Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1669 N.S. Complete

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EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY

HENRY B. WHEATLEY F.S.A.

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
MAY
1669

May 1st. Up betimes. Called up by my tailor, and there first put on a
summer suit this year; but it was not my fine one of flowered tabby vest,
and coloured camelott tunique, because it was too fine with the gold lace
at the hands, that I was afeard to be seen in it; but put on the stuff
suit I made the last year, which is now repaired; and so did go to the
Office in it, and sat all the morning, the day looking as if it would be
fowle. At noon home to dinner, and there find my wife extraordinary fine,
with her flowered tabby gown that she made two years ago, now laced
exceeding pretty; and, indeed, was fine all over; and mighty earnest to
go, though the day was very lowering; and she would have me put on my fine
suit, which I did. And so anon we went alone through the town with our
new liveries of serge, and the horses' manes and tails tied with red
ribbons, and the standards there gilt with varnish, and all clean, and
green refines, that people did mightily look upon us; and, the truth is, I
did not see any coach more pretty, though more gay, than ours, all the
day. But we set out, out of humour--I because Betty, whom I expected, was
not come to go with us; and my wife that I would sit on the same seat with
her, which she likes not, being so fine: and she then expected to meet
Sheres, which we did in the Pell Mell, and, against my will, I was forced
to take him into the coach, but was sullen all day almost, and little
complaisant: the day also being unpleasing, though the Park full of
coaches, but dusty and windy, and cold, and now and then a little
dribbling rain; and, what made it worst, there were so many
hackney-coaches as spoiled the sight of the gentlemen's; and so we had
little pleasure. But here was W. Batelier and his sister in a borrowed
coach by themselves, and I took them and we to the lodge; and at the door
did give them a syllabub, and other things, cost me 12s., and pretty
merry. And so back to the coaches, and there till the evening, and then
home, leaving Mr. Sheres at St. James's Gate, where he took leave of us
for altogether, he; being this night to set out for Portsmouth post, in
his way to Tangier, which troubled my wife mightily, who is mighty, though
not, I think, too fond of him. But she was out of humour all the evening,
and I vexed at her for it, and she did not rest almost all the night, so
as in the night I was forced; to take her and hug her to put her to rest.
So home, and after a little supper, to bed.

2nd (Lord's day). Up, and by water to White Hall, and there visit my Lord
Sandwich, who, after about two months' absence at Hinchingbroke, come to
town last night. I saw him, and very kind; and I am glad he is so, I
having not wrote to him all the time, my eyes indeed not letting me. Here
with Sir Charles Herbert [Harbord], and my Lord Hinchingbroke, and Sidney,
we looked upon the picture of Tangier, designed: by Charles Herbert
[Harbord], and drawn by Dancre, which my Lord Sandwich admires, as being
the truest picture that ever he's saw in his life: and it is indeed very
pretty, and I will be at the cost of having one of them. Thence with them
to White Hall, and there walked out the sermon, with one or other; and
then saw the Duke of York after sermon, and he talked to me a little; and
so away back by water home, and after dinner got my wife to read, and then
by coach, she and I, to the Park, and there spent the evening with much
pleasure, it proving clear after a little shower, and we mighty fine as
yesterday, and people mightily pleased with our coach, as I perceived; but
I had not on my fine suit, being really afeard to wear it, it being so
fine with the gold lace, though not gay. So home and to supper, and my
wife to read, and Tom, my Nepotisme, and then to bed.

3rd. Up, and by coach to my Lord Brouncker's, where Sir G. Carteret did
meet Sir J. Minnes and me, to discourse upon Mr. Deering's business, who
was directed, in the time of the war, to provide provisions at Hamburgh,
by Sir G. Carteret's direction; and now G. Carteret is afeard to own it,
it being done without written order. But by our meeting we do all begin
to recollect enough to preserve Mr. Deering, I think, which, poor silly
man! I shall be glad of, it being too much he should suffer for
endeavouring to serve us. Thence to St. James's, where the Duke of York
was playing in the Pell Mell; and so he called me to him most part of the
time that he played, which was an hour, and talked alone to me; and, among
other things, tells me how the King will not yet be got to name anybody in
the room of Pen, but puts it off for three or four days; from whence he do
collect that they are brewing something for the Navy, but what he knows
not; but I perceive is vexed that things should go so, and he hath reason;
for he told me that it is likely they will do in this as in other
things--resolve first, and consider it and the fitness of it afterward.
Thence to White Hall, and met with Creed, and I took him to the Harp and
Balls, and there drank a cup of ale, he and I alone, and discoursed of
matters; and I perceive by him that he makes no doubt but that all will
turn to the old religion, for these people cannot hold things in their
hands, nor prevent its coming to that; and by his discourse fits himself
for it, and would have my Lord Sandwich do so, too, and me. After a
little talk with him, and particularly about the ruinous condition of
Tangier, which I have a great mind to lay before the Duke of York, before
it be too late, but dare not, because of his great kindness to Lord
Middleton, we parted, and I homeward; but called at Povy's, and there he
stopped me to dinner, there being Mr. Williamson, the Lieutenant of the
Tower, Mr. Childe, and several others. And after dinner, Povy and I
together to talk of Tangier; and he would have me move the Duke of York in
it, for it concerns him particularly, more than any, as being the head of
us; and I do think to do it. Thence home, and at the office busy all the
afternoon, and so to supper and to bed.

4th. Up, and to the office, and then my wife being gone to see her mother
at Deptford, I before the office sat went to the Excise Office, and thence
being alone stepped into Duck Lane, and thence tried to have sent a porter
to Deb.'s, but durst not trust him, and therefore having bought a book to
satisfy the bookseller for my stay there, a 12d. book, Andronicus of Tom
Fuller, I took coach, and at the end of Jewen Street next Red Cross Street
I sent the coachman to her lodging, and understand she is gone for
Greenwich to one Marys's, a tanner's, at which I, was glad, hoping to have
opportunity to find her out; and so, in great fear of being seen, I to the
office, and there all the morning, dined at home, and presently after
dinner comes home my wife, who I believe is jealous of my spending the
day, and I had very good fortune in being at home, for if Deb. had been to
have been found it is forty to one but I had been abroad, God forgive me.
So the afternoon at the office, and at night walked with my wife in the
garden, and my Lord Brouncker with us, who is newly come to W. Pen's
lodgings; and by and by comes Mr. Hooke; and my Lord, and he, and I into
my Lord's lodgings, and there discoursed of many fine things in
philosophy, to my great content, and so home to supper and to bed.

5th. Up, and thought to have gone with Lord Brouncker to Mr. Hooke this
morning betimes; but my Lord is taken ill of the gout, and says his new
lodgings have infected him, he never having had any symptoms of it till
now. So walked to Gresham College, to tell Hooke that my Lord could not
come; and so left word, he being abroad, and I to St. James's, and thence,
with the Duke of York, to White Hall, where the Board waited on him all
the morning: and so at noon with Sir Thomas Allen, and Sir Edward Scott,
and Lord Carlingford, to the Spanish Embassador's, where I dined the first
time. The Olio not so good as Sheres's. There was at the table himself
and a Spanish Countess, a good, comely, and witty lady-three Fathers and
us. Discourse good and pleasant. And here was an Oxford scholar in a
Doctor of Law's gowne, sent from the College where the Embassador lay,
when the Court was there, to salute him before his return to Spain: This
man, though a gentle sort of scholar, yet sat like a fool for want of
French or Spanish, but [knew] only Latin, which he spoke like an
Englishman to one of the Fathers. And by and by he and I to talk, and the
company very merry at my defending Cambridge against Oxford: and I made
much use of my French and Spanish here, to my great content. But the
dinner not extraordinary at all, either for quantity or quality. Thence
home, where my wife ill of those upon the maid's bed, and troubled at my
being abroad. So I to the office, and there till night, and then to her,
and she read to me the Epistle of Cassandra, which is very good indeed;
and the better to her, because recommended by Sheres. So to supper, and
to bed.

6th. Up, and by coach to Sir W. Coventry's, but he gone out. I by water
back to the Office, and there all the morning; then to dinner, and then to
the Office again, and anon with my wife by coach to take the ayre, it
being a noble day, as far as the Greene Man, mightily pleased with our
journey, and our condition of doing it in our own coach, and so home, and
to walk in the garden, and so to supper and to bed, my eyes being bad with
writing my journal, part of it, to-night.

7th. Up, and by coach to W. Coventry's; and there to talk with him a
great deal with great content; and so to the Duke of York, having a great
mind to speak to him about Tangier; but, when I come to it, his interest
for my Lord Middleton is such that I dare not. So to the Treasury
chamber, and then walked home round by the Excise Office, having by
private vows last night in prayer to God Almighty cleared my mind for the
present of the thoughts of going to Deb. at Greenwich, which I did long
after. I passed by Guildhall, which is almost finished, and saw a poor
labourer carried by, I think, dead with a fall, as many there are, I hear.
So home to dinner, and then to the office a little, and so to see my Lord
Brouncker, who is a little ill of the gout; and there Madam Williams told
me that she heard that my wife was going into France this year, which I
did not deny, if I can get time, and I pray God I may. But I wondering
how she come to know it, she tells me a woman that my wife spoke to for a
maid, did tell her so, and that a lady that desires to go thither would be
glad to go in her company. Thence with my wife abroad, with our coach,
most pleasant weather; and to Hackney, and into the marshes, where I never
was before, and thence round about to Old Ford and Bow; and coming through
the latter home, there being some young gentlewomen at a door, and I
seeming not to know who they were, my wife's jealousy told me presently
that I knew well enough it was that damned place where Deb. dwelt, which
made me swear very angrily that it was false, as it was, and I carried
[her] back again to see the place, and it proved not so, so I continued
out of humour a good while at it, she being willing to be friends, so I
was by and by, saying no more of it. So home, and there met with a letter
from Captain Silas Taylor, and, with it, his written copy of a play that
he hath wrote, and intends to have acted.--It is called "The Serenade, or
Disappointment," which I will read, not believing he can make any good of
that kind. He did once offer to show Harris it, but Harris told him that
he would judge by one Act whether it were good or no, which is indeed a
foolish saying, and we see them out themselves in the choice of a play
after they have read the whole, it being sometimes found not fit to act
above three times; nay, and some that have been refused at one house is
found a good one at the other. This made Taylor say he would not shew it
him, but is angry, and hath carried it to the other house, and he thinks
it will be acted there, though he tells me they are not yet agreed upon
it. But I will find time to get it read to me, and I did get my wife to
begin a little to-night in the garden, but not so much as I could make any
judgment of it. So home to supper and to bed.

8th. Up, and to the Office, and there comes Lead to me, and at last my
vizards are done, and glasses got to put in and out, as I will; and I
think I have brought it to the utmost, both for easiness of using and
benefit, that I can; and so I paid him 15s. for what he hath done now
last, in the finishing them, and they, I hope, will do me a great deal of
ease. At the Office all the morning, and this day, the first time, did
alter my side of the table, after above eight years sitting on that next
the fire. But now I am not able to bear the light of the windows in my
eyes, I do begin there, and I did sit with much more content than I had
done on the other side for a great while, and in winter the fire will not
trouble my back. At noon home to dinner, and after dinner all the
afternoon within, with Mr. Hater, Gibson, and W. Hewer, reading over and
drawing up new things in the Instructions of Commanders, which will be
good, and I hope to get them confirmed by the Duke of York, though I
perceive nothing will effectually perfect them but to look over the whole
body of the Instructions, of all the Officers of a ship, and make them all
perfect together. This being done, comes my bookseller, and brings me
home bound my collection of papers, about my Addresse to the Duke of York
in August, which makes me glad, it being that which shall do me more right
many years hence than, perhaps, all I ever did in my life: and therefore I
do, both for my own and the King's sake, value it much. By and by also
comes Browne, the mathematical instrument maker, and brings me home my
instrument for perspective, made according to the description of Dr.
Wren's, in the late Transactions; and he hath made it, I think, very well,
and that, that I believe will do the thing, and therein gives me great
content; but have I fear all the content that must be received by my eyes
is almost lost. So to the office, and there late at business, and then
home to supper and to bed.

9th (Lord's day). Up; and, after dressing in my best suit with gold
trimming, I to the Office, and there with Gibson and Tom finishing against
to-morrow my notes upon Commanders' Instructions; and, when church-time,
to church with my wife, leaving them at work. Dr. Mills preached a dull
sermon, and so we home to dinner; and thence by coach to St. Andrew's,
Holborne, thinking to have heard Dr. Stillingfleete preach, but we could
not get a place, and so to St. Margaret's, Westminster, and there heard a
sermon, and did get a place, the first we have heard there these many
years, and here at a distance I saw Betty Michell, but she is become much
a plainer woman than she was a girl. Thence towards the Park, but too
soon to go in, so went on to Knightsbridge, and there eat and drank at
"The World's End," where we had good things, and then back to the Park,
and there till night, being fine weather, and much company, and so home,
and after supper to bed. This day I first left off both my waistcoats by
day, and my waistcoat by night, it being very hot weather, so hot as to
make me break out, here and there, in my hands, which vexes me to see, but
is good for me.

10th. Troubled, about three in the morning, with my wife's calling her
maid up, and rising herself, to go with her coach abroad, to gather
May-dew, which she did, and I troubled for it, for fear of any hurt, going
abroad so betimes, happening to her; but I to sleep again, and she come
home about six, and to bed again all well, and I up and with Mr. Gibson by
coach to St. James's, and thence to White Hall, where the Duke of York met
the Office, and there discoursed of several things, particularly the
Instructions of Commanders of ships. But here happened by chance a
discourse of the Council of Trade, against which the Duke of York is
mightily displeased, and particularly Mr. Child, against whom he speaking
hardly, Captain Cox did second the Duke of York, by saying that he was
talked of for an unfayre dealer with masters of ships, about freight: to
which Sir T. Littleton very hotly and foolishly replied presently, that he
never heard any honest man speak ill of Child; to which the Duke of York
did make a smart reply, and was angry; so as I was sorry to hear it come
so far, and that I, by seeming to assent to Cox, might be observed too
much by Littleton, though I said nothing aloud, for this must breed great
heart-burnings. After this meeting done, the Duke of York took the
Treasurers into his closet to chide them, as Mr. Wren tells me; for that
my Lord Keeper did last night at the Council say, when nobody was ready to
say any thing against the constitution of the Navy, that he did believe
the Treasurers of the Navy had something to say, which was very foul on
their part, to be parties against us. They being gone, Mr. Wren [and I]
took boat, thinking to dine with my Lord of Canterbury; but, when we come
to Lambeth, the gate was shut, which is strictly done at twelve o'clock,
and nobody comes in afterwards: so we lost our labour, and therefore back
to White Hall, and thence walked my boy Jacke with me, to my Lord Crew,
whom I have not seen since he was sick, which is eight months ago, I think
and there dined with him: he is mightily broke. A stranger a country
gentleman, was with him: and he pleased with my discourse accidentally
about the decay of gentlemen's families in the country, telling us that
the old rule was, that a family might remain fifty miles from London one
hundred years, one hundred miles from London two hundred years, and so
farther, or nearer London more or less years. He also told us that he hath
heard his father say, that in his time it was so rare for a country
gentleman to come to London, that, when he did come, he used to make his
will before he set out. Thence: to St. James's, and there met the Duke of
York, who told me, with great content, that he did now think he should
master our adversaries, for that the King did tell him that he was;
satisfied in the constitution of the Navy, but that it was well to give
these people leave to object against it, which they having not done, he
did give order to give warrant to the Duke of York to direct Sir Jeremy
Smith to be a Commissioner of the Navy in the room of Pen; which, though
he be an impertinent fellow, yet I am glad of it, it showing that the
other side is not so strong as it was: and so, in plain terms, the Duke of
York did tell me, that they were every day losing ground; and particularly
that he would take care to keep out Child: at all which I am glad, though
yet I dare not think myself secure, as the King may yet be wrought upon by
these people to bring changes in our Office, and remove us, ere it be
long. Thence I to White Hall, an there took boat to Westminster, and to
Mrs. Martin's, who is not come to town from her husband at Portsmouth. So
drank only at Cragg's with Doll, and so to the Swan, and there baiser a
new maid that is there, and so to White Hall again, to a Committee of
Tangier, where I see all things going to rack in the business of the
Corporation, and consequently in the place, by Middleton's going. Thence
walked a little with Creed, who tells me he hears how fine my horses and
coach are, and advises me to avoid being noted for it, which I was vexed
to hear taken notice of, it being what I feared and Povy told me of my
gold-lace sleeves in the Park yesterday, which vexed me also, so as to
resolve never to appear in Court with them, but presently to have them
taken off, as it is fit I should, and so to my wife at Unthanke's, and
coach, and so called at my tailor's to that purpose, and so home, and
after a little walk in the garden, home to supper and to bed.

11th. My wife again up by four o'clock, to go to gather May-dew; and so
back home by seven, to bed, and by and by I up and to the office, where
all the morning, and dined at noon at home with my people, and so all the
afternoon. In the evening my wife and I all alone, with the boy, by
water, up as high as Putney almost, with the tide, and back again, neither
staying going nor coming; but talking, and singing, and reading a foolish
copy of verses upon my Lord Mayor's entertaining of all the bachelors,
designed in praise to my Lord Mayor, and so home and to the office a
little, and then home to bed, my eyes being bad. Some trouble at Court
for fear of the Queen's miscarrying; she being, as they all conclude, far
gone with child.

12th. Up, and to Westminster Hall, where the term is, and this the first
day of my being there, and here by chance met Roger Pepys, come to town
the last night: I was glad to see him. After some talk with him and
others, and among others Sir Charles Harbord and Sidney Montagu, the
latter of whom is to set out to-morrow towards Flanders and Italy, I
invited them to dine with me to-morrow, and so to Mrs. Martin's lodging,
who come to town last night, and there je did hazer her, she having been a
month, I think, at Portsmouth with her husband, newly come home from the
Streights. But, Lord! how silly the woman talks of her great
entertainment there, and how all the gentry come to visit her, and that
she believes her husband is worth L6 or L700, which nevertheless I am glad
of, but I doubt they will spend it a fast. Thence home, and after dinner
my wife and I to the Duke of York's playhouse, and there, in the side
balcony, over against the musick, did hear, but not see, a new play, the
first day acted, "The Roman Virgin," an old play, and but ordinary, I
thought; but the trouble of my eyes with the light of the candles did
almost kill me. Thence to my Lord Sandwich's, and there had a promise
from Sidney to come and dine with me to-morrow; and so my wife and I home
in our coach, and there find my brother John, as I looked for, come to
town from Ellington, where, among other things, he tell me the first news
that my [sister Jackson] is with child, and fat gone, which I know not
whether it did more trouble or please me, having no great care for my
friends to have children; though I love other people's. So, glad to see
him, we to supper, and so to bed.

13th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, it being a rainy foul
day. But at noon comes my Lord Hinchingbroke, and Sidney, and Sir Charles
Harbord, and Roger Pepys, and dined with me; and had a good dinner, and
very merry with; us all the afternoon, it being a farewell to Sidney; and
so in the evening they away, and I to my business at the Office and so to
supper, and talk with my brother, and so to bed.

14th. Up, and to St. James's to the Duke of York, and thence to White
Hall, where we met about office business, and then at noon with Mr. Wren
to Lambeth, to dinner with the Archbishop of Canterbury; the first time I
was ever there and I have long longed for it; where a noble house, and
well furnished with good pictures and furniture, and noble attendance in
good order, and great deal of company, though an ordinary day; and
exceeding great cheer, no where better, or so much, that ever I think I
saw, for an ordinary table: and the Bishop mighty kind to me, particularly
desiring my company another time, when less company there. Most of the
company gone, and I going, I heard by a gentleman of a sermon that was to
be there; and so I staid to hear it, thinking it serious, till by and by
the gentleman told me it was a mockery, by one Cornet Bolton, a very
gentleman-like man, that behind a chair did pray and preach like a
Presbyter Scot that ever I heard in my life, with all the possible
imitation in grimaces and voice. And his text about the hanging up their
harps upon the willows: and a serious good sermon too, exclaiming against
Bishops, and crying up of my good Lord Eglinton, a till it made us all
burst; but I did wonder to have the Bishop at this time to make himself
sport with things of this kind, but I perceive it was shewn him as a
rarity; and he took care to have the room-door shut, but there were about
twenty gentlemen there, and myself, infinitely pleased with the novelty.
So over to White Hall, to a little Committee of Tangier; and thence
walking in the Gallery, I met Sir Thomas Osborne, who, to my great
content, did of his own accord fall into discourse with me, with so much
professions of value and respect, placing the whole virtue of the Office
of the Navy upon me, and that for the Comptroller's place, no man in
England was fit for it but me, when Sir J. Minnes, as he says it is
necessary, is removed: but then he knows not what to do for a man in my
place; and in discourse, though I have no mind to the other, I did bring
in Tom Hater to be the fittest man in the world for it, which he took good
notice of. But in the whole I was mightily pleased, reckoning myself now
fifty per cent. securer in my place than I did before think myself to be.
Thence to Unthanke's, and there find my wife, but not dressed, which vexed
me, because going to the Park, it being a most pleasant day after
yesterday's rain, which lays all the dust, and most people going out
thither, which vexed me. So home, sullen; but then my wife and I by
water, with my brother, as high as Fulham, talking and singing, and
playing the rogue with the Western barge-men, about the women of Woolwich,
which mads them, an so back home to supper and to bed.

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