November 1st. Up and after a little while with my workmen I went to
my office, and then to our sitting all the morning. At noon with Mr.
Creede, whom I found at my house, to the Trinity House, to a great
dinner there, by invitacion, and much company. It seems one Captain
Evans makes his Elder Brother’s dinner to-day. Among other discourses
one Mr. Oudant, secretary to the late Princesse of Orange, did discourse
of the convenience as to keeping the highways from being deep, by their
horses, in Holland (and Flanders where the ground is as miry as ours
is), going in their carts and, waggons as ours in coaches, wishing the
same here as an expedient to make the ways better, and I think there
is something in it, where there is breadth enough. Thence to my office,
sent for to meet Mr. Leigh again; from Sir H. Bennet. And he and I, with
Wade and his intelligencer and labourers, to the Tower cellars, to make
one tryall more; where we staid two or three hours digging, and dug
a great deal all under the arches, as it was now most confidently
directed, and so seriously, and upon pretended good grounds, that I
myself did truly expect to speed; but we missed of all: and so we went
away the second time like fools. And to our office, whither, a coach
being come, Mr. Leigh goes home to Whitehall; and I by appointment to
the Dolphin Tavern, to meet Wade and the other, Captn. Evett, who now
do tell me plainly, that he that do put him upon this is one that had
it from Barkestead’s own mouth, and was advised with by him, just before
the King’s coming in, how to get it out, and had all the signs told
him how and where it lay, and had always been the great confident of
Barkestead even to the trusting him with his life and all he had. So
that he did much convince me that there is good ground for what we go
about. But I fear it may be that he did find some conveyance of it away,
without the help of this man, before he died. But he is resolved to go
to the party once more, and then to determine what we shall do further.
So we parted, and I to my office, where after sending away my letters
to the post I do hear that Sir J. Minnes is resolved to turn part of
our entry into a room and to divide the back yard between Sir W. Pen and
him, which though I do not see how it will annoy me much particularly,
yet it do trouble me a little for fear it should, but I do not see how
it can well unless in his desiring my coming to my back stairs, but for
that I shall do as well as himself or Sir W. Pen, who is most concerned
to look after it.
2nd (Lord’s day). Lay long with pleasure talking with my wife, in whom I
never had greater content, blessed be God! than now, she continuing
with the same care and thrift and innocence, so long as I keep her from
occasions of being otherwise, as ever she was in her life, and keeps
the house as well. To church, where Mr. Mills, after he had read the
service, and shifted himself as he did the last day, preached a very
ordinary sermon. So home to dinner with my wife. Then up into my new
rooms which are, almost finished, and there walked with great content
talking with my wife till church time, and then to church, and there
being a lazy preacher I slept out the sermon, and so home, and after
visiting the two Sir Williams, who are both of them mending apace, I to
my office preparing things against to-morrow for the Duke, and so home
and to bed, with some pain,... having taken cold this morning in sitting
too long bare-legged to pare my corns. My wife and I spent a good deal
of this evening in reading “Du Bartas’ Imposture” and other parts which
my wife of late has taken up to read, and is very fine as anything I
meet with.
3d. Up and with Sir J. Minnes in his coach to White Hall, to the Duke’s;
but found him gone out a-hunting. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, from whom
I receive every day more and more signs of his confidence and esteem
of me. Here I met with Pierce the chyrurgeon, who tells me that my Lady
Castlemaine is with child; but though it be the King’s, yet her Lord
being still in town, and sometimes seeing of her, though never to eat or
lie together, it will be laid to him. He tells me also how the Duke of
York is smitten in love with my Lady Chesterfield
[Lady Elizabeth Butler, daughter of James Butler, first Duke of
Ormond, second wife of Philip Stanhope, second Earl of Chesterfield.
She died July, 1665 (see “Memoires de Grammont,” chap. viii.).
Peter Cunningham thinks that this banishment was only temporary,
for, according to the Grammont Memoirs, she was in town when the
Russian ambassador was in London, December, 1662, and January, 1662-
63. “It appears from the books of the Lord Steward’s office...
that Lord Chesterfield set out for the country on the 12th May,
1663, and, from his ‘Short Notes’ referred to in the Memoirs before
his Correspondence, that he remained at Bretby, in Derbyshire, with
his wife, throughout the summer of that year” (“Story of Nell Gwyn,”
1852, p. 189).]
(a virtuous lady, daughter to my Lord of Ormond); and so much, that the
duchess of York hath complained to the King and her father about it, and
my Lady Chesterfield is gone into the country for it. At all which I
am sorry; but it is the effect of idleness, and having nothing else to
employ their great spirits upon. Thence with Mr. Creede and Mr. Moore
(who is got upon his legs and come to see my Lord) to Wilkinson’s, and
there I did give them and Mr. Howe their dinner of roast beef, cost me
5s., and after dinner carried Mr. Moore as far as Paul’s in a coach,
giving him direction about my law business, and there set him down, and
I home and among my workmen, who happened of all sorts to meet to their
making an end of a great many jobbs, so that after to-morrow I shall
have but a little plastering and all the painting almost to do, which
was good content to me. At night to my office, and did business; and
there came to me Mr. Wade and Evett, who have been again with their
prime intelligencer, a woman, I perceive: and though we have missed
twice, yet they bring such an account of the probability of the truth
of the thing, though we are not certain of the place, that we shall set
upon it once more; and I am willing and hopefull in it. So we resolved
to set upon it again on Wednesday morning; and the woman herself will be
there in a disguise, and confirm us in the place. So they took leave for
the night, and I to my business, and then home to my wife and to supper
and bed, my pain being going away. So by God’s great blessing my mind is
in good condition of quiet.
4th. Lay long talking pleasantly with my wife in bed, it having rained,
and do still, very much all night long. Up and to the office, where
we sat till noon. This morning we had news by letters that Sir Richard
Stayner is dead at sea in the Mary, which is now come into Portsmouth
from Lisbon; which we are sorry for, he being a very stout seaman. But
there will be no great miss of him for all that. Dined at home with my
wife, and all the afternoon among my workmen, and at night to my office
to do business there, and then to see Sir W. Pen, who is still sick, but
his pain less than it was. He took occasion to talk with me about Sir J.
Minnes’s intention to divide the entry and the yard, and so to keep him
out of the yard, and forcing him to go through the garden to his house.
Which he is vexed at, and I am glad to see that Sir J. Minnes do use him
just as he do me, and so I perceive it is not anything extraordinary
his carriage to me in the matter of our houses, for this is worse than
anything he has done to me, that he should give order for the stopping
up of his way to his house without so much as advising with him or
letting of him know it, and I confess that it is very highly and basely
done of him. So to my office again, and after doing business there, then
home to supper and to bed.
5th. Up and with my painters painting my dining room all day long till
night, not stirring out at all. Only in the morning my Lady Batten did
send to speak with me, and told me very civilly that she did not desire,
nor hoped I did, that anything should pass between us but what was
civill, though there was not the neighbourliness between her and my wife
that was fit to be, and so complained of my maid’s mocking of her; when
she called “Nan” to her maid within her own house, my maid Jane in the
garden overheard her, and mocked her, and some other such like things
she told me, and of my wife’s speaking unhandsomely of her; to all which
I did give her a very respectfull answer, such as did please her, and am
sorry indeed that this should be, though I do not desire there should be
any acquaintance between my wife and her. But I promised to avoid such
words and passages for the future. So home, and by and by Sir W. Pen
did send for me to his bedside; and tell me how really Sir J. Minnes did
resolve to have one of my rooms, and that he was very angry and hot, and
said he would speak to the Duke. To which, knowing that all this was but
to scare me, and to get him to put off his resolution of making up the
entry, I did tell him plainly how I did not value his anger more, than
he did mine, and that I should be willing to do what the Duke commanded,
and I was sure to have justice of him, and that was all I did say to him
about it, though I was much vexed, and after a little stay went home;
and there telling my wife she did put me into heart, and resolve to
offer him to change lodgings, and believe that that will one way or
other bring us to some end in this dispute. At night I called up my
maids, and schooled Jane, who did answer me so humbly and drolly about
it, that though I seemed angry, I was much pleased with her and [my]
wife also. So at night to bed.
6th. At the office forenoon and afternoon till late at night, very busy
answering my Lord Treasurer’s letter, and my mind troubled till we come
to some end with Sir J. Minnes about our lodgings, and so home. And
after some pleasant discourse and supper to bed, and in my dream much
troubled by being with Will. Swan, a great fanatic, my old acquaintance,
and, methought, taken and led up with him for a plotter, all our
discourse being at present about the late plots.
7th. Up and being by appointment called upon by Mr. Lee, he and I to the
Tower, to make our third attempt upon the cellar. And now privately the
woman, Barkestead’s great confident, is brought, who do positively say
that this is the place which he did say the money was hid in, and where
he and she did put up the L50,000
[Thus in the MS., although the amount was first stated as L7,000
(see October 30th, 1662)]
in butter firkins; and the very day that he went out of England did
say that neither he nor his would be the better for that money, and
therefore wishing that she and hers might. And so left us, and we full
of hope did resolve to dig all over the cellar, which by seven o’clock
at night we performed. At noon we sent for a dinner, and upon the head
of a barrel dined very merrily, and to work again. Between times, Mr.
Lee, who had been much in Spain, did tell me pretty stories of the
customs and other things, as I asked him, of the country, to my great
content. But at last we saw we were mistaken; and after digging the
cellar quite through, and removing the barrels from one side to
the other, we were forced to pay our porters, and give over our
expectations, though I do believe there must be money hid somewhere by
him, or else he did delude this woman in hopes to oblige her to further
serving him, which I am apt to believe. Thence by coach to White Hall,
and at my Lord’s lodgings did write a letter, he not being within, to
tell him how things went, and so away again, only hearing that Mrs.
Sarah is married, I did go up stairs again and joy her and kiss her, she
owning of it; and it seems it is to a cook. I am glad she is disposed
of, for she grows old, and is very painfull,--[painstaking]--and one
I have reason to wish well for her old service to me. Then to my
brother’s, where my wife, by my order, is tonight to stay a night or two
while my house is made clean, and thence home, where I am angry to see,
instead of the house made in part clean, all the pewter goods and other
things are brought up to scouring, which makes the house ten times
worse, at which I was very much displeased, but cannot help it. So to my
office to set down my journal, and so home and to bed.
8th. All the morning sitting at the office, and after that dined alone
at home, and so to the office again till 9 o’clock, being loth to go
home, the house is so dirty, and my wife at my brother’s. So home and to
bed.
9th (Lord’s day). Lay alone a good while, my mind busy about pleading
to-morrow to the Duke if there shall be occasion for this chamber that I
lie in against Sir J., Minnes. Then up, and after being ready walked to
my brother’s, where my wife is, calling at many churches, and then to
the Temple, hearing a bit there too, and observing that in the streets
and churches the Sunday is kept in appearance as well as I have known
it at any time. Then to dinner to my brother’s, only he and my wife, and
after dinner to see Mr. Moore, who is pretty well, and he and I to St.
Gregory’s, where I escaped a great fall down the staires of the gallery:
so into a pew there and heard Dr. Ball make a very good sermon, though
short of what I expected, as for the most part it do fall out. So home
with Mr. Moore to his chamber, and after a little talk I walked home to
my house and staid at Sir W. Batten’s. Till late at night with him and
Sir J. Minnes, with whom we did abundance of most excellent discourse of
former passages of sea commanders and officers of the navy, and so home
and to bed, with my mind well at ease but only as to my chamber, which I
fear to lose.
10th. Up betimes and to set my workmen to work, and then a little to the
office, and so with Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and myself by coach to
White Hall, to the Duke, who, after he was ready, did take us into his
closett. Thither come my Lord General Monk, and did privately talk with
the Duke about having the life-guards pass through the City today only
for show and to fright people, for I perceive there are great fears
abroad; for all which I am troubled and full of doubt that things will
not go well. He being gone, we fell to business of the Navy. Among other
things, how to pay off this fleet that is now come from Portugall; the
King of Portugall sending them home, he having no more use for them,
which we wonder at, that his condition should be so soon altered. And
our landmen also are coming back, being almost starved in that poor
country. Having done here I went by my Lord Sandwich’s, who was not at
home, and so to Westminster Hall, where full of term, and here met with
many about business, among others my cozen Roger Pepys, who is all for
a composition with my uncle Thomas, which upon any fair terms I am for
also and desire it. Thence by water, and so by land to my Lord Crew’s,
and dined with him and his brother, I know not his name; where very good
discourse; among others, of France’s intention to make a patriarch of
his own, independent from the Pope, by which he will be able to cope
with the Spaniard in all councils, which hitherto he has never done.
My Lord Crew told us how he heard my Lord of Holland say that, being
Embassador about the match with the Queene-Mother that now is, the King
of France--[Louis XIII., in 1624.]--insisted upon a dispensation from
the Pope, which my Lord Holland making a question of, and that he was
commanded to yield to nothing to the prejudice of our religion, says
the King of France, “You need not fear that, for if the Pope will not
dispense with the match, my Bishopp of Paris shall.” By and by come in
great Mr. Swinfen, the Parliament-man, who, among other discourse of the
rise and fall of familys, told us of Bishopp Bridgeman (brother of Sir
Orlando) who lately hath bought a seat anciently of the Levers, and then
the Ashtons; and so he hath in his great hall window (having repaired
and beautified the house) caused four great places to be left for coates
of armes. In one, he hath put the Levers, with this motto, “Olim.” In
another the Ashtons, with this, “Heri.” In the next his own, with this,
“Hodie.” In the fourth nothing but this motto, “Cras nescio cujus.”
Thence towards my brother’s; met with Jack Cole in Fleet Street, and he
and I went into his cozen Mary Cole’s (whom I never saw since she was
married), and drank a pint of wine and much good discourse. I found him
a little conceited, but he had good things in him, and a man may know
the temper of the City by him, he being of a general conversation,
and can tell how matters go; and upon that score I will encourage his
acquaintance. Thence to my brother’s, and taking my wife up, carried her
to Charing Cross, and there showed her the Italian motion, much after
the nature of what I showed her a while since in Covent Garden. Their
puppets here are somewhat better, but their motions not at all. Thence
by coach to my Lady’s, and, hiding my wife with Sarah below, I went up
and heard some musique with my Lord, and afterwards discoursed with him
alone, and so good night to him and below, having sent for Mr. Creed,
had thought to have shown my wife a play before the King, but it is so
late that we could not, and so we took coach, and taking up Sarah at
my brother’s with their night geare we went home, and I to my office
to settle matters, and so home and to bed. This morning in the Duke’s
chamber Sir J. Minnes did break to me his desire about my chamber, which
I did put off to another time to discourse of, he speaking to me very
kindly to make me the less trouble myself, hoping to save myself and to
contrive something or other to pleasure him as well, though I know not
well what. The town, I hear, is full of discontents, and all know of
the King’s new bastard by Mrs. Haslerigge, and as far as I can hear
will never be contented with Episcopacy, they are so cruelly set for
Presbytery, and the Bishopps carry themselves so high, that they are
never likely to gain anything upon them.
11th. All the morning sitting at the office, and then to dinner with my
wife, and so to the office again (where a good while Mr. Bland was with
me, telling me very fine things in merchandize, which, but that the
trouble of my office do so cruelly hinder me, I would take some pains
in) till late at night. Towards the evening I, as I have done for three
or four nights, studying something of Arithmetique, which do please me
well to see myself come forward. So home, to supper, and to bed.
12th. At my office most of the morning, after I had done among my
painters, and sent away Mr. Shaw and Hawly, who came to give me a visit
this morning. Shaw it seems is newly re-married to a rich widow. At noon
dined at home with my wife, and by and by, by my wife’s appointment came
two young ladies, sisters, acquaintances of my wife’s brother’s, who are
desirous to wait upon some ladies, and proffer their service to my wife.
The youngest, indeed, hath a good voice, and sings very well, besides
other good qualitys; but I fear hath been bred up with too great liberty
for my family, and I fear greater inconveniences of expenses, and my
wife’s liberty will follow, which I must study to avoid till I have a
better purse; though, I confess, the gentlewoman, being pretty handsome,
and singing, makes me have a good mind to her. Anon I took them by coach
and carried them to a friend’s of theirs, in Lincoln’s Inn Fields,
and there I left them and I to the Temple by appointment to my cousin
Roger’s chamber, where my uncle Thomas and his son Thomas met us, I
having hoped that they would have agreed with me to have had [it] ended
by my cozen Roger, but they will have two strangers to be for them
against two others of mine, and so we parted without doing any thing
till the two send me the names of their arbiters. Thence I walked home,
calling a little in Paul’s Churchyard, and, I thank God, can read and
never buy a book, though I have a great mind to it. So to the Dolphin
Tavern near home, by appointment, and there met with Wade and Evett, and
have resolved to make a new attempt upon another discovery, in which God
give us better fortune than in the other, but I have great confidence
that there is no cheat in these people, but that they go upon good
grounds, though they have been mistaken in the place of the first. From
thence, without drinking a drop of wine, home to my office and there
made an end, though late, of my collection of the prices of masts for
these twelve years to this day, in order to the buying of some of Wood,
and I bound it up in painted paper to lie by as a book for future use.
So home and to supper and to bed, and a little before and after we were
in bed we had much talk and difference between us about my wife’s having
a woman, which I seemed much angry at, that she should go so far in it
without consideration and my being consulted with. So to bed.
13th. Up and began our discontent again and sorely angered my wife, who
indeed do live very lonely, but I do perceive that it is want of work
that do make her and all other people think of ways of spending their
time worse, and this I owe to my building, that do not admit of her
undertaking any thing of work, because the house has been and is still
so dirty. I to my office, and there sat all the morning and dined with
discontent with my wife at noon, and so to my office, and there this
afternoon we had our first meeting upon our commission of inspecting
the Chest, and there met Sir J. Minnes, Sir Francis Clerke, Mr. Heath,
Atturney of the Dutchy, Mr. Prinn, Sir W. Rider, Captn. Cocke, and
myself. Our first work to read over the Institution, which is a decree
in Chancery in the year 1617, upon an inquisition made at Rochester
about that time into the revenues of the Chest, which had then, from the
year 1588 or 1590, by the advice of the Lord High Admiral and principal
officers then being, by consent of the seamen, been settled, paying
sixpence per month, according to their wages then, which was then but
10s. which is now 24s. We adjourned to a fortnight hence. So broke up,
and I to see Sir W. Pen, who is now pretty well, but lies in bed still;
he cannot rise to stand. Then to my office late, and this afternoon my
wife in her discontent sent me a letter, which I am in a quandary what
to do, whether to read it or not, but I purpose not, but to burn it
before her face, that I may put a stop to more of this nature. But
I must think of some way, either to find her some body to keep her
company, or to set her to work, and by employment to take up her
thoughts and time. After doing what I had to do I went home to supper,
and there was very sullen to my wife, and so went to bed and to sleep
(though with much ado, my mind being troubled) without speaking one word
to her.
14th. She begun to talk in the morning and to be friends, believing
all this while that. I had read her letter, which I perceive by her
discourse was full of good counsel, and relating the reason of her
desiring a woman, and how little charge she did intend it to be to me,
so I begun and argued it as full and plain to her, and she to reason
it highly to me, to put her away, and take one of the Bowyers if I did
dislike her, that I did resolve when the house is ready she shall try
her for a while; the truth is, I having a mind to have her come for her
musique and dancing. So up and about my papers all the morning, and her
brother coming I did tell him my mind plain, who did assure me that they
were both of the sisters very humble and very poor, and that she that
we are to have would carry herself so. So I was well contented and spent
part of the morning at my office, and so home and to dinner, and after
dinner, finding Sarah to be discontented at the news of this woman, I
did begin in my wife’s chamber to talk to her and tell her that it was
not out of unkindness to her, but my wife came up, and I perceive she
is not too reconciled to her whatever the matter is, that I perceive I
shall not be able to keep her, though she is as good a servant (only a
little pettish) that ever I desire to have, and a creditable servant. So
she desired leave to go out to look [for] a service, and did, for which
I am troubled, and fell out highly afterwards with my wife about it. So
to my office, where we met this afternoon about answering a great letter
of my Lord Treasurer’s, and that done to my office drawing up a letter
to him, and so home to supper.
15th. All the morning at the office sitting, dined with my wife
pleasantly at home, then among my painters, and by and by went to
my Civil Lawyers about my uncle’s suit, and so home again and saw my
painters make an end of my house this night, which is my great joy, and
so to my office and did business till ten at night, and so home and to
supper, and after reading part of Bussy d’Ambois, a good play I bought
to-day, to bed.
16th (Lord’s day). About 3 o’clock in the morning waked with a rude
noise among Sir J. Minnes his servants (he not being yet come to his
lodgings), who are the rudest people but they that lived before, one
Mrs. Davis, that ever I knew in my life. To sleep again, and after long
talking pleasantly with my wife, up and to church, where Mrs. Goodyer,
now Mrs. Buckworth, was churched. I love the woman for her gravity
above any in the parish. So home and to dinner with my wife with great
content, and after dinner walked up and down my house, which is now
almost finished, there being nothing to do but the glazier and furniture
to put up. By and by comes Tom, and after a little talk I with him
towards his end, but seeing many strangers and coaches coming to our
church, and finding that it was a sermon to be preached by a probationer
for the Turkey Company,--[The Turkey or Levant Company was established
in 1581.]--to be sent to Smyrna, I returned thither. And several Turkey
merchants filled all the best pews (and some in ours) in the Church, but
a most pitiful sermon it was upon a text in Zachariah, and a great time
he spent to show whose son Zachary was, and to prove Malachi to be the
last prophet before John the Baptist. Home and to see Sir W. Pen, who
gets strength, but still keeps his bed. Then home and to my office to do
some business there, and so home to supper and to bed.
17th. To the Duke’s to-day, but he is gone a-hunting, and therefore I
to my Lord Sandwich’s, and having spoke a little with him about his
businesses, I to Westminster Hall and there staid long doing many
businesses, and so home by the Temple and other places doing the like,
and at home I found my wife dressing by appointment by her woman--[Mrs.
Gosnell.]--that I think is to be, and her other sister being here to-day
with her and my wife’s brother, I took Mr. Creed, that came to dine,
to an ordinary behind the Change, and there dined together, and after
dinner home and there spent an hour or two till almost dark, talking
with my wife, and making Mrs. Gosnell sing; and then, there being no
coach to be got, by water to White Hall; but Gosnell not being willing
to go through bridge, we were forced to land and take water, again, and
put her and her sister ashore at the Temple. I am mightily pleased with
her humour and singing. At White Hall by appointment, Mr. Creed carried
my wife and I to the Cockpitt, and we had excellent places, and saw the
King, Queen, Duke of Monmouth, his son, and my Lady Castlemaine, and all
the fine ladies; and “The Scornfull Lady,” well performed. They had done
by eleven o’clock, and it being fine moonshine, we took coach and home,
but could wake nobody at my house, and so were fain to have my boy get
through one of the windows, and so opened the door and called up the
maids, and went to supper and to bed, my mind being troubled at what
my wife tells me, that her woman will not come till she hears from her
mother, for I am so fond of her that I am loth now not to have her,
though I know it will be a great charge to me which I ought to avoid,
and so will make it up in other things. So to bed.
18th. Up and to the office, where Mr. Phillip the lawyer came to me, but
I put him off to the afternoon. At noon I dined at Sir W. Batten’s, Sir
John Minnes being here, and he and I very kind, but I every day expect
to pull a crow with him about our lodgings. My mind troubled about
Gosnell and my law businesses. So after dinner to Mr. Phillips his
chamber, where he demands an abatement for Piggott’s money, which vexes
me also, but I will not give it him without my father’s consent, which
I will write to him to-night about, and have done it. Here meeting my
uncle Thomas, he and I to my cozen Roger’s chamber, and there I did give
my uncle him and Mr. Philips to be my two arbiters against Mr. Cole and
Punt, but I expect no great good of the matter. Thence walked home, and
my wife came home, having been abroad to-day, laying out above L12 in
linen, and a copper, and a pot, and bedstead, and other household stuff,
which troubles me also, so that my mind to-night is very heavy and
divided. Late at my office, drawing up a letter to my Lord Treasurer,
which we have been long about, and so home, and, my mind troubled, to
bed.
20th. All the morning sitting at the office, at noon with Mr. Coventry
to the Temple to advise about Field’s, but our lawyers not being in the
way we went to St. James’s, and there at his chamber dined, and I am
still in love more and more with him for his real worth. I broke to
him my desire for my wife’s brother to send him to sea as a midshipman,
which he is willing to agree to, and will do it when I desire it. After
dinner to the Temple, to Mr. Thurland; and thence to my Lord Chief
Baron, Sir Edward Hale’s, and back with Mr. Thurland to his chamber,
where he told us that Field will have the better of us; and that we must
study to make up the business as well as we can, which do much vex and
trouble us: but I am glad the Duke is concerned in it. Thence by coach
homewards, calling at a tavern in the way (being guided by the messenger
in whose custody Field lies), and spoke with Mr. Smith our messenger
about the business, and so home, where I found that my wife had finished
very neatly my study with the former hangings of the diningroom, which
will upon occasion serve for a fine withdrawing room. So a little to
my office and so home, and spent the evening upon my house, and so to
supper and to bed.
21St. Within all day long, helping to put up my hangings in my house in
my wife’s chamber, to my great content. In the afternoon I went to speak
to Sir J. Minnes at his lodgings, where I found many great ladies, and
his lodgings made very fine indeed. At night to supper and to bed:
this night having first put up a spitting sheet, which I find very
convenient. This day come the King’s pleasure-boats from Calais, with
the Dunkirk money, being 400,000 pistolles.
22nd. This morning, from some difference between my wife and Sarah, her
maid, my wife and I fell out cruelly, to my great discontent. But I do
see her set so against the wench, whom I take to be a most extraordinary
good servant, that I was forced for the wench’s sake to bid her get her
another place, which shall cost some trouble to my wife, however, before
I suffer to be. Thence to the office, where I sat all the morning, then
dined; Mr. Moore with me, at home, my wife busy putting her furniture in
order. Then he and I out, and he home and I to my cozen Roger Pepys to
advise about treating with my uncle Thomas, and thence called at the
Wardrobe on Mr. Moore again, and so home, and after doing much business
at my office I went home and caused a new fashion knocker to be put
on my door, and did other things to the putting my house in order, and
getting my outward door painted, and the arch. This day I bought the
book of country dances against my wife’s woman Gosnell comes, who dances
finely; and there meeting Mr. Playford he did give me his Latin songs of
Mr. Deering’s, which he lately printed. This day Mr. Moore told me that
for certain the Queen-Mother is married to my Lord St. Albans, and he is
like to be made Lord Treasurer. Newes that Sir J. Lawson hath made up a
peace now with Tunis and Tripoli, as well as Argiers, by which he will
come home very highly honoured.
23rd (Lord’s day). Up, after some talk with my wife, soberly, upon
yesterday’s difference, and made good friends, and to church to hear Mr.
Mills, and so home, and Mr. Moore and my brother Tom dined with me.
My wife not being well to-day did not rise. In the afternoon to church
again, and heard drowsy Mr. Graves, and so to see Sir W. Pen, who
continues ill in bed, but grows better and better every day. Thence
to Sir W. Batten’s, and there staid awhile and heard how Sir R. Ford’s
daughter is married to a fellow without friends’ consent, and the match
carried on and made up at Will Griffin’s, our doorkeeper’s. So to my
office and did a little business, and so home and to bed. I talked to
my brother to-day, who desires me to give him leave to look after his
mistress still; and he will not have me put to any trouble or obligation
in it, which I did give him leave to do. I hear to-day how old rich
Audley is lately dead, and left a very great estate, and made a great
many poor familys rich, not all to one. Among others, one Davis, my old
schoolfellow at Paul’s, and since a bookseller in Paul’s Church Yard:
and it seems do forgive one man L60,000 which he had wronged him of, but
names not his name; but it is well known to be the scrivener in Fleet
Street, at whose house he lodged. There is also this week dead a
poulterer, in Gracious Street, which was thought rich, but not so rich,
that hath left L800 per annum, taken in other men’s names, and 40,000
Jacobs in gold.
[A jacobus was a gold coin of the value of twenty-five shillings,
called after James I, in whose reign it was first coined.]
24th. Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and I, going forth toward White
Hall, we hear that the King and Duke are come this morning to the Tower
to see the Dunkirk money! So we by coach to them, and there went up
and down all the magazines with them; but methought it was but poor
discourse and frothy that the King’s companions (young Killigrew among
the rest) about the codpieces of some of the men in armour there to be
seen, had with him. We saw none of the money, but Mr. Slingsby did show
the King, and I did see, the stamps of the new money that is now to be
made by Blondeau’s fashion,
[Peter Blondeau was employed by the Commonwealth to coin their
money. After the Restoration, November 3rd, 1662, he received
letters of denization, and a grant for being engineer of the Mint in
the Tower of London, and for using his new invention for coining
gold and silver with the mill and press, with the fee of L100 per
annum (Walpole’s “Anecdotes of Painting”).]
which are very neat, and like the King. Thence the King to Woolwich,
though a very cold day; and the Duke to White Hall, commanding us to
come after him, which we did by coach; and in his closett, my Lord
Sandwich being there, did discourse with us about getting some of this
money to pay off the Fleets, and other matters; and then away hence,
and, it being almost dinner time, I to my Lord Crew’s, and dined with
him, and had very good discourse, and he seemed to be much pleased with
my visits. Thence to Mr. Phillips, and so to the Temple, where met my
cozen Roger Pepys and his brother, Dr. John, as my arbitrators against
Mr. Cole and Mr. John Bernard for my uncle Thomas, and we two with them
by appointment. They began very high in their demands, and my friends,
partly being not so well acquainted with the will, and partly, I
doubt, not being so good wits as they, for which I blame my choosing
of relations (who besides that are equally engaged to stand for them as
me), I was much troubled thereat, and taking occasion to deny without
my father’s consent to bind myself in a bond of L2000 to stand to their
award, I broke off the business for the present till I hear and consider
further, and so thence by coach (my cozen, Thomas Pepys, being in
another chamber busy all the while, going along with me) homeward, and
I set him down by the way; but, Lord! how he did endeavour to find out
a ninepence to clubb with me for the coach, and for want was forced to
give me a shilling, and how he still cries “Gad!” and talks of Popery
coming in, as all the Fanatiques do, of which I was ashamed. So home,
finding my poor wife very busy putting things in order, and so to bed,
my mind being very much troubled, and could hardly sleep all night,
thinking how things are like to go with us about Brampton, and blaming
myself for living so high as I do when for ought I know my father and
mother may come to live upon my hands when all is done.
25th. Up and to the office all the morning, and at noon with the rest,
by Mr. Holy, the ironmonger’s invitation, to the Dolphin, to a venison
pasty, very good, and rare at this time of the year, and thence by coach
with Mr. Coventry as far as the Temple, and thence to Greatorex’s, where
I staid and talked with him, and got him to mend my pocket ruler for
me, and so by coach to my Lord’s lodging, where I sat with Mr. Moore by
appointment, making up accounts for my Lord Sandwich, which done he and
I and Capt. Ferrers and W. Howe very merry a good while in the great
dining room, and so it being late and my Lord not coming in, I by coach
to the Temple, and thence walked home, and so to my study to do some
business, and then home and to bed. Great talk among people how some
of the Fanatiques do say that the end of the world is at hand, and that
next Tuesday is to be the day. Against which, whenever it shall be, good
God fit us all.
26th. In the morning to the Temple to my cozen Roger, who now desires
that I would excuse him from arbitrating, he not being able to stand for
me as he would do, without appearing too high against my uncle Thomas,
which will raise his clamour. With this I am very well pleased, for
I did desire it, and so I shall choose other counsel. Thence home,
he being busy that I could not speak more with him. All day long till
twelve o’clock at night getting my house in order, my wife putting up
the red hangings and bed in her woman’s chamber, and I my books and all
other matters in my chamber and study, which is now very pretty. So to
bed.
27th. At my waking, I found the tops of the houses covered with snow,
which is a rare sight, that I have not seen these three years. Up, and
put my people to perfect the cleaning of my house, and so to the office,
where we sat till noon; and then we all went to the next house upon
Tower Hill, to see the coming by of the Russia Embassador; for whose
reception all the City trained-bands do attend in the streets, and the
King’s life-guards, and most of the wealthy citizens in their black
velvet coats, and gold chains (which remain of their gallantry at the
King’s coming in), but they staid so long that we went down again home
to dinner. And after I had dined, I heard they were coming, and so I
walked to the Conduit in the Quarrefowr,
[In two ordinances of the reign of Edward III., printed in Riley’s
“Memorials of London” (pp. 300, 389), this is called the “Carfukes,”
which nearly approaches the name of the “Carfax,” at Oxford, where
four ways also met. Pepys’s form of the word is nearer quatre
voies, the French equivalent of quadrivium.]
at the end of Gracious-street and Cornhill; and there (the spouts
thereof running very near me upon all the people that were under it) I
saw them pretty well go by. I could not see the Embassador in his coach;
but his attendants in their habits and fur caps very handsome, comely
men, and most of them with hawkes upon their fists to present to the
King. But Lord! to see the absurd nature of Englishmen, that cannot
forbear laughing and jeering at every thing that looks strange. So back
and to the office, and there we met and sat till seven o’clock, making
a bargain with Mr. Wood for his masts of New England; and then in Mr.
Coventry’s coach to the Temple, but my cozen Roger Pepys not being at
leisure to speak to me about my business, I presently walked home, and
to my office till very late doing business, and so home, where I found
my house more and more clear and in order, and hope in a day or two now
to be in very good condition there and to my full content. Which God
grant! So to supper and to bed.
28th. A very hard frost; which is news to us after having none almost
these three years. Up and to Ironmongers’ Hall by ten o’clock to the
funeral of Sir Richard Stayner. Here we were, all the officers of the
Navy, and my Lord Sandwich, who did discourse with us about the fishery,
telling us of his Majesty’s resolution to give L200 to every man that
will set out a Busse;
[A small sea-vessel used in the Dutch herring-fishery.]
and advising about the effects of this encouragement, which will be a
very great matter certainly. Here we had good rings, and by and by
were to take coach; and I being got in with Mr. Creed into a four-horse
coach, which they come and told us were only for the mourners, I
went out, and so took this occasion to go home. Where I staid all day
expecting Gosnell’s coming, but there came an excuse from her that she
had not heard yet from her mother, but that she will come next week,
which I wish she may, since I must keep one that I may have some
pleasure therein. So to my office till late writing out a copy of my
uncle’s will, and so home and to bed.
29th. Before I went to the office my wife’s brother did come to us, and
we did instruct him to go to Gosnell’s and to see what the true matter
is of her not coming, and whether she do intend to come or no, and so
I to the office; and this morning come Sir G. Carteret to us (being the
first time we have seen him since his coming from France): he tells us,
that the silver which he received for Dunkirk did weigh 120,000 weight.
Here all the morning upon business, and at noon (not going home to
dinner, though word was brought me that Will. Joyce was there, whom I
had not seen at my house nor any where else these three or four months)
with Mr. Coventry by his coach as far as Fleet Street, and there stepped
into Madam Turner’s, where was told I should find my cozen Roger Pepys,
and with him to the Temple, but not having time to do anything I went
towards my Lord Sandwich’s. (In my way went into Captn. Cuttance’s
coach, and with him to my Lord’s.) But the company not being ready I did
slip down to Wilkinson’s, and having not eat any thing to-day did eat
a mutton pie and drank, and so to my Lord’s, where my Lord and Mr.
Coventry, Sir Wm. Darcy, one Mr. Parham (a very knowing and well-spoken
man in this business), with several others, did meet about stating the
business of the fishery, and the manner of the King’s giving of this
L200 to every man that shall set out a new-made English Busse by
the middle of June next. In which business we had many fine pretty
discourses; and I did here see the great pleasure to be had in
discoursing of publique matters with men that are particularly
acquainted with this or that business. Having come to some issue,
wherein a motion of mine was well received, about sending these
invitations from the King to all the fishing-ports in general, with
limiting so many Busses to this, and that port, before we know the
readiness of subscribers, we parted, and I walked home all the way, and
having wrote a letter full of business to my father, in my way calling
upon my cozen Turner and Mr. Calthrop at the Temple, for their consent
to be my arbitrators, which they are willing to. My wife and I to bed
pretty pleasant, for that her brother brings word that Gosnell, which my
wife and I in discourse do pleasantly call our Marmotte, will certainly
come next week without fail, which God grant may be for the best.
30th (Lord’s day). To church in the morning, and Mr. Mills made a pretty
good sermon. It is a bitter cold frost to-day. Dined alone with my
wife to-day with great content, my house being quite clean from top to
bottom. In the afternoon I to the French church here
[The French Protestant Church was founded by Edward VI. in the
church of St. Anthony’s Hospital in Threadneedle Street. This was
destroyed in the Great Fire, and rebuilt, but demolished for the
approaches of the new Royal Exchange. The church was then removed
to St. Martin’s-le-Grand, but this was also removed in 1888 to make
room for the new Post Office buildings.]
in the city, and stood in the aisle all the sermon, with great delight
hearing a very admirable sermon, from a very young man, upon the article
in our creed, in order of catechism, upon the Resurrection. Thence home,
and to visit Sir W. Pen, who continues still bed-rid. Here was Sir W.
Batten and his Lady, and Mrs. Turner, and I very merry, talking of the
confidence of Sir R. Ford’s new-married daughter, though she married so
strangely lately, yet appears at church as brisk as can be, and takes
place of her elder sister, a maid. Thence home and to supper, and then,
cold as it is, to my office, to make up my monthly accounts, and I do
find that, through the fitting of my house this month, I have spent in
that and kitchen L50 this month; so that now I am worth but L660, or
thereabouts. This being done and fitted myself for the Duke to-morrow, I
went home, and to prayers and to bed. This day I first did wear a muffe,
being my wife’s last year’s muffe,
[The fashion of men wearing muffs appears to have been introduced
from France in this reign.]
and now I have bought her a new one, this serves me very well. Thus ends
this month; in great frost; myself and family all well, but my mind much
disordered about my uncle’s law business, being now in an order of
being arbitrated between us, which I wish to God it were done. I am
also somewhat uncertain what to think of my going about to take a
woman-servant into my house, in the quality of a woman for my wife. My
wife promises it shall cost me nothing but her meat and wages, and that
it shall not be attended with any other expenses, upon which termes I
admit of it; for that it will, I hope, save me money in having my wife
go abroad on visits and other delights; so that I hope the best, but am
resolved to alter it, if matters prove otherwise than I would have them.
Publique matters in an ill condition of discontent against the height
and vanity of the Court, and their bad payments: but that which troubles
most, is the Clergy, which will never content the City, which is not to
be reconciled to Bishopps: the more the pity that differences must still
be. Dunkirk newly sold, and the money brought over; of which we hope to
get some to pay the Navy: which by Sir J. Lawson’s having dispatched the
business in the Straights, by making peace with Argier,--[The ancient
name for Algiers.]--Tunis, and Tripoli (and so his fleet will also
shortly come home), will now every day grow less, and so the King’s
charge be abated; which God send!