Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1667 N.S. Complete

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26th. Up, and at the office. Sat all the morning, where among other
things I did the first unkind [thing] that ever I did design to Sir W.
Warren, but I did it now to some purpose, to make him sensible how little
any man's friendship shall avail him if he wants money. I perceive he do
nowadays court much my Lord Bruncker's favour, who never did any man much
courtesy at the board, nor ever will be able, at least so much as myself.
Besides, my Lord would do him a kindness in concurrence with me, but he
would have the danger of the thing to be done lie upon me, if there be any
danger in it (in drawing up a letter to Sir W. Warren's advantage), which
I do not like, nor will endure. I was, I confess, very angry, and will
venture the loss of Sir W. Warren's kindnesses rather than he shall have
any man's friendship in greater esteem than mine. At noon home to dinner,
and after dinner to the office again, and there all the afternoon, and at
night poor Mrs. Turner come and walked in the garden for my advice about
her husband and her relating to my Lord Bruncker's late proceedings with
them. I do give her the best I can, but yet can lay aside some ends of my
own in what advice I do give her. So she being gone I to make an end of
my letters, and so home to supper and to bed, Balty lodging here with my
brother, he being newly returned from mustering in the river.

27th (Lord's day). Up betimes, and leaving my wife to go by coach to hear
Mr. Frampton preach, which I had a mighty desire she should, I down to the
Old Swan, and there to Michell and staid while he and she dressed
themselves, and here had a 'baiser' or two of her, whom I love mightily;
and then took them in a sculler (being by some means or other disappointed
of my own boat) to White Hall, and so with them to Westminster, Sir W.
Coventry, Bruncker and I all the morning together discoursing of the
office business, and glad of the Controller's business being likely to be
put into better order than formerly, and did discourse of many good
things, but especially of having something done to bringing the Surveyor's
matters into order also. Thence I up to the King's closet, and there
heard a good Anthem, and discoursed with several people here about
business, among others with Lord Bellasses, and so from one to another
after sermon till the King had almost dined, and then home with Sir G.
Carteret and dined with him, being mightily ashamed of my not having seen
my Lady Jemimah so long, and my wife not at all yet since she come, but
she shall soon do it. I thence to Sir Philip Warwicke, by appointment, to
meet Lord Bellasses, and up to his chamber, but find him unwilling to
discourse of business on Sundays; so did not enlarge, but took leave, and
went down and sat in a low room, reading Erasmus "de scribendis
epistolis," a very good book, especially one letter of advice to a
courtier most true and good, which made me once resolve to tear out the
two leaves that it was writ in, but I forebore it. By and by comes Lord
Bellasses, and then he and I up again to Sir P. Warwicke and had much
discourse of our Tangier business, but no hopes of getting any money.
Thence I through the garden into the Park, and there met with Roger Pepys,
and he and I to walk in the Pell Mell. I find by him that the House of
Parliament continues full of ill humours, and he seems to dislike those
that are troublesome more than needs, and do say how, in their late Poll
Bill, which cost so much time, the yeomanry, and indeed two-thirds of the
nation, are left out to be taxed, that there is not effectual provision
enough made for collecting of the money; and then, that after a man his
goods are distrained and sold, and the overplus returned, I am to have ten
days to make my complaints of being over-rated if there be cause, when my
goods are sold, and that is too late. These things they are resolved to
look into again, and mend them before they rise, which they expect at
furthest on Thursday next. Here we met with Mr. May, and he and we to
talk of several things, of building, and such like matters; and so walked
to White Hall, and there I skewed my cozen Roger the Duchesse of York
sitting in state, while her own mother stands by her; he had a desire, and
I shewed him my Lady Castlemayne, whom he approves to be very handsome,
and wonders that she cannot be as good within as she is fair without. Her
little black boy came by him; and, a dog being in his way, the little boy
called to the dog: "Pox of this dog!"--"Now," says he, blessing himself,
"would I whip this child till the blood come, if it were my child!" and I
believe he would. But he do by no means like the liberty of the Court,
and did come with expectation of finding them playing at cards to-night,
though Sunday; for such stories he is told, but how true I know not.

[There is little reason to doubt that it was such as Evelyn
describes it at a later time. "I can never forget the inexpressible
luxury and prophaneness, gaming, and all dissoluteness, and, as it
were, total forgetfulness of God (it being Sunday evening) which
this day se'nnight I was witness of; the King sitting and toying
with his concubines, Portsmouth, Cleveland, Mazarin, &c. A French
boy singing love songs in that glorious gallery, whilst about twenty
of the great courtiers and other dissolute persons were at basset
round a large table, a bank of at least L2,000 in gold before them;
upon which two gentlemen who were with me made reflexions with
astonishment. Six days after was all in the dust."--Diary,
February, 1685.--B.]

After walking up and down the Court with him, it being now dark and past
six at night, I walked to the Swan in the Palace yard and there with much
ado did get a waterman, and so I sent for the Michells, and they come, and
their father Howlett and his wife with them, and there we drank, and so
into the boat, poor Betty's head aching. We home by water, a fine
moonshine and warm night, it having been also a very summer's day for
warmth. I did get her hand to me under my cloak . . . . So there we
parted at their house, and he walked almost home with me, and then I home
and to supper, and to read a little and to bed. My wife tells me Mr.
Frampton is gone to sea, and so she lost her labour to-day in thinking to
hear him preach, which I am sorry for.

28th. Up, and down to the Old Swan, and there drank at Michell's and saw
Betty, and so took boat and to the Temple, and thence to my tailor's and
other places about business in my way to Westminster, where I spent the
morning at the Lords' House door, to hear the conference between the two
Houses about my Lord Mordaunt, of which there was great expectation, many
hundreds of people coming to hear it. But, when they come, the Lords did
insist upon my Lord Mordaunt's having leave to sit upon a stool uncovered
within their burr, and that he should have counsel, which the Commons
would not suffer, but desired leave to report their Lordships' resolution
to the House of Commons; and so parted for this day, which troubled me, I
having by this means lost the whole day. Here I hear from Mr. Hayes that
Prince Rupert is very bad still, and so bad, that he do now yield to be
trepanned. It seems, as Dr. Clerke also tells me, it is a clap of the pox
which he got about twelve years ago, and hath eaten to his head and come
through his scull, so his scull must be opened, and there is great fear of
him. Much work I find there is to do in the two Houses in a little time,
and much difference there is between the two Houses in many things to be
reconciled; as in the Bill for examining our accounts; Lord Mordaunt's
Bill for building the City, and several others. A little before noon I
went to the Swan and eat a bit of meat, thinking I should have had
occasion to have stayed long at the house, but I did not, but so home by
coach, calling at Broad Street and taking the goldsmith home with me, and
paid him L15 15s. for my silver standish. He tells me gold holds up its
price still, and did desire me to let him have what old 20s. pieces I
have, and he would give me 3s. 2d. change for each. He gone, I to the
office, where business all the afternoon, and at night comes Mr. Gawden at
my desire to me, and to-morrow I shall pay him some money, and shall see
what present he will make me, the hopes of which do make me to part with
my money out of my chest, which I should not otherwise do, but lest this
alteration in the Controller's office should occasion my losing my
concernment in the Victualling, and so he have no more need of me. He
gone, I to the office again, having come thence home with him to talk, and
so after a little more business I to supper. I then sent for Mercer, and
began to teach her "It is decreed," which will please me well, and so
after supper and reading a little, and my wife's cutting off my hair
short, which is grown too long upon my crown of my head, I to bed. I met
this day in Westminster Hall Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen, and the
latter since our falling out the other day do look mighty reservedly upon
me, and still he shall do so for me, for I will be hanged before I seek to
him, unless I see I need it.

29th. Up to the office all the morning, where Sir W. Pen and I look much
askewe one upon another, though afterward business made us speak friendly
enough, but yet we hate one another. At noon home to dinner, and then to
the office, where all the afternoon expecting Mr. Gawden to come for some
money I am to pay him, but he comes not, which makes me think he is
considering whether it be necessary to make the present he hath promised,
it being possible this alteration in the Controller's duty may make my
place in the Victualling unnecessary, so that I am a little troubled at
it. Busy till late at night at the office, and Sir W. Batten come to me,
and tells me that there is newes upon the Exchange to-day, that my Lord
Sandwich's coach and the French Embassador's at Madrid, meeting and
contending for the way, they shot my Lord's postilion and another man
dead; and that we have killed 25 of theirs, and that my Lord is well. How
true this is I cannot tell, there being no newes of it at all at Court, as
I am told late by one come thence, so that I hope it is not so. By and by
comes Mrs. Turner to me, to make her complaint of her sad usage she
receives from my Lord Bruncker, that he thinks much she hath not already
got another house, though he himself hath employed her night and day ever
since his first mention of the matter, to make part of her house ready for
him, as he ordered, and promised she should stay till she had fitted
herself; by which and what discourse I do remember he had of the business
before Sir W. Coventry on Sunday last I perceive he is a rotten-hearted,
false man as any else I know, even as Sir W. Pen himself, and, therefore,
I must beware of him accordingly, and I hope I shall. I did pity the
woman with all my heart, and gave her the best council I could; and so,
falling to other discourse, I made her laugh and merry, as sad as she came
to me; so that I perceive no passion in a woman can be lasting long; and
so parted and I home, and there teaching my girle Barker part of my song
"It is decreed," which she will sing prettily, and so after supper to bed.

30th. Fast-day for the King's death. I all the morning at my chamber
making up my month's accounts, which I did before dinner to my thorough
content, and find myself but a small gainer this month, having no manner
of profits, but just my salary, but, blessed be God! that I am able to
save out of that, living as I do. So to dinner, then to my chamber all
the afternoon, and in the evening my wife and I and Mercer and Barker to
little Michell's, walked, with some neats' tongues and cake and wine, and
there sat with the little couple with great pleasure, and talked and eat
and drank, and saw their little house, which is very pretty; and I much
pleased therewith, and so walked home, about eight at night, it being a
little moonshine and fair weather, and so into the garden, and, with
Mercer, sang till my wife put me in mind of its being a fast day; and so I
was sorry for it, and stopped, and home to cards awhile, and had
opportunity 'para baiser' Mercer several times, and so to bed.

31st. Up, and to the office, where we met and sat all the morning. At
noon home to dinner, and by and by Mr. Osborne comes from Mr. Gawden, and
takes money and notes for L4000, and leaves me acknowledgment for L4000
and odd; implying as if D. Gawden would give the L800 between Povy and
myself, but how he will divide it I know-not, till I speak with him, so
that my content is not yet full in the business. In the evening stept out
to Sir Robert Viner's to get the money ready upon my notes to D. Gawden,
and there hear that Mr. Temple is very ill. I met on the 'Change with
Captain Cocke, who tells me that he hears new certainty of the business of
Madrid, how our Embassador and the French met, and says that two or three
of my Lord's men, and twenty one of the French men are killed, but nothing
at Court of it. He fears the next year's service through the badness of
our counsels at White Hall, but that if they were wise, and the King would
mind his business, he might do what he would yet. The Parliament is not
yet up, being finishing some bills. So home and to the office, and late
home to supper, and to talk with my wife, with pleasure, and to bed. I
met this evening at Sir R. Viner's our Mr. Turner, who I find in a
melancholy condition about his being removed out of his house, but I find
him so silly and so false that I dare not tell how to trust any advice to
him, and therefore did speak only generally to him, but I doubt his
condition is very miserable, and do pity his family. Thus the month ends:
myself in very good health and content of mind in my family. All our
heads full in the office at this dividing of the Comptroller's duty, so
that I am in some doubt how it may prove to intrench upon my benefits, but
it cannot be much. The Parliament, upon breaking up, having given the
King money with much ado, and great heats, and neither side pleased,
neither King nor them. The imperfection of the Poll Bill, which must be
mended before they rise, there being several horrible oversights to the
prejudice of the King, is a certain sign of the care anybody hath of the
King's business. Prince Rupert very ill, and to be trepanned on Saturday
next. Nobody knows who commands the fleete next year, or, indeed, whether
we shall have a fleete or no. Great preparations in Holland and France,
and the French have lately taken Antego

[Antigua, one of the West India Islands (Leeward Islands),
discovered by Columbus in 1493, who is said to have named it after a
church at Seville called Santa Maria la Antigua. It was first
settled by a few English families in 1632, and in 1663 another
settlement was made under Lord Willoughby, to whom the entire island
was granted by Charles II. In 1666 it was invaded by a French
force, which laid waste all the settlement. It was reconquered by
the English, and formally restored to them by the treaty of Breda.]

from us, which vexes us. I am in a little care through my at last putting
a great deal of money out of my hands again into the King's upon tallies
for Tangier, but the interest which I wholly lost while in my trunk is a
temptation while things look safe, as they do in some measure for six
months, I think, and I would venture but little longer.

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Baker's house in Pudding Lane, where the late great fire begun
Bill against importing Cattle from Ireland
But my wife vexed, which vexed me
Clap of the pox which he got about twelve years ago
Come to us out of bed in his furred mittens and furred cap
Court full of great apprehensions of the French
Declared he will never have another public mistress again
Desk fastened to one of the armes of his chayre
Do outdo the Lords infinitely (debates in the Commons)
Enough existed to build a ship (Pieces of the true Cross)
Enviously, said, I could not come honestly by them
Erasmus "de scribendis epistolis"
For I will be hanged before I seek to him, unless I see I need
Gold holds up its price still
Have not any awe over them from the King's displeasure (Commons)
He will do no good, he being a man of an unsettled head
I did get her hand to me under my cloak
I perceive no passion in a woman can be lasting long
Mazer or drinking-bowl turned out of some kind of wood
Mirrors which makes the room seem both bigger and lighter
Outdo for neatness and plenty anything done by any of them
Poll Bill
Saying, that for money he might be got to our side
Sermon without affectation or study
Some ends of my own in what advice I do give her
The pleasure of my not committing these things to my memory
Very great tax; but yet I do think it is so perplexed
Where a piece of the Cross is
Whip this child till the blood come, if it were my child!
Whom, in mirth to us, he calls Antichrist
Wonders that she cannot be as good within as she is fair without
Yet let him remember the days of darkness

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.
FEBRUARY
1666-1667

February 1st. Up, and to the office, where I was all the morning doing
business, at noon home to dinner, and after dinner down by water, though
it was a thick misty and rainy day, and walked to Deptford from Redriffe,
and there to Bagwell's by appointment, where the 'mulier etoit within
expecting me venir . . . . By and by 'su marido' come in, and there
without any notice taken by him we discoursed of our business of getting
him the new ship building by Mr. Deane, which I shall do for him. Thence
by and by after a little talk I to the yard, and spoke with some of the
officers, but staid but little, and the new clerk of the 'Chequer, Fownes,
did walk to Redriffe back with me. I perceive he is a very child, and is
led by the nose by Cowly and his kinsman that was his clerk, but I did
make him understand his duty, and put both understanding and spirit into
him, so that I hope he will do well. [Much surprised to hear this day at
Deptford that Mrs. Batters is going already to be married to him, that is
now the Captain of her husband's ship. She seemed the most passionate
mourner in the world. But I believe it cannot be true.]--(The passage
between brackets is written in the margin of the MS.)--Thence by water to
Billingsgate; thence to the Old Swan, and there took boat, it being now
night, to Westminster Hall, there to the Hall, and find Doll Lane, and
'con elle' I went to the Bell Taverne, and 'ibi je' did do what I would
'con elle' as well as I could, she 'sedendo sobre' thus far and making
some little resistance. But all with much content, and 'je tenai' much
pleasure 'cum ista'. There parted, and I by coach home, and to the
office, where pretty late doing business, and then home, and merry with my
wife, and to supper. My brother and I did play with the base, and I upon
my viallin, which I have not seen out of the case now I think these three
years, or more, having lost the key, and now forced to find an expedient
to open it. Then to bed.

2nd. Up, and to the office. This day I hear that Prince Rupert is to be
trepanned. God give good issue to it. Sir W. Pen looks upon me, and I on
him, and speak about business together at the table well enough, but no
friendship or intimacy since our late difference about his closet, nor do
I desire to have any. At noon dined well, and my brother and I to write
over once more with my own hand my catalogue of books, while he reads to
me. After something of that done, and dined, I to the office, where all
the afternoon till night busy. At night, having done all my office
matters, I home, and my brother and I to go on with my catalogue, and so
to supper. Mrs. Turner come to me this night again to condole her
condition and the ill usage she receives from my Lord Bruncker, which I
could never have expected from him, and shall be a good caution to me
while I live. She gone, I to supper, and then to read a little, and to
bed. This night comes home my new silver snuffe-dish, which I do give
myself for my closet, which is all I purpose to bestow in plate of myself,
or shall need, many a day, if I can keep what I have. So to bed. I am
very well pleased this night with reading a poem I brought home with me
last night from Westminster Hall, of Dryden's' upon the present war; a
very good poem.

3rd (Lord's day). Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen to White
Hall, and there to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and there staid till he was
ready, talking, and among other things of the Prince's being trepanned,
which was in doing just as we passed through the Stone Gallery, we asking
at the door of his lodgings, and were told so. We are all full of wishes
for the good success; though I dare say but few do really concern
ourselves for him in our hearts. Up to the Duke of York, and with him did
our business we come about, and among other things resolve upon a meeting
at the office to-morrow morning, Sir W. Coventry to be there to determine
of all things necessary for the setting of Sir W. Pen to work in his
Victualling business. This did awake in me some thoughts of what might in
discourse fall out touching my imployment, and did give me some
apprehension of trouble. Having done here, and after our laying our
necessities for money open to the Duke of York, but nothing obtained
concerning it, we parted, and I with others into the House, and there hear
that the work is done to the Prince in a few minutes without any pain at
all to him, he not knowing when it was done. It was performed by Moulins.
Having cut the outward table, as they call it, they find the inner all
corrupted, so as it come out without any force; and their fear is, that
the whole inside of his head is corrupted like that, which do yet make
them afeard of him; but no ill accident appeared in the doing of the
thing, but all with all imaginable success, as Sir Alexander Frazier did
tell me himself, I asking him, who is very kind to me. I to the Chapel a
little, but hearing nothing did take a turn into the Park, and then back
to Chapel and heard a very good Anthem to my heart's delight, and then to
Sir G. Carteret's to dinner, and before dinner did walk with him alone a
good while, and from him hear our case likely for all these acts to be bad
for money, which troubles me, the year speeding so fast, and he tells me
that he believes the Duke of York will go to sea with the fleete, which I
am sorry for in respect to his person, but yet there is no person in
condition to command the fleete, now the Captains are grown so great, but
him, it being impossible for anybody else but him to command any order or
discipline among them. He tells me there is nothing at all in the late
discourse about my Lord Sandwich and the French Embassador meeting and
contending for the way, which I wonder at, to see the confidence of report
without any ground. By and by to dinner, where very good company. Among
other discourse, we talked much of Nostradamus

[Michael Nostradamus, a physician and astrologer, born in the
diocese of Avignon, 1503. Amongst other predictions, one was
interpreted as foreshowing the singular death of Hen. II. of France,
by which his reputation was increased.]

his prophecy of these times, and the burning of the City of London, some
of whose verses are put into Booker's' Almanack this year; and Sir G.
Carteret did tell a story, how at his death he did make the town swear
that he should never be dug up, or his tomb opened, after he was buried;
but they did after sixty years do it, and upon his breast they found a
plate of brasse, saying what a wicked and unfaithful people the people of
that place were, who after so many vows should disturb and open him such a
day and year and hour; which, if true, is very strange. Then we fell to
talking of the burning of the City; and my Lady Carteret herself did tell
us how abundance of pieces of burnt papers were cast by the wind as far as
Cranborne; and among others she took up one, or had one brought her to
see, which was a little bit of paper that had been printed, whereon there
remained no more nor less than these words: "Time is, it is done." After
dinner I went and took a turn into the Park, and then took boat and away
home, and there to my chamber and to read, but did receive some letters
from Sir W. Coventry, touching the want of victuals to Kempthorne's'
fleete going to the Streights and now in the Downes: which did trouble me,
he saying that this disappointment might prove fatal; and the more,
because Sir W. Coventry do intend to come to the office upon business
to-morrow morning, and I shall not know what answer to give him. This did
mightily trouble my mind; however, I fell to read a little in Hakewill's
Apology, and did satisfy myself mighty fair in the truth of the saying
that the world do not grow old at all, but is in as good condition in all
respects as ever it was as to nature. I continued reading this book with
great pleasure till supper, and then to bed sooner than ordinary, for
rising betimes in the morning to-morrow. So after reading my usual vows
to bed, my mind full of trouble against to-morrow, and did not sleep any
good time of the night for thoughts of to-morrow morning's trouble.