Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1665 N.S. Complete

S >> Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1665 N.S. Complete

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26

has met with the Dutch Smyrna fleet at Cales,--[The old form of the name
Cadiz.]--and sunk one and taken three. How true or what these ships are
time will show, but it is good newes and the newes of our ships being lost
is doubted at dales and Malaga. God send it false!

17th. Up and walked to Mr. Povy's by appointment, where I found him and
Creed busy about fitting things for the Committee, and thence we to my
Lord Ashly's, where to see how simply, beyond all patience, Povy did
again, by his many words and no understanding, confound himself and his
business, to his disgrace, and rendering every body doubtfull of his being
either a foole or knave, is very wonderfull. We broke up all
dissatisfied, and referred the business to a meeting of Mr. Sherwin and
others to settle, but here it was mighty strange methought to find myself
sit herein Committee with my hat on, while Mr. Sherwin stood bare as a
clerke, with his hat off to his Lord Ashlyand the rest, but I thank God I
think myself never a whit the better man for all that. Thence with Creed
to the 'Change and Coffee-house, and so home, where a brave dinner, by
having a brace of pheasants and very merry about Povy's folly. So anon to
the office, and there sitting very late, and then after a little time at
Sir W. Batten's, where I am mighty great and could if I thought it fit
continue so, I to the office again, and there very late, and so home to
the sorting of some of my books, and so to bed, the weather becoming
pretty warm, and I think and hope the frost will break.

18th. Up and by and by to my bookseller's, and there did give thorough
direction for the new binding of a great many of my old books, to make my
whole study of the same binding, within very few. Thence to my Lady
Sandwich's, who sent for me this morning. Dined with her, and it was to
get a letter of hers conveyed by a safe hand to my Lord's owne hand at
Portsmouth, which I did undertake. Here my Lady did begin to talk of what
she had heard concerning Creed, of his being suspected to be a fanatique
and a false fellow. I told her I thought he was as shrewd and cunning a
man as any in England, and one that I would feare first should outwit me
in any thing. To which she readily concurred. Thence to Mr. Povy's by
agreement, and there with Mr. Sherwin, Auditor Beale, and Creed and I hard
at it very late about Mr. Povy's accounts, but such accounts I never did
see, or hope again to see in my days. At night, late, they gone, I did
get him to put out of this account our sums that are in posse only yet,
which he approved of when told, but would never have stayed it if I had
been gone. Thence at 9 at night home, and so to supper vexed and my head
akeing and to bed.

19th. Up, and it being yesterday and to-day a great thaw it is not for a
man to walk the streets, but took coach and to Mr. Povy's, and there
meeting all of us again agreed upon an answer to the Lords by and by, and
thence we did come to Exeter House, and there was a witness of most [base]
language against Mr. Povy, from my Lord Peterborough, who is most
furiously angry with him, because the other, as a foole, would needs say
that the L26,000 was my Lord Peterborough's account, and that he had
nothing to do with it. The Lords did find fault also with our answer, but
I think really my Lord Ashly would fain have the outside of an
Exchequer,--[This word is blotted, and the whole sentence is
confused.]--but when we come better to be examined. So home by coach,
with my Lord Barkeley, who, by his discourse, I find do look upon Mr.
Coventry as an enemy, but yet professes great justice and pains. I at
home after dinner to the office, and there sat all the afternoon and
evening, and then home to supper and to bed. Memorandum. This day and
yesterday, I think it is the change of the weather, I have a great deal of
pain, but nothing like what I use to have. I can hardly keep myself
loose, but on the contrary am forced to drive away my pain. Here I am so
sleepy I cannot hold open my eyes, and therefore must be forced to break
off this day's passages more shortly than I would and should have done.
This day was buried (but I could not be there) my cozen Percivall Angier;
and yesterday I received the newes that Dr. Tom Pepys is dead, at
Impington, for which I am but little sorry, not only because he would have
been troublesome to us, but a shame to his family and profession; he was
such a coxcomb.

20th. Up and to Westminster, where having spoke with Sir Ph. Warwicke, I
to Jervas, and there I find them all in great disorder about Jane, her
mistress telling me secretly that she was sworn not to reveal anything,
but she was undone. At last for all her oath she told me that she had
made herself sure to a fellow that comes to their house that can only
fiddle for his living, and did keep him company, and had plainly told her
that she was sure to him never to leave him for any body else. Now they
were this day contriving to get her presently to marry one Hayes that was
there, and I did seem to persuade her to it. And at last got them to
suffer me to advise privately, and by that means had her company and think
I shall meet her next Sunday, but I do really doubt she will be undone in
marrying this fellow. But I did give her my advice, and so let her do her
pleasure, so I have now and then her company. Thence to the Swan at noon,
and there sent for a bit of meat and dined, and had my baiser of the fille
of the house there, but nothing plus. So took coach and to my Lady
Sandwich's, and so to my bookseller's, and there took home Hooke's book of
microscopy, a most excellent piece, and of which I am very proud. So
home, and by and by again abroad with my wife about several businesses,
and met at the New Exchange, and there to our trouble found our pretty
Doll is gone away to live they say with her father in the country, but I
doubt something worse. So homeward, in my way buying a hare and taking it
home, which arose upon my discourse to-day with Mr. Batten, in Westminster
Hall, who showed me my mistake that my hare's foote hath not the joynt to
it; and assures me he never had his cholique since he carried it about
him: and it is a strange thing how fancy works, for I no sooner almost
handled his foote but my belly began to be loose and to break wind, and
whereas I was in some pain yesterday and t'other day and in fear of more
to-day, I became very well, and so continue. At home to my office a
while, and so to supper, read, and to cards, and to bed.

21st. At the office all the morning. Thence my Lord Brunker carried me
as far as Mr. Povy's, and there I 'light and dined, meeting Mr. Sherwin,
Creed, &c., there upon his accounts. After dinner they parted and Mr.
Povy carried me to Somersett House, and there showed me the
Queene-Mother's chamber and closett, most beautiful places for furniture
and pictures; and so down the great stone stairs to the garden, and tried
the brave echo upon the stairs; which continues a voice so long as the
singing three notes, concords, one after another, they all three shall
sound in consort together a good while most pleasantly. Thence to a
Tangier Committee at White Hall, where I saw nothing ordered by judgment,
but great heat and passion and faction now in behalf of my Lord Bellasses,
and to the reproach of my Lord Tiviott, and dislike as it were of former
proceedings. So away with Mr. Povy, he carrying me homeward to Mark Lane
in his coach, a simple fellow I now find him, to his utter shame in his
business of accounts, as none but a sorry foole would have discovered
himself; and yet, in little, light, sorry things very cunning; yet, in the
principal, the most ignorant man I ever met with in so great trust as he
is. To my office till past 12, and then home to supper and to bed, being
now mighty well, and truly I cannot but impute it to my fresh hare's
foote. Before I went to bed I sat up till two o'clock in my chamber
reading of Mr. Hooke's Microscopicall Observations, the most ingenious
book that ever I read in my life.

22nd (Lord's day). Up, leaving my wife in bed, being sick of her months,
and to church. Thence home, and in my wife's chamber dined very merry,
discoursing, among other things, of a design I have come in my head this
morning at church of making a match between Mrs. Betty Pickering and Mr.
Hill, my friend the merchant, that loves musique and comes to me
a'Sundays, a most ingenious and sweet-natured and highly accomplished
person. I know not how their fortunes may agree, but their disposition
and merits are much of a sort, and persons, though different, yet equally,
I think, acceptable. After dinner walked to Westminster, and after being
at the Abbey and heard a good anthem well sung there, I as I had appointed
to the Trumpett, there expecting when Jane Welsh should come, but anon
comes a maid of the house to tell me that her mistress and master would
not let her go forth, not knowing of my being here, but to keep her from
her sweetheart. So being defeated, away by coach home, and there spent
the evening prettily in discourse with my wife and Mercer, and so to
supper, prayers, and to bed.

23rd. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen to White Hall; but there
finding the Duke gone to his lodgings at St. James's for all together, his
Duchesse being ready to lie in, we to him, and there did our usual
business. And here I met the great newes confirmed by the Duke's own
relation, by a letter from Captain Allen. First, of our own loss of two
ships, the Phoenix and Nonesuch, in the Bay of Gibraltar: then of his, and
his seven ships with him, in the Bay of Cales, or thereabouts, fighting
with the 34 Dutch Smyrna fleete; sinking the King Salamon, a ship worth a
L150,000 or more, some say L200,000, and another; and taking of three
merchant-ships. Two of our ships were disabled, by the Dutch
unfortunately falling against their will against them; the Advice, Captain
W. Poole, and Antelope, Captain Clerke: The Dutch men-of-war did little
service. Captain Allen did receive many shots at distance before he would
fire one gun, which he did not do till he come within pistol-shot of his
enemy. The Spaniards on shore at Cales did stand laughing at the Dutch,
to see them run away and flee to the shore, 34 or thereabouts, against
eight Englishmen at most. I do purpose to get the whole relation, if I
live, of Captain Allen himself. In our loss of the two ships in the Bay
of Gibraltar, it is observable how the world do comment upon the
misfortune of Captain Moone of the Nonesuch (who did lose, in the same
manner, the Satisfaction), as a person that hath ill-luck attending him;
without considering that the whole fleete was ashore. Captain Allen led
the way, and Captain Allen himself writes that all the masters of the
fleete, old and young, were mistaken, and did carry their ships aground.
But I think I heard the Duke say that Moone, being put into the Oxford,
had in this conflict regained his credit, by sinking one and taking
another. Captain Seale of the Milford hath done his part very well, in
boarding the King Salamon, which held out half an hour after she was
boarded; and his men kept her an hour after they did master her, and then
she sunk, and drowned about 17 of her men. Thence to Jervas's, my mind,
God forgive me, running too much after some folly, but 'elle' not being
within I away by coach to the 'Change, and thence home to dinner. And
finding Mrs. Bagwell waiting at the office after dinner, away she and I to
a cabaret where she and I have eat before, and there I had her company
'tout' and had 'mon plaisir' of 'elle'. But strange to see how a woman,
notwithstanding her greatest pretences of love 'a son mari' and religion,
may be 'vaincue'. Thence to the Court of the Turkey Company at Sir Andrew
Rickard's to treat about carrying some men of ours to Tangier, and had
there a very civil reception, though a denial of the thing as not
practicable with them, and I think so too. So to my office a little and
to Jervas's again, thinking 'avoir rencontrais' Jane, 'mais elle n'etait
pas dedans'. So I back again and to my office, where I did with great
content 'ferais' a vow to mind my business, and 'laisser aller les femmes'
for a month, and am with all my heart glad to find myself able to come to
so good a resolution, that thereby I may follow my business, which and my
honour thereby lies a bleeding. So home to supper and to bed.

24th. Up and by coach to Westminster Hall and the Parliament House, and
there spoke with Mr. Coventry and others about business and so back to the
'Change, where no news more than that the Dutch have, by consent of all
the Provinces, voted no trade to be suffered for eighteen months, but that
they apply themselves wholly to the warr.

[This statement of a total prohibition of all trade, and for so long
a period as eighteen months, by a government so essentially
commercial as that of the United Provinces, seems extraordinary.
The fact was, that when in the beginning of the year 1665 the States
General saw that the war with England was become inevitable, they
took several vigorous measures, and determined to equip a formidable
fleet, and with a view to obtain a sufficient number of men to man
it, prohibited all navigation, especially in the great and small
fisheries as they were then called, and in the whale fishery. This
measure appears to have resembled the embargoes so commonly resorted
to in this country on similar occasions, rather than a total
prohibition of trade.--B.]

And they say it is very true, but very strange, for we use to believe they
cannot support themselves without trade. Thence home to dinner and then
to the office, where all the afternoon, and at night till very late, and
then home to supper and bed, having a great cold, got on Sunday last, by
sitting too long with my head bare, for Mercer to comb my hair and wash my
eares.

25th. Up, and busy all the morning, dined at home upon a hare pye, very
good meat, and so to my office again, and in the afternoon by coach to
attend the Council at White Hall, but come too late, so back with Mr.
Gifford, a merchant, and he and I to the Coffee-house, where I met Mr.
Hill, and there he tells me that he is to be Assistant to the Secretary of
the Prize Office (Sir Ellis Layton), which is to be held at Sir Richard
Ford's, which, methinks, is but something low, but perhaps may bring him
something considerable; but it makes me alter my opinion of his being so
rich as to make a fortune for Mrs. Pickering. Thence home and visited Sir
J. Minnes, who continues ill, but is something better; there he told me
what a mad freaking fellow Sir Ellis Layton hath been, and is, and once at
Antwerp was really mad. Thence to my office late, my cold troubling me,
and having by squeezing myself in a coach hurt my testicles, but I hope
will cease its pain without swelling. So home out of order, to supper and
to bed.

26th. Lay, being in some pain, but not much, with my last night's bruise,
but up and to my office, where busy all the morning, the like after dinner
till very late, then home to supper and to bed. My wife mightily troubled
with the tooth ake, and my cold not being gone yet, but my bruise
yesterday goes away again, and it chiefly occasioned I think now from the
sudden change of the weather from a frost to a great rayne on a sudden.

27th. Called up by Mr. Creed to discourse about some Tangier business,
and he gone I made me ready and found Jane Welsh, Mr. Jervas his mayde,
come to tell me that she was gone from her master, and is resolved to
stick to this sweetheart of hers, one Harbing (a very sorry little fellow,
and poor), which I did in a word or two endeavour to dissuade her from,
but being unwilling to keep her long at my house, I sent her away and by
and by followed her to the Exchange, and thence led her about down to the
3 Cranes, and there took boat for the Falcon, and at a house looking into
the fields there took up and sat an hour or two talking and discoursing
. . . . Thence having endeavoured to make her think of making herself
happy by staying out her time with her master and other counsels, but she
told me she could not do it, for it was her fortune to have this man,
though she did believe it would be to her ruine, which is a strange,
stupid thing, to a fellow of no kind of worth in the world and a beggar to
boot. Thence away to boat again and landed her at the Three Cranes again,
and I to the Bridge, and so home, and after shifting myself, being dirty,
I to the 'Change, and thence to Mr. Povy's and there dined, and thence
with him and Creed to my Lord Bellasses', and there debated a great while
how to put things in order against his going, and so with my Lord in his
coach to White Hall, and with him to my Lord Duke of Albemarle, finding
him at cards. After a few dull words or two, I away to White Hall again,
and there delivered a letter to the Duke of Yorke about our Navy business,
and thence walked up and down in the gallery, talking with Mr. Slingsby,
who is a very ingenious person, about the Mint and coynage of money.
Among other things, he argues that there being L700,000 coined in the Rump
time, and by all the Treasurers of that time, it being their opinion that
the Rump money was in all payments, one with another, about a tenth part
of all their money. Then, says he, to my question, the nearest guess we
can make is, that the money passing up and down in business is L7,000,000.
To another question of mine he made me fully understand that the old law
of prohibiting bullion to be exported, is, and ever was a folly and an
injury, rather than good. Arguing thus, that if the exportations exceed
importations, then the balance must be brought home in money, which, when
our merchants know cannot be carried out again, they will forbear to bring
home in money, but let it lie abroad for trade, or keepe in foreign banks:
or if our importations exceed our exportations, then, to keepe credit, the
merchants will and must find ways of carrying out money by stealth, which
is a most easy thing to do, and is every where done; and therefore the law
against it signifies nothing in the world. Besides, that it is seen, that
where money is free, there is great plenty; where it is restrained, as
here, there is a great want, as in Spayne. These and many other fine
discourses I had from him. Thence by coach home (to see Sir J. Minnes
first), who is still sick, and I doubt worse than he seems to be. Mrs.
Turner here took me into her closet, and there did give me a glass of most
pure water, and shewed me her Rocke, which indeed is a very noble thing
but a very bawble. So away to my office, where late, busy, and then home
to supper and to bed.

28th. Up and to my office, where all the morning, and then home to
dinner, and after dinner abroad, walked to Paul's Churchyard, but my books
not bound, which vexed me. So home to my office again, where very late
about business, and so home to supper and to bed, my cold continuing in a
great degree upon me still. This day I received a good sum of money due
to me upon one score or another from Sir G. Carteret, among others to
clear all my matters about Colours,--[Flags]--wherein a month or two since
I was so embarrassed and I thank God I find myself to have got clear, by
that commodity, L50 and something more; and earned it with dear pains and
care and issuing of my owne money, and saved the King near L100 in it.

29th (Lord's day). Up and to my office, where all the morning, putting
papers to rights which now grow upon my hands. At noon dined at home. All
the afternoon at my business again. In the evening come Mr. Andrews and
Hill, and we up to my chamber and there good musique, though my great cold
made it the less pleasing to me. Then Mr. Hill (the other going away) and
I to supper alone, my wife not appearing, our discourse upon the
particular vain humours of Mr. Povy, which are very extraordinary indeed.
After supper I to Sir W. Batten's, where I found him, Sir W. Pen, Sir J.
Robinson, Sir R. Ford and Captain Cocke and Mr. Pen, junior. Here a great
deal of sorry disordered talk about the Trinity House men, their being
exempted from land service. But, Lord! to see how void of method and
sense their discourse was, and in what heat, insomuch as Sir R. Ford (who
we judged, some of us, to be a little foxed) fell into very high terms
with Sir W. Batten, and then with Captain Cocke. So that I see that no
man is wise at all times. Thence home to prayers and to bed.

30th. This is solemnly kept as a Fast all over the City, but I kept my
house, putting my closett to rights again, having lately put it out of
order in removing my books and things in order to being made clean. At
this all day, and at night to my office, there to do some business, and
being late at it, comes Mercer to me, to tell me that my wife was in bed,
and desired me to come home; for they hear, and have, night after night,
lately heard noises over their head upon the leads. Now it is strange to
think how, knowing that I have a great sum of money in my house, this puts
me into a most mighty affright, that for more than two hours, I could not
almost tell what to do or say, but feared this and that, and remembered
that this evening I saw a woman and two men stand suspiciously in the
entry, in the darke; I calling to them, they made me only this answer, the
woman said that the men came to see her; but who she was I could not tell.
The truth is, my house is mighty dangerous, having so many ways to be come
to; and at my windows, over the stairs, to see who goes up and down; but,
if I escape to-night, I will remedy it. God preserve us this night safe!
So at almost two o'clock, I home to my house, and, in great fear, to bed,
thinking every running of a mouse really a thiefe; and so to sleep, very
brokenly, all night long, and found all safe in the morning.

31st. Up and with Sir W. Batten to Westminster, where to speak at the
House with my Lord Bellasses, and am cruelly vexed to see myself put upon
businesses so uncertainly about getting ships for Tangier being ordered, a
servile thing, almost every day. So to the 'Change, back by coach with
Sir W. Batten, and thence to the Crowne, a taverne hard by, with Sir W.
Rider and Cutler, where we alone, a very good dinner. Thence home to the
office, and there all the afternoon late. The office being up, my wife
sent for me, and what was it but to tell me how Jane carries herself, and
I must put her away presently. But I did hear both sides and find my wife
much in fault, and the grounds of all the difference is my wife's fondness
of Tom, to the being displeased with all the house beside to defend the
boy, which vexes me, but I will cure it. Many high words between my wife
and I, but the wench shall go, but I will take a course with the boy, for
I fear I have spoiled him already. Thence to the office, to my accounts,
and there at once to ease my mind I have made myself debtor to Mr. Povy
for the L117 5s. got with so much joy the last month, but seeing that it
is not like to be kept without some trouble and question, I do even
discharge my mind of it, and so if I come now to refund it, as I fear I
shall, I shall now be ne'er a whit the poorer for it, though yet it is
some trouble to me to be poorer by such a sum than I thought myself a
month since. But, however, a quiet mind and to be sure of my owne is
worth all. The Lord be praised for what I have, which is this month come
down to L1257. I staid up about my accounts till almost two in the
morning.

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
FEBRUARY
1664-1665

February 1st. Lay long in bed, which made me, going by coach to St.
James's by appointment to have attended the Duke of Yorke and my Lord
Bellasses, lose the hopes of my getting something by the hire of a ship to
carry men to Tangier. But, however, according to the order of the Duke
this morning, I did go to the 'Change, and there after great pains did
light of a business with Mr. Gifford and Hubland [Houblon] for bringing me
as much as I hoped for, which I have at large expressed in my stating the
case of the "King's Fisher," which is the ship that I have hired, and got
the Duke of Yorke's agreement this afternoon after much pains and not
eating a bit of bread till about 4 o'clock. Going home I put in to an
ordinary by Temple Barr and there with my boy Tom eat a pullet, and thence
home to the office, being still angry with my wife for yesterday's
foolery. After a good while at the office, I with the boy to the Sun
behind the Exchange, by agreement with Mr. Young the flag-maker, and there
was met by Mr. Hill, Andrews, and Mr. Hubland, a pretty serious man. Here
two very pretty savoury dishes and good discourse. After supper a song,
or three or four (I having to that purpose carried Lawes's book), and
staying here till 12 o'clock got the watch to light me home, and in a
continued discontent to bed. After being in bed, my people come and say
there is a great stinke of burning, but no smoake. We called up Sir J.
Minnes's and Sir W. Batten's people, and Griffin, and the people at the
madhouse, but nothing could be found to give occasion to it. At this
trouble we were till past three o'clock, and then the stinke ceasing, I to
sleep, and my people to bed, and lay very long in the morning.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26