by wind and cold, and so up with good peace of mind, hoping that my wife
will mind her house and servants, and so to the office, and being too soon
to sit walked to my viail, which is well nigh done, and I believe I may
have it home to my mind next week. So back to my office, and there we sat
all the morning, I till 2 o'clock before I could go to dinner again.
After dinner walked forth to my instrument maker, and there had my rule he
made me lay now so perfected, that I think in all points I have never need
or desire a better, or think that any man yet had one so good in all the
several points of it for my use. So by water down to Deptford, taking
into my boat with me Mr. Palmer, one whom I knew and his wife when I was
first married, being an acquaintance of my wife's and her friends lodging
at Charing Cross during our differences. He joyed me in my condition, and
himself it seems is forced to follow the law in a common ordinary way, but
seems to do well, and is a sober man, enough by his discourse. He landed
with me at Deptford, where he saw by the officers' respect to me a piece
of my command, and took notice of it, though God knows I hope I shall not
be elated with that, but rather desire to be known for serving the King
well, and doing my duty. He gone I walked up and down the yard a while
discoursing with the officers, and so by water home meditating on my new
Rule with great pleasure. So to my office, and there by candle light
doing business, and so home to supper and to bed.
16th (Lord's day). Up and with my wife to church, and finding her
desirous to go to church, I did suspect her meeting of Pembleton, but he
was not there, and so I thought my jealousy in vain, and treat the sermon
with great quiet. And home to dinner very pleasant, only some angry,
notwithstanding my wife could not forbear to give Ashwell, and after
dinner to church again, and there, looking up and down, I found Pembleton
to stand in the isle against us, he coming too late to get a pew. Which,
Lord! into what a sweat did it put me! I do not think my wife did see
him, which did a little satisfy me. But it makes me mad to see of what a
jealous temper I am and cannot helpe it, though let him do what he can I
do not see, as I am going to reduce my family, what hurt he can do me,
there being no more occasion now for my wife to learn of him. Here
preached a confident young coxcomb. So home, and I staid a while with Sir
J. Minnes, at Mrs. Turner's, hearing his parrat talk, laugh, and crow,
which it do to admiration. So home and with my wife to see Sir W. Pen,
and thence to my uncle Wight, and took him at supper and sat down, where
methinks my uncle is more kind than he used to be both to me now, and my
father tell me to him also, which I am glad at. After supper home, it
being extraordinary dark, and by chance a lanthorn came by, and so we
hired it to light us home, otherwise were we no sooner within doors but a
great showre fell that had doused us cruelly if we had not been within, it
being as dark as pitch. So to prayers and to bed.
17th. Up, and then fell into discourse, my wife and I to Ashwell, and
much against my will I am fain to express a willingness to Ashwell that
she should go from us, and yet in my mind I am glad of it, to ease me of
the charge. So she is to go to her father this day. And leaving my wife
and her talking highly, I went away by coach with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W.
Batten to St. James's, and there attended of course the Duke. And so to
White Hall, where I met Mr. Moore, and he tells me with great sorrow of my
lord's being debauched he fears by this woman at Chelsey, which I am
troubled at, and resolve to speak to him of it if I can seasonably. Thence
home, where I dined, and after dinner comes our old mayde Susan to look
for a gorgett that she says she has lost by leaving it here, and by many
circumstances it being clear to me that Hannah, our present cook-mayde,
not only has it, but had it on upon her necke when Susan came in, and
shifted it off presently upon her coming in, I did charge her so home with
it (having a mind to have her gone from us), that in a huff she told us
she would be gone to-night if I would pay her her wages, which I was glad
and my wife of, and so fetched her her wages, and though I am doubtful
that she may convey some things away with her clothes, my wife searching
them, yet we are glad of her being so gone, and so she went away in a
quarter of an hour's time. Being much amused at this to have never a maid
but Ashwell, that we do not intend to keep, nor a boy, and my wife and I
being left for an hour, till my brother came in, alone in the house, I
grew very melancholy, and so my brother being come in I went forth to Mrs.
Holden's, to whom I formerly spoke about a girle to come to me instead of
a boy, and the like I did to Mrs. Standing and also to my brother Tom,
whom I found at an alehouse in Popinjay ally drinking, and I standing with
him at the gate of the ally, Ashwell came by, and so I left Tom and went
almost home with her, talking of her going away. I find that she is
willing to go, and told her (though behind my back my wife has told her
that it was more my desire than hers that she should go, which was not
well), that seeing my wife and she could not agree I did choose rather
(was she my sister) have her gone, it would be better for us and for her
too. To which she willing agreed, and will not tell me anything but that
she do believe that my wife would have some body there that might not be
so liable to give me information of things as she takes her to be. But,
however, I must later to prevent all that. I parted with her near home,
agreeing to take no notice of my coming along with her, and so by and by
came home after her. Where I find a sad distracted house, which troubles
me. However, to supper and prayers and to bed. And while we were getting
to bed my wife began to discourse to her, and plainly asked whether she
had got a place or no. And the other answered that she could go if we
would to one of our own office, to which we agreed if she would. She
thereupon said no; she would not go to any but where she might teach
children, because of keeping herself in use of what things she had earnt,
which she do not here nor will there, but only dressing. By which I
perceive the wench is cunning, but one very fit for such a place, and
accomplished to be woman to any lady in the land. So quietly to sleep, it
being a cold night. But till my house is settled, I do not see that I can
mind my business of the office, which grieves me to the heart. But I hope
all will over in a little time, and I hope to the best. This day at Mrs.
Holden's I found my new low crowned beaver according to the present
fashion made, and will be sent home to-morrow.
18th. Up and to my office, where we sat all the morning. And at noon
home, and my father came and dined with me, Susan being come and helped my
wife to dress dinner. After dinner my father and I talked about our
country-matters, and in fine I find that he thinks L50 per ann. will go
near to keep them all, which I am glad of. He having taken his leave of
me and my wife without any mention of the differences between them and my
wife in the country, I went forth to several places about businesses, and
so home again, and after prayers to bed.
19th. Up betimes, and my wife up and about the house, Susan beginning to
have her drunken tricks, and put us in mind of her old faults and folly
and distractednesse, which we had forgot, so that I became mightily
troubled with her. This morning came my joyners to new lay the floors,
and begun with the dining room. I out and see my viall again, and it is
very well, and to Mr. Hollyard, and took some pills of him and a note
under his hand to drink wine with my beere, without which I was obliged,
by my private vowe, to drink none a good while, and have strictly observed
it, and by my drinking of small beere and not eating, I am so mightily
troubled with wind, that I know not what to do almost. Thence to White
Hall, and there met Mr. Moore, and fell a-talking about my Lord's folly at
Chelsey, and it was our discourse by water to London and to the great
coffee house against the Exchange, where we sat a good while talking; and
I find that my lord is wholly given up to this wench, who it seems has
been reputed a common strumpett. I have little encouragement from Mr.
Moore to meddle with it to tell my Lord, for fear it may do him no good,
but me hurt. Thence homewards, taking leave of him, and met Tom Marsh, my
old acquaintance at Westminster, who talks mightily of the honour of his
place, being Clerke Assistant to the Clerke of the House of Commons, and I
take him to be a coxcombe, and so did give him half a pint of wine, but
drink none myself, and so got shut of him. So home, and there found my
wife almost mad with Susan's tricks, so as she is forced to let her go and
leave the house all in dirt and the clothes all wet, and gets Goody
Taylour to do the business for her till another comes. Here came Will
Howe, and he and I alone in my chamber talking of my Lord, who drives me
out of love to my Lord to tell my Lord of the matter we discoursed of,
which tend so much to the ruin of his state, and so I resolved to take a
good heart and do whatever comes of it. He gone, we sat down and eat a
bit of dinner fetched from the cooke's, and so up again and to my joyners,
who will make my floors very handsome. By and by comes in Pembleton,
which begun to make me sweat, but I did give him so little countenance,
and declared at one word against dancing any more, and bid him a short
(God be with you) myself, and so he took as short a leave of my wife and
so went away, and I think without any time of receiving any great
satisfaction from my wife or invitation to come again. To my office till
it was dark doing business, and so home by candle light to make up my
accounts for my Lord and Mr. Moore. By and by comes Mr. Moore to me, and
staid a good while with me making up his accounts and mine, and we did not
come to any end therein for want of his papers, and so put it off to
another time. He supped with me in all my dirt and disorder, and so went
away and we to bed. I discoursed with him a great while about my speaking
to my Lord of his business, and I apprehend from him that it is likely to
prove perhaps of bad effect to me and no good to him, and therefore I
shall even let it alone and let God do his will, at least till my Lord is
in the country, and then we shall see whether he resolves to come to
Chelsey again or no, and so order the stopping of him therein if we can.
20th. Up betimes and to my office (having first been angry with my
brother John, and in the heat of my sudden passion called him Asse and
coxcomb, for which I am sorry, it being but for leaving the key of his
chamber with a spring lock within side of his door), and there we sat all
the morning, and at noon dined at home, and there found a little girl,
which she told my wife her name was Jinny, by which name we shall call
her. I think a good likely girl, and a parish child of St. Bride's, of
honest parentage, and recommended by the churchwarden. After dinner among
my joyners laying my floors, which please me well, and so to my office,
and we sat this afternoon upon an extraordinary business of victualling.
In the evening came Commissioner Pett, who fell foule on mee for my
carriage to him at Chatham, wherein, after protestation of my love and
good meaning to him, he was quiet; but I doubt he will not be able to do
the service there that any other man of his ability would. Home in the
evening my viall (and lute new strung being brought home too), and I would
have paid Mr. Hunt for it, but he did not come along with it himself,
which I expected and was angry for it, so much is it against my nature to
owe anything to any body. This evening the girle that was brought to me
to-day for so good a one, being cleansed of lice this day by my wife, and
good, new clothes put on her back, she run away from Goody Taylour that
was shewing her the way to the bakehouse, and we heard no more of her. So
to supper and to bed.
21st. Up betimes and among my joyners, and to my office, where the
joyners are also laying mouldings in the inside of my closet. Then abroad
and by water to White Hall, and there got Sir G. Carteret to sign me my
last quarter's bills for my wages, and meeting with Mr. Creed he told me
how my Lord Teviott hath received another attaque from Guyland at Tangier
with 10,000 men, and at last, as is said, is come, after a personal treaty
with him, to a good understanding and peace with him. Thence to my
brother's, and there told him how my girl has served us which he sent me,
and directed him to get my clothes again, and get the girl whipped. So to
other places by the way about small businesses, and so home, and after
looking over all my workmen, I went by water and land to Deptford, and
there found by appointment Sir W. Batten, but he was got to Mr. Waith's to
dinner, where I dined with him, a good dinner and good discourse, and his
wife, I believe, a good woman. We fell in discourse of Captain Cocke, and
how his lady has lost all her fine linen almost, but besides that they say
she gives out she had L3000 worth of linen, which we all laugh at, and Sir
W. Batten (who I perceive is not so fond of the Captain as he used to be,
and less of her, from her slight receiving of him and his lady it seems
once) told me how he should say that he see he must spend L700 per ann.
get it how he could, which was a high speech, and by all men's discover,
his estate not good enough to spend so much. After dinner altered our
design to go to Woolwich, and put it off to to-morrow morning, and so went
all to Greenwich (Mrs. Waith excepted, who went thither, but not to the
same house with us, but to her father's, that lives there), to the
musique-house, where we had paltry musique, till the master organist came,
whom by discourse I afterwards knew, having employed him for my Lord
Sandwich, to prick out something (his name Arundell), and he did give me a
fine voluntary or two, and so home by water, and at home I find my girl
that run away brought by a bedel of St. Bride's Parish, and stripped her
and sent her away, and a newe one come, of Griffin's helping to, which I
think will prove a pretty girl. Her name, Susan, and so to supper after
having this evening paid Mr. Hunt L3 for my viall (besides the carving
which I paid this day 10s. for to the carver), and he tells me that I may,
without flattery, say, I have as good a Theorbo viall and viallin as is in
England. So to bed.
22nd. Up by four o'clock to go with Sir W. Batten to Woolwich and Sir J.
Minnes, which we did, though not before 6 or 7 by their laying a-bed. Our
business was to survey the new wharf building there, in order to the
giving more to him that do it (Mr. Randall) than contracted for, but I see
no reason for it, though it be well done, yet no better than contracted to
be. Here we eat and drank at the Clerke of the Cheques, and in taking
water at the Tower gate, we drank a cup of strong water, which I did out
of pure conscience to my health, and I think is not excepted by my oaths,
but it is a thing I shall not do again, hoping to have no such occasion.
After breakfast Mr. Castle and I walked to Greenwich, and in our way met
some gypsys, who would needs tell me my fortune, and I suffered one of
them, who told me many things common as others do, but bade me beware of a
John and a Thomas, for they did seek to do me hurt, and that somebody
should be with me this day se'nnight to borrow money of me, but I should
lend him none. She got ninepence of me. And so I left them and to
Greenwich and so to Deptford, where the two knights were come, and thence
home by water, where I find my closet done at my office to my mind and
work gone well on at home; and Ashwell gone abroad to her father, my wife
having spoken plainly to her. After dinner to my office, getting my
closet made clean and setting some papers in order, and so in the evening
home and to bed. This day Sir W. Batten tells me that Mr. Newburne (of
whom the nickname came up among us forarse Tom Newburne) is dead of eating
cowcumbers, of which, the other day, I heard another, I think Sir Nicholas
Crisp's son.
23rd (Lord's day). Up and to church without my wife, she being all dirty,
as my house is. God forgive me, I looked about to see if I could spy
Pembleton, but I could not, which did please me not a little. Home to
dinner, and then to walk up and down in my house with my wife, discoursing
of our family matters, and I hope, after all my troubles of mind and
jealousy, we shall live happily still. To church again, and so home to my
wife; and with her read "Iter Boreale," a poem, made just at the King's
coming home; but I never read it before, and now like it pretty well, but
not so as it was cried up. So to supper. No pleasure or discourse with
Ashwell, with whom for her neglect and unconcernment to do any thing in
this time of dirt and trouble in the house, but gadding abroad as she has
been all this afternoon, I know not whither. After supper to prayers and
to bed, having been, by a sudden letter coming to me from Mr. Coventry,
been with Sir W. Pen, to discourse with him about sending 500 soldiers
into Ireland. I doubt matters do not go very right there.
24th. Up very early, and my joyners came to work. I to Mr. Moore; from
him came back home again, and drew up an account to my Lord, and that
being done met him at my Lord Sandwich's, where I was a good while alone
with my Lord; and I perceive he confides in me and loves me as he uses to
do, and tells me his condition, which is now very well all I fear is that
he will not live within compass, for I am told this morning of strange
dotages of his upon the slut at Chelsea, even in the presence of his
daughter, my Lady Jem, and Mrs. Ferrets, who took notice of it. There
come to him this morning his prints of the river Tagus and the City of
Lisbon, which he measured with his own hand, and printed by command of the
King. My Lord pleases himself with it, but methinks it ought to have been
better done than by jobing. Besides I put him upon having some took off
upon white sattin, which he ordered presently. I offered my Lord my
accounts, and did give him up his old bond for L500 and took a new one of
him for L700, which I am by lending him more money to make up: and I am
glad of it. My Lord would have had me dine with him, but I had a mind to
go home to my workmen, and so took a kind good bye of him, and so with
Creed to St. James's, and, missing Mr. Coventry, walked to the New
Exchange, and there drank some whey, and so I by water home, and found my
closett at my office made very clean and neat to my mind mightily, and
home to dinner, and then to my office to brush my books, and put them and
my papers in order again, and all the afternoon till late at night doing
business there, and so home to supper, and then to work in my chamber,
making matters of this day's accounts clear in my books, they being a
little extraordinary, and so being very late I put myself to bed, the rest
being long ago gone.
25th. Up very early and removed the things out of my chamber into the
dining room, it being to be new floored this day. So the workmen being
come and falling to work there, I to the office, and thence down to
Lymehouse to Phin. Pett's about masts, and so back to the office, where we
sat; and being rose, and Mr. Coventry being gone, taking his leave, for
that he is to go to the Bath with the Duke to-morrow, I to the 'Change and
there spoke with several persons, and lastly with Sir W. Warren, and with
him to a Coffee House, and there sat two hours talking of office business
and Mr. Wood's knavery, which I verily believe, and lastly he tells me
that he hears that Captain Cocke is like to become a principal officer,
either a Controller or a Surveyor, at which I am not sorry so either of
the other may be gone, and I think it probable enough that it may be so.
So home at 2 o'clock, and there I found Ashwell gone, and her wages come
to 50s., and my wife, by a mistake from me, did give her 20s. more; but I
am glad that she is gone and the charge saved. After dinner among my
joyners, and with them till dark night, and this night they made an end of
all; and so having paid them 40s. for their six days' work, I am glad they
have ended and are gone, for I am weary and my wife too of this dirt. My
wife growing peevish at night, being weary, and I a little vexed to see
that she do not retain things in her memory that belong to the house as
she ought and I myself do, I went out in a little seeming discontent to
the office, and after being there a while, home to supper and to bed.
To-morrow they say the King and the Duke set out for the Bath. This noon
going to the Exchange, I met a fine fellow with trumpets before him in
Leadenhall-street, and upon enquiry I find that he is the clerk of the
City Market; and three or four men carried each of them an arrow of a
pound weight in their hands. It seems this Lord Mayor begins again an old
custome, that upon the three first days of Bartholomew Fayre, the first,
there is a match of wrestling, which was done, and the Lord Mayor there
and Aldermen in Moorefields yesterday: to-day, shooting: and to-morrow,
hunting. And this officer of course is to perform this ceremony of riding
through the city, I think to proclaim or challenge any to shoot. It seems
that the people of the fayre cry out upon it as a great hindrance to them.
26th. Up, and after doing something in order to the putting of my house
in order now the joynery is done, I went by water to White Hall, where the
Court full of waggons and horses, the King and Court going this day out
towards the Bath, and I to St. James's, where I spent an hour or more
talking of many things to my great content with Mr. Coventry in his
chamber, he being ready to set forth too with the Duke to-day, and so left
him, and I meeting Mr. Gauden, with him to our offices and in Sir W. Pen's
chamber did discourse by a meeting on purpose with Mr. Waith about the
victualling business and came to some issue in it. So home to dinner, and
Mr. Moore came and dined with me, and after dinner I paid him some money
which evened all reckonings between him and me to this day, and for my
Lord also I paid him some money, so that now my Lord owes me, for which I
have his bond, just L700. After long discourse with him of the fitness of
his giving me a receipt for this money, which I for my security think
necessary and he otherwise do not think so, at last, after being a little
angry, and I resolving not to let go my money without it, he did give me
one. Thence I took him, and he and I took a pleasant walk to Deptford and
back again, I doing much business there. He went home and I home also,
indoors to supper, being very glad to see my house begin to look like
itself again, hoping after this is over not to be in any dirt a great
while again, but it is very handsome, and will be more when the floors
come to be of one colour. So weary to bed. Pleased this day to see
Captain Hickes come to me with a list of all the officers of Deptford
Yard, wherein he, being a high old Cavalier, do give me an account of
every one of them to their reproach in all respects, and discovers many of
their knaverys; and tells me, and so I thank God I hear every where, that
my name is up for a good husband for the King, and a good man, for which I
bless God; and that he did this by particular direction of Mr. Coventry.
27th. Up, after much pleasant talke with my wife and a little that vexes
me, for I see that she is confirmed in it that all that I do is by design,
and that my very keeping of the house in dirt, and the doing of this and
any thing else in the house, is but to find her employment to keep her
within and from minding of her pleasure, in which, though I am sorry to
see she minds it, is true enough in a great degree. To my office, and
there we sat and despatched much business. Home and dined with my wife
well, and then up and made clean my closet of books, and had my chamber a
third time made very clean, so that it is now in a very fine condition.
Thence down to see some good plank in the river with Sir W. Batten and
back again, it being a very cold day and a cold wind. Home again, and
after seeing Sir W. Pen, to my office, and there till late doing of
business, being mightily encouraged by every body that I meet withal upon
the 'Change and every where else, that I am taken notice of for a man that
do the King's business wholly and well. For which the Lord be praised,
for I know no honour I desire more. Home to supper, where I find my house
very clean from top to bottom again to my great content. I found a feacho
(as he calls it) of fine sugar and a case of orange-flower water come from
Mr. Cocke, of Lisbon, the fruits of my last year's service to him, which I
did in great justice to the man, a perfect stranger. He sends it me
desiring that I would not let Sir J. Minnes know it, from whom he expected
to have found the service done that he had from me, from whom he could
expect nothing, and the other failed him, and would have done I am sure to
this day had not I brought it to some end. After supper to bed.
28th. At the office betimes (it being cold all night and this morning,
and a very great frost they say abroad, which is much, having had no
summer at all almost), where we sat, and in the afternoon also about
settling the establishment of the number of men borne on ships, &c., till
the evening, and after that in my closet till late, and quite tired with
business, home to supper and to bed.