May 1st. Sir G. Carteret, Sir W. Pen, and myself, with our clerks,
set out this morning from Portsmouth very early, and got by noon to
Petersfield; several officers of the Yard accompanying us so far.
Here we dined and were merry. At dinner comes my Lord Carlingford
from London, going to Portsmouth: tells us that the Duchess of York
is brought to bed of a girl,--[Mary, afterwards Queen of England.]--at
which I find nobody pleased; and that Prince Rupert and the Duke of
Buckingham are sworn of the Privy Councell. He himself made a dish with
eggs of the butter of the Sparagus, which is very fine meat, which
I will practise hereafter. To horse again after dinner, and got to
Gilford, where after supper I to bed, having this day been offended by
Sir W. Pen’s foolish talk, and I offending him with my answers. Among
others he in discourse complaining of want of confidence, did ask me to
lend him a grain or two, which I told him I thought he was better stored
with than myself, before Sir George. So that I see I must keep a
greater distance than I have done, and I hope I may do it because of
the interest which I am making with Sir George. To bed all alone, and my
Will in the truckle bed.
[According to the original Statutes of Corpus Christi Coll. Oxon,
a Scholar slept in a truckle bed below each Fellow. Called also
“a trindle bed.” Compare Hall’s description of an obsequious tutor:
“He lieth in a truckle bed
While his young master lieth o’er his head.”
Satires, ii. 6, 5.
The bed was drawn in the daytime under the high bed of the tutor.
See Wordsworth’s “University Life in the Eighteenth Century.”--M. B.]
2nd. Early to coach again and to Kingston, where we baited a little, and
presently to coach again and got early to London, and I found all well
at home, and Mr. Hunt and his wife had dined with my wife to-day, and
been very kind to my wife in my absence. After I had washed myself, it
having been the hottest day that has been this year, I took them all
by coach to Mrs. Hunt’s, and I to Dr. Clerke’s lady, and gave her her
letter and token. She is a very fine woman, and what with her person
and the number of fine ladies that were with her, I was much out of
countenance, and could hardly carry myself like a man among them; but
however, I staid till my courage was up again, and talked to them, and
viewed her house, which is most pleasant, and so drank and good-night.
And so to my Lord’s lodgings, where by chance I spied my Lady’s coach,
and found her and my Lady Wright there, and so I spoke to them, and they
being gone went to Mr. Hunt’s for my wife, and so home and to bed.
3rd. Sir W. Pen and I by coach to St. James’s, and there to the Duke’s
Chamber, who had been a-hunting this morning and is come back again.
Thence to Westminster, where I met Mr. Moore, and hear that Mr. Watkins’
is suddenly dead since my going. To dinner to my Lady Sandwich, and Sir
Thomas Crew’s children coming thither, I took them and all my Ladys to
the Tower and showed them the lions
[The Tower Menagerie was not abolished until the reign of
William IV.]
and all that was to be shown, and so took them to my house, and there
made much of them, and so saw them back to my Lady’s. Sir Thomas Crew’s
children being as pretty and the best behaved that ever I saw of their
age. Thence, at the goldsmith’s, took my picture in little,--[Miniature
by Savill]--which is now done, home with me, and pleases me exceedingly
and my wife. So to supper and to bed, it being exceeding hot.
4th (Lord’s day). Lay long talking with my wife, then Mr. Holliard came
to me and let me blood, about sixteen ounces, I being exceedingly full
of blood and very good. I begun to be sick; but lying upon my back I
was presently well again, and did give him 5s. for his pains, and so
we parted, and I, to my chamber to write down my journall from the
beginning of my late journey to this house. Dined well, and after
dinner, my arm tied up with a black ribbon, I walked with my wife to my
brother Tom’s; our boy waiting on us with his sword, which this day
he begins to wear, to outdo Sir W. Pen’s boy, who this day, and Six W.
Batten’s too, begin to wear new livery; but I do take mine to be the
neatest of them all. I led my wife to Mrs. Turner’s pew, and the church
being full, it being to hear a Doctor who is to preach a probacon
sermon, I went out to the Temple and there walked, and so when church
was done went to Mrs. Turner’s, and after a stay there, my wife and I
walked to Grays Inn, to observe fashions of the ladies, because of my
wife’s making some clothes. Thence homewards, and called in at Antony
Joyce’s, where we found his wife brought home sick from church, and was
in a convulsion fit. So home and to Sir W. Pen’s and there supped, and
so to prayers at home and to bed.
5th. My arme not being well, I staid within all the morning, and dined
alone at home, my wife being gone out to buy some things for herself,
and a gown for me to dress myself in. And so all the afternoon looking
over my papers, and at night walked upon the leads, and so to bed.
6th. This morning I got my seat set up on the leads, which pleases me
well. So to the office, and thence to the Change, but could not meet
with my uncle Wight. So home to dinner and then out again to several
places to pay money and to understand my debts, and so home and walked
with my wife on the leads, and so to supper and to bed. I find it a hard
matter to settle to business after so much leisure and pleasure.
7th. Walked to Westminster; where I understand the news that Mr. Montagu
is this last night come to the King with news, that he left the Queen
and fleet in the Bay of Biscay, coming this wayward; and that he
believes she is now at the Isle of Scilly. So at noon to my Lord Crew’s
and there dined, and after dinner Sir Thos. Crew and I talked together,
and among other instances of the simple light discourse that sometimes
is in the Parliament House, he told me how in the late business of
Chymny money, when all occupiers were to pay, it was questioned whether
women were under that name to pay, and somebody rose and said that they
were not occupiers, but occupied. Thence to Paul’s Church Yard; where
seeing my Lady’s Sandwich and Carteret, and my wife (who this day made
a visit the first time to my Lady Carteret), come by coach, and going to
Hide Park, I was resolved to follow them; and so went to Mrs. Turner’s:
and thence found her out at the Theatre, where I saw the last act of
the “Knight of the Burning Pestle,” which pleased me not at all. And so
after the play done, she and The. Turner and Mrs. Lucin and I, in her
coach to the Park; and there found them out, and spoke to them; and
observed many fine ladies, and staid till all were gone almost. And so
to Mrs. Turner’s, and there supped, and so walked home, and by and by
comes my wife home, brought by my Lady Carteret to the gate, and so to
bed.
8th. At the office all the morning doing business alone, and then to the
Wardrobe, where my Lady going out with the children to dinner I staid
not, but returned home, and was overtaken in St. Paul’s Churchyard by
Sir G. Carteret in his coach, and so he carried me to the Exchange,
where I staid awhile. He told me that the Queen and the fleet were in
Mount’s Bay on Monday last, and that the Queen endures her sickness
pretty well. He also told me how Sir John Lawson hath done some
execution upon the Turks in the Straight, of which I am glad, and told
the news the first on the Exchange, and was much followed by merchants
to tell it. So home and to dinner, and by and by to the office, and
after the rest gone (my Lady Albemarle being this day at dinner at Sir
W. Batten’s) Sir G. Carteret comes, and he and I walked in the garden,
and, among other discourse, tells me that it is Mr. Coventry that is to
come to us as a Commissioner of the Navy; at which he is much vexed, and
cries out upon Sir W. Pen, and threatens him highly. And looking upon
his lodgings, which are now enlarging, he in passion cried, “Guarda
mi spada; for, by God, I may chance to keep him in Ireland, when he is
there:” for Sir W. Pen is going thither with my Lord Lieutenant. But it
is my design to keep much in with Sir George; and I think I have
begun very well towards it. So to the office, and was there late doing
business, and so with my head full of business I to bed.
9th. Up and to my office, and so to dinner at home, and then to several
places to pay my debts, and then to Westminster to Dr. Castle, who
discoursed with me about Privy Seal business, which I do not much mind,
it being little worth, but by Watkins’s--[clerk of the Privy Seal]--late
sudden death we are like to lose money. Thence to Mr. de Cretz, and
there saw some good pieces that he hath copyed of the King’s pieces,
some of Raphael and Michael Angelo; and I have borrowed an Elizabeth
of his copying to hang up in my house, and sent it home by Will. Thence
with Mr. Salisbury, who I met there, into Covent Garden to an alehouse,
to see a picture that hangs there, which is offered for 20s., and I
offered fourteen--but it is worth much more money--but did not buy it,
I having no mind to break my oath. Thence to see an Italian puppet play
that is within the rayles there, which is very pretty, the best that
ever I saw, and great resort of gallants. So to the Temple and by water
home, and so walk upon the leads, and in the dark there played upon my
flageolette, it being a fine still evening, and so to supper and to bed.
This day I paid Godfrey’s debt of 40 and odd pounds. The Duke of York
went last night to Portsmouth; so that I believe the Queen is near.
10th. By myself at the office all the morning drawing up instructions
for Portsmouth yard in those things wherein we at our late being there
did think fit to reform, and got them signed this morning to send away
to-night, the Duke being now there. At noon to the Wardrobe; there
dined. My Lady told me how my Lady Castlemaine do speak of going to lie
in at Hampton Court; which she and all our ladies are much troubled at,
because of the King’s being forced to show her countenance in the sight
of the Queen when she comes. Back to the office and there all afternoon,
and in the evening comes Sir G. Carteret, and he and I did hire a ship
for Tangier, and other things together; and I find that he do single
me out to join with me apart from the rest, which I am much glad of. So
home, and after being trimmed, to bed.
11th (Lord’s day). To our church in the morning, where, our Minister
being out of town, a dull, flat Presbiter preached. Dined at home,
and my wife’s brother with us, we having a good dish of stewed beef of
Jane’s own dressing, which was well done, and a piece of sturgeon of
a barrel sent me by Captain Cocke. In the afternoon to White Hall; and
there walked an hour or two in the Park, where I saw the King now out
of mourning, in a suit laced with gold and silver, which it was said
was out of fashion. Thence to the Wardrobe; and there consulted with the
ladies about our going to Hampton Court to-morrow, and thence home, and
after settled business there my wife and I to the Wardrobe, and there we
lay all night in Captain Ferrers’ chambers, but the bed so soft that I
could not sleep that hot night.
12th. Mr. Townsend called us up by four o’clock; and by five the three
ladies, my wife and I, and Mr. Townsend, his son and daughter, were got
to the barge and set out. We walked from Mortlake to Richmond, and so
to boat again. And from Teddington to Hampton Court Mr. Townsend and I
walked again. And then met the ladies, and were showed the whole house
by Mr. Marriott; which is indeed nobly furnished, particularly the
Queen’s bed, given her by the States of Holland; a looking-glass sent by
the Queen-mother from France, hanging in the Queen’s chamber, and many
brave pictures. So to Mr. Marriott’s, and there we rested ourselves and
drank. And so to barge again, and there we had good victuals and wine,
and were very merry; and got home about eight at night very well. So
my wife and I took leave of my Ladies, and home by a hackney-coach, the
easiest that ever I met with, and so to bed.
14th. All the morning at Westminster and elsewhere about business, and
dined at the Wardrobe; and after dinner, sat talking an hour or two
alone with my Lady. She is afeard that my Lady Castlemaine will keep
still with the King, and I am afeard she will not, for I love her well.
Thence to my brother’s, and finding him in a lie about the lining of my
new morning gown, saying that it was the same with the outside, I was
very angry with him and parted so. So home after an hour stay at Paul’s
Churchyard, and there came Mr. Morelock of Chatham, and brought me a
stately cake, and I perceive he has done the same to the rest, of which
I was glad; so to bed.
15th. To Westminster; and at the Privy Seal I saw Mr. Coventry’s seal
for his being Commissioner with us, at which I know not yet whether to
be glad or otherwise. So doing several things by the way, I walked home,
and after dinner to the office all the afternoon. At night, all the
bells of the town rung, and bonfires made for the joy of the Queen’s
arrival, who came and landed at Portsmouth last night. But I do not see
much thorough joy, but only an indifferent one, in the hearts of people,
who are much discontented at the pride and luxury of the Court, and
running in debt.
16th. Up early, Mr. Hater and I to the office, and there I made an end
of my book of contracts which I have been making an abstract of. Dined
at home, and spent most of the day at the office. At night to supper and
bed.
17th. Upon a letter this morning from Mr. Moore, I went to my cozen
Turner’s chamber, and there put him drawing a replication to Tom Trice’s
answer speedily. So to Whitehall and there met Mr. Moore, and I walked
long in Westminster Hall, and thence with him to the Wardrobe to dinner,
where dined Mrs. Sanderson, the mother of the maids, and after dinner
my Lady and she and I on foot to Pater Noster Row to buy a petticoat
against the Queen’s coming for my Lady, of plain satin, and other
things; and being come back again, we there met Mr. Nathaniel Crew
[Nathaniel Crew, born 1633, fifth son of John, first Lord Crew; he
himself became third Lord Crew in 1697. Sub-Rector of Lincoln
College, Oxford, 1659. Took orders in 1664, and was Rector of
Lincoln College in 1668; Dean of Chichester, 1669; Bishop of Oxford,
1671; Bishop of Durham, 1674; sworn of the Privy Council in 1676.
He was very subservient to James II., and at the Revolution was
excepted from the general pardon of May, 1690, but he was allowed to
keep possession of the bishopric of Durham.]
at the Wardrobe with a young gentleman, a friend and fellow student of
his, and of a good family, Mr. Knightly, and known to the Crews, of whom
my Lady privately told me she hath some thoughts of a match for my
Lady Jemimah. I like the person very well, and he hath L2000 per annum.
Thence to the office, and there we sat, and thence after writing letters
to all my friends with my Lord at Portsmouth, I walked to my brother
Tom’s to see a velvet cloak, which I buy of Mr. Moore. It will cost me
L8 10s.; he bought it for L6 10s., but it is worth my money. So home and
find all things made clean against to-morrow, which pleases me well. So
to bed.
18th (Whitsunday). By water to White Hall, and thereto chappell in my
pew belonging to me as Clerk of the Privy Seal; and there I heard a most
excellent sermon of Dr. Hacket, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, upon
these words: “He that drinketh this water shall never thirst.” We had an
excellent anthem, sung by Captain Cooke and another, and brave musique.
And then the King came down and offered, and took the sacrament upon his
knees; a sight very well worth seeing. Hence with Sir G. Carteret to his
lodging to dinner with his Lady and one Mr. Brevin, a French Divine, we
were very merry, and good discourse, and I had much talk with my Lady.
After dinner, and so to chappell again; and there had another good
anthem of Captain Cooke’s. Thence to the Councell-chamber; where the
King and Councell sat till almost eleven o’clock at night, and I forced
to walk up and down the gallerys till that time of night. They were
reading all the bills over that are to pass to-morrow at the House,
before the King’s going out of town and proroguing the House. At last
the Councell risen, and Sir G. Carteret telling me what the Councell
hath ordered about the ships designed to carry horse from Ireland to
Portugall, which is now altered. I got a coach and so home, sending the
boat away without me. At home I found my wife discontented at my being
abroad, but I pleased her. She was in her new suit of black sarcenet and
yellow petticoat very pretty. So to bed.
19th. Long in bed, sometimes scolding with my wife, and then pleased
again, and at last up, and put on my riding cloth suit, and a camelott
coat new, which pleases me well enough. To the Temple about my
replication, and so to my brother Tom’s, and there hear that my father
will be in town this week. So home, the shops being but some shut and
some open. I hear that the House of Commons do think much that they
should be forced to huddle over business this morning against the
afternoon, for the King to pass their Acts, that he may go out of town.
[To ears accustomed to the official words of speeches from the
throne at the present day, the familiar tone of the following
extracts from Charles’s speech to the Commons, on the 1st of March;
will be amusing: “I will conclude with putting you in mind of the
season of the year, and the convenience of your being in the
country, in many respects, for the good and welfare of it; for you
will find much tares have been sowed there in your absence. The
arrival of my wife, who I expect some time this month, and the
necessity of my own being out of town to meet her, and to stay some
time before she comes hither, makes it very necessary that the
Parliament be adjourned before Easter, to meet again in the winter.
.... The mention of my wife’s arrival puts me in mind to
desire you to put that compliment upon her, that her entrance into
the town may be with more decency than the ways will now suffer it
to be; and, to that purpose, I pray you would quickly pass such laws
as are before you, in order to the amending those ways, and that she
may not find Whitehall surrounded with water.” Such a bill passed
the Commons on the 24th June. From Charles’s Speech, March 1st,
1662.--B.]
But he, I hear since, was forced to stay till almost nine o’clock at
night before he could have done, and then he prorogued them; and so
to Gilford, and lay there. Home, and Mr. Hunt dined with me, and were
merry. After dinner Sir W. Pen and his daughter, and I and my wife by
coach to the Theatre, and there in a box saw “The Little Thief” well
done. Thence to Moorefields, and walked and eat some cheesecake and
gammon of bacon, but when I was come home I was sick, forced to vomit it
up again. So my wife walking and singing upon the leads till very late,
it being pleasant and moonshine, and so to bed.
10th. Sir W. Pen and I did a little business at the office, and so home
again. Then comes Dean Fuller after we had dined, but I got something
for him, and very merry we were for an hour or two, and I am most
pleased with his company and goodness. At last parted, and my wife and
I by coach to the Opera, and there saw the 2nd part of “The Siege of
Rhodes,” but it is not so well done as when Roxalana was there, who, it
is said, is now owned by my Lord of Oxford.
[For note on Mrs. Davenport, who was deceived by a pretended
marriage with the Earl of Oxford, see ante. Lord Oxford’s first
wife died in 1659. He married, in 1672, his second wife, Diana
Kirke, of whom nothing more need be said than that she bore an
inappropriate Christian name.]
Thence to Tower-wharf, and there took boat, and we all walked to
Halfeway House, and there eat and drank, and were pleasant, and so
finally home again in the evening, end so good night, this being a very
pleasant life that we now lead, and have long done; the Lord be blessed,
and make us thankful. But, though I am much against too much spending,
yet I do think it best to enjoy some degree of pleasure now that we have
health, money, and opportunity, rather than to leave pleasures to old
age or poverty, when we cannot have them so properly.
21st. My wife and I by water to Westminster, and after she had seen her
father (of whom lately I have heard nothing at all what he does or her
mother), she comes to me to my Lord’s lodgings, where she and I staid
walking in White Hall garden. And in the Privy-garden saw the finest
smocks and linnen petticoats of my Lady Castlemaine’s, laced with rich
lace at the bottom, that ever I saw; and did me good to look upon them.
So to Wilkinson’s, she and I and Sarah to dinner, where I had a good
quarter of lamb and a salat. Here Sarah told me how the King dined at my
Lady Castlemaine’s, and supped, every day and night the last week;
and that the night that the bonfires were made for joy of the Queen’s
arrivall, the King was there; but there was no fire at her door, though
at all the rest of the doors almost in the street; which was much
observed: and that the King and she did send for a pair of scales and
weighed one another; and she, being with child, was said to be heaviest.
But she is now a most disconsolate creature, and comes not out of
doors, since the King’s going. But we went to the Theatre to “The French
Dancing Master,” and there with much pleasure gazed upon her (Lady
Castlemaine); but it troubles us to see her look dejectedly and slighted
by people already. The play pleased us very well; but Lacy’s part, the
Dancing Master, the best in the world. Thence to my brother Tom’s, in
expectation to have met my father to-night come out of the country, but
he is not yet come, but here we found my uncle Fenner and his old wife,
whom I had not seen since the wedding dinner, nor care to see her. They
being gone, my wife and I went and saw Mrs. Turner, whom we found not
well, and her two boys Charles and Will come out of the country, grown
very plain boys after three years being under their father’s care in
Yorkshire. Thence to Tom’s again, and there supped well, my she cozen
Scott being there and my father being not come, we walked home and to
bed.
22d. This morning comes an order from the Secretary of State, Nicholas,
for me to let one Mr. Lee, a Councellor, to view what papers I have
relating to passages of the late times, wherein Sir H. Vane’s hand is
employed, in order to the drawing up his charge; which I did, and at
noon he, with Sir W. Pen and his daughter, dined with me, and he to his
work again, and we by coach to the Theatre and saw “Love in a Maze.” The
play hath little in it but Lacy’s part of a country fellow, which he did
to admiration. So home, and supped with Sir W. Pen, where Sir W.
Batten and Captn. Cocke came to us, to whom I have lately been a great
stranger. This night we had each of us a letter from Captain Teddiman
from the Streights, of a peace made upon good terms, by Sir J. Lawson,
with the Argier men, which is most excellent news? He hath also sent
each of us some anchovies, olives, and muscatt; but I know not yet what
that is, and am ashamed to ask. After supper home, and to bed, resolving
to make up this week in seeing plays and pleasure, and so fall to
business next week again for a great while.
23rd. At the office good part of the morning, and then about noon with
my wife on foot to the Wardrobe. My wife went up to the dining room to
my Lady Paulina, and I staid below talking with Mr. Moore in the parley,
reading of the King’s and Chancellor’s late speeches at the proroguing
of the Houses of Parliament. And while I was reading, news was brought
me that my Lord Sandwich is come and gone up to my Lady, which put me
into great suspense of joy, so I went up waiting my Lord’s coming out of
my Lady’s chamber, which by and by he did, and looks very well, and my
soul is glad to see him. He very merry, and hath left the King and Queen
at Portsmouth, and is come up to stay here till next Wednesday, and then
to meet the King and Queen at Hampton Court. So to dinner, Mr. Browne,
Clerk of the House of Lords, and his wife and brother there also; and my
Lord mighty merry; among other things, saying that the Queen is a very
agreeable lady, and paints still. After dinner I showed him my letter
from Teddiman about the news from Argier, which pleases him exceedingly;
and he writ one to the Duke of York about it, and sent it express. There
coming much company after dinner to my Lord, my wife and I slunk away to
the Opera, where we saw “Witt in a Constable,” the first time that it is
acted; but so silly a play I never saw I think in my life. After it was
done, my wife and I to the puppet play in Covent Garden, which I saw
the other day, and indeed it is very pleasant. Here among the fidlers I
first saw a dulcimere
[The dulcimer (or psaltery) consisted of a flat box, acting as a
resonating chamber, over which strings of wire were stretched: These
were struck by little hammers.]
played on with sticks knocking of the strings, and is very pretty. So by
water home, and supped with Sir William Pen very merry, and so to bed.
24th. To the Wardrobe, and there again spoke with my Lord, and saw W.
Howe, who is grown a very pretty and is a sober fellow. Thence abroad
with Mr. Creed, of whom I informed myself of all I had a mind to know.
Among other things, the great difficulty my Lord hath been in all this
summer for lack of good and full orders from the King; and I doubt our
Lords of the Councell do not mind things as the late powers did, but
their pleasures or profit more. That the Juego de Toros is a simple
sport, yet the greatest in Spain. That the Queen hath given no rewards
to any of the captains or officers, but only to my Lord Sandwich; and
that was a bag of gold, which was no honourable present, of about L1400
sterling. How recluse the Queen hath ever been, and all the voyage never
come upon the deck, nor put her head out of her cabin; but did love my
Lord’s musique, and would send for it down to the state-room, and she
sit in her cabin within hearing of it. That my Lord was forced to
have some clashing with the Council of Portugall about payment of the
portion, before he could get it; which was, besides Tangier and a free
trade in the Indys, two millions of crowns, half now, and the other half
in twelve months. But they have brought but little money; but the rest
in sugars and other commoditys, and bills of exchange. That the King of
Portugall is a very fool almost, and his mother do all, and he is a very
poor Prince. After a morning draft at the Star in Cheapside, I took him
to the Exchange, thence home, but my wife having dined, I took him to
Fish Street, and there we had a couple of lobsters, and dined upon them,
and much discourse. And so I to the office, and that being done, Sir W.
Pen and I to Deptford by water to Captain Rooth’s to see him, he being
very sick, and by land home, calling at Halfway house, where we eat and
drank. So home and to bed.
25th (Lord’s day). To trimming myself, which I have this week done every
morning, with a pumice stone,--[Shaving with pumice stone.]--which I
learnt of Mr. Marsh, when I was last at Portsmouth; and I find it very
easy, speedy, and cleanly, and shall continue the practice of it. To
church, and heard a good sermon of Mr. Woodcocke’s at our church; only
in his latter prayer for a woman in childbed, he prayed that God would
deliver her from the hereditary curse of child-bearing, which seemed a
pretty strange expression. Dined at home, and Mr. Creed with me. This
day I had the first dish of pease I have had this year. After discourse
he and I abroad, and walked up and down, and looked into many churches,
among others Mr. Baxter’s at Blackfryers. Then to the Wardrobe, where
I found my Lord takes physic, so I did not see him, but with Captn.
Ferrers in Mr. George Montagu’s coach to Charing Cross; and there at the
Triumph tavern he showed me some Portugall ladys, which are come to
town before the Queen. They are not handsome, and their farthingales a
strange dress.
[Farthingales had gone out of fashion in England during the reign of
Charles I., and therefore their use by the Portuguese ladies
astonished the English. Evelyn also remarks in his Diary on this
ugly custom (May 30th, 1662).]
Many ladies and persons of quality come to see them. I find nothing
in them that is pleasing; and I see they have learnt to kiss and look
freely up and down already, and I do believe will soon forget the
recluse practice of their own country. They complain much for lack of
good water to drink. So to the Wardrobe back on foot and supped with
my Lady, and so home, and after a walk upon the leads with my wife, to
prayers and bed. The King’s guards and some City companies do walk up
and down the town these five or six days; which makes me think, and they
do say, there are some plots in laying. God keep us.
26th. Up by four o’clock in the morning, and fell to the preparing of
some accounts for my Lord of Sandwich. By and by, by appointment comes
Mr. Moore, and, by what appears to us at present, we found that my Lord
is above L7,000 in debt, and that he hath money coming into him that
will clear all, and so we think him clear, but very little money in his
purse. So to my Lord’s, and after he was ready, we spent an hour with
him, giving him an account thereof; and he having some L6,000 in his
hands, remaining of the King’s, he is resolved to make use of that, and
get off of it as well as he can, which I like well of, for else I fear
he will scarce get beforehand again a great while. Thence home, and
to the Trinity House; where the Brethren (who have been at Deptford
choosing a new Maister; which is Sir J. Minnes, notwithstanding Sir W.
Batten did contend highly for it: at which I am not a little pleased,
because of his proud lady) about three o’clock came hither, and so to
dinner. I seated myself close by Mr. Prin, who, in discourse with me,
fell upon what records he hath of the lust and wicked lives of the
nuns heretofore in England, and showed me out of his pocket one wherein
thirty nuns for their lust were ejected of their house, being not fit
to live there, and by the Pope’s command to be put, however, into
other nunnerys. I could not stay to end dinner with them, but rose, and
privately went out, and by water to my brother’s, and thence to take my
wife to the Redd Bull, where we saw “Doctor Faustus,” but so wretchedly
and poorly done, that we were sick of it, and the worse because by
a former resolution it is to be the last play we are to see till
Michaelmas. Thence homewards by coach, through Moorefields, where we
stood awhile, and saw the wrestling. At home, got my lute upon the
leads, and there played, and so to bed.
27th. To my Lord this morning, and thence to my brother’s, where I found
my father, poor man, come, which I was glad to see. I staid with him
till noon, and then he went to my cozen Scott’s to dinner, who had
invited him. He tells me his alterations of the house and garden at
Brampton, which please me well. I could not go with him, and so we
parted at Ludgate, and I home to dinner, and to the office all the
afternoon, and musique in my chamber alone at night, and so to bed.
28th. Up early to put things in order in my chamber, and then to my
Lord’s, with whom I spoke about several things, and so up and down
in several places about business with Mr. Creed, among others to Mr.
Wotton’s the shoemaker, and there drank our morning draft, and then home
about noon, and by and by comes my father by appointment to dine with
me, which we did very merrily, I desiring to make him as merry as I can,
while the poor man is in town. After dinner comes my uncle Wight and
sat awhile and talked with us, and thence we three to the Mum House at
Leadenhall, and there sat awhile. Then I left them, and to the Wardrobe,
where I found my Lord gone to Hampton Court. Here I staid all the
afternoon till late with Creed and Captain Ferrers, thinking whether
we should go to-morrow together to Hampton Court, but Ferrers his wife
coming in by and by to the house with the young ladies (with whom she
had been abroad), she was unwilling to go, whereupon I was willing to
put off our going, and so home, but still my mind was hankering after
our going to-morrow. So to bed.
29th. At home all the morning. At noon to the Wardrobe, and dined with
my Lady, and after dinner staid long talking with her; then homeward,
and in Lumbard Street was called out of a window by Alderman Backwell,
where I went, and saluted his lady, a very pretty woman. Here was Mr.
Creed, and it seems they have been under some disorder in fear of a fire
at the next door, and had been removing their goods, but the fire was
over before I came. Thence home, and with my wife and the two maids, and
the boy, took boat and to Foxhall,
[Foxhall, Faukeshall, or Vauxhall, a manor in Surrey, properly
Fulke’s. Hall, and so called from Fulke de Breaute, the notorious
mercenary follower of King John. The manor house was afterwards
known as Copped or Copt Hall. Sir Samuel Morland obtained a lease
of the place, and King Charles made him Master of Mechanics, and
here “he (Morland), anno 1667, built a fine room,” says Aubrey, “the
inside all of looking-glass and fountains, very pleasant to behold.”
The gardens were formed about 1661, and originally called the “New
Spring Gardens,” to distinguish them from the “Old Spring Gardens”
at Charing Cross, but according to the present description by Pepys
there was both an Old and a New Spring Garden at Vauxhall.
Balthazar Monconys, who visited England early in the reign of
Charles II., describes the ‘Jardins Printemps’ at Lambeth as having
lawns and gravel walks, dividing squares of twenty or thirty yards
enclosed with hedges of gooseberry trees, within which were planted
roses.]
where I had not been a great while. To the Old Spring Garden, and there
walked long, and the wenches gathered pinks. Here we staid, and seeing
that we could not have anything to eat, but very dear, and with long
stay, we went forth again without any notice taken of us, and so we
might have done if we had had anything. Thence to the New one, where I
never was before, which much exceeds the other; and here we also walked,
and the boy crept through the hedge and gathered abundance of roses,
and, after a long walk, passed out of doors as we did in the other
place, and here we had cakes and powdered beef--[salt beef]--and ale,
and so home again by water with much pleasure. This day, being the
King’s birth-day, was very solemnly observed; and the more, for that
the Queen this day comes to Hampton Court. In the evening, bonfires were
made, but nothing to the great number that was heretofore at the burning
of the Rump. So to bed.
30th. This morning I made up my accounts, and find myself ‘de claro’
worth about L530, and no more, so little have I increased it since my
last reckoning; but I confess I have laid out much money in clothes.
Upon a suddaine motion I took my wife, and Sarah and Will by water, with
some victuals with us, as low as Gravesend, intending to have gone into
the Hope to the Royal James, to have seen the ship and Mr. Shepley, but
meeting Mr. Shepley in a hoy, bringing up my Lord’s things, she and I
went on board, and sailed up with them as far as half-way tree, very
glad to see Mr. Shepley. Here we saw a little Turk and a negroe, which
are intended for pages to the two young ladies. Many birds and other
pretty noveltys there was, but I was afeard of being louzy, and so
took boat again, and got to London before them, all the way, coming and
going, reading in the “Wallflower” with great pleasure. So home, and
thence to the Wardrobe, where Mr. Shepley was come with the things.
Here I staid talking with my Lady, who is preparing to go to-morrow to
Hampton Court. So home, and at ten o’clock at night Mr. Shepley came to
sup with me. So we had a dish of mackerell and pease, and so he bid us
good night, going to lie on board the hoy, and I to bed.
31st. Lay long in bed, and so up to make up my Journall for these two or
three days past. Then came Anthony Joyce, who duns me for money for the
tallow which he served in lately by my desire, which vexes me, but I
must get it him the next by my promise. By and by to White Hall, hearing
that Sir G. Carteret was come to town, but I could not find him, and
so back to Tom’s, and thence I took my father to my house, and there he
dined with me, discoursing of our businesses with uncle Thomas and T.
Trice. After dinner he departed and I to the office where we met, and
that being done I walked to my Brother’s and the Wardrobe and other
places about business, and so home, and had Sarah to comb my head clean,
which I found so foul with powdering and other troubles, that I am
resolved to try how I can keep my head dry without powder; and I did
also in a suddaine fit cut off all my beard, which I had been a great
while bringing up, only that I may with my pumice-stone do my whole
face, as I now do my chin, and to save time, which I find a very easy
way and gentile. So she also washed my feet in a bath of herbs, and
so to bed. This month ends with very fair weather for a great while
together. My health pretty well, but only wind do now and then torment
me... extremely. The Queen is brought a few days since to Hampton Court;
and all people say of her to be a very fine and handsome lady, and very
discreet; and that the King is pleased enough with her which, I fear,
will put Madam Castlemaine’s nose out of joynt. The Court is wholly now
at Hampton. A peace with Argier is lately made; which is also good news.
My father is lately come to town to see us, and though it has cost and
will cost more money, yet I am pleased with the alteraeons on my house
at Brampton. My Lord Sandwich is lately come with the Queen from sea,
very well and in good repute. Upon an audit of my estate I find myself
worth about L530 ‘de claro’. The Act for Uniformity is lately printed,
[“An Act for the Uniformity of public prayers and administration of
sacraments and other rites and ceremonies, and for establishing the
form of making, ordaining, and consecrating bishops, priests, and
deacons in the Church of England.”]
which, it is thought, will make mad work among the Presbyterian
ministers. People of all sides are very much discontented; some thinking
themselves used, contrary to promise, too hardly; and the other, that
they are not rewarded so much as they expected by the King. God keep us
all. I have by a late oath obliged myself from wine and plays, of which
I find good effect.