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Edgar Rice Burroughs - "The Gods of Mars"

Samuel Pepys - "Diary of Samuel Pepys, December 1664"

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Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete

S >> Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete




24th. We rose, and set forth, but found a most sad alteration in the road
by reason of last night's rains, they being now all dirty and washy,
though not deep. So we rode easily through, and only drinking at
Holloway, at the sign of a woman with cakes in one hand and a pot of ale
in the other, which did give good occasion of mirth, resembling her to the
maid that served us, we got home very timely and well, and finding there
all well, and letters from sea, that speak of my Lord's being well, and
his action, though not considerable of any side, at Argier.--[Algiers]--I
went straight to my Lady, and there sat and talked with her, and so home
again, and after supper we to bed somewhat weary, hearing of nothing ill
since my absence but my brother Tom, who is pretty well though again.

25th. By coach with Sir W. Pen to Covent Garden. By the way, upon my
desire, he told me that I need not fear any reflection upon my Lord for
their ill success at Argier, for more could not be done than was done. I
went to my cozen, Thos. Pepys, there, and talked with him a good while
about our country business, who is troubled at my uncle Thomas his folly,
and so we parted; and then meeting Sir R. Slingsby in St. Martin's Lane,
he and I in his coach through the Mewes, which is the way that now all
coaches are forced to go, because of a stop at Charing Cross, by reason of
a drain there to clear the streets. To Whitehall, and there to Mr.
Coventry, and talked with him, and thence to my Lord Crew's and dined with
him, where I was used with all imaginable kindness both from him and her.
And I see that he is afraid that my Lord's reputacon will a little suffer
in common talk by this late success; but there is no help for it now. The
Queen of England (as she is now owned and called) I hear doth keep open
Court, and distinct at Lisbon. Hence, much against my nature and will,
yet such is the power of the Devil over me I could not refuse it, to the
Theatre, and saw "The Merry Wives of Windsor," ill done. And that ended,
with Sir W. Pen and Sir G. More to the tavern, and so home with him by
coach, and after supper to prayers and to bed. In full quiet of mind as
to thought, though full of business, blessed be God.

26th. At the office all the morning, so dined at home, and then abroad
with my wife by coach to the Theatre to shew her "King and no King," it
being very well done. And so by coach, though hard to get it, being
rainy, home. So to my chamber to write letters and the journal for these
six last days past.

27th. By coach to Whitehall with my wife (where she went to see Mrs.
Pierce, who was this day churched, her month of childbed being out). I
went to Mrs. Montagu and other businesses, and at noon met my wife at the
Wardrobe; and there dined, where we found Captain Country (my little
Captain that I loved, who carried me to the Sound), come with some grapes
and millons

[The antiquity of the cultivation of the melon is very remote. Both
the melon (cucaimis melo) and the water-melon (cucumis citrullus)
were introduced into England at the end of the sixteenth century.
See vol. i., p. 228.]

from my Lord at Lisbon, the first that ever I saw any, and my wife and I
eat some, and took some home; but the grapes are rare things. Here we
staid; and in the afternoon comes Mr. Edwd. Montagu (by appointment this
morning) to talk with my Lady and me about the provisions fit to be
bought, and sent to my Lord along with him. And told us, that we need not
trouble ourselves how to buy them, for the King would pay for all, and
that he would take care to get them: which put my Lady and me into a great
deal of ease of mind. Here we staid and supped too, and, after my wife
had put up some of the grapes in a basket for to be sent to the King, we
took coach and home, where we found a hampire of millons sent to me also.

28th. At the office in the morning, dined at home, and then Sir W. Pen
and his daughter and I and my wife to the Theatre, and there saw "Father's
own Son," a very good play, and the first time I ever saw it, and so at
night to my house, and there sat and talked and drank and merrily broke
up, and to bed.

29th (Lord's day). To church in the morning, and so to dinner, and Sir W.
Pen and daughter, and Mrs. Poole, his kinswoman, Captain Poole's wife,
came by appointment to dinner with us, and a good dinner we had for them,
and were very merry, and so to church again, and then to Sir W. Pen's and
there supped, where his brother, a traveller, and one that speaks Spanish
very well, and a merry man, supped with us, and what at dinner and supper
I drink I know not how, of my own accord, so much wine, that I was even
almost foxed, and my head aked all night; so home and to bed, without
prayers, which I never did yet, since I came to the house, of a Sunday
night: I being now so out of order that I durst not read prayers, for fear
of being perceived by my servants in what case I was. So to bed.

30th. This morning up by moon-shine, at 5 o'clock, to White Hall, to meet
Mr. Moore at the Privy Seal, but he not being come as appointed, I went
into King Street to the Red Lyon' to drink my morning draft, and there I
heard of a fray between the two Embassadors of Spain and France; and that,
this day, being the day of the entrance of an Embassador from Sweden, they
intended to fight for the precedence! Our King, I heard, ordered that no
Englishman should meddle in the business,

[The Comte de Brienne insinuates, in his "Memoirs," that Charles
purposely abstained from interfering, in the belief that it was for
his interest to let France and Spain quarrel, in order to further
his own designs in the match with Portugal. Louis certainly held
that opinion; and he afterwards instructed D'Estrades to solicit
from the English court the punishment of those Londoners who had
insulted his ambassador, and to demand the dismissal of De
Batteville. Either no Londoner had interfered, or Louis's demand
had not in England the same force as in Spain; for no one was
punished. The latter part of his request it was clearly not for
Charles to entertain, much less enforce.--B.]

but let them do what they would. And to that end all the soldiers in the
town were in arms all the day long, and some of the train-bands in the
City; and a great bustle through the City all the day. Then I to the
Privy Seal, and there Mr. Moore and a gentleman being come with him, we
took coach (which was the business I come for) to Chelsy, to my Lord Privy
Seal, and there got him to seal the business. Here I saw by day-light two
very fine pictures in the gallery, that a little while ago I saw by night;
and did also go all over the house, and found it to be the prettiest
contrived house that ever I saw in my life. So to coach back again; and
at White Hall light, and saw the soldiers and people running up and down
the streets. So I went to the Spanish Embassador's and the French, and
there saw great preparations on both sides; but the French made the most
noise and vaunted most, the other made no stir almost at all; so that I
was afraid the other would have had too great a conquest over them. Then
to the Wardrobe, and dined there, end then abroad and in Cheapside hear
that the Spanish hath got the best of it, and killed three of the French
coach-horses and several men, and is gone through the City next to our
King's coach; at which, it is strange to see how all the City did rejoice.
And indeed we do naturally all love the Spanish, and hate the French. But
I, as I am in all things curious, presently got to the water-side, and
there took oars to Westminster Palace, thinking to have seen them come in
thither with all the coaches, but they being come and returned, I ran
after them with my boy after me through all the dirt and the streets full
of people; till at last, at the Mewes, I saw the Spanish coach go, with
fifty drawn swords at least to guard it, and our soldiers shouting for
joy. And so I followed the coach, and then met it at York House, where
the embassador lies; and there it went in with great state. So then I went
to the French house, where I observe still, that there is no men in the
world of a more insolent spirit where they do well, nor before they begin
a matter, and more abject if they do miscarry, than these people are; for
they all look like dead men, and not a word among them, but shake their
heads. The truth is, the Spaniards were not only observed to fight most
desperately, but also they did outwitt them; first in lining their own
harness with chains of iron that they could not be cut, then in setting
their coach in the most advantageous place, and to appoint men to guard
every one of their horses, and others for to guard the coach, and others
the coachmen. And, above all, in setting upon the French horses and
killing them, for by that means the French were not able to stir. There
were several men slain of the French, and one or two of the Spaniards, and
one Englishman by a bullet. Which is very observable, the French were at
least four to one in number, and had near 100 case of pistols among them,
and the Spaniards had not one gun among them; which is for their honour
for ever, and the others' disgrace. So, having been very much daubed with
dirt, I got a coach, and home where I vexed my wife in telling of her this
story, and pleading for the Spaniards against the French. So ends this
month; myself and family in good condition of health, but my head full of
my Lord's and my own and the office business; where we are now very busy
about the business of sending forces to Tangier,

[This place so often mentioned, was first given up to the English
fleet under Lord Sandwich, by the Portuguese, January 30th, 1662;
and Lord Peterborough left governor, with a garrison. The greatest
pains were afterwards taken to preserve the fortress, and a fine
mole was constructed at a vast expense, to improve the harbour. At
length, after immense sums of money had been wasted there, the House
of Commons expressed a dislike to the management of the garrison,
which they suspected to be a nursery for a popish army, and seemed
disinclined to maintain it any longer. The king consequently, in
1683, sent Lord Dartmouth to bring home the troops, and destroy the
works; which he performed so effectually, that it would puzzle all
our engineers to restore the harbour. It were idle to speculate on
the benefits which might have accrued to England, by its
preservation and retention; Tangier fell into the hands of the
Moors, its importance having ceased, with the demolition of the
mole. Many curious views of Tangier were taken by Hollar, during
its occupation by the English; and his drawings are preserved in the
British Museum. Some have been engraved by himself; but the
impressions are of considerable rarity.--B.]

and the fleet to my Lord of Sandwich, who is now at Lisbon to bring over
the Queen, who do now keep a Court as Queen of England. The business of
Argier hath of late troubled me, because my Lord hath not done what he
went for, though he did as much as any man in the world could have done.
The want of money puts all things, and above all things the Nary, out of
order; and yet I do not see that the King takes care to bring in any
money, but thinks of new designs to lay out money.

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
OCTOBER
1661

October 1st. This morning my wife and I lay long in bed, and among other
things fell into talk of musique, and desired that I would let her learn
to sing, which I did consider, and promised her she should. So before I
rose, word was brought me that my singing master, Mr. Goodgroome, was come
to teach me and so she rose and this morning began to learn also. To the
office, where busy all day. So to dinner and then to the office again
till night, and then to my study at home to set matters and papers in
order, which, though I can hardly bring myself to do, yet do please me
much when it is done. So eat a bit of bread and cheese, and to bed.

2nd. All this morning at Pegg Kite's with my uncle Fenner, and two
friends of his, appraising her goods that her mother has left; but the
slut is like to prove so troublesome that I am out of heart with troubling
myself in her business. After we had done we all went to a cook's shop in
Bishopsgate Street and dined, and then I took them to the tavern and did
give them a quart of sack, and so parted. I home and then took my wife
out, and in a coach of a gentlewoman's that had been to visit my Lady
Batten and was going home again our way, we went to the Theatre, but
coming late, and sitting in an ill place, I never had so little pleasure
in a play in my life, yet it was the first time that ever I saw it,
"Victoria Corombona." Methinks a very poor play. Then at night troubled
to get my wife home, it being very dark, and so we were forced to have a
coach. So to supper and to bed.

3rd. At the office all the morning; dined at home, and in the afternoon
Mr. Moore came to me, and he and I went to Tower Hill to meet with a man,
and so back all three to my house, and there I signed a bond to Mr.
Battersby, a friend of Mr. Moore's, who lends me L50, the first money that
ever I borrowed upon bond for my own occasion, and so I took them to the
Mitre and a Portugal millon with me; there sat and discoursed in matters
of religion till night with great pleasure, and so parted, and I home,
calling at Sir W. Batten's, where his son and his wife were, who had
yesterday been at the play where we were, and it was good sport to hear
how she talked of it with admiration like a fool. So home, and my head
was not well with the wine that I drank to-day.

4th. By coach to White Hall with Sir W. Pen. So to Mr. Montagu, where
his man, Mons. Eschar, makes a great com plaint against the English, that
they did help the Spaniards against the French the other day; and that
their Embassador do demand justice of our King, and that he do resolve to
be gone for France the next week; which I, and all that I met with, are
very glad of. Thence to Paternoster Row, where my Will did receive the
L50 I borrowed yesterday. I to the Wardrobe to dinner, and there staid
most of the afternoon very merry with the ladies. Then Captain Ferrers
and I to the Theatre, and there came too late, so we staid and saw a bit
of "Victoria," which pleased me worse than it did the other day. So we
staid not to see it out, but went out and drank a bottle or two of China
ale, and so home, where I found my wife vexed at her people for grumbling
to eat Suffolk cheese, which I also am vexed at. So to bed.

5th. At the office all the morning, then dined at home, and so staid at
home all the afternoon putting up my Lord's model of the Royal James,
which I borrowed of him long ago to hang up in my room. And at night Sir
W. Pen and I alone to the Dolphin, and there eat some bloat-herrings

[To bloat is to dry by smoke, a method chiefly used to cure herrings
or bloaters. "I have more smoke in my mouth than would blote a
hundred herrings."--Beaumont and Fletcher, Island Princess. "Why,
you stink like so many bloat-herrings newly taken out of the
chimney."--Ben Jonson, "Masque of Augurs."]

and drank good sack. Then came in Sir W. Warren and another and staid a
while with us, and then Sir Arnold Brames, with whom we staid late and
till we had drank too much wine. So home and I to bed pleased at my
afternoon's work in hanging up the shipp. So to bed.

6th (Lord's day). To church in the morning; Mr. Mills preached, who, I
expect, should take in snuffe [anger] that my wife not come to his child's
christening the other day. The winter coming on, many of parish ladies
are come home and appear at church again; among others, the three sisters
the Thornbury's, a very fine, and the most zealous people that ever I saw
in my life, even to admiration, if it were true zeal. There was also my
pretty black girl, Mrs. Dekins, and Mrs. Margaret Pen, this day come to
church in a new flowered satin suit that my wife helped to buy her the
other day. So me to dinner, and to church in the afternoon to St.
Gregory's, by Paul's, where I saw Mr. Moose in the gallery and went up to
him and heard a good sermon of Dr. Buck's, one I never heard before, a
very able man. So home, and in the evening I went to my Valentine, her
father and mother being out of town, to fetch her to supper to my house,
and then came Sir W. Pen and would have her to his, so with much sport I
got them all to mine, and we were merry, and so broke up and to bed.

7th. Up in the morning and to my uncle Fenner's, thinking to have met Peg
Kite about her business but she comes not, so I went to Dr. Williams,
where I found him sick in bed and was sorry for it. So about business all
day, troubled in my mind till I can hear from Brampton, how things go on
at Sturtlow, at the Court, which I was cleared in at night by a letter,
which tells me that my cozen Tom was there to be admitted, in his father's
name, as heir-at-law, but that he was opposed, and I was admitted by
proxy, which put me out of great trouble of mind.

8th. At the office all the morning. After office done, went and eat some
Colchester oysters with Sir W. Batten at his house, and there, with some
company; dined and staid there talking all the afternoon; and late after
dinner took Mrs. Martha out by coach, and carried her to the Theatre in a
frolique, to my great expense, and there shewed her part of the "Beggar's
Bush," without much pleasure, but only for a frolique, and so home again.

9th. This morning went out about my affairs, among others to put my
Theorbo out to be mended, and then at noon home again, thinking to go with
Sir Williams both to dinner by invitation to Sir W. Rider's, but at home I
found Mrs. Pierce, la belle, and Madam Clifford, with whom I was forced to
stay, and made them the most welcome I could; and I was (God knows) very
well pleased with their beautiful company, and after dinner took them to
the Theatre, and shewed them "The Chances;" and so saw them both at home
and back to the Fleece tavern, in Covent Garden, where Luellin and
Blurton, and my old friend Frank Bagge, was to meet me, and there staid
till late very merry. Frank Bagge tells me a story of Mrs. Pepys that
lived with my Lady Harvy, Mr. Montagu's sister, a good woman; that she
had been very ill, and often asked for me; that she is in good condition,
and that nobody could get her to make her will; but that she did still
enquire for me, and that now she is well she desires to have a chamber at
my house. Now I do not know whether this is a trick of Bagge's, or a good
will of hers to do something for me; but I will not trust her, but told
him I should be glad to see her, and that I would be sure to do all that I
could to provide a place for her. So by coach home late.

10th. At the office all the morning; dined at home, and after dinner Sir
W. Pen and my wife and I to the Theatre (she first going into Covent
Garden to speak a word with a woman to enquire of her mother, and I in the
meantime with Sir W. Pen's coach staying at W. Joyce's), where the King
came to-day, and there was "The Traytor" most admirably acted; and a most
excellent play it is. So home, and intended to be merry, it being my
sixth wedding night; but by a late bruise . . . . I am in so much pain
that I eat my supper and in pain to bed, yet my wife and I pretty merry.

11th: All day in bed with a cataplasm . . . . and at night rose a
little, and to bed again in more ease than last night. This noon there
came my brother and Dr. Tom and Snow to dinner, and by themselves were
merry.

12th. In bed the greatest part of this day also, and my swelling in some
measure gone. I received a letter this day from my father, that Sir R.
Bernard do a little fear that my uncle has not observed exactly the custom
of Brampton in his will about his lands there, which puts me to a great
trouble in mind, and at, night wrote to him and to my father about it,
being much troubled at it.

13th (Lord's day). Did not stir out all day, but rose and dined below,
and this day left off half skirts and put on a wastecoate, and my false
taby wastecoate with gold lace; and in the evening there came Sir W.
Batten to see me, and sat and supped very kindly with me, and so to
prayers and to bed.

14th. This morning I ventured by water abroad to Westminster, but lost my
labour, for Mr. Montagu was not in town. So to the Wardrobe, and there
dined with my Lady, which is the first time I have seen her dine abroad
since her being brought to bed of my Lady Katherine. In the afternoon
Captain Ferrers and I walked abroad to several places, among others to Mr.
Pim's, my Lord's Taylour's, and there he went out with us to the Fountain
tavern and did give us store of wine, and it being the Duke of York's
birthday, we drank the more to his health. But, Lord! what a sad story he
makes of his being abused by a Dr. of Physique who is in one part of the
tenement wherein he dwells. It would make one laugh, though I see he is
under a great trouble in it. Thence home by link and found a good answer
from my father that Sir R. Bernard do clear all things as to us and our
title to Brampton, which puts my heart in great ease and quiet.

15th. At the office all the morning, and in the afternoon to Paul's
Churchyard to a blind place, where Mrs. Goldsborough was to meet me (who
dare not be known where she lives) to treat about the difference which
remains between my uncle and her. But, Lord! to hear how she talks and
how she rails against my uncle would make one mad. But I seemed not to be
troubled at it, but would indeed gladly have an agreement with her. So I
appoint Mr. Moore and she another against Friday next to look into our
papers and to see what can be done to conclude the matter. So home in
much pain by walking too much yesterday . . . . which much troubles
me.

16th. In bed till 12 o'clock. This morning came several maids to my wife
to be hired, and at last she pitched upon one Nell, whose mother, an old
woman, came along with her, but would not be hired under half a year,
which I am pleased at their drollness. This day dined by appointment with
me, Dr. Thos. Pepys and my Coz: Snow, and my brother Tom, upon a fin of
ling and some sounds, neither of which did I ever know before, but most
excellent meat they are both, that in all my life I never eat the like
fish. So after dinner came in W. Joyce and eat and drank and were merry.
So up to my chamber, and put all my papers, at rights, and in the evening
our maid Mary. (who was with us upon trial for a month) did take leave of
us, going as we suppose to be married, for the maid liked us and we her,
but all she said was that she had a mind to live in a tradesman's house
where there was but one maid. So to supper and to bed.

17th. At the office all the morning, at noon my wife being gone to my coz
Snow's with Dr. Thomas Pepys and my brother Tom to a venison pasty (which
proved a pasty of salted pork); by appointment I went with Captain David
Lambert to the Exchequer, and from thence by appointment he and I were to
meet at a cook's shop to dine. But before I went to him Captain. Cock, a
merchant I had not long known, took me to the Sun tavern and gave me a
glass of sack, and being a man of great observation and repute, did tell
me that he was confident that the Parliament, when it comes the next month
to sit again, would bring trouble with it, and enquire how the King had
disposed of offices and money, before they will raise more; which, I fear,
will bring all things to ruin again. Thence to the Cook's and there dined
with Captain Lambert and his father-in-law, and had much talk of
Portugall; from whence he is lately come, and he tells me it is a very
poor dirty place; I mean the City and Court of Lisbon; that the King is a
very rude and simple fellow; and, for reviling of somebody a little while
ago, and calling of him cuckold, was run into . . . . with a sword and
had been killed, had he not told them that he was their king. That there
are there no glass windows, nor will they have any; which makes sport
among our merchants there to talk of an English factor that, being newly
come thither, writ into England that glass would be a good commodity to
send thither, &c. That the King has his meat sent up by a dozen of lazy
guards and in pipkins, sometimes, to his own table; and sometimes nothing
but fruits, and, now and then, half a hen. And now that the Infanta is
become our Queen, she is come to have a whole hen or goose to her table,
which is not ordinary. So home and to look over my papers that concern
the difference between Mrs. Goldsborough and us; which cost me much pains,
but contented me much after it was done. So at home all the evening and
to supper and to bed.

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