where I took occasion to break the business of my Lord Chancellor's timber
to Mr. Coventry in the best manner I could. He professed to me, that,
till, Sir G. Carteret did speake of it at the table, after our officers
were gone to survey it, he did not know that my Lord Chancellor had any
thing to do with it; but now he says that he had been told by the Duke
that Sir G. Carteret had spoke to him about it, and that he had told the
Duke that, were he in my Lord Chancellor's case, if he were his father, he
would rather fling away the gains of two or L3,000, than have it said that
the timber, which should have been the King's, if it had continued the
Duke of Albemarle's, was concealed by us in favour of my Lord Chancellor;
for, says he, he is a great man, and all such as he, and he himself
particularly, have a great many enemies that would be glad of such an
advantage against him. When I told him it was strange that Sir J. Minnes
and Sir G. Carteret, that knew my Lord Chancellor's concernment therein,
should not at first inform us, he answered me that for Sir J. Minnes, he
is looked upon to be an old good companion, but by nobody at the other end
of the towne as any man of business, and that my Lord Chancellor, he dares
say, never did tell him of it, only Sir G. Carteret, he do believe, must
needs know it, for he and Sir J. Shaw are the greatest confidants he hath
in the world. So for himself, he said, he would not mince the matter, but
was resolved to do what was fit, and stand upon his owne legs therein, and
that he would speak to the Duke, that he and Sir G. Carteret might be
appointed to attend my Lord Chancellor in it. All this disturbs me
mightily. I know not what to say to it, nor how to carry myself therein;
for a compliance will discommend me to Mr. Coventry, and a discompliance
to my Lord Chancellor. But I think to let it alone, or at least meddle in
it as little more as I can. From thence walked toward Westminster, and
being in an idle and wanton humour, walked through Fleet Alley, and there
stood a most pretty wench at one of the doors, so I took a turn or two,
but what by sense of honour and conscience I would not go in, but much
against my will took coach and away, and away to Westminster Hall, and
there 'light of Mrs. Lane, and plotted with her to go over the water. So
met at White's stairs in Chanel Row, and over to the old house at Lambeth
Marsh, and there eat and drank, and had my pleasure of her twice, she
being the strangest woman in talk of love to her husband sometimes, and
sometimes again she do not care for him, and yet willing enough to allow
me a liberty of doing what I would with her. So spending 5s. or 6s. upon
her, I could do what I would, and after an hour's stay and more back again
and set her ashore there again, and I forward to Fleet Street, and called
at Fleet Alley, not knowing how to command myself, and went in and there
saw what formerly I have been acquainted with, the wickedness of these
houses, and the forcing a man to present expense. The woman indeed is a
most lovely woman, but I had no courage to meddle with her for fear of her
not being wholesome, and so counterfeiting that I had not money enough, it
was pretty to see how cunning she was, would not suffer me to have to do
in any manner with her after she saw I had no money, but told me then I
would not come again, but she now was sure I would come again, but I hope
in God I shall not, for though she be one of the prettiest women I ever
saw, yet I fear her abusing me. So desiring God to forgive me for this
vanity, I went home, taking some books from my bookseller, and taking his
lad home with me, to whom I paid L10 for books I have laid up money for,
and laid out within these three weeks, and shall do no more a great while
I hope. So to my office writing letters, and then home and to bed, weary
of the pleasure I have had to-day, and ashamed to think of it.
24th (Lord's day). Up, in some pain all day from yesterday's passages,
having taken cold, I suppose. So staid within all day reading of two or
three good plays. At night to my office a little, and so home, after
supper to bed.
25th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten by coach to St.
James's, but there the Duke being gone out we to my Lord Berkeley's
chamber, Mr. Coventry being there, and among other things there met with a
printed copy of the King's commission for the repair of Paul's, which is
very large, and large power for collecting money, and recovering of all
people that had bought or sold formerly any thing belonging to the Church.
And here I find my Lord Mayor of the City set in order before the
Archbishopp or any nobleman, though all the greatest officers of state are
there. But yet I do not hear by my Lord Berkeley, who is one of them,
that any thing is like to come of it. Thence back again homewards, and
Sir W. Batten and I to the Coffee-house, but no newes, only the plague is
very hot still, and encreases among the Dutch. Home to dinner, and after
dinner walked forth, and do what I could I could not keep myself from
going through Fleet Lane, but had the sense of safety and honour not to go
in, and the rather being a holiday I feared I might meet with some people
that might know me. Thence to Charing Cross, and there called at
Unthanke's to see what I owed, but found nothing, and here being a couple
of pretty ladies, lodgers in the kitchen, I staid a little there. Thence
to my barber Gervas, who this day buries his child, which it seems was
born without a passage behind, so that it never voided any thing in the
week or fortnight that it has been born. Thence to Mr. Reeves, it coming
just now in my head to buy a microscope, but he was not within, so I
walked all round that end of the town among the loathsome people and
houses, but, God be thanked! had no desire to visit any of them. So
home, where I met Mr. Lanyon, who tells me Mr. Alsop is past hopes, which
will mightily disappoint me in my hopes there, and yet it may be not. I
shall think whether it will be safe for me to venture myself or no, and
come in as an adventurer. He gone, Mr. Cole (my old Jack Cole) comes to
see and speak with me, and his errand in short to tell me that he is
giving over his trade; he can do no good in it, and will turn what he has
into money and go to sea, his father being dead and leaving him little, if
any thing. This I was sorry to hear, he being a man of good parts, but, I
fear, debauched. I promised him all the friendship I can do him, which
will end in little, though I truly mean it, and so I made him stay with me
till 11 at night, talking of old school stories, and very pleasing ones,
and truly I find that we did spend our time and thoughts then otherwise
than I think boys do now, and I think as well as methinks that the best
are now. He supped with me, and so away, and I to bed. And strange to
see how we are all divided that were bred so long at school together, and
what various fortunes we have run, some good, some bad.
26th. All the morning at the office, at noon to Anthony Joyce's, to our
gossip's dinner. I had sent a dozen and a half of bottles of wine
thither, and paid my double share besides, which is 18s. Very merry we
were, and when the women were merry and rose from table, I above with
them, ne'er a man but I, I began discourse of my not getting of children,
and prayed them to give me their opinions and advice, and they freely and
merrily did give me these ten, among them (1) Do not hug my wife too hard
nor too much; (2) eat no late suppers; (3) drink juyce of sage; (4) tent
and toast; (5) wear cool holland drawers; (6) keep stomach warm and back
cool; (7) upon query whether it was best to do at night or morn, they
answered me neither one nor other, but when we had most mind to it; (8)
wife not to go too straight laced; (9) myself to drink mum and sugar; (10)
Mrs. Ward did give me, to change my place. The 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and
10th they all did seriously declare, and lay much stress upon them as
rules fit to be observed indeed, and especially the last, to lie with our
heads where our heels do, or at least to make the bed high at feet and low
at head. Very merry all, as much as I could be in such sorry company.
Great discourse of the fray yesterday in Moorefields, how the butchers at
first did beat the weavers (between whom there hath been ever an old
competition for mastery), but at last the weavers rallied and beat them.
At first the butchers knocked down all for weavers that had green or blue
aprons, till they were fain to pull them off and put them in their
breeches. At last the butchers were fain to pull off their sleeves, that
they might not be known, and were soundly beaten out of the field, and
some deeply wounded and bruised; till at last the weavers went out
tryumphing, calling L100 for a butcher. I to Mr. Reeves to see a
microscope, he having been with me to-day morning, and there chose one
which I will have. Thence back and took up young Mrs. Harman, a pretty
bred and pretty humoured woman whom I could love well, though not
handsome, yet for her person and carriage, and black. By the way met her
husband going for her, and set them both down at home, and so home to my
office a while, and so to supper and bed.
27th. Up, and after some discourse with Mr. Duke, who is to be Secretary
to the Fishery, and is now Secretary to the Committee for Trade, who I
find a very ingenious man, I went to Mr. Povy's, and there heard a little
of his empty discourse, and fain he would have Mr. Gauden been the
victualler for Tangier, which none but a fool would say to me when he
knows he hath made it his request to me to get him something of these men
that now do it. Thence to St. James's, but Mr. Coventry being ill and in
bed I did not stay, but to White Hall a little, walked up and down, and so
home to fit papers against this afternoon, and after dinner to the 'Change
a little, and then to White Hall, where anon the Duke of Yorke came, and a
Committee we had of Tangier, where I read over my rough draught of the
contract for Tangier victualling, and acquainted them with the death of
Mr. Alsopp, which Mr. Lanyon had told me this morning, which is a sad
consideration to see how uncertain a thing our lives are, and how little
to be presumed of in our greatest undertakings. The words of the contract
approved of, and I home and there came Mr. Lanyon to me and brought my
neighbour, Mr. Andrews, to me, whom he proposes for his partner in the
room of Mr. Alsopp, and I like well enough of it. We read over the
contract together, and discoursed it well over and so parted, and I am
glad to see it once over in this condition again, for Mr. Lanyon and I had
some discourse to-day about my share in it, and I hope if it goes on to
have my first hopes of L300 per ann. They gone, I to supper and to bed.
This afternoon came my great store of Coles in, being to Chaldron, so that
I may see how long they will last me.
28th. At the office all the morning, dined, after 'Change, at home, and
then abroad, and seeing "The Bondman" upon the posts, I consulted my
oaths and find I may go safely this time without breaking it; I went
thither, notwithstanding my great desire to have gone to Fleet Alley, God
forgive me, again. There I saw it acted. It is true, for want of
practice, they had many of them forgot their parts a little; but Betterton
and my poor Ianthe outdo all the world. There is nothing more taking in
the world with me than that play. Thence to Westminster to my barber's,
and strange to think how when I find that Jervas himself did intend to
bring home my periwigg, and not Jane his maid, I did desire not to have it
at all, for I had a mind to have her bring it home. I also went to Mr.
Blagrave's about speaking to him for his kinswoman to come live with my
wife, but they are not come to town, and so I home by coach and to my
office, and then to supper and to bed. My present posture is thus: my
wife in the country and my mayde Besse with her and all quiett there. I
am endeavouring to find a woman for her to my mind, and above all one that
understands musique, especially singing. I am the willinger to keepe one
because I am in good hopes to get 2 or L300 per annum extraordinary by the
business of the victualling of Tangier, and yet Mr. Alsopp, my chief
hopes, is dead since my looking after it, and now Mr. Lanyon, I fear, is,
falling sicke too. I am pretty well in health, only subject to wind upon
any cold, and then immediate and great pains. All our discourse is of a
Dutch warr and I find it is likely to come to it, for they are very high
and desire not to compliment us at all, as far as I hear, but to send a
good fleete to Guinny to oppose us there. My Lord Sandwich newly gone to
sea, and I, I think, fallen into his very good opinion again, at least he
did before his going, and by his letter since, show me all manner of
respect and confidence. I am over-joyed in hopes that upon this month's
account I shall find myself worth L1000, besides the rich present of two
silver and gilt flaggons which Mr. Gauden did give me the other day. I do
now live very prettily at home, being most seriously, quietly, and neatly
served by my two mayds Jane and the girle Su, with both of whom I am
mightily well pleased. My greatest trouble is the settling of Brampton
Estate, that I may know what to expect, and how to be able to leave it
when I die, so as to be just to my promise to my uncle Thomas and his son.
The next thing is this cursed trouble my brother Tom is likely to put us
to by his death, forcing us to law with his creditors, among others Dr.
Tom Pepys, and that with some shame as trouble, and the last how to know
in what manner as to saving or spending my father lives, lest they should
run me in debt as one of my uncle's executors, and I never the wiser nor
better for it. But in all this I hope shortly to be at leisure to
consider and inform myself well.
29th. At the office all the morning dispatching of business, at noon to
the 'Change after dinner, and thence to Tom Trice about Dr. Pepys's
business, and thence it raining turned into Fleet Alley, and there was
with Cocke an hour or so. The jade, whether I would not give her money or
not enough; she would not offer to invite to do anything, but on the
contrary saying she had no time, which I was glad of, for I had no mind to
meddle with her, but had my end to see what a cunning jade she was, to see
her impudent tricks and ways of getting money and raising the reckoning by
still calling for things, that it come to 6 or 7 shillings presently. So
away home, glad I escaped without any inconvenience, and there came Mr.
Hill, Andrews and Seignor Pedro, and great store of musique we had, but I
begin to be weary of having a master with us, for it spoils, methinks, the
ingenuity of our practice. After they were gone comes Mr. Bland to me,
sat till 11 at night with me, talking of the garrison of Tangier and
serving them with pieces of eight. A mind he hath to be employed there,
but dares not desire any courtesy of me, and yet would fain engage me to
be for him, for I perceive they do all find that I am the busy man to see
the King have right done him by inquiring out other bidders. Being quite
tired with him, I got him gone, and so to bed.
30th. All the morning at the office; at noon to the 'Change, where great
talke of a rich present brought by an East India ship from some of the
Princes of India, worth to the King L70,000 in two precious stones. After
dinner to the office, and there all the afternoon making an end of several
things against the end of the month, that I may clear all my reckonings
tomorrow; also this afternoon, with great content, I finished the
contracts for victualling of Tangier with Mr. Lanyon and the rest, and to
my comfort got him and Andrews to sign to the giving me L300 per annum, by
which, at least, I hope to be a L100 or two the better. Wrote many
letters by the post to ease my mind of business and to clear my paper of
minutes, as I did lately oblige myself to clear every thing against the
end of the month. So at night with my mind quiet and contented to bed.
This day I sent a side of venison and six bottles of wine to Kate Joyce.
31st (Lord's day). Up, and to church, where I have not been these many
weeks. So home, and thither, inviting him yesterday, comes Mr. Hill, at
which I was a little troubled, but made up all very well, carrying him
with me to Sir J. Minnes, where I was invited and all our families to a
venison pasty. Here good cheer and good discourse. After dinner Mr. Hill
and I to my house, and there to musique all the afternoon. He being gone,
in the evening I to my accounts, and to my great joy and with great thanks
to Almighty God, I do find myself most clearly worth L1014, the first time
that ever I was worth L1000 before, which is the height of all that ever I
have for a long time pretended to. But by the blessing of God upon my
care I hope to lay up something more in a little time, if this business of
the victualling of Tangier goes on as I hope it will. So with praise to
God for this state of fortune that I am brought to as to wealth, and my
condition being as I have at large set it down two days ago in this book,
I home to supper and to bed, desiring God to give me the grace to make
good use of what I have and continue my care and diligence to gain more.
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
All divided that were bred so long at school together
Began discourse of my not getting of children
Came to bed to me, but all would not make me friends
Feared I might meet with some people that might know me
Had no mind to meddle with her
Her impudent tricks and ways of getting money
How little to be presumed of in our greatest undertakings
Mind to have her bring it home
My wife made great means to be friends, coming to my bedside
Never to trust too much to any man in the world
Not well, and so had no pleasure at all with my poor wife
Not when we can, but when we list
Now against her going into the country (lay together)
Periwigg he lately made me cleansed of its nits
Presse seamen, without which we cannot really raise men
Shakespeare's plays
She had the cunning to cry a great while, and talk and blubber
There eat and drank, and had my pleasure of her twice
These Lords are hard to be trusted
Things wear out of themselves and come fair again
To my Lord Sandwich, thinking to have dined there
Upon a very small occasion had a difference again broke out
Very high and very foule words from her to me
What wine you drinke, lett it bee at meales