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Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete

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




27th. Up, and while I am dressing I sent for my boy's brother, William,
that lives in town here as a groom, to whom and their sister Jane I told
my resolution to keep the boy no longer. So upon the whole they desire to
have him stay a week longer, and then he shall go. So to the office, and
there Mr. Coventry and I sat till noon, and then I stept to the Exchange,
and so home to dinner, and after dinner with my wife to the Duke's
Theatre, and saw the second part of "Rhodes," done with the new Roxalana;
which do it rather better in all respects for person, voice, and judgment,
then the first Roxalana. Home with great content with my wife, not so
well pleased with the company at the house to-day, which was full of
citizens, there hardly being a gentleman or woman in the house; a couple
of pretty ladies by us that made sport in it, being jostled and crowded by
prentices. So home, and I to my study making up my monthly accounts,
which is now fallen again to L630 or thereabouts, which not long since was
L680, at which I am sorry, but I trust in God I shall get it up again, and
in the meantime will live sparingly. So home to supper and to bed.

28th (Lord's day). Up and, with my wife to church, and coming out, went
out both before my Lady Batten, he not being there, which I believe will
vex her. After dinner my wife to church again, and I to the French
church, where I heard an old man make a tedious, long sermon, till they
were fain to light candles to baptize the children by. So homewards,
meeting my brother Tom, but spoke but little with him, and calling also at
my uncle Wight's, but met him and her going forth, and so I went directly
home, and there fell to the renewing my last year's oaths, whereby it has
pleased God so much to better myself and practise, and so down to supper,
and then prayers and bed.

29th. Up and walked to Whitehall, where the Duke and Mr. Coventry being
gone forth I went to Westminster Hall, where I staid reading at Mrs.
Mitchell's shop, and sent for half a pint of sack for her. Here she told
me what I heard not of before, the strange burning of Mr. De Laun, a
merchant's house in Loathbury, and his lady (Sir Thomas Allen's daughter)
and her whole family; not one thing, dog nor cat, escaping; nor any of the
neighbours almost hearing of it till the house was quite down and burnt.
How this should come to pass, God knows, but a most strange thing it is!
Hither came Jack Spicer to me, and I took him to the Swan, where Mr.
Herbert did give me my breakfast of cold chine of pork; and here Spicer
and I talked of Exchequer matters, and how the Lord Treasurer' hath now
ordered all monies to be brought into the Exchequer, and hath settled the
King's revenue, and given to every general expence proper assignments; to
the Navy L200,000 and odd. He also told me of the great vast trade of the
goldsmiths in supplying the King with money at dear rates. Thence to
White Hall, and got up to the top gallerys in the Banquetting House, to
see the audience of the Russia Embassadors; which [took place] after long
waiting and fear of the falling of the gallery (it being so full, and part
of it being parted from the rest, for nobody to come up merely from the
weakness thereof): and very handsome it was. After they were come in, I
went down and got through the croude almost as high as the King and the
Embassadors, where I saw all the presents, being rich furs, hawks,
carpets, cloths of tissue, and sea-horse teeth. The King took two or
three hawks upon his fist, having a glove on, wrought with gold, given him
for the purpose. The son of one of the Embassadors was in the richest
suit for pearl and tissue, that ever I did see, or shall, I believe.
After they and all the company had kissed the King's hand, then the three
Embassadors and the son, and no more, did kiss the Queen's. One thing
more I did observe, that the chief Embassador did carry up his master's
letters in state before him on high; and as soon as he had delivered them,
he did fall down to the ground and lay there a great while. After all was
done, the company broke up; and I spent a little while walking up and down
the gallery seeing the ladies, the two Queens, and the Duke of Monmouth
with his little mistress, which is very little, and like my
brother-in-law's wife. So with Mr. Creed to the Harp and Ball, and there
meeting with Mr. How, Goodgroom, and young Coleman, did drink and talk
with them, and I have almost found out a young gentlewoman for my turn, to
wait on my wife, of good family and that can sing. Thence I went away,
and getting a coach went home and sat late talking with my wife about our
entertaining Dr. Clerke's lady and Mrs. Pierce shortly, being in great
pain that my wife hath never a winter gown, being almost ashamed of it,
that she should be seen in a taffeta one; when all the world wears
moyre;--[By moyre is meant mohair.-B.]--so to prayers and to bed, but we
could not come to any resolution what to do therein, other than to appear
as she is.

30th. Up and to the office, whither Sir W. Pen came, the first time that
he has come downstairs since his late great sickness of the gout. We with
Mr. Coventry sat till noon, then I to the Change ward, to see what play
was there, but I liked none of them, and so homeward, and calling in at
Mr, Rawlinson's, where he stopped me to dine with him and two East India
officers of ships and Howell our turner. With the officers I had good
discourse, particularly of the people at the Cape of Good Hope, of whom
they of their own knowledge do tell me these one or two things: viz
. . . . that they never sleep lying, but always sitting upon the
ground, that their speech is not so articulate as ours, but yet [they]
understand one another well, that they paint themselves all over with the
grease the Dutch sell them (who have a fort there) and soot. After dinner
drinking five or six glasses of wine, which liberty I now take till I
begin my oath again, I went home and took my wife into coach, and carried
her to Westminster; there visited Mrs. Ferrer, and staid talking with her
a good while, there being a little, proud, ugly, talking lady there, that
was much crying up the Queen-Mother's Court at Somerset House above our
own Queen's; there being before no allowance of laughing and the mirth
that is at the other's; and indeed it is observed that the greatest Court
now-a-days is there. Thence to White Hall, where I carried my wife to see
the Queen in her presence-chamber; and the maydes of honour and the young
Duke of Monmouth playing at cards. Some of them, and but a few, were very
pretty; though all well dressed in velvet gowns. Thence to my Lord's
lodgings, where Mrs. Sarah did make us my Lord's bed, and Mr. Creed I
being sent for, sat playing at cards till it was late, and so good night,
and with great pleasure to bed.

31st. Lay pretty long in bed, and then I up and to Westminster Hall, and
so to the Swan, sending for Mr. W. Bowyer, and there drank my morning
draft, and had some of his simple discourse. Among other things he tells
me how the difference comes between his fair cozen Butler and Collonell
Dillon, upon his opening letters of her brother's from Ireland,
complaining of his knavery, and forging others to the contrary; and so
they are long ago quite broke off. Thence to a barber's and so to my
wife, and at noon took her to Mrs. Pierces by invitacion to dinner, where
there came Dr. Clerke and his wife and sister and Mr. Knight, chief
chyrurgeon to the King and his wife. We were pretty merry, the two men
being excellent company, but I confess I am wedded from the opinion either
of Mrs. Pierces beauty upon discovery of her naked neck to-day, being
undrest when we came in, or of Mrs. Clerke's genius, which I so much
admired, I finding her to be so conceited and fantastique in her dress
this day and carriage, though the truth is, witty enough. After dinner
with much ado the doctor and I got away to follow our business for a
while, he to his patients and I to the Tangier Committee, where the Duke
of York was, and we staid at it a good while, and thence in order to the
despatch of the boats and provisions for Tangier away, Mr. Povy, in his
coach, carried Mr. Gauden and I into London to Mr. Bland's, the merchant,
where we staid discoursing upon the reason of the delay of the going away
of these things a great while. Then to eat a dish of anchovies, and drink
wine and syder, and very merry, but above all things pleased to hear Mrs.
Bland talk like a merchant in her husband's business very well, and it
seems she do understand it and perform a great deal. Thence merry back,
Mr. Povy and, I to White Hall; he carrying me thither on purpose to carry
me into the ball this night before the King. All the way he talking very
ingenuously, and I find him a fine gentleman, and one that loves to live
nobly and neatly, as I perceive by his discourse of his house, pictures,
and horses. He brought me first to the Duke's chamber, where I saw him
and the Duchess at supper; and thence into the room where the ball was to
be, crammed with fine ladies, the greatest of the Court. By and by comes
the King and Queen, the Duke and Duchess, and all the great ones: and
after seating themselves, the King takes out the Duchess of York; and the
Duke, the Duchess of Buckingham; the Duke of Monmouth, my Lady
Castlemaine; and so other lords other ladies: and they danced the Bransle.

"Branle. Espece de danse de plusieurs personnes, qui se tiennent
par la main, et qui se menent tour-a-tour. "Dictionnaire de
l'Academie. A country dance mentioned by Shakespeare and other
dramatists under the form of brawl, which word continued to be used
in the eighteenth century.

"My grave Lord Keeper led the brawls;
The seals and maces danced before him."
Gray, 'A Long Story.'

After that, the King led a lady a single Coranto--[swift and lively]--and
then the rest of the lords, one after another, other ladies very noble it
was, and great pleasure to see. Then to country dances; the King leading
the first, which he called for; which was, says he, "Cuckolds all awry,"
the old dance of England. Of the ladies that danced, the Duke of
Monmouth's mistress, and my Lady Castlemaine, and a daughter of Sir Harry
de Vicke's, were the best. The manner was, when the King dances, all the
ladies in the room, and the Queen herself, stand up: and indeed he dances
rarely, and much better that the Duke of York. Having staid here as long
as I thought fit, to my infinite content, it being the greatest pleasure I
could wish now to see at Court, I went out, leaving them dancing, and to
Mrs. Pierces, where I found the company had staid very long for my coming,
but all gone but my wife, and so I took her home by coach and so to my
Lord's again, where after some supper to bed, very weary and in a little
pain from my riding a little uneasily to-night in the coach.

Thus ends this year with great mirth to me and my wife: Our condition
being thus:--we are at present spending a night or two at my Lord's
lodgings at White Hall. Our home at the Navy-office, which is and hath a
pretty while been in good condition, finished and made very convenient. My
purse is worth about L650, besides my goods of all sorts, which yet might
have been more but for my late layings out upon my house and public
assessment, and yet would not have been so much if I had not lived a very
orderly life all this year by virtue of the oaths that God put into my
heart to take against wine, plays, and other expenses, and to observe for
these last twelve months, and which I am now going to renew, I under God
owing my present content thereunto. My family is myself and wife,
William, my clerk; Jane, my wife's upper mayde, but, I think, growing
proud and negligent upon it: we must part, which troubles me; Susan, our
cook-mayde, a pretty willing wench, but no good cook; and Wayneman, my
boy, who I am now turning away for his naughty tricks. We have had from
the beginning our healths to this day very well, blessed be God! Our late
mayde Sarah going from us (though put away by us) to live with Sir W. Pen
do trouble me, though I love the wench, so that we do make ourselves a
little strange to him and his family for it, and resolve to do so. The
same we are for other reasons to my Lady Batten and hers. We have lately
had it in our thoughts, and I can hardly bring myself off of it, since
Mrs. Gosnell cannot be with us, to find out another to be in the quality
of a woman to my wife that can sing or dance, and yet finding it hard to
save anything at the year's end as I now live, I think I shall not be such
a fool till I am more warm in my purse, besides my oath of entering into
no such expenses till I am worth L1000. By my last year's diligence in my
office, blessed be God! I am come to a good degree of knowledge therein;
and am acknowledged so by all--the world, even the Duke himself, to whom I
have a good access and by that, and my being Commissioner with him for
Tangier, he takes much notice of me; and I doubt not but, by the
continuance of the same endeavours, I shall in a little time come to be a
man much taken notice of in the world, specially being come to so great an
esteem with Mr. Coventry. The only weight that lies heavy upon my mind is
the ending the business with my uncle Thomas about my-dead uncle's estate,
which is very ill on our side, and I fear when all is done I must be
forced to maintain my father myself, or spare a good deal towards it out
of my own purse, which will be a very great pull back to me in my fortune.
But I must be contented and bring it to an issue one way or other.
Publique matters stand thus: The King is bringing, as is said, his family,
and Navy, and all other his charges, to a less expence. In the mean time,
himself following his pleasures more than with good advice he would do; at
least, to be seen to all the world to do so. His dalliance with my Lady
Castlemaine being publique, every day, to his great reproach; and his
favouring of none at Court so much as those that are the confidants of his
pleasure, as Sir H. Bennet and Sir Charles Barkeley; which, good God! put
it into his heart to mend, before he makes himself too much contemned by
his people for it! The Duke of Monmouth is in so great splendour at
Court, and so dandled by the King, that some doubt, if the King should
have no child by the Queen (which there is yet no appearance of), whether
he would not be acknowledged for a lawful son; and that there will be a
difference follow upon it between the Duke of York and him; which God
prevent! My Lord Chancellor is threatened by people to be questioned, the
next sitting of the Parliament, by some spirits that do not love to see
him so great: but certainly he is a good servant to the King. The
Queen-Mother is said to keep too great a Court now; and her being married
to my Lord St. Albans is commonly talked of; and that they had a daughter
between them in France, how true, God knows. The Bishopps are high, and
go on without any diffidence in pressing uniformity; and the Presbyters
seem silent in it, and either conform or lay down, though without doubt
they expect a turn, and would be glad these endeavours of the other
Fanatiques would take effect; there having been a plot lately found, for
which four have been publickly tried at the Old Bayley and hanged. My
Lord Sandwich is still in good esteem, and now keeping his Christmas in
the country; and I in good esteem, I think, as any man can be, with him.
Mr. Moore is very sickly, and I doubt will hardly get over his late fit of
sickness, that still hangs on him. In fine, for the good condition of
myself, wife, family, and estate, in the great degree that it is, and for
the public state of the nation, so quiett as it is, the Lord God be
praised!

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

All may see how slippery places all courtiers stand in
Bewailing the vanity and disorders of the age
Charles Barkeley's greatness is only his being pimp to the King
Fanatiques do say that the end of the world is at hand
Goldsmiths in supplying the King with money at dear rates
He made but a poor sermon, but long
Joyne the lion's skin to the fox's tail
Lady Castlemaine's interest at Court increases
Laughing and jeering at every thing that looks strange
Lord! to see the absurd nature of Englishmen
Short of what I expected, as for the most part it do fall out
Will upon occasion serve for a fine withdrawing room

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS FOR DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, 1962 N.S.:

Afeard of being louzy
Afeard that my Lady Castlemaine will keep still with the King
Afraid now to bring in any accounts for journeys
After taking leave of my wife, which we could hardly do kindly
Agreed at L3 a year (she would not serve under)
All may see how slippery places all courtiers stand in
All made much worse in their report among people than they are
All the fleas came to him and not to me
Aptness I have to be troubled at any thing that crosses me
As much his friend as his interest will let him
Badge of slavery upon the whole people (taxes)
Bewailing the vanity and disorders of the age
Bowling-ally (where lords and ladies are now at bowles)
Cannot but be with the workmen to see things done to my mind
Care not for his commands, and especially on Sundays
Catched cold yesterday by putting off my stockings
Charles Barkeley's greatness is only his being pimp to the King
Comb my head clean, which I found so foul with powdering
Command of an army is not beholden to any body to make him King
Deliver her from the hereditary curse of child-bearing
Did much insist upon the sin of adultery
Discontented at the pride and luxury of the Court
Discoursed much against a man's lying with his wife in Lent
Enjoy some degree of pleasure now that we have health, money
Fanatiques do say that the end of the world is at hand
Fear she should prove honest and refuse and then tell my wife
Fearing that Sarah would continue ill, wife and I removed
God forgive me! what a mind I had to her
Goldsmiths in supplying the King with money at dear rates
Hard matter to settle to business after so much leisure
Hate in others, and more in myself, to be careless of keys
He made but a poor sermon, but long
Holes for me to see from my closet into the great office
Hopes to have had a bout with her before she had gone
I fear that it must be as it can, and not as I would
I know not yet what that is, and am ashamed to ask
Joyne the lion's skin to the fox's tail
King dined at my Lady Castlemaine's, and supped, every day
Lady Castlemaine do speak of going to lie in at Hampton Court
Lady Castlemaine is still as great with the King
Lady Castlemaine's interest at Court increases
Last of a great many Presbyterian ministers
Laughing and jeering at every thing that looks strange
Let me blood, about sixteen ounces, I being exceedingly full
Lord! to see the absurd nature of Englishmen
Lust and wicked lives of the nuns heretofore in England
Lying a great while talking and sporting in bed with my wife
Muske Millon
My Jane's cutting off a carpenter's long mustacho
My first attempt being to learn the multiplication-table
No good by taking notice of it, for the present she forbears
Only wind do now and then torment me . . . extremely
Parliament hath voted 2s. per annum for every chimney in England
Parson is a cunning fellow he is as any of his coat
Peruques of hair, as the fashion now is for ladies to wear
Pleasures are not sweet to me now in the very enjoying of them
Raising of our roofs higher to enlarge our houses
See her look dejectedly and slighted by people already
See a dead man lie floating upon the waters
Sermon; but, it being a Presbyterian one, it was so long
She so cruel a hypocrite that she can cry when she pleases
She also washed my feet in a bath of herbs, and so to bed
Short of what I expected, as for the most part it do fall out
Sir W. Pen did it like a base raskall, and so I shall remember
Slight answer, at which I did give him two boxes on the ears
So good a nature that he cannot deny any thing
Sorry to hear that Sir W. Pen's maid Betty was gone away
Strange things he has been found guilty of, not fit to name
Then to church to a tedious sermon
They were not occupiers, but occupied (women)
To Mr. Holliard's in the morning, thinking to be let blood
Trumpets were brought under the scaffold that he not be heard
Up and took physique, but such as to go abroad with
Up early and took my physique; it wrought all the morning well
When the candle is going out, how they bawl and dispute
Whether she suspected anything or no I know not
Whether he would have me go to law or arbitracon with him
Will upon occasion serve for a fine withdrawing room
Will put Madam Castlemaine's nose out of joynt
With my whip did whip him till I was not able to stir





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

1663 N.S. COMPLETE

JANUARY & FEBRUARY
1662-1663

January 1st, 1662-63.

Lay with my wife at my Lord's lodgings, where I have been these two
nights, till 10 o'clock with great pleasure talking, then I rose and to
White Hall, where I spent a little time walking among the courtiers, which
I perceive I shall be able to do with great confidence, being now
beginning to be pretty well known among them. Then to my wife again, and
found Mrs. Sarah with us in the chamber we lay in. Among other discourse,
Mrs. Sarah tells us how the King sups at least four or [five] times every
week with my Lady Castlemaine; and most often stays till the morning with
her, and goes home through the garden all alone privately, and that so as
the very centrys take notice of it and speak of it. She tells me, that
about a month ago she [Lady Castlemaine] quickened at my Lord Gerard's at
dinner, and cried out that she was undone; and all the lords and men were
fain to quit the room, and women called to help her. In fine, I find that
there is nothing almost but bawdry at Court from top to bottom, as, if it
were fit, I could instance, but it is not necessary; only they say my Lord
Chesterfield, groom of the stole to the Queen, is either gone or put away
from the Court upon the score of his lady's having smitten the Duke of
York, so as that he is watched by the Duchess of York, and his lady is
retired into the country upon it. How much of this is true, God knows,
but it is common talk. After dinner I did reckon with Mrs. Sarah for what
we have eat and drank here, and gave her a crown, and so took coach, and
to the Duke's House, where we saw "The Villaine" again; and the more I see
it, the more I am offended at my first undervaluing the play, it being
very good and pleasant, and yet a true and allowable tragedy. The house
was full of citizens, and so the less pleasant, but that I was willing to
make an end of my gaddings, and to set to my business for all the year
again tomorrow. Here we saw the old Roxalana in the chief box, in a
velvet gown, as the fashion is, and very handsome, at which I was glad.
Hence by coach home, where I find all well, only Sir W. Pen they say ill
again. So to my office to set down these two or three days' journall, and
to close the last year therein, and so that being done, home to supper,
and to bed, with great pleasure talking and discoursing with my wife of
our late observations abroad.

2nd. Lay long in bed, and so up and to the office, where all the morning
alone doing something or another. So dined at home with my wife, and in
the afternoon to the Treasury office, where Sir W. Batten was paying off
tickets, but so simply and arbitrarily, upon a dull pretence of doing
right to the King, though to the wrong of poor people (when I know there
is no man that means the King less right than he, or would trouble himself
less about it, but only that he sees me stir, and so he would appear doing
something, though to little purpose), that I was weary of it. At last we
broke up, and walk home together, and I to see Sir W. Pen, who is fallen
sick again. I staid a while talking with him, and so to my office,
practising some arithmetique, and so home to supper and bed, having sat up
late talking to my poor wife with great content.

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