_Morley, November, 1827._
1637. The bishop of Chester, writing to the archbishop of York, touching
the entertainment given by the Chester men to Mr. Prynne, when on his
road to Caernarvon castle, has occasion to mention the reception given
to Prynne by the wife of Thomas Aldersey, the alderman, relates, “That,
on her examination, she swears, that Peter and Robert Ince brought
Prynne home to her house, where she was sitting with other gossips, and
neither expected nor invited Prynne; neither did _she send for a drop_
of wine for him, or bestowed any other gift upon him, but the offer of a
taste of a _pint of wine, which she and her gossips were then a
drinking_.”
_New Discovery of the Prelate’s Tyranny_, p. 224.
1637. There came in my tyme to the college, Oxford, one Nathaniel
Conopios, out of Greece; _he was the first I ever saw drink coffee_,
which custom came not into England till _thirty years after_.
1640. Found my father at Bathe extraordinary weake; I returned home with
him in _his litter_.
1652. Having been robbed by two cutthroats near Bromley, I rode on to
London, and got 500 tickets printed.
The robber refusing to plead, was _pressed to death_.
1654. May. _Spring Garden_ till now had been the usual rendezvous for
the ladys and gallants at this season. I now observed how the _women
began to paint themselves_, formerly a most ignominious thing, and only
used by prostitutes.
_Evelyn._
* * * * *
1660. Jan. 16. I staid up till the _bellman_ came by with his bell just
under my window, and cried “Past one of the clock, and a cold frosty
window morning.”
When friends parted, they said, “_God be with you_.”
My dining-room was finished with green serge _hanging_ and gilt leather.
Jan. 2. I had been early this morning to Whitehall, at the Jewel office,
to choose a piece of gilt plate for my lord, in return of his offering
to the king, (which it seems is usual at this time of year, and an earl
gives 20 pieces in gold in a purse to the king,) I choose a gilt
tankard, weighing 31 ounces and a half, and he is allowed 30 ounces, so
I paid 12_s._ for the ounce and half over what he is to have: _but
strange it was for me to see what a company of_ SMALL FEES I was called
upon by a _great many to pay there, which I perceive is the_ manner that
_courtiers do get their estates_.
September. I did send for a cup of _tea_ (a China drink,) of which I had
never drank before.
November. To sir W. Batten’s to dinner, he having a couple of _servants
married_ to-day; and so there was a great number of merchants and others
of good quality, on purpose after dinner to make an offering, which,
when dinner was done, we did; and I gave 10_s._ and no more, though most
of them did give more, and did believe that I did also.
1661. Feb. Sir W. Batten sent my wife half a dozen pair of gloves and a
pair of silk stockings and garters for her _valentines_.
May. We went to Mrs. Browne’s, where sir W. Pen and I were godfathers,
and Mrs. Jordan and Shipman godmothers. And there before and after the
_christening_ we were with the woman above in her chamber. I did give
the midwife 10_s._ and the nurse 5_s._ and the maid 2_s._ But forasmuch
I expected to give the name to the child but did not, I forbore then to
give my plate, which I had in my pocket, namely, six spoons and a
porringer of silver.
July. A messenger brought me word that my uncle was dead. I rode over
and found my uncle’s corps in a coffin, standing upon joynt-stools _in
the chimney_ in the hall, but it began to smell, and so I caused it to
be set forth in the yard all night, and _watched by my aunt_. In the
morning my father and I read the _will_; _after that_ done we went about
getting things, as ribands and gloves, ready for the burial, which in
the afternoon was done; we served the people with wine and other things.
November. To church, and heard a simple fellow upon the praise of church
musique, and exclaiming _against men’s wearing their hats on in church_.
Civet cats, parrots, and apes, sent as _presents to ladies_; and
gentlemen lighted home by _link-boys_.
_Pepys._
* * * * *
The faire and famous comedian, Roxalana, was taken to be the earle of
Oxford’s _misse_, as at this time they began to call lewd women.
Dined at Chaffinch’s _house warming_.
_Evelyn._
* * * * *
1663. October. _To Guildhall_; we went up and down to see the tables. By
and by the lord mayor came into the hall _to dinner_, with the other
great lords, bishops, &c. I set near Creed. We had plenty of good wine,
but it was very unpleasing that we had no napkins, or knives, nor change
of trenchers, and drunk out of earthern pitchers and wooden dishes.
1664. Home to bed, having got a strange cold in my head, by _flinging
off my hat at dinner_.
To my lord chancellor’s (sir Orlando Bridgman, lord keeper,) in the
garden, where we conversed above an hour, walking up and down, and _he
would have me walk with my hat on_.
1665. At this time I have two tierces of _claret_, two quarter casks of
_canary_, and a smaller vessel of _sack_; a vessel of _tent_, another of
_Malaga_, and another of _white wine_, all in my own cellar.
1666. February. This morning came up to my wife’s bedside little Will
Mercer to be her _valentine_; and brought her name writ upon blue paper
in gold letters, done by himself very prettily. But I am also this year
my wife’s valentine, and it will cost me 5_l._ I find that Mrs. Pierce’s
little girl is my valentine, she having drawn me. But here I do first
observe the fashion of _drawing of mottos_, as well as names: my wife’s
motto was “Most courteous, most fair;” mine I have forgot. One wonder I
observed to-day, that there was _no musique in the morning to call up
our new married people, which was very mean methinks_.
1667. June. Find my wife making _tea_, a drink which her potticary tells
her is good for her cold and defluxions.
A flaggon of _ale and apples_ drunk out of a wood cup as a _Christmas
draught_.
1669. May. My wife got up by 4 o’c. to go to gather _May Dew_, which
Mrs. Turner hath taught her is the only thing in the world to wash her
face with.
_Pepys._
* * * * *
1671. To lord Arlington’s, where we found _M’lle Querouaille_; it was
universally reported, that the fair lady was bedded one of these nights
to the king, who was often here; and the _stocking flung_ after the
manner of a married bride; however, ’twas with confidence believed she
was first made a _misse_, as they call these unhappy creatures, with
solemnity at this time.
1683. I went with others into the _duchess of Portsmouth’s_
dressing-roome within her bedchamber, where she was in her morning loose
garment, her maids combing her, newly out of her bed, his majesty and
gallants standing about her.
1685. January 25, Sunday. Dr. Dove preached before the king. I saw this
evening such a scene of _profuse gaming_, and the king in the midst of
his three concubines, as I had never seen before, luxurious dallying and
prophaneness.
February 6. _The king died._ I can never forget the inexpressible luxury
and prophaneness, gaming, and all dissoluteness, and, as it were, total
forgetfulness of God, (it being Sunday evening,) which this day
se’nnight I was witnesse of. The king sitting and toying with his
concubines Portsmouth, Cleavland, and Mazarine, &c. and a French boy
singing love songs; whilst about twenty of the great courtiers and other
dissolute persons were at basset round a large table, a bank of at least
2000 in gold before them.
_Evelyn._
Vol. II.--54.
[Illustration: ~The Cottage Wherein Robert Bloomfield was born,~