Batten, Sir G. Carteret being angry about the business of tickets, spoke
of Sir W. Batten for speaking some words about the signing of tickets, and
called Sir W. Batten in his discourse at the table to us (the clerks being
withdrawn) "shitten foole," which vexed me. At noon to the 'Change, and
there set my business of lighters' buying for the King, to Sir W. Warren,
and I think he will do it for me to very great advantage, at which I am
mightily rejoiced. Home and after a mouthfull of dinner to the office,
where till 6 o'clock, and then to White Hall, and there with Sir G.
Carteret and my Lord Brunkerd attended the Duke of Albemarle about the
business of money. I also went to Jervas's, my barber, for my periwigg
that was mending there, and there do hear that Jane is quite undone,
taking the idle fellow for her husband yet not married, and lay with him
several weeks that had another wife and child, and she is now going into
Ireland. So called my wife at the 'Change and home, and at my office
writing letters till one o'clock in the morning, that I was ready to fall
down asleep again. Great talke of a new Comett; and it is certain one do
now appear as bright as the late one at the best; but I have not seen it
myself.
7th. Up betimes to the Duke of Albemarle about money to be got for the
Navy, or else we must shut up shop. Thence to Westminster Hall and up and
down, doing not much; then to London, but to prevent Povy's dining with me
(who I see is at the 'Change) I went back again and to Herbert's at
Westminster, there sent for a bit of meat and dined, and then to my Lord
Treasurer's, and there with Sir Philip Warwicke, and thence to White Hall
in my Lord Treasurer's chamber with Sir Philip Warwicke till dark night,
about fower hours talking of the business of the Navy Charge, and how Sir
G. Carteret do order business, keeping us in ignorance what he do with his
money, and also Sir Philip did shew me nakedly the King's condition for
money for the Navy; and he do assure me, unless the King can get some
noblemen or rich money-gentlemen to lend him money, or to get the City to
do it, it is impossible to find money: we having already, as he says,
spent one year's share of the three-years' tax, which comes to L2,500,000.
Being very glad of this day's discourse in all but that I fear I shall
quite lose Sir G. Carteret, who knows that I have been privately here all
this day with Sir Ph. Warwicke. However, I will order it so as to give
him as little offence as I can. So home to my office, and then to supper
and to bed.
8th. Up, and all the morning full of business at the office. At noon
dined with Mr. Povy, and then to the getting some business looked over of
his, and then I to my Lord Chancellor's, where to have spoke with the Duke
of Albemarle, but the King and Council busy, I could not; then to the Old
Exchange and there of my new pretty seamstress bought four bands, and so
home, where I found my house mighty neat and clean. Then to my office
late, till past 12, and so home to bed. The French Embassadors
[The French ambassadors were Henri de Bourbon, Duc de Verneuil,
natural son of Henry IV. and brother of Henrietta Maria, and M. de
Courtin.--B.]
are come incognito before their train, which will hereafter be very
pompous. It is thought they come to get our King to joyne with the King
of France in helping him against Flanders, and they to do the like to us
against Holland. We have laine a good while with a good fleete at
Harwich. The Dutch not said yet to be out. We, as high as we make our
shew, I am sure, are unable to set out another small fleete, if this
should be worsted. Wherefore, God send us peace! I cry.
9th (Lord's day). To church with my wife in the morning, in her new
light-coloured silk gowne, which is, with her new point, very noble. Dined
at home, and in the afternoon to Fanchurch, the little church in the
middle of Fanchurch Streete, where a very few people and few of any rank.
Thence, after sermon, home, and in the evening walking in the garden, my
Lady Pen and her daughter walked with my wife and I, and so to my house to
eat with us, and very merry, and so broke up and to bed.
10th. Up, and to the Duke of Albemarle's, and thence to White Hall to a
Committee for Tangier, where new disorder about Mr. Povy's accounts, that
I think I shall never be settled in my business of Treasurer for him. Here
Captain Cooke met me, and did seem discontented about my boy Tom's having
no time to mind his singing nor lute, which I answered him fully in, that
he desired me that I would baste his coate. So home and to the 'Change,
and thence to the "Old James" to dine with Sir W. Rider, Cutler, and Mr.
Deering, upon the business of hemp, and so hence to White Hall to have
attended the King and Lord Chancellor about the debts of the navy and to
get some money, but the meeting failed. So my Lord Brunkard took me and
Sir Thomas Harvy in his coach to the Parke, which is very troublesome with
the dust; and ne'er a great beauty there to-day but Mrs. Middleton, and so
home to my office, where Mr. Warren proposed my getting of L100 to get him
a protection for a ship to go out, which I think I shall do. So home to
supper and to bed.
11th. Up and betimes to Alderman Cheverton to treat with him about hempe,
and so back to the office. At noon dined at the Sun, behind the 'Change,
with Sir Edward Deering and his brother and Commissioner Pett, we having
made a contract with Sir Edward this day about timber. Thence to the
office, where late very busy, but with some trouble have also some hopes
of profit too. So home to supper and to bed.
12th. Up, and to White Hall to a Committee of Tangier, where, contrary to
all expectation, my Lord Ashly, being vexed with Povy's accounts, did
propose it as necessary that Povy should be still continued Treasurer of
Tangier till he had made up his accounts; and with such arguments as, I
confess, I was not prepared to answer, but by putting off of the
discourse, and so, I think, brought it right again; but it troubled me so
all the day after, and night too, that I was not quiet, though I think it
doubtfull whether I shall be much the worse for it or no, if it should
come to be so. Dined at home and thence to White Hall again (where I lose
most of my time now-a-days to my great trouble, charge, and loss of time
and benefit), and there, after the Council rose, Sir G. Carteret, my Lord
Brunkard, Sir Thomas Harvy, and myself, down to my Lord Treasurer's
chamber to him and the Chancellor, and the Duke of Albemarle; and there I
did give them a large account of the charge of the Navy, and want of
money. But strange to see how they held up their hands crying, "What
shall we do?" Says my Lord Treasurer, "Why, what means all this, Mr.
Pepys? This is true, you say; but what would you have me to do? I have
given all I can for my life. Why will not people lend their money? Why
will they not trust the King as well as Oliver? Why do our prizes come to
nothing, that yielded so much heretofore?" And this was all we could get,
and went away without other answer, which is one of the saddest things
that, at such a time as this, with the greatest action on foot that ever
was in England, nothing should be minded, but let things go on of
themselves do as well as they can. So home, vexed, and going to my Lady
Batten's, there found a great many women with her, in her chamber merry,
my Lady Pen and her daughter, among others; where my Lady Pen flung me
down upon the bed, and herself and others, one after another, upon me, and
very merry we were, and thence I home and called my wife with my Lady Pen
to supper, and very merry as I could be, being vexed as I was. So home to
bed.
13th. Lay long in bed, troubled a little with wind, but not much. So to
the office, and there all the morning. At noon to Sheriff Waterman's to
dinner, all of us men of the office in towne, and our wives, my Lady
Carteret and daughters, and Ladies Batten, Pen, and my wife, &c., and very
good cheer we had and merry; musique at and after dinner, and a fellow
danced a jigg; but when the company begun to dance, I came away lest I
should be taken out; and God knows how my wife carried herself, but I left
her to try her fortune. So home, and late at the office, and then home to
supper and to bed.
14th. Up, and betimes to Mr. Povy, being desirous to have an end of my
trouble of mind touching my Tangier business, whether he hath any desire
of accepting what my Lord Ashly offered, of his becoming Treasurer again;
and there I did, with a seeming most generous spirit, offer him to take it
back again upon his owne terms; but he did answer to me that he would not
above all things in the world, at which I was for the present satisfied;
but, going away thence and speaking with Creed, he puts me in doubt that
the very nature of the thing will require that he be put in again; and did
give me the reasons of the auditors, which, I confess, are so plain, that
I know not how to withstand them. But he did give me most ingenious
advice what to do in it, and anon, my Lord Barkeley and some of the
Commissioners coming together, though not in a meeting, I did procure that
they should order Povy's payment of his remain of accounts to me; which
order if it do pass will put a good stop to the fastening of the thing
upon me. At noon Creed and I to a cook's shop at Charing Cross, and there
dined and had much discourse, and his very good upon my business, and upon
other things, among the rest upon Will Howe's dissembling with us, we
discovering one to another his carriage to us, present and absent, being a
very false fellow. Thence to White Hall again, and there spent the
afternoon, and then home to fetch a letter for the Council, and so back to
White Hall, where walked an hour with Mr. Wren, of my Lord Chancellor's,
and Mr. Ager, and then to Unthanke's and called my wife, and with her
through the city to Mile-End Greene, and eat some creame and cakes and so
back home, and I a little at the office, and so home to supper and to bed.
This morning I was saluted with newes that the fleetes, ours and the
Dutch, were engaged, and that the guns were heard at Walthamstow to play
all yesterday, and that Captain Teddiman's legs were shot off in the
Royall Katherine. But before night I hear the contrary, both by letters
of my owne and messengers thence, that they were all well of our side and
no enemy appears yet, and that the Royall Katherine is come to the fleete,
and likely to prove as good a ship as any the King hath, of which I am
heartily glad, both for Christopher Pett's sake and Captain Teddiman that
is in her.
15th. Up, and to White Hall about several businesses, but chiefly to see
the proposals of my warrants about Tangier under Creed, but to my trouble
found them not finished. So back to the office, where all the morning,
busy, then home to dinner, and then all the afternoon till very late at my
office, and then home to supper and to bed, weary.
16th (Lord's day). Lay long in bed, then up and to my chamber and my
office, looking over some plates which I find necessary for me to
understand pretty well, because of the Dutch warr. Then home to dinner,
where Creed dined with us, and so after dinner he and I walked to the
Rolls' Chappell, expecting to hear the great Stillingfleete preach, but he
did not; but a very sorry fellow, which vexed me. The sermon done, we
parted, and I home, where I find Mr. Andrews, and by and by comes Captain
Taylor, my old acquaintance at Westminster, that understands musique very
well and composes mighty bravely; he brought us some things of two parts
to sing, very hard; but that that is the worst, he is very conceited of
them, and that though they are good makes them troublesome to one, to see
him every note commend and admire them. He supped with me, and a good
understanding man he is and a good scholler, and, among other things, a
great antiquary, and among other things he can, as he says, show the very
originall Charter to Worcester, of King Edgar's, wherein he stiles
himself, Rex Marium Brittanniae, &c.; which is the great text that Mr.
Selden and others do quote, but imperfectly and upon trust. But he hath
the very originall, which he says he will shew me. He gone we to bed.
This night I am told that newes is come of our taking of three Dutch
men-of-warr, with the loss of one of our Captains.
17th. Up and to the Duke of Albemarle's, where he shewed me Mr.
Coventry's letters, how three Dutch privateers are taken, in one whereof
Everson's' son is captaine. But they have killed poor Captaine Golding in
The Diamond. Two of them, one of 32 and the other of 20 odd guns, did
stand stoutly up against her, which hath 46, and the Yarmouth that hath 52
guns, and as many more men as they. So that they did more than we could
expect, not yielding till many of their men were killed. And Everson,
when he was brought before the Duke of Yorke, and was observed to be shot
through the hat, answered, that he wished it had gone through his head,
rather than been taken. One thing more is written: that two of our ships
the other day appearing upon the coast of Holland, they presently fired
their beacons round the country to give notice. And newes is brought the
King, that the Dutch Smyrna fleete is seen upon the back of Scotland; and
thereupon the King hath wrote to the Duke, that he do appoint a fleete to
go to the Northward to try to meet them coming home round: which God send!
Thence to White Hall; where the King seeing me, did come to me, and
calling me by name, did discourse with me about the ships in the River:
and this is the first time that ever I knew the King did know me
personally; so that hereafter I must not go thither, but with expectation
to be questioned, and to be ready to give good answers. So home, and
thence with Creed, who come to dine with me, to the Old James, where we
dined with Sir W. Rider and Cutler, and, by and by, being called by my
wife, we all to a play, "The Ghosts," at the Duke's house, but a very
simple play. Thence up and down, with my wife with me, to look [for] Sir
Ph. Warwicke (Mr. Creed going from me), but missed of him and so home, and
late and busy at my office. So home to supper and to bed. This day was
left at my house a very neat silver watch, by one Briggs, a scrivener and
sollicitor, at which I was angry with my wife for receiving, or, at least,
for opening the box wherein it was, and so far witnessing our receipt of
it, as to give the messenger 5s. for bringing it; but it can't be helped,
and I will endeavour to do the man a kindnesse, he being a friend of my
uncle Wight's.
18th. Up and to Sir Philip Warwicke, and walked with him an houre with
great delight in the Parke about Sir G. Carteret's accounts, and the
endeavours that he hath made to bring Sir G. Carteret to show his accounts
and let the world see what he receives and what he pays. Thence home to
the office, where I find Sir J. Minnes come home from Chatham, and Sir W.
Batten both this morning from Harwich, where they have been these 7 or 8
days. At noon with my wife and Mr. Moore by water to Chelsey about my
Privy Seale for Tangier, but my Lord Privy Seale was gone abroad, and so
we, without going out of the boat, forced to return, and found him not at
White Hall. So I to Sir Philip Warwicke and with him to my Lord
Treasurer, who signed my commission for Tangier-Treasurer and the docquet
of my Privy Seale, for the monies to be paid to me. Thence to White Hall
to Mr. Moore again, and not finding my Lord I home, taking my wife and
woman up at Unthanke's. Late at my office, then to supper and to bed.
19th. Up by five o'clock, and by water to White Hall; and there took
coach, and with Mr. Moore to Chelsy; where, after all my fears what doubts
and difficulties my Lord Privy Seale would make at my Tangier Privy Seale,
he did pass it at first reading, without my speaking with him. And then
called me in, and was very civil to me. I passed my time in contemplating
(before I was called in) the picture of my Lord's son's lady, a most
beautiful woman, and most like to Mrs. Butler. Thence very much joyed to
London back again, and found out Mr. Povy; told him this; and then went
and left my Privy Seale at my Lord Treasurer's; and so to the 'Change, and
thence to Trinity-House; where a great dinner of Captain Crisp, who is
made an Elder Brother. And so, being very pleasant at dinner, away home,
Creed with me; and there met Povy; and we to Gresham College, where we saw
some experiments upon a hen, a dogg, and a cat, of the Florence poyson.
["Sir Robert Moray presented the Society from the King with a phial
of Florentine poison sent for by his Majesty from Florence, on
purpose to have those experiments related of the efficacy thereof,
tried by the Society." The poison had little effect upon the kitten
(Birch's "History;" vol. ii., p. 31).]
The first it made for a time drunk, but it come to itself again quickly;
the second it made vomitt mightily, but no other hurt. The third I did
not stay to see the effect of it, being taken out by Povy. He and I
walked below together, he giving me most exceeding discouragements in the
getting of money (whether by design or no I know not, for I am now come to
think him a most cunning fellow in most things he do, but his accounts),
and made it plain to me that money will be hard to get, and that it is to
be feared Backewell hath a design in it to get the thing forced upon
himself. This put me into a cruel melancholy to think I may lose what I
have had so near my hand; but yet something may be hoped for which
to-morrow will shew. He gone, Creed and I together a great while
consulting what to do in this case, and after all I left him to do what he
thought fit in his discourse to-morrow with my Lord Ashly. So home, and
in my way met with Mr. Warren, from whom my hopes I fear will fail of what
I hoped for, by my getting him a protection. But all these troubles will
if not be over, yet we shall see the worst of there in a day or two. So to
my office, and thence to supper, and my head akeing, betimes, that is by
10 or 11 o'clock, to bed.
20th. Up, and all the morning busy at the office. At noon dined, and Mr.
Povy by agreement with me (where his boldness with Mercer, poor innocent
wench, did make both her and me blush, to think how he were able to
debauch a poor girl if he had opportunity) at a dish or two of plain meat
of his own choice. After dinner comes Creed and then Andrews, where want
of money to Andrews the main discourse, and at last in confidence of
Creed's judgement I am resolved to spare him 4 or L500 of what lies by me
upon the security of some Tallys. This went against my heart to begin,
but when obtaining Mr. Creed to joyne with me we do resolve to assist Mr.
Andrews. Then anon we parted, and I to my office, where late, and then
home to supper and to bed. This night I am told the first play is played
in White Hall noon-hall, which is now turned to a house of playing. I had
a great mind, but could not go to see it.
21st. Up and to my office about business. Anon comes Creed and Povy, and
we treat about the business of our lending money, Creed and I, upon a
tally for the satisfying of Andrews, and did conclude it as in papers is
expressed, and as I am glad to have an opportunity of having 10 per cent.
for my money, so I am as glad that the sum I begin this trade with is no
more than L350. We all dined at Andrews' charge at the Sun behind the
'Change, a good dinner the worst dressed that ever I eat any, then home,
and there found Kate Joyce and Harman come to see us. With them, after
long talk, abroad by coach, a tour in the fields, and drunk at Islington,
it being very pleasant, the dust being laid by a little rain, and so home
very well pleased with this day's work. So after a while at my office to
supper and to bed. This day we hear that the Duke and the fleete are
sailed yesterday. Pray God go along with them, that they have good speed
in the beginning of their worke.
22nd. Up, and Mr. Caesar, my boy's lute-master, being come betimes to
teach him, I did speak with him seriously about the boy, what my mind was,
if he did not look after his lute and singing that I would turn him away;
which I hope will do some good upon the boy. All the morning busy at the
office. At noon dined at home, and then to the office again very busy
till very late, and so home to supper and to bed. My wife making great
preparation to go to Court to Chappell to-morrow. This day I have newes
from Mr. Coventry that the fleete is sailed yesterday from Harwich to the
coast of Holland to see what the Dutch will do. God go along with them!
23rd (Lord's day). Mr. Povy, according to promise, sent his coach
betimes, and I carried my wife and her woman to White Hall Chappell and
set them in the Organ Loft, and I having left to untruss went to the Harp
and Ball and there drank also, and entertained myself in talke with the
mayde of the house, a pretty mayde and very modest. Thence to the
Chappell and heard the famous young Stillingfleete, whom I knew at
Cambridge, and is now newly admitted one of the King's chaplains; and was
presented, they say, to my Lord Treasurer for St. Andrew's, Holborne,
where he is now minister, with these words: that they (the Bishops of
Canterbury, London, and another) believed he is the ablest young man to
preach the Gospel of any since the Apostles. He did make the most plain,
honest, good, grave sermon, in the most unconcerned and easy yet
substantial manner, that ever I heard in my life, upon the words of
Samuell to the people, "Fear the Lord in truth with all your heart, and
remember the great things that he hath done for you." It being proper to
this day, the day of the King's Coronation. Thence to Mr. Povy's, where
mightily treated, and Creed with us. But Lord! to see how Povy overdoes
every thing in commending it, do make it nauseous to me, and was not (by
reason of my large praise of his house) over acceptable to my wife. Thence
after dinner Creed and we by coach took the ayre in the fields beyond St.
Pancras, it raining now and then, which it seems is most welcome weather,
and then all to my house, where comes Mr. Hill, Andrews, and Captain
Taylor, and good musique, but at supper to hear the arguments we had
against Taylor concerning a Corant, he saying that the law of a dancing
Corant is to have every barr to end in a pricked crochet and quaver, which
I did deny, was very strange. It proceeded till I vexed him, but all
parted friends, for Creed and I to laugh at when he was gone. After
supper, Creed and I together to bed, in Mercer's bed, and so to sleep.
24th. Up and with Creed in Sir W. Batten's coach to White Hall. Sir W.
Batten and I to the Duke of Albemarle, where very busy. Then I to Creed's
chamber, where I received with much ado my two orders about receiving
Povy's monies and answering his credits, and it is strange how he will
preserve his constant humour of delaying all business that comes before
him. Thence he and I to London to my office, and back again to my Lady
Sandwich's to dinner, where my wife by agreement. After dinner alone, my
Lady told me, with the prettiest kind of doubtfullnesse, whether it would
be fit for her with respect to Creed to do it, that is, in the world, that
Creed had broke his desire to her of being a servant to Mrs. Betty
Pickering, and placed it upon encouragement which he had from some
discourse of her ladyship, commending of her virtues to him, which, poor
lady, she meant most innocently. She did give him a cold answer, but not
so severe as it ought to have been; and, it seems, as the lady since to my
Lady confesses, he had wrote a letter to her, which she answered slightly,
and was resolved to contemn any motion of his therein. My Lady takes the
thing very ill, as it is fit she should; but I advise her to stop all
future occasions of the world's taking notice of his coming thither so
often as of late he hath done. But to think that he should have this
devilish presumption to aime at a lady so near to my Lord is strange, both
for his modesty and discretion. Thence to the Cockepitt, and there walked
an houre with my Lord Duke of Albemarle alone in his garden, where he
expressed in great words his opinion of me; that I was the right hand of
the Navy here, nobody but I taking any care of any thing therein; so that
he should not know what could be done without me. At which I was (from
him) not a little proud. Thence to a Committee of Tangier, where because
not a quorum little was done, and so away to my wife (Creed with me) at
Mrs. Pierce's, who continues very pretty and is now great with child. I
had not seen her a great while. Thence by coach to my Lord Treasurer's,
but could not speak with Sir Ph. Warwicke. So by coach with my wife and
Mercer to the Parke; but the King being there, and I now-a-days being
doubtfull of being seen in any pleasure, did part from the tour, and away
out of the Parke to Knightsbridge, and there eat and drank in the coach,
and so home, and after a while at my office, home to supper and to bed,
having got a great cold I think by my pulling off my periwigg so often.