March 1st. Up, and this day being the day than: by a promise, a great
while ago, made to my wife, I was to give her L20 to lay out in clothes
against Easter, she did, notwithstanding last night's falling out, come
to peace with me and I with her, but did boggle mightily at the parting
with my money, but at last did give it her, and then she abroad to buy
her things, and I to my office, where busy all the morning. At noon I to
dinner at Trinity House, and thence to Gresham College, where Mr. Hooke
read a second very curious lecture about the late Comett; among other
things proving very probably that this is the very same Comett that
appeared before in the year 1618, and that in such a time probably
it will appear again, which is a very new opinion; but all will be in
print. Then to the meeting, where Sir G. Carteret's two sons, his owne,
and Sir N. Slaning, were admitted of the society: and this day I did pay
my admission money, 40s. to the society. Here was very fine discourses
and experiments, but I do lacke philosophy enough to understand them,
and so cannot remember them. Among others, a very particular account of
the making of the several sorts of bread in France, which is accounted
the best place for bread in the world. So home, where very busy getting
an answer to some question of Sir Philip Warwicke touching the expense
of the navy, and that being done I by coach at 8 at night with my wife
and Mercer to Sir Philip's and discoursed with him (leaving them in the
coach), and then back with them home and to supper and to bed.
2nd. Begun this day to rise betimes before six o'clock, and, going down
to call my people, found Besse and the girle with their clothes on,
lying within their bedding upon the ground close by the fireside, and
a candle burning all night, pretending they would rise to scoure. This
vexed me, but Besse is going and so she will not trouble me long. Up,
and by water to Burston about my Lord's plate, and then home to the
office, so there all the morning sitting. At noon dined with Sir W.
Batten (my wife being gone again to-day to buy things, having bought
nothing yesterday for lack of Mrs. Pierces company), and thence to the
office again, where very busy till 12 at night, and vexed at my wife's
staying out so late, she not being at home at 9 o'clock, but at last she
is come home, but the reason of her stay I know not yet. So shut up my
books, and home to supper and to bed.
3rd. Up, and abroad about several things, among others to see Mr. Peter
Honiwood, who was at my house the other day, and I find it was for
nothing but to pay me my brother John's Quarterage. Thence to see Mrs.
Turner, who takes it mighty ill I did not come to dine with the Reader,
her husband, which, she says, was the greatest feast that ever was yet
kept by a Reader, and I believe it was well. But I am glad I did not go,
which confirms her in an opinion that I am growne proud. Thence to the
'Change, and to several places, and so home to dinner and to my office,
where till 12 at night writing over a discourse of mine to Mr. Coventry
touching the Fishermen of the Thames upon a reference of the business
by him to me concerning their being protected from presse. Then home to
supper and to bed.
4th. Up very betimes, and walked, it being bitter cold, to Ratcliffe,
to the plate-maker's and back again. To the office, where we sat all the
morning, I, with being empty and full of ayre and wind, had some pain
to-day. Dined alone at home, my wife being gone abroad to buy some more
things. All the afternoon at the office. William Howe come to see me,
being come up with my Lord from sea: he is grown a discreet, but very
conceited fellow. He tells me how little respectfully Sir W. Pen did
carry it to my Lord onboard the Duke's ship at sea; and that Captain
Minnes, a favourite of Prince Rupert's, do shew my Lord little respect;
but that every body else esteems my Lord as they ought. I am sorry for
the folly of the latter, and vexed at the dissimulation of the former.
At night home to supper and to bed. This day was proclaimed at the
'Change the war with Holland.
5th (Lord's day). Up, and Mr. Burston bringing me by order my Lord's
plates, which he has been making this week. I did take coach and to my
Lord Sandwich's and dined with my Lord; it being the first time he hath
dined at home since his coming from sea: and a pretty odd demand it was
of my Lord to my Lady before me: "How do you, sweetheart? How have you
done all this week?" himself taking notice of it to me, that he had
hardly seen her the week before. At dinner he did use me with the
greatest solemnity in the world, in carving for me, and nobody else, and
calling often to my Lady to cut for me; and all the respect possible.
After dinner looked over the plates, liked them mightily, and indeed I
think he is the most exact man in what he do in the world of that kind.
So home again, and there after a song or two in the evening with Mr.
Hill, I to my office, and then home to supper and to bed.
6th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes by coach, being a most lamentable cold
day as any this year, to St. James's, and there did our business with
the Duke. Great preparations for his speedy return to sea. I saw him try
on his buff coat and hatpiece covered with black velvet. It troubles me
more to think of his venture, than of anything else in the whole warr.
Thence home to dinner, where I saw Besse go away; she having of all
wenches that ever lived with us received the greatest love and kindnesse
and good clothes, besides wages, and gone away with the greatest
ingratitude. I then abroad to look after my Hamaccoes, and so home, and
there find our new chamber-mayde, Mary, come, which instead of handsome,
as my wife spoke and still seems to reckon, is a very ordinary wench, I
think, and therein was mightily disappointed. To my office, where busy
late, and then home to supper and to bed, and was troubled all this
night with a pain in my left testicle, that run up presently into my
left kidney and there kept akeing all night. In great pain.
7th. Up, and was pretty well, but going to the office, and I think it
was sitting with my back to the fire, it set me in a great rage again,
that I could not continue till past noon at the office, but was forced
to go home, nor could sit down to dinner, but betook myself to my bed,
and being there a while my pain begun to abate and grow less and less.
Anon I went to make water, not dreaming of any thing but my testicle
that by some accident I might have bruised as I used to do, but in
pissing there come from me two stones, I could feel them, and caused my
water to be looked into; but without any pain to me in going out, which
makes me think that it was not a fit of the stone at all; for my pain
was asswaged upon my lying down a great while before I went to make
water. Anon I made water again very freely and plentifully. I kept my
bed in good ease all the evening, then rose and sat up an hour or two,
and then to bed and lay till 8 o'clock, and then,
8th. Though a bitter cold day, yet I rose, and though my pain and
tenderness in my testicle remains a little, yet I do verily think that
my pain yesterday was nothing else, and therefore I hope my disease of
the stone may not return to me, but void itself in pissing, which God
grant, but I will consult my physitian. This morning is brought me to
the office the sad newes of "The London," in which Sir J. Lawson's men
were all bringing her from Chatham to the Hope, and thence he was to
go to sea in her; but a little a'this side the buoy of the Nower,
she suddenly blew up. About 24 [men] and a woman that were in the
round-house and coach saved; the rest, being above 300, drowned: the
ship breaking all in pieces, with 80 pieces of brass ordnance. She lies
sunk, with her round-house above water. Sir J. Lawson hath a great loss
in this of so many good chosen men, and many relations among them. I
went to the 'Change, where the news taken very much to heart. So home to
dinner, and Mr. Moore with me. Then I to Gresham College, and there saw
several pretty experiments, and so home and to my office, and at night
about I I home to supper and to bed.
9th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the afternoon. At noon
to dinner at home, and then abroad with my wife, left her at the New
Exchange and I to Westminster, where I hear Mrs. Martin is brought to
bed of a boy and christened Charles, which I am very glad of, for I was
fearful of being called to be a godfather to it. But it seems it was to
be done suddenly, and so I escaped. It is strange to see how a liberty
and going abroad without purpose of doing anything do lead a man to
what is bad, for I was just upon going to her, where I must of necessity
[have] broken my oath or made a forfeit. But I did not, company being
(I heard by my porter) with her, and so I home again, taking up my wife,
and was set down by her at Paule's Schoole, where I visited Mr. Crumlum
at his house; and, Lord! to see how ridiculous a conceited pedagogue he
is, though a learned man, he being so dogmaticall in all he do and
says. But among other discourse, we fell to the old discourse of Paule's
Schoole; and he did, upon my declaring my value of it, give me one of
Lilly's grammars of a very old impression, as it was in the Catholique
times, which I shall much set by. And so, after some small discourse,
away and called upon my wife at a linen draper's shop buying linen, and
so home, and to my office, where late, and home to supper and to bed.
This night my wife had a new suit of flowered ash-coloured silke, very
noble.
10th. Up, and to the office all the morning. At noon to the 'Change,
where very hot, people's proposal of the City giving the King' another
ship for "The London," that is lately blown up, which would be very
handsome, and if well managed, might be done; but I fear if it be put
into ill hands, or that the courtiers do solicit it, it will never be
done. Home to dinner, and thence to the Committee of Tangier at White
Hall, where my Lord Barkely and Craven and others; but, Lord! to see how
superficially things are done in the business of the Lottery, which will
be the disgrace of the Fishery, and without profit. Home, vexed at
my loss of time, and thereto my office. Late at night come the two
Bellamys, formerly petty warrant Victuallers of the Navy, to take my
advice about a navy debt of theirs for the compassing of which they
offer a great deal of money, and the thing most just. Perhaps I may
undertake it, and get something by it, which will be a good job. So home
late to bed.
11th. Up and to the office, at noon home to dinner, and to the office
again, where very late, and then home to supper and to bed. This day
returned Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes from Lee Roade, where they have
been to see the wrecke of "The London," out of which, they say, the
guns may be got, but the hull of her will be wholly lost, as not being
capable of being weighed.
12th (Lord's day). Up, and borrowing Sir J. Minnes's coach, to my Lord
Sandwich's, but he was gone abroad. I sent the coach back for my wife,
my Lord a second time dining at home on purpose to meet me, he having
not dined once at home but those times since his coming from sea. I
sat down and read over the Bishop of Chichester's' sermon upon the
anniversary of the King's death, much cried up, but, methinks, but a
mean sermon. By and by comes in my Lord, and he and I to talke of
many things in the Navy, one from another, in general, to see how the
greatest things are committed to very ordinary men, as to parts and
experience, to do; among others, my Lord Barkeley. We talked also of
getting W. Howe to be put into the Muster-Mastershipp in the roome
of Creed, if Creed will give way, but my Lord do it without any great
gusto, calling Howe a proud coxcomb in passion. Down to dinner, where
my wife in her new lace whiske, which, indeed, is very noble, and I much
pleased with it, and so my Lady also. Here very pleasant my Lord was
at dinner, and after dinner did look over his plate, which Burston hath
brought him to-day, and is the last of the three that he will have made.
After satisfied with that, he abroad, and I after much discourse with my
Lady about Sir G. Carteret's son, of whom she hath some thoughts for a
husband for my Lady Jemimah, we away home by coach again, and there sang
a good while very pleasantly with Mr. Andrews and Hill. They gone; we to
supper, and betimes to bed.
13th. Up betimes, this being the first morning of my promise upon a
forfeite not to lie in bed a quarter of an hour after my first waking.
Abroad to St. James's, and there much business, the King also being with
us a great while. Thence to the 'Change, and thence with Captain Tayler
and Sir W. Warren dined at a house hard by for discourse sake, and so I
home, and there meeting a letter from Mrs. Martin desiring to speak
with me, I (though against my promise of visiting her) did go, and there
found her in her childbed dress desiring my favour to get her husband a
place. I staid not long, but taking Sir W. Warren up at White Hall home,
and among other discourse fell to a business which he says shall if
accomplished bring me L100. He gone, I to supper and to bed. This day
my wife begun to wear light-coloured locks, quite white almost, which,
though it makes her look very pretty, yet not being natural, vexes me,
that I will not have her wear them. This day I saw my Lord Castlemayne
at St. James's, lately come from France.
14th. Up before six, to the office, where busy all the morning. At noon
dined with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, at the Tower, with Sir J.
Robinson, at a farewell dinner which he gives Major Holmes at his going
out of the Tower, where he hath for some time, since his coming from
Guinny, been a prisoner, and, it seems, had presented the Lieutenant
with fifty pieces yesterday. Here a great deale of good victuals and
company. Thence home to my office, where very late, and home to supper
and to bed weary of business.
15th. Up and by coach with Sir W. Batten to St. James's, where among
other things before the Duke, Captain Taylor was called in, and, Sir J.
Robinson his accuser not appearing, was acquitted quite from his charge,
and declared that he should go to Harwich, which I was very well pleased
at. Thence I to Mr. Coventry's chamber, and there privately an houre
with him in discourse of the office, and did deliver to him many notes
of things about which he is to get the Duke's command, before he goes,
for the putting of business among us in better order. He did largely
owne his dependance as to the office upon my care, and received
very great expressions of love from him, and so parted with great
satisfaction to myself. So home to the 'Change, and thence home to
dinner, where my wife being gone down upon a sudden warning from my Lord
Sandwich's daughters to the Hope with them to see "The Prince," I dined
alone. After dinner to the office, and anon to Gresham College, where,
among other good discourse, there was tried the great poyson of Maccassa
upon a dogg,
["The experiment of trying to poison a dog with some of the Macassar
powder in which a needle had been dipped was made, but without
success."--Pepys himself made a communication at this meeting of
the information he had received from the master of the Jersey ship,
who had been in company of Major Holmes in the Guinea voyage,
concerning the pendulum watches (Birch's "History," vol. ii., p.
23).]
but it had no effect all the time we sat there. We anon broke up and
I home, where late at my office, my wife not coming home. I to bed,
troubled, about 12 or past.
16th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, my wife coming
home from the water this morning, having lain with them on board "The
Prince" all night. At noon home to dinner, where my wife told me the
unpleasant journey she had yesterday among the children, whose fear upon
the water and folly made it very unpleasing to her. A good dinner, and
then to the office again. This afternoon Mr. Harris, the sayle-maker,
sent me a noble present of two large silver candlesticks and snuffers,
and a slice to keep them upon, which indeed is very handsome. At night
come Mr. Andrews with L36, the further fruits of my Tangier contract,
and so to bed late and weary with business, but in good content of mind,
blessing God for these his benefits.
17th. Up and to my office, and then with Sir W. Batten to St. James's,
where many come to take leave, as was expected, of the Duke, but he do
not go till Monday. This night my Lady Wood died of the small-pox, and
is much lamented among the great persons for a good-natured woman and a
good wife, but for all that it was ever believed she was as others are.
The Duke did give us some commands, and so broke up, not taking leave
of him. But the best piece of newes is, that instead of a great many
troublesome Lords, the whole business is to be left with the Duke of
Albemarle to act as Admirall in his stead; which is a thing that do
cheer my heart. For the other would have vexed us with attendance, and
never done the business. Thence to the Committee of Tangier, where the
Duke a little, and then left us and we staid. A very great Committee,
the Lords Albemarle, Sandwich, Barkely, Fitzharding, Peterborough,
Ashley, Sir Thos. Ingram, Sir G. Carteret and others. The whole business
was the stating of Povy's accounts, of whom to say no more, never could
man say worse himself nor have worse said of him than was by the company
to his face; I mean, as to his folly and very reflecting words to his
honesty. Broke up without anything but trouble and shame, only I got
my businesses done to the signing of two bills for the Contractors and
Captain Taylor, and so come away well pleased, and home, taking up my
wife at the 'Change, to dinner. After dinner out again bringing my wife
to her father's again at Charing Cross, and I to the Committee again,
where a new meeting of trouble about Povy, who still makes his business
worse and worse, and broke up with the most open shame again to him,
and high words to him of disgrace that they would not trust him with any
more money till he had given an account of this. So broke up. Then
he took occasion to desire me to step aside, and he and I by water to
London together. In the way, of his owne accord, he proposed to me
that he would surrender his place of Treasurer' to me to have half the
profit. The thing is new to me; but the more I think the more I like it,
and do put him upon getting it done by the Duke. Whether it takes or no
I care not, but I think at present it may have some convenience in it.
Home, and there find my wife come home and gone to bed, of a cold got
yesterday by water. At the office Bellamy come to me again, and I am in
hopes something may be got by his business. So late home to supper and
bed.
18th. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon to the
'Change, and took Mr. Hill along with me to Mr. Povy's, where we dined,
and shewed him the house to his good content, and I expect when we meet
we shall laugh at it. But I having business to stay, he went away, and
Povy and Creed and I to do some business upon Povy's accounts all the
afternoon till late at night, where, God help him! never man was so
confounded, and all his people about him in this world as he and his
are. After we had done something [to the] purpose we broke up, and
Povy acquainted me before Creed (having said something of it also this
morning at our office to me) what he had done in speaking to the Duke
and others about his making me Treasurer, and has carried it a great
way, so as I think it cannot well be set back. Creed, I perceive, envies
me in it, but I think as that will do me no hurte, so if it did I am at
a great losse to think whether it were not best for me to let it wholly
alone, for it will much disquiett me and my business of the Navy, which
in this warr will certainly be worth all my time to me. Home, continuing
in this doubtfull condition what to think of it, but God Almighty do
his will in it for the best. To my office, where late, and then home to
supper and to bed.
19th (Lord's day). Mr. Povy sent his coach for me betimes, and I to
him, and there to our great trouble do find that my Lord FitzHarding do
appear for Mr. Brunkard
[Henry Brouncker, younger brother of William, Viscount Brouncker,
President of the Royal Society. He was Groom of the Bedchamber to
the Duke of York, and succeeded to the office of Cofferer on the
death of William Ashburnham in 1671. His character was bad, and his
conduct in the sea-fight of 1665 was impugned. He was expelled from
the House of Commons, but succeeded to his brother's title in 1684.
He died in January, 1687.]
to be Paymaster upon Povy's going out, by a former promise of the
Duke's, and offering to give as much as any for it. This put us all into
a great dumpe, and so we went to Creed's new lodging in the Mewes, and
there we found Creed with his parrot upon his shoulder, which struck Mr.
Povy coming by just by the eye, very deep, which, had it hit his eye,
had put it out. This a while troubled us, but not proving very bad, we
to our business consulting what to do; at last resolved, and I to Mr.
Coventry, and there had his most friendly and ingenuous advice, advising
me not to decline the thing, it being that that will bring me to be
known to great persons, while now I am buried among three or four of us,
says he, in the Navy; but do not make a declared opposition to my Lord
FitzHarding. Thence I to Creed, and walked talking in the Park an hour
with him, and then to my Lord Sandwich's to dinner, and after dinner to
Mr. Povy's, who hath been with the Duke of Yorke, and, by the mediation
of Mr. Coventry, the Duke told him that the business shall go on, and
he will take off Brunkerd, and my Lord FitzHarding is quiett too. But to
see the mischief, I hear that Sir G. Carteret did not seem pleased, but
said nothing when he heard me proposed to come in Povy's room, which may
learn me to distinguish between that man that is a man's true and false
friend. Being very glad of this news Mr. Povy and I in his coach to Hyde
Parke, being the first day of the tour there. Where many brave ladies;
among others, Castlemayne lay impudently upon her back in her coach
asleep, with her mouth open. There was also my Lady Kerneguy,
[Daughter of William, Duke of Hamilton, wife of Lord Carnegy, who
became Earl of Southesk on his father's death. She is frequently
mentioned in the "Memoires de Grammont," and in the letters of the
second Earl of Chesterfield.--B.]
once my Lady Anne Hambleton, that is said to have given the Duke a clap
upon his first coming over. Here I saw Sir J. Lawson's daughter and
husband, a fine couple, and also Mr. Southwell and his new lady, very
pretty. Thence back, putting in at Dr. Whore's, where I saw his lady, a
very fine woman. So home, and thither by my desire comes by and by Creed
and lay with me, very merry and full of discourse, what to do to-morrow,
and the conveniences that will attend my having of this place, and I do
think they may be very great.
20th. Up, Creed and I, and had Mr. Povy's coach sent for us, and we to
his house; where we did some business in order to the work of this day.
Povy and I to my Lord Sandwich, who tells me that the Duke is not only
a friend to the business, but to me, in terms of the greatest love and
respect and value of me that can be thought, which overjoys me. Thence
to St. James's, and there was in great doubt of Brunkerd, but at last
I hear that Brunkerd desists. The Duke did direct Secretary Bennet,
who was there, to declare his mind to the Tangier Committee, that he
approves of me for Treasurer; and with a character of me to be a man
whose industry and discretion he would trust soon as any man's in
England: and did the like to my Lord Sandwich. So to White Hall to the
Committee of Tangier, where there were present, my Lord of Albemarle,
my Lord Peterborough, Sandwich, Barkeley, FitzHarding, Secretary Bennet,
Sir Thomas Ingram, Sir John Lawson, Povy and I. Where, after other
business, Povy did declare his business very handsomely; that he was
sorry he had been so unhappy in his accounts, as not to give their
Lordships the satisfaction he intended, and that he was sure his
accounts are right, and continues to submit them to examination, and is
ready to lay down in ready money the fault of his account; and that for
the future, that the work might be better done and with more quiet to
him, he desired, by approbation of the Duke, he might resign his
place to Mr. Pepys. Whereupon, Secretary Bennet did deliver the Duke's
command, which was received with great content and allowance beyond
expectation; the Secretary repeating also the Duke's character of me.
And I could discern my Lord FitzHarding was well pleased with me, and
signified full satisfaction, and whispered something seriously of me to
the Secretary. And there I received their constitution under all their
hands presently; so that I am already confirmed their Treasurer, and put
into a condition of striking of tallys;
[The practice of striking tallies at the Exchequer was a curious
survival of an ancient method of keeping accounts. The method
adopted is described in Hubert Hall's "Antiquities and Curiosities
of the Exchequer," 1891. The following account of the use of
tallies, so frequently alluded to in the Diary, was supplied by Lord
Braybrooke. Formerly accounts were kept, and large sums of money
paid and received, by the King's Exchequer, with little other form
than the exchange or delivery of tallies, pieces of wood notched or
scored, corresponding blocks being kept by the parties to the
account; and from this usage one of the head officers of the
Exchequer was called the tallier, or teller. These tallies were
often negotiable; Adam Smith, in his "Wealth of Nations," book ii.,
ch. xi., says that "in 1696 tallies had been at forty, and fifty,
and sixty per cent. discount, and bank-notes at twenty per cent."
The system of tallies was discontinued in 1824; and the destruction
of the old Houses of Parliament, in the night of October 16th, 1834,
is thought to have been occasioned by the overheating of the flues,
when the furnaces were employed to consume the tallies rendered
useless by the alteration in the mode of keeping the Exchequer
accounts.]
and all without one harsh word or word of dislike, but quite the
contrary; which is a good fortune beyond all imagination. Here we
rose, and Povy and Creed and I, all full of joy, thence to dinner, they
setting me down at Sir J. Winter's, by promise, and dined with him; and
a worthy fine man he seems to be, and of good discourse, our business
was to discourse of supplying the King with iron for anchors, if it can
be judged good enough, and a fine thing it is to see myself come to
the condition of being received by persons of this rank, he being, and
having long been, Secretary to the Queene-Mother. Thence to Povy's, and
there sat and considered of business a little and then home, where late
at it, W. Howe being with me about his business of accounts for his
money laid out in the fleet, and he gone, I home to supper and to bed.
Newes is this day come of Captain Allen's being come home from the
Straights, as far as Portland, with eleven of the King's ships, and
about twenty-two of merchantmen.
21st. Up, and my taylor coming to me, did consult all my wardrobe how to
order my clothes against next summer. Then to the office, where busy all
the morning. At noon to the 'Change, and brought home Mr. Andrews, and
there with Mr. Sheply dined and very merry, and a good dinner. Thence to
Mr. Povy's to discourse about settling our business of Treasurer, and
I think all things will go very fayre between us and to my content, but
the more I see the more silly the man seems to me. Thence by coach to
the Mewes, but Creed was not there. In our way the coach drove through
a lane by Drury Lane, where abundance of loose women stood at the doors,
which, God forgive me, did put evil thoughts in me, but proceeded no
further, blessed be God. So home, and late at my office, then home and
there found a couple of state cups, very large, coming, I suppose, each
to about L6 a piece, from Burrows the slopseller.
22nd. Up, and to Mr. Povy's about our business, and thence I to see Sir
Ph. Warwicke, but could not meet with him. So to Mr. Coventry, whose
profession of love and esteem for me to myself was so large and free
that I never could expect or wish for more, nor could have it from any
man in England, that I should value it more. Thence to Mr. Povy's, and
with Creed to the 'Change and to my house, but, it being washing day,
dined not at home, but took him (I being invited) to Mr. Hubland's, the
merchant, where Sir William Petty, and abundance of most ingenious men,
owners and freighters of "The Experiment," now going with her two bodies
to sea. Most excellent discourse. Among others, Sir William Petty did
tell me that in good earnest he hath in his will left such parts of his
estate to him that could invent such and such things. As among others,
that could discover truly the way of milk coming into the breasts of a
woman; and he that could invent proper characters to express to another
the mixture of relishes and tastes. And says, that to him that invents
gold, he gives nothing for the philosopher's stone; for (says he) they
that find out that, will be able to pay themselves. But, says he,
by this means it is better than to give to a lecture; for here my
executors, that must part with this, will be sure to be well convinced
of the invention before they do part with their money. After dinner Mr.
Hill took me with Mrs. Hubland, who is a fine gentlewoman, into another
room, and there made her sing, which she do very well, to my great
content. Then to Gresham College, and there did see a kitling killed
almost quite, but that we could not quite kill her, with such a way; the
ayre out of a receiver, wherein she was put, and then the ayre being let
in upon her revives her immediately;
["Two experiments were made for the finding out a way to breathe
under water, useful for divers." The first was on a bird and the
second on "a kitling" (Birch's "History," vol. ii., p. 25).]
nay, and this ayre is to be made by putting together a liquor and some
body that ferments, the steam of that do do the work. Thence home,
and thence to White Hall, where the house full of the Duke's going
to-morrow, and thence to St. James's, wherein these things fell out: (1)
I saw the Duke, kissed his hand, and had his most kind expressions of
his value and opinion of me, which comforted me above all things in the
world, (2) the like from Mr. Coventry most heartily and affectionately.
(3) Saw, among other fine ladies, Mrs. Middleton,
[Jane, daughter to Sir Robert Needham, is frequently mentioned in
the "Grammont Memoirs," and Evelyn calls her "that famous and indeed
incomparable beauty" ("Diary," August 2nd, 1683). Her portrait is
in the Royal Collection amongst the beauties of Charles II.'s Court.
Sir Robert Needham was related to John Evelyn.]
a very great beauty I never knew or heard of before; (4) I saw Waller
the poet, whom I never saw before. So, very late, by coach home with W.
Pen, who was there. To supper and to bed, with my heart at rest, and
my head very busy thinking of my several matters now on foot, the new
comfort of my old navy business, and the new one of my employment on
Tangier.
23rd. Up and to my Lord Sandwich, who follows the Duke this day by water
down to the Hope, where "The Prince" lies. He received me, busy as he
was, with mighty kindness and joy at my promotions; telling me most
largely how the Duke hath expressed on all occasions his good opinion of
my service and love for me. I paid my thanks and acknowledgement to him;
and so back home, where at the office all the morning. At noon to the
'Change. Home, and Lewellin dined with me. Thence abroad, carried my
wife to Westminster by coach, I to the Swan, Herbert's, and there had
much of the good company of Sarah and to my wish, and then to see Mrs.
Martin, who was very kind, three weeks of her month of lying in is over.
So took up my wife and home, and at my office a while, and thence to
supper and to bed. Great talk of noises of guns heard at Deale, but
nothing particularly whether in earnest or not.
24th. Up betimes, and by agreement to the Globe taverne in Fleet Street
to Mr. Clerke, my sollicitor, about the business of my uncle's accounts,
and we went with one Jefferys to one of the Barons (Spelman), and
there my accounts were declared and I sworn to the truth thereof to my
knowledge, and so I shall after a few formalities be cleared of all.
Thence to Povy's, and there delivered him his letters of greatest import
to him that is possible, yet dropped by young Bland, just come from
Tangier, upon the road by Sittingburne, taken up and sent to Mr. Pett,
at Chatham. Thus everything done by Povy is done with a fatal folly and
neglect. Then to our discourse with him, Creed, Mr. Viner, myself and
Poyntz about the business of the Workehouse at Clerkenwell, and after
dinner went thither and saw all the works there, and did also consult
the Act concerning the business and other papers in order to our coming
in to undertake it with Povy, the management of the House, but I do not
think we can safely meddle with it, at least I, unless I had time to
look after it myself, but the thing is very ingenious and laudable.
Thence to my Lady Sandwich's, where my wife all this day, having kept
Good Friday very strict with fasting. Here we supped, and talked very
merry. My Lady alone with me, very earnest about Sir G. Carteret's son,
with whom I perceive they do desire my Lady Jemimah may be matched.
Thence home and to my office, and then to bed.
25th (Lady day). Up betimes and to my office, where all the morning.
At noon dined alone with Sir W. Batten, where great discourse of Sir
W. Pen, Sir W. Batten being, I perceive, quite out of love with him,
thinking him too great and too high, and began to talk that the world
do question his courage, upon which I told him plainly I have been told
that he was articled against for it, and that Sir H. Vane was his great
friend therein. This he was, I perceive, glad to hear. Thence to the
office, and there very late, very busy, to my great content. This
afternoon of a sudden is come home Sir W. Pen from the fleete, but upon
what score I know not. Late home to supper and to bed.
26th (Lord's day and Easter day). Up (and with my wife, who has not been
at church a month or two) to church. At noon home to dinner, my wife and
I (Mercer staying to the Sacrament) alone. This is the day seven years
which, by the blessing of God, I have survived of my being cut of the
stone, and am now in very perfect good health and have long been; and
though the last winter hath been as hard a winter as any have been these
many years, yet I never was better in my life, nor have not, these
ten years, gone colder in the summer than I have done all this winter,
wearing only a doublet, and a waistcoate cut open on the back; abroad,
a cloake and within doors a coate I slipped on. Now I am at a losse to
know whether it be my hare's foot which is my preservative against wind,
for I never had a fit of the collique since I wore it, and nothing but
wind brings me pain, and the carrying away of wind takes away my pain,
or my keeping my back cool; for when I do lie longer than ordinary upon
my back in bed, my water the next morning is very hot, or whether it be
my taking of a pill of turpentine every morning, which keeps me always
loose, or all together, but this I know, with thanks to God Almighty,
that I am now as well as ever I can wish or desire to be, having now and
then little grudgings of wind, that brings me a little pain, but it is
over presently, only I do find that my backe grows very weak, that I
cannot stoop to write or tell money without sitting but I have pain for
a good while after it. Yet a week or two ago I had one day's great pain;
but it was upon my getting a bruise on one of my testicles, and then I
did void two small stones, without pain though, and, upon my going
to bed and bearing up of my testicles, I was well the next. But I did
observe that my sitting with my back to the fire at the office did then,
as it do at all times, make my back ake, and my water hot, and brings me
some pain. I sent yesterday an invitation to Mrs. Turner and her family
to come to keep this day with me, which she granted, but afterward
sent me word that it being Sunday and Easter day she desired to choose
another and put off this. Which I was willing enough to do; and so put
it off as to this day, and will leave it to my own convenience when to
choose another, and perhaps shall escape a feast by it. At my office all
the afternoon drawing up my agreement with Mr. Povy for me to sign to
him tomorrow morning. In the evening spent an hour in the garden walking
with Sir J. Minnes, talking of the Chest business, wherein Sir W. Batten
deals so unfairly, wherein the old man is very hot for the present,
but that zeal will not last nor is to be trusted. So home to supper,
prayers, and to bed.
27th. Up betimes to Mr. Povy's, and there did sign and seal my agreement
with him about my place of being Treasurer for Tangier, it being the
greatest part of it drawnout of a draught of his own drawing up, only I
have added something here and there in favour of myself. Thence to the
Duke of Albemarle, the first time that we officers of the Navy have
waited upon him since the Duke of Yorke's going, who hath deputed him to
be Admirall in his absence. And I find him a quiet heavy man, that will
help business when he can, and hinder nothing, and am very well pleased
with our attendance on him. I did afterwards alone give him thanks for
his favour to me about my Tangier business, which he received kindly,
and did speak much of his esteem of me. Thence, and did the same to Sir
H. Bennet, who did the like to me very fully, and did give me all his
letters lately come from hence for me to read, which I returned in the
afternoon to him. Thence to Mrs. Martin, who, though her husband is gone
away, as he writes, like a fool into France, yet is as simple and wanton
as ever she was, with much I made myself merry and away. So to my
Lord Peterborough's; where Povy, Creed, Williamson, Auditor Beale, and
myself, and mighty merry to see how plainly my Lord and Povy did abuse
one another about their accounts, each thinking the other a foole, and I
thinking they were not either of them, in that point, much in the
wrong, though in everything, and even in this manner of reproaching one
another, very witty and pleasant. Among other things, we had here the
genteelest dinner and the neatest house that I have seen many a day,
and the latter beyond anything I ever saw in a nobleman's house. Thence
visited my Lord Barkeley, and did sit discoursing with him in his
chamber a good while, and [he] mighty friendly to me about the same
business of Tangier. From that to other discourse of the times and the
want of money, and he said that the Parliament must be called again
soon, and more money raised, not by tax, for he said he believed the
people could not pay it, but he would have either a general excise upon
everything, or else that every city incorporate should pay a toll into
the King's revenue, as he says it is in all the cities in the world; for
here a citizen hath no more laid on them than their neighbours in the
country, whereas, as a city, it ought to pay considerably to the King
for their charter; but I fear this will breed ill blood. Thence to Povy,
and after a little talk home to my office late. Then to supper and to
bed.
28th. Up betimes and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and I
did most of the business there, God wot. Then to the 'Change, and thence
to the Coffee-house with Sir W. Warren, where much good discourse for us
both till 9 o'clock with great pleasure and content, and then parted
and I home to dinner, having eat nothing, and so to my office. At night
supped with my wife at Sir W. Pen's, who is to go back for good and all
to the fleete to-morrow. Took leave and to my office, where till 12 at
night, and then home to bed.
29th. Up betimes and to Povy's, where a good while talking about our
business; thence abroad into the City, but upon his tally could not get
any money in Lumbard Streete, through the disrepute which he suffers,
I perceive, upon his giving up his place, which people think was not
choice, but necessity, as indeed it was. So back to his house, after we
had been at my house to taste my wine, but my wife being abroad nobody
could come at it, and so we were defeated. To his house, and before
dinner he and I did discourse of the business of freight, wherein I am
so much concerned, above L100 for myself, and in my over hasty making
a bill out for the rest for him, but he resolves to move Creed in it.
Which troubled me much, and Creed by and by comes, and after dinner
he did, but in the most cunning ingenious manner, do his business with
Creed by bringing it in by the by, that the most subtile man in the
world could never have done it better, and I must say that he is a
most witty, cunning man and one that I (am) most afeard of in my
conversation, though in all serious matters of business the eeriest
foole that ever I met with. The bill was produced and a copy given
Creed, whereupon he wrote his Intratur upon the originall, and I hope
it will pass, at least I am now put to it that I must stand by it
and justify it, but I pray God it may never come to that test. Thence
between vexed and joyed, not knowing what yet to make of it, home,
calling for my Lord Cooke's 3 volumes at my bookseller's, and so home,
where I found a new cook mayd, her name is-----that promises very
little. So to my office, where late about drawing up a proposal for
Captain Taylor, for him to deliver to the City about his building the
new ship, which I have done well, and I hope will do the business, and
so home to supper and to bed.
30th. Up, and to my Lord Ashly, but did nothing, and to Sir Ph. Warwicke
and spoke with him about business, and so back to the office, where
all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and thence to the Tangier
Committee, where, Lord! to see how they did run into the giving of Sir
J. Lawson (who is come to towne to-day to get this business done) L4000
about his Mole business, and were going to give him 4s. per yarde more,
which arises in the whole Mole to L36,000, is a strange thing, but the
latter by chance was stopped, the former was given. Thence to see Mrs.
Martin, whose husband being it seems gone away, and as she is informed
he hath another woman whom he uses, and has long done, as a wife, she is
mighty reserved and resolved to keep herself so till the return of her
husband, which a pleasant thing to think of her. Thence home, and to my
office, where late, and to bed.
31st. Up betimes and walked to my Lord Ashly, and there with Creed after
long waiting spoke with him, and was civilly used by him; thence to
Sir Ph. Warwicke, and then to visit my Lord of Falmouth, who did also
receive me pretty civilly, but not as I expected; he, I perceive,
believing that I had undertaken to justify Povy's accounts, taking them
upon myself, but I rectified him therein. So to my Lady Sandwich's to
dinner, and up to her chamber after dinner, and there discoursed
about Sir G. Carteret's son, in proposition between us two for my Lady
Jemimah. So to Povy, and with him spent the afternoon very busy, till I
was weary of following this and neglecting my navy business. So at night
called my wife at my Lady's, and so home. To my office and there made up
my month's account, which, God be praised! rose to L1300. Which I bless
God for. So after 12 o'clock home to supper and to bed. I find Creed
mightily transported by my Lord of Falmouth's kind words to him, and
saying that he hath a place in his intention for him, which he believes
will be considerable. A witty man he is in every respect, but of no good
nature, nor a man ordinarily to be dealt with. My Lady Castlemayne is
sicke again, people think, slipping her filly.