August 1st. All the morning at the office. After dinner my wife, and
Deb., and I, to the King’s house again, coming too late yesterday to
hear the prologue, and do like the play better now than before; and,
indeed, there is a great deal of true wit in it, more than in the common
sort of plays, and so home to my business, and at night to bed, my eyes
making me sad.
2nd. (Lord’s day). Up and at home all the morning, hanging, and removing
of some pictures, in my study and house. At noon Pelling dined with me.
After dinner, I and Tom, my boy, by water up to Putney, and there heard
a sermon, and many fine people in the church. Thence walked to Barne
Elmes, and there, and going and coming, did make the boy read to me
several things, being now-a-days unable to read myself anything, for
above two lines together, but my eyes grow weary. Home about night, and
so to supper and then to bed.
3rd. Up, and by water to White Hall and St. James’s, where I did much
business, and about noon meeting Dr. Gibbons, carried him to the Sun
taverne, in King Street, and there made him, and some friends of his,
drink; among others, Captain Silas Taylor, and here did get Gibbons to
promise me some things for my flageolets. So to the Old Exchange, and
then home to dinner, and so, Mercer dining with us, I took my wife
and her and Deb. out to Unthanke’s, while I to White Hall to the
Commissioners of the Treasury, and so back to them and took them out to
Islington, where we met with W. Joyce and his wife and boy, and there
eat and drank, and a great deal of his idle talk, and so we round by
Hackney home, and so to sing a little in the garden, and then to bed.
4th. Up, and to my office a little, and then to White Hall about a
Committee for Tangier at my Lord Arlington’s, where, by Creed’s being
out of town, I have the trouble given me of drawing up answers to the
complaints of the Turks of Algiers, and so I have all the papers put
into my hand. Here till noon, and then back to the Office, where sat a
little, and then to dinner, and presently to the office, where come to
me my Lord Bellassis, Lieutenant-Colonell Fitzgerald, newly come from
Tangier, and Sir Arthur Basset, and there I received their informations,
and so, they being gone, I with my clerks and another of Lord
Brouncker’s, Seddon, sat up till two in the morning, drawing up my
answers and writing them fair, which did trouble me mightily to sit up
so long, because of my eyes.
5th. So to bed about two o’clock, and then up about seven and to White
Hall, where read over my report to Lord Arlington and Berkeley, and then
afterward at the Council Board with great good liking, but, Lord! how it
troubled my eyes, though I did not think I could have done it, but did
do it, and was not very bad afterward. So home to dinner, and thence out
to the Duke of York’s playhouse, and there saw “The Guardian;” formerly
the same, I find, that was called “Cutter of Coleman Street;” a silly
play. And thence to Westminster Hall, where I met Fitzgerald; and with
him to a tavern, to consider of the instructions for Sir Thomas Allen,
against his going to Algiers; he and I being designed to go down to
Portsmouth by the Council’s order, and by and by he and I went to the
Duke of York, who orders me to go down to-morrow morning. So I away
home, and there bespeak a coach; and so home and to bed, my wife being
abroad with the Mercers walking in the fields, and upon the water.
6th. Waked betimes, and my wife, at an hour’s warning, is resolved to
go with me, which pleases me, her readiness. But, before ready, comes a
letter from Fitzgerald, that he is seized upon last night by an order
of the General’s by a file of musqueteers, and kept prisoner in his
chamber. The Duke of York did tell me of it to-day: it is about a
quarrel between him and Witham, and they fear a challenge: so I to him,
and sent my wife by the coach round to Lambeth. I lost my labour going
to his lodgings, and he in bed: and, staying a great while for him, I at
last grew impatient, and would stay no longer; but to St. James’s to Mr.
Wren, to bid him “God be with you!” and so over the water to Fox Hall;
and there my wife and Deb. come and took me up, and we away to Gilford,
losing our way for three or four mile, about Cobham. At Gilford we
dined; and, I shewed them the hospitall there of Bishop Abbot’s, and
his tomb in the church, which, and the rest of the tombs there, are kept
mighty clean and neat, with curtains before them. So to coach again, and
got to Lippock,2 late over Hindhead, having an old man, a guide, in the
coach with us; but got thither with great fear of being out of our way,
it being ten at night. Here good, honest people; and after supper, to
bed....
7th. Up, and to coach, and with a guide to Petersfield, where I find
Sir Thomas Allen and Mr. Tippets come; the first about the business, the
latter only in respect to me; as also Fitzgerald, who come post all
last night, and newly arrived here. We four sat down presently to our
business, and in an hour despatched all our talk; and did inform Sir
Thomas Allen well in it, who, I perceive, in serious matters, is a
serious man: and tells me he wishes all we are told be true, in our
defence; for he finds by all, that the Turks have, to this day, been
very civil to our merchant-men everywhere; and, if they would have broke
with us, they never had such an opportunity over our rich merchant-men,
as lately, coming out of the Streights. Then to dinner, and pretty
merry: and here was Mr. Martin, the purser, and dined with us, and wrote
some things for us. And so took coach again back; Fitzgerald with
us, whom I was pleased with all the day, with his discourse of his
observations abroad, as being a great soldier and of long standing
abroad: and knows all things and persons abroad very well--I mean, the
great soldiers of France, and Spain, and Germany; and talks very well.
Come at night to Gilford, where the Red Lyon so full of people, and a
wedding, that the master of the house did get us a lodging over the
way, at a private house, his landlord’s, mighty neat and fine; and there
supped and talked with the landlord and his wife: and so to bed with
great content, only Fitzgerald lay at the Inne. So to bed.
8th. Up, and I walked out, and met Uncle Wight, whom I sent to last
night, and Mr. Wight coming to see us, and I walked with them back to
see my aunt at Katherine Hill, and there walked up and down the hill and
places, about: but a dull place, but good ayre, and the house dull. But
here I saw my aunt, after many days not seeing her--I think, a year or
two; and she walked with me to see my wife. And here, at the Red Lyon,
we all dined together, and mighty merry, and then parted: and we home
to Fox Hall, where Fitzgerald and I ‘light, and by water to White Hall,
where the Duke of York being abroad, I by coach and met my wife, who
went round, and after doing at the office a little, and finding all well
at home, I to bed. I hear that Colbert, the French Ambassador, is come,
and hath been at Court incognito. When he hath his audience, I know not.
9th (Lord’s day). Up, and walked to Holborne, where got John Powell’s
coach at the Black Swan, and he attended me at St. James’s, where waited
on the Duke of York: and both by him and several of the Privy-Council,
beyond expectation, I find that my going to Sir Thomas Allen was looked
upon as a thing necessary: and I have got some advantage by it, among
them. Thence to White Hall, and thence to visit Lord Brouncker, and
back to White Hall, where saw the Queen and ladies; and so, with Mr.
Slingsby, to Mrs. Williams’s, thinking to dine with Lord Brouncker
there, but did not, having promised my wife to come home, though here
I met Knepp, to my great content. So home; and, after dinner, I took my
wife and Deb. round by Hackney, and up and down to take the ayre; and
then home, and made visits to Mrs. Turner, and Mrs. Mercer, and Sir W.
Pen, who is come from Epsom not well, and Sir J. Minnes, who is not well
neither. And so home to supper, and to set my books a little right, and
then to bed. This day Betty Michell come and dined with us, the first
day after her lying in, whom I was glad to see.
10th. Up, and by water to White Hall, and thence to Sir W. Coventry, but
he is gone out of town this morning, so thence to my Lord Arlington’s
house, the first time I there since he come thither, at Goring House,
a very fine, noble place; and there he received me in sight of several
Lords with great respect. I did give him an account of my journey; and
here, while I waited for him a little, my Lord Orrery took notice of me,
and begun discourse of hangings, and of the improvement of shipping: I
not thinking that he knew me, but did then discover it, with a mighty
compliment of my abilities and ingenuity, which I am mighty proud of;
and he do speak most excellently. Thence to Westminster Hall, and so by
coach to the old Exchange, and there did several businesses, and so home
to dinner, and then abroad to Duck Lane, where I saw my belle femme of
the book vendor, but had no opportunity para hazer con her. So away to
Cooper’s, where I spent all the afternoon with my wife and girl, seeing
him-make an end of her picture, which he did Jo my great content, though
not so great as, I confess, I expected, being not satisfied in the
greatness of the resemblance, nor in the blue garment: but it is most
certainly a most rare piece of work, as to the painting. He hath L30 for
his work--and the chrystal, and case, and gold case comes to L8 3s. 4d.;
and which I sent him this night, that I might be out of debt. Thence my
people home, and I to Westminster Hall about a little business, and
so by water home [to] supper, and my wife to read a ridiculous book I
bought today of the History of the Taylors’ Company,
[The title of this book was, “The Honour of the Merchant Taylors.”
Wherein is set forth the noble acts, valliant deeds, and heroick
performances of Merchant Taylors in former ages; their honourable
loves, and knightly adventures, their combating of foreign enemies
and glorious successes in honour of the English nation: together
with their pious....]
and all the while Deb. did comb my head, and I did toker her with my
main para very great pleasure, and so to bed.
11th. Up, and by water to Sir W. Coventry to visit him, whom I find yet
troubled at the Commissioners of Accounts, about this business of Sir
W. Warren, which is a ridiculous thing, and can come to nothing but
contempt, and thence to Westminster Hall, where the Parliament met
enough to adjourne, which they did, to the 10th of November next, and so
by water home to the office, and so to dinner, and thence at the Office
all the afternoon till night, being mightily pleased with a little trial
I have made of the use of a tube-spectacall of paper, tried with my
right eye. This day I hear that, to the great joy of the Nonconformists,
the time is out of the Act against them, so that they may meet: and they
have declared that they will have a morning lecture
[During the troubled reign of Charles I., the House of Commons gave
parishioners the right of appointing lecturers at the various
churches without the consent of rector or vicar, and this naturally
gave rise to many quarrels. In the early period of the war between
the king and the parliament, a course of sermons or lectures was
projected in aid of the parliamentary cause. These lectures, which
were preached by eminent Presbyterian divines at seven o’clock on
the Sunday mornings, were commenced in the church of St. Mary
Magdalen in Milk Street, but were soon afterwards removed to St.
Giles’s, Cripplegate. After the Restoration the lectures were
collected in four volumes, and published under the title of the
“Cripplegate Morning Exercises,” vol. i. in 1661; vol. ii. in 1674;
vol. iii. in 1682; and vol. iv. in 1690. In addition there were two
volumes which form a supplement to the work, viz., “The Morning
Exercises methodized,” preached at St. Giles’s-in-the-Fields, edited
by the Rev. Thomas Case in 1660, and the “Exercises against Popery,”
preached in Southwark, and published in 1675 (see Demon’s “Records
of St. Giles’s, Crinnlegate,” 1883, pp. 55-56).]
up again, which is pretty strange; and they are connived at by the King
every where, I hear, in City and country. So to visit W. Pen, who is yet
ill, and then home, where W. Batelier and Mrs. Turner come and sat and
supped with us, and so they gone we to bed. This afternoon my wife, and
Mercer, and Deb., went with Pelting to see the gypsies at Lambeth, and
have their fortunes told; but what they did, I did not enquire.
12th. Up, and all the morning busy at my office. Thence to the Excise
Office, and so to the Temple to take counsel about Major Nicholls’s
business for the King. So to several places about business, and among
others to Drumbleby’s about the mouths for my paper tubes, and so to
the ‘Change and home. Met Captain Cocke, who tells me that he hears for
certain the Duke of York will lose the authority of an Admiral, and be
governed by a Committee: and all our Office changed; only they are in
dispute whether I shall continue or no, which puts new thoughts in
me, but I know not whether to be glad or sorry. Home to dinner, where
Pelting dines with us, and brings some partridges, which is very good
meat; and, after dinner, I, and wife, and Mercer, and Deb., to the Duke
of York’s house, and saw “Mackbeth,” to our great content, and then
home, where the women went to the making of my tubes, and I to the
office, and then come Mrs. Turner and her husband to advise about their
son, the Chaplain, who is turned out of his ship, a sorrow to them,
which I am troubled for, and do give them the best advice I can, and so
they gone we to bed.
13th. Up, and Greeting comes, and there he and I tried some things of
Mr. Locke’s for two flageolets, to my great content, and this day my
wife begins again to learn of him; for I have a great mind for her to
be able to play a part with me. Thence I to the Office, where all the
afternoon [morning??], and then to dinner, where W. Howe dined with me,
who tells me for certain that Creed is like to speed in his match with
Mrs. Betty Pickering. Here dined with me also Mr. Hollier, who is mighty
vain in his pretence to talk Latin. So to the Office again all the
afternoon till night, very busy, and so with much content home, and made
my wife sing and play on the flageolet to me till I slept with great
pleasure in bed.
14th. Up, and by water to White Hall and St. James’s, and to see Sir
W. Coventry, and discourse about business of our Office, telling him my
trouble there, to see how things are ordered. I told him also what Cocke
told me the other day, but he says there is not much in it, though he do
know that this hath been in the eye of some persons to compass for the
turning all things in the navy, and that it looks so like a popular
thing as that he thinks something may be done in it, but whether so
general or no, as I tell it him, he knows not. Thence to White Hall, and
there wait at the Council-chamber door a good while, talking with one or
other, and so home by water, though but for a little while, because I
am to return to White Hall. At home I find Symson, putting up my new
chimney-piece, in our great chamber, which is very fine, but will cost
a great deal of money, but it is not flung away. So back to White Hall,
and after the council up, I with Mr. Wren, by invitation, to Sir Stephen
Fox’s to dinner, where the Cofferer and Sir Edward Savage; where many
good stories of the antiquity and estates of many families at this day
in Cheshire, and that part of the kingdom, more than what is on this
side, near London. My Lady [Fox] dining with us; a very good lady, and a
family governed so nobly and neatly as do me good to see it. Thence the
Cofferer, Sir Stephen, and I to the Commissioners of the Treasury about
business: and so I up to the Duke of York, who enquired for what I had
promised him, about my observations of the miscarriages of our Office;
[This refers to the letter on the affairs of the office which Pepys
prepared, and respecting which, and the proceedings which grew out
of it, so many references are made in future pages of the Diary.]
and I told him he should have it next week, being glad he called for
it; for I find he is concerned to do something, and to secure himself
thereby, I believe: for the world is labouring to eclipse him, I
doubt; I mean, the factious part of the Parliament. The Office met this
afternoon as usual, and waited on him; where, among other things, he
talked a great while of his intentions of going to Dover soon, to be
sworn as Lord Warden, which is a matter of great ceremony and state,
and so to the Temple with Mr. Wren, to the Attorney’s chamber, about
business, but he abroad, and so I home, and there spent the evening
talking with my wife and piping, and pleased with our chimney-piece, and
so to bed.
15th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning busy, and after
dinner with my wife, Mercer, and Deb., to the King’s playhouse, and
there saw “Love’s Mistresse” revived, the thing pretty good, but full of
variety of divertisement. So home and to my business at the office, my
eyes bad again, and so to bed.
16th (Lord’s day). All the morning at my Office with W. Hewer, there
drawing up my Report to the Duke of York, as I have promised, about
the faults of this Office, hoping thereby to have opportunity of doing
myself [something]. At noon to dinner, and again with him to work all
the afternoon till night, till I was weary and had despatched a good
deal of business, and so to bed after hearing my wife read a little.
17th. Up, and by water to White Hall, and so to St. James’s, and thence
with Mr. Wren by appointment in his coach to Hampstead, to speak with
the Atturney-general, whom we met in the fields, by his old route and
house; and after a little talk about our business of Ackeworth, went and
saw the Lord Wotton’s house and garden, which is wonderfull fine: too
good for the house the gardens are, being, indeed, the most noble that
ever I saw, and brave orange and lemon trees. Thence to Mr. Chichley’s
by invitation, and there dined with Sir John, his father not coming
home. And while at dinner comes by the French Embassador Colbert’s
mules, the first I eversaw, with their sumpter-clothes mighty rich, and
his coaches, he being to have his entry to-day: but his things, though
rich, are not new; supposed to be the same his brother
[A mistake of Pepys’s. Colbert de Croissy, then in England, had
himself been the French Plenipotentiary at Aix-la-Chapelle.--B.]
had the other day, at the treaty at Aix-la-Chapelle, in Flanders. Thence
to the Duke of York’s house, and there saw “Cupid’s Revenge,” under the
new name of “Love Despised,” that hath something very good in it, though
I like not the whole body of it. This day the first time acted here.
Thence home, and there with Mr. Hater and W. Hewer late, reading over
all the principal officers’ instructions in order to my great work upon
my hand, and so to bed, my eyes very ill.
18th. Up, and to my office about my great business betimes, and so to
the office, where all the morning. At noon dined, and then to the office
all the afternoon also, and in the evening to Sir W. Coventry’s, but he
not within, I took coach alone to the Park, to try to meet him there,
but did not; but there were few coaches, but among the few there were
in two coaches our two great beauties, my Lady Castlemayne and Richmond;
the first time I saw the latter since she had the smallpox. I had much
pleasure to see them, but I thought they were strange one to another.
Thence going out I met a coach going, which I thought had Knepp in it,
so I went back, but it was not she. So back to White Hall and there took
water, and so home, and busy late about my great letter to the Duke of
York, and so to supper and to bed....
19th. Up betimes, and all day and afternoon without going out, busy upon
my great letter to the Duke of York, which goes on to my content. W.
Hewer and Gibson I employ with me in it. This week my people wash, over
the water, and so I little company at home. In the evening, being busy
above, a great cry I hear, and go down; and what should it be but Jane,
in a fit of direct raving, which lasted half-an-hour. Beyond four or
five of our strength to keep her down; and, when all come to all, a fit
of jealousy about Tom, with whom she is in love. So at night, I, and my
wife, and W. Hewer called them to us, and there I did examine all the
thing, and them, in league. She in love, and he hath got her to promise
him to marry, and he is now cold in it, so that I must rid my hands of
them, which troubles me, and the more because my head is now busy upon
other greater things. I am vexed also to be told by W. Hewer that he is
summoned to the Commissioners of Accounts about receiving a present of
L30 from Mr. Mason, the timber merchant, though there be no harm in
it, that will appear on his part, he having done them several lawful
kindnesses and never demanded anything, as they themselves have this day
declared to the Commissioners, they being forced up by the discovery of
somebody that they in confidence had once told it to. So to supper vexed
and my head full of care, and so to bed.
20th. Betimes at my business again, and so to the office, and dined with
Brouncker and J. Minnes, at Sir W. Pen’s at a bad pasty of venison, and
so to work again, and at it till past twelve at night, that I might get
my great letter
[In the Pepysian Library is a MS. (No. 2242), entitled, “Papers
conteyning my addresse to his Royall Highnesse James Duke of Yorke,
Lord High Admirall of England, &c., by letter dated the 20th of
August, 1668, humbly tendering him my advice touching the present
State of the Office of the Navy, with his Royall Highness’s
proceedings upon the same, and their result.”]
to the Duke of York ready against to-morrow, which I shall do, to my
great content. So to bed.
21st. Up betimes, and with my people again to work, and finished all
before noon: and then I by water to White Hall, and there did tell the
Duke of York that I had done; and he hath to my great content desired
me to come to him at Sunday next in the afternoon, to read it over, by
which I have more time to consider and correct it. So back home and to
the ‘Change, in my way calling at Morris’, my vintner’s, where I love
to see su moher, though no acquaintance accostais this day con her. Did
several things at the ‘Change, and so home to dinner. After dinner I by
coach to my bookseller’s in Duck Lane, and there did spend a little
time and regarder su moher, and so to St. James’s, where did a little
ordinary business; and by and by comes Monsieur Colbert, the French
Embassador, to make his first visit to the Duke of York, and then to the
Duchess: and I saw it: a silly piece of ceremony, he saying only a few
formal words. A comely man, and in a black suit and cloak of silk, which
is a strange fashion, now it hath been so long left off: This day I did
first see the Duke of York’s room of pictures of some Maids of Honour,
done by Lilly: good, but not like.
[The set of portraits known as “King Charles’s Beauties,” formerly
in Windsor Castle, but now at Hampton Court.--B.]
Thence to Reeves’s, and bought a reading-glass, and so to my
bookseller’s again, there to buy a Book of Martyrs,
[The popular name of John Fox’s “Acts and Monuments,” first
published in 1562-63.]
which I did agree for; and so, after seeing and beginning acquaintance
con his femme, but very little, away home, and there busy very late at
the correcting my great letter to the Duke of York, and so to bed.
22nd. Up betimes, at it again with great content, and so to the Office,
where all the morning, and did fall out with W. Pen about his slight
performance of his office, and so home to dinner, fully satisfied that
this Office must sink or the whole Service be undone. To the office all
the afternoon again, and then home to supper and to bed, my mind being
pretty well at ease, my great letter being now finished to my full
content; and I thank God I have opportunity of doing it, though I know
it will set the Office and me by the ears for ever. This morning Captain
Cocke comes, and tells me that he is now assured that it is true, what
he told me the other day, that our whole Office will be turned out,
only me, which, whether he says true or no, I know not, nor am much
concerned, though I should be better contented to have it thus than
otherwise. This afternoon, after I was weary in my business of the
office, I went forth to the ‘Change, thinking to have spoke with Captain
Cocke, but he was not within. So I home, and took London-bridge in my
way; walking down Fish Street and Gracious Street, to see how very fine
a descent they have now made down the hill, that it is become very easy
and pleasant, and going through Leaden-Hall, it being market-day, I
did see a woman catched, that had stolen a shoulder of mutton off of a
butcher’s stall, and carrying it wrapt up in a cloth, in a basket. The
jade was surprised, and did not deny it, and the woman so silly, as to
let her go that took it, only taking the meat.
23rd (Lord’s day). Up betimes, my head busy in my great letter, and
I did first hang up my new map of Paris in my green room, and changed
others in other places. Then to Captain Cocke’s, thinking to have talked
more of what he told me yesterday, but he was not within. So back to
church, and heard a good sermon of Mr. Gifford’s at our church, upon
“Seek ye first the kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness, and all
these things shall be added to you.” A very excellent and persuasive,
good and moral sermon. Shewed, like a wise man, that righteousness is
a surer moral way of being rich, than sin and villainy. Then home
to dinner, where Mr. Pelting, who brought us a hare, which we had at
dinner, and W. Howe. After dinner to the Office, Mr. Gibson and I, to
examine my letter to the Duke of York, which, to my great joy, I did
very well by my paper tube, without pain to my eyes. And I do mightily
like what I have therein done; and did, according to the Duke of York’s
order, make haste to St. James’s, and about four o’clock got thither:
and there the Duke of York was ready, to expect me, and did hear it all
over with extraordinary content; and did give me many and hearty
thanks, and in words the most expressive tell me his sense of my good
endeavours, and that he would have a care of me on all occasions; and
did, with much inwardness,--[i.e., intimacy.]--tell me what was doing,
suitable almost to what Captain Cocke tells me, of designs to make
alterations in the Navy; and is most open to me in them, and with utmost
confidence desires my further advice on all occasions: and he resolves
to have my letter transcribed, and sent forthwith to the Office. So,
with as much satisfaction as I could possibly, or did hope for, and
obligation on the Duke of York’s side professed to me, I away into the
Park, and there met Mr. Pierce and his wife, and sister and brother,
and a little boy, and with them to Mulberry Garden, and spent I 18s. on
them, and there left them, she being again with child, and by it, the
least pretty that ever I saw her. And so I away, and got a coach, and
home, and there with my wife and W. Hewer, talking all the evening, my
mind running on the business of the Office, to see what more I can do to
the rendering myself acceptable and useful to all and to the King. We to
supper, and to bed.
24th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning upon considerations
on the Victualler’s contract, and then home to dinner, where my wife is
upon hanging the long chamber where the girl lies, with the sad
stuff that was in the best chamber, in order to the hanging that with
tapestry. So to dinner, and then to the office again, where all the
afternoon till night, we met to discourse upon the alterations which are
propounded to be made in the draft of the victualler’s contract which
we did lately make, and then we being up comes Mr. Child, Papillion and
Littleton, his partners, to discourse upon the matter with me, which
I did, and spent all the evening with them at the office, and so, they
being gone, I to supper and talk with my wife, and so to bed.
25th. Up, and by water to St. James’s, and there, with Mr. Wren, did
discourse about my great letter, which the Duke of York hath given him:
and he hath set it to be transcribed by Billings, his man, whom, as he
tells me, he can most confide in for secresy, and is much pleased with
it, and earnest to have it be; and he and I are like to be much together
in the considering how to reform the Office, and that by the Duke of
York’s command. Thence I, mightily pleased with this success, away to
the Office, where all the morning, my head full of this business. And
it is pretty how Lord Brouncker this day did tell me how he hears that
a design is on foot to remove us out of the Office: and proposes that
we two do agree to draw up a form of a new constitution of the Office,
there to provide remedies for the evils we are now under, so that we may
be beforehand with the world, which I agreed to, saying nothing of my
design; and, the truth is, he is the best man of them all, and I would
be glad, next myself, to save him; for, as he deserves best, so I
doubt he needs his place most. So home to dinner at noon, and all the
afternoon busy at the office till night, and then with my mind full of
business now in my head, I to supper and to bed.
26th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning almost, busy about
business against the afternoon, and we met a little to sign two or three
things at the Board of moment, and thence at noon home to dinner, and so
away to White Hall by water. In my way to the Old Swan, finding a great
many people gathered together in Cannon Street about a man that was
working in the ruins, and the ground did sink under him, and he sunk in,
and was forced to be dug out again, but without hurt. Thence to White
Hall, and it is strange to say with what speed the people employed do
pull down Paul’s steeple, and with what ease: it is said that it, and
the choir are to be taken down this year, and another church begun
in the room thereof, the next. At White Hall we met at the Treasury
chamber, and there before the Lords did debate our draft of the
victualling contract with the several bidders for it, which were Sir D.
Gawden, Mr. Child and his fellows, and Mr. Dorrington and his, a poor
variety in a business of this value. There till after candle-lighting,
and so home by coach with Sir D. Gawden, who, by the way, tells me how
the City do go on in several things towards the building of the public
places, which I am glad to hear; and gives hope that in a few years it
will be a glorious place; but we met with several stops and new troubles
in the way in the streets, so as makes it bad to travel in the dark now
through the City. So I to Mr. Batelier’s by appointment, where I find
my wife, and Deb., and Mercer; Mrs. Pierce and her husband, son, and
daughter; and Knepp and Harris, and W. Batelier, and his sister Mary,
and cozen Gumbleton, a good-humoured, fat young gentleman, son to the
jeweller, that dances well; and here danced all night long, with a noble
supper; and about two in the morning the table spread again for a noble
breakfast beyond all moderation, that put me out of countenance, so much
and so good. Mrs. Pierce and her people went home betimes, she being
big with child; but Knepp and the rest staid till almost three in the
morning, and then broke up.
27th. Knepp home with us, and I to bed, and rose about six, mightily
pleased with last night’s mirth, and away by water to St. James’s, and
there, with Mr. Wren, did correct his copy of my letter, which the Duke
of York hath signed in my very words, without alteration of a syllable.
[A copy of this letter is in the British Museum, Harl. MS. 6003.
See July 24th, ante, and August 29th, Post. In the Pepysian
Collection are the following: An Inquisition, by his Royal Highness
the Duke of York, when Lord High Admiral of England, into the
Management of the Navy, 1668, with his Regulations thereon, fol.
Also Mr. Pepys’s Defence of the same upon an Inquisition thereunto
by Parliament, 1669, fol.--B.]
And so pleased therewith, I to my Lord Brouncker, who I find within, but
hath business, and so comes not to the Office to-day. And so I by water
to the Office, where we sat all the morning; and, just as the Board
rises, comes the Duke of York’s letter, which I knowing, and the Board
not being full, and desiring rather to have the Duke of York deliver
it himself to us, I suppressed it for this day, my heart beginning to
falsify in this business, as being doubtful of the trouble it may give
me by provoking them; but, however, I am resolved to go through it, and
it is too late to help it now. At noon to dinner to Captain Cocke’s,
where I met with Mr. Wren; my going being to tell him what I have done,
which he likes, and to confer with Cocke about our Office; who tells me
that he is confident the design of removing our Officers do hold, but
that he is sure that I am safe enough. Which pleases me, though I do not
much shew it to him, but as a thing indifferent. So away home, and there
met at Sir Richard Ford’s with the Duke of York’s Commissioners about
our Prizes, with whom we shall have some trouble before we make an end
with them, and hence, staying a little with them, I with my wife, and W.
Batelier, and Deb.; carried them to Bartholomew Fayre, where we saw the
dancing of the ropes and nothing else, it being late, and so back home
to supper and to bed, after having done at my office.
28th. Busy at the office till toward 10 o’clock, and then by water to
White Hall, where attending the Council’s call all the morning with Lord
Brouncker, W. Pen, and the rest, about the business of supernumeraries
in the fleete, but were not called in. But here the Duke of York did
call me aside, and told me that he must speak with me in the afternoon,
with Mr. Wren, for that now he hath got the paper from my Lord Keeper
about the exceptions taken against the management of the Navy; and so
we are to debate upon answering them. At noon I home with W. Coventry to
his house; and there dined with him, and talked freely with him; and did
acquaint him with what I have done, which he is well pleased with, and
glad of: and do tell me that there are endeavours on foot to bring the
Navy into new, but, he fears, worse hands. After much talk with great
content with him, I walked to the Temple, and staid at Starky’s, my
bookseller’s (looking over Dr. Heylin’s new book of the Life of Bishop
Laud, a strange book of the Church History of his time), till Mr. Wren
comes, and by appointment we to the Atturney General’s chamber, and
there read and heard the witnesses in the business of Ackeworth, most
troublesome and perplexed by the counter swearing of the witnesses one
against the other, and so with Mr. Wren away thence to St. [James’s] for
his papers, and so to White Hall, and after the Committee was done at
the Council chamber about the business of Supernumeraries, wherein W.
Pen was to do all and did, but like an ignorant illiterate coxcomb,
the Duke of York fell to work with us, the Committee being gone, in
the Council-chamber; and there, with his own hand, did give us his long
letter, telling us that he had received several from us, and now did
give us one from him, taking notice of our several duties and failures,
and desired answer to it, as he therein desired; this pleased me well;
and so fell to other business, and then parted. And the Duke of York,
and Wren, and I, it being now candle-light, into the Duke of York’s
closet in White Hall; and there read over this paper of my Lord
Keeper’s, wherein are laid down the faults of the Navy, so silly,
and the remedies so ridiculous, or else the same that are now already
provided, that we thought it not to need any answer, the Duke of York
being able himself to do it: that so it makes us admire the confidence
of these men to offer things so silly, in a business of such moment. But
it is a most perfect instance of the complexion of the times! and so the
Duke of York said himself, who, I perceive, is mightily concerned in it,
and do, again and again, recommend it to Mr. Wren and me together, to
consider upon remedies fit to provide for him to propound to the King,
before the rest of the world, and particularly the Commissioners of
Accounts, who are men of understanding and order, to find our faults,
and offer remedies of their own, which I am glad of, and will endeavour
to do something in it. So parted, and with much difficulty, by
candle-light, walked over the Matted Gallery, as it is now with the mats
and boards all taken up, so that we walked over the rafters. But strange
to see what hard matter the plaister of Paris is, that is there taken
up, as hard as stone! And pity to see Holben’s work in the ceiling
blotted on, and only whited over! Thence; with much ado, by several
coaches home, to supper and to bed. My wife having been this day with
Hales, to sit for her hand to be mended, in her picture.
29th. Up, and all the morning at the Office, where the Duke of York’s
long letter was read, to their great trouble, and their suspecting me to
have been the writer of it. And at noon comes, by appointment, Harris to
dine with me and after dinner he and I to Chyrurgeon’s-hall, where they
are building it new, very fine; and there to see their theatre; which
stood all the fire, and, which was our business, their great picture of
Holben’s, thinking to have bought it, by the help of Mr. Pierce, for a
little money: I did think to give L200 for it, it being said to be worth
L1000; but it is so spoiled that I have no mind to it, and is not a
pleasant, though a good picture. Thence carried Harris to his playhouse,
where, though four o’clock, so few people there at “The Impertinents,”
as I went out; and do believe they did not act, though there was my Lord
Arlington and his company there. So I out, and met my wife in a coach,
and stopped her going thither to meet me; and took her, and Mercer,
and Deb., to Bartholomew Fair, and there did see a ridiculous, obscene
little stage-play, called “Marry Andrey;” a foolish thing, but seen by
every body; and so to Jacob Hall’s dancing of the ropes; a thing worth
seeing, and mightily followed, and so home and to the office, and then
to bed. Writing to my father to-night not to unfurnish our house in the
country for my sister, who is going to her own house, because I think I
may have occasion myself to come thither; and so I do, by our being put
out of the Office, which do not at all trouble me to think of.
30th (Lord’s day). Walked to St. James’s and Pell Mell, and read over,
with Sir W. Coventry, my long letter to the Duke of York, and which the
Duke of York hath, from mine, wrote to the Board, wherein he is mightily
pleased, and I perceive do put great value upon me, and did talk very
openly on all matters of State, and how some people have got the bit
into their mouths, meaning the Duke of Buckingham and his party, and
would likely run away with all. But what pleased me mightily was to hear
the good character he did give of my Lord Falmouth for his generosity,
good-nature, desire of public good, and low thoughts of his own wisdom;
his employing his interest in the King to do good offices to all people,
without any other fault than the freedom he, do learn in France of
thinking himself obliged to serve his King in his pleasures: and was
W. Coventry’s particular friend: and W. Coventry do tell me very odde
circumstances about the fatality of his death, which are very strange.
Thence to White Hall to chapel, and heard the anthem, and did dine with
the Duke of Albemarle in a dirty manner as ever. All the afternoon, I
sauntered up and down the house and Park. And there was a Committee for
Tangier met, wherein Lord Middleton would, I think, have found fault
with me for want of coles; but I slighted it, and he made nothing of it,
but was thought to be drunk; and I see that he hath a mind to find fault
with me and Creed, neither of us having yet applied ourselves to him
about anything: but do talk of his profits and perquisites taken from
him, and garrison reduced, and that it must be increased, and such
things, as; I fear, he will be just such another as my Lord Tiviott and
the rest, to ruin that place. So I to the Park, and there walk an hour
or two; and in the King’s garden, and saw the Queen and ladies walk;
and I did steal some apples off the trees; and here did see my Lady
Richmond, who is of a noble person as ever I saw, but her face worse
than it was considerably by the smallpox: her sister’ is also very
handsome. Coming into the Park, and the door kept strictly, I had
opportunity of handing in the little, pretty, squinting girl of the Duke
of York’s house, but did not make acquaintance with her; but let her go,
and a little girl that was with her, to walk by themselves. So to White
Hall in the evening, to the Queen’s side, and there met the Duke of
York; and he did tell me and W. Coventry, who was with me, how that Lord
Anglesey did take notice of our reading his long and sharp letter to
the Board; but that it was the better, at least he said so. The Duke of
York, I perceive, is earnest in it, and will have good effects of it;
telling W. Coventry that it was a letter that might have come from the
Commissioners of Accounts, but it was better it should come first from
him. I met Lord Brouncker, who, I perceive, and the rest, do smell that
it comes from me, but dare not find fault with it; and I am glad of it,
it being my glory and defence that I did occasion and write it. So by
water home, and did spend the evening with W. Hewer, telling him how we
are all like to be turned out, Lord Brouncker telling me this evening
that the Duke of Buckingham did, within few hours, say that he had
enough to turn us all out which I am not sorry for at all, for I know
the world will judge me to go for company; and my eyes are such as I am
not able to do the business of my Office as I used, and would desire to
do, while I am in it. So with full content, declaring all our content
in being released of my employment, my wife and I to bed, and W. Hewer
home, and so all to bed.
31st. Up, and to my office, there to set my journal for all the last
week, and so by water to Westminster to the Exchequer, and thence to the
Swan, and there drank and did baiser la fille there, and so to the New
Exchange and paid for some things, and so to Hercules Pillars,’ and
there dined all alone, while I sent my shoe to have the heel fastened at
Wotton’s, and thence to White Hall to the Treasury chamber, where did
a little business, and thence to the Duke of York’s playhouse and there
met my wife and Deb. and Mary Mercer and Batelier, where also W. Hewer
was, and saw “Hamlet,” which we have not seen this year before, or more;
and mightily pleased with it; but, above all, with Betterton, the
best part I believe, that ever man acted. Thence to the Fayre, and saw
“Polichinelle,” and so home, and after a little supper to bed. This
night lay the first night in Deb.’s chamber, which is now hung with that
that hung our great chamber, and is now a very handsome room. This day
Mrs. Batelier did give my wife a mighty pretty Spaniel bitch [Flora],
which she values mightily, and is pretty; but as a new comer, I cannot
be fond of her.