Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1668 N.S. Complete

S >> Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1668 N.S. Complete

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27

29th. Up, and all the morning at the Office, where the Duke of York's
long letter was read, to their great trouble, and their suspecting me to
have been the writer of it. And at noon comes, by appointment, Harris to
dine with me and after dinner he and I to Chyrurgeon's-hall, where they
are building it new, very fine; and there to see their theatre; which
stood all the fire, and, which was our business, their great picture of
Holben's, thinking to have bought it, by the help of Mr. Pierce, for a
little money: I did think to give L200 for it, it being said to be worth
L1000; but it is so spoiled that I have no mind to it, and is not a
pleasant, though a good picture. Thence carried Harris to his playhouse,
where, though four o'clock, so few people there at "The Impertinents," as
I went out; and do believe they did not act, though there was my Lord
Arlington and his company there. So I out, and met my wife in a coach,
and stopped her going thither to meet me; and took her, and Mercer, and
Deb., to Bartholomew Fair, and there did see a ridiculous, obscene little
stage-play, called "Marry Andrey;" a foolish thing, but seen by every
body; and so to Jacob Hall's dancing of the ropes; a thing worth seeing,
and mightily followed, and so home and to the office, and then to bed.
Writing to my father to-night not to unfurnish our house in the country
for my sister, who is going to her own house, because I think I may have
occasion myself to come thither; and so I do, by our being put out of the
Office, which do not at all trouble me to think of.

30th (Lord's day). Walked to St. James's and Pell Mell, and read over,
with Sir W. Coventry, my long letter to the Duke of York, and which the
Duke of York hath, from mine, wrote to the Board, wherein he is mightily
pleased, and I perceive do put great value upon me, and did talk very
openly on all matters of State, and how some people have got the bit into
their mouths, meaning the Duke of Buckingham and his party, and would
likely run away with all. But what pleased me mightily was to hear the
good character he did give of my Lord Falmouth for his generosity,
good-nature, desire of public good, and low thoughts of his own wisdom;
his employing his interest in the King to do good offices to all people,
without any other fault than the freedom he, do learn in France of
thinking himself obliged to serve his King in his pleasures: and was W.
Coventry's particular friend: and W. Coventry do tell me very odde
circumstances about the fatality of his death, which are very strange.
Thence to White Hall to chapel, and heard the anthem, and did dine with
the Duke of Albemarle in a dirty manner as ever. All the afternoon, I
sauntered up and down the house and Park. And there was a Committee for
Tangier met, wherein Lord Middleton would, I think, have found fault with
me for want of coles; but I slighted it, and he made nothing of it, but
was thought to be drunk; and I see that he hath a mind to find fault with
me and Creed, neither of us having yet applied ourselves to him about
anything: but do talk of his profits and perquisites taken from him, and
garrison reduced, and that it must be increased, and such things, as; I
fear, he will be just such another as my Lord Tiviott and the rest, to
ruin that place. So I to the Park, and there walk an hour or two; and in
the King's garden, and saw the Queen and ladies walk; and I did steal some
apples off the trees; and here did see my Lady Richmond, who is of a noble
person as ever I saw, but her face worse than it was considerably by the
smallpox: her sister' is also very handsome. Coming into the Park, and
the door kept strictly, I had opportunity of handing in the little,
pretty, squinting girl of the Duke of York's house, but did not make
acquaintance with her; but let her go, and a little girl that was with
her, to walk by themselves. So to White Hall in the evening, to the
Queen's side, and there met the Duke of York; and he did tell me and W.
Coventry, who was with me, how that Lord Anglesey did take notice of our
reading his long and sharp letter to the Board; but that it was the
better, at least he said so. The Duke of York, I perceive, is earnest in
it, and will have good effects of it; telling W. Coventry that it was a
letter that might have come from the Commissioners of Accounts, but it was
better it should come first from him. I met Lord Brouncker, who, I
perceive, and the rest, do smell that it comes from me, but dare not find
fault with it; and I am glad of it, it being my glory and defence that I
did occasion and write it. So by water home, and did spend the evening
with W. Hewer, telling him how we are all like to be turned out, Lord
Brouncker telling me this evening that the Duke of Buckingham did, within
few hours, say that he had enough to turn us all out which I am not sorry
for at all, for I know the world will judge me to go for company; and my
eyes are such as I am not able to do the business of my Office as I used,
and would desire to do, while I am in it. So with full content, declaring
all our content in being released of my employment, my wife and I to bed,
and W. Hewer home, and so all to bed.

31st. Up, and to my office, there to set my journal for all the last
week, and so by water to Westminster to the Exchequer, and thence to the
Swan, and there drank and did baiser la fille there, and so to the New
Exchange and paid for some things, and so to Hercules Pillars,' and there
dined all alone, while I sent my shoe to have the heel fastened at
Wotton's, and thence to White Hall to the Treasury chamber, where did a
little business, and thence to the Duke of York's playhouse and there met
my wife and Deb. and Mary Mercer and Batelier, where also W. Hewer was,
and saw "Hamlet," which we have not seen this year before, or more; and
mightily pleased with it; but, above all, with Betterton, the best part I
believe, that ever man acted. Thence to the Fayre, and saw
"Polichinelle," and so home, and after a little supper to bed. This night
lay the first night in Deb.'s chamber, which is now hung with that that
hung our great chamber, and is now a very handsome room. This day Mrs.
Batelier did give my wife a mighty pretty Spaniel bitch [Flora], which she
values mightily, and is pretty; but as a new comer, I cannot be fond of
her.

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

And the woman so silly, as to let her go that took it
But what they did, I did not enquire
Family governed so nobly and neatly as do me good to see it
I know not whether to be glad or sorry
My heart beginning to falsify in this business
Pictures of some Maids of Honor: good, but not like
Resolved to go through it, and it is too late to help it now
Saw "Mackbeth," to our great content
The factious part of the Parliament
Though I know it will set the Office and me by the ears for ever

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.
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER
1668

September 1st. Up and all the morning at the office busy, and after
dinner to the office again busy till about four, and then I abroad (my
wife being gone to Hales's about drawing her hand new in her picture) and
I to see Betty Michell, which I did, but su mari was dentro, and no
pleasure. So to the Fair, and there saw several sights; among others, the
mare that tells money,

[This is not the first learned horse of which we read. Shakespeare,
"Love's Labour's Lost," act i., SC. 2, mentions "the dancing
horse,"' and the commentators have added many particulars of Banks's
bay horse.]

and many things to admiration; and, among others, come to me, when she was
bid to go to him of the company that most loved a pretty wench in a
corner. And this did cost me 12d. to the horse, which I had flung him
before, and did give me occasion to baiser a mighty belle fille that was
in the house that was exceeding plain, but fort belle. At night going
home I went to my bookseller's in Duck Lane, and find her weeping in the
shop, so as ego could not have any discourse con her nor ask the reason,
so departed and took coach home, and taking coach was set on by a wench
that was naught, and would have gone along with me to her lodging in Shoe
Lane, but ego did donner her a shilling . . . and left her, and home,
where after supper, W. Batelier with us, we to bed. This day Mrs. Martin
come to see us, and dined with us.

2nd. Fast-day for the burning of London, strictly observed. I at home at
the office all day, forenoon and afternoon, about the Victualler's
contract and other things, and at night home to supper, having had but a
cold dinner, Mr. Gibson with me; and this evening comes Mr. Hill to
discourse with me about Yeabsly and Lanyon's business, wherein they are
troubled, and I fear they have played the knave too far for me to help or
think fit to appear for them. So he gone, and after supper, to bed, being
troubled with a summons, though a kind one, from Mr. Jessop, to attend the
Commissioners of Accounts tomorrow.

3rd. Up, and to the Office, where busy till it was time to go to the
Commissioners of Accounts, which I did about noon, and there was received
with all possible respect, their business being only to explain the
meaning of one of their late demands to us, which we had not answered in
our answer to them, and, this being done, I away with great content, my
mind being troubled before, and so to the Exchequer and several places,
calling on several businesses, and particularly my bookseller's, among
others, for "Hobbs's Leviathan,"

["Leviathan: or the matter, forme and power of a Commonwealth
ecclesiasticall and civill," by Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, first
published in 1651. It was reprinted in 1680, with its old date.
Hobbes's complete works, English and Latin, were published by Sir
William Molesworth in sixteen volumes 8vo. between 1839 and 1845.]

which is now mightily called for; and what was heretofore sold for 8s. I
now give 24s. for, at the second hand, and is sold for 30s., it being a
book the Bishops will not let be printed again, and so home to dinner, and
then to the office all the afternoon, and towards evening by water to the
Commissioners of the Treasury, and presently back again, and there met a
little with W. Pen and the rest about our Prize accounts, and so W. Pen
and Lord Brouncker and I at the lodging of the latter to read over our new
draft of the victualler's contract, and so broke up and home to supper and
to bed.

4th. Up, and met at the Office all the morning; and at noon my wife, and
Deb., and Mercer, and W. Hewer and I to the Fair, and there, at the old
house, did eat a pig, and was pretty merry, but saw no sights, my wife
having a mind to see the play "Bartholomew-Fayre," with puppets. Which we
did, and it is an excellent play; the more I see it, the more I love the
wit of it; only the business of abusing the Puritans begins to grow stale,
and of no use, they being the people that, at last, will be found the
wisest. And here Knepp come to us, and sat with us, and thence took coach
in two coaches, and losing one another, my wife, and Knepp, and I to
Hercules Pillars, and there supped, and I did take from her mouth the
words and notes of her song of "the Larke," which pleases me mightily. And
so set her at home, and away we home, where our company come home before
us. This night Knepp tells us that there is a Spanish woman lately come
over, that pretends to sing as well as Mrs. Knight; both of which I must
endeavour to hear. So, after supper, to bed.

5th. Up, and at the office all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and
to the office to work all the afternoon again till the evening, and then
by coach to Mr. Hales's new house, where, I find, he hath finished my
wife's hand, which is better than the other; and here I find Harris's
picture, done in his habit of "Henry the Fifth;" mighty like a player, but
I do not think the picture near so good as any yet he hath made for me:
however, it is pretty well, and thence through the fair home, but saw
nothing, it being late, and so home to my business at the office, and
thence to supper and to bed.

6th (Lord's day). Up betimes, and got myself ready to go by water, and
about nine o'clock took boat with Henry Russell to Gravesend, coming
thither about one, where, at the Ship, I dined; and thither come to me Mr.
Hosier, whom I went to speak with, about several businesses of work that
he is doing, and I would have him do, of writing work, for me. And I did
go with him to his lodging, and there did see his wife, a pretty tolerable
woman, and do find him upon an extraordinary good work of designing a
method of keeping our Storekeeper's Accounts, in the Navy. Here I should
have met with Mr. Wilson, but he is sick, and could not come from Chatham
to me. So, having done with Hosier, I took boat again the beginning of
the flood, and come home by nine at night, with much pleasure, it being a
fine day. Going down I spent reading of the "Five Sermons of Five Several
Styles," worth comparing one with another: but I do think, when all is
done, that, contrary to the design of the book, the Presbyterian style and
the Independent are the best of the five sermons to be preached in; this I
do, by the best of my present judgment think, and coming back I spent
reading of a book of warrants of our office in the first Dutch war, and do
find that my letters and warrants and method will be found another
gate's business than this that the world so much adores, and I am glad for
my own sake to find it so. My boy was with me, and read to me all day,
and we sang a while together, and so home to supper a little, and so to
bed.

7th. At the office all the morning, we met, and at noon dined at home,
and after dinner carried my wife and Deb. to Unthanke's, and I to White
Hall with Mr. Gibson, where the rest of our officers met us, and to the
Commissioners of the Treasury about the Victualling contract, but staid
not long, but thence, sending Gibson to my wife, I with Lord Brouncker
(who was this day in an unusual manner merry, I believe with drink), J.
Minnes, and W. Pen to Bartholomew-Fair; and there saw the dancing mare
again, which, to-day, I find to act much worse than the other day, she
forgetting many things, which her master beat her for, and was mightily
vexed; and then the dancing of the ropes, and also the little stage-play,
which is very ridiculous, and so home to the office with Lord Brouncker,
W. Pen, and myself (J. Minnes being gone home before not well), and so,
after a little talk together, I home to supper and to bed.

8th. Up, and by water to White Hall, and to St. James's, there to talk a
little with Mr. Wren about the private business we are upon, in the
Office, where he tells me he finds that they all suspect me to be the
author of the great letter, which I value not, being satisfied that it is
the best thing I could ever do for myself; and so, after some discourse of
this kind more, I back to the Office, where all the morning; and after
dinner to it again, all the afternoon, and very late, and then home to
supper, where met W. Batelier and Betty Turner; and, after some talk with
them, and supper, we to bed. This day, I received so earnest an
invitation again from Roger Pepys, to come to Sturbridge-Fair [at
Cambridge] that I resolve to let my wife go, which she shall do the next
week, and so to bed. This day I received two letters from the Duke of
Richmond about his yacht, which is newly taken into the King's service,
and I am glad of it, hoping hereby to oblige him, and to have occasions of
seeing his noble Duchess, which I admire.

9th. Up, and to the office, and thence to the Duke of Richmond's lodgings
by his desire, by letter, yesterday. I find him at his lodgings in the
little building in the bowling-green, at White Hall, that was begun to be
built by Captain Rolt. They are fine rooms. I did hope to see his lady,
the beautiful Mrs. Stuart, but she, I hear, is in the country. His
business was about his yacht, and he seems a mighty good-natured man, and
did presently write me a warrant for a doe from Cobham, when the season
comes, bucks season being past. I shall make much of this acquaintance,
that I may live to see his lady near. Thence to Westminster, to Sir R.
Longs Office: and, going, met Mr. George Montagu, who talked and
complimented me mightily; and long discourse I had with him, who, for
news, tells me for certain that Trevor do come to be Secretary at
Michaelmas, and that Morrice goes out, and he believes, without any
compensation. He tells me that now Buckingham does rule all; and the
other day, in the King's journey he is now on, at Bagshot, and that way,
he caused Prince Rupert's horses to be turned out of an inne, and caused
his own to be kept there, which the Prince complained of to the King, and
the Duke of York seconded the complaint; but the King did over-rule it for
Buckingham, by which there are high displeasures among them; and
Buckingham and Arlington rule all. Thence by water home and to dinner,
and after dinner by water again to White Hall, where Brouncker, W. Pen,
and I attended the Commissioners of the Treasury about the
victualling-contract, where high words between Sir Thomas Clifford and us,
and myself more particularly, who told him that something, that he said
was told him about this business, was a flat untruth. However, we went on
to our business in, the examination of the draught, and so parted, and I
vexed at what happened, and Brouncker and W. Pen and I home in a hackney
coach. And I all that night so vexed that I did not sleep almost all
night, which shows how unfit I am for trouble. So, after a little supper,
vexed, and spending a little time melancholy in making a base to the
Lark's song, I to bed.

10th. Up, and by water to White Hall, and there to Sir W. Coventry's
house, where I staid in his dining-room two hours thinking to speak with
him, but I find Garraway and he are private, which I am glad of, Captain
Cocke bringing them this day together. Cocke come out and talked to me,
but it was too late for me to stay longer, and therefore to the Treasury
chamber, where the rest met, and W. Coventry come presently after. And we
spent the morning in finishing the Victualler's contract, and so I by
water home, and there dined with me Batelier and his wife, and Mercer, and
my people, at a good venison-pasty; and after dinner I and W. Howe, who
come to see me, by water to the Temple, and met our four women, my wife,
M. Batelier, Mercer, and Deb., at the Duke's play-house, and there saw
"The Maid in the Mill," revived--a pretty, harmless old play. Thence to
Unthanke's, and 'Change, where wife did a little business, while Mercer
and I staid in the coach; and, in a quarter of an hour, I taught her the
whole Larke's song perfectly, so excellent an eare she hath. Here we at
Unthanke's 'light, and walked them to White Hall, my wife mighty angry at
it, and did give me ill words before Batelier, which vexed me, but I made
no matter of it, but vexed to myself. So landed them, it being fine
moonshine, at the Bear, and so took water to the other side, and home. I
to the office, where a child is laid at Sir J. Minnes's door, as there was
one heretofore. So being good friends again, my wife seeking, it, by my
being silent I overcoming her, we to bed.

11th. Up, and at my Office all the morning, and after dinner all the
afternoon in my house with Batelier shut up, drawing up my defence to the
Duke of York upon his great letter, which I have industriously taken this
opportunity of doing for my future use. At it late, and my mind and head
mighty full of it all night.

12th. At it again in the morning, and then to the Office, where till
noon, and I do see great whispering among my brethren about their replies
to the Duke of York, which vexed me, though I know no reason for it; for I
have no manner of ground to fear them. At noon home to dinner, and, after
dinner, to work all the afternoon again. At home late, and so to bed.

13th (Lord's day). The like all this morning and afternoon, and finished
it to my mind. So about four o'clock walked to the Temple, and there by
coach to St. James's, and met, to my wish, the Duke of York and Mr. Wren;
and understand the Duke of York hath received answers from Brouncker, W.
Pen, and J. Minnes; and as soon as he saw me, he bid Mr. Wren read them
over with me. So having no opportunity of talk with the Duke of York, and
Mr. Wren some business to do, he put them into my hands like an idle
companion, to, take home with me before himself had read them, which do
give me great opportunity of altering my answer, if there was cause. So
took a hackney and home, and after supper made my wife to read them all
over, wherein she is mighty useful to me; and I find them all evasions,
and in many things false, and in few, to the full purpose. Little said
reflective on me, though W. Pen and J. Minnes do mean me in one or two
places, and J. Minnes a little more plainly would lead the Duke of York to
question the exactness of my keeping my records; but all to no purpose.
My mind is mightily pleased by this, if I can but get time to have a copy
taken of them, for my future use; but I must return them tomorrow. So to
bed.

14th. Up betimes, and walked to the Temple, and stopped, viewing the
Exchange, and Paul's, and St. Fayth's, where strange how the very sight of
the stones falling from the top of the steeple do make me sea-sick! But no
hurt, I hear, hath yet happened in all this work of the steeple, which is
very much. So from the Temple I by coach to St. James's, where I find Sir
W. Pen and Lord Anglesey, who delivered this morning his answer to the
Duke of York, but I could not see it. But after being above with the Duke
of York, but said nothing, I down with Mr. Wren; and he and I read all
over that I had, and I expounded them to him, and did so order it that I
had them home with me, so that I shall, to my heart's wish, be able to
take a copy of them. After dinner, I by water to, White Hall; and there,
with the Cofferer and Sir Stephen Fox, attended the Commissioners of the
Treasury, about bettering our fund; and are promised it speedily. Thence
by water home, and so all the afternoon and evening late busy at the
office, and then home to supper, and Mrs. Turner comes to see my wife
before her journey to-morrow, but she is in bed, and so sat talking to
little purpose with me a great while, and, she gone, I to bed.

15th. Up mighty betimes, my wife and people, Mercer lying here all night,
by three o'clock, and I about five; and they before, and I after them, to
the coach in Bishopsgate Street, which was not ready to set out. So took
wife and Mercer and Deb. and W. Hewer (who are all to set out this day for
Cambridge, to cozen Roger Pepys's, to see Sturbridge Fayre); and I shewed
them the Exchange, which is very finely carried on, with good dispatch.
So walked back and saw them gone, there being only one man in the coach
besides them; and so home to the Office, where Mrs. Daniel come and staid
talking to little purpose with me to borrow money, but I did not lend her
any, having not opportunity para hater allo thing mit her. At the office
all the morning, and at noon dined with my people at home, and so to the
office again a while, and so by water to the King's playhouse, to see a
new play, acted but yesterday, a translation out of French by Dryden,
called "The Ladys a la Mode:" so mean a thing as, when they come to say it
would be acted again to-morrow, both he that said it, Beeson, and the pit
fell a-laughing, there being this day not a quarter of the pit full.
Thence to St. James's and White Hall to wait on the Duke of York, but
could not come to speak to him till time to go home, and so by water home,
and there late at the office and my chamber busy, and so after a little
supper to bed.

16th. Up; and dressing myself I did begin para toker the breasts of my
maid Jane, which elle did give way to more than usual heretofore, so I
have a design to try more when I can bring it to. So to the office, and
thence to St. James's to the Duke of York, walking it to the Temple, and
in my way observe that the Stockes are now pulled quite down; and it will
make the coming into Cornhill and Lumber Street mighty noble. I stopped,
too, at Paul's, and there did go into St. Fayth's Church, and also in the
body of the west part of the Church; and do see a hideous sight of the
walls of the Church ready to fall, that I was in fear as long as I was in
it: and here I saw the great vaults underneath the body of the Church. No
hurt, I hear, is done yet, since their going to pull down the Church and
steeple; but one man, on Monday this week, fell from the top to a piece of
the roof, of the east end, that stands next the steeple, and there broke
himself all to pieces. It is pretty here to see how the late Church was
but a case wrought over the old Church; for you may see the very old
pillars standing whole within the wall of this. When I come to St.
James's, I find the Duke of York gone with the King to see the muster of
the Guards in Hyde Park; and their Colonel, the Duke of Monmouth, to take
his command this day of the King's Life-Guard, by surrender of my Lord
Gerard. So I took a hackney-coach and saw it all: and indeed it was
mighty noble, and their firing mighty fine, and the Duke of Monmouth in
mighty rich clothes; but the well-ordering of the men I understand not.
Here, among a thousand coaches that were there, I saw and spoke to Mrs.
Pierce: and by and by Mr. Wren hunts me out, and gives me my Lord
Anglesey's answer to the Duke of York's letter, where, I perceive, he do
do what he can to hurt me, by bidding the Duke of York call for my books:
but this will do me all the right in the world, and yet I am troubled at
it. So away out of the Park, and home; and there Mr. Gibson and I to
dinner: and all the afternoon with him, writing over anew, and a little
altering, my answer to the Duke of York, which I have not yet delivered,
and so have the opportunity of doing it after seeing all their answers,
though this do give me occasion to alter very little. This done, he to
write it over, and I to the Office, where late, and then home; and he had
finished it; and then he to read to me the life of Archbishop Laud, wrote
by Dr. Heylin; which is a shrewd book, but that which I believe will do
the Bishops in general no great good, but hurt, it pleads for so much
Popish. So after supper to bed. This day my father's letters tell me of
the death of poor Fancy, in the country, big with puppies, which troubles
me, as being one of my oldest acquaintances and servants. Also good
Stankes is dead.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27