do please me very well. So about seven o'clock took horse and rode to
Bowe, and there staid at the King's Head, and eat a breakfast of eggs till
Mr. Deane of Woolwich came to me, and he and I rid into Waltham Forest,
and there we saw many trees of the King's a-hewing; and he showed me the
whole mystery of off square,
[Off-square is evidently a mistake, in the shorthand MS., for half
square.]
wherein the King is abused in the timber that he buys, which I shall with
much pleasure be able to correct. After we had been a good while in the
wood, we rode to Illford, and there, while dinner was getting ready, he
and I practised measuring of the tables and other things till I did
understand measuring of timber and board very well. So to dinner and by
and by, being sent for, comes Mr. Cooper, our officer in the Forest, and
did give me an account of things there, and how the country is backward to
come in with their carts. By and by comes one Mr. Marshall, of whom the
King has many carriages for his timber, and they staid and drank with me,
and while I am here, Sir W. Batten passed by in his coach, homewards from
Colchester, where he had been seeing his son-in-law, Lemon, that lies
a-dying, but I would take no notice of him, but let him go. By and by I
got a horseback again and rode to Barking, and there saw the place where
they ship this timber for Woolwich; and so Deane and I home again, and
parted at Bowe, and I home just before a great showre of rayne, as God
would have it. I find Deane a pretty able man, and able to do the King
service; but, I think, more out of envy to the rest of the officers of the
yard, of whom he complains much, than true love, more than others, to the
service. He would fain seem a modest man, and yet will commend his own
work and skill, and vie with other persons, especially the Petts, but I
let him alone to hear all he will say. Whiled away the evening at my
office trying to repeat the rules of measuring learnt this day, and so to
bed with my mind very well pleased with this day's work.
19th. Up betimes and to see how my work goes on. Then Mr. Creed came to
me, and he and I walked an hour or two till 8 o'clock in the garden,
speaking of our accounts one with another and then things public. Among
other things he tells me that my Lord has put me into Commission with
himself and many noblemen and others for Tangier, which, if it be, is not
only great honour, but may be of profit too, and I am very glad of it. By
and by to sit at the office; and Mr. Coventry did tell us of the duell
between Mr. Jermyn, nephew to my Lord St. Albans, and Colonel Giles
Rawlins, the latter of whom is killed, and the first mortally wounded, as
it is thought. They fought against Captain Thomas Howard, my Lord
Carlisle's brother, and another unknown; who, they say, had armour on that
they could not be hurt, so that one of their swords went up to the hilt
against it. They had horses ready, and are fled. But what is most
strange, Howard sent one challenge, but they could not meet, and then
another, and did meet yesterday at the old Pall Mall at St. James's, and
would not to the last tell Jermyn what the quarrel was; nor do any body
know. The Court is much concerned in this fray, and I am glad of it;
hoping that it will cause some good laws against it. After sitting, Sir
G. Carteret and I walked a good while in the garden, who told me that Sir
W. Batten had made his complaint to him that some of us had a mind to do
him a bad turn, but I do not see that Sir George is concerned for him at
all, but rather against him. He professes all love to me, and did tell me
how he had spoke of me to my Lord Chancellor, and that if my Lord Sandwich
would ask my Lord Chancellor, he should know what he had said of me to him
to my advantage, of which I am very glad, and do not doubt that all things
will grow better and better every day for me. Dined at home alone, then
to my office, and there till late at night doing business, and so home,
eat a bit, and to bed.
20th. Up early, and to my office, and thence to my Lord Sandwich, whom I
found in bed, and he sent for me in. Among other talk, he do tell me that
he hath put me into commission with a great many great persons in the
business of Tangier, which is a very great honour to me, and may be of
good concernment to me. By and by comes in Mr. Coventry to us, whom my
Lord tells that he is also put into the commission, and that I am there,
of which he said he was glad; and did tell my Lord that I was indeed the
life of this office, and much more to my commendation beyond measure. And
that, whereas before he did bear me respect for his sake, he do do it now
much more for my own; which is a great blessing to me. Sir G. Carteret
having told me what he did yesterday concerning his speaking to my Lord
Chancellor about me. So that on all hands, by God's blessing, I find
myself a very rising man. By and by comes my Lord Peterborough in, with
whom we talked a good while, and he is going tomorrow towards Tangier
again. I perceive there is yet good hopes of peace with Guyland,--[A
Moorish usurper, who had put himself at the head of an army for the
purpose of attacking Tangier.--B.]--which is of great concernment to
Tangier. And many other things I heard which yet I understand not, and so
cannot remember. My Lord and Lord Peterborough going out to the Solicitor
General about the drawing up of this Commission, I went to Westminster
Hall with Mr. Moore, and there meeting Mr. Townsend, he would needs take
me to Fleet Street, to one Mr. Barwell, squire sadler to the King, and
there we and several other Wardrobe-men dined. We had a venison pasty,
and other good plain and handsome dishes; the mistress of the house a
pretty, well-carriaged woman, and a fine hand she hath; and her maid a
pretty brown lass. But I do find my nature ready to run back to my old
course of drinking wine and staying from my business, and yet, thank God,
I was not fully contented with it, but did stay at little ease, and after
dinner hastened home by water, and so to my office till late at night. In
the evening Mr. Hayward came to me to advise with me about the business of
the Chest, which I have now a mind to put in practice, though I know it
will vex Sir W. Batten, which is one of the ends (God forgive me) that I
have in it. So home, and eat a bit, and to bed.
21st. Up early, and to my office, and by and by we sat all the morning.
At noon, though I was invited to my uncle Fenner's to dinner to a haunch
of venison I sent him yesterday, yet I did not go, but chose to go to Mr.
Rawlinson's, where my uncle Wight and my aunt, and some neighbour couples
were at a very good venison pasty. Hither came, after we were set down, a
most pretty young lady (only her hands were not white nor handsome), which
pleased me well, and I found her to be sister to Mrs. Anne Wight that
comes to my uncle Wight's. We were good company, and had a very pretty
dinner. And after dinner some talk, I with my aunt and this young lady
about their being [at] Epsom, from whence they came to-day, and so home
and to my office, and there doing business till past 9 at night, and so
home and to bed. But though I drank no wine to-day, yet how easily was I
of my own accord stirred up to desire my aunt and this pretty lady (for it
was for her that I did it) to carry them to Greenwich and see the pleasure
boats. But my aunt would not go, of which since I am much glad.
22nd. About three o'clock this morning I waked with the noise of the
rayne, having never in my life heard a more violent shower; and then the
catt was lockt in the chamber, and kept a great mewing, and leapt upon the
bed, which made me I could not sleep a great while. Then to sleep, and
about five o'clock rose, and up to my office, and about 8 o'clock went
down to Deptford, and there with Mr. Davis did look over most of his
stores; by the same token in the great storehouse, while Captain Badily
was talking to us, one from a trap-door above let fall unawares a coyle of
cable, that it was 10,000 to one it had not broke Captain Badily's neck,
it came so near him, but did him no hurt. I went on with looking and
informing myself of the stores with great delight, and having done there,
I took boat home again and dined, and after dinner sent for some of my
workmen and did scold at them so as I hope my work will be hastened. Then
by water to Westminster Hall, and there I hear that old Mr. Hales did
lately die suddenly in an hour's time. Here I met with Will Bowyer, and
had a promise from him of a place to stand to-morrow at his house to see
the show. Thence to my Lord's, and thither sent for Mr. Creed, who came,
and walked together talking about business, and then to his lodgings at
Clerke's, the confectioner's, where he did give me a little banquet, and I
had liked to have begged a parrot for my wife, but he hath put me in a way
to get a better from Steventon; at Portsmouth. But I did get of him a
draught of Tangier to take a copy by, which pleases me very well. So home
by water and to my office, where late, and so home to bed.
23d. Up early, and about my works in my house, to see what is done and
design more. Then to my office, and by and by we sat till noon at the
office. After sitting, Mr. Coventry and I did walk together a great while
in the Garden, where he did tell me his mind about Sir G. Carteret's
having so much the command of the money, which must be removed. And
indeed it is the bane of all our business. He observed to me also how Sir
W. Batten begins to struggle and to look after his business, which he do
indeed a little, but it will come to nothing. I also put him upon getting
an order from the Duke for our inquiries into the Chest, which he will see
done. So we parted, and Mr. Creed by appointment being come, he and I
went out together, and at an ordinary in Lumbard Streete dined together,
and so walked down to the Styllyard, and so all along Thames-street, but
could not get a boat: I offered eight shillings for a boat to attend me
this afternoon, and they would not, it being the day of the Queen's coming
to town from Hampton Court. So we fairly walked it to White Hall, and
through my Lord's lodgings we got into White Hall garden, and so to the
Bowling-green, and up to the top of the new Banqueting House there, over
the Thames, which was a most pleasant place as any I could have got; and
all the show consisted chiefly in the number of boats and barges; and two
pageants, one of a King, and another of a Queen, with her Maydes of Honour
sitting at her feet very prettily; and they tell me the Queen is Sir.
Richard Ford's daughter. Anon come the King and Queen in a barge under a
canopy with 10,000 barges and boats, I think, for we could see no water
for them, nor discern the King nor Queen. And so they landed at White
Hall Bridge, and the great guns on the other side went off: But that which
pleased me best was, that my Lady Castlemaine stood over against us upon a
piece of White Hall, where I glutted myself with looking on her. But
methought it was strange to see her Lord and her upon the same place
walking up and down without taking notice one of another, only at first
entry he put off his hat, and she made him a very civil salute, but
afterwards took no notice one of another; but both of them now and then
would take their child, which the nurse held in her armes, and dandle it.
One thing more; there happened a scaffold below to fall, and we feared
some hurt, but there was none, but she of all the great ladies only run
down among the common rabble to see what hurt was done, and did take care
of a child that received some little hurt, which methought was so noble.
Anon there came one there booted and spurred that she talked long with.
And by and by, she being in her hair, she put on his hat, which was but an
ordinary one, to keep the wind off. But methinks it became her mightily,
as every thing else do. The show being over, I went away, not weary with
looking on her, and to my Lord's lodgings, where my brother Tom and Dr.
Thomas Pepys were to speak with me. So I walked with them in the garden,
and was very angry with them both for their going out of town without my
knowledge; but they told me the business, which was to see a gentlewoman
for a wife for Tom, of Mr. Cooke's providing, worth L500, of good
education, her name Hobell, and lives near Banbury, demands L40 per annum
joynter. Tom likes her, and, they say, had a very good reception, and
that Cooke hath been very serviceable therein, and that she is committed
to old Mr. Young, of the Wardrobe's, tuition. After I had told them my
mind about their folly in going so unadvisedly, I then begun to inquire
after the business, and so did give no answer as to my opinion till I have
looked farther into it by Mr. Young. By and by, as we were walking in my
Lord's walk, comes my Lord, and so we broke our discourse and went in with
him, and after I had put them away I went in to my Lord, and he and I had
half an hour's private discourse about the discontents of the times, which
we concluded would not come to anything of difference, though the
Presbyters would be glad enough of it; but we do not think religion will
so soon cause another war. Then to his own business. He asked my advice
there, whether he should go on to purchase more land and to borrow money
to pay for it, which he is willing to do, because such a bargain as that
of Mr. Buggins's, of Stukely, will not be every day to be had, and
Brampton is now perfectly granted him by the King--I mean the reversion of
it--after the Queen's death; and, in the meantime, he buys it of Sir Peter
Ball his present right. Then we fell to talk of Navy business, and he
concludes, as I do, that he needs not put himself upon any more voyages
abroad to spend money, unless a war comes; and that by keeping his family
awhile in the country, he shall be able to gather money. He is glad of a
friendship with Mr. Coventry, and I put him upon increasing it, which he
will do, but he (as Mr. Coventry do) do much cry against the course of our
payments and the Treasurer to have the whole power in his own hands of
doing what he will, but I think will not meddle in himself. He told me
also that in the Commission for Tangier Mr. Coventry had advised him that
Mr. Povy, who intended to be Treasurer,
[Thomas Povy, who had held, under Cromwell, a high situation in the
Office of Plantations, was appointed in July, 1660, Treasurer and
Receiver-General of the Rents and Revenues of James, Duke of York;
but his royal master's affairs falling into confusion, he
surrendered his patent on the 27th July, 1668, for a consideration
of L2,000. He was also First Treasurer for Tangier, which office he
resigned to Pepys. Povy, had apartments at Whitehall, besides his
lodgings in Lincoln's Inn, and a villa near Hounslow, called the
Priory, which he had inherited from Justinian Povy, who purchased it
in 1625. He was one of the sons of Justinian Povy, Auditor-General
to Queen Anne of Denmark in 1614, whose father was John Povy,
citizen and embroiderer of London.]
and it is intended him, may not be of the Commission itself, and my Lord I
think will endeavour to get him to be contented to be left out of the
Commission, and it is a very good rule indeed that the Treasurer in no
office ought to be of the Commission. Here we broke off, and I bid him
good night, and so with much ado, the streets being at nine o'clock at
night crammed with people going home to the city, for all the borders of
the river had been full of people, as the King had come, to a miracle got
to the Palace Yard, and there took boat, and so to the Old Swan, and so
walked home, and to bed very weary.
24th (Lord's day). Slept till 7 o'clock, which I have not done a very
great while, but it was my weariness last night that caused it. So rose
and to my office till church time, writing down my yesterday's
observations, and so to church, where I all alone, and found Will Griffin
and Thomas Hewett got into the pew next to our backs, where our maids sit,
but when I come, they went out; so forward some people are to outrun
themselves. Here we had a lazy, dull sermon. So home to dinner, where my
brother Tom came to me, and both before and after dinner he and I walked
all alone in the garden, talking about his late journey and his mistress,
and for what he tells me it is like to do well. He being gone, I to
church again, where Mr. Mills, making a sermon upon confession, he did
endeavour to pull down auricular confession, but did set it up by his bad
arguments against it, and advising people to come to him to confess their
sins when they had any weight upon their consciences, as much as is
possible, which did vex me to hear. So home, and after an hour's being in
my office alone, looking over the plates and globes, I walked to my uncle
Wight's, the truth is, in hopes to have seen and been acquainted with the
pretty lady that came along with them to dinner the other day to Mr.
Rawlinson, but she is gone away. But here I staid supper, and much
company there was; among others, Dr. Burnett, Mr. Cole the lawyer, Mr.
Rawlinson, and Mr. Sutton, a brother of my aunt's, that I never saw
before. Among other things they tell me that there hath been a
disturbance in a church in Friday Street; a great many young people
knotting together and crying out "Porridge"
[A nickname given by the Dissenters to the Prayer-Book. In Mrs.
Behn's "City Heiress" (1682), Sir Anthony says to Sir Timothy, "You
come from Church, too." Sir Timothy replies, "Ay, needs must when
the Devil drives--I go to save my bacon, as they say, once a month,
and that too after the Porridge is served up." Scott quotes, in his
notes to "Woodstock," a pamphlet entitled, "Vindication of the Book
of Common Prayer, against the contumelious Slanders of the Fanatic
party terming it Porridge."]
often and seditiously in the church, and took the Common Prayer Book, they
say, away; and, some say, did tear it; but it is a thing which appears to
me very ominous. I pray God avert it. After supper home and to bed.
25th. Up early, and among my workmen when they came, and set them in good
order at work on all hands, which, though it at first began angrily, yet I
pleased myself afterwards in seeing it put into a good posture, and so I
left them, and away by water to Woolwich (calling in my way in Hamcreek,
where I have never been before, and there found two of the King's ships
lie there without any living creature aboard, which troubled me, every
thing being stole away that can be), where I staid seeing a cable of 14
inches laid, in which there was good variety. Then to Mr. Falconer's, and
there eat a bit of roast meat off of the spit, and so away to the yard,
and there among other things mustered the yard, and did things that I
perceive people do begin to value me, and that I shall be able to be of
command in all matters, which God be praised for. Then to Mr. Pett's, and
there eat some fruit and drank, and so to boat again, and to Deptford,
calling there about the business of my house only, and so home, where by
appointment I found Mr. Coventry, Sir W. Batten, and Mr. Waith met at Sir
W. Batten's, and thither I met, and so agreed upon a way of answering my
Lord Treasurer's letter. Here I found Mr. Coventry had got a letter from
the Duke, sent us for looking into the business of the Chest, of which I
am glad. After we had done here I went home, and up among my workmen, and
found they had done a good day's work, and so to my office till late
ordering of several businesses, and so home and to bed, my mind, God be
praised, full of business, but great quiet.
26th. Up betimes and among my works and workmen, and with great pleasure
seeing them go on merrily, and a good many hands, which I perceive makes
good riddance, and so to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at
noon dined alone with Sir W. Batten, which I have not done a great while,
but his lady being out of the way I was the willinger to do it, and after
dinner he and I by water to Deptford, and there found Sir G. Carteret and
my Lady at dinner, and so we sat down and eat another dinner of venison
with them, and so we went to the payhouse, and there staid till to o'clock
at night paying off the Martin and Kinsale, being small but troublesome
ships to pay, and so in the dark by water home to the Custom House, and so
got a lanthorn to light us home, there being Mr. Morrice the wine cooper
with us, he having been at Deptford to view some of the King's casks we
have to sell. So to bed.
27th. Up and among my workmen, my work going on still very well. So to
my office all the morning, and dined again with Sir W. Batten, his Lady
being in the country. Among other stories, he told us of the Mayor of
Bristoll's reading a pass with the bottom upwards; and a barber that could
not read, that flung a letter in the kennel when one came to desire him to
read the superscription, saying, "Do you think I stand here to read
letters?" Among my workmen again, pleasing myself all the afternoon
there, and so to the office doing business till past 9 at night, and so
home and to bed. This afternoon Mrs. Hunt came to see me, and I did give
her a Muske Millon. To-day my hogshead of sherry I have sold to Sir W.
Batten, and am glad of my money instead of wine. After I had wrote this
at my office (as I have of late altogether done since my wife has been in
the country) I went into my house, and Will having been making up books at
Deptford with other clerks all day, I did not think he was come home, but
was in fear for him, it being very late, what was become of him. But when
I came home I found him there at his ease in his study, which vexed me
cruelly, that he should no more mind me, but to let me be all alone at the
office waiting for him. Whereupon I struck him, and did stay up till 12
o'clock at night chiding him for it, and did in plain terms tell him that
I would not be served so, and that I am resolved to look out some boy that
I may have the bringing up of after my own mind, and which I do intend to
do, for I do find that he has got a taste of liberty since he came to me
that he will not leave. Having discharged my mind, I went to bed.
28th. I observe that Will, whom I used to call two or three times in a
morning, would now wake of himself and rise without calling. Which though
angry I was glad to see. So I rose and among my workmen, in my gown,
without a doublet, an hour or two or more, till I was afraid of getting an
ague, and so to the office, and there we sat all the morning, and at noon
Mr. Coventry and I dined at Sir W. Batten's, where I have now dined three
days together, and so in the afternoon again we sat, which we intend to do
two afternoons in a week besides our other sitting. In the evening we
rose, and I to see how my work goes on, and so to my office, writing by
the post and doing other matters, and so home and to bed late.
29th. Up betimes and among my workmen, where I did stay with them the
greatest part of the morning, only a little at the office, and so to
dinner alone at home, and so to my workmen again, finding my presence to
carry on the work both to my mind and with more haste, and I thank God I
am pleased with it. At night, the workmen being gone, I went to my
office, and among other businesses did begin to-night with Mr. Lewes to
look into the nature of a purser's account, and the business of
victualling, in which there is great variety; but I find I shall
understand it, and be able to do service there also. So being weary and
chill, being in some fear of an ague, I went home and to bed.
30th. Up betimes among my workmen, and so to the office, where we sat all
the morning, and at noon rose and had news that Sir W. Pen would be in
town from Ireland, which I much wonder at, he giving so little notice of
it, and it troubled me exceedingly what to do for a lodging, and more what
to do with my goods, that are all in his house; but at last I resolved to
let them lie there till Monday, and so got Griffin to get a lodging as
near as he could, which is without a door of our back door upon Tower
Hill, a chamber where John Pavis, one of our clerks, do lie in, but he do
provide himself elsewhere, and I am to have his chamber. So at the office
all the afternoon and the evening till past to at night expecting Sir W.
Pen's coming, but he not coming to-night I went thither and there lay very
well, and like my lodging well enough. My man Will after he had got me to
bed did go home and lay there, and my maid Jane lay among my goods at Sir
W. Pen's.