July 1st, 1665. Called up betimes, though weary and sleepy, by
appointment by Mr. Povy and Colonell Norwood to discourse about some
payments of Tangier. They gone, I to the office and there sat all the
morning. At noon dined at home, and then to the Duke of Albemarle's,
by appointment, to give him an account of some disorder in the Yarde at
Portsmouth, by workmen's going away of their owne accord, for lacke of
money, to get work of hay-making, or any thing else to earne themselves
bread.
[There are several letters among the State Papers from Commissioner
Thomas Middleton relating to the want of workmen at Portsmouth
Dockyard. On June 29th Middleton wrote to Pepys, "The ropemakers
have discharged themselves for want of money, and gone into the
country to make hay." The blockmakers, the joiners, and the sawyers
all refused to work longer without money ("Calendar," 1664-65, p.
453).]
Thence to Westminster, where I hear the sicknesse encreases greatly, and
to the Harp and Ball with Mary talking, who tells me simply her losing
of her first love in the country in Wales, and coming up hither unknown
to her friends, and it seems Dr. Williams do pretend love to her, and
I have found him there several times. Thence by coach and late at the
office, and so to bed. Sad at the newes that seven or eight houses in
Bazing Hall street, are shut up of the plague.
2nd (Sunday). Up, and all the morning dressing my closet at the office
with my plates, very neatly, and a fine place now it is, and will be
a pleasure to sit in, though I thank God I needed none before. At noon
dined at home, and after dinner to my accounts and cast them up, and
find that though I have spent above L90 this month yet I have saved L17,
and am worth in all above L1450, for which the Lord be praised! In the
evening my Lady Pen and daughter come to see, and supped with us, then a
messenger about business of the office from Sir G. Carteret at Chatham,
and by word of mouth did send me word that the business between my Lord
and him is fully agreed on,
[The arrangements for the marriage of Lady Jemimah Montagu to Philip
Carteret were soon settled, for the wedding took place on July 31st]
and is mightily liked of by the King and the Duke of Yorke, and that
he sent me this word with great joy; they gone, we to bed. I hear this
night that Sir J. Lawson was buried late last night at St. Dunstan's by
us, without any company at all, and that the condition of his family
is but very poor, which I could be contented to be sorry for, though he
never was the man that ever obliged me by word or deed.
3rd. Up and by water with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes to White Hall
to the Duke of Albemarle, where, after a little business, we parted, and
I to the Harp and Ball, and there staid a while talking to Mary, and so
home to dinner. After dinner to the Duke of Albemarle's again, and so to
the Swan, and there 'demeurais un peu'de temps con la fille', and so to
the Harp and Ball, and alone 'demeurais un peu de temps baisant la',
and so away home and late at the office about letters, and so home,
resolving from this night forwards to close all my letters, if possible,
and end all my business at the office by daylight, and I shall go near
to do it and put all my affairs in the world in good order, the season
growing so sickly, that it is much to be feared how a man can escape
having a share with others in it, for which the good Lord God bless
me, or to be fitted to receive it. So after supper to bed, and mightily
troubled in my sleep all night with dreams of Jacke Cole, my old
schoolfellow, lately dead, who was born at the same time with me, and we
reckoned our fortunes pretty equal. God fit me for his condition!
4th. Up, and sat at the office all the morning. At noon to the 'Change
and thence to the Dolphin, where a good dinner at the cost of one Mr.
Osbaston, who lost a wager to Sir W. Batten, Sir W. Rider, and Sir R.
Ford, a good while since and now it is spent. The wager was that ten
of our ships should not have a fight with ten of the enemy's before
Michaelmas. Here was other very good company, and merry, and at last
in come Mr. Buckeworth, a very fine gentleman, and proves to be a
Huntingdonshire man. Thence to my office and there all the afternoon
till night, and so home to settle some accounts of Tangier and other
papers. I hear this day the Duke and Prince Rupert are both come back
from sea, and neither of them go back again. The latter I much wonder
at, but it seems the towne reports so, and I am very glad of it. This
morning I did a good piece of work with Sir W. Warren, ending the
business of the lotterys, wherein honestly I think I shall get above
L100. Bankert, it seems, is come home with the little fleete he hath
been abroad with, without doing any thing, so that there is nobody of an
enemy at sea. We are in great hopes of meeting with the Dutch East India
fleete, which is mighty rich, or with De Ruyter, who is so also. Sir
Richard Ford told me this day, at table, a fine account, how the Dutch
were like to have been mastered by the present Prince of Orange
[The period alluded to is 1650, when the States-General disbanded
part of the forces which the Prince of Orange (William) wished to
retain. The prince attempted, but unsuccessfully, to possess
himself of Amsterdam. In the same year he died, at the early age of
twenty-four; some say of the small-pox; others, with Sir Richard
Ford, say of poison.--B.]
his father to be besieged in Amsterdam, having drawn an army of foot
into the towne, and horse near to the towne by night, within three miles
of the towne, and they never knew of it; but by chance the Hamburgh post
in the night fell among the horse, and heard their design, and knowing
the way, it being very dark and rainy, better than they, went from
them, and did give notice to the towne before the others could reach the
towne, and so were saved. It seems this De Witt and another family, the
Beckarts, were among the chief of the familys that were enemys to the
Prince, and were afterwards suppressed by the Prince, and continued so
till he was, as they say, poysoned; and then they turned all again, as
it was, against the young Prince, and have so carried it to this day, it
being about 12 and 14 years, and De Witt in the head of them.
5th. Up, and advised about sending of my wife's bedding and things to
Woolwich, in order to her removal thither. So to the office, where all
the morning till noon, and so to the 'Change, and thence home to dinner.
In the afternoon I abroad to St. James's, and there with Mr. Coventry a
good while, and understand how matters are ordered in the fleete: that
is, my Lord Sandwich goes Admiral; under him Sir G. Ascue, and Sir T.
Teddiman; Vice-Admiral, Sir W. Pen; and under him Sir W. Barkeley, and
Sir Jos. Jordan: Reere-Admiral, Sir Thomas Allen; and under him Sir
Christopher Mings,
[The son of a shoemaker, bred to the sea-service; he rose to the
rank of an admiral, and was killed in the fight with the Dutch,
June, 1666.--B. See post, June 10th, 1666.]
and Captain Harman. We talked in general of business of the Navy, among
others how he had lately spoken to Sir G. Carteret, and professed great
resolution of friendship with him and reconciliation, and resolves to
make it good as well as he can, though it troubles him, he tells me,
that something will come before him wherein he must give him offence,
but I do find upon the whole that Mr. Coventry do not listen to these
complaints of money with the readiness and resolvedness to remedy that
he used to do, and I think if he begins to draw in it is high time for
me to do so too. From thence walked round to White Hall, the Parke being
quite locked up; and I observed a house shut up this day in the Pell
Mell, where heretofore in Cromwell's time we young men used to keep our
weekly clubs. And so to White Hall to Sir G. Carteret, who is come this
day from Chatham, and mighty glad he is to see me, and begun to talk of
our great business of the match, which goes on as fast as possible, but
for convenience we took water and over to his coach to Lambeth, by which
we went to Deptford, all the way talking, first, how matters are quite
concluded with all possible content between my Lord and him and signed
and sealed, so that my Lady Sandwich is to come thither to-morrow or
next day, and the young lady is sent for, and all likely to be ended
between them in a very little while, with mighty joy on both sides, and
the King, Duke, Lord Chancellor, and all mightily pleased. Thence to
newes, wherein I find that Sir G. Carteret do now take all my Lord
Sandwich's business to heart, and makes it the same with his owne. He
tells me how at Chatham it was proposed to my Lord Sandwich to be joined
with the Prince in the command of the fleete, which he was most willing
to; but when it come to the Prince, he was quite against it; saying,
there could be no government, but that it would be better to have two
fleetes, and neither under the command of the other, which he would not
agree to. So the King was not pleased; but, without any unkindnesse,
did order the fleete to be ordered as above, as to the Admirals and
commands: so the Prince is come up; and Sir G. Carteret, I remember, had
this word thence, that, says he, by this means, though the King told him
that it would be but for this expedition, yet I believe we shall keepe
him out for altogether. He tells me how my Lord was much troubled at Sir
W. Pen's being ordered forth (as it seems he is, to go to Solebay, and
with the best fleete he can, to go forth), and no notice taken of my
Lord Sandwich going after him, and having the command over him. But
after some discourse Mr. Coventry did satisfy, as he says, my Lord, so
as they parted friends both in that point and upon the other wherein I
know my Lord was troubled, and which Mr. Coventry did speak to him of
first thinking that my Lord might justly take offence at, his not being
mentioned in the relation of the fight in the news book, and did clear
all to my Lord how little he was concerned in it, and therewith my Lord
also satisfied, which I am mightily glad of, because I should take it
a very great misfortune to me to have them two to differ above all the
persons in the world. Being come to Deptford, my Lady not being within,
we parted, and I by water to Woolwich, where I found my wife come, and
her two mayds, and very prettily accommodated they will be; and I left
them going to supper, grieved in my heart to part with my wife, being
worse by much without her, though some trouble there is in having the
care of a family at home in this plague time, and so took leave, and I
in one boat and W. Hewer in another home very late, first against tide,
we having walked in the dark to Greenwich. Late home and to bed, very
lonely.
6th. Up and forth to give order to my pretty grocer's wife's house, who,
her husband tells me, is going this day for the summer into the country.
I bespoke some sugar, &c., for my father, and so home to the office,
where all the morning. At noon dined at home, and then by water to White
Hall to Sir G. Carteret about money for the office, a sad thought, for
in a little while all must go to wracke, winter coming on apace, when
a great sum must be ready to pay part of the fleete, and so far we are
from it that we have not enough to stop the mouths of poor people and
their hands from falling about our eares here almost in the office. God
give a good end to it! Sir G. Carteret told me one considerable thing:
Alderman Backewell is ordered abroad upon some private score with a
great sum of money; wherein I was instrumental the other day in shipping
him away. It seems some of his creditors have taken notice of it, and he
was like to be broke yesterday in his absence; Sir G. Carteret telling
me that the King and the kingdom must as good as fall with that man
at this time; and that he was forced to get L4000 himself to answer
Backewell's people's occasions, or he must have broke; but committed
this to me as a great secret and which I am heartily sorry to hear.
Thence, after a little merry discourse of our marrying business, I
parted, and by coach to several places, among others to see my Lord
Brunkerd, who is not well, but was at rest when I come. I could not see
him, nor had much mind, one of the great houses within two doors of him
being shut up: and, Lord! the number of houses visited, which this day I
observed through the town quite round in my way by Long Lane and London
Wall. So home to the office, and thence to Sir W. Batten, and spent the
evening at supper; and, among other discourse, the rashness of Sir John
Lawson, for breeding up his daughter so high and proud, refusing a
man of great interest, Sir W. Barkeley, to match her with a melancholy
fellow, Colonell Norton's' son, of no interest nor good nature nor
generosity at all, giving her L6000, when the other would have taken her
with two; when he himself knew that he was not worth the money himself
in all the world, he did give her that portion, and is since dead, and
left his wife and two daughters beggars, and the other gone away
with L6000, and no content in it, through the ill qualities of her
father-in-law and husband, who, it seems, though a pretty woman,
contracted for her as if he had been buying a horse; and, worst of all,
is now of no use to serve the mother and two little sisters in any stead
at Court, whereas the other might have done what he would for her: so
here is an end of this family's pride, which, with good care, might have
been what they would, and done well. Thence, weary of this discourse, as
the act of the greatest rashness that ever I heard of in all my little
conversation, we parted, and I home to bed. Sir W. Pen, it seems, sailed
last night from Solebay with, about sixty sail of ship, and my Lord
Sandwich in "The Prince" and some others, it seems, going after them to
overtake them, for I am sure my Lord Sandwich will do all possible to
overtake them, and will be troubled to the heart if he do it not.
7th. Up, and having set my neighbour, Mr. Hudson, wine coopers, at work
drawing out a tierce of wine for the sending of some of it to my wife,
I abroad, only taking notice to what a condition it hath pleased God
to bring me that at this time I have two tierces of Claret, two quarter
casks of Canary, and a smaller vessel of Sack; a vessel of Tent, another
of Malaga, and another of white wine, all in my wine cellar together;
which, I believe, none of my friends of my name now alive ever had of
his owne at one time. To Westminster, and there with Mr. Povy and Creed
talking of our Tangier business, and by and by I drew Creed aside and
acquainted him with what Sir G. Carteret did tell me about Backewell the
other day, because he hath money of his in his hands. So home, taking
some new books, L5 worth, home to my great content. At home all the day
after busy. Some excellent discourse and advice of Sir W. Warren's in
the afternoon, at night home to look over my new books, and so late to
bed.
8th. All day very diligent at the office, ended my letters by 9 at
night, and then fitted myself to go down to Woolwich to my wife, which
I did, calling at Sir G. Carteret's at Deptford, and there hear that
my Lady Sandwich is come, but not very well. By 12 o'clock to Woolwich,
found my wife asleep in bed, but strange to think what a fine night I
had down, but before I had been one minute on shore, the mightiest storm
come of wind and rain that almost could be for a quarter of an houre
and so left. I to bed, being the first time I come to her lodgings, and
there lodged well.
9th (Lord's day). Very pleasant with her and among my people, while she
made her ready, and, about 10 o'clock, by water to Sir G. Carteret, and
there find my Lady [Sandwich] in her chamber, not very well, but looks
the worst almost that ever I did see her in my life. It seems her
drinking of the water at Tunbridge did almost kill her before she could
with most violent physique get it out of her body again. We are received
with most extraordinary kindnesse by my Lady Carteret and her children,
and dined most nobly. Sir G. Carteret went to Court this morning. After
dinner I took occasion to have much discourse with Mr. Ph. Carteret, and
find him a very modest man; and I think verily of mighty good nature,
and pretty understanding. He did give me a good account of the fight
with the Dutch. My Lady Sandwich dined in her chamber. About three
o'clock I, leaving my wife there, took boat and home, and there shifted
myself into my black silke suit, and having promised Harman yesterday,
I to his house, which I find very mean, and mean company. His wife very
ill; I could not see her. Here I, with her father and Kate Joyce, who
was also very ill, were godfathers and godmother to his boy, and was
christened Will. Mr. Meriton christened him. The most observable thing I
found there to my content, was to hear him and his clerk tell me that in
this parish of Michell's, Cornhill, one of the middlemost parishes and
a great one of the towne, there hath, notwithstanding this sickliness,
been buried of any disease, man, woman, or child, not one for thirteen
months last past; which [is] very strange. And the like in a good degree
in most other parishes, I hear, saving only of the plague in them, but
in this neither the plague nor any other disease. So back again home and
reshifted myself, and so down to my Lady Carteret's, where mighty merry
and great pleasantnesse between my Lady Sandwich and the young ladies
and me, and all of us mighty merry, there never having been in the world
sure a greater business of general content than this match proposed
between Mr. Carteret and my Lady Jemimah. But withal it is mighty pretty
to think how my poor Lady Sandwich, between her and me, is doubtfull
whether her daughter will like of it or no, and how troubled she is for
fear of it, which I do not fear at all, and desire her not to do it, but
her fear is the most discreet and pretty that ever I did see. Late here,
and then my wife and I, with most hearty kindnesse from my Lady Carteret
by boat to Woolwich, come thither about 12 at night, and so to bed.
10th. Up, and with great pleasure looking over a nest of puppies of Mr.
Shelden's, with which my wife is most extraordinary pleased, and one
of them is promised her. Anon I took my leave, and away by water to the
Duke of Albemarle's, where he tells me that I must be at Hampton Court
anon. So I home to look over my Tangier papers, and having a coach of
Mr. Povy's attending me, by appointment, in order to my coming to dine
at his country house at Brainford, where he and his family is, I went
and Mr. Tasbrough with me therein, it being a pretty chariot, but most
inconvenient as to the horses throwing dust and dirt into one's eyes
and upon one's clothes. There I staid a quarter of an houre, Creed being
there, and being able to do little business (but the less the better).
Creed rode before, and Mr. Povy and I after him in the chariot; and I
was set down by him at the Parke pale, where one of his saddle horses
was ready for me, he himself not daring to come into the house or be
seen, because that a servant of his, out of his horse, happened to be
sicke, but is not yet dead, but was never suffered to come into his
house after he was ill. But this opportunity was taken to injure
Povy, and most horribly he is abused by some persons hereupon, and his
fortune, I believe, quite broke; but that he hath a good heart to bear,
or a cunning one to conceal his evil. There I met with Sir W. Coventry,
and by and by was heard by my Lord Chancellor and Treasurer about our
Tangier money, and my Lord Treasurer had ordered me to forbear meddling
with the L15,000 he offered me the other day, but, upon opening the case
to them, they did offer it again, and so I think I shall have it, but
my Lord General must give his consent in it, this money having been
promised to him, and he very angry at the proposal. Here though I have
not been in many years, yet I lacke time to stay, besides that it is,
I perceive, an unpleasing thing to be at Court, everybody being fearful
one of another, and all so sad, enquiring after the plague, so that I
stole away by my horse to Kingston, and there with trouble was forced,
to press two sturdy rogues to carry me to London, and met at the
waterside with Mr. Charnocke, Sir Philip Warwicke's clerke, who had been
in company and was quite foxed. I took him with me in my boat, and so
away to Richmond, and there, by night, walked with him to Moreclacke, a
very pretty walk, and there staid a good while, now and then talking and
sporting with Nan the servant, who says she is a seaman's wife, and at
last bade good night.
11th. And so all night down by water, a most pleasant passage, and come
thither by two o'clock, and so walked from the Old Swan home, and there
to bed to my Will, being very weary, and he lodging at my desire in
my house. At 6 o'clock up and to Westminster (where and all the towne
besides, I hear, the plague encreases), and, it being too soon to go to
the Duke of Albemarle, I to the Harp and Ball, and there made a bargain
with Mary to go forth with me in the afternoon, which she with much ado
consented to. So I to the Duke of Albemarle's, and there with much ado
did get his consent in part to my having the money promised for Tangier,
and the other part did not concur. So being displeased with this, I back
to the office and there sat alone a while doing business, and then by
a solemn invitation to the Trinity House, where a great dinner and
company, Captain Dobbin's feast for Elder Brother. But I broke up before
the dinner half over and by water to the Harp and Ball, and thence had
Mary meet me at the New Exchange, and there took coach and I with
great pleasure took the ayre to Highgate, and thence to Hampstead, much
pleased with her company, pretty and innocent, and had what pleasure
almost I would with her, and so at night, weary and sweaty, it being
very hot beyond bearing, we back again, and I set her down in St.
Martin's Lane, and so I to the evening 'Change, and there hear all the
towne full that Ostend is delivered to us, and that Alderman Backewell
[Among the State Papers is a letter from the king to the Lord
General (dated August 8th, 1665): "Alderman Backwell being in great
straits for the second payment he has to make for the service in
Flanders, as much tin is to be transmitted to him as will raise the
sum. Has authorized him and Sir George Carteret to treat with the
tin farmers for 500 tons of tin to be speedily transported under
good convoy; but if, on consulting with Alderman Backwell, this plan
of the tin seems insufficient, then without further difficulty he is
to dispose for that purpose of the L10,000 assigned for pay of the
Guards, not doubting that before that comes due, other ways will be
found for supplying it; the payment in Flanders is of such
importance that some means must be found of providing for it"
("Calendar," Domestic, 1664-65, pp. 508, 509)]
did go with L50,000 to that purpose. But the truth of it I do not know,
but something I believe there is extraordinary in his going. So to the
office, where I did what I could as to letters, and so away to bed,
shifting myself, and taking some Venice treakle, feeling myself out of
order, and thence to bed to sleep.
12th. After doing what business I could in the morning, it being a
solemn fast-day
["A form of Common Prayer; together with an order for fasting for
the averting of God's heavy visitation upon many places of this
realm. The fast to be observed within the cities of London and
Westminster and places adjacent, on Wednesday the twelfth of this
instant July, and both there and in all parts of this realm on the
first Wednesday in every month during the visitation" ("Calendar of
State Papers," Domestic, 1664-65, p. 466).]
for the plague growing upon us, I took boat and down to Deptford,
where I stood with great pleasure an houre or two by my Lady Sandwich's
bedside, talking to her (she lying prettily in bed) of my Lady Jemimah's
being from my Lady Pickering's when our letters come to that place; she
being at my Lord Montagu's, at Boughton. The truth is, I had received
letters of it two days ago, but had dropped them, and was in a very
extraordinary straite what to do for them, or what account to give my
Lady, but sent to every place; I sent to Moreclacke, where I had been
the night before, and there they were found, which with mighty joy come
safe to me; but all ending with satisfaction to my Lady and me, though I
find my Lady Carteret not much pleased with this delay, and principally
because of the plague, which renders it unsafe to stay long at Deptford.
I eat a bit (my Lady Carteret being the most kind lady in the world),
and so took boat, and a fresh boat at the Tower, and so up the river,
against tide all the way, I having lost it by staying prating to and
with my Lady, and, from before one, made it seven ere we got to Hampton
Court; and when I come there all business was over, saving my finding
Mr. Coventry at his chamber, and with him a good while about several
businesses at his chamber, and so took leave, and away to my boat, and
all night upon the water, staying a while with Nan at Moreclacke, very
much pleased and merry with her, and so on homeward, and come home by
two o'clock, shooting the bridge at that time of night, and so to bed,
where I find Will is not, he staying at Woolwich to come with my wife
to dinner tomorrow to my Lady Carteret's. Heard Mr. Williamson repeat at
Hampton Court to-day how the King of France hath lately set out a most
high arrest against the Pope, which is reckoned very lofty and high.
[Arret. The rupture between Alexander VII. and Louis XIV. was
healed in 1664, by the treaty signed at Pisa, on February 12th. On
August 9th, the pope's nephew, Cardinal Chigi, made his entry into
Paris, as legate, to give the king satisfaction for the insult
offered at Rome by the Corsican guard to the Duc de Crequi, the
French ambassador; (see January 25th, 1662-63). Cardinal Imperiali,
Governor of Rome, asked pardon of the king in person, and all the
hard conditions of the treaty were fulfilled. But no arret against
the pope was set forth in 1665. On the contrary, Alexander, now
wishing to please the king, issued a constitution on February 2nd,
1665, ordering all the clergy of France, without any exception, to
sign a formulary condemning the famous five propositions extracted
from the works of Jansenius; and on April 29th, the king in person
ordered the parliament to register the bull. The Jansenist party,
of course, demurred to this proceeding; the Bishops of Alais,
Angers, Beauvais, and Pamiers, issuing mandates calling upon their
clergy to refuse. It was against these mandates, as being contrary
to the king's declaration and the pope's intentions, that the arret
was directed.--B.]
13th. Lay long, being sleepy, and then up to the office, my Lord Brunker
(after his sickness) being come to the office, and did what business
there was, and so I by water, at night late, to Sir G. Carteret's, but
there being no oars to carry me, I was fain to call a skuller that had a
gentleman already in it, and he proved a man of love to musique, and he
and I sung together the way down with great pleasure, and an incident
extraordinary to be met with. There come to dinner, they haveing dined,
but my Lady caused something to be brought for me, and I dined well and
mighty merry, especially my Lady Slaning and I about eating of creame
and brown bread, which she loves as much as I. Thence after long
discourse with them and my Lady alone, I and [my] wife, who by agreement
met here, took leave, and I saw my wife a little way down (it troubling
me that this absence makes us a little strange instead of more fond),
and so parted, and I home to some letters, and then home to bed. Above
700 died of the plague this week.
14th. Up, and all the morning at the Exchequer endeavouring to strike
tallys for money for Tangier, and mightily vexed to see how people
attend there, some out of towne, and others drowsy, and to others it was
late, so that the King's business suffers ten times more than all
their service is worth. So I am put off to to-morrow. Thence to the
Old Exchange, by water, and there bespoke two fine shirts of my pretty
seamstress, who, she tells me, serves Jacke Fenn. Upon the 'Change all
the news is that guns have been heard and that news is come by a Dane
that my Lord was in view of De Ruyter, and that since his parting from
my Lord of Sandwich he hath heard guns, but little of it do I think
true. So home to dinner, where Povy by agreement, and after dinner we
to talk of our Tangier matters, about keeping our profit at the pay and
victualling of the garrison, if the present undertakers should leave it,
wherein I did [not] nor will do any thing unworthy me and any just man,
but they being resolved to quit it, it is fit I should suffer Mr. Povy
to do what he can with Mr. Gauden about it to our profit. Thence to the
discoursing of putting some sums of money in order and tallys, which
we did pretty well. So he in the evening gone, I by water to Sir G.
Carteret's, and there find my Lady Sandwich and her buying things for
my Lady Jem.'s wedding; and my Lady Jem. is beyond expectation come to
Dagenhams, where Mr. Carteret is to go to visit her to-morrow; and
my proposal of waiting on him, he being to go alone to all persons
strangers to him, was well accepted, and so I go with him. But, Lord!
to see how kind my Lady Carteret is to her! Sends her most rich jewells,
and provides bedding and things of all sorts most richly for her, which
makes my Lady and me out of our wits almost to see the kindnesse she
treats us all with, as if they would buy the young lady. Thence away
home and, foreseeing my being abroad two days, did sit up late making of
letters ready against tomorrow, and other things, and so to bed, to be
up betimes by the helpe of a larum watch, which by chance I borrowed of
my watchmaker to-day, while my owne is mending.
15th. Up, and after all business done, though late, I to Deptford, but
before I went out of the office saw there young Bagwell's wife returned,
but could not stay to speak to her, though I had a great mind to it, and
also another great lady, as to fine clothes, did attend there to have
a ticket signed; which I did do, taking her through the garden to my
office, where I signed it and had a salute--[kiss]--of her, and so I
away by boat to Redriffe, and thence walked, and after dinner, at Sir G.
Carteret's, where they stayed till almost three o'clock for me, and anon
took boat, Mr. Carteret and I to the ferry-place at Greenwich, and
there staid an hour crossing the water to and again to get our coach and
horses over; and by and by set out, and so toward Dagenhams. But, Lord!
what silly discourse we had by the way as to love-matters, he being the
most awkerd man I ever met with in my life as to that business. Thither
we come, by that time it begun to be dark, and were kindly received
by Lady Wright and my Lord Crew. And to discourse they went, my Lord
discoursing with him, asking of him questions of travell, which he
answered well enough in a few words; but nothing to the lady from him at
all. To supper, and after supper to talk again, he yet taking no notice
of the lady. My Lord would have had me have consented to leaving the
young people together to-night, to begin their amours, his staying being
but to be little. But I advised against it, lest the lady might be
too much surprised. So they led him up to his chamber, where I staid a
little, to know how he liked the lady, which he told me he did mightily;
but, Lord! in the dullest insipid manner that ever lover did. So I bid
him good night, and down to prayers with my Lord Crew's family, and
after prayers, my Lord, and Lady Wright, and I, to consult what to do;
and it was agreed at last to have them go to church together, as the
family used to do, though his lameness was a great objection against it.
But at last my Lady Jem. sent me word by my Lady Wright that it would
be better to do just as they used to do before his coming; and therefore
she desired to go to church, which was yielded then to.
16th (Lord's day). I up, having lain with Mr. Moore in the chaplin's
chamber. And having trimmed myself, down to Mr. Carteret; and he being
ready we down and walked in the gallery an hour or two, it being a most
noble and pretty house that ever, for the bigness, I saw. Here I taught
him what to do: to take the lady always by the hand to lead her, and
telling him that I would find opportunity to leave them two together, he
should make these and these compliments, and also take a time to do the
like to Lord Crew and Lady Wright. After I had instructed him, which he
thanked me for, owning that he needed my teaching him, my Lord Crew come
down and family, the young lady among the rest; and so by coaches to
church four miles off; where a pretty good sermon, and a declaration
of penitence of a man that had undergone the Churches censure for his
wicked life. Thence back again by coach, Mr. Carteret having not had the
confidence to take his lady once by the hand, coming or going, which
I told him of when we come home, and he will hereafter do it. So to
dinner. My Lord excellent discourse. Then to walk in the gallery, and to
sit down. By and by my Lady Wright and I go out (and then my Lord Crew,
he not by design), and lastly my Lady Crew come out, and left the young
people together. And a little pretty daughter of my Lady Wright's most
innocently come out afterward, and shut the door to, as if she had done
it, poor child, by inspiration; which made us without, have good sport
to laugh at. They together an hour, and by and by church-time, whither
he led her into the coach and into the church, and so at church all
the afternoon, several handsome ladies at church. But it was most
extraordinary hot that ever I knew it. So home again and to walk in
the gardens, where we left the young couple a second time; and my Lady
Wright and I to walk together, who to my trouble tells me that my Lady
Jem. must have something done to her body by Scott before she can be
married, and therefore care must be had to send him, also that some more
new clothes must of necessity be made her, which and other things I took
care of. Anon to supper, and excellent discourse and dispute between my
Lord Crew and the chaplin, who is a good scholler, but a nonconformist.
Here this evening I spoke with Mrs. Carter, my old acquaintance, that
hath lived with my Lady these twelve or thirteen years, the sum of all
whose discourse and others for her, is, that I would get her a good
husband; which I have promised, but know not when I shall perform. After
Mr. Carteret was carried to his chamber, we to prayers again and then to
bed.
17th. Up all of us, and to billiards; my Lady Wright, Mr. Carteret,
myself, and every body. By and by the young couple left together. Anon
to dinner; and after dinner Mr. Carteret took my advice about giving
to the servants, and I led him to give L10 among them, which he did, by
leaving it to the chief man-servant, Mr. Medows, to do for him. Before
we went, I took my Lady Jem. apart, and would know how she liked this
gentleman, and whether she was under any difficulty concerning him. She
blushed, and hid her face awhile; but at last I forced her to tell me.
She answered that she could readily obey what her father and mother had
done; which was all she could say, or I expect. So anon I took leave,
and for London. But, Lord! to see, among other things, how all these
great people here are afeard of London, being doubtfull of anything that
comes from thence, or that hath lately been there, that I was forced to
say that I lived wholly at Woolwich. In our way Mr. Carteret did give
me mighty thanks for my care and pains for him, and is mightily pleased,
though the truth is, my Lady Jem. hath carried herself with mighty
discretion and gravity, not being forward at all in any degree, but
mighty serious in her answers to him, as by what he says and I observed,
I collect. To London to my office, and there took letters from the
office, where all well, and so to the Bridge, and there he and I took
boat and to Deptford, where mighty welcome, and brought the good newes
of all being pleased to them. Mighty mirth at my giving them an account
of all; but the young man could not be got to say one word before me or
my Lady Sandwich of his adventures, but, by what he afterwards related
to his father and mother and sisters, he gives an account that pleases
them mightily. Here Sir G. Carteret would have me lie all night, which I
did most nobly, better than ever I did in my life, Sir G. Carteret being
mighty kind to me, leading me to my chamber; and all their care now is,
to have the business ended, and they have reason, because the sicknesse
puts all out of order, and they cannot safely stay where they are.
18th. Up and to the office, where all the morning, and so to my house
and eat a bit of victuals, and so to the 'Change, where a little
business and a very thin Exchange; and so walked through London to the
Temple, where I took water for Westminster to the Duke of Albemarle,
to wait on him, and so to Westminster Hall, and there paid for my
newes-books, and did give Mrs. Michell, who is going out of towne
because of the sicknesse, and her husband, a pint of wine, and so Sir
W. Warren coming to me by appointment we away by water home, by the way
discoursing about the project I have of getting some money and doing
the King good service too about the mast docke at Woolwich, which I fear
will never be done if I do not go about it. After dispatching letters at
the office, I by water down to Deptford, where I staid a little while,
and by water to my wife, whom I have not seen 6 or 5 days, and there
supped with her, and mighty pleasant, and saw with content her drawings,
and so to bed mighty merry. I was much troubled this day to hear at
Westminster how the officers do bury the dead in the open Tuttle-fields,
pretending want of room elsewhere; whereas the New Chappell churchyard
was walled-in at the publick charge in the last plague time, merely for
want of room and now none, but such as are able to pay dear for it, can
be buried there.
19th. Up and to the office, and thence presently to the Exchequer, and
there with much trouble got my tallys, and afterwards took Mr. Falconer,
Spicer, and another or two to the Leg and there give them a dinner, and
so with my tallys and about 30 dozen of bags, which it seems are my due,
having paid the fees as if I had received the money I away home, and
after a little stay down by water to Deptford, where I find all full of
joy, and preparing to go to Dagenhams to-morrow. To supper, and after
supper to talk without end. Very late I went away, it raining, but I had
a design 'pour aller a la femme de Bagwell' and did so.... So away about
12, and it raining hard I back to Sir G. Carteret and there called up
the page, and to bed there, being all in a most violent sweat.
20th. Up, in a boat among other people to the Tower, and there to the
office, where we sat all the morning. So down to Deptford and there
dined, and after dinner saw my Lady Sandwich and Mr. Carteret and his
two sisters over the water, going to Dagenhams, and my Lady Carteret
towards Cranburne.
[The royal lodge of that name in Windsor Forest, occupied by Sir
George Carteret as Vice-Chamberlain to the King.--B.]
So all the company broke up in most extraordinary joy, wherein I am
mighty contented that I have had the good fortune to be so instrumental,
and I think it will be of good use to me. So walked to Redriffe, where I
hear the sickness is, and indeed is scattered almost every where, there
dying 1089 of the plague this week. My Lady Carteret did this day give
me a bottle of plague-water home with me. So home to write letters
late, and then home to bed, where I have not lain these 3 or 4 nights. I
received yesterday a letter from my Lord Sandwich, giving me thanks for
my care about their marriage business, and desiring it to be dispatched,
that no disappointment may happen therein, which I will help on all I
can. This afternoon I waited on the Duke of Albemarle, and so to Mrs.
Croft's, where I found and saluted Mrs. Burrows, who is a very pretty
woman for a mother of so many children. But, Lord! to see how the plague
spreads. It being now all over King's Streete, at the Axe, and next door
to it, and in other places.
21st. Up and abroad to the goldsmiths, to see what money I could get
upon my present tallys upon the advance of the Excise, and I hope
I shall get L10,000. I went also and had them entered at the Excise
Office. Alderman Backewell is at sea. Sir R. Viner come to towne but
this morning. So Colvill was the only man I could yet speak withal to
get any money of. Met with Mr. Povy, and I with him and dined at
the Custom House Taverne, there to talk of our Tangier business, and
Stockedale and Hewet with us. So abroad to several places, among others
to Anthony Joyce's, and there broke to him my desire to have Pall
married to Harman, whose wife, poor woman, is lately dead, to my
trouble, I loving her very much, and he will consider it. So home and
late at my chamber, setting some papers in order; the plague growing
very raging, and my apprehensions of it great. So very late to bed.
22nd. As soon as up I among my goldsmiths, Sir Robert Viner and Colvill,
and there got L10,000 of my new tallys accepted, and so I made it my
work to find out Mr. Mervin and sent for others to come with their bills
of Exchange, as Captain Hewett, &c., and sent for Mr. Jackson, but he
was not in town. So all the morning at the office, and after dinner,
which was very late, I to Sir R. Viner's, by his invitation in the
morning, and got near L5000 more accepted, and so from this day the
whole, or near, L15,000, lies upon interest. Thence I by water to
Westminster, and the Duke of Albemarle being gone to dinner to my Lord
of Canterbury's, I thither, and there walked and viewed the new hall, a
new old-fashion hall as much as possible. Begun, and means left for the
ending of it, by Bishop Juxon. Not coming proper to speak with him, I to
Fox-hall, where to the Spring garden; but I do not see one guest there,
the town being so empty of any body to come thither. Only, while I was
there, a poor woman come to scold with the master of the house that a
kinswoman, I think, of hers, that was newly dead of the plague, might be
buried in the church-yard; for, for her part, she should not be buried
in the commons, as they said she should. Back to White Hall, and by and
by comes the Duke of Albemarle, and there, after a little discourse, I
by coach home, not meeting with but two coaches, and but two carts from
White Hall to my own house, that I could observe; and the streets mighty
thin of people. I met this noon with Dr. Burnett, who told me, and I
find in the newsbook this week that he posted upon the 'Change, that
whoever did spread the report that, instead of the plague, his servant
was by him killed, it was forgery, and shewed me the acknowledgment of
the master of the pest-house, that his servant died of a bubo on his
right groine, and two spots on his right thigh, which is the plague. To
my office, where late writing letters, and getting myself prepared with
business for Hampton Court to-morrow, and so having caused a good pullet
to be got for my supper, all alone, I very late to bed. All the news is
great: that we must of necessity fall out with France, for He will side
with the Dutch against us. That Alderman Backewell is gone over (which
indeed he is) with money, and that Ostend is in our present possession.
But it is strange to see how poor Alderman Backewell is like to be
put to it in his absence, Mr. Shaw his right hand being ill. And the
Alderman's absence gives doubts to people, and I perceive they are in
great straits for money, besides what Sir G. Carteret told me about
fourteen days ago. Our fleet under my Lord Sandwich being about the
latitude 55 (which is a great secret) to the Northward of the Texell.
So to bed very late. In my way I called upon Sir W. Turner, and at Mr.
Shelcrosse's (but he was not at home, having left his bill with Sir W.
Turner), that so I may prove I did what I could as soon as I had money
to answer all bills.
23rd (Lord's day). Up very betimes, called by Mr. Cutler, by
appointment, and with him in his coach and four horses over London
Bridge to Kingston, a very pleasant journey, and at Hampton Court by
nine o'clock, and in our way very good and various discourse, as he is
a man, that though I think he be a knave, as the world thinks him, yet
a man of great experience and worthy to be heard discourse. When we come
there, we to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and there discoursed long with
him, he and I alone, the others being gone away, and so walked together
through the garden to the house, where we parted, I observing with a
little trouble that he is too great now to expect too much familiarity
with, and I find he do not mind me as he used to do, but when I reflect
upon him and his business I cannot think much of it, for I do not
observe anything but the same great kindness from him. I followed the
King to chappell, and there hear a good sermon; and after sermon with
my Lord Arlington, Sir Thomas Ingram and others, spoke to the Duke
about Tangier, but not to much purpose. I was not invited any whither
to dinner, though a stranger, which did also trouble me; but yet I
must remember it is a Court, and indeed where most are strangers; but,
however, Cutler carried me to Mr. Marriott's the house-keeper, and there
we had a very good dinner and good company, among others Lilly, the
painter. Thence to the councill-chamber, where in a back room I sat all
the afternoon, but the councill begun late to sit, and spent most of
the time upon Morisco's Tarr businesse. They sat long, and I forced to
follow Sir Thomas Ingram, the Duke, and others, so that when I got free
and come to look for Cutler, he was gone with his coach, without leaving
any word with any body to tell me so; so that I was forced with great
trouble to walk up and down looking of him, and at last forced to get
a boat to carry me to Kingston, and there, after eating a bit at a neat
inne, which pleased me well, I took boat, and slept all the way, without
intermission, from thence to Queenhive, where, it being about two
o'clock, too late and too soon to go home to bed, I lay and slept till
about four,
24th. And then up and home, and there dressed myself, and by appointment
to Deptford, to Sir G. Carteret's, between six and seven o'clock, where
I found him and my Lady almost ready, and by and by went over to the
ferry, and took coach and six horses nobly for Dagenhams, himself and
lady and their little daughter, Louisonne, and myself in the coach;
where, when we come, we were bravely entertained and spent the day most
pleasantly with the young ladies, and I so merry as never more. Only
for want of sleep, and drinking of strong beer had a rheum in one of my
eyes, which troubled me much. Here with great content all the day, as I
think I ever passed a day in my life, because of the contentfulnesse of
our errand, and the noblenesse of the company and our manner of going.
But I find Mr. Carteret yet as backward almost in his caresses, as he
was the first day. At night, about seven o'clock, took coach again; but,
Lord! to see in what a pleasant humour Sir G. Carteret hath been both
coming and going; so light, so fond, so merry, so boyish (so much
content he takes in this business), it is one of the greatest wonders I
ever saw in my mind. But once in serious discourse he did say that,
if he knew his son to be a debauchee, as many and, most are now-a-days
about the Court, he would tell it, and my Lady Jem. should not have him;
and so enlarged both he and she about the baseness and looseness of the
Court, and told several stories of the Duke of Monmouth, and Richmond,
and some great person, my Lord of Ormond's second son, married to a lady
of extraordinary quality (fit and that might have been made a wife for
the King himself), about six months since, that this great person hath
given the pox to------; and discoursed how much this would oblige the
Kingdom if the King would banish some of these great persons publiquely
from the Court, and wished it with all their hearts. We set out so late
that it grew dark, so as we doubted the losing of our way; and a long
time it was, or seemed, before we could get to the water-side, and
that about eleven at night, where, when we come, all merry (only my eye
troubled me, as I said), we found no ferryboat was there, nor no oares
to carry us to Deptford. However, afterwards oares was called from the
other side at Greenwich; but, when it come, a frolique, being mighty
merry, took us, and there we would sleep all night in the coach in the
Isle of Doggs. So we did, there being now with us my Lady Scott, and
with great pleasure drew up the glasses, and slept till daylight, and
then some victuals and wine being brought us, we ate a bit, and so up
and took boat, merry as might be; and when come to Sir G. Carteret's,
there all to bed.
25th. Our good humour in every body continuing, and there I slept till
seven o'clock. Then up and to the office, well refreshed, my eye only
troubling me, which by keeping a little covered with my handkercher and
washing now and then with cold water grew better by night. At noon to
the 'Change, which was very thin, and thence homeward, and was called
in by Mr. Rawlinson, with whom I dined and some good company very
harmlessly merry. But sad the story of the plague in the City, it
growing mightily. This day my Lord Brunker did give me Mr. Grant's'
book upon the Bills of Mortality, new printed and enlarged. Thence to
my office awhile, full of business, and thence by coach to the Duke
of Albemarle's, not meeting one coach going nor coming from my house
thither and back again, which is very strange. One of my chief errands
was to speak to Sir W. Clerke about my wife's brother, who importunes
me, and I doubt he do want mightily, but I can do little for him there
as to employment in the army, and out of my purse I dare not for fear
of a precedent, and letting him come often to me is troublesome and
dangerous too, he living in the dangerous part of the town, but I will
do what I can possibly for him and as soon as I can. Mightily troubled
all this afternoon with masters coming to me about Bills of Exchange and
my signing them upon my Goldsmiths, but I did send for them all and hope
to ease myself this weeke of all the clamour. These two or three days
Mr. Shaw at Alderman Backewell's hath lain sick, like to die, and is
feared will not live a day to an end. At night home and to bed, my head
full of business, and among others, this day come a letter to me from
Paris from my Lord Hinchingbroke, about his coming over; and I have sent
this night an order from the Duke of Albemarle for a ship of 36 guns to
[go] to Calais to fetch him.
26th. Up, and after doing a little business, down to Deptford with Sir
W. Batten, and there left him, and I to Greenwich to the Park, where I
hear the King and Duke are come by water this morn from Hampton Court.
They asked me several questions. The King mightily pleased with his
new buildings there. I followed them to Castle's ship in building, and
there, met Sir W. Batten, and thence to Sir G. Carteret's, where all the
morning with them; they not having any but the Duke of Monmouth, and Sir
W. Killigrew, and one gentleman, and a page more. Great variety of
talk, and was often led to speak to the King and Duke. By and by they to
dinner, and all to dinner and sat down to the King saving myself, which,
though I could not in modesty expect, yet, God forgive my pride! I was
sorry I was there, that Sir W. Batten should say that he could sit down
where I could not, though he had twenty times more reason than I, but
this was my pride and folly. I down and walked with Mr. Castle, who told
me the design of Ford and Rider to oppose and do all the hurt they can
to Captain Taylor in his new ship "The London," and how it comes, and
that they are a couple of false persons, which I believe, and withal
that he himself is a knave too. He and I by and by to dinner mighty
nobly, and the King having dined, he come down, and I went in the barge
with him, I sitting at the door. Down to Woolwich (and there I just saw
and kissed my wife, and saw some of her painting, which is very curious;
and away again to the King) and back again with him in the barge,
hearing him and the Duke talk, and seeing and observing their manner of
discourse. And God forgive me! though I admire them with all the duty
possible, yet the more a man considers and observes them, the less he
finds of difference between them and other men, though (blessed be God!)
they are both princes of great nobleness and spirits. The barge put me
into another boat that come to our side, Mr. Holder with a bag of gold
to the Duke, and so they away and I home to the office. The Duke of
Monmouth is the most skittish leaping gallant that ever I saw, always
in action, vaulting or leaping, or clambering. Thence mighty full of
the honour of this day, I took coach and to Kate Joyce's, but she
not within, but spoke with Anthony, who tells me he likes well of my
proposal for Pall to Harman, but I fear that less than L500 will not be
taken, and that I shall not be able to give, though I did not say so to
him. After a little other discourse and the sad news of the death of
so many in the parish of the plague, forty last night, the bell always
going, I back to the Exchange, where I went up and sat talking with my
beauty, Mrs. Batelier, a great while, who is indeed one of the finest
women I ever saw in my life. After buying some small matter, I home, and
there to the office and saw Sir J. Minnes now come from Portsmouth, I
home to set my Journall for these four days in order, they being four
days of as great content and honour and pleasure to me as ever I hope to
live or desire, or think any body else can live. For methinks if a man
would but reflect upon this, and think that all these things are ordered
by God Almighty to make me contented, and even this very marriage now on
foot is one of the things intended to find me content in, in my life and
matter of mirth, methinks it should make one mightily more satisfied in
the world than he is. This day poor Robin Shaw at Backewell's died, and
Backewell himself now in Flanders. The King himself asked about Shaw,
and being told he was dead, said he was very sorry for it. The sicknesse
is got into our parish this week, and is got, indeed, every where;
so that I begin to think of setting things in order, which I pray God
enable me to put both as to soul and body.
27th. Called up at 4 o'clock. Up and to my preparing some papers for
Hampton Court, and so by water to Fox Hall, and there Mr. Gauden's coach
took me up, and by and by I took up him, and so both thither, a brave
morning to ride in and good discourse with him. Among others he begun
with me to speak of the Tangier Victuallers resigning their employment,
and his willingness to come on. Of which I was glad, and took the
opportunity to answer him with all kindness and promise of assistance.
He told me a while since my Lord Berkeley did speak of it to him, and
yesterday a message from Sir Thomas Ingram. When I come to Hampton Court
I find Sir T. Ingram and Creed ready with papers signed for the putting
of Mr. Gawden in, upon a resignation signed to by Lanyon and sent to Sir
Thos. Ingram. At this I was surprized but yet was glad, and so it passed
but with respect enough to those that are in, at least without any thing
ill taken from it. I got another order signed about the boats, which I
think I shall get something by. So dispatched all my business, having
assurance of continuance of all hearty love from Sir W. Coventry, and so
we staid and saw the King and Queene set out toward Salisbury, and after
them the Duke and Duchesse, whose hands I did kiss. And it was the first
time I did ever, or did see any body else, kiss her hand, and it was a
most fine white and fat hand. But it was pretty to see the young pretty
ladies dressed like men, in velvet coats, caps with ribbands, and with
laced bands, just like men. Only the Duchesse herself it did not become.
They gone, we with great content took coach again, and hungry come to
Clapham about one o'clock, and Creed there too before us, where a
good dinner, the house having dined, and so to walk up and down in
the gardens, mighty pleasant. By and by comes by promise to me Sir G.
Carteret, and viewed the house above and below, and sat and drank there,
and I had a little opportunity to kiss and spend some time with the
ladies above, his daughter, a buxom lass, and his sister Fissant,
a serious lady, and a little daughter of hers, that begins to sing
prettily. Thence, with mighty pleasure, with Sir G. Carteret by coach,
with great discourse of kindnesse with him to my Lord Sandwich, and
to me also; and I every day see more good by the alliance. Almost at
Deptford I 'light and walked over to Half-way House, and so home, in my
way being shown my cozen Patience's house, which seems, at distance, a
pretty house. At home met the weekly Bill, where above 1000 encreased in
the Bill, and of them, in all about 1,700 of the plague, which hath made
the officers this day resolve of sitting at Deptford, which puts me to
some consideration what to do. Therefore home to think and consider of
every thing about it, and without determining any thing eat a little
supper and to bed, full of the pleasure of these 6 or 7 last days.
28th. Up betimes, and down to Deptford, where, after a little discourse
with Sir G. Carteret, who is much displeased with the order of our
officers yesterday to remove the office to Deptford, pretending other
things, but to be sure it is with regard to his own house (which is
much because his family is going away). I am glad I was not at the order
making, and so I will endeavour to alter it. Set out with my Lady all
alone with her with six horses to Dagenhams; going by water to the
Ferry. And a pleasant going, and good discourse; and when there, very
merry, and the young couple now well acquainted. But, Lord! to see
in what fear all the people here do live would make one mad, they are
afeard of us that come to them, insomuch that I am troubled at it, and
wish myself away. But some cause they have; for the chaplin, with whom
but a week or two ago we were here mighty high disputing, is since
fallen into a fever and dead, being gone hence to a friend's a good
way off. A sober and a healthful man. These considerations make us all
hasten the marriage, and resolve it upon Monday next, which is three
days before we intended it. Mighty merry all of us, and in the evening
with full content took coach again and home by daylight with great
pleasure, and thence I down to Woolwich, where find my wife well, and
after drinking and talking a little we to bed.
29th. Up betimes, and after viewing some of my wife's pictures, which
now she is come to do very finely to my great satisfaction beyond what
I could ever look for, I went away and by water to the office, where
nobody to meet me, but busy all the morning. At noon to dinner, where I
hear that my Will is come in thither and laid down upon my bed, ill of
the headake, which put me into extraordinary fear; and I studied all I
could to get him out of the house, and set my people to work to do it
without discouraging him, and myself went forth to the Old Exchange
to pay my fair Batelier for some linnen, and took leave of her, they
breaking up shop for a while; and so by coach to Kate Joyce's, and there
used all the vehemence and rhetorique I could to get her husband to let
her go down to Brampton, but I could not prevail with him; he urging
some simple reasons, but most that of profit, minding the house, and the
distance, if either of them should be ill. However, I did my best, and
more than I had a mind to do, but that I saw him so resolved against it,
while she was mightily troubled at it. At last he yielded she should go
to Windsor, to some friends there. So I took my leave of them, believing
that it is great odds that we ever all see one another again; for I dare
not go any more to that end of the towne. So home, and to writing of
letters--hard, and then at night home, and fell to my Tangier papers
till late, and then to bed, in some ease of mind that Will is gone
to his lodging, and that he is likely to do well, it being only the
headake.
30th (Lord's day). Up, and in my night gowne, cap and neckcloth,
undressed all day long, lost not a minute, but in my chamber, setting
my Tangier accounts to rights. Which I did by night to my very heart's
content, not only that it is done, but I find every thing right, and
even beyond what, after so long neglecting them, I did hope for. The
Lord of Heaven be praised for it! Will was with me to-day, and is very
well again. It was a sad noise to hear our bell to toll and ring so
often to-day, either for deaths or burials; I think five or six times.
At night weary with my day's work, but full of joy at my having done
it, I to bed, being to rise betimes tomorrow to go to the wedding at
Dagenhams. So to bed, fearing I have got some cold sitting in my loose
garments all this day.
31st. Up, and very betimes by six o'clock at Deptford, and there find
Sir G. Carteret, and my Lady ready to go: I being in my new coloured
silk suit, and coat trimmed with gold buttons and gold broad lace round
my hands, very rich and fine. By water to the Ferry, where, when we
come, no coach there; and tide of ebb so far spent as the horse-boat
could not get off on the other side the river to bring away the coach.
So we were fain to stay there in the unlucky Isle of Doggs, in a chill
place, the morning cool, and wind fresh, above two if not three hours to
our great discontent. Yet being upon a pleasant errand, and seeing that
it could not be helped, we did bear it very patiently; and it was worth
my observing, I thought, as ever any thing, to see how upon these two
scores, Sir G. Carteret, the most passionate man in the world, and that
was in greatest haste to be gone, did bear with it, and very pleasant
all the while, at least not troubled much so as to fret and storm at it.
Anon the coach comes: in the mean time there coming a News thither
with his horse to go over, that told us he did come from Islington this
morning; and that Proctor the vintner of the Miter in Wood-street, and
his son, are dead this morning there, of the plague; he having laid out
abundance of money there, and was the greatest vintner for some time in
London for great entertainments. We, fearing the canonicall hour would
be past before we got thither, did with a great deal of unwillingness
send away the license and wedding ring. So that when we come, though we
drove hard with six horses, yet we found them gone from home; and going
towards the church, met them coming from church, which troubled us.
But, however, that trouble was soon over; hearing it was well done: they
being both in their old cloaths; my Lord Crew giving her, there being
three coach fulls of them. The young lady mighty sad, which troubled me;
but yet I think it was only her gravity in a little greater degree than
usual. All saluted her, but I did not till my Lady Sandwich did ask me
whether I had saluted her or no. So to dinner, and very merry we were;
but yet in such a sober way as never almost any wedding was in so great
families: but it was much better. After dinner company divided, some to
cards, others to talk. My Lady Sandwich and I up to settle accounts, and
pay her some money. And mighty kind she is to me, and would fain have
had me gone down for company with her to Hinchingbroke; but for my life
I cannot. At night to supper, and so to talk; and which, methought, was
the most extraordinary thing, all of us to prayers as usual, and the
young bride and bridegroom too and so after prayers, soberly to bed;
only I got into the bridegroom's chamber while he undressed himself,
and there was very merry, till he was called to the bride's chamber,
and into bed they went. I kissed the bride in bed, and so the curtaines
drawne with the greatest gravity that could be, and so good night. But
the modesty and gravity of this business was so decent, that it was to
me indeed ten times more delightfull than if it had been twenty times
more merry and joviall. Whereas I feared I must have sat up all night,
we did here all get good beds, and I lay in the same I did before with
Mr. Brisband, who is a good scholler and sober man; and we lay in bed,
getting him to give me an account of home, which is the most delightfull
talke a man can have of any traveller: and so to sleep. My eyes much
troubled already with the change of my drink. Thus I ended this month
with the greatest joy that ever I did any in my life, because I have
spent the greatest part of it with abundance of joy, and honour, and
pleasant journeys, and brave entertainments, and without cost of money;
and at last live to see the business ended with great content on all
sides. This evening with Mr. Brisband, speaking of enchantments and
spells; I telling him some of my charms; he told me this of his owne
knowledge, at Bourdeaux, in France. The words these:
Voyci un Corps mort,
Royde come un Baston,
Froid comme Marbre,
Leger come un esprit,
Levons to au nom de Jesus Christ.
He saw four little girles, very young ones, all kneeling, each of them,
upon one knee; and one begun the first line, whispering in the eare of
the next, and the second to the third, and the third to the fourth, and
she to the first. Then the first begun the second line, and so round
quite through, and, putting each one finger only to a boy that lay flat
upon his back on the ground, as if he was dead; at the end of the words,
they did with their four fingers raise this boy as high as they could
reach, and he [Mr. Brisband] being there, and wondering at it, as also
being afeard to see it, for they would have had him to have bore a part
in saying the words, in the roome of one of the little girles that was
so young that they could hardly make her learn to repeat the words, did,
for feare there might be some sleight used in it by the boy, or that the
boy might be light, call the cook of the house, a very lusty fellow, as
Sir G. Carteret's cook, who is very big, and they did raise him in just
the same manner. This is one of the strangest things I ever heard, but
he tells it me of his owne knowledge, and I do heartily believe it to
be true. I enquired of him whether they were Protestant or Catholique
girles; and he told me they were Protestant, which made it the more
strange to me. Thus we end this month, as I said, after the greatest
glut of content that ever I had; only under some difficulty because of
the plague, which grows mightily upon us, the last week being about 1700
or 1800 of the plague. My Lord Sandwich at sea with a fleet of about
100 sail, to the Northward, expecting De Ruyter, or the Dutch East India
fleet. My Lord Hinchingbroke coming over from France, and will meet his
sister at Scott's-hall. Myself having obliged both these families in
this business very much; as both my Lady, and Sir G. Carteret and his
Lady do confess exceedingly, and the latter do also now call me cozen,
which I am glad of. So God preserve us all friends long, and continue
health among us.