June 1st. Up, having lain long, going to bed very late after the ending
of my accounts. Being up Mr. Hollyard came to me, and to my great
sorrow, after his great assuring me that I could not possibly have the
stone again, he tells me that he do verily fear that I have it again,
and has brought me something to dissolve it, which do make me very
much troubled, and pray to God to ease me. He gone, I down by water to
Woolwich and Deptford to look after the dispatch of the ships, all the
way reading Mr. Spencer’s Book of Prodigys, which is most ingeniously
writ, both for matter and style. Home at noon, and my little girl got me
my dinner, and I presently out by water and landed at Somerset stairs,
and thence through Covent Garden, where I met with Mr. Southwell (Sir W.
Pen’s friend), who tells me the very sad newes of my Lord Tiviott’s and
nineteen more commission officers being killed at Tangier by the Moores,
by an ambush of the enemy upon them, while they were surveying their
lines; which is very sad, and, he says, afflicts the King much. Thence
to W. Joyce’s, where by appointment I met my wife (but neither of them
at home), and she and I to the King’s house, and saw “The Silent Woman;”
but methought not so well done or so good a play as I formerly thought
it to be, or else I am nowadays out of humour. Before the play was done,
it fell such a storm of hayle, that we in the middle of the pit were
fain to rise;
[The stage was covered in by a tiled roof, but the pit was open to
the sky. “The pit lay open to the weather for sake of light, but
was subsequently covered in with a glazed cupola, which, however,
only imperfectly protected the audience, so that in stormy weather
the house was thrown into disorder, and the people in the pit were
fain to rise” (Cunningham’s “Story of Nell Gwyn,” ed. 1893, p. 33).]
and all the house in a disorder, and so my wife and I out and got into a
little alehouse, and staid there an hour after the play was done before
we could get a coach, which at last we did (and by chance took up Joyce
Norton and Mrs. Bowles, and set them at home), and so home ourselves,
and I, after a little to my office, so home to supper and to bed.
2nd. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and then to
the ‘Change, where after some stay by coach with Sir J. Minnes and Mr.
Coventry to St. James’s, and there dined with Mr. Coventry very finely,
and so over the Parke to White Hall to a Committee of Tangier about
providing provisions, money, and men for Tangier. At it all the
afternoon, but it is strange to see how poorly and brokenly things are
done of the greatest consequence, and how soon the memory of this great
man is gone, or, at least, out of mind by the thoughts of who goes next,
which is not yet knowne. My Lord of Oxford, Muskerry, and several others
are discoursed of. It seems my Lord Tiviott’s design was to go a mile
and half out of the towne, to cut down a wood in which the enemy did use
to lie in ambush. He had sent several spyes; but all brought word that
the way was clear, and so might be for any body’s discovery of an enemy
before you are upon them. There they were all snapt, he and all his
officers, and about 200 men, as they say; there being left now in the
garrison but four captains. This happened the 3d of May last, being not
before that day twelvemonth of his entering into his government there:
but at his going out in the morning he said to some of his officers,
“Gentlemen, let us look to ourselves, for it was this day three years
that so many brave Englishmen were knocked on the head by the Moores,
when Fines made his sally out.” Here till almost night, and then home
with Sir J. Minnes by coach, and so to my office a while, and home to
supper and bed, being now in constant pain in my back, but whether it be
only wind or what it is the Lord knows, but I fear the worst.
3rd. Up, still in a constant pain in my back, which much afflicts me
with fear of the consequence of it. All the morning at the office, we
sat at the office extraordinary upon the business of our stores, but,
Lord! what a pitiful account the Surveyor makes of it grieves my heart.
This morning before I came out I made a bargain with Captain Taylor for
a ship for the Commissioners for Tangier, wherein I hope to get L40 or
L50. To the ‘Change, and thence home and dined, and then by coach to
White Hall, sending my wife to Mrs. Hunt’s. At the Committee for Tangier
all the afternoon, where a sad consideration to see things of so great
weight managed in so confused a manner as it is, so as I would not
have the buying of an acre of land bought by the Duke of York and Mr.
Coventry, for ought I see, being the only two that do anything like men;
Prince Rupert do nothing but swear and laugh a little, with an oathe or
two, and that’s all he do. Thence called my wife and home, and I late
at my office, and so home to supper and to bed, pleased at my hopes of
gains by to-day’s work, but very sad to think of the state of my health.
4th. Up and to St. James’s by coach, after a good deal of talk before
I went forth with J. Noble, who tells me that he will secure us against
Cave, that though he knows, and can prove it, yet nobody else can
prove it, to be Tom’s child; that the bond was made by one Hudson, a
scrivener, next to the Fountaine taverne, in the Old Bayly; that the
children were born, and christened, and entered in the parish-book of
St. Sepulchre’s, by the name of Anne and Elizabeth Taylor and he will
give us security against Cave if we pay him the money. And then up to
the Duke, and was with him giving him an account how matters go, and
of the necessity there is of a power to presse seamen, without which we
cannot really raise men for this fleete of twelve sayle, besides that it
will assert the King’s power of pressing, which at present is somewhat
doubted, and will make the Dutch believe that we are in earnest. Thence
by water to the office, where we sat till almost two o’clock. This
morning Captain Ferrer came to the office to tell me that my Lord hath
given him a promise of Young’s place in the Wardrobe, and hearing that I
pretend a promise to it he comes to ask my consent, which I denied him,
and told him my Lord may do what he pleases with his promise to me, but
my father’s condition is not so as that I should let it go if my Lord
will stand to his word, and so I sent him going, myself being troubled
a little at it. After office I with Mr. Coventry by water to St. James’s
and dined with him, and had excellent discourse from him. So to the
Committee for Tangier all afternoon, where still the same confused
doings, and my Lord Fitz-Harding now added to the Committee; which will
signify much. It grieves me to see how brokenly things are ordered. So
by coach home, and at my office late, and so to supper and to bed, my
body by plenty of breaking of wind being just now pretty well again,
having had a constant akeing in my back these 5 or 6 days. Mr. Coventry
discoursing this noon about Sir W. Batten (what a sad fellow he is!)
told me how the King told him the other day how Sir W. Batten, being
in the ship with him and Prince Rupert when they expected to fight with
Warwick, did walk up and down sweating with a napkin under his throat to
dry up his sweat; and that Prince Rupert being a most jealous man, and
particularly of Batten, do walk up and down swearing bloodily to the
King, that Batten had a mind to betray them to-day, and that the napkin
was a signal; “but, by God,” says he, “if things go ill, the first thing
I will do is to shoot him.” He discoursed largely and bravely to me
concerning the different sort of valours, the active and passive valour.
For the latter, he brought as an instance General Blake; who, in the
defending of Taunton and Lime for the Parliament, did through his
stubborn sort of valour defend it the most ‘opiniastrement’ that ever
any man did any thing; and yet never was the man that ever made
any attaque by land or sea, but rather avoyded it on all, even fair
occasions. On the other side, Prince Rupert, the boldest attaquer in the
world for personal courage; and yet, in the defending of Bristol, no man
ever did anything worse, he wanting the patience and seasoned head to
consult and advise for defence, and to bear with the evils of a siege.
The like he says is said of my Lord Tiviott, who was the boldest
adventurer of his person in the world, and from a mean man in few years
was come to this greatness of command and repute only by the death
of all his officers, he many times having the luck of being the only
survivor of them all, by venturing upon services for the King of France
that nobody else would; and yet no man upon a defence, he being all fury
and no judgment in a fight. He tells me above all of the Duke of Yorke,
that he is more himself and more of judgement is at hand in him in the
middle of a desperate service, than at other times, as appeared in the
business of Dunkirke, wherein no man ever did braver things, or was in
hotter service in the close of that day, being surrounded with enemies;
and then, contrary to the advice of all about him, his counsel carried
himself and the rest through them safe, by advising that he might make
his passage with but a dozen with him; “For,” says he, “the enemy cannot
move after me so fast with a great body, and with a small one we shall
be enough to deal with them;” and though he is a man naturally martiall
to the highest degree, yet a man that never in his life talks one word
of himself or service of his owne, but only that he saw such or such a
thing, and lays it down for a maxime that a Hector can have no courage.
He told me also, as a great instance of some men, that the Prince of
Condo’s excellence is, that there not being a more furious man in the
world, danger in fight never disturbs him more than just to make him
civill, and to command in words of great obligation to his officers and
men; but without any the least disturbance in his judgment or spirit.
5th (Lord’s day). About one in the morning I was knocked up by my mayds
to come to my wife who is very ill. I rose, and from some cold she got
to-day, or from something else, she is taken with great gripings, a
looseness, and vomiting. I lay a while by her upon the bed, she being
in great pain, poor wretch, but that being a little over I to bed again,
and lay, and then up and to my office all the morning, setting matters
to rights in some accounts and papers, and then to dinner, whither
Mr. Shepley, late come to town, came to me, and after dinner and
some pleasant discourse he went his way, being to go out of town
to Huntington again to-morrow. So all the afternoon with my wife
discoursing and talking, and in the evening to my office doing business,
and then home to supper and to bed.
6th. Up and found my wife very ill again, which troubles me, but I was
forced to go forth. So by water with Mr. Gauden and others to see a ship
hired by me for the Commissioners of Tangier, and to give order therein.
So back to the office, and by coach with Mr. Gauden to White Hall, and
there to my Lord Sandwich, and here I met Mr. Townsend very opportunely
and Captain Ferrer, and after some discourse we did accommodate the
business of the Wardrobe place, that he shall have the reversion if he
will take it out by giving a covenant that if Mr. Young’ dyes before my
father my father shall have the benefit of it for his life. So home, and
thence by water to Deptford, and there found our Trinity Brethren come
from their election to church, where Dr. Britton made, methought, an
indifferent sermon touching the decency that we ought to observe in
God’s house, the church, but yet to see how ridiculously some men will
carry themselves. Sir W. Batten did at open table anon in the name of
the whole Society desire him to print his sermon, as if the Doctor could
think that they were fit judges of a good sermon. Then by barge with Sir
W. Batten to Trinity House. It seems they have with much ado carried
it for Sir G. Carteret against Captain Harrison, poor man, who by
succession ought to have been it, and most hands were for him, but only
they were forced to fright the younger Brethren by requiring them to set
their hands (which is an ill course) and then Sir G. Carteret carryed
it. Here was at dinner my Lord Sandwich, Mr. Coventry, my Lord Craven,
and others. A great dinner, and good company. Mr. Prin also, who would
not drink any health, no, not the King’s, but sat down with his hat on
all the while;
[William Prynne had published in 1628 a small book against the
drinking of healths, entitled, “Healthes, Sicknesse; or a
compendious and briefe Discourse, prouing, the Drinking and Pledging
of Healthes to be sinfull and utterly unlawfull unto Christians
... wherein all those ordinary objections, excuses or pretences,
which are made to justifie, extenuate, or excuse the drinking or
pledging of Healthes are likewise cleared and answered.” The
pamphlet was dedicated to Charles I. as “more interessed in the
theame and subject of this compendious discourse then any other that
I know,” and “because your Majestie of all other persons within your
owne dominions, are most dishonoured, prejudiced, and abused by
these Healthes.”]
but nobody took notice of it to him at all; but in discourse with
the Doctor he did declare himself that he ever was, and has expressed
himself in all his books for mixt communion against the Presbyterian
examination. Thence after dinner by water, my Lord Sandwich and all
us Tangier men, where at the Committee busy till night with great
confusion, and then by coach home, with this content, however, that I
find myself every day become more and more known, and shall one day hope
to have benefit by it. I found my wife a little better. A little to my
office, then home to supper and to bed.
7th. Up and to the office (having by my going by water without any
thing upon my legs yesterday got some pain upon me again), where all the
morning. At noon a little to the ‘Change, and thence home to dinner, my
wife being ill still in bed. Thence to the office, where busy all the
afternoon till 9 at night, and so home to my wife, to supper, and to
bed.
8th. All day before dinner with Creed, talking of many things, among
others, of my Lord’s going so often to Chelsy, and he, without my
speaking much, do tell me that his daughters do perceive all, and do
hate the place, and the young woman there, Mrs. Betty Becke; for my
Lord, who sent them thither only for a disguise for his going thither,
will come under pretence to see them, and pack them out of doors to the
Parke, and stay behind with her; but now the young ladies are gone to
their mother to Kensington. To dinner, and after dinner till 10 at night
in my study writing of my old broken office notes in shorthand all in
one book, till my eyes did ake ready to drop out. So home to supper and
to bed.
9th. Up and at my office all the morning. At noon dined at home, Mr.
Hunt and his kinswoman (wife in the country), after dinner I to the
office, where we sat all the afternoon. Then at night by coach to attend
the Duke of Albemarle about the Tangier ship. Coming back my wife spied
me going home by coach from Mr. Hunt’s, with whom she hath gained much
in discourse to-day concerning W. Howe’s discourse of me to him. That he
was the man that got me to be secretary to my Lord; and all that I have
thereby, and that for all this I never did give him 6d. in my life.
Which makes me wonder that this rogue dare talk after this manner, and I
think all the world is grown false. But I hope I shall make good use
of it. So home to supper and to bed, my eyes aching mightily since last
night.
10th. Up and by water to White Hall, and there to a Committee of
Tangier, and had occasion to see how my Lord Ashworth--[Lord Ashworth
is probably a miswriting for Lord Ashley (afterwards Earl of
Shaftesbury).]--deports himself, which is very fine indeed, and it joys
my heart to see that there is any body looks so near into the King’s
business as I perceive he do in this business of my Lord Peterborough’s
accounts. Thence into the Parke, and met and walked with Captain Sylas
Taylor, my old acquaintance while I was of the Exchequer, and Dr. Whore,
talking of musique, and particularly of Mr. Berckenshaw’s way, which
Taylor magnifies mightily, and perhaps but what it deserves, but not
so easily to be understood as he and others make of it. Thence home
by water, and after dinner abroad to buy several things, as a map, and
powder, and other small things, and so home to my office, and in the
evening with Captain Taylor by water to our Tangier ship, and so home,
well pleased, having received L26 profit to-day of my bargain for this
ship, which comforts me mightily, though I confess my heart, what with
my being out of order as to my health, and the fear I have of the money
my Lord oweth me and I stand indebted to him in, is much cast down of
late. In the evening home to supper and to bed.
11th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, where some
discourse arose from Sir G. Carteret and Mr. Coventry, which gives me
occasion to think that something like a war is expected now indeed,
though upon the ‘Change afterwards I hear too that an Embassador is
landed from Holland, and one from their East India Company, to treat
with ours about the wrongs we pretend to. Mr. Creed dined with me, and
thence after dinner by coach with my wife only to take the ayre, it
being very warm and pleasant, to Bowe and Old Ford; and thence to
Hackney. There ‘light, and played at shuffle-board, eat cream and good
churies; and so with good refreshment home. Then to my office vexed with
Captain Taylor about the delay of carrying down the ship hired by me for
Tangier, and late about that and other things at the office. So home to
supper and to bed.
12th (Lord’s day). All the morning in my chamber consulting my lesson of
ship building, and at noon Mr. Creed by appointment came and dined with
us, and sat talking all the afternoon till, about church time, my
wife and I began our great dispute about going to Griffin’s child’s
christening, where I was to have been godfather, but Sir J. Minnes
refusing, he wanted an equal for me and my Lady Batten, and so sought
for other. Then the question was whether my wife should go, and she
having dressed herself on purpose, was very angry, and began to talk
openly of my keeping her within doors before Creed, which vexed me to
the guts, but I had the discretion to keep myself without passion, and
so resolved at last not to go, but to go down by water, which we did
by H. Russell--[a waterman]--to the Half-way house, and there eat and
drank, and upon a very small occasion had a difference again broke out,
where without any the least cause she had the cunning to cry a great
while, and talk and blubber, which made me mighty angry in mind, but
said nothing to provoke her because Creed was there, but walked home,
being troubled in my mind also about the knavery and neglect of Captain
Fudge and Taylor, who were to have had their ship for Tangier ready by
Thursday last, and now the men by a mistake are come on board, and not
any master or man or boy of the ship’s company on board with them when
we came by her side this afternoon, and also received a letter from Mr.
Coventry this day in complaint of it. We came home, and after supper
Creed went home, and I to bed. My wife made great means to be friends,
coming to my bedside and doing all things to please me, and at last I
could not hold out, but seemed pleased, and so parted, and I with much
ado to sleep, but was easily wakened by extraordinary great rain, and
my mind troubled the more to think what the soldiers would do on board
tonight in all this weather.
13th. So up at 5 o’clock, and with Captain Taylor on board her at
Deptford, and found all out of order, only the soldiers civil, and Sir
Arthur Bassett a civil person. I rated at Captain Taylor, whom, contrary
to my expectation, I found a lying and a very stupid blundering fellow,
good for nothing, and yet we talk of him in the Navy as if he had been
an excellent officer, but I find him a lying knave, and of no judgment
or dispatch at all. After finding the condition of the ship, no master,
not above four men, and many ship’s provisions, sayls, and other things
wanting, I went back and called upon Fudge, whom I found like a lying
rogue unready to go on board, but I did so jeer him that I made him get
every thing ready, and left Taylor and H. Russell to quicken him, and so
away and I by water on to White Hall, where I met his Royal Highnesse at
a Tangier Committee about this very thing, and did there satisfy him how
things are, at which all was pacified without any trouble, and I hope
may end well, but I confess I am at a real trouble for fear the rogue
should not do his work, and I come to shame and losse of the money I did
hope justly to have got by it. Thence walked with Mr. Coventry to St.
James’s, and there spent by his desire the whole morning reading of some
old Navy books given him of old Sir John Cooke’s by the Archbishop of
Canterbury that now is; wherein the order that was observed in the Navy
then, above what it is now, is very observable, and fine things we did
observe in our reading. Anon to dinner, after dinner to discourse of the
business of the Dutch warr, wherein he tells me the Dutch do in every
particular, which are but few and small things that we can demand
of them, whatever cry we unjustly make, do seem to offer at an
accommodation, for they do owne that it is not for their profit to have
warr with England. We did also talk of a History of the Navy of England,
how fit it were to be writ; and he did say that it hath been in his
mind to propose to me the writing of the History of the late Dutch
warr, which I am glad to hear, it being a thing I much desire, and sorts
mightily with my genius; and, if well done, may recommend me much. So he
says he will get me an order for making of searches to all records, &c.,
in order thereto, and I shall take great delight in doing of it. Thence
by water down to the Tower, and thither sent for Mr. Creed to my house,
where he promised to be, and he and I down to the ship, and find all
things in pretty good order, and I hope will end to my mind. Thence
having a gaily down to Greenwich, and there saw the King’s works, which
are great, a-doing there, and so to the Cherry Garden, and so carried
some cherries home, and after supper to bed, my wife lying with me,
which from my not being thoroughly well, nor she, we have not done above
once these two or three weeks.
14th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and had great
conflict about the flags again, and am vexed methought to see my Lord
Berkely not satisfied with what I said, but however I stop the King’s
being abused by the flag makers for the present. I do not know how it
may end, but I will do my best to preserve it. So home to dinner, and
after dinner by coach to Kensington. In the way overtaking Mr. Laxton,
the apothecary, with his wife and daughters, very fine young lasses,
in a coach; and so both of us to my Lady Sandwich, who hath lain this
fortnight here at Deane Hodges’s. Much company came hither to-day, my
Lady Carteret, &c., Sir William Wheeler and his lady, and, above all,
Mr. Becke, of Chelsy, and wife and daughter, my Lord’s mistress, and one
that hath not one good feature in her face, and yet is a fine lady, of
a fine taille, and very well carriaged, and mighty discreet. I took all
the occasion I could to discourse with the young ladies in her company
to give occasion to her to talk, which now and then she did, and that
mighty finely, and is, I perceive, a woman of such an ayre, as I wonder
the less at my Lord’s favour to her, and I dare warrant him she hath
brains enough to entangle him. Two or three houres we were in her
company, going into Sir H. Finche’s garden, and seeing the fountayne,
and singing there with the ladies, and a mighty fine cool place it is,
with a great laver of water in the middle and the bravest place for
musique I ever heard. After much mirthe, discoursing to the ladies
in defence of the city against the country or court, and giving them
occasion to invite themselves to-morrow to me to dinner, to my venison
pasty, I got their mother’s leave, and so good night, very well
pleased with my day’s work, and, above all, that I have seen my Lord’s
mistresse. So home to supper, and a little at my office, and to bed.
15th. Up and by appointment with Captain Witham (the Captain that
brought the newes of the disaster at Tangier, where my Lord Tiviott was
slain) and Mr. Tooker to Beares Quay, and there saw and more afterward
at the several grannarys several parcels of oates, and strange it is to
hear how it will heat itself if laid up green and not often turned. We
came not to any agreement, but did cheapen several parcels, and thence
away, promising to send again to them. So to the Victualling office, and
then home. And in our garden I got Captain Witham to tell me the whole
story of my Lord Tiviott’s misfortune; for he was upon the guard with
his horse neare the towne, when at a distance he saw the enemy appear
upon a hill, a mile and a half off, and made up to them, and with much
ado escaped himself; but what became of my Lord he neither knows nor
thinks that any body but the enemy can tell. Our losse was about four
hundred. But he tells me that the greater wonder is that my Lord Tiviott
met no sooner with such a disaster; for every day he did commit himself
to more probable danger than this, for now he had the assurance of all
his scouts that there was no enemy thereabouts; whereas he used every
day to go out with two or three with him, to make his discoveries, in
greater danger, and yet the man that could not endure to have anybody
else to go a step out of order to endanger himself. He concludes him to
be the man of the hardest fate to lose so much honour at one blow that
ever was. His relation being done he parted; and so I home to look after
things for dinner. And anon at noon comes Mr. Creed by chance, and by
and by the three young ladies:--[Lord Sandwich’s daughters.]--and
very merry we were with our pasty, very well baked; and a good dish of
roasted chickens; pease, lobsters, strawberries. And after dinner to
cards: and about five o’clock, by water down to Greenwich; and up to the
top of the hill, and there played upon the ground at cards. And so to
the Cherry Garden, and then by water singing finely to the Bridge, and
there landed; and so took boat again, and to Somersett House. And by
this time, the tide being against us, it was past ten of the clock; and
such a troublesome passage, in regard of my Lady Paulina’s fearfullness,
that in all my life I never did see any poor wretch in that condition.
Being come hither, there waited for them their coach; but it being so
late, I doubted what to do how to get them home. After half an hour’s
stay in the street, I sent my wife home by coach with Mr. Creed’s boy;
and myself and Creed in the coach home with them. But, Lord! the fear
that my Lady Paulina was in every step of the way; and indeed at this
time of the night it was no safe thing to go that road; so that I was
even afeard myself, though I appeared otherwise.--We came safe, however,
to their house, where all were abed; we knocked them up, my Lady and all
the family being in bed. So put them into doors; and leaving them with
the mayds, bade them good night, and then into the towne, Creed and I,
it being about twelve o’clock and past; and to several houses, inns, but
could get no lodging, all being in bed. At the last house, at last,
we found some people drinking and roaring; and there got in, and after
drinking, got an ill bed, where
16th. I lay in my drawers and stockings and wastecoate till five of the
clock, and so up; and being well pleased with our frolique, walked to
Knightsbridge, and there eat a messe of creame, and so to St. James’s,
and there walked a little, and so I to White Hall, and took coach, and
found my wife well got home last night, and now in bed. So I to the
office, where all the morning, and at noon to the ‘Change, so home and
to my office, where Mr. Ackworth came to me (though he knows himself
and I know him to be a very knave), yet he came to me to discover the
knavery of other people like the most honest man in the world. However,
good use I shall make of his discourse, for in this he is much in the
right. He being gone I to the ‘Change, Mr. Creed with me, after we had
been by water to see a vessell we have hired to carry more soldiers to
Tangier, and also visited a rope ground, wherein I learnt several useful
things. The talk upon the ‘Change is, that De Ruyter is dead, with
fifty men of his own ship, of the plague, at Cales: that the Holland
Embassador here do endeavour to sweeten us with fair words; and things
likely to be peaceable. Home after I had spoke with my cozen Richard
Pepys upon the ‘Change, about supplying us with bewpers from Norwich,
which I should be glad of, if cheap. So home to supper and bed.
17th. Up, and to my office, where I dispatched much business, and then
down by water to Woolwich to make a discovery of a cheate providing for
us in the working of some of our own ground Tows into new cordage, to be
sold to us for Riga cordage. Thence to Mr. Falconer’s, where I met Sir
W. Batten and Lady, and Captain Tinker, and there dined with them,
and so to the Dockyarde and to Deptford by water, and there very long
informing myself in the business of flags and bewpers and other things,
and so home late, being weary, and full of good information to-day, but
I perceive the corruptions of the Navy are of so many kinds that it is
endless to look after them, especially while such a one as Sir W. Batten
discourages every man that is honest. So home to my office, there very
late, and then to supper and to bed mightily troubled in my mind to hear
how Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes do labour all they can to abuse or
enable others to abuse the King.
18th. From morning till 11 at night (only a little at dinner at home)
at my office very busy, setting many businesses in order to my great
trouble, but great content in the end. So home to supper and to bed.
Strange to see how pert Sir W. Pen is to-day newly come from Portsmouth
with his head full of great reports of his service and the state of the
ships there. When that is over he will be just as another man again or
worse. But I wonder whence Mr. Coventry should take all this care for
him, to send for him up only to look after his Irish business with my
Lord Ormond and to get the Duke’s leave for him to come with so much
officiousness, when I am sure he knows him as well as I do as to his
little service he do.
19th (Lord’s day). Up, and all the morning and afternoon (only at dinner
at home) at my office doing many businesses for want of time on the week
days. In the afternoon the greatest shower of rain of a sudden and the
greatest and most continued thunder that ever I heard I think in my
life. In the evening home to my wife, and there talked seriously of
several of our family concernments, and among others of bringing Pall
out of the country to us here to try to put her off, which I am very
desirous, and my wife also of. So to supper, prayers, which I have of
late too much omitted. So to bed.
20th. It having been a very cold night last night I had got some cold,
and so in pain by wind, and a sure precursor of pain is sudden letting
off farts, and when that stops, then my passages stop and my pain
begins. Up and did several businesses, and so with my wife by water to
White Hall, she to her father’s, I to the Duke, where we did our usual
business. And among other discourse of the Dutch, he was merrily saying
how they print that Prince Rupert, Duke of Albemarle, and my Lord
Sandwich, are to be Generalls; and soon after is to follow them “Vieux
Pen;” and so the Duke called him in mirth Old Pen. They have, it seems,
lately wrote to the King, to assure him that their setting-out ships
were only to defend their fishing-trade, and to stay near home, not to
annoy the King’s subjects; and to desire that he would do the like with
his ships: which the King laughs at, but yet is troubled they should
think him such a child, to suffer them to bring home their fish and East
India Company’s ships, and then they will not care a fart for us. Thence
to Westminster Hall, it being term time, meeting Mr. Dickering, he tells
me how my Lady last week went to see Mrs. Becke, the mother; and by and
by the daughter came in, but that my Lady do say herself, as he says,
that she knew not for what reason, for she never knew they had a
daughter, which I do not believe. She was troubled, and her heart did
rise as soon as she appeared, and seems the most ugly woman that ever
she saw. This if true were strange, but I believe it is not. Thence to
my Lord’s lodgings; and were merry with the young ladies, who make a
great story of their appearing before their mother the morning after we
carried them, the last week, home so late; and that their mother took it
very well, at least without any anger. Here I heard how the rich widow,
my Lady Gold, is married to one Neale, after he had received a box on
the eare by her brother (who was there a sentinel, in behalf of some
courtier) at the door; but made him draw, and wounded him. She called
Neale up to her, and sent for a priest, married presently, and went to
bed. The brother sent to the Court, and had a serjeant sent for Neale;
but Neale sent for him up to be seen in bed, and she owned him for her
husband: and so all is past. It seems Sir H. Bennet did look after her.
My Lady very pleasant. After dinner came in Sir Thomas Crew and Mr.
Sidney, lately come from France, who is growne a little, and a pretty
youth he is; but not so improved as they did give him out to be, but
like a child still. But yet I can perceive he hath good parts and good
inclinations. Thence with Creed, who dined here, to Westminster to find
out Mr. Hawly, and did, but he did not accept of my offer of his being
steward to my Lord at sea. Thence alone to several places about my law
businesses, and with good success; at last I to Mr. Townsend at the
Wardrobe, and received kind words from him to be true to me against
Captain Ferrers his endeavours to get the place from my father as my
Lord hath promised him. Here met Will. Howe, and he went forth with me;
and by water back to White Hall to wait on my Lord, who is come back
from Hinchinbroke; where he has been about 4 or 5 days. But I was never
more vexed to see how an over-officious visitt is received, for
he received me with as little concernment as in the middle of his
discontent, and a fool I am to be of so servile a humour, and vexed with
that consideration I took coach home, and could not get it off my mind
all night. To supper and to bed, my wife finding fault with Besse for
her calling upon Jane that lived with us, and there heard Mrs. Harper
and her talk ill of us and not told us of it. With which I was also
vexed, and told her soundly of it till she cried, poor wench, and I hope
without dissimulation, and yet I cannot tell; however, I was glad to see
in what manner she received it, and so to sleep.
21st. Being weary yesterday with walking I sleep long, and at last up
and to the office, where all the morning. At home to dinner, Mr. Deane
with me. After dinner I to White Hall (setting down my wife by the
way) to a Committee of Tangier, where the Duke of Yorke, I perceive, do
attend the business very well, much better than any man there or most
of them, and my [mind] eased of some trouble I lay under for fear of his
thinking ill of me from the bad successe in the setting forth of these
crew men to Tangier. Thence with Mr. Creed, and walked in the Parke, and
so to the New Exchange, meeting Mr. Moore, and he with us. I shewed him
no friendly look, but he took no notice to me of the Wardrobe business,
which vexes me. I perceive by him my Lord’s business of his family and
estate goes very ill, and runs in debt mightily. I would to God I were
clear of it, both as to my owne money and the bond of L1000, which I
stand debtor for him in, to my cozen Thomas Pepys. Thence by coach home
and to my office a little, and so to supper and to bed.
22nd. Up and I found Mr. Creed below, who staid with me a while,
and then I to business all the morning. At noon to the ‘Change and
Coffee-house, where great talke of the Dutch preparing of sixty sayle of
ships. The plague grows mightily among them, both at sea and land. From
the ‘Change to dinner to Trinity House with Sir W. Rider and Cutler,
where a very good dinner. Here Sir G. Ascue dined also, who I perceive
desires to make himself known among the seamen. Thence home, there
coming to me my Lord Peterborough’s Sollicitor with a letter from him to
desire present dispatch in his business of freight, and promises me L50,
which is good newes, and I hope to do his business readily for him. This
much rejoiced me. All the afternoon at his business, and late at night
comes the Sollicitor again, and I with him at 9 o’clock to Mr. Povy’s,
and there acquainted him with the business. The money he won’t pay
without warrant, but that will be got done in a few days. So home by
coach and to bed.
23rd. Up, and to the office, and there we sat all the morning. So to
the ‘Change, and then home to dinner and to my office, where till 10
at night very busy, and so home to supper and to bed. My cozen, Thomas
Pepys, was with me yesterday and I took occasion to speak to him about
the bond I stand bound for my Lord Sandwich to him in L1000. I did very
plainly, obliging him to secrecy, tell him how the matter stands, yet
with all duty to my Lord my resolution to be bound for whatever he
desires me for him, yet that I would be glad he had any other security.
I perceive by Mr. Moore today that he hath been with my Lord, and my
Lord how he takes it I know not, but he is looking after other security
and I am mighty glad of it. W. Howe was with me this afternoon, to
desire some things to be got ready for my Lord against his going down to
his ship, which will be soon; for it seems the King and both the Queenes
intend to visit him. The Lord knows how my Lord will get out of this
charge; for Mr. Moore tells me to-day that he is L10,000 in debt and
this will, with many other things that daily will grow upon him (while
he minds his pleasure as he do), set him further backward. But it was
pretty this afternoon to hear W. Howe mince the matter, and say that he
do believe that my Lord is in debt L2000 or L3000, and then corrected
himself and said, No, not so, but I am afraid he is in debt L1000. I
pray God gets me well rid of his Lordship as to his debt, and I care
not.
24th. Up and out with Captain Witham in several places again to look for
oats for Tangier, and among other places to the City granarys, where
it seems every company have their granary and obliged to keep such a
quantity of corne always there or at a time of scarcity to issue so much
at so much a bushell: and a fine thing it is to see their stores of
all sorts, for piles for the bridge, and for pipes, a thing I never saw
before.
[From the commencement of the reign of Henry VIII., or perhaps
earlier, it was the custom of the City of London to provide against
scarcity, by requiring each of the chartered Companies to keep in
store a certain quantity of corn, which was to be renewed from time
to time, and when required for that purpose, produced in the market
for sale, at such times and prices, and in such quantities, as the
Lord Mayor or Common Council should direct. See the report of a
case in the Court of Chancery, “Attorney-General v. Haberdashers’
Company” (Mylne and Keens “Reports,” vol. i., p. 420).--B.]
Thence to the office, and there busy all the morning. At noon to my
uncle Wight’s, and there dined, my wife being there all the morning.
After dinner to White Hall; and there met with Mr. Pierce, and he showed
me the Queene’s bed-chamber, and her closett, where she had nothing but
some pretty pious pictures, and books of devotion; and her holy water at
her head as she sleeps, with her clock by her bed-side, wherein a lamp
burns that tells her the time of the night at any time. Thence with him
to the Parke, and there met the Queene coming from Chappell, with her
Mayds of Honour, all in silver-lace gowns again: which is new to me, and
that which I did not think would have been brought up again. Thence he
carried me to the King’s closett: where such variety of pictures, and
other things of value and rarity, that I was properly confounded and
enjoyed no pleasure in the sight of them; which is the only time in my
life that ever I was so at a loss for pleasure, in the greatest plenty
of objects to give it me. Thence home, calling in many places and doing
abundance of errands to my great content, and at night weary home, where
Mr. Creed waited for me, and he and I walked in the garden, where
he told me he is now in a hurry fitting himself for sea, and that it
remains that he deals as an ingenuous man with me in the business I wot
of, which he will do before he goes. But I perceive he will have me do
many good turns for him first, both as to his bills coming to him in
this office, and also in his absence at the Committee of Tangier, which
I promise, and as he acquits himself to me I will willingly do. I would
I knew the worst of it, what it is he intends, that so I may either quit
my hands of him or continue my kindness still to him.
25th. We staid late, and he lay with me all night and rose very merry
talking, and excellent company he is, that is the truth of it, and a
most cunning man. He being gone I to the office, where we sat all the
morning. At noon to dinner, and then to my office busy, and by and by
home with Mr. Deane to a lesson upon raising a Bend of Timbers,
[This seems to refer to knee timber, of which there was not a
sufficient supply. A proposal was made to produce this bent wood
artificially: “June 22, 1664. Sir William Petty intimated that it
seemed by the scarcity and greater rate of knee timber that nature
did not furnish crooked wood enough for building: wherefore he
thought it would be fit to raise by art, so much of it in
proportion, as to reduce it to an equal rate with strait timber”
(Birch’s “History of the Royal Society,”)]
and he being gone I to the office, and there came Captain Taylor, and he
and I home, and I have done all very well with him as to the business of
the last trouble, so that come what will come my name will be clear of
any false dealing with him. So to my office again late, and then to bed.
26th (Lord’s day). Up, and Sir J. Minnes set me down at my Lord
Sandwich’s, where I waited till his coming down, when he came, too,
could find little to say to me but only a general question or two, and
so good-bye. Here his little daughter, my Lady Katharine was brought,
who is lately come from my father’s at Brampton, to have her cheek
looked after, which is and hath long been sore. But my Lord will rather
have it be as it is, with a scarr in her face, than endanger it being
worse by tampering. He being gone, I went home, a little troubled to see
he minds me no more, and with Creed called at several churches, which,
God knows, are supplied with very young men, and the churches very
empty; so home and at our owne church looked in, and there heard one
preach whom Sir W. Pen brought, which he desired us yesterday to hear,
that had been his chaplin in Ireland, a very silly fellow. So home
and to dinner, and after dinner a frolique took us, we would go this
afternoon to the Hope; so my wife dressed herself, and, with good
victuals and drink, we took boat presently and the tide with us got
down, but it was night, and the tide spent by the time we got to
Gravesend; so there we stopped, but went not on shore, only Creed, to
get some cherries,
[Pliny tells us that cherries were introduced into Britain by the
Romans, and Lydgate alludes to them as sold in the London streets.
Richard Haines, fruiterer to Henry VI IL, imported a number of
cherry trees from Flanders, and planted them at Tenham, in Kent.
Hence the fame of the Kentish cherries.]
and send a letter to the Hope, where the Fleete lies. And so, it being
rainy, and thundering mightily, and lightning, we returned. By and
by the evening turned mighty clear and moonshine; we got with great
pleasure home, about twelve o’clock, which did much please us, Creed
telling pretty stories in the boat. He lay with me all night.
27th. Up, and he and I walked to Paul’s Church yard, and there saw Sir
Harry Spillman’s book, and I bespoke it and others, and thence we took
coach, and he to my Lord’s and I to St. James’s, where we did our usual
business, and thence I home and dined, and then by water to Woolwich,
and there spent the afternoon till night under pretence of buying
Captain Blackman’s house and grounds, and viewing the ground took notice
of Clothiers’ cordage with which he, I believe, thinks to cheat the
King. That being done I by water home, it being night first, and there I
find our new mayd Jane come, a cook mayd. So to bed.
28th. Up, and this day put on a half shirt first this summer, it being
very hot; and yet so ill-tempered I am grown, that I am afeard I shall
catch cold, while all the world is ready to melt away. To the office
all the morning, at noon to dinner at home, then to my office till the
evening, then out about several businesses and then by appointment to
the ‘Change, and thence with my uncle Wight to the Mum house, and there
drinking, he do complain of his wife most cruel as the most troublesome
woman in the world, and how she will have her will, saying she brought
him a portion and God knows what. By which, with many instances more, I
perceive they do live a sad life together. Thence to the Mitre and there
comes Dr. Burnett to us and Mr. Maes, but the meeting was chiefly to
bring the Doctor and me together, and there I began to have his advice
about my disease, and then invited him to my house: and I am resolved
to put myself into his hands. Here very late, but I drank nothing, nor
will, though he do advise me to take care of cold drinks. So home and to
bed.
29th. Up, and Mr. Shepley came to me, who is lately come to town; among
other things I hear by him how the children are sent for away from my
father’s, but he says without any great discontent. I am troubled there
should be this occasion of difference, and yet I am glad they are gone,
lest it should have come to worse. He tells me how my brave dogg I did
give him, going out betimes one morning to Huntington, was set upon by
five other doggs, and worried to pieces, of which I am a little, and
he the most sorry I ever saw man for such a thing. Forth with him and
walked a good way talking, then parted and I to the Temple, and to
my cozen Roger Pepys, and thence by water to Westminster to see Dean
Honiwood, whom I had not visited a great while. He is a good-natured,
but a very weak man, yet a Dean, and a man in great esteem. Thence
walked to my Lord Sandwich’s, and there dined, my Lord there. He was
pleasant enough at table with me, but yet without any discourse of
business, or any regard to me when dinner was over, but fell to cards,
and my Lady and I sat two hours alone, talking of the condition of
her family’s being greatly in debt, and many children now coming up to
provide for. I did give her my sense very plain of it, which she took
well and carried further than myself, to the bemoaning their condition,
and remembering how finely things were ordered about six years ago, when
I lived there and my Lord at sea every year. Thence home, doing several
errands by the way. So to my office, and there till late at night, Mr.
Comander coming to me for me to sign and seal the new draft of my will,
which I did do, I having altered something upon the death of my brother
Tom. So home to supper and to bed.
30th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon home
to dinner, Mr. Wayth with me, and by and by comes in Mr. Falconer and
his wife and dined with us, the first time she was ever here. We had a
pretty good dinner, very merry in discourse, sat after dinner an hour or
two, then down by water to Deptford and Woolwich about getting of some
business done which I was bound to by my oath this month, and though
in some things I have not come to the height of my vow of doing all my
business in paying all my petty debts and receipt of all my petty monies
due to me, yet I bless God I am not conscious of any neglect in me that
they are not done, having not minded my pleasure at all, and so being
resolved to take no manner of pleasure till it be done, I doubt not God
will forgive me for not forfeiting the L10 promised. Walked back from
Woolwich to Greenwich all alone, save a man that had a cudgell in his
hand, and, though he told me he laboured in the King’s yarde, and many
other good arguments that he is an honest man, yet, God forgive me! I
did doubt he might knock me on the head behind with his club. But I got
safe home. Then to the making up my month’s accounts, and find myself
still a gainer and rose to L951, for which God be blessed. I end the
month with my mind full of business and some sorrow that I have not
exactly performed all my vowes, though my not doing is not my fault, and
shall be made good out of my first leisure. Great doubts yet whether the
Dutch wary go on or no. The Fleet ready in the Hope, of twelve sayle.
The King and Queenes go on board, they say, on Saturday next. Young
children of my Lord Sandwich gone with their mayds from my mother’s,
which troubles me, it being, I hear from Mr. Shepley, with great
discontent, saying, that though they buy good meate, yet can never have
it before it stinks, which I am ashamed of.