe it is so. Specially I
did by a wile get out of my boy that he did not yesterday go to
Pembleton’s or thereabouts, but only was sent all that time for
some starch, and I did see him bringing home some, and yet all
this cannot make my mind quiet. At last by coach I carried her
to Westminster Hall, and they two to Mrs. Bowyer to go from
thence to my wife’s father’s and Ashwell to hers, and by and by
seeing my wife’s father in the Hall, and being loth that my wife
should put me to another trouble and charge by missing him to-
day, I did employ a porter to go from a person unknown to tell
him his daughter was come to his lodgings, and I at a distance
did observe him, but, Lord! what a company of questions he
did ask him, what kind of man I was, and God knows what. So
he went home, and after I had staid in the Hall a good while,
where I heard that this day the Archbishop of Canterbury, Juxon,
a man well spoken of by all for a good man, is dead; and the
Bishop of London is to have his seat. Home by water, where by
and by comes Dean Honiwood, and I showed him my double
horizontal diall, and promise to give him one, and that shall be
it. So, without eating or drinking, he went away to Mr. Turner’s,
where Sir J. Minnes do treat my Lord Chancellor and a great deal
of guests to-day with a great dinner, which I thank God I do not
pay for; and besides, I doubt it is too late for any man to expect
any great service from my Lord Chancellor, for which I am sorry,
and pray God a worse do not come in his room. So I to dinner
alone, and so to my chamber, and then to the office alone, my
head aching and my mind in trouble for my wife, being jealous of
her spending the day, though God knows I have no great reason.
Yet my mind is troubled. By and by comes Will Howe to see us,
and walked with me an hour in the garden, talking of my Lord’s
948
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falling to business again, which I am glad of, and his coming to
lie at his lodgings at White Hall again. The match between Sir
J. Cutts and my Lady Jemimah, he says, is likely to go on; for
which I am glad. In the Hall to-day Dr. Pierce tells me that the
Queen begins to be brisk, and play like other ladies, and is quite
another woman from what she was, of which I am glad. It may
be, it may make the King like her the better, and forsake his two
mistresses, my Lady Castlemaine and Stewart. He gone we sat
at the office till night, and then home, where my wife is come,
and has been with her father all the afternoon, and so home, and
she and I to walk in the garden, giving ear to her discourse of
her father’s affairs, and I found all well, so after putting things in
order at my office, home to supper and to bed.
5th. Up and to read a little, and by and by the carver coming,
I directed him how to make me a neat head for my viall that
is making. About 10 o’clock my wife and I, not without some
discontent, abroad by coach, and I set her at her father’s; but
their condition is such that she will not let me see where they
live, but goes by herself when I am out of sight. Thence to my
brother’s, taking care for a passage for my wife the next week in
a coach to my father’s, and thence to Paul’s Churchyard, where I
found several books ready bound for me; among others, the new
Concordance of the Bible, which pleases me much, and is a book
I hope to make good use of. Thence, taking the little History
of England with me, I went by water to Deptford, where Sir J.
Minnes and Sir W. Batten attending the Pay; I dined with them,
and there Dr. Britton, parson of the town, a fine man and good
company, dined with us, and good discourse. After dinner I left
them and walked to Redriffe, and thence to White Hall, and at
my Lord’s lodgings found my wife, and thence carried her to see
my Lady Jemimah, but she was not within. So to Mr. Turner’s,
and there saw Mr. Edward Pepys’s lady, who my wife concurs
with me to be very pretty, as most women we ever saw. So home,
and after a walk in the garden a little troubled to see my wife take
no more pleasure with Ashwell, but neglect her and leave her at
949
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home. Home to supper and to bed.
6th. Lay in bed till 7 o’clock, yet rose with an opinion that it
was not 5, and so continued though I heard the clock strike, till
noon, and would not believe that it was so late as it truly was.
I was hardly ever so mistaken in my life before. Up and to Sir
G. Carteret at his house, and spoke to him about business, but
he being in a bad humour I had no mind to stay with him, but
walked, drinking my morning draft of whay, by the way, to York
House, where the Russia Embassador do lie; and there I saw his
people go up and down louseing themselves: they are all in a
great hurry, being to be gone the beginning of next week. But
that that pleased me best, was the remains of the noble soul of the
late Duke of Buckingham appearing in his house, in every place,
in the doorcases and the windows. By and by comes Sir John
Hebden, the Russia Resident, to me, and he and I in his coach
to White Hall, to Secretary Morrice’s, to see the orders about the
Russia hemp that is to be fetched from Archangel for our King,
and that being done, to coach again, and he brought me into the
City and so I home; and after dinner abroad by water, and met
by appointment Mr. Deane in the Temple Church, and he and
I over to Mr. Blackbury’s yard, and thence to other places, and
after that to a drinking house, in all which places I did so practise
and improve my measuring of timber, that I can now do it with
great ease and perfection, which do please me mightily. This fel-
low Deane is a conceited fellow, and one that means the King
a great deal of service, more of disservice to other people that
go away with the profits which he cannot make; but, however, I
learn much of him, and he is, I perceive, of great use to the King
in his place, and so I shall give him all the encouragement I can.
Home by water, and having wrote a letter for my wife to my Lady
Sandwich to copy out to send this night’s post, I to the office, and
wrote there myself several things, and so home to supper and
bed. My mind being troubled to think into what a temper of ne-
glect I have myself flung my wife into by my letting her learn to
dance, that it will require time to cure her of, and I fear her go-
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ing into the country will but make her worse; but only I do hope
in the meantime to spend my time well in my office, with more
leisure than while she is here. Hebden, to-day in the coach, did
tell me how he is vexed to see things at Court ordered as they
are by nobody that attends to business, but every man himself
or his pleasures. He cries up my Lord Ashley to be almost the
only man that he sees to look after business; and with that ease
and mastery, that he wonders at him. He cries out against the
King’s dealing so much with goldsmiths, and suffering himself
to have his purse kept and commanded by them. He tells me
also with what exact care and order the States of Holland’s stores
are kept in their Yards, and every thing managed there by their
builders with such husbandry as is not imaginable; which I will
endeavour to understand further, if I can by any means learn.
7th (Lord’s day). Whit Sunday. Lay long talking with my wife,
sometimes angry and ended pleased and hope to bring our mat-
ters to a better posture in a little time, which God send. So up
and to church, where Mr. Mills preached, but, I know not how,
I slept most of the sermon. Thence home, and dined with my
wife and Ashwell and after dinner discoursed very pleasantly,
and so I to church again in the afternoon, and, the Scot preach-
ing, again slept all the afternoon, and so home, and by and by
to Sir W. Batten’s, to talk about business, where my Lady Batten
inveighed mightily against the German Princess, and I as high in
the defence of her wit and spirit, and glad that she is cleared at
the sessions. Thence to Sir W. Pen, who I found ill again of the
gout, he tells me that now Mr. Castle and Mrs. Martha Batten
do own themselves to be married, and have been this fortnight.
Much good may it do him, for I do not envy him his wife. So
home, and there my wife and I had an angry word or two upon
discourse of our boy, compared with Sir W. Pen’s boy that he has
now, whom I say is much prettier than ours and she the contrary.
It troubles me to see that every small thing is enough now-a-days
to bring a difference between us. So to my office and there did a
little business, and then home to supper and to bed. Mrs. Turner,
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who is often at Court, do tell me to-day that for certain the Queen
hath much changed her humour, and is become very pleasant
and sociable as any; and they say is with child, or believed to be
so.
8th. Up and to my office a while, and thence by coach with Sir
J. Minnes to St. James’s to the Duke, where Mr. Coventry and
us two did discourse with the Duke a little about our office busi-
ness, which saved our coming in the afternoon, and so to rights
home again and to dinner. After dinner my wife and I had a lit-
tle jangling, in which she did give me the lie, which vexed me,
so that finding my talking did but make her worse, and that her
spirit is lately come to be other than it used to be, and now de-
pends upon her having Ashwell by her, before whom she thinks I
shall not say nor do anything of force to her, which vexes me and
makes me wish that I had better considered all that I have of late
done concerning my bringing my wife to this condition of heat, I
went up vexed to my chamber and there fell examining my new
concordance, that I have bought, with Newman’s, the best that
ever was out before, and I find mine altogether as copious as that
and something larger, though the order in some respects not so
good, that a man may think a place is missing, when it is only put
in another place. Up by and by my wife comes and good friends
again, and to walk in the garden and so anon to supper and to
bed. My cozen John Angier the son, of Cambridge coming to me
late to see me, and I find his business is that he would be sent to
sea, but I dissuaded him from it, for I will not have to do with it
without his friends’ consent.
9th. Up and after ordering some things towards my wife’s go-
ing into the country, to the office, where I spent the morning upon
my measuring rules very pleasantly till noon, and then comes
Creed and he and I talked about mathematiques, and he tells me
of a way found out by Mr. Jonas Moore which he calls duodeci-
mal arithmetique, which is properly applied to measuring, where
all is ordered by inches, which are 12 in a foot, which I have a
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mind to learn. So he with me home to dinner and after dinner
walk in the garden, and then we met at the office, where Coven-
try, Sir J. Minnes, and I, and so in the evening, business done, I
went home and spent my time till night with my wife. Presently
after my coming home comes Pembleton, whether by appoint-
ment or no I know not, or whether by a former promise that he
would come once before my wife’s going into the country, but
I took no notice of, let them go up and Ashwell with them to
dance, which they did, and I staid below in my chamber, but,
Lord! how I listened and laid my ear to the door, and how I was
troubled when I heard them stand still and not dance. Anon they
made an end and had done, and so I suffered him to go away, and
spoke not to him, though troubled in my mind, but showed no
discontent to my wife, believing that this is the last time I shall
be troubled with him. So my wife and I to walk in the garden,
home and to supper and to bed.
10th. Up and all the morning helping my wife to put up her
things towards her going into the country and drawing the wine
out of my vessel to send. This morning came my cozen Thomas
Pepys to desire me to furnish him with some money, which I
could not do till his father has wrote to Piggott his consent to the
sale of his lands, so by and by we parted and I to the Exchange a
while and so home and to dinner, and thence to the Royal Theatre
by water, and landing, met with Captain Ferrers his friend, the
little man that used to be with him, and he with us, and sat by us
while we saw “Love in a Maze.” The play is pretty good, but the
life of the play is Lacy’s part, the clown, which is most admirable;
but for the rest, which are counted such old and excellent actors,
in my life I never heard both men and women so ill pronounce
their parts, even to my making myself sick therewith. Thence,
Creed happening to be with us, we four to the Half-Moon Tavern,
I buying some sugar and carrying it with me, which we drank
with wine and thence to the whay-house, and drank a great deal
of whay, and so by water home, and thence to see Sir W. Pen,
who is not in much pain, but his legs swell and so immoveable
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that he cannot stir them, but as they are lifted by other people
and I doubt will have another fit of his late pain. Played a little at
cards with him and his daughter, who is grown every day a finer
and finer lady, and so home to supper and to bed. When my wife
and I came first home we took Ashwell and all the rest below in
the cellar with the vintner drawing out my wine, which I blamed
Ashwell much for and told her my mind that I would not endure
it, nor was it fit for her to make herself equal with the ordinary
servants of the house.
11th. Up and spent most of the morning upon my measur-
ing Ruler and with great pleasure I have found out some things
myself of great dispatch, more than my book teaches me, which
pleases me mightily. Sent my wife’s things and the wine to-day
by the carrier to my father’s, but staid my boy from a letter of
my father’s, wherein he desires that he may not come to trouble
his family as he did the last year. Dined at home and then to
the office, where we sat all the afternoon, and at night home and
spent the evening with my wife, and she and I did jangle might-
ily about her cushions that she wrought with worsteds the last
year, which are too little for any use, but were good friends by
and by again. But one thing I must confess I do observe, which I
did not before, which is, that I cannot blame my wife to be now
in a worse humour than she used to be, for I am taken up in my
talk with Ashwell, who is a very witty girl, that I am not so fond
of her as I used and ought to be, which now I do perceive I will
remedy, but I would to the Lord I had never taken any, though I
cannot have a better than her. To supper and to bed. The consid-
eration that this is the longest day in the year is very unpleasant
to me.–[It is necessary to note that this was according to the old
style.]–This afternoon my wife had a visit from my Lady Jeminah
and Mr. Ferrers.
12th. Up and my office, there conning my measuring Ruler,
which I shall grow a master of in a very little time. At noon
to the Exchange and so home to dinner, and abroad with my
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wife by water to the Royall Theatre; and there saw “The Com-
mittee,” a merry but indifferent play, only Lacey’s part, an Irish
footman, is beyond imagination. Here I saw my Lord Falcon-
bridge, and his Lady, my Lady Mary Cromwell, who looks as
well as I have known her, and well clad; but when the House be-
gan to fill she put on her vizard,367 and so kept it on all the play;
which of late is become a great fashion among the ladies, which
hides their whole face. So to the Exchange, to buy things with
my wife; among others, a vizard for herself. And so by water
home and to my office to do a little business, and so to see Sir W.
Pen, but being going to bed and not well I could not see him. So
home and to supper and bed, being mightily troubled all night
and next morning with the palate of my mouth being down from
some cold I took to-day sitting sweating in the playhouse, and
the wind blowing through the windows upon my head.
13th. Up and betimes to Thames Street among the tarr men,
to look the price of tarr and so by water to Whitehall thinking to
speak with Sir G. Carteret, but he lying in the city all night, and
meeting with Mr. Cutler the merchant, I with him in his coach
into the city to Sir G. Carteret, but missing him there, he and I
walked to find him at Sir Tho. Allen’s in Bread Street, where
not finding him he and I walked towards our office, he discours-
ing well of the business of the Navy, and particularly of the vict-
ualling, in which he was once I perceive concerned, and he and
I parted and I to the office and there had a difference with Sir
W. Batten about Mr. Bowyer’s tarr, which I am resolved to cross,
though he sent me last night, as a bribe, a barrel of sturgeon,
367 Masks were commonly used by ladies in the reign of Elizabeth, and
when their use was revived at the Restoration for respectable women attend-
ing the theatre, they became general. They soon, however, became the mark
of loose women, and their use was discontinued by women of repute. On
June 1st, 1704, a song was sung at the theatre in Lincoln’s Inn Fields called
“The Misses’ Lamentation for want of their Vizard Masques at the Theatre.”
Mr. R. W. Lowe gives several references to the use of vizard masks at the
theatre in his interesting biography, “Thomas Betterton.”
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which, it may be, I shall send back, for I will not have the King
abused so abominably in the price of what we buy, by Sir W. Bat-
ten’s corruption and underhand dealing. So from the office, Mr.
Wayth with me, to the Parliament House, and there I spoke and
told Sir G. Carteret all, with which he is well pleased, and do re-
call his willingness yesterday, it seems, to Sir W. Batten, that we
should buy a great quantity of tarr, being abused by him. Thence
with Mr. Wayth after drinking a cupp of ale at the Swan, talking
of the corruption of the Navy, by water. I landed him at Whitefri-
ars, and I to the Exchange, and so home to dinner, where I found
my wife’s brother, and thence after dinner by water to the Roy-
all Theatre, where I resolved to bid farewell, as shall appear by
my oaths tomorrow against all plays either at publique houses or
Court till Christmas be over. Here we saw “The Faithfull Sheep-
heardesse,” a most simple thing, and yet much thronged after,
and often shown, but it is only for the scenes’ sake, which is very
fine indeed and worth seeing; but I am quite out of opinion with
any of their actings, but Lacy’s, compared with the other house.
Thence to see Mrs. Hunt, which we did and were much made
of; and in our way saw my Lady Castlemaine, who, I fear, is
not so handsome as I have taken her for, and now she begins
to decay something. This is my wife’s opinion also, for which
I am sorry. Thence by coach, with a mad coachman, that drove
like mad, and down byeways, through Bucklersbury home, ev-
erybody through the street cursing him, being ready to run over
them. So home, and after writing letters by the post, home to
supper and bed. Yesterday, upon conference with the King in
the Banqueting House, the Parliament did agree with much ado,
it being carried but by forty-two voices, that they would supply
him with a sum of money; but what and how is not yet known,
but expected to be done with great disputes the next week. But if
done at all, it is well.
14th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed. So up and to church. Then
to dinner, and Tom dined with me, who I think grows a very
thriving man, as he himself tells me. He tells me that his man
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John has got a wife, and for that he intends to part with him,
which I am sorry for, and then that Mr. Armiger comes to be a
constant lodger at his house, and he says has money in his purse
and will be a good paymaster, but I do much doubt it. He be-
ing gone, I up and sending my people to church, my wife and
I did even our reckonings, and had a great deal of serious talk,
wherein I took occasion to give her hints of the necessity of our
saving all we can. I do see great cause every day to curse the
time that ever I did give way to the taking of a woman for her,
though I could never have had a better, and also the letting of
her learn to dance, by both which her mind is so devilishly taken
off her business and minding her occasions, and besides has got
such an opinion in her of my being jealous, that it is never to be
removed, I fear, nor hardly my trouble that attends it; but I must
have patience. I did give her 40s. to carry into the country to-
morrow with her, whereof 15s. is to go for the coach-hire for her
and Ashwell, there being 20s. paid here already in earnest. In
the evening our discourse turned to great content and love, and I
hope that after a little forgetting our late differences, and being a
while absent one from another, we shall come to agree as well as
ever. So to Sir W. Pen’s to visit him, and finding him alone, sent
for my wife, who is in her riding-suit, to see him, which she hath
not done these many months I think. By and by in comes Sir J.
Minnes and Sir W. Batten, and so we sat talking. Among other
things, Sir J. Minnes brought many fine expressions of Chaucer,
which he doats on mightily, and without doubt he is a very fine
poet.368 Sir W. Pen continues lame of the gout, that he cannot rise
from his chair. So after staying an hour with him, we went home
and to supper, and so to prayers and bed.
15th. Up betimes, and anon my wife rose and did give me her
keys, and put other things in order and herself against going this
368 Pepys continued through life an admirer of Chaucer, and we have the
authority of Dryden himself for saying that we owe his character of the Good
Parson to Pepys’s recommendation.
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morning into the country. I was forced to go to Thames Street
and strike up a bargain for some tarr, to prevent being abused
therein by Hill, who was with me this morning, and is might-
ily surprised that I should tell him what I can have the same tarr
with his for. Thence home, but finding my wife gone, I took coach
and after her to her inn, where I am troubled to see her forced to
sit in the back of the coach, though pleased to see her company
none but women and one parson; she I find is troubled at all, and
I seemed to make a promise to get a horse and ride after them;
and so, kissing her often, and Ashwell once, I bid them adieu. So
home by coach, and thence by water to Deptford to the Trinity
House, where I came a little late; but I found them reading their
charter, which they did like fools, only reading here and there
a bit, whereas they ought to do it all, every word, and then pro-
ceeded to the election of a maister, which was Sir W. Batten, with-
out any control, who made a heavy, short speech to them, mov-
ing them to give thanks to the late Maister for his pains, which
he said was very great, and giving them thanks for their choice
of him, wherein he would serve them to the best of his power.
Then to the choice of their assistants and wardens, and so rose.
I might have received 2s. 6d. as a younger Brother, but I di-
rected one of the servants of the House to receive it and keep it.
Thence to church, where Dr. Britton preached a sermon full of
words against the Nonconformists, but no great matter in it, nor
proper for the day at all. His text was, “With one mind and one
mouth give glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
That done, by water, I in the barge with the Maister, to the Trin-
ity House at London; where, among others, I found my Lords
Sandwich and Craven, and my cousin Roger Pepys, and Sir Wm.
Wheeler. Anon we sat down to dinner, which was very great, as
they always have. Great variety of talk. Mr. Prin, among many,
had a pretty tale of one that brought in a bill in parliament for
the empowering him to dispose his land to such children as he
should have that should bear the name of his wife. It was in
Queen Elizabeth’s time. One replied that there are many species
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of creatures where the male gives the denomination to both sexes,
as swan and woodcock, but not above one where the female do,
and that is a goose. Both at and after dinner we had great dis-
courses of the nature and power of spirits, and whether they can
animate dead bodies; in all which, as of the general appearance of
spirits, my Lord Sandwich is very scepticall. He says the great-
est warrants that ever he had to believe any, is the present ap-
pearing of the Devil369 in Wiltshire, much of late talked of, who
beats a drum up and down. There are books of it, and, they say,
very true; but my Lord observes, that though he do answer to
any tune that you will play to him upon another drum, yet one
tune he tried to play and could not; which makes him suspect the
whole; and I think it is a good argument. Sometimes they talked
of handsome women, and Sir J. Minnes saying that there was no
beauty like what he sees in the country-markets, and specially
at Bury, in which I will agree with him that there is a prettiest
women I ever saw. My Lord replied thus: “Sir John, what do you
think of your neighbour’s wife?” looking upon me. “Do you not
think that he hath a great beauty to his wife? Upon my word he
hath.” Which I was not a little proud of. Thence by barge with
369 In 1664, there being a generall report all over the kingdom of Mr. Mon-
pesson his house being haunted, which hee himself affirming to the King
and Queene to be true, the King sent the Lord Falmouth, and the Queene
sent mee, to examine the truth of; but wee could neither see nor heare any-
thing that was extraordinary; and about a year after, his Majesty told me that
hee had discovered the cheat, and that Mr. Monpesson, upon his Majesty
sending for him, confessed it to him. And yet Mr. Monpesson, in a printed
letter, had afterwards the confidence to deny that hee had ever made any
such confession” (“Letters of the Second Earl of Chesterfield,” p. 24, 1829,
8vo.). Joseph Glanville published a relation of the famous disturbance at the
house of Mr. Monpesson, at Tedworth, Wilts, occasioned by the beating of
an invisible drum every night for a year. This story, which was believed at
the time, furnished the plot for Addison’s play of “The Drummer,” or the
“Haunted House.” In the “Mercurius Publicus,” April 16-23, 1663, there is
a curious examination on this subject, by which it appears that one William
Drury, of Uscut, Wilts, was the invisible drummer.–B.
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my Lord to Blackfriars, where we landed and I thence walked
home, where vexed to find my boy (whom I boxed at his com-
ing for it) and Will abroad, though he was but upon Tower Hill
a very little while. My head akeing with the healths I was forced
to drink to-day I sent for the barber, and he having done, I up to
my wife’s closett, and there played on my viallin a good while,
and without supper anon to bed, sad for want of my wife, whom
I love with all my heart, though of late she has given me some
troubled thoughts.
16th. Up, but not so early as I intend now, and to my office,
where doing business all the morning. At noon by desire I dined
with Sir W. Batten, who tells me that the House have voted the
supply, intended for the King, shall be by subsidy. After dinner
with Sir J. Minnes to see some pictures at Brewer’s, said to be of
good hands, but I do not like them. So I to the office and thence
to Stacy’s, his Tar merchant, whose servant with whom I agreed
yesterday for some tar do by combination with Bowyer and Hill
fall from our agreement, which vexes us all at the office, even Sir
W. Batten, who was so earnest for it. So to the office, where we sat
all the afternoon till night, and then to Sir W. Pen, who continues
ill, and so to bed about 10 o’clock.
17th. Up before 4 o’clock, which is the hour I intend now to
rise at, and to my office a while, and with great pleasure I fell to
my business again. Anon went with money to my tar merchant
to pay for the tar, which he refuses to sell me; but now the master
is come home, and so he speaks very civilly, and I believe we
shall have it with peace. I brought back my money to my office,
and thence to White Hall, and in the garden spoke to my Lord
Sandwich, who is in his gold-buttoned suit, as the mode is, and
looks nobly. Captain Ferrers, I see, is come home from France. I
only spoke one word to him, my Lord being there. He tells me
the young gentlemen are well there; so my Lord went to my Lord
Albemarle’s to dinner, and I by water home and dined alone, and
at the office (after half an hour’s viallin practice after dinner) till
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late at night, and so home and to bed. This day I sent my cozen
Edward Pepys his Lady, at my cozen Turner’s, a piece of venison
given me yesterday, and Madam Turner I sent for a dozen bottles
of her’s, to fill with wine for her. This day I met with Pierce the
surgeon, who tells me that the King has made peace between Mr.
Edward Montagu and his father Lord Montagu, and that all is
well again; at which; for the family’s sake, I am very glad, but do
not think it will hold long.
18th. Up by four o’clock and to my office, where all the morn-
ing writing out in my Navy collections the ordinary estimate of
the Navy, and did it neatly. Then dined at home alone, my mind
pleased with business, but sad for the absence of my wife. Af-
ter dinner half an hour at my viallin, and then all the afternoon
sitting at the office late, and so home and to bed. This morning
Mr. Cutler came and sat in my closet half an hour with me, his
discourse very excellent, being a wise man, and I do perceive by
him as well as many others that my diligence is taken notice of in
the world, for which I bless God and hope to continue doing so.
Before I went into my house this night I called at Sir W. Batten’s,
where finding some great ladies at table at supper with him and
his lady, I retreated and went home, though they called to me
again and again, and afterwards sent for me. So I went, and who
should it be but Sir Fr. Clerke and his lady and another proper
lady at supper there, and great cheer, where I staid till 11 o’clock
at night, and so home and to bed.
19th. Lay till 6 o’clock, and then up and to my office, where all
the morning, and at noon to the Exchange, and coming home met
Mr. Creed, and took him back, and he dined with me, and by and
by came Mr. Moore, whom I supplied with £30, and then abroad
with them by water to Lambeth, expecting to have seen the Arch-
bishop lie in state; but it seems he is not laid out yet. And so over
to White Hall, and at the Privy Seal Office examined the books,
and found the grant of increase of salary to the principall offi-
cers in the year 1639, £300 among the Controller, Surveyor, and
961
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Clerk of the Shippes. Thence to Wilkinson’s after a good walk
in the Park, where we met on horseback Captain Ferrers; who
tells us that the King of France is well again, and that he saw him
train his Guards, all brave men, at Paris; and that when he goes
to his mistress, Madame la Valiere, a pretty little woman, now
with child by him, he goes with his guards with him publiquely,
and his trumpets and kettle-drums with him, who stay before the
house while he is with her; and yet he says that, for all this, the
Queen do not know of it, for that nobody dares to tell her; but
that I dare not believe. Thence I to Wilkinson’s, where we had
bespoke a dish of pease, where we eat them very merrily, and
there being with us the little gentleman, a friend of Captain Fer-
rers, that was with my wife and I at a play a little while ago, we
went thence to the Rhenish wine-house, where we called for a
red Rhenish wine called Bleahard, a pretty wine, and not mixed,
as they say. Here Mr. Moore showed us the French manner, when
a health is drunk, to bow to him that drunk to you, and then ap-
ply yourself to him, whose lady’s health is drunk, and then to the
person that you drink to, which I never knew before; but it seems
it is now the fashion. Thence by water home and to bed, having
played out of my chamber window on my pipe before I went to
bed, and making Will read a part of a Latin chapter, in which I
perceive in a little while he will be pretty ready, if he spends but
a little pains in it.
20th. Up and to my office, where all the morning, and dined
at home, Mr. Deane, of Woolwich, with me, and he and I all the
afternoon down by water, and in a timber yard, measuring of
timber, which I now understand thoroughly, and shall be able in
a little time to do the King great service. Home in the evening,
and after Will’s reading a little in the Latin Testament, to bed.
21st (Lord’s day). Up betimes, and fell to reading my Latin
grammar, which I perceive I have great need of, having lately
found it by my calling Will to the reading of a chapter in Latin,
and I am resolved to go through it. After being trimmed, I by
962
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water to White Hall, and so over the Park, it raining hard, to Mr.
Coventry’s chamber, where I spent two hours with him about
business of the Navy, and how by his absence things are like to
go with us, and with good content from my being with him he
carried me by coach and set me down at Whitehall, and thence
to right home by water. He shewed me a list, which he hath
prepared for the Parliament’s view, if the business of his selling of
offices should be brought to further hearing, wherein he reckons
up, as I remember, 236 offices of ships which have been disposed
of without his taking one farthing. This, of his own accord, he
opened his cabinet on purpose to shew me, meaning, I suppose,
that I should discourse abroad of it, and vindicate him therein,
which I shall with all my power do. At home, being wet, shifted
my band and things, and then to dinner, and after dinner went
up and tried a little upon my tryangle, which I understand fully,
and with a little use I believe could bring myself to do something.
So to church, and slept all the sermon, the Scot, to whose voice
I am not to be reconciled, preaching. Thence with Sir J. Minnes
(who poor man had forgot that he carried me the other day to the
painter’s to see some pictures which he has since bought and are
brought home) to his Jodgings to see some base things he calls
them of great masters of painting. So I said nothing that he had
shown me them already, but commended them, and I think they
are indeed good enough. Thence to see Sir W. Pen, who continues
ill of the gout still. Here we staid a good while, and then I to
my office, and read my vows seriously and with content, and so
home to supper, to prayers, and to bed.
22nd. Up betimes and to my office, reading over all our let-
ters of the office that we have wrote since I came into the Navy,
whereby to bring the whole series of matters into my memory,
and to enter in my manuscript some of them that are needful
and of great influence. By and by with Sir W. Batten by coach to
Westminster, where all along I find the shops evening with the
sides of the houses, even in the broadest streets; which will make
the City very much better than it was. I walked in the Hall from
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one man to another. Hear that the House is still divided about
the manner of levying the subsidys which they intend to give the
King, both as to the manner, the time, and the number. It seems
the House do consent to send to the King to desire that he would
be graciously pleased to let them know who it was that did in-
form him of what words Sir Richard Temple should say, which
were to this purpose: “That if the King would side with him, or
be guided by him and his party, that he should not lack money:”
but without knowing who told it, they do not think fit to call him
to any account for it. Thence with Creed and bought a lobster,
and then to an alehouse, where the maid of the house is a confi-
dent merry lass, and if modest is very pleasant to the customers
that come thither. Here we eat it, and thence to walk in the Park a
good while. The Duke being gone a-hunting, and by and by came
in and shifted himself; he having in his hunting, rather than go
about, ‘light and led his horse through a river up to his breast,
and came so home: and when we were come, which was by and
by, we went on to him, and being ready he retired with us, and
we had a long discourse with him. But Mr. Creed’s accounts stick
still through the perverse ignorance of Sir G. Carteret, which I
cannot safely control as I would. Thence to the Park again, and
there walked up and down an hour or two till night with Creed,
talking, who is so knowing, and a man of that reason, that I can-
not but love his company, though I do not love the man, because
he is too wise to be made a friend of, and acts all by interest and
policy, but is a man fit to learn of. So to White Hall, and by water
to the Temple, and calling at my brother’s and several places, but
to no purpose, I came home, and meeting Strutt, the purser, he
tells me for a secret that he was told by Field that he had a judg-
ment against me in the Exchequer for £400. So I went to Sir W.
Batten, and taking Mr. Batten, his son the counsellor, with me,
by coach, I went to Clerke, our Solicitor, who tells me there can
be no such thing, and after conferring with them two together,
who are resolved to look well after the business, I returned home
and to my office, setting down this day’s passages, and having a
964
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letter that all is well in the country I went home to supper, and
then a Latin chapter of Will and to bed.
23rd. Up by four o’clock, and so to my office; but before I
went out, calling, as I have of late done, for my boy’s copybook, I
found that he had not done his task; so I beat him, and then went
up to fetch my rope’s end, but before I got down the boy was
gone. I searched the cellar with a candle, and from top to bottom
could not find him high nor low. So to the office; and after an
hour or two, by water to the Temple, to my cozen Roger; who,
I perceive, is a deadly high man in the Parliament business, and
against the Court, showing me how they have computed that the
King hath spent, at least hath received, about four millions of
money since he came in: and in Sir J. Winter’s case, in which I
spoke to him, he is so high that he says he deserves to be hanged,
and all the high words he could give, which I was sorry to see,
though I am confident he means well. Thence by water home,
and to the ‘Change; and by and by comes the King and the Queen
by in great state, and the streets full of people. I stood in Mr.—
—–‘s balcone. They dine all at my Lord Mayor’s; but what he do
for victuals, or room for them, I know not. So home to dinner
alone, and there I found that my boy had got out of doors, and
came in for his hat and band, and so is gone away to his brother;
but I do resolve even to let him go away for good and all. So I by
and by to the office, and there had a great fray with Sir W. Batten
and Sir J. Minnes, who, like an old dotard, is led by the nose by
him. It was in Captain Cocke’s business of hemp, wherein the
King is absolutely abused; but I was for peace sake contented to
be quiet and to sign to his bill, but in my manner so as to justify
myself, and so all was well; but to see what a knave Sir W. Batten
is makes my heart ake. So late at my office, and then home to
supper and to bed, my man Will not being well.
24th. Up before 4 o’clock, and so to my lute an hour or more,
and then by water, drinking my morning draft alone at an ale-
house in Thames Street, to the Temple, and thence after a little
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discourse with my cozen Roger about some business, away by
water to St. James’s, and there an hour’s private discourse with
Mr. Coventry, where he told me one thing to my great joy, that in
the business of Captain Cocke’s hemp, disputed before him the
other day, Mr. Coventry absent, the Duke did himself tell him
since, that Mr. Pepys and he did stand up and carry it against
the rest that were there, Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Batten, which
do please me much to see that the Duke do take notice of me. We
did talk highly of Sir W. Batten’s corruption, which Mr. Coventry
did very kindly say that it might be only his heaviness and un-
aptness for business, that he do things without advice and rashly,
and to gratify people that do eat and drink and play with him,
and that now and then he observes that he signs bills only in
anger and fury to be rid of men. Speaking of Sir G. Carteret,
of whom I perceive he speaks but slightly, and diminishing of
him in his services for the King in Jersey; that he was well re-
warded, and had good lands and rents, and other profits from
the King, all the time he was there; and that it was always his
humour to have things done his way. He brought an example
how he would not let the Castle there be victualled for more than
a month, that so he might keep it at his beck, though the people
of the town did offer to supply it more often themselves, which,
when one did propose to the King, Sir George Carteret being by,
says Sir George, “Let me know who they are that would do it,
I would with all my heart pay them.” “Ah, by God,” says the
Commander that spoke of it, “that is it that they are afeard of,
that you would hug them,” meaning that he would not endure
them. Another thing he told me, how the Duke of York did give
Sir G. Carteret and the Island his profits as Admirall, and other
things, toward the building of a pier there. But it was never laid
out, nor like to be. So it falling out that a lady being brought to
bed, the Duke was to be desired to be one of the godfathers; and
it being objected that that would not be proper, there being no
peer of the land to be joyned with him, the lady replied, “Why,
let him choose; and if he will not be a godfather without a peer,
966
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then let him even stay till he hath made a pier of his own.”370 He
tells me, too, that he hath lately been observed to tack about at
Court, and to endeavour to strike in with the persons that are
against the Chancellor; but this he says of him, that he do not
say nor do anything to the prejudice of the Chancellor. But he
told me that the Chancellor was rising again, and that of late Sir
G. Carteret’s business and employment hath not been so full as
it used to be while the Chancellor stood up. From that we dis-
coursed of the evil of putting out men of experience in business
as the Chancellor, and from that to speak of the condition of the
King’s party at present, who, as the Papists, though otherwise
fine persons, yet being by law kept for these fourscore years out
of employment, they are now wholly uncapable of business; and
so the Cavaliers for twenty years, who, says he, for the most part
have either given themselves over to look after country and fam-
ily business, and those the best of them, and the rest to debauch-
ery, &c.; and that was it that hath made him high against the
late Bill brought into the House for the making all men incapable
of employment that had served against the King. Why, says he,
in the sea-service, it is impossible to do any thing without them,
there being not more than three men of the whole King’s side that
are fit to command almost; and these were Captain Allen, Smith,
and Beech; and it may be Holmes, and Utber, and Batts might
do something. I desired him to tell me if he thought that I did
speak anything that I do against Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes
out of ill will or design. He told me quite the contrary, and that
there was reason enough. After a good deal of good and fine dis-
course, I took leave, and so to my Lord Sandwich’s house, where
I met my Lord, and there did discourse of our office businesses,
and how the Duke do show me kindness, though I have endeav-
oured to displease more or less of my fellow officers, all but Mr.
370 In the same spirit, long after this, some question arising as to the best
material to be used in building Westminster Bridge, Lord Chesterfield re-
marked, that there were too many wooden piers (peers) at Westminster
already.–B.
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Coventry and Pett; but it matters not. Yes, says my Lord, Sir J.
Minnes, who is great with the Chancellor; I told him the Chan-
cellor I have thought was declining, and however that the esteem
he has among them is nothing but for a jester or a ballad maker;
at which my Lord laughs, and asks me whether I believe he ever
could do that well. Thence with Mr. Creed up and down to an
ordinary, and, the King’s Head being full, went to the other over
against it, a pretty man that keeps it, and good and much meat,
better than the other, but the company and room so small that he
must break, and there wants the pleasure that the other house has
in its company. Here however dined an old courtier that is now
so, who did bring many examples and arguments to prove that
seldom any man that brings any thing to Court gets any thing,
but rather the contrary; for knowing that they have wherewith
to live, will not enslave themselves to the attendance, and flat-
tery, and fawning condition of a courtier, whereas another that
brings nothing, and will be contented to cog, and lie, and flat-
ter every man and woman that has any interest with the persons
that are great in favour, and can cheat the King, as nothing is to
be got without offending God and the King, there he for the most
part, and he alone, saves any thing. Thence to St. James Park,
and there walked two or three hours talking of the difference be-
tween Sir G. Carteret and Mr. Creed about his accounts, and how
to obviate him, but I find Creed a deadly cunning fellow and one
that never do any thing openly, but has intrigues in all he do or
says. Thence by water home to see all well, and thence down to
Greenwich, and there walked into a pretty common garden and
there played with him at nine pins for some drink, and to make
the fellows drink that set up the pins, and so home again being
very cold, and taking a very great cold, being to-day the first time
in my tabby doublet this year. Home, and after a small supper
Creed and I to bed. This day I observed the house, which I took to
be the new tennis-court, newly built next my Lord’s lodgings, to
be fallen down by the badness of the foundation or slight work-
ing, which my cozen Roger and his discontented party cry out
968
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upon, as an example how the King’s work is done, which I am
sorry to see him and others so apt to think ill of things. It hath
beaten down a good deal of my Lord’s lodgings, and had like to
have killed Mrs. Sarah, she having but newly gone out of it.
25th. Up both of us pretty early and to my chamber, where
he and I did draw up a letter to Sir G. Carteret in excuse and
preparation for Creed against we meet before the Duke upon
his accounts, which I drew up and it proved very well, but I
am pleased to see with what secret cunning and variety of ar-
tifice this Creed has carried on his business even unknown to
me, which he is now forced by an accident to communicate to
me. So that taking up all the papers of moment which lead to the
clearing of his accounts unobserved out of the Controller’s hand,
which he now makes great use of; knowing that the Controller
has not wherewith to betray him. About this all the morning,
only Mr. Bland came to me about some business of his, and told
me the news, which holds to be true, that the Portuguese did
let in the Spaniard by a plot, and they being in the midst of the
country and we believing that they would have taken the whole
country, they did all rise and kill the whole body, near 8,000 men,
and Don John of Austria having two horses killed under him,
was forced with one man to flee away. Sir George Carteret at
the office (after dinner, and Creed being gone, for both now and
yesterday I was afraid to have him seen by Sir G. Carteret with
me, for fear that he should increase his doubt that I am of a plot
with Creed in the business of his accounts) did tell us that upon
Tuesday last, being with my Lord Treasurer, he showed him a
letter from Portugall speaking of the advance of the Spaniards
into their country, and yet that the Portuguese were never more
courageous than now; for by an old prophecy, from France, sent
thither some years, though not many since, from the French King,
it is foretold that the Spaniards should come into their country,
and in such a valley they should be all killed, and then their
country should be wholly delivered from the Spaniards. This
was on Tuesday last, and yesterday came the very first news that
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in this very valley they had thus routed and killed the Spaniards,
which is very strange but true. So late at the office, and then
home to supper and to bed. This noon I received a letter from the
country from my wife, wherein she seems much pleased with the
country; God continue that she may have pleasure while she is
there. She, by my Lady’s advice, desires a new petticoat of the
new silk striped stuff, very pretty. So I went to Paternoster Row’
presently, and bought her one, with Mr. Creed’s help, a very fine
rich one, the best I did see there, and much better than she de-
sires or expects, and sent it by Creed to Unthanke to be made
against tomorrow to send by the carrier, thinking it had been but
Wednesday to-day, but I found myself mistaken, and also the tay-
lor being out of the way, it could not be done, but the stuff was
sent me back at night by Creed to dispose of some other way to
make, but now I shall keep it to next week.
26th. Up betimes, and Mr. Moore coming to see me, he
and@@Paternoster Row, now famous as the headquarters of the
publishing houses, was at this time chiefly inhabited by mercers.
“This street, before the Fire of London, was taken up by eminent
Mercers, Silkmen and Lacemen; and their shops were so resorted
to by the nobility and gentry in their coaches, that oft times the
street was so stop’d up that there was no passage for foot passen-
gers” (Strype’s “Stow,” book iii., p. 195)].
I discoursed of going to Oxford this Commencement, Mr.
Nathaniel Crew being Proctor and Mr. Childe commencing Doc-
tor of Musique this year, which I have a great mind to do, and,
if I can, will order my matters so that I may do it. By and by,
he and I to the Temple, it raining hard, my cozen Roger being
got out, he and I walked a good while among the Temple trees
discoursing of my getting my Lord to let me have security upon
his estate for £100 per ann. for two lives, my own and my wife,
for my money. But upon second thoughts Mr. Moore tells me it
is very likely my Lord will think that I beg something, and may
take it ill, and so we resolved not to move it there, but to look for
970
JUNE 1663
it somewhere else. Here it raining hard he and I walked into the
King’s Bench Court, where I never was before, and there staid
an hour almost, till it had done raining, which is a sad season,
that it is said there hath not been one fair day these three months,
and I think it is true, and then by water to Westminster, and at
the Parliament House I spoke with Roger Pepys. The House is
upon the King’s answer to their message about Temple, which is,
that my Lord of Bristoll did tell him that Temple did say those
words; so the House are resolved upon sending some of their
members to him to know the truth, and to demand satisfaction if
it be not true. So by water home, and after a little while getting
me ready, Sir W. Batten, Sir J. Minnes, my Lady Batten, and I by
coach to Bednall Green, to Sir W. Rider’s to dinner, where a fine
place, good lady mother, and their daughter, Mrs. Middleton,
a fine woman. A noble dinner, and a fine merry walk with the
ladies alone after dinner in the garden, which is very pleasant;
the greatest quantity of strawberrys I ever saw, and good, and a
collation of great mirth, Sir J. Minnes reading a book of scolding
very prettily. This very house371 was built by the Blind Beggar of
Bednall Green, so much talked of and sang in ballads; but they
say it was only some of the outhouses of it. We drank great store
of wine, and a beer glass at last which made me almost sick. At
table, discoursing of thunder and lightning, they told many sto-
ries of their own knowledge at table of their masts being shivered
from top to bottom, and sometimes only within and the outside
whole, but among the rest Sir W. Rider did tell a story of his own
knowledge, that a Genoese gaily in Leghorn Roads was struck by
371 Sir William Rider’s house was known as Kirby Castle, and was sup-
posed to have been built in 1570 by John Thorpe for John Kirby. It was
associated in rhyme with other follies of the time in bricks and mortar, as
recorded by Stow “Kirkebyes Castell, and Fisher’s Follie, Spinila’s pleasure,
and Megse’s glorie.” The place was known in Strype’s time as the “Blind
Beggar’s House,” but he knew nothing of the ballad, “The Beggar’s Daugh-
ter of Bednall Green,” for he remarks, “perhaps Kirby beggared himself by
it.” Sr. William Rider died at this house in 1669.
971
JUNE 1663
thunder, so as the mast was broke a-pieces, and the shackle upon
one of the slaves was melted clear off of his leg without hurting
his leg. Sir William went on board the vessel, and would have
contributed towards the release of the slave whom Heaven had
thus set free, but he could not compass it, and so he was brought
to his fetters again. In the evening home, and a little to my Tryan-
gle, and so to bed.
27th. Up by 4 o’clock and a little to my office. Then comes by
agreement Sir W. Warren, and he and I from ship to ship to see
deals of all sorts, whereby I have encreased my knowledge and
with great pleasure. Then to his yard and house, where I staid
two hours or more discoursing of the expense of the navy and the
corruption of Sir W. Batten and his man Wood that he brings or
would bring to sell all that is to be sold by the Navy. Then home
to the office, where we sat a little, and at noon home to dinner,
alone, and thence, it raining hard, by water to the Temple, and so
to Lincoln’s Inn, and there walked up and down to see the new
garden which they are making, and will be very pretty, and so to
walk under the Chappell by agreement, whither Mr. Clerke our
Solicitor came to me, and he fetched Mr. Long, our Attorney in
the Exchequer in the business against Field, and I directed him
to come to the best and speediest composition he could, which
he will do. So home on foot, calling upon my brother’s and else-
where upon business, and so home to my office, and there wrote
letters to my father and wife, and so home to bed, taking three
pills overnight.
28th (Lord’s day). Early in the morning my last night’s physic
worked and did give me a good stool, and then I rose and had
three or four stools, and walked up and down my chamber.
Then up, my maid rose and made me a posset, and by and by
comes Mr. Creed, and he and I spent all the morning discoursing
against to-morrow before the Duke the business of his pieces of
eight, in which the Treasurer makes so many queries. At noon,
my physic having done working, I went down to dinner, and
972
JUNE 1663
then he and I up again and spent most of the afternoon read-
ing in Cicero and other books of good discourse, and then he
went away, and then came my brother Tom to see me, telling me
how the Joyces do make themselves fine clothes against Mary is
brought to bed. He being gone I went to cast up my monthly
accounts, and to my great trouble I find myself £7 worse than I
was the last month, but I confess it is by my reckoning before-
hand a great many things, yet however I am troubled to see that
I can hardly promise myself to lay up much from month’s end to
month’s end, about £4 or £5 at most, one month with another,
without some extraordinary gettings, but I must and I hope I
shall continue to have a care of my own expenses. So to the read-
ing my vows seriously and then to supper. This evening there
came my boy’s brother to see for him, and tells me he knows
not where he is, himself being out of town this week and is very
sorry that he is gone, and so am I, but he shall come no more. So
to prayers, and to bed.
29th. Up betimes and to my office, and by and by to the Tem-
ple, and there appointed to meet in the evening about my busi-
ness, and thence I walked home, and up and down the streets
is cried mightily the great victory got by the Portugalls against
the Spaniards, where 10,000 slain, 3 or 4,000 taken prisoners,
with all the artillery, baggage, money, &c., and Don John of Aus-
tria372 forced to flee with a man or two with him, which is very
great news. Thence home and at my office all the morning, and
then by water to St. James’s, but no meeting to-day being holy
day, but met Mr. Creed in the Park, and after a walk or two,
discoursing his business, took leave of him in Westminster Hall,
whither we walked, and then came again to the Hall and fell to
talk with Mrs. Lane, and after great talk that she never went
abroad with any man as she used heretofore to do, I with one
372 He was natural son of Philip IV., King of Spain, who, after his father’s
death in 1665, exerted his whole influence to overthrow the Regency ap-
pointed during the young king’s minority.–B.
973
JUNE 1663
word got her to go with me and to meet me at the further Rhen-
ish wine-house, where I did give her a Lobster and do so touse
her and feel her all over, making her believe how fair and good a
skin she has, and indeed she has a very white thigh and leg, but
monstrous fat. When weary I did give over and somebody, hav-
ing seen some of our dalliance, called aloud in the street, “Sir!
why do you kiss the gentlewoman so?” and flung a stone at
the window, which vexed me, but I believe they could not see
my touzing her, and so we broke up and I went out the back
way, without being observed I think, and so she towards the Hall
and I to White Hall, where taking water I to the Temple with my
cozen Roger and Mr. Goldsborough to Gray’s Inn to his counsel,
one Mr. Rawworth, a very fine man, where it being the question
whether I as executor should give a warrant to Goldsborough in
my reconveying her estate back again, the mortgage being per-
formed against all acts of the testator, but only my own, my cozen
said he never heard it asked before; and the other that it was al-
ways asked, and he never heard it denied, or scrupled before,
so great a distance was there in their opinions, enough to make
a man forswear ever having to do with the law; so they agreed
to refer it to Serjeant Maynard. So we broke up, and I by water
home from the Temple, and there to Sir W. Batten and eat with
him, he and his lady and Sir J. Minnes having been below to-day
upon the East India men that are come in, but never tell me so,
but that they have been at Woolwich and Deptford, and done
great deal of business. God help them. So home and up to my
lute long, and then, after a little Latin chapter with Will, to bed.
But I have used of late, since my wife went, to make a bad use
of my fancy with whatever woman I have a mind to, which I am
ashamed of, and shall endeavour to do so no more. So to sleep.
30th. Up betimes yesterday and to-day, the sun rising very
bright and glorious; and yet yesterday, as it hath been these two
months and more, was a foul day the most part of the day. By
and by by water to White Hall, and there to my Lord’s lodgings
by appointment, whither Mr. Creed comes to me, having been
974
JUNE 1663
at Chelsey this morning to fetch my Lord to St. James’s. So he
and I to the Park, where we understand that the King and Duke
are gone out betimes this morning on board the East India ships
lately come in, and so our meeting appointed is lost. But he and I
walked at the further end of the Park, not to be observed, whither
by and by comes my Lord Sandwich, and he and we walked two
hours and more in the Park and then in White Hall Gallery, and
lastly in White Hall garden, discoursing of Mr. Creed’s accounts,
and how to answer the Treasurer’s objections. I find that the busi-
ness is £500 deep, the advantage of Creed, and why my Lord and
I should be concerned to promote his profit with so much dis-
honour and trouble to us I know not, but however we shall do
what we can, though he deserves it not, for there is nothing even
to his own advantage that can be got out of him, but by mere
force. So full of policy he is in the smallest matters, that I per-
ceive him to be made up of nothing but design. I left him here,
being in my mind vexed at the trouble that this business gets
me, and the distance that it makes between Sir G. Carteret and
myself, which I ought to avoyd. Thence by water home and to
dinner, and afterwards to the office, and there sat till evening,
and then I by water to Deptford to see Sir W. Pen, who lies ill
at Captain Rooth’s, but in a way to be well again this weather,
this day being the only fair day we have had these two or three
months. Among other discourse I did tell him plainly some of
my thoughts concerning Sir W. Batten. and the office in general,
upon design for him to understand that I do mind things and will
not balk to take notice of them, that when he comes to be well
again he may know how to look upon me. Thence homeward
walked, and in my way met Creed coming to meet me, and then
turned back and walk a while, and so to boat and home by water,
I being not very forward to talk of his business, and he by design
the same, to see how I would speak of it, but I did not, but in
general terms, and so after supper with general discourse to bed
and sleep. Thus, by God’s blessing, ends this book of two years;
I being in all points in good health and a good way to thrive and
975
JUNE 1663
do well. Some money I do and can lay up, but not much, be-
ing worth now above £700, besides goods of all sorts. My wife
in the country with Ashwell, her woman, with my father; my-
self at home with W. Hewer and my cooke-maid Hannah, my
boy Wayneman being lately run away from me. In my office, my
repute and understanding good, especially with the Duke and
Mr. Coventry; only the rest of the officers do rather envy than
love me, I standing in most of their lights, specially Sir W. Bat-
ten, whose cheats I do daily oppose to his great trouble, though
he appears mighty kind and willing to keep friendship with me,
while Sir J. Minnes, like a dotard, is led by the nose by him. My
wife and I, by my late jealousy, for which I am truly to be blamed,
have not the kindness between us which we used and ought to
have, and I fear will be lost hereafter if I do not take course to
oblige her and yet preserve my authority. Publique matters are
in an ill condition; Parliament sitting and raising four subsidys
for the King, which is but a little, considering his wants; and yet
that parted withal with great hardness. They being offended to
see so much money go, and no debts of the publique’s paid, but
all swallowed by a luxurious Court: which the King it is believed
and hoped will retrench in a little time, when he comes to see
the utmost of the revenue which shall be settled on him: he ex-
pecting to have his £1,200,000 made good to him, which is not
yet done by above £150,000, as he himself reports to the House.
My differences with my uncle Thomas at a good quiett, blessed
be God! and other matters. The town full of the great overthrow
lately given to the Spaniards by the Portugalls, they being ad-
vanced into the very middle of Portugall. The weather wet for
two or three months together beyond belief, almost not one fair
day coming between till this day, which has been a very pleasant
[day] and the first pleasant [day] this summer. The charge of the
Navy intended to be limited to £200,000 per annum, the ordinary
charge of it, and that to be settled upon the Customs. The King
yet greatly taken up with Madam Castlemaine and Mrs. Stew-
art, which God of Heaven put an end to! Myself very studious to
976
JUNE 1663
learn what I can of all things necessary for my place as an officer
of the Navy, reading lately what concerns measuring of timber
and knowledge of the tides. I have of late spent much time with
Creed, being led to it by his business of his accounts, but I find
him a fellow of those designs and tricks, that there is no degree
of true friendship to be made with him, and therefore I must cast
him off, though he be a very understanding man, and one that
much may be learned of as to cunning and judging of other men.
Besides, too, I do perceive more and more that my time of plea-
sure and idleness of any sort must be flung off to attend to getting
of some money and the keeping of my family in order, which I
fear by my wife’s liberty may be otherwise lost.
977
JULY 1663
July 1st. This morning it rained so hard (though it was fair yes-
terday, and we thereupon in hopes of having some fair weather,
which we have wanted these three months) that it wakened
Creed, who lay with me last night, and me, and so we up and fell
to discourse of the business of his accounts now under dispute,
in which I have taken much trouble upon myself and raised a
distance between Sir G. Carteret and myself, which troubles me,
but I hope we have this morning light on an expedient that will
right all, that will answer their queries, and yet save Creed the
£500 which he did propose to make of the exchange abroad of the
pieces of eight which he disbursed. Being ready, he and I by wa-
ter to White Hall, where I left him before we came into the Court,
for fear I should be seen by Sir G. Carteret with him, which of late
I have been forced to avoid to remove suspicion. I to St. James’s,
and there discoursed a while with Mr. Coventry, between whom
and myself there is very good understanding and friendship, and
so to Westminster Hall, and being in the Parliament lobby, I there
saw my Lord of Bristoll come to the Commons House to give his
answer to their question, about some words he should tell the
King that were spoke by Sir Richard Temple, a member of their
House. A chair was set at the bar of the House for him, which he
used but little, but made an harangue of half an hour bareheaded,
978
JULY 1663
the House covered. His speech being done, he came out and
withdrew into a little room till the House had concluded of an
answer to his speech; which they staying long upon, I went away.
And by and by out comes Sir W. Batten; and he told me that his
Lordship had made a long and a comedian-like speech, and de-
livered with such action as was not becoming his Lordship. He
confesses he did tell the King such a thing of Sir Richard Temple,
but that upon his honour they were not spoke by Sir Richard, he
having taken a liberty of enlarging to the King upon the discourse
which had been between Sir Richard and himself lately; and so
took upon himself the whole blame, and desired their pardon,
it being not to do any wrong to their fellow-member, but out of
zeal to the King. He told them, among many other things, that
as to his religion he was a Roman Catholique, but such a one as
thought no man to have right to the Crown of England but the
Prince that hath it; and such a one as, if the King should desire
his counsel as to his own, he would not advise him to another re-
ligion than the old true reformed religion of this country, it being
the properest of this kingdom as it now stands; and concluded
with a submission to what the House shall do with him, saying,
that whatever they shall do, says he, “thanks be to God, this head,
this heart, and this sword (pointing to them all), will find me a
being in any place in Europe.” The House hath hereupon voted
clearly Sir Richard Temple to be free from the imputation of say-
ing those words; but when Sir William Batten came out, had not
concluded what to say to my Lord, it being argued that to own
any satisfaction as to my Lord from his speech, would be to lay
some fault upon the King for the message he should upon no
better accounts send to the impeaching of one of their members.
Walking out, I hear that the House of Lords are offended that my
Lord Digby should come to this House and make a speech there
without leave first asked of the House of Lords. I hear also of
another difficulty now upon him; that my Lord of Sunderland
(whom I do not know) was so near to the marriage of his daugh-
ter as that the wedding-clothes were made, and portion and ev-
979
JULY 1663
ery thing agreed on and ready; and the other day he goes away
nobody yet knows whither, sending her the next morning a re-
lease of his right or claim to her, and advice to his friends not to
enquire into the reason of this doing, for he hath enough for it;
but that he gives them liberty to say and think what they will of
him, so they do not demand the reason of his leaving her, being
resolved never to have her, but the reason desires and resolves
not to give. Thence by water with Sir W. Batten to Trinity House,
there to dine with him, which we did; and after dinner we fell
talking, Sir J. Minnes, Mr. Batten and I; Mr. Batten telling us of a
late triall of Sir Charles Sydly the other day, before my Lord Chief
Justice Foster and the whole bench, for his debauchery a little
while since at Oxford Kate’s,373 coming in open day into the Bal-
cone and showed his nakedness,.... and abusing of scripture and
as it were from thence preaching a mountebank sermon from the
pulpit, saying that there he had to sell such a powder as should
make all the [women] in town run after him, 1000 people stand-
ing underneath to see and hear him, and that being done he took
a glass of wine.... and then drank it off, and then took another
and drank the King’s health. It seems my Lord and the rest of the
judges did all of them round give him a most high reproof; my
373 The details in the original are very gross. Dr. Johnson relates the story in
the “Lives of the Poets,” in his life of Sackville, Lord Dorset “Sackville, who
was then Lord Buckhurst, with Sir Charles Sedley and Sir Thomas Ogle, got
drunk at the Cock, in Bow Street, by Covent Garden, and going into the bal-
cony exposed themselves to the populace in very indecent postures. At last,
as they grew warmer, Sedley stood forth naked, and harangued the popu-
lace in such profane language, that the publick indignation was awakened;
the crowd attempted to force the door, and being repulsed, drove in the per-
formers with stones, and broke the windows of the house. For this misde-
meanour they were indicted, and Sedley was fined five hundred pounds;
what was the sentence of the others is not known. Sedley employed [Henry]
Killigrew and another to procure a remission from the King, but (mark the
friendship of the dissolute!) they begged the fine for themselves, and exacted
it to the last groat.” The woman known as Oxford Kate appears to have kept
the notorious Cock Tavern in Bow Street at this date.
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JULY 1663
Lord Chief justice saying, that it was for him, and such wicked
wretches as he was, that God’s anger and judgments hung over
us, calling him sirrah many times. It’s said they have bound him
to his good behaviour (there being no law against him for it) in
£5000. It being told that my Lord Buckhurst was there, my Lord
asked whether it was that Buckhurst that was lately tried for rob-
bery; and when answered Yes, he asked whether he had so soon
forgot his deliverance at that time, and that it would have more
become him to have been at his prayers begging God’s forgive-
ness, than now running into such courses again.... Thence home,
and my clerks being gone by my leave to see the East India ships
that are lately come home, I staid all alone within my office all
the afternoon. This day I hear at dinner that Don John of Aus-
tria, since his flight out of Portugall, is dead of his wounds:–[not
true]–so there is a great man gone, and a great dispute like to be
ended for the crown of Spayne, if the King should have died be-
fore him. I received this morning a letter from my wife, brought
by John Gower to town, wherein I find a sad falling out between
my wife and my father and sister and Ashwell upon my writing
to my father to advise Pall not to keep Ashwell from her mistress,
or making any difference between them. Which Pall telling to
Ashwell, and she speaking some words that her mistress heard,
caused great difference among them; all which I am sorry from
my heart to hear of, and I fear will breed ill blood not to be laid
again. So that I fear my wife and I may have some falling out
about it, or at least my father and I, but I shall endeavour to salve
up all as well as I can, or send for her out of the country before
the time intended, which I would be loth to do. In the evening
by water to my coz. Roger Pepys’ chamber, where he was not
come, but I found Dr. John newly come to town, and is well
again after his sickness; but, Lord! what a simple man he is as
to any public matter of state, and talks so sillily to his brother
Dr. Tom. What the matter is I know not, but he has taken (as
my father told me a good while since) such displeasure that he
hardly would touch his hat to me, and I as little to him. By and by
981
JULY 1663
comes Roger, and he told us the whole passage of my Lord Digby
to-day, much as I have said here above; only that he did say that
he would draw his sword against the Pope himself, if he should
offer any thing against his Majesty, and the good of these nations;
and that he never was the man that did either look for a Cardi-
nal’s cap for himself, or any body else, meaning Abbot Montagu;
and the House upon the whole did vote Sir Richard Temple in-
nocent; and that my Lord Digby hath cleared the honour of his
Majesty, and Sir Richard Temple’s, and given perfect satisfaction
of his own respects to the House. Thence to my brother’s, and
being vexed with his not minding my father’s business here in
getting his Landscape done, I went away in an anger, and walked
home, and so up to my lute and then to bed.
2d. Up betimes to my office, and there all the morning do-
ing business, at noon to the Change, and there met with several
people, among others Captain Cox, and with him to a Coffee
[House], and drank with him and some other merchants. Good
discourse. Thence home and to dinner, and, after a little alone at
my viol, to the office, where we sat all the afternoon, and so rose
at the evening, and then home to supper and to bed, after a little
musique. My mind troubled me with the thoughts of the differ-
ence between my wife and my father in the country. Walking in
the garden this evening with Sir G. Carteret and Sir J. Minnes, Sir
G. Carteret told us with great contempt how like a stage-player
my Lord Digby spoke yesterday, pointing to his head as my Lord
did, and saying, “First, for his head,” says Sir G. Carteret, “I
know what a calf’s head would have done better by half for his
heart and his sword, I have nothing to say to them.” He told us
that for certain his head cost the late King his, for it was he that
broke off the treaty at Uxbridge. He told us also how great a man
he was raised from a private gentleman in France by Monsieur
Grandmont,374 and afterwards by the Cardinall,–[Mazarin]–who
374 Antoine, Duc de Gramont, marshal of France, who died July 12th, 1678,
aged seventy-four. His memoirs have been published.
982
JULY 1663
raised him to be a Lieutenant-generall, and then higher; and en-
trusted by the Cardinall, when he was banished out of France,
with great matters, and recommended by him to the Queen as
a man to be trusted and ruled by: yet when he came to have
some power over the Queen, he begun to dissuade her from her
opinion of the Cardinal; which she said nothing to till the Cardi-
nal was returned, and then she told him of it; who told my Lord
Digby, “Eh bien, Monsieur, vous estes un fort bon amy donc:”
but presently put him out of all; and then he was, from a cer-
tainty of coming in two or three years’ time to be Mareschall of
France (to which all strangers, even Protestants, and those as of-
ten as French themselves, are capable of coming, though it be
one of the greatest places in France), he was driven to go out
of France into Flanders; but there was not trusted, nor received
any kindness from the Prince of Conde, as one to whom also he
had been false, as he had been to the Cardinal and Grandmont.
In fine, he told us how he is a man of excellent parts, but of no
great faith nor judgment, and one very easy to get up to great
height of preferment, but never able to hold it. So home and to
my musique; and then comes Mr. Creed to me giving me an ac-
count of his accounts, how he has now settled them fit for perusal
the most strict, at which I am glad. So he and I to bed together.
3d. Up and he home, and I with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten
by coach to Westminster, to St. James’s, thinking to meet Sir G.
Carteret, and to attend the Duke, but he not coming we broke up,
and so to Westminster Hall, and there meeting with Mr. Moore
he tells me great news that my Lady Castlemaine is fallen from
Court, and this morning retired. He gives me no account of the
reason of it, but that it is so: for which I am sorry: and yet if
the King do it to leave off not only her but all other mistresses, I
should be heartily glad of it, that he may fall to look after busi-
ness. I hear my Lord Digby is condemned at Court for his speech,
and that my Lord Chancellor grows great again. Thence with
Mr. Creed, whom I called at his chamber, over the water to Lam-
beth; but could not, it being morning, get to see the Archbishop’s
983
JULY 1663
hearse: so he and I walked over the fields to Southwark, and
there parted, and I spent half an hour in Mary Overy’s Church,
where are fine monuments of great antiquity, I believe, and has
been a fine church. Thence to the Change, and meeting Sir J.
Minnes there, he and I walked to look upon Backwell’s design
of making another alley from his shop through over against the
Exchange door, which will be very noble and quite put down the
other two.
So home to dinner and then to the office, and entered in my
manuscript book the Victualler’s contract, and then over the wa-
ter and walked to see Sir W. Pen, and sat with him a while, and
so home late, and to my viall. So up comes Creed again to me
and stays all night, to-morrow morning being a hearing before
the Duke. So to bed full of discourse of his business.
4th. Up by 4 o’clock and sent him to get matters ready, and
I to my office looking over papers and mending my manuscript
by scraping out the blots and other things, which is now a very
fine book. So to St. James’s by water with Sir J. Minnes and Sir
W. Batten, I giving occasion to a wager about the tide, that it did
flow through bridge, by which Sir W. Batten won 5s. of Sir J.
Minnes. At St. James’s we staid while the Duke made himself
ready. Among other things Sir Allen Apsley showed the Duke
the Lisbon Gazette in Spanish, where the late victory is set down
particularly, and to the great honour of the English beyond mea-
sure. They have since taken back Evora, which was lost to the
Spaniards, the English making the assault, and lost not more
than three men. Here I learnt that the English foot are highly es-
teemed all over the world, but the horse not so much, which yet
we count among ourselves the best; but they abroad have had no
great knowledge of our horse, it seems. The Duke being ready,
we retired with him, and there fell upon Mr. Creed’s business,
where the Treasurer did, like a mad coxcomb, without reason or
method run over a great many things against the account, and so
did Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten, which the Duke himself and
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Mr. Coventry and my Lord Barkely and myself did remove, and
Creed being called in did answer all with great method and excel-
lently to the purpose (myself I am a little conscious did not speak
so well as I purposed and do think I used to do, that is, not so
intelligibly and persuasively, as I well hoped I should), not that
what I said was not well taken, and did carry the business with
what was urged and answered by Creed and Mr. Coventry, till
the Duke himself did declare that he was satisfied, and my Lord
Barkely offered to lay £100 that the King would receive no wrong
in the account, and the two last knights held their tongues, or at
least by not understanding it did say what made for Mr. Creed,
and so Sir G. Carteret was left alone, but yet persisted to say that
the account was not good, but full of corruption and foul dealing.
And so we broke up to his shame, but I do fear to the loss of his
friendship to me a good while, which I am heartily troubled for.
Thence with Creed to the King’s Head ordinary; but, coming late,
dined at the second table very well for 12d.; and a pretty gentle-
man in our company, who confirms my Lady Castlemaine’s be-
ing gone from Court, but knows not the reason; he told us of one
wipe the Queen a little while ago did give her, when she came in
and found the Queen under the dresser’s hands, and had been
so long:
“I wonder your Majesty,” says she, “can have the patience to
sit so long a-dressing?”–“I have so much reason to use patience,”
says the Queen, “that I can very well bear with it.” He thinks
that it may be the Queen hath commanded her to retire, though
that is not likely. Thence with Creed to hire a coach to carry us
to Hide Park, to-day there being a general muster of the King’s
Guards, horse and foot: but they demand so high, that I, spying
Mr. Cutler the merchant, did take notice of him, and he going
into his coach, and telling me that he was going to shew a cou-
ple of Swedish strangers the muster, I asked and went along with
him; where a goodly sight to see so many fine horses and officers,
and the King, Duke, and others come by a-horseback, and the
two Queens in the Queen-Mother’s coach, my Lady Castlemaine
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not being there. And after long being there, I ‘light, and walked
to the place where the King, Duke, &c., did stand to see the horse
and foot march by and discharge their guns, to show a French
Marquisse (for whom this muster was caused) the goodness of
our firemen; which indeed was very good, though not without
a slip now and then; and one broadside close to our coach we
had going out of the Park, even to the nearness as to be ready
to burn our hairs. Yet methought all these gay men are not the
soldiers that must do the King’s business, it being such as these
that lost the old King all he had, and were beat by the most or-
dinary fellows that could be. Thence with much ado out of the
Park, and I ‘lighted and through St. James’s down the water-
side over, to Lambeth, to see the Archbishop’s corps (who is to
be carried away to Oxford on Monday), but came too late, and
so walked over the fields and bridge home (calling by the way at
old George’s), but find that he is dead, and there wrote several
letters, and so home to supper and to bed. This day in the Duke’s
chamber there being a Roman story in the hangings, and upon
the standards written these four letters–S. P. Q. R., Sir G. Carteret
came to me to know what the meaning of those four letters were;
which ignorance is not to be borne in a Privy Counsellor, me-
thinks, that a schoolboy should be whipt for not knowing.
5th (Lord’s day). Lady Batten had sent twice to invite me to
go with them to Walthamstow to-day, Mrs. Martha’ being mar-
ried already this morning to Mr. Castle, at this parish church.
I could not rise soon enough to go with them, but got myself
ready, and so to Games’s, where I got a horse and rode thither
very pleasantly, only coming to make water I found a stopping,
which makes me fearful of my old pain. Being come thither, I
was well received, and had two pair of gloves, as the rest, and
walked up and down with my Lady in the garden, she mighty
kind to me, and I have the way to please her. A good dinner and
merry, but methinks none of the kindness nor bridall respect be-
tween the bridegroom and bride, that was between my wife and
I, but as persons that marry purely for convenience. After din-
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ner to church by coach, and there my Lady, Mrs. Turner, Mrs.
Lemon, and I only, we, in spite to one another, kept one another
awake; and sometimes I read in my book of Latin plays, which I
took in my pocket, thinking to have walked it. An old doting par-
son preached. So home again, and by and by up and homewards,
calling in our way (Sir J. Minnes and I only) at Mr. Batten’s (who
with his lady and child went in another coach by us), which is
a very pretty house, and himself in all things within and with-
out very ingenious, and I find a very fine study and good books.
So set out, Sir J. Minnes and I in his coach together, talking all
the way of chymistry, wherein he do know something, at least,
seems so to me, that cannot correct him, Mr. Batten’s man riding
my horse, and so home and to my office a while to read my vows,
then home to prayers and to bed.
6th. Up pretty early and to my office all the morning, writing
out a list of the King’s ships in my Navy collections with great
pleasure. At noon Creed comes to me, who tells me how well
he has sped with Sir G. Carteret after all our trouble, that he had
his tallys up and all the kind words possible from him, which
I believe is out of an apprehension what a fool he has made of
himself hitherto in making so great a stop therein. But I find, and
so my Lord Sandwich may, that Sir G. Carteret had a design to
do him a disgrace, if he could possibly, otherwise he would never
have carried the business so far after that manner, but would first
have consulted my Lord and given him advice what to do therein
for his own honour, which he thought endangered. Creed dined
with me and then walked a while, and so away, and I to my office
at my morning’s work till dark night, and so with good content
home. To supper, a little musique, and then to bed.
7th. Up by 4 o’clock and to my office, and there continued all
the morning upon my Navy book to my great content. At noon
down by barge with Sir J. Minnes (who is going to Chatham) to
Woolwich, in our way eating of some venison pasty in the barge,
I having neither eat nor drank to-day, which fills me full of wind.
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Here also in Mr. Pett’s garden I eat some and the first cherries I
have eat this year, off the tree where the King himself had been
gathering some this morning. Thence walked alone, only part
of the way Deane walked with me, complaining of many abuses
in the Yard, to Greenwich, and so by water to Deptford, where I
found Mr. Coventry, and with him up and down all the stores,
to the great trouble of the officers, and by his help I am resolved
to fall hard to work again, as I used to do. So thence he and I
by water talking of many things, and I see he puts his trust most
upon me in the Navy, and talks, as there is reason, slightly of the
two old knights, and I should be glad by any drudgery to see
the King’s stores and service looked to as they ought, but I fear
I shall never understand half the miscarriages and tricks that the
King suffers by. He tells me what Mr. Pett did to-day, that my
Lord Bristoll told the King that he will impeach the Chancellor
of High Treason: but I find that my Lord Bristoll hath undone
himself already in every body’s opinion, and now he endeavours
to raise dust to put out other men’s eyes, as well as his own; but I
hope it will not take, in consideration merely that it is hard for a
Prince to spare an experienced old officer, be he never so corrupt;
though I hope this man is not so, as some report him to be. He
tells me that Don John is yet alive, and not killed, as was said,
in the great victory against the Spaniards in Portugall of late. So
home, and late at my office. Thence home and to my musique.
This night Mr. Turner’s house being to be emptied out of my
cellar, and therefore I think to sit up a little longer than ordinary.
This afternoon, coming from the waterside with Mr. Coventry, I
spied my boy upon Tower Hill playing with the rest of the boys;
so I sent W. Griffin to take him, and he did bring him to me, and
so I said nothing to him, but caused him to be stripped (for he
was run away with his best suit), and so putting on his other, I
sent him going, without saying one word hard to him, though I
am troubled for the rogue, though he do not deserve it. Being
come home I find my stomach not well for want of eating to-day
my dinner as I should do, and so am become full of wind. I called
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late for some victuals, and so to bed, leaving the men below in
the cellar emptying the vats up through Mr. Turner’s own house,
and so with more content to bed late.
8th. Being weary, and going to bed late last night, I slept till
7 o’clock, it raining mighty hard, and so did every minute of the
day after sadly. But I know not what will become of the corn
this year, we having had but two fair days these many months.
Up and to my office, where all the morning busy, and then at
noon home to dinner alone upon a good dish of eeles, given me
by Michell, the Bewpers’ man, and then to my viall a little, and
then down into the cellar and up and down with Mr. Turner to
see where his vault may be made bigger, or another made him,
which I think may well be. And so to my office, where very busy
all day setting things in order my contract books and preparing
things against the next sitting. In the evening I received letters
out of the country, among others from my wife, who methinks
writes so coldly that I am much troubled at it, and I fear shall
have much ado to bring her to her old good temper. So home
to supper and musique, which is all the pleasure I have of late
given myself, or is fit I should, others spending too much time
and money. Going in I stepped to Sir W. Batten, and there staid
and talked with him (my Lady being in the country), and sent for
some lobsters, and Mrs. Turner came in, and did bring us an um-
ble pie hot out of her oven, extraordinary good, and afterwards
some spirits of her making, in which she has great judgment,
very good, and so home, merry with this night’s refreshment.
9th. Up. Making water this morning, which I do every morn-
ing as soon as I am awake, with greater plenty and freedom than
I used to do, which I think I may impute to last night’s drinking
of elder spirits. Abroad, it raining, to Blackfriars, and there went
into a little alehouse and staid while I sent to the Wardrobe, but
Mr. Moore was gone out. Here I kissed three or four times the
maid of the house, who is a pretty girl, but very modest, and,
God forgive me, had a mind to something more. Thence to my
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lawyer’s; up and down to the Six Clerks’ Office, where I found
my bill against Tom Trice dismissed, which troubles me, it be-
ing through my neglect, and will put me to charges. So to Mr.
Phillips, and discoursed with him about finding me out some-
body that will let me have for money an annuity of about £100
per annum for two lives. So home, and there put up my rid-
ing things against the evening, in case Mr. Moore should con-
tinue his mind to go to Oxford, which I have little mind to do,
the weather continuing so bad and the waters high. Dined at
home, and Mr. Moore in the afternoon comes to me and con-
cluded not to go. Sir W. Batten and I sat a little this afternoon
at the office, and thence I by water to Deptford, and there mus-
tered the Yard, purposely, God forgive me, to find out Bagwell, a
carpenter, whose wife is a pretty woman, that I might have some
occasion of knowing him and forcing her to come to the office
again, which I did so luckily that going thence he and his wife
did of themselves meet me in the way to thank me for my old
kindness, but I spoke little to her, but shall give occasion for her
coming to me. Her husband went along with me to show me Sir
W. Pen’s lodging, which I knew before, but only to have a time
of speaking to him and sounding him. So left and I went in to
Sir W. Pen, who continues ill, and worse, I think, than before. He
tells me my Lady Castlemaine was at Court, for all this talk this
week, which I am glad to hear; but it seems the King is stranger
than ordinary to her. Thence walked home as I used to do, and
to bed presently, having taken great cold in my feet by walking
in the dirt this day in thin shoes or some other way, so that I be-
gun to be in pain, and with warm clothes made myself better by
morning, but yet in pain.
10th. Up late and by water to Westminster Hall, where I met
Pierce the chirurgeon, who tells me that for certain the King is
grown colder to my Lady Castlemaine than ordinary, and that he
believes he begins to love the Queen, and do make much of her,
more than he used to do. Up to the Lobby, and there sent out for
Mr. Coventry and Sir W. Batten, and told them if they thought
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convenient I would go to Chatham today, Sir John Minnes being
already there at a Pay, and I would do such and such business
there, which they thought well of, and so I went home and pre-
pared myself to go after, dinner with Sir W. Batten. Sir W. Bat-
ten and Mr. Coventry tell me that my Lord Bristoll hath this
day impeached my Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords of
High Treason. The chief of the articles are these: 1st. That he
should be the occasion of the peace made with Holland lately
upon such disadvantageous terms, and that he was bribed to it.
2d. That Dunkirke was also sold by his advice chiefly, so much
to the damage of England. 3d. That he had £6000 given him for
the drawing-up or promoting of the Irish declaration lately, con-
cerning the division of the lands there. 4th. He did carry on the
design of the Portugall match, so much to the prejudice of the
Crown of England, notwithstanding that he knew the Queen is
not capable of bearing children. 5th. That the Duke’s marrying of
his daughter was a practice of his, thereby to raise his family; and
that it was done by indirect courses. 6th. That the breaking-off
of the match with Parma, in which he was employed at the very
time when the match with Portugall was made up here, which
he took as a great slur to him, and so it was; and that, indeed,
is the chief occasion of all this fewde. 7th. That he hath endeav-
oured to bring in Popery, and wrote to the Pope for a cap for a
subject of the King of England’s (my Lord Aubigny ); and some
say that he lays it to the Chancellor, that a good Protestant Sec-
retary (Sir Edward Nicholas) was laid aside, and a Papist, Sir H.
Bennet, put in his room: which is very strange, when the last
of these two is his own creature, and such an enemy accounted
to the Chancellor, that they never did nor do agree; and all the
world did judge the Chancellor to be falling from the time that
Sir H. Bennet was brought in. Besides my Lord Bristoll being a
Catholique himself, all this is very strange. These are the main
of the Articles. Upon which my Lord Chancellor desired that the
noble Lord that brought in these Articles, would sign to them
with his hand; which my Lord Bristoll did presently. Then the
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House did order that the judges should, against Monday next,
bring in their opinion, Whether these articles are treason, or no?
and next, they would know, Whether they were brought in reg-
ularly or no, without leave of the Lords’ House? After dinner I
took boat (H. Russell) and down to Gravesend in good time, and
thence with a guide post to Chatham, where I found Sir J. Minnes
and Mr. Wayth walking in the garden, whom I told all this day’s
news, which I left the town full of, and it is great news, and will
certainly be in the consequence of it. By and by to supper, and
after long discourse, Sir J. Minnes and I, he saw me to my cham-
ber, which not pleasing me, I sent word so to Mrs. Bradford, that
I should be crowded into such a hole, while the clerks and board-
ers of her own take up the best rooms. However I lay there and
slept well.
11th. Up early and to the Dock, and with the Storekeeper and
other officers all the morning from one office to another. At noon
to the Hill-house in Commissioner Pett’s coach, and after see-
ing the guard-ships, to dinner, and after dining done to the Dock
by coach, it raining hard, to see “The Prince” launched, which
hath lain in the Dock in repairing these three years. I went into
her and was launched in her. Thence by boat ashore, it raining,
and I went to Mr. Barrow’s, where Sir J. Minnes and Commis-
sioner Pett; we staid long eating sweetmeats and drinking, and
looking over some antiquities of Mr. Barrow’s, among others
an old manuscript Almanac, that I believe was made for some
monastery, in parchment, which I could spend much time upon
to understand. Here was a pretty young lady, a niece of Bar-
row’s, which I took much pleasure to look on. Thence by barge
to St. Mary Creek; where Commissioner Pett (doubtful of the
growing greatness of Portsmouth by the finding of those creeks
there), do design a wett dock at no great charge, and yet no little
one; he thinks towards £10,000. And the place, indeed, is likely
to be a very fit place, when the King hath money to do it with.
Thence, it raining as hard as it could pour down, home to the
Hillhouse, and anon to supper, and after supper, Sir J. Minnes
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and I had great discourse with Captain Cox and Mr. Hempson
about business of the yard, and particularly of pursers’ accounts
with Hempson, who is a cunning knave in that point. So late to
bed and, Mr. Wayth being gone, I lay above in the Treasurer’s
bed and slept well. About one or two in the morning the curtains
of my bed being drawn waked me, and I saw a man stand there
by the inside of my bed calling me French dogg 20 times, one
after another, and I starting, as if I would get out of the bed, he
fell a-laughing as hard as he could drive, still calling me French
dogg, and laid his hand on my shoulder. At last, whether I said
anything or no I cannot tell, but I perceived the man, after he had
looked wistly upon me, and found that I did not answer him to
the names that he called me by, which was Salmon, Sir Carteret’s
clerk, and Robt. Maddox, another of the clerks, he put off his hat
on a suddaine, and forebore laughing, and asked who I was, say-
ing, “Are you Mr. Pepys?” I told him yes, and now being come a
little better to myself, I found him to be Tom Willson, Sir W. Bat-
ten’s clerk, and fearing he might be in some melancholy fit, I was
at a loss what to do or say. At last I asked him what he meant.
He desired my pardon for that he was mistaken, for he thought
verily, not knowing of my coming to lie there, that it had been
Salmon, the Frenchman, with whom he intended to have made
some sport. So I made nothing of it, but bade him good night,
and I, after a little pause, to sleep again, being well pleased that
it ended no worse, and being a little the better pleased with it,
because it was the Surveyor’s clerk, which will make sport when
I come to tell Sir W. Batten of it, it being a report that old Edge-
borough, the former Surveyor, who died here, do now and then
walk.
12th (Lord’s day). Up, and meeting Tom Willson he asked my
pardon again, which I easily did give him, telling him only that
it was well I was not a woman with child, for it might have made
me miscarry. With Sir J. Minnes to church, where an indifferent
good sermon. Here I saw Mrs. Becky Allen, who hath been mar-
ried, and is this day churched, after her bearing a child. She is
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grown tall, but looks very white and thin, and I can find no oc-
casion while I am here to come to have her company, which I
desire and expected in my coming, but only coming out of the
church I kissed her and her sister and mother-in-law. So to din-
ner, Sir J. Minnes, Commissioner Pett, and I, &c., and after dinner
walked in the garden, it being a very fine day, the best we have
had this great while, if not this whole summer. To church again,
and after that walked through the Rope-ground to the Dock, and
there over and over the Dock and grounds about it, and store-
houses, &c., with the officers of the Yard, and then to Commis-
sioner Pett’s and had a good sullybub and other good things,
and merry. Commissioner Pett showed me alone his bodys as a
secrett, which I found afterwards by discourse with Sir J. Minnes
that he had shown them him, wherein he seems to suppose great
mystery in the nature of Lynes to be hid, but I do not under-
stand it at all. Thence walked to the Hill-house, being myself
much dissatisfied, and more than I thought I should have been
with Commissioner Pett, being, by what I saw since I came hither,
convinced that he is not able to exercise the command in the Yard
over the officers that he ought to do, or somebody else, if ever the
service be well looked after there. Sat up and with Sir J. Minnes
talking, and he speaking his mind in slighting of the Commis-
sioner, for which I wish there was not so much reason. For I do
see he is but a man of words, though indeed he is the ablest man
that we have to do service if he would or durst. Sir J. Minnes
being gone to bed, I took Mr. Whitfield, one of the clerks, and
walked to the Dock about eleven at night, and there got a boat
and a crew, and rowed down to the guard-ships, it being a most
pleasant moonshine evening that ever I saw almost. The guard-
ships were very ready to hail us, being no doubt commanded
thereto by their Captain, who remembers how I surprised them
the last time I was here. However, I found him ashore, but
the ship in pretty good order, and the arms well fixed, charged,
and primed. Thence to the Soveraign, where I found no officers
aboard, no arms fixed, nor any powder to prime their few guns,
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which were charged, without bullet though. So to the London,
where neither officers nor any body awake; I boarded her, and
might have done what I would, and at last could find but three
little boys; and so spent the whole night in visiting all the ships,
in which I found, for the most part, neither an officer aboard, nor
any men so much as awake, which I was grieved to find, spe-
cially so soon after a great Larum, as Commissioner Pett brought
us word that he [had] provided against, and put all in a posture
of defence but a week ago, all which I am resolved to represent
to the Duke.
13th. So, it being high day, I put in to shore and to bed for two
hours just, and so up again, and with the Storekeeper and Clerk
of the Rope-yard up and down the Dock and Rope-house, and
by and by mustered the Yard, and instructed the Clerks of the
Cheque in my new way of Callbook, and that and other things
done, to the Hill-house, and there we eat something, and so by
barge to Rochester, and there took coach hired for our passage to
London, and Mrs. Allen, the clerk of the Rope-yard’s wife with
us, desiring her passage, and it being a most pleasant and warm
day, we got by four o’clock home. In our way she telling us in
what condition Becky Allen is married against all expectation a
fellow that proves to be a coxcomb and worth little if any thing
at all, and yet are entered into a way of living above their condi-
tion that will ruin them presently, for which, for the lady’s sake, I
am much troubled. Home I found all well there, and after dress-
ing myself, I walked to the Temple; and there, from my cozen
Roger, hear that the judges have this day brought in their answer
to the Lords, That the articles against my Lord Chancellor are
not Treason; and to-morrow they are to bring in their arguments
to the House for the same. This day also the King did send by
my Lord Chamberlain to the Lords, to tell them from him, that
the most of the articles against my Lord Chancellor he himself
knows to be false. Thence by water to Whitehall, and so walked
to St. James’s, but missed Mr. Coventry. I met the Queen-Mother
walking in the Pell Mell, led by my Lord St. Alban’s. And finding
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many coaches at the Gate, I found upon enquiry that the Duchess
is brought to bed of a boy; and hearing that the King and Queen
are rode abroad with the Ladies of Honour to the Park, and see-
ing a great crowd of gallants staying here to see their return, I also
staid walking up and down, and among others spying a man like
Mr. Pembleton (though I have little reason to think it should be
he, speaking and discoursing long with my Lord D’Aubigne), yet
how my blood did rise in my face, and I fell into a sweat from my
old jealousy and hate, which I pray God remove from me. By and
by the King and Queen, who looked in this dress (a white laced
waistcoat and a crimson short pettycoat, and her hair dressed ci
la negligence) mighty pretty; and the King rode hand in hand
with her. Here was also my Lady Castlemaine rode among the
rest of the ladies; but the King took, methought, no notice of her;
nor when they ‘light did any body press (as she seemed to ex-
pect, and staid for it) to take her down, but was taken down by
her own gentleman. She looked mighty out of humour, and had a
yellow plume in her hat (which all took notice of), and yet is very
handsome, but very melancholy: nor did any body speak to her,
or she so much as smile or speak to any body. I followed them
up into White Hall, and into the Queen’s presence, where all the
ladies walked, talking and fiddling with their hats and feathers,
and changing and trying one another’s by one another’s heads,
and laughing. But it was the finest sight to me, considering their
great beautys and dress, that ever I did see in all my life. But,
above all, Mrs. Stewart in this dress, with her hat cocked and
a red plume, with her sweet eye, little Roman nose, and excel-
lent taille, is now the greatest beauty I ever saw, I think, in my
life; and, if ever woman can, do exceed my Lady Castlemaine,
at least in this dress nor do I wonder if the King changes, which
I verily believe is the reason of his coldness to my Lady Castle-
maine. Here late, with much ado I left to look upon them, and
went away, and by water, in a boat with other strange company,
there being no other to be had, and out of him into a sculler half to
the bridge, and so home and to Sir W. Batten, where I staid telling
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him and Sir J. Minnes and Mrs. Turner, with great mirth, my be-
ing frighted at Chatham by young Edgeborough, and so home to
supper and to bed, before I sleep fancying myself to sport with
Mrs. Stewart with great pleasure.
14th. Up a little late, last night recovering my sleepiness for the
night before, which was lost, and so to my office to put papers
and things to right, and making up my journal from Wednesday
last to this day. All the morning at my office doing of business;
at noon Mr. Hunt came to me, and he and I to the Exchange,
and a Coffee House, and drank there, and thence to my house to
dinner, whither my uncle Thomas came, and he tells me that he
is going down to Wisbech, there to try what he can recover of my
uncle Day’s estate, and seems to have good arguments for what
he do go about, in which I wish him good speed. I made him
almost foxed, the poor man having but a bad head, and not used
I believe nowadays to drink much wine. So after dinner, they
being gone, I to my office, and so home to bed. This day I hear
the judges, according to order yesterday, did bring into the Lords’
House their reasons of their judgment in the business between
my Lord Bristoll and the Chancellor; and the Lords do concur
with the Judges that the articles are not treason, nor regularly
brought into the House, and so voted that a Committee should
be chosen to examine them; but nothing to be done therein till
the next sitting of this Parliament (which is like to be adjourned
in a day or two), and in the mean time the two Lords to, remain
without prejudice done to either of them.
15th. Up and all the morning at the office, among other things
with Cooper the Purveyor, whose dullness in his proceeding in
his work I was vexed at, and find that though he understands it
may be as much as other men that profess skill in timber, yet
I perceive that many things, they do by rote, and very dully.
Thence home to dinner, whither Captain Grove came and dined
with me, he going into the country to-day; among other dis-
course he told me of discourse very much to my honour, both
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as to my care and ability, happening at the Duke of Albemarle’s
table the other day, both from the Duke, and the Duchess them-
selves; and how I paid so much a year to him whose place it was
of right, and that Mr. Coventry did report thus of me; which
was greatly to my content, knowing how against their minds I
was brought into the Navy. Thence by water to Westminster, and
there spent a good deal of time walking in the Hall, which is go-
ing to be repaired, and, God forgive me, had a mind to have got
Mrs. Lane abroad, or fallen in with any woman else (in that hot
humour). But it so happened she could not go out, nor I meet
with any body else, and so I walked homeward, and in my way
did many and great businesses of my own at the Temple among
my lawyers and others to my great content, thanking God that
I did not fall into any company to occasion spending time and
money. To supper, and then to a little viall and to bed, sporting
in my fancy with the Queen.
16th. Up and dispatched things into the country and to my fa-
ther’s, and two keggs of Sturgeon and a dozen bottles of wine to
Cambridge for my cozen Roger Pepys, which I give him. By and
by down by water on several Deall ships, and stood upon a stage
in one place seeing calkers sheathing of a ship. Then at Wap-
ping to my carver’s about my Viall head. So home, and thence to
my Viall maker’s in Bishops, gate Street; his name is Wise, who
is a pretty fellow at it. Thence to the Exchange, and so home to
dinner, and then to my office, where a full board, and busy all the
afternoon, and among other things made a great contract with Sir
W. Warren for 40,000 deals Swinsound, at £3 17s. od. per hun-
dred. In the morning before I went on the water I was at Thames
Street about some pitch, and there meeting Anthony Joyce, I took
him and Mr. Stacy, the Tarr merchant, to the tavern, where Stacy
told me many old stories of my Lady Batten’s former poor con-
dition, and how her former husband broke, and how she came
to her state. At night, after office done, I went to Sir W. Batten’s,
where my Lady and I [had] some high words about emptying
our house of office, where I did tell her my mind, and at last
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agreed that it should be done through my office, and so all well.
So home to bed.
17th. Up, and after doing some business at my office, Creed
came to me, and I took him to my viall maker’s, and there I heard
the famous Mr. Stefkins play admirably well, and yet I found it
as it is always, I over expected. I took him to the tavern and
found him a temperate sober man, at least he seems so to me. I
commit the direction of my viall to him. Thence to the Change,
and so home, Creed and I to dinner, and after dinner Sir W. War-
ren came to me, and he and I in my closet about his last night’s
contract, and from thence to discourse of measuring of timber,
wherein I made him see that I could understand the matter well,
and did both learn of and teach him something. Creed being
gone through my staying talking to him so long, I went alone by
water down to Redriffe, and so to sit and talk with Sir W. Pen,
where I did speak very plainly concerning my thoughts of Sir G.
Carteret and Sir J. Minnes. So as it may cost me some trouble if
he should tell them again, but he said as much or more to me
concerning them both, which I may remember if ever it should
come forth, and nothing but what is true and my real opinion
of them, that they neither do understand to this day Creed’s ac-
counts, nor do deserve to be employed in their places without
better care, but that the King had better give them greater salaries
to stand still and do nothing. Thence coming home I was saluted
by Bagwell and his wife (the woman I have a kindness for), and
they would have me into their little house, which I was willing
enough to, and did salute his wife. They had got wine for me,
and I perceive live prettily, and I believe the woman a virtuous
modest woman. Her husband walked through to Redriffe with
me, telling me things that I asked of in the yard, and so by water
home, it being likely to rain again to-night, which God forbid. To
supper and to bed.
18th. Up and to my office, where all the morning, and Sir J.
Minnes and I did a little, and but a little business at the office. So
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I eat a bit of victuals at home, and so abroad to several places, as
my bookseller’s, and then to Thomson the instrument maker’s
to bespeak a ruler for my pocket for timber, &c., which I believe
he will do to my mind. So to the Temple, Wardrobe, and lastly
to Westminster Hall, where I expected some bands made me by
Mrs. Lane, and while she went to the starchers for them, I staid
at Mrs. Howlett’s, who with her husband were abroad, and only
their daughter (which I call my wife) was in the shop, and I took
occasion to buy a pair of gloves to talk to her, and I find her a
pretty spoken girl, and will prove a mighty handsome wench. I
could love her very well. By and by Mrs. Lane comes, and my
bands not being done she and I posted and met at the Crown in
the Palace Yard, where we eat a chicken I sent for, and drank,
and were mighty merry, and I had my full liberty of towzing her
and doing what I would, but the last thing of all.... Of which I
am heartily ashamed, but I do resolve never to do more so. But,
Lord! to see what a mind she has to a husband, and how she
showed me her hands to tell her her fortune, and every thing that
she asked ended always whom and when she was to marry. And
I pleased her so well, saying as. I know she would have me, and
then she would say that she had been with all the artists in town,
and they always told her the same things, as that she should live
long, and rich, and have a good husband, but few children, and
a great fit of sickness, and 20 other things, which she says she has
always been told by others. Here I staid late before my bands
were done, and then they came, and so I by water to the Temple,
and thence walked home, all in a sweat with my tumbling of her
and walking, and so a little supper and to bed, fearful of having
taken cold.
19th (Lord’s day). Lay very long in pleasant dreams till Church
time, and so up, and it being foul weather so that I cannot walk
as I intended to meet my Cozen Roger at Thomas Pepys’s house
(whither he rode last night), to Hatcham, I went to church, where
a sober Doctor made a good sermon. So home to dinner alone,
and then to read a little, and so to church again, where the Scot
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made an ordinary sermon, and so home to my office, and there
read over my vows and increased them by a vow against all
strong drink till November next of any sort or quantity, by which
I shall try how I can forbear it. God send it may not prejudice
my health, and then I care not. Then I fell to read over a silly
play writ by a person of honour (which is, I find, as much as to
say a coxcomb), called “Love a la Mode,“’ and that being ended,
home, and played on my lute and sung psalms till bedtime, then
to prayers and to bed.
20th. Up and to my office, and then walked to Woolwich,
reading Bacon’s “Faber fortunae,”375 which the oftener I read the
more I admire. There found Captain Cocke, and up and down
to many places to look after matters, and so walked back again
with him to his house, and there dined very finely. With much
ado obtained an excuse from drinking of wine, and did only taste
a drop of Sack which he had for his lady, who is, he fears, a
little consumptive, and her beauty begins to want its colour. It
was Malago Sack, which, he says, is certainly 30 years old, and I
tasted a drop of it, and it was excellent wine, like a spirit rather
than wine. Thence by water to the office, and taking some pa-
pers by water to White Hall and St. James’s, but there being no
meeting with the Duke to-day, I returned by water and down to
Greenwich, to look after some blocks that I saw a load carried off
by a cart from Woolwich, the King’s Yard. But I could not find
them, and so returned, and being heartily weary I made haste to
bed, and being in bed made Will read and construe three or four
Latin verses in the Bible, and chide him for forgetting his gram-
mar. So to sleep, and sleep ill all the night, being so weary, and
feverish with it.
21st. And so lay long in the morning, till I heard people knock
375 Pepys may here refer either to Essay XLI. (of Fortune) or to a chapter’
in the “Advancement of Learning.” The sentence, “Faber quisque fortunae
propria,” said to be by Appius Claudian, is quoted more than once in the
“De Augmentis Scientiarum,” lib. viii., cap. 2.
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at my door, and I took it to be about 8 o’clock (but afterwards
found myself a little mistaken), and so I rose and ranted at Will
and the maid, and swore I could find my heart to kick them down
stairs, which the maid mumbled at mightily. It was my brother,
who staid and talked with me, his chief business being about his
going about to build his house new at the top, which will be a
great charge for him, and above his judgment. By and by comes
Mr. Deane, of Woolwich, with his draught of a ship, and the bend
and main lines in the body of a ship very finely, and which do
please me mightily, and so am resolved to study hard, and learn
of him to understand a body, and I find him a very pretty fellow
in it, and rational, but a little conceited, but that’s no matter to
me. At noon, by my Lady Batten’s desire, I went over the water
to Mr. Castle’s, who brings his wife home to his own house to-
day, where I found a great many good old women, and my Lady,
Sir W. Batten, and Sir J. Minnes. A good, handsome, plain dinner,
and then walked in the garden; which is pleasant enough, more
than I expected there, and so Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and
I by water to the office, and there sat, and then I by water to
the Temple about my law business, and back again home and
wrote letters to my father and wife about my desire that they
should observe the feast at Brampton, and have my Lady and the
family, and so home to supper and bed, my head aching all the
day from my last night’s bad rest, and yesterday’s distempering
myself with over walking, and to-day knocking my head against
a low door in Mr. Castle’s house. This day the Parliament kept a
fast for the present unseasonable weather.
22nd. Up, and by and by comes my uncle Thomas, to whom I
paid £10 for his last half year’s annuity, and did get his and his
son’s hand and seal for the confirming to us Piggott’s mortgage,
which was forgot to be expressed in our late agreement with him,
though intended, and therefore they might have cavilled at it, if
they would. Thence abroad calling at several places upon some
errands, among others to my brother Tom’s barber and had my
hair cut, while his boy played on the viallin, a plain boy, but has
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a very good genius, and understands the book very well, but to
see what a shift he made for a string of red silk was very pleas-
ant. Thence to my Lord Crew’s. My Lord not being come home,
I met and staid below with Captain Ferrers, who was come to
wait upon my Lady Jemimah to St. James’s, she being one of
the four ladies that hold up the mantle at the christening this af-
ternoon of the Duke’s child (a boy). In discourse of the ladies
at Court, Captain Ferrers tells me that my Lady Castlemaine is
now as great again as ever she was; and that her going away was
only a fit of her own upon some slighting words of the King, so
that she called for her coach at a quarter of an hour’s warning,
and went to Richmond; and the King the next morning, under
pretence of going a-hunting, went to see her and make friends,
and never was a-hunting at all. After which she came back to
Court, and commands the King as much as ever, and hath and
doth what she will. No longer ago than last night, there was a
private entertainment made for the King and Queen at the Duke
of Buckingham’s, and she: was not invited: but being at my Lady
Suffolk’s, her aunt’s (where my Lady Jemimah and Lord Sand-
wich dined) yesterday, she was heard to say, “Well; much good
may it do them, and for all that I will be as merry as they:” and so
she went home and caused a great supper to be prepared. And
after the King had been with the Queen at Wallingford House, he
came to my Lady Castlemaine’s, and was there all night, and my
Lord Sandwich with him, which was the reason my Lord lay in
town all night, which he has not done a great while before. He
tells me he believes that, as soon as the King can get a husband
for Mrs. Stewart however, my Lady Castlemaine’s nose will be
out of joynt; for that she comes to be in great esteem, and is more
handsome than she. I found by his words that my Lord Sandwich
finds some pleasure in the country where he now is, whether he
means one of the daughters of the house or no I know not, but
hope the contrary, that he thinks he is very well pleased with
staying there, but yet upon breaking up of the Parliament, which
the King by a message to-day says shall be on Monday next, he
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resolves to go. Ned Pickering, the coxcomb, notwithstanding all
his hopes of my Lord’s assistance, wherein I am sorry to hear
my Lord has much concerned himself, is defeated of the place
he expected under the Queen. He came hither by and by and
brought some jewells for my Lady Jem. to put on, with which
and her other clothes she looks passing well. I staid and dined
with my Lord Crew, who whether he was not so well pleased
with me as he used to be, or that his head was full of business,
as I believe it was, he hardly spoke one word to me all dinner
time, we dining alone, only young Jack Crew, Sir Thomas’s son,
with us. After dinner I bade him farewell. Sir Thomas I hear
has gone this morning ill to bed, so I had no mind to see him.
Thence homewards, and in the way first called at Wotton’s, the
shoemaker’s, who tells me the reason of Harris’s’ going from Sir
Wm. Davenant’s house, that he grew very proud and demanded
£20 for himself extraordinary, more than Betterton or any body
else, upon every new play, and £10 upon every revive; which
with other things Sir W. Davenant would not give him, and so
he swore he would never act there more, in expectation of be-
ing received in the other House; but the King will not suffer it,
upon Sir W. Davenant’s desire that he would not, for then he
might shut up house, and that is true. He tells me that his go-
ing is at present a great loss to the House, and that he fears he
hath a stipend from the other House privately. He tells the that
the fellow grew very proud of late, the King and every body else
crying him up so high, and that above Betterton, he being a more
ayery man, as he is indeed. But yet Betterton, he says, they all say
do act: some parts that none but himself can do. Thence to my
bookseller’s, and found my Waggoners done. The very binding
cost me 14s., but they are well done, and so with a porter home
with them, and so by water to Ratcliffe, and there went to speak
with Cumberford the platt-maker, and there saw his manner of
working, which is very fine and laborious. So down to Deptford,
reading Ben Jonson’s “Devil is an asse,” and so to see Sir W. Pen,
who I find walking out of doors a little, but could not stand long;
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but in doors and I with him, and staid a great while talking, I
taking a liberty to tell him my thoughts in things of the office;
that when he comes abroad again, he may know what to think
of me, and to value me as he ought. Walked home as I used to
do, and being weary, and after some discourse with Mr. Barrow,
who came to see and take his leave of me, he being to-morrow
to set out toward the Isle of Man, I went to bed. This day I hear
that the Moores have made some attaques upon the outworks of
Tangier; but my Lord Tiviott; with the loss of about 200 men, did
beat them off, and killed many of them. To-morrow the King and
Queen for certain go down to Tunbridge. But the King comes
hack again against Monday to raise the Parliament.
23rd. Up and to my office, and thence by information from, Mr.
Ackworth I went down to Woolwich, and mustered the three East
India ships that lie there, believing that there is great-juggling be-
tween the Pursers and Clerks of the Cheque in cheating the King
of the wages and victuals of men that do not give attendance, and
I found very few on board. So to the yard, and there mustered
the yard, and found many faults, and discharged several fellows
that were absent from their business. I staid also at Mr. Ack-
worth’s desire at dinner with him and his wife, and there was a
simple fellow, a gentleman I believe of the Court, their kinsmen,
that threatened me I could have little discourse or begin, acquain-
tance with Ackworth’s wife, and so after dinner away, with all
haste home, and there found Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten at the
office, and by Sir W. Batten’s testimony and Sir G. Carteret’s con-
currence was forced to consent to a business of Captain Cocke’s
timber, as bad as anything we have lately disputed about, and all
through Mr. Coventry’s not being with us. So up and to supper
with Sir W. Batten upon a soused mullett, very good meat, and
so home and to bed.
24th. Up pretty early (though of late I have been faulty by an
hour or two every morning of what I should do) and by water to
the Temple, and there took leave of my cozen Roger Pepys, who
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goes out of town to-day. So to Westminster Hall, and there at
Mrs. Michell’s shop sent for beer and sugar and drink, and made
great cheer with it among her and Mrs. Howlett, her neighbour,
and their daughters, especially Mrs. Howlett’s daughter, Betty,
which is a pretty girl, and one I have long called wife, being, I
formerly thought, like my own wife. After this good neighbour-
hood, which I do to give them occasion of speaking well and
commending me in some company that now and then I know
comes to their shop, I went to the Six clerks’ office, and there had
a writ for Tom Trice, and paid 20s. for it to Wilkinson, and so
up and down to many places, among others to the viall maker’s,
and there saw the head, which now pleases me mightily, and so
home, and being sent for presently to Mr. Bland’s, where Mr.
Povy and Gauden and I were invited to dinner, which we had
very finely and great plenty, but for drink, though many and
good, I drank nothing but small beer and water, which I drank so
much that I wish it may not do me hurt. They had a kinswoman,
they call daughter, in the house, a short, ugly, red-haired slut,
that plays upon the virginalls, and sings, but after such a country
manner I was weary of it, but yet could not but commend it. So
by and by after dinner comes Monsr. Gotier, who is beginning to
teach her, but, Lord! what a droll fellow it is to make her hold
open her mouth, and telling this and that so drolly would make
a man burst, but himself I perceive sings very well. Anon we
sat dawn again to a collacon of cheesecakes, tarts, custards, and
such like, very handsome, and so up and away home, where I at
the office a while, till disturbed by, Mr. Hill, of Cambridge, with
whom I walked in the garden a while, and thence home and then
in my dining room walked, talking of several matters of state till
11 at night, giving him a glass of wine. I was not unwilling to
hear him talk, though he is full of words, yet a man of large con-
versation, especially among the Presbyters and Independents; he
tells me that certainly, let the Bishops alone, and they will ruin
themselves, and he is confident that the King’s declaration about
two years since will be the foundation of the settlement of the
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Church some time or other, for the King will find it hard to ban-
ish all those that will appear Nonconformists upon this Act that
is coming out against them. He being gone, I to bed.
25th. Up and to my office setting papers in order for these two
or three days, in which I have been hindered a little, and then
having intended this day to go to Banstead Downs to see a fa-
mous race, I sent Will to get himself ready to go with me, and I
also by and by home and put on my riding suit, and being ready
came to the office to Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten, and did a
little of course at the office this morning, and so by boat to White
Hall, where I hear that the race is put off, because the Lords do
sit in Parliament to-day. However, having appointed Mr. Creed
to come to me to Fox Hall, I went over thither, and after some
debate, Creed and I resolved to go to Clapham, to Mr. Gauden’s,
who had sent his coach to their place for me because I was to
have my horse of him to go to the race. So I went thither by
coach and my Will by horse with me; Mr. Creed he went over
back again to Westminster to fetch his horse. When I came to Mr.
Gauden’s one first thing was to show me his house, which is al-
most built, wherein he and his family live. I find it very regular
and finely contrived, and the gardens and offices about it as con-
venient and as full of good variety as ever I saw in my life. It is
true he hath been censured for laying out so much money; but
he tells me that he built it for his brother, who is since dead (the
Bishop), who when he should come to be Bishop of Winchester,
which he was promised (to which bishoprick at present there is
no house), he did intend to dwell here. Besides, with the good
husbandry in making his bricks and other things I do not think it
costs him so much money as people think and discourse. By and
by to dinner, and in comes Mr. Creed. I saluted Mr. Gauden’s
lady, and the young ladies, he having many pretty children, and
his sister, the Bishop’s widow; who was, it seems, Sir W. Rus-
sel’s daughter, the Treasurer of the Navy; who by her discourse
at dinner I find to be very well-bred, and a woman of excellent
discourse, even so much as to have my attention all dinner with
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much more pleasure than I did give to Mr. Creed, whose dis-
course was mighty merry in inveighing at Mr. Gauden’s vict-
uals that they had at sea the last voyage that he prosecuted, till
methought the woman began to take it seriously. After dinner by
Mr. Gauden’s motion we got Mrs. Gauden and her sister to sing
to a viall, on which Mr. Gauden’s eldest son (a pretty man, but
a simple one methinks) played but very poorly, and the musique
bad, but yet I commended it. Only I do find that the ladies have
been taught to sing and do sing well now, but that the viall puts
them out. I took the viall and played some things from one of
their books, Lyra lessons, which they seemed to like well. Thus
we pass an hour or two after dinner and towards the evening we
bade them Adieu! and took horse; being resolved that, instead
of the race which fails us, we would go to Epsum. So we set out,
and being gone a little way I sent home Will to look to the house,
and Creed and I rode forward; the road being full of citizens go-
ing and coming toward Epsum, where, when we came, we could
hear of no lodging, the town so full; but which was better, I went
towards Ashted, my old place of pleasure; and there by direction
of one goodman Arthur, whom we met on the way, we went to
Farmer Page’s, at which direction he and I made good sport, and
there we got a lodging in a little hole we could not stand upright
in, but rather than go further to look we staid there, and while
supper was getting ready I took him to walk up and down be-
hind my cozen Pepys’s house that was, which I find comes little
short of what I took it to be when I was a little boy, as things
use commonly to appear greater than then when one comes to
be a man and knows more, and so up and down in the closes,
which I know so well methinks, and account it good fortune that
I lie here that I may have opportunity to renew my old walks.
It seems there is one Mr. Rouse, they call him the Queen’s Tai-
lor, that lives there now. So to our lodging to supper, and among
other meats had a brave dish of cream, the best I ever eat in my
life, and with which we pleased ourselves much, and by and by
to bed, where, with much ado yet good sport, we made shift to
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lie, but with little ease, and a little spaniel by us, which has fol-
lowed us all the way, a pretty dogg, and we believe that follows
my horse, and do belong to Mrs. Gauden, which we, therefore,
are very careful of.
26th (Lord’s-day). Up and to the Wells,376 where great store
of citizens, which was the greatest part of the company, though
there were some others of better quality. I met many that I knew,
and we drank each of us two pots and so walked away, it being
very pleasant to see how everybody turns up his tail, here one
and there another, in a bush, and the women in their quarters
the like. Thence I walked with Creed to Mr. Minnes’s house,
which has now a very good way made to it, and thence to Dur-
dans and walked round it and within the Court Yard and to the
Bowling-green, where I have seen so much mirth in my time; but
now no family in it (my Lord Barkeley, whose it is, being with
his family at London), and so up and down by Minnes’s wood,
with great pleasure viewing my old walks, and where Mrs. Hely
and I did use to walk and talk, with whom I had the first senti-
ments of love and pleasure in woman’s company, discourse, and
taking her by the hand, she being a pretty woman. So I led him
to Ashted Church (by the place where Peter, my cozen’s man,
went blindfold and found a certain place we chose for him upon
a wager), where we had a dull Doctor, one Downe, worse than I
think even parson King was, of whom we made so much scorn,
and after sermon home, and staid while our dinner, a couple of
large chickens, were dressed, and a good mess of cream, which
anon we had with good content, and after dinner (we taking no
notice of other lodgers in the house, though there was one that I
knew, and knew and spoke to me, one Mr. Rider, a merchant), he
376 Epsom medicinal wells were discovered about 1618, but they did not
become fashionable until the Restoration. John Toland, in his “Description of
Epsom,” says that he often counted seventy coaches in the Ring (the present
racecourse on the Downs) on a Sunday evening; but by the end of the eigh-
teenth century Epsom had entirely lost its vogue.
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and I to walk, and I led him to the pretty little wood behind my
cozens house, into which we got at last by clambering, and our
little dog with us, but when we were among the hazel trees and
bushes, Lord! what a course did we run for an hour together,
losing ourselves, and indeed I despaired I should ever come to
any path, but still from thicket to thicket, a thing I could hardly
have believed a man could have been lost so long in so small a
room. At last I found out a delicate walk in the middle that goes
quite through the wood, and then went out of the wood, and hol-
loed Mr. Creed, and made him hunt me from place to place, and
at last went in and called him into my fine walk, the little dog
still hunting with us through the wood. In this walk being all be-
wildered and weary and sweating, Creed he lay down upon the
ground, which I did a little, but I durst not long, but walked from
him in the fine green walk, which is half a mile long, there read-
ing my vows as I used to on Sundays. And after that was done,
and going and lying by Creed an hour, he and I rose and went to
our lodging and paid our reckoning, and so mounted, whether
to go toward London home or to find a new lodging, and so rode
through Epsum, the whole town over, seeing the various compa-
nys that were there walking; which was very pleasant to see how
they are there without knowing almost what to do, but only in
the morning to drink waters. But, Lord! to see how many I met
there of citizens, that I could not have thought to have seen there,
or that they had ever had it in their heads or purses to go down
thither. We rode out of the town through Yowell beyond None-
such House a mile, and there our little dogg, as he used to do,
fell a-running after a flock of sheep feeding on the common, till
he was out of sight, and then endeavoured to come back again,
and went to the last gate that he parted with us at, and there
the poor thing mistakes our scent, instead of coming forward he
hunts us backward, and runs as hard as he could drive back to-
wards Nonesuch, Creed and I after him, and being by many told
of his going that way and the haste he made, we rode still and
passed him through Yowell, and there we lost any further infor-
1010
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mation of him. However, we went as far as Epsum almost, hear-
ing nothing of him, we went back to Yowell, and there was told
that he did pass through the town. We rode back to Nonesuch
to see whether he might be gone back again, but hearing noth-
ing we with great trouble and discontent for the loss of our dogg
came back once more to Yowell, and there set up our horses and
selves for all night, employing people to look for the dogg in the
town, but can hear nothing of him. However, we gave order for
supper, and while that was dressing walked out through None-
such Park to the house, and there viewed as much as we could
of the outside, and looked through the great gates, and found a
noble court; and altogether believe it to have been a very noble
house, and a delicate park about it, where just now there was a
doe killed, for the King to carry up to Court. So walked back
again, and by and by our supper being ready, a good leg of mut-
ton boiled, we supped and to bed, upon two beds in the same
room, wherein we slept most excellently all night.
27th. Up in the morning about 7 o’clock, and after a little study,
resolved of riding to the Wells to look for our dogg, which we
did, but could hear nothing; but it being much a warmer day
than yesterday there was great store of gallant company, more
than then, to my greater pleasure. There was at a distance, un-
der one of the trees on the common, a company got together that
sung. I, at the distance, and so all the rest being a quarter of a
mile off, took them for the Waytes, so I rode up to them, and
found them only voices, some citizens met by chance, that sung
four or five parts excellently. I have not been more pleased with
a snapp of musique, considering the circumstances of the time
and place, in all my life anything so pleasant. We drank each of
us, three cupps, and so, after riding up to the horsemen upon
the hill, where they were making of matches to run, we went
away and to Yowell, where we found our breakfast, the remains
of our supper last night hashed, and by and by, after the smith
had set on two new shoes to Creed’s horse, we mounted, and
with little discourse, I being intent upon getting home in time,
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JULY 1663
we rode hard home, observing Mr. Gauden’s house, but not call-
ing there (it being too late for me to stay, and wanting their dog
too). The house stands very finely, and has a graceful view to
the highway. Set up our horses at Fox Hall, and I by water (ob-
serving the King’s barge attending his going to the House this
day) home, it being about one o’clock. So got myself ready and
shifting myself, and so by water to Westminster, and there came
most luckily to the Lords’ House as the House of Commons were
going into the Lord’s House, and there I crowded in along with
the Speaker, and got to stand close behind him, where he made
his speech to the King (who sat with his crown on and robes,
and so all the Lords in their robes, a fine sight); wherein he told
his Majesty what they have done this Parliament, and now of-
fered for his royall consent. The greatest matters were a bill for
the Lord’s day (which it seems the Lords have lost, and so can-
not be passed, at which the Commons are displeased); the bills
against Conventicles and Papists (but it seems the Lords have not
passed them), and giving his Majesty four entire subsidys; which
last, with about twenty smaller Acts, were passed with this form:
The Clerk of the House reads the title of the bill, and then looks
at the end and there finds (writ by the King I suppose) “Le Roy
le veult,” and that he reads. And to others he reads, “Soit fait
comme vous desirez.” And to the Subsidys, as well that for the
Commons, I mean the layety, as for the Clergy, the King writes,
“Le Roy remerciant les Seigneurs, &c., Prelats, &c., accepte leur
benevolences.” The Speaker’s speech was far from any oratory,
but was as plain (though good matter) as any thing could be, and
void of elocution. After the bills passed, the King, sitting on his
throne, with his speech writ in a paper which he held in his lap,
and scarce looked off of it, I thought, all the time he made his
speech to them, giving them thanks for their subsidys, of which,
had he not need, he would not have asked or received them; and
that need, not from any extravagancys of his, he was sure, in
any thing, but the disorders of the times compelling him to be
at greater charge than he hoped for the future, by their care in
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JULY 1663
their country, he should be: and that for his family expenses and
others, he would labour however to retrench in many things con-
venient, and would have all others to do so too. He desired that
nothing of old faults should be remembered, or severity for the
same used to any in the country, it being his desire to have all for-
got as well as forgiven. But, however, to use all care in suppress-
ing any tumults, &c.; assuring them that the restless spirits of his
and their adversaries have great expectations of something to be
done this summer. And promised that though the Acts about
Conventicles and Papists were not ripe for passing this Session,
yet he would take care himself that neither of them should in this
intervall be encouraged to the endangering of the peace; and that
at their next meeting he would himself prepare two bills for them
concerning them. So he concluded, that for the better proceeding
of justice he did think fit to make this a Session, and to prorogue
them to the 16th of March next. His speech was very plain, noth-
ing at all of spirit in it, nor spoke with any; but rather on the
contrary imperfectly, repeating many times his words though he
read all which I was sorry to see, it having not been hard for him
to have got all the speech without book. So they all went away,
the King out of the House at the upper end, he being by and by
to go to Tunbridge to the Queen; and I in the Painted Chamber
spoke with my Lord Sandwich while he was putting off his robes,
who tells me he will now hasten down into the country, as soon
as he can get some money settled on the Wardrobe. Here meet-
ing Creed, he and I down to the Hall, and I having at Michell’s
shop wrote a little letter to Mr. Gauden, to go with his horse, and
excusing my not taking leave or so much as asking after the old
lady the widow when we came away the other day from them,
he and I over the water to Fox Hall, and there sent away the horse
with my letter, and then to the new Spring Garden, walking up
and down, but things being dear and little attendance to be had
we went away, leaving much brave company there, and so to a
less house hard by, where we liked very well their Codlin tarts,
having not time, as we intended, to stay the getting ready of a
1013
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dish of pease. And there came to us an idle boy to show us some
tumbling tricks, which he did very well, and the greatest bending
of his body that ever I observed in my life. Thence by water to
White Hall, and walked over the Park to St. James’s; but missed
Mr. Coventry, he not being within; and so out again, and there
the Duke was coming along the Pell-Mell. It being a little dark-
ish, I staid not to take notice of him, but we went directly back
again. And in our walk over the Park, one of the Duke’s footmen
came running behind us, and came looking just in our faces to
see who we were, and went back again. What his meaning is I
know not, but was fearful that I might not go far enough with
my hat off, though methinks that should not be it, besides, there
were others covered nearer than myself was, but only it was my
fear. So to White Hall and by water to the Bridge, and so home
to bed, weary and well pleased with my journey in all respects.
Only it cost me about 20s., but it was for my health, and I hope
will prove so, only I do find by my riding a little swelling to rise
just by my anus. I had the same the last time I rode, and then it
fell again, and now it is up again about the bigness of the bag of
a silkworm, makes me fearful of a rupture. But I will speak to
Mr. Hollyard about it, and I am glad to find it now, that I may
prevent it before it goes too far.
28th. Up after sleeping very well, and so to my office setting
down the Journall of this last three days, and so settled to busi-
ness again, I hope with greater cheerfulness and success by this
refreshment. At the office all the morning, and at noon to Wise’s
about my viall that is a-doing, and so home to dinner and then
to the office, where we sat all the afternoon till night, and I late
at it till after the office was risen. Late came my Jane and her
brother Will: to entreat for my taking of the boy again, but I will
not hear her, though I would yet be glad to do anything for her
sake to the boy, but receive him again I will not, nor give him
anything. She would have me send him to sea; which if I could I
would do, but there is no ship going out. The poor girl cried all
the time she was with me, and would not go from me, staying
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JULY 1663
about two hours with me till 10 or 11 o’clock, expecting that she
might obtain something of me, but receive him I will not. So the
poor girl was fain to go away crying and saying little. So from
thence home, where my house of office was emptying, and I find
they will do, it with much more cleanness than I expected. I went
up and down among them a good while, but knowing that Mr.
Coventry was to call me in the morning, I went to bed and left
them to look after the people. So to bed.
29th. Up about 6 o’clock, and found the people to have just
done, and Hannah not gone to bed yet, but was making clean
of the yard and kitchen. Will newly gone to bed. So I to my
office, and having given some order to Tom Hater, to whom I
gave leave for his recreation to go down to Portsmouth this Pay,
I went down to Wapping to Sir W. Warren, and there staid an
hour or two discoursing of some of his goods and then things in
general relating to this office, &c., and so home, and there going
to Sir William Batten (having no stomach to dine at home, it being
yet hardly clean of last night’s [mess])and there I dined with my
Lady and her daughter and son Castle, and mighty kind she is
and I kind to her, but, Lord! how freely and plainly she rails
against Commissioner Pett, calling him rogue, and wondering
that the King keeps such a fellow in the Navy. Thence by and by
walked to see Sir W. Pen at Deptford, reading by the way a most
ridiculous play, a new one, called “The Politician Cheated.” After
a little sitting with him I walked to the yard a little and so home
again, my Will with me, whom I bade to stay in the yard for me,
and so to bed. This morning my brother Tom was with me, and
we had some discourse again concerning his country mistress,
but I believe the most that is fit for us to condescend to, will not
content her friends.
30th. Up and to the office to get business ready for our sit-
ting, this being the first day of altering it from afternoon dur-
ing the Parliament sitting to the fore-noon again. By and by Mr.
Coventry only came (Sir John Minnes and Sir William Batten be-
1015
JULY 1663
ing gone this morning to Portsmouth to pay some ships and the
yard there), and after doing a little business he and I down to
Woolwich, and there up and down the yard, and by and by came
Sir G. Carteret and we all looked into matters, and then by wa-
ter back to Deptford, where we dined with him at his house, a
very good dinner and mightily tempted with wines of all sorts
and brave French Syder, but I drunk none. But that which is a
great wonder I find his little daughter Betty, that was in hang-
ing sleeves but a month or two ago, and is a very little young
child; married, and to whom, but to young Scott, son to Madam
Catharine Scott, that was so long in law, and at whose triall I was
with her husband; he pleading that it was unlawfully got and
would not own it, she, it seems, being brought to bed of it, if not
got by somebody else at Oxford, but it seems a little before his
death he did own the child, and hath left him his estate, not long
since. So Sir G. Carteret hath struck up of a sudden a match with
him for his little daughter. He hath about £2000 per annum; and
it seems Sir G. Carteret hath by this means over-reached Sir H.
Bennet, who did endeavour to get this gentleman for a sister of
his, but Sir G. Carteret I say has over-reached him. By this means
Sir G. Carteret hath married two daughters this year both very
well. After dinner into Deptford yard, but our bellies being full
we could do no great business, and so parted, and Mr. Coventry
and I to White Hall by water, where we also parted, and I to sev-
eral places about business, and so calling for my five books of the
Variorum print bound according to my common binding instead
of the other which is more gaudy I went home. The town talk this
day is of nothing but the great foot-race run this day on Banstead
Downes, between Lee, the Duke of Richmond’s footman, and a
tyler, a famous runner. And Lee hath beat him; though the King
and Duke of York and all men almost did bet three or four to one
upon the tyler’s head.
31st. Up early to my accounts this month, and I find myself
worth clear £730, the most I ever had yet, which contents me
though I encrease but very little. Thence to my office doing busi-
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JULY 1663
ness, and at noon to my viall maker’s, who has begun it and has a
good appearance, and so to the Exchange, where I met Dr. Pierce,
who tells me of his good luck to get to be groom of the Privy-
Chamber to the Queen, and without my Lord Sandwich’s help;
but only by his good fortune, meeting a man that hath let him
have his right for a small matter, about £60, for which he can
every day have £400. But he tells me my Lord hath lost much
honour in standing so long and so much for that coxcomb Pick-
ering, and at last not carrying it for him; but hath his name struck
out by the King and Queen themselves after he had been in ever
since the Queen’s coming. But he tells me he believes that ei-
ther Sir H. Bennet, my Lady Castlemaine, or Sir Charles Barkeley
had received some money for the place, and so the King could
not disappoint them, but was forced to put out this fool rather
than a better man. And I am sorry to hear what he tells me that
Sir Charles Barkeley hath still such power over the King, as to
be able to fetch him from the Council-table to my Lady Castle-
maine when he pleases. He tells me also, as a friend, the great
injury that he thinks I do myself by being so severe in the Yards,
and contracting the ill-will of the whole Navy for those offices,
singly upon myself. Now I discharge a good conscience therein,
and I tell him that no man can (nor do he say any say it) charge
me with doing wrong; but rather do as many good offices as any
man. They think, he says, that I have a mind to get a good name
with the King and Duke, who he tells me do not consider any
such thing; but I shall have as good thanks to let all alone, and do
as the rest. But I believe the contrary; and yet I told him I never
go to the Duke alone, as others do, to talk of my own services.
However, I will make use of his council, and take some course to
prevent having the single ill-will of the office. Before I went to
the office I went to the Coffee House, where Sir J. Cutler and Mr.
Grant were, and there Mr. Grant showed me letters of Sir William
Petty’s, wherein he says, that his vessel which he hath built upon
two keeles (a modell whereof, built for the King, he showed me)
hath this month won a wager of £50 in sailing between Dublin
1017
JULY 1663
and Holyhead with the pacquett-boat, the best ship or vessel the
King hath there; and he offers to lay with any vessel in the world.
It is about thirty ton in burden, and carries thirty men, with good
accommodation, (as much more as any ship of her burden,) and
so any vessel of this figure shall carry more men, with better ac-
commodation by half, than any other ship. This carries also ten
guns, of about five tons weight. In their coming back from Holy-
head they started together, and this vessel came to Dublin by five
at night, and the pacquett-boat not before eight the next morning;
and when they came they did believe that, this vessel had been
drowned, or at least behind, not thinking she could have lived
in that sea. Strange things are told of this vessel, and he con-
cludes his letter with this position, “I only affirm that the perfec-
tion of sayling lies in my principle, finde it out who can.” Thence
home, in my way meeting Mr. Rawlinson, who tells me that my
uncle Wight is off of his Hampshire purchase and likes less of
the Wights, and would have me to be kind and study to please
him, which I am resolved to do. Being at home he sent for me
to dinner to meet Mr. Moore, so I went thither and dined well,
but it was strange for me to refuse, and yet I did without any
reluctancy to drink wine in a tavern, where nothing else almost
was drunk, and that excellent good. Thence with Mr. Moore to
the Wardrobe, and there sat while my Lord was private with Mr.
Townsend about his accounts an hour or two, we reading of a
merry book against the Presbyters called Cabbala, extraordinary
witty. Thence walked home and to my office, setting papers of
all sorts and writing letters and putting myself into a condition
to go to Chatham with Mr. Coventry to-morrow. So, at almost
12 o’clock, and my eyes tired with seeing to write, I went home
and to bed. Ending the month with pretty good content of mind,
my wife in the country and myself in good esteem, and likely by
pains to become considerable, I think, with God’s blessing upon
my diligence.
1018
AUGUST 1663
Aug. 1st. Up betimes and got me ready, and so to the office
and put things in order for my going. By and by comes Sir G.
Carteret, and he and I did some business, and then Mr. Coven-
try sending for me, he staying in the boat, I got myself presently
ready and down to him, he and I by water to Gravesend (his man
Lambert with us), and there eat a bit and so mounted, I upon
one of his horses which met him there, a brave proud horse, all
the way talking of businesses of the office and other matters to
good purpose. Being come to Chatham, we put on our boots
and so walked to the yard, where we met Commissioner Pett,
and there walked up and down looking and inquiring into many
businesses, and in the evening went to the Commissioner’s and
there in his upper Arbor sat and talked, and there pressed upon
the Commissioner to take upon him a power to correct and sus-
pend officers that do not their duty and other things, which he
unwillingly answered he would if we would own him in it. Be-
ing gone thence Mr. Coventry and I did discourse about him, and
conclude that he is not able to do the same in that yard that he
might and can and it maybe will do in another, what with his old
faults and the relations that he has to most people that act there.
After an hour or two’s discourse at the Hill-house before going
to bed, I see him to his and he me to my chamber, he lying in the
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AUGUST 1663
Treasurer’s and I in the Controller’s chambers.
2nd (Lord’s day). Up and after the barber had done he and I
walked to the Docke, and so on board the Mathias, where Com-
missioner Pett and he and I and a good many of the officers and
others of the yard did hear an excellent sermon of Mr. Hudson’s
upon “All is yours and you are God’s,” a most ready, learned,
and good sermon, such as I have not heard a good while, nor
ever thought he could have preached. We took him with us to
the Hill-house, and there we dined, and an officer or two with
us. So after dinner the company withdrew, and we three to pri-
vate discourse and laid the matters of the yard home again to the
Commissioner, and discoursed largely of several matters. Then
to the parish church, and there heard a poor sermon with a great
deal of false Greek in it, upon these words, “Ye are my friends, if
ye do these things which I command you.” Thence to the Docke
and by water to view St. Mary Creeke, but do not find it so proper
for a wet docks as we would have it, it being uneven ground and
hard in the bottom and no, great depth of water in many places.
Returned and walked from the Docke home, Mr. Coventry and I
very much troubled to see how backward Commissioner Pett is
to tell any of the faults of the officers, and to see nothing in bet-
ter condition here for his being here than they are in other yards
where there is none. After some discourse to bed. But I sat up
an hour after Mr. Coventry was gone to read my vows, it raining
a wonderful hard showre about 11 at night for an hour together.
So to bed.
3rd. Up both of us very betimes and to the Yard, and see the
men called over and choose some to be discharged. Then to
the Ropehouses and viewed them all and made an experiment
which was the stronger, English or Riga hemp, the latter proved
the stronger, but the other is very good, and much better we be-
lieve than any but Riga. We did many other things this morn-
ing, and I caused the Timber measurer to measure some timber,
where I found much fault and with reason, which we took pub-
1020
AUGUST 1663
lic notice of, and did give them admonition for the time to come.
At noon Mr. Pett did give us a very great dinner, too big in all
conscience, so that most of it was left untouched. Here was Col-
lonell Newman and several other gentlemen of the country and
officers of the yard. After dinner they withdrew and Commis-
sioner Pett, Mr. Coventry and I sat close to our business all the
noon in his parler, and there run through much business and an-
swered several people. And then in the evening walked in the
garden, where we conjured him to look after the yard, and for
the time to come that he would take the whole faults and ill man-
agement of the yard upon himself, he having full power and our
concurrence to suspend or do anything else that he thinks fit to
keep people and officers to their duty. He having made good
promises, though I fear his performance, we parted (though I
spoke so freely that he could have been angry) good friends, and
in some hopes that matters will be better for the time to come. So
walked to the Hillhouse (which we did view and the yard about
it, and do think to put it off as soon as we can conveniently) and
there made ourselves ready and mounted and rode to Gravesend
(my riding Coate not being to be found I fear it is stole) on our
way being overtaken by Captain Browne that serves the office of
the Ordnance at Chatham. All the way, though he was a rogue
and served the late times all along, yet he kept us in discourse of
the many services that he did for many of the King’s party, lords
and Dukes, and among others he recovered a dog that was stolne
from Mr. Cary (head-keeper of the buck-hounds to the King) and
preserved several horses of the Duke of Richmond’s, and his best
horse he was forst to put out his eyes and keep him for a stallion
to preserve him from being carried away. But he gone at last
upon my enquiry to tell us how (he having been here too for sur-
vey of the Ropeyard) the day’s work of the Rope-makers become
settled, which pleased me very well. Being come to our Inn Mr.
Coventry and I sat, and talked till 9 or 10 a-clock and then to bed.
4th. We were called up about four a-clock, and being ready
went and took a Gravesend boat, and to London by nine a-clock.
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AUGUST 1663
By the way talking of several businesses of the navy. So to the of-
fice, where Sir Wm. Pen (the first time that he has been with us a
great while, he having been long sick) met us, and there we sat all
the morning. My brother John I find come to town to my house,
as I sent for him, on Saturday last; so at noon home and dined
with him, and after dinner and the barber been with me I walked
out with him to my viall maker’s and other places and then left
him, and I by water to Blackbury’s, and there talked with him
about some masts (and by the way he tells me that Paul’s is now
going to be repaired in good earnest), and so with him to his gar-
den close by his house, where I eat some peaches and apricots; a
very pretty place. So over the water to Westminster hall, and not
finding Mrs. Lane, with whom I purposed to be merry, I went to
Jervas’s and took him and his wife over the water to their mother
Palmer’s (the woman that speaks in the belly, and with whom I
have two or three years ago made good sport with Mr. Mallard),
thinking because I had heard that she is a woman of that sort that
I might there have lit upon some lady of pleasure (for which God
forgive me), but blest be God there was none, nor anything that
pleased me, but a poor little house that she has set out as fine as
she can, and for her singing which she pretends to is only some
old body songs and those sung abominably, only she pretends
to be able to sing both bass and treble, which she do something
like, but not what I thought formerly and expected now; nor do
her speaking in her belly take me now as it did then, but it may
be that is because I know it and see her mouth when she speaks,
which should not be. After I had spent a shilling there in wine I
took boat with Jervas and his wife and set them at Westminster,
and it being late forbore Mrs. Lane and went by water to the Old
Swan by a boat, where I had good sport with one of the young
men about his travells as far as Voxhall, in mockery, which yet
the fellow answered me most prettily and traveller-like unto my
very good mirth. So home, and with my brother eat a bit of bread
and cheese, and so to bed, he with me. This day I received a letter
from my wife, which troubles me mightily, wherein she tells me
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AUGUST 1663
how Ashwell did give her the lie to her teeth, and that thereupon
my wife giving her a box on the eare, the other struck her again,
and a deal of stir which troubles me, and that my Lady has been
told by my father or mother something of my wife’s carriage,
which altogether vexes me, and I fear I shall find a trouble of my
wife when she comes home to get down her head again, but if
Ashwell goes I am resolved to have no more, but to live poorly
and low again for a good while, and save money and keep my
wife within bounds if I can, or else I shall bid Adieu to all con-
tent in the world. So to bed, my mind somewhat disturbed at
this, but yet I shall take care, by prudence, to avoid the ill conse-
quences which I fear, things not being gone too far yet, and this
height that my wife is come to being occasioned from my own
folly in giving her too much head heretofore for the year past.
5th. All the morning at the office, whither Deane of Wool-
wich came to me and discoursed of the body of ships, which I
am now going about to understand, and then I took him to the
coffee-house, where he was very earnest against Mr. Grant’s re-
port in favour of Sir W. Petty’s vessel, even to some passion on
both sides almost. So to the Exchange, and thence home to din-
ner with my brother, and in the afternoon to Westminster hall,
and there found Mrs. Lane, and by and by by agreement we
met at the Parliament stairs (in my way down to the boat who
should meet us but my lady Jemimah, who saw me lead her but
said nothing to me of her, though I ought to speak to her to see
whether she would take notice of it or no) and off to Stangate
and so to the King’s Head at Lambeth marsh, and had variety of
meats and drinks, but I did so towse her and handled her, but
could get nothing more from her though I was very near it; but
as wanton and bucksome as she is she dares not adventure upon
the business, in which I very much commend and like her. Staid
pretty late, and so over with her by water, and being in a great
sweat with my towsing of her durst not go home by water, but
took coach, and at home my brother and I fell upon Des Cartes,
and I perceive he has studied him well, and I cannot find but he
1023
AUGUST 1663
has minded his book, and do love it. This evening came a let-
ter about business from Mr. Coventry, and with it a silver pen
he promised me to carry inke in, which is very necessary. So to
prayers and to bed.
6th. Up and was angry with my maid Hannah for keeping the
house no better, it being more dirty now-a-days than ever it was
while my whole family was together. So to my office, whither Mr.
Coventry came and Sir William Pen, and we sat all the morning.
This day Mr. Coventry borrowed of me my manuscript of the
Navy. At noon I to the ‘Change, and meeting with Sir W. War-
ren, to a coffee-house, and there finished a contract with him for
the office, and so parted, and I to my cozen Mary Joyce’s at a
gossiping, where much company and good cheer. There was the
King’s Falconer, that lives by Paul’s, and his wife, an ugly pusse,
but brought him money. He speaking of the strength of hawkes,
which will strike a fowle to the ground with that force that shall
make the fowle rebound a great way from ground, which no
force of man or art can do, but it was very pleasant to hear what
reasons he and another, one Ballard, a rich man of the same Com-
pany of Leathersellers of which the Joyces are, did give for this.
Ballard’s wife, a pretty and a very well-bred woman, I took occa-
sion to kiss several times, and she to carve, drink, and show me
great respect. After dinner to talk and laugh. I drank no wine,
but sent for some water; the beer not being good. A fiddler was
sent for, and there one Mrs. Lurkin, a neighbour, a good, and
merry poor woman, but a very tall woman, did dance and show
such tricks that made us all merry, but above all a daughter of Mr.
Brumfield’s, black, but well-shaped and modest, did dance very
well, which pleased me mightily. I begun the Duchess with her,
but could not do it; but, however, I came off well enough, and
made mighty much of her, kissing and leading her home, with
her cozen Anthony and Kate Joyce (Kate being very handsome
and well, that is, handsomely dressed to-day, and I grew mighty
kind and familiar with her, and kissed her soundly, which she
takes very well) to their house, and there I left them, having in
1024
AUGUST 1663
our way, though nine o’clock at night, carried them into a pup-
pet play in Lincolnes Inn Fields, where there was the story of
Holofernes, and other clockwork, well done. There was at this
house today Mr. Lawrence, who did give the name, it seems, to
my cozen Joyce’s child, Samuel, who is a very civil gentleman,
and his wife a pretty woman, who, with Kate Joyce, were stew-
ards of the feast to-day, and a double share cost for a man and a
woman came to 16s., which I also would pay, though they would
not by any means have had me do so. I walked home very well
contented with this afternoon’s work, I thinking it convenient to
keep in with the Joyces against a bad day, if I should have occa-
sion to make use of them. So I walked home, and after a letter to
my wife by the post and my father, I home to supper, and after a
little talk with my brother to bed.
7th. Up and to my office a little, and then to Brown’s for my
measuring rule, which is made, and is certainly the best and the
most commodious for carrying in one’s pocket, and most useful
that ever was made, and myself have the honour of being as it
were the inventor of this form of it. Here I staid discoursing an
hour with him and then home, and thither came Sir Fairbrother
to me, and we walked a while together in the garden and then
abroad into the cittie, and then we parted for a while and I to my
Viall, which I find done and once varnished, and it will please
me very well when it is quite varnished. Thence home and to
study my new rule till my head aked cruelly. So by and by to
dinner and the Doctor and Mr. Creed came to me. The Doctor’s
discourse, which (though he be a very good-natured man) is but
simple, was some sport to me and Creed, though my head ake-
ing I took no great pleasure in it. We parted after dinner, and
I walked to Deptford and there found Sir W. Pen, and I fell to
measuring of some planks that was serving into the yard, which
the people took notice of, and the measurer himself was amused
at, for I did it much more ready than he, and I believe Sir W.
Pen would be glad I could have done less or he more. By and
by he went away and I staid walking up and down, discoursing
1025
AUGUST 1663
with the officers of the yard of several things, and so walked back
again, and on my way young Bagwell and his wife waylayd me
to desire my favour about getting him a better ship, which I shall
pretend to be willing to do for them, but my mind is to know
his wife a little better. They being parted I went with Cadbury
the mast maker to view a parcel of good masts which I think it
were good to buy, and resolve to speak to the board about it. So
home, and my brother John and I up and I to my musique, and
then to discourse with him, and I find him not so thorough a
philosopher, at least in Aristotle, as I took him for, he not being
able to tell me the definition of final nor which of the 4 Qualitys
belonged to each of the 4 Elements. So to prayers, and to bed,
among other things being much satisfied with my new rule.
8th. Up and to my office, whither I search for Brown the mathe-
matical instrument maker, who now brought me a ruler for mea-
suring timber and other things so well done and in all things to
my mind that I do set up my trust upon it that I cannot have a
better, nor any man else have so good for this purpose, this being
of my own ordering. By and by we sat all the morning dispatch-
ing of business, and then at noon rose, and I with Mr. Coventry
down to the water-side, talking, wherein I see so much goodness
and endeavours of doing the King service, that I do more and
more admire him. It being the greatest trouble to me, he says, in
the world to see not only in the Navy, but in the greatest mat-
ters of State, where he can lay his finger upon the soare (meaning
this man’s faults, and this man’s office the fault lies in), and yet
dare or can not remedy matters. Thence to the Exchange about
several businesses, and so home to dinner, and in the afternoon
took my brother John and Will down to Woolwich by water, and
after being there a good while, and eating of fruit in Sheldon’s
garden, we began our walk back again, I asking many things in
physiques of my brother John, to which he gives me so bad or
no answer at all, as in the regions of the ayre he told me that
he knew of no such thing, for he never read Aristotle’s philos-
ophy and Des Cartes ownes no such thing, which vexed me to
1026
AUGUST 1663
hear him say. But I shall call him to task, and see what it is that
he has studied since his going to the University. It was late be-
fore we could get from Greenwich to London by water, the tide
being against us and almost past, so that to save time and to be
clear of anchors I landed at Wapping, and so walked home weary
enough, walking over the stones. This night Sir W. Batten and Sir
J. Minnes returned [from] Portsmouth, but I did not go see them.
9th (Lord’s day). Up, and leaving my brother John to go some-
where else, I to church, and heard Mr. Mills (who is lately re-
turned out of the country, and it seems was fetched in by many of
the parishioners, with great state,) preach upon the authority of
the ministers, upon these words, “We are therefore embassadors
of Christ.” Wherein, among other high expressions, he said, that
such a learned man used to say, that if a minister of the word and
an angell should meet him together, he would salute the minister
first; which methought was a little too high. This day I begun to
make use of the silver pen (Mr. Coventry did give me) in writing
of this sermon, taking only the heads of it in Latin, which I shall,
I think, continue to do. So home and at my office reading my
vowes, and so to Sir W. Batten to dinner, being invited and sent
for, and being willing to hear how they left things at Portsmouth,
which I found but ill enough, and are mightily for a Commis-
sioner to be at seat there to keep the yard in order. Thence in the
afternoon with my Lady Batten, leading her through the streets
by the hand to St. Dunstan’s Church, hard by us (where by Mrs.
Russell’s means we were set well), and heard an excellent ser-
mon of one Mr. Gifford, the parson there, upon “Remember Lot’s
wife.” So from thence walked back to Mrs. Russell’s, and there
drank and sat talking a great while. Among other things talked
of young Dawes that married the great fortune, who it seems
has a Baronet’s patent given him, and is now Sir Thos. Dawes,
and a very fine bred man they say he is. Thence home, and my
brother being abroad I walked to my uncle Wight’s and there
staid, though with little pleasure, and supped, there being the
husband of Mrs. Anne Wight, who it seems is lately married to
1027
AUGUST 1663
one Mr. Bentley, a Norwich factor. Home, and staid up a good
while examining Will in his Latin below, and my brother along
with him in his Greeke, and so to prayers and to bed. This after-
noon I was amused at the tune set to the Psalm by the Clerke of
the parish, and thought at first that he was out, but I find him to
be a good songster, and the parish could sing it very well, and
was a good tune. But I wonder that there should be a tune in the
Psalms that I never heard of.
10th. Up, though not so early this summer as I did all the last,
for which I am sorry, and though late am resolved to get up be-
times before the season of rising be quite past. To my office to
fit myself to wait on the Duke this day. By and by by water
to White Hall, and so to St. James’s, and anon called into the
Duke’s chamber, and being dressed we were all as usual taken
in with him and discoursed of our matters, and that being done,
he walked, and I in the company with him, to White Hall, and
there he took barge for Woolwich, and, I up to the Committee
of Tangier, where my Lord Sandwich, pay Lord Peterborough,
(whom I have not seen before since his coming back,) Sir W.
Compton, and Mr. Povy. Our discourse about supplying my
Lord Teviott with money, wherein I am sorry to see, though they
do not care for him, yet they are willing to let him for civility
and compliment only have money almost without expecting any
account of it; but by this means, he being such a cunning fellow
as he is, the King is like to pay dear for our courtiers’ ceremony.
Thence by coach with my Lords Peterborough and Sandwich to
my Lord Peterborough’s house; and there, after an hour’s look-
ing over some fine books of the Italian buildings, with fine cuts;
and also my Lord Peterborough’s bowes and arrows, of which he
is a great lover, we sat down to dinner, my Lady coming down
to dinner also, and there being Mr. Williamson, that belongs to
Sir H. Bennet, whom I find a pretty understanding and accom-
plished man, but a little conceited. After dinner I took leave and
went to Greatorex’s, whom I found in his garden, and set him
to work upon my ruler, to engrave an almanac and other things
1028
AUGUST 1663
upon the brasses of it, which a little before night he did, but the
latter part he slubbered over, that I must get him to do it over
better, or else I shall not fancy my rule, which is such a folly that
I am come to now, that whereas before my delight was in multi-
tude of books, and spending money in that and buying alway of
other things, now that I am become a better husband, and have
left off buying, now my delight is in the neatness of everything,
and so cannot be pleased with anything unless it be very neat,
which is a strange folly. Hither came W. Howe about business,
and he and I had a great deal of discourse about my Lord Sand-
wich, and I find by him that my Lord do dote upon one of the
daughters of Mrs. [Becke] where he lies, so that he spends his
time and money upon her. He tells me she is a woman of a very
bad fame and very impudent, and has told my Lord so, yet for
all that my Lord do spend all his evenings with her, though he
be at court in the day time, and that the world do take notice of
it, and that Pickering is only there as a blind, that the world may
think that my Lord spends his time with him when he do worse,
and that hence it is that my Lord has no more mind to go into the
country than he has. In fine, I perceive my Lord is dabbling with
this wench, for which I am sorry, though I do not wonder at it,
being a man amorous enough, and now begins to allow himself
the liberty that he says every body else at Court takes. Here I am
told that my Lord Bristoll is either fled or concealed himself; hav-
ing been sent for to the King, it is believed to be sent to the Tower,
but he is gone out of the way. Yesterday, I am told also, that Sir
J. Lenthall, in Southwarke, did apprehend about one hundred
Quakers, and other such people, and hath sent some of them to
the gaole at Kingston, it being now the time of the Assizes. Hence
home and examined a piece of, Latin of Will’s with my brother,
and so to prayers and to bed. This evening I had a letter from
my father that says that my wife will come to town this week, at
which I wonder that she should come to town without my know-
ing more of it. But I find they have lived very ill together since
she went, and I must use all the brains I have to bring her to any
1029
AUGUST 1663
good when she do come home, which I fear will be hard to do,
and do much disgust me the thoughts of it.
11th. Up and to my office, whither, by and by, my brother Tom
came, and I did soundly rattle him for his neglecting to see and
please the Joyces as he has of late done. I confess I do fear that
he do not understand his business, nor will do any good in his
trade, though he tells me that he do please every body and that
he gets money, but I shall not believe it till I see a state of his
accounts, which I have ordered him to bring me before he sees
me any more. We met and sat at the office all the morning, and
at noon I to the ‘Change, where I met Dr. Pierce, who tells me
that the King comes to towne this day, from Tunbridge, to stay a
day or two, and then fetch the Queen from thence, who he says
is grown a very debonnaire lady, and now hugs him, and meets
him gallopping upon the road, and all the actions of a fond and
pleasant lady that can be, that he believes has a chat now and
then of Mrs. Stewart, but that there is no great danger of her,
she being only an innocent, young, raw girl; but my Lady Castle-
maine, who rules the King in matters of state, and do what she
list with him, he believes is now falling quite out of favour. After
the Queen is come back she goes to the Bath; and so to Oxford,
where great entertainments are making for her. This day I am
told that my Lord Bristoll hath warrants issued out against him,
to have carried him to the Tower; but he is fled away, or hid him-
self. So much the Chancellor hath got the better of him. Upon the
‘Change my brother, and Will bring me word that Madam Turner
would come and dine with me to-day, so I hasted home and
found her and Mrs. Morrice there (The. Joyce being gone into
the country), which is the reason of the mother rambling. I got a
dinner for them, and after dinner my uncle Thomas and aunt Bell
came and saw me, and I made them almost foxed with wine till
they were very kind (but I did not carry them up to my ladies).
So they went away, and so my two ladies and I in Mrs. Turner’s
coach to Mr. Povy’s, who being not within, we went in and there
1030
AUGUST 1663
shewed Mrs. Turner his perspective and volary,377 and the fine
things that he is building of now, which is a most neat thing.
Thence to the Temple and by water to Westminster; and there
Morrice and I went to Sir R. Ling’s to have fetched a niece of his,
but she was not within, and so we went to boat again and then
down to the bridge, and there tried to find a sister of Mrs. Mor-
rice’s, but she was not within neither, and so we went through
bridge, and I carried them on board the King’s pleasure-boat, all
the way reading in a book of Receipts of making fine meats and
sweetmeats, among others to make my own sweet water, which
made us good sport. So I landed them at Greenwich, and there
to a garden, and gave them fruit and wine, and so to boat again,
and finally, in the cool of the evening, to Lyon Kee,378 the tide
against us, and so landed and walked to the Bridge, and there
took a coach by chance passing by, and so I saw them home, and
there eat some cold venison with them, and drunk and bade them
good night, having been mighty merry with them, and I think it
is not amiss to preserve, though it cost me a little, such a friend as
Mrs. Turner. So home and to bed, my head running upon what
to do to-morrow to fit things against my wife’s coming, as to buy
a bedstead, because my brother John is here, and I have now no
more beds than are used.
12th. A little to my office, to put down my yesterday’s journall,
and so abroad to buy a bedstead and do other things. So home
again, and having put up the bedstead and done other things in
order to my wife’s coming, I went out to several places and to
Mrs. Turner’s, she inviting me last night, and there dined; with
her and Madam Morrice and a stranger we were very merry and
had a fine dinner, and thence I took leave and to White Hall,
377 A large birdcage, in which the birds can fly about; French ‘voliere’. Ben
Jonson uses the word volary.
378 Lion Key, Lower Thames Street, where the famous Duchess of Suffolk in
the time of Bishop Gardiner’s persecution took boat for the continent. James,
Duke of York, also left the country from this same place on the night of April
20th, 1648, when he escaped from St. James’s Palace.
1031
AUGUST 1663
where my Lords Sandwich, Peterborough, and others made a
Tangier Committee; spent the afternoon in reading and order-
ing with a great deal of alteration, and yet methinks never a whit
the better, of a letter drawn by Creed to my Lord Rutherford. The
Lords being against anything that looked to be rough, though it
was in matter of money and accounts, wherein their courtship
may cost the King dear. Only I do see by them, that speaking
in matters distasteful to him that we write to, it is best to do it
in the plainest way and without ambages or reasoning, but only
say matters of fact, and leave the party to collect your meaning.
Thence by water to my brother’s, and there I hear my wife is
come and gone home, and my father is come to town also, at
which I wondered. But I discern it is to give my brother advice
about his business, and it may be to pacify me about the differ-
ences that have been between my wife and him and my mother
at her late being with them. Though by and by he coming to Mr.
Holden’s (where I was buying a hat) he took no notice to me of
anything. I talked to him a little while and left him to lie at the
end of the town, and I home, where methought I found my wife
strange, not knowing, I believe, in what temper she could expect
me to be in, but I fell to kind words, and so we were very kind,
only she could not forbear telling me how she had been used by
them and her mayde, Ashwell, in the country, but I find it will
be best not to examine it, for I doubt she’s in fault too, and there-
fore I seek to put it off from my hearing, and so to bed and there
entertained her with great content, and so to sleep.
13th. Lay long in bed with my wife talking of family matters,
and so up and to the office, where we sat all the’ morning, and
then home to dinner, and after dinner my wife and I to talk again
about getting of a couple of good mayds and to part with Ash-
well, which troubles me for her father’s sake, though I shall be
glad to have the charge taken away of keeping a woman. Thence
a little to the office, and so abroad with my wife by water to White
Hall, and there at my Lord’s lodgings met my Lady Jemimah,
with whom we staid a good while. Thence to Mrs. Hunt’s, where
1032
AUGUST 1663
I left my wife, and I to walk a little in St. James’s Park, while Mrs.
Harper might come home, with whom we came to speak about
her kinswoman Jane Gentleman to come and live with us as a
chamber mayde, and there met with Mr. Hoole my old acquain-
tance of Magdalen, and walked with him an hour in the Parke,
discoursing chiefly of Sir Samuel Morland, whose lady is gone
into France. It seems he buys ground and a farm in the country,
and lays out money upon building, and God knows what! so
that most of the money he sold his pension of £500 per annum
for, to Sir Arthur Slingsby, is believed is gone. It seems he hath
very great promises from the King, and Hoole hath seen some of
the King’s letters, under his own hand, to Morland, promising
him great things (and among others, the order of the Garter, as
Sir Samuel says); but his lady thought it below her to ask any
thing at the King’s first coming, believing the King would do it
of himself, when as Hoole do really think if he had asked to be
Secretary of State at the King’s first coming, he might have had
it. And the other day at her going into France, she did speak
largely to the King herself, how her husband hath failed of what
his Majesty had promised, and she was sure intended him; and
the King did promise still, as he is a King and a gentleman, to
be as good as his word in a little time, to a tittle: but I never be-
lieve it. Here in the Park I met with Mr. Coventry, where he sent
for a letter he had newly writ to me, wherein he had enclosed
one from Commissioner Pett complaining of his being defeated
in his attempt to suspend two pursers, wherein the manner of
his doing it, and complaint of our seeing him (contrary to our
promises the other day), deserted, did make us laugh mightily,
and was good sport to think how awkwardly he goes about a
thing that he has no courage of his own nor mind to do. Mr.
Coventry answered it very handsomely, but I perceive Pett has
left off his corresponding with me any more. Thence to fetch my
wife from Mrs. Hunt’s, where now he was come in, and we eat
and drunk, and so away (their child being at home, a very lively,
but not pretty at all), by water to Mrs. Turner’s, and there made
1033
AUGUST 1663
a short visit, and so home by coach, and after supper to prayers
and to bed, and before going to bed Ashwell began to make her
complaint, and by her I do perceive that she has received most
base usage from my wife, which my wife sillily denies, but it
is impossible the wench could invent words and matter so par-
ticularly, against which my wife has nothing to say but flatly to
deny, which I am sorry to see, and blows to have past, and high
words even at Hinchinbrooke House among my Lady’s people,
of which I am mightily ashamed. I said nothing to either of them,
but let them talk till she was gone and left us abed, and then I told
my wife my mind with great sobriety of grief, and so to sleep.
14th. Awake, and to chide my wife again, and I find that my
wife has got too great head to be brought down soon, nor is it
possible with any convenience to keep Ashwell longer, my wife
is so set and convinced, as she was in Sarah, to make her appear
a Lyer in every small thing that we shall have no peace while
she stays. So I up and to my office doing several businesses in
my study, and so home to dinner. The time having outslipt me
and my stomach, it being past, two a-clock, and yet before we
could sit down to dinner Mrs. Harper and her cousin Jane came,
and we treated and discoursed long about her coming to my wife
for a chamber mayd, and I think she will do well. So they went
away expecting notice when she shall come, and so we sat down
to dinner at four a-clock almost, and then I walked forth to my
brother’s, where I found my father very discontented, and has
no mind to come to my house, and would have begun some of
the differences between my wife and him, but I desired to hear
none of them, and am sorry at my folly in forcing it and theirs in
not telling me of it at the beginning, and therefore am resolved
to make the best of a bad market, and to bring my wife to herself
again as soon and as well as I can. So we parted very kindly,
and he will dine with me to-morrow or next day. Thence walked
home, doing several errands by the way, and at home took my
wife to visit Sir W. Pen, who is still lame, and after an hour with
him went home and supped, and with great content to bed.
1034
AUGUST 1663
15th. Lay pretty long in bed, being a little troubled with some
pain got by wind and cold, and so up with good peace of mind,
hoping that my wife will mind her house and servants, and so
to the office, and being too soon to sit walked to my viail, which
is well nigh done, and I believe I may have it home to my mind
next week. So back to my office, and there we sat all the morn-
ing, I till 2 o’clock before I could go to dinner again. After dinner
walked forth to my instrument maker, and there had my rule he
made me lay now so perfected, that I think in all points I have
never need or desire a better, or think that any man yet had one
so good in all the several points of it for my use. So by water
down to Deptford, taking into my boat with me Mr. Palmer, one
whom I knew and his wife when I was first married, being an ac-
quaintance of my wife’s and her friends lodging at Charing Cross
during our differences. He joyed me in my condition, and him-
self it seems is forced to follow the law in a common ordinary
way, but seems to do well, and is a sober man, enough by his
discourse. He landed with me at Deptford, where he saw by the
officers’ respect to me a piece of my command, and took notice of
it, though God knows I hope I shall not be elated with that, but
rather desire to be known for serving the King well, and doing
my duty. He gone I walked up and down the yard a while dis-
coursing with the officers, and so by water home meditating on
my new Rule with great pleasure. So to my office, and there by
candle light doing business, and so home to supper and to bed.
16th (Lord’s day). Up and with my wife to church, and finding
her desirous to go to church, I did suspect her meeting of Pemble-
ton, but he was not there, and so I thought my jealousy in vain,
and treat the sermon with great quiet. And home to dinner very
pleasant, only some angry, notwithstanding my wife could not
forbear to give Ashwell, and after dinner to church again, and
there, looking up and down, I found Pembleton to stand in the
isle against us, he coming too late to get a pew. Which, Lord!
into what a sweat did it put me! I do not think my wife did see
him, which did a little satisfy me. But it makes me mad to see of
1035
AUGUST 1663
what a jealous temper I am and cannot helpe it, though let him
do what he can I do not see, as I am going to reduce my family,
what hurt he can do me, there being no more occasion now for
my wife to learn of him. Here preached a confident young cox-
comb. So home, and I staid a while with Sir J. Minnes, at Mrs.
Turner’s, hearing his parrat talk, laugh, and crow, which it do to
admiration. So home and with my wife to see Sir W. Pen, and
thence to my uncle Wight, and took him at supper and sat down,
where methinks my uncle is more kind than he used to be both
to me now, and my father tell me to him also, which I am glad at.
After supper home, it being extraordinary dark, and by chance a
lanthorn came by, and so we hired it to light us home, otherwise
were we no sooner within doors but a great showre fell that had
doused us cruelly if we had not been within, it being as dark as
pitch. So to prayers and to bed.
17th. Up, and then fell into discourse, my wife and I to Ash-
well, and much against my will I am fain to express a willing-
ness to Ashwell that she should go from us, and yet in my mind
I am glad of it, to ease me of the charge. So she is to go to her
father this day. And leaving my wife and her talking highly, I
went away by coach with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten to St.
James’s, and there attended of course the Duke. And so to White
Hall, where I met Mr. Moore, and he tells me with great sorrow
of my lord’s being debauched he fears by this woman at Chelsey,
which I am troubled at, and resolve to speak to him of it if I can
seasonably. Thence home, where I dined, and after dinner comes
our old mayde Susan to look for a gorgett that she says she has
lost by leaving it here, and by many circumstances it being clear
to me that Hannah, our present cook-mayde, not only has it, but
had it on upon her necke when Susan came in, and shifted it off
presently upon her coming in, I did charge her so home with
it (having a mind to have her gone from us), that in a huff she
told us she would be gone to-night if I would pay her her wages,
which I was glad and my wife of, and so fetched her her wages,
and though I am doubtful that she may convey some things away
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AUGUST 1663
with her clothes, my wife searching them, yet we are glad of her
being so gone, and so she went away in a quarter of an hour’s
time. Being much amused at this to have never a maid but Ash-
well, that we do not intend to keep, nor a boy, and my wife and I
being left for an hour, till my brother came in, alone in the house,
I grew very melancholy, and so my brother being come in I went
forth to Mrs. Holden’s, to whom I formerly spoke about a girle
to come to me instead of a boy, and the like I did to Mrs. Stand-
ing and also to my brother Tom, whom I found at an alehouse in
Popinjay ally drinking, and I standing with him at the gate of the
ally, Ashwell came by, and so I left Tom and went almost home
with her, talking of her going away. I find that she is willing to
go, and told her (though behind my back my wife has told her
that it was more my desire than hers that she should go, which
was not well), that seeing my wife and she could not agree I did
choose rather (was she my sister) have her gone, it would be bet-
ter for us and for her too. To which she willing agreed, and will
not tell me anything but that she do believe that my wife would
have some body there that might not be so liable to give me infor-
mation of things as she takes her to be. But, however, I must later
to prevent all that. I parted with her near home, agreeing to take
no notice of my coming along with her, and so by and by came
home after her. Where I find a sad distracted house, which trou-
bles me. However, to supper and prayers and to bed. And while
we were getting to bed my wife began to discourse to her, and
plainly asked whether she had got a place or no. And the other
answered that she could go if we would to one of our own office,
to which we agreed if she would. She thereupon said no; she
would not go to any but where she might teach children, because
of keeping herself in use of what things she had earnt, which she
do not here nor will there, but only dressing. By which I per-
ceive the wench is cunning, but one very fit for such a place, and
accomplished to be woman to any lady in the land. So quietly
to sleep, it being a cold night. But till my house is settled, I do
not see that I can mind my business of the office, which grieves
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AUGUST 1663
me to the heart. But I hope all will over in a little time, and I
hope to the best. This day at Mrs. Holden’s I found my new low
crowned beaver according to the present fashion made, and will
be sent home to-morrow.
18th. Up and to my office, where we sat all the morning. And
at noon home, and my father came and dined with me, Susan
being come and helped my wife to dress dinner. After dinner my
father and I talked about our country-matters, and in fine I find
that he thinks £50 per ann. will go near to keep them all, which I
am glad of. He having taken his leave of me and my wife without
any mention of the differences between them and my wife in the
country, I went forth to several places about businesses, and so
home again, and after prayers to bed.
19th. Up betimes, and my wife up and about the house, Susan
beginning to have her drunken tricks, and put us in mind of her
old faults and folly and distractednesse, which we had forgot, so
that I became mightily troubled with her. This morning came my
joyners to new lay the floors, and begun with the dining room. I
out and see my viall again, and it is very well, and to Mr. Holl-
yard, and took some pills of him and a note under his hand to
drink wine with my beere, without which I was obliged, by my
private vowe, to drink none a good while, and have strictly ob-
served it, and by my drinking of small beere and not eating, I
am so mightily troubled with wind, that I know not what to do
almost. Thence to White Hall, and there met Mr. Moore, and fell
a-talking about my Lord’s folly at Chelsey, and it was our dis-
course by water to London and to the great coffee house against
the Exchange, where we sat a good while talking; and I find that
my lord is wholly given up to this wench, who it seems has been
reputed a common strumpett. I have little encouragement from
Mr. Moore to meddle with it to tell my Lord, for fear it may do
him no good, but me hurt. Thence homewards, taking leave of
him, and met Tom Marsh, my old acquaintance at Westminster,
who talks mightily of the honour of his place, being Clerke As-
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AUGUST 1663
sistant to the Clerke of the House of Commons, and I take him to
be a coxcombe, and so did give him half a pint of wine, but drink
none myself, and so got shut of him. So home, and there found
my wife almost mad with Susan’s tricks, so as she is forced to let
her go and leave the house all in dirt and the clothes all wet, and
gets Goody Taylour to do the business for her till another comes.
Here came Will Howe, and he and I alone in my chamber talk-
ing of my Lord, who drives me out of love to my Lord to tell my
Lord of the matter we discoursed of, which tend so much to the
ruin of his state, and so I resolved to take a good heart and do
whatever comes of it. He gone, we sat down and eat a bit of din-
ner fetched from the cooke’s, and so up again and to my joyners,
who will make my floors very handsome. By and by comes in
Pembleton, which begun to make me sweat, but I did give him
so little countenance, and declared at one word against dancing
any more, and bid him a short (God be with you) myself, and
so he took as short a leave of my wife and so went away, and I
think without any time of receiving any great satisfaction from
my wife or invitation to come again. To my office till it was dark
doing business, and so home by candle light to make up my ac-
counts for my Lord and Mr. Moore. By and by comes Mr. Moore
to me, and staid a good while with me making up his accounts
and mine, and we did not come to any end therein for want of his
papers, and so put it off to another time. He supped with me in
all my dirt and disorder, and so went away and we to bed. I dis-
coursed with him a great while about my speaking to my Lord of
his business, and I apprehend from him that it is likely to prove
perhaps of bad effect to me and no good to him, and therefore
I shall even let it alone and let God do his will, at least till my
Lord is in the country, and then we shall see whether he resolves
to come to Chelsey again or no, and so order the stopping of him
therein if we can.
20th. Up betimes and to my office (having first been angry with
my brother John, and in the heat of my sudden passion called
him Asse and coxcomb, for which I am sorry, it being but for
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AUGUST 1663
leaving the key of his chamber with a spring lock within side of
his door), and there we sat all the morning, and at noon dined at
home, and there found a little girl, which she told my wife her
name was Jinny, by which name we shall call her. I think a good
likely girl, and a parish child of St. Bride’s, of honest parentage,
and recommended by the churchwarden. After dinner among
my joyners laying my floors, which please me well, and so to my
office, and we sat this afternoon upon an extraordinary business
of victualling. In the evening came Commissioner Pett, who fell
foule on mee for my carriage to him at Chatham, wherein, after
protestation of my love and good meaning to him, he was quiet;
but I doubt he will not be able to do the service there that any
other man of his ability would. Home in the evening my viall
(and lute new strung being brought home too), and I would have
paid Mr. Hunt for it, but he did not come along with it himself,
which I expected and was angry for it, so much is it against my
nature to owe anything to any body. This evening the girle that
was brought to me to-day for so good a one, being cleansed of
lice this day by my wife, and good, new clothes put on her back,
she run away from Goody Taylour that was shewing her the way
to the bakehouse, and we heard no more of her. So to supper and
to bed.
21st. Up betimes and among my joyners, and to my office,
where the joyners are also laying mouldings in the inside of my
closet. Then abroad and by water to White Hall, and there got Sir
G. Carteret to sign me my last quarter’s bills for my wages, and
meeting with Mr. Creed he told me how my Lord Teviott hath
received another attaque from Guyland at Tangier with 10,000
men, and at last, as is said, is come, after a personal treaty with
him, to a good understanding and peace with him. Thence to my
brother’s, and there told him how my girl has served us which he
sent me, and directed him to get my clothes again, and get the girl
whipped. So to other places by the way about small businesses,
and so home, and after looking over all my workmen, I went by
water and land to Deptford, and there found by appointment Sir
1040
AUGUST 1663
W. Batten, but he was got to Mr. Waith’s to dinner, where I dined
with him, a good dinner and good discourse, and his wife, I be-
lieve, a good woman. We fell in discourse of Captain Cocke, and
how his lady has lost all her fine linen almost, but besides that
they say she gives out she had £3000 worth of linen, which we all
laugh at, and Sir W. Batten (who I perceive is not so fond of the
Captain as he used to be, and less of her, from her slight receiv-
ing of him and his lady it seems once) told me how he should
say that he see he must spend £700 per ann. get it how he could,
which was a high speech, and by all men’s discover, his estate not
good enough to spend so much. After dinner altered our design
to go to Woolwich, and put it off to to-morrow morning, and so
went all to Greenwich (Mrs. Waith excepted, who went thither,
but not to the same house with us, but to her father’s, that lives
there), to the musique-house, where we had paltry musique, till
the master organist came, whom by discourse I afterwards knew,
having employed him for my Lord Sandwich, to prick out some-
thing (his name Arundell), and he did give me a fine voluntary
or two, and so home by water, and at home I find my girl that run
away brought by a bedel of St. Bride’s Parish, and stripped her
and sent her away, and a newe one come, of Griffin’s helping to,
which I think will prove a pretty girl. Her name, Susan, and so to
supper after having this evening paid Mr. Hunt £3 for my viall
(besides the carving which I paid this day 10s. for to the carver),
and he tells me that I may, without flattery, say, I have as good a
Theorbo viall and viallin as is in England. So to bed.
22nd. Up by four o’clock to go with Sir W. Batten to Woolwich
and Sir J. Minnes, which we did, though not before 6 or 7 by their
laying a-bed. Our business was to survey the new wharf building
there, in order to the giving more to him that do it (Mr. Randall)
than contracted for, but I see no reason for it, though it be well
done, yet no better than contracted to be. Here we eat and drank
at the Clerke of the Cheques, and in taking water at the Tower
gate, we drank a cup of strong water, which I did out of pure con-
science to my health, and I think is not excepted by my oaths, but
1041
AUGUST 1663
it is a thing I shall not do again, hoping to have no such occasion.
After breakfast Mr. Castle and I walked to Greenwich, and in
our way met some gypsys, who would needs tell me my fortune,
and I suffered one of them, who told me many things common as
others do, but bade me beware of a John and a Thomas, for they
did seek to do me hurt, and that somebody should be with me
this day se’nnight to borrow money of me, but I should lend him
none. She got ninepence of me. And so I left them and to Green-
wich and so to Deptford, where the two knights were come, and
thence home by water, where I find my closet done at my office
to my mind and work gone well on at home; and Ashwell gone
abroad to her father, my wife having spoken plainly to her. Af-
ter dinner to my office, getting my closet made clean and setting
some papers in order, and so in the evening home and to bed.
This day Sir W. Batten tells me that Mr. Newburne (of whom the
nickname came up among us forarse Tom Newburne) is dead of
eating cowcumbers, of which, the other day, I heard another, I
think Sir Nicholas Crisp’s son.
23rd (Lord’s day). Up and to church without my wife, she be-
ing all dirty, as my house is. God forgive me, I looked about
to see if I could spy Pembleton, but I could not, which did please
me not a little. Home to dinner, and then to walk up and down in
my house with my wife, discoursing of our family matters, and
I hope, after all my troubles of mind and jealousy, we shall live
happily still. To church again, and so home to my wife; and with
her read “Iter Boreale,” a poem, made just at the King’s coming
home; but I never read it before, and now like it pretty well, but
not so as it was cried up. So to supper. No pleasure or discourse
with Ashwell, with whom for her neglect and unconcernment to
do any thing in this time of dirt and trouble in the house, but
gadding abroad as she has been all this afternoon, I know not
whither. After supper to prayers and to bed, having been, by a
sudden letter coming to me from Mr. Coventry, been with Sir
W. Pen, to discourse with him about sending 500 soldiers into
Ireland. I doubt matters do not go very right there.
1042
AUGUST 1663
24th. Up very early, and my joyners came to work. I to Mr.
Moore; from him came back home again, and drew up an account
to my Lord, and that being done met him at my Lord Sandwich’s,
where I was a good while alone with my Lord; and I perceive
he confides in me and loves me as he uses to do, and tells me
his condition, which is now very well all I fear is that he will
not live within compass, for I am told this morning of strange
dotages of his upon the slut at Chelsea, even in the presence of his
daughter, my Lady Jem, and Mrs. Ferrets, who took notice of it.
There come to him this morning his prints of the river Tagus and
the City of Lisbon, which he measured with his own hand, and
printed by command of the King. My Lord pleases himself with
it, but methinks it ought to have been better done than by jobing.
Besides I put him upon having some took off upon white sattin,
which he ordered presently. I offered my Lord my accounts, and
did give him up his old bond for £500 and took a new one of
him for £700, which I am by lending him more money to make
up: and I am glad of it. My Lord would have had me dine with
him, but I had a mind to go home to my workmen, and so took
a kind good bye of him, and so with Creed to St. James’s, and,
missing Mr. Coventry, walked to the New Exchange, and there
drank some whey, and so I by water home, and found my closett
at my office made very clean and neat to my mind mightily, and
home to dinner, and then to my office to brush my books, and put
them and my papers in order again, and all the afternoon till late
at night doing business there, and so home to supper, and then to
work in my chamber, making matters of this day’s accounts clear
in my books, they being a little extraordinary, and so being very
late I put myself to bed, the rest being long ago gone.
25th. Up very early and removed the things out of my cham-
ber into the dining room, it being to be new floored this day. So
the workmen being come and falling to work there, I to the of-
fice, and thence down to Lymehouse to Phin. Pett’s about masts,
and so back to the office, where we sat; and being rose, and Mr.
Coventry being gone, taking his leave, for that he is to go to the
1043
AUGUST 1663
Bath with the Duke to-morrow, I to the ‘Change and there spoke
with several persons, and lastly with Sir W. Warren, and with him
to a Coffee House, and there sat two hours talking of office busi-
ness and Mr. Wood’s knavery, which I verily believe, and lastly
he tells me that he hears that Captain Cocke is like to become a
principal officer, either a Controller or a Surveyor, at which I am
not sorry so either of the other may be gone, and I think it prob-
able enough that it may be so. So home at 2 o’clock, and there I
found Ashwell gone, and her wages come to 50s., and my wife,
by a mistake from me, did give her 20s. more; but I am glad that
she is gone and the charge saved. After dinner among my joyn-
ers, and with them till dark night, and this night they made an
end of all; and so having paid them 40s. for their six days’ work,
I am glad they have ended and are gone, for I am weary and my
wife too of this dirt. My wife growing peevish at night, being
weary, and I a little vexed to see that she do not retain things in
her memory that belong to the house as she ought and I myself
do, I went out in a little seeming discontent to the office, and af-
ter being there a while, home to supper and to bed. To-morrow
they say the King and the Duke set out for the Bath. This noon
going to the Exchange, I met a fine fellow with trumpets before
him in Leadenhall-street, and upon enquiry I find that he is the
clerk of the City Market; and three or four men carried each of
them an arrow of a pound weight in their hands. It seems this
Lord Mayor begins again an old custome, that upon the three
first days of Bartholomew Fayre, the first, there is a match of
wrestling, which was done, and the Lord Mayor there and Alder-
men in Moorefields yesterday: to-day, shooting: and to-morrow,
hunting. And this officer of course is to perform this ceremony
of riding through the city, I think to proclaim or challenge any to
shoot. It seems that the people of the fayre cry out upon it as a
great hindrance to them.
26th. Up, and after doing something in order to the putting
of my house in order now the joynery is done, I went by water
to White Hall, where the Court full of waggons and horses, the
1044
AUGUST 1663
King and Court going this day out towards the Bath, and I to St.
James’s, where I spent an hour or more talking of many things
to my great content with Mr. Coventry in his chamber, he being
ready to set forth too with the Duke to-day, and so left him, and I
meeting Mr. Gauden, with him to our offices and in Sir W. Pen’s
chamber did discourse by a meeting on purpose with Mr. Waith
about the victualling business and came to some issue in it. So
home to dinner, and Mr. Moore came and dined with me, and
after dinner I paid him some money which evened all reckonings
between him and me to this day, and for my Lord also I paid him
some money, so that now my Lord owes me, for which I have his
bond, just £700. After long discourse with him of the fitness of his
giving me a receipt for this money, which I for my security think
necessary and he otherwise do not think so, at last, after being a
little angry, and I resolving not to let go my money without it, he
did give me one. Thence I took him, and he and I took a pleasant
walk to Deptford and back again, I doing much business there.
He went home and I home also, indoors to supper, being very
glad to see my house begin to look like itself again, hoping after
this is over not to be in any dirt a great while again, but it is
very handsome, and will be more when the floors come to be of
one colour. So weary to bed. Pleased this day to see Captain
Hickes come to me with a list of all the officers of Deptford Yard,
wherein he, being a high old Cavalier, do give me an account of
every one of them to their reproach in all respects, and discovers
many of their knaverys; and tells me, and so I thank God I hear
every where, that my name is up for a good husband for the King,
and a good man, for which I bless God; and that he did this by
particular direction of Mr. Coventry.
27th. Up, after much pleasant talke with my wife and a little
that vexes me, for I see that she is confirmed in it that all that I
do is by design, and that my very keeping of the house in dirt,
and the doing of this and any thing else in the house, is but to
find her employment to keep her within and from minding of
her pleasure, in which, though I am sorry to see she minds it, is
1045
AUGUST 1663
true enough in a great degree. To my office, and there we sat and
despatched much business. Home and dined with my wife well,
and then up and made clean my closet of books, and had my
chamber a third time made very clean, so that it is now in a very
fine condition. Thence down to see some good plank in the river
with Sir W. Batten and back again, it being a very cold day and a
cold wind. Home again, and after seeing Sir W. Pen, to my office,
and there till late doing of business, being mightily encouraged
by every body that I meet withal upon the ‘Change and every
where else, that I am taken notice of for a man that do the King’s
business wholly and well. For which the Lord be praised, for I
know no honour I desire more. Home to supper, where I find my
house very clean from top to bottom again to my great content. I
found a feacho (as he calls it) of fine sugar and a case of orange-
flower water come from Mr. Cocke, of Lisbon, the fruits of my
last year’s service to him, which I did in great justice to the man,
a perfect stranger. He sends it me desiring that I would not let
Sir J. Minnes know it, from whom he expected to have found the
service done that he had from me, from whom he could expect
nothing, and the other failed him, and would have done I am
sure to this day had not I brought it to some end. After supper to
bed.
28th. At the office betimes (it being cold all night and this
morning, and a very great frost they say abroad, which is much,
having had no summer at all almost), where we sat, and in the
afternoon also about settling the establishment of the number of
men borne on ships, &c., till the evening, and after that in my
closet till late, and quite tired with business, home to supper and
to bed.
29th. Abroad with my wife by water to Westminster, and there
left her at my Lord’s lodgings, and I to Jervas the barber’s, and
there was trimmed, and did deliver back a periwigg, which he
brought by my desire the other day to show me, having some
thoughts, though no great desire or resolution yet to wear one,
1046
AUGUST 1663
and so I put it off for a while. Thence to my wife, and calling
at both the Exchanges, buying stockings for her and myself, and
also at Leadenhall, where she and I, it being candlelight, bought
meat for to-morrow, having never a mayde to do it, and I myself
bought, while my wife was gone to another shop, a leg of beef, a
good one, for six pense, and my wife says is worth my money. So
walked home with a woman carrying our things. I am mightily
displeased at a letter Tom sent me last night, to borrow £20 more
of me, and yet gives me no account, as I have long desired, how
matters stand with him in the world. I am troubled also to see
how, contrary to my expectation, my brother John neither is the
scholler nor minds his studies as I thought would have done, but
loiters away his time, so that I must send him soon to Cambridge
again.
31st. Up and to my office all the morning, where Sir W. Batten
and Sir J. Minnes did pay the short allowance money to the East
India companies, and by the assistance of the City Marshall and
his men, did lay hold of two or three of the chief of the companies
that were in the mutiny the other day, and sent them to prison.
This noon came Jane Gentleman to serve my wife as her chamber
mayde. I wish she may prove well. So ends this month, with my
mind pretty well in quiett, and in good disposition of health since
my drinking at home of a little wine with my beer; but no where
else do I drink any wine at all. The King and Queen and the
Court at the Bath, my Lord Sandwich in the country newly gone.
1047
SEPTEMBER 1663
Sept. 1st. Up pretty betimes, and after a little at my viall to my
office, where we sat all the morning, and I got my bill among
others for my carved work (which I expected to have paid for
myself) signed at the table, and hope to get the money back again,
though if the rest had not got it paid by the King, I never intended
nor did desire to have him pay for my vanity. In the evening my
brother John coming to me to complain that my wife seems to be
discontented at his being here, and shows him great disrespect;
so I took and walked with him in the garden, and discoursed long
with him about my affairs, and how imprudent it is for my father
and mother and him to take exceptions without great cause at
my wife, considering how much it concerns them to keep her
their friend and for my peace; not that I would ever be led by
her to forget or desert them in the main, but yet she deserves to
be pleased and complied with a little, considering the manner of
life that I keep her to, and how convenient it were for me to have
Brampton for her to be sent to when I have a mind or occasion to
go abroad to Portsmouth or elsewhere. So directed him how to
behave himself to her, and gave him other counsel; and so to my
office, where late.
2nd. Up betimes and to my office, and thence with Sir J.
Minnes by coach to White Hall, where met us Sir W. Batten, and
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SEPTEMBER 1663
there staid by the Council Chamber till the Lords called us in,
being appointed four days ago to attend them with an account
of the riott among the seamen the other day, when Sir J. Minnes
did as like a coxcomb as ever I saw any man speak in my life,
and so we were dismissed, they making nothing almost of the
matter. We staid long without, till by and by my Lord Mayor
comes, who also was commanded to be there, and he having,
we not being within with him, an admonition from the Lords
to take better care of preserving the peace, we joyned with him,
and the Lords having commanded Sir J. Minnes to prosecute the
fellows for the riott, we rode along with my Lord Mayor in his
coach to the Sessions House in the Old Bayley, where the Ses-
sions are now sitting. Here I heard two or three ordinary tryalls,
among others one (which, they say, is very common now-a-days,
and therefore in my now taking of mayds I resolve to look to
have some body to answer for them) a woman that went and
was indicted by four names for entering herself a cookemayde
to a gentleman that prosecuted her there, and after 3 days run
away with a silver tankard, a porringer of silver, and a couple of
spoons, and being now found is found guilty, and likely will be
hanged. By and by up to dinner with my Lord Mayor and the
Aldermen, and a very great dinner and most excellent venison,
but it almost made me sick by not daring to drink wine. Af-
ter dinner into a withdrawing room; and there we talked, among
other things, of the Lord Mayor’s sword. They tell me this sword,
they believe, is at least a hundred or two hundred years old; and
another that he hath, which is called the Black Sword, which
the Lord Mayor wears when he mournes, but properly is their
Lenten sword to wear upon Good Friday and other Lent days, is
older than that. Thence I, leaving Sir J. Minnes to look after his
indictment drawing up, I home by water, and there found my
wife mightily pleased with a present of shells, fine shells given
her by Captain Hickes, and so she and I up and look them over,
and indeed they are very pleasant ones. By and by in comes Mr.
Lewellin, lately come from Ireland, to see me, and he tells me
1049
SEPTEMBER 1663
how the English interest falls mightily there, the Irish party be-
ing too great, so that most of the old rebells are found innocent,
and their lands, which were forfeited and bought or given to the
English, are restored to them; which gives great discontent there
among the English. He being gone, I to my office, where late,
putting things in order, and so home to supper and to bed. Go-
ing through the City, my Lord Mayor told me how the piller set
up by Exeter House is only to show where the pipes of water run
to the City; and observed that this City is as well watered as any
city in the world, and that the bringing the water to the City hath
cost it first and last above £300,000; but by the new building, and
the building of St. James’s by my Lord St. Albans,379 which is
now about (and which the City stomach I perceive highly, but
dare not oppose it), were it now to be done, it would not be done
for a million of money.
3rd. Up betimes, and for an hour at my viall before my people
rise. Then up and to the office a while, and then to Sir W. Batten,
who is going this day for pleasure down to the Downes. I eat a
breakfast with them, and at my Lady’s desire with them by coach
to Greenwich, where I went aboard with them on the Charlotte
yacht. The wind very fresh, and I believe they will be all sicke
enough, besides that she is mighty troublesome on the water.
Methinks she makes over much of her husband’s ward, young
Mr. Griffin, as if she expected some service from him when he
comes to it, being a pretty young boy. I left them under sayle,
and I to Deptford, and, after a word or two with Sir J. Minnes,
walked to Redriffe and so home. In my way, it coming into my
head, overtaking of a beggar or two on the way that looked like
Gypsys, what the Gypsys 8 or 9 days ago had foretold, that some-
379 It was at this time that the Earl of St. Albans planned St. James’s Square,
which was first styled “The Piazza.” The “Warrant for a grant to Baptist
May and Abraham Cowley on nomination of the Earl of St. Albans of sev-
eral parcels of ground in Pall Mall described, on rental of £80, for building
thereon a square of 13 or 14 great and good houses,” was dated September
24th, 1664.
1050
SEPTEMBER 1663
body that day se’nnight should be with me to borrow money,
but I should lend none; and looking, when I came to my office,
upon my journall, that my brother John had brought a letter that
day from my brother Tom to borrow £20 more of me, which had
vexed me so that I had sent the letter to my father into the coun-
try, to acquaint him of it, and how little he is beforehand that he is
still forced to borrow. But it pleased me mightily to see how, con-
trary to my expectations, having so lately lent him £20, and belief
that he had money by him to spare, and that after some days not
thinking of it, I should look back and find what the Gypsy had
told me to be so true. After dinner at home to my office, and there
till late doing business, being very well pleased with Mr. Cutler’s
coming to me about some business, and among other things tells
me that they value me as a man of business, which he accounts
the best virtuoso, and I know his thinking me so, and speaking
where he comes, may be of good use to me. Home to supper, and
to bed.
4th. Up betimes, and an hour at my viall, and then abroad
by water to White Hall and Westminster Hall, and there bought
the first newes-books of L’Estrange’s writing;380 he beginning this
week; and makes, methinks, but a simple beginning. Then to
speak to Mrs. Lane, who seems desirous to have me come to see
her and to have her company as I had a little while ago, which
methinks if she were very modest, considering how I tumbled
her and tost her, she should not. Thence to Mrs. Harper, and
sent for Creed, and there Mrs. Harper sent for a maid for me to
380 Roger L’Estrange, a voluminous writer of pamphlets and periodical pa-
pers, and translator of classics, &c. Born 1616. He was Licenser of the Press
to Charles II. and James II.; and M.P. for Winchester in James II.‘s parlia-
ment. L’Estrange was knighted in the reign of James II., and died 1704. In
1663 L’Estrange set up a paper called “The Public Intelligencer,” which came
out on August 31st, and continued to be published twice a week till Jan-
uary 19th, 1665, when it was superseded by the scheme of publishing the
“London Gazette,” the first number of which appeared on February 4th fol-
lowing.
1051
SEPTEMBER 1663
come to live with my wife. I like the maid’s looks well enough,
and I believe may do well, she looking very modestly and speak-
ing so too. I directed her to speak with my wife, and so Creed
and I away to Mr. Povy’s, and he not being at home, walked to
Lincoln’s Inn walks, which they are making very fine, and about
one o’clock went back to Povy’s; and by and by in comes he,
and so we sat and down to dinner, and his lady, whom I never
saw before (a handsome old woman that brought him money
that makes him do as he does), and so we had plenty of meat
and drink, though I drunk no wine, though mightily urged to it,
and in the exact manner that I never saw in my life any where,
and he the most full and satisfied in it that man can be in this
world with any thing. After dinner done, to see his new cellars,
which he has made so fine with so noble an arch and such con-
trivances for his barrels and bottles, and in a room next to it such
a grotto and fountayne, which in summer will be so pleasant as
nothing in the world can be almost. But to see how he himself do
pride himself too much in it, and command and expect to have
all admiration, though indeed everything do highly deserve it,
is a little troublesome. Thence Creed and I away, and by his im-
portunity away by coach to Bartholomew Fayre, where I have
no mind to go without my wife, and therefore rode through the
fayre without ‘lighting, and away home, leaving him there; and
at home made my wife get herself presently ready, and so carried
her by coach to the fayre, and showed her the monkeys dancing
on the ropes, which was strange, but such dirty sport that I was
not pleased with it. There was also a horse with hoofs like rams
hornes, a goose with four feet, and a cock with three. Thence to
another place, and saw some German Clocke works, the Saluta-
tion of the Virgin Mary, and several Scriptural stories; but above
all there was at last represented the sea, with Neptune, Venus,
mermaids, and Ayrid on a dolphin, the sea rocking, so well done,
that had it been in a gaudy manner and place, and at a little dis-
tance, it had been admirable. Thence home by coach with my
wife, and I awhile to the office, and so to supper and to bed. This
1052
SEPTEMBER 1663
day I read a Proclamation for calling in and commanding every
body to apprehend my Lord Bristoll.
5th. Up betimes and to my viall awhile, and so to the of-
fice, and there sat, and busy all the morning. So at noon to
the Exchange, and so home to dinner, where I met Creed, who
dined with me, and after dinner mightily importuned by Cap-
tain Hicks, who came to tell my wife the names and story of all
the shells, which was a pretty present he made her the other day.
He being gone, Creed, my wife, and I to Cornhill, and after many
tryalls bought my wife a chintz, that is, a painted Indian callico,
for to line her new study, which is very pretty. So home with
her, and then I away (Creed being gone) to Captain Minors upon
Tower Hill, and there, abating only some impertinence of his, I
did inform myself well in things relating to the East Indys; both
of the country and the disappointment the King met with the last
voyage, by the knavery of the Portugall Viceroy, and the incon-
siderablenesse of the place of Bombaim,381 if we had had it. But,
above all things, it seems strange to me that matters should not
be understood before they went out; and also that such a thing
as this, which was expected to be one of the best parts of the
Queen’s portion, should not be better understood; it being, if we
had it, but a poor place, and not really so as was described to
our King in the draught of it, but a poor little island; whereas
they made the King and Lord Chancellor, and other learned men
about the King, believe that that, and other islands which are
near it, were all one piece; and so the draught was drawn and
presented to the King, and believed by the King and expected to
prove so when our men came thither; but it is quite otherwise.
Thence to my office, and after several letters writ, home to sup-
per and to bed, and took a pill. I hear this day that Sir W. Batten
was fain to put ashore at Queenborough with my Lady, who has
381 Bombay, which was transferred to the East India Company in 1669. The
seat of the Western Presidency of India was removed from Surat to Bombay
in 1685-87.
1053
SEPTEMBER 1663
been so sick she swears never to go to sea again. But it happens
well that Holmes is come home into the Downes, where he will
meet my Lady, and it may be do her more good than she looked
for. He brings news of the peace between Tangier and the Moors,
but the particulars I know not. He is come but yesterday.
6th (Lord’s day). My pill I took last night worked very well,
and I lay long in bed and sweat to get away the itching all about
my body from head to foot, which is beginning again as it did
the last winter, and I find after I am up that it is abated. I staid
at home all day and my wife also, whom, God forgive me, I staid
along with me for fear of her seeing of Pembleton. But she and
I entertained one another all day long with great pleasure, con-
triving about my wife’s closet and the bedchamber, whither we
intend to go up she and I to-day. We dined alone and supped
also at night, my brother John with us, and so to prayers and to
bed.
7th. Up pretty betimes, and awhile to my vyall, and then
abroad to several places, to buy things for the furnishing my
house and my wife’s closet, and then met my uncle Thomas, by
appointment, and he and I to the Prerogative Office in Paternos-
ter Row, and there searched and found my uncle Day’s will, end
read it over and advised upon it, and his wife’s after him, and
though my aunt Perkins testimony is very good, yet I fear the
estate being great, and the rest that are able to inform us in the
matter are all possessed of more or less of the estate, it will be
hard for us ever to do anything, nor will I adventure anything till
I see what part will be given to us by my uncle Thomas of all that
is gained. But I had another end of putting my uncle into some
doubt, that so I might keep him: yet from going into the coun-
try that he may be there against the Court at his own charge,
and so I left him and his son at a loss what to do till I see them
again. And so I to my Lord Crew’s, thinking to have dined there,
but it was too late, and so back and called at my brother’s and
Mr. Holden’s about several businesses, and went all alone to the
1054
SEPTEMBER 1663
Black Spread Eagle in Bride Lane, and there had a chopp of veale
and some bread, cheese, and beer, cost me a shilling to my dinner,
and so through Fleet Ally, God forgive me, out of an itch to look
upon the sluts there, against which when I saw them my stom-
ach turned, and so to Bartholomew Fayre, where I met with Mr.
Pickering, and he and I to see the monkeys at the Dutch house,
which is far beyond the other that my wife and I saw the other
day; and thence to see the dancing on the ropes, which was very
poor and tedious. But he and I fell in discourse about my Lord
Sandwich. He tells me how he is sorry for my Lord at his being at
Chelsey, and that his but seeming so to my Lord without speak-
ing one word, had put him clear out of my Lord’s favour, so as
that he was fain to leave him before he went into the country, for
that he was put to eat with his servants; but I could not fish from
him, though I knew it, what was the matter; but am very sorry
to see that my Lord hath thus much forgot his honour, but am
resolved not to meddle with it. The play being done, I stole from
him and hied home, buying several things at the ironmonger’s–
dogs, tongs, and shovels–for my wife’s closett and the rest of my
house, and so home, and thence to my office awhile, and so home
to supper and to bed. By my letters from Tangier today I hear that
it grows very strong by land, and the Mole goes on. They have
lately killed two hundred of the Moores, and lost about forty or
fifty. I am mightily afeard of laying out too much money in goods
upon my house, but it is not money flung away, though I reckon
nothing money but when it is in the bank, till I have a good sum
beforehand in the world.
8th. Up and to my viall a while, and then to my office on
Phillips having brought me a draught of the Katherine yacht,
prettily well done for the common way of doing it. At the of-
fice all the morning making up our last half year’s account to
my Lord Treasurer, which comes to £160,000 or there abouts, the
proper expense of this half year, only with an addition of £13,000
for the third due of the last account to the Treasurer for his dis-
bursements, and £1100 for this half year’s; so that in three years
1055
SEPTEMBER 1663
and a half his thirds come to £14,100. Dined at home with my
wife. It being washing day, we had a good pie baked of a leg of
mutton; and then to my office, and then abroad, and among other
places to Moxon’s, and there bought a payre of globes cost me £3
10s., with which I am well pleased, I buying them principally for
my wife, who has a mind to understand them, and I shall take
pleasure to teach her. But here I saw his great window in his
dining room, where there is the two Terrestrial Hemispheres, so
painted as I never saw in my life, and nobly done and to good
purpose, done by his own hand. Thence home to my office, and
there at business late, and then to supper home and to bed, my
people sitting up longer than ordinary before they had done their
washing.
9th. Up by break of day, and then to my vials a while, and so to
Sir W. Warren’s by agreement, and after talking and eating some-
thing with him, he and I down by water to Woolwich, and there
I did several businesses, and had good discourse, and thence
walked to Greenwich; in my way a little boy overtook us with a
fine cupp turned out of Lignum Vitae, which the poor child con-
fessed was made in the King’s yard by his father, a turner there,
and that he do often do it, and that I might have one, and God
knows what, which I shall examine. Thence to Sir W. Warren’s
again, and there drew up a contract for masts which he is to sell
us, and so home to dinner, finding my poor wife busy. I, after
dinner, to the office, and then to White Hall, to Sir G. Carteret’s,
but did not speak with him, and so to Westminster Hall, God for-
give me, thinking to meet Mrs. Lane, but she was not there, but
here I met with Ned Pickering, with whom I walked 3 or 4 hours
till evening, he telling me the whole business of my Lord’s folly
with this Mrs. Becke, at Chelsey, of all which I am ashamed to
see my Lord so grossly play the beast and fool, to the flinging off
of all honour, friends, servants, and every thing and person that
is good, and only will have his private lust undisturbed with this
common.... his sitting up night after night alone, suffering no-
body to come to them, and all the day too, casting off Pickering,
1056
SEPTEMBER 1663
basely reproaching him with his small estate, which yet is a good
one, and other poor courses to obtain privacy beneath his hon-
our, and with his carrying her abroad and playing on his lute
under her window, and forty other poor sordid things, which I
am grieved to hear; but believe it to no purpose for me to meddle
with it, but let him go on till God Almighty and his own con-
science and thoughts of his lady and family do it. So after long
discourse, to my full satisfaction but great trouble, I home by wa-
ter and at my office late, and so to supper to my poor wife, and
so to bed, being troubled to think that I shall be forced to go to
Brampton the next Court, next week.
10th. Up betimes and to my office, and there sat all the morn-
ing making a great contract with Sir W. Warren for £3,000 worth
of masts; but, good God! to see what a man might do, were I
a knave, the whole business from beginning to end being done
by me out of the office, and signed to by them upon the once
reading of it to them, without the least care or consultation either
of quality, price, number, or need of them, only in general that
it was good to have a store. But I hope my pains was such, as
the King has the best bargain of masts has been bought these 27
years in this office. Dined at home and then to my office again,
many people about business with me, and then stepped a little
abroad about business to the Wardrobe, but missed Mr. Moore,
and elswhere, and in my way met Mr. Moore, who tells me of
the good peace that is made at Tangier with the Moores, but to
continue but from six months to six months, and that the Mole
is laid out, and likely to be done with great ease and successe,
we to have a quantity of ground for our cattle about the town to
our use. To my office late, and then home to supper, after writing
letters, and to bed. This day our cook maid (we having no luck
in maids now-adays), which was likely to prove a good servant,
though none of the best cooks, fell sick and is gone to her friends,
having been with us but 4 days.
11th. This morning, about two or three o’clock, knocked up
1057
SEPTEMBER 1663
in our back yard, and rising to the window, being moonshine,
I found it was the constable and his watch, who had found our
back yard door open, and so came in to see what the matter was.
So I desired them to shut the door, and bid them good night, and
so to bed again, and at 6 o’clock up and a while to my vyall, and
then to the office, where all the morning upon the victualler’s ac-
counts, and then with him to dinner at the Dolphin, where I eat
well but drank no wine neither; which keeps me in such good
order that I am mightily pleased with myself for it. Hither Mr.
Moore came to me, and he and I home and advised about busi-
ness, and so after an hour’s examining the state of the Navy debts
lately cast up, I took coach to Sir Philip Warwick’s, but finding Sir
G. Carteret there I did not go in, but directly home, again, it rain-
ing hard, having first of all been with Creed and Mrs. Harper
about a cook maid, and am like to have one from Creed’s lodg-
ing. In my way home visited my Lord Crew and Sir Thomas,
thinking they might have enquired by the by of me touching my
Lord’s matters at Chelsey, but they said nothing, and so after
some slight common talk I bid them good night. At home to my
office, and after a while doing business home to supper and bed.
12th. Up betimes, and by water to White Hall; and thence
to Sir Philip Warwick, and there had half an hour’s private dis-
course with him; and did give him some good satisfaction in our
Navy matters, and he also me, as to the money paid and due to
the Navy; so as he makes me assured by particulars, that Sir G.
Carteret is paid within £80,000 every farthing that we to this day,
nay to Michaelmas day next have demanded; and that, I am sure,
is above £50,000 snore than truly our expenses have been, what-
ever is become of the money. Home with great content that I have
thus begun an acquaintance with him, who is a great man, and
a man of as much business as any man in England; which I will
endeavour to deserve and keep. Thence by water to my office,
in here all the morning, and so to the ‘Change at noon, and there
by appointment met and bring home my uncle Thomas, who re-
solves to go with me to Brampton on Monday next. I wish he
1058
SEPTEMBER 1663
may hold his mind. I do not tell him, and yet he believes that
there is a Court to be that he is to do some business for us there.
The truth is I do find him a much more cunning fellow than I ever
took him for, nay in his very drink he has his wits about him. I
took him home to dinner, and after dinner he began, after a glass
of wine or two, to exclaim against Sir G. Carteret and his family
in Jersey, bidding me to have a care of him, and how high, proud,
false, and politique a fellow he is, and how low he has been un-
der his command in the island. After dinner, and long discourse,
he went away to meet on Monday morning, and I to my office,
and thence by water to White Hall and Westminster Hall about
several businesses, and so home, and to my office writing a labo-
rious letter about our last account to my Lord Treasurer, which
took me to one o’clock in the morning,
13th (Lord’s day). So that Griffin was fain to carry it to West-
minster to go by express, and my other letters of import to my
father and elsewhere could not go at all. To bed between one and
two and slept till 8, and lay talking till 9 with great pleasure with
my wife. So up and put my clothes in order against tomorrow’s
journey, and then at noon at dinner, and all the afternoon almost
playing and discoursing with my wife with great content, and
then to my office there to put papers in order against my going.
And by and by comes my uncle Wight to bid us to dinner to-
morrow to a haunch of venison I sent them yesterday, given me
by Mr. Povy, but I cannot go, but my wife will. Then into the gar-
den to read my weekly vows, and then home, where at supper
saying to my wife, in ordinary fondness, “Well! shall you and I
never travel together again?” she took me up and offered and
desired to go along with me. I thinking by that means to have
her safe from harm’s way at home here, was willing enough to
feign, and after some difficulties made did send about for a horse
and other things, and so I think she will go. So, in a hurry getting
myself and her things ready, to bed.
14th. Up betimes, and my wife’s mind and mine holding for
1059
SEPTEMBER 1663
her going, so she to get her ready, and I abroad to do the like
for myself, and so home, and after setting every thing at my of-
fice and at home in order, by coach to Bishop’s Gate, it being a
very promising fair day. There at the Dolphin we met my uncle
Thomas and his son-in-law, which seems a very sober man, and
Mr. Moore. So Mr. Moore and my wife set out before, and my
uncle and I staid for his son Thomas, who, by a sudden resolu-
tion, is preparing to go with us, which makes me fear something
of mischief which they design to do us. He staying a great while,
the old man and I before, and about eight miles off, his son comes
after us, and about six miles further we overtake Mr. Moore and
my wife, which makes me mightily consider what a great deal
of ground is lost in a little time, when it is to be got up again by
another, that is to go his own ground and the other’s too; and
so after a little bayte (I paying all the reckonings the whole jour-
ney) at Ware, to Buntingford, where my wife, by drinking some
cold beer, being hot herself, presently after ‘lighting, begins to be
sick, and became so pale, and I alone with her in a great chamber
there, that I thought she would have died, and so in great hor-
ror, and having a great tryall of my true love and passion for her,
called the mayds and mistresse of the house, and so with some
strong water, and after a little vomit, she came to be pretty well
again; and so to bed, and I having put her to bed with great con-
tent, I called in my company, and supped in the chamber by her,
and being very merry in talk, supped and then parted, and I to
bed and lay very well. This day my cozen Thomas dropped his
hanger, and it was lost.
15th. Up pretty betimes and rode as far as Godmanehester, Mr.
Moore having two falls, once in water and another in dirt, and
there ‘light and eat and drunk, being all of us very weary, but es-
pecially my uncle and wife. Thence to Brampton to my father’s,
and there found all well, but not sensible how they ought to treat
my uncle and his son, at least till the Court be over, which vexed
me, but on my counsel they carried it fair to them; and so my fa-
ther, cozen Thomas, and I up to Hinchingbroke, where I find my
1060
SEPTEMBER 1663
Lord and his company gone to Boughton, which vexed me; but
there I find my Lady and the young ladies, and there I alone with
my Lady two hours, she carrying me through every part of the
house and gardens, which are, and will be, mighty noble indeed.
Here I saw Mrs. Betty Pickering, who is a very well-bred and
comely lady, but very fat. Thence, without so much as drinking,
home with my father and cozen, who staid for me, and to a good
supper; after I had had an hour’s talk with my father abroad in
the fields, wherein he begun to talk very highly of my promises
to him of giving him the profits of Sturtlow, as if it were noth-
ing that I give him out of my purse, and that he would have me
to give this also from myself to my brothers and sister; I mean
Brampton and all, I think: I confess I was angry to hear him talk
in that manner, and took him up roundly in it, and advised him
if he could not live upon £50 per ann., which was another part
of his discourse, that he would think to come and live at Tom’s
again, where £50 per ann. will be a good addition to Tom’s trade,
and I think that must be done when all is done. But my father
spoke nothing more of it all the time I was in the country, though
at the time he seemed to like it well enough. I also spoke with
Piggott too this evening before I went in to supper, and doubt
that I shall meet with some knots in my business to-morrow be-
fore I can do it at the Court, but I shall do my best. After supper
my uncle and his son to Stankes’s to bed, which troubles me, all
our father’s beds being lent to Hinchingbroke, and so my wife
and I to bed, she very weary.
16th. Up betimes, and with my wife to Hinchingbroke to see
my Lady, she being to go to my Lord this morning, and there
I left her, and so back to the Court, and heard Sir R. Bernard’s
charges to the Courts Baron and Leete, which took up till noon,
and were worth hearing, and after putting my business into some
way, went home to my father’s to dinner, and after dinner to the
Court, where Sir Robert and his son came again by and by, and
then to our business, and my father and I having given bond to
him for the £21 Piggott owed him, my uncle Thomas did quietly
1061
SEPTEMBER 1663
admit himself and surrender to us the lands first mortgaged for
our whole debt, and Sir Robert added to it what makes it up £209,
to be paid in six months. But when I came to give him an account
of more lands to be surrendered to us, wherein Piggott’s wife was
concerned, and she there to give her consent, Sir Robert would
not hear of it, but began to talk very high that we were very cruel,
and we had caution enough for our money, and he could not in
conscience let the woman do it, and reproached my uncle, both
he and his son, with taking use upon use for this money. To all
which I did give him such answers and spoke so well, and kept
him so to it, that all the Court was silent to hear us, and by report
since do confess they did never hear the like in the place. But he
by a wile had got our bond, and I was content to have as much as
I could though I could not get all, and so took Piggott’s surrender
of them without his wife, and by Sir Robert’s own consent did
tell the Court that if the money were not paid in the time, and the
security prove not sufficient, I would conclude myself wronged
by Sir Robert, which he granted I should do. This kept us till
night, but am heartily glad it ended so well on my uncle’s part,
he doing that and Prior’s little house very willingly. So the Court
broke up, and my father and Mr. Shepley and I to Gorrum’s to
drink, and then I left them, and to the Bull, where my uncle was
to hear what he and the people said of our business, and here
nothing but what liked me very well. So by and by home and to
supper, and with my mind in pretty good quiett, to bed.
17th. Up, and my father being gone to bed ill last night and
continuing so this morning, I was forced to come to a new con-
sideration, whether it was fit for to let my uncle and his son go
to Wisbeach about my uncle Day’s estate alone or no, and con-
cluded it unfit; and so resolved to go with them myself, leaving
my wife there, I begun a journey with them, and with much ado,
through the fens, along dikes, where sometimes we were ready
to have our horses sink to the belly, we got by night, with great
deal of stir and hard riding, to Parson’s Drove, a heathen place,
where I found my uncle and aunt Perkins, and their daughters,
1062
SEPTEMBER 1663
poor wretches! in a sad, poor thatched cottage, like a poor barn,
or stable, peeling of hemp, in which I did give myself good con-
tent to see their manner of preparing of hemp; and in a poor con-
dition of habitt took them to our miserable inn, and there, after
long stay, and hearing of Frank, their son, the miller, play, upon
his treble, as he calls it, with which he earns part of his living,
and singing of a country bawdy song, we sat down to supper; the
whole crew, and Frank’s wife and child, a sad company, of which
I was ashamed, supped with us. And after supper I, talking with
my aunt about her report concerning my uncle Day’s will and
surrender, I found her in such different reports from what she
writes and says to the people, and short of what I expected, that
I fear little will be done of good in it. By and by newes is brought
to us that one of our horses is stole out of the stable, which proves
my uncle’s, at which I am inwardly glad–I mean, that it was not
mine; and at this we were at a great loss; and they doubting a
person that lay at next door, a Londoner, some lawyer’s clerk,
we caused him to be secured in his bed, and other care to be
taken to seize the horse; and so about twelve at night or more,
to bed in a sad, cold, nasty chamber, only the mayde was indif-
ferent handsome, and so I had a kiss or two of her, and I to bed,
and a little after I was asleep they waked me to tell me that the
horse was found, which was good newes, and so to sleep till the
morning, but was bit cruelly, and nobody else of our company,
which I wonder at, by the gnatts.
18th. Up, and got our people together as soon as we could;
and after eating a dish of cold cream, which was my supper last
night too, we took leave of our beggarly company, though they
seem good people, too; and over most sad Fenns, all the way
observing the sad life which the people of the place which if they
be born there, they do call the Breedlings’ of the place, do live,
sometimes rowing from one spot to another, and then wadeing,
to Wisbeach, a pretty town, and a fine church and library, where
sundry very old abbey manuscripts; and a fine house, built on the
church ground by Secretary Thurlow, and a fine gallery built for
1063
SEPTEMBER 1663
him in the church, but now all in the Bishop of Ely’s hands. After
visiting the church, &c., we went out of the towne, by the help
of a stranger, to find out one Blinkhorne, a miller, of whom we
might inquire something of old Day’s disposal of his estate, and
in whose hands it now is; and by great chance we met him, and
brought him to our inn to dinner; and instead of being informed
in his estate by this fellow, we find that he is the next heir to
the estate, which was matter, of great sport to my cozen Thomas
and me, to see such a fellow prevent us in our hopes, he being
Day’s brother’s, daughter’s son, whereas we are but his sister’s
sons and grandsons; so that, after all, we were fain to propose
our matter to him, and to get him to give us leave to look after
the business, and so he to have one-third part, and we two to
have the other two-third parts, of what should be recovered of
the estate, which he consented to; and after some discourse and
paying the reckoning, we mounted again, and rode, being very
merry at our defeat, to Chatteris, my uncle very weary, and after
supper, and my telling of three stories, to their good liking, of
spirits, we all three in a chamber went to bed.
19th. Up pretty betimes, and after eating something, we set
out and I (being willing thereto) went by a mistake with them
to St. Ives, and there, it being known that it was their nearer
way to London, I took leave of them there, they going straight
to London and I to Brampton, where I find my father ill in bed
still, and Madam Norbery (whom and her fair daughter and sis-
ter I was ashamed to kiss, but did, my lip being sore with riding
in the wind and bit with the gnatts), lately come to town, come
to see my father and mother, and they after a little stay being
gone, I told my father my success. And after dinner my wife
and I took horse, and rode with marvellous, and the first and
only hour of, pleasure, that ever I had in this estate since I had to
do with it, to Brampton woods; and through the wood rode, and
gathered nuts in my way, and then at Graffam to an old woman’s
house to drink, where my wife used to go; and being in all cir-
cumstances highly pleased, and in my wife’s riding and good
1064
SEPTEMBER 1663
company at this time, I rode, and she showed me the river be-
hind my father’s house, which is very pleasant, and so saw her
home, and I straight to Huntingdon, and there met Mr. Shep-
ley and to the Crown (having sent home my horse by Stankes),
and there a barber came and trimmed me, and thence walked to
Hinchingbroke, where my Lord and ladies all are just alighted.
And so I in among them, and my Lord glad to see me, and the
whole company. Here I staid and supped with them, and after a
good stay talking, but yet observing my Lord not to be so might-
ily ingulphed in his pleasure in the country as I expected and
hoped, I took leave of them, and after a walk in the courtyard in
the dark with Mr. Howe, who tells me that my Lord do not enjoy
himself and please himself as he used to do, but will hasten up
to London, and that he is resolved to go to Chelsey again, which
we are heartily grieved for and studious how to prevent if it be
possible, I took horse, there being one appointed for me, and a
groom to attend me, and so home, where my wife: staid up and
sister for me, and so to bed, troubled for what I hear of my Lord.
20th (Lord’s day). Up, and finding my father somewhat better,
walked to Huntingdon church, where in my Lord’s pew, with the
young ladies, by my Lord’s own showing me the place, I stayed
the sermon, and so to Hinchingbroke, walking with Mr. Shepley
and Dr. King, whom they account a witty man here, as well as a
good physician, and there my Lord took me with the rest of the
company, and singly demanded my opinion in the walks in his
garden, about the bringing of the crooked wall on the mount to a
shape; and so to dinner, there being Collonel Williams and much
other company, and a noble dinner. But having before got my
Lord’s warrant for travelling to-day, there being a proclamation
read yesterday against it at Huntingdon, at which I am very glad,
I took leave, leaving them at dinner, and walked alone to my fa-
ther’s, and there, after a word or two to my father and mother,
my wife and I mounted, and, with my father’s boy, upon a horse
I borrowed of Captain Ferrers, we rode to Bigglesworth by the
help of a couple of countrymen, that led us through the very
1065
SEPTEMBER 1663
long and dangerous waters, because of the ditches on each side,
though it begun to be very dark, and there we had a good breast
of mutton roasted for us, and supped, and to bed.
21st. Up very betimes by break of day, and got my wife up,
whom the thought of this day’s long journey do discourage; and
after eating something, and changing of a piece of gold to pay the
reckoning, we mounted, and through Baldwicke, where a fayre
is kept to-day, and a great one for cheese and other such com-
modities, and so to Hatfield, it being most curious weather from
the time we set out to our getting home, and here we dined, and
my wife being very weary, and believing that it would be hard
to get her home to-night, and a great charge to keep her longer
abroad, I took the opportunity of an empty coach that was to go
to London, and left her to come in it to London, for half-a-crown,
and so I and the boy home as fast as we could drive, and it was
even night before we got home. So that I account it very good
fortune that we took this course, being myself very weary, much
more would my wife have been. At home found all very well and
my house in good order. To see Sir W. Pen, who is pretty well,
and Sir J. Minnes, who is a little lame on one foot, and the rest
gone to Chatham, viz.: Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Batten, who has
in my absence inveighed against my contract the other day for
Warren’s masts, in which he is a knave, and I shall find matter of
tryumph, but it vexes me a little. So home, and by and by comes
my wife by coach well home, and having got a good fowl ready
for supper against her coming, we eat heartily, and so with great
content and ease to our own bed, there nothing appearing so to
our content as to be at our own home, after being abroad awhile.
22nd. I up, well refreshed after my journey, and to my office
and there set some things in order, and then Sir W. Pen and I
met and held an office, and at noon to dinner, and so by water
with my wife to Westminster, she to see her father and mother,
and we met again at my Lord’s lodgings, and thence by water
home again, where at the door we met Sir W. Pen and his daugh-
1066
SEPTEMBER 1663
ter coming to visit us, and after their visit I to my office, and after
some discourse to my great satisfaction with Sir W. Warren about
our bargain of masts, I wrote my letters by the post, and so home
to supper and to bed. This day my wife showed me bills printed,
wherein her father, with Sir John Collidon and Sir Edward Ford,
have got a patent for curing of smoky chimneys.382 I wish they
may do good thereof, but fear it will prove but a poor project.
This day the King and Queen are to come to Oxford. I hear my
Lady Castlemaine is for certain gone to Oxford to meet him, hav-
ing lain within here at home this week or two, supposed to have
miscarried; but for certain is as great in favour as heretofore;383 at
least Mrs. Sarah at my Lord’s, who hears all from their own fam-
ily, do say so. Every day brings newes of the Turke’s advance
into Germany, to the awakeing of all the Christian Princes there-
abouts, and possessing himself of Hungary. My present care is
fitting my wife’s closett and my house, and making her a velvet
coate, and me a new black cloth suit, and coate and cloake, and
evening my reckoning as well as I can against Michaelmas Day,
hoping for all that to have my balance as great or greater than
ever I had yet.
23rd. Up betimes and to my office, where setting down my
journall while I was in the country to this day, and at noon by
water to my Lord Crew’s, and there dined with him and Sir
Thomas, thinking to have them inquire something about my
Lord’s lodgings at Chelsey, or any thing of that sort, but they did
382 The Patent numbered 138 is printed in the appendix to Wheatley’s
“Samuel Pepys and the World he lived in” (p. 241). It is drawn in favour
of John Colladon, Doctor in Physicke, and of Alexander Marchant, of St.
Michall, and describes “a way to prevent and cure the smoakeing of Chim-
neys, either by stopping the tunnell towards the top, and altering the former
course of the smoake, or by setting tunnells with checke within the chim-
neyes.” Sir Edward Ford’s name does not appear in the patent.
383 According to Collins, Henry Fitzroy, Lady Castlemaine’s second son by
Charles II., was born on September 20th, 1663. He was the first Duke of
Grafton.–B.
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SEPTEMBER 1663
not, nor seem to take the least notice of it, which is their discre-
tion, though it might be better for my Lord and them too if they
did, that so we might advise together for the best, which cannot
be while we seem ignorant one to another, and it is not fit for me
to begin the discourse. Thence walked to several places about
business and to Westminster Hall, thinking to meet Mrs. Lane,
which is my great vanity upon me at present, but I must correct
it. She was not in the way. So by water home and to my office,
whither by and by came my brother John, who is to go to Cam-
bridge to-morrow, and I did give him a most severe reprimand
for his bad account he gives me of his studies. This I did with
great passion and sharp words, which I was sorry to be forced
to say, but that I think it for his good, forswearing doing any-
thing for him, and that which I have yet, and now do give him,
is against my heart, and will also be hereafter, till I do see him
give me a better account of his studies. I was sorry to see him
give me no answer, but, for aught I see, to hear me without great
resentment, and such as I should have had: in his condition. But
I have done my duty, let him do his, for I am resolved to be as
good as my word. After two hours walking in the garden, till af-
ter it was dark, I ended with him and to my office, and there set
some papers in order, and so to supper, and my poor wife, who
is mighty busy at home; fitting her closet. So to bed.
24th. Up betimes, and after taking leave of my brother, John,
who went from me to my father’s this day, I went forth by water
to Sir Philip Warwick’s, where I was with him a pretty while;
and in discourse he tells me, and made it; appear to me, that the
King cannot be in debt to the Navy at this time £5,000; and it is
my opinion that Sir G. Carteret do owe the King money, and yet
the whole Navy debt paid. Thence I parted, being doubtful of
myself that I have not, spoke with the gravity and weight that
I ought to do in so great a business. But I rather hope it is my
doubtfulness of myself, and the haste which he was in, some very
great personages waiting for him without, while he was with me,
that made him willing to be gone. To the office by water, where
1068
SEPTEMBER 1663
we sat doing little, now Mr. Coventry is not here, but only vex
myself to see what a sort of coxcombs we are when he is not here
to undertake such a business as we do. In the afternoon telling
my wife that I go to Deptford, I went, by water to Westminster
Hall, and there finding Mrs. Lane, took her over to Lambeth,
where we were lately, and there, did what I would with her, but
only the main thing, which she; would not consent to, for which
God be praised..... But, trust in the Lord, I shall never do so again
while I live. After being tired with her company I landed her at
White; Hall, and so home and at my office writing letters till 12 at
night almost, and then home to supper and bed, and there found
my poor wife hard at work, which grieved my heart to see that I
should abuse so good a wretch, and that is just with God to make
her bad with me for my wrongin of her, but I do resolve never to
do the like again. So to bed.
25th. Lay pretty long in bed, and so to my office all the morn-
ing till by and by called out by Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten,
with them by water to Deptford, where it of a sudden did lighten,
thunder, and rain so as we could do nothing but stay in Davis’s
house, and by and by Sir J. Minnes and I home again by water,
and I home to dinner, and after dinner to the office, and there till
night all alone, even of my clerks being there, doing of business,
and so home and to bed.
26th. Up and to my office, and there we sat till noon, and then
I to the Exchange, but did little there, but meeting Mr. Rawlin-
son he would needs have me home to dinner, and Mr. Deane
of Woolwich being with me I took him with me, and there we
dined very well at his own dinner, only no invitation, but here I
sat with little pleasure, considering my wife at home alone, and
so I made what haste home I could, and was forced to sit down
again at dinner with her, being unwilling to neglect her by being
known to dine abroad. My doing so being only to keep Deane
from dining at home with me, being doubtful what I have to eat.
So to the office, and there till late at night, and so home to supper
1069
SEPTEMBER 1663
and bed, being mightily pleased to find my wife so mindful of
her house.
27th (Lord’s day). Lay chatting with my wife a good while,
then up and got me ready and to church, without my man
William, whom I have not seen to-day, nor care, but would be
glad to have him put himself far enough out of my favour that
he may not wonder to have me put him away. So home to din-
ner, being a little troubled to see Pembleton out again, but I do
not discern in my wife the least memory of him. Dined, and so
to my office a little, and then to church again, where a drowsy
sermon, and so home to spend the evening with my poor wife,
consulting about her closett, clothes, and other things. At night
to supper, though with little comfort, I finding myself both head
and breast in great pain, and what troubles me most my right ear
is almost deaf. It is a cold, which God Almighty in justice did
give me while I sat lewdly sporting with Mrs. Lane the other day
with the broken window in my neck. I went to bed with a posset,
being very melancholy in consideration of the loss of my hearing.
28th. Up, though with pain in my head, stomach, and ear,
and that deaf so as in my way by coach to White Hall with Sir
J. Minnes I called at Mr. Holliard’s, who did give me some pills,
and tells me I shall have my hearing again and be well. So to
White Hall, where Sir J. Minnes and I did spend an hour in the
Gallery, looking upon the pictures, in which he hath some judg-
ment. And by and by the Commissioners for Tangier met: and
there my Lord Teviott, together with Captain Cuttance, Captain
Evans, and Jonas Moore, sent to that purpose, did bring us a
brave draught of the Mole to be built there; and report that it is
likely to be the most considerable place the King of England hath
in the world; and so I am apt to think it will. After discourse
of this, and of supplying the garrison with some more horse, we
rose; and Sir J. Minnes and I home again, finding the street about
our house full, Sir R. Ford beginning his shrievalty to-day and,
what with his and our houses being new painted, the street be-
1070
SEPTEMBER 1663
gins to look a great deal better than it did, and more gracefull.
Home and eat one bit of meat, and then by water with him and
Sir W. Batten to a sale of old provisions at Deptford, which we
did at Captain Boddily’s house, to the value of £600 or £700, but
I am not satisfied with the method used in this thing. Then home
again by water, and after a little at my office, and visit Sir W. Pen,
who is not very well again, with his late pain, home to supper,
being hungry, and my ear and cold not so bad I think as it was.
So to bed, taking one of my pills. Newes that the King comes to
town for certain on Thursday next from his progresse.
29th. Took two pills more in the morning and they worked all
day, and I kept the house. About noon dined, and then to carry
several heavy things with my wife up and down stairs, in order
to our going to lie above, and Will to come down to the Wardrobe,
and that put me into a violent sweat, so I had a fire made, and
then, being dry again, she and I to put up some paper pictures
in the red chamber, where we go to lie very pretty, and the map
of Paris. Then in the evening, towards night, it fell to thunder,
lighten, and rain so violently that my house was all afloat, and I
in all the rain up to the gutters, and there dabbled in the rain and
wet half an hour, enough to have killed a man. That done down-
stairs to dry myself again, and by and by come Mr. Sympson to
set up my wife’s chimney-piece in her closett, which pleases me,
and so that being done, I to supper and to bed, shifting myself
from top to toe, and doubtful of my doing myself hurt.
30th. Rose very well, and my hearing pretty well again, and
so to my office, by and by Mr. Holliard come, and at my house
he searched my ear, and I hope all will be well, though I do not
yet hear so well as I used to do with my right ear. So to my office
till noon, and then home to dinner, and in the afternoon by water
to White Hall, to the Tangier Committee; where my Lord Tiviott
about his accounts; which grieves me to see that his accounts be-
ing to be examined by us, there are none of the great men at the
Board that in compliment will except against any thing in his ac-
1071
SEPTEMBER 1663
counts, and so none of the little persons dare do it: so the King is
abused. Thence home again by water with Sir W. Rider, and so to
my office, and there I sat late making up my month’s accounts,
and, blessed be God, do find myself £760 creditor, notwithstand-
ing that for clothes for myself and wife, and layings out on her
closett, I have spent this month £47. So home, where I found
our new cooke-mayde Elizabeth, whom my wife never saw at
all, nor I but once at a distance before, but recommended well by
Mr. Creed, and I hope will prove well. So to supper, prayers, and
bed. This evening Mr. Coventry is come to St. James’s, but I did
not go see him, and tomorrow the King, Queen, Duke and his
Lady, and the whole Court comes to towne from their progresse.
Myself and family well, only my father sicke in the country. All
the common talke for newes is the Turke’s advance in Hungary,
&c.
1072
OCTOBER 1663
October 1st. Up and betimes to my office, and then to sit, where
Sir G. Carteret, Sir W. Batten, Sir W. Pen, Sir J. Minnes, Mr.
Coventry and myself, a fuller board than by the King’s progresse
and the late pays and my absence has been a great while. Sat
late, and then home to dinner. After dinner I by water to Dept-
ford about a little business, and so back again, buying a couple
of good eeles by the way, and after writing by the post, home to
see the painter at work, late, in my wife’s closet, and so to supper
and to bed, having been very merry with the painter, late, while
he was doing his work. This day the King and Court returned
from their progress.
2nd. Up betimes and by water to St. James’s, and there visited
Mr. Coventry as a compliment after his new coming to town,
but had no great talk with him, he being full of business. So
back by foot through London, doing several errands, and at the
‘Change met with Mr. Cutler, and he and I to a coffee-house,
and there discoursed, and he do assure me that there is great
likelyhood of a war with Holland, but I hope we shall be in good
condition before it comes to break out. I like his company, and
will make much of his acquaintance. So home to dinner with my
wife, who is over head and eares in getting her house up, and
so to the office, and with Mr. Lewes, late, upon some of the old
1073
OCTOBER 1663
victuallers’ accounts, and so home to supper and to bed, up to
our red chamber, where we purpose always to lie. This day I
received a letter from Mr. Barlow, with a Terella,384 which I had
hoped he had sent me, but to my trouble I find it is to present
from him to my Lord Sandwich, but I will make a little use of it
first, and then give it him.
3rd. Up, being well pleased with my new lodging and the con-
venience of having our mayds and none else about us, Will lying
below. So to the office, and there we sat full of business all the
morning. At noon I home to dinner, and then abroad to buy a
bell to hang by our chamber door to call the mayds. Then to the
office, and met Mr. Blackburne, who came to know the reason of
his kinsman (my Will) his being observed by his friends of late
to droop much. I told him my great displeasure against him and
the reasons of it, to his great trouble yet satisfaction, for my care
over him, and how every thing I said was for the good of the fel-
384 Professor Silvanus P. Thompson, F.R.S., has kindly supplied me with
the following interesting note on the terrella (or terella): The name given
by Dr. William Gilbert, author of the famous treatise, “De Magnete” (Lond.
1600), to a spherical loadstone, on account of its acting as a model, mag-
netically, of the earth; compass-needles pointing to its poles, as mariners’
compasses do to the poles of the earth. The term was adopted by other writ-
ers who followed Gilbert, as the following passage from Wm. Barlowe’s
“Magneticall Advertisements” (Lond. 1616) shows: “Wherefore the round
Loadstone is significantly termed by Doct. Gilbert Terrella, that is, a little,
or rather a very little Earth: For it representeth in an exceeding small model
(as it were) the admirable properties magneticall of the huge Globe of the
earth” (op. cit, p. 55). Gilbert set great store by his invention of the terrella,
since it led him to propound the true theory of the mariners’ compass. In
his portrait of himself which he had painted for the University of Oxford
he was represented as holding in his hand a globe inscribed terella. In the
Galileo Museum in Florence there is a terrella twenty-seven inches in diam-
eter, of loadstone from Elba, constructed for Cosmo de’ Medici. A smaller
one contrived by Sir Christopher Wren was long preserved in the museum
of the Royal Society (Grew’s “Rarities belonging to the Royal Society,” p.
364). Evelyn was shown “a pretty terrella described with all ye circles and
skewing all y magnetic deviations” (Diary, July 3rd, 1655).
1074
OCTOBER 1663
low, and he will take time to examine the fellow about all, and
to desire my pleasure concerning him, which I told him was ei-
ther that he should became a better servant or that we would not
have him under my roof to be a trouble. He tells me in a few
days he will come to me again and we shall agree what to do
therein. I home and told my wife all, and am troubled to see that
my servants and others should be the greatest trouble I have in
the world, more than for myself. We then to set up our bell with
a smith very well, and then I late at the office. So home to supper
and to bed.
4th (Lord’s day). Up and to church, my house being miserably
overflooded with rayne last night, which makes me almost mad.
At home to dinner with my wife, and so to talk, and to church
again, and so home, and all the evening most pleasantly passed
the time in good discourse of our fortune and family till supper,
and so to bed, in some pain below, through cold got.
5th. Up with pain, and with Sir J. Minnes by coach to the Tem-
ple, and then I to my brother’s, and up and down on business,
and so to the New Exchange, and there met Creed, and he and
I walked two or three hours, talking of many businesses, espe-
cially about Tangier, and my Lord Tiviot’s bringing in of high
accounts, and yet if they were higher are like to pass without
exception, and then of my Lord Sandwich sending a messenger
to know whether the King intends to come to Newmarket, as is
talked, that he may be ready to entertain him at Hinchingbroke.
Thence home and dined, and my wife all day putting up her
hangings in her closett, which she do very prettily herself with
her own hand, to my great content. So I to the office till night,
about several businesses, and then went and sat an hour or two
with Sir W. Pen, talking very largely of Sir J. Minnes’s simplic-
ity and unsteadiness, and of Sir W. Batten’s suspicious dealings,
wherein I was open, and he sufficiently, so that I do not care for
his telling of tales, for he said as much, but whether that were so
or no I said nothing but what is my certain knowledge and belief
1075
OCTOBER 1663
concerning him. Thence home to bed in great pain.
6th. Slept pretty well, and my wife waked to ring the bell to
call up our mayds to the washing about 4 o’clock, and I was
and she angry that our bell did not wake them sooner, but I
will get a bigger bell. So we to sleep again till 8 o’clock, and
then I up in some ease to the office, where we had a full board,
where we examined Cocke’s second account, when Mr. Turner
had drawn a bill directly to be paid the balance thereof, as Mr.
Cocke demanded, and Sir J. Minnes did boldly assert the truth of
it, and that he had examined it, when there is no such thing, but
many vouchers, upon examination, missing, and we saw reason
to strike off several of his demands, and to bring down his 5 per
cent. commission to 3 per cent. So we shall save the King some
money, which both the Comptroller and his clerke had absolutely
given away. There was also two occasions more of difference
at the table; the one being to make out a bill to Captain Smith
for his salary abroad as commander-in-chief in the Streights. Sir
J. Minnes did demand an increase of salary for his being Vice-
Admiral in the Downes, he having received but 40s. without an
increase, when Sir J. Lawson, in the same voyage, had £3, and
others have also had increase, only he, because he was an officer
of the board, was worse used than any body else, and particu-
larly told Sir W. Batten that he was the opposer formerly of his
having an increase, which I did wonder to hear him so boldly
lay it to him. So we hushed up the dispute, and offered, if he
would, to examine precedents, and report them, if there was any
thing to his advantage to be found, to the Duke. The next was,
Mr. Chr. Pett and Deane were summoned to give an account of
some knees385 which Pett reported bad, that were to be served
in by Sir W. Warren, we having contracted that none should be
385 “Naturally grown timber or bars of iron bent to a right angle or to fit the
surfaces and to secure bodies firmly together as hanging knees secure the
deck beams to the sides.”–Smyth’s Sailor’s Word- Book. There are several
kinds of knees.
1076
OCTOBER 1663
served but such as were to be approved of by our officers. So
that if they were bad they were to be blamed for receiving them.
Thence we fell to talk of Warren’s other goods, which Pett had
said were generally bad, and falling to this contract again, I did
say it was the most cautious and as good a contract as had been
made here, and the only [one] that had been in such terms. Sir
J. Minnes told me angrily that Winter’s timber, bought for 33s.
per load, was as good and in the same terms. I told him that
it was not so, but that he and Sir W. Batten were both abused,
and I would prove it was as dear a bargain as had been made
this half year, which occasioned high words between them and
me, but I am able to prove it and will. That also was so ended,
and so to other business. At noon Lewellin coming to me I took
him and Deane, and there met my uncle Thomas, and we dined
together, but was vexed that, it being washing-day, we had no
meat dressed, but sent to the Cook’s, and my people had so lit-
tle witt to send in our meat from abroad in that Cook’s dishes,
which were marked with the name of the Cook upon them, by
which, if they observed anything, they might know it was not
my own dinner. After dinner we broke up, and I by coach, set-
ting down Luellin in Cheapside. So to White Hall, where at the
Committee of Tangier, but, Lord! how I was troubled to see my
Lord Tiviott’s accounts of £10,000 paid in that manner, and wish
1000 times I had not been there. Thence rose with Sir G. Carteret
and to his lodgings, and there discoursed of our frays at the table
to-day, and particularly of that of the contract, and the contract
of masts the other day, declaring my fair dealing, and so needing
not any man’s good report of it, or word for it, and that I would
make it so appear to him, if he desired it, which he did, and I will
do it. Thence home by water in great pain, and at my office a
while, and thence a little to Sir W. Pen, and so home to bed, and
finding myself beginning to be troubled with wind as I used to
be, and in pain in making water, I took a couple of pills that I had
by me of Mr. Hollyard’s.
7th. They wrought in the morning, and I did keep my bed,
1077
OCTOBER 1663
and my pain continued on me mightily that I kept within all day
in great pain, and could break no wind nor have any stool after
my physic had done working. So in the evening I took coach
and to Mr. Holliard’s, but he was not at home, and so home
again, and whether the coach did me good or no I know not....
So to bed and lay in good ease all night, and.... pretty well to
the morning.....386 8th. So, keeping myself warm, to the office,
and at noon home to dinner, my pain coming again by breaking
no wind nor having any stool. So to Mr. Holliard, and by his
direction, he assuring me that it is nothing of the stone, but only
my constitution being costive, and that, and cold from without,
breeding and keeping the wind, I took some powder that he did
give me in white wine, and sat late up, till past eleven at night,
with my wife in my chamber till it had done working, which
was so weakly that I could hardly tell whether it did work or
no. My mayds being at this time in great dirt towards getting of
all my house clean, and weary and having a great deal of work
to do therein to-morrow and next day, were gone to bed before
my wife and I, who also do lie in our room more like beasts than
Christians, but that is only in order to having of the house shortly
in a cleaner, or rather very clean condition. Some ease I had so
long as this did keep my body loose, and I slept well.
9th. And did keep my bed most of this morning, my body I
find being still bound and little wind, and so my pain returned
again, though not so bad, but keeping my body with warm
clothes very hot I made shift to endure it, and at noon sent word
to Mr. Hollyard of my condition, that I could neither have a nat-
ural stool nor break wind, and by that means still in pain and fre-
quent offering to make water. So he sent me two bottles of drink
386 Pepys’s prescription for the colic: “Balsom of Sulphur, 3 or 4 drops in a
spoonfull of Syrrup of Colts foote, not eating or drinking two hours before
or after. “The making of this Balsom: ”2/3ds of fine Oyle, and 1/3d of fine
Brimstone, sett 13 or 14 houres upon yt fire, simpring till a thicke Stufte
lyes at ye Bottome, and ye Balsom at ye topp. Take this off &c. “Sir Rob.
Parkhurst for ye Collique.”–M. B.
1078
OCTOBER 1663
and some syrup, one bottle to take now and the other to-morrow
morning. So in the evening, after Commissioner Pett, who came
to visit me, and was going to Chatham, but methinks do talk
to me in quite another manner, doubtfully and shyly, and like a
stranger, to what he did heretofore. After I saw he was gone I did
drink one of them, but it was a most loathsome draught, and did
keep myself warm after it, and had that afternoon still a stool or
two, but in no plenty, nor any wind almost carried away, and so
to bed. In no great pain, but do not think myself likely to be well
till I have a freedom of stool and wind. Most of this day and af-
ternoon my wife and I did spend together in setting things now
up and in order in her closet, which indeed is, and will be, when
I can get her some more things to put in it, a very pleasant place,
and is at present very pretty, and such as she, I hope, will find
great content in. So to bed.
10th. Up, and not in any good ease yet, but had pain in making
water, and some course. I see I must take besides keeping myself
warm to make myself break wind and go freely to stool before I
can be well, neither of which I can do yet, though I have drank the
other bottle of Mr. Hollyard’s against my stomach this morning.
I did, however, make shift to go to the office, where we sat, and
there Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten did advise me to take some
juniper water, and Sir W. Batten sent to his Lady for some for me,
strong water made of juniper. Whether that or anything else of
my draught this morning did it I cannot tell, but I had a couple
of stools forced after it.... but whether I shall grow better upon it
I cannot tell. Dined at home at noon, my wife and house in the
dirtiest pickle that ever she and it was in almost, but in order, I
hope, this night to be very clean. To the office all the afternoon
upon victualling business, and late at it, so after I wrote by the
post to my father, I home. This evening Mr. Hollyard sends me
an electuary to take (a walnut quantity of it) going to bed, which
I did. ‘Tis true I slept well, and rose in a little ease in the morning.
11th (Lord’s day). And was mightily pleased to see my house
1079
OCTOBER 1663
clean and in good condition, but something coming into my
wife’s head, and mine, to be done more about bringing the green
bed into our chamber, which is handsomer than the red one,
though not of the colour of our hangings, my wife forebore to
make herself clean to-day, but continued in a sluttish condition
till to-morrow. I after the old passe, all the day within doors,....
the effect of my electuary last night, and the greatest of my pain
I find to come by my straining.... For all this I eat with a very
good stomach, and as much as I use to do, and so I did this noon,
and staid at home discoursing and doing things in my cham-
ber, altering chairs in my chamber, and set them above in the
red room, they being Turkey work, and so put their green covers
upon those that were above, not so handsome. At night fell to
reading in the Church History of Fuller’s, and particularly Cran-
mer’s letter to Queen Elizabeth, which pleases me mightily for
his zeal, obedience, and boldness in a cause of religion. After
supper to bed as I use to be, in pain.....
12th. Up (though slept well) and made some water in the
morning [as] I used to do, and a little pain returned to me, and
some fears, but being forced to go to the Duke at St. James’s, I
took coach and in my way called upon Mr. Hollyard and had
his advice to take a glyster. At St. James’s we attended the Duke
all of us. And there, after my discourse, Mr. Coventry of his
own accord begun to tell the Duke how he found that discourse
abroad did run to his prejudice about the fees that he took, and
how he sold places and other things; wherein he desired to ap-
peal to his Highness, whether he did any thing more than what
his predecessors did, and appealed to us all. So Sir G. Carteret
did answer that some fees were heretofore taken, but what he
knows not; only that selling of places never was nor ought to be
countenanced. So Mr. Coventry very hotly answered to Sir G.
Carteret, and appealed to himself whether he was not one of the
first that put him upon looking after this taking of fees, and that
he told him that Mr. Smith should say that he made £5000 the
first year, and he believed he made £7000. This Sir G. Carteret de-
1080
OCTOBER 1663
nied, and said, that if he did say so he told a lie, for he could not,
nor did know, that ever he did make that profit of his place; but
that he believes he might say £2500 the first year. Mr. Coventry
instanced in another thing, particularly wherein Sir G. Carteret
did advise with him about the selling of the Auditor’s place of
the stores, when in the beginning there was an intention of cre-
ating such an office. This he confessed, but with some lessening
of the tale Mr. Coventry told, it being only for a respect to my
Lord Fitz-Harding. In fine, Mr. Coventry did put into the Duke’s
hand a list of above 250 places that he did give without receiv-
ing one farthing, so much as his ordinary fees for them, upon his
life and oath; and that since the Duke’s establishment of fees he
had never received one token more of any man; and that in his
whole life he never conditioned or discoursed of any considera-
tion from any commanders since he came to the Navy. And after-
wards, my Lord Barkeley merrily discoursing that he wished his
profit greater than it was, and that he did believe that he had got
£50,000 since he came in, Mr. Coventry did openly declare that
his Lordship, or any of us, should have not only all he had got,
but all that he had in the world (and yet he did not come a beg-
gar into the Navy, nor would yet be thought to speak in any con-
tempt of his Royall Highness’s bounty), and should have a year
to consider of it too, for £25,000. The Duke’s answer was, that he
wished we all had made more profit than he had of our places,
and that we had all of us got as much as one man below stayres
in the Court, which he presently named, and it was Sir George
Lane! This being ended, and the list left in the Duke’s hand, we
parted, and I with Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, and Sir W. Batten
by coach to the Exchange, and there a while, and so home, and
whether it be the jogging, or by having my mind more employed
(which I believe is a great matter) I know not, but.... I begin to be
suddenly well, at least better than I was. So home and to dinner,
and thence by coach to the Old Exchange, and there cheapened
some laces for my wife, and then to Mr.—–the great laceman in
Cheapside, and bought one cost me £4. more by 20s. than I in-
1081
OCTOBER 1663
tended, but when I came to see them I was resolved to buy one
worth wearing with credit, and so to the New Exchange, and
there put it to making, and so to my Lord’s lodgings and left my
wife, and so I to the Committee of Tangier, and then late home
with my wife again by coach, beginning to be very well, and yet
when I came home.... the little straining which I thought was no
strain at all at the present did by and by bring me some pain for a
good while. Anon, about 8 o’clock, my wife did give me a clyster
which Mr. Hollyard directed, viz., a pint of strong ale, 4 oz. of
sugar, and 2 oz. of butter. It lay while I lay upon the bed above
an hour, if not two, and then thinking it quite lost I rose, and by
and by it began with my walking to work, and gave me three or
four most excellent stools and carried away wind, put me in ex-
cellent ease, and taking my usual walnut quantity of electuary at
my going into bed I had about two stools in the night.....
13th. And so rose in the morning in perfect good ease.... con-
tinued all the morning well, and in the afternoon had a natural
easily and dry stoole, the first I have had these five days or six,
for which God be praised, and so am likely to continue well, ob-
serving for the time to come when any of this pain comes again
(1) To begin to keep myself as warm as I can.
(2) Strain as little as ever I can backwards, remembering that
my pain will come by and by, though in the very straining I do
not feel it.
(3) Either by physic forward or by clyster backward or both
ways to get an easy and plentiful going to stool and breaking of
wind.
(4) To begin to suspect my health immediately when I begin to
become costive and bound, and by all means to keep my body
loose, and that to obtain presently after I find myself going the
contrary.
This morning at the office, and at noon with Creed to the Ex-
change, where much business, but, Lord! how my heart, though
1082
OCTOBER 1663
I know not reason for it, began to doubt myself, after I saw Stint,
Field’s one-eyed solicitor, though I know not any thing that they
are doing, or that they endeavour any thing further against us
in the business till the terme. Home, and Creed with me to din-
ner, and after dinner John Cole, my old friend, came to see and
speak with me about a friend. I find him ingenious, but more
and more discern his city pedantry; but however, I will endeav-
our to have his company now and then, for that he knows much
of the temper of the City, and is able to acquaint therein as much
as most young men, being of large acquaintance, and himself, I
think, somewhat unsatisfied with the present state of things at
Court and in the Church. Then to the office, and there busy till
late, and so home to my wife, with some ease and pleasure that
I hope to be able to follow my business again, which by God’s
leave I am resolved to return to with more and more eagerness.
I find at Court, that either the King is doubtfull of some distur-
bance, or else would seem so (and I have reason to hope it is no
worse), by his commanding all commanders of castles, &c., to
repair to their charges; and mustering the Guards the other day
himself, where he found reason to dislike their condition to my
Lord Gerard, finding so many absent men, or dead pays.387 My
Lady Castlemaine, I hear, is in as great favour as ever, and the
King supped with her the very first night he came from Bath:
and last night and the night before supped with her; when there
being a chine of beef to roast, and the tide rising into their kitchen
that it could not be roasted there, and the cook telling her of it,
she answered, “Zounds! she must set the house on fire but it
should be roasted!” So it was carried to Mrs. Sarah’s husband’s,
and there it was roasted. So home to supper and to bed, being
mightily pleased with all my house and my red chamber, where
my wife and I intend constantly to lie, and the having of our
dressing room and mayds close by us without any interfering or
387 This is probably an allusion to the practice of not reporting the deaths
of soldiers, that the officers might continue to draw their pay.–B.
1083
OCTOBER 1663
trouble.
14th. Up and to my office, where all the morning, and part of it
Sir J. Minnes spent, as he do every thing else, like a fool, reading
the Anatomy of the body to me, but so sillily as to the making
of me understand any thing that I was weary of him, and so I
toward the ‘Change and met with Mr. Grant, and he and I to the
Coffee-house, where I understand by him that Sir W. Petty and
his vessel are coming, and the King intends to go to Portsmouth
to meet it. Thence home and after dinner my wife and I, by Mr.
Rawlinson’s conduct, to the Jewish Synagogue: where the men
and boys in their vayles, and the women behind a lattice out of
sight; and some things stand up, which I believe is their Law,
in a press to which all coming in do bow; and at the putting on
their vayles do say something, to which others that hear him do
cry Amen, and the party do kiss his vayle. Their service all in a
singing way, and in Hebrew. And anon their Laws that they take
out of the press are carried by several men, four or five several
burthens in all, and they do relieve one another; and whether it
is that every one desires to have the carrying of it, I cannot tell,
thus they carried it round about the room while such a service is
singing. And in the end they had a prayer for the King, which
they pronounced his name in Portugall; but the prayer, like the
rest, in Hebrew. But, Lord! to see the disorder, laughing, sport-
ing, and no attention, but confusion in all their service, more like
brutes than people knowing the true God, would make a man
forswear ever seeing them more and indeed I never did see so
much, or could have imagined there had been any religion in the
whole world so absurdly performed as this. Away thence with
my mind strongly disturbed with them, by coach and set down
my wife in Westminster Hall, and I to White Hall, and there the
Tangier Committee met, but the Duke and the Africa Commit-
tee meeting in our room, Sir G. Carteret; Sir W. Compton, Mr.
Coventry, Sir W. Rider, Cuttance and myself met in another room,
with chairs set in form but no table, and there we had very fine
discourses of the business of the fitness to keep Sally, and also of
1084
OCTOBER 1663
the terms of our King’s paying the Portugees that deserted their
house at Tangier, which did much please me, and so to fetch my
wife, and so to the New Exchange about her things, and called
at Thomas Pepys the turner’s and bought something there, an so
home to supper and to bed, after I had been a good while with
Sir W. Pen, railing and speaking freely our minds against Sir W.
Batten and Sir J. Minnes, but no more than the folly of one and
the knavery of the other do deserve.
15th. Up, I bless God being now in pretty good condition, but
cannot come to make natural stools yet..... So up and to the office,
where we sat all the morning, and at noon dined at home, my
head full of business, and after stepping abroad to buy a thing
or two, compasses and snuffers for my wife, I returned to my
office and there mighty busy till it was late, and so home well
contented with the business that I had done this afternoon, and
so to supper and to bed.
16th. Up and to my office, where all the morning doing busi-
ness, and at noon home to dinner, and then up to remove my
chest and clothes up stairs to my new wardrobe, that I may have
all my things above where I lie, and so by coach abroad with my
wife, leaving her at my Lord’s till I went to the Tangier Commit-
tee, where very good discourse concerning the Articles of peace
to be continued with Guyland, and thence took up my wife, and
with her to her tailor’s, and then to the Exchange and to several
places, and so home and to my office, where doing some busi-
ness, and then home to supper and to bed.
17th. Up and to my office, and there we sat a very full board
all the morning upon some accounts of Mr. Gauden’s. Here hap-
pened something concerning my Will which Sir W. Batten would
fain charge upon him, and I heard him mutter something against
him of complaint for his often receiving people’s money to Sir G.
Carteret, which displeased me much, but I will be even with him.
Thence to the Dolphin Tavern, and there Mr. Gauden did give us
a great dinner. Here we had some discourse of the Queen’s be-
1085
OCTOBER 1663
ing very sick, if not dead, the Duke and Duchess of York being
sent for betimes this morning to come to White Hall to her. So to
my office and there late doing business, and so home to supper,
my house being got mighty clean to my great content from top
to toe, and so to bed, myself beginning to be in good condition of
health also, but only my laying out so much money upon clothes
for myself and wife and her closet troubles me.
18th (Lord’s day). Up, and troubled at a distaste my wife took
at a small thing that Jane did, and to see that she should be so
vexed that I took part with Jane, wherein I had reason; but by
and by well again, and so my wife in her best gown and new
poynt that I bought her the other day, to church with me, where
she has not been these many weeks, and her mayde Jane with
her. I was troubled to see Pembleton there, but I thought it pru-
dence to take notice myself first of it and show my wife him, and
so by little and little considering that it mattered not much his be-
ing there I grew less concerned and so mattered it not much, and
the less when, anon, my wife showed me his wife, a pretty little
woman, and well dressed, with a good jewel at her breast. The
parson, Mr. Mills, I perceive, did not know whether to pray for
the Queen or no, and so said nothing about her; which makes me
fear she is dead. But enquiring of Sir J. Minnes, he told me that
he heard she was better last night. So home to dinner, and Tom
came and dined with me, and so, anon, to church again, and there
a simple coxcomb preached worse than the Scot, and no Pemble-
ton nor his wife there, which pleased me not a little, and then
home and spent most of the evening at Sir W. Pen’s in complai-
sance, seeing him though he deserves no respect from me. This
evening came my uncle Wight to speak with me about my uncle
Thomas’s business, and Mr. Moore came, 4 or 5 days out of the
country and not come to see me before, though I desired by two
or three messengers that he would come to me as soon as he came
to town. Which do trouble me to think he should so soon forget
my kindness to him, which I am afraid he do. After walking a
good while in the garden with these, I went up again to Sir W.
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OCTOBER 1663
Pen, and took my wife home, and after supper to prayers, and
read very seriously my vowes, which I am fearful of forgetting
by my late great expenses, but I hope in God I do not, and so to
bed.
19th. Waked with a very high wind, and said to my wife, “I
pray God I hear not of the death of any great person, this wind is
so high!” fearing that the Queen might be dead. So up; and going
by coach with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes to St. James’s, they
tell me that Sir W. Compton, who it is true had been a little sickly
for a week or fortnight, but was very well upon Friday at night
last at the Tangier Committee with us, was dead–died yesterday:
at which I was most exceedingly surprised, he being, and so all
the world saying that he was, one of the worthyest men and best
officers of State now in England; and so in my conscience he was:
of the best temper, valour, abilities of mind, integrity, birth, fine
person, and diligence of any one man he hath left behind him in
the three kingdoms; and yet not forty years old, or if so, that is
all.388 I find the sober men of the Court troubled for him; and yet
not so as to hinder or lessen their mirth, talking, laughing, and
eating, drinking, and doing every thing else, just as if there was
no such thing, which is as good an instance for me hereafter to
judge of death, both as to the unavoidableness, suddenness, and
little effect of it upon the spirits of others, let a man be never so
high, or rich, or good; but that all die alike, no more matter be-
ing made of the death of one than another, and that even to die
well, the praise of it is not considerable in the world, compared
to the many in the world that know not nor make anything of
it, nor perhaps to them (unless to one that like this poor gentle-
man, who is one of a thousand, there nobody speaking ill of him)
388 Sir William Compton (1625-1663) was knighted at Oxford, December
12th, 1643. He was called by Cromwell “the sober young man and the godly
cavalier.” After the Restoration he was M.P. for Cambridge (1661), and ap-
pointed Master of the Ordnance. He died in Drury Lane, suddenly, as stated
in the text, and was buried at Compton Wynyates, Warwickshire.
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OCTOBER 1663
that will speak ill of a man. Coming to St. James’s, I hear that
the Queen did sleep five hours pretty well to-night, and that she
waked and gargled her mouth, and to sleep again; but that her
pulse beats fast, beating twenty to the King’s or my Lady Suf-
folk’s eleven; but not so strong as it was. It seems she was so ill
as to be shaved and pidgeons put to her feet, and to have the ex-
treme unction given her by the priests, who were so long about
it that the doctors were angry. The King, they all say; is most
fondly disconsolate for her, and weeps by her, which makes her
weep;389 which one this day told me he reckons a good sign, for
that it carries away some rheume from the head. This morning
Captain Allen tells me how the famous Ned Mullins, by a slight
fall, broke his leg at the ancle, which festered; and he had his
leg cut off on Saturday, but so ill done, notwithstanding all the
great chyrurgeons about the town at the doing of it, that they
fear he will not live with it, which is very strange, besides the
torment he was put to with it. After being a little with the Duke,
and being invited to dinner to my Lord Barkeley’s, and so, not
knowing how to spend our time till noon, Sir W. Batten and I
took coach, and to the Coffee-house in Cornhill;390 where much
389 “The queen was given over by her physicians,..., and the good nature
of the king was much affected with the situation in which he saw! a princess
whom, though he did not love her, yet he greatly esteemed. She loved him
tenderly, and thinking that it was the last time she should ever speak to him,
she told him ‘That the concern he showed for her death was enough to make
her quit life with regret; but that not possessing charms sufficient to merit
his tenderness, she had at least the consolation in dying to give place to a
consort who might be more worthy, of it and to whom heaven, perhaps,
might grant a blessing that had been refused to her.’ At these words she
bathed his hands with some tears which he thought would be her last; he
mingled his own with hers, and without supposing she would take him at
his word, he conjured her to live for his sake.”–Grammont Memoirs, chap.
vii.
390 This may be the Coffee House in Exchange Alley, which had for a sign,
Morat the Great, or The Great Turk, where coffee was sold in berry, in pow-
der, and pounded in a mortar. There is a token of the house, see “Boyne’s
1088
OCTOBER 1663
talk about the Turk’s proceedings, and that the plague is got to
Amsterdam, brought by a ship from Argier; and it is also carried
to Hambrough. The Duke says the King purposes to forbid any
of their ships coming into the river. The Duke also told us of
several Christian commanders (French) gone over to the Turks to
serve them; and upon inquiry I find that the King of France do
by this aspire to the Empire, and so to get the Crown of Spayne
also upon the death of the King, which is very probable, it seems.
Back to St. James’s, and there dined with my Lord Barkeley and
his lady, where Sir G. Carteret, Sir W. Batten, and myself, with
two gentlemen more; my Lady, and one of the ladies of honour to
the Duchesse (no handsome woman, but a most excellent hand).
A fine French dinner, and so we after dinner broke up and to
Creed’s new lodgings in Axe-yard, which I like very well and so
with him to White Hall and walked up and down in the galleries
with good discourse, and anon Mr. Coventry and Povy, sad for
the loss of one of our number we sat down as a Committee for
Tangier and did some business and so broke up, and I down with
Mr. Coventry and in his chamber discoursing of business of the
office and Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten’s carriage, when he
most ingeniously tells me how they have carried themselves to
him in forbearing to speak the other day to the Duke what they
know they have so largely at other times said to him, and I told
him what I am put to about the bargain for masts. I perceive he
thinks of it all and will remember it. Thence took up my wife
at Mrs. Harper’s where she and Jane were, and so called at the
New Exchange for some things for her, and then at Tom’s went
up and saw his house now it is finished, and indeed it is very
handsome, but he not within and so home and to my office; and
then to supper and to bed.
20th. Up and to the office, where we sat; and at noon Sir G.
Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, and I to dinner to my Lord Mayor’s, be-
ing invited, where was the Farmers of the Customes, my Lord
Tokens,” ed. Williamson, vol. i., p. 592.
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Chancellor’s three sons, and other great and much company, and
a very great noble dinner, as this Mayor–[Sir John Robinson.]–is
good for nothing else. No extraordinary discourse of any thing,
every man being intent upon his dinner, and myself willing to
have drunk some wine to have warmed my belly, but I did for
my oath’s sake willingly refrain it, but am so well pleased and
satisfied afterwards thereby, for it do keep me always in so good
a frame of mind that I hope I shall not ever leave this practice.
Thence home, and took my wife by coach to White Hall, and she
set down at my Lord’s lodgings, I to a Committee of Tangier, and
thence with her homeward, calling at several places by the way.
Among others at Paul’s Churchyard, and while I was in Kirton’s
shop, a fellow came to offer kindness or force to my wife in the
coach, but she refusing, he went away, after the coachman had
struck him, and he the coachman. So I being called, went thither,
and the fellow coming out again of a shop, I did give him a good
cuff or two on the chops, and seeing him not oppose me, I did
give him another; at last found him drunk, of which I was glad,
and so left him, and home, and so to my office awhile, and so
home to supper and to bed. This evening, at my Lord’s lodg-
ings, Mrs. Sarah talking with my wife and I how the Queen do,
and how the King tends her being so ill. She tells us that the
Queen’s sickness is the spotted fever; that she was as full of the
spots as a leopard which is very strange that it should be no more
known; but perhaps it is not so. And that the King do seem to
take it much to heart, for that he hath wept before her; but, for
all that; that he hath not missed one night since she was sick, of
supping with my Lady Castlemaine; which I believe is true, for
she [Sarah] says that her husband hath dressed the suppers every
night; and I confess I saw him myself coming through the street
dressing of a great supper to-night, which Sarah says is also for
the King and her; which is a very strange thing.
21st. Up, and by and by comes my brother Tom to me, though
late (which do vex me to the blood that I could never get him to
come time enough to me, though I have spoke a hundred times;
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OCTOBER 1663
but he is very sluggish, and too negligent ever to do well at his
trade I doubt), and having lately considered with my wife very
much of the inconvenience of my going in no better plight, we
did resolve of putting me into a better garb, and, among other
things, to have a good velvet cloake; that is, of cloth lined with
velvet and other things modish, and a perruque, and so I sent
him and her out to buy me velvet, and I to the Exchange, and
so to Trinity House, and there dined with Sir W. Batten, having
some business to speak with him, and Sir W. Rider. Thence, hav-
ing my belly full, away on foot to my brother’s, all along Thames
Streete, and my belly being full of small beer, I did all alone, for
health’s sake, drink half a pint of Rhenish wine at the Still-yard,
mixed with beer. From my brother’s with my wife to the Ex-
change, to buy things for her and myself, I being in a humour of
laying out money, but not prodigally, but only in clothes, which
I every day see that I suffer for want of, I so home, and after a
little at my office, home to supper and to bed. Memorandum:
This morning one Mr. Commander, a scrivener, came to me from
Mr. Moore with a deed of which. Mr. Moore had told me, that
my Lord had made use of my name, and that I was desired by my
Lord to sign it. Remembering this very well, though understand-
ing little of the particulars, I read it over, and found it concern
Sir Robt. Bernard and Duckinford, their interest in the manor of
Brampton. So I did sign it, declaring to Mr. Commander that I am
only concerned in having my name at my Lord Sandwich’s desire
used therein, and so I sealed it up after I had signed and sealed
the deed, and desired him to give it so sealed to Mr. Moore. I did
also call at the Wardrobe this afternoon to have told Mr. Moore
of it, but he was not within, but knowing Mr. Commander to
have the esteem of a good and honest man with my Lord Crew, I
did not doubt to intrust him with the deed after I had signed it.
This evening after I came home I begun to enter my wife in arith-
metique, in order to her studying of the globes, and she takes it
very well, and, I hope, with great pleasure, I shall bring her to
understand many fine things.
1091
OCTOBER 1663
22nd. Up to the office, where we sat till noon and then I home
to dinner, and after dinner with my wife to her study and there
read some more arithmetique, which she takes with great ease
and pleasure. This morning, hearing that the Queen grows worse
again, I sent to stop the making of my velvet cloake, till I see
whether she lives or dies. So a little abroad about several busi-
nesses, and then home and to my office till night, and then home
to supper, teach my wife, and so to bed.
23rd. Up, and this morning comes Mr. Clerke, and tells me that
the Injunction against Trice is dismissed again, which troubles
me much. So I am to look after it in the afternoon. There comes
also by appointment my uncle Thomas, to receive the first pay-
ment of his daughter’s money. But showing of me the original
of the deed by which his daughter gives her right to her legacy
to him, and the copy of it attested by the Scrivener, for me to
keep by me, I did find some difference, and thereupon did look
more into it, and at last did find the whole thing a forgery; yet he
maintained it again and again, upon oath, that it had been signed
and sealed by my cozen Mary ever since before her marriage. So
I told him to his teeth he did like a knave, and so he did, and
went with him to the Scrivener at Bedlam, and there found how
it came to pass, viz., that he had lost, or pretends to have lost,
the true original, and that so he was forced to take this course;
but a knave, at least a man that values not what he swears to, I
perceive he is. But however I am now better able to see myself
fully secured before I part with the money, for I find that his son
Charles has right to this legacy till the first £100 of his daughter’s
portion be paid, he being bond for it. So I put him upon getting
both his sons to be bound for my security, and so left him and so
home, and then abroad to my brother’s, but found him abroad at
the young couple that was married yesterday, and he one of the
Br[ide’s] men, a kinswoman (Brumfield) of the Joyces married
to an upholster. Thence walked to the King’s Head at Charing
Cross and there dined, and hear that the Queen slept pretty well
last night, but her fever continues upon her still. It seems she
1092
OCTOBER 1663
hath never a Portuguese doctor here. Thence by appointment to
the Six Clerks’ office to meet Mr. Clerke, which I did and there
waited all the afternoon for Wilkinson my attorney, but he came
not, and so vexed and weary we parted, and I endeavoured but
in vain to have found Dr. Williams, of whom I shall have use
in Trice’s business, but I could not find him. So weary walked
home; in my way bought a large kitchen knife and half dozen
oyster knives. Thence to Mr. Holliard, who tells me that Mullins
is dead of his leg cut off the other day, but most basely done. He
tells me that there is no doubt but that all my slyme do come
away in my water, and therefore no fear of the stone; but that my
water being so slymy is a good sign. He would have me now and
then to take a clyster, the same I did the other day, though I feel
no pain, only to keep me loose, and instead of butter, which he
would have to be salt butter, he would have me sometimes use
two or three ounces of honey, at other times two or three ounces
of Linseed oil. Thence to Mr. Rawlinson’s and saw some of my
new bottles made, with my crest upon them, filled with wine,
about five or six dozen. So home and to my office a little, and
thence home to prepare myself against T. Trice, and also to draw
a bond fit for my uncle and his sons to enter into before I pay
them the money. That done to bed.
24th. Up and to my office, where busy all the morning about
Mr. Gauden’s account, and at noon to dinner with him at the
Dolphin, where mighty merry by pleasant stories of Mr. Coven-
try’s and Sir J. Minnes’s, which I have put down some of in my
book of tales. Just as I was going out my uncle Thomas came
to the with a draught of a bond for him and his sons to sign to
me about the payment of the £20 legacy, which I agreed to, but
he would fain have had from me the copy of the deed, which
he had forged and did bring me yesterday, but I would not give
him it. Says [he] I perceive then you will keep it to defame me
with, and desired me not to speak of it, for he did it innocently.
Now I confess I do not find any great hurt in the thing, but only
to keep from me a sight of the true original deed, wherein per-
1093
OCTOBER 1663
haps there was something else that may touch this business of
the legacy which he would keep from me, or it may be, it is re-
ally lost as he says it is. But then he need not have used such
a slight, but confess it without danger. Thence by coach with
Mr. Coventry to the Temple, and thence I to the Six Clerks’ of-
fice, and discoursed with my Attorney and Solicitor, and he and
I to Mr. Turner, who puts me in great fear that I shall not get
retayned again against Tom Trice; which troubles me. Thence, it
being night, homewards, and called at Wotton’s and tried some
shoes, but he had none to fit me. He tells me that by the Duke of
York’s persuasion Harris is come again to Sir W. Davenant upon
his terms that he demanded, which will make him very high and
proud. Thence to another shop, and there bought me a pair of
shoes, and so walked home and to my office, and dispatch letters
by the post, and so home to supper and to bed, where to my trou-
ble I find my wife begin to talk of her being alone all day, which is
nothing but her lack of something to do, for while she was busy
she never, or seldom, complained..... The Queen is in a good way
of recovery; and Sir Francis Pridgeon hath got great honour by it,
it being all imputed to his cordiall, which in her dispaire did give
her rest and brought her to some hopes of recovery. It seems that,
after the much talk of troubles and a plot, something is found in
the North that a party was to rise, and some persons that were
to command it are found, as I find in a letter that Mr. Coventry
read to-day about it from those parts.391 25th (Lord’s day). Up,
and my wife and I to church, where it is strange to see how the
use and seeing Pembleton come with his wife thither to church, I
begin now to make too great matter of it, which before was so ter-
rible to me. Dined at home, my wife and I alone, a good dinner,
391 This refers to a rising in the West Riding of Yorkshire, which took place
on October 12th, and was known as the Farneley Wood Plot. The rising was
easily put down, and several prisoners were taken. A special commission
of oyer and terminer was sent down to York to try the prisoners in January,
1663-64, when twenty-one were convicted and executed. (See Whitaker’s
“Loidis and Elmete,” 1816.)
1094
OCTOBER 1663
and so in the afternoon to church again, where the Scot preached,
and I slept most of the afternoon. So home, and my wife and I
together all the evening discoursing, and then after reading my
vowes to myself, and my wife with her mayds (who are mighty
busy to get it dispatched because of their mistress’s promise, that
when it is done they shall have leave all to go see their friends
at Westminster, whither my wife will carry them) preparing for
their washing to-morrow, we hastened to supper and to bed.
26th. Waked about one o’clock in the morning.... My wife be-
ing waked rung her bell, and the mayds rose and went to wash-
ing, we to sleep again till 7 o’clock, and then up, and I abroad
to look out Dr. Williams, but being gone out I went to Westmin-
ster, and there seeing my Lord Sandwich’s footman knew he was
come to town, and so I went in and saw him, and received a kind
salute from him, but hear that my father is very ill still. Thence
to Westminster Hall with Creed, and spent the morning walk-
ing there, where, it being Terme time, I met several persons, and
talked with them, among others Dr. Pierce, who tells me that the
Queen is in a way to be pretty well again, but that her delirium
in her head continues still; that she talks idle, not by fits, but al-
ways, which in some lasts a week after so high a fever, in some
more, and in some for ever; that this morning she talked might-
ily that she was brought to bed, and that she wondered that she
should be delivered without pain and without spueing or being
sicke, and that she was troubled that her boy was but an ugly boy.
But the King being by, said, “No, it is a very pretty boy.”–“Nay,”
says she, “if it be like you it is a fine boy indeed, and I would
be very well pleased with it.” The other day she talked mightily
of Sir H. Wood’s lady’s great belly, and said if she should mis-
carry he would never get another, and that she never saw such a
man as this Sir H. Wood in her life, and seeing of Dr. Pridgeon,
she said, “Nay, Doctor, you need not scratch your head, there
is hair little enough already in the place.” But methinks it was
not handsome for the weaknesses of Princes to be talked of thus.
Thence Creed and I to the King’s Head ordinary, where much
1095
OCTOBER 1663
and very good company, among others one very talking man,
but a scholler, that would needs put in his discourse and philos-
ophy upon every occasion, and though he did well enough, yet
his readiness to speak spoilt all. Here they say that the Turkes go
on apace, and that my Lord Castlehaven is going to raise 10,000
men here for to go against him; that the King of France do offer
to assist the Empire upon condition that he may be their Gener-
alissimo, and the Dolphin chosen King of the Romans: and it is
said that the King of France do occasion this difference among
the Christian Princes of the Empire, which gives the Turke such
advantages. They say also that the King of Spayne is making all
imaginable force against Portugall again. Thence Creed and I to
one or two periwigg shops about the Temple, having been very
much displeased with one that we saw, a head of greasy and old
woman’s haire, at Jervas’s in the morning; and there I think I
shall fit myself of one very handsomely made. Thence by coach,
my mind being troubled for not meeting with Dr. Williams, to St.
Catharine’s to look at a Dutch ship or two for some good hand-
some maps, but met none, and so back to Cornhill to Moxon’s,
but it being dark we staid not to see any, then to coach again,
and presently spying Sir W. Batten; I ‘light and took him in and
to the Globe in Fleete Streete, by appointment, where by and by
he and I with our solicitor to Sir F. Turner about Field’s business,
and back to the Globe, and thither I sent for Dr. Williams, and
he is willing to swear in my behalf against T. Trice, viz., that at T.
Trice’s desire we have met to treat about our business. Thence (I
drinking no wine) after an hour’s stay Sir W. Batten and another,
and he drinking, we home by coach, and so to my office and
set down my Journall, and then home to supper and to bed, my
washing being in a good condition over. I did give Dr. Williams
20s. tonight, but it was after he had answered me well to what I
had to ask him about this business, and it was only what I had
long ago in my petty bag book allotted for him besides the bill
of near £4 which I paid him a good while since by my brother
Tom for physique for my wife, without any consideration to this
1096
OCTOBER 1663
business that he is to do for me, as God shall save me. Among the
rest, talking of the Emperor at table to-day one young gentleman,
a pretty man, and it seems a Parliament man, did say that he was
a sot;392 for he minded nothing of the Government, but was led
by the Jesuites. Several at table took him up, some for saying
that he was a sot in being led by the Jesuites, [who] are the best
counsel he can take. Another commander, a Scott[ish] Collonell,
who I believe had several under him, that he was a man that had
thus long kept out the Turke till now, and did many other great
things, and lastly Mr. Progers, one of our courtiers, who told him
that it was not a thing to be said of any Soveraigne Prince, be his
weaknesses what they will, to be called a sot, which methinks
was very prettily said.
27th. Up, and my uncle Thomas and his scrivener bringing me
a bond and affidavit to my mind, I paid him his £20 for his daugh-
ter’s legacy, and £5 more for a Quarter’s annuity, in the manner
expressed in each acquittance, to which I must be referred on any
future occasion, and to the bond and affidavit. Thence to the of-
fice and there sat till noon, and then home to dinner, and after
dinner (it being a foul house to-day among my maids, making
up their clothes) abroad with my Will with me by coach to Dr,
Williams, and with him to the Six Clerks’s office, and there, by
advice of his acquaintance, I find that my case, through my ne-
glect and the neglect of my lawyers, is come to be very bad, so as
that it will be very hard to get my bill retayned again. However,
I got him to sign and swear an affidavit that there was treaties
between T. Trice and me with as much advantage as I could for
me, but I will say that for him he was most exact as ever I saw
man in my life, word by word what it was that he swore to, and
392 Leopold I, the Holy Roman Emperor, was born June 9th, 1640. He be-
came King of Hungary in 1655, and King of Bohemia in 1658, in which year
he received the imperial crown. The Princes of the German Empire watched
for some time the progress of his struggle with the Turks with indifference,
but in 1663 they were induced to grant aid to Leopold after he had made a
personal appeal to them in the diet at Ratisbon.
1097
OCTOBER 1663
though, God forgive me, I could have been almost naturally will-
ing to have let him ignorantly have sworn to something that was
not of itself very certain, either or no, yet out of his own con-
science and care he altered the words himself so as to make them
very safe for him to swear. This I carrying to my clerk Wilkinson,
and telling him how I heard matters to stand, he, like a conceited
fellow, made nothing of it but advised me to offer Trice’s clerks
the cost of the dismission, viz., 46s. 8d., which I did, but they
would not take it without his client. Immediately thereupon we
parted, and met T. Trice coming into the room, and he came to
me and served me with a subpoena for these very costs, so I paid
it him, but Lord! to see his resolution, and indeed discretion, in
the wording of his receipt, he would have it most express to my
greatest disadvantage that could be, yet so as I could not deny
to give it him. That being paid, my clerke, and then his began
to ask why we could not think, being friends, of referring it, or
stating it, first ourselves, and then put it to some good lawyer
to judge in it. From one word to more we were resolved to try,
and to that end to step to the Pope’s Head Taverne, and there
he and his Clerke and Attorney and I and my Clerke, and sent
for Mr. Smallwood, and by and by comes Mr. Clerke, my Solic-
itor, and after I had privately discoursed with my men and seen
how doubtfully they talked, and what future certain charge and
trouble it would be, with a doubtful victory, I resolved to con-
descend very low, and after some talke all together Trice and I
retired, and he came to £150 the lowest, and I bid him £80. So
broke off and then went to our company, and they putting us to
a second private discourse, at last I was contented to give him
£100, he to spend 40s. of it among this good company that was
with us. So we went to our company, both seeming well pleased
that we were come to an end, and indeed I am in the respects
above said, though it be a great sum for us to part with. I am
to pay him by giving him leave to buy about £40 worth of Pig-
gott’s land and to strike off so much of Piggott’s debt, and the
other to give him bond to pay him in 12 months after without
1098
OCTOBER 1663
interest, only giving him a power to buy more land of Piggott
and paying him that way as he did for the other, which I am well
enough contented with, or at least to take the land at that price
and give him the money. This last I did not tell him, but I shall
order it so. Having agreed upon to-morrow come se’nnight for
the spending of the 40s. at Mr. Rawlinson’s, we parted, and I set
T. Trice down in Paul’s Churchyard and I by coach home and to
my office, and there set down this day’s passages, and so home to
supper and to bed. Mr. Coventry tells me to-day that the Queen
had a very good night last night; but yet it is strange that still she
raves and talks of little more than of her having of children, and
fancys now that she hath three children, and that the girle is very
like the King. And this morning about five o’clock waked (the
physician feeling her pulse, thinking to be better able to judge,
she being still and asleep, waked her) and the first word she said
was, “How do the children?”
28th. Up and at my office all the morning, and at noon Mr.
Creed came to me and dined with me, and after dinner Murford
came to me and he and I discoursed wholly upon his breach of
contract with us. After that Mr. Creed and I abroad, I doing sev-
eral errands, and with him at last to the great coffee-house, and
there after some common discourse we parted and I home, pay-
ing what I owed at the Mitre in my way, and at home Sympson
the joyner coming he set up my press for my cloaks and other
small things, and so to my office a little, and to supper, and to
bed. This morning Mr. Blackburne came to me, and telling me
what complaints Will made of the usage he had from my wife
and other discouragements, and, I seeing him, instead of advis-
ing, rather favouring his kinsman, I told him freely my mind, but
friendlily, and so we have concluded to have him have a lodging
elsewhere, and that I will spare him £15 of his salary, and if I do
not need to keep another £20.
29th. Up, it being my Lord Mayor’s day, Sir Anthony Bateman.
This morning was brought home my new velvet cloake, that is,
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lined with velvet, a good cloth the outside, the first that ever I had
in my life, and I pray God it may not be too soon now that I begin
to wear it. I had it this day brought, thinking to have worn it to
dinner, but I thought it would be better to go without it because
of the crowde, and so I did not wear it. We met a little at the office,
and then home again and got me ready to go forth, my wife be-
ing gone forth by my consent before to see her father and mother,
and taken her cooke mayde and little girle to Westminster with
her for them to see their friends. This morning in dressing my-
self and wanting a band,393 I found all my bands that were newly
made clean so ill smoothed that I crumpled them, and flung them
all on the ground, and was angry with Jane, which made the poor
girle mighty sad, so that I were troubled for it afterwards. At
noon I went forth, and by coach to Guild Hall (by the way calling
at Mr. Rawlinson’s), and there was admitted, and meeting with
Mr. Proby (Sir R. Ford’s son), and Lieutenant-Colonel Baron, a
City commander, we went up and down to see the tables; where
under every salt there was a bill of fare, and at the end of the table
the persons proper for the table. Many were the tables, but none
in the Hall but the Mayor’s and the Lords of the Privy Council
that had napkins394 or knives, which was very strange. We went
into the Buttry, and there stayed and talked, and then into the
Hall again: and there wine was offered and they drunk, I only
drinking some hypocras, which do not break my vowe, it being,
to the best of my present judgement, only a mixed compound
393 The band succeeded the ruff as the ordinary civil costume. The lawyers,
who now retain bands, and the clergy, who have only lately left them off,
formerly wore ruffs.
394 As the practice of eating with forks gradually was introduced from Italy
into England, napkins were not so generally used, but considered more as an
ornament than a necessary. “The laudable use of forks, Brought into custom
here, as they are in Italy, To the sparing of napkins.” Ben Jonson, The Devil
is an Ass, act v., sc. 3. The guests probably brought their own knife and fork
with them in a case.–M.B.
1100
OCTOBER 1663
drink, and not any wine.395 If I am mistaken, God forgive me! but
I hope and do think I am not. By and by met with Creed; and we,
with the others, went within the several Courts, and there saw
the tables prepared for the Ladies and Judges and Bishopps: all
great sign of a great dinner to come. By and by about one o’clock,
before the Lord Mayor came, come into the Hall, from the room
where they were first led into, the Lord Chancellor (Archbishopp
before him), with the Lords of the Council, and other Bishopps,
and they to dinner. Anon comes the Lord Mayor, who went up
to the lords, and then to the other tables to bid wellcome; and so
all to dinner. I sat near Proby, Baron, and Creed at the Merchant
Strangers’ table; where ten good dishes to a messe, with plenty of
wine of all sorts, of which I drunk none; but it was very unpleas-
ing that we had no napkins nor change of trenchers, and drunk
out of earthen pitchers and wooden dishes.–[The City plate was
probably melted during the Civil War.-M.B.]–It happened that af-
ter the lords had half dined, came the French Embassador, up to
the lords’ table, where he was to have sat; but finding the table
set, he would not sit down nor dine with the Lord Mayor, who
was not yet come, nor have a table to himself, which was offered;
but in a discontent went away again. After I had dined, I and
Creed rose and went up and down the house, and up to the lady’s
room, and there stayed gazing upon them. But though there were
many and fine, both young and old, yet I could not discern one
handsome face there; which was very strange, nor did I find the
lady that young Dawes married so pretty as I took her for, I hav-
ing here an opportunity of looking much upon her very near. I
expected musique, but there was none but only trumpets and
drums, which displeased me. The dinner, it seems, is made by
395 A drink, composed usually of red wine, but sometimes of white, with
the addition of sugar and spices. Sir Walter Scott (“Quarterly Review,” vol.
xxxiii.) says, after quoting this passage of Pepys, “Assuredly his pieces of
bacchanalian casuistry can only be matched by that of Fielding’s chaplain
of Newgate, who preferred punch to wine, because the former was a liquor
nowhere spoken against in Scripture.”
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OCTOBER 1663
the Mayor and two Sheriffs for the time being, the Lord Mayor
paying one half, and they the other. And the whole, Proby says,
is reckoned to come to about 7 or £800 at most. Being wearied
with looking upon a company of ugly women, Creed and I went
away, and took coach and through Cheapside, and there saw the
pageants, which were very silly, and thence to the Temple, where
meeting Greatorex, he and we to Hercules Pillars, there to show
me the manner of his going about of draining of fenns, which I
desired much to know, but it did not appear very satisfactory to
me, as he discoursed it, and I doubt he will faile in it. Thence
I by coach home, and there found my wife come home, and by
and by came my brother Tom, with whom I was very angry for
not sending me a bill with my things, so as that I think never to
have more work done by him if ever he serves me so again, and
so I told him. The consideration of laying out £32 12s. this very
month in his very work troubles me also, and one thing more,
that is to say, that Will having been at home all the day, I doubt
is the occasion that Jane has spoken to her mistress tonight that
she sees she cannot please us and will look out to provide herself
elsewhere, which do trouble both of us, and we wonder also at
her, but yet when the rogue is gone I do not fear but the wench
will do well. To the office a little, to set down my Journall, and so
home late to supper and to bed. The Queen mends apace, they
say; but yet talks idle still.
30th. Lay long in bed with my wife, and then up and a while
at my office, and so to the Change, and so [home] again, and
there I found my wife in a great passion with her mayds. I up-
stairs to set some things in order in our chamber and wardrobe,
and so to dinner upon a good dish of stewed beef, then up again
about my business. Then by coach with my wife to the New Ex-
change, and there bought and paid for several things, and then
back, calling at my periwigg-makers, and there showed my wife
the periwigg made for me, and she likes it very well, and so to
my brother’s, and to buy a pair of boddice for her, and so home,
and to my office late, and then home to my wife, purposing to
1102
OCTOBER 1663
go on to a new lesson in arithmetique with her. So to supper
and to bed. The Queen mends apace, but her head still light.
My mind very heavy thinking of my great layings out lately, and
what they must still be for clothes, but I hope it is in order to
getting of something the more by it, for I perceive how I have
hitherto suffered for lack of going as becomes my place. After a
little discourse with my wife upon arithmetique, to bed.
31st. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
at noon home to dinner, where Creed came and dined with me,
and after dinner he and I upstairs, and I showed him my vel-
vet cloake and other things of clothes, that I have lately bought,
which he likes very well, and I took his opinion as to some things
of clothes, which I purpose to wear, being resolved to go a little
handsomer than I have hitherto. Thence to the office; where busy
till night, and then to prepare my monthly account, about which
I staid till 10 or 11 o’clock at night, and to my great sorrow find
myself £43 worse than I was the last month, which was then £760,
and now it is but £717. But it hath chiefly arisen from my layings-
out in clothes for myself and wife; viz., for her about £12, and for
myself £55, or thereabouts; having made myself a velvet cloake,
two new cloth suits, black, plain both; a new shagg396 gowne,
trimmed with gold buttons and twist, with a new hat, and, silk
tops for my legs, and many other things, being resolved hence-
forward to go like myself. And also two perriwiggs, one whereof
costs me £3, and the other 40s.–I have worn neither yet, but will
begin next week, God willing. So that I hope I shall not need now
to lay out more money a great while, I having laid out in clothes
for myself and wife, and for her closett and other things without,
these two months, this and the last, besides household expenses
of victuals, &c., above £110. But I hope I shall with more comfort
labour to get more, and with better successe than when, for want
396 Shag was a stuff similar to plush. In 1703 a youth who was missing is
described in an advertisement as wearing “red shag breeches, striped with
black stripes.” (Planche’s “Cyclopxdia of Costume ”).
1103
OCTOBER 1663
of clothes, I was forced to sneake like a beggar. Having done this
I went home, and after supper to bed, my mind being eased in
knowing my condition, though troubled to think that I have been
forced to spend so much.
Thus I end this month worth £717, or thereabouts, with a good
deal of good goods more than I had, and a great deal of new and
good clothes. My greatest trouble and my wife’s is our family,
mighty out of order by this fellow Will’s corrupting the mayds
by his idle talke and carriage, which we are going to remove by
hastening him out of the house, which his uncle Blackburne is
upon doing, and I am to give him £20 per annum toward his
maintenance. The Queene continues lightheaded, but in hopes
to recover. The plague is much in Amsterdam, and we in fears
of it here, which God defend.397 The Turke goes on mightily in
the Emperor’s dominions, and the Princes cannot agree among
themselves how to go against him. Myself in pretty good health
now, after being ill this month for a week together, but cannot
yet come to.... well, being so costive, but for this month almost I
have not had a good natural stool, but to this hour am forced to
take physic every night, which brings me neither but one stool,
and that in the morning as soon as I am up, all the rest of the day
very costive. My father has been very ill in the country, but I hope
better again now. I am lately come to a conclusion with Tom Trice
to pay him £100, which is a great deale of money, but I hope it
will save a great deale more. But thus everything lessens, which
I have and am like to have, and therefore I must look about me
to get something more than just my salary, or else I may resolve
to live well and die a beggar.
397 Defend is used in the sense of forbid. It is a Gallicism from the French
“defendre.”
1104
NOVEMBER 1663
November 1st (Lord’s day). This morning my brother’s man
brought me a new black baize waistecoate, faced with silke,
which I put on from this day, laying by half-shirts for this winter.
He brought me also my new gowne of purple shagg, trimmed
with gold, very handsome; he also brought me as a gift from my
brother, a velvet hat, very fine to ride in, and the fashion, which
pleases me very well, to which end, I believe, he sent it me, for
he knows I had lately been angry with him. Up and to church
with my wife, and at noon dined at home alone, a good calves
head boiled and dumplings, an excellent dinner methought it
was. Then to church again, whither Sir W. Pen came, the first
time he has been at church these several months, he having been
sicke all the while. Home and to my office, where I taught my
wife some part of subtraction, and then fell myself to set some pa-
pers of my last night’s accounts in order, and so to supper home,
and after supper another bout at arithmetique with my wife, and
then to my office again and made an end of my papers, and so
home to prayers, and then to read my vowes, and to bed.
2d. Up, and by coach to White Hall, and there in the long
Matted Gallery I find Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, and Sir W.
Batten–and by and by comes the King to walk there with three
or four with him; and soon as he saw us, says he, “Here is the
1105
NOVEMBER 1663
Navy Office,” and there walked twenty turns the length of the
gallery, talking, methought, but ordinary talke. By and by came
the Duke, and he walked, and at last they went into the Duke’s
lodgings. The King staid so long that we could not discourse
with the Duke, and so we parted. I heard the Duke say that he
was going to wear a perriwigg; and they say the King also will. I
never till this day observed that the King is mighty gray. Thence,
meeting with Creed, walked with him to Westminster Hall, and
thence by coach took up Mrs. Hunt, and carried her towards my
house, and we light at the ‘Change, and sent her to my house,
Creed and I to the Coffeehouse, and then to the ‘Change, and
so home, and carried a barrel of oysters with us, and so to din-
ner, and after a good dinner left Mrs. Hunt and my wife making
marmalett of quinces, and Creed and I to the perriwigg makers,
but it being dark concluded of nothing, and so Creed went away,
and I with Sir W. Pen, who spied me in the street, in his coach
home. There found them busy still, and I up to my vyall. Anon,
the comfiture being well done, my wife and I took Mrs. Hunt
at almost 9 at night by coach and carried Mrs. Hunt home, and
did give her a box of sugar and a haunch of venison given me
by my Lady the other day. We did not ‘light, but saw her within
doors, and straight home, where after supper there happening
some discourse where my wife thought she had taken Jane in a
lie, she told me of it mighty triumphantly, but I, not seeing reason
to conclude it a lie, was vexed, and my wife and I to very high
words, wherein I up to my chamber, and she by and by followed
me up, and to very bad words from her to me, calling me perfidi-
ous and man of no conscience, whatever I pretend to, and I know
not what, which troubled me mightily, and though I would allow
something to her passion, yet I see again and again that she spoke
but somewhat of what she had in her heart. But I tempered my-
self very well, so as that though we went to bed with discontent
she yielded to me and began to be fond, so that being willing my-
self to peace, we did before we sleep become very good friends,
it being past 12 o’clock, and so with good hearts and joy to rest.
1106
NOVEMBER 1663
3rd. Up and to the office, where busy all the morning, and
at noon to the Coffee-house, and there heard a long and most
passionate discourse between two doctors of physique, of which
one was Dr. Allen, whom I knew at Cambridge, and a couple of
apothecarys; these maintaining chymistry against them Galeni-
call physique; and the truth is, one of the apothecarys whom they
charged most, did speak very prettily, that is, his language and
sense good, though perhaps he might not be so knowing a physi-
cian as to offer to contest with them. At last they came to some
cooler terms, and broke up. I home, and there Mr. Moore com-
ing by my appointment dined with me, and after dinner came
Mr. Goldsborough, and we discoursed about the business of his
mother, but could come to no agreement in it but parted dissatis-
fied. By and by comes Chapman, the periwigg-maker, and upon
my liking it, without more ado I went up, and there he cut off
my haire, which went a little to my heart at present to part with
it; but, it being over, and my periwigg on, I paid him £3 for it;
and away went he with my owne haire to make up another of,
and I by and by, after I had caused all my mayds to look upon
it; and they conclude it do become me; though Jane was might-
ily troubled for my parting of my own haire, and so was Besse, I
went abroad to the Coffeehouse, and coming back went to Sir W.
Pen and there sat with him and Captain Cocke till late at night,
Cocke talking of some of the Roman history very well, he having
a good memory. Sir W. Pen observed mightily, and discoursed
much upon my cutting off my haire, as he do of every thing that
concerns me, but it is over, and so I perceive after a day or two it
will be no great matter.
4th. Up and to my office, shewing myself to Sir W. Batten,
and Sir J. Minnes, and no great matter made of my periwigg, as
I was afeard there would be. Among other things there came to
me Shales of Portsmouth, by my order, and I began to discourse
with him about the arrears of stores belonging to the Victualling
Office there, and by his discourse I am in some hopes that if I
can get a grant from the King of such a part of all I discover I
1107
NOVEMBER 1663
may chance to find a way to get something by the by, which do
greatly please me the very thoughts of. Home to dinner, and
very pleasant with my wife, who is this day also herself making
of marmalett of quince, which she now do very well herself. I left
her at it and by coach I to the New Exchange and several places
to buy and bring home things, among others a case I bought of
the trunk maker’s for my periwigg, and so home and to my of-
fice late, and among other things wrote a letter to Will’s uncle
to hasten his removal from me, and so home to supper and to
bed. This morning Captain Cocke did give me a good account
of the Guinny trade. The Queene is in a great way to recovery.
This noon came John Angier to me in a pickle, I was sad to see
him, desiring my good word for him to go a trooper to Tangier,
but I did schoole him and sent him away with good advice, but
no present encouragement. Presently after I had a letter from his
poor father at Cambridge, who is broke, it seems, and desires me
to get him a protection, or a place of employment; but, poor man,
I doubt I can helpe him, but will endeavour it.
5th. Lay long in bed, then up, called by Captain Cocke about
business of a contract of his for some Tarre, and so to the office,
and then to Sir W. Pen and there talked, and he being gone came
Sir W. Warren and discoursed about our business with Field, and
at noon by agreement to the Miter to dinner upon T. Trice’s 40s.,
to be spent upon our late agreement. Here was a very poor din-
ner and great company. All our lawyers on both sides, and sev-
eral friends of his and some of mine brought by him, viz., Mr.
Moore, uncle Wight, Dr. Williams, and my cozen Angier, that
lives here in town, who t Captain John Shales after dinner car-
ried me aside and showed me a letter from his poor brother at
Cambridge to me of the same contents with that yesterday to me
desiring help from me. Here I was among a sorry company with-
out any content or pleasure, and at the last the reckoning coming
to above 40s. by 15s., he would have me pay the 10s. and he
would pay the 5s., which was so poor that I was ashamed of it,
and did it only to save contending with him. There, after agree-
1108
NOVEMBER 1663
ing a day for him and I to meet and seal our agreement, I parted
and home, and at the office by agreement came Mr. Shales, and
there he and I discourse till late the business of his helping me
in the discovery of some arrears of provisions and stores due to
the stores at Portsmouth, out of which I may chance to get some
money, and save the King some too, and therefore I shall endeav-
our to do the fellow some right in other things here to his advan-
tage between Mr. Gauden and him. He gone my wife and I to her
arithmetique, in which she pleases me well, and so to the office,
there set down my Journall, and so home to supper and to bed.
A little troubled to see how my family is out of order by Will’s
being there, and also to hear that Jane do not please my wife as I
expected and would have wished.
6th. This morning waking, my wife was mighty-earnest with
me to persuade me that she should prove with child since last
night, which, if it be, let it come, and welcome. Up to my of-
fice, whither Commissioner Pett came, newly come out of the
country, and he and I walked together in the garden talking of
business a great while, and I perceive that by our countenanc-
ing of him he do begin to pluck up his head, and will do good
things I hope in the yard. Thence, he being gone, to my office
and there dispatched many people, and at noon to the ‘Change
to the coffee-house, and among other things heard Sir John Cut-
ler say, that of his owne experience in time of thunder, so many
barrels of beer as have a piece of iron laid upon them will not
be soured, and the others will. Thence to the ‘Change, and there
discoursed with many people, and I hope to settle again to my
business and revive my report of following of business, which
by my being taken off for a while by sickness and, laying out of
money has slackened for a little while. Home, and there found
Mrs. Hunt, who dined very merry, good woman; with us. Af-
ter dinner came in Captain Grove, and he and I alone to talk of
many things, and among many others of the Fishery, in which he
gives the such hopes that being at this time full of projects how
to get a little honestly, of which some of them I trust in God will
1109
NOVEMBER 1663
take, I resolved this afternoon to go and consult my Lord Sand-
wich about it, and so, being to carry home Mrs. Hunt, I took her
and my wife by coach and set them at Axe Yard, and I to my
Lord’s and thither sent for Creed and discoursed with him about
it, and he and I to White Hall, where Sir G. Carteret and my Lord
met me very fortunately, and wondered first to see me in my per-
ruque, and I am glad it is over, and then, Sir G. Carteret being
gone, I took my Lord aside, who do give me the best advice he
can, and telling me how there are some projectors, by name Sir
Edward Ford, who would have the making of farthings,398 and
out of that give so much to the King for the maintenance of the
Fishery; but my Lord do not like that, but would have it go as
they offered the last year, and so upon my desire he promises me
when it is seasonable to bring me into the commission with oth-
ers, if any of them take, and I perceive he and Mr. Coventry are
resolved to follow it hard. Thence, after walking a good while in
the Long gallery, home to my Lord’s lodging, my Lord telling me
how my father did desire him to speak to me about my giving
of my sister something, which do vex me to see that he should
trouble my Lord in it, but however it is a good occasion for me
to tell my Lord my condition, and so I was glad of it. After that
we begun to talk of the Court, and he tells me how Mr. Edward
Montagu begins to show respect to him again after his endeav-
ouring to bespatter him all was, possible; but he is resolved never
to admit him into his friendship again. He tells me how he and
Sir H. Bennet, the Duke of Buckingham and his Duchesse, was of
a committee with somebody else for the getting of Mrs. Stewart
for the King; but that she proves a cunning slut, and is advised
at Somerset House by the Queene-Mother, and by her mother,
398 Sir Edward Ford, son of Sir William Ford of Harting, born at Up Park
in 1605. “After the Restoration he invented a mode of coining farthings.
Each piece was to differ minutely from another to prevent forgery. He failed
in procuring a patent for these in England, but obtained one for Ireland. He
died in Ireland before he could carry his design into execution, on September
3rd, 1670” (“Dictionary of National Biography ”).
1110
NOVEMBER 1663
and so all the plot is spoiled and the whole committee broke.
Mr. Montagu and the Duke of Buckingham fallen a-pieces, the
Duchesse going to a nunnery; and so Montagu begins to enter
friendship with my Lord, and to attend the Chancellor whom he
had deserted. My Lord tells me that Mr. Montagu, among other
things, did endeavour to represent him to the Chancellor’s sons
as one that did desert their father in the business of my Lord of
Bristoll; which is most false, being the only man that hath several
times dined with him when no soul hath come to him, and went
with him that very day home when the Earl impeached him in
the Parliament House, and hath refused ever to pay a visit to my
Lord of Bristoll, not so much as in return to a visit of his. So that
the Chancellor and my Lord are well known and trusted one by
another. But yet my Lord blames the Chancellor for desiring to
have it put off to the next Session of Parliament, contrary to my
Lord Treasurer’s advice, to whom he swore he would not do it:
and, perhaps, my Lord Chancellor, for aught I see by my Lord’s
discourse, may suffer by it when the Parliament comes to sit. My
Lord tells me that he observes the Duke of York do follow and un-
derstand business very well, and is mightily improved thereby.
Here Mr. Pagett coming in I left my Lord and him, and thence I
called my wife and her maid Jane and by coach home and to my
office, where late writing some things against tomorrow, and so
home to supper and to bed. This morning Mr. Blackburne came
to me to let me know that he had got a lodging very commodious
for his kinsman, and so he is ready at my pleasure to go when I
would bid him, and so I told him that I would in a day or two
send to speak with him and he and I would talk and advise Will
what to do, of which I am very glad.
7th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
Sir W. Pen and I had a word or two, where by opposing him in
not being willing to excuse a mulct put upon the purser of the
James, absent from duty, he says, by his business and order, he
was mighty angry, and went out of the office like an asse discon-
tented: At which I am never a whit sorry; I would not have [him]
1111
NOVEMBER 1663
think that I dare not oppose him, where I see reason and cause
for it. Home to dinner, and then by coach abroad about several
businesses to several places, among others to Westminster Hall,
where, seeing Howlett’s daughter going out of the other end of
the Hall, I followed her if I would to have offered talk to her and
dallied with her a little, but I could not overtake her. Then call-
ing at Unthank’s for something of my wife’s not done, a pretty
little gentlewoman, a lodger there, came out to tell me that it was
not yet done, which though it vexed me yet I took opportunity of
taking her by the hand with the boot, and so found matter to talk
a little the longer to her, but I was ready to laugh at myself to see
how my anger would not operate, my disappointment coming
to me by such a messenger. Thence to Doctors’ Commons and
there consulted Dr. Turner about some differences we have with
the officers of the East India ships about goods brought by them
without paying freight, which we demand of them. So home to
my office, and there late writing letters, and so home to supper
and to bed, having got a scurvy cold by lying cold in my head
the last night. This day Captain Taylor brought me a piece of
plate, a little small state dish, he expecting that I should get him
some allowance for demorage399 of his ship “William,” kept long
at Tangier, which I shall and may justly do.
8th (Lord’s day). Up, and it being late, to church without my
wife, and there I saw Pembleton come into the church and bring
his wife with him, a good comely plain woman, and by and by
my wife came after me all alone, which I was a little vexed at. I
found that my coming in a perriwigg did not prove so strange
to the world as I was afear’d it would, for I thought that all the
church would presently have cast their eyes all upon me, but I
399 “‘Demurrage’ is the compensation due to a shipowner from a freighter
for unduly decaying his vessel in port beyond the time specified in the
charter-party or bill of lading. It is in fact an extended freight. A ship, un-
justly detained as a prize is entitled to ‘demurrage.”’–Smyth’s Sailor’s Word-
Book, 1867.
1112
NOVEMBER 1663
found no such thing. Here an ordinary lazy sermon of Mr. Mill’s,
and then home to dinner, and there Tom came and dined with
us; and after dinner to talk about a new black cloth suit that I
have a making, and so at church time to church again, where the
Scott preached, and I slept most of the time. Thence home, and
I spent most of the evening upon Fuller’s “Church History” and
Barckly’s “Argeny,” and so after supper to prayers and to bed,
a little fearing my pain coming back again, myself continuing as
costive as ever, and my physic ended, but I had sent a porter to-
day for more and it was brought me before I went to bed, and so
with pretty good content to bed.
9th. Up and found myself very well, and so by coach to White
Hall and there met all my fellow officers, and so to the Duke,
where, when we came into his closett, he told us that Mr. Pepys
was so altered with his new perriwigg that he did not know him.
So to our discourse, and among and above other things we were
taken up in talking upon Sir J. Lawson’s coming home, he be-
ing come to Portsmouth; and Captain Berkely is come to towne
with a letter from the Duana of Algier to the King, wherein they
do demand again the searching of our ships and taking out of
strangers, and their goods; and that what English ships are taken
without the Duke’s pass they will detain (though it be flat con-
trary to the words of the peace) as prizes, till they do hear from
our King, which they advise him may be speedy. And this they
did the very next day after they had received with great joy the
Grand Seignor’s confirmation of the Peace from Constantinople
by Captain Berkely; so that there is no command nor certainty
to be had of these people. The King is resolved to send his will
by a fleete of ships; and it is thought best and speediest to send
these very ships that are now come home, five sail of good ships,
back again after cleaning, victualling, and paying them. But it is
a pleasant thing to think how their Basha, Shavan Aga, did tear
his hair to see the soldiers order things thus; for (just like his late
predecessor) when they see the evil of war with England, then
for certain they complain to the Grand Seignor of him, and cut
1113
NOVEMBER 1663
his head off: this he is sure of, and knows as certain. Thence to
Westminster Hall, where I met with Mr. Pierce, chyrurgeon; and
among other things he asked me seriously whether I knew any-
thing of my Lord’s being out of favour with the King; and told
me, that for certain the King do take mighty notice of my Lord’s
living obscurely in a corner not like himself, and becoming the
honour that he is come to. I was sorry to hear, and the truth is,
from my Lord’s discourse among his people (which I am told)
of the uncertainty of princes’ favours, and his melancholy keep-
ing from Court, I am doubtful of some such thing; but I seemed
wholly strange to him in it, but will make my use of it. He told
me also how loose the Court is, nobody looking after business,
but every man his lust and gain; and how the King is now be-
come besotted upon Mrs. Stewart, that he gets into corners, and
will be with her half an houre together kissing her to the obser-
vation of all the world; and she now stays by herself and expects
it, as my Lady Castlemaine did use to do; to whom the King, he
says, is still kind, so as now and then he goes to have a chat with
her as he believes; but with no such fondness as he used to do.
But yet it is thought that this new wench is so subtle, that she lets
him not do any thing than is safe to her, but yet his doting is so
great that, Pierce tells me, it is verily thought if the Queene had
died, he would have married her. The Duke of Monmouth is to
have part of the Cockpitt new built for lodgings for him, and they
say to be made Captain of the Guards in the room of my Lord
Gerard. Having thus talked with him, there comes into the Hall
Creed and Ned Pickering, and after a turne or two with them, it
being noon, I walked with them two to the King’s Head ordinary,
and there we dined; little discourse but what was common, only
that the Duke of Yorke is a very, desperate huntsman, but I was
ashamed of Pickering, who could not forbear having up my Lord
Sandwich now and then in the most paltry matters abominable.
Thence I took leave of them, and so having taken up something
at my wife’s tailor’s, I home by coach and there to my office,
whither Shales came and I had much discourse with him about
1114
NOVEMBER 1663
the business of the victualling, and thence in the evening to the
Coffee-house, and there sat till by and by, by appointment Will
brought me word that his uncle Blackburne was ready to speak
with me. So I went down to him, and he and I to a taverne hard
by, and there I begun to speak to Will friendlily, advising him
how to carry himself now he is going from under my roof, with-
out any reflections upon the occasion from whence his removal
arose. This his uncle seconded, and after laying down to him his
duty to me, and what I expect of him, in a discourse of about a
quarter of an houre or more, we agreed upon his going this week,
towards the latter (end) of the week, and so dismissed him, and
Mr. Blackburne and I fell to talk of many things, wherein I did
speak so freely to him in many things agreeing with his sense
that he was very open to me: first, in that of religion, he makes
it great matter of prudence for the King and Council to suffer
liberty of conscience; and imputes the losse of Hungary to the
Turke from the Emperor’s denying them this liberty of their re-
ligion. He says that many pious ministers of the word of God,
some thousands of them, do now beg their bread: and told me
how highly the present clergy carry themselves every where, so
as that they are hated and laughed at by everybody; among other
things, for their excommunications, which they send upon the
least occasions almost that can be. And I am convinced in my
judgement, not only from his discourse, but my thoughts in gen-
eral, that the present clergy will never heartily go down with the
generality of the commons of England; they have been so used to
liberty and freedom, and they are so acquainted with the pride
and debauchery of the present clergy. He did give me many sto-
ries of the affronts which the clergy receive in all places of Eng-
land from the gentry and ordinary persons of the parish. He do
tell me what the City thinks of General Monk, as of a most per-
fidious man that hath betrayed every body, and the King also;
who, as he thinks, and his party, and so I have heard other good
friends of the King say, it might have been better for the King to
have had his hands a little bound for the present, than be forced
1115
NOVEMBER 1663
to bring such a crew of poor people about him, and be liable to
satisfy the demands of every one of them. He told me that to
his knowledge (being present at every meeting at the Treaty at
the Isle of Wight), that the old King did confess himself over-
ruled and convinced in his judgement against the Bishopps, and
would have suffered and did agree to exclude the service out of
the churches, nay his own chappell; and that he did always say,
that this he did not by force, for that he would never abate one
inch by any vyolence; but what he did was out of his reason and
judgement. He tells me that the King by name, with all his dig-
nities, is prayed for by them that they call Fanatiques, as heartily
and powerfully as in any of the other churches that are thought
better: and that, let the King think what he will, it is them that
must helpe him in the day of warr. For as they are the most, so
generally they are the most substantial sort of people, and the
soberest; and did desire me to observe it to my Lord Sandwich,
among other things, that of all the old army now you cannot see a
man begging about the street; but what? You shall have this cap-
tain turned a shoemaker; the lieutenant, a baker; this a brewer;
that a haberdasher; this common soldier, a porter; and every man
in his apron and frock, &c., as if they never had done anything
else: whereas the others go with their belts and swords, swear-
ing and cursing, and stealing; running into people’s houses, by
force oftentimes, to carry away something; and this is the dif-
ference between the temper of one and the other; and concludes
(and I think with some reason,) that the spirits of the old par-
liament soldiers are so quiett and contented with God’s provi-
dences, that the King is safer from any evil meant him by them
one thousand times more than from his own discontented Cav-
alier. And then to the publique management of business: it is
done, as he observes, so loosely and so carelessly, that the king-
dom can never be happy with it, every man looking after himself,
and his owne lust and luxury; among other things he instanced
in the business of money, he do believe that half of what money
the Parliament gives the King is not so much as gathered. And to
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NOVEMBER 1663
the purpose he told me how the Bellamys (who had some of the
Northern counties assigned them for their debt for the petty war-
rant victualling) have often complained to him that they cannot
get it collected, for that nobody minds, or, if they do, they won’t
pay it in. Whereas (which is a very remarkable thing,) he hath
been told by some of the Treasurers at Warr here of late, to whom
the most of the £120,000 monthly was paid, that for most months
the payments were gathered so duly, that they seldom had so
much or more than 40s., or the like, short in the whole collection;
whereas now the very Commissioners for Assessments and other
publique payments are such persons, and those that they choose
in the country so like themselves, that from top to bottom there
is not a man carefull of any thing, or if he be, he is not solvent;
that what between the beggar and the knave, the King is abused
the best part of all his revenue. From thence we began to talk
of the Navy, and particularly of Sir W. Pen, of whose rise to be
a general I had a mind to be informed. He told me he was al-
ways a conceited man, and one that would put the best side out-
ward, but that it was his pretence of sanctity that brought him
into play. Lawson, and Portman, and the Fifth-monarchy men,
among whom he was a great brother, importuned that he might
be general; and it was pleasant to see how Blackburne himself
did act it, how when the Commissioners of the Admiralty would
enquire of the captains and admirals of such and such men, how
they would with a sigh and casting up the eyes say, “Such a man
fears the Lord,” or, “I hope such a man hath the Spirit of God,”
and such things as that. But he tells me that there was a cruel
articling against Pen after one fight, for cowardice, in putting
himself within a coyle of cables, of which he had much ado to
acquit himself: and by great friends did it, not without remains
of guilt, but that his brethren had a mind to pass it by, and Sir
H. Vane did advise him to search his heart, and see whether this
fault or a greater sin was not the occasion of this so great tryall.
And he tells me, that what Pen gives out about Cromwell’s send-
ing and entreating him to go to Jamaica, is very false; he knows
1117
NOVEMBER 1663
the contrary: besides, the Protector never was a man that needed
to send for any man, specially such a one as he, twice. He tells
me that the business of Jamaica did miscarry absolutely by his
pride, and that when he was in the Tower he would cry like a
child. This he says of his own personal knowledge, and lastly
tells me that just upon the turne, when Monk was come from the
North to the City, and did begin to think of bringing in the King,
Pen was then turned Quaker. This he is most certain of. He tells
me that Lawson was never counted any thing but only a seaman,
and a stout man, but a false man, and that now he appears the
greatest hypocrite in the world. And Pen the same. He tells me
that it is much talked of, that the King intends to legitimate the
Duke of Monmouth; and that he has not, nor his friends of his
persuasion, have any hopes of getting their consciences at liberty
but by God Almighty’s turning of the King’s heart, which they
expect, and are resolved to live and die in quiett hopes of it; but
never to repine, or act any thing more than by prayers towards it.
And that not only himself but all of them have, and are willing
at any time to take the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy. Thus
far, and upon many more things, we had discoursed when some
persons in a room hard by began to sing in three parts very finely
and to play upon a flagilette so pleasantly that my discourse af-
terwards was but troublesome, and I could not attend it, and so,
anon, considering of a sudden the time of night, we found it 11
o’clock, which I thought it had not been by two hours, but we
were close in talk, and so we rose, he having drunk some wine
and I some beer and sugar, and so by a fair moonshine home
and to bed, my wife troubled with tooth ache. Mr. Blackburne
observed further to me, some certain notice that he had of the
present plot so much talked of; that he was told by Mr. Rush-
worth, how one Captain Oates, a great discoverer, did employ
several to bring and seduce others into a plot, and that one of
his agents met with one that would not listen to him, nor conceal
what he had offered him, but so detected the trapan. This, he
says, is most true. He also, among other instances how the King
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NOVEMBER 1663
is served, did much insist upon the cowardice and corruption of
the King’s guards and militia, which to be sure will fail the King,
as they have done already, when there will be occasion for them.
10th. Up and to the office, where we sat till noon, and then to
the Exchange, where spoke with several and had my head cast-
ing about how to get a penny and I hope I shall, and then hone,
and there Mr. Moore by appointment dined with me, and af-
ter dinner all the afternoon till night drawing a bond and release
against to-morrow for T. Trice, and I to come to a conclusion in
which I proceed with great fear and jealousy, knowing him to
be a rogue and one that I fear has at this time got too great a
hank–[hold]–over me by the neglect of my lawyers. But among
other things I am come to an end with Mr. Moore for a £32, a
good while lying in my hand of my Lord Privy Seal’s which he
for the odd £7 do give me a bond to secure me against, and so I
got £25 clear. Then, he being gone, to the office and there late set-
ting down yesterday’s remarkable discourses, and so home and
to supper, late, and to bed. The Queene, I hear, is now very well
again, and that she hath bespoke herself a new gowne.
11th. Up and to my office all the morning, and at noon to the
Coffee-house, where with Dr. Allen some good discourse about
physique and chymistry. And among other things, I telling him
what Dribble the German Doctor do offer of an instrument to
sink ships; he tells me that which is more strange, that something
made of gold, which they call in chymistry Aurum fulminans, a
grain, I think he said, of it put into a silver spoon and fired, will
give a blow like a musquett, and strike a hole through the spoon
downward, without the least force upward; and this he can make
a cheaper experiment of, he says, with iron prepared. Thence to
the ‘Change, and being put off a meeting with T. Trice, he not
coming, I home to dinner, and after dinner by coach with my
wife to my periwigg maker’s for my second periwigg, but it is
not done, and so, calling at a place or two, home, and there to
my office, and there taught my wife a new lesson in arithmetique
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NOVEMBER 1663
and so sent her home, and I to several businesses; and so home
to supper and to bed, being mightily troubled with a cold in my
stomach and head, with a great pain by coughing.
12th. Lay long in bed, indeed too long, divers people and the
officers staying for me. My cozen Thomas Pepys the executor
being below, and I went to him and stated reckonings about our
debt, for his payments of money to my uncle Thomas heretofore
by the Captain’s orders. I did not pay him but will soon do it if
I can. To the office and there all the morning, where Sir W. Pen,
like a coxcomb, was so ready to cross me in a motion I made
unawares for the entering a man at Chatham into the works,
wherein I was vexed to see his spleene, but glad to understand it,
and that it was in no greater a matter, I being not at all concerned
here. To the ‘Change and did several businesses there and so
home with Mr. Moore to dinner, my wife having dined, with Mr.
Hollyard with her to-day, he being come to advise her about her
hollow sore place. After dinner Mr. Moore and I discoursing of
my Lord’s negligence in attendance at Court, and the discourse
the world makes of it, with the too great reason that I believe
there is for it; I resolved and took coach to his lodgings, thinking
to speak with my Lord about it without more ado. Here I met
Mr. Howe, and he and I largely about it, and he very soberly
acquainted me how things are with my Lord, that my Lord do
not do anything like himself, but follows his folly, and spends
his time either at cards at Court with the ladies, when he is there
at all, or else at Chelsy with the slut to his great disgrace, and in-
deed I do see and believe that my Lord do apprehend that he do
grow less too at Court. Anon my Lord do come in, and I begun to
fall in discourse with him, but my heart did misgive me that my
Lord would not take it well, and then found him not in a humour
to talk, and so after a few ordinary words, my Lord not talking
in the manner as he uses to do; I took leave, and spent some time
with W. Howe again, and told him how I could not do what I had
so great a mind and resolution to do, but that I thought it would
be as well to do it in writing, which he approves of, and so I took
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leave of him, and by coach home, my mind being full of it, and
in pain concerning it. So to my office busy very late, the nights
running on faster than one thinks, and so to supper and to bed.
13th. Up and to my office, busy all the morning with Com-
missioner Pett; at noon I to the Exchange, and meeting Shales, he
and I to the Coffee-house and there talked of our victualling mat-
ters, which I fear will come to little. However I will go on and
carry it as far as I can. So home to dinner where I expected Com-
missioner Pett, and had a good dinner, but he came not. After
dinner came my perriwigg-maker, and brings me a second peri-
wigg, made of my own haire, which comes to 21s. 6d. more than
the worth of my own haire, so that they both come to £4 1s. 6d.,
which he sayth will serve me two years, but I fear it. He being
gone, I to my office, and put on my new shagg purple gowne,
with gold buttons and loop lace, I being a little fearful of taking
cold and of pain coming upon me. Here I staid making an end of
a troublesome letter, but to my advantage, against Sir W. Batten,
giving Sir G. Carteret an account of our late great contract with
Sir W. Warren for masts, wherein I am sure I did the King £600
service. That done home to my wife to take a clyster, which I
did, and it wrought very well and brought a great deal of wind,
which I perceive is all that do trouble me. After that, about 9 or
10 o’clock, to supper in my wife’s chamber, and then about 12 to
bed.
14th. Up and to the office, where we sat, and after we had al-
most done, Sir W. Batten desired to have the room cleared, and
there he did acquaint the board how he was obliged to answer
to something lately said which did reflect upon the Comptroller
and him, and to that purpose told how the bargain for Winter’s
timber did not prove so bad as I had reported to the board it
would. After he had done I cleared the matter that I did not
mention the business as a thing designed by me against them,
but was led to it by Sir J. Minnes, and that I said nothing but
what I was told by Mayers the surveyor as much as by Deane
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NOVEMBER 1663
upon whom they laid all the fault, which I must confess did and
do still trouble me, for they report him to be a fellow not fit to be
employed, when in my conscience he deserves better than any
officer in the yard. I thought it not convenient to vindicate him
much now, but time will serve when I will do it, and I am bound
to do it. I offered to proceed to examine and prove what I said
if they please, but Mr. Coventry most discreetly advised not, it
being to no purpose, and that he did believe that what I said did
not by my manner of speaking it proceed from any design of re-
proaching them, and so it ended. But my great trouble is for poor
Deane. At noon home and dined with my wife, and after dinner
Will told me if I pleased he was ready to remove his things, and
so before my wife I did give him good counsel, and that his go-
ing should not abate my kindnesse for him, if he carried himself
well, and so bid “God bless him,” and left him to remove his
things, the poor lad weeping, but I am apt to think matters will
be the better both for him and us. So to the office and there late
busy. In the evening Mr. Moore came to tell me that he had no
opportunity of speaking his mind to my Lord yesterday, and so
I am resolved to write to him very suddenly. So after my busi-
ness done I home, I having staid till 12 o’clock at night almost,
making an end of a letter to Sir G. Carteret about the late contract
for masts, wherein I have done myself right, and no wrong to Sir
W. Batten. This night I think is the first that I have lain without
ever a man in my house besides myself, since I came to keep any.
Will being this night gone to his lodging, and by the way I hear
to-day that my boy Waynman has behaved himself so with Mr.
Davis that they have got him put into a Barbadoes ship to be sent
away, and though he sends to me to get a release for him I will
not out of love to the boy, for I doubt to keep him here were to
bring him to the gallows.
15th (Lord’s day). Lay very long in bed with my wife and then
up and to my office there to copy fair my letter to Sir G. Carteret,
which I did, and by and by most opportunely a footman of his
came to me about other business, and so I sent it him by his own
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NOVEMBER 1663
servant. I wish good luck with it. At noon home to dinner, my
wife not being up, she lying to expect Mr. Holyard the surgeon.
So I dined by myself, and in the afternoon to my office again,
and there drew up a letter to my Lord, stating to him what the
world talks concerning him, and leaving it to him and myself to
be thought of by him as he pleases, but I have done but my duty
in it. I wait Mr. Moore’s coming for his advice about sending
it. So home to supper to my wife, myself finding myself by cold
got last night beginning to have some pain, which grieves me
much in my mind to see to what a weakness I am come. This day
being our Queene’s birthday, the guns of the Tower went all off;
and in the evening the Lord Mayor sent from church to church to
order the constables to cause bonfires to be made in every streete,
which methinks is a poor thing to be forced to be commanded.
After a good supper with my wife, and hearing of the mayds
read in the Bible, we to prayers, and to bed.
16th. Up, and being ready then abroad by coach to White Hall,
and there with the Duke, where Mr. Coventry did a second time
go to vindicate himself against reports and prove by many testi-
monies that he brought, that he did nothing but what had been
done by the Lord Admiral’s secretaries heretofore, though he do
not approve of it, nor since he had any rule from the Duke hath he
exceeded what he is there directed to take, and the thing I think is
very clear that they always did take and that now he do take less
than ever they did heretofore. Thence away, and Sir G. Carteret
did call me to him and discourse with me about my letter yes-
terday, and did seem to take it unkindly that I should doubt of
his satisfaction in the bargain of masts, and did promise me that
hereafter whatever he do hear to my prejudice he would tell me
before he would believe it, and that this was only Sir W. Batten’s
report in this business, which he says he did ever approve of, in
which I know he lies. Thence to my Lord’s lodgings thinking to
find Mr. Moore, in order to the sending away my letter of re-
proof to my Lord, but I do not find him, but contrary do find my
Lord come to Court, which I am glad to hear and should be more
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glad to hear that he do follow his business that I may not have
occasion to venture upon his good nature by such a provocation
as my letter will be to him. So by coach home, to the Exchange,
where I talked about several businesses with several people, and
so home to dinner with my wife, and then in the afternoon to my
office, and there late, and in the evening Mr. Hollyard came, and
he and I about our great work to look upon my wife’s malady,
which he did, and it seems her great conflux of humours, hereto-
fore that did use to swell there, did in breaking leave a hollow
which has since gone in further and further; till now it is near
three inches deep, but as God will have it do not run into the
bodyward, but keeps to the outside of the skin, and so he must
be forced to cut it open all along, and which my heart I doubt
will not serve for me to see done, and yet she will not have any
body else to see it done, no, not her own mayds, and so I must do
it, poor wretch, for her. To-morrow night he is to do it. He being
gone, I to my office again a little while, and so home to supper
and to bed.
17th. Up, and while I am dressing myself, Mr. Deane of Wool-
wich came to me, and I did tell him what had happened to him
last Saturday in the office, but did encourage him to make no
matter of it, for that I did not fear but he would in a little time be
master of his enemies as much as they think to master him, and
so he did tell me many instances of the abominable dealings of
Mr. Pett of Woolwich towards him. So we broke up, and I to the
office, where we sat all the forenoon doing several businesses,
and at noon I to the ‘Change where Mr. Moore came to me, and
by and by Tom Trice and my uncle Wight, and so we out to a tav-
erne (the New Exchange taverne over against the ‘Change where
I never was before, and I found my old playfellow Ben Stanley
master of it), and thence to a scrivener to draw up a bond, and
to another tavern (the King’s Head) we went, and calling on my
cozen Angier at the India House there we eat a bit of pork from a
cookes together, and after dinner did seal the bond, and I did take
up the old bond of my uncle’s to my aunt, and here T. Trice be-
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NOVEMBER 1663
fore them do own all matters in difference between us is clear as
to this business, and that he will in six days give me it under the
hand of his attorney that there is no judgment against the bond
that may give me any future trouble, and also a copy of their let-
ters of his Administration to Godfrey, as much of it as concerns
me to have. All this being done towards night we broke up, and
so I home and with Mr. Moore to my office, and there I read to
him the letter I have wrote to send to my Lord to give him an ac-
count how the world, both city and court, do talk of him and his
living as he do there in such a poor and bad house so much to his
disgrace. Which Mr. Moore do conclude so well drawn: that he
would not have me by any means to neglect sending it, assuring
me in the best of his judgment that it cannot but endear me to my
Lord instead of what I fear of getting his offence, and did offer to
take the same words and send them as from, him with his hand
to him, which I am not unwilling should come (if they are at all
fit to go) from any body but myself, and so, he being gone, I did
take a copy of it to keep by me in shorthand, and sealed them
up to send to-morrow by my Will. So home, Mr. Hollyard be-
ing come to my wife, and there she being in bed, he and I alone
to look again upon her .... and there he do find that, though it
would not be much pain, yet she is so fearful, and the thing will
be somewhat painful in the tending, which I shall not be able to
look after, but must require a nurse and people about her; so that
upon second thoughts he believes that a fomentation will do as
well, and though it will be troublesome yet no pain, and what
her mayd will be able to do without knowing directly what it is
for, but only that it may be for the piles. For though it be nothing
but what is fiery honest, yet my wife is loth to give occasion of
discourse concerning it. By this my mind and my wife’s is much
eased, for I confess I should have been troubled to have had my
wife cut before my face, I could not have borne to have seen it.
I had great discourse with him about my disease. He tells me
again that I must eat in a morning some loosening gruel, and at
night roasted apples, that I must drink now and then ale with
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NOVEMBER 1663
my wine, and eat bread and butter and honey, and rye bread if I
can endure it, it being loosening. I must also take once a week a
clyster of his last prescription, only honey now and then instead
of butter, which things I am now resolved to apply myself to.
He being gone I to my office again to a little business, and then
home to supper and to bed, being in, a little pain by drinking of
cold small beer to-day and being in a cold room at the Taverne I
believe.
18th. Up, and after being ready, and done a little business at
the office, I and Mr. Hater by water to Redriffe, and so walked
to Deptford, where I have not been a very great, while, and there
paid off the Milford in very good order, and all respect showed
me in the office as much as there used to be to any of the rest or
the whole board. That done at noon I took Captain Terne, and
there coming in by chance Captain Berkeley, him also to dinner
with me to the Globe. Captain Berkeley, who was lately come
from Algier, did give us a good account of the place, and how
the Basha there do live like a prisoner, being at the mercy of the
soldiers and officers, so that there is nothing but a great confu-
sion there. After dinner came Sir W. Batten, and I left him to pay
off another ship, and I walked home again reading of a little book
of new poems of Cowley’s, given me by his brother. Abraham do
lie, it seems, very sicke, still, but like to recover. At my office till
late, and then came Mr. Hollyard so full of discourse and Latin
that I think he hath got a cupp, but I do not know; but full of
talke he is in defence of Calvin and Luther. He begun this night
the fomentation to my wife, and I hope it will do well with her.
He gone, I to the office again a little, and so to bed. This morning
I sent Will with my great letter of reproof to my Lord Sandwich,
who did give it into his owne hand. I pray God give a blessing
to it, but confess I am afeard what the consequence may be to
me of good or bad, which is according to the ingenuity that he
do receive it with. However, I am satisfied that it will do him
good, and that he needs it: MY LORD, I do verily hope that nei-
ther the manner nor matter of this advice will be condemned by
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NOVEMBER 1663
your Lordship, when for my defence in the first I shall alledge
my double attempt, since your return from Hinchinbroke, of do-
ing it personally, in both of which your Lordship’s occasions, no
doubtfulnesse of mine, prevented me, and that being now fear-
ful of a sudden summons to Portsmouth, for the discharge of
some ships there, I judge it very unbecoming the duty which ev-
ery bit of bread I eat tells me I owe to your Lordship to expose
the safety of your honour to the uncertainty of my return. For
the matter, my Lord, it is such as could I in any measure think
safe to conceal from, or likely to be discovered to you by any
other hand, I should not have dared so far to owne what from
my heart I believe is false, as to make myself but the relater of
other’s discourse; but, sir, your Lordship’s honour being such as
I ought to value it to be, and finding both in city and court that
discourses pass to your prejudice, too generally for mine or any
man’s controllings but your Lordship’s, I shall, my Lord, without
the least greatening or lessening the matter, do my duty in lay-
ing it shortly before you. People of all conditions, my Lord, raise
matter of wonder from your Lordship’s so little appearance at
Court: some concluding thence their disfavour thereby, to which
purpose I have had questions asked me, and endeavouring to
put off such insinuations by asserting the contrary, they have
replied, that your Lordship’s living so beneath your quality, out
of the way, and declining of Court attendance, hath been more
than once discoursed about the King. Others, my Lord, when
the chief ministers of State, and those most active of the Coun-
cil have been reckoned up, wherein your Lordship never used to
want an eminent place, have said, touching your Lordship, that
now your turn was served, and the King had given you a good
estate, you left him to stand or fall as he would, and, particu-
larly in that of the Navy, have enlarged upon your letting fall all
service there. Another sort, and those the most, insist upon the
bad report of the house wherein your Lordship, now observed
in perfect health again, continues to sojourne, and by name have
charged one of the daughters for a common courtizan, alledging
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NOVEMBER 1663
both places and persons where and with whom she hath been too
well known, and how much her wantonnesse occasions, though
unjustly, scandal to your Lordship, and that as well to gratifying
of some enemies as to the wounding of more friends I am not
able to tell. Lastly, my Lord, I find a general coldness in all per-
sons towards your Lordship, such as, from my first dependance
on you, I never yet knew, wherein I shall not offer to interpose
any thoughts or advice of mine, well knowing your Lordship
needs not any. But with a most faithful assurance that no person
nor papers under Heaven is privy to what I here write, besides
myself and this, which I shall be careful to have put into your
owne hands, I rest confident of your Lordship’s just construction
of my dutifull intents herein, and in all humility take leave, may
it please your Lordship, Your Lordship’s most obedient Servant,
S. P.
The foregoing letter was sealed up, and enclosed in this that
follows MY LORD, If this finds your Lordship either not alone, or
not at leisure, I beg the suspending your opening of the enclosed
till you shall have both, the matter very well bearing such a delay,
and in all humility remain, may it please your Lordship, Your
Lordship’s most obedient Servant, S. P. November 17, 1663. My
servant hath my directions to put this into your Lordship’s owne
hand, but not to stay for any answer.
19th. Up, and to the office, where (Sir J. Minnes and Sir W.
Batten being gone this morning to Portsmouth) the rest of us met,
and rode at noon. So I to the ‘Change, where little business, and
so home to dinner, and being at dinner Mr. Creed in and dined
with us, and after dinner Mr. Gentleman, my Jane’s father, to
see us and her. And after a little stay with them, I was sent for
by Sir G. Carteret by agreement, and so left them, and to him
and with him by coach to my Lord Treasurer, to discourse with
him about Mr. Gauden’s having of money, and to offer to him
whether it would not be necessary, Mr. Gauden’s credit being so
low as it is, to take security of him if he demands any great sum,
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NOVEMBER 1663
such as £20,000, which now ought to be paid him upon his next
year’s declaration. Which is a sad thing, that being reduced to
this by us, we should be the first to doubt his credit; but so it is.
However, it will be managed with great tenderness to him. My
Lord Treasurer we found in his bed-chamber, being laid up of the
goute. I find him a very ready man, and certainly a brave servant
to the King: he spoke so quick and sensibly of the King’s charge.
Nothing displeased me in him but his long nails, which he lets
grow upon a pretty thick white short hand, that it troubled me
to see them. Thence with Sir G. Carteret by coach, and he set me
down at the New Exchange. In our way he told me there is no
such thing likely yet as a Dutch war, neither they nor we being
in condition for it, though it will come certainly to that in some
time, our interests lying the same way, that is to say, in trade.
But not yet. Thence to the Temple, and there visited my cozen
Roger Pepys and his brother Dr. John, a couple, methinks, of
very ordinary men, and thence to speak [with] Mr. Moore, and
met him by the way, who tells me, to my great content, that he
believes my letter to my Lord Sandwich hath wrought well upon
him, and that he will look after himself and his business upon it,
for he begins already to do so. But I dare not conclude anything
till I see him, which shall be to-morrow morning, that I may be
out of my pain to know how he takes it of me. He and I to the
Coffee-house, and there drank and talked a little, and so I home,
and after a little at my office home to supper and to bed, not
knowing how to avoid hopes from Mr. Moore’s words to-night,
and yet I am fearful of the worst.
20th. Up, and as soon as I could to my Lord Sandwich’s lodg-
ings, but he was gone out before, and so I am defeated of my
expectation of being eased one way or other in the business of
my Lord. But I went up to Mr. Howe, who I saw this day the
first time in a periwigg, which becomes him very well, and dis-
coursed with him. He tells me that my Lord is of a sudden much
changed, and he do believe that he do take my letter well. How-
ever, we do both bless God that it hath so good an effect upon
1129
NOVEMBER 1663
him. Thence I home again, calling at the Wardrobe, where I found
my Lord, but so busy with Mr. Townsend making up accounts
there that I was unwilling to trouble him, and so went away. By
and by to the Exchange, and there met by agreement Mr. Howe,
and took him with a barrel of oysters home to dinner, where we
were very merry, and indeed I observe him to be a very hopeful
young man, but only a little conceited. After dinner I took him
and my wife, and setting her in Covent Garden at her mother’s,
he and I to my Lord’s, and thence I with Mr. Moore to White
Hall, there the King and Council being close, and I thinking it an
improper place to meet my Lord first upon the business; I took
coach, and calling my wife went home, setting Mr. Moore down
by the way, and having been late at the office alone looking over
some plates of the Northern seas, the White seas, and Archangell
river, I went home, and, after supper, to bed. My wife tells me
that she and her brother have had a great falling out to-night, he
taking upon him to challenge great obligation upon her, and tax-
ing her for not being so as she ought to be to her friends, and
that she can do more with me than she pretends, and I know not
what, but God be thanked she cannot. A great talke there is to-
day of a crush between some of the Fanatiques up in arms, and
the King’s men in the North; but whether true I know not yet.
21st. At the office all the morning and at noon I receive a letter
from Mr. Creed, with a token, viz., a very noble parti-coloured
Indian gowne for my wife. The letter is oddly writ, over-prizing
his present, and little owning any past service of mine, but that
this was his genuine respects, and I know not what: I confess
I had expectations of a better account from him of my service
about his accounts, and so give his boy 12d., and sent it back
again, and after having been at the pay of a ship this afternoon at
the Treasury, I went by coach to Ludgate, and, by pricing several
there, I guess this gowne may be worth about £12 or £15. But,
however, I expect at least £50 of him. So in the evening I wrote
him a letter telling him clearly my mind, a copy of which I keep
and of his letter and so I resolve to have no more such correspon-
1130
NOVEMBER 1663
dence as I used to have but will have satisfaction of him as I do
expect. So to write my letters, and after all done I went home to
supper and to bed, my mind being pretty well at ease from my
letter to Creed, and more for my receipt this afternoon of £17 at
the Treasury, for the £17 paid a year since to the carver for his
work at my house, which I did intend to have paid myself, but,
finding others to do it, I thought it not amisse to get it too, but I
am afeard that we may hear of it to our greater prejudices here-
after.
22nd (Lord’s day). Up pretty early, and having last night be-
spoke a coach, which failed me this morning, I walked as far as
the Temple, and there took coach, and to my Lord’s lodgings,
whom I found ready to go to chappell; but I coming, he begun,
with a very serious countenance, to tell me that he had received
my late letter, wherein first he took notice of my care of him and
his honour, and did give me thanks for that part of it where I
say that from my heart I believe the contrary of what I do there
relate to be the discourse of others; but since I intended it not a
reproach, but matter of information, and for him to make a judg-
ment of it for his practice, it was necessary for me to tell him the
persons of whom I have gathered the several particulars which I
there insist on. I would have made excuses in it; but, seeing him
so earnest in it, I found myself forced to it, and so did tell him
Mr. Pierce; the chyrurgeon, in that of his Lordship’s living being
discoursed of at Court; a mayd servant that-I kept, that lived at
Chelsy school; and also Mr. Pickering, about the report touching
the young woman; and also Mr. Hunt, in Axe Yard, near whom
she lodged. I told him the whole city do discourse concerning
his neglect of business; and so I many times asserting my duti-
full intention in all this, and he owning his accepting of it as such.
That that troubled me most in particular is, that he did there as-
sert the civility of the people of the house, and the young gen-
tlewoman, for whose reproach he was sorry. His saying that he
was resolved how to live, and that though he was taking a house,
meaning to live in another manner, yet it was not to please any
1131
NOVEMBER 1663
people, or to stop report, but to please himself, though this I do
believe he might say that he might not seem to me to be so much
wrought upon by what I have writ; and lastly, and most of all,
when I spoke of the tenderness that I have used in declaring this
to him, there being nobody privy to it, he told me that I must
give him leave to except one. I told him that possibly somebody
might know of some thoughts of mine, I having borrowed some
intelligence in this matter from them, but nobody could say they
knew of the thing itself what I writ. This, I confess, however, do
trouble me, for that he seemed to speak it as a quick retort, and
it must sure be Will. Howe, who did not see anything of what
I writ, though I told him indeed that I would write; but in this,
I think, there is no great hurt. I find him, though he cannot but
owne his opinion of my good intentions, and so, he did again
and again profess it, that he is troubled in his mind at it; and I
confess, I think I may have done myself an injury for his good,
which, were it to do again, and that I believed he would take it no
better, I think I should sit quietly without taking any notice of it,
for I doubt there is no medium between his taking it very well or
very ill. I could not forbear weeping before him at the latter end,
which, since, I am ashamed of, though I cannot see what he can
take it to proceed from but my tenderness and good will to him.
After this discourse was ended, he began to talk very, cheerfully
of other things, and I walked with him to White Hall, and we dis-
coursed of the pictures in the gallery, which, it may be, he might
do out of policy, that the boy might not see any, strangeness in
him; but I rather think that his mind was somewhat eased, and
hope that he will be to me as he was before. But, however, I doubt
not when he sees that I follow my business, and become an hon-
our to him, and not to be like to need him, or to be a burden to
him, and rather able to serve him than to need him, and if he do
continue to follow business, and so come to his right witts again,
I do not doubt but he will then consider my faithfulnesse to him,
and esteem me as he ought. At chappell I had room in the Privy
Seale pew with other gentlemen, and there heard Dr. Killigrew,
1132
NOVEMBER 1663
preach, but my mind was so, I know not whether troubled, or
only full of thoughts of what had passed between my Lord and
me that I could not mind it, nor can at this hour remember three
words. The anthem was good after sermon, being the fifty-first
psalme, made for five voices by one of Captain Cooke’s boys, a
pretty boy. And they say there are four or five of them that can do
as much. And here I first perceived that the King is a little musi-
call, and kept good time with his hand all along the anthem. Up
into the gallery after sermon and there I met Creed. We saluted
one another and spoke but not one word of what had passed yes-
terday between us, but told me he was forced to such a place to
dinner and so we parted. Here I met Mr. Povy, who tells me how
Tangier had like to have been betrayed, and that one of the King’s
officers is come, to whom 8,000 pieces of eight were offered for
his part. Hence I to the King’s Head ordinary, and there dined,
good and much company, and a good dinner: most of their dis-
course was about hunting, in a dialect I understand very little.
Thence by coach to our own church, and there my mind being
yet unsettled I could mind nothing, and after sermon home and
there told my wife what had passed, and thence to my office,
where doing business only to keep my mind employed till late;
and so home to supper, to prayers, and to bed.
23rd: Up and to Alderman Backwell’s, where Sir W. Rider, by
appointment, met us to consult about the insuring of our hempe
ship from Archangell, in which we are all much concerned, by
my Lord Treasurer’s command. That being put in a way I went to
Mr. Beacham, one of our jury, to confer with him about our busi-
ness with Field at our trial to-morrow, and thence to St. Paul’s
Churchyarde, and there bespoke “Rushworth’s Collections,” and
“Scobell’s Acts of the Long Parliament,“’ &c., which I will make
the King pay for as to the office; and so I do not break my vow
at all. Back to the Coffee-house, and then to the ‘Change, where
Sir W. Rider and I did bid 15 per cent., and nobody will take it
under 20 per cent., and the lowest was 15 per cent. premium, and
15 more to be abated in case of losse, which we did not think fit
1133
NOVEMBER 1663
without order to give, and so we parted, and I home to a speedy,
though too good a dinner to eat alone, viz., a good goose and a
rare piece of roast beef. Thence to the Temple, but being there too
soon and meeting Mr. Moore I took him up and to my Lord Trea-
surer’s, and thence to Sir Ph. Warwick’s, where I found him and
did desire his advice, who left me to do what I thought fit in this
business of the insurance, and so back again to the Temple all the
way telling Mr. Moore what had passed between my Lord and
me yesterday, and indeed my fears do grow that my Lord will
not reform as I hoped he would nor have the ingenuity to take
my advice as he ought kindly. But however I am satisfied that
the one person whom he said he would take leave to except is not
Mr. Moore, and so W. Howe I am sure could tell him nothing of
my letter that ever he saw it. Here Mr. Moore and I parted, and
I up to the Speaker’s chamber, and there met Mr. Coventry by
appointment to discourse about Field’s business, and thence we
parting I homewards and called at the Coffeehouse, and there by
great accident hear that a letter is come that our ship is safe come
to Newcastle. With this news I went like an asse presently to Al-
derman Backewell and, told him of it, and he and I went to the
African House in Broad Street to have spoke with Sir W. Rider to
tell him of it, but missed him. Now what an opportunity had I to
have concealed this and seemed to have made an insurance and
got £100 with the least trouble and danger in the whole world.
This troubles me to think I should be so oversoon. So back again
with Alderman Backewell talking of the new money, which he
says will never be counterfeited, he believes; but it is deadly in-
convenient for telling, it is so thick, and the edges are made to
turn up. I found him as full of business, and, to speak the truth,
he is a very painfull man, and ever was, and now-a-days is well
paid for it. So home and to my office, doing business late in order
to the getting a little money, and so home to supper and to bed.
24th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
at noon to the ‘Change, where everybody joyed me in our hemp
ship’s coming safe, and it seems one man, Middleburgh, did give
1134
NOVEMBER 1663
20 per cent. in gold last night, three or four minutes before the
newes came of her being safe. Thence with Mr. Deane home and
dined, and after dinner and a good deal of discourse of the busi-
ness of Woolwich Yard, we opened his draught of a ship which
he has made for me, and indeed it is a most excellent one and
that that I hope will be of good use to me as soon as I get a little
time, and much indebted I am to the poor man. Toward night I
by coach to Whitehall to the Tangier committee, and there spoke
with my Lord and he seems mighty kind to me, but I will try him
to-morrow by a visit to see whether he holds it or no. Then home
by coach again and to my office, where late with Captain Miners
about the East India business. So home to supper and to bed,
being troubled to find myself so bound as I am, notwithstand-
ing all the physic that I take. This day our tryall was with Field,
and I hear that they have given him £29 damage more, which is
a strange thing, but yet not so much as formerly, nor as I was
afeard of.
25th. Up and to Sir G. Carteret’s house, and with him by coach
to Whitehall. He uses me mighty well to my great joy, and in
our discourse took occasion to tell me that as I did desire of him
the other day so he desires of me the same favour that we may
tell one another at any time any thing that passes among us at
the office or elsewhere wherein we are either dissatisfied one
with another, and that I should find him in all things as kind
and ready to serve me as my own brother. This methinks-was
very sudden and extraordinary and do please me mightily, and
I am resolved by no means ever to lose him again if I can. He
told me that he did still observe my care for the King’s service
in my office. He set me down in Fleet Street and thence I by an-
other coach to my Lord Sandwich’s, and there I did present him
Mr. Barlow’s “Terella,” with which he was very much pleased,
and he did show me great kindnesse, and by other discourse I
have reason to think that he is not at all, as I feared he would
be, discontented against me more than the trouble of the thing
will work upon him. I left him in good humour, and I to White
1135
NOVEMBER 1663
Hall, to the Duke of York and Mr. Coventry, and there advised
about insuring the hempe ship at 12 per cent., notwithstanding
her being come to Newcastle, and I do hope that in all my three
places which are now my hopes and supports I may not now fear
any thing, but with care, which through the Lord’s blessing I will
never more neglect, I don’t doubt but to keep myself up with
them all. For in the Duke, and Mr. Coventry, my Lord Sandwich
and Sir G. Carteret I place my greatest hopes, and it pleased me
yesterday that Mr. Coventry in the coach (he carrying me to the
Exchange at noon from the office) did, speaking of Sir W. Bat-
ten, say that though there was a difference between them, yet he
would embrace any good motion of Sir W. Batten to the King’s
advantage as well as of Mr. Pepys’ or any friend he had. And
when I talked that I would go about doing something of the Con-
troller’s work when I had time, and that I thought the Controller
would not take it ill, he wittily replied that there was nothing in
the world so hateful as a dog in the manger. Back by coach to
the Exchange, there spoke with Sir W. Rider about insuring, and
spoke with several other persons about business, and shall be-
come pretty well known quickly. Thence home to dinner with
my poor wife, and with great joy to my office, and there all the
afternoon about business, and among others Mr. Bland came to
me and had good discourse, and he has chose me a referee for
him in a business, and anon in the evening comes Sir W. War-
ren, and he and I had admirable discourse. He advised me in
things I desired about, bummary,–[bottomry]–and other ways of
putting out money as in parts of ships, how dangerous they are,
and lastly fell to talk of the Dutch management of the Navy, and
I think will helpe me to some accounts of things of the Dutch Ad-
miralty, which I am mighty desirous to know. He seemed to have
been mighty privy with my Lord Albemarle in things before this
great turn, and to the King’s dallying with him and others for
some years before, but I doubt all was not very true. However,
his discourse is very useful in general, though he would seem a
little more than ordinary in this. Late at night home to supper
1136
NOVEMBER 1663
and to bed, my mind in good ease all but my health, of which I
am not a little doubtful.
26th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
at noon I to the ‘Change, and there met with Mr. Cutler the mer-
chant, who would needs have me home to his house by the Dutch
Church, and there in an old but good house, with his wife and
mother, a couple of plain old women, I dined a good plain din-
ner, and his discourse after dinner with me upon matters of the
navy victualling very good and worth my hearing, and so home
to my office in the afternoon with my mind full of business, and
there at it late, and so home to supper to my poor wife, and to
bed, myself being in a little pain..... by a stroke.... in pulling up
my breeches yesterday over eagerly, but I will lay nothing to it
till I see whether it will cease of itself or no. The plague, it seems,
grows more and more at Amsterdam; and we are going upon
making of all ships coming from thence and Hambrough, or any
other infected places, to perform their Quarantine (for thirty days
as Sir Rd. Browne expressed it in the order of the Council, con-
trary to the import of the word, though in the general acceptation
it signifies now the thing, not the time spent in doing it) in Hole-
haven, a thing never done by us before.
27th. Up and to my office, where busy with great delight all
the morning, and at noon to the ‘Change, and so home to dinner
with my poor wife, and with great content to my office again, and
there hard at work upon stating the account of the freights due
to the King from the East India Company till late at night, and so
home to supper and to bed. My wife mightily pleased with my
late discourse of getting a trip over to Calais, or some other port
of France, the next summer, in one of the yachts, and I believe I
shall do it, and it makes good sport that my mayde Jane dares
not go, and Besse is wild to go, and is mad for joy, but yet will
be willing to stay if Jane hath a mind, which is the best temper in
this and all other things that ever I knew in my life.
28th. Up and at the office sat all the morning, and at noon
1137
NOVEMBER 1663
by Mr. Coventry’s coach to the ‘Change, and after a little while
there where I met with Mr. Pierce, the chyrurgeon, who tells
me for good newes that my Lord Sandwich is resolved to go no
more to Chelsy, and told me he believed that I had been giving
my Lord some counsel, which I neither denied nor affirmed, but
seemed glad with him that he went thither no more, and so I
home to dinner, and thence abroad to Paul’s Church Yard, and
there looked upon the second part of Hudibras, which I buy not,
but borrow to read, to see if it be as good as the first, which the
world cry so mightily up, though it hath not a good liking in
me, though I had tried by twice or three times reading to bring
myself to think it witty. Back again home and to my office, and
there late doing business and so home to supper and to bed. I
have been told two or three times, but to-day for certain I am
told how in Holland publickly they have pictured our King with
reproach. One way is with his pockets turned the wrong side
outward, hanging out empty; another with two courtiers picking
of his pockets; and a third, leading of two ladies, while others
abuse him; which amounts to great contempt.
29th (Lord’s day). This morning I put on my best black cloth
suit, trimmed with scarlett ribbon, very neat, with my cloake
lined with velvett, and a new beaver, which altogether is very
noble, with my black silk knit canons I bought a month ago. I
to church alone, my wife not going, and there I found my Lady
Batten in a velvet gown, which vexed me that she should be in
it before my wife, or that I am able to put her into one, but what
cannot be, cannot be. However, when I came home I told my
wife of it, and to see my weaknesse, I could on the sudden have
found my heart to have offered her one, but second thoughts put
it by, and indeed it would undo me to think of doing as Sir W.
Batten and his Lady do, who has a good estate besides his office.
A good dinner we had of boeuf a la mode, but not roasted so well
as my wife used to do it. So after dinner I to the French Church,
but that being too far begun I came back to St. Dunstan’s by six
and heard a good sermon, and so home and to my office all, the
1138
NOVEMBER 1663
evening making up my accounts of this month, and blessed be
God I have got up my crumb again to £770, the most that ever I
had yet, and good clothes a great many besides, which is a great
mercy of God to me. So home to supper and to bed.
30th. Was called up by a messenger from Sir W. Pen to go with
him by coach to White Hall. So I got up and went with him, and
by the way he began to observe to me some unkind dealing of
mine to him a weeke or two since at the table, like a coxcomb,
when I answered him pretty freely that I would not think myself
to owe any man the service to do this or that because they would
have it so (it was about taking of a mulct upon a purser for not
keeping guard at Chatham when I was there), so he talked and I
talked and let fall the discourse without giving or receiving any
great satisfaction, and so to other discourse, but I shall know him
still for a false knave. At White Hall we met the Duke in the
Matted Gallery, and there he discoursed with us; and by and by
my Lord Sandwich came and stood by, and talked; but it being
St. Andrew’s, and a collar-day, he went to the Chappell, and we
parted. From him and Sir W. Pen and I back again and ‘light
at the ‘Change, and to the Coffee-house, where I heard the best
story of a cheate intended by a Master of a ship, who had bor-
rowed twice his money upon the bottomary, and as much more
insured upon his ship and goods as they were worth, and then
would have cast her away upon the coast of France, and there
left her, refusing any pilott which was offered him; and so the
Governor of the place took her and sent her over hither to find
an owner, and so the ship is come safe, and goods and all; they
all worth £500, and he had one way or other taken £3000. The
cause is to be tried to-morrow at Guildhall, where I intend to be.
Thence home to dinner, and then with my wife to her arithme-
tique. In the evening came W. Howe to see me, who tells me that
my Lord hath been angry three or four days with him, would
not speak to him; at last did, and charged him with having spo-
ken to me about what he had observed concerning his Lordship,
which W. Howe denying stoutly, he was well at ease; and contin-
1139
NOVEMBER 1663
ues very quiett, and is removing from Chelsy as fast as he can,
but, methinks, both by my Lord’s looks upon me to-day, or it
may be it is only my doubtfulness, and by W. Howe’s discourse,
my Lord is not very well pleased, nor, it may be, will be a good
while, which vexes me; but I hope all will over in time, or else I
am but ill rewarded for my good service. Anon he and I to the
Temple and there parted, and I to my cozen Roger Pepys, whom
I met going to his chamber; he was in haste, and to go out of
town tomorrow. He tells me of a letter from my father which he
will keep to read to me at his coming to town again. I perceive
it is about my father’s jealousys concerning my wife’s doing ill
offices with me against him only from the differences they had
when she was there, which he very unwisely continues to have
and troubles himself and friends about to speak to me in, as my
Lord Sandwich, Mr. Moore, and my cozen Roger, which vexes
me, but I must impute it to his age and care for my mother and
Pall and so let it go. After little discourse with him I took coach
and home, calling upon my bookseller’s for two books, Rush-
worth’s and Scobell’s Collections. I shall make the King pay for
them. The first I spent some time at the office to read and it is an
excellent book. So home and spent the evening with my wife in
arithmetique, and so to supper and to bed. I end this month with
my mind in good condition for any thing else, but my unhappy
adventuring to disoblige my Lord by doing him service in rep-
resenting to him the discourse of the world concerning him and
his affairs.
1140
DECEMBER 1663
December 1st. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning.
At noon I home to dinner with my poor wife, with whom now-a-
days I enjoy great pleasure in her company and learning of Arith-
metique. After dinner I to Guild Hall to hear a tryall at King’s
Bench, before Lord Chief Justice Hide, about the insurance of a
ship, the same I mention in my yesterday’s journall, where every-
thing was proved how money was so taken up upon bottomary
and insurance, and the ship left by the master and seamen upon
rocks, where, when the sea fell at the ebb, she must perish. The
master was offered helpe, and he did give the pilotts 20 sols to
drink to bid them go about their business, saying that the rocks
were old, but his ship was new, and that she was repaired for £6
and less all the damage that she received, and is now brought by
one, sent for on purpose by the insurers, into the Thames, with
her cargo, vessels of tallow daubed over with butter, instead of
all butter, the whole not worth above £500, ship and all, and they
had took up, as appeared, above £2,400. He had given his men
money to content them; and yet, for all this, he did bring some of
them to swear that it was very stormy weather, and [they] did all
they could to save her, and that she was seven feete deep water in
hold, and were fain to cut her main and foremast, that the mas-
ter was the last man that went out, and they were fain to force
1141
DECEMBER 1663
[him] out when she was ready to sink; and her rudder broke off,
and she was drawn into the harbour after they were gone, as
wrecke all broken, and goods lost: that she could not be carried
out again without new building, and many other things so con-
trary as is not imaginable more. There was all the great counsel
in the kingdom in the cause; but after one witnesse or two for the
plaintiff, it was cried down as a most notorious cheate; and so
the jury, without going out, found it for the plaintiff. But it was
pleasant to see what mad sort of testimonys the seamen did give,
and could not be got to speak in order: and then their terms such
as the judge could not understand; and to hear how sillily the
Counsel and judge would speak as to the terms necessary in the
matter, would make one laugh: and above all, a Frenchman that
was forced to speak in French, and took an English oathe he did
not understand, and had an interpreter sworn to tell us what he
said, which was the best testimony of all. So home well satisfied
with this afternoon’s work, purposing to spend an afternoon or
two every term so, and so to my office a while and then home
to supper, arithmetique with my wife, and to bed. I heard other
causes, and saw the course of pleading by being at this trial, and
heard and learnt two things: one is that every man has a right
of passage in, but not a title to, any highway. The next, that the
judge would not suffer Mr. Crow, who hath fined for Alderman,
to be called so, but only Mister, and did eight or nine times fret
at it, and stop every man that called him so.
2nd. My wife troubled all last night with the toothache and
this morning. I up and to my office, where busy, and so home to
dinner with my wife, who is better of her tooth than she was, and
in the afternoon by agreement called on by Mr. Bland, and with
him to the Ship a neighbour tavern and there met his antagonist
Mr. Custos and his referee Mr. Clarke a merchant also, and begun
the dispute about the freight of a ship hired by Mr. Bland to carry
provisions to Tangier, and the freight is now demanded, whereas
he says that the goods were some spoiled, some not delivered,
and upon the whole demands £1300 of the other, and their minds
1142
DECEMBER 1663
are both so high, their demands so distant, and their words so
many and hot against one another that I fear we shall bring it
to nothing. But however I am glad to see myself so capable of
understanding the business as I find I do, and shall endeavour
to do Mr. Bland all the just service I can therein. Here we were
in a bad room, which vexed me most, but we meet at another
house next. So at noon I home and to my office till 9 o’clock, and
so home to my wife to keep her company, arithmetique, then to
supper, and to bed, she being well of her tooth again.
3rd. Up and to the office, where all the forenoon, and then (by
Mr. Coventry’s coach) to the ‘Change, and so home to dinner,
very pleasant with my poor wife. Somebody from Portsmouth,
I know not who, has this day sent me a Runlett of Tent. So to
my office all the afternoon, where much business till late at night,
and so home to my wife, and then to supper and to bed. This day
Sir G. Carteret did tell us at the table, that the Navy (excepting
what is due to the Yards upon the quarter now going on, and
what few bills he hath not heard of) is quite out of debt; which
is extraordinary good newes, and upon the ‘Change to hear how
our creditt goes as good as any merchant’s upon the ‘Change is a
joyfull thing to consider, which God continue! I am sure the King
will have the benefit of it, as well as we some peace and creditt.
4th. Up pretty betimes, that is about 7 o’clock, it being now
dark then, and so got me ready, with my clothes, breeches and
warm stockings, and by water with Henry Russell, cold and wet
and windy to Woolwich, to a hempe ship there, and staid look-
ing upon it and giving direction as to the getting it ashore, and so
back again very cold, and at home without going on shore any-
where about 12 o’clock, being fearful of taking cold, and so dined
at home and shifted myself, and so all the afternoon at my office
till night, and then home to keep my poor wife company, and so
to supper and to bed.
5th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
then with the whole board, viz., Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and
1143
DECEMBER 1663
myself along with Captain Allen home to dinner, where he lives
hard by in Mark Lane, where we had a very good plain dinner
and good welcome, in a pretty little house but so smoky that it
was troublesome to us all till they put out the fire, and made one
of charcoale. I was much pleased with this dinner for the many
excellent stories told by Mr. Coventry, which I have put down in
my book of tales and so shall not mention them here. We staid till
night, and then Mr. Coventry away, and by and by I home to my
office till 9 or 10 at night, and so home to supper and to bed af-
ter some talke and Arithmetique with my poor wife, with whom
now-a-days I live with great content, out of all trouble of mind
by jealousy (for which God forgive me), or any other distraction
more than my fear of my Lord Sandwich’s displeasure.
6th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, and then up and to church
alone, which is the greatest trouble that I have by not having a
man or, boy to wait on me, and so home to dinner, my wife, it
being a cold day, and it begun to snow (the first snow we have
seen this year) kept her bed till after dinner, and I below by my-
self looking over my arithmetique books and timber rule. So my
wife rose anon, and she and I all the afternoon at arithmetique,
and she is come to do Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplicacion
very well, and so I purpose not to trouble her yet with Division,
but to begin with the Globes to her now. At night came Cap-
tain Grove to discourse with me about Field’s business and of
other matters, and so, he being gone, I to my office, and spent an
houre or two reading Rushworth, and so to supper home, and to
prayers and bed, finding myself by cold to have some pain begin
with me, which God defend should increase.
7th. Up betimes, and, it being a frosty morning, walked on foot
to White Hall, but not without some fear of my pain coming. At
White Hall I hear and find that there was the last night the great-
est tide that ever was remembered in England to have been in
this river: all White Hall having been drowned, of which there
was great discourse. Anon we all met, and up with the Duke
1144
DECEMBER 1663
and did our business, and by and by my Lord of Sandwich came
in, but whether it be my doubt or no I cannot tell, but I do not
find that he made any sign of kindnesse or respect to me, which
troubles me more than any thing in the world. After done there
Sir W. Batten and Captain Allen and I by coach to the Temple,
where I ‘light, they going home, and indeed it being my trouble
of mind to try whether I could meet with my Lord Sandwich and
try him to see how he will receive me. I took coach and back
again to Whitehall, but there could not find him. But here I met
Dr. Clerke, and did tell him my story of my health; how my pain
comes to me now-a-days. He did write something for me which
I shall take when there is occasion. I then fell to other discourse
of Dr. Knapp, who tells me he is the King’s physician, and is
become a solicitor for places for people, and I am mightily trou-
bled with him. He tells me he is the most impudent fellow in
the world, that gives himself out to be the King’s physician, but
it is not so, but is cast out of the Court. From thence I may learn
what impudence there is in the world, and how a man may be de-
ceived in persons: Anon the King and Duke and Duchesse came
to dinner in the Vane-roome, where I never saw them before; but
it seems since the tables are done, he dines there all together. The
Queene is pretty well, and goes out of her chamber to her little
chappell in the house. The King of France, they say, is hiring of
sixty sail of ships of the Dutch, but it is not said for what design.
By and by, not hoping to see my Lord, I went to the King’s Head
ordinary, where a good dinner but no discourse almost, and after
dinner by coach, home, and found my wife this cold day not yet
out of bed, and after a little good talk with her to my office, and
there spent my time till late. Sir W. Warren two or three hours
with me talking of trade, and other very good discourse, which
did please me very, well, and so, after reading in Rushworth,
home to supper and to bed.
8th. Lay long in bed, and then up and to the office, where we
sat all the morning, and among other things my Lord Barkely
called in question his clerk Mr. Davy for something which Sir W.
1145
DECEMBER 1663
Batten and I did tell him yesterday, but I endeavoured to make
the least of it, and so all was put up. At noon to the ‘Change, and
among other businesses did discourse with Captain Taylor, and
I think I shall safely get £20 by his ship’s freight at present, be-
sides what it may be I may get hereafter. So home to dinner, and
thence by coach to White Hall, where a great while walked with
my Lord Tiviott, whom I find a most carefull, thoughtfull, and
cunning man, as I also ever took him to be. He is this day bring-
ing in an account where he makes the King debtor to him £10,000
already on the garrison of Tangier account; but yet demands not
ready money to pay it, but offers such ways of paying it out of
the sale of old decayed provisions as will enrich him finely. Anon
came my Lord Sandwich, and then we fell to our business at the
Committee about my Lord Tiviott’s accounts, wherein I took oc-
casion to speak now and then, so as my Lord Sandwich did well
seem to like of it, and after we were up did bid me good night
in a tone that, methinks, he is not so displeased with me as I did
doubt he is; however, I will take a course to know whether he
be or no. The Committee done, I took coach and home to my
office, and there late, and so to supper at home, and to bed, be-
ing doubtful of my pain through the very cold weather which we
have, but I will take all the care I can to prevent it.
9th. Lay very long in bed for fear of my pain, and then rose and
went to stool (after my wife’s way, who by all means would have
me sit long and upright) very well, and being ready to the office.
From thence I was called by and by to my wife, she not being
well. So to her, and found her in great pain...... So by and by
to my office again, and then abroad to look out a cradle to burn
charcoal in at my office, and I found one to my mind in Newgate
Market, and so meeting Hoby’s man in the street, I spoke to him
to serve it in to the office for the King. So home to dinner, and
after talk with my wife, she in bed and pain all day, I to my office
most of the evening, and then home to my wife. This day Mrs.
Russell did give my wife a very fine St. George, in alabaster,
which will set out my wife’s closett mightily. This evening at the
1146
DECEMBER 1663
office, after I had wrote my day’s passages, there came to me my
cozen Angier of Cambridge, poor man, making his moan, and
obtained of me that I would send his son to sea as a Reformado,
which I will take care to do. But to see how apt every man is to
forget friendship in time of adversity. How glad was I when he
was gone, for fear he should ask me to be bond for him, or to
borrow money of me.
10th. Up, pretty well, the weather being become pretty warm
again, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and I con-
fess having received so lately a token from Mrs. Russell, I did
find myself concerned for our not buying some tallow of her
(which she bought on purpose yesterday most unadvisedly to
her great losse upon confidence of putting it off to us). So hard
it is for a man not to be warped against his duty and master’s
interest that receives any bribe or present, though not as a bribe,
from any body else. But she must be contented, and I to do her a
good turn when I can without wrong to the King’s service. Then
home to dinner (and did drink a glass of wine and beer, the more
for joy that this is the shortest day in the year,–[Old Style]–which
is a pleasant consideration) with my wife. She in bed but pretty
well, and having a messenger from my brother, that he is not well
nor stirs out of doors, I went forth to see him, and found him be-
low, he has not been well, but is not ill. I found him taking order
for the distribution of Mrs. Ramsey’s coals, a thing my father for
many years did, and now he after him, which I was glad to see,
as also to hear that Mr. Wheatly begins to look after him. I hope
it is about his daughter. Thence to St. Paul’s Church Yard, to my
bookseller’s, and having gained this day in the office by my sta-
tioner’s bill to the King about 40s. or £3, I did here sit two or three
hours calling for twenty books to lay this money out upon, and
found myself at a great losse where to choose, and do see how
my nature would gladly return to laying out money in this trade.
I could not tell whether to lay out my money for books of plea-
sure, as plays, which my nature was most earnest in; but at last,
after seeing Chaucer, Dugdale’s History of Paul’s, Stows London,
1147
DECEMBER 1663
Gesner, History of Trent, besides Shakespeare, Jonson, and Beau-
mont’s plays, I at last chose Dr. Fuller’s Worthys, the Cabbala
or Collections of Letters of State, and a little book, Delices de
Hollande, with another little book or two, all of good use or seri-
ous pleasure: and Hudibras, both parts, the book now in greatest
fashion for drollery, though I cannot, I confess, see enough where
the wit lies. My mind being thus settled, I went by linke home,
and so to my office, and to read in Rushworth; and so home to
supper and to bed. Calling at Wotton’s, my shoemaker’s, today,
he tells me that Sir H. Wright is dying; and that Harris is come to
the Duke’s house again; and of a rare play to be acted this week
of Sir William Davenant’s: the story of Henry the Eighth with all
his wives.
11th. Up and abroad toward the Wardrobe, and going out Mr.
Clerke met me to tell me that Field has a writ against me in this
last business of £30 10s., and that he believes he will get an exe-
cution against me this morning, and though he told me it could
not be well before noon, and that he would stop it at the Sheriff’s,
yet it is hard to believe with what fear I did walk and how I did
doubt at every man I saw and do start at the hearing of one man
cough behind my neck. I to, the Wardrobe and there missed Mr.
Moore. So to Mr. Holden’s and evened all reckonings there for
hats, and then walked to Paul’s Churchyard and after a little at
my bookseller’s and bought at a shop Cardinall Mazarin’s Will
in French. I to the Coffeehouse and there among others had good
discourse with an Iron Merchant, who tells me the great evil of
discouraging our natural manufacture of England in that com-
modity by suffering the Swede to bring in three times more than
ever they did and our owne Ironworks be lost, as almost half of
them, he says, are already. Then I went and sat by Mr. Harring-
ton, and some East country merchants, and talking of the country
about Quinsborough, and thereabouts, he told us himself that for
fish, none there, the poorest body, will buy a dead fish, but must
be alive, unless it be in winter; and then they told us the manner
of putting their nets into the water. Through holes made in the
1148
DECEMBER 1663
thick ice, they will spread a net of half a mile long; and he hath
known a hundred and thirty and a hundred and seventy barrels
of fish taken at one draught. And then the people come with
sledges upon the ice, with snow at the bottome, and lay the fish
in and cover them with snow, and so carry them to market. And
he hath seen when the said fish have been frozen in the sledge,
so as that he hath taken a fish and broke a-pieces, so hard it hath
been; and yet the same fishes taken out of the snow, and brought
into a hot room, will be alive and leap up and down. Swallows
are often brought up in their nets out of the mudd from under
water, hanging together to some twigg or other, dead in ropes,
and brought to the fire will come to life. Fowl killed in Decem-
ber. (Alderman Barker said) he did buy, and putting into the box
under his sledge, did forget to take them out to eate till Aprill
next, and they then were found there, and were through the frost
as sweet and fresh and eat as well as at first killed. Young beares
are there; their flesh sold in market as ordinarily as beef here, and
is excellent sweet meat. They tell us that beares there do never
hurt any body, but fly away from you, unless you pursue and
set upon them; but wolves do much mischief. Mr. Harrington
told us how they do to get so much honey as they send abroad.
They make hollow a great fir-tree, leaving only a small slitt down
straight in one place, and this they close up again, only leave a lit-
tle hole, and there the bees go in and fill the bodys of those trees
as full of wax and honey as they can hold; and the inhabitants
at times go and open the slit, and take what they please without
killing the bees, and so let them live there still and make more.
Fir trees are always planted close together, because of keeping
one another from the violence of the windes; and when a fell
is made, they leave here and there a grown tree to preserve the
young ones coming up. The great entertainment and sport of the
Duke of Corland, and the princes thereabouts, is hunting; which
is not with dogs as we, but he appoints such a day, and summons
all the country-people as to a campagnia; and by several compa-
nies gives every one their circuit, and they agree upon a place
1149
DECEMBER 1663
where the toyle is to be set; and so making fires every company
as they go, they drive all the wild beasts, whether bears, wolves,
foxes, swine, and stags, and roes, into the toyle; and there the
great men have their stands in such and such places, and shoot
at what they have a mind to, and that is their hunting. They are
not very populous there, by reason that people marry women
seldom till they are towards or above thirty; and men thirty or
forty years old, or more oftentimes. Against a publique hunt-
ing the Duke sends that no wolves be killed by the people; and
whatever harm they do, the Duke makes it good to the person
that suffers it: as Mr. Harrington instanced in a house where he
lodged, where a wolfe broke into a hog-stye, and bit three or four
great pieces off the back of the hog, before the house could come
to helpe it (it calling, and that did give notice to the people of the
house); and the man of the house told him that there were three
or four wolves thereabouts that did them great hurt; but it was
no matter, for the Duke was to make it good to him, otherwise he
would kill them. Hence home and upstairs, my wife keeping her
bed, and had a very good dinner, and after dinner to my office,
and there till late busy. Among other things Captain Taylor came
to me about his bill for freight, and besides that I found him con-
tented that I have the £30 I got, he do offer me to give me £6 to
take the getting of the bill paid upon me, which I am ready to do,
but I am loath to have it said that I ever did it. However, I will
do him the service to get it paid if I can and stand to his courtesy
what he will give me. Late to supper home, and to my great joy I
have by my wife’s good advice almost brought myself by going
often and leisurely to the stool that I am come almost to have my
natural course of stool as well as ever, which I pray God continue
to me.
12th. Up and to the office where all the morning, and among
other things got Sir G. Carteret to put his letters to Captain Tay-
lor’s bill by which I am in hopes to get £5, which joys my heart.
We had this morning a great dispute between Mr. Gauden, Vict-
ualler of the Navy, and Sir J. Lawson, and the rest of the Com-
1150
DECEMBER 1663
manders going against Argier, about their fish and keeping of
Lent; which Mr. Gauden so much insists upon to have it ob-
served, as being the only thing that makes up the loss of his dear
bargain all the rest of the year. At noon went home and there
I found that one Abrahall, who strikes in for the serving of the
King with Ship chandlery ware, has sent my wife a Japan gowne,
which pleases her very well and me also, it coming very oppor-
tune, but I know not how to carry myself to him, I being already
obliged so far to Mrs. Russell, so that I am in both their pays.
To the Exchange, where I had sent Luellin word I would come
to him, and thence brought him home to dinner with me. He
tells me that W. Symon’s wife is dead, for which I am sorry, she
being a good woman, and tells me an odde story of her saying
before her death, being in good sense, that there stood her un-
cle Scobell. Then he began to tell me that Mr. Deering had been
with him to desire him to speak to me that if I would get him off
with these goods upon his hands, he would give me 50 pieces,
and further that if I would stand his friend to helpe him to the
benefit of his patent as the King’s merchant, he could spare me
£200 per annum out of his profits. I was glad to hear both of
these, but answered him no further than that as I would not by
any thing be bribed to be unjust in my dealings,400 so I was not so
squeamish as not to take people’s acknowledgment where I had
the good fortune by my pains to do them good and just offices,
and so I would not come to be at any agreement with him, but I
would labour to do him this service and to expect his considera-
tion thereof afterwards as he thought fit. So I expect to hear more
of it. I did make very much of Luellin in hopes to have some
good by this business, and in the evening received some money
400 Edward Dering was granted, August, 1660, “the office of King’s mer-
chant in the East, for buying and providing necessaries for apparelling the
Navy” (“Calendar,” Domestic, 1660-61, p. 212). There is evidence among the
State Papers of some dissatisfaction with the timber, &c., which he supplied
to the Navy, and at this time he appears to have had some stores left on his
hands.
1151
DECEMBER 1663
from Mr. Moore, and so went and settled accounts in my books
between him and me, and I do hope at Christmas not only to find
myself as rich or more than ever I was yet, but also my accounts
in less compass, fewer reckonings either of debts or moneys due
to me, than ever I have been for some years, and indeed do so, the
goodness of God bringing me from better to a better expectation
and hopes of doing well. This day I heard my Lord Barkeley tell
Sir G. Carteret that he hath letters from France that the King hath
unduked twelve Dukes, only to show his power and to crush his
nobility, who he said he did see had heretofore laboured to cross
him. And this my Lord Barkeley did mightily magnify, as a sign
of a brave and vigorous mind, that what he saw fit to be done
he dares do. At night, after business done at my office, home to
supper and to bed. I have forgot to set down a very remarkable
passage that, Lewellen being gone, and I going into the office,
and it begun to be dark, I found nobody there, my clerks being at
the burial of a child of W. Griffin’s, and so I spent a little time till
they came, walking in the garden, and in the mean time, while I
was walking Mrs. Pen’s pretty maid came by my side, and went
into the office, but finding nobody there I went in to her, being
glad of the occasion. She told me as she was going out again
that there was nobody there, and that she came for a sheet of pa-
per. So I told her I would supply her, and left her in the office
and went into my office and opened my garden door, thinking
to have got her in, and there to have caressed her, and seeming
looking for paper, I told her this way was as near a way for her,
but she told me she had left the door open and so did not come
to me. So I carried her some paper and kissed her, leading her
by the hand to the garden door and there let her go. But, Lord!
to see how much I was put out of order by this surprisal, and
how much I could have subjected my mind to have treated and
been found with this wench, and how afterwards I was troubled
to think what if she should tell this and whether I had spoke or
done any thing that might be unfit for her to tell. But I think there
was nothing more passed than just what I here write.
1152
DECEMBER 1663
13th (Lord’s day). Up and made me ready for Church, but my
wife and I had a difference about her old folly that she would fas-
ten lies upon her mayds, and now upon Jane, which I did not see
enough to confirm me in it, and so would not consent to her. To
church, where after sermon home, and to my office, before din-
ner, reading my vowes, and so home to dinner, where Tom came
to me and he and I dined together, my wife not rising all day, and
after dinner I made even accounts with him, and spent all the
afternoon in my chamber talking of many things with him, and
about Wheately’s daughter for a wife for him, and then about the
Joyces and their father Fenner, how they are sometimes all honey
one with another and then all turd, and a strange rude life there
is among them. In the evening, he gone, I to my office to read
Rushworth upon the charge and answer of the Duke of Bucking-
ham, which is very fine, and then to do a little business against
to-morrow, and so home to supper to my wife, and then to bed.
14th. Up by candlelight, which I do not use to do, though it
be very late, that is to say almost 8 o’clock, and out by coach to
White Hall, where we all met and to the Duke, where I heard
a large discourse between one that goes over an agent from the
King to Legorne and thereabouts, to remove the inconveniences
his ships are put to by denial of pratique; which is a thing that is
now-a-days made use of only as a cheat, for a man may buy a bill
of health for a piece of eight, and my enemy may agree with the
Intendent of the Sante for ten pieces of eight or so; that he shall
not give me a bill of health, and so spoil me in my design, what-
ever it be. This the King will not endure, and so resolves either to
have it removed, or to keep all ships from coming in, or going out
there, so long as his ships are stayed for want hereof. Then, my
Lord Sandwich being there, we all went into the Duke’s closet
and did our business. But among other things, Lord! what an
account did Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten make of the pulling
down and burning of the head of the Charles, where Cromwell
was placed with people under his horse, and Peter, as the Duke
called him, is praying to him; and Sir J. Minnes would needs in-
1153
DECEMBER 1663
fer the temper of the people from their joy at the doing of this
and their building a gibbet for the hanging of his head up, when
God knows, it is even the flinging away of £100 out of the King’s
purse, to the building of another, which it seems must be a Nep-
tune. Thence I through White Hall only to see what was doing,
but meeting none that I knew I went through the garden to my
Lord Sandwich’s lodging, where I found my Lord got before me
(which I did not intend or expect) and was there trying some
musique, which he intends for an anthem of three parts, I know
not whether for the King’s chapel or no, but he seems mighty
intent upon it. But it did trouble me to hear him swear before
God and other oathes, as he did now and then without any oc-
casion, which methinks did so ill become him, and I hope will
be a caution for me, it being so ill a thing in him. The musique
being done, without showing me any good or ill countenance, he
did give me his hat and so adieu, and went down to his coach
without saying anything to me. He being gone I and Mr. Howe
talked a good while. He tells me that my Lord, it is true, for a
while after my letter, was displeased, and did shew many slight-
ings of me when he had occasion of mentioning me to his Lord-
ship, but that now my Lord is in good temper and he do believe
will shew me as much respect as ever, and would have me not
to refrain to come to him. This news I confess did much trouble
me, but when I did hear how he is come to himself, and hath
wholly left Chelsy, and the slut, and that I see he do follow his
business, and becomes in better repute than before, I am rejoiced
to see it, though it do cost me some disfavour for a time, for if
not his good nature and ingenuity, yet I believe his memory will
not bear it always in his mind. But it is my comfort that this is
the thing that after so many years good service that has made
him my enemy. Thence to the King’s Head ordinary, and there
dined among a company of fine gentlemen; some of them dis-
coursed of the King of France’s greatness, and how he is come
to make the Princes of the Blood to take place of all foreign Em-
bassadors, which it seems is granted by them of Venice and other
1154
DECEMBER 1663
States, and expected from my Lord. Hollis, our King’s Embas-
sador there; and that either upon that score or something else
he hath not had his entry yet in Paris, but hath received several
affronts, and among others his harnesse cut, and his gentlemen
of his horse killed, which will breed bad blood if true. They say
also that the King of France hath hired threescore ships of Hol-
land, and forty of the Swede, but nobody knows what to do; but
some great designs he hath on foot against the next year. Thence
by coach home and to my office, where I spent all the evening till
night with Captain Taylor discoursing about keeping of masts,
and when he was gone, with Sir W. Warren, who did give me
excellent discourse about the same thing, which I have commit-
ted to paper, and then fell to other talk of his being at Chatham
lately and there discoursing of his masts. Commissioner Pett did
let fall several scurvy words concerning my pretending to know
masts as well as any body, which I know proceeds ever since I
told him I could measure a piece of timber as well as anybody
employed by the King. But, however, I shall remember him for a
black sheep again a good while, with all his fair words to me, and
perhaps may let him know that my ignorance does the King as
much good as all his knowledge, which would do more it is true
if it were well used. Then we fell to talk of Sir J. Minnes’s and Sir
W. Batten’s burning of Oliver’s head, while he was there; which
was done with so much insulting and folly as I never heard of,
and had the Trayned Band of Rochester to come to the solemnity,
which when all comes to all, Commissioner Pett says it never
was made for him; but it troubles me the King should suffer £100
losse in his purse, to make a new one after it was forgot whose it
was, or any words spoke of it. He being gone I mightily pleased
with his discourse, by which I always learn something, I to read
a little in Rushworth, and so home to supper to my wife, it hav-
ing been washing day, and so to bed, my mind I confess a little
troubled for my Lord Sandwich’s displeasure. But God will give
me patience to bear since it rises from so good an occasion.
15th. Before I was up, my brother’s man came to tell me that
1155
DECEMBER 1663
my cozen, Edward Pepys, was dead, died at Mrs. Turner’s, for
which my wife and I are very sorry, and the more for that his wife
was the only handsome woman of our name. So up and to the
office, where the greatest business was Sir J. Minnes and Sir W.
Batten against me for Sir W. Warren’s contract for masts, to which
I may go to my memorandum book to see what past, but came
off with conquest, and my Lord Barkely and Mr. Coventry well
convinced that we are well used. So home to dinner, and thither
came to me Mr. Mount and Mr. Luellin, I think almost foxed, and
there dined with me and very merry as I could be, my mind be-
ing troubled to see things so ordered at the Board, though with
no disparagement to me at all. At dinner comes a messenger
from the Counter with an execution against me for the £30 10s.,
given the last verdict to Field. The man’s name is Thomas, of the
Poultry Counter. I sent Griffin with him to the Dolphin, where
Sir W. Batten was at dinner, and he being satisfied that I should
pay the money, I did cause the money to be paid him, and Griffin
to tell it out to him in the office. He offered to go along with me to
Sir R. Ford, but I thought it not necessary, but let him go with it,
he also telling me that there is never any receipt for it given, but I
have good witness of the payment of it. They being gone, Luellin
having again told me by myself that Deering is content to give
me £50 if I can sell his deals for him to the King, not that I did
ever offer to take it, or bid Luellin bargain for me with him, but
did tacitly seem to be willing to do him what service I could in it,
and expect his thanks, what he thought good. Thence to White
Hall by coach, by the way overtaking Mr. Moore, and took him
into the coach to me, and there he could tell me nothing of my
Lord, how he stands as to his thoughts or respect to me, but con-
cludes that though at present he may be angry yet he will come
to be pleased again with me no doubt, and says that he do mind
his business well, and keeps at Court. So to White Hall, and there
by order found some of the Commissioners of Tangier met, and
my Lord Sandwich among the rest, to whom I bowed, but he
shewed me very little if any countenance at all, which troubles
1156
DECEMBER 1663
me mightily. Having soon done there, I took up Mr. Moore again
and set him down at Pauls, by the way he proposed to me of a
way of profit which perhaps may shortly be made by money by
fines upon houses at the Wardrobe, but how I did not understand
but left it to another discourse. So homeward, calling upon Mr.
Fen, by Sir G. Carteret’s desire, and did there shew him the bill of
Captain Taylor’s whereby I hope to get something justly. Home
and to my office, and there very late with Sir W. Warren upon
very serious discourse, telling him how matters passed to-day,
and in the close he and I did fall to talk very openly of the busi-
ness of this office, and (if I was not a little too open to tell him
my interest, which is my fault) he did give me most admirable
advice, and such as do speak him a most able and worthy man,
and understanding seven times more than ever I thought to be
in him. He did particularly run over every one of the officers
and commanders, and shewed me how I had reason to mistrust
every one of them, either for their falsenesse or their over-great
power, being too high to fasten a real friendship in, and did give
me a common but a most excellent saying to observe in all my
life. He did give it in rhyme, but the sense was this, that a man
should treat every friend in his discourse and opening his mind
to him as of one that may hereafter be his foe. He did also advise
me how I should take occasion to make known to the world my
case, and the pains that I take in my business, and above all to be
sure to get a thorough knowledge in my employment, and to that
add all the interest at Court that I can, which I hope I shall do. He
staid talking with me till almost 12 at night, and so good night,
being sorry to part with him, and more sorry that he should have
as far as Wapping to walk to-night. So I to my Journall and so
home, to supper and to bed.
16th. Up, and with my head and heart full of my business, I to
my office, and there all the morning, where among other things
to my great content Captain Taylor brought me £40, the greater
part of which I shall gain to myself after much care and pains out
of his bill of freight, as I have at large set down in my book of
1157
DECEMBER 1663
Memorandums. At noon to the ‘Change and there met with Mr.
Wood by design, and got out of him to my advantage a condi-
tion which I shall make good use of against Sir W. Batten (vide
my book of Memorandums touching the contract of masts of Sir
W. Warren about which I have had so much trouble). So home
to dinner and then to the Star Tavern hard by to our arbitration
of Mr. Bland’s business, and at it a great while, but I found no
order like to be kept in our inquiry, and Mr. Clerke, the other ar-
bitrator, one so far from being fit (though able as to his trade of a
merchant) to inquire and to take pains in searching out the truth
on both sides, that we parted without doing anything, nor do I
believe we shall at all ever attain to anything in it. Then home
and till 12 at night making up my accounts with great account of
this day’s receipt of Captain Taylor’s money and some money re-
imbursed me which I have laid out on Field’s business. So home
with my mind in pretty good quiet, and to Supper and to bed.
17th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon home to my poor wife and dined, and then by coach abroad
to Mrs. Turner’s where I have not been for many a day, and there
I found her and her sister Dike very sad for the death of their
brother. After a little common expression of sorrow, Mrs. Turner
told me that the trouble she would put me to was, to consult
about getting an achievement prepared, scutcheons were done
already, to set over the door. So I did go out to Mr. Smith’s,
where my brother tells me the scutcheons are made, but he not
being within, I went to the Temple, and there spent my time in
a Bookseller’s shop, reading in a book of some Embassages into
Moscovia, &c., where was very good reading, and then to Mrs.
Turner’s, and thither came Smith to me, with whom I did agree
for £4 to make a handsome one, ell square within the frame. After
he was gone I sat an houre talking of the suddennesse of his death
within 7 days, and how by little and little death came upon him,
neither he nor they thinking it would come to that. He died after
a day’s raveing, through lightness in his head for want of sleep.
His lady did not know of his sickness, nor do they hear yet how
1158
DECEMBER 1663
she takes it. Hence home, taking some books by the way in Paul’s
Churchyard by coach to my office, where late doing business,
and so home to supper and to bed.
18th. Up, and after being ready and done several businesses
with people, I took water (taking a dram of the bottle at the wa-
terside) with a gaily, the first that ever I had yet, and down to
Woolwich, calling at Ham Creeke, where I met Mr. Deane, and
had a great deal of talke with him about business, and so to the
Ropeyarde and Docke, discoursing several things, and so back
again and did the like at Deptford, and I find that it is absolutely
necessary for me to do thus once a weeke at least all the yeare
round, which will do me great good, and so home with great
ease and content, especially out of the content which I met with
in a book I bought yesterday, being a discourse of the state of
Rome under the present Pope, Alexander the 7th, it being a very
excellent piece. After eating something at home, then to my of-
fice, where till night about business to dispatch. Among other
people came Mr. Primate, the leather seller, in Fleete Streete, to
see me, he says, coming this way; and he tells me that he is upon
a proposal to the King, whereby, by a law already in being, he
will supply the King, without wrong to any man, or charge to
the people in general, so much as it is now, above £200,000 per
annum, and God knows what, and that the King do like the pro-
posal, and hath directed that the Duke of Monmouth, with their
consent, be made privy, and go along with him and his fellow
proposer in the business, God knows what it is; for I neither can
guess nor believe there is any such thing in his head. At night
made an end of the discourse I read this morning, and so home
to supper and to bed.
19th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
I laboured hard at Deering’s business of his deals more than I
would if I did not think to get something, though I do really be-
lieve that I did what is to the King’s advantage in it, and yet, God
knows, the expectation of profit will have its force and make a
1159
DECEMBER 1663
man the more earnest. Dined at home, and then with Mr. Bland
to another meeting upon his arbitration, and seeing we were
likely to do no good I even put them upon it, and they chose Sir
W. Rider alone to end the matter, and so I am rid of it. Thence by
coach to my shoemaker’s and paid all there, and gave something
to the boys’ box against Christmas. To Mrs. Turner’s, whom I
find busy with Sir W. Turner, about advising upon going down
to Norfolke with the corps, and I find him in talke a sober, consid-
ering man. So home to my office late, and then home to supper
and to bed. My head full of business, but pretty good content.
20th (Lord’s day). Up and alone to church, where a common
sermon of Mr. Mills, and so home to dinner in our parler, my
wife being clean, and the first time we have dined here a great
while together, and in the afternoon went to church with me also,
and there begun to take her place above Mrs. Pen, which hereto-
fore out of a humour she was wont to give her as an affront to
my Lady Batten. After a dull sermon of the Scotchman, home,
and there I found my brother Tom and my two cozens Scotts, he
and she, the first time they were ever here. And by and by in
comes my uncle. Wight and Mr. Norbury, and they sat with us
a while drinking, of wine, of which I did give them plenty. But
the two would not stay supper, but the other two did. And we
were as merry as I could be with people that I do wish well to,
but know not what discourse either to give them or find from
them. We showed them our house from top to bottom, and had a
good Turkey roasted for our supper, and store of wine, and after
supper sent them home on foot, and so we to prayers and to bed.
21st. Up betimes, my wife having a mind to have gone abroad
with me, but I had not because of troubling me, and so left her,
though against my will, to go and see her father and mother by
herself, and I straight to my Lord Sandwich’s, and there I had
a pretty kind salute from my Lord, and went on to the Duke’s,
where my fellow officers by and by came, and so in with him
to his closet, and did our business, and so broke up, and I with
1160
DECEMBER 1663
Sir W. Batten by coach to Salisbury Court, and there spoke with
Clerk our Solicitor about Field’s business, and so parted, and I
to Mrs. Turner’s, and there saw the achievement pretty well set
up, and it is well done. Thence I on foot to Charing Crosse to
the ordinary, and there, dined, meeting Mr. Gauden and Creed.
Here variety of talk but to no great purpose. After dinner won
a wager of a payre of gloves of a crowne of Mr. Gauden upon
some words in his contract for victualling. There parted in the
street with them, and I to my Lord’s, but he not being within,
took coach, and, being directed by sight of bills upon the walls,
I did go to Shoe Lane to see a cocke-fighting at a new pit there,
a sport I was never at in my life; but, Lord! to see the strange
variety of people, from Parliament-man (by name Wildes, that
was Deputy Governor of the Tower when Robinson was Lord
Mayor) to the poorest ‘prentices, bakers, brewers, butchers, dray-
men, and what not; and all these fellows one with another in
swearing, cursing, and betting. I soon had enough of it, and yet
I would not but have seen it once, it being strange to observe
the nature of these poor creatures, how they will fight till they
drop down dead upon the table, and strike after they are ready
to give up the ghost, not offering to run away when they are
weary or wounded past doing further, whereas where a dunghill
brood comes he will, after a sharp stroke that pricks him, run off
the stage, and then they wring off his neck without more ado,
whereas the other they preserve, though their eyes be both out,
for breed only of a true cock of the game. Sometimes a cock that
has had ten to one against him will by chance give an unlucky
blow, will strike the other starke dead in a moment, that he never
stirs more; but the common rule is, that though a cock neither
runs nor dies, yet if any man will bet £10 to a crowne, and no-
body take the bet, the game is given over, and not sooner. One
thing more it is strange to see how people of this poor rank, that
look as if they had not bread to put in their mouths, shall bet
three or four pounds at one bet, and lose it, and yet bet as much
the next battle (so they call every match of two cocks), so that one
1161
DECEMBER 1663
of them will lose £10 or £20 at a meeting. Thence, having enough
of it, by coach to my Lord Sandwich’s, where I find him within
with Captain Cooke and his boys, Dr. Childe, Mr. Madge, and
Mallard, playing and singing over my Lord’s anthem which he
hath made to sing in the King’s Chappell: my Lord saluted me
kindly and took me into the withdrawing-room, to hear it at a
distance, and indeed it sounds very finely, and is a good thing, I
believe, to be made by him, and they all commend it. And after
that was done Captain Cooke and his two boys did sing some
Italian songs, which I must in a word say I think was fully the
best musique that I ever yet heard in all my life, and it was to
me a very great pleasure to hear them. After all musique ended,
my Lord going to White Hall, I went along with him, and made
a desire for to have his coach to go along with my cozen Edward
Pepys’s hearse through the City on Wednesday next, which he
granted me presently, though he cannot yet come to speak to me
in the familiar stile that he did use to do, nor can I expect it. But I
was the willinger of this occasion to see whether he would deny
me or no, which he would I believe had he been at open defyance
against me. Being not a little pleased with all this, though I yet
see my Lord is not right yet, I thanked his Lordship and parted
with him in White Hall. I back to my Lord’s, and there took up
W. Howe in a coach, and carried him as far as the Half Moone,
and there set him down. By the way, talking of my Lord, who is
come another and a better man than he was lately, and God be
praised for it, and he says that I shall find my Lord as he used
to be to me, of which I have good hopes, but I shall beware of
him, I mean W. Howe, how I trust him, for I perceive he is not
so discreet as I took him for, for he has told Captain Ferrers (as
Mr. Moore tells me) of my letter to my Lord, which troubles me,
for fear my Lord should think that I might have told him. So
called with my coach at my wife’s brother’s lodging, but she was
gone newly in a coach homewards, and so I drove hard and over-
took her at Temple Bar, and there paid off mine, and went home
with her in her coach. She tells me how there is a sad house
1162
DECEMBER 1663
among her friends. Her brother’s wife proves very unquiet, and
so her mother is, gone back to be with her husband and leave the
young couple to themselves, and great trouble, and I fear great
want, will be among them, I pray keep me from being troubled
with them. At home to put on my gowne and to my office, and
there set down this day’s Journall, and by and by comes Mrs.
Owen, Captain Allen’s daughter, and causes me to stay while
the papers relating to her husband’s place, bought of his father,
be copied out because of her going by this morning’s tide home
to Chatham. Which vexes me, but there is no help for it. I home
to supper while a young [man] that she brought with her did
copy out the things, and then I to the office again and dispatched
her, and so home to bed.
22nd. Up and there comes my she cozen Angier, of Cambridge,
to me to speak about her son. But though I love them, and have
reason so to do, yet, Lord! to consider how cold I am to speak
to her, for fear of giving her too much hopes of expecting either
money or anything else from me besides my care of her son. I
let her go without drinking, though that was against my will, be-
ing forced to hasten to the office, where we sat all the morning,
and at noon I to Sir R. Ford’s, where Sir R. Browne (a dull but it
seems upon action a hot man), and he and I met upon setting a
price upon the freight of a barge sent to France to the Duchess
of Orleans. And here by discourse I find them greatly crying out
against the choice of Sir J. Cutler to be Treasurer for Paul’s upon
condition that he give £1500 towards it, and it seems he did give
it upon condition that he might be Treasurer for the work, which
they say will be worth three times as much money, and talk as
if his being chosen to the office will make people backward to
give, but I think him as likely a man as either of them, or better.
The business being done we parted, Sir R. Ford never inviting
me to dine with him at all, and I was not sorry for it. Home
and dined. I had a letter from W. Howe that my Lord hath or-
dered his coach and six horses for me to-morrow, which pleases
me mightily to think that my Lord should do so much, hoping
1163
DECEMBER 1663
thereby that his anger is a little over. After dinner abroad with
my wife by coach to Westminster, and set her at Mrs. Hunt’s
while I about my business, having in our way met with Captain
Ferrers luckily to speak to him about my coach, who was going
in all haste thither, and I perceive the King and Duke and all the
Court was going to the Duke’s playhouse to see “Henry VIII.”
acted, which is said to be an admirable play. But, Lord! to see
how near I was to have broken my oathe, or run the hazard of
20s. losse, so much my nature was hot to have gone thither; but
I did not go, but having spoke with W. Howe and known how
my Lord did do this kindly as I would have it, I did go to West-
minster Hall, and there met Hawley, and walked a great while
with him. Among other discourse encouraging him to pursue
his love to Mrs. Lane, while God knows I had a roguish meaning
in it. Thence calling my wife home by coach, calling at several
places, and to my office, where late, and so home to supper and
to bed. This day I hear for certain that my Lady Castlemaine is
turned Papist, which the Queene for all do not much like, think-
ing that she do it not for conscience sake. I heard to-day of a great
fray lately between Sir H. Finch’s coachman, who struck with his
whip a coachman of the King’s to the losse of one of his eyes; at
which the people of the Exchange seeming to laugh and make
sport with some words of contempt to him, my Lord Chamberlin
did come from the King to shut up the ‘Change, and by the help
of a justice, did it; but upon petition to the King it was opened
again.
23rd. Up betimes and my wife; and being in as mourning a
dress as we could, at present, without cost, put ourselves into,
we by Sir W. Pen’s coach to Mrs. Turner’s, at Salisbury Court,
where I find my Lord’s coach and six horses. We staid till al-
most eleven o’clock, and much company came, and anon, the
corps being put into the hearse, and the scutcheons set upon it,
we all took coach, and I and my wife and Auditor Beale in my
Lord Sandwich’s coach, and went next to Mrs. Turner’s mourn-
ing coach, and so through all the City and Shoreditch, I believe
1164
DECEMBER 1663
about twenty coaches, and four or five with six and four horses.
Being come thither, I made up to the mourners, and bidding them
a good journey, I took leave and back again, and setting my wife
into a hackney out of Bishopsgate Street, I sent her home, and I
to the ‘Change and Auditor Beale about his business. Did much
business at the ‘Change, and so home to dinner, and then to my
office, and there late doing business also to my great content to
see God bless me in my place and opening honest ways, I hope
to get a little money to lay up and yet to live handsomely. So to
supper and to bed. My wife having strange fits of the toothache,
some times on this, and by and by on that side of her tooth, which
is not common.
24th. Up betimes; and though it was a most foggy morning,
and cold, yet with a gally down to Eriffe, several times being
at a loss whither we went. There I mustered two ships of the
King’s, lent by him to the Guiny Company, which are manned
better than ours at far less wages. Thence on board two of the
King’s, one of them the “Leopard,” Captain Beech, who I find an
able and serious man. He received me civilly, and his wife was
there, a very well bred and knowing woman, born at Antwerp,
but speaks as good English as myself, and an ingenious woman.
Here was also Sir G. Carteret’s son, who I find a pretty, but very
talking man, but good humour. Thence back again, entertain-
ing myself upon my sliding rule with great content, and called at
Woolwich, where Mr. Chr. Pett having an opportunity of being
alone did tell me his mind about several things he thought I was
offended with him in, and told me of my kindness to his assis-
tant. I did give him such an answer as I thought was fit and left
him well satisfied, he offering to do me all the service, either by
draughts or modells that I should desire. Thence straight home,
being very cold, but yet well, I thank God, and at home found my
wife making mince pies, and by and by comes in Captain Ferrers
to see us, and, among other talke, tells us of the goodness of the
new play of “Henry VIII.,” which makes me think [it] long till my
time is out; but I hope before I go I shall set myself such a stint as
1165
DECEMBER 1663
I may not forget myself as I have hitherto done till I was forced
for these months last past wholly to forbid myself the seeing of
one. He gone I to my office and there late writing and reading,
and so home to bed.
25th (Christmas day). Lay long talking pleasantly with my
wife, but among other things she begun, I know not whether by
design or chance, to enquire what she should do if I should by
any accident die, to which I did give her some slight answer; but
shall make good use of it to bring myself to some settlement for
her sake, by making a will as soon as I can. Up and to church,
where Mr. Mills made an ordinary sermon, and so home and
dined with great pleasure with my wife, and all the afternoon
first looking out at window and seeing the boys playing at many
several sports in our back yard by Sir W. Pen’s, which reminded
me of my own former times, and then I began to read to my wife
upon the globes with great pleasure and to good purpose, for it
will be pleasant to her and to me to have her understand these
things. In the evening at the office, where I staid late reading
Rushworth, which is a most excellent collection of the beginning
of the late quarrels in this kingdom, and so home to supper and
to bed, with good content of mind.
26th. Up and walked forth first to the Minerys to Brown’s, and
there with great pleasure saw and bespoke several instruments,
and so to Cornhill to Mr. Cades, and there went up into his ware-
house to look for a map or two, and there finding great plenty of
good pictures, God forgive me! how my mind run upon them,
and bought a little one for my wife’s closett presently, and con-
cluded presently of buying £10 worth, upon condition he would
give me the buying of them. Now it is true I did still within me
resolve to make the King one way or other pay for them, though
I saved it to him another way, yet I find myself too forward to fix
upon the expense, and came away with a resolution of buying
them, but do hope that I shall not upon second thoughts do it
without a way made out before I buy them to myself how to do
1166
DECEMBER 1663
[it] without charge to my main stock. Thence to the Coffee-house,
and sat long in good discourse with some gentlemen concerning
the Roman Empire. So home and found Mr. Hollyard there, and
he stayed and dined with us, we having a pheasant to dinner. He
gone, I all the afternoon with my wife to cards, and, God forgive
me! to see how the very discourse of plays, which I shall be at
liberty to see after New Year’s Day next, do set my mind upon
them, but I must be forced to stint myself very strictly before I
begin, or else I fear I shall spoil all. In the evening came my aunt
Wight’s kinswoman to see how my wife do, with a compliment
from my aunt, which I take kindly as it is unusual for her to do
it, but I do perceive my uncle is very kind to me of late. So to
my office writing letters, and then to read and make an end of
Rushworth, which I did, and do say that it is a book the most
worth reading for a man of my condition or any man that hopes
to come to any publique condition in the world that I do know.
So home to supper and to bed.
27th. Up and to church alone and so home to dinner with my
wife very pleasant and pleased with one another’s company, and
in our general enjoyment one of another, better we think than
most other couples do. So after dinner to the French church, but
came too late, and so back to our owne church, where I slept all
the sermon the Scott preaching, and so home, and in the evening
Sir J. Minnes and I met at Sir W. Pen’s about ordering some busi-
ness of the Navy, and so I home to supper, discourse, prayers,
and bed.
28th. Up and by coach to my Lord’s lodgings, but he was gone
abroad, so I lost my pains, but, however, walking through White
Hall I heard the King was gone to play at Tennis, so I down to
the new Tennis Court; and saw him and Sir Arthur Slingsby play
against my Lord of Suffolke and my Lord Chesterfield. The King
beat three, and lost two sets, they all, and he particularly play-
ing well, I thought. Thence went and spoke with the Duke of
Albemarle about his wound at Newhall, but I find him a heavy
1167
DECEMBER 1663
dull man, methinks, by his answers to me. Thence to the King’s
Head ordinary and there dined, and found Creed there, but we
met and dined and parted without any thing more than “How
do you?” After dinner straight on foot to Mr. Hollyard’s, and
there paid him £3 in full for his physic and work to my wife....
but whether it is cured for ever or no I cannot tell, but he says it
will never come to anything, though it may be it may ooze now
and then a little. So home and found my wife gone out with Will
(whom she sent for as she do now a days upon occasion) to have
a tooth drawn, she having it seems been in great pain all day, and
at night came home with it drawn, and pretty well. This evening
I had a stove brought me to the office to try, but it being an old
one it smokes as much as if there was nothing but a hearth as I
had before, but it may be great new ones do not, and therefore
I must enquire further. So at night home to supper and to bed.
The Duchesse of York is fallen sicke of the meazles.
29th. Up and to the office, where all the morning sitting, at
noon to the ‘change, and there I found and brought home Mr.
Pierse the surgeon to dinner. Where I found also Mr. Luellin and
Mount, and merry at dinner, but their discourse so free.... that I
was weary of them. But after dinner Luellin took me up to my
chamber to give me £50 for the service I did him, though not so
great as he expected and I intended. But I told him that I would
not sell my liberty to any man. If he would give me any thing by
another’s hand I would endeavour to deserve it, but I will never
give him himself thanks for it, not acknowledging the receiving
of any, which he told me was reasonable. I did also tell him that
neither this nor any thing should make me to do any thing that
should not be for the King’s service besides. So we parted and
left them three at home with my wife going to cards, and I to my
office and there staid late. Sir W. Pen came like a cunning rogue
to sit and talk with me about office business and freely about the
Comptroller’s business of the office, to which I did give him free
answers and let him make the best of them. But I know him to be
a knave, and do say nothing that I fear to have said again. Anon
1168
DECEMBER 1663
came Sir W. Warren, and after talking of his business of the masts
and helping me to understand some foul dealing in the business
of Woods we fell to other talk, and particularly to speak of some
means how to part this great familiarity between Sir W. Batten
and Sir J. Minnes, and it is easy to do by any good friend of Sir J.
Minnes to whom it will be a good service, and he thinks that Sir
J. Denham will be a proper man for it, and so do I. So after other
discourse we parted, and I home and to bed.
30th. Up betimes and by coach to my Lord Sandwich, who I
met going out, and he did aske me how his cozen, my wife; did,
the first time he hath done so since his being offended, and, in
my conscience, he would be glad to be free with me again, but
he knows not how to begin. So he went out, and I through the
garden to Mr. Coventry, where I saw Mr. Ch. Pett bringing him
a modell, and indeed it is a pretty one, for a New Year’s gift;
but I think the work not better done than mine. With him by
coach to London, with good and friendly discourse of business
and against Sir W. Batten and his foul dealings. So leaving him at
the Guiny House I to the Coffee House, whither came Mr. Grant
and Sir W. Petty, with whom I talked, and so did many, almost
all the house there, about his new vessel, wherein he did give me
such satisfaction in every point that I am almost confident she
will prove an admirable invention. So home to dinner, and after
being upon the ‘Change awhile I dined with my wife, who took
physique to-day, and so to my office, and there all the afternoon
till late at night about office business, and so to supper and to
bed.
31st. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
among other things Sir W. Warren came about some contract, and
there did at the open table, Sir W. Batten not being there; openly
defy him, and insisted how Sir W. Batten did endeavour to op-
pose him in everything that he offered. Sir W. Pen took him up
for it, like a counterfeit rogue, though I know he was as much
pleased to hear him talk so as any man there. But upon his speak-
1169
DECEMBER 1663
ing no more was said but to the business. At noon we broke up
and I to the ‘Change awhile, and so home again to dinner, my
head aching mightily with being overcharged with business. We
had to dinner, my wife and I, a fine turkey and a mince pie, and
dined in state, poor wretch, she and I, and have thus kept our
Christmas together all alone almost, having not once been out,
but to-morrow my vowes are all out as to plays and wine, but
I hope I shall not be long before I come to new ones, so much
good, and God’s blessing, I find to have attended them. Thence
to the office and did several businesses and answered several
people, but my head aching and it being my great night of ac-
counts, I went forth, took coach, and to my brother’s, but he was
not within, and so I back again and sat an hour or two at the Cof-
fee [house], hearing some simple discourse about Quakers being
charmed by a string about their wrists, and so home, and after a
little while at my office, I home and supped, and so had a good
fire in my chamber and there sat till 4 o’clock in the morning
making up my accounts and writing this last Journall of the year.
And first I bless God I do, after a large expense, even this month,
by reason of Christmas, and some payments to my father, and
other things extraordinary, find that I am worth in money, be-
sides all my household stuff, or any thing of Brampton, above
£800, whereof in my Lord Sandwich’s hand, £700, and the rest in
my hand. So that there is not above £5 of all my estate in money
at this minute out of my hands and my Lord’s. For which the
good God be pleased to give me a thankful heart and a mind
careful to preserve this and increase it. I do live at my lodgings
in the Navy Office, my family being, besides my wife and I, Jane
Gentleman, Besse, our excellent, good-natured cookmayde, and
Susan, a little girle, having neither man nor boy, nor like to have
again a good while, living now in most perfect content and qui-
ett, and very frugally also; my health pretty good, but only that I
have been much troubled with a costiveness which I am labour-
ing to get away, and have hopes of doing it. At the office I am
well, though envied to the devil by Sir William Batten, who hates
1170
DECEMBER 1663
me to death, but cannot hurt me. The rest either love me, or at
least do not show otherwise, though I know Sir W. Pen to be a
false knave touching me, though he seems fair. My father and
mother well in the country; and at this time the young ladies of
Hinchingbroke with them, their house having the small-pox in it.
The Queene after a long and sore sicknesse is become well again;
and the King minds his mistresse a little too much, if it pleased
God! but I hope all things will go well, and in the Navy particu-
larly, wherein I shall do my duty whatever comes of it. The great
talke is the designs of the King of France, whether against the
Pope or King of Spayne nobody knows; but a great and a most
promising Prince he is, and all the Princes of Europe have their
eye upon him. My wife’s brother come to great unhappiness by
the ill-disposition, my wife says, of his wife, and her poverty,
which she now professes, after all her husband’s pretence of a
great fortune, but I see none of them, at least they come not to
trouble me. At present I am concerned for my cozen Angier, of
Cambridge, lately broke in his trade, and this day am sending
his son John, a very rogue, to sea. My brother Tom I know not
what to think of, for I cannot hear whether he minds his business
or not; and my brother John at Cambridge, with as little hopes
of doing good there, for when he was here he did give me great
cause of dissatisfaction with his manner of life. Pall with my fa-
ther, and God knows what she do there, or what will become of
her, for I have not anything yet to spare her, and she grows now
old, and must be disposed of one way or other. The Duchesse
of York, at this time, sicke of the meazles, but is growing well
again. The Turke very far entered into Germany, and all that part
of the world at a losse what to expect from his proceedings. My-
self, blessed be God! in a good way, and design and resolution of
sticking to my business to get a little money with doing the best
service I can to the King also; which God continue! So ends the
old year. ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS FOR PEPY’S DIARY
1963 COMPLETE: A woman sober, and no high-flyer, as he calls
it Academy was dissolved by order of the Pope After oysters, at
1171
DECEMBER 1663
first course, a hash of rabbits, a lamb After some pleasant talk,
my wife, Ashwell, and I to bed After awhile I caressed her and
parted seeming friends Again that she spoke but somewhat of
what she had in her heart And there, did what I would with her
And so to sleep till the morning, but was bit cruelly And so to
bed and there entertained her with great content And so to bed,
my father lying with me in Ashwell’s bed Apprehend about one
hundred Quakers At last we pretty good friends Before I sent my
boy out with them, I beat him for a lie Being cleansed of lice this
day by my wife Better we think than most other couples do Book
itself, and both it and them not worth a turd But a woful rude
rabble there was, and such noises Compliment from my aunt,
which I take kindly as it is unusual Conceited, but that’s no mat-
ter to me Content as to be at our own home, after being abroad
awhile Dare not oppose it alone for making an enemy and do no
good Did so watch to see my wife put on drawers, which (she
did) Did go to Shoe Lane to see a cocke-fighting at a new pit
there Did find none of them within, which I was glad of Dined
at home alone, a good calves head boiled and dumplings Din-
ner was great, and most neatly dressed Dog attending us, which
made us all merry again Dr. Calamy is this day sent to Newgate
for preaching Duodecimal arithmetique Eat a mouthful of pye at
home to stay my stomach Employed by the fencers to play prizes
at Enquiring into the selling of places do trouble a great many
Every man looking after himself, and his owne lust and luxury
Every small thing is enough now-a-days to bring a difference Ex-
communications, which they send upon the least occasions Ex-
pectation of profit will have its force Familiarity with her other
servants is it that spoils them all Fear it may do him no good,
but me hurt Fearful that I might not go far enough with my hat
off Feverish, and hath sent for Mr. Pierce to let him blood Found
guilty, and likely will be hanged (for stealing spoons) Found him
a fool, as he ever was, or worse Galileo’s air thermometer, made
before 1597 Give her a Lobster and do so touse her and feel her
all over God knows that I do not find honesty enough in my own
1172
DECEMBER 1663
mind Goes with his guards with him publiquely, and his trum-
pets Goes down the wind in honour as well as every thing else
Great plot which was lately discovered in Ireland Had a good
supper of an oxe’s cheek Half a pint of Rhenish wine at the Still-
yard, mixed with beer Hanged with a silken halter He is too wise
to be made a friend of He hoped he should live to see her “ugly
and willing” He having made good promises, though I fear his
performance His readiness to speak spoilt all How highly the
Presbyters do talk in the coffeehouses still I calling her beggar,
and she me pricklouse, which vexed me I and she never were so
heartily angry in our lives as to-day I do not find other people
so willing to do business as myself I slept most of the sermon I
was very angry, and resolve to beat him to-morrow Ill humour to
be so against that which all the world cries up In some churches
there was hardly ten people in the whole church Insurrection of
the Catholiques there It must be the old ones that must do any
good Jealous, though God knows I have no great reason John has
got a wife, and for that he intends to part with him Justice of pro-
ceeding not to condemn a man unheard Keep at interest, which
is a good, quiett, and easy profit King was gone to play at Ten-
nis Lady Castlemaine hath all the King’s Christmas presents Lay
long in bed talking and pleasing myself with my wife Lay very
long with my wife in bed talking with great pleasure Lay chid-
ing, and then pleased with my wife in bed Liability of a husband
to pay for goods supplied his wife Many thousands in a little
time go out of England Matters in Ireland are full of discontent
Money, which sweetens all things Most flat dead sermon, both
for matter and manner of delivery Much discourse, but little to
be learned My maid Susan ill, or would be thought so My wife
has got too great head to be brought down soon My wife and
her maid Ashwell had between them spilled the pot.... No more
matter being made of the death of one than another No sense nor
grammar, yet in as good words that ever I saw Nor will yield
that the Papists have any ground given them Nor would become
obliged too much to any Nothing in the world done with true
1173
DECEMBER 1663
integrity Nothing of any truth and sincerity, but mere envy and
design Nothing is to be got without offending God and the King
Once a week or so I know a gentleman must go.... Opening his
mind to him as of one that may hereafter be his foe Out of an itch
to look upon the sluts there Pain of the stone, and makes bloody
water with great pain Parliament do agree to throw down Pop-
ery Pen was then turned Quaker Persuade me that she should
prove with child since last night Plague is much in Amsterdam,
and we in fears of it here Pride and debauchery of the present
clergy Pride himself too much in it Quakers being charmed by a
string about their wrists Rabbit not half roasted, which made me
angry with my wife Railed bitterly ever and anon against John
Calvin Reading my Latin grammar, which I perceive I have great
need Reckon nothing money but when it is in the bank Resolve
to live well and die a beggar Sad for want of my wife, whom I
love with all my heart Saw his people go up and down louse-
ing themselves Scholler, that would needs put in his discourse
(every occasion) Scholler, but, it may be, thinks himself to be too
much so See how time and example may alter a man See whether
my wife did wear drawers to-day as she used to do Sent me last
night, as a bribe, a barrel of sturgeon Servant of the King’s plea-
sures too, as well as business She was so ill as to be shaved and
pidgeons put to her feet She is conceited that she do well already
She used the word devil, which vexed me She begins not at all
to take pleasure in me or study to please So home, and mighty
friends with my wife again So much is it against my nature to
owe anything to any body So home to supper and bed with my
father So home, and after supper did wash my feet, and so to
bed So neat and kind one to another Softly up to see whether any
of the beds were out of order or no Sorry for doing it now, be-
cause of obliging me to do the like Sporting in my fancy with the
Queen Statute against selling of offices Talk very highly of lib-
erty of conscience Taught my wife some part of subtraction That
I might say I saw no money in the paper That he is not able to
live almost with her The plague is got to Amsterdam, brought
1174
DECEMBER 1663
by a ship from Argier The goldsmith, he being one of the jury
to-morrow The house was full of citizens, and so the less pleas-
ant Thence by coach, with a mad coachman, that drove like mad
There is no passing but by coach in the streets, and hardly that
There is no man almost in the City cares a turd for him Therefore
ought not to expect more justice from her These young Lords are
not fit to do any service abroad They were so false spelt that I was
ashamed of them They say now a common mistress to the King
Things being dear and little attendance to be had we went away
Though it be but little, yet I do get ground every month Through
the Fleete Ally to see a couple of pretty [strumpets] To bed with
discontent she yielded to me and began to be fond Towzing her
and doing what I would, but the last thing of all Upon a small
temptation I could be false to her Vexed at my wife’s neglect in
leaving of her scarf Waked this morning between four and five
by my blackbird We having no luck in maids now-a-days Who
is over head and eares in getting her house up Whose voice I am
not to be reconciled Wife and the dancing-master alone above,
not dancing but talking Wine, new and old, with labells pasted
upon each bottle With much ado in an hour getting a coach home
Would not make my coming troublesome to any Yet it was her
fault not to see that I did take them
1175
JANUARY 1663-1664
January 1st, Went to bed between 4 and 5 in the morning with
my mind in good temper of satisfaction and slept till about 8,
that many people came to speak with me. Among others one
came with the best New Year’s gift that ever I had, namely from
Mr. Deering, with a bill of exchange drawn upon himself for the
payment of £50 to Mr. Luellin. It being for my use with a let-
ter of compliment. I am not resolved what or how to do in this
business, but I conclude it is an extraordinary good new year’s
gift, though I do not take the whole, or if I do then give some of
it to Luellin. By and by comes Captain Allen and his son Jowles
and his wife, who continues pretty still. They would have had
me set my hand to a certificate for his loyalty, and I know not
what his ability for any employment. But I did not think it fit,
but did give them a pleasing denial, and after sitting with me an
hour they went away. Several others came to me about business,
and then being to dine at my uncle Wight’s I went to the Coffee-
house, sending my wife by Will, and there staid talking an hour
with Coll. Middleton, and others, and among other things about
a very rich widow, young and handsome, of one Sir Nicholas
Gold’s, a merchant, lately fallen, and of great courtiers that al-
ready look after her: her husband not dead a week yet. She is
reckoned worth £80,000. Thence to my uncle Wight’s, where Dr.
1176
JANUARY 1663-1664
of—–, among others, dined, and his wife, a seeming proud con-
ceited woman, I know not what to make of her, but the Dr’s.
discourse did please me very well about the disease of the stone,
above all things extolling Turpentine, which he told me how it
may be taken in pills with great ease. There was brought to ta-
ble a hot pie made of a swan I sent them yesterday, given me by
Mr. Howe, but we did not eat any of it. But my wife and I rose
from table, pretending business, and went to the Duke’s house,
the first play I have been at these six months, according to my
last vowe, and here saw the so much cried-up play of “Henry
the Eighth;” which, though I went with resolution to like it, is so
simple a thing made up of a great many patches, that, besides the
shows and processions in it, there is nothing in the world good or
well done. Thence mightily dissatisfied back at night to my uncle
Wight’s, and supped with them, but against my stomach out of
the offence the sight of my aunt’s hands gives me, and ending
supper with a mighty laugh, the greatest I have had these many
months, at my uncle’s being out in his grace after meat, we rose
and broke up, and my wife and I home and to bed, being sleepy
since last night.
2nd. Up and to the office, and there sitting all the morning, and
at noon to the ‘Change, in my going met with Luellin and told
him how I had received a letter and bill for £50 from Mr. Deering,
and delivered it to him, which he told me he would receive for
me. To which I consented, though professed not to desire it if
he do not consider himself sufficiently able by the service I have
done, and that it is rather my desire to have nothing till he be
further sensible of my service. From the ‘Change I brought him
home and dined with us, and after dinner I took my wife out,
for I do find that I am not able to conquer myself as to going to
plays till I come to some new vowe concerning it, and that I am
now come, that is to say, that I will not see above one in a month
at any of the publique theatres till the sum of 50s. be spent, and
then none before New Year’s Day next, unless that I do become
worth £1000 sooner than then, and then am free to come to some
1177
JANUARY 1663-1664
other terms, and so leaving him in Lombard Street I took her to
the King’s house, and there met Mr. Nicholson, my old colleague,
and saw “The Usurper,” which is no good play, though better
than what I saw yesterday. However, we rose unsatisfied, and
took coach and home, and I to the office late writing letters, and
so to supper and to bed.
3rd (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, and then rose and with a
fire in my chamber staid within all day, looking over and settling
my accounts in good order, by examining all my books, and the
kitchen books, and I find that though the proper profit of my
last year was but £305, yet I did by other gain make it up £444.,
which in every part of it was unforeseen of me, and therefore it
was a strange oversight for lack of examining my expenses that
I should spend £690 this year, but for the time to come I have so
distinctly settled all my accounts in writing and the particulars of
all my several layings out, that I do hope I shall hereafter make
a better judgment of my spendings than ever. I dined with my
wife in her chamber, she in bed, and then down again and till 11
at night, and broke up and to bed with great content, but could
not make an end of writing over my vows as I purposed, but
I am agreed in every thing how to order myself for the year to
come, which I trust in God will be much for my good. So up to
prayers and to bed. This evening Sir W. Pen came to invite me
against next Wednesday, being Twelfth day, to his usual feast, his
wedding day.
4th. Up betimes, and my wife being ready, and her mayd Besse
and the girl, I carried them by coach and set them all down in
Covent Garden and there left them, and I to my Lord Sandwich’s
lodgings, but he not being up, I to the Duke’s chamber, and there
by and by to his closett, where since his lady was ill, a little red
bed of velvet is brought for him to lie alone, which is a very pretty
one. After doing business here, I to my Lord’s again, and there
spoke with him, and he seems now almost friends again as he
used to be. Here meeting Mr. Pierce, the chyrurgeon, he told me
1178
JANUARY 1663-1664
among other Court newes, how the Queene is very well again,
and the King lay with her on Saturday night last; and that she
speaks now very pretty English, and makes her sense out now
and then with pretty phrazes: as among others this is mightily
cried up; that, meaning to say that she did not like such a horse
so well as the rest, he being too prancing and full of tricks, she
said he did make too much vanity. Thence to the Tennis Court,
after I had spent a little time in Westminster Hall, thinking to
have met with Mrs. Lane, but I could not and am glad of it, and
there saw the King play at Tennis and others: but to see how the
King’s play was extolled without any cause at all, was a loath-
some sight, though sometimes, indeed, he did play very well and
deserved to be commended; but such open flattery is beastly. Af-
terwards to St. James’s Parke, being unwilling to go to spend
money at the ordinary, and there spent an hour or two, it being
a pleasant day, seeing people play at Pell Mell; where it pleased
me mightily to hear a gallant, lately come from France, swear at
one of his companions for suffering his man (a spruce blade) to
be so saucy as to strike a ball while his master was playing on the
Mall.401 Thence took coach at White Hall and took up my wife,
who is mighty sad to think of her father, who is going into Ger-
many against the Turkes; but what will become of her brother I
know not. He is so idle, and out of all capacity, I think, to earn his
bread. Home and at my office till is at night making my solemn
vowes for the next year, which I trust in the Lord I shall keep, but
I fear I have a little too severely bound myself in some things and
in too many, for I fear I may forget some. But however, I know
the worst, and shall by the blessing of God observe to perform or
pay my forfeits punctually. So home and to bed with my mind at
rest.
401 When Egerton was Bishop of Durham, he often played at bowls with his
guests on the public days. On an occasion of this sort, a visitor happening
to cross the lawn, one of the chaplains exclaimed, “You must not shake the
green, for the bishop is going to bowl.”-B.
1179
JANUARY 1663-1664
5th. Up and to our office, where we sat all the morning, where
my head being willing to take in all business whatever, I am
afraid I shall over clogg myself with it. But however, it is my de-
sire to do my duty and shall the willinger bear it. At noon home
and to the ‘Change, where I met with Luellin, who went off with
me and parted to meet again at the Coffeehouse, but missed. So
home and found him there, and Mr. Barrow came to speak with
me, so they both dined with me alone, my wife not being ready,
and after dinner I up in my chamber with Barrow to discourse
about matters of the yard with him, and his design of leaving the
place, which I am sorry for, and will prevent if I can. He being
gone then Luellin did give me the £50 from Mr. Deering, which
he do give me for my pains in his business and what I may here-
after take for him, though there is not the least word or deed I
have yet been guilty of in his behalf but what I am sure has been
to the King’s advantage and the profit of the service, nor ever
will. And for this money I never did condition with him or ex-
pected a farthing at the time when I did do him the service, nor
have given any receipt for it, it being brought me by Luellin, nor
do purpose to give him any thanks for it, but will wherein I can
faithfully endeavour to see him have the privilege of his Patent
as the King’s merchant. I did give Luellin two pieces in gold for
a pair of gloves for his kindness herein. Then he being gone, I
to my office, where busy till late at night, that through my room
being over confounded in business I could stay there no longer,
but went home, and after a little supper to bed.
6th (Twelfth day). Up and to my office, where very busy all
the morning, being indeed over loaded with it through my own
desire of doing all I can. At noon to the ‘Change, but did little,
and so home to dinner with my poor wife, and after dinner read
a lecture to her in Geography, which she takes very prettily and
with great pleasure to her and me to teach her, and so to the office
again, where as busy as ever in my life, one thing after another,
and answering people’s business, particularly drawing up things
about Mr. Wood’s masts, which I expect to have a quarrel about
1180
JANUARY 1663-1664
with Sir W. Batten before it be ended, but I care not. At night
home to my wife, to supper, discourse, prayers, and to bed. This
morning I began a practice which I find by the ease I do it with
that I shall continue, it saving me money and time; that is, to
trimme myself with a razer: which pleases me mightily.
7th. Up, putting on my best clothes and to the office, where all
the morning we sat busy, among other things upon Mr. Wood’s
performance of his contract for masts, wherein I was mightily
concerned, but I think was found all along in the right, and shall
have my desire in it to the King’s advantage. At noon, all of us to
dinner to Sir W. Pen’s, where a very handsome dinner, Sir J. Law-
son among others, and his lady and his daughter, a very pretty
lady and of good deportment, with looking upon whom I was
greatly pleased, the rest of the company of the women were all of
our own house, of no satisfaction or pleasure at all. My wife was
not there, being not well enough, nor had any great mind. But to
see how Sir W. Pen imitates me in everything, even in his having
his chimney piece in his dining room the same with that in my
wife’s closett, and in every thing else I perceive wherein he can.
But to see again how he was out in one compliment: he lets alone
drinking any of the ladies’ healths that were there, my Lady Bat-
ten and Lawson, till he had begun with my Lady Carteret, who
was absent, and that was well enough, and then Mr. Coventry’s
mistresse, at which he was ashamed, and would not have had
him have drunk it, at least before the ladies present, but his pol-
icy, as he thought, was such that he would do it. After dinner by
coach with Sir G. Carteret and Sir J. Minnes by appointment to
Auditor Beale’s in Salisbury Court, and there we did with great
content look over some old ledgers to see in what manner they
were kept, and indeed it was in an extraordinary good method,
and such as (at least out of design to keep them employed) I do
persuade Sir J. Minnes to go upon, which will at least do as much
good it may be to keep them for want of something to do from
envying those that do something. Thence calling to see whether
Mrs. Turner was returned, which she is, and I spoke one word
1181
JANUARY 1663-1664
only to her, and away again by coach home and to my office,
where late, and then home to supper and bed.
8th. Up and all the morning at my office and with Sir J. Minnes,
directing him and Mr. Turner about keeping of their books ac-
cording to yesterday’s work, wherein I shall make them work
enough. At noon to the ‘Change, and there long, and from thence
by appointment took Luellin, Mount, and W. Symons, and Mr.
Pierce, the chirurgeon, home to dinner with me and were merry.
But, Lord! to hear how W. Symons do commend and look sadly
and then talk bawdily and merrily, though his wife was dead but
the other day, would make a dogg laugh. After dinner I did go in
further part of kindness to Luellin for his kindness about Deer-
ing’s £50 which he procured me the other day of him. We spent
all the afternoon together and then they to cards with my wife,
who this day put on her Indian blue gowne which is very pretty,
where I left them for an hour, and to my office, and then to them
again, and by and by they went away at night, and so I again to
my office to perfect a letter to Mr. Coventry about Department
Treasurers, wherein I please myself and hope to give him content
and do the King service therein. So having done, I home and to
teach my wife a new lesson in the globes, and to supper, and to
bed. We had great pleasure this afternoon; among other things,
to talk of our old passages together in Cromwell’s time; and how
W. Symons did make me laugh and wonder to-day when he told
me how he had made shift to keep in, in good esteem and em-
ployment, through eight governments in one year (the dear 1659,
which were indeed, and he did name them all), and then failed
unhappy in the ninth, viz. that of the King’s coming in. He made
good to me the story which Luellin did tell me the other day, of
his wife upon her death-bed; how she dreamt of her uncle Sco-
bell, and did foretell, from some discourse she had with him, that
she should die four days thence, and not sooner, and did all along
say so, and did so. Upon the ‘Change a great talke there was of
one Mr. Tryan, an old man, a merchant in Lyme-Streete, robbed
last night (his man and mayde being gone out after he was a-
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bed), and gagged and robbed of £1050 in money and about £4000
in jewells, which he had in his house as security for money. It is
believed by many circumstances that his man is guilty of confed-
eracy, by their ready going to his secret till in his desk, wherein
the key of his cash-chest lay.
9th. Up (my underlip being mightily swelled, I know not how
but by overrubbing it, it itching) and to the office, where we sat
all the morning, and at noon I home to dinner, and by discourse
with my wife thought upon inviting my Lord Sandwich to a din-
ner shortly. It will cost me at least ten or twelve pounds; but,
however, some arguments of prudence I have, which however
I shall think again upon before I proceed to that expence. Af-
ter dinner by coach I carried my wife and Jane to Westminster,
leaving her at Mr. Hunt’s, and I to Westminster Hall, and there
visited Mrs. Lane, and by appointment went out and met her at
the Trumpet, Mrs. Hare’s, but the room being damp we went to
the Bell tavern, and there I had her company, but could not do as I
used to do (yet nothing but what was honest)..... So I to talk about
her having Hawley, she told me flatly no, she could not love him.
I took occasion to enquire of Howlett’s daughter, with whom I
have a mind to meet a little to see what mettle the young wench
is made of, being very pretty, but she tells me she is already be-
trothed to Mrs. Michell’s son, and she in discourse tells me more,
that Mrs. Michell herself had a daughter before marriage, which
is now near thirty years old, a thing I could not have believed.
Thence leading her to the Hall, I took coach and called my wife
and her mayd, and so to the New Exchange, where we bought
several things of our pretty Mrs. Dorothy Stacy, a pretty woman,
and has the modestest look that ever I saw in my life and manner
of speech. Thence called at Tom’s and saw him pretty well again,
but has not been currant. So homeward, and called at Ludgate,
at Ashwell’s uncle’s, but she was not within, to have spoke to her
to have come to dress my wife at the time my Lord dines here.
So straight home, calling for Walsingham’s Manuals at my book-
seller’s to read but not to buy, recommended for a pretty book
1183
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by Sir W. Warren, whose warrant however I do not much take
till I do read it. So home to supper and to bed, my wife not being
very well since she came home, being troubled with a fainting fit,
which she never yet had before since she was my wife.
10th (Lord’s day). Lay in bed with my wife till 10 or 11 o’clock,
having been very sleepy all night. So up, and my brother Tom be-
ing come to see me, we to dinner, he telling me how Mrs. Turner
found herself discontented with her late bad journey, and not
well taken by them in the country, they not desiring her com-
ing down, nor the burials of Mr. Edward Pepys’s corps there.
After dinner I to the office, where all the afternoon, and at night
my wife and I to my uncle Wight’s, and there eat some of their
swan pie, which was good, and I invited them to my house to eat
a roasted swan on Tuesday next, which after I was come home
did make a quarrels between my wife and I, because she had ap-
pointed a wish to-morrow. But, however, we were friends again
quickly. So to bed. All our discourse to-night was Mr. Tryan’s
late being robbed; and that Collonell Turner (a mad, swearing,
confident fellow, well known by all, and by me), one much in-
debted to this man for his very livelihood, was the man that ei-
ther did or plotted it; and the money and things are found in his
hand, and he and his wife now in Newgate for it; of which we
are all glad, so very a known rogue he was.
11th. Waked this morning by 4 o’clock by my wife to call the
mayds to their wash, and what through my sleeping so long last
night and vexation for the lazy sluts lying so long again and their
great wash, neither my wife nor I could sleep one winke after that
time till day, and then I rose and by coach (taking Captain Grove
with me and three bottles of Tent, which I sent to Mrs. Lane by
my promise on Saturday night last) to White Hall, and there with
the rest of our company to the Duke and did our business, and
thence to the Tennis Court till noon, and there saw several great
matches played, and so by invitation to St. James’s; where, at
Mr. Coventry’s chamber, I dined with my Lord Barkeley, Sir G.
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Carteret, Sir Edward Turner, Sir Ellis Layton, and one Mr. Sey-
mour, a fine gentleman; were admirable good discourse of all
sorts, pleasant and serious. Thence after dinner to White Hall,
where the Duke being busy at the Guinny business, the Duke of
Albemarle, Sir W. Rider, Povy, Sir J. Lawson and I to the Duke
of Albemarle’s lodgings, and there did some business, and so to
the Court again, and I to the Duke of York’s lodgings, where the
Guinny company are choosing their assistants for the next year
by ballotting. Thence by coach with Sir J. Robinson, Lieutenant
of the Tower, he set me down at Cornhill, but, Lord! the sim-
ple discourse that all the way we had, he magnifying his great
undertakings and cares that have been upon him for these last
two years, and how he commanded the city to the content of all
parties, when the loggerhead knows nothing almost that is sense.
Thence to the Coffee-house, whither comes Sir W. Petty and Cap-
tain Grant, and we fell in talke (besides a young gentleman, I
suppose a merchant, his name Mr. Hill, that has travelled and I
perceive is a master in most sorts of musique and other things)
of musique; the universal character; art of memory; Granger’s
counterfeiting of hands and other most excellent discourses to
my great content, having not been in so good company a great
while, and had I time I should covet the acquaintance of that Mr.
Hill. This morning I stood by the King arguing with a pretty
Quaker woman, that delivered to him a desire of hers in writ-
ing. The King showed her Sir J. Minnes, as a man the fittest for
her quaking religion, saying that his beard was the stiffest thing
about him, and again merrily said, looking upon the length of
her paper, that if all she desired was of that length she might lose
her desires; she modestly saying nothing till he begun seriously
to discourse with her, arguing the truth of his spirit against hers;
she replying still with these words, “O King!” and thou’d him all
along. The general talke of the towne still is of Collonell Turner,
about the robbery; who, it is thought, will be hanged. I heard the
Duke of York tell to-night, how letters are come that fifteen are
condemned for the late plot by the judges at York; and, among
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others, Captain Oates, against whom it was proved that he drew
his sword at his going out, and flinging away the scabbard, said
that he would either return victor or be hanged. So home, where
I found the house full of the washing and my wife mighty angry
about Will’s being here to-day talking with her mayds, which
she overheard, idling of their time, and he telling what a good
mayd my old Jane was, and that she would never have her like
again. At which I was angry, and after directing her to beat at
least the little girl, I went to the office and there reproved Will,
who told me that he went thither by my wife’s order, she hav-
ing commanded him to come thither on Monday morning. Now
God forgive me! how apt I am to be jealous of her as to this fel-
low, and that she must needs take this time, when she knows
I must be gone out to the Duke, though methinks had she that
mind she would never think it discretion to tell me this story of
him, to let me know that he was there, much less to make me
offended with him, to forbid him coming again. But this cursed
humour I cannot cool in myself by all the reason I have, which
God forgive me for, and convince me of the folly of it, and the
disquiet it brings me. So home, where, God be thanked, when I
came to speak to my wife my trouble of mind soon vanished, and
to bed. The house foul with the washing and quite out of order
against to-morrow’s dinner.
12th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at
noon to the ‘Change awhile, and so home, getting things against
dinner ready, and anon comes my uncle Wight and my aunt, with
their cozens Mary and Robert, and by chance my uncle Thomas
Pepys. We had a good dinner, the chief dish a swan roasted, and
that excellent meate. At, dinner and all day very merry. After
dinner to cards, where till evening, then to the office a little, and
to cards again with them, and lost half-a-crowne. They being
gone, my wife did tell me how my uncle did this day accost her
alone, and spoke of his hoping she was with child, and kissing
her earnestly told her he should be very glad of it, and from all
circumstances methinks he do seem to have some intention of
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JANUARY 1663-1664
good to us, which I shall endeavour to continue more than ever
I did yet. So to my office till late, and then home to bed, after
being at prayers, which is the first time after my late vowe to say
prayers in my family twice in every week.
13th. Up and to my office a little, and then abroad to many
several places about business, among others to the geometrical
instrument makers, and through Bedlam (calling by the way at
an old bookseller’s and there fell into looking over Spanish books
and pitched upon some, till I thought of my oathe when I was
going to agree for them, and so with much ado got myself out of
the shop glad at my heart and so away) to the African House to
look upon their book of contracts for several commodities for my
information in the prices we give in the Navy. So to the Coffee
[house] where extraordinary good discourse of Dr. Whistler’s’
upon my question concerning the keeping of masts, he arguing
against keeping them dry, by showing the nature of corruption
in bodies and the several ways thereof. So to the ‘Change, and
thence with Sir W. Rider to the Trinity House to dinner, and then
home and to my office till night, and then with Mr. Bland to Sir
T. Viner’s about pieces of eight for Sir J. Lawson, and so back to
my office, and there late upon business, and so home to supper
and to bed.
14th. Up and to the office, where all the morning, and at noon
all of us, viz., Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Batten at one end, and
Mr. Coventry, Sir J. Minnes and I (in the middle at the other
end, being taught how to sit there all three by my sitting so much
the backwarder) at the other end, to Sir G. Carteret’s, and there
dined well. Here I saw Mr. Scott, the bastard that married his
youngest daughter. Much pleasant talk at table, and then up and
to the office, where we sat long upon our design of dividing the
Controller’s work into some of the rest of our hands for the bet-
ter doing of it, but he would not yield to it, though the simple
man knows in his heart that he do not do one part of it. So he
taking upon him to do it all we rose, I vexed at the heart to see
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JANUARY 1663-1664
the King’s service run after this manner, but it cannot be helped.
Thence to the Old James to the reference about Mr. Bland’s busi-
ness. Sir W. Rider being now added to us, and I believe we shall
soon come to some determination in it. So home and to my of-
fice, did business, and then up to Sir W. Pen and did express my
trouble about this day’s business, he not being there, and plainly
told him what I thought of it, and though I know him a false fel-
low yet I adventured, as I have done often, to tell him clearly my
opinion of Sir W. Batten and his design in this business, which
is very bad. Hence home, and after a lecture to my wife in her
globes, to prayers and to bed.
15th. Up and to my office, where all the morning, and among
other things Mr. Turner with me, and I did tell him my mind
about the Controller his master and all the office, and my mind
touching himself too, as he did carry himself either well or ill
to me and my clerks, which I doubt not but it will operate well.
Thence to the ‘Change, and there met my uncle Wight, who was
very kind to me, and would have had me home with him, and so
kind that I begin to wonder and think something of it of good to
me. Thence home to dinner, and after dinner with Mr. Hater by
water, and walked thither and back again from Deptford, where I
did do something checking the iron business, but my chief busi-
ness was my discourse with Mr. Hater about what had passed
last night and to-day about the office business, and my resolu-
tion to do him all the good I can therein. So home, and my wife
tells me that my uncle Wight hath been with her, and played at
cards with her, and is mighty inquisitive to know whether she is
with child or no, which makes me wonder what his meaning is,
and after all my thoughts, I cannot think, unless it be in order to
the making his will, that he might know how to do by me, and I
would to God my wife had told him that she was.
16th. Up, and having paid some money in the morning to my
uncle Thomas on his yearly annuity, to the office, where we sat
all the morning. At noon I to the ‘Change about some pieces
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JANUARY 1663-1664
of eight for Sir J. Lawson. There I hear that Collonell Turner is
found guilty of felony at the Sessions in Mr. Tryan’s business,
which will save his life. So home and met there J. Hasper come
to see his kinswoman our Jane. I made much of him and made
him dine with us, he talking after the old simple manner that he
used to do. He being gone, I by water to Westminster Hall, and
there did see Mrs. Lane..... So by coach home and to my office,
where Browne of the Minerys brought me an Instrument made of
a Spyral line very pretty for all questions in Arithmetique almost,
but it must be some use that must make me perfect in it. So home
to supper and to bed, with my mind ‘un peu troubled pour ce que
fait’ to-day, but I hope it will be ‘la dernier de toute ma vie.’
17th (Lord’s day). Up, and I and my wife to church, where
Pembleton appeared, which, God forgive me, did vex me, but
I made nothing of it. So home to dinner, and betimes my wife
and I to the French church and there heard a good sermon, the
first time my wife and I were there ever together. We sat by three
sisters, all pretty women. It was pleasant to hear the reader give
notice to them, that the children to be catechized next Sunday
were them of Hounsditch and Blanche Chapiton. Thence home,
and there found Ashwell come to see my wife (we having called
at her lodging the other, day to speak with her about dressing
my wife when my Lord Sandwich dines here), and is as merry as
ever, and speaks as disconcerned for any difference between us
on her going away as ever. She being gone, my wife and I to see
Sir W. Pen and there supped with him much against my stomach,
for the dishes were so deadly foule that I could not endure to look
upon them. So after supper home to prayers and to bed.
18th. Up, being troubled to find my wife so ready to have me
go out of doors. God forgive me for my jealousy! but I cannot for-
bear, though God knows I have no reason to do so, or to expect
her being so true to me as I would have her. I abroad to White
Hall, where the Court all in mourning for the Duchesse of Savoy.
We did our business with the Duke, and so I to W. Howe at my
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JANUARY 1663-1664
Lord’s lodgings, not seeing my Lord, he being abroad, and there
I advised with W. Howe about my having my Lord to dinner at
my house, who likes it well, though it troubles me that I should
come to need the advice of such a boy, but for the present it is
necessary. Here I found Mr. Mallard, and had from him a com-
mon tune set by my desire to the Lyra Vyall, which goes most
admirably. Thence home by coach to the ‘Change, after having
been at the Coffee-house, where I hear Turner is found guilty of
felony and burglary; and strange stories of his confidence at the
barr, but yet great indiscretion in his argueing. All desirous of
his being hanged. So home and found that Will had been with
my wife. But, Lord! why should I think any evil of that; and yet
I cannot forbear it. But upon enquiry, though I found no reason
of doubtfulness, yet I could not bring my nature to any quiet or
content in my wife all day and night, nor though I went with
her to divert myself at my uncle Wight’s, and there we played at
cards till 12 at night and went home in a great shower of rain, it
having not rained a great while before. Here was one Mr. Ben-
son, a Dutchman, played and supped with us, that pretends to
sing well, and I expected great matters but found nothing to be
pleased with at all. So home and to bed, yet troubled in my mind.
19th. Up, without any kindness to my wife, and so to the office,
where we sat all the morning, and at noon I to the ‘Change, and
thence to Mr. Cutler’s with Sir W. Rider to dinner, and after din-
ner with him to the Old James upon our reference of Mr. Bland’s,
and, having sat there upon the business half an hour, broke up,
and I home and there found Madame Turner and her sister Dike
come to see us, and staid chatting till night, and so away, and I to
my office till very late, and my eyes began to fail me, and be in
pain which I never felt to now-a-days, which I impute to sitting
up late writing and reading by candle-light. So home to supper
and to bed.
20th. Up and by coach to my Lord Sandwich’s, and after long
staying till his coming down (he not sending for me up, but it
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may be he did not know I was there), he came down, and I
walked with him to the Tennis Court, and there left him, seeing
the King play. At his lodgings this morning there came to him Mr.
W. Montague’s fine lady, which occasioned my Lord’s calling me
to her about some business for a friend of hers preferred to be
a midshipman at sea. My Lord recommended the whole matter
to me. She is a fine confident lady, I think, but not so pretty as I
once thought her. My Lord did also seal a lease for the house he
is now taking in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, which stands him in 250 per
annum rent. Thence by water to my brother’s, whom I find not
well in bed, sicke, they think, of a consumption, and I fear he is
not well, but do not complain, nor desire to take anything. From
him I visited Mr. Honiwood, who is lame, and to thank him for
his visit to me the other day, but we were both abroad. So to Mr.
Commander’s in Warwicke Lane, to speak to him about drawing
up my will, which he will meet me about in a day or two. So
to the ‘Change and walked home, thence with Sir Richard Ford,
who told me that Turner is to be hanged to-morrow, and with
what impudence he hath carried out his trial; but that last night,
when he brought him newes of his death, he began to be sober
and shed some tears, and he hopes will die a penitent; he having
already confessed all the thing, but says it was partly done for
a joke, and partly to get an occasion of obliging the old man by
his care in getting him his things again, he having some hopes
of being the better by him in his estate at his death. Home to
dinner, and after dinner my wife and I by water, which we have
not done together many a day, that is not since last summer, but
the weather is now very warm, and left her at Axe Yard, and I to
White Hall, and meeting Mr. Pierce walked with him an hour in
the Matted Gallery; among other things he tells me that my Lady
Castlemaine is not at all set by by the King, but that he do doat
upon Mrs. Stewart only; and that to the leaving of all business in
the world, and to the open slighting of the Queene; that he val-
ues not who sees him or stands by him while he dallies with her
openly; and then privately in her chamber below, where the very
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sentrys observe his going in and out; and that so commonly, that
the Duke or any of the nobles, when they would ask where the
King is, they will ordinarily say, “Is the King above, or below?”
meaning with Mrs. Stewart: that the King do not openly dis-
own my Lady Castlemaine, but that she comes to Court; but that
my Lord FitzHarding and the Hambletons,402 and sometimes my
Lord Sandwich, they say, have their snaps at her. But he says my
Lord Sandwich will lead her from her lodgings in the darkest and
obscurest manner, and leave her at the entrance into the Queene’s
lodgings, that he might be the least observed; that the Duke of
Monmouth the King do still doat on beyond measure, insomuch
that the King only, the Duke of York, and Prince Rupert, and the
Duke of Monmouth, do now wear deep mourning, that is, long
cloaks, for the Duchesse of Savoy; so that he mourns as a Prince
of the Blood, while the Duke of York do no more, and all the no-
bles of the land not so much; which gives great offence, and he
says the Duke of York do consider. But that the Duke of York do
give himself up to business, and is like to prove a noble Prince;
and so indeed I do from my heart think he will. He says that it is
believed, as well as hoped, that care is taken to lay up a hidden
treasure of money by the King against a bad day, pray God it be
so! but I should be more glad that the King himself would look
after business, which it seems he do not in the least. By and by
came by Mr. Coventry, and so we broke off; and he and I took
a turn or two and so parted, and then my Lord Sandwich came
upon me, to speak with whom my business of coming again to-
night to this ende of the town chiefly was, in order to the seeing in
what manner he received me, in order to my inviting him to din-
ner to my house, but as well in the morning as now, though I did
wait upon him home and there offered occasion of talk with him,
yet he treated me, though with respect, yet as a stranger, without
any of the intimacy or friendship which he used to do, and which
402 The three brothers, George Hamilton, James Hamilton, and the Count
Antoine Hamilton, author of the “Memoires de Grammont.”
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I fear he will never, through his consciousness of his faults, ever
do again. Which I must confess do trouble me above anything
in the world almost, though I neither do need at present nor fear
to need to be so troubled, nay, and more, though I do not think
that he would deny me any friendship now if I did need it, but
only that he has not the face to be free with me, but do look upon
me as a remembrancer of his former vanity, and an espy upon
his present practices, for I perceive that Pickering to-day is great
with him again, and that he has done a great courtesy for Mr.
Pierce, the chirurgeon, to a good value, though both these and
none but these did I mention by name to my Lord in the busi-
ness which has caused all this difference between my Lord and
me. However, I am resolved to forbear my laying out my money
upon a dinner till I see him in a better posture, and by grave and
humble, though high deportment, to make him think I do not
want him, and that will make him the readier to admit me to his
friendship again, I believe the soonest of anything but downright
impudence, and thrusting myself, as others do, upon him, which
yet I cannot do, not [nor] will not endeavour. So home, calling
with my wife to see my brother again, who was up, and walks
up and down the house pretty well, but I do think he is in a con-
sumption. Home, troubled in mind for these passages with my
Lord, but am resolved to better my case in my business to make
my stand upon my owne legs the better and to lay up as well as
to get money, and among other ways I will have a good fleece
out of Creed’s coat ere it be long, or I will have a fall. So to my
office and did some business, and then home to supper and to
bed, after I had by candlelight shaved myself and cut off all my
beard clear, which will make my worke a great deal the less in
shaving.
21st. Up, and after sending my wife to my aunt Wight’s to
get a place to see Turner hanged, I to the office, where we sat all
the morning, and at noon going to the ‘Change; and seeing peo-
ple flock in the City, I enquired, and found that Turner was not
yet hanged. And so I went among them to Leadenhall Street, at
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the end of Lyme Street, near where the robbery was done; and
to St. Mary Axe, where he lived. And there I got for a shilling
to stand upon the wheel of a cart, in great pain, above an houre
before the execution was done; he delaying the time by long dis-
courses and prayers one after another, in hopes of a reprieve; but
none came, and at last was flung off the ladder in his cloake. A
comely-looked man he was, and kept his countenance to the end:
I was sorry to see him. It was believed there were at least 12 or
14,000 people in the street. So I home all in a sweat, and dined by
myself, and after dinner to the Old James, and there found Sir W.
Rider and Mr. Cutler at dinner, and made a second dinner with
them, and anon came Mr. Bland and Custos, and Clerke, and so
we fell to the business of reference, and upon a letter from Mr.
Povy to Sir W. Rider and I telling us that the King is concerned in
it, we took occasion to fling off the business from off our shoul-
ders and would have nothing to do with it, unless we had power
from the King or Commissioners of Tangier, and I think it will be
best for us to continue of that mind, and to have no hand, it be-
ing likely to go against the King. Thence to the Coffee-house, and
heard the full of Turner’s discourse on the cart, which was chiefly
to clear himself of all things laid to his charge but this fault, for
which he now suffers, which he confesses. He deplored the con-
dition of his family, but his chief design was to lengthen time,
believing still a reprieve would come, though the sheriff advised
him to expect no such thing, for the King was resolved to grant
none. After that I had good discourse with a pretty young mer-
chant with mighty content. So to my office and did a little busi-
ness, and then to my aunt Wight’s to fetch my wife home, where
Dr. Burnett did tell me how poorly the sheriffs did endeavour
to get one jewell returned by Turner, after he was convicted, as a
due to them, and not to give it to Mr. Tryan, the true owner, but
ruled against them, to their great dishonour. Though they plead
it might be another jewell for ought they know and not Tryan’s.
After supper home, and my wife tells me mighty stories of my
uncle’s fond and kind discourses to her to-day, which makes me
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confident that he has thoughts of kindness for us, he repeating his
desire for her to be with child, for it cannot enter into my head
that he should have any unworthy thoughts concerning her. Af-
ter doing some business at my office, I home to supper, prayers,
and to bed.
22nd. Up, and it being a brave morning, with a gaily to Wool-
wich, and there both at the Ropeyarde and the other yarde did
much business, and thence to Greenwich to see Mr. Pett and oth-
ers value the carved work of the “Henrietta” (God knows in an ill
manner for the King), and so to Deptford, and there viewed Sir
W. Petty’s vessel; which hath an odd appearance, but not such as
people do make of it, for I am of the opinion that he would never
have discoursed so much of it, if it were not better than other ves-
sels, and so I believe that he was abused the other day, as he is
now, by tongues that I am sure speak before they know anything
good or bad of her. I am sorry to find his ingenuity discouraged
so. So home, reading all the way a good book, and so home to
dinner, and after dinner a lesson on the globes to my wife, and so
to my office till 10 or 11 o’clock at night, and so home to supper
and to bed.
23rd. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon home to dinner, where Mr. Hawly came to see us and dined
with us, and after we had dined came Mr. Mallard, and after he
had eat something, I brought down my vyall which he played on,
the first maister that ever touched her yet, and she proves very
well and will be, I think, an admirable instrument. He played
some very fine things of his owne, but I was afeard to enter too
far in their commendation for fear he should offer to copy them
for me out, and so I be forced to give or lend him something. So
to the office in the evening, whither Mr. Commander came to
me, and we discoursed about my will, which I am resolved to
perfect the next week by the grace of God. He being gone, I to
write letters and other business late, and so home to supper and
to bed.
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24th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, and then up, and being
desirous to perform my vowes that I lately made, among others,
to be performed this month, I did go to my office, and there fell
on entering, out of a bye-book, part of my second journall-book,
which hath lain these two years and more unentered. Upon this
work till dinner, and after dinner to it again till night, and then
home to supper, and after supper to read a lecture to my wife
upon the globes, and so to prayers and to bed. This evening also
I drew up a rough draught of my last will to my mind.
25th. Up and by coach to Whitehall to my Lord’s lodgings,
and seeing that knowing that I was in the house, my Lord did
not nevertheless send for me up, I did go to the Duke’s lodgings,
and there staid while he was making ready, in which time my
Lord Sandwich came, and so all into his closet and did our com-
mon business, and so broke up, and I homeward by coach with
Sir W. Batten, and staid at Warwicke Lane and there called upon
Mr. Commander and did give him my last will and testament
to write over in form, and so to the ‘Change, where I did sev-
eral businesses. So home to dinner, and after I had dined Luellin
came and we set him something to eat, and I left him there with
my wife, and to the office upon a particular meeting of the East
India Company, where I think I did the King good service against
the Company in the business of their sending our ships home
empty from the Indies contrary to their contract, and yet, God
forgive me! I found that I could be willing to receive a bribe if it
were offered me to conceal my arguments that I found against
them, in consideration that none of my fellow officers, whose
duty it is more than mine, had ever studied the case, or at this
hour do understand it, and myself alone must do it. That being
done Mr. Povy and Bland came to speak with me about their
business of the reference, wherein I shall have some more trou-
ble, but cannot help it, besides I hope to make some good use
of Mr. Povy to my advantage. So home after business done at
my office, to supper, and then to the globes with my wife, and so
to bed. Troubled a little in mind that my Lord Sandwich should
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continue this strangeness to me that methinks he shows me now
a days more than while the thing was fresh.
26th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon to the ‘Change, after being at the Coffee-house, where I sat
by Tom Killigrew, who told us of a fire last night in my Lady
Castlemaine’s lodging, where she bid £40 for one to adventure
the fetching of a cabinet out, which at last was got to be done; and
the fire at last quenched without doing much wrong. To ‘Change
and there did much business, so home to dinner, and then to
the office all the afternoon. And so at night my aunt Wight and
Mrs. Buggin came to sit with my wife, and I in to them all the
evening, my uncle coming afterward, and after him Mr. Benson
the Dutchman, a frank, merry man. We were very merry and
played at cards till late and so broke up and to bed in good hopes
that this my friendship with my uncle and aunt will end well.
27th. Up and to the office, and at noon to the Coffeehouse,
where I sat with Sir G. Ascue403 and Sir William Petty, who in
discourse is, methinks, one of the most rational men that ever
I heard speak with a tongue, having all his notions the most
distinct and clear, and, among other things (saying, that in all
his life these three books were the most esteemed and gener-
ally cried up for wit in the world “Religio Medici,” “Osborne’s
Advice to a Son,”404 and “Hudibras ”), did say that in these–
in the two first principally–the wit lies, and confirming some
pretty sayings, which are generally like paradoxes, by some ar-
gument smartly and pleasantly urged, which takes with people
who do not trouble themselves to examine the force of an argu-
403 Sir George Ayscue or Askew. After his return from his imprisonment
he declined to go to sea again, although he was twice afterwards formally
appointed. He sat on the court-martial on the loss of the “Defiance” in 1668.
404 Francis Osborne, an English writer of considerable abilities and popu-
larity, was the author of “Advice to a Son,” in two parts, Oxford, 1656-8, 8vo.
He died in 1659. He is the same person mentioned as “My Father Osborne,”
October 19th, 1661.–B.
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ment, which pleases them in the delivery, upon a subject which
they like; whereas, as by many particular instances of mine, and
others, out of Osborne, he did really find fault and weaken the
strength of many of Osborne’s arguments, so as that in down-
right disputation they would not bear weight; at least, so far, but
that they might be weakened, and better found in their rooms to
confirm what is there said. He shewed finely whence it happens
that good writers are not admired by the present age; because
there are but few in any age that do mind anything that is ab-
struse and curious; and so longer before any body do put the true
praise, and set it on foot in the world, the generality of mankind
pleasing themselves in the easy delights of the world, as eating,
drinking, dancing, hunting, fencing, which we see the meanest
men do the best, those that profess it. A gentleman never dances
so well as the dancing master, and an ordinary fiddler makes bet-
ter musique for a shilling than a gentleman will do after spending
forty, and so in all the delights of the world almost. Thence to the
‘Change, and after doing much business, home, taking Commis-
sioner Pett with me, and all alone dined together. He told me
many stories of the yard, but I do know him so well, and had his
character given me this morning by Hempson, as well as my own
too of him before, that I shall know how to value any thing he
says either of friendship or other business. He was mighty seri-
ous with me in discourse about the consequence of Sir W. Petty’s
boat, as the most dangerous thing in the world, if it should be
practised by endangering our losse of the command of the seas
and our trade, while the Turkes and others shall get the use of
them, which, without doubt, by bearing more sayle will go faster
than any other ships, and, not being of burden, our merchants
cannot have the use of them and so will be at the mercy of their
enemies. So that I perceive he is afeard that the honour of his
trade will down, though (which is a truth) he pretends this con-
sideration to hinder the growth of this invention. He being gone
my wife and I took coach and to Covent Garden, to buy a maske
at the French House, Madame Charett’s, for my wife; in the way
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observing the streete full of coaches at the new play, “The Indian
Queene;” which for show, they say, exceeds “Henry the Eighth.”
Thence back to Mrs. Turner’s and sat a while with them talking
of plays and I know not what, and so called to see Tom, but not
at home, though they say he is in a deep consumption, and Mrs.
Turner and Dike and they say he will not live two months to an
end. So home and to the office, and then to supper and to bed.
28th. Up and to the office, where all the morning sitting, and
at noon upon several things to the ‘Change, and thence to Sir
G. Carteret’s to dinner of my own accord, and after dinner with
Mr. Wayth down to Deptford doing several businesses, and by
land back again, it being very cold, the boat meeting me after
my staying a while for him at an alehouse by Redriffe stairs. So
home, and took Will coming out of my doors, at which I was a
little moved, and told my wife of her keeping him from the of-
fice (though God knows my base jealous head was the cause of
it), which she seemed troubled at, and that it was only to dis-
course with her about finding a place for her brother. So I to my
office late, Mr. Commander coming to read over my will in or-
der to the engrossing it, and so he being gone I to other business,
among others chiefly upon preparing matters against Creed for
my profit, and so home to supper and bed, being mightily trou-
bled with my left eye all this evening from some dirt that is got
into it.
29th. Up, and after shaving myself (wherein twice now, one
after another, I have cut myself much, but I think it is from the
bluntness of the razor) there came Mr. Deane to me and staid
with me a while talking about masts, wherein he prepared me in
several things against Mr. Wood, and also about Sir W. Petty’s
boat, which he says must needs prove a folly, though I do not
think so unless it be that the King will not have it encouraged.
At noon, by appointment, comes Mr. Hartlibb and his wife, and
a little before them Messrs. Langley and Bostocke (old acquain-
tances of mine at Westminster, clerks), and after shewing them
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my house and drinking they set out by water, my wife and I with
them down to Wapping on board the “Crowne,” a merchantman,
Captain Floyd, a civil person. Here was Vice-Admiral Goodson,
whom the more I know the more I value for a serious man and
staunch. Here was Whistler the flagmaker, which vexed me, but
it mattered not. Here was other sorry company and the discourse
poor, so that we had no pleasure there at all, but only to see and
bless God to find the difference that is now between our condi-
tion and that heretofore, when we were not only much below
Hartlibb in all respects, but even these two fellows above named,
of whom I am now quite ashamed that ever my education should
lead me to such low company, but it is God’s goodness only, for
which let him be praised. After dinner I. broke up and with my
wife home, and thence to the Fleece in Cornhill, by appointment,
to meet my Lord Marlborough, a serious and worthy gentleman,
who, after doing our business, about the company, he and they
began to talk of the state of the Dutch in India, which is like to
be in a little time without any controll; for we are lost there, and
the Portuguese as bad. Thence to the Coffee-house, where good
discourse, specially of Lt.-Coll. Baron touching the manners of
the Turkes’ Government, among whom he lived long. So to my
uncle Wight’s, where late playing at cards, and so home.
30th. Up, and a sorry sermon of a young fellow I knew at Cam-
bridge; but the day kept solemnly for the King’s murder, and all
day within doors making up my Brampton papers, and in the
evening Mr. Commander came and we made perfect and signed
and sealed my last will and testament, which is so to my mind,
and I hope to the liking of God Almighty, that I take great joy in
myself that it is done, and by that means my mind in a good con-
dition of quiett. At night to supper and to bed. This evening, be-
ing in a humour of making all things even and clear in the world,
I tore some old papers; among others, a romance which (under
the title of “Love a Cheate ”) I begun ten years ago at Cambridge;
and at this time reading it over to-night I liked it very well, and
wondered a little at myself at my vein at that time when I wrote
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it, doubting that I cannot do so well now if I would try.
31st (Lord’s day). Up, and in my chamber all day long (but
a little at dinner) settling all my Brampton accounts to this day
in very good order, I having obliged myself by oathe to do that
and some other things within this month, and did also perfectly
prepare a state of my estate and annexed it to my last will and
testament, which now is perfect, and, lastly, I did make up my
monthly accounts, and find that I have gained above £50 this
month clear, and so am worth £858 clear, which is the great-
est sum I ever yet was master of, and also read over my usual
vowes, as I do every Lord’s day, but with greater seriousness
than ordinary, and I do hope that every day I shall see more and
more the pleasure of looking after my business and laying up of
money, and blessed be God for what I have already been enabled
by his grace to do. So to supper and to bed with my mind in
mighty great ease and content, but my head very full of thoughts
and business to dispatch this next month also, and among others
to provide for answering to the Exchequer for my uncle’s being
Generall-Receiver in the year 1647, which I am at present wholly
unable to do, but I must find time to look over all his papers.
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FEBRUARY 1663-1664
February 1st. Up (my maids rising early this morning to wash-
ing), and being ready I found Mr. Strutt the purser below with
12 bottles of sacke, and tells me (which from Sir W. Batten I had
heard before) how young Jack Davis has railed against Sir W. Bat-
ten for his endeavouring to turn him out of his place, at which
for the fellow’s sake, because it will likely prove his ruin, I am
sorry, though I do believe he is a very arch rogue. I took Strutt by
coach with me to White Hall, where I set him down, and I to my
Lord’s, but found him gone out betimes to the Wardrobe, which
I am glad to see that he so attends his business, though it trou-
bles me that my counsel to my prejudice must be the cause of it.
They tell me that he goes into the country next week, and that the
young ladies come up this week before the old lady. Here I hear
how two men last night, justling for the wall about the New Ex-
change, did kill one another, each thrusting the other through;
one of them of the King’s Chappell, one Cave, and the other
a retayner of my Lord Generall Middleton’s. Thence to White
Hall; where, in the Duke’s chamber, the King came and stayed
an hour or two laughing at Sir W. Petty, who was there about
his boat; and at Gresham College in general; at which poor Petty
was, I perceive, at some loss; but did argue discreetly, and bear
the unreasonable follies of the King’s objections and other by-
1202
FEBRUARY 1663-1664
standers with great discretion; and offered to take oddes against
the King’s best boates; but the King would not lay, but cried him
down with words only. Gresham College he mightily laughed at,
for spending time only in weighing of ayre, and doing nothing
else since they sat. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there met
with diverse people, it being terme time. Among others I spoke
with Mrs. Lane, of whom I doubted to hear something of the ef-
fects of our last meeting about a fortnight or three weeks ago, but
to my content did not. Here I met with Mr. Pierce, who tells me
of several passages at Court, among others how the King, coming
the other day to his Theatre to see “The Indian Queene” (which
he commends for a very fine thing), my Lady Castlemaine was
in the next box before he came; and leaning over other ladies
awhile to whisper to the King, she rose out of the box and went
into the King’s, and set herself on the King’s right hand, between
the King and the Duke of York; which, he swears, put the King
himself, as well as every body else, out of countenance; and be-
lieves that she did it only to show the world that she is not out
of favour yet, as was believed. Thence with Alderman Maynell
by his coach to the ‘Change, and there with several people busy,
and so home to dinner, and took my wife out immediately to the
King’s Theatre, it being a new month, and once a month I may
go, and there saw “The Indian Queene” acted; which indeed is a
most pleasant show, and beyond my expectation; the play good,
but spoiled with the ryme, which breaks the sense. But above my
expectation most, the eldest Marshall did do her part most excel-
lently well as I ever heard woman in my life; but her voice not
so sweet as Ianthe’s; but, however, we came home mightily con-
tented. Here we met Mr. Pickering and his mistress, Mrs. Doll
Wilde; he tells me that the business runs high between the Chan-
cellor and my Lord Bristoll against the Parliament; and that my
Lord Lauderdale and Cooper open high against the Chancellor;
which I am sorry for. In my way home I ‘light and to the Coffee-
house, where I heard Lt. Coll. Baron tell very good stories of his
travels over the high hills in Asia above the clouds, how clear the
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FEBRUARY 1663-1664
heaven is above them, how thicke like a mist the way is through
the cloud that wets like a sponge one’s clothes, the ground above
the clouds all dry and parched, nothing in the world growing, it
being only a dry earth, yet not so hot above as below the clouds.
The stars at night most delicate bright and a fine clear blue sky,
but cannot see the earth at any time through the clouds, but the
clouds look like a world below you. Thence home and to supper,
being hungry, and so to the office, did business, specially about
Creed, for whom I am now pretty well fitted, and so home to bed.
This day in Westminster Hall W. Bowyer told me that his father is
dead lately, and died by being drowned in the river, coming over
in the night; but he says he had not been drinking. He was taken
with his stick in his hand and cloake over his shoulder, as ruddy
as before he died. His horse was taken overnight in the water,
hampered in the bridle, but they were so silly as not to look for
his master till the next morning, that he was found drowned.
2nd. Up and to the office, where, though Candlemas day, Mr.
Coventry and Sir W. Pen and I all the morning, the others being at
a survey at Deptford. At noon by coach to the ‘Change with Mr.
Coventry, thence to the Coffee-house with Captain Coeke, who
discoursed well of the good effects in some kind of a Dutch warr
and conquest (which I did not consider before, but the contrary)
that is, that the trade of the world is too little for us two, therefore
one must down: 2ndly, that though our merchants will not be the
better husbands by all this, yet our wool will bear a better price
by vaunting of our cloths, and by that our tenants will be better
able to pay rents, and our lands will be more worth, and all our
owne manufactures, which now the Dutch outvie us in; that he
thinks the Dutch are not in so good a condition as heretofore be-
cause of want of men always, and now from the warrs against the
Turke more than ever. Then to the ‘Change again, and thence off
to the Sun Taverne with Sir W. Warren, and with him discoursed
long, and had good advice, and hints from him, and among other
things he did give me a payre of gloves for my wife wrapt up in
paper, which I would not open, feeling it hard; but did tell him
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FEBRUARY 1663-1664
that my wife should thank him, and so went on in discourse.
When I came home, Lord! in what pain I was to get my wife out
of the room without bidding her go, that I might see what these
gloves were; and, by and by, she being gone, it proves a payre
of white gloves for her and forty pieces in good gold, which did
so cheer my heart, that I could eat no victuals almost for dinner
for joy to think how God do bless us every day more and more,
and more yet I hope he will upon the increase of my duty and
endeavours. I was at great losse what to do, whether tell my wife
of it or no, which I could hardly forbear, but yet I did and will
think of it first before I do, for fear of making her think me to be
in a better condition, or in a better way of getting money, than yet
I am. After dinner to the office, where doing infinite of business
till past to at night to the comfort of my mind, and so home with
joy to supper and to bed. This evening Mr. Hempson came and
told me how Sir W, Batten his master will not hear of continuing
him in his employment as Clerk of the Survey at Chatham, from
whence of a sudden he has removed him without any new or ex-
traordinary cause, and I believe (as he himself do in part write,
and J. Norman do confess) for nothing but for that he was twice
with me the other day and did not wait upon him. So much he
fears me and all that have to do with me. Of this more in the
Mem. Book of my office upon this day, there I shall find it.
3rd. Up, and after a long discourse with my cozen Thomas
Pepys, the executor, I with my wife by coach to Holborn, where I
‘light, and she to her father’s, I to the Temple and several places,
and so to the ‘Change, where much business, and then home to
dinner alone; and so to the Mitre Taverne by appointment (and
there met by chance with W. Howe come to buy wine for my Lord
against his going down to Hinchingbroke, and I private with him
a great while discoursing of my Lord’s strangeness to me; but he
answers that I have no reason to think any such thing, but that
my Lord is only in general a more reserved man than he was
before) to meet Sir W. Rider and Mr. Clerke, and there after much
ado made an end, giving Mr. Custos £202 against Mr. Bland,
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FEBRUARY 1663-1664
which I endeavoured to bring down but could not, and think it
is well enough ended for Mr. Bland for all that. Thence by coach
to fetch my wife from her brother’s, and found her gone home.
Called at Sir Robert Bernard’s about surrendering my estate in
reversion to the use of my life, which will be done, and at Roger
Pepys, who was gone to bed in pain of a boyle that he could not
sit or stand. So home, where my wife is full of sad stories of
her good-natured father and roguish brother, who is going for
Holland and his wife, to be a soldier. And so after a little at the
office to bed. This night late coming in my coach, coming up
Ludgate Hill, I saw two gallants and their footmen taking a pretty
wench, which I have much eyed, lately set up shop upon the hill,
a seller of riband and gloves. They seek to drag her by some
force, but the wench went, and I believe had her turn served,
but, God forgive me! what thoughts and wishes I had of being in
their place. In Covent Garden to-night, going to fetch home my
wife, I stopped at the great Coffee-house’ there, where I never
was before; where Dryden the poet (I knew at Cambridge), and
all the wits of the town, and Harris the player, and Mr. Hoole of
our College. And had I had time then, or could at ether times,
it will be good coming thither, for there, I perceive, is very witty
and pleasant discourse. But I could not tarry, and as it was late,
they were all ready to go away.
4th. Up and to the office, where after a while sitting, I left the
board upon pretence of serious business, and by coach to Paul’s
School, where I heard some good speeches of the boys that were
to be elected this year. Thence by and by with Mr. Pullen and
Barnes (a great Non-Conformist) with several others of my old
acquaintance to the Nag’s Head Taverne, and there did give them
a bottle of sacke, and away again and I to the School, and up
to hear the upper form examined; and there was kept by very
many of the Mercers, Clutterbucke, a Barker, Harrington, and
others; and with great respect used by them all, and had a noble
dinner. Here they tell me, that in Dr. Colett’s will he says that
he would have a Master found for the School that hath good skill
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FEBRUARY 1663-1664
in Latin, and (if it could be) one that had some knowledge of
the Greeke; so little was Greeke known here at that time. Dr.
Wilkins and one Mr. Smallwood, Posers. After great pleasure
there, and specially to Mr. Crumlum, so often to tell of my being
a benefactor to the School, I to my bookseller’s and there spent
an hour looking over Theatrum Urbium and Flandria illustrata,
with excellent cuts, with great content. So homeward, and called
at my little milliner’s, where I chatted with her, her husband out
of the way, and a mad merry slut she is. So home to the office,
and by and by comes my wife home from the burial of Captain
Grove’s wife at Wapping (she telling me a story how her mayd
Jane going into the boat did fall down and show her arse in the
boat), and alone comes my uncle Wight and Mr. Maes with the
state of their case, which he told me very discreetly, and I believe
is a very hard one, and so after drinking a bottle of ale or two they
gone, and I a little more to the office, and so home to prayers and
to bed. This evening I made an end of my letter to Creed about
his pieces of eight, and sent it away to him. I pray God give good
end to it to bring me some money, and that duly as from him.
5th. Up, and down by water, a brave morning, to Woolwich,
and there spent an houre or two to good purpose, and so walked
to Greenwich and thence to Deptford, where I found (with Sir W.
Batten upon a survey) Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Pen, and my Lady Bat-
ten come down and going to dinner. I dined with them, and so
after dinner by water home, all the way going and coming read-
ing “Faber Fortunae,” which I can never read too often. At home
a while with my wife, and so to my office, where till 8 o’clock,
and then home to look over some Brampton papers, and my un-
cle’s accounts as Generall-Receiver of the County for 1647 of our
monthly assessment, which, contrary to my expectation, I found
in such good order and so, thoroughly that I did not expect, nor
could have thought, and that being done, having seen discharges
for every farthing of money he received, I went to bed late with
great quiett.
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FEBRUARY 1663-1664
6th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
so at noon to the ‘Change, where I met Mr. Coventry, the first
time I ever saw him there, and after a little talke with him and
other merchants, I up and down about several businesses, and
so home, whither came one Father Fogourdy, an Irish priest, of
my wife’s and her mother’s acquaintance in France, a sober, dis-
creet person, but one that I would not have converse with my
wife for fear of meddling with her religion, but I like the man
well. Thence with my wife abroad, and left her at Tom’s, while I
abroad about several businesses and so back to her, myself being
vexed to find at my first coming Tom abroad, and all his books,
papers, and bills loose upon the open table in the parlour, and
he abroad, which I ranted at him for when he came in. Then by
coach home, calling at my cozen Scott’s, who (she) lies dying,
they say, upon a miscarriage. My wife could not be admitted to
see her, nor anybody. At home to the office late writing letters,
and then home to supper and to bed. Father Fogourdy confirms
to me the newes that for certain there is peace between the Pope
and King of France.
7th (Lord’s day). Up and to church, and thence home, my wife
being ill ... kept her bed all day, and I up and dined by her bed-
side, and then all the afternoon till late at night writing some
letters of business to my father stating of matters to him in gen-
eral of great import, and other letters to ease my mind in the
week days that I have not time to think of, and so up to my wife,
and with great mirth read Sir W. Davenant’s two speeches in dis-
praise of London and Paris, by way of reproach one to another,
and so to prayers and to bed.
8th. Up, and by coach called upon Mr. Phillips, and after a
little talk with him away to my Lord Sandwich’s, but he being
gone abroad, I staid a little and talked with Mr. Howe, and so to
Westminster in term time, and there met Mr. Pierce, who told me
largely how the King still do doat upon his women, even beyond
all shame; and that the good Queen will of herself stop before she
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FEBRUARY 1663-1664
goes sometimes into her dressing-room, till she knows whether
the King be there, for fear he should be, as she hath sometimes
taken him, with Mrs. Stewart; and that some of the best parts of
the Queen’s joynture are, contrary to faith, and against the opin-
ion of my Lord Treasurer and his Council, bestowed or rented, I
know not how, to my Lord Fitz-Harding and Mrs. Stewart, and
others of that crew that the King do doat infinitely upon the Duke
of Monmouth, apparently as one that he intends to have succeed
him. God knows what will be the end of it! After he was gone I
went and talked with Mrs. Lane about persuading her to Hawly,
and think she will come on, which I wish were done, and so to
Mr. Howlett and his wife, and talked about the same, and they
are mightily for it, and I bid them promote it, for I think it will be
for both their goods and my content. But I was much pleased to
look upon their pretty daughter, which is grown a pretty mayd,
and will make a fine modest woman. Thence to the ‘Change by
coach, and after some business done, home to dinner, and thence
to Guildhall, thinking to have heard some pleading, but there
were no Courts, and so to Cade’s, the stationer, and there did
look upon some pictures which he promised to give me the buy-
ing of, but I found he would have played the Jacke with me, but
at last he did proffer me what I expected, and I have laid aside
£10 or £12 worth, and will think of it, but I am loth to lay out
so much money upon them. So home a little vexed in my mind
to think how to-day I was forced to compliment W. Howe and
admit myself to an equality with Mr. Moore, which is come to
challenge in his discourse with me, but I will admit it no more,
but let me stand or fall, I will show myself as strange to them as
my Lord do himself to me. After at the office till 9 o’clock, I home
in fear of some pain by taking cold, and so to supper and to bed.
9th. Up and to the office, where sat all the morning. At noon
by coach with Mr. Coventry to the ‘Change, where busy with
several people. Great talke of the Dutch proclaiming themselves
in India, Lords of the Southern Seas, and deny traffick there to
all ships but their owne, upon pain of confiscation; which makes
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our merchants mad. Great doubt of two ships of ours, the “Grey-
hound” and another, very rich, coming from the Streights, for
fear of the Turkes. Matters are made up between the Pope and
the King of France; so that now all the doubt is, what the French
will do with their armies. Thence home, and there found Cap-
tain Grove in mourning for his wife, and Hawly, and they dined
with me. After dinner, and Grove gone, Hawly and I talked of his
mistress, Mrs. Lane, and I seriously advising him and inquiring
his condition, and do believe that I shall bring them together. By
and by comes Mr. Moore, with whom much good discourse of
my Lord, and among other things told me that my Lord is might-
ily altered, that is, grown very high and stately, and do not admit
of any to come into his chamber to him, as heretofore, and that I
must not think much of his strangeness to me, for it was the same
he do to every body, and that he would not have me be solicitous
in the matter, but keep off and give him now and then a visit and
no more, for he says he himself do not go to him now a days
but when he sends for him, nor then do not stay for him if he be
not there at the hour appointed, for, says he, I do find that I can
stand upon my own legs and I will not by any over submission
make myself cheap to any body and contemptible, which was
the doctrine of the world that I lacked most, and shall follow it.
I discoursed with him about my money that my Lord hath, and
the £1000 that I stand bound with him in, to my cozen Thomas
Pepys, in both which I will get myself at liberty as soon as I can;
for I do not like his being angry and in debt both together to me;
and besides, I do not perceive he looks after paying his debts,
but runs farther and farther in. He being gone, my wife and I did
walk an houre or two above in our chamber, seriously talking of
businesses. I told her my Lord owed me £700, and shewed her
the bond, and how I intended to carry myself to my Lord. She
and I did cast about how to get Captain Grove for my sister, in
which we are mighty earnest at present, and I think it would be a
good match, and will endeavour it. So to my office a while, then
home to supper and to bed.
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10th. Up, and by coach to my Lord Sandwich, to his new
house, a fine house, but deadly dear, in Lincoln’s Inne Fields,
where I found and spoke a little to him. He is high and strange
still, but did ask me how my wife did, and at parting remem-
bered him to his cozen, which I thought was pretty well, being
willing to flatter myself that in time he will be well again. Thence
home straight and busy all the forenoon, and at noon with Mr.
Bland to Mr. Povy’s, but he being at dinner and full of company
we retreated and went into Fleet Street to a friend of his, and af-
ter a long stay, he telling me the long and most perplexed story
of Coronell and Bushell’s business of sugars, wherein Parke and
Green and Mr. Bland and 40 more have been so concerned about
the King of Portugal’s duties, wherein every party has laboured
to cheat another, a most pleasant and profitable story to hear, and
in the close made me understand Mr. Maes’ business better than
I did before. By and by dinner came, and after dinner and good
discourse that and such as I was willing for improvement sake to
hear, I went away too to White Hall to a Committee of Tangier,
where I took occasion to demand of Creed whether he had re-
ceived my letter, and he told me yes, and that he would answer
it, which makes me much wonder what he means to do with me,
but I will be even with him before I have done, let him make as
light of it as he will. Thence to the Temple, where my cozen Roger
Pepys did show me a letter my Father wrote to him last Terme to
shew me, proposing such things about Sturtlow and a portion
for Pall, and I know not what, that vexes me to see him plotting
how to put me to trouble and charge, and not thinking to pay
our debts and legacys, but I will write him a letter will persuade
him to be wiser. So home, and finding my wife abroad (after her
coming home from being with my aunt Wight to-day to buy Lent
provisions) gone with Will to my brother’s, I followed them by
coach, but found them not, for they were newly gone home from
thence, which troubled me. I to Sir Robert Bernard’s chamber,
and there did surrender my reversion in Brampton lands to the
use of my will, which I was glad to have done, my will being
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now good in all parts. Thence homewards, calling a little at the
Coffee-house, where a little merry discourse, and so home, where
I found my wife, who says she went to her father’s to be satisfied
about her brother, who I found at my house with her. He is going
this next tide with his wife into Holland to seek his fortune. He
had taken his leave of us this morning. I did give my wife 10s.
to give him, and a coat that I had by me, a close-bodied light-
coloured cloth coat, with a gold edgeing in each seam, that was
the lace of my wife’s best pettycoat that she had when I married
her. I staid not there, but to my office, where Stanes the glazier
was with me till to at night making up his contract, and, poor
man, I made him almost mad through a mistake of mine, but
did afterwards reconcile all, for I would not have the man that
labours to serve the King so cheap above others suffer too much.
He gone I did a little business more, and so home to supper and
to bed, being now pretty well again, the weather being warm.
My pain do leave me without coming to any great excesse, but
my cold that I had got I suppose was not very great, it being only
the leaving of my wastecoat unbuttoned one morning.
11th. Up, after much pleasant discourse with my wife, and to
the office, where we sat all the morning, and did much business,
and some much to my content by prevailing against Sir W. Batten
for the King’s profit. At noon home to dinner, my wife and I hand
to fist to a very fine pig. This noon Mr. Falconer came and visited
my wife, and brought her a present, a silver state-cup and cover,
value about £3 or £4, for the courtesy I did him the other day. He
did not stay dinner with me. I am almost sorry for this present,
because I would have reserved him for a place to go in summer
a-visiting at Woolwich with my wife.
12th. Up, and ready, did find below Mr. Creed’s boy with a let-
ter from his master for me. So I fell to reading it, and it is by way
of stating the case between S. Pepys and J. Creed most excellently
writ, both showing his stoutness and yet willingness to peace, re-
proaching me yet flattering me again, and in a word in as good
1212
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a manner as I think the world could have wrote, and indeed put
me to a greater stand than ever I thought I could have been in
this matter. All the morning thinking how to behave myself in
the business, and at noon to the Coffee-house; thence by his ap-
pointment met him upon the ‘Change, and with him back to the
Coffee-house, where with great seriousness and strangeness on
both sides he said his part and I mine, he sometimes owning my
favour and assistance, yet endeavouring to lessen it, as that the
success of his business was not wholly or very much to be im-
puted to that assistance: I to alledge the contrary, and plainly to
tell him that from the beginning I never had it in my mind to do
him all that kindnesse for nothing, but he gaining 5 or £600, I
did expect a share of it, at least a real and not a complimentary
acknowledgment of it. In fine I said nothing all the while that I
need fear he can do me more hurt with them than before I spoke
them. The most I told him was after we were come to a peace,
which he asked me whether he should answer the Board’s letter
or no. I told him he might forbear it a while and no more. Then
he asked how the letter could be signed by them without their
much enquiry. I told him it was as I worded it and nothing at all
else of any moment, whether my words be ever hereafter spoken
of again or no. So that I have the same neither better nor worse
force over him that I had before, if he should not do his part. And
the peace between us was this: Says he after all, well, says he, I
know you will expect, since there must be some condescension,
that it do become me to begin it, and therefore, says he, I do pro-
pose (just like the interstice between the death of the old and the
coming in of the present king, all the time is swallowed up as if
it had never been) so our breach of friendship may be as if it had
never been, that I should lay aside all misapprehensions of him
or his first letter, and that he would reckon himself obliged to
show the same ingenuous acknowledgment of my love and ser-
vice to him as at the beginning he ought to have done, before by
my first letter I did (as he well observed) put him out of a capac-
ity of doing it, without seeming to do it servilely, and so it rests,
1213
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and I shall expect how he will deal with me. After that I began to
be free, and both of us to discourse of other things, and he went
home with me and dined with me and my wife and very pleas-
ant, having a good dinner and the opening of my lampry (cutting
a notch on one side), which proved very good. After dinner he
and I to Deptford, walking all the way, where we met Sir W. Petty
and I took him back, and I got him to go with me to his vessel and
discourse it over to me, which he did very well, and then walked
back together to the waterside at Redriffe, with good discourse
all the way. So Creed and I by boat to my house, and thence
to coach with my wife and called at Alderman Backewell’s and
there changed Mr. Falconer’s state-cup, that he did give us the
other day, for a fair tankard. The cup weighed with the fashion
£5 16s., and another little cup that Joyce Norton did give us 17s.,
both £6 13s.; for which we had the tankard, which came to £6 10s.,
at 5s. 7d. per oz., and 3s. in money, and with great content away
thence to my brother’s, Creed going away there, and my brother
bringing me the old silk standard that I lodged there long ago,
and then back again home, and thence, hearing that my uncle
Wight had been at my house, I went to him to the Miter, and
there with him and Maes, Norbury, and Mr. Rawlinson till late
eating some pot venison (where the Crowne earthen pot pleased
me mightily), and then homewards and met Mr. Barrow, so back
with him to the Miter and sat talking about his business of his
discontent in the yard, wherein sometimes he was very foolish
and pettish, till 12 at night, and so went away, and I home and
up to my wife a-bed, with my mind ill at ease whether I should
think that I had by this made myself a bad end by missing the
certainty of £100 which I proposed to myself so much, or a good
one by easing myself of the uncertain good effect but the certain
trouble and reflection which must have fallen on me if we had
proceeded to a public dispute, ended besides embarking myself
against my Lord, who (which I had forgot) had given him his
hand for the value of the pieces of eight at his rates which were
all false, which by the way I shall take heed to the giving of my
1214
FEBRUARY 1663-1664
Lord notice of it hereafter whenever he goes out again.
13th. Up, and after I had told my wife in the morning in
bed the passages yesterday with Creed my head and heart was
mightily lighter than they were before, and so up and to the of-
fice, and thence, after sitting, at 11 o’clock with Mr. Coventry to
the African House, and there with Sir W. Ryder by agreement we
looked over part of my Lord Peterborough’s accounts, these be-
ing by Creed and Vernaty. Anon down to dinner to a table which
Mr. Coventry keeps here, out of his £300 per annum as one of
the Assistants to the Royall Company, a very pretty dinner, and
good company, and excellent discourse, and so up again to our
work for an hour till the Company came to having a meeting of
their own, and so we broke up and Creed and I took coach and
to Reeves, the perspective glass maker, and there did indeed see
very excellent microscopes, which did discover a louse or mite or
sand most perfectly and largely. Being sated with that we went
away (yet with a good will were it not for my obligation to have
bought one) and walked to the New Exchange, and after a turn
or two and talked I took coach and home, and so to my office,
after I had been with my wife and saw her day’s work in ripping
the silke standard, which we brought home last night, and it will
serve to line a bed, or for twenty uses, to our great content. And
there wrote fair my angry letter to my father upon that that he
wrote to my cozen Roger Pepys, which I hope will make him the
more carefull to trust to my advice for the time to come without
so many needless complaints and jealousys, which are trouble-
some to me because without reason.
14th (Lord’s day). Up and to church alone, where a lazy ser-
mon of Mr. Mills, upon a text to introduce catechizing in his
parish, which I perceive he intends to begin. So home and very
pleasant with my wife at dinner. All the afternoon at my office
alone doing business, and then in the evening after a walk with
my wife in the garden, she and I to my uncle Wight’s to supper,
where Mr. Norbury, but my uncle out of tune, and after supper
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FEBRUARY 1663-1664
he seemed displeased mightily at my aunt’s desiring [to] put off
a copper kettle, which it seems with great study he had provided
to boil meat in, and now she is put in the head that it is not whole-
some, which vexed him, but we were very merry about it, and by
and by home, and after prayers to bed.
15th. Up, and carrying my wife to my Lord’s lodgings left her,
and I to White Hall, to the Duke; where he first put on a periwigg
to-day; but methought his hair cut short in order thereto did look
very prettily of itself, before he put on his periwigg.405 Thence to
his closet and there did our business, and thence Mr. Coventry
and I down to his chamber and spent a little time, and so parted,
and I took my wife homeward, I stopping at the Coffee-house,
and thence a while to the ‘Change, where great newes of the ar-
rivall of two rich ships, the Greyhound and another, which they
were mightily afeard of, and great insurance given, and so home
to dinner, and after an houre with my wife at her globes, I to the
office, where very busy till 11 at night, and so home to supper and
to bed. This afternoon Sir Thomas Chamberlin came to the office
to me, and showed me several letters from the East Indys, show-
ing the height that the Dutch are come to there, showing scorn to
all the English, even in our only Factory there of Surat, beating
several men, and hanging the English Standard St. George un-
der the Dutch flagg in scorn; saying, that whatever their masters
do or say at home, they will do what they list, and will be mas-
ters of all the world there; and have so proclaimed themselves
Soveraigne of all the South Seas; which certainly our King can-
not endure, if the Parliament will give him money. But I doubt
and yet do hope they will not yet, till we are more ready for it.
16th. Up and to the office, where very busy all the morning,
and most with Mr. Wood, I vexing him about his masts. At noon
to the ‘Change a little and thence brought Mr. Barrow to dinner
405 Charles II. followed his brother in the use of the periwig in the following
April.
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with me, where I had a haunch of venison roasted, given me yes-
terday, and so had a pretty dinner, full of discourse of his busi-
ness, wherein the poor man is mightily troubled, and I pity him
in it, but hope to get him some ease. He being gone I to the office,
where very busy till night, that my uncle Wight and Mr. Maes
came to me, and after discourse about Maes’ business to supper
very merry, but my mind upon my business, and so they being
gone I to my Vyall a little, which I have not done some months, I
think, before, and then a little to my office, at 11 at night, and so
home and to bed.
17th. Up, and with my wife, setting her down by her father’s in
Long Acre, in so ill looked a place, among all the whore houses,
that I was troubled at it, to see her go thither. Thence I to White
Hall and there walked up and down talking with Mr. Pierce, who
tells me of the King’s giving of my Lord Fitz-Harding two leases
which belong indeed to the Queene, worth £20,000 to him; and
how people do talk of it, and other things of that nature which
I am sorry to hear. He and I walked round the Park with great
pleasure, and back again, and finding no time to speak with my
Lord of Albemarle, I walked to the ‘Change and there met my
wife at our pretty Doll’s, and so took her home, and Creed also
whom I met there, and sent her hose, while Creed and I staid
on the ‘Change, and by and by home and dined, where I found
an excellent mastiffe, his name Towser, sent me by a chyrurgeon.
After dinner I took my wife again by coach (leaving Creed by the
way going to Gresham College, of which he is now become one of
the virtuosos) and to White Hall, where I delivered a paper about
Tangier to my Lord Duke of Albemarle in the council chamber,
and so to Mrs. Hunt’s to call my wife, and so by coach straight
home, and at my office till 3 o’clock in the morning, having spent
much time this evening in discourse with Mr. Cutler, who tells
me how the Dutch deal with us abroad and do not value us any
where, and how he and Sir W. Rider have found reason to lay
aside Captain Cocke in their company, he having played some
indiscreet and unfair tricks with them, and has lost himself every
1217
FEBRUARY 1663-1664
where by his imposing upon all the world with the conceit he has
of his own wit, and so has, he tells me, Sir R. Ford also, both of
whom are very witty men. He being gone Sir W. Rider came and
staid with me till about 12 at night, having found ourselves work
till that time, about understanding the measuring of Mr. Wood’s
masts, which though I did so well before as to be thought to deal
very hardly against Wood, yet I am ashamed I understand it no
better, and do hope yet, whatever be thought of me, to save the
King some more money, and out of an impatience to breake up
with my head full of confused confounded notions, but nothing
brought to a clear comprehension, I was resolved to sit up and
did till now it is ready to strike 4 o’clock, all alone, cold, and
my candle not enough left to light me to my owne house, and so,
with my business however brought to some good understanding,
and set it down pretty clear, I went home to bed with my mind at
good quiet, and the girl sitting up for me (the rest all a-bed). I eat
and drank a little, and to bed, weary, sleepy, cold, and my head
akeing.
18th. Called up to the office and much against my will I rose,
my head aching mightily, and to the office, where I did argue to
good purpose for the King, which I have been fitting myself for
the last night against Mr. Wood about his masts, but brought it
to no issue. Very full of business till noon, and then with Mr.
Coventry to the African House, and there fell to my Lord Peter-
borough’s accounts, and by and by to dinner, where excellent
discourse, Sir G. Carteret and others of the African Company
with us, and then up to the accounts again, which were by and
by done, and then I straight home, my head in great pain, and
drowsy, so after doing a little business at the office I wrote to my
father about sending him the mastiff was given me yesterday. I
home and by daylight to bed about 6 o’clock and fell to sleep,
wakened about 12 when my wife came to bed, and then to sleep
again and so till morning, and then:
19th. Up in good order in my head again and shaved myself,
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and then to the office, whither Mr. Cutler came, and walked and
talked with me a great while; and then to the ‘Change together;
and it being early, did tell me several excellent examples of men
raised upon the ‘Change by their great diligence and saving; as
also his owne fortune, and how credit grew upon him; that when
he was not really worth £1100, he had credit for £100,000 of Sir
W. Rider how he rose; and others. By and by joyned with us Sir
John Bankes; who told us several passages of the East India Com-
pany; and how in his very case, when there was due to him and
Alderman Mico £64,000 from the Dutch for injury done to them
in the East Indys, Oliver presently after the peace, they delay-
ing to pay them the money, sent them word, that if they did not
pay them by such a day, he would grant letters of mark to those
merchants against them; by which they were so fearful of him,
they did presently pay the money every farthing. By and by, the
‘Change filling, I did many businesses, and about 2 o’clock went
off with my uncle Wight to his house, thence by appointment
we took our wives (they by coach with Mr. Mawes) and we on
foot to Mr. Jaggard, a salter, in Thames Street, for whom I did a
courtesy among the poor victuallers, his wife, whom long ago I
had seen, being daughter to old Day, my uncle Wight’s master,
is a very plain woman, but pretty children they have. They live
methought at first in but a plain way, but afterward I saw their
dinner, all fish, brought in very neatly, but the company being
but bad I had no great pleasure in it. After dinner I to the of-
fice, where we should have met upon business extraordinary, but
business not coming we broke up, and I thither again and took
my wife; and taking a coach, went to visit my Ladys Jemimah
and Paulina Montagu, and Mrs. Elizabeth Dickering, whom we
find at their father’s new house406 in Lincolne’s Inn Fields; but
the house all in dirt. They received us well enough; but I did not
406 The Earl of Sandwich had just moved to a house in Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
Elizabeth Dickering, who afterwards married John Creed, was niece to Lord
Sandwich.
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endeavour to carry myself over familiarly with them; and so af-
ter a little stay, there coming in presently after us my Lady Aber-
guenny and other ladies, we back again by coach, and visited,
my wife did, my she cozen Scott, who is very ill still, and thence
to Jaggard’s again, where a very good supper and great store of
plate; and above all after supper Mrs. Jaggard did at my entreaty
play on the Vyall, but so well as I did not think any woman in
England could and but few Maisters, I must confess it did might-
ily surprise me, though I knew heretofore that she could play, but
little thought so well. After her I set Maes to singing, but he did
it so like a coxcomb that I was sick of him. About 11 at night I
carried my aunt home by coach, and then home myself, having
set my wife down at home by the way. My aunt tells me they are
counted very rich people, worth at least 10 or £12,000, and their
country house all the yeare long and all things liveable, which
mightily surprises me to think for how poore a man I took him
when I did him the courtesy at our office. So after prayers to bed,
pleased at nothing all the day but Mrs. Jaggard playing on the
Vyall, and that was enough to make me bear with all the rest that
did not content me.
20th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
at noon to the ‘Change with Mr. Coventry and thence home to
dinner, after dinner by a gaily down to Woolwich, where with
Mr. Falconer, and then at the other yard doing some business
to my content, and so walked to Greenwich, it being a very fine
evening and brought right home with me by water, and so to my
office, where late doing business, and then home to supper and
to bed.
21st. (Lord’s day). Up, and having many businesses at the
office to-day I spent all the morning there drawing up a letter
to Mr. Coventry about preserving of masts, being collections of
my own, and at noon home to dinner, whither my brother Tom
comes, and after dinner I took him up and read my letter lately
of discontent to my father, and he is seemingly pleased at it, and
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FEBRUARY 1663-1664
cries out of my sister’s ill nature and lazy life there. He being
gone I to my office again, and there made an end of my morning’s
work, and then, after reading my vows of course, home and back
again with Mr. Maes and walked with him talking of his business
in the garden, and he being gone my wife and I walked a turn or
two also, and then my uncle Wight fetching of us, she and I to
his house to supper, and by the way calling on Sir G. Carteret to
desire his consent to my bringing Maes to him, which he agreed
to. So I to my uncle’s, but staid a great while vexed both of us
for Maes not coming in, and soon he came, and I with him from
supper to Sir G. Carteret, and there did largely discourse of the
business, and I believe he may expect as much favour as he can
do him, though I fear that will not be much. So back, and after
sitting there a good while, we home, and going my wife told me
how my uncle when he had her alone did tell her that he did love
her as well as ever he did, though he did not find it convenient
to show it publicly for reasons on both sides, seeming to mean as
well to prevent my jealousy as his wife’s, but I am apt to think
that he do mean us well, and to give us something if he should
die without children. So home to prayers and to bed. My wife
called up the people to washing by four o’clock in the morning;
and our little girl Susan is a most admirable Slut and pleases us
mightily, doing more service than both the others and deserves
wages better.
22nd. Up and shaved myself, and then my wife and I by coach
out, and I set her down by her father’s, being vexed in my mind
and angry with her for the ill-favoured place, among or near the
whore houses, that she is forced to come to him. So left her there,
and I to Sir Th. Warwick’s but did not speak with him. Thence
to take a turn in St. James’s Park, and meeting with Anth. Joyce
walked with him a turn in the Pell Mell and so parted, he St.
James’s ward and I out to Whitehall ward, and so to a picture-
sellers by the Half Moone in the street over against the Exchange,
and there looked over the maps of several cities and did buy two
books of cities stitched together cost me 9s. 6d., and when I came
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FEBRUARY 1663-1664
home thought of my vowe, and paid 5s. into my poor box for it,
hoping in God that I shall forfeit no more in that kind. Thence,
meeting Mr. Moore, and to the Exchange and there found my
wife at pretty Doll’s, and thence by coach set her at my uncle
Wight’s, to go with my aunt to market once more against Lent,
and I to the Coffee-house, and thence to the ‘Change, my chief
business being to enquire about the manner of other countries
keeping of their masts wet or dry, and got good advice about it,
and so home, and alone ate a bad, cold dinner, my people being
at their washing all day, and so to the office and all the afternoon
upon my letter to Mr. Coventry about keeping of masts, and
ended it very well at night and wrote it fair over. This evening
came Mr. Alsopp the King’s brewer, with whom I spent an houre
talking and bewailing the posture of things at present; the King
led away by half-a-dozen men, that none of his serious servants
and friends can come at him. These are Lauderdale, Bucking-
ham, Hamilton, Fitz-Harding (to whom he hath, it seems, given
£2,000 per annum in the best part of the King’s estate); and that
that the old Duke of Buckingham could never get of the King.
Progers is another, and Sir H. Bennett. He loves not the Queen at
all, but is rather sullen to her; and she, by all reports, incapable
of children. He is so fond of the Duke of Monmouth, that every
body admires it; and he says the Duke hath said, that he would
be the death of any man that says the King was not married to
his mother: though Alsopp says, it is well known that she was
a common whore before the King lay with her. But it seems, he
says, that the King is mighty kind to these his bastard children;
and at this day will go at midnight to my Lady Castlemaine’s
nurses, and take the child and dance it in his arms: that he is
not likely to have his tables up again in his house,–[The tables at
which the king dined in public.-B.]–for the crew that are about
him will not have him come to common view again, but keep
him obscurely among themselves. He hath this night, it seems,
ordered that the Hall (which there is a ball to be in to-night be-
fore the King) be guarded, as the Queen-Mother’s is, by his Horse
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Guards; whereas heretofore they were by the Lord Chamberlain
or Steward, and their people. But it is feared they will reduce
all to the soldiery, and all other places taken away; and what is
worst of all, that he will alter the present militia, and bring all
to a flying army. That my Lord Lauderdale, being Middleton’s
enemy, and one that scorns the Chancellor even to open affronts
before the King, hath got the whole power of Scotland into his
hand; whereas the other day he was in a fair way to have had his
whole estate, and honour, and life, voted away from him. That
the King hath done himself all imaginable wrong in the business
of my Lord Antrim, in Ireland; who, though he was the head
of rebels, yet he by his letter owns to have acted by his father’s
and mother’s, and his commissions; but it seems the truth is, he
hath obliged himself, upon the clearing of his estate, to settle it
upon a daughter of the Queene-Mother’s (by my Lord Germin, I
suppose,) in marriage, be it to whom the Queene pleases; which
is a sad story. It seems a daughter of the Duke of Lenox’s was,
by force, going to be married the other day at Somerset House,
to Harry Germin; but she got away and run to the King, and
he says he will protect her. She is, it seems, very near akin to
the King: Such mad doings there are every day among them!
The rape upon a woman at Turnstile the other day, her husband
being bound in his shirt, they both being in bed together, it be-
ing night, by two Frenchmen, who did not only lye with her but
abused her with a linke, is hushed up for £300, being the Queen
Mother’s servants. There was a French book in verse, the other
day, translated and presented to the Duke of Monmouth in such
a high stile, that the Duke of York, he tells me, was mightily of-
fended at it. The Duke of Monmouth’s mother’s brother hath a
place at Court; and being a Welchman (I think he told me) will
talk very broad of the King’s being married to his sister. The
King did the other day, at the Council, commit my Lord Digby’s’
chaplin, and steward, and another servant, who went upon the
process begun there against their lord, to swear that they saw
him at church, end receive the Sacrament as a Protestant, (which,
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the judges said, was sufficient to prove him such in the eye of
the law); the King, I say, did commit them all to the Gate-house,
notwithstanding their pleading their dependance upon him, and
the faith they owed him as their lord, whose bread they eat. And
that the King should say, that he would soon see whether he was
King, or Digby. That the Queene-Mother hath outrun herself in
her expences, and is now come to pay very ill, or run in debt; the
money being spent that she received for leases. He believes there
is not any money laid up in bank, as I told him some did hope;
but he says, from the best informers he can assure me there is no
such thing, nor any body that should look after such a thing; and
that there is not now above £80,000 of the Dunkirke money left
in stock. That Oliver in the year when he spent £1,400,000 in the
Navy, did spend in the whole expence of the kingdom £2,600,000.
That all the Court are mad for a Dutch war; but both he and I did
concur, that it was a thing rather to be dreaded than hoped for;
unless by the French King’s falling upon Flanders, they and the
Dutch should be divided. That our Embassador had, it is true,
an audience; but in the most dishonourable way that could be;
for the Princes of the Blood (though invited by our Embassador,
which was the greatest absurdity that ever Embassador commit-
ted these 400 years) were not there; and so were not said to give
place to our King’s Embassador. And that our King did openly
say, the other day in the Privy Chamber, that he would not be hec-
tored out of his right and preeminencys by the King of France, as
great as he was. That the Pope is glad to yield to a peace with
the French (as the newes-book says), upon the basest terms that
ever was. That the talke which these people about our King, that
I named before, have, is to tell him how neither privilege of Par-
liament nor City is any thing; but his will is all, and ought to be
so: and their discourse, it seems, when they are alone, is so base
and sordid, that it makes the eares of the very gentlemen of the
back-stairs (I think he called them) to tingle to hear it spoke in
the King’s hearing; and that must be very bad indeed. That my
Lord Digby did send to Lisbon a couple of priests, to search out
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what they could against the Chancellor concerning the match, as
to the point of his knowing before-hand that the Queene was not
capable of bearing children; and that something was given her
to make her so. But as private as they were, when they came
thither they were clapped up prisoners. That my Lord Digby en-
deavours what he can to bring the business into the House of
Commons, hoping there to master the Chancellor, there being
many enemies of his there; but I hope the contrary. That whereas
the late King did mortgage ‘Clarendon’ to somebody for £20,000,
and this to have given it to the Duke of Albemarle, and he sold it
to my Lord Chancellor, whose title of Earldome is fetched from
thence; the King hath this day sent his order to the Privy Seale for
the payment of this £20,000 to my Lord Chancellor, to clear the
mortgage! Ireland in a very distracted condition about the hard
usage which the Protestants meet with, and the too good which
the Catholiques. And from altogether, God knows my heart, I
expect nothing but ruine can follow, unless things are better or-
dered in a little time. He being gone my wife came and told
me how kind my uncle Wight had been to her to-day, and that
though she says that all his kindness comes from respect to her
she discovers nothing but great civility from him, yet but what
she says he otherwise will tell me, but to-day he told her plainly
that had she a child it should be his heir, and that should I or she
want he would be a good friend to us, and did give my wife in-
structions to consent to all his wife says at any time, she being a
pettish woman, which argues a design I think he has of keeping
us in with his wife in order to our good sure, and he declaring her
jealous of him that so he dares not come to see my wife as oth-
erwise he would do and will endeavour to do. It looks strange
putting all together, but yet I am in hopes he means well. My
aunt also is mighty open to my wife and tells her mighty plain
how her husband did intend to double her portion to her at his
death as a jointure. That he will give presently £100 to her niece
Mary and a good legacy at his death, and it seems did as much to
the other sister, which vexed [me] to think that he should bestow
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so much upon his wife’s friends daily as he do, but it cannot be
helped for the time past, and I will endeavour to remedy it for
the time to come. After all this discourse with my wife at my of-
fice alone, she home to see how the wash goes on and I to make
an end of my work, and so home to supper and to bed.
23rd. Up, it being Shrove Tuesday, and at the office sat all the
morning, at noon to the ‘Change and there met with Sir W. Rider,
and of a sudden knowing what I had at home, brought him and
Mr. Cutler and Mr. Cooke, clerk to Mr. Secretary Morrice, a sober
and pleasant man, and one that I knew heretofore, when he was
my Lord ‘s secretary at Dunkirke. I made much of them and had
a pretty dinner for a sudden. We talked very pleasantly, and they
many good discourses of their travels abroad. After dinner they
gone, I to my office, where doing many businesses very late, but
to my good content to see how I grow in estimation every day
more and more, and have things given more oftener than I used
to have formerly, as to have a case of very pretty knives with
agate shafts by Mrs. Russell. So home and to bed. This day, by
the blessing of God, I have lived thirty-one years in the world;
and, by the grace of God, I find myself not only in good health in
every thing, and particularly as to the stone, but only pain upon
taking cold, and also in a fair way of coming to a better esteem
and estate in the world, than ever I expected. But I pray God give
me a heart to fear a fall, and to prepare for it!
24th (Ash-Wednesday). Up and by water, it being a very fine
morning, to White Hall, and there to speak with Sir Ph. War-
wicke, but he was gone out to chappell, so I spent much of the
morning walking in the Park, and going to the Queene’s chap-
pell, where I staid and saw their masse, till a man came and bid
me go out or kneel down: so I did go out. And thence to Somerset
House; and there into the chappell, where Monsieur d’Espagne
used to preach. But now it is made very fine, and was ten times
more crouded than the Queene’s chappell at St. James’s; which I
wonder at. Thence down to the garden of Somerset House, and
1226
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up and down the new building, which in every respect will be
mighty magnificent and costly. I staid a great while talking with
a man in the garden that was sawing of a piece of marble, and
did give him 6d. to drink. He told me much of the nature and
labour of the worke, how he could not saw above 4 inches of the
stone in a day, and of a greater not above one or two, and after
it is sawed, then it is rubbed with coarse and then with finer and
finer sand till they come to putty, and so polish it as smooth as
glass. Their saws have no teeth, but it is the sand only which
the saw rubs up and down that do the thing. Thence by water
to the Coffee-house, and there sat with Alderman Barker talking
of hempe and the trade, and thence to the ‘Change a little, and
so home and dined with my wife, and then to the office till the
evening, and then walked a while merrily with my wife in the
garden, and so she gone, I to work again till late, and so home to
supper and to bed.
25th. Up and to the office, where we sat, and thence with Mr.
Coventry by coach to the glasshouse and there dined, and both
before and after did my Lord Peterborough’s accounts. Thence
home to the office, and there did business till called by Creed,
and with him by coach (setting my wife at my brother’s) to my
Lord’s, and saw the young ladies, and talked a little with them,
and thence to White Hall, a while talking but doing no business,
but resolved of going to meet my Lord tomorrow, having got
a horse of Mr. Coventry to-day. So home, taking up my wife,
and after doing something at my office home, God forgive me,
disturbed in my mind out of my jealousy of my wife tomorrow
when I am out of town, which is a hell to my mind, and yet with-
out all reason. God forgive me for it, and mend me. So home,
and getting my things ready for me, weary to bed.
26th. Up, and after dressing myself handsomely for riding,
I out, and by water to Westminster, to Mr. Creed’s chamber,
and after drinking some chocolate, and playing on the vyall, Mr.
Mallard being there, upon Creed’s new vyall, which proves, me-
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thinks, much worse than mine, and, looking upon his new con-
trivance of a desk and shelves for books, we set out from an inne
hard by, whither Mr. Coventry’s horse was carried, and round
about the bush through bad ways to Highgate. Good discourse
in the way had between us, and it being all day a most admirable
pleasant day, we, upon consultation, had stopped at the Cocke,
a mile on this side Barnett, being unwilling to put ourselves to
the charge or doubtful acceptance of any provision against my
Lord’s coming by, and there got something and dined, setting a
boy to look towards Barnett Hill, against their coming; and after
two or three false alarms, they come, and we met the coach very
gracefully, and I had a kind receipt from both Lord and Lady
as I could wish, and some kind discourse, and then rode by the
coach a good way, and so fell to discoursing with several of the
people, there being a dozen attending the coach, and another for
the mayds and parson. Among others talking with W. Howe, he
told me how my Lord in his hearing the other day did largely tell
my Lord Peterborough and Povy (who went with them down to
Hinchinbrooke) how and when he discarded Creed, and took me
to him, and that since the Duke of York has several times thanked
him for me, which did not a little please me, and anon I desiring
Mr. Howe to tell me upon [what] occasion this discourse hap-
pened, he desired me to say nothing of it now, for he would not
have my Lord to take notice of our being together, but he would
tell me another time, which put me into some trouble to think
what he meant by it. But when we came to my Lord’s house,
I went in; and whether it was my Lord’s neglect, or general in-
difference, I know not, but he made me no kind of compliment
there; and, methinks, the young ladies look somewhat highly
upon me. So I went away without bidding adieu to anybody,
being desirous not to be thought too servile. But I do hope and
believe that my Lord do yet value me as high as ever, though
he dare not admit me to the freedom he once did, and that my
Lady is still the same woman. So rode home and there found my
uncle Wight. ‘Tis an odd thing as my wife tells me his caressing
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her and coming on purpose to give her visits, but I do not trou-
ble myself for him at all, but hope the best and very good effects
of it. He being gone I eat something and my wife. I told all this
day’s passages, and she to give me very good and rational advice
how to behave myself to my Lord and his family, by slighting ev-
ery body but my Lord and Lady, and not to seem to have the
least society or fellowship with them, which I am resolved to do,
knowing that it is my high carriage that must do me good there,
and to appear in good clothes and garbe. To the office, and being
weary, early home to bed.
27th. Up, but weary, and to the office, where we sat all the
morning. Before I went to the office there came Bagwell’s wife
to me to speak for her husband. I liked the woman very well
and stroked her under the chin, but could not find in my heart
to offer anything uncivil to her, she being, I believe, a very mod-
est woman. At noon with Mr. Coventry to the African house,
and to my Lord Peterborough’s business again, and then to din-
ner, where, before dinner, we had the best oysters I have seen
this year, and I think as good in all respects as ever I eat in my
life. I eat a great many. Great, good company at dinner, among
others Sir Martin Noell, who told us the dispute between him,
as farmer of the Additional Duty, and the East India Company,
whether callicos be linnen or no; which he says it is, having been
ever esteemed so: they say it is made of cotton woole, and grows
upon trees, not like flax or hempe. But it was carried against
the Company, though they stand out against the verdict. Thence
home and to the office, where late, and so home to supper and
to bed, and had a very pleasing and condescending answer from
my poor father to-day in answer to my angry discontentful letter
to him the other day, which pleases me mightily.
28th (Lord’s day). Up and walked to Paul’s; and by chance it
was an extraordinary day for the Readers of the Inns of Court
and all the Students to come to church, it being an old ceremony
not used these twenty-five years, upon the first Sunday in Lent.
1229
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Abundance there was of Students, more than there was room to
seat but upon forms, and the Church mighty full. One Hawkins
preached, an Oxford man. A good sermon upon these words:
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable.” Both
before and after sermon I was most impatiently troubled at the
Quire, the worst that ever I heard. But what was extraordinary,
the Bishop of London, who sat there in a pew, made a purpose
for him by the pulpitt, do give the last blessing to the congrega-
tion; which was, he being a comely old man, a very decent thing,
methought. The Lieutenant of the Tower, Sir J. Robinson, would
needs have me by coach home with him, and sending word home
to my house I did go and dine with him, his ordinary table be-
ing very good, and his lady a very high-carriaged but comely big
woman; I was mightily pleased with her. His officers of his regi-
ment dined with him. No discourse at table to any purpose, only
after dinner my Lady would needs see a boy which was repre-
sented to her to be an innocent country boy brought up to towne
a day or two ago, and left here to the wide world, and he losing
his way fell into the Tower, which my Lady believes, and takes
pity on him, and will keep him; but though a little boy and but
young, yet he tells his tale so readily and answers all questions so
wittily, that for certain he is an arch rogue, and bred in this towne;
but my Lady will not believe it, but ordered victuals to be given
him, and I think will keep him as a footboy for their eldest son.
After dinner to chappell in the Tower with the Lieutenant, with
the keyes carried before us, and the Warders and Gentleman-
porter going before us. And I sat with the Lieutenant in his pew,
in great state, but slept all the sermon. None, it seems, of the
prisoners in the Tower that are there now, though they may, will
come to prayers there. Church being done, I back to Sir John’s
house and there left him and home, and by and by to Sir W. Pen,
and staid a while talking with him about Sir J. Minnes his folly in
his office, of which I am sicke and weary to speak of it, and how
the King is abused in it, though Pen, I know, offers the discourse
only like a rogue to get it out of me, but I am very free to tell my
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mind to him, in that case being not unwilling he should tell him
again if he will or any body else. Thence home, and walked in
the garden by brave moonshine with my wife above two hours,
till past 8 o’clock, then to supper, and after prayers to bed.
29th. Up and by coach with Sir W. Pen to Charing Cross, and
there I ‘light, and to Sir Phillip Warwick to visit him and dis-
course with him about navy business, which I did at large and he
most largely with me, not only about the navy but about the gen-
eral Revenue of England, above two hours, I think, many staying
all the while without, but he seemed to take pains to let me either
understand the affairs of the Revenue or else to be a witness of
his pains and care in stating it. He showed me indeed many ex-
cellent collections of the State of the Revenue in former Kings and
the late times, and the present. He showed me how the very As-
sessments between 1643 and 1659, which were taxes (besides Ex-
cise, Customes, Sequestrations, Decimations, King and Queene’s
and Church Lands, or any thing else but just the Assessments),
come to above fifteen millions. He showed me a discourse of his
concerning the Revenues of this and foreign States. How that of
Spayne was great, but divided with his kingdoms, and so came
to little. How that of France did, and do much exceed ours before
for quantity; and that it is at the will of the Prince to tax what he
will upon his people; which is not here. That the Hollanders have
the best manner of tax, which is only upon the expence of provi-
sions, by an excise; and do conclude that no other tax is proper
for England but a pound-rate, or excise upon the expence of pro-
visions. He showed me every particular sort of payment away
of money, since the King’s coming in, to this day; and told me,
from one to one, how little he hath received of profit from most
of them; and I believe him truly. That the £1,200,000 which the
Parliament with so much ado did first vote to give the King, and
since hath been reexamined by several committees of the present
Parliament, is yet above £300,000 short of making up really to the
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King the £1,200,000, as by particulars he showed me.407 And in
my Lord Treasurer’s excellent letter to the King upon this subject,
he tells the King how it was the spending more than the revenue
that did give the first occasion of his father’s ruine, and did since
to the rebels; who, he says, just like Henry the Eighth, had great
and sudden increase of wealth, but yet, by overspending, both
died poor; and further tells the King how much of this £1,200,000
depends upon the life of the Prince, and so must be renewed by
Parliament again to his successor; which is seldom done with-
out parting with some of the prerogatives of the Crowne; or if
denied and he persists to take it of the people, it gives occasion
to a civill war, which may, as it did in the late business of ton-
nage and poundage, prove fatal to the Crowne. He showed me
how many ways the Lord Treasurer did take before he moved
the King to farme the Customes in the manner he do, and the
reasons that moved him to do it. He showed the a very excel-
lent argument to prove, that our importing lesse than we export,
do not impoverish the kingdom, according to the received opin-
ion: which, though it be a paradox, and that I do not remember
the argument, yet methought there was a great deale in what he
said. And upon the whole I find him a most exact and method-
icall man, and of great industry: and very glad that he thought
fit to show me all this; though I cannot easily guess the reason
why he should do it to me, unless from the plainness that he sees
I use to him in telling him how much the King may suffer for our
407 A committee was appointed in September, 1660, to consider the subject
of the King’s revenue, and they “reported to the Commons that the average
revenue of Charles I., from 1637 to 1641 inclusive, had been £895,819, and
the average expenditure about £1,110,000. At that time prices were lower
and the country less burthened with navy and garrisons, among which lat-
ter Dunkirk alone now cost more than £100,000 a year. It appeared, therefore,
that the least sum to which the King could be expected to ‘conform his ex-
pense’ was £1,200,000.” Burnet writes, “It was believed that if two millions
had been asked he could have carried it. But he (Clarendon) had no mind
to put the King out of the necessity of having recourse to his Parliament.”–
Lister’s Life of Clarendon, vol. ii., pp. 22, 23.
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want of understanding the case of our Treasury. Thence to White
Hall (where my Lord Sandwich was, and gave me a good coun-
tenance, I thought), and before the Duke did our usual business,
and so I about several businesses in the house, and then out to
the Mewes with Sir W. Pen. But in my way first did meet with W.
Howe, who did of himself advise me to appear more free with
my Lord and to come to him, for my own strangeness he tells
me he thinks do make my Lord the worse. At the Mewes Sir W.
Pen and Mr. Baxter did shew me several good horses, but Pen,
which Sir W. Pen did give the Duke of York, was given away by
the Duke the other day to a Frenchman, which Baxter is cruelly
vexed at, saying that he was the best horse that he expects a great
while to have to do with. Thence I to the ‘Change, and thence
to a Coffee-house with Sir W. Warren, and did talk much about
his and Wood’s business, and thence homewards, and in my way
did stay to look upon a fire in an Inneyard in Lumbard Streete.
But, Lord! how the mercers and merchants who had warehouses
there did carry away their cloths and silks. But at last it was
quenched, and I home to dinner, and after dinner carried my wife
and set her and her two mayds in Fleete Streete to buy things, and
I to White Hall to little purpose, and so to Westminster Hall, and
there talked with Mrs. Lane and Howlett, but the match with
Hawly I perceive will not take, and so I am resolved wholly to
avoid occasion of further ill with her. Thence by water to Sals-
bury Court, and found my wife, by agreement, at Mrs. Turner’s,
and after a little stay and chat set her and young Armiger down
in Cheapside, and so my wife and I home. Got home before our
mayds, who by and by came with a great cry and fright that they
had like to have been killed by a coach; but, Lord! to see how Jane
did tell the story like a foole and a dissembling fanatique, like her
grandmother, but so like a changeling, would make a man laugh
to death almost, and yet be vexed to hear her. By and by to the of-
fice to make up my monthly accounts, which I make up to-night,
and to my great content find myself worth eight hundred and
ninety and odd pounds, the greatest sum I ever yet knew, and so
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with a heart at great case to bed.
1234
MARCH 1663-1664
March 1st. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning,
and at noon to the ‘Change, and after much business and meet-
ing my uncle Wight, who told me how Mr. Maes had like to have
been trapanned yesterday, but was forced to run for it; so with
Creed and Mr. Hunt home to dinner, and after a good and pleas-
ant dinner, Mr. Hunt parted, and I took Mr. Creed and my wife
and down to Deptford, it being most pleasant weather, and there
till night discoursing with the officers there about several things,
and so walked home by moonshine, it being mighty pleasant,
and so home, and I to my office, where late about getting myself
a thorough understanding in the business of masts, and so home
to bed, my left eye being mightily troubled with rheum.
2nd. Up, my eye mightily out of order with the rheum that
is fallen down into it, however, I by coach endeavoured to have
waited on my Lord Sandwich, but meeting him in Chancery Lane
going towards the City I stopped and so fairly walked home
again, calling at St. Paul’s Churchyarde, and there looked upon a
pretty burlesque poem, called “Scarronides, or Virgile Travesty;”
extraordinary good. At home to the office till dinner, and after
dinner my wife cut my hair short, which is growne pretty long
again, and then to the office, and there till 9 at night doing busi-
ness. This afternoon we had a good present of tongues and ba-
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MARCH 1663-1664
con from Mr. Shales, of Portsmouth. So at night home to sup-
per, and, being troubled with my eye, to bed. This morning Mr.
Burgby, one of the writing clerks belonging to the Council, was
with me about business, a knowing man, he complains how most
of the Lords of the Council do look after themselves and their
own ends, and none the publique, unless Sir Edward Nicholas.
Sir G. Carteret is diligent, but all for his own ends and profit. My
Lord Privy Scale, a destroyer of every body’s business, and do
no good at all to the publique. The Archbishop of Canterbury
speaks very little, nor do much, being now come to the high-
est pitch that he can expect. He tells me, he believes that things
will go very high against the Chancellor by Digby, and that bad
things will be proved. Talks much of his neglecting the King;
and making the King to trot every day to him, when he is well
enough to go to visit his cozen Chief-Justice Hide, but not to the
Council or King. He commends my Lord of Ormond mightily in
Ireland; but cries out cruelly of Sir G. Lane for his corruption; and
that he hath done my Lord great dishonour by selling of places
here, which are now all taken away, and the poor wretches ready
to starve. That nobody almost understands or judges of busi-
ness better than the King, if he would not be guilty of his father’s
fault to be doubtfull of himself, and easily be removed from his
own opinion. That my Lord Lauderdale is never from the King’s
care nor council, and that he is a most cunning fellow. Upon the
whole, that he finds things go very bad every where; and even in
the Council nobody minds the publique.
3rd. Up pretty early and so to the office, where we sat all the
morning making a very great contract with Sir W. Warren for pro-
visions for the yeare coming, and so home to dinner, and there
was W. Howe come to dine with me, and before dinner he and I
walked in the garden, and we did discourse together, he assur-
ing me of what he told me the other day of my Lord’s speaking
so highly in my commendation to my Lord Peterborough and
Povy, which speaks my Lord having yet a good opinion of me,
and also how well my Lord and Lady both are pleased with their
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children’s being at my father’s, and when the bigger ladies were
there a little while ago, at which I am very glad. After dinner
he went away, I having discoursed with him about his own pro-
ceedings in his studies, and I observe him to be very considerate
and to mind his book in order to preferring himself by my Lord’s
favour to something, and I hope to the outing of Creed in his Sec-
retaryship. For he tells me that he is confident my Lord do not
love him nor will trust him in any secret matter, he is so cunning
and crafty in all he do. So my wife and I out of doors thinking to
have gone to have seen a play, but when we came to take coach,
they tell us there are none this week, being the first of Lent. But,
Lord! to see how impatient I found myself within to see a play, I
being at liberty once a month to see one, and I think it is the best
method I could have taken. But to my office, did very much busi-
ness with several people till night, and so home, being unwilling
to stay late because of my eye which is not yet well of the rheum
that is fallen down into it, but to supper and to bed.
4th. Up, my eye being pretty well, and then by coach to my
Lord Sandwich, with whom I spoke, walking a good while with
him in his garden, which and the house is very fine, talking of
my Lord Peterborough’s accounts, wherein he is concerned both
for the foolery as also inconvenience which may happen upon
my Lord Peterborough’s ill-stating of his matters, so as to have
his gaine discovered unnecessarily. We did talk long and freely
that I hope the worst is past and all will be well. There were sev-
eral people by trying a new-fashion gun408 brought my Lord this
408 Many attempts to produce a satisfactory revolver were made in for-
mer centuries, but it was not till the present one that Colt’s revolver was
invented. On February 18th, 1661, Edward, Marquis of Worcester, obtained
Letters Patent for “an invencon to make certeyne guns or pistolls which in
the tenth parte of one minute of an houre may, with a flaske contrived to that
purpose, be re-charged the fourth part of one turne of the barrell which re-
maines still fixt, fastening it as forceably and effectually as a dozen thrids of
any scrue, which in the ordinary and usual way require as many turnes.” On
March 3rd, 1664, Abraham Hill obtained Letters Patent for a “gun or pistoll
1237
MARCH 1663-1664
morning, to shoot off often, one after another, without trouble
or danger, very pretty. Thence to the Temple, and there taking
White’s boat down to Woolwich, taking Mr. Shish at Deptford
in my way, with whom I had some good discourse of the Navy
business. At Woolwich discoursed with him and Mr. Pett about
iron worke and other businesses, and then walked home, and
at Greenwich did observe the foundation laying of a very great
house for the King, which will cost a great deale of money.409 So
home to dinner, and my uncle Wight coming in he along with
my wife and I by coach, and setting him down by the way going
to Mr. Maes we two to my Lord Sandwich’s to visit my Lady,
with whom I left my wife discoursing, and I to White Hall, and
there being met by the Duke of Yorke, he called me to him and
discoursed a pretty while with me about the new ship’s dispatch
building at Woolwich, and talking of the charge did say that he
finds always the best the most cheape, instancing in French guns,
which in France you may buy for 4 pistoles, as good to look to as
others of 16, but not the service. I never had so much discourse
with the Duke before, and till now did ever fear to meet him.
He found me and Mr. Prin together talking of the Chest money,
which we are to blame not to look after. Thence to my Lord’s,
and took up my wife, whom my Lady hath received with her old
good nature and kindnesse, and so homewards, and she home, I
‘lighting by the way, and upon the ‘Change met my uncle Wight
for small shott, carrying seaven or eight charges of the same in the stocke of
the gun.”
409 Building by John Webb; now a part of Greenwich Hospital. Evelyn
wrote in his Diary, October 19th, 1661: “I went to London to visite my Lord
of Bristoll, having been with Sir John Denham (his Mates surveyor) to con-
sult with him about the placing of his palace at Greenwich, which I would
have had built between the river and the Queene’s house, so as a large cutt
should have let in ye Thames like a bay; but Sir John was for setting it in
piles at the very brink of the water, which I did not assent to and so came
away, knowing Sir John to be a better poet than architect, tho’ he had Mr.
Webb (Inigo Jones’s man) to assist him.”
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and told him my discourse this afternoon with Sir G. Carteret in
Maes’ business, but much to his discomfort, and after a dish of
coffee home, and at my office a good while with Sir W. Warren
talking with great pleasure of many businesses, and then home
to supper, my wife and I had a good fowle to supper, and then I
to the office again and so home, my mind in great ease to think
of our coming to so good a respect with my Lord again, and my
Lady, and that my Lady do so much cry up my father’s usage
of her children, and the goodness of the ayre there, found in the
young ladies’ faces at their return thence, as she says, as also my
being put into the commission of the Fishery,410 for which I must
give my Lord thanks, and so home to bed, having a great cold in
my head and throat tonight from my late cutting my hair so close
to my head, but I hope it will be soon gone again.
5th. Up and to the office, where, though I had a great cold, I
was forced to speak much upon a publique meeting of the East
India Company, at our office; where our own company was full,
and there was also my Lord George Barkeley, in behalfe of the
company of merchants (I suppose he is on that company), who,
hearing my name, took notice of me, and condoled my cozen
Edward Pepys’s death, not knowing whose son I was, nor did
demand it of me. We broke up without coming to any conclusion,
for want of my Lord Marlborough. We broke up and I to the
‘Change, where with several people and my uncle Wight to drink
a dish of coffee, and so home to dinner, and then to the office all
the afternoon, my eye and my throat being very bad, and my
410 There had been recently established, under the Great Seal of England,
a Corporation for the Royal Fishing, of which the Duke of York was Gover-
nor, Lord Craven Deputy-Governor, and the Lord Mayor and Chamberlain
of London, for the time being, Treasurers, in which body was vested the sole
power of licensing lotteries (“The Newes,” October 6th, 1664). The origi-
nal charter (dated April 8th, 1664), incorporating James, Duke of York, and
thirty-six assistants as Governor and Company of the Royal Fishing of Great
Britain and Ireland, is among the State Papers. The duke was to be Governor
till February 26th, 1665
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cold increasing so as I could not speak almost at all at night. So
at night home to supper, that is a posset, and to bed.
6th (Lord’s day). Up, and my cold continuing in great extrem-
ity I could not go out to church, but sat all day (a little time at
dinner excepted) in my closet at the office till night drawing up a
second letter to Mr. Coventry about the measure of masts to my
great satisfaction, and so in the evening home, and my uncle and
aunt Wight came to us and supped with us, where pretty merry,
but that my cold put me out of humour. At night with my cold,
and my eye also sore still, to bed.
7th. Up betimes, and the Duke being gone abroad to-day, as we
heard by a messenger, I spent the morning at my office writing
fair my yesterday’s work till almost 2 o’clock (only Sir G. Carteret
coming I went down a little way by water towards Deptford, but
having more mind to have my business done I pretended busi-
ness at the ‘Change, and so went into another boat), and then,
eating a bit, my wife and I by coach to the Duke’s house, where
we saw “The Unfortunate Lovers;” but I know not whether I am
grown more curious than I was or no, but I was not much pleased
with it, though I know not where to lay the fault, unless it was
that the house was very empty, by reason of a new play at the
other house. Yet here was my Lady Castlemayne in a box, and it
was pleasant to hear an ordinary lady hard by us, that it seems
did not know her before, say, being told who she was, that “she
was well enough.” Thence home, and I ended and sent away my
letter to Mr. Coventry (having first read it and had the opinion
of Sir W. Warren in the case), and so home to supper and to bed,
my cold being pretty well gone, but my eye remaining still snare
and rhumey, which I wonder at, my right eye ayling nothing.
8th. Up with some little discontent with my wife upon her say-
ing that she had got and used some puppy-dog water, being put
upon it by a desire of my aunt Wight to get some for her, who
hath a mind, unknown to her husband, to get some for her ugly
face. I to the office, where we sat all the morning, doing not much
1240
MARCH 1663-1664
business through the multitude of counsellors, one hindering an-
other. It was Mr. Coventry’s own saying to me in his coach going
to the ‘Change, but I wonder that he did give me no thanks for
my letter last night, but I believe he did only forget it. Thence
home, whither Luellin came and dined with me, but we made no
long stay at dinner; for “Heraclius” being acted, which my wife
and I have a mighty mind to see, we do resolve, though not ex-
actly agreeing with the letter of my vowe, yet altogether with the
sense, to see another this month, by going hither instead of that
at Court, there having been none conveniently since I made my
vowe for us to see there, nor like to be this Lent, and besides we
did walk home on purpose to make this going as cheap as that
would have been, to have seen one at Court, and my conscience
knows that it is only the saving of money and the time also that
I intend by my oaths, and this has cost no more of either, so that
my conscience before God do after good consultation and resolu-
tion of paying my forfeit, did my conscience accuse me of break-
ing my vowe, I do not find myself in the least apprehensive that
I have done any violence to my oaths. The play hath one very
good passage well managed in it, about two persons pretending,
and yet denying themselves, to be son to the tyrant Phocas, and
yet heire of Mauritius to the crowne. The garments like Romans
very well. The little girle is come to act very prettily, and spoke
the epilogue most admirably. But at the beginning, at the draw-
ing up of the curtaine, there was the finest scene of the Emperor
and his people about him, standing in their fixed and different
pastures in their Roman habitts, above all that ever I yet saw at
any of the theatres. Walked home, calling to see my brother Tom,
who is in bed, and I doubt very ill of a consumption. To the office
awhile, and so home to supper and to bed.
9th. Up pretty betimes to my office, where all day long, but
a little at home at dinner, at my office finishing all things about
Mr. Wood’s contract for masts, wherein I am sure I shall save the
King £400 before I have done. At night home to supper and to
bed.
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MARCH 1663-1664
10th. Up and to the office, where all the morning doing busi-
ness, and at noon to the ‘Change and there very busy, and so
home to dinner with my wife, to a good hog’s harslet,411 a piece
of meat I love, but have not eat of I think these seven years, and
after dinner abroad by coach set her at Mrs. Hunt’s and I to White
Hall, and at the Privy Seale I enquired, and found the Bill come
for the Corporation of the Royall Fishery; whereof the Duke of
Yorke is made present Governor, and several other very great
persons, to the number of thirty-two, made his assistants for their
lives: whereof, by my Lord Sandwich’s favour, I am one; and take
it not only as a matter of honour, but that, that may come to be of
profit to me, and so with great content went and called my wife,
and so home and to the office, where busy late, and so home to
supper and to bed.
11th. Up and by coach to my Lord Sandwich’s, who not being
up I staid talking with Mr. Moore till my Lord was ready and
come down, and went directly out without calling for me or see-
ing any body. I know not whether he knew I was there, but I am
apt to think not, because if he would have given me that slight-
ing yet he would not have done it to others that were there. So I
went back again doing nothing but discoursing with Mr. Moore,
who I find by discourse to be grown rich, and indeed not to use
me at all with the respect he used to do, but as his equal. He
made me known to their Chaplin, who is a worthy, able man.
Thence home, and by and by to the Coffee-house, and thence to
the ‘Change, and so home to dinner, and after a little chat with
my wife to the office, where all the afternoon till very late at the
office busy, and so home to supper and to bed, hoping in God
that my diligence, as it is really very useful for the King, so it will
end in profit to myself. In the meantime I have good content in
mind to see myself improve every day in knowledge and being
known.
411 Harslet or haslet, the entrails of an animal, especially of a hog, as the
heart, liver, &c.
1242
MARCH 1663-1664
12th. Lay long pleasantly entertaining myself with my wife,
and then up and to the office, where busy till noon, vexed to see
how Sir J. Minnes deserves rather to be pitied for his dotage and
folly than employed at a great salary to ruin the King’s business.
At noon to the ‘Change, and thence home to dinner, and then
down to Deptford, where busy a while, and then walking home
it fell hard a raining. So at Halfway house put in, and there meet-
ing Mr. Stacy with some company of pretty women, I took him
aside to a room by ourselves, and there talked with him about
the several sorts of tarrs, and so by and by parted, and I walked
home and there late at the office, and so home to supper and to
bed.
13th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed talking with my wife, and
then up in great doubt whether I should not go see Mr. Coventry
or no, who hath not been well these two or three days, but it
being foul weather I staid within, and so to my office, and there
all the morning reading some Common Law, to which I will allot
a little time now and then, for I much want it. At noon home
to dinner, and then after some discourse with my wife, to the
office again, and by and by Sir W. Pen came to me after sermon
and walked with me in the garden and then one comes to tell me
that Anthony and Will Joyce were come to see me, so I in to them
and made mighty much of them, and very pleasant we were, and
most of their business I find to be to advise about getting some
woman to attend my brother Tom, whom they say is very ill and
seems much to want one. To which I agreed, and desired them to
get their wives to enquire out one. By and by they bid me good
night, but immediately as they were gone out of doors comes
Mrs. Turner’s boy with a note to me to tell me that my brother
Tom was so ill as they feared he would not long live, and that
it would be fit I should come and see him. So I sent for them
back, and they came, and Will Joyce desiring to speak with me
alone I took him up, and there he did plainly tell me to my great
astonishment that my brother is deadly ill, and that their chief
business of coming was to tell me so, and what is worst that his
1243
MARCH 1663-1664
disease is the pox, which he hath heretofore got, and hath not
been cured, but is come to this, and that this is certain, though a
secret told his father Fenner by the Doctor which he helped my
brother to. This troubled me mightily, but however I thought fit
to go see him for speech of people’s sake, and so walked along
with them, and in our way called on my uncle Fenner (where I
have not been these 12 months and more) and advised with him,
and then to my brother, who lies in bed talking idle. He could
only say that he knew me, and then fell to other discourse, and
his face like a dying man, which Mrs. Turner, who was here,
and others conclude he is. The company being gone, I took the
mayde, which seems a very grave and serious woman, and in
W. Joyce’s company’ did inquire how things are with her master.
She told me many things very discreetly, and said she had all his
papers and books, and key of his cutting house, and showed me a
bag which I and Wm. Joyce told, coming to £5 14s. 0d., which we
left with her again, after giving her good counsel, and the boys,
and seeing a nurse there of Mrs. Holden’s choosing, I left them,
and so walked home greatly troubled to think of my brother’s
condition, and the trouble that would arise to me by his death or
continuing sick. So at home, my mind troubled, to bed.
14th. Up, and walked to my brother’s, where I find he hath
continued talking idly all night, and now knows me not; which
troubles me mightily. So I walked down and discoursed a great
while alone with the mayde, who tells me many passages of her
master’s practices, and how she concludes that he has run be-
hind hand a great while and owes money, and has been dunned
by several people, among others by one Cave, both husband and
wife, but whether it was for–[See April 6th]–money or something
worse she knows not, but there is one Cranburne, I think she
called him, in Fleete Lane with whom he hath many times been
mighty private, but what their dealings have been she knows not,
but believes these were naught, and then his sitting up two Sat-
urday nights one after another when all were abed doing some-
thing to himself, which she now suspects what it was, but did
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MARCH 1663-1664
not before, but tells me that he hath been a very bad husband as
to spending his time, and hath often told him of it, so that upon
the whole I do find he is, whether he lives or dies, a ruined man,
and what trouble will befall me by it I know not. Thence to White
Hall; and in the Duke’s chamber, while he was dressing, two per-
sons of quality that were there did tell his Royal Highness how
the other night, in Holborne, about midnight, being at cards, a
link-boy come by and run into the house, and told the people the
house was a-falling. Upon this the whole family was frighted,
concluding that the boy had said that the house was a-fire: so
they deft their cards above, and one would have got out of the
balcone, but it was not open; the other went up to fetch down his
children, that were in bed; so all got clear out of the house. And
no sooner so, but the house fell down indeed, from top to bottom.
It seems my Lord Southampton’s canaille–[sewer]–did come too
near their foundation, and so weakened the house, and down it
came; which, in every respect, is a most extraordinary passage.
By and by into his closet and did our business with him. But I
did not speed as I expected in a business about the manner of
buying hemp for this year, which troubled me, but it proceeds
only from my pride, that I must needs expect every thing to be
ordered just as I apprehend, though it was not I think from my
errour, but their not being willing to hear and consider all that I
had to propose. Being broke up I followed my Lord Sandwich
and thanked him for his putting me into the Fishery, which I per-
ceive he expected, and cried “Oh!” says he, “in the Fishery you
mean. I told you I would remember you in it,” but offered no
other discourse. But demanding whether he had any commands
for me, methought he cried “No!” as if he had no more mind to
discourse with me, which still troubles me and hath done all the
day, though I think I am a fool for it, in not pursuing my resolu-
tion of going handsome in clothes and looking high, for that must
do it when all is done with my Lord. Thence by coach with Sir
W. Batten to the city, and his son Castle, who talks mighty highly
against Captain Tayler, calling him knave, and I find that the old
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Boating father is led and talks just as the son do, or the son as
the father would have him. ‘Light and to Mr. Moxon’s, and there
saw our office globes in doing, which will be very handsome but
cost money. So to the Coffee-house, and there very fine discourse
with Mr. Hill the merchant, a pretty, gentile, young, and sober
man. So to the ‘Change, and thence home, where my wife and I
fell out about my not being willing to have her have her gowne
laced, but would lay out the same money and more on a plain
new one. At this she flounced away in a manner I never saw her,
nor which I could ever endure. So I away to the office, though
she had dressed herself to go see my Lady Sandwich. She by
and by in a rage follows me, and coming to me tells me in spite-
full manner like a vixen and with a look full of rancour that she
would go buy a new one and lace it and make me pay for it, and
then let me burn it if I would after she had done it, and so went
away in a fury. This vexed me cruelly, but being very busy I had,
not hand to give myself up to consult what to do in it, but anon,
I suppose after she saw that I did not follow her, she came again
to the office, where I made her stay, being busy with another,
half an houre, and her stomach coming down we were presently
friends, and so after my business being over at the office we out
and by coach to my Lady Sandwich’s, with whom I left my wife,
and I to White Hall, where I met Mr. Delsety, and after an hour’s
discourse with him met with nobody to do other business with,
but back again to my Lady, and after half an hour’s discourse
with her to my brother’s, who I find in the same or worse condi-
tion. The doctors give him over and so do all that see him. He
talks no sense two, words together now; and I confess it made
me weepe to see that he should not be able, when I asked him,
to say who I was. I went to Mrs. Turner’s, and by her discourse
with my brother’s Doctor, Mr. Powell, I find that she is full now
of the disease which my brother is troubled with, and talks of it
mightily, which I am sorry for, there being other company, but
methinks it should be for her honour to forbear talking of it, the
shame of this very thing I confess troubles me as much as any-
1246
MARCH 1663-1664
thing. Back to my brother’s and took my wife, and carried her
to my uncle Fenner’s and there had much private discourse with
him. He tells me of the Doctor’s thoughts of my brother’s lit-
tle hopes of recovery, and from that to tell me his thoughts long
of my brother’s bad husbandry, and from that to say that he be-
lieves he owes a great deal of money, as to my cozen Scott I know
not how much, and Dr. Thos. Pepys £30, but that the Doctor con-
fesses that he is paid £20 of it, and what with that and what he
owes my father and me I doubt he is in a very sad condition, that
if he lives he will not be able to show his head, which will be a
very great shame to me. After this I went in to my aunt and my
wife and Anthony Joyce and his wife, who were by chance there,
and drank and so home, my mind and head troubled, but I hope
it will [be] over in a little time one way or other. After doing a
little at my office of business I home to supper and to bed. From
notice that my uncle Fenner did give my father the last week of
my brother’s condition, my mother is coming up to towne, which
also do trouble me. The business between my Lords Chancellor
and Bristoll, they say, is hushed up; and the latter gone or going,
by the King’s licence, to France.
15th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at
noon comes Madam Turner and her daughter The., her chief er-
rand to tell me that she had got Dr. Wiverly, her Doctor, to search
my brother’s mouth, where Mr. Powell says there is an ulcer,
from thence he concludes that he hath had the pox. But the Doc-
tor swears that there is not, nor ever was any, and my brother
being very sensible, which I was glad to hear, he did talk with
him about it, and he did wholly disclaim that ever he had the dis-
ease, or that ever he said to Powell that he had it. All which did
put me into great comfort as to the reproach which was spread
against him. So I sent for a barrel of oysters, and they dined, and
we were very merry, I being willing to be so upon this news. Af-
ter dinner we took coach and to my brother’s, where contrary to
my expectation he continues as bad or worse, talking idle, and
now not at all knowing any of us as before. Here we staid a great
1247
MARCH 1663-1664
while, I going up and down the house looking after things. In the
evening Dr. Wiverley came again, and I sent for Mr. Powell (the
Doctor and I having first by ourselves searched my brother again
at his privities, where he was as clear as ever he was born, and in
the Doctor’s opinion had been ever so), and we three alone dis-
coursed the business, where the coxcomb did give us his simple
reasons for what he had said, which the Doctor fully confuted,
and left the fellow only saying that he should cease to report any
such thing, and that what he had said was the best of his judg-
ment from my brother’s words and a ulcer, as he supposed, in
his mouth. I threatened him that I would have satisfaction if I
heard any more such discourse, and so good night to them two,
giving the Doctor a piece for his fee, but the other nothing. I to
my brother again, where Madam Turner and her company, and
Mrs. Croxton, my wife, and Mrs. Holding. About 8 o’clock my
brother began to fetch his spittle with more pain, and to speak
as much but not so distinctly, till at last the phlegm getting the
mastery of him, and he beginning as we thought to rattle, I had
no mind to see him die, as we thought he presently would, and
so withdrew and led Mrs. Turner home, but before I came back,
which was in half a quarter of an hour, my brother was dead. I
went up and found the nurse holding his eyes shut, and he poor
wretch lying with his chops fallen, a most sad sight, and that
which put me into a present very great transport of grief and
cries, and indeed it was a most sad sight to see the poor wretch
lie now still and dead, and pale like a stone. I staid till he was
almost cold, while Mrs. Croxton, Holden, and the rest did strip
and lay him out, they observing his corpse, as they told me after-
wards, to be as clear as any they ever saw, and so this was the end
of my poor brother, continuing talking idle and his lips working
even to his last that his phlegm hindered his breathing, and at
last his breath broke out bringing a flood of phlegm and stuff out
with it, and so he died. This evening he talked among other talk
a great deal of French very plain and good, as, among others:
‘quand un homme boit quand il n’a poynt d’inclination a boire il
1248
MARCH 1663-1664
ne luy fait jamais de bien.’ I once begun to tell him something of
his condition, and asked him whither he thought he should go.
He in distracted manner answered me–“Why, whither should I
go? there are but two ways: If I go, to the bad way I must give
God thanks for it, and if I go the other way I must give God the
more thanks for it; and I hope I have not been so undutifull and
unthankfull in my life but I hope I shall go that way.” This was
all the sense, good or bad, that I could get of him this day. I left
my wife to see him laid out, and I by coach home carrying my
brother’s papers, all I could find, with me, and having wrote a
letter to, my father telling him what hath been said I returned by
coach, it being very late, and dark, to my brother’s, but all being
gone, the corpse laid out, and my wife at Mrs. Turner’s, I thither,
and there after an hour’s talk, we up to bed, my wife and I in
the little blue chamber, and I lay close to my wife, being full of
disorder and grief for my brother that I could not sleep nor wake
with satisfaction, at last I slept till 5 or 6 o’clock.
16th. And then I rose and up, leaving my wife in bed, and
to my brother’s, where I set them on cleaning the house, and
my wife coming anon to look after things, I up and down to my
cozen Stradwicke’s and uncle Fenner’s about discoursing for the
funeral, which I am resolved to put off till Friday next. Thence
home and trimmed myself, and then to the ‘Change, and told my
uncle Wight of my brother’s death, and so by coach to my cozen
Turner’s and there dined very well, but my wife.... in great pain
we were forced to rise in some disorder, and in Mrs. Turner’s
coach carried her home and put her to bed. Then back again
with my cozen Norton to Mrs. Turner’s, and there staid a while
talking with Dr. Pepys, the puppy, whom I had no patience to
hear. So I left them and to my brother’s to look after things, and
saw the coffin brought; and by and by Mrs. Holden came and
saw him nailed up. Then came W. Joyce to me half drunk, and
much ado I had to tell him the story of my brother’s being found
clear of what was said, but he would interrupt me by some idle
discourse or other, of his crying what a good man, and a good
1249
MARCH 1663-1664
speaker my brother was, and God knows what. At last weary of
him I got him away, and I to Mrs. Turner’s, and there, though
my heart is still heavy to think of my poor brother, yet I could
give way to my fancy to hear Mrs. The. play upon the Harpsi-
con, though the musique did not please me neither. Thence to
my brother’s and found them with my mayd Elizabeth taking an
inventory of the goods of the house, which I was well pleased
at, and am much beholden to Mr. Honeywood’s man in doing
of it. His name is Herbert, one that says he knew me when he
lived with Sir Samuel Morland, but I have forgot him. So I left
them at it, and by coach home and to my office, there to do a lit-
tle business, but God knows my heart and head is so full of my
brother’s death, and the consequences of it, that I can do very
little or understand it. So home to supper, and after looking over
some business in my chamber I to bed to my wife, who continues
in bed in some pain still. This day I have a great barrel of oysters
given me by Mr. Barrow, as big as 16 of others, and I took it in
the coach with me to Mrs. Turner’s, and give them to her. This
day the Parliament met again, after a long prorogation, but what
they have done I have not been in the way to hear.
17th. Up and to my brother’s, where all the morning doing
business against to-morrow, and so to my cozen Stradwicke’s
about the same business, and to the ‘Change, and thence home
to dinner, where my wife in bed sick still, but not so bad as yes-
terday. I dined by her, and so to the office, where we sat this
afternoon, having changed this day our sittings from morning to
afternoons, because of the Parliament which returned yesterday;
but was adjourned till Monday next; upon pretence that many of
the members were said to be upon the road; and also the King
had other affairs, and so desired them to adjourn till then. But
the truth is, the King is offended at my Lord of Bristol, as they
say, whom he hath found to have been all this while (pretend-
ing a desire of leave to go into France, and to have all the differ-
ence between him and the Chancellor made up,) endeavouring
to make factions in both Houses to the Chancellor. So the King
1250
MARCH 1663-1664
did this to keep the Houses from meeting; and in the meanwhile
sent a guard and a herald last night to have taken him at Wim-
bleton, where he was in the morning, but could not find him: at
which the King was and is still mightily concerned, and runs up
and down to and from the Chancellor’s like a boy: and it seems
would make Digby’s articles against the Chancellor to be treason-
able reflections against his Majesty. So that the King is very high,
as they say; and God knows what will follow upon it! After office
I to my brother’s again, and thence to Madam Turner’s, in both
places preparing things against to-morrow; and this night I have
altered my resolution of burying him in the church yarde among
my young brothers and sisters, and bury him in the church, in the
middle isle, as near as I can to my mother’s pew. This costs me
20s. more. This being all, home by coach, bringing my brother’s
silver tankard for safety along with me, and so to supper, after
writing to my father, and so to bed.
18th. Up betimes, and walked to my brother’s, where a great
while putting things in order against anon; then to Madam
Turner’s and eat a breakfast there, and so to Wotton, my shoe-
maker, and there got a pair of shoes blacked on the soles against
anon for me; so to my brother’s and to church, and with the
grave-maker chose a place for my brother to lie in, just under my
mother’s pew. But to see how a man’s tombes are at the mercy
of such a fellow, that for sixpence he would, (as his owne words
were,) “I will justle them together but I will make room for him;”
speaking of the fulness of the middle isle, where he was to lie;
and that he would, for my father’s sake, do my brother that is
dead all the civility he can; which was to disturb other corps that
are not quite rotten, to make room for him; and methought his
manner of speaking it was very remarkable; as of a thing that
now was in his power to do a man a courtesy or not. At noon
my wife, though in pain, comes, but I being forced to go home,
she went back with me, where I dressed myself, and so did Besse;
and so to my brother’s again: whither, though invited, as the cus-
tom is, at one or two o’clock, they came not till four or five. But
1251
MARCH 1663-1664
at last one after another they come, many more than I bid: and
my reckoning that I bid was one hundred and twenty; but I be-
lieve there was nearer one hundred and fifty. Their service was
six biscuits apiece, and what they pleased of burnt claret. My
cosen Joyce Norton kept the wine and cakes above; and did give
out to them that served, who had white gloves given them. But
above all, I am beholden to Mrs. Holden, who was most kind,
and did take mighty pains not only in getting the house and ev-
ery thing else ready, but this day in going up and down to see,
the house filled and served, in order to mine, and their great con-
tent, I think; the men sitting by themselves in some rooms, and
women by themselves in others, very close, but yet room enough.
Anon to church, walking out into the streete to the Conduit, and
so across the streete, and had a very good company along with
the corps. And being come to the grave as above, Dr. Pierson,
the minister of the parish, did read the service for buriall: and
so I saw my poor brother laid into the grave; and so all broke
up; and I and my wife and Madam Turner and her family to my
brother’s, and by and by fell to a barrell of oysters, cake, and
cheese, of Mr. Honiwood’s, with him, in his chamber and below,
being too merry for so late a sad work. But, Lord! to see how
the world makes nothing of the memory of a man, an houre after
he is dead! And, indeed, I must blame myself; for though at the
sight of him dead and dying, I had real grief for a while, while
he was in my sight, yet presently after, and ever since, I have had
very little grief indeed for him. By and by, it beginning to be late,
I put things in some order in the house, and so took my wife and
Besse (who hath done me very good service in cleaning and get-
ting ready every thing and serving the wine and things to-day,
and is indeed a most excellent good-natured and faithful wench,
and I love her mightily), by coach home, and so after being at the
office to set down the day’s work home to supper and to bed.
19th. Up and to the office, where all the morning, and at noon
my wife and I alone, having a good hen, with eggs, to dinner,
with great content. Then by coach to my brother’s, where I spent
1252
MARCH 1663-1664
the afternoon in paying some of the charges of the buriall, and in
looking over his papers, among which I find several letters of my
brother John’s to him speaking very foale words of me and my
deportment to him here, and very crafty designs about Sturtlow
land and God knows what, which I am very glad to know, and
shall make him repent them. Anon my father and my brother
John came to towne by coach. I sat till night with him, giving
him an account of things. He, poor man, very sad and sickly. I in
great pain by a simple compressing of my cods to-day by putting
one leg over another as I have formerly done, which made me
hasten home, and after a little at the office in great disorder home
to bed.
20th (Lord’s day). Kept my bed all the morning, having laid a
poultice to my cods last night to take down the tumour there
which I got yesterday, which it did do, being applied pretty
warm, and soon after the beginning of the swelling, and the pain
was gone also. We lay talking all the while, among other things of
religion, wherein I am sorry so often to hear my wife talk of her
being and resolving to die a Catholique,412 and indeed a small
matter, I believe, would absolutely turn her, which I am sorry
for. Up at noon to dinner, and then to my chamber with a fire till
late at night looking over my brother Thomas’s papers, sorting of
them, among which I find many base letters of my brother John’s
to him against me, and carrying on plots against me to promote
Tom’s having of his Banbury’ Mistress, in base slighting terms,
and in worse of my sister Pall, such as I shall take a convenient
time to make my father know, and him also to his sorrow. So
after supper to bed, our people rising to wash to-morrow.
21st. Up, and it snowing this morning a little, which from the
mildness of the winter and the weather beginning to be hot and
the summer to come on apace, is a little strange to us. I did not go
412 Mrs. Pepys’s leaning towards Roman Catholicism was a constant trou-
ble to her husband; but, in spite of his fears, she died a Protestant (Dr.
Milles’s certificate.)
1253
MARCH 1663-1664
abroad for fear of my tumour, for fear it shall rise again, but staid
within, and by and by my father came, poor man, to me, and
my brother John. After much talke and taking them up to my
chamber, I did there after some discourse bring in any business
of anger–with John, and did before my father read all his rogu-
ish letters, which troubled my father mightily, especially to hear
me say what I did, against my allowing any thing for the time
to come to him out of my owne purse, and other words very se-
vere, while he, like a simple rogue, made very silly and churlish
answers to me, not like a man of any goodness or witt, at which
I was as much disturbed as the other, and will be as good as my
word in making him to his cost know that I will remember his
carriage to me in this particular the longest day I live. It trou-
bled me to see my poor father so troubled, whose good nature
did make him, poor wretch, to yield, I believe, to comply with
my brother Tom and him in part of their designs, but without
any ill intent to me, or doubt of me or my good intentions to him
or them, though it do trouble me a little that he should in any
manner do it. They dined with me, and after dinner abroad with
my wife to buy some things for her, and I to the office, where we
sat till night, and then, after doing some business at my closet,
I home and to supper and to bed. This day the Houses of Par-
liament met; and the King met them, with the Queene with him.
And he made a speech to them:413 among other things, discours-
ing largely of the plots abroad against him and the peace of the
kingdom; and, among other things, that the dissatisfied party
413 March 16th, 1663-64. This day both Houses met, and on the gist the
king opened the session with a speech from the throne, in which occurs this
Passage: “I pray, Mr. Speaker, and you, gentlemen of the House of Com-
mons, give that Triennial Bill once a reading in your house, and then, in
God’s name, do what you think fit for me and yourselves and the whole
kingdom. I need not tell you how much I love parliaments. Never king was
so much beholden to parliaments as I have been, nor do I think the crown
can ever be happy without frequent parliaments” (Cobbett’s “Parliamentary
History,” vol. iv., cc. 290, 291).
1254
MARCH 1663-1664
had great hopes upon the effect of the Act for a Triennial Par-
liament granted by his father, which he desired them to peruse,
and, I think, repeal. So the Houses did retire to their own House,
and did order the Act to be read to-morrow before them; and I
suppose it will be repealed, though I believe much against the
will of a good many that sit there.
22nd. Up, and spent the whole morning and afternoon at my
office, only in the evening, my wife being at my aunt Wight’s, I
went thither, calling at my own house, going out found the par-
lour curtains drawn, and inquiring the reason of it, they told me
that their mistress had got Mrs. Buggin’s fine little dog and our
little bitch, which is proud at this time, and I am apt to think that
she was helping him to line her, for going afterwards to my uncle
Wight’s, and supping there with her, where very merry with Mr.
Woolly’s drollery, and going home I found the little dog so little
that of himself he could not reach our bitch, which I am sorry for,
for it is the finest dog that ever I saw in my life, as if he were
painted the colours are so finely mixed and shaded. God forgive
me, it went against me to have my wife and servants look upon
them while they endeavoured to do something....
23rd. Up, and going out saw Mrs. Buggin’s dog, which proves
as I thought last night so pretty that I took him and the bitch
into my closet below, and by holding down the bitch helped him
to line her, which he did very stoutly, so as I hope it will take,
for it is the prettiest dog that ever I saw. So to the office, where
very busy all the morning, and so to the ‘Change, and off hence
with Sir W. Rider to the Trinity House, and there dined very well:
and good discourse among the old men of Islands now and then
rising and falling again in the Sea, and that there is many dan-
gers of grounds and rocks that come just up to the edge almost
of the sea, that is never discovered and ships perish without the
world’s knowing the reason of it. Among other things, they ob-
served, that there are but two seamen in the Parliament house,
viz., Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen, and not above twenty or thirty
1255
MARCH 1663-1664
merchants; which is a strange thing in an island, and no won-
der that things of trade go no better nor are better understood.
Thence home, and all the afternoon at the office, only for an hour
in the evening my Lady Jemimah, Paulina, and Madam Pickering
come to see us, but my wife would not be seen, being unready.
Very merry with them; they mightily talking of their thrifty liv-
ing for a fortnight before their mother came to town, and other
such simple talk, and of their merry life at Brampton, at my fa-
ther’s, this winter. So they being gone, to the office again till late,
and so home and to supper and to bed.
24th. Called up by my father, poor man, coming to advise with
me about Tom’s house and other matters, and he being gone I
down by water to Greenwich, it being very-foggy, and I walked
very finely to Woolwich, and there did very much business at
both yards, and thence walked back, Captain Grove with me talk-
ing, and so to Deptford and did the like-there, and then walked
to Redriffe (calling and eating a bit of collops and eggs at Half-
way house), and so home to the office, where we sat late, and
home weary to supper and to bed.
25th (Lady-day). Up and by water to White Hall, and there to
chappell; where it was most infinite full to hear Dr. Critton. Be-
ing not knowne, some great persons in the pew I pretended to,
and went in, did question my coming in. I told them my pre-
tence; so they turned to the orders of the chappell, which hung
behind upon the wall, and read it; and were satisfied; but they
did not demand whether I was in waiting or no; and so I was
in some fear lest he that was in waiting might come and betray
me. The Doctor preached upon the thirty-first of Jeremy, and
the twenty-first and twenty-second verses, about a woman com-
passing a man; meaning the Virgin conceiving and bearing our
Saviour. It was the worst sermon I ever heard him make, I must
confess; and yet it was good, and in two places very bitter, ad-
vising the King to do as the Emperor Severus did, to hang up a
Presbyter John (a short coat and a long gowne interchangeably)
1256
MARCH 1663-1664
in all the Courts of England. But the story of Severus was pretty,
that he hanged up forty senators before the Senate house, and
then made a speech presently to the Senate in praise of his owne
lenity; and then decreed that never any senator after that time
should suffer in the same manner without consent of the Senate:
which he compared to the proceeding of the Long Parliament
against my Lord Strafford. He said the greatest part of the lay
magistrates in England were Puritans, and would not do justice;
and the Bishopps, their powers were so taken away and lessened,
that they could not exercise the power they ought. He told the
King and the ladies plainly, speaking of death and of the skulls
and bones of dead men and women,414 how there is no difference;
that nobody could tell that of the great Marius or Alexander from
a pyoneer; nor, for all the pains the ladies take with their faces, he
that should look in a charnels-house could not distinguish which
was Cleopatra’s, or fair Rosamond’s, or Jane Shoare’s. Thence by
water home. After dinner to the office, thence with my wife to see
my father and discourse how he finds Tom’s matters, which he
do very ill, and that he finds him to have been so negligent, that
he used to trust his servants with cutting out of clothes, never
hardly cutting out anything himself; and, by the abstract of his
accounts, we find him to owe above £290, and to be coming to
him under £200. Thence home with my wife, it being very dirty
on foot, and bought some fowl in Gracious. Streets and some
oysters against our feast to-morrow. So home, and after at the
office a while, home to supper and to bed.
26th. Up very betimes and to my office, and there read over
some papers against a meeting by and by at this office of Mr.
Povy, Sir W. Rider, Creed, and Vernaty, and Mr. Gauden about
my Lord Peterborough’s accounts for Tangier, wherein we pro-
ceeded a good way; but, Lord! to see how ridiculous Mr. Povy
is in all he says or do; like a man not more fit for to be in such
414 The preacher appears to have had the grave scene in “Hamlet” in his
mind, as he gives the same illustration of Alexander as Hamlet does.
1257
MARCH 1663-1664
employments as he is, and particularly that of Treasurer (paying
many and very great sums without the least written order) as he
is to be King of England, and seems but this day, after much dis-
course of mine, to be sensible of that part of his folly, besides a
great deal more in other things. This morning in discourse Sir
W. Rider [said], that he hath kept a journals of his life for almost
these forty years, even to this day and still do, which pleases me
mightily. That being done Sir J. Minnes and I sat all the morn-
ing, and then I to the ‘Change, and there got away by pretence
of business with my uncle Wight to put off Creed, whom I had
invited to dinner, and so home, and there found Madam Turner,
her daughter The., Joyce Norton, my father and Mr. Honywood,
and by and by come my uncle Wight and aunt. This being my
solemn feast for my cutting of the stone, it being now, blessed be
God! this day six years since the time; and I bless God I do in all
respects find myself free from that disease or any signs of it, more
than that upon the least cold I continue to have pain in making
water, by gathering of wind and growing costive, till which be
removed I am at no ease, but without that I am very well. One
evil more I have, which is that upon the least squeeze almost my
cods begin to swell and come to great pain, which is very strange
and troublesome to me, though upon the speedy applying of a
poultice it goes down again, and in two days I am well again.
Dinner not being presently ready I spent some time myself and
shewed them a map of Tangier left this morning at my house by
Creed, cut by our order, the Commissioners, and drawn by Jonas
Moore, which is very pleasant, and I purpose to have it finely set
out and hung up. Mrs. Hunt coming to see my wife by chance
dined here with us. After dinner Sir W. Batten sent to speak with
me, and told me that he had proffered our bill today in the House,
and that it was read without any dissenters, and he fears not but
will pass very well, which I shall be glad of. He told me also how
Sir [Richard] Temple hath spoke very discontentfull words in the
House about the Tryennial Bill; but it hath been read the second
time to-day, and committed; and, he believes, will go on without
1258
MARCH 1663-1664
more ado, though there are many in the House are displeased
at it, though they dare not say much. But above all expectation,
Mr. Prin is the man against it, comparing it to the idoll whose
head was of gold, and his body and legs and feet of different
metal. So this Bill had several degrees of calling of Parliaments,
in case the King, and then the Council, and then the Lord Chan-
cellor, and then the Sheriffes, should fail to do it. He tells me
also, how, upon occasion of some ‘prentices being put in the pil-
lory to-day for beating of their masters, or some such like thing,
in Cheapside, a company of ‘prentices came and rescued them,
and pulled down the pillory; and they being set up again, did the
like again. So that the Lord Mayor and Major Generall Browne
was fain to come and stay there, to keep the peace; and drums,
all up and down the city, was beat to raise the trained bands, for
to quiett the towne, and by and by, going out with my uncle and
aunt Wight by coach with my wife through Cheapside (the rest
of the company after much content and mirth being broke up),
we saw a trained band stand in Cheapside upon their guard. We
went, much against my uncle’s will, as far almost as Hyde Park,
he and my aunt falling out all the way about it, which vexed me,
but by this I understand my uncle more than ever I did, for he
was mighty soon angry, and wished a pox take her, which I was
sorry to hear. The weather I confess turning on a sudden to rain
did make it very unpleasant, but yet there was no occasion in the
world for his being so angry, but she bore herself very discreetly,
and I must confess she proves to me much another woman than
I thought her, but all was peace again presently, and so it raining
very fast, we met many brave coaches coming from the Parke
and so we turned and set them down at home, and so we home
ourselves, and ended the day with great content to think how it
hath pleased the Lord in six years time to raise me from a condi-
tion of constant and dangerous and most painfull sicknesse and
low condition and poverty to a state of constant health almost,
great honour and plenty, for which the Lord God of heaven make
me truly thankfull. My wife found her gowne come home laced,
1259
MARCH 1663-1664
which is indeed very handsome, but will cost me a great deal of
money, more than ever I intended, but it is but for once. So to the
office and did business, and then home and to bed.
27th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed wrangling with my wife
about the charge she puts me to at this time for clothes more
than I intended, and very angry we were, but quickly friends
again. And so rising and ready I to my office, and there fell upon
business, and then to dinner, and then to my office again to my
business, and by and by in the afternoon walked forth towards
my father’s, but it being church time, walked to St. James’s, to
try if I could see the belle Butler, but could not; only saw her sis-
ter, who indeed is pretty, with a fine Roman nose. Thence walked
through the ducking-pond fields; but they are so altered since my
father used to carry us to Islington, to the old man’s, at the King’s
Head, to eat cakes and ale (his name was Pitts) that I did not
know which was the ducking-pond nor where I was. So through
F[l]ee[t] lane to my father’s, and there met Mr. Moore, and dis-
coursed with him and my father about who should administer
for my brother Tom, and I find we shall have trouble in it, but I
will clear my hands of it, and what vexed me, my father seemed
troubled that I should seem to rely so wholly upon the advice
of Mr. Moore, and take nobody else, but I satisfied him, and so
home; and in Cheapside, both coming and going, it was full of
apprentices, who have been here all this day, and have done vio-
lence, I think, to the master of the boys that were put in the pil-
lory yesterday. But, Lord! to see how the train-bands are raised
upon this: the drums beating every where as if an enemy were
upon them; so much is this city subject to be put into a disarray
upon very small occasions. But it was pleasant to hear the boys,
and particularly one little one, that I demanded the business. He
told me that that had never been done in the city since it was a
city, two prentices put in the pillory, and that it ought not to be
so. So I walked home, and then it being fine moonshine with my
wife an houre in the garden, talking of her clothes against Easter
and about her mayds, Jane being to be gone, and the great dis-
1260
MARCH 1663-1664
pute whether Besse, whom we both love, should be raised to be
chamber-mayde or no. We have both a mind to it, but know not
whether we should venture the making her proud and so make a
bad chamber-mayde of a very good natured and sufficient cook-
mayde. So to my office a little, and then to supper, prayers and
to bed.
28th. This is the first morning that I have begun, and I hope
shall continue to rise betimes in the morning, and so up and to
my office, and thence about 7 o’clock to T. Trice, and advised with
him about our administering to my brother Tom, and I went to
my father and told him what to do; which was to administer and
to let my cozen Scott have a letter of Atturny to follow the busi-
ness here in his absence for him, who by that means will have
the power of paying himself (which we cannot however hinder)
and do us a kindness we think too. But, Lord! what a shame,
methinks, to me, that, in this condition, and at this age, I should
know no better the laws of my owne country! Thence to West-
minster Hall, and spent till noon, it being Parliament time, and at
noon walked with Creed into St. James’s Parke, talking of many
things, particularly of the poor parts and great unfitness for busi-
ness of Mr. Povy, and yet what a show he makes in the world.
Mr. Coventry not being come to his chamber, I walked through
the house with him for an hour in St. James’s fields’ talking of
the same subject, and then parted, and back and with great impa-
tience, sometimes reading, sometimes walking, sometimes think-
ing that Mr. Coventry, though he invited us to dinner with him,
was gone with the rest of the office without a dinner. At last, at
past 4 o’clock I heard that the Parliament was not up yet, and so
walked to Westminster Hall, and there found it so, and meeting
with Sir J. Minnes, and being very hungry, went over with him
to the Leg, and before we had cut a bit, the House rises, how-
ever we eat a bit and away to St. James’s and there eat a second
part of our dinner with Mr. Coventry and his brother Harry, Sir
W. Batten and Sir W. Pen. The great matter today in the House
hath been, that Mr. Vaughan, the great speaker, is this day come
1261
MARCH 1663-1664
to towne, and hath declared himself in a speech of an houre and
a half, with great reason and eloquence, against the repealing of
the Bill for Triennial Parliaments; but with no successe: but the
House have carried it that there shall be such Parliaments, but
without any coercive power upon the King, if he will bring this
Act. But, Lord! to see how the best things are not done without
some design; for I perceive all these gentlemen that I was with
to-day were against it (though there was reason enough on their
side); yet purely, I could perceive, because it was the King’s mind
to have it; and should he demand any thing else, I believe they
would give it him. But this the discontented Presbyters, and the
faction of the House will be highly displeased with; but it was
carried clearly against them in the House. We had excellent good
table-talke, some of which I have entered in my book of stories.
So with them by coach home, and there find (bye my wife), that
Father Fogourdy hath been with her to-day, and she is mightily
for our going to hear a famous Reule preach at the French Embas-
sador’s house: I pray God he do not tempt her in any matters of
religion, which troubles me; and also, she had messages from her
mother to-day, who sent for her old morning-gown, which was
almost past wearing; and I used to call it her kingdom, from the
ease and content she used to have in the wearing of it. I am glad
I do not hear of her begging any thing of more value, but I do
not like that these messages should now come all upon Monday
morning, when my wife expects of course I should be abroad at
the Duke’s. To the office, where Mr. Norman came and showed
me a design of his for the storekeeper’s books, for the keeping
of them regular in order to a balance, which I am mightily sat-
isfied to see, and shall love the fellow the better, as he is in all
things sober, so particularly for his endeavour to do something
in this thing so much wanted. So late home to supper and to bed,
weary-with walking so long to no purpose in the Park to-day.
29th. Was called up this morning by a messenger from Sir
G. Carteret to come to him to Sir W. Batten’s, and so I rose and
thither to him, and with him and Sir J. Minnes to, Sir G. Carteret’s
1262
MARCH 1663-1664
to examine his accounts, and there we sat at it all the morning.
About noon Sir W. Batten came from the House of Parliament
and told us our Bill for our office was read the second time to-
day, with great applause, and is committed. By and by to din-
ner, where good cheere, and Sir G. Carteret in his humour a very
good man, and the most kind father and pleased father in his
children that ever I saw. Here is now hung up a picture of my
Lady Carteret, drawn by Lilly, a very fine picture, but yet not so
good as I have seen of his doing. After dinner to the business
again without any intermission till almost night, and then home,
and took coach to my father to see and discourse with him, and
so home again and to my office, where late, and then home to
bed.
30th. Up very betimes to my office, and thence at 7 o’clock to
Sir G. Carteret, and there with Sir J. Minnes made an end of his
accounts, but staid not dinner, my Lady having made us drink
our morning draft there of several wines, but I drank: nothing
but some of her coffee, which was poorly made, with a little
sugar in it. Thence to the ‘Change a great while, and had good
discourse with Captain Cocke at the Coffee-house about a Dutch
warr, and it seems the King’s design is by getting underhand the
merchants to bring in their complaints to the Parliament, to make
them in honour begin a warr, which he cannot in honour declare
first, for fear they should not second him with money. Thence
homewards, staying a pretty while with my little she milliner at
the end of Birchin Lane, talking and buying gloves of her, and
then home to dinner, and in the afternoon had a meeting upon
the Chest business, but I fear unless I have time to look after it
nothing will be done„ and that I fear I shall not. In the evening
comes Sir W. Batten, who tells us that the Committee have ap-
proved of our bill with very few amendments in words, not in
matter. So to my office, where late with Sir W. Warren, and so
home to supper and to bed.
31st. Up betimes, and to my office, where by and by comes
1263
MARCH 1663-1664
Povy, Sir W. Rider, Mr. Bland, Creed, and Vernatty, about my
Lord Peterborough’s accounts, which we now went through, but
with great difficulty, and many high words between Mr. Povy
and I; for I could not endure to see so many things extraordi-
nary put in, against truthe and reason. He was very angry, but I
endeavoured all I could to profess my satisfaction in my Lord’s
part of the accounts, but not in those foolish idle things, they say
I said, that others had put in. Anon we rose and parted, both of
us angry, but I contented, because I knew all of them must know
I was in the right. Then with Creed to Deptford, where I did a
great deal of business enquiring into the business of canvas and
other things with great content, and so walked back again, good
discourse between Creed and I by the way, but most upon the
folly of Povy, and at home found Luellin, and so we to dinner,
and thence I to the office, where we sat all the afternoon late,
and being up and my head mightily crowded with business, I
took my wife by coach to see my father. I left her at his house
and went to him to an alehouse hard by, where my cozen Scott
was, and my father’s new tenant, Langford, a tailor, to whom I
have promised my custom, and he seems a very modest, carefull
young man. Thence my wife coming with the coach to the alley
end I home, and after supper to the making up my monthly ac-
counts, and to my great content find myself worth above £900,
the greatest sum I ever yet had. Having done my accounts, late
to bed. My head of late mighty full of business, and with good
content to myself in it, though sometimes it troubles me that no-
body else but I should bend themselves to serve the King with
that diligence, whereby much of my pains proves ineffectual.
1264
APRIL 1664
April 1st. Up and to my office, where busy till noon, and then
to the ‘Change, where I found all the merchants concerned with
the presenting their complaints to the Committee of Parliament
appointed to receive them this afternoon against the Dutch. So
home to dinner, and thence by coach, setting my wife down at
the New Exchange, I to White Hall; and coming too soon for the
Tangier Committee walked to Mr. Blagrave for a song. I left
long ago there, and here I spoke with his kinswoman, he not
being within, but did not hear her sing, being not enough ac-
quainted with her, but would be glad to have her, to come and
be at my house a week now and then. Back to White Hall, and
in the Gallery met the Duke of Yorke (I also saw the Queene go-
ing to the Parke, and her Mayds of Honour: she herself looks ill,
and methinks Mrs. Stewart is grown fatter, and not so fair as she
was); and he called me to him, and discoursed a good while with
me; and after he was gone, twice or thrice staid and called me
again to him, the whole length of the house: and at last talked of
the Dutch; and I perceive do much wish that the Parliament will
find reason to fall out with them. He gone, I by and by found
that the Committee of Tangier met at the Duke of Albemarle’s,
and so I have lost my labour. So with Creed to the ‘Change, and
there took up my wife and left him, and we two home, and I to
1265
APRIL 1664
walk in the garden with W. Howe, whom we took up, he having
been to see us, he tells me how Creed has been questioned before
the Council about a letter that has been met with, wherein he is
mentioned by some fanatiques as a serviceable friend to them,
but he says he acquitted himself well in it, but, however, some-
thing sticks against him, he says, with my Lord, at which I am
not very sorry, for I believe he is a false fellow. I walked with him
to Paul’s, he telling me how my Lord is little at home, minds his
carding and little else, takes little notice of any body; but that he
do not think he is displeased, as I fear, with me, but is strange to
all, which makes me the less troubled. So walked back home, and
late at the office. So home and to bed. This day Mrs. Turner did
lend me, as a rarity, a manuscript of one Mr. Wells, writ long ago,
teaching the method of building a ship, which pleases me might-
ily. I was at it to-night, but durst not stay long at it, I being come
to have a great pain and water in my eyes after candle-light.
2nd. Up and to my office, and afterwards sat, where great con-
test with Sir W. Batten and Mr. Wood, and that doating fool Sir
J. Minnes, that says whatever Sir W. Batten says, though never
minding whether to the King’s profit or not. At noon to the
Coffee-house, where excellent discourse with Sir W. Petty, who
proposed it as a thing that is truly questionable, whether there
really be any difference between waking and dreaming, that it is
hard not only to tell how we know when we do a thing really
or in a dream, but also to know what the difference [is] between
one and the other. Thence to the ‘Change, but having at this dis-
course long afterwards with Sir Thomas Chamberlin, who tells
me what I heard from others, that the complaints of most Com-
panies were yesterday presented to the Committee of Parliament
against the Dutch, excepting that of the East India, which he tells
me was because they would not be said to be the first and only
cause of a warr with Holland, and that it is very probable, as well
as most necessary, that we fall out with that people. I went to the
‘Change, and there found most people gone, and so home to din-
ner, and thence to Sir W. Warren’s, and with him past the whole
1266
APRIL 1664
afternoon, first looking over two ships’ of Captain Taylor’s and
Phin. Pett’s now in building, and am resolved to learn something
of the art, for I find it is not hard and very usefull, and thence to
Woolwich, and after seeing Mr. Falconer, who is very ill, I to the
yard, and there heard Mr. Pett tell me several things of Sir W.
Batten’s ill managements, and so with Sir W. Warren walked to
Greenwich, having good discourse, and thence by water, it being
now moonshine and 9 or 10 o’clock at night, and landed at Wap-
ping, and by him and his man safely brought to my door, and
so he home, having spent the day with him very well. So home
and eat something, and then to my office a while, and so home
to prayers and to bed.
3rd (Lord’s day). Being weary last night lay long, and called
up by W. Joyce. So I rose, and his business was to ask advice of
me, he being summonsed to the House of Lords to-morrow, for
endeavouring to arrest my Lady Peters415 for a debt. I did give
him advice, and will assist him. He staid all the morning, but
would not dine with me. So to my office and did business. At
noon home to dinner, and being set with my wife in the kitchen
my father comes and sat down there and dined with us. After
dinner gives me an account of what he had done in his business
of his house and goods, which is almost finished, and he the next
week expects to be going down to Brampton again, which I am
glad of because I fear the children of my Lord that are there for
fear of any discontent. He being gone I to my office, and there
very busy setting papers in order till late at night, only in the
afternoon my wife sent for me home, to see her new laced gowne,
that is her gown that is new laced; and indeed it becomes her
very nobly, and is well made. I am much pleased with it. At
night to supper, prayers, and to bed.
415 Elizabeth, daughter of John Savage, second Earl Rivers, and first wife to
William, fourth Lord Petre, who was, in 1678, impeached by the Commons
of high treason, and died under confinement in the Tower, January 5th, 1683,
s. p.–B.
1267
APRIL 1664
4th. Up, and walked to my Lord Sandwich’s; and there spoke
with him about W. Joyce, who told me he would do what was fit
in so tender a point. I can yet discern a coldness in him to ad-
mit me to any discourse with him. Thence to Westminster, to the
Painted Chamber, and there met the two Joyces. Will in a very
melancholy taking. After a little discourse I to the Lords’ House
before they sat; and stood within it a good while, while the Duke
of York came to me and spoke to me a good while about the new
ship’ at Woolwich. Afterwards I spoke with my Lord Barkeley
and my Lord Peterborough about it. And so staid without a good
while, and saw my Lady Peters, an impudent jade, soliciting all
the Lords on her behalf. And at last W. Joyce was called in; and
by the consequences, and what my Lord Peterborough told me, I
find that he did speak all he said to his disadvantage, and so was
committed to the Black Rod: which is very hard, he doing what
he did by the advice of my Lord Peters’ own steward. But the
Sergeant of the Black Rod did direct one of his messengers to take
him in custody, and so he was peaceably conducted to the Swan
with two Necks, in Tuttle Street, to a handsome dining-room; and
there was most civilly used, my uncle Fenner, and his brother An-
thony, and some other friends being with him. But who would
have thought that the fellow that I should have sworn could have
spoken before all the world should in this be so daunted, as not
to know what he said, and now to cry like a child. I protest, it is
very strange to observe. I left them providing for his stay there
to-night and getting a petition against tomorrow, and so away to
Westminster Hall, and meeting Mr. Coventry, he took me to his
chamber, with Sir William Hickeman, a member of their House,
and a very civill gentleman. Here we dined very plentifully, and
thence to White Hall to the Duke’s, where we all met, and after
some discourse of the condition of the Fleete, in order to a Dutch
warr, for that, I perceive, the Duke hath a mind it should come
to, we away to the office, where we sat, and I took care to rise
betimes, and so by water to Halfway House, talking all the way
good discourse with Mr. Wayth, and there found my wife, who
1268
APRIL 1664
was gone with her mayd Besse to have a walk. But, Lord! how
my jealous mind did make me suspect that she might have some
appointment to meet somebody. But I found the poor souls com-
ing away thence, so I took them back, and eat and drank, and
then home, and after at the office a while, I home to supper and
to bed. It was a sad sight, me thought, to-day to see my Lord Pe-
ters coming out of the House fall out with his lady (from whom
he is parted) about this business; saying that she disgraced him.
But she hath been a handsome woman, and is, it seems, not only
a lewd woman, but very high-spirited.
5th. Up very betimes, and walked to my cozen Anthony
Joyce’s, and thence with him to his brother Will, in Tuttle Street,
where I find him pretty cheery over [what] he was yesterday (like
a coxcomb), his wife being come to him, and having had his boy
with him last night. Here I staid an hour or two and wrote over a
fresh petition, that which was drawn by their solicitor not pleas-
ing me, and thence to the Painted chamber, and by and by away
by coach to my Lord Peterborough’s, and there delivered the pe-
tition into his hand, which he promised most readily to deliver to
the House today. Thence back, and there spoke to several Lords,
and so did his solicitor (one that W. Joyce hath promised £5 to
if he be released). Lord Peterborough presented a petition to the
House from W. Joyce: and a great dispute, we hear, there was in
the House for and against it. At last it was carried that he should
be bayled till the House meets again after Easter, he giving bond
for his appearance. This was not so good as we hoped, but as
good as we could well expect. Anon comes the King and passed
the Bill for repealing the Triennial Act, and another about Writs
of Errour. I crowded in and heard the King’s speech to them; but
he speaks the worst that ever I heard man in my life worse than
if he read it all, and he had it in writing in his hand. Thence, after
the House was up, and I inquired what the order of the House
was, I to W. Joyce,’ with his brother, and told them all. Here was
Kate come, and is a comely fat woman. I would not stay din-
ner, thinking to go home to dinner, and did go by water as far
1269
APRIL 1664
as the bridge, but thinking that they would take it kindly my be-
ing there, to be bayled for him if there was need, I returned, but
finding them gone out to look after it, only Will and his wife and
sister left and some friends that came to visit him, I to Westmin-
ster Hall, and by and by by agreement to Mrs. Lane’s lodging,
whither I sent for a lobster, and with Mr. Swayne and his wife
eat it, and argued before them mightily for Hawly, but all would
not do, although I made her angry by calling her old, and mak-
ing her know what herself is. Her body was out of temper for any
dalliance, and so after staying there 3 or 4 hours, but yet taking
care to have my oath safe of not staying a quarter of an hour to-
gether with her, I went to W. Joyce, where I find the order come,
and bayle (his father and brother) given; and he paying his fees,
which come to above £2, besides £5 he is to give one man, and his
charges of eating and drinking here, and 10s. a-day as many days
as he stands under bayle: which, I hope, will teach him hereafter
to hold his tongue better than he used to do. Thence with Anth.
Joyce’s wife alone home talking of Will’s folly, and having set her
down, home myself, where I find my wife dressed as if she had
been abroad, but I think she was not, but she answering me some
way that I did not like I pulled her by the nose, indeed to offend
her, though afterwards to appease her I denied it, but only it was
done in haste. The poor wretch took it mighty ill, and I believe
besides wringing her nose she did feel pain, and so cried a great
while, but by and by I made her friends, and so after supper to
my office a while, and then home to bed. This day great numbers
of merchants came to a Grand Committee of the House to bring
in their claims against the Dutch. I pray God guide the issue to
our good!
6th. Up and to my office, whither by and by came John No-
ble, my father’s old servant, to speake with me. I smelling the
business, took him home; and there, all alone, he told me how
he had been serviceable to my brother Tom, in the business of
his getting his servant, an ugly jade, Margaret, with child. She
was brought to bed in St. Sepulchre’s parish of two children; one
1270
APRIL 1664
is dead, the other is alive; her name Elizabeth, and goes by the
name of Taylor, daughter to John Taylor. It seems Tom did a great
while trust one Crawly with the business, who daily got money
of him; and at last, finding himself abused, he broke the matter
to J. Noble, upon a vowe of secresy. Tom’s first plott was to go
on the other side the water and give a beggar woman something
to take the child. They did once go, but did nothing, J. Noble
saying that seven years hence the mother might come to demand
the child and force him to produce it, or to be suspected of mur-
der. Then I think it was that they consulted, and got one Cave,
a poor pensioner in St. Bride’s parish to take it, giving him £5,
he thereby promising to keepe it for ever without more charge to
them. The parish hereupon indite the man Cave for bringing this
child upon the parish, and by Sir Richard Browne he is sent to the
Counter. Cave thence writes to Tom to get him out. Tom answers
him in a letter of his owne hand, which J. Noble shewed me, but
not signed by him, wherein he speaks of freeing him and getting
security for him, but nothing as to the business of the child, or
anything like it: so that forasmuch as I could guess, there is noth-
ing therein to my brother’s prejudice as to the main point, and
therefore I did not labour to tear or take away the paper. Cave
being released, demands £5 more to secure my brother for ever
against the child; and he was forced to give it him and took bond
of Cave in £100, made at a scrivener’s, one Hudson, I think, in
the Old Bayly, to secure John Taylor, and his assigns, &c. (in con-
sideration of £10 paid him), from all trouble, or charge of meat,
drink, clothes, and breeding of Elizabeth Taylor; and it seems, in
the doing of it, J. Noble was looked upon as the assignee of this
John Taylor. Noble says that he furnished Tom with this money,
and is also bound by another bond to pay him 20s. more this
next Easter Monday; but nothing for either sum appears under
Tom’s hand. I told him how I am like to lose a great sum by his
death, and would not pay any more myself, but I would speake
to my father about it against the afternoon. So away he went, and
I all the morning in my office busy, and at noon home to dinner
1271
APRIL 1664
mightily oppressed with wind, and after dinner took coach and
to Paternoster Row, and there bought a pretty silke for a petti-
coate for my wife, and thence set her down at the New Exchange,
and I leaving the coat at Unthanke’s, went to White Hall, but the
Councell meeting at Worcester House I went thither, and there
delivered to the Duke of Albemarle a paper touching some Tang-
ier business, and thence to the ‘Change for my wife, and walked
to my father’s, who was packing up some things for the country.
I took him up and told him this business of Tom, at which the
poor wretch was much troubled, and desired me that I would
speak with J. Noble, and do what I could and thought fit in it
without concerning him in it. So I went to Noble, and saw the
bond that Cave did give and also Tom’s letter that I mentioned
above, and upon the whole I think some shame may come, but
that it will be hard from any thing I see there to prove the child to
be his. Thence to my father and told what I had done, and how
I had quieted Noble by telling him that, though we are resolved
to part with no more money out of our own purses, yet if he can
make it appear a true debt that it may be justifiable for us to pay
it, we will do our part to get it paid, and said that I would have
it paid before my own debt. So my father and I both a little sat-
isfied, though vexed to think what a rogue my brother was in all
respects. I took my wife by coach home, and to my office, where
late with Sir W. Warren, and so home to supper and to bed. I
heard to-day that the Dutch have begun with us by granting let-
ters of marke against us; but I believe it not.
7th. Up and to my office, where busy, and by and by comes
Sir W. Warren and old Mr. Bond in order to the resolving me
some questions about masts and their proportions, but he could
say little to me to my satisfaction, and so I held him not long but
parted. So to my office busy till noon and then to the ‘Change,
where high talke of the Dutch’s protest against our Royall Com-
pany in Guinny, and their granting letters of marke against us
there, and every body expects a warr, but I hope it will not yet be
so, nor that this is true. Thence to dinner, where my wife got me
1272
APRIL 1664
a pleasant French fricassee of veal for dinner, and thence to the
office, where vexed to see how Sir W. Batten ordered things this
afternoon (vide my office book, for about this time I have begun,
my notions and informations encreasing now greatly every day,
to enter all occurrences extraordinary in my office in a book by
themselves), and so in the evening after long discourse and eased
my mind by discourse with Sir W. Warren, I to my business late,
and so home to supper and to bed.
8th. Up betimes and to the office, and anon, it begunn to be fair
after a great shower this morning, Sir W. Batten and I by water
(calling his son Castle by the way, between whom and I no notice
at all of his letter the other day to me) to Deptford, and after a
turn in the yard, I went with him to the Almes’-house to see the
new building which he, with some ambition, is building of there,
during his being Master of Trinity House; and a good worke it is,
but to see how simply he answered somebody concerning setting
up the arms of the corporation upon the door, that and any thing
else he did not deny it, but said he would leave that to the mas-
ter that comes after him. There I left him and to the King’s yard
again, and there made good inquiry into the business of the poop
lanterns, wherein I found occasion to correct myself mightily for
what I have done in the contract with the platerer, and am re-
solved, though I know not how, to make them to alter it, though
they signed it last night, and so I took Stanes416 home with me by
boat and discoursed it, and he will come to reason when I can
make him to understand it. No sooner landed but it fell a mighty
storm of rain and hail, so I put into a cane shop and bought one
416 Among the State Papers is a petition of Thomas Staine to the Navy Com-
missioners “for employment as plateworker in one or two dockyards. Has
incurred ill-will by discovering abuses in the great rates given by the king
for several things in the said trade. Begs the appointment, whereby it will
be seen who does the work best and cheapest, otherwise he and all others
will be discouraged from discovering abuses in future, with order thereon
for a share of the work to be given to him” (“Calendar,” Domestic, 1663-64,
p. 395)
1273
APRIL 1664
to walk with, cost me 4s. 6d., all of one joint. So home to din-
ner, and had an excellent Good Friday dinner of peas porridge
and apple pye. So to the office all the afternoon preparing a new
book for my contracts, and this afternoon come home the office
globes done to my great content. In the evening a little to visit
Sir W. Pen, who hath a feeling this day or two of his old pain.
Then to walk in the garden with my wife, and so to my office a
while, and then home to the only Lenten supper I have had of
wiggs–[Buns or teacakes.]–and ale, and so to bed. This morning
betimes came to my office to me boatswain Smith of Woolwich,
telling me a notable piece of knavery of the officers of the yard
and Mr. Gold in behalf of a contract made for some old ropes by
Mr. Wood, and I believe I shall find Sir W. Batten of the plot (vide
my office daybook).417 9th. The last night, whether it was from
cold I got to-day upon the water I know not, or whether it was
from my mind being over concerned with Stanes’s business of
the platery of the navy, for my minds was mighty troubled with
the business all night long, I did wake about one o’clock in the
morning, a thing I most rarely do, and pissed a little with great
pain, continued sleepy, but in a high fever all night, fiery hot, and
in some pain. Towards morning I slept a little and waking found
myself better, but.... with some pain, and rose I confess with my
clothes sweating, and it was somewhat cold too, which I believe
might do me more hurt, for I continued cold and apt to shake all
the morning, but that some trouble with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W.
Batten kept me warm. At noon home to dinner upon tripes, and
so though not well abroad with my wife by coach to her Tailor’s
and the New Exchange, and thence to my father’s and spoke one
word with him, and thence home, where I found myself sick in
my stomach and vomited, which I do not use to do. Then I drank
a glass or two of Hypocras, and to the office to dispatch some
business, necessary, and so home and to bed, and by the help of
Mithrydate slept very well.
417 These note-books referred to in the Diary are not known to exist now.
1274
APRIL 1664
10th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, and then up and my wife
dressed herself, it being Easter day, but I not being so well as to
go out, she, though much against her will, staid at home with
me; for she had put on her new best gowns, which indeed is
very fine now with the lace; and this morning her taylor brought
home her other new laced silks gowns with a smaller lace, and
new petticoats, I bought the other day both very pretty. We spent
the day in pleasant talks and company one with another, reading
in Dr. Fuller’s book what he says of the family of the Cliffords
and Kingsmills, and at night being myself better than I was by
taking a glyster, which did carry away a great deal of wind, I
after supper at night went to bed and slept well.
11th. Lay long talking with my wife, then up and to my cham-
ber preparing papers against my father comes to lie here for
discourse about country business. Dined well with my wife at
home, being myself not yet thorough well, making water with
some pain, but better than I was, and all my fear of an ague gone
away. In the afternoon my father came to see us, and he gone I
up to my morning’s work again, and so in the evening a little to
the office and to see Sir W. Batten, who is ill again, and so home
to supper and to bed.
12th. Up, and after my wife had dressed herself very fine in her
new laced gown, and very handsome indeed, W. Howe also com-
ing to see us, I carried her by coach to my uncle Wight’s and set
her down there, and W. Howe and I to the Coffee-house, where
we sat talking about getting of him some place under my Lord
of advantage if he should go to sea, and I would be glad to get
him secretary and to out Creed if I can, for he is a crafty and
false rogue. Thence a little to the ‘Change, and thence took him
to my uncle Wight’s, where dined my father, poor melancholy
man, that used to be as full of life as anybody, and also my aunt’s
brother, Mr. Sutton, a merchant in Flanders, a very sober, fine
man, and Mr. Cole and his lady; but, Lord! how I used to adore
that man’s talke, and now methinks he is but an ordinary man,
1275
APRIL 1664
his son a pretty boy indeed, but his nose unhappily awry. Other
good company and an indifferent, and but indifferent dinner for
so much company, and after dinner got a coach, very dear, it be-
ing Easter time and very foul weather, to my Lord’s, and there
visited my Lady, and leaving my wife there I and W. Howe to
Mr. Pagett’s, and there heard some musique not very good, but
only one Dr. Walgrave, an Englishman bred at Rome, who plays
the best upon the lute that I ever heard man. Here I also met Mr.
Hill418 the little merchant, and after all was done we sung. I did
well enough a Psalm or two of Lawes; he I perceive has good
skill and sings well, and a friend of his sings a good base. Thence
late walked with them two as far as my Lord’s, thinking to take
up my wife and carry them home, but there being no coach to be
got away they went, and I staid a great while, it being very late,
about 10 o’clock, before a coach could be got. I found my Lord
and ladies and my wife at supper. My Lord seems very kind. But
I am apt to think still the worst, and that it is only in show, my
wife and Lady being there. So home, and find my father come
to lie at our house; and so supped, and saw him, poor man, to
bed, my heart never being fuller of love to him, nor admiration
of his prudence and pains heretofore in the world than now, to
see how Tom hath carried himself in his trade; and how the poor
man hath his thoughts going to provide for his younger children
and my mother. But I hope they shall never want. So myself and
wife to bed.
13th. Though late, past 12, before we went to bed, yet I heard
my poor father up, and so I rang up my people, and I rose and
got something to eat and drink for him, and so abroad, it being a
mighty foul day, by coach, setting my father down in Fleet Streete
and I to St. James’s, where I found Mr. Coventry (the Duke being
now come thither for the summer) with a goldsmith, sorting out
418 Thomas Hill, a man whose taste for music caused him to be a very ac-
ceptable companion to Pepys. In January, 1664-65, he became assistant to the
secretary of the Prize Office.
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his old plate to change for new; but, Lord! what a deale he hath!
I staid and had two or three hours discourse with him, talking
about the disorders of our office, and I largely to tell him how
things are carried by Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes to my great
grief. He seems much concerned also, and for all the King’s mat-
ters that are done after the same rate every where else, and even
the Duke’s household matters too, generally with corruption, but
most indeed with neglect and indifferency. I spoke very loud and
clear to him my thoughts of Sir J. Minnes and the other, and trust
him with the using of them. Then to talk of our business with
the Dutch; he tells me fully that he believes it will not come to a
warr; for first, he showed me a letter from Sir George Downing,
his own hand, where he assures him that the Dutch themselves
do not desire, but above all things fear it, and that they neither
have given letters of marke against our shipps in Guinny, nor
do De Ruyter419 stay at home with his fleet with an eye to any
such thing, but for want of a wind, and is now come out and
is going to the Streights. He tells me also that the most he ex-
pects is that upon the merchants’ complaints, the Parliament will
represent them to the King, desiring his securing of his subjects
against them, and though perhaps they may not directly see fit,
yet even this will be enough to let the Dutch know that the Parlia-
ment do not oppose the King, and by that means take away their
hopes, which was that the King of England could not get money
or do anything towards a warr with them, and so thought them-
419 Michael De Ruyter, the Dutch admiral, was born 1607. He served un-
der Tromp in the war against England in 1653, and was Lieutenant Admiral
General of Holland in 1665. He died April 26th, 1676, of wounds received
in a battle with the French off Syracuse. Among the State Papers is a news
letter (dated July 14th, 1664) containing information as to the views of the
Dutch respecting a war with England. “They are preparing many ships, and
raising 6,000 men, and have no doubt of conquering by sea.” “A wise man
says the States know how to master England by sending moneys into Scot-
land for them to rebel, and also to the discontented in England, so as to place
the King in the same straits as his father was, and bring him to agree with
Holland” (“Calendar,” 1663-64, p. 642).
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selves free from making any restitution, which by this they will
be deceived in. He tells me also that the Dutch states are in no
good condition themselves, differing one with another, and that
for certain none but the states of Holland and Zealand will con-
tribute towards a warr, the others reckoning themselves, being
inland, not concerned in the profits of warr or peace. But it is
pretty to see what he says, that those here that are forward for a
warr at Court, they are reported in the world to be only designers
of getting money into the King’s hands, they that elsewhere are
for it have a design to trouble the kingdom and to give the Fa-
natiques an opportunity of doing hurt, and lastly those that are
against it (as he himself for one is very cold therein) are said to
be bribed by the Dutch. After all this discourse he carried me in
his coach, it raining still, to, Charing Cross, and there put me into
another, and I calling my father and brother carried them to my
house to dinner, my wife keeping bed all day..... All the afternoon
at the office with W. Boddam looking over his particulars about
the Chest of Chatham, which shows enough what a knave Com-
missioner Pett hath been all along, and how Sir W. Batten hath
gone on in getting good allowance to himself and others out of
the poors’ money. Time will show all. So in the evening to see
Sir W. Pen, and then home to my father to keep him company,
he being to go out of town, and up late with him and my brother
John till past 12 at night to make up papers of Tom’s accounts
fit to leave with my cozen Scott. At last we did make an end of
them, and so after supper all to bed.
14th. Up betimes, and after my father’s eating something, I
walked out with him as far as Milk Streete, he turning down to
Cripplegate to take coach; and at the end of the streete I took
leave, being much afeard I shall not see him here any more, he do
decay so much every day, and so I walked on, there being never a
coach to be had till I came to Charing Cross, and there Col. Froud
took me up and carried me to St. James’s, where with Mr. Coven-
try and Povy, &c., about my Lord Peterborough’s accounts, but,
Lord! to see still what a puppy that Povy is with all his show is
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very strange. Thence to Whitehall and W. C[oventry] and I and
Sir W. Rider resolved upon a day to meet and make an end of
all the business. Thence walked with Creed to the Coffee-house
in Covent Garden, where no company, but he told me many fine
experiments at Gresham College; and some demonstration that
the heat and cold of the weather do rarify and condense the very
body of glasse, as in a bolt head’ with cold water in it put into hot
water, shall first by rarifying the glasse make the water sink, and
then when the heat comes to the water makes that rise again, and
then put into cold water makes the water by condensing the glass
to rise, and then when the cold comes to the water makes it sink,
which is very pretty and true, he saw it tried. Thence by coach
home, and dined above with my wife by her bedside, she keep-
ing her bed..... So to the office, where a great conflict with Wood
and Castle about their New England masts? So in the evening
my mind a little vexed, but yet without reason, for I shall prevail,
I hope, for the King’s profit, and so home to supper and to bed.
15th. Up and all the morning with Captain Taylor at my
house talking about things of the Navy, and among other things
I showed him my letters to Mr. Coventry, wherein he acknowl-
edges that nobody to this day did ever understand so much as
I have done, and I believe him, for I perceive he did very much
listen to every article as things new to him, and is contented to
abide by my opinion therein in his great contest with us about
his and Mr. Wood’s masts. At noon to the ‘Change, where I
met with Mr. Hill, the little merchant, with whom, I perceive,
I shall contract a musical acquaintance; but I will make it as lit-
tle troublesome as I can. Home and dined, and then with my
wife by coach to the Duke’s house, and there saw “The German
Princess” acted, by the woman herself; but never was any thing
so well done in earnest, worse performed in jest upon the stage;
and indeed the whole play, abating the drollery of him that acts
her husband, is very simple, unless here and there a witty sprin-
kle or two. We met and sat by Dr. Clerke. Thence homewards,
calling at Madam Turner’s, and thence set my wife down at my
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aunt Wight’s and I to my office till late, and then at to at night
fetched her home, and so again to my office a little, and then to
supper and to bed.
16th. Up and to the office, where all the morning upon the
dispute of Mr. Wood’s masts, and at noon with Mr. Coventry to
the African House; and after a good and pleasant dinner, up with
him, Sir W. Rider, the simple Povy, of all the most ridiculous foole
that ever I knew to attend to business, and Creed and Vernatty,
about my Lord Peterborough’s accounts; but the more we look
into them, the more we see of them that makes dispute, which
made us break off, and so I home, and there found my wife and
Besse gone over the water to Half-way house, and after them,
thinking to have gone to Woolwich, but it was too late, so eat
a cake and home, and thence by coach to have spoke with Tom
Trice about a letter I met with this afternoon from my cozen Scott,
wherein he seems to deny proceeding as my father’s attorney in
administering for him in my brother Tom’s estate, but I find him
gone out of town, and so returned vexed home and to the office,
where late writing a letter to him, and so home and to bed.
17th (Lord’s day). Up, and I put on my best cloth black suit
and my velvet cloake, and with my wife in her best laced suit to
church, where we have not been these nine or ten weeks. The
truth is, my jealousy hath hindered it, for fear she should see
Pembleton. He was here to-day, but I think sat so as he could not
see her, which did please me, God help me! mightily, though I
know well enough that in reason this is nothing but my ridicu-
lous folly. Home to dinner, and in the afternoon, after long con-
sulting whether to go to Woolwich or no to see Mr. Falconer, but
indeed to prevent my wife going to church, I did however go to
church with her, where a young simple fellow did preach: I slept
soundly all the sermon, and thence to Sir W. Pen’s, my wife and I,
there she talking with him and his daughter, and thence with my
wife walked to my uncle Wight’s and there supped, where very
merry, but I vexed to see what charges the vanity of my aunt
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puts her husband to among her friends and nothing at all among
ours. Home and to bed. Our parson, Mr. Mills, his owne mistake
in reading of the service was very remarkable, that instead of
saying, “We beseech thee to preserve to our use the kindly fruits
of the earth,” he cries, “Preserve to our use our gracious Queen
Katherine.”
18th. Up and by coach to Westminster, and there solicited
W. Joyce’s business again; and did speake to the Duke of Yorke
about it, who did understand it very well. I afterwards did with-
out the House fall in company with my Lady Peters, and endeav-
oured to mollify her; but she told me she would not, to redeem
her from hell, do any thing to release him; but would be revenged
while she lived, if she lived the age of Methusalem. I made many
friends, and so did others. At last it was ordered by the Lords
that it should be referred to the Committee of Privileges to con-
sider. So I, after discoursing with the Joyces, away by coach to
the ‘Change; and there, among other things, do hear that a Jew
hath put in a policy of four per cent. to any man, to insure him
against a Dutch warr for four months; I could find in my heart to
take him at this offer, but however will advise first, and to that
end took coach to St. James’s, but Mr. Coventry was gone forth,
and I thence to Westminster Hall, where Mrs. Lane was gone
forth, and so I missed of my intent to be with her this afternoon,
and therefore meeting Mr. Blagrave, went home with him, and
there he and his kinswoman sang, but I was not pleased with
it, they singing methought very ill, or else I am grown worse
to please than heretofore. Thence to the Hall again, and after
meeting with several persons, and talking there, I to Mrs. Hunt’s
(where I knew my wife and my aunt Wight were about business),
and they being gone to walk in the parke I went after them with
Mrs. Hunt, who staid at home for me, and finding them did
by coach, which I had agreed to wait for me, go with them all
and Mrs. Hunt and a kinswoman of theirs, Mrs. Steward, to
Hide Parke, where I have not been since last year; where I saw
the King with his periwigg, but not altered at all; and my Lady
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Castlemayne in a coach by herself, in yellow satin and a pinner
on; and many brave persons. And myself being in a hackney
and full of people, was ashamed to be seen by the world, many
of them knowing me. Thence in the evening home, setting my
aunt at home, and thence we sent for a joynt of meat to supper,
and thence to the office at 11 o’clock at night, and so home to bed.
19th. Up and to St. James’s, where long with Mr. Coventry,
Povy, &c., in their Tangier accounts, but such the folly of that cox-
comb Povy that we could do little in it, and so parted for the time,
and I to walk with Creed and Vernaty in the Physique Garden in
St. James’s Parke; where I first saw orange-trees, and other fine
trees. So to Westminster Hall, and thence by water to the Temple,
and so walked to the ‘Change, and there find the ‘Change full of
news from Guinny, some say the Dutch have sunk our ships and
taken our fort, and others say we have done the same to them.
But I find by our merchants that something is done, but is yet a
secret among them. So home to dinner, and then to the office, and
at night with Captain Tayler consulting how to get a little money
by letting him the Elias to fetch masts from New England. So
home to supper and to bed.
20th. Up and by coach to Westminster, and there solicited W.
Joyce’s business all the morning, and meeting in the Hall with
Mr. Coventry, he told me how the Committee for Trade have
received now all the complaints of the merchants against the
Dutch, and were resolved to report very highly the wrongs they
have done us (when, God knows! it is only our owne negligence
and laziness that hath done us the wrong) and this to be made
to the House to-morrow. I went also out of the Hall with Mrs.
Lane to the Swan at Mrs. Herbert’s in the Palace Yard to try a
couple of bands, and did (though I had a mind to be playing the
fool with her) purposely stay but a little while, and kept the door
open, and called the master and mistress of the house one after
another to drink and talk with me, and showed them both my old
and new bands. So that as I did nothing so they are able to bear
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witness that I had no opportunity there to do anything. Thence
by coach with Sir W. Pen home, calling at the Temple for Lawes’s
Psalms, which I did not so much (by being against my oath) buy
as only lay down money till others be bound better for me, and
by that time I hope to get money of the Treasurer of the Navy by
bills, which, according to my oath, shall make me able to do it. At
home dined, and all the afternoon at a Committee of the Chest,
and at night comes my aunt and uncle Wight and Nan Ferrers
and supped merrily with me, my uncle coming in an hour after
them almost foxed. Great pleasure by discourse with them, and
so, they gone, late to bed.
21st. Up pretty betimes and to my office, and thither came
by and by Mr. Vernaty and staid two hours with me, but Mr.
Gauden did not come, and so he went away to meet again anon.
Then comes Mr. Creed, and, after some discourse, he and I and
my wife by coach to Westminster (leaving her at Unthanke’s, her
tailor’s) Hall, and there at the Lords’ House heard that it is or-
dered, that, upon submission upon the knee both to the House
and my Lady Peters, W. Joyce shall be released. I forthwith made
him submit, and aske pardon upon his knees; which he did be-
fore several Lords. But my Lady would not hear it; but swore she
would post the Lords, that the world might know what pitifull
Lords the King hath; and that revenge was sweeter to her than
milk; and that she would never be satisfied unless he stood in a
pillory, and demand pardon there. But I perceive the Lords are
ashamed of her, and so I away calling with my wife at a place or
two to inquire after a couple of mayds recommended to us, but
we found both of them bad. So set my wife at my uncle Wight’s
and I home, and presently to the ‘Change, where I did some busi-
ness, and thence to my uncle’s and there dined very well, and so
to the office, we sat all the afternoon, but no sooner sat but news
comes my Lady Sandwich was come to see us, so I went out, and
running up (her friend however before me) I perceive by my dear
Lady blushing that in my dining-room she was doing something
upon the pott, which I also was ashamed of, and so fell to some
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discourse, but without pleasure through very pity to my Lady.
She tells me, and I find true since, that the House this day have
voted that the King be desired to demand right for the wrong
done us by the Dutch, and that they will stand by him with their
lives fortunes: which is a very high vote, and more than I ex-
pected. What the issue will be, God knows! My Lady, my wife
not being at home, did not stay, but, poor, good woman, went
away, I being mightily taken with her dear visitt, and so to the
office, where all the afternoon till late, and so to my office, and
then to supper and to bed, thinking to rise betimes tomorrow.
22nd. Having directed it last night, I was called up this morn-
ing before four o’clock. It was full light enough to dress myself,
and so by water against tide, it being a little coole, to Green-
wich; and thence, only that it was somewhat foggy till the sun
got to some height, walked with great pleasure to Woolwich,
in my way staying several times to listen to the nightingales. I
did much business both at the Ropeyarde and the other, and on
floate I discovered a plain cheat which in time I shall publish of
Mr. Ackworth’s. Thence, having visited Mr. Falconer also, who
lies still sick, but hopes to be better, I walked to Greenwich, Mr.
Deane with me. Much good discourse, and I think him a very
just man, only a little conceited, but yet very able in his way, and
so he by water also with me also to towne. I home, and immedi-
ately dressing myself, by coach with my wife to my Lord Sand-
wich’s, but they having dined we would not ‘light but went to
Mrs. Turner’s, and there got something to eat, and thence after
reading part of a good play, Mrs. The., my wife and I, in their
coach to Hide Parke, where great plenty of gallants, and pleas-
ant it was, only for the dust. Here I saw Mrs. Bendy, my Lady
Spillman’s faire daughter that was, who continues yet very hand-
some. Many others I saw with great content, and so back again to
Mrs. Turner’s, and then took a coach and home. I did also carry
them into St. James’s Park and shewed them the garden. To my
office awhile while supper was making ready, and so home to
supper and to bed.
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23rd (Coronation day). Up, and after doing something at my
office, and, it being a holiday, no sitting likely to be, I down by
water to Sir W. Warren’s, who hath been ill, and there talked long
with him good discourse, especially about Sir W. Batten’s knav-
ery and his son Castle’s ill language of me behind my back, say-
ing that I favour my fellow traytours, but I shall be even with
him. So home and to the ‘Change, where I met with Mr. Coven-
try, who himself is now full of talke of a Dutch warr; for it seems
the Lords have concurred in the Commons’ vote about it; and so
the next week it will be presented to the King, insomuch that he
do desire we would look about to see what stores we lack, and
buy what we can. Home to dinner, where I and my wife much
troubled about my money that is in my Lord Sandwich’s hand,
for fear of his going to sea and be killed; but I will get what of it
out I can. All the afternoon, not being well, at my office, and there
doing much business, my thoughts still running upon a warr and
my money. At night home to supper and to bed.
24th (Lord’s day). Up, and all the morning in my chamber
setting some of my private papers in order, for I perceive that
now publique business takes up so much of my time that I must
get time a-Sundays or a-nights to look after my owne matters.
Dined and spent all the afternoon talking with my wife, at night
a little to the office, and so home to supper and to bed.
25th. Up, and with Sir W. Pen by coach to St. James’s and there
up to the Duke, and after he was ready to his closet, where most
of our talke about a Dutch warr, and discoursing of things indeed
now for it. The Duke, which gives me great good hopes, do talk
of setting up a good discipline in the fleete. In the Duke’s cham-
ber there is a bird, given him by Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, comes
from the East Indys, black the greatest part, with the finest col-
lar of white about the neck; but talks many things and neyes like
the horse, and other things, the best almost that ever I heard bird
in my life. Thence down with Mr. Coventry and Sir W. Rider,
who was there (going along with us from the East Indya house
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APRIL 1664
to-day) to discourse of my Lord Peterborough’s accounts, and
then walked over the Parke, and in Mr. Cutler’s coach with him
and Rider as far as the Strand, and thence I walked to my Lord
Sandwich’s, where by agreement I met my wife, and there dined
with the young ladies; my Lady, being not well, kept her cham-
ber. Much simple discourse at table among the young ladies. Af-
ter dinner walked in the garden, talking, with Mr. Moore about
my Lord’s business. He told me my Lord runs in debt every
day more and more, and takes little care how to come out of it.
He counted to me how my Lord pays use now for above £9000,
which is a sad thing, especially considering the probability of his
going to sea, in great danger of his life, and his children, many
of them, to provide for. Thence, the young ladies going out to
visit, I took my wife by coach out through the city, discoursing
how to spend the afternoon; and conquered, with much ado, a
desire of going to a play; but took her out at White Chapel, and
to Bednal Green; so to Hackney, where I have not been many a
year, since a little child I boarded there. Thence to Kingsland,
by my nurse’s house, Goody Lawrence, where my brother Tom
and I was kept when young. Then to Newington Green, and saw
the outside of Mrs. Herbert’s house, where she lived, and my
Aunt Ellen with her; but, Lord! how in every point I find myself
to over-value things when a child. Thence to Islington, and so
to St. John’s to the Red Bull, and there: saw the latter part of a
rude prize fought, but with good pleasure enough; and thence
back to Islington, and at the King’s Head, where Pitts lived, we
‘light and eat and drunk for remembrance of the old house sake,
and so through Kingsland again, and so to Bishopsgate, and so
home with great pleasure. The country mighty pleasant, and we
with great content home, and after supper to bed, only a little
troubled at the young ladies leaving my wife so to-day, and from
some passages fearing my Lady might be offended. But I hope
the best.
26th. Up, and to my Lord Sandwich’s, and coming a little too
early, I went and saw W. Joyce, and by and by comes in Anthony,
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APRIL 1664
they both owning a great deal of kindness received from me in
their late business, and indeed I did what I could, and yet less I
could not do. It has cost the poor man above £40; besides, he is
likely to lose his debt. Thence to my Lord’s, and by and by he
comes down, and with him (Creed with us) I rode in his coach to
St. James’s, talking about W. Joyce’s business mighty merry, and
my Lady Peters, he says, is a drunken jade, he himself having
seen her drunk in the lobby of their House. I went up with him
to the Duke, where methought the Duke did not shew him any
so great fondness as he was wont; and methought my Lord was
not pleased that I should see the Duke made no more of him, not
that I know any thing of any unkindnesse, but I think verily he is
not as he was with him in his esteem. By and by the Duke went
out and we with him through the Parke, and there I left him go-
ing into White Hall, and Creed and I walked round the Parke, a
pleasant walk, observing the birds, which is very pleasant; and
so walked to the New Exchange, and there had a most delicate
dish of curds and creame, and discourse with the good woman
of the house, a discreet well-bred woman, and a place with great
delight I shall make it now and then to go thither. Thence up, and
after a turn or two in the ‘Change, home to the Old Exchange by
coach, where great newes and true, I saw by written letters, of
strange fires seen at Amsterdam in the ayre, and not only there,
but in other places thereabout. The talke of a Dutch warr is not so
hot, but yet I fear it will come to it at last. So home and to the of-
fice, where we sat late. My wife gone this afternoon to the buriall
of my she-cozen Scott, a good woman; and it is a sad considera-
tion how the Pepys’s decay, and nobody almost that I know in a
present way of encreasing them. At night late at my office, and
so home to my wife to supper and to bed.
27th. Up, and all the morning very busy with multitude of
clients, till my head began to be overloaded. Towards noon I
took coach and to the Parliament house door, and there staid the
rising of the House, and with Sir G. Carteret and Mr. Coventry
discoursed of some tarr that I have been endeavouring to buy, for
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APRIL 1664
the market begins apace to rise upon us, and I would be glad first
to serve the King well, and next if I could I find myself now begin
to cast how to get a penny myself. Home by coach with Alder-
man Backewell in his coach, whose opinion is that the Dutch will
not give over the business without putting us to some trouble to
set out a fleete; and then, if they see we go on well, will seek to
salve up the matter. Upon the ‘Change busy. Thence home to
dinner, and thence to the office till my head was ready to burst
with business, and so with my wife by coach, I sent her to my
Lady Sandwich and myself to my cozen Roger Pepys’s cham-
ber, and there he did advise me about our Exchequer business,
and also about my brother John, he is put by my father upon
interceding for him, but I will not yet seem the least to pardon
him nor can I in my heart. However, he and I did talk how to
get him a mandamus for a fellowship, which I will endeavour.
Thence to my Lady’s, and in my way met Mr. Sanchy, of Cam-
bridge, whom I have not met a great while. He seems a simple
fellow, and tells me their master, Dr. Rainbow, is newly made
Bishop of Carlisle. To my Lady’s, and she not being well did not
see her, but straight home with my wife, and late to my office,
concluding in the business of Wood’s masts, which I have now
done and I believe taken more pains in it than ever any Prin-
cipall officer in this world ever did in any thing to no profit to
this day. So, weary, sleepy, and hungry, home and to bed. This
day the Houses attended the King, and delivered their votes to
him: upon the business of the Dutch; and he thanks them, and
promises an answer in writing.
28th. Up and close at my office all the morning. To the ‘Change
busy at noon, and so home to dinner, and then in the afternoon
at the office till night, and so late home quite tired with busi-
ness, and without joy in myself otherwise than that I am by God’s
grace enabled to go through it and one day, hope to have benefit
by it. So home to supper and to bed.
29th. Up betimes, and with Sir W. Rider and Cutler to White
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Hall. Rider and I to St. James’s, and there with Mr. Coventry did
proceed strictly upon some fooleries of Mr. Povy’s in my Lord
Peterborough’s accounts, which will touch him home, and I am
glad of it, for he is the most troublesome impertinent man that
ever I met with. Thence to the ‘Change, and there, after some
business, home to dinner, where Luellin and Mount came to me
and dined, and after dinner my wife and I by coach to see my
Lady Sandwich, where we find all the children and my Lord re-
moved, and the house so melancholy that I thought my Lady had
been dead, knowing that she was not well; but it seems she hath
the meazles, and I fear the small pox, poor lady. It grieves me
mightily; for it will be a sad houre to the family should she mis-
carry. Thence straight home and to the office, and in the evening
comes Mr. Hill the merchant and another with him that sings
well, and we sung some things, and good musique it seemed to
me, only my mind too full of business to have much pleasure in
it. But I will have more of it. They gone, and I having paid Mr.
Moxon for the work he has done for the office upon the King’s
globes, I to my office, where very late busy upon Captain Tayler’s
bills for his masts, which I think will never off my hand. Home
to supper and to bed.
30th. Up and all the morning at the office. At noon to the
‘Change, where, after business done, Sir W. Rider and Cutler
took me to the Old James and there did give me a good dish of
mackerell, the first I have seen this year, very good, and good dis-
course. After dinner we fell to business about their contract for
tarr, in which and in another business of Sir W. Rider’s, canvas,
wherein I got him to contract with me, I held them to some terms
against their wills, to the King’s advantage, which I believe they
will take notice of to my credit. Thence home, and by water by
a gally down to Woolwich, and there a good while with Mr. Pett
upon the new ship discoursing and learning of him. Thence with
Mr. Deane to see Mr. Falconer, and there find him in a way to
be well. So to the water (after much discourse with great content
with Mr. Deane) and home late, and so to the office, wrote to,
1289
APRIL 1664
my father among other things my continued displeasure against
my brother John, so that I will give him nothing more out of my
own purse, which will trouble the poor man, but however it is fit
that I should take notice of my brother’s ill carriage to me. Then
home and till 12 at night about my month’s accounts, wherein
I have just kept within compass, this having been a spending
month. So my people being all abed I put myself to bed very
sleepy. All the newes now is what will become of the Dutch busi-
ness, whether warr or peace. We all seem to desire it, as thinking
ourselves to have advantages at present over them; for my part
I dread it. The Parliament promises to assist the King with lives
and fortunes, and he receives it with thanks and promises to de-
mand satisfaction of the Dutch. My poor Lady Sandwich is fallen
sick three days since of the meazles. My Lord Digby’s business is
hushed up, and nothing made of it; he is gone, and the discourse
quite ended. Never more quiet in my family all the days of my
life than now, there being only my wife and I and Besse and the
little girl Susan, the best wenches to our content that we can ever
expect.
1290
MAY 1664
May 1st (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed. Went not to church, but
staid at home to examine my last night’s accounts, which I find
right, and that I am £908 creditor in the world, the same I was
last month. Dined, and after dinner down by water with my
wife and Besse with great pleasure as low as Greenwich and so
back, playing as it were leisurely upon the water to Deptford,
where I landed and sent my wife up higher to land below Half-
way house. I to the King’s yard and there spoke about several
businesses with the officers, and so with Mr. Wayth consulting
about canvas, to Half-way house where my wife was, and after
eating there we broke and walked home before quite dark. So to
supper, prayers, and to bed.
2nd. Lay pretty long in bed. So up and by water to St. James’s,
and there attended the Duke with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes,
and having done our work with him walked to Westminster Hall,
and after walking there and talking of business met Mr. Rawl-
inson and by coach to the ‘Change, where I did some business,
and home to dinner, and presently by coach to the King’s Play-
house to see “The Labyrinth,” but, coming too soon, walked to
my Lord’s to hear how my Lady do, who is pretty well; at least
past all fear. There by Captain Ferrers meeting with an oppor-
tunity of my Lord’s coach, to carry us to the Parke anon, we
1291
MAY 1664
directed it to come to the play-house door; and so we walked,
my wife and I and Madamoiselle. I paid for her going in, and
there saw “The Labyrinth,” the poorest play, methinks, that ever
I saw, there being nothing in it but the odd accidents that fell
out, by a lady’s being bred up in man’s apparel, and a man in a
woman’s. Here was Mrs. Stewart, who is indeed very pretty, but
not like my Lady Castlemayne, for all that. Thence in the coach
to the Parke, where no pleasure; there being much dust, little
company, and one of our horses almost spoiled by falling down,
and getting his leg over the pole; but all mended presently, and
after riding up and down, home. Set Madamoiselle at home; and
we home, and to my office, whither comes Mr. Bland, and pays
me the debt he acknowledged he owed me for my service in his
business of the Tangier Merchant, twenty pieces of new gold, a
pleasant sight. It cheered my heart; and he being gone, I home to
supper, and shewed them my wife; and she, poor wretch, would
fain have kept them to look on, without any other design but a
simple love to them; but I thought it not convenient, and so took
them into my own hand. So, after supper, to bed.
3rd. Up, and being ready, went by agreement to Mr. Bland’s
and there drank my morning draft in good chocollatte, and slab-
bering my band sent home for another, and so he and I by wa-
ter to White Hall, and walked to St. James’s, where met Creed
and Vernatty, and by and by Sir W. Rider, and so to Mr. Coven-
try’s chamber, and there upon my Lord Peterborough’s accounts,
where I endeavoured to shew the folly and punish it as much as
I could of Mr. Povy; for, of all the men in the world, I never knew
any man of his degree so great a coxcomb in such imployments.
I see I have lost him forever, but I value it not; for he is a cox-
comb, and, I doubt, not over honest, by some things which I see;
and yet, for all his folly, he hath the good lucke, now and then,
to speak his follies in as good words, and with as good a show,
as if it were reason, and to the purpose, which is really one of
the wonders of my life. Thence walked to Westminster Hall; and
there, in the Lords’ House, did in a great crowd, from ten o’clock
1292
MAY 1664
till almost three, hear the cause of Mr. Roberts, my Lord Privy
Seal’s son, against Win, who by false ways did get the father of
Mr. Roberts’s wife (Mr. Bodvill) to give him the estate and dis-
inherit his daughter. The cause was managed for my Lord Privy
Seal by Finch the Solicitor [General]; but I do really think that he
is truly a man of as great eloquence as ever I heard, or ever hope
to hear in all my life. Thence, after long staying to speak with my
Lord Sandwich, at last he coming out to me and speaking with
me about business of my Lord Peterborough, I by coach home to
the office, where all the afternoon, only stept home to eat one bit
and to the office again, having eaten nothing before to-day. My
wife abroad with my aunt Wight and Norbury. I in the evening
to my uncle Wight’s, and not finding them come home, they be-
ing gone to the Parke and the Mulberry garden, I went to the
‘Change, and there meeting with Mr. Hempson, whom Sir W.
Batten has lately turned out of his place, merely because of his
coming to me when he came to town before he went to him, and
there he told me many rogueries of Sir W. Batten, how he knows
and is able to prove that Captain Cox of Chatham did give him
£10 in gold to get him to certify for him at the King’s coming in,
and that Tom Newborne did make [the] poor men give him £3 to
get Sir W. Batten to cause them to be entered in the yard, and that
Sir W. Batten had oftentimes said: “by God, Tom, you shall get
something and I will have some on’t.” His present clerk that is
come in Norman’s’ room has given him something for his place;
that they live high and (as Sir Francis Clerk’s lady told his wife)
do lack money as well as other people, and have bribes of a piece
of sattin and cabinetts and other things from people that deal
with him, and that hardly any body goes to see or hath anything
done by Sir W. Batten but it comes with a bribe, and that this is
publickly true that his wife was a whore, and that he had libells
flung within his doors for a cuckold as soon as he was married;
that he received £100 in money and in other things to the value
of £50 more of Hempson, and that he intends to give him back
but £50; that he hath abused the Chest and hath now some £1000
1293
MAY 1664
by him of it. I met also upon the ‘Change with Mr. Cutler, and he
told me how for certain Lawson hath proclaimed warr again with
Argier, though they had at his first coming given back the ships
which they had taken, and all their men; though they refused af-
terwards to make him restitution for the goods which they had
taken out of them. Thence to my uncle Wight’s, and he not being
at home I went with Mr. Norbury near hand to the Fleece, a mum
house in Leadenhall, and there drunk mum and by and by broke
up, it being about 11 o’clock at night, and so leaving them also at
home, went home myself and to bed.
4th. Up, and my new Taylor, Langford, comes and takes mea-
sure of me for a new black cloth suit and cloake, and I think he
will prove a very carefull fellow and will please me well. Thence
to attend my Lord Peterborough in bed and give him an account
of yesterday’s proceeding with Povy. I perceive I labour in a busi-
ness will bring me little pleasure; but no matter, I shall do the
King some service. To my Lord’s lodgings, where during my
Lady’s sickness he is, there spoke with him about the same busi-
ness. Back and by water to my cozen Scott’s. There condoled
with him the loss of my cozen, his wife, and talked about his mat-
ters, as atturney to my father, in his administering to my brother
Tom. He tells me we are like to receive some shame about the
business of his bastarde with Jack Noble; but no matter, so it cost
us no money. Thence to the Coffee-house and to the ‘Change a
while. News uncertain how the Dutch proceed. Some say for,
some against a war. The plague increases at Amsterdam. So
home to dinner, and after dinner to my office, where very late, till
my eyes (which begin to fail me nowadays by candlelight) begin
to trouble me. Only in the afternoon comes Mr. Peter Honiwood
to see me and gives me 20s., his and his friends’ pence for my
brother John, which, God forgive my pride, methinks I think my-
self too high to take of him; but it is an ungratefull pitch of pride
in me, which God forgive. Home at night to supper and to bed.
5th. Up betimes to my office, busy, and so abroad to change
1294
MAY 1664
some plate for my father to send to-day by the carrier to Bramp-
ton, but I observe and do fear it may be to my wrong that I change
spoons of my uncle Robert’s into new and set a P upon them that
thereby I cannot claim them hereafter, as it was my brother Tom’s
practice. However, the matter of this is not great, and so I did it.
So to the ‘Change, and meeting Sir W. Warren, with him to a tav-
erne, and there talked, as we used to do, of the evils the King
suffers in our ordering of business in the Navy, as Sir W. Batten
now forces us by his knavery. So home to dinner, and to the of-
fice, where all the afternoon, and thence betimes home, my eyes
beginning every day to grow less and less able to bear with long
reading or writing, though it be by daylight; which I never ob-
served till now. So home to my wife, and after supper to bed.
6th. This morning up and to my office, where Sympson my
joyner came to work upon altering my closet, which I alter by
setting the door in another place, and several other things to my
great content. Busy at it all day, only in the afternoon home, and
there, my books at the office being out of order, wrote letters and
other businesses. So at night with my head full of the business
of my closet home to bed, and strange it is to think how building
do fill my mind and put out all other things out of my thoughts.
7th. Betimes at my office with the joyners, and giving order
for other things about it. By and by we sat all the morning. At
noon to dinner, and after dinner comes Deane of Woolwich, and
I spent, as I had appointed, all the afternoon with him about in-
structions which he gives me to understand the building of a
ship, and I think I shall soon understand it. In the evening a
little to my office to see how the work goes forward there, and
then home and spent the evening also with Mr. Deane, and had
a good supper, and then to bed, he lying at my house.
8th (Lord’s day). This day my new tailor, Mr. Langford,
brought me home a new black cloth suit and cloake lined with
silk moyre, and he being gone, who pleases me very well with
his work and I hope will use me pretty well, then Deane and
1295
MAY 1664
I to my chamber, and there we repeated my yesterday’s lesson
about ships all the morning, and I hope I shall soon understand
it. At noon to dinner, and strange how in discourse he cries up
chymistry from some talk he has had with an acquaintance of
his, a chymist, when, poor man, he understands not one word of
it. But I discern very well that it is only his good nature, but in
this of building ships he hath taken great pains, more than most
builders I believe have. After dinner he went away, and my wife
and I to church, and after church to Sir W. Pen, and there sat and
talked with him, and the perfidious rogue seems, as he do al-
ways, mightily civil to us, though I know he hates and envies us.
So home to supper, prayers, and to bed.
9th. Up and to my office all the morning, and there saw sev-
eral things done in my work to my great content, and at noon
home to dinner, and after dinner in Sir W. Pen’s coach he set my
wife and I down at the New Exchange, and after buying some
things we walked to my Lady Sandwich’s, who, good lady, is
now, thanks be to God! so well as to sit up, and sent to us, if we
were not afeard, to come up to her. So we did; but she was might-
ily against my wife’s coming so near her; though, poor wretch!
she is as well as ever she was, as to the meazles, and nothing can
I see upon her face. There we sat talking with her above three
hours, till six o’clock, of several things with great pleasure and
so away, and home by coach, buying several things for my wife
in our way, and so after looking what had been done in my of-
fice to-day, with good content home to supper and to bed. But,
strange, how I cannot get any thing to take place in my mind
while my work lasts at my office. This day my wife and I in our
way to Paternoster Row to buy things called upon Mr. Hollyard
to advise upon her drying up her issue in her leg, which inclines
of itself to dry up, and he admits of it that it should be dried up.
10th. Up and at my office looking after my workmen all the
morning, and after the office was done did the same at night,
and so home to supper and to bed.
1296
MAY 1664
11th. Up and all day, both forenoon and afternoon, at my office
to see it finished by the joyners and washed and every thing in
order, and indeed now my closet is very convenient and pleasant
for me. My uncle Wight came to me to my office this afternoon
to speak with me about Mr. Maes’s business again, and from me
went to my house to see my wife, and strange to think that my
wife should by and by send for me after he was gone to tell me
that he should begin discourse of her want of children and his
also, and how he thought it would be best for him and her to
have one between them, and he would give her £500 either in
money or jewells beforehand, and make the child his heir. He
commended her body, and discoursed that for all he knew the
thing was lawful. She says she did give him a very warm answer,
such as he did not excuse himself by saying that he said this in
jest, but told her that since he saw what her mind was he would
say no more to her of it, and desired her to make no words of it.
It seemed he did say all this in a kind of counterfeit laugh, but
by all words that passed, which I cannot now so well set down,
it is plain to me that he was in good earnest, and that I fear all
his kindness is but only his lust to her. What to think of it of a
sudden I know not, but I think not to take notice yet of it to him
till I have thought better of it. So with my mind and head a little
troubled I received a letter from Mr. Coventry about a mast for
the Duke’s yacht, which with other business makes me resolve to
go betimes to Woolwich to-morrow. So to supper and to bed.
12th. Up by 4 o’clock and by water to Woolwich, where did
some business and walked to Greenwich, good discourse with
Mr. Deane best part of the way; there met by appointment Com-
missioner Pett, and with him to Deptford, where did also some
business, and so home to my office, and at noon Mrs. Hunt and
her cozens child and mayd came and dined with me. My wife
sick ... in bed. I was troubled with it, but, however, could not
help it, but attended them till after dinner, and then to the office
and there sat all the afternoon, and by a letter to me this after-
noon from Mr. Coventry I saw the first appearance of a warr
1297
MAY 1664
with Holland. So home; and betimes to bed because of rising
to-morrow.
13th. Up before three o’clock, and a little after upon the wa-
ter, it being very light as at noon, and a bright sunrising; but by
and by a rainbow appeared, the first that ever in a morning I
saw, and then it fell a-raining a little, but held up again, and I
to Woolwich, where before all the men came to work I with Mr.
Deane spent two hours upon the new ship, informing myself in
the names and natures of many parts of her to my great content,
and so back again, without doing any thing else, and after shift-
ing myself away to Westminster, looking after Mr. Maes’s busi-
ness and others. In the Painted Chamber I heard a fine conference
between some of the two Houses upon the Bill for Conventicles.
The Lords would be freed from having their houses searched
by any but the Lord Lieutenant of the County; and upon being
found guilty, to be tried only by their peers; and thirdly, would
have it added, that whereas the Bill says, “That that, among other
things, shall be a conventicle wherein any such meeting is found
doing any thing contrary to the Liturgy of the Church of Eng-
land,” they would have it added, “or practice.” The Commons to
the Lords said, that they knew not what might hereafter be found
out which might be called the practice of the Church of England;
for there are many things may be said to be the practice of the
Church, which were never established by any law, either com-
mon, statute, or canon; as singing of psalms, binding up prayers
at the end of the Bible, and praying extempore before and after
sermon: and though these are things indifferent, yet things for
aught they at present know may be started, which may be said
to be the practice of the Church which would not be fit to al-
low. For the Lords’ priviledges, Mr. Walter told them how tender
their predecessors had been of the priviledges of the Lords; but,
however, where the peace of the kingdom stands in competition
with them, they apprehend those priviledges must give place.
He told them that he thought, if they should owne all to be the
priviledges of the Lords which might be demanded, they should
1298
MAY 1664
be led like the man (who granted leave to his neighbour to pull
off his horse’s tail, meaning that he could not do it at once) that
hair by hair had his horse’s tail pulled off indeed: so the Com-
mons, by granting one thing after another, might be so served by
the Lords. Mr. Vaughan, whom I could not to my grief perfectly
hear, did say, if that they should be obliged in this manner to, ex-
empt the Lords from every thing, it would in time come to pass
that whatever (be [it] never so great) should be voted by the Com-
mons as a thing penall for a commoner, the contrary should be
thought a priviledge to the Lords: that also in this business, the
work of a conventicle being but the work of an hour, the cause
of a search would be over before a Lord Lieutenant, who may be
many miles off, can be sent for; and that all this dispute is but
about £100; for it is said in the Act, that it shall be banishment
or payment of £100. I thereupon heard the Duke of Lenox say,
that there might be Lords who could not always be ready to lose
£100, or some such thing: They broke up without coming to any
end in it. There was also in the Commons’ House a great quarrel
about Mr. Prin, and it was believed that he should have been sent
to the Towre, for adding something to a Bill (after it was ordered
to be engrossed) of his own head–a Bill for measures for wine
and other things of that sort, and a Bill of his owne bringing in;
but it appeared he could not mean any hurt in it. But, however,
the King was fain to write in his behalf, and all was passed over.
But it is worth my remembrance, that I saw old Ryly the Her-
ald, and his son; and spoke to his son, who told me in very bad
words concerning Mr. Prin, that the King had given him an of-
fice of keeping the Records; but that he never comes thither, nor
had been there these six months: so that I perceive they expect
to get his imployment from him. Thus every body is liable to be
envied and supplanted. At noon over to the Leg, where Sir G.
Ascue, Sir Robt. Parkhurst and Sir W. Pen dined. A good dinner
and merry. Thence to White Hall walking up and down a great
while, but the Council not meeting soon enough I went home-
ward, calling upon my cozen Roger Pepys, with whom I talked
1299
MAY 1664
and heard so much from him of his desire that I would see my
brother’s debts paid, and things still of that nature tending to my
parting with what I get with pain to serve others’ expenses that
I was cruelly vexed. Thence to Sir R. Bernard, and there heard
something of Pigott’s delay of paying our money, that that also
vexed me mightily. So home and there met with a letter from
my cozen Scott, which tells me that he is resolved to meddle no
more with our business, of administering for my father, which al-
together makes me almost distracted to think of the trouble that
I am like to meet with by other folks’ business more than ever I
hope to have by my owne. So with great trouble of mind to bed.
14th. Up, full of pain, I believe by cold got yesterday. So to
the office, where we sat, and after office home to dinner, being in
extraordinary pain. After dinner my pain increasing I was forced
to go to bed, and by and by my pain rose to be as great for an
hour or two as ever I remember it was in any fit of the stone,
both in the lower part of my belly and in my back also. No wind
could I break. I took a glyster, but it brought away but a little,
and my height of pain followed it. At last after two hours lying
thus in most extraordinary anguish, crying and roaring, I know
not what, whether it was my great sweating that may do it, but
upon getting by chance, among my other tumblings, upon my
knees, in bed, my pain began to grow less and less, till in an hour
after I was in very little pain, but could break no wind, nor make
any water, and so continued, and slept well all night.
15th (Lord’s day). Rose, and as I had intended without ref-
erence to this pain, took physique, and it wrought well with me,
my wife lying from me to-night, the first time she did in the same
house ever since we were married, I think (unless while my fa-
ther was in town, that he lay with me). She took physique also
to-day, and both of our physiques wrought well, so we passed
our time to-day, our physique having done working, with some
pleasure talking, but I was not well, for I could make no water
yet, but a drop or two with great pain, nor break any wind. In
1300
MAY 1664
the evening came Mr. Vernatty to see me and discourse about my
Lord Peterborough’s business, and also my uncle Wight and Nor-
bury, but I took no notice nor showed any different countenance
to my uncle Wight, or he to me, for all that he carried himself so
basely to my wife the last week, but will take time to make my
use of it. So, being exceeding hot, to bed, and slept well.
16th. Forced to rise because of going to the Duke to St. James’s,
where we did our usual business, and thence by invitation to Mr.
Pierces the chyrurgeon, where I saw his wife, whom I had not
seen in many months before. She holds her complexion still, but
in everything else, even in this her new house and the best rooms
in it, and her closet which her husband with some vainglory took
me to show me, she continues the eeriest slattern that ever I knew
in my life. By and by we to see an experiment of killing a dogg
by letting opium into his hind leg. He and Dr. Clerke did fail
mightily in hitting the vein, and in effect did not do the busi-
ness after many trials; but with the little they got in, the dogg did
presently fall asleep, and so lay till we cut him up, and a little
dogg also, which they put it down his throate; he also staggered
first, and then fell asleep, and so continued. Whether he recov-
ered or no, after I was gone, I know not, but it is a strange and
sudden effect. Thence walked to Westminster Hall, where the
King was expected to come to prorogue the House, but it seems,
afterwards I hear, he did not come. I promised to go again to
Mr. Pierce’s, but my pain grew so great, besides a bruise I got
to-day in my right testicle, which now vexes me as much as the
other, that I was mighty melancholy, and so by coach home and
there took another glyster, but find little good by it, but by sit-
ting still my pain of my bruise went away, and so after supper to
bed, my wife and I having talked and concluded upon sending
my father an offer of having Pall come to us to be with us for her
preferment, if by any means I can get her a husband here, which,
though it be some trouble to us, yet it will be better than to have
her stay there till nobody will have her and then be flung upon
my hands.
1301
MAY 1664
17th. Slept well all night and lay long, then rose and wrote my
letter to my father about Pall, as we had resolved last night. So
to dinner and then to the office, finding myself better than I was,
and making a little water, but not yet breaking any great store
of wind, which I wonder at, for I cannot be well till I do do it.
After office home and to supper and with good ease to bed, and
endeavoured to tie my hands that I might not lay them out of
bed, by which I believe I have got cold, but I could not endure it.
18th. Up and within all the morning, being willing to keep as
much as I could within doors, but receiving a very wakening let-
ter from Mr. Coventry about fitting of ships, which speaks some-
thing like to be done, I went forth to the office, there to take order
in things, and after dinner to White Hall to a Committee of Tang-
ier, but did little. So home again and to Sir W. Pen, who, among
other things of haste in this new order for ships, is ordered to be
gone presently to Portsmouth to look after the work there. I staid
to discourse with him, and so home to supper, where upon a fine
couple of pigeons, a good supper; and here I met a pretty cabinet
sent me by Mr. Shales, which I give my wife, the first of that sort
of goods I ever had yet, and very conveniently it comes for her
closett. I staid up late finding out the private boxes, but could
not do some of them, and so to bed, afraid that I have been too
bold to-day in venturing in the cold. This day I begun to drink
butter-milke and whey, and I hope to find great good by it.
19th. Up, and it being very rayny weather, which makes it
cooler than it was, by coach to Charing Cross with Sir W. Pen,
who is going to Portsmouth this day, and left him going to St.
James’s to take leave of the Duke, and I to White Hall to a Com-
mittee of Tangier; where God forgive how our Report of my Lord
Peterborough’s accounts was read over and agreed to by the
Lords, without one of them understanding it! And had it been
what it would, it had gone: and, besides, not one thing touch-
ing the King’s profit in it minded or hit upon. Thence by coach
home again, and all the morning at the office, sat, and all the af-
1302
MAY 1664
ternoon till 9 at night, being fallen again to business, and I hope
my health will give me leave to follow it. So home to supper and
to bed, finding myself pretty well. A pretty good stool, which I
impute to my whey to-day, and broke wind also.
20th. Up and to my office, whither by and by comes Mr.
Cholmely, and staying till the rest of the company come he told
me how Mr. Edward Montagu is turned out of the Court, not
[to] return again. His fault, I perceive, was his pride, and most
of all his affecting to seem great with the Queene and it seems
indeed had more of her eare than any body else, and would be
with her talking alone two or three hours together; insomuch that
the Lords about the King, when he would be jesting with them
about their wives, would tell the King that he must have a care
of his wife too, for she hath now the gallant: and they say the
King himself did once ask Montagu how his mistress (meaning
the Queene) did. He grew so proud, and despised every body,
besides suffering nobody, he or she, to get or do any thing about
the Queene, that they all laboured to do him a good turn. They
also say that he did give some affront to the Duke of Monmouth,
which the King himself did speak to him of. But strange it is that
this man should, from the greatest negligence in the world, come
to be the miracle of attendance, so as to take all offices from ev-
erybody, either men or women, about the Queene. Insomuch that
he was observed as a miracle, but that which is the worst, that
which in a wise manner performed [would] turn to his greatest
advantage, was by being so observed employed to his greatest
wrong, the world concluding that there must be something more
than ordinary to cause him to do this. So he is gone, nobody
pitying but laughing at him; and he pretends only that he is gone
to his father, that is sick in the country. By and by comes Povy,
Creed, and Vernatty, and so to their accounts, wherein more trou-
ble and vexation with Povy. That being done, I sent them going
and myself fell to business till dinner. So home to dinner very
pleasant. In the afternoon to my office, where busy again, and by
and by came a letter from my father so full of trouble for discon-
1303
MAY 1664
tents there between my mother and servants, and such troubles
to my father from hence from Cave that hath my brother’s bas-
tard that I know not what in the world to do, but with great trou-
ble, it growing night, spent some time walking, and putting care
as much as I could out of my head, with my wife in the garden,
and so home to supper and to bed.
21st. Up, called by Mr. Cholmely, and walked with him in the
garden till others came to another Committee of Tangier, as we
did meet as we did use to do, to see more of Povy’s folly, and
so broke up, and at the office sat all the morning, Mr. Coventry
with us, and very hot we are getting out some ships. At noon
to the ‘Change, and there did some business, and thence home
to dinner, and so abroad with my wife by coach to the New Ex-
change, and there laid out almost 40s. upon her, and so called
to see my Lady Sandwich, whom we found in her dining-room,
which joyed us mightily; but she looks very thin, poor woman,
being mightily broke. She told us that Mr. Montagu is to return
to Court, as she hears, which I wonder at, and do hardly believe.
So home and to my office, where late, and so home to supper and
to bed.
22nd (Lord’s day). Up and by water to White Hall to my Lord’s
lodgings, and with him walked to White Hall without any great
discourse, nor do I find that he do mind business at all. Here the
Duke of Yorke called me to him, to ask me whether I did intend
to go with him to Chatham or no. I told him if he commanded,
but I did believe there would be business here for me, and so he
told me then it would be better to stay, which I suppose he will
take better than if I had been forward to go. Thence, after staying
and seeing the throng of people to attend the King to Chappell
(but, Lord! what a company of sad, idle people they are) I walked
to St. James’s with Colonell Remes, where staid a good while and
then walked to White Hall with Mr. Coventry, talking about busi-
ness. So meeting Creed, took him with me home and to dinner,
a good dinner, and thence by water to Woolwich, where mighty
1304
MAY 1664
kindly received by Mrs. Falconer and her husband, who is now
pretty well again, this being the first time I ever carried my wife
thither. I walked to the Docke, where I met Mrs. Ackworth alone
at home, and God forgive me! what thoughts I had, but I had not
the courage to stay, but went to Mr. Pett’s and walked up and
down the yard with him and Deane talking about the dispatch
of the ships now in haste, and by and by Creed and my wife
and a friend of Mr. Falconer’s came with the boat and called me,
and so by water to Deptford, where I landed, and after talking
with others walked to Half-way house with Mr. Wayth talking
about the business of his supplying us with canvas, and he told
me in discourse several instances of Sir W. Batten’s cheats. So
to Half-way house, whither my wife and them were gone before,
and after drinking there we walked, and by water home, sending
Creed and the other with the boat home. Then wrote a letter to
Mr. Coventry, and so a good supper of pease, the first I eat this
year, and so to bed.
23rd. Up and to the office, where Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten,
and myself met and did business, we being in a mighty hurry.
The King is gone down with the Duke and a great crew this
morning by break of day to Chatham. Towards noon I and my
wife by water to Woolwich, leaving my wife at Mr. Falconer’s,
and Mr. Hater and I with some officers of the yard on board to
see several ships how ready they are. Then to Mr. Falconer’s to
a good dinner, having myself carried them a vessel of sturgeon
and a Lamprey pie, and then to the Yarde again, and among other
things did at Mr. Ackworth’s obtain a demonstration of his being
a knave; but I did not discover it, till it be a little more seasonable.
So back to the Ropeyard and took my wife and Mr. Hater back, it
raining mighty hard of a sudden, but we with the tilt420 kept our-
selves dry. So to Deptford, did some business there; but, Lord! to
420 Tilt (A.S. teld) represents a tent or awning. It was used for a cloth cov-
ering for a cart or waggon, or for a canopy or awning over a portion of a
boat.
1305
MAY 1664
see how in both places the King’s business, if ever it should come
to a warr, is likely to be done, there not being a man that looks or
speaks like a man that will take pains, or use any forecast to serve
the King, at which I am heartily troubled. So home, it raining ter-
ribly, but we still dry, and at the office late discoursing with Sir J.
Minnes and Sir W. Batten, who like a couple of sots receive all I
say but to little purpose. So late home to supper and to bed.
24th. Up and to the office, where Sir J. Minnes and I sat all the
morning, and after dinner thither again, and all the afternoon
hard at the office till night, and so tired home to supper and to
bed. This day I heard that my uncle Fenner is dead, which makes
me a little sad, to see with what speed a great many of my friends
are gone, and more, I fear, for my father’s sake, are going.
25th. Took physique betimes and to sleep, then up, it working
all the morning. At noon dined, and in the afternoon in my cham-
ber spending two or three hours to look over some unpleasant
letters and things of trouble to answer my father in, about Tom’s
business and others, that vexed me, but I did go through it and
by that means eased my mind very much. This afternoon also
came Tom and Charles Pepys by my sending for, and received of
me £40 in part towards their £70 legacy of my uncle’s. Spent the
evening talking with my wife, and so to bed.
26th. Up to the office, where we sat, and I had some high words
with Sir W. Batten about canvas, wherein I opposed him and all
his experience, about seams in the middle, and the profit of hav-
ing many breadths and narrow, which I opposed to good pur-
pose, to the rejecting of the whole business. At noon home to
dinner, and thence took my wife by coach, and she to my Lady
Sandwich to see her. I to Tom Trice, to discourse about my fa-
ther’s giving over his administration to my brother, and thence
to Sir R. Bernard, and there received £19 in money, and took up
my father’s bond of £21, that is £40, in part of Piggot’s £209 due
to us, which £40 he pays for 7 roods of meadow in Portholme.
Thence to my wife, and carried her to the Old Bayly, and there
1306
MAY 1664
we were led to the Quest House, by the church, where all the kin-
dred were by themselves at the buriall of my uncle Fenner; but,
Lord! what a pitiful rout of people there was of them, but very
good service and great company the whole was. And so anon to
church, and a good sermon, and so home, having for ease put my
£19 into W. Joyce’s hand, where I left it. So to supper and to bed,
being in a little pain from some cold got last night lying without
anything upon my feet.
27th. Up, not without some pain by cold, which makes me
mighty melancholy, to think of the ill state of my health. To the
office, where busy till my brains ready to drop with variety of
business, and vexed for all that to see the service like to suffer
by other people’s neglect. Vexed also at a letter from my father
with two troublesome ones enclosed from Cave and Noble, so
that I know not what to do therein. At home to dinner at noon.
But to comfort my heart, Captain Taylor this day brought me £20
he promised me for my assistance to him about his masts. Af-
ter dinner to the office again, and thence with Mr. Wayth to St.
Catherine’s to see some variety of canvas’s, which indeed was
worth my seeing, but only I was in some pain, and so took not
the delight I should otherwise have done. So home to the office,
and there busy till late at night, and so home to supper and to
bed. This morning my taylor brought me a very tall mayde to
be my cook-mayde; she asked £5, but my wife offered her but
£3 10s.–whether she will take it or no I know not till to-morrow,
but I am afeard she will be over high for us, she having last been
a chamber mayde, and holds up her head, as my little girle Su
observed.
28th. Up pretty well as to pain and wind, and to the office,
where we sat close and did much business. At noon I to the
‘Change, and thence to Mr. Cutler’s, where I heard Sir W. Rider
was, where I found them at dinner and dined with them, he hav-
ing yesterday and to-day a fit of a pain like the gout, the first time
he ever had it. A good dinner. Good discourse, Sir W. Rider es-
1307
MAY 1664
pecially much fearing the issue of a Dutch warr, wherein I very
highly commend him. Thence home, and at the office a while,
and then with Mr. Deane to a second lesson upon my Ship-
wrightry, wherein I go on with great pleasure. He being gone
I to the office late, and so home to supper and to bed. But, Lord!
to see how my very going to the ‘Change, and being without my
gowne, presently brought me wind and pain, till I came home
and was well again; but I am come to such a pass that I shall not
know what to do with myself, but I am apt to think that it is only
my legs that I take cold in from my having so long worn a gowne
constantly.
29th (Whitsunday. King’s Birth and Restauration day). Up,
and having received a letter last night desiring it from Mr.
Coventry, I walked to St. James’s, and there he and I did long
discourse together of the business of the office, and the warr with
the Dutch; and he seemed to argue mightily with the little reason
that there is for all this. For first, as to the wrong we pretend they
have done us: that of the East Indys, for their not delivering of
Poleron, it is not yet known whether they have failed or no; that
of their hindering the Leopard cannot amount to above £3,000 if
true; that of the Guinny Company, all they had done us did not
amount to above £200 or £300 he told me truly; and that now,
from what Holmes, without any commission, hath done in tak-
ing an island and two forts, hath set us much in debt to them;
and he believes that Holmes will have been so puffed up with
this, that he by this time hath been enforced with more strength
than he had then, hath, I say, done a great deale more wrong to
them. He do, as to the effect of the warr, tell me clearly that it
is not any skill of the Dutch that can hinder our trade if we will,
we having so many advantages over them, of winds, good ports,
and men; but it is our pride, and the laziness of the merchant. He
seems to think that there may be some negotiation which may
hinder a warr this year, but that he speaks doubtfully as unwill-
ing I perceive to be thought to discourse any such thing. The
main thing he desired to speake with me about was, to know
1308
MAY 1664
whether I do understand my Lord Sandwich’s intentions as to
going to sea with this fleete; saying, that the Duke, if he desires
it, is most willing to it; but thinking that twelve ships is not a
fleete fit for my Lord to be troubled to go out with, he is not will-
ing to offer it to him till he hath some intimations of his mind
to go, or not. He spoke this with very great respect as to my
Lord, though methinks it is strange they should not understand
one another better at this time than to need another’s mediation.
Thence walked over the Parke to White Hall, Mr. Povy with me,
and was taken in a very great showre in the middle of the Parke
that we were very wet. So up into, the house and with him to the
King’s closett, whither by and by the King came, my Lord Sand-
wich carrying the sword. A Bishopp preached, but he speaking
too low for me to hear behind the King’s closett, I went forth and
walked and discoursed with Colonell Reames, who seems a very
willing man to be informed in his business of canvas, which he
is undertaking to strike in with us to serve the Navy. By and
by my Lord Sandwich came forth, and called me to him: and
we fell into discourse a great while about his business, wherein
he seems to be very open with me, and to receive my opinion
as he used to do; and I hope I shall become necessary to him
again. He desired me to think of the fitness, or not, for him to of-
fer himself to go to sea; and to give him my thoughts in a day or
two. Thence after sermon among the ladies on the Queene’s side;
where I saw Mrs. Stewart, very fine and pretty, but far beneath
my Lady Castlemayne. Thence with Mr. Povy home to dinner;
where extraordinary cheer. And after dinner up and down to see
his house. And in a word, methinks, for his perspective upon his
wall in his garden, and the springs rising up with the perspec-
tive in the little closett; his room floored above with woods of
several colours, like but above the best cabinet-work I ever saw;
his grotto and vault, with his bottles of wine, and a well therein
to keep them cool; his furniture of all sorts; his bath at the top
of his house, good pictures, and his manner of eating and drink-
ing; do surpass all that ever I did see of one man in all my life.
1309
MAY 1664
Thence walked home and found my uncle Wight and Mr. Rawl-
inson, who supped with me. They being gone, I to bed, being in
some pain from my being so much abroad to-day, which is a most
strange thing that in such warm weather the least ayre should get
cold and wind in me. I confess it makes me mighty sad and out
of all content in the world.
30th. Lay long, the bells ringing, it being holiday, and then up
and all the day long in my study at home studying of shipmaking
with great content till the evening, and then came Mr. Howe and
sat and then supped with me. He is a little conceited, but will
make a discreet man. He being gone, a little to my office, and
then home to bed, being in much pain from yesterday’s being
abroad, which is a consideration of mighty sorrow to me.
31st. Up, and called upon Mr. Hollyard, with whom I ad-
vised and shall fall upon some course of doing something for my
disease of the wind, which grows upon me every day more and
more. Thence to my Lord Sandwich’s, and while he was dress-
ing I below discoursed with Captain Cooke, and I think if I do
find it fit to keep a boy at all I had as good be supplied from him
with one as any body. By and by up to my Lord, and to dis-
course about his going to sea, and the message I had from Mr.
Coventry to him. He wonders, as he well may, that this course
should be taken, and he every day with the Duke, who, never-
theless, seems most friendly to him, who hath not yet spoke one
word to my Lord of his desire to have him go to sea. My Lord
do tell me clearly that were it not that he, as all other men that
were of the Parliament side, are obnoxious to reproach, and so
is forced to bear what otherwise he would not, he would never
suffer every thing to be done in the Navy, and he never be con-
sulted; and it seems, in the naming of all these commanders for
this fleete, he hath never been asked one question. But we con-
cluded it wholly inconsistent with his honour not to go with this
fleete, nor with the reputation which the world hath of his in-
terest at Court; and so he did give me commission to tell Mr.
1310
MAY 1664
Coventry that he is most willing to receive any commands from
the Duke in this fleete, were it less than it is, and that particularly
in this service. With this message I parted, and by coach to the
office, where I found Mr. Coventry, and told him this. Methinks,
I confess, he did not seem so pleased with it as I expected, or at
least could have wished, and asked me whether I had told my
Lord that the Duke do not expect his going, which I told him I
had. But now whether he means really that the Duke, as he told
me the other day, do think the Fleete too small for him to take
or that he would not have him go, I swear I cannot tell. But me-
thinks other ways might have been used to put him by without
going in this manner about it, and so I hope it is out of kind-
ness indeed. Dined at home, and so to the office, where a great
while alone in my office, nobody near, with Bagwell’s wife of
Deptford, but the woman seems so modest that I durst not offer
any courtship to her, though I had it in my mind when I brought
her in to me. But I am resolved to do her husband a courtesy,
for I think he is a man that deserves very well. So abroad with
my wife by coach to St. James’s, to one Lady Poultny’s, where
I found my Lord, I doubt, at some vain pleasure or other. I did
give him a short account of what I had done with Mr. Coventry,
and so left him, and to my wife again in the coach, and with her
to the Parke, but the Queene being gone by the Parke to Kensing-
ton, we staid not but straight home and to supper (the first time
I have done so this summer), and so to my office doing business,
and then to my monthly accounts, where to my great comfort I
find myself better than I was still the last month, and now come
to £930. I was told to-day, that upon Sunday night last, being the
King’s birth-day, the King was at my Lady Castlemayne’s lodg-
ings (over the hither-gates at Lambert’s lodgings) dancing with
fiddlers all night almost; and all the world coming by taking no-
tice of it, which I am sorry to hear. The discourse of the town is
only whether a warr with Holland or no, and we are preparing
for it all we can, which is but little. Myself subject more than ordi-
nary to pain by winde, which makes me very sad, together with
1311
MAY 1664
the trouble which at present lies upon me in my father’s behalf,
rising from the death of my brother, which are many and great.
Would to God they were over!
1312
JUNE 1664
June 1st. Up, having lain long, going to bed very late after the
ending of my accounts. Being up Mr. Hollyard came to me, and
to my great sorrow, after his great assuring me that I could not
possibly have the stone again, he tells me that he do verily fear
that I have it again, and has brought me something to dissolve it,
which do make me very much troubled, and pray to God to ease
me. He gone, I down by water to Woolwich and Deptford to look
after the dispatch of the ships, all the way reading Mr. Spencer’s
Book of Prodigys, which is most ingeniously writ, both for mat-
ter and style. Home at noon, and my little girl got me my dinner,
and I presently out by water and landed at Somerset stairs, and
thence through Covent Garden, where I met with Mr. South-
well (Sir W. Pen’s friend), who tells me the very sad newes of
my Lord Tiviott’s and nineteen more commission officers being
killed at Tangier by the Moores, by an ambush of the enemy upon
them, while they were surveying their lines; which is very sad,
and, he says, afflicts the King much. Thence to W. Joyce’s, where
by appointment I met my wife (but neither of them at home),
and she and I to the King’s house, and saw “The Silent Woman;”
but methought not so well done or so good a play as I formerly
thought it to be, or else I am nowadays out of humour. Before
the play was done, it fell such a storm of hayle, that we in the
1313
JUNE 1664
middle of the pit were fain to rise;421 and all the house in a disor-
der, and so my wife and I out and got into a little alehouse, and
staid there an hour after the play was done before we could get a
coach, which at last we did (and by chance took up Joyce Norton
and Mrs. Bowles, and set them at home), and so home ourselves,
and I, after a little to my office, so home to supper and to bed.
2nd. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
then to the ‘Change, where after some stay by coach with Sir J.
Minnes and Mr. Coventry to St. James’s, and there dined with
Mr. Coventry very finely, and so over the Parke to White Hall to
a Committee of Tangier about providing provisions, money, and
men for Tangier. At it all the afternoon, but it is strange to see
how poorly and brokenly things are done of the greatest conse-
quence, and how soon the memory of this great man is gone, or,
at least, out of mind by the thoughts of who goes next, which is
not yet knowne. My Lord of Oxford, Muskerry, and several oth-
ers are discoursed of. It seems my Lord Tiviott’s design was to
go a mile and half out of the towne, to cut down a wood in which
the enemy did use to lie in ambush. He had sent several spyes;
but all brought word that the way was clear, and so might be
for any body’s discovery of an enemy before you are upon them.
There they were all snapt, he and all his officers, and about 200
men, as they say; there being left now in the garrison but four
captains. This happened the 3d of May last, being not before that
day twelvemonth of his entering into his government there: but
at his going out in the morning he said to some of his officers,
“Gentlemen, let us look to ourselves, for it was this day three
years that so many brave Englishmen were knocked on the head
by the Moores, when Fines made his sally out.” Here till almost
421 The stage was covered in by a tiled roof, but the pit was open to the
sky. “The pit lay open to the weather for sake of light, but was subsequently
covered in with a glazed cupola, which, however, only imperfectly protected
the audience, so that in stormy weather the house was thrown into disorder,
and the people in the pit were fain to rise” (Cunningham’s “Story of Nell
Gwyn,” ed. 1893, p. 33).
1314
JUNE 1664
night, and then home with Sir J. Minnes by coach, and so to my
office a while, and home to supper and bed, being now in con-
stant pain in my back, but whether it be only wind or what it is
the Lord knows, but I fear the worst.
3rd. Up, still in a constant pain in my back, which much afflicts
me with fear of the consequence of it. All the morning at the
office, we sat at the office extraordinary upon the business of our
stores, but, Lord! what a pitiful account the Surveyor makes of
it grieves my heart. This morning before I came out I made a
bargain with Captain Taylor for a ship for the Commissioners
for Tangier, wherein I hope to get £40 or £50. To the ‘Change,
and thence home and dined, and then by coach to White Hall,
sending my wife to Mrs. Hunt’s. At the Committee for Tangier
all the afternoon, where a sad consideration to see things of so
great weight managed in so confused a manner as it is, so as I
would not have the buying of an acre of land bought by the Duke
of York and Mr. Coventry, for ought I see, being the only two that
do anything like men; Prince Rupert do nothing but swear and
laugh a little, with an oathe or two, and that’s all he do. Thence
called my wife and home, and I late at my office, and so home
to supper and to bed, pleased at my hopes of gains by to-day’s
work, but very sad to think of the state of my health.
4th. Up and to St. James’s by coach, after a good deal of talk
before I went forth with J. Noble, who tells me that he will secure
us against Cave, that though he knows, and can prove it, yet no-
body else can prove it, to be Tom’s child; that the bond was made
by one Hudson, a scrivener, next to the Fountaine taverne, in the
Old Bayly; that the children were born, and christened, and en-
tered in the parish-book of St. Sepulchre’s, by the name of Anne
and Elizabeth Taylor and he will give us security against Cave if
we pay him the money. And then up to the Duke, and was with
him giving him an account how matters go, and of the necessity
there is of a power to presse seamen, without which we cannot
really raise men for this fleete of twelve sayle, besides that it will
1315
JUNE 1664
assert the King’s power of pressing, which at present is some-
what doubted, and will make the Dutch believe that we are in
earnest. Thence by water to the office, where we sat till almost
two o’clock. This morning Captain Ferrer came to the office to tell
me that my Lord hath given him a promise of Young’s place in
the Wardrobe, and hearing that I pretend a promise to it he comes
to ask my consent, which I denied him, and told him my Lord
may do what he pleases with his promise to me, but my father’s
condition is not so as that I should let it go if my Lord will stand
to his word, and so I sent him going, myself being troubled a lit-
tle at it. After office I with Mr. Coventry by water to St. James’s
and dined with him, and had excellent discourse from him. So
to the Committee for Tangier all afternoon, where still the same
confused doings, and my Lord Fitz-Harding now added to the
Committee; which will signify much. It grieves me to see how
brokenly things are ordered. So by coach home, and at my office
late, and so to supper and to bed, my body by plenty of breaking
of wind being just now pretty well again, having had a constant
akeing in my back these 5 or 6 days. Mr. Coventry discoursing
this noon about Sir W. Batten (what a sad fellow he is!) told me
how the King told him the other day how Sir W. Batten, being in
the ship with him and Prince Rupert when they expected to fight
with Warwick, did walk up and down sweating with a napkin
under his throat to dry up his sweat; and that Prince Rupert be-
ing a most jealous man, and particularly of Batten, do walk up
and down swearing bloodily to the King, that Batten had a mind
to betray them to-day, and that the napkin was a signal; “but,
by God,” says he, “if things go ill, the first thing I will do is to
shoot him.” He discoursed largely and bravely to me concerning
the different sort of valours, the active and passive valour. For
the latter, he brought as an instance General Blake; who, in the
defending of Taunton and Lime for the Parliament, did through
his stubborn sort of valour defend it the most ‘opiniastrement’
that ever any man did any thing; and yet never was the man
that ever made any attaque by land or sea, but rather avoyded
1316
JUNE 1664
it on all, even fair occasions. On the other side, Prince Rupert,
the boldest attaquer in the world for personal courage; and yet,
in the defending of Bristol, no man ever did anything worse, he
wanting the patience and seasoned head to consult and advise
for defence, and to bear with the evils of a siege. The like he says
is said of my Lord Tiviott, who was the boldest adventurer of
his person in the world, and from a mean man in few years was
come to this greatness of command and repute only by the death
of all his officers, he many times having the luck of being the only
survivor of them all, by venturing upon services for the King of
France that nobody else would; and yet no man upon a defence,
he being all fury and no judgment in a fight. He tells me above all
of the Duke of Yorke, that he is more himself and more of judge-
ment is at hand in him in the middle of a desperate service, than
at other times, as appeared in the business of Dunkirke, wherein
no man ever did braver things, or was in hotter service in the
close of that day, being surrounded with enemies; and then, con-
trary to the advice of all about him, his counsel carried himself
and the rest through them safe, by advising that he might make
his passage with but a dozen with him; “For,” says he, “the en-
emy cannot move after me so fast with a great body, and with a
small one we shall be enough to deal with them;” and though he
is a man naturally martiall to the highest degree, yet a man that
never in his life talks one word of himself or service of his owne,
but only that he saw such or such a thing, and lays it down for a
maxime that a Hector can have no courage. He told me also, as a
great instance of some men, that the Prince of Condo’s excellence
is, that there not being a more furious man in the world, danger
in fight never disturbs him more than just to make him civill, and
to command in words of great obligation to his officers and men;
but without any the least disturbance in his judgment or spirit.
5th (Lord’s day). About one in the morning I was knocked up
by my mayds to come to my wife who is very ill. I rose, and from
some cold she got to-day, or from something else, she is taken
with great gripings, a looseness, and vomiting. I lay a while by
1317
JUNE 1664
her upon the bed, she being in great pain, poor wretch, but that
being a little over I to bed again, and lay, and then up and to my
office all the morning, setting matters to rights in some accounts
and papers, and then to dinner, whither Mr. Shepley, late come to
town, came to me, and after dinner and some pleasant discourse
he went his way, being to go out of town to Huntington again
to-morrow. So all the afternoon with my wife discoursing and
talking, and in the evening to my office doing business, and then
home to supper and to bed.
6th. Up and found my wife very ill again, which troubles me,
but I was forced to go forth. So by water with Mr. Gauden and
others to see a ship hired by me for the Commissioners of Tang-
ier, and to give order therein. So back to the office, and by coach
with Mr. Gauden to White Hall, and there to my Lord Sandwich,
and here I met Mr. Townsend very opportunely and Captain Fer-
rer, and after some discourse we did accommodate the business
of the Wardrobe place, that he shall have the reversion if he will
take it out by giving a covenant that if Mr. Young’ dyes before
my father my father shall have the benefit of it for his life. So
home, and thence by water to Deptford, and there found our
Trinity Brethren come from their election to church, where Dr.
Britton made, methought, an indifferent sermon touching the de-
cency that we ought to observe in God’s house, the church, but
yet to see how ridiculously some men will carry themselves. Sir
W. Batten did at open table anon in the name of the whole Soci-
ety desire him to print his sermon, as if the Doctor could think
that they were fit judges of a good sermon. Then by barge with
Sir W. Batten to Trinity House. It seems they have with much
ado carried it for Sir G. Carteret against Captain Harrison, poor
man, who by succession ought to have been it, and most hands
were for him, but only they were forced to fright the younger
Brethren by requiring them to set their hands (which is an ill
course) and then Sir G. Carteret carryed it. Here was at dinner
my Lord Sandwich, Mr. Coventry, my Lord Craven, and others.
A great dinner, and good company. Mr. Prin also, who would not
1318
JUNE 1664
drink any health, no, not the King’s, but sat down with his hat
on all the while;422 but nobody took notice of it to him at all; but
in discourse with the Doctor he did declare himself that he ever
was, and has expressed himself in all his books for mixt commu-
nion against the Presbyterian examination. Thence after dinner
by water, my Lord Sandwich and all us Tangier men, where at
the Committee busy till night with great confusion, and then by
coach home, with this content, however, that I find myself every
day become more and more known, and shall one day hope to
have benefit by it. I found my wife a little better. A little to my
office, then home to supper and to bed.
7th. Up and to the office (having by my going by water without
any thing upon my legs yesterday got some pain upon me again),
where all the morning. At noon a little to the ‘Change, and thence
home to dinner, my wife being ill still in bed. Thence to the office,
where busy all the afternoon till 9 at night, and so home to my
wife, to supper, and to bed.
8th. All day before dinner with Creed, talking of many things,
among others, of my Lord’s going so often to Chelsy, and he,
without my speaking much, do tell me that his daughters do
perceive all, and do hate the place, and the young woman there,
Mrs. Betty Becke; for my Lord, who sent them thither only for
a disguise for his going thither, will come under pretence to see
them, and pack them out of doors to the Parke, and stay behind
with her; but now the young ladies are gone to their mother to
422 William Prynne had published in 1628 a small book against the drink-
ing of healths, entitled, “Healthes, Sicknesse; or a compendious and briefe
Discourse, prouing, the Drinking and Pledging of Healthes to be sinfull and
utterly unlawfull unto Christians ... wherein all those ordinary objections,
excuses or pretences, which are made to justifie, extenuate, or excuse the
drinking or pledging of Healthes are likewise cleared and answered.” The
pamphlet was dedicated to Charles I. as “more interessed in the theame and
subject of this compendious discourse then any other that I know,” and “be-
cause your Majestie of all other persons within your owne dominions, are
most dishonoured, prejudiced, and abused by these Healthes.”
1319
JUNE 1664
Kensington. To dinner, and after dinner till 10 at night in my
study writing of my old broken office notes in shorthand all in
one book, till my eyes did ake ready to drop out. So home to
supper and to bed.
9th. Up and at my office all the morning. At noon dined at
home, Mr. Hunt and his kinswoman (wife in the country), after
dinner I to the office, where we sat all the afternoon. Then at
night by coach to attend the Duke of Albemarle about the Tangier
ship. Coming back my wife spied me going home by coach from
Mr. Hunt’s, with whom she hath gained much in discourse to-
day concerning W. Howe’s discourse of me to him. That he was
the man that got me to be secretary to my Lord; and all that I
have thereby, and that for all this I never did give him 6d. in
my life. Which makes me wonder that this rogue dare talk after
this manner, and I think all the world is grown false. But I hope
I shall make good use of it. So home to supper and to bed, my
eyes aching mightily since last night.
10th. Up and by water to White Hall, and there to a Commit-
tee of Tangier, and had occasion to see how my Lord Ashworth–
[Lord Ashworth is probably a miswriting for Lord Ashley (after-
wards Earl of Shaftesbury).]–deports himself, which is very fine
indeed, and it joys my heart to see that there is any body looks so
near into the King’s business as I perceive he do in this business
of my Lord Peterborough’s accounts. Thence into the Parke, and
met and walked with Captain Sylas Taylor, my old acquaintance
while I was of the Exchequer, and Dr. Whore, talking of musique,
and particularly of Mr. Berckenshaw’s way, which Taylor magni-
fies mightily, and perhaps but what it deserves, but not so easily
to be understood as he and others make of it. Thence home by
water, and after dinner abroad to buy several things, as a map,
and powder, and other small things, and so home to my office,
and in the evening with Captain Taylor by water to our Tang-
ier ship, and so home, well pleased, having received £26 profit
to-day of my bargain for this ship, which comforts me mightily,
1320
JUNE 1664
though I confess my heart, what with my being out of order as to
my health, and the fear I have of the money my Lord oweth me
and I stand indebted to him in, is much cast down of late. In the
evening home to supper and to bed.
11th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, where
some discourse arose from Sir G. Carteret and Mr. Coventry,
which gives me occasion to think that something like a war is ex-
pected now indeed, though upon the ‘Change afterwards I hear
too that an Embassador is landed from Holland, and one from
their East India Company, to treat with ours about the wrongs we
pretend to. Mr. Creed dined with me, and thence after dinner by
coach with my wife only to take the ayre, it being very warm and
pleasant, to Bowe and Old Ford; and thence to Hackney. There
‘light, and played at shuffle-board, eat cream and good churies;
and so with good refreshment home. Then to my office vexed
with Captain Taylor about the delay of carrying down the ship
hired by me for Tangier, and late about that and other things at
the office. So home to supper and to bed.
12th (Lord’s day). All the morning in my chamber consulting
my lesson of ship building, and at noon Mr. Creed by appoint-
ment came and dined with us, and sat talking all the afternoon
till, about church time, my wife and I began our great dispute
about going to Griffin’s child’s christening, where I was to have
been godfather, but Sir J. Minnes refusing, he wanted an equal for
me and my Lady Batten, and so sought for other. Then the ques-
tion was whether my wife should go, and she having dressed
herself on purpose, was very angry, and began to talk openly of
my keeping her within doors before Creed, which vexed me to
the guts, but I had the discretion to keep myself without passion,
and so resolved at last not to go, but to go down by water, which
we did by H. Russell–[a waterman]–to the Half-way house, and
there eat and drank, and upon a very small occasion had a differ-
ence again broke out, where without any the least cause she had
the cunning to cry a great while, and talk and blubber, which
1321
JUNE 1664
made me mighty angry in mind, but said nothing to provoke her
because Creed was there, but walked home, being troubled in
my mind also about the knavery and neglect of Captain Fudge
and Taylor, who were to have had their ship for Tangier ready
by Thursday last, and now the men by a mistake are come on
board, and not any master or man or boy of the ship’s company
on board with them when we came by her side this afternoon,
and also received a letter from Mr. Coventry this day in com-
plaint of it. We came home, and after supper Creed went home,
and I to bed. My wife made great means to be friends, coming to
my bedside and doing all things to please me, and at last I could
not hold out, but seemed pleased, and so parted, and I with much
ado to sleep, but was easily wakened by extraordinary great rain,
and my mind troubled the more to think what the soldiers would
do on board tonight in all this weather.
13th. So up at 5 o’clock, and with Captain Taylor on board her
at Deptford, and found all out of order, only the soldiers civil,
and Sir Arthur Bassett a civil person. I rated at Captain Taylor,
whom, contrary to my expectation, I found a lying and a very
stupid blundering fellow, good for nothing, and yet we talk of
him in the Navy as if he had been an excellent officer, but I find
him a lying knave, and of no judgment or dispatch at all. Af-
ter finding the condition of the ship, no master, not above four
men, and many ship’s provisions, sayls, and other things want-
ing, I went back and called upon Fudge, whom I found like a
lying rogue unready to go on board, but I did so jeer him that
I made him get every thing ready, and left Taylor and H. Rus-
sell to quicken him, and so away and I by water on to White
Hall, where I met his Royal Highnesse at a Tangier Committee
about this very thing, and did there satisfy him how things are,
at which all was pacified without any trouble, and I hope may
end well, but I confess I am at a real trouble for fear the rogue
should not do his work, and I come to shame and losse of the
money I did hope justly to have got by it. Thence walked with
Mr. Coventry to St. James’s, and there spent by his desire the
1322
JUNE 1664
whole morning reading of some old Navy books given him of
old Sir John Cooke’s by the Archbishop of Canterbury that now
is; wherein the order that was observed in the Navy then, above
what it is now, is very observable, and fine things we did observe
in our reading. Anon to dinner, after dinner to discourse of the
business of the Dutch warr, wherein he tells me the Dutch do in
every particular, which are but few and small things that we can
demand of them, whatever cry we unjustly make, do seem to of-
fer at an accommodation, for they do owne that it is not for their
profit to have warr with England. We did also talk of a History
of the Navy of England, how fit it were to be writ; and he did say
that it hath been in his mind to propose to me the writing of the
History of the late Dutch warr, which I am glad to hear, it being
a thing I much desire, and sorts mightily with my genius; and,
if well done, may recommend me much. So he says he will get
me an order for making of searches to all records, &c., in order
thereto, and I shall take great delight in doing of it. Thence by
water down to the Tower, and thither sent for Mr. Creed to my
house, where he promised to be, and he and I down to the ship,
and find all things in pretty good order, and I hope will end to
my mind. Thence having a gaily down to Greenwich, and there
saw the King’s works, which are great, a-doing there, and so to
the Cherry Garden, and so carried some cherries home, and after
supper to bed, my wife lying with me, which from my not being
thoroughly well, nor she, we have not done above once these two
or three weeks.
14th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
had great conflict about the flags again, and am vexed methought
to see my Lord Berkely not satisfied with what I said, but how-
ever I stop the King’s being abused by the flag makers for the
present. I do not know how it may end, but I will do my best to
preserve it. So home to dinner, and after dinner by coach to Kens-
ington. In the way overtaking Mr. Laxton, the apothecary, with
his wife and daughters, very fine young lasses, in a coach; and
so both of us to my Lady Sandwich, who hath lain this fortnight
1323
JUNE 1664
here at Deane Hodges’s. Much company came hither to-day, my
Lady Carteret, &c., Sir William Wheeler and his lady, and, above
all, Mr. Becke, of Chelsy, and wife and daughter, my Lord’s mis-
tress, and one that hath not one good feature in her face, and
yet is a fine lady, of a fine taille, and very well carriaged, and
mighty discreet. I took all the occasion I could to discourse with
the young ladies in her company to give occasion to her to talk,
which now and then she did, and that mighty finely, and is, I per-
ceive, a woman of such an ayre, as I wonder the less at my Lord’s
favour to her, and I dare warrant him she hath brains enough
to entangle him. Two or three houres we were in her company,
going into Sir H. Finche’s garden, and seeing the fountayne, and
singing there with the ladies, and a mighty fine cool place it is,
with a great laver of water in the middle and the bravest place
for musique I ever heard. After much mirthe, discoursing to the
ladies in defence of the city against the country or court, and giv-
ing them occasion to invite themselves to-morrow to me to din-
ner, to my venison pasty, I got their mother’s leave, and so good
night, very well pleased with my day’s work, and, above all, that
I have seen my Lord’s mistresse. So home to supper, and a little
at my office, and to bed.
15th. Up and by appointment with Captain Witham (the Cap-
tain that brought the newes of the disaster at Tangier, where my
Lord Tiviott was slain) and Mr. Tooker to Beares Quay, and there
saw and more afterward at the several grannarys several parcels
of oates, and strange it is to hear how it will heat itself if laid up
green and not often turned. We came not to any agreement, but
did cheapen several parcels, and thence away, promising to send
again to them. So to the Victualling office, and then home. And
in our garden I got Captain Witham to tell me the whole story of
my Lord Tiviott’s misfortune; for he was upon the guard with his
horse neare the towne, when at a distance he saw the enemy ap-
pear upon a hill, a mile and a half off, and made up to them, and
with much ado escaped himself; but what became of my Lord
he neither knows nor thinks that any body but the enemy can
1324
JUNE 1664
tell. Our losse was about four hundred. But he tells me that the
greater wonder is that my Lord Tiviott met no sooner with such
a disaster; for every day he did commit himself to more probable
danger than this, for now he had the assurance of all his scouts
that there was no enemy thereabouts; whereas he used every day
to go out with two or three with him, to make his discoveries, in
greater danger, and yet the man that could not endure to have
anybody else to go a step out of order to endanger himself. He
concludes him to be the man of the hardest fate to lose so much
honour at one blow that ever was. His relation being done he
parted; and so I home to look after things for dinner. And anon
at noon comes Mr. Creed by chance, and by and by the three
young ladies:–[Lord Sandwich’s daughters.]–and very merry we
were with our pasty, very well baked; and a good dish of roasted
chickens; pease, lobsters, strawberries. And after dinner to cards:
and about five o’clock, by water down to Greenwich; and up to
the top of the hill, and there played upon the ground at cards.
And so to the Cherry Garden, and then by water singing finely
to the Bridge, and there landed; and so took boat again, and to
Somersett House. And by this time, the tide being against us,
it was past ten of the clock; and such a troublesome passage,
in regard of my Lady Paulina’s fearfullness, that in all my life
I never did see any poor wretch in that condition. Being come
hither, there waited for them their coach; but it being so late, I
doubted what to do how to get them home. After half an hour’s
stay in the street, I sent my wife home by coach with Mr. Creed’s
boy; and myself and Creed in the coach home with them. But,
Lord! the fear that my Lady Paulina was in every step of the
way; and indeed at this time of the night it was no safe thing to
go that road; so that I was even afeard myself, though I appeared
otherwise.–We came safe, however, to their house, where all were
abed; we knocked them up, my Lady and all the family being in
bed. So put them into doors; and leaving them with the mayds,
bade them good night, and then into the towne, Creed and I, it
being about twelve o’clock and past; and to several houses, inns,
1325
JUNE 1664
but could get no lodging, all being in bed. At the last house, at
last, we found some people drinking and roaring; and there got
in, and after drinking, got an ill bed, where
16th. I lay in my drawers and stockings and wastecoate till five
of the clock, and so up; and being well pleased with our frolique,
walked to Knightsbridge, and there eat a messe of creame, and
so to St. James’s, and there walked a little, and so I to White Hall,
and took coach, and found my wife well got home last night, and
now in bed. So I to the office, where all the morning, and at noon
to the ‘Change, so home and to my office, where Mr. Ackworth
came to me (though he knows himself and I know him to be a
very knave), yet he came to me to discover the knavery of other
people like the most honest man in the world. However, good
use I shall make of his discourse, for in this he is much in the
right. He being gone I to the ‘Change, Mr. Creed with me, af-
ter we had been by water to see a vessell we have hired to carry
more soldiers to Tangier, and also visited a rope ground, wherein
I learnt several useful things. The talk upon the ‘Change is, that
De Ruyter is dead, with fifty men of his own ship, of the plague,
at Cales: that the Holland Embassador here do endeavour to
sweeten us with fair words; and things likely to be peaceable.
Home after I had spoke with my cozen Richard Pepys upon the
‘Change, about supplying us with bewpers from Norwich, which
I should be glad of, if cheap. So home to supper and bed.
17th. Up, and to my office, where I dispatched much busi-
ness, and then down by water to Woolwich to make a discovery
of a cheate providing for us in the working of some of our own
ground Tows into new cordage, to be sold to us for Riga cordage.
Thence to Mr. Falconer’s, where I met Sir W. Batten and Lady,
and Captain Tinker, and there dined with them, and so to the
Dockyarde and to Deptford by water, and there very long in-
forming myself in the business of flags and bewpers and other
things, and so home late, being weary, and full of good informa-
tion to-day, but I perceive the corruptions of the Navy are of so
1326
JUNE 1664
many kinds that it is endless to look after them, especially while
such a one as Sir W. Batten discourages every man that is honest.
So home to my office, there very late, and then to supper and to
bed mightily troubled in my mind to hear how Sir W. Batten and
Sir J. Minnes do labour all they can to abuse or enable others to
abuse the King.
18th. From morning till 11 at night (only a little at dinner at
home) at my office very busy, setting many businesses in order
to my great trouble, but great content in the end. So home to
supper and to bed. Strange to see how pert Sir W. Pen is to-day
newly come from Portsmouth with his head full of great reports
of his service and the state of the ships there. When that is over he
will be just as another man again or worse. But I wonder whence
Mr. Coventry should take all this care for him, to send for him up
only to look after his Irish business with my Lord Ormond and to
get the Duke’s leave for him to come with so much officiousness,
when I am sure he knows him as well as I do as to his little service
he do.
19th (Lord’s day). Up, and all the morning and afternoon (only
at dinner at home) at my office doing many businesses for want
of time on the week days. In the afternoon the greatest shower
of rain of a sudden and the greatest and most continued thunder
that ever I heard I think in my life. In the evening home to my
wife, and there talked seriously of several of our family concern-
ments, and among others of bringing Pall out of the country to
us here to try to put her off, which I am very desirous, and my
wife also of. So to supper, prayers, which I have of late too much
omitted. So to bed.
20th. It having been a very cold night last night I had got some
cold, and so in pain by wind, and a sure precursor of pain is
sudden letting off farts, and when that stops, then my passages
stop and my pain begins. Up and did several businesses, and
so with my wife by water to White Hall, she to her father’s, I to
the Duke, where we did our usual business. And among other
1327
JUNE 1664
discourse of the Dutch, he was merrily saying how they print that
Prince Rupert, Duke of Albemarle, and my Lord Sandwich, are to
be Generalls; and soon after is to follow them “Vieux Pen;” and
so the Duke called him in mirth Old Pen. They have, it seems,
lately wrote to the King, to assure him that their setting-out ships
were only to defend their fishing-trade, and to stay near home,
not to annoy the King’s subjects; and to desire that he would
do the like with his ships: which the King laughs at, but yet is
troubled they should think him such a child, to suffer them to
bring home their fish and East India Company’s ships, and then
they will not care a fart for us. Thence to Westminster Hall, it
being term time, meeting Mr. Dickering, he tells me how my
Lady last week went to see Mrs. Becke, the mother; and by and
by the daughter came in, but that my Lady do say herself, as he
says, that she knew not for what reason, for she never knew they
had a daughter, which I do not believe. She was troubled, and
her heart did rise as soon as she appeared, and seems the most
ugly woman that ever she saw. This if true were strange, but I
believe it is not. Thence to my Lord’s lodgings; and were merry
with the young ladies, who make a great story of their appearing
before their mother the morning after we carried them, the last
week, home so late; and that their mother took it very well, at
least without any anger. Here I heard how the rich widow, my
Lady Gold, is married to one Neale, after he had received a box
on the eare by her brother (who was there a sentinel, in behalf
of some courtier) at the door; but made him draw, and wounded
him. She called Neale up to her, and sent for a priest, married
presently, and went to bed. The brother sent to the Court, and
had a serjeant sent for Neale; but Neale sent for him up to be seen
in bed, and she owned him for her husband: and so all is past. It
seems Sir H. Bennet did look after her. My Lady very pleasant.
After dinner came in Sir Thomas Crew and Mr. Sidney, lately
come from France, who is growne a little, and a pretty youth he
is; but not so improved as they did give him out to be, but like
a child still. But yet I can perceive he hath good parts and good
1328
JUNE 1664
inclinations. Thence with Creed, who dined here, to Westminster
to find out Mr. Hawly, and did, but he did not accept of my offer
of his being steward to my Lord at sea. Thence alone to several
places about my law businesses, and with good success; at last
I to Mr. Townsend at the Wardrobe, and received kind words
from him to be true to me against Captain Ferrers his endeavours
to get the place from my father as my Lord hath promised him.
Here met Will. Howe, and he went forth with me; and by water
back to White Hall to wait on my Lord, who is come back from
Hinchinbroke; where he has been about 4 or 5 days. But I was
never more vexed to see how an over-officious visitt is received,
for he received me with as little concernment as in the middle
of his discontent, and a fool I am to be of so servile a humour,
and vexed with that consideration I took coach home, and could
not get it off my mind all night. To supper and to bed, my wife
finding fault with Besse for her calling upon Jane that lived with
us, and there heard Mrs. Harper and her talk ill of us and not
told us of it. With which I was also vexed, and told her soundly
of it till she cried, poor wench, and I hope without dissimulation,
and yet I cannot tell; however, I was glad to see in what manner
she received it, and so to sleep.
21st. Being weary yesterday with walking I sleep long, and
at last up and to the office, where all the morning. At home to
dinner, Mr. Deane with me. After dinner I to White Hall (setting
down my wife by the way) to a Committee of Tangier, where the
Duke of Yorke, I perceive, do attend the business very well, much
better than any man there or most of them, and my [mind] eased
of some trouble I lay under for fear of his thinking ill of me from
the bad successe in the setting forth of these crew men to Tangier.
Thence with Mr. Creed, and walked in the Parke, and so to the
New Exchange, meeting Mr. Moore, and he with us. I shewed
him no friendly look, but he took no notice to me of the Wardrobe
business, which vexes me. I perceive by him my Lord’s business
of his family and estate goes very ill, and runs in debt mightily. I
would to God I were clear of it, both as to my owne money and
1329
JUNE 1664
the bond of £1000, which I stand debtor for him in, to my cozen
Thomas Pepys. Thence by coach home and to my office a little,
and so to supper and to bed.
22nd. Up and I found Mr. Creed below, who staid with me
a while, and then I to business all the morning. At noon to
the ‘Change and Coffee-house, where great talke of the Dutch
preparing of sixty sayle of ships. The plague grows mightily
among them, both at sea and land. From the ‘Change to din-
ner to Trinity House with Sir W. Rider and Cutler, where a very
good dinner. Here Sir G. Ascue dined also, who I perceive de-
sires to make himself known among the seamen. Thence home,
there coming to me my Lord Peterborough’s Sollicitor with a let-
ter from him to desire present dispatch in his business of freight,
and promises me £50, which is good newes, and I hope to do his
business readily for him. This much rejoiced me. All the after-
noon at his business, and late at night comes the Sollicitor again,
and I with him at 9 o’clock to Mr. Povy’s, and there acquainted
him with the business. The money he won’t pay without war-
rant, but that will be got done in a few days. So home by coach
and to bed.
23rd. Up, and to the office, and there we sat all the morning.
So to the ‘Change, and then home to dinner and to my office,
where till 10 at night very busy, and so home to supper and to
bed. My cozen, Thomas Pepys, was with me yesterday and I
took occasion to speak to him about the bond I stand bound for
my Lord Sandwich to him in £1000. I did very plainly, obliging
him to secrecy, tell him how the matter stands, yet with all duty
to my Lord my resolution to be bound for whatever he desires
me for him, yet that I would be glad he had any other security.
I perceive by Mr. Moore today that he hath been with my Lord,
and my Lord how he takes it I know not, but he is looking after
other security and I am mighty glad of it. W. Howe was with
me this afternoon, to desire some things to be got ready for my
Lord against his going down to his ship, which will be soon; for
1330
JUNE 1664
it seems the King and both the Queenes intend to visit him. The
Lord knows how my Lord will get out of this charge; for Mr.
Moore tells me to-day that he is £10,000 in debt and this will,
with many other things that daily will grow upon him (while he
minds his pleasure as he do), set him further backward. But it
was pretty this afternoon to hear W. Howe mince the matter, and
say that he do believe that my Lord is in debt £2000 or £3000, and
then corrected himself and said, No, not so, but I am afraid he is
in debt £1000. I pray God gets me well rid of his Lordship as to
his debt, and I care not.
24th. Up and out with Captain Witham in several places again
to look for oats for Tangier, and among other places to the City
granarys, where it seems every company have their granary and
obliged to keep such a quantity of corne always there or at a time
of scarcity to issue so much at so much a bushell: and a fine thing
it is to see their stores of all sorts, for piles for the bridge, and
for pipes, a thing I never saw before.423 Thence to the office, and
there busy all the morning. At noon to my uncle Wight’s, and
there dined, my wife being there all the morning. After dinner to
White Hall; and there met with Mr. Pierce, and he showed me the
Queene’s bed-chamber, and her closett, where she had nothing
but some pretty pious pictures, and books of devotion; and her
holy water at her head as she sleeps, with her clock by her bed-
side, wherein a lamp burns that tells her the time of the night
at any time. Thence with him to the Parke, and there met the
Queene coming from Chappell, with her Mayds of Honour, all in
silver-lace gowns again: which is new to me, and that which I did
423 From the commencement of the reign of Henry VIII., or perhaps ear-
lier, it was the custom of the City of London to provide against scarcity, by
requiring each of the chartered Companies to keep in store a certain quan-
tity of corn, which was to be renewed from time to time, and when required
for that purpose, produced in the market for sale, at such times and prices,
and in such quantities, as the Lord Mayor or Common Council should di-
rect. See the report of a case in the Court of Chancery, “Attorney-General v.
Haberdashers’ Company” (Mylne and Keens “Reports,” vol. i., p. 420).–B.
1331
JUNE 1664
not think would have been brought up again. Thence he carried
me to the King’s closett: where such variety of pictures, and other
things of value and rarity, that I was properly confounded and
enjoyed no pleasure in the sight of them; which is the only time
in my life that ever I was so at a loss for pleasure, in the greatest
plenty of objects to give it me. Thence home, calling in many
places and doing abundance of errands to my great content, and
at night weary home, where Mr. Creed waited for me, and he
and I walked in the garden, where he told me he is now in a
hurry fitting himself for sea, and that it remains that he deals as
an ingenuous man with me in the business I wot of, which he
will do before he goes. But I perceive he will have me do many
good turns for him first, both as to his bills coming to him in this
office, and also in his absence at the Committee of Tangier, which
I promise, and as he acquits himself to me I will willingly do. I
would I knew the worst of it, what it is he intends, that so I may
either quit my hands of him or continue my kindness still to him.
25th. We staid late, and he lay with me all night and rose very
merry talking, and excellent company he is, that is the truth of it,
and a most cunning man. He being gone I to the office, where we
sat all the morning. At noon to dinner, and then to my office busy,
and by and by home with Mr. Deane to a lesson upon raising a
Bend of Timbers,424 and he being gone I to the office, and there
came Captain Taylor, and he and I home, and I have done all
very well with him as to the business of the last trouble, so that
come what will come my name will be clear of any false dealing
with him. So to my office again late, and then to bed.
26th (Lord’s day). Up, and Sir J. Minnes set me down at my
424 This seems to refer to knee timber, of which there was not a sufficient
supply. A proposal was made to produce this bent wood artificially: “June
22, 1664. Sir William Petty intimated that it seemed by the scarcity and
greater rate of knee timber that nature did not furnish crooked wood enough
for building: wherefore he thought it would be fit to raise by art, so much of
it in proportion, as to reduce it to an equal rate with strait timber” (Birch’s
“History of the Royal Society,”)
1332
JUNE 1664
Lord Sandwich’s, where I waited till his coming down, when he
came, too, could find little to say to me but only a general ques-
tion or two, and so good-bye. Here his little daughter, my Lady
Katharine was brought, who is lately come from my father’s at
Brampton, to have her cheek looked after, which is and hath long
been sore. But my Lord will rather have it be as it is, with a scarr
in her face, than endanger it being worse by tampering. He being
gone, I went home, a little troubled to see he minds me no more,
and with Creed called at several churches, which, God knows,
are supplied with very young men, and the churches very empty;
so home and at our owne church looked in, and there heard one
preach whom Sir W. Pen brought, which he desired us yesterday
to hear, that had been his chaplin in Ireland, a very silly fellow.
So home and to dinner, and after dinner a frolique took us, we
would go this afternoon to the Hope; so my wife dressed herself,
and, with good victuals and drink, we took boat presently and
the tide with us got down, but it was night, and the tide spent
by the time we got to Gravesend; so there we stopped, but went
not on shore, only Creed, to get some cherries,425 and send a let-
ter to the Hope, where the Fleete lies. And so, it being rainy, and
thundering mightily, and lightning, we returned. By and by the
evening turned mighty clear and moonshine; we got with great
pleasure home, about twelve o’clock, which did much please us,
Creed telling pretty stories in the boat. He lay with me all night.
27th. Up, and he and I walked to Paul’s Church yard, and there
saw Sir Harry Spillman’s book, and I bespoke it and others, and
thence we took coach, and he to my Lord’s and I to St. James’s,
where we did our usual business, and thence I home and dined,
and then by water to Woolwich, and there spent the afternoon
425 Pliny tells us that cherries were introduced into Britain by the Romans,
and Lydgate alludes to them as sold in the London streets. Richard Haines,
fruiterer to Henry VI IL, imported a number of cherry trees from Flanders,
and planted them at Tenham, in Kent. Hence the fame of the Kentish cher-
ries.
1333
JUNE 1664
till night under pretence of buying Captain Blackman’s house
and grounds, and viewing the ground took notice of Clothiers’
cordage with which he, I believe, thinks to cheat the King. That
being done I by water home, it being night first, and there I find
our new mayd Jane come, a cook mayd. So to bed.
28th. Up, and this day put on a half shirt first this summer,
it being very hot; and yet so ill-tempered I am grown, that I am
afeard I shall catch cold, while all the world is ready to melt away.
To the office all the morning, at noon to dinner at home, then to
my office till the evening, then out about several businesses and
then by appointment to the ‘Change, and thence with my uncle
Wight to the Mum house, and there drinking, he do complain of
his wife most cruel as the most troublesome woman in the world,
and how she will have her will, saying she brought him a portion
and God knows what. By which, with many instances more, I
perceive they do live a sad life together. Thence to the Mitre and
there comes Dr. Burnett to us and Mr. Maes, but the meeting was
chiefly to bring the Doctor and me together, and there I began to
have his advice about my disease, and then invited him to my
house: and I am resolved to put myself into his hands. Here very
late, but I drank nothing, nor will, though he do advise me to
take care of cold drinks. So home and to bed.
29th. Up, and Mr. Shepley came to me, who is lately come
to town; among other things I hear by him how the children are
sent for away from my father’s, but he says without any great
discontent. I am troubled there should be this occasion of differ-
ence, and yet I am glad they are gone, lest it should have come to
worse. He tells me how my brave dogg I did give him, going out
betimes one morning to Huntington, was set upon by five other
doggs, and worried to pieces, of which I am a little, and he the
most sorry I ever saw man for such a thing. Forth with him and
walked a good way talking, then parted and I to the Temple, and
to my cozen Roger Pepys, and thence by water to Westminster
to see Dean Honiwood, whom I had not visited a great while.
1334
JUNE 1664
He is a good-natured, but a very weak man, yet a Dean, and a
man in great esteem. Thence walked to my Lord Sandwich’s,
and there dined, my Lord there. He was pleasant enough at table
with me, but yet without any discourse of business, or any re-
gard to me when dinner was over, but fell to cards, and my Lady
and I sat two hours alone, talking of the condition of her family’s
being greatly in debt, and many children now coming up to pro-
vide for. I did give her my sense very plain of it, which she took
well and carried further than myself, to the bemoaning their con-
dition, and remembering how finely things were ordered about
six years ago, when I lived there and my Lord at sea every year.
Thence home, doing several errands by the way. So to my office,
and there till late at night, Mr. Comander coming to me for me to
sign and seal the new draft of my will, which I did do, I having
altered something upon the death of my brother Tom. So home
to supper and to bed.
30th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon home to dinner, Mr. Wayth with me, and by and by comes
in Mr. Falconer and his wife and dined with us, the first time
she was ever here. We had a pretty good dinner, very merry in
discourse, sat after dinner an hour or two, then down by water
to Deptford and Woolwich about getting of some business done
which I was bound to by my oath this month, and though in
some things I have not come to the height of my vow of doing
all my business in paying all my petty debts and receipt of all my
petty monies due to me, yet I bless God I am not conscious of any
neglect in me that they are not done, having not minded my plea-
sure at all, and so being resolved to take no manner of pleasure
till it be done, I doubt not God will forgive me for not forfeiting
the £10 promised. Walked back from Woolwich to Greenwich all
alone, save a man that had a cudgell in his hand, and, though he
told me he laboured in the King’s yarde, and many other good
arguments that he is an honest man, yet, God forgive me! I did
doubt he might knock me on the head behind with his club. But
I got safe home. Then to the making up my month’s accounts,
1335
JUNE 1664
and find myself still a gainer and rose to £951, for which God be
blessed. I end the month with my mind full of business and some
sorrow that I have not exactly performed all my vowes, though
my not doing is not my fault, and shall be made good out of
my first leisure. Great doubts yet whether the Dutch wary go on
or no. The Fleet ready in the Hope, of twelve sayle. The King
and Queenes go on board, they say, on Saturday next. Young
children of my Lord Sandwich gone with their mayds from my
mother’s, which troubles me, it being, I hear from Mr. Shepley,
with great discontent, saying, that though they buy good meate,
yet can never have it before it stinks, which I am ashamed of.
1336
JULY 1664
July 1st. Up and within all the morning, first bringing down my
Tryangle to my chamber below, having a new frame made proper
for it to stand on. By and by comes Dr. Burnett, who assures me
that I have an ulcer either in the kidneys or bladder, for my wa-
ter, which he saw yesterday, he is sure the sediment is not slime
gathered by heat, but is a direct pusse. He did write me down
some direction what to do for it, but not with the satisfaction I
expected. Dr. Burnett’s advice to mee. The Originall is fyled
among my letters. Take of ye Rootes of Marsh-Mallows foure
ounces, of Cumfry, of Liquorish, of each two ounces, of ye Mow-
ers of St. John’s Wort two Handsfull, of ye Leaves of Plantan, of
Alehoofe, of each three handfulls, of Selfeheale, of Red Roses, of
each one Handfull, of Cynament, of Nutmegg, of each halfe an
ounce. Beate them well, then powre upon them one Quart of old
Rhenish wine, and about Six houres after strayne it and clarify it
with ye white of an Egge, and with a sufficient quantity of sugar,
boyle it to ye consistence of a Syrrup and reserve it for use. Dis-
solve one spoonefull of this Syrrup in every draught of Ale or
beere you drink. Morning and evening swallow ye quantity of
an hazle-nutt of Cyprus Terebintine. If you are bound or have
a fit of ye Stone eate an ounce of Cassia new drawne, from ye
poynt of a knife. Old Canary or Malaga wine you may drinke to
1337
JULY 1664
three or 4 glasses, but noe new wine, and what wine you drinke,
lett it bee at meales.-[From a slip of paper inserted in the Diary at
this place.@@I did give him a piece, with good hopes, however,
that his advice will be of use to me, though it is strange that Mr.
Hollyard should never say one word of this ulcer in all his life to
me. He being gone, I to the ‘Change, and thence home to dinner,
and so to my office, busy till the evening, and then by agreement
came Mr. Hill and Andrews and one Cheswicke, a maister who
plays very well upon the Spinette, and we sat singing Psalms till
9 at night, and so broke up with great pleasure, and very good
company it is, and I hope I shall now and then have their com-
pany. They being gone, I to my office till towards twelve o’clock,
and then home and to bed. Upon the ‘Change, this day, I saw
how uncertain the temper of the people is, that, from our dis-
charging of about 200 that lay idle, having nothing to do, upon
some of our ships, which were ordered to be fitted for service,
and their works are now done, the towne do talk that the King
discharges all his men, 200 yesterday and 800 to-day, and that
now he hath got £100,000 in his hand, he values not a Dutch warr.
But I undeceived a great many, telling them how it is.
2nd. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon to
the ‘Change, and there, which is strange, I could meet with no-
body that I could invite home to my venison pasty, but only Mr.
Alsopp and Mr. Lanyon, whom I invited last night, and a friend
they brought along with them. So home and with our venison
pasty we had other good meat and good discourse. After dinner
sat close to discourse about our business of the victualling of the
garrison of Tangier, taking their prices of all provisions, and I do
hope to order it so that they and I also may get something by it,
which do much please me, for I hope I may get nobly and hon-
estly with profit to the King. They being gone came Sir W. War-
ren, and he and I discoursed long about the business of masts,
and then in the evening to my office, where late writing letters,
and then home to look over some Brampton papers, which I am
under an oathe to dispatch before I spend one half houre in any
1338
JULY 1664
pleasure or go to bed before 12 o’clock, to which, by the grace
of God, I will be true. Then to bed. When I came home I found
that to-morrow being Sunday I should gain nothing by doing it
to-night, and to-morrow I can do it very well and better than to-
night. I went to bed before my time, but with a resolution of
doing the thing to better purpose to-morrow.
3rd (Lord’s day). Up and ready, and all the morning in my
chamber looking over and settling some Brampton businesses.
At noon to dinner, where the remains of yesterday’s venison and
a couple of brave green geese, which we are fain to eat alone,
because they will not keepe, which troubled us. After dinner
I close to my business, and before the evening did end it with
great content, and my mind eased by it. Then up and spent the
evening walking with my wife talking, and it thundering and
lightning all the evening, and this yeare have had the most of
thunder and lightning they say of any in man’s memory, and so
it is, it seems, in France and everywhere else. So to prayers and
to bed.
4th. Up, and many people with me about business, and then
out to several places, and so at noon to my Lord Crew’s, and
there dined and very much made of there by him. He offered me
the selling of some land of his in Cambridgeshire, a purchase of
about £1000, and if I can compass it I will. After dinner I walked
homeward, still doing business by the way, and at home find my
wife this day of her owne accord to have lain out 25s. upon a pair
of pendantes for her eares, which did vex me and brought both
me and her to very high and very foule words from her to me,
such as trouble me to think she should have in her mouth, and
reflecting upon our old differences, which I hate to have remem-
bered. I vowed to breake them, or that she should go and get
what she could for them again. I went with that resolution out
of doors; the poor wretch afterwards in a little while did send
out to change them for her money again. I followed Besse her
messenger at the ‘Change, and there did consult and sent her
1339
JULY 1664
back; I would not have them changed, being satisfied that she
yielded. So went home, and friends again as to that business; but
the words I could not get out of my mind, and so went to bed
at night discontented, and she came to bed to me, but all would
not make me friends, but sleep and rise in the morning angry.
This day the King and the Queene went to visit my Lord Sand-
wich and the fleete, going forth in the Hope.426 5th. Up and to
the office, where all the morning. At noon to the ‘Change a little,
then with W. Howe home and dined. So after dinner to my office,
and there busy till late at night, having had among other things
much discourse with young Gregory about the Chest business,
wherein Sir W. Batten is so great a knave, and also with Alsop
and Lanyon about the Tangier victualling, wherein I hope to get
something for myself. Late home to supper and to bed, being
full of thoughts of a sudden resolution this day taken upon the
‘Change of going down to-morrow to the Hope.
6th. Up very betimes, and my wife also, and got us ready; and
about eight o’clock, having got some bottles of wine and beer
and neat’s tongues, we went to our barge at the Towre, where
Mr. Pierce and his wife, and a kinswoman and his sister, and
Mrs. Clerke and her sister and cozen were to expect us; and so
set out for the Hope, all the way down playing at cards and other
sports, spending our time pretty merry. Come to the Hope about
one and there showed them all the ships, and had a collacion of
anchovies, gammon, &c., and after an houre’s stay or more, em-
barked again for home; and so to cards and other sports till we
came to Greenwich, and there Mrs. Clerke and my wife and I
on shore to an alehouse, for them to do their business, and so
to the barge again, having shown them the King’s pleasure boat;
and so home to the Bridge, bringing night home with us; and it
426 “Their Majesties were treated at Tilbury Hope by the Earl of Sandwich,
returning the same day, abundantly satisfied both with the dutiful respects
of that honourable person and with the excellent condition of all matters
committed to his charge” (“The Newes,” July 7th, 1664).–B.
1340
JULY 1664
rained hard, but we got them on foot to the Beare, and there put
them into a boat, and I back to my wife in the barge, and so to the
Tower Wharf and home, being very well pleased today with the
company, especially Mrs. Pierce, who continues her complexion
as well as ever, and hath, at this day, I think, the best complex-
ion that ever I saw on any woman, young or old, or child either,
all days of my life. Also Mrs. Clerke’s kinswoman sings very
prettily, but is very confident in it; Mrs. Clerke herself witty, but
spoils all in being so conceited and making so great a flutter with
a few fine clothes and some bad tawdry things worne with them.
But the charge of the barge lies heavy upon me, which troubles
me, but it is but once, and I may make Pierce do me some cour-
tesy as great. Being come home, I weary to bed with sitting. The
reason of Dr. Clerke’s not being here was the King’s being sicke
last night and let blood, and so he durst not come away to-day.
7th. Up, and this day begun, the first day this year, to put
off my linnen waistcoat, but it happening to be a cool day I was
afraid of taking cold, which troubles me, and is the greatest pain
I have in the world to think of my bad temper of my health. At
the office all the morning. Dined at home, to my office to prepare
some things against a Committee of Tangier this afternoon. So to
White Hall, and there found the Duke and twenty more reading
their commission (of which I am, and was also sent to, to come)
for the Royall Fishery, which is very large, and a very serious
charter it is; but the company generally so ill fitted for so serious
a worke that I do much fear it will come to little. That being done,
and not being able to do any thing for lacke of an oathe for the
Governor and Assistants to take, we rose. Then our Committee
for the Tangier victualling met and did a little, and so up, and
I and Mr. Coventry walked in the garden half an hour, talking
of the business of our masts, and thence away and with Creed
walked half an hour or more in the Park, and thence to the New
Exchange to drink some creame, but missed it and so parted,
and I home, calling by the way for my new bookes, viz., Sir H.
Spillman’s “Whole Glossary,” “Scapula’s Lexicon,” and Shake-
1341
JULY 1664
speare’s plays, which I have got money out of my stationer’s bills
to pay for. So home and to my office a while, and then home and
to bed, finding myself pretty well for all my waistecoate being
put off to-day. The king is pretty well to-day, though let blood
the night before yesterday.
8th. Up and called out by my Lord Peterborough’s gentleman
to Mr. Povy’s to discourse about getting of his money, wherein
I am concerned in hopes of the £50 my Lord hath promised me,
but I dare not reckon myself sure of it till I have it in my main,–
[hand.]–for these Lords are hard to be trusted. Though I well de-
serve it. I staid at Povy’s for his coming in, and there looked over
his stables and every thing, but notwithstanding all the times I
have been there I do yet find many fine things to look on. Thence
to White Hall a little, to hear how the King do, he not having
been well these three days. I find that he is pretty well again.
So to Paul’s Churchyarde about my books, and to the binder’s
and directed the doing of my Chaucer,427 though they were not
full neate enough for me, but pretty well it is; and thence to the
clasp-maker’s to have it clasped and bossed. So to the ‘Change
and home to dinner, and so to my office till 5 o’clock, and then
came Mr. Hill and Andrews, and we sung an houre or two. Then
broke up and Mr. Alsop and his company came and consulted
about our Tangier victualling and brought it to a good head. So
they parted, and I to supper and to bed.
9th. Up, and at the office all the morning. In the afternoon
by coach with Sir J. Minnes to White Hall, and there to a Com-
mittee for Fishing; but the first thing was swearing to be true to
the Company, and we were all sworne; but a great dispute we
had, which, methought, is very ominous to the Company; some,
that we should swear to be true to the best of our power, and
others to the best of our understanding; and carried in the last,
427 This was Speght’s edition of 1602, which is still in the Pepysian Library.
The book is bound in calf, with brass clasps and bosses. It is not lettered.
1342
JULY 1664
though in that we are the least able to serve the Company, be-
cause we would not be obliged to attend the business when we
can, but when we list. This consideration did displease me, but
it was voted and so went. We did nothing else, but broke up till
a Committee of Guinny was set and ended, and then met again
for Tangier, and there I did my business about my Lord Peter-
borough’s order and my own for my expenses for the garrison
lately. So home, by the way calling for my Chaucer and other
books, and that is well done to my mind, which pleased me well.
So to my office till late writing letters, and so home to my wife to
supper and bed, where we have not lain together because of the
heat of the weather a good while, but now against her going into
the country.
10th (Lord’s day). Up and by water, towards noon, to Somer-
sett House, and walked to my Lord Sandwich’s, and there dined
with my Lady and the children. And after some ordinary dis-
course with my Lady, after dinner took our leaves and my wife
hers, in order to her going to the country to-morrow. But my
Lord took not occasion to speak one word of my father or mother
about the children at all, which I wonder at, and begin I will not.
Here my Lady showed us my Lady Castlemayne’s picture, finely
done; given my Lord; and a most beautiful picture it is. Thence
with my Lady Jemimah and Mr. Sidney to St. Gyles’s Church,
and there heard a long, poore sermon. Thence set them down
and in their coach to Kate Joyce’s christening, where much com-
pany, good service of sweetmeates; and after an houre’s stay, left
them, and in my Lord’s coach–his noble, rich coach–home, and
there my wife fell to putting things in order against her going to-
morrow, and I to read, and so to bed, where I not well, and so
had no pleasure at all with my poor wife.
11th. But betimes up this morning, and, getting ready, we by
coach to Holborne, where, at nine o’clock, they set out, and I
and my man Will on horseback, by my wife, to Barnett; a very
pleasant day; and there dined with her company, which was very
1343
JULY 1664
good; a pretty gentlewoman with her, that goes but to Hunting-
ton, and a neighbour to us in towne. Here we staid two hours and
then parted for all together, and my poor wife I shall soon want I
am sure. Thence I and Will to see the Wells, half a mile off,428 and
there I drank three glasses, and went and walked and came back
and drunk two more; the woman would have had me drink three
more; but I could not, my belly being full, but this wrought very
well, and so we rode home, round by Kingsland, Hackney, and
Mile End till we were quite weary, and my water working at least
7 or 8 times upon the road, which pleased me well, and so home
weary, and not being very well, I betimes to bed, and there fell
into a most mighty sweat in the night, about eleven o’clock, and
there, knowing what money I have in the house and hearing a
noyse, I begun to sweat worse and worse, till I melted almost
to water. I rung, and could not in half an houre make either of
the wenches hear me, and this made me fear the more, lest they
might be gaga; and then I begun to think that there was some
design in a stone being flung at the window over our stayres this
evening, by which the thiefes meant to try what looking there
would be after them and know our company. These thoughts
and fears I had, and do hence apprehend the fears of all rich men
that are covetous and have much money by them. At last Jane
rose, and then I understand it was only the dogg wants a lodging
and so made a noyse. So to bed, but hardly slept, at last did, and
so till morning,
12th. And so rose, called up by my Lord Peterborough’s gen-
tleman about getting his Lord’s money to-day of Mr. Povy,
wherein I took such order, that it was paid, and I had my £50
428 The mineral springs at Barnet Common, nearly a mile to the west of
High Barnet. The discovery of the wells was announced in the “Perfect Diur-
nall” of June 5th, 1652, and Fuller, writing in 1662, says that there are hopes
that the waters may “save as many lives as were lost in the fatal battle at
Barnet” (“Worthies,” Herts). A pamphlet on “The Barnet Well Water” was
published by the Rev. W. M. Trinder, M.D., as late as the year 1800, but in
1840 the old well- house was pulled down.
1344
JULY 1664
brought me, which comforts my heart. We sat at the office all the
morning, then at home. Dined alone; sad for want of company
and not being very well, and know not how to eat alone. After
dinner down with Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, and Sir W. Bat-
ten to view, and did like a place by Deptford yard to lay masts
in. By and by comes Mr. Coventry, and after a little stay he and
I down to Blackwall, he having a mind to see the yarde, which
we did, and fine storehouses there are and good docks, but of no
great profit to him that oweth them for ought we see.429 So home
by water with him, having good discourse by the way, and so I
to the office a while, and late home to supper and to bed.
13th. Up and to my office, at noon (after having at an alehouse
hard by discoursed with one Mr. Tyler, a neighbour, and one
Captain Sanders about the discovery of some pursers that have
sold their provisions) I to my Lord Sandwich, thinking to have
dined there, but they not dining at home, I with Captain Ferrers
to Mr. Barwell the King’s Squire Sadler, where about this time
twelvemonths I dined before at a good venison pasty. The like
we had now, and very good company, Mr. Tresham and others.
Thence to White Hall to the Fishery, and there did little. So by
water home, and there met Lanyon, &c., about Tangier matters,
and so late to my office, and thence home and to bed. Mr. Moore
was with me late to desire me to come to my Lord Sandwich to-
morrow morning, which I shall, but I wonder what my business
is.
14th. My mind being doubtful what the business should be, I
rose a little after four o’clock, and abroad. Walked to my Lord’s,
and nobody up, but the porter rose out of bed to me so I back
again to Fleete Streete, and there bought a little book of law; and
thence, hearing a psalm sung, I went into St. Dunstan’s, and
429 For “owneth.” This sense is very common in Shakespeare. In the orig-
inal edition of the authorized version of the Bible we read: “So shall the
Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that oweth this girdle” (Acts xxi. I i) Nares’s
Glossary.
1345
JULY 1664
there heard prayers read, which, it seems, is done there every
morning at six o’clock; a thing I never did do at a chappell, but
the College Chappell, in all my life. Thence to my Lord’s again,
and my Lord being up, was sent for up, and he and I alone. He
did begin with a most solemn profession of the same confidence
in and love for me that he ever had, and then told me what a
misfortune was fallen upon me and him: in me, by a displeasure
which my Lord Chancellor did show to him last night against
me, in the highest and most passionate manner that ever any
man did speak, even to the not hearing of any thing to be said
to him: but he told me, that he did say all that could be said for
a man as to my faithfullnesse and duty to his Lordship, and did
me the greatest right imaginable. And what should the business
be, but that I should be forward to have the trees in Clarendon
Park marked and cut down, which he, it seems, hath bought of
my Lord Albemarle; when, God knows! I am the most innocent
man in the world in it, and did nothing of myself, nor knew of
his concernment therein, but barely obeyed my Lord Treasurer’s
warrant for the doing thereof. And said that I did most ungentle-
manlike with him, and had justified the rogues in cutting down a
tree of his; and that I had sent the veriest Fanatique [Deane] that
is in England to mark them, on purpose to nose–[provoke]–him.
All which, I did assure my Lord, was most properly false, and
nothing like it true; and told my Lord the whole passage. My
Lord do seem most nearly affected; he is partly, I believe, for me,
and partly for himself. So he advised me to wait presently upon
my Lord, and clear myself in the most perfect manner I could,
with all submission and assurance that I am his creature both in
this and all other things; and that I do owne that all I have, is
derived through my Lord Sandwich from his Lordship. So, full
of horror, I went, and found him busy in tryals of law in his great
room; and it being Sitting-day, durst not stay, but went to my
Lord and told him so: whereupon he directed me to take him
after dinner; and so away I home, leaving my Lord mightily con-
cerned for me. I to the office, and there sat busy all the morning.
1346
JULY 1664
At noon to the ‘Change, and from the ‘Change over with Alsopp
and the others to the Pope’s Head tavern, and there staid a quar-
ter of an hour, and concluded upon this, that in case I got them
no more than 3s. per week per man I should have of them but
£150 per ann., but to have it without any adventure or charge,
but if I got them 3s. 2d., then they would give me £300 in the
like manner. So I directed them to draw up their tender in a line
or two against the afternoon, and to meet me at White Hall. So
I left them, and I to my Lord Chancellor’s; and there coming out
after dinner I accosted him, telling him that I was the unhappy
Pepys that had fallen into his high displeasure, and come to de-
sire him to give me leave to make myself better understood to
his Lordship, assuring him of my duty and service. He answered
me very pleasingly, that he was confident upon the score of my
Lord Sandwich’s character of me, but that he had reason to think
what he did, and desired me to call upon him some evening: I
named to-night, and he accepted of it. So with my heart light I
to White Hall, and there after understanding by a stratagem, and
yet appearing wholly desirous not to understand Mr. Gauden’s
price when he desired to show it me, I went down and ordered
matters in our tender so well that at the meeting by and by I was
ready with Mr. Gauden’s and his, both directed him a letter to me
to give the board their two tenders, but there being none but the
Generall Monk and Mr. Coventry and Povy and I, I did not think
fit to expose them to view now, but put it off till Saturday, and
so with good content rose. Thence I to the Half Moone, against
the ‘Change, to acquaint Lanyon and his friends of our proceed-
ings, and thence to my Lord Chancellor’s, and there heard sev-
eral tryals, wherein I perceive my Lord is a most able and ready
man. After all done, he himself called, “Come, Mr. Pepys, you
and I will take a turn in the garden.” So he was led down stairs,
having the goute, and there walked with me, I think, above an
houre, talking most friendly, yet cunningly. I told him clearly
how things were; how ignorant I was of his Lordship’s concern-
ment in it; how I did not do nor say one word singly, but what
1347
JULY 1664
was done was the act of the whole Board. He told me by name
that he was more angry with Sir G. Carteret than with me, and
also with the whole body of the Board. But thinking who it was of
the Board that knew him least, he did place his fear upon me; but
he finds that he is indebted to none of his friends there. I think
I did thoroughly appease him, till he thanked me for my desire
and pains to satisfy him; and upon my desiring to be directed
who I should of his servants advise with about this business, he
told me nobody, but would be glad to hear from me himself. He
told me he would not direct me in any thing, that it might not
be said that the Lord Chancellor did labour to abuse the King; or
(as I offered) direct the suspending the Report of the Purveyors
but I see what he means, and I will make it my worke to do him
service in it. But, Lord! to see how he is incensed against poor
Deane, as a fanatique rogue, and I know not what: and what he
did was done in spite to his Lordship, among all his friends and
tenants. He did plainly say that he would not direct me in any
thing, for he would not put himself into the power of any man to
say that he did so and so; but plainly told me as if he would be
glad I did something. Lord! to see how we poor wretches dare
not do the King good service for fear of the greatness of these
men. He named Sir G. Carteret, and Sir J. Minnes, and the rest;
and that he was as angry with them all as me. But it was pleasant
to think that, while he was talking to me, comes into the garden
Sir G. Carteret; and my Lord avoided speaking with him, and
made him and many others stay expecting him, while I walked
up and down above an houre, I think; and would have me walk
with my hat on. And yet, after all this, there has been so little
ground for this his jealousy of me, that I am sometimes afeard
that he do this only in policy to bring me to his side by scaring
me; or else, which is worse, to try how faithfull I would be to the
King; but I rather think the former of the two. I parted with great
assurance how I acknowledged all I had to come from his Lord-
ship; which he did not seem to refuse, but with great kindness
and respect parted. So I by coach home, calling at my Lord’s, but
1348
JULY 1664
he not within. At my office late, and so home to eat something,
being almost starved for want of eating my dinner to-day, and
so to bed, my head being full of great and many businesses of
import to me.
15th. Up, and to my Lord Sandwich’s; where he sent for me
up, and I did give my Lord an account of what had passed with
my Lord Chancellor yesterday; with which he was well pleased,
and advised me by all means to study in the best manner I could
to serve him in this business. After this discourse ended, he be-
gun to tell me that he had now pitched upon his day of going
to sea upon Monday next, and that he would now give me an
account how matters are with him. He told me that his work
now in the world is only to keep up his interest at Court, hav-
ing little hopes to get more considerably, he saying that he hath
now about £8,000 per annum. It is true, he says, he oweth about
£10,000; but he hath been at great charges in getting things to this
pass in his estate; besides his building and good goods that he
hath bought. He says he hath now evened his reckonings at the
Wardrobe till Michaelmas last, and hopes to finish it to Ladyday
before he goes. He says now there is due, too, £7,000 to him there,
if he knew how to get it paid, besides £2000 that Mr. Montagu do
owe him. As to his interest, he says that he hath had all the in-
jury done him that ever man could have by another bosom friend
that knows all his secrets, by Mr. Montagu; but he says that the
worst of it all is past, and he gone out and hated, his very per-
son by the King, and he believes the more upon the score of his
carriage to him; nay, that the Duke of Yorke did say a little while
since in his closett, that he did hate him because of his ungrate-
full carriage to my Lord of Sandwich. He says that he is as great
with the Chancellor, or greater, than ever in his life. That with
the King he is the like; and told me an instance, that whereas he
formerly was of the private council to the King before he was last
sicke, and that by the sickness an interruption was made in his
attendance upon him; the King did not constantly call him, as he
used to do, to his private council, only in businesses of the sea
1349
JULY 1664
and the like; but of late the King did send a message to him by
Sir Harry Bennet, to excuse the King to my Lord that he had not
of late sent for him as he used to do to his private council, for it
was not out of any distaste, but to avoid giving offence to some
others whom he did not name; but my Lord supposes it might be
Prince Rupert, or it may be only that the King would rather pass
it by an excuse, than be thought unkind: but that now he did
desire him to attend him constantly, which of late he hath done,
and the King never more kind to him in his life than now. The
Duke of Yorke, as much as is possible; and in the business of late,
when I was to speak to my Lord about his going to sea, he says
that he finds the Duke did it with the greatest ingenuity and love
in the world; “and whereas,” says my Lord, “here is a wise man
hard by that thinks himself so, and would be thought so, and
it may be is in a degree so (naming by and by my Lord Crew),
would have had me condition with him that neither Prince Ru-
pert nor any body should come over his head, and I know not
what.” The Duke himself hath caused in his commission, that
he be made Admirall of this and what other ships or fleets shall
hereafter be put out after these; which is very noble. He tells me
in these cases, and that of Mr. Montagu’s, and all others, he finds
that bearing of them patiently is his best way, without noise or
trouble, and things wear out of themselves and come fair again.
But, says he, take it from me, never to trust too much to any man
in the world, for you put yourself into his power; and the best
seeming friend and real friend as to the present may have or take
occasion to fall out with you, and then out comes all. Then he
told me of Sir Harry Bennet, though they were always kind, yet
now it is become to an acquaintance and familiarity above ordi-
nary, that for these months he hath done no business but with
my Lord’s advice in his chamber, and promises all faithfull love
to him and service upon all occasions. My Lord says, that he
hath the advantage of being able by his experience to helpe and
advise him; and he believes that that chiefly do invite Sir Harry
to this manner of treating him. “Now,” says my Lord, “the only
1350
JULY 1664
and the greatest embarras that I have in the world is, how to be-
have myself to Sir H. Bennet and my Lord Chancellor, in case that
there do lie any thing under the embers about my Lord Bristoll,
which nobody can tell; for then,” says he, “I must appear for one
or other, and I will lose all I have in the world rather than desert
my Lord Chancellor: so that,” says he, “I know not for my life
what to do in that case.” For Sir H. Bennet’s love is come to the
height, and his confidence, that he hath given my Lord a char-
acter, and will oblige my Lord to correspond with him. “This,”
says he, “is the whole condition of my estate and interest; which
I tell you, because I know not whether I shall see you again or
no.” Then as to the voyage, he thinks it will be of charge to him,
and no profit; but that he must not now look after nor think to
encrease, but study to make good what he hath, that what is due
to him from the Wardrobe or elsewhere may be paid, which oth-
erwise would fail, and all a man hath be but small content to him.
So we seemed to take leave one of another; my Lord of me, de-
siring me that I would write to him and give him information
upon all occasions in matters that concern him; which, put to-
gether with what he preambled with yesterday, makes me think
that my Lord do truly esteem me still, and desires to preserve
my service to him; which I do bless God for. In the middle of our
discourse my Lady Crew came in to bring my Lord word that he
hath another son, my Lady being brought to bed just now, I did
not think her time had been so nigh, but she’s well brought to
bed, for which God be praised! and send my Lord to study the
laying up of something the more! Then with Creed to St. James’s,
and missing Mr. Coventry, to White Hall; where, staying for him
in one of the galleries, there comes out of the chayre-room Mrs.
Stewart, in a most lovely form, with her hair all about her eares,
having her picture taking there. There was the King and twenty
more, I think, standing by all the while, and a lovely creature
she in this dress seemed to be. Thence to the ‘Change by coach,
and so home to dinner and then to my office. In the evening Mr.
Hill, Andrews and I to my chamber to sing, which we did very
1351
JULY 1664
pleasantly, and then to my office again, where very late and so
home, with my mind I bless God in good state of ease and body
of health, only my head at this juncture very full of business, how
to get something. Among others what this rogue Creed will do
before he goes to sea, for I would fain be rid of him and see what
he means to do, for I will then declare myself his firm friend or
enemy.
16th. Up in the morning, my head mightily confounded with
the great deale of business I have upon me to do. But to the office,
and there dispatched Mr. Creed’s business pretty well about his
bill; but then there comes W. Howe for my Lord’s bill of Imprest
for £500 to carry with him this voyage, and so I was at a loss how
to carry myself in it, Creed being there, but there being no help I
delivered it to them both, and let them contend, when I perceive
they did both endeavour to have it, but W. Howe took it, and the
other had the discretion to suffer it. But I think I cleared myself
to Creed that it past not from any practice of mine. At noon rose
and did some necessary business at the ‘Change. Thence to Trin-
ity House to a dinner which Sir G. Carteret makes there as Mais-
ter this year. Thence to White Hall to the Tangier Committee, and
there, above my expectation, got the business of our contract for
the victualling carried for my people, viz., Alsopp, Lanyon, and
Yeabsly; and by their promise I do thereby get £300 per annum
to myself, which do overjoy me; and the matter is left to me to
draw up. Mr. Lewes was in the gallery and is mightily amazed
at it, and I believe Mr. Gauden will make some stir about it, for
he wrote to Mr. Coventry to-day about it to argue why he should
for the King’s convenience have it, but Mr. Coventry most justly
did argue freely for them that served cheapest. Thence walked a
while with Mr. Coventry in the gallery, and first find that he is
mighty cold in his present opinion of Mr. Peter Pett for his flag-
ging and doing things so lazily there, and he did also surprise
me with a question why Deane did not bring in their report of
the timber of Clarendon. What he means thereby I know not, but
at present put him off; nor do I know how to steer myself: but
1352
JULY 1664
I must think of it, and advise with my Lord Sandwich. Thence
with Creed by coach to my Lord Sandwich’s, and there I got Mr.
Moore to give me my Lord’s hand for my receipt of £109 more
of my money of Sir G. Carteret, so that then his debt to me will
be under £500, I think. This do ease my mind also. Thence car-
ried him and W. Howe into London, and set them down at Sir
G. Carteret’s to receive some money, and I home and there busy
very late, and so home to supper and to bed, with my mind in
pretty good ease, my business being in a pretty good condition
every where.
17th (Lord’s day). All the morning at my office doing busi-
ness there, it raining hard. So dined at home alone. After din-
ner walked to my Lord’s, and there found him and much other
guests at table at dinner, and it seems they have christened his
young son to-day-called him James. I got a piece of cake. I got my
Lord to signe and seale my business about my selling of Bramp-
ton land, which though not so full as I would, yet is as full as I can
at present. Walked home again, and there fell to read, and by and
by comes my uncle Wight, Dr. Burnett, and another gentleman,
and talked and drank, and the Doctor showed me the manner
of eating, turpentine, which pleases me well, for it is with great
ease. So they being gone, I to supper and to bed.
18th. Up, and walked to my Lord’s, and there took my leave
of him, he seeming very friendly to me in as serious a manner as
ever in his life, and I believe he is very confident of me. He sets
out this morning for Deale. Thence to St. James’s to the Duke,
and there did our usual business. He discourses very freely of
a warr with Holland, to begin about winter, so that I believe we
shall come to it. Before we went up to the Duke, Sir G. Carteret
and I did talk together in the Parke about my Lord Chancellor’s
business of the timber; he telling me freely that my Lord Chan-
cellor was never so angry with him in all his life, as he was for
this business, in great passion; and that when he saw me there,
he knew what it was about. And plots now with me how we
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JULY 1664
may serve my Lord, which I am mightily glad of; and I hope to-
gether we may do it. Thence to Westminster to my barber’s, to
have my Periwigg he lately made me cleansed of its nits, which
vexed me cruelly that he should put such a thing into my hands.
Here meeting his mayd Jane, that has lived with them so long, I
talked with her, and sending her of an errand to Dr. Clerk’s, did
meet her, and took her into a little alehouse in Brewers Yard, and
there did sport with her, without any knowledge of her though,
and a very pretty innocent girl she is. Thence to my Lord Chan-
cellor’s, but he being busy I went away to the ‘Change, and so
home to dinner. By and by comes Creed, and I out with him to
Fleet Street, and he to Mr. Povy’s, I to my Lord Chancellor’s, and
missing him again walked to Povy’s, and there saw his new per-
spective in his closet. Povy, to my great surprise and wonder, did
here attacque me in his own and Mr. Bland’s behalf that I should
do for them both for the new contractors for the victualling of
the garrison. Which I am ashamed that he should ask of me, nor
did I believe that he was a man that did seek benefit in such poor
things. Besides that he professed that he did not believe that I
would have any hand myself in the contract, and yet here de-
clares that he himself would have profit by it, and himself did
move me that Sir W. Rider might join, and Ford with Gauden. I
told him I had no interest in them, but I fear they must do some-
thing to him, for he told me that those of the Mole did promise
to consider him. Thence home and Creed with me, and there he
took occasion to owne his obligations to me, and did lay down
twenty pieces in gold upon my shelf in my closett, which I did
not refuse, but wish and expected should have been more. But,
however, this is better than nothing, and now I am out of expec-
tation, and shall henceforward know how to deal with him. After
discourse of settling his matters here, we went out by coach, and
he ‘light at the Temple, and there took final leave of me, in order
to his following my Lord to-morrow. I to my Lord Chancellor,
and discoursed his business with him. I perceive, and he says
plainly, that he will not have any man to have it in his power to
1354
JULY 1664
say that my Lord Chancellor did contrive the wronging the King
of his timber; but yet I perceive, he would be glad to have service
done him therein; and told me Sir G. Carteret hath told him that
he and I would look after his business to see it done in the best
manner for him. Of this I was glad, and so away. Thence home,
and late with my Tangier men about drawing up their agreement
with us, wherein I find much trouble, and after doing as much as
we could to-night, broke up and I to bed.
19th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon dined alone at home. After dinner Sir W. Batten and I down
by water to Woolwich, where coming to the ropeyarde we are
told that Mr. Falconer, who hath been ill of a relapse these two
days, is just now dead. We went up to his widow, who is sicke
in bed also. The poor woman in great sorrow, and entreats our
friendship, which we shall, I think, in every thing do for her. I am
sure I will. Thence to the Docke, and there in Sheldon’s garden
eat some fruit; so to Deptford a little, and thence home, it raining
mightily, and being cold I doubted my health after it. At the office
till 9 o’clock about Sir W. Warren’s contract for masts, and then
at home with Lanyon and Yeabsly till 12 and past about their
contract for Tangier, wherein they and I differed, for I would have
it drawn to the King’s advantage, as much as might be, which
they did not like, but parted good friends; however, when they
were gone, I wished that I had forborne any disagreement till I
had had their promise to me in writing. They being gone, I to
bed.
20th. Up, and a while to my office, and then home with Mr.
Deane till dinner, discoursing upon the business of my Lord
Chancellor’s timber in Clarendon Parke, and how to make a re-
port therein without offending him; which at last I drew up, and
hope it will please him. But I would to God neither I nor he ever
had had any thing to have done with it! Dined together with a
good pig, and then out by coach to White Hall, to the Committee
for Fishing; but nothing done, it being a great day to-day there
1355
JULY 1664
upon drawing at the Lottery of Sir Arthur Slingsby. I got in and
stood by the two Queenes and the Duchesse of Yorke, and just
behind my Lady Castlemayne, whom I do heartily adore; and
good sport it was to see how most that did give their ten pounds
did go away with a pair of globes only for their lot, and one gen-
tlewoman, one Mrs. Fish, with the only blanke. And one I staid
to see drew a suit of hangings valued at £430, and they say are
well worth the money, or near it. One other suit there is better
than that; but very many lots of three and fourscore pounds. I
observed the King and Queenes did get but as poor lots as any
else. But the wisest man I met with was Mr. Cholmley, who
insured as many as would, from drawing of the one blank for
12d.; in which case there was the whole number of persons to
one, which I think was three or four hundred. And so he insured
about 200 for 200 shillings, so that he could not have lost if one
of them had drawn it, for there was enough to pay the £10; but it
happened another drew it, and so he got all the money he took.
I left the lottery, and went to a play, only a piece of it, which was
the Duke’s house, “Worse and Worse;” just the same manner of
play, and writ, I believe, by the same man as “The Adventures
of Five Hours;” very pleasant it was, and I begin to admire Har-
ris more than ever. Thence to Westminster to see Creed, and he
and I took a walk in the Parke. He is ill, and not able yet to set
out after my Lord, but will do to-morrow. So home, and late at
my office, and so home to bed. This evening being moonshine I
played a little late upon my flageolette in the garden. But being
at Westminster Hall I met with great news that Mrs. Lane is mar-
ried to one Martin, one that serves Captain Marsh. She is gone
abroad with him to-day, very fine. I must have a bout with her
very shortly to see how she finds marriage.
21st. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning,
among other things making a contract with Sir W. Warren for
almost 1000 Gottenburg masts, the biggest that ever was made in
the Navy, and wholly of my compassing and a good one I hope
it is for the King. Dined at Sir W. Batten’s, where I have not eat
1356
JULY 1664
these many months. Sir G. Carteret, Mr. Coventry, Sir J. Minnes,
and myself there only, and my Lady. A good venison pasty, and
very merry, and pleasant I made myself with my Lady, and she as
much to me. This morning to the office comes Nicholas Osborne,
Mr. Gauden’s clerke, to desire of me what piece of plate I would
choose to have a £100, or thereabouts, bestowed upon me in, he
having order to lay out so much; and, out of his freedom with
me, do of himself come to make this question. I a great while
urged my unwillingnesse to take any, not knowing how I could
serve Mr. Gauden, but left it wholly to himself; so at noon I find
brought home in fine leather cases, a pair of the noblest flaggons
that ever I saw all the days of my life; whether I shall keepe them
or no I cannot tell; for it is to oblige me to him in the business
of the Tangier victualling, wherein I doubt I shall not; but glad
I am to see that I shall be sure to get something on one side or
other, have it which will: so, with a merry heart, I looked upon
them, and locked them up. After dinner to [give] my Lord Chan-
cellor a good account of his business, and he is very well pleased
therewith, and carries himself with great discretion to me, with-
out seeming over glad or beholding to me; and yet I know that he
do think himself very well served by me. Thence to Westminster
and to Mrs. Lane’s lodgings, to give her joy, and there suffered
me to deal with her as I hoped to do, and by and by her hus-
band comes, a sorry, simple fellow, and his letter to her which
she proudly showed me a simple, nonsensical thing. A man of
no discourse, and I fear married her to make a prize of, which he
is mistaken in, and a sad wife I believe she will prove to him, for
she urged me to appoint a time as soon as he is gone out of town
to give her a meeting next week. So by water with a couple of
cozens of Mrs. Lane’s, and set them down at Queenhive, and I
through Bridge home, and there late at business, and so home to
supper and to bed.
22nd. Up and to my office, where busy all the morning. At
noon to the ‘Change, and so home to dinner, and then down by
water to Deptford, where coming too soon, I spent an houre in
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looking round the yarde, and putting Mr. Shish430 to measure a
piece or two of timber, which he did most cruelly wrong, and to
the King’s losse 12 or 13s. in a piece of 28 feet in contents. Thence
to the Clerke of the Cheques, from whose house Mr. Falconer
was buried to-day; Sir J. Minnes and I the only principal officers
that were there. We walked to church with him, and then I left
them without staying the sermon and straight home by water,
and there find, as I expected, Mr. Hill, and Andrews, and one
slovenly and ugly fellow, Seignor Pedro, who sings Italian songs
to the theorbo most neatly, and they spent the whole evening
in singing the best piece of musique counted of all hands in the
world, made by Seignor Charissimi, the famous master in Rome.
Fine it was, indeed, and too fine for me to judge of. They have
spoke to Pedro to meet us every weeke, and I fear it will grow a
trouble to me if we once come to bid judges to meet us, especially
idle Masters, which do a little displease me to consider. They
gone comes Mr. Lanyon, who tells me Mr. Alsopp is now become
dangerously ill, and fears his recovery, covery, which shakes my
expectation of £630 per annum by the business; and, therefore,
bless God for what Mr. Gauden hath sent me, which, from some
discourse to-day with Mr. Osborne, swearing that he knows not
any thing of this business of the victualling; but, the contrary,
that it is not that moves Mr. Gauden to send it me, for he hath
had order for it any time these two months. Whether this be true
or no, I know not; but I shall hence with the more confidence
430 Jonas Shish, master-shipwright at Deptford. There are several papers of
his among the State Papers. “I was at the funeral of old Mr. Shish, Master
Shipwright of His Majesty’s Yard here, an honest and remarkable man, and
his death a public loss, for his excellent success in building ships (though
altogether illiterate) and for bringing up so many of his children to be able
artists. I held up the pall with three knights who did him that honour, and
he was worthy of it. It was the custom of this good man to rise in the night
and pray, kneeling in his own coffin, which he had lying by him for many
years. He was born that famous year, the Gunpowder- plot, 1605” (Evelyn’s
“Diary,” May 13th, 1680).
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JULY 1664
keepe it. To supper and to the office a little, and to walk in the
garden, the moon shining bright, and fine warm fair weather,
and so home to bed.
23rd. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon to the
‘Change, where I took occasion to break the business of my Lord
Chancellor’s timber to Mr. Coventry in the best manner I could.
He professed to me, that, till, Sir G. Carteret did speake of it at the
table, after our officers were gone to survey it, he did not know
that my Lord Chancellor had any thing to do with it; but now he
says that he had been told by the Duke that Sir G. Carteret had
spoke to him about it, and that he had told the Duke that, were
he in my Lord Chancellor’s case, if he were his father, he would
rather fling away the gains of two or £3,000, than have it said that
the timber, which should have been the King’s, if it had contin-
ued the Duke of Albemarle’s, was concealed by us in favour of
my Lord Chancellor; for, says he, he is a great man, and all such
as he, and he himself particularly, have a great many enemies
that would be glad of such an advantage against him. When I
told him it was strange that Sir J. Minnes and Sir G. Carteret, that
knew my Lord Chancellor’s concernment therein, should not at
first inform us, he answered me that for Sir J. Minnes, he is looked
upon to be an old good companion, but by nobody at the other
end of the towne as any man of business, and that my Lord Chan-
cellor, he dares say, never did tell him of it, only Sir G. Carteret,
he do believe, must needs know it, for he and Sir J. Shaw are
the greatest confidants he hath in the world. So for himself, he
said, he would not mince the matter, but was resolved to do what
was fit, and stand upon his owne legs therein, and that he would
speak to the Duke, that he and Sir G. Carteret might be appointed
to attend my Lord Chancellor in it. All this disturbs me mightily.
I know not what to say to it, nor how to carry myself therein; for
a compliance will discommend me to Mr. Coventry, and a dis-
compliance to my Lord Chancellor. But I think to let it alone, or
at least meddle in it as little more as I can. From thence walked
toward Westminster, and being in an idle and wanton humour,
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JULY 1664
walked through Fleet Alley, and there stood a most pretty wench
at one of the doors, so I took a turn or two, but what by sense of
honour and conscience I would not go in, but much against my
will took coach and away, and away to Westminster Hall, and
there ‘light of Mrs. Lane, and plotted with her to go over the
water. So met at White’s stairs in Chanel Row, and over to the
old house at Lambeth Marsh, and there eat and drank, and had
my pleasure of her twice, she being the strangest woman in talk
of love to her husband sometimes, and sometimes again she do
not care for him, and yet willing enough to allow me a liberty
of doing what I would with her. So spending 5s. or 6s. upon
her, I could do what I would, and after an hour’s stay and more
back again and set her ashore there again, and I forward to Fleet
Street, and called at Fleet Alley, not knowing how to command
myself, and went in and there saw what formerly I have been ac-
quainted with, the wickedness of these houses, and the forcing
a man to present expense. The woman indeed is a most lovely
woman, but I had no courage to meddle with her for fear of her
not being wholesome, and so counterfeiting that I had not money
enough, it was pretty to see how cunning she was, would not suf-
fer me to have to do in any manner with her after she saw I had
no money, but told me then I would not come again, but she now
was sure I would come again, but I hope in God I shall not, for
though she be one of the prettiest women I ever saw, yet I fear
her abusing me. So desiring God to forgive me for this vanity, I
went home, taking some books from my bookseller, and taking
his lad home with me, to whom I paid £10 for books I have laid
up money for, and laid out within these three weeks, and shall do
no more a great while I hope. So to my office writing letters, and
then home and to bed, weary of the pleasure I have had to-day,
and ashamed to think of it.
24th (Lord’s day). Up, in some pain all day from yesterday’s
passages, having taken cold, I suppose. So staid within all day
reading of two or three good plays. At night to my office a little,
and so home, after supper to bed.
1360
JULY 1664
25th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten by coach
to St. James’s, but there the Duke being gone out we to my Lord
Berkeley’s chamber, Mr. Coventry being there, and among other
things there met with a printed copy of the King’s commission
for the repair of Paul’s, which is very large, and large power for
collecting money, and recovering of all people that had bought
or sold formerly any thing belonging to the Church. And here
I find my Lord Mayor of the City set in order before the Arch-
bishopp or any nobleman, though all the greatest officers of state
are there. But yet I do not hear by my Lord Berkeley, who is one
of them, that any thing is like to come of it. Thence back again
homewards, and Sir W. Batten and I to the Coffee-house, but no
newes, only the plague is very hot still, and encreases among the
Dutch. Home to dinner, and after dinner walked forth, and do
what I could I could not keep myself from going through Fleet
Lane, but had the sense of safety and honour not to go in, and
the rather being a holiday I feared I might meet with some peo-
ple that might know me. Thence to Charing Cross, and there
called at Unthanke’s to see what I owed, but found nothing, and
here being a couple of pretty ladies, lodgers in the kitchen, I staid
a little there. Thence to my barber Gervas, who this day buries
his child, which it seems was born without a passage behind, so
that it never voided any thing in the week or fortnight that it
has been born. Thence to Mr. Reeves, it coming just now in my
head to buy a microscope, but he was not within, so I walked
all round that end of the town among the loathsome people and
houses, but, God be thanked! had no desire to visit any of them.
So home, where I met Mr. Lanyon, who tells me Mr. Alsop is past
hopes, which will mightily disappoint me in my hopes there, and
yet it may be not. I shall think whether it will be safe for me to
venture myself or no, and come in as an adventurer. He gone,
Mr. Cole (my old Jack Cole) comes to see and speak with me,
and his errand in short to tell me that he is giving over his trade;
he can do no good in it, and will turn what he has into money
and go to sea, his father being dead and leaving him little, if any
1361
JULY 1664
thing. This I was sorry to hear, he being a man of good parts, but,
I fear, debauched. I promised him all the friendship I can do him,
which will end in little, though I truly mean it, and so I made
him stay with me till 11 at night, talking of old school stories,
and very pleasing ones, and truly I find that we did spend our
time and thoughts then otherwise than I think boys do now, and
I think as well as methinks that the best are now. He supped with
me, and so away, and I to bed. And strange to see how we are
all divided that were bred so long at school together, and what
various fortunes we have run, some good, some bad.
26th. All the morning at the office, at noon to Anthony Joyce’s,
to our gossip’s dinner. I had sent a dozen and a half of bottles
of wine thither, and paid my double share besides, which is 18s.
Very merry we were, and when the women were merry and rose
from table, I above with them, ne’er a man but I, I began dis-
course of my not getting of children, and prayed them to give me
their opinions and advice, and they freely and merrily did give
me these ten, among them (1) Do not hug my wife too hard nor
too much; (2) eat no late suppers; (3) drink juyce of sage; (4) tent
and toast; (5) wear cool holland drawers; (6) keep stomach warm
and back cool; (7) upon query whether it was best to do at night
or morn, they answered me neither one nor other, but when we
had most mind to it; (8) wife not to go too straight laced; (9) my-
self to drink mum and sugar; (10) Mrs. Ward did give me, to
change my place. The 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 10th they all did
seriously declare, and lay much stress upon them as rules fit to
be observed indeed, and especially the last, to lie with our heads
where our heels do, or at least to make the bed high at feet and
low at head. Very merry all, as much as I could be in such sorry
company. Great discourse of the fray yesterday in Moorefields,
how the butchers at first did beat the weavers (between whom
there hath been ever an old competition for mastery), but at last
the weavers rallied and beat them. At first the butchers knocked
down all for weavers that had green or blue aprons, till they were
fain to pull them off and put them in their breeches. At last the
1362
JULY 1664
butchers were fain to pull off their sleeves, that they might not
be known, and were soundly beaten out of the field, and some
deeply wounded and bruised; till at last the weavers went out
tryumphing, calling £100 for a butcher. I to Mr. Reeves to see a
microscope, he having been with me to-day morning, and there
chose one which I will have. Thence back and took up young
Mrs. Harman, a pretty bred and pretty humoured woman whom
I could love well, though not handsome, yet for her person and
carriage, and black. By the way met her husband going for her,
and set them both down at home, and so home to my office a
while, and so to supper and bed.
27th. Up, and after some discourse with Mr. Duke, who is to be
Secretary to the Fishery, and is now Secretary to the Committee
for Trade, who I find a very ingenious man, I went to Mr. Povy’s,
and there heard a little of his empty discourse, and fain he would
have Mr. Gauden been the victualler for Tangier, which none but
a fool would say to me when he knows he hath made it his re-
quest to me to get him something of these men that now do it.
Thence to St. James’s, but Mr. Coventry being ill and in bed I did
not stay, but to White Hall a little, walked up and down, and so
home to fit papers against this afternoon, and after dinner to the
‘Change a little, and then to White Hall, where anon the Duke of
Yorke came, and a Committee we had of Tangier, where I read
over my rough draught of the contract for Tangier victualling,
and acquainted them with the death of Mr. Alsopp, which Mr.
Lanyon had told me this morning, which is a sad consideration
to see how uncertain a thing our lives are, and how little to be
presumed of in our greatest undertakings. The words of the con-
tract approved of, and I home and there came Mr. Lanyon to me
and brought my neighbour, Mr. Andrews, to me, whom he pro-
poses for his partner in the room of Mr. Alsopp, and I like well
enough of it. We read over the contract together, and discoursed
it well over and so parted, and I am glad to see it once over in
this condition again, for Mr. Lanyon and I had some discourse
to-day about my share in it, and I hope if it goes on to have my
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JULY 1664
first hopes of £300 per ann. They gone, I to supper and to bed.
This afternoon came my great store of Coles in, being to Chal-
dron, so that I may see how long they will last me.
28th. At the office all the morning, dined, after ‘Change, at
home, and then abroad, and seeing “The Bondman” upon the
posts, I consulted my oaths and find I may go safely this time
without breaking it; I went thither, notwithstanding my great de-
sire to have gone to Fleet Alley, God forgive me, again. There I
saw it acted. It is true, for want of practice, they had many of
them forgot their parts a little; but Betterton and my poor Ianthe
outdo all the world. There is nothing more taking in the world
with me than that play. Thence to Westminster to my barber’s,
and strange to think how when I find that Jervas himself did in-
tend to bring home my periwigg, and not Jane his maid, I did
desire not to have it at all, for I had a mind to have her bring it
home. I also went to Mr. Blagrave’s about speaking to him for
his kinswoman to come live with my wife, but they are not come
to town, and so I home by coach and to my office, and then to
supper and to bed. My present posture is thus: my wife in the
country and my mayde Besse with her and all quiett there. I am
endeavouring to find a woman for her to my mind, and above
all one that understands musique, especially singing. I am the
willinger to keepe one because I am in good hopes to get 2 or
£300 per annum extraordinary by the business of the victualling
of Tangier, and yet Mr. Alsopp, my chief hopes, is dead since
my looking after it, and now Mr. Lanyon, I fear, is, falling sicke
too. I am pretty well in health, only subject to wind upon any
cold, and then immediate and great pains. All our discourse is
of a Dutch warr and I find it is likely to come to it, for they are
very high and desire not to compliment us at all, as far as I hear,
but to send a good fleete to Guinny to oppose us there. My Lord
Sandwich newly gone to sea, and I, I think, fallen into his very
good opinion again, at least he did before his going, and by his
letter since, show me all manner of respect and confidence. I am
over-joyed in hopes that upon this month’s account I shall find
1364
JULY 1664
myself worth £1000, besides the rich present of two silver and
gilt flaggons which Mr. Gauden did give me the other day. I
do now live very prettily at home, being most seriously, quietly,
and neatly served by my two mayds Jane and the girle Su, with
both of whom I am mightily well pleased. My greatest trouble
is the settling of Brampton Estate, that I may know what to ex-
pect, and how to be able to leave it when I die, so as to be just to
my promise to my uncle Thomas and his son. The next thing is
this cursed trouble my brother Tom is likely to put us to by his
death, forcing us to law with his creditors, among others Dr. Tom
Pepys, and that with some shame as trouble, and the last how to
know in what manner as to saving or spending my father lives,
lest they should run me in debt as one of my uncle’s executors,
and I never the wiser nor better for it. But in all this I hope shortly
to be at leisure to consider and inform myself well.
29th. At the office all the morning dispatching of business, at
noon to the ‘Change after dinner, and thence to Tom Trice about
Dr. Pepys’s business, and thence it raining turned into Fleet Al-
ley, and there was with Cocke an hour or so. The jade, whether
I would not give her money or not enough; she would not offer
to invite to do anything, but on the contrary saying she had no
time, which I was glad of, for I had no mind to meddle with her,
but had my end to see what a cunning jade she was, to see her
impudent tricks and ways of getting money and raising the reck-
oning by still calling for things, that it come to 6 or 7 shillings
presently. So away home, glad I escaped without any inconve-
nience, and there came Mr. Hill, Andrews and Seignor Pedro,
and great store of musique we had, but I begin to be weary of
having a master with us, for it spoils, methinks, the ingenuity of
our practice. After they were gone comes Mr. Bland to me, sat till
11 at night with me, talking of the garrison of Tangier and serving
them with pieces of eight. A mind he hath to be employed there,
but dares not desire any courtesy of me, and yet would fain en-
gage me to be for him, for I perceive they do all find that I am the
busy man to see the King have right done him by inquiring out
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JULY 1664
other bidders. Being quite tired with him, I got him gone, and so
to bed.
30th. All the morning at the office; at noon to the ‘Change,
where great talke of a rich present brought by an East India ship
from some of the Princes of India, worth to the King £70,000 in
two precious stones. After dinner to the office, and there all the
afternoon making an end of several things against the end of the
month, that I may clear all my reckonings tomorrow; also this
afternoon, with great content, I finished the contracts for vict-
ualling of Tangier with Mr. Lanyon and the rest, and to my com-
fort got him and Andrews to sign to the giving me £300 per an-
num, by which, at least, I hope to be a £100 or two the better.
Wrote many letters by the post to ease my mind of business and
to clear my paper of minutes, as I did lately oblige myself to clear
every thing against the end of the month. So at night with my
mind quiet and contented to bed. This day I sent a side of veni-
son and six bottles of wine to Kate Joyce.
31st (Lord’s day). Up, and to church, where I have not been
these many weeks. So home, and thither, inviting him yesterday,
comes Mr. Hill, at which I was a little troubled, but made up all
very well, carrying him with me to Sir J. Minnes, where I was
invited and all our families to a venison pasty. Here good cheer
and good discourse. After dinner Mr. Hill and I to my house, and
there to musique all the afternoon. He being gone, in the evening
I to my accounts, and to my great joy and with great thanks to
Almighty God, I do find myself most clearly worth £1014, the
first time that ever I was worth £1000 before, which is the height
of all that ever I have for a long time pretended to. But by the
blessing of God upon my care I hope to lay up something more
in a little time, if this business of the victualling of Tangier goes
on as I hope it will. So with praise to God for this state of fortune
that I am brought to as to wealth, and my condition being as I
have at large set it down two days ago in this book, I home to
supper and to bed, desiring God to give me the grace to make
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JULY 1664
good use of what I have and continue my care and diligence to
gain more.
1367
AUGUST 1664
August 1st. Up, my mind very light from my last night’s ac-
counts, and so up and with Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and Sir
W. Pen to St. James’s, where among other things having pre-
pared with some industry every man a part this morning and no
sooner (for fear they should either consider of it or discourse of
it one to another) Mr. Coventry did move the Duke and obtain
it that one of the clerkes of the Clerke of the Acts should have
an addition of £30 a year, as Mr. Turner hath, which I am glad
of, that I may give T. Hater £20 and keep £10 towards a boy’s
keeping. Thence Mr. Coventry and I to the Attorney’s chamber
at the Temple, but not being there we parted, and I home, and
there with great joy told T. Hater what I had done, with which the
poor wretch was very glad, though his modesty would not suffer
him to say much. So to the Coffee-house, and there all the house
full of the victory Generall Soushe431 (who is a Frenchman, a sol-
dier of fortune, commanding part of the German army) hath had
against the Turke; killing 4,000 men, and taking most extraor-
dinary spoil. Thence taking up Harman and his wife, carried
them to Anthony Joyce’s, where we had my venison in a pasty
well done; but, Lord! to see how much they made of, it, as if
431 General Soushe was Louis Ratuit, Comte de Souches. The battle was
fought at Lewenz (or Leva), in Hungary.–B.
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AUGUST 1664
they had never eat any before, and very merry we were, but Will
most troublesomely so, and I find he and his wife have a most
wretched life one with another, but we took no notice, but were
very merry as I could be in such company. But Mrs. Harman is
a very pretty-humoured wretch, whom I could love with all my
heart, being so good and innocent company. Thence to Westmin-
ster to Mr. Blagrave’s, and there, after singing a thing or two over,
I spoke to him about a woman for my wife, and he offered me his
kinswoman, which I was glad of, but she is not at present well,
but however I hope to have her. Thence to my Lord Chancel-
lor’s, and thence with Mr. Coventry, who appointed to meet me
there, and with him to the Attorney General, and there with Sir
Ph. Warwicke consulted of a new commission to be had through
the Broad Seale to enable us to make this contract for Tangier
victualling. So home, and there talked long with Will about the
young woman of his family which he spoke of for to live with
my wife, but though she hath very many good qualitys, yet be-
ing a neighbour’s child and young and not very staid, I dare not
venture of having her, because of her being able to spread any
report of our family upon any discontent among the heart of our
neighbours. So that my dependance is upon Mr. Blagrave, and so
home to supper and to bed. Last night, at 12 o’clock, I was waked
with knocking at Sir W. Pen’s door; and what was it but people’s
running up and down to bring him word that his brother,432 who
hath been a good while, it seems, sicke, is dead.
2nd. At the office all the morning. At noon dined, and then
to, the ‘Change, and there walked two hours or more with Sir W.
432 George Penn, the elder brother of Sir W. Penn, was a wealthy merchant
at San Lucar, the port of Seville. He was seized as a heretic by the Holy
Office, and cast into a dungeon eight feet square and dark as the grave. There
he remained three years, every month being scourged to make him confess
his crimes. At last, after being twice put to the rack, he offered to confess
whatever they would suggest. His property, £12,000, was then confiscated,
his wife, a Catholic, taken from him, and he was banished from Spain for
ever.–M. B.
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AUGUST 1664
Warren, who after much discourse in general of Sir W. Batten’s
dealings, he fell to talk how every body must live by their places,
and that he was willing, if I desired it, that I should go shares
with him in anything that he deals in. He told me again and
again, too, that he confesses himself my debtor too for my service
and friendship to him in his present great contract of masts, and
that between this and Christmas he shall be in stocke and will
pay it me. This I like well, but do not desire to become a mer-
chant, and, therefore, put it off, but desired time to think of it.
Thence to the King’s play-house, and there saw “Bartholomew
Fayre,” which do still please me; and is, as it is acted, the best
comedy in the world, I believe. I chanced to sit by Tom Killigrew,
who tells me that he is setting up a Nursery; that is, is going
to build a house in Moorefields, wherein he will have common
plays acted. But four operas it shall have in the year, to act six
weeks at a time; where we shall have the best scenes and ma-
chines, the best musique, and every thing as magnificent as is in
Christendome; and to that end hath sent for voices and painters
and other persons from Italy. Thence homeward called upon my
Lord Marlborough, and so home and to my office, and then to Sir
W. Pen, and with him and our fellow officers and servants of the
house and none else to Church to lay his brother in the ground,
wherein nothing handsome at all, but that he lays him under the
Communion table in the chancel, about nine at night? So home
and to bed.
3rd. Up betimes and set some joyners on work to new lay
my floor in our wardrobe, which I intend to make a room for
musique. Thence abroad to Westminster, among other things to
Mr. Blagrave’s, and there had his consent for his kinswoman
to come to be with my wife for her woman, at which I am well
pleased and hope she may do well. Thence to White Hall to meet
with Sir G. Carteret about hiring some ground to make our mast
docke at Deptford, but being Council morning failed, but met
with Mr. Coventry, and he and I discoursed of the likeliness of
a Dutch warr, which I think is very likely now, for the Dutch do
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AUGUST 1664
prepare a fleet to oppose us at Guinny, and he do think we shall,
though neither of us have a mind to it, fall into it of a sudden, and
yet the plague do increase among them, and is got into their fleet,
and Opdam’s own ship, which makes it strange they should be
so high. Thence to the ‘Change, and thence home to dinner, and
down by water to Woolwich to the rope yard, and there visited
Mrs. Falconer, who tells me odd stories of how Sir W. Pen was re-
warded by her husband with a gold watch (but seems not certain
of what Sir W. Batten told me, of his daughter having a life given
her in £80 per ann.) for his helping him to his place, and yet cost
him £150 to Mr. Coventry besides. He did much advise it seems
Mr. Falconer not to marry again, expressing that he would have
him make his daughter his heire, or words to that purpose, and
that that makes him, she thinks, so cold in giving her any satis-
faction, and that W. Boddam hath publickly said, since he came
down thither to be clerke of the ropeyard, that it hath this week
cost him £100, and would be glad that it would cost him but half
as much more for the place, and that he was better before than
now, and that if he had been to have bought it, he would not
have given so much for it. Now I am sure that Mr. Coventry
hath again and again said that he would take nothing, but would
give all his part in it freely to him, that so the widow might have
something. What the meaning of this is I know not, but that Sir
W. Pen do get something by it. Thence to the Dockeyard, and
there saw the new ship in great forwardness. So home and to
supper, and then to the office, where late, Mr. Bland and I talking
about Tangier business, and so home to bed.
4th. Up betimes and to the office, fitting myself against a great
dispute about the East India Company, which spent afterwards
with us all the morning. At noon dined with Sir W. Pen, a piece
of beef only, and I counterfeited a friendship and mirth which I
cannot have with him, yet out with him by his coach, and he did
carry me to a play and pay for me at the King’s house, which is
“The Rivall Ladys,” a very innocent and most pretty witty play.
I was much pleased with it, and it being given me, I look upon
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it as no breach to my oathe. Here we hear that Clun, one of their
best actors, was, the last night, going out of towne (after he had
acted the Alchymist, wherein was one of his best parts that he
acts) to his country-house, set upon and murdered; one of the
rogues taken, an Irish fellow. It seems most cruelly butchered
and bound. The house will have a great miss of him. Thence
visited my Lady Sandwich, who tells me my Lord FitzHarding is
to be made a Marquis. Thence home to my office late, and so to
supper and to bed.
5th. Up very betimes and set my plaisterer to work about whit-
ing and colouring my musique roome, which having with great
pleasure seen done, about ten o’clock I dressed myself, and so
mounted upon a very pretty mare, sent me by Sir W. Warren, ac-
cording to his promise yesterday. And so through the City, not a
little proud, God knows, to be seen upon so pretty a beast, and
to my cozen W. Joyce’s, who presently mounted too, and he and
I out of towne toward Highgate; in the way, at Kentish-towne,
showing me the place and manner of Clun’s being killed and laid
in a ditch, and yet was not killed by any wounds, having only one
in his arm, but bled to death through his struggling. He told me,
also, the manner of it, of his going home so late [from] drinking
with his whore, and manner of having it found out. Thence for-
ward to Barnett, and there drank, and so by night to Stevenage, it
raining a little, but not much, and there to my great trouble, find
that my wife was not come, nor any Stamford coach gone down
this week, so that she cannot come. So vexed and weary, and not
thoroughly out of pain neither in my old parts, I after supper to
bed, and after a little sleep, W. Joyce comes in his shirt into my
chamber, with a note and a messenger from my wife, that she
was come by Yorke coach to Bigglesworth, and would be with us
to-morrow morning. So, mightily pleased at her discreete action
in this business, I with peace to sleep again till next morning. So
up, and
6th. Here lay Deane Honiwood last night. I met and talked
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AUGUST 1664
with him this morning, and a simple priest he is, though a good,
well-meaning man. W. Joyce and I to a game at bowles on the
green there till eight o’clock, and then comes my wife in the
coach, and a coach full of women, only one man riding by, gone
down last night to meet a sister of his coming to town. So very
joyful drank there, not ‘lighting, and we mounted and away with
them to Welling, and there ‘light, and dined very well and merry
and glad to see my poor-wife. Here very merry as being weary I
could be, and after dinner, out again, and to London. In our way
all the way the mightiest merry, at a couple of young gentlemen,
come down to meet the same gentlewoman, that ever I was in my
life, and so W. Joyce too, to see how one of them was horsed upon
a hard-trotting sorrell horse, and both of them soundly weary
and galled. But it is not to be set down how merry we were all
the way. We ‘light in Holborne, and by another coach my wife
and mayde home, and I by horseback, and found all things well
and most mighty neate and clean. So, after welcoming my wife
a little, to the office, and so home to supper, and then weary and
not very well to bed.
7th (Lord’s day). Lay long caressing my wife and talking, she
telling me sad stories of the ill, improvident, disquiett, and slut-
tish manner that my father and mother and Pall live in the coun-
try, which troubles me mightily, and I must seek to remedy it. So
up and ready, and my wife also, and then down and I showed
my wife, to her great admiration and joy, Mr. Gauden’s present
of plate, the two flaggons, which indeed are so noble that I hardly
can think that they are yet mine. So blessing God for it, we down
to dinner mighty pleasant, and so up after dinner for a while, and
I then to White Hall, walked thither, having at home met with a
letter of Captain Cooke’s, with which he had sent a boy for me to
see, whom he did intend to recommend to me. I therefore went
and there met and spoke with him. He gives me great hopes of
the boy, which pleases me, and at Chappell I there met Mr. Bla-
grave, who gives a report of the boy, and he showed me him, and
I spoke to him, and the boy seems a good willing boy to come to
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AUGUST 1664
me, and I hope will do well. I am to speak to Mr. Townsend to
hasten his clothes for him, and then he is to come. So I walked
homeward and met with Mr. Spong, and he with me as far as
the Old Exchange talking of many ingenuous things, musique,
and at last of glasses, and I find him still the same ingenuous
man that ever he was, and do among other fine things tell me
that by his microscope of his owne making he do discover that
the wings of a moth is made just as the feathers of the wing of a
bird, and that most plainly and certainly. While we were talking
came by several poor creatures carried by, by constables, for be-
ing at a conventicle. They go like lambs, without any resistance.
I would to God they would either conform, or be more wise, and
not be catched! Thence parted with him, mightily pleased with
his company, and away homeward, calling at Dan Rawlinson,
and supped there with my uncle Wight, and then home and eat
again for form sake with her, and then to prayers and to bed.
8th. Up and abroad with Sir W. Batten, by coach to St. James’s,
where by the way he did tell me how Sir J. Minnes would many
times arrogate to himself the doing of that that all the Board have
equal share in, and more that to himself which he hath had noth-
ing to do in, and particularly the late paper given in by him to
the Duke, the translation of a Dutch print concerning the quar-
rel between us and them, which he did give as his own when it
was Sir Richard Ford’s wholly. Also he told me how Sir W. Pen
(it falling in our discourse touching Mrs. Falconer) was at first
very great for Mr. Coventry to bring him in guests, and that at
high rates for places, and very open was he to me therein. After
business done with the Duke, I home to the Coffee-house, and
so home to dinner, and after dinner to hang up my fine pictures
in my dining room, which makes it very pretty, and so my wife
and I abroad to the King’s play-house, she giving me her time
of the last month, she having not seen any then; so my vowe is
not broke at all, it costing me no more money than it would have
done upon her, had she gone both her times that were due to her.
Here we saw “Flora’s Figarys.” I never saw it before, and by the
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AUGUST 1664
most ingenuous performance of the young jade Flora, it seemed
as pretty a pleasant play as ever I saw in my life. So home to sup-
per, and then to my office late, Mr. Andrews and I to talk about
our victualling commission, and then he being gone I to set down
my four days past journalls and expenses, and so home to bed.
9th. Up, and to my office, and there we sat all the morning, at
noon home, and there by appointment Mr. Blagrave came and
dined with me, and brought a friend of his of the Chappell with
him. Very merry at dinner, and then up to my chamber and there
we sung a Psalm or two of Lawes’s, then he and I a little talke
by ourselves of his kinswoman that is to come to live with my
wife, who is to come about ten days hence, and I hope will do
well. They gone I to my office, and there my head being a little
troubled with the little wine I drank, though mixed with beer,
but it may be a little more than I used to do, and yet I cannot
say so, I went home and spent the afternoon with my wife talk-
ing, and then in the evening a little to my office, and so home to
supper and to bed. This day comes the newes that the Emper-
our hath beat the Turke;433 killed the Grand Vizier and several
great Bassas, with an army of 80,000 men killed and routed; with
some considerable loss of his own side, having lost three gener-
als, and the French forces all cut off almost. Which is thought
as good a service to the Emperour as beating the Turke almost,
for had they conquered they would have been as troublesome to
him.434 10th. Up, and, being ready, abroad to do several small
businesses, among others to find out one to engrave my tables
433 This was the battle of St. Gothard, in which the Turks were defeated
with great slaughter by the imperial forces under Montecuculli, assisted by
the confederates from the Rhine, and by forty troops of French cavalry under
Coligni. St. Gothard is in Hungary, on the river Raab, near the frontier of
Styria; it is about one hundred and twenty miles south of Vienna, and thirty
east of Gratz. The battle took place on the 9th Moharrem, A.H. 1075, or 23rd
July, A.D. 1664 (old style), which is that used by Pepys.–B.
434 The fact is, the Germans were beaten by the Turks, and the French won
the battle for them.–B.
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AUGUST 1664
upon my new sliding rule with silver plates, it being so small
that Browne that made it cannot get one to do it. So I find out
Cocker, the famous writing-master, and get him to do it, and I set
an hour by him to see him design it all; and strange it is to see
him with his natural eyes to cut so small at his first designing it,
and read it all over, without any missing, when for my life I could
not, with my best skill, read one word or letter of it; but it is use.
But he says that the best light for his life to do a very small thing
by (contrary to Chaucer’s words to the Sun, “that he should lend
his light to them that small seals grave”), it should be by an arti-
ficial light of a candle, set to advantage, as he could do it. I find
the fellow, by his discourse, very ingenuous; and among other
things, a great admirer and well read in all our English poets,
and undertakes to judge of them all, and that not impertinently.
Well pleased with his company and better with his judgement
upon my Rule, I left him and home, whither Mr. Deane by agree-
ment came to me and dined with me, and by chance Gunner Bat-
ters’s wife. After dinner Deane and I [had] great discourse again
about my Lord Chancellor’s timber, out of which I wish I may
get well. Thence I to Cocker’s again, and sat by him with good
discourse again for an hour or two, and then left him, and by
agreement with Captain Silas Taylor (my old acquaintance at the
Exchequer) to the Post Officer to hear some instrument musique
of Mr. Berchenshaw’s before my Lord Brunkard and Sir Robert
Murray. I must confess, whether it be that I hear it but seldom, or
that really voice is better, but so it is that I found no pleasure at
all in it, and methought two voyces were worth twenty of it. So
home to my office a while, and then to supper and to bed.
11th. Up, and through pain, to my great grief forced to wear
my gowne to keep my legs warm. At the office all the morning,
and there a high dispute against Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen
about the breadth of canvas again, they being for the making of
it narrower, I and Mr. Coventry and Sir J. Minnes for the keeping
it broader. So home to dinner, and by and by comes Mr. Creed,
lately come from the Downes, and dined with me. I show him
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AUGUST 1664
a good countenance, but love him not for his base ingratitude to
me. However, abroad, carried my wife to buy things at the New
Exchange, and so to my Lady Sandwich’s, and there merry, talk-
ing with her a great while, and so home, whither comes Cocker
with my rule, which he hath engraved to admiration, for good-
ness and smallness of work: it cost me 14s. the doing, and might-
ily pleased I am with it. By and by, he gone, comes Mr. Moore
and staid talking with me a great while about my Lord’s busi-
nesses, which I fear will be in a bad condition for his family if
my Lord should miscarry at sea. He gone, I late to my office,
and cannot forbear admiring and consulting my new rule, and
so home to supper and to bed. This day, for a wager before the
King, my Lords of Castlehaven and Arran (a son of my Lord of
Ormond’s), they two alone did run down and kill a stoute bucke
in St. James’s parke.
12th. Up, and all the morning busy at the office with Sir W.
Warren about a great contract for New England masts, where I
was very hard with him, even to the making him angry, but I
thought it fit to do it as well as just for my owne [and] the King’s
behalf. At noon to the ‘Change a little, and so to dinner and then
out by coach, setting my wife and mayde down, going to Stevens
the silversmith to change some old silver lace and to go buy new
silke lace for a petticoat; I to White Hall and did much business
at a Tangier Committee; where, among other things, speaking
about propriety of the houses there, and how we ought to let
the Portugeses I have right done them, as many of them as con-
tinue, or did sell the houses while they were in possession, and
something further in their favour, the Duke in an anger I never
observed in him before, did cry, says he, “All the world rides us,
and I think we shall never ride anybody.” Thence home, and,
though late, yet Pedro being there, he sang a song and parted. I
did give him 5s., but find it burdensome and so will break up the
meeting. At night is brought home our poor Fancy, which to my
great grief continues lame still, so that I wish she had not been
brought ever home again, for it troubles me to see her.
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AUGUST 1664
13th. Up, and before I went to the office comes my Taylor with
a coate I have made to wear within doors, purposely to come no
lower than my knees, for by my wearing a gowne within doors
comes all my tenderness about my legs. There comes also Mr.
Reeve, with a microscope and scotoscope.435 For the first I did
give him £5 10s., a great price, but a most curious bauble it is,
and he says, as good, nay, the best he knows in England, and
he makes the best in the world. The other he gives me, and is
of value; and a curious curiosity it is to look objects in a darke
room with. Mightly pleased with this I to the office, where all
the morning. There offered by Sir W. Pen his coach to go to Ep-
sum and carry my wife, I stept out and bade my wife make her
ready, but being not very well and other things advising me to
the contrary, I did forbear going, and so Mr. Creed dining with
me I got him to give my wife and me a play this afternoon, lend-
ing him money to do it, which is a fallacy that I have found now
once, to avoyde my vowe with, but never to be more practised I
swear, and to the new play, at the Duke’s house, of “Henry the
Fifth;” a most noble play, writ by my Lord Orrery; wherein Bet-
terton, Harris, and Ianthe’s parts are most incomparably wrote
and done, and the whole play the most full of height and raptures
of wit and sense, that ever I heard; having but one incongruity, or
what did, not please me in it, that is, that King Harry promises to
plead for Tudor to their Mistresse, Princesse Katherine of France,
more than when it comes to it he seems to do; and Tudor refused
by her with some kind of indignity, not with a difficulty and hon-
our that it ought to have been done in to him. Thence home and
to my office, wrote by the post, and then to read a little in Dr.
Power’s book of discovery by the Microscope to enable me a lit-
tle how to use and what to expect from my glasse. So to supper
and to bed.
14th (Lord’s day). After long lying discoursing with my wife,
435 An optical instrument used to enable objects to be seen in the dark. The
name is derived from the Greek.
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AUGUST 1664
I up, and comes Mr. Holliard to see me, who concurs with me
that my pain is nothing but cold in my legs breeding wind, and
got only by my using to wear a gowne, and that I am not at
all troubled with any ulcer, but my thickness of water comes
from my overheat in my back. He gone, comes Mr. Herbert,
Mr. Honiwood’s man, and dined with me, a very honest, plain,
well-meaning man, I think him to be; and by his discourse and
manner of life, the true embleme of an old ordinary serving-man.
After dinner up to my chamber and made an end of Dr. Power’s
booke of the Microscope, very fine and to my content, and then
my wife and I with great pleasure, but with great difficulty be-
fore we could come to find the manner of seeing any thing by my
microscope. At last did with good content, though not so much
as I expect when I come to understand it better. By and by comes
W. Joyce, in his silke suit, and cloake lined with velvett: staid
talking with me, and I very merry at it. He supped with me; but
a cunning, crafty fellow he is, and dangerous to displease, for his
tongue spares nobody. After supper I up to read a little, and then
to bed.
15th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes by coach to St. James’s, and
there did our business with the Duke, who tells us more and
more signs of a Dutch warr, and how we must presently set out
a fleete for Guinny, for the Dutch are doing so, and there I be-
lieve the warr will begin. Thence home with him again, in our
way he talking of his cures abroad, while he was with the King
as a doctor, and above all men the pox. And among others, Sir J.
Denham he told me he had cured, after it was come to an ulcer
all over his face, to a miracle. To the Coffee-house I, and so to the
‘Change a little, and then home to dinner with Creed, whom I
met at the Coffee-house, and after dinner by coach set him down
at the Temple, and I and my wife to Mr. Blagrave’s. They be-
ing none of them at home; I to the Hall, leaving her there, and
thence to the Trumpett, whither came Mrs. Lane, and there be-
gins a sad story how her husband, as I feared, proves not worth
a farthing, and that she is with child and undone, if I do not get
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him a place. I had my pleasure here of her, and she, like an impu-
dent jade, depends upon my kindness to her husband, but I will
have no more to do with her, let her brew as she has baked, see-
ing she would not take my counsel about Hawly. After drinking
we parted, and I to Blagrave’s, and there discoursed with Mrs.
Blagrave about her kinswoman, who it seems is sickly even to
frantiqueness sometimes, and among other things chiefly from
love and melancholy upon the death of her servant,–[Servant =
lover.]–insomuch that she telling us all most simply and inno-
cently I fear she will not be able to come to us with any pleasure,
which I am sorry for, for I think she would have pleased us very
well. In comes he, and so to sing a song and his niece with us, but
she sings very meanly. So through the Hall and thence by coach
home, calling by the way at Charing Crosse, and there saw the
great Dutchman that is come over, under whose arm I went with
my hat on, and could not reach higher than his eye-browes with
the tip of my fingers, reaching as high as I could. He is a comely
and well-made man, and his wife a very little, but pretty comely
Dutch woman. It is true, he wears pretty high-heeled shoes, but
not very high, and do generally wear a turbant, which makes him
show yet taller than really he is, though he is very tall, as I have
said before. Home to my office, and then to supper, and then to
my office again late, and so home to bed, my wife and I troubled
that we do not speed better in this business of her woman.
16th. Wakened about two o’clock this morning with the noise
of thunder, which lasted for an houre, with such continued light-
nings, not flashes, but flames, that all the sky and ayre was light;
and that for a great while, not a minute’s space between new
flames all the time; such a thing as I never did see, nor could
have believed had ever been in nature. And being put into a
great sweat with it, could not sleep till all was over. And that
accompanied with such a storm of rain as I never heard in my
life. I expected to find my house in the morning overflowed with
the rain breaking in, and that much hurt must needs have been
done in the city with this lightning; but I find not one drop of
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AUGUST 1664
rain in my house, nor any newes of hurt done. But it seems it
has been here and all up and down the countrie hereabouts the
like tempest, Sir W. Batten saying much of the greatness thereof
at Epsum. Up and all the morning at the office. At noon busy
at the ‘Change about one business or other, and thence home to
dinner, and so to my office all the afternoon very busy, and so
to supper anon, and then to my office again a while, collecting
observations out of Dr. Power’s booke of Microscopes, and so
home to bed, very stormy weather to-night for winde. This day
we had newes that my Lady Pen is landed and coming hither, so
that I hope the family will be in better order and more neate than
it hath been.
17th. Up, and going to Sir W. Batten to speak to him about
business, he did give me three, bottles of his Epsum water, which
I drank and it wrought well with me, and did give me many
good stools, and I found myself mightily cooled with them and
refreshed. Thence I to Mr. Honiwood and my father’s old house,
but he was gone out, and there I staid talking with his man Her-
bert, who tells me how Langford and his wife are very foul-
mouthed people, and will speak very ill of my father, calling him
old rogue in reference to the hard penniworths he sold him of his
goods when the rogue need not have bought any of them. So that
I am resolved he shall get no more money by me, but it vexes me
to think that my father should be said to go away in debt himself,
but that I will cause to be remedied whatever comes of it. Thence
to my Lord Crew, and there with him a little while. Before dinner
talked of the Dutch war, and find that he do much doubt that we
shall fall into it without the money or consent of Parliament, that
is expected or the reason of it that is fit to have for every warr.
Dined with him, and after dinner talked with Sir Thomas Crew,
who told me how Mr. Edward Montagu is for ever blown up,
and now quite out with his father again; to whom he pretended
that his going down was, not that he was cast out of the Court,
but that he had leave to be absent a month; but now he finds
the truth. Thence to my Lady Sandwich, where by agreement
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AUGUST 1664
my wife dined, and after talking with her I carried my wife to
Mr. Pierce’s and left her there, and so to Captain Cooke’s, but he
was not at home, but I there spoke with my boy Tom Edwards,
and directed him to go to Mr. Townsend (with whom I was in
the morning) to have measure taken of his clothes to be made
him there out of the Wardrobe, which will be so done, and then
I think he will come to me. Thence to White Hall, and after long
staying there was no Committee of the Fishery as was expected.
Here I walked long with Mr. Pierce, who tells me the King do still
sup every night with my Lady Castlemayne, who he believes has
lately slunk a great belly away, for from very big she is come to be
down again. Thence to Mrs. Pierce’s, and with her and my wife
to see Mrs. Clarke, where with him and her very merry discours-
ing of the late play of Henry the 5th, which they conclude the
best that ever was made, but confess with me that Tudor’s being
dismissed in the manner he is is a great blemish to the play. I am
mightily pleased with the Doctor, for he is the only man I know
that I could learn to pronounce by, which he do the best that ever
I heard any man. Thence home and to the office late, and so to
supper and to bed. My Lady Pen came hither first to-night to Sir
W. Pen’s lodgings.
18th. Lay too long in bed, till 8 o’clock, then up and Mr. Reeve
came and brought an anchor and a very fair loadstone. He would
have had me bought it, and a good stone it is, but when he saw
that I would not buy it he said he [would] leave it for me to sell
for him. By and by he comes to tell me that he had present oc-
casion for £6 to make up a sum, and that he would pay me in
a day or two, but I had the unusual wit to deny him, and so by
and by we parted, and I to the office, where busy all the morn-
ing sitting. Dined alone at home, my wife going to-day to dine
with Mrs. Pierce, and thence with her and Mrs. Clerke to see
a new play, “The Court Secret.” I busy all the afternoon, toward
evening to Westminster, and there in the Hall a while, and then to
my barber, willing to have any opportunity to speak to Jane, but
wanted it. So to Mrs. Pierces, who was come home, and she and
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Mrs. Clerke busy at cards, so my wife being gone home, I home,
calling by the way at the Wardrobe and met Mr. Townsend, Mr.
Moore and others at the Taverne thereby, and thither I to them
and spoke with Mr. Townsend about my boy’s clothes, which he
says shall be soon done, and then I hope I shall be settled when
I have one in the house that is musicall. So home and to supper,
and then a little to my office, and then home to bed. My wife says
the play she saw is the worst that ever she saw in her life.
19th. Up and to the office, where Mr. Coventry and Sir W.
Pen and I sat all the morning hiring of ships to go to Guinny,
where we believe the warr with Holland will first break out. At
noon dined at home, and after dinner my wife and I to Sir W.
Pen’s, to see his Lady, the first time, who is a well-looked, fat,
short, old Dutchwoman, but one that hath been heretofore pretty
handsome, and is now very discreet, and, I believe, hath more
wit than her husband. Here we staid talking a good while, and
very well pleased I was with the old woman at first visit. So away
home, and I to my office, my wife to go see my aunt Wight, newly
come to town. Creed came to me, and he and I out, among other
things, to look out a man to make a case, for to keep my stone,
that I was cut of, in, and he to buy Daniel’s history, which he did,
but I missed of my end. So parted upon Ludgate Hill, and I home
and to the office, where busy till supper, and home to supper to
a good dish of fritters, which I bespoke, and were done much to
my mind. Then to the office a while again, and so home to bed.
The newes of the Emperour’s victory over the Turkes is by some
doubted, but by most confessed to be very small (though great)
of what was talked, which was 80,000 men to be killed and taken
of the Turke’s side.
20th. Up and to the office a while, but this day the Parliament
meeting only to be adjourned to November (which was done, ac-
cordingly), we did not meet, and so I forth to bespeak a case to
be made to keep my stone in, which will cost me 25s. Thence
I walked to Cheapside, there to see the effect of a fire there this
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AUGUST 1664
morning, since four o’clock; which I find in the house of Mr. Bois,
that married Dr. Fuller’s niece, who are both out of towne, leav-
ing only a mayde and man in towne. It begun in their house, and
hath burned much and many houses backward, though none for-
ward; and that in the great uniform pile of buildings in the mid-
dle of Cheapside. I am very sorry for them, for the Doctor’s sake.
Thence to the ‘Change, and so home to dinner. And thence to
Sir W. Batten’s, whither Sir Richard Ford came, the Sheriffe, who
hath been at this fire all the while; and he tells me, upon my ques-
tion, that he and the Mayor were there, as it is their dutys to be,
not only to keep the peace, but they have power of commanding
the pulling down of any house or houses, to defend the whole
City. By and by comes in the Common Cryer of the City to speak
with him; and when he was gone, says he, “You may see by this
man the constitution of the Magistracy of this City; that this fel-
low’s place, I dare give him (if he will be true to me) £1000 for his
profits every year, and expect to get £500 more to myself thereby.
When,” says he, “I in myself am forced to spend many times as
much.” By and by came Mr. Coventry, and so we met at the of-
fice, to hire ships for Guinny, and that done broke up. I to Sir W.
Batten’s, there to discourse with Mrs. Falconer, who hath been
with Sir W. Pen this evening, after Mr. Coventry had promised
her half what W. Bodham had given him for his place, but Sir W.
Pen, though he knows that, and that Mr. Bodham hath said that
his place hath cost him £100 and would £100 more, yet is he so
high against the poor woman that he will not hear to give her a
farthing, but it seems do listen after a lease where he expects Mr.
Falconer hath put in his daughter’s life, and he is afraid that that
is not done, and did tell Mrs. Falconer that he would see it and
know what is done therein in spite of her, when, poor wretch,
she neither do nor can hinder him the knowing it. Mr. Coventry
knows of this business of the lease, and I believe do think of it as
well as I. But the poor woman is gone home without any hope,
but only Mr. Coventry’s own nobleness. So I to my office and
wrote many letters, and so to supper and to bed.
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AUGUST 1664
21st (Lord’s day). Waked about 4 o’clock with my wife, hav-
ing a looseness, and peoples coming in the yard to the pump to
draw water several times, so that fear of this day’s fire made me
fearful, and called Besse and sent her down to see, and it was
Griffin’s maid for water to wash her house. So to sleep again,
and then lay talking till 9 o’clock. So up and drunk three bottles
of Epsum water, which wrought well with me. I all the morning
and most of the afternoon after dinner putting papers to rights
in my chamber, and the like in the evening till night at my of-
fice, and renewing and writing fair over my vowes. So home to
supper, prayers, and to bed. Mr. Coventry told us the Duke was
gone ill of a fit of an ague to bed; so we sent this morning to see
how he do.436 22nd. Up and abroad, doing very many errands
to my great content which lay as burdens upon my mind and
memory. Home to dinner, and so to White Hall, setting down
my wife at her father’s, and I to the Tangier Committee, where
several businesses I did to my mind, and with hopes thereby to
get something. So to Westminster Hall, where by appointment I
had made I met with Dr. Tom Pepys, but avoided all discourse
of difference with him, though much against my will, and he like
a doating coxcomb as he is, said he could not but demand his
money, and that he would have his right, and that let all anger
be forgot, and such sorry stuff, nothing to my mind, but only I
obtained this satisfaction, that he told me about Sturbridge last
was 12 months or 2 years he was at Brampton, and there my fa-
ther did tell him that what he had done for my brother in giving
him his goods and setting him up as he had done was upon con-
dition that he should give my brother John £20 per ann., which
he charged upon my father, he tells me in answer, as a great deal
of hard measure that he should expect that with him that had a
436 Elizabeth Falkener, wife of John Falkener, announced to Pepys the death
of “her dear and loving husband” in a letter dated July 19th, 1664 “begs in-
terest that she may be in something considered by the person succeeding her
husband in his employment, which has occasioned great expenses.” (“Cal-
endar of State Papers,” Domestic, 1663-64, p. 646)
1385
AUGUST 1664
brother so able as I am to do that for him. This is all that he says
he can say as to my father’s acknowledging that he had given
Tom his goods. He says his brother Roger will take his oath that
my father hath given him thanks for his counsel for his giving
of Tom his goods and setting him up in the manner that he hath
done, but the former part of this he did not speak fully so bad
nor as certain what he could say. So we walked together to my
cozen Joyce’s, where my wife staid for me, and then I home and
her by coach, and so to my office, then to supper and to bed.
23rd. Lay long talking with my wife, and angry awhile about
her desiring to have a French mayde all of a sudden, which I took
to arise from yesterday’s being with her mother. But that went
over and friends again, and so she be well qualitied, I care not
much whether she be French or no, so a Protestant. Thence to the
office, and at noon to the ‘Change, where very busy getting ships
for Guinny and for Tangier. So home to dinner, and then abroad
all the afternoon doing several errands, to comply with my oath
of ending many businesses before Bartholomew’s day, which is
two days hence. Among others I went into New Bridewell, in
my way to Mr. Cole, and there I saw the new model, and it
is very handsome. Several at work, among others, one pretty
whore brought in last night, which works very lazily. I did give
them 6d. to drink, and so away. To Graye’s Inn, but missed Mr.
Cole, and so homeward called at Harman’s, and there bespoke
some chairs for a room, and so home, and busy late, and then to
supper and to bed. The Dutch East India Fleete are now come
home safe, which we are sorry for. Our Fleets on both sides are
hastening out to Guinny.
24th. Up by six o’clock, and to my office with Tom Hater dis-
patching business in haste. At nine o’clock to White Hall about
Mr. Maes’s business at the Council, which stands in an ill con-
dition still. Thence to Graye’s Inn, but missed of Mr. Cole the
lawyer, and so walked home, calling among the joyners in Wood
Streete to buy a table and bade in many places, but did not buy it
1386
AUGUST 1664
till I come home to see the place where it is to stand, to judge how
big it must be. So after ‘Change home and a good dinner, and
then to White Hall to a Committee of the Fishery, where my Lord
Craven and Mr. Gray mightily against Mr. Creed’s being joined
in the warrant for Secretary with Mr. Duke. However I did get
it put off till the Duke of Yorke was there, and so broke up doing
nothing. So walked home, first to the Wardrobe, and there saw
one suit of clothes made for my boy and linen set out, and I think
to have him the latter end of this week, and so home, Mr. Creed
walking the greatest part of the way with me advising what to
do in his case about his being Secretary to us in conjunction with
Duke, which I did give him the best I could, and so home and to
my office, where very much business, and then home to supper
and to bed.
25th. Up and to the office after I had spoke to my taylor,
Langford (who came to me about some work), desiring to know
whether he knew of any debts that my father did owe of his own
in the City. He tells me, “No, not any.” I did on purpose try him
because of what words he and his wife have said of him (as Her-
bert told me the other day), and further did desire him, that if he
knew of any or could hear of any that he should bid them come
to me, and I would pay them, for I would not that because he do
not pay my brother’s debts that therefore he should be thought
to deny the payment of his owne. All the morning at the office
busy. At noon to the ‘Change, among other things busy to get a
little by the hire of a ship for Tangier. So home to dinner, and after
dinner comes Mr. Cooke to see me; it is true he was kind to me at
sea in carrying messages to and fro to my wife from sea, but I did
do him kindnesses too, and therefore I matter not much to com-
pliment or make any regard of his thinking me to slight him as
I do for his folly about my brother Tom’s mistress. After dinner
and some talk with him, I to my office; there busy, till by and by
Jacke Noble came to me to tell me that he had Cave in prison, and
that he would give me and my father good security that neither
we nor any of our family should be troubled with the child; for
1387
AUGUST 1664
he could prove that he was fully satisfied for him; and that if the
worst came to the worst, the parish must keep it; that Cave did
bring the child to his house, but they got it carried back again,
and that thereupon he put him in prison. When he saw that I
would not pay him the money, nor made anything of being se-
cured against the child, he then said that then he must go to law,
not himself, but come in as a witness for Cave against us. I could
have told him that he could bear witness that Cave is satisfied,
or else there is no money due to himself; but I let alone any such
discourse, only getting as much out of him as I could. I perceive
he is a rogue, and hath inquired into everything and consulted
with Dr. Pepys, and that he thinks as Dr. Pepys told him that my
father if he could would not pay a farthing of the debts, and yet I
made him confess that in all his lifetime he never knew my father
to be asked for money twice, nay, not once, all the time he lived
with him, and that for his own debts he believed he would do so
still, but he meant only for those of Tom. He said now that Ran-
dall and his wife and the midwife could prove from my brother’s
own mouth that the child was his, and that Tom had told them
the circumstances of time, upon November 5th at night, that he
got it on her. I offered him if he would secure my father against
being forced to pay the money again I would pay him, which at
first he would do, give his own security, and when I asked more
than his own he told me yes he would, and those able men, sub-
sidy men, but when we came by and by to discourse of it again
he would not then do it, but said he would take his course, and
joyne with Cave and release him, and so we parted. However,
this vexed me so as I could not be quiet, but took coach to go
speak with Mr. Cole, but met him not within, so back, buying a
table by the way, and at my office late, and then home to supper
and to bed, my mind disordered about this roguish business–in
every thing else, I thank God, well at ease.
26th. Up by 5 o’clock, which I have not been many a day, and
down by water to Deptford, and there took in Mr. Pumpfield
the rope-maker, and down with him to Woolwich to view Cloth-
1388
AUGUST 1664
ier’s cordage, which I found bad and stopped the receipt of it.
Thence to the ropeyard, and there among other things discoursed
with Mrs. Falconer, who tells me that she has found the writing,
and Sir W. Pen’s daughter is not put into the lease for her life as
he expected, and I am glad of it. Thence to the Dockyarde, and
there saw the new ship in very great forwardness, and so by wa-
ter to Deptford a little, and so home and shifting myself, to the
‘Change, and there did business, and thence down by water to
White Hall, by the way, at the Three Cranes, putting into an ale-
house and eat a bit of bread and cheese. There I could not get
into the Parke, and so was fain to stay in the gallery over the gate
to look to the passage into the Parke, into which the King hath
forbid of late anybody’s coming, to watch his coming that had
appointed me to come, which he did by and by with his lady and
went to Guardener’s Lane, and there instead of meeting with one
that was handsome and could play well, as they told me, she is
the ugliest beast and plays so basely as I never heard anybody,
so that I should loathe her being in my house. However, she
took us by and by and showed us indeed some pictures at one
Hiseman’s, a picture drawer, a Dutchman, which is said to ex-
ceed Lilly, and indeed there is both of the Queenes and Mayds
of Honour (particularly Mrs. Stewart’s in a buff doublet like a
soldier) as good pictures, I think, as ever I saw. The Queene is
drawn in one like a shepherdess, in the other like St. Katharin,
most like and most admirably. I was mightily pleased with this
sight indeed, and so back again to their lodgings, where I left
them, but before I went this mare that carried me, whose name I
know not but that they call him Sir John, a pitiful fellow, whose
face I have long known but upon what score I know not, but he
could have the confidence to ask me to lay down money for him
to renew the lease of his house, which I did give eare to there be-
cause I was there receiving a civility from him, but shall not part
with my money. There I left them, and I by water home, where at
my office busy late, then home to supper, and so to bed. This day
1389
AUGUST 1664
my wife tells me Mr. Pen,437 Sir William’s son, is come back from
France, and come to visit her. A most modish person, grown, she
says, a fine gentleman.
27th. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon
to the ‘Change, and there almost made my bargain about a ship
for Tangier, which will bring me in a little profit with Captain
Taylor. Off the ‘Change with Mr. Cutler and Sir W. Rider to Cut-
ler’s house, and there had a very good dinner, and two or three
pretty young ladies of their relations there. Thence to my case-
maker for my stone case, and had it to my mind, and cost me 24s.,
which is a great deale of money, but it is well done and pleases
me. So doing some other small errands I home, and there find
my boy, Tom Edwards, come, sent me by Captain Cooke, having
been bred in the King’s Chappell these four years. I propose to
make a clerke of him, and if he deserves well, to do well by him.
Spent much of the afternoon to set his chamber in order, and then
to the office leaving him at home, and late at night after all busi-
ness was done I called Will and told him my reason of taking a
boy, and that it is of necessity, not out of any unkindness to him,
nor should be to his injury, and then talked about his landlord’s
daughter to come to my wife, and I think it will be. So home and
find my boy a very schoole boy, that talks innocently and imper-
tinently, but at present it is a sport to us, and in a little time he
will leave it. So sent him to bed, he saying that he used to go to
bed at eight o’clock, and then all of us to bed, myself pretty well
pleased with my choice of a boy. All the newes this day is, that
the Dutch are, with twenty-two sayle of ships of warr, crewsing
up and down about Ostend; at which we are alarmed. My Lord
Sandwich is come back into the Downes with only eight sayle,
which is or may be a prey to the Dutch, if they knew our weak-
ness and inability to set out any more speedily.
437 William Penn, afterwards the famous Quaker. P. Gibson, writing to him
in March, 1711-12, says: “I remember your honour very well, when you
newly came out of France and wore pantaloon breeches”
1390
AUGUST 1664
28th (Lord’s day). Up the first time I have had great while.
Home to dined, and with my boy alone to church anybody to
attend me to church a dinner, and there met Creed, who, and
we merry together, as his learning is such and judgment that I
cannot but be pleased with it. After dinner I took him to church,
into our gallery, with me, but slept the best part of the sermon,
which was a most silly one. So he and I to walk to the ‘Change
a while, talking from one pleasant discourse to another, and so
home, and thither came my uncle Wight and aunt, and supped
with us mighty merry. And Creed lay with us all night, and so
to bed, very merry to think how Mr. Holliard (who came in this
evening to see me) makes nothing, but proving as a most clear
thing that Rome is Antichrist.
29th. Up betimes, intending to do business at my office, by
5 o’clock, but going out met at my door Mr. Hughes come to
speak with me about office business, and told me that as he came
this morning from Deptford he left the King’s yarde a-fire. So I
presently took a boat and down, and there found, by God’s prov-
idence, the fire out; but if there had been any wind it must have
burned all our stores, which is a most dreadfull consideration.
But leaving all things well I home, and out abroad doing many
errands, Mr. Creed also out, and my wife to her mother’s, and
Creed and I met at my Lady Sandwich’s and there dined; but
my Lady is become as handsome, I think, as ever she was; and
so good and discreet a woman I know not in the world. After
dinner I to Westminster to Jervas’s a while, and so doing many
errands by the way, and necessary ones, I home, and thither came
the woman with her mother which our Will recommends to my
wife. I like her well, and I think will please us. My wife and they
agreed, and she is to come the next week. At which I am very
well contented, for then I hope we shall be settled, but I must
remember that, never since I was housekeeper, I ever lived so
quietly, without any noise or one angry word almost, as I have
done since my present mayds Besse, Jane, and Susan came and
were together. Now I have taken a boy and am taking a woman, I
1391
AUGUST 1664
pray God we may not be worse, but I will observe it. After being
at my office a while, home to supper and to bed.
30th. Up and to the office, where sat long, and at noon to din-
ner at home; after dinner comes Mr. Pen to visit me, and staid an
houre talking with me. I perceive something of learning he hath
got, but a great deale, if not too much, of the vanity of the French
garbe and affected manner of speech and gait. I fear all real profit
he hath made of his travel will signify little. So, he gone, I to my
office and there very busy till late at night, and so home to supper
and to bed.
31st. Up by five o’clock and to my office, where T. Hater and
Will met me, and so we dispatched a great deal of my business
as to the ordering my papers and books which were behindhand.
All the morning very busy at my office. At noon home to dinner,
and there my wife hath got me some pretty good oysters, which
is very soon and the soonest, I think, I ever eat any. After din-
ner I up to hear my boy play upon a lute, which I have this day
borrowed of Mr. Hunt; and indeed the boy would, with little
practice, play very well upon the lute, which pleases me well. So
by coach to the Tangier Committee, and there have another small
business by which I may get a little small matter of money. Staid
but little there, and so home and to my office, where late cast-
ing up my monthly accounts, and, blessed be God! find myself
worth £1020, which is still the most I ever was worth. So home
and to bed. Prince Rupert I hear this day is to go to command
this fleete going to Guinny against the Dutch. I doubt few will
be pleased with his going, being accounted an unhappy’ man.
My mind at good rest, only my father’s troubles with Dr. Pepys
and my brother Tom’s creditors in general do trouble me. I have
got a new boy that understands musique well, as coming to me
from the King’s Chappell, and I hope will prove a good boy, and
my wife and I are upon having a woman, which for her content I
am contented to venture upon the charge of again, and she is one
that our’ Will finds out for us, and understands a little musique,
1392
AUGUST 1664
and I think will please us well, only her friends live too near us.
Pretty well in health, since I left off wearing of a gowne within
doors all day, and then go out with my legs into the cold, which
brought me daily pain.
1393
SEPTEMBER 1664
Sept. 1st. A sad rainy night, up and to the office, where busy
all the morning. At noon to the ‘Change and thence brought Mr.
Pierce, the Surgeon, and Creed, and dined very merry and hand-
somely; but my wife not being well of those she not with us; and
we cut up the great cake Moorcocke lately sent us, which is very
good. They gone I to my office, and there very busy till late at
night, and so home to supper and to bed.
2nd. Up very betimes and walked (my boy with me) to Mr.
Cole’s, and after long waiting below, he being under the bar-
ber’s hands, I spoke with him, and he did give me much hopes
of getting my debt that my brother owed me, and also that things
would go well with my father. But going to his attorney’s, that he
directed me to, they tell me both that though I could bring my fa-
ther to a confession of a judgment, yet he knowing that there are
specialties out against him he is bound to plead his knowledge
of them to me before he pays me, or else he must do it in his own
wrong. I took a great deal of pains this morning in the thorough
understanding hereof, and hope that I know the truth of our case,
though it be but bad, yet better than to run spending money and
all to no purpose. However, I will inquire a little more. Walked
home, doing very many errands by the way to my great content,
and at the ‘Change met and spoke with several persons about
1394
SEPTEMBER 1664
serving us with pieces of eight at Tangier. So home to dinner
above stairs, my wife not being well of those in bed. I dined by
her bedside, but I got her to rise and abroad with me by coach
to Bartholomew Fayre, and our boy with us, and there shewed
them and myself the dancing on the ropes, and several other the
best shows; but pretty it is to see how our boy carries himself so
innocently clownish as would make one laugh. Here till late and
dark, then up and down, to buy combes for my wife to give her
mayds, and then by coach home, and there at the office set down
my day’s work, and then home to bed.
3rd. I have had a bad night’s rest to-night, not sleeping well,
as my wife observed, and once or twice she did wake me, and I
thought myself to be mightily bit with fleas, and in the morning
she chid her mayds for not looking the fleas a-days. But, when I
rose, I found that it is only the change of the weather from hot to
cold, which, as I was two winters ago, do stop my pores, and
so my blood tingles and itches all day all over my body, and
so continued to-day all the day long just as I was then, and if
it continues to be so cold I fear I must come to the same pass, but
sweating cured me then, and I hope, and am told, will this also.
At the office sat all the morning, dined at home, and after dinner
to White Hall, to the Fishing Committee, but not above four of
us met, which could do nothing, and a sad thing it is to see so
great a work so ill followed, for at this pace it can come to any
thing at first sight. Mr. Hill came to tell me that he had got a
gentlewoman for my wife, one Mrs. Ferrabosco, that sings most
admirably. I seemed glad of it; but I hear she is too gallant for
me, and I am not sorry that I misse her. Thence to the office, set-
ting some papers right, and so home to supper and to bed, after
prayers.
5th. Up and to St. James’s, and there did our business with the
Duke; where all our discourse of warr in the highest measure.
Prince Rupert was with us; who is fitting himself to go to sea in
the Heneretta. And afterwards in White Hall I met him and Mr.
1395
SEPTEMBER 1664
Gray, and he spoke to me, and in other discourse, says he, “God
damn me, I can answer but for one ship, and in that I will do my
part; for it is not in that as in an army, where a man can command
every thing.” By and by to a Committee for the Fishery, the Duke
of Yorke there, where, after Duke was made Secretary, we fell to
name a Committee, whereof I was willing to be one, because I
would have my hand in the business, to understand it and be
known in doing something in it; and so, after cutting out work
for the Committee, we rose, and I to my wife to Unthanke’s, and
with her from shop to shop, laying out near £10 this morning in
clothes for her. And so I to the ‘Change, where a while, and so
home and to dinner, and thither came W. Bowyer and dined with
us; but strange to see how he could not endure onyons in sauce
to lamb, but was overcome with the sight of it, and so-was forced
to make his dinner of an egg or two. He tells us how Mrs. Lane is
undone, by her marrying so bad, and desires to speak with me,
which I know is wholly to get me to do something for her to get
her husband a place, which he is in no wise fit for. After dinner
down to Woolwich with a gaily, and then to Deptford, and so
home, all the way reading Sir J. Suck[l]ing’s “Aglaura,” which,
methinks, is but a mean play; nothing of design in it. Coming
home it is strange to see how I was troubled to find my wife, but
in a necessary compliment, expecting Mr. Pen to see her, who
had been there and was by her people denied, which, he having
been three times, she thought not fit he should be any more. But
yet even this did raise my jealousy presently and much vex me.
However, he did not come, which pleased me, and I to supper,
and to the office till 9 o’clock or thereabouts, and so home to bed.
My aunt James had been here to-day with Kate Joyce twice to see
us. The second time my wife was at home, and they it seems are
going down to Brampton, which I am sorry for, for the charge
that my father will be put to. But it must be borne with, and
my mother has a mind to see them, but I do condemn myself
mightily for my pride and contempt of my aunt and kindred that
are not so high as myself, that I have not seen her all this while,
1396
SEPTEMBER 1664
nor invited her all this while.
6th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon home to dinner, then to my office and there waited, think-
ing to have had Bagwell’s wife come to me about business, that I
might have talked with her, but she came not. So I to White Hall
by coach with Mr. Andrews, and there I got his contract for the
victualling of Tangier signed and sealed by us there, so that all
the business is well over, and I hope to have made a good busi-
ness of it and to receive £100 by it the next weeke, for which God
be praised! Thence to W. Joyce’s and Anthony’s, to invite them
to dinner to meet my aunt James at my house, and the rather be-
cause they are all to go down to my father the next weeke, and so
I would be a little kind to them before they go. So home, having
called upon Doll, our pretty ‘Change woman, for a pair of gloves
trimmed with yellow ribbon, to [match the] petticoate my wife
bought yesterday, which cost me 20s.; but she is so pretty, that,
God forgive me! I could not think it too much–which is a strange
slavery that I stand in to beauty, that I value nothing near it. So
going home, and my coach stopping in Newgate Market over
against a poulterer’s shop, I took occasion to buy a rabbit, but it
proved a deadly old one when I came to eat it, as I did do after
an hour being at my office, and after supper again there till past
11 at night. So home„ and to bed. This day Mr. Coventry did tell
us how the Duke did receive the Dutch Embassador the other
day; by telling him that, whereas they think us in jest, he believes
that the Prince (Rupert) which goes in this fleete to Guinny will
soon tell them that we are in earnest, and that he himself will do
the like here, in the head of the fleete here at home, and that for
the meschants, which he told the Duke there were in England,
which did hope to do themselves good by the King’s being at
warr, says he, the English have ever united all this private differ-
ence to attend foraigne, and that Cromwell, notwithstanding the
meschants in his time, which were the Cavaliers, did never find
them interrupt him in his foraigne businesses, and that he did
not doubt but to live to see the Dutch as fearfull of provoking the
1397
SEPTEMBER 1664
English, under the government of a King, as he remembers them
to have been under that of a Coquin. I writ all this story to my
Lord Sandwich tonight into the Downes, it being very good and
true, word for word from Mr. Coventry to-day.
7th. Lay long to-day, pleasantly discoursing with my wife
about the dinner we are to have for the Joyces, a day or two
hence. Then up and with Mr. Margetts to Limehouse to see his
ground and ropeyarde there, which is very fine, and I believe we
shall employ it for the Navy, for the King’s grounds are not suf-
ficient to supply our defence if a warr comes. Thence back to
the ‘Change, where great talke of the forwardnesse of the Dutch,
which puts us all to a stand, and particularly myself for my Lord
Sandwich, to think him to lie where he is for a sacrifice, if they
should begin with us. So home and Creed with me, and to din-
ner, and after dinner I out to my office, taking in Bagwell’s wife,
who I knew waited for me, but company came to me so soon that
I could have no discourse with her, as I intended, of pleasure. So
anon abroad with Creed walked to Bartholomew Fayre, this be-
ing the last day, and there saw the best dancing on the ropes that
I think I ever saw in my life, and so all say, and so by coach home,
where I find my wife hath had her head dressed by her woman,
Mercer, which is to come to her to-morrow, but my wife being
to go to a christening tomorrow, she came to do her head up to-
night. So a while to my office, and then to supper and to bed.
8th. Up and to the office, where busy all the morning. At noon
dined at home, and I by water down to Woolwich by a galley,
and back again in the evening. All haste made in setting out this
Guinny fleete, but yet not such as will ever do the King’s business
if we come to a warr. My wife this afternoon being very well
dressed by her new woman, Mary Mercer, a decayed merchant’s
daughter that our Will helps us to, did go to the christening of
Mrs. Mills, the parson’s wife’s child, where she never was before.
After I was come home Mr. Povey came to me and took me out to
supper to Mr. Bland’s, who is making now all haste to be gone for
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SEPTEMBER 1664
Tangier. Here pretty merry, and good discourse, fain to admire
the knowledge and experience of Mrs. Bland, who I think as
good a merchant as her husband. I went home and there find
Mercer, whose person I like well, and I think will do well, at least
I hope so. So to my office a while and then to bed.
9th. Up, and to put things in order against dinner. I out
and bought several things, among others, a dozen of silver salts;
home, and to the office, where some of us met a little, and then
home, and at noon comes my company, namely, Anthony and
Will Joyce and their wives, my aunt James newly come out of
Wales, and my cozen Sarah Gyles. Her husband did not come,
and by her I did understand afterwards, that it was because he
was not yet able to pay me the 40s. she had borrowed a year ago
of me.438 I was as merry as I could, giving them a good dinner;
but W. Joyce did so talk, that he made every body else dumb, but
only laugh at him. I forgot there was Mr. Harman and his wife,
my aunt, a very good harmlesse woman. All their talke is of her
and my two she-cozen Joyces and Will’s little boy Will (who was
also here to-day), down to Brampton to my father’s next week,
which will be trouble and charge to them, but however my fa-
ther and mother desire to see them, and so let them. They eyed
mightily my great cupboard of plate, I this day putting my two
flaggons upon my table; and indeed it is a fine sight, and better
than ever I did hope to see of my owne. Mercer dined with us
at table, this being her first dinner in my house. After dinner left
them and to White Hall, where a small Tangier Committee, and
so back again home, and there my wife and Mercer and Tom and
I sat till eleven at night, singing and fiddling, and a great joy it
is to see me master of so much pleasure in my house, that it is
and will be still, I hope, a constant pleasure to me to be at home.
438 Pepys would have been more proud of his cousin had he anticipated her
husband’s becoming a knight, for she was probably the same person whose
burial is recorded in the register of St. Helen’s, Bishopsgate, September 4th,
1704: “Dame Sarah Gyles, widow, relict of Sir John Gyles.”–B.
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SEPTEMBER 1664
The girle plays pretty well upon the harpsicon, but only ordinary
tunes, but hath a good hand; sings a little, but hath a good voyce
and eare. My boy, a brave boy, sings finely, and is the most pleas-
ant boy at present, while his ignorant boy’s tricks last, that ever I
saw. So to supper, and with great pleasure to bed.
10th. Up and to the office, where we sate all the morning, and
I much troubled to think what the end of our great sluggishness
will be, for we do nothing in this office like people able to carry
on a warr. We must be put out, or other people put in. Dined at
home, and then my wife and I and Mercer to the Duke’s house,
and there saw “The Rivalls,” which is no excellent play, but good
acting in it; especially Gosnell comes and sings and dances finely,
but, for all that, fell out of the key, so that the musique could not
play to her afterwards, and so did Harris also go out of the tune
to agree with her. Thence home and late writing letters, and this
night I received, by Will, £105, the first-fruits of my endeavours
in the late contract for victualling of Tangier, for which God be
praised! for I can with a safe conscience say that I have therein
saved the King £5000 per annum, and yet got myself a hope of
£300 per annum without the least wrong to the King. So to sup-
per and to bed.
11th (Lord’s day). Up and to church in the best manner I have
gone a good while, that is to say, with my wife, and her woman,
Mercer, along with us, and Tom, my boy, waiting on us. A dull
sermon. Home, dined, left my wife to go to church alone, and I
walked in haste being late to the Abbey at Westminster, accord-
ing to promise to meet Jane Welsh, and there wearily walked,
expecting her till 6 o’clock from three, but no Jane came, which
vexed me, only part of it I spent with Mr. Blagrave walking in
the Abbey, he telling me the whole government and discipline of
White Hall Chappell, and the caution now used against admit-
ting any debauched persons, which I was glad to hear, though
he tells me there are persons bad enough. Thence going home
went by Jarvis’s, and there stood Jane at the door, and so I took
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SEPTEMBER 1664
her in and drank with her, her master and mistress being out of
doors. She told me how she could not come to me this afternoon,
but promised another time. So I walked home contented with
my speaking with her, and walked to my uncle Wight’s, where
they were all at supper, and among others comes fair Mrs. Mar-
garett Wight, who indeed is very pretty. So after supper home
to prayers and to bed. This afternoon, it seems, Sir J. Minnes
fell sicke at church, and going down the gallery stairs fell down
dead, but came to himself again and is pretty well.
12th. Up, and to my cozen Anthony Joyce’s, and there took
leave of my aunt James, and both cozens, their wives, who are
this day going down to my father’s by coach. I did give my Aunt
20s., to carry as a token to my mother, and 10s. to Pall. Thence
by coach to St. James’s, and there did our business as usual with
the Duke; and saw him with great pleasure play with his little
girle,–[Afterwards Queen Mary II.]–like an ordinary private fa-
ther of a child. Thence walked to Jervas’s, where I took Jane in
the shop alone, and there heard of her, her master and mistress
were going out. So I went away and came again half an hour
after. In the meantime went to the Abbey, and there went in to
see the tombs with great pleasure. Back again to Jane, and there
upstairs and drank with her, and staid two hours with her kiss-
ing her, but nothing more. Anon took boat and by water to the
Neat Houses over against Fox Hall to have seen Greatorex dive,
which Jervas and his wife were gone to see, and there I found
them (and did it the rather for a pretence for my having been so
long at their house), but being disappointed of some necessaries
to do it I staid not, but back to Jane, but she would not go out
with me. So I to Mr. Creed’s lodgings, and with him walked up
and down in the New Exchange, talking mightily of the conve-
nience and necessity of a man’s wearing good clothes, and so af-
ter eating a messe of creame I took leave of him, he walking with
me as far as Fleete Conduit, he offering me upon my request to
put out some money for me into Backewell’s hands at 6 per cent.
interest, which he seldom gives, which I will consider of, being
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SEPTEMBER 1664
doubtful of trusting any of these great dealers because of their
mortality, but then the convenience of having one’s money, at an
houre’s call is very great. Thence to my uncle Wight’s, and there
supped with my wife, having given them a brave barrel of oys-
ters of Povy’s giving me. So home and to bed.
13th. Up and, to the office, where sat busy all morning, dined
at home and after dinner to Fishmonger’s Hall, where we met the
first time upon the Fishery Committee, and many good things
discoursed of concerning making of farthings, which was pro-
posed as a way of raising money for this business, and then that
of lotterys,439 but with great confusion; but I hope we shall fall
into greater order. So home again and to my office, where after
doing business home and to a little musique, after supper, and so
to bed.
14th. Up, and wanting some things that should be laid ready
for my dressing myself I was angry, and one thing after another
made my wife give Besse warning to be gone, which the jade,
whether out of fear or ill-nature or simplicity I know not, but
she took it and asked leave to go forth to look a place, and did,
which vexed me to the heart, she being as good a natured wench
as ever we shall have, but only forgetful. At the office all the
morning and at noon to the ‘Change, and there went off with
Sir W. Warren and took occasion to desire him to lend me £100,
which he said he would let the have with all his heart presently,
as he had promised me a little while ago to give me for my pains
in his two great contracts for masts £100, and that this should be
it. To which end I did move it to him, and by this means I hope to
be, possessed of the £100 presently within 2 or 3 days. So home
to dinner, and then to the office, and down to Blackwall by water
439 Among the State Papers is a “Statement of Articles in the Covenant pro-
posed by the Commissioners for the Royal Fishing to, Sir Ant. Desmarces &
Co. in reference to the regulation of lotteries; which are very unreasonable,
and of the objections thereto” (“Calendar of State Papers,” Domestic, 1663-
64, p. 576.)
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SEPTEMBER 1664
to view a place found out for laying of masts, and I think it will
be most proper. So home and there find Mr. Pen come to visit
my wife, and staid with them till sent for to Mr. Bland’s, whither
by appointment I was to go to supper, and against my will left
them together, but, God knows, without any reason of fear in my
conscience of any evil between them, but such is my natural folly.
Being thither come they would needs have my wife, and so Mr.
Bland and his wife (the first time she was ever at my house or
my wife at hers) very civilly went forth and brought her and W.
Pen, and there Mr. Povy and we supped nobly and very merry,
it being to take leave of Mr. Bland, who is upon going soon to
Tangier. So late home and to bed.
15th. At the office all the morning, then to the ‘Change, and
so home to dinner, where Luellin dined with us, and after din-
ner many people came in and kept me all the afternoon, among
other the Master and Wardens of Chyrurgeon’s Hall, who staid
arguing their cause with me; I did give them the best answer I
could, and after their being two hours with me parted, and I to
my office to do business, which is much on my hands, and so late
home to supper and to bed.
16th. Up betimes and to my office, where all the morning very
busy putting papers to rights. And among other things Mr. Gau-
den coming to me, I had a good opportunity to speak to him
about his present, which hitherto hath been a burden: to me, that
I could not do it, because I was doubtfull that he meant it as a
temptation to me to stand by him in the business of Tangier vict-
ualling; but he clears me it was not, and that he values me and
my proceedings therein very highly, being but what became me,
and that what he did was for my old kindnesses to him in dis-
patching of his business, which I was glad to hear, and with my
heart in good rest and great joy parted, and to my business again.
At noon to the ‘Change, where by appointment I met Sir W. War-
ren, and afterwards to the Sun taverne, where he brought to me,
being all alone; £100 in a bag, which I offered him to give him my
1403
SEPTEMBER 1664
receipt for, but he told me, no, it was my owne, which he had a lit-
tle while since promised me and was glad that (as I had told him
two days since) it would now do me courtesy; and so most kindly
he did give it me, and I as joyfully, even out of myself, carried it
home in a coach, he himself expressly taking care that nobody
might see this business done, though I was willing enough to
have carried a servant with me to have received it, but he advised
me to do it myself. So home with it and to dinner; after dinner
I forth with my boy to buy severall things, stools and andirons
and candlesticks, &c., household stuff, and walked to the mathe-
matical instrument maker in Moorefields and bought a large pair
of compasses, and there met Mr. Pargiter, and he would needs
have me drink a cup of horse-radish ale, which he and a friend
of his troubled with the stone have been drinking of, which we
did and then walked into the fields as far almost as Sir G. Whit-
more’s, all the way talking of Russia, which, he says, is a sad
place; and, though Moscow is a very great city, yet it is from the
distance between house and house, and few people compared
with this, and poor, sorry houses, the Emperor himself living in
a wooden house, his exercise only flying a hawk at pigeons and
carrying pigeons ten or twelve miles off and then laying wagers
which pigeon shall come soonest home to her house. All the win-
ter within doors, some few playing at chesse, but most drinking
their time away. Women live very slavishly there, and it seems
in the Emperor’s court no room hath above two or three win-
dows, and those the greatest not a yard wide or high, for warmth
in winter time; and that the general cure for all diseases there is
their sweating houses, or people that are poor they get into their
ovens, being heated, and there lie. Little learning among things
of any sort. Not a man that speaks Latin, unless the Secretary of
State by chance. Mr. Pargiter and I walked to the ‘Change to-
gether and there parted, and so I to buy more things and then
home, and after a little at my office, home to supper and to bed.
This day old Hardwicke came and redeemed a watch he had left
with me in pawne for 40s. seven years ago, and I let him gave it.
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SEPTEMBER 1664
Great talk that the Dutch will certainly be out this week, and will
sail directly to Guinny, being convoyed out of the Channel with
42 sail of ships.
17th. Up and to the office, where Mr. Coventry very angry to
see things go so coldly as they do, and I must needs say it makes
me fearful every day of having some change of the office, and the
truth is, I am of late a little guilty of being remiss myself of what
I used to be, but I hope I shall come to my old pass again, my
family being now settled again. Dined at home, and to the office,
where late busy in setting all my businesses in order, and I did a
very great and a very contenting afternoon’s work. This day my
aunt Wight sent my wife a new scarfe, with a compliment for the
many favours she had received of her, which is the several things
we have sent her. I am glad enough of it, for I see my uncle is so
given up to the Wights that I hope for little more of them. So
home to supper and to bed.
18th (Lord’s day). Up and to church all of us. At noon comes
Anthony and W. Joyce (their wives being in the country with my
father) and dined with me very merry as I can be in such com-
pany. After dinner walked to Westminster (tiring them by the
way, and so left them, Anthony in Cheapside and the other in
the Strand), and there spent all the afternoon in the Cloysters as I
had agreed with Jane Welsh, but she came not, which vexed me,
staying till 5 o’clock, and then walked homeward, and by coach
to the old Exchange, and thence to my aunt Wight’s, and invited
her and my uncle to supper, and so home, and by and by they
came, and we eat a brave barrel of oysters Mr. Povy sent me this
morning, and very merry at supper, and so to prayers and to bed.
Last night it seems my aunt Wight did send my wife a new scarfe,
laced, as a token for her many givings to her. It is true now and
then we give them some toys, as oranges, &c., but my aime is to
get myself something more from my uncle’s favour than this.
19th. Up, my wife and I having a little anger about her woman
already, she thinking that I take too much care of her at table to
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SEPTEMBER 1664
mind her (my wife) of cutting for her, but it soon over, and so up
and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen to St. James’s, and there
did our business with the Duke, and thence homeward straight,
calling at the Coffee-house, and there had very good discourse
with Sir—-Blunt and Dr. Whistler about Egypt and other things.
So home to dinner, my wife having put on to-day her winter new
suit of moyre, which is handsome, and so after dinner I did give
her £15 to lay out in linen and necessaries for the house and to
buy a suit for Pall, and I myself to White Hall to a Tangier Com-
mittee, where Colonell Reames hath brought us so full and me-
thodical an account of all matters there, that I never have nor
hope to see the like of any publique business while I live again.
The Committee up, I to Westminster to Jervas’s, and spoke with
Jane; who I find cold and not so desirous of a meeting as before,
and it is no matter, I shall be the freer from the inconvenience
that might follow thereof, besides offending God Almighty and
neglecting my business. So by coach home and to my office,
where late, and so to supper and to bed. I met with Dr. Pierce
to-day, who, speaking of Dr. Frazier’s being so earnest to have
such a one (one Collins) go chyrurgeon to the Prince’s person
will have him go in his terms and with so much money put into
his hands, he tells me (when I was wondering that Frazier should
order things with the Prince in that confident manner) that Fra-
zier is so great with my Lady Castlemayne, and Stewart, and all
the ladies at Court, in helping to slip their calfes when there is oc-
casion, and with the great men in curing of their claps that he can
do what he please with the King, in spite of any man, and upon
the same score with the Prince; they all having more or less oc-
casion to make use of him. Sir G. Carteret tells me this afternoon
that the Dutch are not yet ready to set out; and by that means do
lose a good wind which would carry them out and keep us in,
and moreover he says that they begin to boggle in the business,
and he thinks may offer terms of peace for all this, and seems to
argue that it will be well for the King too, and I pray God send
it. Colonell Reames did, among other things, this day tell me
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SEPTEMBER 1664
how it is clear that, if my Lord Tiviott had lived, he would have
quite undone Tangier, or designed himself to be master of it. He
did put the King upon most great, chargeable, and unnecessary
works there, and took the course industriously to deter, all other
merchants but himself to deal there, and to make both King and
all others pay what he pleased for all that was brought thither.
20th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, at
noon to the ‘Change, and there met by appointment with Cap-
tain Poyntz, who hath some place, or title to a place, belonging
to gameing, and so I discoursed with him about the business of
our improving of the Lotterys, to the King’s benefit, and that of
the Fishery, and had some light from him in the business, and
shall, he says, have more in writing from him. So home to din-
ner and then abroad to the Fishing Committee at Fishmongers’
Hall, and there sat and did some business considerable, and so
up and home, and there late at my office doing much business,
and I find with great delight that I am come to my good temper
of business again. God continue me in it. So home to supper, it
being washing day, and to bed.
21st. Up, and by coach to Mr. Povy’s, and there got him to
signe the payment of Captain Tayler’s bills for the remainder of
freight for the Eagle, wherein I shall be gainer about £30, thence
with him to Westminster by coach to Houseman’s [Huysman] the
great picture drawer, and saw again very fine pictures, and have
his promise, for Mr. Povy’s sake, to take pains in what picture
I shall set him about, and I think to have my wife’s. But it is a
strange thing to observe and fit for me to remember that I am at
no time so unwilling to part with money as when I am concerned
in the getting of it most, as I thank God of late I have got more in
this month, viz. near 0250, than ever I did in half a year before in
my life, I think. Thence to White Hall with him, and so walked to
the old Exchange and back to Povy’s to dinner, where great and
good company; among others Sir John Skeffington, whom I knew
at Magdalen College, a fellow-commoner, my fellow-pupil, but
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SEPTEMBER 1664
one with whom I had no great acquaintance, he being then, God
knows, much above me. Here I was afresh delighted with Mr.
Povy’s house and pictures of perspective, being strange things
to think how they do delude one’s eye, that methinks it would
make a man doubtful of swearing that ever he saw any thing.
Thence with him to St. James’s, and so to White Hall to a Tangier
Committee, and hope I have light of another opportunity of get-
ting a little money if Sir W. Warren will use me kindly for deales
to Tangier, and with the hopes went joyfully home, and there re-
ceived Captain Tayler’s money, received by Will to-day, out of
which (as I said above) I shall get above £30. So with great com-
fort to bed, after supper. By discourse this day I have great hopes
from Mr. Coventry that the Dutch and we shall not fall out.
22nd. Up and at the office all the morning. To the ‘Change at
noon, and among other things discoursed with Sir William War-
ren what I might do to get a little money by carrying of deales
to Tangier, and told him the opportunity I have there of doing it,
and he did give me some advice, though not so good as he would
have done at any other time of the year, but such as I hope to
make good use of, and get a little money by. So to Sir G. Carteret’s
to dinner, and he and I and Captain Cocke all alone, and good
discourse, and thence to a Committee of Tangier at White Hall,
and so home, where I found my wife not well, and she tells me
she thinks she is with child, but I neither believe nor desire it. But
God’s will be done! So to my office late, and home to supper and
to bed; having got a strange cold in my head, by flinging off my
hat at dinner, and sitting with the wind in my neck.440 23rd. My
cold and pain in my head increasing, and the palate of my mouth
falling, I was in great pain all night. My wife also was not well,
so that a mayd was fain to sit up by her all night. Lay long in the
morning, at last up, and amongst others comes Mr. Fuller, that
440 In Lord Clarendon’s Essay, “On the decay of respect paid to Age,” he
says that in his younger days he never kept his hat on before those older
than himself, except at dinner.–B.
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SEPTEMBER 1664
was the wit of Cambridge, and Praevaricator441 in my time, and
staid all the morning with me discoursing, and his business to get
a man discharged, which I did do for him. Dined with little heart
at noon, in the afternoon against my will to the office, where Sir
G. Carteret and we met about an order of the Council for the hir-
ing him a house, giving him £1000 fine, and £70 per annum for it.
Here Sir J. Minnes took occasion, in the most childish and most
unbeseeming manner, to reproach us all, but most himself, that
he was not valued as Comptroller among us, nor did anything
but only set his hand to paper, which is but too true; and every
body had a palace, and he no house to lie in, and wished he had
but as much to build him a house with, as we have laid out in
carved worke. It was to no end to oppose, but all bore it, and
after laughed at him for it. So home, and late reading “The Siege
of Rhodes” to my wife, and then to bed, my head being in great
pain and my palate still down.
24th. Up and to the office, where all the morning busy, then
home to dinner, and so after dinner comes one Phillips, who is
concerned in the Lottery, and from him I collected much con-
cerning that business. I carried him in my way to White Hall and
set him down at Somersett House. Among other things he told
me that Monsieur Du Puy, that is so great a man at the Duke of
Yorke’s, and this man’s great opponent, is a knave and by qual-
ity but a tailor. To the Tangier Committee, and there I opposed
Colonell Legg’s estimate of supplies of provisions to be sent to
441 At the Commencement (Comitia Majora) in July, the Praevaricator, or
Varier, held a similar position to the Tripos at the Comitia Minora. He was so
named from varying the question which he proposed, either by a play upon
the words or by the transposition of the terms in which it was expressed.
Under the pretence of maintaining some philosophical question, he poured
out a medley of absurd jokes and ‘personal ridicule, which gradually led to
the abolition of the office. In Thoresby’s “Diary” we read, “Tuesday, July 6th.
The Praevaricator’s speech was smart and ingenious, attended with vollies
of hurras” (see Wordsworth’s “University Life in the Eighteenth Century ”).–
M. B.
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SEPTEMBER 1664
Tangier till all were ashamed of it, and he fain after all his good
husbandry and seeming ignorance and joy to have the King’s
money saved, yet afterwards he discovered all his design to be
to keep the furnishing of these things to the officers of the Ord-
nance, but Mr. Coventry seconded me, and between us we shall
save the King some money in the year. In one business of deales
in £520, I offer to save £172, and yet purpose getting money, to
myself by it. So home and to my office, and business being done
home to supper and so to bed, my head and throat being still out
of order mightily. This night Prior of Brampton came and paid
me £40, and I find this poor painful man is the only thriving and
purchasing man in the town almost. We were told to-day of a
Dutch ship of 3 or 400 tons, where all the men were dead of the
plague, and the ship cast ashore at Gottenburgh.
25th (Lord’s day). Up, and my throat being yet very sore, and,
my head out of order, we went not to church, but I spent all the
morning reading of “The Madd Lovers,” a very good play, and
at noon comes Harman and his wife, whom I sent for to meet the
Joyces, but they came not. It seems Will has got a fall off his horse
and broke his face. However, we were as merry as I could in their
company, and we had a good chine of beef, but I had no taste
nor stomach through my cold, and therefore little pleased with
my dinner. It raining, they sat talking with us all the afternoon.
So anon they went away; and then I to read another play, “The
Custome of the Country,” which is a very poor one, methinks.
Then to supper, prayers, and bed.
26th. Up pretty well again, but my mouth very scabby, my
cold being going away, so that I was forced to wear a great black
patch, but that would not do much good, but it happens we did
not go to the Duke to-day, and so I staid at home busy all the
morning. At noon, after dinner, to the ‘Change, and thence home
to my office again, where busy, well employed till 10 at night,
and so home to supper and to bed, my mind a little troubled that
I have not of late kept up myself so briske in business; but mind
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SEPTEMBER 1664
my ease a little too much and my family upon the coming of Mer-
cer and Tom. So that I have not kept company, nor appeared very
active with Mr. Coventry, but now I resolve to settle to it again,
not that I have idled all my time, but as to my ease something. So
I have looked a little too much after Tangier and the Fishery, and
that in the sight of Mr. Coventry, but I have good reason to love
myself for serving Tangier, for it is one of the best flowers in my
garden.
27th. Lay long, sleeping, it raining and blowing very hard.
Then up and to the office, my mouth still being scabby and a
patch on it. At the office all the morning. At noon dined at home,
and so after dinner (Lewellin dining with me and in my way talk-
ing about Deering) to the Fishing Committee, and had there very
many fine things argued, and I hope some good will cone of it.
So home, where my wife having (after all her merry discourse
of being with child) her months upon her is gone to bed. I to
my office very late doing business, then home to supper and to
bed. To-night Mr. T. Trice and Piggot came to see me, and de-
sire my going down to Brampton Court, where for Piggot’s sake,
for whom it is necessary, I should go, I would be glad to go, and
will, contrary to my purpose, endeavour it, but having now al-
most £1000, if not above, in my house, I know not what to do
with it, and that will trouble my mind to leave in the house, and
I not at home.
28th. Up and by water with Mr. Tucker down to Woolwich,
first to do several businesses of the King’s, then on board Cap-
tain Fisher’s ship, which we hire to carry goods to Tangier. All
the way going and coming I reading and discoursing over some
papers of his which he, poor man, having some experience, but
greater conceit of it than is fit, did at the King’s first coming over
make proposals of, ordering in a new manner the whole revenue
of the kingdom, but, God knows, a most weak thing; however,
one paper I keep wherein he do state the main branches of the
publick revenue fit to consider and remember. So home, very
1411
SEPTEMBER 1664
cold, and fearfull of having got some pain, but, thanks be to God!
I was well after it. So to dinner, and after dinner by coach to
White Hall, thinking to have met at a Committee of Tangier, but
nobody being there but my Lord Rutherford, he would needs
carry me and another Scotch Lord to a play, and so we saw, com-
ing late, part of “The Generall,” my Lord Orrery’s (Broghill) sec-
ond play; but, Lord! to see how no more either in words, sense,
or design, it is to his “Harry the 5th” is not imaginable, and so
poorly acted, though in finer clothes, is strange. And here I must
confess breach of a vowe in appearance, but I not desiring it, but
against my will, and my oathe being to go neither at my own
charge nor at another’s, as I had done by becoming liable to give
them another, as I am to Sir W. Pen and Mr. Creed; but here
I neither know which of them paid for me, nor, if I did, am I
obliged ever to return the like, or did it by desire or with any
willingness. So that with a safe conscience I do think my oathe is
not broke and judge God Almighty will not think it other wise.
Thence to W. Joyce’s, and there found my aunt and cozen Mary
come home from my father’s with great pleasure and content,
and thence to Kate’s and found her also mighty pleased with her
journey and their good usage of them, and so home, troubled in
my conscience at my being at a play. But at home I found Mercer
playing on her Vyall, which is a pretty instrument, and so I to
the Vyall and singing till late, and so to bed. My mind at a great
losse how to go down to Brampton this weeke, to satisfy Piggott;
but what with the fears of my house, my money, my wife, and
my office, I know not how in the world to think of it, Tom Hater
being out of towne, and I having near £1000 in my house.
29th. Up and to the office, where all the morning, dined at
home and Creed with me; after dinner I to Sir G. Carteret, and
with him to his new house he is taking in Broad Streete, and there
surveyed all the rooms and bounds, in order to the drawing up
a lease thereof; and that done, Mr. Cutler, his landlord, took me
up and down, and showed me all his ground and house, which
is extraordinary great, he having bought all the Augustine Fry-
1412
SEPTEMBER 1664
ers, and many, many a £1000 he hath and will bury there. So
home to my business, clearing my papers and preparing my ac-
counts against tomorrow for a monthly and a great auditt. So to
supper and to bed. Fresh newes come of our beating the Dutch
at Guinny quite out of all their castles almost, which will make
them quite mad here at home sure. And Sir G. Carteret did tell
me, that the King do joy mightily at it; but asked him laughing,
“But,” says he, “how shall I do to answer this to the Embassador
when he comes?” Nay they say that we have beat them out of
the New Netherlands too;442 so that we have been doing them
mischief for a great while in several parts of the world; without
publique knowledge or reason. Their fleete for Guinny is now,
they say, ready, and abroad, and will be going this week. Com-
ing home to-night, I did go to examine my wife’s house accounts,
and finding things that seemed somewhat doubtful, I was angry
though she did make it pretty plain, but confessed that when she
do misse a sum, she do add something to other things to make
it, and, upon my being very angry, she do protest she will here
442 Captain (afterwards Sir Robert) Holmes’ expedition to attack the Dutch
settlements in Africa eventuated in an important exploit. Holmes suddenly
left the coast of Africa, sailed across the Atlantic, and reduced the Dutch set-
tlement of New Netherlands to English rule, under the title of New York.
“The short and true state of the matter is this: the country mentioned was
part of the province of Virginia, and, as there is no settling an extensive coun-
try at once, a few Swedes crept in there, who surrendered the plantations
they could not defend to the Dutch, who, having bought the charts and pa-
pers of one Hudson, a seaman, who, by the commission from the crown of
England, discovered a river, to which he gave his name, conceited they had
purchased a province. Sometimes, when we had strength in those parts, they
were English subjects; at others, when that strength declined, they were sub-
jects of the United Provinces. However, upon King Charles’s claim the States
disowned the title, but resumed it during our confusions. On March 12th,
1663-64, Charles II. granted it to the Duke of York ... The King sent Holmes,
when he returned, to the Tower, and did not discharge him; till he made it
evidently appear that he had not infringed the law of nations ”. (Campbell’s
“Naval History,” vol. ii, p., 89). How little did the King or Holmes himself
foresee the effects of the capture,–B.
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SEPTEMBER 1664
lay up something for herself to buy her a necklace with, which
madded me and do still trouble me, for I fear she will forget by
degrees the way of living cheap and under a sense of want.
30th. Up, and all day, both morning and afternoon, at my ac-
counts, it being a great month, both for profit and layings out, the
last being £89 for kitchen and clothes for myself and wife, and a
few extraordinaries for the house; and my profits, besides salary,
£239; so that I have this weeke, notwithstanding great layings
out, and preparations for laying out, which I make as paid this
month, my balance to come to £1203, for which the Lord’s name
be praised! Dined at home at noon, staying long looking for Kate
Joyce and my aunt James and Mary, but they came not. So my
wife abroad to see them, and took Mary Joyce to a play. Then in
the evening came and sat working by me at the office, and late
home to supper and to bed, with my heart in good rest for this
day’s work, though troubled to think that my last month’s negli-
gence besides the making me neglect business and spend money,
and lessen myself both as to business and the world and myself,
I am fain to preserve my vowe by paying 20s. dry–[ Dry = hard,
as “hard cash.” ]–money into the poor’s box, because I had not
fulfilled all my memorandums and paid all my petty debts and
received all my petty credits, of the last month, but I trust in God
I shall do so no more.
1414
OCTOBER 1664
October 1st. Up and at the office both forenoon and afternoon
very busy, and with great pleasure in being so. This morning
Mrs. Lane (now Martin) like a foolish woman, came to the Horse-
shoe hard by, and sent for me while I was: at the office; to come
to speak with her by a note sealed up, I know to get me to do
something for her husband, but I sent her an answer that I would
see her at Westminster, and so I did not go, and she went away,
poor soul. At night home to supper, weary, and my eyes sore
with writing and reading, and to bed. We go now on with great
vigour in preparing against the Dutch, who, they say, will now
fall upon us without doubt upon this high newes come of our
beating them so, wholly in Guinny.
2nd (Lord’s day). My wife not being well to go to church
I walked with my boy through the City, putting in at several
churches, among others at Bishopsgate, and there saw the pic-
ture usually put before the King’s book, put up in the church,
but very ill painted, though it were a pretty piece to set up in a
church. I intended to have seen the Quakers, who, they say, do
meet every Lord’s day at the Mouth at Bishopsgate; but I could
see none stirring, nor was it fit to aske for the place, so I walked
over Moorefields, and thence to Clerkenwell church, and there,
as I wished, sat next pew to the fair Butler, who indeed is a most
1415
OCTOBER 1664
perfect beauty still; and one I do very much admire myself for
my choice of her for a beauty, she having the best lower part of
her face that ever I saw all days of my life. After church I walked
to my Lady Sandwich’s, through my Lord Southampton’s new
buildings in the fields behind Gray’s Inn; and, indeed, they are
a very great and a noble work. So I dined with my Lady, and
the same innocent discourse that we used to have, only after din-
ner, being alone, she asked me my opinion about Creed, whether
he would have a wife or no, and what he was worth, and pro-
posed Mrs. Wright for him, which, she says, she heard he was
once inquiring after. She desired I would take a good time and
manner of proposing it, and I said I would, though I believed he
would love nothing but money, and much was not to be expected
there, she said. So away back to Clerkenwell Church, thinking to
have got sight of la belle Boteler again, but failed, and so after
church walked all over the fields home, and there my wife was
angry with me for not coming home, and for gadding abroad to
look after beauties, she told me plainly, so I made all peace, and
to supper. This evening came Mrs. Lane (now Martin) with her
husband to desire my helpe about a place for him. It seems poor
Mr. Daniel is dead of the Victualling Office, a place too good for
this puppy to follow him in. But I did give him the best words
I could, and so after drinking a glasse of wine sent them going,
but with great kindnesse. Go to supper, prayers, and to bed.
3rd. Up with Sir J. Minnes, by coach, to St. James’s; and there
all the newes now of very hot preparations for the Dutch: and
being with the Duke, he told us he was resolved to make a tripp
himself, and that Sir W. Pen should go in the same ship with
him. Which honour, God forgive me! I could grudge him, for
his knavery and dissimulation, though I do not envy much the
having the same place myself. Talke also of great haste in the
getting out another fleete, and building some ships; and now it
is likely we have put one another by each other’s dalliance past a
retreate. Thence with our heads full of business we broke up, and
I to my barber’s, and there only saw Jane and stroked her under
1416
OCTOBER 1664
the chin, and away to the Exchange, and there long about several
businesses, hoping to get money by them, and thence home to
dinner and there found Hawly. But meeting Bagwell’s wife at
the office before I went home I took her into the office and there
kissed her only. She rebuked me for doing it, saying that did I
do so much to many bodies else it would be a stain to me. But
I do not see but she takes it well enough, though in the main
I believe she is very honest. So after some kind discourse we
parted, and I home to dinner, and after dinner down to Deptford,
where I found Mr. Coventry, and there we made, an experiment
of Holland’s and our cordage, and ours outdid it a great deale,
as my book of observations tells particularly. Here we were late,
and so home together by water, and I to my office, where late,
putting things in order. Mr. Bland came this night to me to take
his leave of me, he going to Tangier, wherein I wish him good
successe. So home to supper and to bed, my mind troubled at the
businesses I have to do, that I cannot mind them as I ought to do
and get money, and more that I have neglected my frequenting
and seeming more busy publicly than I have done of late in this
hurry of business, but there is time left to recover it, and I trust in
God I shall.
4th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
this morning Sir W. Pen went to Chatham to look: after the ships
now going out thence, and particularly that wherein the Duke
and himself go. He took Sir G. Ascue with: him, whom, I be-
lieve, he hath brought into play. At noon to the ‘Change and
thence home, where I found my aunt James and the two she
joyces. They dined and were merry with us. Thence after din-
ner to a play, to see “The Generall;” which is so dull and so ill-
acted, that I think it is the worst. I ever saw or heard in all my
days. I happened to sit near; to Sir Charles Sidly; who I find a
very witty man, and he did at every line take notice of the dull-
ness of the poet and badness of the action, that most pertinently;
which I was mightily taken with; and among others where by
Altemire’s command Clarimont, the Generall, is commanded to
1417
OCTOBER 1664
rescue his Rivall, whom she loved, Lucidor, he, after a great deal
of demurre, broke out; “Well, I’le save my Rivall and make her
confess, that I deserve, while he do but possesse.” “Why, what,
pox,” says Sir Charles Sydly, “would he have him have more, or
what is there more to be had of a woman than the possessing
her?” Thence-setting all them at home, I home with my wife and
Mercer, vexed at my losing my time and above 20s. in money,
and neglecting my business to see so bad a play. To-morrow they
told us should be acted, or the day after, a new play, called “The
Parson’s Dreame,” acted all by women. So to my office, and there
did business; and so home to supper and to bed.
5th. Up betimes and to my office, and thence by coach to New
Bridewell to meet with Mr. Poyntz to discourse with him (be-
ing Master of the Workhouse there) about making of Bewpers
for us. But he was not within; however his clerke did lead me
up and down through all the house, and there I did with great
pleasure see the many pretty works, and the little children em-
ployed, every one to do something, which was a very fine sight,
and worthy encouragement. I cast away a crowne among them,
and so to the ‘Change and among the Linnen Wholesale Drapers
to enquire about Callicos, to see what can be done with them for
the supplying our want of Bewpers for flaggs, and I think I shall
do something therein to good purpose for the King. So to the
Coffeehouse, and there fell in discourse with the Secretary of the
Virtuosi of Gresham College, and had very fine discourse with
him. He tells me of a new invented instrument to be tried before
the College anon, and I intend to see it. So to Trinity House, and
there I dined among the old dull fellows, and so home and to
my office a while, and then comes Mr. Cocker to see me, and I
discoursed with him about his writing and ability of sight, and
how I shall do to get some glasse or other to helpe my eyes by
candlelight; and he tells me he will bring me the helps he hath
within a day or two, and shew me what he do. Thence to the
Musique-meeting at the Postoffice, where I was once before. And
thither anon come all the Gresham College, and a great deal of
1418
OCTOBER 1664
noble company: and the new instrument was brought called the
Arched Viall,443 where being tuned with lute-strings, and played
on with kees like an organ, a piece of parchment is always kept
moving; and the strings, which by the kees are pressed down
upon it, are grated in imitation of a bow, by the parchment; and
so it is intended to resemble several vyalls played on with one
bow, but so basely and harshly, that it will never do. But af-
ter three hours’ stay it could not be fixed in tune; and so they
were fain to go to some other musique of instruments, which I
am grown quite out of love with, and so I, after some good dis-
course with Mr. Spong, Hill, Grant, and Dr. Whistler, and others
by turns, I home to my office and there late, and so home, where
I understand my wife has spoke to Jane and ended matters of
difference between her and her, and she stays with us, which I
am glad of; for her fault is nothing but sleepiness and forget-
fulness, otherwise a good-natured, quiet, well-meaning, honest
servant, and one that will do as she is bid, so one called upon
her and will see her do it. This morning, by three o’clock, the
Prince–[Rupert]–and King, and Duke with him, went down the
River, and the Prince under sail the next tide after, and so is gone
from the Hope. God give him better successe than he used to
have! This day Mr. Bland went away hence towards his voyage
to Tangier. This day also I had a letter from an unknown hand
that tells me that Jacke Angier, he believes, is dead at Lisbon, for
he left him there ill.
6th. Up and to the office, where busy all the morning, among
443 “There seems to be a curious fate reigning over the instruments which
have the word ‘arch’ prefixed to their name. They have no vitality, and some-
how or other come to grief. Even the famous archlute, which was still a
living thing in the time of Handel, has now disappeared from the concert
room and joined Mr. Pepys’s ‘Arched Viall’ in the limbo of things forgot-
ten.... Mr. Pepys’s verdict that it would never do... has been fully confirmed
by the event, as his predictions usually were, being indeed always founded
on calm judgment and close observation.”–B. (Hueffer’s Italian and other
Studies, 1883, p. 263).
1419
OCTOBER 1664
other things about this of the flags and my bringing in of callicos
to oppose Young and Whistler. At noon by promise Mr. Pierce
and his wife and Madam Clerke and her niece came and dined
with me to a rare chine of beefe and spent the afternoon very
pleasantly all the afternoon, and then to my office in the evening,
they being gone, and late at business, and then home to supper
and to bed, my mind coming to itself in following of my business.
7th. Lay pretty while with some discontent abed, even to the
having bad words with my wife, and blows too, about the ill-
serving up of our victuals yesterday; but all ended in love, and
so I rose and to my office busy all the morning. At noon dined
at home, and then to my office again, and then abroad to look af-
ter callicos for flags, and hope to get a small matter by my pains
therein and yet save the King a great deal of money, and so home
to my office, and there came Mr. Cocker, and brought me a globe
of glasse, and a frame of oyled paper, as I desired, to show me the
manner of his gaining light to grave by, and to lessen the glaring-
nesse of it at pleasure by an oyled paper. This I bought of him,
giving him a crowne for it; and so, well satisfied, he went away,
and I to my business again, and so home to supper, prayers, and
to bed.
8th. All the morning at the office, and after dinner abroad,
and among other things contracted with one Mr. Bridges, at the
White Bear on Cornhill, for 100 pieces of Callico to make flaggs;
and as I know I shall save the King money, so I hope to get a little
for my pains and venture of my own money myself. Late in the
evening doing business, and then comes Captain Tayler, and he
and I till 12 o’clock at night arguing about the freight of his ship
Eagle, hired formerly by me to Tangier, and at last we made an
end, and I hope to get a little money, some small matter by it.
So home to bed, being weary and cold, but contented that I have
made an end of that business.
9th (Lord’s day). Lay pretty long, but however up time enough
with my wife to go to church. Then home to dinner, and Mr.
1420
OCTOBER 1664
Fuller, my Cambridge acquaintance, coming to me about what
he was with me lately, to release a waterman, he told me he
was to preach at Barking Church; and so I to heare him, and he
preached well and neatly. Thence, it being time enough, to our
owne church, and there staid wholly privately at the great doore
to gaze upon a pretty lady, and from church dogged her home,
whither she went to a house near Tower hill, and I think her to be
one of the prettiest women I ever saw. So home, and at my office
a while busy, then to my uncle Wight’s, whither it seems my wife
went after sermon and there supped, but my aunt and uncle in
a very ill humour one with another, but I made shift with much
ado to keep them from scolding, and so after supper home and to
bed without prayers, it being cold, and to-morrow washing day.
10th. Up and, it being rainy, in Sir W. Pen’s coach to St. James’s,
and there did our usual business with the Duke, and more and
more preparations every day appear against the Dutch, and
(which I must confess do a little move my envy) Sir W. Pen do
grow every day more and more regarded by the Duke,444 because
of his service heretofore in the Dutch warr which I am confident
is by some strong obligations he hath laid upon Mr. Coventry;
for Mr. Coventry must needs know that he is a man of very mean
parts, but only a bred seaman: Going home in coach with Sir W.
Batten he told me how Sir J. Minnes by the means of Sir R. Ford
was the last night brought to his house and did discover the rea-
son of his so long discontent with him, and now they are friends
again, which I am sorry for, but he told it me so plainly that I see
444 “The duke had decided that the English fleet should consist of three
squadrons to be commanded by himself, Prince Rupert, and Lord Sand-
wich, from which arrangement the two last, who were land admirals; had
concluded that Penn would have no concern in this fleet. Neither the duke,
Rupert, nor Sandwich had ever been engaged in an encounter of fleets....
Penn alone of the four was familiar with all these things. By the duke’s un-
expected announcement that he should take Penn with him into his own
ship, Rupert and Sandwich at once discovered that they would be really and
practically under Penn’s command in everything.”
1421
OCTOBER 1664
there is no thorough understanding between them, nor love, and
so I hope there will be no great combination in any thing, nor do
I see Sir J. Minnes very fond as he used to be. But: Sir W. Batten
do raffle still against Mr. Turner and his wife, telling me he is a
false fellow, and his wife a false woman, and has rotten teeth and
false, set in with wire, and as I know they are so, so I am glad he
finds it so. To the Coffee-house, and thence to the ‘Change, and
therewith Sir W. Warren to the Coffee-house behind the ‘Change,
and sat alone with him till 4 o’clock talking of his businesses first
and then of business in general, and discourse how I might get
money and how to carry myself to advantage to contract no envy
and yet make the world see my pains; which was with great con-
tent to me, and a good friend and helpe I am like to find him,
for which God be thanked! So home to dinner at 4 o’clock, and
then to the office, and there late, and so home to supper and to
bed, having sat up till past twelve at night to look over the ac-
count of the collections for the Fishery, and the loose and base
manner that monies so collected are disposed of in, would make
a man never part with a penny in that manner, and, above all, the
inconvenience of having a great man, though never so seeming
pious as my Lord Pembroke is. He is too great to be called to an
account, and is abused by his servants, and yet obliged to defend
them for his owne sake. This day, by the blessing of God, my
wife and I have been married nine years: but my head being full
of business, I did not think of it to keep it in any extraordinary
manner. But bless God for our long lives and loves and health to-
gether, which the same God long continue, I wish, from my very
heart!
11th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. My
wife this morning went, being invited, to my Lady Sandwich,
and I alone at home at dinner, till by and by Luellin comes and
dines with me. He tells me what a bawdy loose play this “Par-
son’s Wedding” is, that is acted by nothing but women at the
King’s house, and I am glad of it. Thence to the Fishery in
Thames Street, and there several good discourses about the let-
1422
OCTOBER 1664
ting of the Lotterys, and, among others, one Sir Thomas Clifford,
whom yet I knew not, do speak very well and neatly. Thence I to
my cozen Will Joyce to get him to go to Brampton with me this
week, but I think he will not, and I am not a whit sorry for it, for
his company both chargeable and troublesome. So home and to
my office, and then to supper and then to my office again till late,
and so home, with my head and heart full of business, and so to
bed. My wife tells me the sad news of my Lady Castlemayne’s
being now become so decayed, that one would not know her; at
least far from a beauty, which I am sorry for. This day with great
joy Captain Titus told us the particulars of the French’s expedi-
tion against Gigery upon the Barbary Coast, in the Straights, with
6,000 chosen men. They have taken the Fort of Gigery, wherein
were five men and three guns, which makes the whole story of
the King of France’s policy and power to be laughed at.
12th. This morning all the morning at my office ordering
things against my journey to-morrow. At noon to the Coffee-
house, where very good discourse. For newes, all say De Ruyter
is gone to Guinny before us. Sir J. Lawson is come to Portsmouth;
and our fleete is hastening all speed: I mean this new fleete.
Prince Rupert with his is got into the Downes. At home dined
with me W. Joyce and a friend of his. W. Joyce will go with me to
Brampton. After dinner I out to Mr. Bridges, the linnen draper,
and evened with (him) for 100 pieces of callico, and did give him
£208 18s., which I now trust the King for, but hope both to save
the King money and to get a little by it to boot. Thence by water
up and down all the timber yards to look out some Dram timber,
but can find none for our turne at the price I would have; and
so I home, and there at my office late doing business against my
journey to clear my hands of every thing for two days. So home
and to supper and bed.
13th. After being at the office all the morning, I home and
dined, and taking leave of my wife with my mind not a little
troubled how she would look after herself or house in my ab-
1423
OCTOBER 1664
sence, especially, too, leaving a considerable sum of money in the
office, I by coach to the Red Lyon in Aldersgate Street, and there,
by agreement, met W. Joyce and Tom Trice, and mounted, I upon
a very fine mare that Sir W. Warren helps me to, and so very mer-
rily rode till it was very darke, I leading the way through the
darke to Welling, and there, not being very weary, to supper and
to bed. But very bad accommodation at the Swan. In this day’s
journey I met with Mr. White, Cromwell’s chaplin that was, and
had a great deale of discourse with him. Among others, he tells
me that Richard is, and hath long been, in France, and is now
going into Italy. He owns publiquely that he do correspond, and
return him all his money. That Richard hath been in some straits
at the beginning; but relieved by his friends. That he goes by
another name, but do not disguise himself, nor deny himself to
any man that challenges him. He tells me, for certain, that offers
had been made to the old man, of marriage between the King
and his daughter, to have obliged him, but he would not.445 He
thinks (with me) that it never was in his power to bring in the
445 The Protector wished the Duke of Buckingham to marry his daughter
Frances. She married, 1. Robert Rich, grandson and heir to Robert, Earl of
Warwick, on November 11th, 1657, who died in the following February; 2.
Sir John Russell, Bart. She died January 27th, 1721-22, aged eighty-four. In
T. Morrice’s life of Roger, Earl of Orrery, prefixed to Orrery’s “State Letters”
(Dublin, 1743, vol. i., p. 40), there is a circumstantial account of an inter-
view between Orrery (then Lord Broghill) and Cromwell, in which the for-
mer suggested to the latter that Charles II. should marry Frances Cromwell.
Cromwell gave great attention to the reasons urged, “but walking two or
three turns, and pondering with himself, he told Lord Broghill the king
would never forgive him the death of his father. His lordship desired him to
employ somebody to sound the king in this matter, to see how he would take
it, and offered himself to mediate in it for him. But Cromwell would not con-
sent, but again repeated, ‘The king cannot and will not forgive the death of
his father;’ and so he left his lordship, who durst not tell him he had already
dealt with his majesty in that affair. Upon this my lord withdrew, and meet-
ing Cromwell’s wife and daughter, they inquired how he had succeeded; of
which having given them an account, he added they must try their interest
in him, but none could prevail.”
1424
OCTOBER 1664
King with the consent of any of his officers about him; and that
he scorned to bring him in as Monk did, to secure himself and
deliver every body else. When I told him of what I found writ
in a French book of one Monsieur Sorbiere, that gives an account
of his observations herein England; among other things he says,
that it is reported that Cromwell did, in his life-time, transpose
many of the bodies of the Kings of England from one grave to an-
other, and that by that means it is not known certainly whether
the head that is now set up upon a post be that of Cromwell, or
of one of the Kings; Mr. White tells me that he believes he never
had so poor a low thought in him to trouble himself about it. He
says the hand of God is much to be seen; that all his children
are in good condition enough as to estate, and that their relations
that betrayed their family are all now either hanged or very mis-
erable.
14th. Up by break of day, and got to Brampton by three o’clock,
where my father and mother overjoyed to see me, my mother,
ready to weepe every time she looked upon me. After dinner my
father and I to the Court, and there did all our business to my
mind, as I have set down in a paper particularly expressing our
proceedings at this court. So home, where W. Joyce full of talk
and pleased with his journey, and after supper I to bed and left
my father, mother, and him laughing.
15th. My father and I up and walked alone to Hinchingbroke;
and among the other late chargeable works that my Lord hath
done there, we saw his water-works and the Oral which is very
fine; and so is the house all over, but I am sorry to think of the
money at this time spent therein. Back to my father’s (Mr. Sheply
being out of town) and there breakfasted, after making an end
with Barton about his businesses, and then my mother called me
into the garden, and there but all to no purpose desiring me to
be friends with John, but I told her I cannot, nor indeed easily
shall, which afflicted the poor woman, but I cannot help it. Then
taking leave, W. Joyce and I set out, calling T. Trice at Bugden,
1425
OCTOBER 1664
and thence got by night to Stevenage, and there mighty merry,
though I in bed more weary than the other two days, which, I
think, proceeded from our galloping so much, my other weari-
ness being almost all over; but I find that a coney skin in my
breeches preserves me perfectly from galling, and that eating af-
ter I come to my Inne, without drinking, do keep me from being
stomach sick, which drink do presently make me. We lay all in
several beds in the same room, and W. Joyce full of his imperti-
nent tricks and talk, which then made us merry, as any other fool
would have done. So to sleep.
16th (Lord’s day). It raining, we set out, and about nine o’clock
got to Hatfield in church-time; and I ‘light and saw my simple
Lord Salsbury sit there in his gallery. Staid not in the Church,
but thence mounted again and to Barnett by the end of sermon,
and there dined at the Red Lyon very weary again, but all my
weariness yesterday night and to-day in my thighs only, the rest
of my weariness in my shoulders and arms being quite gone.
Thence home, parting company at my cozen Anth. Joyce’s, by
four o’clock, weary, but very well, to bed at home, where I find
all well. Anon my wife came to bed, but for my ease rose again
and lay with her woman.
17th. Rose very well and not weary, and with Sir W. Batten to
St. James’s; there did our business. I saw Sir J. Lawson since his
return from sea first this morning, and hear that my Lord Sand-
wich is come from Portsmouth to town. Thence I to him, and
finding him at my Lord Crew’s, I went with him home to his
house and much kind discourse. Thence my Lord to Court, and
I with Creed to the ‘Change, and thence with Sir W. Warren to a
cook’s shop and dined, discoursing and advising him about his
great contract he is to make tomorrow, and do every day receive
great satisfaction in his company, and a prospect of a just advan-
tage by his friendship. Thence to my office doing some business,
but it being very cold, I, for fear of getting cold, went early home
to bed, my wife not being come home from my Lady Jemimah,
1426
OCTOBER 1664
with whom she hath been at a play and at Court to-day.
18th. Up and to the office, where among other things we made
a very great contract with Sir W. Warren for 3,000 loade of timber.
At noon dined at home. In the afternoon to the Fishery, where,
very confused and very ridiculous, my Lord Craven’s proceed-
ings, especially his finding fault with Sir J. Collaton and Colonell
Griffin’s’ report in the accounts of the lottery-men. Thence I with
Mr. Gray in his coach to White Hall, but the King and Duke being
abroad, we returned to Somersett House. In discourse I find him
a very worthy and studious gentleman in the business of trade,
and among-other things he observed well to me, how it is not the
greatest wits, but the steady man, that is a good merchant: he in-
stanced in Ford and Cocke, the last of whom he values above all
men as his oracle, as Mr. Coventry do Mr. Jolliffe. He says that
it is concluded among merchants, that where a trade hath once
been and do decay, it never recovers again, and therefore that
the manufacture of cloath of England will never come to esteem
again; that, among other faults, Sir Richard Ford cannot keepe a
secret, and that it is so much the part of a merchant to be guilty
of that fault that the Duke of Yoke is resolved to commit no more
secrets to the merchants of the Royall Company; that Sir Ellis
Layton is, for a speech of forty words, the wittiest man that ever
he knew in his life, but longer he is nothing, his judgment being
nothing at all, but his wit most absolute. At Somersett House he
carried me in, and there I saw the Queene’s new rooms, which
are most stately and nobly furnished; and there I saw her, and
the Duke of Yorke and Duchesse were there. The Duke espied
me, and came to me, and talked with me a very great while about
our contract this day with Sir W. Warren, and among other things
did with some contempt ask whether we did except Polliards,
which Sir W. Batten did yesterday (in spite, as the Duke I believe
by my Lord Barkely do well enough know) among other things
in writing propose. Thence home by coach, it raining hard, and
to my office, where late, then home to supper and to bed. This
night the Dutch Embassador desired and had an audience of the
1427
OCTOBER 1664
King. What the issue of it was I know not. Both sides I believe
desire peace, but neither will begin, and so I believe a warr will
follow. The Prince is with his fleet at Portsmouth, and the Dutch
are making all preparations for warr.
19th. Up and to my office all the morning. At noon dined at
home; then abroad by coach to buy for the office “Herne upon
the Statute of Charitable Uses,” in order to the doing something
better in the Chest than we have done, for I am ashamed to see
Sir W. Batten possess himself so long of so much money as he
hath done. Coming home, weighed, my two silver flaggons at
Stevens’s. They weigh 212 oz. 27 dwt., which is about £50, at 5s.
per oz., and then they judge the fashion to be worth above 5s.
per oz. more–nay, some say 10s. an ounce the fashion. But I do
not believe, but yet am sorry to see that the fashion is worth so
much, and the silver come to no more. So home and to my office,
where very busy late. My wife at Mercer’s mother’s, I believe,
W. Hewer with them, which I do not like, that he should ask my
leave to go about business, and then to go and spend his time in
sport, and leave me here busy. To supper and to bed, my wife
coming in by and by, which though I know there was no hurt in
it; I do not like.
20th. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon my
uncle Thomas came, dined with me, and received some money of
me. Then I to my office, where I took in with me Bagwell’s wife,
and there I caressed her, and find her every day more and more
coming with good words and promises of getting her husband a
place, which I will do. So we parted, and I to my Lord Sandwich
at his lodgings, and after a little stay away with Mr. Cholmely to
Fleete Streete; in the way he telling me that Tangier is like to be
in a bad condition with this same Fitzgerald, he being a man of
no honour, nor presence, nor little honesty, and endeavours: to
raise the Irish and suppress the English interest there; and offend
every body, and do nothing that I hear of well, which I am sorry
for. Thence home, by the way taking two silver tumblers home,
1428
OCTOBER 1664
which I have bought, and so home, and there late busy at my
office, and then home to supper and to bed.
21st. Up and by coach to Mr. Cole’s, and there conferred with
him about some law business, and so to Sir W. Turner’s, and
there bought my cloth, coloured, for a suit and cloake, to line
with plush the cloak, which will cost me money, but I find that I
must go handsomely, whatever it costs me, and the charge will
be made up in the fruit it brings. Thence to the Coffee-house
and ‘Change, and so home to dinner, and then to the office all
the afternoon, whither comes W. Howe to see me, being come
from, and going presently back to sea with my Lord. Among
other things he tells me Mr. Creed is much out of favour with
my Lord from his freedom of talke and bold carriage, and other
things with which my Lord is not pleased, but most I doubt his
not lending my Lord money, and Mr. Moore’s reporting what his
answer was I doubt in the worst manner. But, however, a very
unworthy rogue he is, and, therefore, let him go for one good for
nothing, though wise to the height above most men I converse
with. In the evening (W. Howe being gone) comes Mr. Martin, to
trouble me again to get him a Lieutenant’s place for which he is
as fit as a foole can be. But I put him off like an arse, as he is, and
so setting my papers and books in order: I home to supper and
to bed.
22nd. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon comes my uncle Thomas and his daughter Mary about get-
ting me to pay them the £30 due now, but payable in law to her
husband. I did give them the best answer I could, and so parted,
they not desiring to stay to dinner. After dinner I down to Dept-
ford, and there did business, and so back to my office, where very
late busy, and so home to supper and to bed.
23rd (Lord’s day). Up and to church. At noon comes unex-
pected Mr. Fuller, the minister, and dines with me, and also I had
invited Mr. Cooper with one I judge come from sea, and he and I
spent the whole afternoon together, he teaching me some things
1429
OCTOBER 1664
in understanding of plates. At night to the office, doing business,
and then home to supper. Then a psalm, to prayers, and to bed.
24th. Up and in Sir J. Minnes’ coach (alone with Mrs. Turner
as far as Paternoster Row, where I set her down) to St. James’s,
and there did our business, and I had the good lucke to speak
what pleased the Duke about our great contract in hand with
Sir W. Warren against Sir W. Batten, wherein the Duke is very
earnest for our contracting. Thence home to the office till noon,
and then dined and to the ‘Change and off with Sir W. Warren
for a while, consulting about managing his contract. Thence to
a Committee at White Hall of Tangier, where I had the good
lucke to speak something to very good purpose about the Mole
at Tangier, which was well received even by Sir J. Lawson and
Mr. Cholmely, the undertakers, against whose interest I spoke;
that I believe I shall be valued for it. Thence into the galleries
to talk with my Lord Sandwich; among other things, about the
Prince’s writing up to tell us of the danger he and his fleete lie
in at Portsmouth, of receiving affronts from the Dutch; which,
my Lord said, he would never have done, had he lain there with
one ship alone: nor is there any great reason for it, because of the
sands. However, the fleete will be ordered to go and lay them-
selves up at the Cowes. Much beneath the prowesse of the Prince,
I think, and the honour of the nation, at the first to be found to
secure themselves. My Lord is well pleased to think, that, if the
Duke and the Prince go, all the blame of any miscarriage will not
light on him; and that if any thing goes well, he hopes he shall
have the share of the glory, for the Prince is by no means well es-
teemed of by any body. Thence home, and though not very well
yet up late about the Fishery business, wherein I hope to give an
account how I find the Collections to have been managed, which
I did finish to my great content, and so home to supper and to
bed. This day the great O’Neale died; I believe, to the content of
all the Protestant pretenders in Ireland.
25th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
1430
OCTOBER 1664
finished Sir W. Warren’s great contract for timber, with great con-
tent to me, because just in the terms I wrote last night to Sir W.
Warren and against the terms proposed by Sir W. Batten. At noon
home to dinner, and there found Creed and Hawley. After din-
ner comes in Mrs. Ingram, the first time to make a visit to my
wife. After a little stay I left them and to the Committee of the
Fishery, and there did make my report of the late public collec-
tions for the Fishery, much to the satisfaction of the Committee,
and I think much to my reputation, for good notice was taken of
it and much it was commended. So home, in my way taking care
of a piece of plate for Mr. Christopher Pett, against the launch-
ing of his new great ship tomorrow at Woolwich, which I singly
did move to His Royall Highness, and did obtain it for him, to
the value of twenty pieces. And he, under his hand, do acknowl-
edge to me that he did never receive so great a kindness from any
man in the world as from me herein. So to my office, and then to
supper, and then to my office again, where busy late, being very
full now a days of business to my great content, I thank God, and
so home to bed, my house being full of a design, to go to-morrow,
my wife and all her servants, to see the new ship launched.
26th. Up, my people rising mighty betimes, to fit themselves
to go by water; and my boy, he could not sleep, but wakes about
four o’clock, and in bed lay playing on his lute till daylight, and,
it seems, did the like last night till twelve o’clock. About eight
o’clock, my wife, she and her woman, and Besse and Jane, and
W. Hewer and the boy, to the water-side, and there took boat,
and by and by I out of doors, to look after the flaggon, to get
it ready to carry to Woolwich. That being not ready, I stepped
aside and found out Nellson, he that Whistler buys his bewpers
of, and did there buy 5 pieces at their price, and am in hopes
thereby to bring them down or buy ourselves all we spend of
Nellson at the first hand. This jobb was greatly to my content,
and by and by the flaggon being finished at the burnisher’s, I
home, and there fitted myself, and took a hackney-coach I hired,
it being a very cold and foule day, to Woolwich, all the way read-
1431
OCTOBER 1664
ing in a good book touching the fishery, and that being done, in
the book upon the statute of charitable uses, mightily to my satis-
faction. At Woolwich; I there up to the King and Duke, and they
liked the plate well. Here I staid above with them while the ship
was launched, which was done with great success, and the King
did very much like the ship, saying, she had the best bow that
ever he saw. But, Lord! the sorry talke and discourse among the
great courtiers round about him, without any reverence in the
world, but with so much disorder. By and by the Queene comes
and her Mayds of Honour; one whereof, Mrs. Boynton, and the
Duchesse of Buckingham, had been very siclee coming by water
in the barge (the water being very rough); but what silly sport
they made with them in very common terms, methought, was
very poor, and below what people think these great people say
and do. The launching being done, the King and company went
down to take barge; and I sent for Mr. Pett, and put the flaggon
into the Duke’s hand, and he, in the presence of the King, did
give it, Mr. Pett taking it upon his knee. This Mr. Pett is wholly
beholding to me for, and he do know and I believe will acknowl-
edge it. Thence I to Mr. Ackworth, and there eat and drank with
Commissioner Pett and his wife, and thence to Shelden’s, where
Sir W. Batten and his Lady were. By and by I took coach after I
had enquired for my wife or her boat, but found none. Going out
of the gate, an ordinary woman prayed me to give her room to
London, which I did, but spoke not to her all the way, but read,
as long as I could see, my book again. Dark when we came to
London, and a stop of coaches in Southwarke. I staid above half
an houre and then ‘light, and finding Sir W. Batten’s coach, heard
they were gone into the Beare at the Bridge foot, and thither I to
them. Presently the stop is removed, and then going out to find
my coach, I could not find it, for it was gone with the rest; so I fair
to go through the darke and dirt over the bridge, and my leg fell
in a hole broke on the bridge, but, the constable standing there to
keep people from it, I was catched up, otherwise I had broke my
leg; for which mercy the Lord be praised! So at Fanchurch I found
1432
OCTOBER 1664
my coach staying for me, and so home, where the little girle hath
looked to the house well, but no wife come home, which made
me begin to fear [for] her, the water being very rough, and cold
and darke. But by and by she and her company come in all well,
at which I was glad, though angry. Thence I to Sir W. Batten’s,
and there sat late with him, Sir R. Ford, and Sir John Robinson;
the last of whom continues still the same foole he was, crying up
what power he has in the City, in knowing their temper, and be-
ing able to do what he will with them. It seems the City did last
night very freely lend the King £100,000 without any security but
the King’s word, which was very noble. But this loggerhead and
Sir R. Ford would make us believe that they did it. Now Sir R.
Ford is a cunning man, and makes a foole of the other, and the
other believes whatever the other tells him. But, Lord! to think
that such a man should be Lieutenant of the Tower, and so great
a man as he is, is a strange thing to me. With them late and then
home and with my wife to bed, after supper.
27th. Up and to the office, where all the morning busy. At
noon, Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, Sir W. Pen,
and myself, were treated at the Dolphin by Mr. Foly, the iron-
monger, where a good plain dinner, but I expected musique, the
missing of which spoiled my dinner, only very good merry dis-
course at dinner. Thence with Sir G. Carteret by coach to White
Hall to a Committee of Tangier, and thence back to London, and
‘light in Cheapside and I to Nellson’s, and there met with a rub
at first, but took him out to drink, and there discoursed to my
great content so far with him that I think I shall agree with him
for Bewpers to serve the Navy with. So with great content home
and to my office, where late, and having got a great cold in my
head yesterday home to supper and to bed.
28th. Slept ill all night, having got a very great cold the other
day at Woolwich in [my] head, which makes me full of snot. Up
in the morning, and my tailor brings me home my fine, new,
coloured cloth suit, my cloake lined with plush, as good a suit
1433
OCTOBER 1664
as ever I wore in my life, and mighty neat, to my great content.
To my office, and there all the morning. At noon to Nellson’s,
and there bought 20 pieces more of Bewpers, and hope to go on
with him to a contract. Thence to the ‘Change a little, and thence
home with Luellin to dinner, where Mr. Deane met me by ap-
pointment, and after dinner he and I up to my chamber, and there
hard at discourse, and advising him what to do in his business at
Harwich, and then to discourse of our old business of ships and
taking new rules of him to my great pleasure, and he being gone
I to my office a little, and then to see Sir W. Batten, who is sick
of a greater cold than I, and thither comes to me Mr. Holliard,
and into the chamber to me, and, poor man (beyond all I ever
saw of him), was a little drunk, and there sat talking and find-
ing acquaintance with Sir W. Batten and my Lady by relations on
both sides, that there we staid very long. At last broke up, and
he home much overcome with drink, but well enough to get well
home. So I home to supper and to bed.
29th. Up, and it being my Lord Mayor’s show, my boy and
three mayds went out; but it being a very foule, rainy day, from
morning till night, I was sorry my wife let them go out. All
the morning at the office. At dinner at home. In the afternoon
to the office again, and about 9 o’clock by appointment to the
King’s Head tavern upon Fish Street Hill, whither Mr. Wolfe
(and Parham by his means) met me to discourse about the Fish-
ery, and great light I had by Parham, who is a little conceited, but
a very knowing man in his way, and in the general fishing trade
of England. Here I staid three hours, and eat a barrel of very fine
oysters of Wolfe’s giving me, and so, it raining hard, home and to
my office, and then home to bed. All the talke is that De Ruyter
is come over-land home with six or eight of his captaines to com-
mand here at home, and their ships kept abroad in the Straights;
which sounds as if they had a mind to do something with us.
30th (Lord’s day). Up, and this morning put on my new, fine,
coloured cloth suit, with my cloake lined with plush, which is a
1434
OCTOBER 1664
dear and noble suit, costing me about £17. To church, and then
home to dinner, and after dinner to a little musique with my boy,
and so to church with my wife, and so home, and with her all the
evening reading and at musique with my boy with great plea-
sure, and so to supper, prayers, and to bed.
31st. Very busy all the morning, at noon Creed to me and dined
with me, and then he and I to White Hall, there to a Committee
of Tangier, where it is worth remembering when Mr. Coventry
proposed the retrenching some of the charge of the horse, the
first word asked by the Duke of Albemarle was, “Let us see who
commands them,” there being three troops. One of them he calls
to mind was by Sir Toby Bridges. “Oh!” says he, “there is a
very good man. If you must reform446 two of them, be sure let
him command the troop that is left.” Thence home, and there
came presently to me Mr. Young and Whistler, who find that I
have quite overcome them in their business of flags, and now
they come to intreat my favour, but I will be even with them. So
late to my office and there till past one in the morning making
up my month’s accounts, and find that my expense this month in
clothes has kept me from laying up anything; but I am no worse,
but a little better than I was, which is £1205, a great sum, the Lord
be praised for it! So home to bed, with my mind full of content
therein, and vexed for my being so angry in bad words to my
wife to-night, she not giving me a good account of her layings
out to my mind to-night. This day I hear young Mr. Stanly, a
brave young [gentleman], that went out with young Jermin, with
Prince Rupert, is already dead of the small-pox, at Portsmouth.
All preparations against the Dutch; and the Duke of Yorke fitting
himself with all speed, to go to the fleete which is hastening for
him; being now resolved to go in the Charles.
446 Reform, i.e. disband. See “Memoirs of Sir John Reresby,” September
2nd, 1651. “A great many younger brothers and reformed officers of the
King’s army depended upon him for their meat and drink.” So reformado,
a discharged or disbanded officer.–M. B.
1435
NOVEMBER 1664
November 1st. Up and to the office, where busy all the morning,
at noon (my wife being invited to my Lady Sandwich’s) all alone
dined at home upon a good goose with Mr. Wayth, discussing of
business. Thence I to the Committee of the Fishery, and there we
sat with several good discourses and some bad and simple ones,
and with great disorder, and yet by the men of businesse of the
towne. But my report in the business of the collections is mightily
commended and will get me some reputation, and indeed is the
only thing looks like a thing well done since we sat. Then with
Mr. Parham to the tavern, but I drank no wine, only he did give
me another barrel of oysters, and he brought one Major Greene,
an able fishmonger, and good discourse to my information. So
home and late at business at my office. Then to supper and to
bed.
2nd. Up betimes, and down with Mr. Castle to Redriffe, and
there walked to Deptford to view a parcel of brave knees–[Knees
of timber]–of his, which indeed are very good, and so back again
home, I seeming very friendly to him, though I know him to be a
rogue, and one that hates me with his heart. Home and to dinner,
and so to my office all the afternoon, where in some pain in my
backe, which troubled me, but I think it comes only with stoop-
ing, and from no other matter. At night to Nellson’s, and up and
1436
NOVEMBER 1664
down about business, and so home to my office, then home to
supper and to bed.
3rd. Up and to the office, where strange to see how Sir W. Pen
is flocked to by people of all sorts against his going to sea. At
the office did much business, among other an end of that that
has troubled me long, the business of the bewpers and flags. At
noon to the ‘Change, and thence by appointment was met with
Bagwell’s wife, and she followed me into Moorfields, and there
into a drinking house, and all alone eat and drank together. I did
there caress her, but though I did make some offer did not receive
any compliance from her in what was bad, but very modestly she
denied me, which I was glad to see and shall value her the better
for it, and I hope never tempt her to any evil more. Thence back
to the town, and we parted and I home, and then at the office late,
where Sir W. Pen came to take his leave of me, being to-morrow,
which is very sudden to us, to go on board to lie on board, but I
think will come ashore again before the ship, the Charles,447 can
go away. So home to supper and to bed. This night Sir W. Batten
did, among other things, tell me strange newes, which troubles
me, that my Lord Sandwich will be sent Governor to Tangier,
which, in some respects, indeed, I should be glad of, for the good
of the place and the safety of his person; but I think his honour
will suffer, and, it may be, his interest fail by his distance.
4th. Waked very betimes and lay long awake, my mind be-
ing so full of business. Then up and to St. James’s, where I find
Mr. Coventry full of business, packing up for his going to sea
with the Duke. Walked with him, talking, to White Hall, where
to the Duke’s lodgings, who is gone thither to lodge lately. I ap-
447 “The Royal Charles” was the Duke of York’s ship, and Sir William Penn,
who hoisted his flag in the “Royal James” on November 8th, shifted to the
“Royal Charles” on November 30th. The duke gave Penn the command
of the fleet immediately under himself. On Penn’s monument he is styled
“Great Captain Commander under His Royal Highness” (Penn’s “Memori-
als of Sir William Penn,” vol. ii., p. 296).
1437
NOVEMBER 1664
peared to the Duke, and thence Mr. Coventry and I an hour in
the Long Gallery, talking about the management of our office, he
tells me the weight of dispatch will lie chiefly on me, and told
me freely his mind touching Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, the
latter of whom, he most aptly said, was like a lapwing; that all he
did was to keepe a flutter, to keepe others from the nest that they
would find. He told me an old story of the former about the light-
houses, how just before he had certified to the Duke against the
use of them, and what a burden they are to trade, and presently
after, at his being at Harwich, comes to desire that he might have
the setting one up there, and gets the usefulness of it certified also
by the Trinity House. After long discoursing and considering all
our stores and other things, as how the King hath resolved upon
Captain Taylor448 and Colonell Middleton, the first to be Com-
missioner for Harwich and the latter for Portsmouth, I away to
the ‘Change, and there did very much business, so home to din-
ner, and Mr. Duke, our Secretary for the Fishery, dined with me.
After dinner to discourse of our business, much to my content,
and then he away, and I by water among the smiths on the other
side, and to the alehouse with one and was near buying 4 or 5 an-
chors, and learned something worth my knowing of them, and
so home and to my office, where late, with my head very full of
business, and so away home to supper and to bed.
5th. Up and to the office, where all the morning, at noon to
the ‘Change, and thence home to dinner, and so with my wife
to the Duke’s house to a play, “Macbeth,” a pretty good play,
but admirably acted. Thence home; the coach being forced to go
448 Coventry, writing to Secretary Bennet (November 14th, 1664), refers to
the objections made to Taylor, and adds: “Thinks the King will not easily
consent to his rejection, as he is a man of great abilities and dispatch, and
was formerly laid aside at Chatham on the Duchess of Albemarle’s earnest
interposition for another. He is a fanatic, it is true, but all hands will be
needed for the work cut out; there is less danger of them in harbour than
at sea, and profit will convert most of them” (“Calendar of State Papers,”
Domestic, 1664-65, p. 68).
1438
NOVEMBER 1664
round by London Wall home, because of the bonefires; the day
being mightily observed in the City. To my office late at business,
and then home to supper, and to bed.
6th (Lord’s day). Up and with my wife to church. Dined at
home. And I all the afternoon close at my office drawing up some
proposals to present to the Committee for the Fishery to-morrow,
having a great good intention to be serviceable in the business if I
can. At night, to supper with my uncle Wight, where very merry,
and so home. To prayers and to bed.
7th. Up and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall, where mighty
thrusting about the Duke now upon his going. We were with
him long. He advised us to follow our business close, and to
be directed in his absence by the Committee of the Councell for
the Navy. By and by a meeting of the Fishery, where the Duke
was, but in such haste, and things looked so superficially over,
that I had not a fit opportunity to propose my paper that I wrote
yesterday, but I had chewed it to Mr. Gray and Wren before,
who did like it most highly, as they said, and I think they would
not dissemble in that manner in a business of this nature, but I
see the greatest businesses are done so superficially that I won-
der anything succeeds at all among us, that is publique. Thence
somewhat vexed to see myself frustrated in the good I hoped to
have done and a little reputation to have gained, and thence to
my barber’s, but Jane not being in the way I to my Lady Sand-
wich’s, and there met my wife and dined, but I find that I dine
as well myself, that is, as neatly, and my meat as good and well-
dressed, as my good Lady do, in the absence of my Lord. Thence
by water I to my barber’s again, and did meet in the street my
Jane, but could not talk with her, but only a word or two, and so
by coach called my wife, and home, where at my office late, and
then, it being washing day, to supper and to bed.
8th. Up and to the office, where by and by Mr. Coventry come,
and after doing a little business, took his leave of us, being to go
to sea with the Duke to-morrow. At noon, I and Sir J. Minnes and
1439
NOVEMBER 1664
Lord Barkeley (who with Sir J. Duncum, and Mr. Chichly, are
made Masters of the Ordnance), to the office of the Ordnance, to
discourse about wadding for guns. Thence to dinner, all of us
to the Lieutenant’s of the Tower; where a good dinner, but dis-
turbed in the middle of it by the King’s coming into the Tower:
and so we broke up, and to him, and went up and down the
store-houses and magazines; which are, with the addition of the
new great store-house, a noble sight. He gone, I to my office,
where Bagwell’s wife staid for me, and together with her a good
while, to meet again shortly. So all the afternoon at my office till
late, and then to bed, joyed in my love and ability to follow my
business. This day, Mr. Lever sent my wife a pair of silver can-
dlesticks, very pretty ones. The first man that ever presented me,
to whom I have not only done little service, but apparently did
him the greatest disservice in his business of accounts, as Purser-
Generall, of any man at the board.
9th. Called up, as I had appointed, by H. Russell, between
two and three o’clock, and I and my boy Tom by water with a
gally down to the Hope, it being a fine starry night. Got thither
by eight o’clock, and there, as expected, found the Charles, her
mainmast setting. Commissioner Pett aboard. I up and down
to see the ship I was so well acquainted with, and a great worke
it is, the setting so great a mast. Thence the Commissioner and
I on board Sir G. Ascue, in the Henery, who lacks men might-
ily, which makes me think that there is more believed to be in a
man that hath heretofore been employed than truly there is; for
one would never have thought, a month ago, that he would have
wanted 1000 men at his heels. Nor do I think he hath much of
a seaman in him: for he told me, says he, “Heretofore, we used
to find our ships clear and ready, everything to our hands in the
Downes. Now I come, and must look to see things done like a
slave, things that I never minded, nor cannot look after.” And by
his discourse I find that he hath not minded anything in her at
all. Thence not staying, the wind blowing hard, I made use of the
Jemmy yacht and returned to the Tower in her, my boy being a
1440
NOVEMBER 1664
very droll boy and good company. Home and eat something, and
then shifted myself, and to White Hall, and there the King being
in his Cabinet Council (I desiring to speak with Sir G. Carteret),
I was called in, and demanded by the King himself many ques-
tions, to which I did give him full answers. There were at this
Council my Lord Chancellor, Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord
Treasurer, the two Secretarys, and Sir G. Carteret. Not a little
contented at this chance of being made known to these persons,
and called often by my name by the King, I to Mr. Pierces to take
leave of him, but he not within, but saw her and made very little
stay, but straight home to my office, where I did business, and
then to supper and to bed. The Duke of York is this day gone
away to Portsmouth.
10th. Up, and not finding my things ready, I was so angry with
Besse as to bid my wife for good and all to bid her provide herself
a place, for though she be very good-natured, she hath no care
nor memory of her business at all. So to the office, where vexed
at the malice of Sir W. Batten and folly of Sir J. Minnes against
Sir W. Warren, but I prevented, and shall do, though to my own
disquiet and trouble. At noon dined with Sir W. Batten and the
Auditors of the Exchequer at the Dolphin by Mr. Wayth’s desire,
and after dinner fell to business relating to Sir G. Carteret’s ac-
count, and so home to the office, where Sir W. Batten begins, too
fast, to shew his knavish tricks in giving what price he pleases for
commodities. So abroad, intending to have spoke with my Lord
Chancellor about the old business of his wood at Clarendon, but
could not, and so home again, and late at my office, and then
home to supper and bed. My little girle Susan is fallen sicke of
the meazles, we fear, or, at least, of a scarlett feavour.
11th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten to the Coun-
cil Chamber at White Hall, to the Committee of the Lords for the
Navy, where we were made to wait an houre or two before called
in. In that time looking upon some books of heraldry of Sir Ed-
ward Walker’s making, which are very fine, there I observed the
1441
NOVEMBER 1664
Duke of Monmouth’s armes are neatly done, and his title, “The
most noble and high-born Prince, James Scott, Duke of Mon-
mouth, &c.;” nor could Sir J. Minnes, nor any body there, tell
whence he should take the name of Scott? And then I found my
Lord Sandwich, his title under his armes is, “The most noble and
mighty Lord, Edward, Earl of Sandwich, &c.” Sir Edward Walker
afterwards coming in, in discourse did say that there was none
of the families of princes in Christendom that do derive them-
selves so high as Julius Caesar, nor so far by 1000 years, that can
directly prove their rise; only some in Germany do derive them-
selves from the patrician familys of Rome, but that uncertainly;
and, among other things, did much inveigh against the writing
of romances, that 500 years hence being wrote of matters in gen-
eral, true as the romance of Cleopatra, the world will not know
which is the true and which the false. Here was a gentleman at-
tending here that told us he saw the other day (and did bring
the draught of it to Sir Francis Prigeon) of a monster born of an
hostler’s wife at Salisbury, two women children perfectly made,
joyned at the lower part of their bellies, and every part perfect as
two bodies, and only one payre of legs coming forth on one side
from the middle where they were joined. It was alive 24 hours,
and cried and did as all hopefull children do; but, being showed
too much to people, was killed. By and by we were called in,
where a great many lords: Annesly in the chair. But, Lord! to see
what work they will make us, and what trouble we shall have
to inform men in a business they are to begin to know, when the
greatest of our hurry is, is a thing to be lamented; and I fear the
consequence will be bad to us. Thence I by coach to the ‘Change,
and thence home to dinner, my head akeing mightily with much
business. Our little girl better than she was yesterday. After din-
ner out again by coach to my Lord Chancellor’s, but could not
speak with him, then up and down to seek Sir Ph. Warwicke,
Sir G. Carteret, and my Lord Berkely, but failed in all, and so
home and there late at business. Among other things Mr. Turner
making his complaint to me how my clerks do all the worke and
1442
NOVEMBER 1664
get all the profit, and he hath no comfort, nor cannot subsist, I
did make him apprehend how he is beholding to me more than
to any body for my suffering him to act as Pourveyour of petty
provisions, and told him so largely my little value of any body’s
favour, that I believe he will make no complaints again a good
while. So home to supper and to bed, after prayers, and having
my boy and Mercer give me some, each of them some, musique.
12th. Up, being frighted that Mr. Coventry was come to towne
and now at the office, so I run down without eating or drinking
or washing to the office and it proved my Lord Berkeley. There
all the morning, at noon to the ‘Change, and so home to dinner,
Mr. Wayth with me, and then to the office, where mighty busy
till very late, but I bless God I go through with it very well and
hope I shall.
13th (Lord’s day). This morning to church, where mighty
sport, to hear our clerke sing out of tune, though his master
sits by him that begins and keeps the tune aloud for the parish.
Dined at home very well, and spent all the afternoon with my
wife within doors, and getting a speech out of Hamlett, “To bee
or not to bee,“’ without book. In the evening to sing psalms, and
in come Mr. Hill to see me, and then he and I and the boy finely
to sing, and so anon broke up after much pleasure, he gone I to
supper, and so prayers and to bed.
14th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall, to the Lords
of the Admiralty, and there did our business betimes. Thence to
Sir Philip Warwicke about Navy business: and my Lord Ashly;
and afterwards to my Lord Chancellor, who is very well pleased
with me, and my carrying of his business. And so to the ‘Change,
where mighty busy; and so home to dinner, where Mr. Creed and
Moore: and after dinner I to my Lord Treasurer’s, to Sir Philip
Warwicke there, and then to White Hall, to the Duke of Albe-
marle, about Tangier; and then homeward to the Coffee-house to
hear newes. And it seems the Dutch, as I afterwards found by Mr.
Coventry’s letters, have stopped a ship of masts of Sir W. War-
1443
NOVEMBER 1664
ren’s, coming for us in a Swede’s ship, which they will not release
upon Sir G. Downing’s claiming her: which appears as the first
act of hostility; and is looked upon as so by Mr. Coventry. The
Elias,’ coming from New England (Captain Hill, commander), is
sunk; only the captain and a few men saved. She foundered in
the sea. So home, where infinite busy till 12 at night, and so home
to supper and to bed.
15th. That I might not be too fine for the business I intend this
day, I did leave off my fine new cloth suit lined with plush and
put on my poor black suit, and after office done (where much
business, but little done), I to the ‘Change, and thence Bagwell’s
wife with much ado followed me through Moorfields to a blind
alehouse, and there I did caress her and eat and drink, and many
hard looks and sooth the poor wretch did give me, and I think
verily was troubled at what I did, but at last after many protest-
ings by degrees I did arrive at what I would, with great pleasure,
and then in the evening, it raining, walked into town to where
she knew where she was, and then I took coach and to White
Hall to a Committee of Tangier, where, and every where else, I
thank God, I find myself growing in repute; and so home, and
late, very late, at business, nobody minding it but myself, and so
home to bed, weary and full of thoughts. Businesses grow high
between the Dutch and us on every side.
16th. My wife not being well, waked in the night, and strange
to see how dead sleep our people sleep that she was fain to ring
an hour before any body would wake. At last one rose and
helped my wife, and so to sleep again. Up and to my business,
and then to White Hall, there to attend the Lords Commissioners,
and so directly home and dined with Sir W. Batten and my Lady,
and after dinner had much discourse tending to profit with Sir W.
Batten, how to get ourselves into the prize office449 or some other
fair way of obliging the King to consider us in our extraordinary
449 The Calendars of State Papers are full of references to applications for
Commissionerships of the Prize Office. In December, 1664, the Navy Com-
1444
NOVEMBER 1664
pains. Then to the office, and there all the afternoon very busy,
and so till past 12 at night, and so home to bed. This day my wife
went to the burial of a little boy of W. Joyce’s.
17th. Up and to my office, and there all the morning mighty
busy, and taking upon me to tell the Comptroller how ill his mat-
ters were done, and I think indeed if I continue thus all the busi-
ness of the office will come upon me whether I will or no. At
noon to the ‘Change, and then home with Creed to dinner, and
thence I to the office, where close at it all the afternoon till 12 at
night, and then home to supper and to bed. This day I received
from Mr. Foley, but for me to pay for it, if I like it, an iron chest,
having now received back some money I had laid out for the
King, and I hope to have a good sum of money by me, thereby, in
a few days, I think above £800. But when I come home at night,
I could not find the way to open it; but, which is a strange thing,
my little girle Susan could carry it alone from one table clear from
the ground and set upon another, when neither I nor anyone in
my house but Jane the cook-mayde could do it.
18th. Up and to the office, and thence to the Committee of
the Fishery at White Hall, where so poor simple doings about
the business of the Lottery, that I was ashamed to see it, that a
thing so low and base should have any thing to do with so no-
ble an undertaking. But I had the advantage this day to hear Mr.
Williamson discourse, who come to be a contractor with others
for the Lotterys, and indeed I find he is a very logicall man and
a good speaker. But it was so pleasant to see my Lord Craven,
the chaireman, before many persons of worth and grave, use this
comparison in saying that certainly these that would contract for
all the lotteries would not suffer us to set up the Virginia lottery
for plate before them, “For,” says he, “if I occupy a wench first,
you may occupy her again your heart out you can never have her
maidenhead after I have once had it,” which he did more loosely,
mittee appointed themselves the Commissioners for Prize Goods, Sir Henry
Bennet being appointed comptroller, and Lord Ashley treasurer.
1445
NOVEMBER 1664
and yet as if he had fetched a most grave and worthy instance.
They made mirth, but I and others were ashamed of it. Thence
to the ‘Change and thence home to dinner, and thence to the of-
fice a good while, and thence to the Council chamber at White
Hall to speake with Sir G. Carteret, and here by accident heard a
great and famous cause between Sir G. Lane and one Mr. Phill.
Whore, an Irish business about Sir G. Lane’s endeavouring to re-
verse a decree of the late Commissioners of Ireland in a Rebells
case for his land, which the King had given as forfeited to Sir
G. Lane, for whom the Sollicitor did argue most angell like, and
one of the Commissioners, Baron, did argue for the other and for
himself and his brethren who had decreed it. But the Sollicitor
do so pay the Commissioners, how four all along did act for the
Papists, and three only for the Protestants, by which they were
overvoted, but at last one word (which was omitted in the Sollic-
itor’s repeating of an Act of Parliament in the case) being insisted
on by the other part, the Sollicitor was put to a great stop, and I
could discern he could not tell what to say, but was quite out.
Thence home well pleased with this accident, and so home to my
office, where late, and then to supper and to bed. This day I had
a letter from Mr. Coventry, that tells me that my Lord Brunkard
is to be one of our Commissioners, of which I am very glad, if
any more must be.
19th. All the morning at the office, and without dinner down
by galley up and down the river to visit the yards and ships now
ordered forth with great delight, and so home to supper, and then
to office late to write letters, then home to bed.
20th (Lord’s day). Up, and with my wife to church, where Pegg
Pen very fine in her new coloured silk suit laced with silver lace.
Dined at home, and Mr. Sheply, lately come to town, with me. A
great deal of ordinary discourse with him. Among other things
praying him to speak to Stankes to look after our business. With
him and in private with Mr. Bodham talking of our ropeyarde
stores at Woolwich, which are mighty low, even to admiration.
1446
NOVEMBER 1664
They gone, in the evening comes Mr. Andrews and sings with
us, and he gone, I to Sir W. Batten’s, where Sir J. Minnes and he
and I to talk about our letter to my Lord Treasurer, where his folly
and simple confidence so great in a report so ridiculous that he
hath drawn up to present to my Lord, nothing of it being true,
that I was ashamed, and did roundly and in many words for an
houre together talk boldly to him, which pleased Sir W. Batten
and my Lady, but I was in the right, and was the willinger to
do so before them, that they might see that I am somebody, and
shall serve him so in his way another time. So home vexed at this
night’s passage, for I had been very hot with him, so to supper
and to bed, out of order with this night’s vexation.
21st. Up, and with them to the Lords at White Hall, where
they do single me out to speake to and to hear, much to my con-
tent, and received their commands, particularly in several busi-
nesses. Thence by their order to the Attorney General’s about a
new warrant for Captain Taylor which I shall carry for him to be
Commissioner in spite of Sir W. Batten, and yet indeed it is not I,
but the ability of the man, that makes the Duke and Mr. Coventry
stand by their choice. I to the ‘Change and there staid long doing
business, and this day for certain newes is come that Teddiman
hath brought in eighteen or twenty Dutchmen, merchants, their
Bourdeaux fleete, and two men of wary to Portsmouth.450 And I
had letters this afternoon, that three are brought into the Downes
and Dover; so that the warr is begun: God give a good end to
it! After dinner at home all the afternoon busy, and at night with
Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes looking over the business of stat-
ing the accounts of the navy charge to my Lord Treasurer, where
Sir J. Minnes’s paper served us in no stead almost, but was all
450 Captain Sir Thomas Teddiman (or Tyddiman) had been appointed Rear-
Admiral of Lord Sandwich’s squadron of the English fleet. In a letter from
Sir William Coventry to Secretary Bennet, dated November 13th, 1664, we
read, “Rear Admiral Teddeman with four or five ships has gone to course in
the Channel, and if he meet any refractory Dutchmen will teach them their
duty” (“Calendar of State Papers,” Domestic, 1664.-65, p. 66).
1447
NOVEMBER 1664
false, and after I had done it with great pains, he being by, I am
confident he understands not one word in it. At it till 10 at night
almost. Thence by coach to Sir Philip Warwicke’s, by his desire to
have conferred with him, but he being in bed, I to White Hall to
the Secretaries, and there wrote to Mr. Coventry, and so home by
coach again, a fine clear moonshine night, but very cold. Home
to my office awhile, it being past 12 at night; and so to supper
and to bed.
22nd. At the office all the morning. Sir G. Carteret, upon a
motion of Sir W. Batten’s, did promise, if we would write a letter
to him, to shew it to the King on our behalf touching our desire
of being Commissioners of the Prize office. I wrote a letter to
my mind and, after eating a bit at home (Mr. Sheply dining and
taking his leave of me), abroad and to Sir G. Carteret with the
letter and thence to my Lord Treasurer’s; wherewith Sir Philip
Warwicke long studying all we could to make the last year swell
as high as we could. And it is much to see how he do study for
the King, to do it to get all the money from the Parliament all
he can: and I shall be serviceable to him therein, to help him to
heads upon which to enlarge the report of the expense. He did
observe to me how obedient this Parliament was for awhile, and
the last sitting how they begun to differ, and to carp at the King’s
officers; and what they will do now, he says, is to make agree-
ment for the money, for there is no guess to be made of it. He
told me he was prepared to convince the Parliament that the Sub-
sidys are a most ridiculous tax (the four last not rising to £40,000),
and unequall. He talks of a tax of Assessment of £70,000 for five
years; the people to be secured that it shall continue no longer
than there is really a warr; and the charges thereof to be paid.
He told me, that one year of the late Dutch warr cost £1,623,000.
Thence to my Lord Chancellor’s, and there staid long with Sir W.
Batten and Sir J. Minnes, to speak with my lord about our Prize
Office business; but, being sicke and full of visitants, we could
not speak with him, and so away home. Where Sir Richard Ford
did meet us with letters from Holland this day, that it is likely
1448
NOVEMBER 1664
the Dutch fleete will not come out this year; they have not vict-
uals to keep them out, and it is likely they will be frozen before
they can get back. Captain Cocke is made Steward for sick and
wounded seamen. So home to supper, where troubled to hear
my poor boy Tom has a fit of the stone, or some other pain like
it. I must consult Mr. Holliard for him. So at one in the morning
home to bed.
23rd. Up and to my office, where close all the morning about
my Lord Treasurer’s accounts, and at noon home to dinner, and
then to the office all the afternoon very busy till very late at night,
and then to supper and to bed. This evening Mr. Hollyard came
to me and told me that he hath searched my boy, and he finds
he hath a stone in his bladder, which grieves me to the heart,
he being a good-natured and well-disposed boy, and more that
it should be my misfortune to have him come to my house. Sir
G. Carteret was here this afternoon; and strange to see how we
plot to make the charge of this warr to appear greater than it is,
because of getting money.
24th. Up and to the office, where all the morning busy an-
swering of people. About noon out with Commissioner Pett, and
he and I to a Coffee-house, to drink jocolatte, very good; and so
by coach to Westminster, being the first day of the Parliament’s
meeting. After the House had received the King’s speech, and
what more he had to say, delivered in writing, the Chancellor
being sicke, it rose, and I with Sir Philip Warwicke home and
conferred our matters about the charge of the Navy, and have
more to give him in the excessive charge of this year’s expense.
I dined with him, and Mr. Povy with us and Sir Edmund Pooly,
a fine gentleman, and Mr. Chichly, and fine discourse we had
and fine talke, being proud to see myself accepted in such com-
pany and thought better than I am. After dinner Sir Philip and
I to talk again, and then away home to the office, where sat late;
beginning our sittings now in the afternoon, because of the Par-
liament; and they being rose, I to my office, where late till almost
1449
NOVEMBER 1664
one o’clock, and then home to bed.
25th. Up and at my office all the morning, to prepare an ac-
count of the charge we have been put to extraordinary by the
Dutch already; and I have brought it to appear £852,700; but God
knows this is only a scare to the Parliament, to make them give
the more money. Thence to the Parliament House, and there did
give it to Sir Philip Warwicke; the House being hot upon giving
the King a supply of money, and I by coach to the ‘Change and
took up Mr. Jenings along with me (my old acquaintance), he
telling me the mean manner that Sir Samuel Morland lives near
him, in a house he hath bought and laid out money upon, in all
to the value of £1200, but is believed to be a beggar; and so I ever
thought he would be. From the ‘Change with Mr. Deering and
Luellin to the White Horse tavern in Lombard Street, and there
dined with them, he giving me a dish of meat to discourse in or-
der to my serving Deering, which I am already obliged to do, and
shall do it, and would be glad he were a man trusty that I might
venture something along with him. Thence home, and by and
by in the evening took my wife out by coach, leaving her at Un-
thanke’s while I to White Hall and to Westminster Hall, where I
have not been to talk a great while, and there hear that Mrs. Lane
and her husband live a sad life together, and he is gone to be a
paymaster to a company to Portsmouth to serve at sea. She big
with child. Thence I home, calling my wife, and at Sir W. Batten’s
hear that the House have given the King £2,500,000 to be paid for
this warr, only for the Navy, in three years’ time; which is a joy-
full thing to all the King’s party I see, but was much opposed by
Mr. Vaughan and others, that it should be so much. So home and
to supper and to bed.
26th. Up and to the office, where busy all the morning. Home
a while to dinner and then to the office, where very late busy till
quite weary, but contented well with my dispatch of business,
and so home to supper and to bed.
27th (Lord’s day). To church in the morning, then dined at
1450
NOVEMBER 1664
home, and to my office, and there all the afternoon setting right
my business of flaggs, and after all my pains find reason not to
be sorry, because I think it will bring me considerable profit. In
the evening come Mr. Andrews and Hill, and we sung, with my
boy, Ravenscroft’s 4-part psalms, most admirable musique. Then
(Andrews not staying) we to supper, and after supper fell into
the rarest discourse with Mr. Hill about Rome and Italy; but most
pleasant that I ever had in my life. At it very late and then to bed.
28th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes and W. Batten to White Hall,
but no Committee of Lords (which is like to do the King’s busi-
ness well). So to Westminster, and there to Jervas’s and was a
little while with Jane, and so to London by coach and to the
Coffee-house, where certain news of our peace made by Captain
Allen with Argier, which is good news; and that the Dutch have
sent part of their fleete round by Scotland; and resolve to pay off
the rest half-pay, promising the rest in the Spring, hereby keep-
ing their men. But how true this, I know not. Home to dinner,
then come Dr. Clerke to speak with me about sick and wounded
men, wherein he is like to be concerned. After him Mr. Cutler,
and much talk with him, and with him to White Hall, to have
waited on the Lords by order, but no meeting, neither to-night,
which will spoil all. I think I shall get something by my discourse
with Cutler. So home, and after being at my office an hour with
Mr. Povy talking about his business of Tangier, getting him some
money allowed him for freight of ships, wherein I hope to get
something too. He gone, home hungry and almost sick for want
of eating, and so to supper and to bed.
29th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten to the Committee of Lords
at the Council Chamber, where Sir G. Carteret told us what he
had said to the King, and how the King inclines to our request
of making us Commissioners of the Prize office, but meeting him
anon in the gallery, he tells me that my Lord Barkely is angry
we should not acquaint him with it, so I found out my Lord and
pacified him, but I know not whether he was so in earnest or no,
1451
NOVEMBER 1664
for he looked very frowardly. Thence to the Parliament House,
and with Sir W. Batten home and dined with him, my wife being
gone to my Lady Sandwich’s, and then to the office, where we
sat all the afternoon, and I at my office till past 12 at night, and
so home to bed. This day I hear that the King should say that the
Dutch do begin to comply with him. Sir John Robinson told Sir
W. Batten that he heard the King say so. I pray God it may be so.
30th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes to the Com-
mittee of the Lords, and there did our business; but, Lord! what
a sorry dispatch these great persons give to business. Thence to
the ‘Change, and there hear the certainty and circumstances of
the Dutch having called in their fleete and paid their men half-
pay, the other to be paid them upon their being ready upon beat
of drum to come to serve them again, and in the meantime to
have half-pay. This is said. Thence home to dinner, and so to
my office all the afternoon. In the evening my wife and Sir W.
Warren with me to White Hall, sending her with the coach to see
her father and mother. He and I up to Sir G. Carteret, and first I
alone and then both had discourse with him about things of the
Navy, and so I and he calling my wife at Unthanke’s, home again,
and long together talking how to order things in a new contract
for Norway goods, as well to the King’s as to his advantage. He
gone, I to my monthly accounts, and, bless God! I find I have
increased my last balance, though but little; but I hope ere long
to get more. In the meantime praise God for what I have, which
is £1209. So, with my heart glad to see my accounts fall so right
in this time of mixing of monies and confusion, I home to bed.
1452
DECEMBER 1664
December 1st. Up betimes and to White Hall to a Committee of
Tangier, and so straight home and hard to my business at my
office till noon, then to dinner, and so to my office, and by and by
we sat all the afternoon, then to my office again till past one in
the morning, and so home to supper and to bed.
2nd. Lay long in bed. Then up and to the office, where busy
all the morning. At home dined. After dinner with my wife
and Mercer to the Duke’s House, and there saw “The Rivalls,”
which I had seen before; but the play not good, nor anything but
the good actings of Betterton and his wife and Harris. Thence
homeward, and the coach broke with us in Lincoln’s Inn Fields,
and so walked to Fleete Streete, and there took coach and home,
and to my office, whither by and by comes Captain Cocke, and
then Sir W. Batten, and we all to Sir J. Minnes, and I did give
them a barrel of oysters I had given to me, and so there sat and
talked, where good discourse of the late troubles, they knowing
things, all of them, very well; and Cocke, from the King’s own
mouth, being then entrusted himself much, do know particu-
larly that the King’s credulity to Cromwell’s promises, private to
him, against the advice of his friends and the certain discovery
of the practices and discourses of Cromwell in council (by Major
1453
DECEMBER 1664
Huntington)451 did take away his life and nothing else. Then to
some loose atheisticall discourse of Cocke’s, when he was almost
drunk, and then about 11 o’clock broke up, and I to my office, to
fit up an account for Povy, wherein I hope to get something. At
it till almost two o’clock, then to supper and to bed.
3rd. Up, and at the office all the morning, and at noon to Mr.
Cutler’s, and there dined with Sir W. Rider and him, and thence
Sir W. Rider and I by coach to White Hall to a Committee of the
Fishery; there only to hear Sir Edward Ford’s proposal about far-
things, wherein, O God! to see almost every body interested for
him; only my Lord Annesly, who is a grave, serious man. My
Lord Barkeley was there, but is the most hot, fiery man in dis-
course, without any cause, that ever I saw, even to breach of civil-
ity to my Lord Anglesey, in his discourse opposing to my Lord’s.
At last, though without much satisfaction to me, it was voted that
it should be requested of the King, and that Sir Edward Ford’s
proposal is the best yet made. Thence by coach home. The Duke
of Yorke being expected to-night with great joy from Portsmouth,
after his having been abroad at sea three or four days with the
fleete; and the Dutch are all drawn into their harbours. But it
seems like a victory: and a matter of some reputation to us it is,
and blemish to them; but in no degree like what it is esteemed at,
the weather requiring them to do so. Home and at my office late,
and then to supper and to bed.
4th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, and then up and to my office,
there to dispatch a business in order to the getting something
out of the Tangier business, wherein I have an opportunity to get
451 According to Clarendon the officer here alluded to was a major in
Cromwell’s own regiment of horse, and employed by him to treat with
Charles I. whilst at Hampton Court; but being convinced of the insincerity
of the proceeding, communicated his suspicions to that monarch, and im-
mediately gave up his commission. We hear no more of Huntington till the
Restoration, when his name occurs with those of many other officers, who
tendered their services to the king. His reasons for laying down his commis-
sion are printed in Thurloe’s “State Papers” and Maseres’s “Tracts.”–B.
1454
DECEMBER 1664
myself paid upon the score of freight. I hope a good sum. At
noon home to dinner, and then in the afternoon to church. So
home, and by and by comes Mr. Hill and Andrews, and sung
together long and with great content. Then to supper and broke
up. Pretty discourse, very pleasant and ingenious, and so to my
office a little, and then home (after prayers) to bed. This day I
hear the Duke of Yorke is come to towne, though expected last
night, as I observed, but by what hindrance stopped I can’t tell.
5th. Up, and to White Hall with Sir J. Minnes; and there,
among an infinite crowd of great persons, did kiss the Duke’s
hand; but had no time to discourse. Thence up and down the
gallery, and got my Lord of Albemarle’s hand to my bill for Povy,
but afterwards was asked some scurvy questions by Povy about
my demands, which troubled [me], but will do no great hurt I
think. Thence vexed home, and there by appointment comes my
cozen Roger Pepys and Mrs. Turner, and dined with me, and
very merry we were. They staid all the afternoon till night, and
then after I had discoursed an hour with Sir W. Warren plainly
declaring my resolution to desert him if he goes on to join with
Castle, who and his family I, for great provocation, love not,
which he takes with some trouble, but will concur in everything
with me, he says. Now I am loth, I confess, to lose him, he hav-
ing been the best friend I have had ever in this office. So he be-
ing gone, we all, it being night, in Madam Turner’s coach to her
house, there to see, as she tells us, how fat Mrs. The. is grown,
and so I find her, but not as I expected, but mightily pleased I am
to hear the mother commend her daughter Betty that she is like
to be a great beauty, and she sets much by her. Thence I to White
Hall, and there saw Mr. Coventry come to towne, and, with all
my heart, am glad to see him, but could have no talke with him,
he being but just come. Thence back and took up my wife, and
home, where a while, and then home to supper and to bed.
5th. Up, and in Sir W. Batten’s coach to White Hall, but the
Duke being gone forth, I to Westminster Hall, and there spent
1455
DECEMBER 1664
much time till towards noon to and fro with people. So by and
by Mrs. Lane comes and plucks me by the cloak to speak to me,
and I was fain to go to her shop, and pretending to buy some
bands made her go home, and by and by followed her, and there
did what I would with her, and so after many discourses and her
intreating me to do something for her husband, which I promised
to do, and buying a little band of her, which I intend to keep to, I
took leave, there coming a couple of footboys to her with a coach
to fetch her abroad I know not to whom. She is great with child,
and she says I must be godfather, but I do not intend it. Thence
by coach to the Old Exchange, and there hear that the Dutch are
fitting their ships out again, which puts us to new discourse, and
to alter our thoughts of the Dutch, as to their want of courage
or force. Thence by appointment to the White Horse Taverne
in Lumbard Streete, and there dined with my Lord Rutherford,
Povy, Mr. Gauden, Creed, and others, and very merry, and after
dinner among other things Povy and I withdrew, and I plainly
told him that I was concerned in profit, but very justly, in this
business of the Bill that I have been these two or three days about,
and he consents to it, and it shall be paid. He tells me how he
believes, and in part knows, Creed to be worth £10,000; nay, that
now and then he [Povy] hath three or £4,000 in his hands, for
which he gives the interest that the King gives, which is ten per
cent., and that Creed do come and demand it every three months
the interest to be paid him, which Povy looks upon as a cunning
and mean tricke of him; but for all that, he will do and is very
rich. Thence to the office, where we sat and where Mr. Coventry
came the first time after his return from sea, which I was glad of.
So after office to my office, and then home to supper, and to my
office again, and then late home to bed.
7th. Lay long, then up, and among others Bagwell’s wife com-
ing to speak with me put new thoughts of folly into me which I
am troubled at. Thence after doing business at my office, I by
coach to my Lady Sandwich’s, and there dined with her, and
found all well and merry. Thence to White Hall, and we waited
1456
DECEMBER 1664
on the Duke, who looks better than he did, methinks, before
his voyage; and, I think, a little more stern than he used to do.
Thence to the Temple to my cozen Roger Pepys, thinking to have
met the Doctor to have discoursed our business, but he came not,
so I home, and there by agreement came my Lord Rutherford,
Povy, Gauden, Creed, Alderman Backewell, about Tangier busi-
ness of accounts between Rutherford and Gauden. Here they
were with me an hour or more, then after drinking away, and
Povy and Creed staid and eat with me; but I was sorry I had no
better cheer for Povy; for the foole may be useful, and is a cun-
ning fellow in his way, which is a strange one, and that, that I
meet not in any other man, nor can describe in him. They late
with me, and when gone my boy and I to musique, and then to
bed.
8th. Up, and to my office, where all the morning busy. At noon
dined at home, and then to the office, where we sat all the after-
noon. In the evening comes my aunt and uncle Wight, Mrs. Nor-
bury, and her daughter, and after them Mr. Norbury, where no
great pleasure, my aunt being out of humour in her fine clothes,
and it raining hard. Besides, I was a little too bold with her about
her doating on Dr. Venner. Anon they went away, and I till past
12 at night at my office, and then home to bed.
9th. Up betimes and walked to Mr. Povy’s, and there, not with-
out some few troublesome questions of his, I got a note, and went
and received £117 5s. of Alderman Viner upon my pretended
freight of the “William” for Tangier, which overbears me on one
side with joy and on the other to think of my condition if I shall
be called into examination about it, and (though in strictness it
is due) not be able to give a good account of it. Home with it,
and there comes Captain Taylor to me, and he and I did set even
the business of the ship Union lately gone for Tangier, wherein I
hope to get £50 more, for all which the Lord be praised. At noon
home to dinner, Mr. Hunt and his wife with us, and very pleas-
ant. Then in the afternoon I carried them home by coach, and
1457
DECEMBER 1664
I to Westminster Hall, and thence to Gervas’s, and there find I
cannot prevail with Jane to go forth with me, but though I took
a good occasion of going to the Trumpet she declined coming,
which vexed me. ‘Je avait grande envie envers elle, avec vrai
amour et passion’. Thence home and to my office till one in the
morning, setting to rights in writing this day’s two accounts of
Povy and Taylor, and then quietly to bed. This day I had several
letters from several places, of our bringing in great numbers of
Dutch ships.
10th. Lay long, at which I am ashamed, because of so many
people observing it that know not how late I sit up, and for fear
of Sir W. Batten’s speaking of it to others, he having staid for me a
good while. At the office all the morning, where comes my Lord
Brunkard with his patent in his hand, and delivered it to Sir J.
Minnes and myself, we alone being there all the day, and at noon
I in his coach with him to the ‘Change, where he set me down;
a modest civil person he seems to be, but wholly ignorant in the
business of the Navy as possible, but I hope to make a friend of
him, being a worthy man. Thence after hearing the great newes
of so many Dutchmen being brought in to Portsmouth and else-
where, which it is expected will either put them upon present
revenge or despair, I with Sir W. Rider and Cutler to dinner all
alone to the Great James, where good discourse, and, I hope, oc-
casion of getting something hereafter. After dinner to White Hall
to the Fishery, where the Duke was with us. So home, and late
at my office, writing many letters, then home to supper and to
bed. Yesterday come home, and this night I visited Sir W. Pen,
who dissembles great respect and love to me, but I understand
him very well. Major Holmes is come from Guinny, and is now
at Plymouth with great wealth, they say.
11th (Lord’s day). Up and to church alone in the morning.
Dined at home, mighty pleasantly. In the afternoon I to the
French church, where much pleased with the three sisters of the
parson, very handsome, especially in their noses, and sing pret-
1458
DECEMBER 1664
tily. I heard a good sermon of the old man, touching duty to par-
ents. Here was Sir Samuel Morland and his lady very fine, with
two footmen in new liverys (the church taking much notice of
them), and going into their coach after sermon with great gaze-
ing. So I home, and my cozen, Mary Pepys’s husband, comes
after me, and told me that out of the money he received some
months since he did receive 18d. too much, and did now come
and give it me, which was very pretty. So home, and there found
Mr. Andrews and his lady, a well-bred and a tolerable pretty
woman, and by and by Mr. Hill and to singing, and then to sup-
per, then to sing again, and so good night. To prayers and tonight
[bed]. It is a little strange how these Psalms of Ravenscroft after
2 or 3 times singing prove but the same again, though good. No
diversity appearing at all almost.
12th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten by coach to White Hall, where
all of us with the Duke; Mr. Coventry privately did tell me the
reason of his advice against our pretences to the Prize Office (in
his letter from Portsmouth), because he knew that the King and
the Duke had resolved to put in some Parliament men that have
deserved well, and that would needs be obliged, by putting them
in. Thence homeward, called at my bookseller’s and bespoke
some books against the year’s out, and then to the ‘Change, and
so home to dinner, and then to the office, where my Lord Brunk-
ard comes and reads over part of our Instructions in the Navy–
and I expounded it to him, so he is become my disciple. He gone,
comes Cutler to tell us that the King of France hath forbid any
canvass to be carried out of his kingdom, and I to examine went
with him to the East India house to see a letter, but came too late.
So home again, and there late till 12 at night at my office, and
then home to supper and to bed. This day (to see how things
are ordered in the world), I had a command from the Earle of
Sandwich, at Portsmouth, not to be forward with Mr. Cholmly
and Sir J. Lawson about the Mole at Tangier, because that what I
do therein will (because of his friendship to me known) redound
against him, as if I had done it upon his score. So I wrote to my
1459
DECEMBER 1664
Lord my mistake, and am contented to promise never to pursue
it more, which goes against my mind with all my heart.
13th. Lay long in bed, then up, and many people to speak with
me. Then to my office, and dined at noon at home, then to the
office again, where we sat all the afternoon, and then home at
night to a little supper, and so after my office again at 12 at night
home to bed.
14th. Up, and after a while at the office, I abroad in several
places, among others to my bookseller’s, and there spoke for sev-
eral books against New Year’s day, I resolving to lay out about £7
or £8, God having given me some profit extraordinary of late; and
bespoke also some plate, spoons, and forks. I pray God keep me
from too great expenses, though these will still be pretty good
money. Then to the ‘Change, and I home to dinner, where Creed
and Mr. Caesar, my boy’s lute master, who plays indeed mighty
finely, and after dinner I abroad, parting from Creed, and away
to and fro, laying out or preparing for laying out more money,
but I hope and resolve not to exceed therein, and to-night spoke
for some fruit for the country for my father against Christmas,
and where should I do it, but at the pretty woman’s, that used
to stand at the doore in Fanchurch Streete, I having a mind to
know her. So home, and late at my office, evening reckonings
with Shergoll, hoping to get money by the business, and so away
home to supper and to bed, not being very well through my tak-
ing cold of late, and so troubled with some wind.
15th. Called up very betimes by Mr. Cholmly, and with him
a good while about some of his Tangier accounts; and, discours-
ing of the condition of Tangier, he did give me the whole account
of the differences between Fitzgerald and Norwood, which were
very high on both sides, but most imperious and base on Fitzger-
ald’s, and yet through my Lord FitzHarding’s means, the Duke
of York is led rather to blame Norwood and to speake that he
should be called home, than be sensible of the other. He is a crea-
ture of FitzHarding’s, as a fellow that may be done with what
1460
DECEMBER 1664
he will, and, himself certainly pretending to be Generall of the
King’s armies, when Monk dyeth, desires to have as few great
or wise men in employment as he can now, but such as he can
put in and keep under, which he do this coxcomb Fitzgerald.
It seems, of all mankind there is no man so led by another as
the Duke is by Lord Muskerry and this FitzHarding, insomuch,
as when the King would have him to be Privy-Purse, the Duke
wept, and said, “But, Sir, I must have your promise, if you will
have my dear Charles from me, that if ever you have occasion
for an army again, I may have him with me; believing him to be
the best commander of an army in the world.” But Mr. Cholmly
thinks, as all other men I meet with do, that he is a very ordi-
nary fellow. It is strange how the Duke also do love naturally,
and affect the Irish above the English. He, of the company he
carried with him to sea, took above two-thirds Irish and French.
He tells me the King do hate my Lord Chancellor; and that they,
that is the King and my Lord FitzHarding, do laugh at him for a
dull fellow; and in all this business of the Dutch war do nothing
by his advice, hardly consulting him. Only he is a good minis-
ter in other respects, and the King cannot be without him; but,
above all, being the Duke’s father-in-law, he is kept in; other-
wise FitzHarding were able to fling down two of him. This, all
the wise and grave lords see, and cannot help it; but yield to it.
But he bemoans what the end of it may be, the King being ruled
by these men, as he hath been all along since his coming; to the
razing all the strong-holds in Scotland, and giving liberty to the
Irish in Ireland, whom Cromwell had settled all in one corner;
who are now able, and it is feared everyday a massacre again
among them. He being gone I abroad to the carrier’s, to see some
things sent away to my father against Christmas, and thence to
Moorfields, and there up and down to several houses to drink to
look for a place ‘pour rencontrer la femme de je sais quoi’ against
next Monday, but could meet none. So to the Coffeehouse, where
great talke of the Comet seen in several places; and among our
men at sea, and by my Lord Sandwich, to whom I intend to write
1461
DECEMBER 1664
about it to-night. Thence home to dinner, and then to the office,
where all the afternoon, and in the evening home to supper, and
then to the office late, and so to bed. This night I begun to burn
wax candles in my closett at the office, to try the charge, and to
see whether the smoke offends like that of tallow candles.
16th. Up, and by water to Deptford, thinking to have met ‘la
femme de’ Bagwell, but failed, and having done some business at
the yard, I back again, it being a fine fresh morning to walk. Back
again, Mr. Wayth walking with me to Half-Way House talking
about Mr. Castle’s fine knees lately delivered in. In which I am
well informed that they are not as they should be to make them
knees, and I hope shall make good use of it to the King’s service.
Thence home, and having dressed myself, to the ‘Change, and
thence home to dinner, and so abroad by coach with my wife, and
bought a looking glasse by the Old Exchange, which costs me £5
5s. and 6s. for the hooks. A very fair glasse. So toward my cozen
Scott’s, but meeting my Lady Sandwich’s coach, my wife turned
back to follow them, thinking they might, as they did, go to visit
her, and I ‘light and to Mrs. Harman, and there staid and talked
in her shop with her, and much pleased I am with her. We talked
about Anthony Joyce’s giving over trade and that he intends to
live in lodgings, which is a very mad, foolish thing. She tells me
she hears and believes it is because he, being now begun to be
called on offices, resolves not to take the new oathe, he having
formerly taken the Covenant or Engagement, but I think he do
very simply and will endeavour for his wife’s sake to advise him
therein. Thence to my cozen Scott’s, and there met my cozen
Roger Pepys, and Mrs. Turner, and The. and Joyce, and prated
all the while, and so with the “corps” to church and heard a very
fine sermon of the Parson of the parish, and so homeward with
them in their coach, but finding it too late to go home with me, I
took another coach and so home, and after a while at my office,
home to supper and to bed.
17th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
1462
DECEMBER 1664
noon I to the ‘Change, and there, among others, had my first
meeting with Mr. L’Estrange, who hath endeavoured several
times to speak with me. It is to get, now and then, some newes
of me, which I shall, as I see cause, give him. He is a man of fine
conversation, I think, but I am sure most courtly and full of com-
pliments. Thence home to dinner, and then come the looking-
glass man to set up the looking-glass I bought yesterday, in my
dining-room, and very handsome it is. So abroad by coach to
White Hall, and there to the Committee of Tangier, and then the
Fishing. Mr. Povy did in discourse give me a rub about my late
bill for money that I did get of him, which vexed me and stuck in
my mind all this evening, though I know very well how to cleare
myself at the worst. So home and to my office, where late, and
then home to bed. Mighty talke there is of this Comet that is seen
a’nights; and the King and Queene did sit up last night to see it,
and did, it seems. And to-night I thought to have done so too;
but it is cloudy, and so no stars appear. But I will endeavour it.
Mr. Gray did tell me to-night, for certain, that the Dutch, as high
as they seem, do begin to buckle; and that one man in this King-
dom did tell the King that he is offered £40,000 to make a peace,
and others have been offered money also. It seems the taking of
their Bourdeaux fleete thus, arose from a printed Gazette of the
Dutch’s boasting of fighting, and having beaten the English: in
confidence whereof (it coming to Bourdeaux), all the fleete comes
out, and so falls into our hands.
18th (Lord’s day). To church, where, God forgive me! I spent
most of my time in looking [on] my new Morena–[a brunette]–
at the other side of the church, an acquaintance of Pegg Pen’s.
So home to dinner, and then to my chamber to read Ben John-
son’s Cataline, a very excellent piece, and so to church again,
and thence we met at the office to hire ships, being in great haste
and having sent for several masters of ships to come to us. Then
home, and there Mr. Andrews and Hill come and we sung finely,
and by and by Mr. Fuller, the Parson, and supped with me, he
and a friend of his, but my musique friends would not stay sup-
1463
DECEMBER 1664
per. At and after supper Mr. Fuller and I told many storys of
apparitions and delusions thereby, and I out with my storys of
Tom Mallard. He gone, I a little to my office, and then to prayers
and to bed.
19th. Going to bed betimes last night we waked betimes, and
from our people’s being forced to take the key to go out to light a
candle, I was very angry and begun to find fault with my wife for
not commanding her servants as she ought. Thereupon she giv-
ing me some cross answer I did strike her over her left eye such
a blow as the poor wretch did cry out and was in great pain,
but yet her spirit was such as to endeavour to bite and scratch
me. But I coying–[stroking or caressing]–with her made her leave
crying, and sent for butter and parsley, and friends presently one
with another, and I up, vexed at my heart to think what I had
done, for she was forced to lay a poultice or something to her
eye all day, and is black, and the people of the house observed it.
But I was forced to rise, and up and with Sir J. Minnes to White
Hall, and there we waited on the Duke. And among other things
Mr. Coventry took occasion to vindicate himself before the Duke
and us, being all there, about the choosing of Taylor for Harwich.
Upon which the Duke did clear him, and did tell us that he did
expect, that, after he had named a man, none of us shall then op-
pose or find fault with the man; but if we had anything to say, we
ought to say it before he had chose him. Sir G. Carteret thought
himself concerned, and endeavoured to clear himself: and by and
by Sir W. Batten did speak, knowing himself guilty, and did con-
fess, that being pressed by the Council he did say what he did,
that he was accounted a fanatique; but did not know that at that
time he had been appointed by his Royal Highness. To which
the Duke [replied] that it was impossible but he must know that
he had appointed him; and so it did appear that the Duke did
mean all this while Sir W. Batten. So by and by we parted, and
Mr. Coventry did privately tell me that he did this day take this
occasion to mention the business to give the Duke an opportu-
nity of speaking his mind to Sir W. Batten in this business, of
1464
DECEMBER 1664
which I was heartily glad. Thence home, and not finding Bag-
well’s wife as I expected, I to the ‘Change and there walked up
and down, and then home, and she being come I bid her go and
stay at Mooregate for me, and after going up to my wife (whose
eye is very bad, but she is in very good temper to me), and af-
ter dinner I to the place and walked round the fields again and
again, but not finding her I to the ‘Change, and there found her
waiting for me and took her away, and to an alehouse, and there
I made much of her, and then away thence and to another and
endeavoured to caress her, but ‘elle ne voulait pas’, which did
vex me, but I think it was chiefly not having a good easy place to
do it upon. So we broke up and parted and I to the office, where
we sat hiring of ships an hour or two, and then to my office, and
thence (with Captain Taylor home to my house) to give him in-
structions and some notice of what to his great satisfaction had
happened to-day. Which I do because I hope his coming into this
office will a little cross Sir W. Batten and may do me good. He
gone, I to supper with my wife, very pleasant, and then a little to
my office and to bed. My mind, God forgive me, too much run-
ning upon what I can ‘ferais avec la femme de Bagwell demain’,
having promised to go to Deptford and ‘a aller a sa maison avec
son mari’ when I come thither.
20th. Up and walked to Deptford, where after doing some-
thing at the yard I walked, without being observed, with Bagwell
home to his house, and there was very kindly used, and the poor
people did get a dinner for me in their fashion, of which I also eat
very well. After dinner I found occasion of sending him abroad,
and then alone ‘avec elle je tentais a faire ce que je voudrais et
contre sa force je le faisais biens que passe a mon contentment’.
By and by he coming back again I took leave and walked home,
and then there to dinner, where Dr. Fayrebrother come to see me
and Luellin. We dined, and I to the office, leaving them, where
we sat all the afternoon, and I late at the office. To supper and to
the office again very late, then home to bed.
1465
DECEMBER 1664
21st. Up, and after evening reckonings to this day with Mr.
Bridges, the linnen draper, for callicos, I out to Doctors’ Com-
mons, where by agreement my cozen Roger and I did meet my
cozen Dr. Tom Pepys, and there a great many and some high
words on both sides, but I must confess I was troubled; first, to
find my cozen Roger such a simple but well-meaning man as he
is; next to think that my father, out of folly and vain glory, should
now and then (as by their words I gather) be speaking how he
had set up his son Tom with his goods and house, and now these
words are brought against him–I fear to the depriving him of all
the profit the poor man intended to make of the lease of his house
and sale of his owne goods. I intend to make a quiet end if I can
with the Doctor, being a very foul-tounged fool and of great in-
convenience to be at difference with such a one that will make
the base noise about it that he will. Thence, very much vexed
to find myself so much troubled about other men’s matters, I to
Mrs. Turner’s, in Salsbury Court, and with her a little, and car-
ried her, the porter staying for me, our eagle, which she desired
the other day, and we were glad to be rid of her, she fouling our
house of office mightily. They are much pleased with her. And
thence I home and after dinner to the office, where Sir W. Rider
and Cutler come, and in dispute I very high with them against
their demands, I hope to no hurt to myself, for I was very plain
with them to the best of my reason. So they gone I home to sup-
per, then to the office again and so home to bed. My Lord Sand-
wich this day writes me word that he hath seen (at Portsmouth)
the Comet, and says it is the most extraordinary thing that ever
he saw.
22nd. Up and betimes to my office, and then out to several
places, among others to Holborne to have spoke with one Mr.
Underwood about some English hemp, he lies against Gray’s
Inn. Thereabouts I to a barber’s shop to have my hair cut, and
there met with a copy of verses, mightily commended by some
gentlemen there, of my Lord Mordaunt’s, in excuse of his going
to sea this late expedition, with the Duke of Yorke. But, Lord!
1466
DECEMBER 1664
they are but sorry things; only a Lord made them. Thence to
the ‘Change; and there, among the merchants, I hear fully the
news of our being beaten to dirt at Guinny, by De Ruyter with
his fleete. The particulars, as much as by Sir G. Carteret after-
wards I heard, I have said in a letter to my Lord Sandwich this
day at Portsmouth; it being most wholly to the utter ruine of our
Royall Company, and reproach and shame to the whole nation, as
well as justification to them in their doing wrong to no man as to
his private [property], only takeing whatever is found to belong
to the Company, and nothing else. Dined at the Dolphin, Sir G.
Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and I, with Sir W. Boreman
and Sir Theophilus Biddulph and others, Commissioners of the
Sewers, about our place below to lay masts in. But coming a little
too soon, I out again, and tooke boat down to Redriffe; and just in
time within two minutes, and saw the new vessel of Sir William
Petty’s launched, the King and Duke being there.452 It swims and
looks finely, and I believe will do well. The name I think is Twi-
light, but I do not know certainly. Coming away back immedi-
ately to dinner, where a great deal of good discourse, and Sir G.
Carteret’s discourse of this Guinny business, with great displea-
sure at the losse of our honour there, and do now confess that the
trade brought all these troubles upon us between the Dutch and
us. Thence to the office and there sat late, then I to my office and
there till 12 at night, and so home to bed weary.
23rd. Up and to my office, then come by appointment cozen
Tom Trice to me, and I paid him the £20 remaining due to him
upon the bond of £100 given him by agreement November, 1663,
to end the difference between us about my aunt’s, his mother’s,
money. And here, being willing to know the worst, I told him,
“I hope now there is nothing remaining between you and I of fu-
ture dispute.” “No,” says he, “nothing at all that I know of, but
452 Pepys was wrong as to the name of Sir William Petty’s new double-
keeled boat. On February 13th, 1664-65, he gives the correct title, which was
“The Experiment.”
1467
DECEMBER 1664
only a small matter of about 20 or 30s. that my father Pepys re-
ceived for me of rent due to me in the country, which I will in a
day or two bring you an account of,” and so we parted. Dined
at home upon a good turkey which Mr. Sheply sent us, then to
the office all the afternoon, Mr. Cutler and others coming to me
about business. I hear that the Dutch have prepared a fleete to
go the backway to the Streights, where without doubt they will
master our fleete. This put to that of Guinny makes me fear them
mightily, and certainly they are a most wise people, and careful
of their business. The King of France, they say, do declare him-
self obliged to defend them, and lays claim by his Embassador
to the wines we have taken from the Dutch Bourdeaux men, and
more, it is doubted whether the Swede will be our friend or no.
Pray God deliver us out of these troubles! This day Sir W. Batten
sent and afterwards spoke to me, to have me and my wife come
and dine with them on Monday next: which is a mighty conde-
scension in them, and for some great reason I am sure, or else it
pleases God by my late care of business to make me more consid-
erable even with them than I am sure they would willingly owne
me to be. God make me thankfull and carefull to preserve myself
so, for I am sure they hate me and it is hope or fear that makes
them flatter me. It being a bright night, which it has not been a
great while, I purpose to endeavour to be called in the morning
to see the Comet, though I fear we shall not see it, because it rises
in the east but 16 degrees, and then the houses will hinder us.
24th. Having sat up all night to past two o’clock this morning,
our porter, being appointed, comes and tells us that the bellman
tells him that the star is seen upon Tower Hill; so I, that had been
all night setting in order all my old papers in my chamber, did
leave off all, and my boy and I to Tower Hill, it being a most
fine, bright moonshine night, and a great frost; but no Comet to
be seen. So after running once round the Hill, I and Tom, we
home and then to bed. Rose about 9 o’clock and then to the of-
fice, where sitting all the morning. At noon to the ‘Change, to
the Coffee-house; and there heard Sir Richard Ford tell the whole
1468
DECEMBER 1664
story of our defeat at Guinny. Wherein our men are guilty of the
most horrid cowardice and perfidiousness, as he says and tells
it, that ever Englishmen were. Captain Raynolds, that was the
only commander of any of the King’s ships there, was shot at by
De Ruyter, with a bloody flag flying. He, instead of opposing
(which, indeed, had been to no purpose, but only to maintain
honour), did poorly go on board himself, to ask what De Ruyter
would have; and so yielded to whatever Ruyter would desire.
The King and Duke are highly vexed at it, it seems, and the busi-
ness deserves it. Thence home to dinner, and then abroad to buy
some things, and among others to my bookseller’s, and there saw
several books I spoke for, which are finely bound and good books
to my great content. So home and to my office, where late. This
evening I being informed did look and saw the Comet, which is
now, whether worn away or no I know not, but appears not with
a tail, but only is larger and duller than any other star, and is
come to rise betimes, and to make a great arch, and is gone quite
to a new place in the heavens than it was before: but I hope in a
clearer night something more will be seen. So home to bed.
25th (Lord’s day and Christmas day). Up (my wife’s eye be-
ing ill still of the blow I did in a passion give her on Monday
last) to church alone, where Mr. Mills, a good sermon. To din-
ner at home, where very pleasant with my wife and family. Af-
ter dinner I to Sir W. Batten’s, and there received so much good
usage (as I have of late done) from him and my Lady, obliging
me and my wife, according to promise, to come and dine with
them to-morrow with our neighbours, that I was in pain all the
day, and night too after, to know how to order the business of
my wife’s not going, and by discourse receive fresh instances of
Sir J. Minnes’s folly in complaining to Sir G. Carteret of Sir W.
Batten and me for some family offences, such as my having of a
stopcock to keepe the water from them, which vexes me, but it
would more but that Sir G. Carteret knows him very well. Thence
to the French church, but coming too late I returned and to Mr.
Rawlinson’s church, where I heard a good sermon of one that I re-
1469
DECEMBER 1664
member was at Paul’s with me, his name Maggett; and very great
store of fine women there is in this church, more than I know any-
where else about us. So home and to my chamber, looking over
and setting in order my papers and books, and so to supper, and
then to prayers and to bed.
26th. Up, and with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, and there with the
rest did our usual business before the Duke, and then with Sir W.
Batten back and to his house, where I by sicknesse excused my
wife’s coming to them to-day. Thence I to the Coffeehouse, where
much good discourse, and all the opinion now is that the Dutch
will avoid fighting with us at home, but do all the hurte they can
to us abroad; which it may be they may for a while, but that,
I think, cannot support them long. Thence to Sir W. Batten’s,
where Mr. Coventry and all our families here, women and all,
and Sir R. Ford and his, and a great feast and good discourse and
merry, there all the afternoon and evening till late, only stepped
in to see my wife, then to my office to enter my day’s work, and
so home to bed, where my people and wife innocently at cards
very merry, and I to bed, leaving them to their sport and blind-
man’s buff.
27th. My people came to bed, after their sporting, at four
o’clock in the morning; I up at seven, and to Deptford and Wool-
wich in a gally; the Duke calling to me out of the barge in which
the King was with him going down the river, to know whither I
was going. I told him to Woolwich, but was troubled afterward I
should say no farther, being in a gally, lest he think me too pro-
fuse in my journeys. Did several businesses, and then back again
by two o’clock to Sir J. Minnes’s to dinner by appointment, where
all yesterday’s company but Mr. Coventry, who could not come.
Here merry, and after an hour’s chat I down to the office, where
busy late, and then home to supper and to bed. The Comet ap-
peared again to-night, but duskishly. I went to bed, leaving my
wife and all her folks, and Will also, too, come to make Christmas
gambolls to-night.
1470
DECEMBER 1664
28th. I waked in the morning about 6 o’clock and my wife not
come to bed; I lacked a pot, but there was none, and bitter cold,
so was forced to rise and piss in the chimney, and to bed again.
Slept a little longer, and then hear my people coming up, and so
I rose, and my wife to bed at eight o’clock in the morning, which
vexed me a little, but I believe there was no hurt in it all, but
only mirthe, therefore took no notice. I abroad with Sir W. Batten
to the Council Chamber, where all of us to discourse about the
way of measuring ships and the freight fit to give for them by the
tun, where it was strange methought to hear so poor discourses
among the Lords themselves, and most of all to see how a little
empty matter delivered gravely by Sir W. Pen was taken mighty
well, though nothing in the earth to the purpose. But clothes,
I perceive more and more every day, is a great matter. Thence
home with Sir W. Batten by coach, and I home to dinner, find-
ing my wife still in bed. After dinner abroad, and among other
things visited my Lady Sandwich, and was there, with her and
the young ladies, playing at cards till night. Then home and to
my office late, then home to bed, leaving my wife and people
up to more sports, but without any great satisfaction to myself
therein.
29th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. Then
whereas I should have gone and dined with Sir W. Pen (and the
rest of the officers at his house), I pretended to dine with my Lady
Sandwich and so home, where I dined well, and began to wipe
and clean my books in my chamber in order to the settling of my
papers and things there thoroughly, and then to the office, where
all the afternoon sitting, and in the evening home to supper, and
then to my work again.
30th. Lay very long in bed with my wife, it being very cold,
and my wife very full of a resolution to keepe within doors, not
so much as to go to church or see my Lady Sandwich before
Easter next, which I am willing enough to, though I seem the con-
trary. This and other talke kept me a-bed till almost 10 a’clock.
1471
DECEMBER 1664
Then up and made an end of looking over all my papers and
books and taking everything out of my chamber to have all made
clean. At noon dined, and after dinner forth to several places to
pay away money, to clear myself in all the world, and, among
others, paid my bookseller £6 for books I had from him this day,
and the silversmith £22 18s. for spoons, forks, and sugar box, and
being well pleased with seeing my business done to my mind as
to my meeting with people and having my books ready for me,
I home and to my office, and there did business late, and then
home to supper, prayers, and to bed.
31st. At the office all the morning, and after dinner there again,
dispatched first my letters, and then to my accounts, not of the
month but of the whole yeare also, and was at it till past twelve
at night, it being bitter cold; but yet I was well satisfied with my
worke, and, above all, to find myself, by the great blessing of
God, worth £1349, by which, as I have spent very largely, so I
have laid up above £500 this yeare above what I was worth this
day twelvemonth. The Lord make me for ever thankful to his
holy name for it! Thence home to eat a little and so to bed. Soon
as ever the clock struck one, I kissed my wife in the kitchen by the
fireside, wishing her a merry new yeare, observing that I believe
I was the first proper wisher of it this year, for I did it as soon as
ever the clock struck one.
So ends the old yeare, I bless God, with great joy to me, not
only from my having made so good a yeare of profit, as hav-
ing spent £420 and laid up £540 and upwards; but I bless God I
never have been in so good plight as to my health in so very cold
weather as this is, nor indeed in any hot weather, these ten years,
as I am at this day, and have been these four or five months. But I
am at a great losse to know whether it be my hare’s foote, or tak-
ing every morning of a pill of turpentine, or my having left off
the wearing of a gowne. My family is, my wife, in good health,
and happy with her; her woman Mercer, a pretty, modest, quiett
mayde; her chambermayde Besse, her cook mayde Jane, the little
1472
DECEMBER 1664
girl Susan, and my boy, which I have had about half a yeare, Tom
Edwards, which I took from the King’s chappell, and a pretty and
loving quiett family I have as any man in England. My credit
in the world and my office grows daily, and I am in good es-
teeme with everybody, I think. My troubles of my uncle’s estate
pretty well over; but it comes to be but of little profit to us, my
father being much supported by my purse. But great vexations
remain upon my father and me from my brother Tom’s death
and ill condition, both to our disgrace and discontent, though no
great reason for either. Publique matters are all in a hurry about
a Dutch warr. Our preparations great; our provocations against
them great; and, after all our presumption, we are now afeard as
much of them, as we lately contemned them. Every thing else in
the State quiett, blessed be God! My Lord Sandwich at sea with
the fleete at Portsmouth; sending some about to cruise for taking
of ships, which we have done to a great number. This Christmas
I judged it fit to look over all my papers and books; and to tear all
that I found either boyish or not to be worth keeping, or fit to be
seen, if it should please God to take me away suddenly. Among
others, I found these two or three notes, which I thought fit to
keep. ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS, PEPY’S DIARY 1664,
COMPLETE: A real and not a complimentary acknowledgment
A mad merry slut she is About several businesses, hoping to get
money by them After many protestings by degrees I did arrive
at what I would All divided that were bred so long at school to-
gether All ended in love All the men were dead of the plague,
and the ship cast ashore And with the great men in curing of their
claps At least 12 or 14,000 people in the street (to see the hang-
ing) Bath at the top of his house Bearing more sayle will go faster
than any other ships (multihull) Began discourse of my not get-
ting of children Below what people think these great people say
and do But the wench went, and I believe had her turn served
Came to bed to me, but all would not make me friends Chatted
with her, her husband out of the way Could not saw above 4
inches of the stone in a day Do look upon me as a remembrancer
1473
DECEMBER 1664
of his former vanity Doubtfull of himself, and easily be removed
from his own opinion Drink a dish of coffee Even to the having
bad words with my wife, and blows too Expected musique, the
missing of which spoiled my dinner Expressly taking care that
nobody might see this business done Fear of making her think
me to be in a better condition Fear all his kindness is but only
his lust to her Feared I might meet with some people that might
know me Fetch masts from New England Few in any age that do
mind anything that is abstruse Find myself to over-value things
when a child Gadding abroad to look after beauties Generally
with corruption, but most indeed with neglect God forgive me!
what thoughts and wishes I had Good writers are not admired by
the present Greatest businesses are done so superficially Had no
mind to meddle with her Having some experience, but greater
conceit of it than is fit Hear something of the effects of our last
meeting (pregnancy?) Helping to slip their calfes when there
is occasion Her months upon her is gone to bed Her impudent
tricks and ways of getting money How little to be presumed of in
our greatest undertakings I had agreed with Jane Welsh, but she
came not, which vexed me I do not like his being angry and in
debt both together to me I will not by any over submission make
myself cheap I slept soundly all the sermon Ill from my late cut-
ting my hair so close to my head In my dining-room she was
doing something upon the pott In a hackney and full of people,
was ashamed to be seen Ireland in a very distracted condition
Irish in Ireland, whom Cromwell had settled all in one corner
Jane going into the boat did fall down and show her arse King
is mighty kind to these his bastard children King still do doat
upon his women, even beyond all shame Lay long caressing my
wife and talking Let her brew as she has baked Little children
employed, every one to do something Mankind pleasing them-
selves in the easy delights of the world Meazles, we fear, or, at
least, of a scarlett feavour Methought very ill, or else I am grown
worse to please Mind to have her bring it home Mrs. Lane was
gone forth, and so I missed of my intent My wife was angry with
1474
DECEMBER 1664
me for not coming home, and for gadding My leg fell in a hole
broke on the bridge My wife made great means to be friends,
coming to my bedside Never to trust too much to any man in the
world New Netherlands to English rule, under the title of New
York Not well, and so had no pleasure at all with my poor wife
Not when we can, but when we list Not the greatest wits, but the
steady man Nothing of the memory of a man, an houre after he is
dead! Now against her going into the country (lay together) Peri-
wigg he lately made me cleansed of its nits Play good, but spoiled
with the ryme, which breaks the sense Pleased to look upon their
pretty daughter Pray God give me a heart to fear a fall, and to
prepare for it! Presse seamen, without which we cannot really
raise men Pretty sayings, which are generally like paradoxes Re-
duced the Dutch settlement of New Netherlands to English rule
Rotten teeth and false, set in with wire Ryme, which breaks the
sense Saw “The German Princess” acted, by the woman herself
Sent my wife to get a place to see Turner hanged Shakespeare’s
plays She had the cunning to cry a great while, and talk and blub-
ber She had got and used some puppy-dog water Sheriffs did
endeavour to get one jewell Slabbering my band sent home for
another So home to prayers and to bed Staid two hours with her
kissing her, but nothing more Strange slavery that I stand in to
beauty Subject to be put into a disarray upon very small occa-
sions Such open flattery is beastly Talked with Mrs. Lane about
persuading her to Hawly Tear all that I found either boyish or not
to be worth keeping That hair by hair had his horse’s tail pulled
off indeed Their saws have no teeth, but it is the sand only There
eat and drank, and had my pleasure of her twice There did see
Mrs. Lane..... These Lords are hard to be trusted Things wear out
of themselves and come fair again Thinks she is with child, but
I neither believe nor desire it Till 12 at night, and then home to
supper and to bed To my Lord Sandwich, thinking to have dined
there Travels over the high hills in Asia above the clouds Up, my
mind very light from my last night’s accounts Upon a very small
occasion had a difference again broke out Very angry we were,
1475
DECEMBER 1664
but quickly friends again Very high and very foule words from
her to me We do nothing in this office like people able to carry on
a warr Went against me to have my wife and servants look upon
them What wine you drinke, lett it bee at meales What a sorry
dispatch these great persons give to business What is there more
to be had of a woman than the possessing her Where a trade hath
once been and do decay, it never recovers Wherein every party
has laboured to cheat another Willing to receive a bribe if it were
offered me Would either conform, or be more wise, and not be
catched! Would make a dogg laugh
1476
JANUARY 1664-1665
January 1st (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, having been busy late
last night, then up and to my office, where upon ordering my
accounts and papers with respect to my understanding my last
year’s gains and expense, which I find very great, as I have al-
ready set down yesterday. Now this day I am dividing my ex-
pense, to see what my clothes and every particular hath stood me
in: I mean all the branches of my expense. At noon a good veni-
son pasty and a turkey to ourselves without any body so much
as invited by us, a thing unusuall for so small a family of my
condition: but we did it and were very merry. After dinner to
my office again, where very late alone upon my accounts, but
have not brought them to order yet, and very intricate I find it,
notwithstanding my care all the year to keep things in as good
method as any man can do. Past 11 o’clock home to supper and
to bed.
2nd. Up, and it being a most fine, hard frost I walked a good
way toward White Hall, and then being overtaken with Sir W.
Pen’s coach, went into it, and with him thither, and there did our
usual business with the Duke. Thence, being forced to pay a great
deale of money away in boxes (that is, basins at White Hall), I to
my barber’s, Gervas, and there had a little opportunity of speak-
ing with my Jane alone, and did give her something, and of her-
1477
JANUARY 1664-1665
self she did tell me a place where I might come to her on Sunday
next, which I will not fail, but to see how modestly and harm-
lessly she brought it out was very pretty. Thence to the Swan, and
there did sport a good while with Herbert’s young kinswoman
without hurt, though they being abroad, the old people. Then to
the Hall, and there agreed with Mrs. Martin, and to her lodgings
which she has now taken to lie in, in Bow Streete, pitiful poor
things, yet she thinks them pretty, and so they are for her condi-
tion I believe good enough. Here I did ‘ce que je voudrais avec’
her most freely, and it having cost 2s. in wine and cake upon her, I
away sick of her impudence, and by coach to my Lord Brunker’s,
by appointment, in the Piazza, in Covent-Guarding; where I oc-
casioned much mirth with a ballet I brought with me, made from
the seamen at sea to their ladies in town; saying Sir W. Pen, Sir G.
Ascue, and Sir J. Lawson made them. Here a most noble French
dinner and banquet, the best I have seen this many a day and
good discourse. Thence to my bookseller’s and at his binder’s
saw Hooke’s book of the Microscope,453 which is so pretty that I
presently bespoke it, and away home to the office, where we met
to do something, and then though very late by coach to Sir Ph.
Warwicke’s, but having company with him could not speak with
him. So back again home, where thinking to be merry was vexed
with my wife’s having looked out a letter in Sir Philip Sidney
about jealousy for me to read, which she industriously and mali-
ciously caused me to do, and the truth is my conscience told me
453 “Micrographia: or some physiological descriptions of minute bodies
made by Magnifying Glasses. London, 1665,” a very remarkable work with
elaborate plates, some of which have been used for lecture illustrations al-
most to our own day. On November 23rd, 1664, the President of the Royal
Society was “desired to sign a licence for printing of Mr. Hooke’s microscop-
ical book.” At this time the book was mostly printed, but it was delayed,
much to Hooke’s disgust, by the examination of several Fellows of the So-
ciety. In spite of this examination the council were anxious that the author
should make it clear that he alone was responsible for any theory put for-
ward, and they gave him notice to that effect. Hooke made this clear in his
dedication (see Birch’s “History,” vol. i., pp. 490-491)
1478
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it was most proper for me, and therefore was touched at it, but
tooke no notice of it, but read it out most frankly, but it stucke in
my stomach, and moreover I was vexed to have a dog brought
to my house to line our little bitch, which they make him do in
all their sights, which, God forgive me, do stir my jealousy again,
though of itself the thing is a very immodest sight. However, to
cards with my wife a good while, and then to bed.
3rd. Up, and by coach to Sir Ph. Warwicke’s, the streete being
full of footballs, it being a great frost, and found him and Mr.
Coventry walking in St. James’s Parke. I did my errand to him
about the felling of the King’s timber in the forests, and then to
my Lord of Oxford, Justice in Eyre, for his consent thereto, for
want whereof my Lord Privy Seale stops the whole business. I
found him in his lodgings, in but an ordinary furnished house
and roome where he was, but I find him to be a man of good
discreet replys. Thence to the Coffee-house, where certain newes
that the Dutch have taken some of our colliers to the North; some
say four, some say seven. Thence to the ‘Change a while, and so
home to dinner and to the office, where we sat late, and then I to
write my letters, and then to Sir W. Batten’s, who is going out of
towne to Harwich to-morrow to set up a light-house there, which
he hath lately got a patent from the King to set up, that will turne
much to his profit. Here very merry, and so to my office again,
where very late, and then home to supper and to bed, but sat up
with my wife at cards till past two in the morning.
4th. Lay long, and then up and to my Lord of Oxford’s, but his
Lordshipp was in bed at past ten o’clock: and, Lord helpe us! so
rude a dirty family I never saw in my life. He sent me out word
my business was not done, but should against the afternoon. I
thence to the Coffee-house, there but little company, and so home
to the ‘Change, where I hear of some more of our ships lost to the
Northward. So to Sir W. Batten’s, but he was set out before I got
thither. I sat long talking with my lady, and then home to dinner.
Then come Mr. Moore to see me, and he and I to my Lord of
1479
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Oxford’s, but not finding him within Mr. Moore and I to “Love
in a Tubb,” which is very merry, but only so by gesture, not wit
at all, which methinks is beneath the House. So walked home,
it being a very hard frost, and I find myself as heretofore in cold
weather to begin to burn within and pimples and pricks all over
my body, my pores with cold being shut up. So home to supper
and to cards and to bed.
5th. Up, it being very cold and a great snow and frost tonight.
To the office, and there all the morning. At noon dined at home,
troubled at my wife’s being simply angry with Jane, our cook
mayde (a good servant, though perhaps hath faults and is cun-
ning), and given her warning to be gone. So to the office again,
where we sat late, and then I to my office, and there very late do-
ing business. Home to supper and to the office again, and then
late home to bed.
6th. Lay long in bed, but most of it angry and scolding with
my wife about her warning Jane our cookemayde to be gone and
upon that she desires to go abroad to-day to look a place. A very
good mayde she is and fully to my mind, being neat, only they
say a little apt to scold, but I hear her not. To my office all the
morning busy. Dined at home. To my office again, being pretty
well reconciled to my wife, which I did desire to be, because she
had designed much mirthe to-day to end Christmas with among
her servants. At night home, being twelfenight, and there chose
my piece of cake, but went up to my viall, and then to bed, leav-
ing my wife and people up at their sports, which they continue
till morning, not coming to bed at all.
7th. Up and to the office all the morning. At noon dined alone,
my wife and family most of them a-bed. Then to see my Lady
Batten and sit with her a while, Sir W. Batten being out of town,
and then to my office doing very much business very late, and
then home to supper and to bed.
8th (Lord’s day). Up betimes, and it being a very fine frosty
day, I and my boy walked to White Hall, and there to the Chap-
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JANUARY 1664-1665
pell, where one Dr. Beaumont’ preached a good sermon, and
afterwards a brave anthem upon the 150 Psalm, where upon the
word “trumpet” very good musique was made. So walked to my
Lady’s and there dined with her (my boy going home), where
much pretty discourse, and after dinner walked to Westminster,
and there to the house where Jane Welsh had appointed me, but
it being sermon time they would not let me in, and said nobody
was there to speak with me. I spent the whole afternoon walk-
ing into the Church and Abbey, and up and down, but could not
find her, and so in the evening took a coach and home, and there
sat discoursing with my wife, and by and by at supper, drinking
some cold drink I think it was, I was forced to go make water, and
had very great pain after it, but was well by and by and contin-
ued so, it being only I think from the drink, or from my straining
at stool to do more than my body would. So after prayers to bed.
9th. Up and walked to White Hall, it being still a brave frost,
and I in perfect good health, blessed be God! In my way saw
a woman that broke her thigh, in her heels slipping up upon
the frosty streete. To the Duke, and there did our usual worke.
Here I saw the Royal Society bring their new book, wherein is
nobly writ their charter’ and laws, and comes to be signed by the
Duke as a Fellow; and all the Fellows’ hands are to be entered
there, and lie as a monument; and the King hath put his with
the word Founder. Thence I to Westminster, to my barber’s, and
found occasion to see Jane, but in presence of her mistress, and
so could not speak to her of her failing me yesterday, and then
to the Swan to Herbert’s girl, and lost time a little with her, and
so took coach, and to my Lord Crew’s and dined with him, who
receives me with the greatest respect that could be, telling me
that he do much doubt of the successe of this warr with Holland,
we going about it, he doubts, by the instigation of persons that
do not enough apprehend the consequences of the danger of it,
and therein I do think with him. Holmes was this day sent to the
Tower,–[For taking New York from the Dutch]–but I perceive it is
made matter of jest only; but if the Dutch should be our masters,
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it may come to be of earnest to him, to be given over to them for
a sacrifice, as Sir W. Rawly [Raleigh] was. Thence to White Hall
to a Tangier Committee, where I was accosted and most highly
complimented by my Lord Bellasses,454 our new governor, be-
yond my expectation, or measure I could imagine he would have
given any man, as if I were the only person of business that he
intended to rely on, and desires my correspondence with him.
This I was not only surprized at, but am well pleased with, and
may make good use of it. Our patent is renewed, and he and my
Lord Barkeley, and Sir Thomas Ingram put in as commissioners.
Here some business happened which may bring me some profit.
Thence took coach and calling my wife at her tailor’s (she be-
ing come this afternoon to bring her mother some apples, neat’s
tongues, and wine); I home, and there at my office late with Sir
W. Warren, and had a great deal of good discourse and counsel
from him, which I hope I shall take, being all for my good in my
deportment in my office, yet with all honesty. He gone I home to
supper and to bed.
10th. Lay long, it being still very cold, and then to the office,
where till dinner, and then home, and by and by to the office,
where we sat and were very late, and I writing letters till twelve
at night, and then after supper to bed.
11th. Up, and very angry with my boy for lying long a bed
and forgetting his lute. To my office all the morning. At noon
to the ‘Change, and so home to dinner. After dinner to Gresham
College to my Lord Brunker and Commissioner Pett, taking, Mr.
Castle with me there to discourse over his draught of a ship he is
454 John Belasyse, second son of Thomas, first Viscount Fauconberg, cre-
ated Baron Belasyse of Worlaby, January 27th, 1644, Lord Lieutenant of the
East Riding of Yorkshire, and Governor of Hull. He was appointed Gover-
nor of Tangier, and Captain of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners. He was
a Roman Catholic, and therefore was deprived of all his appointments in
1672 by the provisions of the Test Act, but in 1684 James II. made him First
Commissioner of the Treasury. He died 1689.
1482
JANUARY 1664-1665
to build for us. Where I first found reason to apprehend Commis-
sioner Pett to be a man of an ability extraordinary in any thing,
for I found he did turn and wind Castle like a chicken in his busi-
ness, and that most pertinently and mister-like, and great plea-
sure it was to me to hear them discourse, I, of late having studied
something thereof, and my Lord Brunker is a very able person
also himself in this sort of business, as owning himself to be a
master in the business of all lines and Conicall Sections: Thence
home, where very late at my office doing business to my con-
tent, though [God] knows with what ado it was that when I was
out I could get myself to come home to my business, or when I
was there though late would stay there from going abroad again.
To supper and to bed. This evening, by a letter from Plymouth,
I hear that two of our ships, the Leopard and another, in the
Straights, are lost by running aground; and that three more had
like to have been so, but got off, whereof Captain Allen one: and
that a Dutch fleete are gone thither; which if they should meet
with our lame ships, God knows what would become of them.
This I reckon most sad newes; God make us sensible of it! This
night, when I come home, I was much troubled to hear my poor
canary bird, that I have kept these three or four years, is dead.
12th. Up, and to White Hall about getting a privy seal for
felling of the King’s timber for the navy, and to the Lords’
House to speak with my Lord Privy Seale about it, and so to the
‘Change, where to my last night’s ill news I met more. Spoke
with a Frenchman who was taken, but released, by a Dutch man-
of-war of thirty-six guns (with seven more of the like or greater
ships), off the North Foreland, by Margett. Which is a strange
attempt, that they should come to our teeth; but the wind being
easterly, the wind that should bring our force from Portsmouth,
will carry them away home. God preserve us against them, and
pardon our making them in our discourse so contemptible an en-
emy! So home and to dinner, where Mr. Hollyard with us dined.
So to the office, and there late till 11 at night and more, and then
home to supper and to bed.
1483
JANUARY 1664-1665
13th. Up betimes and walked to my Lord Bellasses’s lodg-
ings in Lincolne’s Inne Fieldes, and there he received and dis-
coursed with me in the most respectfull manner that could be,
telling me what a character of my judgment, and care, and love
to Tangier he had received of me, that he desired my advice and
my constant correspondence, which he much valued, and in my
courtship, in which, though I understand his designe very well,
and that it is only a piece of courtship, yet it is a comfort to me
that I am become so considerable as to have him need to say that
to me, which, if I did not do something in the world, would never
have been. Here well satisfied I to Sir Ph. Warwicke, and there
did some business with him; thence to Jervas’s and there spent
a little idle time with him, his wife, Jane, and a sweetheart of
hers. So to the Hall awhile and thence to the Exchange, where
yesterday’s newes confirmed, though in a little different man-
ner; but a couple of ships in the Straights we have lost, and the
Dutch have been in Margaret [Margate] Road. Thence home to
dinner and so abroad and alone to the King’s house, to a play,
“The Traytor,” where, unfortunately, I met with Sir W. Pen, so
that I must be forced to confess it to my wife, which troubles me.
Thence walked home, being ill-satisfied with the present actings
of the House, and prefer the other House before this infinitely. To
my Lady Batten’s, where I find Pegg Pen, the first time that ever
I saw her to wear spots. Here very merry, Sir W. Batten being
looked for to-night, but is not yet come from Harwich. So home
to supper and to bed.
14th. Up and to White Hall, where long waited in the Duke’s
chamber for a Committee intended for Tangier, but none met,
and so I home and to the office, where we met a little, and then
to the ‘Change, where our late ill newes confirmed in loss of two
ships in the Straights, but are now the Phoenix and Nonsuch!
Home to dinner, thence with my wife to the King’s house, there
to see “Vulpone,” a most excellent play; the best I think I ever
saw, and well, acted. So with Sir W. Pen home in his coach, and
then to the office. So home, to supper, and bed, resolving by the
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JANUARY 1664-1665
grace of God from this day to fall hard to my business again, after
some weeke or fortnight’s neglect.
15th (Lord’s day). Up, and after a little at my office to prepare a
fresh draught of my vowes for the next yeare, I to church, where
a most insipid young coxcomb preached. Then home to dinner,
and after dinner to read in “Rushworth’s Collections” about the
charge against the late Duke of Buckingham, in order to the fit-
ting me to speak and understand the discourse anon before the
King about the suffering the Turkey merchants to send out their
fleete at this dangerous time, when we can neither spare them
ships to go, nor men, nor King’s ships to convoy them. At four
o’clock with Sir W. Pen in his coach to my Lord Chancellor’s,
where by and by Mr. Coventry, Sir W. Pen, Sir J. Lawson, Sir
G. Ascue, and myself were called in to the King, there being sev-
eral of the Privy Council, and my Lord Chancellor lying at length
upon a couch (of the goute I suppose); and there Sir W. Pen be-
gun, and he had prepared heads in a paper, and spoke pretty
well to purpose, but with so much leisure and gravity as was
tiresome; besides, the things he said were but very poor to a man
in his trade after a great consideration, but it was to purpose, in-
deed to dissuade the King from letting these Turkey ships to go
out: saying (in short) the King having resolved to have 130 ships
out by the spring, he must have above 20 of them merchantmen.
Towards which, he in the whole River could find but 12 or 14,
and of them the five ships taken up by these merchants were a
part, and so could not be spared. That we should need 30,000
[sailors] to man these 130 ships, and of them in service we have
not above 16,000; so we shall need 14,000 more. That these ships
will with their convoys carry above 2,000 men, and those the best
men that could be got; it being the men used to the Southward
that are the best men for warr, though those bred in the North
among the colliers are good for labour. That it will not be safe
for the merchants, nor honourable for the King, to expose these
rich ships with his convoy of six ships to go, it not being enough
to secure them against the Dutch, who, without doubt, will have
1485
JANUARY 1664-1665
a great fleete in the Straights. This, Sir J. Lawson enlarged upon.
Sir G. Ascue he chiefly spoke that the warr and trade could not be
supported together, and, therefore, that trade must stand still to
give way to them. This Mr. Coventry seconded, and showed how
the medium of the men the King hath one year with another em-
ployed in his Navy since his coming, hath not been above 3,000
men, or at most 4,000 men; and now having occasion of 30,000,
the remaining 26,000 must be found out of the trade of the na-
tion. He showed how the cloaths, sending by these merchants
to Turkey, are already bought and paid for to the workmen, and
are as many as they would send these twelve months or more; so
the poor do not suffer by their not going, but only the merchant,
upon whose hands they lit dead; and so the inconvenience is the
less. And yet for them he propounded, either the King should,
if his Treasure would suffer it, buy them, and showed the losse
would not be so great to him: or, dispense with the Act of Navi-
gation, and let them be carried out by strangers; and ending that
he doubted not but when the merchants saw there was no rem-
edy, they would and could find ways of sending them abroad to
their profit. All ended with a conviction (unless future discourse
with the merchants should alter it) that it was not fit for them to
go out, though the ships be loaded. The King in discourse did ask
me two or three questions about my newes of Allen’s loss in the
Streights, but I said nothing as to the business, nor am not much
sorry for it, unless the King had spoke to me as he did to them,
and then I could have said something to the purpose I think. So
we withdrew, and the merchants were called in. Staying with-
out, my Lord Fitz Harding come thither, and fell to discourse of
Prince Rupert, and made nothing to say that his disease was the
pox and that he must be fluxed, telling the horrible degree of the
disease upon him with its breaking out on his head. But above
all I observed how he observed from the Prince, that courage is
not what men take it to be, a contempt of death; for, says he,
how chagrined the Prince was the other day when he thought he
should die, having no more mind to it than another man. But,
1486
JANUARY 1664-1665
says he, some men are more apt to think they shall escape than
another man in fight, while another is doubtfull he shall be hit.
But when the first man is sure he shall die, as now the Prince
is, he is as much troubled and apprehensive of it as any man
else; for, says he, since we told [him] that we believe he would
overcome his disease, he is as merry, and swears and laughs and
curses, and do all the things of a [man] in health, as ever he did
in his life; which, methought, was a most extraordinary saying
before a great many persons there of quality. So by and by with
Sir W. Pen home again, and after supper to the office to finish my
vows, and so to bed.
16th. Up and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen to White Hall,
where we did our business with the Duke. Thence I to Westmin-
ster Hall and walked up and down. Among others Ned Pickering
met me and tells me how active my Lord is at sea, and that my
Lord Hinchingbroke is now at Rome, and, by all report, a very
noble and hopefull gentleman. Thence to Mr. Povy’s, and there
met Creed, and dined well after his old manner of plenty and cu-
riosity. But I sat in pain to think whether he would begin with
me again after dinner with his enquiry after my bill, but he did
not, but fell into other discourse, at which I was glad, but was
vexed this morning meeting of Creed at some bye questions that
he demanded of me about some such thing, which made me fear
he meant that very matter, but I perceive he did not. Thence to
visit my Lady Sandwich and so to a Tangier Committee, where
a great company of the new Commissioners, Lords, that in be-
halfe of my Lord Bellasses are very loud and busy and call for
Povy’s accounts, but it was a most sorrowful thing to see how he
answered to questions so little to the purpose, but to his owne
wrong. All the while I sensible how I am concerned in my bill
of £100 and somewhat more. So great a trouble is fear, though
in a case that at the worst will bear enquiry. My Lord Barkeley
was very violent against Povy. But my Lord Ashly, I observe, is
a most clear man in matters of accounts, and most ingeniously
did discourse and explain all matters. We broke up, leaving the
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JANUARY 1664-1665
thing to a Committee of which I am one. Povy, Creed, and I staid
discoursing, I much troubled in mind seemingly for the business,
but indeed only on my own behalf, though I have no great reason
for it, but so painfull a thing is fear. So after considering how to
order business, Povy and I walked together as far as the New Ex-
change and so parted, and I by coach home. To the office a while,
then to supper and to bed. This afternoon Secretary Bennet read
to the Duke of Yorke his letters, which say that Allen455 has met
with the Dutch Smyrna fleet at Cales,–[The old form of the name
Cadiz.]–and sunk one and taken three. How true or what these
ships are time will show, but it is good newes and the newes of
our ships being lost is doubted at dales and Malaga. God send it
false!
17th. Up and walked to Mr. Povy’s by appointment, where I
found him and Creed busy about fitting things for the Commit-
tee, and thence we to my Lord Ashly’s, where to see how sim-
ply, beyond all patience, Povy did again, by his many words and
no understanding, confound himself and his business, to his dis-
grace, and rendering every body doubtfull of his being either a
foole or knave, is very wonderfull. We broke up all dissatisfied,
and referred the business to a meeting of Mr. Sherwin and others
to settle, but here it was mighty strange methought to find myself
sit herein Committee with my hat on, while Mr. Sherwin stood
bare as a clerke, with his hat off to his Lord Ashlyand the rest,
but I thank God I think myself never a whit the better man for all
that. Thence with Creed to the ‘Change and Coffee-house, and so
home, where a brave dinner, by having a brace of pheasants and
very merry about Povy’s folly. So anon to the office, and there sit-
455 Among the State Papers is a letter from Captain Thomas Allin to Sir
Richard Fanshaw, dated from “The Plymouth, Cadiz Bay,” December 25th,
1664, in which he writes: “On the 19th attacked with his seven ships left, a
Dutch fleet of fourteen, three of which were men-of- war; sunk two vessels
and took two others, one a rich prize from Smyrna; the others retired much
battered. Has also taken a Dutch prize laden with iron and planks, coming
from Lisbon (“Calendar,” Domestic, 1664-65, p. 122).
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JANUARY 1664-1665
ting very late, and then after a little time at Sir W. Batten’s, where
I am mighty great and could if I thought it fit continue so, I to
the office again, and there very late, and so home to the sorting
of some of my books, and so to bed, the weather becoming pretty
warm, and I think and hope the frost will break.
18th. Up and by and by to my bookseller’s, and there did give
thorough direction for the new binding of a great many of my old
books, to make my whole study of the same binding, within very
few. Thence to my Lady Sandwich’s, who sent for me this morn-
ing. Dined with her, and it was to get a letter of hers conveyed
by a safe hand to my Lord’s owne hand at Portsmouth, which I
did undertake. Here my Lady did begin to talk of what she had
heard concerning Creed, of his being suspected to be a fanatique
and a false fellow. I told her I thought he was as shrewd and cun-
ning a man as any in England, and one that I would feare first
should outwit me in any thing. To which she readily concurred.
Thence to Mr. Povy’s by agreement, and there with Mr. Sher-
win, Auditor Beale, and Creed and I hard at it very late about
Mr. Povy’s accounts, but such accounts I never did see, or hope
again to see in my days. At night, late, they gone, I did get him
to put out of this account our sums that are in posse only yet,
which he approved of when told, but would never have stayed
it if I had been gone. Thence at 9 at night home, and so to supper
vexed and my head akeing and to bed.
19th. Up, and it being yesterday and to-day a great thaw it
is not for a man to walk the streets, but took coach and to Mr.
Povy’s, and there meeting all of us again agreed upon an an-
swer to the Lords by and by, and thence we did come to Exeter
House, and there was a witness of most [base] language against
Mr. Povy, from my Lord Peterborough, who is most furiously
angry with him, because the other, as a foole, would needs say
that the £26,000 was my Lord Peterborough’s account, and that
he had nothing to do with it. The Lords did find fault also with
our answer, but I think really my Lord Ashly would fain have the
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JANUARY 1664-1665
outside of an Exchequer,–[This word is blotted, and the whole
sentence is confused.]–but when we come better to be examined.
So home by coach, with my Lord Barkeley, who, by his discourse,
I find do look upon Mr. Coventry as an enemy but yet professes
great justice and pains. I at home after dinner to the office, and
there sat all the afternoon and evening, and then home to supper
and to bed. Memorandum. This day and yesterday, I think it is
the change of the weather, I have a great deal of pain, but noth-
ing like what I use to have. I can hardly keep myself loose, but
on the contrary am forced to drive away my pain. Here I am so
sleepy I cannot hold open my eyes, and therefore must be forced
to break off this day’s passages more shortly than I would and
should have done. This day was buried (but I could not be there)
my cozen Percivall Angier; and yesterday I received the newes
that Dr. Tom Pepys is dead, at Impington, for which I am but
little sorry, not only because he would have been troublesome
to us, but a shame to his family and profession; he was such a
coxcomb.
20th. Up and to Westminster, where having spoke with Sir Ph.
Warwicke, I to Jervas, and there I find them all in great disorder
about Jane, her mistress telling me secretly that she was sworn
not to reveal anything, but she was undone. At last for all her
oath she told me that she had made herself sure to a fellow that
comes to their house that can only fiddle for his living, and did
keep him company, and had plainly told her that she was sure to
him never to leave him for any body else. Now they were this
day contriving to get her presently to marry one Hayes that was
there, and I did seem to persuade her to it. And at last got them
to suffer me to advise privately, and by that means had her com-
pany and think I shall meet her next Sunday, but I do really doubt
she will be undone in marrying this fellow. But I did give her my
advice, and so let her do her pleasure, so I have now and then her
company. Thence to the Swan at noon, and there sent for a bit of
meat and dined, and had my baiser of the fille of the house there,
but nothing plus. So took coach and to my Lady Sandwich’s, and
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JANUARY 1664-1665
so to my bookseller’s, and there took home Hooke’s book of mi-
croscopy, a most excellent piece, and of which I am very proud.
So home, and by and by again abroad with my wife about sev-
eral businesses, and met at the New Exchange, and there to our
trouble found our pretty Doll is gone away to live they say with
her father in the country, but I doubt something worse. So home-
ward, in my way buying a hare and taking it home, which arose
upon my discourse to-day with Mr. Batten, in Westminster Hall,
who showed me my mistake that my hare’s foote hath not the
joynt to it; and assures me he never had his cholique since he
carried it about him: and it is a strange thing how fancy works,
for I no sooner almost handled his foote but my belly began to
be loose and to break wind, and whereas I was in some pain yes-
terday and t’other day and in fear of more to-day, I became very
well, and so continue. At home to my office a while, and so to
supper, read, and to cards, and to bed.
21st. At the office all the morning. Thence my Lord Brunker
carried me as far as Mr. Povy’s, and there I ‘light and dined,
meeting Mr. Sherwin, Creed, &c., there upon his accounts. After
dinner they parted and Mr. Povy carried me to Somersett House,
and there showed me the Queene-Mother’s chamber and closett,
most beautiful places for furniture and pictures; and so down the
great stone stairs to the garden, and tried the brave echo upon the
stairs; which continues a voice so long as the singing three notes,
concords, one after another, they all three shall sound in consort
together a good while most pleasantly. Thence to a Tangier Com-
mittee at White Hall, where I saw nothing ordered by judgment,
but great heat and passion and faction now in behalf of my Lord
Bellasses, and to the reproach of my Lord Tiviott, and dislike as
it were of former proceedings. So away with Mr. Povy, he car-
rying me homeward to Mark Lane in his coach, a simple fellow
I now find him, to his utter shame in his business of accounts, as
none but a sorry foole would have discovered himself; and yet,
in little, light, sorry things very cunning; yet, in the principal, the
most ignorant man I ever met with in so great trust as he is. To
1491
JANUARY 1664-1665
my office till past 12, and then home to supper and to bed, being
now mighty well, and truly I cannot but impute it to my fresh
hare’s foote. Before I went to bed I sat up till two o’clock in my
chamber reading of Mr. Hooke’s Microscopicall Observations,
the most ingenious book that ever I read in my life.
22nd (Lord’s day). Up, leaving my wife in bed, being sick of
her months, and to church. Thence home, and in my wife’s cham-
ber dined very merry, discoursing, among other things, of a de-
sign I have come in my head this morning at church of making
a match between Mrs. Betty Pickering and Mr. Hill, my friend
the merchant, that loves musique and comes to me a’Sundays, a
most ingenious and sweet-natured and highly accomplished per-
son. I know not how their fortunes may agree, but their disposi-
tion and merits are much of a sort, and persons, though different,
yet equally, I think, acceptable. After dinner walked to Westmin-
ster, and after being at the Abbey and heard a good anthem well
sung there, I as I had appointed to the Trumpett, there expect-
ing when Jane Welsh should come, but anon comes a maid of the
house to tell me that her mistress and master would not let her
go forth, not knowing of my being here, but to keep her from her
sweetheart. So being defeated, away by coach home, and there
spent the evening prettily in discourse with my wife and Mercer,
and so to supper, prayers, and to bed.
23rd. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen to White Hall;
but there finding the Duke gone to his lodgings at St. James’s for
all together, his Duchesse being ready to lie in, we to him, and
there did our usual business. And here I met the great newes
confirmed by the Duke’s own relation, by a letter from Captain
Allen. First, of our own loss of two ships, the Phoenix and None-
such, in the Bay of Gibraltar: then of his, and his seven ships
with him, in the Bay of Cales, or thereabouts, fighting with the
34 Dutch Smyrna fleete; sinking the King Salamon, a ship worth
a £150,000 or more, some say £200,000, and another; and taking
of three merchant-ships. Two of our ships were disabled, by the
1492
JANUARY 1664-1665
Dutch unfortunately falling against their will against them; the
Advice, Captain W. Poole, and Antelope, Captain Clerke: The
Dutch men-of-war did little service. Captain Allen did receive
many shots at distance before he would fire one gun, which he
did not do till he come within pistol-shot of his enemy. The
Spaniards on shore at Cales did stand laughing at the Dutch,
to see them run away and flee to the shore, 34 or thereabouts,
against eight Englishmen at most. I do purpose to get the whole
relation, if I live, of Captain Allen himself. In our loss of the two
ships in the Bay of Gibraltar, it is observable how the world do
comment upon the misfortune of Captain Moone of the None-
such (who did lose, in the same manner, the Satisfaction), as a
person that hath ill-luck attending him; without considering that
the whole fleete was ashore. Captain Allen led the way, and Cap-
tain Allen himself writes that all the masters of the fleete, old and
young, were mistaken, and did carry their ships aground. But I
think I heard the Duke say that Moone, being put into the Oxford,
had in this conflict regained his credit, by sinking one and taking
another. Captain Seale of the Milford hath done his part very
well, in boarding the King Salamon, which held out half an hour
after she was boarded; and his men kept her an hour after they
did master her, and then she sunk, and drowned about 17 of her
men. Thence to Jervas’s, my mind, God forgive me, running too
much after some folly, but ‘elle’ not being within I away by coach
to the ‘Change, and thence home to dinner. And finding Mrs.
Bagwell waiting at the office after dinner, away she and I to a
cabaret where she and I have eat before, and there I had her com-
pany ‘tout’ and had ‘mon plaisir’ of ‘elle’. But strange to see how
a woman, notwithstanding her greatest pretences of love ‘a son
mari’ and religion, may be ‘vaincue’. Thence to the Court of the
Turkey Company at Sir Andrew Rickard’s to treat about carrying
some men of ours to Tangier, and had there a very civil recep-
tion, though a denial of the thing as not practicable with them,
and I think so too. So to my office a little and to Jervas’s again,
thinking ‘avoir rencontrais’ Jane, ‘mais elle n’etait pas dedans’.
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So I back again and to my office, where I did with great content
‘ferais’ a vow to mind my business, and ‘laisser aller les femmes’
for a month, and am with all my heart glad to find myself able
to come to so good a resolution, that thereby I may follow my
business, which and my honour thereby lies a bleeding. So home
to supper and to bed.
24th. Up and by coach to Westminster Hall and the Parlia-
ment House, and there spoke with Mr. Coventry and others
about business and so back to the ‘Change, where no news more
than that the Dutch have, by consent of all the Provinces, voted
no trade to be suffered for eighteen months, but that they apply
themselves wholly to the warr.456 And they say it is very true, but
very strange, for we use to believe they cannot support them-
selves without trade. Thence home to dinner and then to the of-
fice, where all the afternoon, and at night till very late, and then
home to supper and bed, having a great cold, got on Sunday last,
by sitting too long with my head bare, for Mercer to comb my
hair and wash my eares.
25th. Up, and busy all the morning, dined at home upon a hare
pye, very good meat, and so to my office again, and in the after-
noon by coach to attend the Council at White Hall, but come too
late, so back with Mr. Gifford, a merchant, and he and I to the
Coffee-house, where I met Mr. Hill, and there he tells me that he
is to be Assistant to the Secretary of the Prize Office (Sir Ellis Lay-
ton), which is to be held at Sir Richard Ford’s, which, methinks,
456 This statement of a total prohibition of all trade, and for so long a period
as eighteen months, by a government so essentially commercial as that of the
United Provinces, seems extraordinary. The fact was, that when in the begin-
ning of the year 1665 the States General saw that the war with England was
become inevitable, they took several vigorous measures, and determined to
equip a formidable fleet, and with a view to obtain a sufficient number of
men to man it, prohibited all navigation, especially in the great and small
fisheries as they were then called, and in the whale fishery. This measure
appears to have resembled the embargoes so commonly resorted to in this
country on similar occasions, rather than a total prohibition of trade.–B.
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JANUARY 1664-1665
is but something low, but perhaps may bring him something con-
siderable; but it makes me alter my opinion of his being so rich as
to make a fortune for Mrs. Pickering. Thence home and visited
Sir J. Minnes, who continues ill, but is something better; there he
told me what a mad freaking fellow Sir Ellis Layton hath been,
and is, and once at Antwerp was really mad. Thence to my office
late, my cold troubling me, and having by squeezing myself in
a coach hurt my testicles, but I hope will cease its pain without
swelling. So home out of order, to supper and to bed.
26th. Lay, being in some pain, but not much, with my last
night’s bruise, but up and to my office, where busy all the morn-
ing, the like after dinner till very late, then home to supper and to
bed. My wife mightily troubled with the tooth ake, and my cold
not being gone yet, but my bruise yesterday goes away again,
and it chiefly occasioned I think now from the sudden change of
the weather from a frost to a great rayne on a sudden.
27th. Called up by Mr. Creed to discourse about some Tangier
business, and he gone I made me ready and found Jane Welsh,
Mr. Jervas his mayde, come to tell me that she was gone from
her master, and is resolved to stick to this sweetheart of hers,
one Harbing (a very sorry little fellow, and poor), which I did in
a word or two endeavour to dissuade her from, but being un-
willing to keep her long at my house, I sent her away and by
and by followed her to the Exchange, and thence led her about
down to the 3 Cranes, and there took boat for the Falcon, and at
a house looking into the fields there took up and sat an hour or
two talking and discoursing .... Thence having endeavoured to
make her think of making herself happy by staying out her time
with her master and other counsels, but she told me she could
not do it, for it was her fortune to have this man, though she
did believe it would be to her ruine, which is a strange, stupid
thing, to a fellow of no kind of worth in the world and a beggar
to boot. Thence away to boat again and landed her at the Three
Cranes again, and I to the Bridge, and so home, and after shifting
1495
JANUARY 1664-1665
myself, being dirty, I to the ‘Change, and thence to Mr. Povy’s
and there dined, and thence with him and Creed to my Lord Bel-
lasses’, and there debated a great while how to put things in or-
der against his going, and so with my Lord in his coach to White
Hall, and with him to my Lord Duke of Albemarle, finding him
at cards. After a few dull words or two, I away to White Hall
again, and there delivered a letter to the Duke of Yorke about our
Navy business, and thence walked up and down in the gallery,
talking with Mr. Slingsby, who is a very ingenious person, about
the Mint and coynage of money. Among other things, he argues
that there being £700,000 coined in the Rump time, and by all
the Treasurers of that time, it being their opinion that the Rump
money was in all payments, one with another, about a tenth part
of all their money. Then, says he, to my question, the nearest
guess we can make is, that the money passing up and down in
business is £7,000,000. To another question of mine he made me
fully understand that the old law of prohibiting bullion to be ex-
ported, is, and ever was a folly and an injury, rather than good.
Arguing thus, that if the exportations exceed importations, then
the balance must be brought home in money, which, when our
merchants know cannot be carried out again, they will forbear
to bring home in money, but let it lie abroad for trade, or keepe
in foreign banks: or if our importations exceed our exportations,
then, to keepe credit, the merchants will and must find ways of
carrying out money by stealth, which is a most easy thing to do,
and is every where done; and therefore the law against it signifies
nothing in the world. Besides, that it is seen, that where money is
free, there is great plenty; where it is restrained, as here, there is a
great want, as in Spayne. These and many other fine discourses I
had from him. Thence by coach home (to see Sir J. Minnes first),
who is still sick, and I doubt worse than he seems to be. Mrs.
Turner here took me into her closet, and there did give me a glass
of most pure water, and shewed me her Rocke, which indeed is a
very noble thing but a very bawble. So away to my office, where
late, busy, and then home to supper and to bed.
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JANUARY 1664-1665
28th. Up and to my office, where all the morning, and
then home to dinner, and after dinner abroad, walked to Paul’s
Churchyard, but my books not bound, which vexed me. So home
to my office again, where very late about business, and so home
to supper and to bed, my cold continuing in a great degree upon
me still. This day I received a good sum of money due to me
upon one score or another from Sir G. Carteret, among others to
clear all my matters about Colours,–[Flags]–wherein a month or
two since I was so embarrassed and I thank God I find myself
to have got clear, by that commodity, £50 and something more;
and earned it with dear pains and care and issuing of my owne
money, and saved the King near £100 in it.
29th (Lord’s day). Up and to my office, where all the morning,
putting papers to rights which now grow upon my hands. At
noon dined at home. All the afternoon at my business again. In
the evening come Mr. Andrews and Hill, and we up to my cham-
ber and there good musique, though my great cold made it the
less pleasing to me. Then Mr. Hill (the other going away) and I
to supper alone, my wife not appearing, our discourse upon the
particular vain humours of Mr. Povy, which are very extraordi-
nary indeed. After supper I to Sir W. Batten’s, where I found him,
Sir W. Pen, Sir J. Robinson, Sir R. Ford and Captain Cocke and Mr.
Pen, junior. Here a great deal of sorry disordered talk about the
Trinity House men, their being exempted from land service. But,
Lord! to see how void of method and sense their discourse was,
and in what heat, insomuch as Sir R. Ford (who we judged, some
of us, to be a little foxed) fell into very high terms with Sir W.
Batten, and then with Captain Cocke. So that I see that no man is
wise at all times. Thence home to prayers and to bed.
30th. This is solemnly kept as a Fast all over the City, but I kept
my house, putting my closett to rights again, having lately put it
out of order in removing my books and things in order to being
made clean. At this all day, and at night to my office, there to do
some business, and being late at it, comes Mercer to me, to tell me
1497
JANUARY 1664-1665
that my wife was in bed, and desired me to come home; for they
hear, and have, night after night, lately heard noises over their
head upon the leads. Now it is strange to think how, knowing
that I have a great sum of money in my house, this puts me into
a most mighty affright, that for more than two hours, I could
not almost tell what to do or say, but feared this and that, and
remembered that this evening I saw a woman and two men stand
suspiciously in the entry, in the darke; I calling to them, they
made me only this answer, the woman said that the men came to
see her; but who she was I could not tell. The truth is, my house
is mighty dangerous, having so many ways to be come to; and at
my windows, over the stairs, to see who goes up and down; but,
if I escape to-night, I will remedy it. God preserve us this night
safe! So at almost two o’clock, I home to my house, and, in great
fear, to bed, thinking every running of a mouse really a thiefe;
and so to sleep, very brokenly, all night long, and found all safe
in the morning.
31st. Up and with Sir W. Batten to Westminster, where to speak
at the House with my Lord Bellasses, and am cruelly vexed to see
myself put upon businesses so uncertainly about getting ships
for Tangier being ordered, a servile thing, almost every day. So to
the ‘Change, back by coach with Sir W. Batten, and thence to the
Crowne, a taverne hard by, with Sir W. Rider and Cutler, where
we alone, a very good dinner. Thence home to the office, and
there all the afternoon late. The office being up, my wife sent for
me, and what was it but to tell me how Jane carries herself, and I
must put her away presently. But I did hear both sides and find
my wife much in fault, and the grounds of all the difference is
my wife’s fondness of Tom, to the being displeased with all the
house beside to defend the boy, which vexes me, but I will cure
it. Many high words between my wife and I, but the wench shall
go, but I will take a course with the boy, for I fear I have spoiled
him already. Thence to the office, to my accounts, and there at
once to ease my mind I have made myself debtor to Mr. Povy
for the £117 5s. got with so much joy the last month, but seeing
1498
JANUARY 1664-1665
that it is not like to be kept without some trouble and question, I
do even discharge my mind of it, and so if I come now to refund
it, as I fear I shall, I shall now be ne’er a whit the poorer for it,
though yet it is some trouble to me to be poorer by such a sum
than I thought myself a month since. But, however, a quiet mind
and to be sure of my owne is worth all. The Lord be praised for
what I have, which is this month come down to £1257. I staid up
about my accounts till almost two in the morning.
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FEBRUARY 1664-1665
February 1st. Lay long in bed, which made me, going by coach to
St. James’s by appointment to have attended the Duke of Yorke
and my Lord Bellasses, lose the hopes of my getting something
by the hire of a ship to carry men to Tangier. But, however, ac-
cording to the order of the Duke this morning, I did go to the
‘Change, and there after great pains did light of a business with
Mr. Gifford and Hubland [Houblon] for bringing me as much
as I hoped for, which I have at large expressed in my stating the
case of the “King’s Fisher,” which is the ship that I have hired,
and got the Duke of Yorke’s agreement this afternoon after much
pains and not eating a bit of bread till about 4 o’clock. Going
home I put in to an ordinary by Temple Barr and there with my
boy Tom eat a pullet, and thence home to the office, being still
angry with my wife for yesterday’s foolery. After a good while
at the office, I with the boy to the Sun behind the Exchange, by
agreement with Mr. Young the flag-maker, and there was met
by Mr. Hill, Andrews, and Mr. Hubland, a pretty serious man.
Here two very pretty savoury dishes and good discourse. After
supper a song, or three or four (I having to that purpose carried
Lawes’s book), and staying here till 12 o’clock got the watch to
light me home, and in a continued discontent to bed. After being
in bed, my people come and say there is a great stinke of burning,
1500
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
but no smoake. We called up Sir J. Minnes’s and Sir W. Batten’s
people, and Griffin, and the people at the madhouse, but nothing
could be found to give occasion to it. At this trouble we were till
past three o’clock, and then the stinke ceasing, I to sleep, and my
people to bed, and lay very long in the morning.
2nd. Then up and to my office, where till noon and then to
the ‘Change, and at the Coffee-house with Gifford, Hubland,
the Master of the ship, and I read over and approved a charter-
party for carrying goods for Tangier, wherein I hope to get some
money. Thence home, my head akeing for want of rest and too
much business. So to the office. At night comes, Povy, and he
and I to Mrs. Bland’s to discourse about my serving her to helpe
her to a good passage for Tangier. Here I heard her kinswoman
sing 3 or 4 very fine songs and in good manner, and then home
and to supper. My cook mayd Jane and her mistresse parted, and
she went away this day. I vexed to myself, but was resolved to
have no more trouble, and so after supper to my office and then
to bed.
3rd. Up, and walked with my boy (whom, because of my
wife’s making him idle, I dare not leave at home) walked first
to Salsbury court, there to excuse my not being at home at dinner
to Mrs. Turner, who I perceive is vexed, because I do not serve
her in something against the great feasting for her husband’s
Reading–[On his appointment as Reader in Law.]–in helping her
to some good penn’eths, but I care not. She was dressing herself
by the fire in her chamber, and there took occasion to show me
her leg, which indeed is the finest I ever saw, and she not a little
proud of it. Thence to my Lord Bellasses; thence to Mr. Povy’s,
and so up and down at that end of the town about several busi-
nesses, it being a brave frosty day and good walking. So back
again on foot to the ‘Change, in my way taking my books from
binding from my bookseller’s. My bill for the rebinding of some
old books to make them suit with my study, cost me, besides
other new books in the same bill, £3; but it will be very hand-
1501
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
some. At the ‘Change did several businesses, and here I hear that
newes is come from Deale, that the same day my Lord Sandwich
sailed thence with the fleete, that evening some Dutch men of
warr were seen on the back side of the Goodwin, and, by all con-
jecture, must be seen by my Lord’s fleete; which, if so, they must
engage. Thence, being invited, to my uncle Wight’s, where the
Wights all dined; and, among the others, pretty Mrs. Margaret,
who indeed is a very pretty lady; and though by my vowe it costs
me 12d. a kiss after the first, yet I did adventure upon a cou-
ple. So home, and among other letters found one from Jane, that
is newly gone, telling me how her mistresse won’t pay her her
Quarter’s wages, and withal tells me how her mistress will have
the boy sit 3 or 4 hours together in the dark telling of stories, but
speaks of nothing but only her indiscretion in undervaluing her-
self to do it, but I will remedy that, but am vexed she should get
some body to write so much because of making it publique. Then
took coach and to visit my Lady Sandwich, where she discoursed
largely to me her opinion of a match, if it could be thought fit by
my Lord, for my Lady Jemimah, with Sir G. Carteret’s eldest son;
but I doubt he hath yet no settled estate in land. But I will inform
myself, and give her my opinion. Then Mrs. Pickering (after pri-
vate discourse ended, we going into the other room) did, at my
Lady’s command, tell me the manner of a masquerade457 before
the King and Court the other day. Where six women (my Lady
Castlemayne and Duchesse of Monmouth being two of them)
and six men (the Duke of Monmouth and Lord Arran and Mon-
sieur Blanfort, being three of them) in vizards, but most rich and
antique dresses, did dance admirably and most gloriously. God
give us cause to continue the mirthe! So home, and after awhile
at my office to supper and to bed.
457 The masquerade at Court took place on the 2nd, and is referred to by
Evelyn, who was present, in his Diary. Some amusing incidents connected
with the entertainment are related in the “Grammont Memoirs” (chapter
vii.).
1502
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
4th. Lay long in bed discoursing with my wife about her
mayds, which by Jane’s going away in discontent and against
my opinion do make some trouble between my wife and me. But
these are but foolish troubles and so not to be set to heart, yet
it do disturb me mightily these things. To my office, and there
all the morning. At noon being invited, I to the Sun behind the
‘Change, to dinner to my Lord Belasses, where a great deal of dis-
course with him, and some good, among others at table he told us
a very handsome passage of the King’s sending him his message
about holding out the town of Newarke, of which he was then
governor for the King. This message he sent in a sluggbullet, be-
ing writ in cypher, and wrapped up in lead and swallowed. So
the messenger come to my Lord and told him he had a message
from the King, but it was yet in his belly; so they did give him
some physique, and out it come. This was a month before the
King’s flying to the Scotts; and therein he told him that at such a
day, being the 3d or 6th of May, he should hear of his being come
to the Scotts, being assured by the King of France that in com-
ing to them he should be used with all the liberty, honour, and
safety, that could be desired. And at the just day he did come to
the Scotts. He told us another odd passage: how the King hav-
ing newly put out Prince Rupert of his generallshipp, upon some
miscarriage at Bristoll, and Sir Richard Willis458 of his governor-
ship of Newarke, at the entreaty of the gentry of the County, and
put in my Lord Bellasses, the great officers of the King’s army
mutinyed, and come in that manner with swords drawn, into the
market-place of the towne where the King was; which the King
hearing, says, “I must to horse.” And there himself personally,
when every body expected they should have been opposed, the
King come, and cried to the head of the mutineers, which was
Prince Rupert, “Nephew, I command you to be gone.” So the
458 Sir Richard Willis, the betrayer of the Royalists, was one of the “Sealed
Knot.” When the Restoration had become a certainty, he wrote to Claren-
don imploring him to intercede for him with the king (see Lister’s “Life of
Clarendon,” vol. iii., p. 87).
1503
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
Prince, in all his fury and discontent, withdrew, and his company
scattered, which they say was the greatest piece of mutiny in the
world. Thence after dinner home to my office, and in the evening
was sent to by Jane that I would give her her wages. So I sent for
my wife to my office, and told her that rather than be talked on I
would give her all her wages for this Quarter coming on, though
two months is behind, which vexed my wife, and we begun to
be angry, but I took myself up and sent her away, but was cru-
elly vexed in my mind that all my trouble in this world almost
should arise from my disorders in my family and the indiscre-
tion of a wife that brings me nothing almost (besides a comely
person) but only trouble and discontent. She gone I late at my
business, and then home to supper and to bed.
5th (Lord’s day). Lay in bed most of the morning, then up and
down to my chamber, among my new books, which is now a
pleasant sight to me to see my whole study almost of one bind-
ing. So to dinner, and all the afternoon with W. Hewer at my
office endorsing of papers there, my business having got before
me much of late. In the evening comes to see me Mr. Sheply,
lately come out of the country, who goes away again to-morrow,
a good and a very kind man to me. There come also Mr. An-
drews and Hill, and we sang very pleasantly; and so, they being
gone, I and my wife to supper, and to prayers and bed.
6th. Up and with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Pen to St. James’s,
but the Duke is gone abroad. So to White Hall to him, and there I
spoke with him, and so to Westminster, did a little business, and
then home to the ‘Change, where also I did some business, and
went off and ended my contract with the “Kingfisher” I hired
for Tangier, and I hope to get something by it. Thence home to
dinner, and visited Sir W. Batten, who is sick again, worse than
he was, and I am apt to think is very ill. So to my office, and
among other things with Sir W. Warren 4 hours or more till very
late, talking of one thing or another, and have concluded a firm
league with him in all just ways to serve him and myself all I
1504
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
can, and I think he will be a most usefull and thankfull man to
me. So home to supper and to bed. This being one of the coldest
days, all say, they ever felt in England; and I this day, under great
apprehensions of getting an ague from my putting a suit on that
hath lain by without ayring a great while, and I pray God it do
not do me hurte.
7th. Up and to my office, where busy all the morning, and at
home to dinner. It being Shrove Tuesday, had some very good
fritters. All the afternoon and evening at the office, and at night
home to supper and to bed. This day, Sir W. Batten, who hath
been sicke four or five days, is now very bad, so as people begin
to fear his death; and I am at a loss whether it will be better for
me to have him die, because he is a bad man, or live, for fear a
worse should come.
8th. Up and by coach to my Lord Peterborough’s, where anon
my Lord Ashly and Sir Thomas Ingram met, and Povy about his
accounts, who is one of the most unhappy accountants that ever I
knew in all my life, and one that if I were clear in reference to my
bill of £117 he should be hanged before I would ever have to do
with him, and as he understands nothing of his business himself,
so he hath not one about him that do. Here late till I was weary,
having business elsewhere, and thence home by coach, and after
dinner did several businesses and very late at my office, and so
home to supper and to bed.
9th. Up and to my office, where all the morning very busy.
At noon home to dinner, and then to my office again, where Sir
William Petty come, among other things to tell me that Mr. Bar-
low459 is dead; for which, God knows my heart, I could be as
sorry as is possible for one to be for a stranger, by whose death
he gets £100 per annum, he being a worthy, honest man; but after
having considered that when I come to consider the providence
459 Thomas Barlow, Pepys’s predecessor as Clerk of the Acts, to whom he
paid part of the salary. Barlow held the office jointly with Dennis Fleeting.
1505
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
of God by this means unexpectedly to give me £100 a year more
in my estate, I have cause to bless God, and do it from the bottom
of my heart. So home late at night, after twelve o’clock, and so to
bed.
10th. Up and abroad to Paul’s Churchyard, there to see the
last of my books new bound: among others, my “Court of King
James,”460 and “The Rise and Fall of the Family of the Stewarts;”
and much pleased I am now with my study; it being, methinks,
a beautifull sight. Thence (in Mr. Grey’s coach, who took me
up), to Westminster, where I heard that yesterday the King met
the Houses to pass the great bill for the £2,500,000. After doing
a little business I home, where Mr. Moore dined with me, and
evened our reckonings on my Lord Sandwich’s bond to me for
principal and interest. So that now on both there is remaining
due to me £257. 7s., and I bless God it is no more. So all the
afternoon at my office, and late home to supper, prayers, and to
bed.
11th. Up and to my office, where all the morning. At noon
to ‘Change by coach with my Lord Brunkard, and thence after
doing much business home to dinner, and so to my office all the
afternoon till past 12 at night very busy. So home to bed.
12th (Lord’s day). Up and to church to St. Lawrence to hear Dr.
Wilkins, the great scholar, for curiosity, I having never heard him:
but was not satisfied with him at all, only a gentleman sat in the
pew I by chance sat in, that sang most excellently, and afterward I
found by his face that he had been a Paul’s scholler, but know not
his name, and I was also well pleased with the church, it being a
very fine church. So home to dinner, and then to my office all the
460 “The Court and Character of King James, written and taken by Sir An-
thony Weldon, being an eye and eare witnesse,” was published in 1650, and
reprinted in 1651 under the title of “Truth brought to Light” Weldon’s book
was answered in a work entitled “Aulicus Coquinariae.” Both the original
book and the answer were reprinted in “The Secret History of the Court of
King James,” Edinburgh, 1811, two vols. (edited by Sir Walter Scott).
1506
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
afternoon doing of business, and in the evening comes Mr. Hill
(but no Andrews) and we spent the evening very finely, singing,
supping and discoursing. Then to prayers and to bed.
13th. Up and to St. James’s, did our usual business before the
Duke. Thence I to Westminster and by water (taking Mr. Stapely
the rope-maker by the way), to his rope-ground and to Lime-
house, there to see the manner of stoves and did excellently in-
form myself therein, and coming home did go on board Sir W.
Petty’s “Experiment,” which is a brave roomy vessel, and I hope
may do well. So went on shore to a Dutch [house] to drink some
mum, and there light upon some Dutchmen, with whom we had
good discourse touching stoveing461 and making of cables. But to
see how despicably they speak of us for our using so many hands
more to do anything than they do, they closing a cable with 20,
that we use 60 men upon. Thence home and eat something, and
then to my office, where very late, and then to supper and to bed.
Captain Stokes, it seems, is at last dead at Portsmouth.
14th (St. Valentine). This morning comes betimes Dicke Pen,
to be my wife’s Valentine, and come to our bedside. By the same
token, I had him brought to my side, thinking to have made him
kiss me; but he perceived me, and would not; so went to his
Valentine: a notable, stout, witty boy. I up about business, and,
opening the door, there was Bagwell’s wife, with whom I talked
afterwards, and she had the confidence to say she came with a
hope to be time enough to be my Valentine, and so indeed she
did, but my oath preserved me from loosing any time with her,
and so I and my boy abroad by coach to Westminster, where did
two or three businesses, and then home to the ‘Change, and did
much business there. My Lord Sandwich is, it seems, with his
fleete at Alborough Bay. So home to dinner and then to the of-
fice, where till 12 almost at night, and then home to supper and
to bed.
461 Stoveing, in sail-making, is the heating of the bolt-ropes, so as to make
them pliable.–B.
1507
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
15th. Up and to my office, where busy all the morning. At
noon with Creed to dinner to Trinity-house, where a very good
dinner among the old sokers, where an extraordinary discourse
of the manner of the loss of the “Royall Oake” coming home from
Bantam, upon the rocks of Scilly, many passages therein very ex-
traordinary, and if I can I will get it in writing. Thence with Creed
to Gresham College, where I had been by Mr. Povy the last week
proposed to be admitted a member;462 and was this day admit-
ted, by signing a book and being taken by the hand by the Presi-
dent, my Lord Brunkard, and some words of admittance said to
me. But it is a most acceptable thing to hear their discourse, and
see their experiments; which were this day upon the nature of
fire, and how it goes out in a place where the ayre is not free, and
sooner out where the ayre is exhausted, which they showed by
an engine on purpose. After this being done, they to the Crowne
Taverne, behind the ‘Change, and there my Lord and most of the
company to a club supper; Sir P. Neale, Sir R. Murrey, Dr. Clerke,
Dr. Whistler, Dr. Goddard, and others of most eminent worth.
Above all, Mr. Boyle to-day was at the meeting, and above him
Mr. Hooke, who is the most, and promises the least, of any man
in the world that ever I saw. Here excellent discourse till ten at
night, and then home, and to Sir W. Batten’s, where I hear that
Sir Thos. Harvy intends to put Mr. Turner out of his house and
come in himself, which will be very hard to them, and though I
love him not, yet for his family’s sake I pity him. So home and to
bed.
16th. Up, and with Mr. Andrews to White Hall, where a Com-
mittee of Tangier, and there I did our victuallers’ business for
some more money, out of which I hope to get a little, of which
I was glad; but, Lord! to see to what a degree of contempt, nay,
462 According to the minutes of the Royal Society for February 15th, 1664-
65, “Mr. Pepys was unanimously elected and admitted.” Notes of the exper-
iments shown by Hooke and Boyle are given in Birch’s “History of the Royal
Society,” vol. ii., p. 15.
1508
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
scorn, Mr. Povy, through his prodigious folly, hath brought him-
self in his accounts, that if he be not a man of a great interest, he
will be kicked out of his employment for a foole, is very strange,
and that most deservedly that ever man was, for never any man,
that understands accounts so little, ever went through so much,
and yet goes through it with the greatest shame and yet with
confidence that ever I saw man in my life. God deliver me in my
owne business of my bill out of his hands, and if ever I foul my
fingers with him again let me suffer for it! Back to the ‘Change,
and thence home to dinner, where Mrs. Hunt dined with me, and
poor Mrs. Batters; who brought her little daughter with her, and
a letter from her husband, wherein, as a token, the foole presents
me very seriously with his daughter for me to take the charge of
bringing up for him, and to make my owne. But I took no notice
to her at all of the substance of the letter, but fell to discourse, and
so went away to the office, where all the afternoon till almost one
in the morning, and then home to bed.
17th. Up, and it being bitter cold, and frost and snow, which I
had thought had quite left us, I by coach to Povy’s, where he told
me, as I knew already, how he was handled the other day, and is
still, by my Lord Barkeley, and among other things tells me, what
I did not know, how my Lord Barkeley will say openly, that he
hath fought more set fields–[Battles or actions]–than any man in
England hath done. I did my business with him, which was to get
a little sum of money paid, and so home with Mr. Andrews, who
met me there, and there to the office. At noon home and there
found Lewellin, which vexed me out of my old jealous humour.
So to my office, where till 12 at night, being only a little while
at noon at Sir W. Batten’s to see him, and had some high words
with Sir J. Minnes about Sir W. Warren, he calling him cheating
knave, but I cooled him, and at night at Sir W. Pen’s, he being to
go to Chatham to-morrow. So home to supper and to bed.
18th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning; at
noon to the ‘Change, and thence to the Royall Oake taverne in
1509
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
Lumbard Streete, where Sir William Petty and the owners of the
double-bottomed boat (the Experiment) did entertain my Lord
Brunkard, Sir R. Murrey, myself, and others, with marrow bones
and a chine of beefe of the victuals they have made for this ship;
and excellent company and good discourse: but, above all, I do
value Sir William Petty. Thence home; and took my Lord Sand-
wich’s draught of the harbour of Portsmouth down to Ratcliffe,
to one Burston, to make a plate for the King, and another for the
Duke, and another for himself; which will be very neat. So home,
and till almost one o’clock in the morning at my office, and then
home to supper and to bed. My Lord Sandwich, and his fleete
of twenty-five ships in the Downes, returned from cruising, but
could not meet with any Dutchmen.
19th. Lay in bed, it being Lord’s day, all the morning talk-
ing with my wife, sometimes pleased, sometimes displeased, and
then up and to dinner. All the afternoon also at home, and Sir W.
Batten’s, and in the evening comes Mr. Andrews, and we sung
together, and then to supper, he not staying, and at supper hear-
ing by accident of my mayds their letting in a rogueing Scotch
woman that haunts the office, to helpe them to washe and scoure
in our house, and that very lately, I fell mightily out, and made
my wife, to the disturbance of the house and neighbours, to beat
our little girle, and then we shut her down into the cellar, and
there she lay all night. So we to bed.
20th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes to attend the Duke, and then
we back again and rode into the beginning of my Lord Chancel-
lor’s new house, near St. James’s; which common people have
already called Dunkirke-house, from their opinion of his hav-
ing a good bribe for the selling of that towne. And very noble
I believe it will be. Near that is my Lord Barkeley beginning an-
other on one side, and Sir J. Denham on the other. Thence I to
the House of Lords and spoke with my Lord Bellasses, and so to
the ‘Change, and there did business, and so to the Sun taverne,
haling in the morning had some high words with Sir J. Lawson
1510
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
about his sending of some bayled goods to Tangier, wherein the
truth is I did not favour him, but being conscious that some of my
profits may come out by some words that fell from him, and to
be quiet, I have accommodated it. Here we dined merry; but my
club and the rest come to 7s. 6d., which was too much. Thence
to the office, and there found Bagwell’s wife, whom I directed
to go home, and I would do her business, which was to write
a letter to my Lord Sandwich for her husband’s advance into a
better ship as there should be occasion. Which I did, and by and
by did go down by water to Deptford, and then down further,
and so landed at the lower end of the town, and it being dark
‘entrer en la maison de la femme de Bagwell’, and there had ‘sa
compagnie’, though with a great deal of difficulty, ‘neanmoins en
fin j’avais ma volont d’elle’, and being sated therewith, I walked
home to Redriffe, it being now near nine o’clock, and there I did
drink some strong waters and eat some bread and cheese, and so
home. Where at my office my wife comes and tells me that she
hath hired a chamber mayde, one of the prettiest maydes that
ever she saw in her life, and that she is really jealous of me for
her, but hath ventured to hire her from month to month, but I
think she means merrily. So to supper and to bed.
21st. Up, and to the office (having a mighty pain in my fore-
finger of my left hand, from a strain that it received last night)
in struggling ‘avec la femme que je’ mentioned yesterday, where
busy till noon, and then my wife being busy in going with her
woman to a hot-house to bathe herself, after her long being
within doors in the dirt, so that she now pretends to a resolu-
tion of being hereafter very clean. How long it will hold I can
guess. I dined with Sir W. Batten and my Lady, they being now
a’days very fond of me. So to the ‘Change, and off of the ‘Change
with Mr. Wayth to a cook’s shop, and there dined again for dis-
course with him about Hamaccos463 and the abuse now practised
463 Or hammock-battens: cleats or battens nailed to the sides of a vessel’s
beams, from which to suspend the seamen’s hammocks.
1511
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
in tickets, and more like every day to be. Also of the great profit
Mr. Fen makes of his place, he being, though he demands but 5
per cent. of all he pays, and that is easily computed, but very lit-
tle pleased with any man that gives him no more. So to the office,
and after office my Lord Brunkerd carried me to Lincolne’s Inne
Fields, and there I with my Lady Sandwich (good lady) talking
of innocent discourse of good housewifery and husbands for her
daughters, and the luxury and looseness of the times and other
such things till past 10 o’clock at night, and so by coach home,
where a little at my office, and so to supper and to bed. My Lady
tells me how my Lord Castlemayne is coming over from France,
and is believed will be made friends with his Lady again. What
mad freaks the Mayds of Honour at Court have: that Mrs. Jen-
ings, one of the Duchesses mayds, the other day dressed herself
like an orange wench, and went up and down and cried oranges;
till falling down, or by such accident, though in the evening,
her fine shoes were discerned, and she put to a great deale of
shame; that such as these tricks being ordinary, and worse among
them, thereby few will venture upon them for wives: my Lady
Castlemayne will in merriment say that her daughter (not above
a year old or two) will be the first mayde in the Court that will
be married. This day my Lord Sandwich writ me word from the
Downes, that he is like to be in towne this week.
22nd. Lay last night alone, my wife after her bathing lying
alone in another bed. So cold all night. Up and to the office,
where busy all the morning. At noon at the ‘Change, busy; where
great talk of a Dutch ship in the North put on shore, and taken by
a troop of horse. Home to dinner and Creed with me. Thence to
Gresham College, where very noble discourse, and thence home
busy till past 12 at night, and then home to supper and to bed.
Mrs. Bland come this night to take leave of me and my wife,
going to Tangier.
23rd. This day, by the blessing of Almighty God, I have lived
thirty-two years in the world, and am in the best degree of health
1512
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
at this minute that I have been almost in my life time, and at this
time in the best condition of estate that ever I was in-the Lord
make me thankfull. Up, and to the office, where busy all the
morning. At noon to the ‘Change, where I hear the most horrid
and astonishing newes that ever was yet told in my memory, that
De Ruyter with his fleete in Guinny hath proceeded to the taking
of whatever we have, forts, goods, ships, and men, and tied our
men back to back, and thrown them all into the sea, even women
and children also. This a Swede or Hamburgher is come into
the River and tells that he saw the thing done.464 But, Lord! to
see the consternation all our merchants are in is observable, and
with what fury and revenge they discourse of it. But I fear it will
like other things in a few days cool among us. But that which I
fear most is the reason why he that was so kind to our men at first
should afterward, having let them go, be so cruel when he went
further. What I fear is that there he was informed (which he was
not before) of some of Holmes’s dealings with his countrymen,
and so was moved to this fury. God grant it be not so! But a more
dishonourable thing was never suffered by Englishmen, nor a
more barbarous done by man, as this by them to us. Home to
dinner, and then to the office, where we sat all the afternoon, and
then at night to take my finall leave of Mrs. Bland, who sets out
to-morrow for Tangier, and then I back to my office till past 12,
and so home to supper and to bed.
24th. Up, and to my office, where all the morning upon advis-
ing again with some fishermen and the water bayliffe of the City,
by Mr. Coventry’s direction, touching the protections which are
desired for the fishermen upon the River, and I am glad of the
occasion to make me understand something of it. At noon home
to dinner, and all the afternoon till 9 at night in my chamber, and
464 Similar reports of the cruelty of the English to the Dutch in Guinea were
credited in Holland, and were related by Downing in a letter to Clarendon
from the Hague, dated April 14th, 1665 (Lister’s “Life of Clarendon,” vol.
iii., p. 374).
1513
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
Mr. Hater with me (to prevent being disturbed at the office), to
perfect my contract book, which, for want of time, hath a long
time lain without being entered in as I used to do from month to
month. Then to my office, where till almost 12, and so home to
bed.
25th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon to
the ‘Change; where just before I come, the Swede that had told
the King and the Duke so boldly this great lie of the Dutch fling-
ing our men back to back into the sea at Guinny, so particularly,
and readily, and confidently, was whipt round the ‘Change: he
confessing it a lie, and that he did it in hopes to get something.
It is said the judges, upon demand, did give it their opinion that
the law would judge him to be whipt, to lose his eares, or to have
his nose slit but I do not hear that anything more is to be done
to him. They say he is delivered over to the Dutch Embassador
to do what he pleased with him. But the world do think that
there is some design on one side or other, either of the Dutch
or French, for it is not likely a fellow would invent such a lie to
get money whereas he might have hoped for a better reward by
telling something in behalf of us to please us. Thence to the Sun
taverne, and there dined with Sir W. Warren and Mr. Gifford, the
merchant: and I hear how Nich. Colborne, that lately lived and
got a great estate there, is gone to live like a prince in the country,
and that this Wadlow, that did the like at the Devil by St. Dun-
stane’s, did go into the country, and there spent almost all he had
got, and hath now choused this Colborne out of his house, that
he might come to his old trade again. But, Lord! to see how full
the house is, no room for any company almost to come into it.
Thence home to the office, where dispatched much business; at
night late home, and to clean myself with warm water; my wife
will have me, because she do herself, and so to bed.
26th (Sunday). Up and to church, and so home to dinner, and
after dinner to my office, and there busy all the afternoon, till in
the evening comes Mr. Andrews and Hill, and so home and to
1514
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
singing. Hill staid and supped with me, and very good discourse
of Italy, where he was, which is always to me very agreeable.
After supper, he gone, we to prayers and to bed.
27th. Up and to St. James’s, where we attended the Duke as
usual. This morning I was much surprized and troubled with a
letter from Mrs. Bland, that she is left behind, and much trouble
it cost me this day to find out some way to carry her after the
ships to Plymouth, but at last I hope I have done it. At noon to
the ‘Change to inquire what wages the Dutch give in their men-
of-warr at this day, and I hear for certain they give but twelve
guilders at most, which is not full 24s., a thing I wonder at. At
home to dinner, and then in Sir J. Minnes’s coach, my wife and I
with him, and also Mercer, abroad, he and I to White Hall, and
he would have his coach to wait upon my wife on her visits, it
being the first time my wife hath been out of doors (but the other
day to bathe her) several weeks. We to a Committee of the Coun-
cil to discourse concerning pressing of men; but, Lord! how they
meet; never sit down: one comes, now another goes, then comes
another; one complaining that nothing is done, another swearing
that he hath been there these two hours and nobody come. At
last it come to this, my Lord Annesly, says he, “I think we must
be forced to get the King to come to every committee; for I do not
see that we do any thing at any time but when he is here.” And
I believe he said the truth and very constant he is at the coun-
cil table on council-days; which his predecessors, it seems, very
rarely did; but thus I perceive the greatest affair in the world at
this day is likely to be managed by us. But to hear how my Lord
Barkeley and others of them do cry up the discipline of the late
times here, and in the former Dutch warr is strange, wishing with
all their hearts that the business of religion were not so severely
carried on as to discourage the sober people to come among us,
and wishing that the same law and severity were used against
drunkennesse as there was then, saying that our evil living will
call the hand of God upon us again. Thence to walk alone a good
while in St. James’s Parke with Mr. Coventry, who I perceive is
1515
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
grown a little melancholy and displeased to see things go as they
do so carelessly. Thence I by coach to Ratcliffe highway, to the
plate-maker’s, and he has begun my Lord Sandwich’s plate very
neatly, and so back again. Coming back I met Colonell Atkins,
who in other discourse did offer to give me a piece to receive of
me 20 when he proves the late news of the Dutch, their drown-
ing our men, at Guinny, and the truth is I find the generality of
the world to fear that there is something of truth in it, and I do
fear it too. Thence back by coach to Sir Philip Warwicke’s; and
there he did contract with me a kind of friendship and freedom
of communication, wherein he assures me to make me under-
stand the whole business of the Treasurer’s business of the Navy,
that I shall know as well as Sir G. Carteret what money he hath;
and will needs have me come to him sometimes, or he meet me,
to discourse of things tending to the serving the King: and I am
mighty proud and happy in becoming so known to such a man.
And I hope shall pursue it. Thence back home to the office a little
tired and out of order, and then to supper and to bed.
28th: At the office all the morning. At noon dined at home.
After dinner my wife and I to my Lady batten’s, it being the first
time my wife hath been there, I think, these two years, but I had
a mind in part to take away the strangenesse, and so we did,
and all very quiett and kind. Come home, I to the taking my
wife’s kitchen accounts at the latter end of the month, and there
find 7s. wanting, which did occasion a very high falling out be-
tween us, I indeed too angrily insisting upon so poor a thing, and
did give her very provoking high words, calling her beggar, and
reproaching her friends, which she took very stomachfully and
reproached me justly with mine; and I confess, being myself, I
cannot see what she could have done less. I find she is very cun-
ning, and when she least shews it hath her wit at work; but it is
an ill one, though I think not so bad but with good usage I might
well bear with it, and the truth is I do find that my being over-
solicitous and jealous and froward and ready to reproach her do
make her worse. However, I find that now and then a little differ-
1516
FEBRUARY 1664-1665
ence do no hurte, but too much of it will make her know her force
too much. We parted after many high words very angry, and I to
my office to my month’s accounts, and find myself worth £1270,
for which the Lord God be praised! So at almost 2 o’clock in the
morning I home to supper and to bed, and so ends this month,
with great expectation of the Hollanders coming forth, who are,
it seems, very high and rather more ready than we. God give a
good issue to it!
1517
MARCH 1664-1665
March 1st. Up, and this day being the day than: by a promise, a
great while ago, made to my wife, I was to give her £20 to lay out
in clothes against Easter, she did, notwithstanding last night’s
falling out, come to peace with me and I with her, but did bog-
gle mightily at the parting with my money, but at last did give
it her, and then she abroad to buy her things, and I to my office,
where busy all the morning. At noon I to dinner at Trinity House,
and thence to Gresham College, where Mr. Hooke read a second
very curious lecture about the late Comett; among other things
proving very probably that this is the very same Comett that ap-
peared before in the year 1618, and that in such a time probably
it will appear again, which is a very new opinion; but all will be
in print. Then to the meeting, where Sir G. Carteret’s two sons,
his owne, and Sir N. Slaning, were admitted of the society: and
this day I did pay my admission money, 40s. to the society. Here
was very fine discourses and experiments, but I do lacke phi-
losophy enough to understand them, and so cannot remember
them. Among others, a very particular account of the making of
the several sorts of bread in France, which is accounted the best
place for bread in the world. So home, where very busy getting
an answer to some question of Sir Philip Warwicke touching the
expense of the navy, and that being done I by coach at 8 at night
1518
MARCH 1664-1665
with my wife and Mercer to Sir Philip’s and discoursed with him
(leaving them in the coach), and then back with them home and
to supper and to bed.
2nd. Begun this day to rise betimes before six o’clock, and,
going down to call my people, found Besse and the girle with
their clothes on, lying within their bedding upon the ground
close by the fireside, and a candle burning all night, pretending
they would rise to scoure. This vexed me, but Besse is going and
so she will not trouble me long. Up, and by water to Burston
about my Lord’s plate, and then home to the office, so there all
the morning sitting. At noon dined with Sir W. Batten (my wife
being gone again to-day to buy things, having bought nothing
yesterday for lack of Mrs. Pierces company), and thence to the
office again, where very busy till 12 at night, and vexed at my
wife’s staying out so late, she not being at home at 9 o’clock, but
at last she is come home, but the reason of her stay I know not
yet. So shut up my books, and home to supper and to bed.
3rd. Up, and abroad about several things, among others to see
Mr. Peter Honiwood, who was at my house the other day, and I
find it was for nothing but to pay me my brother John’s Quarter-
age. Thence to see Mrs. Turner, who takes it mighty ill I did not
come to dine with the Reader, her husband, which, she says, was
the greatest feast that ever was yet kept by a Reader, and I believe
it was well. But I am glad I did not go, which confirms her in an
opinion that I am growne proud. Thence to the ‘Change, and to
several places, and so home to dinner and to my office, where
till 12 at night writing over a discourse of mine to Mr. Coven-
try touching the Fishermen of the Thames upon a reference of
the business by him to me concerning their being protected from
presse. Then home to supper and to bed.
4th. Up very betimes, and walked, it being bitter cold, to Rat-
cliffe, to the plate-maker’s and back again. To the office, where
we sat all the morning, I, with being empty and full of ayre and
wind, had some pain to-day. Dined alone at home, my wife being
1519
MARCH 1664-1665
gone abroad to buy some more things. All the afternoon at the
office. William Howe come to see me, being come up with my
Lord from sea: he is grown a discreet, but very conceited fellow.
He tells me how little respectfully Sir W. Pen did carry it to my
Lord onboard the Duke’s ship at sea; and that Captain Minnes,
a favourite of Prince Rupert’s, do shew my Lord little respect;
but that every body else esteems my Lord as they ought. I am
sorry for the folly of the latter, and vexed at the dissimulation of
the former. At night home to supper and to bed. This day was
proclaimed at the ‘Change the war with Holland.
5th (Lord’s day). Up, and Mr. Burston bringing me by order
my Lord’s plates, which he has been making this week. I did take
coach and to my Lord Sandwich’s and dined with my Lord; it
being the first time he hath dined at home since his coming from
sea: and a pretty odd demand it was of my Lord to my Lady be-
fore me: “How do you, sweetheart? How have you done all this
week?” himself taking notice of it to me, that he had hardly seen
her the week before. At dinner he did use me with the greatest
solemnity in the world, in carving for me, and nobody else, and
calling often to my Lady to cut for me; and all the respect pos-
sible. After dinner looked over the plates, liked them mightily,
and indeed I think he is the most exact man in what he do in the
world of that kind. So home again, and there after a song or two
in the evening with Mr. Hill, I to my office, and then home to
supper and to bed.
6th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes by coach, being a most
lamentable cold day as any this year, to St. James’s, and there did
our business with the Duke. Great preparations for his speedy re-
turn to sea. I saw him try on his buff coat and hatpiece covered
with black velvet. It troubles me more to think of his venture,
than of anything else in the whole warr. Thence home to dinner,
where I saw Besse go away; she having of all wenches that ever
lived with us received the greatest love and kindnesse and good
clothes, besides wages, and gone away with the greatest ingrat-
1520
MARCH 1664-1665
itude. I then abroad to look after my Hamaccoes, and so home,
and there find our new chamber-mayde, Mary, come, which in-
stead of handsome, as my wife spoke and still seems to reckon, is
a very ordinary wench, I think, and therein was mightily disap-
pointed. To my office, where busy late, and then home to supper
and to bed, and was troubled all this night with a pain in my left
testicle, that run up presently into my left kidney and there kept
akeing all night. In great pain.
7th. Up, and was pretty well, but going to the office, and I
think it was sitting with my back to the fire, it set me in a great
rage again, that I could not continue till past noon at the office,
but was forced to go home, nor could sit down to dinner, but
betook myself to my bed, and being there a while my pain begun
to abate and grow less and less. Anon I went to make water,
not dreaming of any thing but my testicle that by some accident
I might have bruised as I used to do, but in pissing there come
from me two stones, I could feel them, and caused my water to
be looked into; but without any pain to me in going out, which
makes me think that it was not a fit of the stone at all; for my
pain was asswaged upon my lying down a great while before I
went to make water. Anon I made water again very freely and
plentifully. I kept my bed in good ease all the evening, then rose
and sat up an hour or two, and then to bed and lay till 8 o’clock,
and then,
8th. Though a bitter cold day, yet I rose, and though my pain
and tenderness in my testicle remains a little, yet I do verily think
that my pain yesterday was nothing else, and therefore I hope
my disease of the stone may not return to me, but void itself in
pissing, which God grant, but I will consult my physitian. This
morning is brought me to the office the sad newes of “The Lon-
don,” in which Sir J. Lawson’s men were all bringing her from
Chatham to the Hope, and thence he was to go to sea in her; but
a little a’this side the buoy of the Nower, she suddenly blew up.
About 24 [men] and a woman that were in the round-house and
1521
MARCH 1664-1665
coach saved; the rest, being above 300, drowned: the ship break-
ing all in pieces, with 80 pieces of brass ordnance. She lies sunk,
with her round-house above water. Sir J. Lawson hath a great loss
in this of so many good chosen men, and many relations among
them. I went to the ‘Change, where the news taken very much
to heart. So home to dinner, and Mr. Moore with me. Then I to
Gresham College, and there saw several pretty experiments, and
so home and to my office, and at night about I I home to supper
and to bed.
9th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the afternoon. At
noon to dinner at home, and then abroad with my wife, left her
at the New Exchange and I to Westminster, where I hear Mrs.
Martin is brought to bed of a boy and christened Charles, which
I am very glad of, for I was fearful of being called to be a god-
father to it. But it seems it was to be done suddenly, and so I
escaped. It is strange to see how a liberty and going abroad with-
out purpose of doing anything do lead a man to what is bad, for I
was just upon going to her, where I must of necessity [have] bro-
ken my oath or made a forfeit. But I did not, company being (I
heard by my porter) with her, and so I home again, taking up my
wife, and was set down by her at Paule’s Schoole, where I visited
Mr. Crumlum at his house; and, Lord! to see how ridiculous a
conceited pedagogue he is, though a learned man, he being so
dogmaticall in all he do and says. But among other discourse,
we fell to the old discourse of Paule’s Schoole; and he did, upon
my declaring my value of it, give me one of Lilly’s grammars of
a very old impression, as it was in the Catholique times, which I
shall much set by. And so, after some small discourse, away and
called upon my wife at a linen draper’s shop buying linen, and
so home, and to my office, where late, and home to supper and to
bed. This night my wife had a new suit of flowered ash-coloured
silke, very noble.
10th. Up, and to the office all the morning. At noon to the
‘Change, where very hot, people’s proposal of the City giving
1522
MARCH 1664-1665
the King’ another ship for “The London,” that is lately blown up,
which would be very handsome, and if well managed, might be
done; but I fear if it be put into ill hands, or that the courtiers do
solicit it, it will never be done. Home to dinner, and thence to the
Committee of Tangier at White Hall, where my Lord Barkely and
Craven and others; but, Lord! to see how superficially things are
done in the business of the Lottery, which will be the disgrace
of the Fishery, and without profit. Home, vexed at my loss of
time, and thereto my office. Late at night come the two Bellamys,
formerly petty warrant Victuallers of the Navy, to take my advice
about a navy debt of theirs for the compassing of which they offer
a great deal of money, and the thing most just. Perhaps I may
undertake it, and get something by it, which will be a good job.
So home late to bed.
11th. Up and to the office, at noon home to dinner, and to the
office again, where very late, and then home to supper and to
bed. This day returned Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes from Lee
Roade, where they have been to see the wrecke of “The London,”
out of which, they say, the guns may be got, but the hull of her
will be wholly lost, as not being capable of being weighed.
12th (Lord’s day). Up, and borrowing Sir J. Minnes’s coach,
to my Lord Sandwich’s, but he was gone abroad. I sent the
coach back for my wife, my Lord a second time dining at home
on purpose to meet me, he having not dined once at home but
those times since his coming from sea. I sat down and read over
the Bishop of Chichester’s’ sermon upon the anniversary of the
King’s death, much cried up, but, methinks, but a mean sermon.
By and by comes in my Lord, and he and I to talke of many things
in the Navy, one from another, in general, to see how the greatest
things are committed to very ordinary men, as to parts and ex-
perience, to do; among others, my Lord Barkeley. We talked also
of getting W. Howe to be put into the Muster-Mastershipp in the
roome of Creed, if Creed will give way, but my Lord do it with-
out any great gusto, calling Howe a proud coxcomb in passion.
1523
MARCH 1664-1665
Down to dinner, where my wife in her new lace whiske, which,
indeed, is very noble, and I much pleased with it, and so my Lady
also. Here very pleasant my Lord was at dinner, and after dinner
did look over his plate, which Burston hath brought him to-day,
and is the last of the three that he will have made. After satisfied
with that, he abroad, and I after much discourse with my Lady
about Sir G. Carteret’s son, of whom she hath some thoughts for
a husband for my Lady Jemimah, we away home by coach again,
and there sang a good while very pleasantly with Mr. Andrews
and Hill. They gone; we to supper, and betimes to bed.
13th. Up betimes, this being the first morning of my promise
upon a forfeite not to lie in bed a quarter of an hour after my
first waking. Abroad to St. James’s, and there much business, the
King also being with us a great while. Thence to the ‘Change, and
thence with Captain Tayler and Sir W. Warren dined at a house
hard by for discourse sake, and so I home, and there meeting
a letter from Mrs. Martin desiring to speak with me, I (though
against my promise of visiting her) did go, and there found her
in her childbed dress desiring my favour to get her husband a
place. I staid not long, but taking Sir W. Warren up at White Hall
home, and among other discourse fell to a business which he says
shall if accomplished bring me £100. He gone, I to supper and to
bed. This day my wife begun to wear light-coloured locks, quite
white almost, which, though it makes her look very pretty, yet
not being natural, vexes me, that I will not have her wear them.
This day I saw my Lord Castlemayne at St. James’s, lately come
from France.
14th. Up before six, to the office, where busy all the morn-
ing. At noon dined with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, at the
Tower, with Sir J. Robinson, at a farewell dinner which he gives
Major Holmes at his going out of the Tower, where he hath for
some time, since his coming from Guinny, been a prisoner, and,
it seems, had presented the Lieutenant with fifty pieces yester-
day. Here a great deale of good victuals and company. Thence
1524
MARCH 1664-1665
home to my office, where very late, and home to supper and to
bed weary of business.
15th. Up and by coach with Sir W. Batten to St. James’s, where
among other things before the Duke, Captain Taylor was called
in, and, Sir J. Robinson his accuser not appearing, was acquitted
quite from his charge, and declared that he should go to Har-
wich, which I was very well pleased at. Thence I to Mr. Coven-
try’s chamber, and there privately an houre with him in discourse
of the office, and did deliver to him many notes of things about
which he is to get the Duke’s command, before he goes, for the
putting of business among us in better order. He did largely
owne his dependance as to the office upon my care, and received
very great expressions of love from him, and so parted with great
satisfaction to myself. So home to the ‘Change, and thence home
to dinner, where my wife being gone down upon a sudden warn-
ing from my Lord Sandwich’s daughters to the Hope with them
to see “The Prince,” I dined alone. After dinner to the office, and
anon to Gresham College, where, among other good discourse,
there was tried the great poyson of Maccassa upon a dogg,465 but
it had no effect all the time we sat there. We anon broke up and
I home, where late at my office, my wife not coming home. I to
bed, troubled, about 12 or past.
16th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, my
wife coming home from the water this morning, having lain with
them on board “The Prince” all night. At noon home to dinner,
where my wife told me the unpleasant journey she had yester-
day among the children, whose fear upon the water and folly
made it very unpleasing to her. A good dinner, and then to the
465 “The experiment of trying to poison a dog with some of the Macas-
sar powder in which a needle had been dipped was made, but without
success.”–Pepys himself made a communication at this meeting of the infor-
mation he had received from the master of the Jersey ship, who had been in
company of Major Holmes in the Guinea voyage, concerning the pendulum
watches (Birch’s “History,” vol. ii., p. 23).
1525
MARCH 1664-1665
office again. This afternoon Mr. Harris, the sayle-maker, sent me
a noble present of two large silver candlesticks and snuffers, and
a slice to keep them upon, which indeed is very handsome. At
night come Mr. Andrews with £36, the further fruits of my Tang-
ier contract, and so to bed late and weary with business, but in
good content of mind, blessing God for these his benefits.
17th. Up and to my office, and then with Sir W. Batten to St.
James’s, where many come to take leave, as was expected, of the
Duke, but he do not go till Monday. This night my Lady Wood
died of the small-pox, and is much lamented among the great
persons for a good-natured woman and a good wife, but for all
that it was ever believed she was as others are. The Duke did
give us some commands, and so broke up, not taking leave of
him. But the best piece of newes is, that instead of a great many
troublesome Lords, the whole business is to be left with the Duke
of Albemarle to act as Admirall in his stead; which is a thing that
do cheer my heart. For the other would have vexed us with at-
tendance, and never done the business. Thence to the Commit-
tee of Tangier, where the Duke a little, and then left us and we
staid. A very great Committee, the Lords Albemarle, Sandwich,
Barkely, Fitzharding, Peterborough, Ashley, Sir Thos. Ingram,
Sir G. Carteret and others. The whole business was the stating
of Povy’s accounts, of whom to say no more, never could man
say worse himself nor have worse said of him than was by the
company to his face; I mean, as to his folly and very reflecting
words to his honesty. Broke up without anything but trouble
and shame, only I got my businesses done to the signing of two
bills for the Contractors and Captain Taylor, and so come away
well pleased, and home, taking up my wife at the ‘Change, to
dinner. After dinner out again bringing my wife to her father’s
again at Charing Cross, and I to the Committee again, where a
new meeting of trouble about Povy, who still makes his business
worse and worse, and broke up with the most open shame again
to him, and high words to him of disgrace that they would not
trust him with any more money till he had given an account of
1526
MARCH 1664-1665
this. So broke up. Then he took occasion to desire me to step
aside, and he and I by water to London together. In the way, of
his owne accord, he proposed to me that he would surrender his
place of Treasurer’ to me to have half the profit. The thing is new
to me; but the more I think the more I like it, and do put him
upon getting it done by the Duke. Whether it takes or no I care
not, but I think at present it may have some convenience in it.
Home, and there find my wife come home and gone to bed, of
a cold got yesterday by water. At the office Bellamy come to me
again, and I am in hopes something may be got by his business.
So late home to supper and bed.
18th. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon
to the ‘Change, and took Mr. Hill along with me to Mr. Povy’s,
where we dined, and shewed him the house to his good content,
and I expect when we meet we shall laugh at it. But I having
business to stay, he went away, and Povy and Creed and I to do
some business upon Povy’s accounts all the afternoon till late at
night, where, God help him! never man was so confounded, and
all his people about him in this world as he and his are. After
we had done something [to the] purpose we broke up, and Povy
acquainted me before Creed (having said something of it also this
morning at our office to me) what he had done in speaking to the
Duke and others about his making me Treasurer, and has carried
it a great way, so as I think it cannot well be set back. Creed, I
perceive, envies me in it, but I think as that will do me no hurte,
so if it did I am at a great losse to think whether it were not best
for me to let it wholly alone, for it will much disquiett me and my
business of the Navy, which in this warr will certainly be worth
all my time to me. Home, continuing in this doubtfull condition
what to think of it, but God Almighty do his will in it for the best.
To my office, where late, and then home to supper and to bed.
19th (Lord’s day). Mr. Povy sent his coach for me betimes,
and I to him, and there to our great trouble do find that my Lord
1527
MARCH 1664-1665
FitzHarding do appear for Mr. Brunkard466 to be Paymaster upon
Povy’s going out, by a former promise of the Duke’s, and offer-
ing to give as much as any for it. This put us all into a great
dumpe, and so we went to Creed’s new lodging in the Mewes,
and there we found Creed with his parrot upon his shoulder,
which struck Mr. Povy coming by just by the eye, very deep,
which, had it hit his eye, had put it out. This a while troubled us,
but not proving very bad, we to our business consulting what
to do; at last resolved, and I to Mr. Coventry, and there had his
most friendly and ingenuous advice, advising me not to decline
the thing, it being that that will bring me to be known to great
persons, while now I am buried among three or four of us, says
he, in the Navy; but do not make a declared opposition to my
Lord FitzHarding. Thence I to Creed, and walked talking in the
Park an hour with him, and then to my Lord Sandwich’s to din-
ner, and after dinner to Mr. Povy’s, who hath been with the Duke
of Yorke, and, by the mediation of Mr. Coventry, the Duke told
him that the business shall go on, and he will take off Brunkerd,
and my Lord FitzHarding is quiett too. But to see the mischief, I
hear that Sir G. Carteret did not seem pleased, but said nothing
when he heard me proposed to come in Povy’s room, which may
learn me to distinguish between that man that is a man’s true and
false friend. Being very glad of this news Mr. Povy and I in his
coach to Hyde Parke, being the first day of the tour there. Where
many brave ladies; among others, Castlemayne lay impudently
upon her back in her coach asleep, with her mouth open. There
was also my Lady Kerneguy,467 once my Lady Anne Hambleton,
466 Henry Brouncker, younger brother of William, Viscount Brouncker,
President of the Royal Society. He was Groom of the Bedchamber to the
Duke of York, and succeeded to the office of Cofferer on the death of William
Ashburnham in 1671. His character was bad, and his conduct in the sea-fight
of 1665 was impugned. He was expelled from the House of Commons, but
succeeded to his brother’s title in 1684. He died in January, 1687.
467 Daughter of William, Duke of Hamilton, wife of Lord Carnegy, who
became Earl of Southesk on his father’s death. She is frequently mentioned
1528
MARCH 1664-1665
that is said to have given the Duke a clap upon his first coming
over. Here I saw Sir J. Lawson’s daughter and husband, a fine
couple, and also Mr. Southwell and his new lady, very pretty.
Thence back, putting in at Dr. Whore’s, where I saw his lady, a
very fine woman. So home, and thither by my desire comes by
and by Creed and lay with me, very merry and full of discourse,
what to do to-morrow, and the conveniences that will attend my
having of this place, and I do think they may be very great.
20th. Up, Creed and I, and had Mr. Povy’s coach sent for us,
and we to his house; where we did some business in order to the
work of this day. Povy and I to my Lord Sandwich, who tells me
that the Duke is not only a friend to the business, but to me, in
terms of the greatest love and respect and value of me that can
be thought, which overjoys me. Thence to St. James’s, and there
was in great doubt of Brunkerd, but at last I hear that Brunkerd
desists. The Duke did direct Secretary Bennet, who was there,
to declare his mind to the Tangier Committee, that he approves
of me for Treasurer; and with a character of me to be a man
whose industry and discretion he would trust soon as any man’s
in England: and did the like to my Lord Sandwich. So to White
Hall to the Committee of Tangier, where there were present, my
Lord of Albemarle, my Lord Peterborough, Sandwich, Barkeley,
FitzHarding, Secretary Bennet, Sir Thomas Ingram, Sir John Law-
son, Povy and I. Where, after other business, Povy did declare
his business very handsomely; that he was sorry he had been so
unhappy in his accounts, as not to give their Lordships the satis-
faction he intended, and that he was sure his accounts are right,
and continues to submit them to examination, and is ready to lay
down in ready money the fault of his account; and that for the fu-
ture, that the work might be better done and with more quiet to
him, he desired, by approbation of the Duke, he might resign his
place to Mr. Pepys. Whereupon, Secretary Bennet did deliver the
in the “Memoires de Grammont,” and in the letters of the second Earl of
Chesterfield.–B.
1529
MARCH 1664-1665
Duke’s command, which was received with great content and
allowance beyond expectation; the Secretary repeating also the
Duke’s character of me. And I could discern my Lord FitzHard-
ing was well pleased with me, and signified full satisfaction, and
whispered something seriously of me to the Secretary. And there
I received their constitution under all their hands presently; so
that I am already confirmed their Treasurer, and put into a con-
dition of striking of tallys;468 and all without one harsh word or
word of dislike, but quite the contrary; which is a good fortune
beyond all imagination. Here we rose, and Povy and Creed and
I, all full of joy, thence to dinner, they setting me down at Sir
J. Winter’s, by promise, and dined with him; and a worthy fine
man he seems to be, and of good discourse, our business was to
discourse of supplying the King with iron for anchors, if it can be
judged good enough, and a fine thing it is to see myself come to
the condition of being received by persons of this rank, he being,
and having long been, Secretary to the Queene-Mother. Thence
to Povy’s, and there sat and considered of business a little and
then home, where late at it, W. Howe being with me about his
468 The practice of striking tallies at the Exchequer was a curious survival
of an ancient method of keeping accounts. The method adopted is described
in Hubert Hall’s “Antiquities and Curiosities of the Exchequer,” 1891. The
following account of the use of tallies, so frequently alluded to in the Di-
ary, was supplied by Lord Braybrooke. Formerly accounts were kept, and
large sums of money paid and received, by the King’s Exchequer, with little
other form than the exchange or delivery of tallies, pieces of wood notched
or scored, corresponding blocks being kept by the parties to the account; and
from this usage one of the head officers of the Exchequer was called the tal-
lier, or teller. These tallies were often negotiable; Adam Smith, in his “Wealth
of Nations,” book ii., ch. xi., says that “in 1696 tallies had been at forty, and
fifty, and sixty per cent. discount, and bank-notes at twenty per cent.” The
system of tallies was discontinued in 1824; and the destruction of the old
Houses of Parliament, in the night of October 16th, 1834, is thought to have
been occasioned by the overheating of the flues, when the furnaces were em-
ployed to consume the tallies rendered useless by the alteration in the mode
of keeping the Exchequer accounts.
1530
MARCH 1664-1665
business of accounts for his money laid out in the fleet, and he
gone, I home to supper and to bed. Newes is this day come of
Captain Allen’s being come home from the Straights, as far as
Portland, with eleven of the King’s ships, and about twenty-two
of merchantmen.
21st. Up, and my taylor coming to me, did consult all my
wardrobe how to order my clothes against next summer. Then to
the office, where busy all the morning. At noon to the ‘Change,
and brought home Mr. Andrews, and there with Mr. Sheply
dined and very merry, and a good dinner. Thence to Mr. Povy’s
to discourse about settling our business of Treasurer, and I think
all things will go very fayre between us and to my content, but
the more I see the more silly the man seems to me. Thence by
coach to the Mewes, but Creed was not there. In our way the
coach drove through a lane by Drury Lane, where abundance of
loose women stood at the doors, which, God forgive me, did put
evil thoughts in me, but proceeded no further, blessed be God.
So home, and late at my office, then home and there found a cou-
ple of state cups, very large, coming, I suppose, each to about £6
a piece, from Burrows the slopseller.
22nd. Up, and to Mr. Povy’s about our business, and thence I
to see Sir Ph. Warwicke, but could not meet with him. So to Mr.
Coventry, whose profession of love and esteem for me to myself
was so large and free that I never could expect or wish for more,
nor could have it from any man in England, that I should value
it more. Thence to Mr. Povy’s, and with Creed to the ‘Change
and to my house, but, it being washing day, dined not at home,
but took him (I being invited) to Mr. Hubland’s, the merchant,
where Sir William Petty, and abundance of most ingenious men,
owners and freighters of “The Experiment,” now going with her
two bodies to sea. Most excellent discourse. Among others, Sir
William Petty did tell me that in good earnest he hath in his will
left such parts of his estate to him that could invent such and
such things. As among others, that could discover truly the way
1531
MARCH 1664-1665
of milk coming into the breasts of a woman; and he that could
invent proper characters to express to another the mixture of rel-
ishes and tastes. And says, that to him that invents gold, he gives
nothing for the philosopher’s stone; for (says he) they that find
out that, will be able to pay themselves. But, says he, by this
means it is better than to give to a lecture; for here my executors,
that must part with this, will be sure to be well convinced of the
invention before they do part with their money. After dinner Mr.
Hill took me with Mrs. Hubland, who is a fine gentlewoman,
into another room, and there made her sing, which she do very
well, to my great content. Then to Gresham College, and there
did see a kitling killed almost quite, but that we could not quite
kill her, with such a way; the ayre out of a receiver, wherein she
was put, and then the ayre being let in upon her revives her im-
mediately;469 nay, and this ayre is to be made by putting together
a liquor and some body that ferments, the steam of that do do the
work. Thence home, and thence to White Hall, where the house
full of the Duke’s going to-morrow, and thence to St. James’s,
wherein these things fell out: (1) I saw the Duke, kissed his hand,
and had his most kind expressions of his value and opinion of
me, which comforted me above all things in the world, (2) the
like from Mr. Coventry most heartily and affectionately. (3) Saw,
among other fine ladies, Mrs. Middleton,470 a very great beauty I
never knew or heard of before; (4) I saw Waller the poet, whom I
never saw before. So, very late, by coach home with W. Pen, who
was there. To supper and to bed, with my heart at rest, and my
head very busy thinking of my several matters now on foot, the
469 “Two experiments were made for the finding out a way to breathe un-
der water, useful for divers.” The first was on a bird and the second on “a
kitling” (Birch’s “History,” vol. ii., p. 25).
470 Jane, daughter to Sir Robert Needham, is frequently mentioned in the
“Grammont Memoirs,” and Evelyn calls her “that famous and indeed in-
comparable beauty” (“Diary,” August 2nd, 1683). Her portrait is in the Royal
Collection amongst the beauties of Charles II.‘s Court. Sir Robert Needham
was related to John Evelyn.
1532
MARCH 1664-1665
new comfort of my old navy business, and the new one of my
employment on Tangier.
23rd. Up and to my Lord Sandwich, who follows the Duke
this day by water down to the Hope, where “The Prince” lies.
He received me, busy as he was, with mighty kindness and joy
at my promotions; telling me most largely how the Duke hath
expressed on all occasions his good opinion of my service and
love for me. I paid my thanks and acknowledgement to him;
and so back home, where at the office all the morning. At noon
to the ‘Change. Home, and Lewellin dined with me. Thence
abroad, carried my wife to Westminster by coach, I to the Swan,
Herbert’s, and there had much of the good company of Sarah and
to my wish, and then to see Mrs. Martin, who was very kind,
three weeks of her month of lying in is over. So took up my wife
and home, and at my office a while, and thence to supper and
to bed. Great talk of noises of guns heard at Deale, but nothing
particularly whether in earnest or not.
24th. Up betimes, and by agreement to the Globe taverne in
Fleet Street to Mr. Clerke, my sollicitor, about the business of
my uncle’s accounts, and we went with one Jefferys to one of the
Barons (Spelman), and there my accounts were declared and I
sworn to the truth thereof to my knowledge, and so I shall after a
few formalities be cleared of all. Thence to Povy’s, and there de-
livered him his letters of greatest import to him that is possible,
yet dropped by young Bland, just come from Tangier, upon the
road by Sittingburne, taken up and sent to Mr. Pett, at Chatham.
Thus everything done by Povy is done with a fatal folly and ne-
glect. Then to our discourse with him, Creed, Mr. Viner, myself
and Poyntz about the business of the Workehouse at Clerken-
well, and after dinner went thither and saw all the works there,
and did also consult the Act concerning the business and other
papers in order to our coming in to undertake it with Povy, the
management of the House, but I do not think we can safely med-
dle with it, at least I, unless I had time to look after it myself,
1533
MARCH 1664-1665
but the thing is very ingenious and laudable. Thence to my Lady
Sandwich’s, where my wife all this day, having kept Good Friday
very strict with fasting. Here we supped, and talked very merry.
My Lady alone with me, very earnest about Sir G. Carteret’s son,
with whom I perceive they do desire my Lady Jemimah may be
matched. Thence home and to my office, and then to bed.
25th (Lady day). Up betimes and to my office, where all the
morning. At noon dined alone with Sir W. Batten, where great
discourse of Sir W. Pen, Sir W. Batten being, I perceive, quite out
of love with him, thinking him too great and too high, and began
to talk that the world do question his courage, upon which I told
him plainly I have been told that he was articled against for it,
and that Sir H. Vane was his great friend therein. This he was, I
perceive, glad to hear. Thence to the office, and there very late,
very busy, to my great content. This afternoon of a sudden is
come home Sir W. Pen from the fleete, but upon what score I
know not. Late home to supper and to bed.
26th (Lord’s day and Easter day). Up (and with my wife, who
has not been at church a month or two) to church. At noon home
to dinner, my wife and I (Mercer staying to the Sacrament) alone.
This is the day seven years which, by the blessing of God, I have
survived of my being cut of the stone, and am now in very perfect
good health and have long been; and though the last winter hath
been as hard a winter as any have been these many years, yet I
never was better in my life, nor have not, these ten years, gone
colder in the summer than I have done all this winter, wearing
only a doublet, and a waistcoate cut open on the back; abroad, a
cloake and within doors a coate I slipped on. Now I am at a losse
to know whether it be my hare’s foot which is my preservative
against wind, for I never had a fit of the collique since I wore it,
and nothing but wind brings me pain, and the carrying away of
wind takes away my pain, or my keeping my back cool; for when
I do lie longer than ordinary upon my back in bed, my water the
next morning is very hot, or whether it be my taking of a pill of
1534
MARCH 1664-1665
turpentine every morning, which keeps me always loose, or all
together, but this I know, with thanks to God Almighty, that I
am now as well as ever I can wish or desire to be, having now
and then little grudgings of wind, that brings me a little pain,
but it is over presently, only I do find that my backe grows very
weak, that I cannot stoop to write or tell money without sitting
but I have pain for a good while after it. Yet a week or two ago I
had one day’s great pain; but it was upon my getting a bruise on
one of my testicles, and then I did void two small stones, with-
out pain though, and, upon my going to bed and bearing up of
my testicles, I was well the next. But I did observe that my sit-
ting with my back to the fire at the office did then, as it do at
all times, make my back ake, and my water hot, and brings me
some pain. I sent yesterday an invitation to Mrs. Turner and her
family to come to keep this day with me, which she granted, but
afterward sent me word that it being Sunday and Easter day she
desired to choose another and put off this. Which I was willing
enough to do; and so put it off as to this day, and will leave it to
my own convenience when to choose another, and perhaps shall
escape a feast by it. At my office all the afternoon drawing up my
agreement with Mr. Povy for me to sign to him tomorrow morn-
ing. In the evening spent an hour in the garden walking with Sir
J. Minnes, talking of the Chest business, wherein Sir W. Batten
deals so unfairly, wherein the old man is very hot for the present,
but that zeal will not last nor is to be trusted. So home to supper,
prayers, and to bed.
27th. Up betimes to Mr. Povy’s, and there did sign and seal my
agreement with him about my place of being Treasurer for Tang-
ier, it being the greatest part of it drawnout of a draught of his
own drawing up, only I have added something here and there
in favour of myself. Thence to the Duke of Albemarle, the first
time that we officers of the Navy have waited upon him since
the Duke of Yorke’s going, who hath deputed him to be Admi-
rall in his absence. And I find him a quiet heavy man, that will
help business when he can, and hinder nothing, and am very
1535
MARCH 1664-1665
well pleased with our attendance on him. I did afterwards alone
give him thanks for his favour to me about my Tangier business,
which he received kindly, and did speak much of his esteem of
me. Thence, and did the same to Sir H. Bennet, who did the like
to me very fully, and did give me all his letters lately come from
hence for me to read, which I returned in the afternoon to him.
Thence to Mrs. Martin, who, though her husband is gone away,
as he writes, like a fool into France, yet is as simple and wanton
as ever she was, with much I made myself merry and away. So to
my Lord Peterborough’s; where Povy, Creed, Williamson, Audi-
tor Beale, and myself, and mighty merry to see how plainly my
Lord and Povy did abuse one another about their accounts, each
thinking the other a foole, and I thinking they were not either of
them, in that point, much in the wrong, though in everything,
and even in this manner of reproaching one another, very witty
and pleasant. Among other things, we had here the genteelest
dinner and the neatest house that I have seen many a day, and
the latter beyond anything I ever saw in a nobleman’s house.
Thence visited my Lord Barkeley, and did sit discoursing with
him in his chamber a good while, and [he] mighty friendly to me
about the same business of Tangier. From that to other discourse
of the times and the want of money, and he said that the Parlia-
ment must be called again soon, and more money raised, not by
tax, for he said he believed the people could not pay it, but he
would have either a general excise upon everything, or else that
every city incorporate should pay a toll into the King’s revenue,
as he says it is in all the cities in the world; for here a citizen
hath no more laid on them than their neighbours in the country,
whereas, as a city, it ought to pay considerably to the King for
their charter; but I fear this will breed ill blood. Thence to Povy,
and after a little talk home to my office late. Then to supper and
to bed.
28th. Up betimes and to the office, where we sat all the morn-
ing, and I did most of the business there, God wot. Then to
the ‘Change, and thence to the Coffee-house with Sir W. War-
1536
MARCH 1664-1665
ren, where much good discourse for us both till 9 o’clock with
great pleasure and content, and then parted and I home to din-
ner, having eat nothing, and so to my office. At night supped
with my wife at Sir W. Pen’s, who is to go back for good and all
to the fleete to-morrow. Took leave and to my office, where till 12
at night, and then home to bed.
29th. Up betimes and to Povy’s, where a good while talking
about our business; thence abroad into the City, but upon his tally
could not get any money in Lumbard Streete, through the disre-
pute which he suffers, I perceive, upon his giving up his place,
which people think was not choice, but necessity, as indeed it
was. So back to his house, after we had been at my house to taste
my wine, but my wife being abroad nobody could come at it,
and so we were defeated. To his house, and before dinner he and
I did discourse of the business of freight, wherein I am so much
concerned, above £100 for myself, and in my over hasty making
a bill out for the rest for him, but he resolves to move Creed in
it. Which troubled me much, and Creed by and by comes, and
after dinner he did, but in the most cunning ingenious manner,
do his business with Creed by bringing it in by the by, that the
most subtile man in the world could never have done it better,
and I must say that he is a most witty, cunning man and one that
I (am) most afeard of in my conversation, though in all serious
matters of business the eeriest foole that ever I met with. The
bill was produced and a copy given Creed, whereupon he wrote
his Intratur upon the originall, and I hope it will pass, at least I
am now put to it that I must stand by it and justify it, but I pray
God it may never come to that test. Thence between vexed and
joyed, not knowing what yet to make of it, home, calling for my
Lord Cooke’s 3 volumes at my bookseller’s, and so home, where
I found a new cook mayd, her name is—–that promises very lit-
tle. So to my office, where late about drawing up a proposal for
Captain Taylor, for him to deliver to the City about his building
the new ship, which I have done well, and I hope will do the
business, and so home to supper and to bed.
1537
MARCH 1664-1665
30th. Up, and to my Lord Ashly, but did nothing, and to Sir
Ph. Warwicke and spoke with him about business, and so back
to the office, where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and
thence to the Tangier Committee, where, Lord! to see how they
did run into the giving of Sir J. Lawson (who is come to towne to-
day to get this business done) £4000 about his Mole business, and
were going to give him 4s. per yarde more, which arises in the
whole Mole to £36,000, is a strange thing, but the latter by chance
was stopped, the former was given. Thence to see Mrs. Martin,
whose husband being it seems gone away, and as she is informed
he hath another woman whom he uses, and has long done, as a
wife, she is mighty reserved and resolved to keep herself so till
the return of her husband, which a pleasant thing to think of her.
Thence home, and to my office, where late, and to bed.
31st. Up betimes and walked to my Lord Ashly, and there with
Creed after long waiting spoke with him, and was civilly used
by him; thence to Sir Ph. Warwicke, and then to visit my Lord
of Falmouth, who did also receive me pretty civilly, but not as I
expected; he, I perceive, believing that I had undertaken to jus-
tify Povy’s accounts, taking them upon myself, but I rectified him
therein. So to my Lady Sandwich’s to dinner, and up to her cham-
ber after dinner, and there discoursed about Sir G. Carteret’s son,
in proposition between us two for my Lady Jemimah. So to Povy,
and with him spent the afternoon very busy, till I was weary
of following this and neglecting my navy business. So at night
called my wife at my Lady’s, and so home. To my office and
there made up my month’s account, which, God be praised! rose
to £1300. Which I bless God for. So after 12 o’clock home to sup-
per and to bed. I find Creed mightily transported by my Lord of
Falmouth’s kind words to him, and saying that he hath a place
in his intention for him, which he believes will be considerable.
A witty man he is in every respect, but of no good nature, nor a
man ordinarily to be dealt with. My Lady Castlemayne is sicke
again, people think, slipping her filly.
1538
APRIL 1665
April 1st. All the morning very busy at the office preparing a
last half-year’s account for my Lord Treasurer. At noon eat a bit
and stepped to Sir Ph. Warwicke, by coach to my Lord Trea-
surer’s, and after some private conference and examining of my
papers with him I did return into the City and to Sir G. Carteret,
whom I found with the Commissioners of Prizes dining at Cap-
tain Cocke’s, in Broad Streete, very merry. Among other tricks,
there did come a blind fiddler to the doore, and Sir G. Carteret
did go to the doore and lead the blind fiddler by the hand in.
Thence with Sir G. Carteret to my Lord Treasurer, and by and by
come Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, and anon we come to my
Lord, and there did lay open the expence for the six months past,
and an estimate of the seven months to come, to November next:
the first arising to above £500,000, and the latter will, as we judge,
come to above £1,000,000. But to see how my Lord Treasurer did
bless himself, crying he could do no more than he could, nor give
more money than he had, if the occasion and expence were never
so great, which is but a sad story. And then to hear how like a
passionate and ignorant asse Sir G. Carteret did harangue upon
the abuse of Tickets did make me mad almost and yet was fain to
hold my tongue. Thence home, vexed mightily to see how sim-
ply our greatest ministers do content themselves to understand
1539
APRIL 1665
and do things, while the King’s service in the meantime lies a-
bleeding. At my office late writing letters till ready to drop down
asleep with my late sitting up of late, and running up and down
a-days. So to bed.
2nd (Lord’s day). At my office all the morning, renewing my
vowes in writing and then home to dinner. All the afternoon, Mr.
Tasborough, one of Mr. Povy’s clerks, with me about his master’s
accounts. In the evening Mr. Andrews and Hill sang, but supped
not with me, then after supper to bed.
3rd. Up and to the Duke of Albemarle and White Hall, where
much business. Thence home and to dinner, and then with
Creed, my wife, and Mercer to a play at the Duke’s, of my Lord
Orrery’s, called “Mustapha,” which being not good, made Bet-
terton’s part and Ianthe’s but ordinary too, so that we were not
contented with it at all. Thence home and to the office a while,
and then home to supper and to bed. All the pleasure of the play
was, the King and my Lady Castlemayne were there; and pretty
witty Nell,–[Nell Gwynne]–at the King’s house, and the younger
Marshall sat next us; which pleased me mightily.
4th. All the morning at the office busy, at noon to the ‘Change,
and then went up to the ‘Change to buy a pair of cotton stock-
ings, which I did at the husband’s shop of the most pretty woman
there, who did also invite me to buy some linnen of her, and I was
glad of the occasion, and bespoke some bands of her, intending to
make her my seamstress, she being one of the prettiest and most
modest looked women that ever I did see. Dined at home and
to the office, where very late till I was ready to fall down asleep,
and did several times nod in the middle of my letters.
5th. This day was kept publiquely by the King’s command, as
a fast day against the Dutch warr, and I betimes with Mr. Tooker,
whom I have brought into the Navy to serve us as a husband to
see goods timely shipped off from hence to the Fleete and other
places, and took him with me to Woolwich and Deptford, where
by business I have been hindered a great while of going, did a
1540
APRIL 1665
very great deale of business, and home, and there by promise
find Creed, and he and my wife, Mercer and I by coach to take the
ayre; and, where we had formerly been, at Hackney, did there eat
some pullets we carried with us, and some things of the house;
and after a game or two at shuffle-board, home, and Creed lay
with me; but, being sleepy, he had no mind to talk about busi-
ness, which indeed I intended, by inviting him to lie with me,
but I would not force it on him, and so to bed, he and I, and to
sleep, being the first time I have been so much at my ease and
taken so much fresh ayre these many weeks or months.
6th. At the office sat all the morning, where, in the absence of
Sir W. Batten, Sir G. Carteret being angry about the business of
tickets, spoke of Sir W. Batten for speaking some words about the
signing of tickets, and called Sir W. Batten in his discourse at the
table to us (the clerks being withdrawn) “shitten foole,” which
vexed me. At noon to the ‘Change, and there set my business
of lighters’ buying for the King, to Sir W. Warren, and I think he
will do it for me to very great advantage, at which I am might-
ily rejoiced. Home and after a mouthfull of dinner to the office,
where till 6 o’clock, and then to White Hall, and there with Sir G.
Carteret and my Lord Brunkerd attended the Duke of Albemarle
about the business of money. I also went to Jervas’s, my barber,
for my periwigg that was mending there, and there do hear that
Jane is quite undone, taking the idle fellow for her husband yet
not married, and lay with him several weeks that had another
wife and child, and she is now going into Ireland. So called my
wife at the ‘Change and home, and at my office writing letters till
one o’clock in the morning, that I was ready to fall down asleep
again. Great talke of a new Comett; and it is certain one do now
appear as bright as the late one at the best; but I have not seen it
myself.
7th. Up betimes to the Duke of Albemarle about money to
be got for the Navy, or else we must shut up shop. Thence to
Westminster Hall and up and down, doing not much; then to
1541
APRIL 1665
London, but to prevent Povy’s dining with me (who I see is at
the ‘Change) I went back again and to Herbert’s at Westmin-
ster, there sent for a bit of meat and dined, and then to my Lord
Treasurer’s, and there with Sir Philip Warwicke, and thence to
White Hall in my Lord Treasurer’s chamber with Sir Philip War-
wicke till dark night, about fower hours talking of the business
of the Navy Charge, and how Sir G. Carteret do order business,
keeping us in ignorance what he do with his money, and also Sir
Philip did shew me nakedly the King’s condition for money for
the Navy; and he do assure me, unless the King can get some no-
blemen or rich money-gentlemen to lend him money, or to get the
City to do it, it is impossible to find money: we having already,
as he says, spent one year’s share of the three-years’ tax, which
comes to £2,500,000. Being very glad of this day’s discourse in all
but that I fear I shall quite lose Sir G. Carteret, who knows that
I have been privately here all this day with Sir Ph. Warwicke.
However, I will order it so as to give him as little offence as I can.
So home to my office, and then to supper and to bed.
8th. Up, and all the morning full of business at the office. At
noon dined with Mr. Povy, and then to the getting some business
looked over of his, and then I to my Lord Chancellor’s, where to
have spoke with the Duke of Albemarle, but the King and Coun-
cil busy, I could not; then to the Old Exchange and there of my
new pretty seamstress bought four bands, and so home, where I
found my house mighty neat and clean. Then to my office late,
till past 12, and so home to bed. The French Embassadors471 are
come incognito before their train, which will hereafter be very
pompous. It is thought they come to get our King to joyne with
the King of France in helping him against Flanders, and they to
do the like to us against Holland. We have laine a good while
with a good fleete at Harwich. The Dutch not said yet to be out.
We, as high as we make our shew, I am sure, are unable to set out
471 The French ambassadors were Henri de Bourbon, Duc de Verneuil, nat-
ural son of Henry IV. and brother of Henrietta Maria, and M. de Courtin.–B.
1542
APRIL 1665
another small fleete, if this should be worsted. Wherefore, God
send us peace! I cry.
9th (Lord’s day). To church with my wife in the morning, in
her new light-coloured silk gowne, which is, with her new point,
very noble. Dined at home, and in the afternoon to Fanchurch,
the little church in the middle of Fanchurch Streete, where a very
few people and few of any rank. Thence, after sermon, home,
and in the evening walking in the garden, my Lady Pen and her
daughter walked with my wife and I, and so to my house to eat
with us, and very merry, and so broke up and to bed.
10th. Up, and to the Duke of Albemarle’s, and thence to White
Hall to a Committee for Tangier, where new disorder about Mr.
Povy’s accounts, that I think I shall never be settled in my busi-
ness of Treasurer for him. Here Captain Cooke met me, and
did seem discontented about my boy Tom’s having no time to
mind his singing nor lute, which I answered him fully in, that
he desired me that I would baste his coate. So home and to the
‘Change, and thence to the “Old James” to dine with Sir W. Rider,
Cutler, and Mr. Deering, upon the business of hemp, and so
hence to White Hall to have attended the King and Lord Chan-
cellor about the debts of the navy and to get some money, but the
meeting failed. So my Lord Brunkard took me and Sir Thomas
Harvy in his coach to the Parke, which is very troublesome with
the dust; and ne’er a great beauty there to-day but Mrs. Middle-
ton, and so home to my office, where Mr. Warren proposed my
getting of £100 to get him a protection for a ship to go out, which
I think I shall do. So home to supper and to bed.
11th. Up and betimes to Alderman Cheverton to treat with
him about hempe, and so back to the office. At noon dined at
the Sun, behind the ‘Change, with Sir Edward Deering and his
brother and Commissioner Pett, we having made a contract with
Sir Edward this day about timber. Thence to the office, where late
very busy, but with some trouble have also some hopes of profit
too. So home to supper and to bed.
1543
APRIL 1665
12th. Up, and to White Hall to a Committee of Tangier, where,
contrary to all expectation, my Lord Ashly, being vexed with
Povy’s accounts, did propose it as necessary that Povy should
be still continued Treasurer of Tangier till he had made up his
accounts; and with such arguments as, I confess, I was not pre-
pared to answer, but by putting off of the discourse, and so, I
think, brought it right again; but it troubled me so all the day af-
ter, and night too, that I was not quiet, though I think it doubtfull
whether I shall be much the worse for it or no, if it should come
to be so. Dined at home and thence to White Hall again (where
I lose most of my time now-a-days to my great trouble, charge,
and loss of time and benefit), and there, after the Council rose, Sir
G. Carteret, my Lord Brunkard, Sir Thomas Harvy, and myself,
down to my Lord Treasurer’s chamber to him and the Chancellor,
and the Duke of Albemarle; and there I did give them a large ac-
count of the charge of the Navy, and want of money. But strange
to see how they held up their hands crying, “What shall we do?”
Says my Lord Treasurer, “Why, what means all this, Mr. Pepys?
This is true, you say; but what would you have me to do? I have
given all I can for my life. Why will not people lend their money?
Why will they not trust the King as well as Oliver? Why do our
prizes come to nothing, that yielded so much heretofore?” And
this was all we could get, and went away without other answer,
which is one of the saddest things that, at such a time as this,
with the greatest action on foot that ever was in England, noth-
ing should be minded, but let things go on of themselves do as
well as they can. So home, vexed, and going to my Lady Batten’s,
there found a great many women with her, in her chamber merry,
my Lady Pen and her daughter, among others; where my Lady
Pen flung me down upon the bed, and herself and others, one
after another, upon me, and very merry we were, and thence I
home and called my wife with my Lady Pen to supper, and very
merry as I could be, being vexed as I was. So home to bed.
13th. Lay long in bed, troubled a little with wind, but not
much. So to the office, and there all the morning. At noon to
1544
APRIL 1665
Sheriff Waterman’s to dinner, all of us men of the office in towne,
and our wives, my Lady Carteret and daughters, and Ladies Bat-
ten, Pen, and my wife, &c., and very good cheer we had and
merry; musique at and after dinner, and a fellow danced a jigg;
but when the company begun to dance, I came away lest I should
be taken out; and God knows how my wife carried herself, but
I left her to try her fortune. So home, and late at the office, and
then home to supper and to bed.
14th. Up, and betimes to Mr. Povy, being desirous to have
an end of my trouble of mind touching my Tangier business,
whether he hath any desire of accepting what my Lord Ashly
offered, of his becoming Treasurer again; and there I did, with
a seeming most generous spirit, offer him to take it back again
upon his owne terms; but he did answer to me that he would not
above all things in the world, at which I was for the present sat-
isfied; but, going away thence and speaking with Creed, he puts
me in doubt that the very nature of the thing will require that
he be put in again; and did give me the reasons of the auditors,
which, I confess, are so plain, that I know not how to withstand
them. But he did give me most ingenious advice what to do in
it, and anon, my Lord Barkeley and some of the Commissioners
coming together, though not in a meeting, I did procure that they
should order Povy’s payment of his remain of accounts to me;
which order if it do pass will put a good stop to the fastening of
the thing upon me. At noon Creed and I to a cook’s shop at Char-
ing Cross, and there dined and had much discourse, and his very
good upon my business, and upon other things, among the rest
upon Will Howe’s dissembling with us, we discovering one to
another his carriage to us, present and absent, being a very false
fellow. Thence to White Hall again, and there spent the after-
noon, and then home to fetch a letter for the Council, and so back
to White Hall, where walked an hour with Mr. Wren, of my Lord
Chancellor’s, and Mr. Ager, and then to Unthanke’s and called
my wife, and with her through the city to Mile-End Greene, and
eat some creame and cakes and so back home, and I a little at the
1545
APRIL 1665
office, and so home to supper and to bed. This morning I was
saluted with newes that the fleetes, ours and the Dutch, were
engaged, and that the guns were heard at Walthamstow to play
all yesterday, and that Captain Teddiman’s legs were shot off in
the Royall Katherine. But before night I hear the contrary, both
by letters of my owne and messengers thence, that they were all
well of our side and no enemy appears yet, and that the Roy-
all Katherine is come to the fleete, and likely to prove as good a
ship as any the King hath, of which I am heartily glad, both for
Christopher Pett’s sake and Captain Teddiman that is in her.
15th. Up, and to White Hall about several businesses, but
chiefly to see the proposals of my warrants about Tangier un-
der Creed, but to my trouble found them not finished. So back to
the office, where all the morning, busy, then home to dinner, and
then all the afternoon till very late at my office, and then home to
supper and to bed, weary.
16th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, then up and to my cham-
ber and my office, looking over some plates which I find nec-
essary for me to understand pretty well, because of the Dutch
warr. Then home to dinner, where Creed dined with us, and so
after dinner he and I walked to the Rolls’ Chappell, expecting to
hear the great Stillingfleete preach, but he did not; but a very
sorry fellow, which vexed me. The sermon done, we parted,
and I home, where I find Mr. Andrews, and by and by comes
Captain Taylor, my old acquaintance at Westminster, that un-
derstands musique very well and composes mighty bravely; he
brought us some things of two parts to sing, very hard; but that
that is the worst, he is very conceited of them, and that though
they are good makes them troublesome to one, to see him ev-
ery note commend and admire them. He supped with me, and a
good understanding man he is and a good scholler, and, among
other things, a great antiquary, and among other things he can,
as he says, show the very originall Charter to Worcester, of King
Edgar’s, wherein he stiles himself, Rex Marium Brittanniae, &c.;
1546
APRIL 1665
which is the great text that Mr. Selden and others do quote, but
imperfectly and upon trust. But he hath the very originall, which
he says he will shew me. He gone we to bed. This night I am told
that newes is come of our taking of three Dutch men-of-warr,
with the loss of one of our Captains.
17th. Up and to the Duke of Albemarle’s, where he shewed me
Mr. Coventry’s letters, how three Dutch privateers are taken, in
one whereof Everson’s’ son is captaine. But they have killed poor
Captaine Golding in The Diamond. Two of them, one of 32 and
the other of 20 odd guns, did stand stoutly up against her, which
hath 46, and the Yarmouth that hath 52 guns, and as many more
men as they. So that they did more than we could expect, not
yielding till many of their men were killed. And Everson, when
he was brought before the Duke of Yorke, and was observed to
be shot through the hat, answered, that he wished it had gone
through his head, rather than been taken. One thing more is writ-
ten: that two of our ships the other day appearing upon the coast
of Holland, they presently fired their beacons round the country
to give notice. And newes is brought the King, that the Dutch
Smyrna fleete is seen upon the back of Scotland; and thereupon
the King hath wrote to the Duke, that he do appoint a fleete to
go to the Northward to try to meet them coming home round:
which God send! Thence to White Hall; where the King seeing
me, did come to me, and calling me by name, did discourse with
me about the ships in the River: and this is the first time that ever
I knew the King did know me personally; so that hereafter I must
not go thither, but with expectation to be questioned, and to be
ready to give good answers. So home, and thence with Creed,
who come to dine with me, to the Old James, where we dined
with Sir W. Rider and Cutler, and, by and by, being called by my
wife, we all to a play, “The Ghosts,” at the Duke’s house, but a
very simple play. Thence up and down, with my wife with me,
to look [for] Sir Ph. Warwicke (Mr. Creed going from me), but
missed of him and so home, and late and busy at my office. So
home to supper and to bed. This day was left at my house a
1547
APRIL 1665
very neat silver watch, by one Briggs, a scrivener and sollicitor,
at which I was angry with my wife for receiving, or, at least, for
opening the box wherein it was, and so far witnessing our receipt
of it, as to give the messenger 5s. for bringing it; but it can’t be
helped, and I will endeavour to do the man a kindnesse, he being
a friend of my uncle Wight’s.
18th. Up and to Sir Philip Warwicke, and walked with him
an houre with great delight in the Parke about Sir G. Carteret’s
accounts, and the endeavours that he hath made to bring Sir G.
Carteret to show his accounts and let the world see what he re-
ceives and what he pays. Thence home to the office, where I find
Sir J. Minnes come home from Chatham, and Sir W. Batten both
this morning from Harwich, where they have been these 7 or 8
days. At noon with my wife and Mr. Moore by water to Chelsey
about my Privy Seale for Tangier, but my Lord Privy Seale was
gone abroad, and so we, without going out of the boat, forced
to return, and found him not at White Hall. So I to Sir Philip
Warwicke and with him to my Lord Treasurer, who signed my
commission for Tangier-Treasurer and the docquet of my Privy
Seale, for the monies to be paid to me. Thence to White Hall to
Mr. Moore again, and not finding my Lord I home, taking my
wife and woman up at Unthanke’s. Late at my office, then to
supper and to bed.
19th. Up by five o’clock, and by water to White Hall; and there
took coach, and with Mr. Moore to Chelsy; where, after all my
fears what doubts and difficulties my Lord Privy Seale would
make at my Tangier Privy Seale, he did pass it at first reading,
without my speaking with him. And then called me in, and was
very civil to me. I passed my time in contemplating (before I was
called in) the picture of my Lord’s son’s lady, a most beautiful
woman, and most like to Mrs. Butler. Thence very much joyed to
London back again, and found out Mr. Povy; told him this; and
then went and left my Privy Seale at my Lord Treasurer’s; and
so to the ‘Change, and thence to Trinity-House; where a great
1548
APRIL 1665
dinner of Captain Crisp, who is made an Elder Brother. And
so, being very pleasant at dinner, away home, Creed with me;
and there met Povy; and we to Gresham College, where we saw
some experiments upon a hen, a dogg, and a cat, of the Florence
poyson.472 The first it made for a time drunk, but it come to itself
again quickly; the second it made vomitt mightily, but no other
hurt. The third I did not stay to see the effect of it, being taken
out by Povy. He and I walked below together, he giving me most
exceeding discouragements in the getting of money (whether by
design or no I know not, for I am now come to think him a most
cunning fellow in most things he do, but his accounts), and made
it plain to me that money will be hard to get, and that it is to be
feared Backewell hath a design in it to get the thing forced upon
himself. This put me into a cruel melancholy to think I may lose
what I have had so near my hand; but yet something may be
hoped for which to-morrow will shew. He gone, Creed and I
together a great while consulting what to do in this case, and
after all I left him to do what he thought fit in his discourse to-
morrow with my Lord Ashly. So home, and in my way met with
Mr. Warren, from whom my hopes I fear will fail of what I hoped
for, by my getting him a protection. But all these troubles will if
not be over, yet we shall see the worst of there in a day or two. So
to my office, and thence to supper, and my head akeing, betimes,
that is by 10 or 11 o’clock, to bed.
20th. Up, and all the morning busy at the office. At noon dined,
and Mr. Povy by agreement with me (where his boldness with
Mercer, poor innocent wench, did make both her and me blush,
to think how he were able to debauch a poor girl if he had op-
portunity) at a dish or two of plain meat of his own choice. After
dinner comes Creed and then Andrews, where want of money to
472 “Sir Robert Moray presented the Society from the King with a phial of
Florentine poison sent for by his Majesty from Florence, on purpose to have
those experiments related of the efficacy thereof, tried by the Society.” The
poison had little effect upon the kitten (Birch’s “History;” vol. ii., p. 31).
1549
APRIL 1665
Andrews the main discourse, and at last in confidence of Creed’s
judgement I am resolved to spare him 4 or £500 of what lies by
me upon the security of some Tallys. This went against my heart
to begin, but when obtaining Mr. Creed to joyne with me we do
resolve to assist Mr. Andrews. Then anon we parted, and I to
my office, where late, and then home to supper and to bed. This
night I am told the first play is played in White Hall noon-hall,
which is now turned to a house of playing. I had a great mind,
but could not go to see it.
21st. Up and to my office about business. Anon comes Creed
and Povy, and we treat about the business of our lending money,
Creed and I, upon a tally for the satisfying of Andrews, and did
conclude it as in papers is expressed, and as I am glad to have
an opportunity of having 10 per cent. for my money, so I am as
glad that the sum I begin this trade with is no more than £350.
We all dined at Andrews’ charge at the Sun behind the ‘Change,
a good dinner the worst dressed that ever I eat any, then home,
and there found Kate Joyce and Harman come to see us. With
them, after long talk, abroad by coach, a tour in the fields, and
drunk at Islington, it being very pleasant, the dust being laid by
a little rain, and so home very well pleased with this day’s work.
So after a while at my office to supper and to bed. This day we
hear that the Duke and the fleete are sailed yesterday. Pray God
go along with them, that they have good speed in the beginning
of their worke.
22nd. Up, and Mr. Caesar, my boy’s lute-master, being come
betimes to teach him, I did speak with him seriously about the
boy, what my mind was, if he did not look after his lute and
singing that I would turn him away; which I hope will do some
good upon the boy. All the morning busy at the office. At noon
dined at home, and then to the office again very busy till very
late, and so home to supper and to bed. My wife making great
preparation to go to Court to Chappell to-morrow. This day I
have newes from Mr. Coventry that the fleete is sailed yesterday
1550
APRIL 1665
from Harwich to the coast of Holland to see what the Dutch will
do. God go along with them!
23rd (Lord’s day). Mr. Povy, according to promise, sent his
coach betimes, and I carried my wife and her woman to White
Hall Chappell and set them in the Organ Loft, and I having left
to untruss went to the Harp and Ball and there drank also, and
entertained myself in talke with the mayde of the house, a pretty
mayde and very modest. Thence to the Chappell and heard the
famous young Stillingfleete, whom I knew at Cambridge, and is
now newly admitted one of the King’s chaplains; and was pre-
sented, they say, to my Lord Treasurer for St. Andrew’s, Hol-
borne, where he is now minister, with these words: that they (the
Bishops of Canterbury, London, and another) believed he is the
ablest young man to preach the Gospel of any since the Apos-
tles. He did make the most plain, honest, good, grave sermon,
in the most unconcerned and easy yet substantial manner, that
ever I heard in my life, upon the words of Samuell to the peo-
ple, “Fear the Lord in truth with all your heart, and remember
the great things that he hath done for you.” It being proper to
this day, the day of the King’s Coronation. Thence to Mr. Povy’s,
where mightily treated, and Creed with us. But Lord! to see how
Povy overdoes every thing in commending it, do make it nau-
seous to me, and was not (by reason of my large praise of his
house) over acceptable to my wife. Thence after dinner Creed
and we by coach took the ayre in the fields beyond St. Pancras, it
raining now and then, which it seems is most welcome weather,
and then all to my house, where comes Mr. Hill, Andrews, and
Captain Taylor, and good musique, but at supper to hear the ar-
guments we had against Taylor concerning a Corant, he saying
that the law of a dancing Corant is to have every barr to end in a
pricked crochet and quaver, which I did deny, was very strange.
It proceeded till I vexed him, but all parted friends, for Creed
and I to laugh at when he was gone. After supper, Creed and I
together to bed, in Mercer’s bed, and so to sleep.
1551
APRIL 1665
24th. Up and with Creed in Sir W. Batten’s coach to White
Hall. Sir W. Batten and I to the Duke of Albemarle, where very
busy. Then I to Creed’s chamber, where I received with much
ado my two orders about receiving Povy’s monies and answer-
ing his credits, and it is strange how he will preserve his con-
stant humour of delaying all business that comes before him.
Thence he and I to London to my office, and back again to my
Lady Sandwich’s to dinner, where my wife by agreement. After
dinner alone, my Lady told me, with the prettiest kind of doubt-
fullnesse, whether it would be fit for her with respect to Creed to
do it, that is, in the world, that Creed had broke his desire to her
of being a servant to Mrs. Betty Pickering, and placed it upon
encouragement which he had from some discourse of her lady-
ship, commending of her virtues to him, which, poor lady, she
meant most innocently. She did give him a cold answer, but not
so severe as it ought to have been; and, it seems, as the lady since
to my Lady confesses, he had wrote a letter to her, which she an-
swered slightly, and was resolved to contemn any motion of his
therein. My Lady takes the thing very ill, as it is fit she should;
but I advise her to stop all future occasions of the world’s taking
notice of his coming thither so often as of late he hath done. But
to think that he should have this devilish presumption to aime at
a lady so near to my Lord is strange, both for his modesty and
discretion. Thence to the Cockepitt, and there walked an houre
with my Lord Duke of Albemarle alone in his garden, where he
expressed in great words his opinion of me; that I was the right
hand of the Navy here, nobody but I taking any care of any thing
therein; so that he should not know what could be done with-
out me. At which I was (from him) not a little proud. Thence to
a Committee of Tangier, where because not a quorum little was
done, and so away to my wife (Creed with me) at Mrs. Pierce’s,
who continues very pretty and is now great with child. I had not
seen her a great while. Thence by coach to my Lord Treasurer’s,
but could not speak with Sir Ph. Warwicke. So by coach with
my wife and Mercer to the Parke; but the King being there, and
1552
APRIL 1665
I now-a-days being doubtfull of being seen in any pleasure, did
part from the tour, and away out of the Parke to Knightsbridge,
and there eat and drank in the coach, and so home, and after a
while at my office, home to supper and to bed, having got a great
cold I think by my pulling off my periwigg so often.
25th. At the office all the morning, and the like after dinner, at
home all the afternoon till very late, and then to bed, being very
hoarse with a cold I did lately get with leaving off my periwigg.
This afternoon W. Pen, lately come from his father in the fleete,
did give me an account how the fleete did sayle, about 103 in all,
besides small catches, they being in sight of six or seven Dutch
scouts, and sent ships in chase of them.
26th. Up very betimes, my cold continuing and my stomach
sick with the buttered ale that I did drink the last night in bed,
which did lie upon me till I did this morning vomitt it up. So
walked to Povy’s, where Creed met me, and there I did receive
the first parcel of money as Treasurer of Tangier, and did give
him my receipt for it, which was about £2,800 value in Tallys;
we did also examine and settle several other things, and then I
away to White Hall, talking, with Povy alone, about my opin-
ion of Creed’s indiscretion in looking after Mrs. Pickering, de-
siring him to make no more a sport of it, but to correct him, if
he finds that he continues to owne any such thing. This I did by
my Lady’s desire, and do intend to pursue the stop of it. So to
the Carrier’s by Cripplegate, to see whether my mother be come
to towne or no, I expecting her to-day, but she is not come. So
to dinner to my Lady Sandwich’s, and there after dinner above
in the diningroom did spend an houre or two with her talking
again about Creed’s folly; but strange it is that he should dare to
propose this business himself of Mrs. Pickering to my Lady, and
to tell my Lady that he did it for her virtue sake, not minding her
money, for he could have a wife with more, but, for that, he did
intend to depend upon her Ladyshipp to get as much of her fa-
ther and mother for her as she could; and that, what he did, was
1553
APRIL 1665
by encouragement from discourse of her Ladyshipp’s: he also
had wrote to Mrs. Pickering, but she did give him a slighting an-
swer back again. But I do very much fear that Mrs. Pickering’s
honour, if the world comes to take notice of it, may be wronged
by it. Thence home, and all the afternoon till night at my office,
then home to supper and to bed.
27th. Up, and to my office, where all the morning, at noon
Creed dined with me; and, after dinner, walked in the garden, he
telling me that my Lord Treasurer now begins to be scrupulous,
and will know what becomes of the £26,000 saved by my Lord
Peterborough, before he parts with any more money, which puts
us into new doubts, and me into a great fear, that all my cake
will be doe still.473 But I am well prepared for it to bear it, being
not clear whether it will be more for my profit to have it, or go
without it, as my profits of the Navy are likely now to be. All
the afternoon till late hard at the office. Then to supper and to
bed. This night William Hewer is returned from Harwich, where
he hath been paying off of some ships this fortnight, and went to
sea a good way with the fleete, which was 96 in company then,
men of warr, besides some come in, and following them since,
which makes now above 100, whom God bless!
28th. Up by 5 o’clock, and by appointment with Creed by 6
at his chamber, expecting Povy, who come not. Thence he and
I out to Sir Philip Warwicke’s, but being not up we took a turn
in the garden hard by, and thither comes Povy to us. After some
discourse of the reason of the difficulty that Sir Philip Warwicke
makes in issuing a warrant for my striking of tallys, namely, the
having a clear account of the £26,000 saved by my Lord of Peter-
borough, we parted, and I to Sir P. Warwicke, who did give me an
account of his demurr, which I applied myself to remove by tak-
473 An obsolete proverb, signifying to lose one’s hopes, a cake coming out
of the oven in a state of dough being considered spoiled. “My cake is dough;
but I’ll in among the rest; Out of hope of all, but my share in the feast.”
Shakespeare, Taming of the Shrew, act v., sc. i.-M. B.
1554
APRIL 1665
ing Creed with me to my Lord Ashly, from whom, contrary to all
expectation, I received a very kind answer, just as we could have
wished it, that he would satisfy my Lord Treasurer. Thence very
well satisfied I home, and down the River to visit the victualling-
ships, where I find all out of order. And come home to dinner,
and then to write a letter to the Duke of Albemarle about the
victualling-ships, and carried it myself to the Council-chamber,
where it was read; and when they rose, my Lord Chancellor pass-
ing by stroked me on the head, and told me that the Board had
read my letter, and taken order for the punishing of the watermen
for not appearing on board the ships.474 And so did the King af-
terwards, who do now know me so well, that he never sees me
but he speaks to me about our Navy business. Thence got my
Lord Ashly to my Lord Treasurer below in his chamber, and there
removed the scruple, and by and by brought Mr. Sherwin to Sir
Philip Warwicke and did the like, and so home, and after a while
at my office, to bed.
29th. All the morning busy at the office. In the afternoon to
my Lord Treasurer’s, and there got my Lord Treasurer to sign
the warrant for my striking of tallys, and so doing many jobbs
in my way home, and there late writeing letters, being troubled
in my mind to hear that Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes do take
notice that I am now-a-days much from the office upon no office
business, which vexes me, and will make me mind my business
the better, I hope in God; but what troubles me more is, that I do
omit to write, as I should do, to Mr. Coventry, which I must not
do, though this night I minded it so little as to sleep in the middle
of my letter to him, and committed forty blotts and blurrs in my
letter to him, but of this I hope never more to be guilty, if I have
474 Among the State Papers are lists of watermen impressed and put on
board the victualling ships. Attached to one of these is a “note of their un-
fitness and refractory conduct; also that many go ashore to sleep, and are
discontent that they, as masters of families, are pressed, while single men are
excused on giving money to the pressmen” (“Calendar,” Domestic, 1664-65,
p. 323).
1555
APRIL 1665
not already given him sufficient offence. So, late home, and to
bed.
30th (Lord’s day). Up and to my office alone all the morn-
ing, making up my monthly accounts, which though it hath been
very intricate, and very great disbursements and receipts and
odd reckonings, yet I differed not from the truth; viz.: between
my first computing what my profit ought to be and then what my
cash and debts do really make me worth, not above 10s., which
is very much, and I do much value myself upon the account, and
herein I with great joy find myself to have gained this month
above £100 clear, and in the whole to be worth above £1400, the
greatest sum I ever yet was worth. Thence home to dinner, and
there find poor Mr. Spong walking at my door, where he had
knocked, and being told I was at the office staid modestly there
walking because of disturbing me, which methinks was one of
the most modest acts (of a man that hath no need of being so to
me) that ever I knew in my life. He dined with me, and then
after dinner to my closet, where abundance of mighty pretty dis-
course, wherein, in a word, I find him the man of the world that
hath of his own ingenuity obtained the most in most things, be-
ing withall no scholler. He gone, I took boat and down to Wool-
wich and Deptford, and made it late home, and so to supper and
to bed. Thus I end this month in great content as to my estate
and gettings: in much trouble as to the pains I have taken, and
the rubs I expect yet to meet with, about the business of Tang-
ier. The fleete, with about 106 ships upon the coast of Holland, in
sight of the Dutch, within the Texel. Great fears of the sickenesse
here in the City, it being said that two or three houses are already
shut up. God preserve as all!
1556
MAY 1665
May 1st. Up and to Mr. Povy’s, and by his bedside talked a good
while. Among other things he do much insist I perceive upon the
difficulty of getting of money, and would fain have me to concur
in the thinking of some other way of disposing of the place of
Treasurer to one Mr. Bell, but I did seem slight of it, and resolved
to try to do the best or to give it up. Thence to the Duke of Albe-
marle, where I was sorry to find myself to come a little late, and
so home, and at noon going to the ‘Change I met my Lord Brunk-
ard, Sir Robert Murry, Deane Wilkins, and Mr. Hooke, going by
coach to Colonell Blunts to dinner. So they stopped and took me
with them. Landed at the Tower-wharf, and thence by water to
Greenwich; and there coaches met us; and to his house, a very
stately sight for situation and brave plantations; and among oth-
ers, a vineyard, the first that ever I did see. No extraordinary
dinner, nor any other entertainment good; but only after dinner
to the tryall of some experiments about making of coaches easy.
And several we tried; but one did prove mighty easy (not here
for me to describe, but the whole body of the coach lies upon one
long spring), and we all, one after another, rid in it; and it is very
fine and likely to take. These experiments were the intent of their
coming, and pretty they are. Thence back by coach to Greenwich,
and in his pleasure boat to Deptford, and there stopped and in to
1557
MAY 1665
Mr. Evelyn’s,–[Sayes Court, the well-known residence of John
Evelyn.]–which is a most beautiful place; but it being dark and
late, I staid not; but Deane Wilkins and Mr. Hooke and I walked
to Redriffe; and noble discourse all day long did please me, and it
being late did take them to my house to drink, and did give them
some sweetmeats, and thence sent them with a lanthorn home,
two worthy persons as are in England, I think, or the world. So
to my Lady Batten, where my wife is tonight, and so after some
merry talk home and to bed.
2nd. Up and to the office all day, where sat late, and then to
the office again, and by and by Sir W. Batten and my Lady and
my wife and I by appointment yesterday (my Lady Pen failed us,
who ought to have been with us) to the Rhenish winehouse at the
Steelyard, and there eat a couple of lobsters and some prawns,
and pretty merry, especially to see us four together, while my
wife and my Lady did never intend ever to be together again
after a year’s distance between one another. Hither by and by
come Sir Richard Ford and also Mrs. Esther, that lived formerly
with my Lady Batten, now well married to a priest, come to see
my Lady. Thence toward evening home, and to my office, where
late, and then home to supper and to bed.
3rd. Up betimes and walked to Sir Ph. Warwicke’s, where
a long time with him in his chamber alone talking of Sir G.
Carteret’s business, and the abuses he puts on the nation by his
bad payments to both our vexations, but no hope of remedy for
ought I see. Thence to my Lord Ashly to a Committee of Tangier
for my Lord Rutherford’s accounts, and that done we to my Lord
Treasurer’s, where I did receive my Lord’s warrant to Sir R. Long
for drawing a warrant for my striking of tallys. So to the Inne
again by Cripplegate, expecting my mother’s coming to towne,
but she is not come this weeke neither, the coach being too full.
So to the ‘Change and thence home to dinner, and so out to Gre-
sham College, and saw a cat killed with the Duke of Florence’s
1558
MAY 1665
poyson, and saw it proved that the oyle of tobacco475 drawn by
one of the Society do the same effect, and is judged to be the same
thing with the poyson both in colour and smell, and effect. I saw
also an abortive child preserved fresh in spirits of salt. Thence
parted, and to White Hall to the Councilchamber about an order
touching the Navy (our being empowered to commit seamen or
Masters that do not, being hired or pressed, follow their worke),
but they could give us none. So a little vexed at that, because I
put in the memorial to the Duke of Albemarle alone under my
own hand, home, and after some time at the office home to bed.
My Lord Chief Justice Hide did die suddenly this week, a day or
two ago, of an apoplexy.
4th. Up, and to the office, where we sat busy all the morning.
At noon home to dinner, and then to the office again all day till
almost midnight, and then, weary, home to supper and to bed.
5th. Up betimes, and by water to Westminster, there to speak
the first time with Sir Robert Long, to give him my Privy Seal
and my Lord Treasurer’s order for Tangier Tallys; he received me
kindly enough. Thence home by water, and presently down to
Woolwich and back to Blackewall, and there, viewed the Breach,
in order to a Mast Docke, and so to Deptford to the Globe, where
my Lord Brunkard, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and Commis-
sioner Pett were at dinner, having been at the Breach also, but
they find it will be too great charge to make use of it. After din-
ner to Mr. Evelyn’s; he being abroad, we walked in his garden,
and a lovely noble ground he hath indeed. And among other rar-
ities, a hive of bees, so as being hived in glass, you may see the
bees making their honey and combs mighty pleasantly. Thence
475 “Mr. Daniel Coxe read an account of the effects of tobacco-oil distilled
in a retort, by one drop of which given at the mouth he had killed a lusty cat,
which being opened, smelled strongly of the oil, and the blood of the heart
more strongly than the rest.... One drop of the Florentine ‘oglio di tobacco’
being again given to a dog, it proved stupefying and vomitive, as before”
(Birch’s “History of the Royal Society,” vol, ii., pp. 42, 43).
1559
MAY 1665
home, and I by and by to Mr. Povy’s to see him, who is yet in
his chamber not well, and thence by his advice to one Lovett’s, a
varnisher, to see his manner of new varnish, but found not him
at home, but his wife, a very beautiful woman, who shewed me
much variety of admirable work, and is in order to my having
of some papers fitted with his lines for my use for tables and
the like. I know not whether I was more pleased with the thing,
or that I was shewed it by her, but resolved I am to have some
made. So home to my office late, and then to supper and to bed.
My wife tells me that she hears that my poor aunt James hath had
her breast cut off here in town, her breast having long been out
of order. This day, after I had suffered my owne hayre to grow
long, in order to wearing it, I find the convenience of periwiggs
is so great, that I have cut off all short again, and will keep to
periwiggs.
6th. Up, and all day at the office, but a little at dinner, and there
late till past 12. So home to bed, pleased as I always am after I
have rid a great deal of work, it being very satisfactory to me.
7th (Lord’s day). Up, and to church with my wife. Home
and dined. After dinner come Mr. Andrews and spent the af-
ternoon with me, about our Tangier business of the victuals, and
then parted, and after sermon comes Mr. Hill and a gentleman, a
friend of his, one Mr. Scott, that sings well also, and then comes
Mr. Andrews, and we all sung and supped, and then to sing
again and passed the Sunday very pleasantly and soberly, and so
I to my office a little, and then home to prayers and to bed. Yes-
terday begun my wife to learn to, limn of one Browne,476 which
Mr. Hill helps her to, and, by her beginning upon some eyes, I
think she will [do] very fine things, and I shall take great delight
in it.
476 Alexander Browne, a printseller, who taught drawing, and practised it
with success. He published in 1669, “Ars Pictoria, or an Academy treating
of Drawing, Painting, Limning and Etching.”
1560
MAY 1665
8th. Up very betimes, and did much business before I went out
with several persons, among others Captain Taylor, who would
leave the management of most of his business now he is going to
Harwich, upon me, and if I can get money by it, which I believe it
will, I shall take some of it upon me. Thence with Sir W. Batten to
the Duke of Albemarle’s and there did much business, and then
to the ‘Change, and thence off with Sir W. Warren to an ordinary,
where we dined and sat talking of most usefull discourse till 5
in the afternoon, and then home, and very busy till late, and so
home and to bed.
9th. Up betimes, and to my business at the office, where all the
morning. At noon comes Mrs. The. Turner, and dines with us,
and my wife’s painting-master staid and dined; and I take great
pleasure in thinking that my wife will really come to something
in that business. Here dined also Luellin. So after dinner to my
office, and there very busy till almost midnight, and so home to
supper and to bed. This day we have newes of eight ships being
taken by some of ours going into the Texel, their two men of warr,
that convoyed them, running in. They come from about Ireland,
round to the north.
10th. Up betimes, and abroad to the Cocke-Pitt, where the
Duke [of Albemarle] did give Sir W. Batten and me an account
of the late taking of eight ships, and of his intent to come back to
the Gunfleete–[The Gunfleet Sand off the Essex coast.]–with the
fleete presently; which creates us much work and haste therein,
against the fleete comes. So to Mr. Povy, and after discourse
with him home, and thence to the Guard in Southwarke, there to
get some soldiers, by the Duke’s order, to go keep pressmen on
board our ships. So to the ‘Change and did much business, and
then home to dinner, and there find my poor mother come out of
the country today in good health, and I am glad to see her, but my
business, which I am sorry for, keeps me from paying the respect
I ought to her at her first coming, she being grown very weak
in her judgement, and doating again in her discourse, through
1561
MAY 1665
age and some trouble in her family. I left her and my wife to go
abroad to buy something, and then I to my office. In the evening
by appointment to Sir W. Warren and Mr. Deering at a taverne
hard by with intent to do some good upon their agreement in a
great bargain of planks. So home to my office again, and then to
supper and to bed, my mother being in bed already.
11th. Up betimes, and at the office all the morning. At home
dined, and then to the office all day till late at night, and then
home to supper, weary with business, and to bed.
12th. Up betimes, and find myself disappointed in my receiv-
ing presently of my £50 I hoped for sure of Mr. Warren upon the
benefit of my press warrant, but he promises to make it good.
So by water to the Exchequer, and there up and down through
all the offices to strike my tallys for £17,500, which methinks is
so great a testimony of the goodness of God to me, that I, from
a mean clerke there, should come to strike tallys myself for that
sum, and in the authority that I do now, is a very stupendous
mercy to me. I shall have them struck to-morrow. But to see
how every little fellow looks after his fees, and to get what he
can for everything, is a strange consideration; the King’s fees
that he must pay himself for this £17,500 coming to above £100.
Thence called my wife at Unthanke’s to the New Exchange and
elsewhere to buy a lace band for me, but we did not buy, but I
find it so necessary to have some handsome clothes that I cannot
but lay out some money thereupon. To the ‘Change and thence
to my watchmaker, where he has put it [i.e. the watch] in order,
and a good and brave piece it is, and he tells me worth £14 which
is a greater present than I valued it. So home to dinner, and after
dinner comes several people, among others my cozen, Thomas
Pepys, of Hatcham,477 to receive some money, of my Lord Sand-
wich’s, and there I paid him what was due to him upon my un-
cle’s score, but, contrary to my expectation, did get him to sign
477 Thomas Pepys, of Hatcham Barnes, Surrey, Master of the Jewel House
to Charles II. and James II.
1562
MAY 1665
and seale to my sale of lands for payment of debts. So that now
I reckon myself in better condition by £100 in my content than I
was before, when I was liable to be called to an account and oth-
ers after me by my uncle Thomas or his children for every foot
of land we had sold before. This I reckon a great good fortune in
the getting of this done. He gone, come Mr. Povy, Dr. Twisden,
and Mr. Lawson about settling my security in the paying of the
£4000 ordered to Sir J. Lawson. So a little abroad and then home,
and late at my office and closet settling this day’s disordering of
my papers, then to supper and to bed.
13th. Up, and all day in some little gruntings of pain, as I used
to have from winde, arising I think from my fasting so long, and
want of exercise, and I think going so hot in clothes, the weather
being hot, and the same clothes I wore all winter. To the ‘Change
after office, and received my watch from the watchmaker, and a
very fine [one] it is, given me by Briggs, the Scrivener. Home to
dinner, and then I abroad to the Atturney Generall, about advice
upon the Act for Land Carriage, which he desired not to give me
before I had received the King’s and Council’s order therein; go-
ing home bespoke the King’s works, will cost me 50s., I believe.
So home and late at my office. But, Lord! to see how much of
my old folly and childishnesse hangs upon me still that I cannot
forbear carrying my watch in my hand in the coach all this after-
noon, and seeing what o’clock it is one hundred times; and am
apt to think with myself, how could I be so long without one;
though I remember since, I had one, and found it a trouble, and
resolved to carry one no more about me while I lived. So home to
supper and to bed, being troubled at a letter from Mr. Gholmly
from Tangier, wherein he do advise me how people are at worke
to overthrow our Victualling business, by which I shall lose £300
per annum, I am much obliged to him for this, secret kindnesse,
and concerned to repay it him in his own concernments and look
after this.
14th (Lord’s day). Up, and with my wife to church, it being
1563
MAY 1665
Whitsunday; my wife very fine in a new yellow bird’s-eye hood,
as the fashion is now. We had a most sorry sermon; so home
to dinner, my mother having her new suit brought home, which
makes her very fine. After dinner my wife and she and Mercer
to Thomas Pepys’s wife’s christening of his first child, and I took
a coach, and to Wanstead, the house where Sir H. Mildmay died,
and now Sir Robert Brookes lives, having bought it of the Duke of
Yorke, it being forfeited to him. A fine seat, but an old-fashioned
house; and being not full of people looks desolately. Thence to
Walthamstow, where (failing at the old place) Sir W. Batten by
and by come home, I walking up and down the house and garden
with my Lady very pleasantly, then to supper very merry, and
then back by coach by dark night. I all the afternoon in the coach
reading the treasonous book of the Court of King James, printed
a great while ago, and worth reading, though ill intended. As
soon as I come home, upon a letter from the Duke of Albemarle,
I took boat at about 12 at night, and down the River in a gally,
my boy and I, down to the Hope and so up again, sleeping and
waking, with great pleasure, my business to call upon every one
of
15th. Our victualling ships to set them agoing, and so home,
and after dinner to the King’s playhouse, all alone, and saw
“Love’s Maistresse.” Some pretty things and good variety in it,
but no or little fancy in it. Thence to the Duke of Albemarle to
give him account of my day’s works, where he shewed me let-
ters from Sir G. Downing, of four days’ date, that the Dutch are
come out and joyned, well-manned, and resolved to board our
best ships, and fight for certain they will. Thence to the Swan at
Herbert’s, and there the company of Sarah a little while, and so
away and called at the Harp and Ball, where the mayde, Mary, is
very ‘formosa’–[handsome]–; but, Lord! to see in what readiness
I am, upon the expiring of my vowes this day, to begin to run
into all my pleasures and neglect of business. Thence home, and
being sleepy to bed.
1564
MAY 1665
16th. Up betimes, and to the Duke of Albemarle with an ac-
count of my yesterday’s actions in writing. So back to the office,
where all the morning very busy. After dinner by coach to see
and speak with Mr. Povy, and after little discourse back again
home, where busy upon letters till past 12 at night, and so home
to supper and to bed, weary.
17th. Up, and by appointment to a meeting of Sir John Lawson
and Mr. Cholmly’s atturney and Mr. Povy at the Swan taverne
at Westminster to settle their business about my being secured
in the payment of money to Sir J. Lawson in the other’s absence.
Thence at Langford’s, where I never was since my brother died
there. I find my wife and Mercer, having with him agreed upon
two rich silk suits for me, which is fit for me to have, but yet
the money is too much, I doubt, to lay out altogether; but it is
done, and so let it be, it being the expense of the world that I can
the best bear with and the worst spare. Thence home, and after
dinner to the office, where late, and so home to supper and to
bed. Sir J. Minnes and I had an angry bout this afternoon with
Commissioner Pett about his neglecting his duty and absenting
himself, unknown to us, from his place at Chatham, but a most
false man I every day find him more and more, and in this very
full of equivocation. The fleete we doubt not come to Harwich
by this time. Sir W. Batten is gone down this day thither, and the
Duchesse of Yorke went down yesterday to meet the Duke.
18th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes to the Duke of Albemarle,
where we did much business, and I with good content to my-
self; among other things we did examine Nixon and Stanesby,
about their late running from two Dutchmen;478 for which they
478 Captain Edward Nixon, of the “Elizabeth,” and Captain John Stanesby,
of the “Eagle.” John Lanyon wrote to the Navy Commissioners from Ply-
mouth, May 16th: “Understands from the seamen that the conduct of Cap-
tains Nixon and Stanesby in their late engagement with two Dutch capers
was very foul; the night they left the Dutch, no lights were put out as for-
merly, and though in sight of them in the morning, they still kept on their
1565
MAY 1665
are committed to a vessel to carry them to the fleete to be tried. A
most fowle unhandsome thing as ever was heard, for plain cow-
ardice on Nixon’s part. Thence with the Duke of Albemarle in
his coach to my Lord Treasurer, and there was before the King
(who ever now calls me by my name) and Lord Chancellor, and
many other great Lords, discoursing about insuring of some of
the King’s goods, wherein the King accepted of my motion that
we should; and so away, well pleased. To the office, and dined,
and then to the office again, and abroad to speak with Sir G.
Carteret; but, Lord! to see how fraile a man I am, subject to my
vanities, that can hardly forbear, though pressed with never so
much business, my pursuing of pleasure, but home I got, and
there very busy very late. Among other things consulting with
Mr. Andrews about our Tangier business, wherein we are like to
meet with some trouble, and my Lord Bellasses’s endeavour to
supplant us, which vexes my mind; but, however, our undertak-
ing is so honourable that we shall stand a tug for it I think. So
home to supper and to bed.
19th. Up, and to White Hall, where the Committee for Tang-
ier met, and there, though the case as to the merit of it was most
plain and most of the company favourable to our business, yet
it was with much ado that I got the business not carried fully
against us, but put off to another day, my Lord Arlington be-
ing the great man in it, and I was sorry to be found arguing so
greatly against him. The business I believe will in the end be
carried against us, and the whole business fall; I must therefore
endeavour the most I can to get money another way. It vexed
me to see Creed so hot against it, but I cannot much blame him,
way; the Eagle lay by some time, and both the enemy’s ships plied on her,
but finding the Elizabeth nearly out of sight she also made sail; it is true
the wind and sea were high, but there were no sufficient reasons for such
endeavours to get from them.” (“Calendar of State Papers,” Domestic, 1664-
65, p. 367). Both captains were tried; Nixon was condemned to be shot
but Stanesby was cleared, and Charnock asserts that he was commander the
“Happy Return” in 1672.
1566
MAY 1665
having never declared to him my being concerned in it. But that
that troubles me most is my Lord Arlington calls to me privately
and asks me whether I had ever said to any body that I desired
to leave this employment, having not time to look after it. I told
him, No, for that the thing being settled it will not require much
time to look after it. He told me then he would do me right to the
King, for he had been told so, which I desired him to do, and by
and by he called me to him again and asked me whether I had
no friend about the Duke, asking me (I making a stand) whether
Mr. Coventry was not my friend. I told him I had received many
friendships from him. He then advised me to procure that the
Duke would in his next letter write to him to continue me in my
place and remove any obstruction; which I told him I would, and
thanked him. So parted, vexed at the first and amazed at this
business of my Lord Arlington’s. Thence to the Exchequer, and
there got my tallys for £17,500, the first payment I ever had out of
the Exchequer, and at the Legg spent 14s. upon my old acquain-
tance, some of them the clerks, and away home with my tallys
in a coach, fearful every step of having one of them fall out, or
snatched from me. Being come home, I much troubled out again
by coach (for company taking Sir W. Warren with me), intending
to have spoke to my Lord Arlington to have known the bottom
of it, but missed him, and afterwards discoursing the thing as a
confidant to Sir W. Warren, he did give me several good hints
and principles not to do anything suddenly, but consult my pil-
low upon that and every great thing of my life, before I resolve
anything in it. Away back home, and not being fit for business
I took my wife and Mercer down by water to Greenwich at 8
at night, it being very fine and cool and moonshine afterward.
Mighty pleasant passage it was; there eat a cake or two, and so
home by 10 or 11 at night, and then to bed, my mind not settled
what to think.
20th. Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning. At
noon dined at home, and to my office, very busy.
1567
MAY 1665
21st. Till past one, Lord’s day, in the morning writing letters to
the fleete and elsewhere, and my mind eased of much business,
home to bed and slept till 8. So up, and this day is brought home
one of my new silk suits, the plain one, but very rich camelott
and noble. I tried it and it pleases me, but did not wear it, being
I would not go out today to church. So laid it by, and my mind
changed, thinking to go see my Lady Sandwich, and I did go a
little way, but stopped and returned home to dinner, after dinner
up to my chamber to settle my Tangier accounts, and then to my
office, there to do the like with other papers. In the evening home
to supper and to bed.
22nd. Up, and down to the ships, which now are hindered
from going down to the fleete (to our great sorrow and shame)
with their provisions, the wind being against them. So to the
Duke of Albemarle, and thence down by water to Deptford, it
being Trinity Monday, and so the day of choosing the Master of
Trinity House for the next yeare, where, to my great content, I
find that, contrary to the practice and design of Sir W. Batten,
to breake the rule and custom of the Company in choosing their
Masters by succession, he would have brought in Sir W. Rider
or Sir W. Pen, over the head of Hurleston (who is a knave too
besides, I believe), the younger brothers did all oppose it against
the elder, and with great heat did carry it for Hurleston, which I
know will vex him to the heart. Thence, the election being over,
to church, where an idle sermon from that conceited fellow, Dr.
Britton, saving that his advice to unity, and laying aside all envy
and enmity among them was very apposite. Thence walked to
Redriffe, and so to the Trinity House, and a great dinner, as is
usual, and so to my office, where busy all the afternoon till late,
and then home to bed, being much troubled in mind for several
things, first, for the condition of the fleete for lacke of provisions,
the blame this office lies under and the shame that they deserve
to have brought upon them for the ships not being gone out of the
River, and then for my business of Tangier which is not settled,
and lastly for fear that I am not observed to have attended the
1568
MAY 1665
office business of late as much as I ought to do, though there has
been nothing but my attendance on Tangier that has occasioned
my absence, and that of late not much.
23rd. Up, and at the office busy all the morning. At noon dined
alone, my wife and mother being gone by invitation to dine with
my mother’s old servant Mr. Cordery, who made them very wel-
come. So to Mr. Povy’s, where after a little discourse about his
business I home again, and late at the office busy. Late comes
Sir Arthur Ingram to my office, to tell me that, by letters from
Amsterdam of the 28th of this month (their style),479 the Dutch
fleete, being about 100 men-of-war, besides fire-ships, &c., did
set out upon the 23rd and 24th inst. Being divided into seven
squadrons; viz., 1. Generall Opdam. 2. Cottenar, of Rotterdam.
3. Trump. 4. Schram, of Horne. 5. Stillingworth, of Freezland. 6.
Everson. 7. One other, not named, of Zealand.
24th. Up, and by 4 o’clock in the morning, and with W. Hewer,
there till 12 without intermission putting some papers in order.
Thence to the Coffee-house with Creed, where I have not been a
great while, where all the newes is of the Dutch being gone out,
and of the plague growing upon us in this towne; and of reme-
dies against it: some saying one thing, some another. So home
to dinner, and after dinner Creed and I to Colvill’s, thinking to
shew him all the respect we could by obliging him in carrying
him 5 tallys of £5000 to secure him for so much credit he has
formerly given Povy to Tangier, but he, like an impertinent fool,
cavills at it, but most ignorantly that ever I heard man in my life.
At last Mr. Viner by chance comes, who I find a very moderate
man, but could not persuade the fool to reason, but brought away
the tallys again, and so vexed to my office, where late, and then
home to my supper and to bed.
25th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon
479 The new style was adopted by most of the countries of Europe long
before it was legalized in England, although Russia still retains the old style.
1569
MAY 1665
dined at home, and then to the office all the afternoon, busy till
almost 12 at night, and then home to supper and to bed.
26th. Up at 4 o’clock, and all the morning in my office with W.
Hewer finishing my papers that were so long out of order, and at
noon to my bookseller’s, and there bespoke a book or two, and
so home to dinner, where Creed dined with me, and he and I
afterwards to Alderman Backewell’s to try him about supplying
us with money, which he denied at first and last also, saving that
he spoke a little fairer at the end than before. But the truth is I
do fear I shall have a great deale of trouble in getting of money.
Thence home, and in the evening by water to the Duke of Albe-
marle, whom I found mightily off the hooks, that the ships are
not gone out of the River; which vexed me to see, insomuch that
I am afeard that we must expect some change or addition of new
officers brought upon us, so that I must from this time forward
resolve to make myself appear eminently serviceable in attend-
ing at my office duly and no where else, which makes me wish
with all my heart that I had never anything to do with this busi-
ness of Tangier. After a while at my office, home to supper vexed,
and to bed.
27th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning; at noon
dined at home, and then to my office again„ where late, and so
to bed, with my mind full of fears for the business of this office
and troubled with that of Tangier, concerning which Mr. Povy
was with me, but do give me little help, but more reason of being
troubled. So that were it not for our Plymouth business I would
be glad to be rid of it.
28th (Lord’s day). By water to the Duke of Albemarle, where I
hear that Nixon is condemned to be shot to death, for his cow-
ardice, by a Council of War. Went to chapel and heard a lit-
tle musique, and there met with Creed, and with him a little
while walking, and to Wilkinson’s for me to drink, being trou-
bled with winde, and at noon to Sir Philip Warwicke’s to din-
ner, where abundance of company come in unexpectedly; and
1570
MAY 1665
here I saw one pretty piece of household stuff, as the company
increaseth, to put a larger leaf upon an oval table. After din-
ner much good discourse with Sir Philip, who I find, I think, a
most pious, good man, and a professor of a philosophical man-
ner of life and principles like Epictetus, whom he cites in many
things. Thence to my Lady Sandwich’s, where, to my shame, I
had not been a great while before. Here, upon my telling her a
story of my Lord Rochester’s running away on Friday night last
with Mrs. Mallett, the great beauty and fortune of the North,
who had supped at White Hall with Mrs. Stewart, and was go-
ing home to her lodgings with her grandfather, my Lord Haly,
by coach; and was at Charing Cross seized on by both horse and
foot men, and forcibly taken from him, and put into a coach with
six horses, and two women provided to receive her, and carried
away. Upon immediate pursuit, my Lord of Rochester (for whom
the King had spoke to the lady often, but with no successe) was
taken at Uxbridge; but the lady is not yet heard of, and the King
mighty angry, and the Lord sent to the Tower. Hereupon my
Lady did confess to me, as a great secret, her being concerned in
this story. For if this match breaks between my Lord Rochester
and her, then, by the consent of all her friends, my Lord Hinch-
ingbroke stands fair, and is invited for her. She is worth, and
will be at her mother’s death (who keeps but a little from her),
£2500 per annum. Pray God give a good success to it! But my
poor Lady, who is afeard of the sickness, and resolved to be gone
into the country, is forced to stay in towne a day or two, or three
about it, to see the event of it. Thence home and to see my Lady
Pen, where my wife and I were shown a fine rarity: of fishes kept
in a glass of water, that will live so for ever; and finely marked
they are, being foreign.–[Gold-fish introduced from China.]–So
to supper at home and to bed, after many people being with me
about business, among others the two Bellamys about their old
debt due to them from the King for their victualling business, out
of which I hope to get some money.
29th. Lay long in bed, being in some little pain of the wind
1571
MAY 1665
collique, then up and to the Duke of Albemarle, and so to the
Swan, and there drank at Herbert’s, and so by coach home, it
being kept a great holiday through the City, for the birth and
restoration of the King. To my office, where I stood by and saw
Symson the joyner do several things, little jobbs, to the rendering
of my closet handsome and the setting up of some neat plates that
Burston has for my money made me, and so home to dinner, and
then with my wife, mother, and Mercer in one boat, and I in an-
other, down to Woolwich. I walking from Greenwich, the others
going to and fro upon the water till my coming back, having done
but little business. So home and to supper, and, weary, to bed.
We have every where taken some prizes. Our merchants have
good luck to come home safe: Colliers from the North, and some
Streights men just now. And our Hambrough ships, of whom we
were so much afeard, are safe in Hambrough. Our fleete resolved
to sail out again from Harwich in a day or two.
30th. Lay long, and very busy all the morning, at noon to
the ‘Change, and thence to dinner to Sir G. Carteret’s, to talk
upon the business of insuring our goods upon the Hambrough
[ships]. Here a very fine, neat French dinner, without much cost,
we being all alone with my Lady and one of the house with her;
thence home and wrote letters, and then in the evening, by coach,
with my wife and mother and Mercer, our usual tour by coach,
and eat at the old house at Islington; but, Lord! to see how my
mother found herself talk upon every object to think of old sto-
ries. Here I met with one that tells me that Jack Cole, my old
schoolefellow, is dead and buried lately of a consumption, who
was a great crony of mine. So back again home, and there to my
closet to write letters. Hear to my great trouble that our Ham-
brough ships,480 valued of the King’s goods and the merchants’
480 On May 29th Sir William Coventry wrote to Lord Arlington: “Capt.
Langhorne has arrived with seven ships, and reports the taking of the Ham-
burg fleet with the man of war their convoy; mistaking the Dutch fleet for
the English, he fell into it” (“Calendar of State Papers,” Domestic, 1664-65,
1572
MAY 1665
(though but little of the former) to £200,000 [are lost]. By and by,
about 11 at night, called into the garden by my Lady Pen and
daughter, and there walked with them and my wife till almost
twelve, and so in and closed my letters, and home to bed.
31st. Up, and to my office, and to Westminster, doing busi-
ness till noon, and then to the ‘Change, where great the noise
and trouble of having our Hambrough ships lost; and that very
much placed upon Mr. Coventry’s forgetting to give notice to
them of the going away of our fleete from the coast of Holland.
But all without reason, for he did; but the merchants not being
ready, staid longer than the time ordered for the convoy to stay,
which was ten days. Thence home with Creed and Mr. Moore to
dinner. Anon we broke up, and Creed and I to discourse about
our Tangier matters of money, which vex me. So to Gresham
College, staid a very little while, and away and I home busy, and
busy late, at the end of the month, about my month’s accounts,
but by the addition of Tangier it is rendered more intricate, and
so (which I have not done these 12 months, nor would willingly
have done now) failed of having it done, but I will do it as soon
as I can. So weary and sleepy to bed. I endeavoured but missed
of seeing Sir Thomas Ingram at Westminster, so went to House-
man’s the Painter, who I intend shall draw my wife, but he was
not within, but I saw several very good pictures.
p. 393)
1573
JUNE 1665
June 1st. Up and to the office, where sat all the morning, at noon
to the ‘Change, and there did some business, and home to dinner,
whither Creed comes, and after dinner I put on my new silke
camelott sute; the best that ever I wore in my life, the sute costing
me above £24. In this I went with Creed to Goldsmiths’ Hall, to
the burial of Sir Thomas Viner; which Hall, and Haberdashers
also, was so full of people, that we were fain for ease and coolness
to go forth to Pater Noster Row, to choose a silke to make me a
plain ordinary suit. That done, we walked to Cornehill, and there
at Mr. Cade’s’ stood in the balcon and saw all the funeral, which
was with the blue-coat boys and old men, all the Aldermen, and
Lord Mayor, &c., and the number of the company very great;
the greatest I ever did see for a taverne. Hither come up to us
Dr. Allen, and then Mr. Povy and Mr. Fox. The show being over,
and my discourse with Mr. Povy, I took coach and to Westminster
Hall, where I took the fairest flower, and by coach to Tothill Fields
for the ayre till it was dark. I ‘light, and in with the fairest flower
to eat a cake, and there did do as much as was safe with my
flower, and that was enough on my part. Broke up, and away
without any notice, and, after delivering the rose where it should
be, I to the Temple and ‘light, and come to the middle door, and
there took another coach, and so home to write letters, but very
1574
JUNE 1665
few, God knows, being by my pleasure made to forget everything
that is. The coachman that carried [us] cannot know me again,
nor the people at the house where we were. Home to bed, certain
news being come that our fleete is in sight of the Dutch ships.
2nd. Lay troubled in mind abed a good while, thinking of my
Tangier and victualling business, which I doubt will fall. Up and
to the Duke of Albemarle, but missed him. Thence to the Harp
and Ball and to Westminster Hall, where I visited “the flowers”
in each place, and so met with Mr. Creed, and he and I to Mrs.
Croft’s to drink and did, but saw not her daughter Borroughes. I
away home, and there dined and did business. In the afternoon
went with my tallys, made a fair end with Colvill and Viner, de-
livering them £5000 tallys to each and very quietly had credit
given me upon other tallys of Mr. Colvill for £2000 and good
words for more, and of Mr. Viner too. Thence to visit the Duke
of Albemarle, and thence my Lady Sandwich and Lord Crew.
Thence home, and there met an expresse from Sir W. Batten at
Harwich, that the fleete is all sailed from Solebay, having spied
the Dutch fleete at sea, and that, if the calmes hinder not, they
must needs now be engaged with them. Another letter also come
to me from Mr. Hater, committed by the Council this afternoon
to the Gate House, upon the misfortune of having his name used
by one, without his knowledge or privity, for the receiving of
some powder that he had bought. Up to Court about these two,
and for the former was led up to my Lady Castlemayne’s lodg-
ings, where the King and she and others were at supper, and
there I read the letter and returned; and then to Sir G. Carteret
about Hater, and shall have him released to-morrow, upon my
giving bail for his appearance, which I have promised to do. Sir
G. Carteret did go on purpose to the King to ask this, and it was
granted. So home at past 12, almost one o’clock in the morning.
To my office till past two, and then home to supper and to bed.
3rd. Up and to White Hall, where Sir G. Carteret did go with
me to Secretary Morris, and prevailed with him to let Mr. Hater
1575
JUNE 1665
be released upon bail for his appearance. So I at a loss how to
get another besides myself, and got Mr. Hunt, who did patiently
stay with me all the morning at Secretary Morris’s chamber, Mr.
Hater being sent for with his keeper, and at noon comes in the
Secretary, and upon entering [into] recognizances, he for £200,
and Mr. Hunt and I for £100 each for his appearance upon de-
mand, he was released, it costing him, I think, above £3. I thence
home, vexed to be kept from the office all the morning, which I
had not been in many months before, if not some years. At home
to dinner, and all the afternoon at the office, where late at night,
and much business done, then home to supper and to bed. All
this day by all people upon the River, and almost every where
else hereabout were heard the guns, our two fleets for certain be-
ing engaged; which was confirmed by letters from Harwich, but
nothing particular: and all our hearts full of concernment for the
Duke, and I particularly for my Lord Sandwich and Mr. Coven-
try after his Royall Highnesse.
4th (Sunday). Up and at my chamber all the forenoon, at
evening my accounts, which I could not do sooner, for the last
month, and, blessed be God! am worth £1400 odd money, some-
thing more than ever I was yet in the world. Dined very well
at noon, and then to my office, and there and in the garden dis-
coursed with several people about business, among others Mr.
Howell, the turner, who did give me so good a discourse about
the practices of the Paymaster J. Fenn that I thought fit to recollect
all when he was gone, and have entered it down to be for ever
remembered. Thence to my chamber again to settle my Tang-
ier accounts against tomorrow and some other things, and with
great joy ended them, and so to supper, where a good fowl and
tansy, and so to bed. Newes being come that our fleete is pursu-
ing the Dutch, who, either by cunning, or by being worsted, do
give ground, but nothing more for certain. Late to bed upon my
papers being quite finished.
5th. Up very betimes to look some other papers, and then to
1576
JUNE 1665
White Hall to a Committee of Tangier, where I offered my ac-
counts with great acceptation, and so had some good words and
honour by it, and one or two things done to my content in my
business of Treasurer, but I do clearly see that we shall lose our
business of victualling, Sir Thomas Ingram undertaking that it
shall be done by persons there as cheap as we do it, and give the
seamen their full allowance and themselves give good security
here for performance of contract, upon which terms there is no
opposing it. This would trouble me, but that I hope when that
fails to spend my time to some good advantage other ways, and
so shall permit it all to God Almighty’s pleasure. Thence home to
dinner, after ‘Change, where great talke of the Dutch being fled
and we in pursuit of them, and that our ship Charity481 is lost
upon our Captain’s, Wilkinson, and Lieutenant’s yielding, but
of this there is no certainty, save the report of some of the sicke
men of the Charity, turned adrift in a boat out of the Charity and
taken up and brought on shore yesterday to Sole Bay, and the
newes hereof brought by Sir Henry Felton. Home to dinner, and
Creed with me. Then he and I down to Deptford, did some busi-
ness, and back again at night. He home, and I to my office, and
so to supper and to bed. This morning I had great discourse with
my Lord Barkeley about Mr. Hater, towards whom from a great
passion reproaching him with being a fanatique and dangerous
for me to keepe, I did bring him to be mighty calme and to ask
me pardons for what he had thought of him and to desire me to
ask his pardon of Hater himself for the ill words he did give him
the other day alone at White Hall (which was, that he had always
thought him a man that was no good friend to the King, but did
481 Sir William Coventry and Sir William Penn to the Navy Commissioners,
June 4th: “Engaged yesterday with the Dutch; they began to stand away at
3 p.m. Chased them all the rest of the day and night; 20 considerable ships
are destroyed and taken; we have only lost the Great Charity. The Earl of
Marlborough, Rear-Admiral Sansum, and Captain Kirby are slain, and Sir
John Lawson wounded” (“Calendar of State Papers,” Domestic, 1664-65, p.
406).
1577
JUNE 1665
never think it would breake out in a thing of this nature), and did
advise him to declare his innocence to the Council and pray for
his examination and vindication. Of which I shall consider and
say no more, but remember one compliment that in great kind-
ness to me he did give me, extolling my care and diligence, that
he did love me heartily for my owne sake, and more that he did
will me whatsoever I thought for Mr. Coventry’s sake, for though
the world did think them enemies, and to have an ill aspect, one
to another, yet he did love him with all his heart, which was a
strange manner of noble compliment, confessing his owning me
as a confidant and favourite of Mr. Coventry’s.
6th. Waked in the morning before 4 o’clock with great pain
to piss, and great pain in pissing by having, I think, drank too
great a draught of cold drink before going to bed. But by and
by to sleep again, and then rose and to the office, where very
busy all the morning, and at noon to dinner with Sir G. Carteret
to his house with all our Board, where a good pasty and brave
discourse. But our great fear was some fresh news of the fleete,
but not from the fleete, all being said to be well and beaten the
Dutch, but I do not give much belief to it, and indeed the news
come from Sir W. Batten at Harwich, and writ so simply that we
all made good mirth of it. Thence to the office, where upon Sir
G. Carteret’s accounts, to my great vexation there being nothing
done by the Controller to right the King therein. I thence to my
office and wrote letters all the afternoon, and in the evening by
coach to Sir Ph. Warwicke’s about my Tangier business to get
money, and so to my Lady Sandwich’s, who, poor lady, expects
every hour to hear of my Lord; but in the best temper, neither
confident nor troubled with fear, that I ever did see in my life.
She tells me my Lord Rochester is now declaredly out of hopes
of Mrs. Mallett, and now she is to receive notice in a day or two
how the King stands inclined to the giving leave for my Lord
Hinchingbroke to look after her, and that being done to bring it
to an end shortly. Thence by coach home, and to my office a little,
and so before 12 o’clock home and to bed.
1578
JUNE 1665
7th. This morning my wife and mother rose about two o’clock;
and with Mercer, Mary, the boy, and W. Hewer, as they had de-
signed, took boat and down to refresh themselves on the water to
Gravesend. Lay till 7 o’clock, then up and to the office upon Sir G.
Carteret’s accounts again, where very busy; thence abroad and to
the ‘Change, no news of certainty being yet come from the fleete.
Thence to the Dolphin Taverne, where Sir J. Minnes, Lord Brunk-
ard, Sir Thomas Harvy, and myself dined, upon Sir G. Carteret’s
charge, and very merry we were, Sir Thomas Harvy being a very
drolle. Thence to the office, and meeting Creed away with him to
my Lord Treasurer’s, there thinking to have met the goldsmiths,
at White Hall, but did not, and so appointed another time for my
Lord to speak to them to advance us some money. Thence, it be-
ing the hottest day that ever I felt in my life, and it is confessed
so by all other people the hottest they ever knew in England in
the beginning of June, we to the New Exchange, and there drunk
whey, with much entreaty getting it for our money, and [they]
would not be entreated to let us have one glasse more. So took
water and to Fox-Hall, to the Spring garden, and there walked
an houre or two with great pleasure, saving our minds ill at ease
concerning the fleete and my Lord Sandwich, that we have no
newes of them, and ill reports run up and down of his being
killed, but without ground. Here staid pleasantly walking and
spending but 6d. till nine at night, and then by water to White
Hall, and there I stopped to hear news of the fleete, but none
come, which is strange, and so by water home, where, weary
with walking and with the mighty heat of the weather, and for
my wife’s not coming home, I staying walking in the garden till
twelve at night, when it begun to lighten exceedingly, through
the greatness of the heat. Then despairing of her coming home, I
to bed. This day, much against my will, I did in Drury Lane see
two or three houses marked with a red cross upon the doors, and
“Lord have mercy upon us” writ there; which was a sad sight to
me, being the first of the kind that, to my remembrance, I ever
saw. It put me into an ill conception of myself and my smell, so
1579
JUNE 1665
that I was forced to buy some roll-tobacco to smell to and chaw,
which took away the apprehension.
8th. About five o’clock my wife come home, it having light-
ened all night hard, and one great shower of rain. She come and
lay upon the bed; I up and to the office, where all the morning.
Alone at home to dinner, my wife, mother, and Mercer dining at
W. Joyce’s; I giving her a caution to go round by the Half Moone
to his house, because of the plague. I to my Lord Treasurer’s by
appointment of Sir Thomas Ingram’s, to meet the Goldsmiths;
where I met with the great news at last newly come, brought by
Bab May’ from the Duke of Yorke, that we have totally routed
the Dutch; that the Duke himself, the Prince, my Lord Sandwich,
and Mr. Coventry are all well: which did put me into such joy,
that I forgot almost all other thoughts. The particulars I shall set
down by and by. By and by comes Alderman Maynell and Mr.
Viner, and there my Lord Treasurer did intreat them to furnish
me with money upon my tallys, Sir Philip Warwicke before my
Lord declaring the King’s changing of the hand from Mr. Povy to
me, whom he called a very sober person, and one whom the Lord
Treasurer would owne in all things that I should concern myself
with them in the business of money. They did at present declare
they could not part with money at present. My Lord did press
them very hard, and I hope upon their considering we shall get
some of them. Thence with great joy to the Cocke-pitt; where the
Duke of Albemarle, like a man out of himself with content, new-
told me all; and by and by comes a letter from Mr. Coventry’s
own hand to him, which he never opened (which was a strange
thing), but did give it me to open and read, and consider what
was fit for our office to do in it, and leave the letter with Sir W.
Clerke; which upon such a time and occasion was a strange piece
of indifference, hardly pardonable. I copied out the letter, and
did also take minutes out of Sir W. Clerke’s other letters; and the
sum of the newes is: VICTORY OVER THE DUTCH, JUNE 3RD,
1665.
1580
JUNE 1665
This day they engaged; the Dutch neglecting greatly the oppor-
tunity of the wind they had of us, by which they lost the benefit of
their fire-ships. The Earl of Falmouth, Muskerry, and Mr. Richard
Boyle killed on board the Duke’s ship, the Royall Charles, with
one shot: their blood and brains flying in the Duke’s face; and
the head of Mr. Boyle striking down the Duke, as some say. Earle
of Marlborough, Portland, Rear-Admirall Sansum (to Prince Ru-
pert) killed, and Capt. Kirby and Ableson. Sir John Lawson
wounded on the knee; hath had some bones taken out, and is
likely to be well again. Upon receiving the hurt, he sent to the
Duke for another to command the Royall Oake. The Duke sent
Jordan482 out of the St. George, who did brave things in her. Capt.
Jer. Smith of the Mary was second to the Duke, and stepped be-
tween him and Captain Seaton of the Urania (76 guns and 400
men), who had sworn to board the Duke; killed him, 200 men,
and took the ship; himself losing 99 men, and never an officer
saved but himself and lieutenant. His master indeed is saved,
with his leg cut off: Admirall Opdam blown up, Trump killed,
and said by Holmes; all the rest of their admiralls, as they say, but
Everson (whom they dare not trust for his affection to the Prince
of Orange), are killed: we having taken and sunk, as is believed,
about 24 of their best ships; killed and taken near 8 or 10,000
men, and lost, we think, not above 700. A great[er] victory never
known in the world. They are all fled, some 43 got into the Texell,
and others elsewhere, and we in pursuit of the rest. Thence, with
my heart full of joy; home, and to my office a little; then to my
Lady Pen’s, where they are all joyed and not a little puffed up
at the good successe of their father;483 and good service indeed is
482 Afterwards Sir Joseph Jordan, commander of the “Royal Sovereign,”
and Vice-Admiral of the Red, 1672. He was knighted on July 1st, 1665.–B.
483 In the royal charter granted by Charles II. in 1680 to William Penn for
the government of his American province, to be styled Pennsylvania, special
reference is made to “the memory and merits of Sir William Penn in divers
services, and particularly his conduct, courage, and discretion under our
dearest brother, James, Duke of York, in that signal battle and victory fought
1581
JUNE 1665
said to have been done by him. Had a great bonefire at the gate;
and I with my Lady Pen’s people and others to Mrs. Turner’s
great room, and then down into the streete. I did give the boys
4s. among them, and mighty merry. So home to bed, with my
heart at great rest and quiett, saving that the consideration of the
victory is too great for me presently to comprehend.484 9th. Lay
long in bed, my head akeing with too much thoughts I think last
night. Up and to White Hall, and my Lord Treasurer’s to Sir Ph.
Warwicke, about Tangier business, and in my way met with Mr.
Moore, who eases me in one point wherein I was troubled; which
was, that I heard of nothing said or done by my Lord Sandwich:
but he tells me that Mr. Cowling, my Lord Chamberlain’s sec-
retary, did hear the King say that my Lord Sandwich had done
nobly and worthily. The King, it seems, is much troubled at the
fall of my Lord of Falmouth; but I do not meet with any man else
that so much as wishes him alive again, the world conceiving
him a man of too much pleasure to do the King any good, or of-
fer any good office to him. But I hear of all hands he is confessed
to have been a man of great honour, that did show it in this his
going with the Duke, the most that ever any man did. Home,
and obtained against the Dutch fleet commanded by Heer van Opdam in
1665” (“Penn’s Memorials of Sir W. Penn,” vol. ii., p. 359).
484 Mrs. Ady (Julia Cartwright), in her fascinating life of Henrietta,
Duchess of Orleans, gives an account of the receipt of the news of the great
sea-fight in Paris, and quotes a letter of Charles II. to his sister, dated, “White-
hall, June 8th, 1665” The first report that reached Paris was that “the Duke
of York’s ship had been blown up, and he himself had been drowned.” “The
shock was too much for Madame... she was seized with convulsions, and
became so dangerously ill that Lord Hollis wrote to the king, ‘If things had
gone ill at sea I really believe Madame would have died.”’ Charles wrote: “I
thanke God we have now the certayne newes of a very considerable victory
over the Duch; you will see most of the particulars by the relation my Lord
Hopis will shew you, though I have had as great a losse as ‘tis possible in a
good frinde, poore C. Barckely. It troubles me so much, as I hope you will
excuse the shortnesse of this letter, haveing receaved the newes of it but two
houres agoe” (“Madame,” 1894, pp. 215, 216).
1582
JUNE 1665
where my people busy to make ready a supper against night for
some guests, in lieu of my stonefeast. At noon eat a small dinner
at home, and so abroad to buy several things, and among others
with my taylor to buy a silke suit, which though I had one lately,
yet I do, for joy of the good newes we have lately had of our
victory over the Dutch, which makes me willing to spare myself
something extraordinary in clothes; and after long resolution of
having nothing but black, I did buy a coloured silk ferrandin. So
to the Old Exchange, and there at my pretty seamstresses bought
a pair of stockings of her husband, and so home, where by and
by comes Mr. Honiwood and Mrs. Wilde, and Roger Pepys and,
after long time spent, Mrs. Turner, The. and Joyce. We had a very
good venison pasty, this being instead of my stone-feast the last
March, and very merry we were, and the more I know the more
I like Mr. Honiwood’s conversation. So after a good supper they
parted, walking to the ‘Change for a coach, and I with them to
see them there. So home and to bed, glad it was over.
10th. Lay long in bed, and then up and at the office all the
morning. At noon dined at home, and then to the office busy all
the afternoon. In the evening home to supper; and there, to my
great trouble, hear that the plague is come into the City (though
it hath these three or four weeks since its beginning been wholly
out of the City); but where should it begin but in my good friend
and neighbour’s, Dr. Burnett, in Fanchurch Street: which in both
points troubles me mightily. To the office to finish my letters and
then home to bed, being troubled at the sicknesse, and my head
filled also with other business enough, and particularly how to
put my things and estate in order, in case it should please God to
call me away, which God dispose of to his glory!
11th (Lord’s day). Up, and expected long a new suit; but, com-
ing not, dressed myself in my late new black silke camelott suit;
and, when fully ready, comes my new one of coloured ferrandin,
which my wife puts me out of love with, which vexes me, but I
think it is only my not being used to wear colours which makes it
1583
JUNE 1665
look a little unusual upon me. To my chamber and there spent the
morning reading. At noon, by invitation, comes my two cozen
Joyces and their wives, my aunt James and he-cozen Harman,
his wife being ill. I had a good dinner for them, and as merry as
I could be in such company. They being gone, I out of doors a lit-
tle, to shew, forsooth, my new suit, and back again, and in going
I saw poor Dr. Burnett’s door shut; but he hath, I hear, gained
great goodwill among his neighbours; for he discovered it him-
self first, and caused himself to be shut up of his own accord:
which was very handsome. In the evening comes Mr. Andrews
and his wife and Mr. Hill, and staid and played, and sung and
supped, most excellent pretty company, so pleasant, ingenious,
and harmless, I cannot desire better. They gone we to bed, my
mind in great present ease.
12th. Up, and in my yesterday’s new suit to the Duke of Albe-
marle, and after a turne in White Hall, and then in Westminster
Hall, returned, and with my taylor bought some gold lace for my
sleeve hands in Pater Noster Row. So home to dinner, and then to
the office, and down the River to Deptford, and then back again
and to my Lord Treasurer’s, and up and down to look after my
Tangier business, and so home to my office, then to supper and
to bed. The Duke of Yorke is sent for last night and expected to
be here to-morrow.
13th. Up and to the office, where all the morning doing busi-
ness. At noon with Sir G. Carteret to my Lord Mayor’s to dinner,
where much company in a little room, and though a good, yet no
extraordinary table. His name, Sir John Lawrence, whose father,
a very ordinary old man, sat there at table, but it seems a very
rich man. Here were at table three Sir Richard Brownes, viz.:
he of the Councill, a clerk, and the Alderman, and his son; and
there was a little grandson also Richard, who will hereafter be Sir
Richard Browne. The Alderman did here openly tell in boasting
how he had, only upon suspicion of disturbances, if there had
been any bad newes from sea, clapped up several persons that
1584
JUNE 1665
he was afeard of; and that he had several times done the like and
would do, and take no bail where he saw it unsafe for the King.
But by and by he said that he was now sued in the Exchequer by
a man for false imprisonment, that he had, upon the same score,
imprisoned while he was Mayor four years ago, and asked ad-
vice upon it. I told him I believed there was none, and told my
story of Field, at which he was troubled, and said that it was then
unsafe for any man to serve the King, and, I believed, knows not
what to do therein; but that Sir Richard Browne, of the Councill,
advised him to speak with my Lord Chancellor about it. My Lord
Mayor very respectfull to me; and so I after dinner away and
found Sir J. Minnes ready with his coach and four horses at our
office gate, for him and me to go out of towne to meet the Duke
of Yorke coming from Harwich to-night, and so as far as Ilford,
and there ‘light. By and by comes to us Sir John Shaw and Mr.
Neale, that married the rich widow Gold, upon the same errand.
After eating a dish of creame, we took coach again, hearing noth-
ing of the Duke, and away home, a most pleasant evening and
road. And so to my office, where, after my letters wrote, to sup-
per and to bed. All our discourse in our way was Sir J. Minnes’s
telling me passages of the late King’s and his father’s, which I
was mightily pleased to hear for information, though the pride
of some persons and vice of most was but a sad story to tell how
that brought the whole kingdom and King to ruine.
14th. Up, and to Sir Ph. Warwicke’s and other places, about
Tangier business, but to little purpose. Among others to my Lord
Treasurer’s, there to speak with him, and waited in the lobby
three long hours for to speake with him, to the trial of my utmost
patience, but missed him at last, and forced to go home without
it, which may teach me how I make others wait. Home to dinner
and staid Mr. Hater with me, and after dinner drew up a petition
for Mr. Hater to present to the Councill about his troublesome
business of powder, desiring a trial that his absence may be vin-
dicated, and so to White Hall, but it was not proper to present it
to-day. Here I met with Mr. Cowling, who observed to me how
1585
JUNE 1665
he finds every body silent in the praise of my Lord Sandwich, to
set up the Duke and the Prince; but that the Duke did both to
the King and my Lord Chancellor write abundantly of my Lord’s
courage and service.485 And I this day met with a letter of Cap-
tain Ferrers, wherein he tells [us] my Lord was with his ship in
all the heat of the day, and did most worthily. Met with Creed,
and he and I to Westminster; and there saw my Lord Marlbor-
ough486 brought to be buried, several Lords of the Council carry-
ing him, and with the herald in some state. Thence, vexed in my
mind to think that I do so little in my Tangier business, and so
home, and after supper to bed.
15th. Up, and put on my new stuff suit with close knees, which
becomes me most nobly, as my wife says. At the office all day. At
noon, put on my first laced band, all lace; and to Kate Joyce’s to
dinner, where my mother, wife, and abundance of their friends,
and good usage. Thence, wife and Mercer and I to the Old Ex-
change, and there bought two lace bands more, one of my sem-
stresse, whom my wife concurs with me to be a pretty woman.
So down to Deptford and Woolwich, my boy and I. At Woolwich,
discoursed with Mr. Sheldon about my bringing my wife down
for a month or two to his house, which he approves of, and, I
think, will be very convenient. So late back, and to the office,
wrote letters, and so home to supper and to bed. This day the
485 Charles II.‘s letter of thanks to Lord Sandwich, dated “Whitehall, June
9th, 1665,” written entirely in the king’s hand, is printed in Ellis’s “Original
Letters,” 1st series, vol. iii., p. 327.
486 Of the four distinguished men who died after the late action with the
Dutch and were buried in Westminster Abbey, the Earl of Marlborough was
interred on June 14th, Viscount Muskerry on the 19th, the Earl of Falmouth
on the 22nd, and Sir Edward Broughton on the 26th. After the entries in
the Abbey Registers is this note: “These four last Honble Persons dyed in
his Majy’s service against the Dutch, excepting only that ST Ed Br received
his death’s wound at sea, but dyed here at home” (Chester’s “Westminster
Abbey Registers,” p. 162).
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Newes book upon Mr. Moore’s showing L’Estrange487 (Captain
Ferrers’s letter) did do my Lord Sandwich great right as to the
late victory. The Duke of Yorke not yet come to towne. The towne
grows very sickly, and people to be afeard of it; there dying this
last week of the plague 112, from 43 the week before, whereof
but [one] in Fanchurch-streete, and one in Broad-streete, by the
Treasurer’s office.
16th. Up and to the office, where I set hard to business, but was
informed that the Duke of Yorke is come, and hath appointed us
to attend him this afternoon. So after dinner, and doing some
business at the office, I to White Hall, where the Court is full of
the Duke and his courtiers returned from sea. All fat and lusty,
and ruddy by being in the sun. I kissed his hands, and we waited
all the afternoon. By and by saw Mr. Coventry, which rejoiced
my very heart. Anon he and I, from all the rest of the company,
walked into the Matted Gallery; where after many expressions of
love, we fell to talk of business. Among other things, how my
Lord Sandwich, both in his counsells and personal service, hath
done most honourably and serviceably. Sir J. Lawson is come to
Greenwich; but his wound in his knee yet very bad. Jonas Poole,
in the Vantguard, did basely, so as to be, or will be, turned out
of his ship. Captain Holmes488 expecting upon Sansum’s death
to be made Rear-admirall to the Prince (but Harman is489 put in)
hath delivered up to the Duke his commission, which the Duke
487 “The Public Intelligencer,” published by Roger L’Estrange, the prede-
cessor of the “London Gazette.”
488 Captain Robert Holmes (afterwards knighted). Sir William Coventry,
in a letter to Lord Arlington (dated from “The Royal Charles,” Southwold
Bay, June 13th), writes: “Capt. Holmes asked to be rear admiral of the white
squadron in place of Sansum who was killed, but the Duke gave the place
to Captain Harman, on which he delivered up his commission, which the
Duke received, and put Captain Langhorne in his stead” (“Calendar of State
Papers,” Domestic, 1664-65, p. 423).
489 John Harman, afterwards knighted. He had served with great reputa-
tion in several naval fights, and was desperately wounded in 1673, while
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took and tore. He, it seems, had bid the Prince, who first told
him of Holmes’s intention, that he should dissuade him from it;
for that he was resolved to take it if he offered it. Yet Holmes
would do it, like a rash, proud coxcombe. But he is rich, and
hath, it seems, sought an occasion of leaving the service. Several
of our captains have done ill. The great ships are the ships do
the business, they quite deadening the enemy. They run away
upon sight of “The Prince.”490 It is strange to see how people
do already slight Sir William Barkeley,491 my Lord FitzHarding’s
brother, who, three months since, was the delight of the Court.
Captain Smith of “The Mary” the Duke talks mightily of; and
some great thing will be done for him. Strange to hear how the
Dutch do relate, as the Duke says, that they are the conquerors;
and bonefires are made in Dunkirke in their behalf; though a
clearer victory can never be expected. Mr. Coventry thinks they
cannot have lost less than 6000 men, and we not dead above 200,
and wounded about 400; in all about 600. Thence home and to
my office till past twelve, and then home to supper and to bed,
my wife and mother not being yet come home from W. Hewer’s
chamber, who treats my mother tonight. Captain Grovel the
Duke told us this day, hath done the basest thing at Lowestoffe,
in hearing of the guns, and could not (as others) be got out, but
staid there; for which he will be tried; and is reckoned a prating
coxcombe, and of no courage.
17th. My wife come to bed about one in the morning. I up and
490 “The Prince” was Lord Sandwich’s ship; the captain was Roger Cut-
tance. It was put up at Chatham for repair at this date.
491 Sir William Berkeley, see note, vol. iii., p. 334. His behaviour after the
death of his brother, Lord Falmouth, is severely commented on in “Poems
on State Affairs,” vol. i., p. 29 “Berkeley had heard it soon, and thought not
good To venture more of royal Harding’s blood; To be immortal he was not
of age, And did e’en now the Indian Prize presage; And judged it safe and
decent, cost what cost, To lose the day, since his dear brother’s lost. With
his whole squadron straight away he bore, And, like good boy, promised to
fight no more.”–B.
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abroad about Tangier business, then back to the office, where we
sat, and at noon home to dinner, and then abroad to Mr. Povy’s,
after I and Mr. Andrews had been with Mr. Ball and one Ma-
jor Strange, who looks after the getting of money for tallys and
is helping Mr. Andrews. I had much discourse with Ball, and it
may be he may prove a necessary man for our turns. With Mr.
Povy I spoke very freely my indifference as to my place of Trea-
surer, being so much troubled in it, which he took with much
seeming trouble, that I should think of letting go so lightly the
place, but if the place can’t be held I will. So hearing that my
Lord Treasurer was gone out of town with his family because of
the sicknesse, I returned home without staying there, and at the
office find Sir W. Pen come home, who looks very well; and I
am gladder to see him than otherwise I should be because of my
hearing so well of him for his serviceablenesse in this late great
action. To the office late, and then home to bed. It struck me very
deep this afternoon going with a hackney coach from my Lord
Treasurer’s down Holborne, the coachman I found to drive eas-
ily and easily, at last stood still, and come down hardly able to
stand, and told me that he was suddenly struck very sicke, and
almost blind, he could not see; so I ‘light and went into another
coach, with a sad heart for the poor man and trouble for myself,
lest he should have been struck with the plague, being at the end
of the towne that I took him up; but God have mercy upon us
all! Sir John Lawson, I hear, is worse than yesterday: the King
went to see him to-day most kindly. It seems his wound is not
very bad; but he hath a fever, a thrush, and a hickup, all three
together, which are, it seems, very bad symptoms.
18th (Lord’s day). Up, and to church, where Sir W. Pen was
the first time [since he] come from sea, after the battle. Mr. Mills
made a sorry sermon to prove that there was a world to come af-
ter this. Home and dined and then to my chamber, where all the
afternoon. Anon comes Mr. Andrews to see and sing with me,
but Mr. Hill not coming, and having business, we soon parted,
there coming Mr. Povy and Creed to discourse about our Tangier
1589
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business of money. They gone, I hear Sir W. Batten and my Lady
are returned from Harwich. I went to see them, and it is pretty to
see how we appear kind one to another, though neither of us care
2d. one for another. Home to supper, and there coming a hasty
letter from Commissioner Pett for pressing of some calkers (as
I would ever on his Majesty’s service), with all speed, I made a
warrant presently and issued it. So to my office a little, and then
home to bed.
19th. Up, and to White Hall with Sir W. Batten (calling at my
Lord Ashly’s, but to no purpose, by the way, he being not up),
and there had our usual meeting before the Duke with the of-
ficers of the Ordnance with us, which in some respects I think
will be the better for us, for despatch sake. Thence home to the
‘Change and dined alone (my wife gone to her mother’s), after
dinner to my little new goldsmith’s,492 whose wife indeed is one
of the prettiest, modest black women that ever I saw. I paid for
a dozen of silver salts £6 14s. 6d. Thence with Sir W. Pen from
the office down to Greenwich to see Sir J. Lawson, who is better,
but continues ill; his hickupp not being yet gone, could have little
discourse with him. So thence home and to supper, a while to the
office, my head and mind mightily vexed to see the multitude of
papers and business before [me] and so little time to do it in. So
to bed.
20th. Thankes-giving-day for victory over ye Dutch. Up, and
to the office, where very busy alone all the morning till church
time, and there heard a mean sorry sermon of Mr. Mills. Then to
the Dolphin Taverne, where all we officers of the Navy met with
the Commissioners of the Ordnance by agreement, and dined:
where good musique at my direction. Our club–[share493 –come
492 John Colvill of Lombard Street, see ante, May 24th. He lost £85,832 17s.
2d. by the closing of the Exchequer in 1672, and he died between 1672 and
1677 (Price’s “Handbook of London Bankers ”).
493 [“Next these a sort of Sots there are, Who crave more wine than they
can bear, Yet hate, when drunk, to pay or spend Their equal Club or Divi-
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to 34s. a man, nine of us. Thence after dinner, to White Hall
with Sir W. Berkely in his coach, and so walked to Herbert’s and
there spent a little time.... Thence by water to Fox-hall, and there
walked an hour alone, observing the several humours of the citi-
zens that were there this holyday, pulling of cherries,–[The game
of bob-cherry]–and God knows what, and so home to my office,
where late, my wife not being come home with my mother, who
have been this day all abroad upon the water, my mother be-
ing to go out of town speedily. So I home and to supper and to
bed, my wife come home when I come from the office. This day
I informed myself that there died four or five at Westminster of
the plague in one alley in several houses upon Sunday last, Bell
Alley, over against the Palace-gate; yet people do think that the
number will be fewer in the towne than it was the last weeke! The
Dutch are come out again with 20 sail under Bankert; supposed
gone to the Northward to meete their East India fleete.
21st. Up, and very busy all the morning. At noon with Creed
to the Excise Office, where I find our tallys will not be money in
less than sixteen months, which is a sad thing for the King to pay
all that interest for every penny he spends; and, which is strange,
the goldsmiths with whom I spoke, do declare that they will not
be moved to part with money upon the increase of their consid-
eration of ten per cent. which they have, and therefore desire I
would not move in it, and indeed the consequence would be very
ill to the King, and have its ill consequences follow us through all
the King’s revenue. Home, and my uncle Wight and aunt James
dined with me, my mother being to go away to-morrow. So to
White Hall, and there before and after Council discoursed with
Sir Thomas Ingram about our ill case as to Tangier for money. He
hath got the King to appoint a meeting on Friday, which I hope
will put an end one way or other to my pain. So homewards and
dend, But wrangle, when the Bill is brought, And think they’re cheated when
they’re not.” The Delights of the Bottle, or the Compleat Vintner, 3rd ed.,
1721, p. 29.
1591
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to the Cross Keys at Cripplegate, where I find all the towne al-
most going out of towne, the coaches and waggons being all full
of people going into the country. Here I had some of the com-
pany of the tapster’s wife a while, and so home to my office, and
then home to supper and to bed.
22nd. Up pretty betimes, and in great pain whether to send my
another into the country to-day or no, I hearing, by my people,
that she, poor wretch, hath a mind to stay a little longer, and I
cannot blame her, considering what a life she will through her
own folly lead when she comes home again, unlike the pleasure
and liberty she hath had here. At last I resolved to put it to her,
and she agreed to go, so I would not oppose it, because of the
sicknesse in the towne, and my intentions of removing my wife.
So I did give her money and took a kind leave of her, she, poor
wretch, desiring that I would forgive my brother John, but I re-
fused it to her, which troubled her, poor soul, but I did it in kind
words and so let the discourse go off, she leaving me though in
a great deal of sorrow. So I to my office and left my wife and
people to see her out of town, and I at the office all the morning.
At noon my wife tells me that she is with much ado gone, and I
pray God bless her, but it seems she was to the last unwilling to
go, but would not say so, but put it off till she lost her place in
the coach, and was fain to ride in the waggon part. After dinner
to the office again till night, very busy, and so home not very late
to supper and to bed.
23rd. Up and to White Hall to a Committee for Tangier, where
his Royal Highness was. Our great design was to state to them
the true condition of this Committee for want of money, the want
whereof was so great as to need some sudden help, and it was
with some content resolved to see it supplied and means pro-
posed towards the doing of it. At this Committee, unknown to
me, comes my Lord of Sandwich, who, it seems, come to towne
last night. After the Committee was up, my Lord Sandwich did
take me aside, and we walked an hour alone together in the robe-
1592
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chamber, the door shut, telling me how much the Duke and Mr.
Coventry did, both in the fleete and here, make of him, and that
in some opposition to the Prince; and as a more private message,
he told me that he hath been with them both when they have
made sport of the Prince and laughed at him: yet that all the dis-
course of the towne, and the printed relation, should not give
him one word of honour my Lord thinks mighty strange; he as-
suring me, that though by accident the Prince was in the van the
beginning of the fight for the first pass, yet all the rest of the day
my Lord was in the van, and continued so. That notwithstand-
ing all this noise of the Prince, he had hardly a shot in his side
nor a man killed, whereas he hath above 30 in her hull, and not
one mast whole nor yard; but the most battered ship of the fleet,
and lost most men, saving Captain Smith of “The Mary.” That
the most the Duke did was almost out of gun-shot; but that, in-
deed, the Duke did come up to my Lord’s rescue after he had a
great while fought with four of them. How poorly Sir John Law-
son performed, notwithstanding all that was said of him; and
how his ship turned out of the way, while Sir J. Lawson himself
was upon the deck, to the endangering of the whole fleete. It
therefore troubles my Lord that Mr. Coventry should not men-
tion a word of him in his relation. I did, in answer, offer that I
was sure the relation was not compiled by Mr. Coventry, but by
L’Estrange, out of several letters, as I could witness; and that Mr.
Coventry’s letter that he did give the Duke of Albemarle did give
him as much right as the Prince, for I myself read it first and then
copied it out, which I promised to show my Lord, with which
he was somewhat satisfied. From that discourse my Lord did
begin to tell me how much he was concerned to dispose of his
children, and would have my advice and help; and propounded
to match my Lady Jemimah to Sir G. Carteret’s eldest son, which
I approved of, and did undertake the speaking with him about it
as from myself, which my Lord liked. So parted, with my head
full of care about this business. Thence home to the ‘Change,
and so to dinner, and thence by coach to Mr. Povy’s. Thence by
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appointment with him and Creed to one Mr. Finch; one of the
Commissioners for the Excise, to be informed about some things
of the Excise, in order to our settling matters therein better for
us for our Tangier business. I find him a very discreet, grave
person. Thence well satisfied I and Creed to Mr. Fox at White
Hall to speak with him about the same matter, and having some
pretty satisfaction from him also, he and I took boat and to Fox
Hall, where we spent two or three hours talking of several mat-
ters very soberly and contentfully to me, which, with the ayre
and pleasure of the garden, was a great refreshment to me, and,
‘methinks, that which we ought to joy ourselves in. Thence back
to White Hall, where we parted, and I to find my Lord to receive
his farther direction about his proposal this morning. Wherein I
did that I should first by another hand break my intentions to Sir
G. Carteret. I pitched upon Dr. Clerke, which my Lord liked, and
so I endeavoured but in vain to find him out to-night. So home
by hackney-coach, which is become a very dangerous passage
now-a-days, the sickness increasing mightily, and to bed.
24th (Midsummer-day). Up very betimes, by six, and at Dr.
Clerke’s at Westminster by 7 of the clock, having over night by
a note acquainted him with my intention of coming, and there I,
in the best manner I could, broke my errand about a match be-
tween Sir G. Carteret’s eldest son and my Lord Sandwich’s eldest
daughter, which he (as I knew he would) took with great content:
and we both agreed that my Lord and he, being both men relat-
ing to the sea, under a kind aspect of His Majesty, already good
friends, and both virtuous and good familys, their allyance might
be of good use to us; and he did undertake to find out Sir George
this morning, and put the business in execution. So being both
well pleased with the proposition, I saw his niece there and made
her sing me two or three songs very prettily, and so home to the
office, where to my great trouble I found Mr. Coventry and the
board met before I come. I excused my late coming by having
been on the River about office business. So to business all the
morning. At noon Captain Ferrers and Mr. Moore dined with
1594
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me, the former of them the first time I saw him since his corning
from sea, who do give me the best conversation in general, and
as good an account of the particular service of the Prince and my
Lord of Sandwich in the late sea-fight that I could desire. After
dinner they parted. So I to White Hall, where I with Creed and
Povy attended my Lord Treasurer, and did prevail with him to let
us have an assignment for 15 or £20,000, which, I hope, will do
our business for Tangier. So to Dr. Clerke, and there found that
he had broke the business to Sir G. Carteret, and that he takes the
thing mighty well. Thence I to Sir G. Carteret at his chamber, and
in the best manner I could, and most obligingly, moved the busi-
ness: he received it with great respect and content, and thanks
to me, and promised that he would do what he could possibly
for his son, to render him fit for my Lord’s daughter, and shewed
great kindness to me, and sense of my kindness to him herein. Sir
William Pen told me this day that Mr. Coventry is to be sworn a
Privy Counsellor, at which my soul is glad. So home and to my
letters by the post, and so home to supper and bed.
25th (Lord’s day). Up, and several people about business come
to me by appointment relating to the office. Thence I to my closet
about my Tangier papers. At noon dined, and then I abroad by
water, it raining hard, thinking to have gone down to Woolwich,
but I did not, but back through bridge to White Hall, where, af-
ter I had again visited Sir G. Carteret, and received his (and now
his Lady’s) full content in my proposal, I went to my Lord Sand-
wich, and having told him how Sir G. Carteret received it, he did
direct me to return to Sir G. Carteret, and give him thanks for his
kind reception of this offer, and that he would the next day be
willing to enter discourse with him about the business. Which
message I did presently do, and so left the business with great
joy to both sides. My Lord, I perceive, intends to give £5000 with
her, and expects about £800 per annum joynture. So by water
home and to supper and bed, being weary with long walking at
Court, but had a Psalm or two with my boy and Mercer before
bed, which pleased me mightily. This night Sir G. Carteret told
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me with great kindnesse that the order of the Council did run
for the making of Hater and Whitfield incapable of any serving
the King again, but that he had stopped the entry of it, which he
told me with great kindnesse, but the thing troubles me. After
dinner, before I went to White Hall, I went down to Greenwich
by water, thinking to have visited Sir J. Lawson, where, when
I come, I find that he is dead, and died this morning, at which
I was much surprized; and indeed the nation hath a great loss;
though I cannot, without dissembling, say that I am sorry for it,
for he was a man never kind to me at all. Being at White Hall, I
visited Mr. Coventry, who, among other talk, entered about the
great question now in the House about the Duke’s going to sea
again; about which the whole House is divided. He did concur
with me that, for the Duke’s honour and safety, it were best, after
so great a service and victory and danger, not to go again; and,
above all, that the life of the Duke cannot but be a security to the
Crowne; if he were away, it being more easy to attempt anything
upon the King; but how the fleete will be governed without him,
the Prince–[Rupert]–being a man of no government and severe
in council, that no ordinary man can offer any advice against his;
saying truly that it had been better he had gone to Guinny, and
that were he away, it were easy to say how matters might be or-
dered, my Lord Sandwich being a man of temper and judgment
as much as any man he ever knew, and that upon good observa-
tion he said this, and that his temper must correct the Prince’s.
But I perceive he is much troubled what will be the event of the
question. And so I left him.
26th. Up and to White Hall with Sir J. Minnes, and to the Com-
mittee of Tangier, where my Lord Treasurer was, the first and
only time he ever was there, and did promise us £15,000 for Tang-
ier and no more, which will be short. But if I can pay Mr. An-
drews all his money I care for no more, and the bills of Exchange.
Thence with Mr. Povy and Creed below to a new chamber of Mr.
Povy’s, very pretty, and there discourse about his business, not
to his content, but with the most advantage I could to him, and
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Creed also did the like. Thence with Creed to the King’s Head,
and there dined with him at the ordinary, and good sport with
one Mr. Nicholls, a prating coxcombe, that would be thought a
poet, but would not be got to repeat any of his verses. Thence
I home, and there find my wife’s brother and his wife, a pretty
little modest woman, where they dined with my wife. He did
come to desire my assistance for a living, and, upon his good
promises of care, and that it should be no burden to me, I did say
and promise I would think of finding something for him, and the
rather because his wife seems a pretty discreet young thing, and
humble, and he, above all things, desirous to do something to
maintain her, telling me sad stories of what she endured with him
in Holland, and I hope it will not be burdensome. So down by
water to Woolwich, walking to and again from Greenwich thither
and back again, my business being to speak again with Sheldon,
who desires and expects my wife coming thither to spend the
summer, and upon second thoughts I do agree that it will be a
good place for her and me too. So, weary, home, and to my office
a while, till almost midnight, and so to bed. The plague encreases
mightily, I this day seeing a house, at a bitt-maker’s over against
St. Clement’s Church, in the open street, shut up; which is a sad
sight.
27th. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon
dined by chance at my Lady Batten’s, and they sent for my wife,
and there was my Lady Pen and Pegg. Very merry, and so I to my
office again, where till 12 o’clock at night, and so home to supper
and to bed.
28th. Sir J. Minnes carried me and my wife to White Hall, and
thence his coach along with my wife where she would. There
after attending the Duke to discourse of the navy. We did not
kiss his hand, nor do I think, for all their pretence, of going
away to-morrow. Yet I believe they will not go for good and all,
but I did take my leave of Sir William Coventry, who, it seems,
was knighted and sworn a Privy-Counsellor two days since; who
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with his old kindness treated me, and I believe I shall ever find
[him] a noble friend. Thence by water to Blackfriars, and so to
Paul’s churchyard and bespoke severall books, and so home and
there dined, my man William giving me a lobster sent him by my
old maid Sarah. This morning I met with Sir G. Carteret, who
tells me how all things proceed between my Lord Sandwich and
himself to full content, and both sides depend upon having the
match finished presently, and professed great kindnesse to me,
and said that now we were something akin. I am mightily, both
with respect to myself and much more of my Lord’s family, glad
of this alliance. After dinner to White Hall, thinking to speak
with my Lord Ashly, but failed, and I whiled away some time in
Westminster Hall against he did come, in my way observing sev-
eral plague houses in King’s Street and [near] the Palace. Here
I hear Mrs. Martin is gone out of town, and that her husband,
an idle fellow, is since come out of France, as he pretends, but I
believe not that he hath been. I was fearful of going to any house,
but I did to the Swan, and thence to White Hall, giving the wa-
terman a shilling, because a young fellow and belonging to the
Plymouth. Thence by coach to several places, and so home, and
all the evening with Sir J. Minnes and all the women of the house
(excepting my Lady Batten) late in the garden chatting. At 12
o’clock home to supper and to bed. My Lord Sandwich is gone
towards the sea to-day, it being a sudden resolution, I having
taken no leave of him.
29th. Up and by water to White Hall, where the Court full
of waggons and people ready to go out of towne. To the Harp
and Ball, and there drank and talked with Mary, she telling me in
discourse that she lived lately at my neighbour’s, Mr. Knightly,
which made me forbear further discourse. This end of the towne
every day grows very bad of the plague. The Mortality Bill is
come to 267;494 which is about ninety more than the last: and of
494 According to the Bills of Mortality, the total number of deaths in London
for the week ending June 27th was 684, of which number 267 were deaths
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these but four in the City, which is a great blessing to us. Thence
to Creed, and with him up and down about Tangier business, to
no purpose. Took leave again of Mr. Coventry; though I hope
the Duke has not gone to stay, and so do others too. So home,
calling at Somersett House, where all are packing up too: the
Queene-Mother setting out for France this day to drink Bourbon
waters this year, she being in a consumption; and intends not to
come till winter come twelvemonths.495 So by coach home, where
at the office all the morning, and at noon Mrs. Hunt dined with
us. Very merry, and she a very good woman. To the office, where
from the plague. The number of deaths rose week by week until September
19th, when the total was 8,297, and the deaths from the plague 7,165. On
September 26th the total had fallen to 6,460, and deaths from the plague to
5,533 The number fell gradually, week by week, till October 31st, when the
total was 1,388, and deaths from the plague 1,031. On November 7th there
was a rise to 1,787 and 1,414 respectively. On November 14th the numbers
had gone down to 1,359 and 1,050 respectively. On December 12th the total
had fallen to 442, and deaths from the plague to 243. On December 19th
there was a rise to 525 and 281 respectively. The total of burials in 1665 was
97,506, of which number the plague claimed 68,596 victims.
495 The Queen-Mother never came to England again. She retired to her
chateau at Colombes, near Paris, where she died in August, 1669, after a
long illness; the immediate cause of her death being an opiate ordered by
her physicians. She was buried, September 12th, in the church of St. Denis.
Her funeral sermon was preached by Bossuet. Sir John Reresby speaks of
Queen Henrietta Maria in high terms. He says that in the winter, 1659-60,
although the Court of France was very splendid, there was a greater resort
to the Palais Royal, “the good humour and wit of our Queen Mother, and
the beauty of the Princess [Henrietta] her daughter, giving greater invitation
than the more particular humour of the French Queen, being a Spaniard.”
In another place he says: “Her majesty had a great affection for England,
notwithstanding the severe usage she and hers had received from it. Her
discourse was much with the great men and ladies of France in praise of
the people and of the country; of their courage, generosity, good nature; and
would excuse all their miscarriages in relation to unfortunate effects of the
late war, as if it were a convulsion of some desperate and infatuated persons,
rather than from the genius and temper of the kingdom” (“Memoirs of Sir
John Reresby,” ed. Cartwright, pp. 43, 45).
1599
JUNE 1665
busy a while putting some things in my office in order, and then
to letters till night. About 10 a’clock home, the days being sensi-
bly shorter before I have once kept a summer’s day by shutting
up office by daylight; but my life hath been still as it was in win-
ter almost. But I will for a month try what I can do by daylight.
So home to supper and to bed.
30th. Up and to White Hall, to the Duke of Albemarle, who I
find at Secretary Bennet’s, there being now no other great States-
man, I think, but my Lord Chancellor, in towne. I received sev-
eral commands from them; among others, to provide some bread
and cheese for the garrison at Guernsey, which they promised to
see me paid for. So to the ‘Change, and home to dinner. In the
afternoon I down to Woolwich and after me my wife and Mer-
cer, whom I led to Mr. Sheldon’s to see his house, and I find it
a very pretty place for them to be at. So I back again, walking
both forward and backward, and left my wife to come by water.
I straight to White Hall, late, to Secretary Bennet’s to give him
an account of the business I received from him to-day, and there
staid weary and sleepy till past 12 at night. Then writ my mind
to him, and so back by water and in the dark and against tide
shot the bridge, groping with their pole for the way, which trou-
bled me before I got through. So home, about one or two o’clock
in the morning, my family at a great losse what was become of
me. To supper, and to bed. Thus this book of two years ends.
Myself and family in good health, consisting of myself and wife,
Mercer, her woman, Mary, Alice, and Susan our maids, and Tom
my boy. In a sickly time of the plague growing on. Having upon
my hands the troublesome care of the Treasury of Tangier, with
great sums drawn upon me, and nothing to pay them with: also
the business of the office great. Consideration of removing my
wife to Woolwich; she lately busy in learning to paint, with great
pleasure and successe. All other things well; especially a new in-
terest I am making, by a match in hand between the eldest son
of Sir G. Carteret, and my Lady Jemimah Montage. The Duke of
Yorke gone down to the fleete, but all suppose not with intent to
1600
JUNE 1665
stay there, as it is not fit, all men conceive, he should.
1601
JULY 1665
July 1st, 1665. Called up betimes, though weary and sleepy, by
appointment by Mr. Povy and Colonell Norwood to discourse
about some payments of Tangier. They gone, I to the office and
there sat all the morning. At noon dined at home, and then to
the Duke of Albemarle’s, by appointment, to give him an ac-
count of some disorder in the Yarde at Portsmouth, by work-
men’s going away of their owne accord, for lacke of money, to
get work of hay-making, or any thing else to earne themselves
bread.496 Thence to Westminster, where I hear the sicknesse en-
creases greatly, and to the Harp and Ball with Mary talking, who
tells me simply her losing of her first love in the country in Wales,
and coming up hither unknown to her friends, and it seems Dr.
Williams do pretend love to her, and I have found him there sev-
eral times. Thence by coach and late at the office, and so to bed.
Sad at the newes that seven or eight houses in Bazing Hall street,
are shut up of the plague.
496 There are several letters among the State Papers from Commissioner
Thomas Middleton relating to the want of workmen at Portsmouth Dock-
yard. On June 29th Middleton wrote to Pepys, “The ropemakers have dis-
charged themselves for want of money, and gone into the country to make
hay.” The blockmakers, the joiners, and the sawyers all refused to work
longer without money (“Calendar,” 1664-65, p. 453).
1602
JULY 1665
2nd (Sunday). Up, and all the morning dressing my closet at
the office with my plates, very neatly, and a fine place now it is,
and will be a pleasure to sit in, though I thank God I needed none
before. At noon dined at home, and after dinner to my accounts
and cast them up, and find that though I have spent above £90
this month yet I have saved £17, and am worth in all above £1450,
for which the Lord be praised! In the evening my Lady Pen and
daughter come to see, and supped with us, then a messenger
about business of the office from Sir G. Carteret at Chatham, and
by word of mouth did send me word that the business between
my Lord and him is fully agreed on,497 and is mightily liked of by
the King and the Duke of Yorke, and that he sent me this word
with great joy; they gone, we to bed. I hear this night that Sir J.
Lawson was buried late last night at St. Dunstan’s by us, without
any company at all, and that the condition of his family is but
very poor, which I could be contented to be sorry for, though he
never was the man that ever obliged me by word or deed.
3rd. Up and by water with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes to
White Hall to the Duke of Albemarle, where, after a little busi-
ness, we parted, and I to the Harp and Ball, and there staid a
while talking to Mary, and so home to dinner. After dinner to
the Duke of Albemarle’s again, and so to the Swan, and there
‘demeurais un peu’de temps con la fille’, and so to the Harp and
Ball, and alone ‘demeurais un peu de temps baisant la’, and so
away home and late at the office about letters, and so home, re-
solving from this night forwards to close all my letters, if possi-
ble, and end all my business at the office by daylight, and I shall
go near to do it and put all my affairs in the world in good order,
the season growing so sickly, that it is much to be feared how a
man can escape having a share with others in it, for which the
good Lord God bless me, or to be fitted to receive it. So after
supper to bed, and mightily troubled in my sleep all night with
497 The arrangements for the marriage of Lady Jemimah Montagu to Philip
Carteret were soon settled, for the wedding took place on July 31st
1603
JULY 1665
dreams of Jacke Cole, my old schoolfellow, lately dead, who was
born at the same time with me, and we reckoned our fortunes
pretty equal. God fit me for his condition!
4th. Up, and sat at the office all the morning. At noon to the
‘Change and thence to the Dolphin, where a good dinner at the
cost of one Mr. Osbaston, who lost a wager to Sir W. Batten, Sir
W. Rider, and Sir R. Ford, a good while since and now it is spent.
The wager was that ten of our ships should not have a fight with
ten of the enemy’s before Michaelmas. Here was other very good
company, and merry, and at last in come Mr. Buckeworth, a
very fine gentleman, and proves to be a Huntingdonshire man.
Thence to my office and there all the afternoon till night, and so
home to settle some accounts of Tangier and other papers. I hear
this day the Duke and Prince Rupert are both come back from
sea, and neither of them go back again. The latter I much wonder
at, but it seems the towne reports so, and I am very glad of it. This
morning I did a good piece of work with Sir W. Warren, ending
the business of the lotterys, wherein honestly I think I shall get
above £100. Bankert, it seems, is come home with the little fleete
he hath been abroad with, without doing any thing, so that there
is nobody of an enemy at sea. We are in great hopes of meeting
with the Dutch East India fleete, which is mighty rich, or with
De Ruyter, who is so also. Sir Richard Ford told me this day, at
table, a fine account, how the Dutch were like to have been mas-
tered by the present Prince of Orange498 his father to be besieged
in Amsterdam, having drawn an army of foot into the towne,
and horse near to the towne by night, within three miles of the
towne, and they never knew of it; but by chance the Hamburgh
post in the night fell among the horse, and heard their design,
and knowing the way, it being very dark and rainy, better than
498 The period alluded to is 1650, when the States-General disbanded part
of the forces which the Prince of Orange (William) wished to retain. The
prince attempted, but unsuccessfully, to possess himself of Amsterdam. In
the same year he died, at the early age of twenty-four; some say of the small-
pox; others, with Sir Richard Ford, say of poison.–B.
1604
JULY 1665
they, went from them, and did give notice to the towne before the
others could reach the towne, and so were saved. It seems this
De Witt and another family, the Beckarts, were among the chief of
the familys that were enemys to the Prince, and were afterwards
suppressed by the Prince, and continued so till he was, as they
say, poysoned; and then they turned all again, as it was, against
the young Prince, and have so carried it to this day, it being about
12 and 14 years, and De Witt in the head of them.
5th. Up, and advised about sending of my wife’s bedding and
things to Woolwich, in order to her removal thither. So to the
office, where all the morning till noon, and so to the ‘Change,
and thence home to dinner. In the afternoon I abroad to St.
James’s, and there with Mr. Coventry a good while, and un-
derstand how matters are ordered in the fleete: that is, my Lord
Sandwich goes Admiral; under him Sir G. Ascue, and Sir T. Ted-
diman; Vice-Admiral, Sir W. Pen; and under him Sir W. Barke-
ley, and Sir Jos. Jordan: Reere-Admiral, Sir Thomas Allen; and
under him Sir Christopher Mings,499 and Captain Harman. We
talked in general of business of the Navy, among others how he
had lately spoken to Sir G. Carteret, and professed great resolu-
tion of friendship with him and reconciliation, and resolves to
make it good as well as he can, though it troubles him, he tells
me, that something will come before him wherein he must give
him offence, but I do find upon the whole that Mr. Coventry do
not listen to these complaints of money with the readiness and
resolvedness to remedy that he used to do, and I think if he be-
gins to draw in it is high time for me to do so too. From thence
walked round to White Hall, the Parke being quite locked up;
and I observed a house shut up this day in the Pell Mell, where
heretofore in Cromwell’s time we young men used to keep our
weekly clubs. And so to White Hall to Sir G. Carteret, who is
499 The son of a shoemaker, bred to the sea-service; he rose to the rank of an
admiral, and was killed in the fight with the Dutch, June, 1666.–B. See post,
June 10th, 1666.
1605
JULY 1665
come this day from Chatham, and mighty glad he is to see me,
and begun to talk of our great business of the match, which goes
on as fast as possible, but for convenience we took water and over
to his coach to Lambeth, by which we went to Deptford, all the
way talking, first, how matters are quite concluded with all pos-
sible content between my Lord and him and signed and sealed,
so that my Lady Sandwich is to come thither to-morrow or next
day, and the young lady is sent for, and all likely to be ended be-
tween them in a very little while, with mighty joy on both sides,
and the King, Duke, Lord Chancellor, and all mightily pleased.
Thence to newes, wherein I find that Sir G. Carteret do now take
all my Lord Sandwich’s business to heart, and makes it the same
with his owne. He tells me how at Chatham it was proposed
to my Lord Sandwich to be joined with the Prince in the com-
mand of the fleete, which he was most willing to; but when it
come to the Prince, he was quite against it; saying, there could be
no government, but that it would be better to have two fleetes,
and neither under the command of the other, which he would
not agree to. So the King was not pleased; but, without any un-
kindnesse, did order the fleete to be ordered as above, as to the
Admirals and commands: so the Prince is come up; and Sir G.
Carteret, I remember, had this word thence, that, says he, by this
means, though the King told him that it would be but for this ex-
pedition, yet I believe we shall keepe him out for altogether. He
tells me how my Lord was much troubled at Sir W. Pen’s being
ordered forth (as it seems he is, to go to Solebay, and with the
best fleete he can, to go forth), and no notice taken of my Lord
Sandwich going after him, and having the command over him.
But after some discourse Mr. Coventry did satisfy, as he says,
my Lord, so as they parted friends both in that point and upon
the other wherein I know my Lord was troubled, and which Mr.
Coventry did speak to him of first thinking that my Lord might
justly take offence at, his not being mentioned in the relation of
the fight in the news book, and did clear all to my Lord how lit-
tle he was concerned in it, and therewith my Lord also satisfied,
1606
JULY 1665
which I am mightily glad of, because I should take it a very great
misfortune to me to have them two to differ above all the per-
sons in the world. Being come to Deptford, my Lady not being
within, we parted, and I by water to Woolwich, where I found
my wife come, and her two mayds, and very prettily accommo-
dated they will be; and I left them going to supper, grieved in
my heart to part with my wife, being worse by much without
her, though some trouble there is in having the care of a family
at home in this plague time, and so took leave, and I in one boat
and W. Hewer in another home very late, first against tide, we
having walked in the dark to Greenwich. Late home and to bed,
very lonely.
6th. Up and forth to give order to my pretty grocer’s wife’s
house, who, her husband tells me, is going this day for the sum-
mer into the country. I bespoke some sugar, &c., for my father,
and so home to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined
at home, and then by water to White Hall to Sir G. Carteret about
money for the office, a sad thought, for in a little while all must
go to wracke, winter coming on apace, when a great sum must
be ready to pay part of the fleete, and so far we are from it that
we have not enough to stop the mouths of poor people and their
hands from falling about our eares here almost in the office. God
give a good end to it! Sir G. Carteret told me one considerable
thing: Alderman Backewell is ordered abroad upon some private
score with a great sum of money; wherein I was instrumental the
other day in shipping him away. It seems some of his creditors
have taken notice of it, and he was like to be broke yesterday in
his absence; Sir G. Carteret telling me that the King and the king-
dom must as good as fall with that man at this time; and that he
was forced to get £4000 himself to answer Backewell’s people’s
occasions, or he must have broke; but committed this to me as a
great secret and which I am heartily sorry to hear. Thence, after
a little merry discourse of our marrying business, I parted, and
by coach to several places, among others to see my Lord Brunk-
erd, who is not well, but was at rest when I come. I could not
1607
JULY 1665
see him, nor had much mind, one of the great houses within two
doors of him being shut up: and, Lord! the number of houses
visited, which this day I observed through the town quite round
in my way by Long Lane and London Wall. So home to the of-
fice, and thence to Sir W. Batten, and spent the evening at supper;
and, among other discourse, the rashness of Sir John Lawson, for
breeding up his daughter so high and proud, refusing a man of
great interest, Sir W. Barkeley, to match her with a melancholy
fellow, Colonell Norton’s’ son, of no interest nor good nature
nor generosity at all, giving her £6000, when the other would
have taken her with two; when he himself knew that he was not
worth the money himself in all the world, he did give her that
portion, and is since dead, and left his wife and two daughters
beggars, and the other gone away with £6000, and no content
in it, through the ill qualities of her father-in-law and husband,
who, it seems, though a pretty woman, contracted for her as if
he had been buying a horse; and, worst of all, is now of no use
to serve the mother and two little sisters in any stead at Court,
whereas the other might have done what he would for her: so
here is an end of this family’s pride, which, with good care, might
have been what they would, and done well. Thence, weary of
this discourse, as the act of the greatest rashness that ever I heard
of in all my little conversation, we parted, and I home to bed. Sir
W. Pen, it seems, sailed last night from Solebay with, about sixty
sail of ship, and my Lord Sandwich in “The Prince” and some
others, it seems, going after them to overtake them, for I am sure
my Lord Sandwich will do all possible to overtake them, and will
be troubled to the heart if he do it not.
7th. Up, and having set my neighbour, Mr. Hudson, wine
coopers, at work drawing out a tierce of wine for the sending of
some of it to my wife, I abroad, only taking notice to what a con-
dition it hath pleased God to bring me that at this time I have
two tierces of Claret, two quarter casks of Canary, and a smaller
vessel of Sack; a vessel of Tent, another of Malaga, and another of
white wine, all in my wine cellar together; which, I believe, none
1608
JULY 1665
of my friends of my name now alive ever had of his owne at one
time. To Westminster, and there with Mr. Povy and Creed talking
of our Tangier business, and by and by I drew Creed aside and
acquainted him with what Sir G. Carteret did tell me about Back-
ewell the other day, because he hath money of his in his hands.
So home, taking some new books, £5 worth, home to my great
content. At home all the day after busy. Some excellent discourse
and advice of Sir W. Warren’s in the afternoon, at night home to
look over my new books, and so late to bed.
8th. All day very diligent at the office, ended my letters by 9 at
night, and then fitted myself to go down to Woolwich to my wife,
which I did, calling at Sir G. Carteret’s at Deptford, and there hear
that my Lady Sandwich is come, but not very well. By 12 o’clock
to Woolwich, found my wife asleep in bed, but strange to think
what a fine night I had down, but before I had been one minute
on shore, the mightiest storm come of wind and rain that almost
could be for a quarter of an houre and so left. I to bed, being the
first time I come to her lodgings, and there lodged well.
9th (Lord’s day). Very pleasant with her and among my peo-
ple, while she made her ready, and, about 10 o’clock, by water to
Sir G. Carteret, and there find my Lady [Sandwich] in her cham-
ber, not very well, but looks the worst almost that ever I did see
her in my life. It seems her drinking of the water at Tunbridge did
almost kill her before she could with most violent physique get it
out of her body again. We are received with most extraordinary
kindnesse by my Lady Carteret and her children, and dined most
nobly. Sir G. Carteret went to Court this morning. After dinner
I took occasion to have much discourse with Mr. Ph. Carteret,
and find him a very modest man; and I think verily of mighty
good nature, and pretty understanding. He did give me a good
account of the fight with the Dutch. My Lady Sandwich dined in
her chamber. About three o’clock I, leaving my wife there, took
boat and home, and there shifted myself into my black silke suit,
and having promised Harman yesterday, I to his house, which I
1609
JULY 1665
find very mean, and mean company. His wife very ill; I could
not see her. Here I, with her father and Kate Joyce, who was
also very ill, were godfathers and godmother to his boy, and was
christened Will. Mr. Meriton christened him. The most observ-
able thing I found there to my content, was to hear him and his
clerk tell me that in this parish of Michell’s, Cornhill, one of the
middlemost parishes and a great one of the towne, there hath,
notwithstanding this sickliness, been buried of any disease, man,
woman, or child, not one for thirteen months last past; which
[is] very strange. And the like in a good degree in most other
parishes, I hear, saving only of the plague in them, but in this
neither the plague nor any other disease. So back again home
and reshifted myself, and so down to my Lady Carteret’s, where
mighty merry and great pleasantnesse between my Lady Sand-
wich and the young ladies and me, and all of us mighty merry,
there never having been in the world sure a greater business of
general content than this match proposed between Mr. Carteret
and my Lady Jemimah. But withal it is mighty pretty to think
how my poor Lady Sandwich, between her and me, is doubtfull
whether her daughter will like of it or no, and how troubled she
is for fear of it, which I do not fear at all, and desire her not to do
it, but her fear is the most discreet and pretty that ever I did see.
Late here, and then my wife and I, with most hearty kindnesse
from my Lady Carteret by boat to Woolwich, come thither about
12 at night, and so to bed.
10th. Up, and with great pleasure looking over a nest of pup-
pies of Mr. Shelden’s, with which my wife is most extraordinary
pleased, and one of them is promised her. Anon I took my leave,
and away by water to the Duke of Albemarle’s, where he tells me
that I must be at Hampton Court anon. So I home to look over
my Tangier papers, and having a coach of Mr. Povy’s attend-
ing me, by appointment, in order to my coming to dine at his
country house at Brainford, where he and his family is, I went
and Mr. Tasbrough with me therein, it being a pretty chariot, but
most inconvenient as to the horses throwing dust and dirt into
1610
JULY 1665
one’s eyes and upon one’s clothes. There I staid a quarter of an
houre, Creed being there, and being able to do little business (but
the less the better). Creed rode before, and Mr. Povy and I after
him in the chariot; and I was set down by him at the Parke pale,
where one of his saddle horses was ready for me, he himself not
daring to come into the house or be seen, because that a servant
of his, out of his horse, happened to be sicke, but is not yet dead,
but was never suffered to come into his house after he was ill. But
this opportunity was taken to injure Povy, and most horribly he
is abused by some persons hereupon, and his fortune, I believe,
quite broke; but that he hath a good heart to bear, or a cunning
one to conceal his evil. There I met with Sir W. Coventry, and by
and by was heard by my Lord Chancellor and Treasurer about
our Tangier money, and my Lord Treasurer had ordered me to
forbear meddling with the £15,000 he offered me the other day,
but, upon opening the case to them, they did offer it again, and so
I think I shall have it, but my Lord General must give his consent
in it, this money having been promised to him, and he very an-
gry at the proposal. Here though I have not been in many years,
yet I lacke time to stay, besides that it is, I perceive, an unpleas-
ing thing to be at Court, everybody being fearful one of another,
and all so sad, enquiring after the plague, so that I stole away by
my horse to Kingston, and there with trouble was forced, to press
two sturdy rogues to carry me to London, and met at the water-
side with Mr. Charnocke, Sir Philip Warwicke’s clerke, who had
been in company and was quite foxed. I took him with me in my
boat, and so away to Richmond, and there, by night, walked with
him to Moreclacke, a very pretty walk, and there staid a good
while, now and then talking and sporting with Nan the servant,
who says she is a seaman’s wife, and at last bade good night.
11th. And so all night down by water, a most pleasant pas-
sage, and come thither by two o’clock, and so walked from the
Old Swan home, and there to bed to my Will, being very weary,
and he lodging at my desire in my house. At 6 o’clock up and to
Westminster (where and all the towne besides, I hear, the plague
1611
JULY 1665
encreases), and, it being too soon to go to the Duke of Albemarle,
I to the Harp and Ball, and there made a bargain with Mary to
go forth with me in the afternoon, which she with much ado
consented to. So I to the Duke of Albemarle’s, and there with
much ado did get his consent in part to my having the money
promised for Tangier, and the other part did not concur. So be-
ing displeased with this, I back to the office and there sat alone a
while doing business, and then by a solemn invitation to the Trin-
ity House, where a great dinner and company, Captain Dobbin’s
feast for Elder Brother. But I broke up before the dinner half over
and by water to the Harp and Ball, and thence had Mary meet
me at the New Exchange, and there took coach and I with great
pleasure took the ayre to Highgate, and thence to Hampstead,
much pleased with her company, pretty and innocent, and had
what pleasure almost I would with her, and so at night, weary
and sweaty, it being very hot beyond bearing, we back again,
and I set her down in St. Martin’s Lane, and so I to the evening
‘Change, and there hear all the towne full that Ostend is deliv-
ered to us, and that Alderman Backewell500 did go with £50,000
to that purpose. But the truth of it I do not know, but something I
believe there is extraordinary in his going. So to the office, where
I did what I could as to letters, and so away to bed, shifting my-
self, and taking some Venice treakle, feeling myself out of order,
and thence to bed to sleep.
500 Among the State Papers is a letter from the king to the Lord General
(dated August 8th, 1665): “Alderman Backwell being in great straits for the
second payment he has to make for the service in Flanders, as much tin is
to be transmitted to him as will raise the sum. Has authorized him and Sir
George Carteret to treat with the tin farmers for 500 tons of tin to be speedily
transported under good convoy; but if, on consulting with Alderman Back-
well, this plan of the tin seems insufficient, then without further difficulty he
is to dispose for that purpose of the £10,000 assigned for pay of the Guards,
not doubting that before that comes due, other ways will be found for sup-
plying it; the payment in Flanders is of such importance that some means
must be found of providing for it” (“Calendar,” Domestic, 1664-65, pp. 508,
509)
1612
JULY 1665
12th. After doing what business I could in the morning, it be-
ing a solemn fast-day501 for the plague growing upon us, I took
boat and down to Deptford, where I stood with great pleasure
an houre or two by my Lady Sandwich’s bedside, talking to her
(she lying prettily in bed) of my Lady Jemimah’s being from my
Lady Pickering’s when our letters come to that place; she being
at my Lord Montagu’s, at Boughton. The truth is, I had received
letters of it two days ago, but had dropped them, and was in a
very extraordinary straite what to do for them, or what account
to give my Lady, but sent to every place; I sent to Moreclacke,
where I had been the night before, and there they were found,
which with mighty joy come safe to me; but all ending with sat-
isfaction to my Lady and me, though I find my Lady Carteret
not much pleased with this delay, and principally because of the
plague, which renders it unsafe to stay long at Deptford. I eat a
bit (my Lady Carteret being the most kind lady in the world), and
so took boat, and a fresh boat at the Tower, and so up the river,
against tide all the way, I having lost it by staying prating to and
with my Lady, and, from before one, made it seven ere we got
to Hampton Court; and when I come there all business was over,
saving my finding Mr. Coventry at his chamber, and with him a
good while about several businesses at his chamber, and so took
leave, and away to my boat, and all night upon the water, staying
a while with Nan at Moreclacke, very much pleased and merry
with her, and so on homeward, and come home by two o’clock,
shooting the bridge at that time of night, and so to bed, where I
find Will is not, he staying at Woolwich to come with my wife to
dinner tomorrow to my Lady Carteret’s. Heard Mr. Williamson
repeat at Hampton Court to-day how the King of France hath
501 “A form of Common Prayer; together with an order for fasting for the
averting of God’s heavy visitation upon many places of this realm. The fast
to be observed within the cities of London and Westminster and places ad-
jacent, on Wednesday the twelfth of this instant July, and both there and in
all parts of this realm on the first Wednesday in every month during the
visitation” (“Calendar of State Papers,” Domestic, 1664-65, p. 466).
1613
JULY 1665
lately set out a most high arrest against the Pope, which is reck-
oned very lofty and high.502 13th. Lay long, being sleepy, and
then up to the office, my Lord Brunker (after his sickness) being
come to the office, and did what business there was, and so I by
water, at night late, to Sir G. Carteret’s, but there being no oars to
carry me, I was fain to call a skuller that had a gentleman already
in it, and he proved a man of love to musique, and he and I sung
together the way down with great pleasure, and an incident ex-
traordinary to be met with. There come to dinner, they haveing
dined, but my Lady caused something to be brought for me, and
I dined well and mighty merry, especially my Lady Slaning and
I about eating of creame and brown bread, which she loves as
much as I. Thence after long discourse with them and my Lady
alone, I and [my] wife, who by agreement met here, took leave,
and I saw my wife a little way down (it troubling me that this
absence makes us a little strange instead of more fond), and so
parted, and I home to some letters, and then home to bed. Above
700 died of the plague this week.
14th. Up, and all the morning at the Exchequer endeavouring
to strike tallys for money for Tangier, and mightily vexed to see
502 Arret. The rupture between Alexander VII. and Louis XIV. was healed
in 1664, by the treaty signed at Pisa, on February 12th. On August 9th, the
pope’s nephew, Cardinal Chigi, made his entry into Paris, as legate, to give
the king satisfaction for the insult offered at Rome by the Corsican guard
to the Duc de Crequi, the French ambassador; (see January 25th, 1662-63).
Cardinal Imperiali, Governor of Rome, asked pardon of the king in person,
and all the hard conditions of the treaty were fulfilled. But no arret against
the pope was set forth in 1665. On the contrary, Alexander, now wishing
to please the king, issued a constitution on February 2nd, 1665, ordering all
the clergy of France, without any exception, to sign a formulary condemning
the famous five propositions extracted from the works of Jansenius; and on
April 29th, the king in person ordered the parliament to register the bull.
The Jansenist party, of course, demurred to this proceeding; the Bishops of
Alais, Angers, Beauvais, and Pamiers, issuing mandates calling upon their
clergy to refuse. It was against these mandates, as being contrary to the
king’s declaration and the pope’s intentions, that the arret was directed.–B.
1614
JULY 1665
how people attend there, some out of towne, and others drowsy,
and to others it was late, so that the King’s business suffers ten
times more than all their service is worth. So I am put off to
to-morrow. Thence to the Old Exchange, by water, and there be-
spoke two fine shirts of my pretty seamstress, who, she tells me,
serves Jacke Fenn. Upon the ‘Change all the news is that guns
have been heard and that news is come by a Dane that my Lord
was in view of De Ruyter, and that since his parting from my
Lord of Sandwich he hath heard guns, but little of it do I think
true. So home to dinner, where Povy by agreement, and after din-
ner we to talk of our Tangier matters, about keeping our profit at
the pay and victualling of the garrison, if the present undertakers
should leave it, wherein I did [not] nor will do any thing unwor-
thy me and any just man, but they being resolved to quit it, it is
fit I should suffer Mr. Povy to do what he can with Mr. Gau-
den about it to our profit. Thence to the discoursing of putting
some sums of money in order and tallys, which we did pretty
well. So he in the evening gone, I by water to Sir G. Carteret’s,
and there find my Lady Sandwich and her buying things for my
Lady Jem.‘s wedding; and my Lady Jem. is beyond expectation
come to Dagenhams, where Mr. Carteret is to go to visit her to-
morrow; and my proposal of waiting on him, he being to go alone
to all persons strangers to him, was well accepted, and so I go
with him. But, Lord! to see how kind my Lady Carteret is to her!
Sends her most rich jewells, and provides bedding and things of
all sorts most richly for her, which makes my Lady and me out
of our wits almost to see the kindnesse she treats us all with, as if
they would buy the young lady. Thence away home and, foresee-
ing my being abroad two days, did sit up late making of letters
ready against tomorrow, and other things, and so to bed, to be
up betimes by the helpe of a larum watch, which by chance I bor-
rowed of my watchmaker to-day, while my owne is mending.
15th. Up, and after all business done, though late, I to Dept-
ford, but before I went out of the office saw there young Bag-
well’s wife returned, but could not stay to speak to her, though
1615
JULY 1665
I had a great mind to it, and also another great lady, as to fine
clothes, did attend there to have a ticket signed; which I did do,
taking her through the garden to my office, where I signed it and
had a salute–[kiss]–of her, and so I away by boat to Redriffe, and
thence walked, and after dinner, at Sir G. Carteret’s, where they
stayed till almost three o’clock for me, and anon took boat, Mr.
Carteret and I to the ferry-place at Greenwich, and there staid an
hour crossing the water to and again to get our coach and horses
over; and by and by set out, and so toward Dagenhams. But,
Lord! what silly discourse we had by the way as to love-matters,
he being the most awkerd man I ever met with in my life as to
that business. Thither we come, by that time it begun to be dark,
and were kindly received by Lady Wright and my Lord Crew.
And to discourse they went, my Lord discoursing with him, ask-
ing of him questions of travell, which he answered well enough
in a few words; but nothing to the lady from him at all. To sup-
per, and after supper to talk again, he yet taking no notice of the
lady. My Lord would have had me have consented to leaving the
young people together to-night, to begin their amours, his stay-
ing being but to be little. But I advised against it, lest the lady
might be too much surprised. So they led him up to his chamber,
where I staid a little, to know how he liked the lady, which he told
me he did mightily; but, Lord! in the dullest insipid manner that
ever lover did. So I bid him good night, and down to prayers
with my Lord Crew’s family, and after prayers, my Lord, and
Lady Wright, and I, to consult what to do; and it was agreed at
last to have them go to church together, as the family used to do,
though his lameness was a great objection against it. But at last
my Lady Jem. sent me word by my Lady Wright that it would
be better to do just as they used to do before his coming; and
therefore she desired to go to church, which was yielded then to.
16th (Lord’s day). I up, having lain with Mr. Moore in the
chaplin’s chamber. And having trimmed myself, down to Mr.
Carteret; and he being ready we down and walked in the gallery
an hour or two, it being a most noble and pretty house that ever,
1616
JULY 1665
for the bigness, I saw. Here I taught him what to do: to take
the lady always by the hand to lead her, and telling him that I
would find opportunity to leave them two together, he should
make these and these compliments, and also take a time to do
the like to Lord Crew and Lady Wright. After I had instructed
him, which he thanked me for, owning that he needed my teach-
ing him, my Lord Crew come down and family, the young lady
among the rest; and so by coaches to church four miles off; where
a pretty good sermon, and a declaration of penitence of a man
that had undergone the Churches censure for his wicked life.
Thence back again by coach, Mr. Carteret having not had the
confidence to take his lady once by the hand, coming or going,
which I told him of when we come home, and he will hereafter
do it. So to dinner. My Lord excellent discourse. Then to walk
in the gallery, and to sit down. By and by my Lady Wright and I
go out (and then my Lord Crew, he not by design), and lastly my
Lady Crew come out, and left the young people together. And a
little pretty daughter of my Lady Wright’s most innocently come
out afterward, and shut the door to, as if she had done it, poor
child, by inspiration; which made us without, have good sport
to laugh at. They together an hour, and by and by church-time,
whither he led her into the coach and into the church, and so at
church all the afternoon, several handsome ladies at church. But
it was most extraordinary hot that ever I knew it. So home again
and to walk in the gardens, where we left the young couple a sec-
ond time; and my Lady Wright and I to walk together, who to my
trouble tells me that my Lady Jem. must have something done
to her body by Scott before she can be married, and therefore
care must be had to send him, also that some more new clothes
must of necessity be made her, which and other things I took care
of. Anon to supper, and excellent discourse and dispute between
my Lord Crew and the chaplin, who is a good scholler, but a non-
conformist. Here this evening I spoke with Mrs. Carter, my old
acquaintance, that hath lived with my Lady these twelve or thir-
teen years, the sum of all whose discourse and others for her, is,
1617
JULY 1665
that I would get her a good husband; which I have promised, but
know not when I shall perform. After Mr. Carteret was carried
to his chamber, we to prayers again and then to bed.
17th. Up all of us, and to billiards; my Lady Wright, Mr.
Carteret, myself, and every body. By and by the young couple
left together. Anon to dinner; and after dinner Mr. Carteret took
my advice about giving to the servants, and I led him to give
£10 among them, which he did, by leaving it to the chief man-
servant, Mr. Medows, to do for him. Before we went, I took my
Lady Jem. apart, and would know how she liked this gentleman,
and whether she was under any difficulty concerning him. She
blushed, and hid her face awhile; but at last I forced her to tell
me. She answered that she could readily obey what her father
and mother had done; which was all she could say, or I expect.
So anon I took leave, and for London. But, Lord! to see, among
other things, how all these great people here are afeard of Lon-
don, being doubtfull of anything that comes from thence, or that
hath lately been there, that I was forced to say that I lived wholly
at Woolwich. In our way Mr. Carteret did give me mighty thanks
for my care and pains for him, and is mightily pleased, though
the truth is, my Lady Jem. hath carried herself with mighty dis-
cretion and gravity, not being forward at all in any degree, but
mighty serious in her answers to him, as by what he says and I
observed, I collect. To London to my office, and there took letters
from the office, where all well, and so to the Bridge, and there
he and I took boat and to Deptford, where mighty welcome, and
brought the good newes of all being pleased to them. Mighty
mirth at my giving them an account of all; but the young man
could not be got to say one word before me or my Lady Sand-
wich of his adventures, but, by what he afterwards related to his
father and mother and sisters, he gives an account that pleases
them mightily. Here Sir G. Carteret would have me lie all night,
which I did most nobly, better than ever I did in my life, Sir G.
Carteret being mighty kind to me, leading me to my chamber;
and all their care now is, to have the business ended, and they
1618
JULY 1665
have reason, because the sicknesse puts all out of order, and they
cannot safely stay where they are.
18th. Up and to the office, where all the morning, and so to my
house and eat a bit of victuals, and so to the ‘Change, where a
little business and a very thin Exchange; and so walked through
London to the Temple, where I took water for Westminster to the
Duke of Albemarle, to wait on him, and so to Westminster Hall,
and there paid for my newes-books, and did give Mrs. Michell,
who is going out of towne because of the sicknesse, and her hus-
band, a pint of wine, and so Sir W. Warren coming to me by
appointment we away by water home, by the way discoursing
about the project I have of getting some money and doing the
King good service too about the mast docke at Woolwich, which
I fear will never be done if I do not go about it. After dispatching
letters at the office, I by water down to Deptford, where I staid
a little while, and by water to my wife, whom I have not seen 6
or 5 days, and there supped with her, and mighty pleasant, and
saw with content her drawings, and so to bed mighty merry. I
was much troubled this day to hear at Westminster how the offi-
cers do bury the dead in the open Tuttle-fields, pretending want
of room elsewhere; whereas the New Chappell churchyard was
walled-in at the publick charge in the last plague time, merely for
want of room and now none, but such as are able to pay dear for
it, can be buried there.
19th. Up and to the office, and thence presently to the Exche-
quer, and there with much trouble got my tallys, and afterwards
took Mr. Falconer, Spicer, and another or two to the Leg and there
give them a dinner, and so with my tallys and about 30 dozen of
bags, which it seems are my due, having paid the fees as if I had
received the money I away home, and after a little stay down by
water to Deptford, where I find all full of joy, and preparing to
go to Dagenhams to-morrow. To supper, and after supper to talk
without end. Very late I went away, it raining, but I had a design
‘pour aller a la femme de Bagwell’ and did so.... So away about
1619
JULY 1665
12, and it raining hard I back to Sir G. Carteret and there called
up the page, and to bed there, being all in a most violent sweat.
20th. Up, in a boat among other people to the Tower, and there
to the office, where we sat all the morning. So down to Dept-
ford and there dined, and after dinner saw my Lady Sandwich
and Mr. Carteret and his two sisters over the water, going to
Dagenhams, and my Lady Carteret towards Cranburne.503 So all
the company broke up in most extraordinary joy, wherein I am
mighty contented that I have had the good fortune to be so in-
strumental, and I think it will be of good use to me. So walked to
Redriffe, where I hear the sickness is, and indeed is scattered al-
most every where, there dying 1089 of the plague this week. My
Lady Carteret did this day give me a bottle of plague-water home
with me. So home to write letters late, and then home to bed,
where I have not lain these 3 or 4 nights. I received yesterday
a letter from my Lord Sandwich, giving me thanks for my care
about their marriage business, and desiring it to be dispatched,
that no disappointment may happen therein, which I will help
on all I can. This afternoon I waited on the Duke of Albemarle,
and so to Mrs. Croft’s, where I found and saluted Mrs. Burrows,
who is a very pretty woman for a mother of so many children.
But, Lord! to see how the plague spreads. It being now all over
King’s Streete, at the Axe, and next door to it, and in other places.
21st. Up and abroad to the goldsmiths, to see what money I
could get upon my present tallys upon the advance of the Excise,
and I hope I shall get £10,000. I went also and had them entered at
the Excise Office. Alderman Backewell is at sea. Sir R. Viner come
to towne but this morning. So Colvill was the only man I could
yet speak withal to get any money of. Met with Mr. Povy, and I
with him and dined at the Custom House Taverne, there to talk
of our Tangier business, and Stockedale and Hewet with us. So
abroad to several places, among others to Anthony Joyce’s, and
503 The royal lodge of that name in Windsor Forest, occupied by Sir George
Carteret as Vice-Chamberlain to the King.–B.
1620
JULY 1665
there broke to him my desire to have Pall married to Harman,
whose wife, poor woman, is lately dead, to my trouble, I loving
her very much, and he will consider it. So home and late at my
chamber, setting some papers in order; the plague growing very
raging, and my apprehensions of it great. So very late to bed.
22nd. As soon as up I among my goldsmiths, Sir Robert Viner
and Colvill, and there got £10,000 of my new tallys accepted, and
so I made it my work to find out Mr. Mervin and sent for others
to come with their bills of Exchange, as Captain Hewett, &c., and
sent for Mr. Jackson, but he was not in town. So all the morn-
ing at the office, and after dinner, which was very late, I to Sir
R. Viner’s, by his invitation in the morning, and got near £5000
more accepted, and so from this day the whole, or near, £15,000,
lies upon interest. Thence I by water to Westminster, and the
Duke of Albemarle being gone to dinner to my Lord of Canter-
bury’s, I thither, and there walked and viewed the new hall, a
new old-fashion hall as much as possible. Begun, and means
left for the ending of it, by Bishop Juxon. Not coming proper to
speak with him, I to Fox-hall, where to the Spring garden; but I
do not see one guest there, the town being so empty of any body
to come thither. Only, while I was there, a poor woman come
to scold with the master of the house that a kinswoman, I think,
of hers, that was newly dead of the plague, might be buried in
the church-yard; for, for her part, she should not be buried in
the commons, as they said she should. Back to White Hall, and
by and by comes the Duke of Albemarle, and there, after a little
discourse, I by coach home, not meeting with but two coaches,
and but two carts from White Hall to my own house, that I could
observe; and the streets mighty thin of people. I met this noon
with Dr. Burnett, who told me, and I find in the newsbook this
week that he posted upon the ‘Change, that whoever did spread
the report that, instead of the plague, his servant was by him
killed, it was forgery, and shewed me the acknowledgment of
the master of the pest-house, that his servant died of a bubo on
his right groine, and two spots on his right thigh, which is the
1621
JULY 1665
plague. To my office, where late writing letters, and getting my-
self prepared with business for Hampton Court to-morrow, and
so having caused a good pullet to be got for my supper, all alone,
I very late to bed. All the news is great: that we must of neces-
sity fall out with France, for He will side with the Dutch against
us. That Alderman Backewell is gone over (which indeed he is)
with money, and that Ostend is in our present possession. But it
is strange to see how poor Alderman Backewell is like to be put
to it in his absence, Mr. Shaw his right hand being ill. And the
Alderman’s absence gives doubts to people, and I perceive they
are in great straits for money, besides what Sir G. Carteret told
me about fourteen days ago. Our fleet under my Lord Sandwich
being about the latitude 55 (which is a great secret) to the North-
ward of the Texell. So to bed very late. In my way I called upon
Sir W. Turner, and at Mr. Shelcrosse’s (but he was not at home,
having left his bill with Sir W. Turner), that so I may prove I did
what I could as soon as I had money to answer all bills.
23rd (Lord’s day). Up very betimes, called by Mr. Cutler,
by appointment, and with him in his coach and four horses
over London Bridge to Kingston, a very pleasant journey, and
at Hampton Court by nine o’clock, and in our way very good
and various discourse, as he is a man, that though I think he be
a knave, as the world thinks him, yet a man of great experience
and worthy to be heard discourse. When we come there, we to Sir
W. Coventry’s chamber, and there discoursed long with him, he
and I alone, the others being gone away, and so walked together
through the garden to the house, where we parted, I observing
with a little trouble that he is too great now to expect too much
familiarity with, and I find he do not mind me as he used to do,
but when I reflect upon him and his business I cannot think much
of it, for I do not observe anything but the same great kindness
from him. I followed the King to chappell, and there hear a good
sermon; and after sermon with my Lord Arlington, Sir Thomas
Ingram and others, spoke to the Duke about Tangier, but not to
much purpose. I was not invited any whither to dinner, though
1622
JULY 1665
a stranger, which did also trouble me; but yet I must remember
it is a Court, and indeed where most are strangers; but, how-
ever, Cutler carried me to Mr. Marriott’s the house-keeper, and
there we had a very good dinner and good company, among oth-
ers Lilly, the painter. Thence to the councill-chamber, where in a
back room I sat all the afternoon, but the councill begun late to sit,
and spent most of the time upon Morisco’s Tarr businesse. They
sat long, and I forced to follow Sir Thomas Ingram, the Duke, and
others, so that when I got free and come to look for Cutler, he was
gone with his coach, without leaving any word with any body to
tell me so; so that I was forced with great trouble to walk up and
down looking of him, and at last forced to get a boat to carry me
to Kingston, and there, after eating a bit at a neat inne, which
pleased me well, I took boat, and slept all the way, without in-
termission, from thence to Queenhive, where, it being about two
o’clock, too late and too soon to go home to bed, I lay and slept
till about four,
24th. And then up and home, and there dressed myself, and
by appointment to Deptford, to Sir G. Carteret’s, between six and
seven o’clock, where I found him and my Lady almost ready, and
by and by went over to the ferry, and took coach and six horses
nobly for Dagenhams, himself and lady and their little daugh-
ter, Louisonne, and myself in the coach; where, when we come,
we were bravely entertained and spent the day most pleasantly
with the young ladies, and I so merry as never more. Only for
want of sleep, and drinking of strong beer had a rheum in one
of my eyes, which troubled me much. Here with great content
all the day, as I think I ever passed a day in my life, because
of the contentfulnesse of our errand, and the noblenesse of the
company and our manner of going. But I find Mr. Carteret yet
as backward almost in his caresses, as he was the first day. At
night, about seven o’clock, took coach again; but, Lord! to see in
what a pleasant humour Sir G. Carteret hath been both coming
and going; so light, so fond, so merry, so boyish (so much con-
tent he takes in this business), it is one of the greatest wonders I
1623
JULY 1665
ever saw in my mind. But once in serious discourse he did say
that, if he knew his son to be a debauchee, as many and, most
are now-a-days about the Court, he would tell it, and my Lady
Jem. should not have him; and so enlarged both he and she about
the baseness and looseness of the Court, and told several stories
of the Duke of Monmouth, and Richmond, and some great per-
son, my Lord of Ormond’s second son, married to a lady of ex-
traordinary quality (fit and that might have been made a wife for
the King himself), about six months since, that this great person
hath given the pox to——; and discoursed how much this would
oblige the Kingdom if the King would banish some of these great
persons publiquely from the Court, and wished it with all their
hearts. We set out so late that it grew dark, so as we doubted
the losing of our way; and a long time it was, or seemed, before
we could get to the water-side, and that about eleven at night,
where, when we come, all merry (only my eye troubled me, as I
said), we found no ferryboat was there, nor no oares to carry us to
Deptford. However, afterwards oares was called from the other
side at Greenwich; but, when it come, a frolique, being mighty
merry, took us, and there we would sleep all night in the coach in
the Isle of Doggs. So we did, there being now with us my Lady
Scott, and with great pleasure drew up the glasses, and slept till
daylight, and then some victuals and wine being brought us, we
ate a bit, and so up and took boat, merry as might be; and when
come to Sir G. Carteret’s, there all to bed.
25th. Our good humour in every body continuing, and there
I slept till seven o’clock. Then up and to the office, well re-
freshed, my eye only troubling me, which by keeping a little
covered with my handkercher and washing now and then with
cold water grew better by night. At noon to the ‘Change, which
was very thin, and thence homeward, and was called in by Mr.
Rawlinson, with whom I dined and some good company very
harmlessly merry. But sad the story of the plague in the City, it
growing mightily. This day my Lord Brunker did give me Mr.
Grant’s’ book upon the Bills of Mortality, new printed and en-
1624
JULY 1665
larged. Thence to my office awhile, full of business, and thence
by coach to the Duke of Albemarle’s, not meeting one coach go-
ing nor coming from my house thither and back again, which
is very strange. One of my chief errands was to speak to Sir W.
Clerke about my wife’s brother, who importunes me, and I doubt
he do want mightily, but I can do little for him there as to em-
ployment in the army, and out of my purse I dare not for fear of a
precedent, and letting him come often to me is troublesome and
dangerous too, he living in the dangerous part of the town, but I
will do what I can possibly for him and as soon as I can. Mightily
troubled all this afternoon with masters coming to me about Bills
of Exchange and my signing them upon my Goldsmiths, but I
did send for them all and hope to ease myself this weeke of all
the clamour. These two or three days Mr. Shaw at Alderman
Backewell’s hath lain sick, like to die, and is feared will not live
a day to an end. At night home and to bed, my head full of busi-
ness, and among others, this day come a letter to me from Paris
from my Lord Hinchingbroke, about his coming over; and I have
sent this night an order from the Duke of Albemarle for a ship of
36 guns to [go] to Calais to fetch him.
26th. Up, and after doing a little business, down to Deptford
with Sir W. Batten, and there left him, and I to Greenwich to the
Park, where I hear the King and Duke are come by water this
morn from Hampton Court. They asked me several questions.
The King mightily pleased with his new buildings there. I fol-
lowed them to Castle’s ship in building, and there, met Sir W.
Batten, and thence to Sir G. Carteret’s, where all the morning
with them; they not having any but the Duke of Monmouth, and
Sir W. Killigrew, and one gentleman, and a page more. Great va-
riety of talk, and was often led to speak to the King and Duke.
By and by they to dinner, and all to dinner and sat down to the
King saving myself, which, though I could not in modesty ex-
pect, yet, God forgive my pride! I was sorry I was there, that Sir
W. Batten should say that he could sit down where I could not,
though he had twenty times more reason than I, but this was my
1625
JULY 1665
pride and folly. I down and walked with Mr. Castle, who told
me the design of Ford and Rider to oppose and do all the hurt
they can to Captain Taylor in his new ship “The London,” and
how it comes, and that they are a couple of false persons, which
I believe, and withal that he himself is a knave too. He and I by
and by to dinner mighty nobly, and the King having dined, he
come down, and I went in the barge with him, I sitting at the
door. Down to Woolwich (and there I just saw and kissed my
wife, and saw some of her painting, which is very curious; and
away again to the King) and back again with him in the barge,
hearing him and the Duke talk, and seeing and observing their
manner of discourse. And God forgive me! though I admire
them with all the duty possible, yet the more a man considers
and observes them, the less he finds of difference between them
and other men, though (blessed be God!) they are both princes of
great nobleness and spirits. The barge put me into another boat
that come to our side, Mr. Holder with a bag of gold to the Duke,
and so they away and I home to the office. The Duke of Mon-
mouth is the most skittish leaping gallant that ever I saw, always
in action, vaulting or leaping, or clambering. Thence mighty full
of the honour of this day, I took coach and to Kate Joyce’s, but
she not within, but spoke with Anthony, who tells me he likes
well of my proposal for Pall to Harman, but I fear that less than
£500 will not be taken, and that I shall not be able to give, though
I did not say so to him. After a little other discourse and the sad
news of the death of so many in the parish of the plague, forty
last night, the bell always going, I back to the Exchange, where
I went up and sat talking with my beauty, Mrs. Batelier, a great
while, who is indeed one of the finest women I ever saw in my
life. After buying some small matter, I home, and there to the of-
fice and saw Sir J. Minnes now come from Portsmouth, I home to
set my Journall for these four days in order, they being four days
of as great content and honour and pleasure to me as ever I hope
to live or desire, or think any body else can live. For methinks if
a man would but reflect upon this, and think that all these things
1626
JULY 1665
are ordered by God Almighty to make me contented, and even
this very marriage now on foot is one of the things intended to
find me content in, in my life and matter of mirth, methinks it
should make one mightily more satisfied in the world than he is.
This day poor Robin Shaw at Backewell’s died, and Backewell
himself now in Flanders. The King himself asked about Shaw,
and being told he was dead, said he was very sorry for it. The
sicknesse is got into our parish this week, and is got, indeed,
every where; so that I begin to think of setting things in order,
which I pray God enable me to put both as to soul and body.
27th. Called up at 4 o’clock. Up and to my preparing some pa-
pers for Hampton Court, and so by water to Fox Hall, and there
Mr. Gauden’s coach took me up, and by and by I took up him,
and so both thither, a brave morning to ride in and good dis-
course with him. Among others he begun with me to speak of
the Tangier Victuallers resigning their employment, and his will-
ingness to come on. Of which I was glad, and took the opportu-
nity to answer him with all kindness and promise of assistance.
He told me a while since my Lord Berkeley did speak of it to
him, and yesterday a message from Sir Thomas Ingram. When
I come to Hampton Court I find Sir T. Ingram and Creed ready
with papers signed for the putting of Mr. Gawden in, upon a res-
ignation signed to by Lanyon and sent to Sir Thos. Ingram. At
this I was surprized but yet was glad, and so it passed but with
respect enough to those that are in, at least without any thing ill
taken from it. I got another order signed about the boats, which
I think I shall get something by. So dispatched all my business,
having assurance of continuance of all hearty love from Sir W.
Coventry, and so we staid and saw the King and Queene set out
toward Salisbury, and after them the Duke and Duchesse, whose
hands I did kiss. And it was the first time I did ever, or did
see any body else, kiss her hand, and it was a most fine white
and fat hand. But it was pretty to see the young pretty ladies
dressed like men, in velvet coats, caps with ribbands, and with
laced bands, just like men. Only the Duchesse herself it did not
1627
JULY 1665
become. They gone, we with great content took coach again, and
hungry come to Clapham about one o’clock, and Creed there too
before us, where a good dinner, the house having dined, and so
to walk up and down in the gardens, mighty pleasant. By and by
comes by promise to me Sir G. Carteret, and viewed the house
above and below, and sat and drank there, and I had a little op-
portunity to kiss and spend some time with the ladies above, his
daughter, a buxom lass, and his sister Fissant, a serious lady, and
a little daughter of hers, that begins to sing prettily. Thence, with
mighty pleasure, with Sir G. Carteret by coach, with great dis-
course of kindnesse with him to my Lord Sandwich, and to me
also; and I every day see more good by the alliance. Almost at
Deptford I ‘light and walked over to Half-way House, and so
home, in my way being shown my cozen Patience’s house, which
seems, at distance, a pretty house. At home met the weekly Bill,
where above 1000 encreased in the Bill, and of them, in all about
1,700 of the plague, which hath made the officers this day resolve
of sitting at Deptford, which puts me to some consideration what
to do. Therefore home to think and consider of every thing about
it, and without determining any thing eat a little supper and to
bed, full of the pleasure of these 6 or 7 last days.
28th. Up betimes, and down to Deptford, where, after a little
discourse with Sir G. Carteret, who is much displeased with the
order of our officers yesterday to remove the office to Deptford,
pretending other things, but to be sure it is with regard to his
own house (which is much because his family is going away). I
am glad I was not at the order making, and so I will endeavour to
alter it. Set out with my Lady all alone with her with six horses to
Dagenhams; going by water to the Ferry. And a pleasant going,
and good discourse; and when there, very merry, and the young
couple now well acquainted. But, Lord! to see in what fear all the
people here do live would make one mad, they are afeard of us
that come to them, insomuch that I am troubled at it, and wish
myself away. But some cause they have; for the chaplin, with
whom but a week or two ago we were here mighty high disput-
1628
JULY 1665
ing, is since fallen into a fever and dead, being gone hence to a
friend’s a good way off. A sober and a healthful man. These con-
siderations make us all hasten the marriage, and resolve it upon
Monday next, which is three days before we intended it. Mighty
merry all of us, and in the evening with full content took coach
again and home by daylight with great pleasure, and thence I
down to Woolwich, where find my wife well, and after drinking
and talking a little we to bed.
29th. Up betimes, and after viewing some of my wife’s pic-
tures, which now she is come to do very finely to my great sat-
isfaction beyond what I could ever look for, I went away and by
water to the office, where nobody to meet me, but busy all the
morning. At noon to dinner, where I hear that my Will is come
in thither and laid down upon my bed, ill of the headake, which
put me into extraordinary fear; and I studied all I could to get
him out of the house, and set my people to work to do it without
discouraging him, and myself went forth to the Old Exchange to
pay my fair Batelier for some linnen, and took leave of her, they
breaking up shop for a while; and so by coach to Kate Joyce’s,
and there used all the vehemence and rhetorique I could to get
her husband to let her go down to Brampton, but I could not
prevail with him; he urging some simple reasons, but most that
of profit, minding the house, and the distance, if either of them
should be ill. However, I did my best, and more than I had a
mind to do, but that I saw him so resolved against it, while she
was mightily troubled at it. At last he yielded she should go to
Windsor, to some friends there. So I took my leave of them, be-
lieving that it is great odds that we ever all see one another again;
for I dare not go any more to that end of the towne. So home, and
to writing of letters–hard, and then at night home, and fell to my
Tangier papers till late, and then to bed, in some ease of mind
that Will is gone to his lodging, and that he is likely to do well, it
being only the headake.
30th (Lord’s day). Up, and in my night gowne, cap and neck-
1629
JULY 1665
cloth, undressed all day long, lost not a minute, but in my cham-
ber, setting my Tangier accounts to rights. Which I did by night
to my very heart’s content, not only that it is done, but I find ev-
ery thing right, and even beyond what, after so long neglecting
them, I did hope for. The Lord of Heaven be praised for it! Will
was with me to-day, and is very well again. It was a sad noise to
hear our bell to toll and ring so often to-day, either for deaths or
burials; I think five or six times. At night weary with my day’s
work, but full of joy at my having done it, I to bed, being to rise
betimes tomorrow to go to the wedding at Dagenhams. So to
bed, fearing I have got some cold sitting in my loose garments all
this day.
31st. Up, and very betimes by six o’clock at Deptford, and
there find Sir G. Carteret, and my Lady ready to go: I being in my
new coloured silk suit, and coat trimmed with gold buttons and
gold broad lace round my hands, very rich and fine. By water to
the Ferry, where, when we come, no coach there; and tide of ebb
so far spent as the horse-boat could not get off on the other side
the river to bring away the coach. So we were fain to stay there in
the unlucky Isle of Doggs, in a chill place, the morning cool, and
wind fresh, above two if not three hours to our great discontent.
Yet being upon a pleasant errand, and seeing that it could not be
helped, we did bear it very patiently; and it was worth my ob-
serving, I thought, as ever any thing, to see how upon these two
scores, Sir G. Carteret, the most passionate man in the world, and
that was in greatest haste to be gone, did bear with it, and very
pleasant all the while, at least not troubled much so as to fret and
storm at it. Anon the coach comes: in the mean time there coming
a News thither with his horse to go over, that told us he did come
from Islington this morning; and that Proctor the vintner of the
Miter in Wood-street, and his son, are dead this morning there,
of the plague; he having laid out abundance of money there, and
was the greatest vintner for some time in London for great enter-
tainments. We, fearing the canonicall hour would be past before
we got thither, did with a great deal of unwillingness send away
1630
JULY 1665
the license and wedding ring. So that when we come, though we
drove hard with six horses, yet we found them gone from home;
and going towards the church, met them coming from church,
which troubled us. But, however, that trouble was soon over;
hearing it was well done: they being both in their old cloaths; my
Lord Crew giving her, there being three coach fulls of them. The
young lady mighty sad, which troubled me; but yet I think it was
only her gravity in a little greater degree than usual. All saluted
her, but I did not till my Lady Sandwich did ask me whether I
had saluted her or no. So to dinner, and very merry we were;
but yet in such a sober way as never almost any wedding was in
so great families: but it was much better. After dinner company
divided, some to cards, others to talk. My Lady Sandwich and
I up to settle accounts, and pay her some money. And mighty
kind she is to me, and would fain have had me gone down for
company with her to Hinchingbroke; but for my life I cannot. At
night to supper, and so to talk; and which, methought, was the
most extraordinary thing, all of us to prayers as usual, and the
young bride and bridegroom too and so after prayers, soberly
to bed; only I got into the bridegroom’s chamber while he un-
dressed himself, and there was very merry, till he was called to
the bride’s chamber, and into bed they went. I kissed the bride in
bed, and so the curtaines drawne with the greatest gravity that
could be, and so good night. But the modesty and gravity of
this business was so decent, that it was to me indeed ten times
more delightfull than if it had been twenty times more merry
and joviall. Whereas I feared I must have sat up all night, we did
here all get good beds, and I lay in the same I did before with
Mr. Brisband, who is a good scholler and sober man; and we lay
in bed, getting him to give me an account of home, which is the
most delightfull talke a man can have of any traveller: and so
to sleep. My eyes much troubled already with the change of my
drink. Thus I ended this month with the greatest joy that ever I
did any in my life, because I have spent the greatest part of it with
abundance of joy, and honour, and pleasant journeys, and brave
1631
JULY 1665
entertainments, and without cost of money; and at last live to see
the business ended with great content on all sides. This evening
with Mr. Brisband, speaking of enchantments and spells; I telling
him some of my charms; he told me this of his owne knowledge,
at Bourdeaux, in France. The words these: Voyci un Corps mort,
Royde come un Baston, Froid comme Marbre, Leger come un es-
prit, Levons to au nom de Jesus Christ.
He saw four little girles, very young ones, all kneeling, each of
them, upon one knee; and one begun the first line, whispering in
the eare of the next, and the second to the third, and the third to
the fourth, and she to the first. Then the first begun the second
line, and so round quite through, and, putting each one finger
only to a boy that lay flat upon his back on the ground, as if he
was dead; at the end of the words, they did with their four fingers
raise this boy as high as they could reach, and he [Mr. Brisband]
being there, and wondering at it, as also being afeard to see it,
for they would have had him to have bore a part in saying the
words, in the roome of one of the little girles that was so young
that they could hardly make her learn to repeat the words, did,
for feare there might be some sleight used in it by the boy, or
that the boy might be light, call the cook of the house, a very
lusty fellow, as Sir G. Carteret’s cook, who is very big, and they
did raise him in just the same manner. This is one of the strangest
things I ever heard, but he tells it me of his owne knowledge, and
I do heartily believe it to be true. I enquired of him whether they
were Protestant or Catholique girles; and he told me they were
Protestant, which made it the more strange to me. Thus we end
this month, as I said, after the greatest glut of content that ever
I had; only under some difficulty because of the plague, which
grows mightily upon us, the last week being about 1700 or 1800
of the plague. My Lord Sandwich at sea with a fleet of about 100
sail, to the Northward, expecting De Ruyter, or the Dutch East
India fleet. My Lord Hinchingbroke coming over from France,
and will meet his sister at Scott’s-hall. Myself having obliged
both these families in this business very much; as both my Lady,
1632
JULY 1665
and Sir G. Carteret and his Lady do confess exceedingly, and the
latter do also now call me cozen, which I am glad of. So God
preserve us all friends long, and continue health among us.
1633
AUGUST 1665
August 1st. Slept, and lay long; then up and my Lord [Crew] and
Sir G. Carteret being gone abroad, I first to see the bridegroom
and bride, and found them both up, and he gone to dress himself.
Both red in the face, and well enough pleased this morning with
their night’s lodging. Thence down and Mr. Brisband and I to
billiards: anon come my Lord and Sir G. Carteret in, who have
been looking abroad and visiting some farms that Sir G. Carteret
hath thereabouts, and, among other things, report the greatest
stories of the bigness of the calfes they find there, ready to sell to
the butchers, as big, they say, as little Cowes, and that they do
give them a piece of chalke to licke, which they hold makes them
white in the flesh within. Very merry at dinner, and so to talk and
laugh after dinner, and up and down, some to [one] place, some
to another, full of content on all sides. Anon about five o’clock,
Sir G. Carteret and his lady and I took coach with the greatest joy
and kindnesse that could be from the two familys or that ever I
saw with so much appearance, and, I believe, reality in all my
life. Drove hard home, and it was night ere we got to Deptford,
where, with much kindnesse from them to me, I left them, and
home to the office, where I find all well, and being weary and
sleepy, it being very late, I to bed.
2nd. Up, it being a publique fast, as being the first Wednesday
1634
AUGUST 1665
of the month, for the plague; I within doors all day, and upon my
monthly accounts late, and there to my great joy settled almost all
my private matters of money in my books clearly, and allowing
myself several sums which I had hitherto not reckoned myself
sure of, because I would not be over sure of any thing, though
with reason I might do it, I did find myself really worth £1900, for
which the great God of Heaven and Earth be praised! At night to
the office to write a few letters, and so home to bed, after fitting
myself for tomorrow’s journey.
3rd. Up, and betimes to Deptford to Sir G. Carteret’s, where,
not liking the horse that had been hired by Mr. Uthwayt for me, I
did desire Sir G. Carteret to let me ride his new £40 horse, which
he did, and so I left my ‘hacquenee’–[Haquenee = an ambling
nag fitted for ladies’ riding.]–behind, and so after staying a good
while in their bedchamber while they were dressing themselves,
discoursing merrily, I parted and to the ferry, where I was forced
to stay a great while before I could get my horse brought over,
and then mounted and rode very finely to Dagenhams; all the
way people, citizens, walking to and again to enquire how the
plague is in the City this week by the Bill; which by chance, at
Greenwich, I had heard was 2,020 of the plague, and 3,000 and
odd of all diseases; but methought it was a sad question to be
so often asked me. Coming to Dagenhams, I there met our com-
pany coming out of the house, having staid as long as they could
for me; so I let them go a little before, and went and took leave
of my Lady Sandwich, good woman, who seems very sensible
of my service in this late business, and having her directions in
some things, among others, to get Sir G. Carteret and my Lord
to settle the portion, and what Sir G. Carteret is to settle, into
land, soon as may be, she not liking that it should lie long un-
done, for fear of death on either side. So took leave of her, and
then down to the buttery, and eat a piece of cold venison pie,
and drank and took some bread and cheese in my hand; and so
mounted after them, Mr. Marr very kindly staying to lead me the
way. By and by met my Lord Crew returning, after having ac-
1635
AUGUST 1665
companied them a little way, and so after them, Mr. Marr telling
me by the way how a mayde servant of Mr. John Wright’s (who
lives thereabouts) falling sick of the plague, she was removed
to an out-house, and a nurse appointed to look to her; who, be-
ing once absent, the mayde got out of the house at the window,
and run away. The nurse coming and knocking, and having no
answer, believed she was dead, and went and told Mr. Wright
so; who and his lady were in great strait what to do to get her
buried. At last resolved to go to Burntwood hard by, being in
the parish, and there get people to do it. But they would not;
so he went home full of trouble, and in the way met the wench
walking over the common, which frighted him worse than be-
fore; and was forced to send people to take her, which he did;
and they got one of the pest coaches and put her into it to carry
her to a pest house. And passing in a narrow lane, Sir Anthony
Browne, with his brother and some friends in the coach, met this
coach with the curtains drawn close. The brother being a young
man, and believing there might be some lady in it that would
not be seen, and the way being narrow, he thrust his head out
of his own into her coach, and to look, and there saw somebody
look very ill, and in a sick dress, and stunk mightily; which the
coachman also cried out upon. And presently they come up to
some people that stood looking after it, and told our gallants that
it was a mayde of Mr. Wright’s carried away sick of the plague;
which put the young gentleman into a fright had almost cost him
his life, but is now well again. I, overtaking our young people,
‘light, and into the coach to them, where mighty merry all the
way; and anon come to the Blockehouse, over against Gravesend,
where we staid a great while, in a little drinking-house. Sent back
our coaches to Dagenhams. I, by and by, by boat to Gravesend,
where no newes of Sir G. Carteret come yet; so back again, and
fetched them all over, but the two saddle-horses that were to go
with us, which could not be brought over in the horseboat, the
wind and tide being against us, without towing; so we had some
difference with some watermen, who would not tow them over
1636
AUGUST 1665
under 20s., whereupon I swore to send one of them to sea and
will do it. Anon some others come to me and did it for 10s. By
and by comes Sir G. Carteret, and so we set out for Chatham:
in my way overtaking some company, wherein was a lady, very
pretty, riding singly, her husband in company with her. We fell
into talke, and I read a copy of verses which her husband showed
me, and he discommended, but the lady commended: and I read
them, so as to make the husband turn to commend them. By and
by he and I fell into acquaintance, having known me formerly
at the Exchequer. His name is Nokes, over against Bow Church.
He was servant to Alderman Dashwood. We promised to meet,
if ever we come both to London again; and, at parting, I had a
fair salute on horseback, in Rochester streets, of the lady, and so
parted. Come to Chatham mighty merry, and anon to supper,
it being near 9 o’clock ere we come thither. My Lady Carteret
come thither in a coach, by herself, before us. Great mind they
have to buy a little ‘hacquenee’ that I rode on from Greenwich,
for a woman’s horse. Mighty merry, and after supper, all being
withdrawn, Sir G. Carteret did take an opportunity to speak with
much value and kindness to me, which is of great joy to me. So
anon to bed. Mr. Brisband and I together to my content.
4th. Up at five o’clock, and by six walked out alone, with
my Lady Slanning, to the Docke Yard, where walked up and
down, and so to Mr. Pett’s, who led us into his garden, and there
the lady, the best humoured woman in the world, and a devout
woman (I having spied her on her knees half an houre this morn-
ing in her chamber), clambered up to the top of the banquetting-
house to gather nuts, and mighty merry, and so walked back
again through the new rope house, which is very usefull; and
so to the Hill-house to breakfast and mighty merry. Then they
took coach, and Sir G. Carteret kissed me himself heartily, and
my Lady several times, with great kindnesse, and then the young
ladies, and so with much joy, bade “God be with you!” and an
end I think it will be to my mirthe for a great while, it having
been the passage of my whole life the most pleasing for the time,
1637
AUGUST 1665
considering the quality and nature of the business, and my noble
usage in the doing of it, and very many fine journys, entertain-
ments and great company. I returned into the house for a while
to do business there with Commissioner Pett, and there with the
officers of the Chest, where I saw more of Sir W. Batten’s busi-
ness than ever I did before, for whereas he did own once under
his hand to them that he was accountable for £2200, of which he
had yet paid but £1600, he writes them a letter lately that he hath
but about £50 left that is due to the Chest, but I will do some-
thing in it and that speedily. That being done I took horse, and
Mr. Barrow with me bore me company to Gravesend, discours-
ing of his business, wherein I vexed him, and he me, I seeing his
frowardness, but yet that he is in my conscience a very honest
man, and some good things he told me, which I shall remember
to the King’s advantage. There I took boat alone, and, the tide
being against me, landed at Blackwall and walked to Wapping,
Captain Bowd whom I met with talking with me all the way, who
is a sober man. So home, and found all things well, and letters
from Dover that my Lord Hinchingbroke is arrived at Dover, and
would be at Scott’s hall this night, where the whole company will
meet. I wish myself with them. After writing a few letters I took
boat and down to Woolwich very late, and there found my wife
and her woman upon the key hearing a fellow in a barge, that lay
by, fiddle. So I to them and in, very merry, and to bed, I sleepy
and weary.
5th. In the morning up, and my wife showed me several things
of her doing, especially one fine woman’s Persian head mighty
finely done, beyond what I could expect of her; and so away by
water, having ordered in the yarde six or eight bargemen to be
whipped, who had last night stolen some of the King’s cordage
from out of the yarde. I to Deptford, and there by agreement
met with my Lord Bruncker, and there we kept our office, he
and I, and did what there was to do, and at noon parted to meet
at the office next week. Sir W. Warren and I thence did walk
through the rain to Half-Way House, and there I eat a piece of
1638
AUGUST 1665
boiled beef and he and I talked over several businesses, among
others our design upon the mast docke, which I hope to com-
pass and get 2 or £300 by. Thence to Redriffe, where we parted,
and I home, where busy all the afternoon. Stepped to Colvill’s
to set right a business of money, where he told me that for cer-
tain De Ruyter is come home, with all his fleete, which is very ill
newes, considering the charge we have been at in keeping a fleete
to the northward so long, besides the great expectation of snap-
ping him, wherein my Lord Sandwich will I doubt suffer some
dishonour. I am told also of a great ryott upon Thursday last in
Cheapside; Colonell Danvers, a delinquent, having been taken,
and in his way to the Tower was rescued from the captain of the
guard, and carried away; only one of the rescuers being taken.
I am told also that the Duke of Buckingham is dead, but I know
not of a certainty. So home and very late at letters, and then home
to supper and to bed.
6th (Lord’s day). Dressed and had my head combed by my
little girle, to whom I confess ‘que je sum demasiado kind, nuper
ponendo mes mains in su des choses de son breast, mais il faut
que je’ leave it lest it bring me to ‘alcun major inconvenience’.
So to my business in my chamber, look over and settling more
of my papers than I could the two last days I have spent about
them. In the evening, it raining hard, down to Woolwich, where
after some little talk to bed.
7th. Up, and with great pleasure looking over my wife’s pic-
tures, and then to see my Lady Pen, whom I have not seen since
her coming hither, and after being a little merry with her, she
went forth and I staid there talking with Mrs. Pegg and look-
ing over her pictures, and commended them; but, Lord! so far
short of my wife’s, as no comparison. Thence to my wife, and
there spent, talking, till noon, when by appointment Mr. An-
drews come out of the country to speake with me about their
Tangier business, and so having done with him and dined, I
home by water, where by appointment I met Dr. Twisden, Mr.
1639
AUGUST 1665
Povy, Mr. Lawson, and Stockdale about settling their business
of money; but such confusion I never met with, nor could any-
thing be agreed on, but parted like a company of fools, I vexed
to lose so much time and pains to no purpose. They gone, comes
Rayner, the boatmaker, about some business, and brings a piece
of plate with him, which I refused to take of him, thinking indeed
that the poor man hath no reason nor encouragement from our
dealings with him to give any of us any presents. He gone, there
comes Luellin, about Mr. Deering’s business of planke, to have
the contract perfected, and offers me twenty pieces in gold, as
Deering had done some time since himself, but I both then and
now refused it, resolving not to be bribed to dispatch business,
but will have it done however out of hand forthwith. So he gone,
I to supper and to bed.
8th. Up and to the office, where all the morning we sat. At
noon I home to dinner alone, and after dinner Bagwell’s wife
waited at the door, and went with me to my office.... So parted,
and I to Sir W. Batten’s, and there sat the most of the afternoon
talking and drinking too much with my Lord Bruncker, Sir G.
Smith, G. Cocke and others very merry. I drunk a little mixed, but
yet more than I should do. So to my office a little, and then to the
Duke of Albemarle’s about some business. The streets mighty
empty all the way, now even in London, which is a sad sight.
And to Westminster Hall, where talking, hearing very sad sto-
ries from Mrs. Mumford; among others, of Mrs. Michell’s son’s
family. And poor Will, that used to sell us ale at the Hall-door,
his wife and three children died, all, I think, in a day. So home
through the City again, wishing I may have taken no ill in going;
but I will go, I think, no more thither. Late at the office, and then
home to supper, having taken a pullet home with me, and then
to bed. The news of De Kuyter’s coming home is certain; and
told to the great disadvantage of our fleete, and the praise of De
Kuyter; but it cannot be helped, nor do I know what to say to it.
9th. Up betimes to my office, where Tom Hater to the writing
1640
AUGUST 1665
of letters with me, which have for a good while been in arreare,
and we close at it all day till night, only made a little step out for
half an houre in the morning to the Exchequer about striking of
tallys, but no good done therein, people being most out of towne.
At noon T. Hater dined with me, and so at it all the afternoon.
At night home and supped, and after reading a little in Cowley’s
poems, my head being disturbed with overmuch business to-day,
I to bed.
10th. Up betimes, and called upon early by my she-cozen
Porter, the turner’s wife, to tell me that her husband was car-
ried to the Tower, for buying of some of the King’s powder, and
would have my helpe, but I could give her none, not daring any
more to appear in the business, having too much trouble lately
therein. By and by to the office, where we sat all the morning;
in great trouble to see the Bill this week rise so high, to above
4,000 in all, and of them above 3,000 of the plague. And an odd
story of Alderman Bence’s stumbling at night over a dead corps
in the streete, and going home and telling his wife, she at the
fright, being with child, fell sicke and died of the plague. We sat
late, and then by invitation my Lord Brunker, Sir J. Minnes, Sir
W. Batten and I to Sir G. Smith’s to dinner, where very good com-
pany and good cheer. Captain Cocke was there and Jacke Fenn,
but to our great wonder Alderman Bence, and tells us that not a
word of all this is true, and others said so too, but by his owne
story his wife hath been ill, and he fain to leave his house and
comes not to her, which continuing a trouble to me all the time I
was there. Thence to the office and, after writing letters, home,
to draw-over anew my will, which I had bound myself by oath
to dispatch by to-morrow night; the town growing so unhealthy,
that a man cannot depend upon living two days to an end. So
having done something of it, I to bed.
11th. Up, and all day long finishing and writing over my will
twice, for my father and my wife, only in the morning a pleasant
rencontre happened in having a young married woman brought
1641
AUGUST 1665
me by her father, old Delkes, that carries pins always in his
mouth, to get her husband off that he should not go to sea, ‘une
contre pouvait avoir done any cose cum else, but I did nothing,
si ni baisser her’. After they were gone my mind run upon hav-
ing them called back again, and I sent a messenger to Blackwall,
but he failed. So I lost my expectation. I to the Exchequer, about
striking new tallys, and I find the Exchequer, by proclamation, re-
moving to Nonesuch.–[Nonsuch Palace, near Epsom, where the
Exchequer money was kept during the time of the plague.]–Back
again and at my papers, and putting up my books into chests,
and settling my house and all things in the best and speediest
order I can, lest it should please God to take me away, or force
me to leave my house. Late up at it, and weary and full of wind,
finding perfectly that so long as I keepe myself in company at
meals and do there eat lustily (which I cannot do alone, having
no love to eating, but my mind runs upon my business), I am as
well as can be, but when I come to be alone, I do not eat in time,
nor enough, nor with any good heart, and I immediately begin to
be full of wind, which brings my pain, till I come to fill my belly
a-days again, then am presently well.
12th. The office now not sitting, but only hereafter on Thurs-
days at the office, I within all the morning about my papers and
setting things still in order, and also much time in settling mat-
ters with Dr. Twisden. At noon am sent for by Sir G. Carteret, to
meet him and my Lord Hinchingbroke at Deptford, but my Lord
did not come thither, he having crossed the river at Gravesend
to Dagenhams, whither I dare not follow him, they being afeard
of me; but Sir G. Carteret says, he is a most sweet youth in ev-
ery circumstance. Sir G. Carteret being in haste of going to the
Duke of Albemarle and the Archbishop, he was pettish, and so
I could not fasten any discourse, but take another time. So he
gone, I down to Greenwich and sent away the Bezan, thinking to
go with my wife to-night to come back again to-morrow night to
the Soveraigne at the buoy off the Nore. Coming back to Dept-
ford, old Bagwell walked a little way with me, and would have
1642
AUGUST 1665
me in to his daughter’s, and there he being gone ‘dehors, ego had
my volunte de su hiza’. Eat and drank and away home, and af-
ter a little at the office to my chamber to put more things still in
order, and late to bed. The people die so, that now it seems they
are fain to carry the dead to be buried by day-light, the nights not
sufficing to do it in. And my Lord Mayor commands people to
be within at nine at night all, as they say, that the sick may have
liberty to go abroad for ayre. There is one also dead out of one
of our ships at Deptford, which troubles us mightily; the Provi-
dence fire-ship, which was just fitted to go to sea. But they tell
me to-day no more sick on board. And this day W. Bodham tells
me that one is dead at Woolwich, not far from the Rope-yard. I
am told, too, that a wife of one of the groomes at Court is dead at
Salsbury; so that the King and Queene are speedily to be all gone
to Milton. God preserve us!
13th (Lord’s day). Up betimes and to my chamber, it being a
very wet day all day, and glad am I that we did not go by water
to see “The Soveraigne”504 to-day, as I intended, clearing all mat-
ters in packing up my papers and books, and giving instructions
in writing to my executors, thereby perfecting the whole busi-
ness of my will, to my very great joy; so that I shall be in much
better state of soul, I hope, if it should please the Lord to call me
away this sickly time. At night to read, being weary with this
day’s great work, and then after supper to bed, to rise betimes
to-morrow, and to bed with a mind as free as to the business of
the world as if I were not worth £100 in the whole world, every
thing being evened under my hand in my books and papers, and
upon the whole I find myself worth, besides Brampton estate, the
504 “The Sovereign of the Seas” was built at Woolwich in 1637 of timber
which had been stripped of its bark while growing in the spring, and not
felled till the second autumn afterwards; and it is observed by Dr. Plot (“Phil.
Trans.” for 1691), in his discourse on the most seasonable time for felling
timber, written by the advice of Pepys, that after forty-seven years, “all the
ancient timber then remaining in her, it was no easy matter to drive a nail
into it” (“Quarterly Review,” vol. viii., p. 35).–B.
1643
AUGUST 1665
sum of £2164, for which the Lord be praised!
14th. Up, and my mind being at mighty ease from the dispatch
of my business so much yesterday, I down to Deptford to Sir G.
Carteret, where with him a great while, and a great deale of pri-
vate talke concerning my Lord Sandwich’s and his matters, and
chiefly of the latter, I giving him great deale of advice about the
necessity of his having caution concerning Fenn, and the many
ways there are of his being abused by any man in his place, and
why he should not bring his son in to look after his business, and
more, to be a Commissioner of the Navy, which he listened to
and liked, and told me how much the King was his good Master,
and was sure not to deny him that or any thing else greater than
that, and I find him a very cunning man, whatever at other times
he seems to be, and among other things he told me he was not for
the fanfaroone505 to make a show with a great title, as he might
have had long since, but the main thing to get an estate; and an-
other thing, speaking of minding of business, “By God,” says he,
“I will and have already almost brought it to that pass, that the
King shall not be able to whip a cat, but I must be at the tayle of
it.” Meaning so necessary he is, and the King and my Lord Trea-
surer and all do confess it; which, while I mind my business, is
my own case in this office of the Navy, and I hope shall be more,
if God give me life and health. Thence by agreement to Sir J.
Minnes’s lodgings, where I found my Lord Bruncker, and so by
water to the ferry, and there took Sir W. Batten’s coach that was
sent for us, and to Sir W. Batten’s, where very merry, good cheer,
and up and down the garden with great content to me, and, after
dinner, beat Captain Cocke at billiards, won about 8s. of him and
my Lord Bruncker. So in the evening after, much pleasure back
again and I by water to Woolwich, where supped with my wife,
and then to bed betimes, because of rising to-morrow at four of
the clock in order to the going out with Sir G. Carteret toward
505 Fanfaron, French, from fanfare, a sounding of trumpets; hence, a swag-
gerer, or empty boaster.
1644
AUGUST 1665
Cranborne to my Lord Hinchingbrooke in his way to Court. This
night I did present my wife with the dyamond ring, awhile since
given me by Mr. Dicke Vines’s brother, for helping him to be a
purser, valued at about £10, the first thing of that nature I did
ever give her. Great fears we have that the plague will be a great
Bill this weeke.
15th. Up by 4 o’clock and walked to Greenwich, where called
at Captain Cocke’s and to his chamber, he being in bed, where
something put my last night’s dream into my head, which I think
is the best that ever was dreamt, which was that I had my Lady
Castlemayne in my armes and was admitted to use all the dal-
liance I desired with her, and then dreamt that this could not
be awake, but that it was only a dream; but that since it was a
dream, and that I took so much real pleasure in it, what a happy
thing it would be if when we are in our graves (as Shakespeere
resembles it) we could dream, and dream but such dreams as
this, that then we should not need to be so fearful of death, as
we are this plague time. Here I hear that news is brought Sir G.
Carteret that my Lord Hinchingbrooke is not well, and so cannot
meet us at Cranborne to-night. So I to Sir G. Carteret’s; and there
was sorry with him for our disappointment. So we have put off
our meeting there till Saturday next. Here I staid talking with
Sir G. Carteret, he being mighty free with me in his business, and
among other things hath ordered Rider and Cutler to put into my
hands copper to the value of £5,000 (which Sir G. Carteret’s share
it seems come to in it), which is to raise part of the money he is to
layout for a purchase for my Lady Jemimah. Thence he and I to
Sir J. Minnes’s by invitation, where Sir W. Batten and my Lady,
and my Lord Bruncker, and all of us dined upon a venison pasty
and other good meat, but nothing well dressed. But my pleasure
lay in getting some bills signed by Sir G. Carteret, and promise
of present payment from Mr. Fenn, which do rejoice my heart, it
being one of the heaviest things I had upon me, that so much of
the little I have should lie (viz. near £1000) in the King’s hands.
Here very merry and (Sir G. Carteret being gone presently after
1645
AUGUST 1665
dinner) to Captain Cocke’s, and there merry, and so broke up and
I by water to the Duke of Albemarle, with whom I spoke a great
deale in private, they being designed to send a fleete of ships
privately to the Streights. No news yet from our fleete, which
is much wondered at, but the Duke says for certain guns have
been heard to the northward very much. It was dark before I
could get home, and so land at Church-yard stairs, where, to my
great trouble, I met a dead corps of the plague, in the narrow ally
just bringing down a little pair of stairs. But I thank God I was
not much disturbed at it. However, I shall beware of being late
abroad again.
16th. Up, and after doing some necessary business about my
accounts at home, to the office, and there with Mr. Hater wrote
letters, and I did deliver to him my last will, one part of it to de-
liver to my wife when I am dead. Thence to the Exchange, where
I have not been a great while. But, Lord! how sad a sight it is to
see the streets empty of people, and very few upon the ‘Change.
Jealous of every door that one sees shut up, lest it should be the
plague; and about us two shops in three, if not more, generally
shut up. From the ‘Change to Sir G. Smith’s’ with Mr. Fenn, to
whom I am nowadays very complaisant, he being under pay-
ment of my bills to me, and some other sums at my desire, which
he readily do. Mighty merry with Captain Cocke and Fenn at
Sir G. Smith’s, and a brave dinner, but I think Cocke is the great-
est epicure that is, eats and drinks with the greatest pleasure and
liberty that ever man did. Very contrary newes to-day upon the
‘Change, some that our fleete hath taken some of the Dutch East
India ships, others that we did attaque it at Bergen and were re-
pulsed, others that our fleete is in great danger after this attaque
by meeting with the great body now gone out of Holland, al-
most 100 sayle of men of warr. Every body is at a great losse
and nobody can tell. Thence among the goldsmiths to get some
money, and so home, settling some new money matters, and to
my great joy have got home £500 more of the money due to me,
and got some more money to help Andrews first advanced. This
1646
AUGUST 1665
day I had the ill news from Dagenhams, that my poor lord of
Hinchingbroke his indisposition is turned to the small-pox. Poor
gentleman! that he should be come from France so soon to fall
sick, and of that disease too, when he should be gone to see a fine
lady, his mistresse. I am most heartily sorry for it. So late setting
papers to rights, and so home to bed.
17th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
at noon dined together upon some victuals I had prepared at Sir
W. Batten’s upon the King’s charge, and after dinner, I having
dispatched some business and set things in order at home, we
down to the water and by boat to Greenwich to the Bezan yacht,
where Sir W. Batten, Sir J. Minnes, my Lord Bruncker and myself,
with some servants (among others Mr. Carcasse, my Lord’s clerk,
a very civil gentleman), embarked in the yacht and down we
went most pleasantly, and noble discourse I had with my Lord
Bruneker, who is a most excellent person. Short of Gravesend it
grew calme, and so we come to an anchor, and to supper mighty
merry, and after it, being moonshine, we out of the cabbin to
laugh and talk, and then, as we grew sleepy, went in and upon
velvet cushions of the King’s that belong to the yacht fell to sleep,
which we all did pretty well till 3 or 4 of the clock, having risen
in the night to look for a new comet which is said to have lately
shone, but we could see no such thing.
18th. Up about 5 o’clock and dressed ourselves, and to sayle
again down to the Soveraigne at the buoy of the Nore, a no-
ble ship, now rigged and fitted and manned; we did not stay
long, but to enquire after her readinesse and thence to Sheer-
nesse, where we walked up and down, laying out the ground
to be taken in for a yard to lay provisions for cleaning and repair-
ing of ships, and a most proper place it is for the purpose. Thence
with great pleasure up the Meadeway, our yacht contending with
Commissioner Pett’s, wherein he met us from Chatham, and he
had the best of it. Here I come by, but had not tide enough to stop
at Quinbrough, a with mighty pleasure spent the day in doing all
1647
AUGUST 1665
and seeing these places, which I had never done before. So to the
Hill house at Chatham and there dined, and after dinner spent
some time discoursing of business. Among others arguing with
the Commissioner about his proposing the laying out so much
money upon Sheerenesse, unless it be to the slighting of Chatham
yarde, for it is much a better place than Chatham, which how-
ever the King is not at present in purse to do, though it were to
be wished he were. Thence in Commissioner Pett’s coach (leav-
ing them there). I late in the darke to Gravesend, where great is
the plague, and I troubled to stay there so long for the tide. At 10
at night, having supped, I took boat alone, and slept well all the
way to the Tower docke about three o’clock in the morning. So
knocked up my people, and to bed.
19th. Slept till 8 o’clock, and then up and met with letters from
the King and Lord Arlington, for the removal of our office to
Greenwich. I also wrote letters, and made myself ready to go to
Sir G. Carteret, at Windsor; and having borrowed a horse of Mr.
Blackbrough, sent him to wait for me at the Duke of Albemarle’s
door: when, on a sudden, a letter comes to us from the Duke
of Albemarle, to tell us that the fleete is all come back to Sole-
bay, and are presently to be dispatched back again. Whereupon I
presently by water to the Duke of Albemarle to know what news;
and there I saw a letter from my Lord Sandwich to the Duke of
Albemarle, and also from Sir W. Coventry and Captain Teddi-
man; how my Lord having commanded Teddiman with twenty-
two ships506 (of which but fifteen could get thither, and of those
506 A news letter of August 19th (Salisbury), gives the following account
of this affair:–“The Earl of Sandwich being on the Norway coast, ordered
Sir Thomas Teddeman with 20 ships to attack 50 Dutch merchant ships in
Bergen harbour; six convoyers had so placed themselves that only four or
five of the ships could be reached at once. The Governor of Bergen fired
on our ships, and placed 100 pieces of ordnance and two regiments of foot
on the rocks to attack them, but they got clear without the loss of a ship,
only 500 men killed or wounded, five or six captains among them. The fleet
has gone to Sole Bay to repair losses and be ready to encounter the Dutch
1648
AUGUST 1665
fifteen but eight or nine could come up to play) to go to Bergen;
where, after several messages to and fro from the Governor of
the Castle, urging that Teddiman ought not to come thither with
more than five ships, and desiring time to think of it, all the while
he suffering the Dutch ships to land their guns to their best ad-
vantage; Teddiman on the second pretence, began to play at the
Dutch ships, (wherof ten East India-men,) and in three hours’
time (the town and castle, without any provocation, playing on
fleet, which is gone northward” (“Calendar of State Papers,” 1664-65, pp.
526, 527). Medals were struck in Holland, the inscription in Dutch on one
of these is thus translated: “Thus we arrest the pride of the English, who
extend their piracy even against their friends, and who insulting the forts of
Norway, violate the rights of the harbours of King Frederick; but, for the re-
ward of their audacity, see their vessels destroyed by the balls of the Dutch”
(Hawkins’s “Medallic Illustrations of the History of Great Britain and Ire-
land,” ed. Franks and Grueber, 1885, vol. i., p. 508). Sir Gilbert Talbot’s
“True Narrative of the Earl of Sandwich’s Attempt upon Bergen with the
English Fleet on the 3rd of August, 1665, and the Cause of his Miscarriage
thereupon,” is in the British Museum (Harl. MS., No. 6859). It is printed in
“Archaeologia,” vol. xxii., p. 33. The Earl of Rochester also gave an account
of the action in a letter to his mother (Wordsworth’s “Ecclesiastical Biogra-
phy,” fourth edition, vol. iv., p. 611). Sir John Denham, in his “Advice to a
Painter,” gives a long satirical account of the affair. A coloured drawing of
the attack upon Bergen, on vellum, showing the range of the ships engaged,
is in the British Museum. Shortly after the Bergen affair forty of the Dutch
merchant vessels, on their way to Holland, fell into the hands of the English,
and in Penn’s “Memorials of Sir William Penn,” vol. ii., p. 364, is a list of
the prizes taken on the 3rd and 4th September. The troubles connected with
these prizes and the disgrace into which Lord Sandwich fell are fully set
forth in subsequent pages of the Diary. Evelyn writes in his Diary (Novem-
ber 27th, 1665): “There was no small suspicion of my Lord Sandwich having
permitted divers commanders who were at ye taking of ye East India prizes
to break bulk and take to themselves jewels, silkes, &c., tho’ I believe some
whom I could name fill’d their pockets, my Lo. Sandwich himself had the
least share. However, he underwent the blame, and it created him enemies,
and prepossess’d ye Lo. Generall [Duke of Albemarle], for he spake to me
of it with much zeale and concerne, and I believe laid load enough on Lo.
Sandwich at Oxford.”
1649
AUGUST 1665
our ships,) they did cut all our cables, so as the wind being off
the land, did force us to go out, and rendered our fire-ships use-
less; without doing any thing, but what hurt of course our guns
must have done them: we having lost five commanders, besides
Mr. Edward Montagu, and Mr. Windham.507 Our fleete is come
home to our great grief with not above five weeks’ dry, and six
days’ wet provisions: however, must out again; and the Duke
hath ordered the Soveraigne, and all other ships ready, to go out
to the fleete to strengthen them. This news troubles us all, but
cannot be helped. Having read all this news, and received com-
mands of the Duke with great content, he giving me the words
which to my great joy he hath several times said to me, that his
greatest reliance is upon me. And my Lord Craven also did come
out to talk with me, and told me that I am in mighty esteem with
the Duke, for which I bless God. Home, and having given my
fellow-officers an account hereof, to Chatham, and wrote other
letters, I by water to Charing-Cross, to the post-house, and there
the people tell me they are shut up; and so I went to the new post-
house, and there got a guide and horses to Hounslow, where I
was mightily taken with a little girle, the daughter of the master
of the house (Betty Gysby), which, if she lives, will make a great
beauty. Here I met with a fine fellow who, while I staid for my
horses, did enquire newes, but I could not make him remember
Bergen in Norway, in 6 or 7 times telling, so ignorant he was.
So to Stanes, and there by this time it was dark night, and got
a guide who lost his way in the forest, till by help of the moone
(which recompenses me for all the pains I ever took about study-
ing of her motions,) I led my guide into the way back again; and
so we made a man rise that kept a gate, and so he carried us to
507 This Mr. Windham had entered into a formal engagement with the Earl
of Rochester, “not without ceremonies of religion, that if either of them died,
he should appear, and give the other notice of the future state, if there was
any.” He was probably one of the brothers of Sir William Wyndham, Bart.
See Wordsworth’s “Ecclesiastical Biography,” fourth. edition, vol. iv., p.
615.–B.
1650
AUGUST 1665
Cranborne. Where in the dark I perceive an old house new build-
ing with a great deal of rubbish, and was fain to go up a ladder
to Sir G. Carteret’s chamber. And there in his bed I sat down, and
told him all my bad newes, which troubled him mightily; but yet
we were very merry, and made the best of it; and being myself
weary did take leave, and after having spoken with Mr. Fenn in
bed, I to bed in my Lady’s chamber that she uses to lie in, and
where the Duchesse of York, that now is, was born. So to sleep;
being very well, but weary, and the better by having carried with
me a bottle of strong water; whereof now and then a sip did me
good.
20th (Lord’s day). Sir G. Carteret come and walked by my bed-
side half an houre, talking and telling me how my Lord is in this
unblameable in all this ill-successe, he having followed orders;
and that all ought to be imputed to the falsenesse of the King of
Denmarke, who, he told me as a secret, had promised to deliver
up the Dutch ships to us, and we expected no less; and swears
it will, and will easily, be the ruine of him and his kingdom, if
we fall out with him, as we must in honour do; but that all that
can be, must be to get the fleete out again to intercept De Witt,
who certainly will be coming home with the East India ships, he
being gone thither. He being gone, I up and with Fenn, being
ready to walk forth to see the place; and I find it to be a very
noble seat in a noble forest, with the noblest prospect towards
Windsor, and round about over many countys, that can be de-
sired; but otherwise a very melancholy place, and little variety
save only trees. I had thoughts of going home by water, and of
seeing Windsor Chappell and Castle, but finding at my coming
in that Sir G. Carteret did prevent me in speaking for my sud-
den return to look after business, I did presently eat a bit off the
spit about 10 o’clock, and so took horse for Stanes, and thence
to Brainford to Mr. Povy’s, the weather being very pleasant to
ride in. Mr. Povy not being at home I lost my labour, only eat
and drank there with his lady, and told my bad newes, and hear
the plague is round about them there. So away to Brainford; and
1651
AUGUST 1665
there at the inn that goes down to the water-side, I ‘light and
paid off my post-horses, and so slipped on my shoes, and laid
my things by, the tide not serving, and to church, where a dull
sermon, and many Londoners. After church to my inn, and eat
and drank, and so about seven o’clock by water, and got between
nine and ten to Queenhive, very dark. And I could not get my
waterman to go elsewhere for fear of the plague. Thence with
a lanthorn, in great fear of meeting of dead corpses, carried to
be buried; but, blessed be God, met none, but did see now and
then a linke (which is the mark of them) at a distance. So got safe
home about 10 o’clock, my people not all abed, and after supper
I weary to bed.
21st. Called up, by message from Lord Bruncker and the rest
of my fellows, that they will meet me at the Duke of Albemarle’s
this morning; so I up, and weary, however, got thither before
them, and spoke with my Lord, and with him and other gentle-
men to walk in the Parke, where, I perceive, he spends much of
his time, having no whither else to go; and here I hear him speake
of some Presbyter people that he caused to be apprehended yes-
terday, at a private meeting in Covent Garden, which he would
have released upon paying £5 per man to the poor, but it was an-
swered, they would not pay anything; so he ordered them to an-
other prison from the guard. By and by comes my fellow-officers,
and the Duke walked in, and to counsel with us; and that being
done we departed, and Sir W. Batten and I to the office, where,
after I had done a little business, I to his house to dinner, whither
comes Captain Cocke, for whose epicurisme a dish of partriges
was sent for, and still gives me reason to think is the greatest
epicure in the world. Thence, after dinner, I by water to Sir W.
Warren’s and with him two hours, talking of things to his and
my profit, and particularly good advice from him what use to
make of Sir G. Carteret’s kindnesse to me and my interest in him,
with exceeding good cautions for me not using it too much nor
obliging him to fear by prying into his secrets, which it were easy
for me to do. Thence to my Lord Bruncker, at Greenwich, and Sir
1652
AUGUST 1665
J. Minnes by appointment, to looke after the lodgings appointed
for us there for our office, which do by no means please me, they
being in the heart of all the labourers and workmen there, which
makes it as unsafe as to be, I think, at London. Mr. Hugh May,
who is a most ingenuous man, did show us the lodgings, and
his acquaintance I am desirous of. Thence walked, it being now
dark, to Sir J. Minnes’s, and there staid at the door talking with
him an hour while messengers went to get a boat for me, to carry
me to Woolwich, but all to no purpose; so I was forced to walk it
in the darke, at ten o’clock at night, with Sir J. Minnes’s George
with me, being mightily troubled for fear of the doggs at Coome
farme, and more for fear of rogues by the way, and yet more be-
cause of the plague which is there, which is very strange, it being
a single house, all alone from the towne, but it seems they use to
admit beggars, for their owne safety, to lie in their barns, and they
brought it to them; but I bless God I got about eleven of the clock
well to my wife, and giving 4s. in recompence to George, I to my
wife, and having first viewed her last piece of drawing since I
saw her, which is seven or eight days, which pleases me beyond
any thing in the world, to bed with great content but weary.
22nd. Up, and after much pleasant talke and being impor-
tuned by my wife and her two mayds, which are both good
wenches, for me to buy a necklace of pearle for her, and I promis-
ing to give her one of £60 in two years at furthest, and in less
if she pleases me in her painting, I went away and walked to
Greenwich, in my way seeing a coffin with a dead body therein,
dead of the plague, lying in an open close belonging to Coome
farme, which was carried out last night, and the parish have not
appointed any body to bury it; but only set a watch there day and
night, that nobody should go thither or come thence, which is a
most cruel thing: this disease making us more cruel to one an-
other than if we are doggs. So to the King’s House, and there met
my Lord Bruncker and Sir J. Minnes, and to our lodgings again
that are appointed for us, which do please me better to day than
last night, and are set a doing. Thence I to Deptford, where by ap-
1653
AUGUST 1665
pointment I find Mr. Andrews come, and to the Globe, where we
dined together and did much business as to our Plymouth gen-
tlemen; and after a good dinner and good discourse, he being a
very good man, I think verily, we parted and I to the King’s yard,
walked up and down, and by and by out at the back gate, and
there saw the Bagwell’s wife’s mother and daughter, and went to
them, and went in to the daughter’s house with the mother, and
‘faciebam le cose que ego tenebam a mind to con elle’, and drink-
ing and talking, by and by away, and so walked to Redriffe, trou-
bled to go through the little lane, where the plague is, but did and
took water and home, where all well; but Mr. Andrews not com-
ing to even accounts, as I expected, with relation to something
of my own profit, I was vexed that I could not settle to business,
but home to my viall, though in the evening he did come to my
satisfaction. So after supper (he being gone first) I to settle my
journall and to bed.
23rd. Up, and whereas I had appointed Mr. Hater and Will to
come betimes to the office to meet me about business there, I was
called upon as soon as ready by Mr. Andrews to my great con-
tent, and he and I to our Tangier accounts, where I settled, to my
great joy, all my accounts with him, and, which is more, cleared
for my service to the contractors since the last sum I received of
them, £222 13s. profit to myself, and received the money actually
in the afternoon. After he was gone comes by a pretence of mine
yesterday old Delks the waterman, with his daughter Robins,
and several times to and again, he leaving her with me, about the
getting of his son Robins off, who was pressed yesterday again....
All the afternoon at my office mighty busy writing letters, and
received a very kind and good one from my Lord Sandwich of
his arrival with the fleete at Solebay, and the joy he has at my last
newes he met with, of the marriage of my Lady Jemimah; and he
tells me more, the good newes that all our ships, which were in
such danger that nobody would insure upon them, from the East-
1654
AUGUST 1665
land,508 were all safe arrived, which I am sure is a great piece of
good luck, being in much more danger than those of Hambrough
which were lost, and their value much greater at this time to us.
At night home, much contented with this day’s work, and be-
ing at home alone looking over my papers, comes a neighbour
of ours hard by to speak with me about business of the office,
one Mr. Fuller, a great merchant, but not my acquaintance, but
he come drunk, and would have had me gone and drunk with
him at home, or have let him send for wine hither, but I would
do neither, nor offered him any, but after some sorry discourse
parted, and I up to [my] chamber and to bed.
24th. Up betimes to my office, where my clerks with me, and
very busy all the morning writing letters. At noon down to Sir
J. Minnes and Lord Bruncker to Greenwich to sign some of the
Treasurer’s books, and there dined very well; and thence to look
upon our rooms again at the King’s house, which are not yet
ready for us. So home and late writing letters, and so, weary
with business, home to supper and to bed.
25th. Up betimes to the office, and there, as well as all the after-
noon, saving a little dinner time, all alone till late at night writing
letters and doing business, that I may get beforehand with my
business again, which hath run behind a great while, and then
home to supper and to bed. This day I am told that Dr. Bur-
nett, my physician, is this morning dead of the plague; which is
strange, his man dying so long ago, and his house this month
open again. Now himself dead. Poor unfortunate man!
26th. Up betimes, and prepared to my great satisfaction an
account for the board of my office disbursements, which I had
suffered to run on to almost £120. That done I down by water to
Greenwich, where we met the first day my Lord Bruncker, Sir J.
508 Eastland was a name given to the eastern countries of Europe. The East-
land Company, or Company of Merchants trading to the East Country, was
incorporated in Queen Elizabeth’s reign (anno 21), and the charter was con-
firmed 13 Car. II. They were also called “The Merchants of Elbing.”
1655
AUGUST 1665
Minnes, and I, and I think we shall do well there, and begin very
auspiciously to me by having my account abovesaid passed, and
put into a way of having it presently paid. When we rose I find
Mr. Andrews and Mr. Yeabsly, who is just come from Plymouth,
at the door, and we walked together toward my Lord Brunker’s,
talking about their business, Yeabsly being come up on purpose
to discourse with me about it, and finished all in a quarter of an
hour, and is gone again. I perceive they have some inclination
to be going on with their victualling-business for a while longer
before they resign it to Mr. Gauden, and I am well contented,
for it brings me very good profit with certainty, yet with much
care and some pains. We parted at my Lord Bruncker’s doore,
where I went in, having never been there before, and there he
made a noble entertainment for Sir J. Minnes, myself, and Cap-
tain Cocke, none else saving some painted lady that dined there,
I know not who she is. But very merry we were, and after din-
ner into the garden, and to see his and her chamber, where some
good pictures, and a very handsome young woman for my lady’s
woman. Thence I by water home, in my way seeing a man taken
up dead, out of the hold of a small catch that lay at Deptford.
I doubt it might be the plague, which, with the thought of Dr.
Burnett, did something disturb me, so that I did not what I in-
tended and should have done at the office, as to business, but
home sooner than ordinary, and after supper, to read melancholy
alone, and then to bed.
27th (Lord’s day). Very well in the morning, and up and to my
chamber all the morning to put my things and papers yet more in
order, and so to dinner. Thence all the afternoon at my office till
late making up my papers and letters there into a good condition
of order, and so home to supper, and after reading a good while
in the King’s works,–[Charles I.‘s Works, now in the Pepysian
Library]–which is a noble book, to bed.
28th. Up, and being ready I out to Mr. Colvill, the goldsmith’s,
having not for some days been in the streets; but now how few
1656
AUGUST 1665
people I see, and those looking like people that had taken leave
of the world. I there, and made even all accounts in the world
between him and I, in a very good condition, and I would have
done the like with Sir Robert Viner, but he is out of towne, the
sicknesse being every where thereabouts. I to the Exchange, and
I think there was not fifty people upon it, and but few more like
to be as they told me, Sir G. Smith and others. Thus I think to
take adieu to-day of the London streets, unless it be to go again to
Viner’s. Home to dinner, and there W. Hewer brings me £119 he
hath received for my office disbursements, so that I think I have
£1800 and more in the house, and, blessed be God! no money
out but what I can very well command and that but very little,
which is much the best posture I ever was in in my life, both as
to the quantity and the certainty I have of the money I am worth;
having most of it in my own hand. But then this is a trouble to
me what to do with it, being myself this day going to be wholly
at Woolwich; but for the present I am resolved to venture it in
an iron chest, at least for a while. In the afternoon I sent down
my boy to Woolwich with some things before me, in order to my
lying there for good and all, and so I followed him. Just now
comes newes that the fleete is gone, or going this day, out again,
for which God be praised! and my Lord Sandwich hath done
himself great right in it, in getting so soon out again. I pray God,
he may meet the enemy. Towards the evening, just as I was fitting
myself, comes W. Hewer and shows me a letter which Mercer
had wrote to her mother about a great difference between my
wife and her yesterday, and that my wife will have her go away
presently. This, together with my natural jealousy that some bad
thing or other may be in the way, did trouble me exceedingly, so
as I was in a doubt whether to go thither or no, but having fitted
myself and my things I did go, and by night got thither, where
I met my wife walking to the waterside with her paynter, Mr.
Browne, and her mayds. There I met Commissioner Pett, and
my Lord Brunker, and the lady at his house had been thereto-
day, to see her. Commissioner Pett staid a very little while, and
1657
AUGUST 1665
so I to supper with my wife and Mr. Shelden, and so to bed with
great pleasure.
29th. In the morning waking, among other discourse my wife
begun to tell me the difference between her and Mercer, and that
it was only from restraining her to gad abroad to some French-
men that were in the town, which I do not wholly yet in part
believe, and for my quiet would not enquire into it. So rose and
dressed myself, and away by land walking a good way, then re-
membered that I had promised Commissioner Pett to go with
him in his coach, and therefore I went back again to him, and
so by his coach to Greenwich, and called at Sir Theophilus Bid-
dulph’s, a sober, discreet man, to discourse of the preventing of
the plague in Greenwich, and Woolwich, and Deptford, where in
every place it begins to grow very great. We appointed another
meeting, and so walked together to Greenwich and there parted,
and Pett and I to the office, where all the morning, and after office
done I to Sir J. Minnes and dined with him, and thence to Dept-
ford thinking to have seen Bagwell, but did not, and so straight
to Redriffe, and home, and late at my business to dispatch away
letters, and then home to bed, which I did not intend, but to have
staid for altogether at Woolwich, but I made a shift for a bed for
Tom, whose bed is gone to Woolwich, and so to bed.
30th. Up betimes and to my business of settling my house and
papers, and then abroad and met with Hadley, our clerke, who,
upon my asking how the plague goes, he told me it encreases
much, and much in our parish; for, says he, there died nine this
week, though I have returned but six: which is a very ill prac-
tice, and makes me think it is so in other places; and therefore
the plague much greater than people take it to be. Thence, as I
intended, to Sir R. Viner’s, and there found not Mr. Lewes ready
for me, so I went forth and walked towards Moorefields to see
(God forbid my presumption!) whether I could see any dead
corps going to the grave; but, as God would have it, did not.
But, Lord! how every body’s looks, and discourse in the street is
1658
AUGUST 1665
of death, and nothing else, and few people going up and down,
that the towne is like a place distressed and forsaken. After one
turne there back to Viner’s, and there found my business ready
for me, and evened all reckonings with them to this day to my
great content. So home, and all day till very late at night setting
my Tangier and private accounts in order, which I did in both,
and in the latter to my great joy do find myself yet in the much
best condition that ever I was in, finding myself worth £2180 and
odd, besides plate and goods, which I value at £250 more, which
is a very great blessing to me. The Lord make me thankfull! and
of this at this day above £1800 in cash in my house, which speaks
but little out of my hands in desperate condition, but this is very
troublesome to have in my house at this time. So late to bed, well
pleased with my accounts, but weary of being so long at them.
31st. Up and, after putting several things in order to my re-
moval, to Woolwich; the plague having a great encrease this
week, beyond all expectation of almost 2,000, making the gen-
eral Bill 7,000, odd 100; and the plague above 6,000. I down
by appointment to Greenwich, to our office, where I did some
business, and there dined with our company and Sir W. Bore-
man, and Sir The. Biddulph, at Mr. Boreman’s, where a good
venison pasty, and after a good merry dinner I to my office, and
there late writing letters, and then to Woolwich by water, where
pleasant with my wife and people, and after supper to bed. Thus
this month ends with great sadness upon the publick, through
the greatness of the plague every where through the kingdom al-
most. Every day sadder and sadder news of its encrease. In the
City died this week 7,496 and of them 6,102 of the plague. But it is
feared that the true number of the dead, this week is near 10,000;
partly from the poor that cannot be taken notice of, through the
greatness of the number, and partly from the Quakers and oth-
ers that will not have any bell ring for them. Our fleete gone out
to find the Dutch, we having about 100 sail in our fleete, and in
them the Soveraigne one; so that it is a better fleete than the for-
mer with the Duke was. All our fear is that the Dutch should be
1659
AUGUST 1665
got in before them; which would be a very great sorrow to the
publick, and to me particularly, for my Lord Sandwich’s sake. A
great deal of money being spent, and the kingdom not in a con-
dition to spare, nor a parliament without much difficulty to meet
to give more. And to that; to have it said, what hath been done
by our late fleetes? As to myself I am very well, only in fear of
the plague, and as much of an ague by being forced to go early
and late to Woolwich, and my family to lie there continually. My
late gettings have been very great to my great content, and am
likely to have yet a few more profitable jobbs in a little while; for
which Tangier, and Sir W. Warren I am wholly obliged to.
1660
SEPTEMBER 1665
September 1st. Up, and to visit my Lady Pen and her daughter
at the Ropeyarde where I did breakfast with them and sat chat-
ting a good while. Then to my lodging at Mr. Shelden’s, where I
met Captain Cocke and eat a little bit of dinner, and with him to
Greenwich by water, having good discourse with him by the way.
After being at Greenwich a little while, I to London, to my house,
there put many more things in order for my totall remove, send-
ing away my girle Susan and other goods down to Woolwich,
and I by water to the Duke of Albemarle, and thence home late
by water. At the Duke of Albemarle’s I overheard some exami-
nations of the late plot that is discoursed of and a great deale of
do there is about it. Among other discourses, I heard read, in the
presence of the Duke, an examination and discourse of Sir Philip
Howard’s, with one of the plotting party. In many places these
words being, “Then,” said Sir P. Howard, “if you so come over to
the King, and be faithfull to him, you shall be maintained, and be
set up with a horse and armes,” and I know not what. And then
said such a one, “Yes, I will be true to the King.” “But, damn
me,” said Sir Philip, “will you so and so?” And thus I believe
twelve times Sir P. Howard answered him a “damn me,” which
was a fine way of rhetorique to persuade a Quaker or Anabap-
tist from his persuasion. And this was read in the hearing of Sir
1661
SEPTEMBER 1665
P. Howard, before the Duke and twenty more officers, and they
make sport of it, only without any reproach, or he being anything
ashamed of it!509 But it ended, I remember, at last, “But such a one
(the plotter) did at last bid them remember that he had not told
them what King he would be faithfull to.”
2nd. This morning I wrote letters to Mr. Hill and Andrews to
come to dine with me to-morrow, and then I to the office, where
busy, and thence to dine with Sir J. Minnes, where merry, but only
that Sir J. Minnes who hath lately lost two coach horses, dead in
the stable, has a third now a dying. After dinner I to Deptford,
and there took occasion to ‘entrar a la casa de la gunaica de ma
Minusier’, and did what I had a mind... To Greenwich, where
wrote some letters, and home in pretty good time.
3rd (Lord’s day). Up; and put on my coloured silk suit very
fine, and my new periwigg, bought a good while since, but durst
not wear, because the plague was in Westminster when I bought
it; and it is a wonder what will be the fashion after the plague is
done, as to periwiggs, for nobody will dare to buy any haire, for
fear of the infection, that it had been cut off of the heads of peo-
ple dead of the plague. Before church time comes Mr. Hill (Mr.
Andrews failing because he was to receive the Sacrament), and
to church, where a sorry dull parson, and so home and most ex-
cellent company with Mr. Hill and discourse of musique. I took
my Lady Pen home, and her daughter Pegg, and merry we were;
and after dinner I made my wife show them her pictures, which
did mad Pegg Pen, who learns of the same man and cannot do so
well. After dinner left them and I by water to Greenwich, where
much ado to be suffered to come into the towne because of the
sicknesse, for fear I should come from London, till I told them
who I was. So up to the church, where at the door I find Captain
Cocke in my Lord Brunker’s coach, and he come out and walked
with me in the church-yarde till the church was done, talking of
509 This republican plot was described by the Lord Chancellor in a speech
delivered on October 9th, when parliament met at Oxford.
1662
SEPTEMBER 1665
the ill government of our Kingdom, nobody setting to heart the
business of the Kingdom, but every body minding their particu-
lar profit or pleasures, the King himself minding nothing but his
ease, and so we let things go to wracke. This arose upon con-
sidering what we shall do for money when the fleete comes in,
and more if the fleete should not meet with the Dutch, which will
put a disgrace upon the King’s actions, so as the Parliament and
Kingdom will have the less mind to give more money, besides
so bad an account of the last money, we fear, will be given, not
half of it being spent, as it ought to be, upon the Navy. Besides,
it is said that at this day our Lord Treasurer cannot tell what the
profit of Chimney money is, what it comes to per annum, nor
looks whether that or any other part of the revenue be duly gath-
ered as it ought; the very money that should pay the City the
£200,000 they lent the King, being all gathered and in the hands
of the Receiver and hath been long and yet not brought up to pay
the City, whereas we are coming to borrow 4 or £500,000 more of
the City, which will never be lent as is to be feared. Church being
done, my Lord Bruncker, Sir J. Minnes, and I up to the Vestry at
the desire of the justices of the Peace, Sir Theo. Biddulph and Sir
W. Boreman and Alderman Hooker, in order to the doing some-
thing for the keeping of the plague from growing; but Lord! to
consider the madness of the people of the town, who will (be-
cause they are forbid) come in crowds along with the dead corps
to see them buried; but we agreed on some orders for the pre-
vention thereof. Among other stories, one was very passionate,
methought, of a complaint brought against a man in the towne
for taking a child from London from an infected house. Alder-
man Hooker told us it was the child of a very able citizen in Gra-
cious Street, a saddler, who had buried all the rest of his children
of the plague, and himself and wife now being shut up and in de-
spair of escaping, did desire only to save the life of this little child;
and so prevailed to have it received stark-naked into the arms of
a friend, who brought it (having put it into new fresh clothes) to
Greenwich; where upon hearing the story, we did agree it should
1663
SEPTEMBER 1665
be permitted to be received and kept in the towne. Thence with
my Lord Bruncker to Captain Cocke’s, where we mighty merry
and supped, and very late I by water to Woolwich, in great ap-
prehensions of an ague. Here was my Lord Bruncker’s lady of
pleasure, who, I perceive, goes every where with him; and he,
I find, is obliged to carry her, and make all the courtship to her
that can be.
4th. Writing letters all the morning, among others to my Lady
Carteret, the first I have wrote to her, telling her the state of the
city as to health and other sorrowfull stories, and thence after
dinner to Greenwich, to Sir J. Minnes, where I found my Lord
Bruncker, and having staid our hour for the justices by agree-
ment, the time being past we to walk in the Park with Mr. Ham-
mond and Turner, and there eat some fruit out of the King’s gar-
den and walked in the Parke, and so back to Sir J. Minnes, and
thence walked home, my Lord Bruncker giving me a very neat
cane to walk with; but it troubled me to pass by Coome farme
where about twenty-one people have died of the plague, and
three or four days since I saw a dead corps in a coffin lie in the
Close unburied, and a watch is constantly kept there night and
day to keep the people in, the plague making us cruel, as doggs,
one to another.
5th. Up, and walked with some Captains and others talking
to me to Greenwich, they crying out upon Captain Teddiman’s
management of the business of Bergen, that he staid treating too
long while he saw the Dutch fitting themselves, and that at first
he might have taken every ship, and done what he would with
them. How true I cannot tell. Here we sat very late and for want
of money, which lies heavy upon us, did nothing of business
almost. Thence home with my Lord Bruncker to dinner where
very merry with him and his doxy. After dinner comes Colonell
Blunt in his new chariot made with springs; as that was of wicker,
wherein a while since we rode at his house. And he hath rode, he
says, now this journey, many miles in it with one horse, and out-
1664
SEPTEMBER 1665
drives any coach, and out-goes any horse, and so easy, he says.
So for curiosity I went into it to try it, and up the hill to the heath,
and over the cart-rutts and found it pretty well, but not so easy
as he pretends, and so back again, and took leave of my Lord
and drove myself in the chariot to the office, and there ended my
letters and home pretty betimes and there found W. Pen, and he
staid supper with us and mighty merry talking of his travells and
the French humours, etc., and so parted and to bed.
6th. Busy all the morning writing letters to several, so to din-
ner, to London, to pack up more things thence; and there I looked
into the street and saw fires burning in the street, as it is through
the whole City, by the Lord Mayor’s order. Thence by water to
the Duke of Albemarle’s: all the way fires on each side of the
Thames, and strange to see in broad daylight two or three buri-
als upon the Bankeside, one at the very heels of another: doubt-
less all of the plague; and yet at least forty or fifty people going
along with every one of them. The Duke mighty pleasant with
me; telling me that he is certainly informed that the Dutch were
not come home upon the 1st instant, and so he hopes our fleete
may meet with them, and here to my great joy I got him to sign
bills for the several sums I have paid on Tangier business by his
single letter, and so now I can get more hands to them. This was
a great joy to me: Home to Woolwich late by water, found wife in
bed, and yet late as [it] was to write letters in order to my rising
betimes to go to Povy to-morrow. So to bed, my wife asking me
to-night about a letter of hers I should find, which indeed Mary
did the other day give me as if she had found it in my bed, think-
ing it had been mine, brought to her from a man without name
owning great kindness to her and I know not what. But looking
it over seriously, and seeing it bad sense and ill writ, I did believe
it to be her brother’s and so had flung it away, but finding her
now concerned at it and vexed with Mary about it, it did trouble
me, but I would take no notice of it to-night, but fell to sleep as if
angry.
1665
SEPTEMBER 1665
7th. Up by 5 of the clock, mighty full of fear of an ague, but was
obliged to go, and so by water, wrapping myself up warm, to the
Tower, and there sent for the Weekely Bill, and find 8,252 dead
in all, and of them 6,878 of the plague; which is a most dread-
full number, and shows reason to fear that the plague hath got
that hold that it will yet continue among us. Thence to Brainford,
reading “The Villaine,” a pretty good play, all the way. There
a coach of Mr. Povy’s stood ready for me, and he at his house
ready to come in, and so we together merrily to Swakely, Sir R.
Viner’s. A very pleasant place, bought by him of Sir James Har-
rington’s lady. He took us up and down with great respect, and
showed us all his house and grounds; and it is a place not very
moderne in the garden nor house, but the most uniforme in all
that ever I saw; and some things to excess. Pretty to see over the
screene of the hall (put up by Sir J. Harrington, a Long Parlia-
mentman) the King’s head, and my Lord of Essex on one side,
and Fairfax on the other; and upon the other side of the screene,
the parson of the parish, and the lord of the manor and his sis-
ters. The window-cases, door-cases, and chimnys of all the house
are marble. He showed me a black boy that he had, that died of
a consumption, and being dead, he caused him to be dried in an
oven, and lies there entire in a box. By and by to dinner, where
his lady I find yet handsome, but hath been a very handsome
woman; now is old. Hath brought him near £100,000 and now
he lives, no man in England in greater plenty, and commands
both King and Council with his credit he gives them. Here was
a fine lady a merchant’s wife at dinner with us, and who should
be here in the quality of a woman but Mrs. Worship’s daughter,
Dr. Clerke’s niece, and after dinner Sir Robert led us up to his
long gallery, very fine, above stairs (and better, or such, furniture
I never did see), and there Mrs. Worship did give us three or
four very good songs, and sings very neatly, to my great delight.
After all this, and ending the chief business to my content about
getting a promise of some money of him, we took leave, being ex-
ceedingly well treated here, and a most pleasant journey we had
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back, Povy and I, and his company most excellent in anything
but business, he here giving me an account of as many persons
at Court as I had a mind or thought of enquiring after. He tells
me by a letter he showed me, that the King is not, nor hath been
of late, very well, but quite out of humour; and, as some think,
in a consumption, and weary of every thing. He showed me my
Lord Arlington’s house that he was born in, in a towne called
Harlington: and so carried me through a most pleasant country
to Brainford, and there put me into my boat, and good night. So
I wrapt myself warm, and by water got to Woolwich about one
in the morning, my wife and all in bed.
8th. Waked, and fell in talk with my wife about the letter, and
she satisfied me that she did not know from whence it come, but
believed it might be from her cozen Franke Moore lately come
out of France. The truth is the thing I think cannot have much in
it, and being unwilling (being in other things so much at ease) to
vex myself in a strange place at a melancholy time, passed all by
and were presently friends. Up, and several with me about busi-
ness. Anon comes my Lord Bruncker, as I expected, and we to
the enquiring into the business of the late desertion of the Ship-
wrights from worke, who had left us for three days together for
want of money, and upon this all the morning, and brought it to
a pretty good issue, that they, we believe, will come to-morrow
to work. To dinner, having but a mean one, yet sufficient for him,
and he well enough pleased, besides that I do not desire to vye
entertainments with him or any else. Here was Captain Cocke
also, and Mr. Wayth. We staid together talking upon one busi-
ness or other all the afternoon. In the evening my Lord Bruncker
hearing that Mr. Ackeworth’s clerke, the Dutchman who writes
and draws so well, was transcribing a book of Rates and our
ships for Captain Millet a gallant of his mistress’s, we sent for
him for it. He would not deliver it, but said it was his mistress’s
and had delivered it to her. At last we were forced to send to her
for it; she would come herself, and indeed the book was a very
neat one and worth keeping as a rarity, but we did think fit, and
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SEPTEMBER 1665
though much against my will, to cancell all that he had finished
of it, and did give her the rest, which vexed her, and she bore it
discreetly enough, but with a cruel deal of malicious rancour in
her looks. I must confess I would have persuaded her to have
let us have it to the office, and it may be the board would not
have censured too hardly of it, but my intent was to have had
it as a Record for the office, but she foresaw what would be the
end of it and so desired it might rather be cancelled, which was
a plaguy deal of spite. My Lord Bruncker being gone and com-
pany, and she also, afterwards I took my wife and people and
walked into the fields about a while till night, and then home,
and so to sing a little and then to bed. I was in great trouble all
this day for my boy Tom who went to Greenwich yesterday by
my order and come not home till to-night for fear of the plague,
but he did come home to-night, saying he staid last night by Mr.
Hater’s advice hoping to have me called as I come home with my
boat to come along with me.
9th. Up and walked to Greenwich, and there we sat and dis-
patched a good deal of business I had a mind to. At noon, by
invitation, to my Lord Bruncker’s, all of us, to dinner, where a
good venison pasty, and mighty merry. Here was Sir W. Doyly,
lately come from Ipswich about the sicke and wounded, and Mr.
Evelyn and Captain Cocke. My wife also was sent for by my Lord
Bruncker, by Cocke, and was here. After dinner, my Lord and his
mistress would see her home again, it being a most cursed rainy
afternoon, having had none a great while before, and I, forced to
go to the office on foot through all the rain, was almost wet to
my skin, and spoiled my silke breeches almost. Rained all the
afternoon and evening, so as my letters being done, I was forced
to get a bed at Captain Cocke’s, where I find Sir W. Doyly, and
he, and Evelyn at supper; and I with them full of discourse of the
neglect of our masters, the great officers of State, about all busi-
ness, and especially that of money: having now some thousands
prisoners, kept to no purpose at a great charge, and no money
provided almost for the doing of it. We fell to talk largely of
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SEPTEMBER 1665
the want of some persons understanding to look after businesses,
but all goes to rack. “For,” says Captain Cocke, “my Lord Trea-
surer, he minds his ease, and lets things go how they will: if he
can have his £8000 per annum, and a game at l’ombre,–[Spanish
card game]–he is well. My Lord Chancellor he minds getting of
money and nothing else; and my Lord Ashly will rob the Devil
and the Alter, but he will get money if it be to be got.” But that
that put us into this great melancholy, was newes brought to-day,
which Captain Cocke reports as a certain truth, that all the Dutch
fleete, men-of-war and merchant East India ships, are got every
one in from Bergen the 3d of this month, Sunday last; which will
make us all ridiculous. The fleete come home with shame to re-
quire a great deale of money, which is not to be had, to discharge
many men that must get the plague then or continue at greater
charge on shipboard, nothing done by them to encourage the Par-
liament to give money, nor the Kingdom able to spare any money,
if they would, at this time of the plague, so that, as things look at
present, the whole state must come to ruine. Full of these melan-
choly thoughts, to bed; where, though I lay the softest I ever did
in my life, with a downe bed, after the Danish manner, upon me,
yet I slept very ill, chiefly through the thoughts of my Lord Sand-
wich’s concernment in all this ill successe at sea.
10th (Lord’s day). Walked home; being forced thereto by one
of my watermen falling sick yesterday, and it was God’s great
mercy I did not go by water with them yesterday, for he fell sick
on Saturday night, and it is to be feared of the plague. So I sent
him away to London with his fellow; but another boat come to
me this morning, whom I sent to Blackewall for Mr. Andrews.
I walked to Woolwich, and there find Mr. Hill, and he and I all
the morning at musique and a song he hath set of three parts,
methinks, very good. Anon comes Mr. Andrews, though it be a
very ill day, and so after dinner we to musique and sang till about
4 or 5 o’clock, it blowing very hard, and now and then raining,
and wind and tide being against us, Andrews and I took leave
and walked to Greenwich. My wife before I come out telling me
1669
SEPTEMBER 1665
the ill news that she hears that her father is very ill, and then
I told her I feared of the plague, for that the house is shut up.
And so she much troubled she did desire me to send them some-
thing; and I said I would, and will do so. But before I come out
there happened newes to come to the by an expresse from Mr.
Coventry, telling me the most happy news of my Lord Sand-
wich’s meeting with part of the Dutch; his taking two of their
East India ships, and six or seven others, and very good prizes
and that he is in search of the rest of the fleet, which he hopes
to find upon the Wellbancke, with the loss only of the Hector,
poor Captain Cuttle. This newes do so overjoy me that I know
not what to say enough to express it, but the better to do it I did
walk to Greenwich, and there sending away Mr. Andrews, I to
Captain Cocke’s, where I find my Lord Bruncker and his mis-
tress, and Sir J. Minnes. Where we supped (there was also Sir W.
Doyly and Mr. Evelyn); but the receipt of this newes did put us
all into such an extacy of joy, that it inspired into Sir J. Minnes
and Mr. Evelyn such a spirit of mirth, that in all my life I never
met with so merry a two hours as our company this night was.
Among other humours, Mr. Evelyn’s repeating of some verses
made up of nothing but the various acceptations of may and can,
and doing it so aptly upon occasion of something of that nature,
and so fast, did make us all die almost with laughing, and did so
stop the mouth of Sir J. Minnes in the middle of all his mirth (and
in a thing agreeing with his own manner of genius), that I never
saw any man so out-done in all my life; and Sir J. Minnes’s mirth
too to see himself out-done, was the crown of all our mirth. In
this humour we sat till about ten at night, and so my Lord and
his mistress home, and we to bed, it being one of the times of my
life wherein I was the fullest of true sense of joy.
11th. Up and walked to the office, there to do some business till
ten of the clock, and then by agreement my Lord, Sir J. Minnes,
Sir W. Doyly, and I took boat and over to the ferry, where Sir
W. Batten’s coach was ready for us, and to Walthamstow drove
merrily, excellent merry discourse in the way, and most upon our
1670
SEPTEMBER 1665
last night’s revells; there come we were very merry, and a good
plain venison dinner. After dinner to billiards, where I won an
angel,510 and among other sports we were merry with my pre-
tending to have a warrant to Sir W. Hickes (who was there, and
was out of humour with Sir W. Doyly’s having lately got a war-
rant for a leash of buckes, of which we were now eating one)
which vexed him, and at last would compound with me to give
my Lord Bruncker half a buck now, and me a Doe for it a while
hence when the season comes in, which we agreed to and had
held, but that we fear Sir W. Doyly did betray our design, which
spoiled all; however, my Lady Batten invited herself to dine with
him this week, and she invited us all to dine with her there, which
we agreed to, only to vex him, he being the most niggardly fel-
low, it seems, in the world. Full of good victuals and mirth we
set homeward in the evening, and very merry all the way. So
to Greenwich, where when come I find my Lord Rutherford and
Creed come from Court, and among other things have brought
me several orders for money to pay for Tangier; and, among the
rest £7000 and more, to this Lord, which is an excellent thing to
consider, that, though they can do nothing else, they can give
away the King’s money upon their progresse. I did give him the
best answer I could to pay him with tallys, and that is all they
could get from me. I was not in humour to spend much time with
them, but walked a little before Sir J. Minnes’s door and then took
leave, and I by water to Woolwich, where with my wife to a game
at tables,511 and to bed.
12th. Up, and walked to the office, where we sat late, and
thence to dinner home with Sir J. Minnes, and so to the office,
510 A gold coin, so called because it bore the image of an angel, varying in
value from six shillings and eightpence to ten shillings.
511 The old name for backgammon, used by Shakespeare and others. The
following lines are from an epitaph entirely made up of puns on backgam-
mon “Man’s life’s a game at tables, and he may Mend his bad fortune by his
wiser play.” Wit’s Recre., i. 250, reprint, 1817.
1671
SEPTEMBER 1665
where writing letters, and home in the evening, where my wife
shews me a letter from her brother speaking of their father’s be-
ing ill, like to die, which, God forgive me! did not trouble me
so much as it should, though I was indeed sorry for it. I did
presently resolve to send him something in a letter from my wife,
viz. 20s. So to bed.
13th. Up, and walked to Greenwich, taking pleasure to walk
with my minute watch in my hand, by which I am come now
to see the distances of my way from Woolwich to Greenwich,
and do find myself to come within two minutes constantly to the
same place at the end of each quarter of an houre. Here we ren-
dezvoused at Captain Cocke’s, and there eat oysters, and so my
Lord Bruncker, Sir J. Minnes, and I took boat, and in my Lord’s
coach to Sir W. Hickes’s, whither by and by my Lady Batten and
Sir William comes. It is a good seat, with a fair grove of trees by
it, and the remains of a good garden; but so let to run to ruine,
both house and every thing in and about it, so ill furnished and
miserably looked after, I never did see in all my life. Not so much
as a latch to his dining-room door; which saved him nothing, for
the wind blowing into the room for want thereof, flung down a
great bow pott that stood upon the side-table, and that fell upon
some Venice glasses, and did him a crown’s worth of hurt. He
did give us the meanest dinner (of beef, shoulder and umbles
of venison512 which he takes away from the keeper of the Forest,
and a few pigeons, and all in the meanest manner) that ever I did
see, to the basest degree. After dinner we officers of the Navy
stepped aside to read some letters and consider some business,
and so in again. I was only pleased at a very fine picture of the
Queene-Mother, when she was young, by Van-Dike; a very good
512 Dr. Johnson was puzzled by the following passage in “The Merry Wives
of Windsor,” act v., sc. 3: “Divide me like a bribe-buck, each a haunch. I
will keep the sides to myself; my shoulders for the fellow of this walk.” If he
could have read the account of Sir William Hickes’s dinner, he would at once
have understood the allusion to the keeper’s perquisites of the shoulders of
all deer killed in his walk.–B.
1672
SEPTEMBER 1665
picture, and a lovely sweet face. Thence in the afternoon home,
and landing at Greenwich I saw Mr. Pen walking my way, so we
walked together, and for discourse I put him into talk of France,
when he took delight to tell me of his observations, some good,
some impertinent, and all ill told, but it served for want of better,
and so to my house, where I find my wife abroad, and hath been
all this day, nobody knows where, which troubled me, it being
late and a cold evening. So being invited to his mother’s to sup-
per, we took Mrs. Barbara, who was mighty finely dressed, and
in my Lady’s coach, which we met going for my wife, we thither,
and there after some discourse went to supper. By and by comes
my wife and Mercer, and had been with Captain Cocke all day, he
coming and taking her out to go see his boy at school at Brumly
[Bromley], and brought her home again with great respect. Here
pretty merry, only I had no stomach, having dined late, to eat.
After supper Mr. Pen and I fell to discourse about some words
in a French song my wife was saying, “D’un air tout interdict,”
wherein I laid twenty to one against him which he would not
agree with me, though I know myself in the right as to the sense
of the word, and almost angry we were, and were an houre and
more upon the dispute, till at last broke up not satisfied, and so
home in their coach and so to bed. H. Russell did this day de-
liver my 20s. to my wife’s father or mother, but has not yet told
us how they do.
14th. Up, and walked to Greenwich, and there fitted myself in
several businesses to go to London, where I have not been now a
pretty while. But before I went from the office newes is brought
by word of mouth that letters are now just now brought from
the fleete of our taking a great many more of the Dutch fleete, in
which I did never more plainly see my command of my temper
in my not admitting myself to receive any kind of joy from it till
I had heard the certainty of it, and therefore went by water di-
rectly to the Duke of Albemarle, where I find a letter of the Lath
from Solebay, from my Lord Sandwich, of the fleete’s meeting
with about eighteen more of the Dutch fleete, and his taking of
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SEPTEMBER 1665
most of them; and the messenger says, they had taken three after
the letter was wrote and sealed; which being twenty-one, and the
fourteen took the other day, is forty-five sail; some of which are
good, and others rich ships, which is so great a cause of joy in
us all that my Lord and everybody is highly joyed thereat. And
having taken a copy of my Lord’s letter, I away back again to
the Beare at the Bridge foot, being full of wind and out of order,
and there called for a biscuit and a piece of cheese and gill of
sacke, being forced to walk over the Bridge, toward the ‘Change,
and the plague being all thereabouts. Here my news was highly
welcome, and I did wonder to see the ‘Change so full, I believe
200 people; but not a man or merchant of any fashion, but plain
men all. And Lord! to see how I did endeavour all I could to
talk with as few as I could, there being now no observation of
shutting up of houses infected, that to be sure we do converse
and meet with people that have the plague upon them. I to Sir
Robert Viner’s, where my main business was about settling the
business of Debusty’s £5000 tallys, which I did for the present
to enable me to have some money, and so home, buying some
things for my wife in the way. So home, and put up several
things to carry to Woolwich, and upon serious thoughts I am ad-
vised by W. Griffin to let my money and plate rest there, as being
as safe as any place, nobody imagining that people would leave
money in their houses now, when all their families are gone. So
for the present that being my opinion, I did leave them there still.
But, Lord! to see the trouble that it puts a man to, to keep safe
what with pain a man hath been getting together, and there is
good reason for it. Down to the office, and there wrote letters to
and again about this good newes of our victory, and so by wa-
ter home late. Where, when I come home I spent some thoughts
upon the occurrences of this day, giving matter for as much con-
tent on one hand and melancholy on another, as any day in all
my life. For the first; the finding of my money and plate, and
all safe at London, and speeding in my business of money this
day. The hearing of this good news to such excess, after so great
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SEPTEMBER 1665
a despair of my Lord’s doing anything this year; adding to that,
the decrease of 500 and more, which is the first decrease we have
yet had in the sickness since it begun: and great hopes that the
next week it will be greater. Then, on the other side, my finding
that though the Bill in general is abated, yet the City within the
walls is encreased, and likely to continue so, and is close to our
house there. My meeting dead corpses of the plague, carried to
be buried close to me at noon-day through the City in Fanchurch-
street. To see a person sick of the sores, carried close by me by
Gracechurch in a hackney-coach. My finding the Angell tavern,
at the lower end of Tower-hill, shut up, and more than that, the
alehouse at the Tower-stairs, and more than that, the person was
then dying of the plague when I was last there, a little while ago,
at night, to write a short letter there, and I overheard the mis-
tresse of the house sadly saying to her husband somebody was
very ill, but did not think it was of the plague. To hear that poor
Payne, my waiter, hath buried a child, and is dying himself. To
hear that a labourer I sent but the other day to Dagenhams, to
know how they did there, is dead of the plague; and that one
of my own watermen, that carried me daily, fell sick as soon
as he had landed me on Friday morning last, when I had been
all night upon the water (and I believe he did get his infection
that day at Brainford), and is now dead of the plague. To hear
that Captain Lambert and Cuttle are killed in the taking these
ships; and that Mr. Sidney Montague is sick of a desperate fever
at my Lady Carteret’s, at Scott’s-hall. To hear that Mr. Lewes
hath another daughter sick. And, lastly, that both my servants,
W. Hewer and Tom Edwards, have lost their fathers, both in St.
Sepulchre’s parish, of the plague this week, do put me into great
apprehensions of melancholy, and with good reason. But I put
off the thoughts of sadness as much as I can, and the rather to
keep my wife in good heart and family also. After supper (hav-
ing eat nothing all this day) upon a fine tench of Mr. Shelden’s
taking, we to bed.
15th. Up, it being a cold misting morning, and so by water
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SEPTEMBER 1665
to the office, where very busy upon several businesses. At noon
got the messenger, Marlow, to get me a piece of bread and butter
and cheese and a bottle of beer and ale, and so I went not out
of the office but dined off that, and my boy Tom, but the rest of
my clerks went home to dinner. Then to my business again, and
by and by sent my waterman to see how Sir W. Warren do, who
is sicke, and for which I have reason to be very sorry, he being
the friend I have got most by of most friends in England but the
King: who returns me that he is pretty well again, his disease be-
ing an ague. I by water to Deptford, thinking to have seen my
valentine, but I could not, and so come back again, and to the of-
fice, where a little business, and thence with Captain Cocke, and
there drank a cup of good drink, which I am fain to allow myself
during this plague time, by advice of all, and not contrary to my
oathe, my physician being dead, and chyrurgeon out of the way,
whose advice I am obliged to take, and so by water home and eat
my supper, and to bed, being in much pain to think what I shall
do this winter time; for go every day to Woolwich I cannot, with-
out endangering my life; and staying from my wife at Greenwich
is not handsome.
16th. Up, and walked to Greenwich reading a play, and to the
office, where I find Sir J. Minnes gone to the fleete, like a doating
foole, to do no good, but proclaim himself an asse; for no ser-
vice he can do there, nor inform my Lord, who is come in thither
to the buoy of the Nore, in anything worth his knowledge. At
noon to dinner to my Lord Bruncker, where Sir W. Batten and
his Lady come, by invitation, and very merry we were, only that
the discourse of the likelihood of the increase of the plague this
weeke makes us a little sad, but then again the thoughts of the
late prizes make us glad. After dinner, by appointment, comes
Mr. Andrews, and he and I walking alone in the garden talk-
ing of our Tangier business, and I endeavoured by the by to offer
some encouragements for their continuing in the business, which
he seemed to take hold of, and the truth is my profit is so much
concerned that I could wish they would, and would take pains
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SEPTEMBER 1665
to ease them in the business of money as much as was possible.
He being gone (after I had ordered him £2000, and he paid me
my quantum out of it) I also walked to the office, and there to my
business; but find myself, through the unfitness of my place to
write in, and my coming from great dinners, and drinking wine,
that I am not in the good temper of doing business now a days
that I used to be and ought still to be. At night to Captain Cocke’s,
meaning to lie there, it being late, and he not being at home, I
walked to him to my Lord Bruncker’s, and there staid a while,
they being at tables; and so by and by parted, and walked to his
house; and, after a mess of good broth, to bed, in great pleasure,
his company being most excellent.
17th (Lord’s day). Up, and before I went out of my chamber
did draw a musique scale, in order to my having it at any time
ready in my hand to turn to for exercise, for I have a great mind
in this Vacation to perfect myself in my scale, in order to my prac-
tising of composition, and so that being done I down stairs, and
there find Captain Cocke under the barber’s hands, the barber
that did heretofore trim Commissioner Pett, and with whom I
have been. He offered to come this day after dinner with his vi-
olin to play me a set of Lyra-ayres upon it, which I was glad of,
hoping to be merry thereby. Being ready we to church, where a
company of fine people to church, and a fine Church, and very
good sermon, Mr. Plume’ being a very excellent scholler and
preacher. Coming out of the church I met Mrs. Pierce, whom I
was ashamed to see, having not been with her since my coming
to town, but promised to visit her. Thence with Captain Cocke, in
his coach, home to dinner, whither comes by invitation my Lord
Bruncker and his mistresse and very good company we were, but
in dinner time comes Sir J. Minnes from the fleete, like a simple
weak man, having nothing to say of what he hath done there, but
tells of what value he imagines the prizes to be, and that my Lord
Sandwich is well, and mightily concerned to hear that I was well.
But this did put me upon a desire of going thither; and, moving
of it to my Lord, we presently agreed upon it to go this very tide,
1677
SEPTEMBER 1665
we two and Captain Cocke. So every body prepared to fit himself
for his journey, and I walked to Woolwich to trim and shift my-
self, and by the time I was ready they come down in the Bezan
yacht, and so I aboard and my boy Tom, and there very merrily
we sailed to below Gravesend, and there come to anchor for all
night, and supped and talked, and with much pleasure at last set-
tled ourselves to sleep having very good lodging upon cushions
in the cabbin.
18th. By break of day we come to within sight of the fleete,
which was a very fine thing to behold, being above 100 ships,
great and small; with the flag-ships of each squadron, distin-
guished by their several flags on their main, fore, or mizen masts.
Among others, the Soveraigne, Charles, and Prince; in the last of
which my Lord Sandwich was. When we called by her side his
Lordshipp was not stirring, so we come to anchor a little below
his ship, thinking to have rowed on board him, but the wind and
tide was so strong against us that we could not get up to him,
no, though rowed by a boat of the Prince’s that come to us to
tow us up; at last however he brought us within a little way, and
then they flung out a rope to us from the Prince and so come on
board, but with great trouble and tune and patience, it being very
cold; we find my Lord newly up in his night-gown very well. He
received us kindly; telling us the state of the fleet, lacking pro-
visions, having no beer at all, nor have had most of them these
three weeks or month, and but few days’ dry provisions. And
indeed he tells us that he believes no fleete was ever set to sea in
so ill condition of provision, as this was when it went out last. He
did inform us in the business of Bergen,513 so as to let us see how
the judgment of the world is not to be depended on in things they
know not; it being a place just wide enough, and not so much
hardly, for ships to go through to it, the yardarmes sticking in the
very rocks. He do not, upon his best enquiry, find reason to ex-
513 Lord Sandwich was not so successful in convincing other people as to
the propriety of his conduct at Bergen as he was with Pepys.
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SEPTEMBER 1665
cept against any part of the management of the business by Ted-
diman; he having staid treating no longer than during the night,
whiles he was fitting himself to fight, bringing his ship a-breast,
and not a quarter of an hour longer (as is said); nor could more
ships have been brought to play, as is thought. Nor could men be
landed, there being 10,000 men effectively always in armes of the
Danes; nor, says he, could we expect more from the Dane than he
did, it being impossible to set fire on the ships but it must burn
the towne. But that wherein the Dane did amisse is, that he did
assist them, the Dutch, all the while, while he was treating with
us, while he should have been neutrall to us both. But, however,
he did demand but the treaty of us; which is, that we should not
come with more than five ships. A flag of truce is said, and con-
fessed by my Lord, that he believes it was hung out; but while
they did hang it out, they did shoot at us; so that it was not either
seen perhaps, or fit to cease upon sight of it, while they continued
actually in action against us. But the main thing my Lord won-
ders at, and condemns the Dane for, is, that the blockhead, who
is so much in debt to the Hollander, having now a treasure more
by much than all his Crowne was worth, and that which would
for ever have beggared the Hollanders, should not take this time
to break with the Hollander, and, thereby paid his debt which
must have been forgiven him, and got the greatest treasure into
his hands that ever was together in the world. By and by my
Lord took me aside to discourse of his private matters, who was
very free with me touching the ill condition of the fleete that it
hath been in, and the good fortune that he hath had, and nothing
else that these prizes are to be imputed to. He also talked with
me about Mr. Coventry’s dealing with him in sending Sir W. Pen
away before him, which was not fair nor kind; but that he hath
mastered and cajoled Sir W. Pen, that he hath been able to do,
nothing in the fleete, but been obedient to him; but withal tells
me he is a man that is but of very mean parts, and a fellow not to
be lived with, so false and base he is; which I know well enough
to be very true, and did, as I had formerly done, give my Lord
1679
SEPTEMBER 1665
my knowledge of him. By and by was called a Council of Warr on
board, when come Sir W. Pen there, and Sir Christopher Mings,
Sir Edward Spragg, Sir Jos. Jordan, Sir Thomas Teddiman, and
Sir Roger Cuttance, and so the necessity of the fleete for victuals,
clothes, and money was discoursed, but by the discourse there
of all but my Lord, that is to say, the counterfeit grave nonsense
of Sir W. Pen and the poor mean discourse of the rest, methinks I
saw how the government and management of the greatest busi-
ness of the three nations is committed to very ordinary heads,
saving my Lord, and in effect is only upon him, who is able to do
what he pleases with them, they not having the meanest degree
of reason to be able to oppose anything that he says, and so I fear
it is ordered but like all the rest of the King’s publique affayres.
The council being up they most of them went away, only Sir W.
Pen who staid to dine there and did so, but the wind being high
the ship (though the motion of it was hardly discernible to the
eye) did make me sick, so as I could not eat any thing almost.
After dinner Cocke did pray me to helpe him to £500 of W. How,
who is deputy Treasurer, wherein my Lord Bruncker and I am to
be concerned and I did aske it my Lord, and he did consent to
have us furnished with £500, and I did get it paid to Sir Roger
Cuttance and Mr. Pierce in part for above £1000 worth of goods,
Mace, Nutmegs, Cynamon, and Cloves, and he tells us we may
hope to get £1500 by it, which God send! Great spoil, I hear, there
hath been of the two East India ships, and that yet they will come
in to the King very rich: so that I hope this journey will be worth
£100 to me.514 After having paid this money, we took leave of my
Lord and so to our Yacht again, having seen many of my friends
there. Among others I hear that W. Howe will grow very rich by
this last business and grows very proud and insolent by it; but
it is what I ever expected. I hear by every body how much my
514 There is a shorthand journal of proceedings relating to Pepys’s purchase
of some East India prize goods among the Rawlinson MSS. in the Bodleian
Library.
1680
SEPTEMBER 1665
poor Lord of Sandwich was concerned for me during my silence
a while, lest I had been dead of the plague in this sickly time.
No sooner come into the yacht, though overjoyed with the good
work we have done to-day, but I was overcome with sea sick-
ness so that I begun to spue soundly, and so continued a good
while, till at last I went into the cabbin and shutting my eyes my
trouble did cease that I fell asleep, which continued till we come
into Chatham river where the water was smooth, and then I rose
and was very well, and the tide coming to be against us we did
land before we come to Chatham and walked a mile, having very
good discourse by the way, it being dark and it beginning to rain
just as we got thither. At Commissioner Pett’s we did eat and
drink very well and very merry we were, and about 10 at night,
it being moonshine and very cold, we set out, his coach carry-
ing us, and so all night travelled to Greenwich, we sometimes
sleeping a little and then talking and laughing by the way, and
with much pleasure, but that it was very horrible cold, that I was
afeard of an ague. A pretty passage was that the coach stood of
a sudden and the coachman come down and the horses stirring,
he cried, Hold! which waked me, and the coach[man] standing
at the boote to [do] something or other and crying, Hold! I did
wake of a sudden and not knowing who he was, nor thinking
of the coachman between sleeping and waking I did take up the
heart to take him by the shoulder, thinking verily he had been a
thief. But when I waked I found my cowardly heart to discover a
fear within me and that I should never have done it if I had been
awake.
19th. About 4 or 5 of the clock we come to Greenwich, and,
having first set down my Lord Bruncker, Cocke and I went to
his house, it being light, and there to our great trouble, we being
sleepy and cold, we met with the ill newes that his boy Jacke
was gone to bed sicke, which put Captain Cocke and me also
into much trouble, the boy, as they told us, complaining of his
head most, which is a bad sign it seems. So they presently betook
themselves to consult whither and how to remove him. However
1681
SEPTEMBER 1665
I thought it not fit for me to discover too much fear to go away,
nor had I any place to go to. So to bed I went and slept till 10 of
the clock and then comes Captain Cocke to wake me and tell me
that his boy was well again. With great joy I heard the newes and
he told it, so I up and to the office where we did a little, and but
a little business. At noon by invitation to my Lord Bruncker’s
where we staid till four of the clock for my Lady Batten and she
not then coming we to dinner and pretty merry but disordered
by her making us stay so long. After dinner I to the office, and
there wrote letters and did business till night and then to Sir J.
Minnes’s, where I find my Lady Batten come, and she and my
Lord Bruncker and his mistresse, and the whole house-full there
at cards. But by and by my Lord Bruncker goes away and others
of the company, and when I expected Sir J. Minnes and his sister
should have staid to have made Sir W. Batten and Lady sup, I
find they go up in snuffe to bed without taking any manner of
leave of them, but left them with Mr. Boreman. The reason of this
I could not presently learn, but anon I hear it is that Sir J. Minnes
did expect and intend them a supper, but they without respect to
him did first apply themselves to Boreman, which makes all this
great feude. However I staid and there supped, all of us being in
great disorder from this, and more from Cocke’s boy’s being ill,
where my Lady Batten and Sir W. Batten did come to town with
an intent to lodge, and I was forced to go seek a lodging which
my W. Hewer did get me, viz., his own chamber in the towne,
whither I went and found it a very fine room, and there lay most
excellently.
20th. Called up by Captain Cocke (who was last night put into
great trouble upon his boy’s being rather worse than better, upon
which he removed him out of his house to his stable), who told
me that to my comfort his boy was now as well as ever he was
in his life. So I up, and after being trimmed, the first time I have
been touched by a barber these twelvemonths, I think, and more,
went to Sir J. Minnes’s, where I find all out of order still, they hav-
ing not seen one another till by and by Sir J. Minnes and Sir W.
1682
SEPTEMBER 1665
Batten met, to go into my Lord Bruncker’s coach, and so we four
to Lambeth, and thence to the Duke of Albemarle, to inform him
what we have done as to the fleete, which is very little, and to re-
ceive his direction. But, Lord! what a sad time it is to see no boats
upon the River; and grass grows all up and down White Hall
court, and nobody but poor wretches in the streets! And, which
is worst of all, the Duke showed us the number of the plague
this week, brought in the last night from the Lord Mayor; that
it is encreased about 600 more than the last, which is quite con-
trary to all our hopes and expectations, from the coldness of the
late season. For the whole general number is 8,297, and of them
the plague 7,165; which is more in the whole by above 50, than
the biggest Bill yet; which is very grievous to us all. I find here
a design in my Lord Bruncker and Captain Cocke to have had
my Lord Bruncker chosen as one of us to have been sent aboard
one of the East Indiamen, and Captain Cocke as a merchant to
be joined with him, and Sir J. Minnes for the other, and Sir G.
Smith to be joined with him. But I did order it so that my Lord
Bruncker and Sir J. Minnes were ordered, but I did stop the mer-
chants to be added, which would have been a most pernicious
thing to the King I am sure. In this I did, I think, a very good
office, though I cannot acquit myself from some envy of mine
in the business to have the profitable business done by another
hand while I lay wholly imployed in the trouble of the office.
Thence back again by my Lord’s coach to my Lord Bruncker’s
house, where I find my Lady Batten, who is become very great
with Mrs. Williams (my Lord Bruncker’s whore), and there we
dined and were mighty merry. After dinner I to the office there
to write letters, to fit myself for a journey to-morrow to Non-
such to the Exchequer by appointment. That being done I to Sir
J. Minnes where I find Sir W. Batten and his Lady gone home
to Walthamstow in great snuffe as to Sir J. Minnes, but yet with
some necessity, hearing that a mayde-servant of theirs is taken
ill. Here I staid and resolved of my going in my Lord Bruncker’s
coach which he would have me to take, though himself cannot
1683
SEPTEMBER 1665
go with me as he intended, and so to my last night’s lodging to
bed very weary.
21st. Up between five and six o’clock; and by the time I was
ready, my Lord’s coach comes for me; and taking Will Hewer
with me, who is all in mourning for his father, who is lately dead
of the plague, as my boy Tom’s is also, I set out, and took about
£100 with me to pay the fees there, and so rode in some fear of
robbing. When I come thither, I find only Mr. Ward, who led me
to Burgess’s bedside, and Spicer’s, who, watching of the house,
as it is their turns every night, did lie long in bed to-day, and I
find nothing at all done in my business, which vexed me. But not
seeing how to helpe it I did walk up and down with Mr. Ward to
see the house; and by and by Spicer and Mr. Falconbrige come to
me and he and I to a towne near by, Yowell, there drink and set
up my horses and also bespoke a dinner, and while that is dress-
ing went with Spicer and walked up and down the house and
park; and a fine place it hath heretofore been, and a fine prospect
about the house. A great walk of an elme and a walnutt set one
after another in order. And all the house on the outside filled
with figures of stories, and good painting of Rubens’ or Holben’s
doing. And one great thing is, that most of the house is covered,
I mean the posts, and quarters in the walls; covered with lead,
and gilded. I walked into the ruined garden, and there found a
plain little girle, kinswoman of Mr. Falconbridge, to sing very
finely by the eare only, but a fine way of singing, and if I come
ever to lacke a girle again I shall think of getting her. Thence
to the towne, and there Spicer, Woodruffe, and W. Bowyer and
I dined together and a friend of Spicer’s; and a good dinner I
had for them. Falconbrige dined somewhere else, by appoint-
ment. Strange to see how young W. Bowyer looks at 41 years;
one would not take him for 24 or more, and is one of the great-
est wonders I ever did see. After dinner, about 4 of the clock we
broke up, and I took coach and home (in fear for the money I had
with me, but that this friend of Spicer’s, one of the Duke’s guard
did ride along the best part of the way with us). I got to my Lord
1684
SEPTEMBER 1665
Bruncker’s before night, and there I sat and supped with him and
his mistresse, and Cocke whose boy is yet ill. Thence, after losing
a crowne betting at Tables–[Cribbage]–, we walked home, Cocke
seeing me at my new lodging, where I went to bed. All my worke
this day in the coach going and coming was to refresh myself in
my musique scale, which I would fain have perfecter than ever I
had yet.
22nd. Up betimes and to the office, meaning to have entered
my last 5 or 6 days’ Journall, but was called away by my Lord
Bruncker and Sir J. Minnes, and to Blackwall, there to look after
the storehouses in order to the laying of goods out of the East
India ships when they shall be unloaden. That being done, we
into Johnson’s house, and were much made of, eating and drink-
ing. But here it is observable what he tells us, that in digging his
late Docke, he did 12 foot under ground find perfect trees over-
covered with earth. Nut trees, with the branches and the very
nuts upon them; some of whose nuts he showed us. Their shells
black with age, and their kernell, upon opening, decayed, but
their shell perfectly hard as ever. And a yew tree he showed us
(upon which, he says, the very ivy was taken up whole about it),
which upon cutting with an addes [adze], we found to be rather
harder than the living tree usually is. They say, very much, but
I do not know how hard a yew tree naturally is.515 The armes,
they say, were taken up at first whole, about the body, which
is very strange. Thence away by water, and I walked with my
Lord Bruncker home, and there at dinner comes a letter from my
Lord Sandwich to tell me that he would this day be at Wool-
wich, and desired me to meet him. Which fearing might have
lain in Sir J. Minnes’ pocket a while, he sending it me, did give
my Lord Bruncker, his mistress, and I occasion to talk of him as
the most unfit man for business in the world. Though at last af-
terwards I found that he was not in this faulty, but hereby I have
515 The same discovery was made in 1789, in digging the Brunswick Dock,
also at Blackwall, and elsewhere in the neighbourhood.
1685
SEPTEMBER 1665
got a clear evidence of my Lord Bruncker’s opinion of him. My
Lord Bruncker presently ordered his coach to be ready and we
to Woolwich, and my Lord Sandwich not being come, we took
a boat and about a mile off met him in his Catch, and boarded
him, and come up with him; and, after making a little halt at my
house, which I ordered, to have my wife see him, we all together
by coach to Mr. Boreman’s, where Sir J. Minnes did receive him
very handsomely, and there he is to lie; and Sir J. Minnes did
give him on the sudden, a very handsome supper and brave dis-
course, my Lord Bruncker, and Captain Cocke, and Captain Her-
bert being there, with myself. Here my Lord did witness great
respect to me, and very kind expressions, and by other occasions,
from one thing to another did take notice how I was overjoyed at
first to see the King’s letter to his Lordship, and told them how
I did kiss it, and that, whatever he was, I did always love the
King. This my Lord Bruncker did take such notice [of] as that
he could not forbear kissing me before my Lord, professing his
finding occasion every day more and more to love me, and Cap-
tain Cocke has since of himself taken notice of that speech of my
Lord then concerning me, and may be of good use to me. Among
other discourse concerning long life, Sir J. Minnes saying that his
great-grandfather was alive in Edward the Vth’s time; my Lord
Sandwich did tell us how few there have been of his family since
King Harry the VIIIth; that is to say, the then Chiefe Justice, and
his son the Lord Montagu, who was father to Sir Sidney,516 who
was his father. And yet, what is more wonderfull, he did assure
us from the mouth of my Lord Montagu himself, that in King
James’s time ([when he] had a mind to get the King to cut off
the entayle of some land which was given in Harry the VIIIth’s
time to the family, with the remainder in the Crowne); he did an-
swer the King in showing how unlikely it was that ever it could
516 These are the words in the MS., and not “his son and the Lord Mon-
tagu,” as in some former editions. Pepys seems to have written Lord Mon-
tagu by mistake for Sir Edward Montagu.
1686
SEPTEMBER 1665
revert to the Crown, but that it would be a present convenience
to him; and did show that at that time there were 4,000 persons
derived from the very body of the Chiefe Justice. It seems the
number of daughters in the family having been very great, and
they too had most of them many children, and grandchildren,
and great-grandchildren. This he tells as a most known and cer-
tain truth. After supper, my Lord Bruncker took his leave, and I
also did mine, taking Captain Herbert home to my lodging to lie
with me, who did mighty seriously inquire after who was that in
the black dress with my wife yesterday, and would not believe
that it was my wife’s mayde, Mercer, but it was she.
23rd. Up, and to my Lord Sandwich, who did advise alone
with me how far he might trust Captain Cocke in the business of
the prize-goods, my Lord telling me that he hath taken into his
hands 2 or £3000 value of them: it being a good way, he says, to
get money, and afterwards to get the King’s allowance thereof, it
being easier, he observes, to keepe money when got of the King
than to get it when it is too late. I advised him not to trust Cocke
too far, and did therefore offer him ready money for a £1000 or
two, which he listens to and do agree to, which is great joy to me,
hoping thereby to get something! Thence by coach to Lambeth,
his Lordship, and all our office, and Mr. Evelyn, to the Duke
of Albemarle, where, after the compliment with my Lord very
kind, we sat down to consult of the disposing and supporting
of the fleete with victuals and money, and for the sicke men and
prisoners; and I did propose the taking out some goods out of
the prizes, to the value of £10,000, which was accorded to, and an
order, drawn up and signed by the Duke and my Lord, done in
the best manner I can, and referred to my Lord Bruncker and Sir
J. Minnes, but what inconveniences may arise from it I do not yet
see, but fear there may be many. Here we dined, and I did hear
my Lord Craven whisper, as he is mightily possessed with a good
opinion of me, much to my advantage, which my good Lord did
second, and anon my Lord Craven did speak publiquely of me
to the Duke, in the hearing of all the rest; and the Duke did say
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SEPTEMBER 1665
something of the like advantage to me; I believe, not much to the
satisfaction of my brethren; but I was mightily joyed at it. Thence
took leave, leaving my Lord Sandwich to go visit the Bishop of
Canterbury, and I and Sir W. Batten down to the Tower, where he
went further by water, and I home, and among other things took
out all my gold to carry along with me to-night with Captain
Cocke downe to the fleete, being £180 and more, hoping to lay
out that and a great deal more to good advantage. Thence down
to Greenwich to the office, and there wrote several letters, and so
to my Lord Sandwich, and mighty merry and he mighty kind to
me in the face of all, saying much in my favour, and after supper
I took leave and with Captain Cocke set out in the yacht about
ten o’clock at night, and after some discourse, and drinking a
little, my mind full of what we are going about and jealous of
Cocke’s outdoing me. So to sleep upon beds brought by Cocke
on board mighty handsome, and never slept better than upon
this bed upon the floor in the Cabbin.
24th (Lord’s day). Waked, and up and drank, and then to dis-
course; and then being about Grayes, and a very calme, curious
morning, we took our wherry, and to the fishermen, and bought a
great deal of fine fish, and to Gravesend to White’s, and had part
of it dressed; and, in the meantime, we to walk about a mile from
the towne, and so back again; and there, after breakfast, one of
our watermen told us he had heard of a bargain of cloves for us,
and we went to a blind alehouse at the further end wretched dirty
seamen, who, of the towne to a couple of poor wretches, had got
together about 37 lb. of cloves and to 10 of nutmeggs, and we
bought them of them, the first at 5s. 6d. per lb. and the latter at
4s.; and paid them in gold; but, Lord! to see how silly these men
are in the selling of it, and easily to be persuaded almost to any-
thing, offering a bag to us to pass as 20 lbs. of cloves, which upon
weighing proved 25 lbs. But it would never have been allowed
by my conscience to have wronged the poor wretches, who told
us how dangerously they had got some, and dearly paid for the
rest of these goods. This being done we with great content herein
1688
SEPTEMBER 1665
on board again and there Captain Cocke and I to discourse of our
business, but he will not yet be open to me, nor am I to him till I
hear what he will say and do with Sir Roger Cuttance. However,
this discourse did do me good, and got me a copy of the agree-
ment made the other day on board for the parcel of Mr. Pierce
and Sir Roger Cuttance, but this great parcel is of my Lord Sand-
wich’s. By and by to dinner about 3 o’clock and then I in the
cabbin to writing down my journall for these last seven days to
my great content, it having pleased God that in this sad time of
the plague every thing else has conspired to my happiness and
pleasure more for these last three months than in all my life be-
fore in so little time. God long preserve it and make me thankful)
for it! After finishing my Journal), then to discourse and to read,
and then to supper and to bed, my mind not being at full ease,
having not fully satisfied myself how Captain Cocke will deal
with me as to the share of the profits.
25th. Found ourselves come to the fleete, and so aboard the
Prince; and there, after a good while in discourse, we did agree
a bargain of £5,000 with Sir Roger Cuttance for my Lord Sand-
wich for silk, cinnamon, nutmeggs, and indigo. And I was near
signing to an undertaking for the payment of the whole sum; but
I did by chance escape it; having since, upon second thoughts,
great cause to be glad of it, reflecting upon the craft and not good
condition, it may be, of Captain Cocke. I could get no trifles for
my wife. Anon to dinner and thence in great haste to make a
short visit to Sir W. Pen, where I found them and his lady and
daughter and many commanders at dinner. Among others Sir G.
Askue, of whom whatever the matter is, the world is silent alto-
gether. But a very pretty dinner there was, and after dinner Sir
W. Pen made a bargain with Cocke for ten bales of silke, at 16s.
per lb., which, as Cocke says, will be a good pennyworth, and so
away to the Prince and presently comes my Lord on board from
Greenwich, with whom, after a little discourse about his trusting
of Cocke, we parted and to our yacht; but it being calme, we to
make haste, took our wherry toward Chatham; but, it growing
1689
SEPTEMBER 1665
darke, we were put to great difficultys, our simple, yet confident
waterman, not knowing a step of the way; and we found our-
selves to go backward and forward, which, in the darke night
and a wild place, did vex us mightily. At last we got a fisher boy
by chance, and took him into the boat, and being an odde kind of
boy, did vex us too; for he would not answer us aloud when we
spoke to him, but did carry us safe thither, though with a mis-
take or two; but I wonder they were not more. In our way I was
[surprised] and so were we all, at the strange nature of the sea-
water in a darke night, that it seemed like fire upon every stroke
of the oare, and, they say, is a sign of winde. We went to the
Crowne Inne, at Rochester, and there to supper, and made our-
selves merry with our poor fisher-boy, who told us he had not
been in a bed in the whole seven years since he came to ‘prentice,
and hath two or three more years to serve. After eating some-
thing, we in our clothes to bed.
26th. Up by five o’clock and got post horses and so set out
for Greenwich, calling and drinking at Dartford. Being come to
Greenwich and shifting myself I to the office, from whence by
and by my Lord Bruncker and Sir J. Minnes set out toward Erith
to take charge of the two East India shipps, which I had a hand in
contriving for the King’s service and may do myself a good office
too thereby. I to dinner with Mr. Wright to his father-in-law in
Greenwich, one of the most silly, harmless, prating old men that
ever I heard in my life. Creed dined with me, and among other
discourses got of me a promise of half that he could get my Lord
Rutherford to give me upon clearing his business, which should
not be less, he says, than £50 for my half, which is a good thing,
though cunningly got of him. By and by Luellin comes, and I
hope to get something of Deering shortly. They being gone, Mr.
Wright and I went into the garden to discourse with much trou-
ble for fear of losing all the profit and principal of what we have
laid out in buying of prize goods, and therefore puts me upon
thoughts of flinging up my interest, but yet I shall take good ad-
vice first. Thence to the office, and after some letters down to
1690
SEPTEMBER 1665
Woolwich, where I have not lain with my wife these eight days
I think, or more. After supper, and telling her my mind in my
trouble in what I have done as to buying’ of these goods, we to
bed.
27th. Up, and saw and admired my wife’s picture of our
Saviour,517 now finished, which is very pretty. So by water to
Greenwich, where with Creed and Lord Rutherford, and there
my Lord told me that he would give me £100 for my pains, which
pleased me well, though Creed, like a cunning rogue, hath got a
promise of half of it from me. We to the King’s Head, the great
musique house, the first time I was ever there, and had a good
breakfast, and thence parted, I being much troubled to hear from
Creed, that he was told at Salsbury that I am come to be a great
swearer and drinker, though I know the contrary; but, Lord! to
see how my late little drinking of wine is taken notice of by envi-
ous men to my disadvantage. I thence to Captain Cocke’s, [and]
(he not yet come from town) to Mr. Evelyn’s, where much com-
pany; and thence in his coach with him to the Duke of Albemarle
by Lambeth, who was in a mighty pleasant humour; there the
Duke tells us that the Dutch do stay abroad, and our fleet must
go out again, or to be ready to do so. Here we got several things
ordered as we desired for the relief of the prisoners, and sick and
wounded men. Here I saw this week’s Bill of Mortality, wherein,
blessed be God! there is above 1800 decrease, being the first con-
siderable decrease we have had. Back again the same way and
had most excellent discourse of Mr. Evelyn touching all manner
of learning; wherein I find him a very fine gentleman, and partic-
ularly of paynting, in which he tells me the beautifull Mrs. Mid-
dleton is rare, and his own wife do brave things. He brought me
to the office, whither comes unexpectedly Captain Cocke, who
hath brought one parcel of our goods by waggons, and at first re-
solved to have lodged them at our office; but then the thoughts of
517 This picture by Mrs. Pepys may have given trouble when Pepys was
unjustifiably attacked for having Popish pictures in his house.
1691
SEPTEMBER 1665
its being the King’s house altered our resolution, and so put them
at his friend’s, Mr. Glanvill’s, and there they are safe. Would the
rest of them were so too! In discourse, we come to mention my
profit, and he offers me £500 clear, and I demand £600 for my
certain profit. We part to-night, and I lie there at Mr. Glanvill’s
house, there being none there but a maydeservant and a young
man; being in some pain, partly from not knowing what to do in
this business, having a mind to be at a certainty in my profit, and
partly through his having Jacke sicke still, and his blackemore
now also fallen sicke. So he being gone, I to bed.
28th. Up, and being mightily pleased with my night’s lodging,
drank a cup of beer, and went out to my office, and there did
some business, and so took boat and down to Woolwich (having
first made a visit to Madam Williams, who is going down to my
Lord Bruncker) and there dined, and then fitted my papers and
money and every thing else for a journey to Nonsuch to-morrow.
That being done I walked to Greenwich, and there to the office
pretty late expecting Captain Cocke’s coming, which he did, and
so with me to my new lodging (and there I chose rather to lie
because of my interest in the goods that we have brought there
to lie), but the people were abed, so we knocked them up, and so
I to bed, and in the night was mightily troubled with a looseness
(I suppose from some fresh damp linen that I put on this night),
and feeling for a chamber-pott, there was none, I having called
the mayde up out of her bed, she had forgot I suppose to put one
there; so I was forced in this strange house to rise and shit in the
chimney twice; and so to bed and was very well again, and
29th. To sleep till 5 o’clock, when it is now very dark, and then
rose, being called up by order by Mr. Marlow, and so up and
dressed myself, and by and by comes Mr. Lashmore on horse-
back, and I had my horse I borrowed of Mr. Gillthropp, Sir W.
Batten’s clerke, brought to me, and so we set out and rode hard
and was at Nonsuch by about eight o’clock, a very fine journey
and a fine day. There I come just about chappell time and so
1692
SEPTEMBER 1665
I went to chappell with them and thence to the several offices
about my tallys, which I find done, but strung for sums not to
my purpose, and so was forced to get them to promise me to
have them cut into other sums. But, Lord! what ado I had to
persuade the dull fellows to it, especially Mr. Warder, Master of
the Pells, and yet without any manner of reason for their scru-
ple. But at last I did, and so left my tallies there against another
day, and so walked to Yowell, and there did spend a peece upon
them, having a whole house full, and much mirth by a sister of
the mistresse of the house, an old mayde lately married to a lieu-
tenant of a company that quarters there, and much pleasant dis-
course we had and, dinner being done, we to horse again and
come to Greenwich before night, and so to my lodging, and there
being a little weary sat down and fell to order some of my pocket
papers, and then comes Captain Cocke, and after a great deal
of discourse with him seriously upon the disorders of our state
through lack of men to mind the public business and to under-
stand it, we broke up, sitting up talking very late. We spoke a lit-
tle of my late business propounded of taking profit for my money
laid out for these goods, but he finds I rise in my demand, he of-
fering me still £500 certain. So we did give it over, and I to bed. I
hear for certain this night upon the road that Sir Martin Noell is
this day dead of the plague in London, where he hath lain sick of
it these eight days.
30th. Up and to the office, where busy all the morning, and at
noon with Sir W. Batten to Coll. Cleggat to dinner, being invited,
where a very pretty dinner to my full content and very merry.
The great burden we have upon us at this time at the office, is the
providing for prisoners and sicke men that are recovered, they
lying before our office doors all night and all day, poor wretches.
Having been on shore, the captains won’t receive them on board,
and other ships we have not to put them on, nor money to pay
them off, or provide for them. God remove this difficulty! This
made us followed all the way to this gentleman’s house and there
are waited for our coming out after dinner. Hither come Luellin
1693
SEPTEMBER 1665
to me and would force me to take Mr. Deering’s 20 pieces in gold
he did offer me a good while since, which I did, yet really and
sincerely against my will and content, I seeing him a man not
likely to do well in his business, nor I to reap any comfort in hav-
ing to do with, and be beholden to, a man that minds more his
pleasure and company than his business. Thence mighty merry
and much pleased with the dinner and company and they with
me I parted and there was set upon by the poor wretches, whom
I did give good words and some little money to, and the poor
people went away like lambs, and in good earnest are not to be
censured if their necessities drive them to bad courses of steal-
ing or the like, while they lacke wherewith to live. Thence to the
office, and there wrote a letter or two and dispatched a little busi-
ness, and then to Captain Cocke’s, where I find Mr. Temple, the
fat blade, Sir Robert. Viner’s chief man. And we three and two
companions of his in the evening by agreement took ship in the
Bezan and the tide carried us no further than Woolwich about
8 at night, and so I on shore to my wife, and there to my great
trouble find my wife out of order, and she took me downstairs
and there alone did tell me her falling out with both her mayds
and particularly Mary, and how Mary had to her teeth told her
she would tell me of something that should stop her mouth and
words of that sense. Which I suspect may be about Brown, but
my wife prays me to call it to examination, and this, I being of
myself jealous, do make me mightily out of temper, and seeing it
not fit to enter into the dispute did passionately go away, think-
ing to go on board again. But when I come to the stairs I consid-
ered the Bezan would not go till the next ebb, and it was best to
lie in a good bed and, it may be, get myself into a better humour
by being with my wife. So I back again and to bed and having
otherwise so many reasons to rejoice and hopes of good profit,
besides considering the ill that trouble of mind and melancholly
may in this sickly time bring a family into, and that if the differ-
ence were never so great, it is not a time to put away servants, I
was resolved to salve up the business rather than stir in it, and
1694
SEPTEMBER 1665
so become pleasant with my wife and to bed, minding nothing
of this difference. So to sleep with a good deal of content, and
saving only this night and a day or two about the same business
a month or six weeks ago, I do end this month with the greatest
content, and may say that these last three months, for joy, health,
and profit, have been much the greatest that ever I received in all
my life in any twelve months almost in my life, having nothing
upon me but the consideration of the sicklinesse of the season
during this great plague to mortify mee. For all which the Lord
God be praised!
1695
OCTOBER 1665
October 1st (Lord’s day). Called up about 4 of the clock and so
dressed myself and so on board the Bezan, and there finding all
my company asleep I would not wake them, but it beginning to
be break of day I did stay upon the decke walking, and then into
the Maister’s cabbin and there laid and slept a little, and so at
last was waked by Captain Cocke’s calling of me, and so I turned
out, and then to chat and talk and laugh, and mighty merry. We
spent most of the morning talking and reading of “The Siege of
Rhodes,” which is certainly (the more I read it the more I think
so) the best poem that ever was wrote. We breakfasted betimes
and come to the fleete about two of the clock in the afternoon,
having a fine day and a fine winde. My Lord received us mighty
kindly, and after discourse with us in general left us to our busi-
ness, and he to his officers, having called a council of wary, we in
the meantime settling of papers with Mr. Pierce and everybody
else, and by and by with Captain Cuttance. Anon called down to
my Lord, and there with him till supper talking and discourse;
among other things, to my great joy, he did assure me that he
had wrote to the King and Duke about these prize-goods, and
told me that they did approve of what he had done, and that he
would owne what he had done, and would have me to tell all
the world so, and did, under his hand, give Cocke and me his
1696
OCTOBER 1665
certificate of our bargains, and giving us full power of disposal
of what we have so bought. This do ease my mind of all my fear,
and makes my heart lighter by £100 than it was before. He did
discourse to us of the Dutch fleete being abroad, eighty-five of
them still, and are now at the Texell, he believes, in expectation of
our Eastland ships coming home with masts and hempe, and our
loaden Hambrough ships going to Hambrough. He discoursed
against them that would have us yield to no conditions but con-
quest over the Dutch, and seems to believe that the Dutch will
call for the protection of the King of France and come under his
power, which were to be wished they might be brought to do un-
der ours by fair means, and to that end would have all Dutch men
and familys, that would come hither and settled, to be declared
denizens; and my Lord did whisper to me alone that things here
must break in pieces, nobody minding any thing, but every man
his owne business of profit or pleasure, and the King some little
designs of his owne, and that certainly the kingdom could not
stand in this condition long, which I fear and believe is very true.
So to supper and there my Lord the kindest man to me, before
all the table talking of me to my advantage and with tenderness
too that it overjoyed me. So after supper Captain Cocke and I
and Temple on board the Bezan, and there to cards for a while
and then to read again in “Rhodes” and so to sleep. But, Lord!
the mirth which it caused me to be waked in the night by their
snoaring round about me; I did laugh till I was ready to burst,
and waked one of the two companions of Temple, who could not
a good while tell where he was that he heard one laugh so, till he
recollected himself, and I told him what it was at, and so to sleep
again, they still snoaring.
2nd. We having sailed all night (and I do wonder how they
in the dark could find the way) we got by morning to Gilling-
ham, and thence all walked to Chatham; and there with Commis-
sioner Pett viewed the Yard; and among other things, a teame of
four horses come close by us, he being with me, drawing a piece
of timber that I am confident one man could easily have carried
1697
OCTOBER 1665
upon his back. I made the horses be taken away, and a man or
two to take the timber away with their hands. This the Com-
missioner did see, but said nothing, but I think had cause to be
ashamed of. We walked, he and I and Cocke, to the Hill-house,
where we find Sir W. Pen in bed and there much talke and much
dissembling of kindnesse from him, but he is a false rogue, and I
shall not trust him, but my being there did procure his consent to
have his silk carried away before the money received, which he
would not have done for Cocke I am sure. Thence to Rochester,
walked to the Crowne, and while dinner was getting ready, I did
there walk to visit the old Castle ruines, which hath been a no-
ble place, and there going up I did upon the stairs overtake three
pretty mayds or women and took them up with me, and I did
‘baiser sur mouches et toucher leur mains’ and necks to my great
pleasure: but, Lord! to see what a dreadfull thing it is to look
down the precipices, for it did fright me mightily, and hinder
me of much pleasure which I would have made to myself in the
company of these three, if it had not been for that. The place hath
been very noble and great and strong in former ages. So to walk
up and down the Cathedral, and thence to the Crowne, whither
Mr. Fowler, the Mayor of the towne, was come in his gowne, and
is a very reverend magistrate. After I had eat a bit, not staying to
eat with them, I went away, and so took horses and to Gravesend,
and there staid not, but got a boat, the sicknesse being very much
in the towne still, and so called on board my Lord Bruncker and
Sir John Minnes, on board one of the East Indiamen at Erith, and
there do find them full of envious complaints for the pillageing
of the ships, but I did pacify them, and discoursed about making
money of some of the goods, and do hope to be the better by it
honestly. So took leave (Madam Williams being here also with
my Lord), and about 8 o’clock got to Woolwich and there supped
and mighty pleasant with my wife, who is, for ought I see, all
friends with her mayds, and so in great joy and content to bed.
3rd. Up, and to my great content visited betimes by Mr.
Woolly, my uncle Wight’s cozen, who comes to see what work I
1698
OCTOBER 1665
have for him about these East India goods, and I do find that this
fellow might have been of great use, and hereafter may be of very
great use to me, in this trade of prize goods, and glad I am fully
of his coming hither. While I dressed myself, and afterwards in
walking to Greenwich we did discourse over all the business of
the prize goods, and he puts me in hopes I may get some money
in what I have done, but not so much as I expected, but that I may
hereafter do more. We have laid a design of getting more, and are
to talk again of it a few days hence. To the office, where nobody
to meet me, Sir W. Batten being the only man and he gone this
day to meet to adjourne the Parliament to Oxford. Anon by ap-
pointment comes one to tell me my Lord Rutherford is come; so
I to the King’s Head to him, where I find his lady, a fine young
Scotch lady, pretty handsome and plain. My wife also, and Mer-
cer, by and by comes, Creed bringing them; and so presently to
dinner and very merry; and after to even our accounts, and I
to give him tallys, where he do allow me £100, of which to my
grief the rogue Creed has trepanned me out of £50. But I do fore-
see a way how it may be I may get a greater sum of my Lord to
his content by getting him allowance of interest upon his tallys.
That being done, and some musique and other diversions, at last
away goes my Lord and Lady, and I sent my wife to visit Mrs.
Pierce, and so I to my office, where wrote important letters to
the Court, and at night (Creed having clownishly left my wife),
I to Mrs. Pierces and brought her and Mrs. Pierce to the King’s
Head and there spent a piece upon a supper for her and mighty
merry and pretty discourse, she being as pretty as ever, most of
our mirth being upon “my Cozen” (meaning my Lord Bruncker’s
ugly mistress, whom he calls cozen), and to my trouble she tells
me that the fine Mrs. Middleton is noted for carrying about her
body a continued sour base smell, that is very offensive, espe-
cially if she be a little hot. Here some bad musique to close the
night and so away and all of us saw Mrs. Belle Pierce (as pretty
as ever she was almost) home, and so walked to Will’s lodging
where I used to lie, and there made shift for a bed for Mercer, and
1699
OCTOBER 1665
mighty pleasantly to bed. This night I hear that of our two water-
men that use to carry our letters, and were well on Saturday last,
one is dead, and the other dying sick of the plague. The plague,
though decreasing elsewhere, yet being greater about the Tower
and thereabouts.
4th. Up and to my office, where Mr. Andrews comes, and reck-
oning with him I get £64 of him. By and by comes Mr. Gawden,
and reckoning with him he gives me £60 in his account, which is
a great mercy to me. Then both of them met and discoursed the
business of the first man’s resigning and the other’s taking up
the business of the victualling of Tangier, and I do not think that
I shall be able to do as well under Mr. Gawden as under these
men, or within a little as to profit and less care upon me. Thence
to the King’s Head to dinner, where we three and Creed and my
wife and her woman dined mighty merry and sat long talking,
and so in the afternoon broke up, and I led my wife to our lodg-
ing again, and I to the office where did much business, and so
to my wife. This night comes Sir George Smith to see me at the
office, and tells me how the plague is decreased this week 740,
for which God be praised! but that it encreases at our end of the
town still, and says how all the towne is full of Captain Cocke’s
being in some ill condition about prize-goods, his goods being
taken from him, and I know not what. But though this troubles
me to have it said, and that it is likely to be a business in Par-
liament, yet I am not much concerned at it, because yet I believe
this newes is all false, for he would have wrote to me sure about
it. Being come to my wife, at our lodging, I did go to bed, and
left my wife with her people to laugh and dance and I to sleep.
5th. Lay long in bed talking among other things of my sister
Pall, and my wife of herself is very willing that I should give
her £400 to her portion, and would have her married soon as we
could; but this great sicknesse time do make it unfit to send for
her up. I abroad to the office and thence to the Duke of Albe-
marle, all my way reading a book of Mr. Evelyn’s translating
1700
OCTOBER 1665
and sending me as a present, about directions for gathering a Li-
brary;@@Instructions concerning erecting of a Library, presented
to my Lord the President De Mesme by Gilbert Naudeus, and
now interpreted by Jo. Evelyn, Esquire. London, 1661: This little
book was dedicated to Lord Clarendon by the translator. It was
printed while Evelyn was abroad, and is full of typographical
errors; these are corrected in a copy mentioned in Evelyn’s “Mis-
cellaneous Writings,” 1825, p. xii, where a letter to Dr. Godolphin
on the subject is printed.518 Round about and next door on every
side is the plague, but I did not value it, but there did what I
would ‘con elle’, and so away to Mr. Evelyn’s to discourse of our
confounded business of prisoners, and sick and wounded sea-
men, wherein he and we are so much put out of order.519 And
here he showed me his gardens, which are for variety of ever-
greens, and hedge of holly, the finest things I ever saw in my
life.520 Thence in his coach to Greenwich, and there to my office,
518 but the book is above my reach, but his epistle to my Lord Chancellor
is a very fine piece. When I come to the Duke it was about the victuallers’
business, to put it into other hands, or more hands, which I do advise in, but
I hope to do myself a jobb of work in it. So I walked through Westminster
to my old house the Swan, and there did pass some time with Sarah, and so
down by water to Deptford and there to my Valentine. [A Mrs. Bagwell. See
ante, February 14th, 1664-65
519 Each of the Commissioners for the Sick and Wounded was appointed to
a particular district, and Evelyn’s district was Kent and Sussex. On Septem-
ber 25th, 1665, Evelyn wrote in his Diary: “My Lord Admiral being come
from ye fleete to Greenewich, I went thence with him to ye Cockpit to consult
with the Duke of Albemarle. I was peremptory that unlesse we had £10,000
immediately, the prisoners would starve, and ‘twas proposed it should be
rais’d out of the E. India prizes now taken by Lord Sandwich. They being
but two of ye Commission, and so not impower’d to determine, sent an ex-
presse to his Majesty and Council to know what they should do.”
520 Evelyn purchased Sayes Court, Deptford, in 1653, and laid out his gar-
dens, walks, groves, enclosures, and plantations, which afterwards became
famous for their beauty. When he took the place in hand it was nothing but
an open field of one hundred acres, with scarcely a hedge in it.
1701
OCTOBER 1665
all the way having fine discourse of trees and the nature of veg-
etables. And so to write letters, I very late to Sir W. Coventry
of great concernment, and so to my last night’s lodging, but my
wife is gone home to Woolwich. The Bill, blessed be God! is less
this week by 740 of what it was the last week. Being come to my
lodging I got something to eat, having eat little all the day, and
so to bed, having this night renewed my promises of observing
my vowes as I used to do; for I find that, since I left them off, my
mind is run a’wool-gathering and my business neglected.
6th. Up, and having sent for Mr. Gawden he come to me, and
he and I largely discoursed the business of his Victualling, in or-
der to the adding of partners to him or other ways of altering it,
wherein I find him ready to do anything the King would have
him do. So he and I took his coach and to Lambeth and to the
Duke of Albemarle about it, and so back again, where he left me.
In our way discoursing of the business and contracting a great
friendship with him, and I find he is a man most worthy to be
made a friend, being very honest and gratefull, and in the free-
dom of our discourse he did tell me his opinion and knowledge
of Sir W. Pen to be, what I know him to be, as false a man as ever
was born, for so, it seems, he hath been to him. He did also tell
me, discoursing how things are governed as to the King’s trea-
sure, that, having occasion for money in the country, he did offer
Alderman Maynell to pay him down money here, to be paid by
the Receiver in some county in the country, upon whom Maynell
had assignments, in whose hands the money also lay ready. But
Maynell refused it, saying that he could have his money when
he would, and had rather it should lie where it do than receive
it here in towne this sickly time, where he hath no occasion for
it. But now the evil is that he hath lent this money upon tallys
which are become payable, but he finds that nobody looks after
it, how long the money is unpaid, and whether it lies dead in the
Receiver’s hands or no, so the King he pays Maynell 10 per cent.
while the money lies in his Receiver’s hands to no purpose but
the benefit of the Receiver. I to dinner to the King’s Head with
1702
OCTOBER 1665
Mr. Woolly, who is come to instruct me in the business of my
goods, but gives me not so good comfort as I thought I should
have had. But, however, it will be well worth my time though
not above 2 or £300. He gone I to my office, where very busy
drawing up a letter by way of discourse to the Duke of Albe-
marle about my conception how the business of the Victualling
should be ordered, wherein I have taken great pains, and I think
have hitt the right if they will but follow it. At this very late and
so home to our lodgings to bed.
7th. Up and to the office along with Mr. Childe, whom I sent
for to discourse about the victualling business, who will not come
into partnership (no more will Captain Beckford ), but I do find
him a mighty understanding man, and one I will keep a knowl-
edge of. Did business, though not much, at the office; because
of the horrible crowd and lamentable moan of the poor seamen
that lie starving in the streets for lack of money. Which do trou-
ble and perplex me to the heart; and more at noon when we were
to go through them, for then a whole hundred of them followed
us; some cursing, some swearing, and some praying to us. And
that that made me more troubled was a letter come this after-
noon from the Duke of Albemarle, signifying the Dutch to be in
sight, with 80 sayle, yesterday morning, off of Solebay, coming
right into the bay. God knows what they will and may do to us,
we having no force abroad able to oppose them, but to be sac-
rificed to them. Here come Sir W. Rider to me, whom I sent for
about the victualling business also, but he neither will not come
into partnership, but desires to be of the Commission if there be
one. Thence back the back way to my office, where very late,
very busy. But most of all when at night come two waggons from
Rochester with more goods from Captain Cocke; and in houseing
them at Mr. Tooker’s lodgings come two of the Custome-house
to seize them, and did seize them but I showed them my ‘Tran-
sire’. However, after some hot and angry words, we locked them
up, and sealed up the key, and did give it to the constable to keep
till Monday, and so parted. But, Lord! to think how the poor
1703
OCTOBER 1665
constable come to me in the dark going home; “Sir,” says he, “I
have the key, and if you would have me do any service for you,
send for me betimes to-morrow morning, and I will do what you
would have me.” Whether the fellow do this out of kindness or
knavery, I cannot tell; but it is pretty to observe. Talking with him
in the high way, come close by the bearers with a dead corpse of
the plague; but, Lord! to see what custom is, that I am come al-
most to think nothing of it. So to my lodging, and there, with
Mr. Hater and Will, ending a business of the state of the last six
months’ charge of the Navy, which we bring to £1,000,000 and
above, and I think we do not enlarge much in it if anything. So
to bed.
8th (Lord’s day). Up and, after being trimmed, to the office,
whither I upon a letter from the Duke of Albemarle to me, to or-
der as many ships forth out of the river as I can presently, to joyne
to meet the Dutch; having ordered all the Captains of the ships in
the river to come to me, I did some business with them, and so to
Captain Cocke’s to dinner, he being in the country. But here his
brother Solomon was, and, for guests, myself, Sir G. Smith, and
a very fine lady, one Mrs. Penington, and two more gentlemen.
But, both [before] and after dinner, most witty discourse with this
lady, who is a very fine witty lady, one of the best I ever heard
speake, and indifferent handsome. There after dinner an houre
or two, and so to the office, where ended my business with the
Captains; and I think of twenty-two ships we shall make shift to
get out seven. (God helpe us! men being sick, or provisions lack-
ing.) And so to write letters to Sir Ph. Warwicke, Sir W. Coventry,
and Sir G. Carteret to Court about the last six months’ accounts,
and sent away by an express to-night. This day I hear the Pope
is dead;–[a false report]–and one said, that the newes is, that the
King of France is stabbed, but that the former is very true, which
will do great things sure, as to the troubling of that part of the
world, the King of Spayne521 being so lately dead. And one thing
521 Philip IV., King of Spain, who succeeded to the throne in 1621, died in
1704
OCTOBER 1665
more, Sir Martin Noell’s lady is dead with griefe for the death
of her husband and nothing else, as they say, in the world; but
it seems nobody can make anything of his estate, whether he be
dead worth anything or no, he having dealt in so many things,
publique and private, as nobody can understand whereabouts
his estate is, which is the fate of these great dealers at everything.
So after my business being done I home to my lodging and to
bed,
9th. Up, my head full of business, and called upon also by Sir
John Shaw, to whom I did give a civil answer about our prize
goods, that all his dues as one of the Farmers of the Customes
are paid, and showed him our Transire; with which he was satis-
fied, and parted, ordering his servants to see the weight of them.
I to the office, and there found an order for my coming presently
to the Duke of Albemarle, and what should it be, but to tell me,
that, if my Lord Sandwich do not come to towne, he do resolve
to go with the fleete to sea himself, the Dutch, as he thinks, being
in the Downes, and so desired me to get a pleasure boat for to
take him in to-morrow morning, and do many other things, and
with a great liking of me, and my management especially, as that
coxcombe my Lord Craven do tell me, and I perceive it, and I am
sure take pains enough to deserve it. Thence away and to the of-
fice at London, where I did some business about my money and
private accounts, and there eat a bit of goose of Mr. Griffin’s, and
so by water, it raining most miserably, to Greenwich, calling on
several vessels in my passage. Being come there I hear another
seizure hath been made of our goods by one Captain Fisher that
hath been at Chatham by warrant of the Duke of Albemarle, and
is come in my absence to Tooker’s and viewed them, demanding
the key of the constable, and so sealed up the door. I to the house,
but there being no officers nor constable could do nothing, but
back to my office full of trouble about this, and there late about
business, vexed to see myself fall into this trouble and concern-
1665. He was succeeded by his son Charles II.
1705
OCTOBER 1665
ment in a thing that I want instruction from my Lord Sandwich
whether I should appear in it or no, and so home to bed, hav-
ing spent two hours, I and my boy, at Mr. Glanvill’s removing of
faggots to make room to remove our goods to, but when done I
thought it not fit to use it. The newes of the killing of the [King
of] France is wholly untrue, and they say that of the Pope too.
10th. Up, and receive a stop from the Duke of Albemarle of
setting out any more ships, or providing a pleasure boat for him-
self, which I am glad of, and do see, what I thought yesterday,
that this resolution of his was a sudden one and silly. By and
by comes Captain Cocke’s Jacob to tell me that he is come from
Chatham this morning, and that there are four waggons of goods
at hand coming to towne, which troubles me. I directed him to
bring them to his master’s house. But before I could send him
away to bring them thither, newes is brought me that they are
seized on in the towne by this Captain Fisher and they will carry
them to another place. So I to them and found our four waggons
in the streete stopped by the church by this Fisher and company
and 100 or 200 people in the streetes gazing. I did give them good
words, and made modest desires of carrying the goods to Cap-
tain Cocke’s, but they would have them to a house of their hiring,
where in a barne the goods were laid. I had transires to show for
all, and the tale was right, and there I spent all the morning see-
ing this done. At which Fisher was vexed that I would not let
it be done by any body else for the merchant, and that I must
needs be concerned therein, which I did not think fit to owne. So
that being done, I left the goods to be watched by men on their
part and ours, and so to the office by noon, whither by and by
comes Captain Cocke, whom I had with great care sent for by
expresse the last night, and so I with him to his house and there
eat a bit, and so by coach to Lambeth, and I took occasion first
to go to the Duke of Albemarle to acquaint him with some thing
of what had been done this morning in behalf of a friend absent,
which did give a good entrance and prevented their possessing
the Duke with anything of evil of me by their report, and by and
1706
OCTOBER 1665
by in comes. Captain Cocke and tells his whole story. So an order
was made for the putting him in possession upon giving security
to, be accountable for the goods, which for the present did satisfy
us, and so away, giving Locke that drew the order a piece. (Lord!
to see how unhappily a man may fall into a necessity of bribing
people to do him right in a thing, wherein he hath done noth-
ing but fair, and bought dear.) So to the office, there to write my
letters, and Cocke comes to tell me that Fisher is come to him,
and that he doubts not to cajole Fisher and his companion and
make them friends with drink and a bribe. This night comes Sir
Christopher Mings to towne, and I went to see him, and by and
by he being then out of the town comes to see me. He is newly
come from Court, and carries direction for the making a show of
getting out the fleete again to go fight the Dutch, but that it will
end in a fleete of 20 good sayling frigates to go to the Northward
or Southward, and that will be all. I enquired, but he would not
be to know that he had heard any thing at Oxford about the busi-
ness of the prize goods, which I did suspect, but he being gone,
anon comes Cocke and tells me that he hath been with him a
great while, and that he finds him sullen and speaking very high
what disrespect he had received of my Lord, saying that he hath
walked 3 or 4 hours together at that Earle’s cabbin door for au-
dience and could not be received, which, if true, I am sorry for.
He tells me that Sir G. Ascue says, that he did from the begin-
ning declare against these [prize] goods, and would not receive
his dividend; and that he and Sir W. Pen are at odds about it, and
that he fears Mings hath been doing ill offices to my Lord. I did
to-night give my Lord an account of all this, and so home and to
bed.
11th. Up, and so in my chamber staid all the morning doing
something toward my Tangier accounts, for the stating of them,
and also comes up my landlady, Mrs. Clerke, to make an agree-
ment for the time to come; and I, for the having room enough,
and to keepe out strangers, and to have a place to retreat to for
my wife, if the sicknesse should come to Woolwich, am contented
1707
OCTOBER 1665
to pay dear; so for three rooms and a dining-room, and for linen
and bread and beer and butter, at nights and mornings, I am to
give her £5 10s. per month, and I wrote and we signed to an
agreement. By and by comes Cocke to tell me that Fisher and
his fellow were last night mightily satisfied and promised all
friendship, but this morning he finds them to have new tricks
and shall be troubled with them. So he being to go down to
Erith with them this afternoon about giving security, I advised
him to let them go by land, and so he and I (having eat some-
thing at his house) by water to Erith, but they got thither before
us, and there we met Mr. Seymour, one of the Commissioners for
Prizes, and a Parliament-man, and he was mighty high, and had
now seized our goods on their behalf; and he mighty imperiously
would have all forfeited, and I know not what. I thought I was
in the right in a thing I said and spoke somewhat earnestly, so
we took up one another very smartly, for which I was sorry after-
wards, shewing thereby myself too much concerned, but nothing
passed that I valued at all. But I could not but think [it odd] that
a Parliament-man, in a serious discourse before such persons as
we and my Lord Bruncker, and Sir John Minnes, should quote
Hudibras, as being the book I doubt he hath read most. They I
doubt will stand hard for high security, and Cocke would have
had me bound with him for his appearing, but I did stagger at
it, besides Seymour do stop the doing it at all till he has been
with the Duke of Albemarle. So there will be another demurre.
It growing late, and I having something to do at home, took my
leave alone, leaving Cocke there for all night, and so against tide
and in the darke and very cold weather to Woolwich, where we
had appointed to keepe the night merrily; and so, by Captain
Cocke’s coach, had brought a very pretty child, a daughter of
one Mrs. Tooker’s, next door to my lodging, and so she, and a
daughter and kinsman of Mrs. Pett’s made up a fine company at
my lodgings at Woolwich, where my wife and Mercer, and Mrs.
Barbara danced, and mighty merry we were, but especially at
Mercer’s dancing a jigg, which she does the best I ever did see,
1708
OCTOBER 1665
having the most natural way of it, and keeps time the most per-
fectly I ever did see. This night is kept in lieu of yesterday, for
my wedding day of ten years; for which God be praised! being
now in an extreme good condition of health and estate and hon-
our, and a way of getting more money, though at this houre un-
der some discomposure, rather than damage, about some prize
goods that I have bought off the fleete, in partnership with Cap-
tain Cocke; and for the discourse about the world concerning my
Lord Sandwich, that he hath done a thing so bad; and indeed it
must needs have been a very rash act; and the rather because of
a Parliament now newly met to give money, and will have some
account of what hath already been spent, besides the precedent
for a General to take what prizes he pleases, and the giving a pre-
tence to take away much more than he intended, and all will lie
upon him; and not giving to all the Commanders, as well as the
Flaggs, he displeases all them, and offends even some of them,
thinking others to be better served than themselves; and lastly,
puts himself out of a power of begging anything again a great
while of the King. Having danced with my people as long as I
saw fit to sit up, I to bed and left them to do what they would. I
forgot that we had W. Hewer there, and Tom, and Golding, my
barber at Greenwich, for our fiddler, to whom I did give 10s.
12th. Called up before day, and so I dressed myself and down,
it being horrid cold, by water to my Lord Bruncker’s ship, who
advised me to do so, and it was civilly to show me what the
King had commanded about the prize-goods, to examine most
severely all that had been done in the taking out any with or
without order, without respect to my Lord Sandwich at all, and
that he had been doing of it, and find him examining one man,
and I do find that extreme ill use was made of my Lord’s or-
der. For they did toss and tumble and spoil, and breake things
in hold to a great losse and shame to come at the fine goods, and
did take a man that knows where the fine goods were, and did
this over and over again for many days, Sir W. Berkeley being the
chief hand that did it, but others did the like at other times, and
1709
OCTOBER 1665
they did say in doing it that my Lord Sandwich’s back was broad
enough to bear it. Having learned as much as I could, which was,
that the King and Duke were very severe in this point, whatever
order they before had given my Lord in approbation of what he
had done, and that all will come out and the King see, by the
entries at the Custome House, what all do amount to that had
been taken, and so I took leave, and by water, very cold, and to
Woolwich where it was now noon, and so I staid dinner and talk-
ing part of the afternoon, and then by coach, Captain Cocke’s, to
Greenwich, taking the young lady home, and so to Cocke, and
he tells me that he hath cajolled with Seymour, who will be our
friend; but that, above all, Seymour tells him, that my Lord Duke
did shew him to-day an order from Court, for having all respect
paid to the Earle of Sandwich, and what goods had been deliv-
ered by his order, which do overjoy us, and that to-morrow our
goods shall be weighed, and he doubts not possession to-morrow
or next day. Being overjoyed at this I to write my letters, and at
it very late. Good newes this week that there are about 600 less
dead of the plague than the last. So home to bed.
13th. Lay long, and this morning comes Sir Jer. Smith522 to
see me in his way to Court, and a good man he is, and one that
I must keep fair with, and will, it being I perceive my interest
to have kindnesse with the Commanders. So to the office, and
there very busy till about noon comes Sir W. Warren, and he goes
and gets a bit of meat ready at the King’s Head for us, and I by
and by thither, and we dined together, and I am not pleased with
him about a little business of Tangier that I put to him to do for
me, but however, the hurt is not much, and his other matters of
profit to me continue very likely to be good. Here we spent till 2
o’clock, and so I set him on shore, and I by water to the Duke of
Albemarle, where I find him with Lord Craven and Lieutenant
522 Captain Jeremiah Smith (or Smyth), knighted June, 1665; Admiral of
the Blue in 1666. He succeeded Sir William Penn as Comptroller of the Vict-
ualling Accounts in 1669, and held the office until 1675.
1710
OCTOBER 1665
of the Tower about him; among other things, talking of ships to
get of the King to fetch coles for the poore of the city, which is
a good worke. But, Lord! to hear the silly talke between these
three great people! Yet I have no reason to find fault, the Duke
and Lord Craven being my very great friends. Here did the busi-
ness I come about, and so back home by water, and there Cocke
comes to me and tells me that he is come to an understanding
with Fisher, and that he must give him £100, and that he shall
have his goods in possession to-morrow, they being all weighed
to-day, which pleases me very well. This day the Duke tells me
that there is no news heard of the Dutch, what they do or where
they are, but believes that they are all gone home, for none of
our spyes can give us any tideings of them. Cocke is fain to keep
these people, Fisher and his fellow, company night and day to
keep them friends almost and great troubles withal. My head is
full of settling the victualling business also, that I may make some
profit out of it, which I hope justly to do to the King’s advantage.
To-night come Sir J. Bankes to me upon my letter to discourse it
with him, and he did give me the advice I have taken almost as
fully as if I had been directed by him what to write. The busi-
ness also of my Tangier accounts to be sent to Court is upon my
hands in great haste; besides, all my owne proper accounts are in
great disorder, having been neglected now above a month, which
grieves me, but it could not be settled sooner. These together and
the feare of the sicknesse and providing for my family do fill my
head very full, besides the infinite business of the office, and no-
body here to look after it but myself. So late from my office to my
lodgings, and to bed.
14th. Up, and to the office, where mighty busy, especially with
Mr. Gawden, with whom I shall, I think, have much to do, and
by and by comes the Lieutenant of the Tower by my invitation
yesterday, but I had got nothing for him, it is to discourse about
the Cole shipps. So he went away to Sheriffe Hooker’s, and I
staid at the office till he sent for me at noon to dinner, I very hun-
gry. When I come to the Sheriffe’s he was not there, nor in many
1711
OCTOBER 1665
other places, nor could find him at all, so was forced to come to
the office and get a bit of meat from the taverne, and so to my
business. By and by comes the Lieutenant and reproaches me
with my not treating him as I ought, but all in jest, he it seemed
dined with Mr. Adrian May. Very late writing letters at the office,
and much satisfied to hear from Captain Cocke that he had got
possession of some of his goods to his own house, and expected
to have all to-night. The towne, I hear, is full of talke that there
are great differences in the fleete among the great Commanders,
and that Mings at Oxford did impeach my Lord of something, I
think about these goods, but this is but talke. But my heart and
head to-night is full of the Victualling business, being overjoyed
and proud at my success in my proposal about it, it being read
before the King, Duke, and the Caball with complete applause
and satisfaction. This Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry both
writ me, besides Sir W. Coventry’s letter to the Duke of Albe-
marle, which I read yesterday, and I hope to find my profit in it
also. So late home to bed.
15th (Lord’s day). Up, and while I staid for the barber, tried to
compose a duo of counterpoint, and I think it will do very well,
it being by Mr. Berckenshaw’s rule. By and by by appointment
comes Mr. Povy’s coach, and, more than I expected, him himself,
to fetch me to Brainford: so he and I immediately set out, hav-
ing drunk a draft of mulled sacke; and so rode most nobly, in his
most pretty and best contrived charriott in the world, with many
new conveniences, his never having till now, within a day or two,
been yet finished; our discourse upon Tangier business, want of
money, and then of publique miscarriages, nobody minding the
publique, but every body himself and his lusts. Anon we come to
his house, and there I eat a bit, and so with fresh horses, his no-
ble fine horses, the best confessedly in England, the King having
none such, he sent me to Sir Robert Viner’s, whom I met coming
just from church, and so after having spent half-an-hour almost
looking upon the horses with some gentlemen that were in com-
pany, he and I into his garden to discourse of money, but none
1712
OCTOBER 1665
is to be had, he confessing himself in great straits, and I believe
it. Having this answer, and that I could not get better, we fell to
publique talke, and to think how the fleete and seamen will be
paid, which he protests he do not think it possible to compass,
as the world is now: no money got by trade, nor the persons
that have it by them in the City to be come at. The Parliament, it
seems, have voted the King £1,250,000 at £50,000 per month, tax
for the war; and voted to assist the King against the Dutch, and
all that shall adhere to them; and thanks to be given him for his
care of the Duke of Yorke, which last is a very popular vote on the
Duke’s behalf. He tells me how the taxes of the last assessment,
which should have been in good part gathered, are not yet laid,
and that even in part of the City of London; and the Chimny-
money comes almost to nothing, nor any thing else looked after.
Having done this I parted, my mind not eased by any money, but
only that I had done my part to the King’s service. And so in a
very pleasant evening back to Mr. Povy’s, and there supped, and
after supper to talke and to sing, his man Dutton’s wife singing
very pleasantly (a mighty fat woman), and I wrote out one song
from her and pricked the tune, both very pretty. But I did never
heare one sing with so much pleasure to herself as this lady do,
relishing it to her very heart, which was mighty pleasant.
16th. Up about seven o’clock; and, after drinking, and I ob-
serving Mr. Povy’s being mightily mortifyed in his eating and
drinking, and coaches and horses, he desiring to sell his best,
and every thing else, his furniture of his house, he walked with
me to Syon,523 and there I took water, in our way he discoursing
of the wantonnesse of the Court, and how it minds nothing else,
and I saying that that would leave the King shortly if he did not
523 Sion House, granted by Edward VI. to his uncle, the Duke of Somerset.
After his execution, 1552, it was forfeited, and given to John Dudley, Duke
of Northumberland. The duke being beheaded in 1553, it reverted to the
Crown, and was granted in 1604 to Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland. It
still belongs to the Duke of Northumberland.
1713
OCTOBER 1665
leave it, he told me “No,” for the King do spend most of his time
in feeling and kissing them naked... But this lechery will never
leave him. Here I took boat (leaving him there) and down to the
Tower, where I hear the Duke of Albemarle is, and I to Lumbard
Streete, but can get no money. So upon the Exchange, which is
very empty, God knows! and but mean people there. The newes
for certain that the Dutch are come with their fleete before Mar-
gett, and some men were endeavouring to come on shore when
the post come away, perhaps to steal some sheep. But, Lord! how
Colvill talks of the businesse of publique revenue like a madman,
and yet I doubt all true; that nobody minds it, but that the King
and Kingdom must speedily be undone, and rails at my Lord
about the prizes, but I think knows not my relation to him. Here I
endeavoured to satisfy all I could, people about Bills of Exchange
from Tangier, but it is only with good words, for money I have
not, nor can get. God knows what will become of all the King’s
matters in a little time, for he runs in debt every day, and noth-
ing to pay them looked after. Thence I walked to the Tower; but,
Lord! how empty the streets are and melancholy, so many poor
sick people in the streets full of sores; and so many sad stories
overheard as I walk, every body talking of this dead, and that
man sick, and so many in this place, and so many in that. And
they tell me that, in Westminster, there is never a physician and
but one apothecary left, all being dead; but that there are great
hopes of a great decrease this week: God send it! At the Tower
found my Lord Duke and Duchesse at dinner; so I sat down. And
much good cheer, the Lieutenant and his lady, and several offi-
cers with the Duke. But, Lord! to hear the silly talk that was
there, would make one mad; the Duke having none almost but
fools about him. Much of their talke about the Dutch coming on
shore, which they believe they may some of them have been and
steal sheep, and speak all in reproach of them in whose hands
the fleete is; but, Lord helpe him, there is something will hinder
him and all the world in going to sea, which is want of victuals;
for we have not wherewith to answer our service; and how much
1714
OCTOBER 1665
better it would have been if the Duke’s advice had been taken for
the fleete to have gone presently out; but, God helpe the King!
while no better counsels are given, and what is given no better
taken. Thence after dinner receiving many commands from the
Duke, I to our office on the Hill, and there did a little business
and to Colvill’s again, and so took water at the Tower, and there
met with Captain Cocke, and he down with me to Greenwich, I
having received letters from my Lord Sandwich to-day, speaking
very high about the prize goods, that he would have us to fear
nobody, but be very confident in what we have done, and not to
confess any fault or doubt of what he hath done; for the King hath
allowed it, and do now confirm it, and sent orders, as he says, for
nothing to be disturbed that his Lordshipp hath ordered therein
as to the division of the goods to the fleete; which do comfort us,
but my Lord writes to me that both he and I may hence learn by
what we see in this business. But that which pleases me best is
that Cocke tells me that he now understands that Fisher was set
on in this business by the design of some of the Duke of Albe-
marle’s people, Warcupp and others, who lent him money to set
him out in it, and he has spent high. Who now curse him for a
rogue to take £100 when he might have had as well £1,500, and
they are mightily fallen out about it. Which in due time shall be
discovered, but that now that troubles me afresh is, after I am got
to the office at Greenwich that some new troubles are come, and
Captain Cocke’s house is beset before and behind with guards,
and more, I do fear they may come to my office here to search
for Cocke’s goods and find some small things of my clerk’s. So I
assisted them in helping to remove their small trade, but by and
by I am told that it is only the Custome House men who came to
seize the things that did lie at Mr. Glanville’s, for which they did
never yet see our Transire, nor did know of them till to-day. So
that my fear is now over, for a transire is ready for them. Cocke
did get a great many of his goods to London to-day. To the Still
Yarde, which place, however, is now shut up of the plague; but
I was there, and we now make no bones of it. Much talke there
1715
OCTOBER 1665
is of the Chancellor’s speech and the King’s at the Parliament’s
meeting, which are very well liked; and that we shall certainly,
by their speeches, fall out with France at this time, together with
the Dutch, which will find us work. Late at the office entering my
Journall for 8 days past, the greatness of my business hindering
me of late to put it down daily, but I have done it now very true
and particularly, and hereafter will, I hope, be able to fall into my
old way of doing it daily. So to my lodging, and there had a good
pullet to my supper, and so to bed, it being very cold again, God
be thanked for it!
17th. Up, and all day long busy at the office, mighty busy,
only stepped to my lodging and had a fowl for my dinner, and
at night my wife and Mercer comes to me, which troubled me a
little because I am to be mighty busy to-morrow all day seriously
about my accounts. So late from my office to her, and supped,
and so to bed.
18th. Up, and after some pleasant discourse with my wife
(though my head full of business) I out and left her to go home,
and myself to the office, and thence by water to the Duke of Albe-
marle’s, and so back again and find my wife gone. So to my
chamber at my lodgings, and to the making of my accounts up of
Tangier, which I did with great difficulty, finding the difference
between short and long reckonings where I have had occasion to
mix my moneys, as I have of late done my Tangier treasure upon
other occasions, and other moneys upon that. However, I was at
it late and did it pretty perfectly, and so, after eating something,
to bed, my mind eased of a great deal of figures and castings.
19th. Up, and to my accounts again, and stated them very clear
and fair, and at noon dined at my lodgings with Mr. Hater and
W. Hewer at table with me, I being come to an agreement yes-
terday with my landlady for £6 per month, for so many rooms
for myself, them, and my wife and mayde, when she shall come,
and to pay besides for my dyett. After dinner I did give them my
accounts and letters to write against I went to the Duke of Albe-
1716
OCTOBER 1665
marle’s this evening, which I did; and among other things, spoke
to him for my wife’s brother, Balty, to be of his guard, which he
kindly answered that he should. My business of the Victualling
goes on as I would have it; and now my head is full how to make
some profit of it to myself or people. To that end, when I came
home, I wrote a letter to Mr. Coventry, offering myself to be the
Surveyor Generall, and am apt to think he will assist me in it,
but I do not set my heart much on it, though it would be a good
helpe. So back to my office, and there till past one before I could
get all these letters and papers copied out, which vexed me, but
so sent them away without hopes of saving the post, and so to
my lodging to bed.
20th. Up, and had my last night’s letters brought back to me,
which troubles me, because of my accounts, lest they should be
asked for before they come, which I abhorr, being more ready to
give than they can be to demand them: so I sent away an expresse
to Oxford with them, and another to Portsmouth, with a copy of
my letter to Mr. Coventry about my victualling business, for fear
he should be gone from Oxford, as he intended, thither. So busy
all the morning and at noon to Cocke, and dined there. He and
I alone, vexed that we are not rid of all our trouble about our
goods, but it is almost over, and in the afternoon to my lodging,
and there spent the whole afternoon and evening with Mr. Hater,
discoursing of the business of the office, where he tells me that
among others Thomas Willson do now and then seem to hint that
I do take too much business upon me, more than I can do, and
that therefore some do lie undone. This I confess to my trouble
is true, but it arises from my being forced to take so much on me,
more than is my proper task to undertake. But for this at last I
did advise to him to take another clerk if he thinks fit, I will take
care to have him paid. I discoursed also much with him about
persons fit to be put into the victualling business, and such as I
could spare something out of their salaries for them, but without
trouble I cannot, I see, well do it, because Thomas Willson must
have the refusal of the best place which is London of £200 per
1717
OCTOBER 1665
annum, which I did intend for Tooker, and to get £50 out of it as
a help to Mr. Hater. How[ever], I will try to do something of this
kind for them. Having done discourse with him late, I to enter
my Tangier accounts fair, and so to supper and to bed.
21 st. Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning, and
then with my two clerks home to dinner, and so back again to the
office, and there very late very busy, and so home to supper and
to bed.
22nd (Lord’s day). Up, and after ready and going to Captain
Cocke’s, where I find we are a little further safe in some part
of our goods, I to Church, in my way was meeting with some
letters, which made me resolve to go after church to my Lord
Duke of Albemarle’s, so, after sermon, I took Cocke’s chariott,
and to Lambeth; but, in going and getting over the water, and
through White Hall, I spent so much time, the Duke had almost
dined. However, fresh meat was brought for me to his table, and
there I dined, and full of discourse and very kind. Here they
are again talking of the prizes, and my Lord Duke did speake
very broad that my Lord Sandwich and Pen should do what they
would, and answer for themselves. For his part, he would lay
all before the King. Here he tells me the Dutch Embassador at
Oxford is clapped up, but since I hear it is not true. Thence back
again, it being evening before I could get home, and there Cocke
not being within, I and Mr. Salomon to Mr. Glanville’s, and there
we found Cocke and sat and supped, and was mighty merry with
only Madam Penington, who is a fine, witty lady. Here we spent
the evening late with great mirth, and so home and to bed.
23rd. Up, and after doing some business I down by water, call-
ing to see my wife, with whom very merry for ten minutes, and
so to Erith, where my Lord Bruncker and I kept the office, and
dispatched some business by appointment on the Bezan. Among
other things about the slopsellers, who have trusted us so long,
they are not able, nor can be expected to trust us further, and
I fear this winter the fleete will be undone by that particular.
1718
OCTOBER 1665
Thence on board the East India ship, where my Lord Bruncker
had provided a great dinner, and thither comes by and by Sir
John Minnes and before him Sir W. Warren and anon a Per-
spective glasse maker, of whom we, every one, bought a pocket
glasse. But I am troubled with the much talke and conceitedness
of Mrs. Williams and her impudence, in case she be not mar-
ried to my Lord. They are getting themselves ready to deliver
the goods all out to the East India Company, who are to have
the goods in their possession and to advance two thirds of the
moderate value thereof and sell them as well as they can and the
King to give them 6 per cent. for the use of the money they shall
so advance. By this means the company will not suffer by the
King’s goods bringing down the price of their own. Thence in
the evening back again with Sir W. Warren and Captain Taylor
in my boat, and the latter went with me to the office, and there
he and I reckoned; and I perceive I shall get £100 profit by my
services of late to him, which is a very good thing. Thence to my
lodging, where I find my Lord Rutherford, of which I was glad.
We supped together and sat up late, he being a mighty wanton
man with a daughter in law of my landlady’s, a pretty conceited
woman big with child, and he would be handling her breasts,
which she coyly refused. But they gone, my Lord and I to busi-
ness, and he would have me forbear paying Alderman Backewell
the money ordered him, which I, in hopes to advantage myself,
shall forbear, but do not think that my Lord will do any thing
gratefully more to me than he hath done, not that I shall get any
thing as I pretended by helping him to interest for his last £7700,
which I could do, and do him a courtesy too. Discourse being
done, he to bed in my chamber and I to another in the house.
24th. Lay long, having a cold. Then to my Lord and sent him
going to Oxford, and I to my office, whither comes Sir William
Batten now newly from Oxford. I can gather nothing from him
about my Lord Sandwich about the business of the prizes, he be-
ing close, but he shewed me a bill which hath been read in the
House making all breaking of bulke for the time to come felony,
1719
OCTOBER 1665
but it is a foolish Act, and will do no great matter, only is calcu-
lated to my Lord Sandwich’s case. He shewed me also a good
letter printed from the Bishopp of Munster to the States of Hol-
land shewing the state of their case. Here we did some business
and so broke up and I to Cocke, where Mr. Evelyn was, to dinner,
and there merry, yet vexed again at publique matters, and to see
how little heed is had to the prisoners and sicke and wounded.
Thence to my office, and no sooner there but to my great surprise
am told that my Lord Sandwich is come to towne; so I presently
to Boreman’s, where he is and there found him: he mighty kind
to me, but no opportunity of discourse private yet, which he tells
me he must have with me; only his business is sudden to go to
the fleece, to get out a few ships to drive away the Dutch. I left
him in discourse with Sir W. Batten and others, and myself to the
office till about 10 at night and so, letters being done, I to him
again to Captain Cocke’s, where he supped, and lies, and never
saw him more merry, and here is Charles Herbert, who the King
hath lately knighted.524 My Lord, to my great content, did tell
me before them, that never anything was read to the King and
Council, all the chief Ministers of State being there, as my letter
about the Victualling was, and no more said upon it than a most
524 This person, erroneously called by Pepys Sir C. Herbert, will be best de-
fined by subjoining the inscription on his monument in Westminster Abbey:
“Sir Charles Harbord, Knight, third son of Sir Charles Harbord, Knight,
Surveyor-General, and First Lieutenant of the Royall James, under the most
noble and illustrious Captaine, Edward, Earle of Sandwich, Vice-Admirall
of England, which, after a terrible fight, maintained to admiration against a
squadron of the Holland fleet, above six hours, neere the Suffolk coast, hav-
ing put off two fireships; at last, being utterly disabled, and few of her men
remaining unhurt, was, by a third, unfortunately set on fire. But he (though
he swome well) neglected to save himselfe, as some did, and out of perfect
love to that worthy Lord, whom, for many yeares, he had constantly accom-
panyed, in all his honourable employments, and in all the engagements of
the former warre, dyed with him, at the age of xxxii., much bewailed by his
father, whom he never offended; and much beloved by all for his knowne
piety, vertue, loyalty, fortitude, and fidelity.”–B.
1720
OCTOBER 1665
thorough consent to every word was said, and directed, that it be
pursued and practised. After much mirth, and my Lord having
travelled all night last night, he to bed, and we all parted, I home.
25th. Up and to my Lord Sandwich’s, where several Comman-
ders, of whom I took the state of all their ships, and of all could
find not above four capable of going out. The truth is, the want of
victuals being the whole overthrow of this yeare both at sea, and
now at the Nore here and Portsmouth, where all the fleete lies.
By and by comes down my Lord, and then he and I an houre to-
gether alone upon private discourse. He tells me that Mr. Coven-
try and he are not reconciled, but declared enemies: the only oc-
casion of it being, he tells me, his ill usage from him about the
first fight, wherein he had no right done him, which, methinks,
is a poor occasion, for, in my conscience, that was no design of
Coventry’s. But, however, when I asked my Lord whether it
were not best, though with some condescension, to be friends
with him, he told me it was not possible, and so I stopped. He
tells me, as very private, that there are great factions at the Court
between the King’s party and the Duke of Yorke’s, and that the
King, which is a strange difficulty, do favour my Lord in oppo-
sition to the Duke’s party; that my Lord Chancellor, being, to be
sure, the patron of the Duke’s, it is a mystery whence it should
be that Mr. Coventry is looked upon by him [Clarendon] as an
enemy to him; that if he had a mind himself to be out of this em-
ployment, as Mr. Coventry, he believes, wishes, and himself and
I do incline to wish it also, in many respects, yet he believes he
shall not be able, because of the King, who will keepe him in on
purpose, in opposition to the other party; that Prince Rupert and
he are all possible friends in the world; that Coventry hath ag-
gravated this business of the prizes, though never so great plun-
dering in the world as while the Duke and he were at sea; and in
Sir John Lawson’s time he could take and pillage, and then sink
a whole ship in the Streights, and Coventry say nothing to it; that
my Lord Arlington is his fast friend; that the Chancellor is cold to
him, and though I told him that I and the world do take my Lord
1721
OCTOBER 1665
Chancellor, in his speech the other day, to have said as much as
could be wished, yet he thinks he did not. That my Lord Chancel-
lor do from hence begin to be cold to him, because of his seeing
him and Arlington so great: that nothing at Court is minded but
faction and pleasure, and nothing intended of general good to
the kingdom by anybody heartily; so that he believes with me, in
a little time confusion will certainly come over all the nation. He
told me how a design was carried on a while ago, for the Duke
of Yorke to raise an army in the North, and to be the Generall of
it, and all this without the knowledge or advice of the Duke of
Albemarle, which when he come to know, he was so vexed, they
were fain to let it fall to content him: that his matching with the
family of Sir G. Carteret do make the difference greater between
Coventry and him, they being enemies; that the Chancellor did,
as every body else, speak well of me the other day, but yet was,
at the Committee for Tangier, angry that I should offer to suf-
fer a bill of exchange to be protested. So my Lord did bid me
take heed, for that I might easily suppose I could not want en-
emies, no more than others. In all he speaks with the greatest
trust and love and confidence in what I say or do, that a man
can do. After this discourse ended we sat down to dinner and
mighty merry, among other things, at the Bill brought into the
House to make it felony to break bulke, which, as my Lord says
well, will make that no prizes shall be taken, or, if taken, shall be
sunke after plundering; and the Act for the method of gathering
this last £1,250,000 now voted, and how paid wherein are several
strange imperfections. After dinner my Lord by a ketch down to
Erith, where the Bezan was, it blowing these last two days and
now both night and day very hard southwardly, so that it has
certainly drove the Dutch off the coast. My Lord being gone I to
the office, and there find Captain Ferrers, who tells me his wife is
come to town to see him, having not seen him since 15 weeks ago
at his first going to sea last. She is now at a Taverne and stays all
night, so I was obliged to give him my house and chamber to lie
in, which he with great modesty and after much force took, and
1722
OCTOBER 1665
so I got Mr. Evelyn’s coach to carry her thither, and the coach
coming back, I with Mr. Evelyn to Deptford, where a little while
with him doing a little business, and so in his coach back again
to my lodgings, and there sat with Mrs. Ferrers two hours, and
with my little girle, Mistress Frances Tooker, and very pleasant.
Anon the Captain comes, and then to supper very merry, and so
I led them to bed. And so to bed myself, having seen my pretty
little girle home first at the next door.
26th. Up, and, leaving my guests to make themselves ready, I
to the office, and thither comes Sir Jer. Smith and Sir Christopher
Mings to see me, being just come from Portsmouth and going
down to the Fleete. Here I sat and talked with them a good while
and then parted, only Sir Christopher Mings and I together by
water to the Tower; and I find him a very witty well-spoken fel-
low, and mighty free to tell his parentage, being a shoemaker’s
son, to whom he is now going, and I to the ‘Change, where I hear
how the French have taken two and sunk one of our merchant-
men in the Streights, and carried the ships to Toulon; so that there
is no expectation but we must fall out with them. The ‘Change
pretty full, and the town begins to be lively again, though the
streets very empty, and most shops shut. So back again I and
took boat and called for Sir Christopher Mings at St. Katharine’s,
who was followed with some ordinary friends, of which, he says,
he is proud, and so down to Greenwich, the wind furious high,
and we with our sail up till I made it be taken down. I took him,
it being 3 o’clock, to my lodgings and did give him a good dinner
and so parted, he being pretty close to me as to any business of
the fleete, knowing me to be a servant of my Lord Sandwich’s.
He gone I to the office till night, and then they come and tell me
my wife is come to towne, so I to her vexed at her coming, but
it was upon innocent business, so I was pleased and made her
stay, Captain Ferrers and his lady being yet there, and so I left
them to dance, and I to the office till past nine at night, and so to
them and there saw them dance very prettily, the Captain and his
wife, my wife and Mrs. Barbary, and Mercer and my landlady’s
1723
OCTOBER 1665
daughter, and then little Mistress Frances Tooker and her mother,
a pretty woman come to see my wife. Anon to supper, and then
to dance again (Golding being our fiddler, who plays very well
and all tunes) till past twelve at night, and then we broke up and
every one to bed, we make shift for all our company, Mrs. Tooker
being gone.
27th. Up, and after some pleasant discourse with my wife, I
out, leaving her and Mrs. Ferrers there, and I to Captain Cocke’s,
there to do some business, and then away with Cocke in his coach
through Kent Streete, a miserable, wretched, poor place, people
sitting sicke and muffled up with plasters at every 4 or 5 doors.
So to the ‘Change, and thence I by water to the Duke of Albe-
marle’s, and there much company, but I staid and dined, and he
makes mighty much of me; and here he tells us the Dutch are
gone, and have lost above 160 cables and anchors, through the
last foule weather. Here he proposed to me from Mr. Coven-
try, as I had desired of Mr. Coventry, that I should be Surveyor-
Generall of the Victualling business, which I accepted. But, in-
deed, the terms in which Mr. Coventry proposes it for me are the
most obliging that ever I could expect from any man, and more;
it saying me to be the fittest man in England, and that he is sure,
if I will undertake, I will perform it; and that it will be also a
very desirable thing that I might have this encouragement, my
encouragement in the Navy alone being in no wise proportion-
able to my pains or deserts. This, added to the letter I had three
days since from Mr. Southerne, signifying that the Duke of Yorke
had in his master’s absence opened my letter, and commanded
him to tell me that he did approve of my being the Surveyor-
General, do make me joyful beyond myself that I cannot express
it, to see that as I do take pains, so God blesses me, and hath sent
me masters that do observe that I take pains. After having done
here, I back by water and to London, and there met with Captain
Cocke’s coach again, and I went in it to Greenwich and thence
sent my wife in it to Woolwich, and I to the office, and thence
home late with Captain Taylor, and he and I settled all accounts
1724
OCTOBER 1665
between us, and I do find that I do get above £129 of him for my
services for him within these six months. At it till almost one in
the morning, and after supper he away and I to bed, mightily
satisfied in all this, and in a resolution I have taken to-night with
Mr. Hater to propose the port of London for the victualling busi-
ness for Thomas Willson, by which it will be better done and I at
more ease, in case he should grumble.525 So to bed.
28th. Up, and sent for Thomas Willson, and broke the vict-
ualling business to him and he is mightily contented, and so am I
that I have bestowed it on him, and so I to Mr. Boreman’s, where
Sir W. Batten is, to tell him what I had proposed to Thomas Will-
son, and the newes also I have this morning from Sir W. Clerke,
which is, that notwithstanding all the care the Duke of Albemarle
hath taken about the putting the East India prize goods into the
East India Company’s hands, and my Lord Bruncker and Sir J.
Minnes having laden out a great part of the goods, an order is
come from Court to stop all, and to have the goods delivered
to the Sub-Commissioners of prizes. At which I am glad, be-
cause it do vex this simple weake man, and we shall have a little
reparation for the disgrace my Lord Sandwich has had in it. He
tells me also that the Parliament hath given the Duke of Yorke
£120,000, to be paid him after the £1,250,000 is gathered upon the
tax which they have now given the King.526 He tells me that the
Dutch have lately launched sixteen new ships; all which is great
news. Thence by horsebacke with Mr. Deane to Erith, and so
aboard my Lord Bruncker and dined, and very merry with him
and good discourse between them about ship building, and, af-
ter dinner and a little pleasant discourse, we away and by horse
525 The Duke of York’s letter appointing Thomas Wilson Surveyor of the
Victualling of His Majesty’s Navy in the Port of London, and referring to
Pepys as Surveyor-General of the Victualling Affairs, is printed in “Memoirs
of the English Affairs, chiefly Naval, 1660- 73,” by James, Duke of York, 1729,
p. 131.
526 This sum was granted by the Commons to Charles, with a request that
he would bestow it on his brother.–B.
1725
OCTOBER 1665
back again to Greenwich, and there I to the office very late, offer-
ing my persons for all the victualling posts much to my satisfac-
tion. Also much other business I did to my mind, and so weary
home to my lodging, and there after eating and drinking a little I
to bed. The King and Court, they say, have now finally resolved
to spend nothing upon clothes, but what is of the growth of Eng-
land; which, if observed, will be very pleasing to the people, and
very good for them.
29th (Lord’s day). Up, and being ready set out with Captain
Cocke in his coach toward Erith, Mr. Deane riding along with
us, where we dined and were very merry. After dinner we fell
to discourse about the Dutch, Cocke undertaking to prove that
they were able to wage warr with us three years together, which,
though it may be true, yet, not being satisfied with his arguments,
my Lord and I did oppose the strength of his arguments, which
brought us to a great heate, he being a conceited man, but of no
Logique in his head at all, which made my Lord and I mirth.
Anon we parted, and back again, we hardly having a word all
the way, he being so vexed at our not yielding to his persuasion.
I was set down at Woolwich towne end, and walked through the
towne in the darke, it being now night. But in the streete did
overtake and almost run upon two women crying and carrying
a man’s coffin between them. I suppose the husband of one of
them, which, methinks, is a sad thing. Being come to Shelden’s, I
find my people in the darke in the dining room, merry and laugh-
ing, and, I thought, sporting one with another, which, God helpe
me! raised my jealousy presently. Come in the darke, and one
of them touching me (which afterward I found was Susan) made
them shreeke, and so went out up stairs, leaving them to light a
candle and to run out. I went out and was very vexed till I found
my wife was gone with Mr. Hill and Mercer this day to see me at
Greenwich, and these people were at supper, and the candle on
a sudden falling out of the candlesticke (which I saw as I come
through the yarde) and Mrs. Barbary being there I was well at
ease again, and so bethought myself what to do, whether to go
1726
OCTOBER 1665
to Greenwich or stay there; at last go I would, and so with a lan-
thorne, and 3 or 4 people with me, among others Mr. Browne,
who was there, would go, I walked with a lanthorne and dis-
coursed with him about paynting and the several sorts of it. I
came in good time to Greenwich, where I found Mr. Hill with
my wife, and very glad I was to see him. To supper and dis-
course of musique and so to bed, I lying with him talking till
midnight about Berckenshaw’s musique rules, which I did to his
great satisfaction inform him in, and so to sleep.
30th. Up, and to my office about business. At noon to din-
ner, and after some discourse of musique, he and I to the office
awhile, and he to get Mr. Coleman, if he can, against night. By
and by I back again home, and there find him returned with Mr.
Coleman (his wife being ill) and Mr. Laneare, with whom with
their Lute we had excellent company and good singing till mid-
night, and a good supper I did give them, but Coleman’s voice
is quite spoiled, and when he begins to be drunk he is excellent
company, but afterward troublesome and impertinent. Laneare
sings in a melancholy method very well, and a sober man he
seems to be. They being gone, we to bed. Captain Ferrers coming
this day from my Lord is forced to lodge here, and I put him to
Mr. Hill.
31st. Up, and to the office, Captain Ferrers going back betimes
to my Lord. I to the office, where Sir W. Batten met me, and
did tell me that Captain Cocke’s black was dead of the plague,
which I had heard of before, but took no notice. By and by Cap-
tain Cocke come to the office, and Sir W. Batten and I did send
to him that he would either forbear the office, or forbear going to
his owne office. However, meeting yesterday the Searchers with
their rods in their hands coming from Captain Cocke’s house, I
did overhear them say that the fellow did not die of the plague,
but he had I know been ill a good while, and I am told that his
boy Jack is also ill. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office
again, leaving Mr. Hill if he can to get Mrs. Coleman at night.
1727
OCTOBER 1665
About nine at night I come home, and there find Mrs. Pierce
come and little Fran. Tooker, and Mr. Hill, and other people, a
great many dancing, and anon comes Mrs. Coleman with her
husband and Laneare. The dancing ended and to sing, which
Mrs. Coleman do very finely, though her voice is decayed as
to strength but mighty sweet though soft, and a pleasant jolly
woman, and in mighty good humour was to-night. Among other
things Laneare did, at the request of Mr. Hill, bring two or three
the finest prints for my wife to see that ever I did see in all my
life. But for singing, among other things, we got Mrs. Coleman
to sing part of the Opera, though she won’t owne that ever she
did get any of it without book in order to the stage; but, above all,
her counterfeiting of Captain Cooke’s part, in his reproaching his
man with cowardice, “Base slave,” &c., she do it most excellently.
At it till past midnight, and then broke up and to bed. Hill and
I together again, and being very sleepy we had little discourse
as we had the other night. Thus we end the month merrily; and
the more for that, after some fears that the plague would have in-
creased again this week, I hear for certain that there is above 400
[less], the whole number being 1,388, and of them of the plague,
1,031. Want of money in the Navy puts everything out of or-
der. Men grow mutinous; and nobody here to mind the business
of the Navy but myself. At least Sir W. Batten for the few days
he has been here do nothing. I in great hopes of my place of
Surveyor-Generall of the Victualling, which will bring me £300
per annum.
1728
NOVEMBER 1665
November 1st. Lay very long in bed discoursing with Mr. Hill
of most things of a man’s life, and how little merit do prevail in
the world, but only favour; and that, for myself, chance without
merit brought me in; and that diligence only keeps me so, and
will, living as I do among so many lazy people that the diligent
man becomes necessary, that they cannot do anything without
him, and so told him of my late business of the victualling, and
what cares I am in to keepe myself having to do with people of
so different factions at Court, and yet must be fair with them all,
which was very pleasant discourse for me to tell, as well as he
seemed to take it, for him to hear. At last up, and it being a very
foule day for raine and a hideous wind, yet having promised I
would go by water to Erith, and bearing sayle was in danger of
oversetting, but ordered them take down their sayle, and so cold
and wet got thither, as they had ended their dinner. How[ever], I
dined well, and after dinner all on shore, my Lord Bruncker with
us to Mrs. Williams’s lodgings, and Sir W. Batten, Sir Edmund
Pooly, and others; and there, it being my Lord’s birth-day, had
every one a green riband tied in our hats very foolishly; and me-
thinks mighty disgracefully for my Lord to have his folly so open
to all the world with this woman. But by and by Sir W. Batten and
I took coach, and home to Boreman, and so going home by the
1729
NOVEMBER 1665
backside I saw Captain Cocke ‘lighting out of his coach (having
been at Erith also with her but not on board) and so he would
come along with me to my lodging, and there sat and supped
and talked with us, but we were angry a little a while about our
message to him the other day about bidding him keepe from the
office or his owne office, because of his black dying. I owned it
and the reason of it, and would have been glad he had been out
of the house, but I could not bid him go, and so supped, and af-
ter much other talke of the sad condition and state of the King’s
matters we broke up, and my friend and I to bed. This night
coming with Sir W. Batten into Greenwich we called upon Coll.
Cleggatt, who tells us for certaine that the King of Denmark hath
declared to stand for the King of England, but since I hear it is
wholly false.
2nd. Up, left my wife and to the office, and there to my
great content Sir W. Warren come to me to settle the business of
the Tangier boates, wherein I shall get above £100, besides £100
which he gives me in the paying for them out of his owne purse.
He gone, I home to my lodgings to dinner, and there comes Cap-
tain Wagers newly returned from the Streights, who puts me in
great fear for our last ships that went to Tangier with provisions,
that they will be taken. A brave, stout fellow this Captain is, and
I think very honest. To the office again after dinner and there
late writing letters, and then about 8 at night set out from my of-
fice and fitting myself at my lodgings intended to have gone this
night in a Ketch down to the Fleete, but calling in my way at Sir
J. Minnes’s, who is come up from Erith about something about
the prizes, they persuaded me not to go till the morning, it being
a horrible darke and a windy night. So I back to my lodging and
to bed.
3rd. Was called up about four o’clock and in the darke by lan-
thorne took boat and to the Ketch and set sayle, sleeping a little in
the Cabbin till day and then up and fell to reading of Mr. Evelyn’s
1730
NOVEMBER 1665
book about Paynting,527 which is a very pretty book. Carrying
good victuals and Tom with me I to breakfast about 9 o’clock, and
then to read again and come to the Fleete about twelve, where
I found my Lord (the Prince being gone in) on board the Royall
James, Sir Thomas Allen commander, and with my Lord an houre
alone discoursing what was my chief and only errand about what
was adviseable for his Lordship to do in this state of things, him-
self being under the Duke of Yorke’s and Mr. Coventry’s envy,
and a great many more and likely never to do anything hon-
ourably but he shall be envied and the honour taken as much as
can be from it. His absence lessens his interest at Court, and what
is worst we never able to set out a fleete fit for him to command,
or, if out, to keepe them out or fit them to do any great thing, or
if that were so yet nobody at home minds him or his condition
when he is abroad, and lastly the whole affairs of state looking
as if they would all on a sudden break in pieces, and then what
a sad thing it would be for him to be out of the way. My Lord
did concur in every thing and thanked me infinitely for my visit
and counsel, telling me that in every thing he concurs, but puts
a query, what if the King will not think himself safe, if any man
should go but him. How he should go off then? To that I had
no answer ready, but the making the King see that he may be of
as good use to him here while another goes forth. But for that I
am not able to say much. We after this talked of some other little
things and so to dinner, where my Lord infinitely kind to me, and
after dinner I rose and left him with some Commanders at the ta-
ble taking tobacco and I took the Bezan back with me, and with
a brave gale and tide reached up that night to the Hope, taking
great pleasure in learning the seamen’s manner of singing when
they sound the depths, and then to supper and to sleep, which I
did most excellently all night, it being a horrible foule night for
527 This must surely have been Evelyn’s “Sculptura, or the History and Art
of Chalcography and Engraving in Copper,” published in 1662. The trans-
lation of Freart’s “Idea of the Perfection of Painting demonstrated” was not
published until 1668.
1731
NOVEMBER 1665
wind and raine.
4th. They sayled from midnight, and come to Greenwich about
5 o’clock in the morning. I however lay till about 7 or 8, and so to
my office, my head a little akeing, partly for want of natural rest,
partly having so much business to do to-day, and partly from the
newes I hear that one of the little boys at my lodging is not well;
and they suspect, by their sending for plaister and fume, that it
may be the plague; so I sent Mr. Hater and W. Hewer to speake
with the mother; but they returned to me, satisfied that there is
no hurt nor danger, but the boy is well, and offers to be searched,
however, I was resolved myself to abstain coming thither for a
while. Sir W. Batten and myself at the office all the morning. At
noon with him to dinner at Boreman’s, where Mr. Seymour with
us, who is a most conceited fellow and not over much in him.
Here Sir W. Batten told us (which I had not heard before) that the
last sitting day his cloake was taken from Mingo he going home
to dinner, and that he was beaten by the seamen and swears he
will come to Greenwich, but no more to the office till he can sit
safe. After dinner I to the office and there late, and much troubled
to have 100 seamen all the afternoon there, swearing below and
cursing us, and breaking the glasse windows, and swear they
will pull the house down on Tuesday next. I sent word of this to
Court, but nothing will helpe it but money and a rope. Late at
night to Mr. Glanville’s there to lie for a night or two, and to bed.
5th (Lord’s day). Up, and after being trimmed, by boat to the
Cockpitt, where I heard the Duke of Albemarle’s chaplin make
a simple sermon: among other things, reproaching the imperfec-
tion of humane learning, he cried: “All our physicians cannot
tell what an ague is, and all our arithmetique is not able to num-
ber the days of a man;” which, God knows, is not the fault of
arithmetique, but that our understandings reach not the thing.
To dinner, where a great deale of silly discourse, but the worst is
I hear that the plague increases much at Lambeth, St. Martin’s
and Westminster, and fear it will all over the city. Thence I to the
1732
NOVEMBER 1665
Swan, thinking to have seen Sarah but she was at church, and
so I by water to Deptford, and there made a visit to Mr. Evelyn,
who, among other things, showed me most excellent painting in
little; in distemper, Indian incke, water colours: graveing; and,
above all, the whole secret of mezzo-tinto, and the manner of it,
which is very pretty, and good things done with it. He read to
me very much also of his discourse, he hath been many years
and now is about, about Guardenage; which will be a most no-
ble and pleasant piece. He read me part of a play or two of his
making, very good, but not as he conceits them, I think, to be.
He showed me his Hortus Hyemalis; leaves laid up in a book
of several plants kept dry, which preserve colour, however, and
look very finely, better than any Herball. In fine, a most excellent
person he is, and must be allowed a little for a little conceited-
ness; but he may well be so, being a man so much above others.
He read me, though with too much gusto, some little poems of
his own, that were not transcendant, yet one or two very pretty
epigrams; among others, of a lady looking in at a grate, and be-
ing pecked at by an eagle that was there. Here comes in, in the
middle of our discourse Captain Cocke, as drunk as a dogg, but
could stand, and talk and laugh. He did so joy himself in a brave
woman that he had been with all the afternoon, and who should
it be but my Lady Robinson, but very troublesome he is with his
noise and talke, and laughing, though very pleasant. With him
in his coach to Mr. Glanville’s, where he sat with Mrs. Penington
and myself a good while talking of this fine woman again and
then went away. Then the lady and I to very serious discourse
and, among other things, of what a bonny lasse my Lady Robin-
son is, who is reported to be kind to the prisoners, and has said
to Sir G. Smith, who is her great crony, “Look! there is a pretty
man, I would be content to break a commandment with him,”
and such loose expressions she will have often. After an houre’s
talke we to bed, the lady mightily troubled about a pretty little
bitch she hath, which is very sicke, and will eat nothing, and the
worst was, I could hear her in her chamber bemoaning the bitch,
1733
NOVEMBER 1665
and by and by taking her into bed with her. The bitch pissed
and shit a bed, and she was fain to rise and had coals out of my
chamber to dry the bed again. This night I had a letter that Sir G.
Carteret would be in towne to-morrow, which did much surprize
me.
6th. Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning and then
to dinner to Captain Cocke’s with Mr. Evelyn, where very merry,
only vexed after dinner to stay too long for our coach. At last,
however, to Lambeth and thence the Cockpitt, where we found
Sir G. Carteret come, and in with the Duke and the East India
Company about settling the business of the prizes, and they have
gone through with it. Then they broke up, and Sir G. Carteret
come out, and thence through the garden to the water side and
by water I with him in his boat down with Captain Cocke to his
house at Greenwich, and while supper was getting ready Sir G.
Carteret and I did walk an houre in the garden before the house,
talking of my Lord Sandwich’s business; what enemies he hath,
and how they have endeavoured to bespatter him: and particu-
larly about his leaving of 30 ships of the enemy, when Pen would
have gone, and my Lord called him back again: which is most
false. However, he says, it was purposed by some hot-heads
in the House of Commons, at the same time when they voted a
present to the Duke of Yorke, to have voted £10,000 to the Prince,
and half-a-crowne to my Lord of Sandwich; but nothing come of
it.528 But, for all this, the King is most firme to my Lord, and so is
my Lord Chancellor, and my Lord Arlington. The Prince, in ap-
pearance, kind; the Duke of Yorke silent, says no hurt; but admits
others to say it in his hearing. Sir W. Pen, the falsest rascal that
ever was in the world; and that this afternoon the Duke of Albe-
marle did tell him that Pen was a very cowardly rogue, and one
that hath brought all these rogueish fanatick Captains into the
528 The tide of popular indignation ran high against Lord Sandwich, and
he was sent to Spain as ambassador to get him honourably out of the way
(see post, December 6th).
1734
NOVEMBER 1665
fleete, and swears he should never go out with the fleete again.
That Sir W. Coventry is most kind to Pen still; and says nothing
nor do any thing openly to the prejudice of my Lord. He agrees
with me, that it is impossible for the King [to] set out a fleete
again the next year; and that he fears all will come to ruine, there
being no money in prospect but these prizes, which will bring,
it may be, £20,000, but that will signify nothing in the world for
it. That this late Act of Parliament for bringing the money into
the Exchequer, and making of it payable out there, intended as a
prejudice to him and will be his convenience hereafter and ruine
the King’s business, and so I fear it will and do wonder Sir W.
Coventry would be led by Sir G. Downing to persuade the King
and Duke to have it so, before they had thoroughly weighed all
circumstances; that for my Lord, the King has said to him lately
that I was an excellent officer, and that my Lord Chancellor do,
he thinks, love and esteem of me as well as he do of any man
in England that he hath no more acquaintance with. So having
done and received from me the sad newes that we are like to
have no money here a great while, not even of the very prizes, I
set up my rest529 in giving up the King’s service to be ruined and
so in to supper, where pretty merry, and after supper late to Mr.
Glanville’s, and Sir G. Carteret to bed. I also to bed, it being very
late.
7th. Up, and to Sir G. Carteret, and with him, he being very
passionate to be gone, without staying a minute for breakfast, to
the Duke of Albemarle’s and I with him by water and with Fen:
but, among other things, Lord! to see how he wondered to see the
river so empty of boats, nobody working at the Custome-house
keys; and how fearful he is, and vexed that his man, holding a
wine-glasse in his hand for him to drinke out of, did cover his
529 The phrase “set up my rest” is a metaphor from the once fashionable
game of Primero, meaning, to stand upon the cards you have in your hand,
in hopes they may prove better than those of your adversary. Hence, to make
up your mind, to be determined (see Nares’s “Glossary”).
1735
NOVEMBER 1665
hands, it being a cold, windy, rainy morning, under the water-
man’s coate, though he brought the waterman from six or seven
miles up the river, too. Nay, he carried this glasse with him for
his man to let him drink out of at the Duke of Albemarle’s, where
he intended to dine, though this he did to prevent sluttery, for, for
the same reason he carried a napkin with him to Captain Cocke’s,
making him believe that he should eat with foule linnen. Here he
with the Duke walked a good while in the Parke, and I with Fen,
but cannot gather that he intends to stay with us, nor thinks any
thing at all of ever paying one farthing of money more to us here,
let what will come of it. Thence in, and Sir W. Batten comes in
by and by, and so staying till noon, and there being a great deal
of company there, Sir W. Batten and I took leave of the Duke and
Sir G. Carteret, there being no good to be done more for money,
and so over the River and by coach to Greenwich, where at Bore-
man’s we dined, it being late. Thence my head being full of busi-
ness and mind out of order for thinking of the effects which will
arise from the want of money, I made an end of my letters by
eight o’clock, and so to my lodging and there spent the evening
till midnight talking with Mrs. Penington, who is a very discreet,
understanding lady and very pretty discourse we had and great
variety, and she tells me with great sorrow her bitch is dead this
morning, died in her bed. So broke up and to bed.
8th. Up, and to the office, where busy among other things to
looke my warrants for the settling of the Victualling business, the
warrants being come to me for the Surveyors of the ports and that
for me also to be Surveyor-Generall. I did discourse largely with
Tom Willson about it and doubt not to make it a good service to
the King as well, as the King gives us very good salarys. It being
a fast day, all people were at church and the office quiett; so I did
much business, and at noon adventured to my old lodging, and
there eat, but am not yet well satisfied, not seeing of Christopher,
though they say he is abroad. Thence after dinner to the office
again, and thence am sent for to the King’s Head by my Lord
Rutherford, who, since I can hope for no more convenience from
1736
NOVEMBER 1665
him, his business is troublesome to me, and therefore I did leave
him as soon as I could and by water to Deptford, and there did
order my matters so, walking up and down the fields till it was
dark night, that ‘je allais a la maison of my valentine,–[Bagwell’s
wife]–and there ‘je faisais whatever je voudrais avec’ her, and,
about eight at night, did take water, being glad I was out of the
towne; for the plague, it seems, rages there more than ever, and
so to my lodgings, where my Lord had got a supper and the mis-
tresse of the house, and her daughters, and here staid Mrs. Pierce
to speake with me about her husband’s business, and I made her
sup with us, and then at night my Lord and I walked with her
home, and so back again. My Lord and I ended all we had to say
as to his business overnight, and so I took leave, and went again
to Mr. Glanville’s and so to bed, it being very late.
9th. Up, and did give the servants something at Mr. Glanville’s
and so took leave, meaning to lie to-night at my owne lodging.
To my office, where busy with Mr. Gawden running over the
Victualling business, and he is mightily pleased that this course
is taking and seems sensible of my favour and promises kind-
nesse to me. At noon by water, to the King’s Head at Deptford,
where Captain Taylor invites Sir W: Batten, Sir John Robinson
(who come in with a great deale of company from hunting, and
brought in a hare alive and a great many silly stories they tell of
their sport, which pleases them mightily, and me not at all, such
is the different sense of pleasure in mankind), and others upon
the score of a survey of his new ship; and strange to see how a
good dinner and feasting reconciles everybody, Sir W. Batten and
Sir J. Robinson being now as kind to him, and report well of his
ship and proceedings, and promise money, and Sir W. Batten is
a solicitor for him, but it is a strange thing to observe, they be-
ing the greatest enemys he had, and yet, I believe, hath in the
world in their hearts. Thence after dinner stole away and to my
office, where did a great deale of business till midnight, and then
to Mrs. Clerk’s, to lodge again, and going home W. Hewer did
tell me my wife will be here to-morrow, and hath put away Mary,
1737
NOVEMBER 1665
which vexes me to the heart, I cannot helpe it, though it may be
a folly in me, and when I think seriously on it, I think my wife
means no ill design in it, or, if she do, I am a foole to be troubled
at it, since I cannot helpe it. The Bill of Mortality, to all our griefs,
is encreased 399 this week, and the encrease generally through
the whole City and suburbs, which makes us all sad.
10th. Up, and entered all my Journall since the 28th of October,
having every day’s passages well in my head, though it troubles
me to remember it, and which I was forced to, being kept from
my lodging, where my books and papers are, for several days. So
to my office, where till two or three o’clock busy before I could go
to my lodging to dinner, then did it and to my office again. In the
evening newes is brought me my wife is come: so I to her, and
with her spent the evening, but with no great pleasure, I being
vexed about her putting away of Mary in my absence, but yet I
took no notice of it at all, but fell into other discourse, and she
told me, having herself been this day at my house at London,
which was boldly done, to see Mary have her things, that Mr.
Harrington, our neighbour, an East country merchant, is dead at
Epsum of the plague, and that another neighbour of ours, Mr.
Hollworthy, a very able man, is also dead by a fall in the country
from his horse, his foot hanging in the stirrup, and his brains beat
out. Here we sat talking, and after supper to bed.
11th. I up and to the office (leaving my wife in bed) and there
till noon, then to dinner and back again to the office, my wife
going to Woolwich again, and I staying very late at my office,
and so home to bed.
12th (Lord’s day). Up, and invited by Captain Cocke to din-
ner. So after being ready I went to him, and there he and I and
Mr. Yard (one of the Guinny Company) dined together and very
merry. After dinner I by water to the Duke of Albemarle, and
there had a little discourse and business with him, chiefly to
receive his commands about pilotts to be got for our Hambro’
ships, going now at this time of the year convoy to the merchant
1738
NOVEMBER 1665
ships, that have lain at great pain and charge, some three, some
four months at Harwich for a convoy. They hope here the plague
will be less this weeke. Thence back by water to Captain Cocke’s,
and there he and I spent a great deale of the evening as we had
done of the day reading and discoursing over part of Mr. Still-
ingfleet’s “Origines Sacrae,” wherein many things are very good
and some frivolous. Thence by and by he and I to Mrs. Pening-
ton’s, but she was gone to bed. So we back and walked a while,
and then to his house and to supper, and then broke up, and I
home to my lodging to bed.
13th. Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning, and
at noon to Captain Cocke’s to dinner as we had appointed in or-
der to settle our business of accounts. But here came in an Alder-
man, a merchant, a very merry man, and we dined, and, he being
gone, after dinner Cocke and I walked into the garden, and there
after a little discourse he did undertake under his hand to secure
me in £500 profit, for my share of the profit of what we have
bought of the prize goods. We agreed upon the terms, which
were easier on my side than I expected, and so with extraordi-
nary inward joy we parted till the evening. So I to the office and
among other business prepared a deed for him to sign and seale
to me about our agreement, which at night I got him to come
and sign and seale, and so he and I to Glanville’s, and there he
and I sat talking and playing with Mrs. Penington, whom we
found undrest in her smocke and petticoats by the fireside, and
there we drank and laughed, and she willingly suffered me to
put my hand in her bosom very wantonly, and keep it there long.
Which methought was very strange, and I looked upon myself as
a man mightily deceived in a lady, for I could not have thought
she could have suffered it, by her former discourse with me; so
modest she seemed and I know not what. We staid here late, and
so home after he and I had walked till past midnight, a bright
moonshine, clear, cool night, before his door by the water, and so
I home after one of the clock.
1739
NOVEMBER 1665
14th. Called up by break of day by Captain Cocke, by agree-
ment, and he and I in his coach through Kent-streete (a sad place
through the plague, people sitting sicke and with plaisters about
them in the street begging) to Viner’s and Colvill’s about money
business, and so to my house, and there I took £300 in order to the
carrying it down to my Lord Sandwich in part of the money I am
to pay for Captain Cocke by our agreement. So I took it down,
and down I went to Greenwich to my office, and there sat busy
till noon, and so home to dinner, and thence to the office again,
and by and by to the Duke of Albemarle’s by water late, where
I find he had remembered that I had appointed to come to him
this day about money, which I excused not doing sooner; but I
see, a dull fellow, as he is, do sometimes remember what another
thinks he mindeth not. My business was about getting money of
the East India Company; but, Lord! to see how the Duke him-
self magnifies himself in what he had done with the Company;
and my Lord Craven what the King could have done without my
Lord Duke, and a deale of stir, but most mightily what a brave
fellow I am. Back by water, it raining hard, and so to the office,
and stopped my going, as I intended, to the buoy of the Nore,
and great reason I had to rejoice at it, for it proved the night of
as great a storme as was almost ever remembered. Late at the
office, and so home to bed. This day, calling at Mr. Rawlinson’s
to know how all did there, I hear that my pretty grocer’s wife,
Mrs. Beversham, over the way there, her husband is lately dead
of the plague at Bow, which I am sorry for, for fear of losing her
neighbourhood.
15th. Up and all the morning at the office, busy, and at noon
to the King’s Head taverne, where all the Trinity House dined
to-day, to choose a new Master in the room of Hurlestone, that
is dead, and Captain Crispe is chosen. But, Lord! to see how
Sir W. Batten governs all and tramples upon Hurlestone, but I
am confident the Company will grow the worse for that man’s
death, for now Batten, and in him a lazy, corrupt, doating rogue,
will have all the sway there. After dinner who comes in but
1740
NOVEMBER 1665
my Lady Batten, and a troop of a dozen women almost, and ex-
pected, as I found afterward, to be made mighty much of, but
nobody minded them; but the best jest was, that when they saw
themselves not regarded, they would go away, and it was hor-
rible foule weather; and my Lady Batten walking through the
dirty lane with new spicke and span white shoes, she dropped
one of her galoshes in the dirt, where it stuck, and she forced
to go home without one, at which she was horribly vexed, and
I led her; and after vexing her a little more in mirth, I parted,
and to Glanville’s, where I knew Sir John Robinson, Sir G. Smith,
and Captain Cocke were gone, and there, with the company of
Mrs. Penington, whose father, I hear, was one of the Court of jus-
tice, and died prisoner, of the stone, in the Tower, I made them,
against their resolutions, to stay from houre to houre till it was
almost midnight, and a furious, darke and rainy, and windy,
stormy night, and, which was best, I, with drinking small beer,
made them all drunk drinking wine, at which Sir John Robinson
made great sport. But, they being gone, the lady and I very civilly
sat an houre by the fireside observing the folly of this Robinson,
that makes it his worke to praise himself, and all he say and do,
like a heavy-headed coxcombe. The plague, blessed be God! is
decreased 400; making the whole this week but 1300 and odd; for
which the Lord be praised!
16th. Up, and fitted myself for my journey down to the
fleete, and sending my money and boy down by water to Eriffe,–
[Erith]–I borrowed a horse of Mr. Boreman’s son, and after hav-
ing sat an houre laughing with my Lady Batten and Mrs. Turner,
and eat and drank with them, I took horse and rode to Eriffe,
where, after making a little visit to Madam Williams, who did
give me information of W. Howe’s having bought eight bags
of precious stones taken from about the Dutch Vice-Admirall’s
neck, of which there were eight dyamonds which cost him
£60,000 sterling, in India, and hoped to have made £2000 here
for them. And that this is told by one that sold him one of the
bags, which hath nothing but rubys in it, which he had for 35s.;
1741
NOVEMBER 1665
and that it will be proved he hath made £125 of one stone that he
bought. This she desired, and I resolved I would give my Lord
Sandwich notice of. So I on board my Lord Bruncker; and there
he and Sir Edmund Pooly carried me down into the hold of the
India shipp, and there did show me the greatest wealth lie in con-
fusion that a man can see in the world. Pepper scattered through
every chink, you trod upon it; and in cloves and nutmegs, I
walked above the knees; whole rooms full. And silk in bales,
and boxes of copper-plate, one of which I saw opened. Having
seen this, which was as noble a sight as ever I saw in my life, I
away on board the other ship in despair to get the pleasure-boat
of the gentlemen there to carry me to the fleet. They were Mr.
Ashburnham and Colonell Wyndham; but pleading the King’s
business, they did presently agree I should have it. So I presently
on board, and got under sail, and had a good bedd by the shift,
of Wyndham’s; and so,
17th. Sailed all night, and got down to Quinbrough water,
where all the great ships are now come, and there on board my
Lord, and was soon received with great content. And after some
little discourse, he and I on board Sir W. Pen; and there held a
council of Warr about many wants of the fleete, but chiefly how
to get slopps and victuals for the fleete now going out to convoy
our Hambro’ ships, that have been so long detained for four or
five months for want of convoy, which we did accommodate one
way or other, and so, after much chatt, Sir W. Pen did give us a
very good and neat dinner, and better, I think, than ever I did
see at his owne house at home in my life, and so was the other I
eat with him. After dinner much talke, and about other things, he
and I about his money for his prize goods, wherein I did give him
a cool answer, but so as we did not disagree in words much, and
so let that fall, and so followed my Lord Sandwich, who was gone
a little before me on board the Royall James. And there spent an
houre, my Lord playing upon the gittarr, which he now com-
mends above all musique in the world, because it is base enough
for a single voice, and is so portable and manageable without
1742
NOVEMBER 1665
much trouble. That being done, I got my Lord to be alone, and
so I fell to acquaint him with W. Howe’s business, which he had
before heard a little of from Captain Cocke, but made no great
matter of it, but now he do, and resolves nothing less than to lay
him by the heels, and seize on all he hath, saying that for this
yeare or two he hath observed him so proud and conceited he
could not endure him. But though I was not at all displeased
with it, yet I prayed him to forbear doing anything therein till he
heard from me again about it, and I had made more enquiry into
the truth of it, which he agreed to. Then we fell to publique dis-
course, wherein was principally this: he cleared it to me beyond
all doubt that Coventry is his enemy, and has been long so. So
that I am over that, and my Lord told it me upon my proposal
of a friendship between them, which he says is impossible, and
methinks that my Lord’s displeasure about the report in print
of the first fight was not of his making, but I perceive my Lord
cannot forget it, nor the other think he can. I shewed him how
advisable it were upon almost any terms for him to get quite off
the sea employment. He answers me again that he agrees to it,
but thinks the King will not let him go off: He tells me he lacks
now my Lord Orrery to solicit it for him, who is very great with
the King. As an infinite secret, my Lord tells me, the factions are
high between the King and the Duke, and all the Court are in
an uproare with their loose amours; the Duke of Yorke being in
love desperately with Mrs. Stewart. Nay, that the Duchesse her-
self is fallen in love with her new Master of the Horse, one Harry
Sidney, and another, Harry Savill. So that God knows what will
be the end of it. And that the Duke is not so obsequious as he
used to be, but very high of late; and would be glad to be in the
head of an army as Generall; and that it is said that he do pro-
pose to go and command under the King of Spayne, in Flanders.
That his amours to Mrs. Stewart are told the King. So that all is
like to be nought among them. That he knows that the Duke of
Yorke do give leave to have him spoken slightly of in his owne
hearing, and doth not oppose it, and told me from what time he
1743
NOVEMBER 1665
hath observed this to begin. So that upon the whole my Lord do
concur to wish with all his heart that he could with any honour
get from off the imployment. After he had given thanks to me
for my kind visit and good counsel, on which he seems to set
much by, I left him, and so away to my Bezan againe, and there
to read in a pretty French book, “La Nouvelle Allegorique,” upon
the strife between rhetorique and its enemies, very pleasant. So,
after supper, to sleepe, and sayled all night, and came to Erith
before break of day.
18th. About nine of the clock, I went on shore, there (calling
by the way only to look upon my Lord Bruncker) to give Mrs.
Williams an account of her matters, and so hired an ill-favoured
horse, and away to Greenwich to my lodgings, where I hear how
rude the souldiers have been in my absence, swearing what they
would do with me, which troubled me, but, however, after eating
a bit I to the office and there very late writing letters, and so home
and to bed.
19th (Lord’s day). Up, and after being trimmed, alone by water
to Erith, all the way with my song book singing of Mr. Lawes’s
long recitative song in the beginning of his book. Being come
there, on board my Lord Bruncker, I find Captain Cocke and
other company, the lady not well, and mighty merry we were;
Sir Edmund Pooly being very merry, and a right English gen-
tleman, and one of the discontented Cavaliers, that think their
loyalty is not considered. After dinner, all on shore to my Lady
Williams, and there drank and talked; but, Lord! the most im-
pertinent bold woman with my Lord that ever I did see. I did
give her an account again of my business with my Lord touching
W. Howe, and she did give me some more information about it,
and examination taken about it, and so we parted and I took boat,
and to Woolwich, where we found my wife not well of them, and
I out of humour begun to dislike her paynting, the last things not
pleasing me so well as the former, but I blame myself for my be-
ing so little complaisant. So without eating or drinking, there be-
1744
NOVEMBER 1665
ing no wine (which vexed me too), we walked with a lanthorne
to Greenwich and eat something at his house, and so home to
bed.
20th. Up before day, and wrote some letters to go to my Lord,
among others that about W. Howe, which I believe will turn him
out, and so took horse for Nonesuch, with two men with me,
and the ways very bad, and the weather worse, for wind and
rayne. But we got in good time thither, and I did get my tallys
got ready, and thence, with as many as could go, to Yowell, and
there dined very well, and I saw my Besse, a very well-favoured
country lass there, and after being very merry and having spent
a piece I took horse, and by another way met with a very good
road, but it rained hard and blew, but got home very well. Here
I find Mr. Deering come to trouble me about business, which I
soon dispatched and parted, he telling me that Luellin hath been
dead this fortnight, of the plague, in St. Martin’s Lane, which
much surprised me.
21st. Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing busi-
ness, and at noon home to dinner and quickly back again to the
office, where very busy all the evening and late sent a long dis-
course to Mr. Coventry by his desire about the regulating of the
method of our payment of bills in the Navy, which will be very
good, though, it may be, he did ayme principally at striking at Sir
G. Carteret. So weary but pleased with this business being over I
home to supper and to bed.
22nd. Up, and by water to the Duke of Albemarle, and there
did some little business, but most to shew myself, and might-
ily I am yet in his and Lord Craven’s books, and thence to the
Swan and there drank and so down to the bridge, and so to the
‘Change, where spoke with many people, and about a great deale
of business, which kept me late. I heard this day that Mr. Har-
rington is not dead of the plague, as we believed, at which I was
very glad, but most of all, to hear that the plague is come very
low; that is, the whole under 1,000, and the plague 600 and odd:
1745
NOVEMBER 1665
and great hopes of a further decrease, because of this day’s be-
ing a very exceeding hard frost, and continues freezing. This day
the first of the Oxford Gazettes come out, which is very pretty,
full of newes, and no folly in it. Wrote by Williamson. Fear that
our Hambro’ ships at last cannot go, because of the great frost,
which we believe it is there, nor are our ships cleared at the Pil-
low [Pillau], which will keepe them there too all this winter, I fear.
From the ‘Change, which is pretty full again, I to my office and
there took some things, and so by water to my lodging at Green-
wich and dined, and then to the office awhile and at night home
to my lodgings, and took T. Willson and T. Hater with me, and
there spent the evening till midnight discoursing and settling of
our Victualling business, that thereby I might draw up instruc-
tions for the Surveyours and that we might be doing something
to earne our money. This done I late to bed. Among other things
it pleased me to have it demonstrated, that a Purser without pro-
fessed cheating is a professed loser, twice as much as he gets.
23rd. Up betimes, and so, being trimmed, I to get papers ready
against Sir H. Cholmly come to me by appointment, he being
newly come over from Tangier. He did by and by come, and we
settled all matters about his money, and he is a most satisfied man
in me, and do declare his resolution to give me 200 per annum.
It continuing to be a great frost, which gives us hope for a perfect
cure of the plague, he and I to walk in the parke, and there dis-
coursed with grief of the calamity of the times; how the King’s
service is performed, and how Tangier is governed by a man,
who, though honourable, yet do mind his ways of getting and
little else compared, which will never make the place flourish. I
brought him and had a good dinner for him, and there come by
chance Captain Cuttance, who tells me how W. Howe is laid by
the heels, and confined to the Royall Katharine, and his things all
seized and how, also, for a quarrel, which indeed the other night
my Lord told me, Captain Ferrers, having cut all over the back of
another of my Lord’s servants, is parted from my Lord. I sent for
little Mrs. Frances Tooker, and after they were gone I sat dally-
1746
NOVEMBER 1665
ing with her an hour, doing what I would with my hands about
her. And a very pretty creature it is. So in the evening to the of-
fice, where late writing letters, and at my lodging later writing
for the last twelve days my Journall and so to bed. Great expec-
tation what mischief more the French will do us, for we must fall
out. We in extraordinary lacke of money and everything else to
go to sea next year. My Lord Sandwich is gone from the fleete
yesterday toward Oxford.
24th. Up, and after doing some business at the office, I to Lon-
don, and there, in my way, at my old oyster shop in Gracious
Streete, bought two barrels of my fine woman of the shop, who
is alive after all the plague, which now is the first observation or
inquiry we make at London concerning everybody we knew be-
fore it. So to the ‘Change, where very busy with several people,
and mightily glad to see the ‘Change so full, and hopes of an-
other abatement still the next week. Off the ‘Change I went home
with Sir G. Smith to dinner, sending for one of my barrels of oys-
ters, which were good, though come from Colchester, where the
plague hath been so much. Here a very brave dinner, though no
invitation; and, Lord! to see how I am treated, that come from
so mean a beginning, is matter of wonder to me. But it is God’s
great mercy to me, and His blessing upon my taking pains, and
being punctual in my dealings. After dinner Captain Cocke and
I about some business, and then with my other barrel of oysters
home to Greenwich, sent them by water to Mrs. Penington, while
he and I landed, and visited Mr. Evelyn, where most excellent
discourse with him; among other things he showed me a ledger
of a Treasurer of the Navy, his great grandfather, just 100 years
old; which I seemed mighty fond of, and he did present me with
it, which I take as a great rarity; and he hopes to find me more,
older than it. He also shewed us several letters of the old Lord
of Leicester’s, in Queen Elizabeth’s time, under the very hand-
writing of Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Mary, Queen of Scotts;
and others, very venerable names. But, Lord! how poorly, me-
thinks, they wrote in those days, and in what plain uncut paper.
1747
NOVEMBER 1665
Thence, Cocke having sent for his coach, we to Mrs. Penington,
and there sat and talked and eat our oysters with great pleasure,
and so home to my lodging late and to bed.
25th. Up, and busy at the office all day long, saving dinner
time, and in the afternoon also very late at my office, and so home
to bed. All our business is now about our Hambro fleete, whether
it can go or no this yeare, the weather being set in frosty, and the
whole stay being for want of Pilotts now, which I have wrote to
the Trinity House about, but have so poor an account from them,
that I did acquaint Sir W. Coventry with it this post.
26th (Lord’s day). Up, though very late abed, yet before day
to dress myself to go toward Erith, which I would do by land,
it being a horrible cold frost to go by water: so borrowed two
horses of Mr. Howell and his friend, and with much ado set
out, after my horses being frosted530 (which I know not what it
means to this day), and my boy having lost one of my spurs and
stockings, carrying them to the smith’s; but I borrowed a stock-
ing, and so got up, and Mr. Tooker with me, and rode to Erith,
and there on board my Lord Bruncker, met Sir W. Warren upon
his business, among others, and did a great deale, Sir J. Minnes,
as God would have it, not being there to hinder us with his im-
pertinences. Business done, we to dinner very merry, there being
there Sir Edmund Pooly, a very worthy gentleman. They are now
come to the copper boxes in the prizes, and hope to have ended
all this weeke. After dinner took leave, and on shore to Madam
Williams, to give her an account of my Lord’s letter to me about
Howe, who he has clapped by the heels on suspicion of having
the jewells, and she did give me my Lord Bruncker’s examination
of the fellow, that declares his having them; and so away, Sir W.
Warren riding with me, and the way being very bad, that is, hard
and slippery by reason of the frost, so we could not come to past
Woolwich till night. However, having a great mind to have gone
to the Duke of Albemarle, I endeavoured to have gone farther,
530 Frosting means, having the horses’ shoes turned up by the smith.
1748
NOVEMBER 1665
but the night come on and no going, so I ‘light and sent my horse
by Tooker, and returned on foot to my wife at Woolwich, where
I found, as I had directed, a good dinner to be made against to-
morrow, and invited guests in the yarde, meaning to be merry,
in order to her taking leave, for she intends to come in a day or
two to me for altogether. But here, they tell me, one of the houses
behind them is infected, and I was fain to stand there a great
while, to have their back-door opened, but they could not, hav-
ing locked them fast, against any passing through, so was forced
to pass by them again, close to their sicke beds, which they were
removing out of the house, which troubled me; so I made them
uninvite their guests, and to resolve of coming all away to me
to-morrow, and I walked with a lanthorne, weary as I was, to
Greenwich; but it was a fine walke, it being a hard frost, and so
to Captain Cocke’s, but he I found had sent for me to come to him
to Mrs. Penington’s, and there I went, and we were very merry,
and supped, and Cocke being sleepy he went away betimes. I
stayed alone talking and playing with her till past midnight, she
suffering me whatever ‘ego voulais avec ses mamilles.... Much
pleased with her company we parted, and I home to bed at past
one, all people being in bed thinking I would have staid out of
town all night.
27th. Up, and being to go to wait on the Duke of Albemarle,
who is to go out of towne to Oxford to-morrow, and I being un-
willing to go by water, it being bitter cold, walked it with my
landlady’s little boy Christopher to Lambeth, it being a very fine
walke and calling at half the way and drank, and so to the Duke
of Albemarle, who is visited by every body against his going;
and mighty kind to me: and upon my desiring his grace to give
me his kind word to the Duke of Yorke, if any occasion there
were of speaking of me, he told me he had reason to do so; for
there had been nothing done in the Navy without me. His go-
ing, I hear, is upon putting the sea business into order, and, as
some say, and people of his owne family, that he is agog to go
to sea himself the next year. Here I met with a letter from Sir G.
1749
NOVEMBER 1665
Carteret, who is come to Cranborne, that he will be here this af-
ternoon and desires me to be with him. So the Duke would have
me dine with him. So it being not dinner time, I to the Swan,
and there found Sarah all alone in the house.... So away to the
Duke of Albemarle again, and there to dinner, he most exceed-
ing kind to me to the observation of all that are there. At dinner
comes Sir G. Carteret and dines with us. After dinner a great deal
alone with Sir G. Carteret, who tells me that my Lord hath re-
ceived still worse and worse usage from some base people about
the Court. But the King is very kind, and the Duke do not ap-
pear the contrary; and my Lord Chancellor swore to him “by—I
will not forsake my Lord of Sandwich.” Our next discourse is
upon this Act for money, about which Sir G. Carteret comes to
see what money can be got upon it. But none can be got, which
pleases him the thoughts of, for, if the Exchequer should suc-
ceede in this, his office would faile. But I am apt to think at this
time of hurry and plague and want of trade, no money will be got
upon a new way which few understand. We walked, Cocke and
I, through the Parke with him, and so we being to meet the Vice-
Chamberlayne to-morrow at Nonesuch, to treat with Sir Robert
Long about the same business, I into London, it being dark night,
by a hackney coach; the first I have durst to go in many a day,
and with great pain now for fear. But it being unsafe to go by
water in the dark and frosty cold, and unable being weary with
my morning walke to go on foot, this was my only way. Few
people yet in the streets, nor shops open, here and there twenty
in a place almost; though not above five or sixe o’clock at night.
So to Viner’s, and there heard of Cocke, and found him at the
Pope’s Head, drinking with Temple. I to them, where the Gold-
smiths do decry the new Act, for money to be all brought into
the Exchequer, and paid out thence, saying they will not advance
one farthing upon it; and indeed it is their interest to say and do
so. Thence Cocke and I to Sir G. Smith’s, it being now night, and
there up to his chamber and sat talking, and I barbing–[shaving]–
against to-morrow; and anon, at nine at night, comes to us Sir G.
1750
NOVEMBER 1665
Smith and the Lieutenant of the Tower, and there they sat talking
and drinking till past midnight, and mighty merry we were, the
Lieutenant of the Tower being in a mighty vein of singing, and he
hath a very good eare and strong voice, but no manner of skill.
Sir G. Smith shewed me his lady’s closett, which was very fine;
and, after being very merry, here I lay in a noble chamber, and
mighty highly treated, the first time I have lain in London a long
time.
28th. Up before day, and Cocke and I took a hackney coach
appointed with four horses to take us up, and so carried us over
London Bridge. But there, thinking of some business, I did ‘light
at the foot of the bridge, and by helpe of a candle at a stall, where
some payers were at work, I wrote a letter to Mr. Hater, and
never knew so great an instance of the usefulness of carrying pen
and ink and wax about one: so we, the way being very bad, to
Nonesuch, and thence to Sir Robert Longs house; a fine place,
and dinner time ere we got thither; but we had breakfasted a lit-
tle at Mr. Gawden’s, he being out of towne though, and there
borrowed Dr. Taylor’s sermons, and is a most excellent booke
and worth my buying, where had a very good dinner, and cu-
riously dressed, and here a couple of ladies, kinswomen of his,
not handsome though, but rich, that knew me by report of The.
Turner, and mighty merry we were. After dinner to talk of our
business, the Act of Parliament, where in short I see Sir R. Long
mighty fierce in the great good qualities of it. But in that and
many other things he was stiff in, I think without much judge-
ment, or the judgement I expected from him, and already they
have evaded the necessity of bringing people into the Exchequer
with their bills to be paid there. Sir G. Carteret is titched–[fretful,
tetchy]–at this, yet resolves with me to make the best use we can
of this Act for the King, but all our care, we think, will not ren-
der it as it should be. He did again here alone discourse with me
about my Lord, and is himself strongly for my Lord’s not going
to sea, which I am glad to hear and did confirm him in it. He
tells me too that he talked last night with the Duke of Albemarle
1751
NOVEMBER 1665
about my Lord Sandwich, by the by making him sensible that
it is his interest to preserve his old friends, which he confessed
he had reason to do, for he knows that ill offices were doing of
him, and that he honoured my Lord Sandwich with all his heart.
After this discourse we parted, and all of us broke up and we
parted. Captain Cocke and I through Wandsworth. Drank at Sir
Allen Broderick’s, a great friend and comrade of Cocke’s, whom
he values above the world for a witty companion, and I believe
he is so. So to Fox-Hall and there took boat, and down to the Old
Swan, and thence to Lumbard Streete, it being darke night, and
thence to the Tower. Took boat and down to Greenwich, Cocke
and I, he home and I to the office, where did a little business,
and then to my lodgings, where my wife is come, and I am well
pleased with it, only much trouble in those lodgings we have,
the mistresse of the house being so deadly dear in everything we
have; so that we do resolve to remove home soon as we know
how the plague goes this weeke, which we hope will be a good
decrease. So to bed.
29th. Up, my wife and I talking how to dispose of our goods,
and resolved upon sending our two mayds Alce (who has been
a day or two at Woolwich with my wife, thinking to have had a
feast there) and Susan home. So my wife after dinner did take
them to London with some goods, and I in the afternoon after
doing other business did go also by agreement to meet Captain
Cocke and from him to Sir Roger Cuttance, about the money due
from Cocke to him for the late prize goods, wherein Sir Roger is
troubled that he hath not payment as agreed, and the other, that
he must pay without being secured in the quiett possession of
them, but some accommodation to both, I think, will be found.
But Cocke do tell me that several have begged so much of the
King to be discovered out of stolen prize goods and so I am
afeard we shall hereafter have trouble, therefore I will get my-
self free of them as soon as I can and my money paid. Thence
home to my house, calling my wife, where the poor wretch is
putting things in a way to be ready for our coming home, and so
1752
NOVEMBER 1665
by water together to Greenwich, and so spent the night together.
30th. Up, and at the office all the morning. At noon comes Sir
Thomas Allen, and I made him dine with me, and very friendly
he is, and a good man, I think, but one that professes he loves
to get and to save. He dined with my wife and me and Mrs.
Barbary, whom my wife brings along with her from Woolwich
for as long as she stays here. In the afternoon to the office, and
there very late writing letters and then home, my wife and people
sitting up for me, and after supper to bed. Great joy we have this
week in the weekly Bill, it being come to 544 in all, and but 333 of
the plague; so that we are encouraged to get to London soon as
we can. And my father writes as great news of joy to them, that
he saw Yorke’s waggon go again this week to London, and was
full of passengers; and tells me that my aunt Bell hath been dead
of the plague these seven weeks.
1753
DECEMBER 1665
December 1st. This morning to the office, full of resolution to
spend the whole day at business, and there, among other things,
I did agree with Poynter to be my clerke for my Victualling busi-
ness, and so all alone all the day long shut up in my little closett
at my office, drawing up instructions, which I should long since
have done for my Surveyours of the Ports, Sir W. Coventry desir-
ing much to have them, and he might well have expected them
long since. After dinner to it again, and at night had long dis-
course with Gibson, who is for Yarmouth, who makes me under-
stand so much of the victualling business and the pursers’ trade,
that I am ashamed I should go about the concerning myself in
a business which I understand so very very little of, and made
me distrust all I had been doing to-day. So I did lay it by till to-
morrow morning to think of it afresh, and so home by promise
to my wife, to have mirth there. So we had our neighbours, little
Miss Tooker and Mrs. Daniels, to dance, and after supper I to
bed, and left them merry below, which they did not part from till
two or three in the morning.
2nd. Up, and discoursing with my wife, who is resolved to go
to London for good and all this day, we did agree upon giving
Mr. Sheldon £10, and Mrs. Barbary two pieces, and so I left her
to go down thither to fetch away the rest of the things and pay
1754
DECEMBER 1665
him the money, and so I to the office, where very busy setting
Mr. Poynter to write out my last night’s worke, which pleases
me this day, but yet it is pretty to reflect how much I am out of
confidence with what I had done upon Gibson’s discourse with
me, for fear I should have done it sillily, but Poynter likes them,
and Mr. Hater also, but yet I am afeard lest they should do it out
of flattery, so conscious I am of my ignorance. Dined with my
wife at noon and took leave of her, she being to go to London, as
I said, for altogether, and I to the office, busy till past one in the
morning.
3rd. It being Lord’s day, up and dressed and to church, think-
ing to have sat with Sir James Bunce to hear his daughter and her
husband sing, that are so much commended, but was prevented
by being invited into Coll. Cleggatt’s pew. However, there I sat,
near Mr. Laneare, with whom I spoke, and in sight, by chance,
and very near my fat brown beauty of our Parish, the rich mer-
chant’s lady, a very noble woman, and Madame Pierce. A good
sermon of Mr. Plume’s, and so to Captain Cocke’s, and there
dined with him, and Colonell Wyndham, a worthy gentleman,
whose wife was nurse to the present King, and one that while
she lived governed him and every thing else, as Cocke says, as
a minister of state; the old King putting mighty weight and trust
upon her. They talked much of matters of State and persons, and
particularly how my Lord Barkeley hath all along been a fortu-
nate, though a passionate and but weak man as to policy; but as
a kinsman brought in and promoted by my Lord of St. Alban’s,
and one that is the greatest vapourer in the world, this Colonell
Wyndham says; and one to whom only, with Jacke Asheburnel
and Colonel Legg, the King’s removal to the Isle of Wight from
Hampton Court was communicated; and (though betrayed by
their knavery, or at best by their ignorance, insomuch that they
have all solemnly charged one another with their failures therein,
and have been at daggers-drawing publickly about it), yet now
none greater friends in the world. We dined, and in comes Mrs.
Owen, a kinswoman of my Lord Bruncker’s, about getting a man
1755
DECEMBER 1665
discharged, which I did for her, and by and by Mrs. Pierce to
speake with me (and Mary my wife’s late maid, now gone to her)
about her husband’s business of money, and she tells us how she
prevented Captain Fisher the other day in his purchase of all her
husband’s fine goods, as pearls and silks, that he had seized in an
Apothecary’s house, a friend of theirs, but she got in and broke
them open and removed all before Captain Fisher came the next
day to fetch them away, at which he is starke mad. She went
home, and I to my lodgings. At night by agreement I fetched her
again with Cocke’s coach, and he come and we sat and talked
together, thinking to have had Mrs. Coleman and my songsters,
her husband and Laneare, but they failed me. So we to supper,
and as merry as was sufficient, and my pretty little Miss with me;
and so after supper walked [with] Pierce home, and so back and
to bed. But, Lord! I stand admiring of the wittinesse of her lit-
tle boy, which is one of the wittiest boys, but most confident that
ever I did see of a child of 9 years old or under in all my life, or
indeed one twice his age almost, but all for roguish wit. So to
bed.
4th. Several people to me about business, among others Cap-
tain Taylor, intended Storekeeper for Harwich, whom I did give
some assistance in his dispatch by lending him money. So out
and by water to London and to the ‘Change, and up and down
about several businesses, and after the observing (God forgive
me!) one or two of my neighbour Jason’s women come to towne,
which did please me very well, home to my house at the office,
where my wife had got a dinner for me: and it was a joyfull
thing for us to meet here, for which God be praised! Here was
her brother come to see her, and speake with me about business.
It seems my recommending of him hath not only obtained his
presently being admitted into the Duke of Albemarle’s guards,
and present pay, but also by the Duke’s and Sir Philip Howard’s
direction, to be put as a right-hand man, and other marks of spe-
cial respect, at which I am very glad, partly for him, and partly
to see that I am reckoned something in my recommendations,
1756
DECEMBER 1665
but wish he may carry himself that I may receive no disgrace by
him. So to the ‘Change. Up and down again in the evening about
business and to meet Captain Cocke, who waited for Mrs. Pierce
(with whom he is mightily stricken), to receive and hide for her
her rich goods she saved the other day from seizure. Upon the
‘Change to-day Colvill tells me, from Oxford, that the King in
person hath justified my Lord Sandwich to the highest degree;
and is right in his favour to the uttermost. So late by water home,
taking a barrel of oysters with me, and at Greenwich went and sat
with Madam Penington .... and made her undress her head and
sit dishevilled all night sporting till two in the morning, and so
away to my lodging and so to bed. Over-fasting all the morning
hath filled me mightily with wind, and nothing else hath done it,
that I fear a fit of the cholique.
5th. Up and to the office, where very busy about several busi-
nesses all the morning. At noon empty, yet without stomach
to dinner, having spoiled myself with fasting yesterday, and so
filled with wind. In the afternoon by water, calling Mr. Stevens
(who is with great trouble paying of seamen of their tickets at
Deptford) and to London, to look for Captain Kingdom whom
we found at home about 5 o’clock. I tried him, and he promised
to follow us presently to the East India House to sign papers to-
night in order to the settling the business of my receiving money
for Tangier. We went and stopt the officer there to shut up. He
made us stay above an houre. I sent for him; he comes, but was
not found at home, but abroad on other business, and brings a
paper saying that he had been this houre looking for the Lord
Ashley’s order. When he looks for it, that is not the paper. He
would go again to look; kept us waiting till almost 8 at night.
Then was I to go home by water this weather and darke, and to
write letters by the post, besides keeping the East India officers
there so late. I sent for him again; at last he comes, and says
he cannot find the paper (which is a pretty thing to lay orders
for £100,000 no better). I was angry; he told me I ought to give
people ease at night, and all business was to be done by day. I an-
1757
DECEMBER 1665
swered him sharply, that I did [not] make, nor any honest man,
any difference between night and day in the King’s business, and
this was such, and my Lord Ashley should know. He answered
me short. I told him I knew the time (meaning the Rump’s time)
when he did other men’s business with more diligence. He cried,
“Nay, say not so,” and stopped his mouth, not one word after. We
then did our business without the order in less than eight min-
utes, which he made me to no purpose stay above two hours for
the doing. This made him mad, and so we exchanged notes, and
I had notes for £14,000 of the Treasurer of the Company, and so
away and by water to Greenwich and wrote my letters, and so
home late to bed.
6th. Up betimes, it being fast-day; and by water to the Duke
of Albemarle, who come to towne from Oxford last night. He
is mighty brisk, and very kind to me, and asks my advice princi-
pally in every thing. He surprises me with the news that my Lord
Sandwich goes Embassador to Spayne speedily; though I know
not whence this arises, yet I am heartily glad of it. He did give me
several directions what to do, and so I home by water again and
to church a little, thinking to have met Mrs. Pierce in order to our
meeting at night; but she not there, I home and dined, and comes
presently by appointment my wife. I spent the afternoon upon a
song of Solyman’s words to Roxalana that I have set, and so with
my wife walked and Mercer to Mrs. Pierce’s, where Captain Rolt
and Mrs. Knipp, Mr. Coleman and his wife, and Laneare, Mrs.
Worshipp and her singing daughter, met; and by and by unex-
pectedly comes Mr. Pierce from Oxford. Here the best company
for musique I ever was in, in my life, and wish I could live and die
in it, both for musique and the face of Mrs. Pierce, and my wife
and Knipp, who is pretty enough; but the most excellent, mad-
humoured thing, and sings the noblest that ever I heard in my
life, and Rolt, with her, some things together most excellently. I
spent the night in extasy almost; and, having invited them to my
house a day or two hence, we broke up, Pierce having told me
that he is told how the King hath done my Lord Sandwich all the
1758
DECEMBER 1665
right imaginable, by shewing him his countenance before all the
world on every occasion, to remove thoughts of discontent; and
that he is to go Embassador, and that the Duke of Yorke is made
generall of all forces by land and sea, and the Duke of Albemarle,
lieutenant-generall. Whether the two latter alterations be so, true
or no, he knows not, but he is told so; but my Lord is in full
favour with the King. So all home and to bed.
7th. Up and to the office, where very busy all day. Sir G.
Carteret’s letter tells me my Lord Sandwich is, as I was told, de-
clared Embassador Extraordinary to Spayne, and to go with all
speed away, and that his enemies have done him as much good
as he could wish. At noon late to dinner, and after dinner spent
till night with Mr. Gibson and Hater discoursing and making
myself more fully [know] the trade of pursers, and what fittest to
be done in their business, and so to the office till midnight writ-
ing letters, and so home, and after supper with my wife about
one o’clock to bed.
8th. Up, well pleased in my mind about my Lord Sandwich,
about whom I shall know more anon from Sir G. Carteret, who
will be in towne, and also that the Hambrough [ships] after all
difficulties are got out. God send them good speed! So, after be-
ing trimmed, I by water to London, to the Navy office, there to
give order to my mayde to buy things to send down to Green-
wich for supper to-night; and I also to buy other things, as oys-
ters, and lemons, 6d. per piece, and oranges, 3d. That done I to
the ‘Change, and among many other things, especially for getting
of my Tangier money, I by appointment met Mr. Gawden, and he
and I to the Pope’s Head Taverne, and there he did give me alone
a very pretty dinner. Our business to talk of his matters and his
supply of money, which was necessary for us to talk on before
the Duke of Albemarle this afternoon and Sir G. Carteret. After
that I offered now to pay him the £4000 remaining of his £8000
for Tangier, which he took with great kindnesse, and prayed me
most frankly to give him a note for £3500 and accept the other
1759
DECEMBER 1665
£500 for myself, which in good earnest was against my judge-
ment to do, for [I] expected about £100 and no more, but however
he would have me do it, and ownes very great obligations to me,
and the man indeed I love, and he deserves it. This put me into
great joy, though with a little stay to it till we have time to settle it,
for for so great a sum I was fearfull any accident might by death
or otherwise defeate me, having not now time to change papers.
So we rose, and by water to White Hall, where we found Sir G.
Carteret with the Duke, and also Sir G. Downing, whom I had
not seen in many years before. He greeted me very kindly, and I
him; though methinks I am touched, that it should be said that he
was my master heretofore, as doubtless he will. So to talk of our
Navy business, and particularly money business, of which there
is little hopes of any present supply upon this new Act, the gold-
smiths being here (and Alderman Backewell newly come from
Flanders), and none offering any. So we rose without doing more
than my stating the case of the Victualler, that whereas there is
due to him on the last year’s declaration £80,000, and the charge
of this year’s amounts to £420,000 and odd, he must be supplied
between this and the end of January with £150,000, and the re-
mainder in 40 weeks by weekly payments, or else he cannot go
through his business. Thence after some discourse with Sir G.
Carteret, who, though he tells me that he is glad of my Lord’s be-
ing made Embassador, and that it is the greatest courtesy his ene-
mies could do him; yet I find he is not heartily merry upon it, and
that it was no design of my Lord’s friends, but the prevalence of
his enemies, and that the Duke of Albemarle and Prince Rupert
are like to go to sea together the next year. I pray God, when my
Lord is gone, they do not fall hard upon the Vice-Chamberlain,
being alone, and in so envious a place, though by this late Act
and the instructions now a brewing for our office as to method
of payments will destroy the profit of his place of itself without
more trouble. Thence by water down to Greenwich, and there
found all my company come; that is, Mrs. Knipp, and an ill,
melancholy, jealous-looking fellow, her husband, that spoke not
1760
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a word to us all the night, Pierce and his wife, and Rolt, Mrs. Wor-
shipp and her daughter, Coleman and his wife, and Laneare, and,
to make us perfectly happy, there comes by chance to towne Mr.
Hill to see us. Most excellent musique we had in abundance, and
a good supper, dancing, and a pleasant scene of Mrs. Knipp’s ris-
ing sicke from table, but whispered me it was for some hard word
or other her husband gave her just now when she laughed and
was more merry than ordinary. But we got her in humour again,
and mighty merry; spending the night, till two in the morning,
with most complete content as ever in my life, it being increased
by my day’s work with Gawden. Then broke up, and we to bed,
Mr. Hill and I, whom I love more and more, and he us.
9th. Called up betimes by my Lord Bruncker, who is come
to towne from his long water worke at Erith last night, to go
with him to the Duke of Albemarle, which by his coach I did.
Our discourse upon the ill posture of the times through lacke
of money. At the Duke’s did some business, and I believe he
was not pleased to see all the Duke’s discourse and applications
to me and everybody else. Discoursed also with Sir G. Carteret
about office business, but no money in view. Here my Lord and
I staid and dined, the Vice-Chamberlain taking his leave. At ta-
ble the Duchesse, a damned ill-looked woman, complaining of
her Lord’s going to sea the next year, said these cursed words:
“If my Lord had been a coward he had gone to sea no more: it
may be then he might have been excused, and made an Embas-
sador” (meaning my Lord Sandwich).531 This made me mad, and
I believed she perceived my countenance change, and blushed
herself very much. I was in hopes others had not minded it, but
531 When Lord Sandwich was away a new commander had to be chosen,
and rank and long service pointed out Prince Rupert for the office, it hav-
ing been decided that the heir presumptive should be kept at home. It
was thought, however, that the same confidence could not be placed in the
prince’s discretion as in his courage, and therefore the Duke of Albemarle
was induced to take a joint command with him, “and so make one admiral
of two persons” (see Lister’s “Life of Clarendon,” vol. ii., pp. 360,361).
1761
DECEMBER 1665
my Lord Bruncker, after we were come away, took notice of the
words to me with displeasure. Thence after dinner away by wa-
ter, calling and taking leave of Sir G. Carteret, whom we found
going through at White Hall, and so over to Lambeth and took
coach and home, and so to the office, where late writing letters,
and then home to Mr. Hill, and sang, among other things, my
song of “Beauty retire,” which he likes, only excepts against two
notes in the base, but likes the whole very well. So late to bed.
10th (Lord’s day). Lay long talking, Hill and I, with great plea-
sure, and then up, and being ready walked to Cocke’s for some
newes, but heard none, only they would have us stay their din-
ner, and sent for my wife, who come, and very merry we were,
there being Sir Edmund Pooly and Mr. Evelyn. Before we had
dined comes Mr. Andrews, whom we had sent for to Bow, and
so after dinner home, and there we sang some things, but not
with much pleasure, Mr. Andrews being in so great haste to go
home, his wife looking every hour to be brought to bed. He gone
Mr. Hill and I continued our musique, one thing after another,
late till supper, and so to bed with great pleasure.
11th. Lay long with great pleasure talking. So I left him and to
London to the ‘Change, and after discoursed with several people
about business; met Mr. Gawden at the Pope’s Head, where he
brought Mr. Lewes and T. Willson to discourse about the Vict-
ualling business, and the alterations of the pursers’ trade, for
something must be done to secure the King a little better, and
yet that they may have wherewith to live. After dinner I took
him aside, and perfected to my great joy my business with him,
wherein he deals most nobly in giving me his hand for the £4,000,
and would take my note but for £3500. This is a great blessing,
and God make me thankfull truly for it. With him till it was
darke putting in writing our discourse about victualling, and so
parted, and I to Viner’s, and there evened all accounts, and took
up my notes setting all straight between us to this day. The like
to Colvill, and paying several bills due from me on the Tangier
1762
DECEMBER 1665
account. Then late met Cocke and Temple at the Pope’s Head,
and there had good discourse with Temple, who tells me that of
the £80,000 advanced already by the East India Company, they
have had £5000 out of their hands. He discoursed largely of the
quantity of money coyned, and what may be thought the real
sum of money in the kingdom. He told me, too, as an instance of
the thrift used in the King’s business, that the tools and the inter-
est of the money-using to the King for the money he borrowed
while the new invention of the mill money was perfected, cost
him £35,000, and in mirthe tells me that the new fashion money
is good for nothing but to help the Prince if he can secretly get
copper plates shut up in silver it shall never be discovered, at
least not in his age. Thence Cocke and I by water, he home and I
home, and there sat with Mr. Hill and my wife supping, talking
and singing till midnight, and then to bed. [That I may remem-
ber it the more particularly, I thought fit to insert this additional
memorandum of Temple’s discourse this night with me, which
I took in writing from his mouth. Before the Harp and Crosse
money was cried down, he and his fellow goldsmiths did make
some particular trials what proportion that money bore to the
old King’s money, and they found that generally it come to, one
with another, about £25 in every £100. Of this money there was,
upon the calling of it in, £650,000 at least brought into the Tower;
and from thence he computes that the whole money of England
must be full £6,250,000. But for all this believes that there is
above £30,000,000; he supposing that about the King’s coming in
(when he begun to observe the quantity of the new money) peo-
ple begun to be fearfull of this money’s being cried down, and so
picked it out and set it a-going as fast as they could, to be rid of
it; and he thinks £30,000,000 the rather, because if there were but
£16,250,000 the King having £2,000,000 every year, would have
the whole money of the kingdom in his hands in eight years.
He tells me about £350,000 sterling was coined out of the French
money, the proceeds of Dunkirke; so that, with what was coined
of the Crosse money, there is new coined about £1,000,000 be-
1763
DECEMBER 1665
sides the gold, which is guessed at £500,000. He tells me, that,
though the King did deposit the French money in pawn all the
while for the £350,000 he was forced to borrow thereupon till the
tools could be made for the new Minting in the present form, yet
the interest he paid for that time came to £35,000, Viner having to
his knowledge £10,000 for the use of £100,000 of it.]–(The passage
between brackets is from a piece of paper inserted in this place.)
12th. Up, and to the office, where my Lord Bruncker met, and
among other things did finish a contract with Cocke for hemp, by
which I hope to get my money due from him paid presently. At
noon home to dinner, only eating a bit, and with much kindness
taking leave of Mr. Hill who goes away to-day, and so I by wa-
ter saving the tide through Bridge and to Sir G. Downing by ap-
pointment at Charing Crosse, who did at first mightily please me
with informing me thoroughly the virtue and force of this Act,
and indeed it is ten times better than ever I thought could have
been said of it, but when he come to impose upon me that with-
out more ado I must get by my credit people to serve in goods
and lend money upon it and none could do it better than I, and
the King should give me thanks particularly in it, and I could
not get him to excuse me, but I must come to him though to no
purpose on Saturday, and that he is sure I will bring him some
bargains or other made upon this Act, it vexed me more than all
the pleasure I took before, for I find he will be troublesome to
me in it, if I will let him have as much of my time as he would
have. So late I took leave and in the cold (the weather setting in
cold) home to the office and, after my letters being wrote, home
to supper and to bed, my wife being also gone to London.
13th. Up betimes and finished my journall for five days back,
and then after being ready to my Lord Bruncker by appointment,
there to order the disposing of some money that we have come
into the office, and here to my great content I did get a bill of im-
prest to Captain Cocke to pay myself in part of what is coming to
me from him for my Lord Sandwich’s satisfaction and my owne,
1764
DECEMBER 1665
and also another payment or two wherein I am concerned, and
having done that did go to Mr. Pierce’s, where he and his wife
made me drink some tea, and so he and I by water together to
London. Here at a taverne in Cornhill he and I did agree upon
my delivering up to him a bill of Captain Cocke’s, put into my
hand for Pierce’s use upon evening of reckonings about the prize
goods, and so away to the ‘Change, and there hear the ill news,
to my great and all our great trouble, that the plague is encreased
again this week, notwithstanding there hath been a day or two
great frosts; but we hope it is only the effects of the late close
warm weather, and if the frosts continue the next week, may fall
again; but the town do thicken so much with people, that it is
much if the plague do not grow again upon us. Off the ‘Change
invited by Sheriff Hooker, who keeps the poorest, mean, dirty
table in a dirty house that ever I did see any Sheriff of London;
and a plain, ordinary, silly man I think he is, but rich; only his
son, Mr. Lethulier, I like, for a pretty, civil, understanding mer-
chant; and the more by much, because he happens to be husband
to our noble, fat, brave lady in our parish, that I and my wife
admire so. Thence away to the Pope’s Head Taverne, and there
met first with Captain Cocke, and dispatched my business with
him to my content, he being ready to sign his bill of imprest of
£2,000, and gives it me in part of his payment to me, which glads
my heart. He being gone, comes Sir W. Warren, who advised
with me about several things about getting money, and £100 I
shall presently have of him. We advised about a business of in-
surance, wherein something may be saved to him and got to me,
and to that end he and I did take a coach at night and to the
Cockepitt, there to get the Duke of Albemarle’s advice for our
insuring some of our Sounde goods coming home under Har-
man’s convoy, but he proved shy of doing it without knowledge
of the Duke of Yorke, so we back again and calling at my house
to see my wife, who is well; though my great trouble is that our
poor little parish is the greatest number this weeke in all the city
within the walls, having six, from one the last weeke; and so by
1765
DECEMBER 1665
water to Greenwich leaving Sir W. Warren at home, and I straight
to my Lord Bruncker, it being late, and concluded upon insuring
something and to send to that purpose to Sir W. Warren to come
to us to-morrow morning. So I home and, my mind in great rest,
to bed.
14th. Up, and to the office a while with my Lord Bruncker,
where we directed Sir W. Warren in the business of the insurance
as I desired, and ended some other businesses of his, and so at
noon I to London, but the ‘Change was done before I got thither,
so I to the Pope’s Head Taverne, and there find Mr. Gawden and
Captain Beckford and Nick Osborne going to dinner, and I dined
with them and very exceeding merry we were as I had [not] been
a great while, and dinner being done I to the East India House
and there had an assignment on Mr. Temple for the £2,000 of
Cocke’s, which joyed my heart; so, having seen my wife in the
way, I home by water and to write my letters and then home to
bed.
15th. Up, and spent all the morning with my Surveyors of the
Ports for the Victualling, and there read to them what instruc-
tions I had provided for them and discoursed largely much of
our business and the business of the pursers. I left them to dine
with my people, and to my Lord Bruncker’s where I met with a
great good dinner and Sir T. Teddiman, with whom my Lord and
I were to discourse about the bringing of W. Howe to a tryall for
his jewells, and there till almost night, and so away toward the
office and in my way met with Sir James Bunce; and after ask-
ing what newes, he cried “Ah!” says he (I know [not] whether in
earnest or jest), “this is the time for you,” says he, “that were for
Oliver heretofore; you are full of employment, and we poor Cav-
aliers sit still and can get nothing;” which was a pretty reproach,
I thought, but answered nothing to it, for fear of making it worse.
So away and I to see Mrs. Penington, but company being to come
to her, I staid not, but to the office a little and so home, and after
supper to bed.
1766
DECEMBER 1665
16th. Up, and met at the office; Sir W. Batten with us, who come
from Portsmouth on Monday last, and hath not been with us to
see or discourse with us about any business till this day. At noon
to dinner, Sir W. Warren with me on boat, and thence I by wa-
ter, it being a fearfull cold, snowing day to Westminster to White
Hall stairs and thence to Sir G. Downing, to whom I brought the
happy newes of my having contracted, as we did this day with
Sir W. Warren, for a ship’s lading of Norway goods here and an-
other at Harwich to the value of above £3,000, which is the first
that hath been got upon the New Act, and he is overjoyed with
it and tells me he will do me all the right to Court about it in
the world, and I am glad I have it to write to Sir W. Coventry
to-night. He would fain have me come in £200 to lend upon the
Act, but I desire to be excused in doing that, it being to little pur-
pose for us that relate to the King to do it, for the sum gets the
King no courtesy nor credit. So I parted from him and walked
to Westminster Hall, where Sir W. Warren, who come along with
me, staid for me, and there I did see Betty Howlet come after
the sicknesse to the Hall. Had not opportunity to salute her, as
I desired, but was glad to see her and a very pretty wench she
is. Thence back, landing at the Old Swan and taking boat again
at Billingsgate, and setting ashore we home and I to the office....
and there wrote my letters, and so home to supper and to bed,
it being a great frost. Newes is come to-day of our Sounde fleete
being come, but I do not know what Sir W. Warren hath insured.
17th (Lord’s day). After being trimmed word brought me that
Cutler’s coach is, by appointment, come to the Isle of Doggs for
me, and so I over the water; and in his coach to Hackney, a very
fine, cold, clear, frosty day. At his house I find him with a plain
little dinner, good wine, and welcome. He is still a prating man;
and the more I know him, the less I find in him. A pretty house
he hath here indeed, of his owne building. His old mother was
an object at dinner that made me not like it; and, after dinner,
to visit his sicke wife I did not also take much joy in, but very
friendly he is to me, not for any kindnesse I think he hath to any
1767
DECEMBER 1665
man, but thinking me, I perceive, a man whose friendship is to be
looked after. After dinner back again and to Deptford to Mr. Eve-
lyn’s, who was not within, but I had appointed my cozen Thos.
Pepys of Hatcham to meet me there, to discourse about getting
his £1000 of my Lord Sandwich, having now an opportunity of
my having above that sum in my hands of his. I found this a dull
fellow still in all his discourse, but in this he is ready enough to
embrace what I counsel him to, which is, to write importunately
to my Lord and me about it and I will look after it. I do again
and again declare myself a man unfit to be security for such a
sum. He walked with me as far as Deptford upper towne, being
mighty respectfull to me, and there parted, he telling me that this
towne is still very bad of the plague. I walked to Greenwich first,
to make a short visit to my Lord Bruncker, and next to Mrs. Pen-
ington and spent all the evening with her with the same freedom
I used to have and very pleasant company. With her till one of
the clock in the morning and past, and so to my lodging to bed,
and
18th. Betimes, up, it being a fine frost, and walked it to
Redriffe, calling and drinking at Half-way house, thinking, in-
deed, to have overtaken some of the people of our house, the
women, who were to walk the same walke, but I could not. So to
London, and there visited my wife, and was a little displeased to
find she is so forward all of a spurt to make much of her brother
and sister since my last kindnesse to him in getting him a place,
but all ended well presently, and I to the ‘Change and up and
down to Kingdon and the goldsmith’s to meet Mr. Stephens,
and did get all my money matters most excellently cleared to
my complete satisfaction. Passing over Cornhill I spied young
Mrs. Daniel and Sarah, my landlady’s daughter, who are come,
as I expected, to towne, and did say they spied me and I dogged
them to St. Martin’s, where I passed by them being shy, and
walked down as low as Ducke Lane and enquired for some Span-
ish books, and so back again and they were gone. So to the
‘Change, hoping to see them in the streete, and missing them,
1768
DECEMBER 1665
went back again thither and back to the ‘Change, but no sight
of them, so went after my business again, and, though late, was
sent to by Sir W. Warren (who heard where I was) to intreat me to
come dine with him, hearing that I lacked a dinner, at the Pope’s
Head; and there with Mr. Hinton, the goldsmith, and others,
very merry; but, Lord! to see how Dr. Hinton come in with a
gallant or two from Court, and do so call “Cozen” Mr. Hinton,
the goldsmith, but I that know him to be a beggar and a knave,
did make great sport in my mind at it.532 After dinner Sir W. War-
ren and I alone in another room a little while talking about busi-
ness, and so parted, and I hence, my mind full of content in my
day’s worke, home by water to Greenwich, the river beginning
to be very full of ice, so as I was a little frighted, but got home
well, it being darke. So having no mind to do any business, went
home to my lodgings, and there got little Mrs. Tooker, and Mrs.
Daniel, the daughter, and Sarah to my chamber to cards and sup
with me, when in comes Mr. Pierce to me, who tells me how
W. Howe has been examined on shipboard by my Lord Bruncker
to-day, and others, and that he has charged him out of envy with
sending goods under my Lord’s seale and in my Lord Bruncker’s
name, thereby to get them safe passage, which, he tells me, is
false, but that he did use my name to that purpose, and hath ac-
knowledged it to my Lord Bruncker, but do also confess to me
that one parcel he thinks he did use my Lord Bruncker’s name,
which do vexe me mightily that my name should be brought in
question about such things, though I did not say much to him of
my discontent till I have spoke with my Lord Bruncker about it.
532 John Hinton, M.D., a strong royalist, who attended Henrietta Maria in
her confinement at Exeter when she gave birth to the Princess Henrietta.
He was knighted by Charles II., and appointed physician in ordinary to the
king and queen. His knighthood was a reward for having procured a private
advance of money from his kinsman, the goldsmith, to enable the Duke of
Albemarle to pay the army (see “Memorial to King Charles II. from Sir John
Hinton, A.D. 1679,” printed in Ellis’s “Original Letters,” 3rd series, vol. iv.,
p 296).
1769
DECEMBER 1665
So he being gone, being to go to Oxford to-morrow, we to cards
again late, and so broke up, I having great pleasure with my little
girle, Mrs. Tooker.
19th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon
by agreement comes Hatcham Pepys to dine with me. I thought
to have had him to Sir J. Minnes to a good venison pasty with
the rest of my fellows, being invited, but seeing much company
I went away with him and had a good dinner at home. He did
give me letters he hath wrote to my Lord and Moore about my
Lord’s money to get it paid to my cozen, which I will make good
use of. I made mighty much of him, but a sorry dull fellow he is,
fit for nothing that is ingenious, nor is there a turd of kindnesse
or service to be had from him. So I shall neglect him if I could
get but him satisfied about this money that I may be out of bonds
for my Lord to him. To see that this fellow could desire me to
helpe him to some employment, if it were but of £100 per annum:
when he is not worth less than, I believe, £20,000. He gone, I to
Sir J. Minnes, and thence with my Lord Bruncker on board the
Bezan to examine W. Howe again, who I find upon this tryall
one of much more wit and ingenuity in his answers than ever I
expected, he being very cunning and discreet and well spoken in
them. I said little to him or concerning him; but, Lord! to see how
he writes to me a-days, and styles me “My Honour.” So much is
a man subjected and dejected under afflictions as to flatter me in
that manner on this occasion. Back with my Lord to Sir J. Minnes,
where I left him and the rest of a great deale of company, and so
I to my office, where late writing letters and then home to bed.
20th. Up, and was trimmed, but not time enough to save my
Lord Bruncker’s coach or Sir J. Minnes’s, and so was fain to walk
to Lambeth on foot, but it was a very fine frosty walke, and great
pleasure in it, but troublesome getting over the River for ice. I to
the Duke of Albemarle, whither my brethren were all come, but I
was not too late. There we sat in discourse upon our Navy busi-
ness an houre, and thence in my Lord Bruncker’s coach alone, he
1770
DECEMBER 1665
walking before (while I staid awhile talking with Sir G. Downing
about the Act, in which he is horrid troublesome) to the Old Ex-
change. Thence I took Sir Ellis Layton to Captain Cocke’s, where
my Lord Bruncker and Lady Williams dine, and we all mighty
merry; but Sir Ellis Layton one of the best companions at a meale
in the world. After dinner I to the Exchange to see whether my
pretty seamstress be come again or no, and I find she is, so I to
her, saluted her over her counter in the open Exchange above,
and mightily joyed to see her, poor pretty woman! I must confess
I think her a great beauty. After laying out a little money there
for two pair of thread stockings, cost 8s., I to Lumbard Streete to
see some business to-night there at the goldsmith’s, among oth-
ers paying in £1258 to Viner for my Lord Sandwich’s use upon
Cocke’s account. I was called by my Lord Bruncker in his coach
with his mistresse, and Mr. Cottle the lawyer, our acquaintance
at Greenwich, and so home to Greenwich, and thence I to Mrs.
Penington, and had a supper from the King’s Head for her, and
there mighty merry and free as I used to be with her, and at last,
late, I did pray her to undress herself into her nightgowne, that
I might see how to have her picture drawne carelessly (for she is
mighty proud of that conceit), and I would walk without in the
streete till she had done. So I did walk forth, and whether I made
too many turns or no in the darke cold frosty night between the
two walls up to the Parke gate I know not, but she was gone to
bed when I come again to the house, upon pretence of leaving
some papers there, which I did on purpose by her consent. So
I away home, and was there sat up for to be spoken with my
young Mrs. Daniel, to pray me to speake for her husband to be a
Lieutenant. I had the opportunity here of kissing her again and
again, and did answer that I would be very willing to do him
any kindnesse, and so parted, and I to bed, exceedingly pleased
in all my matters of money this month or two, it having pleased
God to bless me with several opportunities of good sums, and
that I have them in effect all very well paid, or in my power to
have. But two things trouble me; one, the sicknesse is increased
1771
DECEMBER 1665
above 80 this weeke (though in my owne parish not one has died,
though six the last weeke); the other, most of all, which is, that I
have so complexed an account for these last two months for vari-
ety of layings out upon Tangier, occasions and variety of gettings
that I have not made even with myself now these 3 or 4 months,
which do trouble me mightily, finding that I shall hardly ever
come to understand them thoroughly again, as I used to do my
accounts when I was at home.
21st. At the office all the morning. At noon all of us dined at
Captain Cocke’s at a good chine of beef, and other good meat;
but, being all frost-bitten, was most of it unroast; but very merry,
and a good dish of fowle we dressed ourselves. Mr. Evelyn there,
in very good humour. All the afternoon till night pleasant, and
then I took my leave of them and to the office, where I wrote
my letters, and away home, my head full of business and some
trouble for my letting my accounts go so far that I have made an
oathe this night for the drinking no wine, &c., on such penalties
till I have passed my accounts and cleared all. Coming home and
going to bed, the boy tells me his sister Daniel has provided me
a supper of little birds killed by her husband, and I made her
sup with me, and after supper were alone a great while, and I
had the pleasure of her lips, she being a pretty woman, and one
whom a great belly becomes as well as ever I saw any. She gone, I
to bed. This day I was come to by Mrs. Burrows, of Westminster,
Lieutenant Burrows (lately dead) his wife, a most pretty woman
and my old acquaintance; I had a kiss or two of her, and a most
modest woman she is.
22nd. Up betimes and to my Lord Bruncker to consider the
late instructions sent us for the method of our signing bills here-
after and paying them. By and by, by agreement, comes Sir J.
Minnes and Sir W. Batten, and then to read them publicly and
consider of putting them in execution. About this all the morn-
ing, and, it appearing necessary for the Controller to have an-
other Clerke, I recommended Poynter to him, which he accepts,
1772
DECEMBER 1665
and I by that means rid of one that I fear would not have been
fit for my turne, though he writes very well. At noon comes Mr.
Hill to towne, and finds me out here, and brings Mr. Houbland,
who met him here. So I was compelled to leave my Lord and his
dinner and company, and with them to the Beare, and dined with
them and their brothers, of which Hill had his and the other two
of his, and mighty merry and very fine company they are, and I
glad to see them. After dinner I forced to take leave of them by
being called upon by Mr. Andrews, I having sent for him, and
by a fine glosse did bring him to desire tallys for what orders I
have to pay him and his company for Tangier victualls, and I by
that means cleared to myself £210 coming to me upon their two
orders, which is also a noble addition to my late profits, which
have been very considerable of late, but how great I know not till
I come to cast up my accounts, which burdens my mind that it
should be so backward, but I am resolved to settle to nothing till
I have done it. He gone, I to my Lord Bruncker’s, and there spent
the evening by my desire in seeing his Lordship open to pieces
and make up again his watch, thereby being taught what I never
knew before; and it is a thing very well worth my having seen,
and am mightily pleased and satisfied with it. So I sat talking
with him till late at night, somewhat vexed at a snappish answer
Madam Williams did give me to herself, upon my speaking a free
word to her in mirthe, calling her a mad jade. She answered, we
were not so well acquainted yet. But I was more at a letter from
my Lord Duke of Albemarle to-day, pressing us to continue our
meetings for all Christmas, which, though every body intended
not to have done, yet I am concluded in it, who intended nothing
else. But I see it is necessary that I do make often visits to my
Lord Duke, which nothing shall hinder after I have evened my
accounts, and now the river is frozen I know not how to get to
him. Thence to my lodging, making up my Journall for 8 or 9
days, and so my mind being eased of it, I to supper and to bed.
The weather hath been frosty these eight or nine days, and so we
hope for an abatement of the plague the next weeke, or else God
1773
DECEMBER 1665
have mercy upon us! for the plague will certainly continue the
next year if it do not.
23rd. At my office all the morning and home to dinner, my
head full of business, and there my wife finds me unexpectedly.
But I not being at leisure to stay or talk with her, she went down
by coach to Woolwich, thinking to fetch Mrs. Barbary to carry
her to London to keep her Christmas with her, and I to the office.
This day one come to me with four great turkies, as a present
from Mr. Deane, at Harwich, three of which my wife carried in
the evening home with her to London in her coach (Mrs. Barbary
not being to be got so suddenly, but will come to her the next
week), and I at my office late, and then to my lodgings to bed.
24th (Sunday). Up betimes, to my Lord Duke of Albemarle by
water, and after some talke with him about business of the office
with great content, and so back again and to dinner, my land-
lady and her daughters with me, and had mince-pies, and very
merry at a mischance her young son had in tearing of his new
coate quite down the outside of his sleeve in the whole cloth,
one of the strangest mishaps that ever I saw in my life. Then to
church, and placed myself in the Parson’s pew under the pulpit,
to hear Mrs. Chamberlain in the next pew sing, who is daughter
to Sir James Bunch, of whom I have heard much, and indeed she
sings very finely, and from church met with Sir W. Warren and
he and I walked together talking about his and my businesses,
getting of money as fairly as we can, and, having set him part of
his way home, I walked to my Lord Bruncker, whom I heard was
at Alderman Hooker’s, hoping to see and salute Mrs. Lethulier,
whom I did see in passing, but no opportunity of beginning ac-
quaintance, but a very noble lady she is, however the silly alder-
man got her. Here we sat talking a great while, Sir The. Biddulph
and Mr. Vaughan, a son-in-law of Alderman Hooker’s. Hence
with my Lord Bruncker home and sat a little with him and so
home to bed.
25th (Christmas-day). To church in the morning, and there saw
1774
DECEMBER 1665
a wedding in the church, which I have not seen many a day;
and the young people so merry one with another, and strange
to see what delight we married people have to see these poor
fools decoyed into our condition, every man and woman gaz-
ing and smiling at them. Here I saw again my beauty Lethulier.
Thence to my Lord Bruncker’s by invitation and dined there, and
so home to look over and settle my papers, both of my accounts
private, and those of Tangier, which I have let go so long that it
were impossible for any soul, had I died, to understand them, or
ever come to any good end in them. I hope God will never suffer
me to come to that disorder again.
26th. Up, and to the office, where Sir J. Minnes and my Lord
Bruncker and I met, to give our directions to the Commanders
of all the ships in the river to bring in lists of their ships’ com-
panies, with entries, discharges, &c., all the last voyage, where
young Seymour, among 20 that stood bare, stood with his hat on,
a proud, saucy young man. Thence with them to Mr. Cuttle’s,
being invited, and dined nobly and neatly; with a very pretty
house and a fine turret at top, with winding stairs and the finest
prospect I know about all Greenwich, save the top of the hill, and
yet in some respects better than that. Here I also saw some fine
writing worke and flourishing of Mr. Hore, he one that I knew
long ago, an acquaintance of Mr. Tomson’s at Westminster, that is
this man’s clerk. It is the story of the several Archbishops of Can-
terbury, engrossed in vellum, to hang up in Canterbury Cathe-
drall in tables, in lieu of the old ones, which are almost worn out.
Thence to the office a while, and so to Captain Cocke’s and there
talked, and home to look over my papers, and so to bed.
27th. Up, and with Cocke, by coach to London, there home to
my wife, and angry about her desiring a mayde yet, before the
plague is quite over. It seems Mercer is troubled that she hath
not one under her, but I will not venture my family by increas-
ing it before it be safe. Thence about many businesses, particu-
larly with Sir W. Warren on the ‘Change, and he and I dined to-
1775
DECEMBER 1665
gether and settled our Tangier matters, wherein I get above £200
presently. We dined together at the Pope’s Head to do this, and
thence to the goldsmiths, I to examine the state of my matters
there too, and so with him to my house, but my wife was gone
abroad to Mrs. Mercer’s, so we took boat, and it being darke and
the thaw having broke the ice, but not carried it quite away, the
boat did pass through so much of it all along, and that with the
crackling and noise that it made me fearfull indeed. So I forced
the watermen to land us on Redriffe side, and so walked together
till Sir W. Warren and I parted near his house and thence I walked
quite over the fields home by light of linke, one of my watermen
carrying it, and I reading by the light of it, it being a very fine,
clear, dry night. So to Captain Cocke’s, and there sat and talked,
especially with his Counsellor, about his prize goods, that hath
done him good turne, being of the company with Captain Fisher,
his name Godderson; here I supped and so home to bed, with
great content that the plague is decreased to 152, the whole being
but 330.
28th. Up and to the office, and thence with a great deal of busi-
ness in my head, dined alone with Cocke. So home alone strictly
about my accounts, wherein I made a good beginning, and so,
after letters wrote by the post, to bed.
29th. Up betimes, and all day long within doors upon my
accounts, publique and private, and find the ill effect of letting
them go so long without evening, that no soul could have ever
understood them but myself, and I with much ado. But, how-
ever, my regularity in all I did and spent do helpe me, and I hope
to find them well. Late at them and to bed.
30th. Up and to the office, at noon home to dinner, and all
the afternoon to my accounts again, and there find myself, to
my great joy, a great deal worth above £4000, for which the Lord
be praised! and is principally occasioned by my getting £500 of
Cocke, for my profit in his bargains of prize goods, and from Mr.
Gawden’s making me a present of £500 more, when I paid him
1776
DECEMBER 1665
8000 for Tangier. So to my office to write letters, then to my ac-
counts again, and so to bed, being in great ease of mind.
31st (Lord’s day). All the morning in my chamber, writing fair
the state of my Tangier accounts, and so dined at home. In the
afternoon to the Duke of Albemarle and thence back again by
water, and so to my chamber to finish the entry of my accounts
and to think of the business I am next to do, which is the stating
my thoughts and putting in order my collections about the busi-
ness of pursers, to see where the fault of our present constitution
relating to them lies and what to propose to mend it, and upon
this late and with my head full of this business to bed. Thus ends
this year, to my great joy, in this manner. I have raised my estate
from £1300 in this year to £4400. I have got myself greater inter-
est, I think, by my diligence, and my employments encreased by
that of Treasurer for Tangier, and Surveyour of the Victualls. It is
true we have gone through great melancholy because of the great
plague, and I put to great charges by it, by keeping my family
long at Woolwich, and myself and another part of my family, my
clerks, at my charge at Greenwich, and a mayde at London; but
I hope the King will give us some satisfaction for that. But now
the plague is abated almost to nothing, and I intending to get to
London as fast as I can. My family, that is my wife and maids,
having been there these two or three weeks. The Dutch war goes
on very ill, by reason of lack of money; having none to hope for,
all being put into disorder by a new Act that is made as an ex-
periment to bring credit to the Exchequer, for goods and money
to be advanced upon the credit of that Act. I have never lived
so merrily (besides that I never got so much) as I have done this
plague time, by my Lord Bruncker’s and Captain Cocke’s good
company, and the acquaintance of Mrs. Knipp, Coleman and her
husband, and Mr. Laneare, and great store of dancings we have
had at my cost (which I was willing to indulge myself and wife)
at my lodgings. The great evil of this year, and the only one in-
deed, is the fall of my Lord of Sandwich, whose mistake about the
prizes hath undone him, I believe, as to interest at Court; though
1777
DECEMBER 1665
sent (for a little palliating it) Embassador into Spayne, which he
is now fitting himself for. But the Duke of Albemarle goes with
the Prince to sea this next year, and my Lord very meanly spo-
ken of; and, indeed, his miscarriage about the prize goods is not
to be excused, to suffer a company of rogues to go away with ten
times as much as himself, and the blame of all to be deservedly
laid upon him.533 My whole family hath been well all this while,
and all my friends I know of, saving my aunt Bell, who is dead,
and some children of my cozen Sarah’s, of the plague. But many
of such as I know very well, dead; yet, to our great joy, the town
fills apace, and shops begin to be open again. Pray God continue
the plague’s decrease! for that keeps the Court away from the
place of business, and so all goes to rack as to publick matters,
they at this distance not thinking of it. ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOK-
MARKS, PEPY’S DIARY,1965 N.S.,COMPLETE: A fair salute on
horseback, in Rochester streets, of the lady A most conceited
fellow and not over much in him A conceited man, but of no
Logique in his head at all A vineyard, the first that ever I did see
A pretty man, I would be content to break a commandment with
him About two o’clock, too late and too soon to go home to bed
Accounts I never did see, or hope again to see in my days All the
towne almost going out of towne (Plague panic) Among many
lazy people that the diligent man becomes necessary And feel-
ing for a chamber-pott, there was none And all to dinner and sat
down to the King saving myself At a loss whether it will be bet-
ter for me to have him die Bagwell’s wife waited at the door, and
went with me to my office Baseness and looseness of the Court
Because I would not be over sure of any thing Being able to do
little business (but the less the better) Being the first Wednesday
of the month Best poem that ever was wrote (Siege of Rhodes)
Bottle of strong water; whereof now and then a sip did me good
Buy some roll-tobacco to smell to and chaw By his many words
533 According to Granville Penn (“Memorials of Sir W. Penn,” ii. 488 n.)
£2000 went to Lord Sandwich and £8000 among eight others.
1778
DECEMBER 1665
and no understanding, confound himself Castlemayne is sicke
again, people think, slipping her filly Church, where a most in-
sipid young coxcomb preached Clean myself with warm water;
my wife will have me Consult my pillow upon that and every
great thing of my life Contracted for her as if he had been buying
a horse Convenience of periwiggs is so great Copper to the value
of £5,000 Costs me 12d. a kiss after the first Delight to see these
poor fools decoyed into our condition Desired me that I would
baste his coate Did bear with it, and very pleasant all the while
Did put evil thoughts in me, but proceeded no further Discourse
of Mr. Evelyn touching all manner of learning Disease making
us more cruel to one another than if we are doggs Doubtfull
whether her daughter will like of it or no Dying this last week of
the plague 112, from 43 the week before Endeavouring to strike
tallys for money for Tangier Every body is at a great losse and no-
body can tell Every body’s looks, and discourse in the street is of
death Fell to sleep as if angry Find that now and then a little dif-
ference do no hurte First thing of that nature I did ever give her
(L10 ring) For my quiet would not enquire into it For, for her part,
she should not be buried in the commons France, which is ac-
counted the best place for bread French have taken two and sunk
one of our merchant-men Give the other notice of the future state,
if there was any Going with her woman to a hot-house to bathe
herself Good discourse and counsel from him, which I hope I
shall take Great many silly stories they tell of their sport Great
thaw it is not for a man to walk the streets Had what pleasure al-
most I would with her Hath sent me masters that do observe that
I take pains Hath a good heart to bear, or a cunning one to conceal
his evil Hear that the plague is come into the City Heard noises
over their head upon the leads His wife and three children died,
all, I think, in a day His disease was the pox and that he must be
fluxed (Rupert) His enemies have done him as much good as he
could wish Houses marked with a red cross upon the doors How
sad a sight it is to see the streets empty of people How little merit
do prevail in the world, but only favour How little heed is had
1779
DECEMBER 1665
to the prisoners and sicke and wounded How Povy overdoes ev-
ery thing in commending it How unhppily a man may fall into a
necessity of bribing people I kissed the bride in bed, and so the
curtaines drawne I have promised, but know not when I shall
perform I know not how their fortunes may agree I met a dead
corps of the plague, in the narrow ally I am a foole to be troubled
at it, since I cannot helpe it If the exportations exceed importa-
tions In our graves (as Shakespeere resembles it) we could dream
It is a strange thing how fancy works King shall not be able to
whip a cat King himself minding nothing but his ease King is
not at present in purse to do £10,000 to the Prince, and half-a-
crowne to my Lord of Sandwich Law against it signifies nothing
in the world Law and severity were used against drunkennesse
Lechery will never leave him Left him with some Commanders
at the table taking tobacco Less he finds of difference between
them and other men Lord! in the dullest insipid manner that ever
lover did Luxury and looseness of the times Money I have not,
nor can get Mr. Evelyn’s translating and sending me as a present
Must be forced to confess it to my wife, which troubles me My
wife after her bathing lying alone in another bed My old folly
and childishnesse hangs upon me still Nan at Moreclacke, very
much pleased and merry with her Never could man say worse
himself nor have worse said No man is wise at all times Not had
the confidence to take his lady once by the hand Not liking that
it should lie long undone, for fear of death Not to be censured
if their necessities drive them to bad Offer to give me a piece to
receive of me 20 One whom a great belly becomes as well as ever
I saw any Ordered him £2000, and he paid me my quantum out
of it Ordered in the yarde six or eight bargemen to be whipped
Out of my purse I dare not for fear of a precedent Pest coaches
and put her into it to carry her to a pest house Plague claimed
68,596 victims (in 1665) Plague, forty last night, the bell always
going Pleases them mightily, and me not at all Poor seamen that
lie starving in the streets Pretends to a resolution of being here-
after very clean Pretty to see the young pretty ladies dressed like
1780
DECEMBER 1665
men Pride of some persons and vice of most was but a sad story
Quakers and others that will not have any bell ring for them Re-
solving not to be bribed to dispatch business Sat an hour or two
talking and discoursing.... Saying me to be the fittest man in Eng-
land Searchers with their rods in their hands See how a good
dinner and feasting reconciles everybody Sicke men that are re-
covered, they lying before our office doors So to bed, to be up
betimes by the helpe of a larum watch So great a trouble is fear
The coachman that carried [us] cannot know me again The boy
is well, and offers to be searched This absence makes us a little
strange instead of more fond Those bred in the North among the
colliers are good for labour Though neither of us care 2d. one for
another Tied our men back to back, and thrown them all into the
sea Told us he had not been in a bed in the whole seven years Too
much of it will make her know her force too much Two shops in
three, if not more, generally shut up Up, leaving my wife in bed,
being sick of her months Wanton as ever she was, with much I
made myself merry and away Well enough pleased this morn-
ing with their night’s lodging What silly discourse we had by
the way as to love-matters When she least shews it hath her wit
at work Where money is free, there is great plenty Which may
teach me how I make others wait Who is the most, and promises
the least, of any man Wife that brings me nothing almost (besides
a comely person)
1781
JANUARY 1665-1666
January 1st (New-Yeare’s Day). Called up by five o’clock, by my
order, by Mr. Tooker, who wrote, while I dictated to him, my
business of the Pursers; and so, without eating or drinking, till
three in the afternoon, and then, to my great content, finished it.
So to dinner, Gibson and he and I, and then to copying it over,
Mr. Gibson reading and I writing, and went a good way in it till
interrupted by Sir W. Warren’s coming, of whom I always learne
something or other, his discourse being very good and his brains
also. He being gone we to our business again, and wrote more of
it fair, and then late to bed.534 2nd. Up by candlelight again, and
wrote the greatest part of my business fair, and then to the office,
and so home to dinner, and after dinner up and made an end of
my fair writing it, and that being done, set two entering while to
my Lord Bruncker’s, and there find Sir J. Minnes and all his com-
pany, and Mr. Boreman and Mrs. Turner, but, above all, my dear
534 This document is in the British Museum (Harleian MS. 6287), and is en-
titled, “A Letter from Mr. Pepys, dated at Greenwich, 1 Jan. 1665-6, which
he calls his New Year’s Gift to his hon. friend, Sir Wm. Coventry, wherein he
lays down a method for securing his Majesty in husbandly execution of the
Victualling Part of the Naval Expence.” It consists of nineteen closely writ-
ten folio pages, and is a remarkable specimen of Pepys’s business habits.–B.
There are copies of several letters on the victualling of the navy, written by
Pepys in 1666, among the Rawlinson MSS. in the Bodleian.
1782
JANUARY 1665-1666
Mrs. Knipp, with whom I sang, and in perfect pleasure I was to
hear her sing, and especially her little Scotch song of “Barbary
Allen;”535 and to make our mirthe the completer, Sir J. Minnes
was in the highest pitch of mirthe, and his mimicall tricks, that
ever I saw, and most excellent pleasant company he is, and the
best mimique that ever I saw, and certainly would have made an
excellent actor, and now would be an excellent teacher of actors.
Thence, it being post night, against my will took leave, but before
I come to my office, longing for more of her company, I returned
and met them coming home in coaches, so I got into the coach
where Mrs. Knipp was and got her upon my knee (the coach
being full) and played with her breasts and sung, and at last set
her at her house and so good night. So home to my lodgings and
there endeavoured to have finished the examining my papers of
Pursers’ business to have sent away to-night, but I was so sleepy
with my late early risings and late goings to bed that I could not
do it, but was forced to go to bed and leave it to send away to-
morrow by an Expresse.
3rd. Up, and all the morning till three in the afternoon exam-
ining and fitting up my Pursers’ paper and sent it away by an
Expresse. Then comes my wife, and I set her to get supper ready
against I go to the Duke of Albemarle and back again; and at the
Duke’s with great joy I received the good news of the decrease of
the plague this week to 70, and but 253 in all; which is the least
Bill hath been known these twenty years in the City. Through
the want of people in London is it, that must make it so low be-
low the ordinary number for Bills. So home, and find all my
good company I had bespoke, as Coleman and his wife, and Lan-
eare, Knipp and her surly husband; and good musique we had,
and, among other things, Mrs. Coleman sang my words I set of
“Beauty retire,” and I think it is a good song, and they praise it
535 The Scottish ballad is entitled, “Sir John Grehme and Barbara Allan,”
and the English version, “Barbara Allen’s Cruelty.” Both are printed in
Percy’s “Reliques,” Series III.
1783
JANUARY 1665-1666
mightily. Then to dancing and supper, and mighty merry till Mr.
Rolt come in, whose pain of the tooth-ake made him no company,
and spoilt ours; so he away, and then my wife’s teeth fell of ake-
ing, and she to bed. So forced to break up all with a good song,
and so to bed.
4th. Up, and to the office, where my Lord Bruncker and I,
against Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes and the whole table, for
Sir W. Warren in the business of his mast contract, and overcome
them and got them to do what I had a mind to, for indeed my
Lord being unconcerned in what I aimed at. So home to dinner,
where Mr. Sheldon come by invitation from Woolwich, and as
merry as I could be with all my thoughts about me and my wife
still in pain of her tooth. He anon took leave and took Mrs. Bar-
bary his niece home with him, and seems very thankful to me for
the £10 I did give him for my wife’s rent of his house, and I am
sure I am beholding to him, for it was a great convenience to me,
and then my wife home to London by water and I to the office till
8 at night, and so to my Lord Bruncker’s, thinking to have been
merry, having appointed a meeting for Sir J. Minnes and his com-
pany and Mrs. Knipp again, but whatever hindered I know not,
but no company come, which vexed me because it disappointed
me of the glut of mirthe I hoped for. However, good discourse
with my Lord and merry, with Mrs. Williams’s descants upon Sir
J. Minnes’s and Mrs. Turner’s not coming. So home and to bed.
5th. I with my Lord Bruncker and Mrs. Williams by coach with
four horses to London, to my Lord’s house in Covent-Guarden.
But, Lord! what staring to see a nobleman’s coach come to town.
And porters every where bow to us; and such begging of beg-
gars! And a delightfull thing it is to see the towne full of people
again as now it is; and shops begin to open, though in many
places seven or eight together, and more, all shut; but yet the
towne is full, compared with what it used to be. I mean the City
end; for Covent-Guarden and Westminster are yet very empty of
people, no Court nor gentry being there. Set Mrs. Williams down
1784
JANUARY 1665-1666
at my Lord’s house and he and I to Sir G. Carteret, at his chamber
at White Hall, he being come to town last night to stay one day.
So my Lord and he and I much talke about the Act, what credit
we find upon it, but no private talke between him and I. So I to
the ‘Change, and there met Mr. Povy, newly come to town, and
he and I to Sir George Smith’s and there dined nobly. He tells me
how my Lord Bellases complains for want of money and of him
and me therein, but I value it not, for I know I do all that can be
done. We had no time to talk of particulars, but leave it to another
day, and I away to Cornhill to expect my Lord Bruncker’s com-
ing back again, and I staid at my stationer’s house, and by and
by comes my Lord, and did take me up and so to Greenwich, and
after sitting with them a while at their house, home, thinking to
get Mrs. Knipp, but could not, she being busy with company, but
sent me a pleasant letter, writing herself “Barbary Allen.” I went
therefore to Mr. Boreman’s for pastime, and there staid an houre
or two talking with him, and reading a discourse about the River
of Thames, the reason of its being choked up in several places
with shelfes; which is plain is, by the encroachments made upon
the River, and running out of causeways into the River at every
wood-wharfe; which was not heretofore when Westminster Hall
and White Hall were built, and Redriffe Church, which now are
sometimes overflown with water. I had great satisfaction herein.
So home and to my papers for lacke of company, but by and by
comes little Mrs. Tooker and sat and supped with me, and I kept
her very late talking and making her comb my head, and did
what I will with her. So late to bed.
6th. Up betimes and by water to the Cockepitt, there met Sir
G. Carteret and, after discourse with the Duke, all together, and
there saw a letter wherein Sir W. Coventry did take notice to
the Duke with a commendation of my paper about Pursers, I to
walke in the Parke with the Vice-Chamberlain, and received his
advice about my deportment about the advancing the credit of
the Act; giving me caution to see that we do not misguide the
King by making them believe greater matters from it than will
1785
JANUARY 1665-1666
be found. But I see that this arises from his great trouble to see
the Act succeede, and to hear my name so much used and my
letters shown at Court about goods served us in upon the credit
of it. But I do make him believe that I do it with all respect to him
and on his behalfe too, as indeed I do, as well as my owne, that it
may not be said that he or I do not assist therein. He tells me that
my Lord Sandwich do proceed on his journey with the greatest
kindnesse that can be imagined from the King and Chancellor,
which was joyfull newes to me. Thence with Lord Bruncker to
Greenwich by water to a great dinner and much company; Mr.
Cottle and his lady and others and I went, hoping to get Mrs.
Knipp to us, having wrote a letter to her in the morning, calling
myself “Dapper Dicky,” in answer to hers of “Barbary Allen,”
but could not, and am told by the boy that carried my letter, that
he found her crying; but I fear she lives a sad life with that ill-
natured fellow her husband: so we had a great, but I a melan-
choly dinner, having not her there, as I hoped. After dinner to
cards, and then comes notice that my wife is come unexpectedly
to me to towne. So I to her. It is only to see what I do, and why
I come not home; and she is in the right that I would have a lit-
tle more of Mrs. Knipp’s company before I go away. My wife to
fetch away my things from Woolwich, and I back to cards and af-
ter cards to choose King and Queene, and a good cake there was,
but no marks found; but I privately found the clove, the mark
of the knave, and privately put it into Captain Cocke’s piece,
which made some mirthe, because of his lately being knowne by
his buying of clove and mace of the East India prizes. At night
home to my lodging, where I find my wife returned with my
things, and there also Captain Ferrers is come upon business of
my Lord’s to this town about getting some goods of his put on
board in order to his going to Spain, and Ferrers presumes upon
my finding a bed for him, which I did not like to have done with-
out my invitation because I had done [it] several times before,
during the plague, that he could not provide himself safely else-
where. But it being Twelfth Night, they had got the fiddler and
1786
JANUARY 1665-1666
mighty merry they were; and I above come not to them, but when
I had done my business among my papers went to bed, leaving
them dancing, and choosing King and Queene.
7th (Lord’s day). Up, and being trimmed I was invited by Cap-
tain Cocke, so I left my wife, having a mind to some discourse
with him, and dined with him. He tells me of new difficulties
about his goods which troubles me and I fear they will be great.
He tells me too what I hear everywhere how the towne talks of
my Lord Craven being to come into Sir G. Carteret’s place; but
sure it cannot be true. But I do fear those two families, his and
my Lord Sandwich’s, are quite broken. And I must now stand
upon my own legs. Thence to my lodging, and considering how
I am hindered by company there to do any thing among my
papers, I did resolve to go away to-day rather than stay to no
purpose till to-morrow and so got all my things packed up and
spent half an hour with W. Howe about his papers of accounts
for contingencies and my Lord’s accounts, so took leave of my
landlady and daughters, having paid dear for what time I have
spent there, but yet having been quiett and my health, I am very
well contented therewith. So with my wife and Mercer took boat
and away home; but in the evening, before I went, comes Mrs.
Knipp, just to speake with me privately, to excuse her not com-
ing to me yesterday, complaining how like a devil her husband
treats her, but will be with us in towne a weeke hence, and so I
kissed her and parted. Being come home, my wife and I to look
over our house and consider of laying out a little money to hang
our bedchamber better than it is, and so resolved to go and buy
something to-morrow, and so after supper, with great joy in my
heart for my coming once again hither, to bed.
8th. Up, and my wife and I by coach to Bennett’s, in Paternos-
ter Row, few shops there being yet open, and there bought vel-
vett for a coate, and camelott for a cloake for myself; and thence
to a place to look over some fine counterfeit damasks to hang
my wife’s closett, and pitched upon one, and so by coach home
1787
JANUARY 1665-1666
again, I calling at the ‘Change, and so home to dinner and all the
afternoon look after my papers at home and my office against to-
morrow, and so after supper and considering the uselessness of
laying out so much money upon my wife’s closett, but only the
chamber, to bed.
9th. Up, and then to the office, where we met first since the
plague, which God preserve us in! At noon home to dinner,
where uncle Thomas with me, and in comes Pierce lately come
from Oxford, and Ferrers. After dinner Pierce and I up to my
chamber, where he tells me how a great difference hath been be-
tween the Duke and Duchesse, he suspecting her to be naught
with Mr. Sidney.536 But some way or other the matter is made up;
but he was banished the Court, and the Duke for many days did
not speak to the Duchesse at all. He tells me that my Lord Sand-
wich is lost there at Court, though the King is particularly his
friend. But people do speak every where slightly of him; which
is a sad story to me, but I hope it may be better again. And that Sir
G. Carteret is neglected, and hath great enemies at work against
him. That matters must needs go bad, while all the town, and
every boy in the streete, openly cries, “The King cannot go away
till my Lady Castlemaine be ready to come along with him;” she
being lately put to bed And that he visits her and Mrs. Stew-
art every morning before he eats his breakfast. All this put to-
536 “This Duchess was Chancellor Hyde’s daughter, and she was a very
handsome woman, and had a great deal of wit; therefore it was not without
reason that Mr. Sydney, the handsomest youth of his time, of the Duke’s
bedchamber, was so much in love with her, as appeared to us all, and the
Duchess not unkind to him, but very innocently. He was afterwards ban-
ished the Court for another reason, as was reported” (Sir John Reresby’s
“Memoirs,” August 5th, 1664, ed. Cartwright, pp. 64,65). “‘How could
the Duke of York make my mother a Papist?’ said the Princess Mary to Dr.
Bumet. ‘The Duke caught a man in bed with her,’ said the Doctor, ‘and then
had power to make her do anything.’ The Prince, who sat by the fire, said,
‘Pray, madam, ask the Doctor a few more questions”’ (Spence’s “Anecdotes,”
ed. Singer, 329).
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JANUARY 1665-1666
gether makes me very sad, but yet I hope I shall do pretty well
among them for all this, by my not meddling with either of their
matters. He and Ferrers gone I paid uncle Thomas his last quar-
ter’s money, and then comes Mr. Gawden and he and I talked
above stairs together a good while about his business, and to my
great joy got him to declare that of the £500 he did give me the
other day, none of it was for my Treasurershipp for Tangier (I first
telling him how matters stand between Povy and I, that he was to
have half of whatever was coming to me by that office), and that
he will gratify me at 2 per cent. for that when he next receives
any money. So there is £80 due to me more than I thought of. He
gone I with a glad heart to the office to write, my letters and so
home to supper and bed, my wife mighty full of her worke she
hath to do in furnishing her bedchamber.
10th. Up, and by coach to Sir G. Downing, where Mr. Gaw-
den met me by agreement to talke upon the Act. I do find Sir G.
Downing to be a mighty talker, more than is true, which I now
know to be so, and suspected it before, but for all that I have good
grounds to think it will succeed for goods and in time for money
too, but not presently. Having done with him, I to my Lord
Bruncker’s house in Covent-Garden, and, among other things,
it was to acquaint him with my paper of Pursers, and read it to
him, and had his good liking of it. Shewed him Mr. Coventry’s
sense of it, which he sent me last post much to my satisfaction.
Thence to the ‘Change, and there hear to our grief how the plague
is encreased this week from seventy to eighty-nine. We have also
great fear of our Hambrough fleete, of their meeting the Dutch;
as also have certain newes, that by storms Sir Jer. Smith’s fleet
is scattered, and three of them come without masts back to Ply-
mouth, which is another very exceeding great disappointment,
and if the victualling ships are miscarried will tend to the losse
of the garrison of Tangier. Thence home, in my way had the op-
portunity I longed for, of seeing and saluting Mrs. Stokes, my lit-
tle goldsmith’s wife in Paternoster Row, and there bespoke some
thing, a silver chafing-dish for warming plates, and so home to
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JANUARY 1665-1666
dinner, found my wife busy about making her hangings for her
chamber with the upholster. So I to the office and anon to the
Duke of Albemarle, by coach at night, taking, for saving time, Sir
W. Warren with me, talking of our businesses all the way going
and coming, and there got his reference of my pursers’ paper to
the Board to consider of it before he reads it, for he will never
understand it I am sure. Here I saw Sir W. Coventry’s kind let-
ter to him concerning my paper, and among others of his letters,
which I saw all, and that is a strange thing, that whatever is writ
to this Duke of Albemarle, all the world may see; for this very
night he did give me Mr. Coventry’s letter to read, soon as it
come to his hand, before he had read it himself, and bid me take
out of it what concerned the Navy, and many things there was
in it, which I should not have thought fit for him to have let any
body so suddenly see; but, among other things, find him pro-
fess himself to the Duke a friend into the inquiring further into
the business of Prizes, and advises that it may be publique, for
the righting the King, and satisfying the people and getting the
blame to be rightly laid where it should be, which strikes very
hard upon my Lord Sandwich, and troubles me to read it. Be-
sides, which vexes me more, I heard the damned Duchesse again
say to twenty gentlemen publiquely in the room, that she would
have Montagu sent once more to sea, before he goes his Embassy,
that we may see whether he will make amends for his cowardice,
and repeated the answer she did give the other day in my hearing
to Sir G. Downing, wishing her Lord had been a coward, for then
perhaps he might have been made an Embassador, and not been
sent now to sea. But one good thing she said, she cried might-
ily out against the having of gentlemen Captains with feathers
and ribbands, and wished the King would send her husband to
sea with the old plain sea Captains, that he served with formerly,
that would make their ships swim with blood, though they could
not make legs537 as Captains nowadays can. It grieved me to see
537 Make bows, play the courtier. The reading, “make leagues,” appeared
1790
JANUARY 1665-1666
how slightly the Duke do every thing in the world, and how the
King and every body suffers whatever he will to be done in the
Navy, though never so much against reason, as in the business
of recalling tickets, which will be done notwithstanding all the
arguments against it. So back again to my office, and there to
business and so to bed.
11th. Up and to the office. By and by to the Custome House
to the Farmers, there with a letter of Sir G. Carteret’s for £3000,
which they ordered to be paid me. So away back again to the
office, and at noon to dinner all of us by invitation to Sir W.
Pen’s, and much other company. Among others, Lieutenant of
the Tower, and Broome, his poet, and Dr. Whistler, and his (Sir
W. Pen’s) son-in-law Lowder, servant–[lover]–to Mrs. Margaret
Pen, and Sir Edward Spragg, a merry man, that sang a pleas-
ant song pleasantly. Rose from table before half dined, and with
Mr. Mountney of the Custome House to the East India House,
and there delivered to him tallys for £3000 and received a note
for the money on Sir R. Viner. So ended the matter, and back to
my company, where staid a little, and thence away with my Lord
Bruncker for discourse sake, and he and I to Gresham College to
have seen Mr. Hooke and a new invented chariott of Dr. Wilkins,
but met with nobody at home! So to Dr. Wilkins’s, where I never
was before, and very kindly received and met with Dr. Merritt,
and fine discourse among them to my great joy, so sober and so
ingenious. He is now upon finishing his discourse of a universal
character. So away and I home to my office about my letters, and
so home to supper and to bed.
12th. By coach to the Duke of Albemarle, where Sir W. Bat-
ten and I only met. Troubled at my heart to see how things are
ordered there without consideration or understanding. Thence
back by coach and called at Wotton’s, my shoemaker, lately come
to towne, and bespoke shoes, as also got him to find me a taylor
to make me some clothes, my owne being not yet in towne, nor
in former editions till Mr. Mynors Bright corrected it.
1791
JANUARY 1665-1666
Pym, my Lord Sandwich’s taylor. So he helped me to a pretty
man, one Mr. Penny, against St. Dunstan’s Church. Thence to
the ‘Change and there met Mr. Moore, newly come to towne,
and took him home to dinner with me and after dinner to talke,
and he and I do conclude my Lord’s case to be very bad and may
be worse, if he do not get a pardon for his doings about the prizes
and his business at Bergen, and other things done by him at sea,
before he goes for Spayne. I do use all the art I can to get him to
get my Lord to pay my cozen Pepys, for it is a great burden to
my mind my being bound for my Lord in £1000 to him. Having
done discourse with him and directed him to go with my advice
to my Lord expresse to-morrow to get his pardon perfected be-
fore his going, because of what I read the other night in Sir W.
Coventry’s letter, I to the office, and there had an extraordinary
meeting of Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and Sir W. Pen, and my
Lord Bruncker and I to hear my paper read about pursers, which
they did all of them with great good will and great approbation
of my method and pains in all, only Sir W. Pen, who must except
against every thing and remedy nothing, did except against my
proposal for some reasons, which I could not understand, I con-
fess, nor my Lord Bruncker neither, but he did detect indeed a
failure or two of mine in my report about the ill condition of the
present pursers, which I did magnify in one or two little things,
to which, I think, he did with reason except, but at last with all
respect did declare the best thing he ever heard of this kind, but
when Sir W. Batten did say, “Let us that do know the practical
part of the Victualling meet Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Pen and I and
see what we can do to mend all,” he was so far from offering
or furthering it, that he declined it and said, he must be out of
towne. So as I ever knew him never did in his life ever attempt
to mend any thing, but suffer all things to go on in the way they
are, though never so bad, rather than improve his experience to
the King’s advantage. So we broke up, however, they promising
to meet to offer some thing in it of their opinions, and so we rose,
and I and my Lord Bruncker by coach a little way for discourse
1792
JANUARY 1665-1666
sake, till our coach broke, and tumbled me over him quite down
the side of the coach, falling on the ground about the Stockes, but
up again, and thinking it fit to have for my honour some thing re-
ported in writing to the Duke in favour of my pains in this, lest
it should be thought to be rejected as frivolous, I did move it to
my Lord, and he will see it done to-morrow. So we parted, and
I to the office and thence home to my poor wife, who works all
day at home like a horse, at the making of her hangings for our
chamber and the bed. So to supper and to bed.
13th. At the office all the morning, where my Lord Bruncker
moved to have something wrote in my matter as I desired him
last night, and it was ordered and will be done next sitting. Home
with his Lordship to Mrs. Williams’s, in Covent-Garden, to din-
ner (the first time I ever was there), and there met Captain Cocke;
and pretty merry, though not perfectly so, because of the fear that
there is of a great encrease again of the plague this week. And
again my Lord Bruncker do tell us, that he hath it from Sir John
Baber; who is related to my Lord Craven, that my Lord Craven
do look after Sir G. Carteret’s place, and do reckon himself sure of
it. After dinner Cocke and I together by coach to the Exchange, in
our way talking of our matters, and do conclude that every thing
must breake in pieces, while no better counsels govern matters
than there seem to do, and that it will become him and I and all
men to get their reckonings even, as soon as they can, and expect
all to breake. Besides, if the plague continues among us another
yeare, the Lord knows what will become of us. I set him down at
the ‘Change, and I home to my office, where late writing letters
and doing business, and thence home to supper and to bed. My
head full of cares, but pleased with my wife’s minding her worke
so well, and busying herself about her house, and I trust in God
if I can but clear myself of my Lord Sandwich’s bond, wherein I
am bound with him for £1000 to T. Pepys, I shall do pretty well,
come what will come.
14th (Lord’s day). Long in bed, till raised by my new taylor,
1793
JANUARY 1665-1666
Mr. Penny, [who comes and brings me my new velvet coat, very
handsome, but plain, and a day hence will bring me my camelott
cloak.] He gone I close to my papers and to set all in order and to
perform my vow to finish my journall and other things before I
kiss any woman more or drink any wine, which I must be forced
to do to-morrow if I go to Greenwich as I am invited by Mr. Bore-
man to hear Mrs. Knipp sing, and I would be glad to go, so as
we may be merry. At noon eat the second of the two cygnets
Mr. Shepley sent us for a new-year’s gift, and presently to my
chamber again and so to work hard all day about my Tangier ac-
counts, which I am going again to make up, as also upon writing
a letter to my father about Pall, whom it is time now I find to
think of disposing of while God Almighty hath given me some-
thing to give with her, and in my letter to my father I do offer
to give her £450 to make her own £50 given her by my uncle up
£500. I do also therein propose Mr. Harman the upholster for a
husband for her, to whom I have a great love and did heretofore
love his former wife, and a civil man he is and careful in his way,
beside, I like his trade and place he lives in, being Cornhill. Thus
late at work, and so to supper and to bed. This afternoon, after
sermon, comes my dear fair beauty of the Exchange, Mrs. Bate-
lier, brought by her sister, an acquaintance of Mercer’s, to see my
wife. I saluted her with as much pleasure as I had done any a
great while. We sat and talked together an houre, with infinite
pleasure to me, and so the fair creature went away, and proves
one of the modestest women, and pretty, that ever I saw in my
life, and my [wife] judges her so too.
15th. Busy all the morning in my chamber in my old cloth suit,
while my usuall one is to my taylor’s to mend, which I had at
noon again, and an answer to a letter I had sent this morning
to Mrs. Pierce to go along with my wife and I down to Green-
wich to-night upon an invitation to Mr. Boreman’s to be merry
to dance and sing with Mrs. Knipp. Being dressed, and hav-
ing dined, I took coach and to Mrs. Pierce, to her new house in
Covent-Garden, a very fine place and fine house. Took her thence
1794
JANUARY 1665-1666
home to my house, and so by water to Boreman’s by night, where
the greatest disappointment that ever I saw in my life, much com-
pany, a good supper provided, and all come with expectation
of excesse of mirthe, but all blank through the waywardnesse of
Mrs. Knipp, who, though she had appointed the night, could not
be got to come. Not so much as her husband could get her to
come; but, which was a pleasant thing in all my anger, I asking
him, while we were in expectation what answer one of our many
messengers would bring, what he thought, whether she would
come or no, he answered that, for his part, he could not so much
as thinke. By and by we all to supper, which the silly master of
the feast commended, but, what with my being out of humour,
and the badnesse of the meate dressed, I did never eat a worse
supper in my life. At last, very late, and supper done, she came
undressed, but it brought me no mirthe at all; only, after all being
done, without singing, or very little, and no dancing, Pierce and
I to bed together, and he and I very merry to find how little and
thin clothes they give us to cover us, so that we were fain to lie
in our stockings and drawers, and lay all our coates and clothes
upon the bed. So to sleep.
16th. Up, and leaving the women in bed together (a pretty
black and white) I to London to the office, and there forgot,
through business, to bespeake any dinner for my wife and Mrs.
Pierce. However, by noon they come, and a dinner we had, and
Kate Joyce comes to see us, with whom very merry. After din-
ner she and I up to my chamber, who told me her business was
chiefly for my advice about her husband’s leaving off his trade,
which though I wish enough, yet I did advise against, for he is a
man will not know how to live idle, and employment he is fit for
none. Thence anon carried her and Mrs. Pierce home, and so to
the Duke of Albemarle, and mighty kind he to me still. So home
late at my letters, and so to bed, being mightily troubled at the
newes of the plague’s being encreased, and was much the sad-
dest news that the plague hath brought me from the beginning
of it; because of the lateness of the year, and the fear, we may
1795
JANUARY 1665-1666
with reason have, of its continuing with us the next summer. The
total being now 375, and the plague 158.
17th. Busy all the morning, settling things against my going
out of towne this night. After dinner, late took horse, having sent
for Lashmore to go with me, and so he and I rode to Dagenhams
in the dark. There find the whole family well. It was my Lord
Crew’s desire that I should come, and chiefly to discourse with
me of Lord Sandwich’s matters; and therein to persuade, what I
had done already, that my Lord should sue out a pardon for his
business of the prizes, as also for Bergen, and all he hath done this
year past, before he begins his Embassy to Spayne. For it is to be
feared that the Parliament will fly out against him and particular
men, the next Session. He is glad also that my Lord is clear of
his sea-imployment, though sorry as I am, only in the manner of
its bringing about. By and by to supper, my Lady Wright very
kind. After supper up to wait on my Lady Crew, who is the same
weake silly lady as ever, asking such saintly questions. Down
to my Lord again and sat talking an houre or two, and anon to
prayers the whole family, and then all to bed, I handsomely used,
lying in the chamber Mr. Carteret formerly did, but sat up an
houre talking sillily with Mr. Carteret and Mr. Marre, and so to
bed.
18th. Up before day and thence rode to London before office
time, where I met a note at the doore to invite me to supper
to Mrs. Pierces because of Mrs. Knipp, who is in towne and
at her house: To the office, where, among other things, vexed
with Major Norwood’s coming, who takes it ill my not paying
a bill of Exchange of his, but I have good reason for it, and so
the less troubled, but yet troubled, so as at noon being carried
by my Lord Bruncker to Captain Cocke’s to dinner, where Mrs.
Williams was, and Mrs. Knipp, I was not heartily merry, though
a glasse of wine did a little cheer me. After dinner to the office.
Anon comes to me thither my Lord Bruncker, Mrs. Williams, and
Knipp. I brought down my wife in her night-gowne, she not be-
1796
JANUARY 1665-1666
ing indeed very well, to the office to them and there by and by
they parted all and my wife and I anon and Mercer, by coach,
to Pierces; where mighty merry, and sing and dance with great
pleasure; and I danced, who never did in company in my life,
and Captain Cocke come for a little while and danced, but went
away, but we staid and had a pretty supper, and spent till two
in the morning, but got home well by coach, though as dark as
pitch, and so to bed.
19th. Up and ready, called on by Mr. Moone, my Lord Bel-
lases’ secretary, who and I good friends though I have failed
him in some payments. Thence with Sir J. Minnes to the Duke
of Albemarle’s, and carried all well, and met Norwood but pre-
vented him in desiring a meeting of the Commissioners for Tang-
ier. Thence to look for Sir H. [Cholmly], but he not within, he
coming to town last night. It is a remarkable thing how infinitely
naked all that end of the towne, Covent-Garden, is at this day of
people; while the City is almost as full again of people as ever
it was. To the ‘Change and so home to dinner and the office,
whither anon comes Sir H. Cholmley to me, and he and I to my
house, there to settle his accounts with me, and so with great
pleasure we agreed and great friends become, I think, and he pre-
sented me upon the foot of our accounts for this year’s service for
him £100, whereof Povy must have half. Thence to the office and
wrote a letter to Norwood to satisfy him about my nonpayment
of his bill, for that do still stick in my mind. So at night home to
supper and to bed.
20th. To the office, where upon Mr. Kinaston’s coming to me
about some business of Colonell Norwood’s, I sent my boy home
for some papers, where, he staying longer than I would have
him, and being vexed at the business and to be kept from my fel-
lows in the office longer than was fit, I become angry, and boxed
my boy when he came, that I do hurt my thumb so much, that I
was not able to stir all the day after, and in great pain. At noon
to dinner, and then to the office again, late, and so to supper and
1797
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to bed.
21st (Lord’s day). Lay almost till noon merrily and with plea-
sure talking with my wife in bed. Then up looking about my
house, and the roome which my wife is dressing up, having new
hung our bedchamber with blue, very handsome. After dinner
to my Tangier accounts and there stated them against to-morrow
very distinctly for the Lords to see who meet tomorrow, and so
to supper and to bed.
22nd. Up, and set my people to work in copying Tangier ac-
counts, and I down the river to Greenwich to the office to fetch
away some papers and thence to Deptford, where by agreement
my Lord Bruncker was to come, but staid almost till noon, after
I had spent an houre with W. Howe talking of my Lord Sand-
wich’s matters and his folly in minding his pleasures too much
now-a-days, and permitting himself to be governed by Cuttance
to the displeasing of all the Commanders almost of the fleete, and
thence we may conceive indeed the rise of all my Lord’s misfor-
tunes of late. At noon my Lord Bruncker did come, but left the
keys of the chests we should open, at Sir G. Carteret’s lodgings, of
my Lord Sandwich’s, wherein Howe’s supposed jewells are; so
we could not, according to my Lord Arlington’s order, see them
today; but we parted, resolving to meet here at night: my Lord
Bruncker being going with Dr. Wilkins, Mr. Hooke, and oth-
ers, to Colonell Blunts, to consider again of the business of char-
riots, and to try their new invention. Which I saw here my Lord
Bruncker ride in; where the coachman sits astride upon a pole
over the horse, but do not touch the horse, which is a pretty odde
thing; but it seems it is most easy for the horse, and, as they say,
for the man also. Thence I with speede by water home and eat a
bit, and took my accounts and to the Duke of Albemarle, where
for all I feared of Norwood he was very civill, and Sir Thomas In-
gram beyond expectation, I giving them all content and I thereby
settled mightily in my mind, for I was weary of the employment,
and had had thoughts of giving it over. I did also give a good
1798
JANUARY 1665-1666
step in a business of Mr. Hubland’s, about getting a ship of his to
go to Tangier, which during this strict embargo is a great matter,
and I shall have a good reward for it, I hope. Thence by water
in the darke down to Deptford, and there find my Lord Bruncker
come and gone, having staid long for me. I back presently to the
Crowne taverne behind the Exchange by appointment, and there
met the first meeting of Gresham College since the plague. Dr.
Goddard did fill us with talke, in defence of his and his fellow
physicians going out of towne in the plague-time; saying that
their particular patients were most gone out of towne, and they
left at liberty; and a great deal more, &c. But what, among other
fine discourse pleased me most, was Sir G. Ent about Respiration;
that it is not to this day known, or concluded on among physi-
cians, nor to be done either, how the action is managed by nature,
or for what use it is. Here late till poor Dr. Merriot was drunk,
and so all home, and I to bed.
23rd. Up and to the office and then to dinner. After dinner
to the office again all the afternoon, and much business with me.
Good newes beyond all expectation of the decrease of the plague,
being now but 79, and the whole but 272. So home with comfort
to bed. A most furious storme all night and morning.
24th. By agreement my Lord Bruncker called me up, and
though it was a very foule, windy, and rainy morning, yet down
to the waterside we went, but no boat could go, the storme con-
tinued so. So my Lord to stay till fairer weather carried me into
the Tower to Mr. Hore’s and there we staid talking an houre, but
at last we found no boats yet could go, so we to the office, where
we met upon an occasion extraordinary of examining abuses of
our clerkes in taking money for examining of tickets, but noth-
ing done in it. Thence my Lord and I, the weather being a little
fairer, by water to Deptford to Sir G. Carteret’s house, where W.
Howe met us, and there we opened the chests, and saw the poor
sorry rubys which have caused all this ado to the undoing of W.
Howe; though I am not much sorry for it, because of his pride
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JANUARY 1665-1666
and ill nature. About 200 of these very small stones, and a cod of
muske (which it is strange I was not able to smell) is all we could
find; so locked them up again, and my Lord and I, the wind be-
ing again very furious, so as we durst not go by water, walked to
London quite round the bridge, no boat being able to stirre; and,
Lord! what a dirty walk we had, and so strong the wind, that
in the fields we many times could not carry our bodies against
it, but were driven backwards. We went through Horsydowne,
where I never was since a little boy, that I went to enquire after
my father, whom we did give over for lost coming from Hol-
land. It was dangerous to walk the streets, the bricks and tiles
falling from the houses that the whole streets were covered with
them; and whole chimneys, nay, whole houses in two or three
places, blowed down. But, above all, the pales on London-bridge
on both sides were blown away, so that we were fain to stoop
very low for fear of blowing off of the bridge. We could see no
boats in the Thames afloat, but what were broke loose, and car-
ried through the bridge, it being ebbing water. And the greatest
sight of all was, among other parcels of ships driven here and
there in clusters together, one was quite overset and lay with her
masts all along in the water, and keel above water. So walked
home, my Lord away to his house and I to dinner, Mr. Creed be-
ing come to towne and to dine with me, though now it was three
o’clock. After dinner he and I to our accounts and very trouble-
some he is and with tricks which I found plainly and was vexed
at; while we were together comes Sir G. Downing with Colonell
Norwood, Rumball, and Warrupp to visit me. I made them drink
good wine and discoursed above alone a good while with Sir G.
Downing, who is very troublesome, and then with Colonell Nor-
wood, who hath a great mind to have me concerned with him in
everything; which I like, but am shy of adventuring too much,
but will thinke of it. They gone, Creed and I to finish the set-
tling his accounts. Thence to the office, where the Houblans and
we discoursed upon a rubb which we have for one of the ships
I hoped to have got to go out to Tangier for them. They being
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JANUARY 1665-1666
gone, I to my office-business late, and then home to supper and
even sacke for lacke of a little wine, which I was forced to drink
against my oathe, but without pleasure.
25th. Up and to the office, at noon home to dinner. So abroad
to the Duke of Albemarle and Kate Joyce’s and her husband, with
whom I talked a great deale about Pall’s business, and told them
what portion I would give her, and they do mightily like of it and
will proceed further in speaking with Harman, who hath already
been spoke to about it, as from them only, and he is mighty glad
of it, but doubts it may be an offence to me, if I should know of it,
so thinks that it do come only from Joyce, which I like the better.
So I do believe the business will go on, and I desire it were over. I
to the office then, where I did much business, and set my people
to work against furnishing me to go to Hampton Court, where
the King and Duke will be on Sunday next. It is now certain
that the King of France hath publickly declared war against us,
and God knows how little fit we are for it. At night comes Sir
W. Warren, and he and I into the garden, and talked over all our
businesses. He gives me good advice not to embarke into trade
(as I have had it in my thoughts about Colonell Norwood) so as
to be seen to mind it, for it will do me hurte, and draw my mind
off from my business and embroile my estate too soon. So to the
office business, and I find him as cunning a man in all points
as ever I met with in my life and mighty merry we were in the
discourse of our owne trickes. So about to o’clock at night I home
and staid with him there settling my Tangier-Boates business and
talking and laughing at the folly of some of our neighbours of this
office till two in the morning and so to bed.
26th. Up, and pleased mightily with what my poor wife hath
been doing these eight or ten days with her owne hands, like a
drudge in fitting the new hangings of our bed-chamber of blue,
and putting the old red ones into my dressing-room, and so by
coach to White Hall, where I had just now notice that Sir G.
Carteret is come to towne. He seems pleased, but I perceive he
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JANUARY 1665-1666
is heartily troubled at this Act, and the report of his losing his
place, and more at my not writing to him to the prejudice of the
Act. But I carry all fair to him and he to me. He bemoans the
Kingdom as in a sad state, and with too much reason I doubt,
having so many enemys about us and no friends abroad, nor
money nor love at home. Thence to the Duke of Albemarle, and
there a meeting with all the officers of the Navy, where, Lord! to
see how the Duke of Albemarle flatters himself with false hopes
of money and victuals and all without reason. Then comes the
Committee of Tangier to sit, and I there carry all before me very
well. Thence with Sir J. Bankes and Mr. Gawden to the ‘Change,
they both very wise men. After ‘Change and agreeing with Hou-
blon about our ships, D. Gawden and I to the Pope’s Head and
there dined and little Chaplin (who a rich man grown). He gone
after dinner, D. Gawden and I to talke of the Victualling business
of the Navy in what posture it is, which is very sad also for want
of money. Thence home to my chamber by oathe to finish my
Journall. Here W. Hewer came to me with £320 from Sir W. War-
ren, whereof £220 is got clearly by a late business of insurance of
the Gottenburg ships, and the other £100 which was due and he
had promised me before to give me to my very extraordinary joy,
for which I ought and do bless God and so to my office, where
late providing a letter to send to Mr. Gawden in a manner we
concluded on to-day, and so to bed.
27th. Up very betimes to finish my letter and writ it fair to Mr.
Gawden, it being to demand several arrears in the present state
of the victualling, partly to the King’s and partly to give him oc-
casion to say something relating to the want of money on his own
behalf. This done I to the office, where all the morning. At noon
after a bit of dinner back to the office and there fitting myself in
all points to give an account to the Duke and Mr. Coventry in
all things, and in my Tangier business, till three o’clock in the
morning, and so to bed,
28th. And up again about six (Lord’s day), and being dressed
1802
JANUARY 1665-1666
in my velvett coate and plain cravatte took a hackney coach
provided ready for me by eight o’clock, and so to my Lord
Bruncker’s with all my papers, and there took his coach with four
horses and away toward Hampton Court, having a great deale of
good discourse with him, particularly about his coming to lie at
the office, when I went further in inviting him to than I intended,
having not yet considered whether it will be convenient for me
or no to have him here so near us, and then of getting Mr. Evelyn
or Sir Robert Murray into the Navy in the room of Sir Thomas
Harvey. At Brainford I ‘light, having need to shit, and went into
an Inne doore that stood open, found the house of office and used
it, but saw no people, only after I was in the house, heard a great
dogg barke, and so was afeard how I should get safe back again,
and therefore drew my sword and scabbard out of my belt to
have ready in my hand, but did not need to use it, but got safe
into the coach again, but lost my belt by the shift, not missing it
till I come to Hampton Court. At the Wicke found Sir J. Minnes
and Sir W. Batten at a lodging provided for us by our messen-
ger, and there a good dinner ready. After dinner took coach and
to Court, where we find the King, and Duke, and Lords, all in
council; so we walked up and down: there being none of the
ladies come, and so much the more business I hope will be done.
The Council being up, out comes the King, and I kissed his hand,
and he grasped me very kindly by the hand. The Duke also, I
kissed his, and he mighty kind, and Sir W. Coventry. I found my
Lord Sandwich there, poor man! I see with a melancholy face,
and suffers his beard to grow on his upper lip more than usual. I
took him a little aside to know when I should wait on him, and
where: he told me, and that it would be best to meet at his lodg-
ings, without being seen to walk together. Which I liked very
well; and, Lord! to see in what difficulty I stand, that I dare not
walk with Sir W. Coventry, for fear my Lord or Sir G. Carteret
should see me; nor with either of them, for fear Sir W. Coventry
should. After changing a few words with Sir W. Coventry, who
assures me of his respect and love to me, and his concernment for
1803
JANUARY 1665-1666
my health in all this sickness, I went down into one of the Courts,
and there met the King and Duke; and the Duke called me to him.
And the King come to me of himself, and told me, “Mr. Pepys,”
says he, “I do give you thanks for your good service all this year,
and I assure you I am very sensible of it.” And the Duke of Yorke
did tell me with pleasure, that he had read over my discourse
about pursers, and would have it ordered in my way, and so fell
from one discourse to another. I walked with them quite out of
the Court into the fields, and then back to my Lord Sandwich’s
chamber, where I find him very melancholy and not well satis-
fied, I perceive, with my carriage to Sir G. Carteret, but I did
satisfy him and made him confess to me, that I have a very hard
game to play; and told me he was sorry to see it, and the incon-
veniences which likely may fall upon me with him; but, for all
that, I am not much afeard, if I can but keepe out of harm’s way
in not being found too much concerned in my Lord’s or Sir G.
Carteret’s matters, and that I will not be if I can helpe it. He hath
got over his business of the prizes, so far as to have a privy seale
passed for all that was in his distribution to the officers, which I
am heartily glad of; and, for the rest, he must be answerable for
what he is proved to have. But for his pardon for anything else,
he thinks it not seasonable to aske it, and not usefull to him; be-
cause that will not stop a Parliament’s mouth, and for the King,
he is sure enough of him. I did aske him whether he was sure
of the interest and friendship of any great Ministers of State and
he told me, yes. As we were going further, in comes my Lord
Mandeville, so we were forced to breake off and I away, and to
Sir W. Coventry’s chamber, where he not come in but I find Sir W.
Pen, and he and I to discourse. I find him very much out of hu-
mour, so that I do not think matters go very well with him, and I
am glad of it. He and I staying till late, and Sir W. Coventry not
coming in (being shut up close all the afternoon with the Duke
of Albemarle), we took boat, and by water to Kingston, and so to
our lodgings, where a good supper and merry, only I sleepy, and
therefore after supper I slunk away from the rest to bed, and lay
1804
JANUARY 1665-1666
very well and slept soundly, my mind being in a great delirium
between joy for what the King and Duke have said to me and Sir
W. Coventry, and trouble for my Lord Sandwich’s concernments,
and how hard it will be for me to preserve myself from feeling
thereof.
29th. Up, and to Court by coach, where to Council before the
Duke of Yorke, the Duke of Albemarle with us, and after Sir W.
Coventry had gone over his notes that he had provided with the
Duke of Albemarle, I went over all mine with good successe, only
I fear I did once offend the Duke of Albemarle, but I was much
joyed to find the Duke of Yorke so much contending for my dis-
course about the pursers against Sir W. Pen, who opposes it like a
foole; my Lord Sandwich come in in the middle of the business,
and, poor man, very melancholy, methought, and said little at
all, or to the business, and sat at the lower end, just as he come,
no roome being made for him, only I did give him my stoole,
and another was reached me. After council done, I walked to
and again up and down the house, discoursing with this and
that man. Among others tooke occasion to thanke the Duke of
Yorke for his good opinion in general of my service, and particu-
larly his favour in conferring on me the Victualling business. He
told me that he knew nobody so fit as I for it, and next, he was
very glad to find that to give me for my encouragement, speak-
ing very kindly of me. So to Sir W. Coventry’s to dinner with
him, whom I took occasion to thanke for his favour and good
thoughts of what little service I did, desiring he would do the last
act of friendship in telling me of my faults also. He told me he
would be sure he would do that also, if there were any occasion
for it. So that as much as it is possible under so great a fall of my
Lord Sandwich’s, and difference between them, I may conclude
that I am thoroughly right with Sir W. Coventry. I dined with
him with a great deale of company, and much merry discourse. I
was called away before dinner ended to go to my company who
dined at our lodgings. Thither I went with Mr. Evelyn (whom I
met) in his coach going that way, but finding my company gone,
1805
JANUARY 1665-1666
but my Lord Bruncker left his coach for me; so Mr. Evelyn and I
into my Lord’s coach, and rode together with excellent discourse
till we come to Clapham, talking of the vanity and vices of the
Court, which makes it a most contemptible thing; and indeed in
all his discourse I find him a most worthy person. Particularly
he entertained me with discourse of an Infirmary, which he hath
projected for the sick and wounded seamen against the next year,
which I mightily approve of; and will endeavour to promote it,
being a worthy thing, and of use, and will save money. He set me
down at Mr. Gawden’s, where nobody yet come home, I having
left him and his sons and Creed at Court, so I took a book and
into the gardens, and there walked and read till darke with great
pleasure, and then in and in comes Osborne, and he and I to talk
of Mr. Jaggard, who comes from London, and great hopes there is
of a decrease this week also of the plague. Anon comes in Creed,
and after that Mr. Gawden and his sons, and then they bringing
in three ladies, who were in the house, but I do not know them,
his daughter and two nieces, daughters of Dr. Whistler’s, with
whom and Creed mighty sport at supper, the ladies very pretty
and mirthfull. I perceive they know Creed’s gut and stomach as
well as I, and made as much mirthe as I with it at supper. After
supper I made the ladies sing, and they have been taught, but,
Lord! though I was forced to commend them, yet it was the sad-
dest stuff I ever heard. However, we sat up late, and then I, in
the best chamber like a prince, to bed, and Creed with me, and
being sleepy talked but little.
30th. Lay long till Mr. Gawden was gone out being to take
a little journey. Up, and Creed and I some good discourse, but
with some trouble for the state of my Lord’s matters. After walk-
ing a turne or two in the garden, and bid good morrow to Mr.
Gawden’s sons, and sent my service to the ladies, I took coach
after Mr. Gawden’s, and home, finding the towne keeping the
day solemnly, it being the day of the King’s murther, and they
being at church, I presently into the church, thinking to see Mrs.
Lethulier or Batelier, but did not, and a dull sermon of our young
1806
JANUARY 1665-1666
Lecturer, too bad. This is the first time I have been in this church
since I left London for the plague, and it frighted me indeed to
go through the church more than I thought it could have done,
to see so [many] graves lie so high upon the churchyards where
people have been buried of the plague. I was much troubled
at it, and do not think to go through it again a good while. So
home to my wife, whom I find not well, in bed, and it seems hath
not been well these two days. She rose and we to dinner, after
dinner up to my chamber, where she entertained me with what
she hath lately bought of clothes for herself, and Damask linnen,
and other things for the house. I did give her a serious account
how matters stand with me, of favour with the King and Duke,
and of danger in reference to my Lord’s and Sir G. Carteret’s
falls, and the dissatisfaction I have heard the Duke of Albemarle
hath acknowledged to somebody, among other things, against
my Lord Sandwich, that he did bring me into the Navy against
his desire and endeavour for another, which was our doting foole
Turner. Thence from one discourse to another, and looking over
my house, and other things I spent the day at home, and at night
betimes to bed. After dinner this day I went down by water to
Deptford, and fetched up what money there was of W. Howe’s
contingencies in the chest there, being £516 13s. 3d. and brought
it home to dispose of.
31st. Lay pretty long in bed, and then up and to the office,
where we met on extraordinary occasion about the business of
tickets. By and by to the ‘Change, and there did several busi-
nesses, among others brought home my cozen Pepys, whom I
appointed to be here to-day, and Mr. Moore met us upon the
business of my Lord’s bond. Seeing my neighbour Mr. Knightly
walk alone from the ‘Change, his family being not yet come to
town, I did invite him home with me, and he dined with me, a
very sober, pretty man he is. He is mighty solicitous, as I find
many about the City that live near the churchyards, to have the
churchyards covered with lime, and I think it is needfull, and
ours I hope will be done. Good pleasant discourse at dinner of
1807
JANUARY 1665-1666
the practices of merchants to cheate the “Customers,” occasioned
by Mr. Moore’s being with much trouble freed of his prize goods,
which he bought, which fell into the Customers’ hands, and with
much ado hath cleared them. Mr. Knightly being gone, my cozen
Pepys and Moore and I to our business, being the clearing of
my Lord Sandwich’s bond wherein I am bound with him to my
cozen for £1000 I have at last by my dexterity got my Lord’s con-
sent to have it paid out of the money raised by his prizes. So the
bond is cancelled, and he paid by having a note upon Sir Robert
Viner, in whose hands I had lodged my Lord’s money, by which
I am to my extraordinary comfort eased of a liablenesse to pay
the sum in case of my Lord’s death, or troubles in estate, or my
Lord’s greater fall, which God defend! Having settled this mat-
ter at Sir R. Viner’s, I took up Mr. Moore (my cozen going home)
and to my Lord Chancellor’s new house which he is building,
only to view it, hearing so much from Mr. Evelyn of it; and, in-
deed, it is the finest pile I ever did see in my life, and will be a
glorious house. Thence to the Duke of Albemarle, who tells me
Mr. Coventry is come to town and directs me to go to him about
some business in hand, whether out of displeasure or desire of
ease I know not; but I asked him not the reason of it but went to
White Hall, but could not find him there, though to my great joy
people begin to bustle up and down there, the King holding his
resolution to be in towne to-morrow, and hath good encourage-
ment, blessed be God! to do so, the plague being decreased this
week to 56, and the total to 227. So after going to the Swan in
the Palace, and sent for Spicer to discourse about my last Tangier
tallys that have some of the words washed out with the rain, to
have them new writ, I home, and there did some business and at
the office, and so home to supper, and to bed.
1808
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
February 1st. Up and to the office, where all the morning till
late, and Mr. Coventry with us, the first time since before the
plague, then hearing my wife was gone abroad to buy things and
see her mother and father, whom she hath not seen since before
the plague, and no dinner provided for me ready, I walked to
Captain Cocke’s, knowing my Lord Bruncker dined there, and
there very merry, and a good dinner. Thence my Lord and his
mistresse, Madam Williams, set me down at the Exchange, and I
to Alderman Backewell’s to set all my reckonings straight there,
which I did, and took up all my notes. So evened to this day, and
thence to Sir Robert Viner’s, where I did the like, leaving clear in
his hands just £2000 of my owne money, to be called for when I
pleased. Having done all this I home, and there to the office, did
my business there by the post and so home, and spent till one in
the morning in my chamber to set right all my money matters,
and so to bed.
2nd. Up betimes, and knowing that my Lord Sandwich is
come to towne with the King and Duke, I to wait upon him,
which I did, and find him in very good humour, which I am
glad to see with all my heart. Having received his commands,
and discoursed with some of his people about my Lord’s going,
and with Sir Roger Cuttance, who was there, and finds himself
1809
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
slighted by Sir W. Coventry, I advised him however to look af-
ter employment lest it should be said that my Lord’s friends do
forsake the service after he hath made them rich with the prizes.
I to London, and there among other things did look over some
pictures at Cade’s for my house, and did carry home a silver
drudger538 for my cupboard of plate, and did call for my silver
chafing dishes, but they are sent home, and the man would not
be paid for them, saying that he was paid for them already, and
with much ado got him to tell me by Mr. Wayth, but I would
not accept of that, but will send him his money, not knowing any
courtesy I have yet done him to deserve it. So home, and with
my wife looked over our plate, and picked out £40 worth, I be-
lieve, to change for more usefull plate, to our great content, and
then we shall have a very handsome cupboard of plate. So to
dinner, and then to the office, where we had a meeting extraordi-
nary, about stating to the Duke the present debts of the Navy, for
which ready money must be had, and that being done, I to my
business, where late, and then home to supper, and to bed.
3rd. Up, and to the office very busy till 3 o’clock, and then
home, all of us, for half an hour to dinner, and to it again till eight
at night, stating our wants of money for the Duke, but could not
finish it. So broke up, and I to my office, then about letters and
538 The dredger was probably the drageoir of France; in low Latin,
dragerium, or drageria, in which comfits (dragdes) were kept. Roquefort
says, “The ladies wore a little spice-box, in shape like a watch, to carry
dragles, and it was called a drageoir.” The custom continued certainly till
the middle of the last century. Old Palsgrave, in his “Eclaircissement de
la Langue Francaise,” gives “dradge” as spice, rendering it by the French
word dragde. Chaucer says, of his Doctor of Physic, “Full ready hadde he
his Apothecaries To send him dragges, and his lattuaries.” The word some-
times may have signified the pounded condiments in which our forefathers
delighted. It is worth notice, that “dragge” was applied to a grain in the east-
ern counties, though not exclusively there, appearing to denote mixed grain.
Bishop Kennett tells us that “dredge mault is mault made up of oats, mixed
with barley, of which they make an excellent, freshe, quiete sort of drinke, in
Staffordshire.” The dredger is still commonly used in our kitchen.–B.
1810
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
other businesses very late, and so home to supper, weary with
business, and to bed.
4th. Lord’s day; and my wife and I the first time together at
church since the plague, and now only because of Mr. Mills his
coming home to preach his first sermon; expecting a great ex-
cuse for his leaving the parish before any body went, and now
staying till all are come home; but he made but a very poor and
short excuse, and a bad sermon. It was a frost, and had snowed
last night, which covered the graves in the churchyard, so as I
was the less afeard for going through. Here I had the content to
see my noble Mrs. Lethulier, and so home to dinner, and all the
afternoon at my Journall till supper, it being a long while behind-
hand. At supper my wife tells me that W. Joyce has been with her
this evening, the first time since the plague, and tells her my aunt
James is lately dead of the stone, and what she had hath given to
his and his brother’s wife and my cozen Sarah. So after supper
to work again, and late to bed.
5th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten (at whose lodgings calling for
him, I saw his Lady the first time since her coming to towne since
the plague, having absented myself designedly to shew some dis-
content, and that I am not at all the more suppliant because of my
Lord Sandwich’s fall), to my Lord Bruncker’s, to see whether he
goes to the Duke’s this morning or no. But it is put off, and so
we parted. My Lord invited me to dinner to-day to dine with
Sir W. Batten and his Lady there, who were invited before, but
lest he should thinke so little an invitation would serve my turne
I refused and parted, and to Westminster about business, and so
back to the ‘Change, and there met Mr. Hill, newly come to town,
and with him the Houblands, preparing for their ship’s and his
going to Tangier, and agreed that I must sup with them to-night.
So home and eat a bit, and then to White Hall to a Committee
for Tangier, but it did not meet but was put off to to-morrow, so
I did some little business and visited my Lord Sandwich, and so,
it raining, went directly to the Sun, behind the Exchange, about
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FEBRUARY 1665-1666
seven o’clock, where I find all the five brothers Houblons, and
mighty fine gentlemen they are all, and used me mighty respect-
fully. We were mighty civilly merry, and their discourses, having
been all abroad, very fine. Here late and at last accompanied
home with Mr. J. Houblon and Hill, whom I invited to sup with
me on Friday, and so parted and I home to bed.
6th. Up, and to the office, where very busy all the morning.
We met upon a report to the Duke of Yorke of the debts of the
Navy, which we finished by three o’clock, and having eat one
little bit of meate, I by water before the rest to White Hall (and
they to come after me) because of a Committee for Tangier, where
I did my business of stating my accounts perfectly well, and to
good liking, and do not discern, but the Duke of Albemarle is my
friend in his intentions notwithstanding my general fears. After
that to our Navy business, where my fellow officers were called
in, and did that also very well, and then broke up, and I home by
coach, Tooker with me, and staid in Lumbard Streete at Viner’s,
and sent home for the plate which my wife and I had a mind to
change, and there changed it, about £50 worth, into things more
usefull, whereby we shall now have a very handsome cupboard
of plate. So home to the office, wrote my letters by the post, and
to bed.
7th. It being fast day I staid at home all day long to set things
to rights in my chamber by taking out all my books, and putting
my chamber in the same condition it was before the plague. But
in the morning doing of it, and knocking up a nail I did bruise my
left thumb so as broke a great deal of my flesh off, that it hung by
a little. It was a sight frighted my wife, but I put some balsam of
Mrs. Turner’s to it, and though in great pain, yet went on with
my business, and did it to my full content, setting every thing
in order, in hopes now that the worst of our fears are over as to
the plague for the next year. Interrupted I was by two or three
occasions this day to my great vexation, having this the only day
I have been able to set apart for this work since my coming to
1812
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
town. At night to supper, weary, and to bed, having had the
plasterers and joiners also to do some jobbs.
8th. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon to the
‘Change, expecting to have received from Mr. Houbland, as
he promised me, an assignment upon Viner, for my reward for
my getting them the going of their two ships to Tangier, but I
find myself much disappointed therein, for I spoke with him
and he said nothing of it, but looked coldly, through some dis-
turbance he meets with in our business through Colonell Nor-
wood’s pressing them to carry more goods than will leave room
for some of their own. But I shall ease them. Thence to Cap-
tain Cocke’s, where Mr. Williamson, Wren, Boldell and Madam
Williams, and by and by Lord Bruncker, he having been with the
King and Duke upon the water to-day, to see Greenwich house,
and the yacht Castle is building of, and much good discourse. So
to White Hall to see my Lord Sandwich, and then home to my
business till night, and then to bed.
9th. Up, and betimes to Sir Philip Warwicke, who was glad to
see me, and very kind. Thence to Colonell Norwood’s lodgings,
and there set about Houblons’ business about their ships. Thence
to Westminster, to the Exchequer, about my Tangier business to
get orders for tallys, and so to the Hall, where the first day of the
Terme, and the Hall very full of people, and much more than was
expected, considering the plague that hath been. Thence to the
‘Change, and to the Sun behind it to dinner with the Lieutenant
of the Tower, Colonell Norwood and others, where strange plea-
sure they seem to take in their wine and meate, and discourse
of it with the curiosity and joy that methinks was below men
of worthe. Thence home, and there very much angry with my
people till I had put all things in good forwardnesse about my
supper for the Houblons, but that being done I was in good hu-
mour again, and all things in good order. Anon the five brothers
Houblons come and Mr. Hill, and a very good supper we had,
and good company and discourse, with great pleasure. My new
1813
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
plate sets off my cupboard very nobly. Here they were till about
eleven at night with great pleasure, and a fine sight it is to see
these five brothers thus loving one to another, and all industri-
ous merchants. Our subject was principally Mr. Hill’s going for
them to Portugall, which was the occasion of this entertainment.
They gone, we to bed.
10th. Up, and to the office. At noon, full of business, to dinner.
This day comes first Sir Thomas Harvy after the plague, having
been out of towne all this while. He was coldly received by us,
and he went away before we rose also, to make himself appear
yet a man less necessary. After dinner, being full of care and mul-
titude of business, I took coach and my wife with me. I set her
down at her mother’s (having first called at my Lord Treasurer’s
and there spoke with Sir Ph. Warwicke), and I to the Exchequer
about Tangier orders, and so to the Swan and there staid a little,
and so by coach took up my wife, and at the old Exchange bought
a muffe, and so home and late at my letters, and so to supper and
to bed, being now-a-days, for these four or five months, might-
ily troubled with my snoring in my sleep, and know not how to
remedy it.
11th (Lord’s day). Up, and put on a new black cloth suit to
an old coate that I make to be in mourning at Court, where they
are all, for the King of Spayne.–[Philip IV., who died September
17th, 1665.]–To church I, and at noon dined well, and then by
water to White Hall, carrying a captain of the Tower (who de-
sired his freight thither); there I to the Parke, and walked two or
three turns of the Pell Mell with the company about the King
and Duke; the Duke speaking to me a good deal. There met
Lord Bruncker and Mr. Coventry, and discoursed about the Navy
business; and all of us much at a loss that we yet can hear noth-
ing of Sir Jeremy Smith’s fleete, that went away to the Streights
the middle of December, through all the storms that we have
had since, that have driven back three or four of them with their
masts by the board. Yesterday come out the King’s Declaration
1814
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
of War against the French, but with such mild invitations of both
them and the Dutch to come over hither with promise of their
protection, that every body wonders at it. Thence home with my
Lord Bruncker for discourse sake, and thence by hackney coach
home, and so my wife and I mighty pleasant discourse, supped
and to bed. The great wound I had Wednesday last in my thumb
having with once dressing by Mrs. Turner’s balsam been per-
fectly cured, whereas I did not hope to save my nail, whatever
else ill it did give me. My wife and I are much thoughtfull now-
a-days about Pall’s coming up in order to a husband.
12th. Up, and very busy to perform an oathe in finishing my
Journall this morning for 7 or 8 days past. Then to several peo-
ple attending upon business, among others Mr. Grant and the
executors of Barlow for the £25 due for the quarter before he
died, which I scrupled to pay, being obliged but to pay every
half year. Then comes Mr. Caesar, my boy’s lute-master, whom I
have not seen since the plague before, but he hath been in West-
minster all this while very well; and tells me in the height of
it, how bold people there were, to go in sport to one another’s
burials; and in spite too, ill people would breathe in the faces
(out of their windows) of well people going by. Then to dinner
before the ‘Change, and so to the ‘Change, and then to the tav-
erne to talk with Sir William Warren, and so by coach to several
places, among others to my Lord Treasurer’s, there to meet my
Lord Sandwich, but missed, and met him at [my] Lord Chan-
cellor’s, and there talked with him about his accounts, and then
about Sir G. Carteret, and I find by him that Sir G. Carteret has a
worse game to play than my Lord Sandwich, for people are jeer-
ing at him, and he cries out of the business of Sir W. Coventry,
who strikes at all and do all. Then to my bookseller’s, and then
received some books I have new bought, and here late choosing
some more to new bind, having resolved to give myself £10 in
books, and so home to the office and then home to supper, where
Mr. Hill was and supped with us, and good discourse; an excel-
lent person he still appears to me. After supper, and he gone, we
1815
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
to bed.
13th. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon to
the ‘Change, and thence after business dined at the Sheriffe’s
[Hooker], being carried by Mr. Lethulier, where to my heart’s
content I met with his wife, a most beautifull fat woman. But
all the house melancholy upon the sickness of a daughter of the
house in childbed, Mr. Vaughan’s lady. So all of them undressed,
but however this lady a very fine woman. I had a salute of her,
and after dinner some discourse the Sheriffe and I about a par-
cel of tallow I am buying for the office of him. I away home,
and there at the office all the afternoon till late at night, and then
away home to supper and to bed. Ill newes this night that the
plague is encreased this week, and in many places else about the
towne, and at Chatham and elsewhere. This day my wife want-
ing a chambermaid with much ado got our old little Jane to be
found out, who come to see her and hath lived all this while in
one place, but is so well that we will not desire her removal, but
are mighty glad to see the poor wench, who is very well and do
well.
14th (St. Valentine’s day). This morning called up by Mr. Hill,
who, my wife thought, had been come to be her Valentine; she,
it seems, having drawne him last night, but it proved not. How-
ever, calling him up to our bed-side, my wife challenged him. I
up, and made myself ready, and so with him by coach to my Lord
Sandwich’s by appointment to deliver Mr. Howe’s accounts to
my Lord. Which done, my Lord did give me hearty and large
studied thanks for all my kindnesse to him and care of him and
his business. I after profession of all duty to his Lordship took oc-
casion to bemoane myself that I should fall into such a difficulty
about Sir G. Carteret, as not to be for him, but I must be against
Sir W. Coventry, and therefore desired to be neutrall, which my
Lord approved and confessed reasonable, but desired me to be-
friend him privately. Having done in private with my Lord I
brought Mr. Hill to kisse his hands, to whom my Lord professed
1816
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
great respect upon my score. My Lord being gone, I took Mr.
Hill to my Lord Chancellor’s new house that is building, and
went with trouble up to the top of it, and there is there the noblest
prospect that ever I saw in my life, Greenwich being nothing to it;
and in every thing is a beautiful house, and most strongly built
in every respect; and as if, as it hath, it had the Chancellor for
its master. Thence with him to his paynter, Mr. Hales, who is
drawing his picture, which will be mighty like him, and pleased
me so, that I am resolved presently to have my wife’s and mine
done by him, he having a very masterly hand. So with mighty
satisfaction to the ‘Change and thence home, and after dinner
abroad, taking Mrs. Mary Batelier with us, who was just come
to see my wife, and they set me down at my Lord Treasurer’s,
and themselves went with the coach into the fields to take the
ayre. I staid a meeting of the Duke of Yorke’s, and the officers
of the Navy and Ordnance. My Lord Treasurer lying in bed of
the gowte. Our business was discourse of the straits of the Navy
for want of money, but after long discourse as much out of or-
der as ordinary people’s, we come to no issue, nor any money
promised, or like to be had, and yet the worke must be done.
Here I perceive Sir G. Carteret had prepared himself to answer
a choque of Sir W. Coventry, by offering of himself to shew all
he had paid, and what is unpaid, and what moneys and assign-
ments he hath in his hands, which, if he makes good, was the
best thing he ever did say in his life, and the best timed, for else
it must have fallen very foule on him. The meeting done I away,
my wife and they being come back and staying for me at the gate.
But, Lord! to see how afeard I was that Sir W. Coventry should
have spyed me once whispering with Sir G. Carteret, though not
intended by me, but only Sir G. Carteret come to me and I could
not avoyde it. So home, they set me down at the ‘Change, and I
to the Crowne, where my Lord Bruncker was come and several
of the Virtuosi, and after a small supper and but little good dis-
course I with Sir W. Batten (who was brought thither with my
Lord Bruncker) home, where I find my wife gone to Mrs. Mer-
1817
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
cer’s to be merry, but presently come in with Mrs. Knipp, who, it
seems, is in towne, and was gone thither with my wife and Mer-
cer to dance, and after eating a little supper went thither again
to spend the whole night there, being W. Howe there, at whose
chamber they are, and Lawd Crisp by chance. I to bed.
15th. Up, and my wife not come home all night. To the of-
fice, where sat all the morning. At noon to Starky’s, a great cooke
in Austin Friars, invited by Colonell Atkins, and a good dinner
for Colonell Norwood and his friends, among others Sir Edward
Spragg and others, but ill attendance. Before dined, called on
by my wife in a coach, and so I took leave, and then with her
and Knipp and Mercer (Mr. Hunt newly come out of the coun-
try being there also come to see us) to Mr. Hales, the paynter’s,
having set down Mr. Hunt by the way. Here Mr. Hales’ begun
my wife in the posture we saw one of my Lady Peters, like a St.
Katharine.539 While he painted, Knipp, and Mercer, and I, sang;
and by and by comes Mrs. Pierce, with my name in her bosom
for her Valentine, which will cost me money. But strange how
like his very first dead colouring is, that it did me good to see
it, and pleases me mightily, and I believe will be a noble picture.
Thence with them all as far as Fleete Streete, and there set Mer-
cer and Knipp down, and we home. I to the office, whither the
Houblons come telling me of a little new trouble from Norwood
about their ship, which troubles me, though without reason. So
late home to supper and to bed. We hear this night of Sir Jeremy
Smith, that he and his fleete have been seen at Malaga; which is
good newes.
16th. Up betimes, and by appointment to the Exchange, where
I met Messrs. Houblons, and took them up in my coach and car-
ried them to Charing Crosse, where they to Colonell Norwood
to see how they can settle matters with him, I having informed
them by the way with advice to be easy with him, for he may
539 It was the fashion at this time to be painted as St. Catherine, in compli-
ment to the queen.
1818
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
hereafter do us service, and they and I are like to understand
one another to very good purpose. I to my Lord Sandwich, and
there alone with him to talke of his affairs, and particularly of his
prize goods, wherein I find he is wearied with being troubled,
and gives over the care of it to let it come to what it will, hav-
ing the King’s release for the dividend made, and for the rest he
thinks himself safe from being proved to have anything more.
Thence to the Exchequer, and so by coach to the ‘Change, Mr.
Moore with me, who tells me very odde passages of the indis-
cretion of my Lord in the management of his family, of his care-
lessnesse, &c., which troubles me, but makes me rejoice with all
my heart of my being rid of the bond of £1000, for that would
have been a cruel blow to me. With Moore to the Coffee-House,
the first time I have been there, where very full, and company
it seems hath been there all the plague time. So to the ‘Change,
and then home to dinner, and after dinner to settle accounts with
him for my Lord, and so evened with him to this day. Then to
the office, and out with Sir W. Warren for discourse by coach to
White Hall, thinking to have spoke with Sir W. Coventry, but did
not, and to see the Queene, but she comes but to Hampton Court
to-night. Back to my office and there late, and so home to supper
and bed. I walked a good while to-night with Mr. Hater in the
garden, talking about a husband for my sister, and reckoning up
all our clerks about us, none of which he thinks fit for her and her
portion. At last I thought of young Gawden, and will thinke of it
again.
17th. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning. Late
to dinner, and then to the office again, and there busy till past
twelve at night, and so home to supper and to bed. We have
newes of Sir Jeremy Smith’s being very well with his fleete at
Cales.–[Cadiz@@18th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed discours-
ing with pleasure with my wife, among other things about Pall’s
coming up, for she must be here a little to be fashioned, and
my wife hath a mind to go down for her, which I am not much
against, and so I rose and to my chamber to settle several things.
1819
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
At noon comes my uncle Wight to dinner, and brings with him
Mrs. Wight, sad company to me, nor was I much pleased with it,
only I must shew respect to my uncle. After dinner they gone,
and it being a brave day, I walked to White Hall, where the
Queene and ladies are all come: I saw some few of them, but not
the Queene, nor any of the great beauties. I endeavoured to have
seen my Lord Hinchingbrooke, who come to town yesterday, but
I could not. Met with Creed and walked with him a turne or two
in the Parke, but without much content, having now designs of
getting money in my head, which allow me not the leisure I used
to have with him, besides an odde story lately told of him for a
great truth, of his endeavouring to lie with a woman at Oxford,
and her crying out saved her; and this being publickly known,
do a little make me hate him. Thence took coach, and calling by
the way at my bookseller’s for a booke I writ about twenty years
ago in prophecy of this year coming on, 1666, explaining it to be
the marke of the beast, I home, and there fell to reading, and then
to supper, and to bed.
19th. Up, and by coach to my Lord Sandwich’s, but he was
gone out. So I to White Hall, and there waited on the Duke of
Yorke with some of the rest of our brethren, and thence back
again to my Lord’s, to see my Lord Hinchingbroke, which I did,
and I am mightily out of countenance in my great expectation of
him by others’ report, though he is indeed a pretty gentleman,
yet nothing what I took him for, methinks, either as to person or
discourse discovered to me, but I must try him more before I go
too far in censuring. Hence to the Exchequer from office to of-
fice, to set my business of my tallys in doing, and there all the
morning. So at noon by coach to St. Paul’s Church-yarde to my
Bookseller’s, and there bespoke a few more books to bring all I
have lately bought to £10. Here I am told for certain, what I have
heard once or twice already, of a Jew in town, that in the name of
the rest do offer to give any man £10 to be paid £100, if a certain
person now at Smyrna be within these two years owned by all
the Princes of the East, and particularly the grand Signor as the
1820
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
King of the world, in the same manner we do the King of England
here, and that this man is the true Messiah. One named a friend
of his that had received ten pieces in gold upon this score, and
says that the Jew hath disposed of £1100 in this manner, which
is very strange; and certainly this year of 1666 will be a year of
great action; but what the consequences of it will be, God knows!
Thence to the ‘Change, and from my stationer’s thereabouts car-
ried home by coach two books of Ogilby’s, his AEsop and Coro-
nation, which fell to my lot at his lottery. Cost me £4 besides the
binding. So home. I find my wife gone out to Hales, her payn-
ter’s, and I after a little dinner do follow her, and there do find
him at worke, and with great content I do see it will be a very
brave picture. Left her there, and I to my Lord Treasurer’s, where
Sir G. Carteret and Sir J. Minnes met me, and before my Lord
Treasurer and Duke of Albemarle the state of our Navy debts
were laid open, being very great, and their want of money to
answer them openly professed, there being but £1,500,000 to an-
swer a certaine expense and debt of £2,300,000. Thence walked
with Fenn down to White Hall, and there saw the Queene at
cards with many ladies, but none of our beauties were there. But
glad I was to see the Queene so well, who looks prettily; and me-
thinks hath more life than before, since it is confessed of all that
she miscarryed lately; Dr. Clerke telling me yesterday at White
Hall that he had the membranes and other vessels in his hands
which she voided, and were perfect as ever woman’s was that
bore a child. Thence hoping to find my Lord Sandwich, away
by coach to my Lord Chancellor’s, but missed him, and so home
and to office, and then to supper and my Journall, and to bed.
20th. Up, and to the office; where, among other businesses,
Mr. Evelyn’s proposition about publique Infirmarys was read
and agreed on, he being there: and at noon I took him home
to dinner, being desirous of keeping my acquaintance with him;
and a most excellent humoured man I still find him, and mighty
knowing. After dinner I took him by coach to White Hall, and
there he and I parted, and I to my Lord Sandwich’s, where com-
1821
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
ing and bolting into the dining-room, I there found Captain Fer-
rers going to christen a child of his born yesterday, and I come
just pat to be a godfather, along with my Lord Hinchingbrooke,
and Madam Pierce, my Valentine, which for that reason I was
pretty well contented with, though a little vexed to see myself
so beset with people to spend me money, as she of a Valentine
and little Mrs. Tooker, who is come to my house this day from
Greenwich, and will cost me 20s., my wife going out with her this
afternoon, and now this christening. Well, by and by the child is
brought and christened Katharine, and I this day on this occasion
drank a glasse of wine, which I have not professedly done these
two years, I think, but a little in the time of the sicknesse. Af-
ter that done, and gone and kissed the mother in bed, I away to
Westminster Hall, and there hear that Mrs. Lane is come to town.
So I staid loitering up and down till anon she comes and agreed
to meet at Swayn’s, and there I went anon, and she come, but
staid but little, the place not being private. I have not seen her
since before the plague. So thence parted and ‘rencontrais a’ her
last ‘logis’, and in the place did what I ‘tenais a mind pour ferais
con her’. At last she desired to borrow money of me, £5, and
would pawn gold with me for it, which I accepted and promised
in a day or two to supply her. So away home to the office, and
thence home, where little Mrs. Tooker staid all night with us, and
a pretty child she is, and happens to be niece to my beauty that
is dead, that lived at the Jackanapes, in Cheapside. So to bed, a
little troubled that I have been at two houses this afternoon with
Mrs. Lane that were formerly shut up of the plague.
21st. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes to White Hall by his coach,
by the way talking of my brother John to get a spiritual promo-
tion for him, which I am now to looke after, for as much as he
is shortly to be Master in Arts, and writes me this weeke a Latin
letter that he is to go into orders this Lent. There to the Duke’s
chamber, and find our fellows discoursing there on our business,
so I was sorry to come late, but no hurte was done thereby. Here
the Duke, among other things, did bring out a book of great an-
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FEBRUARY 1665-1666
tiquity of some of the customs of the Navy, about 100 years since,
which he did lend us to read and deliver him back again. Thence
I to the Exchequer, and there did strike my tallys for a quarter for
Tangier and carried them home with me, and thence to Trinity-
house, being invited to an Elder Brother’s feast; and there met
and sat by Mr. Prin, and had good discourse about the privi-
leges of Parliament, which, he says, are few to the Commons’
House, and those not examinable by them, but only by the House
of Lords. Thence with my Lord Bruncker to Gresham College, the
first time after the sicknesse that I was there, and the second time
any met. And here a good lecture of Mr. Hooke’s about the trade
of felt-making, very pretty. And anon alone with me about the
art of drawing pictures by Prince Rupert’s rule and machine, and
another of Dr. Wren’s;540 but he says nothing do like squares, or,
which is the best in the world, like a darke roome,–[The camera
obscura.]–which pleased me mightily. Thence with Povy home
to my house, and there late settling accounts with him, which
was very troublesome to me, and he gone, found Mr. Hill below,
who sat with me till late talking, and so away, and we to bed.
22nd. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning. At
noon home to dinner and thence by coach with my wife for ayre
principally for her. I alone stopped at Hales’s and there mightily
am pleased with my wife’s picture that is begun there, and with
Mr. Hill’s, though I must [owne] I am not more pleased with it
now the face is finished than I was when I saw it the second time
of sitting. Thence to my Lord Sandwich’s, but he not within, but
goes to-morrow. My wife to Mrs. Hunt’s, who is lately come to
towne and grown mighty fat. I called her there, and so home and
late at the office, and so home to supper and to bed. We are much
troubled that the sicknesse in general (the town being so full of
people) should be but three, and yet of the particular disease of
the plague there should be ten encrease.
540 Afterwards the famous Sir Christopher Wren. He was one of the main-
stays of the Royal Society.
1823
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
23rd. Up betimes, and out of doors by 6 of the clock, and
walked (W. Howe with me) to my Lord Sandwich’s, who did
lie the last night at his house in Lincoln’s Inne Fields. It being
fine walking in the morning, and the streets full of people again.
There I staid, and the house full of people come to take leave of
my Lord, who this day goes out of towne upon his embassy to-
wards Spayne. And I was glad to find Sir W. Coventry to come,
though I know it is only a piece of courtshipp. I had much dis-
course with my Lord, he telling me how fully he leaves the King
his friend and the large discourse he had with him the other day,
and how he desired to have the business of the prizes examined
before he went, and that he yielded to it, and it is done as far
as it concerns himself to the full, and the Lords Commissioners
for prizes did reprehend all the informers in what related to his
Lordship, which I am glad of in many respects. But we could
not make an end of discourse, so I promised to waite upon [him]
on Sunday at Cranborne, and took leave and away hence to Mr.
Hales’s with Mr. Hill and two of the Houblons, who come thither
to speak with me, and saw my wife’s picture, which pleases me
well, but Mr. Hill’s picture never a whit so well as it did before it
was finished, which troubled me, and I begin to doubt the picture
of my Lady Peters my wife takes her posture from, and which is
an excellent picture, is not of his making, it is so master-like. I
set them down at the ‘Change and I home to the office, and at
noon dined at home and to the office again. Anon comes Mrs.
Knipp to see my wife, who is gone out, so I fain to entertain her,
and took her out by coach to look my wife at Mrs. Pierce’s and
Unthanke’s, but find her not. So back again, and then my wife
comes home, having been buying of things, and at home I spent
all the night talking with this baggage, and teaching her my song
of “Beauty retire,” which she sings and makes go most rarely,
and a very fine song it seems to be. She also entertained me with
repeating many of her own and others’ parts of the play-house,
which she do most excellently; and tells me the whole practices
of the play-house and players, and is in every respect most ex-
1824
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
cellent company. So I supped, and was merry at home all the
evening, and the rather it being my birthday, 33 years, for which
God be praised that I am in so good a condition of healthe and
estate, and every thing else as I am, beyond expectation, in all.
So she to Mrs. Turner’s to lie, and we to bed. Mightily pleased
to find myself in condition to have these people come about me
and to be able to entertain them, and have the pleasure of their
qualities, than which no man can have more in the world.
24th. All the morning at the office till past three o’clock. At
that houre home and eat a bit alone, my wife being gone out.
So abroad by coach with Mr. Hill, who staid for me to speake
about business, and he and I to Hales’s, where I find my wife
and her woman, and Pierce and Knipp, and there sung and was
mighty merry, and I joyed myself in it; but vexed at first to find
my wife’s picture not so like as I expected; but it was only his
having finished one part, and not another, of the face; but, before
I went, I was satisfied it will be an excellent picture. Here we
had ale and cakes and mighty merry, and sung my song, which
she [Knipp] now sings bravely, and makes me proud of myself.
Thence left my wife to go home with Mrs. Pierce, while I home
to the office, and there pretty late, and to bed, after fitting myself
for to-morrow’s journey.
25th (Lord’s day). My wife up between three and four of the
clock in the morning to dress herself, and I about five, and were
all ready to take coach, she and I and Mercer, a little past five,
but, to our trouble, the coach did not come till six. Then with
our coach of four horses I hire on purpose, and Leshmore to ride
by, we through the City to Branford and so to Windsor, Captain
Ferrers overtaking us at Kensington, being to go with us, and
here drank, and so through, making no stay, to Cranborne, about
eleven o’clock, and found my Lord and the ladies at a sermon
in the house; which being ended we to them, and all the com-
pany glad to see us, and mighty merry to dinner. Here was my
Lord, and Lord Hinchingbroke, and Mr. Sidney, Sir Charles Her-
1825
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
bert, and Mr. Carteret, my Lady Carteret, my Lady Jemimah,
and Lady Slaning. After dinner to talk to and again, and then
to walke in the Parke, my Lord and I alone, talking upon these
heads; first, he has left his business of the prizes as well as is pos-
sible for him, having cleared himself before the Commissioners
by the King’s commands, so that nothing or little is to be feared
from that point, he goes fully assured, he tells me, of the King’s
favour. That upon occasion I may know, I desired to know, his
friends I may trust to, he tells me, but that he is not yet in Eng-
land, but continues this summer in Ireland, my Lord Orrery is his
father almost in affection. He tells me my Lord of Suffolke, Lord
Arlington, Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Treasurer, Mr. At-
turny Montagu, Sir Thomas Clifford in the House of Commons,
Sir G. Carteret, and some others I cannot presently remember, are
friends that I may rely on for him. He tells me my Lord Chan-
cellor seems his very good friend, but doubts that he may not
think him so much a servant of the Duke of Yorke’s as he would
have him, and indeed my Lord tells me he hath lately made it his
business to be seen studious of the King’s favour, and not of the
Duke’s, and by the King will stand or fall, for factions there are,
as he tells me, and God knows how high they may come. The
Duke of Albemarle’s post is so great, having had the name of
bringing in the King, that he is like to stand, or, if it were not for
him, God knows in what troubles we might be from some private
faction, if an army could be got into another hand, which God
forbid! It is believed that though Mr. Coventry be in appearance
so great against the Chancellor, yet that there is a good under-
standing between the Duke and him. He dreads the issue of this
year, and fears there will be some very great revolutions before
his coming back again. He doubts it is needful for him to have a
pardon for his last year’s actions, all which he did without com-
mission, and at most but the King’s private single word for that
of Bergen; but he dares not ask it at this time, lest it should make
them think that there is something more in it than yet they know;
and if it should be denied, it would be of very ill consequence.
1826
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
He says also, if it should in Parliament be enquired into the sell-
ing of Dunkirke (though the Chancellor was the man that would
have it sold to France, saying the King of Spayne had no money
to give for it); yet he will be found to have been the greatest ad-
viser of it; which he is a little apprehensive may be called upon
this Parliament. He told me it would not be necessary for him
to tell me his debts, because he thinks I know them so well. He
tells me, that for the match propounded of Mrs. Mallett for my
Lord Hinchingbroke, it hath been lately off, and now her friends
bring it on again, and an overture hath been made to him by a
servant of hers, to compass the thing without consent of friends,
she herself having a respect to my Lord’s family, but my Lord
will not listen to it but in a way of honour. The Duke hath for
this weeke or two been very kind to him, more than lately; and
so others, which he thinks is a good sign of faire weather again.
He says the Archbishopp of Canterbury hath been very kind to
him, and hath plainly said to him that he and all the world knows
the difference between his judgment and brains and the Duke of
Albemarle’s, and then calls my Lady Duchesse the veryest slut
and drudge and the foulest worde that can be spoke of a woman
almost. My Lord having walked an houre with me talking thus
and going in, and my Lady Carteret not suffering me to go back
again to-night, my Lord to walke again with me about some of
this and other discourse, and then in a-doors and to talke with all
and with my Lady Carteret, and I with the young ladies and gen-
tle men, who played on the guittar, and mighty merry, and anon
to supper, and then my Lord going away to write, the young
gentlemen to flinging of cushions, and other mad sports; at this
late till towards twelve at night, and then being sleepy, I and my
wife in a passage-room to bed, and slept not very well because of
noise.
26th. Called up about five in the morning, and my Lord up,
and took leave, a little after six, very kindly of me and the whole
company. Then I in, and my wife up and to visit my Lady Slav-
ing in her bed, and there sat three hours, with Lady Jemimah
1827
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
with us, talking and laughing, and by and by my Lady Carteret
comes, and she and I to talke, I glad to please her in discourse of
Sir G. Carteret, that all will do well with him, and she is much
pleased, he having had great annoyance and fears about his well
doing, and I fear hath doubted that I have not been a friend to
him, but cries out against my Lady Castlemaine, that makes the
King neglect his business and seems much to fear that all will
go to wracke, and I fear with great reason; exclaims against the
Duke of Albemarle, and more the Duchesse for a filthy woman,
as indeed she is. Here staid till 9 o’clock almost, and then took
coach with so much love and kindnesse from my Lady Carteret,
Lady Jemimah, and Lady Slaving, that it joys my heart, and when
I consider the manner of my going hither, with a coach and four
horses and servants and a woman with us, and coming hither be-
ing so much made of, and used with that state, and then going to
Windsor and being shewn all that we were there, and had where-
with to give every body something for their pains, and then go-
ing home, and all in fine weather and no fears nor cares upon
me, I do thinke myself obliged to thinke myself happy, and do
look upon myself at this time in the happiest occasion a man can
be, and whereas we take pains in expectation of future comfort
and ease, I have taught myself to reflect upon myself at present
as happy, and enjoy myself in that consideration, and not only
please myself with thoughts of future wealth and forget the plea-
sure we at present enjoy. So took coach and to Windsor, to the
Garter, and thither sent for Dr. Childe; who come to us, and car-
ried us to St. George’s Chappell; and there placed us among the
Knights’ stalls (and pretty the observation, that no man, but a
woman may sit in a Knight’s place, where any brass-plates are
set); and hither come cushions to us, and a young singing-boy
to bring us a copy of the anthem to be sung. And here, for our
sakes, had this anthem and the great service sung extraordinary,
only to entertain us. It is a noble place indeed, and a good Quire
of voices. Great bowing by all the people, the poor Knights par-
ticularly, to the Alter. After prayers, we to see the plate of the
1828
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
chappell, and the robes of Knights, and a man to shew us the
banners of the several Knights in being, which hang up over the
stalls. And so to other discourse very pretty, about the Order.
Was shewn where the late [King] is buried, and King Henry the
Eighth, and my Lady [Jane] Seymour. This being done, to the
King’s house, and to observe the neatness and contrivance of
the house and gates: it is the most romantique castle that is in
the world. But, Lord! the prospect that is in the balcone in the
Queene’s lodgings, and the terrace and walk, are strange things
to consider, being the best in the world, sure. Infinitely satisfied I
and my wife with all this, she being in all points mightily pleased
too, which added to my pleasure; and so giving a great deal of
money to this and that man and woman, we to our taverne, and
there dined, the Doctor with us; and so took coach and away to
Eton, the Doctor with me. Before we went to Chappell this morn-
ing, Kate Joyce, in a stage-coach going toward London, called to
me. I went to her and saluted her, but could not get her to stay
with us, having company. At Eton I left my wife in the coach,
and he and I to the College, and there find all mighty fine. The
school good, and the custom pretty of boys cutting their names in
the struts of the window when they go to Cambridge, by which
many a one hath lived to see himself Provost and Fellow, that had
his name in the window standing. To the Hall, and there find the
boys’ verses, “De Peste;” it being their custom to make verses at
Shrove-tide. I read several, and very good ones they were, and
better, I think, than ever I made when I was a boy, and in rolls
as long and longer than the whole Hall, by much. Here is a pic-
ture of Venice hung up given, and a monument made of Sir H.
Wotton’s giving it to the College. Thence to the porter’s, in the
absence of the butler, and did drink of the College beer, which
is very good; and went into the back fields to see the scholars
play. And so to the chappell, and there saw, among other things,
Sir H. Wotton’s stone with this Epitaph Hic facet primus hujus
sententiae Author:– Disputandi pruritus fit ecclesiae scabies.
But unfortunately the word “Author” was wrong writ, and
1829
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
now so basely altered that it disgraces the stone. Thence took
leave of the Doctor, and so took coach, and finely, but sleepy,
away home, and got thither about eight at night, and after a lit-
tle at my office, I to bed; and an houre after, was waked with
my wife’s quarrelling with Mercer, at which I was angry, and my
wife and I fell out. But with much ado to sleep again, I beginning
to practise more temper, and to give her her way.
27th. Up, and after a harsh word or two my wife and I good
friends, and so up and to the office, where all the morning. At
noon late to dinner, my wife gone out to Hales’s about her pic-
ture, and, after dinner, I after her, and do mightily like her pic-
ture, and think it will be as good as my Lady Peters’s. So home
mightily pleased, and there late at business and set down my
three last days’ journalls, and so to bed, overjoyed to thinke of
the pleasure of the last Sunday and yesterday, and my ability to
bear the charge of these pleasures, and with profit too, by oblig-
ing my Lord, and reconciling Sir George Carteret’s family.
28th (Ash Wednesday). Up, and after doing a little business at
my office I walked, it being a most curious dry and cold morning,
to White Hall, and there I went into the Parke, and meeting Sir
Ph. Warwicke took a turne with him in the Pell Mall, talking of
the melancholy posture of affairs, where every body is snarling
one at another, and all things put together looke ominously. This
new Act too putting us out of a power of raising money. So that
he fears as I do, but is fearfull of enlarging in that discourse of an
ill condition in every thing, and the State and all. We appointed
another time to meet to talke of the business of the Navy alone
seriously, and so parted, and I to White Hall, and there we did
our business with the Duke of Yorke, and so parted, and walked
to Westminster Hall, where I staid talking with Mrs. Michell and
Howlett long and her daughter, which is become a mighty pretty
woman, and thence going out of the Hall was called to by Mrs.
Martin, so I went to her and bought two bands, and so parted,
and by and by met at her chamber, and there did what I would,
1830
FEBRUARY 1665-1666
and so away home and there find Mrs. Knipp, and we dined to-
gether, she the pleasantest company in the world. After dinner I
did give my wife money to lay out on Knipp, 20s., and I abroad to
White Hall to visit Colonell Norwood, and then Sir G. Carteret,
with whom I have brought myself right again, and he very open
to me; is very melancholy, and matters, I fear, go down with him,
but he seems most afeard of a general catastrophe to the whole
kingdom, and thinks, as I fear, that all things will come to noth-
ing. Thence to the Palace Yard, to the Swan, and there staid till
it was dark, and then to Mrs. Lane’s, and there lent her £5 upon
£4 01s. in gold. And then did what I would with her, and I per-
ceive she is come to be very bad, and offers any thing, that it is
dangerous to have to do with her, nor will I see [her] any more
a good while. Thence by coach home and to the office, where a
while, and then betimes to bed by ten o’clock, sooner than I have
done many a day. And thus ends this month, with my mind full
of resolution to apply myself better from this time forward to
my business than I have done these six or eight days, visibly to
my prejudice both in quiett of mind and setting backward of my
business, that I cannot give a good account of it as I ought to do.
1831
MARCH 1665-1666
March 1st. Up, and to the office and there all the morning sitting
and at noon to dinner with my Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Batten and
Sir W. Pen at the White Horse in Lumbard Streete, where, God
forgive us! good sport with Captain Cocke’s having his mayde
sicke of the plague a day or two ago and sent to the pest house,
where she now is, but he will not say anything but that she is
well. But blessed be God! a good Bill this week we have; being
but 237 in all, and 42 of the plague, and of them but six in the City:
though my Lord Bruneker says, that these six are most of them
in new parishes where they were not the last week. Here was
with us also Mr. Williamson, who the more I know, the more I
honour. Hence I slipt after dinner without notice home and there
close to my business at my office till twelve at night, having with
great comfort returned to my business by some fresh vowes in
addition to my former, and-more severe, and a great joy it is to
me to see myself in a good disposition to business. So home to
supper and to my Journall and to bed.
2nd. Up, as I have of late resolved before 7 in the morning and
to the office, where all the morning, among other things setting
my wife and Mercer with much pleasure to worke upon the rul-
ing of some paper for the making of books for pursers, which will
require a great deale of worke and they will earn a good deale of
1832
MARCH 1665-1666
money by it, the hopes of which makes them worke mighty hard.
At noon dined and to the office again, and about 4 o’clock took
coach and to my Lord Treasurer’s and thence to Sir Philip War-
wicke’s new house by appointment, there to spend an houre in
talking and we were together above an hour, and very good dis-
course about the state of the King as to money, and particularly
in the point of the Navy. He endeavours hard to come to a good
understanding of Sir G. Carteret’s accounts, and by his discourse
I find Sir G. Carteret must be brought to it, and what a madman
he is that he do not do it of himself, for the King expects the Par-
liament will call upon him for his promise of giving an account
of the money, and he will be ready for it, which cannot be, I am
sure, without Sir G. Carteret’s accounts be better understood than
they are. He seems to have a great esteem of me and my opinion
and thoughts of things. After we had spent an houre thus dis-
coursing and vexed that we do but grope so in the darke as we
do, because the people, that should enlighten us, do not helpe
us, we resolved fitting some things for another meeting, and so
broke up. He shewed me his house, which is yet all unhung, but
will be a very noble house indeed. Thence by coach calling at my
bookseller’s and carried home £10 worth of books, all, I hope, I
shall buy a great while. There by appointment find Mr. Hill come
to sup and take his last leave of me, and by and by in comes Mr.
James Houbland to bear us company, a man I love mightily, and
will not lose his acquaintance. He told me in my eare this night
what he and his brothers have resolved to give me, which is £200,
for helping them out with two or three ships. A good sum and
that which I did believe they would give me, and I did expect
little less. Here we talked and very good company till late, and
then took leave of one another, and indeed I am heartily sorry for
Mr. Hill’s leaving us, for he is a very worthy gentleman, as most I
know. God give him a good voyage and successe in his business.
Thus we parted and my wife and I to bed, heavy for the losse of
our friend.
3rd. All the morning at the office, at noon to the Old James,
1833
MARCH 1665-1666
being sent for, and there dined with Sir William Rider, Cutler, and
others, to make an end with two Scots Maisters about the freight
of two ships of my Lord Rutherford’s. After a small dinner and a
little discourse I away to the Crowne behind the Exchange to Sir
W. Pen, Captain Cocke and Fen, about getting a bill of Cocke’s
paid to Pen, in part for the East India goods he sold us. Here Sir
W. Pen did give me the reason in my eare of his importunity for
money, for that he is now to marry his daughter. God send her
better fortune than her father deserves I should wish him for a
false rogue. Thence by coach to Hales’s, and there saw my wife
sit; and I do like her picture mightily, and very like it will be, and
a brave piece of work. But he do complain that her nose hath cost
him as much work as another’s face, and he hath done it finely
indeed. Thence home and late at the office, and then to bed.
4th (Lord’s day). And all day at my Tangier and private ac-
counts, having neglected them since Christmas, which I hope I
shall never do again; for I find the inconvenience of it, it being
ten times the labour to remember and settle things. But I thank
God I did it at last, and brought them all fine and right; and I
am, I thinke, by all appears to me (and I am sure I cannot be £10
wrong), worth above £4600, for which the Lord be praised! being
the biggest sum I ever was worth yet.
5th. I was at it till past two o’clock on Monday morning, and
then read my vowes, and to bed with great joy and content that I
have brought my things to so good a settlement, and now having
my mind fixed to follow my business again and sensible of Sir W.
Coventry’s jealousies, I doubt, concerning me, partly my siding
with Sir G. Carteret, and partly that indeed I have been silent in
my business of the office a great while, and given but little ac-
count of myself and least of all to him, having not made him one
visitt since he came to towne from Oxford, I am resolved to fall
hard to it again, and fetch up the time and interest I have lost or
am in a fair way of doing it. Up about eight o’clock, being called
up by several people, among others by Mr. Moone, with whom I
1834
MARCH 1665-1666
went to Lumbard Streete to Colvill, and so back again and in my
chamber he and I did end all our businesses together of accounts
for money upon bills of Exchange, and am pleased to find myself
reputed a man of business and method, as he do give me out to
be. To the ‘Change at noon and so home to dinner. Newes for
certain of the King of Denmarke’s declaring for the Dutch, and
resolution to assist them. To the office, and there all the after-
noon. In the evening come Mr. James and brother Houblons to
agree upon share parties for their ships, and did acquaint me that
they had paid my messenger, whom I sent this afternoon for it,
£200 for my friendship in the business, which pleases me might-
ily. They being gone I forth late to Sir H. Viner’s to take a receipt
of them for the £200 lodged for me there with them, and so back
home, and after supper to bed.
6th. Up betimes and did much business before office time.
Then to the office and there till noon and so home to dinner and
to the office again till night. In the evening being at Sir W. Bat-
ten’s, stepped in (for I have not used to go thither a good while),
I find my Lord Bruncker and Mrs. Williams, and they would of
their own accord, though I had never obliged them (nor my wife
neither) with one visit for many of theirs, go see my house and
my wife; which I showed them and made them welcome with
wine and China oranges (now a great rarity since the war, none
to be had). There being also Captain Cocke and Mrs. Turner, who
had never been in my house since I come to the office before, and
Mrs. Carcasse, wife of Mr. Carcasses. My house happened to
be mighty clean, and did me great honour, and they mightily
pleased with it. They gone I to the office and did some business,
and then home to supper and to bed. My mind troubled through
a doubtfulness of my having incurred Sir W. Coventry’s displea-
sure by not having waited on him since his coming to towne,
which is a mighty faulte and that I can bear the fear of the bad ef-
fects of till I have been with him, which shall be to-morrow, God
willing. So to bed.
1835
MARCH 1665-1666
7th. Up betimes, and to St. James’s, thinking Mr. Coventry
had lain there; but he do not, but at White Hall; so thither I went
and had as good a time as heart could wish, and after an houre
in his chamber about publique business he and I walked up, and
the Duke being gone abroad we walked an houre in the Matted
Gallery: he of himself begun to discourse of the unhappy dif-
ferences between him and my Lord of Sandwich, and from the
beginning to the end did run through all passages wherein my
Lord hath, at any time, gathered any dissatisfaction, and cleared
himself to me most honourably; and in truth, I do believe he do
as he says. I did afterwards purge myself of all partiality in the
business of Sir G. Carteret, (whose story Sir W. Coventry did also
run over,) that I do mind the King’s interest, notwithstanding my
relation to him; all which he declares he firmly believes, and as-
sures me he hath the same kindnesse and opinion of me as ever.
And when I said I was jealous of myself, that having now come
to such an income as I am, by his favour, I should not be found
to do as much service as might deserve it; he did assure me, he
thinks it not too much for me, but thinks I deserve it as much
as any man in England. All this discourse did cheer my heart,
and sets me right again, after a good deal of melancholy, out of
fears of his disinclination to me, upon the differences with my
Lord Sandwich and Sir G. Carteret; but I am satisfied throughly,
and so went away quite another man, and by the grace of God
will never lose it again by my folly in not visiting and writing to
him, as I used heretofore to do. Thence by coach to the Temple,
and it being a holyday, a fast-day, there ‘light, and took water, be-
ing invited, and down to Greenwich, to Captain Cocke’s, where
dined, he and Lord Bruncker, and Matt. Wren, Boltele, and Ma-
jor Cooper, who is also a very pretty companion; but they all
drink hard, and, after dinner, to gaming at cards. So I provoked
my Lord to be gone, and he and I to Mr. Cottle’s and met Mrs.
Williams (without whom he cannot stir out of doors) and there
took coach and away home. They carry me to London and set me
down at the Temple, where my mind changed and I home, and
1836
MARCH 1665-1666
to writing and heare my boy play on the lute, and a turne with
my wife pleasantly in the garden by moonshine, my heart being
in great peace, and so home to supper and to bed. The King and
Duke are to go to-morrow to Audly End, in order to the seeing
and buying of it of my Lord Suffolke.
8th. Up betimes and to the office, where all the morning sitting
and did discover three or four fresh instances of Sir W. Pen’s old
cheating dissembling tricks, he being as false a fellow as ever was
born. Thence with Sir. W. Batten and Lord Bruncker to the White
Horse in Lumbard Streete to dine with Captain Cocke, upon par-
ticular business of canvas to buy for the King, and here by chance
I saw the mistresse of the house I have heard much of, and a very
pretty woman she is indeed and her husband the simplest looked
fellow and old that ever I saw. After dinner I took coach and
away to Hales’s, where my wife is sitting; and, indeed, her face
and necke, which are now finished, do so please me that I am not
myself almost, nor was not all the night after in writing of my
letters, in consideration of the fine picture that I shall be master
of. Thence home and to the office, where very late, and so home
to supper and to bed.
9th. Up, and being ready, to the Cockpitt to make a visit to
the Duke of Albemarle, and to my great joy find him the same
man to me that [he has been] heretofore, which I was in great
doubt of, through my negligence in not visiting of him a great
while; and having now set all to rights there, I am in mighty
ease in my mind and I think shall never suffer matters to run
so far backward again as I have done of late, with reference to
my neglecting him and Sir W. Coventry. Thence by water down
to Deptford, where I met my Lord Bruncker and Sir W. Batten by
agreement, and to measuring Mr. Castle’s new third-rate ship,
which is to be called the Defyance.541 And here I had my end in
saving the King some money and getting myself some experi-
541 William Castell wrote to the Navy Commissioners on February 17th,
1665-66, to inform them that the “Defiance” had gone to Longreach, and
1837
MARCH 1665-1666
ence in knowing how they do measure ships. Thence I left them
and walked to Redriffe, and there taking water was overtaken
by them in their boat, and so they would have me in with them
to Castle’s house, where my Lady Batten and Madam Williams
were, and there dined and a deale of doings. I had a good dinner
and counterfeit mirthe and pleasure with them, but had but little,
thinking how I neglected my business. Anon, all home to Sir W.
Batten’s and there Mrs. Knipp coming we did spend the evening
together very merry. She and I singing, and, God forgive me! I
do still see that my nature is not to be quite conquered, but will
esteem pleasure above all things, though yet in the middle of it,
it has reluctances after my business, which is neglected by my
following my pleasure. However musique and women I cannot
but give way to, whatever my business is. They being gone I to
the office a while and so home to supper and to bed.
10th. Up, and to the office, and there busy sitting till noon.
I find at home Mrs. Pierce and Knipp come to dine with me.
We were mighty merry; and, after dinner, I carried them and my
wife out by coach to the New Exchange, and there I did give my
valentine, Mrs. Pierce, a dozen payre of gloves, and a payre of
silke stockings, and Knipp for company’s sake, though my wife
had, by my consent, laid out 20s. upon her the other day, six
payre of gloves. Thence to Hales’s to have seen our pictures, but
could not get in, he being abroad, and so to the Cakehouse hard
by, and there sat in the coach with great pleasure, and eat some
fine cakes and so carried them to Pierces and away home. It is a
mighty fine witty boy, Mrs. Pierces little boy. Thence home and
to the office, where late writing letters and leaving a great deale
to do on Monday, I home to supper and to bed. The truth is, I do
indulge myself a little the more in pleasure, knowing that this is
again, on February 22nd, to say that Mr. Grey had no masts large enough
for the new ship. Sir William Batten on March 29th asked for the consent
of the Board to bring the “Defiance” into dock (” Calendar of State Papers,”
Domestic, 1665-66, pp. 252, 262, 324).
1838
MARCH 1665-1666
the proper age of my life to do it; and out of my observation that
most men that do thrive in the world, do forget to take pleasure
during the time that they are getting their estate, but reserve that
till they have got one, and then it is too late for them to enjoy it
with any pleasure.
11th (Lord’s day). Up, and by water to White Hall, there met
Mr. Coventry coming out, going along with the Commissioners
of the Ordnance to the water side to take barge, they being to
go down to the Hope. I returned with them as far as the Tower
in their barge speaking with Sir W. Coventry and so home and
to church, and at noon dined and then to my chamber, where
with great pleasure about one business or other till late, and so to
supper and to bed.
12th. Up betimes, and called on by abundance of people about
business, and then away by water to Westminster, and there to
the Exchequer about some business, and thence by coach calling
at several places, to the Old Exchange, and there did much busi-
ness, and so homeward and bought a silver salt for my ordinary
table to use, and so home to dinner, and after dinner comes my
uncle and aunt Wight, the latter I have not seen since the plague;
a silly, froward, ugly woman she is. We made mighty much of
them, and she talks mightily of her fear of the sicknesse, and so
a deale of tittle tattle and I left them and to my office where late,
and so home to supper and to bed. This day I hear my Uncle Tal-
bot Pepys died the last week, and was buried. All the news now
is, that Sir Jeremy Smith is at Cales–[Cadiz]–with his fleete, and
Mings in the Elve.–[Elbe]–The King is come this noon to towne
from Audly End, with the Duke of Yorke and a fine train of gen-
tlemen.
13th. Up betimes, and to the office, where busy sitting all the
morning, and I begin to find a little convenience by holding up
my head to Sir W. Pen, for he is come to be more supple. At noon
to dinner, and then to the office again, where mighty business,
doing a great deale till midnight and then home to supper and to
1839
MARCH 1665-1666
bed. The plague encreased this week 29 from 28, though the total
fallen from 238 to 207, which do never a whit please me.
14th. Up, and met by 6 o’clock in my chamber Mr. Povy (from
White Hall) about evening reckonings between him and me, on
our Tangier business, and at it hard till toward eight o’clock, and
he then carried me in his chariot to White Hall, where by and
by my fellow officers met me, and we had a meeting before the
Duke. Thence with my Lord Bruncker towards London, and in
our way called in Covent Garden, and took in Sir John (formerly
Dr.) Baber; who hath this humour that he will not enter into
discourse while any stranger is in company, till he be told who
he is that seems a stranger to him. This he did declare openly
to me, and asked my Lord who I was, giving this reason, that
he has been inconvenienced by being too free in discourse till he
knew who all the company were. Thence to Guildhall (in our
way taking in Dr. Wilkins), and there my Lord and I had full and
large discourse with Sir Thomas Player, the Chamberlain of the
City (a man I have much heard of for his credit and punctuality
in the City, and on that score I had a desire to be made known
to him), about the credit of our tallys, which are lodged there for
security to such as should lend money thereon to the use of the
Navy. And I had great satisfaction therein: and the truth is, I
find all our matters of credit to be in an ill condition. Thence, I
being in a little haste walked before and to the ‘Change a little
and then home, and presently to Trinity house to dinner, where
Captain Cox made his Elder Brother’s dinner. But it seemed to
me a very poor sorry dinner. I having many things in my head
rose, when my belly was full, though the dinner not half done,
and home and there to do some business, and by and by out of
doors and met Mr. Povy coming to me by appointment, but it
being a little too late, I took a little pride in the streete not to
go back with him, but prayed him to come another time, and
I away to Kate Joyce’s, thinking to have spoke to her husband
about Pall’s business, but a stranger, the Welsh Dr. Powell, being
there I forebore and went away and so to Hales’s, to see my wife’s
1840
MARCH 1665-1666
picture, which I like mighty well, and there had the pleasure to
see how suddenly he draws the Heavens, laying a darke ground
and then lightening it when and where he will. Thence to walk all
alone in the fields behind Grayes Inne, making an end of reading
over my dear “Faber fortunae,” of my Lord Bacon’s, and thence,
it growing dark, took two or three wanton turns about the idle
places and lanes about Drury Lane, but to no satisfaction, but
a great fear of the plague among them, and so anon I walked by
invitation to Mrs. Pierces, where I find much good company, that
is to say, Mrs. Pierce, my wife, Mrs. Worshipp and her daughter,
and Harris the player, and Knipp, and Mercer, and Mrs. Barbary
Sheldon, who is come this day to spend a weeke with my wife;
and here with musique we danced, and sung and supped, and
then to sing and dance till past one in the morning; and much
mirthe with Sir Anthony Apsley and one Colonell Sidney, who
lodge in the house; and above all, they are mightily taken with
Mrs. Knipp. Hence weary and sleepy we broke up, and I and my
company homeward by coach and to bed.
15th. Lay till it was full time to rise, it being eight o’clock, and
so to the office and there sat till almost three o’clock and then to
dinner, and after dinner (my wife and Mercer and Mrs. Barbary
being gone to Hales’s before), I and my cozen Anthony Joyce,
who come on purpose to dinner with me, and he and I to dis-
course of our proposition of marriage between Pall and Harman,
and upon discourse he and I to Harman’s house and took him
to a taverne hard by, and we to discourse of our business, and
I offered £500, and he declares most ingenuously that his trade
is not to be trusted on, that he however needs no money, but
would have her money bestowed on her, which I like well, he
saying that he would adventure 2 or £300 with her. I like him
as a most good-natured, and discreet man, and, I believe, very
cunning. We come to this conclusion for us to meete one another
the next weeke, and then we hope to come to some end, for I did
declare myself well satisfied with the match. Thence to Hales’s,
where I met my wife and people; and do find the picture, above
1841
MARCH 1665-1666
all things, a most pretty picture, and mighty like my wife; and I
asked him his price: he says £14, and the truth is, I think he do
deserve it. Thence toward London and home, and I to the office,
where I did much, and betimes to bed, having had of late so little
sleep, and there slept
16th. Till 7 this morning. Up and all the morning about
the Victualler’s business, passing his account. At noon to the
‘Change, and did several businesses, and thence to the Crowne
behind the ‘Change and dined with my Lord Bruncker and Cap-
tain Cocke and Fenn, and Madam Williams, who without ques-
tion must be my Lord’s wife, and else she could not follow him
wherever he goes and kisse and use him publiquely as she do.
Thence to the office, where Sir W. Pen and I made an end of
the Victualler’s business, and thence abroad about several busi-
nesses, and so in the evening back again, and anon called on by
Mr. Povy, and he and I staid together in my chamber till 12 at
night ending our reckonings and giving him tallys for all I was
to pay him and so parted, and I to make good my Journall for two
or three days, and begun it till I come to the other side, where I
have scratched so much, for, for want of sleep, I begun to write
idle and from the purpose. So forced to breake off, and to bed.–
[There are several erasures in the original MS.@@17th. Up, and
to finish my Journall, which I had not sense enough the last night
to make an end of, and thence to the office, where very busy all
the morning. At noon home to dinner and presently with my
wife out to Hales’s, where I am still infinitely pleased with my
wife’s picture. I paid him £14 for it, and 25s. for the frame, and I
think it is not a whit too deare for so good a picture. It is not yet
quite finished and dry, so as to be fit to bring home yet. This day
I begun to sit, and he will make me, I think, a very fine picture.
He promises it shall be as good as my wife’s, and I sit to have it
full of shadows, and do almost break my neck looking over my
shoulder to make the posture for him to work by. Thence home
and to the office, and so home having a great cold, and so my
wife and Mrs. Barbary have very great ones, we are at a loss how
1842
MARCH 1665-1666
we all come by it together, so to bed, drinking butter-ale. This
day my W. Hewer comes from Portsmouth and gives me an in-
stance of another piece of knavery of Sir W. Pen, who wrote to
Commissioner Middleton, that it was my negligence the other
day he was not acquainted, as the board directed, with our clerks
coming down to the pay. But I need no new arguments to teach
me that he is a false rogue to me and all the world besides.
18th (Lord’s day). Up and my cold better, so to church, and
then home to dinner, and so walked out to St. James’s Church,
thinking to have seen faire Mrs. Butler, but could not, she not
being there, nor, I believe, lives thereabouts now. So walked to
Westminster, very fine fair dry weather, but all cry out for lack of
rain. To Herbert’s and drank, and thence to Mrs. Martin’s, and
did what I would with her; her husband going for some wine
for us. The poor man I do think would take pains if I can get
him a purser’s place, which I will endeavour. She tells me as
a secret that Betty Howlet of the Hall, my little sweetheart, that
I used to call my second wife, is married to a younger son of
Mr. Michell’s (his elder brother, who should have had her, be-
ing dead this plague), at which I am glad, and that they are to
live nearer me in Thames Streete, by the Old Swan. Thence by
coach home and to my chamber about some accounts, and so to
bed. Sir Christopher Mings is come home from Hambro without
anything done, saving bringing home some pipestaves for us.
19th. Up betimes and upon a meeting extraordinary at the of-
fice most of the morning with Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Coventry,
and Sir W. Pen, upon the business of the accounts. Where now
we have got almost as much as we would have we begin to lay
all on the Controller, and I fear he will be run down with it, for
he is every day less and less capable of doing business. Thence
with my Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Coventry to the ticket office, to
see in what little order things are there, and there it is a shame to
see how the King is served. Thence to the Chamberlain of Lon-
don, and satisfy ourselves more particularly how much credit we
1843
MARCH 1665-1666
have there, which proves very little. Thence to Sir Robert Long’s,
absent. About much the same business, but have not the satis-
faction we would have there neither. So Sir W. Coventry parted,
and my Lord and I to Mrs. Williams’s, and there I saw her closett,
where indeed a great many fine things there are, but the woman I
hate. Here we dined, and Sir J. Minnes come to us, and after din-
ner we walked to the King’s play-house, all in dirt, they being
altering of the stage to make it wider. But God knows when they
will begin to act again; but my business here was to see the inside
of the stage and all the tiring-rooms and machines; and, indeed,
it was a sight worthy seeing. But to see their clothes, and the vari-
ous sorts, and what a mixture of things there was; here a wooden-
leg, there a ruff, here a hobbyhorse, there a crown, would make
a man split himself to see with laughing; and particularly Lacy’s
wardrobe, and Shotrell’s. But then again, to think how fine they
show on the stage by candle-light, and how poor things they are
to look now too near hand, is not pleasant at all. The machines
are fine, and the paintings very pretty. Thence mightily satis-
fied in my curiosity I away with my Lord to see him at her house
again, and so take leave and by coach home and to the office, and
thence sent for to Sir G. Carteret by and by to the Broad Streete,
where he and I walked two or three hours till it was quite darke
in his gallery talking of his affairs, wherein I assure him all will
do well, and did give him (with great liberty, which he accepted
kindly) my advice to deny the Board nothing they would aske
about his accounts, but rather call upon them to know whether
there was anything more they desired, or was wanting. But our
great discourse and serious reflections was upon the bad state of
the kingdom in general, through want of money and good con-
duct, which we fear will undo all. Thence mightily satisfied with
this good fortune of this discourse with him I home, and there
walked in the darke till 10 o’clock at night in the garden with
Sir W. Warren, talking of many things belonging to us particu-
larly, and I hope to get something considerably by him before the
year be over. He gives me good advice of circumspection in my
1844
MARCH 1665-1666
place, which I am now in great mind to improve; for I think our
office stands on very ticklish terms, the Parliament likely to sit
shortly and likely to be asked more money, and we able to give
a very bad account of the expence of what we have done with
what they did give before. Besides, the turning out the prize of-
ficers may be an example for the King giving us up to the Parlia-
ment’s pleasure as easily, for we deserve it as much. Besides, Sir
G. Carteret did tell me tonight how my Lord Bruncker himself,
whose good-will I could have depended as much on as any, did
himself to him take notice of the many places I have; and though
I was a painful man, yet the Navy was enough for any man to go
through with in his owne single place there, which much trou-
bles me, and shall yet provoke me to more and more care and
diligence than ever. Thence home to supper, where I find my
wife and Mrs. Barbary with great colds, as I also at this time
have. This day by letter from my father he propounds a match
in the country for Pall, which pleased me well, of one that hath
seven score and odd pounds land per annum in possession, and
expects £1000 in money by the death of an old aunt. He hath nei-
ther father, mother, sister, nor brother, but demands £600 down,
and £100 on the birth of first child, which I had some inclination
to stretch to. He is kinsman to, and lives with, Mr. Phillips, but
my wife tells me he is a drunken, ill-favoured, ill-bred country
fellow, which sets me off of it again, and I will go on with Har-
man. So after supper to bed.
20th. Up and to the office, where busy all the morning. At
noon dined in haste, and so my wife, Mrs. Barbary, Mercer, and I
by coach to Hales’s, where I find my wife’s picture now perfectly
finished in all respects, and a beautiful picture it is, as almost I
ever saw. I sat again, and had a great deale done, but, whatever
the matter is, I do not fancy that it has the ayre of my face, though
it will be a very fine picture. Thence home and to my business,
being post night, and so home to supper and to, bed.
21st. Up betimes, and first by coach to my Lord Generall to
1845
MARCH 1665-1666
visitt him, and then to the Duke of Yorke, where we all met and
did our usual business with him; but, Lord! how everything is
yielded to presently, even by Sir W. Coventry, that is propounded
by the Duke, as now to have Troutbecke, his old surgeon, and
intended to go Surgeon-General of the fleete, to go Physician-
General of the fleete, of which there never was any precedent in
the world, and he for that to have £20 per month. Thence with
Lord Bruncker to Sir Robert Long, whom we found in his clos-
ett, and after some discourse of business he fell to discourse at
large and pleasant, and among other things told us of the plenty
of partridges in France, where he says the King of France and his
company killed with their guns, in the plain de Versailles, 300
and odd partridges at one bout. Thence I to the Excise Office
behind the ‘Change, and there find our business of our tallys in
great disorder as to payment, and thereupon do take a resolution
of thinking how to remedy it, as soon as I can. Thence home, and
there met Sir W. Warren, and after I had eat a bit of victuals (he
staying in the office) he and I to White Hall. He to look after the
business of the prize ships which we are endeavouring to buy,
and hope to get money by them. So I to London by coach and to
Gresham College, where I staid half an houre, and so away home
to my office, and there walking late alone in the darke in the gar-
den with Sir W. Warren, who tells me that at the Committee of
the Lords for the prizes to-day, there passed very high words be-
tween my Lord Ashly and Sir W. Coventry, about our business
of the prize ships. And that my Lord Ashly did snuff and talk
as high to him, as he used to do to any ordinary seaman. And
that Sir W. Coventry did take it very quietly, but yet for all did
speak his mind soberly and with reason, and went away, saying,
he had done his duty therein, and so left it to them, whether they
would let so many ships go for masts or not: Here he and I talked
of 1,000 businesses, all profitable discourse, and late parted, and
I home to supper and to bed, troubled a little at a letter from my
father, telling me how [he] is like to be sued for a debt of Tom’s,
by Smith, the mercer.
1846
MARCH 1665-1666
22nd. Up, and to the office all the morning. At noon my wife
being gone to her father’s I dined with Sir W. Batten, he inviting
me. After dinner to my office close, and did very much business,
and so late home to supper and to bed. The plague increased
four this week, which troubles me, though but one in the whole.
23rd. Up, and going out of my dressing-room, when ready to
go down stairs, I spied little Mrs. Tooker, my pretty little girle,
which, it seems, did come yesterday to our house to stay a little
while with us, but I did not know of it till now. I was glad of her
coming, she being a very pretty child, and now grown almost a
woman. I out by six o’clock by appointment to Hales’s, where
we fell to my picture presently very hard, and it comes on a very
fine picture, and very merry, pleasant discourse we had all the
morning while he was painting. Anon comes my wife and Mer-
cer and little Tooker, and having done with me we all to a picture
drawer’s hard by, Hales carrying me to see some landskipps of a
man’s doing. But I do not [like] any of them, save only a piece of
fruit, which indeed was very fine. Thence I to Westminster, to the
Chequer, about a little business, and then to the Swan, and there
sent for a bit of meat and dined; and after dinner had opportunity
of being pleased with Sarah; and so away to Westminster Hall,
and there Mrs. Michell tells me with great joy how little Betty
Howlett is married to her young son Michell, which is a pretty
odd thing, that he should so soon succeed in the match to his el-
der brother that died of the plague, and to the house and trade
intended for him, and more they say that the girle has heretofore
said that she did love this little one more than the other brother
that was intended her all along. I am mighty glad of this match,
and more that they are likely to live near me in Thames Streete,
where I may see Betty now and then, whom I from a girle did use
to call my second wife, and mighty pretty she is. Thence by coach
to Anthony Joyce to receive Harman’s answer, which did trouble
me to receive, for he now demands £800, whereas he never made
exception at the portion, but accepted of £500. This I do not like;
but, however, I cannot much blame the man, if he thinks he can
1847
MARCH 1665-1666
get more of another than of me. So home and hard to my busi-
ness at the office, where much business, and so home to supper
and to bed.
24th. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon
home to dinner, where Anthony Joyce, and I did give my final
answer, I would give but £500 with my sister, and did show him
the good offer made us in the country, to which I did now more
and more incline, and intend to pursue that. After dinner I to
White Hall to a Committee for Tangier, where the Duke of Yorke
was, and I acquitted myself well in what I had to do. After the
Committee up, I had occasion to follow the Duke into his lodg-
ings, into a chamber where the Duchesse was sitting to have her
picture drawn by Lilly, who was there at work. But I was well
pleased to see that there was nothing near so much resemblance
of her face in his work, which is now the second, if not the third
time, as there was of my wife’s at the very first time. Nor do I
think at last it can be like, the lines not being in proportion to
those of her face. So home, and to the office, where late, and so
to bed.
25th (Lady day and Sunday). Up, and to my chamber in my
gowne all the morning about settling my papers there. At noon
to dinner, where my wife’s brother, whom I sent for to offer mak-
ing him a Muster-Master and send to sea, which the poore man
likes well of and will go, and it will be a good preferment to him,
only hazardous. I hope he will prove a good discreet man. After
dinner to my papers and Tangier accounts again till supper, and
after supper again to them, but by my mixing them, I know not
how, my private and publique accounts, it makes me mad to see
how hard it is to bring them to be understood, and my head is
confounded, that though I did sweare to sit up till one o’clock
upon them, yet, I fear, it will be to no purpose, for I cannot un-
derstand what I do or have been doing of them to-day.
26th. Up, and a meeting extraordinary there was of Sir W.
Coventry, Lord Bruncker, and myself, about the business of set-
1848
MARCH 1665-1666
tling the ticket office, where infinite room is left for abusing the
King in the wages of seamen. Our [meeting] being done, my Lord
Bruncker and I to the Tower, to see the famous engraver, to get
him to grave a seale for the office. And did see some of the finest
pieces of work in embossed work, that ever I did see in my life,
for fineness and smallness of the images thereon, and I will carry
my wife thither to shew them her. Here I also did see bars of gold
melting, which was a fine sight. So with my Lord to the Pope’s
Head Taverne in Lumbard Streete to dine by appointment with
Captain Taylor, whither Sir W. Coventry come to us, and were
mighty merry, and I find reason to honour him every day more
and more. Thence alone to Broade Street to Sir G. Carteret by
his desire to confer with him, who is I find in great pain about
the business of the office, and not a little, I believe, in fear of
falling there, Sir W. Coventry having so great a pique against
him, and herein I first learn an eminent instance how great a man
this day, that nobody would think could be shaken, is the next
overthrown, dashed out of countenance, and every small thing
of irregularity in his business taken notice of, where nobody the
other day durst cast an eye upon them, and next I see that he
that the other day nobody durst come near is now as supple as a
spaniel, and sends and speaks to me with great submission, and
readily hears to advice. Thence home to the office, where busy
late, and so home a little to my accounts publique and private,
but could not get myself rightly to know how to dispose of them
in order to passing.
27th. All the morning at the office busy. At noon dined at
home, Mr. Cooke, our old acquaintance at my Lord Sandwich’s,
come to see and dine with me, but I quite out of humour, having
many other and better things to thinke of. Thence to the office
to settle my people’s worke and then home to my publique ac-
counts of Tangier, which it is strange by meddling with evening
reckonings with Mr. Povy lately how I myself am become intan-
gled therein, so that after all I could do, ready to breake my head
and brains, I thought of another way, though not so perfect, yet
1849
MARCH 1665-1666
the only one which this account is capable of. Upon this latter I
sat up till past two in the morning and then to bed.
28th. Up, and with Creed, who come hither betimes to speake
with me about his accounts, to White Hall by water, mighty
merry in discourse, though I had been very little troubled with
him, or did countenance it, having now, blessed be God! a great
deale of good business to mind to better purpose than chat-
ting with him. Waited on the Duke, after that walked with Sir
W. Clerke into St. James’s Parke, and by and by met with Mr.
Hayes, Prince Rupert’s Secretary, who are mighty, both, briske
blades, but I fear they promise themselves more than they ex-
pect. Thence to the Cockpitt, and dined with a great deal of com-
pany at the Duke of Albemarle’s, and a bad and dirty, nasty din-
ner. So by coach to Hales’s, and there sat again, and it is become
mighty like. Hither come my wife and Mercer brought by Mrs.
Pierce and Knipp, we were mighty merry and the picture goes
on the better for it. Thence set them down at Pierces, and we
home, where busy and at my chamber till 12 at night, and so to
bed. This night, I am told, the Queene of Portugall, the mother
to our Queene, is lately dead, and newes brought of it hither this
day.542 29th. All the morning hard at the office. At noon dined
and then out to Lumbard Streete, to look after the getting of some
money that is lodged there of mine in Viner’s hands, I having no
mind to have it lie there longer. So back again and to the office,
where and at home about publique and private business and ac-
counts till past 12 at night, and so to bed. This day, poor Jane,
my old, little Jane, came to us again, to my wife’s and my great
content, and we hope to take mighty pleasure in her, she having
all the marks and qualities of a good and loving and honest ser-
542 Donna Luiza, the Queen Regent of Portugal. She was daughter of the
Duke de Medina Sidonia and widow of Juan IV. The Court wore the deepest
mourning on this occasion. The ladies were directed to wear their hair plain,
and to appear without spots on their faces, the disfiguring fashion of patch-
ing having just been introduced.– Strickland s Queens of England, vol. viii.,
p. 362.
1850
MARCH 1665-1666
vant, she coming by force away from the other place, where she
hath lived ever since she went from us, and at our desire, her late
mistresse having used all the stratagems she could to keepe her.
30th. My wife and I mighty pleased with Jane’s coming to us
again. Up, and away goes Alce, our cooke-mayde, a good ser-
vant, whom we loved and did well by her, and she an excellent
servant, but would not bear being told of any faulte in the fewest
and kindest words and would go away of her owne accord, after
having given her mistresse warning fickly for a quarter of a yeare
together. So we shall take another girle and make little Jane our
cook, at least, make a trial of it. Up, and after much business I
out to Lumbard Streete, and there received £2200 and brought it
home; and, contrary to expectation, received £35 for the use of
£2000 of it [for] a quarter of a year, where it hath produced me
this profit, and hath been a convenience to me as to care and se-
curity of my house, and demandable at two days’ warning, as
this hath been. This morning Sir W. Warren come to me a second
time about having £2000 of me upon his bills on the Act to enable
him to pay for the ships he is buying, wherein I shall have consid-
erable profit. I am loth to do it, but yet speaking with Colvill I do
not see but I shall be able to do it and get money by it too. Thence
home and eat one mouthful, and so to Hales’s, and there sat till
almost quite darke upon working my gowne, which I hired to be
drawn in; an Indian gowne, and I do see all the reason to expect a
most excellent picture of it. So home and to my private accounts
in my chamber till past one in the morning, and so to bed, with
my head full of thoughts for my evening of all my accounts to-
morrow, the latter end of the month, in which God give me good
issue, for I never was in such a confusion in my life and that in
great sums.
31st All the morning at the office busy. At noon to dinner, and
thence to the office and did my business there as soon as I could,
and then home and to my accounts, where very late at them, but,
Lord! what a deale of do I have to understand any part of them,
1851
MARCH 1665-1666
and in short do what I could, I could not come to any under-
standing of them, but after I had throughly wearied myself, I
was forced to go to bed and leave them much against my will
and vowe too, but I hope God will forgive me, for I have sat
up these four nights till past twelve at night to master them, but
cannot. Thus ends this month, with my head and mind mighty
full and disquiett because of my accounts, which I have let go too
long, and confounded my publique with my private that I cannot
come to any liquidating of them. However, I do see that I must
be grown richer than I was by a good deale last month. Busy also
I am in thoughts for a husband for my sister, and to that end my
wife and I have determined that she shall presently go into the
country to my father and mother, and consider of a proffer made
them for her in the country, which, if she likes, shall go forward.
1852
APRIL 1666
April 1st (Lord’s day). Up and abroad, and by coach to Charing
Cross, to wait on Sir Philip Howard; whom I found in bed: and
he do receive me very civilly. My request was about suffering
my wife’s brother to go to sea, and to save his pay in the Duke’s
guards; which after a little difficulty he did with great respect
agree to. I find him a very fine-spoken gentleman, and one of
great parts, and very courteous. Much pleased with this visit I to
White Hall, where I met Sir G. Downing, and to discourse with
him an houre about the Exchequer payments upon the late Act,
and informed myself of him thoroughly in my safety in lending
£2000 to Sir W. Warren, upon an order of his upon the Exchequer
for £2602 and I do purpose to do it. Thence meeting Dr. Allen,
the physician, he and I and another walked in the Parke, a most
pleasant warm day, and to the Queene’s chappell; where I do
not so dislike the musique. Here I saw on a post an invitation to
all good Catholiques to pray for the soul of such a one departed
this life. The Queene, I hear, do not yet hear of the death of her
mother, she being in a course of physique, that they dare not tell
it her. At noon by coach home, and there by invitation met my
uncle and aunt Wight and their cozen Mary, and dined with me
and very merry. After dinner my uncle and I abroad by coach
to White Hall, up and down the house, and I did some business
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APRIL 1666
and thence with him and a gentleman he met with to my Lord
Chancellor’s new house, and there viewed it again and again and
up to the top and I like it as well as ever and think it a most
noble house. So all up and down my Lord St. Albans his new
building and market-house, and the taverne under the market-
house, looking to and again into every place of building, and so
away and took coach and home, where to my accounts, and was
at them till I could not hold open my eyes, and so to bed. I this
afternoon made a visit to my Lady Carteret, whom I understood
newly come to towne; and she took it mighty kindly, but I see
her face and heart are dejected from the condition her husband’s
matters stand in. But I hope they will do all well enough. And I
do comfort her as much as I can, for she is a noble lady.
2nd. Up, and to the office and thence with Mr. Gawden to
Guildhall to see the bills and tallys there in the chamber (and by
the way in the streete his new coach broke and we fain to take an
old hackney). Thence to the Exchequer again to inform myself
of some other points in the new Act in order to my lending Sir
W. Warren £2000 upon an order of his upon the Act, which they
all encourage me to. There walking with Mr. Gawden in West-
minster Hall, he and I to talke from one business to another and
at last to the marriage of his daughter. He told me the story of
Creed’s pretences to his daughter, and how he would not believe
but she loved him, while his daughter was in great passion on
the other hand against him. Thence to talke of his son Benjamin;
and I propounded a match for him, and at last named my sis-
ter, which he embraces heartily, and speaking of the lowness of
her portion, that it would be less than £1000, he tells me if every
thing else agrees, he will out of what he means to give me yearly,
make a portion for her shall cost me nothing more than I intend
freely. This did mightily rejoice me and full of it did go with him
to London to the ‘Change; and there did much business and at
the Coffee-house with Sir W. Warren, who very wisely did shew
me that my matching my sister with Mr. Gawden would undo
me in all my places, everybody suspecting me in all I do; and
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APRIL 1666
I shall neither be able to serve him, nor free myself from impu-
tation of being of his faction, while I am placed for his severest
check. I was convinced that it would be for neither of our inter-
ests to make this alliance, and so am quite off of it again, but with
great satisfaction in the motion. Thence to the Crowne tavern be-
hind the Exchange to meet with Cocke and Fenn and did so, and
dined with them, and after dinner had the intent of our meeting,
which was some private discourse with Fenn, telling him what
I hear and think of his business, which he takes very kindly and
says he will look about him. It was about his giving of ill lan-
guage and answers to people that come to him about money and
some other particulars. This morning Mrs. Barbary and little
Mrs. Tooker went away homeward. Thence my wife by coach
calling me at White Hall to visit my Lady Carteret, and she was
not within. So to Westminster Hall, where I purposely tooke my
wife well dressed into the Hall to see and be seen; and, among
others, [met] Howlet’s daughter, who is newly married, and is
she I call wife, and one I love mightily. So to Broad Streete and
there met my Lady and Sir G. Carteret, and sat and talked with
them a good while and so home, and to my accounts which I can-
not get through with. But at it till I grew drowsy, and so to bed
mightily vexed that I can come to no better issue in my accounts.
3rd. Up, and Sir W. Warren with me betimes and signed a
bond, and assigned his order on the Exchequer to a blank for
me to fill and I did deliver him £1900. The truth is, it is a great
venture to venture so much on the Act, but thereby I hedge in
£300 gift for my service about some ships that he hath bought,
prizes, and good interest besides, and his bond to repay me the
money at six weeks’ warning. So to the office, where busy all the
morning. At noon home to dinner, and there my brother Balty
dined with me and my wife, who is become a good serious man,
and I hope to do him good being sending him a Muster-Master
on one of the squadrons of the fleete. After dinner and he gone
I to my accounts hard all the afternoon till it was quite darke,
and I thank God I do come to bring them very fairly to make me
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APRIL 1666
worth £5,000 stocke in the world, which is a great mercy to me.
Though I am a little troubled to find £50 difference between the
particular account I make to myself of my profits and loss in each
month and the account which I raise from my acquittances and
money which I have at the end of every month in my chest and
other men’s hands. However I do well believe that I am effectu-
ally £5,000, the greatest sum I ever was in my life yet, and this
day I have as I have said before agreed with Sir W. Warren and
got of him £300 gift. At night a while to the office and then home
and supped and to my accounts again till I was ready to sleepe,
there being no pleasure to handle them, if they are not kept in
good order. So to bed.
4th. Up, and with Sir W. Pen in his coach to White Hall, in his
way talking simply and fondly as he used to do, but I find my-
self to slight him and his simple talke, I thank God, and that my
condition will enable me to do it. Thence, after doing our busi-
ness with the Duke of Yorke, with Captain Cocke home to the
‘Change in his coach. He promises me presently a dozen of sil-
ver salts, and proposes a business for which he hath promised
Mrs. Williams for my Lord Bruncker a set of plate shall cost
him £500 and me the like, which will be a good business indeed.
After done several businesses at the ‘Change I home, and being
washing day dined upon cold meate, and so abroad by coach to
Hales’s, and there sat till night, mightily pleased with my picture,
which is now almost finished. So by coach home, it being the fast
day and to my chamber and so after supper to bed, consulting
how to send my wife into the country to advise about Pall’s mar-
riage, which I much desire, and my father too, and two or three
offers are now in hand.
5th. Up, and before office time to Lumbard Streete, and there
at Viner’s was shewn the silver plates, made for Captain Cocke
to present my Lord Bruncker; and I chose a dozen of the same
weight to be bespoke for myself, which he told me yesterday he
would give me on the same occasion. To the office, where the
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falsenesse and impertinencies of Sir W. Pen would make a man
mad to think of. At noon would have avoided, but could not,
dining with my Lord Bruncker and his mistresse with Captain
Cocke at the Sun Taverne in Fish Streete, where a good dinner,
but the woman do tire me, and indeed how simply my Lord
Bruncker, who is otherwise a wise man, do proceed at the table
in serving of Cocke, without any means of understanding in his
proposal, or defence when proposed, would make a man think
him a foole. After dinner home, where I find my wife hath on a
sudden, upon notice of a coach going away to-morrow, taken a
resolution of going in it to Brampton, we having lately thought
it fit for her to go to satisfy herself and me in the nature of the
fellow that is there proposed to my sister. So she to fit herself for
her journey and I to the office all the afternoon till late, and so
home and late putting notes to “It is decreed, nor shall thy fate,
&c.” and then to bed. The plague is, to our great grief, encreased
nine this week, though decreased a few in the total. And this en-
crease runs through many parishes, which makes us much fear
the next year.
6th. Up mighty betimes upon my wife’s going this day toward
Brampton. I could not go to the coach with her, but W. Hewer did
and hath leave from me to go the whole day’s journey with her.
All the morning upon business at the office, and at noon dined,
and Mrs. Hunt coming lent her £5 on her occasions and so car-
ried her to Axe Yard end at Westminster and there left her, a good
and understanding woman, and her husband I perceive thrives
mightily in his business of the Excise. Thence to Mr. Hales and
there sat, and my picture almost finished, which by the word of
Mr. and Mrs. Pierce (who come in accidently) is mighty like,
and I am sure I am mightily pleased both in the thing and the
posture. Thence with them home a little, and so to White Hall
and there met by agreement with Sir Stephen Fox and Mr. Ash-
burnham, and discoursed the business of our Excise tallys; the
former being Treasurer of the guards, and the other Cofferer of
the King’s household. I benefitted much by their discourse. We
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APRIL 1666
come to no great conclusion upon our discourse, but parted, and
I home, where all things, methinks, melancholy in the absence of
my wife. This day great newes of the Swedes declaring for us
against the Dutch, and, so far as that, I believe it. After a little
supper to bed.
7th. Lay pretty long to-day, lying alone and thinking of sev-
eral businesses. So up to the office and there till noon. Thence
with my Lord Bruncker home by coach to Mrs. Williams’s, where
Bab. Allen and Dr. Charleton dined. Bab and I sang and were
mighty merry as we could be there, where the rest of the com-
pany did not overplease. Thence took her by coach to Hales’s,
and there find Mrs. Pierce and her boy and Mary. She had done
sitting the first time, and indeed her face is mighty like at first
dash. Thence took them to the cakehouse, and there called in
the coach for cakes and drank, and thence I carried them to my
Lord Chancellor’s new house to shew them that, and all might-
ily pleased, thence set each down at home, and so I home to the
office, where about ten of the clock W. Hewer comes to me to tell
me that he has left my wife well this morning at Bugden, which
was great riding, and brings me a letter from her. She is very well
got thither, of which I am heartily glad. After writing several let-
ters, I home to supper and to bed. The Parliament of which I was
afraid of their calling us of the Navy to an account of the expense
of money and stores and wherein we were so little ready to give
them a good answer [will soon meet]. The Bishop of Munster,
every body says, is coming to peace with the Dutch, we having
not supplied him with the money promised him.
8th (Lord’s day). Up, and was in great trouble how to get a
passage to White Hall, it raining, and no coach to be had. So I
walked to the Old Swan, and there got a scull. To the Duke of
Yorke, where we all met to hear the debate between Sir Thomas
Allen and Mr. Wayth; the former complaining of the latter’s ill
usage of him at the late pay of his ship. But a very sorry poor oc-
casion he had for it. The Duke did determine it with great judge-
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APRIL 1666
ment, chiding both, but encouraging Wayth to continue to be a
check to all captains in any thing to the King’s right. And, in-
deed, I never did see the Duke do any thing more in order, nor
with more judgement than he did pass the verdict in this busi-
ness. The Court full this morning of the newes of Tom Cheffin’s
death, the King’s closett-keeper. He was well last night as ever,
flaying at tables in the house, and not very ill this morning at six
o’clock, yet dead before seven: they think, of an imposthume in
his breast. But it looks fearfully among people nowadays, the
plague, as we hear, encreasing every where again. To the Chap-
pell, but could not get in to hear well. But I had the pleasure
once in my life to see an Archbishop (this was of Yorke) in a pul-
pit. Then at a loss how to get home to dinner, having promised
to carry Mrs. Hunt thither. At last got my Lord Hinchingbroke’s
coach, he staying at Court; and so took her up in Axe-yard, and
home and dined. And good discourse of the old matters of the
Protector and his family, she having a relation to them. The Pro-
tector543 lives in France: spends about £500 per annum. Thence
carried her home again and then to Court and walked over to St.
James’s Chappell, thinking to have heard a Jesuite preach, but
come too late. So got a hackney and home, and there to busi-
ness. At night had Mercer comb my head and so to supper, sing
a psalm, and to bed.
9th. Up betimes, and with my Joyner begun the making of
the window in my boy’s chamber bigger, purposing it shall be
a roome to eat and for having musique in. To the office, where
a meeting upon extraordinary business, at noon to the ‘Change
about more, and then home with Creed and dined, and then with
him to the Committee of Tangier, where I got two or three things
done I had a mind to of convenience to me. Thence by coach to
Mrs. Pierce’s, and with her and Knipp and Mrs. Pierce’s boy
and girle abroad, thinking to have been merry at Chelsey; but
543 Richard Cromwell subsequently returned to England, and resided in
strict privacy at Cheshunt for some years before his death in 1712
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APRIL 1666
being come almost to the house by coach near the waterside, a
house alone, I think the Swan, a gentleman walking by called to
us to tell us that the house was shut up of the sicknesse. So we
with great affright turned back, being holden to the gentleman;
and went away (I for my part in great disorder) for Kensington,
and there I spent about 30s. upon the jades with great pleasure,
and we sang finely and staid till about eight at night, the night
coming on apace and so set them down at Pierce’s, and so away
home, where awhile with Sir W. Warren about business, and then
to bed,
10th. Up betimes, and many people to me about business. To
the office and there sat till noon, and then home and dined, and to
the office again all the afternoon, where we sat all, the first time of
our resolution to sit both forenoons and afternoons. Much busi-
ness at night and then home, and though late did see some work
done by the plasterer to my new window in the boy’s chamber
plastered. Then to supper, and after having my head combed by
the little girle to bed. Bad news that the plague is decreased in
the general again and two increased in the sickness.
11th. To White Hall, having first set my people to worke about
setting me rails upon the leads of my wife’s closett, a thing I
have long designed, but never had a fit opportunity till now.
After having done with the Duke of Yorke, I to Hales’s, where
there was nothing found to be done more to my picture, but
the musique, which now pleases me mightily, it being painted
true. Thence home, and after dinner to Gresham College, where
a great deal of do and formality in choosing of the Council and
Officers. I had three votes to be of the Council, who am but a
stranger, nor expected any. So my Lord Bruncker being con-
firmed President I home, where I find to my great content my
rails up upon my leads. To the office and did a little business, and
then home and did a great jobb at my Tangier accounts, which I
find are mighty apt to run into confusion, my head also being
too full of other businesses and pleasures. This noon Bagwell’s
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APRIL 1666
wife come to me to the office, after her being long at Portsmouth.
After supper, and past 12 at night to bed.
12th. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon
dined at home and so to my office again, and taking a turne in
the garden my Lady Pen comes to me and takes me into her
house, where I find her daughter and a pretty lady of her ac-
quaintance, one Mrs. Lowder, sister, I suppose, of her servant
Lowder’s, with whom I, notwithstanding all my resolution to
follow business close this afternoon, did stay talking and play-
ing the foole almost all the afternoon, and there saw two or three
foolish sorry pictures of her doing, but very ridiculous compared
to what my wife do. She grows mighty homely and looks old.
Thence ashamed at myself for this losse of time, yet not able to
leave it, I to the office, where my Lord Bruncker come; and he
and I had a little fray, he being, I find, a very peevish man, if he
be denied what he expects, and very simple in his argument in
this business (about signing a warrant for paying Sir Thos. Allen
£1000 out of the groats); but we were pretty good friends before
we parted, and so we broke up and I to the writing my letters by
the post, and so home to supper and to bed.
13th. Up, being called up by my wife’s brother, for whom
I have got a commission from the Duke of Yorke for Muster-
Master of one of the divisions, of which Harman is Rere-
Admirall, of which I am glad as well as he. After I had acquainted
him with it, and discoursed a little of it, I went forth and took
him with me by coach to the Duke of Albemarle, who being not
up, I took a walk with Balty into the Parke, and to the Queene’s
Chappell, it being Good Friday, where people were all upon their
knees very silent; but, it seems, no masse this day. So back and
waited on the Duke and received some commands of his, and so
by coach to Mr. Hales’s, where it is pretty strange to see that his
second doing, I mean the second time of her sitting, is less like
Mrs. Pierce than the first, and yet I am confident will be most
like her, for he is so curious that I do not see how it is possible
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for him to mistake. Here he and I presently resolved of going
to White Hall, to spend an houre in the galleries there among
the pictures, and we did so to my great satisfaction, he shewing
me the difference in the payntings, and when I come more and
more to distinguish and observe the workmanship, I do not find
so many good things as I thought there was, but yet great dif-
ference between the works of some and others; and, while my
head and judgment was full of these, I would go back again to
his house to see his pictures, and indeed, though, I think, at first
sight some difference do open, yet very inconsiderably but that
I may judge his to be very good pictures. Here we fell into dis-
course of my picture, and I am for his putting out the Landskipp,
though he says it is very well done, yet I do judge it will be best
without it, and so it shall be put out, and be made a plain sky like
my wife’s picture, which will be very noble. Thence called upon
an old woman in Pannier Ally to agree for ruling of some paper
for me and she will do it pretty cheap. Here I found her have a
very comely black mayde to her servant, which I liked very well.
So home to dinner and to see my joiner do the bench upon my
leads to my great content. After dinner I abroad to carry paper
to my old woman, and so to Westminster Hall, and there beyond
my intention or design did see and speak with Betty Howlett, at
her father’s still, and it seems they carry her to her own house
to begin the world with her young husband on Monday next,
Easter Monday. I please myself with the thoughts of her neigh-
bourhood, for I love the girl mightily. Thence home, and thither
comes Mr. Houblon and a brother, with whom I evened for the
charter parties of their ships for Tangier, and paid them the third
advance on their freight to full satisfaction, and so, they being
gone, comes Creed and with him till past one in the morning,
evening his accounts till my head aked and I was fit for nothing,
however, coming at last luckily to see through and settle all to
my mind, it did please me mightily, and so with my mind at rest
to bed, and he with me and hard to sleep.
14th. Up about seven and finished our papers, he and I, and I
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APRIL 1666
delivered him tallys and some money and so away I to the office,
where we sat all the morning. At noon dined at home and Creed
with me, then parted, and I to the office, and anon called thence
by Sir H. Cholmley and he and I to my chamber, and there settled
our matters of accounts, and did give him tallys and money to
clear him, and so he being gone and all these accounts cleared I
shall be even with the King, so as to make a very clear and short
account in a very few days, which pleases me very well. Here he
and I discoursed a great while about Tangier, and he do convince
me, as things are now ordered by my Lord Bellasses and will be
by Norwood (men that do only mind themselves), the garrison
will never come to any thing, and he proposes his owne being
governor, which in truth I do think will do very well, and that
he will bring it to something. He gone I to my office, where to
write letters late, and then home and looked over a little more
my papers of accounts lately passed, and so to bed.
15th (Easter Day). Up and by water to Westminster to the Swan
to lay down my cloak, and there found Sarah alone, with whom
after I had staid awhile I to White Hall Chapel, and there coming
late could hear nothing of the Bishop of London’s sermon. So
walked into the Park to the Queene’s chappell, and there heard a
good deal of their mass, and some of their musique, which is not
so contemptible, I think, as our people would make it, it pleas-
ing me very well; and, indeed, better than the anthem I heard
afterwards at White Hall, at my coming back. I staid till the King
went down to receive the Sacrament, and stood in his closett with
a great many others, and there saw him receive it, which I did
never see the manner of before. But I do see very little differ-
ence between the degree of the ceremonies used by our people in
the administration thereof, and that in the Roman church, saving
that methought our Chappell was not so fine, nor the manner of
doing it so glorious, as it was in the Queene’s chappell. Thence
walked to Mr. Pierces, and there dined, I alone with him and her
and their children: very good company and good discourse, they
being able to tell me all the businesses of the Court; the amours
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APRIL 1666
and the mad doings that are there; how for certain Mrs. Stewart
do do everything with the King that a mistress should do; and
that the King hath many bastard children that are known and
owned, besides the Duke of Monmouth. After a great deale of
this discourse I walked thence into the Parke with her little boy
James with me, who is the wittiest boy and the best company
in the world, and so back again through White Hall both com-
ing and going, and people did generally take him to be my boy
and some would aske me. Thence home to Mr. Pierce again;
and he being gone forth, she and I and the children out by coach
to Kensington, to where we were the other day, and with great
pleasure stayed till night; and were mighty late getting home,
the horses tiring and stopping at every twenty steps. By the way
we discoursed of Mrs. Clerke, who, she says, is grown mighty
high, fine, and proud, but tells me an odd story how Captain Rolt
did see her the other day accost a gentleman in Westminster Hall
and went with him, and he dogged them to Moorefields to a lit-
tle blind bawdy house, and there staid watching three hours and
they come not out, so could stay no longer but left them there,
and he is sure it was she, he knowing her well and describing
her very clothes to Mrs. Pierce, which she knows are what she
wears. Seeing them well at home I homeward, but the horses at
Ludgate Hill made a final stop; so there I ‘lighted, and with a
linke, it being about 10 o’clock, walked home, and after singing
a Psalm or two and supped to bed.
16th. Up, and set my people, Mercer, W. Hewer, Tom and
the girle at work at ruling and stitching my ruled book for the
Muster-Masters, and I hard toward the settling of my Tangier ac-
counts. At noon dined alone, the girl Mercer taking physique
can eat nothing, and W. Hewer went forth to dinner. So up to
my accounts again, and then comes Mrs. Mercer and fair Mrs.
Turner, a neighbour of hers that my wife knows by their means,
to visit me. I staid a great while with them, being taken with this
pretty woman, though a mighty silly, affected citizen woman she
is. Then I left them to come to me at supper anon, and myself out
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APRIL 1666
by coach to the old woman in Pannyer Alley for my ruled papers,
and they are done, and I am much more taken with her black
maid Nan. Thence further to Westminster, thinking to have met
Mrs. Martin, but could not find her, so back and called at Kirton’s
to borrow 10s. to pay for my ruled papers, I having not money
in my pocket enough to pay for them. But it was a pretty con-
sideration that on this occasion I was considering where I could
with most confidence in a time of need borrow 10s., and I protest
I could not tell where to do it and with some trouble and fear
did aske it here. So that God keepe me from want, for I shall
be in a very bad condition to helpe myself if ever I should come
to want or borrow. Thence called for my papers and so home,
and there comes Mrs. Turner and Mercer and supped with me,
and well pleased I was with their company, but especially Mrs.
Turner’s, she being a very pretty woman of person and her face
pretty good, the colour of her haire very fine and light. They staid
with me talking till about eleven o’clock and so home, W. Hewer,
who supped with me, leading them home. So I to bed.
17th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon
dined at home, my brother Balty with me, who is fitting himself
to go to sea. So after dinner to my accounts and did proceed a
good way in settling them, and thence to the office, where all the
afternoon late, writing my letters and doing business, but, Lord!
what a conflict I had with myself, my heart tempting me 1000
times to go abroad about some pleasure or other, notwithstand-
ing the weather foule. However I reproached myself with my
weaknesse in yielding so much my judgment to my sense, and
prevailed with difficulty and did not budge, but stayed within,
and, to my great content, did a great deale of business, and so
home to supper and to bed. This day I am told that Moll Davis,
the pretty girle, that sang and danced so well at the Duke’s house,
is dead.
18th. [Up] and by coach with Sir W. Batten and Sir Thos. Allen
to White Hall, and there after attending the Duke as usual and
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there concluding of many things preparatory to the Prince and
Generall’s going to sea on Monday next, Sir W. Batten and Sir T.
Allen and I to Mr. Lilly’s, the painter’s; and there saw the heads,
some finished, and all begun, of the Flaggmen in the late great
fight with the Duke of Yorke against the Dutch. The Duke of
Yorke hath them done to hang in his chamber, and very finely
they are done indeed. Here is the Prince’s, Sir G. Askue’s, Sir
Thomas Teddiman’s, Sir Christopher Mings, Sir Joseph Jordan,
Sir William Barkeley, Sir Thomas Allen, and Captain Harman’s,
as also the Duke of Albemarle’s; and will be my Lord Sandwich’s,
Sir W. Pen’s, and Sir Jeremy Smith’s. Being very well satisfied
with this sight, and other good pictures hanging in the house, we
parted, and I left them, and [to] pass away a little time went to
the printed picture seller’s in the way thence to the Exchange,
and there did see great plenty of fine prints; but did not buy
any, only a print of an old pillar in Rome made for a Navall
Triumph,544 which for the antiquity of the shape of ships, I buy
and keepe. Thence to the Exchange, that is, the New Exchange,
and looked over some play books and intend to get all the late
new plays. So to Westminster, and there at the Swan got a bit
of meat and dined alone; and so away toward King’s Street, and
spying out of my coach Jane that lived heretofore at Jevons, my
barber’s, I went a little further and stopped, and went on foot
back, and overtook her, taking water at Westminster Bridge, and
spoke to her, and she telling me whither she was going I over
the water and met her at Lambeth, and there drank with her; she
telling me how he that was so long her servant, did prove to be
a married man, though her master told me (which she denies)
that he had lain with her several times in his house. There left
her ‘sans essayer alcune cose con elle’, and so away by boat to
the ‘Change, and took coach and to Mr. Hales, where he would
544 The columna rostrata erected in the Forum to C. Duilius, who obtained
a triumph for the first naval victory over the Carthaginians, B.C. 261. Part
of the column was discovered in the ruins of the Forum near the Arch of
Septimius, and transferred to the Capitol.–B.
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APRIL 1666
have persuaded me to have had the landskipp stand in my pic-
ture, but I like it not and will have it otherwise, which I perceive
he do not like so well, however is so civil as to say it shall be
altered. Thence away to Mrs. Pierces, who was not at home,
but gone to my house to visit me with Mrs. Knipp. I therefore
took up the little girle Betty and my mayde Mary that now lives
there and to my house, where they had been but were gone, so in
our way back again met them coming back again to my house in
Cornehill, and there stopped laughing at our pretty misfortunes,
and so I carried them to Fish Streete, and there treated them with
prawns and lobsters, and it beginning to grow darke we away,
but the jest is our horses would not draw us up the Hill, but we
were fain to ‘light and stay till the coachman had made them
draw down to the bottom of the Hill, thereby warming their legs,
and then they came up cheerfully enough, and we got up and I
carried them home, and coming home called at my paper ruler’s
and there found black Nan, which pleases me mightily, and hav-
ing saluted her again and again away home and to bed..... In all
my ridings in the coach and intervals my mind hath been full
these three weeks of setting in musique “It is decreed, &c.”
19th. Lay long in bed, so to the office, where all the morn-
ing. At noon dined with Sir W. Warren at the Pope’s Head. So
back to the office, and there met with the Commissioners of the
Ordnance, where Sir W. Pen being almost drunk vexed me, and
the more because Mr. Chichly observed it with me, and it was
a disparagement to the office. They gone I to my office. Anon
comes home my wife from Brampton, not looked for till Satur-
day, which will hinder me of a little pleasure, but I am glad of
her coming. She tells me Pall’s business with Ensum is like to
go on, but I must give, and she consents to it, another 100. She
says she doubts my father is in want of money, for rents come
in mighty slowly. My mother grows very unpleasant and trou-
blesome and my father mighty infirm through his old distemper,
which altogether makes me mighty thoughtfull. Having heard
all this and bid her welcome I to the office, where late, and so
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APRIL 1666
home, and after a little more talk with my wife, she to bed and I
after her.
20th. Up, and after an houre or two’s talke with my poor wife,
who gives me more and more content every day than other, I
abroad by coach to Westminster, and there met with Mrs. Martin,
and she and I over the water to Stangold, and after a walke in the
fields to the King’s Head, and there spent an houre or two with
pleasure with her, and eat a tansy and so parted, and I to the
New Exchange, there to get a list of all the modern plays which
I intend to collect and to have them bound up together. Thence
to Mr. Hales’s, and there, though against his particular mind,
I had my landskipp done out, and only a heaven made in the
roome of it, which though it do not please me thoroughly now
it is done, yet it will do better than as it was before. Thence to
Paul’s Churchyarde, and there bespoke some new books, and so
to my ruling woman’s and there did see my work a doing, and
so home and to my office a little, but was hindered of business
I intended by being sent for to Mrs. Turner, who desired some
discourse with me and lay her condition before me, which is bad
and poor. Sir Thomas Harvey intends again to have lodgings
in her house, which she prays me to prevent if I can, which I
promised. Thence to talke generally of our neighbours. I find she
tells me the faults of all of them, and their bad words of me and
my wife, and indeed do discover more than I thought. So I told
her, and so will practise that I will have nothing to do with any
of them. She ended all with a promise of shells to my wife, very
fine ones indeed, and seems to have great respect and honour for
my wife. So home and to bed.
21st. Up betimes and to the office, there to prepare some things
against the afternoon for discourse about the business of the
pursers and settling the pursers’ matters of the fleete according
to my proposition. By and by the office sat, and they being up I
continued at the office to finish my matters against the meeting
before the Duke this afternoon, so home about three to clap a bit
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APRIL 1666
of meate in my mouth, and so away with Sir W. Batten to White
Hall, and there to the Duke, but he being to go abroad to take
the ayre, he dismissed us presently without doing any thing till
to-morrow morning. So my Lord Bruncker and I down to walk
in the garden [at White Hall], it being a mighty hot and pleas-
ant day; and there was the King, who, among others, talked to
us a little; and among other pretty things, he swore merrily that
he believed the ketch that Sir W. Batten bought the last year at
Colchester was of his own getting, it was so thick to its length.
Another pleasant thing he said of Christopher Pett, commend-
ing him that he will not alter his moulds of his ships upon any
man’s advice; “as,” says he, “Commissioner Taylor I fear do of
his New London, that he makes it differ, in hopes of mending the
Old London, built by him.” “For,” says he, “he finds that God
hath put him into the right, and so will keep in it while he is in.”
“And,” says the King, “I am sure it must be God put him in, for
no art of his owne ever could have done it;” for it seems he can-
not give a good account of what he do as an artist. Thence with
my Lord Bruncker in his coach to Hide Parke, the first time I have
been there this year. There the King was; but I was sorry to see
my Lady Castlemaine, for the mourning forceing all the ladies to
go in black, with their hair plain and without any spots, I find
her to be a much more ordinary woman than ever I durst have
thought she was; and, indeed, is not so pretty as Mrs. Stewart,
whom I saw there also. Having done at the Park he set me down
at the Exchange, and I by coach home and there to my letters,
and they being done, to writing a large letter about the business
of the pursers to Sir W. Batten against to-morrow’s discourse, and
so home and to bed.
22nd (Lord’s day). Up, and put on my new black coate, long
down to my knees, and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall, where
all in deep mourning for the Queene’s mother. There had great
discourse, before the Duke and Sir W. Coventry begun the dis-
course of the day about the purser’s business, which I seconded,
and with great liking to the Duke, whom however afterward my
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Lord Bruncker and Sir W. Pen did stop by some thing they said,
though not much to the purpose, yet because our proposition
had some appearance of certain charge to the King it was ruled
that for this year we should try another the same in every respect
with ours, leaving out one circumstance of allowing the pursers
the victuals of all men short of the complement. I was very well
satisfied with it and am contented to try it, wishing it may prove
effectual. Thence away with Sir W. Batten in his coach home,
in our way he telling me the certaine newes, which was after-
ward confirmed to me this day by several, that the Bishopp of
Munster has made a league [with] the Hollanders, and that our
King and Court are displeased much at it: moreover we are not
sure of Sweden. I home to my house, and there dined mighty
well, my poor wife and Mercer and I. So back again walked to
White Hall, and there to and again in the Parke, till being in
the shoemaker’s stockes.–[A cant expression for tight shoes.]–I
was heartily weary, yet walked however to the Queene’s Chap-
pell at St. James’s, and there saw a little mayde baptized; many
parts and words whereof are the same with that of our Liturgy,
and little that is more ceremonious than ours. Thence walked to
Westminster and eat a bit of bread and drank, and so to Worster
House, and there staid, and saw the Council up, and then back,
walked to the Cockepitt, and there took my leave of the Duke of
Albemarle, who is going to-morrow to sea. He seems mightily
pleased with me, which I am glad of; but I do find infinitely my
concernment in being careful to appear to the King and Duke to
continue my care of his business, and to be found diligent as I
used to be. Thence walked wearily as far as Fleet Streete and so
there met a coach and home to supper and to bed, having sat a
great while with Will Joyce, who come to see me, and it is the first
time I have seen him at my house since the plague, and find him
the same impertinent, prating coxcombe that ever he was.
23rd. Being mighty weary last night, lay long this morning,
then up and to the office, where Sir W. Batten, Lord Bruncker
and I met, and toward noon took coach and to White Hall, where
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APRIL 1666
I had the opportunity to take leave of the Prince, and again of
the Duke of Albemarle; and saw them kiss the King’s hands and
the Duke’s; and much content, indeed, there seems to be in all
people at their going to sea, and [they] promise themselves much
good from them. This morning the House of Parliament do meet,
only to adjourne again till winter. The plague, I hear, encreases
in the towne much, and exceedingly in the country everywhere.
Thence walked to Westminster Hall, and after a little stay, there
being nothing now left to keep me there, Betty Howlett being
gone, I took coach and away home, in my way asking in two
or three places the worth of pearles, I being now come to the
time that I have long ago promised my wife a necklace. Dined at
home and took Balty with me to Hales’s to show him his sister’s
picture, and thence to Westminster, and there I to the Swan and
drank, and so back again alone to Hales’s and there met my wife
and Mercer, Mrs. Pierce being sitting, and two or three idle peo-
ple of her acquaintance more standing by. Her picture do come
on well. So staid until she had done and then set her down at
home, and my wife and I and the girle by coach to Islington, and
there eat and drank in the coach and so home, and there find a
girle sent at my desire by Mrs. Michell of Westminster Hall, to be
my girle under the cooke-mayde, Susan. But I am a little dissat-
isfied that the girle, though young, is taller and bigger than Su,
and will not, I fear, be under her command, which will trouble
me, and the more because she is recommended by a friend that I
would not have any unkindness with, but my wife do like very
well of her. So to my accounts and journall at my chamber, there
being bonfires in the streete, for being St. George’s day, and the
King’s Coronation, and the day of the Prince and Duke’s going
to sea. So having done my business, to bed.
24th. Up, and presently am told that the girle that came yester-
day hath packed up her things to be gone home again to Enfield,
whence she come, which I was glad of, that we might be at first
rid of her altogether rather than be liable to her going away here-
after. The reason was that London do not agree with her. So I
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APRIL 1666
did give her something, and away she went. By and by comes
Mr. Bland to me, the first time since his coming from Tangier,
and tells me, in short, how all things are out of order there, and
like to be; and the place never likely to come to anything while
the soldiers govern all, and do not encourage trade. He gone I to
the office, where all the morning, and so to dinner, and there in
the afternoon very busy all day till late, and so home to supper
and to bed.
25th. Up, and to White Hall to the Duke as usual, and did our
business there. So I away to Westminster (Batty with me, whom
I had presented to Sir W. Coventry) and there told Mrs. Michell
of her kinswoman’s running away, which troubled her. So home,
and there find another little girle come from my wife’s mother,
likely to do well. After dinner I to the office, where Mr. Prin
come to meet about the Chest business; and till company come,
did discourse with me a good while alone in the garden about the
laws of England, telling me the many faults in them; and among
others, their obscurity through multitude of long statutes, which
he is about to abstract out of all of a sort; and as he lives, and
Parliaments come, get them put into laws, and the other statutes
repealed, and then it will be a short work to know the law, which
appears a very noble good thing. By and by Sir W. Batten and Sir
W. Rider met with us, and we did something to purpose about
the Chest, and hope we shall go on to do so. They up, I to present
Batty to Sir W. Pen, who at my entreaty did write a most obliging
letter to Harman to use him civilly, but the dissembling of the
rogue is such, that it do not oblige me at all. So abroad to my
ruler’s of my books, having, God forgive me! a mind to see Nan
there, which I did, and so back again, and then out again to see
Mrs. Bettons, who were looking out of the window as I come
through Fenchurch Streete. So that indeed I am not, as I ought
to be, able to command myself in the pleasures of my eye. So
home, and with my wife and Mercer spent our evening upon our
new leads by our bedchamber singing, while Mrs. Mary Batelier
looked out of the window to us, and we talked together, and at
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APRIL 1666
last bid good night. However, my wife and I staid there talking of
several things with great pleasure till eleven o’clock at night, and
it is a convenience I would not want for any thing in the world, it
being, methinks, better than almost any roome in my house. So
having, supped upon the leads, to bed. The plague, blessed be
God! is decreased sixteen this week.
26th. To the office, where all the morning. At noon home to
dinner, and in the afternoon to my office again, where very busy
all the afternoon and particularly about fitting of Mr. Yeabsly’s
accounts for the view of the Lords Commissioners for Tangier. At
night home to supper and to bed.
27th. Up (taking Balty with me, who lay at my house last
[night] in order to his going away to-day to sea with the pursers
of the Henery, whom I appointed to call him), abroad to many
several places about several businesses, to my Lord Treasurer’s,
Westminster, and I know not where. At noon to the ‘Change a
little, and there bespoke some maps to hang in my new roome
(my boy’s roome) which will be very-pretty. Home to dinner,
and after dinner to the hanging up of maps, and other things for
the fitting of the roome, and now it will certainly be one of the
handsomest and most usefull roomes in my house. So that what
with this room and the room on my leads my house is half as
good again as it was. All this afternoon about this till I was so
weary and it was late I could do no more but finished the room.
So I did not get out to the office all the day long. At night spent
a good deale of time with my wife and Mercer teaching them a
song, and so after supper to bed.
28th. Up and to the office. At noon dined at home. After din-
ner abroad with my wife to Hales’s to see only our pictures and
Mrs. Pierce’s, which I do not think so fine as I might have ex-
pected it. My wife to her father’s, to carry him some ruling work,
which I have advised her to let him do. It will get him some
money. She also is to look out again for another little girle, the last
we had being also gone home the very same day she came. She
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APRIL 1666
was also to look after a necklace of pearle, which she is mighty
busy about, I being contented to lay out £80 in one for her. I home
to my business. By and by comes my wife and presently after, the
tide serving, Balty took leave of us, going to sea, and upon very
good terms, to be Muster-Master of a squadron, which will be
worth £100 this yeare to him, besides keeping him the benefit of
his pay in the Guards. He gone, I very busy all the afternoon till
night, among other things, writing a letter to my brother John,
the first I have done since my being angry with him, and that so
sharpe a one too that I was sorry almost to send it when I had
wrote it, but it is preparatory to my being kind to him, and send-
ing for him up hither when he hath passed his degree of Master
of Arts. So home to supper and to bed.
29th (Lord’s day). Up, and to church, where Mr. Mills, a lazy,
simple sermon upon the Devil’s having no right to any thing in
this world. So home to dinner, and after dinner I and my boy
down by water to Redriffe and thence walked to Mr. Evelyn’s,
where I walked in his garden till he come from Church, with
great pleasure reading Ridly’s discourse, all my way going and
coming, upon the Civill and Ecclesiastical Law. He being come
home, he and I walked together in the garden with mighty plea-
sure, he being a very ingenious man; and the more I know him,
the more I love him. His chief business with me was to propose
having my cozen Thomas Pepys in Commission of the Peace,
which I do not know what to say to till I speake with him, but
should be glad of it and will put him upon it. Thence walked
back again reading and so took water and home, where I find
my uncle and aunt Wight, and supped with them upon my leads
with mighty pleasure and mirthe, and they being gone I mighty
weary to bed, after having my haire of my head cut shorter, even
close to my skull, for coolnesse, it being mighty hot weather.
30th. Up and, being ready, to finish my journall for four days
past. To the office, where busy all the morning. At noon dined
alone, my wife gone abroad to conclude about her necklace of
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APRIL 1666
pearle. I after dinner to even all my accounts of this month; and,
bless God! I find myself, notwithstanding great expences of late;
viz. £80 now to pay for a necklace; near £40 for a set of chairs
and couch; near £40 for my three pictures: yet I do gather, and
am now worth £5200. My wife comes home by and by, and hath
pitched upon a necklace with three rows, which is a very good
one, and £80 is the price. In the evening, having finished my
accounts to my full content and joyed that I have evened them so
plainly, remembering the trouble my last accounts did give me
by being let alone a little longer than ordinary, by which I am to
this day at a loss for £50, I hope I shall never commit such an error
again, for I cannot devise where the £50 should be, but it is plain
I ought to be worth £50 more than I am, and blessed be God the
error was no greater. In the evening with my [wife] and Mercer
by coach to take the ayre as far as Bow, and eat and drank in the
coach by the way and with much pleasure and pleased with my
company. At night home and up to the leads, but were contrary
to expectation driven down again with a stinke by Sir W. Pen’s
shying of a shitten pot in their house of office close by, which do
trouble me for fear it do hereafter annoy me. So down to sing a
little and then to bed. So ends this month with great layings-out.
Good health and gettings, and advanced well in the whole of my
estate, for which God make me thankful.
1875
MAY 1666
May 1st. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon, my cozen
Thomas Pepys did come to me, to consult about the business of
his being a justice of the Peace, which he is much against; and
among other reasons, tells me, as a confidant, that he is not free
to exercise punishment according to the Act against Quakers and
other people, for religion. Nor do he understand Latin, and so is
not capable of the place as formerly, now all warrants do run in
Latin. Nor is he in Kent, though he be of Deptford parish, his
house standing in Surry. However, I did bring him to incline to-
wards it, if he be pressed to take it. I do think it may be some
repute to me to have my kinsman in Commission there, specially
if he behave himself to content in the country. He gone and my
wife gone abroad, I out also to and fro, to see and be seen, among
others to find out in Thames Streete where Betty Howlett is come
to live, being married to Mrs. Michell’s son; which I did about
the Old Swan, but did not think fit to go thither or see them.
Thence by water to Redriffe, reading a new French book my
Lord Bruncker did give me to-day, “L’Histoire Amoureuse des
Gaules,”545 being a pretty libel against the amours of the Court
of France. I walked up and down Deptford yarde, where I had
545 This book, which has frequently been reprinted, was written by Roger
de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy, for the amusement of his mistress, Madame de
1876
MAY 1666
not been since I come from living at Greenwich, which is some
months. There I met with Mr. Castle, and was forced against my
will to have his company back with me. So we walked and drank
at Halfway house and so to his house, where I drank a cupp of
syder, and so home, where I find Mr. Norbury newly come to
town to see us. After he gone my wife tells me the ill newes that
our Susan is sicke and gone to bed, with great pain in her head
and back, which troubles us all. However we to bed expecting
what to-morrow would produce. She hath we conceive wrought
a little too much, having neither maid nor girle to help her.
2nd. Up and find the girle better, which we are glad of, and
with Sir W. Batten to White Hall by coach. There attended the
Duke as usual. Thence with Captain Cocke, whom I met there,
to London, to my office, to consult about serving him in getting
him some money, he being already tired of his slavery to my
Lord Bruncker, and the charge it costs him, and gets no man-
ner of courtesy from him for it. He gone I home to dinner, find
the girle yet better, so no fear of being forced to send her out of
doors as we intended. After dinner. I by water to White Hall to a
Committee for Tangier upon Mr. Yeabsly’s business, which I got
referred to a Committee to examine. Thence among other stops
went to my ruler’s house, and there staid a great while with Nan
idling away the afternoon with pleasure. By and by home, so to
my office a little, and then home to supper with my wife, the girle
being pretty well again, and then to bed.
3rd. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon home, and
contrary to my expectation find my little girle Su worse than she
was, which troubled me, and the more to see my wife minding
her paynting and not thinking of her house business, this being
the first day of her beginning the second time to paynt. This to-
Montglas, and consists of sketches of the chief ladies of the court, in which
he libelled friends and foes alike. These circulated in manuscript, and were
printed at Liege in 1665. Louis XIV. was so much annoyed with the book that
he sent the author to the Bastille for over a year.
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MAY 1666
gether made me froward that I was angry with my wife, and
would not have Browne to think to dine at my table with me
always, being desirous to have my house to myself without a
stranger and a mechanique to be privy to all my concernments.
Upon this my wife and I had a little disagreement, but it ended
by and by, and then to send up and down for a nurse to take the
girle home and would have given anything. I offered to the only
one that we could get 20s. per weeke, and we to find clothes,
and bedding and physique, and would have given 30s., as de-
manded, but desired an houre or two’s time. So I away by water
to Westminster, and there sent for the girle’s mother to Westmin-
ster Hall to me; she came and undertakes to get her daughter a
lodging and nurse at next doore to her, though she dare not, for
the parish’s sake, whose sexton her husband is, to [have] her into
her owne house. Thence home, calling at my bookseller’s and
other trifling places, and in the evening the mother come and
with a nurse she has got, who demanded and I did agree at 10s.
per weeke to take her, and so she away, and my house mighty
uncouth, having so few in it, and we shall want a servant or two
by it, and the truth is my heart was a little sad all the afternoon
and jealous of myself. But she went, and we all glad of it, and so
a little to the office, and so home to supper and to bed.
4th. Up and by water to Westminster to Charing Cross (Mr.
Gregory for company with me) to Sir Ph. Warwicke’s, who was
not within. So I took Gregory to White Hall, and there spoke
with Joseph Williamson to have leave in the next Gazette to have
a general pay for the Chest at Chatham declared upon such a
day in June. Here I left Gregory, and I by coach back again to
Sir Philip Warwicke’s, and in the Park met him walking, so dis-
coursed about the business of striking a quarter’s tallys for Tang-
ier, due this day, which he hath promised to get my Lord Trea-
surer’s warrant for, and so away hence, and to Mr. Hales, to
see what he had done to Mrs. Pierces picture, and whatever he
pretends, I do not think it will ever be so good a picture as my
wife’s. Thence home to the office a little and then to dinner, and
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MAY 1666
had a great fray with my wife again about Browne’s coming to
teach her to paynt, and sitting with me at table, which I will not
yield to. I do thoroughly believe she means no hurte in it; but
very angry we were, and I resolved all into my having my will
done, without disputing, be the reason what it will; and so I will
have it. After dinner abroad again and to the New Exchange
about play books, and to White Hall, thinking to have met Sir
G. Carteret, but failed. So to the Swan at Westminster, and there
spent a quarter of an hour with Jane, and thence away home, and
my wife coming home by and by (having been at her mother’s to
pray her to look out for a mayde for her) by coach into the fields
to Bow, and so home back in the evening, late home, and after
supper to bed, being much out of order for lack of somebody
in the room of Su. This evening, being weary of my late idle
courses, and the little good I shall do the King or myself in the
office, I bound myself to very strict rules till Whitsunday next.
5th. At the office all the morning. After dinner upon a let-
ter from the fleete from Sir W. Coventry I did do a great deale
of worke for the sending away of the victuallers that are in the
river, &c., too much to remember. Till 10 at night busy about let-
ters and other necessary matter of the office. About 11 home, it
being a fine moonshine and so my wife and Mercer come into the
garden, and, my business being done, we sang till about twelve
at night, with mighty pleasure to ourselves and neighbours, by
their casements opening, and so home to supper and to bed.
6th (Lord’s day). To church. Home, and after dinner walked to
White Hall, thinking to have seen Mr. Coventry, but failed, and
therefore walked clear on foot back again. Busy till night in fitting
my Victualling papers in order, which I through my multitude of
business and pleasure have not examined these several months.
Walked back again home, and so to the Victualling Office, where
I met Mr. Gawden, and have received some satisfaction, though
it be short of what I expected, and what might be expected from
me. So after evened I have gone, and so to supper and to bed.
1879
MAY 1666
7th. Up betimes to set my Victualling papers in order against
Sir W. Coventry comes, which indeed makes me very melan-
choly, being conscious that I am much to seeke in giving a good
answer to his queries about the Victualling business. At the of-
fice mighty busy, and brought myself into a pretty plausible con-
dition before Sir W. Coventry come, and did give him a pretty
tolerable account of every thing and went with him into the Vict-
ualling office, where we sat and examined his businesses and
state of the victualling of the fleete, which made me in my heart
blushe that I could say no more to it than I did or could. But I
trust in God I shall never be in that condition again. We parted,
and I with pretty good grace, and so home to dinner, where my
wife troubled more and more with her swollen cheek. So to din-
ner, my sister-in-law with us, who I find more and more a witty
woman; and then I to my Lord Treasurer’s and the Exchequer
about my Tangier businesses, and with my content passed by all
things and persons without so much as desiring any stay or loss
of time with them, being by strong vowe obliged on no occasion
to stay abroad but my publique offices. So home again, where I
find Mrs. Pierce and Mrs. Ferrers come to see my wife. I staid a
little with them, being full of business, and so to the office, where
busy till late at night and so weary and a little conscious of my
failures to-day, yet proud that the day is over without more ob-
servation on Sir W. Coventry’s part, and so to bed and to sleepe
soundly.
8th. Up, and to the office all the morning. At noon dined at
home, my wife’s cheek bad still. After dinner to the office again
and thither comes Mr. Downing, the anchor-smith, who had
given me 50 pieces in gold the last month to speake for him to
Sir W. Coventry, for his being smith at Deptford; but after I had
got it granted to him, he finds himself not fit to go on with it, so
lets it fall. So has no benefit of my motion. I therefore in honour
and conscience took him home the money, and, though much to
my grief, did yet willingly and forcibly force him to take it again,
the poor man having no mind to have it. However, I made him
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MAY 1666
take it, and away he went, and I glad to have given him so much
cause to speake well of me. So to my office again late, and then
home to supper to a good lobster with my wife, and then a little
to my office again, and so to bed.
9th. Up by five o’clock, which I have not a long time done,
and down the river by water to Deptford, among other things to
examine the state of Ironworke, in order to the doing something
with reference to Downing that may induce him to returne me
the 50 pieces. Walked back again reading of my Civill Law Book,
and so home and by coach to White Hall, where we did our usual
business before the Duke, and heard the Duke commend Deane’s
ship “The Rupert” before “The Defyance,” built lately by Castle,
in hearing of Sir W. Batten, which pleased me mightily. Thence
by water to Westminster, and there looked after my Tangier or-
der, and so by coach to Mrs. Pierces, thinking to have gone to
Hales’s, but she was not ready, so away home and to dinner, and
after dinner out by coach to Lovett’s to have forwarded what I
have doing there, but find him and his pretty wife gone to my
house to show me something. So away to my Lord Treasurer’s,
and thence to Pierces, where I find Knipp, and I took them to
Hales’s to see our pictures finished, which are very pretty, but I
like not hers half so well as I thought at first, it being not so like,
nor so well painted as I expected, or as mine and my wife’s are.
Thence with them to Cornhill to call and choose a chimney-piece
for Pierces closett, and so home, where my wife in mighty pain
and mightily vexed at my being abroad with these women; and
when they were gone called them whores and I know not what,
which vexed me, having been so innocent with them. So I with
them to Mrs. Turner’s and there sat with them a while, anon
my wife sends for me, I come, and what was it but to scold at
me and she would go abroad to take the ayre presently, that she
would. So I left my company and went with her to Bow, but was
vexed and spoke not one word to her all the way going nor com-
ing, or being come home, but went up straight to bed. Half an
hour after (she in the coach leaning on me as being desirous to
1881
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be friends) she comes up mighty sicke with a fit of the cholique
and in mighty pain and calls for me out of the bed; I rose and
held her, she prays me to forgive her, and in mighty pain we put
her to bed, where the pain ceased by and by, and so had some
asparagus to our bed side for supper and very kindly afterward
to sleepe and good friends in the morning.
10th. So up, and to the office, where all the morning. At
noon home to dinner and there busy all the afternoon till past
six o’clock, and then abroad with my wife by coach, who is now
at great ease, her cheeke being broke inward. We took with us
Mrs. Turner, who was come to visit my wife just as we were go-
ing out. A great deale of tittle tattle discourse to little purpose,
I finding her, though in other things a very discreete woman, as
very a gossip speaking of her neighbours as any body. Going
out towards Hackney by coach for the ayre, the silly coachman
carries us to Shoreditch, which was so pleasant a piece of sim-
plicity in him and us, that made us mighty merry. So back again
late, it being wondrous hot all the day and night and it lightning
exceeding all the way we went and came, but without thunder.
Coming home we called at a little ale-house, and had an eele pye,
of which my wife eat part and brought home the rest. So being
come home we to supper and to bed. This day come our new
cook maid Mary, commended by Mrs. Batters.
11th. Up betimes, and then away with Mr. Yeabsly to my Lord
Ashly’s, whither by and by comes Sir H. Cholmly and Creed,
and then to my Lord, and there entered into examination of Mr.
Yeabsly’s accounts, wherein as in all other things I find him one
of the most distinct men that ever I did see in my life. He raised
many scruples which were to be answered another day and so
parted, giving me an alarme how to provide myself against the
day of my passing my accounts. Thence I to Westminster to look
after the striking of my tallys, but nothing done or to be done
therein. So to the ‘Change, to speake with Captain Cocke, among
other things about getting of the silver plates of him, which he
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MAY 1666
promises to do; but in discourse he tells me that I should be-
ware of my fellow-officers; and by name told me that my Lord
Bruncker should say in his hearing, before Sir W. Batten, of me,
that he could undo the man, if he would; wherein I think he is a
foole; but, however, it is requisite I be prepared against the man’s
friendship. Thence home to dinner alone, my wife being abroad.
After dinner to the setting some things in order in my dining-
room; and by and by comes my wife home and Mrs. Pierce
with her, so I lost most of this afternoon with them, and in the
evening abroad with them, our long tour by coach, to Hackney,
so to Kingsland, and then to Islington, there entertaining them by
candlelight very well, and so home with her, set her down, and
so home and to bed.
12th. Up to the office very betimes to draw up a letter for the
Duke of Yorke relating to him the badness of our condition in
this office for want of money. That being in good time done we
met at the office and there sat all the morning. At noon home,
where I find my wife troubled still at my checking her last night
in the coach in her long stories out of Grand Cyrus, which she
would tell, though nothing to the purpose, nor in any good man-
ner.546 This she took unkindly, and I think I was to blame indeed;
but she do find with reason, that in the company of Pierce, Knipp,
or other women that I love, I do not value her, or mind her as I
ought. However very good friends by and by, and to dinner, and
after dinner up to the putting our dining room in order, which
546 Sir Walter Scott observes, in his “Life of Dryden,” that the romances of
Calprenede and Scuderi, those ponderous and unmerciful folios, now con-
signed to oblivion, were, in their day, not only universally read and admired,
but supposed to furnish the most perfect models of gallantry and heroism.
Dr. Johnson read them all. “I have,” says Mrs. Chapone, “and yet I am still
alive, dragged through ‘Le Grand Cyrus,’ in twelve huge volumes; ‘Cleopa-
tra,’ in eight or ten; ‘Ibrahim,’ ‘Clelie,’ and some others, whose names, as
well as all the rest of them, I have forgotten” (“Letters to Mrs. Carter”). No
wonder that Pepys sat on thorns, when his wife began to recite “Le Grand
Cyrus” in the coach, “and trembled at the impending tale.”–B.
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will be clean again anon, but not as it is to be because of the pic-
tures which are not come home. To the office and did much busi-
ness, in the evening to Westminster and White Hall about busi-
ness and among other things met Sir G. Downing on White Hall
bridge, and there walked half an hour, talking of the success of
the late new Act; and indeed it is very much, that that hath stood
really in the room of £800,000 now since Christmas, being itself
but £1,250,000. And so I do really take it to be a very considerable
thing done by him; for the beginning, end, and every part of it,
is to be imputed to him. So home by water, and there hard till
12 at night at work finishing the great letter to the Duke of Yorke
against to-morrow morning, and so home to bed. This day come
home again my little girle Susan, her sicknesse proving an ague,
and she had a fit soon almost as she come home. The fleete is not
yet gone from the Nore. The plague encreases in many places,
and is 53 this week with us.
13th (Lord’s day). Up, and walked to White Hall, where we
all met to present a letter to the Duke of Yorke, complaining
solemnly of the want of money, and that being done, I to and
again up and down Westminster, thinking to have spent a little
time with Sarah at the Swan, or Mrs. Martin, but was disap-
pointed in both, so walked the greatest part of the way home,
where comes Mr. Symons, my old acquaintance, to dine with me,
and I made myself as good company as I could to him, but he was
mighty impertinent methought too yet, and thereby I see the dif-
ference between myself now and what it was heretofore, when I
reckoned him a very brave fellow. After dinner he and I walked
together as far as Cheapside, and I quite through to Westmin-
ster again, and fell by chance into St. Margett’s’ Church, where
I heard a young man play the foole upon the doctrine of purga-
tory. At this church I spied Betty Howlett, who indeed is mighty
pretty, and struck me mightily. After church time, standing in
the Church yarde, she spied me, so I went to her, her father and
mother and husband being with her. They desired and I agreed
to go home with Mr. Michell, and there had the opportunity to
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MAY 1666
have saluted two or three times Betty and make an acquaintance
which they are pleased with, though not so much as I am or they
think I am. I staid here an houre or more chatting with them in a
little sorry garden of theirs by the Bowling Alley, and so left them
and I by water home, and there was in great pain in mind lest Sir
W. Pen, who is going down to the Fleete, should come to me or
send for me to be informed in the state of things, and particu-
larly the Victualling, that by my pains he might seem wise. So
after spending an houre with my wife pleasantly in her closett, I
to bed even by daylight.
14th. Comes betimes a letter from Sir W. Coventry, that he and
Sir G. Carteret are ordered presently down to the Fleete. I up and
saw Sir W. Pen gone also after them, and so I finding it a leisure
day fell to making cleane my closett in my office, which I did to
my content and set up my Platts again, being much taken also
with Griffin’s mayde, that did cleane it, being a pretty mayde. I
left her at it, and toward Westminster myself with my wife by
coach and meeting took up Mr. Lovett the varnisher with us,
who is a pleasant speaking and humoured man, so my wife much
taken with him, and a good deale of worke I believe I shall pro-
cure him. I left my wife at the New Exchange and myself to the
Exchequer, to looke after my Tangier tallys, and there met Sir G.
Downing, who shewed me his present practise now begun this
day to paste up upon the Exchequer door a note of what orders
upon the new Act are paid and now in paying, and my Lord
of Oxford coming by, also took him, and shewed him his whole
method of keeping his books, and everything of it, which indeed
is very pretty, and at this day there is assigned upon the Act
£804,000. Thence at the New Exchange took up my wife again,
and so home to dinner, and after dinner to my office again to set
things in order. In the evening out with my wife and my aunt
Wight, to take the ayre, and happened to have a pleasant race be-
tween our hackney-coach and a gentleman’s. At Bow we eat and
drank and so back again, it being very cool in the evening. Hav-
ing set home my aunt and come home, I fell to examine my wife’s
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kitchen book, and find 20s. mistake, which made me mighty an-
gry and great difference between us, and so in the difference to
bed.
15th. Up and to the office, where we met and sat all the morn-
ing. At noon home to dinner, and after dinner by coach to Sir
Philip Warwicke’s, he having sent for me, but was not within, so
I to my Lord Crew’s, who is very lately come to towne, and with
him talking half an houre of the business of the warr, wherein
he is very doubtful, from our want of money, that we shall fail.
And I do concur with him therein. After some little discourse
of ordinary matters, I away to Sir Philip Warwicke’s again, and
was come in, and gone out to my Lord Treasurer’s; whither I fol-
lowed him, and there my business was, to be told that my Lord
Treasurer hath got £10,000 for us in the Navy, to answer our great
necessities, which I did thank him for; but the sum is not consid-
erable. So home, and there busy all the afternoon till night, and
then home to supper and to bed.
16th. Up very betimes, and so down the river to Deptford to
look after some business, being by and by to attend the Duke and
Mr. Coventry, and so I was wiling to carry something fresh that
I may look as a man minding business, which I have done too
much for a great while to forfeit, and is now so great a burden
upon my mind night and day that I do not enjoy myself in the
world almost. I walked thither, and come back again by water,
and so to White Hall, and did our usual business before the Duke,
and so to the Exchequer, where the lazy rogues have not yet done
my tallys, which vexes me. Thence to Mr. Hales, and paid him
for my picture, and Mr. Hill’s, for the first £14 for the picture, and
25s. for the frame, and for the other £7 for the picture, it being
a copy of his only, and 5s. for the frame; in all, £22 10s. I am
very well satisfied in my pictures, and so took them in another
coach home along with me, and there with great pleasure my
wife and I hung them up, and, that being done, to dinner, where
Mrs. Barbara Sheldon come to see us and dined with us, and we
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kept her all the day with us, I going down to Deptford, and, Lord!
to see with what itching desire I did endeavour to see Bagwell’s
wife, but failed, for which I am glad, only I observe the folly of
my mind that cannot refrain from pleasure at a season above all
others in my life requisite for me to shew my utmost care in. I
walked both going and coming, spending my time reading of my
Civill and Ecclesiastical Law book. Being returned home, I took
my wife and Mrs. Barbary and Mercer out by coach and went
our Grand Tour, and baited at Islington, and so late home about
11 at night, and so with much pleasure to bed.
17th. Up, lying long, being wearied yesterday with long walk-
ing. So to the office, where all the morning with fresh occasion
of vexing at myself for my late neglect of business, by which I
cannot appear half so usefull as I used to do. Home at noon to
dinner, and then to my office again, where I could not hold my
eyes open for an houre, but I drowsed (so little sensible I appre-
hend my soul is of the necessity of minding business), but I anon
wakened and minded my business, and did a great deale with
very great pleasure, and so home at night to supper and to bed,
mightily pleased with myself for the business that I have done,
and convinced that if I would but keepe constantly to do the same
I might have leisure enough and yet do all my business, and by
the grace of God so I will. So to bed.
18th. Up by 5 o’clock, and so down by water to Deptford and
Blackewall to dispatch some business. So walked to Dickeshoare,
and there took boat again and home, and thence to Westminster,
and attended all the morning on the Exchequer for a quarter’s
tallys for Tangier. But, Lord! to see what a dull, heavy sort of
people they are there would make a man mad. At noon had them
and carried them home, and there dined with great content with
my people, and within and at the office all the afternoon and
night, and so home to settle some papers there, and so to bed,
being not very well, having eaten too much lobster at noon at
dinner with Mr. Hollyard, he coming in and commending it so
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much.
19th. Up, and to the office all the morning. At noon took Mr.
Deane (lately come to towne) home with me to dinner, and there
after giving him some reprimands and good advice about his de-
portment in the place where by my interest he is at Harwich,
and then declaring my resolution of being his friend still, we did
then fall to discourse about his ship “Rupert,” built by him there,
which succeeds so well as he hath got great honour by it, and
I some by recommending him; the King, Duke, and every body
saying it is the best ship that was ever built. And then he fell to
explain to me his manner of casting the draught of water which
a ship will draw before-hand: which is a secret the King and all
admire in him; and he is the first that hath come to any certainty
before-hand, of foretelling the draught of water of a ship before
she be launched. I must confess I am much pleased in his suc-
cesse in this business, and do admire at the confidence of Castle
who did undervalue the draught Deane sent up to me, that I was
ashamed to owne it or him, Castle asking of me upon the first
sight of it whether he that laid it down had ever built a ship or
no, which made me the more doubtfull of him. He being gone, I
to the office, where much business and many persons to speake
with me. Late home and to bed, glad to be at a little quiett.
20th (Lord’s day). With my wife to church in the morning.
At noon dined mighty nobly, ourselves alone. After dinner my
wife and Mercer by coach to Greenwich, to be gossip to Mrs.
Daniel’s child. I out to Westminster, and straight to Mrs. Mar-
tin’s, and there did what I would with her, she staying at home
all the day for me; and not being well pleased with her over free
and loose company, I away to Westminster Abbey, and there fell
in discourse with Mr. Blagrave, whom I find a sober politique
man, that gets money and increase of places, and thence by coach
home, and thence by water after I had discoursed awhile with
Mr. Yeabsly, whom I met and took up in my coach with me, and
who hath this day presented my Lord Ashly with £100 to bespeak
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his friendship to him in his accounts now before us; and my Lord
hath received it, and so I believe is as bad, as to bribes, as what the
world says of him. Calling on all the Victualling ships to know
what they had of their complements, and so to Deptford, to en-
quire after a little business there, and thence by water back again,
all the way coming and going reading my Lord Bacon’s “Faber
Fortunae,” which I can never read too often, and so back home,
and there find my wife come home, much pleased with the re-
ception she had there, and she was godmother, and did hold the
child at the Font, and it is called John. So back again home, and
after setting my papers in order and supping, to bed, desirous to
rise betimes in the morning.
21st. Up between 4 and 5 o’clock and to set several papers to
rights, and so to the office, where we had an extraordinary meet-
ing. But, Lord! how it torments me to find myself so unable to
give an account of my Victualling business, which puts me out
of heart in every thing else, so that I never had a greater shame
upon me in my owne mind, nor more trouble as to publique busi-
ness than I have now, but I will get out of it as soon as possi-
bly I can. At noon dined at home, and after dinner comes in
my wife’s brother Balty and his wife, he being stepped ashore
from the fleete for a day or two. I away in some haste to my
Lord Ashly, where it is stupendous to see how favourably, and
yet closely, my Lord Ashly carries himself to Mr. Yeabsly, in his
business, so as I think we shall do his business for him in very
good manner. But it is a most extraordinary thing to observe,
and that which I would not but have had the observation of for
a great deal of money. Being done there, and much forwarded
Yeabsly’s business, I with Sir H. Cholmly to my Lord Bellassis,
who is lately come from Tangier to visit him, but is not within.
So to Westminster Hall a little about business and so home by
water, and then out with my wife, her brother, sister, and Mercer
to Islington, our grand tour, and there eat and drank. But in dis-
course I am infinitely pleased with Balty, his deportment in his
business of Muster-Master, and hope mighty well from him, and
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am glad with all my heart I put him into this business. Late home
and to bed, they also lying at my house, he intending to go away
to-morrow back again to sea.
22nd. Up betimes and to my business of entering some Tangier
payments in my book in order, and then to the office, where very
busy all the morning. At noon home to dinner, Balty being gone
back to sea and his wife dining with us, whom afterward my
wife carried home. I after dinner to the office, and anon out on
several occasions, among others to Lovett’s, and there staid by
him and her and saw them (in their poor conditioned manner)
lay on their varnish, which however pleased me mightily to see.
Thence home to my business writing letters, and so at night home
to supper and to bed.
23rd. Up by 5 o’clock and to my chamber settling several mat-
ters in order. So out toward White Hall, calling in my way on my
Lord Bellassis, where I come to his bedside, and did give me a
full and long account of his matters, how he left them at Tangier.
Declares himself fully satisfied with my care: seems cunningly to
argue for encreasing the number of men there. Told me the whole
story of his gains by the Turky prizes, which he owns he hath got
about £5000 by. Promised me the same profits Povy was to have
had; and in fine, I find him a pretty subtle man; and so I left
him, and to White Hall before the Duke and did our usual busi-
ness, and eased my mind of two or three things of weight that lay
upon me about Lanyon’s salary, which I have got to be £150 per
annum. Thence to Westminster to look after getting some little
for some great tallys, but shall find trouble in it. Thence home-
ward and met with Sir Philip Warwicke, and spoke about this,
in which he is scrupulous. After that to talk of the wants of the
Navy. He lays all the fault now upon the new Act, and owns
his owne folly in thinking once so well of it as to give way to
others’ endeavours about it, and is grieved at heart to see what
passe things are like to come to. Thence to the Excise Office to
the Commissioners to get a meeting between them and myself
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and others about our concernments in the Excise for Tangier, and
so to the ‘Change awhile, and thence home with Creed, and find
my wife at dinner with Mr. Cooke, who is going down to Hinch-
inbrooke. After dinner Creed and I and wife and Mercer out by
coach, leaving them at the New Exchange, while I to White Hall,
and there staid at Sir G. Carteret’s chamber till the Council rose,
and then he and I, by agreement this morning, went forth in his
coach by Tiburne, to the Parke; discoursing of the state of the
Navy as to money, and the state of the Kingdom too, how ill able
to raise more: and of our office as to the condition of the offi-
cers; he giving me caution as to myself, that there are those that
are my enemies as well as his, and by name my Lord Bruncker,
who hath said some odd speeches against me. So that he advises
me to stand on my guard; which I shall do, and unless my too-
much addiction to pleasure undo me, will be acute enough for
any of them. We rode to and again in the Parke a good while,
and at last home and set me down at Charing Crosse, and thence
I to Mrs. Pierces to take up my wife and Mercer, where I find her
new picture by Hales do not please her, nor me indeed, it making
no show, nor is very like, nor no good painting. Home to supper
and to bed, having my right eye sore and full of humour of late,
I think, by my late change of my brewer, and having of 8s. beer.
24th. Up very betimes, and did much business in my cham-
ber. Then to the office, where busy all the morning. At noon rose
in the pleasantest humour I have seen Sir W. Coventry and the
whole board in this twelvemonth from a pleasant crossing hu-
mour Sir W. Batten was in, he being hungry, and desirous to be
gone. Home, and Mr. Hunt come to dine with me, but I was pre-
vented dining till 4 o’clock by Sir H. Cholmly and Sir J. Bankes’s
coming in about some Tangier business. They gone I to dinner,
the others having dined. Mr. Sheply is also newly come out of
the country and come to see us, whom I am glad to see. He left
all well there; but I perceive under some discontent in my Lord’s
behalfe, thinking that he is under disgrace with the King; but he
is not so at all, as Sir G. Carteret assures me. They gone I to the
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office and did business, and so in the evening abroad alone with
my wife to Kingsland, and so back again and to bed, my right
eye continuing very ill of the rheum, which hath troubled it four
or five days.
25th. Up betimes and to my chamber to do business, where the
greatest part of the morning. Then out to the ‘Change to speake
with Captain [Cocke], who tells me my silver plates are ready for
me, and shall be sent me speedily; and proposes another propo-
sition of serving us with a thousand tons of hempe, and tells me
it shall bring me 6500, if the bargain go forward, which is a good
word. Thence to Sir G. Carteret, who is at the pay of the tickets
with Sir J. Minnes this day, and here I sat with them a while, the
first time I ever was there, and thence to dinner with him, a good
dinner. Here come a gentleman over from France arrived here
this day, Mr. Browne of St. Mellos, who, among other things,
tells me the meaning of the setting out of doggs every night out
of the towne walls, which are said to secure the city; but it is
not so, but only to secure the anchors, cables, and ships that lie
dry, which might otherwise in the night be liable to be robbed.
And these doggs are set out every night, and called together in
every morning by a man with a home, and they go in very or-
derly. Thence home, and there find Knipp at dinner with my
wife, now very big, and within a fortnight of lying down. But
my head was full of business and so could have no sport. So I left
them, promising to return and take them out at night, and so to
the Excise Office, where a meeting was appointed of Sir Stephen
Fox, the Cofferer, and myself, to settle the business of our tallys,
and it was so pretty well against another meeting. Thence away
home to the office and out again to Captain Cocke (Mr. Moore
for company walking with me and discoursing and admiring of
the learning of Dr. Spencer), and there he and I discoursed a little
more of our matters, and so home, and (Knipp being gone) took
out my wife and Mercer to take the ayre a little, and so as far as
Hackney and back again, and then to bed.
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26th. Up betimes and to the office, where all the morning. At
noon dined at home. So to the office again, and a while at the
Victualling Office to understand matters there a little, and thence
to the office and despatched much business, to my great content,
and so home to supper and to bed.
27th (Lord’s day). Rose betimes, and to my office till church
time to write two copies of my Will fair, bearing date this day,
wherein I have given my sister Pall £500, my father for his owne
and my mother’s support £2,000, to my wife the rest of my es-
tate, but to have £2500 secured to her, though by deducting out
of what I have given my father and my sister. I dispatched all
before church time and then to church, my wife with me. Thence
home to dinner, whither come my uncle Wight, and aunt and un-
cle Norbury, and Mr. Shepley. A good dinner and very merry.
After dinner we broke up and I by water to Westminster to Mrs.
Martin’s, and there sat with her and her husband and Mrs. Bur-
rows, the pretty, an hour or two, then to the Swan a while, and so
home by water, and with my wife by and by by water as low as
Greenwich, for ayre only, and so back again home to supper and
to bed with great pleasure.
28th. Up and to my chamber to do some business there, and
then to the office, where a while, and then by agreement to the
Excise Office, where I waited all the morning for the Cofferer and
Sir St. Foxe’s coming, but they did not, so I and the Commis-
sioners lost their labour and expectation of doing the business
we intended. Thence home, where I find Mr. Lovett and his
wife came to see us. They are a pretty couple, and she a fine
bred woman. They dined with us, and Browne, the paynter, and
she plays finely on the lute. My wife and I were well pleased
with her company. After dinner broke up, I to the office and they
abroad. All the afternoon I busy at the office, and down by water
to Deptford. Walked back to Redriffe, and so home to the office
again, being thoughtfull how to answer Sir W. Coventry against
to-morrow in the business of the Victualling, but that I do trust to
1893
MAY 1666
Tom Wilson, that he will be ready with a book for me to-morrow
morning. So to bed, my wife telling me where she hath been to-
day with my aunt Wight, and seen Mrs. Margaret Wight, and
says that she is one of the beautifullest women that ever she saw
in her life, the most excellent nose and mouth. They have been
also to see pretty Mrs. Batelier, and conclude her to be a prettier
woman than Mrs. Pierce, whom my wife led my aunt to see also
this day.
29th (King’s birth-day and Restauration day). Waked with the
ringing of the bells all over the towne; so up before five o’clock,
and to the office, where we met, and I all the morning with great
trouble upon my spirit to think how I should come off in the af-
ternoon when Sir W. Coventry did go to the Victualling office
to see the state of matters there, and methinks by his doing of
it without speaking to me, and only with Sir W. Pen, it must be
of design to find my negligence. However, at noon I did, upon a
small invitation of Sir W. Pen’s, go and dine with Sir W. Coventry
at his office, where great good cheer and many pleasant stories of
Sir W. Coventry; but I had no pleasure in them. However, I had
last night and this morning made myself a little able to report
how matters were, and did readily go with them after dinner to
the Victualling office; and there, beyond belief, did acquit my-
self very well to full content; so that, beyond expectation, I got
over this second rub in this business; and if ever I fall on it again,
I deserve to be undone. Being broke up there, I with a merry
heart home to my office, and thither my wife comes to me, to
tell me, that if I would see the handsomest woman in England, I
shall come home presently; and who should it be but the pretty
lady of our parish, that did heretofore sit on the other side of our
church, over against our gallery, that is since married; she with
Mrs. Anne Jones, one of this parish, that dances finely, and Mrs.
sister did come to see her this afternoon, and so I home and there
find Creed also come to me. So there I spent most of the after-
noon with them, and indeed she is a pretty black woman, her
name Mrs. Horsely. But, Lord! to see how my nature could not
1894
MAY 1666
refrain from the temptation; but I must invite them to Foxhall, to
Spring Gardens, though I had freshly received minutes of a great
deale of extraordinary business. However I could not helpe it,
but sent them before with Creed, and I did some of my business;
and so after them, and find them there, in an arbour, and had met
with Mrs. Pierce, and some company with her. So here I spent
20s. upon them, and were pretty merry. Among other things,
had a fellow that imitated all manner of birds, and doggs, and
hogs, with his voice, which was mighty pleasant. Staid here till
night: then set Mrs. Pierce in at the New Exchange; and our-
selves took coach, and so set Mrs. Horsely home, and then home
ourselves, but with great trouble in the streets by bonefires, it be-
ing the King’s birth-day and day of Restauration; but, Lord! to
see the difference how many there were on the other side, and
so few ours, the City side of the Temple, would make one won-
der the difference between the temper of one sort of people and
the other: and the difference among all between what they do
now, and what it was the night when Monk come into the City.
Such a night as that I never think to see again, nor think it can
be. After I come home I was till one in the morning with Captain
Cocke drawing up a contract with him intended to be offered to
the Duke to-morrow, which, if it proceeds, he promises me £500.
30th. Up and to my office, there to settle some business in or-
der.to our waiting on the Duke to-day. That done to White Hall
to Sir W. Coventry’s chamber, where I find the Duke gone out
with the King to-day on hunting. So after some discourse with
him, I by water to Westminster, and there drew a draught of an
order for my Lord Treasurer to sign for my having some little
tallys made me in lieu of two great ones, of £2000 each, to enable
me to pay small sums therewith. I shewed it to Sir R. Long and
had his approbation, and so to Sir Ph. Warwicke’s, and did give
it him to get signed. So home to my office, and there did busi-
ness. By and by toward noon word is brought me that my father
and my sister are come. I expected them to-day, but not so soon.
I to them, and am heartily glad to see them, especially my father,
1895
MAY 1666
who, poor man, looks very well, and hath rode up this journey
on horseback very well, only his eyesight and hearing is very
bad. I staid and dined with them, my wife being gone by coach
to Barnet, with W. Hewer and Mercer, to meet them, and they did
come Ware way. After dinner I left them to dress themselves and
I abroad by appointment to my Lord Ashly, who, it is strange to
see, how prettily he dissembles his favour to Yeabsly’s business,
which none in the world could mistrust only I, that am privy to
his being bribed. Thence to White Hall, and there staid till the
Council was up, with Creed expecting a meeting of Tangier to
end Yeabsly’s business, but we could not procure it. So I to my
Lord Treasurer’s and got my warrant, and then to Lovett’s, but
find nothing done there. So home and did a little business at the
office, and so down by water to Deptford and back again home
late, and having signed some papers and given order in business,
home, where my wife is come home, and so to supper with my
father, and mighty pleasant we were, and my wife mighty kind
to him and Pall, and so after supper to bed, myself being sleepy,
and my right eye still very sore, as it has been now about five
days or six, which puts me out of tune. To-night my wife tells me
newes has been brought her that Balty’s wife is brought to bed,
by some fall or fit, before her time, of a great child but dead. If
the woman do well we have no reason to be sorry, because his
staying a little longer without a child will be better for him and
her.
31st. Waked very betimes in the morning by extraordinary
thunder and rain, which did keep me sleeping and waking till
very late, and it being a holiday and my eye very sore, and my-
self having had very little sleep for a good while till nine o’clock,
and so up, and so saw all my family up, and my father and sis-
ter, who is a pretty good-bodied woman, and not over thicke,
as I thought she would have been, but full of freckles, and not
handsome in face. And so I out by water among the ships, and
to Deptford and Blackewall about business, and so home and to
dinner with my father and sister and family, mighty pleasant all
1896
MAY 1666
of us; and, among other things, with a sparrow that our Mercer
hath brought up now for three weeks, which is so tame that it
flies up and down, and upon the table, and eats and pecks, and
do everything so pleasantly, that we are mightily pleased with it.
After dinner I to my papers and accounts of this month to sett
all straight, it being a publique Fast-day appointed to pray for
the good successe of the fleete. But it is a pretty thing to con-
sider how little a matter they make of this keeping of a Fast, that
it was not so much as declared time enough to be read in the
churches the last Sunday; but ordered by proclamation since: I
suppose upon some sudden newes of the Dutch being come out.
To my accounts and settled them clear; but to my grief find my-
self poorer than I was the last by near £20, by reason of my being
forced to return £50 to Downing, the smith, which he had pre-
sented me with. However, I am well contented, finding myself
yet to be worth £5,200. Having done, to supper with my wife,
and then to finish the writing fair of my accounts, and so to bed.
This day come to town Mr. Homewood, and I took him home in
the evening to my chamber, and discoursed with him about my
business of the Victualling, which I have a mind to employ him
in, and he is desirous of also, but do very ingenuously declare he
understands it not so well as other things, and desires to be in-
formed in the nature of it before he attempts it, which I like well,
and so I carried him to Mr. Gibson to discourse with him about it,
and so home again to my accounts. Thus ends this month, with
my mind oppressed by my defect in my duty of the Victualling,
which lies upon me as a burden, till I get myself into a better
posture therein, and hinders me and casts down my courage in
every thing else that belongs to me, and the jealousy I have of Sir
W. Coventry’s being displeased with me about it; but I hope in a
little time to remedy all. As to publique business; by late tidings
of the French fleete being come to Rochelle (how true, though, I
know not) our fleete is divided; Prince Rupert being gone with
about thirty ships to the Westward as is conceived to meet the
French, to hinder their coming to join with the Dutch. My Lord
1897
MAY 1666
Duke of Albemarle lies in the Downes with the rest, and intends
presently to sail to the Gunfleete.
1898
JUNE 1666
June 1st. Being prevented yesterday in meeting by reason of the
fast day, we met to-day all the morning. At noon I and my fa-
ther, wife and sister, dined at Aunt Wight’s here hard by at Mr.
Woolly’s, upon sudden warning, they being to go out of town
to-morrow. Here dined the faire Mrs. Margaret Wight, who is
a very fine lady, but the cast of her eye, got only by an ill habit,
do her much wrong and her hands are bad; but she hath the face
of a noble Roman lady. After dinner my uncle and Woolly and I
out into their yarde, to talke about what may be done hereafter to
all our profits by prizegoods, which did give us reason to lament
the losse of the opportunity of the last yeare, which, if we were as
wise as we are now, and at the peaceable end of all those troubles
that we met with, all might have been such a hit as will never
come again in this age, and so I do really believe it. Thence home
to my office and there did much business, and at night home to
my father to supper and to bed.
2nd. Up, and to the office, where certain newes is brought us
of a letter come to the King this morning from the Duke of Albe-
marle, dated yesterday at eleven o’clock, as they were sailing to
the Gunfleete, that they were in sight of the Dutch fleete, and
were fitting themselves to fight them; so that they are, ere this,
certainly engaged; besides, several do averr they heard the guns
1899
JUNE 1666
all yesterday in the afternoon.
This put us at the Board into a tosse. Presently come orders
for our sending away to the fleete a recruite of 200 soldiers. So
I rose from the table, and to the Victualling office, and thence
upon the River among several vessels, to consider of the sending
them away; and lastly, down to Greenwich, and there appointed
two yachts to be ready for them; and did order the soldiers to
march to Blackewall. Having set all things in order against the
next flood, I went on shore with Captain Erwin at Greenwich,
and into the Parke, and there we could hear the guns from the
fleete most plainly. Thence he and I to the King’s Head and there
bespoke a dish of steaks for our dinner about four o’clock. While
that was doing, we walked to the water-side, and there seeing the
King and Duke come down in their barge to Greenwich-house, I
to them, and did give them an account [of] what I was doing.
They went up to the Parke to hear the guns of the fleete go off.
All our hopes now are that Prince Rupert with his fleete is com-
ing back and will be with the fleete this even: a message being
sent to him to that purpose on Wednesday last; and a return is
come from him this morning, that he did intend to sail from St.
Ellen’s point about four in the afternoon on Wednesday [Friday],
which was yesterday; which gives us great hopes, the wind be-
ing very fair, that he is with them this even, and the fresh going
off of the guns makes us believe the same. After dinner, hav-
ing nothing else to do till flood, I went and saw Mrs. Daniel, to
whom I did not tell that the fleets were engaged, because of her
husband, who is in the R. Charles. Very pleasant with her half
an hour, and so away and down to Blackewall, and there saw
the soldiers (who were by this time gotten most of them drunk)
shipped off. But, Lord! to see how the poor fellows kissed their
wives and sweethearts in that simple manner at their going off,
and shouted, and let off their guns, was strange sport. In the
evening come up the River the Katharine yacht, Captain Fazeby,
who hath brought over my Lord of Alesbury and Sir Thomas Lid-
dall (with a very pretty daughter, and in a pretty travelling-dress)
1900
JUNE 1666
from Flanders, who saw the Dutch fleete on Thursday, and ran
from them; but from that houre to this hath not heard one gun,
nor any newes of any fight. Having put the soldiers on board, I
home and wrote what I had to write by the post, and so home to
supper and to bed, it being late.
3rd (Lord’s-day; Whit-sunday). Up, and by water to White
Hall, and there met with Mr. Coventry, who tells me the only
news from the fleete is brought by Captain Elliott, of The Port-
land, which, by being run on board by The Guernsey, was dis-
abled from staying abroad; so is come in to Aldbrough. That
he saw one of the Dutch great ships blown up, and three on
fire. That they begun to fight on Friday; and at his coming into
port, he could make another ship of the King’s coming in, which
he judged to be the Rupert: that he knows of no other hurt to
our ships. With this good newes I home by water again, and to
church in the sermon-time, and with great joy told it my fellows
in the pew. So home after church time to dinner, and after dinner
my father, wife, sister, and Mercer by water to Woolwich, while
I walked by land, and saw the Exchange as full of people, and
hath been all this noon as of any other day, only for newes. I to
St. Margaret’s, Westminster, and there saw at church my pretty
Betty Michell, and thence to the Abbey, and so to Mrs. Martin,
and there did what ‘je voudrais avec her.... So by and by he come
in, and after some discourse with him I away to White Hall, and
there met with this bad newes farther, that the Prince come to
Dover but at ten o’clock last night, and there heard nothing of
a fight; so that we are defeated of all our hopes of his helpe to
the fleete. It is also reported by some Victuallers that the Duke of
Albemarle and Holmes their flags were shot down, and both fain
to come to anchor to renew their rigging and sails. A letter is also
come this afternoon, from Harman in the Henery; which is she
[that] was taken by Elliott for the Rupert; that being fallen into
the body of the Dutch fleete, he made his way through them, was
set on by three fire-ships one after another, got two of them off,
and disabled the third; was set on fire himself; upon which many
1901
JUNE 1666
of his men leapt into the sea and perished; among others, the
parson first. Have lost above 100 men, and a good many women
(God knows what is become of Balty), and at last quenched his
own fire and got to Aldbrough; being, as all say, the greatest haz-
ard that ever any ship escaped, and as bravely managed by him.
The mast of the third fire-ship fell into their ship on fire, and hurt
Harman’s leg, which makes him lame now, but not dangerous. I
to Sir G. Carteret, who told me there hath been great bad man-
agement in all this; that the King’s orders that went on Friday
for calling back the Prince, were sent but by the ordinary post on
Wednesday; and come to the Prince his hands but on Friday; and
then, instead of sailing presently, he stays till four in the evening.
And that which is worst of all, the Hampshire, laden with mer-
chants’ money, come from the Straights, set out with or but just
before the fleete, and was in the Downes by five in the clock yes-
terday morning; and the Prince with his fleete come to Dover but
at ten of the clock at night. This is hard to answer, if it be true.
This puts great astonishment into the King, and Duke, and Court,
every body being out of countenance. So meeting Creed, he and
I by coach to Hide Parke alone to talke of these things, and do
blesse God that my Lord Sandwich was not here at this time to be
concerned in a business like to be so misfortunate. It was a pleas-
ant thing to consider how fearfull I was of being seen with Creed
all this afternoon, for fear of people’s thinking that by our relation
to my Lord Sandwich we should be making ill construction of the
Prince’s failure. But, God knows, I am heartily sorry for the sake
of the whole nation, though, if it were not for that, it would not
be amisse to have these high blades find some checke to their pre-
sumption and their disparaging of as good men. Thence set him
down in Covent Guarden and so home by the ‘Change, which is
full of people still, and all talk highly of the failure of the Prince
in not making more haste after his instructions did come, and of
our managements here in not giving it sooner and with more care
and oftener. Thence. After supper to bed.
4th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Pen to White Hall
1902
JUNE 1666
in the latter’s coach, where, when we come, we find the Duke
at St. James’s, whither he is lately gone to lodge. So walking
through the Parke we saw hundreds of people listening at the
Gravel-pits,–[Kensington]–and to and again in the Parke to hear
the guns, and I saw a letter, dated last night, from Strowd, Gov-
ernor of Dover Castle, which says that the Prince come thither
the night before with his fleete, but that for the guns which we
writ that we heard, it is only a mistake for thunder;547 and so far
as to yesterday it is a miraculous thing that we all Friday, and
Saturday and yesterday, did hear every where most plainly the
guns go off, and yet at Deale and Dover to last night they did
not hear one word of a fight, nor think they heard one gun. This,
added to what I have set down before the other day about the
Katharine, makes room for a great dispute in philosophy, how
we should hear it and they not, the same wind that brought it
to us being the same that should bring it to them: but so it is.
Major Halsey, however (he was sent down on purpose to hear
newes), did bring newes this morning that he did see the Prince
and his fleete at nine of the clock yesterday morning, four or
five leagues to sea behind the Goodwin, so that by the hearing
of the guns this morning we conclude he is come to the fleete.
After wayting upon the Duke, Sir W. Pen (who was commanded
to go to-night by water down to Harwich, to dispatch away all
the ships he can) and I home, drinking two bottles of Cocke ale
in the streete in his new fine coach, where no sooner come, but
newes is brought me of a couple of men come to speak with me
from the fleete; so I down, and who should it be but Mr. Daniel,
all muffled up, and his face as black as the chimney, and cov-
ered with dirt, pitch, and tarr, and powder, and muffled with
dirty clouts, and his right eye stopped with okum. He is come
last night at five o’clock from the fleete, with a comrade of his
547 Evelyn was in his garden when he heard the guns, and be at once set
off to Rochester and the coast, but he found that nothing had been heard at
Deal (see his “Diary,” June 1st, 1666).
1903
JUNE 1666
that hath endangered another eye. They were set on shore at
Harwich this morning, and at two o’clock, in a catch with about
twenty more wounded men from the Royall Charles. They be-
ing able to ride, took post about three this morning, and were
here between eleven and twelve. I went presently into the coach
with them, and carried them to Somerset-House-stairs, and there
took water (all the world gazing upon us, and concluding it to
be newes from the fleete, and every body’s face appeared expect-
ing of newes) to the Privy-stairs, and left them at Mr. Coventry’s
lodging (he, though, not being there); and so I into the Parke to
the King, and told him my Lord Generall was well the last night
at five o’clock, and the Prince come with his fleete and joyned
with his about seven. The King was mightily pleased with this
newes, and so took me by the hand and talked a little of it. Giving
him the best account I could; and then he bid me to fetch the two
seamen to him, he walking into the house. So I went and fetched
the seamen into the Vane room to him, and there he heard the
whole account. THE FIGHT.
How we found the Dutch fleete at anchor on Friday half seas
over, between Dunkirke and Ostend, and made them let slip their
anchors. They about ninety, and we less than sixty. We fought
them, and put them to the run, till they met with about sixteen
sail of fresh ships, and so bore up again. The fight continued
till night, and then again the next morning from five till seven
at night. And so, too, yesterday morning they begun again, and
continued till about four o’clock, they chasing us for the most
part of Saturday and yesterday, we flying from them. The Duke
himself, then those people were put into the catch, and by and by
spied the Prince’s fleete coming, upon which De Ruyter called a
little council (being in chase at this time of us), and thereupon
their fleete divided into two squadrons; forty in one, and about
thirty in the other (the fleete being at first about ninety, but by
one accident or other, supposed to be lessened to about seventy);
the bigger to follow the Duke, the less to meet the Prince. But the
Prince come up with the Generall’s fleete, and the Dutch come
1904
JUNE 1666
together again and bore towards their own coast, and we with
them; and now what the consequence of this day will be, at that
time fighting, we know not. The Duke was forced to come to an-
chor on Friday, having lost his sails and rigging. No particular
person spoken of to be hurt but Sir W. Clerke, who hath lost his
leg, and bore it bravely. The Duke himself had a little hurt in
his thigh, but signified little. The King did pull out of his pocket
about twenty pieces in gold, and did give it Daniel for himself
and his companion; and so parted, mightily pleased with the ac-
count he did give him of the fight, and the successe it ended with,
of the Prince’s coming, though it seems the Duke did give way
again and again. The King did give order for care to be had of
Mr. Daniel and his companion; and so we parted from him, and
then met the Duke [of York], and gave him the same account:
and so broke up, and I left them going to the surgeon’s and I
myself by water to the ‘Change, and to several people did give
account of the business. So home about four o’clock to dinner,
and was followed by several people to be told the newes, and
good newes it is. God send we may hear a good issue of this
day’s business! After I had eat something I walked to Gresham
College, where I heard my Lord Bruncker was, and there got a
promise of the receipt of the fine varnish, which I shall be glad to
have. Thence back with Mr. Hooke to my house and there lent
some of my tables of naval matters, the names of rigging and
the timbers about a ship, in order to Dr. Wilkins’ book coming
out about the Universal Language. Thence, he being gone, to the
Crown, behind the ‘Change, and there supped at the club with
my Lord Bruncker, Sir G. Ent, and others of Gresham College;
and all our discourse is of this fight at sea, and all are doubt-
ful of the successe, and conclude all had been lost if the Prince
had not come in, they having chased us the greatest part of Sat-
urday and Sunday. Thence with my Lord Bruncker and Creed
by coach to White Hall, where fresh letters are come from Har-
wich, where the Gloucester, Captain Clerke, is come in, and says
that on Sunday night upon coming in of the Prince, the Duke did
1905
JUNE 1666
fly; but all this day they have been fighting; therefore they did
face again, to be sure. Captain Bacon of The Bristoll is killed.
They cry up Jenings of The Ruby, and Saunders of The Sweep-
stakes. They condemn mightily Sir Thomas Teddiman for a cow-
ard, but with what reason time must shew. Having heard all this
Creed and I walked into the Parke till 9 or 10 at night, it being fine
moonshine, discoursing of the unhappinesse of our fleete, what
it would have been if the Prince had not come in, how much the
Duke hath failed of what he was so presumptuous of, how lit-
tle we deserve of God Almighty to give us better fortune, how
much this excuses all that was imputed to my Lord Sandwich,
and how much more he is a man fit to be trusted with all those
matters than those that now command, who act by nor with any
advice, but rashly and without any order. How bad we are at
intelligence that should give the Prince no sooner notice of any
thing but let him come to Dover without notice of any fight, or
where the fleete were, or any thing else, nor give the Duke any
notice that he might depend upon the Prince’s reserve; and lastly,
of how good use all may be to checke our pride and presumption
in adventuring upon hazards upon unequal force against a peo-
ple that can fight, it seems now, as well as we, and that will not be
discouraged by any losses, but that they will rise again. Thence
by water home, and to supper (my father, wife, and sister having
been at Islington today at Pitt’s) and to bed.
5th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, expecting
every houre more newes of the fleete and the issue of yester-
day’s fight, but nothing come. At noon, though I should have
dined with my Lord Mayor and Aldermen at an entertainment
of Commissioner Taylor’s, yet it being a time of expectation of
the successe of the fleete, I did not go, but dined at home, and
after dinner by water down to Deptford (and Woolwich, where
I had not been since I lodged there, and methinks the place has
grown natural to me), and thence down to Longreach, calling on
all the ships in the way, seeing their condition for sayling, and
what they want. Home about 11 of the clock, and so eat a bit
1906
JUNE 1666
and to bed, having received no manner of newes this day, but of
The Rainbow’s being put in from the fleete, maimed as the other
ships are, and some say that Sir W. Clerke is dead of his leg being
cut off.
6th. Up betimes, and vexed with my people for having a key
taken out of the chamber doors and nobody knew where it was,
as also with my boy for not being ready as soon as I, though I
called him, whereupon I boxed him soundly, and then to my
business at the office and on the Victualling Office, and thence
by water to St. James’s, whither he [the Duke of York] is now
gone, it being a monthly fast-day for the plague. There we all
met, and did our business as usual with the Duke, and among
other things had Captain Cocke’s proposal of East country goods
read, brought by my Lord Bruncker, which I make use of as a
monkey do the cat’s foot. Sir W. Coventry did much oppose it,
and it’s likely it will not do; so away goes my hopes of £500.
Thence after the Duke into the Parke, walking through to White
Hall, and there every body listening for guns, but none heard,
and every creature is now overjoyed and concludes upon very
good grounds that the Dutch are beaten because we have heard
no guns nor no newes of our fleete. By and by walking a little
further, Sir Philip Frowde did meet the Duke with an expresse
to Sir W. Coventry (who was by) from Captain Taylor, the Store-
keeper at Harwich, being the narration of Captain Hayward of
The Dunkirke; who gives a very serious account, how upon Mon-
day the two fleetes fought all day till seven at night, and then
the whole fleete of Dutch did betake themselves to a very plain
flight, and never looked back again. That Sir Christopher Mings
is wounded in the leg; that the Generall is well. That it is con-
ceived reasonably, that of all the Dutch fleete, which, with what
recruits they had, come to one hundred sayle, there is not above
fifty got home; and of them, few if any of their flags. And that lit-
tle Captain Bell, in one of the fire-ships, did at the end of the day
fire a ship of 70 guns. We were all so overtaken with this good
newes, that the Duke ran with it to the King, who was gone to
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chappell, and there all the Court was in a hubbub, being rejoiced
over head and ears in this good newes. Away go I by coach to
the New Exchange, and there did spread this good newes a lit-
tle, though I find it had broke out before. And so home to our
own church, it being the common Fast-day, and it was just be-
fore sermon; but, Lord! how all the people in the church stared
upon me to see me whisper to Sir John Minnes and my Lady
Pen. Anon I saw people stirring and whispering below, and by
and by comes up the sexton from my Lady Ford to tell me the
newes (which I had brought), being now sent into the church by
Sir W. Batten in writing, and handed from pew to pew. But that
which pleased me as much as the newes, was, to have the fair
Mrs. Middleton at our church, who indeed is a very beautiful
lady. Here after sermon comes to our office 40 people almost of
all sorts and qualities to hear the newes, which I took great de-
light to tell them. Then home and found my wife at dinner, not
knowing of my being at church, and after dinner my father and
she out to Hales’s, where my father is to begin to sit to-day for
his picture, which I have a desire to have. I all the afternoon at
home doing some business, drawing up my vowes for the rest
of the yeare to Christmas; but, Lord! to see in what a condition
of happiness I am, if I would but keepe myself so; but my love
of pleasure is such, that my very soul is angry with itself for my
vanity in so doing. Anon took coach and to Hales’s, but he was
gone out, and my father and wife gone. So I to Lovett’s, and there
to my trouble saw plainly that my project of varnished books will
not take, it not keeping colour, not being able to take polishing
upon a single paper. Thence home, and my father and wife not
coming in, I proceeded with my coach to take a little ayre as far
as Bow all alone, and there turned back and home; but before
I got home, the bonefires were lighted all the towne over, and
I going through Crouched Friars, seeing Mercer at her mother’s
gate, stopped, and ‘light, and into her mother’s, the first time I
ever was there, and find all my people, father and all, at a very
fine supper at W. Hewer’s lodging, very neatly, and to my great
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pleasure. After supper, into his chamber, which is mighty fine
with pictures and every thing else, very curious, which pleased
me exceedingly. Thence to the gate, with the women all about
me, and Mrs. Mercer’s son had provided a great many serpents,
and so I made the women all fire some serpents. By and by comes
in our faire neighbour, Mrs. Turner, and two neighbour’s daugh-
ters, Mrs. Tite, the elder of whom, a long red-nosed silly jade;
the younger, a pretty black girle, and the merriest sprightly jade
that ever I saw. With them idled away the whole night till twelve
at night at the bonefire in the streets. Some of the people there-
abouts going about with musquets, and did give me two or three
vollies of their musquets, I giving them a crowne to drink; and
so home. Mightily pleased with this happy day’s newes, and the
more, because confirmed by Sir Daniel Harvy, who was in the
whole fight with the Generall, and tells me that there appear but
thirty-six in all of the Dutch fleete left at the end of the voyage
when they run home. The joy of the City was this night exceed-
ing great.
7th. Up betimes, and to my office about business (Sir W.
Coventry having sent me word that he is gone down to the fleete
to see how matters stand, and to be back again speedily); and
with the same expectation of congratulating ourselves with the
victory that I had yesterday. But my Lord Bruncker and Sir T. H.
that come from Court, tell me quite contrary newes, which aston-
ishes me: that is to say, that we are beaten, lost many ships and
good commanders; have not taken one ship of the enemy’s; and
so can only report ourselves a victory; nor is it certain that we
were left masters of the field. But, above all, that The Prince run
on shore upon the Galloper, and there stuck; was endeavoured
to be fetched off by the Dutch, but could not; and so they burned
her; and Sir G. Ascue is taken prisoner, and carried into Holland.
This newes do much trouble me, and the thoughts of the ill con-
sequences of it, and the pride and presumption that brought us to
it. At noon to the ‘Change, and there find the discourse of towne,
and their countenances much changed; but yet not very plain. So
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home to dinner all alone, my father and people being gone all to
Woolwich to see the launching of the new ship The Greenwich,
built by Chr. Pett. I left alone with little Mrs. Tooker, whom I kept
with me in my chamber all the afternoon, and did what I would
with her. By and by comes Mr. Wayth to me; and discoursing
of our ill successe, he tells me plainly from Captain Page’s own
mouth (who hath lost his arm in the fight), that the Dutch did
pursue us two hours before they left us, and then they suffered
us to go on homewards, and they retreated towards their coast:
which is very sad newes. Then to my office and anon to White
Hall, late, to the Duke of York to see what commands he hath and
to pray a meeting to-morrow for Tangier in behalf of Mr. Yeab-
sly, which I did do and do find the Duke much damped in his
discourse, touching the late fight, and all the Court talk sadly of
it. The Duke did give me several letters he had received from the
fleete, and Sir W. Coventry and Sir W. Pen, who are gone down
thither, for me to pick out some works to be done for the setting
out the fleete again; and so I took them home with me, and was
drawing out an abstract of them till midnight. And as to newes, I
do find great reason to think that we are beaten in every respect,
and that we are the losers. The Prince upon the Galloper, where
both the Royall Charles and Royall Katharine had come twice
aground, but got off. The Essex carried into Holland; the Swift-
sure missing (Sir William Barkeley) ever since the beginning of
the fight. Captains Bacon, Tearne, Wood, Mootham, Whitty, and
Coppin, slayne. The Duke of Albemarle writes, that he never
fought with worse officers in his life, not above twenty of them
behaving themselves like men. Sir William Clerke lost his leg;
and in two days died. The Loyall George, Seven Oakes, and
Swiftsure, are still missing, having never, as the Generall writes
himself, engaged with them. It was as great an alteration to find
myself required to write a sad letter instead of a triumphant one
to my Lady Sandwich this night, as ever on any occasion I had in
my life. So late home and to bed.
8th. Up very betimes and to attend the Duke of York by or-
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JUNE 1666
der, all of us to report to him what the works are that are re-
quired of us and to divide among us, wherein I have taken a
very good share, and more than I can perform, I doubt. Thence
to the Exchequer about some Tangier businesses, and then home,
where to my very great joy I find Balty come home without any
hurt, after the utmost imaginable danger he hath gone through
in the Henery, being upon the quarterdeck with Harman all the
time; and for which service Harman I heard this day commended
most seriously and most eminently by the Duke of Yorke. As also
the Duke did do most utmost right to Sir Thomas Teddiman, of
whom a scandal was raised, but without cause, he having be-
haved himself most eminently brave all the whole fight, and to
extraordinary great service and purpose, having given Trump
himself such a broadside as was hardly ever given to any ship.
Mings is shot through the face, and into the shoulder, where the
bullet is lodged. Young Holmes’ is also ill wounded, and Ather
in The Rupert. Balty tells me the case of The Henery; and it
was, indeed, most extraordinary sad and desperate. After dinner
Balty and I to my office, and there talked a great deal of this fight;
and I am mightily pleased in him and have great content in, and
hopes of his doing well. Thence out to White Hall to a Commit-
tee for Tangier, but it met not. But, Lord! to see how melancholy
the Court is, under the thoughts of this last overthrow (for so it
is), instead of a victory, so much and so unreasonably expected.
Thence, the Committee not meeting, Creed and I down the river
as low as Sir W. Warren’s, with whom I did motion a business
that may be of profit to me, about buying some lighters to send
down to the fleete, wherein he will assist me. So back again, he
and I talking of the late ill management of this fight, and of the ill
management of fighting at all against so great a force bigger than
ours, and so to the office, where we parted, but with this satisfac-
tion that we hear the Swiftsure, Sir W. Barkeley, is come in safe to
the Nore, after her being absent ever since the beginning of the
fight, wherein she did not appear at all from beginning to end.
But wherever she has been, they say she is arrived there well,
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which I pray God however may be true. At the office late, doing
business, and so home to supper and to bed.
9th. Up, and to St. James’s, there to wait on the Duke of
Yorke, and had discourse with him about several businesses of
the fleete. But, Lord! to see how the Court is divided about The
Swiftsure and The Essex’s being safe. And wagers and odds laid
on both sides. I did tell the Duke how Sir W. Batten did tell me
this morning that he was sure the Swiftsure is safe. This put them
all in a great joy and certainty of it, but this I doubt will prove
nothing. Thence to White Ball in expectation of a meeting of
Tangier, and we did industriously labour to have it this morning;
but we could not get a fifth person there, so after much pains and
thoughts on my side on behalfe of Yeabsly, we were fain to breake
up. But, Lord! to see with what patience Lord Ashly did stay all
the morning to get a Committee, little thinking that I know the
reason of his willingnesse. So I home to dinner and back again
to White Hall, and, being come thither a little too soon, went to
Westminster Hall, and bought a payre of gloves, and to see how
people do take this late fight at sea, and I find all give over the
thoughts of it as a victory and to reckon it a great overthrow. So
to White Hall, and there when we were come all together in cer-
tain expectation of doing our business to Yeabsly’s full content,
and us that were his friends, my Lord Peterborough (whether
through some difference between him and my Lord Ashly, or him
and me or Povy, or through the falsenesse of Creed, I know not)
do bring word that the Duke of Yorke (who did expressly bid me
wait at the Committee for the dispatch of the business) would
not have us go forward in this business of allowing the losse of
the ships till Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry were come to
towne, which was the very thing indeed which we would have
avoided. This being told us, we broke up doing nothing, to my
great discontent, though I said nothing, and afterwards I find by
my Lord Ashly’s discourse to me that he is troubled mightily at
it, and indeed it is a great abuse of him and of the whole Com-
missioners that nothing of that nature can be done without Sir
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G. Carteret or Sir W. Coventry. No sooner was the Committee
up, and I going [through] the Court homeward, but I am told
Sir W. Coventry is come to town; so I to his chamber, and there
did give him an account how matters go in our office, and with
some content I parted from him, after we had discoursed sev-
eral things of the haste requisite to be made in getting the fleete
out again and the manner of doing it. But I do not hear that he
is at all pleased or satisfied with the late fight; but he tells me
more newes of our suffering, by the death of one or two captains
more than I knew before. But he do give over the thoughts of
the safety of The Swiftsure or Essex. Thence homewards, landed
at the Old Swan, and there find my pretty Betty Michell and her
husband at their doore in Thames Streete, which I was glad to
find, and went into their shop, and they made me drink some
of their strong water, the first time I was ever with them there.
I do exceedingly love her. After sitting a little and talking with
them about several things at great distance I parted and home to
my business late. But I am to observe how the drinking of some
strong water did immediately put my eyes into a fit of sorenesse
again as they were the other day. I mean my right eye only. Late
at night I had an account brought me by Sir W. Warren that he has
gone through four lighters for me, which pleases me very well.
So home to bed, much troubled with our disappointment at the
Tangier Committee.
10th (Lord’s day). Up very betimes, and down the river to
Deptford, and did a good deale of business in sending away and
directing several things to the Fleete. That being done, back to
London to my office, and there at my office till after Church time
fitting some notes to carry to Sir W. Coventry in the afternoon. At
noon home to dinner, where my cozen Joyces, both of them, they
and their wives and little Will, come by invitation to dinner to
me, and I had a good dinner for them; but, Lord! how sicke was
I of W. Joyce’s company, both the impertinencies of it and his ill
manners before me at my table to his wife, which I could hardly
forbear taking notice of; but being at my table and for his wife’s
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sake, I did, though I will prevent his giving me the like occasion
again at my house I will warrant him. After dinner I took leave
and by water to White Hall, and there spent all the afternoon in
the Gallery, till the Council was up, to speake with Sir W. Coven-
try. Walking here I met with Pierce the surgeon, who is lately
come from the fleete, and tells me that all the commanders, offi-
cers, and even the common seamen do condemn every part of the
late conduct of the Duke of Albemarle: both in his fighting at all,
in his manner of fighting, running among them in his retreat, and
running the ships on ground; so as nothing can be worse spoken
of. That Holmes, Spragg, and Smith do all the business, and the
old and wiser commanders nothing. So as Sir Thomas Teddiman
(whom the King and all the world speak well of) is mightily dis-
contented, as being wholly slighted. He says we lost more after
the Prince come, than before too. The Prince was so maimed, as
to be forced to be towed home. He says all the fleete confess their
being chased home by the Dutch; and yet the body of the Dutch
that did it, was not above forty sayle at most. And yet this put
us into the fright, as to bring all our ships on ground. He says,
however, that the Duke of Albemarle is as high almost as ever,
and pleases himself to think that he hath given the Dutch their
bellies full, without sense of what he hath lost us; and talks how
he knows now the way to beat them. But he says, that even Smith
himself, one of his creatures, did himself condemn the late con-
duct from the beginning to the end. He tells me further, how the
Duke of Yorke is wholly given up to his new mistresse, my Lady
Denham, going at noon-day with all his gentlemen with him to
visit her in Scotland Yard; she declaring she will not be his mis-
tresse, as Mrs. Price, to go up and down the Privy-stairs, but will
be owned publicly; and so she is. Mr. Bruncker, it seems, was the
pimp to bring it about, and my Lady Castlemaine, who designs
thereby to fortify herself by the Duke; there being a falling-out
the other day between the King and her: on this occasion, the
Queene, in ordinary talke before the ladies in her drawing-room,
did say to my Lady Castlemaine that she feared the King did take
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cold, by staying so late abroad at her house. She answered before
them all, that he did not stay so late abroad with her, for he went
betimes thence (though he do not before one, two, or three in the
morning), but must stay somewhere else. The King then coming
in and overhearing, did whisper in the eare aside, and told her
she was a bold impertinent woman, and bid her to be gone out of
the Court, and not come again till he sent for, her; which she did
presently, and went to a lodging in the Pell Mell, and kept there
two or three days, and then sent to the King to know whether
she might send for her things away out of her house. The King
sent to her, she must first come and view them: and so she come,
and the King went to her, and all friends again. He tells me she
did, in her anger, say she would be even with the King, and print
his letters to her. So putting all together, we are and are like to
be in a sad condition. We are endeavouring to raise money by
borrowing it of the City; but I do not think the City will lend a
farthing. By and by the Council broke up, and I spoke with Sir
W. Coventry about business, with whom I doubt not in a little
time to be mighty well, when I shall appear to mind my business
again as I used to do, which by the grace of God I will do. Gone
from him I endeavoured to find out Sir G. Carteret, and at last
did at Mr. Ashburnham’s, in the Old Palace Yarde, and thence
he and I stepped out and walked an houre in the church-yarde,
under Henry the Seventh’s Chappell, he being lately come from
the fleete; and tells me, as I hear from every body else, that the
management in the late fight was bad from top to bottom. That
several said this would not have been if my Lord Sandwich had
had the ordering of it. Nay, he tells me that certainly had my Lord
Sandwich had the misfortune to have done as they have done,
the King could not have saved him. There is, too, nothing but
discontent among the officers; and all the old experienced men
are slighted. He tells me to my question (but as a great secret),
that the dividing of the fleete did proceed first from a proposition
from the fleete, though agreed to hence. But he confesses it arose
from want of due intelligence, which he confesses we do want.
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JUNE 1666
He do, however, call the fleete’s retreat on Sunday a very hon-
ourable retreat, and that the Duke of Albemarle did do well in it,
and would have been well if he had done it sooner, rather than
venture the loss of the fleete and crown, as he must have done
if the Prince had not come. He was surprised when I told him
I heard that the King did intend to borrow some money of the
City, and would know who had spoke of it to me; I told him Sir
Ellis Layton this afternoon. He says it is a dangerous discourse;
for that the City certainly will not be invited to do it, and then
for the King to ask it and be denied, will be the beginning of our
sorrow. He seems to fear we shall all fall to pieces among our-
selves. This evening we hear that Sir Christopher Mings is dead
of his late wounds; and Sir W. Coventry did commend him to me
in a most extraordinary manner. But this day, after three days’
trial in vain, and the hazard of the spoiling of the ship in lying
till next spring, besides the disgrace of it, newes is brought that
the Loyall London is launched at Deptford. Having talked thus
much with Sir G. Carteret we parted there, and I home by water,
taking in my boat with me young Michell and my Betty his wife,
meeting them accidentally going to look a boat. I set them down
at the Old Swan and myself, went through bridge to the Tower,
and so home, and after supper to bed.
11th. Up, and down by water to Sir W. Warren’s (the first time
I was in his new house on the other side the water since he en-
larged it) to discourse about our lighters that he hath bought for
me, and I hope to get £100 by this jobb. Having done with him I
took boat again (being mightily struck with a woman in a hat, a
seaman’s mother,–[Mother or mauther, a wench.]–that stood on
the key) and home, where at the office all the morning with Sir W.
Coventry and some others of our board hiring of fireships, and
Sir W. Coventry begins to see my pains again, which I do begin to
take, and I am proud of it, and I hope shall continue it. He gone,
at noon I home to dinner, and after dinner my father and wife
out to the painter’s to sit again, and I, with my Lady Pen and her
daughter, to see Harman; whom we find lame in bed. His bones
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of his anckle are broke, but he hopes to do well soon; and a fine
person by his discourse he seems to be and my hearty [friend];
and he did plainly tell me that at the Council of War before the
fight, it was against his reason to begin the fight then, and the
reasons of most sober men there, the wind being such, and we to
windward, that they could not use their lower tier of guns, which
was a very sad thing for us to have the honour and weal of the na-
tion ventured so foolishly. I left them there, and walked to Dept-
ford, reading in Walsingham’s Manual, a very good book, and
there met with Sir W. Batten and my Lady at Uthwayt’s. Here I
did much business and yet had some little mirthe with my Lady,
and anon we all come up together to our office, where I was very
late doing much business. Late comes Sir J. Bankes to see me,
and tells me that coming up from Rochester he overtook three
or four hundred seamen, and he believes every day they come
flocking from the fleete in like numbers; which is a sad neglect
there, when it will be impossible to get others, and we have little
reason to think that these will return presently again. He gone, I
to end my letters to-night, and then home to supper and to bed.
12th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon to dinner, and then to White Hall in hopes of a meeting of
Tangier about Yeabsly’s business, but it could not be obtained, Sir
G. Carteret nor Sir W. Coventry being able to be there, which still
vexes [me] to see the poor man forced still to attend, as also be-
ing desirous to see what my profit is, and get it. Walking here in
the galleries I find the Ladies of Honour dressed in their riding
garbs, with coats and doublets with deep skirts, just for all the
world like mine, and buttoned their doublets up the breast, with
perriwigs and with hats; so that, only for a long petticoat drag-
ging under their men’s coats, nobody could take them for women
in any point whatever; which was an odde sight, and a sight did
not please me. It was Mrs. Wells and another fine lady that I saw
thus. Thence down by water to Deptford, and there late seeing
some things dispatched down to the fleete, and so home (think-
ing indeed to have met with Bagwell, but I did not) to write my
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letters very late, and so to supper and to bed.
13th. Up, and by coach to St. James’s, and there did our busi-
ness before the Duke as usual, having, before the Duke come out
of his bed, walked in an ante-chamber with Sir H. Cholmly, who
tells me there are great jarrs between the Duke of Yorke and the
Duke of Albemarle, about the later’s turning out one or two of
the commanders put in by the Duke of Yorke. Among others,
Captain Du Tell, a Frenchman, put in by the Duke of Yorke, and
mightily defended by him; and is therein led by Monsieur Blanc-
ford, that it seems hath the same command over the Duke of
Yorke as Sir W. Coventry hath; which raises ill blood between
them. And I do in several little things observe that Sir W. Coven-
try hath of late, by the by, reflected on the Duke of Albemarle
and his captains, particularly in that of old Teddiman, who did
deserve to be turned out this fight, and was so; but I heard Sir W.
Coventry say that the Duke of Albemarle put in one as bad as he
is in his room, and one that did as little. After we had done with
the Duke of Yorke, I with others to White Hall, there to attend
again a Committee of Tangier, but there was none, which vexed
me to the heart, and makes me mighty doubtfull that when we
have one, it will be prejudiced against poor Yeabsly and to my
great disadvantage thereby, my Lord Peterborough making it his
business, I perceive (whether in spite to me, whom he cannot but
smell to be a friend to it, or to my Lord Ashly, I know not), to
obstruct it, and seems to take delight in disappointing of us; but
I shall be revenged of him. Here I staid a very great while, al-
most till noon, and then meeting Balty I took him with me, and
to Westminster to the Exchequer about breaking of two tallys of
£2000 each into smaller tallys, which I have been endeavouring a
good while, but to my trouble it will not, I fear, be done, though
there be no reason against it, but only a little trouble to the clerks;
but it is nothing to me of real profit at all. Thence with Balty to
Hales’s by coach, it being the seventh day from my making my
late oathes, and by them I am at liberty to dispense with any of
my oathes every seventh day after I had for the six days before
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going performed all my vowes. Here I find my father’s picture
begun, and so much to my content, that it joys my very heart
to thinke that I should have his picture so well done; who, be-
sides that he is my father, and a man that loves me, and hath ever
done so, is also, at this day, one of the most carefull and innocent
men, in the world. Thence with mighty content homeward, and
in my way at the Stockes did buy a couple of lobsters, and so
home to dinner, where I find my wife and father had dined, and
were going out to Hales’s to sit there, so Balty and I alone to din-
ner, and in the middle of my grace, praying for a blessing upon
(these his good creatures), my mind fell upon my lobsters: upon
which I cried, Odd zooks! and Balty looked upon me like a man
at a losse what I meant, thinking at first that I meant only that
I had said the grace after meat instead of that before meat. But
then I cried, what is become of my lobsters? Whereupon he run
out of doors to overtake the coach, but could not, so came back
again, and mighty merry at dinner to thinke of my surprize. Af-
ter dinner to the Excise Office by appointment, and there find my
Lord Bellasses and the Commissioners, and by and by the whole
company come to dispute the business of our running so far be-
hindhand there, and did come to a good issue in it, that is to say,
to resolve upon having the debt due to us, and the Household
and the Guards from the Excise stated, and so we shall come to
know the worst of our condition and endeavour for some helpe
from my Lord Treasurer. Thence home, and put off Balty, and so,
being invited, to Sir Christopher Mings’s funeral, but find them
gone to church. However I into the church (which is a fair, large
church, and a great chappell) and there heard the service, and
staid till they buried him, and then out. And there met with Sir
W. Coventry (who was there out of great generosity, and no per-
son of quality there but he) and went with him into his coach,
and being in it with him there happened this extraordinary case,
one of the most romantique that ever I heard of in my life, and
could not have believed, but that I did see it; which was this:–
About a dozen able, lusty, proper men come to the coach-side
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with tears in their eyes, and one of them that spoke for the rest
begun and says to Sir W. Coventry, “We are here a dozen of us
that have long known and loved, and served our dead comman-
der, Sir Christopher Mings, and have now done the last office of
laying him in the ground. We would be glad we had any other to
offer after him, and in revenge of him. All we have is our lives;
if you will please to get His Royal Highness to give us a fireship
among us all, here is a dozen of us, out of all which choose you
one to be commander, and the rest of us, whoever he is, will serve
him; and, if possible, do that that shall show our memory of our
dead commander, and our revenge.” Sir W. Coventry was here-
with much moved (as well as I, who could hardly abstain from
weeping), and took their names, and so parted; telling me that
he would move His Royal Highness as in a thing very extraor-
dinary, which was done. Thereon see the next day in this book.
So we parted. The truth is, Sir Christopher Mings was a very
stout man, and a man of great parts, and most excellent tongue
among ordinary men; and as Sir W. Coventry says, could have
been the most useful man at such a pinch of time as this. He was
come into great renowne here at home, and more abroad in the
West Indys. He had brought his family into a way of being great;
but dying at this time, his memory and name (his father being
always and at this day a shoemaker, and his mother a Hoyman’s
daughter; of which he was used frequently to boast) will be quite
forgot in a few months as if he had never been, nor any of his
name be the better by it; he having not had time to will any es-
tate, but is dead poor rather than rich. So we left the church and
crowd, and I home (being set down on Tower Hill), and there did
a little business and then in the evening went down by water to
Deptford, it being very late, and there I staid out as much time
as I could, and then took boat again homeward, but the officers
being gone in, returned and walked to Mrs. Bagwell’s house,
and there (it being by this time pretty dark and past ten o’clock)
went into her house and did what I would. But I was not a little
fearfull of what she told me but now, which is, that her servant
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was dead of the plague, that her coming to me yesterday was the
first day of her coming forth, and that she had new whitened the
house all below stairs, but that above stairs they are not so fit for
me to go up to, they being not so. So I parted thence, with a very
good will, but very civil, and away to the waterside, and sent for
a pint of sacke and so home, drank what I would and gave the
waterman the rest; and so adieu. Home about twelve at night,
and so to bed, finding most of my people gone to bed. In my
way home I called on a fisherman and bought three eeles, which
cost me three shillings.
14th. Up, and to the office, and there sat all the morning.
At noon dined at home, and thence with my wife and father to
Hales’s, and there looked only on my father’s picture (which is
mighty like); and so away to White Hall to a committee for Tang-
ier, where the Duke of York was, and Sir W. Coventry, and a very
full committee; and instead of having a very prejudiced meet-
ing, they did, though indeed inclined against Yeabsly, yield to
the greatest part of his account, so as to allow of his demands to
the value of £7,000 and more, and only give time for him to make
good his pretence to the rest; which was mighty joy to me: and
so we rose up. But I must observe the force of money, which did
make my Lord Ashly to argue and behave himself in the business
with the greatest friendship, and yet with all the discretion imag-
inable; and [it] will be a business of admonition and instruction
to me concerning him (and other men, too, for aught I know) as
long as I live. Thence took Creed with some kind of violence and
some hard words between us to St. James’s, to have found out
Sir W. Coventry to have signed the order for his payment among
others that did stay on purpose to do it (and which is strange
among the rest my Lord Ashly, who did cause Creed to write it
presently and kept two or three of them with him by cunning
to stay and sign it), but Creed’s ill nature (though never so well
bribed, as it hath lately in this case by twenty pieces) will not be
overcome from his usual delays. Thence failing of meeting Sir
W. Coventry I took leave of Creed (very good friends) and away
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home, and there took out my father, wife, sister, and Mercer our
grand Tour in the evening, and made it ten at night before we
got home, only drink at the doore at Islington at the Katherine
Wheel, and so home and to the office a little, and then to bed.
15th. Up betimes, and to my Journall entries, but disturbed
by many businesses, among others by Mr. Houblon’s coming to
me about evening their freight for Tangier, which I did, and then
Mr. Bland, who presented me yesterday with a very fine African
mat, to lay upon the ground under a bed of state, being the first
fruits of our peace with Guyland. So to the office, and thither
come my pretty widow Mrs. Burrows, poor woman, to get her
ticket paid for her husband’s service, which I did her myself, and
did ‘baisser her moucher’, and I do hope may thereafter have
some day ‘sa’ company. Thence to Westminster to the Exchequer,
but could not persuade the blockheaded fellows to do what I de-
sire, of breaking my great tallys into less, notwithstanding my
Lord Treasurer’s order, which vexed [me] so much that I would
not bestow more time and trouble among a company of dunces,
and so back again home, and to dinner, whither Creed come and
dined with me and after dinner Mr. Moore, and he and I abroad,
thinking to go down the river together, but the tide being against
me would not, but returned and walked an houre in the garden,
but, Lord! to hear how he pleases himself in behalf of my Lord
Sandwich, in the miscarriage of the Duke of Albemarle, and do
inveigh against Sir W. Coventry as a cunning knave, but I thinke
that without any manner of reason at all, but only his passion. He
being gone I to my chamber at home to set my Journall right and
so to settle my Tangier accounts, which I did in very good order,
and then in the evening comes Mr. Yeabsly to reckon with me,
which I did also, and have above £200 profit therein to myself,
which is a great blessing, the God of heaven make me thankfull
for it. That being done, and my eyes beginning to be sore with
overmuch writing, I to supper and to bed.
16th. Up betimes and to my office, and there we sat all
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the morning and dispatched much business, the King, Duke of
Yorke, and Sir W. Coventry being gone down to the fleete. At
noon home to dinner and then down to Woolwich and Dept-
ford to look after things, my head akeing from the multitude of
businesses I had in my head yesterday in settling my accounts.
All the way down and up, reading of “The Mayor of Quinbor-
ough,” a simple play. At Deptford, while I am there, comes Mr.
Williamson, Sir Arthur Ingram and Jacke Fen, to see the new
ships, which they had done, and then I with them home in their
boat, and a very fine gentleman Mr. Williamson is. It seems the
Dutch do mightily insult of their victory, and they have great rea-
son.548 Sir William Barkeley was killed before his ship taken; and
there he lies dead in a sugar-chest, for every body to see, with
his flag standing up by him. And Sir George Ascue is carried up
and down the Hague for people to see. Home to my office, where
late, and then to bed.
17th (Lord’s day). Being invited to Anthony Joyce’s to dinner,
my wife and sister and Mercer and I walked out in the morning,
548 This treatment seems to have been that of the Dutch populace alone,
and there does not appear to have been cause of complaint against the gov-
ernment. Respecting Sir W. Berkeley’s body the following notice was pub-
lished in the “London Gazette” of July 15th, 1666 (No. 69) “Whitehall, July
15. This day arrived a trumpet from the States of Holland, who came over
from Calais in the Dover packet-boat, with a letter to his Majesty, that the
States have taken order for the embalming the body of Sir William Berkeley,
which they have placed in the chapel of the great church at the Hague, a
civility they profess to owe to his corpse, in respect to the quality of his per-
son, the greatness of his command, and of the high courage and valour he
showed in the late engagement; desiring his Majesty to signify his pleasure
about the further disposal of it.” “Frederick Ruysch, the celebrated Dutch
anatomist, undertook, by order of the States-General, to inject the body of
the English Admiral Berkeley, killed in the sea-fight of 1666; and the body,
already somewhat decomposed, was sent over to England as well prepared
as if it had been the fresh corpse of a child. This produced to Ruysch, on the
part of the States-General, a recompense worthy of their liberality, and the
merit of the anatomist,” “James’s Medical Dictionary.”
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JUNE 1666
it being fine weather, to Christ Church, and there heard a silly
sermon, but sat where we saw one of the prettiest little boys with
the prettiest mouth that ever I saw in [my] life. Thence to Joyce’s,
where William Joyce and his wife were, and had a good dinner;
but, Lord! how sicke was I of the company, only hope I shall
have no more of it a good while; but am invited to Will’s this
week; and his wife, poor unhappy woman, cried to hear me say
that I could not be there, she thinking that I slight her: so they got
me to promise to come. Thence my father and I walked to Gray’s
Inne Fields, and there spent an houre or two walking and talking
of several businesses; first, as to his estate, he told me it produced
about £80 per ann., but then there goes £30 per. ann. taxes and
other things, certain charge, which I do promise to make good as
far as this £30, at which the poor man was overjoyed and wept.
As to Pall he tells me he is mightily satisfied with Ensum, and
so I promised to give her £500 presently, and to oblige myself to
100 more on the birth of her first child, he insuring her in £10
per ann. for every £100, and in the meantime till she do marry I
promise to allow her £10 per ann. Then as to John I tell him I will
promise him nothing, but will supply him as so much lent him, I
declaring that I am not pleased with him yet, and that when his
degree is over I will send for him up hither, and if he be good
for any thing doubt not to get him preferment. This discourse
ended to the joy of my father and no less to me to see that I am
able to do this, we return to Joyce’s and there wanting a coach to
carry us home I walked out as far as the New Exchange to find
one, but could not. So down to the Milke-house, and drank three
glasses of whay, and then up into the Strand again, and there met
with a coach, and so to Joyce’s and took up my father, wife, sister,
and Mercer, and to Islington, where we drank, and then our tour
by Hackney home, where, after a little, business at my office and
then talke with my Lady and Pegg Pen in the garden, I home and
to bed, being very weary.
18th. Up betimes and in my chamber most of the morning set-
ting things to rights there, my Journall and accounts with my
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father and brother, then to the office a little, and so to Lumbard
Streete, to borrow a little money upon a tally, but cannot. Thence
to the Exchequer, and there after much wrangling got consent
that I should have a great tally broken into little ones. Thence to
Hales’s to see how my father’s picture goes on, which pleases me
mighty well, though I find again, as I did in Mrs. Pierce’s, that a
picture may have more of a likeness in the first or second work-
ing than it shall have when finished, though this is very well and
to my full content, but so it is, and certainly mine was not so like
at the first, second, or third sitting as it was afterward. Thence
to my Lord Bellasses, by invitation, and there dined with him,
and his lady and daughter; and at dinner there played to us a
young boy, lately come from France, where he had been learning
a yeare or two on the viallin, and plays finely. But impartially I do
not find any goodnesse in their ayres (though very good) beyond
ours when played by the same hand, I observed in several of Bap-
tiste’s’549 (the present great composer) and our Bannister’s. But
it was pretty to see how passionately my Lord’s daughter loves
musique, the most that ever I saw creature in my life. Thence
after dinner home and to the office and anon to Lumbard Streete
again, where much talke at Colvill’s, he censuring the times, and
how matters are ordered, and with reason enough; but, above
all, the thinking to borrow money of the City, which will not be
done, but be denied, they being little pleased with the King’s af-
fairs, and that must breed differences between the King and the
City. Thence down by water to Deptford, to order things away
to the fleete and back again, and after some business at my of-
549 Jean Baptiste Lulli, son of a Tuscan peasant, born 1633, died 1687. He
invented the dramatic overture. “But during the first years of Charles II.
all musick affected by the beau mond run in the french way; and the rather
because at that time the master of the court musick in France, whose name
was Baptista (an Italian frenchifyed) had influenced the french style by in-
fusing a great portion of the Italian harmony into it, whereby the ayre was
exceedingly improved” (North’s “Memoires of Musick,” ed. Rimbault, 1846,
p, 102).
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fice late home to supper and to bed. Sir W. Coventry is returned
this night from the fleete, he being the activest man in the world,
and we all (myself particularly) more afeard of him than of the
King or his service, for aught I see; God forgive us! This day the
great newes is come of the French, their taking the island of St.
Christopher’s’ from us; and it is to be feared they have done the
like of all those islands thereabouts this makes the city mad.
19th. Up, and to my office, there to fit business against the
rest meet, which they did by and by, and sat late. After the of-
fice rose (with Creed with me) to Wm. Joyce’s to dinner, being
invited, and there find my father and sister, my wife and Mer-
cer, with them, almost dined. I made myself as complaisant as I
could till I had dined, but yet much against my will, and so away
after dinner with Creed to Penny’s, my Tailor, where I bespoke
a thin stuff suit, and did spend a little time evening some little
accounts with Creed and so parted, and I to Sir. G. Carteret’s by
appointment; where I perceive by him the King is going to bor-
row some money of the City; but I fear it will do no good, but
hurt. He tells me how the Generall–[The Duke of Albemarle.]–is
displeased, and there have been some high words between the
Generall and Sir W. Coventry. And it may be so; for I do not find
Sir W. Coventry so highly commending the Duke as he used to
be, but letting fall now and then some little jerkes: as this day,
speaking of newes from Holland, he says, “I find their victory
begins to shrinke there, as well as ours here.” Here I met with
Captain Cocke, and he tells me that the first thing the Prince said
to the King upon his coming, was complaining of the Commis-
sioners of the Navy; that they could have been abroad in three
or four days but for us; that we do not take care of them which I
am troubled at, and do fear may in violence break out upon this
office some time or other; for we shall not be able to carry on the
business. Thence home, and at my business till late at night, then
with my wife into the garden and there sang with Mercer, whom
I feel myself begin to love too much by handling of her breasts in
a’ morning when she dresses me, they being the finest that ever I
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saw in my life, that is the truth of it. So home and to supper with
beans and bacon and to bed.
20th. Up, but in some pain of the collique. I have of late taken
too much cold by washing my feet and going in a thin silke waist-
coate, without any other coate over it, and open-breasted, but I
hope it will go over. I did this morning (my father being to go
away to-morrow) give my father some money to buy him a horse,
and for other things to himself and my mother and sister, among
them £20, besides undertaking to pay for other things for them
to about £3, which the poor man takes with infinite kindnesse,
and I do not thinke I can bestow it better. Thence by coach to
St. James’s as usual to wait on the Duke of York, after having dis-
coursed with Collonell Fitzgerald, whom I met in my way and he
returned with me to Westminster, about paying him a sum of 700
and odd pounds, and he bids me defalk £25 for myself,–[Abate
from an amount.]–which is a very good thing; having done with
the Duke I to the Exchequer and there after much ado do get my
business quite over of the difficulty of breaking a great tally into
little ones and so shall have it done tomorrow. Thence to the Hall
and with Mrs. Martin home and staid with her a while, and then
away to the Swan and sent for a bit of meat and dined there, and
thence to Faythorne, the picture-seller’s, and there chose two or
three good Cutts to try to vernish, and so to Hales’s to see my fa-
ther’s picture, which is now near finished and is very good, and
here I staid and took a nap of an hour, thinking my father and
wife would have come, but they did not; so I away home as fast
as I could, fearing lest my father this day going abroad to see Mr.
Honiwood at Major Russell’s might meet with any trouble, and
so in great pain home; but to spite me, in Cheapside I met Mrs.
Williams in a coach, and she called me, so I must needs ‘light
and go along with her and poor Knipp (who is so big as she can
tumble and looks-every day to lie down) as far as Paternoster
Row, which I did do and there staid in Bennett’s shop with them,
and was fearfull lest the people of the shop, knowing me, should
aske after my father and give Mrs. Williams any knowledge of
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me to my disgrace. Having seen them done there and accompa-
nied them to Ludgate I ‘light and into my owne coach and home,
where I find my father and wife had had no intent of coming at
all to Hales’s. So I at home all the evening doing business, and
at night in the garden (it having been these three or four days
mighty hot weather) singing in the evening, and then home to
supper and to bed.
21st. Up, and at the office all the morning; whereby several
circumstances I find Sir W. Coventry and the Duke of Albemarle
do not agree as they used to do; Sir W. Coventry commending
Aylett (in some reproach to the Duke), whom the Duke hath put
out for want of courage; and found fault with Steward, whom
the Duke keeps in, though as much in fault as any commander
in the fleete. At noon home to dinner, my father, sister, and wife
dining at Sarah Giles’s, poor woman, where I should have been,
but my pride would not suffer me. After dinner to Mr. Debasty’s
to speake with Sir Robert Viner, a fine house and a great many
fine ladies. He used me mighty civilly. My business was to set
the matter right about the letter of credit he did give my Lord
Belassis, that I may take up the tallys lodged with Viner for his
security in the answering of my Lord’s bills, which we did set
right very well, and Sir Robert Viner went home with me and did
give me the £5000 tallys presently. Here at Mr. Debasty’s I saw, in
a gold frame, a picture of a Outer playing on his flute which, for
a good while, I took for paynting, but at last observed it a piece of
tapestry, and is the finest that ever I saw in my life for figures, and
good natural colours, and a very fine thing it is indeed. So home
and met Sir George Smith by the way, who tells me that this day
my Lord Chancellor and some of the Court have been with the
City, and the City have voted to lend the King £100,000; which, if
soon paid (as he says he believes it will), will be a greater service
than I did ever expect at this time from the City. So home to my
letters and then with my wife in the garden, and then upon our
leades singing in the evening and so to supper (while at supper
comes young Michell, whose wife I love, little Betty Howlet, to
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get my favour about a ticket, and I am glad of this occasion of
obliging him and give occasion of his coming to me, for I must
be better acquainted with him and her), and after supper to bed.
22nd. Up, and before I went out Mr. Peter Barr sent me a
tierce of claret, which is very welcome. And so abroad down the
river to Deptford and there did some business, and then to West-
minster, and there did with much ado get my tallys (my small
ones instead of one great one of £2,000), and so away home and
there all day upon my Tangier accounts with Creed, and, he be-
ing gone, with myself, in settling other accounts till past twelve
at night, and then every body being in bed, I to bed, my father,
wife, and sister late abroad upon the water, and Mercer being
gone to her mother’s and staid so long she could not get into the
office, which vexed me.
23rd. My father and sister very betimes took their leave; and
my wife, with all possible kindnesse, went with them to the
coach, I being mightily pleased with their company thus long,
and my father with his being here, and it rejoices my heart that I
am in condition to do any thing to comfort him, and could, were
it not for my mother, have been contented he should have stayed
always here with me, he is such innocent company. They being
gone, I to my papers, but vexed at what I heard but a little of this
morning, before my wife went out, that Mercer and she fell out
last night, and that the girle is gone home to her mother’s for all-
together: This troubles me, though perhaps it may be an ease to
me of so much charge. But I love the girle, and another we must
be forced to keepe I do foresee and then shall be sorry to part with
her. At the office all the morning, much disquiett in my mind in
the middle of my business about this girle. Home at noon to din-
ner, and what with the going away of my father today and the
losse of Mercer, I after dinner went up to my chamber and there
could have cried to myself, had not people come to me about
business. In the evening down to Tower Wharfe thinking to go
by water, but could not get watermen; they being now so scarce,
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by reason of the great presse; so to the Custome House, and there,
with great threats, got a couple to carry me down to Deptford, all
the way reading Pompey the Great (a play translated from the
French by several noble persons; among others, my Lord Buck-
hurst), that to me is but a mean play, and the words and sense
not very extraordinary. From Deptford I walked to Redriffe, and
in my way was overtaken by Bagwell, lately come from sea in the
Providence, who did give me an account of several particulars in
the late fight, and how his ship was deserted basely by the York,
Captain Swanly, commander. So I home and there after writing
my letters home to supper and to bed, fully resolved to rise be-
times, and go down the river to-morrow morning, being vexed
this night to find none of the officers in the yarde at 7 at night, nor
any body concerned as if it were a Dutch warr. It seems Mercer’s
mother was here in the morning to speak with my wife, but my
wife would not. In the afternoon I and my wife in writing did in-
struct W. Hewer in some discourse to her, and she in the evening
did come and satisfy my wife, and by and by Mercer did come,
which I was mighty glad of and eased of much pain about her.
24th. Sunday. Midsummer Day. Up, but, being weary the last
night, not so soon as I intended. Then being dressed, down by
water to Deptford, and there did a great deale of business, be-
ing in a mighty hurry, Sir W. Coventry writing to me that there
was some thoughts that the Dutch fleete were out or coming out.
Business being done in providing for the carrying down of some
provisions to the fleete, I away back home and after dinner by
water to White Hall, and there waited till the councill rose, in
the boarded gallery, and there among other things I hear that Sir
Francis Prujean is dead, after being married to a widow about
a yeare or thereabouts. He died very rich, and had, for the last
yeare, lived very handsomely, his lady bringing him to it. He
was no great painstaker in person, yet died very rich; and, as Dr.
Clerke says, was of a very great judgment, but hath writ nothing
to leave his name to posterity. In the gallery among others met
with Major Halsey, a great creature of the Duke of Albemarle’s;
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who tells me that the Duke, by name, hath said that he expected
to have the worke here up in the River done, having left Sir W.
Batten and Mr. Phipps there. He says that the Duke of Albe-
marle do say that this is a victory we have had, having, as he
was sure, killed them 8000 men, and sunk about fourteen of their
ships; but nothing like this appears true. He lays much of the
little success we had, however, upon the fleete’s being divided
by order from above, and the want of spirit in the commanders;
and that he was commanded by order to go out of the Downes
to the Gun-fleete, and in the way meeting the Dutch fleete, what
should he do? should he not fight them? especially having beat
them heretofore at as great disadvantage. He tells me further,
that having been downe with the Duke of Albemarle, he finds
that Holmes and Spragge do govern most business of the Navy;
and by others I understand that Sir Thomas Allen is offended
thereat; that he is not so much advised with as he ought to be. He
tells me also, as he says, of his own knowledge, that several peo-
ple before the Duke went out did offer to supply the King with
£100,000 provided he would be treasurer of it, to see it laid out
for the Navy; which he refused, and so it died. But I believe none
of this. This day I saw my Lady Falmouth, with whom I remem-
ber now I have dined at my Lord Barkeley’s heretofore, a pretty
woman: she was now in her second or third mourning, and
pretty pleasant in her looks. By and by the Council rises, and Sir
W. Coventry comes out; and he and I went aside, and discoursed
of much business of the Navy; and afterwards took his coach,
and to Hide-Parke, he and I alone: there we had much talke.
First, he started a discourse of a talke he hears about the towne,
which, says he, is a very bad one, and fit to be suppressed, if
we knew how which is, the comparing of the successe of the last
year with that of this; saying that that was good, and that bad. I
was as sparing in speaking as I could, being jealous of him and
myself also, but wished it could be stopped; but said I doubted it
could not otherwise than by the fleete’s being abroad again, and
so finding other worke for men’s minds and discourse. Then to
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discourse of himself, saying, that he heard that he was under the
lash of people’s discourse about the Prince’s not having notice
of the Dutch being out, and for him to comeback again, nor the
Duke of Albemarle notice that the Prince was sent for back again:
to which he told me very particularly how careful he was the
very same night that it was resolved to send for the Prince back,
to cause orders to be writ, and waked the Duke, who was then in
bed, to sign them; and that they went by expresse that very night,
being the Wednesday night before the fight, which begun on the
Friday; and that for sending them by the post expresse, and not
by gentlemen on purpose, he made a sport of it, and said, I knew
of none to send it with, but would at least have lost more time in
fitting themselves out, than any diligence of theirs beyond that of
the ordinary post would have recovered. I told him that this was
not so much the towne talke as the reason of dividing the fleete.
To this he told me he ought not to say much; but did assure me
in general that the proposition did first come from the fleete, and
the resolution not being prosecuted with orders so soon as the
Generall thought fit, the Generall did send Sir Edward Spragge
up on purpose for them; and that there was nothing in the whole
business which was not done with the full consent and advice of
the Duke of Albemarle.
But he did adde (as the Catholiques call ‘le secret de la
Masse’), that Sir Edward Spragge–who had even in Sir Christo-
pher Mings’s time put in to be the great favourite of the Prince,
but much more now had a mind to be the great man with him,
and to that end had a mind to have the Prince at a distance
from the Duke of Albemarle, that they might be doing something
alone–did, as he believed, put on this business of dividing the
fleete, and that thence it came.550 He tells me as to the business
550 This division of the fleet was the original cause of the disaster, and at
a later period the enemies of Clarendon charged him with having advised
this action, but Coventry’s communication to Pepys in the text completely
exonerates Clarendon.
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of intelligence, the want whereof the world did complain much
of, that for that it was not his business, and as he was therefore
to have no share in the blame, so he would not meddle to lay it
any where else. That de Ruyter was ordered by the States not to
make it his business to come into much danger, but to preserve
himself as much as was fit out of harm’s way, to be able to direct
the fleete. He do, I perceive, with some violence, forbear saying
any thing to the reproach of the Duke of Albemarle; but, contrar-
ily, speaks much of his courage; but I do as plainly see that he do
not like the Duke of Albemarle’s proceedings, but, contrarily, is
displeased therewith. And he do plainly diminish the comman-
ders put in by the Duke, and do lessen the miscarriages of any
that have been removed by him. He concurs with me, that the
next bout will be a fatal one to one side or other, because, if we
be beaten, we shall not be able to set out our fleete again. He
do confess with me that the hearts of our seamen are much sad-
dened; and for that reason, among others, wishes Sir Christopher
Mings was alive, who might inspire courage and spirit into them.
Speaking of Holmes, how great a man he is, and that he do for
the present, and hath done all the voyage, kept himself in good
order and within bounds; but, says he, a cat will be a cat still, and
some time or other out his humour must break again. He do not
disowne but that the dividing of the fleete upon the presump-
tions that were then had (which, I suppose, was the French fleete
being come this way), was a good resolution. Having had all this
discourse, he and I back to White Hall; and there I left him, being
[in] a little doubt whether I had behaved myself in my discourse
with the policy and circumspection which ought to be used to so
great a courtier as he is, and so wise and factious a man, and by
water home, and so, after supper, to bed.
25th. Up, and all the morning at my Tangier accounts, which
the chopping and changing of my tallys make mighty trouble-
some; but, however, I did end them with great satisfaction to my-
self. At noon, without staying to eat my dinner, I down by water
to Deptford, and there coming find Sir W. Batten and Sir Jeremy
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Smith (whom the dispatch of the Loyall London detained) at din-
ner at Greenwich at the Beare Taverne, and thither I to them and
there dined with them. Very good company of strangers there
was, but I took no great pleasure among them, being desirous
to be back again. So got them to rise as soon as I could, hav-
ing told them the newes Sir W. Coventry just now wrote me to
tell them, which is, that the Dutch are certainly come out. I did
much business at Deptford, and so home, by an old poor man,
a sculler, having no oares to be got, and all this day on the wa-
ter entertained myself with the play of Commenius, and being
come home did go out to Aldgate, there to be overtaken by Mrs.
Margot Pen in her father’s coach, and my wife and Mercer with
her, and Mrs. Pen carried us to two gardens at Hackny, (which I
every day grow more and more in love with,) Mr. Drake’s one,
where the garden is good, and house and the prospect admirable;
the other my Lord Brooke’s, where the gardens are much better,
but the house not so good, nor the prospect good at all. But the
gardens are excellent; and here I first saw oranges grow: some
green, some half, some a quarter, and some full ripe, on the same
tree, and one fruit of the same tree do come a year or two af-
ter the other. I pulled off a little one by stealth (the man being
mighty curious of them) and eat it, and it was just as other little
green small oranges are; as big as half the end of my little fin-
ger. Here were also great variety of other exotique plants, and
several labarinths, and a pretty aviary. Having done there with
very great pleasure we away back again, and called at the Tav-
erne in Hackny by the church, and there drank and eate, and so
in the Goole of the evening home. This being the first day of my
putting on my black stuff bombazin suit, and I hope to feel no
inconvenience by it, the weather being extremely hot. So home
and to bed, and this night the first night of my lying without a
waistcoat, which I hope I shall very well endure. So to bed. This
morning I did with great pleasure hear Mr. Caesar play some
good things on his lute, while he come to teach my boy Tom, and
I did give him 40s. for his encouragement.
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26th. Up and to my office betimes, and there all the morn-
ing, very busy to get out the fleete, the Dutch being now for cer-
tain out, and we shall not, we thinke, be much behindhand with
them. At noon to the ‘Change about business, and so home to
dinner, and after dinner to the setting my Journall to rights, and
so to the office again, where all the afternoon full of business,
and there till night, that my eyes were sore, that I could not write
no longer. Then into the garden, then my wife and Mercer and
my Lady Yen and her daughter with us, and here we sung in the
darke very finely half an houre, and so home to supper and to
bed. This afternoon, after a long drowth, we had a good shower
of rain, but it will not signify much if no more come. This day
in the morning come Mr. Chichly to Sir W. Coventry, to tell him
the ill successe of the guns made for the Loyall London; which
is, that in the trial every one of the great guns, the whole can-
non of seven (as I take it), broke in pieces, which is a strange
mishap, and that which will give more occasion to people’s dis-
course of the King’s business being done ill. This night Mary my
cookemayde, that hath been with us about three months, but find
herself not able to do my worke, so is gone with great kindnesse
away, and another (Luce) come, very ugly and plaine, but may
be a good servant for all that.
27th. Up, and to my office awhile, and then down the river
a little way to see vessels ready for the carrying down of 400
land soldiers to the fleete. Then back to the office for my papers,
and so to St. James’s, where we did our usual attendance on the
Duke. Having done with him, we all of us down to Sir W. Coven-
try’s chamber (where I saw his father my Lord Coventry’s picture
hung up, done by Stone, who then brought it home. It is a good
picture, drawn in his judge’s robes, and the great seale by him.
And while it was hanging up, “This,” says Sir W. Coventry, mer-
rily, “is the use we make of our fathers,”) to discourse about the
proposition of serving us with hempe, delivered in by my Lord
Brouncker as from an unknown person, though I know it to be
Captain Cocke’s. My Lord and Sir William Coventry had some
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JUNE 1666
earnest words about it, the one promoting it for his private ends,
being, as Cocke tells me himself, to have £500 if the bargain goes
on, and I am to have as much, and the other opposing it for the
unseasonableness of it, not knowing at all whose the proposition
is, which seems the more ingenious of the two. I sat by and said
nothing, being no great friend to the proposition, though Cocke
intends me a convenience by it. But what I observed most from
the discourse was this of Sir W. Coventry, that he do look upon
ourselves in a desperate condition. The issue of all standing upon
this one point, that by the next fight, if we beat, the Dutch will
certainly be content to take eggs for their money (that was his
expression); or if we be beaten, we must be contented to make
peace, and glad if we can have it without paying too dear for it.
And withall we do rely wholly upon the Parliament’s giving us
more money the next sitting, or else we are undone. Being gone
hence, I took coach to the Old Exchange, but did not go into it,
but to Mr. Cade’s, the stationer, stood till the shower was over, it
being a great and welcome one after so much dry weather. Here
I understand that Ogleby is putting out some new fables of his
owne, which will be very fine and very satyricall. Thence home
to dinner, and after dinner carried my wife to her sister’s and I
to Mr. Hales’s, to pay for my father’s picture, which cost me £10
the head and 25s. the frame. Thence to Lovett’s, who has now
done something towards the varnishing of single paper for the
making of books, which will do, I think, very well. He did also
carry me to a Knight’s chamber in Graye’s Inne, where there is a
frame of his making, of counterfeite tortoise shell, which indeed
is most excellently done. Then I took him with me to a picture
shop to choose a print for him to vernish, but did not agree for
one then. Thence to my wife to take her up and so carried her
home, and I at the office till late, and so to supper with my wife
and to bed. I did this afternoon visit my Lord Bellasses, who pro-
fesses all imaginable satisfaction in me. He spoke dissatisfiedly
with Creed, which I was pleased well enough with. My Lord is
going down to his garrison to Hull, by the King’s command, to
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JUNE 1666
put it in order for fear of an invasion which course I perceive is
taken upon the sea-coasts round; for we have a real apprehension
of the King of France’s invading us.
28th. Up, and at the office all the morning. At noon home
to dinner, and after dinner abroad to Lumbard Streete, there to
reckon with Sir Robert Viner for some money, and did sett all
straight to my great content, and so home, and all the afternoon
and evening at the office, my mind full at this time of getting my
accounts over, and as much money in my hands as I can, for a
great turne is to be feared in the times, the French having some
great design (whatever it is) in hand, and our necessities on every
side very great. The Dutch are now known to be out, and we
may expect them every houre upon our coast. But our fleete is in
pretty good readinesse for them.
29th. Up, and within doors most of the morning, sending a
porter (Sanders) up and down to several people to pay them
money to clear my month’s debts every where, being mighty de-
sirous to have all clear so soon as I can, and to that end did so
much in settling my Tangier accounts clear. At noon dined, hav-
ing first been down at Deptford and did a little business there
and back again. After dinner to White Hall to a Committee of
Tangier, but I come a little too late, they were up, so I to several
places about business, among others to Westminster Hall, and
there did meet with Betty Michell at her own mother’s shop. I
would fain have carried her home by water, but she was to sup
at that end of the town. So I away to White Hall, and thence,
the Council being up, walked to St. James’s, and there had much
discourse with Sir W. Coventry at his chamber, who I find quite
weary of the warr, decries our having any warr at all, or him-
self to have been any occasion of it, that he hopes this will make
us shy of any warr hereafter, or to prepare better for it, believes
that one overthrow on the Dutch side would make them desire
peace, and that one on ours will make us willing to accept of one:
tells me that Commissioner Pett is fallen infinitely under the dis-
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pleasure of the Prince and Duke of Albemarle, not giving them
satisfaction in the getting out of the fleete, and that the complaint
he believes is come to the King, and by Sir W. Coventry’s dis-
course I find he do concur in it, and speaks of his having of no
authority in the place where he is, and I do believe at least it will
end in his being removed to some other yarde, and I am not sorry
for it, but do fear that though he deserves as bad, yet at this time
the blame may not be so well deserved. Thence home and to the
office; where I met with a letter from Dover, which tells me (and
it did come by expresse) that newes is brought over by a gentle-
man from Callice that the Dutch fleete, 130 sail, are come upon
the French coast; and that the country is bringing in picke-axes,
and shovells, and wheel-barrows into Callice; that there are 6,000
men armed with head, back, and breast (Frenchmen) ready to go
on board the Dutch fleete, and will be followed by 12,000 more.
That they pretend they are to come to Dover; and that thereupon
the Governor of Dover Castle is getting the victuallers’ provision
out of the towne into the Castle to secure it. But I do think this is
a ridiculous conceit; but a little time will show. At night home to
supper and to bed,
30th. Up, and to the office, and mightily troubled all this morn-
ing with going to my Lord Mayor (Sir Thomas Bludworth,551 a
silly man, I think), and other places, about getting shipped some
men that they have these two last nights pressed in the City out
of houses: the persons wholly unfit for sea, and many of them
people of very good fashion, which is a shame to think of, and
carried to Bridewell they are, yet without being impressed with
money legally as they ought to be. But to see how the King’s
business is done; my Lord Mayor himself did scruple at this time
of extremity to do this thing, because he had not money to pay
the pressed-money to the men, he told me so himself; nor to take
551 As his conduct during the Great Fire fully proved, when he is said to
have boasted that he would extinguish the flames by the same means to
which Swift tells us Gulliver had recourse at Lilliput.–B.
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JUNE 1666
up boats to carry them down through bridge to the ships I had
prepared to carry them down in; insomuch that I was forced to
promise to be his paymaster, and he did send his City Remem-
brancer afterwards to the office, and at the table, in the face of
the officers, I did there out of my owne purse disburse £15 to pay
for their pressing and diet last night and this morning; which is
a thing worth record of my Lord Mayor. Busy about this all the
morning, at noon dined and then to the office again, and all the
afternoon till twelve at night full of this business and others, and
among these others about the getting off men pressed by our of-
ficers of the fleete into the service; even our owne men that are
at the office, and the boats that carry us. So that it is now be-
come impossible to have so much as a letter carried from place to
place, or any message done for us: nay, out of Victualling ships
full loaden to go down to the fleete, and out of the vessels of the
officers of the Ordnance, they press men, so that for want of dis-
cipline in this respect I do fear all will be undone. Vexed with
these things, but eased in mind by my ridding of a great deale of
business from the office, I late home to supper and to bed. But
before I was in bed, while I was undressing myself, our new ugly
mayde, Luce, had like to have broke her necke in the darke, go-
ing down our upper stairs; but, which I was glad of, the poor
girle did only bruise her head, but at first did lie on the ground
groaning and drawing her breath, like one a-dying. This month
I end in much hurry of business, but in much more trouble in
mind to thinke what will become of publique businesses, having
so many enemys abroad, and neither force nor money at all, and
but little courage for ourselves, it being really true that the spirits
of our seamen and commanders too are really broke by the last
defeate with the Dutch, and this is not my conjecture only, but the
real and serious thoughts of Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry,
whom I have at distinct times heard the same thing come from
with a great deale of grief and trouble. But, lastly, I am providing
against a foule day to get as much money into my hands as I can,
at least out of the publique hands, that so, if a turne, which I fear,
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do come, I may have a little to trust to. I pray God give me good
successe in my choice how to dispose of what little I have, that I
may not take it out of publique hands, and put it into worse.
1940
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July 1st (Sunday). Up betimes, and to the office receiving let-
ters, two or three one after another from Sir W. Coventry, and
sent as many to him, being full of variety of business and hurry,
but among the chiefest is the getting of these pressed men out
of the City down the river to the fleete. While I was hard at it
comes Sir W. Pen to towne, which I little expected, having in-
vited my Lady and her daughter Pegg to dine with me to-day;
which at noon they did, and Sir W. Pen with them: and pretty
merry we were. And though I do not love him, yet I find it nec-
essary to keep in with him; his good service at Shearnesse in get-
ting out the fleete being much taken notice of, and reported to the
King and Duke [of York], even from the Prince and Duke of Albe-
marle themselves, and made the most of to me and them by Sir
W. Coventry: therefore I think it discretion, great and necessary
discretion, to keep in with him. After dinner to the office again,
where busy, and then down to Deptford to the yard, thinking
to have seen Bagwell’s wife, whose husband is gone yesterday
back to the fleete, but I did not see her, so missed what I went
for, and so back to the Tower several times, about the business
of the pressed men, and late at it till twelve at night, shipping of
them. But, Lord! how some poor women did cry; and in my life
I never did see such natural expression of passion as I did here
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JULY 1666
in some women’s bewailing themselves, and running to every
parcel of men that were brought, one after another, to look for
their husbands, and wept over every vessel that went off, think-
ing they might be there, and looking after the ship as far as ever
they could by moone-light, that it grieved me to the heart to hear
them. Besides, to see poor patient labouring men and house-
keepers, leaving poor wives and families, taking up on a sudden
by strangers, was very hard, and that without press-money, but
forced against all law to be gone. It is a great tyranny. Having
done this I to the Lieutenant of the Tower and bade him good
night, and so away home and to bed.
2nd. Up betimes, and forced to go to my Lord Mayor’s, about
the business of the pressed men; and indeed I find him a mean
man of understanding and dispatch of any publique business.
Thence out of curiosity to Bridewell to see the pressed men,
where there are about 300; but so unruly that I durst not go
among them: and they have reason to be so, having been kept
these three days prisoners, with little or no victuals, and pressed
out, and, contrary to all course of law, without press-money, and
men that are not liable to it. Here I met with prating Colonel
Cox, one of the City collonells heretofore a great presbyter: but
to hear how the fellow did commend himself, and the service
he do the King; and, like an asse, at Paul’s did take me out of
my way on purpose to show me the gate (the little north gate)
where he had two men shot close by him on each hand, and
his own hair burnt by a bullet-shot in the insurrection of Ven-
ner, and himself escaped. Thence home and to the Tower to see
the men from Bridewell shipped. Being rid of him I home to
dinner, and thence to the Excise office by appointment to meet
my Lord Bellasses and the Commissioners, which we did and
soon dispatched, and so I home, and there was called by Pegg
Pen to her house, where her father and mother, and Mrs. Nor-
ton, the second Roxalana, a fine woman, indifferent handsome,
good body and hand, and good mine, and pretends to sing, but
do it not excellently. However I took pleasure there, and my wife
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was sent for, and Creed come in to us, and so there we spent the
most of the afternoon. Thence weary of losing so much time I
to the office, and thence presently down to Deptford; but to see
what a consternation there is upon the water by reason of this
great press, that nothing is able to get a waterman to appear al-
most. Here I meant to have spoke with Bagwell’s mother, but
her face was sore, and so I did not, but returned and upon the
water found one of the vessels loaden with the Bridewell birds
in a great mutiny, and they would not sail, not they; but with
good words, and cajoling the ringleader into the Tower (where,
when he was come, he was clapped up in the hole), they were got
very quietly; but I think it is much if they do not run the vessel
on ground. But away they went, and I to the Lieutenant of the
Tower, and having talked with him a little, then home to supper
very late and to bed weary.
3rd. Being very weary, lay long in bed, then to the office and
there sat all the day. At noon dined at home, Balty’s wife with
us, and in very good humour I was and merry at dinner, and af-
ter dinner a song or two, and so I abroad to my Lord Treasurer’s
(sending my sister home by the coach), while I staid there by ap-
pointment to have met my Lord Bellasses and Commissioners
of Excise, but they did not meet me, he being abroad. How-
ever Mr. Finch, one of the Commissioners, I met there, and he
and I walked two houres together in the garden, talking of many
things; sometimes of Mr. Povy, whose vanity, prodigality, neglect
of his business, and committing it to unfit hands hath undone
him and outed him of all his publique employments, and the
thing set on foot by an accidental revivall of a business, wherein
he had three or fours years ago, by surprize, got the Duke of
Yorke to sign to the having a sum of money paid out of the Ex-
cise, before some that was due to him, and now the money is
fallen short, and the Duke never likely to be paid. This being re-
vived hath undone Povy. Then we fell to discourse of the Parlia-
ment, and the great men there: and among others, Mr. Vaughan,
whom he reports as a man of excellent judgement and learning,
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but most passionate and ‘opiniastre’. He had done himself the
most wrong (though he values it not), that is, the displeasure of
the King in his standing so long against the breaking of the Act
for a trienniall parliament; but yet do believe him to be a most
loyall gentleman. He told me Mr. Prin’s character; that he is a
man of mighty labour and reading and memory, but the worst
judge of matters, or layer together of what he hath read, in the
world; which I do not, however, believe him in; that he believes
him very true to the King in his heart, but can never be recon-
ciled to episcopacy; that the House do not lay much weight upon
him, or any thing he says. He told me many fine things, and so
we parted, and I home and hard to work a while at the office
and then home and till midnight about settling my last month’s
accounts wherein I have been interrupted by public business,
that I did not state them two or three days ago, but I do now
to my great joy find myself worth above £5600, for which the
Lord’s name be praised! So with my heart full of content to bed.
Newes come yesterday from Harwich, that the Dutch had ap-
peared upon our coast with their fleete, and we believe did go to
the Gun-fleete, and they are supposed to be there now; but I have
heard nothing of them to-day. Yesterday Dr. Whistler, at Sir W.
Pen’s, told me that Alexander Broome, a the great song-maker, is
lately dead.
4th. Up, and visited very betimes by Mr. Sheply, who is come
to town upon business from Hinchingbrooke, where he left all
well. I out and walked along with him as far as Fleet Streete,
it being a fast day, the usual fast day for the plague, and few
coaches to be had. Thanks be to God, the plague is, as I hear,
encreased but two this week; but in the country in several places
it rages mightily, and particularly in Colchester, where it hath
long been, and is believed will quite depopulate the place. To St.
James’s, and there did our usual business with the Duke, all of us,
among other things, discoursing about the places where to build
ten great ships; the King and Council have resolved on none to
be under third-rates; but it is impossible to do it, unless we have
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more money towards the doing it than yet we have in any view.
But, however, the shew must be made to the world. Thence to
my Lord Bellasses to take my leave of him, he being going down
to the North to look after the Militia there, for fear of an invasion.
Thence home and dined, and then to the office, where busy all
day, and in the evening Sir W. Pen come to me, and we walked to-
gether, and talked of the late fight. I find him very plain, that the
whole conduct of the late fight was ill, and that that of truth’s all,
and he tells me that it is not he, but two-thirds of the commanders
of the whole fleete have told him so: they all saying, that they
durst not oppose it at the Council of War, for fear of being called
cowards, though it was wholly against their judgement to fight
that day with the disproportion of force, and then we not being
able to use one gun of our lower tier, which was a greater dispro-
portion than the other. Besides, we might very well have staid
in the Downs without fighting, or any where else, till the Prince
could have come up to them; or at least till the weather was fair,
that we might have the benefit of our whole force in the ships that
we had. He says three things must [be] remedied, or else we shall
be undone by this fleete. 1. That we must fight in a line, whereas
we fight promiscuously, to our utter and demonstrable ruine; the
Dutch fighting otherwise; and we, whenever we beat them. 2.
We must not desert ships of our own in distress, as we did, for
that makes a captain desperate, and he will fling away his ship,
when there is no hopes left him of succour. 3. That ships, when
they are a little shattered, must not take the liberty to come in of
themselves, but refit themselves the best they can, and stay out–
many of our ships coming in with very small disablenesses. He
told me that our very commanders, nay, our very flag-officers, do
stand in need of exercising among themselves, and discoursing
the business of commanding a fleete; he telling me that even one
of our flag-men in the fleete did not know which tacke lost the
wind, or which kept it, in the last engagement. He says it was
pure dismaying and fear that made them all run upon the Gal-
loper, not having their wits about them; and that it was a miracle
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they were not all lost. He much inveighs upon my discoursing of
Sir John Lawson’s saying heretofore, that sixty sail would do as
much as one hundred; and says that he was a man of no counsel
at all, but had got the confidence to say as the gallants did, and
did propose to himself to make himself great by them, and say-
ing as they did; but was no man of judgement in his business, but
hath been out in the greatest points that have come before them.
And then in the business of fore-castles, which he did oppose, all
the world sees now the use of them for shelter of men. He did
talk very rationally to me, insomuch that I took more pleasure
this night in hearing him discourse, than I ever did in my life in
any thing that he said. He gone I to the office again, and so after
some business home to supper and to bed.
5th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning busy,
then at noon dined and Mr. Sheply with me, who come to towne
the other day. I lent him 630 in silver upon 30 pieces in gold.
But to see how apt every body is to neglect old kindnesses! I
must charge myself with the ingratitude of being unwilling to
lend him so much money without some pawne, if he should have
asked it, but he did not aske it, poor man, and so no harm done.
After dinner, he gone, I to my office and Lumbard Streete about
money, and then to my office again, very busy, and so till late,
and then a song with my wife and Mercer in the garden, and so
with great content to bed.
6th. Up, and after doing some business at my office abroad
to Lumbard Street, about the getting of a good sum of money,
thence home, in preparation for my having some good sum in
my hands, for fear of a trouble in the State, that I may not have
all I have in the world out of my hands and so be left a beg-
gar. Having put that in a way, I home to the office, and so to the
Tower; about shipping of some more pressed men, and that done,
away to Broad Streete, to Sir G. Carteret, who is at a pay of tick-
ets all alone, and I believe not less than one thousand people in
the streets. But it is a pretty thing to observe that both there and
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every where else, a man shall see many women now-a-days of
mean sort in the streets, but no men; men being so afeard of the
press. I dined with Sir G. Carteret, and after dinner had much
discourse about our publique business; and he do seem to fear
every day more and more what I do; which is, a general confu-
sion in the State; plainly answering me to the question, who is
it that the weight of the warr depends [upon]? that it is only Sir
W. Coventry. He tells me, too, the Duke of Albemarle is dissat-
isfied, and that the Duchesse do curse Coventry as the man that
betrayed her husband to the sea: though I believe that it is not
so. Thence to Lumbard Streete, and received £2000, and carried it
home: whereof £1000 in gold. The greatest quantity not only that
I ever had of gold, but that ever I saw together, and is not much
above half a 100 lb. bag full, but is much weightier. This I do
for security sake, and convenience of carriage; though it costs me
above £70 the change of it, at 18 1/2d. per piece. Being at home,
I there met with a letter from Bab Allen,–[Mrs. Knipp]–to invite
me to be god-father to her boy, with Mrs. Williams, which I con-
sented to, but know not the time when it is to be. Thence down
to the Old Swan, calling at Michell’s, he not being within, and
there I did steal a kiss or two of her, and staying a little longer,
he come in, and her father, whom I carried to Westminster, my
business being thither, and so back again home, and very busy
all the evening. At night a song in the garden and to bed.
7th. At the office all the morning, at noon dined at home and
Creed with me, and after dinner he and I two or three hours
in my chamber discoursing of the fittest way for a man to do
that hath money, and find all he offers of turning some into gold
and leaving some in a friend’s hand is nothing more than what
I thought of myself, but is doubtful, as well as I, what is best to
be done of all these or other ways to be thought on. He tells me
he finds all things mighty dull at Court; and that they now be-
gin to lie long in bed; it being, as we suppose, not seemly for
them to be found playing and gaming as they used to be; nor
that their minds are at ease enough to follow those sports, and
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yet not knowing how to employ themselves (though there be
work enough for their thoughts and councils and pains), they
keep long in bed. But he thinks with me, that there is nothing in
the world can helpe us but the King’s personal looking after his
business and his officers, and that with that we may yet do well;
but otherwise must be undone: nobody at this day taking care of
any thing, nor hath any body to call him to account for it. Thence
left him and to my office all the afternoon busy, and in some pain
in my back by some bruise or other I have given myself in my
right testicle this morning, and the pain lies there and hath done,
and in my back thereupon all this day. At night into the garden
to my wife and Lady Pen and Pegg, and Creed, who staid with
them till to at night. My Lady Pen did give us a tarte and other
things, and so broke up late and I to bed. It proved the hottest
night that ever I was in in my life, and thundered and lightened
all night long and rained hard. But, Lord! to see in what fears I
lay a good while, hearing of a little noise of somebody walking
in the house: so rung the bell, and it was my mayds going to bed
about one o’clock in the morning. But the fear of being robbed,
having so much money in the house, was very great, and is still
so, and do much disquiet me.
8th (Lord’s day). Up, and pretty well of my pain, so that it did
not trouble me at all, and I do clearly find that my pain in my
back was nothing but only accompanied my bruise in my stones.
To church, wife and Mercer and I, in expectation of hearing some
mighty preacher to-day, Mrs. Mary Batelier sending us word so;
but it proved our ordinary silly lecturer, which made me merry,
and she laughed upon us to see her mistake. At noon W. Hewer
dined with us, and a good dinner, and I expected to have had
newes sent me of Knipp’s christening to-day; but, hearing noth-
ing of it, I did not go, though I fear it is but their forgetfulness and
so I may disappoint them. To church, after dinner, again, a thing
I have not done a good while before, go twice in one day. Af-
ter church with my wife and Mercer and Tom by water through
bridge to the Spring Garden at Fox Hall, and thence down to
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Deptford and there did a little business, and so back home and
to bed.
9th. Up betimes, and with Sir W. Pen in his coach to Westmin-
ster to Sir G. Downing’s, but missed of him, and so we parted,
I by water home, where busy all the morning, at noon dined at
home, and after dinner to my office, where busy till come to by
Lovett and his wife, who have brought me some sheets of paper
varnished on one side, which lies very white and smooth and, I
think, will do our business most exactly, and will come up to the
use that I intended them for, and I am apt to believe will be an
invention that will take in the world. I have made up a little book
of it to give Sir W. Coventry to-morrow, and am very well pleased
with it. Home with them, and there find my aunt Wight with my
wife come to take her leave of her, being going for the summer
into the country; and there was also Mrs. Mary Batelier and her
sister, newly come out of France, a black, very black woman, but
mighty good-natured people both, as ever I saw. Here I made
the black one sing a French song, which she did mighty inno-
cently; and then Mrs. Lovett play on the lute, which she do very
well; and then Mercer and I sang; and so, with great pleasure, I
left them, having shewed them my chamber, and £1000 in gold,
which they wondered at, and given them sweetmeats, and shewn
my aunt Wight my father’s picture, which she admires. So I left
them and to the office, where Mr. Moore come to me and talking
of my Lord’s family business tells me that Mr. Sheply is igno-
rantly, we all believe, mistaken in his accounts above £700 more
than he can discharge himself of, which is a mighty misfortune,
poor man, and may undo him, and yet every body believes that
he do it most honestly. I am troubled for him very much. He
gone, I hard at the office till night, then home to supper and to
bed.
10th. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning, sitting,
and there presented Sir W. Coventry with my little book made
up of Lovett’s varnished paper, which he and the whole board
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liked very well. At noon home to dinner and then to the office;
the yarde being very full of women (I believe above three hun-
dred) coming to get money for their husbands and friends that
are prisoners in Holland; and they lay clamouring and swearing
and cursing us, that my wife and I were afeard to send a venison-
pasty that we have for supper to-night to the cook’s to be baked,
for fear of their offering violence to it: but it went, and no hurt
done. Then I took an opportunity, when they were all gone into
the foreyarde, and slipt into the office and there busy all the af-
ternoon, but by and by the women got into the garden, and come
all to my closett window, and there tormented me, and I confess
their cries were so sad for money, and laying down the condi-
tion of their families and their husbands, and what they have
done and suffered for the King, and how ill they are used by us,
and how well the Dutch are used here by the allowance of their
masters, and what their husbands are offered to serve the Dutch
abroad, that I do most heartily pity them, and was ready to cry to
hear them, but cannot helpe them. However, when the rest were
gone, I did call one to me that I heard complaine only and pity
her husband and did give her some money, and she blessed me
and went away. Anon my business at the office being done I to
the Tower to speak with Sir John Robinson about business, prin-
cipally the bad condition of the pressed men for want of clothes,
so it is represented from the fleete, and so to provide them shirts
and stockings and drawers. Having done with him about that, I
home and there find my wife and the two Mrs. Bateliers walking
in the garden. I with them till almost 9 at night, and then they and
we and Mrs. Mercer, the mother, and her daughter Anne, and our
Mercer, to supper to a good venison-pasty and other good things,
and had a good supper, and very merry, Mistresses Bateliers be-
ing both very good-humoured. We sang and talked, and then
led them home, and there they made us drink; and, among other
things, did show us, in cages, some birds brought from about
Bourdeaux, that are all fat, and, examining one of them, they are
so, almost all fat. Their name is [Ortolans], which are brought
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over to the King for him to eat, and indeed are excellent things.
We parted from them and so home to bed, it being very late, and
to bed.
11th. Up, and by water to Sir G. Downing’s, there to dis-
course with him about the reliefe of the prisoners in Holland;
which I did, and we do resolve of the manner of sending them
some. So I away by coach to St. James’s, and there hear that
the Duchesse is lately brought to bed of a boy. By and by called
to wait on the Duke, the King being present; and there agreed,
among other things, of the places to build the ten new great ships
ordered to be built, and as to the relief of prisoners in Holland.
And then about several stories of the basenesse of the King of
Spayne’s being served with officers: they in Flanders having as
good common men as any Prince in the world, but the veriest
cowards for the officers, nay for the generall officers, as the Gen-
erall and Lieutenant-generall, in the whole world. But, above
all things, the King did speake most in contempt of the ceremo-
niousnesse of the King of Spayne, that he do nothing but under
some ridiculous form or other, and will not piss but another must
hold the chamber-pot. Thence to Westminster Hall and there
staid a while, and then to the Swan and kissed Sarah, and so
home to dinner, and after dinner out again to Sir Robert Viner,
and there did agree with him to accommodate some business of
tallys so as I shall get in near £2000 into my own hands, which
is in the King’s, upon tallys; which will be a pleasure to me, and
satisfaction to have a good sum in my own hands, whatever evil
disturbances should be in the State; though it troubles me to lose
so great a profit as the King’s interest of ten per cent. for that
money. Thence to Westminster, doing several things by the way,
and there failed of meeting Mrs. Lane, and so by coach took up
my wife at her sister’s, and so away to Islington, she and I alone,
and so through Hackney, and home late, our discourse being
about laying up of some money safe in prevention to the troubles
I am afeard we may have in the state, and so sleepy (for want of
sleep the last night, going to bed late and rising betimes in the
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morning) home, but when I come to the office, I there met with
a command from my Lord Arlington, to go down to a galliott at
Greenwich, by the King’s particular command, that is going to
carry the Savoy Envoye over, and we fear there may be many
Frenchmen there on board; and so I have a power and command
to search for and seize all that have not passes from one of the
Secretarys of State, and to bring them and their papers and ev-
erything else in custody some whither. So I to the Tower, and got
a couple of musquetiers with me, and Griffen and my boy Tom
and so down; and, being come, found none on board but two or
three servants, looking to horses and doggs, there on board, and,
seeing no more, I staid not long there, but away and on shore at
Greenwich, the night being late and the tide against us; so, hav-
ing sent before, to Mrs. Clerke’s and there I had a good bed, and
well received, the whole people rising to see me, and among the
rest young Mrs. Daniel, whom I kissed again and again alone,
and so by and by to bed and slept pretty well,
12th. But was up again by five o’clock, and was forced to rise,
having much business, and so up and dressed myself (enquir-
ing, was told that Mrs. Tooker was gone hence to live at London)
and away with Poundy to the Tower, and thence, having shifted
myself, but being mighty drowsy for want of sleep, I by coach to
St. James’s, to Goring House, there to wait on my Lord Arling-
ton to give him an account of my night’s worke, but he was not
up, being not long since married: so, after walking up and down
the house below,–being the house I was once at Hartlib’s sister’s
wedding, and is a very fine house and finely furnished,–and then
thinking it too much for me to lose time to wait my Lord’s rising,
I away to St. James’s, and there to Sir W. Coventry, and wrote
a letter to my Lord Arlington giving him an account of what I
have done, and so with Sir W. Coventry into London, to the of-
fice. And all the way I observed him mightily to make mirth of
the Duke of Albemarle and his people about him, saying, that he
was the happiest man in the world for doing of great things by
sorry instruments. And so particularized in Sir W. Clerke, and
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Riggs, and Halsey, and others. And then again said that the only
quality eminent in him was, that he did persevere; and indeed he
is a very drudge, and stands by the King’s business. And this he
said, that one thing he was good at, that he never would receive
an excuse if the thing was not done; listening to no reasoning
for it, be it good or bad. But then I told him, what he confessed,
that he would however give the man, that he employs, orders
for removing of any obstruction that he thinks he shall meet with
in the world, and instanced in several warrants that he issued for
breaking open of houses and other outrages about the business of
prizes, which people bore with either for affection or fear, which
he believes would not have been borne with from the King, nor
Duke, nor any man else in England, and I thinke he is in the right,
but it is not from their love of him, but from something else I
cannot presently say. Sir W. Coventry did further say concern-
ing Warcupp, his kinsman, that had the simplicity to tell Sir W.
Coventry, that the Duke did intend to go to sea and to leave him
his agent on shore for all things that related to the sea. But, says
Sir W. Coventry, I did believe but the Duke of Yorke would expect
to be his agent on shore for all sea matters. And then he begun
to say what a great man Warcupp was, and something else, and
what was that but a great lyer; and told me a story, how at table
he did, they speaking about antipathys, say, that a rose touch-
ing his skin any where, would make it rise and pimple; and, by
and by, the dessert coming, with roses upon it, the Duchesse bid
him try, and they did; but they rubbed and rubbed, but nothing
would do in the world, by which his lie was found at then. He
spoke contemptibly of Holmes and his mermidons, that come to
take down the ships from hence, and have carried them without
any necessaries, or any thing almost, that they will certainly be
longer getting ready than if they had staid here. In fine, I do ob-
serve, he hath no esteem nor kindnesse for the Duke’s matters,
but, contrarily, do slight him and them; and I pray God the King-
dom do not pay too dear by this jarring; though this blockheaded
Duke I did never expect better from. At the office all the morning,
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at noon home and thought to have slept, my head all day being
full of business and yet sleepy and out of order, and so I lay down
on my bed in my gowne to sleep, but I could not, therefore about
three o’clock up and to dinner and thence to the office, where.
Mrs. Burroughs, my pretty widow, was and so I did her business
and sent her away by agreement, and presently I by coach after
and took her up in Fenchurch Streete and away through the City,
hiding my face as much as I could, but she being mighty pretty
and well enough clad, I was not afeard, but only lest somebody
should see me and think me idle. I quite through with her, and
so into the fields Uxbridge way, a mile or two beyond Tyburne,
and then back and then to Paddington, and then back to Lyssen
green, a place the coachman led me to (I never knew in my life)
and there we eat and drank and so back to Chasing Crosse, and
there I set her down. All the way most excellent pretty company.
I had her lips as much as I would, and a mighty pretty woman
she is and very modest and yet kinde in all fair ways. All this
time I passed with mighty pleasure, it being what I have for a
long time wished for, and did pay this day 5s. forfeite for her
company. She being gone, I to White Hall and there to Lord Ar-
lington’s, and met Mr. Williamson, and find there is no more
need of my trouble about the Galliott, so with content departed,
and went straight home, where at the office did the most at the
office in that wearied and sleepy state I could, and so home to
supper, and after supper falling to singing with Mercer did how-
ever sit up with her, she pleasing me with her singing of “Helpe,
helpe,” ‘till past midnight and I not a whit drowsy, and so to bed.
13th. Lay sleepy in bed till 8 in the morning, then up and to the
office, where till about noon, then out to the ‘Change and several
places, and so home to dinner. Then out again to Sir R. Vines, and
there to my content settled the business of two tallys, so as I shall
have £2000 almost more of my owne money in my hand, which
pleases me mightily, and so home and there to the office, where
mighty busy, and then home to supper and to even my Journall
and to bed. Our fleete being now in all points ready to sayle, but
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for the carrying of the two or three new ships, which will keepe
them a day or two or three more. It is said the Dutch is gone off
our coast, but I have no good reason to believe it, Sir W. Coventry
not thinking any such thing.
14th. Up betimes to the office, to write fair a laborious letter
I wrote as from the Board to the Duke of Yorke, laying out our
want of money again; and particularly the business of Captain
Cocke’s tenders of hemp, which my Lord Bruncker brought in
under an unknown hand without name. Wherein his Lordship
will have no great successe, I doubt. That being done, I down to
Thames-streete, and there agreed for four or five tons of corke, to
send this day to the fleete, being a new device to make barrica-
dos with, instead of junke. By this means I come to see and kiss
Mr. Hill’s young wife, and a blithe young woman she is. So to
the office and at noon home to dinner, and then sent for young
Michell and employed him all the afternoon about weighing and
shipping off of the corke, having by this means an opportunity
of getting him 30 or 40s. Having set him a doing, I home and
to the office very late, very busy, and did indeed dispatch much
business, and so to supper and to bed. After a song in the gar-
den, which, and after dinner, is now the greatest pleasure I take,
and indeed do please me mightily, to bed, after washing my legs
and feet with warm water in my kitchen. This evening I had
Davila552 brought home to me, and find it a most excellent his-
tory as ever I read.
15th (Lord’s day). Up, and to church, where our lecturer made
a sorry silly sermon, upon the great point of proving the truth
of the Christian religion. Home and had a good dinner, expect-
ing Mr. Hunt, but there comes only young Michell and his wife,
whom my wife concurs with me to be a pretty woman, and with
her husband is a pretty innocent couple. Mightily pleasant we
552 Enrico Caterino Davila (1576-1631) was one of the chief historical writ-
ers of Italy, and his “Storia delle guerre civili di Francia” covers a period of
forty years, from the death of Henri II. to the Peace of Vervins in 1598.
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were, and I mightily pleased in her company and to find my wife
so well pleased with them also. After dinner he and I walked to
White Hall, not being able to get a coach. He to the Abbey, and
I to White Hall, but met with nobody to discourse with, having
no great mind to be found idling there, and be asked questions
of the fleete, so walked only through to the Parke, and there, it
being mighty hot and I weary, lay down by the canaille, upon the
grasse, and slept awhile, and was thinking of a lampoone which
hath run in my head this weeke, to make upon the late fight at
sea, and the miscarriages there; but other businesses put it out
of my head. Having lain there a while, I then to the Abbey and
there called Michell, and so walked in great pain, having new
shoes on, as far as Fleete Streete and there got a coach, and so
in some little ease home and there drank a great deale of small
beer; and so took up my wife and Betty Michell and her hus-
band, and away into the fields, to take the ayre, as far as beyond
Hackny, and so back again, in our way drinking a great deale of
milke, which I drank to take away, my heartburne, wherewith I
have of late been mightily troubled, but all the way home I did
break abundance of wind behind, which did presage no good but
a great deal of cold gotten. So home and supped and away went
Michell and his wife, of whom I stole two or three salutes, and so
to bed in some pain and in fear of more, which accordingly I met
with, for I was in mighty pain all night long of the winde griping
of my belly and making of me shit often and vomit too, which
is a thing not usual with me, but this I impute to the milke that
I drank after so much beer, but the cold, to my washing my feet
the night before.
16th. Lay in great pain in bed all the morning and most of
the afternoon, being in much pain, making little or no water, and
indeed having little within to make any with. And had great
twinges with the wind all the day in my belly with wind. And a
looseness with it, which however made it not so great as I have
heretofore had it. A wonderful dark sky, and shower of rain this
morning, which at Harwich proved so too with a shower of hail
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as big as walnuts. I had some broth made me to drink, which I
love, only to fill up room. Up in the afternoon, and passed the
day with Balty, who is come from sea for a day or two before
the fight, and I perceive could be willing fairly to be out of the
next fight, and I cannot much blame him, he having no reason by
his place to be there; however, would not have him to be absent,
manifestly to avoid being there. At night grew a little better and
took a glyster of sacke, but taking it by halves it did me not much
good, I taking but a little of it. However, to bed, and had a pretty
good night of it,
17th. So as to be able to rise to go to the office and there sat,
but now and then in pain, and without making much water, or
freely. However, it grew better and better, so as after dinner be-
lieving the jogging in a coach would do me good, I did take my
wife out to the New Exchange to buy things. She there while
I with Balty went and bought a common riding-cloake for my-
self, to save my best. It cost me but 30s., and will do my turne
mighty well. Thence home and walked in the garden with Sir W.
Pen a while, and saying how the riding in the coach do me good
(though I do not yet much find it), he ordered his to be got ready
while I did some little business at the office, and so abroad he
and I after 8 o’clock at night, as far almost as Bow, and so back
again, and so home to supper and to bed. This day I did bid Balty
to agree with the Dutch paynter, which he once led me to, to see
landskipps, for a winter piece of snow, which indeed is a good
piece, and costs me but 40s., which I would not take the money
again for, it being, I think, very good. After a little supper to bed,
being in less pain still, and had very good rest.
18th. Up in good case, and so by coach to St. James’s after my
fellows, and there did our business, which is mostly every day
to complain of want of money, and that only will undo us in a
little time. Here, among other things, before us all, the Duke of
Yorke did say, that now at length he is come to a sure knowledge
that the Dutch did lose in the late engagements twenty-nine cap-
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tains and thirteen ships. Upon which Sir W. Coventry did pub-
lickly move, that if his Royal Highness had this of a certainty,
it would be of use to send this down to the fleete, and to cause
it to be spread about the fleete, for the recovering of the spirits
of the officers and seamen; who are under great dejectedness for
want of knowing that they did do any thing against the enemy,
notwithstanding all that they did to us. Which, though it be true,
yet methought was one of the most dishonourable motions to
our countrymen that ever was made; and is worth remembering.
Thence with Sir W. Pen home, calling at Lilly’s, to have a time
appointed when to be drawn among the other Commanders of
Flags the last year’s fight. And so full of work Lilly is, that he was
faro to take his table-book out to see how his time is appointed,
and appointed six days hence for him to come between seven and
eight in the morning. Thence with him home; and there by ap-
pointment I find Dr. Fuller, now Bishop of Limericke, in Ireland;
whom I knew in his low condition at Twittenham. I had also by
his desire Sir W. Pen, and with him his lady and daughter, and
had a good dinner, and find the Bishop the same good man as
ever; and in a word, kind to us, and, methinks, one of the comeli-
est and most becoming prelates in all respects that ever I saw in
my life. During dinner comes an acquaintance of his, Sir Thomas
Littleton; whom I knew not while he was in my house, but liked
his discourse; and afterwards, by Sir W. Pen, do come to know
that he is one of the greatest speakers in the House of Commons,
and the usual second to the great Vaughan. So was sorry I did
observe him no more, and gain more of his acquaintance. After
dinner, they being gone, and I mightily pleased with my guests, I
down the river to Greenwich, about business, and thence walked
to Woolwich, reading “The Rivall Ladys” all the way, and find it a
most pleasant and fine writ play. At Woolwich saw Mr. Shelden,
it being late, and there eat and drank, being kindly used by him
and Bab, and so by water to Deptford, it being 10 o’clock before
I got to Deptford, and dark, and there to Bagwell’s, and, having
staid there a while, away home, and after supper to bed. The
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Duke of Yorke said this day that by the letters from the Generals
they would sail with the Fleete this day or to-morrow.
19th. Up in very good health in every respect, only my late
fever got by my pain do break out about my mouth. So to the
office, where all the morning sitting. Full of wants of money, and
much stores to buy, for to replenish the stores, and no money to
do it with, nor anybody to trust us without it. So at noon home to
dinner, Balty and his wife with us. By and by Balty takes his leave
of us, he going away just now towards the fleete, where he will
pass through one great engagement more before he be two days
older, I believe. I to the office, where busy all the afternoon, late,
and then home, and, after some pleasant discourse to my wife, to
bed. After I was in bed I had a letter from Sir W. Coventry that
tells me that the fleete is sailed this morning; God send us good
newes of them!
20th. Up, and finding by a letter late last night that the fleete
is gone, and that Sir W. Pen is ordered to go down to Sheernesse,
and finding him ready to go to St. James’s this morning, I was
willing to go with him to see how things go,553 and so with him
thither (but no discourse with the Duke), but to White Hall, and
there the Duke of York did bid Sir W. Pen to stay to discourse
with him and the King about business of the fleete, which trou-
bled me a little, but it was only out of envy, for which I blame
myself, having no reason to expect to be called to advise in a mat-
ter I understand not. So I away to Lovett’s, there to see how my
picture goes on to be varnished (a fine Crucifix),554 which will be
very fine; and here I saw some fine prints, brought from France
by Sir Thomas Crew, who is lately returned. So home, calling at
553 Sir William Penn’s instructions from the Duke of York directing him to
embark on his Majesty’s yacht “Henrietta,” and to see to the manning of
such ships has had been left behind by the fleet, dated on this day, 20th July,
is printed in Penn’s “Memorials of Sir W. Penn,” vol. ii., p. 406.
554 This picture occasioned Pepys trouble long afterwards, having been
brought as evidence that he was a Papist (see “Life,” vol. i., p. xxxiii).
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the stationer’s for some paper fit to varnish, and in my way home
met with Lovett, to whom I gave it, and he did present me with
a varnished staffe, very fine and light to walk with. So home and
to dinner, there coming young Mrs. Daniel and her sister Sarah,
and dined with us; and old Mr. Hawly, whose condition pities
me, he being forced to turne under parish-clerke at St. Gyles’s, I
think at the other end of the towne. Thence I to the office, where
busy all the afternoon, and in the evening with Sir W. Pen, walk-
ing with whom in the garden I am of late mighty great, and it
is wisdom to continue myself so, for he is of all the men of the
office at present most manifestly usefull and best thought of. He
and I supped together upon the seat in the garden, and thence,
he gone, my wife and Mercer come and walked and sang late,
and then home to bed.
21st. Up and to the office, where all the morning sitting. At
noon walked in the garden with Commissioner Pett (newly come
to towne), who tells me how infinite the disorders are among the
commanders and all officers of the fleete. No discipline: noth-
ing but swearing and cursing, and every body doing what they
please; and the Generalls, understanding no better, suffer it, to
the reproaching of this Board, or whoever it will be. He himself
hath been challenged twice to the field, or something as good, by
Sir Edward Spragge and Captain Seymour. He tells me that cap-
tains carry, for all the late orders, what men they please; demand
and consume what provisions they please. So that he fears, and
I do no less, that God Almighty cannot bless us while we keep
in this disorder that we are in: he observing to me too, that there
is no man of counsel or advice in the fleete; and the truth is, the
gentlemen captains will undo us, for they are not to be kept in or-
der, their friends about the King and Duke, and their own house,
is so free, that it is not for any person but the Duke himself to
have any command over them. He gone I to dinner, and then
to the office, where busy all the afternoon. At night walked in
the garden with my wife, and so I home to supper and to bed.
Sir W. Pen is gone down to Sheernesse to-day to see things made
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ready against the fleete shall come in again, which makes Pett
mad, and calls him dissembling knave, and that himself takes all
the pains and is blamed, while he do nothing but hinder business
and takes all the honour of it to himself, and tells me plainly he
will fling, up his commission rather than bear it.
22nd (Lord’s day). Up, and to my chamber, and there till noon
mighty busy, setting money matters and other things of mighty
moment to rights to the great content of my mind, I finding that
accounts but a little let go can never be put in order by strangers,
for I cannot without much difficulty do it myself. After dinner
to them again till about four o’clock and then walked to White
Hall, where saw nobody almost but walked up and down with
Hugh May, who is a very ingenious man. Among other things,
discoursing of the present fashion of gardens to make them plain,
that we have the best walks of gravell in the world, France having
no nor Italy; and our green of our bowling allies is better than any
they have. So our business here being ayre, this is the best way,
only with a little mixture of statues, or pots, which may be hand-
some, and so filled with another pot of such and such a flower
or greene as the season of the year will bear. And then for flow-
ers, they are best seen in a little plat by themselves; besides, their
borders spoil the walks of another garden: and then for fruit,
the best way is to have walls built circularly one within another,
to the South, on purpose for fruit, and leave the walking garden
only for that use. Thence walked through the House, where most
people mighty hush and, methinks, melancholy. I see not a smil-
ing face through the whole Court; and, in my conscience, they are
doubtfull of the conduct again of the Generalls, and I pray God
they may not make their fears reasonable. Sir Richard Fanshaw is
lately dead at Madrid. Guyland is lately overthrowne wholly in
Barbary by the King of Tafiletta. The fleete cannot yet get clear of
the River, but expect the first wind to be out, and then to be sure
they fight. The Queene and Maids of Honour are at Tunbridge.
23rd. Up, and to my chamber doing several things there of mo-
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ment, and then comes Sympson, the Joyner; and he and I with
great pains contriving presses to put my books up in: they now
growing numerous, and lying one upon another on my chairs,
I lose the use to avoyde the trouble of removing them, when I
would open a book. Thence out to the Excise office about busi-
ness, and then homewards met Colvill, who tells me he hath
£1000 ready for me upon a tally; which pleases me, and yet I
know not now what to do with it, having already as much money
as is fit for me to have in the house, but I will have it. I did also
meet Alderman Backewell, who tells me of the hard usage he
now finds from Mr. Fen, in not getting him a bill or two paid,
now that he can be no more usefull to him; telling me that what
by his being abroad and Shaw’s death he hath lost the ball, but
that he doubts not to come to give a kicke at it still, and then
he shall be wiser and keepe it while he hath it. But he says he
hath a good master, the King, who will not suffer him to be un-
done, as otherwise he must have been, and I believe him. So
home and to dinner, where I confess, reflecting upon the ease
and plenty that I live in, of money, goods, servants, honour, ev-
ery thing, I could not but with hearty thanks to Almighty God
ejaculate my thanks to Him while I was at dinner, to myself. Af-
ter dinner to the office and there till five or six o’clock, and then
by coach to St. James’s and there with Sir W. Coventry and Sir
G. Downing to take the gyre in the Parke. All full of expectation
of the fleete’s engagement, but it is not yet. Sir W. Coventry says
they are eighty-nine men-of-warr, but one fifth-rate, and that, the
Sweepstakes, which carries forty guns. They are most infinitely
manned. He tells me the Loyall London, Sir J. Smith (which, by
the way, he commends to be the-best ship in the world, large
and small), hath above eight hundred men; and moreover takes
notice, which is worth notice, that the fleete hath lane now near
fourteen days without any demand for a farthingworth of any
thing of any kind, but only to get men. He also observes, that
with this excesse of men, nevertheless, they have thought fit to
leave behind them sixteen ships, which they have robbed of their
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men, which certainly might have been manned, and they been
serviceable in the fight, and yet the fleete well-manned, accord-
ing to the excesse of supernumeraries, which we hear they have.
At least two or three of them might have been left manned, and
sent away with the Gottenburgh ships. They conclude this to
be much the best fleete, for force of guns, greatnesse and num-
ber of ships and men, that ever England did see; being, as Sir
W. Coventry reckons, besides those left behind, eighty-nine men
of warr and twenty fire-ships, though we cannot hear that they
have with them above eighteen. The French are not yet joined
with the Dutch, which do dissatisfy the Hollanders, and if they
should have a defeat, will undo De Witt; the people generally of
Holland do hate this league with France. We cannot think of any
business, but lie big with expectation of the issue of this fight, but
do conclude that, this fight being over, we shall be able to see the
whole issue of the warr, good or bad. So homeward, and walked
over the Parke (St. James’s) with Sir G. Downing, and at White
Hall took a coach; and there to supper with much pleasure and
to bed.
24th. Up, and to the office, where little business done, our
heads being full of expectation of the fleete’s being engaged, but
no certain notice of it, only Sheppeard in the Duke’s yacht left
them yesterday morning within a league of the Dutch fleete, and
making after them, they standing into the sea. At noon to dinner,
and after dinner with Mercer (as of late my practice is) a song
and so to the office, there to set up again my frames about my
Platts, which I have got to be all gilded, and look very fine, and
then to my business, and busy very late, till midnight, drawing
up a representation of the state of my victualling business to the
Duke, I having never appeared to him doing anything yet and
therefore I now do it in writing, I now having the advantage of
having had two fleetes dispatched in better condition than ever
any fleetes were yet, I believe; at least, with least complaint, and
by this means I shall with the better confidence get my bills out
for my salary. So home to bed.
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25th. Up betimes to write fair my last night’s paper for the
Duke, and so along with Sir W. Batten by hackney coach to
St. James’s, where the Duke is gone abroad with the King to
the Parke, but anon come back to White Hall, and we, after an
houre’s waiting, walked thither (I having desired Sir W. Coven-
try in his chamber to read over my paper about the victualling,
which he approves of, and I am glad I showed it him first, it
makes it the less necessary to show it the Duke at all, if I find it
best to let it alone). At White Hall we find [the Court] gone to
Chappell, it being St. James’s-day. And by and by, while they are
at chappell, and we waiting chappell being done, come people
out of the Parke, telling us that the guns are heard plain. And
so every body to the Parke, and by and by the chappell done,
and the King and Duke into the bowling-green, and upon the
leads, whither I went, and there the guns were plain to be heard;
though it was pretty to hear how confident some would be in the
loudnesse of the guns, which it was as much as ever I could do to
hear them. By and by the King to dinner, and I waited there his
dining; but, Lord! how little I should be pleased, I think, to have
so many people crowding about me; and among other things it
astonished me to see my Lord Barkeshire waiting at table, and
serving the King drink, in that dirty pickle as I never saw man
in my life. Here I met Mr. Williams, who in serious discourse
told me he did hope well of this fight because of the equality of
force or rather our having the advantage in number, and also be-
cause we did not go about it with the presumption that we did
heretofore, when, he told me, he did before the last fight look
upon us by our pride fated to be overcome. He would have me
to dine where he was invited to dine, at the Backe-stayres. So
after the King’s meat was taken away, we thither; but he could
not stay, but left me there among two or three of the King’s ser-
vants, where we dined with the meat that come from his table;
which was most excellent, with most brave drink cooled in ice
(which at this hot time was welcome), and I drinking no wine,
had metheglin for the King’s owne drinking, which did please
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me mightily. Thence, having dined mighty nobly, I away to Mrs.
Martin’s new lodgings, where I find her, and was with her close,
but, Lord! how big she is already. She is, at least seems, in mighty
trouble for her husband at sea, when I am sure she cares not for
him, and I would not undeceive her, though I know his ship is
one of those that is not gone, but left behind without men. Thence
to White Hall again to hear news, but found none; so back to-
ward Westminster, and there met Mrs. Burroughs, whom I had
a mind to meet, but being undressed did appear a mighty ordi-
nary woman. Thence by water home, and out again by coach
to Lovett’s to see my Crucifix, which is not done. So to White
Hall again to have met Sir G. Carteret, but he is gone, abroad, so
back homewards, and seeing Mr. Spong took him up, and he and
I to Reeves, the glass maker’s, and did set several glasses and
had pretty discourse with him, and so away, and set down Mr.
Spong in London, and so home and with my wife, late, twatling
at my Lady Pen’s, and so home to supper and to bed. I did this
afternoon call at my woman that ruled my paper to bespeak a
musique card, and there did kiss Nan. No news to-night from
the fleete how matters go yet.
26th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon
dined at home: Mr. Hunt and his wife, who is very gallant, and
newly come from Cambridge, because of the sicknesse, with us.
Very merry at table, and the people I do love mightily, but being
in haste to go to White Hall I rose, and Mr. Hunt with me, and
by coach thither, where I left him in the boarded gallery, and I
by appointment to attend the Duke of Yorke at his closett, but
being not come, Sir G. Carteret and I did talke together, and [he]
advises me, that, if I could, I would get the papers of examina-
tion touching the business of the last year’s prizes, which concern
my Lord Sandwich, out of Warcupp’s hands, who being now un-
der disgrace and poor, he believes may be brought easily to part
with them. My Lord Crew, it seems, is fearfull yet that maters
may be enquired into. This I will endeavour to do, though I do
not thinke it signifies much. By and by the Duke of Yorke comes
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and we had a meeting and, among other things, I did read my
declaration of the proceedings of the Victualling hired this yeare,
and desired his Royall Highnesse to give me the satisfaction of
knowing whether his Royall Highnesse were pleased therewith.
He told me he was, and that it was a good account, and that the
business of the Victualling was much in a better condition than
it was the last yeare; which did much joy me, being said in the
company of my fellows, by which I shall be able with confidence
to demand my salary and the rest of the subsurveyors. Thence
away mightily satisfied to Mrs. Pierces, there to find my wife.
Mrs. Pierce hath lain in of a boy about a month. The boy is dead
this day. She lies in good state, and very pretty she is, but me-
thinks do every day grow more and more great, and a little too
much, unless they get more money than I fear they do. Thence
with my wife and Mercer to my Lord Chancellor’s new house,
and there carried them up to the leads, where I find my Lord
Chamberlain, Lauderdale, Sir Robert Murray, and others, and do
find it the most delightfull place for prospect that ever was in the
world, and even ravishing me, and that is all, in short, I can say
of it. Thence to Islington to our old house and eat and drank, and
so round by Kingsland home, and there to the office a little and
Sir W. Batten’s, but no newes at all from the fleete, and so home
to bed.
27th. Up and to the office, where all the morning busy. At noon
dined at home and then to the office again, and there walking in
the garden with Captain Cocke till 5 o’clock. No newes yet of
the fleete. His great bargaine of Hempe with us by his unknown
proposition is disliked by the King, and so is quite off; of which
he is glad, by this means being rid of his obligation to my Lord
Bruncker, which he was tired with, and especially his mistresse,
Mrs. Williams, and so will fall into another way about it, wherein
he will advise only with myself, which do not displease me, and
will be better for him and the King too. Much common talke of
publique business, the want of money, the uneasinesse that Par-
liament will find in raising any, and the ill condition we shall be
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in if they do not, and his confidence that the Swede is true to us,
but poor, but would be glad to do us all manner of service in the
world. He gone, I away by water from the Old Swan to White
Hall. The waterman tells me that newes is come that our ship
Resolution is burnt, and that we had sunke four or five of the en-
emy’s ships. When I come to White Hall I met with Creed, and
he tells me the same news, and walking with him to the Park I
to Sir W. Coventry’s lodging, and there he showed me Captain
Talbot’s letter, wherein he says that the fight begun on the 25th;
that our White squadron begun with one of the Dutch squadrons,
and then the Red with another so hot that we put them both to
giving way, and so they continued in pursuit all the day, and as
long as he stayed with them: that the Blue fell to the Zealand
squadron; and after a long dispute, he against two or three great
ships, he received eight or nine dangerous shots, and so come
away; and says, he saw the Resolution burned by one of their
fire-ships, and four or five of the enemy’s. But says that two or
three of our great ships were in danger of being fired by our owne
fire-ships, which Sir W. Coventry, nor I, cannot understand. But
upon the whole, he and I walked two or three turns in the Parke
under the great trees, and do doubt that this gallant is come away
a little too soon, having lost never a mast nor sayle. And then we
did begin to discourse of the young gentlemen captains, which
he was very free with me in speaking his mind of the unruliness
of them; and what a losse the King hath of his old men, and now
of this Hannam, of the Resolution, if he be dead, and that there is
but few old sober men in the fleete, and if these few of the Flags
that are so should die, he fears some other gentlemen captains
will get in, and then what a council we shall have, God knows.
He told me how he is disturbed to hear the commanders at sea
called cowards here on shore, and that he was yesterday con-
cerned publiquely at a dinner to defend them, against somebody
that said that not above twenty of them fought as they should
do, and indeed it is derived from the Duke of Albemarle himself,
who wrote so to the King and Duke, and that he told them how
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they fought four days, two of them with great disadvantage. The
Count de Guiche, who was on board De Ruyter, writing his nar-
rative home in French of the fight, do lay all the honour that may
be upon the English courage above the Dutch, and that he him-
self [Sir W. Coventry] was sent down from the King and Duke of
Yorke after the fight, to pray them to spare none that they thought
had not done their parts, and that they had removed but four,
whereof Du Tell is one, of whom he would say nothing; but, it
seems, the Duke of Yorke hath been much displeased at his re-
moval, and hath now taken him into his service, which is a plain
affront to the Duke of Albemarle; and two of the others, Sir W.
Coventry did speake very slenderly of their faults. Only the last,
which was old Teddiman, he says, is in fault, and hath little to ex-
cuse himself with; and that, therefore, we should not be forward
in condemning men of want of courage, when the Generalls, who
are both men of metal, and hate cowards, and had the sense of
our ill successe upon them (and by the way must either let the
world thinke it was the miscarriage of the Captains or their owne
conduct), have thought fit to remove no more of them, when de-
sired by the King and Duke of Yorke to do it, without respect
to any favour any of them can pretend to in either of them. At
last we concluded that we never can hope to beat the Dutch with
such advantage as now in number and force and a fleete in want
of nothing, and he hath often repeated now and at other times
industriously that many of the Captains have: declared that they
want nothing, and again, that they did lie ten days together at
the Nore without demanding of any thing in the world but men,
and of them they afterward, when they went away, the generalls
themselves acknowledge that they have permitted several ships
to carry supernumeraries, but that if we do not speede well, we
must then play small games and spoile their trade in small par-
ties. And so we parted, and I, meeting Creed in the Parke again,
did take him by coach and to Islington, thinking to have met my
Lady Pen and wife, but they were gone, so we eat and drank and
away back, setting him down in Cheapside and I home, and there
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after a little while making of my tune to “It is decreed,” to bed.
28th. Up, and to the office, where no more newes of the fleete
than was yesterday. Here we sat and at noon to dinner to the
Pope’s Head, where my Lord Bruncker and his mistresse dined
and Commissioner Pett, Dr. Charleton, and myself, entertained
with a venison pasty by Sir W. Warren. Here very pretty dis-
course of Dr. Charleton’s, concerning Nature’s fashioning every
creature’s teeth according to the food she intends them; and that
men’s, it is plain, was not for flesh, but for fruit, and that he can at
any time tell the food of a beast unknown by the teeth. My Lord
Bruncker made one or two objections to it that creatures find
their food proper for their teeth rather than that the teeth were
fitted for the food, but the Doctor, I think, did well observe that
creatures do naturally and from the first, before they have had
experience to try, do love such a food rather than another, and
that all children love fruit, and none brought to flesh, but against
their wills at first. Thence with my Lord Bruncker to White Hall,
where no news. So to St. James’s to Sir W. Coventry, and there
hear only of the Bredah’s being come in and gives the same small
account that the other did yesterday, so that we know not what
is done by the body of the fleete at all, but conceive great rea-
son to hope well. Thence with my Lord to his coach-house, and
there put in his six horses into his coach, and he and I alone to
Highgate. All the way going and coming I learning of him the
principles of Optickes, and what it is that makes an object seem
less or bigger and how much distance do lessen an object, and
that it is not the eye at all, or any rule in optiques, that can tell
distance, but it is only an act of reason comparing of one mark
with another, which did both please and inform me mightily.
Being come thither we went to my Lord Lauderdale’s house to
speake with him, about getting a man at Leith to joyne with one
we employ to buy some prize goods for the King; we find [him]
and his lady and some Scotch people at supper. Pretty odd com-
pany; though my Lord Bruncker tells me, my Lord Lauderdale
is a man of mighty good reason and judgement. But at supper
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there played one of their servants upon the viallin some Scotch
tunes only; several, and the best of their country, as they seemed
to esteem them, by their praising and admiring them: but, Lord!
the strangest ayre that ever I heard in my life, and all of one cast.
But strange to hear my Lord Lauderdale say himself that he had
rather hear a cat mew, than the best musique in the world; and
the better the musique, the more sicke it makes him; and that of
all instruments, he hates the lute most, and next to that, the bag-
gpipe. Thence back with my Lord to his house, all the way good
discourse, informing of myself about optiques still, and there left
him and by a hackney home, and after writing three or four let-
ters, home to supper and to bed.
29th (Lord’s day). Up and all the morning in my chamber mak-
ing up my accounts in my book with my father and brother and
stating them. Towards noon before sermon was done at church
comes newes by a letter to Sir W. Batten, to my hand, of the late
fight, which I sent to his house, he at church. But, Lord! with
what impatience I staid till sermon was done, to know the issue
of the fight, with a thousand hopes and fears and thoughts about
the consequences of either. At last sermon is done and he come
home, and the bells immediately rung soon as the church was
done. But coming; to Sir W. Batten to know the newes, his let-
ter said nothing of it; but all the towne is full of a victory. By
and by a letter from Sir W. Coventry tells me that we have the
victory. Beat them into the Weelings;555 had taken two of their
great ships; but by the orders of the Generalls they are burned.
This being, methought, but a poor result after the fighting of two
so great fleetes, and four days having no tidings of them, I was
still impatient; but could know no more. So away home to din-
555 In a letter from Richard Browne to Williamson, dated Yarmouth, July
30th, we read, “The Zealanders were engaged with the Blue squadron
Wednesday and most of Thursday, but at length the Zealanders ran; the
Dutch fleet escaped to the Weelings and Goree” (“Calendar of State Papers,”
1665-66, p 591).
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ner, where Mr. Spong and Reeves dined with me by invitation.
And after dinner to our business of my microscope to be shown
some of the observables of that, and then down to my office to
looke in a darke room with my glasses and tube, and most excel-
lently things appeared indeed beyond imagination. This was our
worke all the afternoon trying the several glasses and several ob-
jects, among others, one of my plates, where the lines appeared
so very plain that it is not possible to thinke how plain it was
done. Thence satisfied exceedingly with all this we home and
to discourse many pretty things, and so staid out the afternoon
till it began to be dark, and then they away and I to Sir W. Batten,
where the Lieutenant of the Tower was, and Sir John Minnes, and
the newes I find is no more or less than what I had heard before;
only that our Blue squadron, it seems, was pursued the most of
the time, having more ships, a great many, than its number allot-
ted to her share. Young Seamour is killed, the only captain slain.
The Resolution burned; but, as they say, most of her [crew] and
commander saved. This is all, only we keep the sea, which de-
notes a victory, or at least that we are not beaten; but no great
matters to brag of, God knows. So home to supper and to bed.
30th. Up, and did some business in my chamber, then by and
by comes my boy’s Lute-Master, and I did direct him hereafter
to begin to teach him to play his part on the Theorbo, which he
will do, and that in a little time I believe. So to the office, and
there with Sir W. Warren, with whom I have spent no time a good
while. We set right our business of the Lighters, wherein I thinke
I shall get £100. At noon home to dinner and there did practise
with Mercer one of my new tunes that I have got Dr. Childe to
set me a base to and it goes prettily. Thence abroad to pay sev-
eral debts at the end of the month, and so to Sir W. Coventry, at
St. James’s, where I find him in his new closett, which is very
fine, and well supplied with handsome books. I find him speak
very slightly of the late victory: dislikes their staying with the
fleete up their coast, believing that the Dutch will come out in
fourteen days, and then we with our unready fleete, by reason
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of some of the ships being maymed, shall be in bad condition
to fight them upon their owne coast: is much dissatisfied with
the great number of men, and their fresh demands of twenty-
four victualling ships, they going out but the other day as full as
they could stow. I asked him whether he did never desire an ac-
count of the number of supernumeraries, as I have done several
ways, without which we shall be in great errour about the vict-
uals; he says he has done it again and again, and if any mistake
should happen they must thanke themselves. He spoke slightly
of the Duke of Albemarle, saying, when De Ruyter come to give
him a broadside–“Now,” says he, chewing of tobacco the while,
“will this fellow come and give, me two broadsides, and then he
will run;” but it seems he held him to it two hours, till the Duke
himself was forced to retreat to refit, and was towed off, and De
Ruyter staid for him till he come back again to fight. One in the
ship saying to the Duke, “Sir, methinks De Ruyter hath given us
more: than two broadsides;”–“Well,” says the Duke, “but you
shall find him run by and by,” and so he did, says Sir W. Coven-
try; but after the Duke himself had been first made to fall off. The
Resolution had all brass guns, being the same that Sir J. Lawson
had in her in the Straights. It is observed that the two fleetes
were even in number to one ship. Thence home; and to sing with
my wife and Mercer in the garden; and coming in I find my wife
plainly dissatisfied with me, that I can spend so much time with
Mercer, teaching her to sing and could never take the pains with
her. Which I acknowledge; but it is because that the girl do take
musique mighty readily, and she do not, and musique is the thing
of the world that I love most, and all the pleasure almost that I
can now take. So to bed in some little discontent, but no words
from me.
31st. Good friends in the morning and up to the office, where
sitting all the morning, and while at table we were mightily joyed
with newes brought by Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten of the
death of De Ruyter, but when Sir W. Coventry come, he told us
there was no such thing, which quite dashed me again, though,
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God forgive me! I was a little sorry in my heart before lest it
might give occasion of too much glory to the Duke of Albemarle.
Great bandying this day between Sir W. Coventry and my Lord
Bruncker about Captain Cocke, which I am well pleased with,
while I keepe from any open relyance on either side, but rather
on Sir W. Coventry’s. At noon had a haunch of venison boiled
and a very good dinner besides, there dining with me on a sud-
den invitation the two mayden sisters, Bateliers, and their elder
brother, a pretty man, understanding and well discoursed, much
pleased with his company. Having dined myself I rose to go to a
Committee of Tangier, and did come thither time enough to meet
Povy and Creed and none else. The Court being empty, the King
being gone to Tunbridge, and the Duke of Yorke a-hunting. I had
some discourse with Povy, who is mightily discontented, I find,
about his disappointments at Court; and says, of all places, if
there be hell, it is here. No faith, no truth, no love, nor any agree-
ment between man and wife, nor friends. He would have spoke
broader, but I put it off to another time; and so parted. Then with
Creed and read over with him the narrative of the late [fight],
which he makes a very poor thing of, as it is indeed, and speaks
most slightingly of the whole matter. Povy discoursed with me
about my Lord Peterborough’s £50 which his man did give me
from him, the last year’s salary I paid him, which he would have
Povy pay him again; but I have not taken it to myself yet, and
therefore will most heartily return him, and mark him out for a
coxcomb. Povy went down to Mr. Williamson’s, and brought me
up this extract out of the Flanders’ letters to-day come: That Ad-
miral Everson, and the Admiral and Vice-Admiral of Freezeland,
with many captains and men, are slain; that De Ruyter is safe,
but lost 250 men out of his own ship; but that he is in great dis-
grace, and Trump in better favour; that Bankert’s ship is burned,
himself hardly escaping with a few men on board De Haes; that
fifteen captains are to be tried the seventh of August; and that the
hangman was sent from Flushing to assist the Council of Warr.
How much of this is true, time will shew. Thence to Westminster
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JULY 1666
Hall and walked an hour with Creed talking of the late fight, and
observing the ridiculous management thereof and success of the
Duke of Albemarle. Thence parted and to Mrs. Martin’s lodg-
ings, and sat with her a while, and then by water home, all the
way reading the Narrative of the late fight in order, it may be, to
the making some marginal notes upon it. At the Old Swan found
my Betty Michell at the doore, where I staid talking with her a
pretty while, it being dusky, and kissed her and so away home
and writ my letters, and then home to supper, where the brother
and Mary Batelier are still and Mercer’s two sisters. They have
spent the time dancing this afternoon, and we were very merry,
and then after supper into the garden and there walked, and then
home with them and then back again, my wife and I and the
girle, and sang in the garden and then to bed. Colville was with
me this morning, and to my great joy I could now have all my
money in, that I have in the world. But the times being open
again, I thinke it is best to keepe some of it abroad. Mighty well,
and end this month in content of mind and body. The publique
matters looking more safe for the present than they did, and we
having a victory over the Dutch just such as I could have wished,
and as the kingdom was fit to bear, enough to give us the name
of conquerors, and leave us masters of the sea, but without any
such great matters done as should give the Duke of Albemarle
any honour at all, or give him cause to rise to his former inso-
lence.
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AUGUST 1666
August 1st. Up betimes to the settling of my last month’s ac-
counts, and I bless God I find them very clear, and that I am
worth £5700, the most that ever my book did yet make out. So
prepared to attend the Duke of Yorke as usual, but Sir W. Pen,
just as I was going out, comes home from Sheernesse, and held
me in discourse about publique business, till I come by coach
too late to St. James’s, and there find that every thing stood still,
and nothing done for want of me. Thence walked over the Parke
with Sir W. Coventry, who I clearly see is not thoroughly pleased
with the late management of the fight, nor with any thing that the
Generalls do; only is glad to hear that De Ruyter is out of favour,
and that this fight hath cost them 5,000 men, as they themselves
do report. And it is a strange thing, as he observes, how now and
then the slaughter runs on one hand; there being 5,000 killed on
theirs, and not above 400 or 500 killed and wounded on ours, and
as many flag-officers on theirs as ordinary captains in ours; there
being Everson, and the Admiral and Vice-Admiral of Freezeland
on theirs, and Seamour, Martin, and—–, on ours. I left him going
to Chappell, it being the common fast day, and the Duke of York
at Chappell. And I to Mrs. Martin’s, but she abroad, so I saun-
tered to or again to the Abbey, and then to the parish church,
fearfull of being seen to do so, and so after the parish church was
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AUGUST 1666
ended, I to the Swan and there dined upon a rabbit, and after din-
ner to Mrs. Martin’s, and there find Mrs. Burroughs, and by and
by comes a pretty widow, one Mrs. Eastwood, and one Mrs. Fen-
ton, a maid; and here merry kissing and looking on their breasts,
and all the innocent pleasure in the world. But, Lord! to see the
dissembling of this widow, how upon the singing of a certain jigg
by Doll, Mrs. Martin’s sister, she seemed to be sick and fainted
and God knows what, because the jigg, which her husband (who
died this last sickness) loved. But by and by I made her as merry
as is possible, and towzed and tumbled her as I pleased, and then
carried her and her sober pretty kinswoman Mrs. Fenton home
to their lodgings in the new market of my Lord Treasurer’s, and
there left them. Mightily pleased with this afternoon’s mirth, but
in great pain to ride in a coach with them, for fear of being seen.
So home, and there much pleased with my wife’s drawing today
in her pictures, and so to supper and to bed very pleasant.
2nd. [Up] and to the office, where we sat, and in discourse at
the table with Sir W. Batten, I was obliged to tell him it was an un-
truth, which did displease him mightily, and parted at noon very
angry with me. At home find Lovett, who brought me some pa-
pers varnished, and showed me my crucifix, which will be very
fine when done. He dined with me and Balty’s wife, who is in
great pain for her husband, not hearing of him since the fight;
but I understand he was not in it, going hence too late, and I am
glad of it. Thence to the office, and thither comes to me Creed,
and he and I walked a good while, and then to the victualling
office together, and there with Mr. Gawden I did much busi-
ness, and so away with Creed again, and by coach to see my
Lord Bruncker, who it seems was not well yesterday, but being
come thither, I find his coach ready to carry him abroad, but Tom,
his footman, whatever the matter was, was lothe to desire me to
come in, but I walked a great while in the Piatza till I was going
away, but by and by my Lord himself comes down and coldly re-
ceived me. So I soon parted, having enough for my over officious
folly in troubling myself to visit him, and I am apt to think that
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AUGUST 1666
he was fearfull that my coming was out of design to see how he
spent his time [rather] than to enquire after his health. So parted,
and I with Creed down to the New Exchange Stairs, and there
I took water, and he parted, so home, and then down to Wool-
wich, reading and making an end of the “Rival Ladys,” and find
it a very pretty play. At Woolwich, it being now night, I find my
wife and Mercer, and Mr. Batelier and Mary there, and a sup-
per getting ready. So I staid, in some pain, it being late, and post
night. So supped and merrily home, but it was twelve at night
first. However, sent away some letters, and home to bed.
3rd. Up and to the office, where Sir W. Batten and I sat to
contract for some fire-ships. I there close all the morning. At
noon home to dinner, and then abroad to Sir Philip Warwicke’s at
White Hall about Tangier one quarter tallys, and there had some
serious discourse touching money, and the case of the Navy,
wherein all I could get of him was that we had the full under-
standing of the treasure as much as my Lord Treasurer himself,
and knew what he can do, and that whatever our case is, more
money cannot be got till the Parliament. So talked of getting an
account ready as soon as we could to give the Parliament, and
so very melancholy parted. So I back again, calling my wife at
her sister’s, from whose husband we do now hear that he was
safe this week, and going in a ship to the fleete from the buoy of
the Nore, where he has been all this while, the fleete being gone
before he got down. So home, and busy till night, and then to Sir
W. Pen, with my wife, to sit and chat, and a small supper, and
home to bed. The death of Everson, and the report of our suc-
cess, beyond expectation, in the killing of so great a number of
men, hath raised the estimation of the late victory considerably;
but it is only among fools: for all that was but accidental. But this
morning, getting Sir.W. Pen to read over the Narrative with me,
he did sparingly, yet plainly, say that we might have intercepted
their Zealand squadron coming home, if we had done our parts;
and more, that we might have spooned before the wind as well
as they, and have overtaken their ships in the pursuite, in all the
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AUGUST 1666
while.556 4th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, and, at
noon to dinner, and Mr. Cooke dined with us, who is lately come
from Hinchingbroke, [Lord Hinchingbrooke] who is also come to
town: The family all well. Then I to the office, where very busy
to state to Mr. Coventry the account of the victuals of the fleete,
and late at it, and then home to supper and to bed. This evening,
Sir W. Pen come into the garden, and walked with me, and told
me that he had certain notice that at Flushing they are in great
distraction. De Ruyter dares not come on shore for fear of the
people; nor any body open their houses or shops for fear of the
tumult: which is a every good hearing.
5th. (Lord’s day). Up, and down to the Old Swan, and there
called Betty Michell and her husband, and had two or three a
long salutes from her out of sight of ‘su mari’, which pleased me
mightily, and so carried them by water to West minster, and I to
St. James’s, and there had a meeting before the Duke of Yorke,
complaining of want of money, but nothing done to any pur-
pose, for want we shall, so that now our advices to him signify
nothing. Here Sir W. Coventry did acquaint the Duke of Yorke
how the world do discourse of the ill method of our books, and
that we would consider how to answer any enquiry which shall
be made after our practice therein, which will I think concern
the Controller most, but I shall make it a memento to myself.
Thence walked to the Parish Church to have one look upon Betty
Michell, and so away homeward by water, and landed to go to
the church, where, I believe, Mrs. Horsely goes, by Merchant-
tailors’ Hall, and there I find in the pulpit Elborough, my old
schoolfellow and a simple rogue, and yet I find him preaching
a very good sermon, and in as right a parson-like manner, and
in good manner too, as I have heard any body; and the church
very full, which is a surprising consideration; but I did not see
556 To spoom, or spoon, is to go right before the wind, without any sail. Sea
Dictionary. Dryden uses the word “When virtue spooms before a prosperous
gale, My heaving wishes help to fill the sail.” Hind and Panther, iii. 96.
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AUGUST 1666
her. So home, and had a good dinner, and after dinner with my
wife, and Mercer, and Jane by water, all the afternoon up as high
as Morclaeke with great pleasure, and a fine day, reading over
the second part of the “Siege of Rhodes,” with great delight. We
landed and walked at Barne-elmes, and then at the Neat Houses
I landed and bought a millon,–[melon]–and we did also land and
eat and drink at Wandsworth, and so to the Old Swan, and thence
walked home. It being a mighty fine cool evening, and there be-
ing come, my wife and I spent an houre in the garden, talking of
our living in the country, when I shall be turned out of the office,
as I fear the Parliament may find faults enough with the office to
remove us all, and I am joyed to think in how good a condition
I am to retire thither, and have wherewith very well to subsist.
Nan, at Sir W. Pen’s, lately married to one Markeham, a kinsman
of Sir W. Pen’s, a pretty wench she is.
6th. Up, and to the office a while, and then by water to
my Lady Montagu’s, at Westminster, and there visited my Lard
Hinchingbroke, newly come from Hinchingbroke, and find him
a mighty sober gentleman, to my great content. Thence to Sir Ph.
Warwicke and my Lord Treasurer’s, but failed in my business;
so home and in Fenchurch-streete met with Mr. Battersby; says
he, “Do you see Dan Rawlinson’s door shut up?” (which I did,
and wondered). “Why,” says he, “after all the sickness, and him-
self spending all the last year in the country, one of his men is
now dead of the plague, and his wife and one of his mayds sicke,
and himself shut up;” which troubles me mightily. So home; and
there do hear also from Mrs. Sarah Daniel, that Greenwich is at
this time much worse than ever it was, and Deptford too: and she
told us that they believed all the towne would leave the towne
and come to London; which is now the receptacle of all the peo-
ple from all infected places. God preserve us! So by and by to
dinner, and, after dinner in comes Mrs. Knipp, and I being at the
office went home to her, and there I sat and talked with her, it be-
ing the first time of her being here since her being brought to bed.
I very pleasant with her; but perceive my wife hath no great plea-
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AUGUST 1666
sure in her being here, she not being pleased with my kindnesse
to her. However, we talked and sang, and were very pleasant.
By and by comes Mr. Pierce and his wife, the first time she also
hath been here since her lying-in, both having been brought to
bed of boys, and both of them dead. And here we talked, and
were pleasant, only my wife in a chagrin humour, she not be-
ing pleased with my kindnesse to either of them, and by and by
she fell into some silly discourse wherein I checked her, which
made her mighty pettish, and discoursed mighty offensively to
Mrs. Pierce, which did displease me, but I would make no words,
but put the discourse by as much as I could (it being about a re-
port that my wife said was made of herself and meant by Mrs.
Pierce, that she was grown a gallant, when she had but so few
suits of clothes these two or three years, and a great deale of that
silly discourse), and by and by Mrs. Pierce did tell her that such
discourses should not trouble her, for there went as bad on other
people, and particularly of herself at this end of the towne, mean-
ing my wife, that she was crooked, which was quite false, which
my wife had the wit not to acknowledge herself to be the speaker
of, though she has said it twenty times. But by this means we had
little pleasure in their visit; however, Knipp and I sang, and then
I offered them to carry them home, and to take my wife with
me, but she would not go: so I with them, leaving my wife in
a very ill humour, and very slighting to them, which vexed me.
However, I would not be removed from my civility to them, but
sent for a coach, and went with them; and, in our way, Knipp
saying that she come out of doors without a dinner to us, I took
them to Old Fish Streete, to the very house and woman where
I kept my wedding dinner, where I never was since, and there
I did give them a joie of salmon, and what else was to be had.
And here we talked of the ill-humour of my wife, which I did
excuse as much as I could, and they seemed to admit of it, but
did both confess they wondered at it; but from thence to other
discourse, and among others to that of my Lord Bruncker and
Mrs. Williams, who it seems do speake mighty hardly of me for
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AUGUST 1666
my not treating them, and not giving her something to her clos-
ett, and do speake worse of my wife, and dishonourably, but it is
what she do of all the world, though she be a whore herself; so I
value it not. But they told me how poorly my Lord carried him-
self the other day to his kinswoman, Mrs. Howard, and was dis-
pleased because she called him uncle to a little gentlewoman that
is there with him, which he will not admit of; for no relation is to
be challenged from others to a lord, and did treat her thereupon
very rudely and ungenteely. Knipp tells me also that my Lord
keeps another woman besides Mrs. Williams; and that, when I
was there the other day, there was a great hubbub in the house,
Mrs. Williams being fallen sicke, because my Lord was gone to
his other mistresse, making her wait for him, till his return from
the other mistresse; and a great deale of do there was about it;
and Mrs. Williams swounded at it, at the very time when I was
there and wondered at the reason of my being received so negli-
gently. I set them both at home, Knipp at her house, her husband
being at the doore; and glad she was to be found to have staid
out so long with me and Mrs. Pierce, and none else; and Mrs.
Pierce at her house, and am mightily pleased with the discretion
of her during the simplicity and offensiveness of my wife’s dis-
course this afternoon. I perceive by the new face at Mrs. Pierces
door that our Mary is gone from her. So I home, calling on W.
Joyce in my coach, and staid and talked a little with him, who
is the same silly prating fellow that ever he was, and so home,
and there find my wife mightily out of order, and reproaching of
Mrs. Pierce and Knipp as wenches, and I know not what. But I
did give her no words to offend her, and quietly let all pass, and
so to bed without any good looke or words to or from my wife.
7th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
home to dinner, and then to the office again, being pretty good
friends with my wife again, no angry words passed; but she find-
ing fault with Mercer, suspecting that it was she that must have
told Mary, that must have told her mistresse of my wife’s say-
ing that she was crooked. But the truth is, she is jealous of my
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kindnesse to her. After dinner, to the office, and did a great deale
of business. In the evening comes Mr. Reeves, with a twelve-
foote glasse, so I left the office and home, where I met Mr. Bate-
lier with my wife, in order to our going to-morrow, by agree-
ment, to Bow to see a dancing meeting. But, Lord! to see how
soon I could conceive evil fears and thoughts concerning them;
so Reeves and I and they up to the top of the house, and there
we endeavoured to see the moon, and Saturne and Jupiter; but
the heavens proved cloudy, and so we lost our labour, having
taken pains to get things together, in order to the managing of
our long glasse. So down to supper and then to bed, Reeves ly-
ing at my house, but good discourse I had from him: in his own
trade, concerning glasses, and so all of us late to bed. I receive
fresh intelligence that Deptford and Greenwich are now afresh
exceedingly afflicted with the sickness more than ever.
8th. Up, and with Reeves walk as far as the Temple, doing
some business in my way at my bookseller’s and elsewhere, and
there parted, and I took coach, having first discoursed with Mr.
Hooke a little, whom we met in the streete, about the nature of
sounds, and he did make me understand the nature of musicall
sounds made by strings, mighty prettily; and told me that hav-
ing come to a certain number of vibrations proper to make any
tone, he is able to tell how many strokes a fly makes with her
wings (those flies that hum in their flying) by the note that it
answers to in musique during their flying. That, I suppose, is
a little too much refined; but his discourse in general of sound
was mighty fine. There I left them, and myself by coach to St.
James’s, where we attended with the rest of my fellows on the
Duke, whom I found with two or three patches upon his nose
and about his right eye, which come from his being struck with
the bough of a tree the other day in his hunting; and it is a won-
der it did not strike out his eye. After we had done our business
with him, which is now but little, the want of money being such
as leaves us little to do but to answer complaints of the want
thereof, and nothing to offer to the Duke, the representing of our
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want of money being now become uselesse, I into the Park, and
there I met with Mrs. Burroughs by appointment, and did agree
(after discoursing of some business of her’s) for her to meet me
at New Exchange, while I by coach to my Lord Treasurer’s, and
then called at the New Exchange, and thence carried her by water
to Parliament stayres, and I to the Exchequer about my Tangier
quarter tallys, and that done I took coach and to the west door
of the Abby, where she come to me, and I with her by coach to
Lissen-greene where we were last, and staid an hour or two be-
fore dinner could be got for us, I in the meantime having much
pleasure with her, but all honest. And by and by dinner come
up, and then to my sport again, but still honest; and then took
coach and up and down in the country toward Acton, and then
toward Chelsy, and so to Westminster, and there set her down
where I took her up, with mighty pleasure in her company, and
so I by coach home, and thence to Bow, with all the haste I could,
to my Lady Pooly’s, where my wife was with Mr. Batelier and his
sisters, and there I found a noble supper, and every thing exceed-
ing pleasant, and their mother, Mrs. Batelier, a fine woman, but
mighty passionate upon sudden news brought her of the loss of
a dog borrowed of the Duke of Albemarle’s son to line a bitch of
hers that is very pretty, but the dog was by and by found, and so
all well again, their company mighty innocent and pleasant, we
having never been here before. About ten o’clock we rose from
table, and sang a song, and so home in two coaches (Mr. Batelier
and his sister Mary and my wife and I in one, and Mercer alone in
the other); and after being examined at Allgate, whether we were
husbands and wives, home, and being there come, and sent away
Mr. Batelierand his sister, I find Reeves there, it being a mighty
fine bright night, and so upon my leads, though very sleepy, till
one in the morning, looking on the moon and Jupiter, with this
twelve-foote glasse and another of six foote, that he hath brought
with him to-night, and the sights mighty pleasant, and one of the
glasses I will buy, it being very usefull. So to bed mighty sleepy,
but with much pleasure. Reeves lying at my house again; and
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mighty proud I am (and ought to be thankfull to God Almighty)
that I am able to have a spare bed for my friends.
9th. Up and to the office to prepare business for the Board,
Reeves being gone and I having lent him upon one of the glasses.
Here we sat, but to little purpose, nobody coming at us but to
ask for money, not to offer us any goods. At noon home to din-
ner, and then to the office again, being mightily pleased with
a Virgin’s head that my wife is now doing of. In the evening
to Lumbard-streete about money, to enable me to pay Sir G.
Carteret’s £3000, which he hath lodged in my hands, in behalf
of his son and my Lady Jemimah, toward their portion, which, I
thank God, I am able to do at a minute’s warning. In my [way]
I inquired, and find Mrs. Rawlinson is dead of the sickness, and
her mayde continues mighty ill. He himself is got out of the
house. I met also with Mr. Evelyn in the streete, who tells me
the sad condition at this very day at Deptford for the plague, and
more at Deale (within his precinct as one of the Commissioners
for sick and wounded seamen), that the towne is almost quite de-
populated. Thence back home again, and after some business at
my office, late, home to supper and to bed, I being sleepy by my
late want of rest, notwithstanding my endeavouring to get a nap
of an hour this afternoon after dinner. So home and to bed.
10th. Up and to my chamber; there did some business and then
to my office, and towards noon by water to the Exchequer about
my Tangier order, and thence back again and to the Exchange,
where little newes but what is in the book, and, among other
things, of a man sent up for by the King and Council for saying
that Sir W. Coventry did give intelligence to the Dutch of all our
matters here. I met with Colvill, and he and I did agree about
his lending me £1000 upon a tally of £1000 for Tangier. Thence
to Sympson, the joyner, and I am mightily pleased with what I
see of my presses for my books, which he is making for me. So
homeward, and hear in Fanchurch-streete, that now the mayde
also is dead at Mr. Rawlinson’s; so that there are three dead in all,
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the wife, a man-servant, and mayde-servant. Home to dinner,
where sister Balty dined with us, and met a letter come to me
from him. He is well at Harwich, going to the fleete. After dinner
to the office, and anon with my wife and sister abroad, left them
in Paternoster Row, while Creed, who was with me at the office,
and I to Westminster; and leaving him in the Strand, I to my Lord
Chancellor’s, and did very little business, and so away home by
water, with more and more pleasure, I every time reading over
my Lord Bacon’s “Faber Fortunae.” So home, and there did little
business, and then walked an hour talking of sundry things in
the garden, and find him a cunning knave, as I always observed
him to be, and so home to supper, and to bed. Pleased that this
day I find, if I please, I can have all my money in that I have out
of my hands, but I am at a loss whether to take it in or no, and
pleased also to hear of Mrs. Barbara Sheldon’s good fortune, who
is like to have Mr. Wood’s son, the mast-maker, a very rich man,
and to be married speedily, she being already mighty fine upon
it.
11th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon home to dinner, where mighty pleased at my wife’s begin-
nings of a little Virgin’s head. To the office and did much busi-
ness, and then to Mr. Colvill’s, and with him did come to an
agreement about my £2600 assignment on the Exchequer, which
I had of Sir W. Warren; and, to my great joy, I think I shall get
above £100 by it, but I must leave it to be finished on Monday.
Thence to the office, and there did the remainder of my business,
and so home to supper and to bed. This afternoon I hear as if we
had landed some men upon the Dutch coasts, but I believe it is
but a foolery either in the report or the attempt.
12th (Lord’s day). Up and to my chamber, where busy all the
morning, and my thoughts very much upon the manner of my
removal of my closett things the next weeke into my present
musique room, if I find I can spare or get money to furnish it.
By and by comes Reeves, by appointment, but did not bring the
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glasses and things I expected for our discourse and my informa-
tion to-day, but we have agreed on it for next Sunday. By and
by, in comes Betty Michell and her husband, and so to dinner, I
mightily pleased with their company. We passed the whole day
talking with them, but without any pleasure, but only her be-
ing there. In the evening, all parted, and I and my wife up to
her closett to consider how to order that the next summer, if we
live to it; and then down to my chamber at night to examine her
kitchen accounts, and there I took occasion to fall out with her
for her buying a laced handkercher and pinner without my leave.
Though the thing is not much, yet I would not permit her begin
to do so, lest worse should follow. From this we began both to be
angry, and so continued till bed, and did not sleep friends.
13th. Up, without being friends with my wife, nor great en-
emies, being both quiet and silent. So out to Colvill’s, but he
not being come to town yet, I to Paul’s Church-yarde, to treat
with a bookbinder, to come and gild the backs of all my books,
to make them handsome, to stand in my new presses, when they
come. So back again to Colvill’s, and there did end our treaty,
to my full content, about my Exchequer assignment of £2600 of
Sir W. Warren’s, for which I give him £170 to stand to the haz-
ard of receiving it. So I shall get clear by it £230, which is a very
good jobb. God be praised for it! Having done with him, then he
and I took coach, and I carried him to Westminster, and there set
him down, in our way speaking of several things. I find him a
bold man to say any thing of any body, and finds fault with our
great ministers of state that nobody looks after any thing; and I
thought it dangerous to be free with him, for I do not think he can
keep counsel, because he blabs to me what hath passed between
other people and him. Thence I to St. James’s, and there missed
Sir W. Coventry; but taking up Mr. Robinson in my coach, I to-
wards London, and there in the way met Sir W. Coventry, and
followed him to White Hall, where a little discourse very kind,
and so I away with Robinson, and set him down at the ‘Change,
and thence I to Stokes the goldsmith, and sent him to and again
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to get me £1000 in gold; and so home to dinner, my wife and I
friends, without any words almost of last night. After dinner, I
abroad to Stokes, and there did receive £1000 worth in gold, pay-
ing 18 1/2d. and 19d. for others exchange. Home with them, and
there to my office to business, and anon home in the evening,
there to settle some of my accounts, and then to supper and to
bed.
14th. (Thanksgiving day.)557 Up, and comes Mr. Foley and his
man, with a box of a great variety of carpenter’s and joyner’s
tooles, which I had bespoke, to me, which please me mightily;
but I will have more. Then I abroad down to the Old Swan, and
there I called and kissed Betty Michell, and would have got her to
go with me to Westminster, but I find her a little colder than she
used to be, methought, which did a little molest me. So I away
not pleased, and to White Hall, where I find them at Chappell,
and met with Povy, and he and I together, who tells me how mad
my letter makes my Lord Peterborough, and what a furious let-
ter he hath writ to me in answer, though it is not come yet. This
did trouble me; for though there be no reason, yet to have a no-
bleman’s mouth open against a man may do a man hurt; so I en-
deavoured to have found him out and spoke with him, but could
not. So to the chappell, and heard a piece of the Dean of Westmin-
ster’s sermon, and a special good anthemne before the king, after
a sermon, and then home by coach with Captain Cocke, who is
in pain about his hempe, of which he says he hath bought great
quantities, and would gladly be upon good terms with us for
it, wherein I promise to assist him. So we ‘light at the ‘Change,
where, after a small turn or two, taking no pleasure now-a-days
to be there, because of answering questions that would be asked
there which I cannot answer; so home and dined, and after din-
557 A proclamation ordering August 14th to be observed in London and
Westminster, and August 23rd in other places, as a day of thanksgiving for
the late victory at sea over the Dutch, was published on August 6th.
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ner, with my wife and Mercer to the Beare-garden,558 where I
have not been, I think, of many years, and saw some good sport
of the bull’s tossing of the dogs: one into the very boxes. But it
is a very rude and nasty pleasure. We had a great many hectors
in the same box with us (and one very fine went into the pit, and
played his dog for a wager, which was a strange sport for a gen-
tleman), where they drank wine, and drank Mercer’s health first,
which I pledged with my hat off; and who should be in the house
but Mr. Pierce the surgeon, who saw us and spoke to us. Thence
home, well enough satisfied, however, with the variety of this af-
ternoon’s exercise; and so I to my chamber, till in the evening our
company come to supper. We had invited to a venison pasty Mr.
Batelier and his sister Mary, Mrs. Mercer, her daughter Anne,
Mr. Le Brun, and W. Hewer; and so we supped, and very merry.
And then about nine o’clock to Mrs. Mercer’s gate, where the fire
and boys expected us, and her son had provided abundance of
serpents and rockets; and there mighty merry (my Lady Pen and
Pegg going thither with us, and Nan Wright), till about twelve
at night, flinging our fireworks, and burning one another and
the people over the way. And at last our businesses being most
spent, we into Mrs. Mercer’s, and there mighty merry, smutting
one another with candle grease and soot, till most of us were like
devils. And that being done, then we broke up, and to my house;
and there I made them drink, and upstairs we went, and then fell
into dancing (W. Batelier dancing well), and dressing, him and I
and one Mr. Banister (who with his wife come over also with us)
like women; and Mercer put on a suit of Tom’s, like a boy, and
mighty mirth we had, and Mercer danced a jigg; and Nan Wright
and my wife and Pegg Pen put on perriwigs. Thus we spent till
three or four in the morning, mighty merry; and then parted, and
558 The Bear Garden was situated on Bankside, close to the precinct of the
Clinke Liberty, and very near to the old palace of the bishops of Winchester.
Stow, to his “Survey,” says: “There be two Bear Gardens, the old and new
Places.” The name still exists in a street or lane at the foot of Southwark
Bridge, and in Bear Garden Wharf.
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to bed.
15th. Mighty sleepy; slept till past eight of the clock, and was
called up by a letter from Sir W. Coventry, which, among other
things, tells me how we have burned one hundred and sixty
ships of the enemy within the Fly.559 I up, and with all possible
haste, and in pain for fear of coming late, it being our day of at-
tending the Duke of Yorke, to St. James’s, where they are full
of the particulars; how they are generally good merchant ships,
some of them laden and supposed rich ships. We spent five fire-
ships upon them. We landed on the Schelling (Sir Philip Howard
with some men, and Holmes, I think; with others, about 1000 in
all), and burned a town; and so come away. By and by the Duke
of Yorke with his books showed us the very place and manner,
and that it was not our design or expectation to have done this,
but only to have landed on the Fly, and burned some of their
store; but being come in, we spied those ships, and with our long
boats, one by one, fired them, our ships running all aground, it
being so shoal water. We were led to this by, it seems, a rene-
gado captain of the Hollanders, who found himself ill used by
De Ruyter for his good service, and so come over to us, and hath
done us good service; so that now we trust him, and he him-
self did go on this expedition. The service is very great, and our
joys as great for it. All this will make the Duke of Albemarle
559 On the 8th August the Duke of Albemarle reported to Lord Arlington
that he had “sent 1000 good men under Sir R. Holmes and Sir William Jen-
nings to destroy the islands of Vlie and Schelling.” On the 10th James Hayes
wrote to Williamson: “On the 9th at noon smoke was seen rising from several
places in the island of Vlie, and the 10th brought news that Sir Robert had
burned in the enemy’s harbour 160 outward bound valuable merchant men
and three men-of-war, and taken a little pleasure boat and eight guns in four
hours. The loss is computed at a million sterling, and will make great con-
fusion when the people see themselves in the power of the English at their
very doors. Sir Robert then landed his forces, and is burning the houses in
Vlie and Schelling as bonfires for his good success at sea” (“Calendar of State
Papers,” 1666-67, pp. 21,27).
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in repute again, I doubt, though there is nothing of his in this.
But, Lord! to see what successe do, whether with or without
reason, and making a man seem wise, notwithstanding never so
late demonstration of the profoundest folly in the world. Thence
walked over the Parke with Sir W. Coventry, in our way talking
of the unhappy state of our office; and I took an opportunity to
let him know, that though the backwardnesses of all our matters
of the office may be well imputed to the known want of money,
yet, perhaps, there might be personal and particular failings; and
that I did, therefore, depend still upon his promise of telling me
whenever he finds any ground to believe any defect or neglect
on my part, which he promised me still to do; and that there was
none he saw, nor, indeed, says he, is there room now-a-days to
find fault with any particular man, while we are in this condi-
tion for money. This, methought, did not so well please me; but,
however, I am glad I have said this, thereby giving myself good
grounds to believe that at this time he did not want an occasion
to have said what he pleased to me, if he had had anything in
his mind, which by his late distance and silence I have feared.
But then again I am to consider he is grown a very great man,
much greater than he was, and so must keep more distance; and,
next, that the condition of our office will not afford me occasion
of shewing myself so active and deserving as heretofore; and,
lastly, the muchness of his business cannot suffer him to mind
it, or give him leisure to reflect on anything, or shew the free-
dom and kindnesse that he used to do. But I think I have done
something considerable to my satisfaction in doing this; and that
if I do but my duty remarkably from this time forward, and not
neglect it, as I have of late done, and minded my pleasures, I
may be as well as ever I was. Thence to the Exchequer, but did
nothing, they being all gone from their offices; and so to the Old
Exchange, where the towne full of the good newes, but I did not
stay to tell or hear any, but home, my head akeing and drowsy,
and to dinner, and then lay down upon the couch, thinking to
get a little rest, but could not. So down the river, reading “The
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Adventures of Five Houres,” which the more I read the more I
admire. So down below Greenwich, but the wind and tide be-
ing against us, I back again to Deptford, and did a little business
there, and thence walked to Redriffe; and so home, and to the
office a while. In the evening comes W. Batelier and his sister,
and my wife, and fair Mrs. Turner into the garden, and there we
walked, and then with my Lady Pen and Pegg in a-doors, and
eat and were merry, and so pretty late broke up, and to bed. The
guns of the Tower going off, and there being bonefires also in the
street for this late good successe.
16th. Up, having slept well, and after entering my journal, to
the office, where all the morning, but of late Sir W. Coventry hath
not come to us, he being discouraged from the little we have to do
but to answer the clamours of people for money. At noon home,
and there dined with me my Lady Pen only and W. Hewer at
a haunch of venison boiled, where pretty merry, only my wife
vexed me a little about demanding money to go with my Lady
Pen to the Exchange to lay out. I to the office, where all the after-
noon and very busy and doing much business; but here I had a
most eminent experience of the evil of being behindhand in busi-
ness. I was the most backward to begin any thing, and would fain
have framed to myself an occasion of going abroad, and should,
I doubt, have done it, but some business coming in, one after
another, kept me there, and I fell to the ridding away of a great
deale of business, and when my hand was in it was so pleas-
ing a sight to [see] my papers disposed of, and letters answered,
which troubled my book and table, that I could have continued
there with delight all night long, and did till called away by my
Lady Pen and Pegg and my wife to their house to eat with them;
and there I went, and exceeding merry, there being Nan Wright,
now Mrs. Markham, and sits at table with my Lady. So mighty
merry, home and to bed. This day Sir W. Batten did show us at
the table a letter from Sir T. Allen, which says that we have taken
ten or twelve’ ships (since the late great expedition of burning
their ships and towne), laden with hempe, flax, tarr, deales, &c.
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This was good newes; but by and by comes in Sir G. Carteret,
and he asked us with full mouth what we would give for good
newes. Says Sir W. Batten, “I have better than you, for a wager.”
They laid sixpence, and we that were by were to give sixpence
to him that told the best newes. So Sir W. Batten told his of the
ten or twelve ships Sir G. Carteret did then tell us that upon the
newes of the burning of the ships and towne the common peo-
ple a Amsterdam did besiege De Witt’s house, and he was force
to flee to the Prince of Orange, who is gone to Cleve to the mar-
riage of his sister. This we concluded all the best newest and my
Lord Bruncker and myself did give Sir G. Carteret our sixpence
a-piece, which he did give Mr. Smith to give the poor. Thus we
made ourselves mighty merry.
17th. Up and betimes with Captain Erwin down by water to
Woolwich, I walking alone from Greenwich thither, making an
end of the “Adventures of Five Hours,” which when all is done
is the best play that ever I read in my life. Being come thither I
did some business there and at the Rope Yarde, and had a piece
of bride-cake sent me by Mrs. Barbary into the boate after me,
she being here at her uncle’s, with her husband, Mr. Wood’s son,
the mast-maker, and mighty nobly married, they say, she was,
very fine, and he very rich, a strange fortune for so odd a looked
mayde, though her hands and body be good, and nature very
good, I think. Back with Captain Erwin, discoursing about the
East Indys, where he hath often been. And among other things
he tells me how the King of Syam seldom goes out without thirty
or forty thousand people with him, and not a word spoke, nor
a hum or cough in the whole company to be heard. He tells me
the punishment frequently there for malefactors is cutting off the
crowne of their head, which they do very dexterously, leaving
their brains bare, which kills them presently. He told me what
I remember he hath once done heretofore: that every body is to
lie flat down at the coming by of the King, and nobody to look
upon him upon pain of death. And that he and his fellows, be-
ing strangers, were invited to see the sport of taking of a wild
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elephant, and they did only kneel, and look toward the King.
Their druggerman did desire them to fall down, for otherwise
he should suffer for their contempt of the King. The sport being
ended, a messenger comes from the King, which the drugger-
man thought had been to have taken away his life; but it was
to enquire how the strangers liked the sport. The druggerman
answered that they did cry it up to be the best that ever they
saw, and that they never heard of any Prince so great in every
thing as this King. The messenger being gone back, Erwin and
his company asked their druggerman what he had said, which
he told them. “But why,” say they, “would you say that without
our leave, it being not true?”–“It is no matter for that,” says he,
“I must have said it, or have been hanged, for our King do not
live by meat, nor drink, but by having great lyes told him.” In
our way back we come by a little vessel that come into the river
this morning, and says he left the fleete in Sole Bay, and that he
hath not heard (he belonging to Sir W. Jenings, in the fleete) of
any such prizes taken as the ten or twelve I inquired about, and
said by Sir W. Batten yesterday to be taken, so I fear it is not true.
So to Westminster, and there, to my great content, did receive my
£2000 of Mr. Spicer’s telling, which I was to receive of Colvill,
and brought it home with me [to] my house by water, and there
I find one of my new presses for my books brought home, which
pleases me mightily. As, also, do my wife’s progresse upon her
head that she is making. So to dinner, and thence abroad with
my wife, leaving her at Unthanke’s; I to White Hall, waiting at
the Council door till it rose, and there spoke with Sir W. Coven-
try, who and I do much fear our Victuallers, they having missed
the fleete in their going. But Sir W. Coventry says it is not our
fault, but theirs, if they have not left ships to secure them. This
he spoke in a chagrin sort of way, methought. After a little more
discourse of several businesses, I away homeward, having in the
gallery the good fortune to see Mrs. Stewart, who is grown a little
too tall, but is a woman of most excellent features. The narrative
of the late expedition in burning the ships is in print, and makes
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it a great thing, and I hope it is so. So took up my wife and home,
there I to the office, and thence with Sympson the joyner home to
put together the press he hath brought me for my books this day,
which pleases me exceedingly. Then to Sir W. Batten’s, where Sir
Richard Ford did very understandingly, methought, give us an
account of the originall of the Hollands Bank,560 and the nature
of it, and how they do never give any interest at all to any person
that brings in their money, though what is brought in upon the
public faith interest is given by the State for. The unsafe condition
of a Bank under a Monarch, and the little safety to a Monarch to
have any; or Corporation alone (as London in answer to Amster-
dam) to have so great a wealth or credit, it is, that makes it hard
to have a Bank here. And as to the former, he did tell us how it
sticks in the memory of most merchants how the late King (when
by the war between Holland and France and Spayne all the bul-
lion of Spayne was brought hither, one-third of it to be coyned;
and indeed it was found advantageous to the merchant to coyne
most of it), was persuaded in a strait by my Lord Cottington to
seize upon the money in the Tower, which, though in a few days
the merchants concerned did prevail to get it released, yet the
thing will never be forgot. So home to supper and to bed, under-
standing this evening, since I come home, that our Victuallers are
all come in to the fleete, which is good newes. Sir John Minnes
come home tonight not well, from Chatham, where he hath been
at a pay, holding it at Upnor Castle, because of the plague so
much in the towne of Chatham. He hath, they say, got an ague,
being so much on the water.
18th. All the morning at my office; then to the Exchange (with
my Lord Bruncker in his coach) at noon, but it was only to avoid
560 This bank at Amsterdam is referred to in a tract entitled “An Appeal to
Caesar,” 1660, p. 22. In 1640 Charles I. seized the money in the mint in the
Tower entrusted to the safe keeping of the Crown. It was the practice of the
London goldsmiths at this time to allow interest at the rate of six or eight per
cent. on money deposited with them (J. Biddulph Martin, “The Grasshopper
in Lombard Street,” 1892, p. 152).
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Mr. Chr. Pett’s being invited by me to dinner. So home, call-
ing at my little mercer’s in Lumbard Streete, who hath the pretty
wench, like the old Queene, and there cheapened some stuffs to
hang my roome, that I intend to turn into a closett. So home to
dinner, and after dinner comes Creed to discourse with me about
several things of Tangier concernments and accounts, among
others starts the doubt, which I was formerly aware of, but did
wink at it, whether or no Lanyon and his partners be not paid
for more than they should be, which he presses, so that it did a
little discompose me; but, however, I do think no harm will arise
thereby. He gone, I to the office, and there very late, very busy,
and so home to supper and to bed.
19th (Lord’s day). Up and to my chamber, and there began to
draw out fair and methodically my accounts of Tangier, in order
to shew them to the Lords. But by and by comes by agreement
Mr. Reeves, and after him Mr. Spong, and all day with them, both
before and after dinner, till ten o’clock at night, upon opticke en-
quiries, he bringing me a frame he closes on, to see how the rays
of light do cut one another, and in a darke room with smoake,
which is very pretty. He did also bring a lanthorne with pictures
in glasse, to make strange things appear on a wall, very pretty.
We did also at night see Jupiter and his girdle and satellites, very
fine, with my twelve-foote glasse, but could not Saturne, he be-
ing very dark. Spong and I had also several fine discourses upon
the globes this afternoon, particularly why the fixed stars do not
rise and set at the same houre all the yeare long, which he could
not demonstrate, nor I neither, the reason of. So, it being late,
after supper they away home. But it vexed me to understand no
more from Reeves and his glasses touching the nature and reason
of the several refractions of the several figured glasses, he under-
standing the acting part, but not one bit the theory, nor can make
any body understand it, which is a strange dullness, methinks.
I did not hear anything yesterday or at all to confirm either Sir
Thos. Allen’s news of the 10 or 12 ships taken, nor of the dis-
order at Amsterdam upon the news of the burning of the ships,
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that he [De Witt] should be fled to the Prince of Orange, it being
generally believed that he was gone to France before.
20th. Waked this morning, about six o’clock, with a violent
knocking at Sir J. Minnes’s doore, to call up Mrs. Hammon, cry-
ing out that Sir J. Minnes is a-dying. He come home ill of an
ague on Friday night. I saw him on Saturday, after his fit of the
ague, and then was pretty lusty. Which troubles me mightily,
for he is a very good, harmless, honest gentleman, though not fit
for the business. But I much fear a worse may come, that may
be more uneasy to me. Up, and to Deptford by water, reading
“Othello, Moore of Venice,” which I ever heretofore esteemed a
mighty good play, but having so lately read “The Adventures of
Five Houres,” it seems a mean thing. Walked back, and so home,
and then down to the Old Swan and drank at Betty Michell’s, and
so to Westminster to the Exchequer about my quarter tallies, and
so to Lumbard Streete to choose stuff to hang my new intended
closet, and have chosen purple. So home to dinner, and all the
afternoon till almost midnight upon my Tangier accounts, get-
ting Tom Wilson to help me in writing as I read, and at night W.
Hewer, and find myself most happy in the keeping of all my ac-
counts, for that after all the changings and turnings necessary in
such an account, I find myself right to a farthing in an account of
£127,000. This afternoon I visited Sir J. Minnes, who, poor man,
is much impatient by these few days’ sickness, and I fear indeed
it will kill him.
21st. Up, and to the office, where much business and Sir W.
Coventry there, who of late hath wholly left us, most of our busi-
ness being about money, to which we can give no answer, which
makes him weary of coming to us. He made an experiment to-
day, by taking up a heape of petitions that lay upon the table.
They proved seventeen in number, and found them thus: one
for money for reparation for clothes, four desired to have tickets
made out to them, and the other twelve were for money. Dined
at home, and sister Balty with us. My wife snappish because I de-
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nied her money to lay out this afternoon; however, good friends
again, and by coach set them down at the New Exchange, and I
to the Exchequer, and there find my business of my tallys in good
forwardness. I passed down into the Hall, and there hear that Mr.
Bowles, the grocer, after 4 or 5 days’ sickness, is dead, and this
day buried. So away, and taking up my wife, went homewards. I
‘light and with Harman to my mercer’s in Lumbard Streete, and
there agreed for, our purple serge for my closett, and so I away
home. So home and late at the office, and then home, and there
found Mr. Batelier and his sister Mary, and we sat chatting a
great while, talking of witches and spirits, and he told me of his
own knowledge, being with some others at Bourdeaux, making a
bargain with another man at a taverne for some clarets, they did
hire a fellow to thunder (which he had the art of doing upon a
deale board) and to rain and hail, that is, make the noise of, so as
did give them a pretence of undervaluing their merchants’ wines,
by saying this thunder would spoil and turne them. Which was
so reasonable to the merchant, that he did abate two pistolls per
ton for the wine in belief of that, whereas, going out, there was
no such thing. This Batelier did see and was the cause of to his
profit, as is above said. By and by broke up and to bed.
22nd. Up and by coach with £100 to the Exchequer to pay fees
there. There left it, and I to St. James’s, and there with; the Duke
of Yorke. I had opportunity of much talk with Sir. W. Pen to-day
(he being newly come from the fleete); and he, do much under-
value the honour that is given to the conduct of the late business
of Holmes in burning the ships and town561 saying it was a great
thing indeed, and of great profit to us in being of great losse to
the enemy, but that it was wholly a business of chance, and no
conduct employed in it. I find Sir W. Pen do hold up his head
561 The town burned (see August 15th, ante) was Brandaris, a place of 1000
houses, on the isle of Schelling; the ships lay between that island and the Fly
(i.e. Vlieland), the adjoining island. This attack probably provoked that by
the Dutch on Chatham.
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at this time higher than ever he did in his life. I perceive he do
look after Sir J. Minnes’s place if he dies, and though I love him
not nor do desire to have him in, yet I do think [he] is the first
man in England for it. To the Exchequer, and there received my
tallys, and paid my fees in good order, and so home, and there
find Mrs. Knipp and my wife going to dinner. She tells me my
song, of “Beauty Retire” is mightily cried up, which I am not
a little proud of; and do think I have done “It is Decreed” bet-
ter, but I have not finished it. My closett is doing by upholsters,
which I am pleased with, but fear my purple will be too sad for
that melancholy roome. After dinner and doing something at the
office, I with my wife, Knipp, and Mercer, by coach to Moore-
fields, and there saw “Polichinello,” which pleases me mightily,
and here I saw our Mary, our last chamber-maid, who is gone
from Mrs. Pierces it seems. Thence carried Knipp home, calling
at the Cocke alehouse at the doore and drank, and so home, and
there find Reeves, and so up to look upon the stars, and do like
my glasse very well, and did even with him for it and a little per-
spective and the Lanthorne that shows tricks, altogether costing
me £9 5s. 0d. So to bed, he lying at our house.
23rd. At the office all the morning, whither Sir W. Coventry
sent me word that the Dutch fleete is certainly abroad; and so we
are to hasten all we have to send to our fleete with all speed. But,
Lord! to see how my Lord Bruncker undertakes the despatch of
the fire-ships, when he is no more fit for it than a porter; and all
the while Sir W. Pen, who is the most fit, is unwilling to displease
him, and do not look after it; and so the King’s work is like to be
well done. At noon dined at home, Lovett with us; but he do not
please me in his business, for he keeps things long in hand, and
his paper do not hold so good as I expected–the varnish wiping
off in a little time–a very sponge; and I doubt by his discourse he
is an odde kind of fellow, and, in plain terms, a very rogue. He
gone, I to the office (having seen and liked the upholsters’ work
in my roome–which they have almost done), and there late, and
in the evening find Mr. Batelier and his sister there and then we
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talked and eat and were merry, and so parted late, and to bed.
24th. Up, and dispatched several businesses at home in the
morning, and then comes Sympson to set up my other new
presses562 for my books, and so he and I fell in to the furnish-
ing of my new closett, and taking out the things out of my old,
and I kept him with me all day, and he dined with me, and so
all the afternoon till it was quite darke hanging things, that is my
maps and pictures and draughts, and setting up my books, and
as much as we could do, to my most extraordinary satisfaction;
so that I think it will be as noble a closett as any man hath, and
light enough–though, indeed, it would be better to have had a
little more light. He gone, my wife and I to talk, and sup, and
then to setting right my Tangier accounts and enter my Journall,
and then to bed with great content in my day’s worke. This after-
noon comes Mrs. Barbary Sheldon, now Mrs. Wood, to see my
wife. I was so busy I would not see her. But she came, it seems,
mighty rich in rings and fine clothes, and like a lady, and says
she is matched mighty well, at which I am very glad, but won-
der at her good fortune and the folly of her husband, and vexed
at myself for not paying her the respect of seeing her, but I will
come out of her debt another time.
25th. All the morning at the office. At noon dined at home, and
after dinner up to my new closett, which pleases me mightily,
and there I proceeded to put many things in order as far as I
had time, and then set it in washing, and stood by myself a great
while to see it washed; and then to the office, and then wrote my
letters and other things, and then in mighty good humour home
to supper and to bed.
26th (Lord’s day). Up betimes, and to the finishing the setting
things in order in my new closett out of my old, which I did thor-
562 These presses still exist, and, according to Pepys’s wish, they are placed
in the second court of Magdalene College in a room which they exactly fit,
and the books are arranged in the presses just as they were when presented
to the college.–M. B.
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AUGUST 1666
oughly by the time sermon was done at church, to my exceeding
joy, only I was a little disturbed with newes my Lord Bruncker
brought me, that we are to attend the King at White Hall this
afternoon, and that it is about a complaint from the Generalls
against us. Sir W. Pen dined by invitation with me, his Lady and
daughter being gone into the country. We very merry. After din-
ner we parted, and I to my office, whither I sent for Mr. Lewes
and instructed myself fully in the business of the Victualling, to
enable me to answer in the matter; and then Sir W. Pen and I
by coach to White Hall, and there staid till the King and Cabinet
were met in the Green Chamber, and then we were called in; and
there the King begun with me, to hear how the victualls of the
fleete stood. I did in a long discourse tell him and the rest (the
Duke of Yorke, Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, both the Secre-
tarys, Sir G. Carteret, and Sir W. Coventry,) how it stood, wherein
they seemed satisfied, but press mightily for more supplies; and
the letter of the Generalls, which was read, did lay their not go-
ing or too soon returning from the Dutch coast, this next bout,
to the want of victuals. They then proceeded to the enquiry af-
ter the fireships; and did all very superficially, and without any
severity at all. But, however, I was in pain, after we come out, to
know how I had done; and hear well enough. But, however, it
shall be a caution to me to prepare myself against a day of inqui-
sition. Being come out, I met with Mr. Moore, and he and I an
houre together in the Gallery, telling me how far they are gone
in getting my Lord [Sandwich’s] pardon, so as the Chancellor is
prepared in it; and Sir H. Bennet do promote it, and the warrant
for the King’s signing is drawn. The business between my Lord
Hinchingbroke and Mrs. Mallett is quite broke off; he attending
her at Tunbridge, and she declaring her affections to be settled;
and he not being fully pleased with the vanity and liberty of her
carriage. He told me how my Lord has drawn a bill of exchange
from Spayne of £1200, and would have me supply him with £500
of it, but I avoyded it, being not willing to embarke myself in
money there, where I see things going to ruine. Thence to dis-
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AUGUST 1666
course of the times; and he tells me he believes both my Lord Ar-
lington and Sir W. Coventry, as well as my Lord Sandwich and
Sir G. Carteret, have reason to fear, and are afeard of this Parlia-
ment now coming on. He tells me that Bristoll’s faction is getting
ground apace against my Lord Chancellor. He told me that my
old Lord Coventry was a cunning, crafty man, and did make as
many bad decrees in Chancery as any man; and that in one case,
that occasioned many years’ dispute, at last when the King come
in, it was hoped by the party grieved, to get my Lord Chancellor
to reverse a decree of his. Sir W. Coventry took the opportunity
of the business between the Duke of Yorke and the Duchesse,
and said to my Lord Chancellor, that he had rather be drawn up
Holborne to be hanged, than live to see his father pissed upon
(in these very terms) and any decree of his reversed. And so the
Chancellor did not think fit to do it, but it still stands, to the un-
doing of one Norton, a printer, about his right to the printing of
the Bible, and Grammar, &c. Thence Sir W. Pen and I to Islington
and there drank at the Katherine Wheele, and so down the near-
est way home, where there was no kind of pleasure at all. Being
come home, hear that Sir J. Minnes has had a very bad fit all this
day, and a hickup do take him, which is a very bad sign, which
troubles me truly. So home to supper a little and then to bed.
27th. Up, and to my new closett, which pleases me mightily,
and there did a little business. Then to break open a window, to
the leads’ side in my old closett, which will enlighten the room
mightily, and make it mighty pleasant. So to the office, and then
home about one thing or other, about my new closet, for my mind
is full of nothing but that. So at noon to dinner, mightily pleased
with my wife’s picture that she is upon. Then to the office, and
thither come and walked an hour with me Sir G. Carteret, who
tells me what is done about my Lord’s pardon, and is not for
letting the Duke of Yorke know any thing of it beforehand, but
to carry it as speedily and quietly as we can. He seems to be
very apprehensive that the Parliament will be troublesome and
inquisitive into faults, but seems not to value them as to himself.
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AUGUST 1666
He gone, I to the Victualling Office, there with Lewes’ and Will-
son setting the business of the state of the fleete’s victualling even
and plain, and that being done, and other good discourse about
it over, Mr. Willson and I by water down the River for discourse
only, about business of the office, and then back, and I home, and
after a little at my office home to my new closet, and there did
much business on my Tangier account and my Journall for three
days. So to supper and to bed. We are not sure that the Dutch
fleete is out. I have another memento from Sir W. Coventry of
the want of provisions in the fleete, which troubles me, though
there is no reason for it; but will have the good effect of making
me more wary. So, full of thoughts, to bed.
28th. Up, and in my new closet a good while doing business.
Then called on Mrs. Martin and Burroughs of Westminster about
business of the former’s husband. Which done, I to the office,
where we sat all the morning. At noon I, with my wife and Mer-
cer, to Philpott Lane, a great cook’s shop, to the wedding of Mr.
Longracke, our purveyor, a good, sober, civil man, and hath mar-
ried a sober, serious mayde. Here I met much ordinary company,
I going thither at his great request; but there was Mr. Madden
and his lady, a fine, noble, pretty lady, and he, and a fine gen-
tleman seems to be. We four were most together; but the whole
company was very simple and innocent. A good-dinner, and,
what was best, good musique. After dinner the young women
went to dance; among others Mr. Christopher Pett his daugh-
ter, who is a very pretty, modest girle, I am mightily taken with
her; and that being done about five o’clock, home, very well
pleased with the afternoon’s work. And so we broke up might-
ily civilly, the bride and bridegroom going to Greenwich (they
keeping their dinner here only for my sake) to lie, and we home,
where I to the office, and anon am on a sudden called to meet Sir
W. Pen and Sir W. Coventry at the Victualling Office, which did
put me out of order to be so surprised. But I went, and there Sir
William Coventry did read me a letter from the Generalls to the
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AUGUST 1666
King,563 a most scurvy letter, reflecting most upon Sir W. Coven-
try, and then upon me for my accounts (not that they are not true,
but that we do not consider the expence of the fleete), and then
of the whole office, in neglecting them and the King’s service,
and this in very plain and sharp and menacing terms. I did give
a good account of matters according to our computation of the
expence of the fleete. I find Sir W. Coventry willing enough to
accept of any thing to confront the Generalls. But a great supply
must be made, and shall be in grace of God! But, however, our
accounts here will be found the true ones. Having done here, and
much work set me, I with greater content home than I thought I
should have done, and so to the office a while, and then home,
and a while in my new closet, which delights me every day more
and more, and so late to bed.
29th. Up betimes, and there to fit some Tangier accounts, and
then, by appointment, to my Lord Bellasses, but about Paul’s
thought of the chant paper I should carry with me, and so fain
to come back again, and did, and then met with Sir W. Pen, and
with him to my Lord Bellasses, he sitting in the coach the while,
while I up to my Lord and there offered him my account of the
bills of exchange I had received and paid for him, wherein we
agree all but one £200 bill of Vernatty’s drawing, wherein I doubt
he hath endeavoured to cheate my Lord; but that will soon ap-
pear. Thence took leave, and found Sir W. Pen talking to Orange
Moll, of the King’s house, who, to our great comfort, told us that
563 The letter from Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle to the king
(dated August 27th, from the “Royal Charles,” Sole Bay) is among the State
Papers. The generals complain of the want of supplies, in spite of repeated
importunities. The demands are answered by accounts from Mr. Pepys of
what has been sent to the fleet, which will not satisfy the ships, unless the
provisions could be found ”... Have not a month’s provision of beer, yet Sir
Wm. Coventry assures the ministers that they are supplied till Oct. 3; unless
this is quickened they will have to return home too soon.... Want provisions
according to their own computation, not Sir Wm. Coventry’s, to last to the
end of October” (“Calendar,” 1666-67, p. 71).
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AUGUST 1666
they begun to act on the 18th of this month. So on to St. James’s,
in the way Sir W. Pen telling me that Mr. Norton, that married
Sir J. Lawson’s daughter, is dead. She left £800 a year jointure, a
son to inherit the whole estate. She freed from her father-in-law’s
tyranny, and is in condition to helpe her mother, who needs it; of
which I am glad, the young lady being very pretty. To St. James’s,
and there Sir W. Coventry took Sir W. Pen and me apart, and read
to us his answer to the Generalls’ letter to the King that he read
last night; wherein he is very plain, and states the matter in full
defence of himself and of me with him, which he could not avoid;
which is a good comfort to me, that I happen to be involved with
him in the same cause. And then, speaking of the supplies which
have been made to this fleete, more than ever in all kinds to any,
even that wherein the Duke of Yorke himself was, “Well,” says
he, “if this will not do, I will say, as Sir J. Falstaffe did to the
Prince, ‘Tell your father, that if he do not like this let him kill the
next Piercy himself,”’–[“King Henry IV.,” Part I, act v., sc. 4.]–and
so we broke up, and to the Duke, and there did our usual busi-
ness. So I to the Parke and there met Creed, and he and I walked
to Westminster to the Exchequer, and thence to White Hall talk-
ing of Tangier matters and Vernatty’s knavery, and so parted, and
then I homeward and met Mr. Povy in Cheapside, and stopped
and talked a good while upon the profits of the place which my
Lord Bellasses hath made this last year, and what share we are to
have of it, but of this all imperfect, and so parted, and I home, and
there find Mrs. Mary Batelier, and she dined with us; and thence
I took them to Islington, and there eat a custard; and so back to
Moorfields, and shewed Batelier, with my wife, “Polichinello,”
which I like the more I see it; and so home with great content,
she being a mighty good-natured, pretty woman, and thence I
to the Victualling office, and there with Mr. Lewes and Willson
upon our Victualling matters till ten at night, and so I home and
there late writing a letter to Sir W. Coventry, and so home to sup-
per and to bed. No newes where the Dutch are. We begin to think
they will steale through the Channel to meet Beaufort. We think
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AUGUST 1666
our fleete sayled yesterday, but we have no newes of it.
30th. Up and all the morning at the office, dined at home, and
in the afternoon, and at night till two in the morning, framing my
great letter to Mr. Hayes about the victualling of the fleete, about
which there has been so much ado and exceptions taken by the
Generalls.
31st. To bed at 2 or 3 in the morning and up again at 6 to go
by appointment to my Lord Bellasses, but he out of town, which
vexed me. So back and got Mr. Poynter to enter into, my book
while I read from my last night’s notes the letter, and that be-
ing done to writing it fair. At noon home to dinner, and then
the boy and I to the office, and there he read while I writ it fair,
which done I sent it to Sir W. Coventry to peruse and send to
the fleete by the first opportunity; and so pretty betimes to bed.
Much pleased to-day with thoughts of gilding the backs of all my
books alike in my new presses.
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SEPTEMBER 1666
September 1st. Up and at the office all the morning, and then
dined at home. Got my new closet made mighty clean against
to-morrow. Sir W. Pen and my wife and Mercer and I to
“Polichinelly,” but were there horribly frighted to see Young Kil-
ligrew come in with a great many more young sparks; but we
hid ourselves, so as we think they did not see us. By and by, they
went away, and then we were at rest again; and so, the play be-
ing done, we to Islington, and there eat and drank and mighty
merry; and so home singing, and, after a letter or two at the of-
fice, to bed.
2nd (Lord’s day). Some of our mayds sitting up late last night
to get things ready against our feast to-day, Jane called us up
about three in the morning, to tell us of a great fire they saw in
the City. So I rose and slipped on my nightgowne, and went
to her window, and thought it to be on the backside of Marke-
lane at the farthest; but, being unused to such fires as followed, I
thought it far enough off; and so went to bed again and to sleep.
About seven rose again to dress myself, and there looked out
at the window, and saw the fire not so much as it was and fur-
ther off. So to my closett to set things to rights after yesterday’s
cleaning. By and by Jane comes and tells me that she hears that
above 300 houses have been burned down to-night by the fire
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SEPTEMBER 1666
we saw, and that it is now burning down all Fish-street, by Lon-
don Bridge. So I made myself ready presently, and walked to
the Tower, and there got up upon one of the high places, Sir
J. Robinson’s little son going up with me; and there I did see
the houses at that end of the bridge all on fire, and an infinite
great fire on this and the other side the end of the bridge; which,
among other people, did trouble me for poor little Michell and
our Sarah on the bridge. So down, with my heart full of trouble,
to the Lieutenant of the Tower, who tells me that it begun this
morning in the King’s baker’s’ house in Pudding-lane, and that
it hath burned St. Magnus’s Church and most part of Fish-street
already. So I down to the water-side, and there got a boat and
through bridge, and there saw a lamentable fire. Poor Michell’s
house, as far as the Old Swan, already burned that way, and the
fire running further, that in a very little time it got as far as the
Steeleyard, while I was there. Everybody endeavouring to re-
move their goods, and flinging into the river or bringing them
into lighters that layoff; poor people staying in their houses as
long as till the very fire touched them, and then running into
boats, or clambering from one pair of stairs by the water-side to
another. And among other things, the poor pigeons, I perceive,
were loth to leave their houses, but hovered about the windows
and balconys till they were, some of them burned, their wings,
and fell down. Having staid, and in an hour’s time seen the
fire: rage every way, and nobody, to my sight, endeavouring to
quench it, but to remove their goods, and leave all to the fire, and
having seen it get as far as the Steele-yard, and the wind mighty
high and driving it into the City; and every thing, after so long a
drought, proving combustible, even the very stones of churches,
and among other things the poor steeple by which pretty Mrs.—
—–lives, and whereof my old school-fellow Elborough is parson,
taken fire in the very top, an there burned till it fell down: I to
White Hall (with a gentleman with me who desired to go off
from the Tower, to see the fire, in my boat); to White Hall, and
there up to the Kings closett in the Chappell, where people come
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SEPTEMBER 1666
about me, and did give them an account dismayed them all, and
word was carried in to the King. So I was called for, and did
tell the King and Duke of Yorke what I saw, and that unless his
Majesty did command houses to be pulled down nothing could
stop the fire. They seemed much troubled, and the King com-
manded me to go to my Lord Mayor–[Sir Thomas Bludworth.
See June 30th, 1666.]–from him, and command him to spare no
houses, but to pull down before the fire every way. The Duke
of York bid me tell him that if he would have any more soldiers
he shall; and so did my Lord Arlington afterwards, as a great se-
cret.564 Here meeting, with Captain Cocke, I in his coach, which
he lent me, and Creed with me to Paul’s, and there walked along
Watlingstreet, as well as I could, every creature coming away
loaden with goods to save, and here and there sicke people car-
ried away in beds. Extraordinary good goods carried in carts
and on backs. At last met my Lord Mayor in Canningstreet, like
a man spent, with a handkercher about his neck. To the King’s
message he cried, like a fainting woman, “Lord! what can I do?
I am spent: people will not obey me. I have been pulling down
houses; but the fire overtakes us faster than we can do it.” That
he needed no more soldiers; and that, for himself, he must go
and refresh himself, having been up all night. So he left me, and
I him, and walked home, seeing people all almost distracted,
and no manner of means used to quench the fire. The houses,
too, so very thick thereabouts, and full of matter for burning, as
pitch and tarr, in Thames-street; and warehouses of oyle, and
wines, and brandy, and other things. Here I saw Mr. Isaake Hou-
blon, the handsome man, prettily dressed and dirty, at his door
564 Sir William Coventry wrote to Lord Arlington on the evening of this
day, “The Duke of York fears the want of workmen and tools to-morrow
morning, and wishes the deputy lieutenants and justices of peace to summon
the workmen with tools to be there by break of day. In some churches and
chapels are great hooks for pulling down houses, which should be brought
ready upon the place to-night against the morning” (“Calendar of State Pa-
pers,” 1666-66, p. 95).
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SEPTEMBER 1666
at Dowgate, receiving some of his brothers’ things, whose houses
were on fire; and, as he says, have been removed twice already;
and he doubts (as it soon proved) that they must be in a little
time removed from his house also, which was a sad considera-
tion. And to see the churches all filling with goods by people
who themselves should have been quietly there at this time. By
this time it was about twelve o’clock; and so home, and there find
my guests, which was Mr. Wood and his wife Barbary Sheldon,
and also Mr. Moons: she mighty fine, and her husband; for aught
I see, a likely man. But Mr. Moone’s design and mine, which was
to look over my closett and please him with the sight thereof,
which he hath long desired, was wholly disappointed; for we
were in great trouble and disturbance at this fire, not knowing
what to think of it. However, we had an extraordinary good din-
ner, and as merry, as at this time we could be. While at dinner
Mrs. Batelier come to enquire after Mr. Woolfe and Stanes (who,
it seems, are related to them), whose houses in Fish-street are all
burned; and they in a sad condition. She would not stay in the
fright. Soon as dined, I and Moone away, and walked, through
the City, the streets full of nothing but people and horses and
carts loaden with goods, ready to run over one another, and,
removing goods from one burned house to another. They now
removing out of Canning-streets (which received goods in the
morning) into Lumbard-streets, and further;
and among others I now saw my little goldsmith, Stokes, re-
ceiving some friend’s goods, whose house itself was burned the
day after. We parted at Paul’s; he home, and I to Paul’s Wharf,
where I had appointed a boat to attend me, and took in Mr. Car-
casse and his brother, whom I met in the streets and carried them
below and above bridge to and again to see the fire, which was
now got further, both below and above and no likelihood of stop-
ping it. Met with the King and Duke of York in their barge, and
with them to Queenhith and there called Sir Richard Browne to
them. Their order was only to pull down houses apace, and so
below bridge the water-side; but little was or could be done, the
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SEPTEMBER 1666
fire coming upon them so fast. Good hopes there was of stop-
ping it at the Three Cranes above, and at Buttolph’s Wharf below
bridge, if care be used; but the wind carries it into the City so
as we know not by the water-side what it do there. River full of
lighters and boats taking in goods, and good goods swimming
in the water, and only I observed that hardly one lighter or boat
in three that had the goods of a house in, but there was a pair of
Virginalls565 in it. Having seen as much as I could now, I away
to White Hall by appointment, and there walked to St. James’s
Parks, and there met my wife and Creed and Wood and his wife,
and walked to my boat; and there upon the water again, and to
the fire up and down, it still encreasing, and the wind great. So
near the fire as we could for smoke; and all over the Thames, with
one’s face in the wind, you were almost burned with a shower of
firedrops. This is very true; so as houses were burned by these
drops and flakes of fire, three or four, nay, five or six houses, one
from another. When we could endure no more upon the water;
we to a little ale-house on the Bankside, over against the ‘Three
Cranes, and there staid till it was dark almost, and saw the fire
grow; and, as it grew darker, appeared more and more, and in
corners and upon steeples, and between churches and houses, as
far as we could see up the hill of the City, in a most horrid ma-
licious bloody flame, not like the fine flame of an ordinary fire.
Barbary and her husband away before us. We staid till, it being
darkish, we saw the fire as only one entire arch of fire from this
to the other side the bridge, and in a bow up the hill for an arch
of above a mile long: it made me weep to see it. The churches,
houses, and all on fire and flaming at once; and a horrid noise
the flames made, and the cracking of houses at their ruins. So
home with a sad heart, and there find every body discoursing
and lamenting the fire; and poor Tom Hater come with some few
565 The virginal differed from the spinet in being square instead of trian-
gular in form. The word pair was used in the obsolete sense of a set, as we
read also of a pair of organs. The instrument is supposed to have obtained
its name from young women, playing upon it.
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SEPTEMBER 1666
of his goods saved out of his house, which is burned upon Fish-
streets Hall. I invited him to lie at my house, and did receive
his goods, but was deceived in his lying there, the newes coming
every moment of the growth of the fire; so as we were forced to
begin to pack up our owne goods; and prepare for their removal;
and did by moonshine (it being brave dry, and moon: shine, and
warm weather) carry much of my goods into the garden, and Mr.
Hater and I did remove my money and iron chests into my cellar,
as thinking that the safest place. And got my bags of gold into my
office, ready to carry away, and my chief papers of accounts also
there, and my tallys into a box by themselves. So great was our
fear, as Sir W. Batten hath carts come out of the country to fetch
away his goods this night. We did put Mr. Hater, poor man, to
bed a little; but he got but very little rest, so much noise being in
my house, taking down of goods.
3rd. About four o’clock in the morning, my Lady Batten sent
me a cart to carry away all my money, and plate, and best things,
to Sir W. Rider’s at Bednall-greene. Which I did riding myself
in my night-gowne in the cart; and, Lord! to see how the streets
and the highways are crowded with people running and riding,
and getting of carts at any rate to fetch away things. I find Sir W.
Rider tired with being called up all night, and receiving things
from several friends. His house full of goods, and much of Sir
W. Batten’s and Sir W. Pen’s I am eased at my heart to have my
treasure so well secured. Then home, with much ado to find a
way, nor any sleep all this night to me nor my poor wife. But
then and all this day she and I, and all my people labouring to
get away the rest of our things, and did get Mr. Tooker to get me
a lighter to take them in, and we did carry them (myself some)
over Tower Hill, which was by this time full of people’s goods,
bringing their goods thither; and down to the lighter, which lay
at next quay, above the Tower Docke. And here was my neigh-
bour’s wife, Mrs.——-,with her pretty child, and some few of her
things, which I did willingly give way to be saved with mine;
but there was no passing with any thing through the postern, the
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SEPTEMBER 1666
crowd was so great. The Duke of Yorke of this day by the office,
and spoke to us, and did ride with his guard up and down the
City, to keep all quiet (he being now Generall, and having the
care of all). This day, Mercer being not at home, but against her
mistress’s order gone to her mother’s, and my wife going thither
to speak with W. Hewer, met her there, and was angry; and her
mother saying that she was not a ‘prentice girl, to ask leave every
time she goes abroad, my wife with good reason was angry, and,
when she came home, bid her be gone again. And so she went
away, which troubled me, but yet less than it would, because of
the condition we are in, fear of coming into in a little time of be-
ing less able to keepe one in her quality. At night lay down a
little upon a quilt of W. Hewer’s in the office, all my owne things
being packed up or gone; and after me my poor wife did the like,
we having fed upon the remains of yesterday’s dinner, having no
fire nor dishes, nor any opportunity of dressing any thing.
4th. Up by break of day to get away the remainder of my
things; which I did by a lighter at the Iron gate and my hands so
few, that it was the afternoon before we could get them all away.
Sir W. Pen and I to Tower-streete, and there met the fire burn-
ing three or four doors beyond Mr. Howell’s, whose goods, poor
man, his trayes, and dishes, shovells, &c., were flung all along
Tower-street in the kennels, and people working therewith from
one end to the other; the fire coming on in that narrow streete,
on both sides, with infinite fury. Sir W. Batten not knowing how
to remove his wine, did dig a pit in the garden, and laid it in
there; and I took the opportunity of laying all the papers of my
office that I could not otherwise dispose of. And in the evening
Sir W. Pen and I did dig another, and put our wine in it; and I
my Parmazan cheese, as well as my wine and some other things.
The Duke of Yorke was at the office this day, at Sir W. Pen’s; but
I happened not to be within. This afternoon, sitting melancholy
with Sir W. Pen in our garden, and thinking of the certain burn-
ing of this office, without extraordinary means, I did propose for
the sending up of all our workmen from Woolwich and Deptford
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SEPTEMBER 1666
yards (none whereof yet appeared), and to write to Sir W. Coven-
try to have the Duke of Yorke’s permission to pull down houses,
rather than lose this office, which would, much hinder, the King’s
business. So Sir W. Pen he went down this night, in order to
the sending them up to-morrow morning; and I wrote to Sir W.
Coventry about the business, but received no answer. This night
Mrs. Turner (who, poor woman, was removing her goods all this
day, good goods into the garden, and knows not how to dispose
of them), and her husband supped with my wife and I at night,
in the office; upon a shoulder of mutton from the cook’s, without
any napkin or any thing, in a sad manner, but were merry. Only
now and then walking into the garden, and saw how horridly
the sky looks, all on a fire in the night, was enough to put us out
of our wits; and, indeed, it was extremely dreadful, for it looks
just as if it was at us; and the whole heaven on fire. I after supper
walked in the darke down to Tower-streete, and there saw it all
on fire, at the Trinity House on that side, and the Dolphin Tav-
erne on this side, which was very near us; and the fire with ex-
traordinary vehemence. Now begins the practice of blowing up
of houses in Tower-streete, those next the Tower, which at first
did frighten people more than anything, but it stopped the fire
where it was done, it bringing down the566 houses to the ground
566 A copy of this letter, preserved among the Pepys MSS. in the author’s
own handwriting, is subjoined: “SIR, The fire is now very neere us as well
on Tower Streete as Fanchurch Street side, and we little hope of our escape
but by this remedy, to ye want whereof we doe certainly owe ye loss of ye
City namely, ye pulling down of houses, in ye way of ye fire. This way Sir W.
Pen and myself have so far concluded upon ye practising, that he is gone to
Woolwich and Deptford to supply himself with men and necessarys in order
to the doeing thereof, in case at his returne our condition be not bettered and
that he meets with his R. Hs. approbation, which I had thus undertaken to
learn of you. Pray please to let me have this night (at whatever hour it is)
what his R. Hs. directions are in this particular; Sir J. Minnes and Sir W.
Batten having left us, we cannot add, though we are well assured of their, as
well as all ye neighbourhood’s concurrence. “Yr. obedient servnt. “S. P. “Sir
W. Coventry, “Septr. 4, 1666.”
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SEPTEMBER 1666
in the same places they stood, and then it was easy to quench
what little fire was in it, though it kindled nothing almost. W.
Newer this day went to see how his mother did, and comes late
home, telling us how he hath been forced to remove her to Isling-
ton, her house in Pye-corner being burned; so that the fire is got
so far that way, and all the Old Bayly, and was running down to
Fleete-streete; and Paul’s is burned, and all Cheapside. I wrote
to my father this night, but the post-house being burned, the let-
ter could not go.567 5th. I lay down in the office again upon W.
Hewer’s, quilt, being mighty weary, and sore in my feet with go-
ing till I was hardly able to stand. About two in the morning my
wife calls me up and tells me of new cryes of fire, it being come to
Barkeing Church, which is the bottom of our lane. I up, and find-
ing it so, resolved presently to take her away, and did, and took
my gold, which was about £2350, W. Newer, and Jane, down by
Proundy’s boat to Woolwich; but, Lord! what sad sight it was by
moone-light to see, the whole City almost on fire, that you might
see it plain at Woolwich, as if you were by it. There, when I come,
I find the gates shut, but no guard kept at all, which troubled me,
because of discourse now begun, that there is plot in it, and that
the French had done it. I got the gates open, and to Mr. Shelden’s,
where I locked up my gold, and charged, my wife and W. Newer
never to leave the room without one of them in it, night, or day.
So back again, by the way seeing my goods well in the lighters
at Deptford, and watched well by people. Home; and whereas
I expected to have seen our house on fire, it being now about
seven o’clock, it was not. But to the fyre, and there find greater
567 J. Hickes wrote to Williamson on September 3rd from the “Golden
Lyon,” Red Cross Street Posthouse. Sir Philip [Frowde] and his lady fled
from the [letter] office at midnight for: safety; stayed himself till 1 am. till his
wife and childrens’ patience could stay, no longer, fearing lest they should
be quite stopped up; the passage was so tedious they had much ado to get
where they are. The Chester and Irish, mails have come-in; sends him his let-
ters, knows not how to dispose of the business (“Calendar of State Papers,”
1666-67, p. 95).
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SEPTEMBER 1666
hopes than I expected; for my confidence of finding our Office on
fire was such, that I durst not ask any body how it was with us,
till I come and saw it not burned. But going to the fire, I find by
the blowing up of houses, and the great helpe given by the work-
men out of the King’s yards, sent up by Sir W. Pen, there is a good
stop given to it, as well as at Marke-lane end as ours; it having
only burned the dyall of Barking Church, and part of the porch,
and was there quenched. I up to the top of Barking steeple, and
there saw the saddest sight of desolation that I ever saw; every
where great fires, oyle-cellars, and brimstone, and other things
burning. I became afeard to stay there long, and therefore down
again as fast as I could, the fire being spread as far as I could
see it; and to Sir W. Pen’s, and there eat a piece of cold meat,
having eaten nothing since Sunday, but the remains of Sunday’s
dinner. Here I met with Mr. Young and Whistler; and having
removed all my things, and received good hopes that the fire at
our end; is stopped, they and I walked into the town, and find
Fanchurch-streete, Gracious-streete; and Lumbard-streete all in
dust. The Exchange a sad sight, nothing standing there, of all
the statues or pillars, but Sir Thomas Gresham’s picture in the
corner. Walked into Moorefields (our feet ready to burn, walking
through the towne among the hot coles), and find that full of peo-
ple, and poor wretches carrying their good there, and every body
keeping his goods together by themselves (and a great blessing
it is to them that it is fair weathe for them to keep abroad night
and day); drank there, and paid two-pence for a plain penny loaf.
Thence homeward, having passed through Cheapside and New-
gate Market, all burned, and seen Anthony Joyce’s House in fire.
And took up (which I keep by me) a piece of glasse of Mercers’
Chappell in the streete, where much more was, so melted and
buckled with the heat of the fire like parchment. I also did see a
poor cat taken out of a hole in the chimney, joyning to the wall
of the Exchange; with, the hair all burned off the body, and yet
alive. So home at night, and find there good hopes of saving
our office; but great endeavours of watching all night, and hav-
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SEPTEMBER 1666
ing men ready; and so we lodged them in the office, and had
drink and bread and cheese for them. And I lay down and slept
a good night about midnight, though when I rose I heard that
there had been a great alarme of French and Dutch being risen,
which proved, nothing. But it is a strange thing to see how long
this time did look since Sunday, having been always full of vari-
ety of actions, and little sleep, that it looked like a week or more,
and I had forgot, almost the day of the week.
6th. Up about five o’clock, and where met Mr. Gawden at the
gate of the office (I intending to go out, as I used, every now and
then to-day, to see how the fire is) to call our men to Bishop’s-
gate, where no fire had yet been near, and there is now one broke
out which did give great grounds to people, and to me too, to
think that there is some kind of plot568 in this (on which many
by this time have been taken, and, it hath been dangerous for
any stranger to walk in the streets), but I went with the men, and
we did put it out in a little time; so that that was well again. It
was pretty to see how hard the women did work in the cannells,
sweeping of water; but then they would scold for drink, and be
as drunk as devils. I saw good butts of sugar broke open in the
street, and people go and take handsfull out, and put into beer,
and drink it. And now all being pretty well, I took boat, and over
to Southwarke, and took boat on the other side the bridge, and
so to Westminster, thinking to shift myself, being all in dirt from
top to bottom; but could not there find any place to buy a shirt
or pair of gloves, Westminster Hall being full of people’s goods,
those in Westminster having removed all their goods, and the Ex-
568 The terrible disaster which overtook London was borne by the inhab-
itants of the city with great fortitude, but foreigners and Roman Catholics
had a bad dime. As no cause for the outbreak of the fire could be traced,
a general cry was raised that it owed its origin to a plot. In a letter from
Thomas Waade to Williamson (dated “Whitby, Sept. 14th”) we read, “The
destruction of London by fire is reported to be a hellish contrivance of the
French, Hollanders, and fanatic party” (“Calendar of State Papers,” 1666-67,
p. 124).
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SEPTEMBER 1666
chequer money put into vessels to carry to Nonsuch; but to the
Swan, and there was trimmed; and then to White Hall, but saw
nobody; and so home. A sad sight to see how the River looks:
no houses nor church near it, to the Temple, where it stopped.
At home, did go with Sir W. Batten, and our neighbour, Knightly
(who, with one more, was the only man of any fashion left in all
the neighbourhood thereabouts, they all removing their goods
and leaving their houses to the mercy of the fire), to Sir R. Ford’s,
and there dined in an earthen platter–a fried breast of mutton;
a great many of us, but very merry, and indeed as good a meal,
though as ugly a one, as ever I had in my life. Thence down to
Deptford, and there with great satisfaction landed all my goods
at Sir G. Carteret’s safe, and nothing missed I could see, or hurt.
This being done to my great content, I home, and to Sir W. Bat-
ten’s, and there with Sir R. Ford, Mr. Knightly, and one Withers,
a professed lying rogue, supped well, and mighty merry, and our
fears over. From them to the office, and there slept with the office
full of labourers, who talked, and slept, and walked all night long
there. But strange it was to see Cloathworkers’ Hall on fire these
three days and nights in one body of flame, it being the cellar full
of oyle.
7th. Up by five o’clock; and, blessed be God! find all well,
and by water to Paul’s Wharfe. Walked thence, and saw, all the
towne burned, and a miserable sight of Paul’s church; with all
the roofs fallen, and the body of the quire fallen into St. Fayth’s;
Paul’s school also, Ludgate, and Fleet-street, my father’s house,
and the church, and a good part of the Temple the like. So to
Creed’s lodging, near the New Exchange, and there find him laid
down upon a bed; the house all unfurnished, there being fears
of the fire’s coming to them. There borrowed a shirt of him, and
washed. To Sir W. Coventry, at St. James’s, who lay without cur-
tains, having removed all his goods; as the King at White Hall,
and every body had done, and was doing. He hopes we shall
have no publique distractions upon this fire, which is what every
body fears, because of the talke of the French having a hand in it.
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SEPTEMBER 1666
And it is a proper time for discontents; but all men’s minds are
full of care to protect themselves, and save their goods: the mili-
tia is in armes every where. Our fleetes, he tells me, have been
in sight one of another, and most unhappily by fowle weather
were parted, to our great losse, as in reason they do conclude;
the Dutch being come out only to make a shew, and please their
people; but in very bad condition as to stores; victuals, and men.
They are at Bullen; and our fleete come to St. Ellen’s. We have got
nothing, but have lost one ship, but he knows not what. Thence
to the Swan, and there drank: and so home, and find all well.
My Lord Bruncker, at Sir W. Batten’s, and tells us the Generall
is sent for up, to come to advise with the King about business
at this juncture, and to keep all quiet; which is great honour to
him, but I am sure is but a piece of dissimulation. So home, and
did give orders for my house to be made clean; and then down
to Woolwich, and there find all well: Dined, and Mrs. Markham
come to see my wife. So I up again, and calling at Deptford for
some things of W. Hewer’s, he being with me, and then home
and spent the evening with Sir R. Ford, Mr. Knightly, and Sir W.
Pen at Sir W. Batten’s: This day our Merchants first met at Gre-
sham College, which, by proclamation, is to be their Exchange.
Strange to hear what is bid for houses all up and down here; a
friend of Sir W. Rider’s: having £150 for what he used to let for
£40 per annum. Much dispute where the Custome-house shall
be thereby the growth of the City again to be foreseen. My Lord
Treasurer, they say, and others; would have it at the other end of
the towne. I home late to Sir W. Pen’s, who did give me a bed; but
without curtains or hangings, all being down. So here I went the
first time into a naked bed, only my drawers on; and did sleep
pretty well: but still hath sleeping and waking had a fear of fire
in my heart, that I took little rest. People do all the world over
cry out of the simplicity of my Lord Mayor in generall; and more
particularly in this business of the fire, laying it all upon’ him. A
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SEPTEMBER 1666
proclamation569 is come out for markets to be kept at Leadenhall
and Mileendgreene, and several other places about the towne;
and Tower-hill, and all churches to be set open to receive poor
people.
8th. Up and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen by water to
White Hall and they to St. James’s. I stopped with Sir G. Carteret
to desire him to go with us, and to enquire after money. But the
first he cannot do, and the other as little, or says, “when we can
get any, or what shall we do for it?” He, it seems, is employed in
the correspondence between the City and the King every day, in
settling of things. I find him full of trouble, to think how things
will go. I left him, and to St. James’s, where we met first at Sir W.
Coventry’s chamber, and there did what business we can, with-
out any books. Our discourse, as every thing else, was confused.
The fleete is at Portsmouth, there staying a wind to carry them to
the Downes, or towards Bullen, where they say the Dutch fleete
is gone, and stays. We concluded upon private meetings for a
while, not having any money to satisfy any people that may come
to us. I bought two eeles upon the Thames, cost me six shillings.
Thence with Sir W. Batten to the Cock-pit, whither the Duke of
Albemarle is come. It seems the King holds him so necessary at
this time, that he hath sent for him, and will keep him here. In-
deed, his interest in the City, being acquainted, and his care in
keeping things quiet, is reckoned that wherein he will be very
serviceable. We to him; he is courted in appearance by every
body. He very kind to us; I perceive he lays by all business of
569 On September 5th proclamation was made “ordering that for supply
of the distressed people left destitute by the late dreadful and dismal fire....
great proportions of bread be brought daily, not only to the former markets,
but to those lately ordained; that all churches, chapels, schools, and public
buildings are to be open to receive the goods of those who know not how
to dispose of them.” On September 6th, proclamation ordered “that as the
markets are burned down, markets be held in Bishopsgate Street, Tower Hill,
Smithfield, and Leadenhall Street” (“Calendar of State Papers,” 1666-67, pp.
100, 104).
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SEPTEMBER 1666
the fleete at present, and minds the City, and is now hastening to
Gresham College, to discourse with the Aldermen. Sir W. Batten
and I home (where met by my brother John, come to town to see
how things are with us), and then presently he with me to Gre-
sham College; where infinity of people, partly through novelty
to see the new place, and partly to find out and hear what is be-
come one man of another. I met with many people undone, and
more that have extraordinary great losses. People speaking their
thoughts variously about the beginning of the fire, and the re-
building; of the City. Then to Sir W. Batten’s, and took my brothet
with me, and there dined with a great company of neighbours;
and much good discourse; among others, of the low spirits of
some rich men in the City, in sparing any encouragement to the
poor people that wrought for the saving their houses. Among
others, Alderman Starling, a very rich man, without; children,
the fire at next door to him in our lane, after our men had saved
his house, did give 2s. 6d. among thirty of them, and did quarrel
with some that would remove the rubbish out of the way of the
fire, saying that they come to steal. Sir W. Coventry told me of
another this morning, in Holborne, which he shewed the King
that when it was offered to stop the fire near his house for such
a reward that came but to 2s. 6d. a man among the neighbours
he would, give but 18d. Thence to Bednall Green by coach, my
brother with me, and saw all well there, and fetched away my
journall book to enter for five days past, and then back to the of-
fice where I find Bagwell’s wife, and her husband come home.
Agreed to come to their house to-morrow, I sending him away
to his ship to-day. To the office and late writing letters, and then
to Sir W. Pen’s, my brother lying with me, and Sir W. Pen gone
down to rest himself at Woolwich. But I was much frighted and
kept awake in my bed, by some noise I heard a great while below
stairs; and the boys not coming up to me when I knocked. It was
by their discovery of people stealing of some neighbours’ wine
that lay in vessels in the streets. So to sleep; and all well all night.
9th (Sunday). Up and was trimmed, and sent my brother
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SEPTEMBER 1666
to Woolwich to my wife, to dine with her. I to church, where
our parson made a melancholy but good sermon; and many
and most in the church cried, specially the women. The church
mighty full; but few of fashion, and most strangers. I walked to
Bednall Green, and there dined well, but a bad venison pasty at
Sir W. Rider’s. Good people they are, and good discourse; and
his daughter, Middleton, a fine woman, discreet. Thence home,
and to church again, and there preached Dean Harding; but, me-
thinks, a bad, poor sermon, though proper for the time; nor elo-
quent, in saying at this time that the City is reduced from a large
folio to a decimotertio. So to my office, there to write down my
journall, and take leave of my brother, whom I sent back this
afternoon, though rainy; which it hath not done a good while be-
fore. But I had no room or convenience for him here till my house
is fitted; but I was very kind to him, and do take very well of him
his journey. I did give him 40s. for his pocket, and so, he being
gone, and, it presently rayning, I was troubled for him, though it
is good for the fyre. Anon to Sir W. Pen’s to bed, and made my
boy Tom to read me asleep.
10th. All the morning clearing our cellars, and breaking in
pieces all my old lumber, to make room, and to prevent fire.
And then to Sir W. Batten’s, and dined; and there hear that Sir
W. Rider says that the towne is full of the report of the wealth
that is in his house, and would be glad that his friends would
provide for the safety of their goods there. This made me get a
cart; and thither, and there brought my money all away. Took
a hackney-coach myself (the hackney-coaches now standing at
Allgate). Much wealth indeed there is at his house. Blessed be
God, I got all mine well thence, and lodged it in my office; but
vexed to have all the world see it. And with Sir W. Batten, who
would have taken away my hands before they were stowed. But
by and by comes brother Balty from sea, which I was glad of; and
so got him, and Mr. Tooker, and the boy, to watch with them all
in the office all night, while I upon Jane’s coming went down to
my wife, calling at Deptford, intending to see Bagwell, but did
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SEPTEMBER 1666
not ‘ouvrir la porte comme je’ did expect. So down late to Wool-
wich, and there find my wife out of humour and indifferent, as
she uses upon her having much liberty abroad.
11th. Lay there, and up betimes, and by water with my gold,
and laid it with the rest in my office, where I find all well and
safe. So with Sir W. Batten to the New Exchange by water and
to my Lord Bruncker’s house, where Sir W. Coventry and Sir
G. Carteret met. Little business before us but want of money.
Broke up, and I home by coach round the town. Dined at home,
Balty and myself putting up my papers in m closet in the office.
He away, I down to Deptford and there spoke with Bagwell and
agreed upon to-morrow, and come home in the rain by water.
In the evening at Sir W. Pen’s; with my wife, at supper, he in a
mad, ridiculous, drunken humour; and it seems there have been
some late distances between his lady and him, as my [wife] tells
me. After supper, I home, and with Mr. Hater, Gibson, and Tom
alone, got all my chests and money into the further cellar with
much pains, but great content to me when done. So very late and
weary, to bed.
12th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen to St. James’s
by water, and there did our usual business with the Duke of
Yorke. Thence I to Westminster, and there, spoke with Michell
and Howlett, who tell me how their poor young ones are going
to Shadwell’s. The latter told me of the unkindness of the young
man to his wife, which is now over, and I have promised to ap-
pear a counsellor to him. I am glad she is like to be so near us
again. Thence to Martin, and there did ‘tout ce que je voudrais
avec’ her, and drank, and away by water home and to dinner,
Balty and his wife there. After dinner I took him down with me
to Deptford, and there by the Bezan loaded above half my goods
and sent them away. So we back home, and then I found occasion
to return in the dark and to Bagwell, and there... did do all that I
desired, but though I did intend ‘pour avoir demeurais con elle’
to-day last night, yet when I had done ‘ce que je voudrais I did
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SEPTEMBER 1666
hate both elle and la cose’, and taking occasion from the occasion
of ‘su marido’s return... did me lever’, and so away home late to
Sir W. Pen’s (Batty and his wife lying at my house), and there in
the same simple humour I found Sir W. Pen, and so late to bed.
13th. Up, and down to Tower Wharfe; and there, with Batty
and labourers from Deptford, did get my goods housed well at
home. So down to Deptford again to fetch the rest, and there
eat a bit of dinner at the Globe, with the master of the Bezan with
me, while the labourers went to dinner. Here I hear that this poor
towne do bury still of the plague seven or eight in a day. So to Sir
G. Carteret’s to work, and there did to my content ship off into
the Bezan all the rest of my goods, saving my pictures and fine
things, that I will bring home in wherrys when the house is fit to
receive them: and so home, and unload them by carts and hands
before night, to my exceeding satisfaction: and so after supper to
bed in my house, the first time I have lain there; and lay with my
wife in my old closett upon the ground, and Batty and his wife
in the best chamber, upon the ground also.
14th. Up, and to work, having carpenters come to helpe in
setting up bedsteads and hangings; and at that trade my people
and I all the morning, till pressed by publique business to leave
them against my will in the afternoon: and yet I was troubled in
being at home, to see all my goods lie up and down the house
in a bad condition, and strange workmen going to and fro might
take what they would almost. All the afternoon busy; and Sir
W. Coventry come to me, and found me, as God would have it,
in my office, and people about me setting my papers to rights;
and there discoursed about getting an account ready against the
Parliament, and thereby did create me infinite of business, and
to be done on a sudden; which troubled me: but, however, he
being gone, I about it late, and to good purpose. And so home,
having this day also got my wine out of the ground again, and set
in my cellar; but with great pain to keep the porters that carried
it in from observing the money-chests there. So to bed as last
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night, only my wife and I upon a bedstead with curtains in that
which was Mercer’s chamber, and Balty and his wife (who are
here and do us good service), where we lay last night. This day,
poor Tom Pepys, the turner, was with me, and Kate, Joyce, to
bespeake places; one for himself, the other for her husband. She
tells me he hath lost £140 per annum, but have seven houses left.
15th. All the morning at the office, Harman being come to my
great satisfaction to put up my beds and hangings, so I am at
rest, and followed my business all day. Dined with Sir W. Batten,
mighty busy about this account, and while my people were busy,
wrote near thirty letters and orders with my owne hand. At it
till eleven at night; and it is strange to see how clear my head
was, being eased of all the matter of all these letters; whereas one
would think that I should have been dazed. I never did observe
so much of myself in my life. In the evening there comes to me
Captain Cocke, and walked a good while in the garden. He says
he hath computed that the rents of houses lost by this fire in the
City comes to £600,000 per annum; that this will make the Par-
liament, more quiet than otherwise they would have been, and
give the King a more ready supply; that the supply must be by
excise, as it is in Holland; that the Parliament will see it necessary
to carry on the warr; that the late storm hindered our beating the
Dutch fleete, who were gone out only to satisfy the people, hav-
ing no business to do but to avoid us; that the French, as late in
the yeare as it is, are coming; that the Dutch are really in bad
condition, but that this unhappinesse of ours do give them heart;
that there was a late difference between my Lord Arlington and
Sir W. Coventry about neglect in the last to send away an express
of the other’s in time; that it come before the King, and the Duke
of Yorke concerned himself in it; but this fire hath stopped it.
The Dutch fleete is not gone home, but rather to the North, and
so dangerous to our Gottenburgh fleete. That the Parliament is
likely to fall foul upon some persons; and, among others, on the
Vice-chamberlaine, though we both believe with little ground.
That certainly never so great a loss as this was borne so well by
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SEPTEMBER 1666
citizens in the world; he believing that not one merchant upon
the ‘Change will break upon it. That he do not apprehend there
will be any disturbances in State upon it; for that all men are busy
in looking after their owne business to save themselves. He gone,
I to finish my letters, and home to bed; and find to my infinite joy
many rooms clean; and myself and wife lie in our own chamber
again. But much terrified in the nights now-a-days with dreams
of fire, and falling down of houses.
16th (Lord’s day). Lay with much pleasure in bed talking with
my wife about Mr. Hater’s lying here and W. Hewer also, if Mrs.
Mercer leaves her house. To the office, whither also all my people
about this account, and there busy all the morning. At noon,
with my wife, against her will, all undressed and dirty, dined
at Sir W. Pen’s, where was all the company of our families in
towne; but, Lord! so sorry a dinner: venison baked in pans, that
the dinner I have had for his lady alone hath been worth four
of it. Thence, after dinner, displeased with our entertainment, to
my office again, and there till almost midnight and my people
with me, and then home, my head mightily akeing about our
accounts.
17th. Up betimes, and shaved myself after a week’s growth,
but, Lord! how ugly I was yesterday and how fine to-day! By wa-
ter, seeing the City all the way, a sad sight indeed, much fire being
still in. To Sir W. Coventry, and there read over my yesterday’s
work: being a collection of the particulars of the excess of charge
created by a war, with good content. Sir W. Coventry was in great
pain lest the French fleete should be passed by our fleete, who
had notice of them on Saturday, and were preparing to go meet
them; but their minds altered, and judged them merchant-men,
when the same day the Success, Captain Ball, made their whole
fleete, and come to Brighthelmstone, and thence at five o’clock af-
ternoon, Saturday, wrote Sir W. Coventry newes thereof; so that
we do much fear our missing them. Here come in and talked
with him Sir Thomas Clifford, who appears a very fine gentle-
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man, and much set by at Court for his activity in going to sea,
and stoutness everywhere, and stirring up and down. Thence
by coach over the ruines, down Fleete Streete and Cheapside to
Broad Streete to Sir G. Carteret, where Sir W. Batten (and Sir J.
Minnes, whom I had not seen a long time before, being his first
coming abroad) and Lord Bruncker passing his accounts. Thence
home a little to look after my people at work and back to Sir G.
Carteret’s to dinner; and thence, after some discourse; with him
upon our publique accounts, I back home, and all the day with
Harman and his people finishing the hangings and beds in my
house, and the hangings will be as good as ever, and particularly
in my new closet. They gone and I weary, my wife and I, and
Balty and his wife, who come hither to-day to helpe us, to a bar-
rel of oysters I sent from the river today, and so to bed.
18th. Strange with what freedom and quantity I pissed this
night, which I know not what to impute to but my oysters, unless
the coldness of the night should cause it, for it was a sad rainy
and tempestuous night. Soon as up I begun to have some pain
in my bladder and belly, as usual, which made me go to dinner
betimes, to fill my belly, and that did ease me, so as I did my
business in the afternoon, in forwarding the settling of my house,
very well. Betimes to bed, my wife also being all this day ill in the
same manner. Troubled at my wife’s haire coming off so much.
This day the Parliament met, and adjourned till Friday, when the
King will be with them.
19th. Up, and with Sir W. Pen by coach to St. James’s, and there
did our usual business before the Duke of Yorke; which signified
little, our business being only complaints of lack of money. Here I
saw a bastard of the late King of Sweden’s come to kiss his hands;
a mighty modish French-like gentleman. Thence to White Hall,
with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen, to Wilkes’s; and there did hear
the many profane stories of Sir Henry Wood damning the par-
sons for so much spending the wine at the sacrament, cursing
that ever they took the cup to themselves, and then another story
2026
SEPTEMBER 1666
that he valued not all the world’s curses, for two pence he shall
get at any time the prayers of some poor body that is worth a
1000 of all their curses; Lord Norwich drawing a tooth at a health.
Another time, he and Pinchbacke and Dr. Goffe, now a religious
man, Pinchbacke did begin a frolick to drink out of a glass with
a toad in it that he had taken up going out to shit, he did it with-
out harm. Goffe, who knew sacke would kill the toad, called for
sacke; and when he saw it dead, says he, “I will have a quick
toad, and will not drink from a dead toad.”570 By that means, no
other being to be found, he escaped the health. Thence home, and
dined, and to Deptford and got all my pictures put into wher-
ries, and my other fine things, and landed them all very well,
and brought them home, and got Sympson to set them all up to-
night; and he gone, I and the boy to finish and set up my books,
and everything else in my house, till two o’clock; in the morning,
and then to bed; but mightily troubled, and even in my sleep, at
my missing four or five of my biggest books. Speed’s Chronicle
and Maps, and the two parts of Waggoner, and a book of cards,
which I suppose I have put up with too much care, that I have
forgot where they are; for sure they are not stole. Two little pic-
tures of sea and ships and a little gilt frame belonging to my plate
of the River, I want; but my books do heartily trouble me. Most
of my gilt frames are hurt, which also troubles me, but most my
books. This day I put on two shirts, the first time this year, and
do grow well upon it; so that my disease is nothing but wind.
20th. Up, much troubled about my books, but cannot, imagine
where they should be. Up, to the setting my closet to rights, and
Sir W. Coventry takes me at it, which did not displease me. He
and I to discourse about our accounts, and the bringing them to
the Parliament, and with much content to see him rely so well
on my part. He and I together to Broad Streete to the Vice-
Chamberlain, and there discoursed a while and parted. My Lady
570 “They swallow their own contradictions as easily as a hector can drink
a frog in a glass of wine.”–Benlivoglio and Urania, book v., p. 92, 3rd edit.–B.
2027
SEPTEMBER 1666
Carteret come to town, but I did not see her. He tells me how the
fleete is come into the Downes. Nothing done, nor French fleete
seen: we drove all from our anchors. But he says newes is come
that De Ruyter is dead, or very near it, of a hurt in his mouth,
upon the discharge of one of his own guns; which put him into
a fever, and he likely to die, if not already dead. We parted, and
I home to dinner, and after dinner to the setting things in order,
and all my people busy about the same work. In the afternoon,
out by coach, my wife with me, which we have not done sev-
eral weeks now, through all the ruines, to shew her them, which
frets her much, and is a sad sight indeed. Set her down at her
brother’s, and thence I to Westminster Hall, and there staid a lit-
tle while, and called her home. She did give me an account of
great differences between her mother and Balty’s wife. The old
woman charges her with going abroad and staying out late, and
painting in the absence of her husband, and I know not what;
and they grow proud, both he and she, and do not help their fa-
ther and mother out of what I help them to, which I do not like,
nor my wife. So home, and to the office, to even my journall, and
then home, and very late up with Jane setting my books in perfect
order in my closet, but am mightily troubled for my great books
that I miss, and I am troubled the more for fear there should be
more missing than what I find, though by the room they take on
the shelves I do not find any reason to think it. So to bed.
21st. Up, and mightily pleased with the setting of my books the
last night in order, and that which did please me most of all is that
W. Hewer tells me that upon enquiry he do find that Sir W. Pen
hath a hamper more than his own, which he took for a hamper
of bottles of wine, and are books in it. I was impatient to see it,
but they were carried into a wine-cellar, and the boy is abroad
with him at the House, where the Parliament met to-day, and the
King to be with them. At noon after dinner I sent for Harry, and
he tells me it is so, and brought me by and by my hamper of
books to my great joy, with the same books I missed, and three
more great ones, and no more. I did give him 5s. for his pains,
2028
SEPTEMBER 1666
And so home with great joy, and to the setting of some off them
right, but could not finish it, but away by coach to the other end
of the town, leaving my wife at the ‘Change, but neither come
time enough to the Council to speak with the Duke of Yorke, nor
with Sir G. Carteret, and so called my wife, and paid for some
things she bought, and so home, and there after a little doing at
the office about our accounts, which now draw near the time they
should be ready, the House having ordered Sir G. Carteret, upon
his offering them, to bring them in on Saturday next, I home, and
there, with great pleasure, very late new setting all my books;
and now I am in as good condition as I desire to be in all worldly
respects. The Lord of Heaven make me thankfull, and continue
me therein! So to bed. This day I had new stairs of main timber
put t my cellar going into the yard.
22nd. To my closet, and had it new washed, and now my house
is so clean as I never saw it, or any other house in my life, and
every thing in as good condition as ever before the fire; but with, I
believe, about £20 cost one way or other besides about £20 charge
in removing my goods, and do not find that I have lost any thing
but two little pictures of ship and sea, and a little gold frame for
one of my sea-cards. My glazier, indeed, is so full of worke that
I cannot get him to come to perfect my house. To the office, and
there busy now for good and all about my accounts. My Lord
Brunck come thither, thinking to find an office, but we have not
yet met. He do now give me a watch, a plain one, in the roome
of my former watch with many motions which I did give him. If
it goes well, I care not for the difference in worth, though believe
there is above £5. He and I to Sir G. Carteret to discourse about
his account, but Mr. Waith not being there nothing could be done,
and therefore I home again, and busy all day. In the afternoon
comes Anthony Joyce to see me, and with tears told me his losse,
but yet that he had something left that he can live well upon, and
I doubt it not. But he would buy some place that he could have
and yet keepe his trade where he is settled in St. Jones’s. He gone,
I to the office again, and then to Sir G. Carteret, and there found
2029
SEPTEMBER 1666
Mr. Wayth, but, Lord! how fretfully Sir G. Carteret do discourse
with Mr. Wayth about his accounts, like a man that understands
them not one word. I held my tongue and let him go on like
a passionate foole. In the afternoon I paid for the two lighters
that carried my goods to Deptford, and they cost me £8. Till past
midnight at our accounts, and have brought them to a good issue,
so as to be ready to meet Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry to-
morrow, but must work to-morrow, which Mr. T. Hater had no
mind to, it being the Lord’s day, but, being told the necessity,
submitted, poor man! This night writ for brother John to come
to towne. Among other reasons, my estate lying in money, I am
afeard of any sudden miscarriage. So to bed mightily contented
in dispatching so much business, and find my house in the best
condition that ever I knew it. Home to bed.
23rd (Lord’s day). Up, and after being trimmed, all the morn-
ing at the office with my people about me till about one o’clock,
and then home, and my people with me, and Mr. Wayth and I
eat a bit of victuals in my old closet, now my little dining-room,
which makes a pretty room, and my house being so clean makes
me mightily pleased, but only I do lacke Mercer or somebody in
the house to sing with. Soon as eat a bit Mr. Wayth and I by wa-
ter to White Hall, and there at Sir G. Carteret’s lodgings Sir W.
Coventry met, and we did debate the whole business of our ac-
counts to the Parliament; where it appears to us that the charge
of the war from September 1st, 1664, to this Michaelmas, will
have been but £3,200,000, and we have paid in that time some-
what about £2,200,000; so that we owe above £900,000: but our
method of accounting, though it cannot, I believe, be far wide
from the mark, yet will not abide a strict examination if the Par-
liament should be troublesome. Here happened a pretty ques-
tion of Sir W. Coventry, whether this account of ours will not put
my Lord Treasurer to a difficulty to tell what is become of all the
money the Parliament have ‘give’ in this time for the war, which
hath amounted to about £4,000,000, which nobody there could
answer; but I perceive they did doubt what his answer could be.
2030
SEPTEMBER 1666
Having done, and taken from Sir W. Coventry the minutes of a
letter to my Lord Treasurer, Wayth and I back again to the office,
and thence back down to the water with my wife and landed him
in Southwarke, and my wife and I for pleasure to Fox-hall, and
there eat and drank, and so back home, and I to the office till mid-
night drawing the letter we are to send with our accounts to my
Lord Treasurer, and that being done to my mind, I home to bed.
24th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen to St. James’s,
and there with Sir W. Coventry read and all approved of my
letter, and then home, and after dinner, Mr. Hater and Gibson
dining with me, to the office, and there very late new moulding
my accounts and writing fair my letter, which I did against the
evening, and then by coach left my wife at her brother’s, and I
to St. James’s, and up and down to look [for] Sir W. Coventry;
and at last found him and Sir G. Carteret with the Lord Trea-
surer at White Hall, consulting how to make up my Lord Trea-
surer’s general account, as well as that of the Navy particularly.
Here brought the letter, but found that Sir G. Carteret had al-
tered his account since he did give me the abstract of it: so all
my letter must be writ over again, to put in his last abstract. So
to Sir G. Carteret’s lodgings, to speak a little about the alteration;
and there looking over the book that Sir G. Carteret intends to de-
liver to the Parliament of his payments since September 1st, 1664,
and there I find my name the very second for flags, which I had
bought for the Navy, of calico; once, about 500 and odd pounds,
which vexed me mightily. At last, I concluded of scraping out
my name and putting in Mr. Tooker’s, which eased me; though
the price was such as I should have had glory by. Here I saw my
Lady Carteret lately come to towne, who, good lady! is mighty
kind, and I must make much of her, for she is a most excellent
woman. So took up my wife and away home, and there to bed,
and
25th. Up betimes, with all my people to get the letter writ
over, and other things done, which I did, and by coach to Lord
2031
SEPTEMBER 1666
Bruncker’s, and got his hand to it; and then to the Parliament
House and got it signed by the rest, and then delivered it at the
House-door to Sir Philip Warwicke; Sir G. Carteret being gone
into the House with his book of accounts under his arme, to
present to the House. I had brought my wife to White Hall, and
leaving her with Mrs. Michell, where she sat in her shop and had
burnt wine sent for her, I walked in the Hall, and among others
with Ned Picketing, who continues still a lying, bragging cox-
combe, telling me that my Lord Sandwich may thank himself for
all his misfortune; for not suffering him and two or three good
honest fellows more to take them by the throats that spoke ill of
him, and told me how basely Lionell Walden hath carried him-
self towards my Lord; by speaking slightly of him, which I shall
remember. Thence took my wife home to dinner, and then to the
office, where Mr. Hater all the day putting in order and entering
in a book all the measures that this account of the Navy hath been
made up by, and late at night to Mrs. Turner’s, where she had got
my wife and Lady Pen and Pegg, and supped, and after, supper
and the rest of the company by design gone, Mrs. Turner and
her husband did lay their case to me about their lodgings, Sir J.
Minnes being now gone wholly to his owne, and now, they being
empty, they doubt Sir T. Harvy or Lord Bruncker may look after
the lodgings. I did give them the best advice, poor people, that
I could, and would do them any kindnesse, though it is strange
that now they should have ne’er a friend of Sir W. Batten or Sir
W. Pen to trust to but me, that they have disobliged. So home to
bed, and all night still mightily troubled in my sleepe, with fire
and houses pulling down.
26th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes to St. James’s, where every
body going to the House, I away by coach to White Hall, and
after a few turns, and hearing that our accounts come into the
House but to-day, being hindered yesterday by other business, I
away by coach home, taking up my wife and calling at Bennet’s,
our late mercer, who is come into Covent Garden to a fine house
looking down upon the Exchange; and I perceive many London-
2032
SEPTEMBER 1666
ers every day come; and Mr. Pierce hath let his wife’s closett,
and the little blind bed chamber, and a garret to a silke man for
£50 fine, and £30 per annum, and £40 per annum more for dieting
the master and two prentices. So home, not agreeing for silk for a
petticoat for her which she desired, but home to dinner and then
back to White Hall, leaving my wife by the way to buy her petti-
coat of Bennet, and I to White Hall waiting all day on the Duke of
Yorke to move the King for getting Lanyon some money at Ply-
mouth out of some oyle prizes brought in thither, but could get
nothing done, but here Mr. Dugdale I hear the great loss of books
in St. Paul’s Church-yarde, and at their Hall also, which they
value about £150,000; some booksellers being wholly undone,
among others, they say, my poor Kirton. And Mr. Crumlu all
his books and household stuff burned; they trusting St. Fayth’s,
and the roof of the church falling, broke the arch down into the
lower church, and so all the goods burned. A very great loss. His
father hath lost above £1000 in books; one book newly printed,
a Discourse, it seems, of Courts. Here I had the hap to see my
Lady Denham: and at night went into the dining-room and saw
several fine ladies; among others, Castlemayne, but chiefly Den-
ham again; and the Duke of Yorke taking her aside and talking to
her in the sight of all the world, all alone; which was strange, and
what also I did not like. Here I met with good Mr. Evelyn, who
cries out against it, and calls it bitchering,–[This word was ap-
parently of Evelyn’s own making.]–for the Duke of Yorke talks
a little to her, and then she goes away, and then he follows her
again like a dog. He observes that none of the nobility come out
of the country at all to help the King, or comfort him, or prevent
commotions at this fire; but do as if the King were nobody; nor
ne’er a priest comes to give the King and Court good council, or
to comfort the poor people that suffer; but all is dead, nothing
of good in any of their minds: he bemoans it, and says he fears
more ruin hangs over our heads. Thence away by coach, and
called away my wife at Unthanke’s, where she tells me she hath
bought a gowne of 15s. per yard; the same, before her face, my
2033
SEPTEMBER 1666
Lady Castlemayne this day bought also, which I seemed vexed
for, though I do not grudge it her, but to incline her to have Mer-
cer again, which I believe I shall do, but the girle, I hear, has no
mind to come to us again, which vexes me. Being come home, I
to Sir W. Batten, and there hear our business was tendered to the
House to-day, and a Committee of the whole House chosen to ex-
amine our accounts, and a great many Hotspurs enquiring into
it, and likely to give us much trouble and blame, and perhaps
(which I am afeard of) will find faults enow to demand better of-
ficers. This I truly fear. Away with Sir W. Pen, who was there,
and he and I walked in the garden by moonlight, and he pro-
poses his and my looking out into Scotland about timber, and to
use Pett there; for timber will be a good commodity this time of
building the City; and I like the motion, and doubt not that we
may do good in it. We did also discourse about our Privateer, and
hope well of that also, without much hazard, as, if God blesses
us, I hope we shall do pretty well toward getting a penny. I was
mightily pleased with our discourse, and so parted, and to the
office to finish my journall for three or four days, and so home to
supper, and to bed. Our fleete abroad, and the Dutch too, for all
we know; the weather very bad; and under the command of an
unlucky man, I fear. God bless him, and the fleete under him!
27th. A very furious blowing night all the night; and my mind
still mightily perplexed with dreams, and burning the rest of the
town, and waking in much pain for the fleete. Up, and with my
wife by coach as far as the Temple, and there she to the mercer’s
again, and I to look out Penny, my tailor, to speak for a cloak and
cassock for my brother, who is coming to town; and I will have
him in a canonical dress, that he may be the fitter to go abroad
with me. I then to the Exchequer, and there, among other things,
spoke to Mr. Falconbridge about his girle I heard sing at Non-
such, and took him and some other ‘Chequer men to the Sun
Taverne, and there spent 2s. 6d. upon them, and he sent for the
girle, and she hath a pretty way of singing, but hath almost forgot
for want of practice. She is poor in clothes, and not bred to any
2034
SEPTEMBER 1666
carriage, but will be soon taught all, and if Mercer do not come
again, I think we may have her upon better terms, and breed her
to what we please. Thence to Sir W. Coventry’s, and there dined
with him and Sir W. Batten, the Lieutenant of the Tower, and Mr.
Thin, a pretty gentleman, going to Gottenburgh. Having dined,
Sir W. Coventry, Sir W. Batten, and I walked into his closet to con-
sider of some things more to be done in a list to be given to the
Parliament of all our ships, and time of entry and discharge. Sir
W. Coventry seems to think they will soon be weary of the busi-
ness, and fall quietly into the giving the King what is fit. This he
hopes. Thence I by coach home to the office, and there intending
a meeting, but nobody being there but myself and Sir J. Minnes,
who is worse than nothing, I did not answer any body, but kept
to my business in the office till night, and then Sir W. Batten and
Sir W. Pen to me, and thence to Sir W. Batten’s, and eat a bar-
rel of oysters I did give them, and so home, and to bed. I have
this evening discoursed with W. Hewer about Mercer, I having a
mind to have her again; and I am vexed to hear him say that she
hath no mind to come again, though her mother hath. No newes
of the fleete yet, but that they went by Dover on the 25th towards
the Gunfleete, but whether the Dutch be yet abroad, or no, we
hear not. De Ruyter is not dead, but like to do well. Most think
that the gross of the French fleete are gone home again.
28th. Lay long in bed, and am come to agreement with my
wife to have Mercer again, on condition she may learn this winter
two months to dance, and she promises me she will endeavour
to learn to sing, and all this I am willing enough to. So up, and
by and by the glazier comes to finish the windows of my house,
which pleases me, and the bookbinder to gild the backs of my
books. I got the glass of my book-presses to be done presently,
which did mightily content me, and to setting my study in a little
better order; and so to my office to my people, busy about our
Parliament accounts; and so to dinner, and then at them again
close. At night comes Sir W. Pen, and he and I a turn in the gar-
den, and he broke to me a proposition of his and my joining in
2035
SEPTEMBER 1666
a design of fetching timber and deals from Scotland, by the help
of Mr. Pett upon the place; which, while London is building, will
yield good money. I approve it. We judged a third man, that is
knowing, is necessary, and concluded on Sir W. Warren, and sent
for him to come to us to-morrow morning. I full of this all night,
and the project of our man of war; but he and, I both dissatisfied
with Sir W. Batten’s proposing his son to be Lieutenant, which
we, neither of us, like. He gone, I discoursed with W. Hewer
about Mercer, having a great mind she should come to us again,
and instructed him what to say to her mother about it. And so
home, to supper, and to bed.
29th. A little meeting at the office by Sir W. Batten, Sir W. Pen,
and myself, being the first since the fire. We rose soon, and comes
Sir W. Warren, by our desire, and with Sir W. Pen and I talked of
our Scotch motion, which Sir W. Warren did seem to be stum-
bled at, and did give no ready answer, but proposed some thing
previous to it, which he knows would find us work, or writing
to Mr. Pett to be informed how matters go there as to cost and
ways of providing sawyers or saw-mills. We were parted with-
out coming to any good resolution in it, I discerning plainly that
Sir W. Warren had no mind to it, but that he was surprised at
our motion. He gone, I to some office business, and then home
to dinner, and then to office again, and then got done by night
the lists that are to be presented to the Parliament Committee
of the ships, number of men, and time employed since the war,
and then I with it (leaving my wife at Unthanke’s) to St. James’s,
where Sir W. Coventry staid for me, and I perused our lists, and
find to our great joy that wages, victuals, wear and tear, cast by
the medium of the men, will come to above 3,000,000; and that
the extraordinaries, which all the world will allow us, will arise
to more than will justify the expence we have declared to have
been at since the war, viz., £320,000, he and I being both mightily
satisfied, he saying to me, that if God send us over this rub we
must take another course for a better Comptroller. So parted, and
I to my wife [at Unthanke’s], who staid for the finishing her new
2036
SEPTEMBER 1666
best gowne (the best that ever I made her coloured tabby, flow-
ered, and so took it and her home; and then I to my people, and
having cut them out a little more work than they expected, viz.,
the writing over the lists in new method, I home to bed, being in
good humour, and glad of the end we have brought this matter
to.
30th (Lord’s day). Up, and to church, where I have not been
a good while: and there the church infinitely thronged with
strangers since the fire come into our parish; but not one hand-
some face in all of them, as if, indeed, there was a curse, as Bishop
Fuller heretofore said, upon our parish. Here I saw Mercer come
into the church, which I had a mind to, but she avoided look-
ing up, which vexed me. A pretty good sermon, and then home,
and comes Balty and dined with us. A good dinner; and then to
have my haire cut against winter close to my head, and then to
church again. A sorry sermon, and away home. [Sir] W. Pen and
I to walk to talk about several businesses, and then home; and
my wife and I to read in Fuller’s Church History, and so to sup-
per and to bed. This month ends with my mind full of business
and concernment how this office will speed with the Parliament,
which begins to be mighty severe in the examining our accounts,
and the expence of the Navy this war.
2037
OCTOBER 1666
October 1st, 1666. Up, and all the morning at the office, getting
the list of all the ships and vessels employed since the war, for the
Committee of Parliament. At noon with it to Sir W. Coventry’s
chamber, and there dined with him and [Sir] W. Batten, and [Sir]
W. Pen, and after dinner examined it and find it will do us much
right in the number of men rising to near the expense we deliv-
ered to the Parliament. [Sir] W. Coventry and I (the others going
before the Committee) to Lord Bruncker’s for his hand, and find
him simply mighty busy in a council of the Queen’s. He come
out and took in the papers to sign, and sent them mighty wisely
out again. Sir W. Coventry away to the Committee, and I to the
Mercer’s, and there took a bill of what I owe of late, which comes
to about £17. Thence to White Hall, and there did hear Betty
Michell was at this end of the towne, and so without breach of
vowe did stay to endeavour to meet with her and carry her home;
but she did not come, so I lost my whole afternoon. But pretty!
how I took another pretty woman for her, taking her a clap on
the breech, thinking verily it had been her. Staid till [Sir] W. Bat-
ten and [Sir] W. Pen come out, and so away home by water with
them, and to the office to do some business, and then home, and
my wife do tell me that W. Hewer tells her that Mercer hath no
mind to come. So I was angry at it, and resolved with her to have
2038
OCTOBER 1666
Falconbridge’s girle, and I think it will be better for us, and will
please me better with singing. With this resolution, to supper
and to bed.
2nd. Up, and am sent for to Sir G. Carteret, and to him, and
there he tells me how our lists are referred to a Sub-committee
to consider and examine, and that I am ordered to be there this
afternoon. So I away thence to my new bookbinder to see my
books gilding in the backs, and then to White Hall to the House,
and spoke to Sir W. Coventry, where he told me I must attend
the Committee in the afternoon, and received some hints of more
work to do. So I away to the ‘Chequer, and thence to an alehouse,
and found Mr. Falconbridge, and agreed for his kinswoman to
come to me. He says she can dress my wife, and will do any-
thing we would have her to do, and is of a good spirit and mighty
cheerful. He is much pleased therewith, and so we shall be. So
agreed for her coming the next week. So away home, and eat a
short dinner, and then with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, and do give
his boy my book of papers to hold while he went into the Com-
mittee Chamber in the Inner Court of Wards, and I walked with-
out with Mr. Slingsby, of the Tower, who was there, and who did
in walking inform me mightily in several things; among others,
that the heightening or lowering of money is only a cheat, and do
good to some particular men, which, if I can but remember how,
I am now by him fully convinced of. Anon Sir W. Pen went away,
telling me that Sir W. Coventry that was within had told him that
the fleete is all come into the buoy of the Nore, and that he must
hasten down to them, and so went away, and I into the Com-
mittee Chamber before the Committee sat, and there heard Birch
discourse highly and understandingly about the Navy business
and a proposal made heretofore to farm the Navy; but Sir W.
Coventry did abundantly answer him, and is a most excellent
person. By and by the Committee met, and I walked out, and
anon they rose and called me in, and appointed me to attend a
Committee of them to-morrow at the office to examine our lists.
This put me into a mighty fear and trouble; they doing it in a
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very ill humour, methought. So I away and called on my Lord
Bruncker to desire him to be there to-morrow, and so home, hav-
ing taken up my wife at Unthanke’s, full of trouble in mind to
think what I shall be obliged to answer, that am neither fully fit,
nor in any measure concerned to take the shame and trouble of
this office upon me, but only from the inability and folly of the
Comptroller that occasions it. When come home I to Sir W. Pen’s,
to his boy, for my book, and there find he hath it not, but deliv-
ered it to the doorekeeper of the Committee for me. This, added
to my former disquiet, made me stark mad, considering all the
nakedness of the office lay open in papers within those covers. I
could not tell in the world what to do, but was mad on all sides,
and that which made me worse Captain Cocke was there, and he
did so swear and curse at the boy that told me. So Cocke, Griffin,
and the boy with me, they to find the housekeeper of the Parlia-
ment, Hughes, while I to Sir W. Coventry, but could hear nothing
of it there. But coming to our rendezvous at the Swan Taverne,
in Ding Streete, I find they have found the housekeeper, and the
book simply locked up in the Court. So I staid and drank, and
rewarded the doore-keeper, and away home, my heart lighter by
all this, but to bed very sad notwithstanding, in fear of what will
happen to-morrow upon their coming.
3rd. Waked betimes, mightily troubled in mind, and in the
most true trouble that I ever was in my life, saving in the busi-
ness last year of the East India prizes. So up, and with Mr. Hater
and W. Hewer and Griffin to consider of our business, and books
and papers necessary for this examination; and by and by, by
eight o’clock, comes Birch, the first, with the lists and books of
accounts delivered in. He calls me to work, and there he and I
begun, when, by and by, comes Garraway,571 the first time I ever
571 William Garway, elected M.P. for Chichester, March 26th, 1661, and in
1674 he was appointed by the House to confer with Lord Shaftesbury re-
specting the charge against Pepys being popishly affected. See note to the
Life, vol. i., p, xxxii, and for his character, October 6th, 1666
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saw him, and Sir W. Thompson and Mr. Boscawen. They to it,
and I did make shift to answer them better than I expected. Sir W.
Batten, Lord Bruncker, [Sir] W. Pen, come in, but presently went
out; and [Sir] J. Minnes come in, and said two or three words
from the purpose, but to do hurt; and so away he went also, and
left me all the morning with them alone to stand or fall. At noon
Sir W. Batten comes to them to invite them (though fast day) to
dinner, which they did, and good company they were, but espe-
cially Garraway. Here I have news brought me of my father’s
coming to town, and I presently to him, glad to see him, poor
man, he being come to town unexpectedly to see us and the city. I
could not stay with him, but after dinner to work again, only the
Committee and I, till dark night, and by that time they cast up
all the lists, and found out what the medium of men was borne
all the war, of all sorts, and ended with good peace, and much
seeming satisfaction; but I find them wise and reserved, and in-
structed to hit all our blots, as among others, that we reckon the
ships full manned from the beginning. They gone, and my heart
eased of a great deale of fear and pain, and reckoning myself to
come off with victory, because not overcome in anything or much
foiled, I away to Sir W. Coventry’s chamber, but he not within,
then to White Hall, and there among the ladies, and saw my Lady
Castlemaine never looked so ill, nor Mrs. Stewart neither, as in
this plain, natural dress. I was not pleased with either of them.
Away, not finding [Sir] W. Coventry, and so home, and there find
my father and my brother come to towne–my father without my
expectation; but glad I am to see him. And so to supper with him,
and to work again at the office; then home, to set up all my folio
books, which are come home gilt on the backs, very handsome
to the eye, and then at midnight to bed. This night [Sir] W. Pen
told me [Sir] W. Batten swears he will have nothing to do with
the Privateer if his son do not go Lieutenant, which angers me
and him; but we will be even with him, one way or other.
4th. Up, and mighty betimes, to [Sir] W. Coventry, to give him
an account of yesterday’s work, which do give him good content.
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He did then tell me his speech lately to the House in his owne
vindication about the report of his selling of places, he having a
small occasion offered him by chance, which he did desire, and
took, and did it to his content, and, he says, to the House’s seem-
ing to approve of it by their hum. He confessed how long he had
done it, and how he desired to have something else; and, since
then, he had taken nothing, and challenged all the world. I was
glad of this also. Thence up to the Duke of York, by appointment,
with fellow officers, to complaine, but to no purpose, of want of
money, and so away. I to Sir G. Carteret, to his lodging, and here
discoursed much of the want of money and our being designed
for destruction. How the King hath lost his power, by submitting
himself to this way of examining his accounts, and is become but
as a private man. He says the King is troubled at it, but they
talk an entry shall be made, that it is not to be brought into ex-
ample; that the King must, if they do not agree presently, make
them a courageous speech, which he says he may do, the City of
London being now burned, and himself master of an army, better
than any prince before him, and so I believe. Thence home, about
noon, to dinner. After dinner the book binder come, and I sent
by him some more books to gild. I to the office all day, and spent
most of it with Sir W. Warren, whom I have had no discourse
with a great while, and when all is done I do find him a mighty
wise man as any I know, and his counsel as much to be followed.
Late with Mr. Hater upon comparing the charge and husbandry
of the last Dutch war with ours now, and do find good roome to
think we have done little worse than they, whereof good use may
and will be made. So home to supper, and to bed.
5th. Up, and with my father talking awhile, then to the of-
fice, and there troubled with a message from Lord Peterborough
about money; but I did give as kind answer as I could, though
I hate him. Then to Sir G. Carteret to discourse about paying
of part of the great ships come in, and so home again to com-
pare the comparison of the two Dutch wars’ charges for [Sir] W.
Coventry, and then by water (and saw old Mr. Michell digging
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like a painfull father for his son) to him, and find him at din-
ner. After dinner to look over my papers, and comparing them
with some notes of his and brought me, the sight of some good
Navy notes of his which I shall get. Then examined and liked
well my notes, and away together to White Hall, in the way dis-
coursing the inconvenience of the King’s being thus subject to an
account, but it will be remedied for the time to come, he thinks,
if we can get this over, and I find he will have the Comptroller’s
business better done, swearing he will never be for a wit to be
employed on business again. Thence I home, and back again
to White Hall, and meeting Sir H. Cholmly to White Hall; there
walked till night that the Committee come down, and there Sir
W. Coventry tells me that the Subcommittee have made their re-
port to the Grand Committee, and in pretty kind terms, and have
agreed upon allowing us £4 per head, which I am sure will do
the business, but he had endeavoured to have got more, but this
do well, and he and I are both mighty glad it is come to this,
and the heat of the present business seems almost over. But I
have more worke cut out for me, to prepare a list of the extraor-
dinaries, not to be included within the £4, against Monday. So I
away from him, and met with the Vice-Chamberlain, and I told
him when I had this evening in coming hither met with Captain
Cocke, and he told me of a wild motion made in the House of
Lords by the Duke of Buckingham for all men that had cheated
the King to be declared traitors and felons, and that my Lord
Sandwich was named. This put me into a great pain, so the Vice-
Chamberlain, who had heard nothing of it, having been all day in
the City, away with me to White Hall; and there come to me and
told me that, upon Lord Ashly’s asking their direction whether,
being a peere, he should bring in his accounts to the Commons,
which they did give way to, the Duke of Buckingham did move
that, for the time to come, what I have written above might be de-
clared by some fuller law than heretofore. Lord Ashly answered,
that it was not the fault of the present laws, but want of proof;
and so said the Lord Chancellor. He answered, that a better law,
2043
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he thought, might be made so the House laughing, did refer it
to him to bring in a Bill to that purpose, and this was all. So I
away with joyful heart home, calling on Cocke and telling him
the same. So I away home to the office to clear my Journall for
five days, and so home to supper and to bed, my father who
had staid out late and troubled me thereat being come home well
and gone to bed, which pleases me also. This day, coming home,
Mr. Kirton’s kinsman, my bookseller, come in my way; and so
I am told by him that Mr. Kirton is utterly undone, and made
2 or £3000 worse than nothing, from being worth 7 or £8,000.
That the goods laid in the Churchyarde fired through the win-
dows those in St. Fayth’s church; and those coming to the ware-
houses’ doors fired them, and burned all the books and the pil-
lars of the church, so as the roof falling down, broke quite down,
which it did not do in the other places of the church, which is
alike pillared (which I knew not before); but being not burned,
they stand still. He do believe there is above; £50,000 of books
burned; all the great booksellers almost undone: not only these,
but their warehouses at their Hall, and under Christchurch, and
elsewhere being all burned. A great want thereof there will be
of books, specially Latin books and foreign books; and, among
others, the Polyglottes and new Bible, which he believes will be
presently worth £40 a-piece.
6th. Up, and having seen my brother in his cassocke, which
I am not the most satisfied in, being doubtfull at this time what
course to have him profess too soon. To the office and there busy
about a list of the extraordinaries of the charge of the fleete this
war; and was led to go to the office of the ordnance to be satisfied
in something, and find their accounts and books kept in mighty
good order, but that they can give no light, nor will the nature
of their affairs permit it to tell what the charge of the ordnance
comes to a man a month. So home again and to dinner, there
coming Creed to me; but what with business and my hatred to
the man, I did not spend any time with him, but after dinner
[my] wife and he and I took coach and to Westminster, but he
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‘light about Paul’s, and set her at her tailor’s, and myself to St.
James’s, but there missing [Sir] W. Coventry, returned and took
up my wife, and calling at the Exchange home, whither Sir H.
Cholmly come to visit me, but my business suffered me not to
stay with him. So he gone I by water to Westminster Hall and
thence to St. James’s, and there found [Sir] W. Coventry waiting
for me, and I did give him a good account to his mind of the
business he expected about extraordinaries and then fell to other
talke, among others, our sad condition contracted by want of a
Comptroller;572 and it was his words, that he believes, besides all
the shame and trouble he hath brought on the office, the King
had better have given £100,000 than ever have had him there. He
did discourse about some of these discontented Parliament-men,
and says that Birch is a false rogue, but that Garraway is a man
that hath not been well used by the Court, though very stout to
death, and hath suffered all that is possible for the King from the
beginning. But discontented as he is, yet he never knew a Session
of Parliament but he hath done some good deed for the King
before it rose. I told him the passage Cocke told me of his having
begged a brace of bucks of the Lord Arlington for him, and when
it come to him, he sent it back again. Sir W. Coventry told me, it is
much to be pitied that the King should lose the service of a man
so able and faithfull; and that he ought to be brought over, but
that it is always observed, that by bringing over one discontented
man, you raise up three in his room; which is a State lesson I
never knew before. But when others discover your fear, and that
discontent procures favour, they will be discontented too, and
impose on you. Thence to White Hall and got a coach and home,
and there did business late, and so home and set up my little
books of one of my presses come home gilt, which pleases me
mightily, and then to bed. This morning my wife told me of a fine
gentlewoman my Lady Pen tells her of, for £20 per annum, that
572 As Sir John Minnes performed the duties inefficiently, it was considered
necessary to take the office from him: See January 21st.
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sings, dances, plays on four or five instruments and many other
fine things, which pleases me mightily: and she sent to have her
see her, which she did this afternoon; but sings basely, and is a
tawdry wench that would take £8, but [neither] my wife nor I
think her fit to come.
7th (Lord’s day). Up, and after visiting my father in his cham-
ber, to church, and then home to dinner. Little Michell and his
wife come to dine with us, which they did, and then presently
after dinner I with Sir J. Minnes to White Hall, where met by Sir
W. Batten and Lord Bruncker, to attend the King and Duke of
York at the Cabinet; but nobody had determined what to speak
of, but only in general to ask for money. So I was forced immedi-
ately to prepare in my mind a method of discoursing. And anon
we were called in to the Green Room, where the King, Duke of
York, Prince Rupert, Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, Duke of
Albemarle, [Sirs] G. Carteret, W. Coventry, Morrice. Nobody be-
ginning, I did, and made a current, and I thought a good speech,
laying open the ill state of the Navy: by the greatness of the debt;
greatness of work to do against next yeare; the time and mate-
rials it would take; and our incapacity, through a total want of
money. I had no sooner done, but Prince Rupert rose up and
told the King in a heat, that whatever the gentleman had said, he
had brought home his fleete in as good a condition as ever any
fleete was brought home; that twenty boats would be as many
as the fleete would want: and all the anchors and cables left in
the storm might be taken up again. This arose from my saying,
among other things we had to do, that the fleete was come in–
the greatest fleete that ever his Majesty had yet together, and that
in as bad condition as the enemy or weather could put it; and
to use Sir W. Pen’s words, who is upon the place taking a sur-
vey, he dreads the reports he is to receive from the Surveyors
of its defects. I therefore did only answer, that I was sorry for
his Highness’s offence, but that what I said was but the report
we received from those entrusted in the fleete to inform us. He
muttered and repeated what he had said; and so, after a long
2046
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silence on all hands, nobody, not so much as the Duke of Albe-
marle, seconding the Prince, nor taking notice of what he said,
we withdrew. I was not a little troubled at this passage, and the
more when speaking with Jacke Fenn about it, he told me that
the Prince will be asking now who this Pepys is, and find him
to be a creature of my Lord Sandwich’s, and therefore this was
done only to disparage him. Anon they broke, up, and Sir W.
Coventry come out; so I asked his advice. He told me he had
said something to salve it, which was, that his Highnesse had,
he believed, rightly informed the King that the fleete is come in
good condition to have staid out yet longer, and have fought the
enemy, but yet that Mr. Pepys his meaning might be, that, though
in so good condition, if they should come in and lie all the winter,
we shall be very loth to send them to sea for another year’s ser-
vice with[out] great repairs. He said it would be no hurt if I went
to him, and showed him the report himself brought up from the
fleete, where every ship, by the Commander’s report, do need
more or less, and not to mention more of Sir W. Pen for doing
him a mischief. So I said I would, but do not think that all this
will redound to my hurt, because the truth of what I said will
soon appear. Thence, having been informed that, after all this
pains, the King hath found out how to supply us with 5 or £6000,
when £100,000 were at this time but absolutely necessary, and we
mentioned £50,000. This is every day a greater and greater omen
of ruine. God fit us for it! Sir J. Minnes and I home (it raining) by
coach, calling only on Sir G. Cartefet at his lodging (who is I find
troubled at my Lord Treasurer and Sir Ph. Warwicke bungling
in his accounts), and come home to supper with my father, and
then all to bed. I made my brother in his cassocke to say grace
this day, but I like his voice so ill that I begin to be sorry he hath
taken this order upon him.
8th. Up and to my office, called up by Commissioner Middle-
ton, newly come to town, but staid not with me; so I to my office
busy all the morning. Towards noon, by water to Westminster
Hall, and there by several hear that the Parliament do resolve to
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do something to retrench Sir G. Carteret’s great salary; but cannot
hear of any thing bad they can lay to his charge. The House did
this day order to be engrossed the Bill against importing Irish cat-
tle; a thing, it seems, carried on by the Western Parliament-men,
wholly against the sense of most of the rest of the House; who
think if you do this, you give the Irish again cause to rebel. Thus
plenty on both sides makes us mad. The Committee of the Ca-
nary Company of both factions come to me for my Cozen Roger
that is of the Committee. Thence with [Sir] W. Coventry when the
House rose and [Sir] W. Batten to St. James’s, and there agreed of
and signed our paper of extraordinaries, and there left them, and
I to Unthanke’s, where Mr. Falconbridge’s girle is, and by and
by comes my wife, who likes her well, though I confess I cannot
(though she be of my finding out and sings pretty well), because
she will be raised from so mean a condition to so high all of a
sudden; but she will be much to our profit, more than Mercer,
less expense. Here we bespoke anew gowne for her, and to come
to us on Friday. She being gone, my wife and I home by coach,
and then I presently by water with Mr. Pierce to Westminster
Hall, he in the way telling me how the Duke of York and Duke
of Albemarle do not agree. The Duke of York is wholly given
up to this bitch of Denham. The Duke of Albemarle and Prince
Rupert do less agree. So that we are all in pieces, and nobody
knows what will be done the next year. The King hath yesterday
in Council declared his resolution of setting a fashion for clothes,
which he will never alter.573 It will be a vest, I know not well how;
but it is to teach the nobility thrift, and will do good. By and by
comes down from the Committee [Sir] W. Coventry, and I find
him troubled at several things happened this afternoon, which
vexes me also; our business looking worse and worse, and our
573 There are several references to this new fashion of dress introduced by
the king, Pepys saw the Duke of York put on the vest on the 13th, and he says
Charles II. himself put it on on the 15th. On November 4th Pepys dressed
himself in the new vest and coat. See notes, October 15th and November
22nd.
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worke growing on our hands. Time spending, and no money to
set anything in hand with; the end thereof must be speedy ru-
ine. The Dutch insult and have taken off Bruant’s head,574 which
they have not dared to do (though found guilty of the fault he
did die for, of something of the Prince of Orange’s faction) till
just now, which speaks more confidence in our being worse than
before. Alderman Maynell, I hear, is dead. Thence returned in
the darke by coach all alone, full of thoughts of the consequences
of this ill complexion of affairs, and how to save myself and the
little I have, which if I can do, I have cause to bless God that I am
so well, and shall be well contented to retreat to Brampton, and
spend the rest of my days there. So to my office, and did some
business, and finished my Journall with resolutions, if God bless
me, to apply myself soberly to settle all matters for myself, and
expect the event of all with comfort. So home to supper and to
bed.
9th. Up and to the office, where we sat the first day since the
fire, I think. At noon home, and my uncle Thomas was there,
and dined with my brother and I (my father and I were gone
abroad), and then to the office again in the afternoon, and there
close all day long, and did much business. At night to Sir W.
Batten, where Sir R. Ford did occasion some discourse of send-
ing a convoy to the Maderas; and this did put us upon some
new thoughts of sending our privateer thither on merchants’ ac-
counts, which I have more mind to, the profit being certain and
occasion honest withall. So home, and to supper with my fa-
ther, and then to set my remainder of my books gilt in order with
much pleasure, and so late to bed.
574 Captain Du Buat, a Frenchman in the Dutch service, plotted with two
magistrates of Rotterdam to obtain a peace with England as the readiest
means of pressing the elevation of the Prince of Orange to the office of
Captain-General. He was brought before the Supreme Court of Holland,
condemned, and executed. He had been one of the household of the Prince
of Orange who were dismissed by De Witt.
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10th (Fast-day for the fire). Up with Sir W. Batten by water to
White Hall, and anon had a meeting before the Duke of York,
where pretty to see how Sir W. Batten, that carried the surveys of
all the fleete with him, to shew their ill condition to the Duke of
York, when he found the Prince there, did not speak one word,
though the meeting was of his asking–for nothing else. And
when I asked him, he told me he knew the Prince too well to
anger him, so that he was afeard to do it. Thence with him to
Westminster, to the parish church, where the Parliament-men,
and Stillingfleete in the pulpit. So full, no standing there; so he
and I to eat herrings at the Dog Taverne. And then to church
again, and there was Mr. Frampton in the pulpit, they cry up so
much, a young man, and of a mighty ready tongue. I heard a
little of his sermon, and liked it; but the crowd so great, I could
not stay. So to the Swan, and ‘baise la fille’, and drank, and then
home by coach, and took father, wife, brother, and W. Hewer to
Islington, where I find mine host dead. Here eat and drank, and
merry; and so home, and to the office a while, and then to Sir
W. Batten to talk a while, and with Captain Cocke into the of-
fice to hear his newes, who is mighty conversant with Garraway
and those people, who tells me what they object as to the malad-
ministration of things as to money. But that they mean well, and
will do well; but their reckonings are very good, and show great
faults, as I will insert here. They say the king hath had towards
this war expressly thus much Royal Ayde....................................
£2,450,000 More.......................................... 1,250,000 Three months’
tax given the King by a power of raising a month’s tax of £70,000
every year for three years..................... 0,210,000 Customes, out of
which the King did promise to pay £240,000, which for two years
comes to.................................. 0,480,000 Prizes, which they mod-
erately reckon at........ 0,300,000 A debt declared by the Navy, by
us............. 0,900,000 ———- 5,590,000 The whole charge of the
Navy, as we state it for two years and a month, hath been but..
3,200,000 So what is become of all this sum?........ 2,390,000
He and I did bemoan our public condition. He tells me the
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Duke of Albemarle is under a cloud, and they have a mind at
Court to lay him aside. This I know not; but all things are not
right with him, and I am glad of it, but sorry for the time. So
home to supper, and to bed, it being my wedding night,575 but
how many years I cannot tell; but my wife says ten.
11th. Up, and discoursed with my father of my sending some
money for safety into the country, for I am in pain what to do
with what I have. I did give him money, poor man, and he over-
joyed. So left him, and to the office, where nothing but sad ev-
idences of ruine coming on us for want of money. So home to
dinner, which was a very good dinner, my father, brother, wife
and I, and then to the office again, where I was all the afternoon
till very late, busy, and then home to supper and to bed. Mem-
orandum. I had taken my Journall during the fire and the disor-
ders following in loose papers until this very day, and could not
get time to enter them in my book till January 18, in the morning,
having made my eyes sore by frequent attempts this winter to do
it. But now it is done, for which I thank God, and pray never the
like occasion may happen.
12th. Up, and after taking leave of my poor father, who is
setting out this day for Brampton by the Cambridge coach, he
having taken a journey to see the city burned, and to bring my
brother to towne, I out by water; and so coach to St. James’s,
the weather being foul; and there, from Sir W. Coventry, do hear
how the House have cut us off £150,000 of our wear and tear, for
that which was saved by the King while the fleete lay in harbour
in winter. However, he seems pleased, and so am I, that they
have abated no more, and do intend to allow of 28,000 men for
575 See Life, vol. i., p. xxi., where the register of St. Margaret’s parish,
Westminster, is quoted to the effect that Pepys was married December 1st,
1655. It seems incomprehensible that both husband and wife should have
been wrong as to the date of their wedding day, but Mrs. Pepys was un-
questionably wrong as to the number of years, for they had been married
nearly eleven.
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the next year; and this day have appointed to declare the sum
they will give the King,576 and to propose the way of raising it; so
that this is likely to be the great day. This done in his chamber,
I with him to Westminster Hall, and there took a few turns, the
Hall mighty full of people, and the House likely to be very full
to-day about the money business. Here I met with several peo-
ple, and do find that people have a mighty mind to have a fling
at the Vice-Chamberlain, if they could lay hold of anything, his
place being, indeed, too much for such, they think, or any single
subject of no greater parts and quality than he, to enjoy. But I
hope he may weather all, though it will not be by any dexterity
of his, I dare say, if he do stand, but by his fate only, and people’s
being taken off by other things. Thence home by coach, mighty
dirty weather, and then to the Treasurer’s office and got a ticket
paid for my little Michell, and so again by coach to Westminster,
and come presently after the House rose. So to the Swan, and
there sent for a piece of meat and dined alone and played with
Sarah, and so to the Hall a while, and thence to Mrs. Martin’s
lodging and did what I would with her. She is very big, and re-
solves I must be godfather. Thence away by water with Cropp
to Deptford. It was almost night before I got thither. So I did
only give directions concerning a press that I have making there
to hold my turning and joyner’s tooles that were lately given me,
which will be very handsome, and so away back again, it being
now dark, and so home, and there find my wife come home, and
hath brought her new girle I have helped her to, of Mr. Falcon-
bridge’s. She is wretched poor; and but ordinary favoured; and
we fain to lay out seven or eight pounds worth of clothes upon
her back, which, methinks, do go against my heart; and I do not
think I can ever esteem her as I could have done another that had
come fine and handsome; and which is more, her voice, for want
of use, is so furred, that it do not at present please me; but her
576 The parliament voted this day a supply of £1,800,000 sterling. See be-
low.
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manner of singing is such, that I shall, I think, take great pleasure
in it. Well, she is come, and I wish us good fortune in her. Here I
met with notice of a meeting of the Commissioners for Tangier to-
morrow, and so I must have my accounts ready for them, which
caused me to confine myself to my chamber presently and set
to the making up my accounts, which I find very clear, but with
much difficulty by reason of my not doing them sooner, things
being out of my mind.
13th. It cost me till four o’clock in the morning, and, which was
pretty to think, I was above an hour, after I had made all right, in
casting up of about twenty sums, being dozed with much work,
and had for forty times together forgot to carry the 60 which I had
in my mind, in one denomination which exceeded 60; and this
did confound me for above an hour together. At last all even and
done, and so to bed. Up at seven, and so to the office, after look-
ing over my last night’s work. We sat all the morning. At noon
by coach with my Lord Bruncker and ‘light at the Temple, and so
alone I to dinner at a cooke’s, and thence to my Lord Bellasses,
whom I find kind; but he had drawn some new proposal to de-
liver to the Lords Commissioners to-day, wherein one was, that
the garrison would not be well paid without some goldsmith’s
undertaking the paying of the bills of exchange for Tallys. He
professing so much kindness to me, and saying that he would not
be concerned in the garrison without me; and that if he continued
in the employment, no man should have to do with the money
but myself. I did ask his Lordship’s meaning of the proposition
in his paper. He told me he had not much considered it, but that
he meant no harm to me. I told him I thought it would render
me useless; whereupon he did very frankly, after my seeming
denials for a good while, cause it to be writ over again, and that
clause left out, which did satisfy me abundantly. It being done,
he and I together to White Hall, and there the Duke of York (who
is gone over to all his pleasures again, and leaves off care of busi-
ness, what with his woman, my Lady Denham, and his hunting
three times a week) was just come in from hunting. So I stood and
2053
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saw him dress himself, and try on his vest, which is the King’s
new fashion, and will be in it for good and all on Monday next,
and the whole Court: it is a fashion, the King says; he will never
change. He being ready, he and my Lord Chancellor, and Duke
of Albemarle, and Prince Rupert, Lord Bellasses, Sir H. Cholmly,
Povy, and myself, met at a Committee for Tangier. My Lord Bel-
lasses’s propositions were read and discoursed of, about reduc-
ing the garrison to less charge; and indeed I am mad in love with
my Lord Chancellor, for he do comprehend and speak out well,
and with the greatest easinesse and authority that ever I saw man
in my life. I did never observe how much easier a man do speak
when he knows all the company to be below him, than in him;
for though he spoke, indeed, excellent welt, yet his manner and
freedom of doing it, as if he played with it, and was informing
only all the rest of the company, was mighty pretty. He did call
again and again upon Mr. Povy for his accounts. I did think fit
to make the solemn tender of my accounts that I intended. I said
something that was liked, touching the want of money, and the
bad credit of our tallys. My Lord Chancellor moved, that without
any trouble to any of the rest of the Lords, I might alone attend
the King, when he was with his private Council; and open the
state of the garrison’s want of credit; and all that could be done,
should. Most things moved were referred to Committees, and so
we broke up. And at the end Sir W. Coventry come; so I away
with him, and he discoursed with me something of the Parlia-
ment’s business. They have voted giving the [King] for next year
£1,800,000; which, were it not for his debts, were a great sum. He
says, he thinks the House may say no more to us for the present,
but that we must mend our manners against the next tryall, and
mend them we will. But he thinks it not a fit time to be found
making of trouble among ourselves, meaning about Sir J. Minnes,
who most certainly must be removed, or made a Commissioner,
and somebody else Comptroller. But he tells me that the House
has a great envy at Sir G. Carteret, and that had he ever thought
fit in all his discourse to have touched upon the point of our want
2054
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of money and badness of payment, it would have been laid hold
on to Sir G. Carteret’s hurt; but he hath avoided it, though with-
out much reason for it, most studiously, and in short did end
thus, that he has never shewn so much of the pigeon in all his life
as in his innocence to Sir G. Carteret at this time; which I believe,
and will desire Sir G. Carteret to thank him for it. So we broke
up and I by coach home, calling for a new pair of shoes, and so,
little being to do at the office, did go home, and after spending a
little in righting some of my books, which stood out of order, I to
bed.
14th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, among other things, talking
of my wife’s renewing her acquaintance with Mrs. Pierce, which,
by my wife’s ill using her when she was here last, hath been in-
terrupted. Herein we were a little angry together, but presently
friends again; and so up, and I to church, which was mighty full,
and my beauties, Mrs. Lethulier and fair Batelier, both there. A
very foul morning, and rained; and sent for my cloake to go out
of the church with. So dined, and after dinner (a good discourse
thereat to my brother) he and I by water to White Hall, and he to
Westminster Abbey. Here I met with Sir Stephen Fox, who told
me how much right I had done myself, and how well it is rep-
resented by the Committee to the House, my readinesse to give
them satisfaction in everything when they were at the office. I
was glad of this. He did further discourse of Sir W. Coventry’s,
great abilities, and how necessary it were that I were of the House
to assist him. I did not owne it, but do myself think it were not
unnecessary if either he should die, or be removed to the Lords,
or any thing to hinder his doing the like service the next trial,
which makes me think that it were not a thing very unfit; but I
will not move in it. He and I parted, I to Mrs. Martin’s, think-
ing to have met Mrs. Burrows, but she was not there, so away
and took my brother out of the Abbey and home, and there to set
some accounts right, and to the office to even my Journall, and
so home to supper and to bed.
2055
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15th. Called up, though a very rainy morning, by Sir H.
Cholmley, and he and I most of the morning together evening
of accounts, which I was very glad of. Then he and I out to Sir
Robt. Viner’s, at the African house (where I had not been since
he come thither); but he was not there; but I did some business
with his people, and then to Colvill’s, who, I find, lives now in
Lyme Streete, and with the same credit as ever, this fire having
not done them any wrong that I hear of at all. Thence he and I
together to Westminster Hall, in our way talking of matters and
passages of state, the viciousness of the Court; the contempt the
King brings himself into thereby; his minding nothing, but doing
all things just as his people about him will have it; the Duke of
York becoming a slave to this whore Denham, and wholly minds
her; that there really was amours between the Duchesse and Sid-
ney; a that there is reason to fear that, as soon as the Parliament
have raised this money, the King will see that he hath got all
that he can get, and then make up a peace. He tells me, what
I wonder at, but that I find it confirmed by Mr. Pierce, whom I
met by-and-by in the Hall, that Sir W. Coventry is of the caball
with the Duke of York, and Bruncker, with this Denham; which
is a shame, and I am sorry for it, and that Sir W. Coventry do
make her visits; but yet I hope it is not so. Pierce tells me, that
as little agreement as there is between the Prince–[Rupert]–and
Duke of Albemarle, yet they are likely to go to sea again; for the
first will not be trusted alone, and nobody will go with him but
this Duke of Albemarle. He tells me much how all the comman-
ders of the fleete and officers that are sober men do cry out upon
their bad discipline, and the ruine that must follow it if it con-
tinue. But that which I wonder most at, it seems their secretaries
have been the most exorbitant in their fees to all sorts of the peo-
ple, that it is not to be believed that they durst do it, so as it is
believed they have got £800 apiece by the very vacancies in the
fleete. He tells me that Lady Castlemayne is concluded to be with
child again; and that all the people about the King do make no
scruple of saying that the King do lie with Mrs. Stewart, who, he
2056
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says, is a most excellent-natured lady. This day the King begins
to put on his vest, and I did see several persons of the House
of Lords and Commons too, great courtiers, who are in it; be-
ing a long cassocke close to the body, of black cloth, and pinked
with white silke under it, and a coat over it, and the legs ruf-
fled with black riband like a pigeon’s leg; and, upon the whole,
I wish the King may keep it, for it is a very fine and handsome
garment.577 Walking with Pierce in the Court of Wards out comes
Sir W. Coventry, and he and I talked of business. Among others
I proposed the making Sir J. Minnes a Commissioner, and make
somebody else Comptroller. He tells me it is the thing he hath
been thinking of, and hath spoke to the Duke of York of it. He
believes it will be done; but that which I fear is that Pen will be
Comptroller, which I shall grudge a little. The Duke of Bucking-
ham called him aside and spoke a good while with him. I did
presently fear it might be to discourse something of his design to
blemish my Lord of Sandwich, in pursuance of the wild motion
he made the other day in the House. Sir W. Coventry, when he
come to me again, told me that he had wrought a miracle, which
was, the convincing the Duke of Buckingham that something–he
did not name what–that he had intended to do was not fit to be
577 Evelyn describes the new fashion as “a comely dress after ye Persian
mode” (see “Diary,” October 18th, 1666). He adds that he had described the
“comelinesse and usefulnesse” of the Persian clothing in his pamphlet enti-
tled “Tyrannus, or the Mode.” “I do not impute to this discourse the change
which soone happen’d, but it was an identity I could not but take notice of.”
Rugge, in his “Diurnal,” thus describes the new Court costume ”1666, Oct.
11. In this month His Majestie and whole Court changed the fashion of their
clothes-viz. a close coat of cloth, pinkt with a white taffety under the cutts.
This in length reached the calf of the leg, and upon that a sercoat cutt at the
breast, which hung loose and shorter than the vest six inches. The breeches
the Spanish cut, and buskins some of cloth, some of leather, but of the same
colour as the vest or garment; of never the like fashion since William the
Conqueror.” It is represented in a portrait of Lord Arlington, by Sir P. Lely,
formerly belonging to Lord de Clifford, and engraved in Lodge’s “Portraits.”
Louis XIV. ordered his servants to wear the dress. See November 22.
2057
OCTOBER 1666
done, and that the Duke is gone away of that opinion. This makes
me verily believe it was something like what I feared. By and by
the House rose, and then we parted, and I with Sir G. Carteret,
and walked in the Exchequer Court, discoursing of businesses.
Among others, I observing to him how friendly Sir W. Coven-
try had carried himself to him in these late inquiries, when, if he
had borne him any spleen, he could have had what occasion he
pleased offered him, he did confess he found the same thing, and
would thanke him for it. I did give him some other advices, and
so away with him to his lodgings at White Hall to dinner, where
my Lady Carteret is, and mighty kind, both of them, to me. Their
son and my Lady Jemimah will be here very speedily. She tells
me the ladies are to go into a new fashion shortly, and that is,
to wear short coats, above their ancles; which she and I do not
like, but conclude this long trayne to be mighty graceful. But she
cries out of the vices of the Court, and how they are going to set
up plays already; and how, the next day after the late great fast,
the Duchesse of York did give the King and Queene a play. Nay,
she told me that they have heretofore had plays at Court the very
nights before the fast for the death of the late King: She do much
cry out upon these things, and that which she believes will undo
the whole nation; and I fear so too. After dinner away home, Mr.
Brisband along with me as far as the Temple, and there looked
upon a new booke, set out by one Rycault, secretary to my Lord
Winchelsea, of the policy and customs of the Turks, which is, it
seems, much cried up. But I could not stay, but home, where I
find Balty come back, and with him some muster-books, which
I am glad of, and hope he will do me credit in his employment.
By and by took coach again and carried him home, and my wife
to her tailor’s, while I to White Hall to have found out Povy, but
miss him and so call in my wife and home again, where at Sir W.
Batten’s I met Sir W. Pen, lately come from the fleete at the Nore;
and here were many good fellows, among others Sir R. Holmes,
who is exceeding kind to me, more than usual, which makes me
afeard of him, though I do much wish his friendship. Thereupon,
2058
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after a little stay, I withdrew, and to the office and awhile, and
then home to supper and to my chamber to settle a few papers,
and then to bed. This day the great debate was in Parliament, the
manner of raising the £1,800,000 they voted [the King] on Friday;
and at last, after many proposals, one moved that the Chimney-
money might be taken from the King, and an equal revenue of
something else might be found for the King, and people be en-
joyned to buy off this tax of Chimney-money for ever at eight
years’ purchase, which will raise present money, as they think,
£1,600,000, and the State be eased of an ill burthen and the King
be supplied of something as food or better for his use. The House
seems to like this, and put off the debate to to-morrow.
16th. Up, and to the office, where sat to do little business but
hear clamours for money. At noon home to dinner, and to the
office again, after hearing my brother play a little upon the Lyra
viall, which he do so as to show that he hath a love to musique
and a spirit for it, which I am well pleased with. All the afternoon
at the office, and at night with Sir W. Batten, Sir W. Pen, [and
Sir] J. Minnes, at [Sir] W. Pen’s lodgings, advising about business
and orders fit presently to make about discharging of ships come
into the river, and which to pay first, and many things in order
thereto. But it vexed me that, it being now past seven o’clock,
and the businesses of great weight, and I had done them by eight
o’clock, and sending them to be signed, they were all gone to
bed, and Sir W. Pen, though awake, would not, being in bed,
have them brought to him to sign; this made me quite angry.
Late at work at the office, and then home to supper and to bed.
Not come to any resolution at the Parliament to-day about the
manner of raising this £1,800,000.
17th. Up, and busy about public and private business all the
morning at the office. At noon home to dinner, alone with my
brother, with whom I had now the first private talke I have had,
and find he hath preached but twice in his life. I did give him
some advice to study pronunciation; but I do fear he will never
2059
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make a good speaker, nor, I fear, any general good scholar, for I
do not see that he minds optickes or mathematiques of any sort,
nor anything else that I can find. I know not what he may be at
divinity and ordinary school-learning. However, he seems sober,
and that pleases me. After dinner took him and my wife and
Barker (for so is our new woman called, and is yet but a sorry
girle), and set them down at Unthanke’s, and so to White Hall,
and there find some of my brethren with the Duke of York, but so
few I put off the meeting. So staid and heard the Duke discourse,
which he did mighty scurrilously, of the French, and with reason,
that they should give Beaufort orders when he was to bring, and
did bring, his fleete hither, that his rendezvous for his fleete, and
for all sluggs to come to, should be between Calais and Dover;
which did prove the taking of La Roche[lle], who, among other
sluggs behind, did, by their instructions, make for that place, to
rendezvous with the fleete; and Beaufort, seeing them as he was
returning, took them for the English fleete, and wrote word to the
King of France that he had passed by the English fleete, and the
English fleete durst not meddle with him. The Court is all full of
vests, only my Lord St. Albans not pinked but plain black; and
they say the King says the pinking upon white makes them look
too much like magpyes, and therefore hath bespoke one of plain
velvet. Thence to St. James’s by coach, and spoke, at four o’clock
or five, with Sir W. Coventry, newly come from the House, where
they have sat all this day and not come to an end of the debate
how the money shall be raised. He tells me that what I proposed
to him the other day was what he had himself thought on and de-
termined, and that he believes it will speedily be done–the mak-
ing Sir J. Minnes a Commissioner, and bringing somebody else
to be Comptroller, and that (which do not please me, I confess,
for my own particulars, so well as Sir J. Minnes) will, I fear, be
Sir W. Pen, for he is the only fit man for it. Away from him and
took up my wife, and left her at Temple Bar to buy some lace for
a petticoat, and I took coach and away to Sir R. Viner’s about a
little business, and then home, and by and by to my chamber,
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and there late upon making up an account for the Board to pass
to-morrow, if I can get them, for the clearing all my imprest bills,
which if I can do, will be to my very good satisfaction. Having
done this, then to supper and to bed.
18th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. The
waters so high in the roads, by the late rains, that our letters come
not in till to-day, and now I understand that my father is got
well home, but had a painful journey of it. At noon with Lord
Bruncker to St. Ellen’s, where the master of the late Pope’s Head
Taverne is now set up again, and there dined at Sir W. Warren’s
cost, a very good dinner. Here my Lord Bruncker proffered to
carry me and my wife into a play at Court to-night, and to lend
me his coach home, which tempted me much; but I shall not do
it. Thence rose from table before dinner ended, and homewards
met my wife, and so away by coach towards Lovett’s (in the way
wondering at what a good pretty wench our Barker makes, being
now put into good clothes, and fashionable, at my charge; but it
becomes her, so that I do not now think much of it, and is an
example of the power of good clothes and dress), where I stood
godfather. But it was pretty, that, being a Protestant, a man stood
by and was my Proxy to answer for me. A priest christened it,
and the boy’s name is Samuel. The ceremonies many, and some
foolish. The priest in a gentleman’s dress, more than my owne;
but is a Capuchin, one of the Queene-mother’s priests. He did
give my proxy and the woman proxy (my Lady Bills, absent, had
a proxy also) good advice to bring up the child, and, at the end,
that he ought never to marry the child nor the godmother, nor the
godmother the child or the godfather: but, which is strange, they
say that the mother of the child and the godfather may marry. By
and by the Lady Bills come in, a well-bred but crooked woman.
The poor people of the house had good wine, and a good cake;
and she a pretty woman in her lying-in dress. It cost me near 40s.
the whole christening: to midwife 20s., nurse 10s., mayde 2s. 6d.,
and the coach 5s. I was very well satisfied with what I have done,
and so home and to the office, and thence to Sir W. Batten’s, and
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there hear how the business of buying off the Chimney-money is
passed in the House; and so the King to be satisfied some other
way, and the King supplied with the money raised by this pur-
chasing off of the chimnies. So home, mightily pleased in mind
that I have got my bills of imprest cleared by bills signed this day,
to my good satisfaction. To supper, and to bed.
19th. Up, and by coach to my Lord Ashly’s, and thence (he be-
ing gone out), to the Exchequer chamber, and there find him and
my Lord Bellasses about my Lord Bellasses’ accounts, which was
the business I went upon. This was soon ended, and then I with
Creed back home to my house, and there he and I did even ac-
counts for salary, and by that time dinner was ready, and merry at
dinner, and then abroad to Povy’s, who continues as much con-
founded in all his business as ever he was; and would have had
me paid money, as like a fool as himself, which I troubled him in
refusing; but I did persist in it. After a little more discourse, I left
them, and to White Hall, where I met with Sir Robert Viner, who
told me a little of what, in going home, I had seen; also a little
of the disorder and mutiny among the seamen at the Treasurer’s
office, which did trouble me then and all day since, considering
how many more seamen will come to towne every day, and no
money for them. A Parliament sitting, and the Exchange close by,
and an enemy to hear of, and laugh at it.578 Viner too, and Back-
ewell, were sent for this afternoon; and was before the King and
his Cabinet about money; they declaring they would advance no
more, it being discoursed of in the House of Parliament for the
King to issue out his privy-seals to them to command them to
578 The King of Denmark was induced to conclude a treaty with the United
Provinces, a secret article of which bound him to declare war against Eng-
land. The order in council for the printing and publishing a declaration of
war against Denmark is dated “Whitehall, Sept. 19, 1666;” annexed is “A
True Declaration of all transactions between his Majesty of Great Britain and
the King of Denmark, with a declaration of war against the said king, and
the motives that obliged his Majesty thereunto” (“Calendar of State Papers,”
1666-67, p. 140).
2062
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trust him, which gives them reason to decline trusting. But more
money they are persuaded to lend, but so little that (with hor-
rour I speake it), coming after the Council was up, with Sir G.
Carteret, Sir W. Coventry, Lord Bruncker, and myself, I did lay
the state of our condition before the Duke of York, that the fleete
could not go out without several things it wanted, and we could
not have without money, particularly rum and bread, which we
have promised the man Swan to helpe him to £200 of his debt,
and a few other small sums of £200 a piece to some others, and
that I do foresee the Duke of York would call us to an account
why the fleete is not abroad, and we cannot answer otherwise
than our want of money; and that indeed we do not do the King
any service now, but do rather abuse and betray his service by be-
ing there, and seeming to do something, while we do not. Sir G.
Carteret asked me (just in these words, for in this and all the rest
I set down the very words for memory sake, if there should be
occasion) whether £50 or £60 would do us any good; and when I
told him the very rum man must have £200, he held up his eyes
as if we had asked a million. Sir W. Coventry told the Duke of
York plainly he did rather desire to have his commission called in
than serve in so ill a place, where he cannot do the King service,
and I did concur in saying the same. This was all very plain, and
the Duke of York did confess that he did not see how we could do
anything without a present supply of £20,000, and that he would
speak to the King next Council day, and I promised to wait on
him to put him in mind of it. This I set down for my future jus-
tification, if need be, and so we broke up, and all parted, Sir W.
Coventry being not very well, but I believe made much worse
by this night’s sad discourse. So I home by coach, considering
what the consequence of all this must be in a little time. Noth-
ing but distraction and confusion; which makes me wish with all
my heart that I were well and quietly settled with what little I
have got at Brampton, where I might live peaceably, and study,
and pray for the good of the King and my country. Home, and
to Sir W. Batten’s, where I saw my Lady, who is now come down
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stairs after a great sickness. Sir W. Batten was at the pay to-day,
and tells me how rude the men were, but did go away quietly,
being promised pay on Wednesday next. God send us money
for it! So to the office, and then to supper and to bed. Among
other things proposed in the House to-day, to give the King in
lieu of chimneys, there was the bringing up of sealed paper, such
as Sir J. Minnes shewed me to-night, at Sir W. Batten’s, is used in
Spayne, and brings the King a great revenue; but it shows what
shifts we are put to too much.
20th. Up, and all the morning at the office, where none met but
myself. So I walked a good while with Mr. Gawden in the gar-
den, who is lately come from the fleete at the buoy of the Nore,
and he do tell me how all the sober commanders, and even Sir
Thomas Allen himself, do complain of the ill government of the
fleete. How Holmes and Jennings have commanded all the fleete
this yeare, that nothing is done upon deliberation, but if a sober
man give his opinion otherwise than the Prince would have it
the Prince would cry, “Damn him, do you follow your orders,
and that is enough for you.” He tells me he hears of nothing but
of swearing and drinking and whoring, and all manner of pro-
faneness, quite through the whole fleete. He being gone, there
comes to me Commissioner Middleton, whom I took on purpose
to walk in the garden with me, and to learn what he observed
when the fleete was at Portsmouth. He says that the fleete was in
such a condition, as to discipline, as if the Devil had commanded
it; so much wickedness of all sorts. Enquiring how it come to
pass that so many ships miscarried this year, he tells me that he
enquired; and the pilots do say, that they dare not do nor go but
as the Captains will have them; and if they offer to do otherwise,
the Captains swear they will run them through. He says that he
heard Captain Digby (my Lord of Bristoll’s son, a young fellow
that never was but one year, if that, in the fleete) say that he did
hope he should not see a tarpaulin have the command of a ship
within this twelve months. He observed while he was on board
the Admirall, when the fleete was at Portsmouth, that there was
2064
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a faction there. Holmes commanded all on the Prince’s side, and
Sir Jeremy Smith on the Duke’s, and every body that come did
apply themselves to one side or other; and when the Duke of
Albemarle was gone away to come hither, then Sir Jeremy Smith
did hang his head, and walked in the Generall’s ship but like a
private commander. He says he was on board The Prince, when
the newes come of the burning of London; and all the Prince said
was, that now Shipton’s prophecy was out; and he heard a young
commander presently swear, that now a citizen’s wife that would
not take under half a piece before, would be occupied for half-a-
crowne: and made mighty sport of it. He says that Hubberd that
commanded this year the Admiral’s ship is a proud conceited
fellow (though I thought otherwise of him), and fit to command
a single ship but not a fleete, and he do wonder that there hath
not been more mischief this year than there hath. He says the
fleete come to anchor between the Horse and the Island, so that
when they came to weigh many of the ships could not turn, but
run foul of the Horse, and there stuck, but that the weather was
good. He says that nothing can do the King more disservice, nor
please the standing officers of the ship better than these silly com-
manders that now we have, for they sign to anything that their
officers desire of them, nor have judgment to contradict them if
they would. He told me other good things, which made me bless
God that we have received no greater disasters this year than we
have, though they have been the greatest that ever was known in
England before, put all their losses of the King’s ships by want
of skill and seamanship together from the beginning. He being
gone, comes Sir G. Carteret, and he and I walked together awhile,
discoursing upon the sad condition of the times, what need we
have, and how impossible it is to get money. He told me my
Lord Chancellor the other day did ask him how it come to pass
that his friend Pepys do so much magnify all things to worst, as
I did on Sunday last, in the bad condition of the fleete. Sir G.
Carteret tells me that he answered him, that I was but the mouth
of the rest, and spoke what they have dictated to me; which did,
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as he says, presently take off his displeasure. So that I am well at
present with him, but I must have a care not to be over busy in
the office again, and burn my fingers. He tells me he wishes he
had sold his place at some good rate to somebody or other at the
beginning of the warr, and that he would do it now, but no body
will deale with him for it. He tells me the Duke of Albemarle is
very much discontented, and the Duke of York do not, it seems,
please him. He tells me that our case as to money is not to be
made good at present, and therefore wishes a good and speedy
peace before it be too late, and from his discourse methinks I find
that there is something moving towards it. Many people at the
office, but having no more of the office I did put it off till the next
meeting. Thence, with Sir G. Carteret, home to dinner, with him,
my Lady and Mr. Ashburnham, the Cofferer. Here they talk that
the Queene hath a great mind to alter her fashion, and to have
the feet seen, which she loves mightily; and they do believe that
it [will] come into it in a little time. Here I met with the King’s
declaration about his proceedings with the King of Denmarke,
and particularly the business of Bergen; but it is so well writ,
that, if it be true, the King of Denmarke is one of the most abso-
lute wickednesse in the world for a person of his quality. After
dinner home, and there met Mr. Povy by appointment, and there
he and I all the afternoon, till late at night, evening of all accounts
between us, which we did to both our satisfaction; but that which
troubles me most is, that I am to refund to the ignoble Lord Peter-
borough what he had given us six months ago, because we did
not supply him with money; but it is no great matter. He gone I
to the office, and there did some business; and so home, my mind
in good ease by having done with Povy in order to the adjusting
of all my accounts in a few days. So home to supper and to bed.
21st (Lord’s day). Up, and with my wife to church, and her
new woman Barker with her the first time. The girle will, I think,
do very well. Here a lazy sermon, and so home to dinner, and
took in my Lady Pen and Peg (Sir William being below with
the fleete), and mighty merry we were, and then after dinner
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presently (it being a mighty cool day) I by coach to White Hall,
and there attended the Cabinet, and was called in before the King
and them to give an account of our want of money for Tangier,
which troubles me that it should be my place so often and so
soon after one another to come to speak there of their wants–the
thing of the world that they love least to hear of, and that which
is no welcome thing to be the solicitor for–and to see how like
an image the King sat and could not speak one word when I had
delivered myself was very strange; only my Lord Chancellor did
ask me, whether I thought it was in nature at this time to help us
to anything. So I was referred to another meeting of the Lords
Commissioners for Tangier and my Lord Treasurer, and so went
away, and by coach home, where I spent the evening in reading
Stillingfleet’s defence of the Archbishopp, the part about Purga-
tory, a point I had never considered before, what was said for it
or against it, and though I do believe we are in the right, yet I
do not see any great matter in this book. So to supper; and my
people being gone, most of them, to bed, my boy and Jane and
I did get two of my iron chests out of the cellar into my closett,
and the money to my great satisfaction to see it there again, and
the rather because the damp cellar spoils all my chests. This be-
ing done, and I weary, to bed. This afternoon walking with Sir
H. Cholmly long in the gallery, he told me, among many other
things, how Harry Killigrew is banished the Court lately, for say-
ing that my Lady Castlemayne was a little lecherous girle when
she was young.... This she complained to the King of, and he
sent to the Duke of York, whose servant he is, to turn him away.
The Duke of York hath done it, but takes it ill of my Lady that he
was not complained to first. She attended him to excute it, but ill
blood is made by it. He told me how Mr. Williamson stood in a
little place to have come into the House of Commons, and they
would not choose him; they said, “No courtier.” And which is
worse, Bab May went down in great state to Winchelsea with the
Duke of York’s letters, not doubting to be chosen; and there the
people chose a private gentleman in spite of him, and cried out
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they would have no Court pimp to be their burgesse; which are
things that bode very ill. This afternoon I went to see and sat a
good while with Mrs. Martin, and there was her sister Doll, with
whom, contrary to all expectation, I did what I would, and might
have done anything else.
22nd. Up, and by coach to Westminster Hall, there thinking to
have met Betty Michell, who I heard yesterday staid all night at
her father’s, but she was gone. So I staid a little and then down
to the bridge by water, and there overtook her and her father. So
saluted her and walked over London Bridge with them and there
parted, the weather being very foul, and so to the Tower by wa-
ter, and so heme, where I find Mr. Caesar playing the treble to my
boy upon the Theorbo, the first time I heard him, which pleases
me mightily. After dinner I carried him and my wife towards
Westminster, by coach, myself ‘lighting at the Temple, and there,
being a little too soon, walked in the Temple Church, looking
with pleasure on the monuments and epitaphs, and then to my
Lord Belasses, where Creed and Povy by appointment met to dis-
course of some of their Tangier accounts between my Lord and
Vernatty, who will prove a very knave. That being done I away
with Povy to White Hall, and thence I to Unthanke’s, and there
take up my wife, and so home, it being very foule and darke. Be-
ing there come, I to the settling of some of my money matters in
my chests, and evening some accounts, which I was at late, to my
extraordinary content, and especially to see all things hit so even
and right and with an apparent profit and advantage since my
last accounting, but how much I cannot particularly yet come to
adjudge.
23rd. Up, and to the office all the morning. At noon Sir W.
Batten told me Sir Richard Ford would accept of one-third of
my profit of our private man-of-war, and bear one-third of the
charge, and be bound in the Admiralty, so I shall be excused be-
ing bound, which I like mightily of, and did draw up a writing,
as well as I could, to that purpose and signed and sealed it, and
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so he and Sir R. Ford are to go to enter into bond this afternoon.
Home to dinner, and after dinner, it being late, I down by wa-
ter to Shadwell, to see Betty Michell, the first time I was ever at
their new dwelling since the fire, and there find her in the house
all alone. I find her mighty modest. But had her lips as much
as I would, and indeed she is mighty pretty, that I love her ex-
ceedingly. I paid her £10 1s. that I received upon a ticket for her
husband, which is a great kindness I have done them, and having
kissed her as much as I would, I away, poor wretch, and down to
Deptford to see Sir J. Minnes ordering of the pay of some ships
there, which he do most miserably, and so home. Bagwell’s wife,
seeing me come the fields way, did get over her pales to come
after and talk with me, which she did for a good way, and so
parted, and I home, and to the office, very busy, and so to supper
and to bed.
24th. Up, and down to the Old Swan, and there find little
Michell come to his new shop that he hath built there in the room
of his house that was burned. I hope he will do good here. I
drank and bade him joy, for I love him and his wife well, him for
his care, and her for her person, and so to White Hall, where we
attended the Duke; and to all our complaints for want of money,
which now we are tired out with making, the Duke only tells
us that he is sorry for it, and hath spoke to the King of it, and
money we shall have as soon as it can be found; and though all
the issue of the war lies upon it, yet that is all the answer we can
get, and that is as bad or worse than nothing. Thence to West-
minster Hall, where the term is begun, and I did take a turn or
two, and so away by coach to Sir R. Viner’s, and there received
some money, and then home and to dinner. After dinner to little
business, and then abroad with my wife, she to see her brother,
who is sick, and she believes is from some discontent his wife
hath given him by her loose carriage, which he is told, and he
hath found has been very suspicious in his absence, which I am
sorry for. I to the Hall and there walked long, among others talk-
ing with Mr. Hayes, Prince Rupert’s Secretary, a very ingenious
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man, and one, I think, fit to contract some friendship with. Here
I staid late, walking to and again, hearing how the Parliament
proceeds, which is mighty slowly in the settling of the money
business, and great factions growing every day among them. I
am told also how Holmes did last Sunday deliver in his arti-
cles to the King and Cabinet against [Sir Jeremy] Smith, and that
Smith hath given in his answer, and lays his not accompanying
the fleete to his pilot, who would not undertake to carry the ship
further; which the pilot acknowledges. The thing is not accom-
modated, but only taken up, and both sides commanded to be
quiet; but no peace like to be. The Duke of Albemarle is Smith’s
friend, and hath publiquely swore that he would never go to sea
again unless Holmes’s commission were taken from him.579 I find
by Hayes that they did expect great glory in coming home in so
579 In the instructions given to Sir Thomas Clifford (August 5th, 1666) to
be communicated to Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle, we read:
“to tell them that the complaint of Sir Jeremy Smith’s misbehaviour in the
late engagement being so universal, unless he have fully satisfied the gen-
erals he should be brought to trial by court-martial, and there purged or
condemned.” The Duke of Albemarle answered the king (August 14th?):
“Wishes to clear a gallant man falsely accused, Sir Jeremiah Smith, who had
more men killed and hurt, and his ship received more shot than any in the
fleet. There is not a more spirited man serves in the fleet” On October 27th
H. Muddiman wrote to Sir Edward Stradling: “Sir Jeremy Smith has got as
much credit by his late examination as his enemies wished him disgrace, the
King and Duke of York being fully satisfied of his valour in the engagement.
It appears that he had 147 men killed and wounded, while the most eminent
of his accusers had but two or three.” With regard to Sir Jeremy’s counter-
charges, we read: “Nov. 3. The King having maturely considered the charges
brought against Sir Rob. Holmes by Sir Jeremy Smith, finds no cause to sus-
pect Sir Robert of cowardice in the fight with the Dutch of June 25 and 26,
but thinks that on the night of the 26th he yielded too easily to the opinion of
his pilot, without consulting those of the other ships, muzzled his ship, and
thus obliged the squadron to do the same, and so the enemy, which might
have been driven into the body of the king’s fleet, then returning from the
pursuit, was allowed to escape” (“Calendar of State Papers,” 1666-67, pp. 14,
40, 222, 236).
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good condition as they did with the fleete, and therefore I the
less wonder that the Prince was distasted with my discourse the
other day about the bad state of the fleete. But it pleases me to
hear that he did expect great thanks, and lays the fault of the
want of it upon the fire, which deadened everything, and the
glory of his services. About seven at night home, and called my
wife, and, it being moonshine, took her into the garden, and there
layed open our condition as to our estate, and the danger of my
having it [his money] all in the house at once, in case of any dis-
order or troubles in the State, and therefore resolved to remove
part of it to Brampton, and part some whither else, and part in
my owne house, which is very necessary, and will tend to our
safety, though I shall not think it safe out of my owne sight. So to
the office, and then to supper and to bed.
25th. Up betimes and by water to White Hall, and there with
Sir G. Carteret to Sir W. Coventry, who is come to his winter lodg-
ings at White Hall, and there agreed upon a method of paying of
tickets; and so I back again home and to the office, where we
sate all the morning, but to little purpose but to receive clam-
ours for money. At noon home to dinner, where the two Mrs.
Daniels come to see us, and dined with us. After dinner I out
with my wife to Mrs. Pierces, where she hath not been a great
while, from some little unkindness of my wife’s to her when she
was last here, but she received us with mighty respect and dis-
cretion, and was making herself mighty fine to go to a great ball
to-night at Court, being the Queene’s birthday; so the ladies for
this one day do wear laces, but to put them off again to-morrow.
Thence I to my Lord Bruncker’s, and with him to Mrs. Williams’s
where we met Knipp. I was glad to see the jade. Made her
sing; and she told us they begin at both houses to act on Mon-
day next. But I fear, after all this sorrow, their gains will be but
little. Mrs. Williams says, the Duke’s house will now be much
the better of the two, because of their women; which I am glad to
hear. Thence with Lord Bruncker to White Hall and there spoke
with Sir W. Coventry about some office business, and then I away
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to Mrs. Pierces, and there saw her new closet, which is mighty
rich and fine. Her daughter Betty grows mighty pretty. Thence
with my wife home and to do business at the office. Then to Sir
W. Batten’s, who tells me that the House of Parliament makes
mighty little haste in settling the money, and that he knows not
when it will be done; but they fall into faction, and libells have
been found in the House. Among others, one yesterday, wherein
they reckon up divers great sums to be given away by the King,
among others, £10,000 to Sir W. Coventry, for weare and teare
(the point he stood upon to advance that sum by, for them to
give the King); Sir G. Carteret £50,000 for something else, I think
supernumerarys; and so to Matt. Wren £5000 for passing the Ca-
nary Company’s patent; and so a great many other sums to other
persons. So home to supper and to bed.
26th. Up, and all the morning and most of the afternoon within
doors, beginning to set my accounts in order from before this fire,
I being behindhand with them ever since; and this day I got most
of my tradesmen to bring in their bills and paid them. Dined at
home, and busy again after dinner, and then abroad by water to
Westminster Hall, where I walked till the evening, and then out,
the first time I ever was abroad with Doll Lane, to the Dog tavern,
and there drank with her, a bad face, but good bodied girle. Did
nothing but salute and play with her and talk, and thence away
by coach, home, and so to do a little more in my accounts, and
then to supper and to bed. Nothing done in the House yet as to
the finishing of the bill for money, which is a mighty sad thing,
all lying at stake for it.
27th. Up, and there comes to see me my Lord Belasses, which
was a great honour. He tells me great newes, yet but what I sus-
pected, that Vernatty is fled, and so hath cheated him and twenty
more, but most of all, I doubt, Mr. Povy. Thence to talk about
publique business; he tells me how the two Houses begin to be
troublesome; the Lords to have quarrels one with another. My
Lord Duke of Buckingham having said to the Lord Chancellor
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(who is against the passing of the Bill for prohibiting the bring-
ing over of Irish cattle), that whoever was against the Bill, was
there led to it by an Irish interest, or an Irish understanding,
which is as much as to say he is a Poole; this bred heat from my
Lord Chancellor, and something he [Buckingham] said did of-
fend my Lord of Ossory (my Lord Duke’ of Ormond’s son), and
they two had hard words, upon which the latter sends a chal-
lenge to the former; of which the former complains to the House,
and so the business is to be heard on Monday next. Then as to
the Commons; some ugly knives, like poignards, to stab people
with, about two or three hundred of them were brought in yes-
terday to the House, found in one of the house’s rubbish that was
burned, and said to be the house of a Catholique. This and sev-
eral letters out of the country, saying how high the Catholiques
are everywhere and bold in the owning their religion, have made
the Commons mad, and they presently voted that the King be de-
sired to put all Catholiques out of employment, and other high
things; while the business of money hangs in the hedge. So that
upon the whole, God knows we are in a sad condition like to be,
there being the very beginnings of the late troubles. He gone,
I at the office all the morning. At noon home to dinner, where
Mrs. Pierce and her boy and Knipp, who sings as well, and is the
best company in the world, dined with us, and infinite merry.
The playhouses begin to play next week. Towards evening I took
them out to the New Exchange, and there my wife bought things,
and I did give each of them a pair of Jesimy580 plain gloves, and
another of white. Here Knipp and I walked up and down to see
handsome faces, and did see several. Then carried each of them
580 Jessemin (Jasminum), the flowers of which are of a delicate sweet smell,
and often used to perfume gloves. Edmund Howes, Stows continuator, in-
forms us that sweet or perfumed gloves were first brought into England by
the Earl of Oxford on his return from Italy, in the fifteenth year of Queen Eliz-
abeth, during whose reign, and long afterwards, they were very fashionable.
They are frequently mentioned by Shakespeare. Autolyctis, in the “Winter’s
Tale,” has among his wares–“Gloves as sweet as damask roses.”–B.
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home, and with great pleasure and content, home myself, where,
having writ several letters, I home, and there, upon some serious
discourse between my wife and I upon the business, I called to us
my brother, and there broke to him our design to send him into
the country with some part of our money, and so did seriously
discourse the whole thing, and then away to supper and to bed.
I pray God give a blessing to our resolution, for I do much fear
we shall meet with speedy distractions for want of money.
28th (Lord’s day). Up, and to church with my wife, and then
home, and there is come little Michell and his wife, I sent for
them, and also tomes Captain Guy to dine with me, and he and
I much talk together. He cries out of the discipline of the fleete,
and confesses really that the true English valour we talk of is al-
most spent and worn out; few of the commanders doing what
they should do, and he much fears we shall therefore be beaten
the next year. He assures me we were beaten home the last June
fight, and that the whole fleete was ashamed to hear of our bone-
fires. He commends Smith, and cries out of Holmes for an idle,
proud, conceited, though stout fellow. He tells me we are to owe
the losse of so many ships on the sands, not to any fault of the
pilots, but to the weather; but in this I have good authority to
fear there was something more. He says the Dutch do fight in
very good order, and we in none at all. He says that in the July
fight, both the Prince and Holmes had their belly-fulls, and were
fain to go aside; though, if the wind had continued, we had ut-
terly beaten them. He do confess the whole to be governed by
a company of fools, and fears our ruine. After dinner he gone,
I with my brother to White Hall and he to Westminster Abbey.
I presently to Mrs. Martin’s, and there met widow Burroughes
and Doll, and did tumble them all the afternoon as I pleased,
and having given them a bottle of wine I parted and home by
boat (my brother going by land), and thence with my wife to sit
and sup with my uncle and aunt Wight, and see Woolly’s wife,
who is a pretty woman, and after supper, being very merry, in
abusing my aunt with Dr. Venner, we home, and I to do some-
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thing in my accounts, and so to bed. The Revenge having her
forecastle blown up with powder to the killing of some men in
the River, and the Dyamond’s being overset in the careening at
Sheernesse, are further marks of the method all the King’s work
is now done in. The Foresight also and another come to disasters
in the same place this week in the cleaning; which is strange.
29th. Up, and to the office to do business, and thither comes
to me Sir Thomas Teddiman, and he and I walked a good while
in the garden together, discoursing of the disorder and discipline
of the fleete, wherein he told me how bad every thing is; but was
very wary in speaking any thing to the dishonour of the Prince
or Duke of Albemarle, but do magnify my Lord Sandwich much
before them both, for ability to serve the King, and do heartily
wish for him here. For he fears that we shall be undone the next
year, but that he will, however, see an end of it. To prevent the ne-
cessity of his dining with me I was forced to pretend occasion of
going to Westminster, so away I went, and Mr. Barber, the clerk,
having a request to make to me to get him into employment, did
walk along with me, and by water to Westminster with me, he
professing great love to me, and an able clerk he is. When I come
thither I find the new Lord Mayor Bolton a-swearing at the Ex-
chequer, with some of the Aldermen and Livery; but, Lord! to
see how meanely they now look, who upon this day used to be
all little lords, is a sad sight and worthy consideration. And every
body did reflect with pity upon the poor City, to which they are
now coming to choose and swear their Lord Mayor, compared
with what it heretofore was. Thence by coach (having in the Hall
bought me a velvet riding cap, cost me 20s.) to my taylor’s, and
there bespoke a plain vest, and so to my goldsmith to bid him
look out for some gold for me; and he tells me that ginnys, which
I bought 2,000 of not long ago, and cost me but 18 1/2d. change,
will now cost me 22d.; and but very few to be had at any price.
However, some more I will have, for they are very convenient,
and of easy disposal. So home to dinner and to discourse with
my brother upon his translation of my Lord Bacon’s “Faber For-
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tunae,” which I gave him to do and he has done it, but meanely;
I am not pleased with it at all, having done it only literally, but
without any life at all. About five o’clock I took my wife (who
is mighty fine, and with a new fair pair of locks, which vex me,
though like a foole I helped her the other night to buy them),
and to Mrs. Pierces, and there staying a little I away before to
White Hall, and into the new playhouse there, the first time I
ever was there, and the first play I have seen since before the
great plague. By and by Mr. Pierce comes, bringing my wife
and his, and Knipp. By and by the King and Queene, Duke and
Duchesse, and all the great ladies of the Court; which, indeed,
was a fine sight. But the play being “Love in a Tub,” a silly play,
and though done by the Duke’s people, yet having neither Bet-
terton nor his wife, and the whole thing done ill, and being ill
also, I had no manner of pleasure in the play. Besides, the House,
though very fine, yet bad for the voice, for hearing. The sight of
the ladies, indeed, was exceeding noble; and above all, my Lady
Castlemayne. The play done by ten o’clock. I carried them all
home, and then home myself, and well satisfied with the sight,
but not the play, we with great content to bed.
30th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning, and at
noon home to dinner, and then to the office again, where late,
very busy, and dispatching much business. Mr. Hater stay-
ing most of the afternoon abroad, he come to me, poor man, to
make excuse, and it was that he had been looking out for a lit-
tle house for his family. His wife being much frightened in the
country with the discourses of troubles and disorders like to be,
and therefore durst not be from him, and therefore he is forced
to bring her to towne that they may be together. This is now the
general apprehension of all people; particulars I do not know,
but my owne fears are also great, and I do think it time to look
out to save something, if a storm should come. At night home
to supper, and singing with my wife, who hath lately begun to
learn, and I think will come to do something, though her eare is
not good, nor I, I confess, have patience enough to teach her, or
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hear her sing now and then a note out of tune, and am to blame
that I cannot bear with that in her which is fit I should do with
her as a learner, and one that I desire much could sing, and so
should encourage her. This I was troubled at, for I do find that I
do put her out of heart, and make her fearfull to sing before me.
So after supper to bed.
31st. Out with Sir W. Batten toward White Hall, being in pain
in my cods by being squeezed the other night in a little coach
when I carried Pierce and his wife and my people. But I hope I
shall be soon well again. This day is a great day at the House, so
little to do with the Duke of York, but soon parted. Coming out
of the Court I met Colonell Atkins, who tells me the whole city
rings to-day of Sir Jeremy Smith’s killing of Holmes in a duell,
at which I was not much displeased, for I fear every day more
and more mischief from the man, if he lives; but the thing is not
true, for in my coach I did by and by meet Sir Jer. Smith go-
ing to Court. So I by coach to my goldsmith, there to see what
gold I can get, which is but little, and not under 22d. So away
home to dinner, and after dinner to my closett, where I spent the
whole afternoon till late at evening of all my accounts publique
and private, and to my great satisfaction I do find that I do bring
my accounts to a very near balance, notwithstanding all the hur-
ries and troubles I have been put to by the late fire, that I have
not been able to even my accounts since July last before; and I
bless God I do find that I am worth more than ever I yet was,
which is £6,200, for which the Holy Name of God be praised!
and my other accounts of Tangier in a very plain and clear con-
dition, that I am not liable to any trouble from them; but in fear
great I am, and I perceive the whole city is, of some distractions
and disorders among us, which God of his goodness prevent!
Late to supper with my wife and brother, and then to bed. And
thus ends the month with an ill aspect, the business of the Navy
standing wholly still. No credit, no goods sold us, nobody will
trust. All we have to do at the office is to hear complaints for
want of money. The Duke of York himself for now three weeks
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seems to rest satisfied that we can do nothing without money,
and that all must stand still till the King gets money, which the
Parliament have been a great while about; but are so dissatisfied
with the King’s management, and his giving himself up to plea-
sures, and not minding the calling to account any of his officers,
and they observe so much the expense of the war, and yet that
after we have made it the most we can, it do not amount to what
they have given the King for the warn that they are backward of
giving any more. However, £1,800,000 they have voted, but the
way of gathering it has taken up more time than is fit to be now
lost: The seamen grow very rude, and every thing out of order;
commanders having no power over their seamen, but the seamen
do what they please. Few stay on board, but all coming running
up hither to towne, and nobody can with justice blame them, we
owing them so much money; and their familys must starve if we
do not give them money, or they procure upon their tickets from
some people that will trust them. A great folly is observed by all
people in the King’s giving leave to so many merchantmen to go
abroad this winter, and some upon voyages where it is impos-
sible they should be back again by the spring, and the rest will
be doubtfull, but yet we let them go; what the reason of State is
nobody can tell, but all condemn it. The Prince and Duke of Albe-
marle have got no great credit by this year’s service. Our losses
both of reputation and ships having been greater than is thought
have ever been suffered in all ages put together before; being beat
home, and fleeing home the first fight, and then losing so many
ships then and since upon the sands, and some falling into the en-
emy’s hands, and not one taken this yeare, but the Ruby, French
prize, now at the end of the yeare, by the Frenchmen’s mistake
in running upon us. Great folly in both Houses of Parliament,
several persons falling together by the eares, among others in the
House of Lords, the Duke of Buckingham and my Lord Ossory.
Such is our case, that every body fears an invasion the next yeare;
and for my part, I do methinks foresee great unhappiness coming
upon us, and do provide for it by laying by something against a
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OCTOBER 1666
rainy day, dividing what I have, and laying it in several places,
but with all faithfulness to the King in all respects; my grief only
being that the King do not look after his business himself, and
thereby will be undone both himself and his nation, it being not
yet, I believe, too late if he would apply himself to it, to save all,
and conquer the Dutch; but while he and the Duke of York mind
their pleasure, as they do and nothing else, we must be beaten.
So late with my mind in good condition of quiet after the settling
all my accounts, and to bed.
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NOVEMBER 1666
November 1st. Up, and was presented by Burton, one of our
smith’s wives, with a very noble cake, which I presently resolved
to have my wife go with to-day, and some wine, and house-
warme my Betty Michell, which she readily resolved to do. So
I to the office and sat all the morning, where little to do but an-
swer people about want of money; so that there is little service
done the King by us, and great disquiet to ourselves; I am sure
there is to me very much, for I do not enjoy myself as I would and
should do in my employment if my pains could do the King bet-
ter service, and with the peace that we used to do it. At noon to
dinner, and from dinner my wife and my brother, and W. Hewer
and Barker away to Betty Michell’s, to Shadwell, and I to my
office, where I took in Mrs. Bagwell and did what I would with
her, and so she went away, and I all the afternoon till almost night
there, and then, my wife being come back, I took her and set her
at her brother’s, who is very sicke, and I to White Hall, and there
all alone a pretty while with Sir W. Coventry at his chamber. I
find him very melancholy under the same considerations of the
King’s service that I am. He confesses with me he expects all will
be undone, and all ruined; he complains and sees perfectly what
I with grief do, and said it first himself to me that all discipline
is lost in the fleete, no order nor no command, and concurs with
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NOVEMBER 1666
me that it is necessary we do again and again represent all things
more and more plainly to the Duke of York, for a guard to our-
selves hereafter when things shall come to be worse. He says
the House goes on slowly in finding of money, and that the dis-
contented party do say they have not done with us, for they will
have a further bout with us as to our accounts, and they are ex-
ceedingly well instructed where to hit us. I left him with a thou-
sand sad reflections upon the times, and the state of the King’s
matters, and so away, and took up my wife and home, where a
little at the office, and then home to supper, and talk with my
wife (with whom I have much comfort) and my brother, and so
to bed.
2nd. Up betimes, and with Sir W. Batten to Woolwich, where
first we went on board the Ruby, French prize, the only ship of
war we have taken from any of our enemies this year. It seems a
very good ship, but with galleries quite round the sterne to walk
in as a balcone, which will be taken down. She had also about
forty good brass guns, but will make little amends to our loss in
The Prince. Thence to the Ropeyarde and the other yards to do
several businesses, he and I also did buy some apples and pork;
by the same token the butcher commended it as the best in Eng-
land for cloath and colour. And for his beef, says he, “Look how
fat it is; the lean appears only here and there a speck, like beauty-
spots.” Having done at Woolwich, we to Deptford (it being very
cold upon the water), and there did also a little more business,
and so home, I reading all the why to make end of the “Bond-
man” (which the oftener I read the more I like), and begun “The
Duchesse of Malfy;” which seems a good play. At home to din-
ner, and there come Mr. Pierce, surgeon, to see me, and after I
had eat something, he and I and my wife by coach to Westmin-
ster, she set us down at White Hall, and she to her brother’s. I
up into the House, and among other things walked a good while
with the Serjeant Trumpet, who tells me, as I wished, that the
King’s Italian here is about setting three parts for trumpets, and
shall teach some to sound them, and believes they will be ad-
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NOVEMBER 1666
mirable musique. I also walked with Sir Stephen Fox an houre,
and good discourse of publique business with him, who seems
very much satisfied with my discourse, and desired more of my
acquaintance. Then comes out the King and Duke of York from
the Council, and so I spoke awhile to Sir W. Coventry about some
office business, and so called my wife (her brother being now a
little better than he was), and so home, and I to my chamber to
do some business, and then to supper and to bed.
3rd. This morning comes Mr. Lovett, and brings me my print
of the Passion, varnished by him, and the frame black, which
indeed is very fine, though not so fine as I expected; however,
pleases me exceedingly. This, and the sheets of paper he pre-
pared for me, come to £3, which I did give him, and though it be
more than is fit to lay out on pleasure, yet, it being ingenious, I
did not think much of it. He gone, I to the office, where all the
morning to little purpose, nothing being before us but clamours
for money: So at noon home to dinner, and after dinner to hang
up my new varnished picture and set my chamber in order to be
made clean, and then to; the office again, and there all the after-
noon till late at night, and so to supper and to bed.
4th (Lord’s day). Comes my taylor’s man in the morning, and
brings my vest home, and coate to wear with it, and belt, and
silver-hilted sword. So I rose and dressed myself, and I like my-
self mightily in it, and so do my wife. Then, being dressed, to
church; and after church pulled my Lady Pen and Mrs. Markham
into my house to dinner, and Sir J. Minnes he got Mrs. Pegg along
with him. I had a good dinner for them, and very merry; and af-
ter dinner to the waterside, and so, it being very cold, to White
Hall, and was mighty fearfull of an ague, my vest being new and
thin, and the coat cut not to meet before upon my breast. Here I
waited in the gallery till the Council was up, and among others
did speak with Mr. Cooling, my Lord Chamberlain’s secretary,
who tells me my Lord Generall is become mighty low in all peo-
ple’s opinion, and that he hath received several slurs from the
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NOVEMBER 1666
King and Duke of York. The people at Court do see the differ-
ence between his and the Prince’s management, and my Lord
Sandwich’s. That this business which he is put upon of crying
out against the Catholiques and turning them out of all employ-
ment, will undo him, when he comes to turn-out the officers out
of the Army, and this is a thing of his own seeking. That he is
grown a drunken sot, and drinks with nobody but Troutbecke,
whom nobody else will keep company with. Of whom he told
me this story: That once the Duke of Albemarle in his drink tak-
ing notice as of a wonder that Nan Hide should ever come to
be Duchesse of York, “Nay,” says Troutbecke, “ne’er wonder at
that; for if you will give me another bottle of wine, I will tell
you as great, if not greater, a miracle.” And what was that, but
that our dirty Besse (meaning his Duchesse) should come to be
Duchesse of Albemarle? Here we parted, and so by and by the
Council rose, and out comes Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry,
and they and my Lord Bruncker and I went to Sir G. Carteret’s
lodgings, there to discourse about some money demanded by Sir
W. Warren, and having done that broke up. And Sir G. Carteret
and I alone together a while, where he shows a long letter, all in
cipher, from my Lord Sandwich to him. The contents he hath not
yet found out, but he tells me that my Lord is not sent for home,
as several people have enquired after of me. He spoke something
reflecting upon me in the business of pursers, that their present
bad behaviour is what he did foresee, and had convinced me of,
and yet when it come last year to be argued before the Duke of
York I turned and said as the rest did. I answered nothing to it,
but let it go, and so to other discourse of the ill state of things,
of which all people are full of sorrow and observation, and so
parted, and then by water, landing in Southwarke, home to the
Tower, and so home, and there began to read “Potter’s Discourse
upon 1666,” which pleases me mightily, and then broke off and
to supper and to bed.
5th (A holyday). Lay long; then up, and to the office, where
vexed to meet with people come from the fleete at the Nore,
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NOVEMBER 1666
where so many ships are laid up and few going abroad, and
yet Sir Thomas Allen hath sent up some Lieutenants with war-
rants to presse men for a few ships to go out this winter, while
every day thousands appear here, to our great trouble and af-
fright, before our office and the ticket office, and no Captains able
to command one-man aboard. Thence by water to Westminster,
and there at the Swan find Sarah is married to a shoemaker yes-
terday, so I could not see her, but I believe I shall hereafter at
good leisure. Thence by coach to my Lady Peterborough, and
there spoke with my Lady, who had sent to speak with me. She
makes mighty moan of the badness of the times, and her family
as to money. My Lord’s passionateness for want thereof, and his
want of coming in of rents, and no wages from the Duke of York.
No money to be had there for wages nor disbursements, and
therefore prays my assistance about his pension. I was moved
with her story, which she largely and handsomely told me, and
promised I would try what I could do in a few days, and so took
leave, being willing to keep her Lord fair with me, both for his
respect to my Lord Sandwich and for my owne sake hereafter,
when I come to pass my accounts. Thence to my Lord Crew’s,
and there dined, and mightily made of, having not, to my shame,
been there in 8 months before. Here my Lord and Sir Thomas
Crew, Mr. John, and Dr. Crew, and two strangers. The best fam-
ily in the world for goodness and sobriety. Here beyond my ex-
pectation I met my Lord Hinchingbroke, who is come to towne
two days since from Hinchingbroke, and brought his sister and
brother Carteret with him, who are at Sir G. Carteret’s. After
dinner I and Sir Thomas Crew went aside to discourse of pub-
lic matters, and do find by him that all the country gentlemen
are publickly jealous of the courtiers in the Parliament, and that
they do doubt every thing that they propose; and that the true
reason why the country gentlemen are for a land-tax and against
a general excise, is, because they are fearful that if the latter be
granted they shall never get it down again; whereas the land-tax
will be but for so much; and when the war ceases, there will be
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NOVEMBER 1666
no ground got by the Court to keep it up. He do much cry out
upon our accounts, and that all that they have had from the King
hath been but estimates both from my Lord Treasurer and us,
and from all people else, so that the Parliament is weary of it. He
says the House would be very glad to get something against Sir
G. Carteret, and will not let their inquiries die till they have got
something. He do, from what he hath heard at the Committee for
examining the burning of the City, conclude it as a thing certain
that it was done by plots; it being proved by many witnesses that
endeavours were made in several places to encrease the fire, and
that both in City and country it was bragged by several Papists
that upon such a day or in such a time we should find the hottest
weather that ever was in England, and words of plainer sense.
But my Lord Crew was discoursing at table how the judges have
determined in the case whether the landlords or the tenants (who
are, in their leases, all of them generally tied to maintain and up-
hold their houses) shall bear the losse of the fire; and they say
that tenants should against all casualties of fire beginning either
in their owne or in their neighbour’s; but, where it is done by
an enemy, they are not to do it. And this was by an enemy, there
having been one convicted and hanged upon this very score. This
is an excellent salvo for the tenants, and for which I am glad, be-
cause of my father’s house. After dinner and this discourse I
took coach, and at the same time find my Lord Hinchingbroke
and Mr. John Crew and the Doctor going out to see the ruins of
the City; so I took the Doctor into my hackney coach (and he is a
very fine sober gentleman), and so through the City. But, Lord!
what pretty and sober observations he made of the City and its
desolation; till anon we come to my house, and there I took them
upon Tower Hill to shew them what houses were pulled down
there since the fire; and then to my house, where I treated them
with good wine of several sorts, and they took it mighty respect-
fully, and a fine company of gentlemen they are; but above all
I was glad to see my Lord Hinchingbroke drink no wine at all.
Here I got them to appoint Wednesday come se’nnight to dine
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NOVEMBER 1666
here at my house, and so we broke up and all took coach again,
and I carried the Doctor to Chancery Lane, and thence I to White
Hall, where I staid walking up and down till night, and then got
almost into the play house, having much mind to go and see the
play at Court this night; but fearing how I should get home, be-
cause of the bonefires and the lateness of the night to get a coach,
I did not stay; but having this evening seen my Lady Jemimah,
who is come to towne, and looks very well and fat, and heard
how Mr. John Pickering is to be married this week, and to a
fortune with £5000, and seen a rich necklace of pearle and two
pendants of dyamonds, which Sir G. Carteret hath presented her
with since her coming to towne, I home by coach, but met not
one bonefire through the whole town in going round by the wall,
which is strange, and speaks the melancholy disposition of the
City at present, while never more was said of, and feared of, and
done against the Papists than just at this time. Home, and there
find my wife and her people at cards, and I to my chamber, and
there late, and so to supper and to bed.
6th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning sitting. At
noon home to dinner, and after dinner down alone by water to
Deptford, reading “Duchesse of Malfy,” the play, which is pretty
good, and there did some business, and so up again, and all the
evening at the office. At night home, and there find Mr. Bate-
lier, who supped with us, and good company he is, and so after
supper to bed.
7th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall, where we at-
tended as usual the Duke of York and there was by the folly of
Sir W. Batten prevented in obtaining a bargain for Captain Cocke,
which would, I think have [been] at this time (during our great
want of hempe), both profitable to the King and of good conve-
nience to me; but I matter it not, it being done only by the folly,
not any design, of Sir W. Batten’s. Thence to Westminster Hall,
and, it being fast day, there was no shops open, but meeting with
Doll Lane, did go with her to the Rose taverne, and there drank
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NOVEMBER 1666
and played with her a good while. She went away, and I staid
a good while after, and was seen going out by one of our neigh-
bours near the office and two of the Hall people that I had no
mind to have been seen by, but there was no hurt in it nor can
be alledged from it. Therefore I am not solicitous in it, but took
coach and called at Faythorne’s, to buy some prints for my wife
to draw by this winter, and here did see my Lady Castlemayne’s
picture, done by him from Lilly’s, in red chalke and other colours,
by which he hath cut it in copper to be printed. The picture
in chalke is the finest thing I ever saw in my life, I think; and
did desire to buy it; but he says he must keep it awhile to cor-
rect his copper-plate by, and when that is done he will sell it me.
Thence home and find my wife gone out with my brother to see
her brother. I to dinner and thence to my chamber to read, and
so to the office (it being a fast day and so a holiday), and then
to Mrs. Turner’s, at her request to speake and advise about Sir
Thomas Harvy’s coming to lodge there, which I think must be
submitted to, and better now than hereafter, when he gets more
ground, for I perceive he intends to stay by it, and begins to crow
mightily upon his late being at the payment of tickets; but a cox-
combe he is and will never be better in the business of the Navy.
Thence home, and there find Mr. Batelier come to bring my wife
a very fine puppy of his mother’s spaniel, a very fine one indeed,
which my wife is mighty proud of. He staid and supped with
us, and they to cards. I to my chamber to do some business, and
then out to them to play and were a little merry, and then to bed.
By the Duke of York his discourse to-day in his chamber, they
have it at Court, as well as we here, that a fatal day is to be ex-
pected shortly, of some great mischiefe to the remainder of this
day; whether by the Papists, or what, they are not certain. But the
day is disputed; some say next Friday, others a day sooner, others
later, and I hope all will prove a foolery. But it is observable how
every body’s fears are busy at this time.
8th. Up, and before I went to the office I spoke with Mr. Mar-
tin for his advice about my proceeding in the business of the pri-
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vate man-of-war, he having heretofore served in one of them, and
now I have it in my thoughts to send him purser in ours. After
this discourse I to the office, where I sat all the morning, Sir W.
Coventry with us, where he hath not been a great while, Sir W.
Pen also, newly come from the Nore, where he hath been some
time fitting of the ships out. At noon home to dinner and then
to the office awhile, and so home for my sword, and there find
Mercer come to see her mistresse. I was glad to see her there,
and my wife mighty kind also, and for my part, much vexed
that the jade is not with us still. Left them together, designing
to go abroad to-morrow night to Mrs. Pierces to dance; and so
I to Westminster Hall, and there met Mr. Grey, who tells me the
House is sitting still (and now it was six o’clock), and likely to sit
till midnight; and have proceeded fair to give the King his supply
presently; and herein have done more to-day than was hoped for.
So to White Hall to Sir W. Coventry, and there would fain have
carried Captain Cocke’s business for his bargain of hemp, but
am defeated and disappointed, and know hardly how to carry
myself in it between my interest and desire not to offend Sir W.
Coventry. Sir W. Coventry did this night tell me how the busi-
ness is about Sir J. Minnes; that he is to be a Commissioner, and
my Lord Bruncker and Sir W. Pen are to be Controller joyntly,
which I am very glad of, and better than if they were either of
them alone; and do hope truly that the King’s business will be
better done thereby, and infinitely better than now it is. Thence
by coach home, full of thoughts of the consequence of this alter-
ation in our office, and I think no evil to me. So at my office late,
and then home to supper and to bed. Mr. Grey did assure me this
night, that he was told this day, by one of the greater Ministers
of State in England, and one of the King’s Cabinet, that we had
little left to agree on between the Dutch and us towards a peace,
but only the place of treaty; which do astonish me to hear, but I
am glad of it, for I fear the consequence of the war. But he says
that the King, having all the money he is like to have, we shall be
sure of a peace in a little time.
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NOVEMBER 1666
9th. Up and to the office, where did a good deale of business,
and then at noon to the Exchange and to my little goldsmith’s,
whose wife is very pretty and modest, that ever I saw any. Upon
the ‘Change, where I seldom have of late been, I find all people
mightily at a losse what to expect, but confusion and fears in ev-
ery man’s head and heart. Whether war or peace, all fear the
event will be bad. Thence home and with my brother to dinner,
my wife being dressing herself against night; after dinner I to
my closett all the afternoon, till the porter brought my vest back
from the taylor’s, and then to dress myself very fine, about 4 or
5 o’clock, and by that time comes Mr. Batelier and Mercer, and
away by coach to Mrs. Pierces, by appointment, where we find
good company: a fair lady, my Lady Prettyman, Mrs. Corbet,
Knipp; and for men, Captain Downing, Mr. Lloyd, Sir W. Coven-
try’s clerk, and one Mr. Tripp, who dances well. After some tri-
fling discourse, we to dancing, and very good sport, and mightily
pleased I was with the company. After our first bout of danc-
ing, Knipp and I to sing, and Mercer and Captain Downing (who
loves and understands musique) would by all means have my
song of “Beauty, retire.” which Knipp had spread abroad; and he
extols it above any thing he ever heard, and, without flattery, I
know it is good in its kind. This being done and going to dance
again, comes news that White Hall was on fire; and presently
more particulars, that the Horse-guard was on fire;581 and so we
run up to the garret, and find it so; a horrid great fire; and by and
by we saw and heard part of it blown up with powder. The ladies
581 “Nov. 9th. Between seven and eight at night, there happened a fire in
the Horse Guard House, in the Tilt Yard, over against Whitehall, which at
first arising, it is supposed, from some snuff of a candle falling amongst the
straw, broke out with so sudden a flame, that at once it seized the north-
west part of that building; but being so close under His Majesty’s own eye,
it was, by the timely help His Majesty and His Royal Highness caused to
be applied, immediately stopped, and by ten o’clock wholly mastered, with
the loss only of that part of the building it had at first seized.”–The London
Gazette, No. 103.–B.
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NOVEMBER 1666
begun presently to be afeard: one fell into fits. The whole town
in an alarme. Drums beat and trumpets, and the guards every
where spread, running up and down in the street. And I begun
to have mighty apprehensions how things might be at home, and
so was in mighty pain to get home, and that that encreased all
is that we are in expectation, from common fame, this night, or
to-morrow, to have a massacre, by the having so many fires one
after another, as that in the City, and at same time begun in West-
minster, by the Palace, but put out; and since in Southwarke, to
the burning down some houses; and now this do make all peo-
ple conclude there is something extraordinary in it; but nobody
knows what. By and by comes news that the fire has slackened;
so then we were a little cheered up again, and to supper, and
pretty merry. But, above all, there comes in the dumb boy that
I knew in Oliver’s time, who is mightily acquainted here, and
with Downing; and he made strange signs of the fire, and how
the King was abroad, and many things they understood, but I
could not, which I wondering at, and discoursing with Down-
ing about it, “Why,” says he, “it is only a little use, and you will
understand him, and make him understand you with as much
ease as may be.” So I prayed him to tell him that I was afeard
that my coach would be gone, and that he should go down and
steal one of the seats out of the coach and keep it, and that would
make the coachman to stay. He did this, so that the dumb boy
did go down, and, like a cunning rogue, went into the coach,
pretending to sleep; and, by and by, fell to his work, but finds the
seats nailed to the coach. So he did all he could, but could not
do it; however, stayed there, and stayed the coach till the coach-
man’s patience was quite spent, and beat the dumb boy by force,
and so went away. So the dumb boy come up and told him all
the story, which they below did see all that passed, and knew it
to be true. After supper, another dance or two, and then newes
that the fire is as great as ever, which put us all to our wit’s-end;
and I mightily [anxious] to go home, but the coach being gone,
and it being about ten at night, and rainy dirty weather, I knew
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NOVEMBER 1666
not what to do; but to walk out with Mr. Batelier, myself re-
solving to go home on foot, and leave the women there. And
so did; but at the Savoy got a coach, and come back and took
up the women; and so, having, by people come from the fire,
understood that the fire was overcome, and all well, we merrily
parted, and home. Stopped by several guards and constables
quite through the town, round the wall, as we went, all being in
armes. We got well home .... Being come home, we to cards, till
two in the morning, and drinking lamb’s-wool.582 So to bed.
10th. Up and to the office, where Sir W. Coventry come to tell
us that the Parliament did fall foul of our accounts again yester-
day; and we must arme to have them examined, which I am sorry
for: it will bring great trouble to me, and shame upon the office.
My head full this morning how to carry on Captain Cocke’s bar-
gain of hemp, which I think I shall by my dexterity do, and to the
King’s advantage as well as my own. At noon with my Lord
Bruncker and Sir Thomas Harvy, to Cocke’s house, and there
Mrs. Williams and other company, and an excellent dinner. Mr.
Temple’s wife; after dinner, fell to play on the harpsicon, till she
tired everybody, that I left the house without taking leave, and
no creature left standing by her to hear her. Thence I home and
to the office, where late doing of business, and then home. Read
an hour, to make an end of Potter’s Discourse of the Number
666, which I like all along, but his close is most excellent; and,
whether it be right or wrong, is mighty ingenious. Then to sup-
per and to bed. This is the fatal day that every body hath dis-
coursed for a long time to be the day that the Papists, or I know
not who, had designed to commit a massacre upon; but, how-
ever, I trust in God we shall rise to-morrow morning as well as
ever. This afternoon Creed comes to me, and by him, as, also my
582 A beverage consisting of ale mixed with sugar, nutmeg, and the pulp of
roasted apples. “A cupp of lamb’s-wool they dranke unto him then.” The
King and the Miller of Mansfield (Percy’s “Reliques,” Series III., book ii., No.
20).
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NOVEMBER 1666
Lady Pen, I hear that my Lady Denham is exceeding sick, even
to death, and that she says, and every body else discourses, that
she is poysoned; and Creed tells me, that it is said that there hath
been a design to poison the King. What the meaning of all these
sad signs is, the Lord knows; but every day things look worse
and worse. God fit us for the worst!
11th (Lord’s day). Up, and to church, myself and wife, where
the old dunce Meriton, brother to the known Meriton; of St. Mar-
tin’s, Westminster, did make a very good sermon, beyond my
expectation. Home to dinner, and we carried in Pegg Pen, and
there also come to us little Michell and his wife, and dined very
pleasantly. Anon to church, my wife and I and Betty Michell, her
husband being gone to Westminster.... Alter church home, and I
to my chamber, and there did finish the putting time to my song
of “It is decreed,” and do please myself at last and think it will
be thought a good song. By and by little Michell comes and takes
away his wife home, and my wife and brother and I to my uncle
Wight’s, where my aunt is grown so ugly and their entertainment
so bad that I am in pain to be there; nor will go thither again a
good while, if sent for, for we were sent for to-night, we had not
gone else. Wooly’s wife, a silly woman, and not very handsome,
but no spirit in her at all; and their discourse mean, and the fear
of the troubles of the times hath made them not to bring their
plate to town, since it was carried out upon the business of the
fire, so that they drink in earth and a wooden can, which I do not
like. So home, and my people to bed. I late to finish my song, and
then to bed also, and the business of the firing of the city, and the
fears we have of new troubles and violences, and the fear of fire
among ourselves, did keep me awake a good while, considering
the sad condition I and my family should be in. So at last to sleep.
12th. Lay long in bed, and then up, and Mr. Carcasse brought
me near 500 tickets to sign, which I did, and by discourse find
him a cunning, confident, shrewd man, but one that I do doubt
hath by his discourse of the ill will he hath got with my Lord
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Marquess of Dorchester (with whom he lived), he hath had cun-
ning practices in his time, and would not now spare to use the
same to his profit. That done I to the office; whither by and by
comes Creed to me, and he and I walked in the garden a little,
talking of the present ill condition of things, which is the com-
mon subject of all men’s discourse and fears now-a-days, and
particularly of my Lady Denham, whom everybody says is poi-
soned, and he tells me she hath said it to the Duke of York; but is
upon the mending hand, though the town says she is dead this
morning. He and I to the ‘Change. There I had several little er-
rands, and going to Sir R. Viner’s, I did get such a splash and
spots of dirt upon my new vest, that I was out of countenance to
be seen in the street. This day I received 450 pieces of gold more
of Mr. Stokes, but cost me 22 1/2d. change; but I am well con-
tented with it,–I having now near £2800 in gold, and will not rest
till I get full £3000, and then will venture my fortune for the sav-
ing that and the rest. Home to dinner, though Sir R. Viner would
have staid us to dine with him, he being sheriffe; but, poor man,
was so out of countenance that he had no wine ready to drink
to us, his butler being out of the way, though we know him to
be a very liberal man. And after dinner I took my wife out, in-
tending to have gone and have seen my Lady Jemimah, at White
Hall, but so great a stop there was at the New Exchange, that we
could not pass in half an houre, and therefore ‘light and bought
a little matter at the Exchange, and then home, and then at the
office awhile, and then home to my chamber, and after my wife
and all the mayds abed but Jane, whom I put confidence in–she
and I, and my brother, and Tom, and W. Hewer, did bring up all
the remainder of my money, and my plate-chest, out of the cellar,
and placed the money in my study, with the rest, and the plate
in my dressing-room; but indeed I am in great pain to think how
to dispose of my money, it being wholly unsafe to keep it all in
coin in one place. ‘But now I have it all at my hand, I shall re-
member it better to think of disposing of it. This done, by one in
the morning to bed. This afternoon going towards Westminster,
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Creed and I did stop, the Duke of York being just going away
from seeing of it, at Paul’s, and in the Convocation House Yard
did there see the body of Robert Braybrooke, Bishop of London,
that died 1404: He fell down in his tomb out of the great church
into St. Fayth’s this late fire, and is here seen his skeleton with
the flesh on; but all tough and dry like a spongy dry leather, or
touchwood all upon his bones. His head turned aside. A great
man in his time, and Lord Chancellor; and his skeletons now ex-
posed to be handled and derided by some, though admired for
its duration by others. Many flocking to see it.
13th. At the office all the morning, at noon home to dinner,
and out to Bishopsgate Street, and there bought some drinking-
glasses, a case of knives, and other things, against tomorrow, in
expectation of my Lord Hinchingbroke’s coming to dine with me.
So home, and having set some things in the way of doing, also
against to-morrow, I to my office, there to dispatch business, and
do here receive notice from my Lord Hinchingbroke that he is not
well, and so not in condition to come to dine with me to-morrow,
which I am not in much trouble for, because of the disorder my
house is in, by the bricklayers coming to mend the chimney in
my dining-room for smoking, which they were upon almost till
midnight, and have now made it very pretty, and do carry smoke
exceeding well. This evening come all the Houblons to me, to in-
vite me to sup with them to-morrow night. I did take them home,
and there we sat and talked a good while, and a glass of wine,
and then parted till to-morrow night. So at night, well satisfied
in the alteration of my chimney, to bed.
14th. Up, and by water to White Hall, and thence to West-
minster, where I bought several things, as a hone, ribbon, gloves,
books, and then took coach and to Knipp’s lodging, whom I find
not ready to go home with me. So I away to do a little business,
among others to call upon Mr. Osborne for my Tangier warrant
for the last quarter, and so to the Exchange for some things for
my wife, and then to Knipp’s again, and there staid reading of
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NOVEMBER 1666
Waller’s verses, while she finished dressing, her husband being
by. I had no other pastime. Her lodging very mean, and the con-
dition she lives in; yet makes a shew without doors, God bless
us! I carried him along with us into the City, and set him down
in Bishopsgate Street, and then home with her. She tells me how
Smith, of the Duke’s house, hath killed a man upon a quarrel in
play; which makes every body sorry, he being a good actor, and,
they say, a good man, however this happens. The ladies of the
Court do much bemoan him, she says. Here she and we alone
at dinner to some good victuals, that we could not put off, that
was intended for the great dinner of my Lord Hinchingbroke’s,
if he had come. After dinner I to teach her my new recitative of
“It is decreed,” of which she learnt a good part, and I do well
like it and believe shall be well pleased when she hath it all, and
that it will be found an agreeable thing. Then carried her home,
and my wife and I intended to have seen my Lady Jemimah at
White Hall, but the Exchange Streete was so full of coaches, every
body, as they say, going thither to make themselves fine against
tomorrow night, that, after half an hour’s stay, we could not do
any [thing], only my wife to see her brother, and I to go speak
one word with Sir G. Carteret about office business, and talk of
the general complexion of matters, which he looks upon, as I do,
with horrour, and gives us all for an undone people. That there
is no such thing as a peace in hand, nor possibility of any with-
out our begging it, they being as high, or higher, in their terms
than ever, and tells me that, just now, my Lord Hollis had been
with him, and wept to think in what a condition we are fallen.
He shewed me my Lord Sandwich’s letter to him, complaining
of the lack of money, which Sir G. Carteret is at a loss how in the
world to get the King to supply him with, and wishes him, for
that reason, here; for that he fears he will be brought to disgrace
there, for want of supplies. He says the House is yet in a bad
humour; and desiring to know whence it is that the King stirs
not, he says he minds it not, nor will be brought to it, and that
his servants of the House do, instead of making the Parliament
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NOVEMBER 1666
better, rather play the rogue one with another, and will put all in
fire. So that, upon the whole, we are in a wretched condition, and
I went from him in full apprehensions of it. So took up my wife,
her brother being yet very bad, and doubtful whether he will re-
cover or no, and so to St. Ellen’s [St. Helen’s], and there sent my
wife home, and myself to the Pope’s Head, where all the Hou-
blons were, and Dr. Croone,583 and by and by to an exceeding
pretty supper, excellent discourse of all sorts, and indeed [they]
are a set of the finest gentlemen that ever I met withal in my life.
Here Dr. Croone told me, that, at the meeting at Gresham Col-
lege to-night, which, it seems, they now have every Wednesday
again, there was a pretty experiment of the blood of one dogg
let out, till he died, into the body of another on one side, while
all his own run out on the other side.584 The first died upon the
place, and the other very well, and likely to do well. This did give
occasion to many pretty wishes, as of the blood of a Quaker to be
let into an Archbishop, and such like; but, as Dr. Croone says,
may, if it takes, be of mighty use to man’s health, for the amend-
583 William Croune, or Croone, of Emanuel College, Cambridge, chosen
Rhetoric Professor at Gresham College, 1659, F.R.S. and M.D. Died October
12th, 1684, and was interred at St. Mildred’s in the Poultry. He was a promi-
nent Fellow of the Royal Society and first Registrar. In accordance with his
wishes his widow (who married Sir Edwin Sadleir, Bart.) left by will one-
fifth of the clear rent of the King’s Head tavern in or near Old Fish Street, at
the corner of Lambeth Hill, to the Royal Society for the support of a lecture
and illustrative experiments for the advancement of natural knowledge on
local motion. The Croonian lecture is still delivered before the Royal Society.
584 At the meeting on November 14th, “the experiment of transfusing the
blood of one dog into another was made before the Society by Mr. King and
Mr. Thomas Coxe upon a little mastiff and a spaniel with very good success,
the former bleeding to death, and the latter receiving the blood of the other,
and emitting so much of his own, as to make him capable of receiving that
of the other.” On November 21st the spaniel “was produced and found very
well” (Birch’s “History of the Royal Society,” vol. ii., pp. 123, 125). The
experiment of transfusion of blood, which occupied much of the attention of
the Royal Society in its early days, was revived within the last few years.
2096
NOVEMBER 1666
ing of bad blood by borrowing from a better body. After supper,
James Houblon and another brother took me aside and to talk of
some businesses of their owne, where I am to serve them, and
will, and then to talk of publique matters, and I do find that they
and all merchants else do give over trade and the nation for lost,
nothing being done with care or foresight, no convoys granted,
nor any thing done to satisfaction; but do think that the Dutch
and French will master us the next yeare, do what we can: and
so do I, unless necessity makes the King to mind his business,
which might yet save all. Here we sat talking till past one in the
morning, and then home, where my people sat up for me, my
wife and all, and so to bed.
15th. This [morning] come Mr. Shepley (newly out of the coun-
try) to see me; after a little discourse with him, I to the office,
where we sat all the morning, and at noon home, and there dined,
Shepley with me, and after dinner I did pay him £70, which he
had paid my father for my use in the country. He being gone, I
took coach and to Mrs. Pierce’s, where I find her as fine as pos-
sible, and himself going to the ball at night at Court, it being the
Queen’s birth-day, and so I carried them in my coach, and having
set them into the house, and gotten Mr. Pierce to undertake the
carrying in my wife, I to Unthanke’s, where she appointed to be,
and there told her, and back again about business to White Hall,
while Pierce went and fetched her and carried her in. I, after I had
met with Sir W. Coventry and given him some account of mat-
ters, I also to the ball, and with much ado got up to the loft, where
with much trouble I could see very well. Anon the house grew
full, and the candles light, and the King and Queen and all the
ladies set: and it was, indeed, a glorious sight to see Mrs. Stewart
in black and white lace, and her head and shoulders dressed with
dyamonds, and the like a great many great ladies more, only the
Queen none; and the King in his rich vest of some rich silke and
silver trimming, as the Duke of York and all the dancers were,
some of cloth of silver, and others of other sorts, exceeding rich.
Presently after the King was come in, he took the Queene, and
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NOVEMBER 1666
about fourteen more couple there was, and began the Bransles.
As many of the men as I can remember presently, were, the
King, Duke of York, Prince Rupert, Duke of Monmouth, Duke
of Buckingham, Lord Douglas,’ Mr. [George] Hamilton, Colonell
Russell, Mr. Griffith, Lord Ossory, Lord Rochester; and of the
ladies, the Queene, Duchess of York, Mrs. Stewart, Duchess of
Monmouth, Lady Essex Howard, Mrs. Temples Swedes Embas-
sadress, Lady Arlington; Lord George Barkeley’s daughter, and
many others I remember not; but all most excellently dressed in
rich petticoats and gowns, and dyamonds, and pearls. After the
Bransles, then to a Corant, and now and then a French dance;
but that so rare that the Corants grew tiresome, that I wished it
done. Only Mrs. Stewart danced mighty finely, and many French
dances, specially one the King called the New Dance, which was
very pretty; but upon the whole matter, the business of the danc-
ing of itself was not extraordinary pleasing. But the clothes and
sight of the persons was indeed very pleasing, and worth my
coming, being never likely to see more gallantry while I live, if
I should come twenty times. About twelve at night it broke up,
and I to hire a coach with much difficulty, but Pierce had hired
a chair for my wife, and so she being gone to his house, he and
I, taking up Barker at Unthanke’s, to his house, whither his wife
was come home a good while ago and gone to bed. So away
home with my wife, between displeased with the dull dancing,
and satisfied at the clothes and persons. My Lady Castlemayne,
without whom all is nothing, being there, very rich, though not
dancing. And so after supper, it being very cold, to bed.
16th. Up again betimes to attend the examination of Mr. Gaw-
den’s, accounts, where we all met, but I did little but fit myself
for the drawing my great letter to the Duke of York of the state of
the Navy for want of money. At noon to the ‘Change, and thence
back to the new taverne come by us; the Three Tuns, where D.
Gawden did feast us all with a chine of beef and other good
things, and an infinite dish of fowl, but all spoiled in the dressing.
This noon I met with Mr. Hooke, and he tells me the dog which
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NOVEMBER 1666
was filled with another dog’s blood, at the College the other day,
is very well, and like to be so as ever, and doubts not its being
found of great use to men; and so do Dr. Whistler, who dined
with us at the taverne. Thence home in the evening, and I to my
preparing my letter, and did go a pretty way in it, staying late
upon it, and then home to supper and to bed, the weather being
on a sudden set in to be very cold.
17th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon
home to dinner, and in the afternoon shut myself in my chamber,
and there till twelve at night finishing my great letter to the Duke
of York, which do lay the ill condition of the Navy so open to him,
that it is impossible if the King and he minds any thing of their
business, but it will operate upon them to set all matters right,
and get money to carry on the war, before it be too late, or else
lay out for a peace upon any termes. It was a great convenience
to-night that what I had writ foule in short hand, I could read to
W. Hewer, and he take it fair in short hand, so as I can read it
to-morrow to Sir W. Coventry, and then come home, and Hewer
read it to me while I take it in long-hand to present, which saves
me much time. So to bed.
18th (Lord’s day). Up by candle-light and on foote to White
Hall, where by appointment I met Lord Bruncker at Sir W.
Coventry’s chamber, and there I read over my great letter, and
they approved it: and as I do do our business in defence of the
Board, so I think it is as good a letter in the manner, and believe
it is the worst in the matter of it, as ever come from any office to
a Prince. Back home in my Lord Bruncker’s coach, and there W.
Hewer and I to write it over fair; dined at noon, and Mercer with
us, and mighty merry, and then to finish my letter; and it being
three o’clock ere we had done, when I come to Sir W. Batten; he
was in a huffe, which I made light of, but he signed the letter,
though he would not go, and liked the letter well. Sir W. Pen, it
seems, he would not stay for it: so, making slight of Sir W. Pen’s
putting so much weight upon his hand to Sir W. Batten, I down
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NOVEMBER 1666
to the Tower Wharf, and there got a sculler, and to White Hall,
and there met Lord Bruncker, and he signed it, and so I delivered
it to Mr. Cheving,585 and he to Sir W. Coventry, in the cabinet, the
King and councill being sitting, where I leave it to its fortune, and
I by water home again, and to my chamber, to even my Journall;
and then comes Captain Cocke to me, and he and I a great deal
of melancholy discourse of the times, giving all over for gone,
though now the Parliament will soon finish the Bill for money.
But we fear, if we had it, as matters are now managed, we shall
never make the best of it, but consume it all to no purpose or a
bad one. He being gone, I again to my Journall and finished it,
and so to supper and to bed.
19th. Lay pretty long in bed talking with pleasure with my
wife, and then up and all the morning at my own chamber fitting
some Tangier matters against the afternoon for a meeting. This
morning also came Mr. Caesar, and I heard him on the lute very
finely, and my boy begins to play well. After dinner I carried
and set my wife down at her brother’s, and then to Barkeshire-
house, where my Lord Chancellor hath been ever since the fire,
but he is not come home yet, so I to Westminster Hall, where
the Lords newly up and the Commons still sitting. Here I met
with Mr. Robinson, who did give me a printed paper wherein he
states his pretence to the post office, and intends to petition the
Parliament in it. Thence I to the Bull-head tavern, where I have
not been since Mr. Chetwind and the time of our club, and here
had six bottles of claret filled, and I sent them to Mrs. Martin,
whom I had promised some of my owne, and, having none of my
owne, sent her this. Thence to my Lord Chancellor’s, and there
Mr. Creed and Gawden, Cholmley, and Sir G. Carteret walking
in the Park over against the house. I walked with Sir G. Carteret,
585 William Chiffinch, pimp to Charles II. and receiver of the secret pen-
sions paid by the French Court. He succeeded his brother, Thomas Chiffinch
(who died in April, 1666), as Keeper of the King’s Private Closet (see note,
vol. v., p. 265). He is introduced by Scott into his “Peveril of the Peak.”
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NOVEMBER 1666
who I find displeased with the letter I have drawn and sent in
yesterday, finding fault with the account we give of the ill state of
the Navy, but I said little, only will justify the truth of it. Here we
walked to and again till one dropped away after another, and so
I took coach to White Hall, and there visited my Lady Jemimah,
at Sir G. Carteret’s lodgings. Here was Sir Thomas Crew, and
he told me how hot words grew again to-day in the House of
Lords between my Lord Ossory and Ashly, the former saying that
something said by the other was said like one of Oliver’s Council.
Ashly said that he must give him reparation, or he would take it
his owne way. The House therefore did bring my Lord Ossory
to confess his fault, and ask pardon for it, as he was also to my
Lord Buckingham, for saying that something was not truth that
my Lord Buckingham had said. This will render my Lord Ossory
very little in a little time. By and by away, and calling my wife
went home, and then a little at Sir W. Batten’s to hear news, but
nothing, and then home to supper, whither Captain Cocke, half
foxed, come and sat with us, and so away, and then we to bed.
20th. Called up by Mr. Sheply, who is going into the coun-
try to-day to Hinchingbroke, I sent my service to my Lady, and
in general for newes: that the world do think well of my Lord,
and do wish he were here again, but that the publique matters of
the State as to the war are in the worst condition that is possible.
By and by Sir W. Warren, and with him half an hour discours-
ing of several businesses, and some I hope will bring me a little
profit. He gone, and Sheply, I to the office a little, and then to
church, it being thanksgiving-day for the cessation of the plague;
but, Lord! how the towne do say that it is hastened before the
plague is quite over, there dying some people still,586 but only to
get ground for plays to be publickly acted, which the Bishops
would not suffer till the plague was over; and one would thinke
586 According to the Bills of Mortality seven persons died in London of the
plague during the week November 20th to 27th; and for some weeks after
deaths continued from this cause.
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NOVEMBER 1666
so, by the suddenness of the notice given of the day, which was
last Sunday, and the little ceremony. The sermon being dull of
Mr. Minnes, and people with great indifferency come to hear
him. After church home, where I met Mr. Gregory, who I did
then agree with to come to teach my wife to play on the Viall,
and he being an able and sober man, I am mightily glad of it. He
had dined, therefore went away, and I to dinner, and after din-
ner by coach to Barkeshire-house, and there did get a very great
meeting; the Duke of York being there, and much business done,
though not in proportion to the greatness of the business, and my
Lord Chancellor sleeping and snoring the greater part of the time.
Among other things I declared the state of our credit as to tallys
to raise money by, and there was an order for payment of £5000
to Mr. Gawden, out of which I hope to get something against
Christmas. Here we sat late, and here I did hear that there are
some troubles like to be in Scotland, there being a discontented
party already risen, that have seized on the Governor of Dum-
freeze and imprisoned him,587 but the story is yet very uncertain,
and therefore I set no great weight on it. I home by Mr. Gawden
587 William Fielding, writing to Sir Phil. Musgrave from Carlisle on
November 15th, says: “Major Baxter, who has arrived from Dumfries, re-
ports that this morning a great number of horse and foot came into that
town, with drawn swords and pistols, gallopped up to Sir Jas. Turner’s lodg-
ings, seized him in his bed, carried him without clothes to the marketplace,
threatened to cut him to pieces, and seized and put into the Tollbooth all the
foot soldiers that were with him; they also secured the minister of Dumfries.
Many of the party were lairds and county people from Galloway–200 horse
well mounted, one minister was with them who had swords and pistols, and
200 or 300 foot, some with clubs, others with scythes.” On November 17th
Rob. Meine wrote to Williamson: “On the 15th 120 fanatics from the Glenk-
ins, Deray; and neighbouring parishes in Dumfriesshire, none worth £10
except two mad fellows, the lairds of Barscob and Corsuck, came to Dum-
fries early in the morning, seized Sir Jas. Turner, commander of a company
of men in Dumfriesshire, and carried him, without violence to others, to
a strong house in Maxwell town, Galloway, declaring they sought only re-
venge against the tyrant who had been severe with them for not keeping
to church, and had laid their families waste” (“Calendar of State Papers,”
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NOVEMBER 1666
in his coach, and so with great pleasure to spend the evening at
home upon my Lyra Viall, and then to supper and to bed. With
mighty peace of mind and a hearty desire that I had but what I
have quietly in the country, but, I fear, I do at this day see the best
that either I or the rest of our nation will ever see.
21st. Up, with Sir W. Batten to Charing Cross, and thence I to
wait on Sir Philip Howard, whom I find dressing himself in his
night-gown and turban like a Turke, but one of the finest per-
sons that ever I saw in my life. He had several gentlemen of his
owne waiting on him, and one playing finely on the gittar: he
discourses as well as ever I heard man, in few words and hand-
some. He expressed all kindness to Balty, when I told him how
sick he is: he says that, before he comes to be mustered again, he
must bring a certificate of his swearing the oaths of Allegiance
and Supremacy, and having taken the Sacrament according to the
rites of the Church of England. This, I perceive, is imposed on all,
and he will be ready to do. I pray God he may have his health
again to be able to do it. Being mightily satisfied with his civil-
ity, I away to Westminster Hall, and there walked with several
people, and all the discourse is about some trouble in Scotland I
heard of yesterday, but nobody can tell the truth of it. Here was
Betty Michell with her mother. I would have carried her home,
but her father intends to go with her, so I lost my hopes. And
thence I to the Excise Office about some tallies, and then to the
Exchange, where I did much business, and so home to dinner,
and then to the office, where busy all the afternoon till night, and
then home to supper, and after supper an hour reading to my
wife and brother something in Chaucer with great pleasure, and
so to bed.
22nd. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
my Lord Bruncker did show me Hollar’s new print of the City,
with a pretty representation of that part which is burnt, very fine
1666-67, pp. 262, 268).
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NOVEMBER 1666
indeed; and tells me that he was yesterday sworn the King’s ser-
vant, and that the King hath commanded him to go on with his
great map of the City, which he was upon before the City was
burned, like Gombout of Paris, which I am glad of. At noon home
to dinner, where my wife and I fell out, I being displeased with
her cutting away a lace handkercher sewed about the neck down
to her breasts almost, out of a belief, but without reason, that it is
the fashion. Here we did give one another the lie too much, but
were presently friends, and then I to my office, where very late
and did much business, and then home, and there find Mr. Bate-
lier, and did sup and play at cards awhile. But he tells me the
newes how the King of France hath, in defiance to the King of
England, caused all his footmen to be put into vests, and that the
noblemen of France will do the like; which, if true, is the greatest
indignity ever done by one Prince to another, and would incite
a stone to be revenged; and I hope our King will, if it be so, as
he tells me it is:588 being told by one that come over from Paris
588 Planche throws some doubt on this story in his “Cyclopaedia of Cos-
tume” (vol. ii., p. 240), and asks the question, “Was Mr. Batelier hoaxing the
inquisitive secretary, or was it the idle gossip of the day, as untrustworthy
as such gossip is in general?” But the same statement was made by the au-
thor of the “Character of a Trimmer,” who wrote from actual knowledge of
the Court: “About this time a general humour, in opposition to France, had
made us throw off their fashion, and put on vests, that we might look more
like a distinct people, and not be under the servility of imitation, which ever
pays a greater deference to the original than is consistent with the equality
all independent nations should pretend to. France did not like this small be-
ginning of ill humours, at least of emulation; and wisely considering, that it
is a natural introduction, first to make the world their apes, that they may be
afterwards their slaves. It was thought, that one of the instructions Madame
[Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans] brought along with her, was to laugh us
out of these vests; which she performed so effectually, that in a moment,
like so many footmen who had quitted their master’s livery, we all took it
again, and returned to our old service; so that the very time of doing it gave
a very critical advantage to France, since it looked like an evidence of our
returning to her interest, as well as to their fashion. “The Character of a
Trimmer” (“Miscellanies by the Marquis of Halifax,” 1704, p. 164). Evelyn
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with my Lady Fanshaw, who is come over with the dead body of
her husband, and that saw it before he come away. This makes
me mighty merry, it being an ingenious kind of affront; but yet it
makes me angry, to see that the King of England is become so lit-
tle as to have the affront offered him. So I left my people at cards,
and so to my chamber to read, and then to bed. Batelier did bring
us some oysters to-night, and some bottles of new French wine
of this year, mighty good, but I drank but little. This noon Bag-
well’s wife was with me at the office, and I did what I would, and
at night comes Mrs. Burroughs, and appointed to meet upon the
next holyday and go abroad together.
23rd. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes to White Hall, where we
and the rest attended the Duke of York, where, among other
things, we had a complaint of Sir William Jennings against his
lieutenant, Le Neve, one that had been long the Duke’s page,
and for whom the Duke of York hath great kindness. It was a
drunken quarrel, where one was as blameable as the other. It was
referred to further examination, but the Duke of York declared,
that as he would not favour disobedience, so neither drunken-
ness, and therein he said very well. Thence with Sir W. Coventry
to Westminster Hall, and there parted, he having told me how
Sir J. Minnes do disagree from the proposition of resigning his
place, and that so the whole matter is again at a stand, at which
I am sorry for the King’s sake, but glad that Sir W. Pen is again
defeated, for I would not have him come to be Comptroller if I
could help it, he will be so cruel proud. Here I spoke with Sir
G. Downing about our prisoners in Holland, and their being re-
leased; which he is concerned in, and most of them are. Then,
discoursing of matters of the House of Parliament, he tells me
that it is not the fault of the House, but the King’s own party, that
have hindered the passing of the Bill for money, by their pop-
reports that when the king expressed his intention never to alter this fashion,
“divers courtiers and gentlemen gave his Majesty gold by way of wager that
he would not persist in this resolution” (“Diary,” October 18th, 1666).
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ping in of new projects for raising it: which is a strange thing;
and mighty confident he is, that what money is raised, will be
raised and put into the same form that the last was, to come into
the Exchequer; and, for aught I see, I must confess I think it is
the best way. Thence down to the Hall, and there walked awhile,
and all the talk is about Scotland, what news thence; but there
is nothing come since the first report, and so all is given over
for nothing. Thence home, and after dinner to my chamber with
Creed, who come and dined with me, and he and I to reckon for
his salary, and by and by comes in Colonel Atkins, and I did the
like with him, and it was Creed’s design to bring him only for his
own ends, to seem to do him a courtesy, and it is no great matter.
The fellow I hate, and so I think all the world else do. Then to
talk of my report I am to make of the state of our wants of money
to the Lord Treasurer, but our discourse come to little. However,
in the evening, to be rid of him, I took coach and saw him to the
Temple and there ‘light, and he being gone, with all the haste
back again and to my chamber late to enter all this day’s matters
of account, and to draw up my report to my Lord Treasurer, and
so to bed. At the Temple I called at Playford’s, and there find
that his new impression of his ketches589 are not yet out, the fire
having hindered it, but his man tells me that it will be a very fine
piece, many things new being added to it.
24th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon rose and to my closet, and finished my report to my Lord
Treasurer of our Tangier wants, and then with Sir J. Minnes by
coach to Stepney to the Trinity House, where it is kept again now
since the burning of their other house in London. And here a
great many met at Sir Thomas Allen’s feast, of his being made
589 John Hilton’s “Catch that catch can, or a Choice Collection of Catches,
Rounds and Canons for 3 or 4 voyces,” was first published by Playford in
1651 or 1652. The book was republished “with large additions by John Play-
ford” in 1658. The edition referred to in the text was published in 1667 with
a second title of “The Musical Companion.” The book was republished in
1672-73.
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an Elder Brother; but he is sick, and so could not be there. Here
was much good company, and very merry; but the discourse of
Scotland, it seems, is confirmed, and that they are 4000 of them
in armes, and do declare for King and Covenant, which is very
ill news. I pray God deliver us from the ill consequences we may
justly fear from it. Here was a good venison pasty or two and
other good victuals; but towards the latter end of the dinner I
rose, and without taking leave went away from the table, and
got Sir J. Minnes’ coach and away home, and thence with my re-
port to my Lord Treasurer’s, where I did deliver it to Sir Philip
Warwicke for my Lord, who was busy, my report for him to con-
sider against to-morrow’s council. Sir Philip Warwicke, I find,
is full of trouble in his mind to see how things go, and what our
wants are; and so I have no delight to trouble him with discourse,
though I honour the man with all my heart, and I think him to
be a very able and right honest man. So away home again, and
there to my office to write my letters very late, and then home
to supper, and then to read the late printed discourse of witches
by a member of Gresham College, and then to bed; the discourse
being well writ, in good stile, but methinks not very convincing.
This day Mr. Martin is come to tell me his wife is brought to bed
of a girle, and I promised to christen it next Sunday.
25th (Lord’s day). Up, and with Sir J. Minnes by coach to White
Hall, and there coming late, I to rights to the chapel, where in my
usual place I heard one of the King’s chaplains, one Mr. Floyd,
preach. He was out two or three times in his prayer, and as many
in his sermon, but yet he made a most excellent good sermon,
of our duty to imitate the lives and practice of Christ and the
saints departed, and did it very handsomely and excellent stile;
but was a little overlarge in magnifying the graces of the nobil-
ity and prelates, that we have seen in our memorys in the world,
whom God hath taken from us. At the end of the sermon an ex-
cellent anthem; but it was a pleasant thing, an idle companion
in our pew, a prating, bold counsellor that hath been heretofore
at the Navy Office, and noted for a great eater and drinker, not
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for quantity, but of the best, his name Tom Bales, said, “I know
a fitter anthem for this sermon,” speaking only of our duty of
following the saints, and I know not what. “Cooke should have
sung, ‘Come, follow, follow me.”’ I After sermon up into the
gallery, and then to Sir G. Carteret’s to dinner; where much com-
pany. Among others, Mr. Carteret and my Lady Jemimah, and
here was also Mr. [John] Ashburnham, the great man, who is a
pleasant man, and that hath seen much of the world, and more
of the Court. After dinner Sir G. Carteret and I to another room,
and he tells me more and more of our want of money and in how
ill condition we are likely to be soon in, and that he believes we
shall not have a fleete at sea the next year. So do I believe; but
he seems to speak it as a thing expected by the King and as if
their matters were laid accordingly. Thence into the Court and
there delivered copies of my report to my Lord Treasurer, to the
Duke of York, Sir W. Coventry, and others, and attended there
till the Council met, and then was called in, and I read my let-
ter. My Lord Treasurer declared that the King had nothing to
give till the Parliament did give him some money. So the King
did of himself bid me to declare to all that would take our tallys
for payment, that he should, soon as the Parliament’s money do
come in, take back their tallys, and give them money: which I
giving him occasion to repeat to me, it coming from him against
the ‘gre’590 I perceive, of my Lord Treasurer, I was content there-
with, and went out, and glad that I have got so much. Here staid
till the Council rose, walking in the gallery. All the talke being
of Scotland, where the highest report, I perceive, runs but upon
three or four hundred in armes; but they believe that it will grow
more, and do seem to apprehend it much, as if the King of France
had a hand in it. My Lord Lauderdale do make nothing of it, it
seems, and people do censure him for it, he from the beginning
590 Apparently a translation of the French ‘contre le gre’, and presumably
an expression in common use. “Against the grain” is generally supposed to
have its origin in the use of a plane against the grain of the wood.
2108
NOVEMBER 1666
saying that there was nothing in it, whereas it do appear to be a
pure rebellion; but no persons of quality being in it, all do hope
that it cannot amount to much. Here I saw Mrs. Stewart this af-
ternoon, methought the beautifullest creature that ever I saw in
my life, more than ever I thought her so, often as I have seen her;
and I begin to think do exceed my Lady Castlemayne, at least
now. This being St. Catherine’s day, the Queene was at masse by
seven o’clock this morning; and. Mr. Ashburnham do say that he
never saw any one have so much zeale in his life as she hath: and,
the question being asked by my Lady Carteret, much beyond the
bigotry that ever the old Queen-mother had. I spoke with Mr.
Maya who tells me that the design of building the City do go on
apace, and by his description it will be mighty handsome, and to
the satisfaction of the people; but I pray God it come not out too
late. The Council up, after speaking with Sir W. Coventry a little,
away home with Captain Cocke in his coach, discourse about the
forming of his contract he made with us lately for hempe, and
so home, where we parted, and I find my uncle Wight and Mrs.
Wight and Woolly, who staid and supped, and mighty merry to-
gether, and then I to my chamber to even my journal, and then to
bed. I will remember that Mr. Ashburnham to-day at dinner told
how the rich fortune Mrs. Mallett reports of her servants; that my
Lord Herbert would have had her; my Lord Hinchingbroke was
indifferent to have her;591 my Lord John Butler might not have
her; my Lord of Rochester would have forced her;592 and Sir——
591 They had quarrelled (see August 26th). She, perhaps, was piqued
at Lord Hinchingbroke’s refusal “to compass the thing without consent of
friends” (see February 25th), whence her expression, “indifferent” to have
her. It is worthy of remark that their children intermarried; Lord Hinching-
broke’s son married Lady Rochester’s daughter.–B.
592 Of the lady thus sought after, whom Pepys calls “a beauty” as well as a
fortune, and who shortly afterwards, about the 4th February, 1667, became
the wife of the Earl of Rochester, then not twenty years old, no authentic
portrait is known to exist. When Mr. Miller, of Albemarle Street, in 1811,
proposed to publish an edition of the “Memoires de Grammont,” he sent an
2109
NOVEMBER 1666
Popham, who nevertheless is likely to have her, would kiss her
breach to have her.
26th. Up, and to my chamber to do some business. Then to
speak with several people, among others with Mrs. Burroughs,
whom I appointed to meet me at the New Exchange in the after-
noon. I by water to Westminster, and there to enquire after my
tallies, which I shall get this week. Thence to the Swan, having
sent for some burnt claret, and there by and by comes Doll Lane,
and she and I sat and drank and talked a great while, among
other things about her sister’s being brought to bed, and I to be
godfather to the girle. I did tumble Doll, and do almost what I
would with her, and so parted, and I took coach, and to the New
Exchange, buying a neat’s tongue by the way, thinking to eat it
out of town, but there I find Burroughs in company of an old
woman, an aunt of hers, whom she could not leave for half an
hour. So after buying a few baubles to while away time, I down
to Westminster, and there into the House of Parliament, where,
at a great Committee, I did hear, as long as I would, the great
case against my Lord Mordaunt, for some arbitrary proceedings
of his against one Taylor, whom he imprisoned, and did all the
violence to imaginable, only to get him to give way to his abus-
ing his daughter. Here was Mr. Sawyer, my old chamber-fellow,
a counsel against my Lord; and I am glad to see him in so good
play. Here I met, before the committee sat, with my cozen Roger
Pepys, the first time I have spoke with him this parliament. He
artist to Windsor to copy there the portraits which he could find of those who
figure in that work. In the list given to him for this purpose was the name
of Lady Rochester. Not finding amongst the “Beauties,” or elsewhere, any
genuine portrait of her, but seeing that by Hamilton she is absurdly styled
“une triste heritiere,” the artist made a drawing from some unknown por-
trait at Windsor of a lady of a sorrowful countenance, and palmed it off upon
the bookseller. In the edition of “Grammont” it is not actually called Lady
Rochester, but “La Triste Heritiere.” A similar falsification had been prac-
tised in Edwards’s edition of 1793, but a different portrait had been copied.
It is needless, almost, to remark how ill applied is Hamilton’s epithet.–B.
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NOVEMBER 1666
hath promised to come, and bring Madam Turner with him, who
is come to towne to see the City, but hath lost all her goods of
all kinds in Salisbury Court, Sir William Turner having not en-
deavoured, in her absence, to save one penny, to dine with me
on Friday next, of which I am glad. Roger bids me to help him to
some good rich widow; for he is resolved to go, and retire wholly,
into the country; for, he says, he is confident we shall be all ru-
ined very speedily, by what he sees in the State, and I am much
in his mind. Having staid as long as I thought fit for meeting of
Burroughs, I away and to the ‘Change again, but there I do not
find her now, I having staid too long at the House, and there-
fore very hungry, having eat nothing to-day. Home, and there to
eat presently, and then to the office a little, and to Sir W. Batten,
where Sir J. Minnes and Captain Cocke was; but no newes from
the North at all to-day; and the newes-book makes the business
nothing, but that they are all dispersed. I pray God it may prove
so. So home, and, after a little, to my chamber to bed.
27th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
here I had a letter from Mr. Brisband on another occasion, which,
by the by, intimates my Lord Hinchingbroke’s intention to come
and dine with me to-morrow. This put me into a great surprise,
and therefore endeavoured all I could to hasten over our busi-
ness at the office, and so home at noon and to dinner, and then
away by coach, it being a very foul day, to White Hall, and there
at Sir G. Carteret’s find my Lord Hinchingbroke, who promises
to dine with me to-morrow, and bring Mr. Carteret along with
him. Here I staid a little while talking with him and the ladies,
and then away to my Lord Crew’s, and then did by the by make
a visit to my Lord Crew, and had some good discourse with him,
he doubting that all will break in pieces in the kingdom; and
that the taxes now coming out, which will tax the same man in
three or four several capacities, as for lands, office, profession,
and money at interest, will be the hardest that ever come out;
and do think that we owe it, and the lateness of its being given,
wholly to the unpreparedness of the King’s own party, to make
2111
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their demand and choice; for they have obstructed the giving it
by land-tax, which had been done long since. Having ended my
visit, I spoke to Sir Thomas Crew, to invite him and his brother
John to dinner tomorrow, at my house, to meet Lord Hinching-
broke; and so homewards, calling at the cook’s, who is to dress
it, to bespeak him, and then home, and there set things in or-
der for a very fine dinner, and then to the office, where late very
busy and to good purpose as to dispatch of business, and then
home. To bed, my people sitting up to get things in order against
to-morrow. This evening was brought me what Griffin had, as
he says, taken this evening off of the table in the office, a letter
sealed and directed to the Principal Officers and Commissioners
of the Navy. It is a serious and just libel against our disorder in
paying of our money, making ten times more people wait than
we have money for, and complaining by name of Sir W. Batten
for paying away great sums to particular people, which is true. I
was sorry to see this way of reproach taken against us, but more
sorry that there is true ground for it.
28th. Up, and with Sir W. Pen to White Hall (setting his lady
and daughter down by the way at a mercer’s in the Strand, where
they are going to lay out some money), where, though it blows
hard and rains hard, yet the Duke of York is gone a-hunting.
We therefore lost our labour, and so back again, and by hack-
ney coach to secure places to get things ready against dinner,
and then home, and did the like there, and to my great satis-
faction: and at noon comes my Lord Hinchingbroke, Sir Thomas
Crew, Mr. John Crew, Mr. Carteret, and Brisband. I had six no-
ble dishes for them, dressed by a man-cook, and commended,
as indeed they deserved, for exceeding well done. We eat with
great pleasure, and I enjoyed myself in it with reflections upon
the pleasures which I at best can expect, yet not to exceed this;
eating in silver plates, and all things mighty rich and handsome
about me. A great deal of fine discourse, sitting almost till dark
at dinner, and then broke up with great pleasure, especially to
myself; and they away, only Mr. Carteret and I to Gresham Col-
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NOVEMBER 1666
lege, where they meet now weekly again, and here they had good
discourse how this late experiment of the dog, which is in per-
fect good health, may be improved for good uses to men, and
other pretty things, and then broke up. Here was Mr. Henry
Howard, that will hereafter be Duke of Norfolke, who is admit-
ted this day into the Society, and being a very proud man, and
one that values himself upon his family, writes his name, as he
do every where, Henry Howard of Norfolke. Thence home and
there comes my Lady Pen, Pegg, and Mrs. Turner, and played
at cards and supped with us, and were pretty merry, and Pegg
with me in my closet a good while, and did suffer me ‘a la baiser
mouche et toucher ses cosas’ upon her breast, wherein I had great
pleasure, and so spent the evening and then broke up, and I to
bed, my mind mightily pleased with the day’s entertainment.
29th. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning. At
noon home to dinner, where I find Balty come out to see us,
but looks like death, and I do fear he is in a consumption; he
has not been abroad many weeks before, and hath now a well
day, and a fit day of the headake in extraordinary torture. After
dinner left him and his wife, they having their mother hard by
and my wife, and I a wet afternoon to White Hall to have seen
my Lady Carteret and Jemimah, but as God would have it they
were abroad, and I was well contented at it. So my wife and I
to Westminster Hall, where I left her a little, and to the Exche-
quer, and then presently home again, calling at our man-cooke’s
for his help to-morrow, but he could not come. So I home to the
office, my people all busy to get a good dinner to-morrow again.
I late at the office, and all the newes I hear I put into a letter this
night to my Lord Bruncker at Chatham, thus:– “I doubt not of
your lordship’s hearing of Sir Thomas Clifford’s succeeding Sir
H. Pollard’ in the Comptrollership of the King’s house; but per-
haps our ill, but confirmed, tidings from the Barbadoes may not
[have reached you] yet, it coming but yesterday; viz., that about
eleven ships, whereof two of the King’s, the Hope and Coven-
try, going thence with men to attack St. Christopher’s, were
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NOVEMBER 1666
seized by a violent hurricane, and all sunk–two only of thirteen
escaping, and those with loss of masts, &c. My Lord Willoughby
himself is involved in the disaster, and I think two ships thrown
upon an island of the French, and so all the men, to 500, become
their prisoners. ‘Tis said, too, that eighteen Dutch men-of-war
are passed the Channell, in order to meet with our Smyrna ships;
and some, I hear, do fright us with the King of Sweden’s seizing
our mast-ships at Gottenburgh. But we have too much ill newes
true, to afflict ourselves with what is uncertain. That which I hear
from Scotland is, the Duke of York’s saying, yesterday, that he is
confident the Lieutenant-Generall there hath driven them into a
pound, somewhere towards the mountains.”
Having writ my letter, I home to supper and to bed, the world
being mightily troubled at the ill news from Barbadoes, and the
consequence of the Scotch business, as little as we do make of
it. And to shew how mad we are at home, here, and unfit for
any troubles: my Lord St. John did, a day or two since, openly
pull a gentleman in Westminster Hall by the nose, one Sir An-
drew Henly, while the judges were upon their benches, and the
other gentleman did give him a rap over the pate with his cane,
of which fray the judges, they say, will make a great matter: men
are only sorry the gentle man did proceed to return a blow; for,
otherwise, my Lord would have been soundly fined for the af-
front, and may be yet for his affront to the judges.
30th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall, and there we
did attend the Duke of York, and had much business with him;
and pretty to see, it being St. Andrew’s day, how some few did
wear St. Andrew’s crosse; but most did make a mockery at it, and
the House of Parliament, contrary to practice, did sit also: people
having no mind to observe the Scotch saints’ days till they hear
better newes from Scotland. Thence to Westminster Hall and the
Abbey, thinking as I had appointed to have met Mrs. Burroughs
there, but not meeting her I home, and just overtook my cozen
Roger Pepys, Mrs. Turner, Dicke, and Joyce Norton, coming by
2114
NOVEMBER 1666
invitation to dine with me. These ladies I have not seen since
before the plague. Mrs. Turner is come to towne to look after
her things in her house, but all is lost. She is quite weary of the
country, but cannot get her husband to let her live here any more,
which troubles her mightily. She was mighty angry with me, that
in all this time I never writ to her, which I do think and take to
myself as a fault, and which I have promised to mend. Here I
had a noble and costly dinner for them, dressed by a man-cooke,
as that the other day was, and pretty merry we were, as I could
be with this company and so great a charge. We sat long, and
after much talk of the plenty of her country in fish, but in noth-
ing also that is pleasing, we broke up with great kindness, and
when it begun to be dark we parted, they in one coach home,
and I in another to Westminster Hall, where by appointment Mrs.
Burroughs and I were to meet, but did not after I had spent the
whole evening there. Only I did go drink at the Swan, and there
did meet with Sarah, who is now newly married, and there I did
lay the beginnings of a future ‘amour con elle’..... Thence it being
late away called at Mrs. Burroughs’ mother’s door, and she come
out to me, and I did hazer whatever I would.... and then parted,
and home, and after some playing at cards with my wife, we to
supper and to bed.
2115
DECEMBER 1666
December 1st. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morn-
ing. At home to dinner, and then abroad walking to the Old
Swan, and in my way I did see a cellar in Tower Streete in a very
fresh fire, the late great winds having blown it up.593 It seemed
to be only of log-wood, that Hath kept the fire all this while
in it. Going further, I met my late Lord Mayor Bludworth, un-
der whom the City was burned, and went with him by water to
White Hall. But, Lord! the silly talk that this fellow had, only
how ready he would be to part with all his estate in these dif-
ficult times to advance the King’s service, and complaining that
now, as every body did lately in the fire, every body endeavours
to save himself, and let the whole perish: but a very weak man
he seems to be. I left him at White Hall, he giving 6d. towards
the boat, and I to Westminster Hall, where I was again defeated
in my expectation of Burroughs. However, I was not much sorry
for it, but by coach home, in the evening, calling at Faythorne’s,
buying three of my Lady Castlemayne’s heads, printed this day,
which indeed is, as to the head, I think, a very fine picture, and
like her. I did this afternoon get Mrs. Michell to let me only
593 The fire continued burning in some cellars of the ruins of the city for
four months, though it rained in the month of October ten days without
ceasing (Rugge’s “Diurnal”).–B.
2116
DECEMBER 1666
have a sight of a pamphlet lately printed, but suppressed and
much called after, called “The Catholique’s Apology;” lamenting
the severity of the Parliament against them, and comparing it
with the lenity of other princes to Protestants; giving old and late
instances of their loyalty to their princes, whatever is objected
against them; and excusing their disquiets in Queen Elizabeth’s
time, for that it was impossible for them to think her a lawfull
Queen, if Queen Mary, who had been owned as such, were so;
one being the daughter of the true, and the other of a false wife:
and that of the Gunpowder Treason, by saying that it was only
the practice of some of us, if not the King, to trepan some of their
religion into it, it never being defended by the generality of their
Church, nor indeed known by them; and ends with a large Cat-
alogue, in red letters, of the Catholiques which have lost their
lives in the quarrel of the late King and this. The thing is very
well writ indeed. So home to my letters, and then to my supper
and to bed.
2nd (Lord’s day). Up, and to church, and after church home to
dinner, where I met Betty Michell and her husband, very merry
at dinner, and after dinner, having borrowed Sir W. Pen’s coach,
we to Westminster, they two and my wife and I to Mr. Mar-
tin’s, where find the company almost all come to the christen-
ing of Mrs. Martin’s child, a girl. A great deal of good plain
company. After sitting long, till the church was done, the Par-
son comes, and then we to christen the child. I was Godfather,
and Mrs. Holder (her husband, a good man, I know well), and a
pretty lady, that waits, it seems, on my Lady Bath, at White Hall,
her name, Mrs. Noble, were Godmothers. After the christening
comes in the wine and the sweetmeats, and then to prate and tat-
tle, and then very good company they were, and I among them.
Here was old Mrs. Michell and Howlett, and several married
women of the Hall, whom I knew mayds. Here was also Mrs.
Burroughs and Mrs. Bales, the young widow, whom I led home,
and having staid till the moon was up, I took my pretty gossip
to White Hall with us, and I saw her in her lodging, and then
2117
DECEMBER 1666
my owne company again took coach, and no sooner in the coach
but something broke, that we were fain there to stay till a smith
could be fetched, which was above an hour, and then it costing
me 6s. to mend. Away round by the wall and Cow Lane,594 for
fear it should break again; and in pain about the coach all the
way. But to ease myself therein Betty Michell did sit at the same
end with me. ... Being very much pleased with this, we at last
come home, and so to supper, and then sent them by boat home,
and we to bed. When I come home I went to Sir W. Batten’s, and
there I hear more ill newes still: that all our New England fleete,
which went out lately, are put back a third time by foul weather,
and dispersed, some to one port and some to another; and their
convoys also to Plymouth; and whether any of them be lost or
not, we do not know. This, added to all the rest, do lay us flat in
our hopes and courages, every body prophesying destruction to
the nation.
3rd. Up, and, among a great many people that come to speak
with me, one was my Lord Peterborough’s gentleman, who
comes to me to dun me to get some money advanced for my
Lord; and I demanding what newes, he tells me that at Court
they begin to fear the business of Scotland more and more; and
that the Duke of York intends to go to the North to raise an army,
and that the King would have some of the Nobility and others
to go and assist; but they were so served the last year, among
others his Lord, in raising forces at their own charge, for fear of
the French invading us, that they will not be got out now, with-
out money advanced to them by the King, and this is like to be
the King’s case for certain, if ever he comes to have need of any
army. He and others gone, I by water to Westminster, and there
to the Exchequer, and put my tallys in a way of doing for the last
quarter. But my not following it the last week has occasioned the
clerks some trouble, which I am sorry for, and they are mad at.
594 Cow Lane, West Smithfield (now named King Street), was famous for
its coachmakers.
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DECEMBER 1666
Thence at noon home, and there find Kate Joyce, who dined with
me: Her husband and she are weary of their new life of being an
Innkeeper, and will leave it, and would fain get some office; but
I know none the foole is fit for, but would be glad to help them,
if I could, though they have enough to live on, God be thanked!
though their loss hath been to the value of £3000 W. Joyce now
has all the trade, she says, the trade being come to that end of
the towne. She dined with me, my wife being ill of her months
in bed. I left her with my wife, and away myself to Westminster
Hall by appointment and there found out Burroughs, and I took
her by coach as far as the Lord Treasurer’s and called at the cake
house by Hales’s, and there in the coach eat and drank and then
carried her home.... So having set her down in the palace I to the
Swan, and there did the first time ‘baiser’ the little sister of Sarah
that is come into her place, and so away by coach home, where to
my vyall and supper and then to bed, being weary of the follow-
ing of my pleasure and sorry for my omitting (though with a true
salvo to my vowes) the stating my last month’s accounts in time,
as I should, but resolve to settle, and clear all my business before
me this month, that I may begin afresh the next yeare, and enjoy
some little pleasure freely at Christmasse. So to bed, and with
more cheerfulness than I have done a good while, to hear that
for certain the Scott rebells are all routed; they having been so
bold as to come within three miles of Edinburgh, and there given
two or three repulses to the King’s forces, but at last were mas-
tered. Three or four hundred killed or taken, among which their
leader, one Wallis, and seven ministers, they having all taken the
Covenant a few days before, and sworn to live and die in it, as
they did; and so all is likely to be there quiet again. There is
also the very good newes come of four New-England ships come
home safe to Falmouth with masts for the King; which is a bless-
ing mighty unexpected, and without which, if for nothing else,
we must have failed the next year. But God be praised for thus
much good fortune, and send us the continuance of his favour in
other things! So to bed.
2119
DECEMBER 1666
4th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon dined at home. After dinner presently to my office, and
there late and then home to even my Journall and accounts, and
then to supper much eased in mind, and last night’s good news,
which is more and more confirmed with particulars to very good
purpose, and so to bed.
5th. Up, and by water to White Hall, where we did much busi-
ness before the Duke of York, which being done, I away home
by water again, and there to my office till noon busy. At noon
home, and Goodgroome dined with us, who teaches my wife to
sing. After dinner I did give him my song, “Beauty retire,” which
he has often desired of me, and without flattery I think is a very
good song. He gone, I to the office, and there late, very busy
doing much business, and then home to supper and talk, and
then scold with my wife for not reckoning well the times that her
musique master hath been with her, but setting down more than
I am sure, and did convince her, they had been with her, and in
an ill humour of anger with her to bed.
6th. Up, but very good friends with her before I rose, and so
to the office, where we sat all the forenoon, and then home to
dinner, where Harman dined with us, and great sport to hear him
tell how Will Joyce grows rich by the custom of the City coming
to his end of the towne, and how he rants over his brother and
sister for their keeping an Inne, and goes thither and tears like
a prince, calling him hosteller and his sister hostess. Then after
dinner, my wife and brother, in another habit; go out to see a play;
but I am not to take notice that I know of my brother’s going. So
I to the office, where very busy till late at night, and then home.
My wife not pleased with the play, but thinks that it is because
she is grown more critical than she used to be, but my brother she
says is mighty taken with it. So to supper and to bed. This day, in
the Gazette, is the whole story of defeating the Scotch rebells, and
of the creation of the Duke of Cambridge, Knight of the Garter.
7th. Up, and by water to the Exchequer, where I got my tallys
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DECEMBER 1666
finished for the last quarter for Tangier, and having paid all my
fees I to the Swan, whither I sent for some oysters, and thither
comes Mr. Falconbridge and Spicer and many more clerks; and
there we eat and drank, and a great deal of their sorry discourse,
and so parted, and I by coach home, meeting Balty in the streete
about Charing Crosse walking, which I am glad to see and spoke
to him about his mustering business, I being now to give an ac-
count how the several muster-masters have behaved themselves,
and so home to dinner, where finding the cloth laid and much
crumpled but clean, I grew angry and flung the trenchers about
the room, and in a mighty heat I was: so a clean cloth was laid,
and my poor wife very patient, and so to dinner, and in comes
Mrs. Barbara Sheldon, now Mrs. Wood, and dined with us, she
mighty fine, and lives, I perceive, mighty happily, which I am
glad [of] for her sake, but hate her husband for a block-head in
his choice. So away after dinner, leaving my wife and her, and
by water to the Strand, and so to the King’s playhouse, where
two acts were almost done when I come in; and there I sat with
my cloak about my face, and saw the remainder of “The Mayd’s
Tragedy;” a good play, and well acted, especially by the younger
Marshall, who is become a pretty good actor, and is the first play
I have seen in either of the houses since before the great plague,
they having acted now about fourteen days publickly. But I was
in mighty pain lest I should be seen by any body to be at a play.
Soon as done I home, and then to my office awhile, and then
home and spent the night evening my Tangier accounts, much
to my satisfaction, and then to supper, and mighty good friends
with my poor wife, and so to bed.
8th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at
noon home to dinner, and there find Mr. Pierce and his wife and
Betty, a pretty girle, who in discourse at table told me the great
Proviso passed the House of Parliament yesterday; which makes
the King and Court mad, the King having given order to my Lord
Chamberlain to send to the playhouses and bawdy houses, to bid
all the Parliament-men that were there to go to the Parliament
2121
DECEMBER 1666
presently. This is true, it seems; but it was carried against the
Court by thirty or forty voices. It is a Proviso to the Poll Bill,
that there shall be a Committee of nine persons that shall have
the inspection upon oath, and power of giving others, of all the
accounts of the money given and spent for this warr. This hath a
most sad face, and will breed very ill blood. He tells me, brought
in by Sir Robert Howard, who is one of the King’s servants, at
least hath a great office, and hath got, they say, £20,000 since the
King come in. Mr. Pierce did also tell me as a great truth, as
being told it by Mr. Cowly, who was by, and heard it, that Tom
Killigrew should publiquely tell the King that his matters were
coming into a very ill state; but that yet there was a way to help
all, which is, says he, “There is a good, honest, able man, that I
could name, that if your Majesty would employ, and command
to see all things well executed, all things would soon be mended;
and this is one Charles Stuart, who now spends his time in em-
ploying his lips.... about the Court, and hath no other employ-
ment; but if you would give him this employment, he were the
fittest man in the world to perform it.” This, he says, is most
true; but the King do not profit by any of this, but lays all aside,
and remembers nothing, but to his pleasures again; which is a
sorrowful consideration. Very good company we were at dinner,
and merry, and after dinner, he being gone about business, my
wife and I and Mrs. Pierce and Betty and Balty, who come to see
us to-day very sick, and went home not well, together out, and
our coach broke the wheel off upon Ludgate Hill. So we were
fain to part ourselves and get room in other people’s coaches,
and Mrs. Pierce and I in one, and I carried her home and set her
down, and myself to the King’s playhouse, which troubles me
since, and hath cost me a forfeit of 10s., which I have paid, and
there did see a good part of “The English Monsieur,” which is a
mighty pretty play, very witty and pleasant. And the women do
very well; but, above all, little Nelly; that I am mightily pleased
with the play, and much with the House, more than ever I ex-
pected, the women doing better than ever I expected, and very
2122
DECEMBER 1666
fine women. Here I was in pain to be seen, and hid myself; but,
as God would have it, Sir John Chichly come, and sat just by me.
Thence to Mrs. Pierce’s, and there took up my wife and away
home, and to the office and Sir W. Batten’s, of whom I hear that
this Proviso in Parliament is mightily ill taken by all the Court
party as a mortal blow, and that, that strikes deep into the King’s
prerogative, which troubles me mightily. Home, and set some
papers right in my chamber, and then to supper and to bed, we
being in much fear of ill news of our colliers. A fleete of two hun-
dred sail, and fourteen Dutch men-of-war between them and us
and they coming home with small convoy; and the City in great
want, coals being at £3 3s. per chaldron, as I am told. I saw smoke
in the ruines this very day.
9th (Lord’s day). Up, not to church, but to my chamber, and
there begun to enter into this book my journall of September,
which in the fire-time I could not enter here, but in loose papers.
At noon dined, and then to my chamber all the afternoon and
night, looking over and tearing and burning all the unnecessary
letters, which I have had upon my file for four or five years back-
ward, which I intend to do quite through all my papers, that I
may have nothing by me but what is worth keeping, and fit to be
seen, if I should miscarry. At this work till midnight, and then to
supper and to bed.
10th. Up, and at my office all the morning, and several people
with me, Sir W. Warren, who I do every day more and more ad-
mire for a miracle of cunning and forecast in his business, and
then Captain Cocke, with whom I walked in the garden, and
he tells me how angry the Court is at the late Proviso brought
in by the House. How still my Lord Chancellor is, not daring
to do or say any thing to displease the Parliament; that the Par-
liament is in a very ill humour, and grows every day more and
more so; and that the unskilfulness of the Court, and their dif-
ference among one another, is the occasion of all not agreeing
in what they would have, and so they give leisure and occasion
2123
DECEMBER 1666
to the other part to run away with what the Court would not
have. Then comes Mr. Gawden, and he and I in my chamber dis-
coursing about his business, and to pay him some Tangier orders
which he delayed to receive till I had money instead of tallies,
but do promise me consideration for my victualling business for
this year, and also as Treasurer for Tangier, which I am glad of,
but would have been gladder to have just now received it. He
gone, I alone to dinner at home, my wife and her people being
gone down the river to-day for pleasure, though a cold day and
dark night to come up. In the afternoon I to the Excise Office to
enter my tallies, which I did, and come presently back again, and
then to the office and did much business, and then home to sup-
per, my wife and people being come well and hungry home from
Erith. Then I to begin the setting of a Base to “It is Decreed,” and
so to bed.
11th. Up, and to the office, where we sat, and at noon home
to dinner, a small dinner because of a good supper. After dinner
my wife and I by coach to St. Clement’s Church, to Mrs. Turner’s
lodgings, hard by, to take our leaves of her. She is returning
into the North to her children, where, I perceive, her husband
hath clearly got the mastery of her, and she is likely to spend
her days there, which for her sake I am a little sorry for, though
for his it is but fit she should live where he hath a mind. Here
were several people come to see and take leave of her, she going
to-morrow: among others, my Lady Mordant, which was Betty
Turner, a most homely widow, but young, and pretty rich, and
good natured. Thence, having promised to write every month
to her, we home, and I to my office, while my wife to get things
together for supper. Dispatching my business at the office. Anon
come our guests, old Mr. Batelier, and his son and daughter, Mer-
cer, which was all our company. We had a good venison pasty
and other good cheer, and as merry as in so good, innocent, and
understanding company I could be. He is much troubled that
wines, laden by him in France before the late proclamation was
out, cannot now be brought into England, which is so much to
2124
DECEMBER 1666
his and other merchants’ loss. We sat long at supper and then
to talk, and so late parted and so to bed. This day the Poll Bill
was to be passed, and great endeavours used to take away the
Proviso.
12th. Up, and to the office, where some accounts of Mr. Gaw-
den’s were examined, but I home most of the morning to even
some accounts with Sir H. Cholmly, Mr. Moone, and others one
after another. Sir H. Cholmly did with grief tell me how the Par-
liament hath been told plainly that the King hath been heard to
say, that he would dissolve them rather than pass this Bill with
the Proviso; but tells me, that the Proviso is removed, and now
carried that it shall be done by a Bill by itself. He tells me how
the King hath lately paid about £30,000595 to clear debts of my
Lady Castlemayne’s; and that she and her husband are parted
for ever, upon good terms, never to trouble one another more. He
says that he hears £400,000 hath gone into the Privypurse since
this warr; and that that hath consumed so much of our money,
and makes the King and Court so mad to be brought to discover
it. He gone, and after him the rest, I to the office, and at noon
to the ‘Change, where the very good newes is just come of our
four ships from Smyrna, come safe without convoy even into the
Downes, without seeing any enemy; which is the best, and in-
deed only considerable good newes to our Exchange, since the
burning of the City; and it is strange to see how it do cheer up
men’s hearts. Here I saw shops now come to be in this Exchange,
and met little Batelier, who sits here but at £3 per annum, whereas
he sat at the other at £100, which he says he believes will prove of
as good account to him now as the other did at that rent. From the
‘Change to Captain Cocke’s, and there, by agreement, dined, and
there was Charles Porter, Temple, Fern, Debasty, whose bad En-
595 Two thousand pounds of this sum went to Alderman Edward Bakewell
for two diamond rings, severally charged £1000 and £900, bought March
14th, 1665-66 (Second addenda to Steinman’s “Memoir of the Duchess of
Cleveland,” privately printed, 1878, p. 4.).
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DECEMBER 1666
glish and pleasant discourses was exceeding good entertainment,
Matt. Wren, Major Cooper, and myself, mighty merry and pretty
discourse. They talked for certain, that now the King do follow
Mrs. Stewart wholly, and my Lady Castlemayne not above once
a week; that the Duke of York do not haunt my Lady Denham
so much; that she troubles him with matters of State, being of
my Lord Bristoll’s faction, and that he avoids; that she is ill still.
After dinner I away to the office, where we sat late upon Mr.
Gawden’s accounts, Sir J. Minnes being gone home sick. I late at
the office, and then home to supper and to bed, being mightily
troubled with a pain in the small of my back, through cold, or
(which I think most true) my straining last night to get open my
plate chest, in such pain all night I could not turn myself in my
bed. Newes this day from Brampton, of Mr. Ensum, my sister’s
sweetheart, being dead: a clowne.
13th. Up, and to the office, where we sat. At noon to the
‘Change and there met Captain Cocke, and had a second time his
direction to bespeak £100 of plate, which I did at Sir R. Viner’s,
being twelve plates more, and something else I have to choose.
Thence home to dinner, and there W. Hewer dined with me, and
showed me a Gazette, in April last, which I wonder should never
be remembered by any body, which tells how several persons
were then tried for their lives, and were found guilty of a de-
sign of killing the King and destroying the Government; and as
a means to it, to burn the City; and that the day intended for
the plot was the 3rd of last September.596 And the fire did indeed
596 The “Gazette” of April 23rd-26th, 1666, which contains the following
remarkable passage: “At the Sessions in the Old Bailey, John Rathbone, an
old army colonel, William Saunders, Henry Tucker, Thomas Flint, Thomas
Evans, John Myles, Will. Westcot, and John Cole, officers or soldiers in the
late Rebellion, were indicted for conspiring the death of his Majesty and
the overthrow of the Government. Having laid their plot and contrivance
for the surprisal of the Tower, the killing his Grace the Lord General, Sir
John Robinson, Lieutenant of the Tower, and Sir Richard Brown; and then
to have declared for an equal division of lands, &c. The better to effect this
2126
DECEMBER 1666
break out on the 2nd of September, which is very strange, me-
thinks, and I shall remember it. At the office all the afternoon
late, and then home to even my accounts in my Tangier book,
which I did to great content in all respects, and joy to my heart,
and so to bed. This afternoon Sir W. Warren and Mr. Moore, one
after another, walked with me in the garden, and they both tell
me that my Lord Sandwich is called home, and that he do grow
more and more in esteem everywhere, and is better spoken of,
which I am mighty glad of, though I know well enough his de-
serving the same before, and did foresee that it will come to it.
In mighty great pain in my back still, but I perceive it changes its
place, and do not trouble me at all in making of water, and that
is my joy, so that I believe it is nothing but a strain, and for these
three or four days I perceive my overworking of my eyes by can-
dlelight do hurt them as it did the last winter, that by day I am
well and do get them right, but then after candlelight they begin
to be sore and run, so that I intend to get some green spectacles.
14th. Up, and very well again of my pain in my back, it hav-
ing been nothing but cold. By coach to White Hall, seeing many
smokes of the fire by the way yet, and took up into the coach
with me a country gentleman, who asked me room to go with
hellish design, the City was to have been fired, and the portcullis let down
to keep out all assistance; and the Horse Guards to have been surprised in
the inns where they were quartered, several ostlers having been gained for
that purpose. The Tower was accordingly viewed, and its surprise ordered
by boats over the moat, and from thence to scale the wall. One Alexander,
not yet taken, had likewise distributed money to these conspirators; and, for
the carrying on the design more effectually, they were told of a Council of the
great ones that sat frequently in London, from whom issued all orders; which
Council received their directions from another in Holland, who sat with the
States; and that the third of September was pitched on for the attempt, as
being found by Lilly’s Almanack, and a scheme erected for that purpose, to
be a lucky day, a planet then ruling which prognosticated the downfall of
Monarchy. The evidence against these persons was very full and clear, and
they were accordingly found guilty of High Treason.” See November 10th,
1666–B.
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DECEMBER 1666
me, it being dirty–one come out of the North to see his son, after
the burning his house: a merchant. Here endeavoured to wait on
the Duke of York, but he would not stay from the Parliament. So
I to Westminster Hall, and there met my good friend Mr. Eve-
lyn, and walked with him a good while, lamenting our condition
for want of good council, and the King’s minding of his business
and servants. I out to the Bell Taverne, and thither comes Doll
to me...., and after an hour’s stay, away and staid in Westminster
Hall till the rising of the house, having told Mr. Evelyn, and he
several others, of my Gazette which I had about me that men-
tioned in April last a plot for which several were condemned of
treason at the Old Bayly for many things, and among others for
a design of burning the city on the 3rd of September. The house
sat till three o’clock, and then up: and I home with Sir Stephen
Fox to his house to dinner, and the Cofferer with us. There I
find Sir S. Fox’s lady, a fine woman, and seven the prettiest chil-
dren of theirs that ever I knew almost. A very genteel dinner,
and in great state and fashion, and excellent discourse; and noth-
ing like an old experienced man and a courtier, and such is the
Cofferer Ashburnham. The House have been mighty hot to-day
against the Paper Bill, showing all manner of averseness to give
the King money; which these courtiers do take mighty notice of,
and look upon the others as bad rebells as ever the last were. But
the courtiers did carry it against those men upon a division of the
House, a great many, that it should be committed; and so it was:
which they reckon good news. After dinner we three to the Ex-
cise Office, and there had long discourse about our monies, but
nothing to satisfaction, that is, to shew any way of shortening
the time which our tallies take up before they become payable,
which is now full two years, which is 20 per, cent. for all the
King’s money for interest, and the great disservice of his Majesty
otherwise. Thence in the evening round by coach home, where I
find Foundes his present, of a fair pair of candlesticks, and half a
dozen of plates come, which cost him full £50, and is a very good
present; and here I met with, sealed up, from Sir H. Cholmly,
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DECEMBER 1666
the lampoone, or the Mocke-Advice to a Paynter,597 abusing the
Duke of York and my Lord Sandwich, Pen, and every body, and
the King himself, in all the matters of the navy and warr. I am
sorry for my Lord Sandwich’s having so great a part in it. Then
to supper and musique, and to bed.
15th. Up and to the office, where my Lord Bruncker newly
come to town, from his being at Chatham and Harwich to spy
enormities: and at noon I with him and his lady Williams, to
Captain Cocke’s, where a good dinner, and very merry. Good
news to-day upon the Exchange, that our Hamburgh fleete is got
in; and good hopes that we may soon have the like of our Gotten-
burgh, and then we shall be well for this winter. Very merry at
dinner. And by and by comes in Matt. Wren from the Parliament-
house; and tells us that he and all his party of the House, which
is the Court party, are fools, and have been made so this day by
the wise men of the other side; for, after the Court party had car-
ried it yesterday so powerfully for the Paper-Bill,598 yet now it is
laid aside wholly, and to be supplied by a land-tax; which it is
true will do well, and will be the sooner finished, which was the
great argument for the doing of it. But then it shews them fools,
that they would not permit this to have been done six weeks ago,
which they might have had. And next, they have parted with the
Paper Bill, which, when once begun, might have proved a very
good flower in the Crowne, as any there. So do really say that
597 In a broadside (1680), quoted by Mr. G. T. Drury in his edition of
Waller’s Poems, 1893, satirical reference is made to the fashionable form of
advice to the painters “Each puny brother of the rhyming trade At every turn
implores the Painter’s aid, And fondly enamoured of own foul brat Cries in
an ecstacy, Paint this, draw that.” The series was continued, for we find
“Advice to a Painter upon the Defeat of the Rebels in the West and the Exe-
cution of the late Duke of Monmouth” (“Poems on Affairs of State,” vol. ii.,
p. 148); “Advice to a Painter, being a Satire on the French King,” &c., 1692,
and “Advice to a Painter,” 1697 (“Poems on Affairs of State,” vol. ii., p. 428).
598 It was called “A Bill for raising part of the supply for his Majesty by an
imposition on Sealed Paper and Parchment”–B.
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DECEMBER 1666
they are truly outwitted by the other side. Thence away to Sir R.
Viner’s, and there chose some plate besides twelve plates which
I purpose to have with Captain Cocke’s gift of £100, and so home
and there busy late, and then home and to bed.
16th (Lord’s day). Lay long talking with my wife in bed, then
up with great content and to my chamber to set right a picture
or two, Lovett having sent me yesterday Sancta Clara’s head var-
nished, which is very fine, and now my closet is so full stored,
and so fine, as I would never desire to have it better. Dined with-
out any strangers with me, which I do not like on Sundays. Then
after dinner by water to Westminster to see Mrs. Martin, whom I
found up in her chamber and ready to go abroad. I sat there with
her and her husband and others a pretty while, and then away
to White Hall, and there walked up and down to the Queen’s
side, and there saw my dear Lady Castlemayne, who continues
admirable, methinks, and I do not hear but that the King is the
same to her still as ever. Anon to chapel, by the King’s closet, and
heard a very good anthemne. Then with Lord Bruncker to Sir W.
Coventry’s chamber; and there we sat with him and talked. He
is weary of anything to do, he says, in the Navy. He tells us this
Committee of Accounts will enquire sharply into our office. And,
speaking of Sir J. Minnes, he says he will not bear any body’s
faults but his own. He discoursed as bad of Sir W. Batten almost,
and cries out upon the discipline of the fleete, which is lost, and
that there is not in any of the fourth rates and under scarce left
one Sea Commander, but all young gentlemen; and what trou-
bles him, he hears that the gentlemen give out that in two or three
years a Tarpaulin shall not dare to look after being better than a
Boatswain. Which he is troubled at, and with good reason, and at
this day Sir Robert Holmes is mighty troubled that his brother do
not command in chief, but is commanded by Captain Hannum,
who, Sir W. Coventry says, he believes to be at least of as good
blood, is a longer bred seaman, an elder officer, and an elder com-
mander, but such is Sir R. Holmes’s pride as never to be stopt, he
being greatly troubled at my Lord Bruncker’s late discharging all
2130
DECEMBER 1666
his men and officers but the standing officers at Chatham, and so
are all other Commanders, and a very great cry hath been to the
King from them all in my Lord’s absence. But Sir W. Coventry
do undertake to defend it, and my Lord Bruncker got ground I
believe by it, who is angry at Sir W. Batten’s and Sir W. Pen’s bad
words concerning it, and I have made it worse by telling him that
they refuse to sign to a paper which he and I signed on Saturday
to declare the reason of his actions, which Sir W. Coventry likes
and would have it sent him and he will sign it, which pleases me
well. So we parted, and I with Lord Bruncker to Sir P. Neale’s
chamber, and there sat and talked awhile, Sir Edward Walker be-
ing there, and telling us how he hath lost many fine rowles of
antiquity in heraldry by the late fire, but hath saved the most of
his papers. Here was also Dr. Wallis, the famous scholar and
mathematician; but he promises little. Left them, and in the dark
and cold home by water, and so to supper and to read and so to
bed, my eyes being better to-day, and I cannot impute it to any-
thing but by my being much in the dark to-night, for I plainly
find that it is only excess of light that makes my eyes sore. This
after noon I walked with Lord Bruncker into the Park and there
talked of the times, and he do think that the King sees that he can-
not never have much more money or good from this Parliament,
and that therefore he may hereafter dissolve them, that as soon as
he has the money settled he believes a peace will be clapped up,
and that there are overtures of a peace, which if such as the Lord
Chancellor can excuse he will take. For it is the Chancellor’s in-
terest, he says, to bring peace again, for in peace he can do all and
command all, but in war he cannot, because he understands not
the nature of the war as to the management thereof. He tells me
he do not believe the Duke of York will go to sea again, though
there are a great many about the King that would be glad of any
occasion to take him out of the world, he standing in their ways;
and seemed to mean the Duke of Monmouth, who spends his
time the most viciously and idly of any man, nor will be fit for
any thing; yet bespeaks as if it were not impossible but the King
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would own him for his son, and that there was a marriage be-
tween his mother and him; which God forbid should be if it be
not true, nor will the Duke of York easily be gulled in it. But this
put to our other distractions makes things appear very sad, and
likely to be the occasion of much confusion in a little time, and
my Lord Bruncker seems to say that nothing can help us but the
King’s making a peace soon as he hath this money; and thereby
putting himself out of debt, and so becoming a good husband,
and then he will neither need this nor any other Parliament, till
he can have one to his mind: for no Parliament can, as he says, be
kept long good, but they will spoil one another, and that there-
fore it hath been the practice of kings to tell Parliaments what he
hath for them to do, and give them so long time to do it in, and
no longer. Harry Kembe, one of our messengers, is lately dead.
17th. Up, and several people to speak with me, and then comes
Mr. Caesar, and then Goodgroome, and, what with one and the
other, nothing but musique with me this morning, to my great
content; and the more, to see that God Aimighty hath put me into
condition to bear the charge of all this. So out to the ‘Change, and
did a little business, and then home, where they two musicians
and Mr. Cooke come to see me, and Mercer to go along with my
wife this afternoon to a play. To dinner, and then our company all
broke up, and to my chamber to do several things. Among other
things, to write a letter to my Lord Sandwich, it being one of the
burdens upon my mind that I have not writ to him since he went
into Spain, but now I do intend to give him a brief account of our
whole year’s actions since he went, which will make amends. My
wife well home in the evening from the play; which I was glad of,
it being cold and dark, and she having her necklace of pearl on,
and none but Mercer with her. Spent the evening in fitting my
books, to have the number set upon each, in order to my having
an alphabet of my whole, which will be of great ease to me. This
day Captain Batters come from sea in his fireship and come to
see me, poor man, as his patron, and a poor painful wretch he is
as can be. After supper to bed.
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18th. Up, and to the office, where I hear the ill news that poor
Batters, that had been born and bred a seaman, and brought up
his ship from sea but yesterday, was, going down from me to
his ship, drowned in the Thames, which is a sad fortune, and do
make me afeard, and will do, more than ever I was. At noon
dined at home, and then by coach to my Lord Bellasses, but not
at home. So to Westminster Hall, where the Lords are sitting still,
I to see Mrs. Martin, who is very well, and intends to go abroad
to-morrow after her childbed. She do tell me that this child did
come is ‘meme jour that it ought to hazer after my avoir ete con
elle before her marid did venir home.... Thence to the Swan, and
there I sent for Sarah, and mighty merry we were.... So to Sir
Robert Viner’s about my plate, and carried home another dozen
of plates, which makes my stock of plates up 2 1/2 dozen, and at
home find Mr. Thomas Andrews, with whom I staid and talked
a little and invited him to dine with me at Christmas, and then I
to the office, and there late doing business, and so home and to
bed. Sorry for poor Batters.
19th. Up, and by water down to White Hall, and there with
the.Duke of York did our usual business, but nothing but com-
plaints of want of money [without] success, and Sir W. Coven-
try’s complaint of the defects of our office (indeed Sir J. Minnes’s)
without any amendment, and he tells us so plainly of the Com-
mittee of Parliament’s resolution to enquire home into all our
managements that it makes me resolve to be wary, and to do all
things betimes to be ready for them. Thence going away met Mr.
Hingston the organist (my old acquaintance) in the Court, and I
took him to the Dog Taverne and got him to set me a bass to my
“It is decreed,” which I think will go well, but he commends the
song not knowing the words, but says the ayre is good, and be-
lieves the words are plainly expressed. He is of my mind against
having of 8ths unnecessarily in composition. This did all please
me mightily. Then to talk of the King’s family. He says many
of the musique are ready to starve, they being five years behind-
hand for their wages; nay, Evens, the famous man upon the Harp
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having not his equal in the world, did the other day die for mere
want, and was fain to be buried at the almes of the parish, and
carried to his grave in the dark at night without one linke, but
that Mr. Hingston met it by chance, and did give 12d. to buy
two or three links. He says all must come to ruin at this rate, and
I believe him. Thence I up to the Lords’ House to enquire for
Lord Bellasses; and there hear how at a conference this morning
between the two Houses about the business of the Canary Com-
pany, my Lord Buckingham leaning rudely over my Lord Mar-
quis Dorchester, my Lord Dorchester removed his elbow. Duke
of Buckingham asked him whether he was uneasy; Dorchester
replied, yes, and that he durst not do this were he any where
else: Buckingham replied, yes he would, and that he was a better
man than himself; Dorchester answered that he lyed. With this
Buckingham struck off his hat, and took him by his periwigg, and
pulled it aside, and held him. My Lord Chamberlain and others
interposed, and, upon coming into the House, the Lords did or-
der them both to the Tower, whither they are to go this afternoon.
I down into the Hall, and there the Lieutenant of the Tower took
me with him, and would have me to the Tower to dinner; where
I dined at the head of his table, next his lady,’ who is comely and
seeming sober and stately, but very proud and very cunning, or
I am mistaken, and wanton, too. This day’s work will bring the
Lieutenant of the Tower £350. But a strange, conceited, vain man
he is that ever I met withal, in his own praise, as I have heretofore
observed of him. Thence home, and upon Tower Hill saw about
3 or 400 seamen get together; and one, standing upon a pile of
bricks, made his sign, with his handkercher, upon his stick, and
called all the rest to him, and several shouts they gave. This made
me afeard; so I got home as fast as I could. And hearing of no
present hurt did go to Sir Robert Viner’s about my plate again,
and coming home do hear of 1000 seamen said in the streets to be
in armes. So in great fear home, expecting to find a tumult about
my house, and was doubtful of my riches there. But I thank God
I found all well. But by and by Sir W. Batten and Sir R. Ford do
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DECEMBER 1666
tell me, that the seamen have been at some prisons, to release
some seamen, and the Duke of Albemarle is in armes, and all the
Guards at the other end of the town; and the Duke of Albemarle
is gone with some forces to Wapping, to quell the seamen; which
is a thing of infinite disgrace to us. I sat long talking with them;
and, among other things, Sir R. Ford did make me understand
how the House of Commons is a beast not to be understood, it
being impossible to know beforehand the success almost of any
small plain thing, there being so many to think and speak to any
business, and they of so uncertain minds and interests and pas-
sions. He did tell me, and so did Sir W. Batten, how Sir Allen
Brodericke and Sir Allen Apsly did come drunk the other day
into the House, and did both speak for half an hour together,
and could not be either laughed, or pulled, or bid to sit down
and hold their peace, to the great contempt of the King’s servants
and cause; which I am grieved at with all my heart. We were full
in discourse of the sad state of our times, and the horrid shame
brought on the King’s service by the just clamours of the poor
seamen, and that we must be undone in a little time. Home full
of trouble on these considerations, and, among other things, I to
my chamber, and there to ticket a good part of my books, in or-
der to the numbering of them for my easy finding them to read
as I have occasion. So to supper and to bed, with my heart full of
trouble.
20th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
here among other things come Captain Cocke, and I did get him
to sign me a note for the £100 to pay for the plate he do present
me with, which I am very glad of. At noon home to dinner, where
was Balty come, who is well again, and the most recovered in his
countenance that ever I did see. Here dined with me also Mrs.
Batters, poor woman! now left a sad widow by the drowning of
her husband the other day. I pity her, and will do her what kind-
ness I can; yet I observe something of ill-nature in myself more
than should be, that I am colder towards her in my charity than
I should be to one so painful as he and she have been and full of
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DECEMBER 1666
kindness to their power to my wife and I. After dinner out with
Balty, setting him down at the Maypole in the Strand, and then
I to my Lord Bellasses, and there spoke with Mr. Moone about
some business, and so away home to my business at the office,
and then home to supper and to bed, after having finished the
putting of little papers upon my books to be numbered hereafter.
21st. Lay long, and when up find Mrs. Clerk of Greenwich
and her daughter Daniel, their business among other things was
a request her daughter was to make, so I took her into my cham-
ber, and there it was to help her husband to the command of
a little new pleasure boat building, which I promised to assist
in. And here I had opportunity ‘para baiser elle, and toucher ses
mamailles’.... Then to the office, and there did a little business,
and then to the ‘Change and did the like. So home to dinner,
and spent all the afternoon in putting some things, pictures es-
pecially, in order, and pasting my Lady Castlemayne’s print on a
frame, which I have made handsome, and is a fine piece. So to
the office in the evening to marshall my papers of accounts pre-
sented to the Parliament, against any future occasion to recur to
them, which I did do to my great content. So home and did some
Tangier work, and so to bed.
22nd. At the office all the morning, and there come news from
Hogg that our shipp hath brought in a Lubecker to Portsmouth,
likely to prove prize, of deals, which joys us. At noon home to
dinner, and then Sir W. Pen, Sir R. Ford, and I met at Sir W. Bat-
ten’s to examine our papers, and have great hopes to prove her
prize, and Sir R. Ford I find a mighty yare–[Quick or ready, a
naval term frequently used by Shakespeare.]–man in this busi-
ness, making exceeding good observations from the papers on
our behalf. Hereupon concluded what to write to Hogg and Mid-
dleton, which I did, and also with Mr. Oviatt (Sir R. Ford’s son,
who is to be our solicitor), to fee some counsel in the Admiralty,
but none in town. So home again, and after writing letters by
the post, I with all my clerks and Carcasse and Whitfield to the
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DECEMBER 1666
ticket-office, there to be informed in the method and disorder of
the office, which I find infinite great, of infinite concernment to
be mended, and did spend till 12 at night to my great satisfac-
tion, it being a point of our office I was wholly unacquainted in.
So with great content home and to bed.
23rd (Lord’s day). Up and alone to church, and meeting Nan
Wright at the gate had opportunity to take two or three ‘baisers’,
and so to church, where a vain fellow with a periwigg preached,
Chaplain, as by his prayer appeared, to the Earl of Carlisle?
Home, and there dined with us Betty Michell and her husband.
After dinner to White Hall by coach, and took them with me.
And in the way I would have taken ‘su main’ as I did the last
time, but she did in a manner withhold it. So set them down at
White Hall, and I to the Chapel to find Dr. Gibbons, and from
him to the Harp and Ball to transcribe the treble which I would
have him to set a bass to. But this took me so much time, and
it growing night, I was fearful of missing a coach, and therefore
took a coach and to rights to call Michell and his wife at their
father Howlett’s, and so home, it being cold, and the ground all
snow.... They gone I to my chamber, and with my brother and
wife did number all my books in my closet, and took a list of
their names, which pleases me mightily, and is a jobb I wanted
much to have done. Then to supper and to bed.
24th. Up, and to the office, where Lord Bruncker, [Sir] J. Mim-
ics, [Sir] W. Yen, and myself met, and there I did use my notes
I took on Saturday night about tickets, and did come to a good
settlement in the business of that office, if it be kept to, this morn-
ing being a meeting on purpose. At noon to prevent my Lord
Bruncker’s dining here I walked as if upon business with him, it
being frost and dry, as far as Paul’s, and so back again through
the City by Guildhall, observing the ruines thereabouts, till I did
truly lose myself, and so home to dinner. I do truly find that I
have overwrought my eyes, so that now they are become weak
and apt to be tired, and all excess of light makes them sore, so
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DECEMBER 1666
that now to the candlelight I am forced to sit by, adding, the snow
upon the ground all day, my eyes are very bad, and will be worse
if not helped, so my Lord Bruncker do advise as a certain cure to
use greene spectacles, which I will do. So to dinner, where Mer-
cer with us, and very merry. After dinner she goes and fetches a
little son of Mr. Backeworth’s, the wittiest child and of the most
spirit that ever I saw in my life for discourse of all kind, and so
ready and to the purpose, not above four years old. Thence to
Sir Robert Viner’s, and there paid for the plate I have bought to
the value of £94, with the £100 Captain Cocke did give me to that
purpose, and received the rest in money. I this evening did buy
me a pair of green spectacles, to see whether they will help my
eyes or no. So to the ‘Change, and went to the Upper ‘Change,
which is almost as good as the old one; only shops are but on
one side. Then home to the office, and did business till my eyes
began to be bad, and so home to supper. My people busy mak-
ing mince pies, and so to bed. No newes yet of our Gottenburgh
fleete; which makes [us] have some fears, it being of mighty con-
cernment to have our supply of masts safe. I met with Mr. Cade
to-night, my stationer; and he tells me that he hears for certain
that the Queene-Mother is about and hath near finished a peace
with France, which, as a Presbyterian, he do not like, but seems
to fear it will be a means to introduce Popery.
25th (Christmas day). Lay pretty long in bed, and then rose,
leaving my wife desirous to sleep, having sat up till four this
morning seeing her mayds make mince-pies. I to church, where
our parson Mills made a good sermon. Then home, and dined
well on some good ribbs of beef roasted and mince pies; only my
wife, brother, and Barker, and plenty of good wine of my owne,
and my heart full of true joy; and thanks to God Almighty for the
goodness of my condition at this day. After dinner, I begun to
teach my wife and Barker my song, “It is decreed,” which pleases
me mightily as now I have Mr. Hinxton’s base. Then out and
walked alone on foot to the Temple, it being a fine frost, think-
ing to have seen a play all alone; but there, missing of any bills,
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DECEMBER 1666
concluded there was none, and so back home; and there with
my brother reducing the names of all my books to an alphabet,
which kept us till 7 or 8 at night, and then to supper, W. Hewer
with us, and pretty merry, and then to my chamber to enter this
day’s journal only, and then to bed. My head a little thoughtfull
how to behave myself in the business of the victualling, which
I think will be prudence to offer my service in doing something
in passing the pursers’ accounts, thereby to serve the King, get
honour to myself, and confirm me in my place in the victualling,
which at present yields not work enough to deserve my wages.
26th. Up, and walked all the way (it being a most fine frost), to
White Hall, to Sir W. Coventry’s chamber, and thence with him
up to the Duke of York, where among other things at our meeting
I did offer my assistance to Sir J. Minnes to do the business of his
office, relating to the Pursers’ accounts, which was well accepted
by the Duke of York, and I think I have and shall do myself good
in it, if it be taken, for it will confirm me in the business of the vict-
ualling office, which I do now very little for. Thence home, carry-
ing a barrel of oysters with me. Anon comes Mr. John Andrews
and his wife by invitation from Bow to dine with me, and young
Batelier and his wife with her great belly, which has spoiled her
looks mightily already. Here was also Mercer and Creed, whom
I met coming home, who tells me of a most bitter lampoone now
out against the Court and the management of State from head to
foot, mighty witty and mighty severe. By and by to dinner, a very
good one, and merry. After dinner I put the women into a coach,
and they to the Duke’s house, to a play which was acted, “The—
—–.” It was indifferently done, but was not pleased with the
song, Gosnell not singing, but a new wench, that sings naughtily.
Thence home, all by coach, and there Mr. Andrews to the vyall,
who plays most excellently on it, which I did not know before.
Then to dance, here being Pembleton come, by my wife’s direc-
tion, and a fiddler; and we got, also, the elder Batelier to-night,
and Nan Wright, and mighty merry we were, and I danced; and
so till twelve at night, and to supper, and then to cross purposes,
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DECEMBER 1666
mighty merry, and then to bed, my eyes being sore. Creed lay
here in Barker’s bed.
27th. Up; and called up by the King’s trumpets, which cost
me 10s. So to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon,
by invitation, my wife, who had not been there these to months,
I think, and I, to meet all our families at Sir W. Batten’s at din-
ner, whither neither a great dinner for so much company nor
anything good or handsome. In the middle of dinner I rose,
and my wife, and by coach to the King’s playhouse, and meet-
ing Creed took him up, and there saw “The Scornfull Lady” well
acted; Doll Common doing Abigail most excellently, and Knipp
the widow very well, and will be an excellent actor, I think. In
other parts the play not so well done as used to be, by the old ac-
tors. Anon to White Hall by coach, thinking to have seen a play
there to-night, but found it a mistake, so back again, and missed
our coach[man], who was gone, thinking to come time enough
three hours hence, and we could not blame him. So forced to get
another coach, and all three home to my house, and there to Sir
W. Batten’s, and eat a bit of cold chine of beef, and then staid and
talked, and then home and sat and talked a little by the fireside
with my wife and Creed, and so to bed, my left eye being very
sore. No business publick or private minded all these two days.
This day a house or two was blown up with powder in the Mino-
rys, and several people spoiled, and many dug out from under
the rubbish.
28th. Up, and Creed and I walked (a very fine walk in the frost)
to my Lord Bellasses, but missing him did find him at White Hall,
and there spoke with him about some Tangier business. That
done, we to Creed’s lodgings, which are very pretty, but he is
going from them. So we to Lincoln’s Inne Fields, he to Ned Pick-
ering’s, who it seems lives there, keeping a good house, and I
to my Lord Crew’s, where I dined, and hear the newes how my
Lord’s brother, Mr. Nathaniel Crew, hath an estate of 6 or £700
per annum, left him by the death of an old acquaintance of his,
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DECEMBER 1666
but not akin to him at all. And this man is dead without will, but
had, above ten years since, made over his estate to this Mr. Crew,
to him and his heirs for ever, and given Mr. Crew the keeping of
the deeds in his own hand all this time; by which, if he would, he
might have taken present possession of the estate, for he knew
what they were. This is as great an act of confident friendship
as this latter age, I believe, can shew. From hence to the Duke’s
house, and there saw “Macbeth” most excellently acted, and a
most excellent play for variety. I had sent for my wife to meet
me there, who did come, and after the play was done, I out so
soon to meet her at the other door that I left my cloake in the
playhouse, and while I returned to get it, she was gone out and
missed me, and with W. Hewer away home. I not sorry for it
much did go to White Hall, and got my Lord Bellasses to get
me into the playhouse; and there, after all staying above an hour
for the players, the King and all waiting, which was absurd, saw
“Henry the Fifth” well done by the Duke’s people, and in most
excellent habits, all new vests, being put on but this night. But
I sat so high and far off, that I missed most of the words, and
sat with a wind coming into my back and neck, which did much
trouble me. The play continued till twelve at night; and then
up, and a most horrid cold night it was, and frosty, and moon-
shine. But the worst was, I had left my cloak at Sir G. Carteret’s,
and they being abed I was forced to go home without it. So by
chance got a coach and to the Golden Lion Taverne in the Strand,
and there drank some mulled sack, and so home, where find my
poor wife staying for me, and then to bed mighty cold.
29th. Up, called up with newes from Sir W. Batten that Hogg
hath brought in two prizes more: and so I thither, and hear the
particulars, which are good; one of them, if prize, being worth
£4,000: for which God be thanked! Then to the office, and have
the newes brought us of Captain Robinson’s coming with his
fleete from Gottenburgh: dispersed, though, by foul weather. But
he hath light of five Dutch men-of-war, and taken three, whereof
one is sunk; which is very good newes to close up the year with,
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and most of our merchantmen already heard of to be safely come
home, though after long lookings-for, and now to several ports,
as they could make them. At noon home to dinner, where Balty
is and now well recovered. Then to the office to do business,
and at night, it being very cold, home to my chamber, and there
late writing, but my left eye still very sore. I write by spectacles
all this night, then to supper and to bed. This day’s good news
making me very lively, only the arrears of much business on my
hands and my accounts to be settled for the whole year past do
lie as a weight on my mind.
30th (Lord’s day). Lay long, however up and to church, where
Mills made a good sermon. Here was a collection for the sexton;
but it come into my head why we should be more bold in making
the collection while the psalm is singing, than in the sermon or
prayer. Home, and, without any strangers, to dinner, and then
all the afternoon and evening in my chamber preparing all my
accounts in good condition against to-morrow, to state them for
the whole year past, to which God give me a good issue when I
come to close them! So to supper and to bed.
31st. Rising this day with a full design to mind nothing else
but to make up my accounts for the year past, I did take money,
and walk forth to several places in the towne as far as the New
Exchange, to pay all my debts, it being still a very great frost
and good walking. I staid at the Fleece Tavern in Covent Garden
while my boy Tom went to W. Joyce’s to pay what I owed for
candles there. Thence to the New Exchange to clear my wife’s
score, and so going back again I met Doll Lane (Mrs. Martin’s
sister), with another young woman of the Hall, one Scott, and
took them to the Half Moon Taverne and there drank some burnt
wine with them, without more pleasure, and so away home by
coach, and there to dinner, and then to my accounts, wherein,
at last, I find them clear and right; but, to my great discontent,
do find that my gettings this year have been £573 less than my
last: it being this year in all but £2,986; whereas, the last, I got
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DECEMBER 1666
£3,560. And then again my spendings this year have exceeded
my spendings the last by £644: my whole spendings last year be-
ing but £509; whereas this year, it appears, I have spent £1154,
which is a sum not fit to be said that ever I should spend in
one year, before I am master of a better estate than I am. Yet,
blessed be God! and I pray God make me thankful for it, I do
find myself worth in money, all good, above £6,200; which is
above £1800 more than I was the last year. This, I trust in God,
will make me thankfull for what I have, and carefull to make
up by care next year what by my negligence and prodigality I
have lost and spent this year. The doing of this, and entering
of it fair, with the sorting of all my expenses, to see how and in
what points I have exceeded, did make it late work, till my eyes
become very sore and ill, and then did give over, and supper,
and to bed. Thus ends this year of publick wonder and mischief
to this nation, and, therefore, generally wished by all people to
have an end. Myself and family well, having four mayds and
one clerk, Tom, in my house, and my brother, now with me, to
spend time in order to his preferment. Our healths all well, only
my eyes with overworking them are sore as candlelight comes
to them, and not else; publick matters in a most sad condition;
seamen discouraged for want of pay, and are become not to be
governed: nor, as matters are now, can any fleete go out next
year. Our enemies, French and Dutch, great, and grow more by
our poverty. The Parliament backward in raising, because jeal-
ous of the spending of the money; the City less and less likely
to be built again, every body settling elsewhere, and nobody en-
couraged to trade. A sad, vicious, negligent Court, and all sober
men there fearful of the ruin of the whole kingdom this next year;
from which, good God deliver us! One thing I reckon remark-
able in my owne condition is, that I am come to abound in good
plate, so as at all entertainments to be served wholly with silver
plates, having two dozen and a half. ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOK-
MARKS, PEPY’S DIARY, 1966 N.S., COMPLETE: A cat will be a
cat still About the nature of sounds About my new closet, for my
2143
DECEMBER 1666
mind is full of nothing but that After a harsh word or two my
wife and I good friends All the innocent pleasure in the world
Amending of bad blood by borrowing from a better body And if
ever I fall on it again, I deserve to be undone And for his beef,
says he, “Look how fat it is” Angry, and so continued till bed,
and did not sleep friends Apprehension of the King of France’s
invading us As very a gossip speaking of her neighbours as any
body Ashamed at myself for this losse of time Baited at Isling-
ton, and so late home about 11 at night Beare-garden Begun to
write idle and from the purpose Being there, and seeming to do
something, while we do not Being examined at Allgate, whether
we were husbands and wives Being five years behindhand for
their wages (court musicians) Better the musique, the more sicke
it makes him Bill against importing Irish cattle Bringing over one
discontented man, you raise up three But pretty! how I took an-
other pretty woman for her But fit she should live where he hath
a mind But how many years I cannot tell; but my wife says ten By
and by met at her chamber, and there did what I would Called
at a little ale-house, and had an eele pye Catholiques are every-
where and bold Checking her last night in the coach in her long
stories Contempt of the ceremoniousnesse of the King of Spayne
Counterfeit mirthe and pleasure with them, but had but little Did
tumble them all the afternoon as I pleased Did drink of the Col-
lege beer, which is very good Did dig another, and put our wine
in it; and I my Parmazan cheese Discoursing upon the sad con-
dition of the times Do bury still of the plague seven or eight in a
day Driven down again with a stinke by Sir W. Pen’s shying of
a pot Durst not ask any body how it was with us Evelyn, who
cries out against it, and calls it bitchering Exceeding kind to me,
more than usual, which makes me afeard Fashion, the King says;
he will never change Fire grow; and, as it grew darker, appeared
more and more First their apes, that they may be afterwards their
slaves For a land-tax and against a general excise Foretelling the
draught of water of a ship before she be launche Gladder to have
just now received it (than a promise) Good sport of the bull’s
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tossing of the dogs Got her upon my knee (the coach being full)
and played with her Great fire they saw in the City Great deale of
tittle tattle discourse to little purpose Great newes of the Swedes
declaring for us against the Dutch He is such innocent company
He has been inconvenienced by being too free in discourse Here
I first saw oranges grow Horrid malicious bloody flame I to bed
even by daylight I do not value her, or mind her as I ought I did
what I would, and might have done anything else I never did
observe so much of myself in my life I had six noble dishes for
them, dressed by a man-cook In opposition to France, had made
us throw off their fashion King hath lost his power, by submit-
ting himself to this way King be desired to put all Catholiques
out of employment Lady Duchesse the veryest slut and drudge
Last act of friendship in telling me of my faults also Listening
to no reasoning for it, be it good or bad Long petticoat drag-
ging under their men’s coats Magnifying the graces of the no-
bility and prelates Many women now-a-days of mean sort in the
streets, but no men Mass, and some of their musique, which is
not so contemptible Mightily pleased with myself for the busi-
ness that I have done Mightily vexed at my being abroad with
these women Milke, which I drank to take away, my heartburne
Most homely widow, but young, and pretty rich, and good na-
tured Never fought with worse officers in his life No Parliament
can, as he says, be kept long good No manner of means used to
quench the fire No money to do it with, nor anybody to trust us
without it Not being well pleased with her over free and loose
company Not permit her begin to do so, lest worse should fol-
low Now very big, and within a fortnight of lying down Offered
to stop the fire near his house for such a reward Origin in the use
of a plane against the grain of the wood Out also to and fro, to
see and be seen Pain to ride in a coach with them, for fear of be-
ing seen Peace with France, which, as a Presbyterian, he do not
like Play on the harpsicon, till she tired everybody Plot in it, and
that the French had done it Providing against a foule day to get
as much money into my hands Put up with too much care, that I
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DECEMBER 1666
have forgot where they are Rather hear a cat mew, than the best
musique in the world Reading over my dear “Faber fortunae,”
of my Lord Bacon’s Reading to my wife and brother something
in Chaucer Rejoiced over head and ears in this good newes Re-
moving goods from one burned house to another Requisite I be
prepared against the man’s friendship Sad sight it was: the whole
City almost on fire Said that there hath been a design to poison
the King Sang till about twelve at night, with mighty pleasure
Says, of all places, if there be hell, it is here Scotch song of “Bar-
bary Allen” Send up and down for a nurse to take the girle home
Shy of any warr hereafter, or to prepare better for it So home to
supper, and to bed, it being my wedding night So back again
home to supper and to bed with great pleasure So to bed in some
little discontent, but no words from me So home and to supper
with beans and bacon and to bed Staying out late, and painting
in the absence of her husband Tax the same man in three or four
several capacities That I may have nothing by me but what is
worth keeping That I may look as a man minding business The
gentlemen captains will undo us The very rum man must have
£200 Thence to Mrs. Martin’s, and did what I would with her
There did what ‘je voudrais avec’ her.... There did ‘tout ce que
je voudrais avec’ her There I did lay the beginnings of a future
‘amour con elle’ There did what I would with her Think that we
are beaten in every respect This is the use we make of our fathers
This unhappinesse of ours do give them heart Through want of
money and good conduct Time spending, and no money to set
anything in hand To bed, after washing my legs and feet with
warm water Too late for them to enjoy it with any pleasure Too
much ill newes true, to afflict ourselves with uncertain Took him
home the money, and, though much to my grief Tooke my wife
well dressed into the Hall to see and be seen Tooth-ake made
him no company, and spoilt ours Unless my too-much addiction
to pleasure undo me Venison-pasty that we have for supper to-
night to the cook’s Weary of the following of my pleasure What I
had writ foule in short hand What itching desire I did endeavour
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DECEMBER 1666
to see Bagwell’s wife Wherewith to give every body something
for their pains Who must except against every thing and remedy
nothing With a shower of hail as big as walnuts World sees now
the use of them for shelter of men (fore-castles) Ye pulling down
of houses, in ye way of ye fire Young man play the foole upon
the doctrine of purgatory
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JANUARY 1666-1667
January 1st. Lay long, being a bitter, cold, frosty day, the frost
being now grown old, and the Thames covered with ice. Up, and
to the office, where all the morning busy. At noon to the ‘Change
a little, where Mr. James Houblon and I walked a good while
speaking of our ill condition in not being able to set out a fleet (we
doubt) this year, and the certain ill effect that must bring, which
is lamentable. Home to dinner, where the best powdered goose
that ever I eat. Then to the office again, and to Sir W. Batten’s to
examine the Commission going down to Portsmouth to examine
witnesses about our prizes, of which God give a good issue! and
then to the office again, where late, and so home, my eyes sore.
To supper and to bed.
2nd. Up, I, and walked to White Hall to attend the Duke of
York, as usual. My wife up, and with Mrs. Pen to walk in the
fields to frost-bite themselves. I find the Court full of great ap-
prehensions of the French, who have certainly shipped lands-
men, great numbers, at Brest; and most of our people here guess
his design for Ireland. We have orders to send all the ships we
can possible to the Downes. God have mercy on us! for we
can send forth no ships without men, nor will men go without
money, every day bringing us news of new mutinies among the
seamen; so that our condition is like to be very miserable. Thence
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to Westminster Hall, and there met all the Houblons, who do
laugh at this discourse of the French, and say they are verily of
opinion it is nothing but to send to their plantation in the West
Indys, and that we at Court do blow up a design of invading
us, only to make the Parliament make more haste in the money
matters, and perhaps it may be so, but I do not believe we have
any such plot in our heads. After them, I, with several people,
among others Mr. George Montagu, whom I have not seen long,
he mighty kind. He tells me all is like to go ill, the King dis-
pleasing the House of Commons by evading their Bill for ex-
amining Accounts, and putting it into a Commission, though
therein he hath left out Coventry and I and named all the rest
the Parliament named, and all country Lords, not one Courtier:
this do not please them. He tells me he finds the enmity almost
over for my Lord Sandwich, and that now all is upon the Vice-
Chamberlain, who bears up well and stands upon his vindica-
tion, which he seems to like well, and the others do construe
well also. Thence up to the Painted Chamber, and there heard
a conference between the House of Lords and Commons about
the Wine Patent; which I was exceeding glad to be at, because of
my hearing exceeding good discourses, but especially from the
Commons; among others, Mr. Swinfen, and a young man, one
Sir Thomas Meres: and do outdo the Lords infinitely. So down
to the Hall and to the Rose Taverne, while Doll Lane come to
me, and we did ‘biber a good deal de vino, et je did give elle
twelve soldis para comprare elle some gans’ for a new anno’s
gift .... Thence to the Hall again, and with Sir W. Pen by coach to
the Temple, and there ‘light and eat a bit at an ordinary by, and
then alone to the King’s House, and there saw “The Custome of
the Country,” the second time of its being acted, wherein Knipp
does the Widow well; but, of all the plays that ever I did see, the
worst-having neither plot, language, nor anything in the earth
that is acceptable; only Knipp sings a little song admirably. But
fully the worst play that ever I saw or I believe shall see. So away
home, much displeased for the loss of so much time, and dis-
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obliging my wife by being there without her. So, by link, walked
home, it being mighty cold but dry, yet bad walking because very
slippery with the frost and treading. Home and to my chamber
to set down my journal, and then to thinking upon establishing
my vows against the next year, and so to supper and to bed.
3rd. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon by invitation to dinner to Sir W. Pen’s, where my Lord
Bruncker, Sir W. Batten, and his lady, myself, and wife, Sir J.
Minnes, and Mr. Turner and his wife. Indifferent merry, to which
I contributed the most, but a mean dinner, and in a mean man-
ner. In the evening a little to the office, and then to them, where
I found them at cards, myself very ill with a cold (the frost con-
tinuing hard), so eat but little at supper, but very merry, and late
home to bed, not much pleased with the manner of our enter-
tainment, though to myself more civil than to any. This day, I
hear, hath been a conference between the two Houses about the
Bill for examining Accounts, wherein the House of Lords their
proceedings in petitioning the King for doing it by Commission
is, in great heat, voted by the Commons, after the conference,
unparliamentary. The issue whereof, God knows.
4th. Up, and seeing things put in order for a dinner at my
house to-day, I to the office awhile, and about noon home, and
there saw all things in good order. Anon comes our company; my
Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Pen, his lady, and Pegg, and her servant,
Mr. Lowther, my Lady Batten (Sir W. Batten being forced to dine
at Sir K. Ford’s, being invited), Mr. Turner and his wife. Here I
had good room for ten, and no more would my table have held
well, had Sir J. Minnes, who was fallen lame, and his sister, and
niece, and Sir W. Batten come, which was a great content to me
to be without them. I did make them all gaze to see themselves
served so nobly in plate, and a neat dinner, indeed, though but of
seven dishes. Mighty merry I was and made them all, and they
mightily pleased. My Lord Bruncker went away after dinner to
the ticket-office, the rest staid, only my Lady Batten home, her
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ague-fit coming on her at table. The rest merry, and to cards, and
then to sing and talk, and at night to sup, and then to cards; and,
last of all, to have a flaggon of ale and apples, drunk out of a
wood cupp,599 as a Christmas draught, made all merry; and they
full of admiration at my plate, particularly my flaggons (which,
indeed, are noble), and so late home, all with great mirth and
satisfaction to them, as I thought, and to myself to see all I have
and do so much outdo for neatness and plenty anything done by
any of them. They gone, I to bed, much pleased, and do observe
Mr. Lowther to be a pretty gentleman, and, I think, too good for
Peg; and, by the way, Peg Pen seems mightily to be kind to me,
and I believe by her father’s advice, who is also himself so; but
I believe not a little troubled to see my plenty, and was much
troubled to hear the song I sung, “The New Droll”–it touching
him home. So to bed.
5th. At the office all the morning, thinking at noon to have been
taken home, and my wife (according to appointment yesterday),
by my Lord Bruncker, to dinner and then to a play, but he had
forgot it, at which I was glad, being glad of avoyding the occasion
of inviting him again, and being forced to invite his doxy, Mrs.
Williams. So home, and took a small snap of victuals, and away,
with my wife, to the Duke’s house, and there saw “Mustapha,” a
most excellent play for words and design as ever I did see. I had
seen it before but forgot it, so it was wholly new to me, which is
the pleasure of my not committing these things to my memory.
Home, and a little to the office, and then to bed, where I lay with
much pain in my head most of the night, and very unquiet, partly
by my drinking before I went out too great a draught of sack, and
partly my eyes being still very sore.
6th (Lord’s day). Up pretty well in the morning, and then to
599 A mazer or drinking-bowl turned out of some kind of wood, by prefer-
ence of maple, and especially the spotted or speckled variety called “bird’s-
eye maple” (see W. H. St. John Hope’s paper, “On the English Mediaeval
Drinking-bowls called Mazers,” “Archaeologia,” vol. 50, pp. 129,93).
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church, where a dull doctor, a stranger, made a dull sermon.
Then home, and Betty Michell and her husband come by invi-
tation to dine with us, and, she I find the same as ever (which
I was afraid of the contrary)... Here come also Mr. Howe to
dine with me, and we had a good dinner and good merry dis-
course with much pleasure, I enjoying myself mightily to have
friends at my table. After dinner young Michell and I, it being
an excellent frosty day to walk, did walk out, he showing me
the baker’s house in Pudding Lane, where the late great fire be-
gun; and thence all along Thames Street, where I did view several
places, and so up by London Wall, by Blackfriars, to Ludgate; and
thence to Bridewell, which I find to have been heretofore an ex-
traordinary good house, and a fine coming to it, before the house
by the bridge was built; and so to look about St. Bride’s church
and my father’s house, and so walked home, and there supped
together, and then Michell and Betty home, and I to my closet,
there to read and agree upon my vows for next year, and so to
bed and slept mighty well.
7th. Lay long in bed. Then up and to the office, where busy
all the morning. At noon (my wife being gone to Westminster)
I with my Lord Bruncker by coach as far as the Temple, in the
way he telling me that my Lady Denham is at last dead. Some
suspect her poisoned, but it will be best known when her body is
opened, which will be to-day, she dying yesterday morning. The
Duke of York is troubled for her; but hath declared he will never
have another public mistress again; which I shall be glad of, and
would the King would do the like. He tells me how the Parlia-
ment is grown so jealous of the King’s being unfayre to them in
the business of the Bill for examining Accounts, Irish Bill, and the
business of the Papists, that they will not pass the business for
money till they see themselves secure that those Bills will pass;
which they do observe the Court to keep off till all the Bills come
together, that the King may accept what he pleases, and what he
pleases to reject, which will undo all our business and the king-
dom too. He tells me how Mr. Henry Howard, of Norfolke, hath
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given our Royal Society all his grandfather’s library: which no-
ble gift they value at £1000; and gives them accommodation to
meet in at his house, Arundell House, they being now disturbed
at Gresham College. Thence ‘lighting at the Temple to the ordi-
nary hard by and eat a bit of meat, and then by coach to fetch
my wife from her brother’s, and thence to the Duke’s house,
and saw “Macbeth,” which, though I saw it lately, yet appears
a most excellent play in all respects, but especially in divertise-
ment, though it be a deep tragedy; which is a strange perfection
in a tragedy, it being most proper here, and suitable. So home, it
being the last play now I am to see till a fortnight hence, I being
from the last night entered into my vowes for the year coming
on. Here I met with the good newes of Hogg’s bringing in two
prizes more to Plymouth, which if they prove but any part of
them, I hope, at least, we shall be no losers by them. So home
from the office, to write over fair my vowes for this year, and
then to supper, and to bed. In great peace of mind having now
done it, and brought myself into order again and a resolution of
keeping it, and having entered my journall to this night, so to
bed, my eyes failing me with writing.
8th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon home to dinner, where my uncle Thomas with me to re-
ceive his quarterage. He tells me his son Thomas is set up in
Smithfield, where he hath a shop–I suppose, a booth. Presently
after dinner to the office, and there set close to my business and
did a great deal before night, and am resolved to stand to it, hav-
ing been a truant too long. At night to Sir W. Batten’s to con-
sider some things about our prizes, and then to other talk, and
among other things he tells me that he hears for certain that Sir
W. Coventry hath resigned to the King his place of Commissioner
of the Navy, the thing he bath often told me that he had a mind
to do, but I am surprised to think that he hath done it, and am
full of thoughts all this evening after I heard it what may be the
consequences of it to me. So home and to supper, and then saw
the catalogue of my books, which my brother had wrote out, now
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perfectly alphabeticall, and so to bed. Sir Richard Ford did this
evening at Sir W. Batten’s tell us that upon opening the body of
my Lady Denham it is said that they found a vessel about her
matrix which had never been broke by her husband, that caused
all pains in her body. Which if true is excellent invention to clear
both the Duchesse from poison or the Duke from lying with her.
9th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen in a hackney-
coach to White Hall, the way being most horribly bad upon the
breaking up of the frost, so as not to be passed almost. There did
our usual [business] with the Duke of York, and here I do hear, by
my Lord Bruncker, that for certain Sir W. Coventry hath resigned
his place of Commissioner; which I believe he hath done upon
good grounds of security to himself, from all the blame which
must attend our office this next year; but I fear the King will
suffer by it. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there to the con-
ference of the Houses about the word “Nuisance,”600 which the
Commons would have, and the Lords will not, in the Irish Bill.
The Commons do it professedly to prevent the King’s dispensing
with it; which Sir Robert Howard and others did expressly re-
peat often: viz., “the King nor any King ever could do any thing
which was hurtful to their people.” Now the Lords did argue,
that it was an ill precedent, and that which will ever hereafter be
used as a way of preventing the King’s dispensation with acts;
and therefore rather advise to pass the Bill without that word,
and let it go, accompanied with a petition, to the King, that he
will not dispense with it; this being a more civil way to the King.
They answered well, that this do imply that the King should pass
their Bill, and yet with design to dispense with it; which is to sup-
pose the King guilty of abusing them. And more, they produce
precedents for it; namely, that against new buildings and about
600 In the “Bill against importing Cattle from Ireland and other parts be-
yond the Seas,” the Lords proposed to insert “Detriment and Mischief” in
place of “Nuisance,” but the Commons stood to their word, and gained their
way. The Lords finally consented that “Nuisance” should stand in the Bill.
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leather, wherein the word “Nuisance” is used to the purpose: and
further, that they do not rob the King of any right he ever had, for
he never had a power to do hurt to his people, nor would exer-
cise it; and therefore there is no danger, in the passing this Bill, of
imposing on his prerogative; and concluded, that they think they
ought to do this, so as the people may really have the benefit of
it when it is passed, for never any people could expect so reason-
ably to be indulged something from a King, they having already
given him so much money, and are likely to give more. Thus
they broke up, both adhering to their opinions; but the Commons
seemed much more full of judgment and reason than the Lords.
Then the Commons made their Report to the Lords of their vote,
that their Lordships’ proceedings in the Bill for examining Ac-
counts were unparliamentary; they having, while a Bill was sent
up to them from the Commons about the business, petitioned
his Majesty that he would do the same thing by his Commission.
They did give their reasons: viz., that it had no precedent; that
the King ought not to be informed of anything passing in the
Houses till it comes to a Bill; that it will wholly break off all cor-
respondence between the two Houses, and in the issue wholly
infringe the very use and being of Parliaments. Having left their
arguments with the Lords they all broke up, and I by coach to the
ordinary by the Temple, and there dined alone on a rabbit, and
read a book I brought home from Mrs. Michell’s, of the proceed-
ings of the Parliament in the 3rd and 4th year of the late King, a
very good book for speeches and for arguments of law. Thence
to Faythorne, and bought a head or two; one of them my Lord
of Ormond’s, the best I ever saw, and then to Arundell House,
where first the Royall Society meet, by the favour of Mr. Harry
Howard, who was there, and has given us his grandfather’s li-
brary, a noble gift, and a noble favour and undertaking it is for
him to make his house the seat for this college. Here was an ex-
periment shown about improving the use of powder for creating
of force in winding up of springs and other uses of great worth.
And here was a great meeting of worthy noble persons; but my
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JANUARY 1666-1667
Lord Bruncker, who pretended to make a congratulatory speech
upon their coming hither, and in thanks to Mr. Howard, do it
in the worst manner in the world, being the worst speaker, so
as I do wonder at his parts and the unhappiness of his speak-
ing. Thence home by coach and to the office, and then home to
supper, Mercer and her sister there, and to cards, and then to
bed. Mr. Cowling did this day in the House-lobby tell me of
the many complaints among people against Mr. Townsend in
the Wardrobe, and advises me to think of my Lord Sandwich’s
concernment there under his care. He did also tell me upon my
demanding it, that he do believe there are some things on foot for
a peace between France and us, but that we shall be foiled in it.
10th. Up, and at the office all the morning. At noon home
and, there being business to do in the afternoon, took my Lord
Bruncker home with me, who dined with me. His discourse and
mine about the bad performances of the Controller’s and Sur-
veyor’s places by the hands they are now in, and the shame to
the service and loss the King suffers by it. Then after dinner to
the office, where we and some of the chief of the Trinity House
met to examine the occasion of the loss of The Prince Royall, the
master and mates being examined, which I took and keep, and
so broke up, and I to my letters by the post, and so home and to
supper with my mind at pretty good ease, being entered upon
minding my business, and so to bed. This noon Mrs. Burroughs
come to me about business, whom I did baiser....
11th. Up, being troubled at my being found abed a-days by
all sorts of people, I having got a trick of sitting up later than I
need, never supping, or very seldom, before 12 at night. Then
to the office, there busy all the morning, and among other things
comes Sir W. Warren and walked with me awhile, whose dis-
course I love, he being a very wise man and full of good coun-
sel, and his own practices for wisdom much to be observed, and
among other things he tells me how he is fallen in with my Lord
Bruncker, who has promised him most particular inward friend-
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ship and yet not to appear at the board to do so, and he tells me
how my Lord Bruncker should take notice of the two flaggons
he saw at my house at dinner, at my late feast, and merrily, yet I
know enviously, said, I could not come honestly by them. This I
am glad to hear, though vexed to see his ignoble soul, but I shall
beware of him, and yet it is fit he should see I am no mean fellow,
but can live in the world, and have something. At noon home to
dinner, and then to the office with my people and very busy, and
did dispatch to my great satisfaction abundance of business, and
do resolve, by the grace of God, to stick to it till I have cleared my
heart of most things wherein I am in arrear in public and private
matters. At night, home to supper and to bed. This day ill news
of my father’s being very ill of his old grief the rupture, which
troubles me.
12th. Up, still lying long in bed; then to the office, where
sat very long. Then home to dinner, and so to the office again,
mighty busy, and did to the joy of my soul dispatch much busi-
ness, which do make my heart light, and will enable me to re-
cover all the ground I have lost (if I have by my late minding my
pleasures lost any) and assert myself. So home to supper, and
then to read a little in Moore’s “Antidote against Atheisme,” a
pretty book, and so to bed.
13th (Lord’s day). Up, and to church, where young Lowther
come to church with Sir W. Pen and his Lady and daughter, and
my wife tells me that either they are married or the match is quite
perfected, which I am apt to believe, because all the peoples’ eyes
in the church were much fixed upon them. At noon sent for Mer-
cer, who dined with us, and very merry, and so I, after dinner,
walked to the Old Swan, thinking to have got a boat to White
Hall, but could not, nor was there anybody at home at Michell’s,
where I thought to have sat with her.... So home, to church, a
dull sermon, and then home at my chamber all the evening. So
to supper and to bed.
14th. Up, and to the office, where busy getting beforehand
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with my business as fast as I can. At noon home to dinner, and
presently afterward at my office again. I understand my father is
pretty well again, blessed be God! and would have my Br[other]
John comedown to him for a little while. Busy till night, pleasing
myself mightily to see what a deal of business goes off of a man’s
hands when he stays by it, and then, at night, before it was late
(yet much business done) home to supper, discourse with my
wife, and to bed. Sir W. Batten tells me the Lords do agree at last
with the Commons about the word “Nuisance” in the Irish Bill,
and do desire a good correspondence between the two Houses;
and that the King do intend to prorogue them the last of this
month.
15th. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning. Here
my Lord Bruncker would have made me promise to go with him
to a play this afternoon, where Knipp acts Mrs. Weaver’s great
part in “The Indian Emperour,” and he says is coming on to be a
great actor. But I am so fell to my business, that I, though against
my inclination, will not go. At noon, dined with my wife and
were pleasant, and then to the office, where I got Mrs. Burroughs
‘sola cum ego, and did toucher ses mamailles’... She gone, I to
my business and did much, and among other things to-night we
were all mightily troubled how to prevent the sale of a great deal
of hemp, and timber-deals, and other good goods to-morrow at
the candle by the Prize Office, where it will be sold for little, and
we shall be found to want the same goods and buy at extraordi-
nary prices, and perhaps the very same goods now sold, which is
a most horrid evil and a shame. At night home to supper and to
bed with my mind mighty light to see the fruits of my diligence
in having my business go off my hand so merrily.
16th. Up, and by coach to White Hall, and there to the Duke
of York as usual. Here Sir W. Coventry come to me aside in the
Duke’s chamber, to tell that he had not answered part of a late
letter of mine, because ‘littera scripta manet’. About his leav-
ing the office, he tells me, [it is] because he finds that his busi-
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ness at Court will not permit him to attend it; and then he con-
fesses that he seldom of late could come from it with satisfaction,
and therefore would not take the King’s money for nothing. I
professed my sorrow for it, and prayed the continuance of his
favour; which he promised. I do believe he hath [done] like a
very wise man in reference to himself; but I doubt it will prove
ill for the King, and for the office. Prince Rupert, I hear to-day,
is very ill; yesterday given over, but better to-day. This day, be-
fore the Duke of York, the business of the Muster-Masters was
reported, and Balty found the best of the whole number, so as
the Duke enquired who he was, and whether he was a stranger
by his two names, both strange, and offered that he and one
more, who hath done next best, should have not only their owne,
but part of the others’ salary, but that I having said he was my
brother-in-law, he did stop, but they two are ordered their pay,
which I am glad of, and some of the rest will lose their pay, and
others be laid by the heels. I was very glad of this being ended
so well. I did also, this morning, move in a business wherein
Mr. Hater hath concerned me, about getting a ship, laden with
salt from France, permitted to unload, coming in after the King’s
declaration was out, which I have hopes by some dexterity to get
done. Then with the Duke of York to the King, to receive his com-
mands for stopping the sale this day of some prize-goods at the
Prize-Office, goods fit for the Navy; and received the King’s com-
mands, and carried them to the Lords’ House, to my Lord Ashly,
who was angry much thereat, and I am sorry it fell to me to carry
the order, but I cannot help it. So, against his will, he signed a
note I writ to the Commissioners of Prizes, which I carried and
delivered to Kingdone, at their new office in Aldersgate Streete.
Thence a little to the Exchange, where it was hot that the Prince
was dead, but I did rectify it. So home to dinner, and found Balty,
told him the good news, and then after dinner away, I presently
to White Hall, and did give the Duke of York a memorial of the
salt business, against the Council, and did wait all the Council for
answer, walking a good while with Sir Stephen Fox, who, among
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other things, told me his whole mystery in the business of the in-
terest he pays as Treasurer for the Army. They give him 12d. per
pound quite through the Army, with condition to be paid weekly.
This he undertakes upon his own private credit, and to be paid
by the King at the end of every four months. If the King pay him
not at the end of the four months, then, for all the time he stays
longer, my Lord Treasurer, by agreement, allows him eight per
cent. per annum for the forbearance. So that, in fine, he hath
about twelve per cent. from the King and the Army, for fifteen or
sixteen months’ interest; out of which he gains soundly, his ex-
pense being about £130,000 per annum; and hath no trouble in it,
compared, as I told him, to the trouble I must have to bring in an
account of interest. I was, however, glad of being thus enlight-
ened, and so away to the other council door, and there got in and
hear a piece of a cause, heard before the King, about a ship de-
serted by her fellows (who were bound mutually to defend each
other), in their way to Virginy, and taken by the enemy, but it
was but meanly pleaded. Then all withdrew, and by and by the
Council rose, and I spoke with the Duke of York, and he told me
my business was done, which I found accordingly in Sir Edward
Walker’s books. And so away, mightily satisfied, to Arundell
House, and there heard a little good discourse, and so home, and
there to Sir W. Batten, where I heard the examinations in two of
our prizes, which do make but little for us, so that I do begin to
doubt their proving prize, which troubled me. So home to sup-
per with my wife, and after supper my wife told me how she
had moved to W. Hewer the business of my sister for a wife to
him, which he received with mighty acknowledgements, as she
says, above anything; but says he hath no intention to alter his
condition: so that I am in some measure sorry she ever moved
it; but I hope he will think it only come from her. So after sup-
per a little to the office, to enter my journall, and then home to
bed. Talk there is of a letter to come from Holland, desiring a
place of treaty; but I do doubt it. This day I observe still, in many
places, the smoking remains of the late fire: the ways mighty bad
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and dirty. This night Sir R. Ford told me how this day, at Christ
Church Hospital, they have given a living over £200 per annum
to Mr. Sanchy, my old acquaintance, which I wonder at, he com-
mending him mightily; but am glad of it. He tells me, too, how
the famous Stillingfleete was a Bluecoat boy. The children at this
day are provided for in the country by the House, which I am
glad also to hear.
17th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning sitting. At
noon home to dinner, and then to the office busy also till very
late, my heart joyed with the effects of my following my business,
by easing my head of cares, and so home to supper and to bed.
18th. Up, and most of the morning finishing my entry of my
journall during the late fire out of loose papers into this book,
which did please me mightily when done, I, writing till my eyes
were almost blind therewith to make an end of it. Then all the
rest of the morning, and, after a mouthful of dinner, all the after-
noon in my closet till night, sorting all my papers, which have
lain unsorted for all the time we were at Greenwich during the
plague, which did please me also, I drawing on to put my of-
fice into a good posture, though much is behind. This morning
come Captain. Cocke to me, and tells me that the King comes to
the House this day to pass the poll Bill and the Irish Bill; he tells
me too that, though the Faction is very froward in the House,
yet all will end well there. But he says that one had got a Bill
ready to present in the House against Sir W. Coventry, for selling
of places, and says he is certain of it, and how he was withheld
from doing it. He says, that the Vice-chamberlaine is now one of
the greatest men in England again, and was he that did prevail
with the King to let the Irish Bill go with the word “Nuisance.”
He told me, that Sir G. Carteret’s declaration of giving double to
any man that will prove that any of his people have demanded or
taken any thing for forwarding the payment of the wages of any
man (of which he sent us a copy yesterday, which we approved
of) is set up, among other places, upon the House of Lords’ door.
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I do not know how wisely this is done. This morning, also, there
come to the office a letter from the Duke of York, commanding
our payment of no wages to any of the muster-masters of the
fleete the last year, but only two, my brother Balty, taking no-
tice that he had taken pains therein, and one Ward, who, though
he had not taken so much as the other, yet had done more than
the rest. This I was exceeding glad of for my own sake and his.
At night I, by appointment, home, where W. Batelier and his sis-
ter Mary, and the two Mercers, to play at cards and sup, and
did cut our great cake lately given us by Russell: a very good
one. Here very merry late. Sir W. Pen told me this night how the
King did make them a very sharp speech in the House of Lords
to-day, saying that he did expect to have had more Bills;601 that
he purposes to prorogue them on Monday come se’nnight; that
whereas they have unjustly conceived some jealousys of his mak-
ing a peace, he declares he knows of no such thing or treaty: and
so left them. But with so little effect, that as soon as he come into
the House, Sir W. Coventry moved, that now the King hath de-
clared his intention of proroguing them, it would be loss of time
to go on with the thing they were upon, when they were called
to the King, which was the calling over the defaults of Members
appearing in the House; for that, before any person could now
come or be brought to town, the House would be up. Yet the
Faction did desire to delay time, and contend so as to come to a
division of the House; where, however, it was carried, by a few
voices, that the debate should be laid by. But this shews that they
are not pleased, or that they have not any awe over them from
the King’s displeasure. The company being gone, to bed.
601 On this day “An Act for raising Money by a Poll and otherwise towards
the maintenance of the present War,” and “An Act prohibiting the Importa-
tion of Cattle from Ireland and other parts beyond the Sea, and Fish taken by
Foreigners,” were passed. The king. complained of the insufficient supply,
and said, “‘Tis high time for you to make good your promises, and ‘tis high
time for you to be in the country” (“Journals of the House of Lords,” vol xii.,
p. 81).
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JANUARY 1666-1667
19th. Up, and at the office all the morning. Sir W. Batten tells
me to my wonder that at his coming to my Lord Ashly, yesterday
morning, to tell him what prize-goods he would have saved for
the Navy, and not sold, according to the King’s order on the 17th,
he fell quite out with him in high terms; and he says, too, that
they did go on to the sale yesterday, even of the very hempe, and
other things, at which I am astonished, and will never wonder at
the ruine of the King’s affairs, if this be suffered. At noon dined,
and Mr. Pierce come to see me, he newly come from keeping his
Christmas in the country. So to the office, where very busy, but
with great pleasure till late at night, and then home to supper
and to bed.
20th (Lord’s day). Up betimes and down to the Old Swan,
there called on Michell and his wife, which in her night linen
appeared as pretty almost as ever to my thinking I saw woman.
Here I drank some burnt brandy. They shewed me their house,
which, poor people, they have built, and is very pretty. I invited
them to dine with me, and so away to White Hall to Sir W. Coven-
try, with whom I have not been alone a good while, and very kind
he is, and tells me how the business is now ordered by order of
council for my Lord Bruncker to assist Sir J. Minnes in all mat-
ters of accounts relating to the Treasurer, and Sir W. Pen in all
matters relating to the victuallers’ and pursers’ accounts, which
I am very glad of, and the more for that I think it will not do
me any hurt at all. Other discourse, much especially about the
heat the House was in yesterday about the ill management of the
Navy, which I was sorry to hear; though I think they were well
answered, both by Sir G. Carteret and [Sir] W. Coventry, as he
informs me the substance of their speeches. Having done with
him, home mightily satisfied with my being with him, and com-
ing home I to church, and there, beyond expectation, find our
seat, and all the church crammed, by twice as many people as
used to be: and to my great joy find Mr. Frampton in the pulpit;
so to my great joy I hear him preach, and I think the best sermon,
for goodness and oratory, without affectation or study, that ever I
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JANUARY 1666-1667
heard in my life. The truth is, he preaches the most like an apostle
that ever I heard man; and it was much the best time that ever I
spent in my life at church. His text, Ecclesiastes xi., verse 8th–the
words, “But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all, yet
let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many.
All that cometh is vanity.” He done, I home, and there Michell
and his wife, and we dined and mighty merry, I mightily taken
more and more with her. After dinner I with my brother away by
water to White Hall, and there walked in the Parke, and a little
to my Lord Chancellor’s, where the King and Cabinet met, and
there met Mr. Brisband, with whom good discourse, to White
Hall towards night, and there he did lend me “The Third Ad-
vice to a Paynter,” a bitter satyre upon the service of the Duke of
Albemarle the last year. I took it home with me, and will copy it,
having the former, being also mightily pleased with it. So after
reading it, I to Sir W. Pen to discourse a little with him about the
business of our prizes, and so home to supper and to bed.
21st. Up betimes, and with, Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, [Sir]
R. Ford, by coach to the Swede’s Resident’s in the Piatza, to dis-
course with him about two of our prizes, wherein he puts in his
concernment as for his countrymen. We had no satisfaction, nor
did give him any, but I find him a cunning fellow. He lives in
one of the great houses there, but ill-furnished; and come to us
out of bed in his furred mittens and furred cap. Thence to Ex-
eter House to the Doctors Commons, and there with our Proctors
to Dr. Walker, who was not very well, but, however, did hear
our matters, and after a dull seeming hearing of them read, did
discourse most understandingly of them, as well as ever I heard
man, telling us all our grounds of pretence to the prize would do
no good, and made it appear but thus, and thus, it may be, but
yet did give us but little reason to expect it would prove, which
troubled us, but I was mightily taken to hear his manner of dis-
course. Thence with them to Westminster Hall, they setting me
down at White Hall, where I missed of finding Sir G. Carteret, up
to the Lords’ House, and there come mighty seasonably to hear
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JANUARY 1666-1667
the Solicitor about my Lord Buckingham’s pretence to the title of
Lord Rosse. Mr. Atturny Montagu is also a good man, and so
is old Sir P. Ball; but the Solicitor and Scroggs after him are ex-
cellent men. Here spoke with my Lord Bellasses about getting
some money for Tangier, which he doubts we shall not be able
to do out of the Poll Bill, it being so strictly tied for the Navy.
He tells me the Lords have passed the Bill for the accounts with
some little amendments. So down to the Hall, and thence with
our company to Exeter House, and then did the business I have
said before, we doing nothing the first time of going, it being too
early. At home find Lovett, to whom I did give my Lady Castle-
mayne’s head to do. He is talking of going into Spayne to get
money by his art, but I doubt he will do no good, he being a man
of an unsettled head. Thence by water down to Deptford, the first
time I have been by water a great while, and there did some lit-
tle business and walked home, and there come into my company
three drunken seamen, but one especially, who told me such sto-
ries, calling me Captain, as made me mighty merry, and they
would leap and skip, and kiss what mayds they met all the way.
I did at first give them money to drink, lest they should know
who I was, and so become troublesome to me. Parted at Redriffe,
and there home and to the office, where did much business, and
then to Sir W. Batten’s, where [Sir] W. Pen, [Sir] R. Ford, and I
to hear a proposition [Sir] R. Ford was to acquaint us with from
the Swedes Embassador, in manner of saying, that for money he
might be got to our side and relinquish the trouble he may give
us. Sir W. Pen did make a long simple declaration of his reso-
lution to give nothing to deceive any poor man of what was his
right by law, but ended in doing whatever any body else would,
and we did commission Sir R. Ford to give promise of not beyond
£350 to him and his Secretary, in case they did not oppose us in
the Phoenix (the net profits of which, as [Sir] R. Ford cast up be-
fore us, the Admiral’s tenths, and ship’s thirds, and other charges
all cleared, will amount to £3,000) and that we did gain her. [Sir]
R. Ford did pray for a curse upon his family, if he was privy to
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anything more than he told us (which I believe he is a knave in),
yet we all concluded him the most fit man for it and very honest,
and so left it wholly to him to manage as he pleased. Thence to
the office a little while longer, and so home, where W. Hewer’s
mother was, and Mrs. Turner, our neighbour, and supped with
us. His mother a well-favoured old little woman, and a good
woman, I believe. After we had supped, and merry, we parted
late, Mrs. Turner having staid behind to talk a little about her
lodgings, which now my Lord Bruncker upon Sir W. Coventry’s
surrendering do claim, but I cannot think he will come to live
in them so as to need to put them out. She gone, we to bed all.
This night, at supper, comes from Sir W. Coventry the Order of
Councill for my Lord Bruncker to do all the Comptroller’s part
relating to the Treasurer’s accounts, and Sir W. Pen, all relating
to the Victualler’s, and Sir J. Minnes to do the rest. This, I hope,
will do much better for the King than now, and, I think, will give
neither of them ground to over-top me, as I feared they would;
which pleases me mightily. This evening, Mr. Wren and Captain
Cocke called upon me at the office, and there told me how the
House was in better temper to-day, and hath passed the Bill for
the remainder of the money, but not to be passed finally till they
have done some other things which they will have passed with
it; wherein they are very open, what their meaning is, which was
but doubted before, for they do in all respects doubt the King’s
pleasing them.
22nd. Up, and there come to me Darnell the fiddler, one of the
Duke’s house, and brought me a set of lessons, all three parts,
I heard them play to the Duke of York after Christmas at his
lodgings, and bid him get me them. I did give him a crowne
for them, and did enquire after the musique of the “Siege of
Rhodes,” which, he tells me, he can get me, which I am mighty
glad of. So to the office, where among other things I read the
Councill’s order about my Lord Bruncker and Sir W. Pen to be
assistants to the Comptroller, which quietly went down with Sir
J. Minnes, poor man, seeming a little as if he would be thought to
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have desired it, but yet apparently to his discontent; and, I fear,
as the order runs, it will hardly do much good. At noon to din-
ner, and there comes a letter from Mrs. Pierce, telling me she will
come and dine with us on Thursday next, with some of the play-
ers, Knipp, &c., which I was glad of, but my wife vexed, which
vexed me; but I seemed merry, but know not how to order the
matter, whether they shall come or no. After dinner to the office,
and there late doing much business, and so home to supper, and
to bed.
23rd. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen to White Hall,
and there to the Duke of York, and did our usual business. Hav-
ing done there, I to St. James’s, to see the organ Mrs. Turner told
me of the other night, of my late Lord Aubigney’s; and I took my
Lord Bruncker with me, he being acquainted with my present
Lord Almoner, Mr. Howard, brother to the Duke of Norfolke; so
he and I thither and did see the organ, but I do not like it, it being
but a bauble, with a virginal! joining to it: so I shall not med-
dle with it. Here we sat and talked with him a good while, and
he seems a good-natured gentleman: here I observed the deske
which he hath, [made] to remove, and is fastened to one of the
armes of his chayre. I do also observe the counterfeit windows
there was, in the form of doors with looking-glasses instead of
windows, which makes the room seem both bigger and lighter,
I think; and I have some thoughts to have the like in one of my
rooms. He discoursed much of the goodness of the musique in
Rome, but could not tell me how long musique had been in any
perfection in that church, which I would be glad to know. He
speaks much of the great buildings that this Pope,602 whom, in
mirth to us, he calls Antichrist, hath done in his time. Having
done with the discourse, we away, and my Lord and I walking
into the Park back again, I did observe the new buildings: and
my Lord, seeing I had a desire to see them, they being the place
602 Fabio Chigi, of Siena, succeeded Innocent X. in 1655 as Alexander VII.
He died May, 1667, and was succeeded by Clement IX.
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JANUARY 1666-1667
for the priests and fryers, he took me back to my Lord Almoner;
and he took us quite through the whole house and chapel, and
the new monastery, showing me most excellent pieces in wax-
worke: a crucifix given by a Pope to Mary Queen of Scotts, where
a piece of the Cross is;603 two bits set in the manner of a cross in
the foot of the crucifix: several fine pictures, but especially very
good prints of holy pictures. I saw the dortoire–[dormitory]–and
the cells of the priests, and we went into one; a very pretty lit-
tle room, very clean, hung with pictures, set with books. The
Priest was in his cell, with his hair clothes to his skin, bare-legged,
with a sandal! only on, and his little bed without sheets, and no
603 Pieces of “the Cross” were formerly held in such veneration, and were
so common, that it has been often said enough existed to build a ship. Most
readers will remember the distinction which Sir W. Scott represents Louis XI.
(with great appreciation of that monarch’s character), as drawing between
an oath taken on a false piece and one taken on a piece of the true cross.
Sir Thomas More, a very devout believer in relics, says (“Works,” p. 119),
that Luther wished, in a sermon of his, that he had in his hand all the pieces
of the Holy Cross; and said that if he so had, he would throw them there
as never sun should shine on them:–and for what worshipful reason would
the wretch do such villainy to the cross of Christ? Because, as he saith, that
there is so much gold now bestowed about the garnishing of the pieces of
the Cross, that there is none left for poore folke. Is not this a high reason?
As though all the gold that is now bestowed about the pieces of the Holy
Cross would not have failed to have been given to poor men, if they had
not been bestowed about the garnishing of the Cross! and as though there
were nothing lost, but what is bestowed about Christ’s Cross!” “Wolsey, says
Cavendish, on his fall, gave to Norris, who brought him a ring of gold as a
token of good will from Henry, “a little chaine of gold, made like a bottle
chain, with a cross of gold, wherein was a piece of the Holy Cross, which he
continually wore about his neck, next his body; and said, furthermore, ‘Mas-
ter Norris, I assure you, when I was in prosperity, although it seem but small
in value, yet I would not gladly have departed with the same for a thousand
pounds.”’ Life, ed. 1852, p. 167. Evelyn mentions, “Diary,” November 17th,
1664, that he saw in one of the chapels in St. Peter’s a crucifix with a piece of
the true cross in it. Amongst the jewels of Mary Queen of Scots was a cross of
gold, which had been pledged to Hume of Blackadder for £1000 (Chalmers’s
“Life,” vol. i., p. 31 ).–B.
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feather bed; but yet, I thought, soft enough. His cord about his
middle; but in so good company, living with ease, I thought it a
very good life. A pretty library they have. And I was in the refec-
toire, where every man his napkin, knife, cup of earth, and basin
of the same; and a place for one to sit and read while the rest
are at meals. And into the kitchen I went, where a good neck of
mutton at the fire, and other victuals boiling. I do not think they
fared very hard. Their windows all looking into a fine garden
and the Park; and mighty pretty rooms all. I wished myself one
of the Capuchins. Having seen what we could here, and all with
mighty pleasure, so away with the Almoner in his coach, talking
merrily about the difference in our religions, to White Hall, and
there we left him. I in my Lord Bruncker’s coach, he carried me to
the Savoy, and there we parted. I to the Castle Tavern, where was
and did come all our company, Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, [Sir]
R. Ford, and our Counsel Sir Ellis Layton, Walt Walker, Dr. Budd,
Mr. Holder, and several others, and here we had a bad dinner of
our preparing, and did discourse something of our business of
our prizes, which was the work of the day. I staid till dinner was
over, and there being no use of me I away after dinner without
taking leave, and to the New Exchange, there to take up my wife
and Mercer, and to Temple Bar to the Ordinary, and had a dish of
meat for them, they having not dined, and thence to the King’s
house, and there saw “The Numerous Lieutenant,” a silly play,
I think; only the Spirit in it that grows very tall, and then sinks
again to nothing, having two heads breeding upon one, and then
Knipp’s singing, did please us. Here, in a box above, we spied
Mrs. Pierce; and, going out, they called us, and so we staid for
them; and Knipp took us all in, and brought to us Nelly; a most
pretty woman, who acted the great part of Coelia to-day very
fine, and did it pretty well: I kissed her, and so did my wife;
and a mighty pretty soul she is. We also saw Mrs. Halls which
is my little Roman-nose black girl, that is mighty pretty: she is
usually called Betty. Knipp made us stay in a box and see the
dancing preparatory to to-morrow for “The Goblins,” a play of
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JANUARY 1666-1667
Suckling’s, not acted these twenty-five years; which was pretty;
and so away thence, pleased with this sight also, and specially
kissing of Nell. We away, Mr. Pierce and I, on foot to his house,
the women by coach. In our way we find the Guards of horse
in the street, and hear the occasion to be news that the seamen
are in a mutiny, which put me into a great fright; so away with
my wife and Mercer home preparing against to-morrow night to
have Mrs. Pierce and Knipp and a great deal more company to
dance; and, when I come home, hear of no disturbance there of
the seamen, but that one of them, being arrested to-day, others
do go and rescue him. So to the office a little, and then home to
supper, and to my chamber awhile, and then to bed.
24th. Up, and to the office, full of thoughts how to order the
business of our merry meeting to-night. So to the office, where
busy all the morning. [While we were sitting in the morning at
the office, we were frighted with news of fire at Sir W. Batten’s
by a chimney taking fire, and it put me into much fear and trou-
ble, but with a great many hands and pains it was soon stopped.]
At noon home to dinner, and presently to the office to despatch
my business, and also we sat all the afternoon to examine the
loss of The Bredagh, which was done by as plain negligence as
ever ship was. We being rose, I entering my letters and getting
the office swept and a good fire made and abundance of candles
lighted, I home, where most of my company come of this end of
the town-Mercer and her sister, Mr. Batelier and Pembleton (my
Lady Pen, and Pegg, and Mr. Lowther, but did not stay long, and
I believe it was by Sir W. Pen’s order; for they had a great mind
to have staid), and also Captain Rolt. And, anon, at about seven
or eight o’clock, comes Mr. Harris, of the Duke’s playhouse, and
brings Mrs. Pierce with him, and also one dressed like a country-
mayde with a straw hat on; which, at first, I could not tell who
it was, though I expected Knipp: but it was she coming off the
stage just as she acted this day in “The Goblins;” a merry jade.
Now my house is full, and four fiddlers that play well. Harris
I first took to my closet; and I find him a very curious and un-
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derstanding person in all pictures and other things, and a man of
fine conversation; and so is Rolt. So away with all my company
down to the office, and there fell to dancing, and continued at
it an hour or two, there coming Mrs. Anne Jones, a merchant’s
daughter hard by, who dances well, and all in mighty good hu-
mour, and danced with great pleasure; and then sung and then
danced, and then sung many things of three voices–both Har-
ris and Rolt singing their parts excellently. Among other things,
Harris sung his Irish song–the strangest in itself, and the pret-
tiest sung by him, that ever I heard. Then to supper in the of-
fice, a cold, good supper, and wondrous merry. Here was Mrs.
Turner also, but the poor woman sad about her lodgings, and
Mrs. Markham: after supper to dancing again and singing, and
so continued till almost three in the morning, and then, with ex-
traordinary pleasure, broke up only towards morning, Knipp fell
a little ill, and so my wife home with her to put her to bed, and
we continued dancing and singing; and, among other things, our
Mercer unexpectedly did happen to sing an Italian song I know
not, of which they two sung the other two parts to, that did al-
most ravish me, and made me in love with her more than ever
with her singing. As late as it was, yet Rolt and Harris would go
home to-night, and walked it, though I had a bed for them; and
it proved dark, and a misly night, and very windy. The company
being all gone to their homes, I up with Mrs. Pierce to Knipp,
who was in bed; and we waked her, and there I handled her
breasts and did ‘baiser la’, and sing a song, lying by her on the
bed, and then left my wife to see Mrs. Pierce in bed to her, in
our best chamber, and so to bed myself, my mind mightily satis-
fied with all this evening’s work, and thinking it to be one of the
merriest enjoyment I must look for in the world, and did content
myself therefore with the thoughts of it, and so to bed; only the
musique did not please me, they not being contented with less
than 30s.
25th. Lay pretty long, then to the office, where Lord Bruncker
and Sir J. Minnes and I did meet, and sat private all the morn-
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ing about dividing the Controller’s work according to the late
order of Council, between them two and Sir W. Pen, and it trou-
bled me to see the poor honest man, Sir J. Minnes, troubled at it,
and yet the King’s work cannot be done without it. It was at last
friendlily ended, and so up and home to dinner with my wife.
This afternoon I saw the Poll Bill, now printed; wherein I do fear
I shall be very deeply concerned, being to be taxed for all my of-
fices, and then for my money that I have, and my title, as well
as my head. It is a very great tax; but yet I do think it is so per-
plexed, it will hardly ever be collected duly. The late invention of
Sir G. Downing’s is continued of bringing all the money into the
Exchequer; and Sir G. Carteret’s three pence is turned for all the
money of this act into but a penny per pound, which I am sorry
for. After dinner to the office again, where Lord Bruncker, [Sir]
W. Batten, and [Sir] W. Pen and I met to talk again about the Con-
troller’s office, and there [Sir] W. Pen would have a piece of the
great office cut out to make an office for him, which I opposed
to the making him very angry, but I think I shall carry it against
him, and then I care not. So a little troubled at this fray, I away
by coach with my wife, and left her at the New Exchange, and
I to my Lord Chancellor’s, and then back, taking up my wife to
my Lord Bellasses, and there spoke with Mr. Moone, who tells
me that the peace between us and Spayne is, as he hears, con-
cluded on, which I should be glad of, and so home, and after a
little at my office, home to finish my journall for yesterday and
to-day, and then a little supper and to bed. This day the House
hath passed the Bill for the Assessment, which I am glad of; and
also our little Bill, for giving any one of us in the office the power
of justice of peace, is done as I would have it.
26th. Up, and at the office. Sat all the morning, where among
other things I did the first unkind [thing] that ever I did design
to Sir W. Warren, but I did it now to some purpose, to make
him sensible how little any man’s friendship shall avail him if he
wants money. I perceive he do nowadays court much my Lord
Bruncker’s favour, who never did any man much courtesy at the
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board, nor ever will be able, at least so much as myself. Besides,
my Lord would do him a kindness in concurrence with me, but
he would have the danger of the thing to be done lie upon me,
if there be any danger in it (in drawing up a letter to Sir W. War-
ren’s advantage), which I do not like, nor will endure. I was,
I confess, very angry, and will venture the loss of Sir W. War-
ren’s kindnesses rather than he shall have any man’s friendship
in greater esteem than mine. At noon home to dinner, and after
dinner to the office again, and there all the afternoon, and at night
poor Mrs. Turner come and walked in the garden for my advice
about her husband and her relating to my Lord Bruncker’s late
proceedings with them. I do give her the best I can, but yet can
lay aside some ends of my own in what advice I do give her. So
she being gone I to make an end of my letters, and so home to
supper and to bed, Balty lodging here with my brother, he being
newly returned from mustering in the river.
27th (Lord’s day). Up betimes, and leaving my wife to go by
coach to hear Mr. Frampton preach, which I had a mighty de-
sire she should, I down to the Old Swan, and there to Michell
and staid while he and she dressed themselves, and here had a
‘baiser’ or two of her, whom I love mightily; and then took them
in a sculler (being by some means or other disappointed of my
own boat) to White Hall, and so with them to Westminster, Sir
W. Coventry, Bruncker and I all the morning together discours-
ing of the office business, and glad of the Controller’s business
being likely to be put into better order than formerly, and did
discourse of many good things, but especially of having some-
thing done to bringing the Surveyor’s matters into order also.
Thence I up to the King’s closet, and there heard a good An-
them, and discoursed with several people here about business,
among others with Lord Bellasses, and so from one to another
after sermon till the King had almost dined, and then home with
Sir G. Carteret and dined with him, being mightily ashamed of
my not having seen my Lady Jemimah so long, and my wife not
at all yet since she come, but she shall soon do it. I thence to Sir
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Philip Warwicke, by appointment, to meet Lord Bellasses, and
up to his chamber, but find him unwilling to discourse of busi-
ness on Sundays; so did not enlarge, but took leave, and went
down and sat in a low room, reading Erasmus “de scribendis
epistolis,” a very good book, especially one letter of advice to
a courtier most true and good, which made me once resolve to
tear out the two leaves that it was writ in, but I forebore it. By
and by comes Lord Bellasses, and then he and I up again to Sir
P. Warwicke and had much discourse of our Tangier business,
but no hopes of getting any money. Thence I through the gar-
den into the Park, and there met with Roger Pepys, and he and I
to walk in the Pell Mell. I find by him that the House of Parlia-
ment continues full of ill humours, and he seems to dislike those
that are troublesome more than needs, and do say how, in their
late Poll Bill, which cost so much time, the yeomanry, and indeed
two-thirds of the nation, are left out to be taxed, that there is not
effectual provision enough made for collecting of the money; and
then, that after a man his goods are distrained and sold, and the
overplus returned, I am to have ten days to make my complaints
of being over-rated if there be cause, when my goods are sold,
and that is too late. These things they are resolved to look into
again, and mend them before they rise, which they expect at fur-
thest on Thursday next. Here we met with Mr. May, and he
and we to talk of several things, of building, and such like mat-
ters; and so walked to White Hall, and there I skewed my cozen
Roger the Duchesse of York sitting in state, while her own mother
stands by her; he had a desire, and I shewed him my Lady Castle-
mayne, whom he approves to be very handsome, and wonders
that she cannot be as good within as she is fair without. Her lit-
tle black boy came by him; and, a dog being in his way, the little
boy called to the dog: “Pox of this dog!”–“Now,” says he, bless-
ing himself, “would I whip this child till the blood come, if it
were my child!” and I believe he would. But he do by no means
like the liberty of the Court, and did come with expectation of
finding them playing at cards to-night, though Sunday; for such
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stories he is told, but how true I know not.604 After walking up
and down the Court with him, it being now dark and past six
at night, I walked to the Swan in the Palace yard and there with
much ado did get a waterman, and so I sent for the Michells, and
they come, and their father Howlett and his wife with them, and
there we drank, and so into the boat, poor Betty’s head aching.
We home by water, a fine moonshine and warm night, it having
been also a very summer’s day for warmth. I did get her hand
to me under my cloak.... So there we parted at their house, and
he walked almost home with me, and then I home and to supper,
and to read a little and to bed. My wife tells me Mr. Frampton is
gone to sea, and so she lost her labour to-day in thinking to hear
him preach, which I am sorry for.
28th. Up, and down to the Old Swan, and there drank at
Michell’s and saw Betty, and so took boat and to the Temple, and
thence to my tailor’s and other places about business in my way
to Westminster, where I spent the morning at the Lords’ House
door, to hear the conference between the two Houses about my
Lord Mordaunt, of which there was great expectation, many hun-
dreds of people coming to hear it. But, when they come, the
Lords did insist upon my Lord Mordaunt’s having leave to sit
upon a stool uncovered within their burr, and that he should
have counsel, which the Commons would not suffer, but desired
leave to report their Lordships’ resolution to the House of Com-
mons; and so parted for this day, which troubled me, I having
604 There is little reason to doubt that it was such as Evelyn describes it at
a later time. “I can never forget the inexpressible luxury and prophaneness,
gaming, and all dissoluteness, and, as it were, total forgetfulness of God (it
being Sunday evening) which this day se’nnight I was witness of; the King
sitting and toying with his concubines, Portsmouth, Cleveland, Mazarin, &c.
A French boy singing love songs in that glorious gallery, whilst about twenty
of the great courtiers and other dissolute persons were at basset round a
large table, a bank of at least £2,000 in gold before them; upon which two
gentlemen who were with me made reflexions with astonishment. Six days
after was all in the dust.”–Diary, February, 1685.–B.
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by this means lost the whole day. Here I hear from Mr. Hayes
that Prince Rupert is very bad still, and so bad, that he do now
yield to be trepanned. It seems, as Dr. Clerke also tells me, it is
a clap of the pox which he got about twelve years ago, and hath
eaten to his head and come through his scull, so his scull must be
opened, and there is great fear of him. Much work I find there is
to do in the two Houses in a little time, and much difference there
is between the two Houses in many things to be reconciled; as
in the Bill for examining our accounts; Lord Mordaunt’s Bill for
building the City, and several others. A little before noon I went
to the Swan and eat a bit of meat, thinking I should have had
occasion to have stayed long at the house, but I did not, but so
home by coach, calling at Broad Street and taking the goldsmith
home with me, and paid him £15 15s. for my silver standish. He
tells me gold holds up its price still, and did desire me to let him
have what old 20s. pieces I have, and he would give me 3s. 2d.
change for each. He gone, I to the office, where business all the
afternoon, and at night comes Mr. Gawden at my desire to me,
and to-morrow I shall pay him some money, and shall see what
present he will make me, the hopes of which do make me to part
with my money out of my chest, which I should not otherwise
do, but lest this alteration in the Controller’s office should oc-
casion my losing my concernment in the Victualling, and so he
have no more need of me. He gone, I to the office again, hav-
ing come thence home with him to talk, and so after a little more
business I to supper. I then sent for Mercer, and began to teach
her “It is decreed,” which will please me well, and so after sup-
per and reading a little, and my wife’s cutting off my hair short,
which is grown too long upon my crown of my head, I to bed. I
met this day in Westminster Hall Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen,
and the latter since our falling out the other day do look mighty
reservedly upon me, and still he shall do so for me, for I will be
hanged before I seek to him, unless I see I need it.
29th. Up to the office all the morning, where Sir W. Pen and
I look much askewe one upon another, though afterward busi-
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ness made us speak friendly enough, but yet we hate one an-
other. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office, where all
the afternoon expecting Mr. Gawden to come for some money I
am to pay him, but he comes not, which makes me think he is
considering whether it be necessary to make the present he hath
promised, it being possible this alteration in the Controller’s duty
may make my place in the Victualling unnecessary, so that I am
a little troubled at it. Busy till late at night at the office, and Sir
W. Batten come to me, and tells me that there is newes upon the
Exchange to-day, that my Lord Sandwich’s coach and the French
Embassador’s at Madrid, meeting and contending for the way,
they shot my Lord’s postilion and another man dead; and that
we have killed 25 of theirs, and that my Lord is well. How true
this is I cannot tell, there being no newes of it at all at Court, as I
am told late by one come thence, so that I hope it is not so. By and
by comes Mrs. Turner to me, to make her complaint of her sad
usage she receives from my Lord Bruncker, that he thinks much
she hath not already got another house, though he himself hath
employed her night and day ever since his first mention of the
matter, to make part of her house ready for him, as he ordered,
and promised she should stay till she had fitted herself; by which
and what discourse I do remember he had of the business before
Sir W. Coventry on Sunday last I perceive he is a rotten-hearted,
false man as any else I know, even as Sir W. Pen himself, and,
therefore, I must beware of him accordingly, and I hope I shall.
I did pity the woman with all my heart, and gave her the best
council I could; and so, falling to other discourse, I made her
laugh and merry, as sad as she came to me; so that I perceive
no passion in a woman can be lasting long; and so parted and I
home, and there teaching my girle Barker part of my song “It is
decreed,” which she will sing prettily, and so after supper to bed.
30th. Fast-day for the King’s death. I all the morning at my
chamber making up my month’s accounts, which I did before
dinner to my thorough content, and find myself but a small
gainer this month, having no manner of profits, but just my
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salary, but, blessed be God! that I am able to save out of that,
living as I do. So to dinner, then to my chamber all the after-
noon, and in the evening my wife and I and Mercer and Barker
to little Michell’s, walked, with some neats’ tongues and cake
and wine, and there sat with the little couple with great pleasure,
and talked and eat and drank, and saw their little house, which is
very pretty; and I much pleased therewith, and so walked home,
about eight at night, it being a little moonshine and fair weather,
and so into the garden, and, with Mercer, sang till my wife put
me in mind of its being a fast day; and so I was sorry for it, and
stopped, and home to cards awhile, and had opportunity ‘para
baiser’ Mercer several times, and so to bed.
31st. Up, and to the office, where we met and sat all the morn-
ing. At noon home to dinner, and by and by Mr. Osborne comes
from Mr. Gawden, and takes money and notes for £4000, and
leaves me acknowledgment for £4000 and odd; implying as if D.
Gawden would give the £800 between Povy and myself, but how
he will divide it I know-not, till I speak with him, so that my con-
tent is not yet full in the business. In the evening stept out to
Sir Robert Viner’s to get the money ready upon my notes to D.
Gawden, and there hear that Mr. Temple is very ill. I met on the
‘Change with Captain Cocke, who tells me that he hears new cer-
tainty of the business of Madrid, how our Embassador and the
French met, and says that two or three of my Lord’s men, and
twenty one of the French men are killed, but nothing at Court of
it. He fears the next year’s service through the badness of our
counsels at White Hall, but that if they were wise, and the King
would mind his business, he might do what he would yet. The
Parliament is not yet up, being finishing some bills. So home and
to the office, and late home to supper, and to talk with my wife,
with pleasure, and to bed. I met this evening at Sir R. Viner’s our
Mr. Turner, who I find in a melancholy condition about his be-
ing removed out of his house, but I find him so silly and so false
that I dare not tell how to trust any advice to him, and therefore
did speak only generally to him, but I doubt his condition is very
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miserable, and do pity his family. Thus the month ends: my-
self in very good health and content of mind in my family. All
our heads full in the office at this dividing of the Comptroller’s
duty, so that I am in some doubt how it may prove to intrench
upon my benefits, but it cannot be much. The Parliament, upon
breaking up, having given the King money with much ado, and
great heats, and neither side pleased, neither King nor them. The
imperfection of the Poll Bill, which must be mended before they
rise, there being several horrible oversights to the prejudice of
the King, is a certain sign of the care anybody hath of the King’s
business. Prince Rupert very ill, and to be trepanned on Satur-
day next. Nobody knows who commands the fleete next year,
or, indeed, whether we shall have a fleete or no. Great prepa-
rations in Holland and France, and the French have lately taken
Antego605 from us, which vexes us. I am in a little care through
my at last putting a great deal of money out of my hands again
into the King’s upon tallies for Tangier, but the interest which I
wholly lost while in my trunk is a temptation while things look
safe, as they do in some measure for six months, I think, and I
would venture but little longer.
605 Antigua, one of the West India Islands (Leeward Islands), discovered
by Columbus in 1493, who is said to have named it after a church at Seville
called Santa Maria la Antigua. It was first settled by a few English families
in 1632, and in 1663 another settlement was made under Lord Willoughby,
to whom the entire island was granted by Charles II. In 1666 it was invaded
by a French force, which laid waste all the settlement. It was reconquered by
the English, and formally restored to them by the treaty of Breda.
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February 1st. Up, and to the office, where I was all the morning
doing business, at noon home to dinner, and after dinner down
by water, though it was a thick misty and rainy day, and walked
to Deptford from Redriffe, and there to Bagwell’s by appoint-
ment, where the ‘mulier etoit within expecting me venir.... By
and by ‘su marido’ come in, and there without any notice taken
by him we discoursed of our business of getting him the new
ship building by Mr. Deane, which I shall do for him. Thence
by and by after a little talk I to the yard, and spoke with some of
the officers, but staid but little, and the new clerk of the ‘Chequer,
Fownes, did walk to Redriffe back with me. I perceive he is a very
child, and is led by the nose by Cowly and his kinsman that was
his clerk, but I did make him understand his duty, and put both
understanding and spirit into him, so that I hope he will do well.
[Much surprised to hear this day at Deptford that Mrs. Batters
is going already to be married to him, that is now the Captain of
her husband’s ship. She seemed the most passionate mourner in
the world. But I believe it cannot be true.]–(The passage between
brackets is written in the margin of the MS.)–Thence by water to
Billingsgate; thence to the Old Swan, and there took boat, it being
now night, to Westminster Hall, there to the Hall, and find Doll
Lane, and ‘con elle’ I went to the Bell Taverne, and ‘ibi je’ did do
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what I would ‘con elle’ as well as I could, she ‘sedendo sobre’
thus far and making some little resistance. But all with much
content, and ‘je tenai’ much pleasure ‘cum ista’. There parted,
and I by coach home, and to the office, where pretty late doing
business, and then home, and merry with my wife, and to sup-
per. My brother and I did play with the base, and I upon my
viallin, which I have not seen out of the case now I think these
three years, or more, having lost the key, and now forced to find
an expedient to open it. Then to bed.
2nd. Up, and to the office. This day I hear that Prince Rupert
is to be trepanned. God give good issue to it. Sir W. Pen looks
upon me, and I on him, and speak about business together at
the table well enough, but no friendship or intimacy since our
late difference about his closet, nor do I desire to have any. At
noon dined well, and my brother and I to write over once more
with my own hand my catalogue of books, while he reads to me.
After something of that done, and dined, I to the office, where
all the afternoon till night busy. At night, having done all my
office matters, I home, and my brother and I to go on with my
catalogue, and so to supper. Mrs. Turner come to me this night
again to condole her condition and the ill usage she receives from
my Lord Bruncker, which I could never have expected from him,
and shall be a good caution to me while I live. She gone, I to
supper, and then to read a little, and to bed. This night comes
home my new silver snuffe-dish, which I do give myself for my
closet, which is all I purpose to bestow in plate of myself, or shall
need, many a day, if I can keep what I have. So to bed. I am
very well pleased this night with reading a poem I brought home
with me last night from Westminster Hall, of Dryden’s’ upon the
present war; a very good poem.
3rd (Lord’s day). Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen
to White Hall, and there to Sir W. Coventry’s chamber, and there
staid till he was ready, talking, and among other things of the
Prince’s being trepanned, which was in doing just as we passed
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through the Stone Gallery, we asking at the door of his lodgings,
and were told so. We are all full of wishes for the good success;
though I dare say but few do really concern ourselves for him
in our hearts. Up to the Duke of York, and with him did our
business we come about, and among other things resolve upon
a meeting at the office to-morrow morning, Sir W. Coventry to
be there to determine of all things necessary for the setting of Sir
W. Pen to work in his Victualling business. This did awake in
me some thoughts of what might in discourse fall out touching
my imployment, and did give me some apprehension of trouble.
Having done here, and after our laying our necessities for money
open to the Duke of York, but nothing obtained concerning it, we
parted, and I with others into the House, and there hear that the
work is done to the Prince in a few minutes without any pain at
all to him, he not knowing when it was done. It was performed
by Moulins. Having cut the outward table, as they call corrupted,
so as it come out without any force; and their fear is, that the
whole inside of his head is corrupted like that, which do yet make
them afeard of him; but no ill accident appeared in the doing of
the thing, but all with all imaginable success, as Sir Alexander
Frazier did tell me himself, I asking him, who is very kind to me.
I to the Chapel a little, but hearing nothing did take a turn into
the Park, and then back to Chapel and heard a very good Anthem
to my heart’s delight, and then to Sir G. Carteret’s to dinner, and
before dinner did walk with him alone a good while, and from
him hear our case likely for all these acts to be bad for money,
which troubles me, the year speeding so fast, and he tells me that
he believes the Duke of York will go to sea with the fleete, which
I am sorry for in respect to his person, but yet there is no person
in condition to command the fleete, now the Captains are grown
so great, but him, it being impossible for anybody else but him to
command any order or discipline among them. He tells me there
is nothing at all in the late discourse about my Lord Sandwich
and the French Embassador meeting and contending for the way,
which I wonder at, to see the confidence of report without any
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FEBRUARY 1666-1667
ground. By and by to dinner, where very good company. Among
other discourse, we talked much of Nostradamus606 his prophecy
of these times, and the burning of the City of London, some of
whose verses are put into Booker’s’ Almanack this year; and Sir
G. Carteret did tell a story, how at his death he did make the
town swear that he should never be dug up, or his tomb opened,
after he was buried; but they did after sixty years do it, and upon
his breast they found a plate of brasse, saying what a wicked
and unfaithful people the people of that place were, who after so
many vows should disturb and open him such a day and year
and hour; which, if true, is very strange. Then we fell to talking
of the burning of the City; and my Lady Carteret herself did tell
us how abundance of pieces of burnt papers were cast by the
wind as far as Cranborne; and among others she took up one, or
had one brought her to see, which was a little bit of paper that
had been printed, whereon there remained no more nor less than
these words: “Time is, it is done.” After dinner I went and took a
turn into the Park, and then took boat and away home, and there
to my chamber and to read, but did receive some letters from
Sir W. Coventry, touching the want of victuals to Kempthorne’s’
fleete going to the Streights and now in the Downes: which did
trouble me, he saying that this disappointment might prove fatal;
and the more, because Sir W. Coventry do intend to come to the
office upon business to-morrow morning, and I shall not know
what answer to give him. This did mightily trouble my mind;
however, I fell to read a little in Hakewill’s Apology, and did
satisfy myself mighty fair in the truth of the saying that the world
do not grow old at all, but is in as good condition in all respects as
ever it was as to nature. I continued reading this book with great
pleasure till supper, and then to bed sooner than ordinary, for
rising betimes in the morning to-morrow. So after reading my
606 Michael Nostradamus, a physician and astrologer, born in the diocese
of Avignon, 1503. Amongst other predictions, one was interpreted as fore-
showing the singular death of Hen. II. of France, by which his reputation
was increased.
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usual vows to bed, my mind full of trouble against to-morrow,
and did not sleep any good time of the night for thoughts of to-
morrow morning’s trouble.
4th. I up, with my head troubled to think of the issue of this
morning, so made ready and to the office, where Mr. Gawden
comes, and he and I discoursed the business well, and thinks I
shall get off well enough; but I do by Sir W. Coventry’s silence
conclude that he is not satisfied in my management of my place
and the charge it puts the King to, which I confess I am not in
present condition through my late laziness to give any good an-
swer to. But here do D. Gawden give me a good cordiall this
morning, by telling me that he do give me five of the eight hun-
dred pounds on his account remaining in my hands to myself, for
the service I do him in my victualling business, and £100 for my
particular share of the profits of my Tangier imployment as Trea-
surer. This do begin to make my heart glad, and I did dissemble
it the better, so when Sir W. Coventry did come, and the rest met,
I did appear unconcerned, and did give him answer pretty sat-
isfactory what he asked me; so that I did get off this meeting
without any ground lost, but rather a great deal gained by in-
terposing that which did belong to my duty to do, and neither
[Sir] W. Coventry nor (Sir) W. Yen did oppose anything there-
unto, which did make my heart very glad. All the morning at
this work, Sir W. Pen making a great deal of do for the fitting him
in his setting out in his employment, and I do yield to any trou-
ble that he gives me without any contradiction. Sir W. Coventry
being gone, we at noon to dinner to Sir W. Pen’s, he inviting me
and my wife, and there a pretty good dinner, intended indeed
for Sir W. Coventry, but he would not stay. So here I was mighty
merry and all our differences seemingly blown over, though he
knows, if he be not a fool, that I love him not, and I do the like
that he hates me. Soon as dined, my wife and I out to the Duke’s
playhouse, and there saw “Heraclius,” an excellent play, to my
extraordinary content; and the more from the house being very
full, and great company; among others, Mrs. Steward, very fine,
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with her locks done up with puffes, as my wife calls them: and
several other great ladies had their hair so, though I do not like
it; but my wife do mightily–but it is only because she sees it is
the fashion. Here I saw my Lord Rochester and his lady, Mrs.
Mallet, who hath after all this ado married him; and, as I hear
some say in the pit, it is a great act of charity, for he hath no es-
tate. But it was pleasant to see how every body rose up when my
Lord John Butler, the Duke of Ormond’s son, come into the pit
towards the end of the play, who was a servant–[lover]–to Mrs.
Mallet, and now smiled upon her, and she on him. I had sitting
next to me a woman, the likest my Lady Castlemayne that ever I
saw anybody like another; but she is a whore, I believe, for she is
acquainted with every fine fellow, and called them by their name,
Jacke, and Tom, and before the end of the play frisked to another
place. Mightily pleased with the play, we home by coach, and
there a little to the office, and then to my chamber, and there fin-
ished my Catalogue of my books with my own hand, and so to
supper and to bed, and had a good night’s rest, the last night’s
being troublesome, but now my heart light and full of resolution
of standing close to my business.
5th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing busi-
ness, and then home to dinner. Heard this morning that the
Prince is much better, and hath good rest. All the talk is that my
Lord Sandwich hath perfected the peace with Spayne, which is
very good, if true. Sir H. Cholmly was with me this morning, and
told me of my Lord Bellasses’s base dealings with him by getting
him to give him great gratuities to near £2000 for his friendship
in the business of the Mole, and hath been lately underhand en-
deavouring to bring another man into his place as Governor, so
as to receive his money of Sir H. Cholmly for nothing. Dined
at home, and after dinner come Mrs. Daniel and her sister and
staid and talked a little, and then I to the office, and after setting
my things in order at the office I abroad with my wife and little
Betty Michell, and took them against my vowes, but I will make
good my forfeit, to the King’s house, to show them a play, “The
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Chances.” A good play I find it, and the actors most good in
it; and pretty to hear Knipp sing in the play very properly, “All
night I weepe;” and sung it admirably. The whole play pleases
me well: and most of all, the sight of many fine ladies–among
others, my Lady Castlemayne and Mrs. Middleton: the latter of
the two hath also a very excellent face and body, I think. Thence
by coach to the New Exchange, and there laid out money, and I
did give Betty Michell two pair of gloves and a dressing-box; and
so home in the dark, over the ruins, with a link. I was troubled
with my pain, having got a bruise on my right testicle, I know
not how. But this I did make good use of to make my wife shift
sides with me, and I did come to sit ‘avec’ Betty Michell, and
there had her ‘main’, which ‘elle’ did give me very frankly now,
and did hazer whatever I ‘voudrais avec la’, which did ‘plaisir’
me ‘grandement’, and so set her at home with my mind mighty
glad of what I have prevailed for so far; and so home, and to
the office, and did my business there, and then home to supper,
and after to set some things right in my chamber, and so to bed.
This morning, before I went to the office, there come to me Mr.
Young and Whistler, flaggmakers, and with mighty earnestness
did present me with, and press me to take a box, wherein I could
not guess there was less than £100 in gold: but I do wholly refuse
it, and did not at last take it. The truth is, not thinking them safe
men to receive such a gratuity from, nor knowing any consider-
able courtesy that ever I did do them, but desirous to keep myself
free from their reports, and to have it in my power to say I had
refused their offer.
6th. Up, lying a little long in bed, and by water to White Hall,
and there find the Duke of York gone out, he being in haste to
go to the Parliament, and so all my Brethren were gone to the
office too. So I to Sir Ph. Warwicke’s about my Tangier busi-
ness, and then to Westminster Hall, and walked up and down,
and hear that the Prince do still rest well by day and night, and
out of pain; so as great hopes are conceived of him: though I did
meet Dr. Clerke and Mr. Pierce, and they do say they believe he
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will not recover it, they supposing that his whole head within is
eaten by this corruption, which appeared in this piece of the in-
ner table. Up to the Parliament door, and there discoursed with
Roger Pepys, who goes out of town this week, the Parliament
rising this week also. So down to the Hall and there spied Betty
Michell, and so I sent for burnt wine to Mrs. Michell’s, and there
did drink with the two mothers, and by that means with Betty,
poor girle, whom I love with all my heart. And God forgive me, it
did make me stay longer and hover all the morning up and down
the Hall to ‘busquer occasions para ambulare con elle. But ego ne
pouvoir’. So home by water and to dinner, and then to the office,
where we sat upon Denis Gawden’s accounts, and before night I
rose and by water to White Hall, to attend the Council; but they
sat not to-day. So to Sir W. Coventry’s chamber, and find him
within, and with a letter from the Downes in his hands, telling
the loss of the St. Patricke coming from Harwich in her way to
Portsmouth; and would needs chase two ships (she having the
Malago fire-ship in company) which from English colours put up
Dutch, and he would clap on board the Vice-Admirall; and after
long dispute the Admirall comes on the other side of him, and
both together took him. Our fire-ship (Seely) not coming in to
fire all three, but come away, leaving her in their possession, and
carried away by them: a ship built at Bristoll the last year, of fifty
guns and upwards, and a most excellent good ship. This made
him very melancholy. I to talk of our wants of money, but I do
find that he is not pleased with that discourse, but grieves to hear
it, and do seem to think that Sir G. Carteret do not mind the get-
ting of money with the same good cheer that he did heretofore,
nor do I think he hath the same reason. Thence to Westminster
Hall, thinking to see Betty Michell, she staying there all night,
and had hopes to get her out alone, but missed, and so away by
coach home, and to Sir W. Batten’s, to tell him my bad news, and
then to the office, and home to supper, where Mrs. Hewer was,
and after supper and she gone, W. Hewer talking with me very
late of the ill manner of Sir G. Carteret’s accounts being kept,
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and in what a sad condition he would be if either Fenn or Wayth
should break or die, and am resolved to take some time to tell
Sir G. Carteret or my Lady of it, I do love them so well and their
family. So to bed, my pain pretty well gone.
7th. Lay long with pleasure with my wife, and then up and
to the office, where all the morning, and then home to dinner,
and before dinner I went into my green dining room, and there
talking with my brother upon matters relating to his journey to
Brampton to-morrow, and giving him good counsel about spend-
ing the time when he shall stay in the country with my father, I
looking another way heard him fall down, and turned my head,
and he was fallen down all along upon the ground dead, which
did put me into a great fright; and, to see my brotherly love! I did
presently lift him up from the ground, he being as pale as death;
and, being upon his legs, he did presently come to himself, and
said he had something come into his stomach very hot. He knew
not what it was, nor ever had such a fit before. I never was so
frighted but once, when my wife was ill at Ware upon the road,
and I did continue trembling a good while and ready to weepe
to see him, he continuing mighty pale all dinner and melancholy,
that I was loth to let him take his journey tomorrow; but he be-
gan to be pretty well, and after dinner my wife and Barker fell
to singing, which pleased me pretty well, my wife taking mighty
pains and proud that she shall come to trill, and indeed I think
she will. So to the office, and there all the afternoon late doing
business, and then home, and find my brother pretty well. So to
write a letter to my Lady Sandwich for him to carry, I having not
writ to her a great while. Then to supper and so to bed. I did
this night give him 20s. for books, and as much for his pocket,
and 15s. to carry him down, and so to bed. Poor fellow! he is so
melancholy, and withal, my wife says, harmless, that I begin to
love him, and would be loth he should not do well.
8th. This morning my brother John come up to my bedside,
and took his leave of us, going this day to Brampton. My wife
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loves him mightily as one that is pretty harmless, and I do begin
to fancy him from yesterday’s accident, it troubling me to think I
should be left without a brother or sister, which is the first time
that ever I had thoughts of that kind in my life. He gone, I up,
and to the office, where we sat upon the Victuallers’ accounts all
the morning. At noon Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen,
and myself to the Swan in Leadenhall Street to dinner, where an
exceedingly good dinner and good discourse. Sir W. Batten come
this morning from the House, where the King hath prorogued
this Parliament to October next. I am glad they are up. The Bill
for Accounts was not offered, the party being willing to let it fall;
but the King did tell them he expected it. They are parted with
great heartburnings, one party against the other. Pray God bring
them hereafter together in better temper! It is said that the King
do intend himself in this interval to take away Lord Mordaunt’s
government, so as to do something to appease the House against
they come together, and let them see he will do that of his own ac-
cord which is fit, without their forcing him; and that he will have
his Commission for Accounts go on which will be good things.
At dinner we talked much of Cromwell; all saying he was a brave
fellow, and did owe his crowne he got to himself as much as any
man that ever got one. Thence to the office, and there begun the
account which Sir W. Pen by his late employment hath examined,
but begun to examine it in the old manner, a clerk to read the
Petty warrants, my Lord Bruncker upon very good ground did
except against it, and would not suffer him to go on. This being
Sir W. Pen’s clerk he took it in snuff, and so hot they grew upon
it that my Lord Bruncker left the office. He gone (Sir) W. Pen
ranted like a devil, saying that nothing but ignorance could do
this. I was pleased at heart all this while. At last moved to have
Lord Bruncker desired to return, which he did, and I read the
petty warrants all the day till late at night, that I was very weary,
and troubled to have my private business of my office stopped to
attend this, but mightily pleased at this falling out, and the truth
is [Sir] W. Pen do make so much noise in this business of his, and
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do it so little and so ill, that I think the King will be little the better
by changing the hand. So up and to my office a little, but being
at it all day I could not do much there. So home and to supper, to
teach Barker to sing another piece of my song, and then to bed.
9th. To the office, where we sat all the morning busy. At noon
home to dinner, and then to my office again, where also busy,
very busy late, and then went home and read a piece of a play,
“Every Man in his Humour,”–[Ben Jonson’s well-known play.]–
wherein is the greatest propriety of speech that ever I read in my
life: and so to bed. This noon come my wife’s watchmaker, and
received £12 of me for her watch; but Captain Rolt coming to
speak with me about a little business, he did judge of the work
to be very good work, and so I am well contented, and he hath
made very good, that I knew, to Sir W. Pen and Lady Batten.
10th (Lord’s day). Up and with my wife to church, where Mr.
Mills made an unnecessary sermon upon Original Sin, neither
understood by himself nor the people. Home, where Michell and
his wife, and also there come Mr. Carter, my old acquaintance of
Magdalene College, who hath not been here of many years. He
hath spent his time in the North with the Bishop of Carlisle much.
He is grown a very comely person, and of good discourse, and
one that I like very much. We had much talk of our old acquain-
tance of the College, concerning their various fortunes; wherein,
to my joy, I met not with any that have sped better than myself.
After dinner he went away, and awhile after them Michell and
his wife, whom I love mightily, and then I to my chamber there
to my Tangier accounts, which I had let run a little behind hand,
but did settle them very well to my satisfaction, but it cost me
sitting up till two in the morning, and the longer by reason that
our neighbour, Mrs. Turner, poor woman, did come to take her
leave of us, she being to quit her house to-morrow to my Lord
Bruncker, who hath used her very unhandsomely. She is going
to lodgings, and do tell me very odde stories how Mrs. Williams
do receive the applications of people, and hath presents, and she
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is the hand that receives all, while my Lord Bruncker do the busi-
ness, which will shortly come to be loud talk if she continues
here, I do foresee, and bring my Lord no great credit. So having
done all my business, to bed.
11th. Up, and by water to the Temple, and thence to Sir Ph.
Warwicke’s about my Tangier warrant for tallies, and there met
my Lord Bellasses and Creed, and discoursed about our busi-
ness of money, but we are defeated as to any hopes of getting
[any] thing upon the Poll Bill, which I seem but not much trou-
bled at, it not concerning me much. Thence with Creed to West-
minster Hall, and there up and down, and heard that Prince Ru-
pert is still better and better; and that he did tell Dr. Troutbecke
expressly that my Lord Sandwich is ordered home. I hear, too,
that Prince Rupert hath begged the having of all the stolen prize-
goods which he can find, and that he is looking out anew after
them, which at first troubled me; but I do see it cannot come to
anything, but is done by Hayes, or some of his little people about
him. Here, among other newes, I bought the King’s speech at
proroguing the House the other day, wherein are some words
which cannot but import some prospect of a peace, which God
send us! After walking a good while in the Hall, it being Term
time, I home by water, calling at Michell’s and giving him a fair
occasion to send his wife to the New Exchange to meet my wife
and me this afternoon. So home to dinner, and after dinner by
coach to Lord Bellasses, and with him to Povy’s house, whom
we find with Auditor Beale and Vernatty about their accounts
still, which is never likely to have end. Our business was to
speak with Vernatty, who is certainly a most cunning knave as
ever was born. Having done what we had to do there, my Lord
carried me and set me down at the New Exchange, where I staid
at Pottle’s shop till Betty Michell come, which she did about five
o’clock, and was surprised not to ‘trouver my muger’ I there; but
I did make an excuse good enough, and so I took ‘elle’ down,
and over the water to the cabinet-maker’s, and there bought a
dressing-box for her for 20s., but would require an hour’s time
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to make fit. This I was glad of, thinking to have got ‘elle’ to en-
ter to a ‘casa de biber’, but ‘elle’ would not, so I did not much
press it, but suffered ‘elle’ to enter ‘a la casa de uno de sus her-
manos’, and so I past my time walking up and down, and among
other places, to one Drumbleby, a maker of flageolets, the best in
towne. He not within, my design to bespeak a pair of flageo-
lets of the same tune, ordered him to come to me in a day or
two, and so I back to the cabinet-maker’s and there staid; and
by and by Betty comes, and here we staid in the shop and above
seeing the workmen work, which was pretty, and some exceed-
ing good work, and very pleasant to see them do it, till it was
late quite dark, and the mistresse of the shop took us into the
kitchen and there talked and used us very prettily, and took her
for my wife, which I owned and her big belly, and there very
merry, till my thing done, and then took coach and home ... But
now comes our trouble, I did begin to fear that ‘su marido’ might
go to my house to ‘enquire pour elle’, and there, ‘trouvant’ my
‘muger’–[wife in Spanish.]–at home, would not only think him-
self, but give my ‘femme’ occasion to think strange things. This
did trouble me mightily, so though ‘elle’ would not seem to have
me trouble myself about it, yet did agree to the stopping the
coach at the streete’s end, and ‘je allois con elle’ home, and there
presently hear by him that he had newly sent ‘su mayde’ to my
house to see for her mistresse. This do much perplex me, and I
did go presently home Betty whispering me behind the ‘tergo de
her mari’, that if I would say that we did come home by water,
‘elle’ could make up ‘la cose well satis’, and there in a sweat did
walk in the entry ante my door, thinking what I should say a my
‘femme’, and as God would have it, while I was in this case (the
worst in reference a my ‘femme’ that ever I was in in my life),
a little woman comes stumbling to the entry steps in the dark;
whom asking who she was, she enquired for my house. So know-
ing her voice, and telling her ‘su donna’ is come home she went
away. But, Lord! in what a trouble was I, when she was gone, to
recollect whether this was not the second time of her coming, but
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at last concluding that she had not been here before, I did bless
myself in my good fortune in getting home before her, and do
verily believe she had loitered some time by the way, which was
my great good fortune, and so I in a-doors and there find all well.
So my heart full of joy, I to the office awhile, and then home, and
after supper and doing a little business in my chamber I to bed,
after teaching Barker a little of my song.
12th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, with
several things (among others) discoursed relating to our two new
assistant controllers, but especially Sir W. Pen, who is mighty
troublesome in it. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office
again, and there did much business, and by and by comes Mr.
Moore, who in discourse did almost convince me that it is neces-
sary for my Lord Sandwich to come home end take his command
at sea this year, for that a peace is like to be. Many considerations
he did give me hereupon, which were very good both in refer-
ence to the publick and his private condition. By and by with
Lord Bruncker by coach to his house, there to hear some Italian
musique: and here we met Tom Killigrew, Sir Robert Murray, and
the Italian Signor Baptista, who hath composed a play in Italian
for the Opera, which T. Killigrew do intend to have up; and here
he did sing one of the acts. He himself is the poet as well as the
musician; which is very much, and did sing the whole from the
words without any musique prickt, and played all along upon a
harpsicon most admirably, and the composition most excellent.
The words I did not understand, and so know not how they are
fitted, but believe very well, and all in the recitativo very fine. But
I perceive there is a proper accent in every country’s discourse,
and that do reach in their setting of notes to words, which, there-
fore, cannot be natural to any body else but them; so that I am
not so much smitten with it as, it may be, I should be, if I were
acquainted with their accent. But the whole composition is cer-
tainly most excellent; and the poetry, T. Killigrew and Sir R. Mur-
ray, who understood the words, did say was excellent. I confess
I was mightily pleased with the musique. He pretends not to
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voice, though it be good, but not excellent. This done, T. Killi-
grew and I to talk: and he tells me how the audience at his house
is not above half so much as it used to be before the late fire.
That Knipp is like to make the best actor that ever come upon the
stage, she understanding so well: that they are going to give her
£30 a-year more. That the stage is now by his pains a thousand
times better and more glorious than ever heretofore. Now, wax-
candles, and many of them; then, not above 3 lbs. of tallow: now,
all things civil, no rudeness anywhere; then, as in a bear-garden
then, two or three fiddlers; now, nine or ten of the best then, noth-
ing but rushes upon the ground, and every thing else mean; and
now, all otherwise: then, the Queen seldom and the King never
would come; now, not the King only for state, but all civil peo-
ple do think they may come as well as any. He tells me that he
hath gone several times, eight or ten times, he tells me, hence
to Rome to hear good musique; so much he loves it, though he
never did sing or play a note. That he hath ever endeavoured
in the late King’s time, and in this, to introduce good musique,
but he never could do it, there never having been any musique
here better than ballads. Nay, says, “Hermitt poore” and “Chevy
Chese”607 was all the musique we had; and yet no ordinary fid-
dlers get so much money as ours do here, which speaks our rude-
nesse still. That he hath gathered our Italians from several Courts
in Christendome, to come to make a concert for the King, which
he do give £200 a-year a-piece to: but badly paid, and do come
in the room of keeping four ridiculous gundilows,608 he having
607 “Like hermit poor in pensive place obscure” is found in “The Phoenix
Nest,” 1593, and in Harl. MS. No. 6910, written soon after 1596. It was set to
music by Alfonso Ferrabosco, and published in his “Ayres,” 1609. The song
was a favourite with Izaak Walton, and is alluded to in “Hudibras” (Part I.,
canto ii., line 1169). See Rimbault’s “Little Book of Songs and Ballads,” 1851,
p. 98. Both versions of the famous ballad of “Chevy Chase” are printed in
Percy’s “Reliques.”
608 The gondolas mentioned before, as sent by the Doge of Venice. See
September 12th, 1661
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FEBRUARY 1666-1667
got, the King to put them away, and lay out money this way; and
indeed I do commend him for it, for I think it is a very noble
undertaking. He do intend to have some times of the year these
operas to be performed at the two present theatres, since he is
defeated in what he intended in Moorefields on purpose for it;
and he tells me plainly that the City audience was as good as the
Court, but now they are most gone. Baptista tells me that Gia-
como Charissimi is still alive at Rome, who was master to Vin-
necotio, who is one of the Italians that the King hath here, and
the chief composer of them. My great wonder is, how this man
do to keep in memory so perfectly the musique of the whole act,
both for the voice and the instrument too. I confess I do admire
it: but in recitativo the sense much helps him, for there is but one
proper way of discoursing and giving the accents. Having done
our discourse, we all took coaches, my Lord’s and T. Killigrew’s,
and to Mrs. Knipp’s chamber, where this Italian is to teach her
to sing her part. And so we all thither, and there she did sing
an Italian song or two very fine, while he played the bass upon
a harpsicon there; and exceedingly taken I am with her singing,
and believe that she will do miracles at that and acting. Her little
girl is mighty pretty and witty. After being there an hour, and I
mightily pleased with this evening’s work, we all parted, and I
took coach and home, where late at my office, and then home to
enter my last three days’ Journall; and so to supper and to bed,
troubled at nothing, but that these pleasures do hinder me in my
business, and the more by reason of our being to dine abroad to-
morrow, and then Saturday next is appointed to meet again at
my Lord Bruncker’s lodgings, and there to have the whole quire
of Italians; but then I do consider that this is all the pleasure I live
for in the world, and the greatest I can ever expect in the best of
my life, and one thing more, that by hearing this man to-night,
and I think Captain Cooke to-morrow, and the quire of Italians
on Saturday, I shall be truly able to distinguish which of them
pleases me truly best, which I do much desire to know and have
good reason and fresh occasion of judging.
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13th. Up, and by water to White Hall, where to the Duke of
York, and there did our usual business; but troubled to see that, at
this time, after our declaring a debt to the Parliament of £900,000,
and nothing paid since, but the debt increased, and now the fleete
to set out; to hear that the King hath ordered but £35,000 for the
setting out of the fleete, out of the Poll Bill, to buy all provisions,
when five times as much had been little enough to have done
any thing to purpose. They have, indeed, ordered more for pay-
ing off of seamen and the Yards to some time, but not enough for
that neither. Another thing is, the acquainting the Duke of York
with the case of Mr. Lanyon, our agent at Plymouth, who has
trusted us to £8000 out of purse; we are not in condition, after so
many promises, to obtain him a farthing, nor though a message
was carried by Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry to the Com-
missioners for Prizes, that he might have £3000 out of £20,000
worth of prizes to be shortly sold there, that he might buy at the
candle and pay for the goods out of bills, and all would [not] do
any thing, but that money must go all another way, while the
King’s service is undone, and those that trust him perish. These
things grieve me to the heart. The Prince, I hear, is every day
better and better. So away by water home, stopping at Michell’s,
where Mrs. Martin was, and I there drank with them and whis-
pered with Betty, who tells me all is well, but was prevented in
something she would have said, her ‘marido venant’ just then, a
news which did trouble me, and so drank and parted and home,
and there took up my wife by coach, and to Mrs. Pierce’s, there to
take her up, and with them to Dr. Clerke’s, by invitation, where
we have not been a great while, nor had any mind to go now,
but that the Dr., whom I love, would have us choose a day. Here
was his wife, painted, and her sister Worshipp, a widow now and
mighty pretty in her mourning. Here was also Mr. Pierce and Mr.
Floyd, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of Prizes, and Cap-
tain Cooke, to dinner, an ill and little mean one, with foul cloth
and dishes, and everything poor. Discoursed most about plays
and the Opera, where, among other vanities, Captain Cooke had
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the arrogance to say that he was fain to direct Sir W. Davenant in
the breaking of his verses into such and such lengths, according
as would be fit for musick, and how he used to swear at Dav-
enant, and command him that way, when W. Davenant would be
angry, and find fault with this or that note–but a vain coxcomb I
perceive he is, though he sings and composes so well. But what
I wondered at, Dr. Clerke did say that Sir W. Davenant is no
good judge of a dramatick poem, finding fault with his choice of
Henry the 5th, and others, for the stage, when I do think, and
he confesses, “The Siege of Rhodes” as good as ever was writ.
After dinner Captain Cooke and two of his boys to sing, but it
was indeed both in performance and composition most plainly
below what I heard last night, which I could not have believed.
Besides overlooking the words which he sung, I find them not at
all humoured as they ought to be, and as I believed he had done
all he had sett. Though he himself do indeed sing in a manner as
to voice and manner the best I ever heard yet, and a strange mas-
tery he hath in making of extraordinary surprising closes, that
are mighty pretty, but his bragging that he do understand tones
and sounds as well as any man in the world, and better than Sir
W. Davenant or any body else, I do not like by no means, but
was sick of it and of him for it. He gone, Dr. Clerke fell to read-
ing a new play, newly writ, of a friend’s of his; but, by his dis-
course and confession afterwards, it was his own. Some things,
but very few, moderately good; but infinitely far from the con-
ceit, wit, design, and language of very many plays that I know;
so that, but for compliment, I was quite tired with hearing it. It
being done, and commending the play, but against my judgment,
only the prologue magnifying the happiness of our former poets
when such sorry things did please the world as was then acted,
was very good. So set Mrs. Pierce at home, and away ourselves
home, and there to my office, and then my chamber till my eyes
were sore at writing and making ready my letter and accounts
for the Commissioners of Tangier to-morrow, which being done,
to bed, hearing that there was a very great disorder this day at
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the Ticket Office, to the beating and bruising of the face of Car-
casse very much. A foul evening this was to-night, and I might-
ily troubled to get a coach home; and, which is now my common
practice, going over the ruins in the night, I rid with my sword
drawn in the coach.
14th. Up and to the office, where Carcasse comes with his
plaistered face, and called himself Sir W. Batten’s martyr, which
made W. Batten mad almost, and mighty quarrelling there was.
We spent the morning almost wholly upon considering some
way of keeping the peace at the Ticket Office; but it is plain that
the care of that office is nobody’s work, and that is it that makes it
stand in the ill condition it do. At noon home to dinner, and after
dinner by coach to my Lord Chancellor’s, and there a meeting:
the Duke of York, Duke of Albemarle, and several other Lords of
the Commission of Tangier. And there I did present a state of my
accounts, and managed them well; and my Lord Chancellor did
say, though he was, in other things, in an ill humour, that no man
in England was of more method, nor made himself better under-
stood than myself. But going, after the business of money was
over, to other businesses, of settling the garrison, he did fling out,
and so did the Duke of York, two or three severe words touch-
ing my Lord Bellasses: that he would have no Governor come
away from thence in less than three years; no, though his lady
were with child. “And,” says the Duke of York, “there should be
no Governor continue so, longer than three years.” “Nor,” says
Lord Arlington, “when our rules are once set, and upon good
judgment declared, no Governor should offer to alter them.”–
“We must correct the many things that are amiss there; for,” says
the Lord Chancellor, “you must think we do hear of more things
amisse than we are willing to speak before our friends’ faces.”
My Lord Bellasses would not take notice of their reflecting on
him, and did wisely, but there were also many reflections on
him. Thence away by coach to Sir H. Cholmly and Fitzgerald and
Creed, setting down the two latter at the New Exchange. And Sir
H. Cholmly and I to the Temple, and there walked in the dark in
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the walks talking of newes; and he surprises me with the certain
newes that the King did last night in Council declare his being in
treaty with the Dutch: that they had sent him a very civil letter,
declaring that, if nobody but themselves were concerned, they
would not dispute the place of treaty, but leave it to his choice;
but that, being obliged to satisfy therein a Prince of equal quality
with himself, they must except any place in England or Spayne.
And so the King hath chosen the Hague, and thither hath chose
my Lord Hollis and Harry Coventry to go Embassadors to treat;
which is so mean a thing, as all the world will believe, that we do
go to beg a peace of them, whatever we pretend. And it seems
all our Court are mightily for a peace, taking this to be the time
to make one, while the King hath money, that he may save some-
thing of what the Parliament hath given him to put him out of
debt, so as he may need the help of no more Parliaments, as to
the point of money: but our debt is so great, and expence daily so
encreased, that I believe little of the money will be saved between
this and the making of the peace up. But that which troubles me
most is, that we have chosen a son of Secretary Morris, a boy
never used to any business, to go Embassador [Secretary] to the
Embassy, which shows how, little we are sensible of the weight
of the business upon us. God therefore give a good end to it, for
I doubt it, and yet do much more doubt the issue of our contin-
uing the war, for we are in no wise fit for it, and yet it troubles
me to think what Sir H. Cholmly says, that he believes they will
not give us any reparation for what we have suffered by the war,
nor put us into any better condition than what we were in before
the war, for that will be shamefull for us. Thence parted with
him and home through the dark over the ruins by coach, with my
sword drawn, to the office, where dispatched some business; and
so home to my chamber and to supper and to bed. This morning
come up to my wife’s bedside, I being up dressing myself, little
Will Mercer to be her Valentine; and brought her name writ upon
blue paper in gold letters, done by himself, very pretty; and we
were both well pleased with it. But I am also this year my wife’s
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Valentine, and it will cost me £5; but that I must have laid out if
we had not been Valentines. So to bed.
15th. Up and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes by coach to
White Hall, where we attended upon the Duke of York to com-
plain of the disorders the other day among the seamen at the Pay
at the Ticket Office, and that it arises from lack of money, and that
we desire, unless better provided for with money, to have noth-
ing more to do with the payment of tickets, it being not our duty;
and the Duke of York and [Sir] W. Coventry did agree to it, so
that I hope we shall be rid of that trouble. This done, I moved for
allowance for a house for Mr. Turner, and got it granted. Then
away to Westminster Hall, and there to the Exchequer about my
tallies, and so back to White Hall, and so with Lord Bellasses to
the Excise Office, where met by Sir H. Cholmly to consider about
our business of money there, and that done, home and to dinner,
where I hear Pegg Pen is married this day privately; no friends,
but two or three relations on his side and hers. Borrowed many
things of my kitchen for dressing their dinner. So after dinner to
the office, and there busy and did much business, and late at it.
Mrs. Turner come to me to hear how matters went; I told her of
our getting rent for a house for her. She did give me account of
this wedding to-day, its being private being imputed to its being
just before Lent, and so in vain to make new clothes till Easter,
that they might see the fashions as they are like to be this sum-
mer; which is reason good enough. Mrs. Turner tells me she
hears [Sir W. Pen] gives £4500 or 4000 with her. They are gone
to bed, so I wish them much sport, and home to supper and to
bed. They own the treaty for a peace publickly at Court, and
the Commissioners providing themselves to go over as soon as a
passe comes for them.
16th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. Among
other things great heat we were all in on one side or other in the
examining witnesses against Mr. Carcasse about his buying of
tickets, and a cunning knave I do believe he is, and will appear,
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though I have thought otherwise heretofore. At noon home to
dinner, and there find Mr. Andrews, and Pierce and Hollyard,
and they dined with us and merry, but we did rise soon for sav-
ing of my wife’s seeing a new play this afternoon, and so away
by coach, and left her at Mrs. Pierces, myself to the Excise Office
about business, and thence to the Temple to walk a little only,
and then to Westminster to pass away time till anon, and here
I went to Mrs. Martin’s to thank her for her oysters.... Thence
away to my Lord Bruncker’s, and there was Sir Robert Murray,
whom I never understood so well as now by this opportunity of
discourse with him, a most excellent man of reason and learning,
and understands the doctrine of musique, and everything else I
could discourse of, very finely. Here come Mr. Hooke, Sir George
Ent, Dr. Wren, and many others; and by and by the musique, that
is to say, Signor Vincentio, who is the master-composer, and six
more, whereof two eunuches, so tall, that Sir T. Harvey said well
that he believes they do grow large by being gelt as our oxen do,
and one woman very well dressed and handsome enough, but
would not be kissed, as Mr. Killigrew, who brought the company
in, did acquaint us. They sent two harpsicons before; and by
and by, after tuning them, they begun; and, I confess, very good
musique they made; that is, the composition exceeding good, but
yet not at all more pleasing to me than what I have heard in En-
glish by Mrs. Knipp, Captain Cooke, and others. Nor do I dote
on the eunuches; they sing, indeed, pretty high, and have a mel-
low kind of sound, but yet I have been as well satisfied with sev-
eral women’s voices and men also, as Crispe of the Wardrobe.
The women sung well, but that which distinguishes all is this,
that in singing, the words are to be considered, and how they are
fitted with notes, and then the common accent of the country is
to be known and understood by the hearer, or he will never be
a good judge of the vocal musique of another country. So that I
was not taken with this at all, neither understanding the first, nor
by practice reconciled to the latter, so that their motions, and ris-
ings and fallings, though it may be pleasing to an Italian, or one
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that understands the tongue, yet to me it did not, but do from
my heart believe that I could set words in English, and make
musique of them more agreeable to any Englishman’s eare (the
most judicious) than any Italian musique set for the voice, and
performed before the same man, unless he be acquainted with
the Italian accent of speech. The composition as to the musique
part was exceeding good, and their justness in keeping time by
practice much before any that we have, unless it be a good band
of practised fiddlers. So away, here being Captain Cocke, who is
stole away, leaving them at it, in his coach, and to Mrs. Pierce’s,
where I took up my wife, and there I find Mrs. Pierce’s little girl
is my Valentine, she having drawn me; which I was not sorry for,
it easing me of something more that I must have given to oth-
ers. But here I do first observe the fashion of drawing of mottos
as well as names; so that Pierce, who drew my wife, did draw
also a motto, and this girl drew another for me. What mine was
I have forgot; but my wife’s was, “Most virtuous and most fair;”
which, as it may be used, or an anagram made upon each name,
might be very pretty. Thence with Cocke and my wife, set him at
home, and then we home. To the office, and there did a little busi-
ness, troubled that I have so much been hindered by matters of
pleasure from my business, but I shall recover it I hope in a little
time. So home and to supper, not at all smitten with the musique
to-night, which I did expect should have been so extraordinary,
Tom Killigrew crying it up, and so all the world, above all things
in the world, and so to bed. One wonder I observed to-day, that
there was no musique in the morning to call up our new-married
people, which is very mean, methinks, and is as if they had mar-
ried like dog and bitch.
17th (Lord’s day). Up, and called at Michell’s, and took him
and his wife and carried them to Westminster, I landing at White
Hall, and having no pleasure in the way ‘con elle’; and so to the
Duke’s, where we all met and had a hot encounter before the
Duke of York about the business of our payments at the Ticket
Office, where we urged that we had nothing to do to be trou-
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bled with the pay, having examined the tickets. Besides, we are
neglected, having not money sent us in time, but to see the base-
ness of my brethren, not a man almost put in a word but Sir W.
Coventry, though at the office like very devils in this point. But
I did plainly declare that, without money, no fleete could be ex-
pected, and desired the Duke of York to take notice of it, and
notice was taken of it, but I doubt will do no good. But I desire
to remember it as a most prodigious thing that to this day my
Lord Treasurer hath not consulted counsel, which Sir W. Coven-
try and I and others do think is necessary, about the late Poll act,
enough to put the same into such order as that any body dare
lend money upon it, though we have from this office under our
hands related the necessity thereof to the Duke of York, nor is
like to be determined in, for ought I see, a good while had not Sir
W. Coventry plainly said that he did believe it would be a bet-
ter work for the King than going to church this morning, to send
for the Atturney Generall to meet at the Lord Treasurer’s this af-
ternoon and to bring the thing to an issue, saying that himself,
were he going to the Sacrament, would not think he should of-
fend God to leave it and go to the ending this work, so much it
is of moment to the King and Kingdom. Hereupon the Duke of
York said he would presently speak to the King, and cause it to
be done this afternoon. Having done here we broke up; having
done nothing almost though for all this, and by and by I met Sir
G. Carteret, and he is stark mad at what has passed this morn-
ing, and I believe is heartily vexed with me: I said little, but I
am sure the King will suffer if some better care be not taken than
he takes to look after this business of money. So parted, and I
by water home and to dinner, W. Hewer with us, a good dinner
and-very merry, my wife and I, and after dinner to my chamber,
to fit some things against: the Council anon, and that being done
away to White Hall by water, and thence to my Lord Chancel-
lor’s, where I met with, and had much pretty discourse with, one
of the Progers’s that knows me; and it was pretty to hear him tell
me, of his own accord, as a matter of no shame, that in Spayne
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he had a pretty woman, his mistress, whom, when money grew
scarce with him, he was forced to leave, and afterwards heard
how she and her husband lived well, she being kept by an old
fryer who used her as his whore; but this, says he, is better than
as our ministers do, who have wives that lay up their estates, and
do no good nor relieve any poor–no, not our greatest prelates,
and I think he is in the right for my part. Staid till the Coun-
cil was up, and attended the King and Duke of York round the
Park, and was asked several questions by both; but I was in pain,
lest they should ask me what I could not answer; as the Duke of
York did the value of the hull of the St. Patrick lately lost, which
I told him I could not presently answer; though I might have eas-
ily furnished myself to answer all those questions. They stood a
good while to see the ganders and geese tread one another in the
water, the goose being all the while kept for a great while: quite
under water, which was new to me, but they did make mighty
sport of it, saying (as the King did often) “Now you shall see a
marriage, between this and that,” which did not please me. They
gone, by coach to my Lord Treasurer’s, as the Duke of York told
me, to settle the business of money for the navy, I walked into
the Court to and again till night, and there met Colonell Reames,
and he and I walked together a great while complaining of the ill-
management of things, whereof he is as full as I am. We ran over
many persons and things, and see nothing done like men like to
do well while the King minds his pleasures so much. We did
bemoan it that nobody would or had authority enough with the
King to tell him how all things go to rack and will be lost. Then
he and I parted, and I to Westminster to the Swan, and there staid
till Michell and his wife come. Old Michell and his wife come to
see me, and there we drank and laughed a little, and then the
young ones and I took boat, it being fine moonshine. I did to my
trouble see all the way that ‘elle’ did get as close ‘a su marido’
as ‘elle’ could, and turn her ‘mains’ away ‘quand je’ did endeav-
our to take one.... So that I had no pleasure at all ‘con elle ce’
night. When we landed I did take occasion to send him back a the
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bateau while I did get a ‘baiser’ or two, and would have taken ‘la’
by ‘la’ hand, but ‘elle’ did turn away, and ‘quand’ I said shall I not
‘toucher’ to answered ‘ego’ no love touching, in a slight mood. I
seemed not to take notice of it, but parted kindly; ‘su marido’
did alter with me almost a my case, and there we parted, and so I
home troubled at this, but I think I shall make good use of it and
mind my business more. At home, by appointment, comes Cap-
tain Cocke to me, to talk of State matters, and about the peace;
who told me that the whole business is managed between Kevet,
Burgomaster of Amsterdam, and my Lord Arlington, who hath,
by the interest of his wife there, some interest. We have proposed
the Hague, but know not yet whether the Dutch will like it; or;
if they do, whether the French will. We think we shall have the
help of the information of their affairs and state, and the helps of
the Prince of Orange his faction; but above all, that De Witt, who
hath all this while said he cannot get peace, his mouth will now
be stopped, so that he will be forced to offer fit terms for fear of
the people; and, lastly, if France or Spayne do not please us, we
are in a way presently to clap up a peace with the Dutch, and se-
cure them. But we are also in treaty with France, as he says: but
it must be to the excluding our alliance with the King of Spayne
or House of Austria; which we do not know presently what will
be determined in. He tells me the Vice-Chamberlaine is so great
with the King, that, let the Duke of York, and Sir W. Coventry,
and this office, do or say what they will, while the King lives, Sir
G. Carteret will do what he will; and advises me to be often with
him, and eat and drink with him.; and tells me that he doubts he
is jealous of me, and was mighty mad to-day at our discourse to
him before the Duke of York. But I did give him my reasons that
the office is concerned to declare that, without money, the King’s
work cannot go on. From that discourse we ran to others, and
among the others he assures me that Henry Bruncker is one of the
shrewdest fellows for parts in England, and a dangerous man;
that if ever the Parliament comes again Sir W. Coventry cannot
stand, but in this I believe him not; that, while we want money so
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much in the Navy, the Officers of the Ordnance have at this day
£300,000 good in tallys, which they can command money upon,
got by their over-estimating their charge in getting it reckoned
as a fifth part of the expense of the Navy; that Harry Coventry,
who is to go upon this treaty with Lord Hollis (who he confesses
to be a very wise man) into Holland, is a mighty quick, ready
man, but not so weighty as he should be, he knowing him so
well in his drink as he do; that, unless the King do do something
against my Lord Mordaunt and the Patent for the Canary Com-
pany, before the Parliament next meets, he do believe there will
be a civil war before there will be any more money given, unless
it may be at their perfect disposal; and that all things are now
ordered to the provoking of the Parliament against they come
next, and the spending the King’s money, so as to put him into
a necessity of having it at the time it is prorogued for, or sooner.
Having discoursed all this and much more, he away, and I to sup-
per and to read my vows, and to bed. My mind troubled about
Betty Michell, ‘pour sa carriage’ this night ‘envers moy’, but do
hope it will put me upon doing my business. This evening, going
to the Queen’s side to see the ladies, I did find the Queene, the
Duchesse of York, and another or two, at cards, with the room
full of great ladies and men; which I was amazed at to see on a
Sunday, having not believed it; but, contrarily, flatly denied the
same a little while since to my cozen Roger Pepys? I did this day,
going by water, read the answer to “The Apology for Papists,”
which did like me mightily, it being a thing as well writ as I think
most things that ever I read in my life, and glad I am that I read
it.
18th. Up, and to my bookbinder’s, and there mightily pleased
to see some papers of the account we did give the Parliament
of the expense of the Navy sewed together, which I could not
have conceived before how prettily it was done. Then by coach to
the Exchequer about some tallies, and thence back again home,
by the way meeting Mr. Weaver, of Huntingdon, and did dis-
course our business of law together, which did ease my mind,
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for I was afeard I have omitted doing what I in prudence ought
to have done. So home and to dinner, and after dinner to the
office, where je had Mrs. Burrows all sola a my closet, and did
there ‘baiser and toucher ses mamelles’.... Thence away, and with
my wife by coach to the Duke of York’s play-house, expecting a
new play, and so stayed not no more than other people, but to the
King’s house, to “The Mayd’s Tragedy;” but vexed all the while
with two talking ladies and Sir Charles Sedley; yet pleased to
hear their discourse, he being a stranger. And one of the ladies
would, and did sit with her mask on, all the play, and, being ex-
ceeding witty as ever I heard woman, did talk most pleasantly
with him; but was, I believe, a virtuous woman, and of quality.
He would fain know who she was, but she would not tell; yet did
give him many pleasant hints of her knowledge of him, by that
means setting his brains at work to find, out who she was, and
did give him leave to use all means to find out who she was, but
pulling off her mask. He was mighty witty, and she also making
sport with him very inoffensively, that a more pleasant ‘rencon-
tre’ I never heard. But by that means lost the pleasure of the play
wholly, to which now and then Sir Charles Sedley’s exceptions
against both words and pronouncing were very pretty. So home
and to the office, did much business, then home, to supper, and
to bed.
19th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing little
business, our want of money being so infinite great. At noon
home, and there find old Mr. Michell and Howlett come to desire
mine and my wife’s company to dinner to their son’s, and so
away by coach with them, it being Betty’s wedding-day a year,
as also Shrove Tuesday. Here I made myself mighty merry, the
two old women being there also, and a mighty pretty dinner we
had in this little house, to my exceeding great content, and my
wife’s, and my heart pleased to see Betty. But I have not been so
merry a very great while as with them, every thing pleasing me
there as much as among so mean company I could be pleased.
After dinner I fell to read the Acts about the building of the City
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again;609 and indeed the laws seem to be very good, and I pray
God I may live to see it built in that manner! Anon with much
content home, walking with my wife and her woman, and there
to my office, where late doing much business, and then home to
supper and to bed. This morning I hear that our discourse of
peace is all in the dirt; for the Dutch will not like of the place, or
at least the French will not agree to it; so that I do wonder what
we shall do, for carry on the war we cannot. I long to hear the
truth of it to-morrow at Court.
20th. Up, with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen by coach to White
Hall, by the way observing Sir W. Pen’s carrying a favour to Sir
W. Coventry, for his daughter’s wedding, and saying that there
was others for us, when we will fetch them, which vexed me, and
I am resolved not to wear it when he orders me one. His wedding
hath been so poorly kept, that I am ashamed of it; for a fellow
that makes such a flutter as he do. When we come to the Duke
of York here, I heard discourse how Harris of his play-house is
sick, and everybody commends him, and, above all things, for
acting the Cardinall. Here they talk also how the King’s viallin,–
[violin]– Bannister, is mad that the King hath a Frenchman come
to be chief of some part of the King’s musique, at which the Duke
of York made great mirth. Then withdrew to his closett, all our
business, lack of money and prospect of the effects of it, such
as made Sir W. Coventry say publickly before us all, that he do
heartily wish that his Royal Highness had nothing to do in the
Navy, whatever become of him; so much dishonour, he says, is
likely to fall under the management of it. The Duke of York was
angry, as much as he could be, or ever I saw him, with Sir G.
Carteret, for not paying the masters of some ships on Monday
last, according to his promise, and I do think Sir G. Carteret will
609 Burnet wrote (“History of his Own Time,” book ii.): “An act passed in
this session for rebuilding the city of London, which gave Lord Chief Justice
Hale a great reputation, for it was drawn with so true a judgment, and so
great foresight, that the whole city was raised out of its ashes without any
suits of law.”
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make himself unhappy by not taking some course either to bor-
row more money or wholly lay aside his pretence to the charge
of raising money, when he hath nothing to do to trouble him-
self with. Thence to the Exchequer, and there find the people in
readiness to dispatch my tallies to-day, though Ash Wednesday.
So I back by coach to London to Sir Robt. Viner’s and there got
£100, and come away with it and pay my fees round, and so away
with the ‘Chequer men to the Leg in King Street, and there had
wine for them; and here was one in company with them, that
was the man that got the vessel to carry over the King from Bred-
hemson, who hath a pension of 200 per annum, but ill paid, and
the man is looking after getting of a prizeship to live by; but the
trouble is, that this poor man, who hath received no part of his
money these four years, and is ready to starve almost, must yet
pay to the Poll Bill for this pension. He told me several partic-
ulars of the King’s coming thither, which was mighty pleasant,
and shews how mean a thing a king is, how subject to fall, and
how like other men he is in his afflictions. Thence with my tal-
lies home, and a little dinner, and then with my wife by coach
to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, sent her to her brother’s, and I with Lord
Bellasses to the Lord Chancellor’s. Lord Bellasses tells me how
the King of France hath caused the stop to be made to our propo-
sition of treating in The Hague; that he being greater than they,
we may better come and treat at Paris: so that God knows what
will become of the peace! He tells me, too, as a grand secret, that
he do believe the peace offensive and defensive between Spayne
and us is quite finished, but must not be known, to prevent the
King of France’s present falling upon Flanders. He do believe the
Duke of York will be made General of the Spanish armies there,
and Governor of Flanders, if the French should come against
it, and we assist the Spaniard: that we have done the Spaniard
abundance of mischief in the West Indys, by our privateers at Ja-
maica, which they lament mightily, and I am sorry for it to have
it done at this time. By and by, come to my Lord Chancellor,
who heard mighty quietly my complaints for lack of money, and
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FEBRUARY 1666-1667
spoke mighty kind to me, but little hopes of help therein, only his
good word. He do prettily cry upon Povy’s account with some-
times seeming friendship and pity, and this day quite the con-
trary. He do confess our streights here and every where else arise
from our outspending our revenue. I mean that the King do do
so. Thence away, took up my wife; who tells me her brother hath
laid out much money upon himself and wife for clothes, which I
am sorry to hear, it requiring great expense. So home and to the
office a while, and then home to supper, where Mrs. Turner come
to us, and sat and talked. Poor woman, I pity her, but she is very
cunning. She concurs with me in the falseness of Sir W. Pen’s
friendship, and she tells pretty storms of my Lord Bruncker since
he come to our end of the town, of people’s applications to Mrs.
Williams. So, she gone, I back to my accounts of Tangier, which I
am settling, having my new tallies from the Exchequer this day,
and having set all right as I could wish, then to bed.
21st. Up, and to the Office, where sat all the morning, and
there a most furious conflict between Sir W. Pen and I, in few
words, and on a sudden occasion, of no great moment, but very
bitter, and stared on one another, and so broke off; and to our
business, my heart as full of spite as it could hold, for which God
forgive me and him! At the end of the day come witnesses on
behalf of Mr. Carcasse; but, instead of clearing him, I find they
were brought to recriminate Sir W. Batten, and did it by oath very
highly, that made the old man mad, and, I confess, me ashamed,
so that I caused all but ourselves to withdraw; being sorry to have
such things declared in the open office, before 100 people. But it
was done home, and I do believe true, though (Sir) W. Batten de-
nies all, but is cruel mad, and swore one of them, he or Carcasse,
should not continue in the Office, which is said like a fool. He
gone, for he would not stay, and [Sir] W. Pen gone a good while
before, Lord Bruncker, Sir T. Harvy, and I, staid and examined
the witnesses, though amounting to little more than a reproach-
ing of Sir W. Batten. I home, my head and mind vexed about
the conflict between Sir W. Pen and I, though I have got, nor lost
2210
FEBRUARY 1666-1667
any ground by it. At home was Mr. Daniel and wife and sister,
and dined with us, and I disturbed at dinner, Colonell Fitzger-
ald coming to me about tallies, which I did go and give him, and
then to the office, where did much business and walked an hour
or two with Lord Bruncker, who is mightily concerned in this
business for Carcasse and against Sir W. Batten, and I do hope
it will come to a good height, for I think it will be good for the
King as well as for me, that they two do not agree, though I do,
for ought I see yet, think that my Lord is for the most part in the
right. He gone, I to the office again to dispatch business, and late
at night comes in Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and [Sir] J. Minnes
to the office, and what was it but to examine one Jones, a young
merchant, who was said to have spoke the worst against Sir W.
Batten, but he do deny it wholly, yet I do believe Carcasse will go
near to prove all that was sworn in the morning, and so it be true
I wish it may. That done, I to end my letters, and then home to
supper, and set right some accounts of Tangier, and then to bed.
22nd. Up, and to the office, where I awhile, and then home
with Sir H. Cholmly to give him some tallies upon the business
of the Mole at Tangier, and then out with him by coach to the
Excise Office, there to enter them, and so back again with him to
the Exchange, and there I took another coach, and home to the
office, and to my business till dinner, the rest of our officers hav-
ing been this morning upon the Victuallers’ accounts. At dinner
all of us, that is to say, Lord Bruncker, [Sir] J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Bat-
ten, [Sir] T. Harvy, and myself, to Sir W. Pen’s house, where some
other company. It is instead of a wedding dinner for his daugh-
ter, whom I saw in palterly clothes, nothing new but a bracelet
that her servant had given her, and ugly she is, as heart can wish.
A sorry dinner, not any thing handsome or clean, but some sil-
ver plates they borrowed of me. My wife was here too. So a
great deal of talk, and I seemingly merry, but took no pleasure at
all. We had favours given us all, and we put them in our hats, I
against my will, but that my Lord and the rest did, I being dis-
pleased that he did carry Sir W. Coventry’s himself several days
2211
FEBRUARY 1666-1667
ago, and the people up and down the town long since, and we
must have them but to-day. After dinner to talk a little, and then
I away to my office, to draw up a letter of the state of the Of-
fice and Navy for the Duke of York against Sunday next, and at it
late, and then home to supper and to bed, talking with my wife of
the poorness and meanness of all that Sir W. Pen and the people
about us do, compared with what we do.
23rd. This day I am, by the blessing of God, 34 years old, in
very good health and mind’s content, and in condition of es-
tate much beyond whatever my friends could expect of a child
of theirs, this day 34 years. The Lord’s name be praised! and
may I be ever thankful for it. Up betimes to the office, in order
to my letter to the Duke of York to-morrow, and then the office
met and spent the greatest part about this letter. At noon home
to dinner, and then to the office again very close at it all the day
till midnight, making an end and writing fair this great letter and
other things to my full content, it abundantly providing for the
vindication of this office, whatever the success be of our wants
of money. This evening Sir W. Batten come to me to the office on
purpose, out of spleen (of which he is full to Carcasse!), to tell
me that he is now informed of many double tickets now found
of Carcasses making which quite overthrows him. It is strange to
see how, though I do believe this fellow to be a rogue, and could
be contented to have him removed, yet to see him persecuted by
Sir W. Batten, who is as bad himself, and that with so much ran-
cour, I am almost the fellow’s friend. But this good I shall have
from it, that the differences between Sir W. Batten and my Lord
Bruncker will do me no hurt.
24th (Lord’s day). Up, and with [Sir] W. Batten, by coach; he
set me down at my Lord Bruncker’s (his feud there not suffer-
ing him to ‘light himself), and I with my Lord by and by when
ready to White Hall, and by and by up to the Duke of York, and
there presented our great letter and other papers, and among the
rest my report of the victualling, which is good, I think, and will
2212
FEBRUARY 1666-1667
continue my pretence to the place, which I am still afeard Sir W.
Coventry’s employment may extinguish. We have discharged
ourselves in this letter fully from blame in the bad success of the
Navy, if money do not come soon to us, and so my heart is at
pretty good rest in this point. Having done here, Sir W. Batten
and I home by coach, and though the sermon at our church was
begun, yet he would ‘light to go home and eat a slice of roast beef
off the spit, and did, and then he and I to church in the middle
of the sermon. My Lady Pen there saluted me with great con-
tent to tell me that her daughter and husband are still in bed,
as if the silly woman thought it a great matter of honour, and
did, going out of the church, ask me whether we did not make a
great show at Court today, with all our favours in our hats. Af-
ter sermon home, and alone with my wife dined. Among other
things my wife told me how ill a report our Mercer hath got by
her keeping of company, so that she will not send for her to dine
with us or be with us as heretofore; and, what is more strange,
tells me that little Mis. Tooker hath got a clap as young as she
is, being brought up loosely by her mother.... In the afternoon
away to White Hall by water, and took a turn or two in the Park,
and then back to White Hall, and there meeting my Lord Ar-
lington, he, by I know not what kindness, offered to carry me
along with him to my Lord Treasurer’s, whither, I told him, I was
going. I believe he had a mind to discourse of some Navy busi-
nesses, but Sir Thomas Clifford coming into the coach to us, we
were prevented; which I was sorry for, for I had a mind to be-
gin an acquaintance with him. He speaks well, and hath pretty
slight superficial parts, I believe. He, in our going, talked much
of the plain habit of the Spaniards; how the King and Lords them-
selves wear but a cloak of Colchester bayze, and the ladies man-
tles, in cold weather, of white flannell: and that the endeavours
frequently of setting up the manufacture of making these stuffs
there have only been prevented by the Inquisition: the English
and Dutchmen that have been sent for to work, being taken with
a Psalmbook or Testament, and so clapped up, and the house
2213
FEBRUARY 1666-1667
pulled down by the Inquisitors; and the greatest Lord in Spayne
dare not say a word against it, if the word Inquisition be but men-
tioned. At my Lord Treasurer’s ‘light and parted with them, they
going into Council, and I walked with Captain Cocke, who takes
mighty notice of the differences growing in our office between
Lord Bruncker and [Sir] W. Batten, and among others also, and
I fear it may do us hurt, but I will keep out of them. By and by
comes Sir S. Fox, and he and I walked and talked together on
many things, but chiefly want of money, and the straits the King
brings himself and affairs into for want of it. Captain Cocke did
tell me what I must not forget: that the answer of the Dutch, re-
fusing The Hague for a place of treaty, and proposing the Boysse,
Bredah, Bergen-op-Zoome, or Mastricht, was seemingly stopped
by the Swede’s Embassador (though he did show it to the King,
but the King would take no notice of it, nor does not) from be-
ing delivered to the King; and he hath wrote to desire them to
consider better of it: so that, though we know their refusal of the
place, yet they know not that we know it, nor is the King obliged
to show his sense of the affront. That the Dutch are in very great
straits, so as to be said to be not able to set out their fleete this
year. By and by comes Sir Robert Viner and my Lord Mayor to
ask the King’s directions about measuring out the streets accord-
ing to the new Act for building of the City, wherein the King is to
be pleased.610 But he says that the way proposed in Parliament,
by Colonel Birch, would have been the best, to have chosen some
persons in trust, and sold the whole ground, and let it be sold
again by them, with preference to the old owner, which would
have certainly caused the City to be built where these Trustees
pleased; whereas now, great differences will be, and the streets
built by fits, and not entire till all differences be decided. This, as
he tells it, I think would have been the best way. I enquired about
610 See Sir Christopher Wren’s “Proposals for rebuilding the City of London
after the great fire, with an engraved Plan of the principal Streets and Public
Buildings,” in Elmes’s “Memoirs of Sir Christopher Wren,” Appendix, p.61.
The originals are in All Souls’ College Library, Oxford.–B.
2214
FEBRUARY 1666-1667
the Frenchman611 that was said to fire the City, and was hanged
for it, by his own confession, that he was hired for it by a French-
man of Roane, and that he did with a stick reach in a fire-ball
in at a window of the house: whereas the master of the house,
who is the King’s baker, and his son, and daughter, do all swear
there was no such window, and that the fire did not begin there-
abouts. Yet the fellow, who, though a mopish besotted fellow, did
not speak like a madman, did swear that he did fire it: and did
not this like a madman; for, being tried on purpose, and landed
with his keeper at the Tower Wharf, he could carry the keeper
to the very house. Asking Sir R. Viner what he thought was the
cause of the fire, he tells me, that the baker, son, and his daugh-
ter, did all swear again and again, that their oven was drawn by
ten o’clock at night; that, having occasion to light a candle about
twelve, there was not so much fire in the bakehouse as to light a
match for a candle, so that they were fain to go into another place
to light it; that about two in the morning they felt themselves al-
most choked with smoke, and rising, did find the fire coming up-
stairs; so they rose to save themselves; but that, at that time, the
bavins–[brushwood, or faggots used for lighting fires]–were not
on fire in the yard. So that they are, as they swear, in absolute ig-
norance how this fire should come; which is a strange thing, that
so horrid an effect should have so mean and uncertain a begin-
ning. By and by called in to the King and Cabinet, and there had
a few insipid words about money for Tangier, but to no purpose.
611 “One Hubert, a French papist, was seized in Essex, as he was getting
out of the way in great confusion. He confessed he had begun the fire, and
persisted in his confession to his death, for he was hanged upon no other ev-
idence but that of his own confession. It is true he gave so broken an account
of the whole matter that he was thought mad. Yet he was blindfolded, and
carried to several places of the city, and then his eyes being opened, he was
asked if that was the place, and he being carried to wrong places, after he
looked round about for some time, he said that was not the place, but when
he was brought to the place where it first broke out, he affirmed that was the
true place. “Burnet’s Own Time,” book ii. Archbishop Tillotson, according
to Burnet, believed that London was burnt by design.
2215
FEBRUARY 1666-1667
Thence away walked to my boat at White Hall, and so home and
to supper, and then to talk with W. Hewer about business of the
differences at present among the people of our office, and so to
my journall and to bed. This night going through bridge by wa-
ter, my waterman told me how the mistress of the Beare tavern,
at the bridge-foot, did lately fling herself into the Thames, and
drowned herself; which did trouble me the more, when they tell
me it was she that did live at the White Horse tavern in Lum-
bard Streete, which was a most beautiful woman, as most I have
seen. It seems she hath had long melancholy upon her, and hath
endeavoured to make away with herself often.
25th. Lay long in bed, talking with pleasure with my poor wife,
how she used to make coal fires, and wash my foul clothes with
her own hand for me, poor wretch! in our little room at my Lord
Sandwich’s; for which I ought for ever to love and admire her,
and do; and persuade myself she would do the same thing again,
if God should reduce us to it. So up and by coach abroad to the
Duke of Albemarle’s about sending soldiers down to some ships,
and so home, calling at a belt-maker’s to mend my belt, and so
home and to dinner, where pleasant with my wife, and then to
the office, where mighty busy all the day, saving going forth to
the ‘Change to pay for some things, and on other occasions, and
at my goldsmith’s did observe the King’s new medall, where,
in little, there is Mrs. Steward’s face as well done as ever I saw
anything in my whole life, I think: and a pretty thing it is, that he
should choose her face to represent Britannia by. So at the office
late very busy and much business with great joy dispatched, and
so home to supper and to bed.
26th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. And
here did receive another reference from Sir W. Coventry about
the business of some of the Muster-Masters, concerning whom I
had returned their small performances, which do give me a lit-
tle more trouble for fear [Sir] W. Coventry should think I had a
design to favour my brother Balty, and to that end to disparage
2216
FEBRUARY 1666-1667
all the rest. But I shall clear all very well, only it do exercise my
thoughts more than I am at leisure for. At home find Balty and
his wife very fine, which I did not like, for fear he do spend too
much of his money that way, and lay [not] up anything. After
dinner to the office again, where by and by Lord Bruncker, [Sir]
W. Batten, [Sir] J. Minnes and I met about receiving Carcasses an-
swers to the depositions against him. Wherein I did see so much
favour from my Lord to him that I do again begin to see that
my Lord is not right at the bottom, and did make me the more
earnest against him, though said little. My Lord rising, declaring
his judgement in his behalf, and going away, I did hinder our ar-
guing it by ourselves, and so broke up the meeting, and myself
went full of trouble to my office, there to write over the deposi-
tion and his answers side by side, and then home to supper and
to bed with some trouble of mind to think of the issue of this,
how it will breed ill blood among us here.
27th. Up by candle-light, about six o’clock, it being bitter cold
weather again, after all our warm weather, and by water down
to Woolwich rope-yard, I being this day at a leisure, the King and
Duke of York being gone down to Sheerenesse this morning to
lay out the design for a fortification there to the river Medway;
and so we do not attend the Duke of York as we should otherwise
have done, and there to the Dock Yard to enquire of the state of
things, and went into Mr. Pett’s; and there, beyond expectation,
he did present me with a Japan cane, with a silver head, and
his wife sent me by him a ring, with a Woolwich stone;612 now
612 Woolwich stones, still collected in that locality, are simply waterworn
pebbles of flint, which, when broken with a hammer, exhibit on the smooth
surface some resemblance to the human face; and their possessors are thus
enabled to trace likenesses of friends, or eminent public characters. The late
Mr. Tennant, the geologist, of the Strand, had a collection of such stones. In
the British Museum is a nodule of globular or Egyptian jasper, which, in its
fracture, bears a striking resemblance to the well-known portrait of Chaucer.
It is engraved in Rymsdyk’s “Museum Britannicum,” tab. xxviii. A flint,
showing Mr. Pitt’s face, used once to be exhibited at the meetings of the Pitt
2217
FEBRUARY 1666-1667
much in request; which I accepted, the values not being great,
and knowing that I had done them courtesies, which he did own
in very high terms; and then, at my asking, did give me an old
draught of an ancient-built ship, given him by his father, of the
Beare, in Queen Elizabeth’s time. This did much please me, it
being a thing I much desired to have, to shew the difference in
the build of ships now and heretofore. Being much taken with
this kindness, I away to Blackwall and Deptford, to satisfy myself
there about the King’s business, and then walked to Redriffe, and
so home about noon; there find Mr. Hunt, newly come out of the
country, who tells me the country is much impoverished by the
greatness of taxes: the farmers do break every day almost, and
£1000 a-year become not worth £500. He dined with us, and we
had good discourse of the general ill state of things, and, by the
way, he told me some ridiculous pieces of thrift of Sir G. Down-
ing’s, who is his countryman, in inviting some poor people, at
Christmas last, to charm the country people’s mouths; but did
give them nothing but beef, porridge, pudding, and pork, and
nothing said all dinner, but only his mother would say, “It’s good
broth, son.” He would answer, “Yes, it is good broth.” Then, says
his lady, Confirm all, and say, “Yes, very good broth.” By and by
she would begin and say, “Good pork:”–“Yes,” says the mother,
“good pork.” Then he cries, “Yes, very good pork.” And so they
said of all things; to which nobody made any answer, they going
there not out of love or esteem of them, but to eat his victuals,
knowing him to be a niggardly fellow; and with this he is jeered
now all over the country. This day just before dinner comes Cap-
tain Story, of Cambridge, to me to the office, about a bill for prest
money,613 for men sent out of the country and the countries about
him to the fleete the last year; but, Lord! to see the natures of
Club.–B.
613 Money paid to men who enlist into the public service; press money. So
called because those who receive it are to be prest or ready when called on
(“Encyclopaedic Dictionary ”).
2218
FEBRUARY 1666-1667
men; how this man, hearing of my name, did ask me of my coun-
try, and told me of my cozen Roger, that he was not so wise a
man as his father; for that he do not agree in Parliament with his
fellow burgesses and knights of the shire, whereas I know very
well the reason; for he is not so high a flyer as Mr. Chichley and
others, but loves the King better than any of them, and to bet-
ter purpose. But yet, he says that he is a very honest gentleman,
and thence runs into a hundred stories of his own services to the
King, and how he at this day brings in the taxes before anybody
here thinks they are collected: discourse very absurd to entertain
a stranger with. He being gone, and I glad of it, I home then to
dinner. After dinner with my wife by coach abroad, andset Mr.
Hunt down at the Temple and her at her brother’s, and I to White
Hall to meet [Sir] W. Coventry, but found him not, but met Mr.
Cooling, who tells me of my Lord Duke of Buckingham’s being
sent for last night, by a Serjeant at Armes, to the Tower, for trea-
sonable practices, and that the King is infinitely angry with him,
and declared him no longer one of his Council. I know not the
reason of it, or occasion. To Westminster Hall, and there paid
what I owed for books, and so by coach, took up my wife to the
Exchange, and there bought things for Mrs. Pierces little daugh-
ter, my Valentine, and so to their house, where we find Knipp,
who also challengeth me for her Valentine. She looks well, sang
well, and very merry we were for half an hour. Tells me Harris
is well again, having been very ill, and so we home, and I to the
office; then, at night, to Sir W. Pen’s, and sat with my Lady, and
the young couple (Sir William out of town) talking merrily; but
they make a very sorry couple, methinks, though rich. So late
home and to bed.
28th. Up, and there comes to me Drumbleby with a flageo-
let, made to suit with my former and brings me one Greeting,
a master, to teach my wife. I agree by the whole with him to
teach her to take out any lesson of herself for £4. She was not
ready to begin to-day, but do to-morrow. So I to the office, where
my Lord Bruncker and I only all the morning, and did busi-
2219
FEBRUARY 1666-1667
ness. At noon to the Exchange and to Sir Rob. Viner’s about
settling my accounts there. So back home and to dinner, where
Mr. Holliard dined with us, and pleasant company he is. I love
his company, and he secures me against ever having the stone
again. He gives it me, as his opinion, that the City will never
be built again together, as is expected, while any restraint is laid
upon them. He hath been a great loser, and would be a builder
again, but, he says, he knows not what restrictions there will
be, so as it is unsafe for him to begin. He gone, I to the office,
and there busy till night doing much business, then home and to
my accounts, wherein, beyond expectation, I succeeded so well
as to settle them very clear and plain, though by borrowing of
monies this month to pay D. Gawden, and chopping and chang-
ing with my Tangier money, they were become somewhat intri-
cate, and, blessed be God; upon the evening my accounts, I do
appear £6800 creditor: This done, I to supper about 12 at night,
and so to bed. The weather for three or four days being come to
be exceeding cold again as any time this year. I did within these
six days see smoke still remaining of the late fire in the City; and
it is strange to think how, to this very day, I cannot sleep at night
without great terrors of fire, and this very night I could not sleep
till almost two in the morning through thoughts of fire. Thus this
month is ended with great content of mind to me, thriving in my
estate, and the affairs in my offices going pretty well as to my-
self. This afternoon Mr. Gawden was with me and tells me more
than I knew before–that he hath orders to get all the victuals he
can to Plymouth, and the Western ports, and other outports, and
some to Scotland, so that we do intend to keep but a flying fleete
this year; which, it may be, may preserve us a year longer, but
the end of it must be ruin. Sir J. Minnes this night tells me, that
he hears for certain, that ballads are made of us in Holland for
begging of a peace; which I expected, but am vexed at. So ends
this month, with nothing of weight upon my mind, but for my
father and mother, who are both very ill, and have been so for
some weeks: whom God help! but I do fear my poor father will
2220
FEBRUARY 1666-1667
hardly be ever thoroughly well again.
2221
MARCH 1666-1667
March 1st. Up, it being very cold weather again after a good
deal of warm summer weather, and to the office, where I set-
tled to do much business to-day. By and by sent for to Sir G.
Carteret to discourse of the business of the Navy, and our wants,
and the best way of bestowing the little money we have, which
is about £30,000, but, God knows, we have need of ten times as
much, which do make my life uncomfortable, I confess, on the
King’s behalf, though it is well enough as to my own particular,
but the King’s service is undone by it. Having done with him,
back again to the office, and in the streets, in Mark Lane, I do
observe, it being St. David’s day, the picture of a man dressed
like a Welchman, hanging by the neck upon one of the poles that
stand out at the top of one of the merchants’ houses, in full pro-
portion, and very handsomely done; which is one of the oddest
sights I have seen a good while, for it was so like a man that
one would have thought it was indeed a man.614 Being returned
614 From “Poor Robin’s Almanack” for 1757 it appears that, in former times
in England, a Welshman was burnt in effigy on this anniversary. Mr. W. C.
Hazlitt, in his edition of Brand’s “Popular Antiquities,” adds “The practice
to which Pepys refers... was very common at one time; and till very lately
bakers made gingerbread Welshmen, called taffies, on St. David’s day, which
were made to represent a man skewered” (vol. i., pp. 60,61).
2222
MARCH 1666-1667
home, I find Greeting, the flageolet-master, come, and teaching
my wife; and I do think my wife will take pleasure in it, and it
will be easy for her, and pleasant. So I, as I am well content with
the charge it will occasion me. So to the office till dinner-time,
and then home to dinner, and before dinner making my wife to
sing. Poor wretch! her ear is so bad that it made me angry, till
the poor wretch cried to see me so vexed at her, that I think I
shall not discourage her so much again, but will endeavour to
make her understand sounds, and do her good that way; for she
hath a great mind to learn, only to please me; and, therefore, I am
mighty unjust to her in discouraging her so much, but we were
good friends, and to dinner, and had she not been ill with those
and that it were not Friday (on which in Lent there are no plays)
I had carried her to a play, but she not being fit to go abroad,
I to the office, where all the afternoon close examining the col-
lection of my papers of the accounts of the Navy since this war
to my great content, and so at night home to talk and sing with
my-wife, and then to supper and so to bed with great pleasure.
But I cannot but remember that just before dinner one of my peo-
ple come up to me, and told me a man come from Huntingdon
would speak with me, how my heart come into my mouth doubt-
ing that my father, who has been long sicke, was dead. It put me
into a trembling, but, blessed be [God]! it was no such thing, but
a countryman come about ordinary business to me, to receive £50
paid to my father in the country for the Perkins’s for their legacy,
upon the death of their mother, by my uncle’s will. So though I
get nothing at present, at least by the estate, I am fain to pay this
money rather than rob my father, and much good may it do them
that I may have no more further trouble from them. I hear to-day
that Tom Woodall, the known chyrurgeon, is killed at Somerset
House by a Frenchman, but the occasion Sir W. Batten could not
tell me.
2nd. Up, and to the office, where sitting all the morning, and
among other things did agree upon a distribution of £30,000 and
odd, which is the only sum we hear of like to come out of all the
2223
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Poll Bill for the use of this office for buying of goods. I did herein
some few courtesies for particular friends I wished well to, and
for the King’s service also, and was therefore well pleased with
what was done. Sir W. Pen this day did bring an order from
the Duke of York for our receiving from him a small vessel for
a fireship, and taking away a better of the King’s for it, it being
expressed for his great service to the King. This I am glad of, not
for his sake, but that it will give me a better ground, I believe,
to ask something for myself of this kind, which I was fearful to
begin. This do make Sir W. Pen the most kind to me that can be.
I suppose it is this, lest it should find any opposition from me,
but I will not oppose, but promote it. After dinner, with my wife,
to the King’s house to see “The Mayden Queene,” a new play of
Dryden’s, mightily commended for the regularity of it, and the
strain and wit; and, the truth is, there is a comical part done by
Nell,615 which is Florimell, that I never can hope ever to see the
like done again, by man or woman. The King and Duke of York
were at the play. But so great performance of a comical part was
never, I believe, in the world before as Nell do this, both as a mad
girle, then most and best of all when she comes in like a young
gallant; and hath the notions and carriage of a spark the most
that ever I saw any man have. It makes me, I confess, admire
her. Thence home and to the office, where busy a while, and then
home to read the lives of Henry 5th and 6th, very fine, in Speede,
and to bed. This day I did pay a bill of £50 from my father, being
so much out of my own purse gone to pay my uncle Robert’s
legacy to my aunt Perkins’s child.
615 “Her skill increasing with her years, other poets sought to obtain rec-
ommendations of her wit and beauty to the success of their writings. I have
said that Dryden was one of the principal supporters of the King’s house,
and ere long in one of his new plays a principal character was set apart for
the popular comedian. The drama was a tragi-comedy called ‘Secret Love,
or the Maiden Queen,’ and an additional interest was attached to its produc-
tion from the king having suggested the plot to its author, and calling it ‘his
play.”’–Cunningham’s Story of Nell Gwyn, ed: 1892, pp. 38,39.
2224
MARCH 1666-1667
3rd (Lord’s day). Lay long, merrily talking with my wife, and
then up and to church, where a dull sermon of Mr. Mills touch-
ing Original Sin, and then home, and there find little Michell and
his wife, whom I love mightily. Mightily contented I was in their
company, for I love her much; and so after dinner I left them and
by water from the Old Swan to White Hall, where, walking in
the galleries, I in the first place met Mr. Pierce, who tells me the
story of Tom Woodall, the surgeon, killed in a drunken quarrel,
and how the Duke of York hath a mind to get him [Pierce] one of
his places in St. Thomas’s Hospitall. Then comes Mr. Hayward,
the Duke of York’s servant, and tells us that the Swede’s Embas-
sador hath been here to-day with news that it is believed that the
Dutch will yield to have the treaty at London or Dover, neither of
which will get our King any credit, we having already consented
to have it at The Hague; which, it seems, De Witt opposed, as a
thing wherein the King of England must needs have some pro-
found design, which in my conscience he hath not. They do also
tell me that newes is this day come to the King, that the King
of France is come with his army to the frontiers of Flanders, de-
manding leave to pass through their country towards Poland, but
is denied, and thereupon that he is gone into the country. How
true this is I dare not believe till I hear more. From them I walked
into the Parke, it being a fine but very cold day; and there took
two or three turns the length of the Pell Mell: and there I met
Serjeant Bearcroft, who was sent for the Duke of Buckingham,
to have brought him prisoner to the Tower. He come to towne
this day, and brings word that, being overtaken and outrid by
the Duchesse of Buckingham within a few miles of the Duke’s
house of Westhorp, he believes she got thither about a quarter of
an hour before him, and so had time to consider; so that, when
he come, the doors were kept shut against him. The next day,
coming with officers of the neighbour market-town to force open
the doors, they were open for him, but the Duke gone; so he took
horse presently, and heard upon the road that the Duke of Buck-
ingham was gone before him for London: so that he believes he is
2225
MARCH 1666-1667
this day also come to towne before him; but no newes is yet heard
of him. This is all he brings. Thence to my Lord Chancellor’s, and
there, meeting Sir H. Cholmly, he and I walked in my Lord’s gar-
den, and talked; among other things, of the treaty: and he says
there will certainly be a peace, but I cannot believe it. He tells
me that the Duke of Buckingham his crimes, as far as he knows,
are his being of a caball with some discontented persons of the
late House of Commons, and opposing the desires of the King in
all his matters in that House; and endeavouring to become popu-
lar, and advising how the Commons’ House should proceed, and
how he would order the House of Lords. And that he hath been
endeavouring to have the King’s nativity calculated; which was
done, and the fellow now in the Tower about it; which itself hath
heretofore, as he says, been held treason, and people died for it;
but by the Statute of Treasons, in Queen Mary’s times and since,
it hath been left out. He tells me that this silly Lord hath pro-
voked, by his ill-carriage, the Duke of York, my Lord Chancellor,
and all the great persons; and therefore, most likely, will die. He
tells me, too, many practices of treachery against this King; as
betraying him in Scotland, and giving Oliver an account of the
King’s private councils; which the King knows very well, and
hath yet pardoned him.616 Here I passed away a little time more
616 Two of our greatest poets have drawn the character of the Duke of Buck-
ingham in brilliant verse, and both have condemned him to infamy. There is
enough in Pepys’s reports to corroborate the main features of Dryden’s mag-
nificent portrait of Zimri in “Absolom and Achitophel”: “In the first rank of
these did Zimri stand; A man so various that he seemed to be Not one, but
all mankind’s epitome; Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong; Was every-
thing by starts, and nothing long, But, in the course of one revolving moon,
Was chymist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon; Then all for women, painting,
rhyming, drinking, Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking, * * * *
* * * He laughed himself from Court, then sought relief By forming parties,
but could ne’er be chief.” Pope’s facts are not correct, and hence the effect
of his picture is impaired. In spite of the duke’s constant visits to the Tower,
Charles II. still continued his friend; but on the death of the king, expecting
little from James, he retired to his estate at Helmsley, in Yorkshire, to nurse
2226
MARCH 1666-1667
talking with him and Creed, whom I met there, and so away,
Creed walking with me to White Hall, and there I took water
and stayed at Michell’s to drink. I home, and there to read very
good things in Fuller’s “Church History,” and “Worthies,” and
so to supper, and after supper had much good discourse with
W. Hewer, who supped with us, about the ticket office and the
knaveries and extortions every day used there, and particularly
of the business of Mr. Carcasse, whom I fear I shall find a very
rogue. So parted with him, and then to bed.
4th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes and [Sir] W. Batten by barge to
Deptford by eight in the morning, where to the King’s yard a little
to look after business there, and then to a private storehouse to
look upon some cordage of Sir W. Batten’s, and there being a hole
formerly made for a drain for tarr to run into, wherein the barrel
stood still, full of stinking water, Sir W. Batten did fall with one
leg into it, which might have been very bad to him by breaking
a leg or other hurt, but, thanks be to God, he only sprained his
foot a little. So after his shifting his stockings at a strong water
shop close by, we took barge again, and so to Woolwich, where
our business was chiefly to look upon the ballast wharfe there,
which is offered us for the King’s use to hire, but we do not think
it worth the laying out much money upon, unless we could buy
the fee-simple of it, which cannot be sold us, so we wholly flung
it off: So to the Dockyard, and there staid a while talking about
business of the yard, and thence to the Rope-yard, and so to the
White Hart and there dined, and Captain Cocke with us, whom
we found at the Rope-yard, and very merry at dinner, and many
pretty tales of Sir J. Minnes, which I have entered in my tale book.
But by this time Sir W. Batten was come to be in much pain in his
foot, so as he was forced to be carried down in a chair to the barge
his property and to restore his constitution. He died on April 16th, 1687, at
Kirkby Moorside, after a few days’ illness, caused by sitting on the damp
grass when heated from a fox chase. The scene of his death was the house of
a tenant, not “the worst inn’s worst room” (“Moral Essays,” epist. iii.). He
was buried in Westminster Abbey.
2227
MARCH 1666-1667
again, and so away to Deptford, and there I a little in the yard,
and then to Bagwell’s, where I find his wife washing, and also
I did ‘hazer tout que je voudrais con’ her, and then sent for her
husband, and discoursed of his going to Harwich this week to
his charge of the new ship building there, which I have got him,
and so away, walked to Redriffe, and there took boat and away
home, and upon Tower Hill, near the ticket office, meeting with
my old acquaintance Mr. Chaplin, the cheesemonger, and there
fell to talk of news, and he tells me that for certain the King of
France is denied passage with his army through Flanders, and
that he hears that the Dutch do stand upon high terms with us,
and will have a promise of not being obliged to strike the flag to
us before they will treat with us, and other high things, which I
am ashamed of and do hope will never be yielded to. That they
do make all imaginable preparations, but that he believes they
will be in mighty want of men; that the King of France do court
us mightily. He tells me too that our Lord-Treasurer is going to
lay down, and that Lord Arlington is to be Lord Treasurer, but I
believe nothing of it, for he is not yet of estate visible enough to
have the charge I suppose upon him. So being parted from him I
home to the office, and after having done business there I home
to supper, and there mightily pleased with my wife’s beginning
the flagellette, believing that she will come to very well thereon.
This day in the barge I took Berckenshaw’s translation of Alsted
his Templum, but the most ridiculous book, as he has translated
it, that ever I saw in my life, I declaring that I understood not
three lines together from one end of the book to the other.
5th. Up, and to the office, where met and sat all the morning,
doing little for want of money, but only bear the countenance of
an office. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office again,
and there comes Martin my purser, and I walked with him awhile
in the garden, I giving him good advice to beware of coming any
more with high demands for supernumeraries or other things,
for now Sir W. Pen is come to mind the business, the passing of
his accounts will not be so easy as the last. He tells me he will
2228
MARCH 1666-1667
never need it again, it being as easy, and to as much purpose to
do the same thing otherwise, and how he do keep his Captain’s
table, and by that means hath the command of his Captains, and
do not fear in a 5th-rate ship constantly employed to get a £1000
in five years time, and this year, besides all his spendings, which
are I fear high, he hath got at this day clear above £150 in a voy-
age of about five or six months, which is a brave trade. He gone
I to the office, and there all the afternoon late doing much busi-
ness, and then to see Sir W. Batten, whose leg is all but better
than it was, and like to do well. I by discourse do perceive he
and his Lady are to their hearts out with my Lord Bruncker and
Mrs. Williams, to which I added something, but, I think, did not
venture too far with them. But, Lord! to see to what a poor con-
tent any acquaintance among these people, or the people of the
world, as they now-adays go, is worth; for my part I and my wife
will keep to one another and let the world go hang, for there is
nothing but falseness in it. So home to supper and hear my wife
and girle sing a little, and then to bed with much content of mind.
6th. Up, and with [Sir] W. Pen to White Hall by coach, and by
the way agreed to acquaint [Sir] W. Coventry with the business
of Mr. Carcasse, and he and I spoke to Sir W. Coventry that we
might move it to the Duke of York, which I did in a very indiffer-
ent, that is, impartial manner, but vexed I believe Lord Bruncker.
Here the Duke of York did acquaint us, and the King did the
like also, afterwards coming in, with his resolution of altering
the manner of the war this year; that is, we shall keep what fleete
we have abroad in several squadrons: so that now all is come
out; but we are to keep it as close as we can, without hindering
the work that is to be done in preparation to this. Great prepara-
tions there are to fortify Sheernesse and the yard at Portsmouth,
and forces are drawing down to both those places, and elsewhere
by the seaside; so that we have some fear of an invasion; and
the Duke of York himself did declare his expectation of the en-
emy’s blocking us up here in the River, and therefore directed
that we should send away all the ships that we have to fit out
2229
MARCH 1666-1667
hence. Sir W. Pen told me, going with me this morning to White
Hall, that for certain the Duke of Buckingham is brought into the
Tower, and that he hath had an hour’s private conference with
the King before he was sent thither. To Westminster Hall. There
bought some news books, and, as every where else, hear every
body complain of the dearness of coals, being at £4 per chaldron,
the weather, too, being become most bitter cold, the King say-
ing to-day that it was the coldest day he ever knew in England.
Thence by coach to my Lord Crew’s, where very welcome. Here
I find they are in doubt where the Duke of Buckingham is; which
makes me mightily reflect on the uncertainty of all history, when,
in a business of this moment, and of this day’s growth, we can-
not tell the truth. Here dined my old acquaintance, Mr. Borfett,
that was my Lord Sandwich’s chaplain, and my Lady Wright and
Dr. Boreman, who is preacher at St. Gyles’s in the Fields, who,
after dinner, did give my Lord an account of two papist women
lately converted, whereof one wrote her recantation, which he
shewed under her own hand mighty well drawn, so as my Lord
desired a copy of it, after he had satisfied himself from the Doctor,
that to his knowledge she was not a woman under any necessity.
Thence by coach home and staid a very little, and then by water
to Redriffe, and walked to Bagwell’s, where ‘la moher’ was ‘de-
fro, sed’ would not have me ‘demeurer’ there ‘parce que’ Mrs.
Batters and one of my ‘ancillas’, I believe Jane (for she was gone
abroad to-day), was in the town, and coming thither; so I away
presently, esteeming it a great escape. So to the yard and spoke
a word or two, and then by water home, wondrous cold, and
reading a ridiculous ballad made in praise of the Duke of Albe-
marle, to the tune of St. George, the tune being printed, too; and
I observe that people have some great encouragement to make
ballads of him of this kind. There are so many, that hereafter he
will sound like Guy of Warwicke. Then abroad with my wife,
leaving her at the ‘Change, while I to Sir H. Cholmly’s, a pretty
house, and a fine, worthy, well-disposed gentleman he is. He and
I to Sir Ph. Warwicke’s, about money for Tangier, but to little pur-
2230
MARCH 1666-1667
pose. H. Cholmley tells me, among other things, that he hears of
little hopes of a peace, their demands being so high as we shall
never grant, and could tell me that we shall keep no fleete abroad
this year, but only squadrons. And, among other things, that my
Lord Bellasses, he believes, will lose his command of Tangier by
his corrupt covetous ways of.endeavouring to sell his command,
which I am glad [of], for he is a man of no worth in the world but
compliment. So to the ‘Change, and there bought 32s. worth of
things for Mrs. Knipp, my Valentine, which is pretty to see how
my wife is come to convention with me, that, whatever I do give
to anybody else, I shall give her as much, which I am not much
displeased with. So home and to the office and Sir W. Batten, to
tell him what I had done to-day about Carcasse’s business, and
God forgive me I am not without design to give a blow to Sir W.
Batten by it. So home, where Mr. Batelier supped with us and
talked away the evening pretty late, and so he gone and we to
bed.
7th. So up, and to the office, my head full of Carcasse’s busi-
ness; then hearing that Knipp is at my house, I home, and it was
about a ticket for a friend of hers. I do love the humour of the
jade very well. So to the office again, not being able to stay, and
there about noon my Lord Bruncker did begin to talk of Car-
casse’s business. Only Commissioner Pett, my Lord, and I there,
and it was pretty to see how Pett hugged the occasion of having
anything against Sir W. Batten, which I am not much troubled
at, for I love him not neither. Though I did really endeavour to
quash it all I could, because I would prevent their malice tak-
ing effect. My Lord I see is fully resolved to vindicate Carcasse,
though to the undoing of Sir W. Batten, but I believe he will find
himself in a mistake, and do himself no good, and that I shall be
glad of, for though I love the treason I hate the traitor. But he
is vexed at my moving it to the Duke of York yesterday, which I
answered well, so as I think he could not answer. But, Lord! it
is pretty to see how Pett hugs this business, and how he favours
my Lord Bruncker; who to my knowledge hates him, and has
2231
MARCH 1666-1667
said more to his disadvantage, in my presence, to the King and
Duke of York than any man in England, and so let them thrive
one with another by cheating one another, for that is all I observe
among them. Thence home late, and find my wife hath dined,
and she and Mrs. Hewer going to a play. Here was Creed, and
he and I to Devonshire House, to a burial of a kinsman of Sir
R. Viner’s; and there I received a ring, and so away presently to
Creed, who staid for me at an alehouse hard by, and thence to
the Duke’s playhouse, where he parted, and I in and find my
wife and Mrs. Hewer, and sat by them and saw “The English
Princesse, or Richard the Third;” a most sad, melancholy play,
and pretty good; but nothing eminent in it, as some tragedys are;
only little Mis. Davis did dance a jig after the end of the play, and
there telling the next day’s play; so that it come in by force only
to please the company to see her dance in boy’s ‘clothes; and,
the truth is, there is no comparison between Nell’s dancing the
other day at the King’s house in boy’s clothes and this, this be-
ing infinitely beyond the other. Mere was Mr. Clerke and Pierce,
to whom one word only of “How do you,” and so away home,
Mrs. Hewer with us, and I to the office and so to [Sir] W. Bat-
ten’s, and there talked privately with him and [Sir] W. Pen about
business of Carcasse against tomorrow, wherein I think I did give
them proof enough of my ability as well as friendship to [Sir] W.
Batten, and the honour of the office, in my sense of the rogue’s
business. So back to finish my office business, and then home to
supper, and to bed. This day, Commissioner Taylor come to me
for advice, and would force me to take ten pieces in gold of him,
which I had no mind to, he being become one of our number at
the Board. This day was reckoned by all people the coldest day
that ever was remembered in England; and, God knows! coals at
a very great price.
8th. Up, and to the Old Swan, where drank at Michell’s, but
not seeing her whom I love I by water to White Hall, and there
acquainted Sir G. Carteret betimes what I had to say this day
before the Duke of York in the business of Carcasse, which he
2232
MARCH 1666-1667
likes well of, being a great enemy to him, and then I being too
early here to go to Sir W. Coventry’s chamber, having nothing to
say to him, and being able to give him but a bad account of the
business of the office (which is a shame to me, and that which
I shall rue if I do not recover), to the Exchequer about getting
a certificate of Mr. Lanyon’s entered at Sir R. Longs office, and
strange it is to see what horrid delays there are at this day in the
business of money, there being nothing yet come from my Lord
Treasurer to set the business of money in action since the Par-
liament broke off, notwithstanding the greatness and number of
the King’s occasions for it. So to the Swan, and there had three or
four baisers of the little ancilla there, and so to Westminster Hall,
where I saw Mr. Martin, the purser, come through with a pic-
ture in his hand, which he had bought, and observed how all the
people of the Hall did fleer and laugh upon him, crying, “There
is plenty grown upon a sudden;” and, the truth is, I was a lit-
tle troubled that my favour should fall on so vain a fellow as he,
and the more because, methought, the people do gaze upon me
as the man that had raised him, and as if they guessed whence
my kindness to him springs. So thence to White Hall, where I
find all met at the Duke of York’s chamber; and, by and by, the
Duke of York comes, and Carcasse is called in, and I read the de-
positions and his answers, and he added with great confidence
and good words, even almost to persuasion, what to say; and
my Lord Bruncker, like a very silly solicitor, argued against me
and us all for him; and, being asked first by the Duke of York
his opinion, did give it for his being excused. I next did answer
the contrary very plainly, and had, in this dispute, which vexed
and will never be forgot by my Lord, many occasions of speaking
severely, and did, against his bad practices. Commissioner Pett,
like a fawning rogue, sided with my Lord, but to no purpose;
and [Sir] W. Pen, like a cunning rogue, spoke mighty indiffer-
ently, and said nothing in all the fray, like a knave as he is. But
[Sir] W. Batten spoke out, and did come off himself by the Duke’s
kindness very well; and then Sir G. Carteret, and Sir W. Coven-
2233
MARCH 1666-1667
try, and the Duke of York himself, flatly as I said; and so he was
declared unfit to continue in, and therefore to be presently dis-
charged the office; which, among other good effects, I hope, will
make my Lord Bruncker not ‘alloquer’ so high, when he shall
consider he hath had such a publick foyle as this is. So home
with [Sir] W. Batten, and [Sir] W. Pen, by coach, and there met
at the office, and my Lord Bruncker presently after us, and there
did give order to Mr. Stevens for securing the tickets in Carcasses
hands, which my Lord against his will could not refuse to sign,
and then home to dinner, and so away with my wife by coach,
she to Mrs. Pierce’s and I to my Lord Bellasses, and with him
to [my] Lord Treasurer’s, where by agreement we met with Sir
H. Cholmly, and there sat and talked all the afternoon almost
about one thing or other, expecting Sir Philip Warwicke’s com-
ing, but he come not, so we away towards night, Sir H. Cholmly
and I to the Temple, and there parted, telling me of my Lord Bel-
lasses’s want of generosity, and that he [Bellasses] will certainly
be turned out of his government, and he thinks himself stands
fair for it. So home, and there found, as I expected, Mrs. Pierce
and Mr. Batelier; he went for Mrs. Jones, but no Mrs. Knipp
come, which vexed me, nor any other company. So with one fi-
dler we danced away the evening, but I was not well contented
with the littleness of the room, and my wife’s want of preparing
things ready, as they should be, for supper, and bad. So not very
merry, though very well pleased. So after supper to bed, my wife
and Mrs. Pierce, and her boy James and I. Yesterday I began to
make this mark (V) stand instead of three pricks, which therefore
I must observe every where, it being a mark more easy to make.
9th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning busy. At
noon home to dinner, where Mrs. Pierce did continue with us
and her boy (who I still find every day more and more witty be-
yond his age), and did dine with us, and by and by comes in her
husband and a brother-in-law of his, a parson, one of the tallest
biggest men that ever I saw in my life. So to the office, where
a meeting extraordinary about settling the number and wages of
2234
MARCH 1666-1667
my Lord Bruncker’s clerks for his new work upon the Treasurer’s
accounts, but this did put us upon running into the business of
yesterday about Carcasse, wherein I perceive he is most dissat-
isfied with me, and I am not sorry for it, having all the world
but him of my side therein, for it will let him know another time
that he is not to expect our submitting to him in every thing, as I
think he did heretofore expect. He did speak many severe words
to me, and I returned as many to him, so that I do think there can-
not for a great while, be, any right peace between us, and I care
not a fart for it; but however, I must look about me and mind
my business, for I perceive by his threats and enquiries he is and
will endeavour to find out something against me or mine. Break-
ing up here somewhat brokenly I home, and carried Mrs. Pierce
and wife to the New Exchange, and there did give her and my-
self a pair of gloves, and then set her down at home, and so back
again straight home and thereto do business, and then to Sir W.
Batten’s, where [Sir] W. Pen and others, and mighty merry, only
I have got a great cold, and the scolding this day at the office
with my Lord Bruncker hath made it worse, that I am not able
to speak. But, Lord! to see how kind Sir W. Batten and his Lady
are to me upon this business of my standing by [Sir] W. Batten
against Carcasse, and I am glad of it. Captain Cocke, who was
here to-night, did tell us that he is certain that yesterday a procla-
mation was voted at the Council, touching the proclaiming of
my Lord Duke of Buckingham a traytor, and that it will be out
on Monday. So home late, and drank some buttered ale, and so
to bed and to sleep. This cold did most certainly come by my
staying a little too long bare-legged yesterday morning when I
rose while I looked out fresh socks and thread stockings, yester-
day’s having in the night, lying near the window, been covered
with snow within the window, which made me I durst not put
them on.
10th (Lord’s day). Having my cold still grown more upon me,
so as I am not able to speak, I lay in bed till noon, and then up
and to my chamber with a good fire, and there spent an hour on
2235
MARCH 1666-1667
Morly’s Introduction to Musique, a very good but unmethodical
book. Then to dinner, my wife and I, and then all the afternoon
alone in my chamber preparing a letter for Commissioner Taylor
to the City about getting his accounts for The Loyal London,617 by
him built for them, stated and discharged, they owing him still
about £4000. Towards the evening comes Mr. Spong to see me,
whose discourse about several things I proposed to him was very
good, better than I have had with any body a good while. He
gone, I to my business again, and anon comes my Lady Pen and
her son-in law and daughter, and there we talked all the evening
away, and then to supper; and after supper comes Sir W. Pen, and
there we talked together, and then broke up, and so to bed. He
tells me that our Mr. Turner has seen the proclamation against
the Duke of Buckingham, and that therefore it is true what we
heard last night. Yesterday and to-day I have been troubled with
a hoarseness through cold that I could not almost speak.
11th. Up, and with my cold still upon me and hoarseness,
but I was forced to rise and to the office, where all the morn-
ing busy, and among other things Sir W. Warren come to me, to
whom of late I have been very strange, partly from my indiffer-
ence how more than heretofore to get money, but most from my
finding that he is become great with my Lord Bruncker, and so I
dare not trust him as I used to do, for I will not be inward with
him that is open to another. By and by comes Sir H. Cholmly
to me about Tangier business, and then talking of news he tells
me how yesterday the King did publiquely talk of the King of
France’s dealing with all the Princes of Christendome. As to the
States of Holland, he [the King of France] hath advised them,
on good grounds, to refuse to treat with us at the Hague, be-
cause of having opportunity of spies, by reason of our interest in
the House of Orange; and then, it being a town in one particular
province, it would not be fit to have it, but in a town wherein the
617 The “Loyal London” was the ship given to the king by the City. It was
launched at Deptford on June 10th, 1666
2236
MARCH 1666-1667
provinces have equal interest, as at Mastricht, and other places
named. That he advises them to offer no terms, nor accept of
any, without his privity and consent, according to agreement;
and tells them, if not so, he hath in his power to be even with
them, the King of England being come to offer him any terms he
pleases; and that my Lord St. Albans is now at Paris, Plenipo-
tentiary, to make what peace he pleases; and so he can make it,
and exclude them, the Dutch, if he sees fit. A copy of this letter
of the King of France’s the Spanish Ambassador here gets, and
comes and tells all to our King; which our King denies, and says
the King of France only uses his power of saying anything. At
the same time, the King of France writes to the Emperor, that he
is resolved to do all things to express affection to the Emperor,
having it now in his power to make what peace he pleases be-
tween the King of England and him, and the States of the United
Provinces; and, therefore, that he would not have him to concern
himself in a friendship with us; and assures him that, on that re-
gard, he will not offer anything to his disturbance, in his interest
in Flanders, or elsewhere. He writes, at the same time, to Spayne,
to tell him that he wonders to hear of a league almost ended be-
tween the Crown of Spayne and England, by my Lord Sandwich,
and all without his privity, while he was making a peace upon
what terms he pleased with England: that he is a great lover of
the Crown of Spayne, and would take the King and his affairs,
during his minority, into his protection, nor would offer to set his
foot in Flanders, or any where else, to disturb him; and, therefore,
would not have him to trouble himself to make peace with any
body; only he hath a desire to offer an exchange, which he thinks
may be of moment to both sides: that is, that he [France] will en-
state the King of Spayne in the kingdom of Portugall, and he and
the Dutch will put him into possession of Lisbon; and, that be-
ing done, he [France] may have Flanders: and this, they say; do
mightily take in Spayne, which is sensible of the fruitless expence
Flanders, so far off, gives them; and how much better it would be
for them to be master of Portugall; and the King of France offers,
2237
MARCH 1666-1667
for security herein, that the King of England shall be bond for
him, and that he will countersecure the King of England with
Amsterdam; and, it seems, hath assured our King, that if he will
make a league with him, he will make a peace exclusive to the
Hollander. These things are almost romantique, but yet true, as
Sir H. Cholmly tells me the King himself did relate it all yester-
day; and it seems as if the King of France did think other princes
fit for nothing but to make sport for him: but simple princes they
are, that are forced to suffer this from him. So at noon with Sir
W. Pen by coach to the Sun in Leadenhall Streete, where Sir R.
Ford, Sir W. Batten, and Commissioner Taylor (whose feast it
was) were, and we dined and had a very good dinner. Among
other discourses Sir R. Ford did tell me that he do verily believe
that the city will in few years be built again in all the greatest
streets, and answered the objections I did give to it. Here we had
the proclamation this day come out against the Duke of Bucking-
ham, commanding him to come in to one of the Secretaries, or to
the Lieutenant of the Tower. A silly, vain man to bring himself to
this: and there be many hard circumstances in the proclamation
of the causes of this proceeding of the King’s, which speak great
displeasure of the King’s, and crimes of his. Then to discourse of
the business of the day, that is, to see Commissioner Taylor’s ac-
counts for his ship he built, The Loyall London, and it is pretty to
see how dully this old fellow makes his demands, and yet plaguy
wise sayings will come from the man sometimes, and also how
Sir R. Ford and [Sir] W. Batten did with seeming reliance advise
him what to do, and how to come prepared to answer objections
to the Common Council. Thence away to the office, where late
busy, and then home to supper, mightily pleased with my wife’s
trill, and so to bed. This night Mr. Carcasse did come to me again
to desire favour, and that I would mediate that he might be re-
stored, but I did give him no kind answer at all, but was very
angry, and I confess a good deal of it from my Lord Bruncker’s
simplicity and passion.
12th. Up, and to the office, where all-the morning, and my
2238
MARCH 1666-1667
Lord Bruncker mighty quiet, and no words all day, which I
wonder at, expecting that he would have fallen again upon the
business of Carcasse, and the more for that here happened that
Perkins, who was the greatest witness of all against him, was
brought in by Sir W. Batten to prove that he did really belong
to The Prince, but being examined was found rather a fool than
anything, as not being able to give any account when he come
in nor when he come out of her, more than that he was taken by
the Dutch in her, but did agree in earnest to Sir W. Pen’s saying
that she lay up all, the winter before at Lambeth. This I confess
did make me begin to doubt the truth of his evidence, but not
to doubt the faults of Carcasse, for he was condemned by, many
other better evidences than his, besides the whole world’s report.
At noon home, and there find Mr. Goodgroome, whose teaching
of my wife only by singing over and over again to her, and let-
ting her sing with him, not by herself, to correct her faults, I do
not like at all, but was angry at it; but have this content, that I do
think she will come to sing pretty well, and to trill in time, which
pleases me well. He dined with us, and then to the office, when
we had a sorry meeting to little purpose, and then broke up, and
I to my office, and busy late to good purpose, and so home to
supper and to bed. This day a poor seaman, almost starved for
want of food, lay in our yard a-dying. I sent him half-a-crown,
and we ordered his ticket to be paid.
13th. Up, and with [Sir] W. Batten to the Duke of York to
our usual attendance, where I did fear my Lord Bruncker might
move something in revenge that might trouble me, but he did
not, but contrarily had the content to hear Sir G. Carteret fall
foul on him in the Duke of York’s bed chamber for his direct-
ing people with tickets and petitions to him, bidding him mind
his Controller’s place and not his, for if he did he should be too
hard for him, and made high words, which I was glad of. Hav-
ing done our usual business with the Duke of York, I away; and
meeting Mr. D. Gawden in the presence-chamber, he and I to
talk; and among other things he tells me, and I do find every
2239
MARCH 1666-1667
where else, also, that our masters do begin not to like of their
councils in fitting out no fleete, but only squadrons, and are find-
ing out excuses for it; and, among others, he tells me a Privy-
Councillor did tell him that it was said in Council that a fleete
could not be set out this year, for want of victuals, which gives
him and me a great alarme, but me especially for had it been so,
I ought to have represented it; and therefore it puts me in pol-
icy presently to prepare myself to answer this objection, if ever
it should come about, by drawing up a state of the Victualler’s
stores, which I will presently do. So to Westminster Hall, and
there staid and talked, and then to Sir G. Carteret’s, where I dined
with the ladies, he not at home, and very well used I am among
them, so that I am heartily ashamed that my wife hath not been
there to see them; but she shall very shortly. So home by water,
and stepped into Michell’s, and there did baiser my Betty, ‘que
aegrotat’ a little. At home find Mr. Holliard, and made him eat
a bit of victuals. Here I find Mr. Greeten, who teaches my wife
on the flageolet, and I think she will come to something on it.
Mr. Holliard advises me to have my father come up to town, for
he doubts else in the country he will never find ease, for, poor
man, his grief is now grown so great upon him that he is never
at ease, so I will have him up at Easter. By and by by coach, set
down Mr. Holliard near his house at Hatton Garden and myself
to Lord Treasurer’s, and sent my wife to the New Exchange. I
staid not here, but to Westminster Hall, and thence to Martin’s,
where he and she both within, and with them the little widow
that was once there with her when I was there, that dissembled
so well to be grieved at hearing a tune that her, late husband
liked, but there being so much company, I had no pleasure here,
and so away to the Hall again, and there met Doll Lane coming
out, and ‘par contrat did hazer bargain para aller to the cabaret
de vin’, called the Rose, and ‘ibi’ I staid two hours, ‘sed’ she did
not ‘venir’, ‘lequel’ troubled me, and so away by coach and took
up my wife, and away home, and so to Sir W. Batten’s, where
I am told that it is intended by Mr. Carcasse to pray me to be
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MARCH 1666-1667
godfather with Lord Bruncker to-morrow to his child, which I
suppose they tell me in mirth, but if he should ask me I know not
whether I should refuse it or no. Late at my office preparing a
speech against to-morrow morning, before the King, at my Lord
Treasurer’s, and the truth is it run in my head all night. So home
to supper and to bed. The Duke of Buckingham is concluded
gone over sea, and, it is thought, to France.
14th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen to my Lord
Treasurer’s, where we met with my Lord Bruncker an hour be-
fore the King come, and had time to talk a little of our business.
Then come much company, among others Sir H. Cholmly, who
tells me that undoubtedly my Lord Bellasses will go no more as
Governor to Tangier, and that he do put in fair for it, and believes
he shall have it, and proposes how it may conduce to his account
and mine in the business of money. Here we fell into talk with
Sir Stephen Fox, and, among other things, of the Spanish man-
ner of walking, when three together, and shewed me how, which
was pretty, to prevent differences. By and by comes the King and
Duke of York, and presently the officers of the Ordnance were
called; my Lord Berkeley, Sir John Duncomb, and Mr. Chichly;
then we, my Lord Bruncker, [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and
myself; where we find only the King and Duke of York, and my
Lord Treasurer, and Sir G. Carteret; where I only did speak, lay-
ing down the state of our wants, which the King and Duke of
York seemed very well pleased with, and we did get what we
asked, £500,000, assigned upon the eleven months’ tax: but that
is not so much ready money, or what will raise £40,000 per week,
which we desired, and the business will want. Yet are we fain to
come away answered, when, God knows, it will undo the King’s
business to have matters of this moment put off in this manner.
The King did prevent my offering anything by and by as Trea-
surer for Tangier, telling me that he had ordered us £30,000 on
the same tax; but that is not what we would have to bring our
payments to come within a year. So we gone out, in went oth-
ers; viz., one after another, Sir Stephen Fox for the army, Captain
2241
MARCH 1666-1667
Cocke for sick and wounded, Mr. Ashburnham for the house-
hold. Thence [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and I, back again; I
mightily pleased with what I had said and done, and the success
thereof. But, it being a fine clear day, I did, ‘en gayete de coeur’,
propose going to Bow for ayre sake, and dine there, which they
embraced, and so [Sir] W. Batten and I (setting [Sir] W. Pen down
at Mark Lane end) straight to Bow, to the Queen’s Head, and
there bespoke our dinner, carrying meat with us from London;
and anon comes [Sir] W. Pen with my wife and Lady Batten, and
then Mr. Lowder with his mother and wife. While [Sir] W. Bat-
ten and I were alone, we had much friendly discourse, though I
will never trust him far; but we do propose getting “The Flying
Greyhound,” our privateer, to us and [Sir] W. Pen at the end of
the year when we call her home, by begging her of the King, and
I do not think we shall be denied her. They being come, we to
oysters and so to talk, very pleasant I was all day, and anon to
dinner, and I made very good company. Here till the evening, so
as it was dark almost before we got home (back again in the same
method, I think, we went), and spent the night talking at Sir W.
Batten’s, only a little at my office, to look over the Victualler’s
contract, and draw up some arguments for him to plead for his
charges in transportation of goods beyond the ports which the
letter of one article in his contract do lay upon him. This done
I home to supper and to bed. Troubled a little at my fear that
my Lord Bruncker should tell Sir W. Coventry of our neglecting
the office this afternoon (which was intended) to look after our
pleasures, but nothing will fall upon me alone about this.
15th. Up, and pleased at Tom’s teaching of Barker something
to sing a 3rd part to a song, which will please mightily. So I to
the office all the morning, and at noon to the ‘Change, where
I do hear that letters this day come to Court do tell us that we
are likely not to agree, the Dutch demanding high terms, and
the King of France the like, in a most braving manner. The mer-
chants do give themselves over for lost, no man knowing what
to do, whether to sell or buy, not knowing whether peace or war
2242
MARCH 1666-1667
to expect, and I am told that could that be now known a man
might get £20,000 in a week’s time by buying up of goods in case
there should be war. Thence home and dined well, and then with
my wife, set her at Unthanke’s and I to Sir G. Carteret, where
talked with the ladies a while, and my Lady Carteret talks noth-
ing but sorrow and afflictions coming on us, and indeed I do fear
the same. So away and met Dr. Fuller, Bishop of Limricke, and
walked an hour with him in the Court talking of newes only, and
he do think that matters will be bad with us. Then to Westmin-
ster Hall, and there spent an hour or two walking up and down,
thinking ‘para avoir’ got out Doll Lane, ‘sed je ne’ could do it,
having no opportunity ‘de hazer le, ainsi lost the tota’ afternoon,
and so away and called my wife and home, where a little at the
office, and then home to my closet to enter my journalls, and so
to supper and to bed. This noon come little Mis. Tooker, who
is grown a little woman; ego had opportunity ‘para baiser her....
This morning I was called up by Sir John Winter, poor man! come
in his sedan from the other end of the town, before I was up, and
merely about the King’s business, which is a worthy thing of him,
and I believe him to be a worthy good man, and I will do him the
right to tell the Duke of it, who did speak well of him the other
day. It was about helping the King in the business of bringing
down his timber to the sea-side, in the Forest of Deane.
16th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning; at noon
home to dinner, and then to the office again in the afternoon, and
there all day very busy till night, and then, having done much
business, home to supper, and so to bed. This afternoon come
home Sir J. Minnes, who has been down, but with little purpose,
to pay the ships below at the Nore. This evening, having done
my letters, I did write out the heads of what I had prepared to
speak to the King the other day at my Lord Treasurer’s, which I
do think convenient to keep by me for future use. The weather
is now grown warm again, after much cold; and it is observable
that within these eight days I did see smoke remaining, coming
out of some cellars, from the late great fire, now above six months
2243
MARCH 1666-1667
since. There was this day at the office (as he is most days) Sir W.
Warren, against whom I did manifestly plead, and heartily too,
God forgive me! But the reason is because I do find that he do
now wholly rely almost upon my Lord Bruncker, though I con-
fess I have no greater ground of my leaving him than the confi-
dence which I perceive he hath got in my Lord Bruncker, whose
seeming favours only do obtain of him as much compensation
as, I believe (for he do know well the way of using his bounties),
as mine more real. Besides, my Lord and I being become antago-
nistic, I do not think it safe for me to trust myself in the hands of
one whom I know to be a knave, and using all means to become
gracious there.
17th (Lord’s day). Up betime with my wife, and by coach with
Sir W. Pen and Sir Thomas Allen to White Hall, there my wife and
I the first time that ever we went to my Lady Jemimah’s chamber
at Sir Edward Carteret’s lodgings. I confess I have been much to
blame and much ashamed of our not visiting her sooner, but bet-
ter now than never. Here we took her before she was up, which
I was sorry for, so only saw her, and away to chapel, leaving fur-
ther visit till after sermon. I put my wife into the pew below, but
it was pretty to see, myself being but in a plain band, and every
way else ordinary, how the verger took me for her man, I think,
and I was fain to tell him she was a kinswoman of my Lord Sand-
wich’s, he saying that none under knights-baronets’ ladies are to
go into that pew. So she being there, I to the Duke of York’s lodg-
ing, where in his dressing-chamber he talking of his journey to-
morrow or next day to Harwich, to prepare some fortifications
there; so that we are wholly upon the defensive part this year,
only we have some expectations that we may by our squadrons
annoy them in their trade by the North of Scotland and to the
Westward. Here Sir W. Pen did show the Duke of York a letter of
Hogg’s about a prize he drove in within the Sound at Plymouth,
where the Vice-Admiral claims her. Sir W. Pen would have me
speak to the latter, which I did, and I think without any offence,
but afterwards I was sorry for it, and Sir W. Pen did plainly say
2244
MARCH 1666-1667
that he had no mind to speak to the Duke of York about it, so
that he put me upon it, but it shall be, the last time that I will
do such another thing, though I think no manner of hurt done
by it to me at all. That done I to walk in the Parke, where to the
Queene’s Chapel, and there heard a fryer preach with his cord
about his middle, in Portuguese, something I could understand,
showing that God did respect the meek and humble, as well as
the high and rich. He was full of action, but very decent and
good, I thought, and his manner of delivery very good. Then I
went back to White Hall, and there up to the closet, and spoke
with several people till sermon was ended, which was preached
by the Bishop of Hereford, an old good man, that they say made
an excellent sermon. He was by birth a Catholique, and a great
gallant, having £1500 per annum, patrimony, and is a Knight Bar-
ronet; was turned from his persuasion by the late Archbishop
Laud. He and the Bishop of Exeter, Dr. Ward, are the two Bish-
ops that the King do say he cannot have bad sermons from. Here
I met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me, that undoubtedly my
Lord Bellasses do go no more to Tangier, and that he do believe
he do stand in a likely way to go Governor; though he says, and
showed me, a young silly Lord, one Lord Allington, who hath
offered a great sum of money to go, and will put hard for it, he
having a fine lady, and a great man would be glad to have him
out of the way. After Chapel I down and took out my wife from
the pew, where she was talking with a lady whom I knew not till I
was gone. It was Mrs. Ashfield of Brampton, who had with much
civility been, it seems, at our house to see her. I am sorry I did
not show her any more respect. With my wife to Sir G. Carteret’s,
where we dined and mightily made of, and most extraordinary
people they are to continue friendship with for goodness, virtue,
and nobleness and interest. After dinner he and I alone awhile
and did joy ourselves in my Lord Sandwich’s being out of the
way all this time. He concurs that we are in a way of ruin by
thus being forced to keep only small squadrons out, but do tell
me that it was not choice, but only force, that we could not keep
2245
MARCH 1666-1667
out the whole fleete. He tells me that the King is very kind to my
Lord Sandwich, and did himself observe to him (Sir G. Carteret),
how those very people, meaning the Prince and Duke of Albe-
marle, are punished in the same kind as they did seek to abuse
my Lord Sandwich. Thence away, and got a hackney coach and
carried my wife home, and there only drank, and myself back
again to my Lord Treasurer’s, where the King, Duke of York, and
Sir G. Carteret and Lord Arlington were and none else, so I staid
not, but to White Hall, and there meeting nobody I would speak
with, walked into the Park and took two or three turns all alone,
and then took coach and home, where I find Mercer, who I was
glad to see, but durst [not] shew so, my wife being displeased
with her, and indeed I fear she is grown a very gossip. I to my
chamber, and there fitted my arguments which I had promised
Mr. Gawden in his behalf in some pretences to allowance of the
King, and then to supper, and so to my chamber a little again,
and then to bed. Duke of Buckingham not heard of yet.
18th. Up betimes, and to the office to write fair my paper
for D. Gawden against anon, and then to other business, where
all the morning. D. Gawden by and by comes, and I did read
over and give him the paper, which I think I have much obliged
him in. A little before noon comes my old good friend, Mr.
Richard Cumberland,–[Richard Cumberland, afterwards Bishop
of Peterborough]–to see me, being newly come to town, whom
I have not seen almost, if not quite, these seven years. In his
plain country-parson’s dress. I could not spend much time with
him, but prayed him come with his brother, who was with him,
to dine with me to-day; which he did do and I had a great deal
of his good company; and a most excellent person he is as any I
know, and one that I am sorry should be lost and buried in a little
country town, and would be glad to remove him thence; and the
truth is, if he would accept of my sister’s fortune, I should give
£100 more with him than to a man able to settle her four times as
much as, I fear, he is able to do; and I will think of it, and a way
how to move it, he having in discourse said he was not against
2246
MARCH 1666-1667
marrying, nor yet engaged. I shewed him my closet, and did give
him some very good musique, Mr. Caesar being here upon his
lute. They gone I to the office, where all the afternoon very busy,
and among other things comes Captain Jenifer to me, a great ser-
vant of my Lord Sandwich’s, who tells me that he do hear for
certain, though I do not yet believe it, that Sir W. Coventry is to
be Secretary of State, and my Lord Arlington Lord Treasurer. I
only wish that the latter were as fit for the latter office as the for-
mer is for the former, and more fit than my Lord Arlington. Anon
Sir W. Pen come and talked with me in the garden, and tells me
that for certain the Duke of Richmond is to marry Mrs. Stewart,
he having this day brought in an account of his estate and debts
to the King on that account. At night home to supper and so to
bed. My father’s letter this day do tell me of his own continued
illness, and that my mother grows so much worse, that he fears
she cannot long continue, which troubles me very much. This
day, Mr. Caesar told me a pretty experiment of his, of angling
with a minikin, a gut-string varnished over, which keeps it from
swelling, and is beyond any hair for strength and smallness. The
secret I like mightily.
19th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon dined at home very pleasantly with my wife, and after din-
ner with a great deal of pleasure had her sing, which she begins
to do with some pleasure to me, more than I expected. Then to
the office again, where all the afternoon close, and at night home
to supper and to bed. It comes in my mind this night to set down
how a house was the other day in Bishopsgate Street blowed up
with powder; a house that was untenanted, and between a flax
shop and a———–, both bad for fire; but, thanks be to God, it did
no more hurt; and all do conclude it a plot. I would also remem-
ber to my shame how I was pleased yesterday, to find the righ-
teous maid of Magister Griffin sweeping of ‘nostra’ office, ‘elle
con the Roman nariz and bonne’ body which I did heretofore
like, and do still refresh me to think ‘que elle’ is come to us, that I
may ‘voir her aliquando’. This afternoon I am told again that the
2247
MARCH 1666-1667
town do talk of my Lord Arlington’s being to be Lord Treasurer,
and Sir W. Coventry to be Secretary of State; and that for certain
the match is concluded between the Duke of Richmond and Mrs.
Stewart, which I am well enough pleased with; and it is pretty to
consider how his quality will allay people’s talk; whereas, had a
meaner person married her, he would for certain have been reck-
oned a cuckold at first-dash.
20th. Up pretty betimes, and to the Old Swan, and there drank
at Michell’s, but his wife is not there, but gone to her mother’s,
who is ill, and so hath staid there since Sunday. Thence to West-
minster Hall and drank at the Swan, and ‘baiserais the petite
misse’; and so to Mrs. Martin’s.... I sent for some burnt wine,
and drank and then away, not pleased with my folly, and so to the
Hall again, and there staid a little, and so home by water again,
where, after speaking with my wife, I with Sir W. Batten and [Sir]
J. Minnes to our church to the vestry, to be assessed by the late
Poll Bill, where I am rated as an Esquire, and for my office, all will
come to about £50. But not more than I expected, nor so much by
a great deal as I ought to be, for all my offices. So shall be glad
to escape so. Thence by water again to White Hall, and there up
into the house, and do hear that newes is come now that the en-
emy do incline again to a peace, but could hear no particulars,
so do not believe it. I had a great mind to have spoke with the
King, about a business proper enough for me, about the French
prize man-of-war, how he would have her altered, only out of a
desire to show myself mindful of business, but my linen was so
dirty and my clothes mean, that I neither thought it fit to do that,
nor go to other persons at the Court, with whom I had business,
which did vex me, and I must remedy [it]. Here I hear that the
Duke of Richmond and Mrs. Stewart were betrothed last night.
Thence to Westminster Hall again, and there saw Betty Michell,
and bought a pair of gloves of her, she being fain to keep shop
there, her mother being sick, and her father gathering of the tax.
I ‘aimais her de toute my corazon’. Thence, my mind wandering
all this day upon ‘mauvaises amours’ which I be merry for. So
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home by water again, where I find my wife gone abroad, so I to
Sir W. Batten to dinner, and had a good dinner of ling and her-
ring pie, very good meat, best of the kind that ever I had. Having
dined, I by coach to the Temple, and there did buy a little book or
two, and it is strange how “Rycaut’s Discourse of Turky,” which
before the fire I was asked but 8s. for, there being all but twenty-
two or thereabouts burned, I did now offer 20s., and he demands
50s., and I think I shall give it him, though it be only as a monu-
ment of the fire. So to the New Exchange, where I find my wife,
and so took her to Unthanke’s, and left her there, and I to White
Hall, and thence to Westminster, only out of idleness, and to get
some little pleasure to my ‘mauvais flammes’, but sped not, so
back and took up my wife; and to Polichinelli at Charing Crosse,
which is prettier and prettier, and so full of variety that it is ex-
traordinary good entertainment. Thence by coach home, that is,
my wife home, and I to the Exchange, and there met with Fenn,
who tells me they have yet no orders out of the Exchequer for
money upon the Acts, which is a thing not to be borne by any
Prince of understanding or care, for no money can be got ad-
vanced upon the Acts only from the weight of orders in form out
of the Exchequer so long time after the passing of the Acts. So
home to the office a little, where I met with a sad letter from my
brother, who tells me my mother is declared by the doctors to be
past recovery, and that my father is also very ill every hour: so
that I fear we shall see a sudden change there. God fit them and
us for it! So to Sir W. Pen’s, where my wife was, and supped with
a little, but yet little mirth, and a bad, nasty supper, which makes
me not love the family, they do all things so meanly, to make a
little bad show upon their backs. Thence home and to bed, very
much troubled about my father’s and my mother’s illness.
21st. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning. At noon
home to dinner, and had some melancholy discourse with my
wife about my mother’s being so ill and my father, and after din-
ner to cheer myself, I having the opportunity of Sir W. Coven-
try and the Duke of York’s being out of town, I alone out and
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MARCH 1666-1667
to the Duke of York’s play-house, where unexpectedly I come to
see only the young men and women of the house act; they hav-
ing liberty to act for their own profit on Wednesdays and Fridays
this Lent: and the play they did yesterday, being Wednesday, was
so well-taken, that they thought fit to venture it publickly to-day;
a play of my Lord Falkland’s’ called “The Wedding Night,” a
kind of a tragedy, and some things very good in it, but the whole
together, I thought, not so. I confess I was well enough pleased
with my seeing it: and the people did do better, without the great
actors, than I did expect, but yet far short of what they do when
they are there, which I was glad to find the difference of. Thence
to rights home, and there to the office to my business hard, being
sorry to have made this scape without my wife, but I have a good
salvo to my oath in doing it. By and by, in the evening, comes
Sir W. Batten’s Mingo to me to pray me to come to his master
and Sir Richard Ford, who have very ill news to tell me. I knew
what it was, it was about our trial for a good prize to-day, “The
Phoenix,”618 a worth two or £3000. I went to them, where they
told me with much trouble how they had sped, being cast and
sentenced to make great reparation for what we had embezzled,
and they did it so well that I was much troubled at it, when by
and by Sir W. Batten asked me whether I was mortified enough,
and told me we had got the day, which was mighty welcome
news to me and us all. But it is pretty to see what money will
do. Yesterday, Walker was mighty cold on our behalf, till Sir W.
Batten promised him, if we sped in this business of the goods,
a coach; and if at the next trial we sped for the ship, we would
give him a pair of horses. And he hath strove for us today like
a prince, though the Swedes’ Agent was there with all the vehe-
618 There are references to the “Phoenix,” a Dutch ship taken as a prize,
among the State Papers (see “Calendar,” 1666-67, p. 404). Pepys appears to
have got into trouble at a later date in respect to this same ship, for among the
Rawlinson MSS. (A. 170) are “Papers relating to the charge brought against
him in the House of Commons in 1689 with reference to the ship Phoenix
and the East India Company in 1681-86.”
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MARCH 1666-1667
mence he could to save the goods, but yet we carried it against
him. This put me in mighty good heart, and then we go to Sir W.
Pen, who is come back to-night from Chatham, and did put him
into the same condition, and then comforted him. So back to my
office, and wrote an affectionate and sad letter to my father about
his and my mother’s illness, and so home to supper and to bed
late.
22nd. Up and by coach to Sir Ph. Warwicke about business for
Tangier about money, and then to Sir Stephen Fox to give him ac-
count of a little service I have done him about money coming to
him from our office, and then to Lovett’s and saw a few baubling
things of their doing which are very pretty, but the quality of the
people, living only by shifts, do not please me, that it makes me
I do no more care for them, nor shall have more acquaintance
with them after I have got my Lady Castlemayne’s picture home.
So to White Hall, where the King at Chapel, and I would not
stay, but to Westminster to Howlett’s, and there, he being not
well, I sent for a quart of claret and burnt it and drank, and had
a ‘basado’ or three or four of Sarah, whom ‘je trouve ici’, and
so by coach to Sir Robt. Viner’s about my accounts with him,
and so to the ‘Change, where I hear for certain that we are going
on with our treaty of peace, and that we are to treat at Bredah.
But this our condescension people do think will undo us, and
I do much fear it. So home to dinner, where my wife having
dressed herself in a silly dress of a blue petticoat uppermost, and
a white satin waistcoat and whitehood, though I think she did it
because her gown is gone to the tailor’s, did, together with my
being hungry, which always makes me peevish, make me angry,
but when my belly was full were friends again, and dined and
then by water down to Greenwich and thence walked to Wool-
wich, all the way reading Playford’s “Introduction to Musique,”
wherein are some things very pretty. At Woolwich I did much
business, taking an account of the state of the ships there under
hand, thence to Blackwall, and did the like for two ships we have
repairing there, and then to Deptford and did the like there, and
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so home. Captain Perriman with me from Deptford, telling me
many particulars how the King’s business is ill ordered, and in-
deed so they are, God knows! So home and to the office, where
did business, and so home to my chamber, and then to supper
and to bed. Landing at the Tower to-night I met on Tower Hill
with Captain Cocke and spent half an hour walking in the dusk
of the evening with him, talking of the sorrowful condition we
are in, that we must be ruined if the Parliament do not come and
chastize us, that we are resolved to make a peace whatever it
cost, that the King is disobliging the Parliament in this interval
all that may be, yet his money is gone and he must have more,
and they likely not to give it, without a great deal of do. God
knows what the issue of it will be. But the considering that the
Duke of York, instead of being at sea as Admirall, is now go-
ing from port to port, as he is at this day at Harwich, and was
the other day with the King at Sheernesse, and hath ordered at
Portsmouth how fortifications shall be made to oppose the en-
emy, in case of invasion, [which] is to us a sad consideration, and
as shameful to the nation, especially after so many proud vaunts
as we have made against the Dutch, and all from the folly of the
Duke of Albemarle, who made nothing of beating them, and Sir
John Lawson he always declared that we never did fail to beat
them with lesser numbers than theirs, which did so prevail with
the King as to throw us into this war.
23rd. At the office all the morning, where Sir W. Pen come,
being returned from Chatham, from considering the means of
fortifying the river Medway, by a chain at the stakes, and ships
laid there with guns to keep the enemy from coming up to burn
our ships; all our care now being to fortify ourselves against their
invading us. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office all
the afternoon again, where Mr. Moore come, who tells me that
there is now no doubt made of a peace being agreed on, the King
having declared this week in Council that they would treat at
Bredagh. He gone I to my office, where busy late, and so to sup-
per and to bed. Vexed with our mayde Luce, our cook-mayde,
2252
MARCH 1666-1667
who is a good drudging servant in everything else, and pleases
us, but that she will be drunk, and hath been so last night and all
this day, that she could not make clean the house. My fear is only
fire.
24th (Lord’s day). With Sir W. Batten to White Hall, and there I
to Sir G. Carteret, who is mighty cheerful, which makes me think
and by some discourse that there is expectation of a peace, but I
did not ask [him]. Here was Sir J. Minnes also: and they did talk
of my Lord Bruncker, whose father, it seems, did give Mr. Ash-
burnham and the present Lord Digby £1200 to be made an Irish
lord, and swore the same day that he had not 12d. left to pay
for his dinner: they make great mirth at this, my Lord Bruncker
having lately given great matter of offence both to them and us
all, that we are at present mightily displeased with him. By and
by to the Duke of York, where we all met, and there was the
King also; and all our discourse was about fortifying of the Med-
way and Harwich, which is to be entrenched quite round, and
Portsmouth: and here they advised with Sir Godfry Lloyd and
Sir Bernard de Gum, the two great engineers, and had the plates
drawn before them; and indeed all their care they now take is
to fortify themselves, and are not ashamed of it: for when by
and by my Lord Arlington come in with letters, and seeing the
King and Duke of York give us and the officers of the Ordnance
directions in this matter, he did move that we might do it as pri-
vately as we could, that it might not come into the Dutch Gazette
presently, as the King’s and Duke of York’s going down the other
day to Sheerenesse was, the week after, in the Harlem Gazette.
The King and Duke of York both laughed at it, and made no mat-
ter, but said, “Let us be safe, and let them talk, for there is nothing
will trouble them more, nor will prevent their coming more, than
to hear that we are fortifying ourselves.” And the Duke of York
said further, “What said Marshal Turenne, when some in van-
ity said that the enemies were afraid, for they entrenched them-
selves? ‘Well,’ says he, ‘I would they were not afraid, for then
they would not entrench themselves, and so we could deal with
2253
MARCH 1666-1667
them the better.”’ Away thence, and met with Sir H. Cholmly,
who tells me that he do believe the government of Tangier is
bought by my Lord Allington for a sum of money to my Lord
Arlington, and something to Lord Bellasses, who (he did tell me
particularly how) is as very a false villain as ever was born, hav-
ing received money of him here upon promise and confidence of
his return, forcing him to pay it by advance here, and promising
to ask no more there, when at the same time he was treating with
my Lord Allington to sell his command to him, and yet told Sir
H. Cholmly nothing of it, but when Sir H. Cholmly told him what
he had heard, he confessed that my Lord Allington had spoken
to him of it, but that he was a vain man to look after it, for he was
nothing fit for it, and then goes presently to my Lord Allington
and drives on the bargain, yet tells Lord Allington what he him-
self had said of him, as [though] Sir H. Cholmly had said them. I
am glad I am informed hereof, and shall know him for a Lord, &c.
Sir H. Cholmly tells me further that he is confident there will be a
peace, and that a great man did tell him that my Lord Albemarle
did tell him the other day at White Hall as a secret that we should
have a peace if any thing the King of France can ask and our King
can give will gain it, which he is it seems mad at. Thence back
with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen home, and heard a piece of
sermon, and so home to dinner, where Balty come, very fine, and
dined with us, and after dinner with me by water to White Hall,
and there he and I did walk round the Park, I giving him my
thoughts about the difficulty of getting employment for him this
year, but advised him how to employ himself, and I would do
what I could. So he and I parted, and I to Martin’s, where I find
her within, and ‘su hermano’ and ‘la veuve’ Burroughs. Here I
did ‘demeurer toda’ the afternoon.... By and by come up the mis-
tress of the house, Crags, a pleasant jolly woman. I staid all but a
little, and away home by water through bridge, a brave evening,
and so home to read, and anon to supper, W. Hewer with us, and
then to read myself to sleep again, and then to bed, and mightily
troubled the most of the night with fears of fire, which I cannot
2254
MARCH 1666-1667
get out of my head to this day since the last great fire. I did this
night give the waterman who uses to carry me 10s. at his request,
for the painting of his new boat, on which shall be my arms.
25th. (Ladyday.) Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen
by coach to Exeter House to our lawyers to have consulted about
our trial to-morrow, but missed them, so parted, and [Sir] W. Pen
and I to Mr. Povy’s about a little business of [Sir] W. Pen’s, where
we went over Mr. Povy’s house, which lies in the same good
condition as ever, which is most extraordinary fine, and he was
now at work with a cabinet-maker, making of a new inlaid ta-
ble. Having seen his house, we away, having in our way thither
called at Mr. Lilly’s, who was working; and indeed his pictures
are without doubt much beyond Mr. Hales’s, I think I may say
I am convinced: but a mighty proud man he is, and full of state.
So home, and to the office, and by and by to dinner, a poor din-
ner, my wife and I, at Sir W. Pen’s, and then he and I before to
Exeter House, where I do not stay, but to the King’s playhouse;
and by and by comes Mr. Lowther and his wife and mine, and
into a box, forsooth, neither of them being dressed, which I was
almost ashamed of. Sir W. Pen and I in the pit, and here saw
“The Mayden Queene” again; which indeed the more I see the
more I like, and is an excellent play, and so done by Nell, her
merry part, as cannot be better done in nature, I think. Thence
home, and there I find letters from my brother, which tell me that
yesterday when he wrote my mother did rattle in the throat so as
they did expect every moment her death, which though I have a
good while expected did much surprise me, yet was obliged to
sup at Sir W. Pen’s and my wife, and there counterfeited some
little mirth, but my heart was sad, and so home after supper
and to bed, and much troubled in my sleep of my being crying
by my mother’s bedside, laying my head over hers and crying,
she almost dead and dying, and so waked, but what is strange,
methought she had hair over her face, and not the same kind of
face as my mother really hath, but yet did not consider that, but
did weep over her as my mother, whose soul God have mercy of.
2255
MARCH 1666-1667
26th. Up with a sad heart in reference to my mother, of whose
death I undoubtedly expect to hear the next post, if not of my
father’s also, who by his pain as well as his grief for her is very
ill, but on my own behalf I have cause to be joyful this day, it
being my usual feast day, for my being cut of the stone this day
nine years, and through God’s blessing am at this day and have
long been in as good condition of health as ever I was in my life
or any man in England is, God make me thankful for it! But the
condition I am in, in reference to my mother, makes it unfit for
me to keep my usual feast. Unless it shall please God to send her
well (which I despair wholly of), and then I will make amends
for it by observing another day in its room. So to the office, and
at the office all the morning, where I had an opportunity to speak
to Sir John Harman about my desire to have my brother Balty go
again with him to sea as he did the last year, which he do seem
not only contented but pleased with, which I was glad of. So at
noon home to dinner, where I find Creed, who dined with us,
but I had not any time to talk with him, my head being busy, and
before I had dined was called away by Sir W. Batten, and both of
us in his coach (which I observe his coachman do always go now
from hence towards White Hall through Tower Street, and it is
the best way) to Exeter House, where the judge was sitting, and
after several little causes comes on ours, and while the several
depositions and papers were at large reading (which they call the
preparatory), and being cold by being forced to sit with my hat
off close to a window in the Hall, Sir W. Pen and I to the Castle
Tavern hard by and got a lobster, and he and I staid and eat it,
and drank good wine; I only burnt wine, as my whole custom
of late hath been, as an evasion, God knows, for my drinking
of wine (but it is an evasion which will not serve me now hot
weather is coming, that I cannot pretend, as indeed I really have
done, that I drank it for cold), but I will leave it off, and it is
but seldom, as when I am in women’s company, that I must call
for wine, for I must be forced to drink to them. Having done
here then we back again to the Court, and there heard our cause
2256
MARCH 1666-1667
pleaded; Sir [Edward] Turner, Sir W. Walker, and Sir Ellis Layton
being our counsel against only Sir Robert Wiseman on the other.
The second of our three counsel was the best, and indeed did
speak admirably, and is a very shrewd man. Nevertheless, as
good as he did make our case, and the rest, yet when Wiseman
come to argue (nay, and though he did begin so sillily that we
laughed in scorn in our sleeves at him), yet he did so state the
case, that the judge did not think fit to decide the cause to-night,
but took to to-morrow, and did stagger us in our hopes, so as to
make us despair of the success. I am mightily pleased with the
judge, who seems a very rational, learned, and uncorrupt man,
and much good reading and reason there is heard in hearing of
this law argued, so that the thing pleased me, though our success
doth shake me. Thence Sir W. Pen and I home and to write letters,
among others a sad one to my father upon fear of my mother’s
death, and so home to supper and to bed.
27th. [Sir] W. Pen and I to White Hall, and in the coach did
begin our discourse again about Balty, and he promises me to
move it this very day. He and I met my Lord Bruncker at Sir G.
Carteret’s by appointment, there to discourse a little business, all
being likely to go to rack for lack of money still. Thence to the
Duke of York’s lodgings, and did our usual business, and Sir W.
Pen telling me that he had this morning spoke of Balty to Sir W.
Coventry, and that the thing was done, I did take notice of it also
to [Sir] W. Coventry, who told me that he had both the thing and
the person in his head before to have done it, which is a double
pleasure to me. Our business with the Duke being done, [Sir]
W. Pen and I towards the Exchequer, and in our way met Sir G.
Downing going to chapel, but we stopped, and he would go with
us back to the Exchequer and showed us in his office his chests
full and ground and shelves full of money, and says that there
is £50,000 at this day in his office of people’s money, who may
demand it this day, and might have had it away several weeks
ago upon the late Act, but do rather choose to have it continue
there than to put it into the Banker’s hands, and I must confess it
2257
MARCH 1666-1667
is more than I should have believed had I not seen it, and more
than ever I could have expected would have arisen for this new
Act in so short a time, and if it do so now already what would it
do if the money was collected upon the Act and returned into the
Exchequer so timely as it ought to be. But it comes into my mind
here to observe what I have heard from Sir John Bankes, though
I cannot fully conceive the reason of it, that it will be impossible
to make the Exchequer ever a true bank to all intents, unless the
Exchequer stood nearer the Exchange, where merchants might
with ease, while they are going about their business, at all hours,
and without trouble or loss of time, have their satisfaction, which
they cannot have now without much trouble, and loss of half a
day, and no certainty of having the offices open. By this he means
a bank for common practise and use of merchants, and therein I
do agree with him. Being parted from Sir W. Pen and [Sir] G.
Downing, I to Westminster Hall and there met Balty, whom I had
sent for, and there did break the business of my getting him the
place of going again as Muster-Master with Harman this voyage
to the West Indys, which indeed I do owe to Sir W. Pen. He is
mighty glad of it, and earnest to fit himself for it, but I do find,
poor man, that he is troubled how to dispose of his wife, and ap-
parently it is out of fear of her, and his honour, and I believe he
hath received some cause of this his jealousy and care, and I do
pity him in it, and will endeavour to find out some way to do, it
for him. Having put him in a way of preparing himself for the
voyage, I did go to the Swan, and there sent for Jervas, my old
periwig maker, and he did bring me a periwig, but it was full of
nits, so as I was troubled to see it (it being his old fault), and did
send him to make it clean, and in the mean time, having staid
for him a good while, did go away by water to the Castle Tav-
erne, by Exeter House, and there met Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen,
and several others, among the rest Sir Ellis Layton, who do apply
himself to discourse with me, and I think by his discourse, out of
his opinion of my interest in Sir W. Coventry, the man I find a
wonderful witty, ready man for sudden answers and little tales,
2258
MARCH 1666-1667
and sayings very extraordinary witty, but in the bottom I doubt
he is not so. Yet he pretends to have studied men, and the truth
is in several that I do know he did give me a very inward ac-
count of them. But above all things he did give me a full account,
upon my demand, of this judge of the Admiralty, Judge Jenkins;
who, he says, is a man never practised in this Court, but taken
merely for his merit and ability’s sake from Trinity Hall, where
he had always lived; only by accident the business of the want
of a Judge being proposed to the present Archbishop of Canter-
bury that now is, he did think of this man and sent for him up:
and here he is, against the ‘gre’ and content of the old Doctors,
made judge, but is a very excellent man both for judgment and
temper, yet majesty enough, and by all men’s report, not to be
corrupted. After dinner to the Court, where Sir Ellis Layton did
make a very silly motion in our behalf, but did neither hurt nor
good. After him Walker and Wiseman; and then the judge did
pronounce his sentence; for some part of the goods and ship, and
the freight of the whole, to be free, and returned and paid by us;
and the remaining, which was the greater part, to be ours. The
loss of so much troubles us, but we have got a pretty good part,
thanks be to God! So we are not displeased nor yet have cause
to triumph, as we did once expect. Having seen the end of this,
I being desirous to be at home to see the issue of any country
letters about my mother, which I expect shall give me tidings of
her death, I directly home and there to the office, where I find no
letter from my father or brother, but by and by the boy tells me
that his mistress sends me word that she hath opened my letter,
and that she is loth to send me any more news. So I home, and
there up to my wife in our chamber, and there received from my
brother the newes of my mother’s dying on Monday, about five
or six o’clock in the afternoon, and that the last time she spoke of
her children was on Friday last, and her last words were, “God
bless my poor Sam!” The reading hereof did set me a-weeping
heartily, and so weeping to myself awhile, and my wife also to
herself, I then spoke to my wife respecting myself, and indeed,
2259
MARCH 1666-1667
having some thoughts how much better both for her and us it is
than it might have been had she outlived my father and me or
my happy present condition in the world, she being helpless, I
was the sooner at ease in my mind, and then found it necessary
to go abroad with my wife to look after the providing mourning
to send into the country, some to-morrow, and more against Sun-
day, for my family, being resolved to put myself and wife, and
Barker and Jane, W. Hewer and Tom, in mourning, and my two
under-mayds, to give them hoods and scarfs and gloves. So to
my tailor’s, and up and down, and then home and to my office a
little, and then to supper and to bed, my heart sad and afflicted,
though my judgment at ease.
28th. My tailor come to me betimes this morning, and having
given him directions, I to the office and there all the morning. At
noon dined well. Balty, who is mighty thoughtful how to dis-
pose of his wife, and would fain have me provide a place for her,
which the thoughts of what I should do with her if he should
miscarry at sea makes me avoid the offering him that she should
be at my house. I find he is plainly jealous of her being in any
place where she may have ill company, and I do pity him for it,
and would be glad to help him, and will if I can. Having dined, I
down by water with Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and [Sir] R. Ford
to our prize, part of whose goods were condemned yesterday–
“The Lindeboome”–and there we did drink some of her wine,
very good. But it did grate my heart to see the poor master come
on board, and look about into every corner, and find fault that
she was not so clean as she used to be, though methought she
was very clean; and to see his new masters come in, that had
nothing to do with her, did trouble me to see him. Thence to
Blackwall and there to Mr. Johnson’s, to see how some works
upon some of our repaired ships go on, and at his house eat and
drank and mighty extraordinary merry (too merry for me whose
mother died so lately, but they know it not, so cannot reproach
me therein, though I reproach myself), and in going home had
many good stories of Sir W. Batten and one of Sir W. Pen, the
2260
MARCH 1666-1667
most tedious and silly and troublesome (he forcing us to hear
him) that ever I heard in my life. So to the office awhile, troubled
with Sir W. Pen’s impertinences, he being half foxed at Johnson’s,
and so to bed.
29th. Lay long talking with my wife about Balty, whom I do
wish very well to, and would be glad to advise him, for he is very
sober and willing to take all pains. Up and to Sir W. Batten, who
I find has had some words with Sir W. Pen about the employing
of a cooper about our prize wines, [Sir] W. Batten standing and
indeed imposing upon us Mr. Morrice, which I like not, nor do
[Sir] W. Pen, and I confess the very thoughts of what our goods
will come to when we have them do discourage me in going any
further in the adventure. Then to the office till noon, doing busi-
ness, and then to the Exchange, and thence to the Sun Taverne
and dined with [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] R. Ford, and the Swede’s
Agent to discourse of a composition about our prizes that are
condemned, but did do little, he standing upon high terms and
we doing the like. I home, and there find Balty and his wife got
thither both by my wife for me to give them good advice, for her
to be with his father and mother all this time of absence, for sav-
ing of money, and did plainly and like a friend tell them my mind
of the necessity of saving money, and that if I did not find they
did endeavour it, I should not think fit to trouble myself for them,
but I see she is utterly against being with his father and mother,
and he is fond of her, and I perceive the differences between the
old people and them are too great to be presently forgot, and so
he do propose that it will be cheaper for him to put her to board
at a place he is offered at Lee, and I, seeing that I am not like
to be troubled with the finding a place, and having given him so
much good advice, do leave them to stand and fall as they please,
having discharged myself as a friend, and not likely to be ac-
countable for her nor be troubled with her, if he should miscarry
I mean, as to her lodging, and so broke up. Then he and I to make
a visit to [Sir] W. Pen, who hath thought fit to show kindness to
Balty in this business, indeed though he be a false rogue, but it
2261
MARCH 1666-1667
was he knew a thing easy to do. Thence together to my shoe-
maker’s, cutler’s, tailor’s, and up and down about my mourning,
and in my way do observe the great streets in the city are marked
out with piles drove into the ground; and if ever it be built in that
form with so fair streets, it will be a noble sight. So to the Coun-
cil chamber, but staid not there, but to a periwigg-maker’s of his
acquaintance, and there bought two periwiggs, mighty fine; in-
deed, too fine, I thought, for me; but he persuaded me, and I did
buy them for £4 10s. the two. Then to the Exchange and bought
gloves, and so to the Bull-Head Taverne, whither he brought my
French gun; and one Truelocke, the famous gunsmith, that is a
mighty ingenious man, and he did take my gun in pieces, and
made me understand the secrets thereof and upon the whole I
do find it a very good piece of work, and truly wrought; but for
certain not a thing to be used much with safety: and he do find
that this very gun was never yet shot off: I was mighty satisfied
with it and him, and the sight of so much curiosity of this kind.
Here he brought also a haberdasher at my desire, and I bought a
hat of him, and so away and called away my wife from his house,
and so home and to read, and then to supper and to bed, my head
full in behalf of Balty, who tells me strange stories of his mother.
Among others, how she, in his absence in Ireland, did pawne all
the things that he had got in his service under Oliver, and run of
her own accord, without her husband’s leave, into Flanders, and
that his purse, and 4s. a week which his father receives of the
French church, is all the subsistence his father and mother have,
and that about £20 a year maintains them; which, if it please God,
I will find one way or other to provide for them, to remove that
scandal away.
30th. Up, and the French periwigg maker of whom I bought
two yesterday comes with them, and I am very well pleased with
them. So to the office, where all the morning. At noon home to
dinner, and thence with my wife’s knowledge and leave did by
coach go see the silly play of my Lady Newcastle’s, called “The
Humourous Lovers;” the most silly thing that ever come upon
2262
MARCH 1666-1667
a stage. I was sick to see it, but yet would not but have seen it,
that I might the better understand her. Here I spied Knipp and
Betty, of the King’s house, and sent Knipp oranges, but, having
little money about me, did not offer to carry them abroad, which
otherwise I had, I fear, been tempted to. So with [Sir] W. Pen
home (he being at the play also), a most summer evening, and to
my office, where, among other things, a most extraordinary letter
to the Duke of York touching the want of money and the sad state
of the King’s service thereby, and so to supper and to bed.
31st (Lord’s day). Up, and my tailor’s boy brings my mourn-
ing clothes home, and my wife hers and Barker’s, but they go not
to church this morning. I to church, and with my mourning, very
handsome, and new periwigg, make a great shew. After church
home to dinner, and there come Betty Michell and her husband.
I do and shall love her, but, poor wretch, she is now almost ready
to lie down. After dinner Balty (who dined also with us) and I
with Sir J. Minnes in his coach to White Hall, but did nothing,
but by water to Strand Bridge and thence walked to my Lord
Treasurer’s, where the King, Duke of York, and the Caball, and
much company without; and a fine day. Anon come out from
the Caball my Lord Hollis and Mr. H. Coventry, who, it is con-
ceived, have received their instructions from the King this day;
they being to begin their journey towards their treaty at Bredagh
speedily, their passes being come. Here I saw the Lady Northum-
berland and her daughter-in-law, my Lord Treasurer’s daughter,
my Lady Piercy, a beautiful lady indeed. So away back by water,
and left Balty at White Hall and I to Mrs. Martin.... and so by
coach home, and there to my chamber, and then to supper and
bed, having not had time to make up my accounts of this month
at this very day, but will in a day or two, and pay my forfeit for
not doing it, though business hath most hindered me. The month
shuts up only with great desires of peace in all of us, and a belief
that we shall have a peace, in most people, if a peace can be had
on any terms, for there is a necessity of it; for we cannot go on
with the war, and our masters are afraid to come to depend upon
2263
MARCH 1666-1667
the good will of the Parliament any more, as I do hear.
2264
APRIL 1667
April 1st. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes in his coach, set him down
at the Treasurer’s Office in Broad-streete, and I in his coach to
White Hall, and there had the good fortune to walk with Sir W.
Coventry into the garden, and there read our melancholy letter
to the Duke of York, which he likes. And so to talk: and he
flatly owns that we must have a peace, for we cannot set out a
fleete; and, to use his own words, he fears that we shall soon
have enough of fighting in this new way, which we have thought
on for this year. He bemoans the want of money, and discovers
himself jealous that Sir G. Carteret do not look after, or concern
himself for getting, money as he used to do, and did say it is true
if Sir G. Carteret would only do his work, and my Lord Treasurer
would do his own, Sir G. Carteret hath nothing to do to look af-
ter money, but if he will undertake my Lord Treasurer’s work to
raise money of the Bankers, then people must expect that he will
do it, and did further say, that he [Carteret] and my Lord Chan-
cellor do at this very day labour all they can to villify this new
way of raising money, and making it payable, as it now is, into
the Exchequer; and expressly said that in pursuance hereof, my
Lord Chancellor hath prevailed with the King, in the close of his
last speech to the House, to say, that he did hope to see them
come to give money as it used to be given, without so many pro-
2265
APRIL 1667
visos, meaning, as Sir W. Coventry says, this new method of the
Act. While we were talking, there come Sir Thomas Allen with
two ladies; one of which was Mrs. Rebecca Allen, that I knew
heretofore, the clerk of the rope-yard’s daughter at Chatham,
who, poor heart! come to desire favour for her husband, who
is clapt up, being a Lieutenant [Jowles], for sending a challenge
to his Captain, in the most saucy, base language that could be
writ. I perceive [Sir] W. Coventry is wholly resolved to bring him
to punishment; for, “bear with this,” says he, “and no discipline
shall ever be expected.” She in this sad condition took no notice
of me, nor I of her. So away we to the Duke of York, and there
in his closett [Sir] W. Coventry and I delivered the letter, which
the Duke of York made not much of, I thought, as to laying it to
heart, as the matter deserved, but did promise to look after the
getting of money for us, and I believe Sir W. Coventry will add
what force he can to it. I did speak to [Sir] W. Coventry about
Balty’s warrant, which is ready, and about being Deputy Trea-
surer, which he very readily and friendlily agreed to, at which I
was glad, and so away and by coach back to Broad-streete to Sir
G. Carteret’s, and there found my brother passing his accounts,
which I helped till dinner, and dined there, and many good sto-
ries at dinner, among others about discoveries of murder, and Sir
J. Minnes did tell of the discovery of his own great-grandfather’s
murder, fifteen years after he was murdered. Thence, after din-
ner, home and by water to Redriffe, and walked (fine weather) to
Deptford, and there did business and so back again, walked, and
pleased with a jolly femme that I saw going and coming in the
way, which je could avoir been contented pour avoir staid with
if I could have gained acquaintance con elle, but at such times as
these I am at a great loss, having not confidence, no alcune ready
wit. So home and to the office, where late, and then home to sup-
per and bed. This evening Mrs. Turner come to my office, and
did walk an hour with me in the garden, telling me stories how
Sir Edward Spragge hath lately made love to our neighbour, a
widow, Mrs. Hollworthy, who is a woman of estate, and wit and
2266
APRIL 1667
spirit, and do contemn him the most, and sent him away with the
greatest scorn in the world; she tells me also odd stories how the
parish talks of Sir W. Pen’s family, how poorly they clothe their
daughter so soon after marriage, and do say that Mr. Lowther
was married once before, and some such thing there hath been,
whatever the bottom of it is. But to think of the clatter they make
with his coach, and his owne fine cloathes, and yet how meanly
they live within doors, and nastily, and borrowing everything of
neighbours is a most shitten thing.
2nd. Up, and to the office, where all the morning sitting, and
much troubled, but little business done for want of money, which
makes me mighty melancholy. At noon home to dinner, and Mr.
Deane with me, who hath promised me a very fine draught of the
Rupert, which he will make purposely for me with great perfec-
tion, which I will make one of the beautifullest things that ever
was seen of the kind in the world, she being a ship that will de-
serve it. Then to the office, where all the afternoon very busy, and
in the evening weary home and there to sing, but vexed with the
unreadiness of the girle’s voice to learn the latter part of my song,
though I confess it is very hard, half notes. So to supper and to
bed.
3rd. Up, and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall to Sir W. Coven-
try’s chamber, and there did receive the Duke’s order for Balty’s
receiving of the contingent money to be paymaster of it, and it
pleases me the more for that it is but £1500, which will be but a
little sum for to try his ability and honesty in the disposing of,
and so I am the willinger to trust and pass my word for him
therein. By and by up to the Duke of York, where our usual
business, and among other things I read two most dismal letters
of the straits we are in (from Collonell Middleton and Commis-
sioner Taylor) that ever were writ in the world, so as the Duke of
York would have them to shew the King, and to every demand of
money, whereof we proposed many and very pressing ones, Sir
G. Carteret could make no answer but no money, which I confess
2267
APRIL 1667
made me almost ready to cry for sorrow and vexation, but that
which was the most considerable was when Sir G. Carteret did
say that he had no funds to raise money on; and being asked by
Sir W. Coventry whether the eleven months’ tax was not a fund,
and he answered, “No, that the bankers would not lend money
upon it.” Then Sir W. Coventry burst out and said he did sup-
plicate his Royal Highness, and would do the same to the King,
that he would remember who they were that did persuade the
King from parting with the Chimney-money to the Parliament,
and taking that in lieu which they would certainly have given,
and which would have raised infallibly ready money; meaning
the bankers and the farmers of the Chimney-money, whereof Sir,
G. Carteret, I think, is one; saying plainly, that whoever did ad-
vise the King to that, did, as much as in them lay, cut the King’s
throat, and did wholly betray him; to which the Duke of York did
assent; and remembered that the King did say again and again at
the time, that he was assured, and did fully believe, the money
would be raised presently upon a land-tax. This put as all into a
stound; and Sir W. Coventry went on to declare, that he was glad
he was come to have so lately concern in the Navy as he hath, for
he cannot now give any good account of the Navy business; and
that all his work now was to be able to provide such orders as
would justify his Royal Highness in the business, when it shall
be called to account; and that he do do, not concerning himself
whether they are or can be performed, or no; and that when it
comes to be examined, and falls on my Lord Treasurer, he cannot
help it, whatever the issue of it shall be. Hereupon Sir W. Batten
did pray him to keep also by him all our letters that come from
the office that may justify us, which he says he do do, and, God
knows, it is an ill sign when we are once to come to study how
to excuse ourselves. It is a sad consideration, and therewith we
broke up, all in a sad posture, the most that ever I saw in my
life. One thing more Sir W. Coventry did say to the Duke of York,
when I moved again, that of about £9000 debt to Lanyon, at Ply-
mouth, he might pay £3700 worth of prize-goods, that he bought
2268
APRIL 1667
lately at the candle, out of this debt due to him from the King; and
the Duke of York, and Sir G: Carteret, and Lord Barkeley, saying,
all of them, that my Lord Ashly would not be got to yield to it,
who is Treasurer of the Prizes, Sir W. Coventry did plainly desire
that it might be declared whether the proceeds of the prizes were
to go to the helping on of the war, or no; and, if it were, how then
could this be denied? which put them all into another stound;
and it is true, God forgive us! Thence to the chappell, and there,
by chance, hear that Dr. Crew is to preach; and so into the organ-
loft, where I met Mr. Carteret, and my Lady Jemimah, and Sir
Thomas Crew’s two daughters, and Dr. Childe played; and Dr.
Crew did make a very pretty, neat, sober, honest sermon; and de-
livered it very readily, decently, and gravely, beyond his years:
so as I was exceedingly taken with it, and I believe the whole
chappell, he being but young; but his manner of his delivery I do
like exceedingly. His text was, “But seeke ye first the kingdom of
God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added
unto you.” Thence with my Lady to Sir G. Carteret’s lodgings,
and so up into the house, and there do hear that the Dutch letters
are come, and say that the Dutch have ordered a passe to be sent
for our Commissioners, and that it is now upon the way, com-
ing with a trumpeter blinded, as is usual. But I perceive every
body begins to doubt the success of the treaty, all their hopes be-
ing only that if it can be had on any terms, the Chancellor will
have it; for he dare not come before a Parliament, nor a great
many more of the courtiers, and the King himself do declare he
do not desire it, nor intend it but on a strait; which God defend
him from! Here I hear how the King is not so well pleased of
this marriage between the Duke of Richmond and Mrs. Stewart,
as is talked; and that he [the Duke] by a wile did fetch her to
the Beare, at the Bridge-foot, where a coach was ready, and they
are stole away into Kent, without the King’s leave; and that the
King hath said he will never see her more; but people do think
that it is only a trick. This day I saw Prince Rupert abroad in the
Vane-room, pretty well as he used to be, and looks as well, only
2269
APRIL 1667
something appears to be under his periwigg on the crown of his
head. So home by water, and there find my wife gone abroad to
her tailor’s, and I dined alone with W. Hewer, and then to the
office to draw up a memorial for the Duke of York this afternoon
at the Council about Lanyon’s business. By and by we met by
appointment at the office upon a reference to Carcasses business
to us again from the Duke of York, but a very confident cunning
rogue we have found him at length. He carried himself very un-
civilly to Sir W. Batten this afternoon, as heretofore, and his silly
Lord [Bruncker] pleaded for him, but all will not nor shall not
do for ought he shall give, though I love the man as a man of
great parts and ability. Thence to White Hall by water (only ask-
ing Betty Michell by the way how she did), and there come too
late to do any thing at the Council. So by coach to my periwigg
maker’s and tailor’s, and so home, where I find my wife with her
flageolet master, which I wish she would practise, and so to the
office, and then to Sir W. Batten’s, and then to Sir W. Pen’s, talk-
ing and spending time in vain a little while, and then home up to
my chamber, and so to supper and to bed, vexed at two or three
things, viz. that my wife’s watch proves so bad as it do; the ill
state of the office; and Kingdom’s business; at the charge which
my mother’s death for mourning will bring me when all paid.
4th. Up, and going down found Jervas the barber with a peri-
wigg which I had the other day cheapened at Westminster, but
it being full of nits, as heretofore his work used to be, I did now
refuse it, having bought elsewhere. So to the office till noon, busy,
and then (which I think I have not done three times in my life) left
the board upon occasion of a letter of Sir W. Coventry, and meet-
ing Balty at my house I took him with me by water, and to the
Duke of Albemarle to give him an account of the business, which
was the escaping of some soldiers for the manning of a few ships
now going out with Harman to the West Indies, which is a sad
consideration that at the very beginning of the year and few ships
abroad we should be in such want of men that they do hide them-
selves, and swear they will not go to be killed and have no pay. I
2270
APRIL 1667
find the Duke of Albemarle at dinner with sorry company, some
of his officers of the Army; dirty dishes, and a nasty wife at table,
and bad meat, of which I made but an ill dinner. Pretty to hear
how she talked against Captain Du Tell, the Frenchman, that the
Prince and her husband put out the last year; and how, says she,
the Duke of York hath made him, for his good services, his Cup-
bearer; yet he fired more shot into the Prince’s ship, and others of
the King’s ships, than of the enemy. And the Duke of Albemarle
did confirm it, and that somebody in the fight did cry out that a
little Dutchman, by his ship, did plague him more than any other;
upon which they were going to order him to be sunk, when they
looked and found it was Du Tell, who, as the Duke of Albemarle
says, had killed several men in several of our ships. He said, but
for his interest, which he knew he had at Court, he had hanged
him at the yard’s-arm, without staying for a Court-martiall. One
Colonel Howard, at the table, magnified the Duke of Albemarle’s
fight in June last, as being a greater action than ever was done by
Caesar. The Duke of Albemarle, did say it had been no great
action, had all his number fought, as they should have done, to
have beat the Dutch; but of his 55 ships, not above 25 fought.
He did give an account that it was a fight he was forced to: the
Dutch being come in his way, and he being ordered to the buoy of
the Nore, he could not pass by them without fighting, nor avoid
them without great disadvantage and dishonour; and this Sir G.
Carteret, I afterwards giving him an account of what he said, says
that it is true, that he was ordered up to the Nore. But I remem-
ber he said, had all his captains fought, he would no more have
doubted to have beat the Dutch, with all their number, than to
eat the apple that lay on his trencher. My Lady Duchesse, among
other things, discoursed of the wisdom of dividing the fleete;
which the General said nothing to, though he knows well that
it come from themselves in the fleete, and was brought up hither
by Sir Edward Spragge. Colonel Howard, asking how the prince
did, the Duke of Albemarle answering, “Pretty well;” the other
replied, “But not so well as to go to sea again.”–“How!” says the
2271
APRIL 1667
Duchess, “what should he go for, if he were well, for there are no
ships for him to command? And so you have brought your hogs
to a fair market,” said she. [It was pretty to hear the Duke of
Albemarle himself to wish that they would come on our ground,
meaning the French, for that he would pay them, so as to make
them glad to go back to France again; which was like a general,
but not like an admiral.] One at the table told an odd passage in
this late plague: that at Petersfield, I think, he said, one side of the
street had every house almost infected through the town, and the
other, not one shut up. Dinner being done, I brought Balty to the
Duke of Albemarle to kiss his hand and thank him far his kind-
ness the last year to him, and take leave of him, and then Balty
and I to walk in the Park, and, out of pity to his father, told him
what I had in my thoughts to do for him about the money–that
is, to make him Deputy Treasurer of the fleete, which I have done
by getting Sir G. Carteret’s consent, and an order from the Duke
of York for £1500 to be paid to him. He promises the whole profit
to be paid to my wife, for to be disposed of as she sees fit, for her
father and mother’s relief. So mightily pleased with our walk,
it being mighty pleasant weather, I back to Sir G. Carteret’s, and
there he had newly dined, and talked, and find that he do give
every thing over for lost, declaring no money to be raised, and let
Sir W. Coventry name the man that persuaded the King to take
the Land Tax on promise, of raising present money upon it. He
will, he says, be able to clear himself enough of it. I made him
merry, with telling him how many land-admirals we are to have
this year: Allen at Plymouth, Holmes at Portsmouth, Spragge
for Medway, Teddiman at Dover, Smith to the Northward, and
Harman to the Southward. He did defend to me Sir W. Coven-
try as not guilty of the dividing of the fleete the last year, and
blesses God, as I do, for my Lord Sandwich’s absence, and tells
me how the King did lately observe to him how they have been
particularly punished that were enemies to my Lord Sandwich.
Mightily pleased I am with his family, and my Lady Carteret was
on the bed to-day, having been let blood, and tells me of my Lady
2272
APRIL 1667
Jemimah’s being big-bellied. Thence with him to my Lord Trea-
surer’s, and there walked during Council sitting with Sir Stephen
Fox, talking of the sad condition of the King’s purse, and affairs
thereby; and how sad the King’s life must be, to pass by his of-
ficers every hour, that are four years behind-hand unpaid. My
Lord Barkeley [of Stratton] I met with there, and fell into talk
with him on the same thing, wishing to God that it might be
remedied, to which he answered, with an oath, that it was as
easy to remedy it as anything in the world; saying, that there is
himself and three more would venture their carcasses upon it to
pay all the King’s debts in three years, had they the managing
his revenue, and putting £300,000 in his purse, as a stock. But,
Lord! what a thing is this to me, that do know how likely a man
my Lord Barkeley of all the world is, to do such a thing as this.
Here I spoke with Sir W. Coventry, who tells me plainly that to all
future complaints of lack of money he will answer but with the
shrug of his shoulder; which methought did come to my heart,
to see him to begin to abandon the King’s affairs, and let them
sink or swim, so he do his owne part, which I confess I believe he
do beyond any officer the King hath, but unless he do endeavour
to make others do theirs, nothing will be done. The considera-
tion here do make me go away very sad, and so home by coach,
and there took up my wife and Mercer, who had been to-day at
White Hall to the Maundy,619 it being Maundy Thursday; but the
King did not wash the poor people’s feet himself, but the Bishop
619 The practice of giving alms on Maundy Thursday to poor men and
women equal in number to the years of the sovereign’s age is a curious sur-
vival in an altered form of an old custom. The original custom was for the
king to wash the feet of twelve poor persons, and to give them a supper in
imitation of Christ’s last supper and his washing of the Apostles’ feet. James
II. was the last sovereign to perform the ceremony in person, but it was per-
formed by deputy so late as 1731. The Archbishop of York was the king’s
deputy on that occasion. The institution has passed through the various
stages of feet washing with a supper, the discontinuance of the feet washing,
the substitution of a gift of provisions for the supper, and finally the substi-
tution of a gift of money for the provisions. The ceremony took place at the
2273
APRIL 1667
of London did it for him, but I did not see it, and with them
took up Mrs. Anne Jones at her mother’s door, and so to take
the ayre to Hackney, where good neat’s tongue, and things to eat
and drink, and very merry, the weather being mighty pleasant;
and here I was told that at their church they have a fair pair of or-
gans, which play while the people sing, which I am mighty glad
of, wishing the like at our church at London, and would give £50
towards it. So very pleasant, and hugging of Mercer in our going
home, we home, and then to the office to do a little business, and
so to supper at home and to bed.
5th. Up, and troubled with Mr. Carcasse’s coming to speak
with me, which made me give him occasion to fall into a heat,
and he began to be ill-mannered to me, which made me angry.
He gone, I to Sir W. Pen about the business of Mrs. Turner’s son
to keep his ship in employment, but so false a fellow as Sir W. Pen
is I never did nor hope shall ever know again. So to the office, and
there did business, till dinnertime, and then home to dinner, wife
and I alone, and then down to the Old Swan, and drank with
Betty and her husband, but no opportunity para baiser la. So to
White Hall to the Council chamber, where I find no Council held
till after the holidays. So to Westminster Hall, and there bought a
pair of snuffers, and saw Mrs. Howlett after her sickness come to
the Hall again. So by coach to the New Exchange and Mercer’s
and other places to take up bills for what I owe them, and to Mrs.
Pierce, to invite her to dinner with us on Monday, but staid not
with her. In the street met with Mr. Sanchy, my old acquaintance
at Cambridge, reckoned a great minister here in the City; and by
Sir Richard Ford particularly, which I wonder at; for methinks,
in his talk, he is but a mean man. I set him down in Holborne,
and I to the Old Exchange, and there to Sir Robert Viner’s, and
made up my accounts there, to my great content; but I find they
Chapel Royal, Whitehall; but it is now held at Westminster Abbey. Maundy
is derived from the Latin word ‘maudatum’, which commences the original
anthem sung during the ceremony, in reference to Christ’s command
2274
APRIL 1667
do not keep them so regularly as, to be able to do it easily, and
truly, and readily, nor would it have been easily stated by any
body on my behalf but myself, several things being to be recalled
to memory, which nobody else could have done, and therefore it
is fully necessary for me to even accounts with these people as
often as I can. So to the ‘Change, and there met with Mr. James
Houblon, but no hopes, as he sees, of peace whatever we pre-
tend, but we shall be abused by the King of France. Then home
to the office, and busy late, and then to Sir W. Batten’s, where
Mr. Young was talking about the building of the City again; and
he told me that those few churches that are to be new built are
plainly not chosen with regard to the convenience of the City;
they stand a great many in a cluster about Cornhill; but that all
of them are either in the gift of the Lord Archbishop, or Bishop of
London, or Lord Chancellor, or gift of the City. Thus all things,
even to the building of churches, are done in this world! And
then he says, which I wonder at, that I should not in all this time
see, that Moorefields have houses two stories high in them, and
paved streets, the City having let leases for seven years, which he
do conclude will be very much to the hindering the building of
the City; but it was considered that the streets cannot be passable
in London till a whole street be built; and several that had got
ground of the City for charity, to build sheds on, had got the trick
presently to sell that for £60, which did not cost them £20 to put
up; and so the City, being very poor in stock, thought it as good
to do it themselves, and therefore let leases for seven years of the
ground in Moorefields; and a good deal of this money, thus ad-
vanced, hath been employed for the enabling them to find some
money for Commissioner Taylor, and Sir W. Batten, towards the
charge of “The Loyall London,” or else, it is feared, it had never
been paid. And Taylor having a bill to pay wherein Alderman
Hooker was concerned it was his invention to find out this way
of raising money, or else this had not been thought on. So home
to supper and to bed. This morning come to me the Collectors for
my Pollmoney; for which I paid for my title as Esquire and place
2275
APRIL 1667
of Clerk of Acts, and my head and wife’s, and servants’ and their
wages, £40 17s; and though this be a great deal, yet it is a shame
I should pay no more; that is, that I should not be assessed for
my pay, as in the Victualling business and Tangier; and for my
money, which, of my own accord, I had determined to charge
myself with £1000 money, till coming to the Vestry, and seeing
nobody of our ablest merchants, as Sir Andrew Rickard, to do it,
I thought it not decent for me to do it, nor would it be thought
wisdom to do it unnecessarily, but vain glory.
6th. Up, and betimes in the morning down to the Tower
wharfe, there to attend the shipping of soldiers, to go down to
man some ships going out, and pretty to see how merrily some,
and most go, and how sad others–the leave they take of their
friends, and the terms that some wives, and other wenches asked
to part with them: a pretty mixture. So to the office, having staid
as long as I could, and there sat all the morning, and then home
at noon to dinner, and then abroad, Balty with me, and to White
Hall, by water, to Sir G. Carteret, about Balty’s £1500 contingent
money for the fleete to the West Indys, and so away with him
to the Exchange, and mercers and drapers, up and down, to pay
all my scores occasioned by this mourning for my mother; and
emptied a £50 bag, and it was a joy to me to see that I am able
to part with such a sum, without much inconvenience; at least,
without any trouble of mind. So to Captain Cocke’s to meet Fenn,
to talk about this money for Balty, and there Cocke tells me that
he is confident there will be a peace, whatever terms be asked us,
and he confides that it will take because the French and Dutch
will be jealous one of another which shall give the best terms,
lest the other should make the peace with us alone, to the ruin
of the third, which is our best defence, this jealousy, for ought I
at present see. So home and there very late, very busy, and then
home to supper and to bed, the people having got their house
very clean against Monday’s dinner.
7th (Easter day). Up, and when dressed with my wife (in
2276
APRIL 1667
mourning for my mother) to church both, where Mr. Mills, a
lazy sermon. Home to dinner, wife and I and W. Hewer, and af-
ter dinner I by water to White Hall to Sir G. Carteret’s, there to
talk about Balty’s money, and did present Balty to him to kiss
his hand, and then to walk in the Parke, and heard the Italian
musique at the Queen’s chapel, whose composition is fine, but
yet the voices of eunuchs I do not like like our women, nor am
more pleased with it at all than with English voices, but that they
do jump most excellently with themselves and their instrument,
which is wonderful pleasant; but I am convinced more and more,
that, as every nation has a particular accent and tone in discourse,
so as the tone of one not to agree with or please the other, no more
can the fashion of singing to words, for that the better the words
are set, the more they take in of the ordinary tone of the country
whose language the song speaks, so that a song well composed
by an Englishman must be better to an Englishman than it can be
to a stranger, or than if set by a stranger in foreign words. Thence
back to White Hall, and there saw the King come out of chapel af-
ter prayers in the afternoon, which he is never at but after having
received the Sacrament: and the Court, I perceive, is quite out of
mourning; and some very fine; among others, my Lord Gerard,
in a very rich vest and coat. Here I met with my Lord Bellasses:
and it is pretty to see what a formal story he tells me of his leav-
ing, his place upon the death of my Lord Cleveland, by which he
is become Captain of the Pensioners; and that the King did leave
it to him to keep the other or take this; whereas, I know the con-
trary, that they had a mind to have him away from Tangier. He
tells me he is commanded by the King to go down to the North-
ward to satisfy the Deputy Lieutenants of Yorkshire, who have
desired to lay down their commissions upon pretence of having
no profit by their places but charge, but indeed is upon the Duke
of Buckingham’s being under a cloud (of whom there is yet noth-
ing heard), so that the King is apprehensive of their discontent,
and sends him to pacify them, and I think he is as good a dis-
sembler as any man else, and a fine person he is for person, and
2277
APRIL 1667
proper to lead the Pensioners, but a man of no honour nor faith I
doubt. So to Sir G. Carteret’s again to talk with him about Balty’s
money, and wrote a letter to Portsmouth about part of it, and
then in his coach, with his little daughter Porpot (as he used to
nickname her), and saw her at home, and her maid, and another
little gentlewoman, and so I walked into Moore Fields, and, as is
said, did find houses built two stories high, and like to stand; and
it must become a place of great trade, till the City be built; and
the street is already paved as London streets used to be, which
is a strange, and to mean unpleasing sight. So home and to my
chamber about sending an express to Portsmouth about Balty’s
money, and then comes Mrs. Turner to enquire after her son’s
business, which goes but bad, which led me to show her how
false Sir W. Pen is to her, whereupon she told me his obligations
to her, and promises to her, and how a while since he did show
himself dissatisfied in her son’s coming to the table and applying
himself to me, which is a good nut, and a nut I will make use of.
She gone I to other business in my chamber, and then to supper
and to bed. The Swede’s Embassadors and our Commissioners
are making all the haste they can over to the treaty for peace,
and I find at Court, and particularly Lord Bellasses, says there
will be a peace, and it is worth remembering what Sir W. Coven-
try did tell me (as a secret though) that whereas we are afeard
Harman’s fleete to the West Indys will not be got out before the
Dutch come and block us up, we shall have a happy pretext to
get out our ships under pretence of attending the Embassadors
and Commissioners, which is a very good, but yet a poor shift.
8th. Up, and having dressed myself, to the office a little, and
out, expecting to have seen the pretty daughter of the Ship tav-
erne at the hither end of Billiter Lane (whom I never yet have
opportunity to speak to). I in there to drink my morning draught
of half a pint of Rhenish wine; but a ma doleur elle and their fam-
ily are going away thence, and a new man come to the house. So
I away to the Temple, to my new. bookseller’s; and there I did
agree for Rycaut’s late History of the Turkish Policy, which costs
2278
APRIL 1667
me 55s.; whereas it was sold plain before the late fire for 8s., and
bound and coloured as this is for 20s.; for I have bought it finely
bound and truly coloured, all the figures, of which there was but
six books done so, whereof the King and Duke of York, and Duke
of Monmouth, and Lord Arlington, had four. The fifth was sold,
and I have bought the sixth. So to enquire out Mrs. Knipp’s new
lodging, but could not, but do hear of her at the Playhouse, where
she was practising, and I sent for her out by a porter, and the jade
come to me all undressed, so cannot go home to my house to din-
ner, as I had invited her, which I was not much troubled at, be-
cause I think there is a distance between her and Mrs. Pierce, and
so our company would not be so pleasant. So home, and there
find all things in good readiness for a good dinner, and here un-
expectedly I find little Mis. Tooker, whom my wife loves not from
the report of her being already naught; however, I do shew her
countenance, and by and by come my guests, Dr. Clerke and his
wife, and Mrs. Worshipp, and her daughter; and then Mr. Pierce
and his wife, and boy, and Betty; and then I sent for Mercer; so
that we had, with my wife and I, twelve at table, and very good
and pleasant company, and a most neat and excellent, but dear
dinner; but, Lord! to see with what envy they looked upon all my
fine plate was pleasant; for I made the best shew I could, to let
them understand me and my condition, to take down the pride
of Mrs. Clerke, who thinks herself very great. We sat long, and
very merry, and all things agreeable; and, after dinner, went out
by coaches, thinking to have seen a play, but come too late to both
houses, and then they had thoughts of going abroad somewhere;
but I thought all the charge ought not to be mine, and therefore I
endeavoured to part the company, and so ordered it to set them
all down at Mrs. Pierces; and there my wife and I and Mercer left
them in good humour, and we three to the King’s house, and saw
the latter end of the “Surprisall,” a wherein was no great matter,
I thought, by what I saw there. Thence away to Polichinello, and
there had three times more sport than at the play, and so home,
and there the first night we have been this year in the garden
2279
APRIL 1667
late, we three and our Barker singing very well, and then home
to supper, and so broke up, and to bed mightily pleased with this
day’s pleasure.
9th. Up. and to the office a while, none of my fellow officers
coming to sit, it being holiday, and so towards noon I to the Ex-
change, and there do hear mighty cries for peace, and that oth-
erwise we shall be undone; and yet I do suspect the badness of
the peace we shall make. Several do complain of abundance of
land flung up by tenants out of their hands for want of ability
to pay their rents; and by name, that the Duke of Buckingham
hath £6000 so flung up. And my father writes, that Jasper Trice,
upon this pretence of his tenants’ dealing with him, is broke up
housekeeping, and gone to board with his brother, Naylor, at Of-
ford; which is very sad. So home to dinner, and after dinner I
took coach and to the King’s house, and by and by comes after
me my wife with W. Hewer and his mother and Barker, and there
we saw “The Tameing of a Shrew,” which hath some very good
pieces in it, but generally is but a mean play; and the best part,
“Sawny,”620 done by Lacy, hath not half its life, by reason of the
620 This play was entitled “Sawney the Scot, or the Taming of a Shrew,”
and consisted of an alteration of Shakespeare’s play by John Lacy. Although
it had long been popular it was not printed until 1698. In the old “Taming of
a Shrew” (1594), reprinted by Thomas Amyot for the Shakespeare Society in
1844, the hero’s servant is named Sander, and this seems to have given the
hint to Lacy, when altering Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew,” to foist a
‘Scotsman into the action. Sawney was one of Lacy’s favourite characters,
and occupies a prominent position in Michael Wright’s picture at Hampton
Court. Evelyn, on October 3rd, 1662, “visited Mr. Wright, a Scotsman, who
had liv’d long at Rome, and was esteem’d a good painter,” and he singles out
as his best picture, “Lacy, the famous Roscius, or comedian, whom he has
painted in three dresses, as a gallant, a Presbyterian minister, and a Scotch
Highlander in his plaid.” Langbaine and Aubrey both make the mistake
of ascribing the third figure to Teague in “The Committee;” and in spite of
Evelyn’s clear statement, his editor in a note follows them in their blunder.
Planche has reproduced the picture in his “History of Costume” (Vol. ii., p.
243).
2280
APRIL 1667
words, I suppose, not being understood, at least by me. After the
play was done, as I come so I went away alone, and had a mind to
have taken out Knipp to have taken the ayre with her, and to that
end sent a porter in to her that she should take a coach and come
to me to the Piatza in Covent Garden, where I waited for her, but
was doubtful I might have done ill in doing it if we should be
visti ensemble, sed elle was gone out, and so I was eased of my
care, and therefore away to Westminster to the Swan, and there
did baiser la little missa.... and drank, and then by water to the
Old Swan, and there found Betty Michell sitting at the door, it
being darkish. I staid and talked a little with her, but no once
baiser la, though she was to my thinking at this time une de plus
pretty mohers that ever I did voir in my vida, and God forgive
me my mind did run sobre elle all the vespre and night and la
day suivante. So home and to the office a little, and then to Sir W.
Batten’s, where he tells me how he hath found his lady’s jewels
again, which have been so long lost, and a servant imprisoned
and arraigned, and they were in her closet under a china cup,
where he hath servants will swear they did look in searching the
house; but Mrs. Turner and I, and others, do believe that they
were only disposed of by my Lady, in case she had died, to some
friends of hers, and now laid there again. So home to supper, and
to read the book I bought yesterday of the Turkish policy, which
is a good book, well writ, and so owned by Dr. Clerke yesterday
to me, commending it mightily to me for my reading as the only
book of the subject that ever was writ, yet so designedly. So to
bed.
10th. Up, and to my office a little, and then, in the garden, find
Sir W. Pen; and he and I to Sir W. Batten, where he tells us news
of the new disorders of Hogg and his men in taking out of 30
tons of wine out of a prize of ours, which makes us mad; and
that, added to the unwillingness of the men to go longer abroad
without money, do lead us to conclude not to keep her abroad
any longer, of which I am very glad, for I do not like our doings
with what we have already got, Sir W. Batten ordering the dis-
2281
APRIL 1667
posal of our wines and goods, and he leaves it to Morrice the
cooper, who I take to be a cunning proud knave, so that I am
very desirous to adventure no further. So away by water from
the Old Swan to White Hall, and there to Sir W. Coventry’s, with
whom I staid a great while longer than I have done these many
months, and had opportunity of talking with him, and he do de-
clare himself troubled that he hath any thing left him to do in
the Navy, and would be glad to part with his whole profits and
concernments in it, his pains and care being wholly ineffectual
during this lack of money; the expense growing infinite, the ser-
vice not to be done, and discipline and order not to be kept, only
from want of money. I begun to discourse with him the business
of Tangier, which by the removal of my Lord Bellasses, is now
to have a new Governor; and did move him, that at this season
all the business of reforming the garrison might be considered,
while nobody was to be offended; and I told him it is plain that
we do overspend our revenue: that the place is of no more profit
to the King than it was the first day, nor in itself of better credit;
no more people of condition willing to live there, nor any thing
like a place likely to turn his Majesty to account: that it hath been
hitherto, and, for aught I see, likely only to be used as a job to do
a kindness to some Lord, or he that can get to be Governor. Sir W.
Coventry agreed with me, so as to say, that unless the King hath
the wealth of the Mogul, he would be a beggar to have his busi-
nesses ordered in the manner they now are: that his garrisons
must be made places only of convenience to particular persons
that he hath moved the Duke of York in it; and that it was re-
solved to send no Governor thither till there had been Commis-
sioners sent to put the garrison in order, so as that he that goes
may go with limitations and rules to follow, and not to do as he
please, as the rest have hitherto done. That he is not afeard to
speak his mind, though to the displeasure of any man; and that
I know well enough; but that, when it is come, as it is now, that
to speak the truth in behalf of the King plainly do no good, but
all things bore down by other measures than by what is best for
2282
APRIL 1667
the King, he hath no temptation to be perpetually fighting of bat-
tles, it being more easy to him do those terms to suffer things
to go on without giving any man offence, than to have the same
thing done, and he contract the displeasure of all the world, as he
must do, that will be for the King. I did offer him to draw up my
thoughts in this matter to present to the Duke of York, which he
approved of, and I do think to do it. So away, and by coach go-
ing home saw Sir G. Carteret going towards White Hall. So ‘light
and by water met him, and with him to the King’s little chapel;
and afterwards to see the King heal the King’s Evil, wherein no
pleasure, I having seen it before; and then to see him and the
Queene and Duke of York and his wife, at dinner in the Queene’s
lodgings; and so with Sir G. Carteret to his lodgings to dinner;
where very good company; and after dinner he and I to talk alone
how things are managed, and to what ruin we must come if we
have not a peace. He did tell me one occasion, how Sir Thomas
Allen, which I took for a man of known courage and service on
the King’s side, was tried for his life in Prince Rupert’s fleete, in
the late times, for cowardice, and condemned to be hanged, and
fled to Jersey; where Sir G. Carteret received him, not knowing
the reason of his coming thither: and that thereupon Prince Ru-
pert wrote to the Queen-Mother his dislike of Sir G. Carteret’s
receiving a person that stood condemned; and so Sir G. Carteret
was forced to bid him betake himself to some other place. This
was strange to me. Our Commissioners are preparing to go to
Bredah to the treaty, and do design to be going the next week.
So away by coach home, where there should have been a meet-
ing about Carcasse’s business, but only my Lord and I met, and
so broke up, Carcasse having only read his answer to his charge,
which is well writ, but I think will not prove to his advantage,
for I believe him to be a very rogue. So home, and Balty and I
to look Mr. Fenn at Sir G. Carteret’s office in Broad Streete, and
there missing him and at the banker’s hard by, we home, and I
down by water to Deptford Dockyard, and there did a little busi-
ness, and so home back again all the way reading a little piece
2283
APRIL 1667
I lately bought, called “The Virtuoso, or the Stoicke,” proposing
many things paradoxical to our common opinions, wherein in
some places he speaks well, but generally is but a sorry man. So
home and to my chamber to enter my two last days’ journall,
and this, and then to supper and to bed. Blessed be God! I hear
that my father is better and better, and will, I hope, live to enjoy
some cheerful days more; but it is strange what he writes me,
that Mr. Weaver, of Huntingdon, who was a lusty, likely, and but
a youngish man, should be dead.
11th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
(which is now rare, he having not been with us twice I think
these six months) Sir G. Carteret come to us upon some partic-
ular business of his office, and went away again. At noon I to
the ‘Change, and there hear by Mr. Hublon of the loss of a lit-
tle East Indiaman, valued at about £20,000, coming home alone,
and safe to within ten leagues of Scilly, and there snapt by a
French Caper. Our merchants do much pray for peace; and he
tells me that letters are come that the Dutch have stopped the fit-
ting of their great ships, and the coming out of a fleete of theirs
of 50 sayle, that was ready to come out; but I doubt the truth of
it yet. Thence to Sir G. Carteret, by his invitation to his office,
where my Lady was, and dined with him, and very merry and
good people they are, when pleased, as any I know. After din-
ner I to the office, where busy till evening, and then with Balty
to Sir G. Carteret’s office, and there with Mr. Fenn despatched
the business of Balty’s £1500 he received for the contingencies of
the fleete, whereof he received about £253 in pieces of eight at a
goldsmith’s there hard by, which did puzzle me and him to tell;
for I could not tell the difference by sight, only by bigness, and
that is not always discernible, between a whole and half-piece
and quarterpiece. Having received this money I home with Balty
and it, and then abroad by coach with my wife and set her down
at her father’s, and I to White Hall, thinking there to have seen
the Duchess of Newcastle’s coming this night to Court, to make
a visit to the Queene, the King having been with her yesterday,
2284
APRIL 1667
to make her a visit since her coming to town. The whole story of
this lady is a romance, and all she do is romantick. Her footmen
in velvet coats, and herself in an antique dress, as they say; and
was the other day at her own play, “The Humourous Lovers;”
the most ridiculous thing that ever was wrote, but yet she and
her Lord mightily pleased with it; and she, at the end, made her
respects to the players from her box, and did give them thanks.
There is as much expectation of her coming to Court, that so peo-
ple may come to see her, as if it were the Queen of Sheba; but I
lost my labour, for she did not come this night. So, meeting Mr.
Brisband, he took me up to my Lady Jemimah’s chamber, who is
let blood to-day, and so there we sat and talked an hour, I think,
very merry and one odd thing or other, and so away, and I took
up my wife at her tailor’s (whose wife is brought to bed, and my
wife must be godmother), and so with much ado got a coach to
carry us home, it being late, and so to my chamber, having little
left to do at my office, my eyes being a little sore by reason of my
reading a small printed book the other day after it was dark, and
so to supper and to bed. It comes in my head to set down that
there have been two fires in the City, as I am told for certain, and
it is so, within this week.
12th. Up, and when ready, and to my office, to do a little
business, and, coming homeward again, saw my door and hatch
open, left so by Luce, our cookmayde, which so vexed me, that
I did give her a kick in our entry, and offered a blow at her, and
was seen doing so by Sir W. Pen’s footboy, which did vex me
to the heart, because I know he will be telling their family of it;
though I did put on presently a very pleasant face to the boy, and
spoke kindly to him, as one without passion, so as it may be he
might not think I was angry, but yet I was troubled at it. So away
by water to White Hall, and there did our usual business before
the Duke of York; but it fell out that, discoursing of matters of
money, it rose to a mighty heat, very high words arising between
Sir G. Carteret and [Sir] W. Coventry, the former in his passion
saying that the other should have helped things if they were so
2285
APRIL 1667
bad; and the other answered, so he would, and things should
have been better had he been Treasurer of the Navy. I was might-
ily troubled at this heat, and it will breed ill blood, I fear; but
things are in that bad condition that I do daily expect when we
shall all fly in one another’s faces, when we shall be reduced, ev-
ery one, to answer for himself. We broke up; and I soon after to
Sir G. Carteret’s chamber, where I find the poor man telling his
lady privately, and she weeping. I went into them, and did seem,
as indeed I was, troubled for this; and did give the best advice I
could, which, I think, did please them: and they do apprehend
me their friend, as indeed I am, for I do take the Vice-chamberlain
for a most honest man. He did assure me that he was not, all ex-
pences and things paid, clear in estate £15,000 better than he was
when the King come in; and that the King and Lord Chancellor
did know that he was worth, with the debt the King owed him,
£50,000, I think, he said, when the King come into England. I did
pacify all I could, and then away by water home, there to write
letters and things for the dispatch of Balty away this day to sea;
and after dinner he did go, I having given him much good coun-
sell; and I have great hopes that he will make good use of it, and
be a good man, for I find him willing to take pains and very sober.
He being gone, I close at my office all the afternoon getting off of
hand my papers, which, by the late holidays and my laziness,
were grown too many upon my hands, to my great trouble, and
therefore at it as late as my eyes would give me leave, and then by
water down to Redriffe, meaning to meet my wife, who is gone
with Mercer, Barker, and the boy (it being most sweet weather)
to walk, and I did meet with them, and walked back, and then
by the time we got home it was dark, and we staid singing in
the garden till supper was ready, and there with great pleasure.
But I tried my girles Mercer and Barker singly one after another,
a single song, “At dead low ebb,” etc., and I do clearly find that
as to manner of singing the latter do much the better, the other
thinking herself as I do myself above taking pains for a manner
of singing, contenting ourselves with the judgment and goodness
2286
APRIL 1667
of eare. So to supper, and then parted and to bed.
13th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and
strange how the false fellow Commissioner. Pett was eager to
have had Carcasses business brought on to-day that he might
give my Lord Bruncker (who hates him, I am sure, and hath
spoke as much against him to the King in my hearing as any
man) a cast of his office in pleading for his man Carcasse, but
I did prevent its being brought on to-day, and so broke up, and I
home to dinner, and after dinner with a little singing with some
pleasure alone with my poor wife, and then to the office, where
sat all the afternoon till late at night, and then home to supper
and to bed, my eyes troubling me still after candle-light, which
troubles me. Wrote to my father, who, I am glad to hear, is at
some ease again, and I long to have him in town, that I may see
what can be done for him here; for I would fain do all I can that
I may have him live, and take pleasure in my doing well in the
world. This afternoon come Mrs. Lowther to me to the office,
and there je did toker ses mammailles and did baiser them and
su bocca, which she took fort willingly....
14th (Lord’s day). Up, and to read a little in my new History
of Turkey, and so with my wife to church, and then home, where
is little Michell and my pretty Betty and also Mercer, and very
merry. A good dinner of roast beef. After dinner I away to take
water at the Tower, and thence to Westminster, where Mrs. Mar-
tin was not at home. So to White Hall, and there walked up and
down, and among other things visited Sir G. Carteret, and much
talk with him, who is discontented, as he hath reason, to see how
things are like to come all to naught, and it is very much that this
resolution of having of country Admirals should not come to his
eares till I told him the other day, so that I doubt who manages
things. From him to Margaret’s Church, and there spied Mar-
tin, and home with her..... but fell out to see her expensefullness,
having bought Turkey work, chairs, &c. By and by away home,
and there took out my wife, and the two Mercers, and two of
2287
APRIL 1667
our mayds, Barker and Jane, and over the water to the Jamaica
House, where I never was before, and there the girls did run for
wagers over the bowling-green; and there, with much pleasure,
spent little, and so home, and they home, and I to read with sat-
isfaction in my book of Turkey, and so to bed.
15th. Lay long in bed, and by and by called up by Sir H.
Cholmly, who tells me that my Lord Middleton is for certain cho-
sen Governor of Tangier; a man of moderate understanding, not
covetous, but a soldier of fortune, and poor. Here comes Mr.
Sanchy with an impertinent business to me of a ticket, which I
put off. But by and by comes Dr. Childe by appointment, and
sat with me all the morning making me bases and inward parts
to several songs that I desired of him, to my great content. Then
dined, and then abroad by coach, and I set him down at Hatton
Garden, and I to the King’s house by chance, where a new play:
so full as I never saw it; I forced to stand all the while close to the
very door till I took cold, and many people went away for want
of room. The King, and Queene, and Duke of York and Duchesse
there, and all the Court, and Sir W. Coventry. The play called
“The Change of Crownes;” a play of Ned Howard’s, the best that
ever I saw at that house, being a great play and serious; only Lacy
did act the country-gentleman come up to Court, who do abuse
the Court with all the imaginable wit and plainness about sell-
ing of places, and doing every thing for money. The play took
very much. Thence I to my new bookseller’s, and there bought
“Hooker’s Polity,” the new edition, and “Dugdale’s History of
the Inns of Court,” of which there was but a few saved out of the
fire, and Playford’s new Catch-book, that hath a great many new
fooleries in it. Then home, a little at the office, and then to supper
and to bed, mightily pleased with the new play.
16th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning, at noon
home to dinner, and thence in haste to carry my wife to see the
new play I saw yesterday, she not knowing it. But there, contrary
to expectation, find “The Silent Woman.” However, in; and there
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Knipp come into the pit. I took her by me, and here we met with
Mrs. Horsley, the pretty woman–an acquaintance of Mercer’s,
whose house is burnt. Knipp tells me the King was so angry at
the liberty taken by Lacy’s, part to abuse him to his face, that he
commanded they should act no more, till Moone went and got
leave for them to act again, but not this play. The King mighty
angry; and it was bitter indeed, but very true and witty. I never
was more taken with a play than I am with this “Silent Woman,”
as old as it is, and as often as I have seen it. There is more wit in
it than goes to ten new plays. Thence with my wife and Knipp
to Mrs. Pierce’s, and saw her closet again, and liked her picture.
Thence took them all to the Cake-house, in Southampton Market-
place, where Pierce told us the story how, in good earnest, [the
King] is offended with the Duke of Richmond’s marrying, and
Mrs. Stewart’s sending the King his jewels again. As she tells it,
it is the noblest romance and example of a brave lady that ever I
read in my life. Pretty to hear them talk of yesterday’s play, and
I durst not own to my wife to have seen it. Thence home and to
[Sir] W. Batten¡s, where we have made a bargain for the ending of
some of the trouble about some of our prizes for £1400. So home
to look on my new books that I have lately bought, and then to
supper and to bed.
17th. Up, and with the two Sir Williams by coach to the Duke
of York, who is come to St. James’s, the first time we have at-
tended him there this year. In our way, in Tower Street, we saw
Desbrough walking on foot: who is now no more a prisoner, and
looks well, and just as he used to do heretofore. When we come
to the Duke of York’s I was spoke to by Mr. Bruncker on behalf of
Carcasse. Thence by coach to Sir G. Carteret’s, in London, there
to pass some accounts of his, and at it till dinner, and then to
work again a little, and then go away, and my wife being sent
for by me to the New Exchange I took her up, and there to the
King’s playhouse (at the door met with W. Joyce in the street,
who come to our coach side, but we in haste took no notice of
him, for which I was sorry afterwards, though I love not the fel-
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APRIL 1667
low, yet for his wife’s sake), and saw a piece of “Rollo,” a play I
like not much, but much good acting in it: the house very empty.
So away home, and I a little to the office, and then to Sir Robert
Viner’s, and so back, and find my wife gone down by water to
take a little ayre, and I to my chamber and there spent the night
in reading my new book, “Origines Juridiciales,” which pleases
me. So to supper and to bed.
18th. Up, and to read more in the “Origines,” and then to the
office, where the news is strong that not only the Dutch cannot
set out a fleete this year, but that the French will not, and that he
hath given the answer to the Dutch Embassador, saying that he
is for the King of England’s, having an honourable peace, which,
if true, is the best news we have had a good while. At the office
all the morning, and there pleased with the little pretty Deptford
woman I have wished for long, and she hath occasion given her
to come again to me. After office I to the ‘Change a little, and
then home and to dinner, and then by coach with my wife to
the Duke of York’s house, and there saw “The Wits,” a play I
formerly loved, and is now corrected and enlarged: but, though
I like the acting, yet I like not much in the play now. The Duke of
York and [Sir] W. Coventry gone to Portsmouth, makes me thus
to go to plays. So home, and to the office a little and then home,
where I find Goodgroome, and he and I did sing several things
over, and tried two or three grace parts in Playford’s new book,
my wife pleasing me in singing her part of the things she knew,
which is a comfort to my very heart. So he being gone we to
supper and to bed.
19th. Up, and to the office all the morning, doing a great deal
of business. At noon to dinner betimes, and then my wife and
I by coach to the Duke’s house, calling at Lovett’s, where I find
my Lady Castlemayne’s picture not yet done, which has lain so
many months there, which vexes me, but I mean not to trouble
them more after this is done. So to the playhouse, not much com-
pany come, which I impute to the heat of the weather, it being
2290
APRIL 1667
very hot. Here we saw “Macbeth,”621 which, though I have seen
it often, yet is it one of the best plays for a stage, and variety
of dancing and musique, that ever I saw. So being very much
pleased, thence home by coach with young Goodyer and his own
sister, who offered us to go in their coach. A good-natured youth
I believe he is, but I fear will mind his pleasures too much. She is
pretty, and a modest, brown girle. Set us down, so my wife and
I into the garden, a fine moonshine evening, and there talking,
and among other things she tells me that she finds by W. Hewer
that my people do observe my minding my pleasure more than
usual, which I confess, and am ashamed of, and so from this day
take upon me to leave it till Whit-Sunday. While we were sit-
ting in the garden comes Mrs. Turner to advise about her son,
the Captain, when I did give her the best advice I could, to look
out for some land employment for him, a peace being at hand,
when few ships will be employed and very many, and these old
Captains, to be provided for. Then to other talk, and among the
rest about Sir W. Pen’s being to buy Wansted House of Sir Robert
Brookes, but has put him off again, and left him the other day to
pay for a dinner at a tavern, which she says our parishioner, Mrs.
Hollworthy, talks of; and I dare be hanged if ever he could mean
to buy that great house, that knows not how to furnish one that
is not the tenth part so big. Thence I to my chamber to write a
little, and then to bed, having got a mighty cold in my right eare
and side of my throat, and in much trouble with it almost all the
night.
20th. Up, with much pain in my eare and palate. To the office
out of humour all the morning. At noon dined, and with my
wife to the King’s house, but there found the bill torn down and
621 See November 5th, 1664. Downes wrote: “The Tragedy of Macbeth,
alter’d by Sir William Davenant; being drest in all it’s finery, as new cloaths,
new scenes, machines as flyings for the Witches; with all the singing and
dancing in it. The first compos’d by Mr. Lock, the other by Mr. Channell and
Mr. Joseph Preist; it being all excellently perform’d, being in the nature of an
opera, it recompenc’d double the expence; it proves still a lasting play.”
2291
APRIL 1667
no play acted, and so being in the humour to see one, went to the
Duke of York’s house, and there saw “The Witts” again, which
likes me better than it did the other day, having much wit in it.
Here met with Mr. Rolt, who tells me the reason of no play to-
day at the King’s house. That Lacy had been committed to the
porter’s lodge for his acting his part in the late new play, and
that being thence released he come to the King’s house, there met
with Ned Howard, the poet of the play, who congratulated his
release; upon which Lacy cursed him as that it was the fault of his
nonsensical play that was the cause of his ill usage. Mr. Howard
did give him some reply; to which Lacy [answered] him, that he
was more a fool than a poet; upon which Howard did give him a
blow on the face with his glove; on which Lacy, having a cane in
his hand, did give him a blow over the pate. Here Rolt and others
that discoursed of it in the pit this afternoon did wonder that
Howard did not run him through, he being too mean a fellow to
fight with. But Howard did not do any thing but complain to the
King of it; so the whole house is silenced, and the gentry seem
to rejoice much at it, the house being become too insolent. Here
were many fine ladies this afternoon at this house as I have at
any time seen, and so after the play home and there wrote to my
father, and then to walk in the garden with my wife, resolving by
the grace of God to see no more plays till Whitsuntide, I having
now seen a play every day this week till I have neglected my
business, and that I am ashamed of, being found so much absent;
the Duke of York and Sir W. Coventry having been out of town
at Portsmouth did the more embolden me thereto. So home, and
having brought home with me from Fenchurch Street a hundred
of sparrowgrass,–[A form once so commonly used for asparagus
that it has found its way into dictionaries.]–cost 18d. We had
them and a little bit of salmon, which my wife had a mind to,
cost 3s. So to supper, and my pain being somewhat better in my
throat, we to bed.
21st (Lord’s day). Up, and John, a hackney coachman whom of
late I have much used, as being formerly Sir W. Pen’s coachman,
2292
APRIL 1667
coming to me by my direction to see whether I would use him
to-day or no, I took him to our backgate to look upon the ground
which is to be let there, where I have a mind to buy enough to
build a coach-house and stable; for I have had it much in my
thoughts lately that it is not too much for me now, in degree or
cost, to keep a coach, but contrarily, that I am almost ashamed
to be seen in a hackney, and therefore if I can have the conve-
niency, I will secure the ground at least till peace comes, that I do
receive encouragement to keep a coach, or else that I may part
with the ground again. The place I like very well, being close to
my owne house, and so resolve to go about it, and so home and
with my wife to church, and then to dinner, Mercer with us, with
design to go to Hackney to church in the afternoon. So after din-
ner she and I sung “Suo Moro,” which is one of the best pieces of
musique to my thinking that ever I did hear in my life; then took
coach and to Hackney church, where very full, and found much
difficulty to get pews, I offering the sexton money, and he could
not help me. So my wife and Mercer ventured into a pew, and I
into another. A knight and his lady very civil to me when they
come, and the like to my wife in hers, being Sir G. Viner and his
lady–rich in jewells, but most in beauty–almost the finest woman
that ever I saw. That which we went chiefly to see was the young
ladies of the schools,–[Hackney was long famous for its board-
ing schools.]–whereof there is great store, very pretty; and also
the organ, which is handsome, and tunes the psalm, and plays
with the people; which is mighty pretty, and makes me mighty
earnest to have a pair at our church, I having almost a mind to
give them a pair, if they would settle a maintenance on them for
it. I am mightily taken with them. So, church done, we to coach
and away to Kingsland and Islington, and there eat and drank at
the Old House, and so back, it raining a little, which is mighty
welcome, it having not rained in many weeks, so that they say it
makes the fields just now mighty sweet. So with great pleasure
home by night. Set down Mercer, and I to my chamber, and there
read a great deal in Rycaut’s Turkey book with great pleasure,
2293
APRIL 1667
and so eat and to bed. My sore throat still troubling me, but not
so much. This night I do come to full resolution of diligence for a
good while, and I hope God will give me the grace and wisdom
to perform it.
22nd. Up pretty betimes, my throat better, and so drest me, and
to White Hall to see Sir W. Coventry, returned from Portsmouth,
whom I am almost ashamed to see for fear he should have been
told how often I have been at plays, but it is better to see him
at first than afterward. So walked to the Old Swan and drank
at Michell’s, and then to White Hall and over the Park to St.
James’s to [Sir] W. Coventry, where well received, and good dis-
course. He seems to be sure of a peace; that the King of France
do not intend to set out a fleete, for that he do design Flanders.
Our Embassadors set out this week. Thence I over the Park to
Sir G. Carteret, and after him by coach to the Lord Chancellor’s
house, the first time I have been therein; and it is very noble,
and brave pictures of the ancient and present nobility, never saw
better. Thence with him to London, mighty merry in the way.
Thence home, and find the boy out of the house and office, and
by and by comes in and hath been to Mercer’s. I did pay his coat
for him. Then to my chamber, my wife comes home with linen
she hath been buying of. I then to dinner, and then down the
river to Greenwich, and the watermen would go no further. So I
turned them off, giving them nothing, and walked to Woolwich;
there did some business, and met with Captain Cocke and back
with him. He tells me our peace is agreed on; we are not to assist
the Spanyard against the French for this year, and no restitution,
and we are likely to lose Poleroone.622 I know not whether this
be true or no, but I am for peace on any terms. He tells me how
622 Among the State Papers is a document dated July 8th, 1667, in which
we read: “At Breda, the business is so far advanced that the English have
relinquished their pretensions to the ships Henry Bonaventure and Good
Hope. The matter sticks only at Poleron; the States have resolved not to part
with it, though the English should have a right to it” (“Calendar,” 1667, p.
278).
2294
APRIL 1667
the King was vexed the other day for having no paper laid him
at the Council-table, as was usual; and Sir Richard Browne did
tell his Majesty he would call the person whose work it was to
provide it: who being come, did tell his Majesty that he was but
a poor man, and was out £400 or £500 for it, which was as much
as he is worth; and that he cannot provide it any longer without
money, having not received a penny since the King’s coming in.
So the King spoke to my Lord Chamberlain; and many such me-
mentos the King do now-a-days meet withall, enough to make
an ingenuous man mad. I to Deptford, and there scolded with
a master for his ship’s not being gone, and so home to the office
and did business till my eyes are sore again, and so home to sing,
and then to bed, my eyes failing me mightily:
23rd (St. George’s-day). The feast being kept at White Hall,
out of design, as it is thought, to make the best countenance we
can to the Swede’s Embassadors, before their leaving us to go to
the treaty abroad, to shew some jollity. We sat at the office all the
morning. Word is brought me that young Michell is come to call
my wife to his wife’s labour, and she went, and I at the office full
of expectation what to hear from poor Betty Michell. This morn-
ing much to do with Sir W. Warren, all whose applications now
are to Lord Bruncker, and I am against him now, not professedly,
but apparently in discourse, and will be. At noon home to din-
ner, where alone, and after dinner to my musique papers, and
by and by comes in my wife, who gives me the good news that
the midwife and she alone have delivered poor Betty of a pretty
girl, which I am mighty glad of, and she in good condition, my
wife as well as I mightily pleased with it. Then to the office to do
things towards the post, and then my wife and I set down at her
mother’s, and I up and down to do business, but did little; and
so to Mrs. Martin’s, and there did hazer what I would con her,
and then called my wife and to little Michell’s, where we saw the
little child, which I like mightily, being I allow very pretty, and
asked her how she did, being mighty glad of her doing well, and
so home to the office, and then to my chamber, and so to bed.
2295
APRIL 1667
24th. Up, and with [Sir] W. Pen to St. James’s, and there the
Duke of York was preparing to go to some further ceremonies
about the Garter, that he could give us no audience. Thence to
Westminster Hall, the first day of the Term, and there joyed Mrs.
Michell, who is mightily pleased with my wife’s work yesterday,
and so away to my barber’s about my periwigg, and then to the
Exchange, there to meet Fenn about some money to be borrowed
of the office of the Ordnance to answer a great pinch. So home
to dinner, and in the afternoon met by agreement (being put on
it by Harry Bruncker’s frighting us into a despatch of Carcasse’s
business) [Lord] Bruncker, T. Harvey, [Sir] J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Bat-
ten, and I (Sir W. Pen keeping out of the way still), where a great
many high words from Bruncker, and as many from me and oth-
ers to him, and to better purpose, for I think we have fortified
ourselves to overthrow his man Carcasse, and to do no honour to
him. We rose with little done but great heat, not to be reconciled I
doubt, and I care not, for I will be on the right side, and that shall
keep me: Thence by coach to Sir John Duncomb’s’ lodging in the
Pell Mell,–[See November 8th, 1664]–in order to the money spo-
ken of in the morning; and there awhile sat and discoursed.: and
I find him that he is a very proper man for business, being very
resolute and proud, and industrious. He told me what reforma-
tion they had made in the office of the Ordnance, taking away
Legg’s fees:623 and have got an order that no Treasurer after him
shall ever sit at the Board; and it is a good one: that no master of
623 William Legge, eldest son of Edward Legge, sometime Vice-President
of Munster, born 1609(?). He served under Maurice of Nassau and Gustavus
Adolphus, and held the rank of colonel in the Royalist army. He closely
attached himself to Prince Rupert, and was an active agent in affecting the
reconciliation between that prince and his uncle Charles I. Colonel Legge
distinguished himself in several actions, and was wounded and taken pris-
oner at the battle of Worcester; it was said that he would have “been ex-
ecuted if his wife had not contrived his escape from Coventry gaol in her
own clothes.” He was Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles I., and also to
Charles II.; he held the offices of Master of the Armories and Lieutenant-
General of the Ordnance. He refused honours (a knighthood from Charles
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APRIL 1667
the Ordnance here shall ever sell a place. He tells me they have
not paid any increase of price for any thing during this war, but
in most have paid less; and at this day have greater stores than
they know where to lay, if there should be peace, and than ever
was any time this war. That they pay every man in course, and
have notice of the disposal of every farthing. Every man that they
owe money to has his share of every sum they receive; never bor-
rowed all this war but £30,000 by the King’s express command,
but do usually stay till their assignments become payable in their
own course, which is the whole mystery, that they have had as-
signments for a fifth part of whatever was assigned to the Navy.
They have power of putting out and in of all officers; are going
upon a building that will cost them £12,000; that they out of their
stock of tallies have been forced to help the Treasurer of the Navy
at this great pinch. Then to talk of newes: that he thinks the want
of money hath undone the King, for the Parliament will never
give the King more money without calling all people to account,
nor, as he believes, will ever make war again, but they will man-
age it themselves: unless, which I proposed, he would visibly
become a severer inspector into his own business and accounts,
and that would gain upon the Parliament yet: which he confesses
and confirms as the only lift to set him upon his legs, but says
that it is not in his nature ever to do. He says that he believes
but four men (such as he could name) would do the business of
both offices, his and ours, and if ever the war were to be again
it should be so, he believes. He told me to my face that I was a
very good clerk, and did understand the business and do it very
well, and that he would never desire a better. He do believe that
the Parliament, if ever they meet, will offer some alterations to
the King, and will turn some of us out, and I protest I think he is
in the right that either they or the King will be advised to some
regulations, and therefore I ought to beware, as it is easy for me
I. and an earldom from Charles II.), but his eldest son George was created
Baron Dartmouth in 1682. He died October 13th, 1672, at his house in the
Minories, and was buried in
2297
APRIL 1667
to keep myself up if I will. He thinks that much of our misfortune
hath been for want of an active Lord Treasurer, and that such a
man as Sir W. Coventry would do the business thoroughly. This
talk being over, comes his boy and tells us [Sir] W. Coventry is
come in, and so he and I to him, and there told the difficulty of
getting this money, and they did play hard upon Sir G. Carteret
as a man moped and stunned, not knowing which way to turn
himself. Sir W. Coventry cried that he was disheartened, and I do
think that there is much in it, but Sir J. Duncomb do charge him
with mighty neglect in the pursuing of his business, and that he
do not look after it himself, but leaves it to Fenn, so that I do
perceive that they are resolved to scheme at bringing the busi-
ness into a better way of execution, and I think it needs, that is
the truth of it. So I away to Sir G. Carteret’s lodgings about this
money, and contrary to expectation I find he hath prevailed with
Legg on his own bond to lend him £2000, which I am glad of,
but, poor man, he little sees what observations people do make
upon his management, and he is not a man fit to be told what one
hears. Thence by water at 10 at night from Westminster Bridge,
having kissed little Frank, and so to the Old Swan, and walked
home by moonshine, and there to my chamber a while, and sup-
per and to bed.
25th. Received a writ from the Exchequer this morning of dis-
train for £70,000, which troubled me, though it be but, matter
of form. To the office, where sat all the morning. At noon my
wife being to Unthanke’s christening, I to Sir W. Batten’s to din-
ner, where merry, and the rather because we are like to come to
some good end in another of our prizes. Thence by coach to my
Lord Treasurer’s, and there being come too soon to the New Ex-
change, but did nothing, and back again, and there found my
Lord Bruncker and T. Harvy, and walked in a room very merrily
discoursing. By and by comes my Lord Ashly and tells us my
Lord Treasurer is ill and cannot speak with us now. Thence away,
Sir W. Pen and I and Mr. Lewes, who come hither after us, and
Mr. Gawden in the last man’s coach. Set me down by the Poul-
2298
APRIL 1667
try, and I to Sir Robert Viner’s, and there had my account stated
and took it home to review. So home to the office, and there late
writing out something, having been a little at Sir W. Batten’s to
talk, and there vexed to see them give order for Hogg’s further
abroad, and so home and to bed.
26th. Up, and by coach with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen
to White Hall, and there saw the Duke of Albemarle, who is not
well, and do grow crazy. Thence I to St. James’s, to meet Sir G.
Carteret, and did, and Lord Berkely, to get them (as we would
have done the Duke of Albemarle) to the meeting of the Lords
of Appeale in the business of one of our prizes. With them to
the meeting of the Guinny Company, and there staid, and went
with Lord Berkely. While I was waiting for him in the Matted
Gallery, a young man was most finely working in Indian inke
the great picture of the King and Queen sitting,–[Charles I. and
Henrietta Maria.]–by Van Dyke; and did it very finely. Thence
to Westminster Hall to hear our cause, but [it] did not come be-
fore them to-day, so went down and walked below in the Hall,
and there met with Ned Pickering, who tells me the ill newes
of his nephew Gilbert, who is turned a very rogue, and then I
took a turn with Mr. Evelyn, with whom I walked two hours,
till almost one of the clock: talking of the badness of the Gov-
ernment, where nothing but wickedness, and wicked men and
women command the King: that it is not in his nature to gain-
say any thing that relates to his pleasures; that much of it arises
from the sickliness of our Ministers of State, who cannot be about
him as the idle companions are, and therefore he gives way to the
young rogues; and then, from the negligence of the Clergy, that a
Bishop shall never be seen about him, as the King of France hath
always: that the King would fain have some of the same gang
to be Lord Treasurer, which would be yet worse, for now some
delays are put to the getting gifts of the King, as that whore my
Lady Byron,624 who had been, as he called it, the King’s seven-
624 Eleanor, daughter of Robert Needham, Viscount Kilmurrey, and widow
2299
APRIL 1667
teenth whore abroad, did not leave him till she had got him to
give her an order for £4000 worth of plate to be made for her; but
by delays, thanks be to God! she died before she had it. He tells
me mighty stories of the King of France, how great a prince he is.
He hath made a code to shorten the law; he hath put out all the
ancient commanders of castles that were become hereditary; he
hath made all the fryers subject to the bishops, which before were
only subject to Rome, and so were hardly the King’s subjects, and
that none shall become ‘religieux’ but at such an age, which he
thinks will in a few, years ruin the Pope, and bring France into
a patriarchate. He confirmed to me the business of the want of
paper at the Council-table the other day, which I have observed;
Wooly being to have found it, and did, being called, tell the King
to his face the reason of it; and Mr. Evelyn tells me several of
the menial servants of the Court lacking bread, that have not re-
ceived a farthing wages since the King’s coming in. He tells me
the King of France hath his mistresses, but laughs at the foolery
of our King, that makes his bastards princes,625 and loses his rev-
enue upon them, and makes his mistresses his masters and the
King of France did never grant Lavalliere626 any thing to bestow
on others, and gives a little subsistence, but no more, to his bas-
tards. He told me the whole story of Mrs. Stewart’s going away
from Court, he knowing her well; and believes her, up to her
of Peter Warburton, became in 1644 the second wife of John Byron, first Lord
Byron. Died 1663.–B.
625 Louis made his own bastards dukes and princes, and legitimatized
them as much as he could, connecting them also by marriage with the real
blood-royal.–B.
626 Louise Francoise de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere had four children by
Louis XIV., of whom only two survived-Marie Anne Bourbon, called Made-
moiselle de Blois, born in 1666, afterwards married to the Prince de Conti,
and the Comte de Vermandois, born in 1667. In that year (the very year in
which Evelyn was giving this account to Pepys), the Duchy of Vaujour and
two baronies were created in favour of La Valliere, and her daughter, who,
in the deed of creation, was legitimatized, and styled princess.–B.
2300
APRIL 1667
leaving the Court, to be as virtuous as any woman in the world:
and told me, from a Lord that she told it to but yesterday, with her
own mouth, and a sober man, that when the Duke of Richmond
did make love to her, she did ask the King, and he did the like
also; and that the King did not deny it, and [she] told this Lord
that she was come to that pass as to resolve to have married any
gentleman of £1500 a-year that would have had her in honour;
for it was come to that pass, that she could not longer continue at
Court without prostituting herself to the King,627 whom she had
so long kept off, though he had liberty more than any other had,
or he ought to have, as to dalliance.628 She told this Lord that she
had reflected upon the occasion she had given the world to think
her a bad woman, and that she had no way but to marry and
leave the Court, rather in this way of discontent than otherwise,
that the world might see that she sought not any thing but her
honour; and that she will never come to live at Court more than
when she comes to town to come to kiss the Queene her Mis-
tress’s hand: and hopes, though she hath little reason to hope,
she can please her Lord so as to reclaim him, that they may yet
live comfortably in the country on his estate. She told this Lord
that all the jewells she ever had given her at Court, or any other
presents, more than the King’s allowance of £700 per annum out
of the Privypurse for her clothes, were, at her first coming the
King did give her a necklace of pearl of about £1100 and after-
wards, about seven months since, when the King had hopes to
have obtained some courtesy of her, the King did give her some
jewells, I have forgot what, and I think a pair of pendants. The
Duke of York, being once her Valentine, did give her a jewell of
627 Even at a much later time Mrs. Godolphin well resolved “not to talk
foolishly to men, more especially THE KING,”–“be sure never to talk to THE
KING” (“Life,” by Evelyn). These expressions speak volumes as to Charles’s
character.–B.
628 Evelyn evidently believed the Duchess of Richmond to be innocent; and
his testimony, coupled with her own declaration, ought to weigh down all
the scandal which Pepys reports from other sources.–B.
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APRIL 1667
about £800; and my Lord Mandeville, her Valentine this year, a
ring of about £300; and the King of France would have had her
mother, who, he says, is one of the most cunning women in the
world, to have let her stay in France, saying that he loved her not
as a mistress, but as one that he could marry as well as any lady
in France; and that, if she might stay, for the honour of his Court
he would take care she should not repent. But her mother, by
command of the Queen-mother, thought rather to bring her into
England; and the King of France did give her a jewell: so that Mr.
Evelyn believes she may be worth in jewells about £6000, and
that that is all that she hath in the world: and a worthy woman;
and in this hath done as great an act of honour as ever was done
by woman. That now the Countesse Castlemayne do carry all
before her: and among other arguments to prove Mrs. Stewart
to have been honest to the last, he says that the King’s keeping
in still with my Lady Castlemayne do show it; for he never was
known to keep two mistresses in his life, and would never have
kept to her had he prevailed any thing with Mrs. Stewart. She
is gone yesterday with her Lord to Cobham. He did tell me of
the ridiculous humour of our King and Knights of the Garter
the other day, who, whereas heretofore their robes were only to
be worn during their ceremonies and service, these, as proud of
their coats, did wear them all day till night, and then rode into
the Parke with them on. Nay, and he tells me he did see my Lord
Oxford and the Duke of Monmouth in a hackney-coach with two
footmen in the Parke, with their robes on; which is a most scan-
dalous thing, so as all gravity may be said to be lost among us. By
and by we discoursed of Sir Thomas Clifford, whom I took for a
very rich and learned man, and of the great family of that name.
He tells me he is only a man of about seven-score pounds a-year,
of little learning more than the law of a justice of peace, which
he knows well: a parson’s son, got to be burgess in a little bor-
ough in the West, and here fell into the acquaintance of my Lord
Arlington, whose creature he is, and never from him; a man of
virtue, and comely, and good parts enough; and hath come into
2302
APRIL 1667
his place with a great grace, though with a great skip over the
heads of a great many, as Chichly and Duncum, and some Lords
that did expect it. By the way, he tells me, that of all the great men
of England there is none that endeavours more to raise those that
he takes into favour than my Lord Arlington; and that, on that
score, he is much more to be made one’s patron than my Lord
Chancellor, who never did, nor never will do, any thing, but for
money! After having this long discourse we parted, about one
of the clock, and so away by water home, calling upon Michell,
whose wife and girle are pretty well, and I home to dinner, and
after dinner with Sir W. Batten to White Hall, there to attend the
Duke of York before council, where we all met at his closet and
did the little business we had, and here he did tell us how the
King of France is intent upon his design against Flanders, and
hath drawn up a remonstrance of the cause of the war, and ap-
pointed the 20th of the next month for his rendezvous, and him-
self to prepare for the campaign the 30th, so that this, we are in
hopes, will keep him in employment. Turenne is to be his gen-
eral. Here was Carcasses business unexpectedly moved by him,
but what was done therein appears in my account of his case in
writing by itself. Certain newes of the Dutch being abroad on
our coast with twenty-four great ships. This done Sir W. Batten
and I back again to London, and in the way met my Lady New-
castle going with her coaches and footmen all in velvet: herself,
whom I never saw before, as I have heard her often described,
for all the town-talk is now-a-days of her extravagancies, with
her velvetcap, her hair about her ears; many black patches, be-
cause of pimples about her mouth; naked-necked, without any
thing about it, and a black just-au-corps. She seemed to me a
very comely woman: but I hope to see more of her on Mayday.
My mind is mightily of late upon a coach. At home, to the office,
where late spending all the evening upon entering in long hand
our late passages with Carcasse for memory sake, and so home in
great pain in my back by the uneasiness of Sir W. Batten’s coach
driving hard this afternoon over the stones to prevent coming too
2303
APRIL 1667
late. So at night to supper in great pain, and to bed, where lay in
great pain, not able to turn myself all night.
27th. Up with much pain, and to the office, where all the morn-
ing. At noon home to dinner, W. Hewer with us. This noon I got
in some coals at 23s. per chaldron, a good hearing, I thank God-
having not been put to buy a coal all this dear time, that during
this war poor people have been forced to give 45s. and 50s., and
£3. In the afternoon (my wife and people busy these late days,
and will be for some time, making of shirts and smocks) to the
office, where late, and then home, after letters, and so to sup-
per and to bed, with much pleasure of mind, after having dis-
patched business. This afternoon I spent some time walking with
Mr. Moore, in the garden, among other things discoursing of my
Lord Sandwich’s family, which he tells me is in a very bad con-
dition, for want of money and management, my Lord’s charging
them with bills, and nobody, nor any thing provided to answer
them. He did discourse of his hopes of being supplied with £1900
against a present bill from me, but I took no notice of it, nor will
do it. It seems Mr. Sheply doubts his accounts are ill kept, and
every thing else in the family out of order, which I am grieved to
hear of.
28th (Lord’s day). Lay long, my pain in my back being still
great, though not so great as it was. However, up and to church,
where a lazy sermon, and then home and to dinner, my wife and
I alone and Barker. After dinner, by water–the day being mighty
pleasant, and the tide serving finely, I up (reading in Boyle’s
book of colours), as high as Barne Elmes, and there took one turn
alone, and then back to Putney Church, where I saw the girls of
the schools, few of which pretty; and there I come into a pew,
and met with little James Pierce, which I was much pleased at,
the little rogue being very glad to see me: his master, Reader to
the Church. Here was a good sermon and much company, but I
sleepy, and a little out of order, for my hat falling down through
a hole underneath the pulpit, which, however, after sermon, by a
2304
APRIL 1667
stick, and the helpe of the clerke, I got up again, and then walked
out of the church with the boy, and then left him, promising him
to get him a play another time. And so by water, the tide being
with me again, down to Deptford, and there I walked down the
Yard, Shish and Cox with me, and discoursed about cleaning of
the wet docke, and heard, which I had before, how, when the
docke was made, a ship of near 500 tons was there found; a ship
supposed of Queene Elizabeth’s time, and well wrought, with a
great deal of stoneshot in her, of eighteen inches diameter, which
was shot then in use: and afterwards meeting with Captain Perri-
man and Mr. Castle at Half-way Tree, they tell me of stoneshot of
thirty-six inches diameter, which they shot out of mortarpieces.
Thence walked to Half-way Tree, and there stopt and talk with
Mr. Castle and Captain Perriman, and so to Redriffe and took
boat again, and so home, and there to write down my Journall,
and so to supper and to read, and so to bed, mightily pleased
with my reading of Boyle’s book of colours to-day, only troubled
that some part of it, indeed the greatest part, I am not able to un-
derstand for want of study. My wife this night troubled at my
leaving her alone so much and keeping her within doors, which
indeed I do not well nor wisely in.
29th. Up, being visited very early by Creed newly come from
Hinchingbrooke, who went thither without my knowledge, and
I believe only to save his being taxed by the Poll Bill. I did give
him no very good countenance nor welcome, but took occasion
to go forth and walked (he with me) to St. Dunstan’s, and thence
I to Sir W. Coventry’s, where a good while with him, and I think
he pretty kind, but that the nature of our present condition af-
fords not matter for either of us to be pleased with any thing. We
discoursed of Carcasse, whose Lord, he tells me, do make com-
plaints that his clerk should be singled out, and my Lord Berke-
ley do take his part. So he advises we would sum up all we have
against him and lay it before the Duke of York; he condemned
my Lord Bruncker. Thence to Sir G. Carteret, and there talked
a little while about office business, and thence by coach home,
2305
APRIL 1667
in several places paying my debts in order to my evening my
accounts this month, and thence by and by to White Hall again
to Sir G. Carteret to dinner, where very good company and dis-
course, and I think it my part to keep in there now more than
ordinary because of the probability of my Lord’s coming soon
home. Our Commissioners for the treaty set out this morning be-
times down the river. Here I hear that the Duke of Cambridge,
the Duke of York’s son, is very sick; and my Lord Treasurer very
bad of the stone, and hath been so some days. After dinner Sir G.
Carteret and I alone in his closet an hour or more talking of my
Lord Sandwich’s coming home, which, the peace being likely to
be made here, he expects, both for my Lord’s sake and his own
(whose interest he wants) it will be best for him to be at home,
where he will be well received by the King; he is sure of his ser-
vice well accepted, though the business of Spain do fall by this
peace. He tells me my Lord Arlington hath done like a gentle-
man by him in all things. He says, if my Lord [Sandwich] were
here, he were the fittest man to be Lord Treasurer of any man
in England; and he thinks it might be compassed; for he con-
fesses that the King’s matters do suffer through the inability of
this man, who is likely to die, and he will propound him to the
King. It will remove him from his place at sea, and the King will
have a good place to bestow. He says to me, that he could wish,
when my Lord comes, that he would think fit to forbear play-
ing, as a thing below him, and which will lessen him, as it do my
Lord St. Albans, in the King’s esteem: and as a great secret tells
me that he hath made a match for my Lord Hinchingbroke to a
daughter of my Lord Burlington’s, where there is a great alliance,
£10,000 portion; a civil family, and relation to my Lord Chancel-
lor, whose son hath married one of the daughters; and that my
Lord Chancellor do take it with very great kindness, so that he
do hold himself obliged by it. My Lord Sandwich hath referred
it to my Lord Crew, Sir G. Carteret, and Mr. Montagu, to end it.
My Lord Hinchingbroke and the lady know nothing yet of it. It
will, I think, be very happy. Very glad of this discourse, I away
2306
APRIL 1667
mightily pleased with the confidence I have in this family, and so
away, took up my wife, who was at her mother’s, and so home,
where I settled to my chamber about my accounts, both Tangier
and private, and up at it till twelve at night, with good success,
when news is brought me that there is a great fire in Southwarke:
so we up to the leads, and then I and the boy down to the end of
our, lane, and there saw it, it seeming pretty great, but nothing to
the fire of London, that it made me think little of it. We could at
that distance see an engine play–that is, the water go out, it being
moonlight. By and by, it begun to slacken, and then I home and
to bed.
30th. Up, and Mr. Madden come to speak with me, whom
my people not knowing have made to wait long without doors,
which vexed me. Then comes Sir John Winter to discourse with
me about the forest of Deane, and then about my Lord Treasurer,
and asking me whether, as he had heard, I had not been cut for
the stone, I took him to my closet, and there shewed it to him,
of which he took the dimensions and had some discourse of it,
and I believe will shew my Lord Treasurer it. Thence to the of-
fice, where we sat all the morning, but little to do, and then to the
‘Change, where for certain I hear, and the News book declares,
a peace between France and Portugal. Met here with Mr. Pierce,
and he tells me the Duke of Cambridge is very ill and full of
spots about his body, that Dr. Frazier knows not what to think of
it. Then home and to dinner, and then to the office, where all the
afternoon; we met about Sir W. Warren’s business and accounts,
wherein I do rather oppose than forward him, but not in declared
terms, for I will not be at, enmity with him, but I will not have
him find any friendship so good as mine. By and by rose and
by water to White Hall, and then called my wife at Unthanke’s.
So home and to my chamber, to my accounts, and finished them
to my heart’s wishes and admiration, they being grown very in-
tricate, being let alone for two months, but I brought them to-
gether all naturally, within a few shillings, but to my sorrow the
Poll money I paid this month and mourning have made me £80
2307
APRIL 1667
a worse man than at my last balance, so that I am worth now but
£6700, which is yet an infinite mercy to me, for which God make
me thankful. So late to supper, with a glad heart for the evening
of my accounts so well, and so to bed.
2308
MAY 1667
May 1st. Up, it being a fine day, and after doing a little busi-
ness in my chamber I left my wife to go abroad with W. Hewer
and his mother in a Hackney coach incognito to the Park, while
I abroad to the Excise Office first, and there met the Cofferer
and Sir Stephen Fox about our money matters there, wherein
we agreed, and so to discourse of my Lord Treasurer, who is a
little better than he was of the stone, having rested a little this
night. I there did acquaint them of my knowledge of that disease,
which I believe will be told my Lord Treasurer. Thence to West-
minster; in the way meeting many milk-maids with their gar-
lands upon their pails, dancing with a fiddler before them;629 and
saw pretty Nelly standing at her lodgings’ door in Drury-lane in
her smock sleeves and bodice, looking upon one: she seemed a
629 On the 1st of May milkmaids used to borrow silver cups, tankards, &c.,
to hang them round their milkpails, with the addition of flowers and ribbons,
which they carried upon their heads, accompanied by a bagpipe or fiddle,
and went from door to door, dancing before the houses of their customers,
in order to obtain a small gratuity from each of them. “In London thirty
years ago, When pretty milkmaids went about, It was a goodly sight to see
Their May-day pageant all drawn out. “Such scenes and sounds once blest
my eyes And charm’d my ears; but all have vanish’d, On May-day now no
garlands go, For milkmaids and their dance are banish’d.” Hone’s Every-
Day Book, vol. i., pp. 569, 570.
2309
MAY 1667
mighty pretty creature. To the Hall and there walked a while, it
being term. I thence home to the Rose, and then had Doll Lane
venir para me.... To my Lord Crew’s, where I found them at din-
ner, and among others. Mrs. Bocket, which I have not seen a
long time, and two little dirty children, and she as idle a prat-
ing and impertinent woman as ever she was. After dinner my
Lord took me alone and walked with me, giving me an account
of the meeting of the Commissioners for Accounts, whereof he is
one. How some of the gentlemen, Garraway, Littleton, and oth-
ers, did scruple at their first coming there, being called thither to
act, as Members of Parliament, which they could not do by any
authority but that of Parliament, and therefore desired the King’s
direction in it, which was sent for by my Lord Bridgewater, who
brought answer, very short, that the King expected they should
obey his Commission. Then they went on, and observed a power
to be given them of administering and framing an oath, which
they thought they could not do by any power but Act of Parlia-
ment; and the whole Commission did think fit to have the judges’
opinion in it; and so, drawing up their scruples in writing, they
all attended the King, who told them he would send to the judges
to be answered, and did so; who have, my Lord tells me, met
three times about it, not knowing what answer to give to it; and
they have met this week, doing nothing but expecting the solu-
tion of the judges in this point. My Lord tells me he do believe
this Commission will do more hurt than good; it may undo some
accounts, if these men shall think fit; but it can never clear an ac-
count, for he must come into the Exchequer for all this. Besides,
it is a kind of inquisition that hath seldom ever been granted in
England; and he believes it will never, besides, give any satisfac-
tion to the People or Parliament, but be looked upon as a forced,
packed business of the King, especially if these Parliament-men
that are of it shall not concur with them: which he doubts they
will not, and, therefore, wishes much that the King would lay
hold of this fit occasion, and let the Commission fall. Then to
talk of my Lord Sandwich, whom my Lord Crew hath a great
2310
MAY 1667
desire might get to be Lord Treasurer if the present Lord should
die, as it is believed he will, in a little time; and thinks he can
have no competitor but my Lord Arlington, who, it is given out,
desires it: but my Lord thinks it is not so, for that the being Secre-
tary do keep him a greater interest with the King than the other
would do at least, do believe, that if my Lord would surrender
him his Wardrobe place, it would be a temptation to Arlington
to assist my Lord in getting the Treasurer’s. I did object to my
Lord [Crew] that it would be no place of content, nor safety, nor
honour for my Lord, the State being so indigent as it is, and the
[King] so irregular, and those about him, that my Lord must be
forced to part with anything to answer his warrants; and that,
therefore, I do believe the King had rather have a man that may
be one of his vicious caball, than a sober man that will mind the
publick, that so they may sit at cards and dispose of the revenue
of the kingdom. This my Lord was moved at, and said he did
not indeed know how to answer it, and bid me think of it; and
so said he himself would also do. He do mightily cry out of the
bad management of our monies, the King having had so much
given him; and yet, when the Parliament do find that the King
should have £900,000 in his purse by the best account of issues
they have yet seen, yet we should report in the Navy a debt due
from the King of £900,000; which, I did confess, I doubted was
true in the first, and knew to be true in the last, and did believe
that there was some great miscarriages in it: which he owned to
believe also, saying, that at this rate it is not in the power of the
kingdom to make a war, nor answer the King’s wants. Thence
away to the King’s playhouse, by agreement met Sir W. Pen, and
saw “Love in a Maze” but a sorry play: only Lacy’s clowne’s
part, which he did most admirably indeed; and I am glad to find
the rogue at liberty again. Here was but little, and that ordinary,
company. We sat at the upper bench next the boxes; and I find it
do pretty well, and have the advantage of seeing and hearing the
great people, which may be pleasant when there is good store.
Now was only Prince Rupert and my Lord Lauderdale, and my
2311
MAY 1667
Lord, the naming of whom puts me in mind of my seeing, at Sir
Robert Viner’s, two or three great silver flagons, made with in-
scriptions as gifts of the King to such and such persons of quality
as did stay in town the late great plague, for the keeping things in
order in the town, which is a handsome thing. But here was nei-
ther Hart, Nell, nor Knipp; therefore, the play was not likely to
please me. Thence Sir W. Pen and I in his coach, Tiburne way, into
the Park, where a horrid dust, and number of coaches, without
pleasure or order. That which we, and almost all went for, was
to see my Lady Newcastle; which we could not, she being fol-
lowed and crowded upon by coaches all the way she went, that
nobody could come near her; only I could see she was in a large
black coach, adorned with silver instead of gold, and so white
curtains, and every thing black and white, and herself in her cap,
but other parts I could not make [out]. But that which I did see,
and wonder at with reason, was to find Pegg Pen in a new coach,
with only her husband’s pretty sister with her, both patched and
very fine, and in much the finest coach in the park, and I think
that ever I did see one or other, for neatness and richness in gold,
and everything that is noble. My Lady Castlemayne, the King,
my Lord St. Albans, nor Mr. Jermyn, have so neat a coach, that
ever I saw. And, Lord! to have them have this, and nothing else
that is correspondent, is to me one of the most ridiculous sights
that ever I did see, though her present dress was well enough;
but to live in the condition they do at home, and be abroad in
this coach, astonishes me. When we had spent half an hour in
the Park, we went out again, weary of the dust, and despairing
of seeing my Lady Newcastle; and so back the same way, and
to St. James’s, thinking to have met my Lady Newcastle before
she got home, but we staying by the way to drink, she got home
a little before us: so we lost our labours, and then home; where
we find the two young ladies come home, and their patches off,
I suppose Sir W. Pen do not allow of them in his sight, and going
out of town to-night, though late, to Walthamstow. So to talk a
little at Sir W. Batten’s, and then home to supper, where I find
2312
MAY 1667
Mrs. Hewer and her son, who have been abroad with my wife in
the Park, and so after supper to read and then to bed. Sir W. Pen
did give me an account this afternoon of his design of buying Sir
Robert Brooke’s fine house at Wansted; which I so wondered at,
and did give him reasons against it, which he allowed of: and
told me that he did intend to pull down the house and build a
less, and that he should get £1500 by the old house, and I know
not what fooleries. But I will never believe he ever intended to
buy it, for my part; though he troubled Mr. Gawden to go and
look upon it, and advise him in it.
2nd. To the office, where all the morning. At noon home to
dinner, and then abroad to my Lord Treasurer’s, who continues
so ill as not to be troubled with business. So Mr. Gawden and I
to my Lord Ashly’s and spoke with him, and then straight home,
and there I did much business at the office, and then to my own
chamber and did the like there, to my great content, but to the
pain of my eyes, and then to supper and to bed, having a song
with my wife with great pleasure, she doing it well.
3rd. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Batten, and [Sir] W.
Pen in the last man’s coach to St. James’s, and thence up to
the Duke of York’s chamber, which, as it is now fretted at the
top, and the chimney-piece made handsome, is one of the no-
blest and best-proportioned rooms that ever, I think, I saw in my
life, and when ready, into his closet and did our business, where,
among other things, we had a proposition of Mr. Pierces, for be-
ing continued in pay, or something done for him, in reward of
his pains as Chyrurgeon-Generall; forasmuch as Troutbecke, that
was never a doctor before, hath got £200 a year settled on him for
nothing but that one voyage with the Duke of Albemarle. The
Duke of York and the whole company did shew most particu-
lar kindness to Mr. Pierce, every body moving for him, and the
Duke himself most, that he is likely to be a very great man, I be-
lieve. Here also we had another mention of Carcasses business,
and we directed to bring in a report of our opinion of his case,
2313
MAY 1667
which vexes us that such a rogue shall make us so much trou-
ble. Thence I presently to the Excise Office, and there met the
Cofferer and [Sir] Stephen Fox by agreement, and agreed upon a
method for our future payments, and then we three to my Lord
Treasurer, who continues still very ill. I had taken my stone with
me on purpose, and Sir Philip Warwicke carried it in to him to
see, but was not in a condition to talk with me about it, poor
man. So I with them to Westminster by coach; the Cofferer telling
us odd stories how he was dealt with by the men of the Church
at Westminster in taking a lease of them at the King’s coming
in, and particularly the devilish covetousness of Dr. Busby. Sir
Stephen Fox, in discourse, told him how he is selling some land
he hath, which yields him not above three per cent., if so much,
and turning it into money, which he can put out at ten per cent.;
and, as times go, if they be like to continue, it is the best way
for me to keep money going so, for aught I see. I to Westmin-
ster Hall, and there took a turn with my old acquaintance Mr.
Pechell, whose red nose makes me ashamed to be seen with him,
though otherwise a good-natured man. So away, I not finding
of Mr. Moore, with whom I should have met and spoke about
a letter I this day received from him from my Lord Hinching-
broke, wherein he desires me to help him to £1900 to pay a bill
of exchange of his father’s, which troubles me much, but I will
find some way, if I can do it, but not to bring myself in bonds or
disbursements for it, whatever comes of it. So home to dinner,
where my wife hath ‘ceux la’ upon her and is very ill with them,
and so forced to go to bed, and I sat by her a good while, then
down to my chamber and made an end of Rycaut’s History of
the Turks, which is a very good book. Then to the office, and did
some business, and then my wife being pretty well, by coach to
little Michell’s, and there saw my poor Betty and her little child,
which slept so soundly we could hardly wake it in an hour’s time
without hurting it, and they tell me what I did not know, that a
child (as this do) will hunt and hunt up and down with its mouth
if you touch the cheek of it with your finger’s end for a nipple,
2314
MAY 1667
and fit its mouth for sucking, but this hath not sucked yet, she
having no nipples. Here sat a while, and then my wife and I, it
being a most curious clear evening, after some rain to-day, took
a most excellent tour by coach to Bow, and there drank and back
again, and so a little at the office, and home to read a little, and to
supper and bed mightily refreshed with this evening’s tour, but
troubled that it hath hindered my doing some business which I
would have done at the office. This day the newes is come that
the fleete of the Dutch, of about 20 ships, which come upon our
coasts upon design to have intercepted our colliers, but by good
luck failed, is gone to the Frith,–[Frith of Forth. See 5th of this
month.]–and there lies, perhaps to trouble the Scotch privateers,
which have galled them of late very much, it may be more than
all our last year’s fleete.
4th. Up and to the office, where sat all the morning, among
other things a great conflict I had with Sir W. Warren, he bring-
ing a letter to the Board, flatly in words charging them with their
delays in passing his accounts, which have been with them these
two years, part of which I said was not true, and the other un-
decent. The whole Board was concerned to take notice of it, as
well as myself, but none of them had the honour to do it, but suf-
fered me to do it alone, only Sir W. Batten, who did what he did
out of common spite to him. So I writ in the margin of the let-
ter, “Returned as untrue,” and, by consent of the Board, did give
it him again, and so parted. Home to dinner, and there came a
woman whose husband I sent for, one Fisher, about the business
of Perkins and Carcasse, and I do think by her I shall find the
business as bad as ever it was, and that we shall find Commis-
sioner Pett a rogue, using foul play on behalf of Carcasse. After
dinner to the office again, and there late all the afternoon, doing
much business, and with great content home to supper and to
bed.
5th (Lord’s day). Up, and going down to the water side, I met
Sir John Robinson, and so with him by coach to White Hall, still
2315
MAY 1667
a vain, prating, boasting man as any I know, as if the whole City
and Kingdom had all its work done by him. He tells me he hath
now got a street ordered to be continued, forty feet broad, from
Paul’s through Cannon Street to the Tower, which will be very
fine. He and others this day, where I was in the afternoon, do
tell me of at least six or eight fires within these few days; and
continually stirs of fires, and real fires there have been, in one
place or other, almost ever since the late great fire, as if there
was a fate sent people for fire. I walked over the Park to Sir W.
Coventry’s. Among other things to tell him what I hear of people
being forced to sell their bills before September for 35 and 40 per
cent. loss, and what is worst, that there are some courtiers that
have made a knot to buy them, in hopes of some ways to get
money of the King to pay them, which Sir W. Coventry is amazed
at, and says we are a people made up for destruction, and will
do what he can to prevent all this by getting the King to provide
wherewith to pay them. We talked of Tangier, of which he is
ashamed; also that it should put the King to this charge for no
good in the world: and now a man going over that is a good
soldier, but a debauched man, which the place need not to have.
And so used these words: “That this place was to the King as
my Lord Carnarvon says of wood, that it is an excrescence of the
earth provided by God for the payment of debts.” Thence away
to Sir G. Carteret, whom I find taking physic. I staid talking with
him but a little, and so home to church, and heard a dull sermon,
and most of the best women of our parish gone into the country,
or at least not at church. So home, and find my boy not there,
nor was at church, which vexed me, and when he come home I
enquired, he tells me he went to see his mother. I send him back
to her to send me some token that he was with her. So there come
a man with him back of good fashion. He says he saw him with
her, which pacified me, but I did soundly threaten him before
him, and so to dinner, and then had a little scolding with my
wife for not being fine enough to go to the christening to-day,
which she excused by being ill, as she was indeed, and cried,
2316
MAY 1667
but I was in an ill humour and ashamed, indeed, that she should
not go dressed. However, friends by and by, and we went by
water to Michell’s, and there his little house full of his father and
mothers and the kindred, hardly any else, and mighty merry in
this innocent company, and Betty mighty pretty in bed, but, her
head akeing, not very merry, but the company mighty merry, and
I with them, and so the child was christened; my wife, his father,
and her mother, the witnesses, and the child’s name Elizabeth.
So we had gloves and wine and wafers, very pretty, and talked
and tattled, and so we away by water and up with the tide, she
and I and Barker, as high as Barne Eimes, it being a fine evening,
and back again to pass the bridges at standing water between 9
and 10 at might, and then home and to supper, and then to bed
with much pleasure. This day Sir W. Coventry tells me the Dutch
fleete shot some shot, four or five hundred, into Burnt-Island in
the Frith, but without any hurt; and so are gone.
6th. Up and angry with my mayds for letting in watermen,
and I know not who, anybody that they are acquainted with, into
my kitchen to talk and prate with them, which I will not endure.
Then out and by coach to my Lord Treasurer’s, who continues
still very ill, then to Sir Ph. Warwicke’s house, and there did a lit-
tle business about my Tangier tallies, and so to Westminster Hall,
and there to the Exchequer to consult about some way of getting
our poor Creditors of the Navy (who served in their goods be-
fore the late Session of Parliament) paid out of the 11 months tax,
which seems to relate only for goods to be then served in, and I
think I have found out a way to bring them into the Act, which,
if it do, I shall think a good service done. Thence by coach home
with Captain Cocke, in our way talking of my Lord Bruncker and
his Lady, who are mighty angry with us all of the office, about
Carcasse’s business, but especially with me, and in great confi-
dence he bids me have a care of him, for he hath said that he
would wound me with the person where my greatest interest is.
I suppose he means Sir W. Coventry, and therefore I will beware
of him, and am glad, though vexed to hear it. So home to dinner,
2317
MAY 1667
where Creed come, whom I vexed devilishly with telling him a
wise man, and good friend of his and mine, did say that he lately
went into the country to Hinchingbroke; and, at his coming to
town again, hath shifted his lodgings, only to avoid paying to
the Poll Bill, which is so true that he blushed, and could not in
words deny it, but the fellow did think to have not had it dis-
covered. He is so devilish a subtle false rogue, that I am really
weary and afeard of his company, and therefore after dinner left
him in the house, and to my office, where busy all the afternoon
despatching much business, and in the evening to Sir R. Viner’s
to adjust accounts there, and so home, where some of our old
Navy creditors come to me by my direction to consider of what
I have invented for their help as I have said in the morning, and
like it mighty well, and so I to the office, where busy late, then
home to supper and sing with my wife, who do begin to give me
real pleasure with her singing, and so to bed.
7th. Up betimes, and by coach to St. James’s; but there find
Sir W. Coventry gone out betimes this morning, on horseback,
with the King and Duke of York, to Putney-heath,–to run some
horses, and so back again to the office, where some witnesses
from Chatham which I sent for are come up, and do give shrewd
testimonies against Carcasse, which put my Lord into a new
flame, and he and I to high words, and so broke up. Then home
to dinner, where W. Hewer dined with us, and he and I after din-
ner to discourse of Carcasses business, wherein I apparently now
do manage it wholly against my Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Pen, like a
false rogue, shrinking out of the collar, Sir J. Minnes, afoot, being
easily led either way, and Sir W. Batten, a malicious fellow that
is not able to defend any thing, so that the whole odium must
fall on me, which I will therefore beware how I manage that I
may not get enemies to no purpose. It vexes me to see with what
a company I am mixed, but then it pleases me to see that I am
reckoned the chief mover among them, as they do, confess and
esteem me in every thing. Thence to the office, and did business,
and then by coach to St. James’s again, but [Sir] W. Coventry
2318
MAY 1667
not within, so I wrote something to him, and then straight back
again and to Sir W. Batten’s, and there talked with him and [Sir]
J. Minnes, who are mighty hot in Carcasses business, but their
judgment’s not to be trusted. However, I will go through with
it, or otherwise we shall be all slaves to my Lord Bruncker and
his man’s impudence. So to the office a little, and then home to
supper and to bed, after hearing my wife sing, who is manifestly
come to be more musical in her eare than ever I thought she could
have been made, which rejoices me to the heart, for I take great
delight now to hear her sing.
8th. Up pretty betimes and out of doors, and in Fen Church
street met Mr. Lovett going with a picture to me, but I could not
stand to discourse or see it, but on to the next hackney coach and
so to Sir W. Coventry, where he and I alone a while discoursing
of some businesses of the office, and then up to the Duke of York
to his chamber with my fellow brethren who are come, and so
did our usual weekly business, which was but little to-day, and
I was glad that the business of Carcasse was not mentioned be-
cause our report was not ready, but I am resolved it shall against
the next coming to the Duke of York. Here was discourse about a
way of paying our old creditors which did please me, there being
hopes of getting them comprehended within the 11 months Tax,
and this did give occasion for Sir G. Carteret’s and my going to
Sir Robert Long to discourse it, who do agree that now the King’s
Council do say that they may be included in the Act, which do
make me very glad, not so much for the sake of the poor men as
for the King, for it would have been a ruin to him and his ser-
vice not to have had a way to have paid the debt. There parted
with Sir G. Carteret and into Westminster Hall, where I met with
Sir H. Cholmly, and he and I to Sir Ph. Warwicke’s to speak a
little about our Tangier business, but to little purpose, my Lord
Treasurer being so ill that no business can be done. Thence with
Sir H. Cholmly to find out Creed from one lodging to another,
which he hath changed so often that there is no finding him, but
at last do come to his lodging that he is entering into this day,
2319
MAY 1667
and do find his goods unlading at the door, by Scotland Yard,
and there I set down Sir H. Cholmly, and I away to the ‘Change,
where spoke about several things, and then going home did meet
Mr. Andrews our neighbour, and did speak with him to enquire
about the ground behind our house, of which I have a mind to
buy enough to make a stable and coach-house; for I do see that
my condition do require it, as well as that it is more charge to
my purse to live as I do than to keep one, and therefore I am
resolved before winter to have one, unless some extraordinary
thing happens to hinder me. He promises me to look after it for
me, and so I home to dinner, where I find my wife’s flageolette
master, and I am so pleased with her proceeding, though she hath
lost time by not practising, that I am resolved for the encourage-
ment of the man to learn myself a little for a month or so, for I
do foresee if God send my wife and I to live, she will become
very good company for me. He gone, comes Lovett with my lit-
tle print of my dear Lady Castlemayne varnished, and the frame
prettily done like gold, which pleases me well. He dined with
me, but by his discourse I do still see that he is a man of good wit
but most strange experience, and acquaintance with all manner
of subtleties and tricks, that I do think him not fit for me to keep
any acquaintance with him, lest he some time or other shew me
a slippery trick. After dinner, he gone, I to the office, where all
the afternoon very busy, and so in the evening to Sir R. Viner’s,
thinking to finish my accounts there, but am prevented, and so
back again home, and late at my office at business, and so home
to supper and sing a little with my dear wife, and so to bed.
9th. Up, and to the office, and at noon home to dinner, and
then with my wife and Barker by coach, and left them at Charing
Cross, and I to St. James’s, and there found Sir W. Coventry alone
in his chamber, and sat and talked with him more than I have
done a great while of several things of the Navy, how our debts
and wants do unfit us for doing any thing. He tells me he hears
stories of Commissioner Pett, of selling timber to the Navy un-
der other names, which I told him I believe is true, and did give
2320
MAY 1667
him an instance. He told me also how his clerk Floyd he hath put
away for his common idlenesse and ill company, and particularly
that yesterday he was found not able to come and attend him, by
being run into the arme in a squabble, though he pretends it was
done in the streets by strangers, at nine at night, by the Maypole
in the Strand. Sir W. Coventry did write to me this morning to
recommend him another, which I could find in my heart to do W.
Hewer for his good; but do believe he will not part with me, nor
have I any mind to let him go. I would my brother were fit for it, I
would adventure him there. He insists upon an unmarried man,
that can write well, and hath French enough to transcribe it only
from a copy, and may write shorthand, if it may be. Thence with
him to my Lord Chancellor at Clarendon House, to a Commit-
tee for Tangier, where several things spoke of and proceeded on,
and particularly sending Commissioners thither before the new
Governor goes, which I think will signify as much good as any
thing else that hath been done about the place, which is none at
all. I did again tell them the badness of their credit by the time
their tallies took before they become payable, and their spending
more than their fund. They seem well satisfied with what I said,
and I am glad that I may be remembered that I do tell them the
case plain; but it troubled me that I see them hot upon it, that the
Governor shall not be paymaster, which will force me either to
the providing one there to do it (which I will never undertake), or
leave the employment, which I had rather do. Mightily pleased
with the noblenesse of this house, and the brave furniture and
pictures, which indeed is very noble, and, being broke up, I with
Sir G. Carteret in his coach into Hide Park, to discourse of things,
and spent an hour in this manner with great pleasure, telling me
all his concernments, and how he is gone through with the pur-
chase for my Lady Jemimah and her husband; how the Treasury
is like to come into the hands of a Committee; but that not that,
nor anything else, will do our business, unless the King himself
will mind his business, and how his servants do execute their
parts; he do fear an utter ruin in the state, and that in a little time,
2321
MAY 1667
if the King do not mind his business soon; that the King is very
kind to him, and to my Lord Sandwich, and that he doubts not
but at his coming home, which he expects about Michaelmas, he
will be very well received. But it is pretty strange how he be-
gan again the business of the intention of a marriage of my Lord
Hinchingbroke to a daughter of my Lord Burlington’s to my Lord
Chancellor, which he now tells me as a great secret, when he told
it me the last Sunday but one; but it may be the poor man hath
forgot, and I do believe he do make it a secret, he telling me that
he has not told it to any but myself, end this day to his daugh-
ter my Lady Jemimah, who looks to lie down about two months
hence. After all this discourse we turned back and to White Hall,
where we parted, and I took up my wife at Unthanke’s, and so
home, and in our street, at the Three Tuns’ Tavern’ door, I find a
great hubbub; and what was it but two brothers have fallen out,
and one killed the other. And who should they be but the two
Fieldings; one whereof, Bazill, was page to my Lady Sandwich;
and he hath killed the other, himself being very drunk, and so is
sent to Newgate. I to the office and did as much business as my
eyes would let me, and so home to supper and to bed.
10th. Up and to the office, where a meeting about the Vict-
uallers’ accounts all the morning, and at noon all of us to Kent’s,
at the Three Tuns’ Tavern, and there dined well at Mr. Gawden’s
charge; and, there the constable of the parish did show us the
picklocks and dice that were found in the dead man’s pocket,
and but 18d. in money; and a table-book, wherein were entered
the names of several places where he was to go; and among oth-
ers Kent’s house, where he was to dine, and did dine yesterday:
and after dinner went into the church, and there saw his corpse
with the wound in his left breast; a sad spectacle, and a broad
wound, which makes my hand now shake to write of it. His
brother intending, it seems, to kill the coachman, who did not
please him, this fellow stepped in, and took away his sword; who
thereupon took out his knife, which was of the fashion, with a fal-
chion blade, and a little cross at the hilt like a dagger; and with
2322
MAY 1667
that stabbed him. So to the office again, very busy, and in the
evening to Sir Robert Viner’s, and there took up all my notes and
evened our balance to the 7th of this month, and saw it entered in
their ledger, and took a receipt for the remainder of my money as
the balance of an account then adjusted. Then to my Lord Trea-
surer’s, but missed Sir Ph. Warwicke, and so back again, and
drove hard towards Clerkenwell,630 thinking to have overtaken
my Lady Newcastle, whom I saw before us in her coach, with
100 boys and girls running looking upon her but I could not: and
so she got home before I could come up to her. But I will get a
time to see her. So to the office and did more business, and then
home and sang with pleasure with my wife, and to supper and
so to bed.
11th. Up, and being called on by Mr. Commander, he and I
out to the ground behind Sir W. Pen’s, where I am resolved to
take a lease of some of it for a stable and coach [house], and so to
keep a coach, unless some change come before I can do it, for I do
see it is a greater charge to me now in hackneys, and I am a little
dishonoured by going in them. We spoke with him that hath the
letting it, and I do believe when I can tell how much it will be
fit for me to have we shall go near to agree. So home, and there
found my door open, which makes me very angry with Nell, and
do think to put her away for it, though it do so go against me to
part with a servant that it troubles me more than anything in the
world. So to the office, where all the morning. At noon home
to dinner, where Mr. Goodgroome and Creed, and I have great
hopes that my wife will come to sing to my mind. After dinner
my wife and Creed and I being entered a hackney coach to go
to the other end of the town, we espied The. Turner coming in
her coach to see us, which we were surprised at, and so ‘light
and took her and another young lady home, and there sat and
630 At Newcastle House, Clerkenwell Close, the duke and duchess lived in
great state. The house was divided, and let in tenements in the eighteenth
century.
2323
MAY 1667
talked with The., she being lately come out of the North after
two or three years absence. She is come to put out her sister and
brothers to school at Putney. After a little talk, I over Tower Hill
with them to a lady’s they go to visit, and so away with my wife,
whose being dressed this day in fair hair did make me so mad,
that I spoke not one word to her in our going, though I was ready
to burst with anger. So to White Hall to the Committee of Tang-
ier, where they were discoursing about laws for the civil govern-
ment of the place, but so dull and so little to the purpose that I
fell to slumber, when the fear of being seen by Sir W. Coventry
did trouble me much afterwards, but I hope he did not. After
that broke up. Creed and I into the Park, and walked, a most
pleasant evening, and so took coach, and took up my wife, and
in my way home discovered my trouble to my wife for her white
locks,631 swearing by God, several times, which I pray God for-
give me for, and bending my fist, that I would not endure it. She,
poor wretch,632 was surprized with it, and made me no answer
all the way home; but there we parted, and I to the office late,
and then home, and without supper to bed, vexed.
12th (Lord’s day). Up, and to my chamber, to settle some ac-
counts there, and by and by down comes my wife to me in her
night-gown, and we begun calmly, that upon having money to
lace her gown for second mourning, she would promise to wear
631 Randle Holmes says the ladies wore “false locks set on wyres, to make
them stand at a distance from the head,” and accompanies the information
with the figure of a lady “with a pair of locks and curls which were in great
fashion in 1670” (Planche’s “Cyclopaedia of Costume;” Vol. i., p. 248).
632 A new light is thrown upon this favourite expression of Pepys’s when
speaking of his wife by the following quotation from a Midland wordbook:
“Wretch, n., often used as an expression of endearment or sympathy. Old
Woman to Young Master: ‘An’‘ow is the missis to-day, door wretch?’ Of a
boy going to school a considerable distance off ‘I met ‘im with a bit o’ bread
in ‘is bag, door wretch”’ (“A Glossary of Words and Phrases used in S.E.
Worcestershire,” by Jesse Salisbury. Published by the English Dialect Society,
1894).
2324
MAY 1667
white locks no more in my sight, which I, like a severe fool, think-
ing not enough, begun to except against, and made her fly out to
very high terms and cry, and in her heat told me of keeping com-
pany with Mrs. Knipp, saying, that if I would promise never to
see her more–of whom she hath more reason to suspect than I
had heretofore of Pembleton–she would never wear white locks
more. This vexed me, but I restrained myself from saying any-
thing, but do think never to see this woman–at least, to have her
here more, but by and by I did give her money to buy lace, and
she promised to wear no more white locks while I lived, and so
all very good friends as ever, and I to my business, and she to
dress herself. Against noon we had a coach ready for us, and she
and I to White Hall, where I went to see whether Sir G. Carteret
was at dinner or no, our design being to make a visit there, and
I found them set down, which troubled me, for I would not then
go up, but back to the coach to my wife, and she and I home-
ward again, and in our way bethought ourselves of going alone,
she and I, to go to a French house to dinner, and so enquired out
Monsieur Robins, my perriwigg-maker, who keeps an ordinary,
and in an ugly street in Covent Garden, did find him at the door,
and so we in; and in a moment almost had the table covered, and
clean glasses, and all in the French manner, and a mess of potage
first, and then a couple of pigeons a la esterve, and then a piece
of boeuf-a-la-mode, all exceeding well seasoned, and to our great
liking; at least it would have been anywhere else but in this bad
street, and in a perriwigg-maker’s house; but to see the pleasant
and ready attendance that we had, and all things so desirous to
please, and ingenious in the people, did take me mightily. Our
dinner cost us 6s., and so my wife and I away to Islington, it be-
ing a fine day, and thence to Sir G. Whitmore’s house, where we
‘light, and walked over the fields to Kingsland, and back again; a
walk, I think, I have not taken these twenty years; but puts me in
mind of my boy’s time, when I boarded at Kingsland, and used
to shoot with my bow and arrows in these fields. A very pretty
place it is; and little did any of my friends think I should come
2325
MAY 1667
to walk in these fields in this condition and state that I am. Then
took coach again, and home through Shoreditch; and at home my
wife finds Barker to have been abroad, and telling her so many
lies about it, that she struck her, and the wench said she would
not stay with her: so I examined the wench, and found her in so
many lies myself, that I was glad to be rid of her, and so resolved
having her go away to-morrow. So my wife and W. Hewer and I
to supper, and then he and I to my chamber to begin the draught
of the report from this office to the Duke of York in the case of
Mr. Carcasse, which I sat up till midnight to do, and then to bed,
believing it necessary to have it done, and to do it plainly, for it is
not to be endured the trouble that this rascal hath put us to, and
the disgrace he hath brought upon this office.
13th. Up, and when ready, to the office (my wife rising to send
away Barker, according to our resolution last night, and she did
do it with more clothes than have cost us £10, and 20s. in her
purse, which I did for the respect I bear Mr. Falconbridge, oth-
erwise she had not deserved half of it, but I am the more will-
ing to do it to be rid of one that made work and trouble in the
house, and had not qualities of any honour or pleasure to me or
my family, but what is a strange thing did always declare to her
mistress and others that she had rather be put to drudgery and
to wash the house than to live as she did like a gentlewoman),
and there I and Gibson all the morning making an end of my
report against Carcasse, which I think will do our business, but
it is a horrid shame such a rogue should give me and all of us
this trouble. This morning come Sir H. Cholmly to me for a tally
or two; and tells me that he hears that we are by agreement to
give the King of France Nova Scotia, which he do not like: but I
do not know the importance of it.633 Then abroad with my wife
633 Nova Scotia and the adjoining countries were called by the French
Acadie. Pepys is not the only official personage whose ignorance of Nova
Scotia is on record. A story is current of a prime minister (Duke of New-
castle) who was surprised at hearing Cape Breton was an island. “Egad, I’ll
2326
MAY 1667
to my Lord Treasurer’s, and she to her tailor’s. I find Sir Philip
Warwicke, who I perceive do give over my Lord Treasurer for a
man of this world, his pain being grown great again upon him,
and all the rest he hath is by narcotiques, and now Sir Philip War-
wicke do please himself, like a good man, to tell some of the good
ejaculations of my Lord Treasurer concerning the little worth of
this world, to buy it with so much pain, and other things fit for
a dying man. So finding no business likely to be done here for
Tangier, I having a warrant for tallies to be signed, I away to the
New Exchange, and there staid a little, and then to a looking-
glass shop to consult about covering the wall in my closet over
my chimney, which is darkish, with looking-glasses, and then to
my wife’s tailor’s, but find her not ready to go home, but got to
buy things, and so I away home to look after my business and
finish my report of Carcasse, and then did get Sir W. Batten, Sir
J. Minnes, and [Sir] W. Pen together, and read it over with all the
many papers relating to the business, which they do wonder at,
and the trouble I have taken about it, and like the report, so as
that they do unanimously resolve to sign it, and stand by it, and
after a great deal of discourse of the strange deportment of my
Lord Bruncker in this business to withstand the whole board in
behalf of such an impudent rogue as this is, I parted, and home
to my wife, and supped and talked with her, and then to bed,
resolving to rise betimes to-morrow to write fair the report.
14th. Up by 5 o’clock, and when ready down to my chamber,
and there with Mr. Fist, Sir W. Batten’s clerk, who writes mighty
well, writing over our report in Mr. Carcasses business, in which
we continued till 9 o’clock, that the office met, and then to the of-
fice, where all the morning, and so at noon home to dinner, where
Mr. Holliard come and eat with us, who among other things do
give me good hopes that we shall give my father some ease as to
go tell the King Cape Breton is an island!” Of the same it is said, that when
told Annapolis was in danger, and ought to be defended: “Oh! certainly
Annapolis must be defended,– where is Annapolis?”–B.
2327
MAY 1667
his rupture when he comes to town, which I expect to-morrow.
After dinner comes Fist, and he and I to our report again till 9
o’clock, and then by coach to my Lord Chancellor’s, where I met
Mr. Povy, expecting the coming of the rest of the Commissioners
for Tangier. Here I understand how the two Dukes, both the only
sons of the Duke of York, are sick even to danger, and that on
Sunday last they were both so ill, as that the poor Duchess was
in doubt which would die first: the Duke of Cambridge of some
general disease; the other little Duke, whose title I know not, of
the convulsion fits, of which he had four this morning. Fear that
either of them might be dead, did make us think that it was the
occasion that the Duke of York and others were not come to the
meeting of the Commission which was designed, and my Lord
Chancellor did expect. And it was pretty to observe how, when
my Lord sent down to St. James’s to see why the Duke of York
come not, and Mr. Povy, who went, returned, my Lord (Chan-
cellor) did ask, not how the Princes or the Dukes do, as other
people do, but “How do the children?” which methought was
mighty great, and like a great man and grandfather. I find every
body mightily concerned for these children, as a matter wherein
the State is much concerned that they should live. At last it was
found that the meeting did fail from no known occasion, at which
my Lord Chancellor was angry, and did cry out against Creed
that he should give him no notice. So Povy and I went forth, and
staid at the gate of the house by the streete, and there stopped to
talk about the business of the Treasury of Tangier, which by the
badness of our credit, and the resolution that the Governor shall
not be paymaster, will force me to provide one there to be my
paymaster, which I will never do, but rather lose my place, for I
will not venture my fortune to a fellow to be employed so far off,
and in that wicked place. Thence home, and with Fist presently
to the finishing the writing fair of our report. And by and by to
Sir W. Batten’s, and there he and I and [Sir] J. Minnes and [Sir] W.
Pen did read and sign it with great good liking, and so away to
the office again to look over and correct it, and then home to sup-
2328
MAY 1667
per and to bed, my mind being pretty well settled, having this
report done, and so to supper and to bed.
15th. [This morning my wife had some things brought home
by a new woman of the New Exchange, one Mrs. Smith, which
she would have me see for her fine hand, and indeed it is a
fine hand, and the woman I have observed is a mighty pretty
looked woman.] Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes
to St. James’s, and stopt at Temple Bar for Sir J. Minnes to go
into the Devil’s Taverne to shit, he having drunk whey, and his
belly wrought. Being come, we up to the Duke of York’s cham-
ber, who, when ready, we to our usual business, and being very
glad, we all that signed it, that is, Sir J. Minnes, W. Batten, W.
Pen, and myself, and then Sir G. Carteret and [Sir] W. Coventry,
Bruncker, and T. Harvy, and the officers of the Ordnance, Sir J.
Duncombe, and Mr. Cholmely presented our report about Car-
casse, and did afterwards read it with that success that the Duke
of York was for punishing him, not only with turning him out of
the office, but with what other punishment he could, which no-
body did forward, and so he escaped, only with giving security
to secure the King against double tickets of his and other things
that he might have wronged the King or subject in before his dis-
mission. Yet, Lord! to see how our silly Lord Bruncker would
have stood to have justified this rogue, though to the reproach of
all us who have signed, which I shall never forget to have been
a most malicious or a most silly act, and I do think it is as much
the latter as the other, for none but a fool could have done as this
silly Lord hath done in this business. So the Duke of York did like
our report, and ordered his being secured till he did give his se-
curity, which did fully content me, and will I hope vindicate the
office. It happened that my Lord Arlington coming in by chance
was at the hearing of all this, which I was not sorry for, for he
did move or did second the Duke of York that this roguery of his
might be put in the News-book that it might be made publique
to satisfy for the wrong the credit of this office hath received by
this rogue’s occasion. So with utmost content I away with Sir G.
2329
MAY 1667
Carteret to London, talking all the way; and he do tell me that the
business of my Lord Hinchingbroke his marriage with my Lord
Burlington’s daughter is concluded on by all friends; and that
my Lady is now told of it, and do mightily please herself with it;
which I am mighty glad of. So home, and there I find that my
wife hath been at my desire at the Inne, thinking that my father
might be come up with the coach, but he is not come this week,
poor man, but will be here the next. At noon to dinner, and then
to Sir W. Batten’s, where I hear the news how our Embassadors
were but ill received at Flushing, nor at Bredah itself, there being
only a house and no furniture provided for them, though it be
said that they have as much as the French. Here we staid talking
a little, and then I to the office about my business, and thence to
the office, where busy about my own papers of my office, and by
and by comes the office full to examine Sir W. Warren’s account,
which I do appear mighty fierce in against him, and indeed am,
for his accounts are so perplexed that I am sure he cannot but ex-
pect to get many a £1000 in it before it passes our hands, but I will
not favour him, but save what I can to the King. At his accounts,
wherein I very high against him, till late, and then we broke up
with little done, and so broke up, and I to my office, where late
doing of business, and then home to supper and to bed. News
still that my Lord Treasurer is so ill as not to be any man of this
world; and it is said that the Treasury shall be managed by Com-
mission. I would to God Sir G. Carteret, or my Lord Sandwich, be
in it! But the latter is the more fit for it. This day going to White
Hall, Sir W. Batten did tell me strange stories of Sir W. Pen, how
he is already ashamed of the fine coach which his son-in-law and
daughter have made, and indeed it is one of the most ridiculous
things for people of their low, mean fashion to make such a coach
that ever I saw. He tells me how his people come as they do to
mine every day to borrow one thing or other, and that his Lady
hath been forced to sell some coals (in the late dear time) only to
enable her to pay money that she hath borrowed of Griffin to de-
fray her family expense, which is a strange story for a rogue that
2330
MAY 1667
spends so much money on clothes and other occasions himself as
he do, but that which is most strange, he tells me that Sir W. Pen
do not give £6000, as is usually [supposed], with his daughter to
him, and that Mr. Lowder is come to use the tubb, that is to bathe
and sweat himself, and that his lady is come to use the tubb too,
which he takes to be that he hath, and hath given her the pox, but
I hope it is not so, but, says Sir W. Batten, this is a fair joynture,
that he hath made her, meaning by that the costs the having of a
bath.
16th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and,
among other things, comes in Mr. Carcasse, and after many argu-
ings against it, did offer security as was desired, but who should
this be but Mr. Powell, that is one other of my Lord Bruncker’s
clerks; and I hope good use will be made of it. But then he began
to fall foul upon the injustice of the Board, which when I heard
I threatened him with being laid by the heels, which my Lord
Bruncker took up as a thing that I could not do upon the occa-
sion he had given, but yet did own that it was ill said of him. I
made not many words of it, but have let him see that I can say
what I will without fear of him, and so we broke off, leaving the
bond to be drawn by me, which I will do in the best manner I
can. At noon, this being Holy Thursday, that is, Ascension Day,
when the boys go on procession round the parish, we were to
go to the Three Tuns’ Tavern, to dine with the rest of the parish;
where all the parish almost was, Sir Andrew Rickard and oth-
ers; and of our house, J. Minnes, W. Batten, W. Pen, and myself;
and Mr. Mills did sit uppermost at the table. Here we were in-
formed that the report of our Embassadors being ill received in
their way to Bredah is not true, but that they are received with
very great civility, which I am glad to hear. But that that did vex
me was that among all us there should come in Mr. Carcasse to
be a guest for his money (5s. a piece) as well as any of us. This
did vex me, and I would have gone, and did go to my house,
thinking to dine at home, but I was called away from them, and
so we sat down, and to dinner. Among other things Sir John
2331
MAY 1667
Fredericke and Sir R. Ford did talk of Paul’s School, which, they
tell me, must be taken away; and then I fear it will be long be-
fore another place, as they say is promised, is found; but they do
say that the honour of their company is concerned in the doing
of it, and that it is a thing that they are obliged to do. Thence
home, and to my office, where busy; anon at 7 at night I and
my wife and Sir W. Pen in his coach to Unthanke’s, my wife’s
tailor, for her to speak one word, and then we to my Lord Trea-
surer’s, where I find the porter crying, and suspected it was that
my Lord is dead; and, poor Lord! we did find that he was dead
just now; and the crying of the fellow did so trouble me, that
considering I was not likely to trouble him any more, nor have
occasion to give any more anything, I did give him 3s.; but it
may be, poor man, he hath lost a considerable hope by the death
of his Lord, whose house will be no more frequented as before,
and perhaps I may never come thither again about any business.
There is a good man gone: and I pray God that the Treasury may
not be worse managed by the hand or hands it shall now be put
into; though, for certain, the slowness, though he was of great in-
tegrity, of this man, and remissness, have gone as far to undo the
nation, as anything else that hath happened; and yet, if I knew
all the difficulties that he hath lain under, and his instrument Sir
Philip Warwicke, I might be brought to another mind. Thence
we to Islington, to the Old House, and there eat and drank, and
then it being late and a pleasant evening, we home, and there to
my chamber, and to bed. It is remarkable that this afternoon Mr.
Moore come to me, and there, among other things, did tell me
how Mr. Moyer, the merchant, having procured an order from
the King and Duke of York and Council, with the consent of my
Lord Chancellor, and by assistance of Lord Arlington, for the re-
leasing out of prison his brother, Samuel Moyer, who was a great
man in the late times in Haberdashers’-hall, and was engaged
under hand and seal to give the man that obtained it so much
in behalf of my Lord Chancellor; but it seems my Lady Duchess
of Albemarle had before undertaken it for so much money, but
2332
MAY 1667
hath not done it. The Duke of Albemarle did the next day send
for this Moyer, to tell him, that notwithstanding this order of the
King and Council’s being passed for release of his brother, yet,
if he did not consider the pains of some friends of his, he would
stop that order. This Moyer being an honest, bold man, told him
that he was engaged to the hand that had done the thing to give
him a reward; and more he would not give, nor could own any
kindness done by his Grace’s interest; and so parted. The next
day Sir Edward Savage did take the said Moyer in tax about it,
giving ill words of this Moyer and his brother; which he not be-
ing able to bear, told him he would give to the person that had
engaged him what he promised, and not any thing to any body
else; and that both he and his brother were as honest men as him-
self, or any man else; and so sent him going, and bid him do his
worst. It is one of the most extraordinary cases that ever I saw or
understood; but it is true. This day Mr. Sheply is come to town
and to see me, and he tells me my father is very well only for his
pain, so that he is not able to stir; but is in great pain. I would to
God that he were in town that I might have what help can be got
for him, for it troubles me to have him live in that condition of
misery if I can help it.
17th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning upon some
accounts of Mr. Gawden’s, and at noon to the Three Tuns to din-
ner with Lord Bruncker, Sir J. Minnes, W. Batten, W. Pen, and T.
Harvy, where very merry, and my Lord Bruncker in appearance
as good friends as ever, though I know he has a hatred to me in
heart. After dinner to my house, where Mr. Sheply dined, and
we drank and talked together. He, poor man, hath had his arm
broke the late frost, slipping in going over Huntingdon Bridge.
He tells me that jasper Trice and Lewes Phillips and Mr. Ashfield
are gone from Brampton, and he thinks chiefly from the height of
Sir J. Bernard’s carriage, who carries all things before him there,
which they cannot bear with, and so leave the town, and this is
a great instance of the advantage a man of the law hath over all
other people, which would make a man to study it a little. She-
2333
MAY 1667
ply being gone, there come the flageolet master, who having had
a bad bargain of teaching my wife by the year, she not practising
so much as she should do, I did think that the man did deserve
some more consideration, and so will give him an opportunity of
20s. a month more, and he shall teach me, and this afternoon I
begun, and I think it will be a few shillings well spent. Then to Sir
R. Viner’s with 600 pieces of gold to turn into silver, for the en-
abling me to answer Sir G. Carteret’s £3000; which he now draws
all out of my hand towards the paying for a purchase he hath
made for his son and my Lady Jemimah, in Northamptonshire, of
Sir Samuel Luke, in a good place; a good house, and near all her
friends; which is a very happy thing. Thence to St. James’s, and
there spoke with Sir W. Coventry, and give him some account of
some things, but had little discourse with him, there being com-
pany with him, and so directly home again and then to my office,
doing some business, and so to my house, and with my wife to
practice on the flageolet a little, and with great pleasure I see she
can readily hit her notes, but only want of practice makes her she
cannot go through a whole tune readily. So to supper and to bed.
18th. Up, and all the morning at the office, and then to dinner,
and after dinner to the office to dictate some letters, and then with
my wife to Sir W. Turner’s to visit The., but she being abroad we
back again home, and then I to the office, finished my letters, and
then to walk an hour in the garden talking with my wife, whose
growth in musique do begin to please me mightily, and by and by
home and there find our Luce drunk, and when her mistress told
her of it would be gone, and so put up some of her things and did
go away of her accord, nobody pressing her to it, and the truth is,
though she be the dirtiest, homeliest servant that ever I kept, yet I
was sorry to have her go, partly through my love to my servants,
and partly because she was a very drudging, working wench,
only she would be drunk. But that which did a little trouble me
was that I did hear her tell her mistress that she would tell her
master something before she was aware of her that she would
be sorry to have him know; but did it in such a silly, drunken
2334
MAY 1667
manner, that though it trouble me a little, yet not knowing what
to suspect she should know, and not knowing well whether she
said it to her mistress or Jane, I did not much think of it. So she
gone, we to supper and to bed, my study being made finely clean.
19th (Lord’s day). Up, and to my chamber to set some papers
in order, and then, to church, where my old acquaintance, that
dull fellow, Meriton, made a good sermon, and hath a strange
knack of a grave, serious delivery, which is very agreeable. After
church to White Hall, and there find Sir G. Carteret just set down
to dinner, and I dined with them, as I intended, and good com-
pany, the best people and family in the world I think. Here was
great talk of the good end that my Lord Treasurer made; clos-
ing his owne eyes and setting his mouth, and bidding adieu with
the greatest content and freedom in the world; and is said to die
with the cleanest hands that ever any Lord Treasurer did. After
dinner Sir G. Carteret and I alone, and there, among other dis-
course, he did declare that he would be content to part with his
place of Treasurer of the Navy upon good terms. I did propose
my Lord Belasses as a man likely to buy it, which he listened to,
and I did fully concur and promote his design of parting with it,
for though I would have my father live, I would not have him
die Treasurer of the Navy, because of the accounts which must be
uncleared at his death, besides many other circumstances mak-
ing it advisable for him to let it go. He tells me that he fears all
will come to naught in the nation soon if the King do not mind
his business, which he do not seem likely to do. He says that the
Treasury will be managed for a while by a Commission, whereof
he thinks my Lord Chancellor for the honour of it, and my Lord
Ashly, and the two Secretaries will be, and some others he knows
not. I took leave of him, and directly by water home, and there
to read the life of Mr. Hooker, which pleases me as much as any
thing I have read a great while, and by and by comes Mr. Howe
to see us, and after him a little Mr. Sheply, and so we all to talk,
and, Mercer being there, we some of us to sing, and so to supper,
a great deal of silly talk. Among other things, W. Howe told us
2335
MAY 1667
how the Barristers and Students of Gray’s Inne rose in rebellion
against the Benchers the other day, who outlawed them, and a
great deal of do; but now they are at peace again. They being
gone, I to my book again, and made an end of Mr. Hooker’s Life,
and so to bed.
20th. Up betimes, and comes my flagelette master to set me a
new tune, which I played presently, and shall in a month do as
much as I desire at it. He being gone, I to several businesses in
my chamber, and then by coach to the Commissioners of Excise,
and so to Westminster Hall, and there spoke with several persons
I had to do with. Here among other news, I hear that the Com-
missioners for the Treasury were named by the King yesterday;
but who they are nobody could tell: but the persons are the Lord
Chancellor, the two Secretaries, Lord Ashly, and others say Sir
W. Coventry and Sir John Duncomb, but all conclude the Duke
of Albemarle; but reports do differ, but will be known in a day or
two. Having done my business, I then homeward, and overtook
Mr. Commander; so took him into a coach with me, and he and
I into Lincoln’s Inne Fields, there to look upon the coach-houses
to see what ground is necessary for coach-house and horses, be-
cause of that that I am going about to do, and having satisfied
myself in this he and I to Mr. Hide’s to look upon the ground
again behind our house, and concluded upon his going along
with us to-morrow to see some stables, he thinking that we de-
mand more than is necessary. So away home, and then, I, it being
a broken day, and had power by my vows, did walk abroad, first
through the Minorys, the first time I have been over the Hill to
the postern-gate, and seen the place, since the houses were pulled
down about that side of the Tower, since the fire, to find where
my young mercer with my pretty little woman to his wife lives,
who lived in Lumbard streete, and I did espy them, but took no
notice now of them, but may do hereafter. Thence down to the
Old Swan, and there saw Betty Michell, whom I have not seen
since her christening. But, Lord! how pretty she is, and looks as
well as ever I saw her, and her child (which I am fain to seem
2336
MAY 1667
very fond of) is pretty also, I think, and will be. Thence by water
to Westminster Hall, and there walked a while talking at random
with Sir W. Doyly, and so away to Mrs. Martin’s lodging, who
was gone before, expecting me, and there je hazer what je vellem
cum her and drank, and so by coach home (but I have forgot that
I did in the morning go to the Swan, and there tumbling of la little
fille, son uncle did trouver her cum su neckcloth off, which I was
ashamed of, but made no great matter of it, but let it pass with a
laugh), and there spent the evening with my wife at our flagelets,
and so to supper, and after a little reading to bed. My wife still
troubled with her cold. I find it everywhere now to be a thing
doubted whether we shall have peace or no, and the captain of
one of our ships that went with the Embassadors do say, that the
seamen of Holland to his hearing did defy us, and called us En-
glish dogs, and cried out against peace, and that the great people
there do oppose peace, though he says the common people do
wish it.
21st. Up and to the office, where sat all the morning. At noon
dined at home with my wife and find a new girle, a good big
girle come to us, got by Payne to be our girle; and his daughter
Nell we make our cook. This wench’s name is Mary, and seems
a good likely maid. After dinner I with Mr. Commander and
Mr. Hide’s brother to Lincolne’s Inne Fields, and there viewed
several coach-houses, and satisfied ourselves now fully in it, and
then there parted, leaving the rest to future discourse between
us. Thence I home; but, Lord! how it went against my heart to
go away from the very door of the Duke’s play-house, and my
Lady Castlemayne’s coach, and many great coaches there, to see
“The Siege of Rhodes.” I was very near making a forfeit, but I did
command myself, and so home to my office, and there did much
business to my good content, much better than going to a play,
and then home to my wife, who is not well with her cold, and
sat and read a piece of Grand Cyrus in English by her, and then
to my chamber and to supper, and so to bed. This morning the
Captain come from Holland did tell us at the board what I have
2337
MAY 1667
said he reported yesterday. This evening after I come from the
office Mrs. Turner come to see my wife and me, and sit and talk
with us, and so, my wife not being well and going to bed, Mrs.
Turner and I sat up till 12 at night talking alone in my chamber,
and most of our discourse was of our neighbours. As to my Lord
Bruncker, she says how Mrs. Griffin, our housekeeper’s wife,
hath it from his maid, that comes to her house often, that they
are very poor; that the other day Mrs. Williams was fain to send
a jewell to pawn; that their maid hath said herself that she hath
got £50 since she come thither, and £17 by the payment of one bill;
that they have a most lewd and nasty family here in the office, but
Mrs. Turner do tell me that my Lord hath put the King to infinite
charge since his coming thither in alterations, and particularly
that Mr. Harper at Deptford did himself tell her that my Lord
hath had of Foly, the ironmonger, £50 worth in locks and keys for
his house, and that it is from the fineness of them, having some
of £4 and £5 a lock, such as is in the Duke’s closet; that he hath
several of these; that he do keep many of her things from her of
her own goods, and would have her bring a bill into the office for
them; that Mrs. Griffin do say that he do not keep Mrs. Williams
now for love, but need, he having another whore that he keeps in
Covent Garden; that they do owe money everywhere almost for
every thing, even Mrs. Shipman for her butter and cheese about
£3, and after many demands cannot get it. Mrs. Turner says she
do believe their coming here is only out of a belief of getting pur-
chase by it, and that their servants (which was wittily said of her
touching his clerks) do act only as privateers, no purchase, no
pay. And in my conscience she is in the right. Then we fell to
talk of Sir W. Pen, and his family and rise. She [Mrs. Turner] says
that he was a pityfull [fellow] when she first knew them; that his
lady was one of the sourest, dirty women, that ever she saw; that
they took two chambers, one over another, for themselves and
child, in Tower Hill; that for many years together they eat more
meals at her house than at their own; did call brothers and sisters
the husbands and wives; that her husband was godfather to one,
2338
MAY 1667
and she godmother to another (this Margaret) of their children,
by the same token that she was fain to write with her own hand
a letter to Captain Twiddy, to stand for a godfather for her; that
she brought my Lady, who then was a dirty slattern, with her
stockings hanging about her heels, so that afterwards the peo-
ple of the whole Hill did say that Mrs. Turner had made Mrs.
Pen a gentlewoman, first to the knowledge of my Lady Vane, Sir
Henry’s lady, and him to the knowledge of most of the great peo-
ple that then he sought to, and that in short his rise hath been
his giving of large bribes, wherein, and she agrees with my opin-
ion and knowledge before therein, he is very profuse. This made
him General; this got him out of the Tower when he was in; and
hath brought him into what he is now, since the King’s coming in:
that long ago, indeed, he would drink the King’s health privately
with Mr. Turner; but that when he saw it fit to turn Roundhead,
and was offered by Mr. Turner to drink the King’s health, he
answered “No;” he was changed, and now, he that would make
him drink the King’s health, or any health but the Protector’s and
the State’s, or to that purpose, he would be the first man should
sheath his sword in his guts. That at the King’s coming in, he
did send for her husband, and told him what a great man Sir W.
Coventry was like to be, and that he having all the records in
his hands of the Navy, if he would transcribe what was of most
present use of the practice of the Navy, and give them him to give
Sir W. Coventry from him, it would undoubtedly do his business
of getting him a principal officer’s place; that her husband was
at £5 charge to get these presently writ; that Sir W. Pen did give
them Sir W. Coventry as from himself, which did set him up with
W. Coventry, and made him what he is, and never owned any
thing of Mr. Turner in them; by which he left him in the lurch,
though he did promise the Duke of Albemarle to do all that was
possible, and made no question of Mr. Turner’s being what he
desired; and when afterwards, too, did propose to him the get-
ting of the Purveyor’s place for him, he did tell Mr. Turner it was
necessary to present Sir W. Coventry 100 pieces, which he did,
2339
MAY 1667
and W. Coventry took 80 of them: so that he was W. Coventry’s
mere broker, as Sir W. Batten and my Lady did once tell my Lady
Duchess of Albemarle, in the case of Mr. Falconer, whom W. Pen
made to give W. Coventry £200 for his place of Clerk of the Rope
Yard of Woolwich, and to settle £80 a year upon his daughter
Pegg, after the death of his wife, and a gold watch presently to
his wife. Mrs. Turner do tell me that my Lady and Pegg have
themselves owned to her that Sir W. Coventry and Sir W. Pen
had private marks to write to one another by, that when they in
appearance writ a fair letter in behalf of anybody, that they had
a little mark to show they meant it only in shew: this, these silly
people did confess themselves of him. She says that their son,
Mr. William Pen, did tell her that his father did observe the com-
manders did make their addresses to me and applications, but
they should know that his father should be the chief of the office,
and that she hath observed that Sir W. Pen never had a kind-
ness to her son, since W. Pen told her son that he had applied
himself to me. That his rise hath been by her and her husband’s
means, and that it is a most inconceivable thing how this man
can have the face to use her and her family with the neglect that
he do them. That he was in the late war a most devilish plun-
derer, and that got him his estate, which he hath in Ireland, and
nothing else, and that he hath always been a very liberal man in
his bribes, that upon his coming into this part of the Controller’s
business wherein he is, he did send for T. Willson and told him
how against his knowledge he was put in, and had so little wit as
to say to him, “This will make the pot boyle, will it not, Mr. Will-
son? will it not make the pot boyle?” and do offer him to come
in and do his business for him, and he would reward him. This
Mr. Willson did come and tell her presently, he having been their
servant, and to this day is very faithful to them. That her hus-
band’s not being forward to make him a bill for Rere Admirall’s
pay and Generall’s pay both at the same time after he was first
made Generall did first give him occasion of keeping a distance
from him, since which they have never been great friends, Pen
2340
MAY 1667
having by degrees been continually growing higher and higher,
till now that he do wholly slight them and use them only as ser-
vants. Upon the whole, she told me stories enough to confirm
me that he is the most false fellow that ever was born of woman,
and that so she thinks and knows him to be.
22nd. Up, and by water to White Hall to Sir G. Carteret, who
tells me now for certain how the Commission for the Treasury
is disposed of: viz., to Duke of Albemarle, Lord Ashly, Sir W.
Coventry, Sir John Duncomb, and Sir Thomas Clifford: at which,
he says, all the whole Court is disturbed; it having been once
concluded otherwise into the other hands formerly mentioned
in yesterday’s notes, but all of a sudden the King’s choice was
changed, and these are to be the men; the first of which is only
for a puppet to give honour to the rest. He do presage that these
men will make it their business to find faults in the management
of the late Lord Treasurer, and in discouraging the bankers: but
I am, whatever I in compliance do say to him, of another mind,
and my heart is very glad of it, for I do expect they will do much
good, and that it is the happiest thing that hath appeared to me
for the good of the nation since the King come in. Thence to St.
James’s, and up to the Duke of York; and there in his chamber
Sir W. Coventry did of himself take notice of this business of the
Treasury, wherein he is in the Commission, and desired that I
would be thinking of any thing fit for him to be acquainted with
for the lessening of charge and bettering of our credit, and what
our expence bath been since the King’s coming home, which he
believes will be one of the first things they shall enquire into:
which I promised him, and from time to time, which he desires,
will give him an account of what I can think of worthy his knowl-
edge. I am mighty glad of this opportunity of professing my joy
to him in what choice the King hath made, and the hopes I have
that it will save the kingdom from perishing and how it do en-
courage me to take pains again, after my having through despair
neglected it! which he told me of himself that it was so with
him, that he had given himself up to more ease than ever he ex-
2341
MAY 1667
pected, and that his opinion of matters was so bad, that there
was no publick employment in the kingdom should have been
accepted by him but this which the King hath now given him;
and therein he is glad, in hopes of the service he may do therein;
and in my conscience he will. So into the Duke of York’s closet;
and there, among other things, Sir W. Coventry did take notice of
what he told me the other day, about a report of Commissioner
Pett’s dealing for timber in the Navy, and selling it to us in other
names; and, besides his own proof, did produce a paper I had
given him this morning about it, in the case of Widow Murford
and Morecocke, which was so handled, that the Duke of York
grew very angry, and commanded us presently to fall into the
examination of it, saying that he would not trust a man for his
sake that lifts up the whites of his eyes. And it was declared
that if he be found to have done so, he should be reckoned unfit
to serve the Navy; and I do believe he will be turned out; and
it was, methought, a worthy saying of Sir W. Coventry to the
Duke of York, “Sir,” says he, “I do not make this complaint out
of any disrespect to Commissioner Pett, but because I do love to
do these things fairly and openly.” Thence I to Westminster Hall
with Sir G. Carteret to the Chequer Chamber to hear our cause
of the Lindeboome prize there before the Lords of Appeal, where
was Lord Ashly, Arlington, Barkely, and Sir G. Carteret, but the
latter three signified nothing, the former only either minding or
understanding what was said. Here was good pleading of Sir
Walter Walker’s and worth hearing, but little done in our busi-
ness. Thence by coach to the Red Lyon, thinking to meet my
father, but I come too soon, but my wife is gone out of town to
meet him. I am in great pain, poor man, for him, lest he should
come up in pain to town. So I staid not, but to the ‘Change, and
there staid a little, where most of the newes is that the Swedes are
likely to fall out with the Dutch, which we wish, but how true I
know not. Here I met my uncle Wight, the second day he hath
been abroad, having been sick these two months even to death,
but having never sent to me even in the greatest of his danger.
2342
MAY 1667
I do think my Aunt had no mind I should come, and so I never
went to see him, but neither he took notice of it to me, nor I made
any excuse for it to him, but past two or three How do you’s, and
so parted and so home, and by and by comes my poor father,
much better than I expected, being at ease by fits, according as
his truss sits, and at another time in as much pain. I am mighty
glad to see him come well to town. So to dinner, where Creed
comes. After dinner my wife and father abroad, and Creed and
I also by water, and parted at the Temple stairs, where I landed,
and to the King’s house, where I did give 18d., and saw the two
last acts of “The Goblins,” a play I could not make any thing of by
these two acts, but here Knipp spied me out of the tiring-room,
and come to the pit door, and I out to her, and kissed her, she
only coming to see me, being in a country-dress, she, and others
having, it seemed, had a country-dance in the play, but she no
other part: so we parted, and I into the pit again till it was done.
The house full, but I had no mind to be seen, but thence to.my
cutler’s, and two or three other places on small, errands, and so
home, where my father and wife come home, and pretty well my
father, who to supper and betimes to bed at his country hours.
I to Sir W. Batten’s, and there got some more part of my divi-
dend of the prize-money. So home and to set down in writing
the state of the account, and then to supper, and my wife to her
flageolet, wherein she did make out a tune so prettily of herself,
that I was infinitely pleased beyond whatever I expected from
her, and so to bed. This day coming from Westminster with W.
Batten, we saw at White Hall stairs a fisher-boat, with a sturgeon
that he had newly catched in the River; which I saw, but it was
but a little one; but big enough to prevent my mistake of that
for a colt, if ever I become Mayor of Huntingdon!634 23rd. Up,
and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon home,
634 During a very high flood in the meadows between Huntingdon and
Godmanchester, something was seen floating, which the Godmanchester
people thought was a black pig, and the Huntingdon folk declared it was
a sturgeon; when rescued from the waters, it proved to be a young donkey.
2343
MAY 1667
and with my father dined, and, poor man! he hath put off his
travelling-clothes to-day, and is mighty spruce, and I love to see
him cheerful. After dinner I to my chamber, and my wife and I
to talk, and by and by they tell Mrs. Daniel would speak with
me, so I down to the parlour to her, and sat down together and
talked about getting her husband a place .... I do promise, and
mean to do what kindness I can to her husband. After having
been there hasti je was ashamed de peur that my people pen-
sait.... de it, or lest they might espy us through some trees, we
parted and I to the office, and presently back home again, and
there was asked by my wife, I know not whether simply or with
design, how I come to look as I did, car ego was in much chaleur
et de body and of animi, which I put off with the heat of the sea-
son, and so to other business, but I had some fear hung upon me
lest alcuno had sidi decouvert. So to the office, and then to Sir R.
Viner’s about some part of my accounts now going on with him,
and then home and ended my letters, and then to supper and my
chamber to settle many things there, and then to bed. This noon
I was on the ‘Change, where I to my astonishment hear, and it
is in the Gazette, that Sir John Duncomb is sworn yesterday a
Privy-councillor. This day I hear also that last night the Duke of
Kendall, second son of the Duke of York, did die; and that the
other, Duke of Cambridge, continues very ill still. This afternoon
I had opportunity para jouer with Mrs. Pen, tokendo her mam-
mailles and baisando elle, being sola in the casa of her pater, and
she fort willing.
24th. Up, and to the office, where, by and by, by appointment,
we met upon Sir W. Warren’s accounts, wherein I do appear in
every thing as much as I can his enemy, though not so far but
upon good conditions from him I may return to be his friend, but
I do think it necessary to do what I do at present. We broke off
This mistake led to the one party being styled “Godmanchester black pigs,”
and the other “Huntingdon sturgeons,” terms not altogether forgotten at this
day. Pepys’s colt must be taken to be the colt of an ass.–B.
2344
MAY 1667
at noon without doing much, and then home, where my wife not
well, but yet engaged by invitation to go with Sir W. Pen. I got
her to go with him by coach to Islington to the old house, where
his lady and Madam Lowther, with her exceeding fine coach and
mean horses, and her mother-in-law, did meet us, and two of Mr.
Lowther’s brothers, and here dined upon nothing but pigeon-
pyes, which was such a thing for him to invite all the company
to, that I was ashamed of it. But after dinner was all our sport,
when there come in a juggler, who, indeed, did shew us so good
tricks as I have never seen in my life, I think, of legerdemaine,
and such as my wife hath since seriously said that she would not
believe but that he did them by the help of the devil. Here, after
a bad dinner, and but ordinary company, saving that I discern
good parts in one of the sons, who, methought, did take me up
very prettily in one or two things that I said, and I was so sen-
sible of it as to be a caution to me hereafter how I do venture to
speak more than is necessary in any company, though, as I did
now, I do think them incapable to censure me. We broke up, they
back to Walthamstow, and only my wife and I and Sir W. Pen
to the King’s playhouse, and there saw “The Mayden Queene,”
which, though I have often seen, yet pleases me infinitely, it be-
ing impossible, I think, ever to have the Queen’s part, which is
very good and passionate, and Florimel’s part, which is the most
comicall that ever was made for woman, ever done better than
they two are by young Marshall and Nelly. Home, where I spent
the evening with my father and wife, and late at night some flag-
illette with my wife, and then to supper and to bed.
25th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon
dined at home, and there come Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, and
dined with me, telling me that the Duke of Cambridge continues
very ill, so as they do despair of his living. So to the office again,
where all the afternoon. About 4 o’clock comes Mrs. Pierce to
see my wife, and I into them, and there find Pierce very fine, and
in her own hair, which do become her, and so says my wife, ten
times better than lighter hair, her complexion being mighty good.
2345
MAY 1667
With them talked a little, and was invited by her to come with my
wife on Wednesday next in the evening, to be merry there, which
we shall do. Then to the office again, where dispatched a great
deal of business till late at night, to my great content, and then
home and with my wife to our flageolets a little, and so to sup-
per and to bed, after having my chamber a little wiped up.
26th (Lord’s day). Up sooner than usual on Sundays, and to
walk, it being exceeding hot all night (so as this night I begun
to leave off my waistcoat this year) and this morning, and so to
walk in the garden till toward church time, when my wife and I
to church, where several strangers of good condition come to our
pew, where the pew was full. At noon dined at home, where little
Michell come and his wife, who continues mighty pretty. After
dinner I by water alone to Westminster, where, not finding Mrs.
Martin within, did go towards the parish church, and in the way
did overtake her, who resolved to go into the church with her that
she was going with (Mrs. Hargrave, the little crooked woman,
the vintner’s wife of the Dog) and then go out again, and so I to
the church, and seeing her return did go out again myself, but
met with Mr. Howlett, who, offering me a pew in the gallery, I
had no excuse but up with him I must go, and then much against
my will staid out the whole church in pain while she expected me
at home, but I did entertain myself with my perspective glass up
and down the church, by which I had the great pleasure of see-
ing and gazing at a great many very fine women; and what with
that, and sleeping, I passed away the time till sermon was done,
and then to Mrs. Martin, and there staid with her an hour or two,
and there did what I would with her, and after been here so long
I away to my boat, and up with it as far as Barne Elmes, reading
of Mr. Evelyn’s late new book against Solitude, in which I do not
find much excess of good matter, though it be pretty for a bye dis-
course. I walked the length of the Elmes, and with great pleasure
saw some gallant ladies and people come with their bottles, and
basket, and chairs, and form, to sup under the trees, by the water-
side, which was mighty pleasant. I to boat again and to my book,
2346
MAY 1667
and having done that I took another book, Mr. Boyle’s of Colours,
and there read, where I laughed, finding many fine things wor-
thy observation, and so landed at the Old Swan, and so home,
where I find my poor father newly come out of an unexpected
fit of his pain, that they feared he would have died. They had
sent for me to White Hall and all up and down, and for Mr. Hol-
liard also, who did come, but W. Hewer being here did I think do
the business in getting my father’s bowel, that was fallen down,
into his body again, and that which made me more sensible of it
was that he this morning did show me the place where his bowel
did use to fall down and swell, which did trouble me to see. But
above all things the poor man’s patience under it, and his good
heart and humour, as soon as he was out of it, did so work upon
me, that my heart was sad to think upon his condition, but do
hope that a way will be found by a steel truss to relieve him. By
and by to supper, all our discourse about Brampton, and my in-
tentions to build there if I could be free of my engagement to my
Uncle Thomas and his son, that they may not have what I have
built, against my will, to them whether I will or no, in case of me
and my brothers being without heirs male; which is the true rea-
son why I am against laying out money upon that place, together
with my fear of some inconvenience by being so near Hinching-
broke; being obliged to be a servant to that family, and subject to
what expence they shall cost me; and to have all that I shall buy,
or do, esteemed as got by the death of my uncle, when indeed
what I have from him is not worth naming. After supper to read
and then to bed.
27th. Up, and there comes Greeting my flagelette master, and I
practised with him. There come also Richardson, the bookbinder,
with one of Ogilby’s Bibles in quires for me to see and buy, it be-
ing Mr. Cade’s, my stationer’s; but it is like to be so big that I
shall not use it, it being too great to stir up and down without
much trouble, which I shall not like nor do intend it for. So by
water to White Hall, and there find Sir G. Carteret at home, and
talked with him a while, and find that the new Commissioners
2347
MAY 1667
of the Treasury did meet this morning. So I to find out Sir W.
Coventry, but missed, only I do hear that they have chosen Sir G.
Downing for their Secretary; and I think in my conscience they
have done a great thing in it; for he is a business active man, and
values himself upon having of things do well under his hand; so
that I am mightily pleased in their choice. Here I met Mr. Pierce,
who tells me that he lately met Mr. Carcasse, who do mightily
inveigh against me, for that all that has been done against him he
lays on me, and I think he is in the right and I do own it, only I
find what I suspected, that he do report that Sir W. Batten and I,
who never agreed before, do now, and since this business agree
even more, which I did fear would be thought, and therefore will
find occasion to undeceive the world in that particular by pro-
moting something shortly against [Sir] W. Batten. So home, and
there to sing with my wife before dinner, and then to dinner, and
after dinner comes Carcasse to speak with me, but I would not
give him way to enlarge on anything, but he would have begun
to have made a noise how I have undone him and used all the wit
I could in the drawing up of his report, wherein he told me I had
taken a great deal of pains to undo him. To which I did not think
fit to enter into any answer, but dismissed him, and so I again
up to my chamber, vexed at the impudence of this rogue, but I
think I shall be wary enough for him: So to my chamber, and
there did some little business, and then abroad, and stopped at
the Bear-garden-stairs, there to see a prize fought. But the house
so full there was no getting in there, so forced to go through an
alehouse into the pit, where the bears are baited; and upon a stool
did see them fight, which they did very furiously, a butcher and
a waterman. The former had the better all along, till by and by
the latter dropped his sword out of his hand, and the butcher,
whether not seeing his sword dropped I know not, but did give
him a cut over the wrist, so as he was disabled to fight any longer.
But, Lord! to see how in a minute the whole stage was full of wa-
termen to revenge the foul play, and the butchers to defend their
fellow, though most blamed him; and there they all fell to it to
2348
MAY 1667
knocking down and cutting many on each side. It was pleasant
to see, but that I stood in the pit, and feared that in the tumult I
might get some hurt. At last the rabble broke up, and so I away
to White Hall and so to St. James’s, but I found not Sir W. Coven-
try, so into the Park and took a turn or two, it being a most sweet
day, and so by water home, and with my father and wife walked
in the garden, and then anon to supper and to bed. The Duke of
Cambridge very ill still.
28th. Up, and by coach to St. James’s, where I find Sir W.
Coventry, and he desirous to have spoke with me. It was to read
over a draught of a letter which he hath made for his brother
Commissioners and him to sign to us, demanding an account of
the whole business of the Navy accounts; and I perceive, by the
way he goes about it, that they will do admirable things. He tells
me they have chosen Sir G. Downing their Secretary, who will be
as fit a man as any in the world; and said, by the by, speaking of
the bankers being fearful of Sir G. Downing’s being Secretary, he
being their enemy, that they did not intend to be ruled by their
Secretary, but do the business themselves. My heart is glad to see
so great hopes of good to the nation as will be by these men; and
it do me good to see Sir W. Coventry so cheerfull as he now is on
the same score. Thence home, and there fell to seeing my office
and closet there made soundly clean, and the windows cleaned.
At which all the morning, and so at noon to dinner. After din-
ner my wife away down with Jane and W. Hewer to Woolwich,
in order to a little ayre and to lie there to-night, and so to gather
May-dew to-morrow morning,635 which Mrs. Turner hath taught
her as the only thing in the world to wash her face with; and I
635 If we are to credit the following paragraph, extracted from the “Morn-
ing Post” of May 2nd, 1791, the virtues of May dew were then still held in
some estimation; for it records that “on the day preceding, according to an-
nual and superstitious custom, a number of persons went into the fields, and
bathed their faces with the dew on the grass, under the idea that it would
render them beautiful” (Hone’s “Every Day Book,” vol. ii., p. 611). Aubrey
speaks of May dew as “a great dissolvent” (“Miscellanies,” p. 183).–B.
2349
MAY 1667
am contented with it. Presently comes Creed, and he and I by
water to Fox-hall, and there walked in Spring Garden. A great
deal of company, and the weather and garden pleasant: that it
is very pleasant and cheap going thither, for a man may go to
spend what he will, or nothing, all is one. But to hear the nightin-
gale and other birds, and here fiddles, and there a harp, and here
a Jew’s trump, and here laughing, and there fine people walk-
ing, is mighty divertising. Among others, there were two pretty
women alone, that walked a great while, which being discovered
by some idle gentlemen, they would needs take them up; but to
see the poor ladies how they were put to it to run from them, and
they after them, and sometimes the ladies put themselves along
with other company, then the other drew back; at last, the last
did get off out of the house, and took boat and away. I was trou-
bled to see them abused so; and could have found in my heart, as
little desire of fighting as I have, to have protected the ladies. So
by water, set Creed down at White Hall, and I to the Old Swan,
and so home. My father gone to bed, and wife abroad at Wool-
wich, I to Sir W. Pen, where he and his Lady and Pegg and pretty
Mrs. Lowther her sister-in-law at supper, where I sat and talked,
and Sir W. Pen, half drunk, did talk like a fool and vex his wife,
that I was half pleased and half vexed to see so much folly and
rudeness from him, and so late home to bed.
29th. Up, and by coach to St. James’s, where by and by up to
the Duke of York, where, among other things, our parson Mills
having the offer of another benefice by Sir Robert Brookes, who
was his pupil, he by my Lord Barkeley [of Stratton] is made one
of the Duke’s Chaplains, which qualifies him for two livings. But
to see how slightly such things are done, the Duke of York only
taking my Lord Barkeley’s word upon saying, that we the officers
of the Navy do say he is a good man and minister of our parish,
and the Duke of York admits him to kiss his hand, but speaks
not one word to him; but so a warrant will be drawn from the
Duke of York to qualify him, and there’s an end of it. So we into
the Duke’s closett, where little to do, but complaint for want of
2350
MAY 1667
money and a motion of Sir W. Coventry’s that we should all now
bethink ourselves of lessening charge to the King, which he said
was the only way he saw likely to put the King out of debt, and
this puts me upon thinking to offer something presently myself
to prevent its being done in a worse manner without me relating
to the Victualling business, which, as I may order it, I think may
be done and save myself something. Thence home, and there
settle to some accounts of mine in my chamber I all the morning
till dinner. My wife comes home from Woolwich, but did not
dine with me, going to dress herself against night, to go to Mrs.
Pierce’s to be merry, where we are to have Knepp and Harris and
other good people. I at my accounts all the afternoon, being a
little lost in them as to reckoning interest. Anon comes down
my wife, dressed in her second mourning, with her black moyre
waistcoat, and short petticoat, laced with silver lace so basely
that I could not endure to see her, and with laced lining, which is
too soon, so that I was horrid angry, and went out of doors to the
office and there staid, and would not go to our intended meeting,
which vexed me to the blood, and my wife sent twice or thrice to
me, to direct her any way to dress her, but to put on her cloth
gown, which she would not venture, which made me mad: and
so in the evening to my chamber, vexed, and to my accounts,
which I ended to my great content, and did make amends for the
loss of our mirth this night, by getting this done, which otherwise
I fear I should not have done a good while else. So to bed.
30th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon
dined at home, being without any words friends with my wife,
though last night I was very angry, and do think I did give her as
much cause to be angry with me. After dinner I walked to Arun-
dell House, the way very dusty, the day of meeting of the Society
being changed from Wednesday to Thursday, which I knew not
before, because the Wednesday is a Council-day, and several of
the Council are of the Society, and would come but for their at-
tending the King at Council; where I find much company, indeed
very much company, in expectation of the Duchesse of Newcas-
2351
MAY 1667
tle, who had desired to be invited to the Society; and was, after
much debate, pro and con., it seems many being against it; and
we do believe the town will be full of ballads of it. Anon comes
the Duchesse with her women attending her; among others, the
Ferabosco,2 of whom so much talk is that her lady would bid her
show her face and kill the gallants. She is indeed black, and hath
good black little eyes, but otherwise but a very ordinary woman I
do think, but they say sings well. The Duchesse hath been a good,
comely woman; but her dress so antick, and her deportment so
ordinary, that I do not like her at all, nor did I hear her say any
thing that was worth hearing, but that she was full of admira-
tion, all admiration. Several fine experiments were shown her of
colours, loadstones, microscopes, and of liquors among others,
of one that did, while she was there, turn a piece of roasted mut-
ton into pure blood, which was very rare. Here was Mrs. Moore
of Cambridge, whom I had not seen before, and I was glad to
see her; as also a very pretty black boy that run up and down
the room, somebody’s child in Arundell House. After they had
shown her many experiments, and she cried still she was full of
admiration, she departed, being led out and in by several Lords
that were there; among others Lord George Barkeley and Earl of
Carlisle, and a very pretty young man, the Duke of Somerset. She
gone, I by coach home, and there busy at my letters till night, and
then with my wife in the evening singing with her in the garden
with great pleasure, and so home to supper and to bed.
31st. Up, and there came young Mrs. Daniel in the morning
as I expected about business of her husband’s. I took her into
the office to discourse with her about getting some employment
for him.... By water to White Hall to the Lords Commissioners of
the Treasury, the first time I ever was there and I think the sec-
ond that they have met at the Treasury chamber there. Here I
saw Duncomb look as big, and take as much state on him, as if
he had been born a lord. I was in with him about Tangier, and
at present received but little answer from them, they being in a
cloud of business yet, but I doubt not but all will go well under
2352
MAY 1667
them. Here I met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me that he is told
this day by Secretary Morris that he believes we are, and shall be,
only fooled by the French; and that the Dutch are very high and
insolent, and do look upon us as come over only to beg a peace;
which troubles me very much, and I do fear it is true. Thence to
Sir G. Carteret at his lodgings; who, I perceive, is mightily dis-
pleased with this new Treasury; and he hath reason, for it will
eclipse him; and he tells me that my Lord Ashly says they un-
derstand nothing; and he says he believes the King do not intend
they shall sit long. But I believe no such thing, but that the King
will find such benefit by them as he will desire to have them con-
tinue, as we see he hath done, in the late new Act that was so
much decried about the King; but yet the King hath since per-
mitted it, and found good by it. He says, and I believe, that a
great many persons at Court are angry at the rise of this Dun-
comb, whose father, he tells me, was a long-Parliamentman, and
a great Committee-man; and this fellow used to carry his papers
to Committees after him: he was a kind of an atturny: but for all
this, I believe this man will be a great man, in spite of all. Thence
I away to Holborne to Mr. Gawden, whom I met at Bernard’s Inn
gate, and straight we together to the Navy Office, where we did
all meet about some victualling business, and so home to dinner
and to the office, where the weather so hot now-a-days that I can-
not but sleep before I do any business, and in the evening home,
and there, to my unexpected satisfaction, did get my intricate ac-
counts of interest, which have been of late much perplexed by
mixing of some moneys of Sir G. Carteret’s with mine, evened
and set right: and so late to supper, and with great quiet to bed;
finding by the balance of my account that I am creditor £6900, for
which the Lord of Heaven be praised!
2353
JUNE 1667
June 1st. Up; and there comes to me Mr. Commander, whom I
employ about hiring of some ground behind the office, for the
building of me a stable and coach-house: for I do find it neces-
sary for me, both in respect to honour and the profit of it also,
my expense in hackney-coaches being now so great, to keep a
coach, and therefore will do it. Having given him some instruc-
tions about it, I to the office, where we sat all the morning; where
we have news that our peace with Spayne, as to trade, is wholly
concluded, and we are to furnish him with some men for Flan-
ders against the French. How that will agree with the French, I
know not; but they say that he also hath liberty, to get what men
he pleases out of England. But for the Spaniard, I hear that my
Lord Castlehaven is raising a regiment of 4000 men, which he is
to command there; and several young gentlemen are going over
in commands with him: and they say the Duke of Monmouth is
going over only as a traveller, not to engage on either side, but
only to see the campagne, which will be becoming him much
more than to live whoreing and rogueing, as he now do. After
dinner to the office, where, after a little nap, I fell to business,
and did very much with infinite joy to myself, as it always is to
me when I have dispatched much business, and therefore it trou-
bles me to see how hard it is for me to settle to it sometimes when
2354
JUNE 1667
my mind is upon pleasure. So home late to supper and to bed.
2nd (Lord’s day). Up betimes, and down to my chamber with-
out trimming myself, or putting on clean linen, thinking only to
keep to my chamber and do business to-day, but when I come
there I find that without being shaved I am not fully awake, nor
ready to settle to business, and so was fain to go up again and
dress myself, which I did, and so down to my chamber, and fell
roundly to business, and did to my satisfaction by dinner go far
in the drawing up a state of my accounts of Tangier for the new
Lords Commissioners. So to dinner, and then to my business
again all the afternoon close, when Creed come to visit me, but
I did put him off, and to my business, till anon I did make an
end, and wrote it fair with a letter to the Lords to accompany
my accounts, which I think will be so much satisfaction and so
soon done (their order for my doing it being dated but May 30)
as they will not find from any hand else. Being weary and almost
blind with writing and reading so much to-day, I took boat at the
Old Swan, and there up the river all alone as high as Putney al-
most, and then back again, all the way reading, and finishing Mr.
Boyle’s book of Colours, which is so chymical, that I can under-
stand but little of it, but understand enough to see that he is a
most excellent man. So back and home, and there to supper, and
so to bed.
3rd. Up, and by coach to St. James’s, and with Sir W. Coven-
try a great while talking about several businesses, but especially
about accounts, and how backward our Treasurer is in giving
them satisfaction, and the truth is I do doubt he cannot do better,
but it is strange to say that being conscious of our doing little at
this day, nor for some time past in our office for want of money,
I do hang my head to him, and cannot be so free with him as I
used to be, nor can be free with him, though of all men, I think, I
have the least cause to be so, having taken so much more pains,
while I could do anything, than the rest of my fellows. Parted
with him, and so going through the Park met Mr. Mills, our par-
2355
JUNE 1667
son, whom I went back with to bring him to [Sir] W. Coventry, to
give him the form of a qualification for the Duke of York to sign
to, to enable him to have two livings: which was a service I did,
but much against my will, for a lazy, fat priest. Thence to West-
minster Hall, and there walked a turn or two with Sir William
Doyly, who did lay a wager with me, the Treasurership would be
in one hand, notwithstanding this present Commission, before
Christmas: on which we did lay a poll of ling, a brace of carps,
and a pottle of wine; and Sir W. Pen and Mr. Scowen to be at
the eating of them. Thence down by water to Deptford, it being
Trinity Monday, when the Master is chosen, and there, finding
them all at church, and thinking they dined, as usual, at Stepny, I
turned back, having a good book in my hand, the Life of Cardinal
Wolsey, wrote by his own servant, and to Ratcliffe; and so walked
to Stepny, and spent, my time in the churchyard, looking over the
gravestones, expecting when the company would come by. Find-
ing no company stirring, I sent to the house to see; and, it seems,
they dine not there, but at Deptford: so I back again to Deptford,
and there find them just sat down. And so I down with them;
and we had a good dinner of plain meat, and good company at
our table: among others, my good Mr. Evelyn, with whom, af-
ter dinner, I stepped aside, and talked upon the present posture
of our affairs; which is, that the Dutch are known to be abroad
with eighty sail of ships of war, and twenty fire-ships; and the
French come into the Channell with twenty sail of men-of-war,
and five fireships, while we have not a ship at sea to do them any
hurt with; but are calling in all we can, while our Embassadors
are treating at Bredah; and the Dutch look upon them as come
to beg peace, and use them accordingly; and all this through the
negligence of our Prince, who hath power, if he would, to master
all these with the money and men that he hath had the command
of, and may now have, if he would mind his business. But, for
aught we see, the Kingdom is likely to be lost, as well as the rep-
utation of it is, for ever; notwithstanding so much reputation got
and preserved by a rebel that went before him. This discourse of
2356
JUNE 1667
ours ended with sorrowful reflections upon our condition, and
so broke up, and Creed and I got out of the room, and away by
water to White Hall, and there he and I waited in the Treasury-
chamber an hour or two, where we saw the Country Receivers
and Accountants for money come to attend; and one of them,
a brisk young fellow, with his hat cocked like a fool behind, as
the present fashion among the blades is, committed to the Ser-
jeant. By and by, I, upon desire, was called in, and delivered in
my report of my Accounts. Present, Lord Ashly, Clifford, and
Duncomb, who, being busy, did not read it; but committed it to
Sir George Downing, and so I was dismissed; but, Lord! to see
how Duncomb do take upon him is an eyesore, though I think he
deserves great honour, but only the suddenness of his rise, and
his pride. But I do like the way of these lords, that they admit no-
body to use many words, nor do they spend many words them-
selves, but in great state do hear what they see necessary, and
say little themselves, but bid withdraw. Thence Creed and I by
water up to Fox Hall, and over against it stopped, thinking to see
some Cock-fighting; but it was just being done, and, therefore,
back again to the other side, and to Spring Garden, and there eat
and drank a little, and then to walk up and down the garden, re-
flecting upon the bad management of things now, compared with
what it was in the late rebellious times, when men, some for fear,
and some for religion, minded their business, which none now
do, by being void of both. Much talk of this and, other kinds,
very pleasant, and so when it was almost night we home, setting
him in at White Hall, and I to the Old Swan, and thence home,
where to supper, and then to read a little, and so to bed.
4th. Up, and to the office, and there busy all the morning
putting in order the answering the great letter sent to the office
by the new Commissioners of the Treasury, who demand an ac-
count from the King’s coming in to this day, which we shall do
in the best manner we can. At noon home to dinner, and after
dinner comes Mr. Commander to me and tells me, after all, that I
cannot have a lease of the ground for my coach-house and stable,
2357
JUNE 1667
till a suit in law be ended, about the end of the old stable now
standing, which they and I would have pulled down to make a
better way for a coach. I am a little sorry that I cannot presently
have it, because I am pretty full in my mind of keeping a coach;
but yet, when I think on it again, the Dutch and French both at
sea, and we poor, and still out of order, I know not yet what turns
there may be, and besides, I am in danger of parting with one of
my places, which relates to the Victualling, that brings me by ac-
cident in £800 a year, that is, £300 from the King and £500 from
D. Gawden. I ought to be well contented to forbear awhile, and
therefore I am contented. To the office all the afternoon, where
I dispatched much business to my great content, and then home
in the evening, and there to sing and pipe with my wife, and
that being done, she fell all of a sudden to discourse about her
clothes and my humours in not suffering her to wear them as she
pleases, and grew to high words between us, but I fell to read
a book (Boyle’s Hydrostatiques)636 aloud in my chamber and let
her talk, till she was tired and vexed that I would not hear her,
and so become friends, and to bed together the first night after 4
or 5 that she hath lain from me by reason of a great cold she had
got.
5th. Up, and with Mr. Kenasteri by coach to White Hall to the
Commissioners of the Treasury about getting money for Tangier,
and did come to, after long waiting, speak with them, and there
I find them all sat; and, among the rest, Duncomb lolling, with
his heels upon another chair, by that, that he sat upon, and had
an answer good enough, and then away home, and (it being a
most windy day, and hath been so all night, South West, and we
have great hopes that it may have done the Dutch or French fleets
some hurt) having got some papers in order, I back to St. James’s,
where we all met at Sir W. Coventry’s chamber, and dined and
talked of our business, he being a most excellent man, and in-
636 “Hydrostatical Paradoxes made out by New Experiments” was pub-
lished by the Hon. Robert Boyle in 1666 (Oxford).
2358
JUNE 1667
deed, with all his business, hath more of his employed upon
the good of the service of the Navy, than all of us, that makes
me ashamed of it. This noon Captain Perriman brings us word
how the Happy Returne’s’ [crew] below in the Hope, ordered to
carry the Portugal Embassador to Holland (and the Embassador,
I think, on board), refuse to go till paid; and by their example two
or three more ships are in a mutiny: which is a sad consideration,
while so many of the enemy’s ships are at this day triumphing in
the sea. Here a very good and neat dinner, after the French man-
ner, and good discourse, and then up after dinner to the Duke of
York and did our usual business, and are put in hopes by Sir W.
Coventry that we shall have money, and so away, Sir G. Carteret
and I to my Lord Crew to advise about Sir G. Carteret’s carrying
his accounts to-morrow to the Commissioners appointed to ex-
amine them and all other accounts since the war, who at last by
the King’s calling them to him yesterday and chiding them will
sit, but Littleton and Garraway much against their wills. The
truth of it is, it is a ridiculous thing, for it will come to noth-
ing, nor do the King nor kingdom good in any manner, I think.
Here they talked of my Lord Hinchingbroke’s match with Lord
Burlington’s daughter, which is now gone a pretty way forward,
and to great content, which I am infinitely glad of. So from hence
to White Hall, and in the streete Sir G. Carteret showed me a gen-
tleman coming by in his coach, who hath been sent for up out of
Lincolneshire, I think he says he is a justice of peace there, that
the Council have laid by the heels here, and here lies in a mes-
senger’s hands, for saying that a man and his wife are but one
person, and so ought to pay but 12d. for both to the Poll Bill; by
which others were led to do the like: and so here he lies prisoner.
To White Hall, and there I attended to speak with Sir W. Coven-
try about Lanyon’s business, to get him some money out of the
Prize Office from my Lord Ashly, and so home, and there to the
office a little, and thence to my chamber to read, and supper, and
to bed. My father, blessed be God! finds great ease by his new
steel trusse, which he put on yesterday. So to bed. The Duke of
2359
JUNE 1667
Cambridge past hopes of living still.
6th. Up, and to the office all the morning, where (which he
hath not done a great while) Sir G. Carteret come to advise with
us for the disposing of £10,000, which is the first sum the new
Lords Treasurers have provided us; but, unless we have more,
this will not enable us to cut off any of the growing charge which
they seem to give it us for, and expect we should discharge sev-
eral ships quite off with it. So home and with my father and wife
to Sir W. Pen’s to dinner, which they invited us to out of their re-
spect to my father, as a stranger; though I know them as false as
the devil himself, and that it is only that they think it fit to oblige
me; wherein I am a happy man, that all my fellow-officers are
desirous of my friendship. Here as merry as in so false a place,
and where I must dissemble my hatred, I could be, and after din-
ner my father and wife to a play, and I to my office, and there
busy all the afternoon till late at night, and then my wife and I
sang a song or two in the garden, and so home to supper and to
bed. This afternoon comes Mr. Pierce to me about some business,
and tells me that the Duke of Cambridge is yet living, but every
minute expected to die, and is given over by all people, which
indeed is a sad loss.
7th. Up, and after with my flageolet and Mr. Townsend, whom
I sent for to come to me to discourse about my Lord Sandwich’s
business; for whom I am in some pain, lest the Accounts of the
Wardrobe may not be in so good order as may please the new
Lords Treasurers, who are quick-sighted, and under obligations
of recommending themselves to the King and the world, by their
finding and mending of faults, and are, most of them, not the
best friends to my Lord, and to the office, and there all the morn-
ing. At noon home to dinner, my father, wife, and I, and a good
dinner, and then to the office again, where busy all the afternoon,
also I have a desire to dispatch all business that hath lain long on
my hands, and so to it till the evening, and then home to sing and
pipe with my wife, and then to supper and to bed, my head full
2360
JUNE 1667
of thoughts how to keep if I can some part of my wages as Sur-
veyor of the Victualling, which I see must now come to be taken
away among the other places that have been occasioned by this
war, and the rather because I have of late an inclination to keep
a coach. Ever since my drinking, two days ago, some very Goole
drink at Sir W. Coventry’s table I have been full of wind and with
some pain, and I was afraid last night that it would amount to
much, but, blessed be God! I find that the worst is past, so that
I do clearly see that all the indisposition I am liable to-day as to
sickness is only the Colique. This day I read (shown me by Mr.
Gibson) a discourse newly come forth of the King of France, his
pretence to Flanders, which is a very fine discourse, and the truth
is, hath so much of the Civil Law in it, that I am not a fit judge of
it, but, as it appears to me, he hath a good pretence to it by right
of his Queene. So to bed.
8th. Up, and to the office, where all the news this morning is,
that the Dutch are come with a fleete of eighty sail to Harwich,
and that guns were heard plain by Sir W. Rider’s people at Bed-
nallgreene, all yesterday even. So to the office, we all sat all the
morning, and then home to dinner, where our dinner a ham of
French bacon, boiled with pigeons, an excellent dish. Here dined
with us only W. Hewer and his mother. After dinner to the office
again, where busy till night, and then home and to read a little
and then to bed. The news is confirmed that the Dutch are off
of Harwich, but had done nothing last night. The King hath sent
down my Lord of Oxford to raise the countries there; and all the
Westerne barges are taken up to make a bridge over the River,
about the Hope, for horse to cross the River, if there be occasion.
9th (Lord’s day). Up, and by water to White Hall, and so
walked to St. James’s, where I hear that the Duke of Cambridge,
who was given over long since by the Doctors, is now likely
to recover; for which God be praised! To Sir W. Coventry, and
there talked with him a great while; and mighty glad I was of
my good fortune to visit him, for it keeps in my acquaintance
2361
JUNE 1667
with him, and the world sees it, and reckons my interest accord-
ingly. In comes my Lord Barkeley, who is going down to Harwich
also to look after the militia there: and there is also the Duke
of Monmouth, and with him a great many young Hectors, the
Lord Chesterfield, my Lord Mandeville, and others: but to little
purpose, I fear, but to debauch the country women thereabouts.
My Lord Barkeley wanting some maps, and Sir W. Coventry rec-
ommending the six maps of England that are bound up for the
pocket, I did offer to present my Lord with them, which he ac-
cepted: and so I will send them him. Thence to White Hall, and
there to the Chapel, where I met Creed, and he and I staid to
hear who preached, which was a man who begun dully, and so
we away by water and landed in Southwarke, and to a church
in the street where we take water beyond the bridge, which was
so full and the weather hot that we could not stand there. So to
my house, where we find my father and wife at dinner, and after
dinner Creed and I by water to White Hall, and there we parted,
and I to Sir G. Carteret’s, where, he busy, I up into the house, and
there met with a gentleman, Captain Aldrige, that belongs to my
Lord Barkeley, and I did give him the book of maps for my Lord,
and so I to Westminster Church and there staid a good while,
and saw Betty Michell there. So away thence, and after church
time to Mrs. Martin’s, and then hazer what I would with her,
and then took boat and up, all alone, a most excellent evening, as
high as Barne Elmes, and there took a turn; and then to my boat
again, and home, reading and making an end of the book I lately
bought a merry satyr called “The Visions,” translated from Span-
ish by L’Estrange, wherein there are many very pretty things; but
the translation is, as to the rendering it into English expression,
the best that ever I saw, it being impossible almost to conceive
that it should be a translation. Being come home I find an or-
der come for the getting some fire-ships presently to annoy the
Dutch, who are in the King’s Channel, and expected up higher.
So [Sir] W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen being come this evening from
their country houses to town we did issue orders about it, and
2362
JUNE 1667
then home to supper and, to bed,
10th. Up; and news brought us that, the Dutch are come up as
high as the Nore; and more pressing orders for fireships. W. Bat-
ten, W. Pen, and I to St. James’s; where the Duke of York gone this
morning betimes, to send away some men down to Chatham. So
we three to White Hall, and met Sir W. Coventry, who presses all
that is possible for fire-ships. So we three to the office presently;
and thither comes Sir Fretcheville Hollis, who is to command
them all in some exploits he is to do with them on the enemy
in the River. So we all down to Deptford, and pitched upon ships
and set men at work: but, Lord! to see how backwardly things
move at this pinch, notwithstanding that, by the enemy’s being
now come up as high as almost the Hope, Sir J. Minnes, who has
gone down to pay some ships there, hath sent up the money; and
so we are possessed of money to do what we will with. Yet partly
ourselves, being used to be idle and in despair, and partly peo-
ple that have been used to be deceived by us as to money, won’t
believe us; and we know not, though we have it, how almost to
promise it; and our wants such, and men out of the way, that it is
an admirable thing to consider how much the King suffers, and
how necessary it is in a State to keep the King’s service always in
a good posture and credit. Here I eat a bit, and then in the after-
noon took boat and down to Greenwich, where I find the stairs
full of people, there being a great riding637 there to-day for a man,
637 It was an ancient custom in Berkshire, when a man had beaten his wife,
for the neighbours to parade in front of his house, for the purpose of serenad-
ing him with kettles, and horns and hand-bells, and every species of “rough
music,” by which name the ceremony was designated. Perhaps the riding
mentioned by Pepys was a punishment somewhat similar. Malcolm (“Man-
ners of London”) quotes from the “Protestant Mercury,” that a porter’s lady,
who resided near Strand Lane, beat her husband with so much violence and
perseverance, that the poor man was compelled to leap out of the window
to escape her fury. Exasperated at this virago, the neighbours made a “rid-
ing,” i.e. a pedestrian procession, headed by a drum, and accompanied by
a chemise, displayed for a banner. The manual musician sounded the tune
2363
JUNE 1667
the constable of the town, whose wife beat him. Here I was with
much ado fain to press two watermen to make me a galley, and so
to Woolwich to give order for the dispatch of a ship I have taken
under my care to see dispatched, and orders being so given, I, un-
der pretence to fetch up the ship, which lay at Grays (the Golden
Hand),638 did do that in my way, and went down to Gravesend,
where I find the Duke of Albemarle just come, with a great many
idle lords and gentlemen, with their pistols and fooleries; and the
bulwarke not able to have stood half an hour had they come up;
but the Dutch are fallen down from the Hope and Shell-haven
as low as Sheernesse, and we do plainly at this time hear the
guns play. Yet I do not find the Duke of Albemarle intends to
go thither, but stays here to-night, and hath, though the Dutch
are gone, ordered our frigates to be brought to a line between the
two blockhouses; which I took then to be a ridiculous thing. So I
away into the town and took a captain or two of our ships (who
did give me an account of the proceedings of the Dutch fleete in
the river) to the taverne, and there eat and drank, and I find the
townsmen had removed most of their goods out of the town, for
fear of the Dutch coming up to them; and from Sir John Griffen,
that last night there was not twelve men to be got in the town
to defend it: which the master of the house tells me is not true,
but that the men of the town did intend to stay, though they did
indeed, and so had he, at the Ship, removed their goods. Thence
went off to an Ostend man-of-war, just now come up, who met
of “You round-headed cuckolds, come dig, come dig!” and nearly seventy
coalheavers, carmen, and porters, adorned with large horns fastened to their
heads, followed. The public seemed highly pleased with the nature of the
punishment, and gave liberally to the vindicators of injured manhood.–B.
638 The “Golden Hand” was to have been used for the conveyance of the
Swedish Ambassadors’ horses and goods to Holland. In August, 1667,
Frances, widow of Captain Douglas and daughter of Lord Grey, petitioned
the king “for a gift of the prize ship Golden Hand, now employed in weigh-
ing the ships sunk at Chatham, where her husband lost his life in defence of
the ships against the Dutch” (“Calendar of State Papers,” 1667, p. 430)
2364
JUNE 1667
the Dutch fleete, who took three ships that he come convoying
hither from him says they are as low as the Nore, or thereabouts.
So I homeward, as long as it was light reading Mr. Boyle’s book
of Hydrostatics, which is a most excellent book as ever I read,
and I will take much pains to understand him through if I can,
the doctrine being very useful. When it grew too dark to read I
lay down and took a nap, it being a most excellent fine evening,
and about one o’clock got home, and after having wrote to Sir
W. Coventry an account of what I had done and seen (which is
entered in my letter-book), I to bed.
11th. Up, and more letters still from Sir W. Coventry about
more fire-ships, and so Sir W. Batten and I to the office, where
Bruncker come to us, who is just now going to Chatham upon
a desire of Commissioner Pett’s, who is in a very fearful stink
for fear of the Dutch, and desires help for God and the King and
kingdom’s sake. So Bruncker goes down, and Sir J. Minnes also,
from Gravesend. This morning Pett writes us word that Sheer-
nesse is lost last night, after two or three hours’ dispute. The en-
emy hath possessed himself of that place; which is very sad, and
puts us into great fears of Chatham. Sir W. Batten and I down by
water to Deptford, and there Sir W. Pen and we did consider of
several matters relating to the dispatch of the fire-ships, and so
[Sir] W. Batten and I home again, and there to dinner, my wife
and father having dined, and after dinner, by W. Hewer’s lucky
advice, went to Mr. Fenn, and did get him to pay me above £400
of my wages, and W. Hewer received it for me, and brought it
home this night. Thence I meeting Mr. Moore went toward the
other end of the town by coach, and spying Mercer in the street,
I took leave of Moore and ‘light and followed her, and at Paul’s
overtook her and walked with her through the dusty street al-
most to home, and there in Lombard Street met The. Turner in
coach, who had been at my house to see us, being to go out of
town to-morrow to the Northward, and so I promised to see her
tomorrow, and then home, and there to our business, hiring some
fire-ships, and receiving every hour almost letters from Sir W.
2365
JUNE 1667
Coventry, calling for more fire-ships; and an order from Council
to enable us to take any man’s ships; and Sir W. Coventry, in his
letter to us, says he do not doubt but at this time, under an inva-
sion, as he owns it to be, the King may, by law, take any man’s
goods. At this business late, and then home; where a great deal
of serious talk with my wife about the sad state we are in, and
especially from the beating up of drums this night for the train-
bands upon pain of death to appear in arms to-morrow morning
with bullet and powder, and money to supply themselves with
victuals for a fortnight; which, considering the soldiers drawn
out to Chatham and elsewhere, looks as if they had a design to
ruin the City and give it up to be undone; which, I hear, makes
the sober citizens to think very sadly of things. So to bed after
supper, ill in my mind. This afternoon Mrs. Williams sent to me
to speak with her, which I did, only about news. I had not spoke
with her many a day before by reason of Carcasses business.
12th. Up very betimes to our business at the office, there hir-
ing of more fire-ships; and at it close all the morning. At noon
home, and Sir W. Pen dined with us. By and by, after dinner,
my wife out by coach to see her mother; and I in another, being
afraid, at this busy time, to be seen with a woman in a coach,
as if I were idle, towards The. Turner’s; but met Sir W. Coven-
try’s boy; and there in his letter find that the Dutch had made
no motion since their taking Sheernesse; and the Duke of Albe-
marle writes that all is safe as to the great ships against any as-
sault, the boom and chaine being so fortified; which put my heart
into great joy.639 When I come to Sir W: Coventry’s chamber, I
639 There had been correspondence with Pett respecting this chain in April
and May. On the 10th May Pett wrote to the Navy Commissioners, “The
chain is promised to be dispatched to-morrow, and all things are ready for
fixing it.” On the 11th June the Dutch “got twenty or twenty-two ships over
the narrow part of the river at Chatham, where ships had been sunk; after
two and a half hours’ fighting one guard-ship after another was fired and
blown up, and the enemy master of the chain” (“Calendar of State Papers,”
1667, pp. 58, 87, 215).
2366
JUNE 1667
find him abroad; but his clerk, Powell, do tell me that ill newes
is come to Court of the Dutch breaking the Chaine at Chatham;
which struck me to the heart. And to White Hall to hear the truth
of it; and there, going up the back-stairs, I did hear some lacquies
speaking of sad newes come to Court, saying, that hardly any-
body in the Court but do look as if he cried, and would not go
into the house for fear of being seen, but slunk out and got into
a coach, and to The. Turner’s to Sir W. Turner’s, where I met
Roger Pepys, newly come out of the country. He and I talked
aside a little, he offering a match for Pall, one Barnes, of whom
we shall talk more the next time. His father married a Pepys;
in discourse, he told me further that his grandfather, my great
grandfather, had £800 per annum, in Queen Elizabeth’s time, in
the very town of Cottenham; and that we did certainly come out
of Scotland with the Abbot of Crowland. More talk I had, and
shall have more with him, but my mind is so sad and head full of
this ill news that I cannot now set it down. A short visit here, my
wife coming to me, and took leave of The., and so home, where
all our hearts do now ake; for the newes is true, that the Dutch
have broke the chaine and burned our ships, and particularly
“The Royal Charles,”640 other particulars I know not, but most
sad to be sure. And, the truth is, I do fear so much that the whole
kingdom is undone, that I do this night resolve to study with my
father and wife what to do with the little that I have in money
by me, for I give [up] all the rest that I have in the King’s hands,
for Tangier, for lost. So God help us! and God knows what dis-
orders we may fall into, and whether any violence on this office,
or perhaps some severity on our persons, as being reckoned by
the silly people, or perhaps may, by policy of State, be thought
fit to be condemned by the King and Duke of York, and so put
to trouble; though, God knows! I have, in my own person, done
my full duty, I am sure. So having with much ado finished my
640 Vandervelde’s drawings of the conflagration of the English fleet, made
by him on the spot, are in the British Museum.–B.
2367
JUNE 1667
business at the office, I home to consider with my father and wife
of things, and then to supper and to bed with a heavy heart. The
manner of my advising this night with my father was, I took him
and my wife up to her chamber, and shut the door; and there told
them the sad state of the times how we are like to be all undone;
that I do fear some violence will be offered to this office, where
all I have in the world is; and resolved upon sending it away–
sometimes into the country–sometimes my father to lie in town,
and have the gold with him at Sarah Giles’s, and with that reso-
lution went to bed full of fear and fright, hardly slept all night.
13th. No sooner up but hear the sad newes confirmed of the
Royall Charles being taken by them, and now in fitting by them–
which Pett should have carried up higher by our several orders,
and deserves, therefore, to be hanged for not doing it–and turn-
ing several others; and that another fleete is come up into the
Hope. Upon which newes the King and Duke of York have been
below–[Below London Bridge.]–since four o’clock in the morn-
ing, to command the sinking of ships at Barking-Creeke, and
other places, to stop their coming up higher: which put me into
such a fear, that I presently resolved of my father’s and wife’s
going into the country; and, at two hours’ warning, they did go
by the coach this day, with about £1300 in gold in their night-
bag. Pray God give them good passage, and good care to hide it
when they come home! but my heart is full of fear: They gone, I
continued in fright and fear what to do with the rest. W. Hewer
hath been at the banker’s, and hath got £500 out of Backewell’s
hands of his own money; but they are so called upon that they
will be all broke, hundreds coming to them for money: and their
answer is, “It is payable at twenty days–when the days are out,
we will pay you;” and those that are not so, they make tell over
their money, and make their bags false, on purpose to give cause
to retell it, and so spend time. I cannot have my 200 pieces of
gold again for silver, all being bought up last night that were to
be had, and sold for 24 and 25s. a-piece. So I must keep the silver
by me, which sometimes I think to fling into the house of office,
2368
JUNE 1667
and then again know not how I shall come by it, if we be made
to leave the office. Every minute some one or other calls for this
or that order; and so I forced to be at the office, most of the day,
about the fire-ships which are to be suddenly fitted out: and it’s a
most strange thing that we hear nothing from any of my brethren
at Chatham; so that we are wholly in the dark, various being the
reports of what is done there; insomuch that I sent Mr. Clapham
express thither to see how matters go: I did, about noon, resolve
to send Mr. Gibson away after my wife with another 1000 pieces,
under colour of an express to Sir Jeremy Smith; who is, as I hear,
with some ships at Newcastle; which I did really send to him,
and may, possibly, prove of good use to the King; for it is possi-
ble, in the hurry of business, they may not think of it at Court,
and the charge of an express is not considerable to the King. So
though I intend Gibson no further than to Huntingdon I direct
him to send the packet forward. My business the most of the af-
ternoon is listening to every body that comes to the office, what
news? which is variously related, some better, some worse, but
nothing certain. The King and Duke of York up and down all
the day here and there: some time on Tower Hill, where the City
militia was; where the King did make a speech to them, that they
should venture themselves no further than he would himself. I
also sent, my mind being in pain, Saunders after my wife and fa-
ther, to overtake them at their night’s lodgings, to see how mat-
ters go with them. In the evening, I sent for my cousin Sarah
[Gyles] and her husband, who come; and I did deliver them my
chest of writings about Brampton, and my brother Tom’s papers,
and my journalls, which I value much; and did send my two sil-
ver flaggons to Kate Joyce’s: that so, being scattered what I have,
something might be saved. I have also made a girdle, by which,
with some trouble, I do carry about me £300 in gold about my
body, that I may not be without something in case I should be
surprised: for I think, in any nation but our’s, people that ap-
pear (for we are not indeed so) so faulty as we, would have their
throats cut. In the evening comes Mr. Pelling, and several others,
2369
JUNE 1667
to the office, and tell me that never were people so dejected as
they are in the City all over at this day; and do talk most loudly,
even treason; as, that we are bought and sold–that we are be-
trayed by the Papists, and others, about the King; cry out that
the office of the Ordnance hath been so backward as no powder
to have been at Chatham nor Upnor Castle till such a time, and
the carriages all broken; that Legg is a Papist; that Upnor, the old
good castle built by Queen Elizabeth, should be lately slighted;
that the ships at Chatham should not be carried up higher. They
look upon us as lost, and remove their families and rich goods in
the City; and do think verily that the French, being come down
with his army to Dunkirke, it is to invade us, and that we shall be
invaded. Mr. Clerke, the solicitor, comes to me about business,
and tells me that he hears that the King hath chosen Mr. Pier-
pont and Vaughan of the West, Privy-councillors; that my Lord
Chancellor was affronted in the Hall this day, by people telling
him of his Dunkirke house; and that there are regiments ordered
to be got together, whereof to be commanders my Lord Fairfax,
Ingoldsby, Bethell, Norton, and Birch, and other Presbyterians;
and that Dr. Bates will have liberty to preach. Now, whether
this be true or not, I know not; but do think that nothing but
this will unite us together. Late at night comes Mr. Hudson, the
cooper, my neighbour, and tells me that he come from Chatham
this evening at five o’clock, and saw this afternoon “The Royal
James,” “Oake,” and “London,” burnt by the enemy with their
fire-ships: that two or three men-of-war come up with them, and
made no more of Upnor Castle’s shooting, than of a fly; that those
ships lay below Upnor Castle, but therein, I conceive, he is in an
error; that the Dutch are fitting out “The Royall Charles;” that we
shot so far as from the Yard thither, so that the shot did no good,
for the bullets grazed on the water; that Upnor played hard with
their guns at first, but slowly afterwards, either from the men be-
ing beat off, or their powder spent. But we hear that the fleete
in the Hope is not come up any higher the last flood; and Sir
W. Batten tells me that ships are provided to sink in the River,
2370
JUNE 1667
about Woolwich, that will prevent their coming up higher if they
should attempt it. I made my will also this day, and did give all
I had equally between my father and wife, and left copies of it in
each of Mr. Hater and W. Hewer’s hands, who both witnessed
the will, and so to supper and then to bed, and slept pretty well,
but yet often waking.
14th. Up, and to the office; where Mr. Fryer comes and tells me
that there are several Frenchmen and Flemish ships in the River,
with passes from the Duke of York for carrying of prisoners, that
ought to be parted from the rest of the ships, and their powder
taken, lest they do fire themselves when the enemy comes, and
so spoil us; which is good advice, and I think I will give notice
of it; and did so. But it is pretty odd to see how every body,
even at this high time of danger, puts business off of their own
hands! He says that he told this to the Lieutenant of the Tower,
to whom I, for the same reason, was directing him to go; and the
Lieutenant of the Tower bade him come to us, for he had nothing
to do with it; and yesterday comes Captain Crew, of one of the
fireships, and told me that the officers of the Ordnance would
deliver his gunner’s materials, but not compound them,641 The
want of ammunition when the Dutch burnt the fleet, and the re-
venge of the deserter sailors, are well described by Marvell “Our
Seamen, whom no danger’s shape could fright, Unpaid, refuse to
mount their ships, for spite Or to their fellows swim, on board the
Dutch, Who show the tempting metal in their clutch.642 It gives
641 Meaning, apparently, that the Ordnance would deliver the charcoal, sul-
phur, and saltpetre separately, but not mix them as gunpowder.]
642 but that we must do it; whereupon I was forced to write to them about
it; and one that like a great many come to me this morning by and by comes–
Mr. Wilson, and by direction of his, a man of Mr. Gawden’s; who come from
Chatham last night, and saw the three ships burnt, they lying all dry, and
boats going from the men-of-war and fire them. But that, that he tells me
of worst consequence is, that he himself, I think he said, did hear many En-
glishmen on board the Dutch ships speaking to one another in English; and
that they did cry and say, “We did heretofore fight for tickets; now we fight
2371
JUNE 1667
for dollars!” and did ask how such and such a one did, and would commend
themselves to them: which is a sad consideration. And Mr. Lewes, who was
present at this fellow’s discourse to me, did tell me, that he is told that when
they took “The Royall Charles,” they said that they had their tickets signed,
and showed some, and that now they come to have them paid, and would
have them paid before they parted. And several seamen come this morning
to me, to tell me that, if I would get their tickets paid, they would go and
do all they could against the Dutch; but otherwise they would not venture
being killed, and lose all they have already fought for: so that I was forced to
try what I could do to get them paid. This man tells me that the ships burnt
last night did lie above Upnor Castle, over against the Docke; and the boats
come from the ships of war and burnt them all which is very sad. And mas-
ters of ships, that we are now taking up, do keep from their ships all their
stores, or as much as they can, so that we can despatch them, having not
time to appraise them nor secure their payment; only some little money we
have, which we are fain to pay the men we have with, every night, or they
will not work. And indeed the hearts as well as affections of the seamen
are turned away; and in the open streets in Wapping, and up and down, the
wives have cried publickly, “This comes of your not paying our husbands;
and now your work is undone, or done by hands that understand it not.”
And Sir W. Batten told me that he was himself affronted with a woman, in
language of this kind, on Tower Hill publickly yesterday; and we are fain to
bear it, and to keep one at the office door to let no idle people in, for fear
of firing of the office and doing us mischief. The City is troubled at their
being put upon duty: summoned one hour, and discharged two hours after;
and then again summoned two hours after that; to their great charge as well
as trouble. And Pelling, the Potticary, tells me the world says all over, that
less charge than what the kingdom is put to, of one kind or other, by this
business, would have set out all our great ships. It is said they did in open
streets yesterday, at Westminster, cry, “A Parliament! a Parliament!” and I
do believe it will cost blood to answer for these miscarriages. We do not hear
that the Dutch are come to Gravesend; which is a wonder. But a wonderful
thing it is that to this day we have not one word yet from Bruncker, or Peter
Pett, or J. Minnes, of any thing at Chatham. The people that come hither to
hear how things go, make me ashamed to be found unable to answer them:
for I am left alone here at the office; and the truth is, I am glad my station
is to be here, near my own home and out of danger, yet in a place of doing
the King good service. I have this morning good news from Gibson; three
letters from three several stages, that he was safe last night as far as Royston,
at between nine and ten at night. The dismay that is upon us all, in the busi-
2372
JUNE 1667
great matter of talk that it is said there is at this hour, in the Ex-
chequer, as much money as is ready to break down the floor. This
arises, I believe, from Sir G. Downing’s late talk of the greatness
of the sum lying there of people’s money, that they would not
fetch away, which he shewed me and a great many others. Most
people that I speak with are in doubt how we shall do to secure
our seamen from running over to the Dutch; which is a sad but
very true consideration at this day. At noon I am told that my
Lord Duke of Albemarle is made Lord High Constable; the mean-
ing whereof at this time I know not, nor whether it, be true or no.
Dined, and Mr. Hater and W. Hewer with me; where they do
speak very sorrowfully of the posture of the times, and how peo-
ple do cry out in the streets of their being bought and sold; and
both they, and every body that come to me, do tell me that peo-
ple make nothing of talking treason in the streets openly: as, that
we are bought and sold, and governed by Papists, and that we
are betrayed by people about the King, and shall be delivered up
to the French, and I know not what. At dinner we discoursed of
Tom of the Wood, a fellow that lives like a hermit near Woolwich,
who, as they say, and Mr. Bodham, they tell me, affirms that he
ness of the kingdom and Navy at this day, is not to be expressed otherwise
than by the condition the citizens were in when the City was on fire, no-
body knowing which way to turn themselves, while every thing concurred
to greaten the fire; as here the easterly gale and spring-tides for coming up
both rivers, and enabling them to break the chaine. D. Gawden did tell me
yesterday, that the day before at the Council they were ready to fall together
by the ears at the Council-table, arraigning one another of being guilty of the
counsel that brought us into this misery, by laying up all the great ships. Mr.
Hater tells me at noon that some rude people have been, as he hears, at my
Lord Chancellor’s, where they have cut down the trees before his house and
broke his windows; and a gibbet either set up before or painted upon his
gate, and these three words writ: “Three sights to be seen; Dunkirke, Tang-
ier, and a barren Queene.” [“Pride, Lust, Ambition, and the People’s Hate,
The kingdom’s broker, ruin of the State, Dunkirk’s sad loss, divider of the
fleet, Tangier’s compounder for a barren sheet This shrub of gentry, married
to the crown, His daughter to the heir, is tumbled down.” Poems on State
Affairs, vol. i., p. 253.–B.
2373
JUNE 1667
was by at the justice’s when some did accuse him there for it, did
foretell the burning of the City, and now says that a greater deso-
lation is at hand. Thence we read and laughed at Lilly’s prophe-
cies this month, in his Almanack this year! So to the office after
dinner; and thither comes Mr. Pierce, who tells me his condition,
how he cannot get his money, about £500, which, he says, is a
very great part of what he hath for his family and children, out
of Viner’s hand: and indeed it is to be feared that this will wholly
undo the bankers. He says he knows nothing of the late affronts
to my Lord Chancellor’s house, as is said, nor hears of the Duke
of Albemarle’s being made High Constable; but says that they
are in great distraction at White Hall, and that every where peo-
ple do speak high against Sir W. Coventry: but he agrees with
me, that he is the best Minister of State the King hath, and so from
my heart I believe. At night come home Sir W. Batten and W. Pen,
who only can tell me that they have placed guns at Woolwich and
Deptford, and sunk some ships below Woolwich and Blackewall,
and are in hopes that they will stop the enemy’s coming up. But
strange our confusion! that among them that are sunk they have
gone and sunk without consideration “The Franakin,“’ one of the
King’s ships, with stores to a very considerable value, that hath
been long loaden for supply of the ships; and the new ship at
Bristoll, and much wanted there; and nobody will own that they
directed it, but do lay it on Sir W. Rider. They speak also of an-
other ship, loaden to the value of £80,000, sunk with the goods in
her, or at least was mightily contended for by him, and a foreign
ship, that had the faith of the nation for her security: this Sir R.
Ford tells us: And it is too plain a truth, that both here and at
Chatham the ships that we have sunk have many, and the first of
them, been ships completely fitted for fire-ships at great charge.
But most strange the backwardness and disorder of all people, es-
pecially the King’s people in pay, to do any work, Sir W. Pen tells
me, all crying out for money; and it was so at Chatham, that this
night comes an order from Sir W. Coventry to stop the pay of the
wages of that Yard; the Duke of Albemarle having related, that
2374
JUNE 1667
not above three of 1100 in pay there did attend to do any work
there. This evening having sent a messenger to Chatham on pur-
pose, we have received a dull letter from my Lord Bruncker and
Peter Pett, how matters have gone there this week; but not so
much, or so particularly, as we knew it by common talk before,
and as true. I doubt they will be found to have been but slow
men in this business; and they say the Duke of Albemarle did
tell my Lord Bruncker to his face that his discharging of the great
ships there was the cause of all this; and I am told that it is be-
come common talk against my Lord Bruncker. But in that he is
to be justified, for he did it by verbal order from Sir W. Coventry,
and with good intent; and it was to good purpose, whatever the
success be, for the men would have but spent the King so much
the more in wages, and yet not attended on board to have done
the King any service; and as an evidence of that, just now, being
the 15th day in the morning that I am writing yesterday’s pas-
sages, one is with me, Jacob Bryan, Purser of “The Princesse,”
who confesses to me that he hath about 180 men borne at this
day in victuals and wages on that ship lying at Chatham, being
lately brought in thither; of which 180 there was not above five
appeared to do the King any service at this late business. And
this morning also, some of the Cambridge’s men come up from
Portsmouth, by order from Sir Fretcheville Hollis, who boasted
to us the other day that he had sent for 50, and would be hanged
if 100 did not come up that would do as much as twice the num-
ber of other men: I say some of them, instead of being at work at
Deptford, where they were intended, do come to the office this
morning to demand the payment of their tickets; for otherwise
they would, they said, do no more work; and are, as I understand
from every body that has to do with them, the most debauched,
damning, swearing rogues that ever were in the Navy, just like
their prophane commander. So to Sir W. Batten’s to sit and talk
a little, and then home to my flageolet, my heart being at pretty
good ease by a letter from my wife, brought by Saunders, that
my father and wife got well last night to their Inne and out again
2375
JUNE 1667
this morning, and Gibson’s being got safe to Caxton at twelve
last night. So to supper, and then to bed. No news to-day of any
motion of the enemy either upwards towards Chatham or this
way.
15th. All the morning at the office. No newes more than last
night; only Purser Tyler comes and tells me that he being at all
the passages in this business at Chatham, he says there have been
horrible miscarriages, such as we shall shortly hear of: that the
want of boats hath undone us; and it is commonly said, and Sir
J. Minnes under his hand tells us, that they were employed by
the men of the Yard to carry away their goods; and I hear that
Commissioner Pett will be found the first man that began to re-
move; he is much spoken against, and Bruncker is complained of
and reproached for discharging the men of the great ships hereto-
fore. At noon Mr. Hater dined with me; and tells me he believes
that it will hardly be the want of money alone that will excuse
to the Parliament the neglect of not setting out a fleete, it hav-
ing never been done in our greatest straits, but however unlikely
it appeared, yet when it was gone about, the State or King did
compass it; and there is something in it. In like manner all the
afternoon busy, vexed to see how slowly things go on for want
of money. At night comes, unexpectedly so soon, Mr. Gibson,
who left my wife well, and all got down well with them, but not
with himself, which I was afeard of, and cannot blame him, but
must myself be wiser against another time. He had one of his
bags broke, through his breeches, and some pieces dropped out,
not many, he thinks, but two, for he ‘light, and took them up, and
went back and could find no more. But I am not able to tell how
many, which troubles me, but the joy of having the greatest part
safe there makes me bear with it, so as not to afflict myself for it.
This afternoon poor Betty Michell, whom I love, sent to tell my
wife her child was dying, which I am troubled for, poor girle! At
night home and to my flageolet. Played with pleasure, but with
a heavy heart, only it pleased me to think how it may please God
I may live to spend my time in the country with plainness and
2376
JUNE 1667
pleasure, though but with little glory. So to supper and to bed.
16th (Lord’s day). Up, and called on by several on business of
the office. Then to the office to look out several of my old letters
to Sir W. Coventry in order to the preparing for justifying this
office in our frequent foretelling the want of money. By and by
comes Roger Pepys and his son Talbot, whom he had brought to
town to settle at the Temple, but, by reason of our present stirs,
will carry him back again with him this week. He seems to be
but a silly lad. I sent them to church this morning, I staying at
home at the office, busy. At noon home to dinner, and much
good discourse with him, he being mighty sensible of our mis-
ery and mal-administration. Talking of these straits we are in,
he tells me that my Lord Arlington did the last week take up
£12,000 in gold, which is very likely, for all was taken up that
could be. Discoursing afterwards with him of our family he told
me, that when I come to his house he will show me a decree in
Chancery, wherein there was twenty-six men all housekeepers in
the town of Cottenham, in Queene Elizabeth’s time, of our name.
He to church again in the afternoon, I staid at home busy, and
did show some dalliance to my maid Nell, speaking to her of her
sweetheart which she had, silly girle. After sermon Roger Pepys
comes again. I spent the evening with him much troubled with
the thoughts of the evils of our time, whereon we discoursed.
By and by occasion offered for my writing to Sir W. Coventry
a plain bold letter touching lack of money; which, when it was
gone, I was afeard might give offence: but upon two or three
readings over again the copy of it, I was satisfied it was a good
letter; only Sir W. Batten signed it with me, which I could wish
I had done alone. Roger Pepys gone, I to the garden, and there
dallied a while all alone with Mrs. Markham, and then home to
my chamber and to read and write, and then to supper and to
bed.
17th. Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning, partic-
ularly setting my people to work in transcribing pieces of letters
2377
JUNE 1667
publique and private, which I do collect against a black day to
defend the office with and myself. At noon dined at home, Mr.
Hater with me alone, who do seem to be confident that this na-
tion will be undone, and with good reason: Wishes himself at
Hambrough, as a great many more, he says, he believes do, but
nothing but the reconciling of the Presbyterian party will save
us, and I am of his mind. At the office all the afternoon, where
every moment business of one kind or other about the fire-ships
and other businesses, most of them vexatious for want of money,
the commanders all complaining that, if they miss to pay their
men a night, they run away; seamen demanding money of them
by way of advance, and some of Sir Fretcheville Hollis’s men,
that he so bragged of, demanding their tickets to be paid, or they
would not work: this Hollis, Sir W. Batten and W. Pen say, proves
a very..., as Sir W. B. terms him, and the other called him a con-
ceited, idle, prating, lying fellow. But it was pleasant this morn-
ing to hear Hollis give me the account what, he says, he told the
King in Commissioner Pett’s presence, whence it was that his
ship was fit sooner than others, telling the King how he dealt
with the several Commissioners and agents of the Ports where
he comes, offering Lanyon to carry him a Ton or two of goods to
the streights, giving Middleton an hour or two’s hearing of his
stories of Barbadoes, going to prayer with Taylor, and standing
bare and calling, “If it please your Honour,” to Pett, but Sir W.
Pen says that he tells this story to every body, and believes it to
be a very lie. At night comes Captain Cocke to see me, and he
and I an hour in the garden together. He tells me there have been
great endeavours of bringing in the Presbyterian interest, but that
it will not do. He named to me several of the insipid lords that
are to command the armies that are to be raised. He says the King
and Court are all troubled, and the gates of the Court were shut
up upon the first coming of the Dutch to us, but they do mind the
business no more than ever: that the bankers, he fears, are broke
as to ready-money, though Viner had £100,000 by him when our
trouble begun: that he and the Duke of Albemarle have received
2378
JUNE 1667
into their own hands, of Viner, the former £10,000, and the lat-
ter £12,000, in tallies or assignments, to secure what was in his
hands of theirs; and many other great men of our. masters have
done the like; which is no good sign, when they begin to fear the
main. He and every body cries out of the office of the Ordnance,
for their neglects, both at Gravesend and Upnor, and everywhere
else. He gone, I to my business again, and then home to supper
and to bed. I have lately played the fool much with our Nell, in
playing with her breasts. This night, late, comes a porter with
a letter from Monsieur Pratt, to borrow £100 for my Lord Hinch-
ingbroke, to enable him to go out with his troop in the country, as
he is commanded; but I did find an excuse to decline it. Among
other reasons to myself, this is one, to teach him the necessity of
being a good husband, and keeping money or credit by him.
18th. Up, and did this morning dally with Nell... which I was
afterward troubled for. To the office, and there all the morning.
Peg Pen come to see me, and I was glad of it, and did resolve to
have tried her this afternoon, but that there was company with
elle at my home, whither I got her. Dined at home, W. Hewer
with me, and then to the office, and to my Lady Pen’s, and did
find occasion for Peg to go home with me to my chamber, but
there being an idle gentleman with them, he went with us, and I
lost my hope. So to the office, and by and by word was brought
me that Commissioner Pett is brought to the Tower, and there
laid up close prisoner; which puts me into a fright, lest they may
do the same with us as they do with him. This puts me upon
hastening what I am doing with my people, and collecting out of
my papers our defence. Myself got Fist, Sir W. Batten’s clerk, and
busy with him writing letters late, and then home to supper and
to read myself asleep, after piping, and so to bed. Great newes to-
night of the blowing up of one of the Dutch greatest ships, while
a Council of War was on board: the latter part, I doubt, is not so,
it not being confirmed since; but the former, that they had a ship
blown up, is said to be true. This evening comes Sir G. Carteret
to the office, to talk of business at Sir W. Batten’s; where all to be
2379
JUNE 1667
undone for want of money, there being none to pay the Chest at
their publique pay the 24th of this month, which will make us a
scorn to the world. After he had done there, he and I into the gar-
den, and walked; and the greatest of our discourse is, his sense
of the requisiteness of his parting with his being Treasurer of the
Navy, if he can, on any good terms. He do harp upon getting
my Lord Bruncker to take it on half profit, but that he is not able
to secure him in paying him so much. But the thing I do advise
him to do by all means, and he resolves on it, being but the same
counsel which I intend to take myself. My Lady Jem goes down
to Hinchingbroke to lie down, because of the troubles of the times
here. He tells me he is not sure that the King of France will not
annoy us this year, but that the Court seems [to] reckon upon it
as a thing certain, for that is all that I and most people are afeard
of this year. He tells me now the great question is, whether a Par-
liament or no Parliament; and says the Parliament itself cannot
be thought able at present to raise money, and therefore it will be
to no purpose to call one. I hear this day poor Michell’s child is
dead.
19th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning busy with
Fist again, beginning early to overtake my business in my let-
ters, which for a post or two have by the late and present trou-
bles been interrupted. At noon comes Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W.
Pen, and we to [Sir] W. Pen’s house, and there discoursed of busi-
ness an hour, and by and by comes an order from Sir R. Browne,
commanding me this afternoon to attend the Council-board, with
all my books and papers touching the Medway. I was ready [to
fear] some mischief to myself, though it appears most reasonable
that it is to inform them about Commissioner Pett. I eat a lit-
tle bit in haste at Sir W. Batten’s, without much comfort, being
fearful, though I shew it not, and to my office and get up some
papers, and found out the most material letters and orders in
our books, and so took coach and to the Council-chamber lobby,
where I met Mr. Evelyn, who do miserably decry our follies that
bring all this misery upon us. While we were discoursing over
2380
JUNE 1667
our publique misfortunes, I am called in to a large Committee
of the Council: present the Duke of Albemarle, Anglesey, Ar-
lington, Ashly, Carteret, Duncomb, Coventry, Ingram, Clifford,
Lauderdale, Morrice, Manchester, Craven, Carlisle, Bridgewater.
And after Sir W. Coventry’s telling them what orders His Royal
Highness had made for the safety of the Medway, I told them
to their full content what we had done, and showed them our
letters. Then was Peter Pett called in, with the Lieutenant of the
Tower. He is in his old clothes, and looked most sillily. His charge
was chiefly the not carrying up of the great ships, and the using
of the boats in carrying away his goods; to which he answered
very sillily, though his faults to me seem only great omissions.
Lord Arlington and Coventry very severe against him; the for-
mer saying that, if he was not guilty, the world would think them
all guilty.643 The latter urged, that there must be some faults, and
that the Admiral must be found to have done his part. I did say
an unhappy word, which I was sorry for, when he complained of
want of oares for the boats: and there was, it seems, enough, and
good enough, to carry away all the boats with from the King’s
643 Pett was made a scapegoat. This is confirmed by Marvel: “After this
loss, to relish discontent, Some one must be accused by Parliament; All our
miscarriages on Pett must fall, His name alone seems fit to answer all. Whose
counsel first did this mad war beget? Who all commands sold through the
Navy? Pett. Who would not follow when the Dutch were beat? Who treated
out the time at Bergen? Pett. Who the Dutch fleet with storms disabled met,
And, rifling prizes, them neglected? Pett. Who with false news prevented
the Gazette, The fleet divided, writ for Ruhert? Pett. Who all our seamen
cheated of their debt? And all our prizes who did swallow? Pett. Who
did advise no navy out to set? And who the forts left unprepared? Pett.
Who to supply with powder did forget Languard, Sheerness, Gravesend,
and Upnor? Pett. Who all our ships exposed in Chatham net? Who should
it be but the fanatick Pett? Pett, the sea-architect, in making ships, Was the
first cause of all these naval slips. Had he not built, none of these faults had
been; If no creation, there had been no sin But his great crime, one boat away
he sent, That lost our fleet, and did our flight prevent.” Instructions to a
Painter.–B
2381
JUNE 1667
occasions. He said he used never a boat till they were all gone
but one; and that was to carry away things of great value, and
these were his models of ships; which, when the Council, some of
them, had said they wished that the Dutch had had them instead
of the King’s ships, he answered, he did believe the Dutch would
have made more advantage of the models than of the ships, and
that the King had had greater loss thereby; this they all laughed
at. After having heard him for an hour or more, they bid him
withdraw. I all this while showing him no respect, but rather
against him, for which God forgive me! for I mean no hurt to
him, but only find that these Lords are upon their own purgation,
and it is necessary I should be so in behalf of the office. He being
gone, they caused Sir Richard Browne to read over his minutes;
and then my Lord Arlington moved that they might be put into
my hands to put into form, I being more acquainted with such
business; and they were so. So I away back with my books and
papers; and when I got into the Court it was pretty to see how
people gazed upon me, that I thought myself obliged to salute
people and to smile, lest they should think I was a prisoner too;
but afterwards I found that most did take me to be there to bear
evidence against P. Pett; but my fear was such, at my going in,
of the success of the day, that at my going in I did think fit to
give T. Hater, whom I took with me, to wait the event, my closet-
key and directions where to find £500 and more in silver and
gold, and my tallys, to remove, in case of any misfortune to me.
Thence to Sir G. Carteret’s to take my leave of my Lady Jem, who
is going into the country tomorrow; but she being now at prayers
with my Lady and family, and hearing here by Yorke, the carrier,
that my wife is coming to towne, I did make haste home to see
her, that she might not find me abroad, it being the first minute I
have been abroad since yesterday was se’ennight. It is pretty to
see how strange it is to be abroad to see people, as it used to be
after a month or two’s absence, and I have brought myself so to
it, that I have no great mind to be abroad, which I could not have
believed of myself. I got home, and after being there a little, she
2382
JUNE 1667
come, and two of her fellow-travellers with her, with whom we
drunk: a couple of merchant-like men, I think, but have friends
in our country. They being gone, I and my wife to talk, who
did give me so bad an account of her and my father’s method in
burying of our gold, that made me mad: and she herself is not
pleased with it, she believing that my sister knows of it. My fa-
ther and she did it on Sunday, when they were gone to church,
in open daylight, in the midst of the garden; where, for aught
they knew, many eyes might see them: which put me into such
trouble, that I was almost mad about it, and presently cast about,
how to have it back again to secure it here, the times being a little
better now; at least at White Hall they seem as if they were, but
one way or other I am resolved to free them from the place if I
can get them. Such was my trouble at this, that I fell out with my
wife, that though new come to towne, I did not sup with her, nor
speak to her tonight, but to bed and sleep.
20th. Up, without any respect to my wife, only answering her
a question or two, without any anger though, and so to the office,
where all the morning busy, and among other things Mr. Barber
come to me (one of the clerks of the Ticket office) to get me to
sign some tickets, and told me that all the discourse yesterday,
about that part of the town where he was, was that Mr. Pett and
I were in the Tower; and I did hear the same before. At noon,
home to dinner, and there my wife and I very good friends; the
care of my gold being somewhat over, considering it was in their
hands that have as much cause to secure it as myself almost, and
so if they will be mad, let them. But yet I do intend to, send for
it away. Here dined Mercer with us, and after dinner she cut my
hair, and then I into my closet and there slept a little, as I do now
almost every day after dinner; and then, after dallying a little
with Nell, which I am ashamed to think of, away to the office.
Busy all the afternoon; in the evening did treat with, and in the
end agree; but by some kind of compulsion, with the owners of
six merchant ships, to serve the King as men-of-war. But, Lord!
to see how against the hair it is with these men and every body
2383
JUNE 1667
to trust us and the King; and how unreasonable it is to expect
they should be willing to lend their ships, and lay out 2 or £300
a man to fit their ships for new voyages, when we have not paid
them half of what we owe them for their old services! I did write
so to Sir W. Coventry this night. At night my wife and I to walk
and talk again about our gold, which I am not quiet in my mind
to be safe, and therefore will think of some way to remove it, it
troubling me very much. So home with my wife to supper and
to bed, miserable hot weather all night it was.
21st. Up and by water to White Hall, there to discourse with
[Sir] G. Carteret and Mr. Fenn about office business. I found them
all aground, and no money to do anything with. Thence home-
wards, calling at my Tailor’s to bespeak some coloured clothes,
and thence to Hercules Pillars, all alone, and there spent 6d. on
myself, and so home and busy all the morning. At noon to din-
ner, home, where my wife shows me a letter from her father, who
is going over sea, and this afternoon would take his leave of her.
I sent him by her three Jacobuses in gold, having real pity for
him and her. So I to my office, and there all the afternoon. This
day comes news from Harwich that the Dutch fleete are all in
sight, near 100 sail great and small, they think, coming towards
them; where, they think, they shall be able to oppose them; but
do cry out of the falling back of the seamen, few standing by
them, and those with much faintness. The like they write from
Portsmouth, and their letters this post are worth reading. Sir H.
Cholmly come to me this day, and tells me the Court is as mad as
ever; and that the night the Dutch burned our ships the King did
sup with my Lady Castlemayne, at the Duchess of Monmouth’s,
and there were all mad in hunting of a poor moth. All the Court
afraid of a Parliament; but he thinks nothing can save us but the
King’s giving up all to a Parliament. Busy at the office all the
afternoon, and did much business to my great content. In the
evening sent for home, and there I find my Lady Pen and Mrs.
Lowther, and Mrs. Turner and my wife eating some victuals, and
there I sat and laughed with them a little, and so to the office
2384
JUNE 1667
again, and in the evening walked with my wife in the garden,
and did give Sir W. Pen at his lodgings (being just come from
Deptford from attending the dispatch of the fire-ships there) an
account of what passed the other day at Council touching Com-
missioner Pett, and so home to supper and to bed.
22nd. Up, and to my office, where busy, and there comes Mrs.
Daniel... At the office I all the morning busy. At noon home
to dinner, where Mr. Lewes Phillips, by invitation of my wife,
comes, he coming up to town with her in the coach this week,
and she expected another gentleman, a fellow-traveller, and I
perceive the feast was for him, though she do not say it, but by
some mistake he come not, so there was a good dinner lost. Here
we had the two Mercers, and pretty merry. Much talk with Mr.
Phillips about country business, among others that there is no
way for me to purchase any severall lands in Brampton, or mak-
ing any severall that is not so, without much trouble and cost,
and, it may be, not do it neither, so that there is no more ground
to be laid to our Brampton house. After dinner I left them, and
to the office, and thence to Sir W. Pen’s, there to talk with Mrs.
Lowther, and by and by we hearing Mercer and my boy singing
at my house, making exceeding good musique, to the joy of my
heart, that I should be the master of it, I took her to my office
and there merry a while, and then I left them, and at the office
busy all the afternoon, and sleepy after a great dinner. In the
evening come Captain Hart and Haywood to me about the six
merchant-ships now taken up for men-of-war; and in talk they
told me about the taking of “The Royal Charles;” that nothing
but carelessness lost the ship, for they might have saved her the
very tide that the Dutch come up, if they would have but used
means and had had but boats: and that the want of boats plainly
lost all the other ships. That the Dutch did take her with a boat
of nine men, who found not a man on board her, and her laying
so near them was a main temptation to them to come on; and
presently a man went up and struck her flag and jacke, and a
trumpeter sounded upon her “Joan’s placket is torn,” that they
2385
JUNE 1667
did carry her down at a time, both for tides and wind, when the
best pilot in Chatham would not have undertaken it, they heel-
ing her on one side to make her draw little water: and so carried
her away safe. They being gone, by and by comes Sir W. Pen
home, and he and I together talking. He hath been at Court; and
in the first place, I hear the Duke of Cambridge is dead; a which
is a great loss to the nation, having, I think, never an heyre male
now of the King’s or Duke’s to succeed to the Crown. He tells
me that they do begin already to damn the Dutch, and call them
cowards at Whit
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