MARCH 1666-1667

March 1st. Up, it being very cold weather again after a good deal of

warm summer weather, and to the office, where I settled to do much

business to-day. By and by sent for to Sir G. Carteret to discourse of

the business of the Navy, and our wants, and the best way of bestowing

the little money we have, which is about L30,000, but, God knows, we

have need of ten times as much, which do make my life uncomfortable,

I confess, on the King's behalf, though it is well enough as to my own

particular, but the King's service is undone by it. Having done with

him, back again to the office, and in the streets, in Mark Lane, I do

observe, it being St. David's day, the picture of a man dressed like a

Welchman, hanging by the neck upon one of the poles that stand out at

the top of one of the merchants' houses, in full proportion, and very

handsomely done; which is one of the oddest sights I have seen a good

while, for it was so like a man that one would have thought it was

indeed a man.

[From "Poor Robin's Almanack" for 1757 it appears that, in former

times in England, a Welshman was burnt in effigy on this

anniversary. Mr. W. C. Hazlitt, in his edition of Brand's "Popular

Antiquities," adds "The practice to which Pepys refers... was

very common at one time; and till very lately bakers made

gingerbread Welshmen, called taffies, on St. David's day, which were

made to represent a man skewered" (vol. i., pp. 60,61).]

Being returned home, I find Greeting, the flageolet-master, come, and

teaching my wife; and I do think my wife will take pleasure in it, and

it will be easy for her, and pleasant. So I, as I am well content with

the charge it will occasion me. So to the office till dinner-time, and

then home to dinner, and before dinner making my wife to sing. Poor

wretch! her ear is so bad that it made me angry, till the poor wretch

cried to see me so vexed at her, that I think I shall not discourage her

so much again, but will endeavour to make her understand sounds, and do

her good that way; for she hath a great mind to learn, only to please

me; and, therefore, I am mighty unjust to her in discouraging her so

much, but we were good friends, and to dinner, and had she not been ill

with those and that it were not Friday (on which in Lent there are no

plays) I had carried her to a play, but she not being fit to go abroad,

I to the office, where all the afternoon close examining the collection

of my papers of the accounts of the Navy since this war to my great

content, and so at night home to talk and sing with my-wife, and then to

supper and so to bed with great pleasure. But I cannot but remember that

just before dinner one of my people come up to me, and told me a man

come from Huntingdon would speak with me, how my heart come into my

mouth doubting that my father, who has been long sicke, was dead. It put

me into a trembling, but, blessed be [God]! it was no such thing, but a

countryman come about ordinary business to me, to receive L50 paid to my

father in the country for the Perkins's for their legacy, upon the death

of their mother, by my uncle's will. So though I get nothing at present,

at least by the estate, I am fain to pay this money rather than rob my

father, and much good may it do them that I may have no more further

trouble from them. I hear to-day that Tom Woodall, the known chyrurgeon,

is killed at Somerset House by a Frenchman, but the occasion Sir W.

Batten could not tell me.

2nd. Up, and to the office, where sitting all the morning, and among

other things did agree upon a distribution of L30,000 and odd, which is

the only sum we hear of like to come out of all the Poll Bill for the

use of this office for buying of goods. I did herein some few courtesies

for particular friends I wished well to, and for the King's service

also, and was therefore well pleased with what was done. Sir W. Pen this

day did bring an order from the Duke of York for our receiving from him

a small vessel for a fireship, and taking away a better of the King's

for it, it being expressed for his great service to the King. This I am

glad of, not for his sake, but that it will give me a better ground, I

believe, to ask something for myself of this kind, which I was fearful

to begin. This do make Sir W. Pen the most kind to me that can be. I

suppose it is this, lest it should find any opposition from me, but

I will not oppose, but promote it. After dinner, with my wife, to

the King's house to see "The Mayden Queene," a new play of Dryden's,

mightily commended for the regularity of it, and the strain and wit;

and, the truth is, there is a comical part done by Nell,

["Her skill increasing with her years, other poets sought to obtain

recommendations of her wit and beauty to the success of their

writings. I have said that Dryden was one of the principal

supporters of the King's house, and ere long in one of his new plays

a principal character was set apart for the popular comedian. The

drama was a tragi-comedy called 'Secret Love, or the Maiden Queen,'

and an additional interest was attached to its production from the

king having suggested the plot to its author, and calling it 'his

play.'"--Cunningham's Story of Nell Gwyn, ed: 1892, pp. 38,39.]

which is Florimell, that I never can hope ever to see the like done

again, by man or woman. The King and Duke of York were at the play.

But so great performance of a comical part was never, I believe, in the

world before as Nell do this, both as a mad girle, then most and best

of all when she comes in like a young gallant; and hath the notions and

carriage of a spark the most that ever I saw any man have. It makes

me, I confess, admire her. Thence home and to the office, where busy a

while, and then home to read the lives of Henry 5th and 6th, very fine,

in Speede, and to bed. This day I did pay a bill of L50 from my father,

being so much out of my own purse gone to pay my uncle Robert's legacy

to my aunt Perkins's child.

3rd (Lord's day). Lay long, merrily talking with my wife, and then up

and to church, where a dull sermon of Mr. Mills touching Original Sin,

and then home, and there find little Michell and his wife, whom I love

mightily. Mightily contented I was in their company, for I love her

much; and so after dinner I left them and by water from the Old Swan to

White Hall, where, walking in the galleries, I in the first place met

Mr. Pierce, who tells me the story of Tom Woodall, the surgeon, killed

in a drunken quarrel, and how the Duke of York hath a mind to get him

[Pierce] one of his places in St. Thomas's Hospitall. Then comes Mr.

Hayward, the Duke of York's servant, and tells us that the Swede's

Embassador hath been here to-day with news that it is believed that the

Dutch will yield to have the treaty at London or Dover, neither of which

will get our King any credit, we having already consented to have it at

The Hague; which, it seems, De Witt opposed, as a thing wherein the King

of England must needs have some profound design, which in my conscience

he hath not. They do also tell me that newes is this day come to the

King, that the King of France is come with his army to the frontiers of

Flanders, demanding leave to pass through their country towards Poland,

but is denied, and thereupon that he is gone into the country. How true

this is I dare not believe till I hear more. From them I walked into the

Parke, it being a fine but very cold day; and there took two or three

turns the length of the Pell Mell: and there I met Serjeant Bearcroft,

who was sent for the Duke of Buckingham, to have brought him prisoner

to the Tower. He come to towne this day, and brings word that, being

overtaken and outrid by the Duchesse of Buckingham within a few miles

of the Duke's house of Westhorp, he believes she got thither about a

quarter of an hour before him, and so had time to consider; so that,

when he come, the doors were kept shut against him. The next day, coming

with officers of the neighbour market-town to force open the doors, they

were open for him, but the Duke gone; so he took horse presently, and

heard upon the road that the Duke of Buckingham was gone before him for

London: so that he believes he is this day also come to towne before

him; but no newes is yet heard of him. This is all he brings. Thence to

my Lord Chancellor's, and there, meeting Sir H. Cholmly, he and I walked

in my Lord's garden, and talked; among other things, of the treaty: and

he says there will certainly be a peace, but I cannot believe it. He

tells me that the Duke of Buckingham his crimes, as far as he knows, are

his being of a caball with some discontented persons of the late House

of Commons, and opposing the desires of the King in all his matters in

that House; and endeavouring to become popular, and advising how the

Commons' House should proceed, and how he would order the House of

Lords. And that he hath been endeavouring to have the King's nativity

calculated; which was done, and the fellow now in the Tower about it;

which itself hath heretofore, as he says, been held treason, and people

died for it; but by the Statute of Treasons, in Queen Mary's times and

since, it hath been left out. He tells me that this silly Lord hath

provoked, by his ill-carriage, the Duke of York, my Lord Chancellor, and

all the great persons; and therefore, most likely, will die. He tells

me, too, many practices of treachery against this King; as betraying

him in Scotland, and giving Oliver an account of the King's private

councils; which the King knows very well, and hath yet pardoned him.

[Two of our greatest poets have drawn the character of the Duke of

Buckingham in brilliant verse, and both have condemned him to

infamy. There is enough in Pepys's reports to corroborate the main

features of Dryden's magnificent portrait of Zimri in "Absolom and

Achitophel":

"In the first rank of these did Zimri stand;

A man so various that he seemed to be

Not one, but all mankind's epitome;

Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong;

Was everything by starts, and nothing long,

But, in the course of one revolving moon,

Was chymist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon;

Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking,

Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking,

* * * * * * *

He laughed himself from Court, then sought relief

By forming parties, but could ne'er be chief."

Pope's facts are not correct, and hence the effect of his picture is

impaired. In spite of the duke's constant visits to the Tower,

Charles II. still continued his friend; but on the death of the

king, expecting little from James, he retired to his estate at

Helmsley, in Yorkshire, to nurse his property and to restore his

constitution. He died on April 16th, 1687, at Kirkby Moorside,

after a few days' illness, caused by sitting on the damp grass when

heated from a fox chase. The scene of his death was the house of a

tenant, not "the worst inn's worst room" ("Moral Essays," epist.

iii.). He was buried in Westminster Abbey.]

Here I passed away a little time more talking with him and Creed, whom I

met there, and so away, Creed walking with me to White Hall, and there

I took water and stayed at Michell's to drink. I home, and there to read

very good things in Fuller's "Church History," and "Worthies," and so

to supper, and after supper had much good discourse with W. Hewer, who

supped with us, about the ticket office and the knaveries and extortions

every day used there, and particularly of the business of Mr. Carcasse,

whom I fear I shall find a very rogue. So parted with him, and then to

bed.

4th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes and [Sir] W. Batten by barge to Deptford

by eight in the morning, where to the King's yard a little to look

after business there, and then to a private storehouse to look upon some

cordage of Sir W. Batten's, and there being a hole formerly made for

a drain for tarr to run into, wherein the barrel stood still, full of

stinking water, Sir W. Batten did fall with one leg into it, which might

have been very bad to him by breaking a leg or other hurt, but, thanks

be to God, he only sprained his foot a little. So after his shifting his

stockings at a strong water shop close by, we took barge again, and so

to Woolwich, where our business was chiefly to look upon the ballast

wharfe there, which is offered us for the King's use to hire, but we do

not think it worth the laying out much money upon, unless we could buy

the fee-simple of it, which cannot be sold us, so we wholly flung it

off: So to the Dockyard, and there staid a while talking about business

of the yard, and thence to the Rope-yard, and so to the White Hart and

there dined, and Captain Cocke with us, whom we found at the Rope-yard,

and very merry at dinner, and many pretty tales of Sir J. Minnes, which

I have entered in my tale book. But by this time Sir W. Batten was come

to be in much pain in his foot, so as he was forced to be carried down

in a chair to the barge again, and so away to Deptford, and there I

a little in the yard, and then to Bagwell's, where I find his wife

washing, and also I did 'hazer tout que je voudrais con' her, and then

sent for her husband, and discoursed of his going to Harwich this week

to his charge of the new ship building there, which I have got him, and

so away, walked to Redriffe, and there took boat and away home, and upon

Tower Hill, near the ticket office, meeting with my old acquaintance Mr.

Chaplin, the cheesemonger, and there fell to talk of news, and he tells

me that for certain the King of France is denied passage with his army

through Flanders, and that he hears that the Dutch do stand upon high

terms with us, and will have a promise of not being obliged to strike

the flag to us before they will treat with us, and other high things,

which I am ashamed of and do hope will never be yielded to. That they do

make all imaginable preparations, but that he believes they will be in

mighty want of men; that the King of France do court us mightily. He

tells me too that our Lord-Treasurer is going to lay down, and that Lord

Arlington is to be Lord Treasurer, but I believe nothing of it, for he

is not yet of estate visible enough to have the charge I suppose upon

him. So being parted from him I home to the office, and after having

done business there I home to supper, and there mightily pleased with my

wife's beginning the flagellette, believing that she will come to very

well thereon. This day in the barge I took Berckenshaw's translation of

Alsted his Templum, but the most ridiculous book, as he has translated

it, that ever I saw in my life, I declaring that I understood not three

lines together from one end of the book to the other.

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

little for want of money, but only bear the countenance of an office.

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

Martin my purser, and I walked with him awhile in the garden, I giving

him good advice to beware of coming any more with high demands for

supernumeraries or other things, for now Sir W. Pen is come to mind the

business, the passing of his accounts will not be so easy as the last.

He tells me he will never need it again, it being as easy, and to as

much purpose to do the same thing otherwise, and how he do keep his

Captain's table, and by that means hath the command of his Captains,

and do not fear in a 5th-rate ship constantly employed to get a L1000 in

five years time, and this year, besides all his spendings, which are I

fear high, he hath got at this day clear above L150 in a voyage of about

five or six months, which is a brave trade. He gone I to the office, and

there all the afternoon late doing much business, and then to see Sir W.

Batten, whose leg is all but better than it was, and like to do well. I

by discourse do perceive he and his Lady are to their hearts out with

my Lord Bruncker and Mrs. Williams, to which I added something, but, I

think, did not venture too far with them. But, Lord! to see to what a

poor content any acquaintance among these people, or the people of the

world, as they now-adays go, is worth; for my part I and my wife will

keep to one another and let the world go hang, for there is nothing but

falseness in it. So home to supper and hear my wife and girle sing a

little, and then to bed with much content of mind.

6th. Up, and with [Sir] W. Pen to White Hall by coach, and by the way

agreed to acquaint [Sir] W. Coventry with the business of Mr. Carcasse,

and he and I spoke to Sir W. Coventry that we might move it to the Duke

of York, which I did in a very indifferent, that is, impartial manner,

but vexed I believe Lord Bruncker. Here the Duke of York did acquaint

us, and the King did the like also, afterwards coming in, with his

resolution of altering the manner of the war this year; that is, we

shall keep what fleete we have abroad in several squadrons: so that

now all is come out; but we are to keep it as close as we can, without

hindering the work that is to be done in preparation to this. Great

preparations there are to fortify Sheernesse and the yard at Portsmouth,

and forces are drawing down to both those places, and elsewhere by the

seaside; so that we have some fear of an invasion; and the Duke of York

himself did declare his expectation of the enemy's blocking us up here

in the River, and therefore directed that we should send away all the

ships that we have to fit out hence. Sir W. Pen told me, going with me

this morning to White Hall, that for certain the Duke of Buckingham

is brought into the Tower, and that he hath had an hour's private

conference with the King before he was sent thither. To Westminster

Hall. There bought some news books, and, as every where else, hear every

body complain of the dearness of coals, being at L4 per chaldron, the

weather, too, being become most bitter cold, the King saying to-day that

it was the coldest day he ever knew in England. Thence by coach to my

Lord Crew's, where very welcome. Here I find they are in doubt where

the Duke of Buckingham is; which makes me mightily reflect on the

uncertainty of all history, when, in a business of this moment, and

of this day's growth, we cannot tell the truth. Here dined my old

acquaintance, Mr. Borfett, that was my Lord Sandwich's chaplain, and

my Lady Wright and Dr. Boreman, who is preacher at St. Gyles's in the

Fields, who, after dinner, did give my Lord an account of two papist

women lately converted, whereof one wrote her recantation, which he

shewed under her own hand mighty well drawn, so as my Lord desired a

copy of it, after he had satisfied himself from the Doctor, that to his

knowledge she was not a woman under any necessity. Thence by coach home

and staid a very little, and then by water to Redriffe, and walked

to Bagwell's, where 'la moher' was 'defro, sed' would not have me

'demeurer' there 'parce que' Mrs. Batters and one of my 'ancillas',

I believe Jane (for she was gone abroad to-day), was in the town, and

coming thither; so I away presently, esteeming it a great escape. So to

the yard and spoke a word or two, and then by water home, wondrous cold,

and reading a ridiculous ballad made in praise of the Duke of Albemarle,

to the tune of St. George, the tune being printed, too; and I observe

that people have some great encouragement to make ballads of him of

this kind. There are so many, that hereafter he will sound like Guy of

Warwicke. Then abroad with my wife, leaving her at the 'Change, while I

to Sir H. Cholmly's, a pretty house, and a fine, worthy, well-disposed

gentleman he is. He and I to Sir Ph. Warwicke's, about money for

Tangier, but to little purpose. H. Cholmley tells me, among other

things, that he hears of little hopes of a peace, their demands being

so high as we shall never grant, and could tell me that we shall keep

no fleete abroad this year, but only squadrons. And, among other things,

that my Lord Bellasses, he believes, will lose his command of Tangier by

his corrupt covetous ways of.endeavouring to sell his command, which I

am glad [of], for he is a man of no worth in the world but compliment.

So to the 'Change, and there bought 32s. worth of things for Mrs. Knipp,

my Valentine, which is pretty to see how my wife is come to convention

with me, that, whatever I do give to anybody else, I shall give her as

much, which I am not much displeased with. So home and to the office

and Sir W. Batten, to tell him what I had done to-day about Carcasse's

business, and God forgive me I am not without design to give a blow

to Sir W. Batten by it. So home, where Mr. Batelier supped with us and

talked away the evening pretty late, and so he gone and we to bed.

7th. So up, and to the office, my head full of Carcasse's business; then

hearing that Knipp is at my house, I home, and it was about a ticket for

a friend of hers. I do love the humour of the jade very well. So to

the office again, not being able to stay, and there about noon my Lord

Bruncker did begin to talk of Carcasse's business. Only Commissioner

Pett, my Lord, and I there, and it was pretty to see how Pett hugged the

occasion of having anything against Sir W. Batten, which I am not much

troubled at, for I love him not neither. Though I did really endeavour

to quash it all I could, because I would prevent their malice taking

effect. My Lord I see is fully resolved to vindicate Carcasse, though

to the undoing of Sir W. Batten, but I believe he will find himself in a

mistake, and do himself no good, and that I shall be glad of, for though

I love the treason I hate the traitor. But he is vexed at my moving it

to the Duke of York yesterday, which I answered well, so as I think

he could not answer. But, Lord! it is pretty to see how Pett hugs this

business, and how he favours my Lord Bruncker; who to my knowledge hates

him, and has said more to his disadvantage, in my presence, to the King

and Duke of York than any man in England, and so let them thrive one

with another by cheating one another, for that is all I observe among

them. Thence home late, and find my wife hath dined, and she and Mrs.

Hewer going to a play. Here was Creed, and he and I to Devonshire House,

to a burial of a kinsman of Sir R. Viner's; and there I received a ring,

and so away presently to Creed, who staid for me at an alehouse hard by,

and thence to the Duke's playhouse, where he parted, and I in and find

my wife and Mrs. Hewer, and sat by them and saw "The English Princesse,

or Richard the Third;" a most sad, melancholy play, and pretty good; but

nothing eminent in it, as some tragedys are; only little Mis. Davis did

dance a jig after the end of the play, and there telling the next day's

play; so that it come in by force only to please the company to see

her dance in boy's 'clothes; and, the truth is, there is no comparison

between Nell's dancing the other day at the King's house in boy's

clothes and this, this being infinitely beyond the other. Mere was Mr.

Clerke and Pierce, to whom one word only of "How do you," and so

away home, Mrs. Hewer with us, and I to the office and so to [Sir] W.

Batten's, and there talked privately with him and [Sir] W. Pen about

business of Carcasse against tomorrow, wherein I think I did give them

proof enough of my ability as well as friendship to [Sir] W. Batten, and

the honour of the office, in my sense of the rogue's business. So back

to finish my office business, and then home to supper, and to bed. This

day, Commissioner Taylor come to me for advice, and would force me to

take ten pieces in gold of him, which I had no mind to, he being become

one of our number at the Board. This day was reckoned by all people the

coldest day that ever was remembered in England; and, God knows! coals

at a very great price.

8th. Up, and to the Old Swan, where drank at Michell's, but not seeing

her whom I love I by water to White Hall, and there acquainted Sir G.

Carteret betimes what I had to say this day before the Duke of York in

the business of Carcasse, which he likes well of, being a great enemy to

him, and then I being too early here to go to Sir W. Coventry's chamber,

having nothing to say to him, and being able to give him but a bad

account of the business of the office (which is a shame to me, and that

which I shall rue if I do not recover), to the Exchequer about getting a

certificate of Mr. Lanyon's entered at Sir R. Longs office, and strange

it is to see what horrid delays there are at this day in the business

of money, there being nothing yet come from my Lord Treasurer to set

the business of money in action since the Parliament broke off,

notwithstanding the greatness and number of the King's occasions for

it. So to the Swan, and there had three or four baisers of the little

ancilla there, and so to Westminster Hall, where I saw Mr. Martin, the

purser, come through with a picture in his hand, which he had bought,

and observed how all the people of the Hall did fleer and laugh upon

him, crying, "There is plenty grown upon a sudden;" and, the truth is, I

was a little troubled that my favour should fall on so vain a fellow as

he, and the more because, methought, the people do gaze upon me as the

man that had raised him, and as if they guessed whence my kindness to

him springs. So thence to White Hall, where I find all met at the Duke

of York's chamber; and, by and by, the Duke of York comes, and Carcasse

is called in, and I read the depositions and his answers, and he added

with great confidence and good words, even almost to persuasion, what to

say; and my Lord Bruncker, like a very silly solicitor, argued against

me and us all for him; and, being asked first by the Duke of York

his opinion, did give it for his being excused. I next did answer the

contrary very plainly, and had, in this dispute, which vexed and will

never be forgot by my Lord, many occasions of speaking severely, and

did, against his bad practices. Commissioner Pett, like a fawning rogue,

sided with my Lord, but to no purpose; and [Sir] W. Pen, like a cunning

rogue, spoke mighty indifferently, and said nothing in all the fray,

like a knave as he is. But [Sir] W. Batten spoke out, and did come off

himself by the Duke's kindness very well; and then Sir G. Carteret, and

Sir W. Coventry, and the Duke of York himself, flatly as I said; and

so he was declared unfit to continue in, and therefore to be presently

discharged the office; which, among other good effects, I hope, will

make my Lord Bruncker not 'alloquer' so high, when he shall consider he

hath had such a publick foyle as this is. So home with [Sir] W. Batten,

and [Sir] W. Pen, by coach, and there met at the office, and my Lord

Bruncker presently after us, and there did give order to Mr. Stevens for

securing the tickets in Carcasses hands, which my Lord against his will

could not refuse to sign, and then home to dinner, and so away with my

wife by coach, she to Mrs. Pierce's and I to my Lord Bellasses, and

with him to [my] Lord Treasurer's, where by agreement we met with Sir

H. Cholmly, and there sat and talked all the afternoon almost about one

thing or other, expecting Sir Philip Warwicke's coming, but he come not,

so we away towards night, Sir H. Cholmly and I to the Temple, and there

parted, telling me of my Lord Bellasses's want of generosity, and that

he [Bellasses] will certainly be turned out of his government, and

he thinks himself stands fair for it. So home, and there found, as I

expected, Mrs. Pierce and Mr. Batelier; he went for Mrs. Jones, but

no Mrs. Knipp come, which vexed me, nor any other company. So with one

fidler we danced away the evening, but I was not well contented with the

littleness of the room, and my wife's want of preparing things ready, as

they should be, for supper, and bad. So not very merry, though very well

pleased. So after supper to bed, my wife and Mrs. Pierce, and her boy

James and I. Yesterday I began to make this mark (V) stand instead of

three pricks, which therefore I must observe every where, it being a

mark more easy to make.

9th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning busy. At noon home

to dinner, where Mrs. Pierce did continue with us and her boy (who I

still find every day more and more witty beyond his age), and did dine

with us, and by and by comes in her husband and a brother-in-law of his,

a parson, one of the tallest biggest men that ever I saw in my life. So

to the office, where a meeting extraordinary about settling the number

and wages of my Lord Bruncker's clerks for his new work upon the

Treasurer's accounts, but this did put us upon running into the business

of yesterday about Carcasse, wherein I perceive he is most dissatisfied

with me, and I am not sorry for it, having all the world but him of my

side therein, for it will let him know another time that he is not

to expect our submitting to him in every thing, as I think he did

heretofore expect. He did speak many severe words to me, and I returned

as many to him, so that I do think there cannot for a great while, be,

any right peace between us, and I care not a fart for it; but however,

I must look about me and mind my business, for I perceive by his threats

and enquiries he is and will endeavour to find out something against

me or mine. Breaking up here somewhat brokenly I home, and carried Mrs.

Pierce and wife to the New Exchange, and there did give her and myself

a pair of gloves, and then set her down at home, and so back again

straight home and thereto do business, and then to Sir W. Batten's,

where [Sir] W. Pen and others, and mighty merry, only I have got a great

cold, and the scolding this day at the office with my Lord Bruncker hath

made it worse, that I am not able to speak. But, Lord! to see how kind

Sir W. Batten and his Lady are to me upon this business of my standing

by [Sir] W. Batten against Carcasse, and I am glad of it. Captain Cocke,

who was here to-night, did tell us that he is certain that yesterday a

proclamation was voted at the Council, touching the proclaiming of my

Lord Duke of Buckingham a traytor, and that it will be out on Monday. So

home late, and drank some buttered ale, and so to bed and to sleep. This

cold did most certainly come by my staying a little too long bare-legged

yesterday morning when I rose while I looked out fresh socks and thread

stockings, yesterday's having in the night, lying near the window, been

covered with snow within the window, which made me I durst not put them

on.

10th (Lord's day). Having my cold still grown more upon me, so as I am

not able to speak, I lay in bed till noon, and then up and to my chamber

with a good fire, and there spent an hour on Morly's Introduction to

Musique, a very good but unmethodical book. Then to dinner, my wife and

I, and then all the afternoon alone in my chamber preparing a letter for

Commissioner Taylor to the City about getting his accounts for The Loyal

London,

[The "Loyal London" was the ship given to the king by the City. It

was launched at Deptford on June 10th, 1666]

by him built for them, stated and discharged, they owing him still about

L4000. Towards the evening comes Mr. Spong to see me, whose discourse

about several things I proposed to him was very good, better than I have

had with any body a good while. He gone, I to my business again, and

anon comes my Lady Pen and her son-in law and daughter, and there we

talked all the evening away, and then to supper; and after supper comes

Sir W. Pen, and there we talked together, and then broke up, and so to

bed. He tells me that our Mr. Turner has seen the proclamation against

the Duke of Buckingham, and that therefore it is true what we heard

last night. Yesterday and to-day I have been troubled with a hoarseness

through cold that I could not almost speak.

11th. Up, and with my cold still upon me and hoarseness, but I was

forced to rise and to the office, where all the morning busy, and among

other things Sir W. Warren come to me, to whom of late I have been very

strange, partly from my indifference how more than heretofore to get

money, but most from my finding that he is become great with my Lord

Bruncker, and so I dare not trust him as I used to do, for I will not be

inward with him that is open to another. By and by comes Sir H. Cholmly

to me about Tangier business, and then talking of news he tells me how

yesterday the King did publiquely talk of the King of France's dealing

with all the Princes of Christendome. As to the States of Holland, he

[the King of France] hath advised them, on good grounds, to refuse to

treat with us at the Hague, because of having opportunity of spies, by

reason of our interest in the House of Orange; and then, it being a town

in one particular province, it would not be fit to have it, but in a

town wherein the provinces have equal interest, as at Mastricht, and

other places named. That he advises them to offer no terms, nor accept

of any, without his privity and consent, according to agreement; and

tells them, if not so, he hath in his power to be even with them, the

King of England being come to offer him any terms he pleases; and that

my Lord St. Albans is now at Paris, Plenipotentiary, to make what peace

he pleases; and so he can make it, and exclude them, the Dutch, if he

sees fit. A copy of this letter of the King of France's the Spanish

Ambassador here gets, and comes and tells all to our King; which our

King denies, and says the King of France only uses his power of saying

anything. At the same time, the King of France writes to the Emperor,

that he is resolved to do all things to express affection to the

Emperor, having it now in his power to make what peace he pleases

between the King of England and him, and the States of the United

Provinces; and, therefore, that he would not have him to concern himself

in a friendship with us; and assures him that, on that regard, he will

not offer anything to his disturbance, in his interest in Flanders, or

elsewhere. He writes, at the same time, to Spayne, to tell him that he

wonders to hear of a league almost ended between the Crown of Spayne and

England, by my Lord Sandwich, and all without his privity, while he was

making a peace upon what terms he pleased with England: that he is a

great lover of the Crown of Spayne, and would take the King and his

affairs, during his minority, into his protection, nor would offer

to set his foot in Flanders, or any where else, to disturb him; and,

therefore, would not have him to trouble himself to make peace with any

body; only he hath a desire to offer an exchange, which he thinks may be

of moment to both sides: that is, that he [France] will enstate the King

of Spayne in the kingdom of Portugall, and he and the Dutch will put him

into possession of Lisbon; and, that being done, he [France] may have

Flanders: and this, they say; do mightily take in Spayne, which is

sensible of the fruitless expence Flanders, so far off, gives them; and

how much better it would be for them to be master of Portugall; and the

King of France offers, for security herein, that the King of England

shall be bond for him, and that he will countersecure the King of

England with Amsterdam; and, it seems, hath assured our King, that if

he will make a league with him, he will make a peace exclusive to the

Hollander. These things are almost romantique, but yet true, as Sir H.

Cholmly tells me the King himself did relate it all yesterday; and it

seems as if the King of France did think other princes fit for nothing

but to make sport for him: but simple princes they are, that are forced

to suffer this from him. So at noon with Sir W. Pen by coach to the

Sun in Leadenhall Streete, where Sir R. Ford, Sir W. Batten, and

Commissioner Taylor (whose feast it was) were, and we dined and had a

very good dinner. Among other discourses Sir R. Ford did tell me that he

do verily believe that the city will in few years be built again in all

the greatest streets, and answered the objections I did give to it.

Here we had the proclamation this day come out against the Duke of

Buckingham, commanding him to come in to one of the Secretaries, or to

the Lieutenant of the Tower. A silly, vain man to bring himself to this:

and there be many hard circumstances in the proclamation of the causes

of this proceeding of the King's, which speak great displeasure of the

King's, and crimes of his. Then to discourse of the business of the day,

that is, to see Commissioner Taylor's accounts for his ship he built,

The Loyall London, and it is pretty to see how dully this old fellow

makes his demands, and yet plaguy wise sayings will come from the man

sometimes, and also how Sir R. Ford and [Sir] W. Batten did with seeming

reliance advise him what to do, and how to come prepared to answer

objections to the Common Council. Thence away to the office, where late

busy, and then home to supper, mightily pleased with my wife's trill,

and so to bed. This night Mr. Carcasse did come to me again to desire

favour, and that I would mediate that he might be restored, but I did

give him no kind answer at all, but was very angry, and I confess a good

deal of it from my Lord Bruncker's simplicity and passion.

12th. Up, and to the office, where all-the morning, and my Lord Bruncker

mighty quiet, and no words all day, which I wonder at, expecting that he

would have fallen again upon the business of Carcasse, and the more for

that here happened that Perkins, who was the greatest witness of all

against him, was brought in by Sir W. Batten to prove that he did really

belong to The Prince, but being examined was found rather a fool than

anything, as not being able to give any account when he come in nor when

he come out of her, more than that he was taken by the Dutch in her,

but did agree in earnest to Sir W. Pen's saying that she lay up all, the

winter before at Lambeth. This I confess did make me begin to doubt the

truth of his evidence, but not to doubt the faults of Carcasse, for

he was condemned by, many other better evidences than his, besides the

whole world's report. At noon home, and there find Mr. Goodgroome, whose

teaching of my wife only by singing over and over again to her, and

letting her sing with him, not by herself, to correct her faults, I do

not like at all, but was angry at it; but have this content, that I do

think she will come to sing pretty well, and to trill in time, which

pleases me well. He dined with us, and then to the office, when we had a

sorry meeting to little purpose, and then broke up, and I to my office,

and busy late to good purpose, and so home to supper and to bed. This

day a poor seaman, almost starved for want of food, lay in our yard

a-dying. I sent him half-a-crown, and we ordered his ticket to be paid.

13th. Up, and with [Sir] W. Batten to the Duke of York to our usual

attendance, where I did fear my Lord Bruncker might move something in

revenge that might trouble me, but he did not, but contrarily had the

content to hear Sir G. Carteret fall foul on him in the Duke of York's

bed chamber for his directing people with tickets and petitions to him,

bidding him mind his Controller's place and not his, for if he did he

should be too hard for him, and made high words, which I was glad

of. Having done our usual business with the Duke of York, I away; and

meeting Mr. D. Gawden in the presence-chamber, he and I to talk; and

among other things he tells me, and I do find every where else, also,

that our masters do begin not to like of their councils in fitting out

no fleete, but only squadrons, and are finding out excuses for it; and,

among others, he tells me a Privy-Councillor did tell him that it was

said in Council that a fleete could not be set out this year, for want

of victuals, which gives him and me a great alarme, but me especially

for had it been so, I ought to have represented it; and therefore it

puts me in policy presently to prepare myself to answer this objection,

if ever it should come about, by drawing up a state of the Victualler's

stores, which I will presently do. So to Westminster Hall, and there

staid and talked, and then to Sir G. Carteret's, where I dined with the

ladies, he not at home, and very well used I am among them, so that I am

heartily ashamed that my wife hath not been there to see them; but she

shall very shortly. So home by water, and stepped into Michell's, and

there did baiser my Betty, 'que aegrotat' a little. At home find Mr.

Holliard, and made him eat a bit of victuals. Here I find Mr. Greeten,

who teaches my wife on the flageolet, and I think she will come to

something on it. Mr. Holliard advises me to have my father come up to

town, for he doubts else in the country he will never find ease, for,

poor man, his grief is now grown so great upon him that he is never at

ease, so I will have him up at Easter. By and by by coach, set down Mr.

Holliard near his house at Hatton Garden and myself to Lord Treasurer's,

and sent my wife to the New Exchange. I staid not here, but to

Westminster Hall, and thence to Martin's, where he and she both within,

and with them the little widow that was once there with her when I was

there, that dissembled so well to be grieved at hearing a tune that her,

late husband liked, but there being so much company, I had no pleasure

here, and so away to the Hall again, and there met Doll Lane coming out,

and 'par contrat did hazer bargain para aller to the cabaret de vin',

called the Rose, and 'ibi' I staid two hours, 'sed' she did not 'venir',

'lequel' troubled me, and so away by coach and took up my wife, and away

home, and so to Sir W. Batten's, where I am told that it is intended by

Mr. Carcasse to pray me to be godfather with Lord Bruncker to-morrow to

his child, which I suppose they tell me in mirth, but if he should

ask me I know not whether I should refuse it or no. Late at my office

preparing a speech against to-morrow morning, before the King, at my

Lord Treasurer's, and the truth is it run in my head all night. So home

to supper and to bed. The Duke of Buckingham is concluded gone over sea,

and, it is thought, to France.

14th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen to my Lord

Treasurer's, where we met with my Lord Bruncker an hour before the King

come, and had time to talk a little of our business. Then come much

company, among others Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me that undoubtedly my

Lord Bellasses will go no more as Governor to Tangier, and that he do

put in fair for it, and believes he shall have it, and proposes how it

may conduce to his account and mine in the business of money. Here we

fell into talk with Sir Stephen Fox, and, among other things, of the

Spanish manner of walking, when three together, and shewed me how, which

was pretty, to prevent differences. By and by comes the King and Duke

of York, and presently the officers of the Ordnance were called; my Lord

Berkeley, Sir John Duncomb, and Mr. Chichly; then we, my Lord Bruncker,

[Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and myself; where we find only the King

and Duke of York, and my Lord Treasurer, and Sir G. Carteret; where I

only did speak, laying down the state of our wants, which the King

and Duke of York seemed very well pleased with, and we did get what we

asked, L500,000, assigned upon the eleven months' tax: but that is

not so much ready money, or what will raise L40,000 per week, which

we desired, and the business will want. Yet are we fain to come away

answered, when, God knows, it will undo the King's business to have

matters of this moment put off in this manner. The King did prevent my

offering anything by and by as Treasurer for Tangier, telling me that

he had ordered us L30,000 on the same tax; but that is not what we would

have to bring our payments to come within a year. So we gone out, in

went others; viz., one after another, Sir Stephen Fox for the army,

Captain Cocke for sick and wounded, Mr. Ashburnham for the household.

Thence [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and I, back again; I mightily

pleased with what I had said and done, and the success thereof. But, it

being a fine clear day, I did, 'en gayete de coeur', propose going to

Bow for ayre sake, and dine there, which they embraced, and so [Sir] W.

Batten and I (setting [Sir] W. Pen down at Mark Lane end) straight to

Bow, to the Queen's Head, and there bespoke our dinner, carrying meat

with us from London; and anon comes [Sir] W. Pen with my wife and Lady

Batten, and then Mr. Lowder with his mother and wife. While [Sir] W.

Batten and I were alone, we had much friendly discourse, though I will

never trust him far; but we do propose getting "The Flying Greyhound,"

our privateer, to us and [Sir] W. Pen at the end of the year when we

call her home, by begging her of the King, and I do not think we shall

be denied her. They being come, we to oysters and so to talk, very

pleasant I was all day, and anon to dinner, and I made very good

company. Here till the evening, so as it was dark almost before we got

home (back again in the same method, I think, we went), and spent the

night talking at Sir W. Batten's, only a little at my office, to look

over the Victualler's contract, and draw up some arguments for him to

plead for his charges in transportation of goods beyond the ports which

the letter of one article in his contract do lay upon him. This done

I home to supper and to bed. Troubled a little at my fear that my Lord

Bruncker should tell Sir W. Coventry of our neglecting the office this

afternoon (which was intended) to look after our pleasures, but nothing

will fall upon me alone about this.

15th. Up, and pleased at Tom's teaching of Barker something to sing a

3rd part to a song, which will please mightily. So I to the office all

the morning, and at noon to the 'Change, where I do hear that letters

this day come to Court do tell us that we are likely not to agree, the

Dutch demanding high terms, and the King of France the like, in a most

braving manner. The merchants do give themselves over for lost, no man

knowing what to do, whether to sell or buy, not knowing whether peace

or war to expect, and I am told that could that be now known a man might

get L20,000 in a week's time by buying up of goods in case there should

be war. Thence home and dined well, and then with my wife, set her at

Unthanke's and I to Sir G. Carteret, where talked with the ladies a

while, and my Lady Carteret talks nothing but sorrow and afflictions

coming on us, and indeed I do fear the same. So away and met Dr. Fuller,

Bishop of Limricke, and walked an hour with him in the Court talking of

newes only, and he do think that matters will be bad with us. Then to

Westminster Hall, and there spent an hour or two walking up and down,

thinking 'para avoir' got out Doll Lane, 'sed je ne' could do it, having

no opportunity 'de hazer le, ainsi lost the tota' afternoon, and so away

and called my wife and home, where a little at the office, and then home

to my closet to enter my journalls, and so to supper and to bed. This

noon come little Mis. Tooker, who is grown a little woman; ego had

opportunity 'para baiser her.... This morning I was called up by Sir

John Winter, poor man! come in his sedan from the other end of the town,

before I was up, and merely about the King's business, which is a worthy

thing of him, and I believe him to be a worthy good man, and I will

do him the right to tell the Duke of it, who did speak well of him the

other day. It was about helping the King in the business of bringing

down his timber to the sea-side, in the Forest of Deane.

16th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning; at noon home to

dinner, and then to the office again in the afternoon, and there all

day very busy till night, and then, having done much business, home to

supper, and so to bed. This afternoon come home Sir J. Minnes, who has

been down, but with little purpose, to pay the ships below at the Nore.

This evening, having done my letters, I did write out the heads of

what I had prepared to speak to the King the other day at my Lord

Treasurer's, which I do think convenient to keep by me for future

use. The weather is now grown warm again, after much cold; and it is

observable that within these eight days I did see smoke remaining,

coming out of some cellars, from the late great fire, now above six

months since. There was this day at the office (as he is most days) Sir

W. Warren, against whom I did manifestly plead, and heartily too, God

forgive me! But the reason is because I do find that he do now wholly

rely almost upon my Lord Bruncker, though I confess I have no greater

ground of my leaving him than the confidence which I perceive he hath

got in my Lord Bruncker, whose seeming favours only do obtain of him as

much compensation as, I believe (for he do know well the way of using

his bounties), as mine more real. Besides, my Lord and I being become

antagonistic, I do not think it safe for me to trust myself in the hands

of one whom I know to be a knave, and using all means to become gracious

there.

17th (Lord's day). Up betime with my wife, and by coach with Sir W. Pen

and Sir Thomas Allen to White Hall, there my wife and I the first time

that ever we went to my Lady Jemimah's chamber at Sir Edward Carteret's

lodgings. I confess I have been much to blame and much ashamed of our

not visiting her sooner, but better now than never. Here we took her

before she was up, which I was sorry for, so only saw her, and away to

chapel, leaving further visit till after sermon. I put my wife into the

pew below, but it was pretty to see, myself being but in a plain band,

and every way else ordinary, how the verger took me for her man,

I think, and I was fain to tell him she was a kinswoman of my Lord

Sandwich's, he saying that none under knights-baronets' ladies are to

go into that pew. So she being there, I to the Duke of York's lodging,

where in his dressing-chamber he talking of his journey to-morrow or

next day to Harwich, to prepare some fortifications there; so that

we are wholly upon the defensive part this year, only we have some

expectations that we may by our squadrons annoy them in their trade by

the North of Scotland and to the Westward. Here Sir W. Pen did show the

Duke of York a letter of Hogg's about a prize he drove in within the

Sound at Plymouth, where the Vice-Admiral claims her. Sir W. Pen would

have me speak to the latter, which I did, and I think without any

offence, but afterwards I was sorry for it, and Sir W. Pen did plainly

say that he had no mind to speak to the Duke of York about it, so that

he put me upon it, but it shall be, the last time that I will do such

another thing, though I think no manner of hurt done by it to me at

all. That done I to walk in the Parke, where to the Queene's Chapel,

and there heard a fryer preach with his cord about his middle, in

Portuguese, something I could understand, showing that God did respect

the meek and humble, as well as the high and rich. He was full of

action, but very decent and good, I thought, and his manner of delivery

very good. Then I went back to White Hall, and there up to the closet,

and spoke with several people till sermon was ended, which was preached

by the Bishop of Hereford, an old good man, that they say made an

excellent sermon. He was by birth a Catholique, and a great gallant,

having L1500 per annum, patrimony, and is a Knight Barronet; was turned

from his persuasion by the late Archbishop Laud. He and the Bishop of

Exeter, Dr. Ward, are the two Bishops that the King do say he cannot

have bad sermons from. Here I met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me,

that undoubtedly my Lord Bellasses do go no more to Tangier, and that he

do believe he do stand in a likely way to go Governor; though he says,

and showed me, a young silly Lord, one Lord Allington, who hath offered

a great sum of money to go, and will put hard for it, he having a fine

lady, and a great man would be glad to have him out of the way. After

Chapel I down and took out my wife from the pew, where she was talking

with a lady whom I knew not till I was gone. It was Mrs. Ashfield of

Brampton, who had with much civility been, it seems, at our house to see

her. I am sorry I did not show her any more respect. With my wife to

Sir G. Carteret's, where we dined and mightily made of, and most

extraordinary people they are to continue friendship with for goodness,

virtue, and nobleness and interest. After dinner he and I alone awhile

and did joy ourselves in my Lord Sandwich's being out of the way all

this time. He concurs that we are in a way of ruin by thus being forced

to keep only small squadrons out, but do tell me that it was not choice,

but only force, that we could not keep out the whole fleete. He tells me

that the King is very kind to my Lord Sandwich, and did himself observe

to him (Sir G. Carteret), how those very people, meaning the Prince and

Duke of Albemarle, are punished in the same kind as they did seek to

abuse my Lord Sandwich. Thence away, and got a hackney coach and carried

my wife home, and there only drank, and myself back again to my Lord

Treasurer's, where the King, Duke of York, and Sir G. Carteret and Lord

Arlington were and none else, so I staid not, but to White Hall, and

there meeting nobody I would speak with, walked into the Park and took

two or three turns all alone, and then took coach and home, where I find

Mercer, who I was glad to see, but durst [not] shew so, my wife being

displeased with her, and indeed I fear she is grown a very gossip. I

to my chamber, and there fitted my arguments which I had promised Mr.

Gawden in his behalf in some pretences to allowance of the King, and

then to supper, and so to my chamber a little again, and then to bed.

Duke of Buckingham not heard of yet.

18th. Up betimes, and to the office to write fair my paper for D. Gawden

against anon, and then to other business, where all the morning. D.

Gawden by and by comes, and I did read over and give him the paper,

which I think I have much obliged him in. A little before noon comes

my old good friend, Mr. Richard Cumberland,--[Richard Cumberland,

afterwards Bishop of Peterborough]--to see me, being newly come to town,

whom I have not seen almost, if not quite, these seven years. In his

plain country-parson's dress. I could not spend much time with him,

but prayed him come with his brother, who was with him, to dine with me

to-day; which he did do and I had a great deal of his good company; and

a most excellent person he is as any I know, and one that I am sorry

should be lost and buried in a little country town, and would be glad to

remove him thence; and the truth is, if he would accept of my sister's

fortune, I should give L100 more with him than to a man able to settle

her four times as much as, I fear, he is able to do; and I will think

of it, and a way how to move it, he having in discourse said he was not

against marrying, nor yet engaged. I shewed him my closet, and did give

him some very good musique, Mr. Caesar being here upon his lute. They

gone I to the office, where all the afternoon very busy, and among

other things comes Captain Jenifer to me, a great servant of my Lord

Sandwich's, who tells me that he do hear for certain, though I do not

yet believe it, that Sir W. Coventry is to be Secretary of State, and my

Lord Arlington Lord Treasurer. I only wish that the latter were as fit

for the latter office as the former is for the former, and more fit

than my Lord Arlington. Anon Sir W. Pen come and talked with me in the

garden, and tells me that for certain the Duke of Richmond is to marry

Mrs. Stewart, he having this day brought in an account of his estate

and debts to the King on that account. At night home to supper and so

to bed. My father's letter this day do tell me of his own continued

illness, and that my mother grows so much worse, that he fears she

cannot long continue, which troubles me very much. This day, Mr.

Caesar told me a pretty experiment of his, of angling with a minikin, a

gut-string varnished over, which keeps it from swelling, and is beyond

any hair for strength and smallness. The secret I like mightily.

19th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon dined

at home very pleasantly with my wife, and after dinner with a great deal

of pleasure had her sing, which she begins to do with some pleasure

to me, more than I expected. Then to the office again, where all the

afternoon close, and at night home to supper and to bed. It comes in my

mind this night to set down how a house was the other day in Bishopsgate

Street blowed up with powder; a house that was untenanted, and between a

flax shop and a-----------, both bad for fire; but, thanks be to God, it

did no more hurt; and all do conclude it a plot. I would also remember

to my shame how I was pleased yesterday, to find the righteous maid of

Magister Griffin sweeping of 'nostra' office, 'elle con the Roman nariz

and bonne' body which I did heretofore like, and do still refresh me to

think 'que elle' is come to us, that I may 'voir her aliquando'. This

afternoon I am told again that the town do talk of my Lord Arlington's

being to be Lord Treasurer, and Sir W. Coventry to be Secretary of

State; and that for certain the match is concluded between the Duke of

Richmond and Mrs. Stewart, which I am well enough pleased with; and it

is pretty to consider how his quality will allay people's talk; whereas,

had a meaner person married her, he would for certain have been reckoned

a cuckold at first-dash.

20th. Up pretty betimes, and to the Old Swan, and there drank at

Michell's, but his wife is not there, but gone to her mother's, who is

ill, and so hath staid there since Sunday. Thence to Westminster Hall

and drank at the Swan, and 'baiserais the petite misse'; and so to Mrs.

Martin's.... I sent for some burnt wine, and drank and then away, not

pleased with my folly, and so to the Hall again, and there staid a

little, and so home by water again, where, after speaking with my wife,

I with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes to our church to the vestry, to

be assessed by the late Poll Bill, where I am rated as an Esquire, and

for my office, all will come to about L50. But not more than I expected,

nor so much by a great deal as I ought to be, for all my offices. So

shall be glad to escape so. Thence by water again to White Hall, and

there up into the house, and do hear that newes is come now that the

enemy do incline again to a peace, but could hear no particulars, so do

not believe it. I had a great mind to have spoke with the King, about a

business proper enough for me, about the French prize man-of-war, how he

would have her altered, only out of a desire to show myself mindful of

business, but my linen was so dirty and my clothes mean, that I neither

thought it fit to do that, nor go to other persons at the Court, with

whom I had business, which did vex me, and I must remedy [it]. Here

I hear that the Duke of Richmond and Mrs. Stewart were betrothed last

night. Thence to Westminster Hall again, and there saw Betty Michell,

and bought a pair of gloves of her, she being fain to keep shop there,

her mother being sick, and her father gathering of the tax. I 'aimais

her de toute my corazon'. Thence, my mind wandering all this day upon

'mauvaises amours' which I be merry for. So home by water again, where

I find my wife gone abroad, so I to Sir W. Batten to dinner, and had a

good dinner of ling and herring pie, very good meat, best of the kind

that ever I had. Having dined, I by coach to the Temple, and there did

buy a little book or two, and it is strange how "Rycaut's Discourse of

Turky," which before the fire I was asked but 8s. for, there being

all but twenty-two or thereabouts burned, I did now offer 20s., and he

demands 50s., and I think I shall give it him, though it be only as a

monument of the fire. So to the New Exchange, where I find my wife, and

so took her to Unthanke's, and left her there, and I to White Hall,

and thence to Westminster, only out of idleness, and to get some little

pleasure to my 'mauvais flammes', but sped not, so back and took up

my wife; and to Polichinelli at Charing Crosse, which is prettier

and prettier, and so full of variety that it is extraordinary good

entertainment. Thence by coach home, that is, my wife home, and I to the

Exchange, and there met with Fenn, who tells me they have yet no orders

out of the Exchequer for money upon the Acts, which is a thing not to

be borne by any Prince of understanding or care, for no money can be got

advanced upon the Acts only from the weight of orders in form out of

the Exchequer so long time after the passing of the Acts. So home to

the office a little, where I met with a sad letter from my brother, who

tells me my mother is declared by the doctors to be past recovery, and

that my father is also very ill every hour: so that I fear we shall see

a sudden change there. God fit them and us for it! So to Sir W. Pen's,

where my wife was, and supped with a little, but yet little mirth, and

a bad, nasty supper, which makes me not love the family, they do all

things so meanly, to make a little bad show upon their backs. Thence

home and to bed, very much troubled about my father's and my mother's

illness.

21st. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning. At noon home to

dinner, and had some melancholy discourse with my wife about my mother's

being so ill and my father, and after dinner to cheer myself, I having

the opportunity of Sir W. Coventry and the Duke of York's being out

of town, I alone out and to the Duke of York's play-house, where

unexpectedly I come to see only the young men and women of the house

act; they having liberty to act for their own profit on Wednesdays and

Fridays this Lent: and the play they did yesterday, being Wednesday, was

so well-taken, that they thought fit to venture it publickly to-day;

a play of my Lord Falkland's' called "The Wedding Night," a kind of

a tragedy, and some things very good in it, but the whole together, I

thought, not so. I confess I was well enough pleased with my seeing

it: and the people did do better, without the great actors, than I did

expect, but yet far short of what they do when they are there, which I

was glad to find the difference of. Thence to rights home, and there

to the office to my business hard, being sorry to have made this scape

without my wife, but I have a good salvo to my oath in doing it. By and

by, in the evening, comes Sir W. Batten's Mingo to me to pray me to come

to his master and Sir Richard Ford, who have very ill news to tell me.

I knew what it was, it was about our trial for a good prize to-day, "The

Phoenix,"

[There are references to the "Phoenix," a Dutch ship taken as a

prize, among the State Papers (see "Calendar," 1666-67, p. 404).

Pepys appears to have got into trouble at a later date in respect to

this same ship, for among the Rawlinson MSS. (A. 170) are "Papers

relating to the charge brought against him in the House of Commons

in 1689 with reference to the ship Phoenix and the East India

Company in 1681-86."]

a worth two or L3000. I went to them, where they told me with much

trouble how they had sped, being cast and sentenced to make great

reparation for what we had embezzled, and they did it so well that I was

much troubled at it, when by and by Sir W. Batten asked me whether I

was mortified enough, and told me we had got the day, which was mighty

welcome news to me and us all. But it is pretty to see what money will

do. Yesterday, Walker was mighty cold on our behalf, till Sir W. Batten

promised him, if we sped in this business of the goods, a coach; and

if at the next trial we sped for the ship, we would give him a pair

of horses. And he hath strove for us today like a prince, though the

Swedes' Agent was there with all the vehemence he could to save the

goods, but yet we carried it against him. This put me in mighty good

heart, and then we go to Sir W. Pen, who is come back to-night from

Chatham, and did put him into the same condition, and then comforted

him. So back to my office, and wrote an affectionate and sad letter to

my father about his and my mother's illness, and so home to supper and

to bed late.

22nd. Up and by coach to Sir Ph. Warwicke about business for Tangier

about money, and then to Sir Stephen Fox to give him account of a little

service I have done him about money coming to him from our office, and

then to Lovett's and saw a few baubling things of their doing which are

very pretty, but the quality of the people, living only by shifts, do

not please me, that it makes me I do no more care for them, nor shall

have more acquaintance with them after I have got my Lady Castlemayne's

picture home. So to White Hall, where the King at Chapel, and I would

not stay, but to Westminster to Howlett's, and there, he being not well,

I sent for a quart of claret and burnt it and drank, and had a 'basado'

or three or four of Sarah, whom 'je trouve ici', and so by coach to Sir

Robt. Viner's about my accounts with him, and so to the 'Change, where I

hear for certain that we are going on with our treaty of peace, and that

we are to treat at Bredah. But this our condescension people do think

will undo us, and I do much fear it. So home to dinner, where my wife

having dressed herself in a silly dress of a blue petticoat uppermost,

and a white satin waistcoat and whitehood, though I think she did it

because her gown is gone to the tailor's, did, together with my being

hungry, which always makes me peevish, make me angry, but when my

belly was full were friends again, and dined and then by water down to

Greenwich and thence walked to Woolwich, all the way reading Playford's

"Introduction to Musique," wherein are some things very pretty. At

Woolwich I did much business, taking an account of the state of the

ships there under hand, thence to Blackwall, and did the like for two

ships we have repairing there, and then to Deptford and did the like

there, and so home. Captain Perriman with me from Deptford, telling me

many particulars how the King's business is ill ordered, and indeed so

they are, God knows! So home and to the office, where did business, and

so home to my chamber, and then to supper and to bed. Landing at the

Tower to-night I met on Tower Hill with Captain Cocke and spent half

an hour walking in the dusk of the evening with him, talking of the

sorrowful condition we are in, that we must be ruined if the Parliament

do not come and chastize us, that we are resolved to make a peace

whatever it cost, that the King is disobliging the Parliament in this

interval all that may be, yet his money is gone and he must have more,

and they likely not to give it, without a great deal of do. God knows

what the issue of it will be. But the considering that the Duke of York,

instead of being at sea as Admirall, is now going from port to port,

as he is at this day at Harwich, and was the other day with the King at

Sheernesse, and hath ordered at Portsmouth how fortifications shall be

made to oppose the enemy, in case of invasion, [which] is to us a sad

consideration, and as shameful to the nation, especially after so many

proud vaunts as we have made against the Dutch, and all from the folly

of the Duke of Albemarle, who made nothing of beating them, and Sir

John Lawson he always declared that we never did fail to beat them with

lesser numbers than theirs, which did so prevail with the King as to

throw us into this war.

23rd. At the office all the morning, where Sir W. Pen come, being

returned from Chatham, from considering the means of fortifying the

river Medway, by a chain at the stakes, and ships laid there with guns

to keep the enemy from coming up to burn our ships; all our care now

being to fortify ourselves against their invading us. At noon home to

dinner, and then to the office all the afternoon again, where Mr. Moore

come, who tells me that there is now no doubt made of a peace being

agreed on, the King having declared this week in Council that they would

treat at Bredagh. He gone I to my office, where busy late, and so to

supper and to bed. Vexed with our mayde Luce, our cook-mayde, who is a

good drudging servant in everything else, and pleases us, but that she

will be drunk, and hath been so last night and all this day, that she

could not make clean the house. My fear is only fire.

24th (Lord's day). With Sir W. Batten to White Hall, and there I to Sir

G. Carteret, who is mighty cheerful, which makes me think and by some

discourse that there is expectation of a peace, but I did not ask [him].

Here was Sir J. Minnes also: and they did talk of my Lord Bruncker,

whose father, it seems, did give Mr. Ashburnham and the present Lord

Digby L1200 to be made an Irish lord, and swore the same day that he had

not 12d. left to pay for his dinner: they make great mirth at this, my

Lord Bruncker having lately given great matter of offence both to them

and us all, that we are at present mightily displeased with him. By and

by to the Duke of York, where we all met, and there was the King also;

and all our discourse was about fortifying of the Medway and Harwich,

which is to be entrenched quite round, and Portsmouth: and here they

advised with Sir Godfry Lloyd and Sir Bernard de Gum, the two great

engineers, and had the plates drawn before them; and indeed all their

care they now take is to fortify themselves, and are not ashamed of it:

for when by and by my Lord Arlington come in with letters, and seeing

the King and Duke of York give us and the officers of the Ordnance

directions in this matter, he did move that we might do it as privately

as we could, that it might not come into the Dutch Gazette presently,

as the King's and Duke of York's going down the other day to Sheerenesse

was, the week after, in the Harlem Gazette. The King and Duke of York

both laughed at it, and made no matter, but said, "Let us be safe, and

let them talk, for there is nothing will trouble them more, nor

will prevent their coming more, than to hear that we are fortifying

ourselves." And the Duke of York said further, "What said Marshal

Turenne, when some in vanity said that the enemies were afraid, for they

entrenched themselves? 'Well,' says he, 'I would they were not afraid,

for then they would not entrench themselves, and so we could deal with

them the better.'" Away thence, and met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells

me that he do believe the government of Tangier is bought by my Lord

Allington for a sum of money to my Lord Arlington, and something to

Lord Bellasses, who (he did tell me particularly how) is as very a false

villain as ever was born, having received money of him here upon promise

and confidence of his return, forcing him to pay it by advance here, and

promising to ask no more there, when at the same time he was treating

with my Lord Allington to sell his command to him, and yet told Sir

H. Cholmly nothing of it, but when Sir H. Cholmly told him what he had

heard, he confessed that my Lord Allington had spoken to him of it, but

that he was a vain man to look after it, for he was nothing fit for it,

and then goes presently to my Lord Allington and drives on the bargain,

yet tells Lord Allington what he himself had said of him, as [though]

Sir H. Cholmly had said them. I am glad I am informed hereof, and shall

know him for a Lord, &c. Sir H. Cholmly tells me further that he is

confident there will be a peace, and that a great man did tell him that

my Lord Albemarle did tell him the other day at White Hall as a secret

that we should have a peace if any thing the King of France can ask and

our King can give will gain it, which he is it seems mad at. Thence back

with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen home, and heard a piece of sermon,

and so home to dinner, where Balty come, very fine, and dined with us,

and after dinner with me by water to White Hall, and there he and I did

walk round the Park, I giving him my thoughts about the difficulty of

getting employment for him this year, but advised him how to employ

himself, and I would do what I could. So he and I parted, and I to

Martin's, where I find her within, and 'su hermano' and 'la veuve'

Burroughs. Here I did 'demeurer toda' the afternoon.... By and by come

up the mistress of the house, Crags, a pleasant jolly woman. I staid all

but a little, and away home by water through bridge, a brave evening,

and so home to read, and anon to supper, W. Hewer with us, and then to

read myself to sleep again, and then to bed, and mightily troubled the

most of the night with fears of fire, which I cannot get out of my

head to this day since the last great fire. I did this night give the

waterman who uses to carry me 10s. at his request, for the painting of

his new boat, on which shall be my arms.

25th. (Ladyday.) Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen by coach to

Exeter House to our lawyers to have consulted about our trial to-morrow,

but missed them, so parted, and [Sir] W. Pen and I to Mr. Povy's about a

little business of [Sir] W. Pen's, where we went over Mr. Povy's

house, which lies in the same good condition as ever, which is most

extraordinary fine, and he was now at work with a cabinet-maker, making

of a new inlaid table. Having seen his house, we away, having in our way

thither called at Mr. Lilly's, who was working; and indeed his pictures

are without doubt much beyond Mr. Hales's, I think I may say I am

convinced: but a mighty proud man he is, and full of state. So home, and

to the office, and by and by to dinner, a poor dinner, my wife and I, at

Sir W. Pen's, and then he and I before to Exeter House, where I do not

stay, but to the King's playhouse; and by and by comes Mr. Lowther

and his wife and mine, and into a box, forsooth, neither of them being

dressed, which I was almost ashamed of. Sir W. Pen and I in the pit, and

here saw "The Mayden Queene" again; which indeed the more I see the more

I like, and is an excellent play, and so done by Nell, her merry part,

as cannot be better done in nature, I think. Thence home, and there I

find letters from my brother, which tell me that yesterday when he wrote

my mother did rattle in the throat so as they did expect every moment

her death, which though I have a good while expected did much surprise

me, yet was obliged to sup at Sir W. Pen's and my wife, and there

counterfeited some little mirth, but my heart was sad, and so home after

supper and to bed, and much troubled in my sleep of my being crying by

my mother's bedside, laying my head over hers and crying, she almost

dead and dying, and so waked, but what is strange, methought she had

hair over her face, and not the same kind of face as my mother really

hath, but yet did not consider that, but did weep over her as my mother,

whose soul God have mercy of.

26th. Up with a sad heart in reference to my mother, of whose death I

undoubtedly expect to hear the next post, if not of my father's also,

who by his pain as well as his grief for her is very ill, but on my own

behalf I have cause to be joyful this day, it being my usual feast day,

for my being cut of the stone this day nine years, and through God's

blessing am at this day and have long been in as good condition of

health as ever I was in my life or any man in England is, God make me

thankful for it! But the condition I am in, in reference to my mother,

makes it unfit for me to keep my usual feast. Unless it shall please

God to send her well (which I despair wholly of), and then I will make

amends for it by observing another day in its room. So to the office,

and at the office all the morning, where I had an opportunity to speak

to Sir John Harman about my desire to have my brother Balty go again

with him to sea as he did the last year, which he do seem not only

contented but pleased with, which I was glad of. So at noon home to

dinner, where I find Creed, who dined with us, but I had not any time

to talk with him, my head being busy, and before I had dined was called

away by Sir W. Batten, and both of us in his coach (which I observe his

coachman do always go now from hence towards White Hall through Tower

Street, and it is the best way) to Exeter House, where the judge was

sitting, and after several little causes comes on ours, and while the

several depositions and papers were at large reading (which they call

the preparatory), and being cold by being forced to sit with my hat off

close to a window in the Hall, Sir W. Pen and I to the Castle Tavern

hard by and got a lobster, and he and I staid and eat it, and drank good

wine; I only burnt wine, as my whole custom of late hath been, as an

evasion, God knows, for my drinking of wine (but it is an evasion which

will not serve me now hot weather is coming, that I cannot pretend, as

indeed I really have done, that I drank it for cold), but I will leave

it off, and it is but seldom, as when I am in women's company, that I

must call for wine, for I must be forced to drink to them. Having done

here then we back again to the Court, and there heard our cause pleaded;

Sir [Edward] Turner, Sir W. Walker, and Sir Ellis Layton being our

counsel against only Sir Robert Wiseman on the other. The second of our

three counsel was the best, and indeed did speak admirably, and is a

very shrewd man. Nevertheless, as good as he did make our case, and the

rest, yet when Wiseman come to argue (nay, and though he did begin so

sillily that we laughed in scorn in our sleeves at him), yet he did so

state the case, that the judge did not think fit to decide the cause

to-night, but took to to-morrow, and did stagger us in our hopes, so as

to make us despair of the success. I am mightily pleased with the judge,

who seems a very rational, learned, and uncorrupt man, and much good

reading and reason there is heard in hearing of this law argued, so that

the thing pleased me, though our success doth shake me. Thence Sir W.

Pen and I home and to write letters, among others a sad one to my father

upon fear of my mother's death, and so home to supper and to bed.

27th. [Sir] W. Pen and I to White Hall, and in the coach did begin our

discourse again about Balty, and he promises me to move it this very

day. He and I met my Lord Bruncker at Sir G. Carteret's by appointment,

there to discourse a little business, all being likely to go to rack for

lack of money still. Thence to the Duke of York's lodgings, and did our

usual business, and Sir W. Pen telling me that he had this morning spoke

of Balty to Sir W. Coventry, and that the thing was done, I did take

notice of it also to [Sir] W. Coventry, who told me that he had both

the thing and the person in his head before to have done it, which is a

double pleasure to me. Our business with the Duke being done, [Sir] W.

Pen and I towards the Exchequer, and in our way met Sir G. Downing going

to chapel, but we stopped, and he would go with us back to the Exchequer

and showed us in his office his chests full and ground and shelves full

of money, and says that there is L50,000 at this day in his office of

people's money, who may demand it this day, and might have had it away

several weeks ago upon the late Act, but do rather choose to have

it continue there than to put it into the Banker's hands, and I must

confess it is more than I should have believed had I not seen it, and

more than ever I could have expected would have arisen for this new Act

in so short a time, and if it do so now already what would it do if

the money was collected upon the Act and returned into the Exchequer so

timely as it ought to be. But it comes into my mind here to observe what

I have heard from Sir John Bankes, though I cannot fully conceive the

reason of it, that it will be impossible to make the Exchequer ever

a true bank to all intents, unless the Exchequer stood nearer the

Exchange, where merchants might with ease, while they are going about

their business, at all hours, and without trouble or loss of time, have

their satisfaction, which they cannot have now without much trouble, and

loss of half a day, and no certainty of having the offices open. By this

he means a bank for common practise and use of merchants, and therein I

do agree with him. Being parted from Sir W. Pen and [Sir] G. Downing, I

to Westminster Hall and there met Balty, whom I had sent for, and there

did break the business of my getting him the place of going again as

Muster-Master with Harman this voyage to the West Indys, which indeed

I do owe to Sir W. Pen. He is mighty glad of it, and earnest to fit

himself for it, but I do find, poor man, that he is troubled how to

dispose of his wife, and apparently it is out of fear of her, and his

honour, and I believe he hath received some cause of this his jealousy

and care, and I do pity him in it, and will endeavour to find out some

way to do, it for him. Having put him in a way of preparing himself

for the voyage, I did go to the Swan, and there sent for Jervas, my old

periwig maker, and he did bring me a periwig, but it was full of nits,

so as I was troubled to see it (it being his old fault), and did send

him to make it clean, and in the mean time, having staid for him a good

while, did go away by water to the Castle Taverne, by Exeter House, and

there met Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and several others, among the

rest Sir Ellis Layton, who do apply himself to discourse with me, and

I think by his discourse, out of his opinion of my interest in Sir W.

Coventry, the man I find a wonderful witty, ready man for sudden answers

and little tales, and sayings very extraordinary witty, but in the

bottom I doubt he is not so. Yet he pretends to have studied men, and

the truth is in several that I do know he did give me a very inward

account of them. But above all things he did give me a full account,

upon my demand, of this judge of the Admiralty, Judge Jenkins; who, he

says, is a man never practised in this Court, but taken merely for his

merit and ability's sake from Trinity Hall, where he had always lived;

only by accident the business of the want of a Judge being proposed to

the present Archbishop of Canterbury that now is, he did think of this

man and sent for him up: and here he is, against the 'gre' and content

of the old Doctors, made judge, but is a very excellent man both for

judgment and temper, yet majesty enough, and by all men's report, not to

be corrupted. After dinner to the Court, where Sir Ellis Layton did make

a very silly motion in our behalf, but did neither hurt nor good. After

him Walker and Wiseman; and then the judge did pronounce his sentence;

for some part of the goods and ship, and the freight of the whole, to

be free, and returned and paid by us; and the remaining, which was the

greater part, to be ours. The loss of so much troubles us, but we have

got a pretty good part, thanks be to God! So we are not displeased nor

yet have cause to triumph, as we did once expect. Having seen the end

of this, I being desirous to be at home to see the issue of any country

letters about my mother, which I expect shall give me tidings of her

death, I directly home and there to the office, where I find no letter

from my father or brother, but by and by the boy tells me that his

mistress sends me word that she hath opened my letter, and that she is

loth to send me any more news. So I home, and there up to my wife in

our chamber, and there received from my brother the newes of my mother's

dying on Monday, about five or six o'clock in the afternoon, and that

the last time she spoke of her children was on Friday last, and her

last words were, "God bless my poor Sam!" The reading hereof did set me

a-weeping heartily, and so weeping to myself awhile, and my wife also to

herself, I then spoke to my wife respecting myself, and indeed, having

some thoughts how much better both for her and us it is than it

might have been had she outlived my father and me or my happy present

condition in the world, she being helpless, I was the sooner at ease in

my mind, and then found it necessary to go abroad with my wife to look

after the providing mourning to send into the country, some to-morrow,

and more against Sunday, for my family, being resolved to put myself

and wife, and Barker and Jane, W. Hewer and Tom, in mourning, and my

two under-mayds, to give them hoods and scarfs and gloves. So to my

tailor's, and up and down, and then home and to my office a little,

and then to supper and to bed, my heart sad and afflicted, though my

judgment at ease.

28th. My tailor come to me betimes this morning, and having given him

directions, I to the office and there all the morning. At noon dined

well. Balty, who is mighty thoughtful how to dispose of his wife, and

would fain have me provide a place for her, which the thoughts of what

I should do with her if he should miscarry at sea makes me avoid the

offering him that she should be at my house. I find he is plainly

jealous of her being in any place where she may have ill company, and

I do pity him for it, and would be glad to help him, and will if I can.

Having dined, I down by water with Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen,

and [Sir] R. Ford to our prize, part of whose goods were condemned

yesterday--"The Lindeboome"--and there we did drink some of her wine,

very good. But it did grate my heart to see the poor master come on

board, and look about into every corner, and find fault that she was not

so clean as she used to be, though methought she was very clean; and

to see his new masters come in, that had nothing to do with her, did

trouble me to see him. Thence to Blackwall and there to Mr. Johnson's,

to see how some works upon some of our repaired ships go on, and at his

house eat and drank and mighty extraordinary merry (too merry for me

whose mother died so lately, but they know it not, so cannot reproach

me therein, though I reproach myself), and in going home had many good

stories of Sir W. Batten and one of Sir W. Pen, the most tedious and

silly and troublesome (he forcing us to hear him) that ever I heard

in my life. So to the office awhile, troubled with Sir W. Pen's

impertinences, he being half foxed at Johnson's, and so to bed.

29th. Lay long talking with my wife about Balty, whom I do wish very

well to, and would be glad to advise him, for he is very sober and

willing to take all pains. Up and to Sir W. Batten, who I find has had

some words with Sir W. Pen about the employing of a cooper about our

prize wines, [Sir] W. Batten standing and indeed imposing upon us Mr.

Morrice, which I like not, nor do [Sir] W. Pen, and I confess the very

thoughts of what our goods will come to when we have them do discourage

me in going any further in the adventure. Then to the office till noon,

doing business, and then to the Exchange, and thence to the Sun Taverne

and dined with [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] R. Ford, and the Swede's Agent to

discourse of a composition about our prizes that are condemned, but did

do little, he standing upon high terms and we doing the like. I home,

and there find Balty and his wife got thither both by my wife for me to

give them good advice, for her to be with his father and mother all this

time of absence, for saving of money, and did plainly and like a friend

tell them my mind of the necessity of saving money, and that if I did

not find they did endeavour it, I should not think fit to trouble myself

for them, but I see she is utterly against being with his father and

mother, and he is fond of her, and I perceive the differences between

the old people and them are too great to be presently forgot, and so

he do propose that it will be cheaper for him to put her to board at

a place he is offered at Lee, and I, seeing that I am not like to be

troubled with the finding a place, and having given him so much

good advice, do leave them to stand and fall as they please, having

discharged myself as a friend, and not likely to be accountable for

her nor be troubled with her, if he should miscarry I mean, as to her

lodging, and so broke up. Then he and I to make a visit to [Sir] W. Pen,

who hath thought fit to show kindness to Balty in this business, indeed

though he be a false rogue, but it was he knew a thing easy to do.

Thence together to my shoemaker's, cutler's, tailor's, and up and down

about my mourning, and in my way do observe the great streets in the

city are marked out with piles drove into the ground; and if ever it be

built in that form with so fair streets, it will be a noble sight. So to

the Council chamber, but staid not there, but to a periwigg-maker's of

his acquaintance, and there bought two periwiggs, mighty fine; indeed,

too fine, I thought, for me; but he persuaded me, and I did buy them for

L4 10s. the two. Then to the Exchange and bought gloves, and so to the

Bull-Head Taverne, whither he brought my French gun; and one Truelocke,

the famous gunsmith, that is a mighty ingenious man, and he did take my

gun in pieces, and made me understand the secrets thereof and upon the

whole I do find it a very good piece of work, and truly wrought; but

for certain not a thing to be used much with safety: and he do find that

this very gun was never yet shot off: I was mighty satisfied with it and

him, and the sight of so much curiosity of this kind. Here he brought

also a haberdasher at my desire, and I bought a hat of him, and so away

and called away my wife from his house, and so home and to read, and

then to supper and to bed, my head full in behalf of Balty, who tells me

strange stories of his mother. Among others, how she, in his absence in

Ireland, did pawne all the things that he had got in his service under

Oliver, and run of her own accord, without her husband's leave, into

Flanders, and that his purse, and 4s. a week which his father receives

of the French church, is all the subsistence his father and mother have,

and that about L20 a year maintains them; which, if it please God, I

will find one way or other to provide for them, to remove that scandal

away.

30th. Up, and the French periwigg maker of whom I bought two yesterday

comes with them, and I am very well pleased with them. So to the office,

where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and thence with my

wife's knowledge and leave did by coach go see the silly play of my Lady

Newcastle's, called "The Humourous Lovers;" the most silly thing that

ever come upon a stage. I was sick to see it, but yet would not but have

seen it, that I might the better understand her. Here I spied Knipp and

Betty, of the King's house, and sent Knipp oranges, but, having little

money about me, did not offer to carry them abroad, which otherwise I

had, I fear, been tempted to. So with [Sir] W. Pen home (he being at the

play also), a most summer evening, and to my office, where, among other

things, a most extraordinary letter to the Duke of York touching the

want of money and the sad state of the King's service thereby, and so to

supper and to bed.

31st (Lord's day). Up, and my tailor's boy brings my mourning clothes

home, and my wife hers and Barker's, but they go not to church this

morning. I to church, and with my mourning, very handsome, and new

periwigg, make a great shew. After church home to dinner, and there

come Betty Michell and her husband. I do and shall love her, but, poor

wretch, she is now almost ready to lie down. After dinner Balty (who

dined also with us) and I with Sir J. Minnes in his coach to White Hall,

but did nothing, but by water to Strand Bridge and thence walked to my

Lord Treasurer's, where the King, Duke of York, and the Caball, and much

company without; and a fine day. Anon come out from the Caball my Lord

Hollis and Mr. H. Coventry, who, it is conceived, have received their

instructions from the King this day; they being to begin their journey

towards their treaty at Bredagh speedily, their passes being come.

Here I saw the Lady Northumberland and her daughter-in-law, my Lord

Treasurer's daughter, my Lady Piercy, a beautiful lady indeed. So away

back by water, and left Balty at White Hall and I to Mrs. Martin.... and

so by coach home, and there to my chamber, and then to supper and bed,

having not had time to make up my accounts of this month at this very

day, but will in a day or two, and pay my forfeit for not doing it,

though business hath most hindered me. The month shuts up only with

great desires of peace in all of us, and a belief that we shall have a

peace, in most people, if a peace can be had on any terms, for there is

a necessity of it; for we cannot go on with the war, and our masters are

afraid to come to depend upon the good will of the Parliament any more,

as I do hear.