to dinner, Mr. Wayth with me, and by and by comes in Mr. Falconer and his
wife and dined with us, the first time she was ever here. We had a pretty
good dinner, very merry in discourse, sat after dinner an hour or two,
then down by water to Deptford and Woolwich about getting of some business
done which I was bound to by my oath this month, and though in some things
I have not come to the height of my vow of doing all my business in paying
all my petty debts and receipt of all my petty monies due to me, yet I
bless God I am not conscious of any neglect in me that they are not done,
having not minded my pleasure at all, and so being resolved to take no
manner of pleasure till it be done, I doubt not God will forgive me for
not forfeiting the L10 promised. Walked back from Woolwich to Greenwich
all alone, save a man that had a cudgell in his hand, and, though he told
me he laboured in the King's yarde, and many other good arguments that he
is an honest man, yet, God forgive me! I did doubt he might knock me on
the head behind with his club. But I got safe home. Then to the making
up my month's accounts, and find myself still a gainer and rose to L951,
for which God be blessed. I end the month with my mind full of business
and some sorrow that I have not exactly performed all my vowes, though my
not doing is not my fault, and shall be made good out of my first leisure.
Great doubts yet whether the Dutch wary go on or no. The Fleet ready in
the Hope, of twelve sayle. The King and Queenes go on board, they say, on
Saturday next. Young children of my Lord Sandwich gone with their mayds
from my mother's, which troubles me, it being, I hear from Mr. Shepley,
with great discontent, saying, that though they buy good meate, yet can
never have it before it stinks, which I am ashamed of.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
JULY
1664
July 1st. Up and within all the morning, first bringing down my Tryangle
to my chamber below, having a new frame made proper for it to stand on. By
and by comes Dr. Burnett, who assures me that I have an ulcer either in
the kidneys or bladder, for my water, which he saw yesterday, he is sure
the sediment is not slime gathered by heat, but is a direct pusse. He did
write me down some direction what to do for it, but not with the
satisfaction I expected.
Dr. Burnett's advice to mee.
The Originall is fyled among my letters.
Take of ye Rootes of Marsh-Mallows foure ounces, of Cumfry, of
Liquorish, of each two ounces, of ye Mowers of St. John's Wort two
Handsfull, of ye Leaves of Plantan, of Alehoofe, of each three
handfulls, of Selfeheale, of Red Roses, of each one Handfull, of
Cynament, of Nutmegg, of each halfe an ounce. Beate them well, then
powre upon them one Quart of old Rhenish wine, and about Six houres
after strayne it and clarify it with ye white of an Egge, and with a
sufficient quantity of sugar, boyle it to ye consistence of a Syrrup
and reserve it for use.
Dissolve one spoonefull of this Syrrup in every draught of Ale or
beere you drink.
Morning and evening swallow ye quantity of an hazle-nutt of Cyprus
Terebintine.
If you are bound or have a fit of ye Stone eate an ounce of Cassia
new drawne, from ye poynt of a knife.
Old Canary or Malaga wine you may drinke to three or 4 glasses, but
noe new wine, and what wine you drinke, lett it bee at meales.-[From
a slip of paper inserted in the Diary at this place.]
I did give him a piece, with good hopes, however, that his advice will be
of use to me, though it is strange that Mr. Hollyard should never say one
word of this ulcer in all his life to me. He being gone, I to the
'Change, and thence home to dinner, and so to my office, busy till the
evening, and then by agreement came Mr. Hill and Andrews and one
Cheswicke, a maister who plays very well upon the Spinette, and we sat
singing Psalms till 9 at night, and so broke up with great pleasure, and
very good company it is, and I hope I shall now and then have their
company. They being gone, I to my office till towards twelve o'clock, and
then home and to bed. Upon the 'Change, this day, I saw how uncertain the
temper of the people is, that, from our discharging of about 200 that lay
idle, having nothing to do, upon some of our ships, which were ordered to
be fitted for service, and their works are now done, the towne do talk
that the King discharges all his men, 200 yesterday and 800 to-day, and
that now he hath got L100,000 in his hand, he values not a Dutch warr.
But I undeceived a great many, telling them how it is.
2nd. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon to the
'Change, and there, which is strange, I could meet with nobody that I
could invite home to my venison pasty, but only Mr. Alsopp and Mr. Lanyon,
whom I invited last night, and a friend they brought along with them. So
home and with our venison pasty we had other good meat and good discourse.
After dinner sat close to discourse about our business of the victualling
of the garrison of Tangier, taking their prices of all provisions, and I
do hope to order it so that they and I also may get something by it, which
do much please me, for I hope I may get nobly and honestly with profit to
the King. They being gone came Sir W. Warren, and he and I discoursed
long about the business of masts, and then in the evening to my office,
where late writing letters, and then home to look over some Brampton
papers, which I am under an oathe to dispatch before I spend one half
houre in any pleasure or go to bed before 12 o'clock, to which, by the
grace of God, I will be true. Then to bed. When I came home I found that
to-morrow being Sunday I should gain nothing by doing it to-night, and
to-morrow I can do it very well and better than to-night. I went to bed
before my time, but with a resolution of doing the thing to better purpose
to-morrow.
3rd (Lord's day). Up and ready, and all the morning in my chamber looking
over and settling some Brampton businesses. At noon to dinner, where the
remains of yesterday's venison and a couple of brave green geese, which we
are fain to eat alone, because they will not keepe, which troubled us.
After dinner I close to my business, and before the evening did end it
with great content, and my mind eased by it. Then up and spent the
evening walking with my wife talking, and it thundering and lightning all
the evening, and this yeare have had the most of thunder and lightning
they say of any in man's memory, and so it is, it seems, in France and
everywhere else. So to prayers and to bed.
4th. Up, and many people with me about business, and then out to several
places, and so at noon to my Lord Crew's, and there dined and very much
made of there by him. He offered me the selling of some land of his in
Cambridgeshire, a purchase of about L1000, and if I can compass it I will.
After dinner I walked homeward, still doing business by the way, and at
home find my wife this day of her owne accord to have lain out 25s. upon a
pair of pendantes for her eares, which did vex me and brought both me and
her to very high and very foule words from her to me, such as trouble me
to think she should have in her mouth, and reflecting upon our old
differences, which I hate to have remembered. I vowed to breake them, or
that she should go and get what she could for them again. I went with
that resolution out of doors; the poor wretch afterwards in a little while
did send out to change them for her money again. I followed Besse her
messenger at the 'Change, and there did consult and sent her back; I would
not have them changed, being satisfied that she yielded. So went home, and
friends again as to that business; but the words I could not get out of my
mind, and so went to bed at night discontented, and she came to bed to me,
but all would not make me friends, but sleep and rise in the morning
angry. This day the King and the Queene went to visit my Lord Sandwich
and the fleete, going forth in the Hope.
["Their Majesties were treated at Tilbury Hope by the Earl of
Sandwich, returning the same day, abundantly satisfied both with the
dutiful respects of that honourable person and with the excellent
condition of all matters committed to his charge" ("The Newes," July
7th, 1664).--B.]
5th. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon to the 'Change
a little, then with W. Howe home and dined. So after dinner to my office,
and there busy till late at night, having had among other things much
discourse with young Gregory about the Chest business, wherein Sir W.
Batten is so great a knave, and also with Alsop and Lanyon about the
Tangier victualling, wherein I hope to get something for myself. Late
home to supper and to bed, being full of thoughts of a sudden resolution
this day taken upon the 'Change of going down to-morrow to the Hope.
6th. Up very betimes, and my wife also, and got us ready; and about eight
o'clock, having got some bottles of wine and beer and neat's tongues, we
went to our barge at the Towre, where Mr. Pierce and his wife, and a
kinswoman and his sister, and Mrs. Clerke and her sister and cozen were to
expect us; and so set out for the Hope, all the way down playing at cards
and other sports, spending our time pretty merry. Come to the Hope about
one and there showed them all the ships, and had a collacion of anchovies,
gammon, &c., and after an houre's stay or more, embarked again for home;
and so to cards and other sports till we came to Greenwich, and there Mrs.
Clerke and my wife and I on shore to an alehouse, for them to do their
business, and so to the barge again, having shown them the King's pleasure
boat; and so home to the Bridge, bringing night home with us; and it
rained hard, but we got them on foot to the Beare, and there put them into
a boat, and I back to my wife in the barge, and so to the Tower Wharf and
home, being very well pleased today with the company, especially Mrs.
Pierce, who continues her complexion as well as ever, and hath, at this
day, I think, the best complexion that ever I saw on any woman, young or
old, or child either, all days of my life. Also Mrs. Clerke's kinswoman
sings very prettily, but is very confident in it; Mrs. Clerke herself
witty, but spoils all in being so conceited and making so great a flutter
with a few fine clothes and some bad tawdry things worne with them. But
the charge of the barge lies heavy upon me, which troubles me, but it is
but once, and I may make Pierce do me some courtesy as great. Being come
home, I weary to bed with sitting. The reason of Dr. Clerke's not being
here was the King's being sicke last night and let blood, and so he durst
not come away to-day.
7th. Up, and this day begun, the first day this year, to put off my
linnen waistcoat, but it happening to be a cool day I was afraid of taking
cold, which troubles me, and is the greatest pain I have in the world to
think of my bad temper of my health. At the office all the morning.
Dined at home, to my office to prepare some things against a Committee of
Tangier this afternoon. So to White Hall, and there found the Duke and
twenty more reading their commission (of which I am, and was also sent to,
to come) for the Royall Fishery, which is very large, and a very serious
charter it is; but the company generally so ill fitted for so serious a
worke that I do much fear it will come to little. That being done, and
not being able to do any thing for lacke of an oathe for the Governor and
Assistants to take, we rose. Then our Committee for the Tangier
victualling met and did a little, and so up, and I and Mr. Coventry walked
in the garden half an hour, talking of the business of our masts, and
thence away and with Creed walked half an hour or more in the Park, and
thence to the New Exchange to drink some creame, but missed it and so
parted, and I home, calling by the way for my new bookes, viz., Sir H.
Spillman's "Whole Glossary," "Scapula's Lexicon," and Shakespeare's plays,
which I have got money out of my stationer's bills to pay for. So home
and to my office a while, and then home and to bed, finding myself pretty
well for all my waistecoate being put off to-day. The king is pretty well
to-day, though let blood the night before yesterday.
8th. Up and called out by my Lord Peterborough's gentleman to Mr. Povy's
to discourse about getting of his money, wherein I am concerned in hopes
of the L50 my Lord hath promised me, but I dare not reckon myself sure of
it till I have it in my main,--[hand.]--for these Lords are hard to be
trusted. Though I well deserve it. I staid at Povy's for his coming in,
and there looked over his stables and every thing, but notwithstanding all
the times I have been there I do yet find many fine things to look on.
Thence to White Hall a little, to hear how the King do, he not having been
well these three days. I find that he is pretty well again. So to Paul's
Churchyarde about my books, and to the binder's and directed the doing of
my Chaucer,
[This was Speght's edition of 1602, which is still in the Pepysian
Library. The book is bound in calf, with brass clasps and bosses.
It is not lettered.]
though they were not full neate enough for me, but pretty well it is; and
thence to the clasp-maker's to have it clasped and bossed. So to the
'Change and home to dinner, and so to my office till 5 o'clock, and then
came Mr. Hill and Andrews, and we sung an houre or two. Then broke up and
Mr. Alsop and his company came and consulted about our Tangier victualling
and brought it to a good head. So they parted, and I to supper and to
bed.
9th. Up, and at the office all the morning. In the afternoon by coach
with Sir J. Minnes to White Hall, and there to a Committee for Fishing;
but the first thing was swearing to be true to the Company, and we were
all sworne; but a great dispute we had, which, methought, is very ominous
to the Company; some, that we should swear to be true to the best of our
power, and others to the best of our understanding; and carried in the
last, though in that we are the least able to serve the Company, because
we would not be obliged to attend the business when we can, but when we
list. This consideration did displease me, but it was voted and so went.
We did nothing else, but broke up till a Committee of Guinny was set and
ended, and then met again for Tangier, and there I did my business about
my Lord Peterborough's order and my own for my expenses for the garrison
lately. So home, by the way calling for my Chaucer and other books, and
that is well done to my mind, which pleased me well. So to my office till
late writing letters, and so home to my wife to supper and bed, where we
have not lain together because of the heat of the weather a good while,
but now against her going into the country.
10th (Lord's day). Up and by water, towards noon, to Somersett House, and
walked to my Lord Sandwich's, and there dined with my Lady and the
children. And after some ordinary discourse with my Lady, after dinner
took our leaves and my wife hers, in order to her going to the country
to-morrow. But my Lord took not occasion to speak one word of my father
or mother about the children at all, which I wonder at, and begin I will
not. Here my Lady showed us my Lady Castlemayne's picture, finely done;
given my Lord; and a most beautiful picture it is. Thence with my Lady
Jemimah and Mr. Sidney to St. Gyles's Church, and there heard a long,
poore sermon. Thence set them down and in their coach to Kate Joyce's
christening, where much company, good service of sweetmeates; and after an
houre's stay, left them, and in my Lord's coach--his noble, rich
coach--home, and there my wife fell to putting things in order against her
going to-morrow, and I to read, and so to bed, where I not well, and so
had no pleasure at all with my poor wife.
11th. But betimes up this morning, and, getting ready, we by coach to
Holborne, where, at nine o'clock, they set out, and I and my man Will on
horseback, by my wife, to Barnett; a very pleasant day; and there dined
with her company, which was very good; a pretty gentlewoman with her, that
goes but to Huntington, and a neighbour to us in towne. Here we staid two
hours and then parted for all together, and my poor wife I shall soon want
I am sure. Thence I and Will to see the Wells, half a mile off,
[The mineral springs at Barnet Common, nearly a mile to the west of
High Barnet. The discovery of the wells was announced in the
"Perfect Diurnall" of June 5th, 1652, and Fuller, writing in 1662,
says that there are hopes that the waters may "save as many lives as
were lost in the fatal battle at Barnet" ("Worthies," Herts). A
pamphlet on "The Barnet Well Water" was published by the Rev. W. M.
Trinder, M.D., as late as the year 1800, but in 1840 the old well-
house was pulled down.]
and there I drank three glasses, and went and walked and came back and
drunk two more; the woman would have had me drink three more; but I could
not, my belly being full, but this wrought very well, and so we rode home,
round by Kingsland, Hackney, and Mile End till we were quite weary, and my
water working at least 7 or 8 times upon the road, which pleased me well,
and so home weary, and not being very well, I betimes to bed, and there
fell into a most mighty sweat in the night, about eleven o'clock, and
there, knowing what money I have in the house and hearing a noyse, I begun
to sweat worse and worse, till I melted almost to water. I rung, and could
not in half an houre make either of the wenches hear me, and this made me
fear the more, lest they might be gaga; and then I begun to think that
there was some design in a stone being flung at the window over our
stayres this evening, by which the thiefes meant to try what looking there
would be after them and know our company. These thoughts and fears I had,
and do hence apprehend the fears of all rich men that are covetous and
have much money by them. At last Jane rose, and then I understand it was
only the dogg wants a lodging and so made a noyse. So to bed, but hardly
slept, at last did, and so till morning,
12th. And so rose, called up by my Lord Peterborough's gentleman about
getting his Lord's money to-day of Mr. Povy, wherein I took such order,
that it was paid, and I had my L50 brought me, which comforts my heart. We
sat at the office all the morning, then at home. Dined alone; sad for
want of company and not being very well, and know not how to eat alone.
After dinner down with Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, and Sir W. Batten
to view, and did like a place by Deptford yard to lay masts in. By and by
comes Mr. Coventry, and after a little stay he and I down to Blackwall, he
having a mind to see the yarde, which we did, and fine storehouses there
are and good docks, but of no great profit to him that oweth them for
ought we see.
[For "owneth." This sense is very common in Shakespeare. In the
original edition of the authorized version of the Bible we read: "So
shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that oweth this girdle"
(Acts xxi. I i) Nares's Glossary.]
So home by water with him, having good discourse by the way, and so I to
the office a while, and late home to supper and to bed.
13th. Up and to my office, at noon (after having at an alehouse hard by
discoursed with one Mr. Tyler, a neighbour, and one Captain Sanders about
the discovery of some pursers that have sold their provisions) I to my
Lord Sandwich, thinking to have dined there, but they not dining at home,
I with Captain Ferrers to Mr. Barwell the King's Squire Sadler, where
about this time twelvemonths I dined before at a good venison pasty. The
like we had now, and very good company, Mr. Tresham and others. Thence to
White Hall to the Fishery, and there did little. So by water home, and
there met Lanyon, &c., about Tangier matters, and so late to my office,
and thence home and to bed. Mr. Moore was with me late to desire me to
come to my Lord Sandwich tomorrow morning, which I shall, but I wonder
what my business is.