[Captain Jeremiah Smith (or Smyth), knighted June, 1665; Admiral of
the Blue in 1666. He succeeded Sir William Penn as Comptroller of
the Victualling Accounts in 1669, and held the office until 1675.]
to see me in his way to Court, and a good man he is, and one that I
must keep fair with, and will, it being I perceive my interest to have
kindnesse with the Commanders. So to the office, and there very busy
till about noon comes Sir W. Warren, and he goes and gets a bit of meat
ready at the King's Head for us, and I by and by thither, and we dined
together, and I am not pleased with him about a little business of
Tangier that I put to him to do for me, but however, the hurt is not
much, and his other matters of profit to me continue very likely to be
good. Here we spent till 2 o'clock, and so I set him on shore, and I by
water to the Duke of Albemarle, where I find him with Lord Craven and
Lieutenant of the Tower about him; among other things, talking of ships
to get of the King to fetch coles for the poore of the city, which is a
good worke. But, Lord! to hear the silly talke between these three great
people! Yet I have no reason to find fault, the Duke and Lord Craven
being my very great friends. Here did the business I come about, and so
back home by water, and there Cocke comes to me and tells me that he is
come to an understanding with Fisher, and that he must give him L100,
and that he shall have his goods in possession to-morrow, they being all
weighed to-day, which pleases me very well. This day the Duke tells me
that there is no news heard of the Dutch, what they do or where they
are, but believes that they are all gone home, for none of our spyes can
give us any tideings of them. Cocke is fain to keep these people, Fisher
and his fellow, company night and day to keep them friends almost and
great troubles withal. My head is full of settling the victualling
business also, that I may make some profit out of it, which I hope
justly to do to the King's advantage. To-night come Sir J. Bankes to me
upon my letter to discourse it with him, and he did give me the advice
I have taken almost as fully as if I had been directed by him what to
write. The business also of my Tangier accounts to be sent to Court is
upon my hands in great haste; besides, all my owne proper accounts
are in great disorder, having been neglected now above a month, which
grieves me, but it could not be settled sooner. These together and the
feare of the sicknesse and providing for my family do fill my head very
full, besides the infinite business of the office, and nobody here to
look after it but myself. So late from my office to my lodgings, and to
bed.
14th. Up, and to the office, where mighty busy, especially with Mr.
Gawden, with whom I shall, I think, have much to do, and by and by comes
the Lieutenant of the Tower by my invitation yesterday, but I had got
nothing for him, it is to discourse about the Cole shipps. So he went
away to Sheriffe Hooker's, and I staid at the office till he sent for me
at noon to dinner, I very hungry. When I come to the Sheriffe's he was
not there, nor in many other places, nor could find him at all, so was
forced to come to the office and get a bit of meat from the taverne, and
so to my business. By and by comes the Lieutenant and reproaches me with
my not treating him as I ought, but all in jest, he it seemed dined
with Mr. Adrian May. Very late writing letters at the office, and much
satisfied to hear from Captain Cocke that he had got possession of some
of his goods to his own house, and expected to have all to-night. The
towne, I hear, is full of talke that there are great differences in the
fleete among the great Commanders, and that Mings at Oxford did impeach
my Lord of something, I think about these goods, but this is but talke.
But my heart and head to-night is full of the Victualling business,
being overjoyed and proud at my success in my proposal about it, it
being read before the King, Duke, and the Caball with complete applause
and satisfaction. This Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry both writ me,
besides Sir W. Coventry's letter to the Duke of Albemarle, which I read
yesterday, and I hope to find my profit in it also. So late home to bed.
15th (Lord's day). Up, and while I staid for the barber, tried to
compose a duo of counterpoint, and I think it will do very well, it
being by Mr. Berckenshaw's rule. By and by by appointment comes Mr.
Povy's coach, and, more than I expected, him himself, to fetch me to
Brainford: so he and I immediately set out, having drunk a draft of
mulled sacke; and so rode most nobly, in his most pretty and best
contrived charriott in the world, with many new conveniences, his never
having till now, within a day or two, been yet finished; our discourse
upon Tangier business, want of money, and then of publique miscarriages,
nobody minding the publique, but every body himself and his lusts. Anon
we come to his house, and there I eat a bit, and so with fresh horses,
his noble fine horses, the best confessedly in England, the King having
none such, he sent me to Sir Robert Viner's, whom I met coming just from
church, and so after having spent half-an-hour almost looking upon
the horses with some gentlemen that were in company, he and I into
his garden to discourse of money, but none is to be had, he confessing
himself in great straits, and I believe it. Having this answer, and that
I could not get better, we fell to publique talke, and to think how the
fleete and seamen will be paid, which he protests he do not think it
possible to compass, as the world is now: no money got by trade, nor the
persons that have it by them in the City to be come at. The Parliament,
it seems, have voted the King L1,250,000 at L50,000 per month, tax for
the war; and voted to assist the King against the Dutch, and all that
shall adhere to them; and thanks to be given him for his care of the
Duke of Yorke, which last is a very popular vote on the Duke's behalf.
He tells me how the taxes of the last assessment, which should have been
in good part gathered, are not yet laid, and that even in part of the
City of London; and the Chimny-money comes almost to nothing, nor any
thing else looked after. Having done this I parted, my mind not eased by
any money, but only that I had done my part to the King's service. And
so in a very pleasant evening back to Mr. Povy's, and there supped, and
after supper to talke and to sing, his man Dutton's wife singing very
pleasantly (a mighty fat woman), and I wrote out one song from her and
pricked the tune, both very pretty. But I did never heare one sing with
so much pleasure to herself as this lady do, relishing it to her very
heart, which was mighty pleasant.
16th. Up about seven o'clock; and, after drinking, and I observing Mr.
Povy's being mightily mortifyed in his eating and drinking, and coaches
and horses, he desiring to sell his best, and every thing else, his
furniture of his house, he walked with me to Syon,
[Sion House, granted by Edward VI. to his uncle, the Duke of
Somerset. After his execution, 1552, it was forfeited, and given to
John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. The duke being beheaded in
1553, it reverted to the Crown, and was granted in 1604 to Henry
Percy, Earl of Northumberland. It still belongs to the Duke of
Northumberland.]
and there I took water, in our way he discoursing of the wantonnesse of
the Court, and how it minds nothing else, and I saying that that would
leave the King shortly if he did not leave it, he told me "No," for the
King do spend most of his time in feeling and kissing them naked... But
this lechery will never leave him. Here I took boat (leaving him there)
and down to the Tower, where I hear the Duke of Albemarle is, and I to
Lumbard Streete, but can get no money. So upon the Exchange, which is
very empty, God knows! and but mean people there. The newes for certain
that the Dutch are come with their fleete before Margett, and some men
were endeavouring to come on shore when the post come away, perhaps
to steal some sheep. But, Lord! how Colvill talks of the businesse of
publique revenue like a madman, and yet I doubt all true; that nobody
minds it, but that the King and Kingdom must speedily be undone, and
rails at my Lord about the prizes, but I think knows not my relation to
him. Here I endeavoured to satisfy all I could, people about Bills of
Exchange from Tangier, but it is only with good words, for money I have
not, nor can get. God knows what will become of all the King's matters
in a little time, for he runs in debt every day, and nothing to pay them
looked after. Thence I walked to the Tower; but, Lord! how empty the
streets are and melancholy, so many poor sick people in the streets
full of sores; and so many sad stories overheard as I walk, every body
talking of this dead, and that man sick, and so many in this place, and
so many in that. And they tell me that, in Westminster, there is never
a physician and but one apothecary left, all being dead; but that there
are great hopes of a great decrease this week: God send it! At the Tower
found my Lord Duke and Duchesse at dinner; so I sat down. And much good
cheer, the Lieutenant and his lady, and several officers with the Duke.
But, Lord! to hear the silly talk that was there, would make one mad;
the Duke having none almost but fools about him. Much of their talke
about the Dutch coming on shore, which they believe they may some of
them have been and steal sheep, and speak all in reproach of them in
whose hands the fleete is; but, Lord helpe him, there is something will
hinder him and all the world in going to sea, which is want of victuals;
for we have not wherewith to answer our service; and how much better it
would have been if the Duke's advice had been taken for the fleete
to have gone presently out; but, God helpe the King! while no better
counsels are given, and what is given no better taken. Thence after
dinner receiving many commands from the Duke, I to our office on the
Hill, and there did a little business and to Colvill's again, and so
took water at the Tower, and there met with Captain Cocke, and he down
with me to Greenwich, I having received letters from my Lord Sandwich
to-day, speaking very high about the prize goods, that he would have us
to fear nobody, but be very confident in what we have done, and not
to confess any fault or doubt of what he hath done; for the King hath
allowed it, and do now confirm it, and sent orders, as he says, for
nothing to be disturbed that his Lordshipp hath ordered therein as to
the division of the goods to the fleete; which do comfort us, but my
Lord writes to me that both he and I may hence learn by what we see in
this business. But that which pleases me best is that Cocke tells me
that he now understands that Fisher was set on in this business by the
design of some of the Duke of Albemarle's people, Warcupp and others,
who lent him money to set him out in it, and he has spent high. Who
now curse him for a rogue to take L100 when he might have had as well
L1,500, and they are mightily fallen out about it. Which in due time
shall be discovered, but that now that troubles me afresh is, after I
am got to the office at Greenwich that some new troubles are come, and
Captain Cocke's house is beset before and behind with guards, and more,
I do fear they may come to my office here to search for Cocke's goods
and find some small things of my clerk's. So I assisted them in helping
to remove their small trade, but by and by I am told that it is only
the Custome House men who came to seize the things that did lie at Mr.
Glanville's, for which they did never yet see our Transire, nor did
know of them till to-day. So that my fear is now over, for a transire
is ready for them. Cocke did get a great many of his goods to London
to-day. To the Still Yarde, which place, however, is now shut up of
the plague; but I was there, and we now make no bones of it. Much talke
there is of the Chancellor's speech and the King's at the Parliament's
meeting, which are very well liked; and that we shall certainly, by
their speeches, fall out with France at this time, together with the
Dutch, which will find us work. Late at the office entering my Journall
for 8 days past, the greatness of my business hindering me of late to
put it down daily, but I have done it now very true and particularly,
and hereafter will, I hope, be able to fall into my old way of doing it
daily. So to my lodging, and there had a good pullet to my supper, and
so to bed, it being very cold again, God be thanked for it!
17th. Up, and all day long busy at the office, mighty busy, only stepped
to my lodging and had a fowl for my dinner, and at night my wife and
Mercer comes to me, which troubled me a little because I am to be mighty
busy to-morrow all day seriously about my accounts. So late from my
office to her, and supped, and so to bed.
18th. Up, and after some pleasant discourse with my wife (though my
head full of business) I out and left her to go home, and myself to
the office, and thence by water to the Duke of Albemarle's, and so back
again and find my wife gone. So to my chamber at my lodgings, and to the
making of my accounts up of Tangier, which I did with great difficulty,
finding the difference between short and long reckonings where I
have had occasion to mix my moneys, as I have of late done my Tangier
treasure upon other occasions, and other moneys upon that. However,
I was at it late and did it pretty perfectly, and so, after eating
something, to bed, my mind eased of a great deal of figures and
castings.
19th. Up, and to my accounts again, and stated them very clear and fair,
and at noon dined at my lodgings with Mr. Hater and W. Hewer at table
with me, I being come to an agreement yesterday with my landlady for L6
per month, for so many rooms for myself, them, and my wife and mayde,
when she shall come, and to pay besides for my dyett. After dinner I did
give them my accounts and letters to write against I went to the Duke of
Albemarle's this evening, which I did; and among other things, spoke to
him for my wife's brother, Balty, to be of his guard, which he kindly
answered that he should. My business of the Victualling goes on as I
would have it; and now my head is full how to make some profit of it to
myself or people. To that end, when I came home, I wrote a letter to
Mr. Coventry, offering myself to be the Surveyor Generall, and am apt
to think he will assist me in it, but I do not set my heart much on it,
though it would be a good helpe. So back to my office, and there till
past one before I could get all these letters and papers copied out,
which vexed me, but so sent them away without hopes of saving the post,
and so to my lodging to bed.
20th. Up, and had my last night's letters brought back to me, which
troubles me, because of my accounts, lest they should be asked for
before they come, which I abhorr, being more ready to give than they can
be to demand them: so I sent away an expresse to Oxford with them, and
another to Portsmouth, with a copy of my letter to Mr. Coventry about
my victualling business, for fear he should be gone from Oxford, as he
intended, thither. So busy all the morning and at noon to Cocke, and
dined there. He and I alone, vexed that we are not rid of all our
trouble about our goods, but it is almost over, and in the afternoon
to my lodging, and there spent the whole afternoon and evening with Mr.
Hater, discoursing of the business of the office, where he tells me that
among others Thomas Willson do now and then seem to hint that I do take
too much business upon me, more than I can do, and that therefore some
do lie undone. This I confess to my trouble is true, but it arises from
my being forced to take so much on me, more than is my proper task to
undertake. But for this at last I did advise to him to take another
clerk if he thinks fit, I will take care to have him paid. I discoursed
also much with him about persons fit to be put into the victualling
business, and such as I could spare something out of their salaries for
them, but without trouble I cannot, I see, well do it, because Thomas
Willson must have the refusal of the best place which is London of L200
per annum, which I did intend for Tooker, and to get L50 out of it as
a help to Mr. Hater. How[ever], I will try to do something of this kind
for them. Having done discourse with him late, I to enter my Tangier
accounts fair, and so to supper and to bed.
21 st. Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning, and then with
my two clerks home to dinner, and so back again to the office, and there
very late very busy, and so home to supper and to bed.
22nd (Lord's day). Up, and after ready and going to Captain Cocke's,
where I find we are a little further safe in some part of our goods,
I to Church, in my way was meeting with some letters, which made me
resolve to go after church to my Lord Duke of Albemarle's, so, after
sermon, I took Cocke's chariott, and to Lambeth; but, in going and
getting over the water, and through White Hall, I spent so much time,
the Duke had almost dined. However, fresh meat was brought for me to his
table, and there I dined, and full of discourse and very kind. Here they
are again talking of the prizes, and my Lord Duke did speake very broad
that my Lord Sandwich and Pen should do what they would, and answer
for themselves. For his part, he would lay all before the King. Here he
tells me the Dutch Embassador at Oxford is clapped up, but since I hear
it is not true. Thence back again, it being evening before I could
get home, and there Cocke not being within, I and Mr. Salomon to Mr.
Glanville's, and there we found Cocke and sat and supped, and was mighty
merry with only Madam Penington, who is a fine, witty lady. Here we
spent the evening late with great mirth, and so home and to bed.
23rd. Up, and after doing some business I down by water, calling to see
my wife, with whom very merry for ten minutes, and so to Erith, where
my Lord Bruncker and I kept the office, and dispatched some business by
appointment on the Bezan. Among other things about the slopsellers, who
have trusted us so long, they are not able, nor can be expected to trust
us further, and I fear this winter the fleete will be undone by that
particular. Thence on board the East India ship, where my Lord Bruncker
had provided a great dinner, and thither comes by and by Sir John Minnes
and before him Sir W. Warren and anon a Perspective glasse maker, of
whom we, every one, bought a pocket glasse. But I am troubled with the
much talke and conceitedness of Mrs. Williams and her impudence, in
case she be not married to my Lord. They are getting themselves ready to
deliver the goods all out to the East India Company, who are to have
the goods in their possession and to advance two thirds of the moderate
value thereof and sell them as well as they can and the King to give
them 6 per cent. for the use of the money they shall so advance. By this
means the company will not suffer by the King's goods bringing down the
price of their own. Thence in the evening back again with Sir W. Warren
and Captain Taylor in my boat, and the latter went with me to the
office, and there he and I reckoned; and I perceive I shall get L100
profit by my services of late to him, which is a very good thing. Thence
to my lodging, where I find my Lord Rutherford, of which I was glad.
We supped together and sat up late, he being a mighty wanton man with
a daughter in law of my landlady's, a pretty conceited woman big with
child, and he would be handling her breasts, which she coyly refused.
But they gone, my Lord and I to business, and he would have me forbear
paying Alderman Backewell the money ordered him, which I, in hopes to
advantage myself, shall forbear, but do not think that my Lord will do
any thing gratefully more to me than he hath done, not that I shall get
any thing as I pretended by helping him to interest for his last L7700,
which I could do, and do him a courtesy too. Discourse being done, he to
bed in my chamber and I to another in the house.
24th. Lay long, having a cold. Then to my Lord and sent him going to
Oxford, and I to my office, whither comes Sir William Batten now newly
from Oxford. I can gather nothing from him about my Lord Sandwich about
the business of the prizes, he being close, but he shewed me a bill
which hath been read in the House making all breaking of bulke for
the time to come felony, but it is a foolish Act, and will do no great
matter, only is calculated to my Lord Sandwich's case. He shewed me
also a good letter printed from the Bishopp of Munster to the States of
Holland shewing the state of their case. Here we did some business and
so broke up and I to Cocke, where Mr. Evelyn was, to dinner, and there
merry, yet vexed again at publique matters, and to see how little heed
is had to the prisoners and sicke and wounded. Thence to my office, and
no sooner there but to my great surprise am told that my Lord Sandwich
is come to towne; so I presently to Boreman's, where he is and there
found him: he mighty kind to me, but no opportunity of discourse private
yet, which he tells me he must have with me; only his business is sudden
to go to the fleece, to get out a few ships to drive away the Dutch. I
left him in discourse with Sir W. Batten and others, and myself to the
office till about 10 at night and so, letters being done, I to him again
to Captain Cocke's, where he supped, and lies, and never saw him more
merry, and here is Charles Herbert, who the King hath lately knighted.
[This person, erroneously called by Pepys Sir C. Herbert, will be
best defined by subjoining the inscription on his monument in
Westminster Abbey: "Sir Charles Harbord, Knight, third son of Sir
Charles Harbord, Knight, Surveyor-General, and First Lieutenant of
the Royall James, under the most noble and illustrious Captaine,
Edward, Earle of Sandwich, Vice-Admirall of England, which, after a
terrible fight, maintained to admiration against a squadron of the
Holland fleet, above six hours, neere the Suffolk coast, having put
off two fireships; at last, being utterly disabled, and few of her
men remaining unhurt, was, by a third, unfortunately set on fire.
But he (though he swome well) neglected to save himselfe, as some
did, and out of perfect love to that worthy Lord, whom, for many
yeares, he had constantly accompanyed, in all his honourable
employments, and in all the engagements of the former warre, dyed
with him, at the age of xxxii., much bewailed by his father, whom he
never offended; and much beloved by all for his knowne piety,
vertue, loyalty, fortitude, and fidelity."--B.]
My Lord, to my great content, did tell me before them, that never
anything was read to the King and Council, all the chief Ministers of
State being there, as my letter about the Victualling was, and no more
said upon it than a most thorough consent to every word was said, and
directed, that it be pursued and practised. After much mirth, and
my Lord having travelled all night last night, he to bed, and we all
parted, I home.
25th. Up and to my Lord Sandwich's, where several Commanders, of whom I
took the state of all their ships, and of all could find not above four
capable of going out. The truth is, the want of victuals being the
whole overthrow of this yeare both at sea, and now at the Nore here and
Portsmouth, where all the fleete lies. By and by comes down my Lord, and
then he and I an houre together alone upon private discourse. He tells
me that Mr. Coventry and he are not reconciled, but declared enemies:
the only occasion of it being, he tells me, his ill usage from him about
the first fight, wherein he had no right done him, which, methinks, is a
poor occasion, for, in my conscience, that was no design of Coventry's.
But, however, when I asked my Lord whether it were not best, though
with some condescension, to be friends with him, he told me it was not
possible, and so I stopped. He tells me, as very private, that there
are great factions at the Court between the King's party and the Duke of
Yorke's, and that the King, which is a strange difficulty, do favour my
Lord in opposition to the Duke's party; that my Lord Chancellor, being,
to be sure, the patron of the Duke's, it is a mystery whence it should
be that Mr. Coventry is looked upon by him [Clarendon] as an enemy to
him; that if he had a mind himself to be out of this employment, as Mr.
Coventry, he believes, wishes, and himself and I do incline to wish it
also, in many respects, yet he believes he shall not be able, because of
the King, who will keepe him in on purpose, in opposition to the other
party; that Prince Rupert and he are all possible friends in the world;
that Coventry hath aggravated this business of the prizes, though never
so great plundering in the world as while the Duke and he were at sea;
and in Sir John Lawson's time he could take and pillage, and then sink
a whole ship in the Streights, and Coventry say nothing to it; that my
Lord Arlington is his fast friend; that the Chancellor is cold to him,
and though I told him that I and the world do take my Lord Chancellor,
in his speech the other day, to have said as much as could be wished,
yet he thinks he did not. That my Lord Chancellor do from hence begin to
be cold to him, because of his seeing him and Arlington so great:
that nothing at Court is minded but faction and pleasure, and nothing
intended of general good to the kingdom by anybody heartily; so that he
believes with me, in a little time confusion will certainly come over
all the nation. He told me how a design was carried on a while ago, for
the Duke of Yorke to raise an army in the North, and to be the Generall
of it, and all this without the knowledge or advice of the Duke of
Albemarle, which when he come to know, he was so vexed, they were fain
to let it fall to content him: that his matching with the family of Sir
G. Carteret do make the difference greater between Coventry and him,
they being enemies; that the Chancellor did, as every body else, speak
well of me the other day, but yet was, at the Committee for Tangier,
angry that I should offer to suffer a bill of exchange to be protested.
So my Lord did bid me take heed, for that I might easily suppose I
could not want enemies, no more than others. In all he speaks with the
greatest trust and love and confidence in what I say or do, that a man
can do. After this discourse ended we sat down to dinner and mighty
merry, among other things, at the Bill brought into the House to make
it felony to break bulke, which, as my Lord says well, will make that
no prizes shall be taken, or, if taken, shall be sunke after plundering;
and the Act for the method of gathering this last L1,250,000 now voted,
and how paid wherein are several strange imperfections. After dinner
my Lord by a ketch down to Erith, where the Bezan was, it blowing these
last two days and now both night and day very hard southwardly, so that
it has certainly drove the Dutch off the coast. My Lord being gone I
to the office, and there find Captain Ferrers, who tells me his wife is
come to town to see him, having not seen him since 15 weeks ago at his
first going to sea last. She is now at a Taverne and stays all night, so
I was obliged to give him my house and chamber to lie in, which he with
great modesty and after much force took, and so I got Mr. Evelyn's coach
to carry her thither, and the coach coming back, I with Mr. Evelyn to
Deptford, where a little while with him doing a little business, and so
in his coach back again to my lodgings, and there sat with Mrs. Ferrers
two hours, and with my little girle, Mistress Frances Tooker, and very
pleasant. Anon the Captain comes, and then to supper very merry, and so
I led them to bed. And so to bed myself, having seen my pretty little
girle home first at the next door.
26th. Up, and, leaving my guests to make themselves ready, I to the
office, and thither comes Sir Jer. Smith and Sir Christopher Mings to
see me, being just come from Portsmouth and going down to the Fleete.
Here I sat and talked with them a good while and then parted, only Sir
Christopher Mings and I together by water to the Tower; and I find him
a very witty well-spoken fellow, and mighty free to tell his parentage,
being a shoemaker's son, to whom he is now going, and I to the
'Change, where I hear how the French have taken two and sunk one of our
merchant-men in the Streights, and carried the ships to Toulon; so that
there is no expectation but we must fall out with them. The 'Change
pretty full, and the town begins to be lively again, though the streets
very empty, and most shops shut. So back again I and took boat and
called for Sir Christopher Mings at St. Katharine's, who was followed
with some ordinary friends, of which, he says, he is proud, and so down
to Greenwich, the wind furious high, and we with our sail up till I made
it be taken down. I took him, it being 3 o'clock, to my lodgings and did
give him a good dinner and so parted, he being pretty close to me as
to any business of the fleete, knowing me to be a servant of my Lord
Sandwich's. He gone I to the office till night, and then they come and
tell me my wife is come to towne, so I to her vexed at her coming,
but it was upon innocent business, so I was pleased and made her stay,
Captain Ferrers and his lady being yet there, and so I left them to
dance, and I to the office till past nine at night, and so to them and
there saw them dance very prettily, the Captain and his wife, my wife
and Mrs. Barbary, and Mercer and my landlady's daughter, and then little
Mistress Frances Tooker and her mother, a pretty woman come to see
my wife. Anon to supper, and then to dance again (Golding being our
fiddler, who plays very well and all tunes) till past twelve at night,
and then we broke up and every one to bed, we make shift for all our
company, Mrs. Tooker being gone.
27th. Up, and after some pleasant discourse with my wife, I out, leaving
her and Mrs. Ferrers there, and I to Captain Cocke's, there to do some
business, and then away with Cocke in his coach through Kent Streete,
a miserable, wretched, poor place, people sitting sicke and muffled up
with plasters at every 4 or 5 doors. So to the 'Change, and thence I by
water to the Duke of Albemarle's, and there much company, but I staid
and dined, and he makes mighty much of me; and here he tells us the
Dutch are gone, and have lost above 160 cables and anchors, through the
last foule weather. Here he proposed to me from Mr. Coventry, as I
had desired of Mr. Coventry, that I should be Surveyor-Generall of the
Victualling business, which I accepted. But, indeed, the terms in which
Mr. Coventry proposes it for me are the most obliging that ever I could
expect from any man, and more; it saying me to be the fittest man in
England, and that he is sure, if I will undertake, I will perform it;
and that it will be also a very desirable thing that I might have this
encouragement, my encouragement in the Navy alone being in no wise
proportionable to my pains or deserts. This, added to the letter I had
three days since from Mr. Southerne, signifying that the Duke of Yorke
had in his master's absence opened my letter, and commanded him to tell
me that he did approve of my being the Surveyor-General, do make me
joyful beyond myself that I cannot express it, to see that as I do take
pains, so God blesses me, and hath sent me masters that do observe that
I take pains. After having done here, I back by water and to London,
and there met with Captain Cocke's coach again, and I went in it to
Greenwich and thence sent my wife in it to Woolwich, and I to the
office, and thence home late with Captain Taylor, and he and I settled
all accounts between us, and I do find that I do get above L129 of him
for my services for him within these six months. At it till almost
one in the morning, and after supper he away and I to bed, mightily
satisfied in all this, and in a resolution I have taken to-night with
Mr. Hater to propose the port of London for the victualling business for
Thomas Willson, by which it will be better done and I at more ease, in
case he should grumble.
[The Duke of York's letter appointing Thomas Wilson Surveyor of the
Victualling of His Majesty's Navy in the Port of London, and
referring to Pepys as Surveyor-General of the Victualling Affairs,
is printed in "Memoirs of the English Affairs, chiefly Naval, 1660-
73," by James, Duke of York, 1729, p. 131.]
So to bed.
28th. Up, and sent for Thomas Willson, and broke the victualling
business to him and he is mightily contented, and so am I that I have
bestowed it on him, and so I to Mr. Boreman's, where Sir W. Batten is,
to tell him what I had proposed to Thomas Willson, and the newes also I
have this morning from Sir W. Clerke, which is, that notwithstanding
all the care the Duke of Albemarle hath taken about the putting the
East India prize goods into the East India Company's hands, and my Lord
Bruncker and Sir J. Minnes having laden out a great part of the goods,
an order is come from Court to stop all, and to have the goods delivered
to the Sub-Commissioners of prizes. At which I am glad, because it do
vex this simple weake man, and we shall have a little reparation for
the disgrace my Lord Sandwich has had in it. He tells me also that the
Parliament hath given the Duke of Yorke L120,000, to be paid him after
the L1,250,000 is gathered upon the tax which they have now given the
King.
[This sum was granted by the Commons to Charles, with a request that
he would bestow it on his brother.--B.]
He tells me that the Dutch have lately launched sixteen new ships; all
which is great news. Thence by horsebacke with Mr. Deane to Erith, and
so aboard my Lord Bruncker and dined, and very merry with him and good
discourse between them about ship building, and, after dinner and a
little pleasant discourse, we away and by horse back again to Greenwich,
and there I to the office very late, offering my persons for all the
victualling posts much to my satisfaction. Also much other business I
did to my mind, and so weary home to my lodging, and there after eating
and drinking a little I to bed. The King and Court, they say, have
now finally resolved to spend nothing upon clothes, but what is of the
growth of England; which, if observed, will be very pleasing to the
people, and very good for them.
29th (Lord's day). Up, and being ready set out with Captain Cocke in his
coach toward Erith, Mr. Deane riding along with us, where we dined and
were very merry. After dinner we fell to discourse about the Dutch,
Cocke undertaking to prove that they were able to wage warr with us
three years together, which, though it may be true, yet, not being
satisfied with his arguments, my Lord and I did oppose the strength of
his arguments, which brought us to a great heate, he being a conceited
man, but of no Logique in his head at all, which made my Lord and I
mirth. Anon we parted, and back again, we hardly having a word all the
way, he being so vexed at our not yielding to his persuasion. I was set
down at Woolwich towne end, and walked through the towne in the darke,
it being now night. But in the streete did overtake and almost run upon
two women crying and carrying a man's coffin between them. I suppose the
husband of one of them, which, methinks, is a sad thing. Being come to
Shelden's, I find my people in the darke in the dining room, merry and
laughing, and, I thought, sporting one with another, which, God helpe
me! raised my jealousy presently. Come in the darke, and one of them
touching me (which afterward I found was Susan) made them shreeke, and
so went out up stairs, leaving them to light a candle and to run out. I
went out and was very vexed till I found my wife was gone with Mr. Hill
and Mercer this day to see me at Greenwich, and these people were at
supper, and the candle on a sudden falling out of the candlesticke
(which I saw as I come through the yarde) and Mrs. Barbary being there
I was well at ease again, and so bethought myself what to do, whether
to go to Greenwich or stay there; at last go I would, and so with a
lanthorne, and 3 or 4 people with me, among others Mr. Browne, who was
there, would go, I walked with a lanthorne and discoursed with him about
paynting and the several sorts of it. I came in good time to Greenwich,
where I found Mr. Hill with my wife, and very glad I was to see him. To
supper and discourse of musique and so to bed, I lying with him talking
till midnight about Berckenshaw's musique rules, which I did to his
great satisfaction inform him in, and so to sleep.
30th. Up, and to my office about business. At noon to dinner, and after
some discourse of musique, he and I to the office awhile, and he to get
Mr. Coleman, if he can, against night. By and by I back again home, and
there find him returned with Mr. Coleman (his wife being ill) and Mr.
Laneare, with whom with their Lute we had excellent company and good
singing till midnight, and a good supper I did give them, but Coleman's
voice is quite spoiled, and when he begins to be drunk he is excellent
company, but afterward troublesome and impertinent. Laneare sings in a
melancholy method very well, and a sober man he seems to be. They being
gone, we to bed. Captain Ferrers coming this day from my Lord is forced
to lodge here, and I put him to Mr. Hill.
31st. Up, and to the office, Captain Ferrers going back betimes to my
Lord. I to the office, where Sir W. Batten met me, and did tell me
that Captain Cocke's black was dead of the plague, which I had heard of
before, but took no notice. By and by Captain Cocke come to the office,
and Sir W. Batten and I did send to him that he would either forbear the
office, or forbear going to his owne office. However, meeting yesterday
the Searchers with their rods in their hands coming from Captain Cocke's
house, I did overhear them say that the fellow did not die of the
plague, but he had I know been ill a good while, and I am told that his
boy Jack is also ill. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office
again, leaving Mr. Hill if he can to get Mrs. Coleman at night. About
nine at night I come home, and there find Mrs. Pierce come and little
Fran. Tooker, and Mr. Hill, and other people, a great many dancing, and
anon comes Mrs. Coleman with her husband and Laneare. The dancing ended
and to sing, which Mrs. Coleman do very finely, though her voice is
decayed as to strength but mighty sweet though soft, and a pleasant
jolly woman, and in mighty good humour was to-night. Among other things
Laneare did, at the request of Mr. Hill, bring two or three the finest
prints for my wife to see that ever I did see in all my life. But for
singing, among other things, we got Mrs. Coleman to sing part of the
Opera, though she won't owne that ever she did get any of it without
book in order to the stage; but, above all, her counterfeiting of
Captain Cooke's part, in his reproaching his man with cowardice, "Base
slave," &c., she do it most excellently. At it till past midnight, and
then broke up and to bed. Hill and I together again, and being very
sleepy we had little discourse as we had the other night. Thus we end
the month merrily; and the more for that, after some fears that the
plague would have increased again this week, I hear for certain that
there is above 400 [less], the whole number being 1,388, and of them
of the plague, 1,031. Want of money in the Navy puts everything out of
order. Men grow mutinous; and nobody here to mind the business of the
Navy but myself. At least Sir W. Batten for the few days he has been
here do nothing. I in great hopes of my place of Surveyor-Generall of
the Victualling, which will bring me L300 per annum.