Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1667 N.S. Complete

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2nd. To the office, where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and
then abroad to my Lord Treasurer's, who continues so ill as not to be
troubled with business. So Mr. Gawden and I to my Lord Ashly's and spoke
with him, and then straight home, and there I did much business at the
office, and then to my own chamber and did the like there, to my great
content, but to the pain of my eyes, and then to supper and to bed, having
a song with my wife with great pleasure, she doing it well.

3rd. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Batten, and [Sir] W. Pen in the
last man's coach to St. James's, and thence up to the Duke of York's
chamber, which, as it is now fretted at the top, and the chimney-piece
made handsome, is one of the noblest and best-proportioned rooms that
ever, I think, I saw in my life, and when ready, into his closet and did
our business, where, among other things, we had a proposition of Mr.
Pierces, for being continued in pay, or something done for him, in reward
of his pains as Chyrurgeon-Generall; forasmuch as Troutbecke, that was
never a doctor before, hath got L200 a year settled on him for nothing but
that one voyage with the Duke of Albemarle. The Duke of York and the
whole company did shew most particular kindness to Mr. Pierce, every body
moving for him, and the Duke himself most, that he is likely to be a very
great man, I believe. Here also we had another mention of Carcasses
business, and we directed to bring in a report of our opinion of his case,
which vexes us that such a rogue shall make us so much trouble. Thence I
presently to the Excise Office, and there met the Cofferer and [Sir]
Stephen Fox by agreement, and agreed upon a method for our future
payments, and then we three to my Lord Treasurer, who continues still very
ill. I had taken my stone with me on purpose, and Sir Philip Warwicke
carried it in to him to see, but was not in a condition to talk with me
about it, poor man. So I with them to Westminster by coach; the Cofferer
telling us odd stories how he was dealt with by the men of the Church at
Westminster in taking a lease of them at the King's coming in, and
particularly the devilish covetousness of Dr. Busby. Sir Stephen Fox, in
discourse, told him how he is selling some land he hath, which yields him
not above three per cent., if so much, and turning it into money, which he
can put out at ten per cent.; and, as times go, if they be like to
continue, it is the best way for me to keep money going so, for aught I
see. I to Westminster Hall, and there took a turn with my old
acquaintance Mr. Pechell, whose red nose makes me ashamed to be seen with
him, though otherwise a good-natured man. So away, I not finding of Mr.
Moore, with whom I should have met and spoke about a letter I this day
received from him from my Lord Hinchingbroke, wherein he desires me to
help him to L1900 to pay a bill of exchange of his father's, which
troubles me much, but I will find some way, if I can do it, but not to
bring myself in bonds or disbursements for it, whatever comes of it. So
home to dinner, where my wife hath 'ceux la' upon her and is very ill with
them, and so forced to go to bed, and I sat by her a good while, then down
to my chamber and made an end of Rycaut's History of the Turks, which is a
very good book. Then to the office, and did some business, and then my
wife being pretty well, by coach to little Michell's, and there saw my
poor Betty and her little child, which slept so soundly we could hardly
wake it in an hour's time without hurting it, and they tell me what I did
not know, that a child (as this do) will hunt and hunt up and down with
its mouth if you touch the cheek of it with your finger's end for a
nipple, and fit its mouth for sucking, but this hath not sucked yet, she
having no nipples. Here sat a while, and then my wife and I, it being a
most curious clear evening, after some rain to-day, took a most excellent
tour by coach to Bow, and there drank and back again, and so a little at
the office, and home to read a little, and to supper and bed mightily
refreshed with this evening's tour, but troubled that it hath hindered my
doing some business which I would have done at the office. This day the
newes is come that the fleete of the Dutch, of about 20 ships, which come
upon our coasts upon design to have intercepted our colliers, but by good
luck failed, is gone to the Frith,--[Frith of Forth. See 5th of this
month.]--and there lies, perhaps to trouble the Scotch privateers, which
have galled them of late very much, it may be more than all our last
year's fleete.

4th. Up and to the office, where sat all the morning, among other things
a great conflict I had with Sir W. Warren, he bringing a letter to the
Board, flatly in words charging them with their delays in passing his
accounts, which have been with them these two years, part of which I said
was not true, and the other undecent. The whole Board was concerned to
take notice of it, as well as myself, but none of them had the honour to
do it, but suffered me to do it alone, only Sir W. Batten, who did what he
did out of common spite to him. So I writ in the margin of the letter,
"Returned as untrue," and, by consent of the Board, did give it him again,
and so parted. Home to dinner, and there came a woman whose husband I
sent for, one Fisher, about the business of Perkins and Carcasse, and I do
think by her I shall find the business as bad as ever it was, and that we
shall find Commissioner Pett a rogue, using foul play on behalf of
Carcasse. After dinner to the office again, and there late all the
afternoon, doing much business, and with great content home to supper and
to bed.

5th (Lord's day). Up, and going down to the water side, I met Sir John
Robinson, and so with him by coach to White Hall, still a vain, prating,
boasting man as any I know, as if the whole City and Kingdom had all its
work done by him. He tells me he hath now got a street ordered to be
continued, forty feet broad, from Paul's through Cannon Street to the
Tower, which will be very fine. He and others this day, where I was in
the afternoon, do tell me of at least six or eight fires within these few
days; and continually stirs of fires, and real fires there have been, in
one place or other, almost ever since the late great fire, as if there was
a fate sent people for fire. I walked over the Park to Sir W. Coventry's.
Among other things to tell him what I hear of people being forced to sell
their bills before September for 35 and 40 per cent. loss, and what is
worst, that there are some courtiers that have made a knot to buy them, in
hopes of some ways to get money of the King to pay them, which Sir W.
Coventry is amazed at, and says we are a people made up for destruction,
and will do what he can to prevent all this by getting the King to provide
wherewith to pay them. We talked of Tangier, of which he is ashamed; also
that it should put the King to this charge for no good in the world: and
now a man going over that is a good soldier, but a debauched man, which
the place need not to have. And so used these words: "That this place was
to the King as my Lord Carnarvon says of wood, that it is an excrescence
of the earth provided by God for the payment of debts." Thence away to
Sir G. Carteret, whom I find taking physic. I staid talking with him but
a little, and so home to church, and heard a dull sermon, and most of the
best women of our parish gone into the country, or at least not at church.
So home, and find my boy not there, nor was at church, which vexed me, and
when he come home I enquired, he tells me he went to see his mother. I
send him back to her to send me some token that he was with her. So there
come a man with him back of good fashion. He says he saw him with her,
which pacified me, but I did soundly threaten him before him, and so to
dinner, and then had a little scolding with my wife for not being fine
enough to go to the christening to-day, which she excused by being ill, as
she was indeed, and cried, but I was in an ill humour and ashamed, indeed,
that she should not go dressed. However, friends by and by, and we went
by water to Michell's, and there his little house full of his father and
mothers and the kindred, hardly any else, and mighty merry in this
innocent company, and Betty mighty pretty in bed, but, her head akeing,
not very merry, but the company mighty merry, and I with them, and so the
child was christened; my wife, his father, and her mother, the witnesses,
and the child's name Elizabeth. So we had gloves and wine and wafers,
very pretty, and talked and tattled, and so we away by water and up with
the tide, she and I and Barker, as high as Barne Eimes, it being a fine
evening, and back again to pass the bridges at standing water between 9
and 10 at might, and then home and to supper, and then to bed with much
pleasure. This day Sir W. Coventry tells me the Dutch fleete shot some
shot, four or five hundred, into Burnt-Island in the Frith, but without
any hurt; and so are gone.

6th. Up and angry with my mayds for letting in watermen, and I know not
who, anybody that they are acquainted with, into my kitchen to talk and
prate with them, which I will not endure. Then out and by coach to my
Lord Treasurer's, who continues still very ill, then to Sir Ph. Warwicke's
house, and there did a little business about my Tangier tallies, and so to
Westminster Hall, and there to the Exchequer to consult about some way of
getting our poor Creditors of the Navy (who served in their goods before
the late Session of Parliament) paid out of the 11 months tax, which seems
to relate only for goods to be then served in, and I think I have found
out a way to bring them into the Act, which, if it do, I shall think a
good service done. Thence by coach home with Captain Cocke, in our way
talking of my Lord Bruncker and his Lady, who are mighty angry with us all
of the office, about Carcasse's business, but especially with me, and in
great confidence he bids me have a care of him, for he hath said that he
would wound me with the person where my greatest interest is. I suppose
he means Sir W. Coventry, and therefore I will beware of him, and am glad,
though vexed to hear it. So home to dinner, where Creed come, whom I
vexed devilishly with telling him a wise man, and good friend of his and
mine, did say that he lately went into the country to Hinchingbroke; and,
at his coming to town again, hath shifted his lodgings, only to avoid
paying to the Poll Bill, which is so true that he blushed, and could not
in words deny it, but the fellow did think to have not had it discovered.
He is so devilish a subtle false rogue, that I am really weary and afeard
of his company, and therefore after dinner left him in the house, and to
my office, where busy all the afternoon despatching much business, and in
the evening to Sir R. Viner's to adjust accounts there, and so home, where
some of our old Navy creditors come to me by my direction to consider of
what I have invented for their help as I have said in the morning, and
like it mighty well, and so I to the office, where busy late, then home to
supper and sing with my wife, who do begin to give me real pleasure with
her singing, and so to bed.

7th. Up betimes, and by coach to St. James's; but there find Sir W.
Coventry gone out betimes this morning, on horseback, with the King and
Duke of York, to Putney-heath,--to run some horses, and so back again to
the office, where some witnesses from Chatham which I sent for are come
up, and do give shrewd testimonies against Carcasse, which put my Lord
into a new flame, and he and I to high words, and so broke up. Then home
to dinner, where W. Hewer dined with us, and he and I after dinner to
discourse of Carcasses business, wherein I apparently now do manage it
wholly against my Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Pen, like a false rogue, shrinking
out of the collar, Sir J. Minnes, afoot, being easily led either way, and
Sir W. Batten, a malicious fellow that is not able to defend any thing, so
that the whole odium must fall on me, which I will therefore beware how I
manage that I may not get enemies to no purpose. It vexes me to see with
what a company I am mixed, but then it pleases me to see that I am
reckoned the chief mover among them, as they do, confess and esteem me in
every thing. Thence to the office, and did business, and then by coach to
St. James's again, but [Sir] W. Coventry not within, so I wrote something
to him, and then straight back again and to Sir W. Batten's, and there
talked with him and [Sir] J. Minnes, who are mighty hot in Carcasses
business, but their judgment's not to be trusted. However, I will go
through with it, or otherwise we shall be all slaves to my Lord Bruncker
and his man's impudence. So to the office a little, and then home to
supper and to bed, after hearing my wife sing, who is manifestly come to
be more musical in her eare than ever I thought she could have been made,
which rejoices me to the heart, for I take great delight now to hear her
sing.

8th. Up pretty betimes and out of doors, and in Fen Church street met Mr.
Lovett going with a picture to me, but I could not stand to discourse or
see it, but on to the next hackney coach and so to Sir W. Coventry, where
he and I alone a while discoursing of some businesses of the office, and
then up to the Duke of York to his chamber with my fellow brethren who are
come, and so did our usual weekly business, which was but little to-day,
and I was glad that the business of Carcasse was not mentioned because our
report was not ready, but I am resolved it shall against the next coming
to the Duke of York. Here was discourse about a way of paying our old
creditors which did please me, there being hopes of getting them
comprehended within the 11 months Tax, and this did give occasion for Sir
G. Carteret's and my going to Sir Robert Long to discourse it, who do
agree that now the King's Council do say that they may be included in the
Act, which do make me very glad, not so much for the sake of the poor men
as for the King, for it would have been a ruin to him and his service not
to have had a way to have paid the debt. There parted with Sir G. Carteret
and into Westminster Hall, where I met with Sir H. Cholmly, and he and I
to Sir Ph. Warwicke's to speak a little about our Tangier business, but to
little purpose, my Lord Treasurer being so ill that no business can be
done. Thence with Sir H. Cholmly to find out Creed from one lodging to
another, which he hath changed so often that there is no finding him, but
at last do come to his lodging that he is entering into this day, and do
find his goods unlading at the door, by Scotland Yard, and there I set
down Sir H. Cholmly, and I away to the 'Change, where spoke about several
things, and then going home did meet Mr. Andrews our neighbour, and did
speak with him to enquire about the ground behind our house, of which I
have a mind to buy enough to make a stable and coach-house; for I do see
that my condition do require it, as well as that it is more charge to my
purse to live as I do than to keep one, and therefore I am resolved before
winter to have one, unless some extraordinary thing happens to hinder me.
He promises me to look after it for me, and so I home to dinner, where I
find my wife's flageolette master, and I am so pleased with her
proceeding, though she hath lost time by not practising, that I am
resolved for the encouragement of the man to learn myself a little for a
month or so, for I do foresee if God send my wife and I to live, she will
become very good company for me. He gone, comes Lovett with my little
print of my dear Lady Castlemayne varnished, and the frame prettily done
like gold, which pleases me well. He dined with me, but by his discourse
I do still see that he is a man of good wit but most strange experience,
and acquaintance with all manner of subtleties and tricks, that I do think
him not fit for me to keep any acquaintance with him, lest he some time or
other shew me a slippery trick. After dinner, he gone, I to the office,
where all the afternoon very busy, and so in the evening to Sir R.
Viner's, thinking to finish my accounts there, but am prevented, and so
back again home, and late at my office at business, and so home to supper
and sing a little with my dear wife, and so to bed.

9th. Up, and to the office, and at noon home to dinner, and then with my
wife and Barker by coach, and left them at Charing Cross, and I to St.
James's, and there found Sir W. Coventry alone in his chamber, and sat and
talked with him more than I have done a great while of several things of
the Navy, how our debts and wants do unfit us for doing any thing. He
tells me he hears stories of Commissioner Pett, of selling timber to the
Navy under other names, which I told him I believe is true, and did give
him an instance. He told me also how his clerk Floyd he hath put away for
his common idlenesse and ill company, and particularly that yesterday he
was found not able to come and attend him, by being run into the arme in a
squabble, though he pretends it was done in the streets by strangers, at
nine at night, by the Maypole in the Strand. Sir W. Coventry did write to
me this morning to recommend him another, which I could find in my heart
to do W. Hewer for his good; but do believe he will not part with me, nor
have I any mind to let him go. I would my brother were fit for it, I would
adventure him there. He insists upon an unmarried man, that can write
well, and hath French enough to transcribe it only from a copy, and may
write shorthand, if it may be. Thence with him to my Lord Chancellor at
Clarendon House, to a Committee for Tangier, where several things spoke of
and proceeded on, and particularly sending Commissioners thither before
the new Governor goes, which I think will signify as much good as any
thing else that hath been done about the place, which is none at all. I
did again tell them the badness of their credit by the time their tallies
took before they become payable, and their spending more than their fund.
They seem well satisfied with what I said, and I am glad that I may be
remembered that I do tell them the case plain; but it troubled me that I
see them hot upon it, that the Governor shall not be paymaster, which will
force me either to the providing one there to do it (which I will never
undertake), or leave the employment, which I had rather do. Mightily
pleased with the noblenesse of this house, and the brave furniture and
pictures, which indeed is very noble, and, being broke up, I with Sir G.
Carteret in his coach into Hide Park, to discourse of things, and spent an
hour in this manner with great pleasure, telling me all his concernments,
and how he is gone through with the purchase for my Lady Jemimah and her
husband; how the Treasury is like to come into the hands of a Committee;
but that not that, nor anything else, will do our business, unless the
King himself will mind his business, and how his servants do execute their
parts; he do fear an utter ruin in the state, and that in a little time,
if the King do not mind his business soon; that the King is very kind to
him, and to my Lord Sandwich, and that he doubts not but at his coming
home, which he expects about Michaelmas, he will be very well received.
But it is pretty strange how he began again the business of the intention
of a marriage of my Lord Hinchingbroke to a daughter of my Lord
Burlington's to my Lord Chancellor, which he now tells me as a great
secret, when he told it me the last Sunday but one; but it may be the poor
man hath forgot, and I do believe he do make it a secret, he telling me
that he has not told it to any but myself, end this day to his daughter my
Lady Jemimah, who looks to lie down about two months hence. After all this
discourse we turned back and to White Hall, where we parted, and I took up
my wife at Unthanke's, and so home, and in our street, at the Three Tuns'
Tavern' door, I find a great hubbub; and what was it but two brothers have
fallen out, and one killed the other. And who should they be but the two
Fieldings; one whereof, Bazill, was page to my Lady Sandwich; and he hath
killed the other, himself being very drunk, and so is sent to Newgate. I
to the office and did as much business as my eyes would let me, and so
home to supper and to bed.

10th. Up and to the office, where a meeting about the Victuallers'
accounts all the morning, and at noon all of us to Kent's, at the Three
Tuns' Tavern, and there dined well at Mr. Gawden's charge; and, there the
constable of the parish did show us the picklocks and dice that were found
in the dead man's pocket, and but 18d. in money; and a table-book, wherein
were entered the names of several places where he was to go; and among
others Kent's house, where he was to dine, and did dine yesterday: and
after dinner went into the church, and there saw his corpse with the wound
in his left breast; a sad spectacle, and a broad wound, which makes my
hand now shake to write of it. His brother intending, it seems, to kill
the coachman, who did not please him, this fellow stepped in, and took
away his sword; who thereupon took out his knife, which was of the
fashion, with a falchion blade, and a little cross at the hilt like a
dagger; and with that stabbed him. So to the office again, very busy, and
in the evening to Sir Robert Viner's, and there took up all my notes and
evened our balance to the 7th of this month, and saw it entered in their
ledger, and took a receipt for the remainder of my money as the balance of
an account then adjusted. Then to my Lord Treasurer's, but missed Sir Ph.
Warwicke, and so back again, and drove hard towards Clerkenwell,

[At Newcastle House, Clerkenwell Close, the duke and duchess lived
in great state. The house was divided, and let in tenements in the
eighteenth century.]

thinking to have overtaken my Lady Newcastle, whom I saw before us in her
coach, with 100 boys and girls running looking upon her but I could not:
and so she got home before I could come up to her. But I will get a time
to see her. So to the office and did more business, and then home and
sang with pleasure with my wife, and to supper and so to bed.

11th. Up, and being called on by Mr. Commander, he and I out to the
ground behind Sir W. Pen's, where I am resolved to take a lease of some of
it for a stable and coach [house], and so to keep a coach, unless some
change come before I can do it, for I do see it is a greater charge to me
now in hackneys, and I am a little dishonoured by going in them. We spoke
with him that hath the letting it, and I do believe when I can tell how
much it will be fit for me to have we shall go near to agree. So home,
and there found my door open, which makes me very angry with Nell, and do
think to put her away for it, though it do so go against me to part with a
servant that it troubles me more than anything in the world. So to the
office, where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, where Mr.
Goodgroome and Creed, and I have great hopes that my wife will come to
sing to my mind. After dinner my wife and Creed and I being entered a
hackney coach to go to the other end of the town, we espied The. Turner
coming in her coach to see us, which we were surprised at, and so 'light
and took her and another young lady home, and there sat and talked with
The., she being lately come out of the North after two or three years
absence. She is come to put out her sister and brothers to school at
Putney. After a little talk, I over Tower Hill with them to a lady's they
go to visit, and so away with my wife, whose being dressed this day in
fair hair did make me so mad, that I spoke not one word to her in our
going, though I was ready to burst with anger. So to White Hall to the
Committee of Tangier, where they were discoursing about laws for the civil
government of the place, but so dull and so little to the purpose that I
fell to slumber, when the fear of being seen by Sir W. Coventry did
trouble me much afterwards, but I hope he did not. After that broke up.
Creed and I into the Park, and walked, a most pleasant evening, and so
took coach, and took up my wife, and in my way home discovered my trouble
to my wife for her white locks,

[Randle Holmes says the ladies wore "false locks set on wyres, to
make them stand at a distance from the head," and accompanies the
information with the figure of a lady "with a pair of locks and
curls which were in great fashion in 1670" (Planche's "Cyclopaedia
of Costume;" Vol. i., p. 248).]

swearing by God, several times, which I pray God forgive me for, and
bending my fist, that I would not endure it. She, poor wretch,

[A new light is thrown upon this favourite expression of Pepys's
when speaking of his wife by the following quotation from a Midland
wordbook: "Wretch, n., often used as an expression of endearment or
sympathy. Old Woman to Young Master: 'An''ow is the missis to-day,
door wretch?' Of a boy going to school a considerable distance off
'I met 'im with a bit o' bread in 'is bag, door wretch'" ("A
Glossary of Words and Phrases used in S.E. Worcestershire," by Jesse
Salisbury. Published by the English Dialect Society, 1894).]