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Title: Diary of Samuel Pepys, February 1966/67
Author: Samuel Pepys
Release Date: June, 2003 [Etext #4173]
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THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS M.A. F.R.S.
CLERK OF THE ACTS AND SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY
TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY
MAGDALENE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M.A. LATE FELLOW
AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE
(Unabridged)
WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES
EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY
HENRY B. WHEATLEY F.S.A.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
FEBRUARY
1666-1667
February 1st. Up, and to the office, where I was all the morning doing
business, at noon home to dinner, and after dinner down by water, though
it was a thick misty and rainy day, and walked to Deptford from Redriffe,
and there to Bagwell's by appointment, where the 'mulier etoit within
expecting me venir . . . . By and by 'su marido' come in, and there
without any notice taken by him we discoursed of our business of getting
him the new ship building by Mr. Deane, which I shall do for him. Thence
by and by after a little talk I to the yard, and spoke with some of the
officers, but staid but little, and the new clerk of the 'Chequer,
Fownes, did walk to Redriffe back with me. I perceive he is a very
child, and is led by the nose by Cowly and his kinsman that was his
clerk, but I did make him understand his duty, and put both understanding
and spirit into him, so that I hope he will do well. [Much surprised to
hear this day at Deptford that Mrs. Batters is going already to be
married to him, that is now the Captain of her husband's ship. She
seemed the most passionate mourner in the world. But I believe it cannot
be true.]--(The passage between brackets is written in the margin of the
MS.)--Thence by water to Billingsgate; thence to the Old Swan, and there
took boat, it being now night, to Westminster Hall, there to the Hall,
and find Doll Lane, and 'con elle' I went to the Bell Taverne, and 'ibi
je' did do what I would 'con elle' as well as I could, she 'sedendo
sobre' thus far and making some little resistance. But all with much
content, and 'je tenai' much pleasure 'cum ista'. There parted, and I by
coach home, and to the office, where pretty late doing business, and then
home, and merry with my wife, and to supper. My brother and I did play
with the base, and I upon my viallin, which I have not seen out of the
case now I think these three years, or more, having lost the key, and now
forced to find an expedient to open it. Then to bed.
2nd. Up, and to the office. This day I hear that Prince Rupert is to be
trepanned. God give good issue to it. Sir W. Pen looks upon me, and I
on him, and speak about business together at the table well enough, but
no friendship or intimacy since our late difference about his closet, nor
do I desire to have any. At noon dined well, and my brother and I to
write over once more with my own hand my catalogue of books, while he
reads to me. After something of that done, and dined, I to the office,
where all the afternoon till night busy. At night, having done all my
office matters, I home, and my brother and I to go on with my catalogue,
and so to supper. Mrs. Turner come to me this night again to condole her
condition and the ill usage she receives from my Lord Bruncker, which I
could never have expected from him, and shall be a good caution to me
while I live. She gone, I to supper, and then to read a little, and to
bed. This night comes home my new silver snuffe-dish, which I do give
myself for my closet, which is all I purpose to bestow in plate of
myself, or shall need, many a day, if I can keep what I have. So to bed.
I am very well pleased this night with reading a poem I brought home with
me last night from Westminster Hall, of Dryden's' upon the present war; a
very good poem.
3rd (Lord's day). Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen to White
Hall, and there to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and there staid till he was
ready, talking, and among other things of the Prince's being trepanned,
which was in doing just as we passed through the Stone Gallery, we asking
at the door of his lodgings, and were told so. We are all full of wishes
for the good success; though I dare say but few do really concern
ourselves for him in our hearts. Up to the Duke of York, and with him
did our business we come about, and among other things resolve upon a
meeting at the office to-morrow morning, Sir W. Coventry to be there to
determine of all things necessary for the setting of Sir W. Pen to work
in his Victualling business. This did awake in me some thoughts of what
might in discourse fall out touching my imployment, and did give me some
apprehension of trouble. Having done here, and after our laying our
necessities for money open to the Duke of York, but nothing obtained
concerning it, we parted, and I with others into the House, and there
hear that the work is done to the Prince in a few minutes without any
pain at all to him, he not knowing when it was done. It was performed by
Moulins. Having cut the outward table, as they call it, they find the
inner all corrupted, so as it come out without any force; and their fear
is, that the whole inside of his head is corrupted like that, which do
yet make them afeard of him; but no ill accident appeared in the doing of
the thing, but all with all imaginable success, as Sir Alexander Frazier
did tell me himself, I asking him, who is very kind to me. I to the
Chapel a little, but hearing nothing did take a turn into the Park, and
then back to Chapel and heard a very good Anthem to my heart's delight,
and then to Sir G. Carteret's to dinner, and before dinner did walk with
him alone a good while, and from him hear our case likely for all these
acts to be bad for money, which troubles me, the year speeding so fast,
and he tells me that he believes the Duke of York will go to sea with the
fleete, which I am sorry for in respect to his person, but yet there is
no person in condition to command the fleete, now the Captains are grown
so great, but him, it being impossible for anybody else but him to
command any order or discipline among them. He tells me there is nothing
at all in the late discourse about my Lord Sandwich and the French
Embassador meeting and contending for the way, which I wonder at, to see
the confidence of report without any ground. By and by to dinner, where
very good company. Among other discourse, we talked much of Nostradamus
[Michael Nostradamus, a physician and astrologer, born in the
diocese of Avignon, 1503. Amongst other predictions, one was
interpreted as foreshowing the singular death of Hen. II. of France,
by which his reputation was increased.]
his prophecy of these times, and the burning of the City of London, some
of whose verses are put into Booker's' Almanack this year; and Sir G.
Carteret did tell a story, how at his death he did make the town swear
that he should never be dug up, or his tomb opened, after he was buried;
but they did after sixty years do it, and upon his breast they found a
plate of brasse, saying what a wicked and unfaithful people the people of
that place were, who after so many vows should disturb and open him such
a day and year and hour; which, if true, is very strange. Then we fell
to talking of the burning of the City; and my Lady Carteret herself did
tell us how abundance of pieces of burnt papers were cast by the wind as
far as Cranborne; and among others she took up one, or had one brought
her to see, which was a little bit of paper that had been printed,
whereon there remained no more nor less than these words: "Time is, it is
done." After dinner I went and took a turn into the Park, and then took
boat and away home, and there to my chamber and to read, but did receive
some letters from Sir W. Coventry, touching the want of victuals to
Kempthorne's' fleete going to the Streights and now in the Downes: which
did trouble me, he saying that this disappointment might prove fatal; and
the more, because Sir W. Coventry do intend to come to the office upon
business to-morrow morning, and I shall not know what answer to give him.
This did mightily trouble my mind; however, I fell to read a little in
Hakewill's Apology, and did satisfy myself mighty fair in the truth of
the saying that the world do not grow old at all, but is in as good
condition in all respects as ever it was as to nature. I continued
reading this book with great pleasure till supper, and then to bed sooner
than ordinary, for rising betimes in the morning to-morrow. So after
reading my usual vows to bed, my mind full of trouble against to-morrow,
and did not sleep any good time of the night for thoughts of to-morrow
morning's trouble.
4th. I up, with my head troubled to think of the issue of this morning,
so made ready and to the office, where Mr. Gawden comes, and he and I
discoursed the business well, and thinks I shall get off well enough; but
I do by Sir W. Coventry's silence conclude that he is not satisfied in my
management of my place and the charge it puts the King to, which I
confess I am not in present condition through my late laziness to give
any good answer to. But here do D. Gawden give me a good cordiall this
morning, by telling me that he do give me five of the eight hundred
pounds on his account remaining in my hands to myself, for the service I
do him in my victualling business, and L100 for my particular share of
the profits of my Tangier imployment as Treasurer. This do begin to make
my heart glad, and I did dissemble it the better, so when Sir W. Coventry
did come, and the rest met, I did appear unconcerned, and did give him
answer pretty satisfactory what he asked me; so that I did get off this
meeting without any ground lost, but rather a great deal gained by
interposing that which did belong to my duty to do, and neither [Sir] W.
Coventry nor (Sir) W. Yen did oppose anything thereunto, which did make
my heart very glad. All the morning at this work, Sir W. Pen making a
great deal of do for the fitting him in his setting out in his
employment, and I do yield to any trouble that he gives me without any
contradiction. Sir W. Coventry being gone, we at noon to dinner to Sir
W. Pen's, he inviting me and my wife, and there a pretty good dinner,
intended indeed for Sir W. Coventry, but he would not stay. So here I
was mighty merry and all our differences seemingly blown over, though he
knows, if he be not a fool, that I love him not, and I do the like that
he hates me. Soon as dined, my wife and I out to the Duke's playhouse,
and there saw "Heraclius," an excellent play, to my extraordinary
content; and the more from the house being very full, and great company;
among others, Mrs. Steward, very fine, with her locks done up with
puffes, as my wife calls them: and several other great ladies had their
hair so, though I do not like it; but my wife do mightily--but it is only
because she sees it is the fashion. Here I saw my Lord Rochester and his
lady, Mrs. Mallet, who hath after all this ado married him; and, as I
hear some say in the pit, it is a great act of charity, for he hath no
estate. But it was pleasant to see how every body rose up when my Lord
John Butler, the Duke of Ormond's son, come into the pit towards the end
of the play, who was a servant--[lover]--to Mrs. Mallet, and now smiled
upon her, and she on him. I had sitting next to me a woman, the likest
my Lady Castlemayne that ever I saw anybody like another; but she is a
whore, I believe, for she is acquainted with every fine fellow, and
called them by their name, Jacke, and Tom, and before the end of the play
frisked to another place. Mightily pleased with the play, we home by
coach, and there a little to the office, and then to my chamber, and
there finished my Catalogue of my books with my own hand, and so to
supper and to bed, and had a good night's rest, the last night's being
troublesome, but now my heart light and full of resolution of standing
close to my business.
5th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing business, and
then home to dinner. Heard this morning that the Prince is much better,
and hath good rest. All the talk is that my Lord Sandwich hath perfected
the peace with Spayne, which is very good, if true. Sir H. Cholmly was
with me this morning, and told me of my Lord Bellasses's base dealings
with him by getting him to give him great gratuities to near L2000 for
his friendship in the business of the Mole, and hath been lately
underhand endeavouring to bring another man into his place as Governor,
so as to receive his money of Sir H. Cholmly for nothing. Dined at home,
and after dinner come Mrs. Daniel and her sister and staid and talked a
little, and then I to the office, and after setting my things in order at
the office I abroad with my wife and little Betty Michell, and took them
against my vowes, but I will make good my forfeit, to the King's house,
to show them a play, "The Chances." A good play I find it, and the
actors most good in it; and pretty to hear Knipp sing in the play very
properly, "All night I weepe;" and sung it admirably. The whole play
pleases me well: and most of all, the sight of many fine ladies--among
others, my Lady Castlemayne and Mrs. Middleton: the latter of the two
hath also a very excellent face and body, I think. Thence by coach to
the New Exchange, and there laid out money, and I did give Betty Michell
two pair of gloves and a dressing-box; and so home in the dark, over the
ruins, with a link. I was troubled with my pain, having got a bruise on
my right testicle, I know not how. But this I did make good use of to
make my wife shift sides with me, and I did come to sit 'avec' Betty
Michell, and there had her 'main', which 'elle' did give me very frankly
now, and did hazer whatever I 'voudrais avec la', which did 'plaisir' me
'grandement', and so set her at home with my mind mighty glad of what I
have prevailed for so far; and so home, and to the office, and did my
business there, and then home to supper, and after to set some things
right in my chamber, and so to bed. This morning, before I went to the
office, there come to me Mr. Young and Whistler, flaggmakers, and with
mighty earnestness did present me with, and press me to take a box,
wherein I could not guess there was less than L100 in gold: but I do
wholly refuse it, and did not at last take it. The truth is, not
thinking them safe men to receive such a gratuity from, nor knowing any
considerable courtesy that ever I did do them, but desirous to keep
myself free from their reports, and to have it in my power to say I had
refused their offer.
6th. Up, lying a little long in bed, and by water to White Hall, and
there find the Duke of York gone out, he being in haste to go to the
Parliament, and so all my Brethren were gone to the office too. So I to
Sir Ph. Warwicke's about my Tangier business, and then to Westminster
Hall, and walked up and down, and hear that the Prince do still rest well
by day and night, and out of pain; so as great hopes are conceived of
him: though I did meet Dr. Clerke and Mr. Pierce, and they do say they
believe he will not recover it, they supposing that his whole head within
is eaten by this corruption, which appeared in this piece of the inner
table. Up to the Parliament door, and there discoursed with Roger Pepys,
who goes out of town this week, the Parliament rising this week also. So
down to the Hall and there spied Betty Michell, and so I sent for burnt
wine to Mrs. Michell's, and there did drink with the two mothers, and by
that means with Betty, poor girle, whom I love with all my heart. And
God forgive me, it did make me stay longer and hover all the morning up
and down the Hall to 'busquer occasions para ambulare con elle. But ego
ne pouvoir'. So home by water and to dinner, and then to the office,
where we sat upon Denis Gawden's accounts, and before night I rose and by
water to White Hall, to attend the Council; but they sat not to-day. So
to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and find him within, and with a letter from
the Downes in his hands, telling the loss of the St. Patricke coming from
Harwich in her way to Portsmouth; and would needs chase two ships (she
having the Malago fire-ship in company) which from English colours put up
Dutch, and he would clap on board the Vice-Admirall; and after long
dispute the Admirall comes on the other side of him, and both together
took him. Our fire-ship (Seely) not coming in to fire all three, but
come away, leaving her in their possession, and carried away by them: a
ship built at Bristoll the last year, of fifty guns and upwards, and a
most excellent good ship. This made him very melancholy. I to talk of
our wants of money, but I do find that he is not pleased with that
discourse, but grieves to hear it, and do seem to think that Sir G.
Carteret do not mind the getting of money with the same good cheer that
he did heretofore, nor do I think he hath the same reason. Thence to
Westminster Hall, thinking to see Betty Michell, she staying there all
night, and had hopes to get her out alone, but missed, and so away by
coach home, and to Sir W. Batten's, to tell him my bad news, and then to
the office, and home to supper, where Mrs. Hewer was, and after supper
and she gone, W. Hewer talking with me very late of the ill manner of Sir
G. Carteret's accounts being kept, and in what a sad condition he would
be if either Fenn or Wayth should break or die, and am resolved to take
some time to tell Sir G. Carteret or my Lady of it, I do love them so
well and their family. So to bed, my pain pretty well gone.
7th. Lay long with pleasure with my wife, and then up and to the office,
where all the morning, and then home to dinner, and before dinner I went
into my green dining room, and there talking with my brother upon matters
relating to his journey to Brampton to-morrow, and giving him good
counsel about spending the time when he shall stay in the country with my
father, I looking another way heard him fall down, and turned my head,
and he was fallen down all along upon the ground dead, which did put me
into a great fright; and, to see my brotherly love! I did presently lift
him up from the ground, he being as pale as death; and, being upon his
legs, he did presently come to himself, and said he had something come
into his stomach very hot. He knew not what it was, nor ever had such a
fit before. I never was so frighted but once, when my wife was ill at
Ware upon the road, and I did continue trembling a good while and ready
to weepe to see him, he continuing mighty pale all dinner and melancholy,
that I was loth to let him take his journey tomorrow; but he began to be
pretty well, and after dinner my wife and Barker fell to singing, which
pleased me pretty well, my wife taking mighty pains and proud that she
shall come to trill, and indeed I think she will. So to the office, and
there all the afternoon late doing business, and then home, and find my
brother pretty well. So to write a letter to my Lady Sandwich for him to
carry, I having not writ to her a great while. Then to supper and so to
bed. I did this night give him 20s. for books, and as much for his
pocket, and 15s. to carry him down, and so to bed. Poor fellow! he is
so melancholy, and withal, my wife says, harmless, that I begin to love
him, and would be loth he should not do well.
8th. This morning my brother John come up to my bedside, and took his
leave of us, going this day to Brampton. My wife loves him mightily as
one that is pretty harmless, and I do begin to fancy him from yesterday's
accident, it troubling me to think I should be left without a brother or
sister, which is the first time that ever I had thoughts of that kind in
my life. He gone, I up, and to the office, where we sat upon the
Victuallers' accounts all the morning. At noon Lord Bruncker, Sir W.
Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and myself to the Swan in Leadenhall Street to
dinner, where an exceedingly good dinner and good discourse. Sir W.
Batten come this morning from the House, where the King hath prorogued
this Parliament to October next. I am glad they are up. The Bill for
Accounts was not offered, the party being willing to let it fall; but the
King did tell them he expected it. They are parted with great
heartburnings, one party against the other. Pray God bring them
hereafter together in better temper! It is said that the King do intend
himself in this interval to take away Lord Mordaunt's government, so as
to do something to appease the House against they come together, and let
them see he will do that of his own accord which is fit, without their
forcing him; and that he will have his Commission for Accounts go on
which will be good things. At dinner we talked much of Cromwell; all
saying he was a brave fellow, and did owe his crowne he got to himself as
much as any man that ever got one. Thence to the office, and there begun
the account which Sir W. Pen by his late employment hath examined, but
begun to examine it in the old manner, a clerk to read the Petty
warrants, my Lord Bruncker upon very good ground did except against it,
and would not suffer him to go on. This being Sir W. Pen's clerk he took
it in snuff, and so hot they grew upon it that my Lord Bruncker left the
office. He gone (Sir) W. Pen ranted like a devil, saying that nothing
but ignorance could do this. I was pleased at heart all this while. At
last moved to have Lord Bruncker desired to return, which he did, and I
read the petty warrants all the day till late at night, that I was very
weary, and troubled to have my private business of my office stopped to
attend this, but mightily pleased at this falling out, and the truth is
[Sir] W. Pen do make so much noise in this business of his, and do it so
little and so ill, that I think the King will be little the better by
changing the hand. So up and to my office a little, but being at it all
day I could not do much there. So home and to supper, to teach Barker to
sing another piece of my song, and then to bed.
9th. To the office, where we sat all the morning busy. At noon home to
dinner, and then to my office again, where also busy, very busy late, and
then went home and read a piece of a play, "Every Man in his Humour,"--
[Ben Jonson's well-known play.]--wherein is the greatest propriety of
speech that ever I read in my life: and so to bed. This noon come my
wife's watchmaker, and received L12 of me for her watch; but Captain Rolt
coming to speak with me about a little business, he did judge of the work
to be very good work, and so I am well contented, and he hath made very
good, that I knew, to Sir W. Pen and Lady Batten.
10th (Lord's day). Up and with my wife to church, where Mr. Mills made
an unnecessary sermon upon Original Sin, neither understood by himself
nor the people. Home, where Michell and his wife, and also there come
Mr. Carter, my old acquaintance of Magdalene College, who hath not been
here of many years. He hath spent his time in the North with the Bishop
of Carlisle much. He is grown a very comely person, and of good
discourse, and one that I like very much. We had much talk of our old
acquaintance of the College, concerning their various fortunes; wherein,
to my joy, I met not with any that have sped better than myself. After
dinner he went away, and awhile after them Michell and his wife, whom I
love mightily, and then I to my chamber there to my Tangier accounts,
which I had let run a little behind hand, but did settle them very well
to my satisfaction, but it cost me sitting up till two in the morning,
and the longer by reason that our neighbour, Mrs. Turner, poor woman, did
come to take her leave of us, she being to quit her house to-morrow to my
Lord Bruncker, who hath used her very unhandsomely. She is going to
lodgings, and do tell me very odde stories how Mrs. Williams do receive
the applications of people, and hath presents, and she is the hand that
receives all, while my Lord Bruncker do the business, which will shortly
come to be loud talk if she continues here, I do foresee, and bring my
Lord no great credit. So having done all my business, to bed.
11th. Up, and by water to the Temple, and thence to Sir Ph. Warwicke's
about my Tangier warrant for tallies, and there met my Lord Bellasses and
Creed, and discoursed about our business of money, but we are defeated as
to any hopes of getting [any] thing upon the Poll Bill, which I seem but
not much troubled at, it not concerning me much. Thence with Creed to
Westminster Hall, and there up and down, and heard that Prince Rupert is
still better and better; and that he did tell Dr. Troutbecke expressly
that my Lord Sandwich is ordered home. I hear, too, that Prince Rupert
hath begged the having of all the stolen prize-goods which he can find,
and that he is looking out anew after them, which at first troubled me;
but I do see it cannot come to anything, but is done by Hayes, or some of
his little people about him. Here, among other newes, I bought the
King's speech at proroguing the House the other day, wherein are some
words which cannot but import some prospect of a peace, which God send
us! After walking a good while in the Hall, it being Term time, I home
by water, calling at Michell's and giving him a fair occasion to send his
wife to the New Exchange to meet my wife and me this afternoon. So home
to dinner, and after dinner by coach to Lord Bellasses, and with him to
Povy's house, whom we find with Auditor Beale and Vernatty about their
accounts still, which is never likely to have end. Our business was to
speak with Vernatty, who is certainly a most cunning knave as ever was
born. Having done what we had to do there, my Lord carried me and set me
down at the New Exchange, where I staid at Pottle's shop till Betty
Michell come, which she did about five o'clock, and was surprised not to
'trouver my muger' I there; but I did make an excuse good enough, and so
I took 'elle' down, and over the water to the cabinet-maker's, and there
bought a dressing-box for her for 20s., but would require an hour's time
to make fit. This I was glad of, thinking to have got 'elle' to enter to
a 'casa de biber', but 'elle' would not, so I did not much press it, but
suffered 'elle' to enter 'a la casa de uno de sus hermanos', and so I
past my time walking up and down, and among other places, to one
Drumbleby, a maker of flageolets, the best in towne. He not within, my
design to bespeak a pair of flageolets of the same tune, ordered him to
come to me in a day or two, and so I back to the cabinet-maker's and
there staid; and by and by Betty comes, and here we staid in the shop and
above seeing the workmen work, which was pretty, and some exceeding good
work, and very pleasant to see them do it, till it was late quite dark,
and the mistresse of the shop took us into the kitchen and there talked
and used us very prettily, and took her for my wife, which I owned and
her big belly, and there very merry, till my thing done, and then took
coach and home . . . . But now comes our trouble, I did begin to
fear that 'su marido' might go to my house to 'enquire pour elle', and
there, 'trouvant' my 'muger'--[wife in Spanish.]-- at home, would not
only think himself, but give my 'femme' occasion to think strange things.
This did trouble me mightily, so though 'elle' would not seem to have me
trouble myself about it, yet did agree to the stopping the coach at the
streete's end, and 'je allois con elle' home, and there presently hear by
him that he had newly sent 'su mayde' to my house to see for her
mistresse. This do much perplex me, and I did go presently home Betty
whispering me behind the 'tergo de her mari', that if I would say that we
did come home by water, 'elle' could make up 'la cose well satis', and
there in a sweat did walk in the entry ante my door, thinking what I
should say a my 'femme', and as God would have it, while I was in this
case (the worst in reference a my 'femme' that ever I was in in my life),
a little woman comes stumbling to the entry steps in the dark; whom
asking who she was, she enquired for my house. So knowing her voice, and
telling her 'su donna' is come home she went away. But, Lord! in what a
trouble was I, when she was gone, to recollect whether this was not the
second time of her coming, but at last concluding that she had not been
here before, I did bless myself in my good fortune in getting home before
her, and do verily believe she had loitered some time by the way, which
was my great good fortune, and so I in a-doors and there find all well.
So my heart full of joy, I to the office awhile, and then home, and after
supper and doing a little business in my chamber I to bed, after teaching
Barker a little of my song.
12th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, with several
things (among others) discoursed relating to our two new assistant
controllers, but especially Sir W. Pen, who is mighty troublesome in it.
At noon home to dinner, and then to the office again, and there did much
business, and by and by comes Mr. Moore, who in discourse did almost
convince me that it is necessary for my Lord Sandwich to come home end
take his command at sea this year, for that a peace is like to be. Many
considerations he did give me hereupon, which were very good both in
reference to the publick arid his private condition. By and by with Lord
Bruncker by coach to his house, there to hear some Italian musique: and
here we met Tom Killigrew, Sir Robert Murray, and the Italian Signor
Baptista, who hath composed a play in Italian for the Opera, which
T. Killigrew do intend to have up; and here he did sing one of the acts.
He himself is the poet as well as the musician; which is very much, and
did sing the whole from the words without any musique prickt, and played
all along upon a harpsicon most admirably, and the composition most
excellent. The words I did not understand, and so know not how they are
fitted, but believe very well, and all in the recitativo very fine. But
I perceive there is a proper accent in every country's discourse, and
that do reach in their setting of notes to words, which, therefore,
cannot be natural to any body else but them; so that I am not so much
smitten with it as, it may be, I should be, if I were acquainted with
their accent. But the whole composition is certainly most excellent;
and the poetry, T. Killigrew and Sir R. Murray, who understood the words,
did say was excellent. I confess I was mightily pleased with the
musique. He pretends not to voice, though it be good, but not excellent.
This done, T. Killigrew and I to talk: and he tells me how the audience
at his house is not above half so much as it used to be before the late
fire. That Knipp is like to make the best actor that ever come upon the
stage, she understanding so well: that they are going to give her L30
a-year more. That the stage is now by his pains a thousand times better
and more glorious than ever heretofore. Now, wax-candles, and many of
them; then, not above 3 lbs. of tallow: now, all things civil, no
rudeness anywhere; then, as in a bear-garden then, two or three fiddlers;
now, nine or ten of the best then, nothing but rushes upon the ground,
and every thing else mean; and now, all otherwise: then, the Queen seldom
and the King never would come; now, not the King only for state, but all
civil people do think they may come as well as any. He tells me that he
hath gone several times, eight or ten times, he tells me, hence to Rome
to hear good musique; so much he loves it, though he never did sing or
play a note. That he hath ever endeavoured in the late King's time, and
in this, to introduce good musique, but he never could do it, there never
having been any musique here better than ballads. Nay, says, "Hermitt
poore" and "Chevy Chese"
["Like hermit poor in pensive place obscure" is found in "The
Phoenix Nest," 1593, and in Harl. MS. No. 6910, written soon after
1596. It was set to music by Alfonso Ferrabosco, and published in
his "Ayres," 1609. The song was a favourite with Izaak Walton, and
is alluded to in "Hudibras" (Part I., canto ii., line 1169). See
Rimbault's "Little Book of Songs and Ballads," 1851, p. 98. Both
versions of the famous ballad of "Chevy Chase" are printed in
Percy's "Reliques."]
was all the musique we had; and yet no ordinary fiddlers get so much
money as ours do here, which speaks our rudenesse still. That he hath
gathered our Italians from several Courts in Christendome, to come to
make a concert for the King, which he do give L200 a-year a-piece to: but
badly paid, and do come in the room of keeping four ridiculous gundilows,
[The gondolas mentioned before, as sent by the Doge of Venice. See
September 12th, 1661]
he having got, the King to put them away, and lay out money this way;
and indeed I do commend him for it, for I think it is a very noble
undertaking. He do intend to have some times of the year these operas to
be performed at the two present theatres, since he is defeated in what he
intended in Moorefields on purpose for it; and he tells me plainly that
the City audience was as good as the Court, but now they are most gone.
Baptista tells me that Giacomo Charissimi is still alive at Rome, who was
master to Vinnecotio, who is one of the Italians that the King hath here,
and the chief composer of them. My great wonder is, how this man do to
keep in memory so perfectly the musique of the whole act, both for the
voice and the instrument too. I confess I do admire it: but in
recitativo the sense much helps him, for there is but one proper way of
discoursing and giving the accents. Having done our discourse, we all
took coaches, my Lord's and T. Killigrew's, and to Mrs. Knipp's chamber,
where this Italian is to teach her to sing her part. And so we all
thither, and there she did sing an Italian song or two very fine, while
he played the bass upon a harpsicon there; and exceedingly taken I am
with her singing, and believe that she will do miracles at that and
acting. Her little girl is mighty pretty and witty. After being there
an hour, and I mightily pleased with this evening's work, we all parted,
and I took coach and home, where late at my office, and then home to
enter my last three days' Journall; and so to supper and to bed, troubled
at nothing, but that these pleasures do hinder me in my business, and the
more by reason of our being to dine abroad to-morrow, and then Saturday
next is appointed to meet again at my Lord Bruncker's lodgings, and there
to have the whole quire of Italians; but then I do consider that this is
all the pleasure I live for in the world, and the greatest I can ever
expect in the best of my life, and one thing more, that by hearing this
man to-night, and I think Captain Cooke to-morrow, and the quire of
Italians on Saturday, I shall be truly able to distinguish which of them
pleases me truly best, which I do much desire to know and have good
reason and fresh occasion of judging.
13th. Up, and by water to White Hall, where to the Duke of York, and
there did our usual business; but troubled to see that, at this time,
after our declaring a debt to the Parliament of L900,000, and nothing
paid since, but the debt increased, and now the fleete to set out; to
hear that the King hath ordered but L35,000 for the setting out of the
fleete, out of the Poll Bill, to buy all provisions, when five times as
much had been little enough to have done any thing to purpose. They
have, indeed, ordered more for paying off of seamen and the Yards to some
time, but not enough for that neither. Another thing is, the acquainting
the Duke of York with the case of Mr. Lanyon, our agent at Plymouth, who
has trusted us to L8000 out of purse; we are not in condition, after so
many promises, to obtain him a farthing, nor though a message was carried
by Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry to the Commissioners for Prizes,
that he might have L3000 out of L20,000 worth of prizes to be shortly
sold there, that he might buy at the candle and pay for the goods out of
bills, and all would [not] do any thing, but that money must go all
another way, while the King's service is undone, and those that trust him
perish. These things grieve me to the heart. The Prince, I hear, is
every day better and better. So away by water home, stopping at
Michell's, where Mrs. Martin was, and I there drank with them and
whispered with Betty, who tells me all is well, but was prevented in
something she would have said, her 'marido venant' just then, a news
which did trouble me, and so drank and parted and home, and there took up
my wife by coach, and to Mrs. Pierce's, there to take her up, and with
them to Dr. Clerke's, by invitation, where we have not been a great
while, nor had any mind to go now, but that the Dr., whom I love, would
have us choose a day. Here was his wife, painted, and her sister
Worshipp, a widow now and mighty pretty in her mourning. Here was also
Mr. Pierce and Mr. Floyd, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of Prizes,
and Captain Cooke, to dinner, an ill and little mean one, with foul cloth
and dishes, and everything poor. Discoursed most about plays and the
Opera, where, among other vanities, Captain Cooke had the arrogance to
say that he was fain to direct Sir W. Davenant in the breaking of his
verses into such and such lengths, according as would be fit for musick,
and how he used to swear at Davenant, and command him that way, when W.
Davenant would be angry, and find fault with this or that note--but a
vain coxcomb I perceive he is, though he sings and composes so well. But
what I wondered at, Dr. Clerke did say that Sir W. Davenant is no good
judge of a dramatick poem, finding fault with his choice of Henry the
5th, and others, for the stage, when I do think, and he confesses, "The
Siege of Rhodes" as good as ever was writ. After dinner Captain Cooke
and two of his boys to sing, but it was indeed both in performance and
composition most plainly below what I heard last night, which I could not
have believed. Besides overlooking the words which he sung, I find them
not at all humoured as they ought to be, and as I believed he had done
all he had sett. Though he himself do indeed sing in a manner as to
voice and manner the best I ever heard yet, and a strange mastery he hath
in making of extraordinary surprising closes, that are mighty pretty, but
his bragging that he do understand tones and sounds as well as any man in
the world, and better than Sir W. Davenant or any body else, I do not
like by no means, but was sick of it and of him for it. He gone, Dr.
Clerke fell to reading a new play, newly writ, of a friend's of his; but,
by his discourse and confession afterwards, it was his own. Some things,
but very few, moderately good; but infinitely far from the conceit, wit,
design, and language of very many plays that I know; so that, but for
compliment, I was quite tired with hearing it. It being done, and
commending the play, but against my judgment, only the prologue
magnifying the happiness of our former poets when such sorry things did
please the world as was then acted, was very good. So set Mrs. Pierce at
home, and away ourselves home, and there to my office, and then my
chamber till my eyes were sore at writing and making ready my letter and
accounts for the Commissioners of Tangier to-morrow, which being done, to
bed, hearing that there was a very great disorder this day at the Ticket
Office, to the beating and bruising of the face of Carcasse very much.
A foul evening this was to-night, and I mightily troubled to get a coach
home; and, which is now my common practice, going over the ruins in the
night, I rid with my sword drawn in the coach.
14th. Up and to the office, where Carcasse comes with his plaistered
face, and called himself Sir W. Batten's martyr, which made W. Batten mad
almost, and mighty quarrelling there was. We spent the morning almost
wholly upon considering some way of keeping the peace at the Ticket
Office; but it is plain that the care of that office is nobody's work,
and that is it that makes it stand in the ill condition it do. At noon
home to dinner, and after dinner by coach to my Lord Chancellor's, and
there a meeting: the Duke of York, Duke of Albemarle, and several other
Lords of the Commission of Tangier. And there I did present a state of
my accounts, and managed them well; and my Lord Chancellor did say,
though he was, in other things, in an ill humour, that no man in England
was of more method, nor made himself better understood than myself. But
going, after the business of money was over, to other businesses, of
settling the garrison, he did fling out, and so did the Duke of York, two
or three severe words touching my Lord Bellasses: that he would have no
Governor come away from thence in less than three years; no, though his
lady were with child. "And," says the Duke of York, "there should be no
Governor continue so, longer than three years." "Nor," says Lord
Arlington, "when our rules are once set, and upon good judgment declared,
no Governor should offer to alter them."--" We must correct the many
things that are amiss there; for," says the Lord Chancellor, "you must
think we do hear of more things amisse than we are willing to speak
before our friends' faces." My Lord Bellasses would not take notice of
their reflecting on him, and did wisely, but there were also many
reflections on him. Thence away by coach to Sir H. Cholmly and
Fitzgerald and Creed, setting down the two latter at the New Exchange.
And Sir H. Cholmly and I to the Temple, and there walked in the dark in
the walks talking of newes; and he surprises me with the certain newes
that the King did last night in Council declare his being in treaty with
the Dutch: that they had sent him a very civil letter, declaring that, if
nobody but themselves were concerned, they would not dispute the place of
treaty, but leave it to his choice; but that, being obliged to satisfy
therein a Prince of equal quality with himself, they must except any
place in England or Spayne. And so the King hath chosen the Hague, and
thither hath chose my Lord Hollis and Harry Coventry to go Embassadors to
treat; which is so mean a thing, as all the world will believe, that we
do go to beg a peace of them, whatever we pretend. And it seems all our
Court are mightily for a peace, taking this to be the time to make one,
while the King hath money, that he may save something of what the
Parliament hath given him to put him out of debt, so as he may need the
help of no more Parliaments, as to the point of money: but our debt is so
great, and expence daily so encreased, that I believe little of the money
will be saved between this and the making of the peace up. But that
which troubles me most is, that we have chosen a son of Secretary Morris,
a boy never used to any business, to go Embassador [Secretary] to the
Embassy, which shows how, little we are sensible of the weight of the
business upon us. God therefore give a good end to it, for I doubt it,
and yet do much more doubt the issue of our continuing the war, for we
are in no wise fit for it, and yet it troubles me to think what Sir H.
Cholmly says, that he believes they will not give us any reparation for
what we have suffered by the war, nor put us into any better condition
than what we were in before the war, for that will be shamefull for us.
Thence parted with him and home through the dark over the ruins by coach,
with my sword drawn, to the office, where dispatched some business; and
so home to my chamber and to supper and to bed. This morning come up to
my wife's bedside, I being up dressing myself, little Will Mercer to be
her Valentine; and brought her name writ upon blue paper in gold letters,
done by himself, very pretty; and we were both well pleased with it. But
I am also this year my wife's Valentine, and it will cost me L5; but that
I must have laid out if we had not been Valentines. So to bed.
15th. Up and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes by coach to White
Hall, where we attended upon the Duke of York to complain of the
disorders the other day among the seamen at the Pay at the Ticket Office,
and that it arises from lack of money, and that we desire, unless better
provided for with money, to have nothing more to do with the payment of
tickets, it being not our duty; and the Duke of York and [Sir] W.
Coventry did agree to it, so that I hope we shall be rid of that trouble.
This done, I moved for allowance for a house for Mr. Turner, and got it
granted. Then away to Westminster Hall, and there to the Exchequer about
my tallies, and so back to White Hall, and so with Lord Bellasses to the
Excise Office, where met by Sir H. Cholmly to consider about our business
of money there, and that done, home and to dinner, where I hear Pegg Pen
is married this day privately; no friends, but two or three relations on
his side and hers. Borrowed many things of my kitchen for dressing their
dinner. So after dinner to the office, and there busy and did much
business, and late at it. Mrs. Turner come to me to hear how matters
went; I told her of our getting rent for a house for her. She did give
me account of this wedding to-day, its being private being imputed to its
being just before Lent, and so in vain to make new clothes till Easter,
that they might see the fashions as they are like to be this summer;
which is reason good enough. Mrs. Turner tells me she hears [Sir W. Pen]
gives L4500 or 4000 with her. They are gone to bed, so I wish them much
sport, and home to supper and to bed. They own the treaty for a peace
publickly at Court, and the Commissioners providing themselves to go over
as soon as a passe comes for them.
16th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. Among other things
great heat we were all in on one side or other in the examining witnesses
against Mr. Carcasse about his buying of tickets, and a cunning knave I
do believe he is, and will appear, though I have thought otherwise
heretofore. At noon home to dinner, and there find Mr. Andrews, and
Pierce and Hollyard, and they dined with us and merry, but we did rise
soon for saving of my wife's seeing a new play this afternoon, and so
away by coach, and left her at Mrs. Pierces, myself to the Excise Office
about business, and thence to the Temple to walk a little only, and then
to Westminster to pass away time till anon, and here I went to Mrs.
Martin's to thank her for her oysters . . . . Thence away to my Lord
Bruncker's, and there was Sir Robert Murray, whom I never understood so
well as now by this opportunity of discourse with him, a most excellent
man of reason and learning, and understands the doctrine of musique, and
everything else I could discourse of, very finely. Here come Mr. Hooke,
Sir George Ent, Dr. Wren, and many others; and by and by the musique,
that is to say, Signor Vincentio, who is the master-composer, and six
more, whereof two eunuches, so tall, that Sir T. Harvey said well that he
believes they do grow large by being gelt as our oxen do, and one woman
very well dressed and handsome enough, but would not be kissed, as Mr.
Killigrew, who brought the company in, did acquaint us. They sent two
harpsicons before; and by and by, after tuning them, they begun; and, I
confess, very good musique they made; that is, the composition exceeding
good, but yet not at all more pleasing to me than what I have heard in
English by Mrs. Knipp, Captain Cooke, and others. Nor do I dote on the
eunuches; they sing, indeed, pretty high, and have a mellow kind of
sound, but yet I have been as well satisfied with several women's voices
and men also, as Crispe of the Wardrobe. The women sung well, but that
which distinguishes all is this, that in singing, the words are to be
considered, and how they are fitted with notes, and then the common
accent of the country is to be known and understood by the hearer, or he
will never be a good judge of the vocal musique of another country. So
that I was not taken with this at all, neither understanding the first,
nor by practice reconciled to the latter, so that their motions, and
risings and fallings, though it may be pleasing to an Italian, or one
that understands the tongue, yet to me it did not, but do from my heart
believe that I could set words in English, and make musique of them more
agreeable to any Englishman's eare (the most judicious) than any Italian
musique set for the voice, and performed before the same man, unless he
be acquainted with the Italian accent of speech. The composition as to
the musique part was exceeding good, and their justness in keeping time
by practice much before any that we have, unless it be a good band of
practised fiddlers. So away, here being Captain Cocke, who is stole
away, leaving them at it, in his coach, and to Mrs. Pierce's, where I
took up my wife, and there I find Mrs. Pierce's little girl is my
Valentine, she having drawn me; which I was not sorry for, it easing me
of something more that I must have given to others. But here I do first
observe the fashion of drawing of mottos as well as names; so that
Pierce, who drew my wife, did draw also a motto, and this girl drew
another for me. What mine was I have forgot; but my wife's was, "Most
virtuous and most fair;" which, as it may be used, or an anagram made
upon each name, might be very pretty. Thence with Cocke and my wife, set
him at home, and then we home. To the office, and there did a little
business, troubled that I have so much been hindered by matters of
pleasure from my business, but I shall recover it I hope in a little
time. So home and to supper, not at all smitten with the musique to-
night, which I did expect should have been so extraordinary, Tom
Killigrew crying it up, and so all the world, above all things in the
world, and so to bed. One wonder I observed to-day, that there was no
musique in the morning to call up our new-married people, which is very
mean, methinks, and is as if they had married like dog and bitch.
17th (Lord's day). Up, and called at Michell's, and took him and his
wife and carried them to Westminster, I landing at White Hall, and having
no pleasure in the way 'con elle'; and so to the Duke's, where we all met
and had a hot encounter before the Duke of York about the business of our
payments at the Ticket Office, where we urged that we had nothing to do
to be troubled with the pay, having examined the tickets. Besides, we
are neglected, having not money sent us in time, but to see the baseness
of my brethren, not a man almost put in a word but Sir W. Coventry,
though at the office like very devils in this point. But I did plainly
declare that, without money, no fleete could be expected, and desired the
Duke of York to take notice of it, and notice was taken of it, but I
doubt will do no good. But I desire to remember it as a most prodigious
thing that to this day my Lord Treasurer hath not consulted counsel,
which Sir W. Coventry and I and others do think is necessary, about the
late Poll act, enough to put the same into such order as that any body
dare lend money upon it, though we have from this office under our hands
related the necessity thereof to the Duke of York, nor is like to be
determined in, for ought I see, a good while had not Sir W. Coventry
plainly said that he did believe it would be a better work for the King
than going to church this morning, to send for the Atturney Generall to
meet at the Lord Treasurer's this afternoon and to bring the thing to an
issue, saying that himself, were he going to the Sacrament, would not
think he should offend God to leave it and go to the ending this work, so
much it is of moment to the King and Kingdom. Hereupon the Duke of York
said he would presently speak to the King, and cause it to be done this
afternoon. Having done here we broke up; having done nothing almost
though for all this, and by and by I met Sir G. Carteret, and he is stark
mad at what has passed this morning, and I believe is heartily vexed with
me: I said little, but I am sure the King will suffer if some better care
be not taken than he takes to look after this business of money. So
parted, and I by water home and to dinner, W. Hewer with us, a good
dinner and-very merry, my wife and I, and after dinner to my chamber, to
fit some things against: the Council anon, and that being done away to
White Hall by water, and thence to my Lord Chancellor's, where I met
with, and had much pretty discourse with, one of the Progers's that knows
me; and it was pretty to hear him tell me, of his own accord, as a matter
of no shame, that in Spayne he had a pretty woman, his mistress, whom,
when money grew scarce with him, he was forced to leave, and afterwards
heard how she and her husband lived well, she being kept by an old fryer
who used her as his whore; but this, says he, is better than as our
ministers do, who have wives that lay up their estates, and do no good
nor relieve any poor--no, not our greatest prelates, and I think he is in
the right for my part. Staid till the Council was up, and attended the
King and Duke of York round the Park, and was asked several questions by
both; but I was in pain, lest they should ask me what I could not answer;
as the Duke of York did the value of the hull of the St. Patrick lately
lost, which I told him I could not presently answer; though I might have
easily furnished myself to answer all those questions. They stood a good
while to see the ganders and geese tread one another in the water, the
goose being all the while kept for a great while: quite under water,
which was new to me, but they did make mighty sport of it, saying (as the
King did often) "Now you shall see a marriage, between this and that,"
which did not please me. They gone, by coach to my Lord Treasurer's,
as the Duke of York told me, to settle the business of money for the
navy, I walked into the Court to and again till night, and there met
Colonell Reames, and he and I walked together a great while complaining
of the ill-management of things, whereof he is as full as I am. We ran
over many persons and things, and see nothing done like men like to do
well while the King minds his pleasures so much. We did bemoan it that
nobody would or had authority enough with the King to tell him how all
things go to rack and will be lost. Then he and I parted, and I to
Westminster to the Swan, and there staid till Michell and his wife come.
Old Michell and his wife come to see me, and there we drank and laughed a
little, and then the young ones and I took boat, it being fine moonshine.
I did to my trouble see all the way that 'elle' did get as close 'a su
marido' as 'elle' could, and turn her 'mains' away 'quand je' did
endeavour to take one. . . . So that I had no pleasure at all 'con
elle ce' night. When we landed I did take occasion to send him back a
the bateau while I did get a 'baiser' or two, and would have taken 'la'
by 'la' hand, but 'elle' did turn away, and 'quand' I said shall I not
'toucher' to answered 'ego' no love touching, in a slight mood. I seemed
not to take notice of it, but parted kindly; 'su marido' did alter with
me almost a my case, and there we parted, and so I home troubled at this,
but I think I shall make good use of it and mind my business more.
At home, by appointment, comes Captain Cocke to me, to talk of State
matters, and about the peace; who told me that the whole business is
managed between Kevet, Burgomaster of Amsterdam, and my Lord Arlington,
who hath, by the interest of his wife there, some interest. We have
proposed the Hague, but know not yet whether the Dutch will like it; or;
if they do, whether the French will. We think we shall have the help of
the information of their affairs and state, and the helps of the Prince
of Orange his faction; but above all, that De Witt, who hath all this
while said he cannot get peace, his mouth will now be stopped, so that
he will be forced to offer fit terms for fear of the people; and, lastly,
if France or Spayne do not please us, we are in a way presently to clap
up a peace with the Dutch, and secure them. But we are also in treaty
with France, as he says: but it must be to the excluding our alliance
with the King of Spayne or House of Austria; which we do not know
presently what will be determined in. He tells me the Vice-Chamberlaine
is so great with the King, that, let the Duke of York, and Sir W.
Coventry, and this office, do or say what they will, while the King
lives, Sir G. Carteret will do what he will; and advises me to be often
with him, and eat and drink with him.; and tells me that he doubts he is
jealous of me, and was mighty mad to-day at our discourse to him before
the Duke of York. But I did give him my reasons that the office is
concerned to declare that, without money, the King's work cannot go on.
From that discourse we ran to others, and among the others he assures me
that Henry Bruncker is one of the shrewdest fellows for parts in England,
and a dangerous man; that if ever the Parliament comes again Sir W.
Coventry cannot stand, but in this I believe him not; that, while we want
money so much in the Navy, the Officers of the Ordnance have at this day
L300,000 good in tallys, which they can command money upon, got by their
over-estimating their charge in getting it reckoned as a fifth part of
the expense of the Navy; that Harry Coventry, who is to go upon this
treaty with Lord Hollis (who he confesses to be a very wise man) into
Holland, is a mighty quick, ready man, but not so weighty as he should
be, he knowing him so well in his drink as he do; that, unless the King
do do something against my Lord Mordaunt and the Patent for the Canary
Company, before the Parliament next meets, he do believe there will be a
civil war before there will be any more money given, unless it may be at
their perfect disposal; and that all things are now ordered to the
provoking of the Parliament against they come next, and the spending the
King's money, so as to put him into a necessity of having it at the time
it is prorogued for, or sooner. Having discoursed all this and much
more, he away, and I to supper and to read my vows, and to bed. My mind
troubled about Betty Michell, 'pour sa carriage' this night 'envers moy',
but do hope it will put me upon doing my business. This evening, going
to the Queen's side to see the ladies, I did find the Queene, the
Duchesse of York, and another or two, at cards, with the room full of
great ladies and men; which I was amazed at to see on a Sunday, having
not believed it; but, contrarily, flatly denied the same a little while
since to my cozen Roger Pepys? I did this day, going by water, read the
answer to "The Apology for Papists," which did like me mightily, it being
a thing as well writ as I think most things that ever I read in my life,
and glad I am that I read it.
18th. Up, and to my bookbinder's, and there mightily pleased to see some
papers of the account we did give the Parliament of the expense of the
Navy sewed together, which I could not have conceived before how prettily
it was done. Then by coach to the Exchequer about some tallies, and
thence back again home, by the way meeting Mr. Weaver, of Huntingdon, and
did discourse our business of law together, which did ease my mind, for I
was afeard I have omitted doing what I in prudence ought to have done.
So home and to dinner, and after dinner to the office, where je had Mrs.
Burrows all sola a my closet, and did there 'baiser and toucher ses
mamelles' . . . . Thence away, and with my wife by coach to the Duke
of York's play-house, expecting a new play, and so stayed not no more
than other people, but to the King's house, to "The Mayd's Tragedy;" but
vexed all the while with two talking ladies and Sir Charles Sedley; yet
pleased to hear their discourse, he being a stranger. And one of the
ladies would, and did sit with her mask on, all the play, and, being
exceeding witty as ever I heard woman, did talk most pleasantly with him;
but was, I believe, a virtuous woman, and of quality. He would fain know
who she was, but she would not tell; yet did give him many pleasant hints
of her knowledge of him, by that means setting his brains at work to
find, out who she was, and did give him leave to use all means to find
out who she was, but pulling off her mask. He was mighty witty, and she
also making sport with him very inoffensively, that a more pleasant
'rencontre' I never heard. But by that means lost the pleasure of the
play wholly, to which now and then Sir Charles Sedley's exceptions
against both words and pronouncing were very pretty. So home and to the
office, did much business, then home, to supper, and to bed.
19th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing little
business, our want of money being so infinite great. At noon home, and
there find old Mr. Michell and Howlett come to desire mine and my wife's
company to dinner to their son's, and so away by coach with them, it
being Betty's wedding-day a year, as also Shrove Tuesday. Here I made
myself mighty merry, the two old women being there also, and a mighty
pretty dinner we had in this little house, to my exceeding great content,
and my wife's, and my heart pleased to see Betty. But I have not been so
merry a very great while as with them, every thing pleasing me there as
much as among so mean company I could be pleased. After dinner I fell to
read the Acts about the building of the City again;
[Burnet wrote ("History of his Own Time," book ii.): "An act passed
in this session for rebuilding the city of London, which gave Lord
Chief Justice Hale a great reputation, for it was drawn with so true
a judgment, and so great foresight, that the whole city was raised
out of its ashes without any suits of law."]
and indeed the laws seem to be very good, and I pray God I may live to
see it built in that manner! Anon with much content home, walking with
my wife and her woman, and there to my office, where late doing much
business, and then home to supper and to bed. This morning I hear that
our discourse of peace is all in the dirt; for the Dutch will not like of
the place, or at least the French will not agree to it; so that I do
wonder what we shall do, for carry on the war we cannot. I long to hear
the truth of it to-morrow at Court.
20th. Up, with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen by coach to White Hall, by
the way observing Sir W. Pen's carrying a favour to Sir W. Coventry, for
his daughter's wedding, and saying that there was others for us, when we
will fetch them, which vexed me, and I am resolved not to wear it when he
orders me one. His wedding hath been so poorly kept, that I am ashamed
of it; for a fellow that makes such a flutter as he do. When we come to
the Duke of York here, I heard discourse how Harris of his play-house is
sick, and everybody commends him, and, above all things, for acting the
Cardinall. Here they talk also how the King's viallin,--[violin]--
Bannister, is mad that the King hath a Frenchman come to be chief of some
part of the King's musique, at which the Duke of York made great mirth.
Then withdrew to his closett, all our business, lack of money and
prospect of the effects of it, such as made Sir W. Coventry say publickly
before us all, that he do heartily wish that his Royal Highness had
nothing to do in the Navy, whatever become of him; so much dishonour,
he says, is likely to fall under the management of it. The Duke of York
was angry, as much as he could be, or ever I saw him, with Sir G.
Carteret, for not paying the masters of some ships on Monday last,
according to his promise, and I do think Sir G. Carteret will make
himself unhappy by not taking some course either to borrow more money or
wholly lay aside his pretence to the charge of raising money, when he
hath nothing to do to trouble himself with. Thence to the Exchequer,
and there find the people in readiness to dispatch my tallies to-day,
though Ash Wednesday. So I back by coach to London to Sir Robt. Viner's
and there got L100, and come away with it and pay my fees round, and so
away with the 'Chequer men to the Leg in King Street, and there had wine
for them; and here was one in company with them, that was the man that
got the vessel to carry over the King from Bredhemson, who hath a pension
of 200 per annum, but ill paid, and the man is looking after getting of a
prizeship to live by; but the trouble is, that this poor man, who hath
received no part of his money these four years, and is ready to starve
almost, must yet pay to the Poll Bill for this pension. He told me
several particulars of the King's coming thither, which was mighty
pleasant, and shews how mean a thing a king is, how subject to fall,
and how like other men he is in his afflictions. Thence with my tallies
home, and a little dinner, and then with my wife by coach to Lincoln's
Inn Fields, sent her to her brother's, and I with Lord Bellasses to the
Lord Chancellor's. Lord Bellasses tells me how the King of France hath
caused the stop to be made to our proposition of treating in The Hague;
that he being greater than they, we may better come and treat at Paris:
so that God knows what will become of the peace! He tells me, too,
as a grand secret, that he do believe the peace offensive and defensive
between Spayne and us is quite finished, but must not be known, to
prevent the King of France's present falling upon Flanders. He do
believe the Duke of York will be made General of the Spanish armies
there, and Governor of Flanders, if the French should come against it,
and we assist the Spaniard: that we have done the Spaniard abundance of
mischief in the West Indys, by our privateers at Jamaica, which they
lament mightily, and I am sorry for it to have it done at this time.
By and by, come to my Lord Chancellor, who heard mighty quietly my
complaints for lack of money, and spoke mighty kind to me, but little
hopes of help therein, only his good word. He do prettily cry upon
Povy's account with sometimes seeming friendship and pity, and this day
quite the contrary. He do confess our streights here and every where
else arise from our outspending our revenue. I mean that the King do do
so. Thence away, took up my wife; who tells me her brother hath laid out
much money upon himself and wife for clothes, which I am sorry to hear,
it requiring great expense. So home and to the office a while, and then
home to supper, where Mrs. Turner come to us, and sat and talked. Poor
woman, I pity her, but she is very cunning. She concurs with me in the
falseness of Sir W. Pen's friendship, and she tells pretty storms of my
Lord Bruncker since he come to our end of the town, of people's
applications to Mrs. Williams. So, she gone, I back to my accounts of
Tangier, which I am settling, having my new tallies from the Exchequer
this day, and having set all right as I could wish, then to bed.
21st. Up, and to the Office, where sat all the morning, and there a most
furious conflict between Sir W. Pen and I, in few words, and on a sudden
occasion, of no great moment, but very bitter, and stared on one another,
and so broke off; and to our business, my heart as full of spite as it
could hold, for which God forgive me and him! At the end of the day come
witnesses on behalf of Mr. Carcasse; but, instead of clearing him, I find
they were brought to recriminate Sir W. Batten, and did it by oath very
highly, that made the old man mad, and, I confess, me ashamed, so that I
caused all but ourselves to withdraw; being sorry to have such things
declared in the open office, before 100 people. But it was done home,
and I do believe true, though (Sir) W. Batten denies all, but is cruel
mad, and swore one of them, he or Carcasse, should not continue in the
Office, which is said like a fool. He gone, for he would not stay, and
[Sir] W. Pen gone a good while before, Lord Bruncker, Sir T. Harvy, and
I, staid and examined the witnesses, though amounting to little more than
a reproaching of Sir W. Batten. I home, my head and mind vexed about the
conflict between Sir W. Pen and I, though I have got, nor lost any ground
by it. At home was Mr. Daniel and wife and sister, and dined with us,
and I disturbed at dinner, Colonell Fitzgerald coming to me about
tallies, which I did go and give him, and then to the office, where did
much business and walked an hour or two with Lord Bruncker, who is
mightily concerned in this business for Carcasse and against Sir W.
Batten, and I do hope it will come to a good height, for I think it will
be good for the King as well as for me, that they two do not agree,
though I do, for ought I see yet, think that my Lord is for the most part
in the right. He gone, I to the office again to dispatch business, and
late at night comes in Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and [Sir] J. Minnes
to the office, and what was it but to examine one Jones, a young
merchant, who was said to have spoke the worst against Sir W. Batten, but
he do deny it wholly, yet I do believe Carcasse will go near to prove all
that was sworn in the morning, and so it be true I wish it may. That
done, I to end my letters, and then home to supper, and set right some
accounts of Tangier, and then to bed.
22nd. Up, and to the office, where I awhile, and then home with Sir H.
Cholmly to give him some tallies upon the business of the Mole at
Tangier, and then out with him by coach to the Excise Office, there to
enter them, and so back again with him to the Exchange, and there I took
another coach, and home to the office, and to my business till dinner,
the rest of our officers having been this morning upon the Victuallers'
accounts. At dinner all of us, that is to say, Lord Bruncker, [Sir] J.
Minnes, [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] T. Harvy, and myself, to Sir W. Pen's
house, where some other company. It is instead of a wedding dinner for
his daughter, whom I saw in palterly clothes, nothing new but a bracelet
that her servant had given her, and ugly she is, as heart can wish. A
sorry dinner, not any thing handsome or clean, but some silver plates
they borrowed of me. My wife was here too. So a great deal of talk, and
I seemingly merry, but took no pleasure at all. We had favours given us
all, and we put them in our hats, I against my will, but that my Lord and
the rest did, I being displeased that he did carry Sir W. Coventry's
himself several days ago, and the people up and down the town long since,
and we must have them but to-day. After dinner to talk a little, and
then I away to my office, to draw up a letter of the state of the Office
and Navy for the Duke of York against Sunday next, and at it late, and
then home to supper and to bed, talking with my wife of the poorness and
meanness of all that Sir W. Pen and the people about us do, compared with
what we do.
23rd. This day I am, by the blessing of God, 34 years old, in very good
health and mind's content, and in condition of estate much beyond
whatever my friends could expect of a child of theirs, this day 34 years.
The Lord's name be praised! and may I be ever thankful for it. Up
betimes to the office, in order to my letter to the Duke of York
to-morrow, and then the office met and spent the greatest part about this
letter. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office again very close
at it all the day till midnight, making an end and writing fair this
great letter and other things to my full content, it abundantly providing
for the vindication of this office, whatever the success be of our wants
of money. This evening Sir W. Batten come to me to the office on
purpose, out of spleen (of which he is full to Carcasse !), to tell me
that he is now informed of many double tickets now found of Carcasses
making which quite overthrows him. It is strange to see how, though I do
believe this fellow to be a rogue, and could be contented to have him
removed, yet to see him persecuted by Sir W. Batten, who is as bad
himself, and that with so much rancour, I am almost the fellow's friend.
But this good I shall have from it, that the differences between Sir W.
Batten and my Lord Bruncker will do me no hurt.
24th (Lord's day). Up, and with [Sir] W. Batten, by coach; he set me
down at my Lord Bruncker's (his feud there not suffering him to 'light
himself), and I with my Lord by and by when ready to White Hall, and by
and by up to the Duke of York, and there presented our great letter and
other papers, and among the rest my report of the victualling, which is
good, I think, and will continue my pretence to the place, which I am
still afeard Sir W. Coventry's employment may extinguish. We have
discharged ourselves in this letter fully from blame in the bad success
of the Navy, if money do not come soon to us, and so my heart is at
pretty good rest in this point. Having done here, Sir W. Batten and I
home by coach, and though the sermon at our church was begun, yet he
would 'light to go home and eat a slice of roast beef off the spit, and
did, and then he and I to church in the middle of the sermon. My Lady
Pen there saluted me with great content to tell me that her daughter and
husband are still in bed, as if the silly woman thought it a great matter
of honour, and did, going out of the church, ask me whether we did not
make a great show at Court today, with all our favours in our hats.
After sermon home, and alone with my wife dined. Among other things my
wife told me how ill a report our Mercer hath got by her keeping of
company, so that she will not send for her to dine with us or be with us
as heretofore; and, what is more strange, tells me that little Mis.
Tooker hath got a clap as young as she is, being brought up loosely by
her mother . . . . In the afternoon away to White Hall by water, and
took a turn or two in the Park, and then back to White Hall, and there
meeting my Lord Arlington, he, by I know not what kindness, offered to
carry me along with him to my Lord Treasurer's, whither, I told him,
I was going. I believe he had a mind to discourse of some Navy
businesses, but Sir Thomas Clifford coming into the coach to us,
we were prevented; which I was sorry for, for I had a mind to begin
an acquaintance with him. He speaks well, and hath pretty slight
superficial parts, I believe. He, in our going, talked much of the plain
habit of the Spaniards; how the King and Lords themselves wear but a
cloak of Colchester bayze, and the ladies mantles, in cold weather, of
white flannell: and that the endeavours frequently of setting up the
manufacture of making these stuffs there have only been prevented by the
Inquisition: the English and Dutchmen that have been sent for to work,
being taken with a Psalmbook or Testament, and so clapped up, and the
house pulled down by the Inquisitors; and the greatest Lord in Spayne
dare not say a word against it, if the word Inquisition be but mentioned.
At my Lord Treasurer's 'light and parted with them, they going into
Council, and I walked with Captain Cocke, who takes mighty notice of the
differences growing in our office between Lord Bruncker and [Sir] W.
Batten, and among others also, and I fear it may do us hurt, but I will
keep out of them. By and by comes Sir S. Fox, and he and I walked and
talked together on many things, but chiefly want of money, and the
straits the King brings himself and affairs into for want of it. Captain
Cocke did tell me what I must not forget: that the answer of the Dutch,
refusing The Hague for a place of treaty, and proposing the Boysse,
Bredah, Bergen-op-Zoome, or Mastricht, was seemingly stopped by the
Swede's Embassador (though he did show it to the King, but the King would
take no notice of it, nor does not) from being delivered to the King; and
he hath wrote to desire them to consider better of it: so that, though we
know their refusal of the place, yet they know not that we know it, nor
is the King obliged to show his sense of the affront. That the Dutch are
in very great straits, so as to be said to be not able to set out their
fleete this year. By and by comes Sir Robert Viner and my Lord Mayor to
ask the King's directions about measuring out the streets according to
the new Act for building of the City, wherein the King is to be pleased.
[See Sir Christopher Wren's "Proposals for rebuilding the City of
London after the great fire, with an engraved Plan of the principal
Streets and Public Buildings," in Elmes's "Memoirs of Sir
Christopher Wren," Appendix, p.61. The originals are in All Souls'
College Library, Oxford.--B.]
But he says that the way proposed in Parliament, by Colonel Birch, would
have been the best, to have chosen some persons in trust, and sold the
whole ground, and let it be sold again by them, with preference to the
old owner, which would have certainly caused the City to be built where
these Trustees pleased; whereas now, great differences will be, and the
streets built by fits, and not entire till all differences be decided.
This, as he tells it, I think would have been the best way. I enquired
about the Frenchman
["One Hubert, a French papist, was seized in Essex, as he was
getting out of the way in great confusion. He confessed he had
begun the fire, and persisted in his confession to his death, for he
was hanged upon no other evidence but that of his own confession.
It is true he gave so broken an account of the whole matter that he
was thought mad. Yet he was blindfolded, and carried to several
places of the city, and then his eyes being opened, he was asked if
that was the place, and he being carried to wrong places, after he
looked round about for some time, he said that was not the place,
but when he was brought to the place where it first broke out, he
affirmed that was the true place. "Burnet's Own Time, book ii.
Archbishop Tillotson, according to Burnet, believed that London was
burnt by design.]
that was said to fire the City, and was hanged for it, by his own
confession, that he was hired for it by a Frenchman of Roane, and that he
did with a stick reach in a fire-ball in at a window of the house:
whereas the master of the house, who is the King's baker, and his son,
and daughter, do all swear there was no such window, and that the fire
did not begin thereabouts. Yet the fellow, who, though a mopish besotted
fellow, did not speak like a madman, did swear that he did fire it: and
did not this like a madman; for, being tried on purpose, and landed with
his keeper at the Tower Wharf, he could carry the keeper to the very
house. Asking Sir R. Viner what he thought was the cause of the fire,
he tells me, that the baker, son, and his daughter, did all swear again
and again, that their oven was drawn by ten o'clock at night; that,
having occasion to light a candle about twelve, there was not so much
fire in the bakehouse as to light a match for a candle, so that they were
fain to go into another place to light it; that about two in the morning
they felt themselves almost choked with smoke, and rising, did find the
fire coming upstairs; so they rose to save themselves; but that, at that
time, the bavins--[brushwood, or faggots used for lighting fires]-- were
not on fire in the yard. So that they are, as they swear, in absolute
ignorance how this fire should come; which is a strange thing, that so
horrid an effect should have so mean and uncertain a beginning. By and
by called in to the King and Cabinet, and there had a few insipid words
about money for Tangier, but to no purpose. Thence away walked to my
boat at White Hall, and so home and to supper, and then to talk with W.
Hewer about business of the differences at present among the people of
our office, and so to my journall and to bed. This night going through
bridge by water, my waterman told me how the mistress of the Beare
tavern, at the bridge-foot, did lately fling herself into the Thames, and
drowned herself; which did trouble me the more, when they tell me it was
she that did live at the White Horse tavern in Lumbard Streete, which was
a most beautiful woman, as most I have seen. It seems she hath had long
melancholy upon her, and hath endeavoured to make away with herself
often.
25th. Lay long in bed, talking with pleasure with my poor wife, how she
used to make coal fires, and wash my foul clothes with her own hand for
me, poor wretch! in our little room at my Lord Sandwich's; for which I
ought for ever to love and admire her, and do; and persuade myself she
would do the same thing again, if God should reduce us to it. So up and
by coach abroad to the Duke of Albemarle's about sending soldiers down to
some ships, and so home, calling at a belt-maker's to mend my belt, and
so home and to dinner, where pleasant with my wife, and then to the
office, where mighty busy all the day, saving going forth to the 'Change
to pay for some things, and on other occasions, and at my goldsmith's did
observe the King's new medall, where, in little, there is Mrs. Steward's
face as well done as ever I saw anything in my whole life, I think: and a
pretty thing it is, that he should choose her face to represent Britannia
by. So at the office late very busy and much business with great joy
dispatched, and so home to supper and to bed.
26th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. And here did
receive another reference from Sir W. Coventry about the business of some
of the Muster-Masters, concerning whom I had returned their small
performances, which do give me a little more trouble for fear [Sir] W.
Coventry should think I had a design to favour my brother Balty, and to
that end to disparage all the rest. But I shall clear all very well,
only it do exercise my thoughts more than I am at leisure for. At home
find Balty and his wife very fine, which I did not like, for fear he do
spend too much of his money that way, and lay [not] up anything. After
dinner to the office again, where by and by Lord Bruncker, [Sir] W.
Batten, [Sir] J. Minnes and I met about receiving Carcasses answers to
the depositions against him. Wherein I did see so much favour from my
Lord to him that I do again begin to see that my Lord is not right at the
bottom, and did make me the more earnest against him, though said little.
My Lord rising, declaring his judgement in his behalf, and going away,
I did hinder our arguing it by ourselves, and so broke up the meeting,
and myself went full of trouble to my office, there to write over the
deposition and his answers side by side, and then home to supper and to
bed with some trouble of mind to think of the issue of this, how it will
breed ill blood among us here.
27th. Up by candle-light, about six o'clock, it being bitter cold
weather again, after all our warm weather, and by water down to Woolwich
rope-yard, I being this day at a leisure, the King and Duke of York being
gone down to Sheerenesse this morning to lay out the design for a
fortification there to the river Medway; and so we do not attend the Duke
of York as we should otherwise have done, and there to the Dock Yard to
enquire of the state of things, and went into Mr. Pett's; and there,
beyond expectation, he did present me with a Japan cane, with a silver
head, and his wife sent me by him a ring, with a Woolwich stone;
[Woolwich stones, still collected in that locality, are simply
waterworn pebbles of flint, which, when broken with a hammer,
exhibit on the smooth surface some resemblance to the human face;
and their possessors are thus enabled to trace likenesses of
friends, or eminent public characters. The late Mr. Tennant, the
geologist, of the Strand, had a collection of such stones. In the
British Museum is a nodule of globular or Egyptian jasper, which, in
its fracture, bears a striking resemblance to the well-known
portrait of Chaucer. It is engraved in Rymsdyk's "Museum
Britannicum," tab. xxviii. A flint, showing Mr. Pitt's face, used
once to be exhibited at the meetings of the Pitt Club.--B.]
now much in request; which I accepted, the values not being great, and
knowing that I had done them courtesies, which he did own in very high
terms; and then, at my asking, did give me an old draught of an ancient-
built ship, given him by his father, of the Beare, in Queen Elizabeth's
time. This did much please me, it being a thing I much desired to have,
to shew the difference in the build of ships now and heretofore. Being
much taken with this kindness, I away to Blackwall and Deptford, to
satisfy myself there about the King's business, and then walked to
Redriffe, and so home about noon; there find Mr. Hunt, newly come out of
the country, who tells me the country is much impoverished by the
greatness of taxes: the farmers do break every day almost, and L1000 a-
year become not worth L500. [A tax rate of approximately that of New York
State in the year 2000. D.W.] He dined with us, and we had good
discourse of the general ill state of things, and, by the way, he told me
some ridiculous pieces of thrift of Sir G. Downing's, who is his
countryman, in inviting some poor people, at Christmas last, to charm the
country people's mouths; but did give them nothing but beef, porridge,
pudding, and pork, and nothing said all dinner, but only his mother would
say, "It's good broth, son." He would answer, "Yes, it is good broth."
Then, says his lady, Confirm all, and say, "Yes, very good broth." By
and by she would begin and say, "Good pork:"--"Yes," says the mother,
"good pork." Then he cries, "Yes, very good pork." And so they said of
all things; to which nobody made any answer, they going there not out of
love or esteem of them, but to eat his victuals, knowing him to be a
niggardly fellow; and with this he is jeered now all over the country.
This day just before dinner comes Captain Story, of Cambridge, to me to
the office, about a bill for prest money,
[Money paid to men who enlist into the public service; press money.
So called because those who receive it are to be prest or ready when
called on ("Encyclopaedic Dictionary ").]
for men sent out of the country and the countries about him to the fleete
the last year; but, Lord! to see the natures of men; how this man,
hearing of my name, did ask me of my country, and told me of my cozen
Roger, that he was not so wise a man as his father; for that he do not
agree in Parliament with his fellow burgesses and knights of the shire,
whereas I know very well the reason; for he is not so high a flyer as Mr.
Chichley and others, but loves the King better than any of them, and to
better purpose. But yet, he says that he is a very honest gentleman, and
thence runs into a hundred stories of his own services to the King, and
how he at this day brings in the taxes before anybody here thinks they
are collected: discourse very absurd to entertain a stranger with. He
being gone, and I glad of it, I home then to dinner. After dinner with
my wife by coach abroad, andset Mr. Hunt down at the Temple and her at
her brother's, and I to White Hall to meet [Sir] W. Coventry, but found
him not, but met Mr. Cooling, who tells me of my Lord Duke of Buckingham's
being sent for last night, by a Serjeant at Armes, to the Tower, for
treasonable practices, and that the King is infinitely angry with him,
and declared him no longer one of his Council. I know not the reason
of it, or occasion. To Westminster Hall, and there paid what I owed for
books, and so by coach, took up my wife to the Exchange, and there bought
things for Mrs. Pierces little daughter, my Valentine, and so to their
house, where we find Knipp, who also challengeth me for her Valentine.
She looks well, sang well, and very merry we were for half an hour.
Tells me Harris is well again, having been very ill, and so we home,
and I to the office; then, at night, to Sir W. Pen's, and sat with my
Lady, and the young couple (Sir William out of town) talking merrily;
but they make a very sorry couple, methinks, though rich. So late home
and to bed.
28th. Up, and there comes to me Drumbleby with a flageolet, made to suit
with my former and brings me one Greeting, a master, to teach my wife.
I agree by the whole with him to teach her to take out any lesson of
herself for L4. She was not ready to begin to-day, but do to-morrow.
So I to the office, where my Lord Bruncker and I only all the morning,
and did business. At noon to the Exchange and to Sir Rob. Viner's about
settling my accounts there. So back home and to dinner, where Mr.
Holliard dined with us, and pleasant company he is. I love his company,
and he secures me against ever having the stone again. He gives it me,
as his opinion, that the City will never be built again together, as is
expected, while any restraint is laid upon them. He hath been a great
loser, and would be a builder again, but, he says, he knows not what
restrictions there will be, so as it is unsafe for him to begin.
He gone, I to the office, and there busy till night doing much business,
then home and to my accounts, wherein, beyond expectation, I succeeded so
well as to settle them very clear and plain, though by borrowing of
monies this month to pay D. Gawden, and chopping and changing with my
Tangier money, they were become somewhat intricate, and, blessed be God;
upon the evening my accounts, I do appear L6800 creditor: This done, I to
supper about 12 at night, and so to bed. The weather for three or four
days being come to be exceeding cold again as any time this year. I did
within these six days see smoke still remaining of the late fire in the
City; and it is strange to think how, to this very day, I cannot sleep at
night without great terrors of fire, and this very night I could not
sleep till almost two in the morning through thoughts of fire. Thus this
month is ended with great content of mind to me, thriving in my estate,
and the affairs in my offices going pretty well as to myself. This
afternoon Mr. Gawden was with me and tells me more than I knew before--
that he hath orders to get all the victuals he can to Plymouth, and the
Western ports, and other outports, and some to Scotland, so that we do
intend to keep but a flying fleete this year; which, it may be, may
preserve us a year longer, but the end of it must be ruin. Sir J. Minnes
this night tells me, that he hears for certain, that ballads are made of
us in Holland for begging of a peace; which I expected, but am vexed at.
So ends this month, with nothing of weight upon my mind, but for my
father and mother, who are both very ill, and have been so for some
weeks: whom God help! but I do fear my poor father will hardly be ever
thoroughly well again.
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
Being taken with a Psalmbook or Testament
Consider that this is all the pleasure I live for in the world
Dinner, an ill and little mean one, with foul cloth and dishes
If the word Inquisition be but mentioned
King's service is undone, and those that trust him perish
Mean, methinks, and is as if they had married like dog and bitch
Musique in the morning to call up our new-married people
Must yet pay to the Poll Bill for this pension (unreceived)
New medall, where, in little, there is Mrs. Steward's face
Not thinking them safe men to receive such a gratuity
Only because she sees it is the fashion (She likes it)
Prince's being trepanned, which was in doing just as we passed
Proud that she shall come to trill
Receive the applications of people, and hath presents
Seems she hath had long melancholy upon her
Sermon upon Original Sin, neither understood by himself
Sick of it and of him for it
The world do not grow old at all
Then home, and merry with my wife
Though he knows, if he be not a fool, that I love him not
To my joy, I met not with any that have sped better than myself
Used to make coal fires, and wash my foul clothes
End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Diary of Samuel Pepys, v57
by Samuel Pepys, Unabridged, transcribed by Bright, edited by Wheatley