[A proclamation ordering August 14th to be observed in London and
Westminster, and August 23rd in other places, as a day of
thanksgiving for the late victory at sea over the Dutch, was
published on August 6th.]
Up, and comes Mr. Foley and his man, with a box of a great variety
of carpenter’s and joyner’s tooles, which I had bespoke, to me, which
please me mightily; but I will have more. Then I abroad down to the Old
Swan, and there I called and kissed Betty Michell, and would have got
her to go with me to Westminster, but I find her a little colder than
she used to be, methought, which did a little molest me. So I away not
pleased, and to White Hall, where I find them at Chappell, and met with
Povy, and he and I together, who tells me how mad my letter makes my
Lord Peterborough, and what a furious letter he hath writ to me in
answer, though it is not come yet. This did trouble me; for though there
be no reason, yet to have a nobleman’s mouth open against a man may do a
man hurt; so I endeavoured to have found him out and spoke with him,
but could not. So to the chappell, and heard a piece of the Dean of
Westminster’s sermon, and a special good anthemne before the king, after
a sermon, and then home by coach with Captain Cocke, who is in pain
about his hempe, of which he says he hath bought great quantities, and
would gladly be upon good terms with us for it, wherein I promise to
assist him. So we ‘light at the ‘Change, where, after a small turn or
two, taking no pleasure now-a-days to be there, because of answering
questions that would be asked there which I cannot answer; so home and
dined, and after dinner, with my wife and Mercer to the Beare-garden,
[The Bear Garden was situated on Bankside, close to the precinct of
the Clinke Liberty, and very near to the old palace of the bishops
of Winchester. Stow, to his “Survey,” says: “There be two Bear
Gardens, the old and new Places.” The name still exists in a street
or lane at the foot of Southwark Bridge, and in Bear Garden Wharf.]
where I have not been, I think, of many years, and saw some good sport
of the bull’s tossing of the dogs: one into the very boxes. But it is
a very rude and nasty pleasure. We had a great many hectors in the same
box with us (and one very fine went into the pit, and played his dog for
a wager, which was a strange sport for a gentleman), where they drank
wine, and drank Mercer’s health first, which I pledged with my hat off;
and who should be in the house but Mr. Pierce the surgeon, who saw us
and spoke to us. Thence home, well enough satisfied, however, with the
variety of this afternoon’s exercise; and so I to my chamber, till in
the evening our company come to supper. We had invited to a venison
pasty Mr. Batelier and his sister Mary, Mrs. Mercer, her daughter Anne,
Mr. Le Brun, and W. Hewer; and so we supped, and very merry. And then
about nine o’clock to Mrs. Mercer’s gate, where the fire and boys
expected us, and her son had provided abundance of serpents and rockets;
and there mighty merry (my Lady Pen and Pegg going thither with us, and
Nan Wright), till about twelve at night, flinging our fireworks,
and burning one another and the people over the way. And at last our
businesses being most spent, we into Mrs. Mercer’s, and there mighty
merry, smutting one another with candle grease and soot, till most of
us were like devils. And that being done, then we broke up, and to my
house; and there I made them drink, and upstairs we went, and then fell
into dancing (W. Batelier dancing well), and dressing, him and I and one
Mr. Banister (who with his wife come over also with us) like women; and
Mercer put on a suit of Tom’s, like a boy, and mighty mirth we had, and
Mercer danced a jigg; and Nan Wright and my wife and Pegg Pen put on
perriwigs. Thus we spent till three or four in the morning, mighty
merry; and then parted, and to bed.
15th. Mighty sleepy; slept till past eight of the clock, and was called
up by a letter from Sir W. Coventry, which, among other things, tells me
how we have burned one hundred and sixty ships of the enemy within the
Fly.
[On the 8th August the Duke of Albemarle reported to Lord Arlington
that he had “sent 1000 good men under Sir R. Holmes and Sir William
Jennings to destroy the islands of Vlie and Schelling.” On the 10th
James Hayes wrote to Williamson: “On the 9th at noon smoke was seen
rising from several places in the island of Vlie, and the 10th
brought news that Sir Robert had burned in the enemy’s harbour 160
outward bound valuable merchant men and three men-of-war, and taken
a little pleasure boat and eight guns in four hours. The loss is
computed at a million sterling, and will make great confusion when
the people see themselves in the power of the English at their very
doors. Sir Robert then landed his forces, and is burning the houses
in Vlie and Schelling as bonfires for his good success at sea”
(“Calendar of State Papers,” 1666-67, pp. 21,27).]
I up, and with all possible haste, and in pain for fear of coming late,
it being our day of attending the Duke of Yorke, to St. James’s, where
they are full of the particulars; how they are generally good merchant
ships, some of them laden and supposed rich ships. We spent five
fire-ships upon them. We landed on the Schelling (Sir Philip Howard
with some men, and Holmes, I think; with others, about 1000 in all), and
burned a town; and so come away. By and by the Duke of Yorke with his
books showed us the very place and manner, and that it was not our
design or expectation to have done this, but only to have landed on the
Fly, and burned some of their store; but being come in, we spied those
ships, and with our long boats, one by one, fired them, our ships
running all aground, it being so shoal water. We were led to this by, it
seems, a renegado captain of the Hollanders, who found himself ill used
by De Ruyter for his good service, and so come over to us, and hath done
us good service; so that now we trust him, and he himself did go on this
expedition. The service is very great, and our joys as great for it. All
this will make the Duke of Albemarle in repute again, I doubt, though
there is nothing of his in this. But, Lord! to see what successe
do, whether with or without reason, and making a man seem wise,
notwithstanding never so late demonstration of the profoundest folly in
the world. Thence walked over the Parke with Sir W. Coventry, in our way
talking of the unhappy state of our office; and I took an opportunity to
let him know, that though the backwardnesses of all our matters of the
office may be well imputed to the known want of money, yet, perhaps,
there might be personal and particular failings; and that I did,
therefore, depend still upon his promise of telling me whenever he
finds any ground to believe any defect or neglect on my part, which he
promised me still to do; and that there was none he saw, nor, indeed,
says he, is there room now-a-days to find fault with any particular man,
while we are in this condition for money. This, methought, did not so
well please me; but, however, I am glad I have said this, thereby giving
myself good grounds to believe that at this time he did not want an
occasion to have said what he pleased to me, if he had had anything in
his mind, which by his late distance and silence I have feared. But then
again I am to consider he is grown a very great man, much greater than
he was, and so must keep more distance; and, next, that the condition of
our office will not afford me occasion of shewing myself so active
and deserving as heretofore; and, lastly, the muchness of his business
cannot suffer him to mind it, or give him leisure to reflect on
anything, or shew the freedom and kindnesse that he used to do. But I
think I have done something considerable to my satisfaction in doing
this; and that if I do but my duty remarkably from this time forward,
and not neglect it, as I have of late done, and minded my pleasures, I
may be as well as ever I was. Thence to the Exchequer, but did nothing,
they being all gone from their offices; and so to the Old Exchange,
where the towne full of the good newes, but I did not stay to tell or
hear any, but home, my head akeing and drowsy, and to dinner, and then
lay down upon the couch, thinking to get a little rest, but could not.
So down the river, reading “The Adventures of Five Houres,” which the
more I read the more I admire. So down below Greenwich, but the wind
and tide being against us, I back again to Deptford, and did a little
business there, and thence walked to Redriffe; and so home, and to the
office a while. In the evening comes W. Batelier and his sister, and
my wife, and fair Mrs. Turner into the garden, and there we walked, and
then with my Lady Pen and Pegg in a-doors, and eat and were merry, and
so pretty late broke up, and to bed. The guns of the Tower going
off, and there being bonefires also in the street for this late good
successe.
16th. Up, having slept well, and after entering my journal, to the
office, where all the morning, but of late Sir W. Coventry hath not come
to us, he being discouraged from the little we have to do but to answer
the clamours of people for money. At noon home, and there dined with
me my Lady Pen only and W. Hewer at a haunch of venison boiled, where
pretty merry, only my wife vexed me a little about demanding money to go
with my Lady Pen to the Exchange to lay out. I to the office, where all
the afternoon and very busy and doing much business; but here I had a
most eminent experience of the evil of being behindhand in business. I
was the most backward to begin any thing, and would fain have framed to
myself an occasion of going abroad, and should, I doubt, have done it,
but some business coming in, one after another, kept me there, and I
fell to the ridding away of a great deale of business, and when my hand
was in it was so pleasing a sight to [see] my papers disposed of, and
letters answered, which troubled my book and table, that I could have
continued there with delight all night long, and did till called away
by my Lady Pen and Pegg and my wife to their house to eat with them;
and there I went, and exceeding merry, there being Nan Wright, now Mrs.
Markham, and sits at table with my Lady. So mighty merry, home and to
bed. This day Sir W. Batten did show us at the table a letter from Sir
T. Allen, which says that we have taken ten or twelve’ ships (since
the late great expedition of burning their ships and towne), laden with
hempe, flax, tarr, deales, &c. This was good newes; but by and by comes
in Sir G. Carteret, and he asked us with full mouth what we would give
for good newes. Says Sir W. Batten, “I have better than you, for a
wager.” They laid sixpence, and we that were by were to give sixpence
to him that told the best newes. So Sir W. Batten told his of the ten or
twelve ships Sir G. Carteret did then tell us that upon the newes of the
burning of the ships and towne the common people a Amsterdam did besiege
De Witt’s house, and he was force to flee to the Prince of Orange, who
is gone to Cleve to the marriage of his sister. This we concluded all
the best newest and my Lord Bruncker and myself did give Sir G. Carteret
our sixpence a-piece, which he did give Mr. Smith to give the poor. Thus
we made ourselves mighty merry.
17th. Up and betimes with Captain Erwin down by water to Woolwich, I
walking alone from Greenwich thither, making an end of the “Adventures
of Five Hours,” which when all is done is the best play that ever I read
in my life. Being come thither I did some business there and at the Rope
Yarde, and had a piece of bride-cake sent me by Mrs. Barbary into the
boate after me, she being here at her uncle’s, with her husband, Mr.
Wood’s son, the mast-maker, and mighty nobly married, they say, she
was, very fine, and he very rich, a strange fortune for so odd a looked
mayde, though her hands and body be good, and nature very good, I think.
Back with Captain Erwin, discoursing about the East Indys, where he
hath often been. And among other things he tells me how the King of Syam
seldom goes out without thirty or forty thousand people with him, and
not a word spoke, nor a hum or cough in the whole company to be heard.
He tells me the punishment frequently there for malefactors is cutting
off the crowne of their head, which they do very dexterously, leaving
their brains bare, which kills them presently. He told me what I
remember he hath once done heretofore: that every body is to lie flat
down at the coming by of the King, and nobody to look upon him upon pain
of death. And that he and his fellows, being strangers, were invited to
see the sport of taking of a wild elephant, and they did only kneel, and
look toward the King. Their druggerman did desire them to fall down,
for otherwise he should suffer for their contempt of the King. The
sport being ended, a messenger comes from the King, which the druggerman
thought had been to have taken away his life; but it was to enquire how
the strangers liked the sport. The druggerman answered that they did cry
it up to be the best that ever they saw, and that they never heard of
any Prince so great in every thing as this King. The messenger being
gone back, Erwin and his company asked their druggerman what he had
said, which he told them. “But why,” say they, “would you say that
without our leave, it being not true?”--“It is no matter for that,” says
he, “I must have said it, or have been hanged, for our King do not live
by meat, nor drink, but by having great lyes told him.” In our way back
we come by a little vessel that come into the river this morning, and
says he left the fleete in Sole Bay, and that he hath not heard (he
belonging to Sir W. Jenings, in the fleete) of any such prizes taken as
the ten or twelve I inquired about, and said by Sir W. Batten yesterday
to be taken, so I fear it is not true. So to Westminster, and there, to
my great content, did receive my L2000 of Mr. Spicer’s telling, which I
was to receive of Colvill, and brought it home with me [to] my house by
water, and there I find one of my new presses for my books brought home,
which pleases me mightily. As, also, do my wife’s progresse upon her
head that she is making. So to dinner, and thence abroad with my wife,
leaving her at Unthanke’s; I to White Hall, waiting at the Council door
till it rose, and there spoke with Sir W. Coventry, who and I do much
fear our Victuallers, they having missed the fleete in their going. But
Sir W. Coventry says it is not our fault, but theirs, if they have
not left ships to secure them. This he spoke in a chagrin sort of way,
methought. After a little more discourse of several businesses, I away
homeward, having in the gallery the good fortune to see Mrs. Stewart,
who is grown a little too tall, but is a woman of most excellent
features. The narrative of the late expedition in burning the ships is
in print, and makes it a great thing, and I hope it is so. So took up my
wife and home, there I to the office, and thence with Sympson the joyner
home to put together the press he hath brought me for my books this day,
which pleases me exceedingly. Then to Sir W. Batten’s, where Sir Richard
Ford did very understandingly, methought, give us an account of the
originall of the Hollands Bank,
[This bank at Amsterdam is referred to in a tract entitled “An
Appeal to Caesar,” 1660, p. 22. In 1640 Charles I. seized the money
in the mint in the Tower entrusted to the safe keeping of the Crown.
It was the practice of the London goldsmiths at this time to allow
interest at the rate of six or eight per cent. on money deposited
with them (J. Biddulph Martin, “The Grasshopper in Lombard Street,”
1892, p. 152).]
and the nature of it, and how they do never give any interest at all to
any person that brings in their money, though what is brought in
upon the public faith interest is given by the State for. The unsafe
condition of a Bank under a Monarch, and the little safety to a Monarch
to have any; or Corporation alone (as London in answer to Amsterdam) to
have so great a wealth or credit, it is, that makes it hard to have a
Bank here. And as to the former, he did tell us how it sticks in the
memory of most merchants how the late King (when by the war between
Holland and France and Spayne all the bullion of Spayne was brought
hither, one-third of it to be coyned; and indeed it was found
advantageous to the merchant to coyne most of it), was persuaded in
a strait by my Lord Cottington to seize upon the money in the Tower,
which, though in a few days the merchants concerned did prevail to get
it released, yet the thing will never be forgot. So home to supper
and to bed, understanding this evening, since I come home, that our
Victuallers are all come in to the fleete, which is good newes. Sir John
Minnes come home tonight not well, from Chatham, where he hath been at
a pay, holding it at Upnor Castle, because of the plague so much in the
towne of Chatham. He hath, they say, got an ague, being so much on the
water.
18th. All the morning at my office; then to the Exchange (with my Lord
Bruncker in his coach) at noon, but it was only to avoid Mr. Chr. Pett’s
being invited by me to dinner. So home, calling at my little mercer’s
in Lumbard Streete, who hath the pretty wench, like the old Queene, and
there cheapened some stuffs to hang my roome, that I intend to turn into
a closett. So home to dinner, and after dinner comes Creed to discourse
with me about several things of Tangier concernments and accounts, among
others starts the doubt, which I was formerly aware of, but did wink at
it, whether or no Lanyon and his partners be not paid for more than they
should be, which he presses, so that it did a little discompose me;
but, however, I do think no harm will arise thereby. He gone, I to the
office, and there very late, very busy, and so home to supper and to
bed.
19th (Lord’s day). Up and to my chamber, and there began to draw out
fair and methodically my accounts of Tangier, in order to shew them to
the Lords. But by and by comes by agreement Mr. Reeves, and after him
Mr. Spong, and all day with them, both before and after dinner, till
ten o’clock at night, upon opticke enquiries, he bringing me a frame
he closes on, to see how the rays of light do cut one another, and in
a darke room with smoake, which is very pretty. He did also bring a
lanthorne with pictures in glasse, to make strange things appear on a
wall, very pretty. We did also at night see Jupiter and his girdle
and satellites, very fine, with my twelve-foote glasse, but could
not Saturne, he being very dark. Spong and I had also several fine
discourses upon the globes this afternoon, particularly why the fixed
stars do not rise and set at the same houre all the yeare long, which he
could not demonstrate, nor I neither, the reason of. So, it being late,
after supper they away home. But it vexed me to understand no more from
Reeves and his glasses touching the nature and reason of the several
refractions of the several figured glasses, he understanding the acting
part, but not one bit the theory, nor can make any body understand it,
which is a strange dullness, methinks. I did not hear anything yesterday
or at all to confirm either Sir Thos. Allen’s news of the 10 or 12 ships
taken, nor of the disorder at Amsterdam upon the news of the burning of
the ships, that he [De Witt] should be fled to the Prince of Orange, it
being generally believed that he was gone to France before.
20th. Waked this morning, about six o’clock, with a violent knocking at
Sir J. Minnes’s doore, to call up Mrs. Hammon, crying out that Sir J.
Minnes is a-dying. He come home ill of an ague on Friday night. I saw
him on Saturday, after his fit of the ague, and then was pretty lusty.
Which troubles me mightily, for he is a very good, harmless, honest
gentleman, though not fit for the business. But I much fear a worse
may come, that may be more uneasy to me. Up, and to Deptford by water,
reading “Othello, Moore of Venice,” which I ever heretofore esteemed
a mighty good play, but having so lately read “The Adventures of Five
Houres,” it seems a mean thing. Walked back, and so home, and then down
to the Old Swan and drank at Betty Michell’s, and so to Westminster to
the Exchequer about my quarter tallies, and so to Lumbard Streete to
choose stuff to hang my new intended closet, and have chosen purple.
So home to dinner, and all the afternoon till almost midnight upon my
Tangier accounts, getting Tom Wilson to help me in writing as I read,
and at night W. Hewer, and find myself most happy in the keeping of all
my accounts, for that after all the changings and turnings necessary
in such an account, I find myself right to a farthing in an account of
L127,000. This afternoon I visited Sir J. Minnes, who, poor man, is much
impatient by these few days’ sickness, and I fear indeed it will kill
him.
21st. Up, and to the office, where much business and Sir W. Coventry
there, who of late hath wholly left us, most of our business being about
money, to which we can give no answer, which makes him weary of coming
to us. He made an experiment to-day, by taking up a heape of petitions
that lay upon the table. They proved seventeen in number, and found them
thus: one for money for reparation for clothes, four desired to have
tickets made out to them, and the other twelve were for money. Dined at
home, and sister Balty with us. My wife snappish because I denied her
money to lay out this afternoon; however, good friends again, and by
coach set them down at the New Exchange, and I to the Exchequer, and
there find my business of my tallys in good forwardness. I passed down
into the Hall, and there hear that Mr. Bowles, the grocer, after 4 or 5
days’ sickness, is dead, and this day buried. So away, and taking up my
wife, went homewards. I ‘light and with Harman to my mercer’s in Lumbard
Streete, and there agreed for, our purple serge for my closett, and so
I away home. So home and late at the office, and then home, and there
found Mr. Batelier and his sister Mary, and we sat chatting a great
while, talking of witches and spirits, and he told me of his own
knowledge, being with some others at Bourdeaux, making a bargain with
another man at a taverne for some clarets, they did hire a fellow to
thunder (which he had the art of doing upon a deale board) and to rain
and hail, that is, make the noise of, so as did give them a pretence of
undervaluing their merchants’ wines, by saying this thunder would spoil
and turne them. Which was so reasonable to the merchant, that he did
abate two pistolls per ton for the wine in belief of that, whereas,
going out, there was no such thing. This Batelier did see and was the
cause of to his profit, as is above said. By and by broke up and to bed.
22nd. Up and by coach with L100 to the Exchequer to pay fees there.
There left it, and I to St. James’s, and there with; the Duke of Yorke.
I had opportunity of much talk with Sir. W. Pen to-day (he being newly
come from the fleete); and he, do much undervalue the honour that is
given to the conduct of the late business of Holmes in burning the ships
and town
[The town burned (see August 15th, ante) was Brandaris, a place of
1000 houses, on the isle of Schelling; the ships lay between that
island and the Fly (i.e. Vlieland), the adjoining island. This
attack probably provoked that by the Dutch on Chatham.]
saying it was a great thing indeed, and of great profit to us in being
of great losse to the enemy, but that it was wholly a business of
chance, and no conduct employed in it. I find Sir W. Pen do hold up his
head at this time higher than ever he did in his life. I perceive he do
look after Sir J. Minnes’s place if he dies, and though I love him not
nor do desire to have him in, yet I do think [he] is the first man in
England for it. To the Exchequer, and there received my tallys, and paid
my fees in good order, and so home, and there find Mrs. Knipp and
my wife going to dinner. She tells me my song, of “Beauty Retire” is
mightily cried up, which I am not a little proud of; and do think I have
done “It is Decreed” better, but I have not finished it. My closett is
doing by upholsters, which I am pleased with, but fear my purple will be
too sad for that melancholy roome. After dinner and doing something at
the office, I with my wife, Knipp, and Mercer, by coach to Moorefields,
and there saw “Polichinello,” which pleases me mightily, and here I saw
our Mary, our last chamber-maid, who is gone from Mrs. Pierces it seems.
Thence carried Knipp home, calling at the Cocke alehouse at the doore
and drank, and so home, and there find Reeves, and so up to look upon
the stars, and do like my glasse very well, and did even with him for it
and a little perspective and the Lanthorne that shows tricks, altogether
costing me L9 5s. 0d. So to bed, he lying at our house.
23rd. At the office all the morning, whither Sir W. Coventry sent me
word that the Dutch fleete is certainly abroad; and so we are to hasten
all we have to send to our fleete with all speed. But, Lord! to see how
my Lord Bruncker undertakes the despatch of the fire-ships, when he is
no more fit for it than a porter; and all the while Sir W. Pen, who is
the most fit, is unwilling to displease him, and do not look after it;
and so the King’s work is like to be well done. At noon dined at home,
Lovett with us; but he do not please me in his business, for he
keeps things long in hand, and his paper do not hold so good as I
expected--the varnish wiping off in a little time--a very sponge; and
I doubt by his discourse he is an odde kind of fellow, and, in plain
terms, a very rogue. He gone, I to the office (having seen and liked the
upholsters’ work in my roome--which they have almost done), and there
late, and in the evening find Mr. Batelier and his sister there and then
we talked and eat and were merry, and so parted late, and to bed.
24th. Up, and dispatched several businesses at home in the morning, and
then comes Sympson to set up my other new presses
[These presses still exist, and, according to Pepys’s wish, they are
placed in the second court of Magdalene College in a room which they
exactly fit, and the books are arranged in the presses just as they
were when presented to the college.--M. B.]
for my books, and so he and I fell in to the furnishing of my new
closett, and taking out the things out of my old, and I kept him with
me all day, and he dined with me, and so all the afternoon till it was
quite darke hanging things, that is my maps and pictures and draughts,
and setting up my books, and as much as we could do, to my most
extraordinary satisfaction; so that I think it will be as noble a
closett as any man hath, and light enough--though, indeed, it would be
better to have had a little more light. He gone, my wife and I to talk,
and sup, and then to setting right my Tangier accounts and enter my
Journall, and then to bed with great content in my day’s worke. This
afternoon comes Mrs. Barbary Sheldon, now Mrs. Wood, to see my wife. I
was so busy I would not see her. But she came, it seems, mighty rich in
rings and fine clothes, and like a lady, and says she is matched mighty
well, at which I am very glad, but wonder at her good fortune and the
folly of her husband, and vexed at myself for not paying her the respect
of seeing her, but I will come out of her debt another time.
25th. All the morning at the office. At noon dined at home, and after
dinner up to my new closett, which pleases me mightily, and there I
proceeded to put many things in order as far as I had time, and then set
it in washing, and stood by myself a great while to see it washed; and
then to the office, and then wrote my letters and other things, and then
in mighty good humour home to supper and to bed.
26th (Lord’s day). Up betimes, and to the finishing the setting things
in order in my new closett out of my old, which I did thoroughly by the
time sermon was done at church, to my exceeding joy, only I was a little
disturbed with newes my Lord Bruncker brought me, that we are to attend
the King at White Hall this afternoon, and that it is about a complaint
from the Generalls against us. Sir W. Pen dined by invitation with me,
his Lady and daughter being gone into the country. We very merry. After
dinner we parted, and I to my office, whither I sent for Mr. Lewes and
instructed myself fully in the business of the Victualling, to enable
me to answer in the matter; and then Sir W. Pen and I by coach to White
Hall, and there staid till the King and Cabinet were met in the Green
Chamber, and then we were called in; and there the King begun with me,
to hear how the victualls of the fleete stood. I did in a long discourse
tell him and the rest (the Duke of Yorke, Lord Chancellor, Lord
Treasurer, both the Secretarys, Sir G. Carteret, and Sir W. Coventry,)
how it stood, wherein they seemed satisfied, but press mightily for more
supplies; and the letter of the Generalls, which was read, did lay their
not going or too soon returning from the Dutch coast, this next bout,
to the want of victuals. They then proceeded to the enquiry after the
fireships; and did all very superficially, and without any severity at
all. But, however, I was in pain, after we come out, to know how I had
done; and hear well enough. But, however, it shall be a caution to me to
prepare myself against a day of inquisition. Being come out, I met with
Mr. Moore, and he and I an houre together in the Gallery, telling me
how far they are gone in getting my Lord [Sandwich’s] pardon, so as the
Chancellor is prepared in it; and Sir H. Bennet do promote it, and the
warrant for the King’s signing is drawn. The business between my Lord
Hinchingbroke and Mrs. Mallett is quite broke off; he attending her at
Tunbridge, and she declaring her affections to be settled; and he not
being fully pleased with the vanity and liberty of her carriage. He told
me how my Lord has drawn a bill of exchange from Spayne of L1200, and
would have me supply him with L500 of it, but I avoyded it, being not
willing to embarke myself in money there, where I see things going to
ruine. Thence to discourse of the times; and he tells me he believes
both my Lord Arlington and Sir W. Coventry, as well as my Lord Sandwich
and Sir G. Carteret, have reason to fear, and are afeard of this
Parliament now coming on. He tells me that Bristoll’s faction is getting
ground apace against my Lord Chancellor. He told me that my old Lord
Coventry was a cunning, crafty man, and did make as many bad decrees in
Chancery as any man; and that in one case, that occasioned many years’
dispute, at last when the King come in, it was hoped by the party
grieved, to get my Lord Chancellor to reverse a decree of his. Sir W.
Coventry took the opportunity of the business between the Duke of Yorke
and the Duchesse, and said to my Lord Chancellor, that he had rather be
drawn up Holborne to be hanged, than live to see his father pissed
upon (in these very terms) and any decree of his reversed. And so the
Chancellor did not think fit to do it, but it still stands, to the
undoing of one Norton, a printer, about his right to the printing of the
Bible, and Grammar, &c. Thence Sir W. Pen and I to Islington and there
drank at the Katherine Wheele, and so down the nearest way home, where
there was no kind of pleasure at all. Being come home, hear that Sir J.
Minnes has had a very bad fit all this day, and a hickup do take him,
which is a very bad sign, which troubles me truly. So home to supper a
little and then to bed.
27th. Up, and to my new closett, which pleases me mightily, and there
did a little business. Then to break open a window, to the leads’ side
in my old closett, which will enlighten the room mightily, and make
it mighty pleasant. So to the office, and then home about one thing or
other, about my new closet, for my mind is full of nothing but that. So
at noon to dinner, mightily pleased with my wife’s picture that she is
upon. Then to the office, and thither come and walked an hour with me
Sir G. Carteret, who tells me what is done about my Lord’s pardon, and
is not for letting the Duke of Yorke know any thing of it beforehand,
but to carry it as speedily and quietly as we can. He seems to be very
apprehensive that the Parliament will be troublesome and inquisitive
into faults, but seems not to value them as to himself. He gone, I
to the Victualling Office, there with Lewes’ and Willson setting the
business of the state of the fleete’s victualling even and plain, and
that being done, and other good discourse about it over, Mr. Willson
and I by water down the River for discourse only, about business of the
office, and then back, and I home, and after a little at my office home
to my new closet, and there did much business on my Tangier account and
my Journall for three days. So to supper and to bed. We are not sure
that the Dutch fleete is out. I have another memento from Sir W.
Coventry of the want of provisions in the fleete, which troubles me,
though there is no reason for it; but will have the good effect of
making me more wary. So, full of thoughts, to bed.
28th. Up, and in my new closet a good while doing business. Then called
on Mrs. Martin and Burroughs of Westminster about business of the
former’s husband. Which done, I to the office, where we sat all the
morning. At noon I, with my wife and Mercer, to Philpott Lane, a great
cook’s shop, to the wedding of Mr. Longracke, our purveyor, a good,
sober, civil man, and hath married a sober, serious mayde. Here I met
much ordinary company, I going thither at his great request; but there
was Mr. Madden and his lady, a fine, noble, pretty lady, and he, and a
fine gentleman seems to be. We four were most together; but the whole
company was very simple and innocent. A good-dinner, and, what was best,
good musique. After dinner the young women went to dance; among others
Mr. Christopher Pett his daughter, who is a very pretty, modest girle,
I am mightily taken with her; and that being done about five o’clock,
home, very well pleased with the afternoon’s work. And so we broke up
mightily civilly, the bride and bridegroom going to Greenwich (they
keeping their dinner here only for my sake) to lie, and we home, where I
to the office, and anon am on a sudden called to meet Sir W. Pen and Sir
W. Coventry at the Victualling Office, which did put me out of order to
be so surprised. But I went, and there Sir William Coventry did read me
a letter from the Generalls to the King,
[The letter from Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle to the king
(dated August 27th, from the “Royal Charles,” Sole Bay) is among the
State Papers. The generals complain of the want of supplies, in
spite of repeated importunities. The demands are answered by
accounts from Mr. Pepys of what has been sent to the fleet, which
will not satisfy the ships, unless the provisions could be found
“... Have not a month’s provision of beer, yet Sir Wm. Coventry
assures the ministers that they are supplied till Oct. 3; unless
this is quickened they will have to return home too soon....
Want provisions according to their own computation, not Sir Wm.
Coventry’s, to last to the end of October” (“Calendar,” 1666-67, p.
71).]
a most scurvy letter, reflecting most upon Sir W. Coventry, and then
upon me for my accounts (not that they are not true, but that we do not
consider the expence of the fleete), and then of the whole office, in
neglecting them and the King’s service, and this in very plain and sharp
and menacing terms. I did give a good account of matters according to
our computation of the expence of the fleete. I find Sir W. Coventry
willing enough to accept of any thing to confront the Generalls. But a
great supply must be made, and shall be in grace of God! But, however,
our accounts here will be found the true ones. Having done here, and
much work set me, I with greater content home than I thought I should
have done, and so to the office a while, and then home, and a while in
my new closet, which delights me every day more and more, and so late to
bed.
29th. Up betimes, and there to fit some Tangier accounts, and then, by
appointment, to my Lord Bellasses, but about Paul’s thought of the chant
paper I should carry with me, and so fain to come back again, and did,
and then met with Sir W. Pen, and with him to my Lord Bellasses, he
sitting in the coach the while, while I up to my Lord and there offered
him my account of the bills of exchange I had received and paid for him,
wherein we agree all but one L200 bill of Vernatty’s drawing, wherein I
doubt he hath endeavoured to cheate my Lord; but that will soon appear.
Thence took leave, and found Sir W. Pen talking to Orange Moll, of the
King’s house, who, to our great comfort, told us that they begun to act
on the 18th of this month. So on to St. James’s, in the way Sir W. Pen
telling me that Mr. Norton, that married Sir J. Lawson’s daughter, is
dead. She left L800 a year jointure, a son to inherit the whole estate.
She freed from her father-in-law’s tyranny, and is in condition to helpe
her mother, who needs it; of which I am glad, the young lady being very
pretty. To St. James’s, and there Sir W. Coventry took Sir W. Pen and
me apart, and read to us his answer to the Generalls’ letter to the King
that he read last night; wherein he is very plain, and states the matter
in full defence of himself and of me with him, which he could not avoid;
which is a good comfort to me, that I happen to be involved with him in
the same cause. And then, speaking of the supplies which have been made
to this fleete, more than ever in all kinds to any, even that wherein
the Duke of Yorke himself was, “Well,” says he, “if this will not do, I
will say, as Sir J. Falstaffe did to the Prince, ‘Tell your father, that
if he do not like this let him kill the next Piercy himself,’”--[“King
Henry IV.,” Part I, act v., sc. 4.]--and so we broke up, and to the
Duke, and there did our usual business. So I to the Parke and there met
Creed, and he and I walked to Westminster to the Exchequer, and thence
to White Hall talking of Tangier matters and Vernatty’s knavery, and so
parted, and then I homeward and met Mr. Povy in Cheapside, and stopped
and talked a good while upon the profits of the place which my Lord
Bellasses hath made this last year, and what share we are to have of
it, but of this all imperfect, and so parted, and I home, and there find
Mrs. Mary Batelier, and she dined with us; and thence I took them to
Islington, and there eat a custard; and so back to Moorfields, and
shewed Batelier, with my wife, “Polichinello,” which I like the more I
see it; and so home with great content, she being a mighty good-natured,
pretty woman, and thence I to the Victualling office, and there with Mr.
Lewes and Willson upon our Victualling matters till ten at night, and so
I home and there late writing a letter to Sir W. Coventry, and so home
to supper and to bed. No newes where the Dutch are. We begin to think
they will steale through the Channel to meet Beaufort. We think our
fleete sayled yesterday, but we have no newes of it.
30th. Up and all the morning at the office, dined at home, and in the
afternoon, and at night till two in the morning, framing my great letter
to Mr. Hayes about the victualling of the fleete, about which there has
been so much ado and exceptions taken by the Generalls.
31st. To bed at 2 or 3 in the morning and up again at 6 to go by
appointment to my Lord Bellasses, but he out of town, which vexed me.
So back and got Mr. Poynter to enter into, my book while I read from my
last night’s notes the letter, and that being done to writing it fair.
At noon home to dinner, and then the boy and I to the office, and there
he read while I writ it fair, which done I sent it to Sir W. Coventry
to peruse and send to the fleete by the first opportunity; and so pretty
betimes to bed. Much pleased to-day with thoughts of gilding the backs
of all my books alike in my new presses.