Diary of Samuel Pepys, August 1665
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Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, August 1665
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.
AUGUST
1665
August 1st. Slept, and lay long; then up and my Lord [Crew] and Sir G.
Carteret being gone abroad, I first to see the bridegroom and bride, and
found them both up, and he gone to dress himself. Both red in the face,
and well enough pleased this morning with their night's lodging. Thence
down and Mr. Brisband and I to billiards: anon come my Lord and Sir G.
Carteret in, who have been looking abroad and visiting some farms that Sir
G. Carteret hath thereabouts, and, among other things, report the greatest
stories of the bigness of the calfes they find there, ready to sell to the
butchers, as big, they say, as little Cowes, and that they do give them a
piece of chalke to licke, which they hold makes them white in the flesh
within. Very merry at dinner, and so to talk and laugh after dinner, and
up and down, some to [one] place, some to another, full of content on all
sides. Anon about five o'clock, Sir G. Carteret and his lady and I took
coach with the greatest joy and kindnesse that could be from the two
familys or that ever I saw with so much appearance, and, I believe,
reality in all my life. Drove hard home, and it was night ere we got to
Deptford, where, with much kindnesse from them to me, I left them, and
home to the office, where I find all well, and being weary and sleepy, it
being very late, I to bed.
2nd. Up, it being a publique fast, as being the first Wednesday of the
month, for the plague; I within doors all day, and upon my monthly
accounts late, and there to my great joy settled almost all my private
matters of money in my books clearly, and allowing myself several sums
which I had hitherto not reckoned myself sure of, because I would not be
over sure of any thing, though with reason I might do it, I did find
myself really worth L1900, for which the great God of Heaven and Earth be
praised! At night to the office to write a few letters, and so home to
bed, after fitting myself for tomorrow's journey.
3rd. Up, and betimes to Deptford to Sir G. Carteret's, where, not liking
the horse that had been hired by Mr. Uthwayt for me, I did desire Sir G.
Carteret to let me ride his new L40 horse, which he did, and so I left my
'hacquenee'--[Haquenee = an ambling nag fitted for ladies'
riding.]--behind, and so after staying a good while in their bedchamber
while they were dressing themselves, discoursing merrily, I parted and to
the ferry, where I was forced to stay a great while before I could get my
horse brought over, and then mounted and rode very finely to Dagenhams;
all the way people, citizens, walking to and again to enquire how the
plague is in the City this week by the Bill; which by chance, at
Greenwich, I had heard was 2,020 of the plague, and 3,000 and odd of all
diseases; but methought it was a sad question to be so often asked me.
Coming to Dagenhams, I there met our company coming out of the house,
having staid as long as they could for me; so I let them go a little
before, and went and took leave of my Lady Sandwich, good woman, who seems
very sensible of my service in this late business, and having her
directions in some things, among others, to get Sir G. Carteret and my
Lord to settle the portion, and what Sir G. Carteret is to settle, into
land, soon as may be, she not liking that it should lie long undone, for
fear of death on either side. So took leave of her, and then down to the
buttery, and eat a piece of cold venison pie, and drank and took some
bread and cheese in my hand; and so mounted after them, Mr. Marr very
kindly staying to lead me the way. By and by met my Lord Crew returning,
after having accompanied them a little way, and so after them, Mr. Marr
telling me by the way how a mayde servant of Mr. John Wright's (who lives
thereabouts) falling sick of the plague, she was removed to an out-house,
and a nurse appointed to look to her; who, being once absent, the mayde
got out of the house at the window, and run away. The nurse coming and
knocking, and having no answer, believed she was dead, and went and told
Mr. Wright so; who and his lady were in great strait what to do to get her
buried. At last resolved to go to Burntwood hard by, being in the parish,
and there get people to do it. But they would not; so he went home full
of trouble, and in the way met the wench walking over the common, which
frighted him worse than before; and was forced to send people to take her,
which he did; and they got one of the pest coaches and put her into it to
carry her to a pest house. And passing in a narrow lane, Sir Anthony
Browne, with his brother and some friends in the coach, met this coach
with the curtains drawn close. The brother being a young man, and
believing there might be some lady in it that would not be seen, and the
way being narrow, he thrust his head out of his own into her coach, and to
look, and there saw somebody look very ill, and in a sick dress, and stunk
mightily; which the coachman also cried out upon. And presently they come
up to some people that stood looking after it, and told our gallants that
it was a mayde of Mr. Wright's carried away sick of the plague; which put
the young gentleman into a fright had almost cost him his life, but is now
well again. I, overtaking our young people, 'light, and into the coach to
them, where mighty merry all the way; and anon come to the Blockehouse,
over against Gravesend, where we staid a great while, in a little
drinking-house. Sent back our coaches to Dagenhams. I, by and by, by
boat to Gravesend, where no newes of Sir G. Carteret come yet; so back
again, and fetched them all over, but the two saddle-horses that were to
go with us, which could not be brought over in the horseboat, the wind and
tide being against us, without towing; so we had some difference with some
watermen, who would not tow them over under 20s., whereupon I swore to
send one of them to sea and will do it. Anon some others come to me and
did it for 10s. By and by comes Sir G. Carteret, and so we set out for
Chatham: in my way overtaking some company, wherein was a lady, very
pretty, riding singly, her husband in company with her. We fell into
talke, and I read a copy of verses which her husband showed me, and he
discommended, but the lady commended: and I read them, so as to make the
husband turn to commend them. By and by he and I fell into acquaintance,
having known me formerly at the Exchequer. His name is Nokes, over
against Bow Church. He was servant to Alderman Dashwood. We promised to
meet, if ever we come both to London again; and, at parting, I had a fair
salute on horseback, in Rochester streets, of the lady, and so parted.
Come to Chatham mighty merry, and anon to supper, it being near 9 o'clock
ere we come thither. My Lady Carteret come thither in a coach, by
herself, before us. Great mind they have to buy a little 'hacquenee' that
I rode on from Greenwich, for a woman's horse. Mighty merry, and after
supper, all being withdrawn, Sir G. Carteret did take an opportunity to
speak with much value and kindness to me, which is of great joy to me. So
anon to bed. Mr. Brisband and I together to my content.
4th. Up at five o'clock, and by six walked out alone, with my Lady
Slanning, to the Docke Yard, where walked up and down, and so to Mr.
Pett's, who led us into his garden, and there the lady, the best humoured
woman in the world, and a devout woman (I having spied her on her knees
half an houre this morning in her chamber), clambered up to the top of the
banquetting-house to gather nuts, and mighty merry, and so walked back
again through the new rope house, which is very usefull; and so to the
Hill-house to breakfast and mighty merry. Then they took coach, and Sir
G. Carteret kissed me himself heartily, and my Lady several times, with
great kindnesse, and then the young ladies, and so with much joy, bade
"God be with you!" and an end I think it will be to my mirthe for a great
while, it having been the passage of my whole life the most pleasing for
the time, considering the quality and nature of the business, and my noble
usage in the doing of it, and very many fine journys, entertainments and
great company. I returned into the house for a while to do business there
with Commissioner Pett, and there with the officers of the Chest, where I
saw more of Sir W. Batten's business than ever I did before, for whereas
he did own once under his hand to them that he was accountable for L2200,
of which he had yet paid but L1600, he writes them a letter lately that he
hath but about L50 left that is due to the Chest, but I will do something
in it and that speedily. That being done I took horse, and Mr. Barrow with
me bore me company to Gravesend, discoursing of his business, wherein I
vexed him, and he me, I seeing his frowardness, but yet that he is in my
conscience a very honest man, and some good things he told me, which I
shall remember to the King's advantage. There I took boat alone, and, the
tide being against me, landed at Blackwall and walked to Wapping, Captain
Bowd whom I met with talking with me all the way, who is a sober man. So
home, and found all things well, and letters from Dover that my Lord
Hinchingbroke is arrived at Dover, and would be at Scott's hall this
night, where the whole company will meet. I wish myself with them. After
writing a few letters I took boat and down to Woolwich very late, and
there found my wife and her woman upon the key hearing a fellow in a
barge, that lay by, fiddle. So I to them and in, very merry, and to bed,
I sleepy and weary.
5th. In the morning up, and my wife showed me several things of her
doing, especially one fine woman's Persian head mighty finely done, beyond
what I could expect of her; and so away by water, having ordered in the
yarde six or eight bargemen to be whipped, who had last night stolen some
of the King's cordage from out of the yarde. I to Deptford, and there by
agreement met with my Lord Bruncker, and there we kept our office, he and
I, and did what there was to do, and at noon parted to meet at the office
next week. Sir W. Warren and I thence did walk through the rain to
Half-Way House, and there I eat a piece of boiled beef and he and I talked
over several businesses, among others our design upon the mast docke,
which I hope to compass and get 2 or L300 by. Thence to Redriffe, where we
parted, and I home, where busy all the afternoon. Stepped to Colvill's to
set right a business of money, where he told me that for certain De Ruyter
is come home, with all his fleete, which is very ill newes, considering
the charge we have been at in keeping a fleete to the northward so long,
besides the great expectation of snapping him, wherein my Lord Sandwich
will I doubt suffer some dishonour. I am told also of a great ryott upon
Thursday last in Cheapside; Colonell Danvers, a delinquent, having been
taken, and in his way to the Tower was rescued from the captain of the
guard, and carried away; only one of the rescuers being taken. I am told
also that the Duke of Buckingham is dead, but I know not of a certainty.
So home and very late at letters, and then home to supper and to bed.
6th (Lord's day). Dressed and had my head combed by my little girle, to
whom I confess 'que je sum demasiado kind, nuper ponendo mes mains in su
des choses de son breast, mais il faut que je' leave it lest it bring me
to 'alcun major inconvenience'. So to my business in my chamber, look
over and settling more of my papers than I could the two last days I have
spent about them. In the evening, it raining hard, down to Woolwich,
where after some little talk to bed.
7th. Up, and with great pleasure looking over my wife's pictures, and
then to see my Lady Pen, whom I have not seen since her coming hither, and
after being a little merry with her, she went forth and I staid there
talking with Mrs. Pegg and looking over her pictures, and commended them;
but, Lord! so far short of my wife's, as no comparison. Thence to my
wife, and there spent, talking, till noon, when by appointment Mr. Andrews
come out of the country to speake with me about their Tangier business,
and so having done with him and dined, I home by water, where by
appointment I met Dr. Twisden, Mr. Povy, Mr. Lawson, and Stockdale about
settling their business of money; but such confusion I never met with, nor
could anything be agreed on, but parted like a company of fools, I vexed
to lose so much time and pains to no purpose. They gone, comes Rayner,
the boatmaker, about some business, and brings a piece of plate with him,
which I refused to take of him, thinking indeed that the poor man hath no
reason nor encouragement from our dealings with him to give any of us any
presents. He gone, there comes Luellin, about Mr. Deering's business of
planke, to have the contract perfected, and offers me twenty pieces in
gold, as Deering had done some time since himself, but I both then and now
refused it, resolving not to be bribed to dispatch business, but will have
it done however out of hand forthwith. So he gone, I to supper and to bed.
8th. Up and to the office, where all the morning we sat. At noon I home
to dinner alone, and after dinner Bagwell's wife waited at the door, and
went with me to my office . . . . So parted, and I to Sir W. Batten's,
and there sat the most of the afternoon talking and drinking too much with
my Lord Bruncker, Sir G. Smith, G. Cocke and others very merry. I drunk a
little mixed, but yet more than I should do. So to my office a little,
and then to the Duke of Albemarle's about some business. The streets
mighty empty all the way, now even in London, which is a sad sight. And
to Westminster Hall, where talking, hearing very sad stories from Mrs.
Mumford; among others, of Mrs. Michell's son's family. And poor Will,
that used to sell us ale at the Hall-door, his wife and three children
died, all, I think, in a day. So home through the City again, wishing I
may have taken no ill in going; but I will go, I think, no more thither.
Late at the office, and then home to supper, having taken a pullet home
with me, and then to bed. The news of De Kuyter's coming home is certain;
and told to the great disadvantage of our fleete, and the praise of De
Kuyter; but it cannot be helped, nor do I know what to say to it.
9th. Up betimes to my office, where Tom Hater to the writing of letters
with me, which have for a good while been in arreare, and we close at it
all day till night, only made a little step out for half an houre in the
morning to the Exchequer about striking of tallys, but no good done
therein, people being most out of towne. At noon T. Hater dined with me,
and so at it all the afternoon. At night home and supped, and after
reading a little in Cowley's poems, my head being disturbed with overmuch
business to-day, I to bed.
10th. Up betimes, and called upon early by my she-cozen Porter, the
turner's wife, to tell me that her husband was carried to the Tower, for
buying of some of the King's powder, and would have my helpe, but I could
give her none, not daring any more to appear in the business, having too
much trouble lately therein. By and by to the office, where we sat all
the morning; in great trouble to see the Bill this week rise so high, to
above 4,000 in all, and of them above 3,000 of the plague. And an odd
story of Alderman Bence's stumbling at night over a dead corps in the
streete, and going home and telling his wife, she at the fright, being
with child, fell sicke and died of the plague. We sat late, and then by
invitation my Lord Brunker, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten and I to Sir G.
Smith's to dinner, where very good company and good cheer. Captain Cocke
was there and Jacke Fenn, but to our great wonder Alderman Bence, and
tells us that not a word of all this is true, and others said so too, but
by his owne story his wife hath been ill, and he fain to leave his house
and comes not to her, which continuing a trouble to me all the time I was
there. Thence to the office and, after writing letters, home, to
draw-over anew my will, which I had bound myself by oath to dispatch by
to-morrow night; the town growing so unhealthy, that a man cannot depend
upon living two days to an end. So having done something of it, I to bed.
11th. Up, and all day long finishing and writing over my will twice, for
my father and my wife, only in the morning a pleasant rencontre happened
in having a young married woman brought me by her father, old Delkes, that
carries pins always in his mouth, to get her husband off that he should
not go to sea, 'une contre pouvait avoir done any cose cum else, but I did
nothing, si ni baisser her'. After they were gone my mind run upon having
them called back again, and I sent a messenger to Blackwall, but he
failed. So I lost my expectation. I to the Exchequer, about striking new
tallys, and I find the Exchequer, by proclamation, removing to
Nonesuch.--[Nonsuch Palace, near Epsom, where the Exchequer money was kept
during the time of the plague.]--Back again and at my papers, and putting
up my books into chests, and settling my house and all things in the best
and speediest order I can, lest it should please God to take me away, or
force me to leave my house. Late up at it, and weary and full of wind,
finding perfectly that so long as I keepe myself in company at meals and
do there eat lustily (which I cannot do alone, having no love to eating,
but my mind runs upon my business), I am as well as can be, but when I
come to be alone, I do not eat in time, nor enough, nor with any good
heart, and I immediately begin to be full of wind, which brings my pain,
till I come to fill my belly a-days again, then am presently well.
12th. The office now not sitting, but only hereafter on Thursdays at the
office, I within all the morning about my papers and setting things still
in order, and also much time in settling matters with Dr. Twisden. At
noon am sent for by Sir G. Carteret, to meet him and my Lord Hinchingbroke
at Deptford, but my Lord did not come thither, he having crossed the river
at Gravesend to Dagenhams, whither I dare not follow him, they being
afeard of me; but Sir G. Carteret says, he is a most sweet youth in every
circumstance. Sir G. Carteret being in haste of going to the Duke of
Albemarle and the Archbishop, he was pettish, and so I could not fasten
any discourse, but take another time. So he gone, I down to Greenwich and
sent away the Bezan, thinking to go with my wife to-night to come back
again to-morrow night to the Soveraigne at the buoy off the Nore. Coming
back to Deptford, old Bagwell walked a little way with me, and would have
me in to his daughter's, and there he being gone 'dehors, ego had my
volunte de su hiza'. Eat and drank and away home, and after a little at
the office to my chamber to put more things still in order, and late to
bed. The people die so, that now it seems they are fain to carry the dead
to be buried by day-light, the nights not sufficing to do it in. And my
Lord Mayor commands people to be within at nine at night all, as they say,
that the sick may have liberty to go abroad for ayre. There is one also
dead out of one of our ships at Deptford, which troubles us mightily; the
Providence fire-ship, which was just fitted to go to sea. But they tell
me to-day no more sick on board. And this day W. Bodham tells me that one
is dead at Woolwich, not far from the Rope-yard. I am told, too, that a
wife of one of the groomes at Court is dead at Salsbury; so that the King
and Queene are speedily to be all gone to Milton. God preserve us!
13th (Lord's day). Up betimes and to my chamber, it being a very wet day
all day, and glad am I that we did not go by water to see "The Soveraigne"
["The Sovereign of the Seas" was built at Woolwich in 1637 of timber
which had been stripped of its bark while growing in the spring, and
not felled till the second autumn afterwards; and it is observed by
Dr. Plot ("Phil. Trans." for 1691), in his discourse on the most
seasonable time for felling timber, written by the advice of Pepys,
that after forty-seven years, "all the ancient timber then remaining
in her, it was no easy matter to drive a nail into it" ("Quarterly
Review," vol. viii., p. 35).--B.]
to-day, as I intended, clearing all matters in packing up my papers and
books, and giving instructions in writing to my executors, thereby
perfecting the whole business of my will, to my very great joy; so that I
shall be in much better state of soul, I hope, if it should please the
Lord to call me away this sickly time. At night to read, being weary with
this day's great work, and then after supper to bed, to rise betimes
to-morrow, and to bed with a mind as free as to the business of the world
as if I were not worth L100 in the whole world, every thing being evened
under my hand in my books and papers, and upon the whole I find myself
worth, besides Brampton estate, the sum of L2164, for which the Lord be
praised!
14th. Up, and my mind being at mighty ease from the dispatch of my
business so much yesterday, I down to Deptford to Sir G. Carteret, where
with him a great while, and a great deale of private talke concerning my
Lord Sandwich's and his matters, and chiefly of the latter, I giving him
great deale of advice about the necessity of his having caution concerning
Fenn, and the many ways there are of his being abused by any man in his
place, and why he should not bring his son in to look after his business,
and more, to be a Commissioner of the Navy, which he listened to and
liked, and told me how much the King was his good Master, and was sure not
to deny him that or any thing else greater than that, and I find him a
very cunning man, whatever at other times he seems to be, and among other
things he told me he was not for the fanfaroone
[Fanfaron, French, from fanfare, a sounding of trumpets; hence, a
swaggerer, or empty boaster.]
to make a show with a great title, as he might have had long since, but
the main thing to get an estate; and another thing, speaking of minding of
business, "By God," says he, "I will and have already almost brought it to
that pass, that the King shall not be able to whip a cat, but I must be at
the tayle of it." Meaning so necessary he is, and the King and my Lord
Treasurer and all do confess it; which, while I mind my business, is my
own case in this office of the Navy, and I hope shall be more, if God give
me life and health. Thence by agreement to Sir J. Minnes's lodgings,
where I found my Lord Bruncker, and so by water to the ferry, and there
took Sir W. Batten's coach that was sent for us, and to Sir W. Batten's,
where very merry, good cheer, and up and down the garden with great
content to me, and, after dinner, beat Captain Cocke at billiards, won
about 8s. of him and my Lord Bruncker. So in the evening after, much
pleasure back again and I by water to Woolwich, where supped with my wife,
and then to bed betimes, because of rising to-morrow at four of the clock
in order to the going out with Sir G. Carteret toward Cranborne to my Lord
Hinchingbrooke in his way to Court. This night I did present my wife with
the dyamond ring, awhile since given me by Mr. Dicke Vines's brother, for
helping him to be a purser, valued at about L10, the first thing of that
nature I did ever give her. Great fears we have that the plague will be a
great Bill this weeke.
15th. Up by 4 o'clock and walked to Greenwich, where called at Captain
Cocke's and to his chamber, he being in bed, where something put my last
night's dream into my head, which I think is the best that ever was
dreamt, which was that I had my Lady Castlemayne in my armes and was
admitted to use all the dalliance I desired with her, and then dreamt that
this could not be awake, but that it was only a dream; but that since it
was a dream, and that I took so much real pleasure in it, what a happy
thing it would be if when we are in our graves (as Shakespeere resembles
it) we could dream, and dream but such dreams as this, that then we should
not need to be so fearful of death, as we are this plague time. Here I
hear that news is brought Sir G. Carteret that my Lord Hinchingbrooke is
not well, and so cannot meet us at Cranborne to-night. So I to Sir G.
Carteret's; and there was sorry with him for our disappointment. So we
have put off our meeting there till Saturday next. Here I staid talking
with Sir G. Carteret, he being mighty free with me in his business, and
among other things hath ordered Rider and Cutler to put into my hands
copper to the value of L5,000 (which Sir G. Carteret's share it seems come
to in it), which is to raise part of the money he is to layout for a
purchase for my Lady Jemimah. Thence he and I to Sir J. Minnes's by
invitation, where Sir W. Batten and my Lady, and my Lord Bruncker, and all
of us dined upon a venison pasty and other good meat, but nothing well
dressed. But my pleasure lay in getting some bills signed by Sir G.
Carteret, and promise of present payment from Mr. Fenn, which do rejoice
my heart, it being one of the heaviest things I had upon me, that so much
of the little I have should lie (viz. near L1000) in the King's hands.
Here very merry and (Sir G. Carteret being gone presently after dinner) to
Captain Cocke's, and there merry, and so broke up and I by water to the
Duke of Albemarle, with whom I spoke a great deale in private, they being
designed to send a fleete of ships privately to the Streights. No news
yet from our fleete, which is much wondered at, but the Duke says for
certain guns have been heard to the northward very much. It was dark
before I could get home, and so land at Church-yard stairs, where, to my
great trouble, I met a dead corps of the plague, in the narrow ally just
bringing down a little pair of stairs. But I thank God I was not much
disturbed at it. However, I shall beware of being late abroad again.