houses lost this fire in the City comes to 600,000l. per annum;
that this will make the Parliament more quiet than otherwise they
would have been, and give the King a more ready supply; that the
supply must be by excise, as it is in Holland; that the
Parliament will see it necessary to carry on the war; that the
late storm hindered our beating the Dutch fleet, who were gone
out only to satisfy the people, having no business to do but to
avoid us; that the French, as late in the year as it is, are
coming; that the Dutch are really in bad condition, but that this
unhappiness of ours do give them heart: that there was a late
difference between my Lord Arlington and Sir W. Coventry about
neglect in the latter to send away an express of the other's in
time; that it come before the King, and the Duke of York
concerned himself in it; but this fire hath stopped it. The
Dutch fleet is not gone home, but rather to the North, and so
dangerous to our Gottenburgh fleet. That the Parliament is
likely to fall foul upon some persons; and, among others, on the
Vice-chamberlaine, [Sir G. Carteret.] though we both believe
with little ground. That certainly never so great a loss as this
was borne so well by citizens in the world; he believing that not
one merchant upon the 'Change will break upon it. That he do not
apprehend there will be any disturbances in State upon it; for
that all men are busy in looking after their own business to save
themselves. He gone, I to finish my letters, and home to bed;
and find to my infinite joy many rooms clean; and myself and wife
lie in our own chamber again. But much terrified in the nights
now-a-days with dreams of fire, and falling down of houses.
17th. Up betimes, and shaved myself after a week's growth: but,
Lord! how ugly I was yesterday and how fine to-day! By water,
seeing the City all the way, a sad sight indeed, much fire being
still in. Sir W. Coventry was in great pain lest the French
fleet should be passed by our fleet, who had notice of them on
Saturday, and were preparing to go meet them; but their minds
altered, and judged them merchant-men, when the same day the
Success, Captain Ball, made their whole fleet, and come to
Brighthelmstone, and thence at five o'clock afternoon, Saturday,
wrote Sir W. Coventry news thereof; so that we do much fear our
missing them. Hence come in and talked with him Sir Thomas
Clifford, [Eldest son of Hugh Clifford, Esq., of Ugbrooke, M.P.
for Totness, 1661, and knighted for his conduct in the sea-fight
1665. After filling several high offices, he was in 1672 created
Baron Clifford of Chudleigh, and constituted High Treasurer;
which place he resigned the following year, a few months before
his death.] who appears a very fine gentleman, and much set by
at Court for his activity in going to sea, and stoutness every
where, and stirring up and down.
18th. This day the Parliament met, and adjourned till Friday,
when the King will be with them.
19th. To St. James's, and did our usual business before the Duke
of York; which signified little, our business being only
complaints of lack of money. Here I saw a bastard of the late
King of Sweden's come to kiss his hands; a mighty modish French-
like gentleman. Thence to White Hall with Sir W. Batten and W.
Pen, to Wilkes's; and there did hear many stories of Sir Henry
Wood. [Clerk of the Spicery to Charles I.; and, after the
Restoration, Clerk to the Board of Green Cloth.] About Lord
Norwich drawing a tooth at a health. Another time, he and
Pinchbacke and Dr. Goffe, [Dr. Gough, Clerk of the Queen's
Closet, and her Assistant Confessor.] now a religious man:--
Pinchbacke did begin a frolick to drink out of a glass with a
toad in it: he did it without harm. Goffe, who knew sacke would
kill the toad, called for sack; and when he saw it dead, says he,
"I will have a quick toad, and will not drink from a dead toad."
By that means, no other being to be found, he escaped the health.
20th. The fleet is come into the Downes. Nothing done, nor
French fleet seen: we drove all from our anchors. But Sir G.
Carteret says news is come that De Ruyter is dead, or very near
it, of a hurt in his mouth, upon the discharge of one of his own
guns: which put him into a fever, and he likely to die, if not
already dead.
21st. The Parliament meet to-day, and the King to be with them.
At the office, about our accounts, which now draw near the time
they should be ready, the House having ordered Sir G. Carteret,
upon his offering them, to bring them in on Saturday next.
23rd. Mr. Wayth and I by water to White Hall, and there at Sir
G. Carteret's lodgings Sir W. Coventry met, and we did debate the
whole business of our accounts to the Parliament; where it
appears to us that the charge of the war from September 1, 1664,
to this Michaelmas, will have been but 3,200,000l., and we have
paid in that time somewhat about 2,200,000l.; so that we owe
above 900,000l.: but our method of accounting, though it cannot,
I believe, be far wide from the mark, yet will not abide a strict
examination if the Parliament should be troublesome. There
happened a pretty question of Sir W. Coventry, whether this
account of ours will not put my Lord Treasurer to a difficulty to
tell what is become of all the money the Parliament have given in
this time for the war, which hath amounted to about 4,000,000l.
which nobody there could answer; but I perceive they did doubt
what his answer could be.
24th. Up, and down to look for Sir W. Coventry; and at last
found him and Sir G. Carteret with the Lord Treasurer at White
Hall, consulting how to make up my Lord Treasurer's general
account, as well as that; of the Navy particularly.
25th. With all my people to get the letter writ over about the
Navy Accounts; and by coach to Lord Brouncker's, and got his hand
to it; and then to the Parliament House and got it signed by the
rest, and then delivered it at the House-door to Sir Philip
Warwicke; Sir G. Carteret being gone into the House with his book
of accounts under his arme, to present to the House. All night
still mightily troubled in my sleep with fire and houses pulling
down.
26th. By coach home, calling at Bennet's, our late mercer, who
is come into Covent Garden to a fine house looking down upon the
Exchange. And I perceive many Londoners every day come. And Mr.
Pierce hath let his wife's closet, and the little blind
bedchamber, and a garret to a silk-man for 50l. fine, and 30l.
per annum, and 40l. per annum more for dieting the master and two
prentices. By Mr. Dugdale I hear the great loss of books in St.
Paul's Church-yard, and at their Hall also, which they value at
about 150,000l.; some book-sellers being wholly undone, and among
others they say my poor Kirton. And Mr. Crumlum, [Samuel
Cromleholme, or Crumlum, Master of St. Paul's School.] all his
books and household stuff burned; they trusting to St. Fayth's,
and the roof of the church falling, broke the arch down into the
lower church, and so all the goods burned. A very great loss.
His father hath lost above 1000l. in books; one book newly
printed, a Discourse, it seems, of Courts. Here I had the hap to
see my Lady Denham: and at night went into the dining-room and
saw several fine ladies; among others, Castlemaine, but chiefly
Denham again; and the Duke of York taking her aside and talking
to her in the sight of all the world, all alone; which was
strange, and what also I did not like. Here I met with good Mr.
Evelyn, who cries out against it, and calls it bickering; for the
Duke of York talks a little to her, and then she goes away, and
then he follows her again like a dog. He observes that none of
the nobility come out of the country at all, to help the King, or
comfort him, or prevent commotions at this fire; but do as if the
King were nobody; nor ne'er a priest comes to give the King and
Court good council, or to comfort the poor people that suffer;
but all is dead, nothing of good in any of their minds: he
bemoans it, and says he fears more ruin hangs over our heads. My
wife tells me she hath bought a gown of 15s. per yard; the same,
before her face, my Lady Castlemaine this day bought also. Sir
W. Pen proposes his and my looking out into Scotland about
timber, and to use Pett there; for timber will be a good
commodity this time of building the City. Our fleet abroad, and
the Dutch too, for all we know. The weather very bad: and under
the command of an unlucky man, I fear. God bless him and the
fleet under him!
27th. A very furious blowing night all the night; and my mind
still mightily perplexed with dreams, and burning the rest of the
town; and waking in much pain for the fleet. I to look out
Penny, my tailor, to speak for a cloak and cassock for my
brother, who is coming to town; and I will have him in a
canonical dress, that he may be the fitter to go abroad with me.
No news of the fleet yet, but that they went by Dover on the 25th
towards the Gun-fleet; but whether the Dutch be yet abroad, or
no, we hear not. De Ruyter is not dead, but like to do well.
Most think that the gross of the French fleet are gone home
again.
28th. Comes the bookbinder to gild the backs of my books. Sir
W. Pen broke to me a proposition of his and my joining in a
design of fetching timber and deals from Scotland, by the help of
Mr. Pett upon the place; which, while London is building, will
yield good money. I approve it.
29th. Sir W. Coventry and I find to our great joy, that the
wages, victuals, wear and tear, cast by the medium of the men,
will come to above 3,000,000l.; and that the extraordinaries,
which all the world will allow us, will arise to more than will
justify the expence we have declared to have been at since the
war; viz. 320,000l.
30th (Lord's day). Up, and to church, where I have not been a
good while; and there the church infinitely thronged with
strangers since the fire come into our parish; but not one
handsome face in all of them, as if, indeed, there was a curse,
as Bishop Fuller heretofore said, upon our parish. This month
ends with my mind full of business and concernment how this
office will speed with the Parliament, which begins to be mighty
severe in the examining our accounts, and the expence of the Navy
this war.
OCTOBER 1, 1666. All the morning at the office, getting the list
of all the ships and vessels employed since the war, for the
Committee of Parliament.
2nd. Sir G. Carteret tells me how our lists are referred to a
Sub-committee to consider and examine, and that I am ordered to
be there. By and by the Committee met, and appointed me to
attend them to-morrow at the office to examine our lists.
3rd. The Committee met, and I did make shift to answer them
better than I expected. Sir W. Batten, Lord Brouncker, W. Pen,
come in, but presently went out; and J. Minnes come in, and said
two or three words from the purpose but to do hurt; so away he
went also, and left me all the morning with them alone to stand
or fall. And it ended with good peace, and much seeming
satisfaction; but I find them wise and reserved, and instructed
to hit all our blots.
4th. To Sir G. Carteret, and there discoursed much of the want
of money, and our being designed for destruction. How the King
hath lost his power, by submitting himself to this way of
examining his accounts, and is become but as a private man. He
says the King is troubled at it. But they talk an entry [In the
Journals of the House of Commons.] shall be made; that it is not
to be brought; into example; that the King must, if they do not
agree presently, make them a courageous speech, which he says he
may do (the City of London being now burned, and himself master
of an army) better than any prince before him.
5th. The Sub-committee have made their report to the Grand
Committee, and in pretty kind terms. Captain Cocke told me of a
wild motion made in the House of Lords by the Duke of Buckingham,
for all men that have cheated the King to be declared traitors
and felons; and that my Lord Sandwich was named. Mr. Kirton's
kinsman, my bookseller, come in my may; and so I am told by him
that Mr. Kirton is utterly undone, and made 2 or 3000l. worse
than nothing, from being worth 7 or 8000l. That the goods laid
in the Churchyard fired through the windows those in St. Fayth's
church; and those coming to the warehouses' doors fired them, and
burned all the books and the pillars of the church, so as the
roof falling down, broke quite down; which it did not do in the
other places of the church, which is alike pillared, (which I
knew not before;) but being not burned, they stood still. He do
believe there is above 150,000l. of books burned; all the great
book-sellers almost undone: not only these, but their warehouses
at their Hall and under Christ-church, and elsewhere, being all
burned. A great want thereof there will be of books, specially
Latin books and foreign books; and, among others, the Polyglottes
and new Bible, which he believes will be presently worth 40l. a-
piece.
6th. Sir W. Coventry and I discoursed of, among others, our sad
condition by want of a Controller; and it was his words, that he
believes, besides all the shame and trouble he [Sir John Minnes,
who performed the duties inefficiently.] hath brought on the
office, the King had better have given 100,000l. than ever have
had him there. He did discourse about some of these discontented
Parliament-men, and says that Birch is a false rogue, but that
Garraway is a man that hath not been well used by the Court,
though very stout to death, and hath suffered all that is
possible for the King from the beginning. But discontented as he
is, yet he never knew a Session of Parliament but that he hath
done some good deed for the King before it rose. I told him the
passage Cocke told me of--his having begged a brace of bucks of
the Lord Arlington for him, and when it come to him, he sent it
back again. Sir W. Coventry told me, it is much to be pitied
that the King should lose the service of a man so able and
faithful; and that he ought to be brought over, but that it is
always observed, that by bringing over one discontented man, you
raise up three in his room; which is a state lesson I never knew
before. But when others discover your fear, and that discontent
procures fear, they will be discontented too, and impose on you.
7th. To White Hall, where met by Sir W. Batten and Lord
Brouncker, to attend the King and Duke of York at the Cabinet;
but nobody had determined what to speak of, but only in general
to ask for money. So I was forced immediately to prepare in my
mind a method of discoursing. And anon we were called in to the
Green Room, where the King, Duke of York, Prince Rupert, Lord
Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, Duke of Albemarle, Sirs G. Carteret,
W. Coventry, Morrice. Nobody beginning, I did, and made a
current, and I thought a good speech, laying open the ill state
of the Navy: by the greatness of the debt; greatness of the work
to do against next year; the time and materials it would take;
and our incapacity, through a total want of money. I had no
sooner done, but Prince Rupert rose up and told the King in a
heat, that whatever the gentleman had said, he had brought home
his fleet in as good a condition as ever any fleet was brought
home; that twenty boats would be as many as the fleet would want:
and all the anchors and cables left in the storm, might be taken
up again. This arose from my saying, among other things we had
to do, that the fleet was come in,--the greatest fleet that ever
his Majesty had yet together, and that in as bad condition as the
enemy or weather could put it. And to use Sir W. Pen's words,
who is upon the place taking a survey, he dreads the reports he
is to receive from the Surveyors of its defects. I therefore did
only answer, that I was sorry for his Highness's offence, but
that what I said was but the report we received from those
entrusted in the fleet to inform us. He muttered and repeated
what he had said; and so, after a long silence on all hands,
nobody, not so much as the Duke of Albemarle, seconding the
Prince, nor taking notice of what he said, we withdrew. I was
not a little troubled at this passage, and the more when speaking
with Jacke Fenn about it, he told me that the Prince will be
asking who this Pepys is, and find him to be a creature of my
Lord Sandwich's, and therefore this was done only to disparage
him. After all this pains, the King hath found out how to supply
us with 5 or 6000l., when 100,000l. were at this time but
absolutely necessary, and we mentioned 50,000l. I made my
brother in his cassocke to say grace this day, but I like his
voice so ill, that I begin to be sorry he hath taken orders.
8th. Towards noon by water to Westminster Hall, and there by
several hear that the Parliament do resolve to do something to
retrench Sir G. Carteret's great salary; but cannot hear of any
thing bad they can lay to his charge. The House did this day
order to be engrossed the Bill against importing Irish cattle: a
thing, it seems carried on by the Western Parliament-men, wholly
against the sense of most of the rest of the House; who think if
you do this, you give the Irish again cause to rebel. Mr. Pierce
says, the Duke of York and Duke of Albemarle do not agree. The
Duke of York is wholly given up to this Lady Denham. The Duke of
Albemarle and Prince Rupert do less agree. The King hath
yesterday in Council declared his resolution of setting a fashion
for clothes, which he will never alter. It will be a vest, I
know not well how; but it is to teach the nobility thrift, and
will do good. By and by comes down from the Committee Sir W.
Coventry, and I find him troubled at several things happened this
afternoon. Which vexes me also; our business looking worse and
worse, and our work growing on our hands. Time spending, and no
money to set any thing in hand with; the end thereof must be
speedy ruin. The Dutch insult and have taken off Bruant's head,
which they had not dared to do (though found guilty of the fault
he did die for, of something of the Prince of Orange's faction)
till just now, which speaks more confidence in our being worse
than before. Alderman Maynell, I hear, is dead. Thence returned
in the dark by coach all alone, full of thoughts of the
consequences of this ill complexion of affairs, and how to save
the little I have, which if I can do, I have cause to bless God
that I am so well, and shall be well contented to retreat to
Brampton, and spend the rest of my days there. So to my office,
and finished my Journal with resolutions, if God bless me, to
apply myself soberly to settle all matters for myself and expect
the event of all with comfort.
9th. To the office, where we sat the first day since the fire.
10th. Fast-day for the fire. With Sir W. Batten by water to
White Hall, and anon had a meeting before the Duke of York, where
pretty to see how Sir W. Batten, that carried the surveys of all
the fleet with him to show their ill condition to the Duke of
York, when he found the Prince there, did not speak one word,
though the meeting was of his asking; for nothing else. And when
I asked him, he told me he knew the Prince too well to anger him,
so that he was afraid to do it. Thence with him to Westminster,
to the parish church, where the Parliament-men; and
Stillingfleete in the pulpit. So full, no standing there; so he
and I to eat herrings at the Dog Tavern. And then to church
again, and there was Mr. Frampton in the pulpit, whom they cry up
so much, a young man, and of a mighty ready tongue. I heard a
little of his sermon. Captain Cooke, who is mighty conversant
with Garraway and those people, tells me what they object as to
the mal-administration of things as to money. But that they mean
well, and will do well; but their reckonings are very good, and
show great faults, as I will insert here. They say the King hath
had towards this war expressly thus much:--
Royal Ayde . . . . . . L2,450,000
More . . . . . . 1,250,000
Three months tax given the King by a power of )
raising a month's tax of 70,000l. every year for) 0,210,000
three years. )
Customes, out of which the King did promise to ) 0,480,000
pay 240,000l. which for two years come to )
Prizes, which they moderately reckon at 0,300,000
A debt declared by the Navy, by us 0,900,000
---------
5,590,000
The whole charge of the Navy, as we state it ) 3,200,000
for two years and a month, hath been but )
So what is become of all this sum? L2,390,000
[The remainder of the receipts.]
He and I did bemoan our public condition. He tells me the Duke
of Albemarle is under a cloud, and they have a mind at Court to
lay him aside. This I know not; but all things are not right
with him: and I am glad of it, but sorry for the time.
11th. MEMORANDUM. I had taken my Journal during the fire and
the disorders following in loose papers until this very day, and
could not get time to enter them in my book till January 18, in
the morning, having made my eyes sore by frequent attempts this
winter to do it. But now it is done; for which I thank God, and
pray never the like occasion may happen.
12th. The House have cut us off 150,000l. of our wear and tear,
for that which was saved by the King while the fleet lay in
harbour in winter. However, he seems pleased, and so am I, that
they have abated no more: and do intend to allow of 28,000 men
for the next year; and this day have appointed to declare the sum
they will give the King, and to propose the way of raising it; so
that this is likely to be the great day.
13th. To White Hall, and there the Duke of York (who is gone
over to all his pleasures again, and leaves off care of business,
what with his woman, my Lady Denham, and his hunting three times
a week was just come in from hunting. So I stood and saw him
dress himself, and try on his vest, which is the King's new
fashion, and he will be in it for good and all on Monday next,
and the whole Court: it is a fashion, the King says, he will
never change. He being ready, he and my lord Chancellor, and
Duke of Albemarle, and Prince Rupert, Lord Bellasses, Sir H.
Cholmly, Povy, and myself, met at a Committee for Tangier. My
Lord Bellasses's propositions were read and discoursed of, about
reducing the garrison to less charge; and indeed I am mad in love
with my Lord Chancellor, for he do comprehend and speak out well,
and with the greatest easiness and authority that ever I saw man
in my life. I did never observe how much easier a man do speak
when he knows all the company to be below him, than in him; for
though he spoke indeed excellent well, yet his manner and freedom
of doing it, as if he played with it, and was informing only all
the rest of the company, was mighty pretty. He did call again
and again upon Mr. Povy for his accounts. I did think fit to
make the solemn tender of my accounts that I intended. I said
something that was liked, touching the want of money, and the bad
credit of our tallies. My Lord Chancellor moved that without any
trouble to any of the rest of the Lords, I might alone attend the
King, when he was with his private Council, and open the state of
the garrisons; want of credit: and all that could be done,
should. Most things moved were referred to Committees, and so we
broke up. And at the end Sir W. Coventry come; so I away with
him, and he discoursed with me something of the Parliament's
business. They have voted giving the King for the next year
1,800,000l.; which, were it not for his debts, were a great sum.
14th. I met with Sir Stephen Fox, who told me much right I have
done myself, and how well it is represented by the Committee to
the House my readiness to give them satisfaction in every thing
when they were at the office. I was glad of this. He did
further discourse of Sir W. Coventry's great abilities, and how
necessary it were that I were of the House to assist him. I did
not own it, but do myself think it were not unnecessary, if
either he should die, or be removed to the Lords, or anything
happen to hinder his doing the like service the next trial; which
makes me think that it were not a thing very unfit; but I will
not move in it.
15th. Colvill tells me of the viciousness of the Court; the
contempt the King brings himself into thereby; his minding
nothing, but doing all things just as his people about him will
have it! The Duke of York becoming a slave to this Lady Denham,
and wholly minds her. That there really were amours between the
Duchesse and Sidny; that there is reason to fear that, as soon as
the Parliament have raised this money, the King will see that he
hath got all that he can get, and then make up a peace; that Sir
W. Coventry is of the caball with the Duke of York, and Brouncker
with this Lady Denham: which is a shame, and I am sorry for it,
and that Sir W. Coventry do make her visits: but yet I hope it
is not so. Pierce tells me, that Lady Castlemaine is concluded
to be with child again; and that all the people about the King do
make no scruple of saying that the King do intrigue with Mrs.
Stewart, who, he says, is a most excellent-natured lady. This
day the King begins to put on his vest, and I did see several
persons of the House of Lords and Commons too, great courtiers,
who are in it; being a long cassocke close to the body, of black
cloth, and pinked with white silk under it, and a coat over it,
and the legs ruffled with black riband like a pigeon's leg: and
upon the whole I wish the King may keep it, for it is a very fine
and handsome garment. Lady Carteret tells me ladies are to go
into a new fashion shortly and that is, to wear short coats,
above their ancles; which she and I not like; but conclude this
long trayne to be mighty graceful. But she cries out of the
vices of the Court, and how they are going to set up plays
already; and how, the next day after the late great fast, the
Duchesse of York did give the King and Queene a play. Nay, she
told me that they have heretofore had plays at Court, the very
nights before the fast for the death of the late King. She do
much cry out upon these things, and that which she believes will
undo the whole nation: and I fear so too. This day the great
debate was in Parliament, the manner of raising the 1,800,000l.
they voted the King on Friday: and at last, after many
proposals, one moved that the Chimney-money might be taken from
the King, and an equal revenue of something else might be found
for the King; and people be enjoyned to buy off this tax of
Chimney-money for ever at eight years' purchase, which will raise
present money, as they think, 1,600,000l., and the State be eased
of an ill burthen, and the King be supplied of something as good
or better for his use. The House seems to like this, and put off
the debate to to-morrow.
17th. The Court is all full of vests, only my Lord St. Albans
not pinked, but plain black; and they say the King says the
pinking upon whites makes them look too much like magpyes, and
therefore hath bespoke one of plain velvet.
18th. To Lovett's house, where I stood godfather. But it was
pretty that, being a Protestant, a man stood by and was my proxy
to answer for me. A priest christened it, and the boy's name is
Samuel. The ceremonies many, and some foolish. The priest in a
gentleman's dress, more than my own: but is a Capuchin, one of
the Queen-mother's priests. He did give my proxy and the woman
proxy, (my Lady Bills, [Probably the widow of Sir Thomas Pelham,
who re-married John Bills, Esq, of Caen Wood, and retained the
title derived from her first husband with the name of her
second.] absent, had a proxy also,) good advice to bring up the
child, and at the end that he ought never to marry the child nor
the godmother, nor the godmother the child or the godfather:
but, which is strange, they say the mother of the child and the
godfather may marry. By and by the Lady Bills come in, a well-
bred but crooked woman. The poor people of the house had good
wine, and a good cake; and she a pretty woman in her lying-in
dress. It cost me near 40s. the whole christening: to midwife
20s., nurse 10s., maid 2s. 6d., and the coach 5s. The business of
buying off the Chimney-money is passed in the House; and so the
King to be satisfied some other way, and the King supplied with
the money raised by this purchasing off of the chimnies.
19th. Nothing but distraction and confusion in the affairs of
the Navy; which makes me wish with all my heart, that I were well
and quietly settled with what little I have got at Brampton,
where I might live peaceably, and study, and pray for the good of
the King and my country.
20th. Commissioner Middleton [Thomas Middleton, made a
Commissioner of the Navy, 1664.] says, that the fleet was in
such a condition, as to discipline, as if the Devil had commanded
it; so much wickedness of all sorts. Enquiring how it came to
pass that so many ships had miscarried this year, he tells me
that he enquired; and the pilots do say, that they dare not do
nor go but as the Captains will have them; and if they offer to
do otherwise, the Captains swear they will run them through.
He says that he heard Captain Digby (my Lord of Bristoll's son, a
young fellow that never was but one year, if that, in the fleet,)
say that he did hope he should not see a tarpawlin [Tarpawlin, a
sailor.] have the command of a ship within this twelve months.
He observed while he was on board the Admirall, when the fleet
was at Portsmouth, that there was a faction there. Holmes
commanded all on the Prince's side, and Sir Jeremy Smith on the
Duke's, and every body that come did apply themselves to one side
or other; and when the Duke of Albemarle was gone away to come
hither, then Sir Jeremy Smith did hang his head, and walked in
the General's ship but like a private commander. He says he was
on board the Prince, when the news come of the burning of London;
and all the Prince said was, that now Shipton's prophecy was out;
and he heard a young commander presently swear, that a citizen's
wife that would not take under half a piece before, would be
contented with half-a-crowne: and made mighty sport of it. My
Lord Chancellor the other day did ask Sir G. Carteret how it come
to pass that his friend Pepys do so much magnify the bad
condition of the fleet. Sir G. Carteret tells me that he
answered him, that I was but the mouth of the rest, and spoke
what they have dictated to me; which did, as he says, presently
take off his displeasure. They talk that the Queene hath a great
mind to alter her fashion, and to have the feet seen; which she
loves mightily.
21st. Sir H. Cholmly tells me how Mr. Williamson stood in a
little place to have come into the House of Commons, and they
would not choose him; they said, "No courtier." And which is
worse, Bab May went down in great state to Winchelsea with the
Duke of York's letters, not doubting to be chosen; and there the
people chose a private gentleman in spite of him, and cried out
they would have no Court pimp to be their burgesse; which are
things that bode very ill.
24th. Holmes did last Sunday deliver in his articles to the King
and Cabinet against Smith, and Smith hath given in his answer,
and lays his not accompanying the fleet to his pilot, who would
not undertake to carry the ship further; which the pilot
acknowledges. The thing is not accommodated, but only taken up,
and both sides commanded to be quiet, but no peace like to be.
The Duke of Albemarle is Smith's friend, and hath publickly sworn
that he would never go to sea again, unless Holmes's commission
were taken from him. I find by Hayes [Prince Rupert's
secretary.] that they did expect great glory in coming home in
so good condition as they did with the fleet; and therefore I the
less wonder that the Prince was distasted with my discourse the
other day about the sad state of the fleet. But it pleases me to
hear that he did expect great thanks, and lays the fault of the
want; of it upon the fire, which deadened every thing, and the
glory of his services.
25th. To Mrs. Pierce's, where she was making herself mighty fine
to go to a great ball to-night at Court, being the Queene's
birth-day; so the ladies for this one day wear laces, but are to
put them off again to-morrow, To Mrs. Williams's, where we met
Knipp. I was glad to see the jade. Made her sing; and she told
us they begin at both houses to act on Monday next. But I fear
after all this sorrow, their gains will be but little. Mrs.
Williams says, the Duke's house will now be much the better of
the two, because of their women; which I was glad to hear.
27th. The two Houses begin to be troublesome: the Lords to have
quarrels one with another. My Lord Duke of Buckingham having
said to the Lord Chancellor (who is against the passing of the
Bill for prohibiting the bringing over of Irish cattle,) that
whoever was against the Bill, was there led to it by an Irish
interest, or an Irish understanding, which is as much as to say
be is a fool; this bred heat from my Lord Chancellor, and
something he said did offend my Lord of Ossory (my Lord Duke of
Ormond's son,) and they two had hard words, upon which the latter
sends a challenge to the former; of which the former complains to
the House, and so the business is to be heard on Monday next.
Then as to the Commons; some ugly knives, like poignards, to stab
people with, about two or three hundred of them were brought in
yesterday to the House, found in one of the houses rubbish that
was burned, and said to be the house of a Catholique. This and
several letters out of the country, saying how high the
Catholiques are every where and bold in the owning their
religion, hath made the Commons mad, and they presently voted
that the King be desired to put all Catholiques out of
employment, and other high things; while the business of money
hangs in the hedge.
28th. Captain Guy to dine with me, and he and I much talk
together. He cries out of the discipline of the fleet, and
confesses really that; the true English valour we talk of, is
almost spent and worn out; few of the commanders doing what they
should do, and he much fears we shall therefore be beaten the
next year. He assures me we were beaten home the last June
fight, and that the whole fleet was ashamed to hear of our
bonfires. He commends Smith and cries out of Holmes for an idle,
proud, conceited, though stout fellow. He tells me we are to owe
the loss of so many ships on the sands, not to any fault of the
pilots, but to the weather; but in this I have good authority to
fear there was something more. He says the Dutch do fight in
very good order, and we in none at all. He says that in the July
fight, both the Prince and Holmes had their belly-fulls, and were
fain to go aside; though, if the wind had continued, we had
utterly beaten them. He do confess the whole to be governed by a
company of fools, and fears our ruine. The Revenge having her
forecastle blown up with powder to the killing of some men in the
River, and the Dyamond's being overset in the careening at
Sheernese, are further marks of the method all the King's work is
now done in. The Foresight also and another come to disasters in
the same place this week in the cleaning; which is strange.
29th. Up, and to the office to do business, and thither comes to
me Sir Thomas Teddiman, and he and I walked a good while in the
garden together, discoursing of the disorder and discipline of
the fleet, wherein he told me how bad every thing is; but was
very wary in speaking any to the dishonour of the Prince or Duke
of Albemarle, but do magnify my Lord Sandwich much before them
both, from ability to serve the King, and do heartily wish for
him here. For he fears that we shall be undone the next year,
but that he will, however, see an end of it. To Westminster; and
I find the new Lord Mayor Bolton a-swearing at the Exchequer,
with some of the Aldermen and Livery; but Lord! to see how
meanely they now look, who upon this day used to be all little
lords, is a sad sight and worthy consideration. And every body
did reflect with pity upon the poor City, to which they are now
coming to choose and swear their Lord Mayor, compared with what
it heretofore was. To my goldsmith to bid him look out for some
gold for me; and he tells me that ginnys, which I bought 2000 of
not long ago, and cost me 18 1/2d. change, will now cost me 22d.;
and but very few to be had at any price. However, some more I
will have, for they are very convenient, and of easy disposal.
To White Hall, and into the new playhouse there, the first time I
ever was there, and the first play I have seen since before the
great plague. By and by Mr. Pierce comes, bringing my wife and
his, and Knipp. By and by the King and Queen, Duke and Duchesse,
and all the great ladies of the Court; which, indeed, was a fine
sight. But the play, being "Love in a Tub," [A comedy, by Sir
George Etheridge.] a silly play, and though done by the Duke's
people, yet having neither Beterton nor his wife, [Vide Note to
Feb. 1, 1663-4.] and the whole thing done ill, and being ill
also, I had no manner of pleasure in the play. Besides, the
House, though very fine, yet bad for the voice, for hearing. The
sight of the ladies, indeed, was exceeding noble; and above all,
my Lady Castlemaine. The play done by ten o'clock.
NOVEMBER 2, 1666. On board the Ruby French prize, the only ship
of war we have taken from any of our enemies this year. It seems
a very good ship, but with galleries quite round the sterne to
walk in as a balcone, which will be taken down.
4th. My taylor's man brings my vest home, and coat to wear with
it and belt, and silver-hilted sword. I waited in the gallery
till the Council was up, and did speak with Mr. Cooling, my Lord
Chamberlain's secretary, who tells me my Lord Generall is become
mighty low in all people's opinion, and that he hath received
several slurs from the King and Duke of York. The people at
Court do see the difference between his and the Prince's
management, and my Lord Sandwich's. That this business which he
is put upon of crying out against the Catholiques and turning
them out of all employment, will undo him, when he comes to turn
the officers out of the Army, and this is a thing of his own
seeking. That he is grown a drunken sot, and drinks with nobody
but Troutbecke, whom nobody else will keep company with. Of whom
he told me this story; that once the Duke of Albemarle in his
drink taking notice as of a wonder that Nan Hide should ever come
to be Duchesse of York: "Nay," says Troutbecke, "ne'er wonder at
that; for if you will give me another bottle of wine, I will tell
you as great, if not greater, a miracle." And what was that, but
that our dirty Besse (meaning his Duchesse) should come to be
Duchesse of Albemarle?
5th. To my Lady Peterborough, who had sent to speak with me.
She makes mighty mourn of the badness of the times, and her
family as to money. My Lord's passionateness for want thereof,
and his want of coming in of rents, and no wages from the Duke
of York. No money to be had there for wages or disbursements,
and therefore prays my assistance about his pension. To my Lord
Crewe's, and there dined, and mightily made of. Here my Lord,
and Sir Thomas Crewe, Mr. John, and Dr, Crewe, [Nathaniel,
afterwards Bishop of Durham and Baron Crewe.] and two strangers.
The best family in the world for goodness and sobriety. Here
beyond my expectation I met my Lord Hinchingbroke, who is come to
town two days since from Hinchingbroke, and brought his sister
and brother Carteret with him, who are at Sir G. Carteret's.
After dinner I and Sir Thomas Crewe went aside to discourse of
public matters, and do find by him that all the country gentlemen
are publickly jealous of the courtiers in the Parliament, and
that they do doubt every thing that they propose; and that the
true reason why the country-gentlemen are for a land-tax and
against a general excise, is, because they are fearful that if
the latter be granted, they shall never get it down again;
whereas the land-tax will be but for so much, and when the war
ceases, there will be no ground got by the court to keep it up.
He says the House would be very glad to get something against Sir
G. Carteret, and will not let their inquiries die till they have
got something. He do, from what he hath heard at the Committee
for examining the burning of the City, conclude it as a thing
certain, that it was done by plots; it being proved by many
witnesses that endeavours were made in several places to encrease
the fire, and that both in City and country it was bragged by
several Papists, that upon such a day or in such a time we should
find the hottest weather that ever was in England; and words of
plainer sense. But my Lord Crewe was discoursing at table how
the Judges have determined in the case whether the landlords or
the tenants (who are, in their leases, all of them generally tied
to maintain and uphold their houses,) shall bear the loss of the
fire; and they say, that tenants should against all casualties of
fire beginning either in their own, or in their neighbour's; but,
where it is done by an enemy, they are not to do it. And this
was by an enemy, there having been one convicted and hanged upon
this very score. This is an excellent salve for the tenants, and
for which I am glad, because of my father's house. After dinner
and this discourse, I took coach, and at the same time find my
Lord Hinchingbroke and Mr. John Crewe and the Doctor going out to
see the ruins of the City; so I took the Doctor into my hackney-
coach, (and he is a very fine sober gentleman,) and so through
the City. But Lord! what pretty and sober observations he made
of the City and its desolation; anon we come to my house, and
there I took them upon Tower-Hill to show them what houses were
pulled down there since the fire; and then to my house, where I
treated them with good wine of several sorts, and they took it
mighty respectfully, and a fine company of gentlemen they are;
but above all I was glad to see my Lord Hinchingbroke drink no
wine at all. I home by coach, but met not one bonfire through
the whole town in going round by the wall, which is strange, and
speaks the melancholy disposition of the City at present, while
never more was said of, and feared of, and done against the
Papists, than just at this time.
7th. Called at Faythorne's to buy some prints for my wife to
draw by this winter, and here did see my Lady Castlemaine's
picture, done by him from Lilly's, in red chalke, and other
colours, by which he hath cut it in copper to be printed. The
picture in chalke is the finest thing I ever saw in my life, I
think; and I did desire to buy it; but he says he must keep it
awhile to correct his copper-plate by, and when that is done he
will sell it me. By the Duke of York his discourse to-day in his
chamber, they have it at Court, as well as we here, that a fatal
day is to be expected shortly, of some great mischief; whether by
the Papists, or what, they are not certain. But the day is
disputed; some say next Friday, others a day sooner, others
later, and I hope all will prove a foolery. But it is observable
how every bodys fears are busy at this time.
8th. I to Westminster Hall, and there met Mr. Grey, who tells me
the House is sitting still, (and now it was six o'clock,) and
likely to sit till midnight; and have proceeded fair to give the
King his supply presently. And herein have done more to-day than
was hoped for. Sir W. Coventry did this night tell me how the
business is about Sir J. Minnes; that he is to be a commissioner,
and my Lord Brouncker and Sir W. Pen are to be Controller
jointly, which I am very glad of, and better than if they were
either of them alone; and do hope truly that the King's business
will be better done thereby, and infinitely better than now it
is. Mr. Grey did assure me this night, that he was told this
day, by one of the greater Ministers of State in England, and one
of the King's Cabinet, that we had little left to agree on
between the Dutch and us towards a peace, but only the place of
treaty; which do astonish me to hear, but I am glad of it, for I
fear the consequence of the war. But he says that the King,
having all the money he is like to have, we shall be sure of a
peace in a little time.
9th. To Mrs. Pierce's by appointment, where we find good
company: a fair lady, my Lady Prettyman, Mrs. Corbet, Knipp; and
for men, Captain Downing, Mr. Lloyd, Sir W. Coventry's clerk, and
one Mr. Tripp, who dances well. After our first bout of dancing,
Knipp, and I to sing, and Mercer and Captain Downing (who loves
and understands musick) would by all means have my song of
"Beauty retire:" which Knipp had spread abroad, and he extols it
above any thing he ever heard. Going to dance again, and then
comes news that White Hall was on fire. And presently more
particulars, that the Horse-guard was on fire. And so we run up
to the garret, and find it so; a horrid great fire. And by and
by we saw and heard part of it blown up with powder. The ladies
begun presently to be afraid: one fell into fits. The whole
town in an alarm. Drums beat and trumpets, and the Horse-guards
every where spread, running up and down in the street. And I
begun to have mighty apprehensions how things might be, for we
are in expectation (from common fame) this night or to-morrow to
have a massacre, by the having so many fires one after another,
as that in the City, and at same time begun in Westminster, by
the Palace, but put out; and since in Southwarke, to the burning
down some houses. And now this do make all people conclude there
is something extraordinary in it; but nobody knows what. By and
by comes news that the fire is slackened; so then we were a
little cheered up again, and to supper, and pretty merry. But
above all there comes in the dumb boy that I knew in Oliver's
time, who is mightily acquainted here, and with Downing. And he
made strange signs of the fire, and how the King was abroad, and
many things they understood, but I could not. Which I wondered
at, and discoursing with Downing about it, "Why," says he, "it is
only a little use, and you will understand him, and make him
understand you with as much ease as may be." So I prayed him to
tell him that I was afraid that my coach would be gone, and that
he should go down and steal one of the seats out of the coach and
keep it, and that would make the coachman to stay. He did this,
so that the dumb boy did go down, and like a cunning rogue went
into the coach, pretending to sleep, and by and by fell to his
work, but finds the seats nailed to the coach. So he could not
do it; however, stayed there, and stayed the coach, till the
coachman's patience was quite spent, and beat the dumb boy by
force, and so went away. So the dumb boy came up and told him
all the story, which they below did see all that passed, and knew
it to be true. After supper another dance or two, and then news
that the fire is as great as ever, which put us all to our wits'
end; and I mightily anxious to go home, but the coach being gone,
and it being about ten at night, and rainy dirty weather, I knew
not what to do; but to walk out with Mr. Batelier, myself
resolving to go home on foot, and leave the women there. And so
did; but at the Savoy got a coach, and come back and took up the
women, and so (having, by people come from the fire, understood
that the fire was overcome, and all well,) we merrily parted, and
home. Stopped by several guards and constables quite through the
town, (round the wall as we went,) all being in arms.
10th. The Parliament did fall foul of our accounts again
yesterday; and we must arme to have them examined, which I am
sorry for: it will bring great trouble to me, and shame upon the
office. This is the fatal day that every body hath discoursed
for a long time to be the day that the Papists, or I know not
who, have designed to commit a massacre upon; but, however, I
trust in God we shall rise to-morrow morning as well as ever. I
hear that my Lady Denham is exceeding sick, even to death, and
that she says, and every body else discourses, that she is
poisoned; and Creed tells me, that it is said that there hath
been a design to poison the King. What the meaning of all these
sad signs is the Lord only knows, but every day things look worse
and worse. God fit us for the worst!
12th. Creed tells me of my Lady Denham, whom every body says is
poisoned, and she hath said it to the Duke of York; but is upon
the mending hand, though the town says she is dead this morning.
This day I received 450 pieces of gold more of Mr. Stokes, but
cost me 22 1/2d. change. But I am well contented with it, I
having now nearly 2800l. in gold, and will not rest till I get
full 3000l. Creed and I did stop (the Duke of York being just
going away from seeing of it) at Pauls, and in the Convocation-
House Yard did there see the body of Robert Braybrooke, Bishop of
London, that died 1404. He fell down in the tomb out of the
great church into St. Fayth's this late fire, and is here seen
his skeleton with the flesh on; but all tough and dry like a
spongy dry leather, or touchwood all upon his bones. His head
turned aside. A great man in his time, and Lord Chancellor. And
now exposed to be handled and derided by some, though admired for
its duration by others. Many flocking to see it.
14th, Knipp tells me how Smith, of the Duke's house, hath killed
a man upon a quarrel in play; which makes every body sorry, he
being a good actor, and they say a good man, however this
happens. The ladies of the Court do much bemoan him. Sir G.
Carteret tells me that just now my Lord Hollis had been with him,
and wept to think in what a condition we are fallen. Dr. Croone
[William Croune of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, chosen Rhetoric
Professor at Gresham College 1659, F.R.S. and M.D. Ob. 1684.]
told me, that at the meeting at Gresham College to-night (which
it seems, they now have every Wednesday again,) there was a
pretty experiment of the blood of one dog let out (till he died)
into the body of another on one side, while all his own run out
on the other side. The first died upon the place, and the other
very well, and likely to do well. This did give occasion to many
pretty wishes, as of the blood of a Quaker to be let into an
Archbishop, and such like; but, as Dr. Croone says, may, if it
takes, be of mighty use to man's health, for the amending of bad
blood by borrowing from a better body.
15th. To Mrs. Pierce's, where I find her as fine as possible,
and Mr. Pierce going to the ball at night at Court, it being the
Queene's birthday. I also to the ball, and with much ado got up
to the loft, where with much trouble I could see very well. Anon
the house grew full, and the candles light, and the King and
Queene and all the ladies sat: and it was, indeed, a glorious
sight to see Mrs. Stewart in black and white lace, and her head
and shoulders dressed with diamonds, and the like many great
ladies more (only the Queene none;) and the King in his rich vest
of some rich silk and silver trimming, as the Duke of York and
all the dancers were, some of cloth of silver, and others of
other sorts, exceeding rich. Presently after the King was come
in, he took the Queene, and about fourteen more couple there was,
and begun the Bransles. As many of the men as I can remember
presently, were, the King, Duke of York, Prince Rupert, Duke of
Monmouth, Duke of Buckingham, Lord Douglas, Mr. Hamilton,
Colonell Russell, Mr. Griffith, Lord Ossory, Lord Rochester; and
of the ladies, the Queene, Duchesse of York, Mrs. Stewart,
Duchesse of Monmouth, Lady Essex Howard, [Only daughter of James
third Earl of Suffolk, by his first wife Susan, daughter of Henry
Rich Earl of Holland; afterwards married to Edward Lord Griffin
of Braybrooke. There is a portrait of her at Audley End, by
Lely.] Mrs. Temple, Swedes Embassadresse, Lady Arlington,
[Isabella, of Nassau, daughter of Lord Beverweert, natural son of
Prince Maurice. She was sister to the Countess of Ossory, and
mother of the first Duchess of Grafton.] Lord George Barkeley's
daughter, and many others I remember not; but all most
excellently dressed in rich petticoats and gowns, and dyamonds
and pearls. After the Bransles, then to a Corant, and now and
then a French dance; but that so rare that the Corants grew
tiresome, that I wished it done. Only Mrs. Stewart danced mighty
finely, and many French dances, specially one the King called the
New Dance, which was very pretty. But upon the whole matter, the
business of the dancing of itself was not extraordinary pleasing.
But the clothes and sight of the persons were indeed very
pleasing, and worth my coming, being never likely to see more
gallantry while I live, if I should come twenty times. Above
twelve at night it broke up. My Lady Castlemaine (without whom
all is nothing) being there very rich, though not dancing.
16th. This noon I met with Mr. Hooke, and he tells me the dog
which was filled with another dog's blood, at the College the
other day, is very well, and like to be so as ever, and doubts
not its being found of great use to men; and so do Dr. Whistler,
who dined with us at the tavern.
19th. To Barkeshire-house; [Belonging to the Earl of Berkshire:
afterwards purchased by Charles II., and presented to the Duchess
of Cleveland, it was then of great extent, and stood on or near
the site of Lord Stafford's present residence.] where my Lord
Chancellor hath been ever since the fire. Sir Thomas Crewe told
me how hot words grew again to-day in the House of Lords between
my Lord Ossory and Ashly, the former saying that something said
by the other was said like one of Oliver's Council. Ashly said
he must give him reparation, or he would take it his own way.
The House therefore did bring my Lord Ossory to confess his
fault, and ask pardon for it, as he did also to my Lord
Buckingham, for saying that something was not truth that my Lord
Buckingham had said.
20th. To church, it being thanksgiving-day for the cessation of
the plague; but, Lord! how the town do say that it is hastened
before the plague is quite over, there being some people still
ill of it, but only to get ground of plays to be publickly acted,
which the Bishops would not suffer till the plague was over; and
one would think so, by the suddenness of the notice given of the
day, which was last Sunday, and the little ceremony. By coach to
Barkeshire-house, and there did get a very great meeting; the
Duke of York being there, and much business done, though not in
proportion to the greatness of the business, and my Lord
Chancellor sleeping and snoring the greater part of the time.
21st. I to wait on Sir Philip Howard, whom I find dressing
himself in his night-gown and turban like a Turke, but one of the
finest persons that ever I saw in my life. He had several
gentlemen of his own waiting on him, and one playing finely on
the gittar. He discourses as well as ever I heard a man, in few
words and handsome. He expressed all kindness to Balty, when I
told him how sicke he is. He says that before he comes to be
mustered again, he must bring a certificate of his swearing the
oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and having taken the Sacrament
according to the rites of the Church of England. This, I
perceive, is imposed on all.
22nd. My Lord Brouncker did show me Hollar's new print of the
City, with a pretty representation of that part which is burnt,
very fine indeed; and tells me, that he was yesterday sworn the
King's servant, and that the King hath commanded him to go on
with his great map of the City, which he was upon before the City
was burned, like Gombout of Paris, which I am glad of. Mr.
Batelier tells me the news how the King of France hath in
defiance to the King of England caused all his footmen to be put
into vests, and that the noblemen of France will do the like;
which, if true, is the greatest indignity ever done by one Prince
to another, and would excite a stone to be revenged; and I hope
our King will, if it be so, as he tells me it is: being told by
one that come over from Paris with my Lady Fanshaw, (who is come
over with the dead body of her husband,) and that saw it before
he come away. This makes me mighty merry, it being an ingenious
kind of affront; but yet makes me angry, to see that the King of
England is become so little as to have the affront offered him.
23rd. I spoke with Sir G. Downing about our prisoners in Holland
and their being released; which he is concerned in, and most of
them are. Then discoursing of matters of the House of
Parliament, he tells me that it is not the fault of the House,
but the King's own party that have hindered the passing of the
Bill for money, by their popping in of new projects for raising
it: which is a strange thing; and mighty confident he is, that
what money is raised, will be raised and put into the same form
that the last was, to come into the Exchequer. And for aught I
see, I must confess I think it is the best way.
24th. With Sir J. Minnes by coach to Stepney to the Trinity
House, where it is kept again now since the burning of their
other house in London. And here a great many met at Sir Thomas
Allen's feast, of his being made an Elder Brother; but he is
sick, and so could not be there. Here was much good company, and
very merry ; but the discourse of Scotland it seems is confirmed,
and that they are 4000 of them in armes, and do declare for King
and Covenant, which is very ill news. I pray God deliver us from
the ill consequences we may justly fear from it. Sir Philip
Warwick I find is full of trouble in his mind to see how things
go, and what our wants are; and so I have no delight to trouble
him with discourse, though I honour the man with all my heart,
and I think him to be a very able right-honest man.
25th. To Sir G. Carteret's to dinner; where much company. Among
others, Mr. Carteret and my Lady Jemimah, and Mr. Ashburnham, the
great man; who is a pleasant man, and that hath seen much of the
world, and more of the Court. Into the Court, and attended there
till the Council met, and then was called in, and I read my
letter. My Lord Treasurer declared that the King had nothing to
give, till the Parliament did give him some money. So the King
did of himself bid me to declare to all that would take our
tallies for payment, that he should, soon as the Parliament's
money do come in, take back their tallies, and give them money:
which I giving him occasion to repeat to me (it coming from him
against the gre, I perceive, of my Lord Treasurer,) I was content
therewith and went out. All the talk of Scotland, where the
highest report I perceive, runs but upon three or four hundred in
armes. Here I saw Mrs. Stewart this afternoon, methought the
beautifullest creature that ever I saw in my life, more than ever
I thought her, so often as I have seen her and I do begin to
think do exceed my Lady Castlemaine, at least now. This being
St. Katherine'a day, the Queene was at masse by seven o'clock
this morning; and Mr. Ashburnham do say that he never saw any one
have so much zeale in his life as she hath: and (the question
being asked by my Lady Carteret,) much beyond the bigotry that
ever the old Queene-mother had. I spoke with Mr. May, [Hugh
May.] who tells me that the design of building the City do go on
apace, and by his description it will be mighty handsome, and to
the satisfaction of the people; but I pray God it come not out
too late. Mr. Ashburnham today, at dinner told how the rich
fortune Mrs. Mallett reports of her servants; that my Lord
Herbert [William Lord Herbert succeeded his father as (sixth)
Earl of Pembroke, 1669. Ob, unmarried 1674.] would have her; my
Lord Hinchingbroke was indifferent to have her; my Lord John
Butler [Seventh son of the Duke of Ormond, created 1676 Baron of
Aghrim, Viscount of Clonmore, and Earl of Gowran. Ob. 1677,
s. p.] not have her; my Lord of Rochester would have forced her,
and Sir -- Popham [Probably Sir Francis Popham, K.B.] (who
nevertheless is likely to have her), would do any thing to have
her.
26th. Into the House of Parliament, where at a great committee I
did hear as long as I would the great case against my Lord
Mordaunt, for some arbitrary proceedings of his against one
Taylor whom he imprisoned and did all the violence to imaginable,
only to get him to give way to his abusing his daughter. [John
Mordaunt, younger son to the first, and brother to the second
Earl of Peterborough, having incurred considerable personal risk
in endeavouring to promote the King's Restoration, was in 1659,
created Baron Mordaunt of Reigate, and Viscount Mordaunt of
Avalon. He was soon afterwards made K.G. and constituted Lord
Lieutenant of Surrey, and Constable of Windsor Castle; which
offices he held till his death, in 1675. In January 1666-7, Lord
Mordaunt was impeached by the House of Commons for forcibly
ejecting William Tayleur and his family from the apartments which
they occupied in Windsor Castle, where Tayleur held some
appointment, and imprisoning him because he had presumed to offer
himself as a candidate for the borough of Windsor. Lord M. was
also accused of improper conduct towards Tayleur's daughter. He,
however, denied all these charges in his place in the House of
Lords, and put in an answer to the articles of impeachment, for
hearing which a day was absolutely fixed; but the Parliament
being shortly afterwards prorogued, the enquiry seems to have
been entirely abandoned, notwithstanding the vehemence with which
the House of Commons had taken the matter up. Perhaps the King
interfered in Lord Mordaunt's behalf, because Andrew Marvel in
his "Instructions to a Painter," after saying, in allusion to
this business,
"Now Mordaunt may within his castle tower
Imprison parents and the child deflower,"
proceeds to observe,
"Each does the other blame, and all distrust,
But Mordaunt NEW OBLIGED would sure be just."]
Here was Mr. Sawyer, [Afterwards Sir Robert Sawyer, Attorney
General from 1681 to 1687. Ob. 1692.] my old chamber-fellow,
[At Magdalene College, where he was admitted a Pensioner, June
1648.] a counsel against my Lord; and I was glad to see him in
so good play. No news from the North at all to-day; and the
news-book; makes the business nothing, but that they are all
dispersed.
27th. To my Lord Crewe, and had some good discourse with him, he
doubting that all will break in pieces in the Kingdom; and that
the taxes now coming out, which will tax the same man in three or
four several capacities as for land, office, profession, and
money at interest, will be the hardest that ever came out; and do
think that we owe it, and the lateness of its being given, wholly
to the unpreparedness of the King's own party, to make their
demand and choice; for they have obstructed the giving it by
land-tax, which had been done long since.
28th. To White Hall; where, though it blows hard and rains hard,
yet the Duke of York is gone a-hunting. We therefore lost our
labour, and so to get things ready against dinner at home, and at
noon comes my Lord Hinchingbroke, Sir Thomas Crewe, Mr. John
Crewe, Mr. Carteret, and Brisband. I had six noble dishes for
them, dressed by a man-cook, and commended, as indeed they
deserved, for exceeding well done. We eat with great pleasure,
and I enjoyed myself in it; eating in silver plates, and all
things mighty rich and handsome about me. Till dark at dinner,
and then broke up with great pleasure, especially to myself; and
they away, only Mr. Carteret and I to Gresham College. Here was
Mr. Henry Howard, that will hereafter be Duke of Norfolke, who is
admitted this day into the Society, and being a very proud man,
and one that values himself upon his family, writes his name, as
he do every where, Henry Howard of Norfolke. [Henry Howard,
second son of Henry Earl of Arundel, became, on the death of his
brother Thomas in 1677, sixth Duke of Norfolk, having been
previously created Baron Howard of Castle Rising, in 1669, and
advanced to the Earldom of Norwich, 1672; He was a great
benefactor to the Royal Society, and presented the Arundel
Marbles to the University of Oxford. Ob. 1683-4.]
29th. I late at the office, and all the news I hear I put into a
letter this night to my Lord Brouncker at Chatham, thus: "I
doubt not of your Lordship's hearing of Sir Thomas Clifford's
succeeding Sir H. Pollard [M.P. for Devonshire. Ob. Nov. 27,
1666.] in the Controllership of the King's house; but perhaps
our ill (but confirmed) tidings from the Barbadoes may not have
reached you yet, it coming but yesterday; viz. that about eleven
ships (whereof two of the King's, the Hope and Coventry) going
thence with men to attack St. Christopher were seized by a
violent hurricana, and all sunk. Two only of thirteen escaping,
and those with loss of masts, &c. My Lord Willoughby himself is
involved in the disaster, [Francis fifth Lord Willoughby of
Parnham, drowned at Barbadoes, 1666.] and I think two ships
thrown upon an island of the French, and so all the men (to 500)
become their prisoners. 'Tis said too, that eighteen Dutch men-
of-war are passed the Channell, in order to meet with our Smyrna
ships; and some I hear do fright us with the King of Sweden's
seizing our mast-ships at Gottenburgh. But we have too much ill
news true, to afflict ourselves with what is uncertain. That
which I hear from Scotland is, the Duke of York's saying
yesterday, that he is confident the Lieutenant Generall there
hath driven them into a pound somewhere towards the mountains."
To show how mad we are at home here, and unfit for any troubles:
My Lord St. John did a day or two since openly pull a gentleman
in Westminster Hall by the nose, (one Sir Andrew Henly,) while
the Judges were upon their benches, and the other gentleman did
give him a rap over the pate with his cane. Of which fray the
Judges, they say, will make a great matter: men are only sorry
the gentleman did proceed to return a blow; for otherwise my Lord
would have been soundly fined for the affront, and may be yet for
his affront to the Judges.
30th. To White Hall; and pretty to see (it being St. Andrew's
day,) how some few did wear St. Andrew's crosse; but most did
make a mockery at it, and the House of Parliament, contrary to
practice, did sit also: people having no mind to observe the
Scotch saint's days till they hear better news from Scotland.
DECEMBER 1, 1666. Walking to the Old Swan I did see a cellar in
Tower-streete in a very fresh fire, the late great winds having
blown it up. It seemed to be only of log-wood that hath kept the
fire all this while in it. Going further I met my late Lord
Mayor Bludworth, under whom the City was burned; but a very weak
man he seems to be. By coach home in the evening, calling at
Faythorne's buying three of my Lady Castlemaine's heads, printed
this day, which indeed is, as to the head, I think a very fine
picture, and like her. I did this afternoon get Mrs. Michell to
let me only have a sight of a pamphlet lately printed, but
suppressed and much called after, called "The Catholique's
Apology;" lamenting the severity of the Parliament against them,
and comparing it with the lenity of other princes to Protestants.
Giving old and late instances of their loyalty to their princes,
whatever is objected against them; and excusing their disquiets
in Queene Elizabeth's time, for that it was impossible for them
to think her a lawfull Queene, if Queene Mary, who had been owned
as such, were so; one being the daughter of the true, and the
other of a false wife: and that of the Gunpowder Treason, by
saying that it was only the practice of some of us, if not the
King, to trepan some of their religion into it, it never being
defended by the generality of their Church, nor indeed known by
them; and ends with a large Catalogue, in red letters, of the
Catholiques which have lost their lives in the quarrel of the
late King and this. The thing is very well writ indeed.
2nd. Took coach, and no sooner in the coach but something broke,
that we were fain there to stay till a smith could be fetched,
which was above an hour, and then it costing me 6s. to mend.
Away round by the wall and Cow-lane, for fear it should break
again, and in pain about the coach all the way. I went to Sir W.
Batten's, and there I hear more ill news still: that all our
New-England fleet, which went out lately, are put back a third
time by foul weather, and dispersed, some to one port and some to
another; and their convoys also to Plymouth; and whether any of
them be lost or no, we do not know. This, added to all the rest,
do lay us flat in our hopes and courages, every body prophesying
destruction to the nation.
3rd. More cheerful than I have been a good while, to hear that
for certain the Scott rebels are all routed; they having been so
bold as to come within three miles of Edinburgh, and there given
two or three repulses to the King's forces, but at last were
mastered. Three or four hundred killed or taken, among which
their leader, Wallis, and seven ministers they having all taken
the Covenant a few days before, and sworn to live and die in it,
as they did; and so all is likely to be there quiet again. There
is also the very good news come of four New-England ships come
home safe to Falmouth with masts for the King; which is a
blessing mighty unexpected, and without which (if for nothing
else) we must; have failed the next year. But God be praised for
thus much good fortune, and send us the continuance of his favour
in other things!
6th. After dinner my wife and brother [John Pepys, who, being in
holy orders, had lately assumed the canonical habit. He died in
1677, at which period he held some office in the Trinity-house.
PEPYS'S MS. LETTERS.] (in another habit) go out to see a play;
but I am not to take notice that I know of my brother's going.
This day, in the Gazette, is the whole story of defeating of
Scotch rebells, and of the creation of the Duke of Cambridge,
Knight of the Garter.
7th. To the King's playhouse, where two acts were almost done
when I come in; and there I sat with my cloak about my face, and
saw the remainder of "The Mayd's Tragedy;" [By Beaumont and
Fletcher.] a good play, and well acted, especially by the
younger Marshall, who is become a pretty good actor; and is the
first play I have seen in either of the houses, since before the
great plague, they having acted now about fourteen days
publickly. But I was in mighty pain, lest I should be seen by
any body to be at a play.
8th. The great Proviso passed the House of Parliament yesterday:
which makes the King and Court mad, the King having given order
to my Lord Chamberlain to send to the playhouses and brothels, to
bid all the Parliament-men that were there to go to the
Parliament presently. This is true, it seems; but it was carried
against the Court by thirty or forty voices. It is a Proviso to
the Poll Bill, that there shall be a Committee of nine persons
that shall have the inspection upon oath, and power of giving
others, of all the accounts of the money given and spent for this
warr. This hath a most sad face, and will breed very ill blood.
He tells me, brought in by Sir Robert Howard, [A younger son of
Thomas Earl of Berkshire; educated at Magdalene College,
Cambridge; knighted at the Restoration, and chosen M.P. for
Stockbridge, and afterwards for Castle Rising. He was Auditor of
the Exchequer, and a creature of Charles II., who employed him in
cajoling the Parliament for money. He published some poems,
plays, and political tracts. Ob. 1698.] who is one of the
King's servants, at least hath a great office, and hath got, they
say, 20,000l. since the King come in. Mr. Pierce did also tell
me as a great truth, as being told it by Mr. Cowly, [Abraham
Cowley, the poet.] who was by and heard it, that Tom Killigrew
should publickly tell the King that his matters were coming into
a very ill state; but that yet there was a way to help all. Says
he; "There is a good, honest, able man that I could name, that if
your Majesty would employ, and command to see all things well
executed, all things would soon be mended; and this is one
Charles Stuart, who now spends his time in employing his lips
about the Court, and hath no other employment; but if you would
give him this employment, he were the fittest man in the world to
perform it." This, he says, is most true; but the King do not
profit by any of this, but lays all aside, and remembers nothing,
but to his pleasures again: which is a sorowful consideration.
To the King's play-house, and there did see a good part of "The
English Monsieur," [A comedy, by James Howard.] which is a
mighty pretty play, very witty and pleasant. And the women do
very well; but above all, little Nelly. I hear that this Proviso
in Parliament is mightily ill taken by all the Court party as a
mortal blow, and that that strikes deep into the King's
prerogative; which troubles me mightily. In much fear of ill
news of our colliers. A fleet of 200 sail, and 14 Dutch men-of-
war between them and us: and they coming home with small convoy;
and the City in great want, coals being at 3l. 3s. per chaldron,
as I am told. I saw smoke in the ruines this very day.
10th. Captain Cocke, with whom I walked in the garden, tells me
how angry the Court is at the late Proviso brought in by the
House. How still my Lord Chancellor is, not daring to do or say
any thing to displease the Parliament; that the Parliament is in
a very ill humour, and grows every day more and more so; and that
the unskilfulness of the Court, and their difference among one
another, is the occasion of all not agreeing in what they would
have, and so they give leisure and occasion to the other part to
run away with what the Court would not have.
11th. This day the Poll Bill was to be passed, and great
endeavours used to take away the Proviso.
12th. Sir H. Cholmly did with grief tell me how the Parliament
hath been told plainly that the King hath been heard to say, that
he would dissolve them rather than pass this Bill with the
Proviso. But tells me, that the Proviso is removed, and now
carried that it shall be done by a Bill by itself. He tells me
how the King hath lately paid above 30,000l. to clear the debts
of my Lady Castlemaine's; and that she and her husband are parted
for ever, upon good terms, never to trouble one another more. He
says that he hears that above 400,000l. hath gone into the Privy-
purse since this warr; and that that hath consumed so much of our
money, and makes the King and Court so mad to be brought to
discover it. The very good newes is just come of our four ships
from Smyrna, come safe without convoy even into the Downes,
without seeing any enemy; which is the best, and indeed only
considerable good news to our Exchange, since the burning of the
City; and it is strange to see how it do cheer up men's hearts.
Here I saw shops now come to be in this Exchange; and met little
Batelier who sits here but at 3l. per annum, whereas he sat at
the other at 100l.; which he says he believes will prove as good
account to him now as the other did at that rent. They talk for
certain, that now the King do follow Mrs. Stewart wholly, and my
Lady Castlemaine not above once a-week; that the Duke of York do
not haunt my Lady Denham so much; that she troubles him with
matters of State, being of my Lord Bristoll's faction, and that
he avoids; that she is ill still. News this day from Brampton,
of Mr. Ensum, my sister's sweetheart, being dead: a clowne.
13th. W. Hewer dined with me, and showed me a Gazette, in April
last, (which I wonder should never be remembered by any body,)
which tells how several persons were then tried for their lives,
and were found guilty of a design of killing the King, and
destroying the Government; and as a means to it, to burn the
City; and that the day intended for the plot was the 3rd of last
September. And the fire did indeed break out on the 2nd of
September: which is very strange, methinks. [This circumstance
was so remarkable that it has been thought worth while extracting
the whole passage from the Gazette of April 23-26, 1666:--
"At the Sessions in the Old Bailey, John Rathbone, an old Army
Colonel, William Saunders, Henry Tucker, Thomas Flint, Thomas
Evans, John Myles, Will. Westcot, and John Cole, officers or
soldiers in the late Rebellion, were indicted for conspiring the
death of his Majesty, and the overthrow of the Government.
Having laid their plot and contrivance for the surprisal of the
Tower, the killing his Grace the Lord General, Sir John Robinson,
Lieutenant of the Tower, and Sir Richard Brown; and then to have
declared for an equal division of lands, &c. THE BETTER TO
EFFECT THIS HELLISH DESIGN, THE CITY WAS TO HAVE BEEN FIRED, and
the portcullis let down to keep out all assistance; and the Horse
Guards to have been suprised in the Inns where they were
quartered, several ostlers having been gained for that purpose.
The Tower was accordingly viewed, and its suprise ordered by
boats over the moat, and from thence to scale the wall. One
Alexander, not yet taken, had likewise distributed money to these
conspirators, and for the carrying on the design most
effectually, they were told of a Council of the great ones that
sat frequently in London, from whom issued all orders; which
Council received their directions from another in Holland, who
sat with the States; and that the THIRD OF SEPTEMBER was pitched
on for the attempt, as being found by Lilly's Almanack, and a
scheme erected for that purpose, to be a lucky day, a planet then
ruling which prognosticated the downfall of Monarchy. The
evidence against these persons was very full and clear, and they
were accordingly found guilty of High Treason."]
14th. Met my good friend Mr. Evelyn, and walked with him a good
while, lamenting our condition for want of good council, and the
King's minding of his business and servants. The House sat till
three o'clock, and then up: and I home with Sir Stephen Fox to
his house to dinner; and the Cofferer [William Ashburnham, an
officer of distinction in the King's Army during the Civil War,
and after the Restoration made Cofferer to Charles II. Ob. s.p.
1671.] with us. There I found his Lady, a fine woman, and seven
the prettiest children of theirs that ever I knew almost. A very
genteel dinner, and in great state and fashion, and excellent
discourse: and nothing like an old experienced man and a
courtier, and such is the Cofferer Ashburnham. The House have
been mighty hot to-day against the Paper Bill, showing all manner
of averseness to give the King money; which these courtiers do
take mighty notice of, and look upon the others as bad rebells as
ever the last were. But the courtiers did carry it against those
men upon a division of the House, a great many, that it should be
committed; and so it was: which they reckon good news.
15th. To the office, where my Lord Brouncker (newly come to town
from his being at Chatham and Harwich to spy enormities): and at
noon I with him and his lady, Williams, to Captain Cocke's; where
a good dinner, and very merry. Good news to-day upon the
Exchange, that our Hamburgh fleet is got in; and good hopes that
we will soon have the like of our Gottenburgh, and then we shall
be well for this winter. And by and by comes in Matt Wren
[Matthew Wren, eldest son of the Bishop of Ely of both his names,
M.P. for St. Michael's 1661, and made Secretary to Lord
Clarendon; after whose fall he filled the same office under the
Duke of York till his death in 1672. He was one of the earliest
Members of the Royal Society, and published two tracts in answer
to Harrington's Oceana.] from the Parliament-House; and tells us
that he and all his party of the House, which is the Court party,
are fools, and have been made so this day by the wise men of the
other side; for after the Court party had carried it yesterday so
powerfully for the Paper Bill, yet now it is laid aside wholly,
and to be supplied by a land-tax; which it is true will do well
and will be the sooner finished, which was the great argument for
the doing of it. But then it shows them fools, that they would
not permit this to have been done six weeks ago, which they might
have had. And next they have parted with the Paper Bill, which
when once begun might have proved a very good flower in the
Crowne, as any there. So they are truly outwitted by the other
side.
16th. To White Hall, and there walked up and down to the
Queene's side, and there saw my dear Lady Castlemaine, who
continues admirable, methinks, and I do not hear that but the
King is the same to her still as ever. Anon to chapel by the
King's closet, and heard a very good anthem. Then with Lord
Brouncker to Sir W. Coventry's chamber; and there we sat with him
and talked. He is weary of any thing to do, he says, in the
Navy. He tells us this Committee of Accounts will enquire
sharply into our office. To Sir P. Neale's chamber; Sir Edward
Walker being there;, and telling us how he hath lost many fine
rowles of antiquity in heraldry by the late fire, but hath saved
the most of his papers. Here was also Dr. Wallis, [John Wallis,
S.T.P. F.R.S. Savilian Professor of Geometry. Ob. 1703, aged
87.] the famous scholar and mathematician; but he promises
little. The Duke of Monmonth, Lord Brouncker says, spends his
time the most viciously and idle of any man, nor will be fit for
any thing; yet he speaks as if it were not impossible but the
King would own him for his son, and that there was marriage
between his mother and him.
17th. My wife well home in the evening from the play; which I
was glad of, it being cold and dark, and she having her necklace
of pearl on, and none but Mercer with her.
19th. Talked of the King's family with Mr. Hingston, the
organist. He says many of the musique are ready to starve, they
being five years behind hand for their wages: nay, Evens, the
famous man upon the Harp, having not his equal in the world, did
the other day die for mere want, and was fain to be buried at the
almes of the parish, and carried to his grave in the dark at
night without one linke, but that Mr. Hingston met it by chance,
and did give 12d. to buy two or three links. Thence I up to the
Lords' House to enquire for my Lord Bellasses; and there hear how
at a conference this morning between the two Houses about the
business of the Canary Company, my Lord Buckingham leaning rudely
over my Lord Marquis Dorchester, [Henry second Earl of Kingston,
created Marquis of Dorchester 1645. Ob. 1680. See an account of
this quarrel in Lord Clarendon's Life.] my Lord Dorchester
removed his elbow. Duke of Buckingham asked whether he was
uneasy; Dorchester replied, yes, and that he durst not do this
were he any where else: Buckingham replied, yes he would, and
that he was a better man than himself; Dorchester said that he
lyed. With this Buckingham struck off his hat, and took him by
his periwigg, and pulled it aside, and held him. My Lord
Chamberlain and others interposed, and upon coming into the House
the Lords did order them both to the Tower, whither they are to
go this afternoon. I down into the Hall, and there the
Lieutenant of the Tower took me with him, and would have me to
the Tower to dinner; where I dined at the head of his table next
his lady, who is comely and seeming sober and stately, but very
proud and very cunning or I am mistaken, and wanton too. This
day's work will bring the Lieutenant of the Tower 350l. Thence
home, and upon Tower Hill saw about 3 or 400 seamen get together;
and one standing upon a pile of bricks made his sign with his
handkercher upon his stick, and called all the rest to him, and
several shouts they gave. This made me afraid; so I got home as
fast as I could. But by and by Sir W. Batten and Sir R. Ford do
tell me that the seamen have been at some prisons to release some
seamen, and the Duke of Albemarle is in armes and all the Guards
at the other end of the town; and the Duke of Albemarle is gone
with some forces to Wapping to quell the seamen; which is a thing
of infinite disgrace to us. I sat long talking with them. And,
among other things, Sir R. Ford did make me understand how the
House of Commons is a beast not to be understood, it being
impossible to know beforehand the success almost of any small
plain thing, there being so many to think and speak to any
business, and they of so uncertain minds and interests and
passions. He did tell me, and so did Sir W. Batten, how Sir
Allen Brodericke [Son of Sir Thomas Broderick of Richmond,
Yorkshire, and Wandsworth, Surrey; knighted by Charles II., and
Surveyor-General in Ireland to his Majesty.] and Sir Allen Apsly
did come drunk the other day into the House, and did both speak
for half an hour, together, and could not be either laughed, or
pulled, or bid to sit down and hold their peace, to the great
contempt of the King's servants and cause; which I am grieved at
with all my heart.
23rd (Lord's day). To church, where a vain fellow with a
periwigg preached, Chaplain (as by his prayer appeared) to the
Earle of Carlisle.
24th. It being frost and dry, as far as Paul's, and so back
again through the City by Guildhall, observing the ruins
thereabouts till I did truly lose myself. No news yet of our
Gottenburgh fleet; which makes us have some fears, it being of
mighty concernment to have our supply of masts safe. I met with
Mr. Cade to-night, my stationer; and he tells me that he hears
for certain, that the Queene-Mother is about and hath near
finished a peace with France, which as a Presbyterian he do not
like, but seems to fear it will be a means to introduce Popery.
26th. To the Duke's house to a play. It was indifferently done,
Gosnell not singing, but a new wench that sings naughtily.
27th. Up; and called up by the King's trumpets, which cost me
10s. By coach to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The
Scornful Lady" well acted; Doll Common doing Abigail most
excellently, and Knipp the widow very well, (and will be an
excellent actor, I think.) In other parts the play not so well
done as need be by the old actors. This day a house or two was
blown up with powder in the Minorys, and several people spoiled,
and manye dug out from under the rubbish.
28th. I to my Lord Crewe's, where I find and hear the news how
my Lord's brother, Mr. Nathaniel Crewe, hath an estate of 6 or
700l. per annum left him by the death of as old acquaintance of
his, but not akin to him at all. And this man is dead without
will, but had above ten years since made over his estate to this
Mr. Crewe, to him and his heirs for ever, and given Mr. Crewe the
keeping of the deeds in his own hand all this time; by which, if
he would, he might have taken present possession of the estate,
for he knew what they were. This is as great an action of
confident friendship as this latter age, I believe, can show.
From hence to the Duke's house, and there saw "Macbeth" most
excellently acted, and a most excellent play for variety. I had
sent for my wife to meet me there, who did come: so I did not go
to White Hall, and got my Lord Bellasses to get me into the
playhouse; and there, after all staying above an hour for the
players (the King and all waiting, which was absurd,) saw "Henry
the Fifth" well done by the Duke's people, and in most excellent
habit, all new vests, being put on but this night. But I sat so
high and far off that I missed most of the words, and sat with a
wind coming into my back and neck, which did much trouble me.
The play continued till twelve at night; and then up, and a most
horrid cold night it was, and frosty, and moonshine.
29th. Called up with news from Sir W. Batten that Hogg hath
brought in two prizes more: and so I thither, and hear the
particulars, which are good; one of them, if prize, being worth
4000l.: for which God be thanked! Then to the office, and have
the news brought us of Captain Robinson's coming with his fleet
from Gottenburgh: dispersed, though, by foul weather. But he
hath light of five Dutch men-of-war, and taken three, whereof one
is sunk; which is very good news to close up the year with, and
most of our merchant-men already heard of to be safely come home,
though after long lookings for, and now to several ports as they
could make them.
30th (Lord's day). To church. Here was a collection for the
sexton, But it come into my head why we should be more bold in
making the collection while the psalm is singing, than in the
sermon or prayer.
31st. To my accounts, wherein at last I find them clear and
right; but to my great discontent do find that my gettings this
year have been 573l. less than my last: it being this year in
all but 2986l.; whereas, the last, I got 3560l. And then again
my spendings this year have exceeded my spendings the last, by
644l.: my whole spendings last year being but 509l.; whereas
this year it appears I have spent 1154l. which is a sum not fit
to be said that ever I should spend in one year, before I am
master of a better estate than I am. Yet, blessed be God! and I
pray God make me thankful for it, I do find myself worth in
money, all good, above 6200l.: which is above 1800l. more than I
was the last year. Thus ends this year of publick wonder and
mischief to this nation. Publick matters in a most sad
condition; seamen discouraged for want of pay, and are become not
to be governed: nor, as matters are now, can any fleet go out
next year. Our enemies, French and Dutch, great, and grow more
by our poverty. The Parliament backward in raising, because
jealous of the spending of the money; the City less and less
likely to be built again, every body settling elsewhere, and
nobody encouraged to trade. A sad, vicious, negligent Court, and
all sober men there fearful of the ruin of the whole kingdom this
next year; from which, good God deliver us! One thing I reckon
remarkable in my own condition is, that I am come to abound in
good plate, so as at all entertainments to be served wholly with
silver plates, having two dozen and a half.
JANUARY 2, 1666-7. My wife up, and with Mrs. Pen to walk in the
fields to frost-bite themselves. I find the Court full of great
apprehensions of the French, who have certainly shipped landsmen,
great numbers at Brest; and most of our people here guess his
design for Ireland. We have orders to send all the ships we can
possible to the Downes, every day bringing us news of new
mutinies among the seamen; so that our condition is like to be
very miserable. Mr. George Montagu tells me of the King
displeasing the House of Commons by evading their Bill for
examining Accounts, and putting it into a Commission, though
therein he hath left out Coventry and --[A blank in the MS.], and
named all the rest the Parliament named, and all country Lords,
not one Courtier: this do not please them. He finds the enmity
almost over for my Lord Sandwich. Up to the Painted Chamber, and
there heard a conference between the House of Lords and Commons
about the Wine Patent; which I was exceeding glad to be at,
because of my hearing exceeding good discourses, but especially
from the Commons; among others Mr. Swinfen, and a young man, one
Sir Thomas Meres: [Knight, M.P. for Lincoln, made a Commissioner
of the Admiralty 1679.] and do outdo the Lords infinitely.
Alone to the King's house, and there saw "The Custome of the
Country," [A tragi-comedy, by Beaumont and Fletcher.] the second
time of its being acted, wherein Knipp does the Widow well; but
of all the plays that ever I did see, the worst, having neither
plot, language, nor any thing in the earth that is acceptable;
only Knipp sings a song admirably.
3rd. This day, I hear, hath been a conference between the two
Houses about the Bill for examining Accounts, wherein the House
of Lords their proceedings in petitioning the King for doing it
by Commission, are in great heat voted by the Commons, after the
conference, unparliamentary.
4th. Comes our company to dinner; my Lord Brouncker, Sir W. Pen,
his lady, and Peg, [Their daughter.] and her servant, Mr.
Lowther [[Anthony Lowther, Esq., of Marske, Co. York, Ob. 1692.].
At night to sup, and then to cards, and last of all to have a
flaggon of ale and apples, drunk out of a wood cup, as a
Christmas draught, which made all merry; and they full of
admiration at my plate. Mr. Lowther a pretty gentleman, too good
for Peg. Sir W. Pen was much troubled to hear the song I sung,
"The New Droll," it touching him home.
5th. With my wife to the Duke's house, and there saw
"Mustapha," [A tragedy, by Roger Earl of Orrery.] a most
excellent play.
6th. Young Michell and I, it being an excellent frosty day, did
walk out. He showed me the baker's house in Pudding-lane, where
the late great fire begun: and thence all along Thames-street,
where I did view several places, and so up by London Wall by
Blackfriars to Ludgate; and thence to Bridewell, which I find to
have been heretofore an extraordinary good house, and a fine
coming to it before the house by the bridge was built.
7th. Lord Brouncker tells me that my Lady Denham is at last
dead. Some suspect her poisoned, but it will be best known when
her body is opened to-day, she dying yesterday morning. The Duke
of York is troubled for her; but hath declared he will never have
another public mistress again; which I shall be glad of, and
would the King would do the like. He tells me how the Parliament
is grown so jealous of the King's being unfayre to them in the
business of the Bill for examining Accounts, Irish Bill, and the
business of the Papists, that they will not pass the business for
money till they see themselves secure that those Bills will pass;
which they do observe the Court to keep off till all the Bills
come together, that the King may accept what he pleases, and what
he pleases to object to. He tells me how Mr. Henry Howard of
Norfolke hath given our Royal Society all his grandfather's
library: which noble gift they value at 2000l.; and gives them
accommodation to meet in at his house (Arundell House), they
being now disturbed at Gresham College. To the Duke's house, and
saw "Macbeth," which though I saw it lately, yet appears a most
excellent play in all respects, but especially in divertisement,
though it be a deep tragedy; which is a strange perfection in a
tragedy, it being most proper here, and suitable.
9th. In a hackney-coach to White Hall, the way being most
horribly bad upon the breaking up of the frost, so as not to be
passed almost. I do hear by my Lord Brouncker, that for certain
Sir W. Coventry hath resigned his place of Commissioner up; which
I believe he hath done upon good grounds of security to himself
from all the blame which must attend our office this next year;
but I fear the King will suffer by it. Thence to Westminster
Hall, and there to the conference of the Houses about the word
"Nusance," which the Commons would have, and the Lords will not,
in the Irish Bill. The Commons do it professedly to prevent the
King's dispensing with it; which Sir Robert Howard and others did
expressly repeat often: viz., "that no King ever could do any
thing which was hurtful to his people." Now the Lords did argue
that it was an ill precedent, and that which will ever hereafter
be used as a way of preventing the King's dispensation with acts;
and therefore rather advise to pass the Bill without that word,
and let it go accompanied with a petition to the King that he
will not dispense with it; this being a more civil way to the
King. They answered well, that this do imply that the King
should pass their Bill, and yet with design to dispense with it;
which is to suppose the King guilty of abusing them. And more,
they produce precedents for it; namely, that against new
buildings, and about leather, where the word "Nusance" is used to
the purpose: and further, that they do not rob the King of any
right he ever had, for he never had a power to do hurt to his
people, nor would exercise it; and therefore there is no danger
in the passing this Bill of imposing on his prerogative; and
concluded that they think they ought to do this, so as the people
may really have the benefit of it when it is passed, for never
any people could expect so reasonably to be indulged something
from a King, they having already given him so much money and are
likely to give more. Thus they broke up, both adhering to their
opinions; but the Commons seemed much more full of judgment and
reason than the Lords. Then the Commons made their Report to the
Lords of their vote that their Lordships' proceedings in the Bill
for examining Accounts were unparliamentary, they having, while a
Bill was sent up to them from the Commons about the business,
petitioned his Majesty that he would do the same thing by his
Commission. They did give their reasons: viz. that it had no
precedent; that the King ought not to be informed of any thing
passing in the Houses till it comes to a Bill; that it will
wholly break off all correspondence between the two Houses, and
in the issue wholly infringe the very use and being of
Parliaments. Thence to Faythorne, and bought a head or two; one
of them my Lord of Ormond's, the best I ever saw. To Arundell
House, where first the Royal Society meet by the favour of Mr.
Harry Howard, who was there. And here was a great meeting of
worthy noble persons; but my Lord Brouncker, who pretended to
make a congratulatory speech upon their coming hither, and great
thanks to Mr. Howard, did do it in the worst manner in the world.
14th. Sir W. Batten tells me the Lords do agree at last with the
Commons about the word "Nusance" in the Irish Bill, and do desire
a good correspondence between the two Houses; and that the King
do intend to prorogue them the last of this month.
16th. Sir W. Coventry came to me aside in the Duke's chamber to
tell that he had not answered part of a late letter of mine,
because LITTERA SCRIPTA MANET. About his leaving the office, he
tells me, it is because he finds that his business at Court will
not permit him to attend it; and then he confesses that he seldom
of late could come from it with satisfaction, and therefore would
not take the King's money for nothing. I professed my sorrow for
it, and prayed the continuance of his favour; which he promised,
I do believe he hath acted like a very wise man in reference to
himself; but I doubt it will prove ill for the King, and for the
office. Prince Rupert, I hear, is very ill; yesterday given
over, but better to-day. Sir Stephen Fox, among other things,
told me his whole mystery in the business of the interest he pays
as Treasurer for the Army. They give him 12d. per pound quite
through the Army, with condition to be paid weekly, This he
undertakes for his own private credit, and to be paid by the King
at the end of every four months. If the King pay him not at the
end of every four months, then, for all the time he stays longer,
my Lord Treasurer by agreement allows him eight per cent. per
annum for the forbearance. So that, in fine, he hath about
twelve per cent. from the King, and the Army, for fifteen or
sixteen months' interest; out of which he gains soundly, his
expense being about 130,000l. per annum; and hath no trouble in
it, compared (as I told him) to the trouble I must have to bring
in an account of interest. Talk there is of a letter to come
from Holland, desiring a place of treaty; but I do doubt it.
This day I observe still in many places the smoking remains of
the late fire: the ways mighty bad and dirty. This night Sir R.
Ford told me how this day, at Christ church Hospital, they have
given a living of 200l. per annum to Mr. Sanchy, my old
acquaintance, which I wonder at, he commending him mightily; but
am glad of it. He tells me too how the famous Stillingfleete was
a Blue-coat boy.
18th. This morning come Captain Cocke to me, and tells me that
the King comes to the House this day to pass the Poll Bill and
the Irish Bill; and that, though the Faction is very froward in
the House, yet all will end well there. But he says that one had
got a Bill ready to present in the House against Sir W. Coventry
for selling of places, and says he is certain of it, and how he
was withheld from doing it. He says that the Vice-chamberlaine
is now one of the greatest men in England again, and was he that
did prevail with the King to let the Irish Bill go with the word
"Nusance." He told me that Sir G. Carteret's declaration of
giving double to any man that will prove that any of his people
have demanded or taken any thing for forwarding the payment of
the wages of any man, (of which he sent us a copy yesterday,
which we approved of,) is set up, among other places, upon the
House of Lords' door. I do not know how wisely this is done.
Sir W. Pen told me this night how the King did make them a very
sharp speech in the House of Lords to-day, saying that he did
expect to have had more Bills; that he purposes to prorogue them
on Monday come se'nnight; that whereas they have unjustly
conceived some jealousys of his making a peace, he declares he
knows of no such thing or treaty: and so left them. But with so
little effect, that as soon as he came into the house, Sir W.
Coventry moved, that now the King hath declared his intention of
proroguing them, it would be loss of time to go on with the thing
they were upon when they were called to the King, which was the
calling over the defaults of Members appearing in the House; for
that before any person could now come or be brought to town, the
House would be up. Yet the Faction did desire to delay time, and
contend so as to come to a division of the House; where, however
it was carried by a few voices that the debate should be laid by.
But this shows that they are not pleased, or that they have not
any awe over them from the King's displeasure.
20th. I was sorry to hear of the heat the House was in yesterday
about the ill management of the Navy; though I think they were
well answered both by Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry, as he
informs me the substance of their speeches. I to church, and
there beyond expectation find our seat and all the church crammed
by twice as many people as used to be: and to my great joy find
Mr. Frampton in the pulpit; and I think the best sermon, for
goodness and oratory, without affectation or study, that ever I
heard in my life. The truth is, he preaches the most like an
apostle that ever I heard man; and it was much the best time that
ever I spent in my life at church.
21st To the Swede's-Resident's in the Piazza, to discourse with
him about two of our prizes. A cunning fellow. He lives in one
of the great houses there, but ill-furnished; and come to us out
of bed in his furred mittins and furred cap. Up to the Lords'
House, and there come mighty seasonably to hear the Solicitor
about my Lord Buckingham's pretence to the title of Lord Rosse.
Mr. Atturny Montagu is also a good man, and so is old Sir P. Ball
[Sir Peter Bell, the Queen's attorney.] but the Solicitor, and
Scroggs [Sir William Scroggs, King's Serjeant 1669, and made a
Judge 1676.] after him, are excellent men. This night at supper
comes from Sir W. Coventry the Order of Councill for my Lord
Brouncker to do all the Controller's part relating to the
Treasurer's accounts, and Sir W. Pen all relating to the
Victualler's, and Sir J. Minnes to do the rest. This, I hope,
will do much better for the King, and I think will give neither
of them ground to over-top me, as I feared they would; which
pleases me mightily. This evening Mr. Wren and Captain Cocke
called upon me at the office, and there told me how the House was
in better temper to-day, and hath passed the Bill for the
remainder of the money, but not to be passed finally till they
have done some other things which they will have passed with it;
wherein they are very open, what their meaning is, which was but
doubted before, for they do in all respects doubt the King's
pleasing them.
23rd. My Lord Brouncker and I walking into the Park, I did
observe the new buildings: and my Lord seeing I had a desire to
see them, they being the place for the priests and friers, he
took me back to my Lord Almoner; [Cardinal Howard of Norfolk, the
Queen's Almoner.] and he took us quite through the whole house
and chapel, and the new monastery, showing me most excellent
pieces in wax-worke: a crucifix given by a Pope to Mary Queene
of Scotts, where a piece of the Cross is; two bits set in the
manner of a cross in the foot of the crucifix: several fine
pictures, but especially very good prints of holy pictures. I
saw the dortoire [Dormitory.] and the cells of the priests, and
we went into one; a very pretty little room, very clean, hung
with pictures, set with books. The Priest was in his cell, with
his hair clothes to his skin, bare-legged with a sandall only on,
and his little bed without sheets, and no feather-bed; but yet I
thought, soft enough. His cord about his middle; but in so good
company, living with ease, I thought it a very good life. A
pretty library they have. And I was in the refectoire, where
every man his napkin, knife, cup of earth, and basin of the same;
and a place for one to sit and read while the rest are at meals.
And into the kitchen I went, where a good neck of mutton at the
fire, and other victuals boiling. I do not think they fared very
hard. Their windows all looking into a fine garden and the Park;
and mighty pretty rooms all. I wished myself one of the
Capuchins. To the King's house, and there saw "The Humerous
Lieutenant:" [A tragi-comedy, by Beaumont and Fletcher.] a silly
play, I think; only the Spirit in it that grows very tall and
then sinks again to nothing, having two heads breeding upon one,
and then Knipp's singing, did please us. Here in a box above we
spied Mrs. Pierce; and going out they called us, and so we staid
for them; and Knipp took us all in, and brought to us Nelly,
[Nell Gwynne.] a most pretty woman, who acted the great part
Coelia to-day very fine, and did it pretty well: I kissed her,
and so did my wife; and a mighty pretty soul she is. We also saw
Mrs. Ball, which is my little Roman-nose black girl, that is
mighty pretty: she is usually called Betty. Knipp made us stay
in a box and see the dancing preparatory to to-morrow for "The
Goblins," a play of Suckling's [Sir John Suckling, the poet.],
not acted these twenty-five years; which was pretty. In our way
home we find the Guards of horse in the street, and hear the
occasion to be news that the seamen are in a mutiny; which put me
into a great fright.
24th. Company at home: amongst others, Captain Rolt. And anon
at about seven or eight o'clock comes Mr. Harris of the Duke's
playhouse, and brings Mrs. Pierce with him, and also one dressed
like a country-maid with a straw-hat, on, and at first I could
not tell who it was, though I expected Knipp: but it was she
coming off the stage just as she acted this day in "The Goblins;"
a merry jade. Now my house is full, and four fiddlers that play
well. Harris I first took to my closet: and I find him a very
curious and understanding person in all pictures and other
things, and a man of fine conversation; and so is Rolt. Among
other things, Harris sung his Irish song, the strangest in itself
and the prettiest sung by him that ever I heard.
25th. This afternoon I saw the Poll Bill, now printed; wherein I
do fear I shall be very deeply concerned, being to be taxed for
all my offices, and then for my money that I have, and my title
as well as my head. It is a very great tax; but yet I do think
it is so perplexed, it will hardly ever be collected duly. The
late invention of Sir G. Downing's is continued of bringing all
the money into the Exchequer. This day the House hath passed the
Bill for the Assessment; which I am glad of. And also our little
Bill, for giving any of us in the office the power of justice of
peace, is done as I would have it.
27th. Roger Pepys and I to walk in the Pell Mell. I find by him
that the House of Parliament continues full of ill humours; and
do say how in their late Poll Bill, which cost so much time, the
yeomanry, and indeed two-thirds of the nation, are left out to be
taxed. Walked to White Hall, and there I showed my cosen Roger
the Duchesse of York sitting in state, while her own mother
stands by her: and my Lady Castlemaine, whom he approves to be
very handsome, and wonders that she cannot be as good within as
she is fair without. Her little black boy come by him, and a dog
being in his way, the little boy swore at the dog: "How," says
he, blessing himself, "would I whip this child till the blood
come, if it were my child!"