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Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete

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




26th. In the morning to the Temple to my cozen Roger, who now desires
that I would excuse him from arbitrating, he not being able to stand for
me as he would do, without appearing too high against my uncle Thomas,
which will raise his clamour. With this I am very well pleased, for I did
desire it, and so I shall choose other counsel. Thence home, he being
busy that I could not speak more with him. All day long till twelve
o'clock at night getting my house in order, my wife putting up the red
hangings and bed in her woman's chamber, and I my books and all other
matters in my chamber and study, which is now very pretty. So to bed.

27th. At my waking, I found the tops of the houses covered with snow,
which is a rare sight, that I have not seen these three years. Up, and
put my people to perfect the cleaning of my house, and so to the office,
where we sat till noon; and then we all went to the next house upon Tower
Hill, to see the coming by of the Russia Embassador; for whose reception
all the City trained-bands do attend in the streets, and the King's
life-guards, and most of the wealthy citizens in their black velvet coats,
and gold chains (which remain of their gallantry at the King's coming in),
but they staid so long that we went down again home to dinner. And after
I had dined, I heard they were coming, and so I walked to the Conduit in
the Quarrefowr,

[In two ordinances of the reign of Edward III., printed in Riley's
"Memorials of London" (pp. 300, 389), this is called the "Carfukes,"
which nearly approaches the name of the "Carfax," at Oxford, where
four ways also met. Pepys's form of the word is nearer quatre
voies, the French equivalent of quadrivium.]

at the end of Gracious-street and Cornhill; and there (the spouts thereof
running very near me upon all the people that were under it) I saw them
pretty well go by. I could not see the Embassador in his coach; but his
attendants in their habits and fur caps very handsome, comely men, and
most of them with hawkes upon their fists to present to the King. But
Lord! to see the absurd nature of Englishmen, that cannot forbear laughing
and jeering at every thing that looks strange. So back and to the office,
and there we met and sat till seven o'clock, making a bargain with Mr.
Wood for his masts of New England; and then in Mr. Coventry's coach to the
Temple, but my cozen Roger Pepys not being at leisure to speak to me about
my business, I presently walked home, and to my office till very late
doing business, and so home, where I found my house more and more clear
and in order, and hope in a day or two now to be in very good condition
there and to my full content. Which God grant! So to supper and to bed.

28th. A very hard frost; which is news to us after having none almost
these three years. Up and to Ironmongers' Hall by ten o'clock to the
funeral of Sir Richard Stayner. Here we were, all the officers of the
Navy, and my Lord Sandwich, who did discourse with us about the fishery,
telling us of his Majesty's resolution to give L200 to every man that will
set out a Busse;

[A small sea-vessel used in the Dutch herring-fishery.]

and advising about the effects of this encouragement, which will be a very
great matter certainly. Here we had good rings, and by and by were to
take coach; and I being got in with Mr. Creed into a four-horse coach,
which they come and told us were only for the mourners, I went out, and so
took this occasion to go home. Where I staid all day expecting Gosnell's
coming, but there came an excuse from her that she had not heard yet from
her mother, but that she will come next week, which I wish she may, since
I must keep one that I may have some pleasure therein. So to my office
till late writing out a copy of my uncle's will, and so home and to bed.

29th. Before I went to the office my wife's brother did come to us, and
we did instruct him to go to Gosnell's and to see what the true matter is
of her not coming, and whether she do intend to come or no, and so I to
the office; and this morning come Sir G. Carteret to us (being the first
time we have seen him since his coming from France): he tells us, that the
silver which he received for Dunkirk did weigh 120,000 weight. Here all
the morning upon business, and at noon (not going home to dinner, though
word was brought me that Will. Joyce was there, whom I had not seen at my
house nor any where else these three or four months) with Mr. Coventry by
his coach as far as Fleet Street, and there stepped into Madam Turner's,
where was told I should find my cozen Roger Pepys, and with him to the
Temple, but not having time to do anything I went towards my Lord
Sandwich's. (In my way went into Captn. Cuttance's coach, and with him to
my Lord's.) But the company not being ready I did slip down to
Wilkinson's, and having not eat any thing to-day did eat a mutton pie and
drank, and so to my Lord's, where my Lord and Mr. Coventry, Sir Wm. Darcy,
one Mr. Parham (a very knowing and well-spoken man in this business), with
several others, did meet about stating the business of the fishery, and
the manner of the King's giving of this L200 to every man that shall set
out a new-made English Busse by the middle of June next. In which
business we had many fine pretty discourses; and I did here see the great
pleasure to be had in discoursing of publique matters with men that are
particularly acquainted with this or that business. Having come to some
issue, wherein a motion of mine was well received, about sending these
invitations from the King to all the fishing-ports in general, with
limiting so many Busses to this, and that port, before we know the
readiness of subscribers, we parted, and I walked home all the way, and
having wrote a letter full of business to my father, in my way calling
upon my cozen Turner and Mr. Calthrop at the Temple, for their consent to
be my arbitrators, which they are willing to. My wife and I to bed pretty
pleasant, for that her brother brings word that Gosnell, which my wife and
I in discourse do pleasantly call our Marmotte, will certainly come next
week without fail, which God grant may be for the best.

30th (Lord's day). To church in the morning, and Mr. Mills made a pretty
good sermon. It is a bitter cold frost to-day. Dined alone with my wife
to-day with great content, my house being quite clean from top to bottom.
In the afternoon I to the French church here

[The French Protestant Church was founded by Edward VI. in the
church of St. Anthony's Hospital in Threadneedle Street. This was
destroyed in the Great Fire, and rebuilt, but demolished for the
approaches of the new Royal Exchange. The church was then removed
to St. Martin's-le-Grand, but this was also removed in 1888 to make
room for the new Post Office buildings.]

in the city, and stood in the aisle all the sermon, with great delight
hearing a very admirable sermon, from a very young man, upon the article
in our creed, in order of catechism, upon the Resurrection. Thence home,
and to visit Sir W. Pen, who continues still bed-rid. Here was Sir W.
Batten and his Lady, and Mrs. Turner, and I very merry, talking of the
confidence of Sir R. Ford's new-married daughter, though she married so
strangely lately, yet appears at church as brisk as can be, and takes
place of her elder sister, a maid. Thence home and to supper, and then,
cold as it is, to my office, to make up my monthly accounts, and I do find
that, through the fitting of my house this month, I have spent in that and
kitchen L50 this month; so that now I am worth but L660, or thereabouts.
This being done and fitted myself for the Duke to-morrow, I went home, and
to prayers and to bed. This day I first did wear a muffe, being my wife's
last year's muffe,

[The fashion of men wearing muffs appears to have been introduced
from France in this reign.]

and now I have bought her a new one, this serves me very well. Thus ends
this month; in great frost; myself and family all well, but my mind much
disordered about my uncle's law business, being now in an order of being
arbitrated between us, which I wish to God it were done. I am also
somewhat uncertain what to think of my going about to take a woman-servant
into my house, in the quality of a woman for my wife. My wife promises it
shall cost me nothing but her meat and wages, and that it shall not be
attended with any other expenses, upon which termes I admit of it; for
that it will, I hope, save me money in having my wife go abroad on visits
and other delights; so that I hope the best, but am resolved to alter it,
if matters prove otherwise than I would have them. Publique matters in an
ill condition of discontent against the height and vanity of the Court,
and their bad payments: but that which troubles most, is the Clergy, which
will never content the City, which is not to be reconciled to Bishopps:
the more the pity that differences must still be. Dunkirk newly sold, and
the money brought over; of which we hope to get some to pay the Navy:
which by Sir J. Lawson's having dispatched the business in the Straights,
by making peace with Argier,--[The ancient name for Algiers.]--Tunis, and
Tripoli (and so his fleet will also shortly come home), will now every day
grow less, and so the King's charge be abated; which God send!

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
DECEMBER
1662

December 1st. Up and by coach with Sir John Minnes and Sir W. Batten to
White Hall to the Duke's chamber, where, as is usual, my Lord Sandwich and
all of us, after his being ready, to his closett, and there discoursed of
matters of the Navy, and here Mr. Coventry did do me the great kindness to
take notice to the Duke of my pains in making a collection of all
contracts about masts, which have been of great use to us. Thence I to my
Lord Sandwich's, to Mr. Moore, to talk a little about business; and then
over the Parke (where I first in my life, it being a great frost, did see
people sliding with their skeates,

[Iron skates appear to have been introduced by the Dutch, as the
name certainly was; but we learn from Fitzstephen that bone skates
(although not so called) were used in London in the twelfth
century.]

which is a very pretty art), to Mr. Coventry's chamber to St. James's,
where we all met to a venison pasty, and were very merry, Major Norwood
being with us, whom they did play upon for his surrendering of Dunkirk.
Here we staid till three or four o'clock; and so to the Council Chamber,
where there met the Duke of York, Prince Rupert, Duke of Albemarle, my
Lord Sandwich, Sir Win. Compton, Mr. Coventry, Sir J. Minnes, Sir R. Ford,
Sir W. Rider, myself, and Captain Cuttance, as Commissioners for Tangier.
And after our Commission was read by Mr. Creed, who I perceive is to be
our Secretary, we did fall to discourse of matters: as, first, the
supplying them forthwith with victualls; then the reducing it to make way
for the money, which upon their reduction is to go to the building of the
Mole; and so to other matters, ordered as against next meeting. This done
we broke up, and I to the Cockpitt, with much crowding and waiting, where
I saw "The Valiant Cidd"--[Translated from the "Cid" of Corneille]--acted,
a play I have read with great delight, but is a most dull thing acted,
which I never understood before, there being no pleasure in it, though
done by Betterton and by Ianthe, And another fine wench that is come in
the room of Roxalana nor did the King or queen once smile all the whole
play, nor any of the company seem to take any pleasure but what was in the
greatness and gallantry of the company. Thence to my Lord's, and Mr.
Moore being in bed I staid not, but with a link walked home and got
thither by 12 o'clock, knocked up my boy, and put myself to bed.

2nd. Before I went to the office my wife and I had another falling out
about Sarah, against whom she has a deadly hate, I know not for what, nor
can I see but she is a very good servant. Then to my office, and there
sat all the morning, and then to dinner with my wife at home, and after
dinner did give Jane a very serious lesson, against we take her to be our
chamber-maid, which I spoke so to her that the poor girl cried and did
promise to be very dutifull and carefull. So to the office, where we sat
as Commissioners for the Chest, and so examined most of the old
accountants to the Chest about it, and so we broke up, and I to my office
till late preparing business, and so home, being cold, and this night
first put on a wastecoate. So to bed.

3rd. Called up by Commissioner Pett, and with him by water, much against
my will, to Deptford, and after drinking a warm morning draft, with Mr.
Wood and our officers measuring all the morning his New England masts,
with which sight I was much pleased for my information, though I perceive
great neglect and indifference in all the King's officers in what they do
for the King. That done, to the Globe, and there dined with Mr. Wood, and
so by water with Mr. Pett home again, all the way reading his Chest
accounts, in which I did see things did not please me; as his allowing
himself 1300 for one year's looking to the business of the Chest, and L150
per annum for the rest of the years. But I found no fault to him himself,
but shall when they come to be read at the Board. We did also call at
Limehouse to view two Busses that are building, that being a thing we are
now very hot upon. Our call was to see what dimensions they are of, being
50 feet by the keel and about 60 tons. Home and did a little business,
and so taking Mr. Pett by the way, we walked to the Temple, in our way
seeing one of the Russia Embassador's coaches go along, with his footmen
not in liverys, but their country habits; one of one colour and another of
another, which was very strange. At the Temple spoke with Mr. Turner and
Calthrop, and so walked home again, being in some pain through the cold
which I have got to-day by water, which troubles me. At the office doing
business a good while, and so home and had a posset, and so to bed.

4th. At the office all the morning setting about business, and after
dinner to it again, and so till night, and then home looking over my
Brampton papers against to-morrow that we are to meet with our counsel on
both sides toward an arbitration, upon which I was very late, and so to
bed.

5th. Up, it being a snow and hard frost, and being up I did call up
Sarah, who do go away to-day or to-morrow. I paid her her wages, and gave
her 10s. myself, and my wife 5s. to give her. For my part I think never
servant and mistress parted upon such foolish terms in the world as they
do, only for an opinion in my wife that she is ill-natured, in all other
things being a good servant. The wench cried, and I was ready to cry too,
but to keep peace I am content she should go, and the rather, though I say
nothing of that, that Jane may come into her place. This being done, I
walked towards Guildhall, thither being summoned by the Commissioners for
the Lieutenancy; but they sat not this morning. So meeting in my way W.
Swan, I took him to a house thereabouts, and gave him a morning draft of
buttered ale;

[Buttered ale must have been a horrible concoction, as it is
described as ale boiled with lump sugar and spice.]

he telling me still much of his Fanatique stories, as if he were a great
zealot, when I know him to be a very rogue. But I do it for discourse,
and to see how things stand with him and his party; who I perceive have
great expectation that God will not bless the Court nor Church, as it is
now settled, but they must be purified. The worst news he tells me, is
that Mr. Chetwind is dead, my old and most ingenious acquaintance. He is
dead, worth L3,000, which I did not expect, he living so high as he did
always and neatly. He hath given W. Symons his wife L300, and made Will
one of his executors. Thence to the Temple to my counsel, and thence to
Gray's Inn to meet with Mr. Cole but could not, and so took a turn or two
in the garden, being very pleasant with the snow and frost. Thence to my
brother's, and there I eat something at dinner and transcribed a copy or
two of the state of my uncle's estate, which I prepared last night, and so
to the Temple Church, and there walked alone till 4 or 5 o'clock, and then
to my cozen Turner's chamber and staid there, up and down from his to
Calthrop's and Bernard's chambers, till so late, that Mr. Cole not coming,
we broke up for meeting this night, and so taking my uncle Thomas
homewards with me by coach, talking of our desire to have a peace, and set
him down at Gracious-street end, and so home, and there I find Gosnell
come, who, my wife tells me, is like to prove a pretty companion, of which
I am glad. So to my office for a little business and then home, my mind
having been all this day in most extraordinary trouble and care for my
father, there being so great an appearance of my uncle's going away with
the greatest part of the estate, but in the evening by Gosnell's coming I
do put off these thoughts to entertain myself with my wife and her, who
sings exceeding well, and I shall take great delight in her, and so
merrily to bed.

6th. Up and to the office, and there sat all the morning, Mr. Coventry
and I alone, the rest being paying off of ships. Dined at home with my
wife and Gosnell, my mind much pleased with her, and after dinner sat with
them a good while, till my wife seemed to take notice of my being at home
now more than at other times. I went to the office, and there I sat till
late, doing of business, and at 9 o'clock walked to Mr. Rawlinson's,
thinking to meet my uncle Wight there, where he was, but a great deal of
his wife's kindred-women and I knew not whom (which Mr. Rawlinson did seem
to me to take much notice of his being led by the nose by his wife), I
went away to my office again, and doing my business there, I went home,
and after a song by Gosnell we to bed.

7th (Lord's day). A great snow, and so to church this morning with my
wife, which is the first time she hath been at church since her going to
Brampton, and Gosnell attending her, which was very gracefull. So home,
and we dined above in our dining room, the first time since it was new
done, and in the afternoon I thought to go to the French church; but
finding the Dutch congregation there, and then finding the French
congregation's sermon begun in the Dutch, I returned home, and up to our
gallery, where I found my wife and Gosnell, and after a drowsy sermon, we
all three to my aunt Wight's, where great store of her usuall company, and
here we staid a pretty while talking, I differing from my aunt, as I
commonly do, in our opinion of the handsomeness of the Queen, which I
oppose mightily, saying that if my nose be handsome, then is her's, and
such like. After much discourse, seeing the room full, and being
unwilling to stay all three, I took leave, and so with my wife only to see
Sir W. Pen, who is now got out of his bed, and sits by the fireside. And
after some talk, home and to supper, and after prayers to bed. This night
came in my wife's brother and talked to my wife and Gosnell about his
wife, which they told me afterwards of, and I do smell that he I doubt is
overreached in thinking that he has got a rich wife,' and I fear she will
prove otherwise. So to bed.

8th. Up, and carrying Gosnell by coach, set her down at Temple Barr, she
going about business of hers today. By the way she was telling me how
Balty did tell her that my wife did go every day in the week to Court and
plays, and that she should have liberty of going abroad as often as she
pleased, and many other lies, which I am vexed at, and I doubt the wench
did come in some expectation of, which troubles me. So to the Duke and
Mr. Coventry, and alone, the rest being at a Pay and elsewhere, and alone
with Mr. Coventry I did read over our letter to my Lord Treasurer, which I
think now is done as well as it can be. Then to my Lord Sandwich's, and
there spent the rest of the morning in making up my Lord's accounts with
Mr. Moore, and then dined with Mr. Moore and Battersby his friend, very
well and merry, and good discourse. Then into the Park, to see them slide
with their skeates, which is very pretty. And so to the Duke's, where the
Committee for Tangier met: and here we sat down all with him at a table,
and had much good discourse about the business, and is to my great
content. That done, I hearing what play it was that is to be acted before
the King to-night, I would not stay, but home by coach, where I find my
wife troubled about Gosnell, who brings word that her uncle, justice
Jiggins, requires her to come three times a week to him, to follow some
business that her mother intrusts her withall, and that, unless she may
have that leisure given her, he will not have her take any place; for
which we are both troubled, but there is no help for it, and believing it
to be a good providence of God to prevent my running behindhand in the
world, I am somewhat contented therewith, and shall make my wife so, who,
poor wretch, I know will consider of things, though in good earnest the
privacy of her life must needs be irksome to her. So I made Gosnell and
we sit up looking over the book of Dances till 12 at night, not observing
how the time went, and so to prayers and to bed.

9th. Lay long with my wife, contenting her about the business of
Gosnell's going, and I perceive she will be contented as well as myself,
and so to the office, and after sitting all the morning in hopes to have
Mr. Coventry dine with me, he was forced to go to White Hall, and so I
dined with my own company only, taking Mr. Hater home with me, but he,
poor man, was not very well, and so could not eat any thing. After dinner
staid within all the afternoon, being vexed in my mind about the going
away of Sarah this afternoon, who cried mightily, and so was I ready to
do, and Jane did also, and then anon went Gosnell away, which did trouble
me too; though upon many considerations, it is better that I am rid of the
charge. All together makes my house appear to me very lonely, which
troubles me much, and in a melancholy humour I went to the office, and
there about business sat till I was called to Sir G. Carteret at the
Treasury office about my Lord Treasurer's letter, wherein he puts me to a
new trouble to write it over again. So home and late with Sir John Minnes
at the office looking over Mr. Creed's accounts, and then home and to
supper, and my wife and I melancholy to bed.

10th. This morning rose, receiving a messenger from Sir G. Carteret and a
letter from Mr. Coventry, one contrary to another, about our letter to my
Lord Treasurer, at which I am troubled, but I went to Sir George, and
being desirous to please both, I think I have found out a way to do it. So
back to the office with Sir J. Minnes, in his coach, but so great a snow
that we could hardly pass the streets. So we and Sir W. Batten to the
office, and there did discourse of Mr. Creed's accounts, and I fear it
will be a good while before we shall go through them, and many things we
meet with, all of difficulty. Then to the Dolphin, where Sir J. Minnes,
Sir W. Batten, and I, did treat the Auditors of the Exchequer, Auditors
Wood and Beale, and hither come Sir G. Carteret to us. We had a good
dinner, cost us L5 and 6s., whereof my share 26s., and after dinner did
discourse of our salarys and other matters, which I think now they will
allow. Thence home, and there I found our new cook-mayde Susan come, who
is recommended to us by my wife's brother, for which I like her never the
better, but being a good well-looked lass, I am willing to try, and Jane
begins to take upon her as a chamber-mayde. So to the office, where late
putting papers and my books and businesses in order, it being very cold,
and so home to supper.

11th. Up, it being a great frost upon the snow, and we sat all the
morning upon Mr. Creed's accounts, wherein I did him some service and some
disservice. At noon he dined with me, and we sat all the afternoon
together, discoursing of ways to get money, which I am now giving myself
wholly up to, and in the evening he went away and I to my office,
concluding all matters concerning our great letter so long in doing to my
Lord Treasurer, till almost one in the morning, and then home with my mind
much eased, and so to bed.

12th. From a very hard frost, when I wake, I find a very great thaw, and
my house overflown with it, which vexed me. At the office and home, doing
business all the morning. Then dined with my wife and sat talking with
her all the afternoon, and then to the office, and there examining my copy
of Mr. Holland's book till 10 at night, and so home to supper and bed.

13th. Slept long to-day till Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten were set out
towards Portsmouth before I rose, and Sir G. Carteret came to the office
to speak with me before I was up. So I started up and down to him. By
and by we sat, Mr. Coventry and I (Sir G. Carteret being gone), and among
other things, Field and Stint did come, and received the L41 given him by
the judgement against me and Harry Kem;

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