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

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




5th. My arme not being well, I staid within all the morning, and dined
alone at home, my wife being gone out to buy some things for herself, and
a gown for me to dress myself in. And so all the afternoon looking over
my papers, and at night walked upon the leads, and so to bed.

6th. This morning I got my seat set up on the leads, which pleases me
well. So to the office, and thence to the Change, but could not meet with
my uncle Wight. So home to dinner and then out again to several places to
pay money and to understand my debts, and so home and walked with my wife
on the leads, and so to supper and to bed. I find it a hard matter to
settle to business after so much leisure and pleasure.

7th. Walked to Westminster; where I understand the news that Mr. Montagu
is this last night come to the King with news, that he left the Queen and
fleet in the Bay of Biscay, coming this wayward; and that he believes she
is now at the Isle of Scilly. So at noon to my Lord Crew's and there
dined, and after dinner Sir Thos. Crew and I talked together, and among
other instances of the simple light discourse that sometimes is in the
Parliament House, he told me how in the late business of Chymny money,
when all occupiers were to pay, it was questioned whether women were under
that name to pay, and somebody rose and said that they were not occupiers,
but occupied. Thence to Paul's Church Yard; where seeing my Lady's
Sandwich and Carteret, and my wife (who this day made a visit the first
time to my Lady Carteret), come by coach, and going to Hide Park, I was
resolved to follow them; and so went to Mrs. Turner's: and thence found
her out at the Theatre, where I saw the last act of the "Knight of the
Burning Pestle," which pleased me not at all. And so after the play done,
she and The. Turner and Mrs. Lucin and I, in her coach to the Park; and
there found them out, and spoke to them; and observed many fine ladies,
and staid till all were gone almost. And so to Mrs. Turner's, and there
supped, and so walked home, and by and by comes my wife home, brought by
my Lady Carteret to the gate, and so to bed.

8th. At the office all the morning doing business alone, and then to the
Wardrobe, where my, Lady going out with the children to dinner I staid
not, but returned home, and was overtaken in St. Paul's Churchyard by Sir
G. Carteret in his coach, and so he carried me to the Exchange, where I
staid awhile. He told me that the Queen and the fleet were in Mount's Bay
on Monday last, and that the Queen endures her sickness pretty well. He
also told me how Sir John Lawson hath done some execution upon the Turks
in the Straight, of which I am glad, and told the news the first on the
Exchange, and was much followed by merchants to tell it. So home and to
dinner, and by and by to the office, and after the rest gone (my Lady
Albemarle being this day at dinner at Sir W. Batten's) Sir G. Carteret
comes, and he and I walked in the garden, and, among other discourse,
tells me that it is Mr. Coventry that is to come to us as a Commissioner
of the Navy; at which he is much vexed, and cries out upon Sir W. Pen, and
threatens him highly. And looking upon his lodgings, which are now
enlarging, he in passion cried, "Guarda mi spada; for, by God, I may
chance to keep him in Ireland, when he is there:" for Sir W. Pen is going
thither with my Lord Lieutenant. But it is my design to keep much in with
Sir George; and I think I have begun very well towards it. So to the
office, and was there late doing business, and so with my head full of
business I to bed.

9th. Up and to my office, and so to dinner at home, and then to several
places to pay my debts, and then to Westminster to Dr. Castle, who
discoursed with me about Privy Seal business, which I do not much mind, it
being little worth, but by Watkins's--[clerk of the Privy Seal]--late
sudden death we are like to lose money. Thence to Mr. de Cretz, and there
saw some good pieces that he hath copyed of the King's pieces, some of
Raphael and Michael Angelo; and I have borrowed an Elizabeth of his
copying to hang up in my house, and sent it home by Will. Thence with Mr.
Salisbury, who I met there, into Covent Garden to an alehouse, to see a
picture that hangs there, which is offered for 20s., and I offered
fourteen--but it is worth much more money--but did not buy it, I having no
mind to break my oath. Thence to see an Italian puppet play that is
within the rayles there, which is very pretty, the best that ever I saw,
and great resort of gallants. So to the Temple and by water home, and so
walk upon the leads, and in the dark there played upon my flageolette, it
being a fine still evening, and so to supper and to bed. This day I paid
Godfrey's debt of 40 and odd pounds. The Duke of York went last night to
Portsmouth; so that I believe the Queen is near.

10th. By myself at the office all the morning drawing up instructions for
Portsmouth yard in those things wherein we at our late being there did
think fit to reform, and got them signed this morning to send away
to-night, the Duke being now there. At noon to the Wardrobe; there dined.
My Lady told me how my Lady Castlemaine do speak of going to lie in at
Hampton Court; which she and all our ladies are much troubled at, because
of the King's being forced to show her countenance in the sight of the
Queen when she comes. Back to the office and there all afternoon, and in
the evening comes Sir G. Carteret, and he and I did hire a ship for
Tangier, and other things together; and I find that he do single me out to
join with me apart from the rest, which I am much glad of. So home, and
after being trimmed, to bed.

11th (Lord's day). To our church in the morning, where, our Minister
being out of town, a dull, flat Presbiter preached. Dined at home, and my
wife's brother with us, we having a good dish of stewed beef of Jane's own
dressing, which was well done, and a piece of sturgeon of a barrel sent me
by Captain Cocke. In the afternoon to White Hall; and there walked an
hour or two in the Park, where I saw the King now out of mourning, in a
suit laced with gold and silver, which it was said was out of fashion.
Thence to the Wardrobe; and there consulted with the ladies about our
going to Hampton Court to-morrow, and thence home, and after settled
business there my wife and I to the Wardrobe, and there we lay all night
in Captain Ferrers' chambers, but the bed so soft that I could not sleep
that hot night.

12th. Mr. Townsend called us up by four o'clock; and by five the three
ladies, my wife and I, and Mr. Townsend, his son and daughter, were got to
the barge and set out. We walked from Mortlake to Richmond, and so to
boat again. And from Teddington to Hampton Court Mr. Townsend and I
walked again. And then met the ladies, and were showed the whole house by
Mr. Marriott; which is indeed nobly furnished, particularly the Queen's
bed, given her by the States of Holland; a looking-glass sent by the
Queen-mother from France, hanging in the Queen's chamber, and many brave
pictures. So to Mr. Marriott's, and there we rested ourselves and drank.
And so to barge again, and there we had good victuals and wine, and were
very merry; and got home about eight at night very well. So my wife and I
took leave of my Ladies, and home by a hackney-coach, the easiest that
ever I met with, and so to bed.

14th. All the morning at Westminster and elsewhere about business, and
dined at the Wardrobe; and after dinner, sat talking an hour or two alone
with my Lady. She is afeard that my Lady Castlemaine will keep still with
the King, and I am afeard she will not, for I love her well. Thence to my
brother's, and finding him in a lie about the lining of my new morning
gown, saying that it was the same with the outside, I was very angry with
him and parted so. So home after an hour stay at Paul's Churchyard, and
there came Mr. Morelock of Chatham, and brought me a stately cake, and I
perceive he has done the same to the rest, of which I was glad; so to bed.

15th. To Westminster; and at the Privy Seal I saw Mr. Coventry's seal for
his being Commissioner with us, at which I know not yet whether to be glad
or otherwise. So doing several things by the way, I walked home, and
after dinner to the office all the afternoon. At night, all the bells of
the town rung, and bonfires made for the joy of the Queen's arrival, who
came and landed at Portsmouth last night. But I do not see much thorough
joy, but only an indifferent one, in the hearts of people, who are much
discontented at the pride and luxury of the Court, and running in debt.

16th. Up early, Mr. Hater and I to the office, and there I made an end of
my book of contracts which I have been making an abstract of. Dined at
home, and spent most of the day at the office. At night to supper and
bed.

17th. Upon a letter this morning from Mr. Moore, I went to my cozen
Turner's chamber, and there put him drawing a replication to Tom Trice's
answer speedily. So to Whitehall and there met Mr. Moore, and I walked
long in Westminster Hall, and thence with him to the Wardrobe to dinner,
where dined Mrs. Sanderson, the mother of the maids, and after dinner my
Lady and she and I on foot to Pater Noster Row to buy a petticoat against
the Queen's coming for my Lady, of plain satin, and other things; and
being come back again, we there met Mr. Nathaniel Crew

[Nathaniel Crew, born 1633, fifth son of John, first Lord Crew; he
himself became third Lord Crew in 1697. Sub-Rector of Lincoln
College, Oxford, 1659. Took orders in 1664, and was Rector of
Lincoln College in 1668; Dean of Chichester, 1669; Bishop of Oxford,
1671; Bishop of Durham, 1674; sworn of the Privy Council in 1676.
He was very subservient to James II., and at the Revolution was
excepted from the general pardon of May, 1690, but he was allowed to
keep possession of the bishopric of Durham.]

at the Wardrobe with a young gentleman, a friend and fellow student of
his, and of a good family, Mr. Knightly, and known to the Crews, of whom
my Lady privately told me she hath some thoughts of a match for my Lady
Jemimah. I like the person very well, and he hath L2000 per annum. Thence
to the office, and there we sat, and thence after writing letters to all
my friends with my Lord at Portsmouth, I walked to my brother Tom's to see
a velvet cloak, which I buy of Mr. Moore. It will cost me L8 10s.; he
bought it for L6 10s., but it is worth my money. So home and find all
things made clean against to-morrow, which pleases me well. So to bed.

18th (Whitsunday). By water to White Hall, and thereto chappell in my pew
belonging to me as Clerk of the Privy Seal; and there I heard a most
excellent sermon of Dr. Hacket, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, upon
these words: "He that drinketh this water shall never thirst." We had an
excellent anthem, sung by Captain Cooke and another, and brave musique.
And then the King came down and offered, and took the sacrament upon his
knees; a sight very well worth seeing. Hence with Sir G. Carteret to his
lodging to dinner with his Lady and one Mr. Brevin, a French Divine, we
were very merry, and good discourse, and I had much talk with my Lady.
After dinner, and so to chappell again; and there had another good anthem
of Captain Cooke's. Thence to the Councell-chamber; where the King and
Councell sat till almost eleven o'clock at night, and I forced to walk up
and down the gallerys till that time of night. They were reading all the
bills over that are to pass to-morrow at the House, before the King's
going out of town and proroguing the House. At last the Councell risen,
and Sir G. Carteret telling me what the Councell hath ordered about the
ships designed to carry horse from Ireland to Portugall, which is now
altered. I got a coach and so home, sending the boat away without me. At
home I found my wife discontented at my being abroad, but I pleased her.
She was in her new suit of black sarcenet and yellow petticoat very
pretty. So to bed.

19th. Long in bed, sometimes scolding with my wife, and then pleased
again, and at last up, and put on my riding cloth suit, and a camelott
coat new, which pleases me well enough. To the Temple about my
replication, and so to my brother Tom's, and there hear that my father
will be in town this week. So home, the shops being but some shut and
some open. I hear that the House of Commons do think much that they
should be forced to huddle over business this morning against the
afternoon, for the King to pass their Acts, that he may go out of town.

[To ears accustomed to the official words of speeches from the
throne at the present day, the familiar tone of the following
extracts from Charles's speech to the Commons, on the 1st of March;
will be amusing: "I will conclude with putting you in mind of the
season of the year, and the convenience of your being in the
country, in many respects, for the good and welfare of it; for you
will find much tares have been sowed there in your absence. The
arrival of my wife, who I expect some time this month, and the
necessity of my own being out of town to meet her, and to stay some
time before she comes hither, makes it very necessary that the
Parliament be adjourned before Easter, to meet again in the winter.
. . . . The mention of my wife's arrival puts me in mind to
desire you to put that compliment upon her, that her entrance into
the town may be with more decency than the ways will now suffer it
to be; and, to that purpose, I pray you would quickly pass such laws
as are before you, in order to the amending those ways, and that she
may not find Whitehall surrounded with water." Such a bill passed
the Commons on the 24th June. From Charles's Speech, March 1st,
1662.--B.]

But he, I hear since, was forced to stay till almost nine o'clock at night
before he could have done, and then he prorogued them; and so to Gilford,
and lay there. Home, and Mr. Hunt dined with me, and were merry. After
dinner Sir W. Pen and his daughter, and I and my wife by coach to the
Theatre, and there in a box saw "The Little Thief" well done. Thence to
Moorefields, and walked and eat some cheesecake and gammon of bacon, but
when I was come home I was sick, forced to vomit it up again. So my wife
walking and singing upon the leads till very late, it being pleasant and
moonshine, and so to bed.

10th. Sir W. Pen and I did a little business at the office, and so home
again. Then comes Dean Fuller after we had dined, but I got something for
him, and very merry we were for an hour or two, and I am most pleased with
his company and goodness. At last parted, and my wife and I by coach to
the Opera, and there saw the 2nd part of "The Siege of Rhodes," but it is
not so well done as when Roxalana was there, who, it is said, is now owned
by my Lord of Oxford.

[For note on Mrs. Davenport, who was deceived by a pretended
marriage with the Earl of Oxford, see ante. Lord Oxford's first
wife died in 1659. He married, in 1672, his second wife, Diana
Kirke, of whom nothing more need be said than that she bore an
inappropriate Christian name.]

Thence to Tower-wharf, and there took boat, and we all walked to Halfeway
House, and there eat and drank, and were pleasant, and so finally home
again in the evening, end so good night, this being a very pleasant life
that we now lead, and have long done; the Lord be blessed, and make us
thankful. But, though I am much against too much spending, yet I do think
it best to enjoy some degree of pleasure now that we have health, money,
and opportunity, rather than to leave pleasures to old age or poverty,
when we cannot have them so properly.

21st. My wife and I by water to Westminster, and after she had seen her
father (of whom lately I have heard nothing at all what he does or her
mother), she comes to me to my Lord's lodgings, where she and I staid
walking in White Hall garden. And in the Privy-garden saw the finest
smocks and linnen petticoats of my Lady Castlemaine's, laced with rich
lace at the bottom, that ever I saw; and did me good to look upon them. So
to Wilkinson's, she and I and Sarah to dinner, where I had a good quarter
of lamb and a salat. Here Sarah told me how the King dined at my Lady
Castlemaine's, and supped, every day and night the last week; and that the
night that the bonfires were made for joy of the Queen's arrivall, the
King was there; but there was no fire at her door, though at all the rest
of the doors almost in the street; which was much observed: and that the
King and she did send for a pair of scales and weighed one another; and
she, being with child, was said to be heaviest. But she is now a most
disconsolate creature, and comes not out of doors, since the King's going.
But we went to the Theatre to "The French Dancing Master," and there with
much pleasure gazed upon her (Lady Castlemaine); but it troubles us to see
her look dejectedly and slighted by people already. The play pleased us
very well; but Lacy's part, the Dancing Master, the best in the world.
Thence to my brother Tom's, in expectation to have met my father to-night
come out of the country, but he is not yet come, but here we found my
uncle Fenner and his old wife, whom I had not seen since the wedding
dinner, nor care to see her. They being gone, my wife and I went and saw
Mrs. Turner, whom we found not well, and her two boys Charles and Will
come out of the country, grown very plain boys after three years being
under their father's care in Yorkshire. Thence to Tom's again, and there
supped well, my she cozen Scott being there and my father being not come,
we walked home and to bed.

22d. This morning comes an order from the Secretary of State, Nicholas,
for me to let one Mr. Lee, a Councellor, to view what papers I have
relating to passages of the late times, wherein Sir H. Vane's hand is
employed, in order to the drawing up his charge; which I did, and at noon
he, with Sir W. Pen and his daughter, dined with me, and he to his work
again, and we by coach to the Theatre and saw "Love in a Maze." The play
hath little in it but Lacy's part of a country fellow, which he did to
admiration. So home, and supped with Sir W. Pen, where Sir W. Batten and
Captn. Cocke came to us, to whom I have lately been a great stranger. This
night we had each of us a letter from Captain Teddiman from the Streights,
of a peace made upon good terms, by Sir J. Lawson, with the Argier men,
which is most excellent news? He hath also sent each of us some
anchovies, olives, and muscatt; but I know not yet what that is, and am
ashamed to ask. After supper home, and to bed, resolving to make up this
week in seeing plays and pleasure, and so fall to business next week again
for a great while.

23rd. At the office good part of the morning, and then about noon with my
wife on foot to the Wardrobe. My wife went up to the dining room to my
Lady Paulina, and I staid below talking with Mr. Moore in the parley,
reading of the King's and Chancellor's late speeches at the proroguing of
the Houses of Parliament. And while I was reading, news was brought me
that my Lord Sandwich is come and gone up to my Lady, which put me into
great suspense of joy, so I went up waiting my Lord's coming out of my
Lady's chamber, which by and by he did, and looks very well, and my soul
is glad to see him. He very merry, and hath left the King and Queen at
Portsmouth, and is come up to stay here till next Wednesday, and then to
meet the King and Queen at Hampton Court. So to dinner, Mr. Browne, Clerk
of the House of Lords, and his wife and brother there also; and my Lord
mighty merry; among other things, saying that the Queen is a very
agreeable lady, and paints still. After dinner I showed him my letter
from Teddiman about the news from Argier, which pleases him exceedingly;
and he writ one to the Duke of York about it, and sent it express. There
coming much company after dinner to my Lord, my wife and I slunk away to
the Opera, where we saw "Witt in a Constable," the first time that it is
acted; but so silly a play I never saw I think in my life. After it was
done, my wife and I to the puppet play in Covent Garden, which I saw the
other day, and indeed it is very pleasant. Here among the fidlers I first
saw a dulcimere

[The dulcimer (or psaltery) consisted of a flat box, acting as a
resonating chamber, over which strings of wire were stretched: These
were struck by little hammers.]

played on with sticks knocking of the strings, and is very pretty. So by
water home, and supped with Sir William Pen very merry, and so to bed.

24th. To the Wardrobe, and there again spoke with my Lord, and saw W.
Howe, who is grown a very pretty and is a sober fellow. Thence abroad
with Mr. Creed, of whom I informed myself of all I had a mind to know.
Among other things, the great difficulty my Lord hath been in all this
summer for lack of good and full orders from the King; and I doubt our
Lords of the Councell do not mind things as the late powers did, but their
pleasures or profit more. That the Juego de Toros is a simple sport, yet
the greatest in Spain. That the Queen hath given no rewards to any of the
captains or officers, but only to my Lord Sandwich; and that was a bag of
gold, which was no honourable present, of about L1400 sterling. How
recluse the Queen hath ever been, and all the voyage never come upon the
deck, nor put her head out of her cabin; but did love my Lord's musique,
and would send for it down to the state-room, and she sit in her cabin
within hearing of it. That my Lord was forced to have some clashing with
the Council of Portugall about payment of the portion, before he could get
it; which was, besides Tangier and a free trade in the Indys, two millions
of crowns, half now, and the other half in twelve months. But they have
brought but little money; but the rest in sugars and other commoditys, and
bills of exchange. That the King of Portugall is a very fool almost, and
his mother do all, and he is a very poor Prince. After a morning draft at
the Star in Cheapside, I took him to the Exchange, thence home, but my
wife having dined, I took him to Fish Street, and there we had a couple of
lobsters, and dined upon them, and much discourse. And so I to the
office, and that being done, Sir W. Pen and I to Deptford by water to
Captain Rooth's to see him, he being very sick, and by land home, calling
at Halfway house, where we eat and drank. So home and to bed.

25th (Lord's day). To trimming myself, which I have this week done every
morning, with a pumice stone,--[Shaving with pumice stone.]--which I
learnt of Mr. Marsh, when I was last at Portsmouth; and I find it very
easy, speedy, and cleanly, and shall continue the practice of it. To
church, and heard a good sermon of Mr. Woodcocke's at our church; only in
his latter prayer for a woman in childbed, he prayed that God would
deliver her from the hereditary curse of child-bearing, which seemed a
pretty strange expression. Dined at home, and Mr. Creed with me. This
day I had the first dish of pease I have had this year. After discourse
he and I abroad, and walked up and down, and looked into many churches,
among others Mr. Baxter's at Blackfryers. Then to the Wardrobe, where I
found my Lord takes physic, so I did not see him, but with Captn. Ferrers
in Mr. George Montagu's coach to Charing Cross; and there at the Triumph
tavern he showed me some Portugall ladys, which are come to town before
the Queen. They are not handsome, and their farthingales a strange dress.

[Farthingales had gone out of fashion in England during the reign of
Charles I., and therefore their use by the Portuguese ladies
astonished the English. Evelyn also remarks in his Diary on this
ugly custom (May 30th, 1662).]

Many ladies and persons of quality come to see them. I find nothing in
them that is pleasing; and I see they have learnt to kiss and look freely
up and down already, and I do believe will soon forget the recluse
practice of their own country. They complain much for lack of good water
to drink. So to the Wardrobe back on foot and supped with my Lady, and so
home, and after a walk upon the leads with my wife, to prayers and bed.
The King's guards and some City companies do walk up and down the town
these five or six days; which makes me think, and they do say, there are
some plots in laying. God keep us.

26th. Up by four o'clock in the morning, and fell to the preparing of
some accounts for my Lord of Sandwich. By and by, by appointment comes
Mr. Moore, and, by what appears to us at present, we found that my Lord is
above L7,000 in debt, and that he hath money coming into him that will
clear all, and so we think him clear, but very little money in his purse.
So to my Lord's, and after he was ready, we spent an hour with him, giving
him an account thereof; and he having some L6,000 in his hands, remaining
of the King's, he is resolved to make use of that, and get off of it as
well as he can, which I like well of, for else I fear he will scarce get
beforehand again a great while. Thence home, and to the Trinity House;
where the Brethren (who have been at Deptford choosing a new Maister;
which is Sir J. Minnes, notwithstanding Sir W. Batten did contend highly
for it: at which I am not a little pleased, because of his proud lady)
about three o'clock came hither, and so to dinner. I seated myself close
by Mr. Prin, who, in discourse with me, fell upon what records he hath of
the lust and wicked lives of the nuns heretofore in England, and showed me
out of his pocket one wherein thirty nuns for their lust were ejected of
their house, being not fit to live there, and by the Pope's command to be
put, however, into other nunnerys. I could not stay to end dinner with
them, but rose, and privately went out, and by water to my brother's, and
thence to take my wife to the Redd Bull, where we saw "Doctor Faustus,"
but so wretchedly and poorly done, that we were sick of it, and the worse
because by a former resolution it is to be the last play we are to see
till Michaelmas. Thence homewards by coach, through Moorefields, where we
stood awhile, and saw the wrestling. At home, got my lute upon the leads,
and there played, and so to bed.

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