Diary of Samuel Pepys, August 1668
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Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, August 1668
23rd (Lord's day). Up betimes, my head busy in my great letter, and I did
first hang up my new map of Paris in my green room, and changed others in
other places. Then to Captain Cocke's, thinking to have talked more of
what he told me yesterday, but he was not within. So back to church, and
heard a good sermon of Mr. Gifford's at our church, upon "Seek ye first
the kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness, and all these things shall be
added to you." A very excellent and persuasive, good and moral sermon.
Shewed, like a wise man, that righteousness is a surer moral way of being
rich, than sin and villainy. Then home to dinner, where Mr. Pelting, who
brought us a hare, which we had at dinner, and W. Howe. After dinner to
the Office, Mr. Gibson and I, to examine my letter to the Duke of York,
which, to my great joy, I did very well by my paper tube, without pain to
my eyes. And I do mightily like what I have therein done; and did,
according to the Duke of York's order, make haste to St. James's, and
about four o'clock got thither: and there the Duke of York was ready, to
expect me, and did hear it all over with extraordinary content; and did
give me many and hearty thanks, and in words the most expressive tell me
his sense of my good endeavours, and that he would have a care of me on
all occasions; and did, with much inwardness,--[i.e., intimacy.]--tell me
what was doing, suitable almost to what Captain Cocke tells me, of designs
to make alterations in the Navy; and is most open to me in them, and with
utmost confidence desires my further advice on all occasions: and he
resolves to have my letter transcribed, and sent forthwith to the Office.
So, with as much satisfaction as I could possibly, or did hope for, and
obligation on the Duke of York's side professed to me, I away into the
Park, and there met Mr. Pierce and his wife, and sister and brother, and a
little boy, and with them to Mulberry Garden, and spent I 18s. on them,
and there left them, she being again with child, and by it, the least
pretty that ever I saw her. And so I away, and got a coach, and home, and
there with my wife and W. Hewer, talking all the evening, my mind running
on the business of the Office, to see what more I can do to the rendering
myself acceptable and useful to all and to the King. We to supper, and to
bed.
24th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning upon considerations on
the Victualler's contract, and then home to dinner, where my wife is upon
hanging the long chamber where the girl lies, with the sad stuff that was
in the best chamber, in order to the hanging that with tapestry. So to
dinner, and then to the office again, where all the afternoon till night,
we met to discourse upon the alterations which are propounded to be made
in the draft of the victualler's contract which we did lately make, and
then we being up comes Mr. Child, Papillion and Littleton, his partners,
to discourse upon the matter with me, which I did, and spent all the
evening with them at the office, and so, they being gone, I to supper and
talk with my wife, and so to bed.
25th. Up, and by water to St. James's, and there, with Mr. Wren, did
discourse about my great letter, which the Duke of York hath given him:
and he hath set it to be transcribed by Billings, his man, whom, as he
tells me, he can most confide in for secresy, and is much pleased with it,
and earnest to have it be; and he and I are like to be much together in
the considering how to reform the Office, and that by the Duke of York's
command. Thence I, mightily pleased with this success, away to the
Office, where all the morning, my head full of this business. And it is
pretty how Lord Brouncker this day did tell me how he hears that a design
is on foot to remove us out of the Office: and proposes that we two do
agree to draw up a form of a new constitution of the Office, there to
provide remedies for the evils we are now under, so that we may be
beforehand with the world, which I agreed to, saying nothing of my design;
and, the truth is, he is the best man of them all, and I would be glad,
next myself, to save him; for, as he deserves best, so I doubt he needs
his place most. So home to dinner at noon, and all the afternoon busy at
the office till night, and then with my mind full of business now in my
head, I to supper and to bed.
26th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning almost, busy about
business against the afternoon, and we met a little to sign two or three
things at the Board of moment, and thence at noon home to dinner, and so
away to White Hall by water. In my way to the Old Swan, finding a great
many people gathered together in Cannon Street about a man that was
working in the ruins, and the ground did sink under him, and he sunk in,
and was forced to be dug out again, but without hurt. Thence to White
Hall, and it is strange to say with what speed the people employed do pull
down Paul's steeple, and with what ease: it is said that it, and the choir
are to be taken down this year, and another church begun in the room
thereof, the next. At White Hall we met at the Treasury chamber, and
there before the Lords did debate our draft of the victualling contract
with the several bidders for it, which were Sir D. Gawden, Mr. Child and
his fellows, and Mr. Dorrington and his, a poor variety in a business of
this value. There till after candle-lighting, and so home by coach with
Sir D. Gawden, who, by the way, tells me how the City do go on in several
things towards the building of the public places, which I am glad to hear;
and gives hope that in a few years it will be a glorious place; but we met
with several stops and new troubles in the way in the streets, so as makes
it bad to travel in the dark now through the City. So I to Mr. Batelier's
by appointment, where I find my wife, and Deb., and Mercer; Mrs. Pierce
and her husband, son, and daughter; and Knepp and Harris, and W. Batelier,
and his sister Mary, and cozen Gumbleton, a good-humoured, fat young
gentleman, son to the jeweller, that dances well; and here danced all
night long, with a noble supper; and about two in the morning the table
spread again for a noble breakfast beyond all moderation, that put me out
of countenance, so much and so good. Mrs. Pierce and her people went home
betimes, she being big with child; but Knepp and the rest staid till
almost three in the morning, and then broke up.
27th. Knepp home with us, and I to bed, and rose about six, mightily
pleased with last night's mirth, and away by water to St. James's, and
there, with Mr. Wren, did correct his copy of my letter, which the Duke of
York hath signed in my very words, without alteration of a syllable.
[A copy of this letter is in the British Museum, Harl. MS. 6003.
See July 24th, ante, and August 29th, Post. In the Pepysian
Collection are the following: An Inquisition, by his Royal Highness
the Duke of York, when Lord High Admiral of England, into the
Management of the Navy, 1668, with his Regulations thereon, fol.
Also Mr. Pepys's Defence of the same upon an Inquisition thereunto
by Parliament, 1669, fol.--B.]
And so pleased therewith, I to my Lord Brouncker, who I find within, but
hath business, and so comes not to the Office to-day. And so I by water
to the Office, where we sat all the morning; and, just as the Board rises,
comes the Duke of York's letter, which I knowing, and the Board not being
full, and desiring rather to have the Duke of York deliver it himself to
us, I suppressed it for this day, my heart beginning to falsify in this
business, as being doubtful of the trouble it may give me by provoking
them; but, however, I am resolved to go through it, and it is too late to
help it now. At noon to dinner to Captain Cocke's, where I met with Mr.
Wren; my going being to tell him what I have done, which he likes, and to
confer with Cocke about our Office; who tells me that he is confident the
design of removing our Officers do hold, but that he is sure that I am
safe enough. Which pleases me, though I do not much shew it to him, but
as a thing indifferent. So away home, and there met at Sir Richard Ford's
with the Duke of York's Commissioners about our Prizes, with whom we shall
have some trouble before we make an end with them, and hence, staying a
little with them, I with my wife, and W. Batelier, and Deb.; carried them
to Bartholomew Fayre, where we saw the dancing of the ropes and nothing
else, it being late, and so back home to supper and to bed, after having
done at my office.
28th. Busy at the office till toward 10 o'clock, and then by water to
White Hall, where attending the Council's call all the morning with Lord
Brouncker, W. Pen, and the rest, about the business of supernumeraries in
the fleete, but were not called in. But here the Duke of York did call me
aside, and told me that he must speak with me in the afternoon, with Mr.
Wren, for that now he hath got the paper from my Lord Keeper about the
exceptions taken against the management of the Navy; and so we are to
debate upon answering them. At noon I home with W. Coventry to his house;
and there dined with him, and talked freely with him; and did acquaint him
with what I have done, which he is well pleased with, and glad of: and do
tell me that there are endeavours on foot to bring the Navy into new, but,
he fears, worse hands. After much talk with great content with him, I
walked to the Temple, and staid at Starky's, my bookseller's (looking over
Dr. Heylin's new book of the Life of Bishop Laud, a strange book of the
Church History of his time), till Mr. Wren comes, and by appointment we to
the Atturney General's chamber, and there read and heard the witnesses in
the business of Ackeworth, most troublesome and perplexed by the counter
swearing of the witnesses one against the other, and so with Mr. Wren away
thence to St. [James's] for his papers, and so to White Hall, and after
the Committee was done at the Council chamber about the business of
Supernumeraries, wherein W. Pen was to do all and did, but like an
ignorant illiterate coxcomb, the Duke of York fell to work with us, the
Committee being gone, in the Council-chamber; and there, with his own
hand, did give us his long letter, telling us that he had received several
from us, and now did give us one from him, taking notice of our several
duties and failures, and desired answer to it, as he therein desired; this
pleased me well; and so fell to other business, and then parted. And the
Duke of York, and Wren, and I, it being now candle-light, into the Duke of
York's closet in White Hall; and there read over this paper of my Lord
Keeper's, wherein are laid down the faults of the Navy, so silly, and the
remedies so ridiculous, or else the same that are now already provided,
that we thought it not to need any answer, the Duke of York being able
himself to do it: that so it makes us admire the confidence of these men
to offer things so silly, in a business of such moment. But it is a most
perfect instance of the complexion of the times! and so the Duke of York
said himself, who, I perceive, is mightily concerned in it, and do, again
and again, recommend it to Mr. Wren and me together, to consider upon
remedies fit to provide for him to propound to the King, before the rest
of the world, and particularly the Commissioners of Accounts, who are men
of understanding and order, to find our faults, and offer remedies of
their own, which I am glad of, and will endeavour to do something in it.
So parted, and with much difficulty, by candle-light, walked over the
Matted Gallery, as it is now with the mats and boards all taken up, so
that we walked over the rafters. But strange to see what hard matter the
plaister of Paris is, that is there taken up, as hard as stone! And pity
to see Holben's work in the ceiling blotted on, and only whited over!
Thence; with much ado, by several coaches home, to supper and to bed. My
wife having been this day with Hales, to sit for her hand to be mended, in
her picture.
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