April 1st. Within all the morning and at the office. At noon my wife and
I (having paid our maid Nell her whole wages, who has been with me half
a year, and now goes away for altogether) to the Wardrobe, where my
Lady and company had almost dined. We sat down and dined. Here was Mr.
Herbert, son to Sir Charles Herbert, that lately came with letters from
my Lord Sandwich to the King. After some discourse we remembered one
another to have been together at the tavern when Mr. Fanshaw took his
leave of me at his going to Portugall with Sir Richard. After dinner he
and I and the two young ladies and my wife to the playhouse, the Opera,
and saw “The Mayde in the Mill,” a pretty good play. In the middle of
the play my Lady Paulina, who had taken physique this morning, had need
to go forth, and so I took the poor lady out and carried her to the
Grange, and there sent the maid of the house into a room to her, and
she did what she had a mind to, and so back again to the play; and that
being done, in their coach I took them to Islington, and then, after
a walk in the fields, I took them to the great cheese-cake house and
entertained them, and so home, and after an hour’s stay with my Lady,
their coach carried us home, and so weary to bed.
2nd. Mr. Moore came to me, and he and I walked to the Spittle an hour or
two before my Lord Mayor and the blewcoat boys come, which at last they
did, and a fine sight of charity it is indeed. We got places and staid
to hear a sermon; but, it being a Presbyterian one, it was so long, that
after above an hour of it we went away, and I home and dined; and then
my wife and I by water to the Opera, and there saw “The Bondman” most
excellently acted; and though we had seen it so often, yet I never
liked it better than to-day, Ianthe acting Cleora’s part very well now
Roxalana is gone. We are resolved to see no more plays till Whitsuntide,
we having been three days together. Met Mr. Sanchy, Smithes; Gale, and
Edlin at the play, but having no great mind to spend money, I left them
there. And so home and to supper, and then dispatch business, and so to
bed.
3rd. At home and at the office all day. At night to bed.
4th. By barge Sir George, Sir Williams both and I to Deptford, and there
fell to pay off the Drake and Hampshire, then to dinner, Sir George to
his lady at his house, and Sir Wm. Pen to Woolwich, and Sir W. Batten
and I to the tavern, where much company came to us and our dinner, and
somewhat short by reason of their taking part away with them. Then to
pay the rest of the Hampshire and the Paradox, and were at it till 9 at
night, and so by night home by barge safe, and took Tom Hater with some
that the clerks had to carry home along with us in the barge, the rest
staying behind to pay tickets, but came home after us that night. So
being come home, to bed. I was much troubled to-day to see a dead man
lie floating upon the waters, and had done (they say) these four days,
and nobody takes him up to bury him, which is very barbarous.
5th. At the office till almost noon, and then broke up. Then came Sir
G. Carteret, and he and I walked together alone in the garden, taking
notice of some faults in the office, particularly of Sir W. Batten’s,
and he seemed to be much pleased with me, and I hope will be the ground
of a future interest of mine in him, which I shall be glad of. Then
with my wife abroad, she to the Wardrobe and there dined, and I to the
Exchange and so to the Wardrobe, but they had dined. After dinner my
wife and the two ladies to see my aunt Wight, and thence met me at home.
From thence (after Sir W. Batten and I had viewed our houses with a
workman in order to the raising of our roofs higher to enlarge our
houses) I went with them by coach first to Moorfields and there walked,
and thence to Islington and had a fine walk in the fields there, and so,
after eating and drinking, home with them, and so by water with my wife
home, and after supper to bed.
6th (Lord’s day). By water to White Hall, to Sir G. Carteret, to
give him an account of the backwardness of the ships we have hired to
Portugall: at which he is much troubled. Thence to the Chappell, and
there, though crowded, heard a very honest sermon before the King by a
Canon of Christ Church, upon these words, “Having a form of godliness,
but denying,” &c. Among other things, did much insist upon the sin of
adultery: which methought might touch the King, and the more because he
forced it into his sermon, methinks, besides his text. So up and saw
the King at dinner; and thence with Sir G. Carteret to his lodgings
to dinner, with him and his lady, where I saluted her, and was well
received as a stranger by her; she seems a good lady, and all their
discourse, which was very much, was upon their sufferings and services
for the King. Yet not without some trouble, to see that some that had
been much bound to them, do now neglect them; and others again most
civil that have received least from them: and I do believe that he hath
been a good servant to the King. Thence to walk in the Park, where the
King and Duke did walk round the Park. After I was tired I went and took
boat to Milford stairs, and so to Graye’s Inn walks, the first time
I have been there this year, and it is very pleasant and full of good
company. When tired I walked to the Wardrobe, and there staid a little
with my Lady, and so by water from Paul’s Wharf (where my boat staid for
me), home and supped with my wife with Sir W. Pen, and so home and to
bed.
7th. By water to Whitehall and thence to Westminster, and staid at the
Parliament-door long to speak with Mr. Coventry, which vexed me. Thence
to the Lords’ House, and stood within the House, while the Bishops and
Lords did stay till the Chancellor’s coming, and then we were put out,
and they to prayers. There comes a Bishop; and while he was rigging
himself, he bid his man listen at the door, whereabout in the prayers
they were but the man told him something, but could not tell whereabouts
it was in the prayers, nor the Bishop neither, but laughed at the
conceit; so went in: but, God forgive me! I did tell it by and by to
people, and did say that the man said that they were about something of
saving their souls, but could not tell whereabouts in the prayers that
was. I sent in a note to my Lord Privy Seal, and he came out to me;
and I desired he would make another deputy for me, because of my great
business of the Navy this month; but he told me he could not do it
without the King’s consent, which vexed me. So to Dr. Castle’s, and
there did get a promise from his clerk that his master should officiate
for me to-morrow. Thence by water to Tom’s, and there with my wife took
coach and to the old Exchange, where having bought six large Holland
bands, I sent her home, and myself found out my uncle Wight and Mr.
Rawlinson, and with them went to the tatter’s house to dinner, and there
had a good dinner of cold meat and good wine, but was troubled in my
head after the little wine I drank, and so home to my office, and there
did promise to drink no more wine but one glass a meal till Whitsuntide
next upon any score. Mrs. Bowyer and her daughters being at my house I
forbore to go to them, having business and my head disturbed, but staid
at my office till night, and then to walk upon the leads with my wife,
and so to my chamber and thence to bed. The great talk is, that the
Spaniards and the Hollanders do intend to set upon the Portuguese by
sea, at Lisbon, as soon as our fleet is come away; and by that means our
fleet is not likely to come yet these two months or three; which I hope
is not true.
8th. Up very early and to my office, and there continued till noon. So
to dinner, and in comes uncle Fenner and the two Joyces. I sent for a
barrel of oysters and a breast of veal roasted, and were very merry; but
I cannot down with their dull company and impertinent. After dinner to
the office again. So at night by coach to Whitehall, and Mr. Coventry
not being there I brought my business of the office to him, it being
almost dark, and so came away and took up my wife. By the way home and
on Ludgate Hill there being a stop I bought two cakes, and they were our
supper at home.
9th. Sir George Carteret, Sir Williams both and myself all the morning
at the office passing the Victualler’s accounts, and at noon to dinner
at the Dolphin, where a good chine of beef and other good cheer. At
dinner Sir George showed me an account in French of the great famine,
which is to the greatest extremity in some part of France at this day,
which is very strange.
[On the 5th of June following, Louis, notwithstanding the scarcity,
gave that splendid carousal in the court before the Tuileries, from
which the place has ever since taken its name.--B.]
So to the Exchange, Mrs. Turner (who I found sick in bed), and several
other places about business, and so home. Supper and to bed.
10th. To Westminster with the two Sir Williams by water, and did several
businesses, and so to the Wardrobe with Mr. Moore to dinner. Yesterday
came Col. Talbot with letters from Portugall, that the Queen is
resolved to embarque for England this week. Thence to the office all the
afternoon. My Lord Windsor came to us to discourse of his affairs, and
to take his leave of us; he being to go Governor of Jamaica with this
fleet that is now going. Late at the office. Home with my mind full of
business. So to bed.
11th. Up early to my lute and a song, then about six o’clock with Sir
W. Pen by water to Deptford; and among the ships now going to Portugall
with men and horse, to see them dispatched. So to Greenwich; and had
a fine pleasant walk to Woolwich, having in our company Captn. Minnes,
with whom I was much pleased to hear him talk in fine language, but
pretty well for all that. Among other things, he and the other Captains
that were with us tell me that negros drowned look white and lose their
blackness, which I never heard before. At Woolwich, up and down to do
the same business; and so back to Greenwich by water, and there while
something is dressing for our dinner, Sir William and I walked into the
Park, where the King hath planted trees and made steps in the hill up to
the Castle, which is very magnificent. So up and down the house, which
is now repayring in the Queen’s lodgings. So to dinner at the Globe, and
Captain Lambert of the Duke’s pleasure boat came to us and dined with
us, and were merry, and so home, and I in the evening to the Exchange,
and spoke with uncle Wight, and so home and walked with my wife on the
leads late, and so the barber came to me, and so to bed very weary,
which I seldom am.
12th. At the office all the morning, where, among other things,
being provoked by some impertinence of Sir W. Batten’s, I called him
unreasonable man, at which he was very angry and so was I, but I think
we shall not much fall out about it. After dinner to several places
about business, and so home and wrote letters at my office, and one to
Mr. Coventry about business, and at the close did excuse my not waiting
on him myself so often as others do for want of leisure. So home and to
bed.
13th (Lord’s day). In the morning to Paul’s, where I heard a pretty good
sermon, and thence to dinner with my Lady at the Wardrobe; and after
much talk with her after dinner, I went to the Temple to Church, and
there heard another: by the same token a boy, being asleep, fell down
a high seat to the ground, ready to break his neck, but got no hurt.
Thence to Graye’s Inn walkes; and there met Mr. Pickering and walked
with him two hours till 8 o’clock till I was quite weary. His discourse
most about the pride of the Duchess of York; and how all the ladies envy
my Lady Castlemaine. He intends to go to Portsmouth to meet the Queen
this week; which is now the discourse and expectation of the town. So
home, and no sooner come but Sir W. Warren comes to me to bring me a
paper of Field’s (with whom we have lately had a great deal of trouble
at the office), being a bitter petition to the King against our office
for not doing justice upon his complaint to us of embezzlement of the
King’s stores by one Turpin. I took Sir William to Sir W. Pen’s (who was
newly come from Walthamstow), and there we read it and discoursed, but
we do not much fear it, the King referring it to the Duke of York. So we
drank a glass or two of wine, and so home and I to bed, my wife being in
bed already.
14th. Being weary last night I lay very long in bed to-day, talking with
my wife, and persuaded her to go to Brampton, and take Sarah with her,
next week, to cure her ague by change of ayre, and we agreed all things
therein. We rose, and at noon dined, and then we to the Paynter’s, and
there sat the last time for my little picture, which I hope will please
me. Then to Paternoster Row to buy things for my wife against her
going. So home and walked upon the leads with my wife, and whether she
suspected anything or no I know not, but she is quite off of her going
to Brampton, which something troubles me, and yet all my design was that
I might the freer go to Portsmouth when the rest go to pay off the yards
there, which will be very shortly. But I will get off if I can. So to
supper and to bed.
15th. At the office all the morning. Dined at home. Again at the office
in the afternoon to despatch letters and so home, and with my wife, by
coach, to the New Exchange, to buy her some things; where we saw some
new-fashion pettycoats of sarcenett, with a black broad lace printed
round the bottom and before, very handsome, and my wife had a mind to
one of them, but we did not then buy one. But thence to Mr. Bowyer’s,
thinking to have spoke to them for our Sarah to go to Huntsmore for a
while to get away her ague, but we had not opportunity to do it, and so
home and to bed.
16th. Up early and took my physique; it wrought all the morning well. At
noon dined, and all the afternoon, Mr. Hater to that end coming to
me, he and I did go about my abstracting all the contracts made in the
office since we came into it. So at night to bed.
17th. To Mr. Holliard’s in the morning, thinking to be let blood, but
he was gone out. So to White Hall, thinking to have had a Seal at Privy
Seal, but my Lord did not come, and so I walked back home and staid
within all the afternoon, there being no office kept to-day, but in the
evening Sir W. Batten sent for me to tell me that he had this day spoke
to the Duke about raising our houses, and he hath given us leave to do
it, at which, being glad, I went home merry, and after supper to bed.
18th. This morning sending the boy down into the cellar for some beer
I followed him with a cane, and did there beat him for his staying of
awards and other faults, and his sister came to me down and begged for
him. So I forebore, and afterwards, in my wife’s chamber, did there talk
to Jane how much I did love the boy for her sake, and how much it do
concern to correct the boy for his faults, or else he would be undone.
So at last she was well pleased. This morning Sir G. Carteret, Sir
W. Batten and I met at the office, and did conclude of our going to
Portsmouth next week, in which my mind is at a great loss what to do
with my wife, for I cannot persuade her to go to Brampton, and I am loth
to leave her at, home. All the afternoon in several places to put things
in order for my going. At night home and to bed.
19th. This morning, before we sat, I went to Aldgate; and at the corner
shop, a draper’s, I stood, and did see Barkestead, Okey, and Corbet,
drawn towards the gallows at Tiburne; and there they were hanged and
quartered. They all looked very cheerful; but I hear they all die
defending what they did to the King to be just; which is very strange.
So to the office and then home to dinner, and Captain David Lambert came
to take his leave of me, he being to go back to Tangier there to lie.
Then abroad about business, and in the evening did get a bever, an old
one, but a very good one, of Sir W. Batten, for which I must give him
something; but I am very well pleased with it. So after writing by the
post to bed.
20th (Lord’s day). My intention being to go this morning to White Hall
to hear South, my Lord Chancellor’s chaplain, the famous preacher and
oratour of Oxford, (who the last Lord’s day did sink down in the pulpit
before the King, and could not proceed,) it did rain, and the wind
against me, that I could by no means get a boat or coach to carry me;
and so I staid at Paul’s, where the judges did all meet, and heard a
sermon, it being the first Sunday of the term; but they had a very
poor sermon. So to my Lady’s and dined, and so to White Hall to Sir G.
Carteret, and so to the Chappell, where I challenged my pew as Clerk of
the Privy Seal and had it, and then walked home with Mr. Blagrave to
his old house in the Fishyard, and there he had a pretty kinswoman that
sings, and we did sing some holy things, and afterwards others came in
and so I left them, and by water through the bridge (which did trouble
me) home, and so to bed.
21st: This morning I attempted to persuade my wife in bed to go to
Brampton this week, but she would not, which troubles me, and seeing
that I could keep it no longer from her, I told her that I was resolved
to go to Portsmouth to-morrow. Sir W. Batten goes to Chatham to-day, and
will be back again to come for Portsmouth after us on Thursday next.
I went to Westminster and several places about business. Then at noon
dined with my Lord Crew; and after dinner went up to Sir Thos. Crew’s
chamber, who is still ill. He tells me how my Lady Duchess of Richmond
and Castlemaine had a falling out the other day; and she calls the
latter Jane Shore, and did hope to see her come to the same end that she
did. Coming down again to my Lord, he told me that news was come that
the Queen is landed; at which I took leave, and by coach hurried to
White Hall, the bells ringing in several places; but I found there no
such matter, nor anything like it. So I went by appointment to Anthony
Joyce’s, where I sat with his wife and Matt. Joyce an hour or two, and
so her husband not being at home, away I went and in Cheapside spied him
and took him into the coach. Home, and there I found my Lady Jemimah,
and Anne, and Madamoiselle come to see my wife, whom I left, and to talk
with Joyce about a project I have of his and my joyning, to get some
money for my brother Tom and his kinswoman to help forward with her
portion if they should marry. I mean in buying of tallow of him at a low
rate for the King, and Tom should have the profit; but he tells me the
profit will be considerable, at which I was troubled, but I have agreed
with him to serve some in my absence. He went away, and then came Mr.
Moore and sat late with me talking about business, and so went away and
I to bed.
22nd. After taking leave of my wife, which we could hardly do kindly,
because of her mind to go along with me, Sir W. Pen and I took coach and
so over the bridge to Lambeth, W. Bodham and Tom Hewet going as clerks
to Sir W. Pen, and my Will for me. Here we got a dish of buttered eggs,
and there staid till Sir G. Carteret came to us from White Hall, who
brought Dr. Clerke with him, at which I was very glad, and so we set
out, and I was very much pleased with his company, and were very merry
all the way .... We came to Gilford and there passed our time in the
garden, cutting of sparagus for supper, the best that ever I eat in my
life but in the house last year. Supped well, and the Doctor and I to
bed together, calling cozens from his name and my office.
23d. Up early, and to Petersfield, and there dined well; and thence got
a countryman to guide us by Havant, to avoid going through the Forest;
but he carried us much out of the way, and upon our coming we sent away
an express to Sir W. Batten to stop his coming, which I did project to
make good my oath, that my wife should come if any of our wives came,
which my Lady Batten did intend to do with her husband. The Doctor and
I lay together at Wiard’s, the chyrurgeon’s, in Portsmouth, his wife
a very pretty woman. We lay very well and merrily; in the morning,
concluding him to be of the eldest blood and house of the Clerkes,
because that all the fleas came to him and not to me.
24th. Up and to Sir G. Carteret’s lodgings at Mrs. Stephens’s, where
we keep our table all the time we are here. Thence all of us to the
Pay-house; but the books not being ready, we went to church to the
lecture, where there was my Lord Ormond and Manchester, and much London
company, though not so much as I expected. Here we had a very good
sermon upon this text: “In love serving one another;” which pleased me
very well. No news of the Queen at all. So to dinner; and then to the
Pay all the afternoon. Then W. Pen and I walked to the King’s Yard, and
there lay at Mr. Tippets’s, where exceeding well treated.
25th. All the morning at Portsmouth, at the Pay, and then to dinner,
and again to the Pay; and at night got the Doctor to go lie with me, and
much pleased with his company; but I was much troubled in my eyes, by
reason of the healths I have this day been forced to drink.
26th. Sir George’ and I, and his clerk Mr. Stephens, and Mr. Holt our
guide, over to Gosport; and so rode to Southampton. In our way, besides
my Lord Southampton’s’ parks and lands, which in one view we could see
L6,000 per annum, we observed a little church-yard, where the graves are
accustomed to be all sowed with sage.
[Gough says, “It is the custom at this day all over Wales to strew
the graves, both within and without the church, with green herbs,
branches of box, flowers, rushes, and flags, for one year, after
which such as can afford it lay down a stone.”--Brand’s Popular
Antiquities, edited W. C. Hazlitt, vol. ii., p. 218.]
At Southampton we went to the Mayor’s and there dined, and had sturgeon
of their own catching the last week, which do not happen in twenty
years, and it was well ordered. They brought us also some caveare, which
I attempted to order, but all to no purpose, for they had neither given
it salt enough, nor are the seedes of the roe broke, but are all in
berryes. The towne is one most gallant street, and is walled round with
stone, &c., and Bevis’s picture upon one of the gates; many old walls of
religious houses, and the key, well worth seeing. After dinner to horse
again, being in nothing troubled but the badness of my hat, which I
borrowed to save my beaver. Home by night and wrote letters to London,
and so with Sir W. Pen to the Dock to bed.
27th (Sunday). Sir W. Pen got trimmed before me, and so took the coach
to Portsmouth to wait on my Lord Steward to church, and sent the coach
for me back again. So I rode to church, and met my Lord Chamberlain upon
the walls of the garrison, who owned and spoke to me. I followed him
in the crowd of gallants through the Queen’s lodgings to chappell; the
rooms being all rarely furnished, and escaped hardly being set on fire
yesterday. At chappell we had a most excellent and eloquent sermon. And
here I spoke and saluted Mrs. Pierce, but being in haste could not learn
of her where her lodgings are, which vexes me. Thence took Ned Pickering
to dinner with us, and the two Marshes, father and Son, dined with us,
and very merry. After dinner Sir W. Batten and I, the Doctor, and Ned
Pickering by coach to the Yard, and there on board the Swallow in the
dock hear our navy chaplain preach a sad sermon, full of nonsense and
false Latin; but prayed for the Right Honourable the principal officers.
[Principal officers of the navy, of which body Pepys was one as
Clerk of the Acts.]
After sermon took him to Mr. Tippets’s to drink a glass of wine, and so
at 4 back again by coach to Portsmouth, and then visited the Mayor, Mr.
Timbrell, our anchor-smith, who showed us the present they have for the
Queen; which is a salt-sellar of silver, the walls christall, with four
eagles and four greyhounds standing up at the top to bear up a dish;
which indeed is one of the neatest pieces of plate that ever I saw, and
the case is very pretty also.
[A salt-cellar answering this description is preserved at the
Tower.]
This evening came a merchantman in the harbour, which we hired at London
to carry horses to Portugall; but, Lord! what running there was to the
seaside to hear what news, thinking it had come from the Queen. In the
evening Sir George, Sir W. Pen and I walked round the walls, and thence
we two with the Doctor to the yard, and so to supper and to bed.
28th. The Doctor and I begun philosophy discourse exceeding pleasant.
He offers to bring me into the college of virtuosoes--[The Royal
Society.]--and my Lord Brouncker’s acquaintance, and to show me some
anatomy, which makes me very glad; and I shall endeavour it when I come
to London. Sir W. Pen much troubled upon letters came last night. Showed
me one of Dr. Owen’s
[John Owen, D.D., a learned Nonconformist divine, and a voluminous
theological writer, born 1616, made Dean of Christ Church in 1653 by
the Parliament, and ejected in 1659-60. He died at Ealing in 1683.]
to his son,--[William Penn, the celebrated Quaker.]--whereby it appears
his son is much perverted in his opinion by him; which I now perceive is
one thing that hath put Sir William so long off the hooks. By coach
to the Pay-house, and so to work again, and then to dinner, and to it
again, and so in the evening to the yard, and supper and bed.
29th. At the pay all the morning, and so to dinner; and then to it again
in the afternoon, and after our work was done, Sir G. Carteret, Sir W.
Pen and I walked forth, and I spied Mrs. Pierce and another lady passing
by. So I left them and went to the ladies, and walked with them up
and down, and took them to Mrs. Stephens, and there gave them wine
and sweetmeats, and were very merry; and then comes the Doctor, and we
carried them by coach to their lodging, which was very poor, but
the best they could get, and such as made much mirth among us. So I
appointed one to watch when the gates of the town were ready to be shut,
and to give us notice; and so the Doctor and I staid with them playing
and laughing, and at last were forced to bid good night for fear
of being locked into the town all night. So we walked to the yard,
designing how to prevent our going to London tomorrow, that we might be
merry with these ladies, which I did. So to supper and merrily to bed.
30th. This morning Sir G. Carteret came down to the yard, and there
we mustered over all the men and determined of some regulations in the
yard, and then to dinner, all the officers of the yard with us, and
after dinner walk to Portsmouth, there to pay off the Success, which we
did pretty early, and so I took leave of Sir W. Pen, he desiring to
know whither I went, but I would not tell him. I went to the ladies, and
there took them and walked to the Mayor’s to show them the present, and
then to the Dock, where Mr. Tippets made much of them, and thence back
again, the Doctor being come to us to their lodgings, whither came
our supper by my appointment, and we very merry, playing at cards and
laughing very merry till 12 o’clock at night, and so having staid so
long (which we had resolved to stay till they bade us be gone), which
yet they did not do but by consent, we bade them good night, and so past
the guards, and went to the Doctor’s lodgings, and there lay with him,
our discourse being much about the quality of the lady with Mrs. Pierce,
she being somewhat old and handsome, and painted and fine, and had a
very handsome maid with her, which we take to be the marks of a bawd.
But Mrs. Pierce says she is a stranger to her and met by chance in the
coach, and pretends to be a dresser. Her name is Eastwood. So to sleep
in a bad bed about one o’clock in the morning. This afternoon after
dinner comes Mr. Stephenson, one of the burgesses of the town, to
tell me that the Mayor and burgesses did desire my acceptance of a
burgess-ship, and were ready at the Mayor’s to make me one. So I went,
and there they were all ready, and did with much civility give me my
oath, and after the oath, did by custom shake me all by the hand. So
I took them to a tavern and made them drink, and paying the reckoning,
went away. They having first in the tavern made Mr. Waith also a
burgess, he coming in while we were drinking. It cost me a piece in gold
to the Town Clerk, and 10s. to the Bayliffes, and spent 6s.