11th. Up, and by water to the Temple, and thence to Sir Ph.

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.

FEBRUARY

1666-1667

February 1st. Up, and to the office, where I was all the morning doing

business, at noon home to dinner, and after dinner down by water, though

it was a thick misty and rainy day, and walked to Deptford from Redriffe,

and there to Bagwell's by appointment, where the 'mulier etoit within

expecting me venir . . . . By and by 'su marido' come in, and there

without any notice taken by him we discoursed of our business of getting

him the new ship building by Mr. Deane, which I shall do for him. Thence

by and by after a little talk I to the yard, and spoke with some of the

officers, but staid but little, and the new clerk of the 'Chequer, Fownes,

did walk to Redriffe back with me. I perceive he is a very child, and is

led by the nose by Cowly and his kinsman that was his clerk, but I did

make him understand his duty, and put both understanding and spirit into

him, so that I hope he will do well. [Much surprised to hear this day at

Deptford that Mrs. Batters is going already to be married to him, that is

now the Captain of her husband's ship. She seemed the most passionate

mourner in the world. But I believe it cannot be true.]--(The passage

between brackets is written in the margin of the MS.)--Thence by water to

Billingsgate; thence to the Old Swan, and there took boat, it being now

night, to Westminster Hall, there to the Hall, and find Doll Lane, and

'con elle' I went to the Bell Taverne, and 'ibi je' did do what I would

'con elle' as well as I could, she 'sedendo sobre' thus far and making

some little resistance. But all with much content, and 'je tenai' much

pleasure 'cum ista'. There parted, and I by coach home, and to the

office, where pretty late doing business, and then home, and merry with my

wife, and to supper. My brother and I did play with the base, and I upon

my viallin, which I have not seen out of the case now I think these three

years, or more, having lost the key, and now forced to find an expedient

to open it. Then to bed.

2nd. Up, and to the office. This day I hear that Prince Rupert is to be

trepanned. God give good issue to it. Sir W. Pen looks upon me, and I on

him, and speak about business together at the table well enough, but no

friendship or intimacy since our late difference about his closet, nor do

I desire to have any. At noon dined well, and my brother and I to write

over once more with my own hand my catalogue of books, while he reads to

me. After something of that done, and dined, I to the office, where all

the afternoon till night busy. At night, having done all my office

matters, I home, and my brother and I to go on with my catalogue, and so

to supper. Mrs. Turner come to me this night again to condole her

condition and the ill usage she receives from my Lord Bruncker, which I

could never have expected from him, and shall be a good caution to me

while I live. She gone, I to supper, and then to read a little, and to

bed. This night comes home my new silver snuffe-dish, which I do give

myself for my closet, which is all I purpose to bestow in plate of myself,

or shall need, many a day, if I can keep what I have. So to bed. I am

very well pleased this night with reading a poem I brought home with me

last night from Westminster Hall, of Dryden's' upon the present war; a

very good poem.

3rd (Lord's day). Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen to White

Hall, and there to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and there staid till he was

ready, talking, and among other things of the Prince's being trepanned,

which was in doing just as we passed through the Stone Gallery, we asking

at the door of his lodgings, and were told so. We are all full of wishes

for the good success; though I dare say but few do really concern

ourselves for him in our hearts. Up to the Duke of York, and with him did

our business we come about, and among other things resolve upon a meeting

at the office to-morrow morning, Sir W. Coventry to be there to determine

of all things necessary for the setting of Sir W. Pen to work in his

Victualling business. This did awake in me some thoughts of what might in

discourse fall out touching my imployment, and did give me some

apprehension of trouble. Having done here, and after our laying our

necessities for money open to the Duke of York, but nothing obtained

concerning it, we parted, and I with others into the House, and there hear

that the work is done to the Prince in a few minutes without any pain at

all to him, he not knowing when it was done. It was performed by Moulins.

Having cut the outward table, as they call it, they find the inner all

corrupted, so as it come out without any force; and their fear is, that

the whole inside of his head is corrupted like that, which do yet make

them afeard of him; but no ill accident appeared in the doing of the

thing, but all with all imaginable success, as Sir Alexander Frazier did

tell me himself, I asking him, who is very kind to me. I to the Chapel a

little, but hearing nothing did take a turn into the Park, and then back

to Chapel and heard a very good Anthem to my heart's delight, and then to

Sir G. Carteret's to dinner, and before dinner did walk with him alone a

good while, and from him hear our case likely for all these acts to be bad

for money, which troubles me, the year speeding so fast, and he tells me

that he believes the Duke of York will go to sea with the fleete, which I

am sorry for in respect to his person, but yet there is no person in

condition to command the fleete, now the Captains are grown so great, but

him, it being impossible for anybody else but him to command any order or

discipline among them. He tells me there is nothing at all in the late

discourse about my Lord Sandwich and the French Embassador meeting and

contending for the way, which I wonder at, to see the confidence of report

without any ground. By and by to dinner, where very good company. Among

other discourse, we talked much of Nostradamus

[Michael Nostradamus, a physician and astrologer, born in the

diocese of Avignon, 1503. Amongst other predictions, one was

interpreted as foreshowing the singular death of Hen. II. of France,

by which his reputation was increased.]

his prophecy of these times, and the burning of the City of London, some

of whose verses are put into Booker's' Almanack this year; and Sir G.

Carteret did tell a story, how at his death he did make the town swear

that he should never be dug up, or his tomb opened, after he was buried;

but they did after sixty years do it, and upon his breast they found a

plate of brasse, saying what a wicked and unfaithful people the people of

that place were, who after so many vows should disturb and open him such a

day and year and hour; which, if true, is very strange. Then we fell to

talking of the burning of the City; and my Lady Carteret herself did tell

us how abundance of pieces of burnt papers were cast by the wind as far as

Cranborne; and among others she took up one, or had one brought her to

see, which was a little bit of paper that had been printed, whereon there

remained no more nor less than these words: "Time is, it is done." After

dinner I went and took a turn into the Park, and then took boat and away

home, and there to my chamber and to read, but did receive some letters

from Sir W. Coventry, touching the want of victuals to Kempthorne's'

fleete going to the Streights and now in the Downes: which did trouble me,

he saying that this disappointment might prove fatal; and the more,

because Sir W. Coventry do intend to come to the office upon business

to-morrow morning, and I shall not know what answer to give him. This did

mightily trouble my mind; however, I fell to read a little in Hakewill's

Apology, and did satisfy myself mighty fair in the truth of the saying

that the world do not grow old at all, but is in as good condition in all

respects as ever it was as to nature. I continued reading this book with

great pleasure till supper, and then to bed sooner than ordinary, for

rising betimes in the morning to-morrow. So after reading my usual vows

to bed, my mind full of trouble against to-morrow, and did not sleep any

good time of the night for thoughts of to-morrow morning's trouble.

4th. I up, with my head troubled to think of the issue of this morning,

so made ready and to the office, where Mr. Gawden comes, and he and I

discoursed the business well, and thinks I shall get off well enough; but

I do by Sir W. Coventry's silence conclude that he is not satisfied in my

management of my place and the charge it puts the King to, which I confess

I am not in present condition through my late laziness to give any good

answer to. But here do D. Gawden give me a good cordiall this morning, by

telling me that he do give me five of the eight hundred pounds on his

account remaining in my hands to myself, for the service I do him in my

victualling business, and L100 for my particular share of the profits of

my Tangier imployment as Treasurer. This do begin to make my heart glad,

and I did dissemble it the better, so when Sir W. Coventry did come, and

the rest met, I did appear unconcerned, and did give him answer pretty

satisfactory what he asked me; so that I did get off this meeting without

any ground lost, but rather a great deal gained by interposing that which

did belong to my duty to do, and neither [Sir] W. Coventry nor (Sir) W.

Yen did oppose anything thereunto, which did make my heart very glad. All

the morning at this work, Sir W. Pen making a great deal of do for the

fitting him in his setting out in his employment, and I do yield to any

trouble that he gives me without any contradiction. Sir W. Coventry being

gone, we at noon to dinner to Sir W. Pen's, he inviting me and my wife,

and there a pretty good dinner, intended indeed for Sir W. Coventry, but

he would not stay. So here I was mighty merry and all our differences

seemingly blown over, though he knows, if he be not a fool, that I love

him not, and I do the like that he hates me. Soon as dined, my wife and I

out to the Duke's playhouse, and there saw "Heraclius," an excellent play,

to my extraordinary content; and the more from the house being very full,

and great company; among others, Mrs. Steward, very fine, with her locks

done up with puffes, as my wife calls them: and several other great ladies

had their hair so, though I do not like it; but my wife do mightily--but

it is only because she sees it is the fashion. Here I saw my Lord

Rochester and his lady, Mrs. Mallet, who hath after all this ado married

him; and, as I hear some say in the pit, it is a great act of charity, for

he hath no estate. But it was pleasant to see how every body rose up when

my Lord John Butler, the Duke of Ormond's son, come into the pit towards

the end of the play, who was a servant--[lover]--to Mrs. Mallet, and now

smiled upon her, and she on him. I had sitting next to me a woman, the

likest my Lady Castlemayne that ever I saw anybody like another; but she

is a whore, I believe, for she is acquainted with every fine fellow, and

called them by their name, Jacke, and Tom, and before the end of the play

frisked to another place. Mightily pleased with the play, we home by

coach, and there a little to the office, and then to my chamber, and there

finished my Catalogue of my books with my own hand, and so to supper and

to bed, and had a good night's rest, the last night's being troublesome,

but now my heart light and full of resolution of standing close to my

business.

5th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing business, and

then home to dinner. Heard this morning that the Prince is much better,

and hath good rest. All the talk is that my Lord Sandwich hath perfected

the peace with Spayne, which is very good, if true. Sir H. Cholmly was

with me this morning, and told me of my Lord Bellasses's base dealings

with him by getting him to give him great gratuities to near L2000 for his

friendship in the business of the Mole, and hath been lately underhand

endeavouring to bring another man into his place as Governor, so as to

receive his money of Sir H. Cholmly for nothing. Dined at home, and after

dinner come Mrs. Daniel and her sister and staid and talked a little, and

then I to the office, and after setting my things in order at the office I

abroad with my wife and little Betty Michell, and took them against my

vowes, but I will make good my forfeit, to the King's house, to show them

a play, "The Chances." A good play I find it, and the actors most good in

it; and pretty to hear Knipp sing in the play very properly, "All night I

weepe;" and sung it admirably. The whole play pleases me well: and most

of all, the sight of many fine ladies--among others, my Lady Castlemayne

and Mrs. Middleton: the latter of the two hath also a very excellent face

and body, I think. Thence by coach to the New Exchange, and there laid

out money, and I did give Betty Michell two pair of gloves and a

dressing-box; and so home in the dark, over the ruins, with a link. I was

troubled with my pain, having got a bruise on my right testicle, I know

not how. But this I did make good use of to make my wife shift sides with

me, and I did come to sit 'avec' Betty Michell, and there had her 'main',

which 'elle' did give me very frankly now, and did hazer whatever I

'voudrais avec la', which did 'plaisir' me 'grandement', and so set her at

home with my mind mighty glad of what I have prevailed for so far; and so

home, and to the office, and did my business there, and then home to

supper, and after to set some things right in my chamber, and so to bed.

This morning, before I went to the office, there come to me Mr. Young and

Whistler, flaggmakers, and with mighty earnestness did present me with,

and press me to take a box, wherein I could not guess there was less than

L100 in gold: but I do wholly refuse it, and did not at last take it. The

truth is, not thinking them safe men to receive such a gratuity from, nor

knowing any considerable courtesy that ever I did do them, but desirous to

keep myself free from their reports, and to have it in my power to say I

had refused their offer.

6th. Up, lying a little long in bed, and by water to White Hall, and

there find the Duke of York gone out, he being in haste to go to the

Parliament, and so all my Brethren were gone to the office too. So I to

Sir Ph. Warwicke's about my Tangier business, and then to Westminster

Hall, and walked up and down, and hear that the Prince do still rest well

by day and night, and out of pain; so as great hopes are conceived of him:

though I did meet Dr. Clerke and Mr. Pierce, and they do say they believe

he will not recover it, they supposing that his whole head within is eaten

by this corruption, which appeared in this piece of the inner table. Up

to the Parliament door, and there discoursed with Roger Pepys, who goes

out of town this week, the Parliament rising this week also. So down to

the Hall and there spied Betty Michell, and so I sent for burnt wine to

Mrs. Michell's, and there did drink with the two mothers, and by that

means with Betty, poor girle, whom I love with all my heart. And God

forgive me, it did make me stay longer and hover all the morning up and

down the Hall to 'busquer occasions para ambulare con elle. But ego ne

pouvoir'. So home by water and to dinner, and then to the office, where

we sat upon Denis Gawden's accounts, and before night I rose and by water

to White Hall, to attend the Council; but they sat not to-day. So to Sir

W. Coventry's chamber, and find him within, and with a letter from the

Downes in his hands, telling the loss of the St. Patricke coming from

Harwich in her way to Portsmouth; and would needs chase two ships (she

having the Malago fire-ship in company) which from English colours put up

Dutch, and he would clap on board the Vice-Admirall; and after long

dispute the Admirall comes on the other side of him, and both together

took him. Our fire-ship (Seely) not coming in to fire all three, but come

away, leaving her in their possession, and carried away by them: a ship

built at Bristoll the last year, of fifty guns and upwards, and a most

excellent good ship. This made him very melancholy. I to talk of our

wants of money, but I do find that he is not pleased with that discourse,

but grieves to hear it, and do seem to think that Sir G. Carteret do not

mind the getting of money with the same good cheer that he did heretofore,

nor do I think he hath the same reason. Thence to Westminster Hall,

thinking to see Betty Michell, she staying there all night, and had hopes

to get her out alone, but missed, and so away by coach home, and to Sir W.

Batten's, to tell him my bad news, and then to the office, and home to

supper, where Mrs. Hewer was, and after supper and she gone, W. Hewer

talking with me very late of the ill manner of Sir G. Carteret's accounts

being kept, and in what a sad condition he would be if either Fenn or

Wayth should break or die, and am resolved to take some time to tell Sir

G. Carteret or my Lady of it, I do love them so well and their family. So

to bed, my pain pretty well gone.

7th. Lay long with pleasure with my wife, and then up and to the office,

where all the morning, and then home to dinner, and before dinner I went

into my green dining room, and there talking with my brother upon matters

relating to his journey to Brampton to-morrow, and giving him good counsel

about spending the time when he shall stay in the country with my father,

I looking another way heard him fall down, and turned my head, and he was

fallen down all along upon the ground dead, which did put me into a great

fright; and, to see my brotherly love! I did presently lift him up from

the ground, he being as pale as death; and, being upon his legs, he did

presently come to himself, and said he had something come into his stomach

very hot. He knew not what it was, nor ever had such a fit before. I

never was so frighted but once, when my wife was ill at Ware upon the

road, and I did continue trembling a good while and ready to weepe to see

him, he continuing mighty pale all dinner and melancholy, that I was loth

to let him take his journey tomorrow; but he began to be pretty well, and

after dinner my wife and Barker fell to singing, which pleased me pretty

well, my wife taking mighty pains and proud that she shall come to trill,

and indeed I think she will. So to the office, and there all the

afternoon late doing business, and then home, and find my brother pretty

well. So to write a letter to my Lady Sandwich for him to carry, I having

not writ to her a great while. Then to supper and so to bed. I did this

night give him 20s. for books, and as much for his pocket, and 15s. to

carry him down, and so to bed. Poor fellow! he is so melancholy, and

withal, my wife says, harmless, that I begin to love him, and would be

loth he should not do well.

8th. This morning my brother John come up to my bedside, and took his

leave of us, going this day to Brampton. My wife loves him mightily as

one that is pretty harmless, and I do begin to fancy him from yesterday's

accident, it troubling me to think I should be left without a brother or

sister, which is the first time that ever I had thoughts of that kind in

my life. He gone, I up, and to the office, where we sat upon the

Victuallers' accounts all the morning. At noon Lord Bruncker, Sir W.

Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and myself to the Swan in Leadenhall Street to

dinner, where an exceedingly good dinner and good discourse. Sir W.

Batten come this morning from the House, where the King hath prorogued

this Parliament to October next. I am glad they are up. The Bill for

Accounts was not offered, the party being willing to let it fall; but the

King did tell them he expected it. They are parted with great

heartburnings, one party against the other. Pray God bring them hereafter

together in better temper! It is said that the King do intend himself in

this interval to take away Lord Mordaunt's government, so as to do

something to appease the House against they come together, and let them

see he will do that of his own accord which is fit, without their forcing

him; and that he will have his Commission for Accounts go on which will be

good things. At dinner we talked much of Cromwell; all saying he was a

brave fellow, and did owe his crowne he got to himself as much as any man

that ever got one. Thence to the office, and there begun the account

which Sir W. Pen by his late employment hath examined, but begun to

examine it in the old manner, a clerk to read the Petty warrants, my Lord

Bruncker upon very good ground did except against it, and would not suffer

him to go on. This being Sir W. Pen's clerk he took it in snuff, and so

hot they grew upon it that my Lord Bruncker left the office. He gone

(Sir) W. Pen ranted like a devil, saying that nothing but ignorance could

do this. I was pleased at heart all this while. At last moved to have

Lord Bruncker desired to return, which he did, and I read the petty

warrants all the day till late at night, that I was very weary, and

troubled to have my private business of my office stopped to attend this,

but mightily pleased at this falling out, and the truth is [Sir] W. Pen do

make so much noise in this business of his, and do it so little and so

ill, that I think the King will be little the better by changing the hand.

So up and to my office a little, but being at it all day I could not do

much there. So home and to supper, to teach Barker to sing another piece

of my song, and then to bed.

9th. To the office, where we sat all the morning busy. At noon home to

dinner, and then to my office again, where also busy, very busy late, and

then went home and read a piece of a play, "Every Man in his

Humour,"--[Ben Jonson's well-known play.]--wherein is the greatest

propriety of speech that ever I read in my life: and so to bed. This noon

come my wife's watchmaker, and received L12 of me for her watch; but

Captain Rolt coming to speak with me about a little business, he did judge

of the work to be very good work, and so I am well contented, and he hath

made very good, that I knew, to Sir W. Pen and Lady Batten.

10th (Lord's day). Up and with my wife to church, where Mr. Mills made an

unnecessary sermon upon Original Sin, neither understood by himself nor

the people. Home, where Michell and his wife, and also there come Mr.

Carter, my old acquaintance of Magdalene College, who hath not been here

of many years. He hath spent his time in the North with the Bishop of

Carlisle much. He is grown a very comely person, and of good discourse,

and one that I like very much. We had much talk of our old acquaintance

of the College, concerning their various fortunes; wherein, to my joy, I

met not with any that have sped better than myself. After dinner he went

away, and awhile after them Michell and his wife, whom I love mightily,

and then I to my chamber there to my Tangier accounts, which I had let run

a little behind hand, but did settle them very well to my satisfaction,

but it cost me sitting up till two in the morning, and the longer by

reason that our neighbour, Mrs. Turner, poor woman, did come to take her

leave of us, she being to quit her house to-morrow to my Lord Bruncker,

who hath used her very unhandsomely. She is going to lodgings, and do

tell me very odde stories how Mrs. Williams do receive the applications of

people, and hath presents, and she is the hand that receives all, while my

Lord Bruncker do the business, which will shortly come to be loud talk if

she continues here, I do foresee, and bring my Lord no great credit. So

having done all my business, to bed.

11th. Up, and by water to the Temple, and thence to Sir Ph. Warwicke's

about my Tangier warrant for tallies, and there met my Lord Bellasses and

Creed, and discoursed about our business of money, but we are defeated as

to any hopes of getting [any] thing upon the Poll Bill, which I seem but

not much troubled at, it not concerning me much. Thence with Creed to

Westminster Hall, and there up and down, and heard that Prince Rupert is

still better and better; and that he did tell Dr. Troutbecke expressly

that my Lord Sandwich is ordered home. I hear, too, that Prince Rupert

hath begged the having of all the stolen prize-goods which he can find,

and that he is looking out anew after them, which at first troubled me;

but I do see it cannot come to anything, but is done by Hayes, or some of

his little people about him. Here, among other newes, I bought the King's

speech at proroguing the House the other day, wherein are some words which

cannot but import some prospect of a peace, which God send us! After

walking a good while in the Hall, it being Term time, I home by water,

calling at Michell's and giving him a fair occasion to send his wife to

the New Exchange to meet my wife and me this afternoon. So home to

dinner, and after dinner by coach to Lord Bellasses, and with him to

Povy's house, whom we find with Auditor Beale and Vernatty about their

accounts still, which is never likely to have end. Our business was to

speak with Vernatty, who is certainly a most cunning knave as ever was

born. Having done what we had to do there, my Lord carried me and set me

down at the New Exchange, where I staid at Pottle's shop till Betty

Michell come, which she did about five o'clock, and was surprised not to

'trouver my muger' I there; but I did make an excuse good enough, and so I

took 'elle' down, and over the water to the cabinet-maker's, and there

bought a dressing-box for her for 20s., but would require an hour's time

to make fit. This I was glad of, thinking to have got 'elle' to enter to

a 'casa de biber', but 'elle' would not, so I did not much press it, but

suffered 'elle' to enter 'a la casa de uno de sus hermanos', and so I past

my time walking up and down, and among other places, to one Drumbleby, a

maker of flageolets, the best in towne. He not within, my design to

bespeak a pair of flageolets of the same tune, ordered him to come to me

in a day or two, and so I back to the cabinet-maker's and there staid; and

by and by Betty comes, and here we staid in the shop and above seeing the

workmen work, which was pretty, and some exceeding good work, and very

pleasant to see them do it, till it was late quite dark, and the mistresse

of the shop took us into the kitchen and there talked and used us very

prettily, and took her for my wife, which I owned and her big belly, and

there very merry, till my thing done, and then took coach and home

. . . But now comes our trouble, I did begin to fear that 'su marido'

might go to my house to 'enquire pour elle', and there, 'trouvant' my

'muger'--[wife in Spanish.]--at home, would not only think himself, but

give my 'femme' occasion to think strange things. This did trouble me

mightily, so though 'elle' would not seem to have me trouble myself about

it, yet did agree to the stopping the coach at the streete's end, and 'je

allois con elle' home, and there presently hear by him that he had newly

sent 'su mayde' to my house to see for her mistresse. This do much

perplex me, and I did go presently home Betty whispering me behind the

'tergo de her mari', that if I would say that we did come home by water,

'elle' could make up 'la cose well satis', and there in a sweat did walk

in the entry ante my door, thinking what I should say a my 'femme', and as

God would have it, while I was in this case (the worst in reference a my

'femme' that ever I was in in my life), a little woman comes stumbling to

the entry steps in the dark; whom asking who she was, she enquired for my

house. So knowing her voice, and telling her 'su donna' is come home she

went away. But, Lord! in what a trouble was I, when she was gone, to

recollect whether this was not the second time of her coming, but at last

concluding that she had not been here before, I did bless myself in my

good fortune in getting home before her, and do verily believe she had

loitered some time by the way, which was my great good fortune, and so I

in a-doors and there find all well. So my heart full of joy, I to the

office awhile, and then home, and after supper and doing a little business

in my chamber I to bed, after teaching Barker a little of my song.

12th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, with several

things (among others) discoursed relating to our two new assistant

controllers, but especially Sir W. Pen, who is mighty troublesome in it.

At noon home to dinner, and then to the office again, and there did much

business, and by and by comes Mr. Moore, who in discourse did almost

convince me that it is necessary for my Lord Sandwich to come home end

take his command at sea this year, for that a peace is like to be. Many

considerations he did give me hereupon, which were very good both in

reference to the publick and his private condition. By and by with Lord

Bruncker by coach to his house, there to hear some Italian musique: and

here we met Tom Killigrew, Sir Robert Murray, and the Italian Signor

Baptista, who hath composed a play in Italian for the Opera, which T.

Killigrew do intend to have up; and here he did sing one of the acts. He

himself is the poet as well as the musician; which is very much, and did

sing the whole from the words without any musique prickt, and played all

along upon a harpsicon most admirably, and the composition most excellent.

The words I did not understand, and so know not how they are fitted, but

believe very well, and all in the recitativo very fine. But I perceive

there is a proper accent in every country's discourse, and that do reach

in their setting of notes to words, which, therefore, cannot be natural to

any body else but them; so that I am not so much smitten with it as, it

may be, I should be, if I were acquainted with their accent. But the

whole composition is certainly most excellent; and the poetry, T.

Killigrew and Sir R. Murray, who understood the words, did say was

excellent. I confess I was mightily pleased with the musique. He

pretends not to voice, though it be good, but not excellent. This done, T.

Killigrew and I to talk: and he tells me how the audience at his house is

not above half so much as it used to be before the late fire. That Knipp

is like to make the best actor that ever come upon the stage, she

understanding so well: that they are going to give her L30 a-year more.

That the stage is now by his pains a thousand times better and more

glorious than ever heretofore. Now, wax-candles, and many of them; then,

not above 3 lbs. of tallow: now, all things civil, no rudeness anywhere;

then, as in a bear-garden then, two or three fiddlers; now, nine or ten of

the best then, nothing but rushes upon the ground, and every thing else

mean; and now, all otherwise: then, the Queen seldom and the King never

would come; now, not the King only for state, but all civil people do

think they may come as well as any. He tells me that he hath gone several

times, eight or ten times, he tells me, hence to Rome to hear good

musique; so much he loves it, though he never did sing or play a note.

That he hath ever endeavoured in the late King's time, and in this, to

introduce good musique, but he never could do it, there never having been

any musique here better than ballads. Nay, says, "Hermitt poore" and

"Chevy Chese"

["Like hermit poor in pensive place obscure" is found in "The

Phoenix Nest," 1593, and in Harl. MS. No. 6910, written soon after

1596. It was set to music by Alfonso Ferrabosco, and published in

his "Ayres," 1609. The song was a favourite with Izaak Walton, and

is alluded to in "Hudibras" (Part I., canto ii., line 1169). See

Rimbault's "Little Book of Songs and Ballads," 1851, p. 98. Both

versions of the famous ballad of "Chevy Chase" are printed in

Percy's "Reliques."]

was all the musique we had; and yet no ordinary fiddlers get so much money

as ours do here, which speaks our rudenesse still. That he hath gathered

our Italians from several Courts in Christendome, to come to make a

concert for the King, which he do give L200 a-year a-piece to: but badly

paid, and do come in the room of keeping four ridiculous gundilows,

[The gondolas mentioned before, as sent by the Doge of Venice. See

September 12th, 1661]

he having got, the King to put them away, and lay out money this way; and

indeed I do commend him for it, for I think it is a very noble

undertaking. He do intend to have some times of the year these operas to

be performed at the two present theatres, since he is defeated in what he

intended in Moorefields on purpose for it; and he tells me plainly that

the City audience was as good as the Court, but now they are most gone.

Baptista tells me that Giacomo Charissimi is still alive at Rome, who was

master to Vinnecotio, who is one of the Italians that the King hath here,

and the chief composer of them. My great wonder is, how this man do to

keep in memory so perfectly the musique of the whole act, both for the

voice and the instrument too. I confess I do admire it: but in recitativo

the sense much helps him, for there is but one proper way of discoursing

and giving the accents. Having done our discourse, we all took coaches,

my Lord's and T. Killigrew's, and to Mrs. Knipp's chamber, where this

Italian is to teach her to sing her part. And so we all thither, and

there she did sing an Italian song or two very fine, while he played the

bass upon a harpsicon there; and exceedingly taken I am with her singing,

and believe that she will do miracles at that and acting. Her little girl

is mighty pretty and witty. After being there an hour, and I mightily

pleased with this evening's work, we all parted, and I took coach and

home, where late at my office, and then home to enter my last three days'

Journall; and so to supper and to bed, troubled at nothing, but that these

pleasures do hinder me in my business, and the more by reason of our being

to dine abroad to-morrow, and then Saturday next is appointed to meet

again at my Lord Bruncker's lodgings, and there to have the whole quire of

Italians; but then I do consider that this is all the pleasure I live for

in the world, and the greatest I can ever expect in the best of my life,

and one thing more, that by hearing this man to-night, and I think Captain

Cooke to-morrow, and the quire of Italians on Saturday, I shall be truly

able to distinguish which of them pleases me truly best, which I do much

desire to know and have good reason and fresh occasion of judging.

13th. Up, and by water to White Hall, where to the Duke of York, and

there did our usual business; but troubled to see that, at this time,

after our declaring a debt to the Parliament of L900,000, and nothing paid

since, but the debt increased, and now the fleete to set out; to hear that

the King hath ordered but L35,000 for the setting out of the fleete, out

of the Poll Bill, to buy all provisions, when five times as much had been

little enough to have done any thing to purpose. They have, indeed,

ordered more for paying off of seamen and the Yards to some time, but not

enough for that neither. Another thing is, the acquainting the Duke of

York with the case of Mr. Lanyon, our agent at Plymouth, who has trusted

us to L8000 out of purse; we are not in condition, after so many promises,

to obtain him a farthing, nor though a message was carried by Sir G.

Carteret and Sir W. Coventry to the Commissioners for Prizes, that he

might have L3000 out of L20,000 worth of prizes to be shortly sold there,

that he might buy at the candle and pay for the goods out of bills, and

all would [not] do any thing, but that money must go all another way,

while the King's service is undone, and those that trust him perish.

These things grieve me to the heart. The Prince, I hear, is every day

better and better. So away by water home, stopping at Michell's, where

Mrs. Martin was, and I there drank with them and whispered with Betty, who

tells me all is well, but was prevented in something she would have said,

her 'marido venant' just then, a news which did trouble me, and so drank

and parted and home, and there took up my wife by coach, and to Mrs.

Pierce's, there to take her up, and with them to Dr. Clerke's, by

invitation, where we have not been a great while, nor had any mind to go

now, but that the Dr., whom I love, would have us choose a day. Here was

his wife, painted, and her sister Worshipp, a widow now and mighty pretty

in her mourning. Here was also Mr. Pierce and Mr. Floyd, Secretary to the

Lords Commissioners of Prizes, and Captain Cooke, to dinner, an ill and

little mean one, with foul cloth and dishes, and everything poor.

Discoursed most about plays and the Opera, where, among other vanities,

Captain Cooke had the arrogance to say that he was fain to direct Sir W.

Davenant in the breaking of his verses into such and such lengths,

according as would be fit for musick, and how he used to swear at

Davenant, and command him that way, when W. Davenant would be angry, and

find fault with this or that note--but a vain coxcomb I perceive he is,

though he sings and composes so well. But what I wondered at, Dr. Clerke

did say that Sir W. Davenant is no good judge of a dramatick poem, finding

fault with his choice of Henry the 5th, and others, for the stage, when I

do think, and he confesses, "The Siege of Rhodes" as good as ever was

writ. After dinner Captain Cooke and two of his boys to sing, but it was

indeed both in performance and composition most plainly below what I heard

last night, which I could not have believed. Besides overlooking the

words which he sung, I find them not at all humoured as they ought to be,

and as I believed he had done all he had sett. Though he himself do

indeed sing in a manner as to voice and manner the best I ever heard yet,

and a strange mastery he hath in making of extraordinary surprising

closes, that are mighty pretty, but his bragging that he do understand

tones and sounds as well as any man in the world, and better than Sir W.

Davenant or any body else, I do not like by no means, but was sick of it

and of him for it. He gone, Dr. Clerke fell to reading a new play, newly

writ, of a friend's of his; but, by his discourse and confession

afterwards, it was his own. Some things, but very few, moderately good;

but infinitely far from the conceit, wit, design, and language of very

many plays that I know; so that, but for compliment, I was quite tired

with hearing it. It being done, and commending the play, but against my

judgment, only the prologue magnifying the happiness of our former poets

when such sorry things did please the world as was then acted, was very

good. So set Mrs. Pierce at home, and away ourselves home, and there to

my office, and then my chamber till my eyes were sore at writing and

making ready my letter and accounts for the Commissioners of Tangier

to-morrow, which being done, to bed, hearing that there was a very great

disorder this day at the Ticket Office, to the beating and bruising of the

face of Carcasse very much. A foul evening this was to-night, and I

mightily troubled to get a coach home; and, which is now my common

practice, going over the ruins in the night, I rid with my sword drawn in

the coach.

14th. Up and to the office, where Carcasse comes with his plaistered

face, and called himself Sir W. Batten's martyr, which made W. Batten mad

almost, and mighty quarrelling there was. We spent the morning almost

wholly upon considering some way of keeping the peace at the Ticket

Office; but it is plain that the care of that office is nobody's work, and

that is it that makes it stand in the ill condition it do. At noon home

to dinner, and after dinner by coach to my Lord Chancellor's, and there a

meeting: the Duke of York, Duke of Albemarle, and several other Lords of

the Commission of Tangier. And there I did present a state of my

accounts, and managed them well; and my Lord Chancellor did say, though he

was, in other things, in an ill humour, that no man in England was of more

method, nor made himself better understood than myself. But going, after

the business of money was over, to other businesses, of settling the

garrison, he did fling out, and so did the Duke of York, two or three

severe words touching my Lord Bellasses: that he would have no Governor

come away from thence in less than three years; no, though his lady were

with child. "And," says the Duke of York, "there should be no Governor

continue so, longer than three years." "Nor," says Lord Arlington, "when

our rules are once set, and upon good judgment declared, no Governor

should offer to alter them."--"We must correct the many things that are

amiss there; for," says the Lord Chancellor, "you must think we do hear of

more things amisse than we are willing to speak before our friends'

faces." My Lord Bellasses would not take notice of their reflecting on

him, and did wisely, but there were also many reflections on him. Thence

away by coach to Sir H. Cholmly and Fitzgerald and Creed, setting down the

two latter at the New Exchange. And Sir H. Cholmly and I to the Temple,

and there walked in the dark in the walks talking of newes; and he

surprises me with the certain newes that the King did last night in

Council declare his being in treaty with the Dutch: that they had sent him

a very civil letter, declaring that, if nobody but themselves were

concerned, they would not dispute the place of treaty, but leave it to his

choice; but that, being obliged to satisfy therein a Prince of equal

quality with himself, they must except any place in England or Spayne.

And so the King hath chosen the Hague, and thither hath chose my Lord

Hollis and Harry Coventry to go Embassadors to treat; which is so mean a

thing, as all the world will believe, that we do go to beg a peace of

them, whatever we pretend. And it seems all our Court are mightily for a

peace, taking this to be the time to make one, while the King hath money,

that he may save something of what the Parliament hath given him to put

him out of debt, so as he may need the help of no more Parliaments, as to

the point of money: but our debt is so great, and expence daily so

encreased, that I believe little of the money will be saved between this

and the making of the peace up. But that which troubles me most is, that

we have chosen a son of Secretary Morris, a boy never used to any

business, to go Embassador [Secretary] to the Embassy, which shows how,

little we are sensible of the weight of the business upon us. God

therefore give a good end to it, for I doubt it, and yet do much more

doubt the issue of our continuing the war, for we are in no wise fit for

it, and yet it troubles me to think what Sir H. Cholmly says, that he

believes they will not give us any reparation for what we have suffered by

the war, nor put us into any better condition than what we were in before

the war, for that will be shamefull for us. Thence parted with him and

home through the dark over the ruins by coach, with my sword drawn, to the

office, where dispatched some business; and so home to my chamber and to

supper and to bed. This morning come up to my wife's bedside, I being up

dressing myself, little Will Mercer to be her Valentine; and brought her

name writ upon blue paper in gold letters, done by himself, very pretty;

and we were both well pleased with it. But I am also this year my wife's

Valentine, and it will cost me L5; but that I must have laid out if we had

not been Valentines. So to bed.

15th. Up and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes by coach to White

Hall, where we attended upon the Duke of York to complain of the disorders

the other day among the seamen at the Pay at the Ticket Office, and that

it arises from lack of money, and that we desire, unless better provided

for with money, to have nothing more to do with the payment of tickets, it

being not our duty; and the Duke of York and [Sir] W. Coventry did agree

to it, so that I hope we shall be rid of that trouble. This done, I moved

for allowance for a house for Mr. Turner, and got it granted. Then away

to Westminster Hall, and there to the Exchequer about my tallies, and so

back to White Hall, and so with Lord Bellasses to the Excise Office, where

met by Sir H. Cholmly to consider about our business of money there, and

that done, home and to dinner, where I hear Pegg Pen is married this day

privately; no friends, but two or three relations on his side and hers.

Borrowed many things of my kitchen for dressing their dinner. So after

dinner to the office, and there busy and did much business, and late at

it. Mrs. Turner come to me to hear how matters went; I told her of our

getting rent for a house for her. She did give me account of this wedding

to-day, its being private being imputed to its being just before Lent, and

so in vain to make new clothes till Easter, that they might see the

fashions as they are like to be this summer; which is reason good enough.

Mrs. Turner tells me she hears [Sir W. Pen] gives L4500 or 4000 with her.

They are gone to bed, so I wish them much sport, and home to supper and to

bed. They own the treaty for a peace publickly at Court, and the

Commissioners providing themselves to go over as soon as a passe comes for

them.