[Pepys’s house was on the south side of King Street, Westminster;
it is singular that when he removed to a residence in the city, he
should have settled close to another Axe Yard. Fludyer Street
stands on the site of Axe Yard, which derived its name from a great
messuage or brewhouse on the west side of King Street, called “The
Axe,” and referred to in a document of the 23rd of Henry VIII--B.]
having my wife, and servant Jane, and no more in family than us three.
My wife.... gave me hopes of her being with child, but on the last day
of the year....[the hope was belied.]
[Ed. note:.... are used to denote censored passages]
The condition of the State was thus; viz. the Rump, after being
disturbed by my Lord Lambert,
[John Lambert, major-general in the Parliamentary army. The title
Lord was not his by right, but it was frequently given to the
republican officers. He was born in 1619, at Calton Hall, in the
parish of Kirkby-in-Malham-Dale, in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
In 1642 he was appointed captain of horse under Fairfax, and acted
as major-general to Cromwell in 1650 during the war in Scotland.
After this Parliament conferred on him a grant of lands in Scotland
worth L1000 per annum. He refused to take the oath of allegiance to
Cromwell, for which the Protector deprived him of his commission.
After Cromwell’s death he tried to set up a military government.
The Commons cashiered Lambert, Desborough, and other officers,
October 12th, 1659, but Lambert retaliated by thrusting out the
Commons, and set out to meet Monk. His men fell away from him, and
he was sent to the Tower, March 3rd, 1660, but escaped. In 1662 he
was tried on a charge of high treason and condemned, but his life
was spared. It is generally stated that he passed the remainder of
his life in the island of Guernsey, but this is proved to be
incorrect by a MS. in the Plymouth Athenaeum, entitled “Plimmouth
Memoirs collected by James Yonge, 1684” This will be seen from the
following extracts quoted by Mr. R. J. King, in “Notes and Queries,”
“1667 Lambert the arch-rebel brought to this island [St. Nicholas,
at the entrance of Plymouth harbour].” “1683 Easter day Lambert
that olde rebell dyed this winter on Plimmouth Island where he had
been prisoner 15 years and more.”]
was lately returned to sit again. The officers of the Army all forced to
yield. Lawson
[Sir John Lawson, the son of a poor man at Hull, entered the navy as
a common sailor, rose to the rank of admiral, and distinguished
himself during the Protectorate. Though a republican, he readily
closed with the design of restoring the King. He was vice-admiral
under the Earl of Sandwich, and commanded the “London” in the
squadron which conveyed Charles II. to England. He was mortally
wounded in the action with the Dutch off Harwich, June, 1665. He
must not be confounded with another John Lawson, the Royalist, of
Brough Hall, in Yorkshire, who was created a Baronet by Charles II,
July 6th, 1665.]
lies still in the river, and Monk--[George Monk, born 1608, created Duke
of Albemarle, 1660, married Ann Clarges, March, 1654, died January 3rd,
1676.]--is with his army in Scotland. Only my Lord Lambert is not yet
come into the Parliament, nor is it expected that he will without being
forced to it. The new Common Council of the City do speak very high; and
had sent to Monk their sword-bearer, to acquaint him with their desires
for a free and full Parliament, which is at present the desires, and the
hopes, and expectation of all. Twenty-two of the old secluded members
[“The City sent and invited him [Monk] to dine the next day at
Guildhall, and there he declared for the members whom the army had
forced away in year forty-seven and forty-eight, who were known by
the names of secluded members.”--Burnet’s Hist. of his Own Time,
book i.]
having been at the House-door the last week to demand entrance, but it
was denied them; and it is believed that [neither] they nor the people
will be satisfied till the House be filled. My own private condition
very handsome, and esteemed rich, but indeed very poor; besides my goods
of my house, and my office, which at present is somewhat uncertain. Mr.
Downing master of my office.
[George Downing was one of the Four Tellers of the Receipt of the
Exchequer, and in his office Pepys was a clerk. He was the son of
Emmanuel Downing of the Inner Temple, afterwards of Salem,
Massachusetts, and of Lucy, sister of Governor John Winthrop. He is
supposed to have been born in August, 1623. He and his parents went
to New England in 1638, and he was the second graduate of Harvard
College. He returned to England about 1645, and acted as Colonel
Okey’s chaplain before he entered into political life. Anthony a
Wood (who incorrectly describes him as the son of Dr. Calybute
Downing, vicar of Hackney) calls Downing a sider with all times and
changes: skilled in the common cant, and a preacher occasionally.
He was sent by Cromwell to Holland in 1657, as resident there. At
the Restoration, he espoused the King’s cause, and was knighted and
elected M.P. for Morpeth, in 1661. Afterwards, becoming
Secretary to the Treasury and Commissioner of the Customs, he was in
1663 created a Baronet of East Hatley, in Cambridgeshire, and was
again sent Ambassador to Holland. His grandson of the same name,
who died in 1749, was the founder of Downing College, Cambridge.
The title became extinct in 1764, upon the decease of Sir John
Gerrard Downing, the last heir-male of the family. Sir George
Downing’s character will be found in Lord Clarendon’s “Life,” vol.
iii. p. 4. Pepys’s opinion seems to be somewhat of a mixed kind.
He died in July, 1684.]
Jan. 1st (Lord’s day). This morning (we living lately in the garret,)
I rose, put on my suit with great skirts, having not lately worn any
other, clothes but them. Went to Mr. Gunning’s
[Peter Gunning, afterwards Master of St. John’s College, Cambridge,
and successively Bishop of Chichester and Ely. He had continued to
read the Liturgy at the chapel at Exeter House when the Parliament
was most predominant, for which Cromwell often rebuked him. Evelyn
relates that on Christmas Day, 1657, the chapel was surrounded with
soldiers, and the congregation taken prisoners, he and his wife
being among them. There are several notices of Dr. Gunning in
Evelyn’s Diary. When he obtained the mastership of St. John’s
College upon the ejection of Dr. Tuckney, he allowed that
Nonconformist divine a handsome annuity during his life. He was a
great controversialist, and a man of great reading. Burnet says he
“was a very honest sincere man, but of no sound judgment, and of no
prudence in affairs” (“Hist. of his Own. Time”). He died July 6th,
1684, aged seventy-one.]
chapel at Exeter House, where he made a very good sermon upon these
words:--“That in the fulness of time God sent his Son, made of a woman,”
&c.; showing, that, by “made under the law,” is meant his circumcision,
which is solemnized this day. Dined at home in the garret, where my wife
dressed the remains of a turkey, and in the doing of it she burned her
hand. I staid at home all the afternoon, looking over my accounts; then
went with my wife to my father’s, and in going observed the great posts
which the City have set up at the Conduit in Fleet-street. Supt at my
father’s, where in came Mrs. The. Turner--[Theophila Turner, daughter of
Sergeant John and Jane Turner, who married Sir Arthur Harris, Bart. She
died 1686.]--and Madam Morrice, and supt with us. After that my wife and
I went home with them, and so to our own home.
2nd. In the morning before I went forth old East brought me a dozen of
bottles of sack, and I gave him a shilling for his pains. Then I went to
Mr. Sheply,--[Shepley was a servant of Admiral Sir Edward Montagu]--who
was drawing of sack in the wine cellar to send to other places as a gift
from my Lord, and told me that my Lord had given him order to give me
the dozen of bottles. Thence I went to the Temple to speak with Mr.
Calthropp about the L60 due to my Lord,
[Sir Edward Montagu, born 1625, son of Sir Sidney Montagu, by
Paulina, daughter of John Pepys of Cottenham, married Jemima,
daughter of John Crew of Stene. He died in action against the Dutch
in Southwold Bay, May 28th, 1672. The title of “My Lord” here
applied to Montagu before he was created Earl of Sandwich is of the
same character as that given to General Lambert.]
but missed of him, he being abroad. Then I went to Mr. Crew’s
[John Crew, born 1598, eldest son of Sir Thomas Crew, Sergeant-at-
Law and Speaker of the House of Commons. He sat for Brackley in the
Long Parliament. Created Baron Crew of Stene, in the county of
Northampton, at the coronation of Charles II. He married Jemima,
daughter and co-heir of Edward Walgrave (or Waldegrave) of Lawford,
Essex. His house was in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. He died December
12th, 1679.]
and borrowed L10 of Mr. Andrewes for my own use, and so went to my
office, where there was nothing to do. Then I walked a great while in
Westminster Hall, where I heard that Lambert was coming up to London;
that my Lord Fairfax
[Thomas, Lord Fairfax, Generalissimo of the Parliament forces.
After the Restoration, he retired to his country seat, where he
lived in private till his death, 1671. In a volume (autograph) of
Lord Fairfax’s Poems, preserved in the British Museum, 11744, f. 42,
the following lines occur upon the 30th of January, on which day the
King was beheaded. It is believed that they have never been
printed.
“O let that day from time be bloted quitt,
And beleef of ‘t in next age be waved,
In depest silence that act concealed might,
That so the creadet of our nation might be saved;
But if the powre devine hath ordered this,
His will’s the law, and our must aquiess.”
These wretched verses have obviously no merit; but they are curious
as showing that Fairfax, who had refused to act as one of Charles
I’s judges; continued long afterwards to entertain a proper horror
for that unfortunate monarch’s fate. It has recently been pointed
out to me, that the lines were not originally composed by Fairfax,
being only a poor translation of the spirited lines of Statius
(Sylvarum lib. v. cap. ii. l. 88)
“Excidat illa dies aevo, ne postera credant
Secula, nos certe taceamus; et obruta multa
Nocte tegi propria patiamur crimina gentis.”
These verses were first applied by the President de Thou to the
massacre of St. Bartholomew, 1572; and in our day, by Mr. Pitt, in
his memorable speech in the House of Commons, January, 1793, after
the murder of Louis XVI.--B.]
was in the head of the Irish brigade, but it was not certain what he
would declare for. The House was to-day upon finishing the act for the
Council of State, which they did; and for the indemnity to the soldiers;
and were to sit again thereupon in the afternoon. Great talk that many
places have declared for a free Parliament; and it is believed that they
will be forced to fill up the House with the old members. From the Hall
I called at home, and so went to Mr. Crew’s (my wife she was to go to
her father’s), thinking to have dined, but I came too late, so Mr. Moore
and I and another gentleman went out and drank a cup of ale together
in the new market, and there I eat some bread and cheese for my dinner.
After that Mr. Moore and I went as far as Fleet-street together and
parted, he going into the City, I to find Mr. Calthrop, but failed again
of finding him, so returned to Mr. Crew’s again, and from thence went
along with Mrs. Jemimah
[Mrs. Jemimah, or Mrs. Jem, was Jemima, eldest daughter of Sir
Edward Montagu. At this time she and her sister, Mrs. Ann, seem to
have been living alone with their maids in London, and Pepys’s duty
was to look after them.]
home, and there she taught me how to play at cribbage. Then I went home,
and finding my wife gone to see Mrs. Hunt, I went to Will’s,
[Pepys constantly visited “Will’s” about this time; but this could
not be the famous coffee-house in Covent Garden, because he mentions
visiting there for the first time, February 3rd, 1663-64. It was
most probably the house of William Joyce, who kept a place of
entertainment at Westminster (see Jan. 29th).]
and there sat with Mr. Ashwell talking and singing till nine o’clock,
and so home, there, having not eaten anything but bread and cheese, my
wife cut me a slice of brawn which. I received from my Lady;--[Jemima,
wife of Sir Edward Montagu, daughter of John Crew of Stene, afterwards
Lord Crew.]--which proves as good as ever I had any. So to bed, and my
wife had a very bad night of it through wind and cold.
3rd. I went out in the morning, it being a great frost, and walked to
Mrs. Turner’s
[Jane, daughter of John Pepys of South Creake, Norfolk, married to
John Turner, Sergeant-at-law, Recorder of York; their only child,
Theophila, frequently mentioned as The. or Theoph., became the wife
of Sir Arthur Harris, Bart., of Stowford, Devon, and died 1686,
s.p.]
to stop her from coming to see me to-day, because of Mrs. Jem’s corning,
thence I went to the Temple to speak with Mr. Calthrop, and walked in
his chamber an hour, but could not see him, so went to Westminster,
where I found soldiers in my office to receive money, and paid it them.
At noon went home, where Mrs. Jem, her maid, Mr. Sheply, Hawly, and
Moore dined with me on a piece of beef and cabbage, and a collar of
brawn. We then fell to cards till dark, and then I went home with Mrs.
Jem, and meeting Mr. Hawly got him to bear me company to Chancery Lane,
where I spoke with Mr. Calthrop, he told me that Sir James Calthrop was
lately dead, but that he would write to his Lady, that the money may be
speedily paid. Thence back to White Hall, where I understood that the
Parliament had passed the act for indemnity to the soldiers and officers
that would come in, in so many days, and that my Lord Lambert should
have benefit of the said act. They had also voted that all vacancies in
the House, by the death of any of the old members, shall be filled up;
but those that are living shall not be called in. Thence I went home,
and there found Mr. Hunt and his wife, and Mr. Hawly, who sat with me
till ten at night at cards, and so broke up and to bed.
4th. Early came Mr. Vanly--[Mr Vanley appears to have been Pepys’s
landlord; he is mentioned again in the Diary on September 20th,
1660.]--to me for his half-year’s rent, which I had not in the house,
but took his man to the office and there paid him. Then I went down
into the Hall and to Will’s, where Hawly brought a piece of his Cheshire
cheese, and we were merry with it. Then into the Hall again, where I met
with the Clerk and Quarter Master of my Lord’s troop, and took them to
the Swan’ and gave them their morning’s draft,
[It was not usual at this time to sit down to breakfast, but instead
a morning draught was taken at a tavern.]
they being just come to town. Mr. Jenkins shewed me two bills of
exchange for money to receive upon my Lord’s and my pay. It snowed hard
all this morning, and was very cold, and my nose was much swelled with
cold. Strange the difference of men’s talk! Some say that Lambert must
of necessity yield up; others, that he is very strong, and that the
Fifth-monarchy-men [will] stick to him, if he declares for a free
Parliament. Chillington was sent yesterday to him with the vote of
pardon and indemnity from the Parliament. From the Hall I came home,
where I found letters from Hinchinbroke
[Hinchinbroke was Sir Edward Montagu’s seat, from which he
afterwards took his second title. Hinchinbroke House, so often
mentioned in the Diary, stood about half a mile to the westward of
the town of Huntingdon. It was erected late in the reign of
Elizabeth, by Sir Henry Cromwell, on the site of a Benedictine
nunnery, granted at the Dissolution, with all its appurtenances, to
his father, Richard Williams, who had assumed the name of Cromwell,
and whose grandson, Sir Oliver, was the uncle and godfather of the
Protector. The knight, who was renowned for, his hospitality, had
the honour of entertaining King James at Hinchinbroke, but, getting
into pecuniary difficulties, was obliged to sell his estates, which
were conveyed, July 28th, 1627, to Sir Sidney Montagu of Barnwell,
father of the first Earl of Sandwich, in whose descendant they are
still vested. On the morning of the 22nd January, 1830, during the
minority of the seventh Earl, Hinchinbroke was almost entirely
destroyed by fire, but the pictures and furniture were mostly saved,
and the house has been rebuilt in the Elizabethan style, and the
interior greatly improved, under the direction of Edward Blore,
Esq., R.A.--B.]
and news of Mr. Sheply’s going thither the next week. I dined at home,
and from thence went to Will’s to Shaw, who promised me to go along with
me to Atkinson’s about some money, but I found him at cards with Spicer
and D. Vines, and could not get him along with me. I was vext at this,
and went and walked in the Hall, where I heard that the Parliament spent
this day in fasting and prayer; and in the afternoon came letters from
the North, that brought certain news that my Lord Lambent his forces
were all forsaking him, and that he was left with only fifty horse, and
that he did now declare for the Parliament himself; and that my Lord
Fairfax did also rest satisfied, and had laid down his arms, and that
what he had done was only to secure the country against my Lord Lambert
his raising of money, and free quarter. I went to Will’s again, where
I found them still at cards, and Spicer had won 14s. of Shaw and Vines.
Then I spent a little time with G. Vines and Maylard at Vines’s at our
viols.
[It was usual to have a “chest of viols,” which consisted of six,
viz., two trebles, two tenors, and two basses (see note in North’s
“Memoirs of Musick,” ed. Rimbault, p. 70). The bass viol was also
called the ‘viola da gamba’, because it was held between the legs.]
So home, and from thence to Mr. Hunt’s, and sat with them and Mr. Hawly
at cards till ten at night, and was much made of by them. Home and so to
bed, but much troubled with my nose, which was much swelled.
5th. I went to my office, where the money was again expected from
the Excise office, but none brought, but was promised to be sent this
afternoon. I dined with Mr. Sheply, at my Lord’s lodgings, upon his
turkey-pie. And so to my office again; where the Excise money was
brought, and some of it told to soldiers till it was dark. Then I went
home, and after writing a letter to my Lord and told him the news
that the Parliament hath this night voted that the members that were
discharged from sitting in the years 1648 and 49, were duly discharged;
and that there should be writs issued presently for the calling of
others in their places, and that Monk and Fairfax were commanded up to
town, and that the Prince’s lodgings were to be provided for Monk at
Whitehall. Then my wife and I, it being a great frost, went to Mrs.
Jem’s, in expectation to eat a sack-posset, but Mr. Edward--[Edward
Montage, son of Sir Edward, and afterwards Lord Hinchinbroke.]--not
coming it was put off; and so I left my wife playing at cards with her,
and went myself with my lanthorn to Mr. Fage, to consult concerning
my nose, who told me it was nothing but cold, and after that we did
discourse concerning public business; and he told me it is true the City
had not time enough to do much, but they are resolved to shake off the
soldiers; and that unless there be a free Parliament chosen, he did
believe there are half the Common Council will not levy any money by
order of this Parliament. From thence I went to my father’s, where I
found Mrs. Ramsey and her grandchild, a pretty girl, and staid a while
and talked with them and my mother, and then took my leave, only
heard of an invitation to go to dinner to-morrow to my cosen Thomas
Pepys.--[Thomas Pepys, probably the son of Thomas Pepys of London (born,
1595), brother of Samuel’s father, John Pepys.]--I went back to Mrs.
Jem, and took my wife and Mrs. Sheply, and went home.
6th. This morning Mr. Sheply and I did eat our breakfast at Mrs.
Harper’s, (my brother John’ being with me,)
[John Pepys was born in 1641, and his brother Samuel took great
interest in his welfare, but he did not do any great credit to his
elder.]
upon a cold turkey-pie and a goose. From thence I went to my office,
where we paid money to the soldiers till one o’clock, at which time
we made an end, and I went home and took my wife and went to my cosen,
Thomas Pepys, and found them just sat down to dinner, which was very
good; only the venison pasty was palpable beef, which was not
handsome. After dinner I took my leave, leaving my wife with my cozen
Stradwick,--[Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Pepys, Lord Chief Justice of
Ireland, and wife of Thomas Stradwick.]--and went to Westminster to Mr.
Vines, where George and I fiddled a good while, Dick and his wife (who
was lately brought to bed) and her sister being there, but Mr. Hudson
not coming according to his promise, I went away, and calling at my
house on the wench, I took her and the lanthorn with me to my cosen
Stradwick, where, after a good supper, there being there my father,
mother, brothers, and sister, my cosen Scott and his wife, Mr. Drawwater
and his wife, and her brother, Mr. Stradwick, we had a brave cake
brought us, and in the choosing, Pall was Queen and Mr. Stradwick was
King. After that my wife and I bid adieu and came home, it being still a
great frost.
7th. At my office as I was receiving money of the probate of wills, in
came Mrs. Turner, Theoph., Madame Morrice, and Joyce, and after I had
done I took them home to my house and Mr. Hawly came after, and I got a
dish of steaks and a rabbit for them, while they were playing a game or
two at cards. In the middle of our dinner a messenger from Mr. Downing
came to fetch me to him, so leaving Mr. Hawly there, I went and was
forced to stay till night in expectation of the French Embassador, who
at last came, and I had a great deal of good discourse with one of his
gentlemen concerning the reason of the difference between the zeal of
the French and the Spaniard. After he was gone I went home, and found
my friends still at cards, and after that I went along with them to Dr.
Whores (sending my wife to Mrs. Jem’s to a sack-posset), where I
heard some symphony and songs of his own making, performed by Mr. May,
Harding, and Mallard. Afterwards I put my friends into a coach, and went
to Mrs. Jem’s, where I wrote a letter to my Lord by the post, and had my
part of the posset which was saved for me, and so we went home, and put
in at my Lord’s lodgings, where we staid late, eating of part of his
turkey-pie, and reading of Quarles’ Emblems. So home and to bed.
8th (Sunday). In the morning I went to Mr. Gunning’s, where a good
sermon, wherein he showed the life of Christ, and told us good authority
for us to believe that Christ did follow his father’s trade, and was
a carpenter till thirty years of age. From thence to my father’s to
dinner, where I found my wife, who was forced to dine there, we not
having one coal of fire in the house, and it being very hard frosty
weather. In the afternoon my father, he going to a man’s to demand some
money due to my Aunt Bells my wife and I went to Mr. Mossum’s, where a
strange doctor made a very good sermon. From thence sending my wife to
my father’s, I went to Mrs. Turner’s, and staid a little while, and then
to my father’s, where I found Mr. Sheply, and after supper went home
together. Here I heard of the death of Mr. Palmer, and that he was to be
buried at Westminster tomorrow.
9th. For these two or three days I have been much troubled with thoughts
how to get money to pay them that I have borrowed money of, by reason
of my money being in my uncle’s hands. I rose early this morning, and
looked over and corrected my brother John’s speech, which he is to make
the next apposition,--[Declamations at St. Paul’s School, in which
there were opponents and respondents.]--and after that I went towards my
office, and in my way met with W. Simons, Muddiman, and Jack Price, and
went with them to Harper’s and in many sorts of talk I staid till two
of the clock in the afternoon. I found Muddiman a good scholar, an arch
rogue; and owns that though he writes new books for the Parliament,
yet he did declare that he did it only to get money; and did talk very
basely of many of them. Among other things, W. Simons told me how his
uncle Scobel was on Saturday last called to the bar, for entering in
the journal of the House, for the year 1653, these words: “This day his
Excellence the Lord General Cromwell dissolved this House;” which words
the Parliament voted a forgery, and demanded of him how they came to be
entered. He answered that they were his own handwriting, and that he
did it by virtue of his office, and the practice of his predecessor; and
that the intent of the practice was to--let posterity know how such and
such a Parliament was dissolved, whether by the command of the King, or
by their own neglect, as the last House of Lords was; and that to this
end, he had said and writ that it was dissolved by his Excellence the
Lord G[eneral]; and that for the word dissolved, he never at the time
did hear of any other term; and desired pardon if he would not dare
to make a word himself when it was six years after, before they came
themselves to call it an interruption; but they were so little satisfied
with this answer, that they did chuse a committee to report to the
House, whether this crime of Mr. Scobell’s did come within the act of
indemnity or no. Thence I went with Muddiman to the Coffee-House, and
gave 18d. to be entered of the Club. Thence into the Hall, where I
heard for certain that Monk was coming to London, and that Bradshaw’s 2
lodgings were preparing for him. Thence to Mrs. Jem’s, and found her in
bed, and she was afraid that it would prove the small-pox. Thence back
to Westminster Hall, where I heard how Sir H. Vane--[Sir Harry Vane the
younger, an inflexible republican. He was executed in 1662, on a charge
of conspiring the death of Charles I.]--was this day voted out of the
House, and to sit no more there; and that he would retire himself to his
house at Raby, as also all the rest of the nine officers that had their
commissions formerly taken away from them, were commanded to their
farthest houses from London during the pleasure of the Parliament. Here
I met with the Quarter Master of my Lord’s troop, and his clerk Mr.
Jenings, and took them home, and gave them a bottle of wine, and the
remainder of my collar of brawn; and so good night. After that came in
Mr. Hawly, who told me that I was mist this day at my office, and that
to-morrow I must pay all the money that I have, at which I was put to a
great loss how I should get money to make up my cash, and so went to bed
in great trouble.
10th. Went out early, and in my way met with Greatorex,--[Ralph
Greatorex, the well-known mathematical instrument maker of his day. He
is frequently mentioned by Pepys.]--and at an alehouse he showed me the
first sphere of wire that ever he made, and indeed it was very pleasant;
thence to Mr. Crew’s, and borrowed L10, and so to my office, and was
able to pay my money. Thence into the Hall, and meeting the Quarter
Master, Jenings, and Captain Rider, we four went to a cook’s to dinner.
Thence Jenings and I into London (it being through heat of the sun a
great thaw and dirty) to show our bills of return, and coming back drank
a pint of wine at the Star in Cheapside. So to Westminster, overtaking
Captain Okeshott in his silk cloak, whose sword got hold of many people
in walking. Thence to the Coffee-house, where were a great confluence of
gentlemen; viz. Mr. Harrington, Poultny, chairman, Gold, Dr. Petty; &c.,
where admirable discourse till at night. Thence with Doling to Mother
Lams, who told me how this day Scott
[Thomas Scott, M.P., was made Secretary of State to the Commonwealth
on the 17th of this same January. He signed the death warrant of
Charles I., for which he was executed at Charing Cross, October
16th, 1660. He gloried in his offence, and desired to have written
on his tombstone, “Thomas Scott who adjudged to death the late
king.”]
was made Intelligencer, and that the rest of the members that were
objected against last night, their business was to be heard this day
se’nnight. Thence I went home and wrote a letter, and went to Harper’s,
and staid there till Tom carried it to the postboy at Whitehall. So home
to bed.
11th. Being at Will’s with Captain Barker, who hath paid me L300 this
morning at my office, in comes my father, and with him I walked, and
leave him at W. Joyce’s, and went myself to Mr. Crew’s, but came too
late to dine, and therefore after a game at shittle-cocks--[The game
of battledore and shuttlecock was formerly much played even in tennis
courts, and was a very violent game.]--with Mr. Walgrave and Mr. Edward,
I returned to my father, and taking him from W. Joyce’s, who was not
abroad himself, we inquired of a porter, and by his direction went to an
alehouse, where after a cup or two we parted. I went towards London, and
in my way went in to see Crowly, who was now grown a very great loon and
very tame. Thence to Mr. Steven’s with a pair of silver snuffers, and
bought a pair of shears to cut silver, and so homeward again. From home
I went to see Mrs. Jem, who was in bed, and now granted to have the
small-pox. Back again, and went to the Coffee-house, but tarried not,
and so home.
12th. I drink my morning at Harper’s with Mr. Sheply and a seaman, and
so to my office, where Captain Holland came to see me, and appointed a
meeting in the afternoon. Then wrote letters to Hinchinbroke and sealed
them at Will’s, and after that went home, and thence to the Half Moon,
where I found the Captain and Mr. Billingsly and Newman, a barber, where
we were very merry, and had the young man that plays so well on the
Welsh harp. Billingsly paid for all. Thence home, and finding my letters
this day not gone by the carrier I new sealed them, but my brother Tom
coming we fell into discourse about my intention to feast the Joyces.
I sent for a bit of meat for him from the cook’s, and forgot to send my
letters this night. So I went to bed, and in discourse broke to my wife
what my thoughts were concerning my design of getting money by, &c.
13th. Coming in the morning to my office, I met with Mr. Fage and took
him to the Swan? He told me how high Haselrigge, and Morly, the last
night began at my Lord Mayor’s to exclaim against the City of London,
saying that they had forfeited their charter. And how the Chamberlain
of the City did take them down, letting them know how much they were
formerly beholding to the City, &c. He also told me that Monk’s letter
that came to them by the sword-bearer was a cunning piece, and that
which they did not much trust to; but they were resolved to make no
more applications to the Parliament, nor to pay any money, unless the
secluded members be brought in, or a free Parliament chosen. Thence
to my office, where nothing to do. So to Will’s with Mr. Pinkney, who
invited me to their feast at his Hall the next Monday. Thence I went
home and took my wife and dined at Mr. Wades, and after that we went and
visited Catan. From thence home again, and my wife was very unwilling to
let me go forth, but with some discontent would go out if I did, and I
going forth towards Whitehall, I saw she followed me, and so I staid and
took her round through Whitehall, and so carried her home angry. Thence
I went to Mrs. Jem, and found her up and merry, and that it did not
prove the small-pox, but only the swine-pox; so I played a game or two
at cards with her. And so to Mr. Vines, where he and I and Mr. Hudson
played half-a-dozen things, there being there Dick’s wife and her
sister. After that I went home and found my wife gone abroad to Mr.
Hunt’s, and came in a little after me.--So to bed.
14th. Nothing to do at our office. Thence into the Hall, and just as I
was going to dinner from Westminster Hall with Mr. Moore (with whom
I had been in the lobby to hear news, and had spoke with Sir Anthony
Ashley Cooper about my Lord’s lodgings) to his house, I met with Captain
Holland, who told me that he hath brought his wife to my house, so I
posted home and got a dish of meat for them. They staid with me all the
afternoon, and went hence in the evening. Then I went with my wife,
and left her at market, and went myself to the Coffee-house, and
heard exceeding good argument against Mr. Harrington’s assertion,
that overbalance of propriety [i.e., property] was the foundation of
government. Home, and wrote to Hinchinbroke, and sent that and my other
letter that missed of going on Thursday last. So to bed.
15th. Having been exceedingly disturbed in the night with the barking
of a dog of one of our neighbours that I could not sleep for an hour
or two, I slept late, and then in the morning took physic, and so staid
within all day. At noon my brother John came to me, and I corrected as
well as I could his Greek speech to say the Apposition, though I believe
he himself was as well able to do it as myself. After that we went to
read in the great Officiale about the blessing of bells in the Church of
Rome. After that my wife and I in pleasant discourse till night, then
I went to supper, and after that to make an end of this week’s notes in
this book, and so to bed. It being a cold day and a great snow my physic
did not work so well as it should have done.
16th. In the morning I went up to Mr. Crew’s, and at his bedside he gave
me direction to go to-morrow with Mr. Edward to Twickenham, and likewise
did talk to me concerning things of state; and expressed his mind how
just it was that the secluded members should come to sit again. I went
from thence, and in my way went into an alehouse and drank my morning
draft with Matthew Andrews and two or three more of his friends,
coachmen. And of one of them I did hire a coach to carry us to-morrow
to Twickenham. From thence to my office, where nothing to do; but Mr.
Downing he came and found me all alone; and did mention to me his going
back into Holland, and did ask me whether I would go or no, but gave me
little encouragement, but bid me consider of it; and asked me whether I
did not think that Mr. Hawly could perform the work of my office alone
or no. I confess I was at a great loss, all the day after, to bethink
myself how to carry this business. At noon, Harry Ethall came to me and
went along with Mr. Maylard by coach as far as Salsbury Court, and there
we set him down, and we went to the Clerks, where we came a little
too late, but in a closet we had a very good dinner by Mr. Pinkny’s
courtesy, and after dinner we had pretty good singing, and one, Hazard,
sung alone after the old fashion, which was very much cried up, but I
did not like it. Thence we went to the Green Dragon, on Lambeth Hill,
both the Mr. Pinkney’s, Smith, Harrison, Morrice, that sang the bass,
Sheply and I, and there we sang of all sorts of things, and I ventured
with good success upon things at first sight, and after that I played on
my flageolet, and staid there till nine o’clock, very merry and drawn
on with one song after another till it came to be so late. After that
Sheply, Harrison and myself, we went towards Westminster on foot, and
at the Golden Lion, near Charing Cross, we went in and drank a pint of
wine, and so parted, and thence home, where I found my wife and maid
a-washing. I staid up till the bell-man came by with his bell just under
my window as I was writing of this very line, and cried, “Past one of
the clock, and a cold, frosty, windy morning.” I then went to bed, and
left my wife and the maid a-washing still.
17th. Early I went to Mr. Crew’s, and having given Mr. Edward money
to give the servants, I took him into the coach that waited for us and
carried him to my house, where the coach waited for me while I and the
child went to Westminster Hall, and bought him some pictures. In the
Hall I met Mr. Woodfine, and took him to Will’s and drank with him.
Thence the child and I to the coach, where my wife was ready, and so
we went towards Twickenham. In our way, at Kensington we understood how
that my Lord Chesterfield had killed another gentleman about half an
hour before, and was fled.
[Philip Stanhope, second Earl of Chesterfield, ob. 1713, act. suae
80. We learn, from the memoir prefixed to his “Printed
Correspondence,” that he fought three duels, disarming and wounding
his first and second antagonists, and killing the third. The name
of the unfortunate gentleman who fell on this occasion was Woolly.
Lord Chesterfield, absconding, went to Breda, where he obtained the
royal pardon from Charles II. He acted a busy part in the eventful
times in which he lived, and was remarkable for his steady adherence
to the Stuarts. Lord Chesterfield’s letter to Charles II., and the
King’s answer granting the royal pardon, occur in the Correspondence
published by General Sir John Murray, in 1829.
“Jan. 17th, 1659. The Earl of Chesterfield and Dr. Woolly’s son of
Hammersmith, had a quarrel about a mare of eighteen pounds price;
the quarrel would not be reconciled, insomuch that a challenge
passed between them. They fought a duel on the backside of Mr.
Colby’s house at Kensington, where the Earl and he had several
passes. The Earl wounded him in two places, and would fain have
then ended, but the stubbornness and pride of heart of Mr. Woolly
would not give over, and the next pass [he] was killed on the spot.
The Earl fled to Chelsea, and there took water and escaped. The
jury found it chance-medley.”--Rugge’s “Diurnal,” Addit MSS.,
British Museum.--B.]
We went forward and came about one of the clock to Mr. Fuller’s, but he
was out of town, so we had a dinner there, and I gave the child 40s.
to give to the two ushers. After that we parted and went homewards, it
being market day at Brainford [Brentford]. I set my wife down and went
with the coach to Mr. Crew’s, thinking to have spoke with Mr. Moore
and Mrs. Jem, he having told me the reason of his melancholy was some
unkindness from her after so great expressions of love, and how he had
spoke to her friends and had their consent, and that he would desire
me to take an occasion of speaking with her, but by no means not to
heighten her discontent or distaste whatever it be, but to make it up if
I can. But he being out of doors, I went away and went to see Mrs. Jem,
who was now very well again, and after a game or two at cards, I left
her. So I went to the Coffee Club, and heard very good discourse; it
was in answer to Mr. Harrington’s answer, who said that the state of the
Roman government was not a settled government, and so it was no wonder
that the balance of propriety [i.e., property] was in one hand, and the
command in another, it being therefore always in a posture of war; but
it was carried by ballot, that it was a steady government, though it is
true by the voices it had been carried before that it was an unsteady
government; so to-morrow it is to be proved by the opponents that the
balance lay in one hand, and the government in another. Thence I went
to Westminster, and met Shaw and Washington, who told me how this day
Sydenham
[Colonel William Sydenham had been an active officer during the
Civil Wars, on the Parliament side; M.P. for Dorsetshire, Governor
of Melcombe, and one of the Committee of Safety. He was the elder
brother of the celebrated physician of that name.--B.]
was voted out of the House for sitting any more this Parliament, and
that Salloway was voted out likewise and sent to the Tower, during
the pleasure of the House. Home and wrote by the Post, and carried to
Whitehall, and coming back turned in at Harper-’s, where Jack Price was,
and I drank with him and he told me, among other, things, how much the
Protector
[Richard Cromwell, third son of Oliver Cromwell, born October 4th,
1626, admitted a member of Lincoln’s Inn, May 27th, 1647, fell into
debt and devoted himself to hunting and field sports. His
succession to his father as Protector was universally accepted at
first, but the army soon began to murmur because he was not a
general. Between the dissensions of various parties he fell, and
the country was left in a state of anarchy: He went abroad early in
the summer of 1660, and lived abroad for some years, returning to
England in 1680. After his fall he bore the name of John Clarke.
Died at Cheshunt, July 12th, 1712.]
is altered, though he would seem to bear out his trouble very well, yet
he is scarce able to talk sense with a man; and how he will say that
“Who should a man trust, if he may not trust to a brother and an uncle;”
and “how much those men have to answer before God Almighty, for their
playing the knave with him as they did.” He told me also, that there
was; L100,000 offered, and would have been taken for his restitution,
had not the Parliament come in as they did again; and that he do believe
that the Protector will live to give a testimony of his valour and
revenge yet before he dies, and that the Protector will say so himself
sometimes. Thence I went home, it being late and my wife in bed.
18th. To my office and from thence to Will’s, and there Mr. Sheply
brought me letters from the carrier and so I went home. After that to
Wilkinson’s, where we had a dinner for Mr. Talbot, Adams, Pinkny and his
son, but his son did not come. Here we were very merry, and while I was
here Mr. Fuller came thither and staid a little, while.
After that we all went to my Lord’s, whither came afterwards Mr.
Harrison, and by chance seeing Mr. Butler--[Mr. Butler is usually styled
by Pepys Mons. l’Impertinent.]--coming by I called him in and so we
sat drinking a bottle of wine till night. At which time Mistress
Ann--[Probably Mrs. (afterwards Lady) Anne Montagu, daughter of Sir
Edward Montagu, and sister to Mrs. Jem.]--came with the key of my Lord’s
study for some things, and so we all broke up and after I had gone to my
house and interpreted my Lord’s letter by his character--[The making of
ciphers was a popular amusement about this time. Pepys made several for
Montagu, Downing, and others.]--I came to her again and went with her to
her lodging and from thence to Mr. Crew’s, where I advised with him
what to do about my Lord’s lodgings and what answer to give to Sir Ant.
Cooper and so I came home and to bed. All the world is at a loss to
think what Monk will do: the City saying that he will be for them, and
the Parliament saying he will be for them.
19th. This morning I was sent for to Mr. Downing, and at his bed side he
told me, that he had a kindness for me, and that he thought that he had
done me one; and that was, that he had got me to be one of the Clerks of
the Council; at which I was a little stumbled, and could not tell what
to do, whether to thank him or no; but by and by I did; but not very
heartily, for I feared that his doing of it was but only to ease himself
of the salary which he gives me. After that Mr. Sheply staying below all
this time for me we went thence and met Mr. Pierce,
[Pepys had two friends named Pierce, one the surgeon and the other
the purser; he usually (but not always) distinguishes them. The one
here alluded to was probably the surgeon, and husband of pretty Mrs.
Pierce. After the Restoration James Pearse or Pierce became Surgeon
to the Duke of York, and he was also Surgeon-General of the Fleet.]
so at the Harp and Ball drank our morning draft and so to Whitehall
where I met with Sir Ant. Cooper and did give him some answer from my
Lord and he did give us leave to keep the lodgings still. And so we did
determine thereupon that Mr. Sheply might now go into the country and
would do so to-morrow. Back I went by Mr. Downing’s order and staid
there till twelve o’clock in expectation of one to come to read some
writings, but he came not, so I staid all alone reading the answer of
the Dutch Ambassador to our State, in answer to the reasons of my Lord’s
coming home, which he gave for his coming, and did labour herein to
contradict my Lord’s arguments for his coming home. Thence to my office
and so with Mr. Sheply and Moore, to dine upon a turkey with Mrs. Jem,
and after that Mr. Moore and I went to the French Ordinary, where Mr.
Downing this day feasted Sir Arth. Haselrigge, and a great many more of
the Parliament, and did stay to put him in mind of me. Here he gave me
a note to go and invite some other members to dinner tomorrow. So I went
to White Hall, and did stay at Marsh’s, with Simons, Luellin, and all
the rest of the Clerks of the Council, who I hear are all turned out,
only the two Leighs, and they do all tell me that my name was mentioned
the last night, but that nothing was done in it. Hence I went and did
leave some of my notes at the lodgings of the members and so home. To
bed.
20th. In the morning I went to Mr. Downing’s bedside and gave him an
account what I had done as to his guests, land I went thence to my Lord
Widdrington who I met in the street, going to seal the patents for
the judges to-day, and so could not come to dinner. I called upon Mr.
Calthrop about the money due to my Lord. Here I met with Mr. Woodfine
and drank with him at the Sun in Chancery Lane and so to Westminster
Hall, where at the lobby I spoke with the rest of my guests and so to my
office. At noon went by water with Mr. Maylard and Hales to the Swan in
Fish Street at our Goal Feast, where we were very merry at our Jole
of Ling, and from thence after a great and good dinner Mr. Falconberge
would go drink a cup of ale at a place where I had like to have shot
at a scholar that lay over the house of office. Thence calling on Mr.
Stephens and Wootton (with whom I drank) about business of my Lord’s I
went to the Coffee Club where there was nothing done but choosing of a
Committee for orders. Thence to Westminster Hall where Mrs. Lane and the
rest of the maids had their white scarfs, all having been at the burial
of a young bookseller in the Hall.
[These stationers and booksellers, whose shops disfigured
Westminster Hall down to a late period, were a privileged class.
In the statutes for appointing licensers and regulating the press,
there is a clause exempting them from the pains and penalties of
these obnoxious laws.]
Thence to Mr. Sheply’s and took him to my house and drank with him in
order to his going to-morrow. So parted and I sat up late making up my
accounts before he go. This day three citizens of London went to meet
Monk from the Common Council!
“Jan. 20th. Then there went out of the City, by desire of the Lord
Mayor and Court of Aldermen, Alderman Fowke and Alderman Vincett,
alias Vincent, and Mr. Broomfield, to compliment General Monk, who
lay at Harborough Town, in Leicestershire.”
“Jan. 21st. Because the Speaker was sick, and Lord General Monk so
near London, and everybody thought that the City would suffer for
their affronts to the soldiery, and because they had sent the sword-
bearer to, the General without the Parliament’s consent, and the
three Aldermen were gone to give him the welcome to town, these four
lines were in almost everybody’s mouth:
“Monk under a hood, not well understood,
The City pull in their horns;
The Speaker is out, and sick of the gout,
And the Parliament sit upon thorns.”
--Rugge’s ‘Diurnal.’--B.”
21st. Up early in finishing my accounts and writing to my Lord and from
thence to my Lord’s and took leave of Mr. Sheply and possession of all
the keys and the house. Thence to my office for some money to pay Mr.
Sheply and sent it him by the old man. I then went to Mr. Downing who
chid me because I did not give him notice of some of his guests failed
him but I told him that I sent our porter to tell him and he was not
within, but he told me that he was within till past twelve o’clock. So
the porter or he lied. Thence to my office where nothing to do. Then
with Mr. Hawly, he and I went to Mr. Crew’s and dined there. Thence
into London, to Mr. Vernon’s and I received my L25 due by bill for my
troopers’ pay. Then back again to Steadman’s. At the Mitre, in Fleet
street, in our way calling on Mr. Fage, who told me how the City have
some hopes of Monk. Thence to the Mitre, where I drank a pint of wine,
the house being in fitting for Banister to come hither from Paget’s.
Thence to Mrs. Jem and gave her L5. So home and left my money and to
Whitehall where Luellin and I drank and talked together an hour at
Marsh’s and so up to the clerks’ room, where poor Mr. Cook, a black man,
that is like to be put out of his clerk’s place, came and railed at me
for endeavouring to put him out and get myself in, when I was already
in a good condition. But I satisfied him and after I had wrote a letter
there to my Lord, wherein I gave him an account how this day Lenthall
took his chair again, and [the House] resolved a declaration to be
brought in on Monday next to satisfy the world what they intend to do.
So home and to bed.
22nd. I went in the morning to Mr. Messum’s, where I met with W.
Thurburn and sat with him in his pew. A very eloquent sermon about the
duty of all to give good example in our lives and conversation, which I
fear he himself was most guilty of not doing. After sermon, at the door
by appointment my wife met me, and so to my father’s to dinner, where we
had not been to my shame in a fortnight before. After dinner my father
shewed me a letter from Mr. Widdrington, of Christ’s College, in
Cambridge, wherein he do express very great kindness for my brother,
and my father intends that my brother shall go to him. To church in the
afternoon to Mr. Herring, where a lazy poor sermon. And so home with
Mrs. Turner and sitting with her a while we went to my father’s where we
supt very merry, and so home. This day I began to put on buckles to my
shoes, which I have bought yesterday of Mr. Wotton.
23rd. In the morning called out to carry L20 to Mr. Downing, which I did
and came back, and finding Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, I took him to the
Axe and gave him his morning draft. Thence to my office and there did
nothing but make up my balance. Came home and found my wife dressing of
the girl’s head, by which she was made to look very pretty. I went out
and paid Wilkinson what I did owe him, and brought a piece of beef home
for dinner. Thence I went out and paid Waters, the vintner, and went to
see Mrs. Jem, where I found my Lady Wright, but Scott was so drunk that
he could not be seen. Here I staid and made up Mrs. Ann’s bills, and
played a game or two at cards, and thence to Westminster Hall, it being
very dark. I paid Mrs. Michell, my bookseller, and back to Whitehall,
and in the garden, going through to the Stone Gallery--[The Stone
Gallery was a long passage between the Privy Garden and the river. It
led from the Bowling Green to the Court of the Palace]--I fell into a
ditch, it being very dark. At the Clerk’s chamber I met with Simons
and Luellin, and went with them to Mr. Mount’s chamber at the Cock Pit,
where we had some rare pot venison, and ale to abundance till almost
twelve at night, and after a song round we went home. This day the
Parliament sat late, and resolved of the declaration to be printed for
the people’s satisfaction, promising them a great many good things.
24th. In the morning to my office, where, after I had drank my morning
draft at Will’s with Ethell and Mr. Stevens, I went and told part of the
excise money till twelve o’clock, and then called on my wife and took
her to Mr. Pierces, she in the way being exceedingly troubled with a
pair of new pattens, and I vexed to go so slow, it being late. There
when we came we found Mrs. Carrick very fine, and one Mr. Lucy, who
called one another husband and wife, and after dinner a great deal
of mad stir. There was pulling off Mrs. bride’s and Mr. bridegroom’s
ribbons;
[The scramble for ribbons, here mentioned by Pepys in connection
with weddings (see also January 26th, 1660-61, and February 8th,
1662-3), doubtless formed part of the ceremony of undressing the
bridegroom, which, as the age became more refined, fell into disuse.
All the old plays are silent on the custom; the earliest notice of
which occurs in the old ballad of the wedding of Arthur O’Bradley,
printed in the Appendix to “Robin Hood,” 1795, where we read--
“Then got they his points and his garters,
And cut them in pieces like martyrs;
And then they all did play
For the honour of Arthur O’Bradley.”
Sir Winston Churchill also observes (“Divi Britannici,” p. 340) that
James I. was no more troubled at his querulous countrymen robbing
him than a bridegroom at the losing of his points and garters. Lady
Fanshawe, in her “Memoirs,” says, that at the nuptials of Charles
II. and the Infanta, “the Bishop of London declared them married in
the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and then they
caused the ribbons her Majesty wore to be cut in little pieces; and
as far as they would go, every one had some.” The practice still
survives in the form of wedding favours.
A similar custom is still of every day’s occurrence at Dieppe. Upon
the morrow after their marriage, the bride and bridegroom
perambulate the streets, followed by a numerous cortege, the guests
at the wedding festival, two and two; each individual wearing two
bits of narrow ribbon, about two inches in length, of different
colours, which are pinned crossways upon the breast. These morsels
of ribbons originally formed the garters of the bride and
bridegroom, which had been divided amidst boisterous mirth among the
assembled company, the moment the happy pair had been formally
installed in the bridal bed.--Ex. inf. Mr. William.Hughes,
Belvedere, Jersey.--B.]
with a great deal of fooling among them that I and my wife did not like.
Mr. Lucy and several other gentlemen coming in after dinner, swearing
and singing as if they were mad, only he singing very handsomely. There
came in afterwards Mr. Southerne, clerk to Mr. Blackburne, and with
him Lambert, lieutenant of my Lord’s ship, and brought with them the
declaration that came out to-day from the Parliament, wherein they
declare for law and gospel, and for tythes; but I do not find people apt
to believe them. After this taking leave I went to my father’s, and
my wife staying there, he and I went to speak with Mr. Crumlum (in the
meantime, while it was five o’clock, he being in the school, we went
to my cozen Tom Pepys’ shop, the turner in Paul’s Churchyard, and drank
with him a pot of ale); he gave my father directions what to do about
getting my brother an exhibition, and spoke very well of my brother.
Thence back with my father home, where he and I spoke privately in the
little room to my sister Pall about stealing of things as my wife’s
scissars and my maid’s book, at which my father was much troubled. Hence
home with my wife and so to Whitehall, where I met with Mr. Hunt and
Luellin, and drank with them at Marsh’s, and afterwards went up and
wrote to my Lord by the post. This day the Parliament gave order that
the late Committee of Safety should come before them this day se’nnight,
and all their papers, and their model of Government that they had made,
to be brought in with them. So home and talked with my wife about our
dinner on Thursday.
25th. Called up early to Mr. Downing; he gave me a Character, such a one
as my Lord’s, to make perfect, and likewise gave me his order for L500
to carry to Mr. Frost, which I did and so to my office, where I did do
something about the character till twelve o’clock. Then home find
found my wife and the maid at my Lord’s getting things ready against
to-morrow. I went by water to my Uncle White’s’ to dinner, where I
met my father, where we alone had a fine jole of Ling to dinner. After
dinner I took leave, and coming home heard that in Cheapside there had
been but a little before a gibbet set up, and the picture of Huson
[John Hewson, who, from a low origin, became a colonel in the
Parliament army, and sat in judgment on the King: he escaped hanging
by flight, and died in 1662, at Amsterdam. A curious notice of
Hewson occurs in Rugge’s “Diurnal,” December 5th, 1659, which states
that “he was a cobbler by trade, but a very stout man, and a very
good commander; but in regard of his former employment, they [the
city apprentices] threw at him old shoes, and slippers, and
turniptops, and brick-bats, stones, and tiles.”... “At this
time [January, 1659-60] there came forth, almost every day, jeering
books: one was called ‘Colonel Hewson’s Confession; or, a Parley
with Pluto,’ about his going into London, and taking down the gates
of Temple-Bar.” He had but one eye, which did not escape the notice
of his enemies.--B.]
hung upon it in the middle of the street. I called at Paul’s Churchyard,
where I bought Buxtorf’s Hebrew Grammar; and read a declaration of the
gentlemen of Northampton which came out this afternoon. Thence to my
father’s, where I staid with my mother a while and then to Mr. Crew’s
about a picture to be sent into the country, of Mr. Thomas Crew, to my
Lord. So [to] my Lady Wright to speak with her, but she was abroad, so
Mr. Evans, her butler, had me into his buttery, and gave me sack and
a lesson on his lute, which he played very well. Thence I went to my
Lord’s and got most things ready against tomorrow, as fires and laying
the cloth, and my wife was making of her tarts and larding of her
pullets till eleven o’clock. This evening Mr. Downing sent for me, and
gave me order to go to Mr. Jessop for his papers concerning his dispatch
to Holland which were not ready, only his order for a ship to transport
him he gave me. To my Lord’s again and so home with my wife, tired with
this day’s work.
26th. To my office for L20 to carry to Mr. Downing, which I did and back
again. Then came Mr. Frost to pay Mr. Downing his L500, and I went to
him for the warrant and brought it Mr. Frost. Called for some papers at
Whitehall for Mr. Downing, one of which was an Order of the Council for
L1800 per annum, to be paid monthly; and the other two, Orders to the
Commissioners of Customs, to let his goods pass free. Home from my
office to my Lord’s lodgings where my wife had got ready a very fine
dinner--viz. a dish of marrow bones; a leg of mutton; a loin of veal;
a dish of fowl, three pullets, and two dozen of larks all in a dish; a
great tart, a neat’s tongue, a dish of anchovies; a dish of prawns and
cheese. My company was my father, my uncle Fenner, his two sons, Mr.
Pierce, and all their wives, and my brother Tom. We were as merry as I
could frame myself to be in the company, W. Joyce talking after the old
rate and drinking hard, vexed his father and mother and wife. And I did
perceive that Mrs. Pierce her coming so gallant, that it put the two
young women quite out of courage. When it became dark they all went
away but Mr. Pierce, and W. Joyce, and their wives and Tom, and drank a
bottle of wine afterwards, so that Will did heartily vex his father and
mother by staying. At which I and my wife were much pleased. Then they
all went and I fell to writing of two characters for Mr. Downing, and
carried them to him at nine o’clock at night, and he did not like them
but corrected them, so that to-morrow I am to do them anew. To my Lord’s
lodging again and sat by the great log, it being now a very good fire,
with my wife, and ate a bit and so home. The news this day is a letter
that speaks absolutely Monk’s concurrence with this Parliament, and
nothing else, which yet I hardly believe. After dinner to-day my
father showed me a letter from my Uncle Robert, in answer to my last,
concerning my money which I would have out of my Coz. Beck’s’ hand,
wherein Beck desires it four months longer, which I know not how to
spare.
27th. Going to my office I met with Tom Newton, my old comrade, and took
him to the Crown in the Palace, and gave him his morning draft. And as
he always did, did talk very high what he would do with the Parliament,
that he would have what place he would, and that he might be one of the
Clerks to the Council if he would. Here I staid talking with him till
the offices were all shut, and then I looked in the Hall, and was told
by my bookseller, Mrs. Michell, that Mr. G. Montagu had inquired there
for me. So I went to his house, and was forced by him to dine with him,
and had a plenteous brave dinner and the greatest civility that ever I
had from any man. Thence home and so to Mrs. Jem, and played with her
at cards, and coming home again my wife told me that Mr. Hawly had been
there to speak with me, and seemed angry that I had not been at the
office that day, and she told me she was afraid that Mr. Downing may
have a mind to pick some hole in my coat. So I made haste to him, but
found no such thing from him, but he sent me to Mr. Sherwin’s about
getting Mr. Squib to come to him tomorrow, and I carried him an answer.
So home and fell a writing the characters for Mr. Downing, and about
nine at night Mr. Hawly came, and after he was gone I sat up till almost
twelve writing, and--wrote two of them. In the morning up early and
wrote another, my wife lying in bed and reading to me.
28th. I went to Mr. Downing and carried him three characters, and then
to my office and wrote another, while Mr. Frost staid telling money. And
after I had done it Mr. Hawly came into the office and I left him and
carried it to Mr. Downing, who then told me that he was resolved to be
gone for Holland this morning. So I to my office again, and dispatch my
business there, and came with Mr. Hawly to Mr. Downing’s lodging, and
took Mr. Squib from White Hall in a coach thither with me, and there we
waited in his chamber a great while, till he came in; and in the mean
time, sent all his things to the barge that lay at Charing-Cross
Stairs. Then came he in, and took a very civil leave of me, beyond my
expectation, for I was afraid that he would have told me something of
removing me from my office; but he did not, but that he would do me any
service that lay in his power. So I went down and sent a porter to my
house for my best fur cap, but he coming too late with it I did not
present it to him. Thence I went to Westminster Hall, and bound up my
cap at Mrs. Michell’s, who was much taken with my cap, and endeavoured
to overtake the coach at the Exchange and to give it him there, but I
met with one that told me that he was gone, and so I returned and went
to Heaven,
[A place of entertainment within or adjoining Westminster Hall. It
is called in “Hudibras,” “False Heaven, at the end of the Hall.”
There were two other alehouses near Westminster Hall, called Hell
and Purgatory.
“Nor break his fast
In Heaven and Hell.”