August 1st. Slept, and lay long; then up and my Lord [Crew] and Sir G.
Carteret being gone abroad, I first to see the bridegroom and bride, and
found them both up, and he gone to dress himself. Both red in the face,
and well enough pleased this morning with their night’s lodging. Thence
down and Mr. Brisband and I to billiards: anon come my Lord and Sir G.
Carteret in, who have been looking abroad and visiting some farms that
Sir G. Carteret hath thereabouts, and, among other things, report the
greatest stories of the bigness of the calfes they find there, ready to
sell to the butchers, as big, they say, as little Cowes, and that they
do give them a piece of chalke to licke, which they hold makes them
white in the flesh within. Very merry at dinner, and so to talk and
laugh after dinner, and up and down, some to [one] place, some to
another, full of content on all sides. Anon about five o’clock, Sir
G. Carteret and his lady and I took coach with the greatest joy and
kindnesse that could be from the two familys or that ever I saw with
so much appearance, and, I believe, reality in all my life. Drove
hard home, and it was night ere we got to Deptford, where, with much
kindnesse from them to me, I left them, and home to the office, where I
find all well, and being weary and sleepy, it being very late, I to bed.
2nd. Up, it being a publique fast, as being the first Wednesday of
the month, for the plague; I within doors all day, and upon my monthly
accounts late, and there to my great joy settled almost all my private
matters of money in my books clearly, and allowing myself several sums
which I had hitherto not reckoned myself sure of, because I would not
be over sure of any thing, though with reason I might do it, I did find
myself really worth L1900, for which the great God of Heaven and Earth
be praised! At night to the office to write a few letters, and so home
to bed, after fitting myself for tomorrow’s journey.
3rd. Up, and betimes to Deptford to Sir G. Carteret’s, where, not liking
the horse that had been hired by Mr. Uthwayt for me, I did desire Sir G.
Carteret to let me ride his new L40 horse, which he did, and so I
left my ‘hacquenee’--[Haquenee = an ambling nag fitted for ladies’
riding.]--behind, and so after staying a good while in their bedchamber
while they were dressing themselves, discoursing merrily, I parted and
to the ferry, where I was forced to stay a great while before I could
get my horse brought over, and then mounted and rode very finely to
Dagenhams; all the way people, citizens, walking to and again to enquire
how the plague is in the City this week by the Bill; which by chance, at
Greenwich, I had heard was 2,020 of the plague, and 3,000 and odd of all
diseases; but methought it was a sad question to be so often asked me.
Coming to Dagenhams, I there met our company coming out of the house,
having staid as long as they could for me; so I let them go a little
before, and went and took leave of my Lady Sandwich, good woman, who
seems very sensible of my service in this late business, and having her
directions in some things, among others, to get Sir G. Carteret and my
Lord to settle the portion, and what Sir G. Carteret is to settle, into
land, soon as may be, she not liking that it should lie long undone, for
fear of death on either side. So took leave of her, and then down to the
buttery, and eat a piece of cold venison pie, and drank and took some
bread and cheese in my hand; and so mounted after them, Mr. Marr very
kindly staying to lead me the way. By and by met my Lord Crew returning,
after having accompanied them a little way, and so after them, Mr. Marr
telling me by the way how a mayde servant of Mr. John Wright’s (who
lives thereabouts) falling sick of the plague, she was removed to an
out-house, and a nurse appointed to look to her; who, being once absent,
the mayde got out of the house at the window, and run away. The nurse
coming and knocking, and having no answer, believed she was dead, and
went and told Mr. Wright so; who and his lady were in great strait what
to do to get her buried. At last resolved to go to Burntwood hard by,
being in the parish, and there get people to do it. But they would not;
so he went home full of trouble, and in the way met the wench walking
over the common, which frighted him worse than before; and was forced
to send people to take her, which he did; and they got one of the pest
coaches and put her into it to carry her to a pest house. And passing in
a narrow lane, Sir Anthony Browne, with his brother and some friends
in the coach, met this coach with the curtains drawn close. The brother
being a young man, and believing there might be some lady in it that
would not be seen, and the way being narrow, he thrust his head out of
his own into her coach, and to look, and there saw somebody look very
ill, and in a sick dress, and stunk mightily; which the coachman also
cried out upon. And presently they come up to some people that stood
looking after it, and told our gallants that it was a mayde of Mr.
Wright’s carried away sick of the plague; which put the young gentleman
into a fright had almost cost him his life, but is now well again. I,
overtaking our young people, ‘light, and into the coach to them, where
mighty merry all the way; and anon come to the Blockehouse, over against
Gravesend, where we staid a great while, in a little drinking-house.
Sent back our coaches to Dagenhams. I, by and by, by boat to Gravesend,
where no newes of Sir G. Carteret come yet; so back again, and fetched
them all over, but the two saddle-horses that were to go with us, which
could not be brought over in the horseboat, the wind and tide being
against us, without towing; so we had some difference with some
watermen, who would not tow them over under 20s., whereupon I swore to
send one of them to sea and will do it. Anon some others come to me and
did it for 10s. By and by comes Sir G. Carteret, and so we set out for
Chatham: in my way overtaking some company, wherein was a lady, very
pretty, riding singly, her husband in company with her. We fell into
talke, and I read a copy of verses which her husband showed me, and he
discommended, but the lady commended: and I read them, so as to make the
husband turn to commend them. By and by he and I fell into acquaintance,
having known me formerly at the Exchequer. His name is Nokes, over
against Bow Church. He was servant to Alderman Dashwood. We promised
to meet, if ever we come both to London again; and, at parting, I had
a fair salute on horseback, in Rochester streets, of the lady, and so
parted. Come to Chatham mighty merry, and anon to supper, it being near
9 o’clock ere we come thither. My Lady Carteret come thither in a coach,
by herself, before us. Great mind they have to buy a little ‘hacquenee’
that I rode on from Greenwich, for a woman’s horse. Mighty merry,
and after supper, all being withdrawn, Sir G. Carteret did take an
opportunity to speak with much value and kindness to me, which is of
great joy to me. So anon to bed. Mr. Brisband and I together to my
content.
4th. Up at five o’clock, and by six walked out alone, with my Lady
Slanning, to the Docke Yard, where walked up and down, and so to
Mr. Pett’s, who led us into his garden, and there the lady, the best
humoured woman in the world, and a devout woman (I having spied her on
her knees half an houre this morning in her chamber), clambered up to
the top of the banquetting-house to gather nuts, and mighty merry, and
so walked back again through the new rope house, which is very usefull;
and so to the Hill-house to breakfast and mighty merry. Then they took
coach, and Sir G. Carteret kissed me himself heartily, and my Lady
several times, with great kindnesse, and then the young ladies, and so
with much joy, bade “God be with you!” and an end I think it will be to
my mirthe for a great while, it having been the passage of my whole life
the most pleasing for the time, considering the quality and nature of
the business, and my noble usage in the doing of it, and very many fine
journys, entertainments and great company. I returned into the house for
a while to do business there with Commissioner Pett, and there with the
officers of the Chest, where I saw more of Sir W. Batten’s business than
ever I did before, for whereas he did own once under his hand to them
that he was accountable for L2200, of which he had yet paid but L1600,
he writes them a letter lately that he hath but about L50 left that is
due to the Chest, but I will do something in it and that speedily.
That being done I took horse, and Mr. Barrow with me bore me company to
Gravesend, discoursing of his business, wherein I vexed him, and he me,
I seeing his frowardness, but yet that he is in my conscience a very
honest man, and some good things he told me, which I shall remember
to the King’s advantage. There I took boat alone, and, the tide being
against me, landed at Blackwall and walked to Wapping, Captain Bowd whom
I met with talking with me all the way, who is a sober man. So home, and
found all things well, and letters from Dover that my Lord Hinchingbroke
is arrived at Dover, and would be at Scott’s hall this night, where the
whole company will meet. I wish myself with them. After writing a few
letters I took boat and down to Woolwich very late, and there found my
wife and her woman upon the key hearing a fellow in a barge, that lay
by, fiddle. So I to them and in, very merry, and to bed, I sleepy and
weary.
5th. In the morning up, and my wife showed me several things of her
doing, especially one fine woman’s Persian head mighty finely done,
beyond what I could expect of her; and so away by water, having ordered
in the yarde six or eight bargemen to be whipped, who had last night
stolen some of the King’s cordage from out of the yarde. I to Deptford,
and there by agreement met with my Lord Bruncker, and there we kept our
office, he and I, and did what there was to do, and at noon parted
to meet at the office next week. Sir W. Warren and I thence did walk
through the rain to Half-Way House, and there I eat a piece of boiled
beef and he and I talked over several businesses, among others our
design upon the mast docke, which I hope to compass and get 2 or L300
by. Thence to Redriffe, where we parted, and I home, where busy all the
afternoon. Stepped to Colvill’s to set right a business of money, where
he told me that for certain De Ruyter is come home, with all his fleete,
which is very ill newes, considering the charge we have been at in
keeping a fleete to the northward so long, besides the great expectation
of snapping him, wherein my Lord Sandwich will I doubt suffer some
dishonour. I am told also of a great ryott upon Thursday last in
Cheapside; Colonell Danvers, a delinquent, having been taken, and in his
way to the Tower was rescued from the captain of the guard, and carried
away; only one of the rescuers being taken. I am told also that the Duke
of Buckingham is dead, but I know not of a certainty. So home and very
late at letters, and then home to supper and to bed.
6th (Lord’s day). Dressed and had my head combed by my little girle, to
whom I confess ‘que je sum demasiado kind, nuper ponendo mes mains in su
des choses de son breast, mais il faut que je’ leave it lest it bring
me to ‘alcun major inconvenience’. So to my business in my chamber, look
over and settling more of my papers than I could the two last days
I have spent about them. In the evening, it raining hard, down to
Woolwich, where after some little talk to bed.
7th. Up, and with great pleasure looking over my wife’s pictures, and
then to see my Lady Pen, whom I have not seen since her coming hither,
and after being a little merry with her, she went forth and I staid
there talking with Mrs. Pegg and looking over her pictures, and
commended them; but, Lord! so far short of my wife’s, as no comparison.
Thence to my wife, and there spent, talking, till noon, when by
appointment Mr. Andrews come out of the country to speake with me about
their Tangier business, and so having done with him and dined, I home by
water, where by appointment I met Dr. Twisden, Mr. Povy, Mr. Lawson, and
Stockdale about settling their business of money; but such confusion
I never met with, nor could anything be agreed on, but parted like a
company of fools, I vexed to lose so much time and pains to no purpose.
They gone, comes Rayner, the boatmaker, about some business, and brings
a piece of plate with him, which I refused to take of him, thinking
indeed that the poor man hath no reason nor encouragement from our
dealings with him to give any of us any presents. He gone, there comes
Luellin, about Mr. Deering’s business of planke, to have the contract
perfected, and offers me twenty pieces in gold, as Deering had done some
time since himself, but I both then and now refused it, resolving not
to be bribed to dispatch business, but will have it done however out of
hand forthwith. So he gone, I to supper and to bed.
8th. Up and to the office, where all the morning we sat. At noon I home
to dinner alone, and after dinner Bagwell’s wife waited at the door, and
went with me to my office.... So parted, and I to Sir W. Batten’s, and
there sat the most of the afternoon talking and drinking too much with
my Lord Bruncker, Sir G. Smith, G. Cocke and others very merry. I drunk
a little mixed, but yet more than I should do. So to my office a little,
and then to the Duke of Albemarle’s about some business. The streets
mighty empty all the way, now even in London, which is a sad sight. And
to Westminster Hall, where talking, hearing very sad stories from Mrs.
Mumford; among others, of Mrs. Michell’s son’s family. And poor Will,
that used to sell us ale at the Hall-door, his wife and three children
died, all, I think, in a day. So home through the City again, wishing I
may have taken no ill in going; but I will go, I think, no more thither.
Late at the office, and then home to supper, having taken a pullet
home with me, and then to bed. The news of De Kuyter’s coming home
is certain; and told to the great disadvantage of our fleete, and the
praise of De Kuyter; but it cannot be helped, nor do I know what to say
to it.
9th. Up betimes to my office, where Tom Hater to the writing of letters
with me, which have for a good while been in arreare, and we close at it
all day till night, only made a little step out for half an houre in
the morning to the Exchequer about striking of tallys, but no good done
therein, people being most out of towne. At noon T. Hater dined with
me, and so at it all the afternoon. At night home and supped, and
after reading a little in Cowley’s poems, my head being disturbed with
overmuch business to-day, I to bed.
10th. Up betimes, and called upon early by my she-cozen Porter, the
turner’s wife, to tell me that her husband was carried to the Tower,
for buying of some of the King’s powder, and would have my helpe, but
I could give her none, not daring any more to appear in the business,
having too much trouble lately therein. By and by to the office, where
we sat all the morning; in great trouble to see the Bill this week rise
so high, to above 4,000 in all, and of them above 3,000 of the plague.
And an odd story of Alderman Bence’s stumbling at night over a dead
corps in the streete, and going home and telling his wife, she at the
fright, being with child, fell sicke and died of the plague. We sat
late, and then by invitation my Lord Brunker, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W.
Batten and I to Sir G. Smith’s to dinner, where very good company and
good cheer. Captain Cocke was there and Jacke Fenn, but to our great
wonder Alderman Bence, and tells us that not a word of all this is true,
and others said so too, but by his owne story his wife hath been ill,
and he fain to leave his house and comes not to her, which continuing a
trouble to me all the time I was there. Thence to the office and, after
writing letters, home, to draw-over anew my will, which I had bound
myself by oath to dispatch by to-morrow night; the town growing so
unhealthy, that a man cannot depend upon living two days to an end. So
having done something of it, I to bed.
11th. Up, and all day long finishing and writing over my will twice, for
my father and my wife, only in the morning a pleasant rencontre happened
in having a young married woman brought me by her father, old Delkes,
that carries pins always in his mouth, to get her husband off that he
should not go to sea, ‘une contre pouvait avoir done any cose cum else,
but I did nothing, si ni baisser her’. After they were gone my mind run
upon having them called back again, and I sent a messenger to Blackwall,
but he failed. So I lost my expectation. I to the Exchequer, about
striking new tallys, and I find the Exchequer, by proclamation, removing
to Nonesuch.--[Nonsuch Palace, near Epsom, where the Exchequer money was
kept during the time of the plague.]--Back again and at my papers, and
putting up my books into chests, and settling my house and all things in
the best and speediest order I can, lest it should please God to take me
away, or force me to leave my house. Late up at it, and weary and full
of wind, finding perfectly that so long as I keepe myself in company at
meals and do there eat lustily (which I cannot do alone, having no love
to eating, but my mind runs upon my business), I am as well as can be,
but when I come to be alone, I do not eat in time, nor enough, nor with
any good heart, and I immediately begin to be full of wind, which brings
my pain, till I come to fill my belly a-days again, then am presently
well.
12th. The office now not sitting, but only hereafter on Thursdays at
the office, I within all the morning about my papers and setting things
still in order, and also much time in settling matters with Dr.
Twisden. At noon am sent for by Sir G. Carteret, to meet him and my Lord
Hinchingbroke at Deptford, but my Lord did not come thither, he having
crossed the river at Gravesend to Dagenhams, whither I dare not follow
him, they being afeard of me; but Sir G. Carteret says, he is a most
sweet youth in every circumstance. Sir G. Carteret being in haste of
going to the Duke of Albemarle and the Archbishop, he was pettish, and
so I could not fasten any discourse, but take another time. So he gone,
I down to Greenwich and sent away the Bezan, thinking to go with my wife
to-night to come back again to-morrow night to the Soveraigne at the
buoy off the Nore. Coming back to Deptford, old Bagwell walked a little
way with me, and would have me in to his daughter’s, and there he being
gone ‘dehors, ego had my volunte de su hiza’. Eat and drank and away
home, and after a little at the office to my chamber to put more things
still in order, and late to bed. The people die so, that now it seems
they are fain to carry the dead to be buried by day-light, the nights
not sufficing to do it in. And my Lord Mayor commands people to be
within at nine at night all, as they say, that the sick may have liberty
to go abroad for ayre. There is one also dead out of one of our ships
at Deptford, which troubles us mightily; the Providence fire-ship, which
was just fitted to go to sea. But they tell me to-day no more sick on
board. And this day W. Bodham tells me that one is dead at Woolwich,
not far from the Rope-yard. I am told, too, that a wife of one of the
groomes at Court is dead at Salsbury; so that the King and Queene are
speedily to be all gone to Milton. God preserve us!
13th (Lord’s day). Up betimes and to my chamber, it being a very wet
day all day, and glad am I that we did not go by water to see “The
Soveraigne”
[“The Sovereign of the Seas” was built at Woolwich in 1637 of timber
which had been stripped of its bark while growing in the spring, and
not felled till the second autumn afterwards; and it is observed by
Dr. Plot (“Phil. Trans.” for 1691), in his discourse on the most
seasonable time for felling timber, written by the advice of Pepys,
that after forty-seven years, “all the ancient timber then remaining
in her, it was no easy matter to drive a nail into it” (“Quarterly
Review,” vol. viii., p. 35).--B.]
to-day, as I intended, clearing all matters in packing up my papers
and books, and giving instructions in writing to my executors, thereby
perfecting the whole business of my will, to my very great joy; so that
I shall be in much better state of soul, I hope, if it should please
the Lord to call me away this sickly time. At night to read, being
weary with this day’s great work, and then after supper to bed, to rise
betimes to-morrow, and to bed with a mind as free as to the business of
the world as if I were not worth L100 in the whole world, every thing
being evened under my hand in my books and papers, and upon the whole I
find myself worth, besides Brampton estate, the sum of L2164, for which
the Lord be praised!
14th. Up, and my mind being at mighty ease from the dispatch of my
business so much yesterday, I down to Deptford to Sir G. Carteret, where
with him a great while, and a great deale of private talke concerning my
Lord Sandwich’s and his matters, and chiefly of the latter, I giving
him great deale of advice about the necessity of his having caution
concerning Fenn, and the many ways there are of his being abused by any
man in his place, and why he should not bring his son in to look after
his business, and more, to be a Commissioner of the Navy, which he
listened to and liked, and told me how much the King was his good
Master, and was sure not to deny him that or any thing else greater
than that, and I find him a very cunning man, whatever at other times
he seems to be, and among other things he told me he was not for the
fanfaroone
[Fanfaron, French, from fanfare, a sounding of trumpets; hence, a
swaggerer, or empty boaster.]
to make a show with a great title, as he might have had long since, but
the main thing to get an estate; and another thing, speaking of minding
of business, “By God,” says he, “I will and have already almost brought
it to that pass, that the King shall not be able to whip a cat, but I
must be at the tayle of it.” Meaning so necessary he is, and the King
and my Lord Treasurer and all do confess it; which, while I mind my
business, is my own case in this office of the Navy, and I hope shall
be more, if God give me life and health. Thence by agreement to Sir J.
Minnes’s lodgings, where I found my Lord Bruncker, and so by water to
the ferry, and there took Sir W. Batten’s coach that was sent for us,
and to Sir W. Batten’s, where very merry, good cheer, and up and down
the garden with great content to me, and, after dinner, beat Captain
Cocke at billiards, won about 8s. of him and my Lord Bruncker. So in
the evening after, much pleasure back again and I by water to Woolwich,
where supped with my wife, and then to bed betimes, because of rising
to-morrow at four of the clock in order to the going out with Sir G.
Carteret toward Cranborne to my Lord Hinchingbrooke in his way to Court.
This night I did present my wife with the dyamond ring, awhile since
given me by Mr. Dicke Vines’s brother, for helping him to be a purser,
valued at about L10, the first thing of that nature I did ever give her.
Great fears we have that the plague will be a great Bill this weeke.
15th. Up by 4 o’clock and walked to Greenwich, where called at Captain
Cocke’s and to his chamber, he being in bed, where something put my
last night’s dream into my head, which I think is the best that ever
was dreamt, which was that I had my Lady Castlemayne in my armes and was
admitted to use all the dalliance I desired with her, and then dreamt
that this could not be awake, but that it was only a dream; but that
since it was a dream, and that I took so much real pleasure in it, what
a happy thing it would be if when we are in our graves (as Shakespeere
resembles it) we could dream, and dream but such dreams as this, that
then we should not need to be so fearful of death, as we are this plague
time. Here I hear that news is brought Sir G. Carteret that my Lord
Hinchingbrooke is not well, and so cannot meet us at Cranborne to-night.
So I to Sir G. Carteret’s; and there was sorry with him for our
disappointment. So we have put off our meeting there till Saturday next.
Here I staid talking with Sir G. Carteret, he being mighty free with me
in his business, and among other things hath ordered Rider and Cutler to
put into my hands copper to the value of L5,000 (which Sir G. Carteret’s
share it seems come to in it), which is to raise part of the money he is
to layout for a purchase for my Lady Jemimah. Thence he and I to Sir
J. Minnes’s by invitation, where Sir W. Batten and my Lady, and my Lord
Bruncker, and all of us dined upon a venison pasty and other good meat,
but nothing well dressed. But my pleasure lay in getting some bills
signed by Sir G. Carteret, and promise of present payment from Mr. Fenn,
which do rejoice my heart, it being one of the heaviest things I had
upon me, that so much of the little I have should lie (viz. near L1000)
in the King’s hands. Here very merry and (Sir G. Carteret being gone
presently after dinner) to Captain Cocke’s, and there merry, and so
broke up and I by water to the Duke of Albemarle, with whom I spoke a
great deale in private, they being designed to send a fleete of ships
privately to the Streights. No news yet from our fleete, which is much
wondered at, but the Duke says for certain guns have been heard to the
northward very much. It was dark before I could get home, and so land
at Church-yard stairs, where, to my great trouble, I met a dead corps
of the plague, in the narrow ally just bringing down a little pair of
stairs. But I thank God I was not much disturbed at it. However, I shall
beware of being late abroad again.
16th. Up, and after doing some necessary business about my accounts at
home, to the office, and there with Mr. Hater wrote letters, and I did
deliver to him my last will, one part of it to deliver to my wife when
I am dead. Thence to the Exchange, where I have not been a great while.
But, Lord! how sad a sight it is to see the streets empty of people, and
very few upon the ‘Change. Jealous of every door that one sees shut up,
lest it should be the plague; and about us two shops in three, if not
more, generally shut up. From the ‘Change to Sir G. Smith’s’ with Mr.
Fenn, to whom I am nowadays very complaisant, he being under payment of
my bills to me, and some other sums at my desire, which he readily do.
Mighty merry with Captain Cocke and Fenn at Sir G. Smith’s, and a brave
dinner, but I think Cocke is the greatest epicure that is, eats and
drinks with the greatest pleasure and liberty that ever man did. Very
contrary newes to-day upon the ‘Change, some that our fleete hath taken
some of the Dutch East India ships, others that we did attaque it at
Bergen and were repulsed, others that our fleete is in great danger
after this attaque by meeting with the great body now gone out of
Holland, almost 100 sayle of men of warr. Every body is at a great losse
and nobody can tell. Thence among the goldsmiths to get some money, and
so home, settling some new money matters, and to my great joy have got
home L500 more of the money due to me, and got some more money to help
Andrews first advanced. This day I had the ill news from Dagenhams,
that my poor lord of Hinchingbroke his indisposition is turned to the
small-pox. Poor gentleman! that he should be come from France so soon to
fall sick, and of that disease too, when he should be gone to see a fine
lady, his mistresse. I am most heartily sorry for it. So late setting
papers to rights, and so home to bed.
17th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at noon
dined together upon some victuals I had prepared at Sir W. Batten’s upon
the King’s charge, and after dinner, I having dispatched some business
and set things in order at home, we down to the water and by boat to
Greenwich to the Bezan yacht, where Sir W. Batten, Sir J. Minnes, my
Lord Bruncker and myself, with some servants (among others Mr. Carcasse,
my Lord’s clerk, a very civil gentleman), embarked in the yacht and
down we went most pleasantly, and noble discourse I had with my Lord
Bruneker, who is a most excellent person. Short of Gravesend it grew
calme, and so we come to an anchor, and to supper mighty merry, and
after it, being moonshine, we out of the cabbin to laugh and talk, and
then, as we grew sleepy, went in and upon velvet cushions of the King’s
that belong to the yacht fell to sleep, which we all did pretty well
till 3 or 4 of the clock, having risen in the night to look for a new
comet which is said to have lately shone, but we could see no such
thing.
18th. Up about 5 o’clock and dressed ourselves, and to sayle again down
to the Soveraigne at the buoy of the Nore, a noble ship, now rigged
and fitted and manned; we did not stay long, but to enquire after her
readinesse and thence to Sheernesse, where we walked up and down, laying
out the ground to be taken in for a yard to lay provisions for cleaning
and repairing of ships, and a most proper place it is for the purpose.
Thence with great pleasure up the Meadeway, our yacht contending with
Commissioner Pett’s, wherein he met us from Chatham, and he had the best
of it. Here I come by, but had not tide enough to stop at Quinbrough, a
with mighty pleasure spent the day in doing all and seeing these places,
which I had never done before. So to the Hill house at Chatham and there
dined, and after dinner spent some time discoursing of business. Among
others arguing with the Commissioner about his proposing the laying out
so much money upon Sheerenesse, unless it be to the slighting of Chatham
yarde, for it is much a better place than Chatham, which however the
King is not at present in purse to do, though it were to be wished he
were. Thence in Commissioner Pett’s coach (leaving them there). I late
in the darke to Gravesend, where great is the plague, and I troubled to
stay there so long for the tide. At 10 at night, having supped, I took
boat alone, and slept well all the way to the Tower docke about three
o’clock in the morning. So knocked up my people, and to bed.
19th. Slept till 8 o’clock, and then up and met with letters from the
King and Lord Arlington, for the removal of our office to Greenwich. I
also wrote letters, and made myself ready to go to Sir G. Carteret, at
Windsor; and having borrowed a horse of Mr. Blackbrough, sent him to
wait for me at the Duke of Albemarle’s door: when, on a sudden, a letter
comes to us from the Duke of Albemarle, to tell us that the fleete is
all come back to Solebay, and are presently to be dispatched back again.
Whereupon I presently by water to the Duke of Albemarle to know what
news; and there I saw a letter from my Lord Sandwich to the Duke of
Albemarle, and also from Sir W. Coventry and Captain Teddiman; how my
Lord having commanded Teddiman with twenty-two ships
[A news letter of August 19th (Salisbury), gives the following
account of this affair:--“The Earl of Sandwich being on the Norway
coast, ordered Sir Thomas Teddeman with 20 ships to attack 50 Dutch
merchant ships in Bergen harbour; six convoyers had so placed
themselves that only four or five of the ships could be reached at
once. The Governor of Bergen fired on our ships, and placed 100
pieces of ordnance and two regiments of foot on the rocks to attack
them, but they got clear without the loss of a ship, only 500 men
killed or wounded, five or six captains among them. The fleet has
gone to Sole Bay to repair losses and be ready to encounter the
Dutch fleet, which is gone northward” (“Calendar of State Papers,”
1664-65, pp. 526, 527). Medals were struck in Holland, the
inscription in Dutch on one of these is thus translated: “Thus we
arrest the pride of the English, who extend their piracy even
against their friends, and who insulting the forts of Norway,
violate the rights of the harbours of King Frederick; but, for the
reward of their audacity, see their vessels destroyed by the balls
of the Dutch” (Hawkins’s “Medallic Illustrations of the History of
Great Britain and Ireland,” ed. Franks and Grueber, 1885, vol. i.,
p. 508). Sir Gilbert Talbot’s “True Narrative of the Earl of
Sandwich’s Attempt upon Bergen with the English Fleet on the 3rd of
August, 1665, and the Cause of his Miscarriage thereupon,” is in the
British Museum (Harl. MS., No. 6859). It is printed in
“Archaeologia,” vol. xxii., p. 33. The Earl of Rochester also gave
an account of the action in a letter to his mother (Wordsworth’s
“Ecclesiastical Biography,” fourth edition, vol. iv., p. 611). Sir
John Denham, in his “Advice to a Painter,” gives a long satirical
account of the affair. A coloured drawing of the attack upon
Bergen, on vellum, showing the range of the ships engaged, is in the
British Museum. Shortly after the Bergen affair forty of the Dutch
merchant vessels, on their way to Holland, fell into the hands of
the English, and in Penn’s “Memorials of Sir William Penn,” vol.
ii., p. 364, is a list of the prizes taken on the 3rd and 4th
September. The troubles connected with these prizes and the
disgrace into which Lord Sandwich fell are fully set forth in
subsequent pages of the Diary. Evelyn writes in his Diary (November
27th, 1665): “There was no small suspicion of my Lord Sandwich
having permitted divers commanders who were at ye taking of ye East
India prizes to break bulk and take to themselves jewels, silkes,
&c., tho’ I believe some whom I could name fill’d their pockets, my
Lo. Sandwich himself had the least share. However, he underwent the
blame, and it created him enemies, and prepossess’d ye Lo. Generall
[Duke of Albemarle], for he spake to me of it with much zeale and
concerne, and I believe laid load enough on Lo. Sandwich at
Oxford.”]
(of which but fifteen could get thither, and of those fifteen but eight
or nine could come up to play) to go to Bergen; where, after several
messages to and fro from the Governor of the Castle, urging that
Teddiman ought not to come thither with more than five ships, and
desiring time to think of it, all the while he suffering the Dutch
ships to land their guns to their best advantage; Teddiman on the second
pretence, began to play at the Dutch ships, (wherof ten East India-men,)
and in three hours’ time (the town and castle, without any provocation,
playing on our ships,) they did cut all our cables, so as the wind
being off the land, did force us to go out, and rendered our fire-ships
useless; without doing any thing, but what hurt of course our guns
must have done them: we having lost five commanders, besides Mr. Edward
Montagu, and Mr. Windham.
[This Mr. Windham had entered into a formal engagement with the Earl
of Rochester, “not without ceremonies of religion, that if either of
them died, he should appear, and give the other notice of the future
state, if there was any.” He was probably one of the brothers of
Sir William Wyndham, Bart. See Wordsworth’s “Ecclesiastical
Biography,” fourth. edition, vol. iv., p. 615.--B.]
Our fleete is come home to our great grief with not above five weeks’
dry, and six days’ wet provisions: however, must out again; and the Duke
hath ordered the Soveraigne, and all other ships ready, to go out to
the fleete to strengthen them. This news troubles us all, but cannot
be helped. Having read all this news, and received commands of the Duke
with great content, he giving me the words which to my great joy he hath
several times said to me, that his greatest reliance is upon me. And my
Lord Craven also did come out to talk with me, and told me that I am
in mighty esteem with the Duke, for which I bless God. Home, and having
given my fellow-officers an account hereof, to Chatham, and wrote other
letters, I by water to Charing-Cross, to the post-house, and there the
people tell me they are shut up; and so I went to the new post-house,
and there got a guide and horses to Hounslow, where I was mightily taken
with a little girle, the daughter of the master of the house (Betty
Gysby), which, if she lives, will make a great beauty. Here I met with
a fine fellow who, while I staid for my horses, did enquire newes, but
I could not make him remember Bergen in Norway, in 6 or 7 times telling,
so ignorant he was. So to Stanes, and there by this time it was dark
night, and got a guide who lost his way in the forest, till by help
of the moone (which recompenses me for all the pains I ever took about
studying of her motions,) I led my guide into the way back again; and so
we made a man rise that kept a gate, and so he carried us to Cranborne.
Where in the dark I perceive an old house new building with a great deal
of rubbish, and was fain to go up a ladder to Sir G. Carteret’s chamber.
And there in his bed I sat down, and told him all my bad newes, which
troubled him mightily; but yet we were very merry, and made the best of
it; and being myself weary did take leave, and after having spoken with
Mr. Fenn in bed, I to bed in my Lady’s chamber that she uses to lie
in, and where the Duchesse of York, that now is, was born. So to sleep;
being very well, but weary, and the better by having carried with me a
bottle of strong water; whereof now and then a sip did me good.
20th (Lord’s day). Sir G. Carteret come and walked by my bedside half an
houre, talking and telling me how my Lord is in this unblameable in all
this ill-successe, he having followed orders; and that all ought to be
imputed to the falsenesse of the King of Denmarke, who, he told me as
a secret, had promised to deliver up the Dutch ships to us, and we
expected no less; and swears it will, and will easily, be the ruine of
him and his kingdom, if we fall out with him, as we must in honour
do; but that all that can be, must be to get the fleete out again to
intercept De Witt, who certainly will be coming home with the East India
ships, he being gone thither. He being gone, I up and with Fenn, being
ready to walk forth to see the place; and I find it to be a very noble
seat in a noble forest, with the noblest prospect towards Windsor, and
round about over many countys, that can be desired; but otherwise a very
melancholy place, and little variety save only trees. I had thoughts
of going home by water, and of seeing Windsor Chappell and Castle, but
finding at my coming in that Sir G. Carteret did prevent me in speaking
for my sudden return to look after business, I did presently eat a bit
off the spit about 10 o’clock, and so took horse for Stanes, and thence
to Brainford to Mr. Povy’s, the weather being very pleasant to ride in.
Mr. Povy not being at home I lost my labour, only eat and drank there
with his lady, and told my bad newes, and hear the plague is round about
them there. So away to Brainford; and there at the inn that goes down to
the water-side, I ‘light and paid off my post-horses, and so slipped on
my shoes, and laid my things by, the tide not serving, and to church,
where a dull sermon, and many Londoners. After church to my inn, and eat
and drank, and so about seven o’clock by water, and got between nine
and ten to Queenhive, very dark. And I could not get my waterman to go
elsewhere for fear of the plague. Thence with a lanthorn, in great fear
of meeting of dead corpses, carried to be buried; but, blessed be God,
met none, but did see now and then a linke (which is the mark of them)
at a distance. So got safe home about 10 o’clock, my people not all
abed, and after supper I weary to bed.
21st. Called up, by message from Lord Bruncker and the rest of my
fellows, that they will meet me at the Duke of Albemarle’s this morning;
so I up, and weary, however, got thither before them, and spoke with my
Lord, and with him and other gentlemen to walk in the Parke, where, I
perceive, he spends much of his time, having no whither else to go; and
here I hear him speake of some Presbyter people that he caused to be
apprehended yesterday, at a private meeting in Covent Garden, which
he would have released upon paying L5 per man to the poor, but it was
answered, they would not pay anything; so he ordered them to another
prison from the guard. By and by comes my fellow-officers, and the Duke
walked in, and to counsel with us; and that being done we departed,
and Sir W. Batten and I to the office, where, after I had done a little
business, I to his house to dinner, whither comes Captain Cocke, for
whose epicurisme a dish of partriges was sent for, and still gives me
reason to think is the greatest epicure in the world. Thence, after
dinner, I by water to Sir W. Warren’s and with him two hours, talking of
things to his and my profit, and particularly good advice from him what
use to make of Sir G. Carteret’s kindnesse to me and my interest in him,
with exceeding good cautions for me not using it too much nor obliging
him to fear by prying into his secrets, which it were easy for me to
do. Thence to my Lord Bruncker, at Greenwich, and Sir J. Minnes by
appointment, to looke after the lodgings appointed for us there for our
office, which do by no means please me, they being in the heart of all
the labourers and workmen there, which makes it as unsafe as to be, I
think, at London. Mr. Hugh May, who is a most ingenuous man, did show us
the lodgings, and his acquaintance I am desirous of. Thence walked, it
being now dark, to Sir J. Minnes’s, and there staid at the door talking
with him an hour while messengers went to get a boat for me, to carry
me to Woolwich, but all to no purpose; so I was forced to walk it in
the darke, at ten o’clock at night, with Sir J. Minnes’s George with me,
being mightily troubled for fear of the doggs at Coome farme, and more
for fear of rogues by the way, and yet more because of the plague which
is there, which is very strange, it being a single house, all alone
from the towne, but it seems they use to admit beggars, for their owne
safety, to lie in their barns, and they brought it to them; but I bless
God I got about eleven of the clock well to my wife, and giving 4s. in
recompence to George, I to my wife, and having first viewed her last
piece of drawing since I saw her, which is seven or eight days, which
pleases me beyond any thing in the world, to bed with great content but
weary.
22nd. Up, and after much pleasant talke and being importuned by my wife
and her two mayds, which are both good wenches, for me to buy a necklace
of pearle for her, and I promising to give her one of L60 in two years
at furthest, and in less if she pleases me in her painting, I went away
and walked to Greenwich, in my way seeing a coffin with a dead body
therein, dead of the plague, lying in an open close belonging to
Coome farme, which was carried out last night, and the parish have not
appointed any body to bury it; but only set a watch there day and night,
that nobody should go thither or come thence, which is a most cruel
thing: this disease making us more cruel to one another than if we are
doggs. So to the King’s House, and there met my Lord Bruncker and Sir
J. Minnes, and to our lodgings again that are appointed for us, which do
please me better to day than last night, and are set a doing. Thence I
to Deptford, where by appointment I find Mr. Andrews come, and to the
Globe, where we dined together and did much business as to our Plymouth
gentlemen; and after a good dinner and good discourse, he being a very
good man, I think verily, we parted and I to the King’s yard, walked
up and down, and by and by out at the back gate, and there saw the
Bagwell’s wife’s mother and daughter, and went to them, and went in
to the daughter’s house with the mother, and ‘faciebam le cose que ego
tenebam a mind to con elle’, and drinking and talking, by and by away,
and so walked to Redriffe, troubled to go through the little lane, where
the plague is, but did and took water and home, where all well; but Mr.
Andrews not coming to even accounts, as I expected, with relation to
something of my own profit, I was vexed that I could not settle to
business, but home to my viall, though in the evening he did come to
my satisfaction. So after supper (he being gone first) I to settle my
journall and to bed.
23rd. Up, and whereas I had appointed Mr. Hater and Will to come betimes
to the office to meet me about business there, I was called upon as soon
as ready by Mr. Andrews to my great content, and he and I to our Tangier
accounts, where I settled, to my great joy, all my accounts with him,
and, which is more, cleared for my service to the contractors since the
last sum I received of them, L222 13s. profit to myself, and received
the money actually in the afternoon. After he was gone comes by a
pretence of mine yesterday old Delks the waterman, with his daughter
Robins, and several times to and again, he leaving her with me, about
the getting of his son Robins off, who was pressed yesterday again....
All the afternoon at my office mighty busy writing letters, and received
a very kind and good one from my Lord Sandwich of his arrival with the
fleete at Solebay, and the joy he has at my last newes he met with, of
the marriage of my Lady Jemimah; and he tells me more, the good newes
that all our ships, which were in such danger that nobody would insure
upon them, from the Eastland,
[Eastland was a name given to the eastern countries of Europe. The
Eastland Company, or Company of Merchants trading to the East
Country, was incorporated in Queen Elizabeth’s reign (anno 21), and
the charter was confirmed 13 Car. II. They were also called “The
Merchants of Elbing.”]
were all safe arrived, which I am sure is a great piece of good luck,
being in much more danger than those of Hambrough which were lost,
and their value much greater at this time to us. At night home, much
contented with this day’s work, and being at home alone looking over
my papers, comes a neighbour of ours hard by to speak with me about
business of the office, one Mr. Fuller, a great merchant, but not my
acquaintance, but he come drunk, and would have had me gone and drunk
with him at home, or have let him send for wine hither, but I would do
neither, nor offered him any, but after some sorry discourse parted, and
I up to [my] chamber and to bed.
24th. Up betimes to my office, where my clerks with me, and very busy
all the morning writing letters. At noon down to Sir J. Minnes and Lord
Bruncker to Greenwich to sign some of the Treasurer’s books, and there
dined very well; and thence to look upon our rooms again at the King’s
house, which are not yet ready for us. So home and late writing letters,
and so, weary with business, home to supper and to bed.
25th. Up betimes to the office, and there, as well as all the afternoon,
saving a little dinner time, all alone till late at night writing
letters and doing business, that I may get beforehand with my business
again, which hath run behind a great while, and then home to supper
and to bed. This day I am told that Dr. Burnett, my physician, is this
morning dead of the plague; which is strange, his man dying so long ago,
and his house this month open again. Now himself dead. Poor unfortunate
man!
26th. Up betimes, and prepared to my great satisfaction an account for
the board of my office disbursements, which I had suffered to run on to
almost L120. That done I down by water to Greenwich, where we met the
first day my Lord Bruncker, Sir J. Minnes, and I, and I think we shall
do well there, and begin very auspiciously to me by having my account
abovesaid passed, and put into a way of having it presently paid.
When we rose I find Mr. Andrews and Mr. Yeabsly, who is just come from
Plymouth, at the door, and we walked together toward my Lord Brunker’s,
talking about their business, Yeabsly being come up on purpose to
discourse with me about it, and finished all in a quarter of an hour,
and is gone again. I perceive they have some inclination to be going on
with their victualling-business for a while longer before they resign
it to Mr. Gauden, and I am well contented, for it brings me very good
profit with certainty, yet with much care and some pains. We parted
at my Lord Bruncker’s doore, where I went in, having never been there
before, and there he made a noble entertainment for Sir J. Minnes,
myself, and Captain Cocke, none else saving some painted lady that dined
there, I know not who she is. But very merry we were, and after dinner
into the garden, and to see his and her chamber, where some good
pictures, and a very handsome young woman for my lady’s woman. Thence I
by water home, in my way seeing a man taken up dead, out of the hold
of a small catch that lay at Deptford. I doubt it might be the plague,
which, with the thought of Dr. Burnett, did something disturb me, so
that I did not what I intended and should have done at the office, as
to business, but home sooner than ordinary, and after supper, to read
melancholy alone, and then to bed.
27th (Lord’s day). Very well in the morning, and up and to my chamber
all the morning to put my things and papers yet more in order, and so
to dinner. Thence all the afternoon at my office till late making up my
papers and letters there into a good condition of order, and so home to
supper, and after reading a good while in the King’s works,--[Charles
I.’s Works, now in the Pepysian Library]--which is a noble book, to bed.
28th. Up, and being ready I out to Mr. Colvill, the goldsmith’s, having
not for some days been in the streets; but now how few people I see, and
those looking like people that had taken leave of the world. I there,
and made even all accounts in the world between him and I, in a very
good condition, and I would have done the like with Sir Robert Viner,
but he is out of towne, the sicknesse being every where thereabouts. I
to the Exchange, and I think there was not fifty people upon it, and
but few more like to be as they told me, Sir G. Smith and others. Thus
I think to take adieu to-day of the London streets, unless it be to go
again to Viner’s. Home to dinner, and there W. Hewer brings me L119 he
hath received for my office disbursements, so that I think I have L1800
and more in the house, and, blessed be God! no money out but what I
can very well command and that but very little, which is much the
best posture I ever was in in my life, both as to the quantity and the
certainty I have of the money I am worth; having most of it in my own
hand. But then this is a trouble to me what to do with it, being myself
this day going to be wholly at Woolwich; but for the present I am
resolved to venture it in an iron chest, at least for a while. In the
afternoon I sent down my boy to Woolwich with some things before me, in
order to my lying there for good and all, and so I followed him. Just
now comes newes that the fleete is gone, or going this day, out again,
for which God be praised! and my Lord Sandwich hath done himself great
right in it, in getting so soon out again. I pray God, he may meet the
enemy. Towards the evening, just as I was fitting myself, comes W. Hewer
and shows me a letter which Mercer had wrote to her mother about a great
difference between my wife and her yesterday, and that my wife will have
her go away presently. This, together with my natural jealousy that some
bad thing or other may be in the way, did trouble me exceedingly, so as
I was in a doubt whether to go thither or no, but having fitted myself
and my things I did go, and by night got thither, where I met my wife
walking to the waterside with her paynter, Mr. Browne, and her mayds.
There I met Commissioner Pett, and my Lord Brunker, and the lady at his
house had been thereto-day, to see her. Commissioner Pett staid a very
little while, and so I to supper with my wife and Mr. Shelden, and so to
bed with great pleasure.
29th. In the morning waking, among other discourse my wife begun to
tell me the difference between her and Mercer, and that it was only from
restraining her to gad abroad to some Frenchmen that were in the town,
which I do not wholly yet in part believe, and for my quiet would not
enquire into it. So rose and dressed myself, and away by land walking
a good way, then remembered that I had promised Commissioner Pett to go
with him in his coach, and therefore I went back again to him, and so
by his coach to Greenwich, and called at Sir Theophilus Biddulph’s, a
sober, discreet man, to discourse of the preventing of the plague in
Greenwich, and Woolwich, and Deptford, where in every place it begins to
grow very great. We appointed another meeting, and so walked together to
Greenwich and there parted, and Pett and I to the office, where all the
morning, and after office done I to Sir J. Minnes and dined with him,
and thence to Deptford thinking to have seen Bagwell, but did not, and
so straight to Redriffe, and home, and late at my business to dispatch
away letters, and then home to bed, which I did not intend, but to have
staid for altogether at Woolwich, but I made a shift for a bed for Tom,
whose bed is gone to Woolwich, and so to bed.
30th. Up betimes and to my business of settling my house and papers, and
then abroad and met with Hadley, our clerke, who, upon my asking how the
plague goes, he told me it encreases much, and much in our parish; for,
says he, there died nine this week, though I have returned but six:
which is a very ill practice, and makes me think it is so in other
places; and therefore the plague much greater than people take it to be.
Thence, as I intended, to Sir R. Viner’s, and there found not Mr. Lewes
ready for me, so I went forth and walked towards Moorefields to see (God
forbid my presumption!) whether I could see any dead corps going to the
grave; but, as God would have it, did not. But, Lord! how every body’s
looks, and discourse in the street is of death, and nothing else, and
few people going up and down, that the towne is like a place distressed
and forsaken. After one turne there back to Viner’s, and there found my
business ready for me, and evened all reckonings with them to this
day to my great content. So home, and all day till very late at night
setting my Tangier and private accounts in order, which I did in both,
and in the latter to my great joy do find myself yet in the much best
condition that ever I was in, finding myself worth L2180 and odd,
besides plate and goods, which I value at L250 more, which is a very
great blessing to me. The Lord make me thankfull! and of this at this
day above L1800 in cash in my house, which speaks but little out of my
hands in desperate condition, but this is very troublesome to have in my
house at this time. So late to bed, well pleased with my accounts, but
weary of being so long at them.
31st. Up and, after putting several things in order to my removal,
to Woolwich; the plague having a great encrease this week, beyond all
expectation of almost 2,000, making the general Bill 7,000, odd 100;
and the plague above 6,000. I down by appointment to Greenwich, to our
office, where I did some business, and there dined with our company and
Sir W. Boreman, and Sir The. Biddulph, at Mr. Boreman’s, where a good
venison pasty, and after a good merry dinner I to my office, and there
late writing letters, and then to Woolwich by water, where pleasant with
my wife and people, and after supper to bed. Thus this month ends with
great sadness upon the publick, through the greatness of the plague
every where through the kingdom almost. Every day sadder and sadder news
of its encrease. In the City died this week 7,496 and of them 6,102 of
the plague. But it is feared that the true number of the dead, this week
is near 10,000; partly from the poor that cannot be taken notice of,
through the greatness of the number, and partly from the Quakers and
others that will not have any bell ring for them. Our fleete gone out to
find the Dutch, we having about 100 sail in our fleete, and in them the
Soveraigne one; so that it is a better fleete than the former with the
Duke was. All our fear is that the Dutch should be got in before
them; which would be a very great sorrow to the publick, and to me
particularly, for my Lord Sandwich’s sake. A great deal of money being
spent, and the kingdom not in a condition to spare, nor a parliament
without much difficulty to meet to give more. And to that; to have it
said, what hath been done by our late fleetes? As to myself I am very
well, only in fear of the plague, and as much of an ague by being
forced to go early and late to Woolwich, and my family to lie there
continually. My late gettings have been very great to my great content,
and am likely to have yet a few more profitable jobbs in a little while;
for which Tangier, and Sir W. Warren I am wholly obliged to.