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.
MAY & JUNE
1665
May 1st. Up and to Mr. Povy's, and by his bedside talked a good while.
Among other things he do much insist I perceive upon the difficulty of
getting of money, and would fain have me to concur in the thinking of some
other way of disposing of the place of Treasurer to one Mr. Bell, but I
did seem slight of it, and resolved to try to do the best or to give it
up. Thence to the Duke of Albemarle, where I was sorry to find myself to
come a little late, and so home, and at noon going to the 'Change I met my
Lord Brunkard, Sir Robert Murry, Deane Wilkins, and Mr. Hooke, going by
coach to Colonell Blunts to dinner. So they stopped and took me with
them. Landed at the Tower-wharf, and thence by water to Greenwich; and
there coaches met us; and to his house, a very stately sight for situation
and brave plantations; and among others, a vineyard, the first that ever I
did see. No extraordinary dinner, nor any other entertainment good; but
only after dinner to the tryall of some experiments about making of
coaches easy. And several we tried; but one did prove mighty easy (not
here for me to describe, but the whole body of the coach lies upon one
long spring), and we all, one after another, rid in it; and it is very
fine and likely to take. These experiments were the intent of their
coming, and pretty they are. Thence back by coach to Greenwich, and in
his pleasure boat to Deptford, and there stopped and in to Mr.
Evelyn's,--[Sayes Court, the well-known residence of John Evelyn.]--which
is a most beautiful place; but it being dark and late, I staid not; but
Deane Wilkins and Mr. Hooke and I walked to Redriffe; and noble discourse
all day long did please me, and it being late did take them to my house to
drink, and did give them some sweetmeats, and thence sent them with a
lanthorn home, two worthy persons as are in England, I think, or the
world. So to my Lady Batten, where my wife is tonight, and so after some
merry talk home and to bed.
2nd. Up and to the office all day, where sat late, and then to the office
again, and by and by Sir W. Batten and my Lady and my wife and I by
appointment yesterday (my Lady Pen failed us, who ought to have been with
us) to the Rhenish winehouse at the Steelyard, and there eat a couple of
lobsters and some prawns, and pretty merry, especially to see us four
together, while my wife and my Lady did never intend ever to be together
again after a year's distance between one another. Hither by and by come
Sir Richard Ford and also Mrs. Esther, that lived formerly with my Lady
Batten, now well married to a priest, come to see my Lady. Thence toward
evening home, and to my office, where late, and then home to supper and to
bed.
3rd. Up betimes and walked to Sir Ph. Warwicke's, where a long time with
him in his chamber alone talking of Sir G. Carteret's business, and the
abuses he puts on the nation by his bad payments to both our vexations,
but no hope of remedy for ought I see. Thence to my Lord Ashly to a
Committee of Tangier for my Lord Rutherford's accounts, and that done we
to my Lord Treasurer's, where I did receive my Lord's warrant to Sir R.
Long for drawing a warrant for my striking of tallys. So to the Inne
again by Cripplegate, expecting my mother's coming to towne, but she is
not come this weeke neither, the coach being too full. So to the 'Change
and thence home to dinner, and so out to Gresham College, and saw a cat
killed with the Duke of Florence's poyson, and saw it proved that the oyle
of tobacco
["Mr. Daniel Coxe read an account of the effects of tobacco-oil
distilled in a retort, by one drop of which given at the mouth he
had killed a lusty cat, which being opened, smelled strongly of the
oil, and the blood of the heart more strongly than the rest ....
One drop of the Florentine 'oglio di tobacco' being again given to a
dog, it proved stupefying and vomitive, as before" (Birch's "History
of the Royal Society," vol, ii., pp. 42, 43).]
drawn by one of the Society do the same effect, and is judged to be the
same thing with the poyson both in colour and smell, and effect. I saw
also an abortive child preserved fresh in spirits of salt. Thence parted,
and to White Hall to the Councilchamber about an order touching the Navy
(our being empowered to commit seamen or Masters that do not, being hired
or pressed, follow their worke), but they could give us none. So a little
vexed at that, because I put in the memorial to the Duke of Albemarle
alone under my own hand, home, and after some time at the office home to
bed. My Lord Chief Justice Hide did die suddenly this week, a day or two
ago, of an apoplexy.
4th. Up, and to the office, where we sat busy all the morning. At noon
home to dinner, and then to the office again all day till almost midnight,
and then, weary, home to supper and to bed.
5th. Up betimes, and by water to Westminster, there to speak the first
time with Sir Robert Long, to give him my Privy Seal and my Lord
Treasurer's order for Tangier Tallys; he received me kindly enough. Thence
home by water, and presently down to Woolwich and back to Blackewall, and
there, viewed the Breach, in order to a Mast Docke, and so to Deptford to
the Globe, where my Lord Brunkard, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and
Commissioner Pett were at dinner, having been at the Breach also, but they
find it will be too great charge to make use of it. After dinner to Mr.
Evelyn's; he being abroad, we walked in his garden, and a lovely noble
ground he hath indeed. And among other rarities, a hive of bees, so as
being hived in glass, you may see the bees making their honey and combs
mighty pleasantly. Thence home, and I by and by to Mr. Povy's to see him,
who is yet in his chamber not well, and thence by his advice to one
Lovett's, a varnisher, to see his manner of new varnish, but found not him
at home, but his wife, a very beautiful woman, who shewed me much variety
of admirable work, and is in order to my having of some papers fitted with
his lines for my use for tables and the like. I know not whether I was
more pleased with the thing, or that I was shewed it by her, but resolved
I am to have some made. So home to my office late, and then to supper and
to bed. My wife tells me that she hears that my poor aunt James hath had
her breast cut off here in town, her breast having long been out of order.
This day, after I had suffered my owne hayre to grow long, in order to
wearing it, I find the convenience of periwiggs is so great, that I have
cut off all short again, and will keep to periwiggs.
6th. Up, and all day at the office, but a little at dinner, and there
late till past 12. So home to bed, pleased as I always am after I have
rid a great deal of work, it being very satisfactory to me.
7th (Lord's day). Up, and to church with my wife. Home and dined. After
dinner come Mr. Andrews and spent the afternoon with me, about our Tangier
business of the victuals, and then parted, and after sermon comes Mr. Hill
and a gentleman, a friend of his, one Mr. Scott, that sings well also, and
then comes Mr. Andrews, and we all sung and supped, and then to sing again
and passed the Sunday very pleasantly and soberly, and so I to my office a
little, and then home to prayers and to bed. Yesterday begun my wife to
learn to, limn of one Browne,
[Alexander Browne, a printseller, who taught drawing, and practised
it with success. He published in 1669, "Ars Pictoria, or an Academy
treating of Drawing, Painting, Limning and Etching."]
which Mr. Hill helps her to, and, by her beginning upon some eyes, I think
she will [do] very fine things, and I shall take great delight in it.
8th. Up very betimes, and did much business before I went out with
several persons, among others Captain Taylor, who would leave the
management of most of his business now he is going to Harwich, upon me,
and if I can get money by it, which I believe it will, I shall take some
of it upon me. Thence with Sir W. Batten to the Duke of Albemarle's and
there did much business, and then to the 'Change, and thence off with Sir
W. Warren to an ordinary, where we dined and sat talking of most usefull
discourse till 5 in the afternoon, and then home, and very busy till late,
and so home and to bed.
9th. Up betimes, and to my business at the office, where all the morning.
At noon comes Mrs. The. Turner, and dines with us, and my wife's
painting-master staid and dined; and I take great pleasure in thinking
that my wife will really come to something in that business. Here dined
also Luellin. So after dinner to my office, and there very busy till
almost midnight, and so home to supper and to bed. This day we have newes
of eight ships being taken by some of ours going into the Texel, their two
men of warr, that convoyed them, running in. They come from about
Ireland, round to the north.
10th. Up betimes, and abroad to the Cocke-Pitt, where the Duke [of
Albemarle] did give Sir W. Batten and me an account of the late taking of
eight ships, and of his intent to come back to the Gunfleete--[The
Gunfleet Sand off the Essex coast.]--with the fleete presently; which
creates us much work and haste therein, against the fleete comes. So to
Mr. Povy, and after discourse with him home, and thence to the Guard in
Southwarke, there to get some soldiers, by the Duke's order, to go keep
pressmen on board our ships. So to the 'Change and did much business, and
then home to dinner, and there find my poor mother come out of the country
today in good health, and I am glad to see her, but my business, which I
am sorry for, keeps me from paying the respect I ought to her at her first
coming, she being grown very weak in her judgement, and doating again in
her discourse, through age and some trouble in her family. I left her and
my wife to go abroad to buy something, and then I to my office. In the
evening by appointment to Sir W. Warren and Mr. Deering at a taverne hard
by with intent to do some good upon their agreement in a great bargain of
planks. So home to my office again, and then to supper and to bed, my
mother being in bed already.
11th. Up betimes, and at the office all the morning. At home dined, and
then to the office all day till late at night, and then home to supper,
weary with business, and to bed.
12th. Up betimes, and find myself disappointed in my receiving presently
of my L50 I hoped for sure of Mr. Warren upon the benefit of my press
warrant, but he promises to make it good. So by water to the Exchequer,
and there up and down through all the offices to strike my tallys for
L17,500, which methinks is so great a testimony of the goodness of God to
me, that I, from a mean clerke there, should come to strike tallys myself
for that sum, and in the authority that I do now, is a very stupendous
mercy to me. I shall have them struck to-morrow. But to see how every
little fellow looks after his fees, and to get what he can for everything,
is a strange consideration; the King's fees that he must pay himself for
this L17,500 coming to above L100. Thence called my wife at Unthanke's to
the New Exchange and elsewhere to buy a lace band for me, but we did not
buy, but I find it so necessary to have some handsome clothes that I
cannot but lay out some money thereupon. To the 'Change and thence to my
watchmaker, where he has put it [i.e. the watch] in order, and a good and
brave piece it is, and he tells me worth L14 which is a greater present
than I valued it. So home to dinner, and after dinner comes several
people, among others my cozen, Thomas Pepys, of Hatcham,
[Thomas Pepys, of Hatcham Barnes, Surrey, Master of the Jewel House
to Charles II. and James II.]
to receive some money, of my Lord Sandwich's, and there I paid him what
was due to him upon my uncle's score, but, contrary to my expectation, did
get him to sign and seale to my sale of lands for payment of debts. So
that now I reckon myself in better condition by L100 in my content than I
was before, when I was liable to be called to an account and others after
me by my uncle Thomas or his children for every foot of land we had sold
before. This I reckon a great good fortune in the getting of this done.
He gone, come Mr. Povy, Dr. Twisden, and Mr. Lawson about settling my
security in the paying of the L4000 ordered to Sir J. Lawson. So a little
abroad and then home, and late at my office and closet settling this day's
disordering of my papers, then to supper and to bed.
13th. Up, and all day in some little gruntings of pain, as I used to have
from winde, arising I think from my fasting so long, and want of exercise,
and I think going so hot in clothes, the weather being hot, and the same
clothes I wore all winter. To the 'Change after office, and received my
watch from the watchmaker, and a very fine [one] it is, given me by
Briggs, the Scrivener. Home to dinner, and then I abroad to the Atturney
Generall, about advice upon the Act for Land Carriage, which he desired
not to give me before I had received the King's and Council's order
therein; going home bespoke the King's works, will cost me 50s., I
believe. So home and late at my office. But, Lord! to see how much of
my old folly and childishnesse hangs upon me still that I cannot forbear
carrying my watch in my hand in the coach all this afternoon, and seeing
what o'clock it is one hundred times; and am apt to think with myself, how
could I be so long without one; though I remember since, I had one, and
found it a trouble, and resolved to carry one no more about me while I
lived. So home to supper and to bed, being troubled at a letter from Mr.
Gholmly from Tangier, wherein he do advise me how people are at worke to
overthrow our Victualling business, by which I shall lose L300 per annum,
I am much obliged to him for this, secret kindnesse, and concerned to
repay it him in his own concernments and look after this.
14th (Lord's day). Up, and with my wife to church, it being Whitsunday;
my wife very fine in a new yellow bird's-eye hood, as the fashion is now.
We had a most sorry sermon; so home to dinner, my mother having her new
suit brought home, which makes her very fine. After dinner my wife and
she and Mercer to Thomas Pepys's wife's christening of his first child,
and I took a coach, and to Wanstead, the house where Sir H. Mildmay died,
and now Sir Robert Brookes lives, having bought it of the Duke of Yorke,
it being forfeited to him. A fine seat, but an old-fashioned house; and
being not full of people looks desolately. Thence to Walthamstow, where
(failing at the old place) Sir W. Batten by and by come home, I walking up
and down the house and garden with my Lady very pleasantly, then to supper
very merry, and then back by coach by dark night. I all the afternoon in
the coach reading the treasonous book of the Court of King James, printed
a great while ago, and worth reading, though ill intended. As soon as I
come home, upon a letter from the Duke of Albemarle, I took boat at about
12 at night, and down the River in a gally, my boy and I, down to the Hope
and so up again, sleeping and waking, with great pleasure, my business to
call upon every one of
15th. Our victualling ships to set them agoing, and so home, and after
dinner to the King's playhouse, all alone, and saw "Love's Maistresse."
Some pretty things and good variety in it, but no or little fancy in it.
Thence to the Duke of Albemarle to give him account of my day's works,
where he shewed me letters from Sir G. Downing, of four days' date, that
the Dutch are come out and joyned, well-manned, and resolved to board our
best ships, and fight for certain they will. Thence to the Swan at
Herbert's, and there the company of Sarah a little while, and so away and
called at the Harp and Ball, where the mayde, Mary, is very
'formosa'--[handsome]--; but, Lord! to see in what readiness I am, upon
the expiring of my vowes this day, to begin to run into all my pleasures
and neglect of business. Thence home, and being sleepy to bed.
16th. Up betimes, and to the Duke of Albemarle with an account of my
yesterday's actions in writing. So back to the office, where all the
morning very busy. After dinner by coach to see and speak with Mr. Povy,
and after little discourse back again home, where busy upon letters till
past 12 at night, and so home to supper and to bed, weary.
17th. Up, and by appointment to a meeting of Sir John Lawson and Mr.
Cholmly's atturney and Mr. Povy at the Swan taverne at Westminster to
settle their business about my being secured in the payment of money to
Sir J. Lawson in the other's absence. Thence at Langford's, where I never
was since my brother died there. I find my wife and Mercer, having with
him agreed upon two rich silk suits for me, which is fit for me to have,
but yet the money is too much, I doubt, to lay out altogether; but it is
done, and so let it be, it being the expense of the world that I can the
best bear with and the worst spare. Thence home, and after dinner to the
office, where late, and so home to supper and to bed. Sir J. Minnes and I
had an angry bout this afternoon with Commissioner Pett about his
neglecting his duty and absenting himself, unknown to us, from his place
at Chatham, but a most false man I every day find him more and more, and
in this very full of equivocation. The fleete we doubt not come to
Harwich by this time. Sir W. Batten is gone down this day thither, and
the Duchesse of Yorke went down yesterday to meet the Duke.
18th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes to the Duke of Albemarle, where we did
much business, and I with good content to myself; among other things we
did examine Nixon and Stanesby, about their late running from two
Dutchmen;
[Captain Edward Nixon, of the "Elizabeth," and Captain John
Stanesby, of the "Eagle." John Lanyon wrote to the Navy
Commissioners from Plymouth, May 16th: "Understands from the seamen
that the conduct of Captains Nixon and Stanesby in their late
engagement with two Dutch capers was very foul; the night they left
the Dutch, no lights were put out as formerly, and though in sight
of them in the morning, they still kept on their way; the Eagle lay
by some time, and both the enemy's ships plied on her, but finding
the Elizabeth nearly out of sight she also made sail; it is true the
wind and sea were high, but there were no sufficient reasons for
such endeavours to get from them." ("Calendar of State Papers,"
Domestic, 1664-65, p. 367). Both captains were tried; Nixon was
condemned to be shot but Stanesby was cleared, and Charnock asserts
that he was commander the "Happy Return" in 1672.]
for which they are committed to a vessel to carry them to the fleete to be
tried. A most fowle unhandsome thing as ever was heard, for plain
cowardice on Nixon's part. Thence with the Duke of Albemarle in his coach
to my Lord Treasurer, and there was before the King (who ever now calls me
by my name) and Lord Chancellor, and many other great Lords, discoursing
about insuring of some of the King's goods, wherein the King accepted of
my motion that we should; and so away, well pleased. To the office, and
dined, and then to the office again, and abroad to speak with Sir G.
Carteret; but, Lord! to see how fraile a man I am, subject to my vanities,
that can hardly forbear, though pressed with never so much business, my
pursuing of pleasure, but home I got, and there very busy very late.
Among other things consulting with Mr. Andrews about our Tangier business,
wherein we are like to meet with some trouble, and my Lord Bellasses's
endeavour to supplant us, which vexes my mind; but, however, our
undertaking is so honourable that we shall stand a tug for it I think. So
home to supper and to bed.
19th. Up, and to White Hall, where the Committee for Tangier met, and
there, though the case as to the merit of it was most plain and most of
the company favourable to our business, yet it was with much ado that I
got the business not carried fully against us, but put off to another day,
my Lord Arlington being the great man in it, and I was sorry to be found
arguing so greatly against him. The business I believe will in the end be
carried against us, and the whole business fall; I must therefore
endeavour the most I can to get money another way. It vexed me to see
Creed so hot against it, but I cannot much blame him, having never
declared to him my being concerned in it. But that that troubles me most
is my Lord Arlington calls to me privately and asks me whether I had ever
said to any body that I desired to leave this employment, having not time
to look after it. I told him, No, for that the thing being settled it
will not require much time to look after it. He told me then he would do
me right to the King, for he had been told so, which I desired him to do,
and by and by he called me to him again and asked me whether I had no
friend about the Duke, asking me (I making a stand) whether Mr. Coventry
was not my friend. I told him I had received many friendships from him.
He then advised me to procure that the Duke would in his next letter write
to him to continue me in my place and remove any obstruction; which I told
him I would, and thanked him. So parted, vexed at the first and amazed at
this business of my Lord Arlington's. Thence to the Exchequer, and there
got my tallys for L17,500, the first payment I ever had out of the
Exchequer, and at the Legg spent 14s. upon my old acquaintance, some of
them the clerks, and away home with my tallys in a coach, fearful every
step of having one of them fall out, or snatched from me. Being come
home, I much troubled out again by coach (for company taking Sir W. Warren
with me), intending to have spoke to my Lord Arlington to have known the
bottom of it, but missed him, and afterwards discoursing the thing as a
confidant to Sir W. Warren, he did give me several good hints and
principles not to do anything suddenly, but consult my pillow upon that
and every great thing of my life, before I resolve anything in it. Away
back home, and not being fit for business I took my wife and Mercer down
by water to Greenwich at 8 at night, it being very fine and cool and
moonshine afterward. Mighty pleasant passage it was; there eat a cake or
two, and so home by 10 or 11 at night, and then to bed, my mind not
settled what to think.
20th. Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning. At noon dined at
home, and to my office, very busy.
21st. Till past one, Lord's day, in the morning writing letters to the
fleete and elsewhere, and my mind eased of much business, home to bed and
slept till 8. So up, and this day is brought home one of my new silk
suits, the plain one, but very rich camelott and noble. I tried it and it
pleases me, but did not wear it, being I would not go out today to church.
So laid it by, and my mind changed, thinking to go see my Lady Sandwich,
and I did go a little way, but stopped and returned home to dinner, after
dinner up to my chamber to settle my Tangier accounts, and then to my
office, there to do the like with other papers. In the evening home to
supper and to bed.
22nd. Up, and down to the ships, which now are hindered from going down
to the fleete (to our great sorrow and shame) with their provisions, the
wind being against them. So to the Duke of Albemarle, and thence down by
water to Deptford, it being Trinity Monday, and so the day of choosing the
Master of Trinity House for the next yeare, where, to my great content, I
find that, contrary to the practice and design of Sir W. Batten, to breake
the rule and custom of the Company in choosing their Masters by
succession, he would have brought in Sir W. Rider or Sir W. Pen, over the
head of Hurleston (who is a knave too besides, I believe), the younger
brothers did all oppose it against the elder, and with great heat did
carry it for Hurleston, which I know will vex him to the heart. Thence,
the election being over, to church, where an idle sermon from that
conceited fellow, Dr. Britton, saving that his advice to unity, and laying
aside all envy and enmity among them was very apposite. Thence walked to
Redriffe, and so to the Trinity House, and a great dinner, as is usual,
and so to my office, where busy all the afternoon till late, and then home
to bed, being much troubled in mind for several things, first, for the
condition of the fleete for lacke of provisions, the blame this office
lies under and the shame that they deserve to have brought upon them for
the ships not being gone out of the River, and then for my business of
Tangier which is not settled, and lastly for fear that I am not observed
to have attended the office business of late as much as I ought to do,
though there has been nothing but my attendance on Tangier that has
occasioned my absence, and that of late not much.
23rd. Up, and at the office busy all the morning. At noon dined alone,
my wife and mother being gone by invitation to dine with my mother's old
servant Mr. Cordery, who made them very welcome. So to Mr. Povy's, where
after a little discourse about his business I home again, and late at the
office busy. Late comes Sir Arthur Ingram to my office, to tell me that,
by letters from Amsterdam of the 28th of this month (their style),
[The new style was adopted by most of the countries of Europe long
before it was legalized in England, although Russia still retains
the old style.]
the Dutch fleete, being about 100 men-of-war, besides fire-ships, &c., did
set out upon the 23rd and 24th inst. Being divided into seven squadrons;
viz., 1. Generall Opdam. 2. Cottenar, of Rotterdam. 3. Trump. 4.
Schram, of Horne. 5. Stillingworth, of Freezland. 6. Everson. 7. One
other, not named, of Zealand.
24th. Up, and by 4 o'clock in the morning, and with W. Hewer, there till
12 without intermission putting some papers in order. Thence to the
Coffee-house with Creed, where I have not been a great while, where all
the newes is of the Dutch being gone out, and of the plague growing upon
us in this towne; and of remedies against it: some saying one thing, some
another. So home to dinner, and after dinner Creed and I to Colvill's,
thinking to shew him all the respect we could by obliging him in carrying
him 5 tallys of L5000 to secure him for so much credit he has formerly
given Povy to Tangier, but he, like an impertinent fool, cavills at it,
but most ignorantly that ever I heard man in my life. At last Mr. Viner
by chance comes, who I find a very moderate man, but could not persuade
the fool to reason, but brought away the tallys again, and so vexed to my
office, where late, and then home to my supper and to bed.
25th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined at
home, and then to the office all the afternoon, busy till almost 12 at
night, and then home to supper and to bed.
26th. Up at 4 o'clock, and all the morning in my office with W. Hewer
finishing my papers that were so long out of order, and at noon to my
bookseller's, and there bespoke a book or two, and so home to dinner,
where Creed dined with me, and he and I afterwards to Alderman Backewell's
to try him about supplying us with money, which he denied at first and
last also, saving that he spoke a little fairer at the end than before.
But the truth is I do fear I shall have a great deale of trouble in
getting of money. Thence home, and in the evening by water to the Duke of
Albemarle, whom I found mightily off the hooks, that the ships are not
gone out of the River; which vexed me to see, insomuch that I am afeard
that we must expect some change or addition of new officers brought upon
us, so that I must from this time forward resolve to make myself appear
eminently serviceable in attending at my office duly and no where else,
which makes me wish with all my heart that I had never anything to do with
this business of Tangier. After a while at my office, home to supper
vexed, and to bed.
27th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning; at noon dined at
home, and then to my office again,, where late, and so to bed, with my
mind full of fears for the business of this office and troubled with that
of Tangier, concerning which Mr. Povy was with me, but do give me little
help, but more reason of being troubled. So that were it not for our
Plymouth business I would be glad to be rid of it.
28th (Lord's day). By water to the Duke of Albemarle, where I hear that
Nixon is condemned to be shot to death, for his cowardice, by a Council of
War. Went to chapel and heard a little musique, and there met with Creed,
and with him a little while walking, and to Wilkinson's for me to drink,
being troubled with winde, and at noon to Sir Philip Warwicke's to dinner,
where abundance of company come in unexpectedly; and here I saw one pretty
piece of household stuff, as the company increaseth, to put a larger leaf
upon an oval table. After dinner much good discourse with Sir Philip, who
I find, I think, a most pious, good man, and a professor of a
philosophical manner of life and principles like Epictetus, whom he cites
in many things. Thence to my Lady Sandwich's, where, to my shame, I had
not been a great while before. Here, upon my telling her a story of my
Lord Rochester's running away on Friday night last with Mrs. Mallett, the
great beauty and fortune of the North, who had supped at White Hall with
Mrs. Stewart, and was going home to her lodgings with her grandfather, my
Lord Haly, by coach; and was at Charing Cross seized on by both horse and
foot men, and forcibly taken from him, and put into a coach with six
horses, and two women provided to receive her, and carried away. Upon
immediate pursuit, my Lord of Rochester (for whom the King had spoke to
the lady often, but with no successe) was taken at Uxbridge; but the lady
is not yet heard of, and the King mighty angry, and the Lord sent to the
Tower. Hereupon my Lady did confess to me, as a great secret, her being
concerned in this story. For if this match breaks between my Lord
Rochester and her, then, by the consent of all her friends, my Lord
Hinchingbroke stands fair, and is invited for her. She is worth, and will
be at her mother's death (who keeps but a little from her), L2500 per
annum. Pray God give a good success to it! But my poor Lady, who is
afeard of the sickness, and resolved to be gone into the country, is
forced to stay in towne a day or two, or three about it, to see the event
of it. Thence home and to see my Lady Pen, where my wife and I were shown
a fine rarity: of fishes kept in a glass of water, that will live so for
ever; and finely marked they are, being foreign.--[Gold-fish introduced
from China.]--So to supper at home and to bed, after many people being
with me about business, among others the two Bellamys about their old debt
due to them from the King for their victualling business, out of which I
hope to get some money.
29th. Lay long in bed, being in some little pain of the wind collique,
then up and to the Duke of Albemarle, and so to the Swan, and there drank
at Herbert's, and so by coach home, it being kept a great holiday through
the City, for the birth and restoration of the King. To my office, where
I stood by and saw Symson the joyner do several things, little jobbs, to
the rendering of my closet handsome and the setting up of some neat plates
that Burston has for my money made me, and so home to dinner, and then
with my wife, mother, and Mercer in one boat, and I in another, down to
Woolwich. I walking from Greenwich, the others going to and fro upon the
water till my coming back, having done but little business. So home and
to supper, and, weary, to bed. We have every where taken some prizes.
Our merchants have good luck to come home safe: Colliers from the North,
and some Streights men just now. And our Hambrough ships, of whom we were
so much afeard, are safe in Hambrough. Our fleete resolved to sail out
again from Harwich in a day or two.
30th. Lay long, and very busy all the morning, at noon to the 'Change,
and thence to dinner to Sir G. Carteret's, to talk upon the business of
insuring our goods upon the Hambrough [ships]. Here a very fine, neat
French dinner, without much cost, we being all alone with my Lady and one
of the house with her; thence home and wrote letters, and then in the
evening, by coach, with my wife and mother and Mercer, our usual tour by
coach, and eat at the old house at Islington; but, Lord! to see how my
mother found herself talk upon every object to think of old stories. Here
I met with one that tells me that Jack Cole, my old schoolefellow, is dead
and buried lately of a consumption, who was a great crony of mine. So
back again home, and there to my closet to write letters. Hear to my
great trouble that our Hambrough ships,
[On May 29th Sir William Coventry wrote to Lord Arlington: "Capt.
Langhorne has arrived with seven ships, and reports the taking of
the Hamburg fleet with the man of war their convoy; mistaking the
Dutch fleet for the English, he fell into it" ("Calendar of State
Papers," Domestic, 1664-65, p. 393)]
valued of the King's goods and the merchants' (though but little of the
former) to L200,000 [are lost]. By and by, about 11 at night, called into
the garden by my Lady Pen and daughter, and there walked with them and my
wife till almost twelve, and so in and closed my letters, and home to bed.
31st. Up, and to my office, and to Westminster, doing business till noon,
and then to the 'Change, where great the noise and trouble of having our
Hambrough ships lost; and that very much placed upon Mr. Coventry's
forgetting to give notice to them of the going away of our fleete from the
coast of Holland. But all without reason, for he did; but the merchants
not being ready, staid longer than the time ordered for the convoy to
stay, which was ten days. Thence home with Creed and Mr. Moore to dinner.
Anon we broke up, and Creed and I to discourse about our Tangier matters
of money, which vex me. So to Gresham College, staid a very little while,
and away and I home busy, and busy late, at the end of the month, about my
month's accounts, but by the addition of Tangier it is rendered more
intricate, and so (which I have not done these 12 months, nor would
willingly have done now) failed of having it done, but I will do it as
soon as I can. So weary and sleepy to bed. I endeavoured but missed of
seeing Sir Thomas Ingram at Westminster, so went to Houseman's the
Painter, who I intend shall draw my wife, but he was not within, but I saw
several very good pictures.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
JUNE
1665
June 1st. Up and to the office, where sat all the morning, at noon to the
'Change, and there did some business, and home to dinner, whither Creed
comes, and after dinner I put on my new silke camelott sute; the best that
ever I wore in my life, the sute costing me above L24. In this I went
with Creed to Goldsmiths' Hall, to the burial of Sir Thomas Viner; which
Hall, and Haberdashers also, was so full of people, that we were fain for
ease and coolness to go forth to Pater Noster Row, to choose a silke to
make me a plain ordinary suit. That done, we walked to Cornehill, and
there at Mr. Cade's' stood in the balcon and saw all the funeral, which
was with the blue-coat boys and old men, all the Aldermen, and Lord Mayor,
&c., and the number of the company very great; the greatest I ever did see
for a taverne. Hither come up to us Dr. Allen, and then Mr. Povy and Mr.
Fox. The show being over, and my discourse with Mr. Povy, I took coach
and to Westminster Hall, where I took the fairest flower, and by coach to
Tothill Fields for the ayre till it was dark. I 'light, and in with the
fairest flower to eat a cake, and there did do as much as was safe with my
flower, and that was enough on my part. Broke up, and away without any
notice, and, after delivering the rose where it should be, I to the Temple
and 'light, and come to the middle door, and there took another coach, and
so home to write letters, but very few, God knows, being by my pleasure
made to forget everything that is. The coachman that carried [us] cannot
know me again, nor the people at the house where we were. Home to bed,
certain news being come that our fleete is in sight of the Dutch ships.
2nd. Lay troubled in mind abed a good while, thinking of my Tangier and
victualling business, which I doubt will fall. Up and to the Duke of
Albemarle, but missed him. Thence to the Harp and Ball and to Westminster
Hall, where I visited "the flowers" in each place, and so met with Mr.
Creed, and he and I to Mrs. Croft's to drink and did, but saw not her
daughter Borroughes. I away home, and there dined and did business. In
the afternoon went with my tallys, made a fair end with Colvill and Viner,
delivering them L5000 tallys to each and very quietly had credit given me
upon other tallys of Mr. Colvill for L2000 and good words for more, and of
Mr. Viner too. Thence to visit the Duke of Albemarle, and thence my Lady
Sandwich and Lord Crew. Thence home, and there met an expresse from Sir
W. Batten at Harwich, that the fleete is all sailed from Solebay, having
spied the Dutch fleete at sea, and that, if the calmes hinder not, they
must needs now be engaged with them. Another letter also come to me from
Mr. Hater, committed by the Council this afternoon to the Gate House, upon
the misfortune of having his name used by one, without his knowledge or
privity, for the receiving of some powder that he had bought. Up to Court
about these two, and for the former was led up to my Lady Castlemayne's
lodgings, where the King and she and others were at supper, and there I
read the letter and returned; and then to Sir G. Carteret about Hater, and
shall have him released to-morrow, upon my giving bail for his appearance,
which I have promised to do. Sir G. Carteret did go on purpose to the
King to ask this, and it was granted. So home at past 12, almost one
o'clock in the morning. To my office till past two, and then home to
supper and to bed.
3rd. Up and to White Hall, where Sir G. Carteret did go with me to
Secretary Morris, and prevailed with him to let Mr. Hater be released upon
bail for his appearance. So I at a loss how to get another besides
myself, and got Mr. Hunt, who did patiently stay with me all the morning
at Secretary Morris's chamber, Mr. Hater being sent for with his keeper,
and at noon comes in the Secretary, and upon entering [into]
recognizances, he for L200, and Mr. Hunt and I for L100 each for his
appearance upon demand, he was released, it costing him, I think, above
L3. I thence home, vexed to be kept from the office all the morning,
which I had not been in many months before, if not some years. At home to
dinner, and all the afternoon at the office, where late at night, and much
business done, then home to supper and to bed. All this day by all people
upon the River, and almost every where else hereabout were heard the guns,
our two fleets for certain being engaged; which was confirmed by letters
from Harwich, but nothing particular: and all our hearts full of
concernment for the Duke, and I particularly for my Lord Sandwich and Mr.
Coventry after his Royall Highnesse.
4th (Sunday). Up and at my chamber all the forenoon, at evening my
accounts, which I could not do sooner, for the last month, and, blessed be
God! am worth L1400 odd money, something more than ever I was yet in the
world. Dined very well at noon, and then to my office, and there and in
the garden discoursed with several people about business, among others Mr.
Howell, the turner, who did give me so good a discourse about the
practices of the Paymaster J. Fenn that I thought fit to recollect all
when he was gone, and have entered it down to be for ever remembered.
Thence to my chamber again to settle my Tangier accounts against tomorrow
and some other things, and with great joy ended them, and so to supper,
where a good fowl and tansy, and so to bed. Newes being come that our
fleete is pursuing the Dutch, who, either by cunning, or by being worsted,
do give ground, but nothing more for certain. Late to bed upon my papers
being quite finished.
5th. Up very betimes to look some other papers, and then to White Hall to
a Committee of Tangier, where I offered my accounts with great
acceptation, and so had some good words and honour by it, and one or two
things done to my content in my business of Treasurer, but I do clearly
see that we shall lose our business of victualling, Sir Thomas Ingram
undertaking that it shall be done by persons there as cheap as we do it,
and give the seamen their full allowance and themselves give good security
here for performance of contract, upon which terms there is no opposing
it. This would trouble me, but that I hope when that fails to spend my
time to some good advantage other ways, and so shall permit it all to God
Almighty's pleasure. Thence home to dinner, after 'Change, where great
talke of the Dutch being fled and we in pursuit of them, and that our ship
Charity
[Sir William Coventry and Sir William Penn to the Navy
Commissioners, June 4th: "Engaged yesterday with the Dutch; they
began to stand away at 3 p.m. Chased them all the rest of the day
and night; 20 considerable ships are destroyed and taken; we have
only lost the Great Charity. The Earl of Marlborough, Rear-Admiral
Sansum, and Captain Kirby are slain, and Sir John Lawson wounded"
("Calendar of State Papers," Domestic, 1664-65, p. 406).]
is lost upon our Captain's, Wilkinson, and Lieutenant's yielding, but of
this there is no certainty, save the report of some of the sicke men of
the Charity, turned adrift in a boat out of the Charity and taken up and
brought on shore yesterday to Sole Bay, and the newes hereof brought by
Sir Henry Felton. Home to dinner, and Creed with me. Then he and I down
to Deptford, did some business, and back again at night. He home, and I
to my office, and so to supper and to bed. This morning I had great
discourse with my Lord Barkeley about Mr. Hater, towards whom from a great
passion reproaching him with being a fanatique and dangerous for me to
keepe, I did bring him to be mighty calme and to ask me pardons for what
he had thought of him and to desire me to ask his pardon of Hater himself
for the ill words he did give him the other day alone at White Hall (which
was, that he had always thought him a man that was no good friend to the
King, but did never think it would breake out in a thing of this nature),
and did advise him to declare his innocence to the Council and pray for
his examination and vindication. Of which I shall consider and say no
more, but remember one compliment that in great kindness to me he did give
me, extolling my care and diligence, that he did love me heartily for my
owne sake, and more that he did will me whatsoever I thought for Mr.
Coventry's sake, for though the world did think them enemies, and to have
an ill aspect, one to another, yet he did love him with all his heart,
which was a strange manner of noble compliment, confessing his owning me
as a confidant and favourite of Mr. Coventry's.
6th. Waked in the morning before 4 o'clock with great pain to piss, and
great pain in pissing by having, I think, drank too great a draught of
cold drink before going to bed. But by and by to sleep again, and then
rose and to the office, where very busy all the morning, and at noon to
dinner with Sir G. Carteret to his house with all our Board, where a good
pasty and brave discourse. But our great fear was some fresh news of the
fleete, but not from the fleete, all being said to be well and beaten the
Dutch, but I do not give much belief to it, and indeed the news come from
Sir W. Batten at Harwich, and writ so simply that we all made good mirth
of it. Thence to the office, where upon Sir G. Carteret's accounts, to my
great vexation there being nothing done by the Controller to right the
King therein. I thence to my office and wrote letters all the afternoon,
and in the evening by coach to Sir Ph. Warwicke's about my Tangier
business to get money, and so to my Lady Sandwich's, who, poor lady,
expects every hour to hear of my Lord; but in the best temper, neither
confident nor troubled with fear, that I ever did see in my life. She
tells me my Lord Rochester is now declaredly out of hopes of Mrs. Mallett,
and now she is to receive notice in a day or two how the King stands
inclined to the giving leave for my Lord Hinchingbroke to look after her,
and that being done to bring it to an end shortly. Thence by coach home,
and to my office a little, and so before 12 o'clock home and to bed.
7th. This morning my wife and mother rose about two o'clock; and with
Mercer, Mary, the boy, and W. Hewer, as they had designed, took boat and
down to refresh themselves on the water to Gravesend. Lay till 7 o'clock,
then up and to the office upon Sir G. Carteret's accounts again, where
very busy; thence abroad and to the 'Change, no news of certainty being
yet come from the fleete. Thence to the Dolphin Taverne, where Sir J.
Minnes, Lord Brunkard, Sir Thomas Harvy, and myself dined, upon Sir G.
Carteret's charge, and very merry we were, Sir Thomas Harvy being a very
drolle. Thence to the office, and meeting Creed away with him to my Lord
Treasurer's, there thinking to have met the goldsmiths, at White Hall, but
did not, and so appointed another time for my Lord to speak to them to
advance us some money. Thence, it being the hottest day that ever I felt
in my life, and it is confessed so by all other people the hottest they
ever knew in England in the beginning of June, we to the New Exchange, and
there drunk whey, with much entreaty getting it for our money, and [they]
would not be entreated to let us have one glasse more. So took water and
to Fox-Hall, to the Spring garden, and there walked an houre or two with
great pleasure, saving our minds ill at ease concerning the fleete and my
Lord Sandwich, that we have no newes of them, and ill reports run up and
down of his being killed, but without ground. Here staid pleasantly
walking and spending but 6d. till nine at night, and then by water to
White Hall, and there I stopped to hear news of the fleete, but none come,
which is strange, and so by water home, where, weary with walking and with
the mighty heat of the weather, and for my wife's not coming home, I
staying walking in the garden till twelve at night, when it begun to
lighten exceedingly, through the greatness of the heat. Then despairing
of her coming home, I to bed. This day, much against my will, I did in
Drury Lane see two or three houses marked with a red cross upon the doors,
and "Lord have mercy upon us" writ there; which was a sad sight to me,
being the first of the kind that, to my remembrance, I ever saw. It put
me into an ill conception of myself and my smell, so that I was forced to
buy some roll-tobacco to smell to and chaw, which took away the
apprehension.
8th. About five o'clock my wife come home, it having lightened all night
hard, and one great shower of rain. She come and lay upon the bed; I up
and to the office, where all the morning. Alone at home to dinner, my
wife, mother, and Mercer dining at W. Joyce's; I giving her a caution to
go round by the Half Moone to his house, because of the plague. I to my
Lord Treasurer's by appointment of Sir Thomas Ingram's, to meet the
Goldsmiths; where I met with the great news at last newly come, brought by
Bab May' from the Duke of Yorke, that we have totally routed the Dutch;
that the Duke himself, the Prince, my Lord Sandwich, and Mr. Coventry are
all well: which did put me into such joy, that I forgot almost all other
thoughts. The particulars I shall set down by and by. By and by comes
Alderman Maynell and Mr. Viner, and there my Lord Treasurer did intreat
them to furnish me with money upon my tallys, Sir Philip Warwicke before
my Lord declaring the King's changing of the hand from Mr. Povy to me,
whom he called a very sober person, and one whom the Lord Treasurer would
owne in all things that I should concern myself with them in the business
of money. They did at present declare they could not part with money at
present. My Lord did press them very hard, and I hope upon their
considering we shall get some of them. Thence with great joy to the
Cocke-pitt; where the Duke of Albemarle, like a man out of himself with
content, new-told me all; and by and by comes a letter from Mr. Coventry's
own hand to him, which he never opened (which was a strange thing), but
did give it me to open and read, and consider what was fit for our office
to do in it, and leave the letter with Sir W. Clerke; which upon such a
time and occasion was a strange piece of indifference, hardly pardonable.
I copied out the letter, and did also take minutes out of Sir W. Clerke's
other letters; and the sum of the newes is:
VICTORY OVER THE DUTCH, JUNE 3RD, 1665.