Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1667 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.

1667 N.S.

JANUARY
1666-1667

January 1st. Lay long, being a bitter, cold, frosty day, the frost being
now grown old, and the Thames covered with ice. Up, and to the office,
where all the morning busy. At noon to the 'Change a little, where Mr.
James Houblon and I walked a good while speaking of our ill condition in
not being able to set out a fleet (we doubt) this year, and the certain
ill effect that must bring, which is lamentable. Home to dinner, where
the best powdered goose that ever I eat. Then to the office again, and to
Sir W. Batten's to examine the Commission going down to Portsmouth to
examine witnesses about our prizes, of which God give a good issue! and
then to the office again, where late, and so home, my eyes sore. To
supper and to bed.

2nd. Up, I, and walked to White Hall to attend the Duke of York, as
usual. My wife up, and with Mrs. Pen to walk in the fields to frost-bite
themselves. I find the Court full of great apprehensions of the French,
who have certainly shipped landsmen, great numbers, at Brest; and most of
our people here guess his design for Ireland. We have orders to send all
the ships we can possible to the Downes. God have mercy on us! for we can
send forth no ships without men, nor will men go without money, every day
bringing us news of new mutinies among the seamen; so that our condition
is like to be very miserable. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there met
all the Houblons, who do laugh at this discourse of the French, and say
they are verily of opinion it is nothing but to send to their plantation
in the West Indys, and that we at Court do blow up a design of invading
us, only to make the Parliament make more haste in the money matters, and
perhaps it may be so, but I do not believe we have any such plot in our
heads. After them, I, with several people, among others Mr. George
Montagu, whom I have not seen long, he mighty kind. He tells me all is
like to go ill, the King displeasing the House of Commons by evading their
Bill for examining Accounts, and putting it into a Commission, though
therein he hath left out Coventry and I and named all the rest the
Parliament named, and all country Lords, not one Courtier: this do not
please them. He tells me he finds the enmity almost over for my Lord
Sandwich, and that now all is upon the Vice-Chamberlain, who bears up well
and stands upon his vindication, which he seems to like well, and the
others do construe well also. Thence up to the Painted Chamber, and there
heard a conference between the House of Lords and Commons about the Wine
Patent; which I was exceeding glad to be at, because of my hearing
exceeding good discourses, but especially from the Commons; among others,
Mr. Swinfen, and a young man, one Sir Thomas Meres: and do outdo the
Lords infinitely. So down to the Hall and to the Rose Taverne, while Doll
Lane come to me, and we did 'biber a good deal de vino, et je did give
elle twelve soldis para comprare elle some gans' for a new anno's gift
. . . . Thence to the Hall again, and with Sir W. Pen by coach to the
Temple, and there 'light and eat a bit at an ordinary by, and then alone
to the King's House, and there saw "The Custome of the Country," the
second time of its being acted, wherein Knipp does the Widow well; but, of
all the plays that ever I did see, the worst-having neither plot,
language, nor anything in the earth that is acceptable; only Knipp sings a
little song admirably. But fully the worst play that ever I saw or I
believe shall see. So away home, much displeased for the loss of so much
time, and disobliging my wife by being there without her. So, by link,
walked home, it being mighty cold but dry, yet bad walking because very
slippery with the frost and treading. Home and to my chamber to set down
my journal, and then to thinking upon establishing my vows against the
next year, and so to supper and to bed.

3rd. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon by
invitation to dinner to Sir W. Pen's, where my Lord Bruncker, Sir W.
Batten, and his lady, myself, and wife, Sir J. Minnes, and Mr. Turner and
his wife. Indifferent merry, to which I contributed the most, but a mean
dinner, and in a mean manner. In the evening a little to the office, and
then to them, where I found them at cards, myself very ill with a cold
(the frost continuing hard), so eat but little at supper, but very merry,
and late home to bed, not much pleased with the manner of our
entertainment, though to myself more civil than to any. This day, I hear,
hath been a conference between the two Houses about the Bill for examining
Accounts, wherein the House of Lords their proceedings in petitioning the
King for doing it by Commission is, in great heat, voted by the Commons,
after the conference, unparliamentary. The issue whereof, God knows.

4th. Up, and seeing things put in order for a dinner at my house to-day,
I to the office awhile, and about noon home, and there saw all things in
good order. Anon comes our company; my Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Pen, his
lady, and Pegg, and her servant, Mr. Lowther, my Lady Batten (Sir W.
Batten being forced to dine at Sir K. Ford's, being invited), Mr. Turner
and his wife. Here I had good room for ten, and no more would my table
have held well, had Sir J. Minnes, who was fallen lame, and his sister,
and niece, and Sir W. Batten come, which was a great content to me to be
without them. I did make them all gaze to see themselves served so nobly
in plate, and a neat dinner, indeed, though but of seven dishes. Mighty
merry I was and made them all, and they mightily pleased. My Lord
Bruncker went away after dinner to the ticket-office, the rest staid, only
my Lady Batten home, her ague-fit coming on her at table. The rest merry,
and to cards, and then to sing and talk, and at night to sup, and then to
cards; and, last of all, to have a flaggon of ale and apples, drunk out of
a wood cupp,

[A mazer or drinking-bowl turned out of some kind of wood, by
preference of maple, and especially the spotted or speckled variety
called "bird's-eye maple" (see W. H. St. John Hope's paper, "On the
English Mediaeval Drinking-bowls called Mazers," "Archaeologia,"
vol. 50, pp. 129,93).]

as a Christmas draught, made all merry; and they full of admiration at my
plate, particularly my flaggons (which, indeed, are noble), and so late
home, all with great mirth and satisfaction to them, as I thought, and to
myself to see all I have and do so much outdo for neatness and plenty
anything done by any of them. They gone, I to bed, much pleased, and do
observe Mr. Lowther to be a pretty gentleman, and, I think, too good for
Peg; and, by the way, Peg Pen seems mightily to be kind to me, and I
believe by her father's advice, who is also himself so; but I believe not
a little troubled to see my plenty, and was much troubled to hear the song
I sung, "The New Droll"--it touching him home. So to bed.

5th. At the office all the morning, thinking at noon to have been taken
home, and my wife (according to appointment yesterday), by my Lord
Bruncker, to dinner and then to a play, but he had forgot it, at which I
was glad, being glad of avoyding the occasion of inviting him again, and
being forced to invite his doxy, Mrs. Williams. So home, and took a small
snap of victuals, and away, with my wife, to the Duke's house, and there
saw "Mustapha," a most excellent play for words and design as ever I did
see. I had seen it before but forgot it, so it was wholly new to me,
which is the pleasure of my not committing these things to my memory.
Home, and a little to the office, and then to bed, where I lay with much
pain in my head most of the night, and very unquiet, partly by my drinking
before I went out too great a draught of sack, and partly my eyes being
still very sore.

6th (Lord's day). Up pretty well in the morning, and then to church,
where a dull doctor, a stranger, made a dull sermon. Then home, and Betty
Michell and her husband come by invitation to dine with us, and, she I
find the same as ever (which I was afraid of the contrary) . . . Here
come also Mr. Howe to dine with me, and we had a good dinner and good
merry discourse with much pleasure, I enjoying myself mightily to have
friends at my table. After dinner young Michell and I, it being an
excellent frosty day to walk, did walk out, he showing me the baker's
house in Pudding Lane, where the late great fire begun; and thence all
along Thames Street, where I did view several places, and so up by London
Wall, by Blackfriars, to Ludgate; and thence to Bridewell, which I find to
have been heretofore an extraordinary good house, and a fine coming to it,
before the house by the bridge was built; and so to look about St. Bride's
church and my father's house, and so walked home, and there supped
together, and then Michell and Betty home, and I to my closet, there to
read and agree upon my vows for next year, and so to bed and slept mighty
well.

7th. Lay long in bed. Then up and to the office, where busy all the
morning. At noon (my wife being gone to Westminster) I with my Lord
Bruncker by coach as far as the Temple, in the way he telling me that my
Lady Denham is at last dead. Some suspect her poisoned, but it will be
best known when her body is opened, which will be to-day, she dying
yesterday morning. The Duke of York is troubled for her; but hath
declared he will never have another public mistress again; which I shall
be glad of, and would the King would do the like. He tells me how the
Parliament is grown so jealous of the King's being unfayre to them in the
business of the Bill for examining Accounts, Irish Bill, and the business
of the Papists, that they will not pass the business for money till they
see themselves secure that those Bills will pass; which they do observe
the Court to keep off till all the Bills come together, that the King may
accept what he pleases, and what he pleases to reject, which will undo all
our business and the kingdom too. He tells me how Mr. Henry Howard, of
Norfolke, hath given our Royal Society all his grandfather's library:
which noble gift they value at L1000; and gives them accommodation to meet
in at his house, Arundell House, they being now disturbed at Gresham
College. Thence 'lighting at the Temple to the ordinary hard by and eat a
bit of meat, and then by coach to fetch my wife from her brother's, and
thence to the Duke's house, and saw "Macbeth," which, though I saw it
lately, yet appears a most excellent play in all respects, but especially
in divertisement, though it be a deep tragedy; which is a strange
perfection in a tragedy, it being most proper here, and suitable. So
home, it being the last play now I am to see till a fortnight hence, I
being from the last night entered into my vowes for the year coming on.
Here I met with the good newes of Hogg's bringing in two prizes more to
Plymouth, which if they prove but any part of them, I hope, at least, we
shall be no losers by them. So home from the office, to write over fair
my vowes for this year, and then to supper, and to bed. In great peace of
mind having now done it, and brought myself into order again and a
resolution of keeping it, and having entered my journall to this night, so
to bed, my eyes failing me with writing.

8th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon home
to dinner, where my uncle Thomas with me to receive his quarterage. He
tells me his son Thomas is set up in Smithfield, where he hath a shop--I
suppose, a booth. Presently after dinner to the office, and there set
close to my business and did a great deal before night, and am resolved to
stand to it, having been a truant too long. At night to Sir W. Batten's
to consider some things about our prizes, and then to other talk, and
among other things he tells me that he hears for certain that Sir W.
Coventry hath resigned to the King his place of Commissioner of the Navy,
the thing he bath often told me that he had a mind to do, but I am
surprised to think that he hath done it, and am full of thoughts all this
evening after I heard it what may be the consequences of it to me. So home
and to supper, and then saw the catalogue of my books, which my brother
had wrote out, now perfectly alphabeticall, and so to bed. Sir Richard
Ford did this evening at Sir W. Batten's tell us that upon opening the
body of my Lady Denham it is said that they found a vessel about her
matrix which had never been broke by her husband, that caused all pains in
her body. Which if true is excellent invention to clear both the Duchesse
from poison or the Duke from lying with her.

9th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen in a hackney-coach to
White Hall, the way being most horribly bad upon the breaking up of the
frost, so as not to be passed almost. There did our usual [business] with
the Duke of York, and here I do hear, by my Lord Bruncker, that for
certain Sir W. Coventry hath resigned his place of Commissioner; which I
believe he hath done upon good grounds of security to himself, from all
the blame which must attend our office this next year; but I fear the King
will suffer by it. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there to the
conference of the Houses about the word "Nuisance,"

[In the "Bill against importing Cattle from Ireland and other parts
beyond the Seas," the Lords proposed to insert "Detriment and
Mischief" in place of "Nuisance," but the Commons stood to their
word, and gained their way. The Lords finally consented that
"Nuisance" should stand in the Bill.]

which the Commons would have, and the Lords will not, in the Irish Bill.
The Commons do it professedly to prevent the King's dispensing with it;
which Sir Robert Howard and others did expressly repeat often: viz., "the
King nor any King ever could do any thing which was hurtful to their
people." Now the Lords did argue, that it was an ill precedent, and that
which will ever hereafter be used as a way of preventing the King's
dispensation with acts; and therefore rather advise to pass the Bill
without that word, and let it go, accompanied with a petition, to the
King, that he will not dispense with it; this being a more civil way to
the King. They answered well, that this do imply that the King should
pass their Bill, and yet with design to dispense with it; which is to
suppose the King guilty of abusing them. And more, they produce
precedents for it; namely, that against new buildings and about leather,
wherein the word "Nuisance" is used to the purpose: and further, that they
do not rob the King of any right he ever had, for he never had a power to
do hurt to his people, nor would exercise it; and therefore there is no
danger, in the passing this Bill, of imposing on his prerogative; and
concluded, that they think they ought to do this, so as the people may
really have the benefit of it when it is passed, for never any people
could expect so reasonably to be indulged something from a King, they
having already given him so much money, and are likely to give more. Thus
they broke up, both adhering to their opinions; but the Commons seemed
much more full of judgment and reason than the Lords. Then the Commons
made their Report to the Lords of their vote, that their Lordships'
proceedings in the Bill for examining Accounts were unparliamentary; they
having, while a Bill was sent up to them from the Commons about the
business, petitioned his Majesty that he would do the same thing by his
Commission. They did give their reasons: viz., that it had no precedent;
that the King ought not to be informed of anything passing in the Houses
till it comes to a Bill; that it will wholly break off all correspondence
between the two Houses, and in the issue wholly infringe the very use and
being of Parliaments. Having left their arguments with the Lords they all
broke up, and I by coach to the ordinary by the Temple, and there dined
alone on a rabbit, and read a book I brought home from Mrs. Michell's, of
the proceedings of the Parliament in the 3rd and 4th year of the late
King, a very good book for speeches and for arguments of law. Thence to
Faythorne, and bought a head or two; one of them my Lord of Ormond's, the
best I ever saw, and then to Arundell House, where first the Royall
Society meet, by the favour of Mr. Harry Howard, who was there, and has
given us his grandfather's library, a noble gift, and a noble favour and
undertaking it is for him to make his house the seat for this college.
Here was an experiment shown about improving the use of powder for
creating of force in winding up of springs and other uses of great worth.
And here was a great meeting of worthy noble persons; but my Lord
Bruncker, who pretended to make a congratulatory speech upon their coming
hither, and in thanks to Mr. Howard, do it in the worst manner in the
world, being the worst speaker, so as I do wonder at his parts and the
unhappiness of his speaking. Thence home by coach and to the office, and
then home to supper, Mercer and her sister there, and to cards, and then
to bed. Mr. Cowling did this day in the House-lobby tell me of the many
complaints among people against Mr. Townsend in the Wardrobe, and advises
me to think of my Lord Sandwich's concernment there under his care. He
did also tell me upon my demanding it, that he do believe there are some
things on foot for a peace between France and us, but that we shall be
foiled in it.

10th. Up, and at the office all the morning. At noon home and, there
being business to do in the afternoon, took my Lord Bruncker home with me,
who dined with me. His discourse and mine about the bad performances of
the Controller's and Surveyor's places by the hands they are now in, and
the shame to the service and loss the King suffers by it. Then after
dinner to the office, where we and some of the chief of the Trinity House
met to examine the occasion of the loss of The Prince Royall, the master
and mates being examined, which I took and keep, and so broke up, and I to
my letters by the post, and so home and to supper with my mind at pretty
good ease, being entered upon minding my business, and so to bed. This
noon Mrs. Burroughs come to me about business, whom I did baiser. . . .

11th. Up, being troubled at my being found abed a-days by all sorts of
people, I having got a trick of sitting up later than I need, never
supping, or very seldom, before 12 at night. Then to the office, there
busy all the morning, and among other things comes Sir W. Warren and
walked with me awhile, whose discourse I love, he being a very wise man
and full of good counsel, and his own practices for wisdom much to be
observed, and among other things he tells me how he is fallen in with my
Lord Bruncker, who has promised him most particular inward friendship and
yet not to appear at the board to do so, and he tells me how my Lord
Bruncker should take notice of the two flaggons he saw at my house at
dinner, at my late feast, and merrily, yet I know enviously, said, I could
not come honestly by them. This I am glad to hear, though vexed to see
his ignoble soul, but I shall beware of him, and yet it is fit he should
see I am no mean fellow, but can live in the world, and have something.
At noon home to dinner, and then to the office with my people and very
busy, and did dispatch to my great satisfaction abundance of business, and
do resolve, by the grace of God, to stick to it till I have cleared my
heart of most things wherein I am in arrear in public and private matters.
At night, home to supper and to bed. This day ill news of my father's
being very ill of his old grief the rupture, which troubles me.

12th. Up, still lying long in bed; then to the office, where sat very
long. Then home to dinner, and so to the office again, mighty busy, and
did to the joy of my soul dispatch much business, which do make my heart
light, and will enable me to recover all the ground I have lost (if I have
by my late minding my pleasures lost any) and assert myself. So home to
supper, and then to read a little in Moore's "Antidote against Atheisme,"
a pretty book, and so to bed.

13th (Lord's day). Up, and to church, where young Lowther come to church
with Sir W. Pen and his Lady and daughter, and my wife tells me that
either they are married or the match is quite perfected, which I am apt to
believe, because all the peoples' eyes in the church were much fixed upon
them. At noon sent for Mercer, who dined with us, and very merry, and so
I, after dinner, walked to the Old Swan, thinking to have got a boat to
White Hall, but could not, nor was there anybody at home at Michell's,
where I thought to have sat with her . . . . So home, to church, a
dull sermon, and then home at my chamber all the evening. So to supper
and to bed.

14th. Up, and to the office, where busy getting beforehand with my
business as fast as I can. At noon home to dinner, and presently
afterward at my office again. I understand my father is pretty well
again, blessed be God! and would have my Br[other] John comedown to him
for a little while. Busy till night, pleasing myself mightily to see what
a deal of business goes off of a man's hands when he stays by it, and
then, at night, before it was late (yet much business done) home to
supper, discourse with my wife, and to bed. Sir W. Batten tells me the
Lords do agree at last with the Commons about the word "Nuisance" in the
Irish Bill, and do desire a good correspondence between the two Houses;
and that the King do intend to prorogue them the last of this month.

15th. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning. Here my Lord
Bruncker would have made me promise to go with him to a play this
afternoon, where Knipp acts Mrs. Weaver's great part in "The Indian
Emperour," and he says is coming on to be a great actor. But I am so fell
to my business, that I, though against my inclination, will not go. At
noon, dined with my wife and were pleasant, and then to the office, where
I got Mrs. Burroughs 'sola cum ego, and did toucher ses mamailles' . . .
She gone, I to my business and did much, and among other things
to-night we were all mightily troubled how to prevent the sale of a great
deal of hemp, and timber-deals, and other good goods to-morrow at the
candle by the Prize Office, where it will be sold for little, and we shall
be found to want the same goods and buy at extraordinary prices, and
perhaps the very same goods now sold, which is a most horrid evil and a
shame. At night home to supper and to bed with my mind mighty light to
see the fruits of my diligence in having my business go off my hand so
merrily.

16th. Up, and by coach to White Hall, and there to the Duke of York as
usual. Here Sir W. Coventry come to me aside in the Duke's chamber, to
tell that he had not answered part of a late letter of mine, because
'littera scripta manet'. About his leaving the office, he tells me, [it
is] because he finds that his business at Court will not permit him to
attend it; and then he confesses that he seldom of late could come from it
with satisfaction, and therefore would not take the King's money for
nothing. I professed my sorrow for it, and prayed the continuance of his
favour; which he promised. I do believe he hath [done] like a very wise
man in reference to himself; but I doubt it will prove ill for the King,
and for the office. Prince Rupert, I hear to-day, is very ill; yesterday
given over, but better to-day. This day, before the Duke of York, the
business of the Muster-Masters was reported, and Balty found the best of
the whole number, so as the Duke enquired who he was, and whether he was a
stranger by his two names, both strange, and offered that he and one more,
who hath done next best, should have not only their owne, but part of the
others' salary, but that I having said he was my brother-in-law, he did
stop, but they two are ordered their pay, which I am glad of, and some of
the rest will lose their pay, and others be laid by the heels. I was very
glad of this being ended so well. I did also, this morning, move in a
business wherein Mr. Hater hath concerned me, about getting a ship, laden
with salt from France, permitted to unload, coming in after the King's
declaration was out, which I have hopes by some dexterity to get done.
Then with the Duke of York to the King, to receive his commands for
stopping the sale this day of some prize-goods at the Prize-Office, goods
fit for the Navy; and received the King's commands, and carried them to
the Lords' House, to my Lord Ashly, who was angry much thereat, and I am
sorry it fell to me to carry the order, but I cannot help it. So, against
his will, he signed a note I writ to the Commissioners of Prizes, which I
carried and delivered to Kingdone, at their new office in Aldersgate
Streete. Thence a little to the Exchange, where it was hot that the
Prince was dead, but I did rectify it. So home to dinner, and found
Balty, told him the good news, and then after dinner away, I presently to
White Hall, and did give the Duke of York a memorial of the salt business,
against the Council, and did wait all the Council for answer, walking a
good while with Sir Stephen Fox, who, among other things, told me his
whole mystery in the business of the interest he pays as Treasurer for the
Army. They give him 12d. per pound quite through the Army, with condition
to be paid weekly. This he undertakes upon his own private credit, and to
be paid by the King at the end of every four months. If the King pay him
not at the end of the four months, then, for all the time he stays longer,
my Lord Treasurer, by agreement, allows him eight per cent. per annum for
the forbearance. So that, in fine, he hath about twelve per cent. from
the King and the Army, for fifteen or sixteen months' interest; out of
which he gains soundly, his expense being about L130,000 per annum; and
hath no trouble in it, compared, as I told him, to the trouble I must have
to bring in an account of interest. I was, however, glad of being thus
enlightened, and so away to the other council door, and there got in and
hear a piece of a cause, heard before the King, about a ship deserted by
her fellows (who were bound mutually to defend each other), in their way
to Virginy, and taken by the enemy, but it was but meanly pleaded. Then
all withdrew, and by and by the Council rose, and I spoke with the Duke of
York, and he told me my business was done, which I found accordingly in
Sir Edward Walker's books. And so away, mightily satisfied, to Arundell
House, and there heard a little good discourse, and so home, and there to
Sir W. Batten, where I heard the examinations in two of our prizes, which
do make but little for us, so that I do begin to doubt their proving
prize, which troubled me. So home to supper with my wife, and after
supper my wife told me how she had moved to W. Hewer the business of my
sister for a wife to him, which he received with mighty acknowledgements,
as she says, above anything; but says he hath no intention to alter his
condition: so that I am in some measure sorry she ever moved it; but I
hope he will think it only come from her. So after supper a little to the
office, to enter my journall, and then home to bed. Talk there is of a
letter to come from Holland, desiring a place of treaty; but I do doubt
it. This day I observe still, in many places, the smoking remains of the
late fire: the ways mighty bad and dirty. This night Sir R. Ford told me
how this day, at Christ Church Hospital, they have given a living over
L200 per annum to Mr. Sanchy, my old acquaintance, which I wonder at, he
commending him mightily; but am glad of it. He tells me, too, how the
famous Stillingfleete was a Bluecoat boy. The children at this day are
provided for in the country by the House, which I am glad also to hear.