October 1st. Up with my mind pretty well at rest about my accounts and
other business, and so to my house and there put my work to business,
and then down to Deptford to do the same there, and so back and with my
workmen all the afternoon, and my wife putting a chamber in order for us
to lie in. At night to look over some Brampton papers against the Court
which I expect every day to hear of, and that done home and with my
wife to bed, the first time I have lain there these two months and more,
which I am now glad to do again, and do so like the chamber as it is now
ordered that all my fear is my not keeping it. But I hope the best, for
it would vex me to the heart to lose it.
2nd. Up and to the office, where we sat till noon, and then to dinner,
and Mr. Moore came and dined with me, and after dinner to look over my
Brampton papers, which was a most necessary work, though it is not so
much to my content as I could wish. I fear that it must be as it can,
and not as I would. He being gone I to my workmen again, and at night by
coach towards Whitehall took up Mr. Moore and set him at my Lord’s,
and myself, hearing that there was a play at the Cockpit (and my Lord
Sandwich, who came to town last night, at it), I do go thither, and by
very great fortune did follow four or five gentlemen who were carried to
a little private door in a wall, and so crept through a narrow place and
come into one of the boxes next the King’s, but so as I could not see
the King or Queene, but many of the fine ladies, who yet are really not
so handsome generally as I used to take them to be, but that they are
finely dressed. Here we saw “The Cardinall,” a tragedy I had never seen
before, nor is there any great matter in it. The company that came in
with me into the box, were all Frenchmen that could speak no English,
but Lord! what sport they made to ask a pretty lady that they got among
them that understood both French and English to make her tell them what
the actors said. Thence to my Lord’s, and saw him, and staid with him
half an hour in his chamber talking about some of mine and his own
business, and so up to bed with Mr. Moore in the chamber over my Lord’s.
3rd. Rose, and without taking leave or speaking to my Lord went out
early and walked home, calling at my brother’s and Paul’s Churchyard,
but bought nothing because of my oath, though I had a great mind to it.
At my office, and with my workmen till noon, and then dined with my
wife upon herrings, the first I have eat this year, and so to my workmen
again. By and by comes a gentleman to speak with my wife, and I found
him to be a gentleman that had used her very civilly in her coming up
out of the country, on which score I showed him great respect, and found
him a very ingenious gentleman, and sat and talked with him a great
while. He gone, to my workmen again, and in the evening comes Captain
Ferrers, and sat and talked a great while, and told me the story of
his receiving his cut in the hand by falling out with one of my Lord’s
footmen. He told me also of the impertinence and mischief that Ned
Pickering has made in the country between my Lord and all his servants
almost by his finding of faults, which I am vexed to hear, it being a
great disgrace to my Lord to have the fellow seen to be so great still
with him. He brought me a letter from my father, that appoints the day
for the Court at Brampton to be the 13th of this month; but I perceive
he has kept the letter in his pocket these three days, so that if the
day had been sooner, I might have been spilt. So that it is a great
folly to send letters of business by any friend that require haste. He
being gone I to my office all the evening, doing business there till
bedtime, it being now my manner since my wife is come to spend too much
of my daytime with her and the workmen and do my office business at
night, which must not be after the work of the house is done. This night
late I had notice that Dekins, the merchant, is dead this afternoon
suddenly, for grief that his daughter, my Morena, who has long been ill,
is given over by the Doctors. For both which I am very sorry. So home
and to bed.
4th. To my office all the morning, after I was up (my wife beginning to
make me lie long a mornings), where we sat till noon, and then dined at
home, and after a little with my workmen to my office till 9 at night,
among other things examining the particulars of the miscarriage of
the Satisfaction, sunk the other day on the Dutch coast through the
negligence of the pilott.
5th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed talking with my wife, and among other
things fell out about my maid Sarah, whom my wife would fain put away,
when I think her as good a servant as ever came into a house, but it
seems my wife would have one that would dress a head well, but we were
friends at last. I to church; and this day the parson has got one to
read with a surplice on. I suppose himself will take it up hereafter,
for a cunning fellow he is as any of his coat. Dined with my wife, and
then to talk again above, chiefly about her learning to dance against
her going next year into the country, which I am willing she shall do.
Then to church to a tedious sermon, and thence walked to Tom’s to see
how things are in his absence in the country, and so home and in my
wife’s chamber till bedtime talking, and then to my office to put things
in order to wait on the Duke to-morrow morning, and so home and to bed.
6th. Sir W. Pen and I early to St. James’s by water, where Mr. Coventry,
finding the Duke in bed, and not very well, we did not stay to speak
with him, but to White Hall, and there took boat and down to Woolwich we
went. In our way Mr. Coventry telling us how of late upon enquiry into
the miscarriages of the Duke’s family, Mr. Biggs, his steward, is
found very faulty, and is turned out of his employment. Then we fell
to reading of a book which I saw the other day at my Lord Sandwich’s,
intended for the late King, finely bound up, a treatise concerning the
benefit the Hollanders make of our fishing, but whereas I expected great
matters from it, I find it a very impertinent [book], and though some
things good, yet so full of tautologies, that we were weary of it. At
Woolwich we mustered the yard, and then to the Hart to dinner, and then
to the Rope-yard, where I did vex Sir W. Pen I know to appear so well
acquainted, I thought better than he, in the business of hemp; thence
to Deptford, and there looked over several businesses, and wakened the
officers there; so walked to Redriffe, and thence, landing Sir W. Pen
at the Tower, I to White Hall with Mr. Coventry, and so to my Lord
Sandwich’s lodgings, but my Lord was not within, being at a ball this
night with the King at my Lady Castlemaine’s at next door. But here to
my trouble I hear that Mr. Moore is gone very sick to the Wardrobe this
afternoon, which troubles me much both for his own sake and for mine,
because of my law business that he does for me and also for my Lord’s
matters. So hence by water, late as it was, to the Wardrobe, and there
found him in a high fever, in bed, and much cast down by his being ill.
So thought it not convenient to stay, but left him and walked home, and
there weary went to supper, and then the barber came to me, and after he
had done, to my office to set down my journall of this day, and so home
and to bed.
7th. At the office all the morning, dined at home with my wife. After
dinner with her by coach to see Mr. Moore, who continues ill. I took his
books of accounts, and did discourse with him about my Lord’s and my
own businesses, and there being Mr. Battersby by, did take notice of my
having paid him the L100 borrowed of him, which they both did confess
and promise to return me my bond. Thence by water with Will. Howe to
Westminster, and there staying a little while in the Hall (my wife’s
father and mother being abroad, and so she returning presently) thence
by coach to my Lord’s, and there I left money for Captain Ferrers to buy
me two bands. So towards the New Exchange, and there while my wife was
buying things I walked up and down with Dr. Williams, talking about my
law businesses, and thence took him to my brother’s, and there gave him
a glass of wine, and so parted, and then by coach with my wife home, and
Sir J. M. and Sir W. B. being come from Chatham Pay I did go see them
for complaisance, and so home and to bed.
8th. Up and by water to my Lord Sandwich’s, and was with him a good
while in his chamber, and among other things to my extraordinary joy,
he did tell me how much I was beholding to the Duke of York, who did
yesterday of his own accord tell him that he did thank him for one
person brought into the Navy, naming myself, and much more to my
commendation, which is the greatest comfort and encouragement that
ever I had in my life, and do owe it all to Mr. Coventry’s goodness and
ingenuity. I was glad above measure of this. Thence to Mr. Moore, who, I
hope, is better than he was, and so home and dined at home, and all the
afternoon busy at my office, and at night by coach to my Lord’s again,
thinking to speak with him, but he is at White Hall with the King,
before whom the puppet plays I saw this summer in Covent-garden are
acted this night. Hither this night my scallop,
[A lace band, the edges of which were indented with segments of
circles, so as to resemble a scallop shell. The word “scallop” was
used till recently for a part of a lady’s dress embroidered and cut
to resemble a scallop shell.]
bought and got made by Captain Ferrers’ lady, is sent, and I brought it
home, a very neat one. It cost me about L3, and L3 more I have given him
to buy me another. I do find myself much bound to go handsome, which I
shall do in linen, and so the other things may be all the plainer. Here
I staid playing some new tunes to parts with Wm. Howe, and, my Lord not
coming home, I came home late on foot, my boy carrying a link, and so
eat a bit and to bed, my head full of ordering of businesses against
my journey to-morrow, that there may be nothing done to my wrong in
my absence. This day Sir W. Pen did speak to me from Sir J. Minnes to
desire my best chamber of me, and my great joy is that I perceive he do
not stand upon his right, which I was much afraid of, and so I hope I
shall do well enough with him for it, for I will not part with it by
fair means, though I contrive to let him have another room for it.
9th. Up early about my business to get me ready for my journey. But
first to the office; where we sat all the morning till noon, and then
broke up; and I bid them adieu for a week, having the Duke’s leave got
me by Mr. Coventry. To whom I did give thanks for my newes yesterday of
the Duke’s words to my Lord Sandwich concerning me, which he took well;
and do tell me so freely his love and value of me, that my mind is now
in as great a state of quiett as to my interest in the office, as I
could ever wish to be. I should this day have dined at Sir W. Pen’s at
a venison pasty with the rest of our fellows, but I could not get time,
but sent for a bit home, and so between one and two o’clock got on
horseback at our back gate, with my man Will with me, both well-mounted
on two grey horses. We rode and got to Ware before night; and so
resolved to ride on to Puckeridge, which we did, though the way was bad,
and the evening dark before we got thither, by help of company riding
before us; and among others, a gentleman that took up at the same inn,
the Falcon, with me, his name Mr. Brian, with whom I supped, and was
very good company, and a scholar. He tells me, that it is believed
the Queen is with child, for that the coaches are ordered to ride very
easily through the streets. After supper we paid the reckoning together,
and so he to his chamber and I to bed, very well, but my feet being much
cramped by my new hard boots that I bought the other day of Wotton were
in much pain. Will lay in another bed in the chamber with me.
10th. Up, and between eight and nine mounted again; but my feet so
swelled with yesterday’s pain, that I could not get on my boots, which
vexed me to the blood, but was forced to pay 4s. for a pair of old shoes
of my landlord’s, and so rid in shoes to Cambridge; but the way so good
that but for a little rain I had got very well thither, and set up at
the Beare: and there being spied in the street passing through the town
my cozen Angier came to me, and I must needs to his house, which I did;
and there found Dr. Fairbrother, with a good dinner, a barrel of good
oysters, a couple of lobsters, and wine. But, above all, telling me that
this day there is a Congregation for the choice of some officers in the
University, he after dinner gets me a gown, cap, and hood, and carries
me to the Schooles, where Mr. Pepper, my brother’s tutor, and this day
chosen Proctor, did appoint a M.A. to lead me into the Regent House,
where I sat with them, and did [vote] by subscribing papers thus: “Ego
Samuel Pepys eligo Magistrum Bernardum Skelton, (and which was more
strange, my old schoolfellow and acquaintance, and who afterwards did
take notice of me, and we spoke together), alterum e taxatoribus hujus
Academiae in annum sequentem.” The like I did for one Biggs, for the
other Taxor, and for other officers, as the Vice-Proctor (Mr. Covell),
for Mr. Pepper, and which was the gentleman that did carry me into the
Regent House. This being done, and the Congregation dissolved by the
Vice-Chancellor, I did with much content return to my Cozen Angier’s,
being much pleased of doing this jobb of work, which I had long wished
for and could never have had such a time as now to do it with so much
ease. Thence to Trinity Hall, and there staid a good while with Dr. John
Pepys, who tells me that [his] brother Roger has gone out of town to
keep a Court; and so I was forced to go to Impington, to take such
advice as my old uncle and his son Claxton could give me. Which I did,
and there supped and talked with them, but not of my business till by
and by after supper comes in, unlooked for, my cozen Roger, with whom by
and by I discoursed largely, and in short he gives me good counsel, but
tells me plainly that it is my best way to study a composition with my
uncle Thomas, for that law will not help us, and that it is but a folly
to flatter ourselves, with which, though much to my trouble, yet I was
well satisfied, because it told me what I am to trust to, and so to bed.
11th. Up betimes, and after a little breakfast, and a very poor one,
like our supper, and such as I cannot feed on, because of my she-cozen
Claxton’s gouty hands; and after Roger had carried me up and down his
house and orchards, to show me them, I mounted, and rode to Huntingdon,
and so to Brampton; where I found my father and two brothers, and Mr.
Cooke, my mother and sister. So we are now all together, God knows when
we shall be so again. I walked up and down the house and garden, and
find my father’s alteracions very handsome. But not so but that there
will be cause enough of doing more if ever I should come to live there,
but it is, however, very well for a country being as any little thing in
the country. So to dinner, where there being nothing but a poor breast
of mutton, and that ill-dressed, I was much displeased, there being Mr.
Cooke there, who I invited to come over with my brother thither, and for
whom I was concerned to make much of. I told my father and mother of it,
and so had it very well mended for the time after, as long as I staid,
though I am very glad to see them live so frugally. But now to my
business. I found my uncle Thomas come into the country, and do give out
great words, and forwarns all our people of paying us rent, and gives
out that he will invalidate the Will, it being but conditional, we
paying debts and legacies, which we have not done, but I hope we shall
yet go through well enough. I settled to look over papers, and discourse
of business against the Court till the evening; and then rode to
Hinchingbroke (Will with me), and there to my Lady’s chamber and saw
her, but, it being night, and my head full of business, staid not long,
but drank a cup of ale below, and so home again, and to supper, and to
bed, being not quiet in mind till I speak with Piggott, to see how his
business goes, whose land lies mortgaged to my late uncle, but never
taken up by him, and so I fear the heire at law will do it and that we
cannot, but my design is to supplant him by pretending bonds as well as
a mortgage for the same money, and so as executor have the benefit of
the bonds.
12th (Lord’s day). Made myself fine with Captain Ferrers’s lace band,
being lothe to wear my own new scallop, it is so fine; and, after the
barber had done with us, to church, where I saw most of the gentry of
the parish; among others, Mrs. Hanbury, a proper lady, and Mr. Bernard
and his Lady, with her father, my late Lord St. John, who looks now like
a very plain grave man. Mr. Wells preached a pretty good sermon, and
they say he is pretty well in his witts again. So home to dinner, and
so to walk in the garden, and then to Church again, and so home, there
coming several people about business, and among others Mr. Piggott, who
gives me good assurance of his truth to me and our business, in which I
am very much pleased, and tells me what my uncle Thomas said to him and
what he designs, which (in fine) is to be admitted to the estate as well
as we, which I must endeavour to oppose as well as I can. So to supper,
but my mind is so full of our business that I am no company at all, and
then their drink do not please me, till I did send to Goody Stanks for
some of her’s which is very small and fresh, with a little taste of
wormewood, which ever after did please me very well. So after supper to
bed, thinking of business, but every night getting my brother John to go
up with me for discourse sake, while I was making unready.
[That is, “undressing.” So of the French lords leaping over the
walls in their shirts
“Alenc. How now, my lords! what all unready so?
Bast. Unready! ay, and glad we ‘scaped so well.”
Henry VI., act ii., sc. i.--M. B.]
13th. Up to Hinchingbroke, and there with Mr. Sheply did look all over
the house, and I do, I confess, like well of the alteracions, and do
like the staircase, but there being nothing to make the outside more
regular and modern, I am not satisfied with it, but do think it to be
too much to be laid out upon it. Thence with Sheply to Huntingdon to
the Crown, and there did sit and talk, and eat a breakfast of cold roast
beef, and so he to St. Ives Market, and I to Sir Robert Bernard’s for
council, having a letter from my Lord Sandwich to that end. He do give
it me with much kindness in appearance, and upon my desire do promise to
put off my uncle’s admittance, if he can fairly, and upon the whole do
make my case appear better to me than my cozen Roger did, but not so but
that we are liable to much trouble, and that it will be best to come
to an agreement if possible. With my mind here also pretty well to see
things proceed so well I returned to Brampton, and spent the morning in
looking over papers and getting my copies ready against to-morrow. So to
dinner, and then to walk with my father and other business, when by and
by comes in my uncle Thomas and his son Thomas to see us, and very calm
they were and we to them. And after a short How do you, and drinking a
cup of beer, they went away again, and so by and by my father and I
to Mr. Phillips, and there discoursed with him in order to to-morrow’s
business of the Court and getting several papers ready, when presently
comes in my uncle Thomas and his son thither also, but finding us there
I believe they were disappointed and so went forth again, and went to
the house that Prior has lately bought of us (which was Barton’s) and
there did make entry and forbade paying rent to us, as now I hear they
have done everywhere else, and that that was their intent in coming
to see us this day. I perceive most of the people that do deal with us
begin to be afraid that their title to what they buy will not be good.
Which troubled me also I confess a little, but I endeavoured to remove
all as well as I could. Among other things they make me afraid that
Barton was never admitted to that that my uncle bought of him, but I
hope the contrary. Thence home, and with my father took a melancholy
walk to Portholme, seeing the country-maids milking their cows there,
they being there now at grass, and to see with what mirth they come all
home together in pomp with their milk, and sometimes they have musique
go before them. So back home again, and to supper, and in comes Piggott
with a counterfeit bond which by agreement between us (though it be very
just in itself) he has made, by which I shall lay claim to the interest
of the mortgage money, and so waiting with much impatience and doubt the
issue of to-morrow’s Court, I to bed, but hardly slept half an hour the
whole night, my mind did so run with fears of to-morrow.
14th. Up, and did digest into a method all I could say in our defence,
in case there should be occasion, for I hear he will have counsel to
plead for him in the Court, and so about nine o’clock to the court at
the Lordshipp where the jury was called; and there being vacancies, they
would have had my father, in respect to him, [to] have been one of
the Homage, but he thought fit to refuse it, he not knowing enough the
customs of the town. They being sworn and the charge given them, they
fell to our business, finding the heir-at-law to be my uncle Thomas; but
Sir Robert [Bernard] did tell them that he had seen how the estate was
devised to my father by my uncle’s will, according to the custom of the
manour, which they would have denied, first, that it was not according
to the custom of the manour, proposing some difficulty about the
half-acre of land which is given the heir-at-law according to custom,
which did put me into great fear lest it might not be in my uncle’s
possession at his death, but mortgaged with other to T. Trice (who was
there, and was with my good will admitted to Taylor’s house mortgaged
to him if not being worth the money for which it was mortgaged, which
I perceive he now, although he lately bragged the contrary, yet is now
sensible of, and would have us to redeem it with money, and he would now
resurrender it to us rather than the heir-at-law) or else that it was
part of Goody Gorum’s in which she has a life, and so might not be
capable of being according to the custom given to the heir-at-law, but
Will Stanks tells me we are sure enough against all that. Then they fell
to talk of Piggott’s land mortgaged to my uncle, but he never admitted
to it, which they now as heir would have admitted to. But the steward,
as he promised me, did find pretensions very kindly and readily to put
off their admittance, by which I find they are much defeated, and if
ever, I hope, will now listen to a treaty and agreement with us, at our
meeting at London. So they took their leaves of the steward and Court,
and went away, and by and by, after other business many brought in,
they broke up to dinner. So my father and I home with great content to
dinner; my mind now as full against the afternoon business, which we sat
upon after dinner at the Court, and did sue out a recovery, and cut off
the intayle; and my brothers there, to join therein. And my father and I
admitted to all the lands; he for life, and I for myself and my heirs in
reversion, and then did surrender according to bargain to Prior, Greene,
and Shepheard the three cottages with their appurtenances that they have
bought of us, and that being done and taken leave of the steward, I did
with most compleat joy of mind go from the Court with my father home,
and in a quarter of an hour did get on horseback, with my brother Tom,
Cooke, and Will, all mounted, and without eating or drinking, take leave
of father, mother, Pall, to whom I did give 10s., but have shown no
kindness since I come, for I find her so very ill-natured that I
cannot love her, and she so cruel a hypocrite that she can cry when she
pleases, and John and I away, calling in at Hinchingbroke, and taking
leave in three words of my Lady, and the young ladies; and so by
moonlight most bravely all the way to Cambridge, with great pleasure,
whither we come at about nine o’clock, and took up at the Bear, but the
house being full of guests we had very ill lodging, which troubled
me, but had a supper, and my mind at good ease, and so to bed. Will in
another bed in my chamber.
15th. My mind, though out of trouble, yet intent upon my journey home,
being desirous to know how all my matters go there, I could hardly
sleep, but waked very early; and, when it was time, did call up Will,
and we rose, and musique (with a bandore
[A musical instrument with wire strings, and sounded with a
plectrum; used as a bass to the cittern. The banjo is a
modification of the bandore, as the name is a negro corruption of
that word.]
for the base) did give me a levett;
[A blast of trumpets, intended as a ‘reveillee’, from French lever.
“First he that led the Cavalcade
Wore a Sow-gelder’s Flagellet,
On which he blew as strong a Levet
As well-feed Lawyer on his breviate.”