October 1st. This morning my wife and I lay long in bed, and among other
things fell into talk of musique, and desired that I would let her learn
to sing, which I did consider, and promised her she should. So before
I rose, word was brought me that my singing master, Mr. Goodgroome, was
come to teach me and so she rose and this morning began to learn also.
To the office, where busy all day. So to dinner and then to the office
again till night, and then to my study at home to set matters and papers
in order, which, though I can hardly bring myself to do, yet do please
me much when it is done. So eat a bit of bread and cheese, and to bed.
2nd. All this morning at Pegg Kite’s with my uncle Fenner, and two
friends of his, appraising her goods that her mother has left; but
the slut is like to prove so troublesome that I am out of heart with
troubling myself in her business. After we had done we all went to a
cook’s shop in Bishopsgate Street and dined, and then I took them to the
tavern and did give them a quart of sack, and so parted. I home and then
took my wife out, and in a coach of a gentlewoman’s that had been to
visit my Lady Batten and was going home again our way, we went to the
Theatre, but coming late, and sitting in an ill place, I never had so
little pleasure in a play in my life, yet it was the first time that
ever I saw it, “Victoria Corombona.” Methinks a very poor play. Then at
night troubled to get my wife home, it being very dark, and so we were
forced to have a coach. So to supper and to bed.
3rd. At the office all the morning; dined at home, and in the afternoon
Mr. Moore came to me, and he and I went to Tower Hill to meet with a
man, and so back all three to my house, and there I signed a bond to Mr.
Battersby, a friend of Mr. Moore’s, who lends me L50, the first money
that ever I borrowed upon bond for my own occasion, and so I took them
to the Mitre and a Portugal millon with me; there sat and discoursed in
matters of religion till night with great pleasure, and so parted, and
I home, calling at Sir W. Batten’s, where his son and his wife were, who
had yesterday been at the play where we were, and it was good sport to
hear how she talked of it with admiration like a fool. So home, and my
head was not well with the wine that I drank to-day.
4th. By coach to White Hall with Sir W. Pen. So to Mr. Montagu, where
his man, Mons. Eschar, makes a great com plaint against the English,
that they did help the Spaniards against the French the other day; and
that their Embassador do demand justice of our King, and that he do
resolve to be gone for France the next week; which I, and all that I
met with, are very glad of. Thence to Paternoster Row, where my Will did
receive the L50 I borrowed yesterday. I to the Wardrobe to dinner,
and there staid most of the afternoon very merry with the ladies. Then
Captain Ferrers and I to the Theatre, and there came too late, so we
staid and saw a bit of “Victoria,” which pleased me worse than it did
the other day. So we staid not to see it out, but went out and drank a
bottle or two of China ale, and so home, where I found my wife vexed at
her people for grumbling to eat Suffolk cheese, which I also am vexed
at. So to bed.
5th. At the office all the morning, then dined at home, and so staid at
home all the afternoon putting up my Lord’s model of the Royal James,
which I borrowed of him long ago to hang up in my room. And at night Sir
W. Pen and I alone to the Dolphin, and there eat some bloat-herrings
[To bloat is to dry by smoke, a method chiefly used to cure herrings
or bloaters. “I have more smoke in my mouth than would blote a
hundred herrings.”--Beaumont and Fletcher, Island Princess. “Why,
you stink like so many bloat-herrings newly taken out of the
chimney.”--Ben Jonson, “Masque of Augurs.”]
and drank good sack. Then came in Sir W. Warren and another and staid a
while with us, and then Sir Arnold Brames, with whom we staid late and
till we had drank too much wine. So home and I to bed pleased at my
afternoon’s work in hanging up the shipp. So to bed.
6th (Lord’s day). To church in the morning; Mr. Mills preached, who,
I expect, should take in snuffe [anger] that my wife not come to his
child’s christening the other day. The winter coming on, many of parish
ladies are come home and appear at church again; among others, the three
sisters the Thornbury’s, a very fine, and the most zealous people that
ever I saw in my life, even to admiration, if it were true zeal. There
was also my pretty black girl, Mrs. Dekins, and Mrs. Margaret Pen, this
day come to church in a new flowered satin suit that my wife helped to
buy her the other day. So me to dinner, and to church in the afternoon
to St. Gregory’s, by Paul’s, where I saw Mr. Moose in the gallery and
went up to him and heard a good sermon of Dr. Buck’s, one I never
heard before, a very able man. So home, and in the evening I went to
my Valentine, her father and mother being out of town, to fetch her to
supper to my house, and then came Sir W. Pen and would have her to his,
so with much sport I got them all to mine, and we were merry, and so
broke up and to bed.
7th. Up in the morning and to my uncle Fenner’s, thinking to have
met Peg Kite about her business but she comes not, so I went to Dr.
Williams, where I found him sick in bed and was sorry for it. So about
business all day, troubled in my mind till I can hear from Brampton, how
things go on at Sturtlow, at the Court, which I was cleared in at night
by a letter, which tells me that my cozen Tom was there to be admitted,
in his father’s name, as heir-at-law, but that he was opposed, and I was
admitted by proxy, which put me out of great trouble of mind.
8th. At the office all the morning. After office done, went and eat some
Colchester oysters with Sir W. Batten at his house, and there, with some
company; dined and staid there talking all the afternoon; and late after
dinner took Mrs. Martha out by coach, and carried her to the Theatre
in a frolique, to my great expense, and there shewed her part of the
“Beggar’s Bush,” without much pleasure, but only for a frolique, and so
home again.
9th. This morning went out about my affairs, among others to put my
Theorbo out to be mended, and then at noon home again, thinking to go
with Sir Williams both to dinner by invitation to Sir W. Rider’s, but at
home I found Mrs. Pierce, la belle, and Madam Clifford, with whom I was
forced to stay, and made them the most welcome I could; and I was (God
knows) very well pleased with their beautiful company, and after dinner
took them to the Theatre, and shewed them “The Chances;” and so saw
them both at home and back to the Fleece tavern, in Covent Garden, where
Luellin and Blurton, and my old friend Frank Bagge, was to meet me, and
there staid till late very merry. Frank Bagge tells me a story of Mrs.
Pepys that lived with my Lady Harvy, Mr. Montagu’s sister, a good woman;
that she had been very ill, and often asked for me; that she is in good
condition, and that nobody could get her to make her will; but that she
did still enquire for me, and that now she is well she desires to have
a chamber at my house. Now I do not know whether this is a trick of
Bagge’s, or a good will of hers to do something for me; but I will not
trust her, but told him I should be glad to see her, and that I would be
sure to do all that I could to provide a place for her. So by coach home
late.
10th. At the office all the morning; dined at home, and after dinner
Sir W. Pen and my wife and I to the Theatre (she first going into Covent
Garden to speak a word with a woman to enquire of her mother, and I in
the meantime with Sir W. Pen’s coach staying at W. Joyce’s), where the
King came to-day, and there was “The Traytor” most admirably acted; and
a most excellent play it is. So home, and intended to be merry, it being
my sixth wedding night; but by a late bruise.... I am in so much pain
that I eat my supper and in pain to bed, yet my wife and I pretty merry.
11th: All day in bed with a cataplasm.... and at night rose a little,
and to bed again in more ease than last night. This noon there came my
brother and Dr. Tom and Snow to dinner, and by themselves were merry.
12th. In bed the greatest part of this day also, and my swelling in some
measure gone. I received a letter this day from my father, that Sir
R. Bernard do a little fear that my uncle has not observed exactly the
custom of Brampton in his will about his lands there, which puts me to a
great trouble in mind, and at, night wrote to him and to my father about
it, being much troubled at it.
13th (Lord’s day). Did not stir out all day, but rose and dined below,
and this day left off half skirts and put on a wastecoate, and my false
taby wastecoate with gold lace; and in the evening there came Sir W.
Batten to see me, and sat and supped very kindly with me, and so to
prayers and to bed.
14th. This morning I ventured by water abroad to Westminster, but lost
my labour, for Mr. Montagu was not in town. So to the Wardrobe, and
there dined with my Lady, which is the first time I have seen her dine
abroad since her being brought to bed of my Lady Katherine. In the
afternoon Captain Ferrers and I walked abroad to several places, among
others to Mr. Pim’s, my Lord’s Taylour’s, and there he went out with us
to the Fountain tavern and did give us store of wine, and it being the
Duke of York’s birthday, we drank the more to his health. But, Lord!
what a sad story he makes of his being abused by a Dr. of Physique who
is in one part of the tenement wherein he dwells. It would make one
laugh, though I see he is under a great trouble in it. Thence home by
link and found a good answer from my father that Sir R. Bernard do clear
all things as to us and our title to Brampton, which puts my heart in
great ease and quiet.
15th. At the office all the morning, and in the afternoon to Paul’s
Churchyard to a blind place, where Mrs. Goldsborough was to meet me (who
dare not be known where she lives) to treat about the difference which
remains between my uncle and her. But, Lord! to hear how she talks and
how she rails against my uncle would make one mad. But I seemed not to
be troubled at it, but would indeed gladly have an agreement with her.
So I appoint Mr. Moore and she another against Friday next to look into
our papers and to see what can be done to conclude the matter. So home
in much pain by walking too much yesterday.... which much troubles me.
16th. In bed till 12 o’clock. This morning came several maids to my wife
to be hired, and at last she pitched upon one Nell, whose mother, an old
woman, came along with her, but would not be hired under half a year,
which I am pleased at their drollness. This day dined by appointment
with me, Dr. Thos. Pepys and my Coz: Snow, and my brother Tom, upon a
fin of ling and some sounds, neither of which did I ever know before,
but most excellent meat they are both, that in all my life I never eat
the like fish. So after dinner came in W. Joyce and eat and drank and
were merry. So up to my chamber, and put all my papers, at rights, and
in the evening our maid Mary. (who was with us upon trial for a month)
did take leave of us, going as we suppose to be married, for the maid
liked us and we her, but all she said was that she had a mind to live
in a tradesman’s house where there was but one maid. So to supper and to
bed.
17th. At the office all the morning, at noon my wife being gone to my
coz Snow’s with Dr. Thomas Pepys and my brother Tom to a venison pasty
(which proved a pasty of salted pork); by appointment I went with
Captain David Lambert to the Exchequer, and from thence by appointment
he and I were to meet at a cook’s shop to dine. But before I went to
him Captain. Cock, a merchant I had not long known, took me to the Sun
tavern and gave me a glass of sack, and being a man of great observation
and repute, did tell me that he was confident that the Parliament, when
it comes the next month to sit again, would bring trouble with it, and
enquire how the King had disposed of offices and money, before they will
raise more; which, I fear, will bring all things to ruin again.
Thence to the Cook’s and there dined with Captain Lambert and his
father-in-law, and had much talk of Portugall; from whence he is lately
come, and he tells me it is a very poor dirty place; I mean the City and
Court of Lisbon; that the King is a very rude and simple fellow; and,
for reviling of somebody a little while ago, and calling of him cuckold,
was run into.... with a sword and had been killed, had he not told them
that he was their king. That there are there no glass windows, nor will
they have any; which makes sport among our merchants there to talk of
an English factor that, being newly come thither, writ into England that
glass would be a good commodity to send thither, &c. That the King has
his meat sent up by a dozen of lazy guards and in pipkins, sometimes, to
his own table; and sometimes nothing but fruits, and, now and then, half
a hen. And now that the Infanta is become our Queen, she is come to have
a whole hen or goose to her table, which is not ordinary. So home and
to look over my papers that concern the difference between Mrs.
Goldsborough and us; which cost me much pains, but contented me much
after it was done. So at home all the evening and to supper and to bed.
18th. To White Hall, to Mr. Montagu’s, where I met with Mr. Pierce, the
purser, to advise about the things to be sent to my Lord for the Queen’s
provision, and was cleared in it, and now there is all haste made, for
the fleet’s going. At noon to my Lord’s to dinner, and in the afternoon,
leaving my wife there, Mr. Moore and I to Mrs. Goldsborough, who
sent for a friend to meet with us, and so we were talking about the
difference between us till 10 at night. I find it very troublesome, and
have brought it into some hopes of an agreement, I offering to forgive
her L10 that is yet due according to my uncle’s accounts to us. So we
left her friend to advise about it, and I hope to hear of her, for I
would not by any means go to law with a woman of so devilish a tongue as
she has. So to my Lady’s, where I left my wife to lie with Mademoiselle
all night, and I by link home and to bed. This night lying alone, and
the weather cold, and having this last 7 or 8 days been troubled with
a tumor... which is now abated by a poultice of a good handful of bran
with half a pint of vinegar and a pint of water boiled till it be thick,
and then a spoonful of honey put to it and so spread in a cloth and laid
to it, I first put on my waistcoat to lie in all night this year, and
do not intend to put it off again till spring. I met with complaints at
home that my wife left no victuals for them all this day.
19th. At the office all the morning, and at noon Mr. Coventry, who sat
with us all the morning, and Sir G. Carteret, Sir W. Pen, and myself,.
by coach to Captain Marshe’s, at Limehouse, to a house that hath been
their ancestors for this 250 years, close by the lime-house which gives
the name to the place. Here they have a design to get the King to hire
a dock for the herring busses, which is now the great design on foot, to
lie up in. We had a very good and handsome dinner, and excellent wine.
I not being neat in clothes, which I find a great fault in me, could not
be so merry as otherwise, and at all times I am and can be, when I am
in good habitt, which makes me remember my father Osborne’s’ rule for a
gentleman to spare in all things rather than in that. So by coach home,
and so to write letters by post, and so to bed.
20th (Lord’s day). At home in bed all the morning to ease my late
tumour, but up to dinner and much offended in mind at a proud trick my
man Will hath got, to keep his hat on in the house, but I will not speak
of it to him to-day; but I fear I shall be troubled with his pride and
laziness, though in other things he is good enough. To church in the
afternoon, where a sleepy Presbyter preached, and then to Sir W. Batten
who is to go to Portsmouth to-morrow to wait upon the Duke of York, who
goes to take possession and to set in order the garrison there. Supped
at home and to bed.
21st. Early with Mr. Moore by coach to Chelsy, to my Lord Privy Seal’s,
but have missed of coming time enough; and having taken up Mr. Pargiter,
the goldsmith (who is the man of the world that I do most know and
believe to be a cheating rogue), we drank our morning draft there
together of cake and ale, and did make good sport of his losing so much
by the King’s coming in, he having bought much of Crown lands, of which,
God forgive me! I am very glad. At Whitehall, at the Privy Seal, did
with Sir W. Pen take advice about passing of things of his there that
concern his matters of Ireland. Thence to the Wardrobe and dined, and so
against my judgment and conscience (which God forgive, for my very heart
knows that I offend God in breaking my vows herein) to the Opera, which
is now newly begun to act again, after some alteracion of their scene,
which do make it very much worse; but the play, “Love and Honour,” being
the first time of their acting it, is a very good plot, and well done.
So on foot home, and after a little business done in my study and
supper, to bed.
22nd. At the office all the morning, where we had a deputation from the
Duke in his absence, he being gone to Portsmouth, for us to have
the whole disposal and ordering of the Fleet. In the afternoon about
business up and down, and at night to visit Sir R. Slingsby, who is
fallen sick of this new disease, an ague and fever. So home after
visiting my aunt Wight and Mrs. Norbury (who continues still a very
pleasant lady), and to supper, and so to bed.
23rd. To Whitehall, and there, to drink our morning, Sir W. Pen and I to
a friend’s lodging of his (Col. Pr. Swell), and at noon he and I dined
together alone at the Legg in King Street, and so by coach to Chelsy to
my Lord Privy Seal’s about business of Sir William’s, in which we had a
fair admittance to talk with my Lord, and had his answer, and so back to
the Opera, and there I saw again “Love and Honour,” and a very good play
it is. And thence home, calling by the way to see Sir Robert Slingsby,
who continues ill, and so home. This day all our office is invited
against Tuesday next, my Lord Mayor’s day, to dinner with him at
Guildhall. This evening Mr. Holliard came and sat with us, and gave us
both directions to observe.
24th. At the office all morning, at noon Luellin dined with me, and then
abroad to Fleet Street, leaving my wife at Tom’s while I went out
and did a little business. So home again, and went to see Sir Robert
[Slingsby], who continues ill, and this day has not spoke at all, which
makes them all afeard of him. So home.
25th. To Whitehall, and so to dinner at the Wardrobe, where my wife met
me, and there we met with a venison pasty, and my Lady very merry and
very handsome, methought. After dinner my wife and I to the Opera, and
there saw again “Love and Honour,” a play so good that it has been acted
but three times and I have seen them all, and all in this week; which is
too much, and more than I will do again a good while. Coming out of the
house we met Mrs. Pierce and her comrade Mrs. Clifford, and I seeming
willing to stay with them to talk my wife grew angry, and whether she be
jealous or no I know, not, but she loves not that I should speak of
Mrs. Pierce. Home on foot very discontented, in my way I calling at the
Instrument maker, Hunt’s, and there saw my lute, which is now almost
done, it being to have a new neck to it and to be made to double
strings. So home and to bed. This day I did give my man Will a sound
lesson about his forbearing to give us the respect due to a master and
mistress.
26th. This morning Sir W. Pen and I should have gone out of town with
my Lady Batten, to have met Sir William coming back from Portsmouth; at
Kingston, but could not, by reason that my Lord of Peterborough (who is
to go Governor of Tangier) came this morning, with Sir G. Carteret, to
advise with us about completing of the affairs and preparacions for that
place. So at the office all the morning, and in the afternoon Sir W.
Pen, my wife and I to the Theatre, and there saw “The Country Captain,”
the first time it hath been acted this twenty-five years, a play of my
Lord Newcastle’s, but so silly a play as in all my life I never saw, and
the first that ever I was weary of in my life. So home again, and in the
evening news was brought that Sir R. Slingsby, our Comptroller (who
hath this day been sick a week), is dead; which put me into so great a
trouble of mind, that all the night I could not sleep, he being a man
that loved me, and had many qualitys that made me to love him above all
the officers and commissioners in the Navy. Coming home we called at Dan
Rawlinson’s; and there drank good sack, and so home.
27th (Lord’s day). At church in the morning; where in the pew both
Sir Williams and I had much talk about the death of Sir Robert, which
troubles me much; and them in appearance, though I do not believe it;
because I know that he was a cheque to their engrossing the whole trade
of the Navy office. Home to dinner, and in the afternoon to church
again, my wife with me, whose mourning is now grown so old that I am
ashamed to go to church with her. And after church to see my uncle and
aunt Wight, and there staid and talked and supped with them, and were
merry as we could be in their company. Among other things going up into
their chamber to see their two pictures, which I am forced to commend
against my judgment, and also she showed us her cabinet, where she had
very pretty medals and good jewels. So home and to prayers and to bed.
28th. At the office all the morning, and dined at home, and so to Paul’s
Churchyard to Hunt’s, and there found my Theorbo done, which pleases me
very well, and costs me 26s. to the altering. But now he tells me it
is as good a lute as any is in England, and is worth well L10. Hither I
sent for Captain Ferrers to me, who comes with a friend of his, and they
and I to the Theatre, and there saw “Argalus and Parthenia,” where
a woman acted Parthenia, and came afterwards on the stage in men’s
clothes, and had the best legs that ever I saw, and I was very well
pleased with it. Thence to the Ringo alehouse, and thither sent for a
belt-maker, and bought of him a handsome belt for second mourning, which
cost me 24s., and is very neat.
29th. This day I put on my half cloth black stockings and my new coat
of the fashion, which pleases me well, and with my beaver I was (after
office was done) ready to go to my Lord Mayor’s feast, as we are all
invited; but the Sir Williams were both loth to go, because of the
crowd, and so none of us went, and I staid and dined with them, and so
home, and in evening, by consent, we met at the Dolphin, where other
company came to us, and should have been merry, but their wine was so
naught, and all other things out of order, that we were not so, but
staid long at night, and so home and to bed. My mind not pleased
with the spending of this day, because I had proposed a great deal of
pleasure to myself this day at Guildhall. This Lord Mayor, it seems,
brings up again the Custom of Lord Mayors going the day of their
installment to Paul’s, and walking round about the Cross, and offering
something at the altar.
30th. All the morning at the office. At noon played on my Theorbo,
and much pleased therewith; it is now altered with a new neck. In the
afternoon Captain Lambert called me out by appointment, and we walked
together to Deptford, and there in his ship, the Norwich, I got him to
shew me every hole and corner of the ship, much to my information, and
the purpose of my going. So home again, and at Sir W. Batten’s heard how
he had been already at Sir R. Slingsby’s, as we were all invited, and I
intended this night to go, and there he finds all things out of order,
and no such thing done to-night, but pretending that the corps stinks,
they will bury it to-night privately, and so will unbespeak all their
guests, and there shall be no funerall, which I am sorry for, that there
should be nothing done for the honour of Sir Robert, but I fear he hath
left his family in great distraction. Here I staid till late at cards
with my Lady and Mrs. Martha, and so home. I sent for a bottle or two
of wine thither. At my coming home I am sorry to find my wife displeased
with her maid Doll, whose fault is that she cannot keep her peace, but
will always be talking in an angry manner, though it be without
any reason and to no purpose, which I am sorry for and do see the
inconvenience that do attend the increase of a man’s fortune by being
forced to keep more servants, which brings trouble. Sir Henry Vane,
Lambert, and others, are lately sent suddenly away from the Tower,
prisoners to Scilly; but I do not think there is any plot as is said,
but only a pretence; as there was once pretended often against the
Cavaliers.
31st. This morning comes Prior of Brampton to me about the house he has
to buy of me, but I was forced to be at the office all the morning, and
so could not talk with him. And so, after the office was done, and dined
at home, I went to my brother Tom’s, and there met him. He demanded
some abatement, he having agreed with my father for Barton’s house, at a
price which I told him I could not meddle with, but that as for anything
to secure his title to them I was ready, and so we parted. Thence to
Sir Robert Bernard, and as his client did ask his advice about my uncle
Thomas’s case and ours as to Gravely, and in short he tells me that
there is little hopes of recovering it or saving his annuity, which do
trouble me much, but God’s will be done. Hence, with my mind full of
trouble, to my uncle Fenner’s, when at the alehouse I found him drinking
and very jolly and youthsome, and as one that I believe will in a little
time get a wife. So home.