Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1667 N.S. Complete

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20th. Up betimes, and comes my flagelette master to set me a new tune,
which I played presently, and shall in a month do as much as I desire at
it. He being gone, I to several businesses in my chamber, and then by
coach to the Commissioners of Excise, and so to Westminster Hall, and
there spoke with several persons I had to do with. Here among other news,
I hear that the Commissioners for the Treasury were named by the King
yesterday; but who they are nobody could tell: but the persons are the
Lord Chancellor, the two Secretaries, Lord Ashly, and others say Sir W.
Coventry and Sir John Duncomb, but all conclude the Duke of Albemarle; but
reports do differ, but will be known in a day or two. Having done my
business, I then homeward, and overtook Mr. Commander; so took him into a
coach with me, and he and I into Lincoln's Inne Fields, there to look upon
the coach-houses to see what ground is necessary for coach-house and
horses, because of that that I am going about to do, and having satisfied
myself in this he and I to Mr. Hide's to look upon the ground again behind
our house, and concluded upon his going along with us to-morrow to see
some stables, he thinking that we demand more than is necessary. So away
home, and then, I, it being a broken day, and had power by my vows, did
walk abroad, first through the Minorys, the first time I have been over
the Hill to the postern-gate, and seen the place, since the houses were
pulled down about that side of the Tower, since the fire, to find where my
young mercer with my pretty little woman to his wife lives, who lived in
Lumbard streete, and I did espy them, but took no notice now of them, but
may do hereafter. Thence down to the Old Swan, and there saw Betty
Michell, whom I have not seen since her christening. But, Lord! how
pretty she is, and looks as well as ever I saw her, and her child (which I
am fain to seem very fond of) is pretty also, I think, and will be.
Thence by water to Westminster Hall, and there walked a while talking at
random with Sir W. Doyly, and so away to Mrs. Martin's lodging, who was
gone before, expecting me, and there je hazer what je vellem cum her and
drank, and so by coach home (but I have forgot that I did in the morning
go to the Swan, and there tumbling of la little fille, son uncle did
trouver her cum su neckcloth off, which I was ashamed of, but made no
great matter of it, but let it pass with a laugh), and there spent the
evening with my wife at our flagelets, and so to supper, and after a
little reading to bed. My wife still troubled with her cold. I find it
everywhere now to be a thing doubted whether we shall have peace or no,
and the captain of one of our ships that went with the Embassadors do say,
that the seamen of Holland to his hearing did defy us, and called us
English dogs, and cried out against peace, and that the great people there
do oppose peace, though he says the common people do wish it.

21st. Up and to the office, where sat all the morning. At noon dined at
home with my wife and find a new girle, a good big girle come to us, got
by Payne to be our girle; and his daughter Nell we make our cook. This
wench's name is Mary, and seems a good likely maid. After dinner I with
Mr. Commander and Mr. Hide's brother to Lincolne's Inne Fields, and there
viewed several coach-houses, and satisfied ourselves now fully in it, and
then there parted, leaving the rest to future discourse between us. Thence
I home; but, Lord! how it went against my heart to go away from the very
door of the Duke's play-house, and my Lady Castlemayne's coach, and many
great coaches there, to see "The Siege of Rhodes." I was very near making
a forfeit, but I did command myself, and so home to my office, and there
did much business to my good content, much better than going to a play,
and then home to my wife, who is not well with her cold, and sat and read
a piece of Grand Cyrus in English by her, and then to my chamber and to
supper, and so to bed. This morning the Captain come from Holland did
tell us at the board what I have said he reported yesterday. This evening
after I come from the office Mrs. Turner come to see my wife and me, and
sit and talk with us, and so, my wife not being well and going to bed,
Mrs. Turner and I sat up till 12 at night talking alone in my chamber, and
most of our discourse was of our neighbours. As to my Lord Bruncker, she
says how Mrs. Griffin, our housekeeper's wife, hath it from his maid, that
comes to her house often, that they are very poor; that the other day Mrs.
Williams was fain to send a jewell to pawn; that their maid hath said
herself that she hath got L50 since she come thither, and L17 by the
payment of one bill; that they have a most lewd and nasty family here in
the office, but Mrs. Turner do tell me that my Lord hath put the King to
infinite charge since his coming thither in alterations, and particularly
that Mr. Harper at Deptford did himself tell her that my Lord hath had of
Foly, the ironmonger, L50 worth in locks and keys for his house, and that
it is from the fineness of them, having some of L4 and L5 a lock, such as
is in the Duke's closet; that he hath several of these; that he do keep
many of her things from her of her own goods, and would have her bring a
bill into the office for them; that Mrs. Griffin do say that he do not
keep Mrs. Williams now for love, but need, he having another whore that he
keeps in Covent Garden; that they do owe money everywhere almost for every
thing, even Mrs. Shipman for her butter and cheese about L3, and after
many demands cannot get it. Mrs. Turner says she do believe their coming
here is only out of a belief of getting purchase by it, and that their
servants (which was wittily said of her touching his clerks) do act only
as privateers, no purchase, no pay. And in my conscience she is in the
right. Then we fell to talk of Sir W. Pen, and his family and rise. She
[Mrs. Turner] says that he was a pityfull [fellow] when she first knew
them; that his lady was one of the sourest, dirty women, that ever she
saw; that they took two chambers, one over another, for themselves and
child, in Tower Hill; that for many years together they eat more meals at
her house than at their own; did call brothers and sisters the husbands
and wives; that her husband was godfather to one, and she godmother to
another (this Margaret) of their children, by the same token that she was
fain to write with her own hand a letter to Captain Twiddy, to stand for a
godfather for her; that she brought my Lady, who then was a dirty
slattern, with her stockings hanging about her heels, so that afterwards
the people of the whole Hill did say that Mrs. Turner had made Mrs. Pen a
gentlewoman, first to the knowledge of my Lady Vane, Sir Henry's lady, and
him to the knowledge of most of the great people that then he sought to,
and that in short his rise hath been his giving of large bribes, wherein,
and she agrees with my opinion and knowledge before therein, he is very
profuse. This made him General; this got him out of the Tower when he was
in; and hath brought him into what he is now, since the King's coming in:
that long ago, indeed, he would drink the King's health privately with Mr.
Turner; but that when he saw it fit to turn Roundhead, and was offered by
Mr. Turner to drink the King's health, he answered "No;" he was changed,
and now, he that would make him drink the King's health, or any health but
the Protector's and the State's, or to that purpose, he would be the first
man should sheath his sword in his guts. That at the King's coming in, he
did send for her husband, and told him what a great man Sir W. Coventry
was like to be, and that he having all the records in his hands of the
Navy, if he would transcribe what was of most present use of the practice
of the Navy, and give them him to give Sir W. Coventry from him, it would
undoubtedly do his business of getting him a principal officer's place;
that her husband was at L5 charge to get these presently writ; that Sir W.
Pen did give them Sir W. Coventry as from himself, which did set him up
with W. Coventry, and made him what he is, and never owned any thing of
Mr. Turner in them; by which he left him in the lurch, though he did
promise the Duke of Albemarle to do all that was possible, and made no
question of Mr. Turner's being what he desired; and when afterwards, too,
did propose to him the getting of the Purveyor's place for him, he did
tell Mr. Turner it was necessary to present Sir W. Coventry 100 pieces,
which he did, and W. Coventry took 80 of them: so that he was W.
Coventry's mere broker, as Sir W. Batten and my Lady did once tell my Lady
Duchess of Albemarle, in the case of Mr. Falconer, whom W. Pen made to
give W. Coventry L200 for his place of Clerk of the Rope Yard of Woolwich,
and to settle L80 a year upon his daughter Pegg, after the death of his
wife, and a gold watch presently to his wife. Mrs. Turner do tell me that
my Lady and Pegg have themselves owned to her that Sir W. Coventry and Sir
W. Pen had private marks to write to one another by, that when they in
appearance writ a fair letter in behalf of anybody, that they had a little
mark to show they meant it only in shew: this, these silly people did
confess themselves of him. She says that their son, Mr. William Pen, did
tell her that his father did observe the commanders did make their
addresses to me and applications, but they should know that his father
should be the chief of the office, and that she hath observed that Sir W.
Pen never had a kindness to her son, since W. Pen told her son that he had
applied himself to me. That his rise hath been by her and her husband's
means, and that it is a most inconceivable thing how this man can have the
face to use her and her family with the neglect that he do them. That he
was in the late war a most devilish plunderer, and that got him his
estate, which he hath in Ireland, and nothing else, and that he hath
always been a very liberal man in his bribes, that upon his coming into
this part of the Controller's business wherein he is, he did send for T.
Willson and told him how against his knowledge he was put in, and had so
little wit as to say to him, "This will make the pot boyle, will it not,
Mr. Willson? will it not make the pot boyle?" and do offer him to come in
and do his business for him, and he would reward him. This Mr. Willson
did come and tell her presently, he having been their servant, and to this
day is very faithful to them. That her husband's not being forward to
make him a bill for Rere Admirall's pay and Generall's pay both at the
same time after he was first made Generall did first give him occasion of
keeping a distance from him, since which they have never been great
friends, Pen having by degrees been continually growing higher and higher,
till now that he do wholly slight them and use them only as servants.
Upon the whole, she told me stories enough to confirm me that he is the
most false fellow that ever was born of woman, and that so she thinks and
knows him to be.

22nd. Up, and by water to White Hall to Sir G. Carteret, who tells me now
for certain how the Commission for the Treasury is disposed of: viz., to
Duke of Albemarle, Lord Ashly, Sir W. Coventry, Sir John Duncomb, and Sir
Thomas Clifford: at which, he says, all the whole Court is disturbed; it
having been once concluded otherwise into the other hands formerly
mentioned in yesterday's notes, but all of a sudden the King's choice was
changed, and these are to be the men; the first of which is only for a
puppet to give honour to the rest. He do presage that these men will make
it their business to find faults in the management of the late Lord
Treasurer, and in discouraging the bankers: but I am, whatever I in
compliance do say to him, of another mind, and my heart is very glad of
it, for I do expect they will do much good, and that it is the happiest
thing that hath appeared to me for the good of the nation since the King
come in. Thence to St. James's, and up to the Duke of York; and there in
his chamber Sir W. Coventry did of himself take notice of this business of
the Treasury, wherein he is in the Commission, and desired that I would be
thinking of any thing fit for him to be acquainted with for the lessening
of charge and bettering of our credit, and what our expence bath been
since the King's coming home, which he believes will be one of the first
things they shall enquire into: which I promised him, and from time to
time, which he desires, will give him an account of what I can think of
worthy his knowledge. I am mighty glad of this opportunity of professing
my joy to him in what choice the King hath made, and the hopes I have that
it will save the kingdom from perishing and how it do encourage me to take
pains again, after my having through despair neglected it! which he told
me of himself that it was so with him, that he had given himself up to
more ease than ever he expected, and that his opinion of matters was so
bad, that there was no publick employment in the kingdom should have been
accepted by him but this which the King hath now given him; and therein he
is glad, in hopes of the service he may do therein; and in my conscience
he will. So into the Duke of York's closet; and there, among other
things, Sir W. Coventry did take notice of what he told me the other day,
about a report of Commissioner Pett's dealing for timber in the Navy, and
selling it to us in other names; and, besides his own proof, did produce a
paper I had given him this morning about it, in the case of Widow Murford
and Morecocke, which was so handled, that the Duke of York grew very
angry, and commanded us presently to fall into the examination of it,
saying that he would not trust a man for his sake that lifts up the whites
of his eyes. And it was declared that if he be found to have done so, he
should be reckoned unfit to serve the Navy; and I do believe he will be
turned out; and it was, methought, a worthy saying of Sir W. Coventry to
the Duke of York, "Sir," says he, "I do not make this complaint out of
any disrespect to Commissioner Pett, but because I do love to do these
things fairly and openly." Thence I to Westminster Hall with Sir G.
Carteret to the Chequer Chamber to hear our cause of the Lindeboome prize
there before the Lords of Appeal, where was Lord Ashly, Arlington,
Barkely, and Sir G. Carteret, but the latter three signified nothing, the
former only either minding or understanding what was said. Here was good
pleading of Sir Walter Walker's and worth hearing, but little done in our
business. Thence by coach to the Red Lyon, thinking to meet my father, but
I come too soon, but my wife is gone out of town to meet him. I am in
great pain, poor man, for him, lest he should come up in pain to town. So
I staid not, but to the 'Change, and there staid a little, where most of
the newes is that the Swedes are likely to fall out with the Dutch, which
we wish, but how true I know not. Here I met my uncle Wight, the second
day he hath been abroad, having been sick these two months even to death,
but having never sent to me even in the greatest of his danger. I do
think my Aunt had no mind I should come, and so I never went to see him,
but neither he took notice of it to me, nor I made any excuse for it to
him, but past two or three How do you's, and so parted and so home, and by
and by comes my poor father, much better than I expected, being at ease by
fits, according as his truss sits, and at another time in as much pain. I
am mighty glad to see him come well to town. So to dinner, where Creed
comes. After dinner my wife and father abroad, and Creed and I also by
water, and parted at the Temple stairs, where I landed, and to the King's
house, where I did give 18d., and saw the two last acts of "The Goblins,"
a play I could not make any thing of by these two acts, but here Knipp
spied me out of the tiring-room, and come to the pit door, and I out to
her, and kissed her, she only coming to see me, being in a country-dress,
she, and others having, it seemed, had a country-dance in the play, but
she no other part: so we parted, and I into the pit again till it was
done. The house full, but I had no mind to be seen, but thence to my
cutler's, and two or three other places on small, errands, and so home,
where my father and wife come home, and pretty well my father, who to
supper and betimes to bed at his country hours. I to Sir W. Batten's, and
there got some more part of my dividend of the prize-money. So home and
to set down in writing the state of the account, and then to supper, and
my wife to her flageolet, wherein she did make out a tune so prettily of
herself, that I was infinitely pleased beyond whatever I expected from
her, and so to bed. This day coming from Westminster with W. Batten, we
saw at White Hall stairs a fisher-boat, with a sturgeon that he had newly
catched in the River; which I saw, but it was but a little one; but big
enough to prevent my mistake of that for a colt, if ever I become Mayor of
Huntingdon!

[During a very high flood in the meadows between Huntingdon and
Godmanchester, something was seen floating, which the Godmanchester
people thought was a black pig, and the Huntingdon folk declared it
was a sturgeon; when rescued from the waters, it proved to be a
young donkey. This mistake led to the one party being styled
"Godmanchester black pigs," and the other "Huntingdon sturgeons,"
terms not altogether forgotten at this day. Pepys's colt must be
taken to be the colt of an ass.--B.]

23rd. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon home,
and with my father dined, and, poor man! he hath put off his
travelling-clothes to-day, and is mighty spruce, and I love to see him
cheerful. After dinner I to my chamber, and my wife and I to talk, and by
and by they tell Mrs. Daniel would speak with me, so I down to the parlour
to her, and sat down together and talked about getting her husband a place
. . . . I do promise, and mean to do what kindness I can to her
husband. After having been there hasti je was ashamed de peur that my
people pensait . . . . de it, or lest they might espy us through some
trees, we parted and I to the office, and presently back home again, and
there was asked by my wife, I know not whether simply or with design, how
I come to look as I did, car ego was in much chaleur et de body and of
animi, which I put off with the heat of the season, and so to other
business, but I had some fear hung upon me lest alcuno had sidi decouvert.
So to the office, and then to Sir R. Viner's about some part of my
accounts now going on with him, and then home and ended my letters, and
then to supper and my chamber to settle many things there, and then to
bed. This noon I was on the 'Change, where I to my astonishment hear, and
it is in the Gazette, that Sir John Duncomb is sworn yesterday a
Privy-councillor. This day I hear also that last night the Duke of
Kendall, second son of the Duke of York, did die; and that the other, Duke
of Cambridge, continues very ill still. This afternoon I had opportunity
para jouer with Mrs. Pen, tokendo her mammailles and baisando elle, being
sola in the casa of her pater, and she fort willing.

24th. Up, and to the office, where, by and by, by appointment, we met
upon Sir W. Warren's accounts, wherein I do appear in every thing as much
as I can his enemy, though not so far but upon good conditions from him I
may return to be his friend, but I do think it necessary to do what I do
at present. We broke off at noon without doing much, and then home, where
my wife not well, but yet engaged by invitation to go with Sir W. Pen. I
got her to go with him by coach to Islington to the old house, where his
lady and Madam Lowther, with her exceeding fine coach and mean horses, and
her mother-in-law, did meet us, and two of Mr. Lowther's brothers, and
here dined upon nothing but pigeon-pyes, which was such a thing for him to
invite all the company to, that I was ashamed of it. But after dinner was
all our sport, when there come in a juggler, who, indeed, did shew us so
good tricks as I have never seen in my life, I think, of legerdemaine, and
such as my wife hath since seriously said that she would not believe but
that he did them by the help of the devil. Here, after a bad dinner, and
but ordinary company, saving that I discern good parts in one of the sons,
who, methought, did take me up very prettily in one or two things that I
said, and I was so sensible of it as to be a caution to me hereafter how I
do venture to speak more than is necessary in any company, though, as I
did now, I do think them incapable to censure me. We broke up, they back
to Walthamstow, and only my wife and I and Sir W. Pen to the King's
playhouse, and there saw "The Mayden Queene," which, though I have often
seen, yet pleases me infinitely, it being impossible, I think, ever to
have the Queen's part, which is very good and passionate, and Florimel's
part, which is the most comicall that ever was made for woman, ever done
better than they two are by young Marshall and Nelly. Home, where I spent
the evening with my father and wife, and late at night some flagillette
with my wife, and then to supper and to bed.

25th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined at
home, and there come Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, and dined with me, telling
me that the Duke of Cambridge continues very ill, so as they do despair of
his living. So to the office again, where all the afternoon. About 4
o'clock comes Mrs. Pierce to see my wife, and I into them, and there find
Pierce very fine, and in her own hair, which do become her, and so says my
wife, ten times better than lighter hair, her complexion being mighty
good. With them talked a little, and was invited by her to come with my
wife on Wednesday next in the evening, to be merry there, which we shall
do. Then to the office again, where dispatched a great deal of business
till late at night, to my great content, and then home and with my wife to
our flageolets a little, and so to supper and to bed, after having my
chamber a little wiped up.

26th (Lord's day). Up sooner than usual on Sundays, and to walk, it being
exceeding hot all night (so as this night I begun to leave off my
waistcoat this year) and this morning, and so to walk in the garden till
toward church time, when my wife and I to church, where several strangers
of good condition come to our pew, where the pew was full. At noon dined
at home, where little Michell come and his wife, who continues mighty
pretty. After dinner I by water alone to Westminster, where, not finding
Mrs. Martin within, did go towards the parish church, and in the way did
overtake her, who resolved to go into the church with her that she was
going with (Mrs. Hargrave, the little crooked woman, the vintner's wife of
the Dog) and then go out again, and so I to the church, and seeing her
return did go out again myself, but met with Mr. Howlett, who, offering me
a pew in the gallery, I had no excuse but up with him I must go, and then
much against my will staid out the whole church in pain while she expected
me at home, but I did entertain myself with my perspective glass up and
down the church, by which I had the great pleasure of seeing and gazing at
a great many very fine women; and what with that, and sleeping, I passed
away the time till sermon was done, and then to Mrs. Martin, and there
staid with her an hour or two, and there did what I would with her, and
after been here so long I away to my boat, and up with it as far as Barne
Elmes, reading of Mr. Evelyn's late new book against Solitude, in which I
do not find much excess of good matter, though it be pretty for a bye
discourse. I walked the length of the Elmes, and with great pleasure saw
some gallant ladies and people come with their bottles, and basket, and
chairs, and form, to sup under the trees, by the waterside, which was
mighty pleasant. I to boat again and to my book, and having done that I
took another book, Mr. Boyle's of Colours, and there read, where I
laughed, finding many fine things worthy observation, and so landed at the
Old Swan, and so home, where I find my poor father newly come out of an
unexpected fit of his pain, that they feared he would have died. They had
sent for me to White Hall and all up and down, and for Mr. Holliard also,
who did come, but W. Hewer being here did I think do the business in
getting my father's bowel, that was fallen down, into his body again, and
that which made me more sensible of it was that he this morning did show
me the place where his bowel did use to fall down and swell, which did
trouble me to see. But above all things the poor man's patience under it,
and his good heart and humour, as soon as he was out of it, did so work
upon me, that my heart was sad to think upon his condition, but do hope
that a way will be found by a steel truss to relieve him. By and by to
supper, all our discourse about Brampton, and my intentions to build there
if I could be free of my engagement to my Uncle Thomas and his son, that
they may not have what I have built, against my will, to them whether I
will or no, in case of me and my brothers being without heirs male; which
is the true reason why I am against laying out money upon that place,
together with my fear of some inconvenience by being so near
Hinchingbroke; being obliged to be a servant to that family, and subject
to what expence they shall cost me; and to have all that I shall buy, or
do, esteemed as got by the death of my uncle, when indeed what I have from
him is not worth naming. After supper to read and then to bed.