January 1st (New-Yeare’s Day). Called up by five o’clock, by my order,
by Mr. Tooker, who wrote, while I dictated to him, my business of
the Pursers; and so, without eating or drinking, till three in the
afternoon, and then, to my great content, finished it. So to dinner,
Gibson and he and I, and then to copying it over, Mr. Gibson reading and
I writing, and went a good way in it till interrupted by Sir W. Warren’s
coming, of whom I always learne something or other, his discourse being
very good and his brains also. He being gone we to our business again,
and wrote more of it fair, and then late to bed.
[This document is in the British Museum (Harleian MS. 6287), and is
entitled, “A Letter from Mr. Pepys, dated at Greenwich, 1 Jan.
1665-6, which he calls his New Year’s Gift to his hon. friend, Sir
Wm. Coventry, wherein he lays down a method for securing his Majesty
in husbandly execution of the Victualling Part of the Naval
Expence.” It consists of nineteen closely written folio pages, and
is a remarkable specimen of Pepys’s business habits.--B. There are
copies of several letters on the victualling of the navy, written by
Pepys in 1666, among the Rawlinson MSS. in the Bodleian.]
2nd. Up by candlelight again, and wrote the greatest part of my business
fair, and then to the office, and so home to dinner, and after dinner
up and made an end of my fair writing it, and that being done, set two
entering while to my Lord Bruncker’s, and there find Sir J. Minnes and
all his company, and Mr. Boreman and Mrs. Turner, but, above all, my
dear Mrs. Knipp, with whom I sang, and in perfect pleasure I was to hear
her sing, and especially her little Scotch song of “Barbary Allen;”
[The Scottish ballad is entitled, “Sir John Grehme and Barbara
Allan,” and the English version, “Barbara Allen’s Cruelty.” Both
are printed in Percy’s “Reliques,” Series III.]
and to make our mirthe the completer, Sir J. Minnes was in the highest
pitch of mirthe, and his mimicall tricks, that ever I saw, and most
excellent pleasant company he is, and the best mimique that ever I saw,
and certainly would have made an excellent actor, and now would be an
excellent teacher of actors. Thence, it being post night, against my
will took leave, but before I come to my office, longing for more of her
company, I returned and met them coming home in coaches, so I got into
the coach where Mrs. Knipp was and got her upon my knee (the coach being
full) and played with her breasts and sung, and at last set her at her
house and so good night. So home to my lodgings and there endeavoured to
have finished the examining my papers of Pursers’ business to have sent
away to-night, but I was so sleepy with my late early risings and late
goings to bed that I could not do it, but was forced to go to bed and
leave it to send away to-morrow by an Expresse.
3rd. Up, and all the morning till three in the afternoon examining and
fitting up my Pursers’ paper and sent it away by an Expresse. Then comes
my wife, and I set her to get supper ready against I go to the Duke of
Albemarle and back again; and at the Duke’s with great joy I received
the good news of the decrease of the plague this week to 70, and but 253
in all; which is the least Bill hath been known these twenty years in
the City. Through the want of people in London is it, that must make
it so low below the ordinary number for Bills. So home, and find all my
good company I had bespoke, as Coleman and his wife, and Laneare, Knipp
and her surly husband; and good musique we had, and, among other things,
Mrs. Coleman sang my words I set of “Beauty retire,” and I think it is a
good song, and they praise it mightily. Then to dancing and supper, and
mighty merry till Mr. Rolt come in, whose pain of the tooth-ake made him
no company, and spoilt ours; so he away, and then my wife’s teeth fell
of akeing, and she to bed. So forced to break up all with a good song,
and so to bed.
4th. Up, and to the office, where my Lord Bruncker and I, against Sir W.
Batten and Sir J. Minnes and the whole table, for Sir W. Warren in the
business of his mast contract, and overcome them and got them to do what
I had a mind to, for indeed my Lord being unconcerned in what I aimed
at. So home to dinner, where Mr. Sheldon come by invitation from
Woolwich, and as merry as I could be with all my thoughts about me and
my wife still in pain of her tooth. He anon took leave and took Mrs.
Barbary his niece home with him, and seems very thankful to me for the
L10 I did give him for my wife’s rent of his house, and I am sure I am
beholding to him, for it was a great convenience to me, and then my wife
home to London by water and I to the office till 8 at night, and so
to my Lord Bruncker’s, thinking to have been merry, having appointed
a meeting for Sir J. Minnes and his company and Mrs. Knipp again,
but whatever hindered I know not, but no company come, which vexed me
because it disappointed me of the glut of mirthe I hoped for. However,
good discourse with my Lord and merry, with Mrs. Williams’s descants
upon Sir J. Minnes’s and Mrs. Turner’s not coming. So home and to bed.
5th. I with my Lord Bruncker and Mrs. Williams by coach with four horses
to London, to my Lord’s house in Covent-Guarden. But, Lord! what staring
to see a nobleman’s coach come to town. And porters every where bow to
us; and such begging of beggars! And a delightfull thing it is to see
the towne full of people again as now it is; and shops begin to open,
though in many places seven or eight together, and more, all shut; but
yet the towne is full, compared with what it used to be. I mean the City
end; for Covent-Guarden and Westminster are yet very empty of people, no
Court nor gentry being there. Set Mrs. Williams down at my Lord’s house
and he and I to Sir G. Carteret, at his chamber at White Hall, he being
come to town last night to stay one day. So my Lord and he and I much
talke about the Act, what credit we find upon it, but no private talke
between him and I. So I to the ‘Change, and there met Mr. Povy, newly
come to town, and he and I to Sir George Smith’s and there dined nobly.
He tells me how my Lord Bellases complains for want of money and of
him and me therein, but I value it not, for I know I do all that can
be done. We had no time to talk of particulars, but leave it to another
day, and I away to Cornhill to expect my Lord Bruncker’s coming back
again, and I staid at my stationer’s house, and by and by comes my Lord,
and did take me up and so to Greenwich, and after sitting with them a
while at their house, home, thinking to get Mrs. Knipp, but could not,
she being busy with company, but sent me a pleasant letter, writing
herself “Barbary Allen.” I went therefore to Mr. Boreman’s for pastime,
and there staid an houre or two talking with him, and reading a
discourse about the River of Thames, the reason of its being choked up
in several places with shelfes; which is plain is, by the encroachments
made upon the River, and running out of causeways into the River at
every wood-wharfe; which was not heretofore when Westminster Hall and
White Hall were built, and Redriffe Church, which now are sometimes
overflown with water. I had great satisfaction herein. So home and to my
papers for lacke of company, but by and by comes little Mrs. Tooker and
sat and supped with me, and I kept her very late talking and making her
comb my head, and did what I will with her. So late to bed.
6th. Up betimes and by water to the Cockepitt, there met Sir G. Carteret
and, after discourse with the Duke, all together, and there saw a letter
wherein Sir W. Coventry did take notice to the Duke with a commendation
of my paper about Pursers, I to walke in the Parke with the
Vice-Chamberlain, and received his advice about my deportment about the
advancing the credit of the Act; giving me caution to see that we do not
misguide the King by making them believe greater matters from it than
will be found. But I see that this arises from his great trouble to see
the Act succeede, and to hear my name so much used and my letters shown
at Court about goods served us in upon the credit of it. But I do make
him believe that I do it with all respect to him and on his behalfe too,
as indeed I do, as well as my owne, that it may not be said that he or
I do not assist therein. He tells me that my Lord Sandwich do proceed
on his journey with the greatest kindnesse that can be imagined from
the King and Chancellor, which was joyfull newes to me. Thence with Lord
Bruncker to Greenwich by water to a great dinner and much company; Mr.
Cottle and his lady and others and I went, hoping to get Mrs. Knipp to
us, having wrote a letter to her in the morning, calling myself “Dapper
Dicky,” in answer to hers of “Barbary Allen,” but could not, and am told
by the boy that carried my letter, that he found her crying; but I fear
she lives a sad life with that ill-natured fellow her husband: so we had
a great, but I a melancholy dinner, having not her there, as I hoped.
After dinner to cards, and then comes notice that my wife is come
unexpectedly to me to towne. So I to her. It is only to see what I do,
and why I come not home; and she is in the right that I would have a
little more of Mrs. Knipp’s company before I go away. My wife to fetch
away my things from Woolwich, and I back to cards and after cards to
choose King and Queene, and a good cake there was, but no marks found;
but I privately found the clove, the mark of the knave, and privately
put it into Captain Cocke’s piece, which made some mirthe, because of
his lately being knowne by his buying of clove and mace of the East
India prizes. At night home to my lodging, where I find my wife returned
with my things, and there also Captain Ferrers is come upon business of
my Lord’s to this town about getting some goods of his put on board in
order to his going to Spain, and Ferrers presumes upon my finding a bed
for him, which I did not like to have done without my invitation because
I had done [it] several times before, during the plague, that he could
not provide himself safely elsewhere. But it being Twelfth Night, they
had got the fiddler and mighty merry they were; and I above come not
to them, but when I had done my business among my papers went to bed,
leaving them dancing, and choosing King and Queene.
7th (Lord’s day). Up, and being trimmed I was invited by Captain Cocke,
so I left my wife, having a mind to some discourse with him, and dined
with him. He tells me of new difficulties about his goods which troubles
me and I fear they will be great. He tells me too what I hear everywhere
how the towne talks of my Lord Craven being to come into Sir G.
Carteret’s place; but sure it cannot be true. But I do fear those two
families, his and my Lord Sandwich’s, are quite broken. And I must now
stand upon my own legs. Thence to my lodging, and considering how I am
hindered by company there to do any thing among my papers, I did resolve
to go away to-day rather than stay to no purpose till to-morrow and so
got all my things packed up and spent half an hour with W. Howe about
his papers of accounts for contingencies and my Lord’s accounts, so took
leave of my landlady and daughters, having paid dear for what time I
have spent there, but yet having been quiett and my health, I am very
well contented therewith. So with my wife and Mercer took boat and
away home; but in the evening, before I went, comes Mrs. Knipp, just
to speake with me privately, to excuse her not coming to me yesterday,
complaining how like a devil her husband treats her, but will be with us
in towne a weeke hence, and so I kissed her and parted. Being come home,
my wife and I to look over our house and consider of laying out a little
money to hang our bedchamber better than it is, and so resolved to go
and buy something to-morrow, and so after supper, with great joy in my
heart for my coming once again hither, to bed.
8th. Up, and my wife and I by coach to Bennett’s, in Paternoster Row,
few shops there being yet open, and there bought velvett for a coate,
and camelott for a cloake for myself; and thence to a place to look over
some fine counterfeit damasks to hang my wife’s closett, and pitched
upon one, and so by coach home again, I calling at the ‘Change, and so
home to dinner and all the afternoon look after my papers at home and
my office against to-morrow, and so after supper and considering the
uselessness of laying out so much money upon my wife’s closett, but only
the chamber, to bed.
9th. Up, and then to the office, where we met first since the plague,
which God preserve us in! At noon home to dinner, where uncle Thomas
with me, and in comes Pierce lately come from Oxford, and Ferrers. After
dinner Pierce and I up to my chamber, where he tells me how a great
difference hath been between the Duke and Duchesse, he suspecting her to
be naught with Mr. Sidney.
[“This Duchess was Chancellor Hyde’s daughter, and she was a very
handsome woman, and had a great deal of wit; therefore it was not
without reason that Mr. Sydney, the handsomest youth of his time, of
the Duke’s bedchamber, was so much in love with her, as appeared to
us all, and the Duchess not unkind to him, but very innocently. He
was afterwards banished the Court for another reason, as was
reported” (Sir John Reresby’s “Memoirs,” August 5th, 1664, ed.
Cartwright, pp. 64,65). “‘How could the Duke of York make my mother
a Papist?’ said the Princess Mary to Dr. Bumet. ‘The Duke caught a
man in bed with her,’ said the Doctor, ‘and then had power to make
her do anything.’ The Prince, who sat by the fire, said, ‘Pray,
madam, ask the Doctor a few more questions’” (Spence’s “Anecdotes,”
ed. Singer, 329).]
But some way or other the matter is made up; but he was banished the
Court, and the Duke for many days did not speak to the Duchesse at all.
He tells me that my Lord Sandwich is lost there at Court, though
the King is particularly his friend. But people do speak every where
slightly of him; which is a sad story to me, but I hope it may be better
again. And that Sir G. Carteret is neglected, and hath great enemies at
work against him. That matters must needs go bad, while all the town,
and every boy in the streete, openly cries, “The King cannot go away
till my Lady Castlemaine be ready to come along with him;” she being
lately put to bed And that he visits her and Mrs. Stewart every morning
before he eats his breakfast. All this put together makes me very sad,
but yet I hope I shall do pretty well among them for all this, by my not
meddling with either of their matters. He and Ferrers gone I paid uncle
Thomas his last quarter’s money, and then comes Mr. Gawden and he and I
talked above stairs together a good while about his business, and to my
great joy got him to declare that of the L500 he did give me the other
day, none of it was for my Treasurershipp for Tangier (I first telling
him how matters stand between Povy and I, that he was to have half of
whatever was coming to me by that office), and that he will gratify me
at 2 per cent. for that when he next receives any money. So there is
L80 due to me more than I thought of. He gone I with a glad heart to
the office to write, my letters and so home to supper and bed, my wife
mighty full of her worke she hath to do in furnishing her bedchamber.
10th. Up, and by coach to Sir G. Downing, where Mr. Gawden met me by
agreement to talke upon the Act. I do find Sir G. Downing to be a mighty
talker, more than is true, which I now know to be so, and suspected it
before, but for all that I have good grounds to think it will succeed
for goods and in time for money too, but not presently. Having done with
him, I to my Lord Bruncker’s house in Covent-Garden, and, among other
things, it was to acquaint him with my paper of Pursers, and read it to
him, and had his good liking of it. Shewed him Mr. Coventry’s sense of
it, which he sent me last post much to my satisfaction. Thence to the
‘Change, and there hear to our grief how the plague is encreased
this week from seventy to eighty-nine. We have also great fear of our
Hambrough fleete, of their meeting the Dutch; as also have certain
newes, that by storms Sir Jer. Smith’s fleet is scattered, and three
of them come without masts back to Plymouth, which is another very
exceeding great disappointment, and if the victualling ships are
miscarried will tend to the losse of the garrison of Tangier. Thence
home, in my way had the opportunity I longed for, of seeing and saluting
Mrs. Stokes, my little goldsmith’s wife in Paternoster Row, and there
bespoke some thing, a silver chafing-dish for warming plates, and so
home to dinner, found my wife busy about making her hangings for her
chamber with the upholster. So I to the office and anon to the Duke of
Albemarle, by coach at night, taking, for saving time, Sir W. Warren
with me, talking of our businesses all the way going and coming, and
there got his reference of my pursers’ paper to the Board to consider of
it before he reads it, for he will never understand it I am sure. Here I
saw Sir W. Coventry’s kind letter to him concerning my paper, and among
others of his letters, which I saw all, and that is a strange thing,
that whatever is writ to this Duke of Albemarle, all the world may see;
for this very night he did give me Mr. Coventry’s letter to read, soon
as it come to his hand, before he had read it himself, and bid me take
out of it what concerned the Navy, and many things there was in it,
which I should not have thought fit for him to have let any body so
suddenly see; but, among other things, find him profess himself to the
Duke a friend into the inquiring further into the business of Prizes,
and advises that it may be publique, for the righting the King, and
satisfying the people and getting the blame to be rightly laid where it
should be, which strikes very hard upon my Lord Sandwich, and troubles
me to read it. Besides, which vexes me more, I heard the damned Duchesse
again say to twenty gentlemen publiquely in the room, that she would
have Montagu sent once more to sea, before he goes his Embassy, that we
may see whether he will make amends for his cowardice, and repeated
the answer she did give the other day in my hearing to Sir G. Downing,
wishing her Lord had been a coward, for then perhaps he might have been
made an Embassador, and not been sent now to sea. But one good thing she
said, she cried mightily out against the having of gentlemen Captains
with feathers and ribbands, and wished the King would send her husband
to sea with the old plain sea Captains, that he served with formerly,
that would make their ships swim with blood, though they could not make
legs
[Make bows, play the courtier. The reading, “make leagues,”
appeared in former editions till Mr. Mynors Bright corrected it.]
as Captains nowadays can. It grieved me to see how slightly the Duke
do every thing in the world, and how the King and every body suffers
whatever he will to be done in the Navy, though never so much against
reason, as in the business of recalling tickets, which will be done
notwithstanding all the arguments against it. So back again to my
office, and there to business and so to bed.
11th. Up and to the office. By and by to the Custome House to the
Farmers, there with a letter of Sir G. Carteret’s for L3000, which they
ordered to be paid me. So away back again to the office, and at noon to
dinner all of us by invitation to Sir W. Pen’s, and much other company.
Among others, Lieutenant of the Tower, and Broome, his poet, and Dr.
Whistler, and his (Sir W. Pen’s) son-in-law Lowder, servant--[lover]--to
Mrs. Margaret Pen, and Sir Edward Spragg, a merry man, that sang a
pleasant song pleasantly. Rose from table before half dined, and with
Mr. Mountney of the Custome House to the East India House, and there
delivered to him tallys for L3000 and received a note for the money on
Sir R. Viner. So ended the matter, and back to my company, where staid a
little, and thence away with my Lord Bruncker for discourse sake, and
he and I to Gresham College to have seen Mr. Hooke and a new invented
chariott of Dr. Wilkins, but met with nobody at home! So to Dr.
Wilkins’s, where I never was before, and very kindly received and met
with Dr. Merritt, and fine discourse among them to my great joy, so
sober and so ingenious. He is now upon finishing his discourse of a
universal character. So away and I home to my office about my letters,
and so home to supper and to bed.
12th. By coach to the Duke of Albemarle, where Sir W. Batten and I only
met. Troubled at my heart to see how things are ordered there without
consideration or understanding. Thence back by coach and called at
Wotton’s, my shoemaker, lately come to towne, and bespoke shoes, as also
got him to find me a taylor to make me some clothes, my owne being not
yet in towne, nor Pym, my Lord Sandwich’s taylor. So he helped me to a
pretty man, one Mr. Penny, against St. Dunstan’s Church. Thence to the
‘Change and there met Mr. Moore, newly come to towne, and took him home
to dinner with me and after dinner to talke, and he and I do conclude my
Lord’s case to be very bad and may be worse, if he do not get a pardon
for his doings about the prizes and his business at Bergen, and other
things done by him at sea, before he goes for Spayne. I do use all the
art I can to get him to get my Lord to pay my cozen Pepys, for it is
a great burden to my mind my being bound for my Lord in L1000 to him.
Having done discourse with him and directed him to go with my advice to
my Lord expresse to-morrow to get his pardon perfected before his going,
because of what I read the other night in Sir W. Coventry’s letter, I to
the office, and there had an extraordinary meeting of Sir J. Minnes, Sir
W. Batten, and Sir W. Pen, and my Lord Bruncker and I to hear my paper
read about pursers, which they did all of them with great good will and
great approbation of my method and pains in all, only Sir W. Pen, who
must except against every thing and remedy nothing, did except against
my proposal for some reasons, which I could not understand, I confess,
nor my Lord Bruncker neither, but he did detect indeed a failure or two
of mine in my report about the ill condition of the present pursers,
which I did magnify in one or two little things, to which, I think, he
did with reason except, but at last with all respect did declare the
best thing he ever heard of this kind, but when Sir W. Batten did say,
“Let us that do know the practical part of the Victualling meet Sir J.
Minnes, Sir W. Pen and I and see what we can do to mend all,” he was
so far from offering or furthering it, that he declined it and said, he
must be out of towne. So as I ever knew him never did in his life ever
attempt to mend any thing, but suffer all things to go on in the way
they are, though never so bad, rather than improve his experience to
the King’s advantage. So we broke up, however, they promising to meet to
offer some thing in it of their opinions, and so we rose, and I and my
Lord Bruncker by coach a little way for discourse sake, till our coach
broke, and tumbled me over him quite down the side of the coach, falling
on the ground about the Stockes, but up again, and thinking it fit to
have for my honour some thing reported in writing to the Duke in
favour of my pains in this, lest it should be thought to be rejected as
frivolous, I did move it to my Lord, and he will see it done to-morrow.
So we parted, and I to the office and thence home to my poor wife, who
works all day at home like a horse, at the making of her hangings for
our chamber and the bed. So to supper and to bed.
13th. At the office all the morning, where my Lord Bruncker moved to
have something wrote in my matter as I desired him last night, and it
was ordered and will be done next sitting. Home with his Lordship to
Mrs. Williams’s, in Covent-Garden, to dinner (the first time I ever
was there), and there met Captain Cocke; and pretty merry, though not
perfectly so, because of the fear that there is of a great encrease
again of the plague this week. And again my Lord Bruncker do tell us,
that he hath it from Sir John Baber; who is related to my Lord Craven,
that my Lord Craven do look after Sir G. Carteret’s place, and do reckon
himself sure of it. After dinner Cocke and I together by coach to the
Exchange, in our way talking of our matters, and do conclude that every
thing must breake in pieces, while no better counsels govern matters
than there seem to do, and that it will become him and I and all men
to get their reckonings even, as soon as they can, and expect all to
breake. Besides, if the plague continues among us another yeare, the
Lord knows what will become of us. I set him down at the ‘Change, and
I home to my office, where late writing letters and doing business, and
thence home to supper and to bed. My head full of cares, but pleased
with my wife’s minding her worke so well, and busying herself about
her house, and I trust in God if I can but clear myself of my Lord
Sandwich’s bond, wherein I am bound with him for L1000 to T. Pepys, I
shall do pretty well, come what will come.
14th (Lord’s day). Long in bed, till raised by my new taylor, Mr. Penny,
[who comes and brings me my new velvet coat, very handsome, but plain,
and a day hence will bring me my camelott cloak.] He gone I close to
my papers and to set all in order and to perform my vow to finish my
journall and other things before I kiss any woman more or drink any
wine, which I must be forced to do to-morrow if I go to Greenwich as I
am invited by Mr. Boreman to hear Mrs. Knipp sing, and I would be glad
to go, so as we may be merry. At noon eat the second of the two cygnets
Mr. Shepley sent us for a new-year’s gift, and presently to my chamber
again and so to work hard all day about my Tangier accounts, which I am
going again to make up, as also upon writing a letter to my father about
Pall, whom it is time now I find to think of disposing of while God
Almighty hath given me something to give with her, and in my letter to
my father I do offer to give her L450 to make her own L50 given her by
my uncle up L500. I do also therein propose Mr. Harman the upholster for
a husband for her, to whom I have a great love and did heretofore love
his former wife, and a civil man he is and careful in his way, beside, I
like his trade and place he lives in, being Cornhill. Thus late at work,
and so to supper and to bed. This afternoon, after sermon, comes my dear
fair beauty of the Exchange, Mrs. Batelier, brought by her sister, an
acquaintance of Mercer’s, to see my wife. I saluted her with as much
pleasure as I had done any a great while. We sat and talked together an
houre, with infinite pleasure to me, and so the fair creature went away,
and proves one of the modestest women, and pretty, that ever I saw in my
life, and my [wife] judges her so too.
15th. Busy all the morning in my chamber in my old cloth suit, while my
usuall one is to my taylor’s to mend, which I had at noon again, and an
answer to a letter I had sent this morning to Mrs. Pierce to go along
with my wife and I down to Greenwich to-night upon an invitation to Mr.
Boreman’s to be merry to dance and sing with Mrs. Knipp. Being dressed,
and having dined, I took coach and to Mrs. Pierce, to her new house in
Covent-Garden, a very fine place and fine house. Took her thence home
to my house, and so by water to Boreman’s by night, where the greatest
disappointment that ever I saw in my life, much company, a good supper
provided, and all come with expectation of excesse of mirthe, but
all blank through the waywardnesse of Mrs. Knipp, who, though she
had appointed the night, could not be got to come. Not so much as her
husband could get her to come; but, which was a pleasant thing in all my
anger, I asking him, while we were in expectation what answer one of our
many messengers would bring, what he thought, whether she would come or
no, he answered that, for his part, he could not so much as thinke. By
and by we all to supper, which the silly master of the feast commended,
but, what with my being out of humour, and the badnesse of the meate
dressed, I did never eat a worse supper in my life. At last, very late,
and supper done, she came undressed, but it brought me no mirthe at
all; only, after all being done, without singing, or very little, and no
dancing, Pierce and I to bed together, and he and I very merry to find
how little and thin clothes they give us to cover us, so that we were
fain to lie in our stockings and drawers, and lay all our coates and
clothes upon the bed. So to sleep.
16th. Up, and leaving the women in bed together (a pretty black and
white) I to London to the office, and there forgot, through business, to
bespeake any dinner for my wife and Mrs. Pierce. However, by noon they
come, and a dinner we had, and Kate Joyce comes to see us, with whom
very merry. After dinner she and I up to my chamber, who told me her
business was chiefly for my advice about her husband’s leaving off his
trade, which though I wish enough, yet I did advise against, for he is
a man will not know how to live idle, and employment he is fit for none.
Thence anon carried her and Mrs. Pierce home, and so to the Duke of
Albemarle, and mighty kind he to me still. So home late at my letters,
and so to bed, being mightily troubled at the newes of the plague’s
being encreased, and was much the saddest news that the plague hath
brought me from the beginning of it; because of the lateness of the
year, and the fear, we may with reason have, of its continuing with us
the next summer. The total being now 375, and the plague 158.
17th. Busy all the morning, settling things against my going out
of towne this night. After dinner, late took horse, having sent for
Lashmore to go with me, and so he and I rode to Dagenhams in the dark.
There find the whole family well. It was my Lord Crew’s desire that
I should come, and chiefly to discourse with me of Lord Sandwich’s
matters; and therein to persuade, what I had done already, that my Lord
should sue out a pardon for his business of the prizes, as also for
Bergen, and all he hath done this year past, before he begins his
Embassy to Spayne. For it is to be feared that the Parliament will fly
out against him and particular men, the next Session. He is glad also
that my Lord is clear of his sea-imployment, though sorry as I am, only
in the manner of its bringing about. By and by to supper, my Lady Wright
very kind. After supper up to wait on my Lady Crew, who is the same
weake silly lady as ever, asking such saintly questions. Down to my Lord
again and sat talking an houre or two, and anon to prayers the whole
family, and then all to bed, I handsomely used, lying in the chamber
Mr. Carteret formerly did, but sat up an houre talking sillily with Mr.
Carteret and Mr. Marre, and so to bed.
18th. Up before day and thence rode to London before office time, where
I met a note at the doore to invite me to supper to Mrs. Pierces because
of Mrs. Knipp, who is in towne and at her house: To the office, where,
among other things, vexed with Major Norwood’s coming, who takes it ill
my not paying a bill of Exchange of his, but I have good reason for it,
and so the less troubled, but yet troubled, so as at noon being carried
by my Lord Bruncker to Captain Cocke’s to dinner, where Mrs. Williams
was, and Mrs. Knipp, I was not heartily merry, though a glasse of wine
did a little cheer me. After dinner to the office. Anon comes to me
thither my Lord Bruncker, Mrs. Williams, and Knipp. I brought down my
wife in her night-gowne, she not being indeed very well, to the office
to them and there by and by they parted all and my wife and I anon and
Mercer, by coach, to Pierces; where mighty merry, and sing and dance
with great pleasure; and I danced, who never did in company in my life,
and Captain Cocke come for a little while and danced, but went away, but
we staid and had a pretty supper, and spent till two in the morning, but
got home well by coach, though as dark as pitch, and so to bed.
19th. Up and ready, called on by Mr. Moone, my Lord Bellases’ secretary,
who and I good friends though I have failed him in some payments. Thence
with Sir J. Minnes to the Duke of Albemarle’s, and carried all well, and
met Norwood but prevented him in desiring a meeting of the Commissioners
for Tangier. Thence to look for Sir H. [Cholmly], but he not within, he
coming to town last night. It is a remarkable thing how infinitely naked
all that end of the towne, Covent-Garden, is at this day of people;
while the City is almost as full again of people as ever it was. To the
‘Change and so home to dinner and the office, whither anon comes Sir H.
Cholmley to me, and he and I to my house, there to settle his accounts
with me, and so with great pleasure we agreed and great friends become,
I think, and he presented me upon the foot of our accounts for this
year’s service for him L100, whereof Povy must have half. Thence to the
office and wrote a letter to Norwood to satisfy him about my nonpayment
of his bill, for that do still stick in my mind. So at night home to
supper and to bed.
20th. To the office, where upon Mr. Kinaston’s coming to me about some
business of Colonell Norwood’s, I sent my boy home for some papers,
where, he staying longer than I would have him, and being vexed at the
business and to be kept from my fellows in the office longer than was
fit, I become angry, and boxed my boy when he came, that I do hurt my
thumb so much, that I was not able to stir all the day after, and in
great pain. At noon to dinner, and then to the office again, late, and
so to supper and to bed.
21st (Lord’s day). Lay almost till noon merrily and with pleasure
talking with my wife in bed. Then up looking about my house, and the
roome which my wife is dressing up, having new hung our bedchamber
with blue, very handsome. After dinner to my Tangier accounts and there
stated them against to-morrow very distinctly for the Lords to see who
meet tomorrow, and so to supper and to bed.
22nd. Up, and set my people to work in copying Tangier accounts, and I
down the river to Greenwich to the office to fetch away some papers and
thence to Deptford, where by agreement my Lord Bruncker was to come, but
staid almost till noon, after I had spent an houre with W. Howe talking
of my Lord Sandwich’s matters and his folly in minding his pleasures too
much now-a-days, and permitting himself to be governed by Cuttance to
the displeasing of all the Commanders almost of the fleete, and thence
we may conceive indeed the rise of all my Lord’s misfortunes of late.
At noon my Lord Bruncker did come, but left the keys of the chests
we should open, at Sir G. Carteret’s lodgings, of my Lord Sandwich’s,
wherein Howe’s supposed jewells are; so we could not, according to my
Lord Arlington’s order, see them today; but we parted, resolving to meet
here at night: my Lord Bruncker being going with Dr. Wilkins, Mr. Hooke,
and others, to Colonell Blunts, to consider again of the business of
charriots, and to try their new invention. Which I saw here my Lord
Bruncker ride in; where the coachman sits astride upon a pole over the
horse, but do not touch the horse, which is a pretty odde thing; but it
seems it is most easy for the horse, and, as they say, for the man also.
Thence I with speede by water home and eat a bit, and took my accounts
and to the Duke of Albemarle, where for all I feared of Norwood he was
very civill, and Sir Thomas Ingram beyond expectation, I giving them all
content and I thereby settled mightily in my mind, for I was weary of
the employment, and had had thoughts of giving it over. I did also give
a good step in a business of Mr. Hubland’s, about getting a ship of his
to go to Tangier, which during this strict embargo is a great matter,
and I shall have a good reward for it, I hope. Thence by water in the
darke down to Deptford, and there find my Lord Bruncker come and gone,
having staid long for me. I back presently to the Crowne taverne behind
the Exchange by appointment, and there met the first meeting of Gresham
College since the plague. Dr. Goddard did fill us with talke, in defence
of his and his fellow physicians going out of towne in the plague-time;
saying that their particular patients were most gone out of towne, and
they left at liberty; and a great deal more, &c. But what, among other
fine discourse pleased me most, was Sir G. Ent about Respiration; that
it is not to this day known, or concluded on among physicians, nor to be
done either, how the action is managed by nature, or for what use it
is. Here late till poor Dr. Merriot was drunk, and so all home, and I to
bed.
23rd. Up and to the office and then to dinner. After dinner to the
office again all the afternoon, and much business with me. Good newes
beyond all expectation of the decrease of the plague, being now but
79, and the whole but 272. So home with comfort to bed. A most furious
storme all night and morning.
24th. By agreement my Lord Bruncker called me up, and though it was a
very foule, windy, and rainy morning, yet down to the waterside we went,
but no boat could go, the storme continued so. So my Lord to stay till
fairer weather carried me into the Tower to Mr. Hore’s and there we
staid talking an houre, but at last we found no boats yet could go,
so we to the office, where we met upon an occasion extraordinary
of examining abuses of our clerkes in taking money for examining of
tickets, but nothing done in it. Thence my Lord and I, the weather being
a little fairer, by water to Deptford to Sir G. Carteret’s house, where
W. Howe met us, and there we opened the chests, and saw the poor sorry
rubys which have caused all this ado to the undoing of W. Howe; though I
am not much sorry for it, because of his pride and ill nature. About 200
of these very small stones, and a cod of muske (which it is strange I
was not able to smell) is all we could find; so locked them up again,
and my Lord and I, the wind being again very furious, so as we durst not
go by water, walked to London quite round the bridge, no boat being able
to stirre; and, Lord! what a dirty walk we had, and so strong the wind,
that in the fields we many times could not carry our bodies against it,
but were driven backwards. We went through Horsydowne, where I never was
since a little boy, that I went to enquire after my father, whom we did
give over for lost coming from Holland. It was dangerous to walk the
streets, the bricks and tiles falling from the houses that the whole
streets were covered with them; and whole chimneys, nay, whole houses
in two or three places, blowed down. But, above all, the pales on
London-bridge on both sides were blown away, so that we were fain to
stoop very low for fear of blowing off of the bridge. We could see
no boats in the Thames afloat, but what were broke loose, and carried
through the bridge, it being ebbing water. And the greatest sight of
all was, among other parcels of ships driven here and there in clusters
together, one was quite overset and lay with her masts all along in the
water, and keel above water. So walked home, my Lord away to his house
and I to dinner, Mr. Creed being come to towne and to dine with me,
though now it was three o’clock. After dinner he and I to our accounts
and very troublesome he is and with tricks which I found plainly and
was vexed at; while we were together comes Sir G. Downing with Colonell
Norwood, Rumball, and Warrupp to visit me. I made them drink good wine
and discoursed above alone a good while with Sir G. Downing, who is very
troublesome, and then with Colonell Norwood, who hath a great mind to
have me concerned with him in everything; which I like, but am shy of
adventuring too much, but will thinke of it. They gone, Creed and I
to finish the settling his accounts. Thence to the office, where the
Houblans and we discoursed upon a rubb which we have for one of the
ships I hoped to have got to go out to Tangier for them. They being
gone, I to my office-business late, and then home to supper and even
sacke for lacke of a little wine, which I was forced to drink against my
oathe, but without pleasure.
25th. Up and to the office, at noon home to dinner. So abroad to the
Duke of Albemarle and Kate Joyce’s and her husband, with whom I talked
a great deale about Pall’s business, and told them what portion I would
give her, and they do mightily like of it and will proceed further in
speaking with Harman, who hath already been spoke to about it, as from
them only, and he is mighty glad of it, but doubts it may be an offence
to me, if I should know of it, so thinks that it do come only from
Joyce, which I like the better. So I do believe the business will go
on, and I desire it were over. I to the office then, where I did much
business, and set my people to work against furnishing me to go to
Hampton Court, where the King and Duke will be on Sunday next. It is now
certain that the King of France hath publickly declared war against
us, and God knows how little fit we are for it. At night comes Sir
W. Warren, and he and I into the garden, and talked over all our
businesses. He gives me good advice not to embarke into trade (as I have
had it in my thoughts about Colonell Norwood) so as to be seen to mind
it, for it will do me hurte, and draw my mind off from my business and
embroile my estate too soon. So to the office business, and I find him
as cunning a man in all points as ever I met with in my life and mighty
merry we were in the discourse of our owne trickes. So about to o’clock
at night I home and staid with him there settling my Tangier-Boates
business and talking and laughing at the folly of some of our neighbours
of this office till two in the morning and so to bed.
26th. Up, and pleased mightily with what my poor wife hath been doing
these eight or ten days with her owne hands, like a drudge in fitting
the new hangings of our bed-chamber of blue, and putting the old red
ones into my dressing-room, and so by coach to White Hall, where I had
just now notice that Sir G. Carteret is come to towne. He seems pleased,
but I perceive he is heartily troubled at this Act, and the report of
his losing his place, and more at my not writing to him to the prejudice
of the Act. But I carry all fair to him and he to me. He bemoans the
Kingdom as in a sad state, and with too much reason I doubt, having so
many enemys about us and no friends abroad, nor money nor love at
home. Thence to the Duke of Albemarle, and there a meeting with all
the officers of the Navy, where, Lord! to see how the Duke of Albemarle
flatters himself with false hopes of money and victuals and all without
reason. Then comes the Committee of Tangier to sit, and I there carry
all before me very well. Thence with Sir J. Bankes and Mr. Gawden to
the ‘Change, they both very wise men. After ‘Change and agreeing with
Houblon about our ships, D. Gawden and I to the Pope’s Head and there
dined and little Chaplin (who a rich man grown). He gone after dinner,
D. Gawden and I to talke of the Victualling business of the Navy in what
posture it is, which is very sad also for want of money. Thence home to
my chamber by oathe to finish my Journall. Here W. Hewer came to me with
L320 from Sir W. Warren, whereof L220 is got clearly by a late business
of insurance of the Gottenburg ships, and the other L100 which was due
and he had promised me before to give me to my very extraordinary joy,
for which I ought and do bless God and so to my office, where late
providing a letter to send to Mr. Gawden in a manner we concluded on
to-day, and so to bed.
27th. Up very betimes to finish my letter and writ it fair to Mr.
Gawden, it being to demand several arrears in the present state of the
victualling, partly to the King’s and partly to give him occasion to say
something relating to the want of money on his own behalf. This done I
to the office, where all the morning. At noon after a bit of dinner back
to the office and there fitting myself in all points to give an account
to the Duke and Mr. Coventry in all things, and in my Tangier business,
till three o’clock in the morning, and so to bed,
28th. And up again about six (Lord’s day), and being dressed in my
velvett coate and plain cravatte took a hackney coach provided ready for
me by eight o’clock, and so to my Lord Bruncker’s with all my papers,
and there took his coach with four horses and away toward Hampton Court,
having a great deale of good discourse with him, particularly about his
coming to lie at the office, when I went further in inviting him to than
I intended, having not yet considered whether it will be convenient for
me or no to have him here so near us, and then of getting Mr. Evelyn
or Sir Robert Murray into the Navy in the room of Sir Thomas Harvey.
At Brainford I ‘light, having need to shit, and went into an Inne doore
that stood open, found the house of office and used it, but saw no
people, only after I was in the house, heard a great dogg barke, and so
was afeard how I should get safe back again, and therefore drew my sword
and scabbard out of my belt to have ready in my hand, but did not need
to use it, but got safe into the coach again, but lost my belt by the
shift, not missing it till I come to Hampton Court. At the Wicke found
Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten at a lodging provided for us by our
messenger, and there a good dinner ready. After dinner took coach and to
Court, where we find the King, and Duke, and Lords, all in council; so
we walked up and down: there being none of the ladies come, and so much
the more business I hope will be done. The Council being up, out comes
the King, and I kissed his hand, and he grasped me very kindly by
the hand. The Duke also, I kissed his, and he mighty kind, and Sir
W. Coventry. I found my Lord Sandwich there, poor man! I see with a
melancholy face, and suffers his beard to grow on his upper lip more
than usual. I took him a little aside to know when I should wait on
him, and where: he told me, and that it would be best to meet at his
lodgings, without being seen to walk together. Which I liked very well;
and, Lord! to see in what difficulty I stand, that I dare not walk with
Sir W. Coventry, for fear my Lord or Sir G. Carteret should see me; nor
with either of them, for fear Sir W. Coventry should. After changing a
few words with Sir W. Coventry, who assures me of his respect and love
to me, and his concernment for my health in all this sickness, I went
down into one of the Courts, and there met the King and Duke; and the
Duke called me to him. And the King come to me of himself, and told me,
“Mr. Pepys,” says he, “I do give you thanks for your good service all
this year, and I assure you I am very sensible of it.” And the Duke
of Yorke did tell me with pleasure, that he had read over my discourse
about pursers, and would have it ordered in my way, and so fell from one
discourse to another. I walked with them quite out of the Court into the
fields, and then back to my Lord Sandwich’s chamber, where I find him
very melancholy and not well satisfied, I perceive, with my carriage to
Sir G. Carteret, but I did satisfy him and made him confess to me, that
I have a very hard game to play; and told me he was sorry to see it, and
the inconveniences which likely may fall upon me with him; but, for all
that, I am not much afeard, if I can but keepe out of harm’s way in
not being found too much concerned in my Lord’s or Sir G. Carteret’s
matters, and that I will not be if I can helpe it. He hath got over his
business of the prizes, so far as to have a privy seale passed for all
that was in his distribution to the officers, which I am heartily glad
of; and, for the rest, he must be answerable for what he is proved to
have. But for his pardon for anything else, he thinks it not seasonable
to aske it, and not usefull to him; because that will not stop a
Parliament’s mouth, and for the King, he is sure enough of him. I did
aske him whether he was sure of the interest and friendship of any great
Ministers of State and he told me, yes. As we were going further, in
comes my Lord Mandeville, so we were forced to breake off and I away,
and to Sir W. Coventry’s chamber, where he not come in but I find Sir W.
Pen, and he and I to discourse. I find him very much out of humour, so
that I do not think matters go very well with him, and I am glad of it.
He and I staying till late, and Sir W. Coventry not coming in (being
shut up close all the afternoon with the Duke of Albemarle), we took
boat, and by water to Kingston, and so to our lodgings, where a good
supper and merry, only I sleepy, and therefore after supper I slunk away
from the rest to bed, and lay very well and slept soundly, my mind being
in a great delirium between joy for what the King and Duke have said to
me and Sir W. Coventry, and trouble for my Lord Sandwich’s concernments,
and how hard it will be for me to preserve myself from feeling thereof.
29th. Up, and to Court by coach, where to Council before the Duke of
Yorke, the Duke of Albemarle with us, and after Sir W. Coventry had gone
over his notes that he had provided with the Duke of Albemarle, I went
over all mine with good successe, only I fear I did once offend the Duke
of Albemarle, but I was much joyed to find the Duke of Yorke so much
contending for my discourse about the pursers against Sir W. Pen, who
opposes it like a foole; my Lord Sandwich come in in the middle of the
business, and, poor man, very melancholy, methought, and said little at
all, or to the business, and sat at the lower end, just as he come, no
roome being made for him, only I did give him my stoole, and another was
reached me. After council done, I walked to and again up and down the
house, discoursing with this and that man. Among others tooke occasion
to thanke the Duke of Yorke for his good opinion in general of my
service, and particularly his favour in conferring on me the Victualling
business. He told me that he knew nobody so fit as I for it, and next,
he was very glad to find that to give me for my encouragement, speaking
very kindly of me. So to Sir W. Coventry’s to dinner with him, whom I
took occasion to thanke for his favour and good thoughts of what little
service I did, desiring he would do the last act of friendship in
telling me of my faults also. He told me he would be sure he would do
that also, if there were any occasion for it. So that as much as it is
possible under so great a fall of my Lord Sandwich’s, and difference
between them, I may conclude that I am thoroughly right with Sir W.
Coventry. I dined with him with a great deale of company, and much merry
discourse. I was called away before dinner ended to go to my company who
dined at our lodgings. Thither I went with Mr. Evelyn (whom I met)
in his coach going that way, but finding my company gone, but my Lord
Bruncker left his coach for me; so Mr. Evelyn and I into my Lord’s
coach, and rode together with excellent discourse till we come to
Clapham, talking of the vanity and vices of the Court, which makes it
a most contemptible thing; and indeed in all his discourse I find him a
most worthy person. Particularly he entertained me with discourse of
an Infirmary, which he hath projected for the sick and wounded seamen
against the next year, which I mightily approve of; and will endeavour
to promote it, being a worthy thing, and of use, and will save money. He
set me down at Mr. Gawden’s, where nobody yet come home, I having left
him and his sons and Creed at Court, so I took a book and into the
gardens, and there walked and read till darke with great pleasure, and
then in and in comes Osborne, and he and I to talk of Mr. Jaggard, who
comes from London, and great hopes there is of a decrease this week also
of the plague. Anon comes in Creed, and after that Mr. Gawden and his
sons, and then they bringing in three ladies, who were in the house,
but I do not know them, his daughter and two nieces, daughters of Dr.
Whistler’s, with whom and Creed mighty sport at supper, the ladies very
pretty and mirthfull. I perceive they know Creed’s gut and stomach as
well as I, and made as much mirthe as I with it at supper. After supper
I made the ladies sing, and they have been taught, but, Lord! though I
was forced to commend them, yet it was the saddest stuff I ever heard.
However, we sat up late, and then I, in the best chamber like a prince,
to bed, and Creed with me, and being sleepy talked but little.
30th. Lay long till Mr. Gawden was gone out being to take a little
journey. Up, and Creed and I some good discourse, but with some trouble
for the state of my Lord’s matters. After walking a turne or two in the
garden, and bid good morrow to Mr. Gawden’s sons, and sent my service to
the ladies, I took coach after Mr. Gawden’s, and home, finding the towne
keeping the day solemnly, it being the day of the King’s murther, and
they being at church, I presently into the church, thinking to see
Mrs. Lethulier or Batelier, but did not, and a dull sermon of our young
Lecturer, too bad. This is the first time I have been in this church
since I left London for the plague, and it frighted me indeed to go
through the church more than I thought it could have done, to see so
[many] graves lie so high upon the churchyards where people have been
buried of the plague. I was much troubled at it, and do not think to go
through it again a good while. So home to my wife, whom I find not well,
in bed, and it seems hath not been well these two days. She rose and we
to dinner, after dinner up to my chamber, where she entertained me with
what she hath lately bought of clothes for herself, and Damask linnen,
and other things for the house. I did give her a serious account how
matters stand with me, of favour with the King and Duke, and of
danger in reference to my Lord’s and Sir G. Carteret’s falls, and the
dissatisfaction I have heard the Duke of Albemarle hath acknowledged
to somebody, among other things, against my Lord Sandwich, that he did
bring me into the Navy against his desire and endeavour for another,
which was our doting foole Turner. Thence from one discourse to another,
and looking over my house, and other things I spent the day at home, and
at night betimes to bed. After dinner this day I went down by water to
Deptford, and fetched up what money there was of W. Howe’s contingencies
in the chest there, being L516 13s. 3d. and brought it home to dispose
of.
31st. Lay pretty long in bed, and then up and to the office, where we
met on extraordinary occasion about the business of tickets. By and by
to the ‘Change, and there did several businesses, among others brought
home my cozen Pepys, whom I appointed to be here to-day, and Mr. Moore
met us upon the business of my Lord’s bond. Seeing my neighbour Mr.
Knightly walk alone from the ‘Change, his family being not yet come to
town, I did invite him home with me, and he dined with me, a very sober,
pretty man he is. He is mighty solicitous, as I find many about the City
that live near the churchyards, to have the churchyards covered with
lime, and I think it is needfull, and ours I hope will be done. Good
pleasant discourse at dinner of the practices of merchants to cheate the
“Customers,” occasioned by Mr. Moore’s being with much trouble freed of
his prize goods, which he bought, which fell into the Customers’ hands,
and with much ado hath cleared them. Mr. Knightly being gone, my cozen
Pepys and Moore and I to our business, being the clearing of my Lord
Sandwich’s bond wherein I am bound with him to my cozen for L1000 I have
at last by my dexterity got my Lord’s consent to have it paid out of
the money raised by his prizes. So the bond is cancelled, and he paid
by having a note upon Sir Robert Viner, in whose hands I had lodged
my Lord’s money, by which I am to my extraordinary comfort eased of a
liablenesse to pay the sum in case of my Lord’s death, or troubles in
estate, or my Lord’s greater fall, which God defend! Having settled this
matter at Sir R. Viner’s, I took up Mr. Moore (my cozen going home) and
to my Lord Chancellor’s new house which he is building, only to view
it, hearing so much from Mr. Evelyn of it; and, indeed, it is the finest
pile I ever did see in my life, and will be a glorious house. Thence
to the Duke of Albemarle, who tells me Mr. Coventry is come to town
and directs me to go to him about some business in hand, whether out of
displeasure or desire of ease I know not; but I asked him not the reason
of it but went to White Hall, but could not find him there, though to my
great joy people begin to bustle up and down there, the King holding
his resolution to be in towne to-morrow, and hath good encouragement,
blessed be God! to do so, the plague being decreased this week to 56,
and the total to 227. So after going to the Swan in the Palace, and sent
for Spicer to discourse about my last Tangier tallys that have some of
the words washed out with the rain, to have them new writ, I home, and
there did some business and at the office, and so home to supper, and to
bed.