Diary of Samuel Pepys, October 1666
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Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, October 1666
9th. Up and to the office, where we sat the first day since the fire, I
think. At noon home, and my uncle Thomas was there, and dined with my
brother and I (my father and I were gone abroad), and then to the office
again in the afternoon, and there close all day long, and did much
business. At night to Sir W. Batten, where Sir R. Ford did occasion some
discourse of sending a convoy to the Maderas; and this did put us upon
some new thoughts of sending our privateer thither on merchants' accounts,
which I have more mind to, the profit being certain and occasion honest
withall. So home, and to supper with my father, and then to set my
remainder of my books gilt in order with much pleasure, and so late to
bed.
10th (Fast-day for the fire). Up with Sir W. Batten by water to White
Hall, and anon had a meeting before the Duke of York, where pretty to see
how Sir W. Batten, that carried the surveys of all the fleete with him, to
shew their ill condition to the Duke of York, when he found the Prince
there, did not speak one word, though the meeting was of his asking--for
nothing else. And when I asked him, he told me he knew the Prince too
well to anger him, so that he was afeard to do it. Thence with him to
Westminster, to the parish church, where the Parliament-men, and
Stillingfleete in the pulpit. So full, no standing there; so he and I to
eat herrings at the Dog Taverne. And then to church again, and there was
Mr. Frampton in the pulpit, they cry up so much, a young man, and of a
mighty ready tongue. I heard a little of his sermon, and liked it; but
the crowd so great, I could not stay. So to the Swan, and 'baise la
fille', and drank, and then home by coach, and took father, wife, brother,
and W. Hewer to Islington, where I find mine host dead. Here eat and
drank, and merry; and so home, and to the office a while, and then to Sir
W. Batten to talk a while, and with Captain Cocke into the office to hear
his newes, who is mighty conversant with Garraway and those people, who
tells me what they object as to the maladministration of things as to
money. But that they mean well, and will do well; but their reckonings
are very good, and show great faults, as I will insert here. They say the
king hath had towards this war expressly thus much
Royal Ayde.................................... L2,450,000
More.......................................... 1,250,000
Three months' tax given the King by a power of
raising a month's tax of L70,000 every
year for three years..................... 0,210,000
Customes, out of which the King did promise
to pay L240,000, which for two years
comes to.................................. 0,480,000
Prizes, which they moderately reckon at........ 0,300,000
A debt declared by the Navy, by us............. 0,900,000
----------
5,590,000
The whole charge of the Navy, as we state it
for two years and a month, hath been but.. 3,200,000
So what is become of all this sum?........ 2,390,000
He and I did bemoan our public condition. He tells me the Duke of
Albemarle is under a cloud, and they have a mind at Court to lay him
aside. This I know not; but all things are not right with him, and I am
glad of it, but sorry for the time. So home to supper, and to bed, it
being my wedding night,
[See Life, vol. i., p. xxi., where the register of St. Margaret's
parish, Westminster, is quoted to the effect that Pepys was married
December 1st, 1655. It seems incomprehensible that both husband and
wife should have been wrong as to the date of their wedding day, but
Mrs. Pepys was unquestionably wrong as to the number of years, for
they had been married nearly eleven.]
but how many years I cannot tell; but my wife says ten.
11th. Up, and discoursed with my father of my sending some money for
safety into the country, for I am in pain what to do with what I have. I
did give him money, poor man, and he overjoyed. So left him, and to the
office, where nothing but sad evidences of ruine coming on us for want of
money. So home to dinner, which was a very good dinner, my father,
brother, wife and I, and then to the office again, where I was all the
afternoon till very late, busy, and then home to supper and to bed.
Memorandum. I had taken my Journall during the fire and the
disorders following in loose papers until this very day, and could
not get time to enter them in my book till January 18, in the
morning, having made my eyes sore by frequent attempts this winter
to do it. But now it is done, for which I thank God, and pray never
the like occasion may happen.
12th. Up, and after taking leave of my poor father, who is setting out
this day for Brampton by the Cambridge coach, he having taken a journey to
see the city burned, and to bring my brother to towne, I out by water; and
so coach to St. James's, the weather being foul; and there, from Sir W.
Coventry, do hear how the House have cut us off L150,000 of our wear and
tear, for that which was saved by the King while the fleete lay in harbour
in winter. However, he seems pleased, and so am I, that they have abated
no more, and do intend to allow of 28,000 men for the next year; and this
day have appointed to declare the sum they will give the King,
[The parliament voted this day a supply of L1,800,000 sterling.
See below.]
and to propose the way of raising it; so that this is likely to be the
great day. This done in his chamber, I with him to Westminster Hall, and
there took a few turns, the Hall mighty full of people, and the House
likely to be very full to-day about the money business. Here I met with
several people, and do find that people have a mighty mind to have a fling
at the Vice-Chamberlain, if they could lay hold of anything, his place
being, indeed, too much for such, they think, or any single subject of no
greater parts and quality than he, to enjoy. But I hope he may weather
all, though it will not be by any dexterity of his, I dare say, if he do
stand, but by his fate only, and people's being taken off by other things.
Thence home by coach, mighty dirty weather, and then to the Treasurer's
office and got a ticket paid for my little Michell, and so again by coach
to Westminster, and come presently after the House rose. So to the Swan,
and there sent for a piece of meat and dined alone and played with Sarah,
and so to the Hall a while, and thence to Mrs. Martin's lodging and did
what I would with her. She is very big, and resolves I must be godfather.
Thence away by water with Cropp to Deptford. It was almost night before I
got thither. So I did only give directions concerning a press that I have
making there to hold my turning and joyner's tooles that were lately given
me, which will be very handsome, and so away back again, it being now
dark, and so home, and there find my wife come home, and hath brought her
new girle I have helped her to, of Mr. Falconbridge's. She is wretched
poor; and but ordinary favoured; and we fain to lay out seven or eight
pounds worth of clothes upon her back, which, methinks, do go against my
heart; and I do not think I can ever esteem her as I could have done
another that had come fine and handsome; and which is more, her voice, for
want of use, is so furred, that it do not at present please me; but her
manner of singing is such, that I shall, I think, take great pleasure in
it. Well, she is come, and I wish us good fortune in her. Here I met
with notice of a meeting of the Commissioners for Tangier tomorrow, and so
I must have my accounts ready for them, which caused me to confine myself
to my chamber presently and set to the making up my accounts, which I find
very clear, but with much difficulty by reason of my not doing them
sooner, things being out of my mind.
13th. It cost me till four o'clock in the morning, and, which was pretty
to think, I was above an hour, after I had made all right, in casting up
of about twenty sums, being dozed with much work, and had for forty times
together forgot to carry the 60 which I had in my mind, in one
denomination which exceeded 60; and this did confound me for above an hour
together. At last all even and done, and so to bed. Up at seven, and so
to the office, after looking over my last night's work. We sat all the
morning. At noon by coach with my Lord Bruncker and 'light at the Temple,
and so alone I to dinner at a cooke's, and thence to my Lord Bellasses,
whom I find kind; but he had drawn some new proposal to deliver to the
Lords Commissioners to-day, wherein one was, that the garrison would not
be well paid without some goldsmith's undertaking the paying of the bills
of exchange for Tallys. He professing so much kindness to me, and saying
that he would not be concerned in the garrison without me; and that if he
continued in the employment, no man should have to do with the money but
myself. I did ask his Lordship's meaning of the proposition in his paper.
He told me he had not much considered it, but that he meant no harm to me.
I told him I thought it would render me useless; whereupon he did very
frankly, after my seeming denials for a good while, cause it to be writ
over again, and that clause left out, which did satisfy me abundantly. It
being done, he and I together to White Hall, and there the Duke of York
(who is gone over to all his pleasures again, and leaves off care of
business, what with his woman, my Lady Denham, and his hunting three times
a week) was just come in from hunting. So I stood and saw him dress
himself, and try on his vest, which is the King's new fashion, and will be
in it for good and all on Monday next, and the whole Court: it is a
fashion, the King says; he will never change. He being ready, he and my
Lord Chancellor, and Duke of Albemarle, and Prince Rupert, Lord Bellasses,
Sir H. Cholmly, Povy, and myself, met at a Committee for Tangier. My Lord
Bellasses's propositions were read and discoursed of, about reducing the
garrison to less charge; and indeed I am mad in love with my Lord
Chancellor, for he do comprehend and speak out well, and with the greatest
easinesse and authority that ever I saw man in my life. I did never
observe how much easier a man do speak when he knows all the company to be
below him, than in him; for though he spoke, indeed, excellent welt, yet
his manner and freedom of doing it, as if he played with it, and was
informing only all the rest of the company, was mighty pretty. He did
call again and again upon Mr. Povy for his accounts. I did think fit to
make the solemn tender of my accounts that I intended. I said something
that was liked, touching the want of money, and the bad credit of our
tallys. My Lord Chancellor moved, that without any trouble to any of the
rest of the Lords, I might alone attend the King, when he was with his
private Council; and open the state of the garrison's want of credit; and
all that could be done, should. Most things moved were referred to
Committees, and so we broke up. And at the end Sir W. Coventry come; so I
away with him, and he discoursed with me something of the Parliament's
business. They have voted giving the [King] for next year L1,800,000;
which, were it not for his debts, were a great sum. He says, he thinks
the House may say no more to us for the present, but that we must mend our
manners against the next tryall, and mend them we will. But he thinks it
not a fit time to be found making of trouble among ourselves, meaning
about Sir J. Minnes, who most certainly must be removed, or made a
Commissioner, and somebody else Comptroller. But he tells me that the
House has a great envy at Sir G. Carteret, and that had he ever thought
fit in all his discourse to have touched upon the point of our want of
money and badness of payment, it would have been laid hold on to Sir G.
Carteret's hurt; but he hath avoided it, though without much reason for
it, most studiously, and in short did end thus, that he has never shewn so
much of the pigeon in all his life as in his innocence to Sir G. Carteret
at this time; which I believe, and will desire Sir G. Carteret to thank
him for it. So we broke up and I by coach home, calling for a new pair of
shoes, and so, little being to do at the office, did go home, and after
spending a little in righting some of my books, which stood out of order,
I to bed.
14th (Lord's day). Lay long in bed, among other things, talking of my
wife's renewing her acquaintance with Mrs. Pierce, which, by my wife's ill
using her when she was here last, hath been interrupted. Herein we were a
little angry together, but presently friends again; and so up, and I to
church, which was mighty full, and my beauties, Mrs. Lethulier and fair
Batelier, both there. A very foul morning, and rained; and sent for my
cloake to go out of the church with. So dined, and after dinner (a good
discourse thereat to my brother) he and I by water to White Hall, and he
to Westminster Abbey. Here I met with Sir Stephen Fox, who told me how
much right I had done myself, and how well it is represented by the
Committee to the House, my readinesse to give them satisfaction in
everything when they were at the office. I was glad of this. He did
further discourse of Sir W. Coventry's, great abilities, and how necessary
it were that I were of the House to assist him. I did not owne it, but do
myself think it were not unnecessary if either he should die, or be
removed to the Lords, or any thing to hinder his doing the like service
the next trial, which makes me think that it were not a thing very unfit;
but I will not move in it. He and I parted, I to Mrs. Martin's, thinking
to have met Mrs. Burrows, but she was not there, so away and took my
brother out of the Abbey and home, and there to set some accounts right,
and to the office to even my Journall, and so home to supper and to bed.
15th. Called up, though a very rainy morning, by Sir H. Cholmley, and he
and I most of the morning together evening of accounts, which I was very
glad of. Then he and I out to Sir Robt. Viner's, at the African house
(where I had not been since he come thither); but he was not there; but I
did some business with his people, and then to Colvill's, who, I find,
lives now in Lyme Streete, and with the same credit as ever, this fire
having not done them any wrong that I hear of at all. Thence he and I
together to Westminster Hall, in our way talking of matters and passages
of state, the viciousness of the Court; the contempt the King brings
himself into thereby; his minding nothing, but doing all things just as
his people about him will have it; the Duke of York becoming a slave to
this whore Denham, and wholly minds her; that there really was amours
between the Duchesse and Sidney; a that there is reason to fear that, as
soon as the Parliament have raised this money, the King will see that he
hath got all that he can get, and then make up a peace. He tells me, what
I wonder at, but that I find it confirmed by Mr. Pierce, whom I met
by-and-by in the Hall, that Sir W. Coventry is of the caball with the Duke
of York, and Bruncker, with this Denham; which is a shame, and I am sorry
for it, and that Sir W. Coventry do make her visits; but yet I hope it is
not so. Pierce tells me, that as little agreement as there is between the
Prince--[Rupert]--and Duke of Albemarle, yet they are likely to go to sea
again; for the first will not be trusted alone, and nobody will go with
him but this Duke of Albemarle. He tells me much how all the commanders
of the fleete and officers that are sober men do cry out upon their bad
discipline, and the ruine that must follow it if it continue. But that
which I wonder most at, it seems their secretaries have been the most
exorbitant in their fees to all sorts of the people, that it is not to be
believed that they durst do it, so as it is believed they have got L800
apiece by the very vacancies in the fleete. He tells me that Lady
Castlemayne is concluded to be with child again; and that all the people
about the King do make no scruple of saying that the King do lie with Mrs.
Stewart, who, he says, is a most excellent-natured lady. This day the King
begins to put on his vest, and I did see several persons of the House of
Lords and Commons too, great courtiers, who are in it; being a long
cassocke close to the body, of black cloth, and pinked with white silke
under it, and a coat over it, and the legs ruffled with black riband like
a pigeon's leg; and, upon the whole, I wish the King may keep it, for it
is a very fine and handsome garment.
[Evelyn describes the new fashion as "a comely dress after ye
Persian mode" (see "Diary," October 18th, 1666). He adds that he
had described the "comelinesse and usefulnesse" of the Persian
clothing in his pamphlet entitled "Tyrannus, or the Mode." "I do
not impute to this discourse the change which soone happen'd, but
it was an identity I could not but take notice of." Rugge, in his
"Diurnal," thus describes the new Court costume "1666, Oct. 11. In
this month His Majestie and whole Court changed the fashion of their
clothes-viz. a close coat of cloth, pinkt with a white taffety under
the cutts. This in length reached the calf of the leg, and upon
that a sercoat cutt at the breast, which hung loose and shorter than
the vest six inches. The breeches the Spanish cut, and buskins some
of cloth, some of leather, but of the same colour as the vest or
garment; of never the like fashion since William the Conqueror." It
is represented in a portrait of Lord Arlington, by Sir P. Lely,
formerly belonging to Lord de Clifford, and engraved in Lodge's
"Portraits." Louis XIV. ordered his servants to wear the dress.
See November 22.]
Walking with Pierce in the Court of Wards out comes Sir W. Coventry, and
he and I talked of business. Among others I proposed the making Sir J.
Minnes a Commissioner, and make somebody else Comptroller. He tells me it
is the thing he hath been thinking of, and hath spoke to the Duke of York
of it. He believes it will be done; but that which I fear is that Pen
will be Comptroller, which I shall grudge a little. The Duke of
Buckingham called him aside and spoke a good while with him. I did
presently fear it might be to discourse something of his design to blemish
my Lord of Sandwich, in pursuance of the wild motion he made the other day
in the House. Sir W. Coventry, when he come to me again, told me that he
had wrought a miracle, which was, the convincing the Duke of Buckingham
that something--he did not name what--that he had intended to do was not
fit to be done, and that the Duke is gone away of that opinion. This
makes me verily believe it was something like what I feared. By and by
the House rose, and then we parted, and I with Sir G. Carteret, and walked
in the Exchequer Court, discoursing of businesses. Among others, I
observing to him how friendly Sir W. Coventry had carried himself to him
in these late inquiries, when, if he had borne him any spleen, he could
have had what occasion he pleased offered him, he did confess he found the
same thing, and would thanke him for it. I did give him some other
advices, and so away with him to his lodgings at White Hall to dinner,
where my Lady Carteret is, and mighty kind, both of them, to me. Their
son and my Lady Jemimah will be here very speedily. She tells me the
ladies are to go into a new fashion shortly, and that is, to wear short
coats, above their ancles; which she and I do not like, but conclude this
long trayne to be mighty graceful. But she cries out of the vices of the
Court, and how they are going to set up plays already; and how, the next
day after the late great fast, the Duchesse of York did give the King and
Queene a play. Nay, she told me that they have heretofore had plays at
Court the very nights before the fast for the death of the late King: She
do much cry out upon these things, and that which she believes will undo
the whole nation; and I fear so too. After dinner away home, Mr. Brisband
along with me as far as the Temple, and there looked upon a new booke, set
out by one Rycault, secretary to my Lord Winchelsea, of the policy and
customs of the Turks, which is, it seems, much cried up. But I could not
stay, but home, where I find Balty come back, and with him some
muster-books, which I am glad of, and hope he will do me credit in his
employment. By and by took coach again and carried him home, and my wife
to her tailor's, while I to White Hall to have found out Povy, but miss
him and so call in my wife and home again, where at Sir W. Batten's I met
Sir W. Pen, lately come from the fleete at the Nore; and here were many
good fellows, among others Sir R. Holmes, who is exceeding kind to me,
more than usual, which makes me afeard of him, though I do much wish his
friendship. Thereupon, after a little stay, I withdrew, and to the office
and awhile, and then home to supper and to my chamber to settle a few
papers, and then to bed. This day the great debate was in Parliament, the
manner of raising the L1,800,000 they voted [the King] on Friday; and at
last, after many proposals, one moved that the Chimney-money might be
taken from the King, and an equal revenue of something else might be found
for the King, and people be enjoyned to buy off this tax of Chimney-money
for ever at eight years' purchase, which will raise present money, as they
think, L1,600,000, and the State be eased of an ill burthen and the King
be supplied of something as food or better for his use. The House seems
to like this, and put off the debate to to-morrow.
16th. Up, and to the office, where sat to do little business but hear
clamours for money. At noon home to dinner, and to the office again,
after hearing my brother play a little upon the Lyra viall, which he do so
as to show that he hath a love to musique and a spirit for it, which I am
well pleased with. All the afternoon at the office, and at night with Sir
W. Batten, Sir W. Pen, [and Sir] J. Minnes, at [Sir] W. Pen's lodgings,
advising about business and orders fit presently to make about discharging
of ships come into the river, and which to pay first, and many things in
order thereto. But it vexed me that, it being now past seven o'clock, and
the businesses of great weight, and I had done them by eight o'clock, and
sending them to be signed, they were all gone to bed, and Sir W. Pen,
though awake, would not, being in bed, have them brought to him to sign;
this made me quite angry. Late at work at the office, and then home to
supper and to bed. Not come to any resolution at the Parliament to-day
about the manner of raising this L1,800,000.
17th. Up, and busy about public and private business all the morning at
the office. At noon home to dinner, alone with my brother, with whom I
had now the first private talke I have had, and find he hath preached but
twice in his life. I did give him some advice to study pronunciation; but
I do fear he will never make a good speaker, nor, I fear, any general good
scholar, for I do not see that he minds optickes or mathematiques of any
sort, nor anything else that I can find. I know not what he may be at
divinity and ordinary school-learning. However, he seems sober, and that
pleases me. After dinner took him and my wife and Barker (for so is our
new woman called, and is yet but a sorry girle), and set them down at
Unthanke's, and so to White Hall, and there find some of my brethren with
the Duke of York, but so few I put off the meeting. So staid and heard
the Duke discourse, which he did mighty scurrilously, of the French, and
with reason, that they should give Beaufort orders when he was to bring,
and did bring, his fleete hither, that his rendezvous for his fleete, and
for all sluggs to come to, should be between Calais and Dover; which did
prove the taking of La Roche[lle], who, among other sluggs behind, did, by
their instructions, make for that place, to rendezvous with the fleete;
and Beaufort, seeing them as he was returning, took them for the English
fleete, and wrote word to the King of France that he had passed by the
English fleete, and the English fleete durst not meddle with him. The
Court is all full of vests, only my Lord St. Albans not pinked but plain
black; and they say the King says the pinking upon white makes them look
too much like magpyes, and therefore hath bespoke one of plain velvet.
Thence to St. James's by coach, and spoke, at four o'clock or five, with
Sir W. Coventry, newly come from the House, where they have sat all this
day and not come to an end of the debate how the money shall be raised.
He tells me that what I proposed to him the other day was what he had
himself thought on and determined, and that he believes it will speedily
be done--the making Sir J. Minnes a Commissioner, and bringing somebody
else to be Comptroller, and that (which do not please me, I confess, for
my own particulars, so well as Sir J. Minnes) will, I fear, be Sir W. Pen,
for he is the only fit man for it. Away from him and took up my wife, and
left her at Temple Bar to buy some lace for a petticoat, and I took coach
and away to Sir R. Viner's about a little business, and then home, and by
and by to my chamber, and there late upon making up an account for the
Board to pass to-morrow, if I can get them, for the clearing all my
imprest bills, which if I can do, will be to my very good satisfaction.
Having done this, then to supper and to bed.