13th. So my poor wife rose by five o'clock in the morning,

Produced by David Widger

THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS M.A. F.R.S.

CLERK OF THE ACTS AND SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY

TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY

MAGDALENE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M.A. LATE FELLOW

AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE

(Unabridged)

WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES

EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY

HENRY B. WHEATLEY F.S.A.

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS

1663 N.S. COMPLETE

JANUARY & FEBRUARY

1662-1663

January 1st, 1662-63.

Lay with my wife at my Lord's lodgings, where I have been these two

nights, till 10 o'clock with great pleasure talking, then I rose and to

White Hall, where I spent a little time walking among the courtiers, which

I perceive I shall be able to do with great confidence, being now

beginning to be pretty well known among them. Then to my wife again, and

found Mrs. Sarah with us in the chamber we lay in. Among other discourse,

Mrs. Sarah tells us how the King sups at least four or [five] times every

week with my Lady Castlemaine; and most often stays till the morning with

her, and goes home through the garden all alone privately, and that so as

the very centrys take notice of it and speak of it. She tells me, that

about a month ago she [Lady Castlemaine] quickened at my Lord Gerard's at

dinner, and cried out that she was undone; and all the lords and men were

fain to quit the room, and women called to help her. In fine, I find that

there is nothing almost but bawdry at Court from top to bottom, as, if it

were fit, I could instance, but it is not necessary; only they say my Lord

Chesterfield, groom of the stole to the Queen, is either gone or put away

from the Court upon the score of his lady's having smitten the Duke of

York, so as that he is watched by the Duchess of York, and his lady is

retired into the country upon it. How much of this is true, God knows,

but it is common talk. After dinner I did reckon with Mrs. Sarah for what

we have eat and drank here, and gave her a crown, and so took coach, and

to the Duke's House, where we saw "The Villaine" again; and the more I see

it, the more I am offended at my first undervaluing the play, it being

very good and pleasant, and yet a true and allowable tragedy. The house

was full of citizens, and so the less pleasant, but that I was willing to

make an end of my gaddings, and to set to my business for all the year

again tomorrow. Here we saw the old Roxalana in the chief box, in a

velvet gown, as the fashion is, and very handsome, at which I was glad.

Hence by coach home, where I find all well, only Sir W. Pen they say ill

again. So to my office to set down these two or three days' journall, and

to close the last year therein, and so that being done, home to supper,

and to bed, with great pleasure talking and discoursing with my wife of

our late observations abroad.

2nd. Lay long in bed, and so up and to the office, where all the morning

alone doing something or another. So dined at home with my wife, and in

the afternoon to the Treasury office, where Sir W. Batten was paying off

tickets, but so simply and arbitrarily, upon a dull pretence of doing

right to the King, though to the wrong of poor people (when I know there

is no man that means the King less right than he, or would trouble himself

less about it, but only that he sees me stir, and so he would appear doing

something, though to little purpose), that I was weary of it. At last we

broke up, and walk home together, and I to see Sir W. Pen, who is fallen

sick again. I staid a while talking with him, and so to my office,

practising some arithmetique, and so home to supper and bed, having sat up

late talking to my poor wife with great content.

3rd. Up and to the office all the morning, and dined alone with my wife

at noon, and then to my office all the afternoon till night, putting

business in order with great content in my mind. Having nothing now in my

mind of trouble in the world, but quite the contrary, much joy, except

only the ending of our difference with my uncle Thomas, and the getting of

the bills well over for my building of my house here, which however are as

small and less than any of the others. Sir W. Pen it seems is fallen very

ill again. So to my arithmetique again to-night, and so home to supper

and to bed.

4th (Lord's day). Up and to church, where a lazy sermon, and so home to

dinner to a good piece of powdered beef, but a little too salt. At dinner

my wife did propound my having of my sister Pall at my house again to be

her woman, since one we must have, hoping that in that quality possibly

she may prove better than she did before, which I take very well of her,

and will consider of it, it being a very great trouble to me that I should

have a sister of so ill a nature, that I must be forced to spend money

upon a stranger when it might better be upon her, if she were good for

anything. After dinner I and she walked, though it was dirty, to White

Hall (in the way calling at the Wardrobe to see how Mr. Moore do, who is

pretty well, but not cured yet), being much afeard of being seen by

anybody, and was, I think, of Mr. Coventry, which so troubled me that I

made her go before, and I ever after loitered behind. She to Mr. Hunt's,

and I to White Hall Chappell, and then up to walk up and down the house,

which now I am well known there, I shall forbear to do, because I would

not be thought a lazy body by Mr. Coventry and others by being seen, as I

have lately been, to walk up and down doing nothing. So to Mr. Hunt's,

and there was most prettily and kindly entertained by him and her, who are

two as good people as I hardly know any, and so neat and kind one to

another. Here we staid late, and so to my Lord's to bed.

5th. Up and to the Duke, who himself told me that Sir J. Lawson was come

home to Portsmouth from the Streights, who is now come with great renown

among all men, and, I perceive, mightily esteemed at Court by all. The

Duke did not stay long in his chamber; but to the King's chamber, whither

by and by the Russia Embassadors come; who, it seems, have a custom that

they will not come to have any treaty with our or any King's

Commissioners, but they will themselves see at the time the face of the

King himself, be it forty days one after another; and so they did to-day

only go in and see the King; and so out again to the Council-chamber. The

Duke returned to his chamber, and so to his closett, where Sir G.

Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, Mr. Coventry, and myself attended

him about the business of the Navy; and after much discourse and pleasant

talk he went away. And I took Sir W. Batten and Captain Allen into the

wine cellar to my tenant (as I call him, Serjeant Dalton), and there drank

a great deal of variety of wines, more than I have drunk at one time, or

shall again a great while, when I come to return to my oaths, which I

intend in a day or two. Thence to my Lord's lodging, where Mr. Hunt and

Mr. Creed dined with us, and were very merry. And after dinner he and I

to White Hall, where the Duke and the Commissioners for Tangier met, but

did not do much: my Lord Sandwich not being in town, nobody making it

their business. So up, and Creed and I to my wife again, and after a game

or two at cards, to the Cockpitt, where we saw "Claracilla," a poor play,

done by the King's house (but neither the King nor Queen were there, but

only the Duke and Duchess, who did show some impertinent and, methought,

unnatural dalliances there, before the whole world, such as kissing, and

leaning upon one another); but to my very little content, they not acting

in any degree like the Duke's people. So home (there being here this

night Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Martha Batten of our office) to my Lord's

lodgings again, and to a game at cards, we three and Sarah, and so to

supper and some apples and ale, and to bed with great pleasure, blessed be

God!

6th (Twelfth Day). Up and Mr. Creed brought a pot of chocolate ready made

for our morning draft, and then he and I to the Duke's, but I was not very

willing to be seen at this end of the town, and so returned to our

lodgings, and took my wife by coach to my brother's, where I set her down,

and Creed and I to St. Paul's Church-yard, to my bookseller's, and looked

over several books with good discourse, and then into St. Paul's Church,

and there finding Elborough, my old schoolfellow at Paul's, now a parson,

whom I know to be a silly fellow, I took him out and walked with him,

making Creed and myself sport with talking with him, and so sent him away,

and we to my office and house to see all well, and thence to the Exchange,

where we met with Major Thomson, formerly of our office, who do talk very

highly of liberty of conscience, which now he hopes for by the King's

declaration, and that he doubts not that if he will give him, he will find

more and better friends than the Bishopps can be to him, and that if he do

not, there will many thousands in a little time go out of England, where

they may have it. But he says that they are well contented that if the

King thinks it good, the Papists may have the same liberty with them. He

tells me, and so do others, that Dr. Calamy is this day sent to Newgate

for preaching, Sunday was se'nnight, without leave, though he did it only

to supply the place; when otherwise the people must have gone away without

ever a sermon, they being disappointed of a minister but the Bishop of

London will not take that as an excuse. Thence into Wood Street, and there

bought a fine table for my dining-room, cost me 50s.; and while we were

buying it, there was a scare-fire

[Scar-fire or scarefire. An alarm of fire. One of the little

pieces in Herrick's "Hesperides" is entitled "The Scar-fire," but

the word sometimes was used, as in the text, for the fire itself.

Fuller, in his "Worthies," speaks of quenching scare-fires.]

in an ally over against us, but they quenched it. So to my brother's,

where Creed and I and my wife dined with Tom, and after dinner to the

Duke's house, and there saw "Twelfth Night"

[Pepys saw "Twelfth Night" for the first time on September 11th,

1661, when he supposed it was a new play, and "took no pleasure at

all in it."]

acted well, though it be but a silly play, and not related at all to the

name or day. Thence Mr. Battersby the apothecary, his wife, and I and

mine by coach together, and setting him down at his house, he paying his

share, my wife and I home, and found all well, only myself somewhat vexed

at my wife's neglect in leaving of her scarf, waistcoat, and

night-dressings in the coach today that brought us from Westminster,

though, I confess, she did give them to me to look after, yet it was her

fault not to see that I did take them out of the coach. I believe it

might be as good as 25s. loss or thereabouts. So to my office, however,

to set down my last three days' journall, and writing to my Lord Sandwich

to give him an account of Sir J. Lawson's being come home, and to my

father about my sending him some wine and things this week, for his making

an entertainment of some friends in the country, and so home. This night

making an end wholly of Christmas, with a mind fully satisfied with the

great pleasures we have had by being abroad from home, and I do find my

mind so apt to run to its old want of pleasures, that it is high time to

betake myself to my late vows, which I will to-morrow, God willing,

perfect and bind myself to, that so I may, for a great while, do my duty,

as I have well begun, and increase my good name and esteem in the world,

and get money, which sweetens all things, and whereof I have much need. So

home to supper and to bed, blessing God for his mercy to bring me home,

after much pleasure, to my house and business with health and resolution

to fall hard to work again.

7th. Up pretty early, that is by seven o'clock, it being not yet light

before or then. So to my office all the morning, signing the Treasurer's

ledger, part of it where I have not put my hand, and then eat a mouthful

of pye at home to stay my stomach, and so with Mr. Waith by water to

Deptford, and there among other things viewed old pay-books, and found

that the Commanders did never heretofore receive any pay for the rigging

time, but only for seatime, contrary to what Sir J. Minnes and Sir W.

Batten told the Duke the other day. I also searched all the ships in the

Wett Dock for fire, and found all in good order, it being very dangerous

for the King that so many of his ships lie together there. I was among

the canvass in stores also, with Mr. Harris, the saylemaker, and learnt

the difference between one sort and another, to my great content, and so

by water home again, where my wife tells me stories how she hears that by

Sarah's going to live at Sir W. Pen's, all our affairs of my family are

made known and discoursed of there and theirs by my people, which do

trouble me much, and I shall take a time to let Sir W. Pen know how he has

dealt in taking her without our full consent. So to my office, and by and

by home to supper, and so to prayers and bed.

8th. Up pretty early, and sent my boy to the carrier's with some wine for

my father, for to make his feast among his Brampton friends this

Christmas, and my muff to my mother, sent as from my wife. But before I

sent my boy out with them, I beat him for a lie he told me, at which his

sister, with whom we have of late been highly displeased, and warned her

to be gone, was angry, which vexed me, to see the girl I loved so well,

and my wife, should at last turn so much a fool and unthankful to us. So

to the office, and there all the morning, and though without and a little

against the advice of the officers did, to gratify him, send Thomas Hater

to-day towards Portsmouth a day or two before the rest of the clerks,

against the Pay next week. Dined at home; and there being the famous new

play acted the first time to-day, which is called "The Adventures of Five

Hours," at the Duke's house, being, they say, made or translated by

Colonel Tuke, I did long to see it; and so made my wife to get her ready,

though we were forced to send for a smith, to break open her trunk, her

mayde Jane being gone forth with the keys, and so we went; and though

early, were forced to sit almost out of sight, at the end of one of the

lower forms, so full was the house. And the play, in one word, is the

best, for the variety and the most excellent continuance of the plot to

the very end, that ever I saw, or think ever shall, and all possible, not

only to be done in the time, but in most other respects very admittable,

and without one word of ribaldry; and the house, by its frequent plaudits,

did show their sufficient approbation. So home; with much ado in an hour

getting a coach home, and, after writing letters at my office, I went home

to supper and to bed, now resolving to set up my rest as to plays till

Easter, if not Whitsuntide next, excepting plays at Court.

9th. Waking in the morning, my wife I found also awake, and begun to

speak to me with great trouble and tears, and by degrees from one

discourse to another at last it appears that Sarah has told somebody that

has told my wife of my meeting her at my brother's and making her sit down

by me while she told me stories of my wife, about her giving her scallop

to her brother, and other things, which I am much vexed at, for I am sure

I never spoke any thing of it, nor could any body tell her but by Sarah's

own words. I endeavoured to excuse my silence herein hitherto by not

believing any thing she told me, only that of the scallop which she

herself told me of. At last we pretty good friends, and my wife begun to

speak again of the necessity of her keeping somebody to bear her company;

for her familiarity with her other servants is it that spoils them all,

and other company she hath none, which is too true, and called for Jane to

reach her out of her trunk, giving her the keys to that purpose, a bundle

of papers, and pulls out a paper, a copy of what, a pretty while since,

she had wrote in a discontent to me, which I would not read, but burnt.

She now read it, and it was so piquant, and wrote in English, and most of

it true, of the retiredness of her life, and how unpleasant it was; that

being wrote in English, and so in danger of being met with and read by

others, I was vexed at it, and desired her and then commanded her to tear

it. When she desired to be excused it, I forced it from her, and tore it,

and withal took her other bundle of papers from her, and leapt out of the

bed and in my shirt clapped them into the pocket of my breeches, that she

might not get them from me, and having got on my stockings and breeches

and gown, I pulled them out one by one and tore them all before her face,

though it went against my heart to do it, she crying and desiring me not

to do it, but such was my passion and trouble to see the letters of my

love to her, and my Will wherein I had given her all I have in the world,

when I went to sea with my Lord Sandwich, to be joyned with a paper of so

much disgrace to me and dishonour, if it should have been found by any

body. Having torn them all, saving a bond of my uncle Robert's, which she

hath long had in her hands, and our marriage license, and the first letter

that ever I sent her when I was her servant,

[The usual word at this time for a lover. We have continued the

correlative term "mistress," but rejected that of "servant."]

I took up the pieces and carried them into my chamber, and there, after

many disputes with myself whether I should burn them or no, and having

picked up, the pieces of the paper she read to-day, and of my Will which I

tore, I burnt all the rest, and so went out to my office troubled in mind.

Hither comes Major Tolhurst, one of my old acquaintance in Cromwell's

time, and sometimes of our clubb, to see me, and I could do no less than

carry him to the Mitre, and having sent for Mr. Beane, a merchant, a

neighbour of mine, we sat and talked, Tolhurst telling me the manner of

their collierys in the north. We broke up, and I home to dinner. And to

see my folly, as discontented as I am, when my wife came I could not

forbear smiling all dinner till she began to speak bad words again, and

then I began to be angry again, and so to my office. Mr. Bland came in

the evening to me hither, and sat talking to me about many things of

merchandise, and I should be very happy in his discourse, durst I confess

my ignorance to him, which is not so fit for me to do. There coming a

letter to me from Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, by my desire appointing his and

Dr. Clerke's coming to dine with me next Monday, I went to my wife and

agreed upon matters, and at last for my honour am forced to make her

presently a new Moyre gown to be seen by Mrs. Clerke, which troubles me to

part with so much money, but, however, it sets my wife and I to friends

again, though I and she never were so heartily angry in our lives as

to-day almost, and I doubt the heartburning will not [be] soon over, and

the truth is I am sorry for the tearing of so many poor loving letters of

mine from sea and elsewhere to her. So to my office again, and there the

Scrivener brought me the end of the manuscript which I am going to get

together of things of the Navy, which pleases me much. So home, and

mighty friends with my wife again, and so to bed.

10th. Up and to the office. From thence, before we sat, Sir W. Pen sent

for me to his bedside to talk (indeed to reproach me with my not owning to

Sir J. Minnes that he had my advice in the blocking up of the garden door

the other day, which is now by him out of fear to Sir J. Minnes opened

again), to which I answered him so indifferently that I think he and I

shall be at a distance, at least to one another, better than ever we did

and love one another less, which for my part I think I need not care for.

So to the office, and sat till noon, then rose and to dinner, and then to

the office again, where Mr. Creed sat with me till late talking very good

discourse, as he is full of it, though a cunning knave in his heart, at

least not to be too much trusted, till Sir J. Minnes came in, which at

last he did, and so beyond my expectation he was willing to sign his

accounts, notwithstanding all his objections, which really were very

material, and yet how like a doting coxcomb he signs the accounts without

the least satisfaction, for which we both sufficiently laughed at him and

Sir W. Batten after they had signed them and were gone, and so sat talking

together till 11 o'clock at night, and so home and to bed.

11th (Lord's day). Lay long talking pleasant with my wife, then up and to

church, the pew being quite full with strangers come along with Sir W.

Batten and Sir J. Minnes, so after a pitifull sermon of the young Scott,

home to dinner. After dinner comes a footman of my Lord Sandwich's (my

Lord being come to town last night) with a letter from my father, in which

he presses me to carry on the business for Tom with his late mistress,

which I am sorry to see my father do, it being so much out of our power or

for his advantage, as it is clear to me it is, which I shall think of and

answer in my next. So to my office all the afternoon writing orders

myself to have ready against to-morrow, that I might not appear negligent

to Mr. Coventry. In the evening to Sir W. Pen's, where Sir J. Minnes and

Sir W. Batten, and afterwards came Sir G. Carteret. There talked about

business, and afterwards to Sir W. Batten's, where we staid talking and

drinking Syder, and so I went away to my office a little, and so home and

to bed.

12th. Up, and to Sir W. Batten's to bid him and Sir J. Minnes adieu, they

going this day towards Portsmouth, and then to Sir W. Pen's to see Sir J.

Lawson, who I heard was there, where I found him the same plain man that

he was, after all his success in the Straights, with which he is come

loaded home. Thence to Sir G. Carteret, and with him in his coach to

White Hall, and first I to see my Lord Sandwich (being come now from

Hinchingbrooke), and after talking a little with him, he and I to the

Duke's chamber, where Mr. Coventry and he and I into the Duke's closett

and Sir J. Lawson discoursing upon business of the Navy, and particularly

got his consent to the ending some difficulties in Mr. Creed's accounts.

Thence to my Lord's lodgings, and with Mr. Creed to the King's Head

ordinary, but people being set down, we went to two or three places; at

last found some meat at a Welch cook's at Charing Cross, and here dined

and our boys. After dinner to the 'Change to buy some linen for my wife,

and going back met our two boys. Mine had struck down Creed's boy in the

dirt, with his new suit on, and the boy taken by a gentlewoman into a

house to make clean, but the poor boy was in a pitifull taking and pickle;

but I basted my rogue soundly. Thence to my Lord's lodging, and Creed to

his, for his papers against the Committee. I found my Lord within, and he

and I went out through the garden towards the Duke's chamber, to sit upon

the Tangier matters; but a lady called to my Lord out of my Lady

Castlemaine's lodging, telling him that the King was there and would speak

with him. My Lord could not tell what to bid me say at the Committee to

excuse his absence, but that he was with the King; nor would suffer me to

go into the Privy Garden (which is now a through-passage, and common), but

bid me to go through some other way, which I did; so that I see he is a

servant of the King's pleasures too, as well as business. So I went to

the Committee, where we spent all this night attending to Sir J. Lawson's

description of Tangier and the place for the Mole,

[The construction of this Mole or breakwater turned out a very

costly undertaking. In April, 1663, it was found that the charge

for one year's work was L13,000. In March, 1665, L36,000 had been

spent upon it. The wind and sea exerted a very destructive

influence over this structure, although it was very strongly built,

and Colonel Norwood reported in 1668 that a breach had been made in

the Mole, which cost a considerable sum to repair.]

of which he brought a very pretty draught. Concerning the making of the

Mole, Mr. Cholmely did also discourse very well, having had some

experience in it. Being broke up, I home by coach to Mr. Bland's, and

there discoursed about sending away of the merchant ship which hangs so

long on hand for Tangier. So to my Lady Batten's, and sat with her

awhile, Sir W. Batten being gone out of town; but I did it out of design

to get some oranges for my feast to-morrow of her, which I did. So home,

and found my wife's new gown come home, and she mightily pleased with it.

But I appeared very angry that there were no more things got ready against

to-morrow's feast, and in that passion sat up long, and went discontented

to bed.

13th. So my poor wife rose by five o'clock in the morning, before day,

and went to market and bought fowls and many other things for dinner, with

which I was highly pleased, and the chine of beef was down also before six

o'clock, and my own jack, of which I was doubtfull, do carry it very well.

Things being put in order, and the cook come, I went to the office, where

we sat till noon and then broke up, and I home, whither by and by comes

Dr. Clerke and his lady, his sister, and a she-cozen, and Mr. Pierce and

his wife, which was all my guests. I had for them, after oysters, at

first course, a hash of rabbits, a lamb, and a rare chine of beef. Next a

great dish of roasted fowl, cost me about 30s., and a tart, and then fruit

and cheese. My dinner was noble and enough. I had my house mighty clean

and neat; my room below with a good fire in it; my dining-room above, and

my chamber being made a withdrawing-chamber; and my wife's a good fire

also. I find my new table very proper, and will hold nine or ten people

well, but eight with great room. After dinner the women to cards in my

wife's chamber, and the Dr. and Mr. Pierce in mine, because the

dining-room smokes unless I keep a good charcoal fire, which I was not

then provided with. At night to supper, had a good sack posset and cold

meat, and sent my guests away about ten o'clock at night, both them and

myself highly pleased with our management of this day; and indeed their

company was very fine, and Mrs. Clerke a very witty, fine lady, though a

little conceited and proud. So weary, so to bed. I believe this day's

feast will cost me near L5.

14th. Lay very long in bed, till with shame forced to rise, being called

up by Mr. Bland about business. He being gone I went and staid upon

business at the office and then home to dinner, and after dinner staid a

little talking pleasant with my wife, who tells me of another woman

offered by her brother that is pretty and can sing, to which I do listen

but will not appear over forward, but I see I must keep somebody for

company sake to my wife, for I am ashamed she should live as she do. So to

the office till 10 at night upon business, and numbering and examining

part of my sea-manuscript with great pleasure, my wife sitting working by

me. So home to supper and to bed.

15th. Up and to my office preparing things, by and by we met and sat Mr.

Coventry and I till noon, and then I took him to dine with me, I having a

wild goose roasted, and a cold chine of beef and a barrel of oysters. We

dined alone in my chamber, and then he and I to fit ourselves for

horseback, he having brought me a horse; and so to Deptford, the ways

being very dirty. There we walked up and down the Yard and Wett Dock, and

did our main business, which was to examine the proof of our new way of

the call-books, which we think will be of great use. And so to horse

again, and I home with his horse, leaving him to go over the fields to

Lambeth, his boy at my house taking home his horse. I vexed, having left

my keys in my other pocket in my chamber, and my door is shut, so that I

was forced to set my boy in at the window, which done I shifted myself,

and so to my office till late, and then home to supper, my mind being

troubled about Field's business and my uncle's, which the term coming on I

must think to follow again. So to prayers and to bed, and much troubled

in mind this night in my dreams about my uncle Thomas and his son going to

law with us.

16th. Lay long talking in bed with my wife. Up, and Mr. Battersby, the

apothecary, coming to see me, I called for the cold chine of beef and made

him eat, and drink wine, and talked, there being with us Captain Brewer,

the paynter, who tells me how highly the Presbyters do talk in the

coffeehouses still, which I wonder at. They being gone I walked two or

three hours with my brother Tom, telling him my mind how it is troubled

about my father's concernments, and how things would be with them all if

it should please God that I should die, and therefore desire him to be a

good husband and follow his business, which I hope he do. At noon to

dinner, and after dinner my wife began to talk of a woman again, which I

have a mind to have, and would be glad Pall might please us, but she is

quite against having her, nor have I any great mind to it, but only for

her good and to save money flung away upon a stranger. So to my office

till 9 o'clock about my navy manuscripts, and there troubled in my mind

more and more about my uncle's business from a letter come this day from

my father that tells me that all his tenants are sued by my uncle, which

will cost me some new trouble, I went home to supper and so to bed.

17th. Waked early with my mind troubled about our law matters, but it

came into my mind that [sayings] of Epictetus, which did put me to a great

deal of ease, it being a saying of great reason. Up to the office, and

there sat Mr. Coventry, Mr. Pett, new come to town, and I. I was sorry

for signing a bill and guiding Mr. Coventry to sign a bill to Mr. Creed

for his pay as Deputy Treasurer to this day, though the service ended 5 or

6 months ago, which he perceiving did blot out his name afterwards, but I

will clear myself to him from design in it. Sat till two o'clock and then

home to dinner, and Creed with me, and after dinner, to put off my mind's

trouble, I took Creed by coach and to the Duke's playhouse, where we did

see "The Five Hours" entertainment again, which indeed is a very fine

play, though, through my being out of order, it did not seem so good as at

first; but I could discern it was not any fault in the play. Thence with

him to the China alehouse, and there drank a bottle or two, and so home,

where I found my wife and her brother discoursing about Mr. Ashwell's

daughter, whom we are like to have for my wife's woman, and I hope it may

do very well, seeing there is a necessity of having one. So to the office

to write letters, and then home to supper and to bed.

18th (Lord's day). Up, and after the barber had done, and I had spoke

with Mr. Smith (whom I sent for on purpose to speak of Field's business,

who stands upon L250 before he will release us, which do trouble me

highly), and also Major Allen of the Victualling Office about his ship to

be hired for Tangier, I went to church, and thence home to dinner alone

with my wife, very pleasant, and after dinner to church again, and heard a

dull, drowsy sermon, and so home and to my office, perfecting my vows

again for the next year, which I have now done, and sworn to in the

presence of Almighty God to observe upon the respective penalties thereto

annexed, and then to Sir W. Pen's (though much against my will, for I

cannot bear him, but only to keep him from complaint to others that I do

not see him) to see how he do, and find him pretty well, and ready to go

abroad again.

19th. Up and to White Hall, and while the Duke is dressing himself I went

to wait on my Lord Sandwich, whom I found not very well, and Dr. Clerke

with him. He is feverish, and hath sent for Mr. Pierce to let him blood,

but not being in the way he puts it off till night, but he stirs not

abroad to-day. Then to the Duke, and in his closett discoursed as we use

to do, and then broke up. That done, I singled out Mr. Coventry into the

Matted Gallery, and there I told him the complaints I meet every day about

our Treasurer's or his people's paying no money, but at the goldsmith's

shops, where they are forced to pay fifteen or twenty sometimes per cent.

for their money, which is a most horrid shame, and that which must not be

suffered. Nor is it likely that the Treasurer (at least his people) will

suffer Maynell the Goldsmith to go away with L10,000 per annum, as he do

now get, by making people pay after this manner for their money. We were

interrupted by the Duke, who called Mr. Coventry aside for half an hour,

walking with him in the gallery, and then in the garden, and then going

away I ended my discourse with Mr. Coventry. But by the way Mr. Coventry

was saying that there remained nothing now in our office to be amended but

what would do of itself every day better and better, for as much as he

that was slowest, Sir W. Batten, do now begin to look about him and to

mind business. At which, God forgive me! I was a little moved with envy,

but yet I am glad, and ought to be, though it do lessen a little my care

to see that the King's service is like to be better attended than it was

heretofore. Thence by coach to Mr. Povy's, being invited thither by [him]

came a messenger this morning from him, where really he made a most

excellent and large dinner, of their variety, even to admiration, he

bidding us, in a frolique, to call for what we had a mind, and he would

undertake to give it us: and we did for prawns, swan, venison, after I had

thought the dinner was quite done, and he did immediately produce it,

which I thought great plenty, and he seems to set off his rest in this

plenty and the neatness of his house, which he after dinner showed me,

from room to room, so beset with delicate pictures, and above all, a piece

of perspective in his closett in the low parler; his stable, where was

some most delicate horses, and the very-racks painted, and mangers, with a

neat leaden painted cistern, and the walls done with Dutch tiles, like my

chimnies. But still, above all things, he bid me go down into his

wine-cellar, where upon several shelves there stood bottles of all sorts

of wine, new and old, with labells pasted upon each bottle, and in the

order and plenty as I never saw books in a bookseller's shop; and herein,

I observe, he puts his highest content, and will accordingly commend all

that he hath, but still they deserve to be so. Here dined with me Dr.

Whore and Mr. Scawen. Therewith him and Mr. Bland, whom we met by the way,

to my Lord Chancellor's, where the King was to meet my Lord Treasurer,

&c., many great men, to settle the revenue of Tangier. I staid talking

awhile there, but the King not coming I walked to my brother's, where I

met my cozen Scotts (Tom not being at home) and sent for a glass of wine

for them, and having drunk we parted, and I to the Wardrobe talking with

Mr. Moore about my law businesses, which I doubt will go ill for want of

time for me to attend them. So home, where I found Mrs. Lodum speaking

with my wife about her kinswoman which is offered my wife to come as a

woman to her. So to the office and put things in order, and then home and

to bed, it being my great comfort that every day I understand more and

more the pleasure of following of business and the credit that a man gets

by it, which I hope at last too will end in profit. This day, by Dr.

Clerke, I was told the occasion of my Lord Chesterfield's going and taking

his lady (my Lord Ormond's daughter) from Court. It seems he not only

hath been long jealous of the Duke of York, but did find them two talking

together, though there were others in the room, and the lady by all

opinions a most good, virtuous woman. He, the next day (of which the Duke

was warned by somebody that saw the passion my Lord Chesterfield was in

the night before), went and told the Duke how much he did apprehend

himself wronged, in his picking out his lady of the whole Court to be the

subject of his dishonour; which the Duke did answer with great calmness,

not seeming to understand the reason of complaint, and that was all that

passed but my Lord did presently pack his lady into the country in

Derbyshire, near the Peake; which is become a proverb at Court, to send a

man's wife to the Devil's arse a' Peake, when she vexes him. This noon I

did find out Mr. Dixon at Whitehall, and discoursed with him about Mrs.

Wheatly's daughter for a wife for my brother Tom, and have committed it to

him to enquire the pleasure of her father and mother concerning it. I

demanded L300.

20th. Up betimes and to the office, where all the morning. Dined at

home, and Mr. Deane of Woolwich with me, talking about the abuses of the

yard. Then to the office about business all the afternoon with great

pleasure, seeing myself observed by every body to be the only man of

business of us all, but Mr. Coventry. So till late at night, and then

home to supper and bed.

21st. Up early leaving my wife very ill in bed . . . and to my office

till eight o'clock, there coming Ch. Pepys

[Charles Pepys was second son of Thomas Pepys, elder brother of

Samuel's father. Samuel paid part of the legacy to Charles and his

elder brother Thomas on May 25th, 1664.]

to demand his legacy of me, which I denied him upon good reason of his

father and brother's suing us, and so he went away. Then came

Commissioner Pett, and he and I by agreement went to Deptford, and after a

turn or two in the yard, to Greenwich, and thence walked to Woolwich. Here

we did business, and I on board the Tangier-merchant, a ship freighted by

us, that has long lain on hand in her despatch to Tangier, but is now

ready for sailing. Back, and dined at Mr. Ackworth's, where a pretty

dinner, and she a pretty, modest woman; but above all things we saw her

Rocke, which is one of the finest things done by a woman that ever I saw.

I must have my wife to see it. After dinner on board the Elias, and found

the timber brought by her from the forest of Deane to be exceeding good.

The Captain gave each of us two barrels of pickled oysters put up for the

Queen mother. So to the Dock again, and took in Mrs. Ackworth and another

gentlewoman, and carried them to London, and at the Globe tavern, in

Eastcheap, did give them a glass of wine, and so parted. I home, where I

found my wife ill in bed all day, and her face swelled with pain. My Will

has received my last two quarters salary, of which I am glad. So to my

office till late and then home, and after the barber had done, to bed.

22nd. To the office, where Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes are come from

Portsmouth. We sat till dinner time. Then home, and Mr. Dixon by

agreement came to dine, to give me an account of his success with Mr.

Wheatly for his daughter for my brother; and in short it is, that his

daughter cannot fancy my brother because of his imperfection in his

speech, which I am sorry for, but there the business must die, and we must

look out for another. There came in also Mrs. Lodum, with an answer from

her brother Ashwell's daughter, who is likely to come to me, and with her

my wife's brother, and I carried Commissioner Pett in with me, so I feared

want of victuals, but I had a good dinner, and mirth, and so rose and

broke up, and with the rest of the officers to Mr. Russell's buriall,

where we had wine and rings, and a great and good company of aldermen and

the livery of the Skinners' Company. We went to St. Dunstan's in the East

church, where a sermon, but I staid not, but went home, and, after writing

letters, I took coach to Mr. Povy's, but he not within I left a letter

there of Tangier business, and so to my Lord's, and there find him not

sick, but expecting his fit to-night of an ague. Here was Sir W. Compton,

Mr. Povy, Mr. Bland, Mr. Gawden and myself; we were very busy about

getting provisions sent forthwith to Tangier, fearing that by Mr. Gawden's

neglect they might want bread. So among other ways thought of to supply

them I was empowered by the Commissioners of Tangier that were present to

write to Plymouth and direct Mr. Lanyon to take up vessels great or small

to the quantity of 150 tons, and fill them with bread of Mr. Gawden's

lying ready there for Tangier, which they undertake to bear me out in, and

to see the freight paid. This I did. About 10 o'clock we broke up, and my

Lord's fit was coming upon him, and so we parted, and I with Mr. Creed,

Mr. Pierce, Win. Howe and Captn. Ferrers, who was got almost drunk this

afternoon, and was mighty capricious and ready to fall out with any body,

supped together in the little chamber that was mine heretofore upon some

fowls sent by Mr. Shepley, so we were very merry till 12 at night, and so

away, and I lay with Mr. Creed at his lodgings, and slept well.

23rd. Up and hastened him in despatching some business relating to

Tangier, and I away homewards, hearing that my Lord had a bad fit

to-night, called at my brother's, and found him sick in bed, of a pain in

the sole of one of his feet, without swelling, knowing not how it came,

but it will not suffer him to stand these two days. So to Mr. Moore, and

Mr. Lovell, our proctor, being there, discoursed of my law business.

Thence to Mr. Grant, to bid him come for money for Mr. Barlow, and he and

I to a coffee-house, where Sir J. Cutler was;

[Citizen and grocer of London; most severely handled by Pope. Two

statues were erected to his memory--one in the College of

Physicians, and the other in the Grocers' Hall. They were erected

and one removed (that in the College of Physicians) before Pope

stigmatized "sage Cutler." Pope says that Sir John Cutler had an

only daughter; in fact, he had two: one married to Lord Radnor; the

other, mentioned afterwards by Pepys, the wife of Sir William

Portman.--B.]

and in discourse, among other things, he did fully make it out that the

trade of England is as great as ever it was, only in more hands; and that

of all trades there is a greater number than ever there was, by reason of

men taking more 'prentices, because of their having more money than

heretofore. His discourse was well worth hearing. Coming by Temple Bar I

bought "Audley's Way to be Rich," a serious pamphlett and some good things

worth my minding. Thence homewards, and meeting Sir W. Batten, turned back

again to a coffee-house, and there drunk more till I was almost sick, and

here much discourse, but little to be learned, but of a design in the

north of a rising, which is discovered, among some men of condition, and

they sent for up. Thence to the 'Change, and so home with him by coach,

and I to see how my wife do, who is pretty well again, and so to dinner to

Sir W. Batten's to a cod's head, and so to my office, and after stopping

to see Sir W. Pen, where was Sir J. Lawson and his lady and daughter,

which is pretty enough, I came back to my office, and there set to

business pretty late, finishing the margenting my Navy-Manuscript. So

home and to bed.

24th. Lay pretty long, and by lying with my sheet upon my lip, as I have

of old observed it, my upper lip was blistered in the morning. To the

office all the morning, sat till noon, then to the Exchange to look out

for a ship for Tangier, and delivered my manuscript to be bound at the

stationer's. So to dinner at home, and then down to Redriffe, to see a

ship hired for Tangier, what readiness she was in, and found her ready to

sail. Then home, and so by coach to Mr. Povy's, where Sir W. Compton, Mr.

Bland, Gawden, Sir J. Lawson and myself met to settle the victualling of

Tangier for the time past, which with much ado we did, and for a six

months' supply more. So home in Mr. Gawden's coach, and to my office till

late about business, and find that it is business that must and do every

day bring me to something.--[In earlier days Pepys noted for us each few

pounds or shillings of graft which he annexed at each transaction in his

office.]--So home to supper and to bed.

25th (Lord's day). Lay till 9 a-bed, then up, and being trimmed by the

barber, I walked towards White Hall, calling upon Mr. Moore, whom I found

still very ill of his ague. I discoursed with him about my Lord's estate

against I speak with my Lord this day. Thence to the King's Head ordinary

at Charing Cross, and sent for Mr. Creed, where we dined very finely and

good company, good discourse. I understand the King of France is upon

consulting his divines upon the old question, what the power of the Pope

is? and do intend to make war against him, unless he do right him for the

wrong his Embassador received;

[On the 20th of August, the Duc de Crequi, then French ambassador at

Rome, was insulted by the Corsican armed police, a force whose

ignoble duty it was to assist the Sbirri; and the pope, Alexander

VII., at first refused reparation for the affront offered to the

French. Louis, as in the case of D'Estrades, took prompt measures.

He ordered the papal nuncio forthwith to quit France; he seized upon

Avignon, and his army prepared to enter Italy. Alexander found it

necessary to submit. In fulfilment of a treaty signed at Pisa in

1664, Cardinal Chigi, the pope's nephew, came to Paris, to tender

the pope's apology to Louis. The guilty individuals were punished;

the Corsicans banished for ever from the Roman States; and in front

of the guard-house which they had occupied a pyramid was erected,

bearing an inscription which embodied the pope's apology. This

pyramid Louis permitted Clement IX. to destroy on his accession.-B.]

and banish the Cardinall Imperiall,

[Lorenzo Imperiali, of Genoa. He had been appointed Governor of

Rome by Innocent X., and he had acted in that capacity at

the time of the tumult.--B.]

which I understand this day is not meant the Cardinall belonging or chosen

by the Emperor, but the name of his family is Imperiali. Thence to walk

in the Park, which we did two hours, it being a pleasant sunshine day

though cold. Our discourse upon the rise of most men that we know, and

observing them to be the results of chance, not policy, in any of them,

particularly Sir J. Lawson's, from his declaring against Charles Stuart in

the river of Thames, and for the Rump. Thence to my Lord, who had his

ague fit last night, but is now pretty well, and I staid talking with him

an hour alone in his chamber, about sundry publique and private matters.

Among others, he wonders what the project should be of the Duke's going

down to Portsmouth just now with his Lady, at this time of the year: it

being no way, we think, to increase his popularity, which is not great;

nor yet safe to do it, for that reason, if it would have any such effect.

By and by comes in my Lady Wright, and so I went away, end after talking

with Captn. Ferrers, who tells me of my Lady Castlemaine's and Sir Charles

Barkeley being the great favourites at Court, and growing every day more

and more; and that upon a late dispute between my Lord Chesterfield, that

is the Queen's Lord Chamberlain, and Mr. Edward Montagu, her Master of the

Horse, who should have the precedence in taking the Queen's upperhand

abroad out of the house, which Mr. Montagu challenges, it was given to my

Lord Chesterfield. So that I perceive he goes down the wind in honour as

well as every thing else, every day. So walk to my brother's and talked

with him, who tells me that this day a messenger is come, that tells us

how Collonel Honiwood, who was well yesterday at Canterbury, was flung by

his horse in getting up, and broke his scull, and so is dead. So home and

to the office, despatching some business, and so home to supper, and then

to prayers and to bed.