Diary of Samuel Pepys, December 1664
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Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, December 1664
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.
DECEMBER
1664
December 1st. Up betimes and to White Hall to a Committee of Tangier, and
so straight home and hard to my business at my office till noon, then to
dinner, and so to my office, and by and by we sat all the afternoon, then
to my office again till past one in the morning, and so home to supper and
to bed.
2nd. Lay long in bed. Then up and to the office, where busy all the
morning. At home dined. After dinner with my wife and Mercer to the
Duke's House, and there saw "The Rivalls," which I had seen before; but
the play not good, nor anything but the good actings of Betterton and his
wife and Harris. Thence homeward, and the coach broke with us in
Lincoln's Inn Fields, and so walked to Fleete Streete, and there took
coach and home, and to my office, whither by and by comes Captain Cocke,
and then Sir W. Batten, and we all to Sir J. Minnes, and I did give them a
barrel of oysters I had given to me, and so there sat and talked, where
good discourse of the late troubles, they knowing things, all of them,
very well; and Cocke, from the King's own mouth, being then entrusted
himself much, do know particularly that the King's credulity to Cromwell's
promises, private to him, against the advice of his friends and the
certain discovery of the practices and discourses of Cromwell in council
(by Major Huntington)
[According to Clarendon the officer here alluded to was a major in
Cromwell's own regiment of horse, and employed by him to treat with
Charles I. whilst at Hampton Court; but being convinced of the
insincerity of the proceeding, communicated his suspicions to that
monarch, and immediately gave up his commission. We hear no more of
Huntington till the Restoration, when his name occurs with those of
many other officers, who tendered their services to the king. His
reasons for laying down his commission are printed in Thurloe's
"State Papers" and Maseres's "Tracts."--B.]
did take away his life and nothing else. Then to some loose atheisticall
discourse of Cocke's, when he was almost drunk, and then about 11 o'clock
broke up, and I to my office, to fit up an account for Povy, wherein I
hope to get something. At it till almost two o'clock, then to supper and
to bed.
3rd. Up, and at the office all the morning, and at noon to Mr. Cutler's,
and there dined with Sir W. Rider and him, and thence Sir W. Rider and I
by coach to White Hall to a Committee of the Fishery; there only to hear
Sir Edward Ford's proposal about farthings, wherein, O God! to see almost
every body interested for him; only my Lord Annesly, who is a grave,
serious man. My Lord Barkeley was there, but is the most hot, fiery man
in discourse, without any cause, that ever I saw, even to breach of
civility to my Lord Anglesey, in his discourse opposing to my Lord's. At
last, though without much satisfaction to me, it was voted that it should
be requested of the King, and that Sir Edward Ford's proposal is the best
yet made. Thence by coach home. The Duke of Yorke being expected
to-night with great joy from Portsmouth, after his having been abroad at
sea three or four days with the fleete; and the Dutch are all drawn into
their harbours. But it seems like a victory: and a matter of some
reputation to us it is, and blemish to them; but in no degree like what it
is esteemed at, the weather requiring them to do so. Home and at my
office late, and then to supper and to bed.
4th (Lord's day). Lay long in bed, and then up and to my office, there to
dispatch a business in order to the getting something out of the Tangier
business, wherein I have an opportunity to get myself paid upon the score
of freight. I hope a good sum. At noon home to dinner, and then in the
afternoon to church. So home, and by and by comes Mr. Hill and Andrews,
and sung together long and with great content. Then to supper and broke
up. Pretty discourse, very pleasant and ingenious, and so to my office a
little, and then home (after prayers) to bed. This day I hear the Duke of
Yorke is come to towne, though expected last night, as I observed, but by
what hindrance stopped I can't tell.
5th. Up, and to White Hall with Sir J. Minnes; and there, among an
infinite crowd of great persons, did kiss the Duke's hand; but had no time
to discourse. Thence up and down the gallery, and got my Lord of
Albemarle's hand to my bill for Povy, but afterwards was asked some scurvy
questions by Povy about my demands, which troubled [me], but will do no
great hurt I think. Thence vexed home, and there by appointment comes my
cozen Roger Pepys and Mrs. Turner, and dined with me, and very merry we
were. They staid all the afternoon till night, and then after I had
discoursed an hour with Sir W. Warren plainly declaring my resolution to
desert him if he goes on to join with Castle, who and his family I, for
great provocation, love not, which he takes with some trouble, but will
concur in everything with me, he says. Now I am loth, I confess, to lose
him, he having been the best friend I have had ever in this office. So he
being gone, we all, it being night, in Madam Turner's coach to her house,
there to see, as she tells us, how fat Mrs. The. is grown, and so I find
her, but not as I expected, but mightily pleased I am to hear the mother
commend her daughter Betty that she is like to be a great beauty, and she
sets much by her. Thence I to White Hall, and there saw Mr. Coventry come
to towne, and, with all my heart, am glad to see him, but could have no
talke with him, he being but just come. Thence back and took up my wife,
and home, where a while, and then home to supper and to bed.
5th. Up, and in Sir W. Batten's coach to White Hall, but the Duke being
gone forth, I to Westminster Hall, and there spent much time till towards
noon to and fro with people. So by and by Mrs. Lane comes and plucks me
by the cloak to speak to me, and I was fain to go to her shop, and
pretending to buy some bands made her go home, and by and by followed her,
and there did what I would with her, and so after many discourses and her
intreating me to do something for her husband, which I promised to do, and
buying a little band of her, which I intend to keep to, I took leave,
there coming a couple of footboys to her with a coach to fetch her abroad
I know not to whom. She is great with child, and she says I must be
godfather, but I do not intend it. Thence by coach to the Old Exchange,
and there hear that the Dutch are fitting their ships out again, which
puts us to new discourse, and to alter our thoughts of the Dutch, as to
their want of courage or force. Thence by appointment to the White Horse
Taverne in Lumbard Streete, and there dined with my Lord Rutherford, Povy,
Mr. Gauden, Creed, and others, and very merry, and after dinner among
other things Povy and I withdrew, and I plainly told him that I was
concerned in profit, but very justly, in this business of the Bill that I
have been these two or three days about, and he consents to it, and it
shall be paid. He tells me how he believes, and in part knows, Creed to
be worth L10,000; nay, that now and then he [Povy] hath three or L4,000 in
his hands, for which he gives the interest that the King gives, which is
ten per cent., and that Creed do come and demand it every three months the
interest to be paid him, which Povy looks upon as a cunning and mean
tricke of him; but for all that, he will do and is very rich. Thence to
the office, where we sat and where Mr. Coventry came the first time after
his return from sea, which I was glad of. So after office to my office,
and then home to supper, and to my office again, and then late home to
bed.
7th. Lay long, then up, and among others Bagwell's wife coming to speak
with me put new thoughts of folly into me which I am troubled at. Thence
after doing business at my office, I by coach to my Lady Sandwich's, and
there dined with her, and found all well and merry. Thence to White Hall,
and we waited on the Duke, who looks better than he did, methinks, before
his voyage; and, I think, a little more stern than he used to do. Thence
to the Temple to my cozen Roger Pepys, thinking to have met the Doctor to
have discoursed our business, but he came not, so I home, and there by
agreement came my Lord Rutherford, Povy, Gauden, Creed, Alderman
Backewell, about Tangier business of accounts between Rutherford and
Gauden. Here they were with me an hour or more, then after drinking away,
and Povy and Creed staid and eat with me; but I was sorry I had no better
cheer for Povy; for the foole may be useful, and is a cunning fellow in
his way, which is a strange one, and that, that I meet not in any other
man, nor can describe in him. They late with me, and when gone my boy and
I to musique, and then to bed.
8th. Up, and to my office, where all the morning busy. At noon dined at
home, and then to the office, where we sat all the afternoon. In the
evening comes my aunt and uncle Wight, Mrs. Norbury, and her daughter, and
after them Mr. Norbury, where no great pleasure, my aunt being out of
humour in her fine clothes, and it raining hard. Besides, I was a little
too bold with her about her doating on Dr. Venner. Anon they went away,
and I till past 12 at night at my office, and then home to bed.
9th. Up betimes and walked to Mr. Povy's, and there, not without some few
troublesome questions of his, I got a note, and went and received L117 5s.
of Alderman Viner upon my pretended freight of the "William" for Tangier,
which overbears me on one side with joy and on the other to think of my
condition if I shall be called into examination about it, and (though in
strictness it is due) not be able to give a good account of it. Home with
it, and there comes Captain Taylor to me, and he and I did set even the
business of the ship Union lately gone for Tangier, wherein I hope to get
L50 more, for all which the Lord be praised. At noon home to dinner, Mr.
Hunt and his wife with us, and very pleasant. Then in the afternoon I
carried them home by coach, and I to Westminster Hall, and thence to
Gervas's, and there find I cannot prevail with Jane to go forth with me,
but though I took a good occasion of going to the Trumpet she declined
coming, which vexed me. 'Je avait grande envie envers elle, avec vrai
amour et passion'. Thence home and to my office till one in the morning,
setting to rights in writing this day's two accounts of Povy and Taylor,
and then quietly to bed. This day I had several letters from several
places, of our bringing in great numbers of Dutch ships.
10th. Lay long, at which I am ashamed, because of so many people
observing it that know not how late I sit up, and for fear of Sir W.
Batten's speaking of it to others, he having staid for me a good while. At
the office all the morning, where comes my Lord Brunkard with his patent
in his hand, and delivered it to Sir J. Minnes and myself, we alone being
there all the day, and at noon I in his coach with him to the 'Change,
where he set me down; a modest civil person he seems to be, but wholly
ignorant in the business of the Navy as possible, but I hope to make a
friend of him, being a worthy man. Thence after hearing the great newes
of so many Dutchmen being brought in to Portsmouth and elsewhere, which it
is expected will either put them upon present revenge or despair, I with
Sir W. Rider and Cutler to dinner all alone to the Great James, where good
discourse, and, I hope, occasion of getting something hereafter. After
dinner to White Hall to the Fishery, where the Duke was with us. So home,
and late at my office, writing many letters, then home to supper and to
bed. Yesterday come home, and this night I visited Sir W. Pen, who
dissembles great respect and love to me, but I understand him very well.
Major Holmes is come from Guinny, and is now at Plymouth with great
wealth, they say.
11th (Lord's day). Up and to church alone in the morning. Dined at home,
mighty pleasantly. In the afternoon I to the French church, where much
pleased with the three sisters of the parson, very handsome, especially in
their noses, and sing prettily. I heard a good sermon of the old man,
touching duty to parents. Here was Sir Samuel Morland and his lady very
fine, with two footmen in new liverys (the church taking much notice of
them), and going into their coach after sermon with great gazeing. So I
home, and my cozen, Mary Pepys's husband, comes after me, and told me that
out of the money he received some months since he did receive 18d. too
much, and did now come and give it me, which was very pretty. So home,
and there found Mr. Andrews and his lady, a well-bred and a tolerable
pretty woman, and by and by Mr. Hill and to singing, and then to supper,
then to sing again, and so good night. To prayers and tonight [bed]. It
is a little strange how these Psalms of Ravenscroft after 2 or 3 times
singing prove but the same again, though good. No diversity appearing at
all almost.
12th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten by coach to White Hall, where all of us
with the Duke; Mr. Coventry privately did tell me the reason of his advice
against our pretences to the Prize Office (in his letter from Portsmouth),
because he knew that the King and the Duke had resolved to put in some
Parliament men that have deserved well, and that would needs be obliged,
by putting them in. Thence homeward, called at my bookseller's and
bespoke some books against the year's out, and then to the 'Change, and so
home to dinner, and then to the office, where my Lord Brunkard comes and
reads over part of our Instructions in the Navy--and I expounded it to
him, so he is become my disciple. He gone, comes Cutler to tell us that
the King of France hath forbid any canvass to be carried out of his
kingdom, and I to examine went with him to the East India house to see a
letter, but came too late. So home again, and there late till 12 at night
at my office, and then home to supper and to bed. This day (to see how
things are ordered in the world), I had a command from the Earle of
Sandwich, at Portsmouth, not to be forward with Mr. Cholmly and Sir J.
Lawson about the Mole at Tangier, because that what I do therein will
(because of his friendship to me known) redound against him, as if I had
done it upon his score. So I wrote to my Lord my mistake, and am
contented to promise never to pursue it more, which goes against my mind
with all my heart.
13th. Lay long in bed, then up, and many people to speak with me. Then
to my office, and dined at noon at home, then to the office again, where
we sat all the afternoon, and then home at night to a little supper, and
so after my office again at 12 at night home to bed.
14th. Up, and after a while at the office, I abroad in several places,
among others to my bookseller's, and there spoke for several books against
New Year's day, I resolving to lay out about L7 or L8, God having given me
some profit extraordinary of late; and bespoke also some plate, spoons,
and forks. I pray God keep me from too great expenses, though these will
still be pretty good money. Then to the 'Change, and I home to dinner,
where Creed and Mr. Caesar, my boy's lute master, who plays indeed mighty
finely, and after dinner I abroad, parting from Creed, and away to and
fro, laying out or preparing for laying out more money, but I hope and
resolve not to exceed therein, and to-night spoke for some fruit for the
country for my father against Christmas, and where should I do it, but at
the pretty woman's, that used to stand at the doore in Fanchurch Streete,
I having a mind to know her. So home, and late at my office, evening
reckonings with Shergoll, hoping to get money by the business, and so away
home to supper and to bed, not being very well through my taking cold of
late, and so troubled with some wind.
15th. Called up very betimes by Mr. Cholmly, and with him a good while
about some of his Tangier accounts; and, discoursing of the condition of
Tangier, he did give me the whole account of the differences between
Fitzgerald and Norwood, which were very high on both sides, but most
imperious and base on Fitzgerald's, and yet through my Lord FitzHarding's
means, the Duke of York is led rather to blame Norwood and to speake that
he should be called home, than be sensible of the other. He is a creature
of FitzHarding's, as a fellow that may be done with what he will, and,
himself certainly pretending to be Generall of the King's armies, when
Monk dyeth, desires to have as few great or wise men in employment as he
can now, but such as he can put in and keep under, which he do this
coxcomb Fitzgerald. It seems, of all mankind there is no man so led by
another as the Duke is by Lord Muskerry and this FitzHarding. insomuch, as
when the King would have him to be Privy-Purse, the Duke wept, and said,
"But, Sir, I must have your promise, if you will have my dear Charles from
me, that if ever you have occasion for an army again, I may have him with
me; believing him to be the best commander of an army in the world." But
Mr. Cholmly thinks, as all other men I meet with do, that he is a very
ordinary fellow. It is strange how the Duke also do love naturally, and
affect the Irish above the English. He, of the company he carried with
him to sea, took above two-thirds Irish and French. He tells me the King
do hate my Lord Chancellor; and that they, that is the King and my Lord
FitzHarding, do laugh at him for a dull fellow; and in all this business
of the Dutch war do nothing by his advice, hardly consulting him. Only he
is a good minister in other respects, and the King cannot be without him;
but, above all, being the Duke's father-in-law, he is kept in; otherwise
FitzHarding were able to fling down two of him. This, all the wise and
grave lords see, and cannot help it; but yield to it. But he bemoans what
the end of it may be, the King being ruled by these men, as he hath been
all along since his coming; to the razing all the strong-holds in
Scotland, and giving liberty to the Irish in Ireland, whom Cromwell had
settled all in one corner; who are now able, and it is feared everyday a
massacre again among them. He being gone I abroad to the carrier's, to
see some things sent away to my father against Christmas, and thence to
Moorfields, and there up and down to several houses to drink to look for a
place 'pour rencontrer la femme de je sais quoi' against next Monday, but
could meet none. So to the Coffeehouse, where great talke of the Comet
seen in several places; and among our men at sea, and by my Lord Sandwich,
to whom I intend to write about it to-night. Thence home to dinner, and
then to the office, where all the afternoon, and in the evening home to
supper, and then to the office late, and so to bed. This night I begun to
burn wax candles in my closett at the office, to try the charge, and to
see whether the smoke offends like that of tallow candles.
16th. Up, and by water to Deptford, thinking to have met 'la femme de'
Bagwell, but failed, and having done some business at the yard, I back
again, it being a fine fresh morning to walk. Back again, Mr. Wayth
walking with me to Half-Way House talking about Mr. Castle's fine knees
lately delivered in. In which I am well informed that they are not as
they should be to make them knees, and I hope shall make good use of it to
the King's service. Thence home, and having dressed myself, to the
'Change, and thence home to dinner, and so abroad by coach with my wife,
and bought a looking glasse by the Old Exchange, which costs me L5 5s. and
6s. for the hooks. A very fair glasse. So toward my cozen Scott's, but
meeting my Lady Sandwich's coach, my wife turned back to follow them,
thinking they might, as they did, go to visit her, and I 'light and to
Mrs. Harman, and there staid and talked in her shop with her, and much
pleased I am with her. We talked about Anthony Joyce's giving over trade
and that he intends to live in lodgings, which is a very mad, foolish
thing. She tells me she hears and believes it is because he, being now
begun to be called on offices, resolves not to take the new oathe, he
having formerly taken the Covenant or Engagement, but I think he do very
simply and will endeavour for his wife's sake to advise him therein.
Thence to my cozen Scott's, and there met my cozen Roger Pepys, and Mrs.
Turner, and The. and Joyce, and prated all the while, and so with the
"corps" to church and heard a very fine sermon of the Parson of the
parish, and so homeward with them in their coach, but finding it too late
to go home with me, I took another coach and so home, and after a while at
my office, home to supper and to bed.
17th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon I to
the 'Change, and there, among others, had my first meeting with Mr.
L'Estrange, who hath endeavoured several times to speak with me. It is to
get, now and then, some newes of me, which I shall, as I see cause, give
him. He is a man of fine conversation, I think, but I am sure most
courtly and full of compliments. Thence home to dinner, and then come the
looking-glass man to set up the looking-glass I bought yesterday, in my
dining-room, and very handsome it is. So abroad by coach to White Hall,
and there to the Committee of Tangier, and then the Fishing. Mr. Povy did
in discourse give me a rub about my late bill for money that I did get of
him, which vexed me and stuck in my mind all this evening, though I know
very well how to cleare myself at the worst. So home and to my office,
where late, and then home to bed. Mighty talke there is of this Comet
that is seen a'nights; and the King and Queene did sit up last night to
see it, and did, it seems. And to-night I thought to have done so too;
but it is cloudy, and so no stars appear. But I will endeavour it. Mr.
Gray did tell me to-night, for certain, that the Dutch, as high as they
seem, do begin to buckle; and that one man in this Kingdom did tell the
King that he is offered L40,000 to make a peace, and others have been
offered money also. It seems the taking of their Bourdeaux fleete thus,
arose from a printed Gazette of the Dutch's boasting of fighting, and
having beaten the English: in confidence whereof (it coming to Bourdeaux),
all the fleete comes out, and so falls into our hands.
18th (Lord's day). To church, where, God forgive me! I spent most of my
time in looking [on] my new Morena--[a brunette]--at the other side of the
church, an acquaintance of Pegg Pen's. So home to dinner, and then to my
chamber to read Ben Johnson's Cataline, a very excellent piece, and so to
church again, and thence we met at the office to hire ships, being in
great haste and having sent for several masters of ships to come to us.
Then home, and there Mr. Andrews and Hill come and we sung finely, and by
and by Mr. Fuller, the Parson, and supped with me, he and a friend of his,
but my musique friends would not stay supper. At and after supper Mr.
Fuller and I told many storys of apparitions and delusions thereby, and I
out with my storys of Tom Mallard. He gone, I a little to my office, and
then to prayers and to bed.
19th. Going to bed betimes last night we waked betimes, and from our
people's being forced to take the key to go out to light a candle, I was
very angry and begun to find fault with my wife for not commanding her
servants as she ought. Thereupon she giving me some cross answer I did
strike her over her left eye such a blow as the poor wretch did cry out
and was in great pain, but yet her spirit was such as to endeavour to bite
and scratch me. But I coying--[stroking or caressing]--with her made her
leave crying, and sent for butter and parsley, and friends presently one
with another, and I up, vexed at my heart to think what I had done, for
she was forced to lay a poultice or something to her eye all day, and is
black, and the people of the house observed it. But I was forced to rise,
and up and with Sir J. Minnes to White Hall, and there we waited on the
Duke. And among other things Mr. Coventry took occasion to vindicate
himself before the Duke and us, being all there, about the choosing of
Taylor for Harwich. Upon which the Duke did clear him, and did tell us
that he did expect, that, after he had named a man, none of us shall then
oppose or find fault with the man; but if we had anything to say, we ought
to say it before he had chose him. Sir G. Carteret thought himself
concerned, and endeavoured to clear himself: and by and by Sir W. Batten
did speak, knowing himself guilty, and did confess, that being pressed by
the Council he did say what he did, that he was accounted a fanatique; but
did not know that at that time he had been appointed by his Royal
Highness. To which the Duke [replied] that it was impossible but he must
know that he had appointed him; and so it did appear that the Duke did
mean all this while Sir W. Batten. So by and by we parted, and Mr.
Coventry did privately tell me that he did this day take this occasion to
mention the business to give the Duke an opportunity of speaking his mind
to Sir W. Batten in this business, of which I was heartily glad. Thence
home, and not finding Bagwell's wife as I expected, I to the 'Change and
there walked up and down, and then home, and she being come I bid her go
and stay at Mooregate for me, and after going up to my wife (whose eye is
very bad, but she is in very good temper to me), and after dinner I to the
place and walked round the fields again and again, but not finding her I
to the 'Change, and there found her waiting for me and took her away, and
to an alehouse, and there I made much of her, and then away thence and to
another and endeavoured to caress her, but 'elle ne voulait pas', which
did vex me, but I think it was chiefly not having a good easy place to do
it upon. So we broke up and parted and I to the office, where we sat
hiring of ships an hour or two, and then to my office, and thence (with
Captain Taylor home to my house) to give him instructions and some notice
of what to his great satisfaction had happened to-day. Which I do because
I hope his coming into this office will a little cross Sir W. Batten and
may do me good. He gone, I to supper with my wife, very pleasant, and then
a little to my office and to bed. My mind, God forgive me, too much
running upon what I can 'ferais avec la femme de Bagwell demain', having
promised to go to Deptford and 'a aller a sa maison avec son mari' when I
come thither.