Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1664 N.S. Complete

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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.

1664 N.S.

January 1st, 1663-64.

Went to bed between 4 and 5 in the morning with my mind in good temper of
satisfaction and slept till about 8, that many people came to speak with
me. Among others one came with the best New Year's gift that ever I had,
namely from Mr. Deering, with a bill of exchange drawn upon himself for
the payment of L50 to Mr. Luellin. It being for my use with a letter of
compliment. I am not resolved what or how to do in this business, but I
conclude it is an extraordinary good new year's gift, though I do not take
the whole, or if I do then give some of it to Luellin. By and by comes
Captain Allen and his son Jowles and his wife, who continues pretty still.
They would have had me set my hand to a certificate for his loyalty, and I
know not what his ability for any employment. But I did not think it fit,
but did give them a pleasing denial, and after sitting with me an hour
they went away. Several others came to me about business, and then being
to dine at my uncle Wight's I went to the Coffee-house, sending my wife by
Will, and there staid talking an hour with Coll. Middleton, and others,
and among other things about a very rich widow, young and handsome, of one
Sir Nicholas Gold's, a merchant, lately fallen, and of great courtiers
that already look after her: her husband not dead a week yet. She is
reckoned worth L80,000. Thence to my uncle Wight's, where Dr. of-----,
among others, dined, and his wife, a seeming proud conceited woman, I know
not what to make of her, but the Dr's. discourse did please me very well
about the disease of the stone, above all things extolling Turpentine,
which he told me how it may be taken in pills with great ease. There was
brought to table a hot pie made of a swan I sent them yesterday, given me
by Mr. Howe, but we did not eat any of it. But my wife and I rose from
table, pretending business, and went to the Duke's house, the first play I
have been at these six months, according to my last vowe, and here saw the
so much cried-up play of "Henry the Eighth;" which, though I went with
resolution to like it, is so simple a thing made up of a great many
patches, that, besides the shows and processions in it, there is nothing
in the world good or well done. Thence mightily dissatisfied back at
night to my uncle Wight's, and supped with them, but against my stomach
out of the offence the sight of my aunt's hands gives me, and ending
supper with a mighty laugh, the greatest I have had these many months, at
my uncle's being out in his grace after meat, we rose and broke up, and my
wife and I home and to bed, being sleepy since last night.

2nd. Up and to the office, and there sitting all the morning, and at noon
to the 'Change, in my going met with Luellin and told him how I had
received a letter and bill for L50 from Mr. Deering, and delivered it to
him, which he told me he would receive for me. To which I consented,
though professed not to desire it if he do not consider himself
sufficiently able by the service I have done, and that it is rather my
desire to have nothing till he be further sensible of my service. From
the 'Change I brought him home and dined with us, and after dinner I took
my wife out, for I do find that I am not able to conquer myself as to
going to plays till I come to some new vowe concerning it, and that I am
now come, that is to say, that I will not see above one in a month at any
of the publique theatres till the sum of 50s. be spent, and then none
before New Year's Day next, unless that I do become worth L1000 sooner
than then, and then am free to come to some other terms, and so leaving
him in Lombard Street I took her to the King's house, and there met Mr.
Nicholson, my old colleague, and saw "The Usurper," which is no good play,
though better than what I saw yesterday. However, we rose unsatisfied,
and took coach and home, and I to the office late writing letters, and so
to supper and to bed.

3rd (Lord's day). Lay long in bed, and then rose and with a fire in my
chamber staid within all day, looking over and settling my accounts in
good order, by examining all my books, and the kitchen books, and I find
that though the proper profit of my last year was but L305, yet I did by
other gain make it up L444., which in every part of it was unforeseen of
me, and therefore it was a strange oversight for lack of examining my
expenses that I should spend L690 this year, but for the time to come I
have so distinctly settled all my accounts in writing and the particulars
of all my several layings out, that I do hope I shall hereafter make a
better judgment of my spendings than ever. I dined with my wife in her
chamber, she in bed, and then down again and till 11 at night, and broke
up and to bed with great content, but could not make an end of writing
over my vows as I purposed, but I am agreed in every thing how to order
myself for the year to come, which I trust in God will be much for my
good. So up to prayers and to bed. This evening Sir W. Pen came to
invite me against next Wednesday, being Twelfth day, to his usual feast,
his wedding day.

4th. Up betimes, and my wife being ready, and her mayd Besse and the
girl, I carried them by coach and set them all down in Covent Garden and
there left them, and I to my Lord Sandwich's lodgings, but he not being
up, I to the Duke's chamber, and there by and by to his closett, where
since his lady was ill, a little red bed of velvet is brought for him to
lie alone, which is a very pretty one. After doing business here, I to my
Lord's again, and there spoke with him, and he seems now almost friends
again as he used to be. Here meeting Mr. Pierce, the chyrurgeon, he told
me among other Court newes, how the Queene is very well again, and the
King lay with her on Saturday night last; and that she speaks now very
pretty English, and makes her sense out now and then with pretty phrazes:
as among others this is mightily cried up; that, meaning to say that she
did not like such a horse so well as the rest, he being too prancing and
full of tricks, she said he did make too much vanity. Thence to the Tennis
Court, after I had spent a little time in Westminster Hall, thinking to
have met with Mrs. Lane, but I could not and am glad of it, and there saw
the King play at Tennis and others: but to see how the King's play was
extolled without any cause at all, was a loathsome sight, though
sometimes, indeed, he did play very well and deserved to be commended; but
such open flattery is beastly. Afterwards to St. James's Parke, being
unwilling to go to spend money at the ordinary, and there spent an hour or
two, it being a pleasant day, seeing people play at Pell Mell; where it
pleased me mightily to hear a gallant, lately come from France, swear at
one of his companions for suffering his man (a spruce blade) to be so
saucy as to strike a ball while his master was playing on the Mall.

[When Egerton was Bishop of Durham, he often played at bowls with
his guests on the public days. On an occasion of this sort, a
visitor happening to cross the lawn, one of the chaplains exclaimed,
"You must not shake the green, for the bishop is going to bowl."-B.]

Thence took coach at White Hall and took up my wife, who is mighty sad to
think of her father, who is going into Germany against the Turkes; but
what will become of her brother I know not. He is so idle, and out of all
capacity, I think, to earn his bread. Home and at my office till is at
night making my solemn vowes for the next year, which I trust in the Lord
I shall keep, but I fear I have a little too severely bound myself in some
things and in too many, for I fear I may forget some. But however, I know
the worst, and shall by the blessing of God observe to perform or pay my
forfeits punctually. So home and to bed with my mind at rest.

5th. Up and to our office, where we sat all the morning, where my head
being willing to take in all business whatever, I am afraid I shall over
clogg myself with it. But however, it is my desire to do my duty and
shall the willinger bear it. At noon home and to the 'Change, where I met
with Luellin, who went off with me and parted to meet again at the
Coffeehouse, but missed. So home and found him there, and Mr. Barrow came
to speak with me, so they both dined with me alone, my wife not being
ready, and after dinner I up in my chamber with Barrow to discourse about
matters of the yard with him, and his design of leaving the place, which I
am sorry for, and will prevent if I can. He being gone then Luellin did
give me the L50 from Mr. Deering, which he do give me for my pains in his
business and what I may hereafter take for him, though there is not the
least word or deed I have yet been guilty of in his behalf but what I am
sure has been to the King's advantage and the profit of the service, nor
ever will. And for this money I never did condition with him or expected
a farthing at the time when I did do him the service, nor have given any
receipt for it, it being brought me by Luellin, nor do purpose to give him
any thanks for it, but will wherein I can faithfully endeavour to see him
have the privilege of his Patent as the King's merchant. I did give
Luellin two pieces in gold for a pair of gloves for his kindness herein.
Then he being gone, I to my office, where busy till late at night, that
through my room being over confounded in business I could stay there no
longer, but went home, and after a little supper to bed.

6th (Twelfth day). Up and to my office, where very busy all the morning,
being indeed over loaded with it through my own desire of doing all I can.
At noon to the 'Change, but did little, and so home to dinner with my poor
wife, and after dinner read a lecture to her in Geography, which she takes
very prettily and with great pleasure to her and me to teach her, and so
to the office again, where as busy as ever in my life, one thing after
another, and answering people's business, particularly drawing up things
about Mr. Wood's masts, which I expect to have a quarrel about with Sir W.
Batten before it be ended, but I care not. At night home to my wife, to
supper, discourse, prayers, and to bed. This morning I began a practice
which I find by the ease I do it with that I shall continue, it saving me
money and time; that is, to trimme myself with a razer: which pleases me
mightily.

7th. Up, putting on my best clothes and to the office, where all the
morning we sat busy, among other things upon Mr. Wood's performance of his
contract for masts, wherein I was mightily concerned, but I think was
found all along in the right, and shall have my desire in it to the King's
advantage. At noon, all of us to dinner to Sir W. Pen's, where a very
handsome dinner, Sir J. Lawson among others, and his lady and his
daughter, a very pretty lady and of good deportment, with looking upon
whom I was greatly pleased, the rest of the company of the women were all
of our own house, of no satisfaction or pleasure at all. My wife was not
there, being not well enough, nor had any great mind. But to see how Sir
W. Pen imitates me in everything, even in his having his chimney piece in
his dining room the same with that in my wife's closett, and in every
thing else I perceive wherein he can. But to see again how he was out in
one compliment: he lets alone drinking any of the ladies' healths that
were there, my Lady Batten and Lawson, till he had begun with my Lady
Carteret, who was absent, and that was well enough, and then Mr.
Coventry's mistresse, at which he was ashamed, and would not have had him
have drunk it, at least before the ladies present, but his policy, as he
thought, was such that he would do it. After dinner by coach with Sir G.
Carteret and Sir J. Minnes by appointment to Auditor Beale's in Salisbury
Court, and there we did with great content look over some old ledgers to
see in what manner they were kept, and indeed it was in an extraordinary
good method, and such as (at least out of design to keep them employed) I
do persuade Sir J. Minnes to go upon, which will at least do as much good
it may be to keep them for want of something to do from envying those that
do something. Thence calling to see whether Mrs. Turner was returned,
which she is, and I spoke one word only to her, and away again by coach
home and to my office, where late, and then home to supper and bed.

8th. Up and all the morning at my office and with Sir J. Minnes,
directing him and Mr. Turner about keeping of their books according to
yesterday's work, wherein I shall make them work enough. At noon to the
'Change, and there long, and from thence by appointment took Luellin,
Mount, and W. Symons, and Mr. Pierce, the chirurgeon, home to dinner with
me and were merry. But, Lord! to hear how W. Symons do commend and look
sadly and then talk bawdily and merrily, though his wife was dead but the
other day, would make a dogg laugh. After dinner I did go in further part
of kindness to Luellin for his kindness about Deering's L50 which he
procured me the other day of him. We spent all the afternoon together and
then they to cards with my wife, who this day put on her Indian blue gowne
which is very pretty, where I left them for an hour, and to my office, and
then to them again, and by and by they went away at night, and so I again
to my office to perfect a letter to Mr. Coventry about Department
Treasurers, wherein I please myself and hope to give him content and do
the King service therein. So having done, I home and to teach my wife a
new lesson in the globes, and to supper, and to bed. We had great
pleasure this afternoon; among other things, to talk of our old passages
together in Cromwell's time; and how W. Symons did make me laugh and
wonder to-day when he told me how he had made shift to keep in, in good
esteem and employment, through eight governments in one year (the dear
1659, which were indeed, and he did name them all), and then failed
unhappy in the ninth, viz. that of the King's coming in. He made good to
me the story which Luellin did tell me the other day, of his wife upon her
death-bed; how she dreamt of her uncle Scobell, and did foretell, from
some discourse she had with him, that she should die four days thence, and
not sooner, and did all along say so, and did so. Upon the 'Change a
great talke there was of one Mr. Tryan, an old man, a merchant in
Lyme-Streete, robbed last night (his man and mayde being gone out after he
was a-bed), and gagged and robbed of L1050 in money and about L4000 in
jewells, which he had in his house as security for money. It is believed
by many circumstances that his man is guilty of confederacy, by their
ready going to his secret till in his desk, wherein the key of his
cash-chest lay.

9th. Up (my underlip being mightily swelled, I know not how but by
overrubbing it, it itching) and to the office, where we sat all the
morning, and at noon I home to dinner, and by discourse with my wife
thought upon inviting my Lord Sandwich to a dinner shortly. It will cost
me at least ten or twelve pounds; but, however, some arguments of prudence
I have, which however I shall think again upon before I proceed to that
expence. After dinner by coach I carried my wife and Jane to Westminster,
leaving her at Mr. Hunt's, and I to Westminster Hall, and there visited
Mrs. Lane, and by appointment went out and met her at the Trumpet, Mrs.
Hare's, but the room being damp we went to the Bell tavern, and there I
had her company, but could not do as I used to do (yet nothing but what
was honest) . . . . So I to talk about her having Hawley, she told
me flatly no, she could not love him. I took occasion to enquire of
Howlett's daughter, with whom I have a mind to meet a little to see what
mettle the young wench is made of, being very pretty, but she tells me she
is already betrothed to Mrs. Michell's son, and she in discourse tells me
more, that Mrs. Michell herself had a daughter before marriage, which is
now near thirty years old, a thing I could not have believed. Thence
leading her to the Hall, I took coach and called my wife and her mayd, and
so to the New Exchange, where we bought several things of our pretty Mrs.
Dorothy Stacy, a pretty woman, and has the modestest look that ever I saw
in my life and manner of speech. Thence called at Tom's and saw him
pretty well again, but has not been currant. So homeward, and called at
Ludgate, at Ashwell's uncle's, but she was not within, to have spoke to
her to have come to dress my wife at the time my Lord dines here. So
straight home, calling for Walsingham's Manuals at my bookseller's to read
but not to buy, recommended for a pretty book by Sir W. Warren, whose
warrant however I do not much take till I do read it. So home to supper
and to bed, my wife not being very well since she came home, being
troubled with a fainting fit, which she never yet had before since she was
my wife.

10th (Lord's day). Lay in bed with my wife till 10 or 11 o'clock, having
been very sleepy all night. So up, and my brother Tom being come to see
me, we to dinner, he telling me how Mrs. Turner found herself discontented
with her late bad journey, and not well taken by them in the country, they
not desiring her coming down, nor the burials of Mr. Edward Pepys's corps
there. After dinner I to the office, where all the afternoon, and at
night my wife and I to my uncle Wight's, and there eat some of their swan
pie, which was good, and I invited them to my house to eat a roasted swan
on Tuesday next, which after I was come home did make a quarrels between
my wife and I, because she had appointed a wish to-morrow. But, however,
we were friends again quickly. So to bed. All our discourse to-night was
Mr. Tryan's late being robbed; and that Collonell Turner (a mad, swearing,
confident fellow, well known by all, and by me), one much indebted to this
man for his very livelihood, was the man that either did or plotted it;
and the money and things are found in his hand, and he and his wife now in
Newgate for it; of which we are all glad, so very a known rogue he was.

11th. Waked this morning by 4 o'clock by my wife to call the mayds to
their wash, and what through my sleeping so long last night and vexation
for the lazy sluts lying so long again and their great wash, neither my
wife nor I could sleep one winke after that time till day, and then I rose
and by coach (taking Captain Grove with me and three bottles of Tent,
which I sent to Mrs. Lane by my promise on Saturday night last) to White
Hall, and there with the rest of our company to the Duke and did our
business, and thence to the Tennis Court till noon, and there saw several
great matches played, and so by invitation to St. James's; where, at Mr.
Coventry's chamber, I dined with my Lord Barkeley, Sir G. Carteret, Sir
Edward Turner, Sir Ellis Layton, and one Mr. Seymour, a fine gentleman;
were admirable good discourse of all sorts, pleasant and serious. Thence
after dinner to White Hall, where the Duke being busy at the Guinny
business, the Duke of Albemarle, Sir W. Rider, Povy, Sir J. Lawson and I
to the Duke of Albemarle's lodgings, and there did some business, and so
to the Court again, and I to the Duke of York's lodgings, where the Guinny
company are choosing their assistants for the next year by ballotting.
Thence by coach with Sir J. Robinson, Lieutenant of the Tower, he set me
down at Cornhill, but, Lord! the simple discourse that all the way we
had, he magnifying his great undertakings and cares that have been upon
him for these last two years, and how he commanded the city to the content
of all parties, when the loggerhead knows nothing almost that is sense.
Thence to the Coffee-house, whither comes Sir W. Petty and Captain Grant,
and we fell in talke (besides a young gentleman, I suppose a merchant, his
name Mr. Hill, that has travelled and I perceive is a master in most sorts
of musique and other things) of musique; the universal character; art of
memory; Granger's counterfeiting of hands and other most excellent
discourses to my great content, having not been in so good company a great
while, and had I time I should covet the acquaintance of that Mr. Hill.
This morning I stood by the King arguing with a pretty Quaker woman, that
delivered to him a desire of hers in writing. The King showed her Sir J.
Minnes, as a man the fittest for her quaking religion, saying that his
beard was the stiffest thing about him, and again merrily said, looking
upon the length of her paper, that if all she desired was of that length
she might lose her desires; she modestly saying nothing till he begun
seriously to discourse with her, arguing the truth of his spirit against
hers; she replying still with these words, "O King!" and thou'd him all
along. The general talke of the towne still is of Collonell Turner, about
the robbery; who, it is thought, will be hanged. I heard the Duke of York
tell to-night, how letters are come that fifteen are condemned for the
late plot by the judges at York; and, among others, Captain Oates, against
whom it was proved that he drew his sword at his going out, and flinging
away the scabbard, said that he would either return victor or be hanged.
So home, where I found the house full of the washing and my wife mighty
angry about Will's being here to-day talking with her mayds, which she
overheard, idling of their time, and he telling what a good mayd my old
Jane was, and that she would never have her like again. At which I was
angry, and after directing her to beat at least the little girl, I went to
the office and there reproved Will, who told me that he went thither by my
wife's order, she having commanded him to come thither on Monday morning.
Now God forgive me! how apt I am to be jealous of her as to this fellow,
and that she must needs take this time, when she knows I must be gone out
to the Duke, though methinks had she that mind she would never think it
discretion to tell me this story of him, to let me know that he was there,
much less to make me offended with him, to forbid him coming again. But
this cursed humour I cannot cool in myself by all the reason I have, which
God forgive me for, and convince me of the folly of it, and the disquiet
it brings me. So home, where, God be thanked, when I came to speak to my
wife my trouble of mind soon vanished, and to bed. The house foul with
the washing and quite out of order against to-morrow's dinner.

12th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at noon to
the 'Change awhile, and so home, getting things against dinner ready, and
anon comes my uncle Wight and my aunt, with their cozens Mary and Robert,
and by chance my uncle Thomas Pepys. We had a good dinner, the chief dish
a swan roasted, and that excellent meate. At, dinner and all day very
merry. After dinner to cards, where till evening, then to the office a
little, and to cards again with them, and lost half-a-crowne. They being
gone, my wife did tell me how my uncle did this day accost her alone, and
spoke of his hoping she was with child, and kissing her earnestly told her
he should be very glad of it, and from all circumstances methinks he do
seem to have some intention of good to us, which I shall endeavour to
continue more than ever I did yet. So to my office till late, and then
home to bed, after being at prayers, which is the first time after my late
vowe to say prayers in my family twice in every week.

13th. Up and to my office a little, and then abroad to many several
places about business, among others to the geometrical instrument makers,
and through Bedlam (calling by the way at an old bookseller's and there
fell into looking over Spanish books and pitched upon some, till I thought
of my oathe when I was going to agree for them, and so with much ado got
myself out of the shop glad at my heart and so away) to the African House
to look upon their book of contracts for several commodities for my
information in the prices we give in the Navy. So to the Coffee [house]
where extraordinary good discourse of Dr. Whistler's' upon my question
concerning the keeping of masts, he arguing against keeping them dry, by
showing the nature of corruption in bodies and the several ways thereof.
So to the 'Change, and thence with Sir W. Rider to the Trinity House to
dinner, and then home and to my office till night, and then with Mr. Bland
to Sir T. Viner's about pieces of eight for Sir J. Lawson, and so back to
my office, and there late upon business, and so home to supper and to bed.

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