My wife chose me, which did much please me; my Lady Batten Sir W. Pen,
&c. Here we sat late, and so home to bed, having got my Lady Batten to
give me a spoonful of honey for my cold.
14th (Valentine’s day). Up early and to Sir W. Batten’s, but would not
go in till I asked whether they that opened the door was a man or a
woman, and Mingo, who was there, answered a woman, which, with his tone,
made me laugh; so up I went and took Mrs. Martha for my Valentine (which
I do only for complacency), and Sir W. Batten he go in the same manner
to my wife, and so we were very merry. About 10 o’clock we, with a great
deal of company, went down by our barge to Deptford, and there only went
to see how forward Mr. Pett’s yacht is; and so all into the barge again,
and so to Woolwich, on board the Rose-bush, Captain Brown’s’ ship, that
is brother-in-law to Sir W. Batten, where we had a very fine dinner,
dressed on shore, and great mirth and all things successfull; the first
time I ever carried my wife a-ship-board, as also my boy Wayneman, who
hath all this day been called young Pepys, as Sir W. Pen’s boy young
Pen. So home by barge again; good weather, but pretty cold. I to my
study, and began to make up my accounts for my Lord, which I intend to
end tomorrow. To bed. The talk of the town now is, who the King is
like to have for his Queen: and whether Lent shall be kept with the
strictness of the King’s proclamation;
[“A Proclamation for restraint of killing, dressing, and eating of
Flesh in Lent or on fish-dayes appointed by the law to be observed,”
was dated 29th January, 1660-61].
which it is thought cannot be, because of the poor, who cannot buy
fish. And also the great preparation for the King’s crowning is now much
thought upon and talked of.
15th. At the office all the morning, and in the afternoon at making up
my accounts for my Lord to-morrow; and that being done I found myself
to be clear (as I think) L350 in the world, besides my goods in my house
and all things paid for.
16th. To my Lord in the morning, who looked over my accounts and agreed
to them. I did also get him to sign a bill (which do make my heart
merry) for L60 to me, in consideration of my work extraordinary at sea
this last voyage, which I hope to get paid. I dined with my Lord and
then to the Theatre, where I saw “The Virgin Martyr,” a good but too
sober a play for the company. Then home.
17th (Lord’s day). A most tedious, unreasonable, and impertinent sermon,
by an Irish Doctor. His text was “Scatter them, O Lord, that delight in
war.” Sir Wm. Batten and I very much angry with the parson. And so I to
Westminster as soon as I came home to my Lord’s, where I dined with
Mr. Shepley and Howe. After dinner (without speaking to my Lord), Mr.
Shepley and I into the city, and so I home and took my wife to my uncle
Wight’s, and there did sup with them, and so home again and to bed.
18th. At the office all the morning, dined at home with a very good
dinner, only my wife and I, which is not yet very usual. In the
afternoon my wife and I and Mrs. Martha Batten, my Valentine, to the
Exchange, and there upon a payre of embroydered and six payre of plain
white gloves I laid out 40s. upon her. Then we went to a mercer’s at the
end of Lombard Street, and there she bought a suit of Lutestring--[More
properly called “lustring”; a fine glossy silk.]--for herself, and so
home. And at night I got the whole company and Sir Wm. Pen home to my
house, and there I did give them Rhenish wine and sugar, and continued
together till it was late, and so to bed. It is much talked that the
King is already married to the niece of the Prince de Ligne,
[The Prince de Ligne had no niece, and probably Pepys has made some
mistake in the name. Charles at one time made an offer of marriage
to Mazarin’s niece, Hortense Mancini.]
and that he hath two sons already by her: which I am sorry to hear; but
yet am gladder that it should be so, than that the Duke of York and
his family should come to the crown, he being a professed friend to the
Catholiques.
19th. By coach to Whitehall with Colonel Slingsby (carrying Mrs. Turner
with us) and there he and I up into the house, where we met with Sir G.
Carteret: who afterwards, with the Duke of York, my Lord Sandwich,
and others, went into a private room to consult: and we were a little
troubled that we were not called in with the rest. But I do believe it
was upon something very private. We staid walking in the gallery; where
we met with Mr. Slingsby, that was formerly a great friend of Mons.
Blondeau, who showed me the stamps of the King’s new coyne; which is
strange to see, how good they are in the stamp and bad in the money, for
lack of skill to make them. But he says Blondeau will shortly come over,
and then we shall have it better, and the best in the world.
[Peter Blondeau, medallist, was invited to London from Paris in
1649, and appointed by the Council of State to coin their money; but
the moneyers succeeded in driving him out of the country. Soon
after the Restoration he returned, and was appointed engineer to the
mint.]
The Comptroller and I to the Commissioners of Parliament, and after some
talk away again and to drink a cup of ale. He tells me, he is sure that
the King is not yet married, as it is said; nor that it is known who he
will have. To my Lord’s and found him dined, and so I lost my dinner,
but I staid and played with him and Mr. Child, &c., some things of four
parts, and so it raining hard and bitter cold (the first winter day we
have yet had this winter), I took coach home and spent the evening in
reading of a Latin play, the “Naufragium Joculare.” And so to bed.
20th. All the morning at the office, dined at home and my brother Tom
with me, who brought me a pair of fine slippers which he gave me. By and
by comes little Luellin and friend to see me, and then my coz Stradwick,
who was never here before. With them I drank a bottle of wine or two,
and to the office again, and there staid about business late, and
then all of us to Sir W. Pen’s, where we had, and my Lady Batten, Mrs.
Martha, and my wife, and other company, a good supper, and sat playing
at cards and talking till 12 at night, and so all to our lodgings.
21st. To Westminster by coach with Sir W. Pen, and in our way saw the
city begin to build scaffolds against the Coronacion. To my Lord, and
there found him out of doors. So to the Hall and called for some caps
that I have a making there, and here met with Mr. Hawley, and with him
to Will’s and drank, and then by coach with Mr. Langley our old friend
into the city. I set him down by the way, and I home and there staid all
day within, having found Mr. Moore, who staid with me till late at night
talking and reading some good books. Then he went away, and I to bed.
22nd. All the morning at the office. At noon with my wife and Pall to
my father’s to dinner, where Dr. Thos. Pepys and my coz Snow and Joyce
Norton. After dinner came The. Turner, and so I home with her to her
mother, good woman, whom I had not seen through my great neglect this
half year, but she would not be angry with me. Here I staid all the
afternoon talking of the King’s being married, which is now the town
talk, but I believe false. In the evening Mrs. The. and Joyce took us
all into the coach home, calling in Bishopsgate Street, thinking to have
seen a new Harpsicon--[The harpsichord is an instrument larger than a
spinet, with two or three strings to a note.]--that she had a making
there, but it was not done, and so we did not see it. Then to my home,
where I made very much of her, and then she went home. Then my wife to
Sir W. Batten’s, and there sat a while; he having yesterday sent my wife
half-a-dozen pairs of gloves, and a pair of silk stockings and garters,
for her Valentine’s gift. Then home and to bed.
23rd. This my birthday, 28 years. This morning Sir W. Batten, Pen, and
I did some business, and then I by water to Whitehall, having met Mr.
Hartlibb by the way at Alderman Backwell’s. So he did give me a glass
of Rhenish wine at the Steeleyard, and so to Whitehall by water. He
continues of the same bold impertinent humour that he was always of and
will ever be. He told me how my Lord Chancellor had lately got the Duke
of York and Duchess, and her woman, my Lord Ossory’s and a Doctor, to
make oath before most of the judges of the kingdom, concerning all the
circumstances of their marriage. And in fine, it is confessed that they
were not fully married till about a month or two before she was brought
to bed; but that they were contracted long before, and time enough for
the child to be legitimate.
[The Duke of York’s marriage took place September 3rd, 1660. Anne
Hyde was contracted to the Duke at Breda, November 24th, 1659.]
But I do not hear that it was put to the judges to determine whether it
was so or no. To my Lord and there spoke to him about his opinion of the
Light, the sea-mark that Captain Murford is about, and do offer me
an eighth part to concern myself with it, and my Lord do give me some
encouragement in it, and I shall go on. I dined herewith Mr. Shepley and
Howe. After dinner to Whitehall Chappell with Mr. Child, and there
did hear Captain Cooke and his boy make a trial of an Anthem against
tomorrow, which was brave musique. Then by water to Whitefriars to the
Play-house, and there saw “The Changeling,” the first time it hath been
acted these twenty years, and it takes exceedingly. Besides, I see the
gallants do begin to be tyred with the vanity and pride of the theatre
actors who are indeed grown very proud and rich. Then by link home, and
there to my book awhile and to bed. I met to-day with Mr. Townsend, who
tells me that the old man is yet alive in whose place in the Wardrobe he
hopes to get my father, which I do resolve to put for. I also met with
the Comptroller, who told me how it was easy for us all, the principal
officers, and proper for us, to labour to get into the next Parliament;
and would have me to ask the Duke’s letter, but I shall not endeavour it
because it will spend much money, though I am sure I could well obtain
it. This is now 28 years that I am born. And blessed be God, in a state
of full content, and great hopes to be a happy man in all respects, both
to myself and friends.
24th (Sunday). Mr. Mills made as excellent a sermon in the morning
against drunkenness as ever I heard in my life. I dined at home; another
good one of his in the afternoon. My Valentine had her fine gloves on at
church to-day that I did give her. After sermon my wife and I unto Sir
Wm. Batten and sat awhile. Then home, I to read, then to supper and to
bed.
25th. Sir Wm. Pen and I to my Lord Sandwich’s by coach in the morning to
see him, but he takes physic to-day and so we could not see him. So he
went away, and I with Luellin to Mr. Mount’s chamber at the Cockpit,
where he did lie of old, and there we drank, and from thence to W.
Symons where we found him abroad, but she, like a good lady, within, and
there we did eat some nettle porrige, which was made on purpose to-day
for some of their coming, and was very good. With her we sat a good
while, merry in discourse, and so away, Luellin and I to my Lord’s, and
there dined. He told me one of the prettiest stories, how Mr. Blurton,
his friend that was with him at my house three or four days ago, did go
with him the same day from my house to the Fleet tavern by Guildhall,
and there (by some pretence) got the mistress of the house into their
company, and by and by Luellin calling him Doctor she thought that he
really was so, and did privately discover her disease to him, which was
only some ordinary infirmity belonging to women, and he proffering her
physic, she desired him to come some day and bring it, which he did.
After dinner by water to the office, and there Sir W. Pen and I met and
did business all the afternoon, and then I got him to my house and eat a
lobster together, and so to bed.
26th (Shrove Tuesday). I left my wife in bed, being indisposed... I to
Mrs. Turner’s, who I found busy with The. and Joyce making of things
ready for fritters, so to Mr. Crew’s and there delivered Cotgrave’s
Dictionary’ to my Lady Jemimah, and then with Mr. Moore to my coz Tom
Pepys, but he being out of town I spoke with his lady, though not of the
business I went about, which was to borrow L1000 for my Lord. Back
to Mrs. Turner’s, where several friends, all strangers to me but Mr.
Armiger, dined. Very merry and the best fritters that ever I eat in my
life. After that looked out at window; saw the flinging at cocks.
[The cruel custom of throwing at cocks on Shrove Tuesday is of
considerable antiquity. It is shown in the first print of Hogarth’s
“Four Stages of Cruelty.”]
Then Mrs. The. and I, and a gentleman that dined there and his daughter,
a perfect handsome young and very tall lady that lately came out of the
country, and Mr. Thatcher the Virginall Maister to Bishopsgate Street,
and there saw the new Harpsicon made for Mrs. The. We offered L12, they
demanded L14. The Master not being at home, we could make no bargain,
so parted for to-night. So all by coach to my house, where I found my
Valentine with my wife, and here they drank, and then went away. Then I
sat and talked with my Valentine and my wife a good while, and then saw
her home, and went to Sir W. Batten to the Dolphin, where Mr. Newborne,
&c., were, and there after a quart or two of wine, we home, and I to
bed....
27th. At the office all the morning, that done I walked in the
garden with little Captain Murford, where he and I had some discourse
concerning the Light-House again, and I think I shall appear in the
business, he promising me that if I can bring it about, it will be worth
L100 per annum. Then came into the garden to me young Mr. Powell and Mr.
Hooke that I once knew at Cambridge, and I took them in and gave them a
bottle of wine, and so parted. Then I called for a dish of fish, which
we had for dinner, this being the first day of Lent; and I do intend to
try whether I can keep it or no. My father dined with me and did show
me a letter from my brother John, wherein he tells us that he is chosen
Schollar of the house,’ which do please me much, because I do perceive
now it must chiefly come from his merit and not the power of his Tutor,
Dr. Widdrington, who is now quite out of interest there and hath put
over his pupils to Mr. Pepper, a young Fellow of the College. With my
father to Mr. Rawlinson’s, where we met my uncle Wight, and after a
pint or two away. I walked with my father (who gave me an account of the
great falling out between my uncle Fenner and his son Will) as far
as Paul’s Churchyard, and so left him, and I home. This day the
Commissioners of Parliament begin to pay off the Fleet, beginning with
the Hampshire, and do it at Guildhall, for fear of going out of town
into the power of the seamen, who are highly incensed against them.
28th. Early to wait on my Lord, and after a little talk with him I took
boat at Whitehall for Redriffe, but in my way overtook Captain Cuttance
and Teddiman in a boat and so ashore with them at Queenhithe, and so to
a tavern with them to a barrel of oysters, and so away. Capt. Cuttance
and I walked from Redriffe to Deptford, where I found both Sir
Williams and Sir G. Carteret at Mr. Uthwayt’s, and there we dined, and
notwithstanding my resolution, yet for want of other victualls, I did
eat flesh this Lent, but am resolved to eat as little as I can. After
dinner we went to Captain Bodilaw’s, and there made sale of many old
stores by the candle, and good sport it was to see how from a small
matter bid at first they would come to double and treble the price of
things. After that Sir W. Pen and I and my Lady Batten and her daughter
by land to Redriffe, staying a little at halfway house, and when we
came to take boat, found Sir George, &c., to have staid with the barge a
great while for us, which troubled us. Home and to bed. This month ends
with two great secrets under dispute but yet known to very few: first,
Who the King will marry; and What the meaning of this fleet is which
we are now sheathing to set out for the southward. Most think against
Algier against the Turk, or to the East Indys against the Dutch who, we
hear, are setting out a great fleet thither.