9. They mark the letters on the edges, which is kept as the great secret
by Blondeau, who was not in the way, and so I did not speak with him
to-day.
[Professor W. C. Roberts-Austen, C.B., F.R.S., chemist to the Royal
Mint, refers to Pepys’s Diary and to Blondeau’s machine in his
Cantor Lectures on “Alloys used for Coinage,” printed in the
“journal of the Society of Arts” (vol. xxxii.). He writes, “The
hammer was still retained for coining in the Mint in the Tower of
London, but the question of the adoption of the screw-press by the
Moneyers appears to have been revived in 1649, when the Council of
State had it represented to them that the coins of the Government
might be more perfectly and beautifully done, and made equal to any
coins in Europe. It was proposed to send to France for Peter
Blondeau, who had invented and improved a machine and method for
making all coins ‘with the most beautiful polish and equality on the
edge, or with any proper inscription or graining.’ He came on the
3rd of September, and although a Committee of the Mint reported in
favour of his method of coining, the Company of Moneyers, who appear
to have boasted of the success of their predecessors in opposing the
introduction of the mill and screw-press in Queen Elizabeth’s reign,
prevented the introduction of the machinery, and consequently he did
not produce pattern pieces until 1653.... It is certain that
Blondeau did not invent, but only improved the method of coining by
the screw-press, and I believe his improvements related chiefly to a
method for ‘rounding the pieces before they are sized, and in making
the edges of the moneys with letters and graining,’ which he
undertook to reveal to the king. Special stress is laid on the
engines wherewith the rims were marked, ‘which might be kept secret
among few men.’ I cannot find that there is any record in the Paris
mint of Blondeau’s employment there, and the only reference to his
invention in the Mint records of this country refers to the
‘collars,’ or perforated discs of metal surrounding the ‘blank’
while it was struck into a coin. There is, however, in the British
Museum a MS. believed to be in Blondeau’s hand, in which he claims
his process, ‘as a new invention, to make a handsome coyne, than can
be found in all the world besides, viz., that shall not only be
stamped on both flat sides, but shall even be marked with letters on
the thickness of the brim.’ The letters were raised. The press
Blondeau used was, I believe, the ordinary screw-press, and I
suppose that the presses drawn in Akerman’s well-known plate of the
coining-room of the Mint in the Tower, published in 1803 [‘Microcosm
of London,’ vol. ii., p. 202], if not actually the same machines,
were similar to those erected in 1661-62 by Sir William Parkhurst
and Sir Anthony St. Leger, wardens of the Mint, at a cost of L1400,
Professor Roberts-Austen shows that Benvenuto Cellini used a similar
press to that attributed to Blondeau, and he gives an illustration
of this in his lecture (p. 810). In a letter to the editor the
professor writes: “Pepys’s account of the operations of coining, and
especially of assaying gold and silver, is very interesting and
singularly accurate considering that he could not have had technical
knowledge of the subject.”]
10. They mill them, that is, put on the marks on both sides at once with
great exactness and speed, and then the money is perfect. The mill is
after this manner: one of the dyes, which has one side of the piece cut,
is fastened to a thing fixed below, and the other dye (and they tell me
a payre of dyes will last the marking of L10,000 before it be worn out,
they and all other their tools being made of hardened steel, and the
Dutchman who makes them is an admirable artist, and has so much by the
pound for every pound that is coyned to find a constant supply of dyes)
to an engine above, which is moveable by a screw, which is pulled by
men; and then a piece being clapped by one sitting below between the two
dyes, when they meet the impression is set, and then the man with his
finger strikes off the piece and claps another in, and then the other
men they pull again and that is marked, and then another and another
with great speed. They say that this way is more charge to the King than
the old way, but it is neater, freer from clipping or counterfeiting,
the putting of the words upon the edges being not to be done (though
counterfeited) without an engine of the charge and noise that no
counterfeit will be at or venture upon, and it employs as many men as
the old and speedier. They now coyne between L16 and L24,000 in a week.
At dinner they did discourse very finely to us of the probability that
there is a vast deal of money hid in the land, from this:--that in King
Charles’s time there was near ten millions of money coyned, besides what
was then in being of King James’s and Queene Elizabeth’s, of which there
is a good deal at this day in being. Next, that there was but L750,000
coyned of the Harp and Crosse money,
[The Commonwealth coins (stamped with the cross and harp, and the
inscription, “The Commonwealth of England”) were called in by
proclamation, September, 1660, and when brought to the Mint an equal
amount of lawful money was allowed for them, weight for weight,
deducting only for the coinage (Ruding’s “Annals of the Coinage,” 18
19, vol. iii., p. 293). The harp was taken out of the naval flags
in May, 1660.]
and of this there was L500,000 brought in upon its being called in. And
from very good arguments they find that there cannot be less of it
in Ireland and Scotland than L100,000; so that there is but L150,000
missing; and of that, suppose that there should be not above 650,000
still remaining, either melted down, hid, or lost, or hoarded up in
England, there will then be but L100,000 left to be thought to have been
transported. Now, if L750,000 in twelve years’ time lost but a L100,000
in danger of being transported, then within thirty-five years’ time
will have lost but L3,888,880 and odd pounds; and as there is L650,000
remaining after twelve years’ time in England, so after thirty-five
years’ time, which was within this two years, there ought in proportion
to have been resting L6,111,120 or thereabouts, beside King James’s and
Queen Elizabeth’s money. Now that most of this must be hid is evident,
as they reckon, because of the dearth of money immediately upon the
calling-in of the State’s money, which was L500,000 that came in; and
yet there was not any money to be had in this City, which they say to
their own observation and knowledge was so. And therefore, though I can
say nothing in it myself, I do not dispute it.
20th. Up and to my office, and anon home and to see my wife dancing with
Pembleton about noon, and I to the Trinity House to dinner and after
dinner home, and there met Pembleton, who I perceive has dined with my
wife, which she takes no notice of, but whether that proceeds out of
design, or fear to displease me I know not, but it put me into a great
disorder again, that I could mind nothing but vexing, but however I
continued my resolution of going down by water to Woolwich, took my wife
and Ashwell; and going out met Mr. Howe come to see me, whose horse we
caused to be set up, and took him with us. The tide against us, so I
went ashore at Greenwich before, and did my business at the yard about
putting things in order as to their proceeding to build the new yacht
ordered to be built by Christopher Pett,
[In the minutes of the Royal Society is the following entry: “June
11, 1662. Dr. Pett’s brother shewed a draught of the pleasure boat
which he intended to make for the king” (Birch’s “History of the
Royal Society,” vol. i., p. 85). Peter Pett had already built a
yacht for the king at Deptford.]
and so to Woolwich town, where at an alehouse I found them ready to
attend my coming, and so took boat again, it being cold, and I sweating,
with my walk, which was very pleasant along the green come and pease,
and most of the way sang, he and I, and eat some cold meat we had, and
with great pleasure home, and so he took horse again, and Pembleton
coming, we danced a country dance or two and so broke up and to bed, my
mind restless and like to be so while she learns to dance. God forgive
my folly.
21st. Up, but cannot get up so early as I was wont, nor my mind to
business as it should be and used to be before this dancing. However, to
my office, where most of the morning talking of Captain Cox of Chatham
about his and the whole yard’s difference against Mr. Barrow the
storekeeper, wherein I told him my mind clearly, that he would be upheld
against the design of any to ruin him, he being we all believed, but Sir
W. Batten his mortal enemy, as good a servant as any the King has in
the yard. After much good advice and other talk I home and danced with
Pembleton, and then the barber trimmed me, and so to dinner, my wife and
I having high words about her dancing to that degree that I did enter
and make a vow to myself not to oppose her or say anything to dispraise
or correct her therein as long as her month lasts, in pain of 2s. 6d.
for every time, which, if God pleases, I will observe, for this roguish
business has brought us more disquiett than anything [that] has happened
a great while. After dinner to my office, where late, and then home; and
Pembleton being there again, we fell to dance a country dance or two,
and so to supper and bed. But being at supper my wife did say something
that caused me to oppose her in, she used the word devil, which vexed
me, and among other things I said I would not have her to use that word,
upon which she took me up most scornfully, which, before Ashwell and
the rest of the world, I know not now-a-days how to check, as I would
heretofore, for less than that would have made me strike her. So that
I fear without great discretion I shall go near to lose too my command
over her, and nothing do it more than giving her this occasion of
dancing and other pleasures, whereby her mind is taken up from her
business and finds other sweets besides pleasing of me, and so makes her
that she begins not at all to take pleasure in me or study to please
me as heretofore. But if this month of her dancing were but out (as my
first was this night, and I paid off Pembleton for myself) I shall hope
with a little pains to bring her to her old wont. This day Susan that
lived with me lately being out of service, and I doubt a simple wench,
my wife do take her for a little time to try her at least till she goes
into the country, which I am yet doubtful whether it will be best for me
to send her or no, for fear of her running off in her liberty before I
have brought her to her right temper again.
22nd. Up pretty betimes, and shall, I hope, come to myself and business
again, after a small playing the truant, for I find that my interest and
profit do grow daily, for which God be praised and keep me to my duty.
To my office, and anon one tells me that Rundall, the house-carpenter of
Deptford, hath sent me a fine blackbird, which I went to see. He tells
me he was offered 20s. for him as he came along, he do so whistle. So
to my office, and busy all the morning, among other things, learning to
understand the course of the tides, and I think I do now do it. At noon
Mr. Creed comes to me, and he and I to the Exchange, where I had much
discourse with several merchants, and so home with him to dinner, and
then by water to Greenwich, and calling at the little alehouse at the
end of the town to wrap a rag about my little left toe, being new sore
with walking, we walked pleasantly to Woolwich, in our way hearing the
nightingales sing. So to Woolwich yard, and after doing many things
there, among others preparing myself for a dispute against Sir W. Pen in
the business of Bowyer’s, wherein he is guilty of some corruption to the
King’s wrong, we walked back again without drinking, which I never do
because I would not make my coming troublesome to any, nor would become
obliged too much to any. In our going back we were overtook by Mr.
Steventon, a purser, and uncle to my clerk Will, who told me how he was
abused in the passing of his accounts by Sir J. Minnes to the degree
that I am ashamed to hear it, and resolve to retrieve the matter if I
can though the poor man has given it over. And however am pleased enough
to see that others do see his folly and dotage as well as myself, though
I believe in my mind the man in general means well.
Took boat at Greenwich and to Deptford, where I did the same thing, and
found Davis, the storekeeper, a knave, and shuffling in the business of
Bewpers, being of the party with Young and Whistler to abuse the King,
but I hope I shall be even with them. So walked to Redriffe, drinking
at the Half-way house, and so walked and by water to White Hall, all our
way by water coming and going reading a little book said to be writ by
a person of Quality concerning English gentry to be preferred before
titular honours, but the most silly nonsense, no sense nor grammar, yet
in as good words that ever I saw in all my life, but from beginning to
end you met not with one entire and regular sentence. At White Hall Sir
G. Carteret was out of the way, and so returned back presently, and home
by water and to bed.
23rd. Waked this morning between four and five by my blackbird, which
whistles as well as ever I heard any; only it is the beginning of many
tunes very well, but there leaves them, and goes no further. So up and
to my office, where we sat, and among other things I had a fray with
Sir J. Minnes in defence of my Will in a business where the old coxcomb
would have put a foot upon him, which was only in Jack Davis and in him
a downright piece of knavery in procuring a double ticket and getting
the wrong one paid as well as the second was to the true party. But it
appeared clear enough to the board that Will was true in it. Home to
dinner, and after dinner by water to the Temple, and there took my
Lyra Viall book bound up with blank paper for new lessons. Thence to
Greatorex’s, and there seeing Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Pen go by coach
I went in to them and to White Hall; where, in the Matted Gallery, Mr.
Coventry was, who told us how the Parliament have required of Sir G.
Carteret and him an account what money shall be necessary to be settled
upon the Navy for the ordinary charge, which they intend to report
L200,000 per annum. And how to allott this we met this afternoon, and
took their papers for our perusal, and so we parted. Only there was
walking in the gallery some of the Barbary company, and there we saw
a draught of the arms of the company, which the King is of, and so
is called the Royall Company, which is, in a field argent an elephant
proper, with a canton on which England and France is quartered,
supported by two Moors. The crest an anchor winged, I think it is,
and the motto too tedious: “Regio floret, patrocinio commercium,
commercioque Regnum.” Thence back by water to Greatorex’s, and there he
showed me his varnish which he had invented, which appears every whit as
good, upon a stick which he hath done, as the Indian, though it did not
do very well upon my paper ruled with musique lines, for it sunk and did
not shine. Thence home by water, and after a dance with Pembleton to my
office and wrote by the post to Sir W. Batten at Portsmouth to send for
him up against next Wednesday, being our triall day against Field at
Guildhall, in which God give us good end. So home: to supper and to bed.
24th (Lord’s day). Having taken one of Mr. Holliard’s pills last night
it brought a stool or two this morning, and so forebore going to church
this morning, but staid at home looking over my papers about Tom Trice’s
business, and so at noon dined, and my wife telling me that there was a
pretty lady come to church with Peg Pen to-day, I against my intention
had a mind to go to church to see her, and did so, and she is pretty
handsome. But over against our gallery I espied Pembleton, and saw him
leer upon my wife all the sermon, I taking no notice of him, and my wife
upon him, and I observed she made a curtsey to him at coming out without
taking notice to me at all of it, which with the consideration of her
being desirous these two last Lord’s days to go to church both forenoon
and afternoon do really make me suspect something more than ordinary,
though I am loth to think the worst, but yet it put and do still keep me
at a great loss in my mind, and makes me curse the time that I consented
to her dancing, and more my continuing it a second month, which was more
than she desired, even after I had seen too much of her carriage with
him. But I must have patience and get her into the country, or at least
to make an end of her learning to dance as soon as I can. After sermon
to Sir W. Pen’s, with Sir J. Minnes to do a little business to answer
Mr. Coventry to-night. And so home and with my wife and Ashwell into the
garden walking a great while, discoursing what this pretty wench should
be by her garb and deportment; with respect to Mrs. Pen she may be her
woman, but only that she sat in the pew with her, which I believe he
would not let her do. So home, and read to my wife a fable or two in
Ogleby’s AEsop, and so to supper, and then to prayers and to bed. My
wife this evening discoursing of making clothes for the country, which
I seem against, pleading lack of money, but I am glad of it in some
respects because of getting her out of the way from this fellow, and my
own liberty to look after my business more than of late I have done.
So to prayers and to bed. This morning it seems Susan, who I think is
distracted, or however is since she went from me taught to drink, and so
gets out of doors 2 or 3 times a day without leave to the alehouse, did
go before 5 o’clock to-day, making Griffin rise in his shirt to let her
out to the alehouse, she said to warm herself, but her mistress, falling
out with her about it, turned her out of doors this morning, and so she
is gone like an idle slut. I took a pill also this night.
25th. Up, and my pill working a little I staid within most of the
morning, and by and by the barber came and Sarah Kite my cozen, poor
woman, came to see me and borrow 40s. of me, telling me she will pay it
at Michaelmas again to me. I was glad it was no more, being indifferent
whether she pays it me or no, but it will be a good excuse to lend her
nor give her any more. So I did freely at first word do it, and give her
a crown more freely to buy her child something, she being a good-natured
and painful wretch, and one that I would do good for as far as I can
that I might not be burdened. My wife was not ready, and she coming
early did not see her, and I was glad of it. She gone, I up and then
hear that my wife and her maid Ashwell had between them spilled the
pot.... upon the floor and stool and God knows what, and were mighty
merry making of it clean. I took no great notice, but merrily. Ashwell
did by and by come to me with an errand from her mistress to desire
money to buy a country suit for her against she goes as we talked last
night, and so I did give her L4, and believe it will cost me the best
part of 4 more to fit her out, but with peace and honour I am willing to
spare anything so as to be able to keep all ends together, and my power
over her undisturbed. So to my office and by and by home, where my wife
and her master were dancing, and so I staid in my chamber till they had
done, and sat down myself to try a little upon the Lyra viall, my hand
being almost out, but easily brought to again. So by and by to dinner,
and then carried my wife and Ashwell to St. James’s, and there they sat
in the coach while I went in, and finding nobody there likely to meet
with the Duke, but only Sir J. Minnes with my Lord Barkely (who speaks
very kindly, and invites me with great compliments to come now and then
and eat with him, which I am glad to hear, though I value not the thing,
but it implies that my esteem do increase rather than fall), and so I
staid not, but into the coach again, and taking up my wife’s taylor,
it raining hard, they set me down, and who should our coachman be but
Carleton the Vintner, that should have had Mrs. Sarah, at Westminster,
my Lord Chancellor’s, and then to Paternoster Row. I staid there to
speak with my Lord Sandwich, and in my staying, meeting Mr. Lewis
Phillips of Brampton, he and afterwards others tell me that news came
last night to Court, that the King of France is sick of the spotted
fever, and that they are struck in again; and this afternoon my Lord
Mandeville is gone from the King to make him a visit; which will be
great news, and of great import through Europe. By and by, out comes my
Lord Sandwich, and he and I talked a great while about his business, of
his accounts for his pay, and among other things he told me that this
day a vote hath passed that the King’s grants of land to my Lord Monk
and him should be made good; which pleases him very well. He also tells
me that things don’t go right in the House with Mr. Coventry; I suppose
he means in the business of selling of places; but I am sorry for it.
Thence by coach home, where I found Pembleton, and so I up to dance with
them till the evening, when there came Mr. Alsopp, the King’s brewer,
and Lanyon of Plymouth to see me. Mr. Alsopp tells me of a horse of his
that lately, after four days’ pain, voided at his fundament four stones,
bigger than that I was cut of, very heavy, and in the middle of each
of them either a piece of iron or wood. The King has two of them in his
closett, and a third the College of Physicians to keep for rarity, and
by the King’s command he causes the turd of the horse to be every day
searched to find more. At night to see Sir W. Batten come home this day
from Portsmouth. I met with some that say that the King of France is
poisoned, but how true that is is not known. So home to supper and to
bed pleasant.
26th. Lay long in bed talking and pleasing myself with my wife. So up
and to my office a while and then home, where I found Pembleton, and
by many circumstances I am led to conclude that there is something more
than ordinary between my wife and him, which do so trouble me that I
know not at this very minute that I now write this almost what either
I write or am doing, nor how to carry myself to my wife in it, being
unwilling to speak of it to her for making of any breach and other
inconveniences, nor let it pass for fear of her continuing to offend
me and the matter grow worse thereby. So that I am grieved at the very
heart, but I am very unwise in being so. There dined with me Mr. Creed
and Captain Grove, and before dinner I had much discourse in my chamber
with Mr. Deane, the builder of Woolwich, about building of ships. But
nothing could get the business out of my head, I fearing that this
afternoon by my wife’s sending every [one] abroad and knowing that I
must be at the office she has appointed him to come. This is my devilish
jealousy, which I pray God may be false, but it makes a very hell in my
mind, which the God of heaven remove, or I shall be very unhappy. So
to the office, where we sat awhile. By and by my mind being in great
trouble I went home to see how things were, and there I found as I
doubted Mr. Pembleton with my wife, and nobody else in the house, which
made me almost mad, and going up to my chamber after a turn or two I
went out again and called somebody on pretence of business and left him
in my little room at the door (it was the Dutchman, commander of the
King’s pleasure boats, who having been beat by one of his men sadly, was
come to the office to-day to complain) telling him I would come again to
him to speak with him about his business. So in great trouble and doubt
to the office, and Mr. Coventry nor Sir G. Carteret being there I made a
quick end of our business and desired leave to be gone, pretending to go
to the Temple, but it was home, and so up to my chamber, and as I think
if they had any intention of hurt I did prevent doing anything at that
time, but I continued in my chamber vexed and angry till he went away,
pretending aloud, that I might hear, that he could not stay, and Mrs.
Ashwell not being within they could not dance. And, Lord! to see how my
jealousy wrought so far that I went softly up to see whether any of
the beds were out of order or no, which I found not, but that did not
content me, but I staid all the evening walking, and though anon my wife
came up to me and would have spoke of business to me, yet I construed
it to be but impudence, and though my heart full yet I did say nothing,
being in a great doubt what to do. So at night, suffered them to go all
to bed, and late put myself to bed in great discontent, and so to sleep.
27th. So I waked by 3 o’clock, my mind being troubled, and so took
occasion by making water to wake my wife, and after having lain till
past 4 o’clock seemed going to rise, though I did it only to see what
she would do, and so going out of the bed she took hold of me and would
know what ailed me, and after many kind and some cross words I began to
tax her discretion in yesterday’s business, but she quickly told me my
own, knowing well enough that it was my old disease of jealousy, which I
denied, but to no purpose. After an hour’s discourse, sometimes high and
sometimes kind, I found very good reason to think that her freedom with
him is very great and more than was convenient, but with no evil intent,
and so after awhile I caressed her and parted seeming friends, but she
crying in a great discontent. So I up and by water to the Temple, and
thence with Commissioner Pett to St. James’s, where an hour with Mr.
Coventry talking of Mr. Pett’s proceedings lately in the forest of
Sherwood, and thence with Pett to my Lord Ashley, Chancellor of the
Exchequer; where we met the auditors about settling the business of the
accounts of persons to whom money is due before the King’s time in the
Navy, and the clearing of their imprests for what little of their debts
they have received. I find my Lord, as he is reported, a very ready,
quick, and diligent person. Thence I to Westminster Hall, where Term and
Parliament make the Hall full of people; no further news yet of the King
of France, whether he be dead or not. Here I met with my cozen Roger
Pepys, and walked a good while with him, and among other discourse as a
secret he hath committed to nobody but myself, and he tells me that his
sister Claxton now resolving to give over the keeping of his house at
Impington, he thinks it fit to marry again, and would have me, by the
help of my uncle Wight or others, to look him out a widow between thirty
and forty years old, without children, and with a fortune, which he will
answer in any degree with a joynture fit for her fortune. A woman sober,
and no high-flyer, as he calls it. I demanded his estate. He tells me,
which he says also he hath not done to any, that his estate is not full
L800 per annum, but it is L780 per annum, of which L200 is by the death
of his last wife, which he will allot for a joynture for a wife, but the
rest, which lies in Cambridgeshire, he is resolved to leave entire for
his eldest son. I undertook to do what I can in it, and so I shall. He
tells me that the King hath sent to them to hasten to make an end by
midsummer, because of his going into the country; so they have set upon
four bills to dispatch: the first of which is, he says, too devilish a
severe act against conventicles; so beyond all moderation, that he is
afeard it will ruin all: telling me that it is matter of the greatest
grief to him in the world, that he should be put upon this trust of
being a Parliament-man, because he says nothing is done, that he can
see, out of any truth and sincerity, but mere envy and design. Thence
by water to Chelsey, all the way reading a little book I bought of
“Improvement of Trade,” a pretty book and many things useful in it. So
walked to Little Chelsey, where I found my Lord Sandwich with Mr. Becke,
the master of the house, and Mr. Creed at dinner, and I sat down with
them, and very merry. After dinner (Mr. Gibbons being come in also
before dinner done) to musique, they played a good Fancy, to which my
Lord is fallen again, and says he cannot endure a merry tune, which is
a strange turn of his humour, after he has for two or three years flung
off the practice of Fancies and played only fidlers’ tunes. Then into
the Great Garden up to the Banqueting House; and there by his glass we
drew in the species very pretty. Afterwards to ninepins, where I won a
shilling, Creed and I playing against my Lord and Cooke. This day there
was great thronging to Banstead Downs, upon a great horse-race and
foot-race. I am sorry I could not go thither. So home back as I came, to
London Bridge, and so home, where I find my wife in a musty humour, and
tells me before Ashwell that Pembleton had been there, and she would
not have him come in unless I was there, which I was ashamed of; but
however, I had rather it should be so than the other way. So to my
office, to put things in order there, and by and by comes Pembleton,
and word is brought me from my wife thereof that I might come home. So I
sent word that I would have her go dance, and I would come presently.
So being at a great loss whether I should appear to Pembleton or no, and
what would most proclaim my jealousy to him, I at last resolved to go
home, and took Tom Hater with me, and staid a good while in my chamber,
and there took occasion to tell him how I hear that Parliament is
putting an act out against all sorts of conventicles,
[16 Car. II., cap. 4, “An Act to prevent and suppresse seditious
Conventicles.” It was enacted that anyone of the age of sixteen or
upwards present at an unlawful assembly or conventicle was to incur
fine or imprisonment. A conventicle was defined as an assembly of
more than five persons besides the members of a family met together
for holding worship not according to the rites of the Church of
England. The act was amended 22 Car. II., cap. i (1670), and
practically repealed by the Toleration Act of 1689, but the act 22
Car. II., cap. i, was specially repealed 52 Geo. III., cap. 155, s.
1.]
and did give him good counsel, not only in his own behalf, but my own,
that if he did hear or know anything that could be said to my prejudice,
that he would tell me, for in this wicked age (specially Sir W. Batten
being so open to my reproaches, and Sir J. Minnes, for the neglect of
their duty, and so will think themselves obliged to scandalize me all
they can to right themselves if there shall be any inquiry into the
matters of the Navy, as I doubt there will) a man ought to be prepared
to answer for himself in all things that can be inquired concerning him.
After much discourse of this nature to him I sent him away, and then
went up, and there we danced country dances, and single, my wife and
I; and my wife paid him off for this month also, and so he is cleared.
After dancing we took him down to supper, and were very merry, and
I made myself so, and kind to him as much as I could, to prevent his
discourse, though I perceive to my trouble that he knows all, and may do
me the disgrace to publish it as much as he can. Which I take very ill,
and if too much provoked shall witness it to her. After supper and he
gone we to bed.
28th. Up this morning, and my wife, I know not for what cause, being
against going to Chelsey to-day, it being a holy day (Ascension Day) and
I at leisure, it being the first holy day almost that we have observed
ever since we came to the office, we did give Ashwell leave to go by
herself, and I out to several places about business. Among others to
Dr. Williams, to reckon with him for physique that my wife has had for
a year or two, coming to almost L4. Then to the Exchange, where I hear
that the King had letters yesterday from France that the King there is
in a [way] of living again, which I am glad to hear. At the coffee-house
in Exchange Alley I bought a little book, “Counsell to Builders,” by
Sir Balth. Gerbier. It is dedicated almost to all the men of any great
condition in England, so that the Epistles are more than the book
itself, and both it and them not worth a turd, that I am ashamed that
I bought it. Home and there found Creed, who dined with us, and after
dinner by water to the Royall Theatre; but that was so full they told
us we could have no room. And so to the Duke’s House; and there
saw “Hamlett” done, giving us fresh reason never to think enough of
Betterton. Who should we see come upon the stage but Gosnell, my wife’s
maid? but neither spoke, danced, nor sung; which I was sorry for. But
she becomes the stage very well. Thence by water home, after we had
walked to and fro, backwards and forwards, six or seven times in the
Temple walks, disputing whether to go by land or water. By land home,
and thence by water to Halfway House, and there eat some supper we
carried with us, and so walked home again, it being late we were forced
to land at the dock, my wife and they, but I in a humour not willing to
daub my shoes went round by the Custom House. So home, and by and by to
bed, Creed lying with me in the red chamber all night.
29th. This day is kept strictly as a holy-day, being the King’s
Coronation. We lay long in bed, and it rained very hard, rain and hail,
almost all the morning. By and by Creed and I abroad, and called at
several churches; and it is a wonder to see, and by that to guess the
ill temper of the City at this time, either to religion in general, or
to the King, that in some churches there was hardly ten people in the
whole church, and those poor people. So to a coffee-house, and there in
discourse hear the King of France is likely to be well again. So home
to dinner, and out by water to the Royall Theatre, but they not acting
to-day, then to the Duke’s house, and there saw “The Slighted Mayde,”
wherein Gosnell acted Pyramena, a great part, and did it very well, and
I believe will do it better and better, and prove a good actor. The play
is not very excellent, but is well acted, and in general the actors, in
all particulars, are better than at the other house. Thence to the Cocke
alehouse, and there having drunk, sent them with Creed to see the German
Princess,
[Mary Moders, alias Stedman, a notorious impostor, who pretended to
be a German princess. Her arrival as the German princess “at the
Exchange Tavern, right against the Stocks betwixt the Poultry and
Cornhill, at 5 in the morning...., with her marriage to
Carleton the taverner’s wife’s brother,” are incidents fully
narrated in Francis Kirkman’s “Counterfeit Lady Unveiled,” 1673
(“Boyne’s Tokens,” ed. Williamson, vol. i., p. 703). Her
adventures formed the plot of a tragi-comedy by T. P., entitled “A
Witty Combat, or the Female Victor,” 1663, which was acted with
great applause by persons of quality in Whitsun week. Mary Carleton
was tried at the Old Bailey for bigamy and acquitted, after which
she appeared on the stage in her own character as the heroine of a
play entitled “The German Princess.” Pepys went to the Duke’s House
to see her on April 15th, 1664. The rest of her life was one
continued course of robbery and fraud, and in 1678 she was executed
at Tyburn for stealing a piece of plate in Chancery Lane.]
at the Gatehouse, at Westminster, and I to my brother’s, and thence to
my uncle Fenner’s to have seen my aunt James (who has been long in town
and goes away to-morrow and I not seen her), but did find none of them
within, which I was glad of, and so back to my brother’s to speak
with him, and so home, and in my way did take two turns forwards and
backwards through the Fleete Ally to see a couple of pretty [strumpets]
that stood off the doors there, and God forgive me I could scarce stay
myself from going into their houses with them, so apt is my nature to
evil after once, as I have these two days, set upon pleasure again. So
home and to my office to put down these two days’ journalls, then home
again and to supper, and then Creed and I to bed with good discourse,
only my mind troubled about my spending my time so badly for these seven
or eight days; but I must impute it to the disquiet that my mind has
been in of late about my wife, and for my going these two days to plays,
for which I have paid the due forfeit by money and abating the times of
going to plays at Court, which I am now to remember that I have cleared
all my times that I am to go to Court plays to the end of this month,
and so June is the first time that I am to begin to reckon.
30th. Up betimes, and Creed and I by water to Fleet Street, and my
brother not being ready, he and I walked to the New Exchange, and there
drank our morning draught of whay, the first I have done this year; but
I perceive the lawyers come all in as they go to the Hall, and I believe
it is very good. So to my brother’s, and there I found my aunt James,
a poor, religious, well-meaning, good soul, talking of nothing but God
Almighty, and that with so much innocence that mightily pleased me. Here
was a fellow that said grace so long like a prayer; I believe the fellow
is a cunning fellow, and yet I by my brother’s desire did give him
a crown, he being in great want, and, it seems, a parson among the
fanatiques, and a cozen of my poor aunt’s, whose prayers she told me
did do me good among the many good souls that did by my father’s desires
pray for me when I was cut of the stone, and which God did hear, which
I also in complaisance did own; but, God forgive me, my mind was
otherwise. I had a couple of lobsters and some wine for her, and so, she
going out of town to-day, and being not willing to come home with me to
dinner, I parted and home, where we sat at the office all the morning,
and after dinner all the afternoon till night, there at my office
getting up the time that I have of late lost by not following my
business, but I hope now to settle my mind again very well to my
business. So home, and after supper did wash my feet, and so to bed.
31st (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed talking with my wife, and do plainly
see that her distaste (which is beginning now in her again) against
Ashwell arises from her jealousy of me and her, and my neglect of
herself, which indeed is true, and I to blame; but for the time to come
I will take care to remedy all. So up and to church, where I think I did
see Pembleton, whatever the reason is I did not perceive him to look up
towards my wife, nor she much towards him; however, I could hardly keep
myself from being troubled that he was there, which is a madness not
to be excused now that his coming to my house is past, and I hope all
likelyhood of her having occasion to converse with him again. Home to
dinner, and after dinner up and read part of the new play of “The Five
Houres’ Adventures,” which though I have seen it twice; yet I never did
admire or understand it enough, it being a play of the greatest plot
that ever I expect to see, and of great vigour quite through the whole
play, from beginning to the end. To church again after dinner (my wife
finding herself ill.... did not go), and there the Scot preaching
I slept most of the sermon. This day Sir W. Batten’s son’s child is
christened in the country, whither Sir J. Minnes, and Sir W, Batten, and
Sir W. Pen are all gone. I wonder, and take it highly ill that I am not
invited by the father, though I know his father and mother, with whom I
am never likely to have much kindness, but rather I study the contrary,
are the cause of it, and in that respect I am glad of it. Being come
from church, I to make up my month’s accounts, and find myself clear
worth L726, for which God be praised, but yet I might have been better
by L20 almost had I forborne some layings out in dancing and other
things upon my wife, and going to plays and other things merely to ease
my mind as to the business of the dancing-master, which I bless God is
now over and I falling to my quiet of mind and business again, which I
have for a fortnight neglected too much. This month the greatest news
is, the height and heat that the Parliament is in, in enquiring into the
revenue, which displeases the Court, and their backwardness to give the
King any money. Their enquiring into the selling of places do trouble
a great many among the chief, my Lord Chancellor (against whom
particularly it is carried), and Mr. Coventry; for which I am sorry. The
King of France was given out to be poisoned and dead; but it proves to
be the measles: and he is well, or likely to be soon well again. I find
myself growing in the esteem and credit that I have in the office, and I
hope falling to my business again will confirm me in it, and the saving
of money which God grant! So to supper, prayers, and bed. My whole
family lying longer this morning than was fit, and besides Will having
neglected to brush my clothes, as he ought to do, till I was ready to
go to church, and not then till I bade him, I was very angry, and
seeing him make little matter of it, but seeming to make it a matter
indifferent whether he did it or no, I did give him a box on the ear,
and had it been another day should have done more. This is the second
time I ever struck him.