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Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete

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




8th. All the morning in the cellar with the colliers, removing the coles
out of the old cole hole into the new one, which cost me 8s. the doing;
but now the cellar is done and made clean, it do please me exceedingly, as
much as any thing that was ever yet done to my house. I pray God keep me
from setting my mind too much upon it. About 3 o'clock the colliers
having done I went up to dinner (my wife having often urged me to come,
but my mind is so set upon these things that I cannot but be with the
workmen to see things done to my mind, which if I am not there is seldom
done), and so to the office, and thence to talk with Sir W. Pen, walking
in the dark in the garden some turns, he telling me of the ill management
of our office, and how Wood the timber merchant and others were very
knaves, which I am apt to believe. Home and wrote letters to my father
and my brother John, and so to bed. Being a little chillish, intending to
take physique to-morrow morning.

9th (Lord's day). I took physique this day, and was all day in my
chamber, talking with my wife about her laying out of L20, which I had
long since promised her to lay out in clothes against Easter for herself,
and composing some ayres, God forgive me! At night to prayers and to bed.

10th. Musique practice a good while, then to Paul's Churchyard, and there
I met with Dr. Fuller's "England's Worthys," the first time that I ever
saw it; and so I sat down reading in it, till it was two o'clock before I,
thought of the time going, and so I rose and went home to dinner, being
much troubled that (though he had some discourse with me about my family
and arms) he says nothing at all, nor mentions us either in Cambridgeshire
or Norfolk. But I believe, indeed, our family were never considerable.
At home all the afternoon, and at night to bed.

11th. Musique, then my brother Tom came, and spoke to him about selling
of Sturtlow, he consents to, and I think will be the best for him,
considering that he needs money, and has no mind to marry. Dined at home,
and at the office in the afternoon. So home to musique, my mind being
full of our alteracons in the garden, and my getting of things in the
office settled to the advantage of my clerks, which I found Mr. Turner
much troubled at, and myself am not quiet in mind. But I hope by degrees
to bring it to it. At night begun to compose songs, and begin with "Gaze
not on Swans." So to bed.

12th. This morning, till four in the afternoon, I spent abroad, doing of
many and considerable businesses at Mr. Phillips the lawyer, with Prior,
Westminster, my Lord Crew's, Wardrobe, &c., and so home about the time of
day to dinner with my mind very highly contented with my day's work,
wishing I could do so every day. Then to my chamber drawing up writings,
in expectation of my uncle Thomas corning. So to my musique and then to
bed. This night I had half a 100 poor Jack--[The "poor john" is a hake
salted and dried. It is frequently referred to in old authors as poor
fare.]--sent me by Mr. Adis.

13th. After musique comes my cozen Tom Pepys the executor, and he did
stay with me above two hours discoursing about the difference between my
uncle Thomas and me, and what way there may be to make it up, and I have
hopes we may do good of it for all this. Then to dinner, and then came
Mr. Kennard, and he and I and Sir W. Pen went up and down his house to
view what may be the contrivance and alterations there to the best
advantage. So home, where Mr. Blackburne (whom I have not seen a long
time) was come to speak with me, and among other discourse he do tell me
plain of the corruption of all our Treasurer's officers, and that they
hardly pay any money under ten per cent.; and that the other day, for a
mere assignation of L200 to some counties, they took L15 which is very
strange. So to the office till night, and then home and to write by the
post about many businesses, and so to bed. Last night died the Queen of
Bohemia.

14th (Valentine's day). I did this day purposely shun to be seen at Sir
W. Batten's, because I would not have his daughter to be my Valentine, as
she was the last year, there being no great friendship between us now, as
formerly. This morning in comes W. Bowyer, who was my wife's Valentine,
she having, at which I made good sport to myself, held her hands all the
morning, that she might not see the paynters that were at work in gilding
my chimney-piece and pictures in my diningroom. By and by she and I by
coach with him to Westminster, by the way leaving at Tom's and my wife's
father's lodgings each of them some poor Jack, and some she carried to my
father Bowyer's, where she staid while I walked in the Hall, and there
among others met with Serj'. Pierce, and I took him aside to drink a cup
of ale, and he told me the basest thing of Mr. Montagu's and his man
Eschar's going away in debt, that I am troubled and ashamed, but glad to
be informed of. He thinks he has left L1000 for my Lord to pay, and that
he has not laid out L3,000 Out of the L5,000 for my Lord's use, and is not
able to make an account of any of the money. My wife and I to dinner to
the Wardrobe, and then to talk with my Lady, and so by coach, it raining
hard, home, and so to do business and to bed.

15th. With the two Sir Williams to the Trinity-house; and there in their
society had the business debated of Sir Nicholas Crisp's sasse at
Deptford. Then to dinner, and after dinner I was sworn a Younger Brother;
Sir W. Rider being Deputy Master for my Lord of Sandwich; and after I was
sworn, all the Elder Brothers shake me by the hand: it is their custom, it
seems. Hence to the office, and so to Sir Wm. Batten's all three, and
there we staid till late talking together in complaint of the Treasurer's
instruments. Above all Mr. Waith, at whose child's christening our wives
and we should have been to-day, but none of them went and I am glad of it,
for he is a very rogue, So home, and drew up our report for Sir N.
Crispe's sasse, and so to bed. No news yet of our fleet gone to Tangier,
which we now begin to think long.

16th (Lord's day). To church this morning, and so home and to dinner. In
the afternoon I walked to St. Bride's to church, to hear Dr. Jacomb preach
upon the recovery, and at the request of Mrs. Turner, who came abroad this
day, the first time since her long sickness. He preached upon David's
words, "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord," and
made a pretty good sermon, though not extraordinary. After sermon I led
her home, and sat with her, and there was the Dr. got before us; but
strange what a command he hath got over Mrs. Turner, who was so carefull
to get him what he would, after his preaching, to drink, and he, with a
cunning gravity, knows how to command, and had it, and among other things
told us that he heard more of the Common Prayer this afternoon (while he
stood in the vestry, before he went up into the pulpitt) than he had heard
this twenty years. Thence to my uncle Wight to meet my wife, and with
other friends of hers and his met by chance we were very merry, and
supped, and so home, not being very well through my usual pain got by
cold. So to prayers and to bed, and there had a good draft of mulled ale
brought me.

17th. This morning, both Sir Williams, myself, and Captain Cocke and
Captain Tinker of the Convertine, which we are going to look upon (being
intended to go with these ships fitting for the East Indys), down to
Deptford; and thence, after being on shipboard, to Woolwich, and there eat
something. The Sir Williams being unwilling to eat flesh,

[In Lent, of which the observance, intermitted for nineteen years,
was now reviving. We have seen that Pepys, as yet, had not cast off
all show of Puritanism. "In this month the Fishmongers' Company
petitioned the King that Lent might be kept, because they had
provided abundance of fish for this season, and their prayer was
granted."--Rugge.--B.]

Captain Cocke and I had a breast of veal roasted. And here I drank wine
upon necessity, being ill for want of it, and I find reason to fear that
by my too sudden leaving off wine, I do contract many evils upon myself.
Going and coming we played at gleeke, and I won 9s. 6d. clear, the most
that ever I won in my life. I pray God it may not tempt me to play again.
Being come home again we went to the Dolphin, where Mr. Alcock and my Lady
and Mrs. Martha Batten came to us, and after them many others (as it
always is where Sir W. Batten goes), and there we had some pullets to
supper. I eat though I was not very well, and after that left them, and
so home and to bed.

18th. Lay long in bed, then up to the office (we having changed our days
to Tuesday and Saturday in the morning and Thursday at night), and by and
by with Sir W. Pen, Mr. Kennard, and others to survey his house again, and
to contrive for the alterations there, which will be handsome I think.
After we had done at the office, I walked to the Wardrobe, where with Mr.
Moore and Mr. Lewis Phillips after dinner we did agree upon the agreement
between us and Prior and I did seal and sign it. Having agreed with Sir
Wm. Pen and my wife to meet them at the Opera, and finding by my walking
in the streets, which were every where full of brick-battes and tyles
flung down by the extraordinary wind the last night (such as hath not been
in memory before, unless at the death of the late Protector), that it was
dangerous to go out of doors; and hearing how several persons had been
killed to-day by the fall of things in the streets, and that the pageant
in Fleetstreet is most of it blown down, and hath broke down part of
several houses, among others Dick Brigden's; and that one Lady Sanderson,
a person of quality in Covent Garden, was killed by the fall of the house,
in her bed, last night; I sent my boy home to forbid them to go forth.
But he bringing me word that they are gone, I went thither and there saw
"The Law against Lovers," a good play and well performed, especially the
little girl's (whom I never saw act before) dancing and singing; and were
it not for her, the loss of Roxalana would spoil the house. So home and
to musique, and so to bed.

19th. Musique practice: thence to the Trinity House to conclude upon our
report of Sir N. Crisp's project, who came to us to answer objections, but
we did give him no ear, but are resolved to stand to our report; though I
could wish we had shewn him more justice and had heard him. Thence to the
Wardrobe and dined with my Lady, and talked after dinner as I used to do,
and so home and up to my chamber to put things in order to my good
content, and so to musique practice.

20th. This morning came Mr. Child to see me, and set me something to my
Theorbo, and by and by come letters from Tangier from my Lord, telling me
how, upon a great defete given to the Portuguese there by the Moors, he
had put in 300 men into the town, and so he is in possession, of which we
are very glad, because now the Spaniard's designs of hindering our getting
the place are frustrated. I went with the letter inclosed to my Lord
Chancellor to the House of Lords, and did give it him in the House. And
thence to the Wardrobe with my Lady's, and there could not stay dinner,
but went by promise to Mr. Savill's, and there sat the first time for my
picture in little, which pleaseth me well. So to the office till night
and then home.

["Sunday, Jan. 12. This morning, the Portuguese, 140 horse in
Tangier, made a salley into the country for booty, whereof they had
possessed about 400 cattle, 30 camels, and some horses, and 35 women
and girls, and being six miles distant from Tangier, were
intercepted by 100 Moors with harquebusses, who in the first charge
killed the Aidill with a shot in the head, whereupon the rest of the
Portuguese ran, and in the pursuit 51 were slain, whereof were 11 of
the knights, besides the Aidill. The horses of the 51 were also
taken by the Moors, and all the booty relieved.

"Tuesday, Jan. 14. This morning, Mr. Mules came to me from the
Governor, for the assistance of some of our men into the castle.

"Thursday, Jan. 16. About 80 men out of my own ship, and the
Princess, went into Tangier, into the lower castle, about four of
the clock in the afternoon.

"Friday, Jan. 17. In the morning, by eight o'clock, the 'Martyr'
came in from Cales (Cadiz) with provisions, and about ten a clock I
sent Sir Richard Stayner, with 120 men, besides officers, to the
assistance of the Governor, into Tangier."--Lord Sandwich's Journal,
in Kennet's Register.

On the 23rd, Lord Sandwich put one hundred more men into Tangier; on
the 29th and 30th, Lord Peterborough and his garrison arrived from
England, and received possession from the Portuguese; and, on the
31st, Sir Richard Stayner and the seamen re-embarked on board Lord
Sandwich's fleet.--B.]

21st, All the morning putting things in my house in order, and packing up
glass to send into the country to my father, and books to my brother John,
and then to my Lord Crew's to dinner; and thence to Mr. Lewes Philip's
chamber, and there at noon with him for business, and received L80 upon
Jaspar Trice's account, and so home with it, and so to my chamber for all
this evening, and then to bed.

22nd. At the office busy all the morning, and thence to dinner to my Lady
Sandwich's, and thence with Mr. Moore to our Attorney, Wellpoole's, and
there found that Godfry has basely taken out a judgment against us for the
L40, for which I am vexed. And thence to buy a pair of stands and a
hanging shelf for my wife's chamber, and so home, and thither came Mr.
Savill with the pictures, and we hung them up in our dining-room. It comes
now to appear very handsome with all my pictures. This evening I wrote
letters to my father; among other things acquainting him with the unhappy
accident which hath happened lately to my Lord of Dorset's two oldest
sons, who, with two Belasses and one Squire Wentworth, were lately
apprehended for killing and robbing of a tanner about Newington' on
Wednesday last, and are all now in Newgate. I am much troubled for it,
and for the grief and disgrace it brings to their familys and friends.
After this, having got a very great cold, I got something warm to-night,
and so to bed.

23rd (Lord's day). My cold being increased, I staid at home all day,
pleasing myself with my dining-room, now graced with pictures, and reading
of Dr. Fuller's "Worthys." So I spent the day, and at night comes Sir W.
Pen and supped and talked with me. This day by God's mercy I am 29 years
of age, and in very good health, and like to live and get an estate; and
if I have a heart to be contented, I think I may reckon myself as happy a
man as any is in the world, for which God be praised. So to prayers and to
bed.

24th. Long with Mr. Berkenshaw in the morning at my musique practice;
finishing my song of "Gaze not on Swans," in two parts, which pleases me
well, and I did give him L5 for this month or five weeks that he hath
taught me, which is a great deal of money and troubled me to part with it.
Thence to the Paynter s, and set again for my picture in little, and
thence over the water to Southwark to Mr. Berkenshaw's house, and there
sat with him all the afternoon, he showing me his great card of the body
of musique, which he cries up for a rare thing, and I do believe it cost
much pains, but is not so useful as he would have it. Then we sat down
and set "Nulla, nulla sit formido," and he has set it very finely. So
home and to supper, and then called Will up, and chid him before my wife
for refusing to go to church with the maids yesterday, and telling his
mistress that he would not be made a slave of, which vexes me. So to bed.

25th. All the morning at the office. At noon with Mr. Moore to the
Coffee-house, where among other things the great talk was of the effects
of this late great wind; and I heard one say that he had five great trees
standing together blown down; and, beginning to lop them, one of them, as
soon as the lops were cut off, did, by the weight of the root, rise again
and fasten. We have letters from the forest of Deane, that above 1000
Oakes and as many beeches are blown down in one walk there. And letters
from my father tell me of L20 hurt done to us at Brampton. This day in
the news-book I find that my Lord Buckhurst and his fellows have printed
their case as they did give it in upon examination to a justice of Peace,
wherein they make themselves a very good tale that they were in pursuit of
thieves, and that they took this man for one of them, and so killed him;
and that he himself confessed it was the first time of his robbing; and
that he did pay dearly for it, for he was a dead man. But I doubt things
will be proved otherwise, as they say. Home to dinner, and by and by
comes Mr. Hunt and his wife to see us and staid a good, while with us.
Then parted, and I to my study in the office. The first time since the
alteracon that I have begun to do business myself there, and I think I
shall be well pleased with it. At night home to supper and to bed.

26th. Mr. Berkenshaw with me all the morning composing of musique to
"This cursed jealousy, what is it," a song of Sir W. Davenant's. After
dinner I went to my Bookseller's, W. Joyce's, and several other places to
pay my debts and do business, I being resolved to cast up my accounts
within a day or two, for I fear I have run out too far. In coming home I
met with a face I knew and challenged him, thinking it had been one of the
Theatre musicians, and did enquire for a song of him, but finding it a
mistake, and that it was a gentleman that comes sometimes to the office, I
was much ashamed, but made a pretty good excuse that I took him for a
gentleman of Gray's Inn who sings well, and so parted. Home for all night
and set things in order and so to bed.

27th. This morning came Mr. Berkenshaw to me and in our discourse I,
finding that he cries up his rules for most perfect (though I do grant
them to be very good, and the best I believe that ever yet were made), and
that I could not persuade him to grant wherein they were somewhat lame, we
fell to angry words, so that in a pet he flung out of my chamber and I
never stopped him, having intended to put him off today, whether this had
happened or no, because I think I have all the rules that he hath to give.
And so there remains not the practice now to do me good, and it is not for
me to continue with him at; L5 per month. So I settled to put all his
rules in fair order in a book, which was my work all the morning till
dinner. After dinner to the office till late at night, and so home to
write by the post, and so to bed.

28th. The boy failing to call us up as I commanded, I was angry, and
resolved to whip him for that and many other faults, to-day. Early with
Sir W. Pen by coach to Whitehall, to the Duke of York's chamber, and there
I presented him from my Lord a fine map of Tangier, done by one Captain
Beckman, a Swede, that is with my Lord. We staid looking it over a great
while with the Duke after he was ready. Thence I by water to the
Painter's, and there sat again for my face in little, and thence home to
dinner, and so at home all the afternoon. Then came Mr. Moore and staid
and talked with me, and then I to the office, there being all the
Admiralty papers brought hither this afternoon from Mr. Blackburne's,
where they have lain all this while ever since my coming into this office.
This afternoon Mr. Hater received half a year's salary for me, so that now
there is not owing me but this quarter, which will be out the next month.
Home, and to be as good as my word, I bade Will get me a rod, and he and I
called the boy up to one of the upper rooms of the Comptroller's house
towards the garden, and there I reckoned all his faults, and whipped him
soundly, but the rods were so small that I fear they did not much hurt to
him, but only to my arm, which I am already, within a quarter of an hour,
not able to stir almost. After supper to bed.

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

Aptness I have to be troubled at any thing that crosses me
Cannot but be with the workmen to see things done to my mind
Command of an army is not beholden to any body to make him King





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.

MARCH & APRIL
1661-1662

March 1st. This morning I paid Sir W. Batten L40, which I have owed him
this half year, having borrowed it of him. Then to the office all the
morning, so dined at home, and after dinner comes my uncle Thomas, with
whom I had some high words of difference, but ended quietly, though I fear
I shall do no good by fair means upon him. Thence my wife and I by coach,
first to see my little picture that is a drawing, and thence to the Opera,
and there saw "Romeo and Juliet," the first time it was ever acted; but it
is a play of itself the worst that ever I heard in my life, and the worst
acted that ever I saw these people do, and I am resolved to go no more to
see the first time of acting, for they were all of them out more or less.
Thence home, and after supper and wrote by the post, I settled to what I
had long intended, to cast up my accounts with myself, and after much
pains to do it and great fear, I do find that I am 1500 in money
beforehand in the world, which I was afraid I was not, but I find that I
had spent above L250 this last half year, which troubles me much, but by
God's blessing I am resolved to take up, having furnished myself with all
things for a great while, and to-morrow to think upon some rules and
obligations upon myself to walk by. So with my mind eased of a great deal
of trouble, though with no great content to find myself above L100 worse
now than I was half a year ago, I went to bed.

2nd (Lord's day). With my mind much eased talking long in bed with my
wife about our frugall life for the time to come, proposing to her what I
could and would do if I were worth L2,000, that is, be a knight, and keep
my coach, which pleased her,

[Lord Braybrooke wrote, "This reminds me of a story of my father's,
when he was of Merton College, and heard Bowen the porter wish that
he had L100 a-year, to enable him to keep a couple of hunters and a
pack of foxhounds."]

and so I do hope we shall hereafter live to save something, for I am
resolved to keep myself by rules from expenses. To church in the morning:
none in the pew but myself. So home to dinner, and after dinner came Sir
William and talked with me till church time, and then to church, where at
our going out I was at a loss by Sir W. Pen's putting me upon it whether
to take my wife or Mrs. Martha (who alone was there), and I began to take
my wife, but he jogged me, and so I took Martha, and led her down before
him and my wife. So set her at home, and Sir William and my wife and I to
walk in the garden, and anon hearing that Sir G. Carteret had sent to see
whether we were at home or no, Sir William and I went to his house, where
we waited a good while, they being at prayers, and by and by we went up to
him; there the business was about hastening the East India ships, about
which we are to meet to-morrow in the afternoon. So home to my house, and
Sir William supped with me, and so to bed.

3rd. All the morning at home about business with my brother Tom, and then
with Mr. Moore, and then I set to make some strict rules for my future
practice in my expenses, which I did bind myself in the presence of God by
oath to observe upon penalty therein set down, and I do not doubt but
hereafter to give a good account of my time and to grow rich, for I do
find a great deal more of content in these few days, that I do spend well
about my business, than in all the pleasure of a whole week, besides the
trouble which I remember I always have after that for the expense of my
money. Dined at home, and then up to my chamber again about business, and
so to the office about despatching of the East India ships, where we staid
till 8 at night, and then after I had been at Sir W. Pen's awhile
discoursing with him and Mr. Kenard the joiner about the new building in
his house, I went home, where I found a vessel of oysters sent me from
Chatham, so I fell to eat some and then to supper, and so after the barber
had done to bed. I am told that this day the Parliament hath voted 2s.
per annum for every chimney in England, as a constant revenue for ever to
the Crown.

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