Produced by David Widger
THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS M.A. F.R.S.
CLERK OF THE ACTS AND SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY
TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY
MAGDALENE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M.A. LATE FELLOW
AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE
(Unabridged)
WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES
EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY
HENRY B. WHEATLEY F.S.A.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
MAY
1667
May 1st. Up, it being a fine day, and after doing a little business in my
chamber I left my wife to go abroad with W. Hewer and his mother in a
Hackney coach incognito to the Park, while I abroad to the Excise Office
first, and there met the Cofferer and Sir Stephen Fox about our money
matters there, wherein we agreed, and so to discourse of my Lord
Treasurer, who is a little better than he was of the stone, having rested
a little this night. I there did acquaint them of my knowledge of that
disease, which I believe will be told my Lord Treasurer. Thence to
Westminster; in the way meeting many milk-maids with their garlands upon
their pails, dancing with a fiddler before them;
[On the 1st of May milkmaids used to borrow silver cups, tankards,
&c., to hang them round their milkpails, with the addition of
flowers and ribbons, which they carried upon their heads,
accompanied by a bagpipe or fiddle, and went from door to door,
dancing before the houses of their customers, in order to obtain a
small gratuity from each of them.
"In London thirty years ago,
When pretty milkmaids went about,
It was a goodly sight to see
Their May-day pageant all drawn out.
"Such scenes and sounds once blest my eyes
And charm'd my ears; but all have vanish'd,
On May-day now no garlands go,
For milkmaids and their dance are banish'd."
Hone's Every-Day Book, vol. i., pp. 569, 570.]
and saw pretty Nelly standing at her lodgings' door in Drury-lane in her
smock sleeves and bodice, looking upon one: she seemed a mighty pretty
creature. To the Hall and there walked a while, it being term. I thence
home to the Rose, and then had Doll Lane venir para me . . . . To my
Lord Crew's, where I found them at dinner, and among others. Mrs. Bocket,
which I have not seen a long time, and two little dirty children, and she
as idle a prating and impertinent woman as ever she was. After dinner my
Lord took me alone and walked with me, giving me an account of the meeting
of the Commissioners for Accounts, whereof he is one. How some of the
gentlemen, Garraway, Littleton, and others, did scruple at their first
coming there, being called thither to act, as Members of Parliament, which
they could not do by any authority but that of Parliament, and therefore
desired the King's direction in it, which was sent for by my Lord
Bridgewater, who brought answer, very short, that the King expected they
should obey his Commission. Then they went on, and observed a power to be
given them of administering and framing an oath, which they thought they
could not do by any power but Act of Parliament; and the whole Commission
did think fit to have the judges' opinion in it; and so, drawing up their
scruples in writing, they all attended the King, who told them he would
send to the judges to be answered, and did so; who have, my Lord tells me,
met three times about it, not knowing what answer to give to it; and they
have met this week, doing nothing but expecting the solution of the judges
in this point. My Lord tells me he do believe this Commission will do
more hurt than good; it may undo some accounts, if these men shall think
fit; but it can never clear an account, for he must come into the
Exchequer for all this. Besides, it is a kind of inquisition that hath
seldom ever been granted in England; and he believes it will never,
besides, give any satisfaction to the People or Parliament, but be looked
upon as a forced, packed business of the King, especially if these
Parliament-men that are of it shall not concur with them: which he doubts
they will not, and, therefore, wishes much that the King would lay hold of
this fit occasion, and let the Commission fall. Then to talk of my Lord
Sandwich, whom my Lord Crew hath a great desire might get to be Lord
Treasurer if the present Lord should die, as it is believed he will, in a
little time; and thinks he can have no competitor but my Lord Arlington,
who, it is given out, desires it: but my Lord thinks it is not so, for
that the being Secretary do keep him a greater interest with the King than
the other would do at least, do believe, that if my Lord would surrender
him his Wardrobe place, it would be a temptation to Arlington to assist my
Lord in getting the Treasurer's. I did object to my Lord [Crew] that it
would be no place of content, nor safety, nor honour for my Lord, the
State being so indigent as it is, and the [King] so irregular, and those
about him, that my Lord must be forced to part with anything to answer his
warrants; and that, therefore, I do believe the King had rather have a man
that may be one of his vicious caball, than a sober man that will mind the
publick, that so they may sit at cards and dispose of the revenue of the
kingdom. This my Lord was moved at, and said he did not indeed know how
to answer it, and bid me think of it; and so said he himself would also
do. He do mightily cry out of the bad management of our monies, the King
having had so much given him; and yet, when the Parliament do find that
the King should have L900,000 in his purse by the best account of issues
they have yet seen, yet we should report in the Navy a debt due from the
King of L900,000; which, I did confess, I doubted was true in the first,
and knew to be true in the last, and did believe that there was some great
miscarriages in it: which he owned to believe also, saying, that at this
rate it is not in the power of the kingdom to make a war, nor answer the
King's wants. Thence away to the King's playhouse, by agreement met Sir
W. Pen, and saw "Love in a Maze" but a sorry play: only Lacy's clowne's
part, which he did most admirably indeed; and I am glad to find the rogue
at liberty again. Here was but little, and that ordinary, company. We
sat at the upper bench next the boxes; and I find it do pretty well, and
have the advantage of seeing and hearing the great people, which may be
pleasant when there is good store. Now was only Prince Rupert and my Lord
Lauderdale, and my Lord, the naming of whom puts me in mind of my seeing,
at Sir Robert Viner's, two or three great silver flagons, made with
inscriptions as gifts of the King to such and such persons of quality as
did stay in town the late great plague, for the keeping things in order in
the town, which is a handsome thing. But here was neither Hart, Nell, nor
Knipp; therefore, the play was not likely to please me. Thence Sir W. Pen
and I in his coach, Tiburne way, into the Park, where a horrid dust, and
number of coaches, without pleasure or order. That which we, and almost
all went for, was to see my Lady Newcastle; which we could not, she being
followed and crowded upon by coaches all the way she went, that nobody
could come near her; only I could see she was in a large black coach,
adorned with silver instead of gold, and so white curtains, and every
thing black and white, and herself in her cap, but other parts I could not
make [out]. But that which I did see, and wonder at with reason, was to
find Pegg Pen in a new coach, with only her husband's pretty sister with
her, both patched and very fine, and in much the finest coach in the park,
and I think that ever I did see one or other, for neatness and richness in
gold, and everything that is noble. My Lady Castlemayne, the King, my Lord
St. Albans, nor Mr. Jermyn, have so neat a coach, that ever I saw. And,
Lord! to have them have this, and nothing else that is correspondent, is
to me one of the most ridiculous sights that ever I did see, though her
present dress was well enough; but to live in the condition they do at
home, and be abroad in this coach, astonishes me. When we had spent half
an hour in the Park, we went out again, weary of the dust, and despairing
of seeing my Lady Newcastle; and so back the same way, and to St. James's,
thinking to have met my Lady Newcastle before she got home, but we staying
by the way to drink, she got home a little before us: so we lost our
labours, and then home; where we find the two young ladies come home, and
their patches off, I suppose Sir W. Pen do not allow of them in his sight,
and going out of town to-night, though late, to Walthamstow. So to talk a
little at Sir W. Batten's, and then home to supper, where I find Mrs.
Hewer and her son, who have been abroad with my wife in the Park, and so
after supper to read and then to bed. Sir W. Pen did give me an account
this afternoon of his design of buying Sir Robert Brooke's fine house at
Wansted; which I so wondered at, and did give him reasons against it,
which he allowed of: and told me that he did intend to pull down the house
and build a less, and that he should get L1500 by the old house, and I
know not what fooleries. But I will never believe he ever intended to buy
it, for my part; though he troubled Mr. Gawden to go and look upon it, and
advise him in it.
2nd. To the office, where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and
then abroad to my Lord Treasurer's, who continues so ill as not to be
troubled with business. So Mr. Gawden and I to my Lord Ashly's and spoke
with him, and then straight home, and there I did much business at the
office, and then to my own chamber and did the like there, to my great
content, but to the pain of my eyes, and then to supper and to bed, having
a song with my wife with great pleasure, she doing it well.
3rd. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Batten, and [Sir] W. Pen in the
last man's coach to St. James's, and thence up to the Duke of York's
chamber, which, as it is now fretted at the top, and the chimney-piece
made handsome, is one of the noblest and best-proportioned rooms that
ever, I think, I saw in my life, and when ready, into his closet and did
our business, where, among other things, we had a proposition of Mr.
Pierces, for being continued in pay, or something done for him, in reward
of his pains as Chyrurgeon-Generall; forasmuch as Troutbecke, that was
never a doctor before, hath got L200 a year settled on him for nothing but
that one voyage with the Duke of Albemarle. The Duke of York and the
whole company did shew most particular kindness to Mr. Pierce, every body
moving for him, and the Duke himself most, that he is likely to be a very
great man, I believe. Here also we had another mention of Carcasses
business, and we directed to bring in a report of our opinion of his case,
which vexes us that such a rogue shall make us so much trouble. Thence I
presently to the Excise Office, and there met the Cofferer and [Sir]
Stephen Fox by agreement, and agreed upon a method for our future
payments, and then we three to my Lord Treasurer, who continues still very
ill. I had taken my stone with me on purpose, and Sir Philip Warwicke
carried it in to him to see, but was not in a condition to talk with me
about it, poor man. So I with them to Westminster by coach; the Cofferer
telling us odd stories how he was dealt with by the men of the Church at
Westminster in taking a lease of them at the King's coming in, and
particularly the devilish covetousness of Dr. Busby. Sir Stephen Fox, in
discourse, told him how he is selling some land he hath, which yields him
not above three per cent., if so much, and turning it into money, which he
can put out at ten per cent.; and, as times go, if they be like to
continue, it is the best way for me to keep money going so, for aught I
see. I to Westminster Hall, and there took a turn with my old
acquaintance Mr. Pechell, whose red nose makes me ashamed to be seen with
him, though otherwise a good-natured man. So away, I not finding of Mr.
Moore, with whom I should have met and spoke about a letter I this day
received from him from my Lord Hinchingbroke, wherein he desires me to
help him to L1900 to pay a bill of exchange of his father's, which
troubles me much, but I will find some way, if I can do it, but not to
bring myself in bonds or disbursements for it, whatever comes of it. So
home to dinner, where my wife hath 'ceux la' upon her and is very ill with
them, and so forced to go to bed, and I sat by her a good while, then down
to my chamber and made an end of Rycaut's History of the Turks, which is a
very good book. Then to the office, and did some business, and then my
wife being pretty well, by coach to little Michell's, and there saw my
poor Betty and her little child, which slept so soundly we could hardly
wake it in an hour's time without hurting it, and they tell me what I did
not know, that a child (as this do) will hunt and hunt up and down with
its mouth if you touch the cheek of it with your finger's end for a
nipple, and fit its mouth for sucking, but this hath not sucked yet, she
having no nipples. Here sat a while, and then my wife and I, it being a
most curious clear evening, after some rain to-day, took a most excellent
tour by coach to Bow, and there drank and back again, and so a little at
the office, and home to read a little, and to supper and bed mightily
refreshed with this evening's tour, but troubled that it hath hindered my
doing some business which I would have done at the office. This day the
newes is come that the fleete of the Dutch, of about 20 ships, which come
upon our coasts upon design to have intercepted our colliers, but by good
luck failed, is gone to the Frith,--[Frith of Forth. See 5th of this
month.]--and there lies, perhaps to trouble the Scotch privateers, which
have galled them of late very much, it may be more than all our last
year's fleete.
4th. Up and to the office, where sat all the morning, among other things
a great conflict I had with Sir W. Warren, he bringing a letter to the
Board, flatly in words charging them with their delays in passing his
accounts, which have been with them these two years, part of which I said
was not true, and the other undecent. The whole Board was concerned to
take notice of it, as well as myself, but none of them had the honour to
do it, but suffered me to do it alone, only Sir W. Batten, who did what he
did out of common spite to him. So I writ in the margin of the letter,
"Returned as untrue," and, by consent of the Board, did give it him again,
and so parted. Home to dinner, and there came a woman whose husband I
sent for, one Fisher, about the business of Perkins and Carcasse, and I do
think by her I shall find the business as bad as ever it was, and that we
shall find Commissioner Pett a rogue, using foul play on behalf of
Carcasse. After dinner to the office again, and there late all the
afternoon, doing much business, and with great content home to supper and
to bed.
5th (Lord's day). Up, and going down to the water side, I met Sir John
Robinson, and so with him by coach to White Hall, still a vain, prating,
boasting man as any I know, as if the whole City and Kingdom had all its
work done by him. He tells me he hath now got a street ordered to be
continued, forty feet broad, from Paul's through Cannon Street to the
Tower, which will be very fine. He and others this day, where I was in
the afternoon, do tell me of at least six or eight fires within these few
days; and continually stirs of fires, and real fires there have been, in
one place or other, almost ever since the late great fire, as if there was
a fate sent people for fire. I walked over the Park to Sir W. Coventry's.
Among other things to tell him what I hear of people being forced to sell
their bills before September for 35 and 40 per cent. loss, and what is
worst, that there are some courtiers that have made a knot to buy them, in
hopes of some ways to get money of the King to pay them, which Sir W.
Coventry is amazed at, and says we are a people made up for destruction,
and will do what he can to prevent all this by getting the King to provide
wherewith to pay them. We talked of Tangier, of which he is ashamed; also
that it should put the King to this charge for no good in the world: and
now a man going over that is a good soldier, but a debauched man, which
the place need not to have. And so used these words: "That this place was
to the King as my Lord Carnarvon says of wood, that it is an excrescence
of the earth provided by God for the payment of debts." Thence away to
Sir G. Carteret, whom I find taking physic. I staid talking with him but
a little, and so home to church, and heard a dull sermon, and most of the
best women of our parish gone into the country, or at least not at church.
So home, and find my boy not there, nor was at church, which vexed me, and
when he come home I enquired, he tells me he went to see his mother. I
send him back to her to send me some token that he was with her. So there
come a man with him back of good fashion. He says he saw him with her,
which pacified me, but I did soundly threaten him before him, and so to
dinner, and then had a little scolding with my wife for not being fine
enough to go to the christening to-day, which she excused by being ill, as
she was indeed, and cried, but I was in an ill humour and ashamed, indeed,
that she should not go dressed. However, friends by and by, and we went
by water to Michell's, and there his little house full of his father and
mothers and the kindred, hardly any else, and mighty merry in this
innocent company, and Betty mighty pretty in bed, but, her head akeing,
not very merry, but the company mighty merry, and I with them, and so the
child was christened; my wife, his father, and her mother, the witnesses,
and the child's name Elizabeth. So we had gloves and wine and wafers,
very pretty, and talked and tattled, and so we away by water and up with
the tide, she and I and Barker, as high as Barne Eimes, it being a fine
evening, and back again to pass the bridges at standing water between 9
and 10 at might, and then home and to supper, and then to bed with much
pleasure. This day Sir W. Coventry tells me the Dutch fleete shot some
shot, four or five hundred, into Burnt-Island in the Frith, but without
any hurt; and so are gone.
6th. Up and angry with my mayds for letting in watermen, and I know not
who, anybody that they are acquainted with, into my kitchen to talk and
prate with them, which I will not endure. Then out and by coach to my
Lord Treasurer's, who continues still very ill, then to Sir Ph. Warwicke's
house, and there did a little business about my Tangier tallies, and so to
Westminster Hall, and there to the Exchequer to consult about some way of
getting our poor Creditors of the Navy (who served in their goods before
the late Session of Parliament) paid out of the 11 months tax, which seems
to relate only for goods to be then served in, and I think I have found
out a way to bring them into the Act, which, if it do, I shall think a
good service done. Thence by coach home with Captain Cocke, in our way
talking of my Lord Bruncker and his Lady, who are mighty angry with us all
of the office, about Carcasse's business, but especially with me, and in
great confidence he bids me have a care of him, for he hath said that he
would wound me with the person where my greatest interest is. I suppose
he means Sir W. Coventry, and therefore I will beware of him, and am glad,
though vexed to hear it. So home to dinner, where Creed come, whom I
vexed devilishly with telling him a wise man, and good friend of his and
mine, did say that he lately went into the country to Hinchingbroke; and,
at his coming to town again, hath shifted his lodgings, only to avoid
paying to the Poll Bill, which is so true that he blushed, and could not
in words deny it, but the fellow did think to have not had it discovered.
He is so devilish a subtle false rogue, that I am really weary and afeard
of his company, and therefore after dinner left him in the house, and to
my office, where busy all the afternoon despatching much business, and in
the evening to Sir R. Viner's to adjust accounts there, and so home, where
some of our old Navy creditors come to me by my direction to consider of
what I have invented for their help as I have said in the morning, and
like it mighty well, and so I to the office, where busy late, then home to
supper and sing with my wife, who do begin to give me real pleasure with
her singing, and so to bed.
7th. Up betimes, and by coach to St. James's; but there find Sir W.
Coventry gone out betimes this morning, on horseback, with the King and
Duke of York, to Putney-heath,--to run some horses, and so back again to
the office, where some witnesses from Chatham which I sent for are come
up, and do give shrewd testimonies against Carcasse, which put my Lord
into a new flame, and he and I to high words, and so broke up. Then home
to dinner, where W. Hewer dined with us, and he and I after dinner to
discourse of Carcasses business, wherein I apparently now do manage it
wholly against my Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Pen, like a false rogue, shrinking
out of the collar, Sir J. Minnes, afoot, being easily led either way, and
Sir W. Batten, a malicious fellow that is not able to defend any thing, so
that the whole odium must fall on me, which I will therefore beware how I
manage that I may not get enemies to no purpose. It vexes me to see with
what a company I am mixed, but then it pleases me to see that I am
reckoned the chief mover among them, as they do, confess and esteem me in
every thing. Thence to the office, and did business, and then by coach to
St. James's again, but [Sir] W. Coventry not within, so I wrote something
to him, and then straight back again and to Sir W. Batten's, and there
talked with him and [Sir] J. Minnes, who are mighty hot in Carcasses
business, but their judgment's not to be trusted. However, I will go
through with it, or otherwise we shall be all slaves to my Lord Bruncker
and his man's impudence. So to the office a little, and then home to
supper and to bed, after hearing my wife sing, who is manifestly come to
be more musical in her eare than ever I thought she could have been made,
which rejoices me to the heart, for I take great delight now to hear her
sing.
8th. Up pretty betimes and out of doors, and in Fen Church street met Mr.
Lovett going with a picture to me, but I could not stand to discourse or
see it, but on to the next hackney coach and so to Sir W. Coventry, where
he and I alone a while discoursing of some businesses of the office, and
then up to the Duke of York to his chamber with my fellow brethren who are
come, and so did our usual weekly business, which was but little to-day,
and I was glad that the business of Carcasse was not mentioned because our
report was not ready, but I am resolved it shall against the next coming
to the Duke of York. Here was discourse about a way of paying our old
creditors which did please me, there being hopes of getting them
comprehended within the 11 months Tax, and this did give occasion for Sir
G. Carteret's and my going to Sir Robert Long to discourse it, who do
agree that now the King's Council do say that they may be included in the
Act, which do make me very glad, not so much for the sake of the poor men
as for the King, for it would have been a ruin to him and his service not
to have had a way to have paid the debt. There parted with Sir G. Carteret
and into Westminster Hall, where I met with Sir H. Cholmly, and he and I
to Sir Ph. Warwicke's to speak a little about our Tangier business, but to
little purpose, my Lord Treasurer being so ill that no business can be
done. Thence with Sir H. Cholmly to find out Creed from one lodging to
another, which he hath changed so often that there is no finding him, but
at last do come to his lodging that he is entering into this day, and do
find his goods unlading at the door, by Scotland Yard, and there I set
down Sir H. Cholmly, and I away to the 'Change, where spoke about several
things, and then going home did meet Mr. Andrews our neighbour, and did
speak with him to enquire about the ground behind our house, of which I
have a mind to buy enough to make a stable and coach-house; for I do see
that my condition do require it, as well as that it is more charge to my
purse to live as I do than to keep one, and therefore I am resolved before
winter to have one, unless some extraordinary thing happens to hinder me.
He promises me to look after it for me, and so I home to dinner, where I
find my wife's flageolette master, and I am so pleased with her
proceeding, though she hath lost time by not practising, that I am
resolved for the, encouragement of the man to learn myself a little for a
month or so, for I do foresee if God send my wife and I to live, she will
become very good company for me. He gone, comes Lovett with my little
print of my dear Lady Castlemayne varnished, and the frame prettily done
like gold, which pleases me well. He dined with me, but by his discourse
I do still see that he is a man of good wit but most strange experience,
and acquaintance with all manner of subtleties and tricks, that I do think
him not fit for me to keep any acquaintance with him, lest he some time or
other shew me a slippery trick. After dinner, he gone, I to the office,
where all the afternoon very busy, and so in the evening to Sir R.
Viner's, thinking to finish my accounts there, but am prevented, and so
back again home, and late at my office at business, and so home to supper
and sing a little with my dear wife, and so to bed.
9th. Up, and to the office, and at noon home to dinner, and then with my
wife and Barker by coach, and left them at Charing Cross, and I to St.
James's, and there found Sir W. Coventry alone in his chamber, and sat and
talked with him more than I have done a great while of several things of
the Navy, how our debts and wants do unfit us for doing any thing. He
tells me he hears stories of Commissioner Pett, of selling timber to the
Navy under other names, which I told him I believe is true, and did give
him an instance. He told me also how his clerk Floyd he hath put away for
his common idlenesse and ill company, and particularly that yesterday he
was found not able to come and attend him, by being run into the arme in a
squabble, though he pretends it was done in the streets by strangers, at
nine at night, by the Maypole in the Strand. Sir W. Coventry did write to
me this morning to recommend him another, which I could find in my heart
to do W. Hewer for his good; but do believe he will not part with me, nor
have I any mind to let him go. I would my brother were fit for it, I would
adventure him there. He insists upon an unmarried man, that can write
well, and hath French enough to transcribe it only from a copy, and may
write shorthand, if it may be. Thence with him to my Lord Chancellor at
Clarendon House, to a Committee for Tangier, where several things spoke of
and proceeded on, and particularly sending Commissioners thither before
the new Governor goes, which I think will signify as much good as any
thing else that hath been done about the place, which is none at all. I
did again tell them the badness of their credit by the time their tallies
took before they become payable, and their spending more than their fund.
They seem well satisfied with what I said, and I am glad that I may be
remembered that I do tell them the case plain; but it troubled me that I
see them hot upon it, that the Governor shall not be paymaster, which will
force me either to the providing one there to do it (which I will never
undertake), or leave the employment, which I had rather do. Mightily
pleased with the noblenesse of this house, and the brave furniture and
pictures, which indeed is very noble, and, being broke up, I with Sir G.
Carteret in his coach into Hide Park, to discourse of things, and spent an
hour in this manner with great pleasure, telling me all his concernments,
and how he is gone through with the purchase for my Lady Jemimah and her
husband; how the Treasury is like to come into the hands of a Committee;
but that not that, nor anything else, will do our business, unless the
King himself will mind his business, and how his servants do execute their
parts; he do fear an utter ruin in the state, and that in a little time,
if the King do not mind his business soon; that the King is very kind to
him, and to my Lord Sandwich, and that he doubts not but at his coming
home, which he expects about Michaelmas, he will be very well received.
But it is pretty strange how he began again the business of the intention
of a marriage of my Lord Hinchingbroke to a daughter of my Lord
Burlington's to my Lord Chancellor, which he now tells me as a great
secret, when he told it me the last Sunday but one; but it may be the poor
man hath forgot, and I do believe he do make it a secret, he telling me
that he has not told it to any but myself, end this day to his daughter my
Lady Jemimah, who looks to lie down about two months hence. After all this
discourse we turned back and to White Hall, where we parted, and I took up
my wife at Unthanke's, and so home, and in our street, at the Three Tuns'
Tavern' door, I find a great hubbub; and what was it but two brothers have
fallen out, and one killed the other. And who should they be but the two
Fieldings; one whereof, Bazill, was page to my Lady Sandwich; and he hath
killed the other, himself being very drunk, and so is sent to Newgate. I
to the office and did as much business as my eyes would let me, and so
home to supper and to bed.
10th. Up and to the office, where a meeting about the Victuallers'
accounts all the morning, and at noon all of us to Kent's, at the Three
Tuns' Tavern, and there dined well at Mr. Gawden's charge; and, there the
constable of the parish did show us the picklocks and dice that were found
in the dead man's pocket, and but 18d. in money; and a table-book, wherein
were entered the names of several places where he was to go; and among
others Kent's house, where he was to dine, and did dine yesterday: and
after dinner went into the church, and there saw his corpse with the wound
in his left breast; a sad spectacle, and a broad wound, which makes my
hand now shake to write of it. His brother intending, it seems, to kill
the coachman, who did not please him, this fellow stepped in, and took
away his sword; who thereupon took out his knife, which was of the
fashion, with a falchion blade, and a little cross at the hilt like a
dagger; and with that stabbed him. So to the office again, very busy, and
in the evening to Sir Robert Viner's, and there took up all my notes and
evened our balance to the 7th of this month, and saw it entered in their
ledger, and took a receipt for the remainder of my money as the balance of
an account then adjusted. Then to my Lord Treasurer's, but missed Sir Ph.
Warwicke, and so back again, and drove hard towards Clerkenwell,
[At Newcastle House, Clerkenwell Close, the duke and duchess lived
in great state. The house was divided, and let in tenements in the
eighteenth century.]
thinking to have overtaken my Lady Newcastle, whom I saw before us in her
coach, with 100 boys and girls running looking upon her but I could not:
and so she got home before I could come up to her. But I will get a time
to see her. So to the office and did more business, and then home and
sang with pleasure with my wife, and to supper and so to bed.
11th. Up, and being called on by Mr. Commander, he and I out to the
ground behind Sir W. Pen's, where I am resolved to take a lease of some of
it for a stable and coach [house], and so to keep a coach, unless some
change come before I can do it, for I do see it is a greater charge to me
now in hackneys, and I am a little dishonoured by going in them. We spoke
with him that hath the letting it, and I do believe when I can tell how
much it will be fit for me to have we shall go near to agree. So home,
and there found my door open, which makes me very angry with Nell, and do
think to put her away for it, though it do so go against me to part with a
servant that it troubles me more than anything in the world. So to the
office, where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, where Mr.
Goodgroome and Creed, and I have great hopes that my wife will come to
sing to my mind. After dinner my wife and Creed and I being entered a
hackney coach to go to the other end of the town, we espied The. Turner
coming in her coach to see us, which we were surprised at, and so 'light
and took her and another young lady home, and there sat and talked with
The., she being lately come out of the North after two or three years
absence. She is come to put out her sister and brothers to school at
Putney. After a little talk, I over Tower Hill with them to a lady's they
go to visit, and so away with my wife, whose being dressed this day in
fair hair did make me so mad, that I spoke not one word to her in our
going, though I was ready to burst with anger. So to White Hall to the
Committee of Tangier, where they were discoursing about laws for the civil
government of the place, but so dull and so little to the purpose that I
fell to slumber, when the fear of being seen by Sir W. Coventry did
trouble me much afterwards, but I hope he did not. After that broke up.
Creed and I into the Park, and walked, a most pleasant evening, and so
took coach, and took up my wife, and in my way home discovered my trouble
to my wife for her white locks,
[Randle Holmes says the ladies wore "false locks set on wyres, to
make them stand at a distance from the head," and accompanies the
information with the figure of a lady "with a pair of locks and
curls which were in great fashion in 1670" (Planche's "Cyclopaedia
of Costume;" Vol. i., p. 248).]
swearing by God, several times, which I pray God forgive me for, and
bending my fist, that I would not endure it. She, poor wretch,
[A new light is thrown upon this favourite expression of Pepys's
when speaking of his wife by the following quotation from a Midland
wordbook: "Wretch, n., often used as an expression of endearment or
sympathy. Old Woman to Young Master: 'An''ow is the missis to-day,
door wretch?' Of a boy going to school a considerable distance off
'I met 'im with a bit o' bread in 'is bag, door wretch'" ("A
Glossary of Words and Phrases used in S.E. Worcestershire," by Jesse
Salisbury. Published by the English Dialect Society, 1894).]
was surprized with it, and made me no answer all the way home; but there
we parted, and I to the office late, and then home, and without supper to
bed, vexed.
12th (Lord's day). Up, and to my chamber, to settle some accounts there,
and by and by down comes my wife to me in her night-gown, and we begun
calmly, that upon having money to lace her gown for second mourning, she
would promise to wear white locks no more in my sight, which I, like a
severe fool, thinking not enough, begun to except against, and made her
fly out to very high terms and cry, and in her heat told me of keeping
company with Mrs. Knipp, saying, that if I would promise never to see her
more--of whom she hath more reason to suspect than I had heretofore of
Pembleton--she would never wear white locks more. This vexed me, but I
restrained myself from saying anything, but do think never to see this
woman--at least, to have her here more, but by and by I did give her money
to buy lace, and she promised to wear no more white locks while I lived,
and so all very good friends as ever, and I to my business, and she to
dress herself. Against noon we had a coach ready for us, and she and I to
White Hall, where I went to see whether Sir G. Carteret was at dinner or
no, our design being to make a visit there, and I found them set down,
which troubled me, for I would not then go up, but back to the coach to my
wife, and she and I homeward again, and in our way bethought ourselves of
going alone, she and I, to go to a French house to dinner, and so enquired
out Monsieur Robins, my perriwigg-maker, who keeps an ordinary, and in an
ugly street in Covent Garden, did find him at the door, and so we in; and
in a moment almost had the table covered, and clean glasses, and all in
the French manner, and a mess of potage first, and then a couple of
pigeons a la esterve, and then a piece of boeuf-a-la-mode, all exceeding
well seasoned, and to our great liking; at least it would have been
anywhere else but in this bad street, and in a perriwigg-maker's house;
but to see the pleasant and ready attendance that we had, and all things
so desirous to please, and ingenious in the people, did take me mightily.
Our dinner cost us 6s., and so my wife and I away to Islington, it being a
fine day, and thence to Sir G. Whitmore's house, where we 'light, and
walked over the fields to Kingsland, and back again; a walk, I think, I
have not taken these twenty years; but puts me in mind of my boy's time,
when I boarded at Kingsland, and used to shoot with my bow and arrows in
these fields. A very pretty place it is; and little did any of my friends
think I should come to walk in these fields in this condition and state
that I am. Then took coach again, and home through Shoreditch; and at
home my wife finds Barker to have been abroad, and telling her so many
lies about it, that she struck her, and the wench said she would not stay
with her: so I examined the wench, and found her in so many lies myself,
that I was glad to be rid of her, and so resolved having her go away
to-morrow. So my wife and W. Hewer and I to supper, and then he and I to
my chamber to begin the draught of the report from this office to the Duke
of York in the case of Mr. Carcasse, which I sat up till midnight to do,
and then to bed, believing it necessary to have it done, and to do it
plainly, for it is not to be endured the trouble that this rascal hath put
us to, and the disgrace he hath brought upon this office.
13th. Up, and when ready, to the office (my wife rising to send away
Barker, according to our resolution last night, and she did do it with
more clothes than have cost us L10, and 20s. in her purse, which I did for
the respect I bear Mr. Falconbridge, otherwise she had not deserved half
of it, but I am the more willing to do it to be rid of one that made work
and trouble in the house, and had not qualities of any honour or pleasure
to me or my family, but what is a strange thing did always declare to her
mistress and others that she had rather be put to drudgery and to wash the
house than to live as she did like a gentlewoman), and there I and Gibson
all the morning making an end of my report against Carcasse, which I think
will do our business, but it is a horrid shame such a rogue should give me
and all of us this trouble. This morning come Sir H. Cholmly to me for a
tally or two; and tells me that he hears that we are by agreement to give
the King of France Nova Scotia, which he do not like: but I do not know
the importance of it.
[Nova Scotia and the adjoining countries were called by the French
Acadie. Pepys is not the only official personage whose ignorance of
Nova Scotia is on record. A story is current of a prime minister
(Duke of Newcastle) who was surprised at hearing Cape Breton was an
island. "Egad, I'll go tell the King Cape Breton is an island!"
Of the same it is said, that when told Annapolis was in danger, and
ought to be defended: "Oh! certainly Annapolis must be defended,--
where is Annapolis?"--B.]
Then abroad with my wife to my Lord Treasurer's, and she to her tailor's.
I find Sir Philip Warwicke, who I perceive do give over my Lord Treasurer
for a man of this world, his pain being grown great again upon him, and
all the rest he hath is by narcotiques, and now Sir Philip Warwicke do
please himself, like a good man, to tell some of the good ejaculations of
my Lord Treasurer concerning the little worth of this world, to buy it
with so much pain, and other things fit for a dying man. So finding no
business likely to be done here for Tangier, I having a warrant for
tallies to be signed, I away to the New Exchange, and there staid a
little, and then to a looking-glass shop to consult about covering the
wall in my closet over my chimney, which is darkish, with looking-glasses,
and then to my wife's tailor's, but find her not ready to go home, but got
to buy things, and so I away home to look after my business and finish my
report of Carcasse, and then did get Sir W. Batten, Sir J. Minnes, and
[Sir] W. Pen together, and read it over with all the many papers relating
to the business, which they do wonder at, and the trouble I have taken
about it, and like the report, so as that they do unanimously resolve to
sign it, and stand by it, and after a great deal of discourse of the
strange deportment of my Lord Bruncker in this business to withstand the
whole board in behalf of such an impudent rogue as this is, I parted, and
home to my wife, and supped and talked with her, and then to bed,
resolving to rise betimes to-morrow to write fair the report.
14th. Up by 5 o'clock, and when ready down to my chamber, and there with
Mr. Fist, Sir W. Batten's clerk, who writes mighty well, writing over our
report in Mr. Carcasses business, in which we continued till 9 o'clock,
that the office met, and then to the office, where all the morning, and so
at noon home to dinner, where Mr. Holliard come and eat with us, who among
other things do give me good hopes that we shall give my father some ease
as to his rupture when he comes to town, which I expect to-morrow. After
dinner comes Fist, and he and I to our report again till 9 o'clock, and
then by coach to my Lord Chancellor's, where I met Mr. Povy, expecting the
coming of the rest of the Commissioners for Tangier. Here I understand
how the two Dukes, both the only sons of the Duke of York, are sick even
to danger, and that on Sunday last they were both so ill, as that the poor
Duchess was in doubt which would die first: the Duke of Cambridge of some
general disease; the other little Duke, whose title I know not, of the
convulsion fits, of which he had four this morning. Fear that either of
them might be dead, did make us think that it was the occasion that the
Duke of York and others were not come to the meeting of the Commission
which was designed, and my Lord Chancellor did expect. And it was pretty
to observe how, when my Lord sent down to St. James's to see why the Duke
of York come not, and Mr. Povy, who went, returned, my Lord (Chancellor)
did ask, not how the Princes or the Dukes do, as other people do, but "How
do the children?" which methought was mighty great, and like a great man
and grandfather. I find every body mightily concerned for these children,
as a matter wherein the State is much concerned that they should live. At
last it was found that the meeting did fail from no known occasion, at
which my Lord Chancellor was angry, and did cry out against Creed that he
should give him no notice. So Povy and I went forth, and staid at the gate
of the house by the streete, and there stopped to talk about the business
of the Treasury of Tangier, which by the badness of our credit, and the
resolution that the Governor shall not be paymaster, will force me to
provide one there to be my paymaster, which I will never do, but rather
lose my place, for I will not venture my fortune to a fellow to be
employed so far off, and in that wicked place. Thence home, and with Fist
presently to the finishing the writing fair of our report. And by and by
to Sir W. Batten's, and there he and I and [Sir] J. Minnes and [Sir] W.
Pen did read and sign it with great good liking, and so away to the office
again to look over and correct it, and then home to supper and to bed, my
mind being pretty well settled, having this report done, and so to supper
and to bed.
15th. [This morning my wife had some things brought home by a new woman
of the New Exchange, one Mrs. Smith, which she would have me see for her
fine hand, and indeed it is a fine hand, and the woman I have observed is
a mighty pretty looked woman.] Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J.
Minnes to St. James's, and stopt at Temple Bar for Sir J. Minnes to go
into the Devil's Taverne to shit, he having drunk whey, and his belly
wrought. Being come, we up to the Duke of York's chamber, who, when
ready, we to our usual business, and being very glad, we all that signed
it, that is, Sir J. Minnes, W. Batten, W. Pen, and myself, and then Sir G.
Carteret and [Sir] W. Coventry, Bruncker, and T. Harvy, and the officers
of the Ordnance, Sir J. Duncombe, and Mr. Cholmely presented our report
about Carcasse, and did afterwards read it with that success that the Duke
of York was for punishing him, not only with turning him out of the
office, but with what other punishment he could, which nobody did forward,
and so he escaped, only with giving security to secure the King against
double tickets of his and other things that he might have wronged the King
or subject in before his dismission. Yet, Lord! to see how our silly
Lord Bruncker would have stood to have justified this rogue, though to the
reproach of all us who have signed, which I shall never forget to have
been a most malicious or a most silly act, and I do think it is as much
the latter as the other, for none but a fool could have done as this silly
Lord hath done in this business. So the Duke of York did like our report,
and ordered his being secured till he did give his security, which did
fully content me, and will I hope vindicate the office. It happened that
my Lord Arlington coming in by chance was at the hearing of all this,
which I was not sorry for, for he did move or did second the Duke of York
that this roguery of his might be put in the News-book that it might be
made publique to satisfy for the wrong the credit of this office hath
received by this rogue's occasion. So with utmost content I away with Sir
G. Carteret to London, talking all the way; and he do tell me that the
business of my Lord Hinchingbroke his marriage with my Lord Burlington's
daughter is concluded on by all friends; and that my Lady is now told of
it, and do mightily please herself with it; which I am mighty glad of. So
home, and there I find that my wife hath been at my desire at the Inne,
thinking that my father might be come up with the coach, but he is not
come this week, poor man, but will be here the next. At noon to dinner,
and then to Sir W. Batten's, where I hear the news how our Embassadors
were but ill received at Flushing, nor at Bredah itself, there being only
a house and no furniture provided for them, though it be said that they
have as much as the French. Here we staid talking a little, and then I to
the office about my business, and thence to the office, where busy about
my own papers of my office, and by and by comes the office full to examine
Sir W. Warren's account, which I do appear mighty fierce in against him,
and indeed am, for his accounts are so perplexed that I am sure he cannot
but expect to get many a L1000 in it before it passes our hands, but I
will not favour him, but save what I can to the King. At his accounts,
wherein I very high against him, till late, and then we broke up with
little done, and so broke up, and I to my office, where late doing of
business, and then home to supper and to bed. News still that my Lord
Treasurer is so ill as not to be any man of this world; and it is said
that the Treasury shall be managed by Commission. I would to God Sir G.
Carteret, or my Lord Sandwich, be in it! But the latter is the more fit
for it. This day going to White Hall, Sir W. Batten did tell me strange
stories of Sir W. Pen, how he is already ashamed of the fine coach which
his son-in-law and daughter have made, and indeed it is one of the most
ridiculous things for people of their low, mean fashion to make such a
coach that ever I saw. He tells me how his people come as they do to mine
every day to borrow one thing or other, and that his Lady hath been forced
to sell some coals (in the late dear time) only to enable her to pay money
that she hath borrowed of Griffin to defray her family expense, which is a
strange story for a rogue that spends so much money on clothes and other
occasions himself as he do, but that which is most strange, he tells me
that Sir W. Pen do not give L6000, as is usually [supposed], with his
daughter to him, and that Mr. Lowder is come to use the tubb, that is to
bathe and sweat himself, and that his lady is come to use the tubb too,
which he takes to be that he hath, and hath given her the pox, but I hope
it is not so, but, says Sir W. Batten, this is a fair joynture, that he
hath made her, meaning by that the costs the having of a bath.