Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1665 N.S. Complete

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14th. Up, and to Sir Ph. Warwicke's and other places, about Tangier
business, but to little purpose. Among others to my Lord Treasurer's,
there to speak with him, and waited in the lobby three long hours for to
speake with him, to the trial of my utmost patience, but missed him at
last, and forced to go home without it, which may teach me how I make
others wait. Home to dinner and staid Mr. Hater with me, and after dinner
drew up a petition for Mr. Hater to present to the Councill about his
troublesome business of powder, desiring a trial that his absence may be
vindicated, and so to White Hall, but it was not proper to present it
to-day. Here I met with Mr. Cowling, who observed to me how he finds
every body silent in the praise of my Lord Sandwich, to set up the Duke
and the Prince; but that the Duke did both to the King and my Lord
Chancellor write abundantly of my Lord's courage and service.

[Charles II.'s letter of thanks to Lord Sandwich, dated "Whitehall,
June 9th, 1665," written entirely in the king's hand, is printed in
Ellis's "Original Letters," 1st series, vol. iii., p. 327.]

And I this day met with a letter of Captain Ferrers, wherein he tells [us]
my Lord was with his ship in all the heat of the day, and did most
worthily. Met with Creed, and he and I to Westminster; and there saw my
Lord Marlborough

[Of the four distinguished men who died after the late action with
the Dutch and were buried in Westminster Abbey, the Earl of
Marlborough was interred on June 14th, Viscount Muskerry on the
19th, the Earl of Falmouth on the 22nd, and Sir Edward Broughton on
the 26th. After the entries in the Abbey Registers is this note:
"These four last Honble Persons dyed in his Majy's service against
the Dutch, excepting only that ST Ed Br received his death's wound
at sea, but dyed here at home" (Chester's "Westminster Abbey
Registers," p. 162).]

brought to be buried, several Lords of the Council carrying him, and with
the herald in some state. Thence, vexed in my mind to think that I do so
little in my Tangier business, and so home, and after supper to bed.

15th. Up, and put on my new stuff suit with close knees, which becomes me
most nobly, as my wife says. At the office all day. At noon, put on my
first laced band, all lace; and to Kate Joyce's to dinner, where my
mother, wife, and abundance of their friends, and good usage. Thence,
wife and Mercer and I to the Old Exchange, and there bought two lace bands
more, one of my semstresse, whom my wife concurs with me to be a pretty
woman. So down to Deptford and Woolwich, my boy and I. At Woolwich,
discoursed with Mr. Sheldon about my bringing my wife down for a month or
two to his house, which he approves of, and, I think, will be very
convenient. So late back, and to the office, wrote letters, and so home
to supper and to bed. This day the Newes book upon Mr. Moore's showing
L'Estrange

["The Public Intelligencer," published by Roger L'Estrange, the
predecessor of the "London Gazette."]

(Captain Ferrers's letter) did do my Lord Sandwich great right as to the
late victory. The Duke of Yorke not yet come to towne. The towne grows
very sickly, and people to be afeard of it; there dying this last week of
the plague 112, from 43 the week before, whereof but [one] in
Fanchurch-streete, and one in Broad-streete, by the Treasurer's office.

16th. Up and to the office, where I set hard to business, but was
informed that the Duke of Yorke is come, and hath appointed us to attend
him this afternoon. So after dinner, and doing some business at the
office, I to White Hall, where the Court is full of the Duke and his
courtiers returned from sea. All fat and lusty, and ruddy by being in the
sun. I kissed his hands, and we waited all the afternoon. By and by saw
Mr. Coventry, which rejoiced my very heart. Anon he and I, from all the
rest of the company, walked into the Matted Gallery; where after many
expressions of love, we fell to talk of business. Among other things, how
my Lord Sandwich, both in his counsells and personal service, hath done
most honourably and serviceably. Sir J. Lawson is come to Greenwich; but
his wound in his knee yet very bad. Jonas Poole, in the Vantguard, did
basely, so as to be, or will be, turned out of his ship. Captain Holmes

[Captain Robert Holmes (afterwards knighted). Sir William Coventry,
in a letter to Lord Arlington (dated from "The Royal Charles,"
Southwold Bay, June 13th), writes: "Capt. Holmes asked to be rear
admiral of the white squadron in place of Sansum who was killed, but
the Duke gave the place to Captain Harman, on which he delivered up
his commission, which the Duke received, and put Captain Langhorne
in his stead" ("Calendar of State Papers," Domestic, 1664-65, p.
423).]

expecting upon Sansum's death to be made Rear-admirall to the Prince (but
Harman is

[John Harman, afterwards knighted. He had served with great
reputation in several naval fights, and was desperately wounded in
1673, while]

put in) hath delivered up to the Duke his commission, which the Duke took
and tore. He, it seems, had bid the Prince, who first told him of
Holmes's intention, that he should dissuade him from it; for that he was
resolved to take it if he offered it. Yet Holmes would do it, like a
rash, proud coxcombe. But he is rich, and hath, it seems, sought an
occasion of leaving the service. Several of our captains have done ill.
The great ships are the ships do the business, they quite deadening the
enemy. They run away upon sight of "The Prince."

["The Prince" was Lord Sandwich's ship; the captain was Roger
Cuttance. It was put up at Chatham for repair at this date.]

It is strange to see how people do already slight Sir William Barkeley,

[Sir William Berkeley, see note, vol. iii., p. 334. His behaviour
after the death of his brother, Lord Falmouth, is severely commented
on in "Poems on State Affairs," vol. i., p. 29

"Berkeley had heard it soon, and thought not good
To venture more of royal Harding's blood;
To be immortal he was not of age,
And did e'en now the Indian Prize presage;
And judged it safe and decent, cost what cost,
To lose the day, since his dear brother's lost.
With his whole squadron straight away he bore,
And, like good boy, promised to fight no more."--B.]

my Lord FitzHarding's brother, who, three months since, was the delight of
the Court. Captain Smith of "The Mary" the Duke talks mightily of; and
some great thing will be done for him. Strange to hear how the Dutch do
relate, as the Duke says, that they are the conquerors; and bonefires are
made in Dunkirke in their behalf; though a clearer victory can never be
expected. Mr. Coventry thinks they cannot have lost less than 6000 men,
and we not dead above 200, and wounded about 400; in all about 600. Thence
home and to my office till past twelve, and then home to supper and to
bed, my wife and mother not being yet come home from W. Hewer's chamber,
who treats my mother tonight. Captain Grovel the Duke told us this day,
hath done the basest thing at Lowestoffe, in hearing of the guns, and
could not (as others) be got out, but staid there; for which he will be
tried; and is reckoned a prating coxcombe, and of no courage.

17th. My wife come to bed about one in the morning. I up and abroad
about Tangier business, then back to the office, where we sat, and at noon
home to dinner, and then abroad to Mr. Povy's, after I and Mr. Andrews had
been with Mr. Ball and one Major Strange, who looks after the getting of
money for tallys and is helping Mr. Andrews. I had much discourse with
Ball, and it may be he may prove a necessary man for our turns. With Mr.
Povy I spoke very freely my indifference as to my place of Treasurer,
being so much troubled in it, which he took with much seeming trouble,
that I should think of letting go so lightly the place, but if the place
can't be held I will. So hearing that my Lord Treasurer was gone out of
town with his family because of the sicknesse, I returned home without
staying there, and at the office find Sir W. Pen come home, who looks very
well; and I am gladder to see him than otherwise I should be because of my
hearing so well of him for his serviceablenesse in this late great action.
To the office late, and then home to bed. It struck me very deep this
afternoon going with a hackney coach from my Lord Treasurer's down
Holborne, the coachman I found to drive easily and easily, at last stood
still, and come down hardly able to stand, and told me that he was
suddenly struck very sicke, and almost blind, he could not see; so I
'light and went into another coach, with a sad heart for the poor man and
trouble for myself, lest he should have been struck with the plague, being
at the end of the towne that I took him up; but God have mercy upon us
all! Sir John Lawson, I hear, is worse than yesterday: the King went to
see him to-day most kindly. It seems his wound is not very bad; but he
hath a fever, a thrush, and a hickup, all three together, which are, it
seems, very bad symptoms.

18th (Lord's day). Up, and to church, where Sir W. Pen was the first time
[since he] come from sea, after the battle. Mr. Mills made a sorry sermon
to prove that there was a world to come after this. Home and dined and
then to my chamber, where all the afternoon. Anon comes Mr. Andrews to
see and sing with me, but Mr. Hill not coming, and having business, we
soon parted, there coming Mr. Povy and Creed to discourse about our
Tangier business of money. They gone, I hear Sir W. Batten and my Lady
are returned from Harwich. I went to see them, and it is pretty to see
how we appear kind one to another, though neither of us care 2d. one for
another. Home to supper, and there coming a hasty letter from
Commissioner Pett for pressing of some calkers (as I would ever on his
Majesty's service), with all speed, I made a warrant presently and issued
it. So to my office a little, and then home to bed.

19th. Up, and to White Hall with Sir W. Batten (calling at my Lord
Ashly's, but to no purpose, by the way, he being not up), and there had
our usual meeting before the Duke with the officers of the Ordnance with
us, which in some respects I think will be the better for us, for despatch
sake. Thence home to the 'Change and dined alone (my wife gone to her
mother's), after dinner to my little new goldsmith's,

[John Colvill of Lombard Street, see ante, May 24th. He lost
L85,832 17s. 2d. by the closing of the Exchequer in 1672, and he
died between 1672 and 1677 (Price's "Handbook of London Bankers ").]

whose wife indeed is one of the prettiest, modest black women that ever I
saw. I paid for a dozen of silver salts L6 14s. 6d. Thence with Sir W.
Pen from the office down to Greenwich to see Sir J. Lawson, who is better,
but continues ill; his hickupp not being yet gone, could have little
discourse with him. So thence home and to supper, a while to the office,
my head and mind mightily vexed to see the multitude of papers and
business before [me] and so little time to do it in. So to bed.

20th. Thankes-giving-day for victory over ye Dutch. Up, and to the
office, where very busy alone all the morning till church time, and there
heard a mean sorry sermon of Mr. Mills. Then to the Dolphin Taverne,
where all we officers of the Navy met with the Commissioners of the
Ordnance by agreement, and dined: where good musique at my direction. Our
club--[share]

["Next these a sort of Sots there are,
Who crave more wine than they can bear,
Yet hate, when drunk, to pay or spend
Their equal Club or Dividend,
But wrangle, when the Bill is brought,
And think they're cheated when they're not."

The Delights of the Bottle, or the Compleat Vintner, 3rd ed., 1721,
p. 29.]

--come to 34s. a man, nine of us. Thence after dinner, to White Hall with
Sir W. Berkely in his coach, and so walked to Herbert's and there spent a
little time . . . . Thence by water to Fox-hall, and there walked an
hour alone, observing the several humours of the citizens that were there
this holyday, pulling of cherries,--[The game of bob-cherry]--and God
knows what, and so home to my office, where late, my wife not being come
home with my mother, who have been this day all abroad upon the water, my
mother being to go out of town speedily. So I home and to supper and to
bed, my wife come home when I come from the office. This day I informed
myself that there died four or five at Westminster of the plague in one
alley in several houses upon Sunday last, Bell Alley, over against the
Palace-gate; yet people do think that the number will be fewer in the
towne than it was the last weeke! The Dutch are come out again with 20
sail under Bankert; supposed gone to the Northward to meete their East
India fleete.

21st. Up, and very busy all the morning. At noon with Creed to the
Excise Office, where I find our tallys will not be money in less than
sixteen months, which is a sad thing for the King to pay all that interest
for every penny he spends; and, which is strange, the goldsmiths with whom
I spoke, do declare that they will not be moved to part with money upon
the increase of their consideration of ten per cent. which they have, and
therefore desire I would not move in it, and indeed the consequence would
be very ill to the King, and have its ill consequences follow us through
all the King's revenue. Home, and my uncle Wight and aunt James dined
with me, my mother being to go away to-morrow. So to White Hall, and
there before and after Council discoursed with Sir Thomas Ingram about our
ill case as to Tangier for money. He hath got the King to appoint a
meeting on Friday, which I hope will put an end one way or other to my
pain. So homewards and to the Cross Keys at Cripplegate, where I find all
the towne almost going out of towne, the coaches and waggons being all
full of people going into the country. Here I had some of the company of
the tapster's wife a while, and so home to my office, and then home to
supper and to bed.

22nd. Up pretty betimes, and in great pain whether to send my another
into the country to-day or no, I hearing, by my people, that she, poor
wretch, hath a mind to stay a little longer, and I cannot blame her,
considering what a life she will through her own folly lead when she comes
home again, unlike the pleasure and liberty she hath had here. At last I
resolved to put it to her, and she agreed to go, so I would not oppose it,
because of the sicknesse in the towne, and my intentions of removing my
wife. So I did give her money and took a kind leave of her, she, poor
wretch, desiring that I would forgive my brother John, but I refused it to
her, which troubled her, poor soul, but I did it in kind words and so let
the discourse go off, she leaving me though in a great deal of sorrow. So
I to my office and left my wife and people to see her out of town, and I
at the office all the morning. At noon my wife tells me that she is with
much ado gone, and I pray God bless her, but it seems she was to the last
unwilling to go, but would not say so, but put it off till she lost her
place in the coach, and was fain to ride in the waggon part. After dinner
to the office again till night, very busy, and so home not very late to
supper and to bed.

23rd. Up and to White Hall to a Committee for Tangier, where his Royal
Highness was. Our great design was to state to them the true condition of
this Committee for want of money, the want whereof was so great as to need
some sudden help, and it was with some content resolved to see it supplied
and means proposed towards the doing of it. At this Committee, unknown to
me, comes my Lord of Sandwich, who, it seems, come to towne last night.
After the Committee was up, my Lord Sandwich did take me aside, and we
walked an hour alone together in the robe-chamber, the door shut, telling
me how much the Duke and Mr. Coventry did, both in the fleete and here,
make of him, and that in some opposition to the Prince; and as a more
private message, he told me that he hath been with them both when they
have made sport of the Prince and laughed at him: yet that all the
discourse of the towne, and the printed relation, should not give him one
word of honour my Lord thinks mighty strange; he assuring me, that though
by accident the Prince was in the van the beginning of the fight for the
first pass, yet all the rest of the day my Lord was in the van, and
continued so. That notwithstanding all this noise of the Prince, he had
hardly a shot in his side nor a man killed, whereas he hath above 30 in
her hull, and not one mast whole nor yard; but the most battered ship of
the fleet, and lost most men, saving Captain Smith of "The Mary." That
the most the Duke did was almost out of gun-shot; but that, indeed, the
Duke did come up to my Lord's rescue after he had a great while fought
with four of them. How poorly Sir John Lawson performed, notwithstanding
all that was said of him; and how his ship turned out of the way, while
Sir J. Lawson himself was upon the deck, to the endangering of the whole
fleete. It therefore troubles my Lord that Mr. Coventry should not
mention a word of him in his relation. I did, in answer, offer that I was
sure the relation was not compiled by Mr. Coventry, but by L'Estrange, out
of several letters, as I could witness; and that Mr. Coventry's letter
that he did give the Duke of Albemarle did give him as much right as the
Prince, for I myself read it first and then copied it out, which I
promised to show my Lord, with which he was somewhat satisfied. From that
discourse my Lord did begin to tell me how much he was concerned to
dispose of his children, and would have my advice and help; and propounded
to match my Lady Jemimah to Sir G. Carteret's eldest son, which I approved
of, and did undertake the speaking with him about it as from myself, which
my Lord liked. So parted, with my head full of care about this business.
Thence home to the 'Change, and so to dinner, and thence by coach to Mr.
Povy's. Thence by appointment with him and Creed to one Mr. Finch; one of
the Commissioners for the Excise, to be informed about some things of the
Excise, in order to our settling matters therein better for us for our
Tangier business. I find him a very discreet, grave person. Thence well
satisfied I and Creed to Mr. Fox at White Hall to speak with him about the
same matter, and having some pretty satisfaction from him also, he and I
took boat and to Fox Hall, where we spent two or three hours talking of
several matters very soberly and contentfully to me, which, with the ayre
and pleasure of the garden, was a great refreshment to me, and, 'methinks,
that which we ought to joy ourselves in. Thence back to White Hall, where
we parted, and I to find my Lord to receive his farther direction about
his proposal this morning. Wherein I did that I should first by another
hand break my intentions to Sir G. Carteret. I pitched upon Dr. Clerke,
which my Lord liked, and so I endeavoured but in vain to find him out
to-night. So home by hackney-coach, which is become a very dangerous
passage now-a-days, the sickness increasing mightily, and to bed.

24th (Midsummer-day). Up very betimes, by six, and at Dr. Clerke's at
Westminster by 7 of the clock, having over night by a note acquainted him
with my intention of coming, and there I, in the best manner I could,
broke my errand about a match between Sir G. Carteret's eldest son and my
Lord Sandwich's eldest daughter, which he (as I knew he would) took with
great content: and we both agreed that my Lord and he, being both men
relating to the sea, under a kind aspect of His Majesty, already good
friends, and both virtuous and good familys, their allyance might be of
good use to us; and he did undertake to find out Sir George this morning,
and put the business in execution. So being both well pleased with the
proposition, I saw his niece there and made her sing me two or three songs
very prettily, and so home to the office, where to my great trouble I
found Mr. Coventry and the board met before I come. I excused my late
coming by having been on the River about office business. So to business
all the morning. At noon Captain Ferrers and Mr. Moore dined with me, the
former of them the first time I saw him since his corning from sea, who do
give me the best conversation in general, and as good an account of the
particular service of the Prince and my Lord of Sandwich in the late
sea-fight that I could desire. After dinner they parted. So I to White
Hall, where I with Creed and Povy attended my Lord Treasurer, and did
prevail with him to let us have an assignment for 15 or L20,000, which, I
hope, will do our business for Tangier. So to Dr. Clerke, and there found
that he had broke the business to Sir G. Carteret, and that he takes the
thing mighty well. Thence I to Sir G. Carteret at his chamber, and in the
best manner I could, and most obligingly, moved the business: he received
it with great respect and content, and thanks to me, and promised that he
would do what he could possibly for his son, to render him fit for my
Lord's daughter, and shewed great kindness to me, and sense of my kindness
to him herein. Sir William Pen told me this day that Mr. Coventry is to
be sworn a Privy Counsellor, at which my soul is glad. So home and to my
letters by the post, and so home to supper and bed.

25th (Lord's day). Up, and several people about business come to me by
appointment relating to the office. Thence I to my closet about my
Tangier papers. At noon dined, and then I abroad by water, it raining
hard, thinking to have gone down to Woolwich, but I did not, but back
through bridge to White Hall, where, after I had again visited Sir G.
Carteret, and received his (and now his Lady's) full content in my
proposal, I went to my Lord Sandwich, and having told him how Sir G.
Carteret received it, he did direct me to return to Sir G. Carteret, and
give him thanks for his kind reception of this offer, and that he would
the next day be willing to enter discourse with him about the business.
Which message I did presently do, and so left the business with great joy
to both sides. My Lord, I perceive, intends to give L5000 with her, and
expects about L800 per annum joynture. So by water home and to supper and
bed, being weary with long walking at Court, but had a Psalm or two with
my boy and Mercer before bed, which pleased me mightily. This night Sir
G. Carteret told me with great kindnesse that the order of the Council did
run for the making of Hater and Whitfield incapable of any serving the
King again, but that he had stopped the entry of it, which he told me with
great kindnesse, but the thing troubles me. After dinner, before I went
to White Hall, I went down to Greenwich by water, thinking to have visited
Sir J. Lawson, where, when I come, I find that he is dead, and died this
morning, at which I was much surprized; and indeed the nation hath a great
loss; though I cannot, without dissembling, say that I am sorry for it,
for he was a man never kind to me at all. Being at White Hall, I visited
Mr. Coventry, who, among other talk, entered about the great question now
in the House about the Duke's going to sea again; about which the whole
House is divided. He did concur with me that, for the Duke's honour and
safety, it were best, after so great a service and victory and danger, not
to go again; and, above all, that the life of the Duke cannot but be a
security to the Crowne; if he were away, it being more easy to attempt
anything upon the King; but how the fleete will be governed without him,
the Prince--[Rupert]--being a man of no government and severe in council,
that no ordinary man can offer any advice against his; saying truly that
it had been better he had gone to Guinny, and that were he away, it were
easy to say how matters might be ordered, my Lord Sandwich being a man of
temper and judgment as much as any man he ever knew, and that upon good
observation he said this, and that his temper must correct the Prince's.
But I perceive he is much troubled what will be the event of the question.
And so I left him.

26th. Up and to White Hall with Sir J. Minnes, and to the Committee of
Tangier, where my Lord Treasurer was, the first and only time he ever was
there, and did promise us L15,000 for Tangier and no more, which will be
short. But if I can pay Mr. Andrews all his money I care for no more, and
the bills of Exchange. Thence with Mr. Povy and Creed below to a new
chamber of Mr. Povy's, very pretty, and there discourse about his
business, not to his content, but with the most advantage I could to him,
and Creed also did the like. Thence with Creed to the King's Head, and
there dined with him at the ordinary, and good sport with one Mr.
Nicholls, a prating coxcombe, that would be thought a poet, but would not
be got to repeat any of his verses. Thence I home, and there find my
wife's brother and his wife, a pretty little modest woman, where they
dined with my wife. He did come to desire my assistance for a living,
and, upon his good promises of care, and that it should be no burden to
me, I did say and promise I would think of finding something for him, and
the rather because his wife seems a pretty discreet young thing, and
humble, and he, above all things, desirous to do something to maintain
her, telling me sad stories of what she endured with him in Holland, and I
hope it will not be burdensome. So down by water to Woolwich, walking to
and again from Greenwich thither and back again, my business being to
speak again with Sheldon, who desires and expects my wife coming thither
to spend the summer, and upon second thoughts I do agree that it will be a
good place for her and me too. So, weary, home, and to my office a while,
till almost midnight, and so to bed. The plague encreases mightily, I
this day seeing a house, at a bitt-maker's over against St. Clement's
Church, in the open street, shut up; which is a sad sight.

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