January 1st. Up, and presented from Captain Beckford with a noble silver
warming-pan, which I am doubtful whether to take or no. Up, and with W.
Hewer to the New Exchange, and then he and I to the cabinet-shops, to
look out, and did agree, for a cabinet to give my wife for a New-year’s
gift; and I did buy one cost me L11, which is very pretty, of
walnutt-tree, and will come home to-morrow. So back to the old Exchange,
and there met my uncle Wight; and there walked, and met with the
Houblons, and talked with them--gentlemen whom I honour mightily: and so
to my uncle’s, and met my wife; and there, with W. Hewer, we dined
with our family, and had a very good dinner, and pretty merry and after
dinner, my wife and I with our coach to the King’s playhouse, and there
in a box saw “The Mayden Queene.” Knepp looked upon us, but I durst not
shew her any countenance; and, as well as I could carry myself, I found
my wife uneasy there, poor wretch! therefore, I shall avoid that house
as much as I can. So back to my aunt’s, and there supped and talked, and
staid pretty late, it being dry and moonshine, and so walked home, and
to bed in very good humour.
2nd. Up, at the office all the morning, and at noon home to dinner,
where I find my cabinet come home, and paid for it, and it pleases me
and my wife well. So after dinner busy late at the office, and so home
and to bed.
3rd (Lord’s day). Up, and busy all the morning, getting rooms and dinner
ready for my guests, which were my uncle and aunt Wight, and two of
their cousins, and an old woman, and Mr. Mills and his wife; and a
good dinner, and all our plate out, and mighty fine and merry, only I
a little vexed at burning a new table-cloth myself, with one of my
trencher-salts. Dinner done, I out with W. Hewer and Mr. Spong, who by
accident come to dine with me, and good talk with him: to White Hall by
coach, and there left him, and I with my Lord Brouncker to attend the
Duke of York, and then up and down the House till the evening, hearing
how the King do intend this frosty weather, it being this day the first,
and very hard frost, that hath come this year, and very cold it is. So
home; and to supper and read; and there my wife and I treating about
coming to an allowance to my wife for clothes; and there I, out of my
natural backwardness, did hang off, which vexed her, and did occasion
some discontented talk in bed, when we went to bed; and also in the
morning, but I did recover all in the morning.
4th. Lay long, talking with my wife, and did of my own accord come to an
allowance of her of L30 a-year for all expences, clothes and everything,
which she was mightily pleased with, it being more than ever she asked
or expected, and so rose, with much content, and up with W. Hewer to
White Hall, there to speak with Mr. Wren, which I did about several
things of the office entered in my memorandum books, and so about noon,
going homeward with W. Hewer, he and I went in and saw the great tall
woman that is to be seen, who is but twenty-one years old, and I do
easily stand under her arms. Then, going further, The. Turner called me,
out of her coach where her mother, &c., was, and invited me by all means
to dine with them, at my cozen Roger’s mistress’s, the widow Dickenson!
So, I went to them afterwards, and dined with them, and mighty
handsomely treated, and she a wonderful merry, good-humoured, fat, but
plain woman, but I believe a very good woman, and mighty civil to me.
Mrs. Turner, the mother, and Mrs. Dyke, and The., and Betty was the
company, and a gentleman of their acquaintance. Betty I did long to see,
and she is indifferent pretty, but not what the world did speak of her;
but I am mighty glad to have one so pretty of our kindred. After dinner,
I walked with them, to shew them the great woman, which they admire,
as well they may; and so back with them, and left them; and I to White
Hall, where a Committee of Tangier met, but little to do there, but I
did receive an instance of the Duke of York’s kindness to me, and the
whole Committee, that they would not order any thing about the Treasurer
for the Corporation now in establishing, without my assent, and
considering whether it would be to my wrong or no. Thence up and down
the house, and to the Duke of York’s side, and there in the Duchess’s
presence; and was mightily complimented by my Lady Peterborough, in my
Lord Sandwich’s presence, whom she engaged to thank me for my kindness
to her and her Lord.... By and by I met my Lord Brouncker; and he and
I to the Duke of York alone, and discoursed over the carriage of the
present Treasurers, in opposition to, or at least independency of, the
Duke of York, or our Board, which the Duke of York is sensible of, and
all remember, I believe; for they do carry themselves very respectlessly
of him and us. We also declared our minds together to the Duke of York
about Sir John Minnes’s incapacity to do any service in the Office,
and that it is but to betray the King to have any business of trust
committed to his weakness. So the Duke of York was very sensible of it
and promised to speak to the King about it. That done, I with W. Hewer
took up my wife at Unthank’s, and so home, and there with pleasure to
read and talk, and so to supper, and put into writing, in merry terms,
our agreement between my wife and me, about L30 a-year, and so to bed.
This was done under both our hands merrily, and put into W. Hewer’s to
keep.
5th. Up, and to the office all the morning, the frost and cold
continuing. At noon home with my people to dinner; and so to work at the
office again; in the evening comes Creed to me, and tells me his wife
is at my house. So I in, and spent an hour with them, the first time she
hath been here, or I have seen her, since she was married. She is not
overhandsome, though a good lady, and one I love. So after some pleasant
discourse, they gone, I to the Office again, and there late, and then
home to supper to my wife, who is not very well of those, and so sat
talking till past one in the morning, and then to bed.
6th (Twelfth day). Up, and to look after things against dinner to-day
for my guests, and then to the Office to write down my journall for five
or six days backward, and so home to look after dinner, it being now
almost noon. At noon comes Mrs. Turner and Dyke, and Mrs. Dickenson, and
then comes The. and Betty Turner, the latter of which is a very pretty
girl; and then Creed and his wife, whom I sent for, by my coach. These
were my guests, and Mrs. Turner’s friend, whom I saw the other day,
Mr. Wicken, and very merry we were at dinner, and so all the afternoon,
talking, and looking up and down my house; and in the evening I did
bring out my cake--a noble cake, and there cut it into pieces, with wine
and good drink: and after a new fashion, to prevent spoiling the cake,
did put so many titles into a hat, and so drew cuts; and I was the
Queene; and The. Turner, King--Creed, Sir Martin Marr-all; and Betty,
Mrs. Millicent: and so we were mighty merry till it was night; and then,
being moonshine and fine frost, they went home, I lending some of them
my coach to help to carry them, and so my wife and I spent the rest of
the evening in talk and reading, and so with great pleasure to bed.
7th. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning, and then at noon
home to dinner, and thence my wife and I to the King’s playhouse, and
there saw “The Island Princesse,” the first time I ever saw it; and it
is a pretty good play, many good things being in it, and a good scene of
a town on fire. We sat in an upper box, and the jade Nell come and sat
in the next box; a bold merry slut, who lay laughing there upon people;
and with a comrade of hers of the Duke’s house, that come in to see the
play. Thence home and to the office to do some business, and so home to
supper and to bed.
8th. Up, and with Colonel Middleton, in his coach, and Mr. Tippets to
White Hall; and there attended the Duke of York with the rest, where the
Duke was mighty plain with the Treasurers, according to the advice my
Lord Brouncker and I did give him the other night, and he did it fully;
and so as, I believe, will make the Treasurers carefull of themselves,
unless they do resolve upon defying the Duke of York. Thence with W.
Hewer home, and to dinner, and so out again, my wife and I and Mr. Hater
to White Hall, where she set us down, and she up and down to buy things,
while we at the Treasury-Chamber, where I alone did manage the business
of “The Leopard” against the whole Committee of the East India Company,
with Mr. Blackburne with them; and to the silencing of them all, to my
no great content. Thence walked to my wife, and so set out for home
in our coach, it being very cold weather, and so to the office to do a
little business, and then home to my wife’s chamber, my people having
laid the cloth, and got the rooms all clean above-stairs to-night for
our dinner to-morrow, and therefore I to bed.
9th. Up, and at the office all the morning, and at noon, my Lord
Brouncker, Mr. Wren, Joseph Williamson, and Captain Cocke, dined with
me; and, being newly sat down, comes in, by invitation of Williamson’s,
the Lieutenant of the Tower, and he brings in with him young Mr. Whore,
whose father, of the Tower, I know.--And here I had a neat dinner,
and all in so good manner and fashion, and with so good company, and
everything to my mind, as I never had more in my life--the company being
to my heart’s content, and they all well pleased. So continued, looking
over my books and closet till the evening, and so I to the Office and
did a good deal of business, and so home to supper and to bed with my
mind mightily pleased with this day’s management, as one of the days of
my life of fullest content.
10th (Lord’s day). Accidentally talking of our maids before we rose, I
said a little word that did give occasion to my wife to fall out; and
she did most vexatiously, almost all the morning, but ended most perfect
good friends; but the thoughts of the unquiet which her ripping up of
old faults will give me, did make me melancholy all day long. So about
noon, past 12, we rose, and to dinner, and then to read and talk, my
wife and I alone, for Balty was gone, who come to dine with us, and then
in the evening comes Pelting to sit and talk with us, and so to supper
and pretty merry discourse, only my mind a little vexed at the morning’s
work, but yet without any appearance. So after supper to bed.
11th. Up, and with W. Hewer, my guard, to White Hall, where no Committee
of Tangier met, so up and down the House talking with this and that man,
and so home, calling at the New Exchange for a book or two to send to
Mr. Shepley and thence home, and thence to the ‘Change, and there did a
little business, and so walked home to dinner, and then abroad with my
wife to the King’s playhouse, and there saw “The Joviall Crew,” but ill
acted to what it was heretofore, in Clun’s time, and when Lacy could
dance. Thence to the New Exchange, to buy some things; and, among
others, my wife did give me my pair of gloves, which, by contract, she
is to give me in her L30 a-year. Here Mrs. Smith tells us of the great
murder thereabouts, on Saturday last, of one Captain Bumbridge, by one
Symons, both of her acquaintance; and hectors that were at play, and in
drink: the former is killed, and is kinsman to my Lord of Ormond, which
made him speak of it with so much passion, as I overheard him this
morning, but could not make anything of it till now, but would they
would kill more of them. So home; and there at home all the evening;
and made Tom to prick down some little conceits and notions of mine,
in musique, which do mightily encourage me to spend some more thoughts
about it; for I fancy, upon good reason, that I am in the right way of
unfolding the mystery of this matter, better than ever yet.
12th. Up, and to the Office, where, by occasion of a message from the
Treasurers that their Board found fault with Commissioner Middleton,
I went up from our Board to the Lords of the Treasury to meet our
Treasurers, and did, and there did dispute the business, it being about
the matter of paying a little money to Chatham Yard, wherein I find the
Treasurers mighty supple, and I believe we shall bring them to reason,
though they begun mighty upon us, as if we had no power of directing
them, but they, us. Thence back presently home, to dinner, where I
discern my wife to have been in pain about where I have been, but said
nothing to me, but I believe did send W. Hewer to seek me, but I take no
notice of it, but am vexed. So to dinner with my people, and then to the
Office, where all the afternoon, and did much business, and at it late,
and so home to supper, and to bed. This day, meeting Mr. Pierce at White
Hall, he tells me that his boy hath a great mind to see me, and is going
to school again; and Dr. Clerke, being by, do tell me that he is a fine
boy; but I durst not answer anything, because I durst not invite him to
my house, for fear of my wife; and therefore, to my great trouble, was
forced to neglect that discourse. But here Mr. Pierce, I asking him
whither he was going, told me as a great secret that he was going to his
master’s mistress, Mrs. Churchill, with some physic; meaning for the pox
I suppose, or else that she is got with child. This evening I observed
my wife mighty dull, and I myself was not mighty fond, because of some
hard words she did give me at noon, out of a jealousy at my being abroad
this morning, which, God knows, it was upon the business of the Office
unexpectedly: but I to bed, not thinking but she would come after
me. But waking by and by out of a slumber, which I usually fall into
presently after my coming into the bed, I found she did not prepare to
come to bed, but got fresh candles, and more wood for her fire, it being
mighty cold, too. At this being troubled, I after a while prayed her to
come to bed, all my people being gone to bed; so, after an hour or two,
she silent, and I now and then praying her to come to bed, she fell
out into a fury, that I was a rogue, and false to her. But yet I did
perceive that she was to seek what to say, only she invented, I believe,
a business that I was seen in a hackney coach with the glasses up with
Deb., but could not tell the time, nor was sure I was he. I did, as
I might truly, deny it, and was mightily troubled, but all would not
serve. At last, about one o’clock, she come to my side of the bed, and
drew my curtaine open, and with the tongs red hot at the ends, made as
if she did design to pinch me with them, at which, in dismay, I rose up,
and with a few words she laid them down; and did by little and, little,
very sillily, let all the discourse fall; and about two, but with much
seeming difficulty, come to bed, and there lay well all night, and long
in bed talking together, with much pleasure, it being, I know, nothing
but her doubt of my going out yesterday, without telling her of my
going, which did vex her, poor wretch! last night, and I cannot blame
her jealousy, though it do vex me to the heart.
13th. So up and by coach to Sir W. Coventry’s, but he gone out, so I to
White Hall, and thence walked out into the Park, all in the snow, with
the Duke of York and the rest, and so home, after visiting my Lady
Peterborough, and there by invitation find Mr. Povy, and there was also
Talbot Pepys, newly come from Impington, and dined with me; and after
dinner and a little talk with Povy about publick matters, he gone, and
I and my wife and Talbot towards the Temple, and there to the King’s
playhouse, and there saw, I think, “The Maiden Queene,” and so home and
to supper and read, and to bed. This day come home the instrument I have
so long longed for, the Parallelogram.
14th. Up and to the office, where all the morning busy, and so home to
dinner, where Goodgroome with us, and after dinner a song, and then to
the office, where busy till night, and then home to work there with
W. Hewer to get ready some Tangier papers against to-morrow, and so to
supper and to bed.
15th. Up, and by coach to Sir W. Coventry, where with him a good while
in his chamber, talking of one thing or another; among others, he
told me of the great factions at Court at this day, even to the sober
engaging of great persons, and differences, and making the King cheap
and ridiculous. It is about my Lady Harvy’s being offended at Doll
Common’s acting of Sempronia, to imitate her; for which she got my Lord
Chamberlain, her kinsman, to imprison Doll: when my Lady Castlemayne
made the King to release her, and to order her to act it again, worse
than ever, the other day, where the King himself was: and since it was
acted again, and my Lady Harvy provided people to hiss her and fling
oranges at her: but, it seems the heat is come to a great height, and
real troubles at Court about it. Thence he and I out of doors, but he
to Sir J. Duncomb, and I to White Hall through the Park, where I met
the King and the Duke of York, and so walked with them, and so to White
Hall, where the Duke of York met the office and did a little business;
and I did give him thanks for his favour to me yesterday, at the
Committee of Tangier, in my absence, Mr. Povy having given me advice
of it, of the discourse there of doing something as to the putting the
payment of the garrison into some undertaker’s hand, Alderman Backewell,
which the Duke of York would not suffer to go on, without my presence at
the debate. And he answered me just thus: that he ought to have a care
of him that do the King’s business in the manner that I do, and words
of more force than that. Then down with Lord Brouncker to Sir R. Murray,
into the King’s little elaboratory, under his closet, a pretty place;
and there saw a great many chymical glasses and things, but understood
none of them. So I home and to dinner, and then out again and stop with
my wife at my cozen Turner’s where I staid and sat a while, and carried
The. and my wife to the Duke of York’s house, to “Macbeth,” and myself
to White Hall, to the Lords of the Treasury, about Tangier business; and
there was by at much merry discourse between them and my Lord Anglesey,
who made sport of our new Treasurers, and called them his deputys, and
much of that kind. And having done my own business, I away back, and
carried my cozen Turner and sister Dyke to a friend’s house, where they
were to sup, in Lincoln’s Inn Fields; and I to the Duke of York’s house
and saw the last two acts, and so carried The. thither, and so home with
my wife, who read to me late, and so to supper and to bed. This day The.
Turner shewed me at the play my Lady Portman, who has grown out of my
knowledge.
16th. Up, and to the office all the morning, dined at home with my
people, and so all the afternoon till night at the office busy, and
so home to supper and to bed. This morning Creed, and in the
afternoon comes Povy, to advise with me about my answer to the Lords
[Commissioners] of Tangier, about the propositions for the Treasurership
there, which I am not much concerned for. But the latter, talking of
publick things, told me, as Mr. Wren also did, that the Parliament is
likely to meets again, the King being frighted with what the Speaker
hath put him in mind of--his promise not to prorogue, but only to
adjourne them. They speak mighty freely of the folly of the King in this
foolish woman’s business, of my Lady Harvy. Povy tells me that Sir W.
Coventry was with the King alone, an hour this day; and that my Lady
Castlemayne is now in a higher command over the King than ever--not as a
mistress, for she scorns him, but as a tyrant, to command him: and says
that the Duchess of York and the Duke of York are mighty great with her,
which is a great interest to my Lord Chancellor’s’ family; and that
they do agree to hinder all they can the proceedings of the Duke of
Buckingham and Arlington: and so we are in the old mad condition, or
rather worse than any; no man knowing what the French intend to do the
next summer.
17th (Lord’s day). To church myself after seeing every thing fitted for
dinner, and so, after church, home, and thither comes Mrs. Batelier and
her two daughters to dinner to us; and W. Hewer and his mother, and Mr.
Spong. We were very civilly merry, and Mrs. Batelier a very discreet
woman, but mighty fond in the stories she tells of her son Will.
After dinner, Mr. Spong and I to my closet, there to try my instrument
Parallelogram, which do mighty well, to my full content; but only a
little stiff, as being new. Thence, taking leave of my guests, he and I
and W. Hewer to White Hall, and there parting with Spong, a man that
I mightily love for his plainness and ingenuity, I into the Court, and
there up and down and spoke with my Lords Bellassis and Peterborough
about the business now in dispute, about my deputing a Treasurer to pay
the garrison at Tangier, which I would avoid, and not be accountable,
and they will serve me therein. Here I met Hugh May, and he brings me to
the knowledge of Sir Henry Capell, a Member of Parliament, and brother
of my Lord of Essex, who hath a great value, it seems, for me; and they
appoint a day to come and dine with me, and see my books, and papers of
the Office, which I shall be glad to shew them, and have opportunity to
satisfy them therein. Here all the discourse is, that now the King is
of opinion to have the Parliament called, notwithstanding his late
resolutions for proroguing them; so unstable are his councils, and those
about him. So staying late talking in the Queen’s side, I away, with W.
Hewer home, and there to read and talk with my wife, and so to bed.
18th. Up by candlelight, and with W. Hewer walked to the Temple, and
thence took coach and to Sir William Coventry’s, and there discoursed
the business of my Treasurer’s place, at Tangier, wherein he consents
to my desire, and concurs therein, which I am glad of, that I may not
be accountable for a man so far off. And so I to my Lord Sandwich’s, and
there walk with him through the garden, to White Hall, where he tells me
what he had done about this Treasurer’s place, and I perceive the whole
thing did proceed from him: that finding it would be best to have the
Governor have nothing to do with the pay of the garrison, he did propose
to the Duke of York alone that a pay-master should be there; and that
being desirous to do a courtesy to Sir Charles Harbord, and to prevent
the Duke of York’s looking out for any body else, he did name him to the
Duke of York. That when he come the other day to move this to the Board
of Tangier, the Duke of York, it seems, did readily reply, that it was
fit to have Mr. Pepys satisfied therein first, and that it was not good
to make places for persons. This my Lord in great confidence tells me,
that he do take very ill from the Duke of York, though nobody knew the
meaning of these words but him; and that he did take no notice of them,
but bit his lip, being satisfied that the Duke of York’s care of me was
as desirable to him, as it could be to have Sir Charles Harbord: and did
seem industrious to let me see that he was glad that the Duke of York
and he might come to contend who shall be the kindest to me, which I
owned as his great love, and so I hope and believe it is, though my Lord
did go a little too far in this business, to move it so far, without
consulting me. But I took no notice of that, but was glad to see this
competition come about, that my Lord Sandwich is apparently jealous of
my thinking that the Duke of York do mean me more kindness than him. So
we walked together, and I took this occasion to invite him to dinner one
day to my house, and he readily appointed Friday next, which I shall be
glad to have over to his content, he having never yet eat a bit of
my bread. Thence to the Duke of York on the King’s side, with our
Treasurers of the Navy, to discourse some business of the Navy, about
the pay of the yards, and there I was taken notice of, many Lords being
there in the room, of the Duke of York’s conference with me; and so
away, and meeting Mr. Sidney Montagu and Sheres, a small invitation
served their turn to carry them to London, where I paid Sheres his L100,
given him for his pains in drawing the plate of Tangier fortifications,
&c., and so home to my house to dinner, where I had a pretty handsome
sudden dinner, and all well pleased; and thence we three and my wife
to the Duke of York’s playhouse, and there saw “The Witts,” a medley of
things, but some similes mighty good, though ill mixed; and thence with
my wife to the Exchange and bought some things, and so home, after I had
been at White Hall, and there in the Queen’s withdrawing-room invited
my Lord Peterborough to dine with me, with my Lord Sandwich, who readily
accepted it. Thence back and took up my wife at the ‘Change, and so
home. This day at noon I went with my young gentlemen (thereby to get a
little time while W. Hewer went home to bid them get a dinner ready)
to the Pope’s Head tavern, there to see the fine painted room which
Rogerson told me of, of his doing; but I do not like it at all, though
it be good for such a publick room.
19th. Up, and at the office all the morning. At noon eat a mouthful, and
so with my wife to Madam Turner’s, and find her gone, but The. staid for
us; and so to the King’s house, to see “Horace;” this the third day
of its acting--a silly tragedy; but Lacy hath made a farce of several
dances--between each act, one: but his words are but silly, and
invention not extraordinary, as to the dances; only some Dutchmen come
out of the mouth and tail of a Hamburgh sow. Thence, not much pleased
with the play, set them at home in the Strand; and my wife and I home,
and there to do a little business at the Office, and so home to supper
and to bed.
20th. Up; and my wife, and I, and W. Hewer to White Hall, where she set
us down; and there I spoke with my Lord Peterborough, to tell him of the
day for his dining with me being altered by my Lord Sandwich from Friday
to Saturday next. And thence heard at the Council-board the City, by
their single counsel Symson, and the company of Strangers Merchants, a
debate the business of water-baylage; a tax demanded upon all goods,
by the City, imported and exported: which these Merchants oppose,
and demanding leave to try the justice of the City’s demand by a Quo
Warranto, which the City opposed, the Merchants did quite lay the City
on their backs with great triumph, the City’s cause being apparently too
weak: but here I observed Mr. Gold, the merchant, to speak very well,
and very sharply, against the City. Thence to my wife at Unthanke’s, and
with her and W. Hewer to Hercules Pillars, calling to do two or three
things by the way, end there dined, and thence to the Duke of York’s
house, and saw “Twelfth Night,” as it is now revived; but, I think,
one of the weakest plays that ever I saw on the stage. This afternoon,
before the play, I called with my wife at Dancre’s, the great
landscape-painter, by Mr. Povy’s advice; and have bespoke him to come to
take measure of my dining-room panels, and there I met with the pretty
daughter of the coalseller’s, that lived in Cheapside, and now in Covent
Garden, who hath her picture drawn here, but very poorly; but she is a
pretty woman, and now, I perceive, married, a very pretty black woman.
So, the play done, we home, my wife letting fall some words of her
observing my eyes to be mightily employed in the playhouse, meaning upon
women, which did vex me; but, however, when we come home, we were good
friends; and so to read, and to supper, and so to bed.
21st. Up, and walked to the Temple, it being frosty, and there took
coach, my boy Tom with me, and so to White Hall to a Committee of
Tangier, where they met, and by and by and till twelve at noon upon
business, among others mine, where my desire about being eased of
appointing and standing accountable for a Treasurer there was well
accepted, and they will think of some other way. This I was glad of,
finding reason to doubt that I might in this (since my Lord Sandwich
made me understand what he had said to the Duke of York herein) fear to
offend either the Duke of York by denying it, for he seemed on Sunday
night last, when I first made known my desire to him herein to be a
little amused at it, though I knew not then the reason, or else offend
my Lord Sandwich by accepting it, or denying it in a manner that might
not forward his desire for Sir Charles Harbord, but I thank God I did it
to my great content without any offence, I think, to either. Thence in
my own coach home, where I find Madam Turner, Dyke, and The., and had
a good dinner for them, and merry; and so carried them to the Duke of
York’s house, all but Dyke, who went away on other business; and there
saw “The Tempest;” but it is but ill done by Gosnell, in lieu of Moll
Davis. Thence set them at home, and my wife and I to the ‘Change, and so
home, where my wife mighty dogged, and I vexed to see it, being
mightily troubled, of late, at her being out of humour, for fear of her
discovering any new matter of offence against me, though I am conscious
of none; but do hate to be unquiet at home. So, late up, silent, and
not supping, but hearing her utter some words of discontent to me
with silence, and so to bed, weeping to myself for grief, which she
discerning, come to bed, and mighty kind, and so with great joy on both
sides to sleep.
22nd. Up, and with W. Hewer to White Hall, and there attended the Duke
of York, and thence to the Exchange, in the way calling at several
places on occasions relating to my feast to-morrow, on which my mind is
now set; as how to get a new looking-glass for my dining-room, and some
pewter, and good wine, against to-morrow; and so home, where I had the
looking-glass set up, cost me L6 7s. 6d. And here at the ‘Change I
met with Mr. Dancre, the famous landscape painter, with whom I was on
Wednesday; and he took measure of my panels in my dining-room, where,
in the four, I intend to have the four houses of the King, White Hall,
Hampton Court, Greenwich, and Windsor. He gone, I to dinner with my
people, and so to my office to dispatch a little business, and then
home to look after things against to-morrow, and among other things was
mightily pleased with the fellow that come to lay the cloth, and fold
the napkins, which I like so well, as that I am resolved to give him
40s. to teach my wife to do it. So to supper, with much kindness between
me and my wife, which, now-a-days, is all my care, and so to bed.
23rd. Up, and again to look after the setting things right against
dinner, which I did to very good content. So to the office, where all
the morning till noon, when word brought me to the Board that my Lord
Sandwich was come; so I presently rose, leaving the Board ready to
rise, and there I found my Lord Sandwich, Peterborough, and Sir Charles
Harbord; and presently after them comes my Lord Hinchingbroke, Mr.
Sidney, and Sir William Godolphin. And after greeting them, and some
time spent in talk, dinner was brought up, one dish after another, but
a dish at a time, but all so good; but, above all things, the variety of
wines, and excellent of their kind, I had for them, and all in so good
order, that they were mightily pleased, and myself full of content at
it: and indeed it was, of a dinner of about six or eight dishes, as
noble as any man need to have, I think; at least, all was done in the
noblest manner that ever I had any, and I have rarely seen in my life
better anywhere else, even at the Court. After dinner, my Lords to
cards, and the rest of us sitting about them and talking, and looking
on my books and pictures, and my wife’s drawings, which they commend
mightily; and mighty merry all day long, with exceeding great content,
and so till seven at night; and so took their leaves, it being dark and
foul weather. Thus was this entertainment over, the best of its kind,
and the fullest of honour and content to me, that ever I had in my life:
and shall not easily have so good again. The truth is, I have some fear
that I am more behind-hand in the world for these last two years, since
I have not, or for some time could not, look after my accounts, which do
a little allay my pleasure. But I do trust in God I am pretty well yet,
and resolve, in a very little time, to look into my accounts, and see
how they stand. So to my wife’s chamber, and there supped, and got her
cut my hair and look my shirt, for I have itched mightily these 6 or 7
days, and when all comes to all she finds that I am lousy, having found
in my head and body about twenty lice, little and great, which I wonder
at, being more than I have had I believe these 20 years. I did think
I might have got them from the little boy, but they did presently look
him, and found none. So how they come I know not, but presently did
shift myself, and so shall be rid of them, and cut my hair close to my
head, and so with much content to bed.
24th (Lord’s day). An order brought me in bed, for the Principal
Officers to attend the King at my Lord Keeper’s this afternoon, it being
resolved late the last night; and, by the warrant, I find my Lord Keeper
did not then know the cause of it, the messenger being ordered to call
upon him, to tell it him by the way, as he come to us. So I up, and to
my Office to set down my Journall for yesterday, and so home, and with
my wife to Church, and then home, and to dinner, and after dinner out
with my wife by coach, to cozen Turner’s, where she and The. gone to
church, but I left my wife with Mrs. Dyke and Joyce Norton, whom I
have not seen till now since their coming to town: she is become an old
woman, and with as cunning a look as ever, and thence I to White Hall,
and there walked up and down till the King and Duke of York were ready
to go forth; and here I met Will. Batelier, newly come post from France,
his boots all dirty. He brought letters to the King, and I glad to see
him, it having been reported that he was drowned, for some days past,
and then, he being gone, I to talk with Tom Killigrew, who told me and
others, talking about the playhouse, that he is fain to keep a woman on
purpose at 20s. a week to satisfy 8 or 10 of the young men of his house,
whom till he did so he could never keep to their business, and now he
do. By and by the King comes out, and so I took coach, and followed his
coaches to my Lord Keeper’s, at Essex House, where I never was before,
since I saw my old Lord Essex lie in state when he was dead; a large,
but ugly house. Here all the Officers of the Navy attended, and by and
by were called in to the King and Cabinet, where my Lord, who was
ill, did lie upon the bed, as my old Lord Treasurer, or Chancellor,
heretofore used to; and the business was to know in what time all the
King’s ships might be repaired, fit for service. The Surveyor answered,
in two years, and not sooner. I did give them hopes that, with supplies
of money suitable, we might have them all fit for sea some part of the
summer after this. Then they demanded in what time we could set out
forty ships. It was answered, as they might be chosen of the newest and
most ready, we could, with money, get forty ready against May. The King
seemed mighty full that we should have money to do all that we desired,
and satisfied that, without it, nothing could be done: and so, without
determining any thing, we were dismissed; and I doubt all will end in
some little fleete this year, and those of hired merchant-men, which
would indeed be cheaper to the King, and have many conveniences
attending it, more than to fit out the King’s own; and this, I perceive,
is designed, springing from Sir W. Coventry’s counsel; and the King and
most of the Lords, I perceive, full of it, to get the King’s fleete all
at once in condition for service. Thence I with Mr. Wren in his coach to
my cozen Turner’s for discourse sake, and in our way he told me how the
business of the Parliament is wholly laid aside, it being overruled
now, that they shall not meet, but must be prorogued, upon this argument
chiefly, that all the differences between the two Houses, and things on
foot, that were matters of difference and discontent, may be laid aside,
and must begin again, if ever the House shall have a mind to pursue
them. They must begin all anew. Here he set me down, and I to my cozen
Turner, and stayed and talked a little; and so took my wife, and home,
and there to make her read, and then to supper, and to bed. At supper
come W. Batelier and supped with us, and told us many pretty things of
France, and the greatness of the present King.
25th. Up, and to the Committee of Tangier, where little done, and thence
I home by my own coach, and busy after dinner at my office all the
afternoon till late at night, that my eyes were tired. So home, and my
wife shewed me many excellent prints of Nanteuil’s and others, which W.
Batelier hath, at my desire, brought me out of France, of the King, and
Colbert, and others, most excellent, to my great content. But he hath
also brought a great many gloves perfumed, of several sorts; but all too
big by half for her, and yet she will have two or three dozen of them,
which vexed me, and made me angry. So she, at last, to please me, did
come to take what alone I thought fit, which pleased me. So, after a
little supper, to bed, my eyes being very bad.
26th. Up, and to the office, where busy sitting all the morning. Then to
the Office again, and then to White Hall, leaving my wife at Unthanke’s;
and I to the Secretary’s chamber, where I was, by particular order, this
day summoned to attend, as I find Sir D. Gawden also was. And here was
the King and the Cabinet met; and, being called in, among the rest I
find my Lord Privy Seale, whom I never before knew to be in so much
play, as to be of the Cabinet. The business is, that the Algerines have
broke the peace with us, by taking some Spaniards and goods out of an
English ship, which had the Duke of York’s pass, of which advice come
this day; and the King is resolved to stop Sir Thomas Allen’s fleete
from coming home till he hath amends made him for this affront, and
therefore sent for us to advise about victuals to be sent to that
fleete, and some more ships; wherein I answered them to what they
demanded of me, which was but some few mean things; but I see that on
all these occasions they seem to rely most upon me. And so, this being
done, I took coach and took up my wife and straight home, and there late
at the office busy, and then home, and there I find W. Batelier hath
also sent the books which I made him bring me out of France. Among
others, L’Estat, de France, Marnix, &c., to my great content; and so I
was well pleased with them, and shall take a time to look them over: as
also one or two printed musick-books of songs; but my eyes are now
too much out of tune to look upon them with any pleasure, therefore to
supper and to bed.
27th. Up, and with Sir John Minnes in his coach to White Hall, where
first we waited on the Lords of the Treasury about finishing the
Victualling Contract; and there also I was put to it to make good our
letter complaining against my Lord Anglesey’s failing us in the payment
of the moneys assigned us upon the Customs, where Mr. Fenn was, and I
know will tell my Lord; but it is no matter, I am over shy already, and
therefore must not fear. Then we up to a Committee of the Council
for the Navy, about a business of Sir D. Gawden’s relating to the
Victualling, and thence I by hackney to the Temple to the Auditor’s man,
and with him to a tavern to meet with another under-auditor to advise
about the clearing of my Lord Bellasses’ accounts without injuring
myself and perplexing my accounts, and so thence away to my cozen
Turner’s, where I find Roger Pepys come last night to town, and here
is his mistress, Mrs. Dickenson, and by and by comes in Mr. Turner, a
worthy, sober, serious man--I honour him mightily. And there we dined,
having but an ordinary dinner; and so, after dinner, she, and I, and
Roger, and his mistress, to the Duke of York’s playhouse, and there
saw “The Five Hours’ Adventure,” which hath not been acted a good while
before, but once, and is a most excellent play, I must confess. My wife
and The. come after us, after they had been to buy some things abroad,
and so after the play done we to see them home, and then home ourselves,
and my wife to read to me, and so to supper and to bed.
28th. Up, and to the office, where all the afternoon, also after dinner,
and there late dispatching much business, and then home to supper with
my wife, and to get her to read to me, and here I did find that Mr.
Sheres hath, beyond his promise, not only got me a candlestick made me,
after a form he remembers to have seen in Spain, for keeping the light
from one’s eyes, but hath got it done in silver very neat, and designs
to give it me, in thanks for my paying him his L100 in money, for his
service at Tangier, which was ordered him; but I do intend to force him
to make me [pay] for it. But I yet, without his direction, cannot tell
how it is to be made use of. So after a little reading to bed.
29th. Up, and with W. Hewer in Colonel Middleton’s coach to White Hall,
and there to the Duke of York, to attend him, where among other things I
did give a severe account of our proceedings, and what we found, in the
business of Sir W. Jenings’s demand of Supernumeraries. I thought it a
good occasion to make an example of him, for he is a proud, idle fellow;
and it did meet with the Duke of York’s acceptance and well-liking; and
he did call him in, after I had done, and did not only give him a soft
rebuke, but condemns him to pay both their victuals and wages, or right
himself of the purser. This I was glad of, and so were all the rest of
us, though I know I have made myself an immortal enemy by it. Thence
home by hackney, calling Roger Pepys at the Temple gate in the
bookseller’s shop, and to the Old Exchange, where I staid a little to
invite my uncle Wight, and so home, and there find my aunt Wight and her
husband come presently, and so to dinner; and after dinner Roger, and I,
and my wife, and aunt, to see Mr. Cole; but he nor his wife was within,
but we looked upon his picture of Cleopatra, which I went principally to
see, being so much commended by my wife and aunt; but I find it a base
copy of a good originall, that vexed me to hear so much commended.
Thence to see Creed’s wife, and did so, and staid a while, where both
of them within; and here I met Mr. Bland, newly come from Gales [Cadiz]
after his differences with Norwood. I think him a foolish, light-headed
man; but certainly he hath been abused in this matter by Colonel
Norwood. Here Creed shewed me a copy of some propositions, which Bland
and others, in the name of the Corporation of Tangier, did present to
Norwood, for his opinion in, in order to the King’s service, which were
drawn up very humbly, and were really good things; but his answer
to them was in the most shitten proud, carping, insolent, and
ironically-prophane stile, that ever I saw in my life, so as I shall
never think the place can do well, while he is there. Here, after some
talk, and Creed’s telling us that he is upon taking the next house to
his present lodgings, which is next to that that my cozen Tom Pepys once
lived in, in Newport Street, in Covent Garden; and is in a good place,
and then, I suppose, he will keep his coach. So, setting Roger down at
the Temple, who tells me that he is now concluded in all matters with
his widow, we home, and there hired my wife to make an end of Boyle’s
Book of Formes, to-night and to-morrow; and so fell to read and sup,
and then to bed. This day, Mr. Ned Pickering brought his lady to see my
wife, in acknowledgment of a little present of oranges and olives, which
I sent her, for his kindness to me in the buying of my horses, which was
very civil. She is old, but hath, I believe, been a pretty comely woman:
30th. Lay long in bed, it being a fast-day for the murder of the late
King; and so up and to church, where Dr. Hicks made a dull sermon; and
so home, and there I find W. Batelier and Balty, and they dined with us,
and I spent all the afternoon with my wife and W. Batelier talking, and
then making them read, and particularly made an end of Mr. Boyle’s Book
of Formes, which I am glad to have over, and then fell to read a French
discourse, which he hath brought over with him for me, to invite the
people of France to apply themselves to Navigation, which it do very
well, and is certainly their interest, and what will undo us in a few
years, if the King of France goes on to fit up his Navy, and encrease it
and his trade, as he hath begun. At night to supper, and after supper,
and W. Batelier gone, my wife begun another book I lately bought, called
“The State of England,” which promises well, and is worth reading, and
so after a while to bed.
31st (Lord’s day). Lay long talking with pleasure, and so up and I to
church, and there did hear the Doctor that is lately turned Divine,
I have forgot his name, I met him a while since at Sir D. Gawden’s
at dinner, Dr. Waterhouse! He preaches in a devout manner of way, not
elegant nor very persuasive, but seems to mean well, and that he would
preach holily; and was mighty passionate against people that make a
scoff of religion. And, the truth is, I did observe Mrs. Hollworthy
smile often, and many others of the parish, who, I perceive, have known
him, and were in mighty expectation of hearing him preach, but could not
forbear smiling, and she particularly upon me, and I on her. So home to
dinner: and before dinner to my Office, to set down my journal for this
week, and then home to dinner; and after dinner to get my wife and boy,
one after another, to read to me: and so spent the afternoon and the
evening, and so after supper to bed. And thus endeth this month, with
many different days of sadness and mirth, from differences between me
and my wife, from her remembrance of my late unkindness to her with
Willet, she not being able to forget it, but now and then hath her
passionate remembrance of it as often as prompted to it by any occasion;
but this night we are at present very kind. And so ends this month.