OCTOBER 1667

October 1st. All the morning busy at the office, pleased mightily with

my girle that we have got to wait on my wife. At noon dined with Sir G.

Carteret and the rest of our officers at his house in Broad Street, they

being there upon his accounts. After dinner took coach and to my wife,

who was gone before into the Strand, there to buy a nightgown, where

I found her in a shop with her pretty girle, and having bought it away

home, and I thence to Sir G. Carteret's again, and so took coach

alone, it now being almost night, to White Hall, and there in the

Boarded-gallery did hear the musick with which the King is presented

this night by Monsieur Grebus, the master of his musick; both

instrumentall--I think twenty-four violins--and vocall; an English song

upon Peace. But, God forgive me! I never was so little pleased with

a concert of musick in my life. The manner of setting of words and

repeating them out of order, and that with a number of voices, makes

me sick, the whole design of vocall musick being lost by it. Here was a

great press of people; but I did not see many pleased with it, only the

instrumental musick he had brought by practice to play very just. So

thence late in the dark round by the wall home by coach, and there to

sing and sup with my wife, and look upon our pretty girle, and so to

bed.

2nd. Up, and very busy all the morning, upon my accounts of Tangier, to

present to the Commissioners of the Treasury in the afternoon, and the

like upon the accounts of the office. This morning come to me Mr. Gawden

about business, with his gold chain about his neck, as being Sheriffe

of the City this year. At noon to the Treasury Office again, and there

dined and did business, and then by coach to the New Exchange, and there

met my wife and girl, and took them to the King's house to see "The

Traytour," which still I like as a very good play; and thence, round by

the wall, home, having drunk at the Cock ale-house, as I of late have

used to do, and so home and to my chamber to read, and so to supper and

to bed.

3rd. Up, and going out of doors, I understand that Sir W. Batten is

gone to bed on a sudden again this morning, being struck very ill, and

I confess I have observed him for these last two months to look very ill

and to look worse and worse. I to St. James's (though it be a sitting

day) to the Duke of York, about the Tangier Committee, which met this

morning, and he come to us, and the Charter for the City of Tangier was

read and the form of the Court Merchant. That being done Sir W. Coventry

took me into the gallery, and walked with me an hour, discoursing of

Navy business, and with much kindness to, and confidence in, me still;

which I must endeavour to preserve, and will do; and, good man! all his

care how to get the Navy paid off, and that all other things therein may

go well. He gone, I thence to my Lady Peterborough, who sent for me; and

with her an hour talking about her husband's pension, and how she hath

got an order for its being paid again; though, I believe, for all that

order, it will hardly be; but of that I said nothing; but her design is

to get it paid again: and how to raise money upon it, to clear it from

the engagement which lies upon it to some citizens, who lent her husband

money, without her knowledge, upon it, to vast loss. She intends to

force them to take their money again, and release her husband of those

hard terms. The woman is a very wise woman, and is very plain in telling

me how her plate and jewels are at pawne for money, and how they are

forced to live beyond their estate, and do get nothing by his being a

courtier. The lady I pity, and her family. Having done with her, and

drunk two glasses of her meade, which she did give me, and so to the

Treasurer's Office, and there find my Lord Bruncker and [Sir] W. Pen at

dinner with Sir G. Carteret about his accounts, where I dined and talked

and settled some business, and then home, and there took out my wife and

Willet, thinking to have gone to a play, but both houses were begun, and

so we to the 'Change, and thence to my tailor's, and there, the coachman

desiring to go home to change his horses, we went with him into a nasty

end of all St. Giles's, and there went into a nasty room, a chamber of

his, where he hath a wife and child, and there staid, it growing dark

too, and I angry thereat, till he shifted his horses, and then home

apace, and there I to business late, and so home, to supper, and walk

in the garden with my wife and girle, with whom we are mightily pleased,

and after talking and supping, to bed. This noon, going home, I did call

on Will Lincolne and agree with him to carry me to Brampton.

4th. Up, and to White Hall to attend the Council about Commissioner

Pett's business, along with my Lord Bruncker and Sir W. Pen, and in the

Robe-chamber the Duke of York come to us, the officers of the Navy, and

there did meet together about Navy business, where Sir W. Coventry was

with us, and among other things did recommend his Royal Highness, now

the prizes were disposing, to remember Sir John Harman to the King, for

some bounty, and also for my Lady Minnes, which was very nobly done of

him. Thence all of us to attend the Council, where we were anon called

on, and there was a long hearing of Commissioner Pett, who was there,

and there were the two Masters Attendant of Chatham called in, who do

deny their having any order from Commissioner Pett about bringing up

the great ships, which gives the lie to what he says; but, in general,

I find him to be but a weak, silly man, and that is guilty of horrid

neglect in this business all along. Here broke off without coming to an

issue, but that there should be another hearing on Monday next. So the

Council rose, and I staid walking up and down the galleries till the

King went to dinner, and then I to my Lord Crew's to dinner; but he

having dined, I took a very short leave, confessing I had not dined; and

so to an ordinary hard by the Temple-gate, where I have heretofore been,

and there dined--cost me 10d. And so to my Lord Ashly's, where after

dinner Sir H. Cholmly, Creed and I, with his Lordship, about Mr.

Yeabsly's business, where having come to agreement with him abating

him L1000 of what he demands for ships lost, I to Westminster, to

Mrs. Martin's lodging, whither I sent for her, and there hear that her

husband is come from sea, which is sooner than I expected; and here I

staid and drank, and so did toucher elle and away, and so by coach to my

tailor's, and thence to my Lord Crew's, and there did stay with him

an hour till almost night, discoursing about the ill state of my Lord

Sandwich, that he can neither be got to be called home, nor money got to

maintain him there; which will ruin his family. And the truth is, he do

almost deserve it, for by all relation he hath, in a little more than a

year and a half, spent L20,000 of the King's money, and the best part of

L10,000 of his own; which is a most prodigious expence, more than

ever Embassador spent there, and more than these Commissioners of the

Treasury will or do allow. And they demand an account before they will

give him any more money; which puts all his friends to a loss what to

answer. But more money we must get him, or to be called home. I offer

to speak to Sir W. Coventry about it; but my Lord will not advise to

it, without consent of Sir G. Carteret. So home, and there to see Sir

W. Batten, who fell sick yesterday morning: He is asleep: and so I could

not see him; but in an hour after, word is brought me that he is so ill,

that it is believed he cannot live till to-morrow, which troubles me and

my wife mightily, partly out of kindness, he being a good neighbour and

partly because of the money he owes me, upon our bargain of the late

prize. So home and to supper and to bed.

5th. Up, and to the Office; and there all the morning; none but my Lord

Anglesey and myself; but much surprized with the news of the death of

Sir W. Batten, who died this morning, having been but two days sick. Sir

W. Pen and I did dispatch a letter this morning to Sir W. Coventry,

to recommend Colonel Middleton, who we think a most honest and

understanding man, and fit for that place. Sir G. Carteret did also come

this morning, and walked with me in the garden; and concluded not to

concern [himself] or have any advice made to Sir W. Coventry, in behalf

of my Lord Sandwich's business; so I do rest satisfied, though I do

think they are all mad, that they will judge Sir W. Coventry an enemy,

when he is indeed no such man to any body, but is severe and just, as he

ought to be, where he sees things ill done. At noon home, and by coach

to Temple Bar to a India shop, and there bought a gown and sash, which

cost me 26s., and so she [Mrs. Pepys] and Willet away to the 'Change,

and I to my Lord Crew, and there met my Lord Hinchingbroke and Lady

Jemimah, and there dined with them and my Lord, where pretty merry, and

after dinner my Lord Crew and Hinchingbroke and myself went aside to

discourse about my Lord Sandwich's business, which is in a very ill

state for want of money, and so parted, and I to my tailor's, and there

took up my wife and Willet, who staid there for me, and to the Duke

of York's playhouse, but the house so full, it being a new play, "The

Coffee House," that we could not get in, and so to the King's house:

and there, going in, met with Knepp, and she took us up into the

tireing-rooms: and to the women's shift, where Nell was dressing

herself, and was all unready, and is very pretty, prettier than I

thought. And so walked all up and down the house above, and then below

into the scene-room, and there sat down, and she gave us fruit and here

I read the questions to Knepp, while she answered me, through all her

part of "Flora's Figary's," which was acted to-day. But, Lord! to see

how they were both painted would make a man mad, and did make me loath

them; and what base company of men comes among them, and how lewdly they

talk! and how poor the men are in clothes, and yet what a shew they make

on the stage by candle-light, is very observable. But to see how Nell

cursed, for having so few people in the pit, was pretty; the other house

carrying away all the people at the new play, and is said, now-a-days,

to have generally most company, as being better players. By and by into

the pit, and there saw the play, which is pretty good, but my belly was

full of what I had seen in the house, and so, after the play done, away

home, and there to the writing my letters, and so home to supper and to

bed.

6th (Lord's day). Up, and dressed myself, and so walked out with the boy

to Smithfield to Cow Lane, to Lincolne's, and there spoke with him, and

agreed upon the hour to-morrow, to set out towards Brampton; but vexed

that he is not likely to go himself, but sends another for him. Here I

took a hackney coach, and to White Hall, and there met Sir W. Coventry,

and discoursed with him, and then with my Lord Bruncker, and many

others, to end my matters in order to my going into the country

to-morrow for five or six days, which I have not done for above three

years. Walked with Creed into the Park a little, and at last went into

the Queen's side, and there saw the King and Queen, and saw the ladies,

in order to my hearing any news stirring to carry into the country, but

met with none, and so away home by coach, and there dined, and W. How

come to see me, and after dinner parted, and I to my writing to my Lord

Sandwich, which is the greatest business I have to do before my going

into the country, and in the evening to my office to set matters to

rights there, and being in the garden Sir W. Pen did come to me, and

fell to discourse about the business of "The Flying Greyhound," wherein

I was plain to him and he to me, and at last concluded upon my writing

a petition to the Duke of York for a certain ship, The Maybolt Gallyott,

and he offers to give me L300 for my success, which, however, I would

not oblige him to, but will see the issue of it by fair play, and so

I did presently draw a petition, which he undertakes to proffer to the

Duke of York, and solicit for me, and will not seem to doubt of his

success. So I wrote, and did give it him, and left it with him, and so

home to supper, where Pelling comes and sits with me, and there tells us

how old Mr. Batelier is dead this last night in the night, going to

bed well, which I am mightily troubled for, he being a good man. Supper

done, and he gone, I to my chamber to write my journal to this night,

and so to bed.

7th. Up betimes, and did do several things towards the settling all

matters both of house and office in order for my journey this day, and

did leave my chief care, and the key of my closet, with Mr. Hater, with

directions what papers to secure, in case of fire or other accident; and

so, about nine o'clock, I, and my wife, and Willet, set out in a coach

I have hired, with four horses; and W. Hewer and Murford rode by us on

horseback; and so my wife and she in their morning gowns, very handsome

and pretty, and to my great liking. We set out, and so out at Allgate,

and so to the Green Man, and so on to Enfield, in our way seeing Mr.

Lowther and his lady in a coach, going to Walthamstow; and he told us

that he would overtake us at night, he being to go that way. So we

to Enfield, and there bayted, it being but a foul, bad day, and there

Lowther and Mr. Burford, an acquaintance of his, did overtake us, and

there drank and eat together; and, by and by, we parted, we going before

them, and very merry, my wife and girle and I talking, and telling

tales, and singing, and before night come to Bishop Stafford, where

Lowther and his friend did meet us again, and carried us to the

Raynedeere, where Mrs. Aynsworth,

[Elizabeth Aynsworth, here mentioned, was a noted procurerss at

Cambridge, banished from that town by the university authorities for

her evil courses. She subsequently kept the Rein Deer Inn at

Bishops Stortford, at which the Vice-Chancellor, and some of the

heads of colleges, had occasion to sleep, in their way to London,

and were nobly entertained, their supper being served off plate.

The next morning their hostess refused to make any charge, saying,

that she was still indebted to the Vice-Chancellor, who, by driving

her out of Cambridge, had made her fortune. No tradition of this

woman has been preserved at Bishops Stortford; but it appears, from

the register of that parish, that she was buried there 26th of

March, 1686. It is recorded in the "History of Essex," vol. iii.,

(p. 130) 8vo., 1770, and in a pamphlet in the British Museum,

entitled, "Boteler's Case," that she was implicated in the murder of

Captain Wood, a Hertfordshire gentleman, at Manuden, in Essex, and

for which offence a person named Boteler was executed at Chelmsford,

September 10th, 1667, and that Mrs. Aynsworth, tried at the same

time as an accessory before the fact, was acquitted for want of

evidence; though in her way to the jail she endeavoured to throw

herself into the river, but was prevented. See Postea, May 25th,

1668.--B.]

who lived heretofore at Cambridge, and whom I knew better than they

think for, do live. It was the woman that, among other things, was great

with my cozen Barnston, of Cottenham, and did use to sing to him, and

did teach me "Full forty times over," a very lewd song: a woman they are

very well acquainted with, and is here what she was at Cambridge, and

all the good fellows of the country come hither. Lowther and his friend

stayed and drank, and then went further this night; but here we stayed,

and supped, and lodged. But, as soon as they were gone, and my supper

getting ready, I fell to write my letter to my Lord Sandwich, which I

could not finish before my coming from London; so did finish it to my

good content, and a good letter, telling him the present state of all

matters, and did get a man to promise to carry it to-morrow morning,

to be there, at my house, by noon, and I paid him well for it; so, that

being done, and my mind at ease, we to supper, and so to bed, my wife

and I in one bed, and the girl in another, in the same room, and lay

very well, but there was so much tearing company in the house, that we

could not see my landlady; so I had no opportunity of renewing my old

acquaintance with her, but here we slept very well.

8th. Up pretty betimes, though not so soon as we intended, by reason of

Murford's not rising, and then not knowing how to open our door, which,

and some other pleasant simplicities of the fellow, did give occasion

to us to call him. Sir Martin Marrall, and W. Hewer being his helper

and counsellor, we did call him, all this journey, Mr. Warner, which did

give us good occasion of mirth now and then. At last, rose, and up, and

broke our fast, and then took coach, and away, and at Newport did call

on Mr. Lowther, and he and his friend, and the master of the house,

their friend, where they were, a gentleman, did presently get

a-horseback and overtook us, and went with us to Audley-End, and did go

along with us all over the house and garden: and mighty merry we

were. The house indeed do appear very fine, but not so fine as it hath

heretofore to me; particularly the ceilings are not so good as I always

took them to be, being nothing so well wrought as my Lord Chancellor's

are; and though the figure of the house without be very extraordinary

good, yet the stayre-case is exceeding poor; and a great many pictures,

and not one good one in the house but one of Harry the Eighth, done by

Holben; and not one good suit of hangings in all the house, but all most

ancient things, such as I would not give the hanging-up of in my house;

and the other furniture, beds and other things, accordingly.

[Mr. George T. Robinson, F.S.A., in a paper on "Decorative Plaster

Work," read before the Society of Arts in April, 1891, refers to the

ceilings at Audley End as presenting an excellent idea of the state

of the stuccoer's art in the middle of James I.'s reign, and adds,

"Few houses in England can show so fine a series of the same date

... The great hall has medallions in the square portions of the

ceiling formed by its dividing timber beams. The large saloon on

the principal floor-a room about 66 feet long by 30 feet wide-has a

very remarkable ceiling of the pendentive type, which presents many

peculiarities, the most notable of which, that these not only depend

from the ceiling, but the outside ones spring from the walls in a

natural and structural manner. This is a most unusual circumstance

in the stucco work of the time, the reason for the omission of this

reasonable treatment evidently being the unwillingness of the

stuccoer to omit his elaborate frieze in which he took such delight"

("Journal Soc. of Arts," vol. xxxix., p. 449)]

Only the gallery is good, and, above all things, the cellars, where

we went down and drank of much good liquor; and indeed the cellars are

fine: and here my wife and I did sing to my great content. And then to

the garden, and there eat many grapes, and took some with us and so away

thence, exceeding well satisfied, though not to that degree that, by

my old esteem of the house, I ought and did expect to have done, the

situation of it not pleasing me. Here we parted with Lowther and his

friends, and away to Cambridge, it being foul, rainy weather, and there

did take up at the Rose, for the sake of Mrs. Dorothy Drawwater,

the vintner's daughter, which is mentioned in the play of Sir Martin

Marrall. Here we had a good chamber, and bespoke a good supper; and then

I took my wife, and W. Hewer, and Willet, it holding up a little, and

shewed them Trinity College and St. John's Library, and went to King's

College Chapel, to see the outside of it only; and so to our inne, and

with much pleasure did this, they walking in their pretty morning gowns,

very handsome, and I proud to find myself in condition to do this; and

so home to our lodging, and there by and by, to supper, with much good

sport, talking with the Drawers concerning matters of the town, and

persons whom I remember, and so, after supper, to cards; and then to

bed, lying, I in one bed, and my wife and girl in another, in the same

room, and very merry talking together, and mightily pleased both of us

with the girl. Saunders, the only violin in my time, is, I hear, dead of

the plague in the late plague there.

9th. Up, and got ready, and eat our breakfast; and then took coach:

and the poor, as they did yesterday, did stand at the coach to have

something given them, as they do to all great persons; and I did give

them something: and the town musique did also come and play: but, Lord!

what sad music they made! However, I was pleased with them, being all

of us in very good humour, and so through the town, and observed at

our College of Magdalene the posts new painted, and understand that the

Vice-Chancellor' is there this year. And so away for Huntingdon mightily

pleased all along the road to remember old stories; and come to Brampton

at about noon, and there find my father and sister and brother all well

and here laid up our things, and up and down to see the garden with my

father, and the house, and do altogether find it very pretty; especially

the little parlour and the summerhouses in the garden, only the wall do

want greens upon it, and the house is too low-roofed; but that is only

because of my coming from a house with higher ceilings. But altogether

is very pretty; and I bless God that I am like to have such a pretty

place to retire to: and I did walk with my father without doors, and do

find a very convenient way of laying out money there in building, which

will make a very good seat, and the place deserves it, I think,

very well. By and by to dinner, and after dinner I walked up to

Hinchingbroke, where my Lady expected me; and there spent all the

afternoon with her: the same most excellent, good, discreet lady that

ever she was; and, among other things, is mightily pleased with the lady

that is like to be her son Hinchingbroke's wife, which I am mightily

glad of. By and by my wife comes with Willet, my wife in her velvett

vest, which is mighty fine, and becomes her exceedingly. I am pleased

with my Lady Paulina and Anne, who both are grown very proper ladies,

and handsome enough. But a thousand questions my Lady asked me, till she

could think of no more almost, but walked up and down the house, with

me. But I do find, by her, that they are reduced to great straits for

money, having been forced to sell her plate, 8 or L900 worth; and she is

now going to sell a suit of her best hangings, of which I could almost

wish to buy a piece or two, if the pieces will be broke. But the house

is most excellently furnished, and brave rooms and good pictures, so

that it do please me infinitely beyond Audley End. Here we staid till

night walking and talking and drinking, and with mighty satisfaction my

Lady with me alone most of the day talking of my Lord's bad condition

to be kept in Spayne without money and at a great expense, which (as

we will save the family) we must labour to remove. Night being come,

we took leave with all possible kindness, and so home, and there Mr.

Shepley staid with us and sapped, and full of good country discourse,

and when supper done took his leave, and we all to bed, only I a little

troubled that my father tells me that he is troubled that my wife shows

my sister no countenance, and, him but very little, but is as a stranger

in the house; and I do observe she do carry herself very high; but I

perceive there was some great falling out when she was here last, but

the reason I have no mind to enquire after, for vexing myself, being

desirous to pass my time with as much mirth as I can while I am abroad.

So all to bed. My wife and I in the high bed in our chamber, and Willet

in the trundle bed, which she desired to lie in, by us.

10th. Waked in the morning with great pain of the collique, by cold

taken yesterday, I believe, with going up and down in my shirt, but with

rubbing my belly, keeping of it warm, I did at last come to some ease,

and rose, and up to walk up and down the garden with my father, to talk

of all our concernments: about a husband for my sister, whereof there is

at present no appearance; but we must endeavour to find her one now, for

she grows old and ugly: then for my brother; and resolve he shall stay

here this winter, and then I will either send him to Cambridge for a

year, till I get him some church promotion, or send him to sea as a

chaplain, where he may study, and earn his living. Then walked round

about our Greene, to see whether, in case I cannot buy out my uncle

Thomas and his son's right in this house, that I can buy another place

as good thereabouts to build on, and I do not see that I can. But this,

with new building, may be made an excellent pretty thing, and I resolve

to look after it as soon as I can, and Goody Gorum dies. By this time it

was almost noon, and then my father and I and wife and Willet abroad, by

coach round the towne of Brampton, to observe any other place as good

as ours, and find none; and so back with great pleasure; and thence

went all of us, my sister and brother, and W. Hewer, to dinner to

Hinchingbroke, where we had a good plain country dinner, but most kindly

used; and here dined the Minister of Brampton and his wife, who is

reported a very good, but poor man. Here I spent alone with my Lady,

after dinner, the most of the afternoon, and anon the two twins were

sent for from schoole, at Mr. Taylor's, to come to see me, and I took

them into the garden, and there, in one of the summer-houses, did

examine them, and do find them so well advanced in their learning,

that I was amazed at it: they repeating a whole ode without book out of

Horace, and did give me a very good account of any thing almost, and did

make me very readily very good Latin, and did give me good account of

their Greek grammar, beyond all possible expectation; and so grave and

manly as I never saw, I confess, nor could have believed; so that they

will be fit to go to Cambridge in two years at most. They are both

little, but very like one another, and well-looked children. Then in to

my Lady again, and staid till it was almost night again, and then took

leave for a great while again, but with extraordinary kindness from

my Lady, who looks upon me like one of her own family and interest. So

thence, my wife and people by the highway, and I walked over the park

with Mr. Shepley, and through the grove, which is mighty pretty, as is

imaginable, and so over their drawbridge to Nun's Bridge, and so to my

father's, and there sat and drank, and talked a little, and then parted.

And he being gone, and what company there was, my father and I, with

a dark lantern; it being now night, into the garden with my wife, and

there went about our great work to dig up my gold. But, Lord! what a

tosse I was for some time in, that they could not justly tell where it

was; that I begun heartily to sweat, and be angry, that they should not

agree better upon the place, and at last to fear that it was gone but by

and by poking with a spit, we found it, and then begun with a spudd to

lift up the ground. But, good God! to see how sillily they did it, not

half a foot under ground, and in the sight of the world from a hundred

places, if any body by accident were near hand, and within sight of

a neighbour's window, and their hearing also, being close by: only my

father says that he saw them all gone to church before he begun the

work, when he laid the money, but that do not excuse it to me. But I was

out of my wits almost, and the more from that, upon my lifting up the

earth with the spudd, I did discern that I had scattered the pieces of

gold round about the ground among the grass and loose earth; and taking

up the iron head-pieces wherein they were put, I perceive the earth was

got among the gold, and wet, so that the bags were all rotten, and all

the notes, that I could not tell what in the world to say to it, not

knowing how to judge what was wanting, or what had been lost by Gibson

in his coming down: which, all put together, did make me mad; and at

last was forced to take up the head-pieces, dirt and all, and as many

of the scattered pieces as I could with the dirt discern by the

candlelight, and carry them up into my brother's chamber, and there

locke them up till I had eat a little supper: and then, all people going

to bed, W. Hewer and I did all alone, with several pails of water and

basins, at last wash the dirt off of the pieces, and parted the pieces

and the dirt, and then begun to tell [them]; and by a note which I had

of the value of the whole in my pocket, do find that there was short

above a hundred pieces, which did make me mad; and considering that the

neighbour's house was so near that we could not suppose we could speak

one to another in the garden at the place where the gold lay--especially

my father being deaf--but they must know what we had been doing on,

I feared that they might in the night come and gather some pieces and

prevent us the next morning; so W. Hewer and I out again about midnight,

for it was now grown so late, and there by candlelight did make shift

to gather forty-five pieces more. And so in, and to cleanse them: and

by this time it was past two in the morning; and so to bed, with my mind

pretty quiet to think that I have recovered so many. And then to bed,

and I lay in the trundle-bed, the girl being gone to bed to my wife, and

there lay in some disquiet all night, telling of the clock till it was

daylight.

11th. And then rose and called W. Hewer, and he and I, with pails and

a sieve, did lock ourselves into the garden, and there gather all the

earth about the place into pails, and then sift those pails in one of

the summer-houses, just as they do for dyamonds in other parts of the

world; and there, to our great content, did with much trouble by nine

o'clock (and by the time we emptied several pails and could not find

one), we did make the last night's forty-five up seventy-nine: so that

we are come to about twenty or thirty of what I think the true number

should be; and perhaps within less; and of them I may reasonably think

that Mr. Gibson might lose some: so that I am pretty well satisfied that

my loss is not great, and do bless God that it is so well,

[About the year 1842, in removing the foundation of an old wall,

adjoining a mansion at Brampton, always considered the quondam

residence of the Pepys family, an iron pot, full of silver coins,

was discovered, and taken to the Earl of Sandwich, the owner of the

house, in whose possession they still remain. The pot was so much

corroded, that a small piece of it only could be preserved. The

coins were chiefly half-crowns of Elizabeth and the two elder

Stuarts, and all of a date anterior to the Restoration. Although

Pepys states that the treasure which he caused to be buried was gold

exclusively, it is very probable that, in the confusion, a pot full

of silver money was packed up with the rest; but, at all events, the

coincidence appeared too singular to pass over without notice.--B.]

and do leave my father to make a second examination of the dirt, which

he promises he will do, and, poor man, is mightily troubled for this

accident, but I declared myself very well satisfied, and so indeed I am;

and my mind at rest in it, being but an accident, which is unusual; and

so gives me some kind of content to remember how painful it is sometimes

to keep money, as well as to get it, and how doubtful I was how to keep

it all night, and how to secure it to London: and so got all my gold put

up in bags. And so having the last night wrote to my Lady Sandwich to

lend me John Bowles to go along with me my journey, not telling her the

reason, that it was only to secure my gold, we to breakfast, and then

about ten o'clock took coach, my wife and I, and Willet, and W. Hewer,

and Murford and Bowles (whom my Lady lent me), and my brother John on

horseback; and with these four I thought myself pretty safe. But, before

we went out, the Huntingdon musick come to me and played, and it was

better than that of Cambridge. Here I took leave of my father, and did

give my sister 20s. She cried at my going; but whether it was at her

unwillingness for my going, or any unkindness of my wife's, or no,

I know not; but, God forgive me! I take her to be so cunning and

ill-natured, that I have no great love for her; but only [she] is my

sister, and must be provided for. My gold I put into a basket, and set

under one of the seats; and so my work every quarter of an hour was to

look to see whether all was well; and I did ride in great fear all

the day, but it was a pleasant day, and good company, and I mightily

contented. Mr. Shepley saw me beyond St. Neots, and there parted, and we

straight to Stevenage, through Bald Lanes, which are already very bad;

and at Stevenage we come well before night, and all sat, and there with

great care I got the gold up to the chamber, my wife carrying one bag,

and the girl another, and W. Hewer the rest in the basket, and set it

all under a bed in our chamber; and then sat down to talk, and were very

pleasant, satisfying myself, among other things, from John Bowles, in

some terms of hunting, and about deere, bucks, and does. And so anon to

supper, and very merry we were, and a good supper, and after supper to

bed. Brecocke alive still, and the best host I know almost.

12th. Up, and eat our breakfast, and set out about nine o'clock, and so

to Barnett, where we staid and baited, the weather very good all day and

yesterday, and by five o'clock got home, where I find all well; and did

bring my gold, to my heart's content, very safe home, having not this

day carried it in a basket, but in our hands: the girl took care of one,

and my wife another bag, and I the rest, I being afraid of the bottom

of the coach, lest it should break, and therefore was at more ease in my

mind than I was yesterday. At home we find that Sir W. Batten's burial

was to-day carried from hence, with a hundred or two of coaches, to

Walthamstow, and there buried. Here I hear by Mr. Pierce the surgeon;

and then by Mr. Lewes, and also by Mr. Hater, that the Parliament hath

met on Thursday last, and adjourned to Monday next. The King did make

them a very kind speech, promising them to leave all to them to do,

and call to account what and whom they pleased; and declared by my Lord

Keeper how many, thirty-six, actes he had done since he saw them; among

others, disbanding the army, and putting all Papists out of employment,

and displacing persons that had managed their business ill, that the

Parliament is mightily pleased with the King's speech, and voted giving

him thanks for what he said and hath done; and, among things, would by

name thank him for displacing my Lord Chancellor, for which a great many

did speak in the House, but it was opposed by some, and particularly

Harry Coventry, who got that it should be put to a Committee to consider

what particulars to mention in their thanks to the King, saying that

it was too soon to give thanks for the displacing of a man, before they

knew or had examined what was the cause of his displacing. And so it

rested; but this do shew that they are and will be very high; and Mr.

Pierce do tell me that he fears, and do hear, that it hath been said

among them, that they will move for the calling my Lord Sandwich home,

to bring him to account; which do trouble me mightily; but I trust it

will not be so. Anon comes home Sir W. Pen from the burial, and he and

I to walk in the garden, where he did confirm the most of this news, and

so to talk of our particular concernments, and among the rest he says

that Lady Batten and her children-in-law are all broke in pieces, and

that there is but L800 found in the world, of money; and is in great

doubt what we shall do towards the doing ourselves right with them,

about the prize-money. This troubles me, but we will fall to work upon

that next week close. Then he tells me he did deliver my petition into

the hands of Sir W. Coventry, who did take it with great kindness and

promised to present it to the Duke of York, and that himself has since

seen the Duke of York, but it was in haste, and thinks the Duke of York

did tell him that the thing was done, but he is confident that it either

is or will be done. This do please me mightily. So after a little talk

more I away home to supper with John Bowles and brother and wife (who, I

perceive, is already a little jealous of my being fond of Willet, but

I will avoid giving her any cause to continue in that mind, as much as

possible), and before that did go with Sir W. Pen to my Lady Batten,

whom I had not seen since she was a widow, which she took unkindly, but

I did excuse it; and the house being full of company, and of several

factions, she against the children, and they against one another and

her, I away, and home to supper, and after supper to bed.

13th (Lord's day). Up, and by water to White Hall, and thence walked to

Sir W. Coventry's lodgings, but he was gone out, so I to St. James's,

and there to the Duke of York's chamber: and there he was dressing; and

many Lords and Parliament-men come to kiss his hands, they being newly

come to town. And there the Duke of York did of himself call me to him,

and tell me that he had spoke to the King, and that the King had granted

me the ship I asked for; and did, moreover, say that he was mightily

satisfied with my service, and that he would be willing to do anything

that was in his power for me: which he said with mighty kindness; which

I did return him thanks for, and departed with mighty joy, more than I

did expect. And so walked over the Park to White Hall, and there met

Sir H. Cholmly, who walked with me, and told me most of the news I heard

last night of the Parliament; and thinks they will do all things very

well, only they will be revenged of my Lord Chancellor; and says,

however, that he thinks there will be but two things proved on him; and

that one is, that he may have said to the King, and to others, words

to breed in the King an ill opinion of the Parliament--that they were

factious, and that it was better to dissolve them: and this, he thinks,

they will be able to prove; but what this will amount to, he knows not.

And next, that he hath taken money for several bargains that have been

made with the Crown; and did instance one that is already complained

of: but there are so many more involved in it, that, should they unravel

things of this sort, every body almost will be more or less concerned.

But these are the two great points which he thinks they will insist

on, and prove against him. Thence I to the Chapel, and there heard the

sermon and a pretty good anthem, and so home by water to dinner, where

Bowies and brother, and a good dinner, and in the afternoon to make good

my journal to this day, and so by water again to White Hall, and thence

only walked to Mrs. Martin's, and there sat with her and her sister

and Borroughs... and there drank and talked and away by water home, and

there walked with Sir W. Pen, and told him what the Duke of York told

me to-day about the ship I begged; and he was knave enough, of his own

accord, but, to be sure, in order to his own advantage, to offer me to

send for the master of the vessel, "The Maybolt Galliott," and bid him

to get her furnished as for a long voyage, and I to take no notice of

it, that she might be the more worth to me: so that here he is a very

knave to the King, and I doubt not his being the same to me on occasion.

So in a doors and supped with my wife and brother, W. Hewer, and

Willett, and so evened with W. Hewer for my expenses upon the road this

last journey, and do think that the whole journey will cost me little

less than L18 or L20, one way or other; but I am well pleased with it,

and so after supper to bed.

14th. Up, and by water to White Hall, and thence walked to St. James's,

and there to Mr. Wren's; and he told me that my business was done about

my warrant on the Maybolt Galliott; which I did see, and though it was

not so full in the reciting of my services as the other was in that of

Sir W. Pen's, yet I was well pleased with it, and do intend to fetch it

away anon. Thence with Sir Thomas Allen, in a little sorry coach which

he hath set up of late, and Sir Jeremy Smith, to White Hall, and there

I took water and went to Westminster Hall, and there hear that the House

is this day again upon the business of giving the King the thanks of the

House for his speech, and, among other things, for laying aside of my

Lord Chancellor. Thence I to Mrs. Martin's, where by appointment comes

to me Mrs. Howlett, which I was afraid was to have told me something of

my freedom with her daughter, but it was not so, but only to complain

to me of her son-in-law, how he abuses and makes a slave of her, and his

mother is one that encourages him in it, so that they are at this time

upon very bad terms one with another, and desires that I would take a

time to advise him and tell him what it becomes him to do, which office

I am very glad of, for some ends of my own also con sa fille, and there

drank and parted, I mightily satisfied with this business, and so home

by water with Sir W. Warren, who happened to be at Westminster, and

there I pretty strange to him, and little discourse, and there at the

office Lord Bruncker, W. Pen, T. Hater and I did some business, and so

home to dinner, and thence I out to visit Sir G. Carteret and ladies

there; and from him do understand that the King himself (but this

he told me as a great secret) is satisfied that this thanks which he

expects from the House, for the laying aside of my Lord Chancellor, is

a thing irregular; but, since it is come into the House, he do think it

necessary to carry it on, and will have it, and hath made his mind known

to be so, to some of the House. But Sir G. Carteret do say he knows

nothing of what my Lord Bruncker told us to-day, that the King was angry

with the Duke of York yesterday, and advised him not to hinder what he

had a mind to have done, touching this business; which is news very bad,

if true. Here I visited my Lady Carteret, who hath been sick some time,

but now pretty well, but laid on her bed. Thence to my Lord Crew, to see

him after my coming out of the country, and he seems satisfied with some

steps they have made in my absence towards my Lord Sandwich's relief for

money: and so I have no more to do, nor will trouble myself more about

it till they send for me. He tells me also that the King will have the

thanks of the House go on: and commends my Lord Keeper's speech for all

but what he was forced to say, about the reason of the King's sending

away the House so soon the last time, when they were met, but this he

was forced to do. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there walked with Mr.

Scowen, who tells me that it is at last carried in the House that the

thanks shall be given to the King--among other things, particularly for

the removal of my Lord Chancellor; but he tells me it is a strange act,

and that which he thinks would never have been, but that the King did

insist upon it, that, since it come into the House, it might not be let

fall. After walking there awhile I took coach and to the Duke of York's

House, and there went in for nothing into the pit, at the last act, to

see Sir Martin Marrall, and met my wife, who was there, and my brother,

and W. Hewer and Willett, and carried them home, still being pleased

with the humour of the play, almost above all that ever I saw. Home, and

there do find that John Bowles is not yet come thither. I suppose he is

playing the good fellow in the town. So to the office a while, and then

home to supper and to bed.

15th. Up, and to the office, where, Sir W. Pen being ill of the gout, we

all of us met there in his parlour and did the business of the office,

our greatest business now being to manage the pay of the ships in

order and with speed to satisfy the Commissioners of the Treasury. This

morning my brother set out for Brampton again, and is gone. At noon home

to dinner, and thence my wife and I and Willet to the Duke of York's

house, where, after long stay, the King and Duke of York come, and there

saw "The Coffee-house," the most ridiculous, insipid play that ever I

saw in my life, and glad we were that Betterton had no part in it. But

here, before the play begun, my wife begun to complain to me of Willet's

confidence in sitting cheek by jowl by us, which was a poor thing; but

I perceive she is already jealous of my kindness to her, so that I begin

to fear this girle is not likely to stay long with us. The play done,

we home by coach, it being moonlight, and got well home, and I to my

chamber to settle some papers, and so to supper and to bed.

16th. Up, and at home most of the morning with Sir H. Cholmly, about

some accounts of his; and for news he tells me that the Commons and

Lords have concurred, and delivered the King their thanks, among other

things, for his removal of the Chancellor; who took their thanks very

well, and, among other things, promised them, in these words, never,

in any degree, to entertain the Chancellor any employment again. And he

tells me that it is very true, he hath it from one that was by, that the

King did, give the Duke of York a sound reprimand; told him that he had

lived with him with more kindness than ever any brother King lived with

a brother, and that he lived as much like a monarch as himself, but

advised him not to cross him in his designs about the Chancellor; in

which the Duke of York do very wisely acquiesce, and will be quiet as

the King bade him, but presently commands all his friends to be silent

in the business of the Chancellor, and they were so: but that the

Chancellor hath done all that is possible to provoke the King, and to

bring himself to lose his head by enraging of people. He gone, I to the

office, busy all the morning. At noon to Broad Street to Sir G. Carteret

and Lord Bruncker, and there dined with them, and thence after dinner

with Bruncker to White Hall, where the Duke of York is now newly come

for this winter, and there did our usual business, which is but little,

and so I away to the Duke of York's house, thinking as we appointed, to

meet my wife there, but she was not; and more, I was vexed to see Young

(who is but a bad actor at best) act Macbeth in the room of Betterton,

who, poor man! is sick: but, Lord! what a prejudice it wrought in me

against the whole play, and everybody else agreed in disliking this

fellow. Thence home, and there find my wife gone home; because of this

fellow's acting of the part, she went out of the house again. There busy

at my chamber with Mr. Yeabsly, and then with Mr. Lewes, about public

business late, and so to supper and to bed.

17th. Up, and being sent for by my Lady Batten, I to her, and there

she found fault with my not seeing her since her being a widow, which

I excused as well as I could, though it is a fault, but it is my nature

not to be forward in visits. But here she told me her condition, which

is good enough, being sole executrix, to the disappointment of all her

husband's children, and prayed my friendship about the accounts of the

prizes, which I promised her. And here do see what creatures widows are

in weeping for their husbands, and then presently leaving off; but I

cannot wonder at it, the cares of the world taking place of all other

passions. Thence to the office, where all the morning busy, and at noon

home to dinner, where Mr. John Andrews and his wife come and dined with

me, and pretty merry we were, only I out of humour the greatest part

of the dinner, by reason that my people had forgot to get wine ready,

I having none in my house, which I cannot say now these almost three

years, I think, without having two or three sorts, by which we were fain

to stay a great while, while some could be fetched. When it come I begun

to be merry, and merry we were, but it was an odd, strange thing to

observe of Mr. Andrews what a fancy he hath to raw meat, that he eats it

with no pleasure unless the blood run about his chops, which it did now

by a leg of mutton that was not above half boiled; but, it seems, at

home all his meat is dressed so, and beef and all, and [he] eats it so

at nights also. Here most of our discourse is of the business of the

Parliament, who run on mighty furiously, having yesterday been almost

all the morning complaining against some high proceedings of my Lord

Chief Justice Keeling, that the gentlemen of the country did complain

against him in the House, and run very high. It is the man that did fall

out with my cozen Roger Pepys, once, at the Assizes there, and would

have laid him by the heels; but, it seems, a very able lawyer. After

dinner I to the office, where we all met with intent to proceed to

the publique sale of several prize ships, but upon discourse my Lord

Anglesey did discover (which troubled me that he that is a stranger

almost should do more than we ourselves could) that the appraisements

made by our officers were not above half of what he had been offered

for one of them, and did make it good by bringing a gentleman to give us

L700 for the Wildboare, which they valued but at L276, which made us

all startle and stop the sale, and I did propose to acquaint the Duke of

York with it, and accordingly we did agree on it, and I wrote a severe

letter about it, and we are to attend him with it to-morrow about it.

This afternoon my Lord Anglesey tells us that the House of Commons

have this morning run into the inquiry in many things; as, the sale of

Dunkirke, the dividing of the fleete the last year, the business of the

prizes with my Lord Sandwich, and many other things; so that now they

begin to fall close upon it, and God knows what will be the end of it,

but a Committee they have chosen to inquire into the miscarriages of

the war. Having done, and being a little tired, Sir W. Pen and I in his

coach out to Mile End Green, and there drank a cup of Byde's ale, and so

talking about the proceedings of Parliament, and how little a thing

the King is become to be forced to suffer it, though I declare my being

satisfied that things should be enquired into, we back again home, and I

to my office to my letters, and so home to supper and to bed.

18th. Up, and by coach with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, and there attended

the Duke of York; but first we find him to spend above an hour in

private in his closet with Sir W. Coventry; which I was glad to see,

that there is so much confidence between them. By and by we were called

in and did our usual business, and complained of the business yesterday

discovered of our officers abusing the King in the appraisement of the

prizes. Here it was worth observing that the Duke of York, considering

what third rate ships to keep abroad, the Rupert was thought on, but

then it was said that Captain Hubbert was Commander of her and that the

King had a mind for Spragg to command the ship, which would not be well

to be by turning out Hubbert, who is a good man, but one the Duke of

York said he did not know whether he did so well conforme, as at this

lime to please the people and Parliament. Sir W. Coventry answered, and

the Duke of York merrily agreed to it, that it was very hard to know

what it was that the Parliament would call conformity at this time, and

so it stopped, which I only observe to see how the Parliament's present

temper do amuse them all. Thence to several places to buy a hat, and

books, and neckcloths, and several errands I did before I got home, and,

among others, bought me two new pair of spectacles of Turlington, who,

it seems, is famous for them; and his daughter, he being out of the way,

do advise me two very young sights, as that that will help me most, and

promises me great ease from them, and I will try them. At the Exchange I

met Creed, and took him home with me, and dined, and among other things

he tells me that Sir Robert Brookes is the man that did mention the

business in Parliament yesterday about my Lord Sandwich, but that it was

seconded by nobody, but the matter will fall before the Committee for

miscarriages. Thence, after dinner, my wife and he, and I, and Willet to

the King's house, and saw "Brenoralt," which is a good tragedy, that I

like well, and parted after the play, and so home, and there a little

at my office, and so to my chamber, and spent this night late in telling

over all my gold, and putting it into proper bags and my iron chest,

being glad with my heart to see so much of it here again, but cannot

yet tell certainly how much I have lost by Gibson in his journey, and my

father's burying of it in the dirt. At this late, but did it to my mind,

and so to supper and to bed.

19th. At the office all the morning, where very busy, and at noon home

to a short dinner, being full of my desire of seeing my Lord Orrery's

new play this afternoon at the King's house, "The Black Prince," the

first time it is acted; where, though we come by two o'clock, yet there

was no room in the pit, but we were forced to go into one of the upper

boxes, at 4s. a piece, which is the first time I ever sat in a box in my

life. And in the same box come, by and by, behind me, my Lord Barkeley

[of Stratton] and his lady; but I did not turn my face to them to be

known, so that I was excused from giving them my seat; and this pleasure

I had, that from this place the scenes do appear very fine indeed, and

much better than in the pit. The house infinite full, and the King and

Duke of York was there. By and by the play begun, and in it nothing

particular but a very fine dance for variety of figures, but a little

too long. But, as to the contrivance, and all that was witty (which,

indeed, was much, and very witty), was almost the same that had been

in his two former plays of "Henry the 5th" and "Mustapha," and the

same points and turns of wit in both, and in this very same play often

repeated, but in excellent language, and were so excellent that the

whole house was mightily pleased with it all along till towards the end

he comes to discover the chief of the plot of the play by the reading

of along letter, which was so long and some things (the people being set

already to think too long) so unnecessary that they frequently begun to

laugh, and to hiss twenty times, that, had it not been for the King's

being there, they had certainly hissed it off the stage. But I must

confess that, as my Lord Barkeley says behind me, the having of that

long letter was a thing so absurd, that he could not imagine how a man

of his parts could possibly fall into it; or, if he did, if he had but

let any friend read it, the friend would have told him of it; and, I

must confess, it is one of the most remarkable instances that ever I did

or expect to meet with in my life of a wise man's not being wise at

all times, and in all things, for nothing could be more ridiculous than

this, though the letter of itself at another time would be thought an

excellent letter, and indeed an excellent Romance, but at the end of the

play, when every body was weary of sitting, and were already possessed

with the effect of the whole letter; to trouble them with a letter a

quarter of an hour long, was a most absurd thing. After the play done,

and nothing pleasing them from the time of the letter to the end of the

play, people being put into a bad humour of disliking (which is another

thing worth the noting), I home by coach, and could not forbear laughing

almost all the way home, and all the evening to my going to bed, at the

ridiculousness of the letter, and the more because my wife was angry

with me, and the world, for laughing, because the King was there,

though she cannot defend the length of the letter. So after having done

business at the office, I home to supper and to bed.

20th (Lord's day). Up, and put on my new tunique of velvett; which is

very plain, but good. This morning is brought to me an order for the

presenting the Committee of Parliament to-morrow with a list of the

commanders and ships' names of all the fleetes set out since the war,

and particularly of those ships which were divided from the fleete with

Prince Rupert;

[This question of the division of the fleet in May, 1666, was one

over which endless controversy as to responsibility was raised.

When Prince Rupert, with twenty ships, was detached to prevent the

junction of the French squadron with the Dutch, the Duke of

Albemarle was left with fifty-four ships against eighty belonging to

the Dutch. Albemarle's tactics are praised by Captain Mahan.]

which gives me occasion to see that they are busy after that business,

and I am glad of it. So I alone to church, and then home, and there

Mr. Deane comes and dines with me by invitation, and both at and after

dinner he and I spent all the day till it was dark in discourse of

business of the Navy and the ground of the many miscarriages, wherein he

do inform me in many more than I knew, and I had desired him to put

them in writing, and many indeed they are and good ones; and also

we discoursed of the business of shipping, and he hath promised me a

draught of the ship he is now building, wherein I am mightily pleased.

This afternoon comes to me Captain O'Bryan, about a ship that the King

hath given him; and he and I to talk of the Parliament; and he tells

me that the business of the Duke of York's slackening sail in the first

fight, at the beginning of the war, is brought into question, and Sir W.

Pen and Captain Cox are to appear to-morrow about it; and it is thought

will at last be laid upon Mr. Bruncker's giving orders from the Duke of

York (which the Duke of York do not own) to Captain Cox to do it; but it

seems they do resent this very highly, and are mad in going through all

business, where they can lay any fault. I am glad to hear, that in the

world I am as kindly spoke of as any body; for, for aught I see, there

is bloody work like to be, Sir W. Coventry having been forced to produce

a letter in Parliament wherein the Duke of Albemarle did from Sheernesse

write in what good posture all things were at Chatham, and that the

chain was so well placed that he feared no attempt of the enemy: so

that, among other things, I see every body is upon his own defence, and

spares not to blame another to defend himself, and the same course I

shall take. But God knows where it will end! He gone, and Deane, I to

my chamber for a while, and then comes Pelling the apothecary to see

us, and sat and supped with me (my wife being gone to bed sick of the

cholique), and then I to bed, after supper. Pelting tells me that my

Lady Duchesse Albemarle was at Mrs. Turner's this afternoon, she being

ill, and did there publickly talk of business, and of our Office; and

that she believed that I was safe, and had done well; and so, I thank

God! I hear every body speaks of me; and indeed, I think, without

vanity, I may expect to be profited rather than injured by this inquiry,

which the Parliament makes into business.

21st. Up, and betimes got a coach at the Exchange, and thence to St.

James's, where I had forgot that the Duke of York and family were gone

to White Hall, and thence to Westminster Hall and there walked a little,

finding the Parliament likely to be busy all this morning about the

business of Mr. Bruncker for advising Cox and Harman to shorten sail

when they were in pursuit of the Dutch after the first great victory.

I went away to Mr. Creed's chamber, there to meet Sir H. Cholmly, about

business of Mr. Yeabsly, where I was delivered of a great fear that they

would question some of the orders for payment of money which I had got

them signed at the time of the plague, when I was here alone, but all

did pass. Thence to Westminster again, and up to the lobby, where many

commanders of the fleete were, and Captain Cox, and Mr. Pierce, the

Surgeon; the last of whom hath been in the House, and declared that he

heard Bruncker advise; and give arguments to, Cox, for the safety of the

Duke of York's person, to shorten sail, that they might not be in the

middle of the enemy in the morning alone; and Cox denying to observe his

advice, having received the Duke of York's commands over night to keep

within cannon-shot (as they then were) of the enemy, Bruncker did go to

Harman, and used the same arguments, and told him that he was sure it

would be well pleasing to the King that care should be taken of not

endangering the Duke of York; and, after much persuasion, Harman was

heard to say, "Why, if it must be, then lower the topsail." And so

did shorten sail, to the loss, as the Parliament will have it, of the

greatest victory that ever was, and which would have saved all the

expence of blood, and money, and honour, that followed; and this they do

resent, so as to put it to the question, whether Bruncker should not be

carried to the Tower: who do confess that, out of kindness to the Duke

of York's safety, he did advise that they should do so, but did not

use the Duke of York's name therein; and so it was only his error in

advising it, but the greatest theirs in taking it, contrary to order. At

last, it ended that it should be suspended till Harman comes home; and

then the Parliament-men do all tell me that it will fall heavy, and,

they think, be fatal to Bruncker or him. Sir W. Pen tells me he was gone

to bed, having been all day labouring, and then not able to stand, of

the goute, and did give order for the keeping the sails standing, as

they then were, all night. But, which I wonder at, he tells me that he

did not know the next day that they had shortened sail, nor ever

did enquire into it till about ten days ago, that this begun to be

mentioned; and, indeed, it is charged privately as a fault on the Duke

of York, that he did not presently examine the reason of the breach of

his orders, and punish it. But Cox tells me that he did finally refuse

it; and what prevailed with Harman he knows not, and do think that we

might have done considerable service on the enemy the next day, if this

had not been done. Thus this business ended to-day, having kept them

till almost two o'clock; and then I by coach with Sir W. Pen as far as

St. Clement's, talking of this matter, and there set down; and I

walked to Sir G. Carteret's, and there dined with him and several

Parliament-men, who, I perceive, do all look upon it as a thing certain

that the Parliament will enquire into every thing, and will be very

severe where they can find any fault. Sir W. Coventry, I hear, did this

day make a speech, in apology for his reading the letter of the Duke of

Albemarle, concerning the good condition which Chatham was in before

the enemy come thither: declaring his simple intention therein, without

prejudice to my Lord. And I am told that he was also with the Duke of

Albemarle yesterday to excuse it; but this day I do hear, by some of Sir

W. Coventry's friends, that they think he hath done himself much injury

by making this man, and his interest, so much his enemy. After dinner, I

away to Westminster, and up to the Parliament-house, and there did

wait with great patience, till seven at night, to be called in to

the Committee, who sat all this afternoon, examining the business

of Chatham; and at last was called in, and told, that the least they

expected from us Mr. Wren had promised them, and only bade me to bring

all my fellow-officers thitherto attend them tomorrow, afternoon.

Sir Robert Brookes in the chair: methinks a sorry fellow to be there,

because a young man; and yet he seems to speak very well. I gone thence,

my cozen Pepys comes out to me, and walks in the Hall with me, and

bids me prepare to answer to every thing; for they do seem to lodge the

business of Chatham upon the Commissioners of the Navy, and they are

resolved to lay the fault heavy somewhere, and to punish it: and

prays me to prepare to save myself, and gives me hints what to prepare

against; which I am obliged to him for, and do begin to mistrust lest

some unhappy slip or other after all my diligence and pains may not be

found (which I can [not] foresee) that may prove as fatal to a man as

the constant course of negligence and unfaithfulness of other men. Here

we parted, and I to White Hall to Mr. Wren's chamber, thereto advise

with him about the list of ships and commanders which he is to present

to the Parliament, and took coach (little Michell being with me, whom

I took with me from Westminster Hall), and setting him down in Gracious

street home myself, where I find my wife and the two Mercers and Willett

and W. Batelier have been dancing, but without a fidler. I had a little

pleasure in talking with these, but my head and heart full of thoughts

between hope and fear and doubts what will become of us and me

particularly against a furious Parliament. Then broke up and to bed,

and there slept pretty well till about four o'clock, and from that time

could not, but my thoughts running on speeches to the Parliament to

excuse myself from the blame which by other men's negligence will

'light, it may be, upon the office. This day I did get a list of the

fourteen particular miscarriages which are already before the Committee

to be examined; wherein, besides two or three that will concern this

Office much, there are those of the prizes, and that of Bergen, and not

following the Dutch ships, against my Lord Sandwich; that, I fear,

will ruine him, unless he hath very good luck, or they may be in better

temper before he can come to be charged: but my heart is full of fear

for him and his family. I hear that they do prosecute the business

against my Lord Chief Justice Keeling with great severity.

22nd. Slept but ill all the last part of the night, for fear of this

day's success in Parliament: therefore up, and all of us all the morning

close, till almost two o'clock, collecting all we had to say and had

done from the beginning, touching the safety of the River Medway and

Chatham. And, having done this, and put it into order, we away, I not

having time to eat my dinner; and so all in my Lord Bruncker's coach,

that is to say, Bruncker, W. Pen, T. Harvy, and myself, talking of the

other great matter with which they charge us, that is, of discharging

men by ticket, in order to our defence in case that should be asked. We

come to the Parliament-door, and there, after a little waiting till the

Committee was sat, we were, the House being very full, called in: Sir W.

Pen went in and sat as a Member; and my Lord Bruncker would not at first

go in, expecting to have a chair set for him, and his brother had bid

him not go in, till he was called for; but, after a few words, I had

occasion to mention him, and so he was called in, but without any more

chair or respect paid him than myself: and so Bruncker, and T. Harvy,

and I, were there to answer: and I had a chair brought me to lean my

books upon: and so did give them such an account, in a series of the

whole business that had passed the Office touching the matter, and so

answered all questions given me about it, that I did not perceive but

they were fully satisfied with me and the business as to our Office: and

then Commissioner Pett (who was by at all my discourse, and this held

till within an hour after candlelight, for I had candles brought in

to read my papers by) was to answer for himself, we having lodged all

matters with him for execution. But, Lord! what a tumultuous thing this

Committee is, for all the reputation they have of a great council, is

a strange consideration; there being as impertinent questions, and as

disorderly proposed, as any man could make. But Commissioner Pett, of

all men living, did make the weakest defence for himself: nothing to the

purpose, nor to satisfaction, nor certain; but sometimes one thing and

sometimes another, sometimes for himself and sometimes against him; and

his greatest failure was, that I observed, from his [not] considering

whether the question propounded was his part to answer or no, and the

thing to be done was his work to do: the want of which distinction

will overthrow him; for he concerns himself in giving an account of the

disposal of the boats, which he had no reason at all to do, or take any

blame upon him for them. He charged the not carrying up of "The Charles"

upon the Tuesday, to the Duke of Albemarle; but I see the House is

mighty favourable to the Duke of Albemarle, and would give little weight

to it. And something of want of armes he spoke, which Sir J. Duncomb

answered with great imperiousness and earnestness; but, for all that, I

do see the House is resolved to be better satisfied in the business of

the unreadiness of Sherenesse, and want of armes and ammunition there

and every where: and all their officers were here to-day attending, but

only one called in, about armes for boats, to answer Commissioner Pett.

None of my brethren said anything but me there, but only two or three

silly words my Lord Bruncker gave, in answer to one question about the

number of men there were in the King's Yard at the time. At last, the

House dismissed us, and shortly after did adjourne the debate till

Friday next: and my cozen Pepys did come out and joy me in my acquitting

myself so well, and so did several others, and my fellow-officers all

very brisk to see themselves so well acquitted; which makes me a little

proud, but yet not secure but we may yet meet with a back-blow which we

see not. So, with our hearts very light, Sir W. Pen and I in his coach

home, it being now near eight o'clock, and so to the office, and did a

little business by the post, and so home, hungry, and eat a good supper,

and so, with my mind well at ease, to bed. My wife not very well of

those.

23rd. Up, and Sir W. Pen and I in his coach to White Hall, there to

attend the Duke of York; but come a little too late, and so missed it:

only spoke with him, and heard him correct my Lord Barkeley, who fell

foul on Sir Edward Spragg, who, it seems, said yesterday to the House,

that if the Officers of the Ordnance had done as much work at Shereness

in ten weeks as "The Prince" did in ten days, he could have defended the

place against the Dutch: but the Duke of York told him that every body

must have liberty, at this time, to make their own defence, though it

be to the charging of the fault upon any other, so it be true; so I

perceive the whole world is at work in blaming one another. Thence

Sir W. Pen and I back into London; and there saw the King, with his

kettle-drums and trumpets, going to the Exchange, to lay the first stone

of the first pillar of the new building of the Exchange; which, the

gates being shut, I could not get in to see: but, with Sir W. Pen, to

Captain Cocke's to drink a dram of brandy, and so he to the Treasury

office about Sir G. Carteret's accounts, and I took coach and back again

toward Westminster; but in my way stopped at the Exchange, and got in,

the King being newly gone; and there find the bottom of the first pillar

laid. And here was a shed set up, and hung with tapestry, and a canopy

of state, and some good victuals and wine, for the King, who, it seems,

did it; and so a great many people, as Tom Killigrew, and others of the

Court there, and there I did eat a mouthful and drink a little, and do

find Mr. Gawden in his gowne as Sheriffe, and understand that the King

hath this morning knighted him upon the place, which I am mightily

pleased with; and I think the other Sheriffe, who is Davis, the little

fellow, my schoolfellow,--the bookseller, who was one of Audley's'

Executors, and now become Sheriffe; which is a strange turn, methinks.

Here mighty merry (there being a good deal of good company) for a

quarter of an hour, and so I away and to Westminster Hall, where I

come just as the House rose; and there, in the Hall, met with Sir W.

Coventry, who is in pain to defend himself in the business of tickets,

it being said that the paying of the ships at Chatham by ticket was by

his direction, and he hath wrote to me to find his letters, and shew

them him, but I find none; but did there argue the case with him, and I

think no great blame can be laid on us for that matter, only I see he is

fearfull. And he tells me his mistake in the House the other day,

which occasions him much trouble, in shewing of the House the Duke of

Albemarle's letter about the good condition of Chatham, which he is

sorry for, and, owns as a mistake, the thing not being necessary to have

been done; and confesses that nobody can escape from such error, some

times or other. He says the House was well satisfied with my Report

yesterday; and so several others told me in the Hall that my Report was

very good and satisfactory, and that I have got advantage by it in

the House: I pray God it may prove so! And here, after the Hall pretty

empty, I did walk a few turns with Commissioner Pett, and did give the

poor weak man some advice for his advantage how to better his pleading

for himself, which I think he will if he can remember and practise,

for I would not have the man suffer what he do not deserve, there being

enough of what he do deserve to lie upon him. Thence to Mrs. Martin's,

and there staid till two o'clock, and drank and talked, and did give her

L3 to buy my goddaughter her first new gowne.... and so away homeward,

and in my way met Sir W. Pen in Cheapside, and went into his coach, and

back again and to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Black Prince"

again: which is now mightily bettered by that long letter being printed,

and so delivered to every body at their going in, and some short

reference made to it in heart in the play, which do mighty well; but,

when all is done, I think it the worst play of my Lord Orrery's. But

here, to my great satisfaction, I did see my Lord Hinchingbroke and his

mistress, with her father and mother; and I am mightily pleased with the

young lady, being handsome enough--and, indeed, to my great liking, as

I would have her. I could not but look upon them all the play; being

exceeding pleased with my good hap to see them, God bring them together!

and they are now already mighty kind to one another, and he is as it

were one of their family. The play done I home, and to the office a

while, and then home to supper, very hungry, and then to my chamber, to

read the true story, in Speed, of the Black Prince, and so to bed. This

day, it was moved in the House that a day might be appointed to bring

in an impeachment against the Chancellor, but it was decried as being

irregular; but that, if there was ground for complaint, it might be

brought to the Committee for miscarriages, and, if they thought good, to

present it to the House; and so it was carried. They did also vote this

day thanks to be given to the Prince and Duke of Albemarle, for their

care and conduct in the last year's war, which is a strange act; but,

I know not how, the blockhead Albemarle hath strange luck to be loved,

though he be, and every man must know it, the heaviest man in the world,

but stout and honest to his country. This evening late, Mr. Moore come

to me to prepare matters for my Lord Sandwich's defence; wherein I can

little assist, but will do all I can; and am in great fear of nothing

but the damned business of the prizes, but I fear my Lord will receive a

cursed deal of trouble by it.

24th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning very busy, and at

noon took Mr. Hater home with me to dinner, and instantly back again to

write what letters I had to write, that I might go abroad with my wife,

who was not well, only to jumble her, and so to the Duke of York's

playhouse; but there Betterton not being yet well, we would not stay,

though since I hear that Smith do act his part in "The Villaine," which

was then acted, as well or better than he, which I do not believe; but

to Charing Cross, there to see Polichinelli. But, it being begun, we in

to see a Frenchman, at the house, where my wife's father last lodged,

one Monsieur Prin, play on the trump-marine,

[The trumpet marine is a stringed instrument having a triangular-

shaped body or chest and a long neck, a single string raised on a

bridge and running along the body and neck. It was played with a

bow.]

which he do beyond belief; and, the truth is, it do so far outdo a

trumpet as nothing more, and he do play anything very true, and it is

most admirable and at first was a mystery to me that I should hear a

whole concert of chords together at the end of a pause, but he showed me

that it was only when the last notes were 5ths or 3rds, one to another,

and then their sounds like an Echo did last so as they seemed to sound

all together. The instrument is open at the end, I discovered; but he

would not let me look into it, but I was mightily pleased with it, and

he did take great pains to shew me all he could do on it, which was very

much, and would make an excellent concert, two or three of them, better

than trumpets can ever do, because of their want of compass. Here we

also saw again the two fat children come out of Ireland, and a brother

and sister of theirs now come, which are of little ordinary growth, like

other people. But, Lord! how strange it is to observe the difference

between the same children, come out of the same little woman's belly!

Thence to Mile-End Greene, and there drank, and so home bringing home

night with us, and so to the office a little, and then to bed.

25th. Up, and all the morning close till two o'clock, till I had not

time to eat my dinner, to make our answer ready for the Parliament this

afternoon, to shew how Commissioner Pett was singly concerned in the

executing of all orders from Chatham, and that we did properly lodge all

orders with him. Thence with Sir W. Pen to the Parliament Committee, and

there we all met, and did shew, my Lord Bruncker and I, our commissions

under the Great Seal in behalf of all the rest, to shew them our duties,

and there I had no more matters asked me, but were bid to withdraw, and

did there wait, I all the afternoon till eight at, night, while

they were examining several about the business of Chatham again, and

particularly my Lord Bruncker did meet with two or three blurs that he

did not think of. One from Spragg, who says that "The Unity" was ordered

up contrary to his order, by my Lord Bruncker and Commissioner Pett.

Another by Crispin, the waterman, who said he was upon "The Charles;"

and spoke to Lord Bruncker coming by in his boat, to know whether they

should carry up "The Charles," they being a great many naked men without

armes, and he told them she was well as she was. Both these have little

in them indeed, but yet both did stick close against him; and he is the

weakest man in the world to make his defence, and so is like to have

much fault laid on him therefrom. Spragg was in with them all the

afternoon, and hath much fault laid on him for a man that minded his

pleasure, and little else of his whole charge. I walked in the lobby,

and there do hear from Mr. Chichly that they were (the Commissioners

of the Ordnance) shrewdly put to it yesterday, being examined with all

severity and were hardly used by them, much otherwise than we, and did

go away with mighty blame; and I am told by every body that it is likely

to stick mighty hard upon them: at which every body is glad, because

of Duncomb's pride, and their expecting to have the thanks of the House

whereas they have deserved, as the Parliament apprehends, as bad as bad

can be. Here is great talk of an impeachment brought in against my Lord

Mordaunt, and that another will be brought in against my Lord Chancellor

in a few days. Here I understand for certain that they have ordered

that my Lord Arlington's letters, and Secretary Morrice's letters of

intelligence, be consulted, about the business of the Dutch fleete's

coming abroad, which is a very high point, but this they have done, but

in what particular manner I cannot justly say, whether it was not with

the King's leave first asked. Here late, as I have said, and at last

they broke up, and we had our commissions again, and I do hear how

Birch is the high man that do examine and trouble every body with his

questions, and they say that he do labour all he can to clear Pett, but

it seems a witness has come in tonight, C. Millett, who do declare that

he did deliver a message from the Duke of Albemarle time enough for him

to carry up "The Charles," and he neglected it, which will stick very

hard, it seems, on him. So Sir W. Pen and I in his coach home, and there

to supper, a good supper, and so weary, and my eyes spent, to bed.

26th. Up, and we met all this morning at Sir W. Pen's roome, the office

being fowle with the altering of our garden door. There very busy,

and at noon home, where Mrs. Pierce and her daughter's husband and Mr.

Corbet dined with me. I had a good dinner for them, and mighty merry.

Pierce and I very glad at the fate of the officers of Ordnance, that

they are like to have so much blame on them. Here Mrs. Pierce tells me

that the two Marshalls at the King's house are Stephen Marshall's,

the great Presbyterian's daughters: and that Nelly and Beck Marshall,

falling out the other day, the latter called the other my Lord

Buckhurst's whore. Nell answered then, "I was but one man's whore,

though I was brought up in a bawdy-house to fill strong waters to the

guests; and you are a whore to three or four, though a Presbyter's

praying daughter!" which was very pretty. Mrs. Pierce is still very

pretty, but paints red on her face, which makes me hate her, that I

thank God I take no pleasure in her at all more. After much mirth and

good company at dinner, I to the office and left them, and Pendleton

also, who come in to see my wife and talk of dancing, and there I at the

office all the afternoon very busy, and did much business, with my great

content to see it go off of hand, and so home, my eyes spent, to supper

and to bed.

27th (Lord's day). Up, and to my office, there, with W. Hewer, to

dictate a long letter to the Duke of York, about the bad state of the

office, it being a work I do think fit for the office to do, though it

be to no purpose but for their vindication in these bad times; for I

do now learn many things tending to our safety which I did not wholly

forget before, but do find the fruits of, and would I had practised them

more, as, among other things, to be sure to let our answers to orders

bear date presently after their date, that we may be found quick in our

execution. This did us great good the other day before the Parliament.

All the morning at this, at noon home to dinner, with my own family

alone. After dinner, I down to Deptford, the first time that I went to

look upon "The Maybolt," which the King hath given me, and there she

is; and I did meet with Mr. Uthwayte, who do tell me that there are new

sails ordered to be delivered her, and a cable, which I did not speak of

at all to him. So, thereupon, I told him I would not be my own hindrance

so much as to take her into my custody before she had them, which was

all I said to him, but desired him to take a strict inventory of her,

that I might not be cheated by the master nor the company, when they

come to understand that the vessel is gone away, which he hath promised

me, and so away back again home, reading all the way the book of the

collection of oaths in the several offices of this nation, which is

worth a man's reading, and so away home, and there my boy and I to sing,

and at it all the evening, and to supper, and so to bed. This evening

come Sir J. Minnes to me, to let me know that a Parliament-man hath

been with him, to tell him that the Parliament intend to examine him

particularly about Sir W. Coventry's selling of places, and about my

Lord Bruncker's discharging the ships at Chatham by ticket: for the

former of which I am more particularly sorry that that business of [Sir]

W. Coventry should come up again; though this old man tells me, and, I

believe, that he can say nothing to it.

28th. Up, and by water to White Hall (calling at Michell's and drank a

dram of strong water, but it being early I did not see his wife), and

thence walked to Sir W. Coventry's lodging, but he was gone out, and so

going towards St. James's I find him at his house which is fitting

for him; and there I to him, and was with him above an hour alone,

discoursing of the matters of the nation, and our Office, and himself.

He owns that he is, at this day, the chief person aymed at by the

Parliament--that is, by the friends of my Lord Chancellor, and also by

the Duke of Albemarle, by reason of his unhappy shewing of the Duke of

Albemarle's letter, the other day, in the House; but that he thinks that

he is not liable to any hurt they can fasten on him for anything, he

is so well armed to justify himself in every thing, unless in the old

business of selling places, when he says every body did; and he will now

not be forward to tell his own story, as he hath been; but tells me he

is grown wiser, and will put them to prove any thing, and he will defend

himself: besides that, he will dispute the statute, thinking that it

will not be found to reach him. We did talk many things, which, as they

come into my mind now, I shall set down without order: that he is weary

of public employment; and neither ever designed, nor will ever, if his

commission were brought to him wrapt in gold, would he accept of any

single place in the State, as particularly Secretary of State; which, he

says, the world discourses Morrice is willing to resign, and he thinks

the King might have thought of him, but he would not, by any means, now

take it, if given him, nor anything, but in commission with others, who

may bear part of the blame; for now he observes well, that whoever did

do anything singly are now in danger, however honest and painful

they were, saying that he himself was the only man, he thinks, at the

council-board that spoke his mind clearly, as he thought, to the good of

the King; and the rest, who sat silent, have nothing said to them,

nor are taken notice of. That the first time the King did take him

so closely into his confidence and ministry of affairs was upon the

business of Chatham, when all the disturbances were there, and in the

kingdom; and then, while everybody was fancying for himself, the King

did find him to persuade him to call for the Parliament, declaring that

it was against his own proper interest, forasmuch as [it was] likely

they would find faults with him, as well as with others, but that he

would prefer the service of the King before his own: and, thereupon, the

King did take him into his special notice, and, from that time to this,

hath received him so; and that then he did see the folly and mistakes

of the Chancellor in the management of things, and saw that matters were

never likely to be done well in that sort of conduct, and did persuade

the King to think fit of the taking away the seals from the Chancellor,

which, when it was done, he told me that he himself, in his own

particular, was sorry for it; for, while he stood, there was he and my

Lord Arlington to stand between him and harm: whereas now there is only

my Lord Arlington, and he is now down, so that all their fury is placed

upon him but that he did tell the King, when he first moved it, that,

if he thought the laying of him, W. Coventry, aside, would at all

facilitate the removing of the Chancellor, he would most willingly

submit to it, whereupon the King did command him to try the Duke of York

about it, and persuade him to it, which he did, by the King's command,

undertake, and compass, and the Duke of York did own his consent to

the King, but afterwards was brought to be of another mind for the

Chancellor, and now is displeased with him, and [so is] the Duchesse, so

that she will not see him; but he tells me the Duke of York seems pretty

kind, and hath said that he do believe that W. Coventry did mean

well, and do it only out of judgment. He tells me that he never was an

intriguer in his life, nor will be, nor of any combination of persons

to set up this, or fling down that, nor hath, in his own business, this

Parliament, spoke to three members to say any thing for him, but will

stand upon his own defence, and will stay by it, and thinks that he

is armed against all they can [say], but the old business of selling

places, and in that thinks they cannot hurt him. However, I do find him

mighty willing to have his name used as little as he can, and he was

glad when I did deliver him up a letter of his to me, which did give

countenance to the discharging of men by ticket at Chatham, which is now

coming in question; and wherein, I confess, I am sorry to find him so

tender of appearing, it being a thing not only good and fit, all that

was done in it, but promoted and advised by him. But he thinks the House

is set upon wresting anything to his prejudice that they can pick up. He

tells me he did never, as a great many have, call the Chancellor rogue

and knave, and I know not what; but all that he hath said, and will

stand by, is, that his counsels were not good, nor the manner of his

managing of things. I suppose he means suffering the King to run in

debt; for by and by the King walking in the parke, with a great crowd

of his idle people about him, I took occasion to say that it was a

sorry thing to be a poor King, and to have others to come to correct

the faults of his own servants, and that this was it that brought us all

into this condition. He answered that he would never be a poor King, and

then the other would mend of itself. "No," says he, "I would eat bread

and drink water first, and this day discharge all the idle company about

me, and walk only with two footmen; and this I have told the King, and

this must do it at last." I asked him how long the King would suffer

this. He told me the King must suffer it yet longer, that he would not

advise the King to do otherwise; for it would break out again worse, if

he should break them up before the core be come up. After this, we fell

to other talk, of my waiting upon him hereafter, it may be, to read

a chapter in Seneca, in this new house, which he hath bought, and is

making very fine, when we may be out of employment, which he seems to

wish more than to fear, and I do believe him heartily. Thence home, and

met news from Mr. Townsend of the Wardrobe that old Young, the yeoman

taylor, whose place my Lord Sandwich promised my father, is dead. Upon

which, resolving presently that my father shall not be troubled with it,

but I hope I shall be able to enable him to end his days where he is,

in quiet, I went forth thinking to tell Mrs. Ferrers (Captain Ferrers's

wife), who do expect it after my father, that she may look after it, but

upon second thoughts forbore it, and so back again home, calling at the

New Exchange, and there buying "The Indian Emperour," newly printed, and

so home to dinner, where I had Mr. Clerke, the sollicitor, and one

of the Auditor's clerks to discourse about the form of making up my

accounts for the Exchequer, which did give me good satisfaction, and so

after dinner, my wife, and Mercer, who grows fat, and Willett, and I, to

the King's house, and there saw "The Committee," a play I like well,

and so at night home and to the office, and so to my chamber about my

accounts, and then to Sir W. Pen's to speak with Sir John Chichly, who

desired my advice about a prize which he hath begged of the King, and

there had a great deal of his foolish talk of ladies and love and I know

not what, and so home to supper and to bed.

29th. Up, and at the office, my Lord Bruncker and I close together

till almost 3 after noon, never stirring, making up a report for the

Committee this afternoon about the business of discharging men by

ticket, which it seems the House is mighty earnest in, but is a foolery

in itself, yet gives me a great deal of trouble to draw up a defence for

the Board, as if it was a crime; but I think I have done it to very good

purpose. Then to my Lady Williams's, with her and my Lord, and there did

eat a snapp of good victuals, and so to Westminster Hall, where we find

the House not up, but sitting all this day about the method of bringing

in the charge against my Lord Chancellor; and at last resolved for a

Committee to draw up the heads, and so rose, and no Committee to sit

tonight. Here Sir W. Coventry and Lord Bruncker and I did in the Hall

(between the two Courts at the top of the Hall) discourse about a letter

of [Sir] W. Coventry's to Bruncker, whereon Bruncker did justify his

discharging men by ticket, and insists on one word which Sir W.

Coventry would not seem very earnest to have left out, but I did see him

concerned, and did after labour to suppress the whole letter, the thing

being in itself really impertinent, but yet so it is that [Sir] W.

Coventry do not desire to have his name used in this business, and I

have prevailed with Bruncker for it. Thence Bruncker and I to the King's

House, thinking to have gone into a box above, for fear of being seen,

the King being there, but the play being 3 acts done we would not give

4s., and so away and parted, and I home, and there after a little supper

to bed, my eyes ill, and head full of thoughts of the trouble this

Parliament gives us.

30th. All the morning till past noon preparing over again our report

this afternoon to the Committee of Parliament about tickets, and then

home to eat a bit, and then with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, where we did

a very little business with the Duke of York at our usual meeting, only

I perceive that he do leave all of us, as the King do those about him,

to stand and fall by ourselves, and I think is not without some cares

himself what the Parliament may do in matters wherein his honour is

concerned. Thence to the Parliament-house; where, after the Committee

was sat, I was called in; and the first thing was upon the complaint of

a dirty slut that was there, about a ticket which she had lost, and

had applied herself to me for another.... I did give them a short and

satisfactory answer to that; and so they sent her away, and were ashamed

of their foolery, in giving occasion to 500 seamen and seamen's wives to

come before them, as there was this afternoon. But then they fell to the

business of tickets, and I did give them the best answer I could, but

had not scope to do it in the methodical manner which I had prepared

myself for, but they did ask a great many broken rude questions about

it, and were mightily hot whether my Lord Bruncker had any order

to discharge whole ships by ticket, and because my answer was with

distinction, and not direct, I did perceive they were not so fully

satisfied therewith as I could wish they were. So my Lord Bruncker was

called in, and they could fasten nothing on him that I could see, nor

indeed was there any proper matter for blame, but I do see, and it was

said publicly in the House by Sir T. Clerges that Sir W. Batten had

designed the business of discharging men by ticket and an order after

the thing was done to justify my Lord Bruncker for having done it. But

this I did not owne at all, nor was it just so, though he did indeed do

something like it, yet had contributed as much to it as any man of the

board by sending down of tickets to do it. But, Lord! to see that we

should be brought to justify ourselves in a thing of necessity and

profit to the King, and of no profit or convenience to us, but the

contrary. We being withdrawn, we heard no more of it, but there staid

late and do hear no more, only my cozen Pepys do tell me that he did

hear one or two whisper as if they thought that I do bogle at the

business of my Lord Bruncker, which is a thing I neither did or have

reason to do in his favour, but I do not think it fit to make him suffer

for a thing that deserves well. But this do trouble me a little that

anything should stick to my prejudice in any of them, and did trouble

me so much that all the way home with Sir W. Pen I was not at good ease,

nor all night, though when I come home I did find my wife, and Betty

Turner, the two Mercers, and Mrs. Parker, an ugly lass, but yet dances

well, and speaks the best of them, and W. Batelier, and Pembleton

dancing; and here I danced with them, and had a good supper, and as

merry as I could be, and so they being gone we to bed.

31st. Up, and all the morning at the office, and at noon Mr. Creed and

Yeabsly dined with me (my wife gone to dine with Mrs. Pierce and see

a play with her), and after dinner in comes Mr. Turner, of Eynsbury,

lately come to town, and also after him Captain Hill of the "Coventry,"

who lost her at Barbadoes, and is come out of France, where he hath

been long prisoner. After a great deal of mixed discourse, and then Mr.

Turner and I alone a little in my closet, talking about my Lord Sandwich

(who I hear is now ordered by the King to come home again), we all

parted, and I by water, calling at Michell's, and saw and once kissed

su wife, but I do think that he is jealous of her, and so she dares not

stand out of his sight; so could not do more, but away by water to the

Temple, and there, after spending a little time in my bookseller's shop,

I to Westminster; and there at the lobby do hear by Commissioner Pett,

to my great amazement, that he is in worse condition than before, by

the coming in of the Duke of Albemarle's and Prince Rupert's Narratives'

this day; wherein the former do most severely lay matters upon him, so

as the House this day have, I think, ordered him to the Tower again, or

something like it; so that the poor man is likely to be overthrown, I

doubt, right or wrong, so infinite fond they are of any thing the Duke

of Albemarle says or writes to them! I did then go down, and there met

with Colonel Reames and cozen Roger Pepys; and there they do tell me how

the Duke of Albemarle and the Prince have laid blame on a great many,

and particularly on our Office in general; and particularly for want of

provision, wherein I shall come to be questioned again in that business

myself; which do trouble me. But my cozen Pepys and I had much discourse

alone: and he do bewail the constitution of this House, and says there

is a direct caball and faction, as much as is possible between those for

and those against the Chancellor, and so in other factions, that there

is nothing almost done honestly and with integrity; only some few, he

says, there are, that do keep out of all plots and combinations, and

when their time comes will speak and see right done, if possible; and

that he himself is looked upon to be a man that will be of no faction,

and so they do shun to make him; and I am glad of it. He tells me that

he thanks God he never knew what it was to be tempted to be a knave in

his life; till he did come into the House of Commons, where there is

nothing done but by passion, and faction, and private interest.

Reames did tell me of a fellow last night (one Kelsy, a commander of a

fire-ship, who complained for want of his money paid him) did say

that he did see one of the Commissioners of the Navy bring in three

waggon-loads of prize-goods into Greenwich one night; but that the House

did take no notice of it, nor enquire; but this is me, and I must expect

to be called to account, and answer what I did as well as I can. So

thence away home, and in Holborne, going round, it being dark, I espied

Sir D. Gawden's coach, and so went out of mine into his; and there

had opportunity to talk of the business of victuals, which the Duke of

Albemarle and Prince did complain that they were in want of the last

year: but we do conclude we shall be able to show quite the contrary of

that; only it troubles me that we must come to contend with these great

persons, which will overrun us. So with some disquiet in my mind on this

account I home, and there comes Mr. Yeabsly, and he and I to even some

accounts, wherein I shall be a gainer about L200, which is a seasonable

profit, for I have got nothing a great while; and he being gone, I to

bed.