Produced by David Widger
THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS M.A. F.R.S.
CLERK OF THE ACTS AND SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY
TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY
MAGDALENE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M.A. LATE FELLOW
AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE
(Unabridged)
WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES
EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY
HENRY B. WHEATLEY F.S.A.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
JULY & AUGUST
1662
July 1st. To the office, and there we sat till past noon, and then
Captain Cuttance and I by water to Deptford, where the Royal James (in
which my Lord went out the last voyage, though [he] came back in the
Charles) was paying off by Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen. So to dinner,
where I had Mr. Sheply to dine with us, and from thence I sent to my Lord
to know whether she should be a first rate, as the men would have her, or
a second. He answered that we should forbear paying the officers and such
whose pay differed upon the rate of the ship, till he could speak with his
Royal Highness. To the Pay again after dinner, and seeing of Cooper, the
mate of the ship, whom I knew in the Charles, I spoke to him about
teaching the mathematiques, and do please myself in my thoughts of
learning of him, and bade him come to me in a day or two. Towards evening
I left them, and to Redriffe by land, Mr. Cowly, the Clerk of the Cheque,
with me, discoursing concerning the abuses of the yard, in which he did
give me much light. So by water home, and after half an hour sitting
talking with my wife, who was afeard I did intend to go with my Lord to
fetch the Queen mother over, in which I did clear her doubts, I went to
bed by daylight, in order to my rising early to-morrow.
2nd. Up while the chimes went four, and to put down my journal, and so to
my office, to read over such instructions as concern the officers of the
Yard; for I am much upon seeing into the miscarriages there. By and by,
by appointment, comes Commissioner Pett; and then a messenger from Mr.
Coventry, who sits in his boat expecting us, and so we down to him at the
Tower, and there took water all, and to Deptford (he in our passage taking
notice how much difference there is between the old Captains for obedience
and order, and the King's new Captains, which I am very glad to hear him
confess); and there we went into the Store-house, and viewed first the
provisions there, and then his books, but Mr. Davis himself was not there,
he having a kinswoman in the house dead, for which, when by and by I saw
him, he do trouble himself most ridiculously, as if there was never
another woman in the world; in which so much laziness, as also in the
Clerkes of the Cheque and Survey (which after one another we did examine),
as that I do not perceive that there is one-third of their duties
performed; but I perceive, to my great content, Mr. Coventry will have
things reformed. So Mr. Coventry to London, and Pett and I to the Pay,
where Sir Williams both were paying off the Royal James still, and so to
dinner, and to the Pay again, where I did relieve several of my Lord
Sandwich's people, but was sorry to see them so peremptory, and at every
word would, complain to my Lord, as if they shall have such a command over
my Lord. In the evening I went forth and took a walk with Mr. Davis, and
told him what had passed at his office to-day, and did give him my advice,
and so with the rest by barge home and to bed
3rd. Up by four o'clock and to my office till 8 o'clock, writing over two
copies of our contract with Sir W. Rider, &c., for 500 ton of hempe,
which, because it is a secret, I have the trouble of writing over as well
as drawing. Then home to dress myself, and so to the office, where
another fray between Sir R. Ford and myself about his yarn, wherein I find
the board to yield on my side, and was glad thereof, though troubled that
the office should fall upon me of disobliging Sir Richard. At noon we all
by invitation dined at the Dolphin with the Officers of the Ordnance;
where Sir W. Compton, Mr. O'Neale,'and other great persons, were, and a
very great dinner, but I drank as I still do but my allowance of wine.
After dinner, was brought to Sir W. Compton a gun to discharge seven
times, the best of all devices that ever I saw, and very serviceable, and
not a bawble; for it is much approved of, and many thereof made. Thence
to my office all the afternoon as long as I could see, about setting many
businesses in order. In the evening came Mr. Lewis to me, and very
ingeniously did enquire whether I ever did look into the business of the
Chest at Chatham;
[Pepys gives some particulars about the Chest on November 13th,
1662. "The Chest at Chatham was originally planned by Sir Francis
Drake and Sir John Hawkins in 1588, after the defeat of the Armada;
the seamen voluntarily agreed to have 'defalked' out of their wages
certain sums to form a fund for relief. The property became
considerable, as well as the abuses, and in 1802 the Chest was
removed to Greenwich. In 1817, the stock amounted to L300,000
Consols."--Hist. of Rochester, p. 346.--B.]
and after my readiness to be informed did appear to him, he did produce a
paper, wherein he stated the government of the Chest to me; and upon the
whole did tell me how it hath ever been abused, and to this day is; and
what a meritorious act it would be to look after it; which I am resolved
to do, if God bless me; and do thank him very much for it. So home, and
after a turn or two upon the leads with my wife, who has lately had but
little of my company, since I begun to follow my business, but is
contented therewith since she sees how I spend my time, and so to bed.
4th. Up by five o'clock, and after my journall put in order, to my office
about my business, which I am resolved to follow, for every day I see what
ground I get by it. By and by comes Mr. Cooper, mate of the Royall
Charles, of whom I intend to learn mathematiques, and do begin with him
to-day, he being a very able man, and no great matter, I suppose, will
content him. After an hour's being with him at arithmetique (my first
attempt being to learn the multiplication-table); then we parted till
to-morrow. And so to my business at my office again till noon, about
which time Sir W. Warren did come to me about business, and did begin to
instruct me in the nature of fine timber and deals, telling me the nature
of every sort; and from that we fell to discourse of Sir W. Batten's
corruption and the people that he employs, and from one discourse to
another of the kind. I was much pleased with his company, and so staid
talking with him all alone at my office till 4 in the afternoon, without
eating or drinking all day, and then parted, and I home to eat a bit, and
so back again to my office; and toward the evening came Mr. Sheply, who is
to go out of town to-morrow, and so he and I with much ado settled his
accounts with my Lord, which, though they be true and honest, yet so
obscure, that it vexes me to see in what manner they are kept. He being
gone, and leave taken of him as of a man likely not to come to London
again a great while, I eat a bit of bread and butter, and so to bed. This
day I sent my brother Tom, at his request, my father's old Bass Viall
which he and I have kept so long, but I fear Tom will do little good at
it.
5th. To my office all the morning, to get things ready against our
sitting, and by and by we sat and did business all the morning, and at
noon had Sir W. Pen, who I hate with all my heart for his base treacherous
tricks, but yet I think it not policy to declare it yet, and his son
William, to my house to dinner, where was also Mr. Creed and my cozen
Harry Alcocke. I having some venison given me a day or two ago, and so I
had a shoulder roasted, another baked, and the umbles
[The umbles are the liver, kidneys, and other portions of the inside
of the deer. They were usually made into pies, and old cookery
books contain directions for the making of 'umble pies.']
baked in a pie, and all very well done. We were merry as I could be in
that company, and the more because I would not seem otherwise to Sir W.
Pen, he being within a day or two to go for Ireland. After dinner he and
his son went away, and Mr. Creed would, with all his rhetoric, have
persuaded me to have gone to a play; and in good earnest I find my nature
desirous to have gone, notwithstanding my promise and my business, to
which I have lately kept myself so close, but I did refuse it, and I hope
shall ever do so, and above all things it is considerable that my mind was
never in my life in so good a condition of quiet as it has been since I
have followed my business and seen myself to get greater and greater
fitness in my employment, and honour every day more than other. So at my
office all the afternoon, and then my mathematiques at night with Mr.
Cooper, and so to supper and to bed.
6th (Lord's day). Lay long in bed to-day with my wife merry and pleasant,
and then rose and settled my accounts with my wife for housekeeping, and
do see that my kitchen, besides wine, fire, candle, sope, and many other
things, comes to about 30s. a week, or a little over. To church, where
Mr. Mills made a lazy sermon. So home to dinner, where my brother Tom
dined with me, and so my wife and I to church again in the afternoon, and
that done I walked to the Wardrobe and spent my time with Mr. Creed and
Mr. Moore talking about business; so up to supper with my Lady [Sandwich],
who tells me, with much trouble, that my Lady Castlemaine is still as
great with the King, and that the King comes as often to her as ever he
did, at which, God forgive me, I am well pleased. It began to rain, and so
I borrowed a hat and cloak of Mr. Moore and walked home, where I found
Captain Ferrer with my wife, and after speaking a matter of an hour with
him he went home and we all to bed. Jack Cole, my old friend, found me out
at the Wardrobe; and, among other things, he told me that certainly most
of the chief ministers of London would fling up their livings; and that,
soon or late, the issue thereof would be sad to the King and Court.
7th. Up and to my office early, and there all the morning alone till
dinner, and after dinner to my office again, and about 3 o'clock with my
wife by water to Westminster, where I staid in the Hall while my wife went
to see her father and mother, and she returning we by water home again,
and by and by comes Mr. Cooper, so he and I to our mathematiques, and so
supper and to bed. My morning's work at the office was to put the new
books of my office into order, and writing on the backsides what books
they be, and transcribing out of some old books some things into them.
8th. At the office all the morning and dined at home, and after dinner in
all haste to make up my accounts with my Lord, which I did with some
trouble, because I had some hopes to have made a profit to myself in this
account and above what was due to me (which God forgive me in), but I
could not, but carried them to my Lord, with whom they passed well. So to
the Wardrobe, where alone with my Lord above an hour; and he do seem still
to have his old confidence in me; and tells me to boot, that Mr. Coventry
hath spoke of me to him to great advantage; wherein I am much pleased. By
and by comes in Mr. Coventry to visit my Lord; and so my Lord and he and I
walked together in the great chamber a good while; and I found him a most
ingenuous man and good company. He being gone I also went home by water,
Mr. Moore with me for discourse sake, and then parted from me, Cooper
being there ready to attend me, so he and I to work till it was dark, and
then eat a bit and by daylight to bed.
9th. Up by four o'clock, and at my multiplicacion-table hard, which is
all the trouble I meet withal in my arithmetique. So made me ready and to
the office, where all the morning busy, and Sir W. Pen came to my office
to take his leave of me, and desiring a turn in the garden, did commit the
care of his building to me, and offered all his services to me in all
matters of mine. I did, God forgive me! promise him all my service and
love, though the rogue knows he deserves none from me, nor do I intend to
show him any; but as he dissembles with me, so must I with him. Dined at
home, and so to the office again, my wife with me, and while I was for an
hour making a hole behind my seat in my closet to look into the office,
she was talking to me about her going to Brampton, which I would willingly
have her to do but for the cost of it, and to stay here will be very
inconvenient because of the dirt that I must have when my house is pulled
down. Then to my business till night, then Mr. Cooper and I to our
business, and then came Mr. Mills, the minister, to see me, which he hath
but rarely done to me, though every day almost to others of us; but he is
a cunning fellow, and knows where the good victuals is, and the good
drink, at Sir W. Batten's. However, I used him civilly, though I love him
as I do the rest of his coat. So to supper and to bed.
10th. Up by four o'clock, and before I went to the office I practised my
arithmetique, and then, when my wife was up, did call her and Sarah, and
did make up a difference between them, for she is so good a servant as I
am loth to part with her. So to the office all the morning, where very
much business, but it vexes me to see so much disorder at our table, that,
every man minding a several business, we dispatch nothing. Dined at home
with my wife, then to the office again, and being called by Sir W. Batten,
walked to the Victualler's office, there to view all the several offices
and houses to see that they were employed in order to give the Council an
account thereof. So after having taken an oath or two of Mr. Lewes and
Captain Brown and others I returned to the office, and there sat
despatching several businesses alone till night, and so home and by
daylight to bed.
11th. Up by four o'clock, and hard at my multiplicacion-table, which I am
now almost master of, and so made me ready and to my office, where by and
by comes Mr. Pett, and then a messenger from Mr. Coventry, who stays in
his boat at the Tower for us. So we to him, and down to Deptford first,
and there viewed some deals lately served in at a low price, which our
officers, like knaves, would untruly value in their worth, but we found
them good. Then to Woolwich, and viewed well all the houses and stores
there, which lie in very great confusion for want of storehouses, and then
to Mr. Ackworth's and Sheldon's to view their books, which we found not to
answer the King's service and security at all as to the stores. Then to
the Ropeyard, and there viewed the hemp, wherein we found great
corruption, and then saw a trial between Sir R. Ford's yarn and our own,
and found great odds. So by water back again. About five in the
afternoon to Whitehall, and so to St. James's; and at Mr. Coventry's
chamber, which is very neat and fine, we had a pretty neat dinner, and
after dinner fell to discourse of business and regulation, and do think of
many things that will put matters into better order, and upon the whole my
heart rejoices to see Mr. Coventry so ingenious, and able, and studious to
do good, and with much frankness and respect to Mr. Pett and myself
particularly. About 9 o'clock we broke up after much discourse and many
things agreed on in order to our business of regulation, and so by water
(landing Mr. Pett at the Temple) I went home and to bed.
12th. Up by five o'clock, and put things in my house in order to be laid
up, against my workmen come on Monday to take down the top of my house,
which trouble I must go through now, but it troubles me much to think of
it. So to my office, where till noon we sat, and then I to dinner and to
the office all the afternoon with much business. At night with Cooper at
arithmetique, and then came Mr. Creed about my Lord's accounts to even
them, and he gone I to supper and to bed.
13th (Lord's day) . . . . I had my old pain all yesterday and this
morning, and so kept my bed all this morning. So up and after dinner and
some of my people to church, I set about taking down my books and papers
and making my chamber fit against to-morrow to have the people come to
work in pulling down the top of my house. In the evening I walked to the
garden and sent for Mr. Turner (who yesterday did give me occasion of
speaking to him about the difference between him and me), and I told him
my whole mind, and how it was in my power to do him a discourtesy about
his place of petty purveyance, and at last did make him see (I think) that
it was his concernment to be friendly to me and what belongs to me. After
speaking my mind to him and he to me, we walked down and took boat at the
Tower and to Deptford, on purpose to sign and seal a couple of warrants,
as justice of peace in Kent, against one Annis, who is to be tried next
Tuesday, at Maidstone assizes, for stealing some lead out of Woolwich
Yard. Going and coming I did discourse with Mr. Turner about the faults
of our management of the business of our office, of which he is sensible,
but I believe is a very knave. Come home I found a rabbit at the fire,
and so supped well, and so to my journall and to bed.
14th. Up by 4 o'clock and to my arithmetique, and so to my office till 8,
then to Thames Street along with old Mr. Green, among the tarr-men, and
did instruct myself in the nature and prices of tarr, but could not get
Stockholm for the use of the office under L10 15s. per last, which is a
great price. So home, and at noon Dr. T. Pepys came to me, and he and I
to the Exchequer, and so back to dinner, where by chance comes Mr. Pierce,
the chyrurgeon, and then Mr. Battersby, the minister, and then Mr. Dun,
and it happened that I had a haunch of venison boiled, and so they were
very wellcome and merry; but my simple Dr. do talk so like a fool that I
am weary of him. They being gone, to my office again, and there all the
afternoon, and at night home and took a few turns with my wife in the
garden and so to bed. My house being this day almost quite untiled in
order to its rising higher. This night I began to put on my waistcoat
also. I found the pageant in Cornhill taken down, which was pretty
strange.
15th. Up by 4 o'clock, and after doing some business as to settling my
papers at home, I went to my office, and there busy till sitting time. So
at the office all the morning, where J. Southern, Mr. Coventry's clerk,
did offer me a warrant for an officer to sign which I desired, claiming it
for my clerk's duty, which however did trouble me a little to be put upon
it, but I did it. We broke up late, and I to dinner at home, where my
brother Tom and Mr. Cooke came and dined with me, but I could not be merry
for my business, but to my office again after dinner, and they two and my
wife abroad. In the evening comes Mr. Cooper, and I took him by water on
purpose to tell me things belonging to ships, which was time well spent,
and so home again, and my wife came home and tells me she has been very
merry and well pleased with her walk with them. About bedtime it fell
a-raining, and the house being all open at top, it vexed me; but there was
no help for it.
16th. In the morning I found all my ceilings, spoiled with rain last
night, so that I fear they must be all new whited when the work is done.
Made me ready and to my office, and by and by came Mr. Moore to me, and so
I went home and consulted about drawing up a fair state of all my Lord's
accounts, which being settled, he went away, and I fell to writing of it
very neatly, and it was very handsome and concisely done. At noon to my
Lord's with it, but found him at dinner, and some great company with him,
Mr. Edward Montagu and his brother, and Mr. Coventry, and after dinner he
went out with them, and so I lost my labour; but dined with Mr. Moore and
the people below, who after dinner fell to talk of Portugall rings, and
Captain Ferrers offered five or six to sell, and I seeming to like a ring
made of a coco-nutt with a stone done in it, he did offer and would give
it me. By and by we went to Mr. Creed's lodging, and there got a dish or
two of sweetmeats, and I seeing a very neat leaden standish to carry
papers, pen, and ink in when one travels I also got that of him, and that
done I went home by water and to finish some of my Lord's business, and so
early to bed. This day I was told that my Lady Castlemaine (being quite
fallen out with her husband) did yesterday go away from him, with all her
plate, jewels, and other best things; and is gone to Richmond to a brother
of her's; which, I am apt to think, was a design to get out of town, that
the King might come at her the better. But strange it is how for her
beauty I am willing to construe all this to the best and to pity her
wherein it is to her hurt, though I know well enough she is a whore.
17th. To my office, and by and by to our sitting; where much business.
Mr. Coventry took his leave, being to go with the Duke over for the
Queen-Mother. I dined at home, and so to my Lord's, where I presented him
with a true state of all his accounts to last Monday, being the 14th of
July, which did please him, and to my great joy I continue in his great
esteem and opinion. I this day took a general acquittance from my Lord to
the same day. So that now I have but very few persons to deal withall for
money in the world. Home and found much business to be upon my hands, and
was late at the office writing letters by candle light, which is rare at
this time of the year, but I do it with much content and joy, and then I
do please me to see that I begin to have people direct themselves to me in
all businesses. Very late I was forced to send for Mr. Turner, Smith,
Young, about things to be sent down early to-morrow on board the King's
pleasure boat, and so to bed with my head full of business, but well
contented in mind as ever in my life.
18th. Up very early, and got a-top of my house, seeing the design of my
work, and like it very well, and it comes into my head to have my
dining-room wainscoated, which will be very pretty. By-and-by by water to
Deptford, to put several things in order, being myself now only left in
town, and so back again to the office, and there doing business all the
morning and the afternoon also till night, and then comes Cooper for my
mathematiques, but, in good earnest, my head is so full of business that I
cannot understand it as otherwise I should do. At night to bed, being
much troubled at the rain coming into my house, the top being open.
19th. Up early and to some business, and my wife coming to me I staid
long with her discoursing about her going into the country, and as she is
not very forward so am I at a great loss whether to have her go or no
because of the charge, and yet in some considerations I would be glad she
was there, because of the dirtiness of my house and the trouble of having
of a family there. So to my office, and there all the morning, and then
to dinner and my brother Tom dined with me only to see me. In the
afternoon I went upon the river to look after some tarr I am sending down
and some coles, and so home again; it raining hard upon the water, I put
ashore and sheltered myself, while the King came by in his barge, going
down towards the Downs to meet the Queen: the Duke being gone yesterday.
But methought it lessened my esteem of a king, that he should not be able
to command the rain. Home, and Cooper coming (after I had dispatched
several letters) to my mathematiques, and so at night to bed to a chamber
at Sir W. Pen's, my own house being so foul that I cannot lie there any
longer, and there the chamber lies so as that I come into it over my leads
without going about, but yet I am not fully content with it, for there
will be much trouble to have servants running over the leads to and fro.
20th (Lord's day). My wife and I lay talking long in bed, and at last she
is come to be willing to stay two months in the country, for it is her
unwillingness to stay till the house is quite done that makes me at a loss
how to have her go or stay. But that which troubles me most is that it
has rained all this morning so furiously that I fear my house is all over
water, and with that expectation I rose and went into my house and find
that it is as wet as the open street, and that there is not one
dry-footing above nor below in my house. So I fitted myself for dirt, and
removed all my books to the office and all day putting up and restoring
things, it raining all day long as hard within doors as without. At last
to dinner, we had a calf's head and bacon at my chamber at Sir W. Pen's,
and there I and my wife concluded to have her go and her two maids and the
boy, and so there shall be none but Will and I left at home, and so the
house will be freer, for it is impossible to have anybody come into my
house while it is in this condition, and with this resolution all the
afternoon we were putting up things in the further cellar against next
week for them to be gone, and my wife and I into the office and there
measured a soiled flag that I had found there, and hope to get it to
myself, for it has not been demanded since I came to the office. But my
wife is not hasty to have it, but rather to stay a while longer and see
the event whether it will be missed or no. At night to my office, and
there put down this day's passages in my journall, and read my oaths, as I
am obliged every Lord's day. And so to Sir W. Pen's to my chamber again,
being all in dirt and foul, and in fear of having catched cold today with
dabbling in the water. But what has vexed me to-day was that by carrying
the key to Sir W. Pen's last night, it could not in the midst of all my
hurry to carry away my books and things, be found, and at last they found
it in the fire that we made last night. So to bed.
21st. Up early, and though I found myself out of order and cold, and the
weather cold and likely to rain, yet upon my promise and desire to do what
I intended, I did take boat and down to Greenwich, to Captain Cocke's, who
hath a most pleasant seat, and neat. Here I drank wine, and eat some
fruit off the trees; and he showed a great rarity, which was two or three
of a great number of silver dishes and plates, which he bought of an
embassador that did lack money, in the edge or rim of which was placed
silver and gold medalls, very ancient, and I believe wrought, by which, if
they be, they are the greatest rarity that ever I saw in my life, and I
will show Mr. Crumlum them. Thence to Woolwich to the Rope-yard; and
there looked over several sorts of hemp, and did fall upon my great survey
of seeing the working and experiments of the strength and the charge in
the dressing of every sort; and I do think have brought it to so great a
certainty, as I have done the King great service in it: and do purpose to
get it ready against the Duke's coming to town to present to him. I
breakfasted at Mr. Falconer's well, and much pleased with my inquiries.
Thence to the dock, where we walked in Mr. Shelden's garden, eating more
fruit, and drinking, and eating figs, which were very good, and talking
while the Royal James was bringing towards the dock, and then we went out
and saw the manner and trouble of docking such a ship, which yet they
could not do, but only brought her head into the Dock, and so shored her
up till next tide. But, good God! what a deal of company was there from
both yards to help to do it, when half the company would have done it as
well. But I see it is impossible for the King to have things done as
cheap as other men. Thence by water, and by and by landing at the
riverside somewhere among the reeds, we walked to Greenwich, where to
Cocke's house again and walked in the garden, and then in to his lady, who
I find is still pretty, but was now vexed and did speak very discontented
and angry to the Captain for disappointing a gentleman that he had invited
to dinner, which he took like a wise man and said little, but she was very
angry, which put me clear out of countenance that I was sorry I went in.
So after I had eat still some more fruit I took leave of her in the garden
plucking apricots for preserving, and went away and so by water home, and
there Mr. Moore coming and telling me that my Lady goes into the country
to-morrow, I carried my wife by coach to take her leave of her father, I
staying in Westminster Hall, she going away also this week, and thence to
my Lady's, where we staid and supped with her, but found that my Lady was
truly angry and discontented with us for our neglecting to see her as we
used to do, but after a little she was pleased as she was used to be, at
which we were glad. So after supper home to bed.
22d. Among my workmen early: then to the office, and there I had letters
from the Downs from Mr. Coventry; who tells me of the foul weather they
had last Sunday, that drove them back from near Boulogne, whither they
were going for the Queen, back again to the Downs, with the loss of their
cables, sayles, and masts; but are all safe, only my Lord Sandwich, who
went before with the yachts; they know not what is become of him, which do
trouble me much; but I hope he got ashore before the storm begun; which
God grant! All day at the office, only at home at dinner, where I was
highly angry with my wife for her keys being out of the way, but they were
found at last, and so friends again. All the afternoon answering letters
and writing letters, and at night to Mr. Coventry an ample letter in
answer to all his and the Duke's business. Late at night at the office,
where my business is great, being now all alone in town, but I shall go
through it with pleasure. So home and to bed.
23rd. This morning angry a little in the morning, and my house being so
much out of order makes me a little pettish. I went to the office, and
there dispatched business by myself, and so again in the afternoon; being
a little vexed that my brother Tom, by his neglect, do fail to get a coach
for my wife and maid this week, by which she will not be at Brampton
Feast, to meet my Lady at my father's. At night home, and late packing up
things in order to their going to Brampton to-morrow, and so to bed, quite
out of sorts in my mind by reason that the weather is so bad, and my house
all full of wet, and the trouble of going from one house to another to Sir
W. Pen's upon every occasion. Besides much disturbed by reason of the
talk up and down the town, that my Lord Sandwich is lost; but I trust in
God the contrary.
24th. Up early this morning sending the things to the carrier's, and my
boy, who goes to-day, though his mistress do not till next Monday. All
the morning at the office, Sir W. Batten being come to town last night. I
hear, to my great content, that my Lord Sandwich is safe landed in France.
Dined at our chamber, where W. Bowyer with us, and after much simple talk
with him, I left him, and to my office, where all the afternoon busy till
9 at night, among other things improving my late experiment at Woolwich
about hemp. So home and to bed.
25th. At the office all the morning, reading Mr. Holland's' discourse of
the Navy, lent me by Mr. Turner, and am much pleased with them, they
hitting the very diseases of the Navy, which we are troubled with
now-a-days. I shall bestow writing of them over and much reading thereof.
This morning Sir W. Batten came in to the office and desired to speak with
me; he began by telling me that he observed a strangeness between him and
me of late, and would know the reason of it, telling me he heard that I
was offended with merchants coming to his house and making contracts
there. I did tell him that as a friend I had spoke of it to Sir W. Pen
and desired him to take a time to tell him of it, and not as a backbiter,
with which he was satisfied, but I find that Sir W. Pen has played the
knave with me, and not told it from me as a friend, but in a bad sense.
He also told me that he heard that exceptions were taken at his carrying
his wife down to Portsmouth, saying that the King should not pay for it,
but I denied that I had spoke of it, nor did I. At last he desired the
difference between our wives might not make a difference between us, which
I was exceedingly glad to hear, and do see every day the fruit of looking
after my business, which I pray God continue me in, for I do begin to be
very happy. Dined at home, and so to the office all the afternoon again,
and at night home and to bed.
26th. Sir W. Batten, Mr. Pett, and I at the office sitting all the
morning. So dined at home, and then to my office again, causing the model
hanging in my chamber to be taken down and hung up in my office, for fear
of being spoilt by the workmen, and for my own convenience of studying it.
This afternoon I had a letter from Mr. Creed, who hath escaped narrowly in
the King's yacht, and got safe to the Downs after the late storm; and that
there the King do tell him, that he is sure that my Lord is landed at
Callis safe, of which being glad, I sent news thereof to my Lord Crew, and
by the post to my Lady into the country. This afternoon I went to
Westminster; and there hear that the King and Queen intend to come to
White Hall from Hampton Court next week, for all winter. Thence to Mrs.
Sarah, and there looked over my Lord's lodgings, which are very pretty;
and White Hall garden and the Bowling-ally (where lords and ladies are now
at bowles), in brave condition. Mrs. Sarah told me how the falling out
between my Lady Castlemaine and her Lord was about christening of the
child lately,
[The boy was born in June at Lady Castlemaine's house in King
Street. By the direction of Lord Castlemaine, who had become a
Roman Catholic, the child was baptized by a priest, and this led to
a final separation between husband and wife. Some days afterwards
the child was again baptized by the rector of St. Margaret's,
Westminster, in presence of the godparents, the King, Aubrey De
Vere, Earl of Oxford, and Barbara, Countess of Suffolk, first Lady
of the Bedchamber to the Queen and Lady Castlemaine's aunt. The
entry in the register of St. Margaret's is as follows: "1662 June
18 Charles Palmer Ld Limbricke, s. to ye right honorble Roger Earl
of Castlemaine by Barbara" (Steinman's "Memoir of Barbara, Duchess
of Cleveland," 1871, p. 33). The child was afterwards called
Charles Fitzroy, and was created Duke of Southampton in 1674. He
succeeded his mother in the dukedom of Cleveland in 1709, and died
1730.]
which he would have, and had done by a priest: and, some days after, she
had it again christened by a minister; the King, and Lord of Oxford, and
Duchesse of Suffolk, being witnesses: and christened with a proviso, that
it had not already been christened. Since that she left her Lord,
carrying away every thing in the house; so much as every dish, and cloth,
and servant but the porter. He is gone discontented into France, they
say, to enter a monastery; and now she is coming back again to her house
in Kingstreet. But I hear that the Queen did prick her out of the list
presented her by the King;
["By the King's command Lord Clarendon, much against his
inclination, had twice visited his royal mistress with a view of
inducing her, by persuasions which he could not justify, to give way
to the King's determination to have Lady Castlemaine of her
household . . . . Lord Clarendon has given a full account of all
that transpired between himself, the King and the Queen, on this
very unpleasant business ('Continuation of Life of Clarendon,' 1759,
ff. 168-178)."--Steinman's Memoir of Duchess of Cleveland, p. 35.
"The day at length arrived when Lady Castlemaine was to be formally
admitted a Lady of the Bedchamber. The royal warrant, addressed to
the Lord Chamberlain, bears date June 1, 1663, and includes with
that of her ladyship, the names of the Duchess of Buckingham, the
Countesses of Chesterfield and Bath, and the Countess Mareshall. A
separate warrant of the same day directs his lordship to admit the
Countess of Suffolk as Groom of the Stole and first Lady of the
Bedchamber, to which undividable offices she had, with the
additional ones of Mistress of the Robes and Keeper of the Privy
Purse, been nominated by a warrant dated April 2, 1662, wherein the
reception of her oath is expressly deferred until the Queen's
household shall be established. We here are furnished with the
evidence that Charles would not sign the warrants for the five until
Catherine had withdrawn her objection to his favourite one."--
Addenda to Steinman's Memoir of Duchess of Cleveland (privately
printed), 1874, p. i.]
desiring that she might have that favour done her, or that he would send
her from whence she come: and that the King was angry and the Queen
discontented a whole day and night upon it; but that the King hath
promised to have nothing to do with her hereafter. But I cannot believe
that the King can fling her off so, he loving her too well: and so I writ
this night to my Lady to be my opinion; she calling her my lady, and the
lady I admire. Here I find that my Lord hath lost the garden to his
lodgings, and that it is turning into a tennis-court. Hence by water to
the Wardrobe to see how all do there, and so home to supper and to bed.
27th (Lord's day). At church alone in the pew in the morning. In the
afternoon by water I carried my wife to Westminster, where she went to
take leave of her father,
[Mrs. Pepys's father was Alexander Marchant, Sieur de St. Michel, a
scion of a good family in Anjou. Having turned Huguenot at the age
of twenty-one, his father disinherited him, and he was left
penniless. He came over in the retinue of Henrietta Maria, on her
marriage with Charles I., as one of her Majesty's gentlemen carvers,
but the Queen dismissed him on finding out he was a Protestant and
did not go to mass. He described himself as being captain and major
of English troops in Italy and Flanders.--Wheatley's Pepys and the
World he lived in, pp. 6, 250. He was full of schemes; see
September 22nd, 1663, for account of his patent for curing smoky
chimneys.]
and I to walk in the Park, which is now every day more and more pleasant,
by the new works upon it. Here meeting with Laud Crispe, I took him to
the farther end, and sat under a tree in a corner, and there sung some
songs, he singing well, but no skill, and so would sing false sometimes.
Then took leave of him, and found my wife at my Lord's lodging, and so
took her home by water, and to supper in Sir W. Pen's balcony, and Mrs.
Keene with us, and then came my wife's brother, and then broke up, and to
bed.
28th. Up early, and by six o'clock, after my wife was ready, I walked
with her to the George, at Holborn Conduit, where the coach stood ready to
carry her and her maid to Bugden, but that not being ready, my brother Tom
staid with them to see them gone, and so I took a troubled though willing
goodbye, because of the bad condition of my house to have a family in it.
So I took leave of her and walked to the waterside, and there took boat
for the Tower; hearing that the Queen-Mother is come this morning already
as high as Woolwich: and that my Lord Sandwich was with her; at which my
heart was glad, and I sent the waterman, though yet not very certain of
it, to my wife to carry news thereof to my Lady. So to my office all the
morning abstracting the Duke's instructions in the margin thereof. So
home all alone to dinner, and then to the office again, and in the evening
Cooper comes, and he being gone, to my chamber a little troubled and
melancholy, to my lute late, and so to bed, Will lying there at my feet,
and the wench in my house in Will's bed.
29th. Early up, and brought all my money, which is near L300, out of my
house into this chamber; and so to the office, and there we sat all the
morning, Sir George Carteret and Mr. Coventry being come from sea. This
morning among other things I broached the business of our being abused
about flags, which I know doth trouble Sir W. Batten, but I care not. At
noon being invited I went with Sir George and Mr. Coventry to Sir W.
Batten's to dinner, and there merry, and very friendly to Sir Wm. and he
to me, and complies much with me, but I know he envies me, and I do not
value him. To the office again, and in the evening walked to Deptford
(Cooper with me talking of mathematiques), to send a fellow to prison for
cutting of buoy ropes, and to see the difference between the flags sent in
now-a-days, and I find the old ones, which were much cheaper, to be wholly
as good. So I took one of a sort with me, and Mr. Wayth accompanying of
me a good way, talking of the faults of the Navy, I walked to Redriffe
back, and so home by water, and after having done, late, at the office, I
went to my chamber and to bed.
30th. Up early, and to my office, where Cooper came to me and begun his
lecture upon the body of a ship, which my having of a modell in the office
is of great use to me, and very pleasant and useful it is. Then by water
to White Hall, and there waited upon my Lord Sandwich; and joyed him, at
his lodgings, of his safe coming home after all his danger, which he
confesses to be very great. And his people do tell me how bravely my Lord
did carry himself, while my Lord Crofts did cry; and I perceive it is all
the town talk how poorly he carried himself. But the best was of one Mr.
Rawlins, a courtier, that was with my Lord; and in the greatest danger
cried, "God damn me, my Lord, I won't give you three-pence for your place
now." But all ends in the honour of the pleasure-boats; which, had they
not been very good boats, they could never have endured the sea as they
did. Thence with Captain Fletcher, of the Gage, in his ship's boat with 8
oars (but every ordinary oars outrowed us) to Woolwich, expecting to find
Sir W. Batten there upon his survey, but he is not come, and so we got a
dish of steaks at the White Hart, while his clarkes and others were
feasting of it in the best room of the house, and after dinner playing at
shuffleboard,
[The game of shovelboard was played by two players (each provided
with five coins) on a smooth heavy table. On the table were marked
with chalk a series of lines, and the play was to strike the coin on
the edge of the table with the hand so that it rested between these
lines. Shakespeare uses the expression "shove-groat shilling," as
does Ben Jonson. These shillings were usually smooth and worn for
the convenience of playing. Strutt says ("Sports and Pastimes"), "I
have seen a shovel-board table at a low public house in Benjamin
Street, near Clerkenwell Green, which is about three feet in breadth
and thirty-nine feet two inches in length, and said to be the
longest at this time in London."]
and when at last they heard I was there, they went about their survey. But
God help the King! what surveys, shall be taken after this manner! I
after dinner about my business to the Rope-yard, and there staid till
night, repeating several trialls of the strength, wayte, waste, and other
things of hemp, by which I have furnished myself enough to finish my
intended business of stating the goodness of all sorts of hemp. At night
home by boat with Sir W. Warren, who I landed by the way, and so being
come home to bed.
31st. Up early and among my workmen, I ordering my rooms above, which
will please me very well. So to my office, and there we sat all the
morning, where I begin more and more to grow considerable there. At noon
Mr. Coventry and I by his coach to the Exchange together; and in
Lumbard-street met Captain Browne of the Rosebush: at which he was cruel
angry: and did threaten to go to-day to the Duke at Hampton Court, and get
him turned out because he was not sailed. But at the Exchange we resolved
of eating a bit together, which we did at the Ship behind the Exchange,
and so took boat to Billingsgate, and went down on board the Rosebush at
Woolwich, and found all things out of order, but after frightening the
officers there, we left them to make more haste, and so on shore to the
yard, and did the same to the officers of the yard, that the ship was not
dispatched. Here we found Sir W. Batten going about his survey, but so
poorly and unlike a survey of the Navy, that I am ashamed of it, and so is
Mr. Coventry. We found fault with many things, and among others the
measure of some timber now serving in which Mr. Day the assistant told us
of, and so by water home again, all the way talking of the office business
and other very pleasant discourse, and much proud I am of getting thus far
into his books, which I think I am very much in. So home late, and it
being the last day of the month, I did make up my accounts before I went
to bed, and found myself worth about L650, for which the Lord God be
praised, and so to bed. I drank but two glasses of wine this day, and yet
it makes my head ake all night, and indisposed me all the next day, of
which I am glad. I am now in town only with my man Will and Jane, and
because my house is in building, I do lie at Sir W. Pen's house, he being
gone to Ireland. My wife, her maid and boy gone to Brampton. I am very
well entered into the business and esteem of the office, and do ply it
close, and find benefit by it.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
AUGUST
1662
August 1st. Up, my head aching, and to my office, where Cooper read me
another lecture upon my modell very pleasant. So to my business all the
morning, which increases by people coming now to me to the office. At
noon to the Exchange, where meeting Mr. Creed and Moore we three to a
house hard by (which I was not pleased with) to dinner, and after dinner
and some discourse ordinary by coach home, it raining hard, and so at the
office all the afternoon till evening to my chamber, where, God forgive
me, I was sorry to hear that Sir W. Pen's maid Betty was gone away
yesterday, for I was in hopes to have had a bout with her before she had
gone, she being very pretty. I had also a mind to my own wench, but I
dare not for fear she should prove honest and refuse and then tell my
wife. I staid up late, putting things in order for my going to Chatham
to-morrow, and so to bed, being in pain . . . with the little riding in
a coach to-day from the Exchange, which do trouble me.
2nd. Up early, and got me ready in my riding clothes, and so to the
office, and there wrote letters to my father and wife against night, and
then to the business of my office, which being done, I took boat with
Will, and down to Greenwich, where Captain Cocke not being at home I was
vexed, and went to walk in the Park till he come thither to me: and Will's
forgetting to bring my boots in the boat did also vex me, for I was forced
to send the boat back again for them. I to Captain Cocke's along with him
to dinner, where I find his lady still pretty, but not so good a humour as
I thought she was. We had a plain, good dinner, and I see they do live
very frugally. I eat among other fruit much mulberrys, a thing I have not
eat of these many years, since I used to be at Ashted, at my cozen
Pepys's. After dinner we to boat, and had a pleasant passage down to
Gravesend, but it was nine o'clock before we got thither, so that we were
in great doubt what to do, whether to stay there or no; and the rather
because I was afeard to ride, because of my pain . . . ; but at the
Swan, finding Mr. Hemson and Lieutenant Carteret of the Foresight come to
meet me, I borrowed Mr. Hemson's horse, and he took another, and so we
rode to Rochester in the dark, and there at the Crown Mr. Gregory, Barrow,
and others staid to meet me. So after a glass of wine, we to our barge,
that was ready for me, to the Hill-house, where we soon went to bed,
before we slept I telling upon discourse Captain Cocke the manner of my
being cut of the stone, which pleased him much. So to sleep.