February 1st. Lay long in bed, which made me, going by coach to St.
James’s by appointment to have attended the Duke of Yorke and my Lord
Bellasses, lose the hopes of my getting something by the hire of a ship
to carry men to Tangier. But, however, according to the order of the
Duke this morning, I did go to the ‘Change, and there after great pains
did light of a business with Mr. Gifford and Hubland [Houblon] for
bringing me as much as I hoped for, which I have at large expressed in
my stating the case of the “King’s Fisher,” which is the ship that I
have hired, and got the Duke of Yorke’s agreement this afternoon after
much pains and not eating a bit of bread till about 4 o’clock. Going
home I put in to an ordinary by Temple Barr and there with my boy Tom
eat a pullet, and thence home to the office, being still angry with my
wife for yesterday’s foolery. After a good while at the office, I with
the boy to the Sun behind the Exchange, by agreement with Mr. Young the
flag-maker, and there was met by Mr. Hill, Andrews, and Mr. Hubland,
a pretty serious man. Here two very pretty savoury dishes and good
discourse. After supper a song, or three or four (I having to that
purpose carried Lawes’s book), and staying here till 12 o’clock got
the watch to light me home, and in a continued discontent to bed. After
being in bed, my people come and say there is a great stinke of burning,
but no smoake. We called up Sir J. Minnes’s and Sir W. Batten’s people,
and Griffin, and the people at the madhouse, but nothing could be found
to give occasion to it. At this trouble we were till past three o’clock,
and then the stinke ceasing, I to sleep, and my people to bed, and lay
very long in the morning.
2nd. Then up and to my office, where till noon and then to the ‘Change,
and at the Coffee-house with Gifford, Hubland, the Master of the ship,
and I read over and approved a charter-party for carrying goods for
Tangier, wherein I hope to get some money. Thence home, my head akeing
for want of rest and too much business. So to the office. At night
comes, Povy, and he and I to Mrs. Bland’s to discourse about my serving
her to helpe her to a good passage for Tangier. Here I heard her
kinswoman sing 3 or 4 very fine songs and in good manner, and then home
and to supper. My cook mayd Jane and her mistresse parted, and she
went away this day. I vexed to myself, but was resolved to have no more
trouble, and so after supper to my office and then to bed.
3rd. Up, and walked with my boy (whom, because of my wife’s making him
idle, I dare not leave at home) walked first to Salsbury court, there to
excuse my not being at home at dinner to Mrs. Turner, who I perceive
is vexed, because I do not serve her in something against the great
feasting for her husband’s Reading--[On his appointment as Reader in
Law.]--in helping her to some good penn’eths, but I care not. She was
dressing herself by the fire in her chamber, and there took occasion to
show me her leg, which indeed is the finest I ever saw, and she not a
little proud of it. Thence to my Lord Bellasses; thence to Mr. Povy’s,
and so up and down at that end of the town about several businesses, it
being a brave frosty day and good walking. So back again on foot to the
‘Change, in my way taking my books from binding from my bookseller’s.
My bill for the rebinding of some old books to make them suit with my
study, cost me, besides other new books in the same bill, L3; but it
will be very handsome. At the ‘Change did several businesses, and here
I hear that newes is come from Deale, that the same day my Lord Sandwich
sailed thence with the fleete, that evening some Dutch men of warr were
seen on the back side of the Goodwin, and, by all conjecture, must be
seen by my Lord’s fleete; which, if so, they must engage. Thence, being
invited, to my uncle Wight’s, where the Wights all dined; and, among
the others, pretty Mrs. Margaret, who indeed is a very pretty lady; and
though by my vowe it costs me 12d. a kiss after the first, yet I did
adventure upon a couple. So home, and among other letters found one from
Jane, that is newly gone, telling me how her mistresse won’t pay her her
Quarter’s wages, and withal tells me how her mistress will have the boy
sit 3 or 4 hours together in the dark telling of stories, but speaks of
nothing but only her indiscretion in undervaluing herself to do it, but
I will remedy that, but am vexed she should get some body to write so
much because of making it publique. Then took coach and to visit my Lady
Sandwich, where she discoursed largely to me her opinion of a match,
if it could be thought fit by my Lord, for my Lady Jemimah, with Sir
G. Carteret’s eldest son; but I doubt he hath yet no settled estate
in land. But I will inform myself, and give her my opinion. Then Mrs.
Pickering (after private discourse ended, we going into the other room)
did, at my Lady’s command, tell me the manner of a masquerade
[The masquerade at Court took place on the 2nd, and is referred to
by Evelyn, who was present, in his Diary. Some amusing incidents
connected with the entertainment are related in the “Grammont
Memoirs” (chapter vii.).]
before the King and Court the other day. Where six women (my Lady
Castlemayne and Duchesse of Monmouth being two of them) and six men (the
Duke of Monmouth and Lord Arran and Monsieur Blanfort, being three of
them) in vizards, but most rich and antique dresses, did dance admirably
and most gloriously. God give us cause to continue the mirthe! So home,
and after awhile at my office to supper and to bed.
4th. Lay long in bed discoursing with my wife about her mayds, which
by Jane’s going away in discontent and against my opinion do make some
trouble between my wife and me. But these are but foolish troubles and
so not to be set to heart, yet it do disturb me mightily these things.
To my office, and there all the morning. At noon being invited, I to
the Sun behind the ‘Change, to dinner to my Lord Belasses, where a great
deal of discourse with him, and some good, among others at table he told
us a very handsome passage of the King’s sending him his message about
holding out the town of Newarke, of which he was then governor for the
King. This message he sent in a sluggbullet, being writ in cypher, and
wrapped up in lead and swallowed. So the messenger come to my Lord and
told him he had a message from the King, but it was yet in his belly;
so they did give him some physique, and out it come. This was a month
before the King’s flying to the Scotts; and therein he told him that at
such a day, being the 3d or 6th of May, he should hear of his being come
to the Scotts, being assured by the King of France that in coming to
them he should be used with all the liberty, honour, and safety, that
could be desired. And at the just day he did come to the Scotts. He told
us another odd passage: how the King having newly put out Prince Rupert
of his generallshipp, upon some miscarriage at Bristoll, and Sir Richard
Willis
[Sir Richard Willis, the betrayer of the Royalists, was one of the
“Sealed Knot.” When the Restoration had become a certainty, he
wrote to Clarendon imploring him to intercede for him with the king
(see Lister’s “Life of Clarendon,” vol. iii., p. 87).]
of his governorship of Newarke, at the entreaty of the gentry of the
County, and put in my Lord Bellasses, the great officers of the King’s
army mutinyed, and come in that manner with swords drawn, into the
market-place of the towne where the King was; which the King hearing,
says, “I must to horse.” And there himself personally, when every body
expected they should have been opposed, the King come, and cried to the
head of the mutineers, which was Prince Rupert, “Nephew, I command you
to be gone.” So the Prince, in all his fury and discontent, withdrew,
and his company scattered, which they say was the greatest piece of
mutiny in the world. Thence after dinner home to my office, and in the
evening was sent to by Jane that I would give her her wages. So I sent
for my wife to my office, and told her that rather than be talked on
I would give her all her wages for this Quarter coming on, though two
months is behind, which vexed my wife, and we begun to be angry, but I
took myself up and sent her away, but was cruelly vexed in my mind that
all my trouble in this world almost should arise from my disorders in
my family and the indiscretion of a wife that brings me nothing almost
(besides a comely person) but only trouble and discontent. She gone I
late at my business, and then home to supper and to bed.
5th (Lord’s day). Lay in bed most of the morning, then up and down to my
chamber, among my new books, which is now a pleasant sight to me to
see my whole study almost of one binding. So to dinner, and all the
afternoon with W. Hewer at my office endorsing of papers there, my
business having got before me much of late. In the evening comes to
see me Mr. Sheply, lately come out of the country, who goes away again
to-morrow, a good and a very kind man to me. There come also Mr. Andrews
and Hill, and we sang very pleasantly; and so, they being gone, I and my
wife to supper, and to prayers and bed.
6th. Up and with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Pen to St. James’s, but the
Duke is gone abroad. So to White Hall to him, and there I spoke with
him, and so to Westminster, did a little business, and then home to
the ‘Change, where also I did some business, and went off and ended my
contract with the “Kingfisher” I hired for Tangier, and I hope to get
something by it. Thence home to dinner, and visited Sir W. Batten, who
is sick again, worse than he was, and I am apt to think is very ill. So
to my office, and among other things with Sir W. Warren 4 hours or more
till very late, talking of one thing or another, and have concluded a
firm league with him in all just ways to serve him and myself all I can,
and I think he will be a most usefull and thankfull man to me. So home
to supper and to bed. This being one of the coldest days, all say,
they ever felt in England; and I this day, under great apprehensions
of getting an ague from my putting a suit on that hath lain by without
ayring a great while, and I pray God it do not do me hurte.
7th. Up and to my office, where busy all the morning, and at home to
dinner. It being Shrove Tuesday, had some very good fritters. All the
afternoon and evening at the office, and at night home to supper and to
bed. This day, Sir W. Batten, who hath been sicke four or five days, is
now very bad, so as people begin to fear his death; and I am at a loss
whether it will be better for me to have him die, because he is a bad
man, or live, for fear a worse should come.
8th. Up and by coach to my Lord Peterborough’s, where anon my Lord Ashly
and Sir Thomas Ingram met, and Povy about his accounts, who is one of
the most unhappy accountants that ever I knew in all my life, and one
that if I were clear in reference to my bill of L117 he should be hanged
before I would ever have to do with him, and as he understands nothing
of his business himself, so he hath not one about him that do. Here late
till I was weary, having business elsewhere, and thence home by coach,
and after dinner did several businesses and very late at my office, and
so home to supper and to bed.
9th. Up and to my office, where all the morning very busy. At noon home
to dinner, and then to my office again, where Sir William Petty come,
among other things to tell me that Mr. Barlow
[Thomas Barlow, Pepys’s predecessor as Clerk of the Acts, to whom he
paid part of the salary. Barlow held the office jointly with Dennis
Fleeting.]
is dead; for which, God knows my heart, I could be as sorry as is
possible for one to be for a stranger, by whose death he gets L100 per
annum, he being a worthy, honest man; but after having considered that
when I come to consider the providence of God by this means unexpectedly
to give me L100 a year more in my estate, I have cause to bless God, and
do it from the bottom of my heart. So home late at night, after twelve
o’clock, and so to bed.
10th. Up and abroad to Paul’s Churchyard, there to see the last of my
books new bound: among others, my “Court of King James,”
[“The Court and Character of King James, written and taken by Sir
Anthony Weldon, being an eye and eare witnesse,” was published in
1650, and reprinted in 1651 under the title of “Truth brought to
Light” Weldon’s book was answered in a work entitled “Aulicus
Coquinariae.” Both the original book and the answer were reprinted
in “The Secret History of the Court of King James,” Edinburgh, 1811,
two vols. (edited by Sir Walter Scott).]
and “The Rise and Fall of the Family of the Stewarts;” and much pleased
I am now with my study; it being, methinks, a beautifull sight. Thence
(in Mr. Grey’s coach, who took me up), to Westminster, where I heard
that yesterday the King met the Houses to pass the great bill for the
L2,500,000. After doing a little business I home, where Mr. Moore dined
with me, and evened our reckonings on my Lord Sandwich’s bond to me for
principal and interest. So that now on both there is remaining due to
me L257. 7s., and I bless God it is no more. So all the afternoon at my
office, and late home to supper, prayers, and to bed.
11th. Up and to my office, where all the morning. At noon to ‘Change by
coach with my Lord Brunkard, and thence after doing much business home
to dinner, and so to my office all the afternoon till past 12 at night
very busy. So home to bed.
12th (Lord’s day). Up and to church to St. Lawrence to hear Dr. Wilkins,
the great scholar, for curiosity, I having never heard him: but was not
satisfied with him at all, only a gentleman sat in the pew I by chance
sat in, that sang most excellently, and afterward I found by his face
that he had been a Paul’s scholler, but know not his name, and I was
also well pleased with the church, it being a very fine church. So home
to dinner, and then to my office all the afternoon doing of business,
and in the evening comes Mr. Hill (but no Andrews) and we spent the
evening very finely, singing, supping and discoursing. Then to prayers
and to bed.
13th. Up and to St. James’s, did our usual business before the Duke.
Thence I to Westminster and by water (taking Mr. Stapely the rope-maker
by the way), to his rope-ground and to Limehouse, there to see the
manner of stoves and did excellently inform myself therein, and coming
home did go on board Sir W. Petty’s “Experiment,” which is a brave roomy
vessel, and I hope may do well. So went on shore to a Dutch [house] to
drink some mum, and there light upon some Dutchmen, with whom we had
good discourse touching stoveing
[Stoveing, in sail-making, is the heating of the bolt-ropes, so as
to make them pliable.--B.]
and making of cables. But to see how despicably they speak of us for
our using so many hands more to do anything than they do, they closing
a cable with 20, that we use 60 men upon. Thence home and eat something,
and then to my office, where very late, and then to supper and to bed.
Captain Stokes, it seems, is at last dead at Portsmouth.
14th (St. Valentine). This morning comes betimes Dicke Pen, to be my
wife’s Valentine, and come to our bedside. By the same token, I had him
brought to my side, thinking to have made him kiss me; but he perceived
me, and would not; so went to his Valentine: a notable, stout, witty
boy. I up about business, and, opening the door, there was Bagwell’s
wife, with whom I talked afterwards, and she had the confidence to say
she came with a hope to be time enough to be my Valentine, and so indeed
she did, but my oath preserved me from loosing any time with her, and
so I and my boy abroad by coach to Westminster, where did two or three
businesses, and then home to the ‘Change, and did much business there.
My Lord Sandwich is, it seems, with his fleete at Alborough Bay. So home
to dinner and then to the office, where till 12 almost at night, and
then home to supper and to bed.
15th. Up and to my office, where busy all the morning. At noon with
Creed to dinner to Trinity-house, where a very good dinner among the old
sokers, where an extraordinary discourse of the manner of the loss of
the “Royall Oake” coming home from Bantam, upon the rocks of Scilly,
many passages therein very extraordinary, and if I can I will get it in
writing. Thence with Creed to Gresham College, where I had been by Mr.
Povy the last week proposed to be admitted a member;
[According to the minutes of the Royal Society for February 15th,
1664-65, “Mr. Pepys was unanimously elected and admitted.” Notes of
the experiments shown by Hooke and Boyle are given in Birch’s
“History of the Royal Society,” vol. ii., p. 15.]
and was this day admitted, by signing a book and being taken by the hand
by the President, my Lord Brunkard, and some words of admittance said to
me. But it is a most acceptable thing to hear their discourse, and see
their experiments; which were this day upon the nature of fire, and how
it goes out in a place where the ayre is not free, and sooner out where
the ayre is exhausted, which they showed by an engine on purpose. After
this being done, they to the Crowne Taverne, behind the ‘Change, and
there my Lord and most of the company to a club supper; Sir P. Neale,
Sir R. Murrey, Dr. Clerke, Dr. Whistler, Dr. Goddard, and others of most
eminent worth. Above all, Mr. Boyle to-day was at the meeting, and above
him Mr. Hooke, who is the most, and promises the least, of any man in
the world that ever I saw. Here excellent discourse till ten at night,
and then home, and to Sir W. Batten’s, where I hear that Sir Thos. Harvy
intends to put Mr. Turner out of his house and come in himself, which
will be very hard to them, and though I love him not, yet for his
family’s sake I pity him. So home and to bed.
16th. Up, and with Mr. Andrews to White Hall, where a Committee of
Tangier, and there I did our victuallers’ business for some more money,
out of which I hope to get a little, of which I was glad; but, Lord!
to see to what a degree of contempt, nay, scorn, Mr. Povy, through his
prodigious folly, hath brought himself in his accounts, that if he be
not a man of a great interest, he will be kicked out of his employment
for a foole, is very strange, and that most deservedly that ever man
was, for never any man, that understands accounts so little, ever went
through so much, and yet goes through it with the greatest shame and
yet with confidence that ever I saw man in my life. God deliver me in my
owne business of my bill out of his hands, and if ever I foul my fingers
with him again let me suffer for it! Back to the ‘Change, and thence
home to dinner, where Mrs. Hunt dined with me, and poor Mrs. Batters;
who brought her little daughter with her, and a letter from her husband,
wherein, as a token, the foole presents me very seriously with his
daughter for me to take the charge of bringing up for him, and to make
my owne. But I took no notice to her at all of the substance of the
letter, but fell to discourse, and so went away to the office, where all
the afternoon till almost one in the morning, and then home to bed.
17th. Up, and it being bitter cold, and frost and snow, which I had
thought had quite left us, I by coach to Povy’s, where he told me, as I
knew already, how he was handled the other day, and is still, by my Lord
Barkeley, and among other things tells me, what I did not know, how
my Lord Barkeley will say openly, that he hath fought more set
fields--[Battles or actions]--than any man in England hath done. I did
my business with him, which was to get a little sum of money paid, and
so home with Mr. Andrews, who met me there, and there to the office. At
noon home and there found Lewellin, which vexed me out of my old jealous
humour. So to my office, where till 12 at night, being only a little
while at noon at Sir W. Batten’s to see him, and had some high words
with Sir J. Minnes about Sir W. Warren, he calling him cheating knave,
but I cooled him, and at night at Sir W. Pen’s, he being to go to
Chatham to-morrow. So home to supper and to bed.
18th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning; at noon to the
‘Change, and thence to the Royall Oake taverne in Lumbard Streete,
where Sir William Petty and the owners of the double-bottomed boat (the
Experiment) did entertain my Lord Brunkard, Sir R. Murrey, myself, and
others, with marrow bones and a chine of beefe of the victuals they have
made for this ship; and excellent company and good discourse: but,
above all, I do value Sir William Petty. Thence home; and took my Lord
Sandwich’s draught of the harbour of Portsmouth down to Ratcliffe, to
one Burston, to make a plate for the King, and another for the Duke, and
another for himself; which will be very neat. So home, and till almost
one o’clock in the morning at my office, and then home to supper and
to bed. My Lord Sandwich, and his fleete of twenty-five ships in the
Downes, returned from cruising, but could not meet with any Dutchmen.
19th. Lay in bed, it being Lord’s day, all the morning talking with
my wife, sometimes pleased, sometimes displeased, and then up and to
dinner. All the afternoon also at home, and Sir W. Batten’s, and in the
evening comes Mr. Andrews, and we sung together, and then to supper, he
not staying, and at supper hearing by accident of my mayds their letting
in a rogueing Scotch woman that haunts the office, to helpe them to
washe and scoure in our house, and that very lately, I fell mightily
out, and made my wife, to the disturbance of the house and neighbours,
to beat our little girle, and then we shut her down into the cellar, and
there she lay all night. So we to bed.
20th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes to attend the Duke, and then we back
again and rode into the beginning of my Lord Chancellor’s new
house, near St. James’s; which common people have already called
Dunkirke-house, from their opinion of his having a good bribe for the
selling of that towne. And very noble I believe it will be. Near that is
my Lord Barkeley beginning another on one side, and Sir J. Denham on the
other. Thence I to the House of Lords and spoke with my Lord Bellasses,
and so to the ‘Change, and there did business, and so to the Sun
taverne, haling in the morning had some high words with Sir J. Lawson
about his sending of some bayled goods to Tangier, wherein the truth is
I did not favour him, but being conscious that some of my profits may
come out by some words that fell from him, and to be quiet, I have
accommodated it. Here we dined merry; but my club and the rest come
to 7s. 6d., which was too much. Thence to the office, and there found
Bagwell’s wife, whom I directed to go home, and I would do her business,
which was to write a letter to my Lord Sandwich for her husband’s
advance into a better ship as there should be occasion. Which I did, and
by and by did go down by water to Deptford, and then down further, and
so landed at the lower end of the town, and it being dark ‘entrer en
la maison de la femme de Bagwell’, and there had ‘sa compagnie’, though
with a great deal of difficulty, ‘neanmoins en fin j’avais ma volont
d’elle’, and being sated therewith, I walked home to Redriffe, it being
now near nine o’clock, and there I did drink some strong waters and eat
some bread and cheese, and so home. Where at my office my wife comes
and tells me that she hath hired a chamber mayde, one of the prettiest
maydes that ever she saw in her life, and that she is really jealous
of me for her, but hath ventured to hire her from month to month, but I
think she means merrily. So to supper and to bed.
21st. Up, and to the office (having a mighty pain in my forefinger of
my left hand, from a strain that it received last night) in struggling
‘avec la femme que je’ mentioned yesterday, where busy till noon, and
then my wife being busy in going with her woman to a hot-house to bathe
herself, after her long being within doors in the dirt, so that she now
pretends to a resolution of being hereafter very clean. How long it will
hold I can guess. I dined with Sir W. Batten and my Lady, they being now
a’days very fond of me. So to the ‘Change, and off of the ‘Change with
Mr. Wayth to a cook’s shop, and there dined again for discourse with him
about Hamaccos
[Or hammock-battens: cleats or battens nailed to the sides of a
vessel’s beams, from which to suspend the seamen’s hammocks.]
and the abuse now practised in tickets, and more like every day to be.
Also of the great profit Mr. Fen makes of his place, he being, though he
demands but 5 per cent. of all he pays, and that is easily computed,
but very little pleased with any man that gives him no more. So to the
office, and after office my Lord Brunkerd carried me to Lincolne’s
Inne Fields, and there I with my Lady Sandwich (good lady) talking of
innocent discourse of good housewifery and husbands for her daughters,
and the luxury and looseness of the times and other such things till
past 10 o’clock at night, and so by coach home, where a little at
my office, and so to supper and to bed. My Lady tells me how my Lord
Castlemayne is coming over from France, and is believed will be made
friends with his Lady again. What mad freaks the Mayds of Honour at
Court have: that Mrs. Jenings, one of the Duchesses mayds, the other
day dressed herself like an orange wench, and went up and down and cried
oranges; till falling down, or by such accident, though in the evening,
her fine shoes were discerned, and she put to a great deale of shame;
that such as these tricks being ordinary, and worse among them, thereby
few will venture upon them for wives: my Lady Castlemayne will in
merriment say that her daughter (not above a year old or two) will be
the first mayde in the Court that will be married. This day my Lord
Sandwich writ me word from the Downes, that he is like to be in towne
this week.
22nd. Lay last night alone, my wife after her bathing lying alone in
another bed. So cold all night. Up and to the office, where busy all the
morning. At noon at the ‘Change, busy; where great talk of a Dutch ship
in the North put on shore, and taken by a troop of horse. Home to
dinner and Creed with me. Thence to Gresham College, where very noble
discourse, and thence home busy till past 12 at night, and then home to
supper and to bed. Mrs. Bland come this night to take leave of me and my
wife, going to Tangier.
23rd. This day, by the blessing of Almighty God, I have lived thirty-two
years in the world, and am in the best degree of health at this minute
that I have been almost in my life time, and at this time in the best
condition of estate that ever I was in-the Lord make me thankfull. Up,
and to the office, where busy all the morning. At noon to the ‘Change,
where I hear the most horrid and astonishing newes that ever was
yet told in my memory, that De Ruyter with his fleete in Guinny hath
proceeded to the taking of whatever we have, forts, goods, ships, and
men, and tied our men back to back, and thrown them all into the sea,
even women and children also. This a Swede or Hamburgher is come into
the River and tells that he saw the thing done.
[Similar reports of the cruelty of the English to the Dutch in
Guinea were credited in Holland, and were related by Downing in a
letter to Clarendon from the Hague, dated April 14th, 1665 (Lister’s
“Life of Clarendon,” vol. iii., p. 374).]
But, Lord! to see the consternation all our merchants are in is
observable, and with what fury and revenge they discourse of it. But
I fear it will like other things in a few days cool among us. But that
which I fear most is the reason why he that was so kind to our men at
first should afterward, having let them go, be so cruel when he went
further. What I fear is that there he was informed (which he was not
before) of some of Holmes’s dealings with his countrymen, and so was
moved to this fury. God grant it be not so! But a more dishonourable
thing was never suffered by Englishmen, nor a more barbarous done by
man, as this by them to us. Home to dinner, and then to the office,
where we sat all the afternoon, and then at night to take my finall
leave of Mrs. Bland, who sets out to-morrow for Tangier, and then I back
to my office till past 12, and so home to supper and to bed.
24th. Up, and to my office, where all the morning upon advising
again with some fishermen and the water bayliffe of the City, by Mr.
Coventry’s direction, touching the protections which are desired for
the fishermen upon the River, and I am glad of the occasion to make
me understand something of it. At noon home to dinner, and all the
afternoon till 9 at night in my chamber, and Mr. Hater with me (to
prevent being disturbed at the office), to perfect my contract book,
which, for want of time, hath a long time lain without being entered
in as I used to do from month to month. Then to my office, where till
almost 12, and so home to bed.
25th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon to the
‘Change; where just before I come, the Swede that had told the King and
the Duke so boldly this great lie of the Dutch flinging our men back
to back into the sea at Guinny, so particularly, and readily, and
confidently, was whipt round the ‘Change: he confessing it a lie, and
that he did it in hopes to get something. It is said the judges, upon
demand, did give it their opinion that the law would judge him to be
whipt, to lose his eares, or to have his nose slit but I do not hear
that anything more is to be done to him. They say he is delivered over
to the Dutch Embassador to do what he pleased with him. But the world
do think that there is some design on one side or other, either of the
Dutch or French, for it is not likely a fellow would invent such a lie
to get money whereas he might have hoped for a better reward by telling
something in behalf of us to please us. Thence to the Sun taverne, and
there dined with Sir W. Warren and Mr. Gifford, the merchant: and I hear
how Nich. Colborne, that lately lived and got a great estate there, is
gone to live like a prince in the country, and that this Wadlow, that
did the like at the Devil by St. Dunstane’s, did go into the country,
and there spent almost all he had got, and hath now choused this
Colborne out of his house, that he might come to his old trade again.
But, Lord! to see how full the house is, no room for any company almost
to come into it. Thence home to the office, where dispatched much
business; at night late home, and to clean myself with warm water; my
wife will have me, because she do herself, and so to bed.
26th (Sunday). Up and to church, and so home to dinner, and after dinner
to my office, and there busy all the afternoon, till in the evening
comes Mr. Andrews and Hill, and so home and to singing. Hill staid and
supped with me, and very good discourse of Italy, where he was, which is
always to me very agreeable. After supper, he gone, we to prayers and to
bed.
27th. Up and to St. James’s, where we attended the Duke as usual. This
morning I was much surprized and troubled with a letter from Mrs. Bland,
that she is left behind, and much trouble it cost me this day to find
out some way to carry her after the ships to Plymouth, but at last I
hope I have done it. At noon to the ‘Change to inquire what wages the
Dutch give in their men-of-warr at this day, and I hear for certain
they give but twelve guilders at most, which is not full 24s., a thing I
wonder at. At home to dinner, and then in Sir J. Minnes’s coach, my wife
and I with him, and also Mercer, abroad, he and I to White Hall, and he
would have his coach to wait upon my wife on her visits, it being the
first time my wife hath been out of doors (but the other day to bathe
her) several weeks. We to a Committee of the Council to discourse
concerning pressing of men; but, Lord! how they meet; never sit down:
one comes, now another goes, then comes another; one complaining that
nothing is done, another swearing that he hath been there these two
hours and nobody come. At last it come to this, my Lord Annesly,
says he, “I think we must be forced to get the King to come to every
committee; for I do not see that we do any thing at any time but when he
is here.” And I believe he said the truth and very constant he is at the
council table on council-days; which his predecessors, it seems, very
rarely did; but thus I perceive the greatest affair in the world at this
day is likely to be managed by us. But to hear how my Lord Barkeley and
others of them do cry up the discipline of the late times here, and in
the former Dutch warr is strange, wishing with all their hearts that the
business of religion were not so severely carried on as to discourage
the sober people to come among us, and wishing that the same law and
severity were used against drunkennesse as there was then, saying that
our evil living will call the hand of God upon us again. Thence to
walk alone a good while in St. James’s Parke with Mr. Coventry, who I
perceive is grown a little melancholy and displeased to see things go
as they do so carelessly. Thence I by coach to Ratcliffe highway, to the
plate-maker’s, and he has begun my Lord Sandwich’s plate very neatly,
and so back again. Coming back I met Colonell Atkins, who in other
discourse did offer to give me a piece to receive of me 20 when he
proves the late news of the Dutch, their drowning our men, at Guinny,
and the truth is I find the generality of the world to fear that there
is something of truth in it, and I do fear it too. Thence back by coach
to Sir Philip Warwicke’s; and there he did contract with me a kind of
friendship and freedom of communication, wherein he assures me to make
me understand the whole business of the Treasurer’s business of the
Navy, that I shall know as well as Sir G. Carteret what money he
hath; and will needs have me come to him sometimes, or he meet me, to
discourse of things tending to the serving the King: and I am mighty
proud and happy in becoming so known to such a man. And I hope shall
pursue it. Thence back home to the office a little tired and out of
order, and then to supper and to bed.
28th: At the office all the morning. At noon dined at home. After dinner
my wife and I to my Lady batten’s, it being the first time my wife hath
been there, I think, these two years, but I had a mind in part to take
away the strangenesse, and so we did, and all very quiett and kind. Come
home, I to the taking my wife’s kitchen accounts at the latter end of
the month, and there find 7s. wanting, which did occasion a very high
falling out between us, I indeed too angrily insisting upon so poor a
thing, and did give her very provoking high words, calling her beggar,
and reproaching her friends, which she took very stomachfully and
reproached me justly with mine; and I confess, being myself, I cannot
see what she could have done less. I find she is very cunning, and when
she least shews it hath her wit at work; but it is an ill one, though I
think not so bad but with good usage I might well bear with it, and the
truth is I do find that my being over-solicitous and jealous and froward
and ready to reproach her do make her worse. However, I find that now
and then a little difference do no hurte, but too much of it will make
her know her force too much. We parted after many high words very angry,
and I to my office to my month’s accounts, and find myself worth L1270,
for which the Lord God be praised! So at almost 2 o’clock in the
morning I home to supper and to bed, and so ends this month, with great
expectation of the Hollanders coming forth, who are, it seems, very high
and rather more ready than we. God give a good issue to it!