Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1667 N.S. Complete

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13th. Up, and by water to White Hall, where to the Duke of York, and
there did our usual business; but troubled to see that, at this time,
after our declaring a debt to the Parliament of L900,000, and nothing paid
since, but the debt increased, and now the fleete to set out; to hear that
the King hath ordered but L35,000 for the setting out of the fleete, out
of the Poll Bill, to buy all provisions, when five times as much had been
little enough to have done any thing to purpose. They have, indeed,
ordered more for paying off of seamen and the Yards to some time, but not
enough for that neither. Another thing is, the acquainting the Duke of
York with the case of Mr. Lanyon, our agent at Plymouth, who has trusted
us to L8000 out of purse; we are not in condition, after so many promises,
to obtain him a farthing, nor though a message was carried by Sir G.
Carteret and Sir W. Coventry to the Commissioners for Prizes, that he
might have L3000 out of L20,000 worth of prizes to be shortly sold there,
that he might buy at the candle and pay for the goods out of bills, and
all would [not] do any thing, but that money must go all another way,
while the King's service is undone, and those that trust him perish.
These things grieve me to the heart. The Prince, I hear, is every day
better and better. So away by water home, stopping at Michell's, where
Mrs. Martin was, and I there drank with them and whispered with Betty, who
tells me all is well, but was prevented in something she would have said,
her 'marido venant' just then, a news which did trouble me, and so drank
and parted and home, and there took up my wife by coach, and to Mrs.
Pierce's, there to take her up, and with them to Dr. Clerke's, by
invitation, where we have not been a great while, nor had any mind to go
now, but that the Dr., whom I love, would have us choose a day. Here was
his wife, painted, and her sister Worshipp, a widow now and mighty pretty
in her mourning. Here was also Mr. Pierce and Mr. Floyd, Secretary to the
Lords Commissioners of Prizes, and Captain Cooke, to dinner, an ill and
little mean one, with foul cloth and dishes, and everything poor.
Discoursed most about plays and the Opera, where, among other vanities,
Captain Cooke had the arrogance to say that he was fain to direct Sir W.
Davenant in the breaking of his verses into such and such lengths,
according as would be fit for musick, and how he used to swear at
Davenant, and command him that way, when W. Davenant would be angry, and
find fault with this or that note--but a vain coxcomb I perceive he is,
though he sings and composes so well. But what I wondered at, Dr. Clerke
did say that Sir W. Davenant is no good judge of a dramatick poem, finding
fault with his choice of Henry the 5th, and others, for the stage, when I
do think, and he confesses, "The Siege of Rhodes" as good as ever was
writ. After dinner Captain Cooke and two of his boys to sing, but it was
indeed both in performance and composition most plainly below what I heard
last night, which I could not have believed. Besides overlooking the
words which he sung, I find them not at all humoured as they ought to be,
and as I believed he had done all he had sett. Though he himself do
indeed sing in a manner as to voice and manner the best I ever heard yet,
and a strange mastery he hath in making of extraordinary surprising
closes, that are mighty pretty, but his bragging that he do understand
tones and sounds as well as any man in the world, and better than Sir W.
Davenant or any body else, I do not like by no means, but was sick of it
and of him for it. He gone, Dr. Clerke fell to reading a new play, newly
writ, of a friend's of his; but, by his discourse and confession
afterwards, it was his own. Some things, but very few, moderately good;
but infinitely far from the conceit, wit, design, and language of very
many plays that I know; so that, but for compliment, I was quite tired
with hearing it. It being done, and commending the play, but against my
judgment, only the prologue magnifying the happiness of our former poets
when such sorry things did please the world as was then acted, was very
good. So set Mrs. Pierce at home, and away ourselves home, and there to
my office, and then my chamber till my eyes were sore at writing and
making ready my letter and accounts for the Commissioners of Tangier
to-morrow, which being done, to bed, hearing that there was a very great
disorder this day at the Ticket Office, to the beating and bruising of the
face of Carcasse very much. A foul evening this was to-night, and I
mightily troubled to get a coach home; and, which is now my common
practice, going over the ruins in the night, I rid with my sword drawn in
the coach.

14th. Up and to the office, where Carcasse comes with his plaistered
face, and called himself Sir W. Batten's martyr, which made W. Batten mad
almost, and mighty quarrelling there was. We spent the morning almost
wholly upon considering some way of keeping the peace at the Ticket
Office; but it is plain that the care of that office is nobody's work, and
that is it that makes it stand in the ill condition it do. At noon home
to dinner, and after dinner by coach to my Lord Chancellor's, and there a
meeting: the Duke of York, Duke of Albemarle, and several other Lords of
the Commission of Tangier. And there I did present a state of my
accounts, and managed them well; and my Lord Chancellor did say, though he
was, in other things, in an ill humour, that no man in England was of more
method, nor made himself better understood than myself. But going, after
the business of money was over, to other businesses, of settling the
garrison, he did fling out, and so did the Duke of York, two or three
severe words touching my Lord Bellasses: that he would have no Governor
come away from thence in less than three years; no, though his lady were
with child. "And," says the Duke of York, "there should be no Governor
continue so, longer than three years." "Nor," says Lord Arlington, "when
our rules are once set, and upon good judgment declared, no Governor
should offer to alter them."--"We must correct the many things that are
amiss there; for," says the Lord Chancellor, "you must think we do hear of
more things amisse than we are willing to speak before our friends'
faces." My Lord Bellasses would not take notice of their reflecting on
him, and did wisely, but there were also many reflections on him. Thence
away by coach to Sir H. Cholmly and Fitzgerald and Creed, setting down the
two latter at the New Exchange. And Sir H. Cholmly and I to the Temple,
and there walked in the dark in the walks talking of newes; and he
surprises me with the certain newes that the King did last night in
Council declare his being in treaty with the Dutch: that they had sent him
a very civil letter, declaring that, if nobody but themselves were
concerned, they would not dispute the place of treaty, but leave it to his
choice; but that, being obliged to satisfy therein a Prince of equal
quality with himself, they must except any place in England or Spayne.
And so the King hath chosen the Hague, and thither hath chose my Lord
Hollis and Harry Coventry to go Embassadors to treat; which is so mean a
thing, as all the world will believe, that we do go to beg a peace of
them, whatever we pretend. And it seems all our Court are mightily for a
peace, taking this to be the time to make one, while the King hath money,
that he may save something of what the Parliament hath given him to put
him out of debt, so as he may need the help of no more Parliaments, as to
the point of money: but our debt is so great, and expence daily so
encreased, that I believe little of the money will be saved between this
and the making of the peace up. But that which troubles me most is, that
we have chosen a son of Secretary Morris, a boy never used to any
business, to go Embassador [Secretary] to the Embassy, which shows how,
little we are sensible of the weight of the business upon us. God
therefore give a good end to it, for I doubt it, and yet do much more
doubt the issue of our continuing the war, for we are in no wise fit for
it, and yet it troubles me to think what Sir H. Cholmly says, that he
believes they will not give us any reparation for what we have suffered by
the war, nor put us into any better condition than what we were in before
the war, for that will be shamefull for us. Thence parted with him and
home through the dark over the ruins by coach, with my sword drawn, to the
office, where dispatched some business; and so home to my chamber and to
supper and to bed. This morning come up to my wife's bedside, I being up
dressing myself, little Will Mercer to be her Valentine; and brought her
name writ upon blue paper in gold letters, done by himself, very pretty;
and we were both well pleased with it. But I am also this year my wife's
Valentine, and it will cost me L5; but that I must have laid out if we had
not been Valentines. So to bed.

15th. Up and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes by coach to White
Hall, where we attended upon the Duke of York to complain of the disorders
the other day among the seamen at the Pay at the Ticket Office, and that
it arises from lack of money, and that we desire, unless better provided
for with money, to have nothing more to do with the payment of tickets, it
being not our duty; and the Duke of York and [Sir] W. Coventry did agree
to it, so that I hope we shall be rid of that trouble. This done, I moved
for allowance for a house for Mr. Turner, and got it granted. Then away
to Westminster Hall, and there to the Exchequer about my tallies, and so
back to White Hall, and so with Lord Bellasses to the Excise Office, where
met by Sir H. Cholmly to consider about our business of money there, and
that done, home and to dinner, where I hear Pegg Pen is married this day
privately; no friends, but two or three relations on his side and hers.
Borrowed many things of my kitchen for dressing their dinner. So after
dinner to the office, and there busy and did much business, and late at
it. Mrs. Turner come to me to hear how matters went; I told her of our
getting rent for a house for her. She did give me account of this wedding
to-day, its being private being imputed to its being just before Lent, and
so in vain to make new clothes till Easter, that they might see the
fashions as they are like to be this summer; which is reason good enough.
Mrs. Turner tells me she hears [Sir W. Pen] gives L4500 or 4000 with her.
They are gone to bed, so I wish them much sport, and home to supper and to
bed. They own the treaty for a peace publickly at Court, and the
Commissioners providing themselves to go over as soon as a passe comes for
them.

16th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. Among other things
great heat we were all in on one side or other in the examining witnesses
against Mr. Carcasse about his buying of tickets, and a cunning knave I do
believe he is, and will appear, though I have thought otherwise
heretofore. At noon home to dinner, and there find Mr. Andrews, and
Pierce and Hollyard, and they dined with us and merry, but we did rise
soon for saving of my wife's seeing a new play this afternoon, and so away
by coach, and left her at Mrs. Pierces, myself to the Excise Office about
business, and thence to the Temple to walk a little only, and then to
Westminster to pass away time till anon, and here I went to Mrs. Martin's
to thank her for her oysters . . . . Thence away to my Lord
Bruncker's, and there was Sir Robert Murray, whom I never understood so
well as now by this opportunity of discourse with him, a most excellent
man of reason and learning, and understands the doctrine of musique, and
everything else I could discourse of, very finely. Here come Mr. Hooke,
Sir George Ent, Dr. Wren, and many others; and by and by the musique, that
is to say, Signor Vincentio, who is the master-composer, and six more,
whereof two eunuches, so tall, that Sir T. Harvey said well that he
believes they do grow large by being gelt as our oxen do, and one woman
very well dressed and handsome enough, but would not be kissed, as Mr.
Killigrew, who brought the company in, did acquaint us. They sent two
harpsicons before; and by and by, after tuning them, they begun; and, I
confess, very good musique they made; that is, the composition exceeding
good, but yet not at all more pleasing to me than what I have heard in
English by Mrs. Knipp, Captain Cooke, and others. Nor do I dote on the
eunuches; they sing, indeed, pretty high, and have a mellow kind of sound,
but yet I have been as well satisfied with several women's voices and men
also, as Crispe of the Wardrobe. The women sung well, but that which
distinguishes all is this, that in singing, the words are to be
considered, and how they are fitted with notes, and then the common accent
of the country is to be known and understood by the hearer, or he will
never be a good judge of the vocal musique of another country. So that I
was not taken with this at all, neither understanding the first, nor by
practice reconciled to the latter, so that their motions, and risings and
fallings, though it may be pleasing to an Italian, or one that understands
the tongue, yet to me it did not, but do from my heart believe that I
could set words in English, and make musique of them more agreeable to any
Englishman's eare (the most judicious) than any Italian musique set for
the voice, and performed before the same man, unless he be acquainted with
the Italian accent of speech. The composition as to the musique part was
exceeding good, and their justness in keeping time by practice much before
any that we have, unless it be a good band of practised fiddlers. So
away, here being Captain Cocke, who is stole away, leaving them at it, in
his coach, and to Mrs. Pierce's, where I took up my wife, and there I find
Mrs. Pierce's little girl is my Valentine, she having drawn me; which I
was not sorry for, it easing me of something more that I must have given
to others. But here I do first observe the fashion of drawing of mottos
as well as names; so that Pierce, who drew my wife, did draw also a motto,
and this girl drew another for me. What mine was I have forgot; but my
wife's was, "Most virtuous and most fair;" which, as it may be used, or an
anagram made upon each name, might be very pretty. Thence with Cocke and
my wife, set him at home, and then we home. To the office, and there did
a little business, troubled that I have so much been hindered by matters
of pleasure from my business, but I shall recover it I hope in a little
time. So home and to supper, not at all smitten with the musique
to-night, which I did expect should have been so extraordinary, Tom
Killigrew crying it up, and so all the world, above all things in the
world, and so to bed. One wonder I observed to-day, that there was no
musique in the morning to call up our new-married people, which is very
mean, methinks, and is as if they had married like dog and bitch.

17th (Lord's day). Up, and called at Michell's, and took him and his wife
and carried them to Westminster, I landing at White Hall, and having no
pleasure in the way 'con elle'; and so to the Duke's, where we all met and
had a hot encounter before the Duke of York about the business of our
payments at the Ticket Office, where we urged that we had nothing to do to
be troubled with the pay, having examined the tickets. Besides, we are
neglected, having not money sent us in time, but to see the baseness of my
brethren, not a man almost put in a word but Sir W. Coventry, though at
the office like very devils in this point. But I did plainly declare
that, without money, no fleete could be expected, and desired the Duke of
York to take notice of it, and notice was taken of it, but I doubt will do
no good. But I desire to remember it as a most prodigious thing that to
this day my Lord Treasurer hath not consulted counsel, which Sir W.
Coventry and I and others do think is necessary, about the late Poll act,
enough to put the same into such order as that any body dare lend money
upon it, though we have from this office under our hands related the
necessity thereof to the Duke of York, nor is like to be determined in,
for ought I see, a good while had not Sir W. Coventry plainly said that he
did believe it would be a better work for the King than going to church
this morning, to send for the Atturney Generall to meet at the Lord
Treasurer's this afternoon and to bring the thing to an issue, saying that
himself, were he going to the Sacrament, would not think he should offend
God to leave it and go to the ending this work, so much it is of moment to
the King and Kingdom. Hereupon the Duke of York said he would presently
speak to the King, and cause it to be done this afternoon. Having done
here we broke up; having done nothing almost though for all this, and by
and by I met Sir G. Carteret, and he is stark mad at what has passed this
morning, and I believe is heartily vexed with me: I said little, but I am
sure the King will suffer if some better care be not taken than he takes
to look after this business of money. So parted, and I by water home and
to dinner, W. Hewer with us, a good dinner and-very merry, my wife and I,
and after dinner to my chamber, to fit some things against: the Council
anon, and that being done away to White Hall by water, and thence to my
Lord Chancellor's, where I met with, and had much pretty discourse with,
one of the Progers's that knows me; and it was pretty to hear him tell me,
of his own accord, as a matter of no shame, that in Spayne he had a pretty
woman, his mistress, whom, when money grew scarce with him, he was forced
to leave, and afterwards heard how she and her husband lived well, she
being kept by an old fryer who used her as his whore; but this, says he,
is better than as our ministers do, who have wives that lay up their
estates, and do no good nor relieve any poor--no, not our greatest
prelates, and I think he is in the right for my part. Staid till the
Council was up, and attended the King and Duke of York round the Park, and
was asked several questions by both; but I was in pain, lest they should
ask me what I could not answer; as the Duke of York did the value of the
hull of the St. Patrick lately lost, which I told him I could not
presently answer; though I might have easily furnished myself to answer
all those questions. They stood a good while to see the ganders and geese
tread one another in the water, the goose being all the while kept for a
great while: quite under water, which was new to me, but they did make
mighty sport of it, saying (as the King did often) "Now you shall see a
marriage, between this and that," which did not please me. They gone, by
coach to my Lord Treasurer's, as the Duke of York told me, to settle the
business of money for the navy, I walked into the Court to and again till
night, and there met Colonell Reames, and he and I walked together a great
while complaining of the ill-management of things, whereof he is as full
as I am. We ran over many persons and things, and see nothing done like
men like to do well while the King minds his pleasures so much. We did
bemoan it that nobody would or had authority enough with the King to tell
him how all things go to rack and will be lost. Then he and I parted, and
I to Westminster to the Swan, and there staid till Michell and his wife
come. Old Michell and his wife come to see me, and there we drank and
laughed a little, and then the young ones and I took boat, it being fine
moonshine. I did to my trouble see all the way that 'elle' did get as
close 'a su marido' as 'elle' could, and turn her 'mains' away 'quand je'
did endeavour to take one. . . . So that I had no pleasure at all 'con
elle ce' night. When we landed I did take occasion to send him back a the
bateau while I did get a 'baiser' or two, and would have taken 'la' by
'la' hand, but 'elle' did turn away, and 'quand' I said shall I not
'toucher' to answered 'ego' no love touching, in a slight mood. I seemed
not to take notice of it, but parted kindly; 'su marido' did alter with me
almost a my case, and there we parted, and so I home troubled at this, but
I think I shall make good use of it and mind my business more. At home, by
appointment, comes Captain Cocke to me, to talk of State matters, and
about the peace; who told me that the whole business is managed between
Kevet, Burgomaster of Amsterdam, and my Lord Arlington, who hath, by the
interest of his wife there, some interest. We have proposed the Hague,
but know not yet whether the Dutch will like it; or; if they do, whether
the French will. We think we shall have the help of the information of
their affairs and state, and the helps of the Prince of Orange his
faction; but above all, that De Witt, who hath all this while said he
cannot get peace, his mouth will now be stopped, so that he will be forced
to offer fit terms for fear of the people; and, lastly, if France or
Spayne do not please us, we are in a way presently to clap up a peace with
the Dutch, and secure them. But we are also in treaty with France, as he
says: but it must be to the excluding our alliance with the King of Spayne
or House of Austria; which we do not know presently what will be
determined in. He tells me the Vice-Chamberlaine is so great with the
King, that, let the Duke of York, and Sir W. Coventry, and this office, do
or say what they will, while the King lives, Sir G. Carteret will do what
he will; and advises me to be often with him, and eat and drink with him.;
and tells me that he doubts he is jealous of me, and was mighty mad to-day
at our discourse to him before the Duke of York. But I did give him my
reasons that the office is concerned to declare that, without money, the
King's work cannot go on. From that discourse we ran to others, and among
the others he assures me that Henry Bruncker is one of the shrewdest
fellows for parts in England, and a dangerous man; that if ever the
Parliament comes again Sir W. Coventry cannot stand, but in this I believe
him not; that, while we want money so much in the Navy, the Officers of
the Ordnance have at this day L300,000 good in tallys, which they can
command money upon, got by their over-estimating their charge in getting
it reckoned as a fifth part of the expense of the Navy; that Harry
Coventry, who is to go upon this treaty with Lord Hollis (who he confesses
to be a very wise man) into Holland, is a mighty quick, ready man, but not
so weighty as he should be, he knowing him so well in his drink as he do;
that, unless the King do do something against my Lord Mordaunt and the
Patent for the Canary Company, before the Parliament next meets, he do
believe there will be a civil war before there will be any more money
given, unless it may be at their perfect disposal; and that all things are
now ordered to the provoking of the Parliament against they come next, and
the spending the King's money, so as to put him into a necessity of having
it at the time it is prorogued for, or sooner. Having discoursed all this
and much more, he away, and I to supper and to read my vows, and to bed.
My mind troubled about Betty Michell, 'pour sa carriage' this night
'envers moy', but do hope it will put me upon doing my business. This
evening, going to the Queen's side to see the ladies, I did find the
Queene, the Duchesse of York, and another or two, at cards, with the room
full of great ladies and men; which I was amazed at to see on a Sunday,
having not believed it; but, contrarily, flatly denied the same a little
while since to my cozen Roger Pepys? I did this day, going by water, read
the answer to "The Apology for Papists," which did like me mightily, it
being a thing as well writ as I think most things that ever I read in my
life, and glad I am that I read it.

18th. Up, and to my bookbinder's, and there mightily pleased to see some
papers of the account we did give the Parliament of the expense of the
Navy sewed together, which I could not have conceived before how prettily
it was done. Then by coach to the Exchequer about some tallies, and
thence back again home, by the way meeting Mr. Weaver, of Huntingdon, and
did discourse our business of law together, which did ease my mind, for I
was afeard I have omitted doing what I in prudence ought to have done. So
home and to dinner, and after dinner to the office, where je had Mrs.
Burrows all sola a my closet, and did there 'baiser and toucher ses
mamelles' . . . . Thence away, and with my wife by coach to the Duke
of York's play-house, expecting a new play, and so stayed not no more than
other people, but to the King's house, to "The Mayd's Tragedy;" but vexed
all the while with two talking ladies and Sir Charles Sedley; yet pleased
to hear their discourse, he being a stranger. And one of the ladies
would, and did sit with her mask on, all the play, and, being exceeding
witty as ever I heard woman, did talk most pleasantly with him; but was, I
believe, a virtuous woman, and of quality. He would fain know who she
was, but she would not tell; yet did give him many pleasant hints of her
knowledge of him, by that means setting his brains at work to find, out
who she was, and did give him leave to use all means to find out who she
was, but pulling off her mask. He was mighty witty, and she also making
sport with him very inoffensively, that a more pleasant 'rencontre' I
never heard. But by that means lost the pleasure of the play wholly, to
which now and then Sir Charles Sedley's exceptions against both words and
pronouncing were very pretty. So home and to the office, did much
business, then home, to supper, and to bed.