April 1st (Lord’s day). Up and abroad, and by coach to Charing Cross,
to wait on Sir Philip Howard; whom I found in bed: and he do receive me
very civilly. My request was about suffering my wife’s brother to go
to sea, and to save his pay in the Duke’s guards; which after a little
difficulty he did with great respect agree to. I find him a very
fine-spoken gentleman, and one of great parts, and very courteous. Much
pleased with this visit I to White Hall, where I met Sir G. Downing,
and to discourse with him an houre about the Exchequer payments upon the
late Act, and informed myself of him thoroughly in my safety in lending
L2000 to Sir W. Warren, upon an order of his upon the Exchequer
for L2602 and I do purpose to do it. Thence meeting Dr. Allen, the
physician, he and I and another walked in the Parke, a most pleasant
warm day, and to the Queene’s chappell; where I do not so dislike the
musique. Here I saw on a post an invitation to all good Catholiques to
pray for the soul of such a one departed this life. The Queene, I hear,
do not yet hear of the death of her mother, she being in a course of
physique, that they dare not tell it her. At noon by coach home, and
there by invitation met my uncle and aunt Wight and their cozen Mary,
and dined with me and very merry. After dinner my uncle and I abroad by
coach to White Hall, up and down the house, and I did some business and
thence with him and a gentleman he met with to my Lord Chancellor’s new
house, and there viewed it again and again and up to the top and I like
it as well as ever and think it a most noble house. So all up and down
my Lord St. Albans his new building and market-house, and the taverne
under the market-house, looking to and again into every place of
building, and so away and took coach and home, where to my accounts, and
was at them till I could not hold open my eyes, and so to bed. I this
afternoon made a visit to my Lady Carteret, whom I understood newly come
to towne; and she took it mighty kindly, but I see her face and heart
are dejected from the condition her husband’s matters stand in. But I
hope they will do all well enough. And I do comfort her as much as I
can, for she is a noble lady.
2nd. Up, and to the office and thence with Mr. Gawden to Guildhall to
see the bills and tallys there in the chamber (and by the way in the
streete his new coach broke and we fain to take an old hackney). Thence
to the Exchequer again to inform myself of some other points in the new
Act in order to my lending Sir W. Warren L2000 upon an order of his upon
the Act, which they all encourage me to. There walking with Mr. Gawden
in Westminster Hall, he and I to talke from one business to another and
at last to the marriage of his daughter. He told me the story of Creed’s
pretences to his daughter, and how he would not believe but she loved
him, while his daughter was in great passion on the other hand against
him. Thence to talke of his son Benjamin; and I propounded a match
for him, and at last named my sister, which he embraces heartily, and
speaking of the lowness of her portion, that it would be less than
L1000, he tells me if every thing else agrees, he will out of what he
means to give me yearly, make a portion for her shall cost me nothing
more than I intend freely. This did mightily rejoice me and full of it
did go with him to London to the ‘Change; and there did much business
and at the Coffee-house with Sir W. Warren, who very wisely did shew
me that my matching my sister with Mr. Gawden would undo me in all my
places, everybody suspecting me in all I do; and I shall neither be able
to serve him, nor free myself from imputation of being of his faction,
while I am placed for his severest check. I was convinced that it would
be for neither of our interests to make this alliance, and so am quite
off of it again, but with great satisfaction in the motion. Thence to
the Crowne tavern behind the Exchange to meet with Cocke and Fenn and
did so, and dined with them, and after dinner had the intent of our
meeting, which was some private discourse with Fenn, telling him what I
hear and think of his business, which he takes very kindly and says he
will look about him. It was about his giving of ill language and answers
to people that come to him about money and some other particulars. This
morning Mrs. Barbary and little Mrs. Tooker went away homeward. Thence
my wife by coach calling me at White Hall to visit my Lady Carteret, and
she was not within. So to Westminster Hall, where I purposely tooke my
wife well dressed into the Hall to see and be seen; and, among others,
[met] Howlet’s daughter, who is newly married, and is she I call wife,
and one I love mightily. So to Broad Streete and there met my Lady and
Sir G. Carteret, and sat and talked with them a good while and so home,
and to my accounts which I cannot get through with. But at it till I
grew drowsy, and so to bed mightily vexed that I can come to no better
issue in my accounts.
3rd. Up, and Sir W. Warren with me betimes and signed a bond, and
assigned his order on the Exchequer to a blank for me to fill and I did
deliver him L1900. The truth is, it is a great venture to venture so
much on the Act, but thereby I hedge in L300 gift for my service about
some ships that he hath bought, prizes, and good interest besides, and
his bond to repay me the money at six weeks’ warning. So to the office,
where busy all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and there my brother
Balty dined with me and my wife, who is become a good serious man, and
I hope to do him good being sending him a Muster-Master on one of the
squadrons of the fleete. After dinner and he gone I to my accounts hard
all the afternoon till it was quite darke, and I thank God I do come
to bring them very fairly to make me worth L5,000 stocke in the world,
which is a great mercy to me. Though I am a little troubled to find L50
difference between the particular account I make to myself of my
profits and loss in each month and the account which I raise from my
acquittances and money which I have at the end of every month in
my chest and other men’s hands. However I do well believe that I am
effectually L5,000, the greatest sum I ever was in my life yet, and this
day I have as I have said before agreed with Sir W. Warren and got of
him L300 gift. At night a while to the office and then home and supped
and to my accounts again till I was ready to sleepe, there being no
pleasure to handle them, if they are not kept in good order. So to bed.
4th. Up, and with Sir W. Pen in his coach to White Hall, in his way
talking simply and fondly as he used to do, but I find myself to slight
him and his simple talke, I thank God, and that my condition will enable
me to do it. Thence, after doing our business with the Duke of Yorke,
with Captain Cocke home to the ‘Change in his coach. He promises me
presently a dozen of silver salts, and proposes a business for which he
hath promised Mrs. Williams for my Lord Bruncker a set of plate shall
cost him L500 and me the like, which will be a good business indeed.
After done several businesses at the ‘Change I home, and being washing
day dined upon cold meate, and so abroad by coach to Hales’s, and there
sat till night, mightily pleased with my picture, which is now almost
finished. So by coach home, it being the fast day and to my chamber and
so after supper to bed, consulting how to send my wife into the country
to advise about Pall’s marriage, which I much desire, and my father too,
and two or three offers are now in hand.
5th. Up, and before office time to Lumbard Streete, and there at Viner’s
was shewn the silver plates, made for Captain Cocke to present my Lord
Bruncker; and I chose a dozen of the same weight to be bespoke for
myself, which he told me yesterday he would give me on the same
occasion. To the office, where the falsenesse and impertinencies of Sir
W. Pen would make a man mad to think of. At noon would have avoided, but
could not, dining with my Lord Bruncker and his mistresse with Captain
Cocke at the Sun Taverne in Fish Streete, where a good dinner, but
the woman do tire me, and indeed how simply my Lord Bruncker, who is
otherwise a wise man, do proceed at the table in serving of Cocke,
without any means of understanding in his proposal, or defence when
proposed, would make a man think him a foole. After dinner home, where
I find my wife hath on a sudden, upon notice of a coach going away
to-morrow, taken a resolution of going in it to Brampton, we having
lately thought it fit for her to go to satisfy herself and me in the
nature of the fellow that is there proposed to my sister. So she to fit
herself for her journey and I to the office all the afternoon till late,
and so home and late putting notes to “It is decreed, nor shall thy
fate, &c.” and then to bed. The plague is, to our great grief, encreased
nine this week, though decreased a few in the total. And this encrease
runs through many parishes, which makes us much fear the next year.
6th. Up mighty betimes upon my wife’s going this day toward Brampton. I
could not go to the coach with her, but W. Hewer did and hath leave from
me to go the whole day’s journey with her. All the morning upon business
at the office, and at noon dined, and Mrs. Hunt coming lent her L5 on
her occasions and so carried her to Axe Yard end at Westminster and
there left her, a good and understanding woman, and her husband I
perceive thrives mightily in his business of the Excise. Thence to Mr.
Hales and there sat, and my picture almost finished, which by the word
of Mr. and Mrs. Pierce (who come in accidently) is mighty like, and I
am sure I am mightily pleased both in the thing and the posture. Thence
with them home a little, and so to White Hall and there met by agreement
with Sir Stephen Fox and Mr. Ashburnham, and discoursed the business
of our Excise tallys; the former being Treasurer of the guards, and
the other Cofferer of the King’s household. I benefitted much by their
discourse. We come to no great conclusion upon our discourse, but
parted, and I home, where all things, methinks, melancholy in the
absence of my wife. This day great newes of the Swedes declaring for
us against the Dutch, and, so far as that, I believe it. After a little
supper to bed.
7th. Lay pretty long to-day, lying alone and thinking of several
businesses. So up to the office and there till noon. Thence with my
Lord Bruncker home by coach to Mrs. Williams’s, where Bab. Allen and
Dr. Charleton dined. Bab and I sang and were mighty merry as we could be
there, where the rest of the company did not overplease. Thence took her
by coach to Hales’s, and there find Mrs. Pierce and her boy and Mary.
She had done sitting the first time, and indeed her face is mighty like
at first dash. Thence took them to the cakehouse, and there called in
the coach for cakes and drank, and thence I carried them to my Lord
Chancellor’s new house to shew them that, and all mightily pleased,
thence set each down at home, and so I home to the office, where about
ten of the clock W. Hewer comes to me to tell me that he has left my
wife well this morning at Bugden, which was great riding, and brings me
a letter from her. She is very well got thither, of which I am heartily
glad. After writing several letters, I home to supper and to bed. The
Parliament of which I was afraid of their calling us of the Navy to an
account of the expense of money and stores and wherein we were so
little ready to give them a good answer [will soon meet]. The Bishop of
Munster, every body says, is coming to peace with the Dutch, we having
not supplied him with the money promised him.
8th (Lord’s day). Up, and was in great trouble how to get a passage to
White Hall, it raining, and no coach to be had. So I walked to the Old
Swan, and there got a scull. To the Duke of Yorke, where we all met
to hear the debate between Sir Thomas Allen and Mr. Wayth; the former
complaining of the latter’s ill usage of him at the late pay of his
ship. But a very sorry poor occasion he had for it. The Duke did
determine it with great judgement, chiding both, but encouraging Wayth
to continue to be a check to all captains in any thing to the King’s
right. And, indeed, I never did see the Duke do any thing more in order,
nor with more judgement than he did pass the verdict in this business.
The Court full this morning of the newes of Tom Cheffin’s death, the
King’s closett-keeper. He was well last night as ever, flaying at tables
in the house, and not very ill this morning at six o’clock, yet dead
before seven: they think, of an imposthume in his breast. But it looks
fearfully among people nowadays, the plague, as we hear, encreasing
every where again. To the Chappell, but could not get in to hear well.
But I had the pleasure once in my life to see an Archbishop (this was
of Yorke) in a pulpit. Then at a loss how to get home to dinner, having
promised to carry Mrs. Hunt thither. At last got my Lord Hinchingbroke’s
coach, he staying at Court; and so took her up in Axe-yard, and home and
dined. And good discourse of the old matters of the Protector and his
family, she having a relation to them. The Protector
[Richard Cromwell subsequently returned to England, and resided in
strict privacy at Cheshunt for some years before his death in 1712]
lives in France: spends about L500 per annum. Thence carried her
home again and then to Court and walked over to St. James’s Chappell,
thinking to have heard a Jesuite preach, but come too late. So got a
hackney and home, and there to business. At night had Mercer comb my
head and so to supper, sing a psalm, and to bed.
9th. Up betimes, and with my Joyner begun the making of the window in
my boy’s chamber bigger, purposing it shall be a roome to eat and for
having musique in. To the office, where a meeting upon extraordinary
business, at noon to the ‘Change about more, and then home with Creed
and dined, and then with him to the Committee of Tangier, where I got
two or three things done I had a mind to of convenience to me. Thence by
coach to Mrs. Pierce’s, and with her and Knipp and Mrs. Pierce’s boy
and girle abroad, thinking to have been merry at Chelsey; but being come
almost to the house by coach near the waterside, a house alone, I think
the Swan, a gentleman walking by called to us to tell us that the house
was shut up of the sicknesse. So we with great affright turned back,
being holden to the gentleman; and went away (I for my part in great
disorder) for Kensington, and there I spent about 30s. upon the jades
with great pleasure, and we sang finely and staid till about eight at
night, the night coming on apace and so set them down at Pierce’s, and
so away home, where awhile with Sir W. Warren about business, and then
to bed,
10th. Up betimes, and many people to me about business. To the office
and there sat till noon, and then home and dined, and to the office
again all the afternoon, where we sat all, the first time of our
resolution to sit both forenoons and afternoons. Much business at night
and then home, and though late did see some work done by the plasterer
to my new window in the boy’s chamber plastered. Then to supper, and
after having my head combed by the little girle to bed. Bad news that
the plague is decreased in the general again and two increased in the
sickness.
11th. To White Hall, having first set my people to worke about setting
me rails upon the leads of my wife’s closett, a thing I have long
designed, but never had a fit opportunity till now. After having done
with the Duke of Yorke, I to Hales’s, where there was nothing found
to be done more to my picture, but the musique, which now pleases
me mightily, it being painted true. Thence home, and after dinner to
Gresham College, where a great deal of do and formality in choosing of
the Council and Officers. I had three votes to be of the Council, who
am but a stranger, nor expected any. So my Lord Bruncker being confirmed
President I home, where I find to my great content my rails up upon my
leads. To the office and did a little business, and then home and did
a great jobb at my Tangier accounts, which I find are mighty apt to
run into confusion, my head also being too full of other businesses and
pleasures. This noon Bagwell’s wife come to me to the office, after her
being long at Portsmouth. After supper, and past 12 at night to bed.
12th. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined at home
and so to my office again, and taking a turne in the garden my Lady Pen
comes to me and takes me into her house, where I find her daughter and a
pretty lady of her acquaintance, one Mrs. Lowder, sister, I suppose, of
her servant Lowder’s, with whom I, notwithstanding all my resolution to
follow business close this afternoon, did stay talking and playing the
foole almost all the afternoon, and there saw two or three foolish sorry
pictures of her doing, but very ridiculous compared to what my wife do.
She grows mighty homely and looks old. Thence ashamed at myself for this
losse of time, yet not able to leave it, I to the office, where my Lord
Bruncker come; and he and I had a little fray, he being, I find, a very
peevish man, if he be denied what he expects, and very simple in his
argument in this business (about signing a warrant for paying Sir Thos.
Allen L1000 out of the groats); but we were pretty good friends before
we parted, and so we broke up and I to the writing my letters by the
post, and so home to supper and to bed.
13th. Up, being called up by my wife’s brother, for whom I have got
a commission from the Duke of Yorke for Muster-Master of one of the
divisions, of which Harman is Rere-Admirall, of which I am glad as well
as he. After I had acquainted him with it, and discoursed a little of
it, I went forth and took him with me by coach to the Duke of Albemarle,
who being not up, I took a walk with Balty into the Parke, and to the
Queene’s Chappell, it being Good Friday, where people were all upon
their knees very silent; but, it seems, no masse this day. So back and
waited on the Duke and received some commands of his, and so by coach to
Mr. Hales’s, where it is pretty strange to see that his second doing, I
mean the second time of her sitting, is less like Mrs. Pierce than
the first, and yet I am confident will be most like her, for he is so
curious that I do not see how it is possible for him to mistake. Here
he and I presently resolved of going to White Hall, to spend an houre
in the galleries there among the pictures, and we did so to my great
satisfaction, he shewing me the difference in the payntings, and when I
come more and more to distinguish and observe the workmanship, I do
not find so many good things as I thought there was, but yet great
difference between the works of some and others; and, while my head and
judgment was full of these, I would go back again to his house to
see his pictures, and indeed, though, I think, at first sight some
difference do open, yet very inconsiderably but that I may judge his to
be very good pictures. Here we fell into discourse of my picture, and
I am for his putting out the Landskipp, though he says it is very well
done, yet I do judge it will be best without it, and so it shall be put
out, and be made a plain sky like my wife’s picture, which will be very
noble. Thence called upon an old woman in Pannier Ally to agree for
ruling of some paper for me and she will do it pretty cheap. Here I
found her have a very comely black mayde to her servant, which I liked
very well. So home to dinner and to see my joiner do the bench upon my
leads to my great content. After dinner I abroad to carry paper to my
old woman, and so to Westminster Hall, and there beyond my intention or
design did see and speak with Betty Howlett, at her father’s still, and
it seems they carry her to her own house to begin the world with her
young husband on Monday next, Easter Monday. I please myself with the
thoughts of her neighbourhood, for I love the girl mightily. Thence
home, and thither comes Mr. Houblon and a brother, with whom I evened
for the charter parties of their ships for Tangier, and paid them the
third advance on their freight to full satisfaction, and so, they being
gone, comes Creed and with him till past one in the morning, evening his
accounts till my head aked and I was fit for nothing, however, coming at
last luckily to see through and settle all to my mind, it did please me
mightily, and so with my mind at rest to bed, and he with me and hard to
sleep.
14th. Up about seven and finished our papers, he and I, and I delivered
him tallys and some money and so away I to the office, where we sat all
the morning. At noon dined at home and Creed with me, then parted, and I
to the office, and anon called thence by Sir H. Cholmley and he and I to
my chamber, and there settled our matters of accounts, and did give
him tallys and money to clear him, and so he being gone and all these
accounts cleared I shall be even with the King, so as to make a very
clear and short account in a very few days, which pleases me very well.
Here he and I discoursed a great while about Tangier, and he do convince
me, as things are now ordered by my Lord Bellasses and will be by
Norwood (men that do only mind themselves), the garrison will never come
to any thing, and he proposes his owne being governor, which in truth I
do think will do very well, and that he will bring it to something.
He gone I to my office, where to write letters late, and then home and
looked over a little more my papers of accounts lately passed, and so to
bed.
15th (Easter Day). Up and by water to Westminster to the Swan to lay
down my cloak, and there found Sarah alone, with whom after I had staid
awhile I to White Hall Chapel, and there coming late could hear nothing
of the Bishop of London’s sermon. So walked into the Park to the
Queene’s chappell, and there heard a good deal of their mass, and some
of their musique, which is not so contemptible, I think, as our people
would make it, it pleasing me very well; and, indeed, better than the
anthem I heard afterwards at White Hall, at my coming back. I staid till
the King went down to receive the Sacrament, and stood in his closett
with a great many others, and there saw him receive it, which I did
never see the manner of before. But I do see very little difference
between the degree of the ceremonies used by our people in the
administration thereof, and that in the Roman church, saving that
methought our Chappell was not so fine, nor the manner of doing it
so glorious, as it was in the Queene’s chappell. Thence walked to Mr.
Pierces, and there dined, I alone with him and her and their children:
very good company and good discourse, they being able to tell me all the
businesses of the Court; the amours and the mad doings that are there;
how for certain Mrs. Stewart do do everything with the King that a
mistress should do; and that the King hath many bastard children that
are known and owned, besides the Duke of Monmouth. After a great deale
of this discourse I walked thence into the Parke with her little boy
James with me, who is the wittiest boy and the best company in the
world, and so back again through White Hall both coming and going,
and people did generally take him to be my boy and some would aske me.
Thence home to Mr. Pierce again; and he being gone forth, she and I and
the children out by coach to Kensington, to where we were the other day,
and with great pleasure stayed till night; and were mighty late getting
home, the horses tiring and stopping at every twenty steps. By the way
we discoursed of Mrs. Clerke, who, she says, is grown mighty high, fine,
and proud, but tells me an odd story how Captain Rolt did see her the
other day accost a gentleman in Westminster Hall and went with him, and
he dogged them to Moorefields to a little blind bawdy house, and there
staid watching three hours and they come not out, so could stay no
longer but left them there, and he is sure it was she, he knowing her
well and describing her very clothes to Mrs. Pierce, which she knows are
what she wears. Seeing them well at home I homeward, but the horses at
Ludgate Hill made a final stop; so there I ‘lighted, and with a linke,
it being about 10 o’clock, walked home, and after singing a Psalm or two
and supped to bed.
16th. Up, and set my people, Mercer, W. Hewer, Tom and the girle at work
at ruling and stitching my ruled book for the Muster-Masters, and I hard
toward the settling of my Tangier accounts. At noon dined alone, the
girl Mercer taking physique can eat nothing, and W. Hewer went forth to
dinner. So up to my accounts again, and then comes Mrs. Mercer and fair
Mrs. Turner, a neighbour of hers that my wife knows by their means, to
visit me. I staid a great while with them, being taken with this pretty
woman, though a mighty silly, affected citizen woman she is. Then I left
them to come to me at supper anon, and myself out by coach to the old
woman in Pannyer Alley for my ruled papers, and they are done, and I am
much more taken with her black maid Nan. Thence further to Westminster,
thinking to have met Mrs. Martin, but could not find her, so back and
called at Kirton’s to borrow 10s. to pay for my ruled papers, I having
not money in my pocket enough to pay for them. But it was a pretty
consideration that on this occasion I was considering where I could with
most confidence in a time of need borrow 10s., and I protest I could not
tell where to do it and with some trouble and fear did aske it here. So
that God keepe me from want, for I shall be in a very bad condition to
helpe myself if ever I should come to want or borrow. Thence called for
my papers and so home, and there comes Mrs. Turner and Mercer and supped
with me, and well pleased I was with their company, but especially Mrs.
Turner’s, she being a very pretty woman of person and her face pretty
good, the colour of her haire very fine and light. They staid with me
talking till about eleven o’clock and so home, W. Hewer, who supped with
me, leading them home. So I to bed.
17th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined at
home, my brother Balty with me, who is fitting himself to go to sea. So
after dinner to my accounts and did proceed a good way in settling
them, and thence to the office, where all the afternoon late, writing
my letters and doing business, but, Lord! what a conflict I had with
myself, my heart tempting me 1000 times to go abroad about some pleasure
or other, notwithstanding the weather foule. However I reproached myself
with my weaknesse in yielding so much my judgment to my sense, and
prevailed with difficulty and did not budge, but stayed within, and, to
my great content, did a great deale of business, and so home to supper
and to bed. This day I am told that Moll Davis, the pretty girle, that
sang and danced so well at the Duke’s house, is dead.
18th. [Up] and by coach with Sir W. Batten and Sir Thos. Allen to White
Hall, and there after attending the Duke as usual and there concluding
of many things preparatory to the Prince and Generall’s going to sea on
Monday next, Sir W. Batten and Sir T. Allen and I to Mr. Lilly’s, the
painter’s; and there saw the heads, some finished, and all begun, of
the Flaggmen in the late great fight with the Duke of Yorke against the
Dutch. The Duke of Yorke hath them done to hang in his chamber, and very
finely they are done indeed. Here is the Prince’s, Sir G. Askue’s, Sir
Thomas Teddiman’s, Sir Christopher Mings, Sir Joseph Jordan, Sir William
Barkeley, Sir Thomas Allen, and Captain Harman’s, as also the Duke
of Albemarle’s; and will be my Lord Sandwich’s, Sir W. Pen’s, and Sir
Jeremy Smith’s. Being very well satisfied with this sight, and other
good pictures hanging in the house, we parted, and I left them, and [to]
pass away a little time went to the printed picture seller’s in the way
thence to the Exchange, and there did see great plenty of fine prints;
but did not buy any, only a print of an old pillar in Rome made for a
Navall Triumph,
[The columna rostrata erected in the Forum to C. Duilius, who
obtained a triumph for the first naval victory over the
Carthaginians, B.C. 261. Part of the column was discovered in the
ruins of the Forum near the Arch of Septimius, and transferred to
the Capitol.--B.]
which for the antiquity of the shape of ships, I buy and keepe. Thence
to the Exchange, that is, the New Exchange, and looked over some play
books and intend to get all the late new plays. So to Westminster, and
there at the Swan got a bit of meat and dined alone; and so away toward
King’s Street, and spying out of my coach Jane that lived heretofore at
Jevons, my barber’s, I went a little further and stopped, and went on
foot back, and overtook her, taking water at Westminster Bridge, and
spoke to her, and she telling me whither she was going I over the water
and met her at Lambeth, and there drank with her; she telling me how he
that was so long her servant, did prove to be a married man, though
her master told me (which she denies) that he had lain with her several
times in his house. There left her ‘sans essayer alcune cose con elle’,
and so away by boat to the ‘Change, and took coach and to Mr. Hales,
where he would have persuaded me to have had the landskipp stand in my
picture, but I like it not and will have it otherwise, which I perceive
he do not like so well, however is so civil as to say it shall be
altered. Thence away to Mrs. Pierces, who was not at home, but gone to
my house to visit me with Mrs. Knipp. I therefore took up the little
girle Betty and my mayde Mary that now lives there and to my house,
where they had been but were gone, so in our way back again met them
coming back again to my house in Cornehill, and there stopped laughing
at our pretty misfortunes, and so I carried them to Fish Streete, and
there treated them with prawns and lobsters, and it beginning to grow
darke we away, but the jest is our horses would not draw us up the Hill,
but we were fain to ‘light and stay till the coachman had made them draw
down to the bottom of the Hill, thereby warming their legs, and then
they came up cheerfully enough, and we got up and I carried them home,
and coming home called at my paper ruler’s and there found black Nan,
which pleases me mightily, and having saluted her again and again away
home and to bed..... In all my ridings in the coach and intervals my
mind hath been full these three weeks of setting in musique “It is
decreed, &c.”
19th. Lay long in bed, so to the office, where all the morning. At noon
dined with Sir W. Warren at the Pope’s Head. So back to the office, and
there met with the Commissioners of the Ordnance, where Sir W. Pen being
almost drunk vexed me, and the more because Mr. Chichly observed it with
me, and it was a disparagement to the office. They gone I to my office.
Anon comes home my wife from Brampton, not looked for till Saturday,
which will hinder me of a little pleasure, but I am glad of her coming.
She tells me Pall’s business with Ensum is like to go on, but I must
give, and she consents to it, another 100. She says she doubts my father
is in want of money, for rents come in mighty slowly. My mother grows
very unpleasant and troublesome and my father mighty infirm through
his old distemper, which altogether makes me mighty thoughtfull. Having
heard all this and bid her welcome I to the office, where late, and so
home, and after a little more talk with my wife, she to bed and I after
her.
20th. Up, and after an houre or two’s talke with my poor wife, who gives
me more and more content every day than other, I abroad by coach to
Westminster, and there met with Mrs. Martin, and she and I over the
water to Stangold, and after a walke in the fields to the King’s Head,
and there spent an houre or two with pleasure with her, and eat a tansy
and so parted, and I to the New Exchange, there to get a list of all
the modern plays which I intend to collect and to have them bound
up together. Thence to Mr. Hales’s, and there, though against his
particular mind, I had my landskipp done out, and only a heaven made in
the roome of it, which though it do not please me thoroughly now it
is done, yet it will do better than as it was before. Thence to Paul’s
Churchyarde, and there bespoke some new books, and so to my ruling
woman’s and there did see my work a doing, and so home and to my office
a little, but was hindered of business I intended by being sent for to
Mrs. Turner, who desired some discourse with me and lay her condition
before me, which is bad and poor. Sir Thomas Harvey intends again to
have lodgings in her house, which she prays me to prevent if I can,
which I promised. Thence to talke generally of our neighbours. I find
she tells me the faults of all of them, and their bad words of me and my
wife, and indeed do discover more than I thought. So I told her, and so
will practise that I will have nothing to do with any of them. She ended
all with a promise of shells to my wife, very fine ones indeed, and
seems to have great respect and honour for my wife. So home and to bed.
21st. Up betimes and to the office, there to prepare some things against
the afternoon for discourse about the business of the pursers and
settling the pursers’ matters of the fleete according to my proposition.
By and by the office sat, and they being up I continued at the office to
finish my matters against the meeting before the Duke this afternoon,
so home about three to clap a bit of meate in my mouth, and so away with
Sir W. Batten to White Hall, and there to the Duke, but he being to go
abroad to take the ayre, he dismissed us presently without doing any
thing till to-morrow morning. So my Lord Bruncker and I down to walk in
the garden [at White Hall], it being a mighty hot and pleasant day; and
there was the King, who, among others, talked to us a little; and among
other pretty things, he swore merrily that he believed the ketch that
Sir W. Batten bought the last year at Colchester was of his own getting,
it was so thick to its length. Another pleasant thing he said of
Christopher Pett, commending him that he will not alter his moulds of
his ships upon any man’s advice; “as,” says he, “Commissioner Taylor I
fear do of his New London, that he makes it differ, in hopes of mending
the Old London, built by him.” “For,” says he, “he finds that God hath
put him into the right, and so will keep in it while he is in.” “And,”
says the King, “I am sure it must be God put him in, for no art of
his owne ever could have done it;” for it seems he cannot give a good
account of what he do as an artist. Thence with my Lord Bruncker in his
coach to Hide Parke, the first time I have been there this year. There
the King was; but I was sorry to see my Lady Castlemaine, for the
mourning forceing all the ladies to go in black, with their hair plain
and without any spots, I find her to be a much more ordinary woman than
ever I durst have thought she was; and, indeed, is not so pretty as Mrs.
Stewart, whom I saw there also. Having done at the Park he set me down
at the Exchange, and I by coach home and there to my letters, and they
being done, to writing a large letter about the business of the pursers
to Sir W. Batten against to-morrow’s discourse, and so home and to bed.
22nd (Lord’s day). Up, and put on my new black coate, long down to my
knees, and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall, where all in deep mourning
for the Queene’s mother. There had great discourse, before the Duke
and Sir W. Coventry begun the discourse of the day about the purser’s
business, which I seconded, and with great liking to the Duke, whom
however afterward my Lord Bruncker and Sir W. Pen did stop by some thing
they said, though not much to the purpose, yet because our proposition
had some appearance of certain charge to the King it was ruled that for
this year we should try another the same in every respect with ours,
leaving out one circumstance of allowing the pursers the victuals of all
men short of the complement. I was very well satisfied with it and am
contented to try it, wishing it may prove effectual. Thence away with
Sir W. Batten in his coach home, in our way he telling me the certaine
newes, which was afterward confirmed to me this day by several, that the
Bishopp of Munster has made a league [with] the Hollanders, and that our
King and Court are displeased much at it: moreover we are not sure of
Sweden. I home to my house, and there dined mighty well, my poor wife
and Mercer and I. So back again walked to White Hall, and there to and
again in the Parke, till being in the shoemaker’s stockes.--[A cant
expression for tight shoes.]--I was heartily weary, yet walked however
to the Queene’s Chappell at St. James’s, and there saw a little mayde
baptized; many parts and words whereof are the same with that of our
Liturgy, and little that is more ceremonious than ours. Thence walked to
Westminster and eat a bit of bread and drank, and so to Worster House,
and there staid, and saw the Council up, and then back, walked to the
Cockepitt, and there took my leave of the Duke of Albemarle, who is
going to-morrow to sea. He seems mightily pleased with me, which I am
glad of; but I do find infinitely my concernment in being careful to
appear to the King and Duke to continue my care of his business, and to
be found diligent as I used to be. Thence walked wearily as far as Fleet
Streete and so there met a coach and home to supper and to bed, having
sat a great while with Will Joyce, who come to see me, and it is the
first time I have seen him at my house since the plague, and find him
the same impertinent, prating coxcombe that ever he was.
23rd. Being mighty weary last night, lay long this morning, then up and
to the office, where Sir W. Batten, Lord Bruncker and I met, and toward
noon took coach and to White Hall, where I had the opportunity to take
leave of the Prince, and again of the Duke of Albemarle; and saw them
kiss the King’s hands and the Duke’s; and much content, indeed, there
seems to be in all people at their going to sea, and [they] promise
themselves much good from them. This morning the House of Parliament do
meet, only to adjourne again till winter. The plague, I hear, encreases
in the towne much, and exceedingly in the country everywhere. Thence
walked to Westminster Hall, and after a little stay, there being nothing
now left to keep me there, Betty Howlett being gone, I took coach and
away home, in my way asking in two or three places the worth of pearles,
I being now come to the time that I have long ago promised my wife a
necklace. Dined at home and took Balty with me to Hales’s to show him
his sister’s picture, and thence to Westminster, and there I to the Swan
and drank, and so back again alone to Hales’s and there met my wife and
Mercer, Mrs. Pierce being sitting, and two or three idle people of her
acquaintance more standing by. Her picture do come on well. So staid
until she had done and then set her down at home, and my wife and I and
the girle by coach to Islington, and there eat and drank in the coach
and so home, and there find a girle sent at my desire by Mrs. Michell of
Westminster Hall, to be my girle under the cooke-mayde, Susan. But I am
a little dissatisfied that the girle, though young, is taller and bigger
than Su, and will not, I fear, be under her command, which will trouble
me, and the more because she is recommended by a friend that I would not
have any unkindness with, but my wife do like very well of her. So to
my accounts and journall at my chamber, there being bonfires in the
streete, for being St. George’s day, and the King’s Coronation, and the
day of the Prince and Duke’s going to sea. So having done my business,
to bed.
24th. Up, and presently am told that the girle that came yesterday hath
packed up her things to be gone home again to Enfield, whence she come,
which I was glad of, that we might be at first rid of her altogether
rather than be liable to her going away hereafter. The reason was that
London do not agree with her. So I did give her something, and away she
went. By and by comes Mr. Bland to me, the first time since his coming
from Tangier, and tells me, in short, how all things are out of order
there, and like to be; and the place never likely to come to anything
while the soldiers govern all, and do not encourage trade. He gone I to
the office, where all the morning, and so to dinner, and there in the
afternoon very busy all day till late, and so home to supper and to bed.
25th. Up, and to White Hall to the Duke as usual, and did our business
there. So I away to Westminster (Batty with me, whom I had presented to
Sir W. Coventry) and there told Mrs. Michell of her kinswoman’s running
away, which troubled her. So home, and there find another little girle
come from my wife’s mother, likely to do well. After dinner I to the
office, where Mr. Prin come to meet about the Chest business; and till
company come, did discourse with me a good while alone in the garden
about the laws of England, telling me the many faults in them; and among
others, their obscurity through multitude of long statutes, which he is
about to abstract out of all of a sort; and as he lives, and Parliaments
come, get them put into laws, and the other statutes repealed, and then
it will be a short work to know the law, which appears a very noble good
thing. By and by Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Rider met with us, and we did
something to purpose about the Chest, and hope we shall go on to do so.
They up, I to present Batty to Sir W. Pen, who at my entreaty did write
a most obliging letter to Harman to use him civilly, but the dissembling
of the rogue is such, that it do not oblige me at all. So abroad to my
ruler’s of my books, having, God forgive me! a mind to see Nan there,
which I did, and so back again, and then out again to see Mrs. Bettons,
who were looking out of the window as I come through Fenchurch Streete.
So that indeed I am not, as I ought to be, able to command myself in
the pleasures of my eye. So home, and with my wife and Mercer spent our
evening upon our new leads by our bedchamber singing, while Mrs. Mary
Batelier looked out of the window to us, and we talked together, and
at last bid good night. However, my wife and I staid there talking of
several things with great pleasure till eleven o’clock at night, and it
is a convenience I would not want for any thing in the world, it being,
methinks, better than almost any roome in my house. So having, supped
upon the leads, to bed. The plague, blessed be God! is decreased sixteen
this week.
26th. To the office, where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and
in the afternoon to my office again, where very busy all the afternoon
and particularly about fitting of Mr. Yeabsly’s accounts for the view of
the Lords Commissioners for Tangier. At night home to supper and to bed.
27th. Up (taking Balty with me, who lay at my house last [night] in
order to his going away to-day to sea with the pursers of the Henery,
whom I appointed to call him), abroad to many several places about
several businesses, to my Lord Treasurer’s, Westminster, and I know not
where. At noon to the ‘Change a little, and there bespoke some maps to
hang in my new roome (my boy’s roome) which will be very-pretty. Home to
dinner, and after dinner to the hanging up of maps, and other things
for the fitting of the roome, and now it will certainly be one of the
handsomest and most usefull roomes in my house. So that what with this
room and the room on my leads my house is half as good again as it was.
All this afternoon about this till I was so weary and it was late I
could do no more but finished the room. So I did not get out to the
office all the day long. At night spent a good deale of time with my
wife and Mercer teaching them a song, and so after supper to bed.
28th. Up and to the office. At noon dined at home. After dinner abroad
with my wife to Hales’s to see only our pictures and Mrs. Pierce’s,
which I do not think so fine as I might have expected it. My wife to her
father’s, to carry him some ruling work, which I have advised her to let
him do. It will get him some money. She also is to look out again for
another little girle, the last we had being also gone home the very same
day she came. She was also to look after a necklace of pearle, which she
is mighty busy about, I being contented to lay out L80 in one for her.
I home to my business. By and by comes my wife and presently after, the
tide serving, Balty took leave of us, going to sea, and upon very good
terms, to be Muster-Master of a squadron, which will be worth L100 this
yeare to him, besides keeping him the benefit of his pay in the Guards.
He gone, I very busy all the afternoon till night, among other things,
writing a letter to my brother John, the first I have done since my
being angry with him, and that so sharpe a one too that I was sorry
almost to send it when I had wrote it, but it is preparatory to my
being kind to him, and sending for him up hither when he hath passed his
degree of Master of Arts. So home to supper and to bed.
29th (Lord’s day). Up, and to church, where Mr. Mills, a lazy, simple
sermon upon the Devil’s having no right to any thing in this world. So
home to dinner, and after dinner I and my boy down by water to Redriffe
and thence walked to Mr. Evelyn’s, where I walked in his garden till he
come from Church, with great pleasure reading Ridly’s discourse, all my
way going and coming, upon the Civill and Ecclesiastical Law. He being
come home, he and I walked together in the garden with mighty pleasure,
he being a very ingenious man; and the more I know him, the more I love
him. His chief business with me was to propose having my cozen Thomas
Pepys in Commission of the Peace, which I do not know what to say to
till I speake with him, but should be glad of it and will put him upon
it. Thence walked back again reading and so took water and home, where
I find my uncle and aunt Wight, and supped with them upon my leads with
mighty pleasure and mirthe, and they being gone I mighty weary to bed,
after having my haire of my head cut shorter, even close to my skull,
for coolnesse, it being mighty hot weather.
30th. Up and, being ready, to finish my journall for four days past.
To the office, where busy all the morning. At noon dined alone, my wife
gone abroad to conclude about her necklace of pearle. I after dinner
to even all my accounts of this month; and, bless God! I find myself,
notwithstanding great expences of late; viz. L80 now to pay for a
necklace; near L40 for a set of chairs and couch; near L40 for my three
pictures: yet I do gather, and am now worth L5200. My wife comes home
by and by, and hath pitched upon a necklace with three rows, which is a
very good one, and L80 is the price. In the evening, having finished
my accounts to my full content and joyed that I have evened them so
plainly, remembering the trouble my last accounts did give me by being
let alone a little longer than ordinary, by which I am to this day at
a loss for L50, I hope I shall never commit such an error again, for
I cannot devise where the L50 should be, but it is plain I ought to be
worth L50 more than I am, and blessed be God the error was no greater.
In the evening with my [wife] and Mercer by coach to take the ayre as
far as Bow, and eat and drank in the coach by the way and with much
pleasure and pleased with my company. At night home and up to the leads,
but were contrary to expectation driven down again with a stinke by
Sir W. Pen’s shying of a shitten pot in their house of office close by,
which do trouble me for fear it do hereafter annoy me. So down to sing a
little and then to bed. So ends this month with great layings-out. Good
health and gettings, and advanced well in the whole of my estate, for
which God make me thankful.