Book: Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1662 N.S. Complete

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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.

1662 N.S. COMPLETE

1661-62. January 1st. Waking this morning out of my sleep on a sudden, I
did with my elbow hit my wife a great blow over her face and nose, which
waked her with pain, at which I was sorry, and to sleep again. Up and
went forth with Sir W. Pen by coach towards Westminster, and in my way
seeing that the "Spanish Curate" was acted today, I light and let him go
alone, and I home again and sent to young Mr. Pen and his sister to go
anon with my wife and I to the Theatre. That done, Mr. W. Pen came to me
and he and I walked out, and to the Stacioner's, and looked over some
pictures and traps for my house, and so home again to dinner, and by and
by came the two young Pens, and after we had eat a barrel of oysters we
went by coach to the play, and there saw it well acted, and a good play it
is, only Diego the Sexton did overdo his part too much. From thence home,
and they sat with us till late at night at cards very merry, but the jest
was Mr. W. Pen had left his sword in the coach, and so my boy and he run
out after the coach, and by very great chance did at the Exchange meet
with the coach and got his sword again. So to bed.

2nd. An invitation sent us before we were up from my Lady Sandwich's, to
come and dine with her: so at the office all the morning, and at noon
thither to dinner, where there was a good and great dinner, and the
company, Mr. William Montagu and his Lady (but she seemed so far from the
beauty that I expected her from my Lady's talk to be, that it put me into
an ill humour all the day, to find my expectation so lost), Mr. Rurttball
and Townsend and their wives. After dinner, borne by water, and so to the
office till night, and then I went forth, by appointment, to meet with Mr.
Grant, who promised to meet me at the Coffee-house to bring me acquainted
with Cooper the great limner in little, but they deceived me, and so I
went home, and there sat at my lute and singing till almost twelve at
night, and so to bed. Sir Richd. Fanshaw is come suddenly from Portugall,
but nobody knows what his business is.

3rd. Lay long in bed, and so up and abroad to several places about petty
businesses. Among others to Tom's, who I find great hopes of that he will
do well, which I am glad of, and am not now so hasty to get a wife for him
as I was before. So to dinner to my Lord Crew's with him and his Lady,
and after dinner to Faithorne's, and there bought some pictures of him;
and while I was there, comes by the King's life-guard, he being gone to
Lincoln's Inn this afternoon to see the Revells there; there being,
according to an old custom, a prince and all his nobles, and other matters
of sport and charge. So home, and up to my chamber to look over my papers
and other things, my mind being much troubled for these four or five days
because of my present great expense, and will be so till I cast up and see
how my estate stands, and that I am loth to do for fear I have spent too
much, and delay it the rather that I may pay for my pictures and my
wife's, and the book that I am buying for Paul's School before I do cast
up my accompts.

4th. At home most of the morning hanging up pictures, and seeing how my
pewter sconces that I have bought will become my stayres and entry, and
then with my wife by water to Westminster, whither she to her father's and
I to Westminster Hall, and there walked a turn or two with Mr. Chetwin
(who had a dog challenged of him by another man that said it was his, but
Mr. Chetwin called the dog, and the dog at last would follow him, and not
his old master, and so Chetwin got the dog) and W. Symons, and thence to
my wife, who met me at my Lord's lodgings, and she and I and old East to
Wilkinson's to dinner, where we had some rost beef and a mutton pie, and a
mince-pie, but none of them pleased me. After dinner by coach my wife and
I home, and I to the office, and there till late, and then I and my wife
to Sir W. Pen's to cards and supper, and were merry, and much
correspondence there has been between our two families all this Christmas.
So home and to bed.

5th (Lord's day). Left my wife in bed not well . . . and I to church,
and so home to dinner, and dined alone upon some marrow bones, and had a
fine piece of rost beef, but being alone I eat none. So after dinner
comes in my brother Tom, and he tells me how he hath seen the father and
mother of the girl which my cozen Joyces would have him to have for a
wife, and they are much for it, but we are in a great quandary what to do
therein, L200 being but a little money; and I hope, if he continues as he
begins, he may look out for one with more. To church, and before sermon
there was a long psalm, and half another sung out while the Sexton
gathered what the church would give him for this last year. I gave him
3s., and have the last week given the Clerk 2s., which I set down that I
may know what to do the next year, if it please the Lord that I live so
long; but the jest was, the Clerk begins the 25th psalm, which hath a
proper tune to it, and then the 116th, which cannot be sung with that
tune, which seemed very ridiculous. After church to Sir W. Batten's,
where on purpose I have not been this fortnight, and I am resolved to keep
myself more reserved to avoyd the contempt which otherwise I must fall
into, and so home and six and talked and supped with my wife, and so up to
prayers and to bed, having wrote a letter this night to Sir J. Mennes in
the Downs for his opinion in the business of striking of flags.

6th (Twelfth day). This morning I sent my lute to the Paynter's, and
there I staid with him all the morning to see him paint the neck of my
lute in my picture, which I was not pleased with after it was done. Thence
to dinner to Sir W. Pen's, it being a solemn feast day with him, his
wedding day, and we had, besides a good chine of beef and other good
cheer, eighteen mince pies in a dish, the number of the years that he hath
been married, where Sir W. Batten and his Lady, and daughter was, and
Colonel Treswell and Major Holmes, who I perceive would fain get to be
free and friends with my wife, but I shall prevent it, and she herself
hath also a defyance against him. After dinner they set in to drinking,
so that I would stay no longer, but went away home, and Captain Cock, who
was quite drunk, comes after me, and there sat awhile and so away, and
anon I went again after the company was gone, and sat and played at cards
with Sir W. Pen and his children, and so after supper home, and there I
hear that my man Gull was gone to bed, and upon enquiry I hear that he did
vomit before he went to bed, and complained his head ached, and thereupon
though he was asleep I sent for him out of his bed, and he rose and came
up to me, and I appeared very angry and did tax him with being drunk, and
he told me that he had been with Mr. Southerne and Homewood at the
Dolphin, and drank a quart of sack, but that his head did ache before he
went out. But I do believe he has drunk too much, and so I did threaten
him to bid his uncle dispose of him some other way, and sent him down to
bed and do resolve to continue to be angry with him. So to bed to my
wife, and told her what had passed.

7th. Long in bed, and then rose and went along with Sir W. Pen on foot to
Stepny to Mrs. Chappell's (who has the pretty boy to her son), and there
met my wife and Sir W. Pen's children all, and Mrs. Poole and her boy, and
there dined and' were very merry, and home again by coach and so to the
office. In the afternoon and at night to Sir W. Pen's, there supped and
played at cards with them and were merry, the children being to go all
away to school again to-morrow. Thence home and to bed.

8th. I rose and went to Westminster Hall, and there walked up and down
upon several businesses, and among, others I met with Sir W. Pen, who told
me that he had this morning heard Sir G. Carteret extremely angry against
my man Will that he is every other day with the Commissioners of
Parliament at Westminster, and that his uncle was a rogue, and that he did
tell his uncle every thing that passes at the office, and Sir William,
though he loves the lad, did advise me to part with him, which did with
this surprise mightily trouble me, though I was already angry with him,
and so to the Wardrobe by water, and all the way did examine Will about
the business, but did not tell him upon what score, but I find that the
poor lad do suspect something. To dinner with my Lady, and after dinner
talked long with her, and so home, and to Sir W. Batten's, and sat and
talked with him, and so home troubled in mind, and so up to my study and
read the two treaties before Mr. Selden's "Mare Clausum," and so to bed.
This night come about L100 from Brampton by carrier to me, in holsters
from my father, which made me laugh.

9th. At the office all the morning private with Sir G. Carteret (who I
expected something from about yesterday's business, but he said nothing),
Sir W. Batten, and Sir W. Pen, about drawing; up an answer to several
demands of my Lord Treasurer, and late at it till 2 o'clock. Then to
dinner, and my wife to Sir W. Pen's, and so to the office again and sat
till late; and so home, where I found Mr. Armiger below talking with my
wife, but being offended with him for his leaving of my brother Tom I
shewed him no countenance, but did take notice of it to him plainly, and I
perceive he was troubled at it, but I am glad I told him of it. Then
(when he was gone) up to write several letters by the post, and so to set
my papers and things in order, and to bed. This morning we agreed upon
some things to answer to the Duke about the practice of striking of the
flags, which will now put me upon finishing my resolution of writing
something upon the subject.

10th. To White Hall, and there spoke with Sir Paul Neale' about a
mathematical request of my Lord's to him, which I did deliver to him, and
he promised to employ somebody to answer it, something about observation
of the moon and stars, but what I did not mind. Here I met with Mr.
Moore, who tells me that an injuncon is granted in Chancery against T.
Trice, at which I was very glad, being before in some trouble for it. With
him to Westminster Hall, where I walked till noon talking with one or
other, and so to the Wardrobe to dinner, where tired with Mr. Pickering's
company I returned to Westminster, by appointment, to meet my wife at Mrs.
Hunt's to gossip with her, which we did alone, and were very merry, and
did give her a cup and spoon for my wife's god-child, and so home by
coach, and I late reading in my chamber and then to bed, my wife being
angry that I keep the house so late up.

11th. My brother Tom came to me, and he and I to Mr. Turner the Draper's,
and paid L15 to him for cloth owing to him by my father for his mourning
for my uncle, and so to his house, and there invited all the Honiwood's to
dinner on Monday next. So to the Exchange, and there all the news is of
the French and Dutch joyning against us; but I do not think it yet true.
So home to dinner, and in the afternoon to the office, and so to Sir W.
Batten's, where in discourse I heard the custom of the election of the
Dukes of Genoa, who for two years are every day attended in the greatest
state; and four or five hundred men always waiting upon him as a king; and
when the two years are out, and another is chose, a messenger is, sent to
him, who stands at the bottom of the stairs, and he at the top, and says,
"Va. Illustrissima Serenita sta finita, et puede andar en casa."--"Your
serenity is now ended; and now you may be going home," and so claps on his
hat. And the old Duke (having by custom sent his goods home before),
walks away, it may be but with one man at his heels; and the new one
brought immediately in his room, in the greatest state in the world.
Another account was told us, how in the Dukedom of Ragusa, in the
Adriatique (a State that is little, but more ancient, they say, than
Venice, and is called the mother of Venice, and the Turks lie round about
it), that they change all the officers of their guard, for fear of
conspiracy, every twenty-four hours, so that nobody knows who shall be
captain of the guard to-night; but two men come to a man, and lay hold of
him as a prisoner, and carry him to the place; and there he hath the keys
of the garrison given him, and he presently issues his orders for that
night's watch: and so always from night to night. Sir Win. Rider told the
first of his own knowledge; and both he and Sir W. Batten confirm the
last. Hence home and to read, and so to bed, but very late again.

12th (Lord's day). To church, where a stranger made a very good sermon.
At noon Sir W. Pen and my good friend Dean Fuller, by appointment, and my
wife's brother by chance, dined with me very merry and handsomely. After
dinner the Dean, my wife and I by Sir W. Pen's coach left us, he to
Whitehall, and my wife and I to visit Mrs. Pierce and thence Mrs. Turner,
who continues very ill still, and The. is also fallen sick, which do
trouble me for the poor mother. So home and to read, I being troubled to
hear my wife rate though not without cause at her mayd Nell, who is a lazy
slut. So to prayers and to bed.

13th. All the morning at home, and Mr. Berkenshaw (whom I have not seen a
great while, came to see me), who staid with me a great while talking of
musique, and I am resolved to begin to learn of him to compose, and to
begin to-morrow, he giving of me so great hopes that I shall soon do it.
Before twelve o'clock comes, by appointment, Mr. Peter and the Dean, and
Collonel Noniwood, brothers, to dine with me; but so soon that I was
troubled at it. But, however, I entertained them with talk and oysters
till one o'clock, and then we sat down to dinner, not staying for my uncle
and aunt Wight, at which I was troubled, but they came by and by, and so
we dined very merry, at least I seemed so, but the dinner does not please
me, and less the Dean and Collonel, whom I found to be pitiful sorry
gentlemen, though good-natured, but Mr. Peter above them both, who after
dinner did show us the experiment (which I had heard talk of) of the
chymicall glasses, which break all to dust by breaking off a little small
end; which is a great mystery to me. They being gone, my aunt Wight and
my wife and I to cards, she teaching of us how to play at gleeke, which is
a pretty game; but I have not my head so free as to be troubled with it.
By and by comes my uncle Wight back, and so to supper and talk, and then
again to cards, when my wife and I beat them two games and they us one,
and so good night and to bed.

14th. All the morning at home, Mr. Berkenshaw by appointment yesterday
coming to me, and begun composition of musique, and he being gone I to
settle my papers and things in my chamber, and so after dinner in the
afternoon to the office, and thence to my chamber about several businesses
of the office and my own, and then to supper and to bed. This day my
brave vellum covers to keep pictures in, come in, which pleases me very
much.

15th. This morning Mr. Berkenshaw came again, and after he had examined
me and taught me something in my work, he and I went to breakfast in my
chamber upon a collar of brawn, and after we had eaten, asked me whether
we had not committed a fault in eating to-day; telling me that it is a
fast day ordered by the Parliament, to pray for more seasonable weather;
it having hitherto been summer weather, that it is, both as to warmth and
every other thing, just as if it were the middle of May or June, which do
threaten a plague (as all men think) to follow, for so it was almost the
last winter; and the whole year after hath been a very sickly time to this
day. I did not stir out of my house all day, but conned my musique, and
at night after supper to bed.

16th. Towards Cheapside; and in Paul's Churchyard saw the funeral of my
Lord Cornwallis, late Steward of the King's House, a bold profane talking
man, go by, and thence I to the Paynter's, and there paid him L6 for the
two pictures, and 36s. for the two frames. From thence home, and Mr.
Holliard and my brother Tom dined with me, and he did give me good advice
about my health. In the afternoon at the office, and at night to Sir W.
Batten, and there saw him and Captain Cock and Stokes play at cards, and
afterwards supped with them. Stokes told us, that notwithstanding the
country of Gambo is so unhealthy, yet the people of the place live very
long, so as the present king there is 150 years old, which they count by
rains: because every year it rains continually four months together. He
also told us, that the kings there have above 100 wives a-piece, and
offered him the choice of any of his wives to lie with, and so he did
Captain Holmes. So home and to bed.

17th. To Westminster with Mr. Moore, and there, after several walks up
and down to hear news, I met with Lany, the Frenchman, who told me that he
had a letter from France last night, that tells him that my Lord
Hinchingbroke is dead,--[proved false]--and that he did die yesterday was
se'nnight, which do surprise me exceedingly (though we know that he hath
been sick these two months), so I hardly ever was in my life; but being
fearfull that my Lady should come to hear it too suddenly, he and I went
up to my Lord Crew's, and there I dined with him, and after dinner we told
him, and the whole family is much disturbed by it: so we consulted what to
do to tell my Lady of it; and at last we thought of my going first to Mr.
George Montagu's to hear whether he had any news of it, which I did, and
there found all his house in great heaviness for the death of his son, Mr.
George Montagu, who did go with our young gentlemen into France, and that
they hear nothing at all of our young Lord; so believing that thence comes
the mistake, I returned to my Lord Crew (in my way in the Piazza seeing a
house on fire, and all the streets full of people to quench it), and told
them of it, which they are much glad of, and conclude, and so I hope, that
my Lord is well; and so I went to my Lady Sandwich, and told her all, and
after much talk I parted thence with my wife, who had been there all the
day, and so home to my musique, and then to bed.

18th. This morning I went to Dr. Williams, and there he told me how T.
Trice had spoke to him about getting me to meet that our difference might
be made up between us by ourselves, which I am glad of, and have appointed
Monday next to be the day. Thence to the Wardrobe, and there hearing it
would be late before they went to dinner, I went and spent some time in
Paul's Churchyard among some books, and then returned thither, and there
dined with my Lady and Sir H. Wright and his lady, all glad of yesterday's
mistake, and after dinner to the office, and then home and wrote letters
by the post to my father, and by and by comes Mr. Moore to give me an
account how Mr. Montagu was gone away of a sudden with the fleet, in such
haste that he hath left behind some servants, and many things of
consequence; and among others, my Lord's commission for Embassador.
Whereupon he and I took coach, and to White Hall to my Lord's lodgings, to
have spoke with Mr. Ralph Montagu, his brother (and here we staid talking
with Sarah and the old man); but by and by hearing that he was in Covent
Garden, we went thither: and at my Lady Harvy's, his sister, I spoke with
him, and he tells me that the commission is not left behind. And so I
went thence by the same coach (setting down Mr. Moore) home, and after
having wrote a letter to my Lord at 12 o'clock at night by post I went to
bed.

19th (Lord's day). To church in the morning, where Mr. Mills preached
upon Christ's being offered up for our sins, and there proving the equity
with what justice God would lay our sins upon his Son, he did make such a
sermon (among other things pleading, from God's universal sovereignty over
all his creatures, the power he has of commanding what he would of his Son
by the same rule as that he might have made us all, and the whole world
from the beginning to have been in hell, arguing from the power the potter
has over his clay), that I could have wished he had let it alone; and
speaking again, the Father is now so satisfied by our security for our
debt, that we might say at the last day as many of us as have interest in
Christ's death: Lord, we owe thee nothing, our debt is paid. We are not
beholden to, thee for anything, for thy debt is paid to thee to the full;
which methinks were very bold words. Home to dinner, and then my wife and
I on foot to see Mrs. Turner, who continues still sick, and thence into
the Old Bayly by appointment to speak with Mrs. Norbury who lies at (it
falls out) next door to my uncle Fenner's; but as God would have it, we
having no desire to be seen by his people, he having lately married a
midwife that is old and ugly, and that hath already brought home to him a
daughter and three children, we were let in at a back door. And here she
offered me the refusall of some lands of her's at Brampton, if I have a
mind to buy, which I answered her I was not at present provided to do.
She took occasion to talk of her sister Wight's making much of the Wights,
who for namesake only my uncle do shew great kindness to, so I fear may do
us that are nearer to him a great deal of wrong, if he should die without
children, which I am sorry for. Thence to my uncle Wight's, and there we
supped and were merry, though my uncle hath lately lost 200 or 300 at sea,
and I am troubled to hear that the Turks do take more and more of our
ships in the Straights, and that our merchants here in London do daily
break, and are still likely to do so. So home, and I put in at Sir W.
Batten's, where Major Holmes was, and in our discourse and drinking I did
give Sir J. Mennes' health, which he swore he would not pledge, and called
him knave and coward (upon the business of Holmes with the Swedish ship
lately), which we all and I particularly did desire him to forbear, he
being of our fraternity, which he took in great dudgeon, and I was vexed
to hear him persist in calling him so, though I believe it to be true, but
however he is to blame and I am troubled at it. So home and to prayers,
and to bed.

20th. This morning Sir Win. Batten and Pen and I did begin the examining
the Treasurer's accounts, the first time ever he had passed in the office,
which is very long, and we were all at it till noon, and then to dinner,
he providing a fine dinner for us, and we eat it at Sir W. Batten's, where
we were very merry, there being at table the Treasurer and we three, Mr.
Wayth, Ferrer, Smith, Turner, and Mr. Morrice, the wine cooper, who this
day did divide the two butts, which we four did send for, of sherry from
Cales, and mine was put into a hogshead, and the vessel filled up with
four gallons of Malaga wine, but what it will stand us in I know not: but
it is the first great quantity of wine that I ever bought. And after
dinner to the office all the afternoon till late at night, and then home,
where my aunt and uncle Wight and Mrs. Anne Wight came to play at cards
(at gleek which she taught me and my wife last week) and so to supper, and
then to cards and so good night. Then I to my practice of musique and
then at 12 o'clock to bed. This day the workmen began to make me a sellar
door out of the back yard, which will much please me.

21st. To the finishing of the Treasurer's accounts this morning, and then
to dinner again, and were merry as yesterday, and so home, and then to the
office till night, and then home to write letters, and to practise my
composition of musique, and then to bed. We have heard nothing yet how
far the fleet hath got toward Portugall, but the wind being changed again,
we fear they are stopped, and may be beat back again to the coast of
Ireland.

22d. After musique-practice, to White Hall, and thence to Westminster, in
my way calling at Mr. George Montagu's, to condole him the loss of his
son, who was a fine gentleman, and it is no doubt a great discomfort to
our two young gentlemen, his companions in France. After this discourse
he told me, among other news, the great jealousys that are now in the
Parliament House. The Lord Chancellor, it seems, taking occasion from
this late plot to raise fears in the people, did project the raising of an
army forthwith, besides the constant militia, thinking to make the Duke of
York General thereof. But the House did, in very open terms, say, they
were grown too wise to be fooled again into another army; and said they
had found how that man that hath the command of an army is not beholden to
any body to make him King. There are factions (private ones at Court)
about Madam Palmer; but what it is about I know not. But it is something
about the King's favour to her now that the Queen is coming. He told me,
too, what sport the King and Court do make at Mr. Edward Montagu's leaving
his things behind him. But the Chancellor (taking it a little more
seriously) did openly say to my Lord Chamberlain, that had it been such a
gallant as my Lord Mandeville his son, it might have; been taken as a
frolique; but for him that would be thought a grave coxcomb, it was very
strange. Thence to the Hall, where I heard the House had ordered all the
King's murderers, that remain, to be executed, but Fleetwood and Downes.
So to the Wardrobe and there dined, meeting my wife there, who went after
dinner with my Lady to see Mr. George Montagu's lady, and I to have a
meeting by appointment with Tho. Trice and Dr. Williams in order to a
treating about the difference between us, but I find there is no hopes of
ending it but by law, and so after a pint or two of wine we parted. So to
the Wardrobe for my wife again, and so home, and after writing and doing
some things to bed.

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