Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1664 N.S. Complete

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23rd. Up, it being Shrove Tuesday, and at the office sat all the morning,
at noon to the 'Change and there met with Sir W. Rider, and of a sudden
knowing what I had at home, brought him and Mr. Cutler and Mr. Cooke,
clerk to Mr. Secretary Morrice, a sober and pleasant man, and one that I
knew heretofore, when he was my Lord 's secretary at Dunkirke. I made
much of them and had a pretty dinner for a sudden. We talked very
pleasantly, and they many good discourses of their travels abroad. After
dinner they gone, I to my office, where doing many businesses very late,
but to my good content to see how I grow in estimation every day more and
more, and have things given more oftener than I used to have formerly, as
to have a case of very pretty knives with agate shafts by Mrs. Russell. So
home and to bed. This day, by the blessing of God, I have lived
thirty-one years in the world; and, by the grace of God, I find myself not
only in good health in every thing, and particularly as to the stone, but
only pain upon taking cold, and also in a fair way of coming to a better
esteem and estate in the world, than ever I expected. But I pray God give
me a heart to fear a fall, and to prepare for it!

24th (Ash-Wednesday). Up and by water, it being a very fine morning, to
White Hall, and there to speak with Sir Ph. Warwicke, but he was gone out
to chappell, so I spent much of the morning walking in the Park, and going
to the Queene's chappell, where I staid and saw their masse, till a man
came and bid me go out or kneel down: so I did go out. And thence to
Somerset House; and there into the chappell, where Monsieur d'Espagne used
to preach. But now it is made very fine, and was ten times more crouded
than the Queene's chappell at St. James's; which I wonder at. Thence down
to the garden of Somerset House, and up and down the new building, which
in every respect will be mighty magnificent and costly. I staid a great
while talking with a man in the garden that was sawing of a piece of
marble, and did give him 6d. to drink. He told me much of the nature and
labour of the worke, how he could not saw above 4 inches of the stone in a
day, and of a greater not above one or two, and after it is sawed, then it
is rubbed with coarse and then with finer and finer sand till they come to
putty, and so polish it as smooth as glass. Their saws have no teeth, but
it is the sand only which the saw rubs up and down that do the thing.
Thence by water to the Coffee-house, and there sat with Alderman Barker
talking of hempe and the trade, and thence to the 'Change a little, and so
home and dined with my wife, and then to the office till the evening, and
then walked a while merrily with my wife in the garden, and so she gone, I
to work again till late, and so home to supper and to bed.

25th. Up and to the office, where we sat, and thence with Mr. Coventry by
coach to the glasshouse and there dined, and both before and after did my
Lord Peterborough's accounts. Thence home to the office, and there did
business till called by Creed, and with him by coach (setting my wife at
my brother's) to my Lord's, and saw the young ladies, and talked a little
with them, and thence to White Hall, a while talking but doing no
business, but resolved of going to meet my Lord tomorrow, having got a
horse of Mr. Coventry to-day. So home, taking up my wife, and after doing
something at my office home, God forgive me, disturbed in my mind out of
my jealousy of my wife tomorrow when I am out of town, which is a hell to
my mind, and yet without all reason. God forgive me for it, and mend
me. So home, and getting my things ready for me, weary to bed.

26th. Up, and after dressing myself handsomely for riding, I out, and by
water to Westminster, to Mr. Creed's chamber, and after drinking some
chocolate, and playing on the vyall, Mr. Mallard being there, upon Creed's
new vyall, which proves, methinks, much worse than mine, and, looking upon
his new contrivance of a desk and shelves for books, we set out from an
inne hard by, whither Mr. Coventry's horse was carried, and round about
the bush through bad ways to Highgate. Good discourse in the way had
between us, and it being all day a most admirable pleasant day, we, upon
consultation, had stopped at the Cocke, a mile on this side Barnett, being
unwilling to put ourselves to the charge or doubtful acceptance of any
provision against my Lord's coming by, and there got something and dined,
setting a boy to look towards Barnett Hill, against their coming; and
after two or three false alarms, they come, and we met the coach very
gracefully, and I had a kind receipt from both Lord and Lady as I could
wish, and some kind discourse, and then rode by the coach a good way, and
so fell to discoursing with several of the people, there being a dozen
attending the coach, and another for the mayds and parson. Among others
talking with W. Howe, he told me how my Lord in his hearing the other day
did largely tell my Lord Peterborough and Povy (who went with them down to
Hinchinbrooke) how and when he discarded Creed, and took me to him, and
that since the Duke of York has several times thanked him for me, which
did not a little please me, and anon I desiring Mr. Howe to tell me upon
[what] occasion this discourse happened, he desired me to say nothing of
it now, for he would not have my Lord to take notice of our being
together, but he would tell me another time, which put me into some
trouble to think what he meant by it. But when we came to my Lord's
house, I went in; and whether it was my Lord's neglect, or general
indifference, I know not, but he made me no kind of compliment there; and,
methinks, the young ladies look somewhat highly upon me. So I went away
without bidding adieu to anybody, being desirous not to be thought too
servile. But I do hope and believe that my Lord do yet value me as high
as ever, though he dare not admit me to the freedom he once did, and that
my Lady is still the same woman. So rode home and there found my uncle
Wight. 'Tis an odd thing as my wife tells me his caressing her and coming
on purpose to give her visits, but I do not trouble myself for him at all,
but hope the best and very good effects of it. He being gone I eat
something and my wife. I told all this day's passages, and she to give me
very good and rational advice how to behave myself to my Lord and his
family, by slighting every body but my Lord and Lady, and not to seem to
have the least society or fellowship with them, which I am resolved to do,
knowing that it is my high carriage that must do me good there, and to
appear in good clothes and garbe. To the office, and being weary, early
home to bed.

27th. Up, but weary, and to the office, where we sat all the morning.
Before I went to the office there came Bagwell's wife to me to speak for
her husband. I liked the woman very well and stroked her under the chin,
but could not find in my heart to offer anything uncivil to her, she
being, I believe, a very modest woman. At noon with Mr. Coventry to the
African house, and to my Lord Peterborough's business again, and then to
dinner, where, before dinner, we had the best oysters I have seen this
year, and I think as good in all respects as ever I eat in my life. I eat
a great many. Great, good company at dinner, among others Sir Martin
Noell, who told us the dispute between him, as farmer of the Additional
Duty, and the East India Company, whether callicos be linnen or no; which
he says it is, having been ever esteemed so: they say it is made of cotton
woole, and grows upon trees, not like flax or hempe. But it was carried
against the Company, though they stand out against the verdict. Thence
home and to the office, where late, and so home to supper and to bed, and
had a very pleasing and condescending answer from my poor father to-day in
answer to my angry discontentful letter to him the other day, which
pleases me mightily.

28th (Lord's day). Up and walked to Paul's; and by chance it was an
extraordinary day for the Readers of the Inns of Court and all the
Students to come to church, it being an old ceremony not used these
twenty-five years, upon the first Sunday in Lent. Abundance there was of
Students, more than there was room to seat but upon forms, and the Church
mighty full. One Hawkins preached, an Oxford man. A good sermon upon
these words: "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable."
Both before and after sermon I was most impatiently troubled at the Quire,
the worst that ever I heard. But what was extraordinary, the Bishop of
London, who sat there in a pew, made a purpose for him by the pulpitt, do
give the last blessing to the congregation; which was, he being a comely
old man, a very decent thing, methought. The Lieutenant of the Tower, Sir
J. Robinson, would needs have me by coach home with him, and sending word
home to my house I did go and dine with him, his ordinary table being very
good, and his lady a very high-carriaged but comely big woman; I was
mightily pleased with her. His officers of his regiment dined with him.
No discourse at table to any purpose, only after dinner my Lady would
needs see a boy which was represented to her to be an innocent country boy
brought up to towne a day or two ago, and left here to the wide world, and
he losing his way fell into the Tower, which my Lady believes, and takes
pity on him, and will keep him; but though a little boy and but young, yet
he tells his tale so readily and answers all questions so wittily, that
for certain he is an arch rogue, and bred in this towne; but my Lady will
not believe it, but ordered victuals to be given him, and I think will
keep him as a footboy for their eldest son. After dinner to chappell in
the Tower with the Lieutenant, with the keyes carried before us, and the
Warders and Gentleman-porter going before us. And I sat with the
Lieutenant in his pew, in great state, but slept all the sermon. None, it
seems, of the prisoners in the Tower that are there now, though they may,
will come to prayers there. Church being done, I back to Sir John's house
and there left him and home, and by and by to Sir W. Pen, and staid a
while talking with him about Sir J. Minnes his folly in his office, of
which I am sicke and weary to speak of it, and how the King is abused in
it, though Pen, I know, offers the discourse only like a rogue to get it
out of me, but I am very free to tell my mind to him, in that case being
not unwilling he should tell him again if he will or any body else.
Thence home, and walked in the garden by brave moonshine with my wife
above two hours, till past 8 o'clock, then to supper, and after prayers to
bed.

29th. Up and by coach with Sir W. Pen to Charing Cross, and there I
'light, and to Sir Phillip Warwick to visit him and discourse with him
about navy business, which I did at large and he most largely with me, not
only about the navy but about the general Revenue of England, above two
hours, I think, many staying all the while without, but he seemed to take
pains to let me either understand the affairs of the Revenue or else to be
a witness of his pains and care in stating it. He showed me indeed many
excellent collections of the State of the Revenue in former Kings and the
late times, and the present. He showed me how the very Assessments
between 1643 and 1659, which were taxes (besides Excise, Customes,
Sequestrations, Decimations, King and Queene's and Church Lands, or any
thing else but just the Assessments), come to above fifteen millions. He
showed me a discourse of his concerning the Revenues of this and foreign
States. How that of Spayne was great, but divided with his kingdoms, and
so came to little. How that of France did, and do much exceed ours before
for quantity; and that it is at the will of the Prince to tax what he will
upon his people; which is not here. That the Hollanders have the best
manner of tax, which is only upon the expence of provisions, by an excise;
and do conclude that no other tax is proper for England but a pound-rate,
or excise upon the expence of provisions. He showed me every particular
sort of payment away of money, since the King's coming in, to this day;
and told me, from one to one, how little he hath received of profit from
most of them; and I believe him truly. That the L1,200,000 which the
Parliament with so much ado did first vote to give the King, and since
hath been reexamined by several committees of the present Parliament, is
yet above L300,000 short of making up really to the King the L1,200,000,
as by particulars he showed me.

[A committee was appointed in September, 1660, to consider the
subject of the King's revenue, and they "reported to the Commons that
the average revenue of Charles I., from 1637 to 1641 inclusive, had
been L895,819, and the average expenditure about L1,110,000. At
that time prices were lower and the country less burthened with navy
and garrisons, among which latter Dunkirk alone now cost more than
L100,000 a year. It appeared, therefore, that the least sum to
which the King could be expected to 'conform his expense' was
L1,200,000." Burnet writes, "It was believed that if two millions
had been asked he could have carried it. But he (Clarendon) had no
mind to put the King out of the necessity of having recourse to his
Parliament."--Lister's Life of Clarendon, vol. ii., pp. 22, 23.]

And in my Lord Treasurer's excellent letter to the King upon this subject,
he tells the King how it was the spending more than the revenue that did
give the first occasion of his father's ruine, and did since to the
rebels; who, he says, just like Henry the Eighth, had great and sudden
increase of wealth, but yet, by overspending, both died poor; and further
tells the King how much of this L1,200,000 depends upon the life of the
Prince, and so must be renewed by Parliament again to his successor; which
is seldom done without parting with some of the prerogatives of the
Crowne; or if denied and he persists to take it of the people, it gives
occasion to a civill war, which may, as it did in the late business of
tonnage and poundage, prove fatal to the Crowne. He showed me how many
ways the Lord Treasurer did take before he moved the King to farme the
Customes in the manner he do, and the reasons that moved him to do it. He
showed the a very excellent argument to prove, that our importing lesse
than we export, do not impoverish the kingdom, according to the received
opinion: which, though it be a paradox, and that I do not remember the
argument, yet methought there was a great deale in what he said. And upon
the whole I find him a most exact and methodicall man, and of great
industry: and very glad that he thought fit to show me all this; though I
cannot easily guess the reason why he should do it to me, unless from the
plainness that he sees I use to him in telling him how much the King may
suffer for our want of understanding the case of our Treasury. Thence to
White Hall (where my Lord Sandwich was, and gave me a good countenance, I
thought), and before the Duke did our usual business, and so I about
several businesses in the house, and then out to the Mewes with Sir W.
Pen. But in my way first did meet with W. Howe, who did of himself advise
me to appear more free with my Lord and to come to him, for my own
strangeness he tells me he thinks do make my Lord the worse. At the Mewes
Sir W. Pen and Mr. Baxter did shew me several good horses, but Pen, which
Sir W. Pen did give the Duke of York, was given away by the Duke the other
day to a Frenchman, which Baxter is cruelly vexed at, saying that he was
the best horse that he expects a great while to have to do with. Thence I
to the 'Change, and thence to a Coffee-house with Sir W. Warren, and did
talk much about his and Wood's business, and thence homewards, and in my
way did stay to look upon a fire in an Inneyard in Lumbard Streete. But,
Lord! how the mercers and merchants who had warehouses there did carry
away their cloths and silks. But at last it was quenched, and I home to
dinner, and after dinner carried my wife and set her and her two mayds in
Fleete Streete to buy things, and I to White Hall to little purpose, and
so to Westminster Hall, and there talked with Mrs. Lane and Howlett, but
the match with Hawly I perceive will not take, and so I am resolved wholly
to avoid occasion of further ill with her. Thence by water to Salsbury
Court, and found my wife, by agreement, at Mrs. Turner's, and after a
little stay and chat set her and young Armiger down in Cheapside, and so
my wife and I home. Got home before our mayds, who by and by came with a
great cry and fright that they had like to have been killed by a coach;
but, Lord! to see how Jane did tell the story like a foole and a
dissembling fanatique, like her grandmother, but so like a changeling,
would make a man laugh to death almost, and yet be vexed to hear her. By
and by to the office to make up my monthly accounts, which I make up
to-night, and to my great content find myself worth eight hundred and
ninety and odd pounds, the greatest sum I ever yet knew, and so with a
heart at great case to bed.

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

A mad merry slut she is
A real and not a complimentary acknowledgment
At least 12 or 14,000 people in the street (to see the hanging)
Bearing more sayle will go faster than any other ships (multihull)
But the wench went, and I believe had her turn served
Chatted with her, her husband out of the way
Could not saw above 4 inches of the stone in a day
Do look upon me as a remembrancer of his former vanity
Fear of making her think me to be in a better condition
Few in any age that do mind anything that is abstruse
God forgive me! what thoughts and wishes I had
Good writers are not admired by the present
Hear something of the effects of our last meeting (pregnancy?)
I do not like his being angry and in debt both together to me
I will not by any over submission make myself cheap
Ireland in a very distracted condition
Jane going into the boat did fall down and show her arse
King is mighty kind to these his bastard children
King still do doat upon his women, even beyond all shame
Mankind pleasing themselves in the easy delights of the world
Play good, but spoiled with the ryme, which breaks the sense
Pleased to look upon their pretty daughter
Pray God give me a heart to fear a fall, and to prepare for it!
Pretty sayings, which are generally like paradoxes
Ryme, which breaks the sense
Sent my wife to get a place to see Turner hanged
Sheriffs did endeavour to get one jewell
So home to prayers and to bed
Such open flattery is beastly
Talked with Mrs. Lane about persuading her to Hawly
Their saws have no teeth, but it is the sand only
There did see Mrs. Lane
Travels over the high hills in Asia above the clouds
Wherein every party has laboured to cheat another
Willing to receive a bribe if it were offered me
Would make a dogg laugh

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.
MARCH
1663-1664

March 1st. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at
noon to the 'Change, and after much business and meeting my uncle Wight,
who told me how Mr. Maes had like to have been trapanned yesterday, but
was forced to run for it; so with Creed and Mr. Hunt home to dinner, and
after a good and pleasant dinner, Mr. Hunt parted, and I took Mr. Creed
and my wife and down to Deptford, it being most pleasant weather, and
there till night discoursing with the officers there about several things,
and so walked home by moonshine, it being mighty pleasant, and so home,
and I to my office, where late about getting myself a thorough
understanding in the business of masts, and so home to bed, my left eye
being mightily troubled with rheum.

2nd. Up, my eye mightily out of order with the rheum that is fallen down
into it, however, I by coach endeavoured to have waited on my Lord
Sandwich, but meeting him in Chancery Lane going towards the City I
stopped and so fairly walked home again, calling at St. Paul's
Churchyarde, and there looked upon a pretty burlesque poem, called
"Scarronides, or Virgile Travesty;" extraordinary good. At home to the
office till dinner, and after dinner my wife cut my hair short, which is
growne pretty long again, and then to the office, and there till 9 at
night doing business. This afternoon we had a good present of tongues and
bacon from Mr. Shales, of Portsmouth. So at night home to supper, and,
being troubled with my eye, to bed. This morning Mr. Burgby, one of the
writing clerks belonging to the Council, was with me about business, a
knowing man, he complains how most of the Lords of the Council do look
after themselves and their own ends, and none the publique, unless Sir
Edward Nicholas. Sir G. Carteret is diligent, but all for his own ends
and profit. My Lord Privy Scale, a destroyer of every body's business,
and do no good at all to the publique. The Archbishop of Canterbury
speaks very little, nor do much, being now come to the highest pitch that
he can expect. He tells me, he believes that things will go very high
against the Chancellor by Digby, and that bad things will be proved. Talks
much of his neglecting the King; and making the King to trot every day to
him, when he is well enough to go to visit his cozen Chief-Justice Hide,
but not to the Council or King. He commends my Lord of Ormond mightily in
Ireland; but cries out cruelly of Sir G. Lane for his corruption; and that
he hath done my Lord great dishonour by selling of places here, which are
now all taken away, and the poor wretches ready to starve. That nobody
almost understands or judges of business better than the King, if he would
not be guilty of his father's fault to be doubtfull of himself, and easily
be removed from his own opinion. That my Lord Lauderdale is never from
the King's care nor council, and that he is a most cunning fellow. Upon
the whole, that he finds things go very bad every where; and even in the
Council nobody minds the publique.

3rd. Up pretty early and so to the office, where we sat all the morning
making a very great contract with Sir W. Warren for provisions for the
yeare coming, and so home to dinner, and there was W. Howe come to dine
with me, and before dinner he and I walked in the garden, and we did
discourse together, he assuring me of what he told me the other day of my
Lord's speaking so highly in my commendation to my Lord Peterborough and
Povy, which speaks my Lord having yet a good opinion of me, and also how
well my Lord and Lady both are pleased with their children's being at my
father's, and when the bigger ladies were there a little while ago, at
which I am very glad. After dinner he went away, I having discoursed with
him about his own proceedings in his studies, and I observe him to be very
considerate and to mind his book in order to preferring himself by my
Lord's favour to something, and I hope to the outing of Creed in his
Secretaryship. For he tells me that he is confident my Lord do not love
him nor will trust him in any secret matter, he is so cunning and crafty
in all he do. So my wife and I out of doors thinking to have gone to have
seen a play, but when we came to take coach, they tell us there are none
this week, being the first of Lent. But, Lord! to see how impatient I
found myself within to see a play, I being at liberty once a month to see
one, and I think it is the best method I could have taken. But to my
office, did very much business with several people till night, and so
home, being unwilling to stay late because of my eye which is not yet well
of the rheum that is fallen down into it, but to supper and to bed.

4th. Up, my eye being pretty well, and then by coach to my Lord Sandwich,
with whom I spoke, walking a good while with him in his garden, which and
the house is very fine, talking of my Lord Peterborough's accounts,
wherein he is concerned both for the foolery as also inconvenience which
may happen upon my Lord Peterborough's ill-stating of his matters, so as
to have his gaine discovered unnecessarily. We did talk long and freely
that I hope the worst is past and all will be well. There were several
people by trying a new-fashion gun brought my Lord this morning, to
shoot off often, one after another, without trouble or danger, very
pretty.

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