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.
OCTOBER
1667
October 1st. All the morning busy at the office, pleased mightily with my
girle that we have got to wait on my wife. At noon dined with Sir G.
Carteret and the rest of our officers at his house in Broad Street, they
being there upon his accounts. After dinner took coach and to my wife,
who was gone before into the Strand, there to buy a nightgown, where I
found her in a shop with her pretty girle, and having bought it away home,
and I thence to Sir G. Carteret's again, and so took coach alone, it now
being almost night, to White Hall, and there in the Boarded-gallery did
hear the musick with which the King is presented this night by Monsieur
Grebus, the master of his musick; both instrumentall--I think twenty-four
violins--and vocall; an English song upon Peace. But, God forgive me! I
never was so little pleased with a concert of musick in my life. The
manner of setting of words and repeating them out of order, and that with
a number of voices, makes me sick, the whole design of vocall musick being
lost by it. Here was a great press of people; but I did not see many
pleased with it, only the instrumental musick he had brought by practice
to play very just. So thence late in the dark round by the wall home by
coach, and there to sing and sup with my wife, and look upon our pretty
girle, and so to bed.
2nd. Up, and very busy all the morning, upon my accounts of Tangier, to
present to the Commissioners of the Treasury in the afternoon, and the
like upon the accounts of the office. This morning come to me Mr. Gawden
about business, with his gold chain about his neck, as being Sheriffe of
the City this year. At noon to the Treasury Office again, and there dined
and did business, and then by coach to the New Exchange, and there met my
wife and girl, and took them to the King's house to see "The Traytour,"
which still I like as a very good play; and thence, round by the wall,
home, having drunk at the Cock ale-house, as I of late have used to do,
and so home and to my chamber to read, and so to supper and to bed.
3rd. Up, and going out of doors, I understand that Sir W. Batten is gone
to bed on a sudden again this morning, being struck very ill, and I
confess I have observed him for these last two months to look very ill and
to look worse and worse. I to St. James's (though it be a sitting day) to
the Duke of York, about the Tangier Committee, which met this morning, and
he come to us, and the Charter for the City of Tangier was read and the
form of the Court Merchant. That being done Sir W. Coventry took me into
the gallery, and walked with me an hour, discoursing of Navy business, and
with much kindness to, and confidence in, me still; which I must endeavour
to preserve, and will do; and, good man! all his care how to get the Navy
paid off, and that all other things therein may go well. He gone, I thence
to my Lady Peterborough, who sent for me; and with her an hour talking
about her husband's pension, and how she hath got an order for its being
paid again; though, I believe, for all that order, it will hardly be; but
of that I said nothing; but her design is to get it paid again: and how to
raise money upon it, to clear it from the engagement which lies upon it to
some citizens, who lent her husband money, without her knowledge, upon it,
to vast loss. She intends to force them to take their money again, and
release her husband of those hard terms. The woman is a very wise woman,
and is very plain in telling me how her plate and jewels are at pawne for
money, and how they are forced to live beyond their estate, and do get
nothing by his being a courtier. The lady I pity, and her family. Having
done with her, and drunk two glasses of her meade, which she did give me,
and so to the Treasurer's Office, and there find my Lord Bruncker and
[Sir] W. Pen at dinner with Sir G. Carteret about his accounts, where I
dined and talked and settled some business, and then home, and there took
out my wife and Willet, thinking to have gone to a play, but both houses
were begun, and so we to the 'Change, and thence to my tailor's, and
there, the coachman desiring to go home to change his horses, we went with
him into a nasty end of all St. Giles's, and there went into a nasty room,
a chamber of his, where he hath a wife and child, and there staid, it
growing dark too, and I angry thereat, till he shifted his horses, and
then home apace, and there I to business late, and so home, to supper, and
walk in the garden with my wife and girle, with whom we are mightily
pleased, and after talking and supping, to bed. This noon, going home, I
did call on Will Lincolne and agree with him to carry me to Brampton.
4th. Up, and to White Hall to attend the Council about Commissioner
Pett's business, along with my Lord Bruncker and Sir W. Pen, and in the
Robe-chamber the Duke of York come to us, the officers of the Navy, and
there did meet together about Navy business, where Sir W. Coventry was
with us, and among other things did recommend his Royal Highness, now the
prizes were disposing, to remember Sir John Harman to the King, for some
bounty, and also for my Lady Minnes, which was very nobly done of him.
Thence all of us to attend the Council, where we were anon called on, and
there was a long hearing of Commissioner Pett, who was there, and there
were the two Masters Attendant of Chatham called in, who do deny their
having any order from Commissioner Pett about bringing up the great ships,
which gives the lie to what he says; but, in general, I find him to be but
a weak, silly man, and that is guilty of horrid neglect in this business
all along. Here broke off without coming to an issue, but that there
should be another hearing on Monday next. So the Council rose, and I
staid walking up and down the galleries till the King went to dinner, and
then I to my Lord Crew's to dinner; but he having dined, I took a very
short leave, confessing I had not dined; and so to an ordinary hard by the
Temple-gate, where I have heretofore been, and there dined--cost me 10d.
And so to my Lord Ashly's, where after dinner Sir H. Cholmly, Creed and I,
with his Lordship, about Mr. Yeabsly's business, where having come to
agreement with him abating him L1000 of what he demands for ships lost, I
to Westminster, to Mrs. Martin's lodging, whither I sent for her, and
there hear that her husband is come from sea, which is sooner than I
expected; and here I staid and drank, and so did toucher elle and away,
and so by coach to my tailor's, and thence to my Lord Crew's, and there
did stay with him an hour till almost night, discoursing about the ill
state of my Lord Sandwich, that he can neither be got to be called home,
nor money got to maintain him there; which will ruin his family. And the
truth is, he do almost deserve it, for by all relation he hath, in a
little more than a year and a half, spent L20,000 of the King's money, and
the best part of L10,000 of his own; which is a most prodigious expence,
more than ever Embassador spent there, and more than these Commissioners
of the Treasury will or do allow. And they demand an account before they
will give him any more money; which puts all his friends to a loss what to
answer. But more money we must get him, or to be called home. I offer to
speak to Sir W. Coventry about it; but my Lord will not advise to it,
without consent of Sir G. Carteret. So home, and there to see Sir W.
Batten, who fell sick yesterday morning: He is asleep: and so I could not
see him; but in an hour after, word is brought me that he is so ill, that
it is believed he cannot live till to-morrow, which troubles me and my
wife mightily, partly out of kindness, he being a good neighbour and
partly because of the money he owes me, upon our bargain of the late
prize. So home and to supper and to bed.
5th. Up, and to the Office; and there all the morning; none but my Lord
Anglesey and myself; but much surprized with the news of the death of Sir
W. Batten, who died this morning, having been but two days sick. Sir W.
Pen and I did dispatch a letter this morning to Sir W. Coventry, to
recommend Colonel Middleton, who we think a most honest and understanding
man, and fit for that place. Sir G. Carteret did also come this morning,
and walked with me in the garden; and concluded not to concern [himself]
or have any advice made to Sir W. Coventry, in behalf of my Lord
Sandwich's business; so I do rest satisfied, though I do think they are
all mad, that they will judge Sir W. Coventry an enemy, when he is indeed
no such man to any body, but is severe and just, as he ought to be, where
he sees things ill done. At noon home, and by coach to Temple Bar to a
India shop, and there bought a gown and sash, which cost me 26s., and so
she [Mrs. Pepys] and Willet away to the 'Change, and I to my Lord Crew,
and there met my Lord Hinchingbroke and Lady Jemimah, and there dined with
them and my Lord, where pretty merry, and after dinner my Lord Crew and
Hinchingbroke and myself went aside to discourse about my Lord Sandwich's
business, which is in a very ill state for want of money, and so parted,
and I to my tailor's, and there took up my wife and Willet, who staid
there for me, and to the Duke of York's playhouse, but the house so full,
it being a new play, "The Coffee House," that we could not get in, and so
to the King's house: and there, going in, met with Knepp, and she took us
up into the tireing-rooms: and to the women's shift, where Nell was
dressing herself, and was all unready, and is very pretty, prettier than I
thought. And so walked all up and down the house above, and then below
into the scene-room, and there sat down, and she gave us fruit and here I
read the questions to Knepp, while she answered me, through all her part
of "Flora's Figary's," which was acted to-day. But, Lord! to see how they
were both painted would make a man mad, and did make me loath them; and
what base company of men comes among them, and how lewdly they talk! and
how poor the men are in clothes, and yet what a shew they make on the
stage by candle-light, is very observable. But to see how Nell cursed,
for having so few people in the pit, was pretty; the other house carrying
away all the people at the new play, and is said, now-a-days, to have
generally most company, as being better players. By and by into the pit,
and there saw the play, which is pretty good, but my belly was full of
what I had seen in the house, and so, after the play done, away home, and
there to the writing my letters, and so home to supper and to bed.
6th (Lord's day). Up, and dressed myself, and so walked out with the boy
to Smithfield to Cow Lane, to Lincolne's, and there spoke with him, and
agreed upon the hour to-morrow, to set out towards Brampton; but vexed
that he is not likely to go himself, but sends another for him. Here I
took a hackney coach, and to White Hall, and there met Sir W. Coventry,
and discoursed with him, and then with my Lord Bruncker, and many others,
to end my matters in order to my going into the country to-morrow for five
or six days, which I have not done for above three years. Walked with
Creed into the Park a little, and at last went into the Queen's side, and
there saw the King and Queen, and saw the ladies, in order to my hearing
any news stirring to carry into the country, but met with none, and so
away home by coach, and there dined, and W. How come to see me, and after
dinner parted, and I to my writing to my Lord Sandwich, which is the
greatest business I have to do before my going into the country, and in
the evening to my office to set matters to rights there, and being in the
garden Sir W. Pen did come to me, and fell to discourse about the business
of "The Flying Greyhound," wherein I was plain to him and he to me, and at
last concluded upon my writing a petition to the Duke of York for a
certain ship, The Maybolt Gallyott, and he offers to give me L300 for my
success, which, however, I would not oblige him to, but will see the issue
of it by fair play, and so I did presently draw a petition, which he
undertakes to proffer to the Duke of York, and solicit for me, and will
not seem to doubt of his success. So I wrote, and did give it him, and
left it with him, and so home to supper, where Pelling comes and sits with
me, and there tells us how old Mr. Batelier is dead this last night in the
night, going to bed well, which I am mightily troubled for, he being a
good man. Supper done, and he gone, I to my chamber to write my journal
to this night, and so to bed.
7th. Up betimes, and did do several things towards the settling all
matters both of house and office in order for my journey this day, and did
leave my chief care, and the key of my closet, with Mr. Hater, with
directions what papers to secure, in case of fire or other accident; and
so, about nine o'clock, I, and my wife, and Willet, set out in a coach I
have hired, with four horses; and W. Hewer and Murford rode by us on
horseback; and so my wife and she in their morning gowns, very handsome
and pretty, and to my great liking. We set out, and so out at Allgate,
and so to the Green Man, and so on to Enfield, in our way seeing Mr.
Lowther and his lady in a coach, going to Walthamstow; and he told us that
he would overtake us at night, he being to go that way. So we to Enfield,
and there bayted, it being but a foul, bad day, and there Lowther and Mr.
Burford, an acquaintance of his, did overtake us, and there drank and eat
together; and, by and by, we parted, we going before them, and very merry,
my wife and girle and I talking, and telling tales, and singing, and
before night come to Bishop Stafford, where Lowther and his friend did
meet us again, and carried us to the Raynedeere, where Mrs. Aynsworth,
[Elizabeth Aynsworth, here mentioned, was a noted procurerss at
Cambridge, banished from that town by the university authorities for
her evil courses. She subsequently kept the Rein Deer Inn at
Bishops Stortford, at which the Vice-Chancellor, and some of the
heads of colleges, had occasion to sleep, in their way to London,
and were nobly entertained, their supper being served off plate.
The next morning their hostess refused to make any charge, saying,
that she was still indebted to the Vice-Chancellor, who, by driving
her out of Cambridge, had made her fortune. No tradition of this
woman has been preserved at Bishops Stortford; but it appears, from
the register of that parish, that she was buried there 26th of
March, 1686. It is recorded in the "History of Essex," vol. iii.,
(p. 130) 8vo., 1770, and in a pamphlet in the British Museum,
entitled, "Boteler's Case," that she was implicated in the murder of
Captain Wood, a Hertfordshire gentleman, at Manuden, in Essex, and
for which offence a person named Boteler was executed at Chelmsford,
September 10th, 1667, and that Mrs. Aynsworth, tried at the same
time as an accessory before the fact, was acquitted for want of
evidence; though in her way to the jail she endeavoured to throw
herself into the river, but was prevented. See Postea, May 25th,
1668.--B.]
who lived heretofore at Cambridge, and whom I knew better than they think
for, do live. It was the woman that, among other things, was great with
my cozen Barnston, of Cottenham, and did use to sing to him, and did teach
me "Full forty times over," a very lewd song: a woman they are very well
acquainted with, and is here what she was at Cambridge, and all the good
fellows of the country come hither. Lowther and his friend stayed and
drank, and then went further this night; but here we stayed, and supped,
and lodged. But, as soon as they were gone, and my supper getting ready,
I fell to write my letter to my Lord Sandwich, which I could not finish
before my coming from London; so did finish it to my good content, and a
good letter, telling him the present state of all matters, and did get a
man to promise to carry it to-morrow morning, to be there, at my house, by
noon, and I paid him well for it; so, that being done, and my mind at
ease, we to supper, and so to bed, my wife and I in one bed, and the girl
in another, in the same room, and lay very well, but there was so much
tearing company in the house, that we could not see my landlady; so I had
no opportunity of renewing my old acquaintance with her, but here we slept
very well.
8th. Up pretty betimes, though not so soon as we intended, by reason of
Murford's not rising, and then not knowing how to open our door, which,
and some other pleasant simplicities of the fellow, did give occasion to
us to call him. Sir Martin Marrall, and W. Hewer being his helper and
counsellor, we did call him, all this journey, Mr. Warner, which did give
us good occasion of mirth now and then. At last, rose, and up, and broke
our fast, and then took coach, and away, and at Newport did call on Mr.
Lowther, and he and his friend, and the master of the house, their friend,
where they were, a gentleman, did presently get a-horseback and overtook
us, and went with us to Audley-End, and did go along with us all over the
house and garden: and mighty merry we were. The house indeed do appear
very fine, but not so fine as it hath heretofore to me; particularly the
ceilings are not so good as I always took them to be, being nothing so
well wrought as my Lord Chancellor's are; and though the figure of the
house without be very extraordinary good, yet the stayre-case is exceeding
poor; and a great many pictures, and not one good one in the house but one
of Harry the Eighth, done by Holben; and not one good suit of hangings in
all the house, but all most ancient things, such as I would not give the
hanging-up of in my house; and the other furniture, beds and other things,
accordingly.
[Mr. George T. Robinson, F.S.A., in a paper on "Decorative Plaster
Work," read before the Society of Arts in April, 1891, refers to the
ceilings at Audley End as presenting an excellent idea of the state
of the stuccoer's art in the middle of James I.'s reign, and adds,
"Few houses in England can show so fine a series of the same date
. . . The great hall has medallions in the square portions of the
ceiling formed by its dividing timber beams. The large saloon on
the principal floor-a room about 66 feet long by 30 feet wide-has a
very remarkable ceiling of the pendentive type, which presents many
peculiarities, the most notable of which, that these not only depend
from the ceiling, but the outside ones spring from the walls in a
natural and structural manner. This is a most unusual circumstance
in the stucco work of the time, the reason for the omission of this
reasonable treatment evidently being the unwillingness of the
stuccoer to omit his elaborate frieze in which he took such delight"
("Journal Soc. of Arts," vol. xxxix., p. 449)]
Only the gallery is good, and, above all things, the cellars, where we
went down and drank of much good liquor; and indeed the cellars are fine:
and here my wife and I did sing to my great content. And then to the
garden, and there eat many grapes, and took some with us and so away
thence, exceeding well satisfied, though not to that degree that, by my
old esteem of the house, I ought and did expect to have done, the
situation of it not pleasing me. Here we parted with Lowther and his
friends, and away to Cambridge, it being foul, rainy weather, and there
did take up at the Rose, for the sake of Mrs. Dorothy Drawwater, the
vintner's daughter, which is mentioned in the play of Sir Martin Marrall.
Here we had a good chamber, and bespoke a good supper; and then I took my
wife, and W. Hewer, and Willet, it holding up a little, and shewed them
Trinity College and St. John's Library, and went to King's College Chapel,
to see the outside of it only; and so to our inne, and with much pleasure
did this, they walking in their pretty morning gowns, very handsome, and I
proud to find myself in condition to do this; and so home to our lodging,
and there by and by, to supper, with much good sport, talking with the
Drawers concerning matters of the town, and persons whom I remember, and
so, after supper, to cards; and then to bed, lying, I in one bed, and my
wife and girl in another, in the same room, and very merry talking
together, and mightily pleased both of us with the girl. Saunders, the
only violin in my time, is, I hear, dead of the plague in the late plague
there.
9th. Up, and got ready, and eat our breakfast; and then took coach: and
the poor, as they did yesterday, did stand at the coach to have something
given them, as they do to all great persons; and I did give them
something: and the town musique did also come and play: but, Lord! what
sad music they made! However, I was pleased with them, being all of us in
very good humour, and so through the town, and observed at our College of
Magdalene the posts new painted, and understand that the Vice-Chancellor'
is there this year. And so away for Huntingdon mightily pleased all along
the road to remember old stories; and come to Brampton at about noon, and
there find my father and sister and brother all well and here laid up our
things, and up and down to see the garden with my father, and the house,
and do altogether find it very pretty; especially the little parlour and
the summerhouses in the garden, only the wall do want greens upon it, and
the house is too low-roofed; but that is only because of my coming from a
house with higher ceilings. But altogether is very pretty; and I bless
God that I am like to have such a pretty place to retire to: and I did
walk with my father without doors, and do find a very convenient way of
laying out money there in building, which will make a very good seat, and
the place deserves it, I think, very well. By and by to dinner, and after
dinner I walked up to Hinchingbroke, where my Lady expected me; and there
spent all the afternoon with her: the same most excellent, good, discreet
lady that ever she was; and, among other things, is mightily pleased with
the lady that is like to be her son Hinchingbroke's wife, which I am
mightily glad of. By and by my wife comes with Willet, my wife in her
velvett vest, which is mighty fine, and becomes her exceedingly. I am
pleased with my Lady Paulina and Anne, who both are grown very proper
ladies, and handsome enough. But a thousand questions my Lady asked me,
till she could think of no more almost, but walked up and down the house,
with me. But I do find, by her, that they are reduced to great straits for
money, having been forced to sell her plate, 8 or L900 worth; and she is
now going to sell a suit of her best hangings, of which I could almost
wish to buy a piece or two, if the pieces will be broke. But the house is
most excellently furnished, and brave rooms and good pictures, so that it
do please me infinitely beyond Audley End. Here we staid till night
walking and talking and drinking, and with mighty satisfaction my Lady
with me alone most of the day talking of my Lord's bad condition to be
kept in Spayne without money and at a great expense, which (as we will
save the family) we must labour to remove. Night being come, we took
leave with all possible kindness, and so home, and there Mr. Shepley staid
with us and sapped, and full of good country discourse, and when supper
done took his leave, and we all to bed, only I a little troubled that my
father tells me that he is troubled that my wife shows my sister no
countenance, and, him but very little, but is as a stranger in the house;
and I do observe she do carry herself very high; but I perceive there was
some great falling out when she was here last, but the reason I have no
mind to enquire after, for vexing myself, being desirous to pass my time
with as much mirth as I can while I am abroad. So all to bed. My wife and
I in the high bed in our chamber, and Willet in the trundle bed, which she
desired to lie in, by us.
10th. Waked in the morning with great pain of the collique, by cold taken
yesterday, I believe, with going up and down in my shirt, but with rubbing
my belly, keeping of it warm, I did at last come to some ease, and rose,
and up to walk up and down the garden with my father, to talk of all our
concernments: about a husband for my sister, whereof there is at present
no appearance; but we must endeavour to find her one now, for she grows
old and ugly: then for my brother; and resolve he shall stay here this
winter, and then I will either send him to Cambridge for a year, till I
get him some church promotion, or send him to sea as a chaplain, where he
may study, and earn his living. Then walked round about our Greene, to
see whether, in case I cannot buy out my uncle Thomas and his son's right
in this house, that I can buy another place as good thereabouts to build
on, and I do not see that I can. But this, with new building, may be made
an excellent pretty thing, and I resolve to look after it as soon as I
can, and Goody Gorum dies. By this time it was almost noon, and then my
father and I and wife and Willet abroad, by coach round the towne of
Brampton, to observe any other place as good as ours, and find none; and
so back with great pleasure; and thence went all of us, my sister and
brother, and W. Hewer, to dinner to Hinchingbroke, where we had a good
plain country dinner, but most kindly used; and here dined the Minister of
Brampton and his wife, who is reported a very good, but poor man. Here I
spent alone with my Lady, after dinner, the most of the afternoon, and
anon the two twins were sent for from schoole, at Mr. Taylor's, to come to
see me, and I took them into the garden, and there, in one of the
summer-houses, did examine them, and do find them so well advanced in
their learning, that I was amazed at it: they repeating a whole ode
without book out of Horace, and did give me a very good account of any
thing almost, and did make me very readily very good Latin, and did give
me good account of their Greek grammar, beyond all possible expectation;
and so grave and manly as I never saw, I confess, nor could have believed;
so that they will be fit to go to Cambridge in two years at most. They
are both little, but very like one another, and well-looked children.
Then in to my Lady again, and staid till it was almost night again, and
then took leave for a great while again, but with extraordinary kindness
from my Lady, who looks upon me like one of her own family and interest.
So thence, my wife and people by the highway, and I walked over the park
with Mr. Shepley, and through the grove, which is mighty pretty, as is
imaginable, and so over their drawbridge to Nun's Bridge, and so to my
father's, and there sat and drank, and talked a little, and then parted.
And he being gone, and what company there was, my father and I, with a
dark lantern; it being now night, into the garden with my wife, and there
went about our great work to dig up my gold. But, Lord! what a tosse I
was for some time in, that they could not justly tell where it was; that I
begun heartily to sweat, and be angry, that they should not agree better
upon the place, and at last to fear that it was gone but by and by poking
with a spit, we found it, and then begun with a spudd to lift up the
ground. But, good God! to see how sillily they did it, not half a foot
under ground, and in the sight of the world from a hundred places, if any
body by accident were near hand, and within sight of a neighbour's window,
and their hearing also, being close by: only my father says that he saw
them all gone to church before he begun the work, when he laid the money,
but that do not excuse it to me. But I was out of my wits almost, and the
more from that, upon my lifting up the earth with the spudd, I did discern
that I had scattered the pieces of gold round about the ground among the
grass and loose earth; and taking up the iron head-pieces wherein they
were put, I perceive the earth was got among the gold, and wet, so that
the bags were all rotten, and all the notes, that I could not tell what in
the world to say to it, not knowing how to judge what was wanting, or what
had been lost by Gibson in his coming down: which, all put together, did
make me mad; and at last was forced to take up the head-pieces, dirt and
all, and as many of the scattered pieces as I could with the dirt discern
by the candlelight, and carry them up into my brother's chamber, and there
locke them up till I had eat a little supper: and then, all people going
to bed, W. Hewer and I did all alone, with several pails of water and
basins, at last wash the dirt off of the pieces, and parted the pieces and
the dirt, and then begun to tell [them]; and by a note which I had of the
value of the whole in my pocket, do find that there was short above a
hundred pieces, which did make me mad; and considering that the
neighbour's house was so near that we could not suppose we could speak one
to another in the garden at the place where the gold lay--especially my
father being deaf--but they must know what we had been doing on, I feared
that they might in the night come and gather some pieces and prevent us
the next morning; so W. Hewer and I out again about midnight, for it was
now grown so late, and there by candlelight did make shift to gather
forty-five pieces more. And so in, and to cleanse them: and by this time
it was past two in the morning; and so to bed, with my mind pretty quiet
to think that I have recovered so many. And then to bed, and I lay in the
trundle-bed, the girl being gone to bed to my wife, and there lay in some
disquiet all night, telling of the clock till it was daylight.
11th. And then rose and called W. Hewer, and he and I, with pails and a
sieve, did lock ourselves into the garden, and there gather all the earth
about the place into pails, and then sift those pails in one of the
summer-houses, just as they do for dyamonds in other parts of the world;
and there, to our great content, did with much trouble by nine o'clock
(and by the time we emptied several pails and could not find one), we did
make the last night's forty-five up seventy-nine: so that we are come to
about twenty or thirty of what I think the true number should be; and
perhaps within less; and of them I may reasonably think that Mr. Gibson
might lose some: so that I am pretty well satisfied that my loss is not
great, and do bless God that it is so well,
[About the year 1842, in removing the foundation of an old wall,
adjoining a mansion at Brampton, always considered the quondam
residence of the Pepys family, an iron pot, full of silver coins,
was discovered, and taken to the Earl of Sandwich, the owner of the
house, in whose possession they still remain. The pot was so much
corroded, that a small piece of it only could be preserved. The
coins were chiefly half-crowns of Elizabeth and the two elder
Stuarts, and all of a date anterior to the Restoration. Although
Pepys states that the treasure which he caused to be buried was gold
exclusively, it is very probable that, in the confusion, a pot full
of silver money was packed up with the rest; but, at all events, the
coincidence appeared too singular to pass over without notice.--B.]
and do leave my father to make a second examination of the dirt, which he
promises he will do, and, poor man, is mightily troubled for this
accident, but I declared myself very well satisfied, and so indeed I am;
and my mind at rest in it, being but an accident, which is unusual; and so
gives me some kind of content to remember how painful it is sometimes to
keep money, as well as to get it, and how doubtful I was how to keep it
all night, and how to secure it to London: and so got all my gold put up
in bags. And so having the last night wrote to my Lady Sandwich to lend
me John Bowles to go along with me my journey, not telling her the reason,
that it was only to secure my gold, we to breakfast, and then about ten
o'clock took coach, my wife and I, and Willet, and W. Hewer, and Murford
and Bowles (whom my Lady lent me), and my brother John on horseback; and
with these four I thought myself pretty safe. But, before we went out,
the Huntingdon musick come to me and played, and it was better than that
of Cambridge. Here I took leave of my father, and did give my sister 20s.
She cried at my going; but whether it was at her unwillingness for my
going, or any unkindness of my wife's, or no, I know not; but, God forgive
me! I take her to be so cunning and ill-natured, that I have no great
love for her; but only [she] is my sister, and must be provided for. My
gold I put into a basket, and set under one of the seats; and so my work
every quarter of an hour was to look to see whether all was well; and I
did ride in great fear all the day, but it was a pleasant day, and good
company, and I mightily contented. Mr. Shepley saw me beyond St. Neots,
and there parted, and we straight to Stevenage, through Bald Lanes, which
are already very bad; and at Stevenage we come well before night, and all
sat, and there with great care I got the gold up to the chamber, my wife
carrying one bag, and the girl another, and W. Hewer the rest in the
basket, and set it all under a bed in our chamber; and then sat down to
talk, and were very pleasant, satisfying myself, among other things, from
John Bowles, in some terms of hunting, and about deere, bucks, and does.
And so anon to supper, and very merry we were, and a good supper, and
after supper to bed. Brecocke alive still, and the best host I know
almost.
12th. Up, and eat our breakfast, and set out about nine o'clock, and so
to Barnett, where we staid and baited, the weather very good all day and
yesterday, and by five o'clock got home, where I find all well; and did
bring my gold, to my heart's content, very safe home, having not this day
carried it in a basket, but in our hands: the girl took care of one, and
my wife another bag, and I the rest, I being afraid of the bottom of the
coach, lest it should break, and therefore was at more ease in my mind
than I was yesterday. At home we find that Sir W. Batten's burial was
to-day carried from hence, with a hundred or two of coaches, to
Walthamstow, and there buried. Here I hear by Mr. Pierce the surgeon; and
then by Mr. Lewes, and also by Mr. Hater, that the Parliament hath met on
Thursday last, and adjourned to Monday next. The King did make them a
very kind speech, promising them to leave all to them to do, and call to
account what and whom they pleased; and declared by my Lord Keeper how
many, thirty-six, actes he had done since he saw them; among others,
disbanding the army, and putting all Papists out of employment, and
displacing persons that had managed their business ill, that the
Parliament is mightily pleased with the King's speech, and voted giving
him thanks for what he said and hath done; and, among things, would by
name thank him for displacing my Lord Chancellor, for which a great many
did speak in the House, but it was opposed by some, and particularly Harry
Coventry, who got that it should be put to a Committee to consider what
particulars to mention in their thanks to the King, saying that it was too
soon to give thanks for the displacing of a man, before they knew or had
examined what was the cause of his displacing. And so it rested; but this
do shew that they are and will be very high; and Mr. Pierce do tell me
that he fears, and do hear, that it hath been said among them, that they
will move for the calling my Lord Sandwich home, to bring him to account;
which do trouble me mightily; but I trust it will not be so. Anon comes
home Sir W. Pen from the burial, and he and I to walk in the garden, where
he did confirm the most of this news, and so to talk of our particular
concernments, and among the rest he says that Lady Batten and her
children-in-law are all broke in pieces, and that there is but L800 found
in the world, of money; and is in great doubt what we shall do towards the
doing ourselves right with them, about the prize-money. This troubles me,
but we will fall to work upon that next week close. Then he tells me he
did deliver my petition into the hands of Sir W. Coventry, who did take it
with great kindness and promised to present it to the Duke of York, and
that himself has since seen the Duke of York, but it was in haste, and
thinks the Duke of York did tell him that the thing was done, but he is
confident that it either is or will be done. This do please me mightily.
So after a little talk more I away home to supper with John Bowles and
brother and wife (who, I perceive, is already a little jealous of my being
fond of Willet, but I will avoid giving her any cause to continue in that
mind, as much as possible), and before that did go with Sir W. Pen to my
Lady Batten, whom I had not seen since she was a widow, which she took
unkindly, but I did excuse it; and the house being full of company, and of
several factions, she against the children, and they against one another
and her, I away, and home to supper, and after supper to bed.
13th (Lord's day). Up, and by water to White Hall, and thence walked to
Sir W. Coventry's lodgings, but he was gone out, so I to St. James's, and
there to the Duke of York's chamber: and there he was dressing; and many
Lords and Parliament-men come to kiss his hands, they being newly come to
town. And there the Duke of York did of himself call me to him, and tell
me that he had spoke to the King, and that the King had granted me the
ship I asked for; and did, moreover, say that he was mightily satisfied
with my service, and that he would be willing to do anything that was in
his power for me: which he said with mighty kindness; which I did return
him thanks for, and departed with mighty joy, more than I did expect. And
so walked over the Park to White Hall, and there met Sir H. Cholmly, who
walked with me, and told me most of the news I heard last night of the
Parliament; and thinks they will do all things very well, only they will
be revenged of my Lord Chancellor; and says, however, that he thinks there
will be but two things proved on him; and that one is, that he may have
said to the King, and to others, words to breed in the King an ill opinion
of the Parliament--that they were factious, and that it was better to
dissolve them: and this, he thinks, they will be able to prove; but what
this will amount to, he knows not. And next, that he hath taken money for
several bargains that have been made with the Crown; and did instance one
that is already complained of: but there are so many more involved in it,
that, should they unravel things of this sort, every body almost will be
more or less concerned. But these are the two great points which he
thinks they will insist on, and prove against him. Thence I to the Chapel,
and there heard the sermon and a pretty good anthem, and so home by water
to dinner, where Bowies and brother, and a good dinner, and in the
afternoon to make good my journal to this day, and so by water again to
White Hall, and thence only walked to Mrs. Martin's, and there sat with
her and her sister and Borroughs. . . and there drank and talked and
away by water home, and there walked with Sir W. Pen, and told him what
the Duke of York told me to-day about the ship I begged; and he was knave
enough, of his own accord, but, to be sure, in order to his own advantage,
to offer me to send for the master of the vessel, "The Maybolt Galliott,"
and bid him to get her furnished as for a long voyage, and I to take no
notice of it, that she might be the more worth to me: so that here he is a
very knave to the King, and I doubt not his being the same to me on
occasion. So in a doors and supped with my wife and brother, W. Hewer,
and Willett, and so evened with W. Hewer for my expenses upon the road
this last journey, and do think that the whole journey will cost me little
less than L18 or L20, one way or other; but I am well pleased with it, and
so after supper to bed.
14th. Up, and by water to White Hall, and thence walked to St. James's,
and there to Mr. Wren's; and he told me that my business was done about my
warrant on the Maybolt Galliott; which I did see, and though it was not so
full in the reciting of my services as the other was in that of Sir W.
Pen's, yet I was well pleased with it, and do intend to fetch it away
anon. Thence with Sir Thomas Allen, in a little sorry coach which he hath
set up of late, and Sir Jeremy Smith, to White Hall, and there I took
water and went to Westminster Hall, and there hear that the House is this
day again upon the business of giving the King the thanks of the House for
his speech, and, among other things, for laying aside of my Lord
Chancellor. Thence I to Mrs. Martin's, where by appointment comes to me
Mrs. Howlett, which I was afraid was to have told me something of my
freedom with her daughter, but it was not so, but only to complain to me
of her son-in-law, how he abuses and makes a slave of her, and his mother
is one that encourages him in it, so that they are at this time upon very
bad terms one with another, and desires that I would take a time to advise
him and tell him what it becomes him to do, which office I am very glad
of, for some ends of my own also con sa fille, and there drank and parted,
I mightily satisfied with this business, and so home by water with Sir W.
Warren, who happened to be at Westminster, and there I pretty strange to
him, and little discourse, and there at the office Lord Bruncker, W. Pen,
T. Hater and I did some business, and so home to dinner, and thence I out
to visit Sir G. Carteret and ladies there; and from him do understand that
the King himself (but this he told me as a great secret) is satisfied that
this thanks which he expects from the House, for the laying aside of my
Lord Chancellor, is a thing irregular; but, since it is come into the
House, he do think it necessary to carry it on, and will have it, and hath
made his mind known to be so, to some of the House. But Sir G. Carteret
do say he knows nothing of what my Lord Bruncker told us to-day, that the
King was angry with the Duke of York yesterday, and advised him not to
hinder what he had a mind to have done, touching this business; which is
news very bad, if true. Here I visited my Lady Carteret, who hath been
sick some time, but now pretty well, but laid on her bed. Thence to my
Lord Crew, to see him after my coming out of the country, and he seems
satisfied with some steps they have made in my absence towards my Lord
Sandwich's relief for money: and so I have no more to do, nor will trouble
myself more about it till they send for me. He tells me also that the
King will have the thanks of the House go on: and commends my Lord
Keeper's speech for all but what he was forced to say, about the reason of
the King's sending away the House so soon the last time, when they were
met, but this he was forced to do. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there
walked with Mr. Scowen, who tells me that it is at last carried in the
House that the thanks shall be given to the King--among other things,
particularly for the removal of my Lord Chancellor; but he tells me it is
a strange act, and that which he thinks would never have been, but that
the King did insist upon it, that, since it come into the House, it might
not be let fall. After walking there awhile I took coach and to the Duke
of York's House, and there went in for nothing into the pit, at the last
act, to see Sir Martin Marrall, and met my wife, who was there, and my
brother, and W. Hewer and Willett, and carried them home, still being
pleased with the humour of the play, almost above all that ever I saw.
Home, and there do find that John Bowles is not yet come thither. I
suppose he is playing the good fellow in the town. So to the office a
while, and then home to supper and to bed.
15th. Up, and to the office, where, Sir W. Pen being ill of the gout, we
all of us met there in his parlour and did the business of the office, our
greatest business now being to manage the pay of the ships in order and
with speed to satisfy the Commissioners of the Treasury. This morning my
brother set out for Brampton again, and is gone. At noon home to dinner,
and thence my wife and I and Willet to the Duke of York's house, where,
after long stay, the King and Duke of York come, and there saw "The
Coffee-house," the most ridiculous, insipid play that ever I saw in my
life, and glad we were that Betterton had no part in it. But here, before
the play begun, my wife begun to complain to me of Willet's confidence in
sitting cheek by jowl by us, which was a poor thing; but I perceive she is
already jealous of my kindness to her, so that I begin to fear this girle
is not likely to stay long with us. The play done, we home by coach, it
being moonlight, and got well home, and I to my chamber to settle some
papers, and so to supper and to bed.
16th. Up, and at home most of the morning with Sir H. Cholmly, about some
accounts of his; and for news he tells me that the Commons and Lords have
concurred, and delivered the King their thanks, among other things, for
his removal of the Chancellor; who took their thanks very well, and, among
other things, promised them, in these words, never, in any degree, to
entertain the Chancellor any employment again. And he tells me that it is
very true, he hath it from one that was by, that the King did, give the
Duke of York a sound reprimand; told him that he had lived with him with
more kindness than ever any brother King lived with a brother, and that he
lived as much like a monarch as himself, but advised him not to cross him
in his designs about the Chancellor; in which the Duke of York do very
wisely acquiesce, and will be quiet as the King bade him, but presently
commands all his friends to be silent in the business of the Chancellor,
and they were so: but that the Chancellor hath done all that is possible
to provoke the King, and to bring himself to lose his head by enraging of
people. He gone, I to the office, busy all the morning. At noon to Broad
Street to Sir G. Carteret and Lord Bruncker, and there dined with them,
and thence after dinner with Bruncker to White Hall, where the Duke of
York is now newly come for this winter, and there did our usual business,
which is but little, and so I away to the Duke of York's house, thinking
as we appointed, to meet my wife there, but she was not; and more, I was
vexed to see Young (who is but a bad actor at best) act Macbeth in the
room of Betterton, who, poor man! is sick: but, Lord! what a prejudice it
wrought in me against the whole play, and everybody else agreed in
disliking this fellow. Thence home, and there find my wife gone home;
because of this fellow's acting of the part, she went out of the house
again. There busy at my chamber with Mr. Yeabsly, and then with Mr.
Lewes, about public business late, and so to supper and to bed.