Exeter House to our lawyers to have consulted about our trial to-morrow,
but missed them, so parted, and [Sir] W. Pen and I to Mr. Povy's about a
little business of [Sir] W. Pen's, where we went over Mr. Povy's house,
which lies in the same good condition as ever, which is most extraordinary
fine, and he was now at work with a cabinet-maker, making of a new inlaid
table. Having seen his house, we away, having in our way thither called
at Mr. Lilly's, who was working; and indeed his pictures are without doubt
much beyond Mr. Hales's, I think I may say I am convinced: but a mighty
proud man he is, and full of state. So home, and to the office, and by
and by to dinner, a poor dinner, my wife and I, at Sir W. Pen's, and then
he and I before to Exeter House, where I do not stay, but to the King's
playhouse; and by and by comes Mr. Lowther and his wife and mine, and into
a box, forsooth, neither of them being dressed, which I was almost ashamed
of. Sir W. Pen and I in the pit, and here saw "The Mayden Queene" again;
which indeed the more I see the more I like, and is an excellent play, and
so done by Nell, her merry part, as cannot be better done in nature, I
think. Thence home, and there I find letters from my brother, which tell
me that yesterday when he wrote my mother did rattle in the throat so as
they did expect every moment her death, which though I have a good while
expected did much surprise me, yet was obliged to sup at Sir W. Pen's and
my wife, and there counterfeited some little mirth, but my heart was sad,
and so home after supper and to bed, and much troubled in my sleep of my
being crying by my mother's bedside, laying my head over hers and crying,
she almost dead and dying, and so waked, but what is strange, methought
she had hair over her face, and not the same kind of face as my mother
really hath, but yet did not consider that, but did weep over her as my
mother, whose soul God have mercy of.
26th. Up with a sad heart in reference to my mother, of whose death I
undoubtedly expect to hear the next post, if not of my father's also, who
by his pain as well as his grief for her is very ill, but on my own behalf
I have cause to be joyful this day, it being my usual feast day, for my
being cut of the stone this day nine years, and through God's blessing am
at this day and have long been in as good condition of health as ever I
was in my life or any man in England is, God make me thankful for it! But
the condition I am in, in reference to my mother, makes it unfit for me to
keep my usual feast. Unless it shall please God to send her well (which I
despair wholly of), and then I will make amends for it by observing
another day in its room. So to the office, and at the office all the
morning, where I had an opportunity to speak to Sir John Harman about my
desire to have my brother Balty go again with him to sea as he did the
last year, which he do seem not only contented but pleased with, which I
was glad of. So at noon home to dinner, where I find Creed, who dined
with us, but I had not any time to talk with him, my head being busy, and
before I had dined was called away by Sir W. Batten, and both of us in his
coach (which I observe his coachman do always go now from hence towards
White Hall through Tower Street, and it is the best way) to Exeter House,
where the judge was sitting, and after several little causes comes on
ours, and while the several depositions and papers were at large reading
(which they call the preparatory), and being cold by being forced to sit
with my hat off close to a window in the Hall, Sir W. Pen and I to the
Castle Tavern hard by and got a lobster, and he and I staid and eat it,
and drank good wine; I only burnt wine, as my whole custom of late hath
been, as an evasion, God knows, for my drinking of wine (but it is an
evasion which will not serve me now hot weather is coming, that I cannot
pretend, as indeed I really have done, that I drank it for cold), but I
will leave it off, and it is but seldom, as when I am in women's company,
that I must call for wine, for I must be forced to drink to them. Having
done here then we back again to the Court, and there heard our cause
pleaded; Sir [Edward] Turner, Sir W. Walker, and Sir Ellis Layton being
our counsel against only Sir Robert Wiseman on the other. The second of
our three counsel was the best, and indeed did speak admirably, and is a
very shrewd man. Nevertheless, as good as he did make our case, and the
rest, yet when Wiseman come to argue (nay, and though he did begin so
sillily that we laughed in scorn in our sleeves at him), yet he did so
state the case, that the judge did not think fit to decide the cause
to-night, but took to to-morrow, and did stagger us in our hopes, so as to
make us despair of the success. I am mightily pleased with the judge, who
seems a very rational, learned, and uncorrupt man, and much good reading
and reason there is heard in hearing of this law argued, so that the thing
pleased me, though our success doth shake me. Thence Sir W. Pen and I
home and to write letters, among others a sad one to my father upon fear
of my mother's death, and so home to supper and to bed.
27th. [Sir] W. Pen and I to White Hall, and in the coach did begin our
discourse again about Balty, and he promises me to move it this very day.
He and I met my Lord Bruncker at Sir G. Carteret's by appointment, there
to discourse a little business, all being likely to go to rack for lack of
money still. Thence to the Duke of York's lodgings, and did our usual
business, and Sir W. Pen telling me that he had this morning spoke of
Balty to Sir W. Coventry, and that the thing was done, I did take notice
of it also to [Sir] W. Coventry, who told me that he had both the thing
and the person in his head before to have done it, which is a double
pleasure to me. Our business with the Duke being done, [Sir] W. Pen and I
towards the Exchequer, and in our way met Sir G. Downing going to chapel,
but we stopped, and he would go with us back to the Exchequer and showed
us in his office his chests full and ground and shelves full of money, and
says that there is L50,000 at this day in his office of people's money,
who may demand it this day, and might have had it away several weeks ago
upon the late Act, but do rather choose to have it continue there than to
put it into the Banker's hands, and I must confess it is more than I
should have believed had I not seen it, and more than ever I could have
expected would have arisen for this new Act in so short a time, and if it
do so now already what would it do if the money was collected upon the Act
and returned into the Exchequer so timely as it ought to be. But it comes
into my mind here to observe what I have heard from Sir John Bankes,
though I cannot fully conceive the reason of it, that it will be
impossible to make the Exchequer ever a true bank to all intents, unless
the Exchequer stood nearer the Exchange, where merchants might with ease,
while they are going about their business, at all hours, and without
trouble or loss of time, have their satisfaction, which they cannot have
now without much trouble, and loss of half a day, and no certainty of
having the offices open. By this he means a bank for common practise and
use of merchants, and therein I do agree with him. Being parted from Sir
W. Pen and [Sir] G. Downing, I to Westminster Hall and there met Balty,
whom I had sent for, and there did break the business of my getting him
the place of going again as Muster-Master with Harman this voyage to the
West Indys, which indeed I do owe to Sir W. Pen. He is mighty glad of it,
and earnest to fit himself for it, but I do find, poor man, that he is
troubled how to dispose of his wife, and apparently it is out of fear of
her, and his honour, and I believe he hath received some cause of this his
jealousy and care, and I do pity him in it, and will endeavour to find out
some way to do, it for him. Having put him in a way of preparing himself
for the voyage, I did go to the Swan, and there sent for Jervas, my old
periwig maker, and he did bring me a periwig, but it was full of nits, so
as I was troubled to see it (it being his old fault), and did send him to
make it clean, and in the mean time, having staid for him a good while,
did go away by water to the Castle Taverne, by Exeter House, and there met
Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and several others, among the rest Sir Ellis
Layton, who do apply himself to discourse with me, and I think by his
discourse, out of his opinion of my interest in Sir W. Coventry, the man I
find a wonderful witty, ready man for sudden answers and little tales, and
sayings very extraordinary witty, but in the bottom I doubt he is not so.
Yet he pretends to have studied men, and the truth is in several that I do
know he did give me a very inward account of them. But above all things
he did give me a full account, upon my demand, of this judge of the
Admiralty, Judge Jenkins; who, he says, is a man never practised in this
Court, but taken merely for his merit and ability's sake from Trinity
Hall, where he had always lived; only by accident the business of the want
of a Judge being proposed to the present Archbishop of Canterbury that now
is, he did think of this man and sent for him up: and here he is, against
the 'gre' and content of the old Doctors, made judge, but is a very
excellent man both for judgment and temper, yet majesty enough, and by all
men's report, not to be corrupted. After dinner to the Court, where Sir
Ellis Layton did make a very silly motion in our behalf, but did neither
hurt nor good. After him Walker and Wiseman; and then the judge did
pronounce his sentence; for some part of the goods and ship, and the
freight of the whole, to be free, and returned and paid by us; and the
remaining, which was the greater part, to be ours. The loss of so much
troubles us, but we have got a pretty good part, thanks be to God! So we
are not displeased nor yet have cause to triumph, as we did once expect.
Having seen the end of this, I being desirous to be at home to see the
issue of any country letters about my mother, which I expect shall give me
tidings of her death, I directly home and there to the office, where I
find no letter from my father or brother, but by and by the boy tells me
that his mistress sends me word that she hath opened my letter, and that
she is loth to send me any more news. So I home, and there up to my wife
in our chamber, and there received from my brother the newes of my
mother's dying on Monday, about five or six o'clock in the afternoon, and
that the last time she spoke of her children was on Friday last, and her
last words were, "God bless my poor Sam!" The reading hereof did set me
a-weeping heartily, and so weeping to myself awhile, and my wife also to
herself, I then spoke to my wife respecting myself, and indeed, having
some thoughts how much better both for her and us it is than it might have
been had she outlived my father and me or my happy present condition in
the world, she being helpless, I was the sooner at ease in my mind, and
then found it necessary to go abroad with my wife to look after the
providing mourning to send into the country, some to-morrow, and more
against Sunday, for my family, being resolved to put myself and wife, and
Barker and Jane, W. Hewer and Tom, in mourning, and my two under-mayds, to
give them hoods and scarfs and gloves. So to my tailor's, and up and
down, and then home and to my office a little, and then to supper and to
bed, my heart sad and afflicted, though my judgment at ease.
28th. My tailor come to me betimes this morning, and having given him
directions, I to the office and there all the morning. At noon dined
well. Balty, who is mighty thoughtful how to dispose of his wife, and
would fain have me provide a place for her, which the thoughts of what I
should do with her if he should miscarry at sea makes me avoid the
offering him that she should be at my house. I find he is plainly jealous
of her being in any place where she may have ill company, and I do pity
him for it, and would be glad to help him, and will if I can. Having
dined, I down by water with Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and [Sir] R. Ford
to our prize, part of whose goods were condemned yesterday--"The
Lindeboome"--and there we did drink some of her wine, very good. But it
did grate my heart to see the poor master come on board, and look about
into every corner, and find fault that she was not so clean as she used to
be, though methought she was very clean; and to see his new masters come
in, that had nothing to do with her, did trouble me to see him. Thence to
Blackwall and there to Mr. Johnson's, to see how some works upon some of
our repaired ships go on, and at his house eat and drank and mighty
extraordinary merry (too merry for me whose mother died so lately, but
they know it not, so cannot reproach me therein, though I reproach
myself), and in going home had many good stories of Sir W. Batten and one
of Sir W. Pen, the most tedious and silly and troublesome (he forcing us
to hear him) that ever I heard in my life. So to the office awhile,
troubled with Sir W. Pen's impertinences, he being half foxed at
Johnson's, and so to bed.
29th. Lay long talking with my wife about Balty, whom I do wish very well
to, and would be glad to advise him, for he is very sober and willing to
take all pains. Up and to Sir W. Batten, who I find has had some words
with Sir W. Pen about the employing of a cooper about our prize wines,
[Sir] W. Batten standing and indeed imposing upon us Mr. Morrice, which I
like not, nor do [Sir] W. Pen, and I confess the very thoughts of what our
goods will come to when we have them do discourage me in going any further
in the adventure. Then to the office till noon, doing business, and then
to the Exchange, and thence to the Sun Taverne and dined with [Sir] W.
Batten, [Sir] R. Ford, and the Swede's Agent to discourse of a composition
about our prizes that are condemned, but did do little, he standing upon
high terms and we doing the like. I home, and there find Balty and his
wife got thither both by my wife for me to give them good advice, for her
to be with his father and mother all this time of absence, for saving of
money, and did plainly and like a friend tell them my mind of the
necessity of saving money, and that if I did not find they did endeavour
it, I should not think fit to trouble myself for them, but I see she is
utterly against being with his father and mother, and he is fond of her,
and I perceive the differences between the old people and them are too
great to be presently forgot, and so he do propose that it will be cheaper
for him to put her to board at a place he is offered at Lee, and I, seeing
that I am not like to be troubled with the finding a place, and having
given him so much good advice, do leave them to stand and fall as they
please, having discharged myself as a friend, and not likely to be
accountable for her nor be troubled with her, if he should miscarry I
mean, as to her lodging, and so broke up. Then he and I to make a visit to
[Sir] W. Pen, who hath thought fit to show kindness to Balty in this
business, indeed though he be a false rogue, but it was he knew a thing
easy to do. Thence together to my shoemaker's, cutler's, tailor's, and up
and down about my mourning, and in my way do observe the great streets in
the city are marked out with piles drove into the ground; and if ever it
be built in that form with so fair streets, it will be a noble sight. So
to the Council chamber, but staid not there, but to a periwigg-maker's of
his acquaintance, and there bought two periwiggs, mighty fine; indeed, too
fine, I thought, for me; but he persuaded me, and I did buy them for L4
10s. the two. Then to the Exchange and bought gloves, and so to the
Bull-Head Taverne, whither he brought my, French gun; and one Truelocke,
the famous gunsmith, that is a mighty ingenious man, and he did take my
gun in pieces, and made me understand the secrets thereof and upon the
whole I do find it a very good piece of work, and truly wrought; but for
certain not a thing to be used much with safety: and he do find that this
very gun was never yet shot off: I was mighty satisfied with it and him,
and the sight of so much curiosity of this kind. Here he brought also a
haberdasher at my desire, and I bought a hat of him, and so away and
called away my wife from his house, and so home and to read, and then to
supper and to bed, my head full in behalf of Balty, who tells me strange
stories of his mother. Among others, how she, in his absence in Ireland,
did pawne all the things that he had got in his service under Oliver, and
run of her own accord, without her husband's leave, into Flanders, and
that his purse, and 4s. a week which his father receives of the French
church, is all the subsistence his father and mother have, and that about
L20 a year maintains them; which, if it please God, I will find one way or
other to provide for them, to remove that scandal away.
30th. Up, and the French periwigg maker of whom I bought two yesterday
comes with them, and I am very well pleased with them. So to the office,
where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and thence with my wife's
knowledge and leave did by coach go see the silly play of my Lady
Newcastle's, called "The Humourous Lovers;" the most silly thing that
ever come upon a stage. I was sick to see it, but yet would not but have
seen it, that I might the better understand her. Here I spied Knipp and
Betty, of the King's house, and sent Knipp oranges, but, having little
money about me, did not offer to carry them abroad, which otherwise I had,
I fear, been tempted to. So with [Sir] W. Pen home (he being at the play
also), a most summer evening, and to my office, where, among other things,
a most extraordinary letter to the Duke of York touching the want of money
and the sad state of the King's service thereby, and so to supper and to
bed.
31st (Lord's day). Up, and my tailor's boy brings my mourning clothes
home, and my wife hers and Barker's, but they go not to church this
morning. I to church, and with my mourning, very handsome, and new
periwigg, make a great shew. After church home to dinner, and there come
Betty Michell and her husband. I do and shall love her, but, poor wretch,
she is now almost ready to lie down. After dinner Balty (who dined also
with us) and I with Sir J. Minnes in his coach to White Hall, but did
nothing, but by water to Strand Bridge and thence walked to my Lord
Treasurer's, where the King, Duke of York, and the Caball, and much
company without; and a fine day. Anon come out from the Caball my Lord
Hollis and Mr. H. Coventry, who, it is conceived, have received their
instructions from the King this day; they being to begin their journey
towards their treaty at Bredagh speedily, their passes being come. Here I
saw the Lady Northumberland and her daughter-in-law, my Lord Treasurer's
daughter, my Lady Piercy, a beautiful lady indeed. So away back by water,
and left Balty at White Hall and I to Mrs. Martin . . . . and so by
coach home, and there to my chamber, and then to supper and bed, having
not had time to make up my accounts of this month at this very day, but
will in a day or two, and pay my forfeit for not doing it, though business
hath most hindered me. The month shuts up only with great desires of
peace in all of us, and a belief that we shall have a peace, in most
people, if a peace can be had on any terms, for there is a necessity of
it; for we cannot go on with the war, and our masters are afraid to come
to depend upon the good will of the Parliament any more, as I do hear.
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
Angling with a minikin, a gut-string varnished over
Better now than never
Bring me a periwig, but it was full of nits
Buying up of goods in case there should be war
For I will not be inward with him that is open to another
He is a man of no worth in the world but compliment
History of this day's growth, we cannot tell the truth
I love the treason I hate the traitor
King of France did think other princes fit for nothing
My wife will keep to one another and let the world go hang
No man knowing what to do, whether to sell or buy
Not more than I expected, nor so much by a great deal as I ought
Now above six months since (smoke from the cellars)
Reparation for what we had embezzled
Uncertainty of all history
Whatever I do give to anybody else, I shall give her