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

S >> Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, 1662 N.S. Complete




9th. At my office betimes, and by and by we sat, and at noon Mr.
Coventry, Sir J. Minnes, Mr. Pett, and myself by water to Deptford, where
we met Sir G. C., Sir W. B., and Sir W. P. At the pay of a ship, and we
dined together on a haunch of good venison boiled, and after dinner
returned again to the office, and there met several tradesmen by our
appointment to know of them their lowest rates that they will take for
their several provisions that they sell to us, for I do resolve to know
that, and to buy no dearer, that so when we know the lowest rate, it shall
be the Treasurer's fault, and not ours, that we pay dearer. This
afternoon Sir John Minnes, Mr. Coventry, and I went into Sir John's
lodgings, where he showed us how I have blinded all his lights, and
stopped up his garden door, and other things he takes notice of that he
resolves to abridge me of, which do vex me so much that for all this
evening and all night in my bed, so great a fool I am, and little master
of my passion, that I could not sleep for the thoughts of my losing the
privilege of the leads, and other things which in themselves are small and
not worth half the trouble. The more fool am I, and must labour against
it for shame, especially I that used to preach up Epictetus's rule:

["Some things are in our power, others are not" Pepys means,
"I ought not to vex myself about what I cannot control."]

Late at my office, troubled in mind, and then to bed, but could hardly
sleep at night.

10th. Up and to my house, and there contrived a way how Sir John Minnes
shall come into the leads, and yet I save part of the closet I hoped for,
which, if it will not please him, I am a madman to be troubled at it. To
my office, and then at my house among my lazy workmen all day. In the
afternoon to the Wardrobe to speak with Mr. Townsend, who tells me that he
has spoke with Mr. Young about my brother Tom's business, and finds that
he has made enquiry of him, and do hear him so well spoken of that he
doubts not that the business will take with ordinary endeavours. So to my
brother's, and there finding both door and hatch open, I went in and
knocked 3 or 4 times, and nobody came to me, which troubled me mightily;
at last came Margaret, who complained of Peter, who by and by came in, and
I did rattle him soundly for it. I did afterwards take occasion to talk
seriously alone with Margaret, who I find a very discreet, good woman, and
tells me, upon my demand, that her master is a very good husband, and
minds his business well, but his fault is that he has not command over his
two men, but they do what they list, and care not for his commands, and
especially on Sundays they go whither they please, and not to church,
which vexes me mightily, and I am resolved to school [him] soundly for it,
it being so much unlike my father, that I cannot endure it in myself or
him. So walked home and in my way at the Exchange found my uncle Wight,
and he and I to an alehouse to drink a cup of beer, and so away, and I
home and at the office till 9 o'clock and past, and so to my lodgings. I
forgot that last night Mr. Cooke came to me to make his peace for inviting
my brother lately out of town without my leave, but he do give me such a
character of the lady that he has found out for him that I do much rejoice
at, and did this night write a letter to her, which he enclosed in one of
his, and by the report that I hear of her I confess I am much pleased with
the match.

11th. Up, but not so soon as I have of late practised, my little trouble
of mind and the shortness of the days making me to lie a little longer
than I used to do, but I must make it up by sitting up longer of nights.
To my office, whither my brother Tom, whom I chide sufficiently for
yesterday's work. So we sat at the office all the morning, some of us at
Deptford paying the ordinary there; at noon Sir W. Pen took me to his
lodgings to dinner, and after dinner I to my office again, and now and
then to see how my work goes on, and so to my office late, and so to my
lodgings, and after staying up till past 12 at night, at my musique upon
my lute, to bed. This night Tom came to show me a civil letter sent him
from his mistress. I am pleased well enough with the business.

12th. Up betimes and to my office, and up to my workmen, which goes on
slowly and troubles me much. Besides, my mind is troubled till I see how
Sir John Minnes will carry himself to me about my lodgings, for all my
fear is that he will get my best chamber from me, for as for the leads I
care not a farthing for them. At my office all the morning, Mr. Lewes
teaching me to understand the method of making up Purser's accounts, which
is very needful for me and very hard. Dined at home all in dirt, and my
mind weary of being thus out of order, but I hope in God it will away, but
for the present I am very melancholy, as I have been a great while. All
the afternoon till 9 at night at my office, and then home and eat an egg
or two, and so to my lodgings and to bed. This day, by letters from my
father, I hear that Captain Ferrers, who is with my Lord in the country,
was at Brampton (with Mr. Creed) to see him; and that a day or two ago,
being provoked to strike one of my Lord's footmen, the footman drew his
sword, and hath almost cut the fingers of one of his hands off; which I am
sorry for: but this is the vanity of being apt to command and strike.

13th. Up betimes and to my office, and we sat all the morning, and then
at noon dined alone at home, and so among my work folks studying how to
get my way sure to me to go upon the leads, which I fear at last I must be
contented to go without, but, however, my mind is troubled still about it.
We met again in the afternoon to set accounts even between the King and
the masters of ships hired to carry provisions to Lisbon, and in the
evening Mr. Moore came to me and did lie with me at my lodgings. It is
great pleasure to me his company and discourse, and did talk also about my
law business, which I must now fall upon minding again, the term coming on
apace. So to bed.

14th (Lord's day). Up very early, and Mr. Moore taking leave of me the
barber came and trimmed me (I having him now to come to me again after I
have used a pumice-stone a good while, not but what I like this where I
cannot conveniently have a barber, but here I cannot keep my hair dry
without one), and so by water to White Hall, by the way hearing that the
Bishop of London had given a very strict order against boats going on
Sundays, and as I come back again, we were examined by the masters of the
company in another boat; but I told them who I was. But the door not
being open to Westminster stairs there, called in at the Legg and drank a
cup of ale and a toast, which I have not done many a month before, but it
served me for my two glasses of wine to-day. Thence to St. James's to Mr.
Coventry, and there staid talking privately with him an hour in his
chamber of the business of our office, and found him to admiration good
and industrious, and I think my most true friend in all things that are
fair. He tells me freely his mind of every man and in every thing. Thence
to White Hall chapel, where sermon almost done, and I heard Captain
Cooke's new musique. This the first day of having vialls and other
instruments to play a symphony between every verse of the anthem; but the
musique more full than it was the last Sunday, and very fine it is.

[Charles II. determined to form his own chapel on the model of that
at Versailles. Twenty-four instrumentalists were engaged, and this
was the first day upon which they were brought into requisition.
Evelyn alludes to the change in his Diary, but he puts the date down
as the 21st instead of the 14th. "Instead of the antient, grave and
solemn wind musiq accompanying the organ, was introduc'd a concert
of 24 violins between every pause after the French fantastical light
way, better suiting a tavern or playhouse than a church. This was
the first time of change, and now we no more heard the cornet which
gave life to the organ, that instrument quite left off in which the
English were so skilful." A list of the twenty-four fiddlers in
1674, taken from an Exchequer document, "The names of the Gents of
his Majesties Private Musick paid out of the Exchequer," is printed
in North's "Memoires of Musick," ed. Rimbault, 1846, p. 98 (note).]

But yet I could discern Captain Cooke to overdo his part at singing, which
I never did before. Thence up into the Queen's presence, and there saw
the Queen again as I did last Sunday, and some fine ladies with her; but,
my troth, not many. Thence to Sir G. Carteret's, and find him to have
sprained his foot and is lame, but yet hath been at chappell, and my Lady
much troubled for one of her daughters that is sick. I dined with them,
and a very pretty lady, their kinswoman, with them. My joy is, that I do
think I have good hold on Sir George and Mr. Coventry. Sir George told me
of a chest of drawers that were given Sir W. B. by Hughes the rope-maker,
whom he has since put out of his employment, and now the fellow do cry out
upon Sir W. for his cabinet. So home again by water and to church, and
from church Sir Williams both and Sir John Minnes into the garden, and
anon Sir W. Pen and I did discourse about my lodgings and Sir J. Minnes,
and I did open all my mind to him, and he told me what he had heard, and I
do see that I shall hardly keep my best lodging chamber, which troubles
me, but I did send for Goodenough the plasterer, who tells me that it did
ever belong to my lodgings, but lent by Mr. Payles to Mr. Smith, and so I
will strive hard for it before I lose it. So to supper with them at Sir
W. Batten's, and do counterfeit myself well pleased, but my heart is
troubled and offended at the whole company. So to my office to prepare
notes to read to the Duke to-morrow morning, and so to my lodgings and to
bed, my mind a little eased because I am resolved to know the worst
concerning my lodgings tomorrow. Among other things Sir W. Pen did tell
me of one of my servants looking into Sir J. Minnes' window when my Lady
Batten lay there, which do much trouble them, and me also, and I fear will
wholly occasion my loosing the leads. One thing more he told me of my
Jane's cutting off a carpenter's long mustacho, and how the fellow cried,
and his wife would not come near him a great while, believing that he had
been among some of his wenches. At which I was merry, though I perceive
they discourse of it as a crime of hers, which I understand not.

15th. Up betimes to meet with the plasterer and bricklayer that did first
divide our lodgings, and they do both tell me that my chamber now in
dispute did ever belong to my lodgings, which do put me into good quiet of
mind. So by water with Sir Wm. Pen to White Hall; and, with much ado, was
fain to walk over the piles through the bridge, while Sir W. Batten and
Sir J. Minnes were aground against the bridge, and could not in a great
while get through. At White Hall we hear that the Duke of York is gone
a-hunting to-day; and so we returned: they going to the Duke of
Albemarle's, where I left them (after I had observed a very good picture
or two there), and so home, and there did resolve to give up my endeavours
for access to the leads, and to shut up my doors lest the being open might
give them occasion of longing for my chamber, which I am in most fear
about. So to Deptford, and took my Lady Batten and her daughter and Mrs.
Turner along with me, they being going through the garden thither, they to
Mr. Unthwayte's and I to the Pay, and then about 3 o'clock went to dinner
(Sir W. Pen and I), and after dinner to the Pay again, and at night by
barge home all together, and so to my lodgings and to bed, my mind full of
trouble about my house.

16th. Up and to my workmen, and then to the office, and there we sat till
noon; then to the Exchange, and in my way met with the housekeeper of this
office, and he did give me so good an account of my chamber in my house
about which I am so much troubled that I am well at ease in my mind. At
my office all the afternoon alone. In the evening Sir J. M. and I walked
together a good while in the garden, very pleasant, and takes no notice
that he do design any further trouble to me about my house. At night eat
a bit of bread and cheese, and so to my lodgings and to bed, my mind ill
at ease for these particulars: my house in dirt, and like to lose my best
chamber. My wife writes me from the country that she is not pleased there
with my father nor mother, nor any of her servants, and that my boy is
turned a very rogue. I have L30 to pay to the cavaliers: then a doubt
about my being forced to leave all my business here, when I am called to
the court at Brampton; and lastly, my law businesses, which vex me to my
heart what I shall be able to do next term, which is near at hand.

17th. At my office all the morning, and at noon to the Exchange, where
meeting Mr. Moore and Mr. Stucky, of the Wardrobe, we to an ordinary to
dinner, and after dinner Mr. Moore and I about 3 o'clock to Paul's school,
to wait upon Mr. Crumlum (Mr. Moore having a hopeful lad, a kinsman of
his, there at school), who we take very luckily, and went up to his
chamber with him, where there was also an old fellow student of Mr.
Crumlum's, one Mr. Newell, come to see him, of whom he made so much, and
of me, that the truth is he with kindness did drink more than I believe he
used to do, and did begin to be a little impertinent, the more when after
all he would in the evening go forth with us and give us a bottle of wine
abroad, and at the tavern met with an acquaintance of his that did
occasion impertinent discourse, that though I honour the man, and he do
declare abundance of learning and worth, yet I confess my opinion is much
lessened of him, and therefore let it be a caution to myself not to love
drink, since it has such an effect upon others of greater worth in my own
esteem. I could not avoid drinking of 5 glasses this afternoon with him,
and after I had parted with him Mr. Moore and I to my house, and after we
had eaten something to my lodgings, where the master of the house, a very
ordinary fellow, was ready to entertain me and took me into his
dining-room where his wife was, a pretty and notable lady, too fine surely
for him, and too much wit too. Here I was forced to stay with them a good
while and did drink again, there being friends of theirs with them. At
last being weary of his idle company, I bid good-night and so to my
chamber and Mr. [Moore] and I to bed, neither of us well pleased with our
afternoon's work, merely from our being witnesses of Mr. Crumlum's
weakness. This day my boy is come from Brampton, and my wife I think the
next week.

18th. At the office all the morning, and at noon Sir G. Carteret, Mr.
Coventry, and I by invitation to dinner to Sheriff Maynell's, the great
money-man; he, Alderman Backwell, and much noble and brave company, with
the privilege of their rare discourse, which is great content to me above
all other things in the world. And after a great dinner and much
discourse, we arose and took leave, and home to the business of my office,
where I thank God I take delight, and in the evening to my lodging and to
bed. Among other discourse, speaking concerning the great charity used in
Catholic countrys, Mr. Ashburnham did tell us, that this last year, there
being great want of corn in Paris, and so a collection made for the poor,
there was two pearls brought in, nobody knew from whom (till the Queen,
seeing them, knew whose they were, but did not discover it), which were
sold for 200,000 crownes.

19th. Up betimes and to my office, and at 9 o'clock, none of the rest
going, I went alone to Deptford, and there went on where they left last
night to pay Woolwich yard, and so at noon dined well, being chief at the
table, and do not see but every body begins to give me as much respect and
honour as any of the rest. After dinner to Pay again, and so till 9 at
night, my great trouble being that I was forced to begin an ill practice
of bringing down the wages of servants, for which people did curse me,
which I do not love. At night, after I had eaten a cold pullet, I walked
by brave moonshine, with three or four armed men to guard me, to Redriffe,
it being a joy to my heart to think of the condition that I am now in,
that people should of themselves provide this for me, unspoke to. I hear
this walk is dangerous to walk alone by night, and much robbery committed
here. So from thence by water home, and so to my lodgings to bed.

20th. Up betimes and to my office, where I found my brother Tom, who
tells me that his mistress's mother has wrote a letter to Mr. Lull of her
full satisfaction about Tom, of which I was glad, and do think the
business will take. All this morning we sat at the office, Sir J. Minnes
and I. And so dined at home, and among my workmen all the afternoon, and
in the evening Tom brought Mr. Lull to me, a friend of his mistress, a
serious man, with whom I spoke, and he gives me a good account of her and
of their satisfaction in Tom, all which pleases me well. We walked a good
while in the garden together, and did give him a glass of wine at my
office, and so parted. So to write letters by the post and news of this
to my father concerning Tom, and so home to supper and to my lodgings and
to bed. To-night my barber sent me his man to trim me, who did live in
King Street in Westminster lately, and tells me that three or four that I
knew in that street, tradesmen, are lately fallen mad, and some of them
dead, and the others continue mad. They live all within a door or two one
of another.

21st (Lord's day). Got up betimes and walked to St. James's, and there to
Mr. Coventry, and sat an hour with him, talking of business of the office
with great pleasure, and I do perceive he do speak his whole mind to me.
Thence to the Park, where by appointment I met my brother Tom and Mr.
Cooke, and there spoke about Tom's business, and to good satisfaction.
The Queen coming by in her coach, going to her chappell at St. James's'
(the first time it hath been ready for her), I crowded after her, and I
got up to the room where her closet is; and there stood and saw the fine
altar, ornaments, and the fryers in their habits, and the priests come in
with their fine copes and many other very fine things. I heard their
musique too; which may be good, but it did not appear so to me, neither as
to their manner of singing, nor was it good concord to my ears, whatever
the matter was. The Queene very devout: but what pleased me best was to
see my dear Lady Castlemaine, who, tho' a Protestant, did wait upon the
Queen to chappell. By and by, after mass was done, a fryer with his cowl
did rise up and preach a sermon in Portuguese; which I not understanding,
did go away, and to the King's chappell, but that was done; and so up to
the Queen's presence-chamber, where she and the King was expected to dine:
but she staying at St. James's, they were forced to remove the things to
the King's presence [chamber]; and there he dined alone, and I with Mr.
Fox very finely; but I see I must not make too much of that liberty for my
honour sake only, not but that I am very well received. After dinner to
Tom's, and so home, and after walking a good while in the garden I went to
my uncle Wight's, where I found my aunt in mourning and making sad stories
for the loss of her dear sister Nicholls, of which I should have been very
weary but that pretty Mrs. Margaret Wight came in and I was much pleased
with her company, and so all supper did vex my aunt talking in
commendation of the mass which I had been at to-day, but excused it
afterwards that it was only to make mirth. And so after supper broke up
and home, and after putting my notes in order against to-morrow I went to
bed.

22nd. Up betimes among my workmen, hastening to get things ready against
my wife's coming, and so with Sir J. M., Sir W. B., and Sir W. P., by
coach to St. James's, and there with the Duke. I did give him an account
of all things past of late; but I stood in great pain, having a great fit
of the colic, having catched cold yesterday by putting off my stockings to
wipe my toes, but at last it lessened, and then I was pretty well again,
but in pain all day more or less. Thence I parted from them and walked to
Greatorex's, and there with him did overlook many pretty things, new
inventions, and have bespoke a weather glass of him. Thence to my Lord
Crew's, and dined with the servants, he having dined; and so, after
dinner, up to him, and sat an hour talking with him of publique, and my
Lord's private businesses, with much content. So to my brother Tom's,
where Mr. Cooke expected me, and did go with me to see Mr. Young and Mr.
Lull in Blackfryers, kindred of Tom's mistress, where I was very well
used, and do find things to go in the business to my good content. Thence
to Mr. Townsend, and did there talk with Mr. Young himself also, and then
home and to my study, and so to my lodgings and to bed.

23rd. Up betimes and with my workmen, taking some pleasure to see my work
come towards an end, though I am vexed every day enough with their delay.
We met and sat all the morning, dined at home alone, and with my workmen
all the afternoon, and in the evening by water and land to Deptford to
give order for things about my house, and came back again by coach with
Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Batten (who has been at a Pay to-day), and to
my office and did some business, and so to supper and to my lodgings, and
so to bed. In our coming home Sir G. Carteret told me how in most
cabaretts in France they have writ upon the walls in fair letters to be
read, "Dieu te regarde," as a good lesson to be in every man's mind, and
have also, as in Holland, their poor's box; in both which places at the
making all contracts and bargains they give so much, which they call God's
penny.

24th. Up betimes and among my workmen, and among them all the morning
till noon, and then to my Lord Crew's, and there dined alone with him, and
among other things he do advise me by all means to keep my Lord Sandwich
from proceeding too far in the business of Tangier. First, for that he is
confident the King will not be able to find money for the building the
Mole; and next, for that it is to be done as we propose it by the reducing
of the garrison; and then either my Lord must oppose the Duke of York, who
will have the Irish regiment under the command of Fitzgerald continued, or
else my Lord Peterborough, who is concerned to have the English continued,
and he, it seems, is gone back again merely upon my Lord Sandwich's
encouragement. Thence to Mr. Wotton, the shoemaker's, and there bought a
pair of boots, cost me 30s., and he told me how Bird hath lately broke his
leg, while he was fencing in "Aglaura," upon the stage, and that the new
theatre of all will be ready against term. So to my brother's, and there
discoursed with him and Mr. Cooke about their journey to Tom's mistress
again, and I did speak with Mr. Croxton about measuring of silk flags. So
by water home and to my workmen, and so at night till late at my office,
inditing a letter from Tom to his mistress upon his sending her a watch
for a token, and so home and to supper, and to my lodgings and to bed. It
is my content that by several hands to-day I hear that I have the name of
good-natured man among the poor people that come to the office.

25th. Up betimes and to my workmen, and then to the office, where we sat
all the morning. So home to dinner alone and then to my workmen till
night, and so to my office till bedtime, and so after supper to my
lodgings and to bed. This evening I sat awhile at Sir W. Batten's with
Sir J. Minnes, &c., where he told us among many other things how in
Portugal they scorn to make a seat for a house of office, but they do
. . . . all in pots and so empty them in the river. I did also
hear how the woman, formerly nurse to Mrs. Lemon (Sir W. Batten's
daughter), her child was torn to pieces by two doggs at Walthamstow this
week, and is dead, which is very strange.

26th. Up betimes and among my workmen. By and by to Sir W. Batten, who
with Sir J. M. are going to Chatham this morning, and I was in great pain
till they were gone that I might see whether Sir John do speak any thing
of my chamber that I am afraid of losing or no. But he did not, and so my
mind is a little at more ease. So all day long till night among my
workmen, and in the afternoon did cause the partition between the entry
and the boy's room to be pulled down to lay it all into one, which I hope
will please me and make my coming in more pleasant. Late at my office at
night writing a letter of excuse to Sir G. Carteret that I cannot wait
upon him to-morrow morning to Chatham as I promised, which I am loth to do
because of my workmen and my wife's coming to town to-morrow. So to my
lodgings and to bed.

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