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

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[Sir Harry Vane the younger was born 1612. Charles signed on June
12th a warrant for the execution of Vane by hanging at Tyburn on the
14th, which sentence on the following day "upon humble suit made" to
him, Charles was "graciously pleased to mitigate," as the warrant
terms it, for the less ignominious punishment of beheading on Tower
Hill, and with permission that the head and body should be given to
the relations to be by them decently and privately interred.--
Lister's Life of Clarendon, ii, 123.]

A very great press of people. He made a long speech, many times
interrupted by the Sheriff and others there; and they would have taken his
paper out of his hand, but he would not let it go. But they caused all
the books of those that writ after him to be given the Sheriff; and the
trumpets were brought under the scaffold that he might not be heard. Then
he prayed, and so fitted himself, and received the blow; but the scaffold
was so crowded that we could not see it done. But Boreman, who had been
upon the scaffold, came to us and told us, that first he began to speak of
the irregular proceeding against him; that he was, against Magna Charta,
denied to have his exceptions against the indictment allowed; and that
there he was stopped by the Sheriff. Then he drew out his, paper of
notes, and begun to tell them first his life; that he was born a
gentleman, that he was bred up and had the quality of a gentleman, and to
make him in the opinion of the world more a gentleman, he had been, till
he was seventeen years old, a good fellow, but then it pleased God to lay
a foundation of grace in his heart, by which he was persuaded, against his
worldly interest, to leave all preferment and go abroad, where he might
serve God with more freedom. Then he was called home, and made a member
of the Long Parliament; where he never did, to this day, any thing against
his conscience, but all for the glory of God. Here he would have given
them an account of the proceedings of the Long Parliament, but they so
often interrupted him, that at last he was forced to give over: and so
fell into prayer for England in generall, then for the churches in
England, and then for the City of London: and so fitted himself for the
block, and received the blow. He had a blister, or issue, upon his neck,
which he desired them not hurt: he changed not his colour or speech to the
last, but died justifying himself and the cause he had stood for; and
spoke very confidently of his being presently at the right hand of Christ;
and in all, things appeared the most resolved man that ever died in that
manner, and showed more of heat than cowardize, but yet with all humility
and gravity. One asked him why he did not pray for the King. He
answered, "Nay," says he, "you shall see I can pray for the King: I pray
God bless him!" The King had given his body to his friends; and,
therefore, he told them that he hoped they would be civil to his body when
dead; and desired they would let him die like a gentleman and a Christian,
and not crowded and pressed as he was. So to the office a little, and so
to the Trinity-house all of us to dinner; and then to the office again all
the afternoon till night. So home and to bed. This day, I hear, my Lord
Peterborough is come unexpected from Tangier, to give the King an account
of the place, which, we fear, is in none of the best condition. We had
also certain news to-day that the Spaniard is before Lisbon with thirteen
sail; six Dutch, and the rest his own ships; which will, I fear, be ill
for Portugall. I writ a letter of all this day's proceedings to my Lord,
at Hinchingbroke, who, I hear, is very well pleased with the work there.

15th (Lord's day). To church in the morning and home to dinner, where
come my brother Tom and Mr. Fisher, my cozen, Nan Pepys's second husband,
who, I perceive, is a very good-humoured man, an old cavalier. I made as
much of him as I could, and were merry, and am glad she hath light of so
good a man. They gone, to church again; but my wife not being dressed as
I would have her, I was angry, and she, when she was out of doors in her
way to church, returned home again vexed. But I to church, Mr. Mills, an
ordinary sermon. So home, and found my wife and Sarah gone to a neighbour
church, at which I was not much displeased. By and by she comes again,
and, after a word or two, good friends. And then her brother came to see
her, and he being gone she told me that she believed he was married and
had a wife worth L500 to him, and did inquire how he might dispose the
money to the best advantage, but I forbore to advise her till she could
certainly tell me how things are with him, being loth to meddle too soon
with him. So to walk upon the leads, and to supper, and to bed.

16th. Up before four o'clock, and after some business took Will forth,
and he and I walked over the Tower Hill, but the gate not being open we
walked through St. Catharine's and Ratcliffe (I think it is) by the
waterside above a mile before we could get a boat, and so over the water
in a scull (which I have not done a great while), and walked finally to
Deptford, where I saw in what forwardness the work is for Sir W. Batten's
house and mine, and it is almost ready. I also, with Mr. Davis, did view
my cozen Joyce's tallow, and compared it with the Irish tallow we bought
lately, and found ours much more white, but as soft as it; now what is the
fault, or whether it be or no a fault, I know not. So walked home again
as far as over against the Towre, and so over and home, where I found Sir
W. Pen and Sir John Minnes discoursing about Sir John Minnes's house and
his coming to live with us, and I think he intends to have Mr. Turner's
house and he to come to his lodgings, which I shall be very glad of. We
three did go to Mr. Turner's to view his house, which I think was to the
end that Sir John Minnes might see it. Then by water with my wife to the
Wardrobe, and dined there; and in the afternoon with all the children by
water to Greenwich, where I showed them the King's yacht, the house, and
the park, all very pleasant; and so to the tavern, and had the musique of
the house, and so merrily home again. Will and I walked home from the
Wardrobe, having left my wife at the Tower Wharf coming by, whom I found
gone to bed not very well . . . . So to bed.

17th. Up, and Mr. Mayland comes to me and borrowed 30s. of me to be paid
again out of the money coming to him in the James and Charles for his late
voyage. So to the office, where all the morning. So home to dinner, my
wife not being well, but however dined with me. So to the office, and at
Sir W. Batten's, where we all met by chance and talked, and they drank
wine; but I forebore all their healths. Sir John Minnes, I perceive, is
most excellent company. So home and to bed betimes by daylight.

18th. Up early; and after reading a little in Cicero, I made me ready and
to my office, where all the morning very busy. At noon Mr. Creed came to
me about business, and he and I walked as far as Lincoln's Inn Fields
together. After a turn or two in the walks we parted, and I to my Lord
Crew's and dined with him; where I hear the courage of Sir H. Vane at his
death is talked on every where as a miracle. Thence to Somerset House to
Sir J. Winter's chamber by appointment, and met Mr. Pett, where he and I
read over his last contract with the King for the Forest of Dean, whereof
I took notes because of this new one that he is now in making. That done
he and I walked to Lilly's, the painter's, where we saw among other rare
things, the Duchess of York, her whole body, sitting instate in a chair,
in white sattin, and another of the King, that is not finished; most rare
things. I did give the fellow something that showed them us, and promised
to come some other time, and he would show me Lady Castlemaine's, which I
could not then see, it being locked up! Thence to Wright's, the
painter's: but, Lord! the difference that is between their two works.
Thence to the Temple, and there spoke with my cozen Roger, who gives me
little hopes in the business between my Uncle Tom and us. So Mr. Pett (who
staid at his son's chamber) and I by coach to the old Exchange, and there
parted, and I home and at the office till night. My windows at my office
are made clean to-day and a casement in my closet. So home, and after some
merry discourse in the kitchen with my wife and maids as I now-a-days
often do, I being well pleased with both my maids, to bed.

19th. Up by five o'clock, and while my man Will was getting himself ready
to come up to me I took and played upon my lute a little. So to dress
myself, and to my office to prepare things against we meet this morning.
We sat long to-day, and had a great private business before us about
contracting with Sir W. Rider, Mr. Cutler, and Captain Cocke, for 500 ton
of hemp, which we went through, and I am to draw up the conditions. Home
to dinner, where I found Mr. Moore, and he and I cast up our accounts
together and evened them, and then with the last chest of crusados to
Alderman Backwell's, by the same token his lady going to take coach stood
in the shop, and having a gilded glassfull of perfumed comfits given her
by Don Duarte de Silva, the Portugall merchant, that is come over with the
Queen, I did offer at a taste, and so she poured some out into my hand,
and, though good, yet pleased me the better coming from a pretty lady. So
home and at the office preparing papers and things, and indeed my head has
not been so full of business a great while, and with so much pleasure, for
I begin to see the pleasure it gives. God give me health. So to bed.

20th. Up by four or five o'clock, and to the office, and there drew up
the agreement between the King and Sir John Winter about the Forrest of
Deane; and having done it, he came himself (I did not know him to be the
Queen's Secretary before, but observed him to be a man of fine parts); and
we read it, and both liked it well. That done, I turned to the Forrest of
Deane, in Speede's Mapps, and there he showed me how it lies; and the
Lea-bayly, with the great charge of carrying it to Lydny, and many other
things worth my knowing; and I do perceive that I am very short in my
business by not knowing many times the geographical part of my business.
At my office till Mr. Moore took me out and at my house looked over our
papers again, and upon our evening accounts did give full discharges one
to the other, and in his and many other accounts I perceive I shall be
better able to give a true balance of my estate to myself within a day or
two than I have been this twelve months. Then he and I to Alderman
Backwell's and did the like there, and I gave one receipt for all the
money I have received thence upon the receipt of my Lord's crusados. Then
I went to the Exchange, and hear that the merchants have a great fear of a
breach with the Spaniard; for they think he will not brook our having
Tangier, Dunkirk, and Jamaica; and our merchants begin to draw home their
estates as fast as they can. Then to Pope's Head Ally, and there bought
me a pair of tweezers, cost me 14s., the first thing like a bawble I have
bought a good while, but I do it with some trouble of mind, though my
conscience tells me that I do it with an apprehension of service in my
office to have a book to write memorandums in, and a pair of compasses in
it; but I confess myself the willinger to do it because I perceive by my
accounts that I shall be better by L30 than I expected to be. But by
tomorrow night I intend to see to the bottom of all my accounts. Then
home to dinner, where Mr. Moore met me. Then he went away, and I to the
office and dispatch much business. So in the evening, my wife and I and
Jane over the water to the Halfway-house, a pretty, pleasant walk, but the
wind high. So home again and to bed.

21st. Up about four o'clock, and settled some private business of my own,
then made me ready and to the office to prepare things for our meeting
to-day. By and by we met, and at noon Sir W. Pen and I to the Trinity
House; where was a feast made by the Wardens, when great good cheer, and
much, but ordinary company. The Lieutenant of the Tower, upon my
demanding how Sir H. Vane died, told me that he died in a passion; but all
confess with so much courage as never man died. Thence to the office,
where Sir W. Rider, Capt. Cocke, and Mr. Cutler came by appointment to
meet me to confer about the contract between us and them for 500 tons of
hemp. That being done, I did other business and so went home, and there
found Mr. Creed, who staid talking with my wife and me an hour or two, and
I put on my riding cloth suit, only for him to see how it is, and I think
it will do very well. He being gone, and I hearing from my wife and the
maids' complaints made of the boy, I called him up, and with my whip did
whip him till I was not able to stir, and yet I could not make him confess
any of the lies that they tax him with. At last, not willing to let him
go away a conqueror, I took him in task again, and pulled off his frock to
his shirt, and whipped him till he did confess that he did drink the whey,
which he had denied, and pulled a pink, and above all did lay the
candlestick upon the ground in his chamber, which he had denied this
quarter of a year. I confess it is one of the greatest wonders that ever
I met with that such a little boy as he could possibly be able to suffer
half so much as he did to maintain a lie. I think I must be forced to put
him away. So to bed, with my arm very weary.

22nd (Lord's day). This day I first put on my slasht doublet, which I
like very well. Mr. Shepley came to me in the morning, telling me that he
and my Lord came to town from Hinchinbroke last night. He and I spend an
hour in looking over his account, and then walked to the Wardrobe, all the
way discoursing of my Lord's business. He tells me to my great wonder
that Mr. Barnwell is dead L500 in debt to my Lord. By and by my Lord came
from church, and I dined, with some others, with him, he very merry, and
after dinner took me aside and talked of state and other matters. By and
by to my brother Tom's and took him out with me homewards (calling at the
Wardrobe to talk a little with Mr. Moore), and so to my house, where I
paid him all I owed him, and did make the L20 I lately lent him up to L40,
for which he shall give bond to Mr. Shepley, for it is his money. So my
wife and I to walk in the garden, where all our talk was against Sir W.
Pen, against whom I have lately had cause to be much prejudiced. By and
by he and his daughter came out to walk, so we took no notice of them a
great while, at last in going home spoke a word or two, and so good night,
and to bed. This day I am told of a Portugall lady, at Hampton Court,
that hath dropped a child already since the Queen's coming, but the king
would not have them searched whose it is; and so it is not commonly known
yet. Coming home to-night, I met with Will. Swan, who do talk as high for
the Fanatiques as ever he did in his life; and do pity my Lord Sandwich
and me that we should be given up to the wickedness of the world; and that
a fall is coming upon us all; for he finds that he and his company are the
true spirit of the nation, and the greater part of the nation too, who
will have liberty of conscience in spite of this "Act of Uniformity," or
they will die; and if they may not preach abroad, they will preach in
their own houses. He told me that certainly Sir H. Vane must be gone to
Heaven, for he died as much a martyr and saint as ever man did; and that
the King hath lost more by that man's death, than he will get again a good
while. At all which I know not what to think; but, I confess, I do think
that the Bishops will never be able to carry it so high as they do.

23rd. Up early, this morning, and my people are taking down the hangings
and things in my house because of the great dust that is already made by
the pulling down of Sir W. Batten's house, and will be by my own when I
come to it. To my office, and there hard at work all the morning. At
noon to the Exchange to meet Dr. Williams, who sent me this morning notice
of his going into the country tomorrow, but could not find him, but
meeting with Frank Moore, my Lord Lambeth's man formerly, we, and two or
three friends of his did go to a tavern, and there they drank, but I
nothing but small beer. In the next room one was playing very finely of
the dulcimer, which well played I like well, but one of our own company, a
talking fellow, did in discourse say much of this Act against Seamen,

[In 1662 was passed "An Act for providing of carriage by land and by
water for the use of His Majesty's Navy and Ordinance" (13-14 Gar.
II., cap. 20), which gave power for impressing seamen, &c.]

for their being brought to account; and that it was made on purpose for my
Lord Sandwich, who was in debt L100,000, and hath been forced to have
pardon oftentimes from Oliver for the same: at which I was vexed at him,
but thought it not worth my trouble to oppose what he said, but took leave
and went home, and after a little dinner to my office again, and in the
evening Sir W. Warren came to me about business, and that being done,
discoursing of deals, I did offer to go along with him among his deal
ships, which we did to half a score, where he showed me the difference
between Dram, Swinsound, Christiania, and others, and told me many
pleasant notions concerning their manner of cutting and sawing them by
watermills, and the reason how deals become dearer and cheaper, among
others, when the snow is not so great as to fill up the values that they
may pass from hill to hill over the snow, then it is dear carriage. From
on board he took me to his yard, where vast and many places of deals,
sparrs, and bulks, &c., the difference between which I never knew before,
and indeed am very proud of this evening's work. He had me into his
house, which is most pretty and neat and well furnished. After a glass,
not of wine, for I would not be tempted to drink any, but a glass of mum,
I well home by water, but it being late was forced to land at the Custom
House, and so home and to bed, and after I was a-bed, letters came from
the Duke for the fitting out of four ships forthwith from Portsmouth (I
know not yet for what) so I was forced to make Will get them wrote, and
signed them in bed and sent them away by express. And so to sleep.

24th (Midsummer day). Up early and to my office, putting things in order
against we sit. There came to me my cozen Harry Alcocke, whom I much
respect, to desire (by a letter from my father to me, where he had been
some days) my help for him to some place. I proposed the sea to him, and
I think he will take it, and I hope do well. Sat all the morning, and I
bless God I find that by my diligence of late and still, I do get ground
in the office every day. At noon to the Change, where I begin to be known
also, and so home to dinner, and then to the office all the afternoon
dispatching business. At night news is brought me that Field the rogue
hath this day cast me at Guildhall in L30 for his imprisonment, to which I
signed his commitment with the rest of the officers; but they having been
parliament-men, that he hath begun the law with me; and threatens more,
but I hope the Duke of York will bear me out. At night home, and Mr.
Spong came to me, and so he and I sat singing upon the leads till almost
ten at night and so he went away (a pretty, harmless, and ingenious man),
and I to bed, in a very great content of mind, which I hope by my care
still in my business will continue to me.

25th. Up by four o'clock, and put my accounts with my Lord into a very
good order, and so to my office, where having put many things in order I
went to the Wardrobe, but found my Lord gone to Hampton Court. After
discourse with Mr. Shepley we parted, and I into Thames Street, beyond the
Bridge, and there enquired among the shops the price of tarre and oyle,
and do find great content in it, and hope to save the King money by this
practice. So home to dinner, and then to the Change, and so home again,
and at the office preparing business against to-morrow all the afternoon.
At night walked with my wife upon the leads, and so to supper and to bed.
My wife having lately a great pain in her ear, for which this night she
begins to take physique, and I have got cold and so have a great deal of
my old pain.

26th. Up and took physique, but such as to go abroad with, only to loosen
me, for I am bound. So to the office, and there all the morning sitting
till noon, and then took Commissioner Pett home to dinner with me, where
my stomach was turned when my sturgeon came to table, upon which I saw
very many little worms creeping, which I suppose was through the staleness
of the pickle. He being gone, comes Mr. Nicholson, my old fellow-student
at Magdalene, and we played three or four things upon the violin and
basse, and so parted, and I to my office till night, and there came Mr.
Shepley and Creed in order to settling some accounts of my Lord to-night,
and so to bed.

27th. Up early, not quite rid of my pain. I took more physique, and so
made myself ready to go forth. So to my Lord, who rose as soon as he
heard I was there; and in his nightgown and shirt stood talking with me
alone two hours,. I believe, concerning his greatest matters of state and
interest. Among other things, that his greatest design is, first, to get
clear of all debts to the King for the Embassy money, and then a pardon.
Then, to get his land settled; and then to, discourse and advise what is
best for him, whether to keep his sea employment longer or no. For he do
discern that the Duke would be willing to have him out, and that by
Coventry's means. And here he told me, how the terms at Argier were
wholly his; and that he did plainly tell Lawson and agree with him, that
he would have the honour of them, if they should ever be agreed to; and
that accordingly they did come over hither entitled, "Articles concluded
on by Sir J. Lawson, according to instructions received from His Royal
Highness James Duke of York, &c., and from His Excellency the Earle of
Sandwich." (Which however was more than needed; but Lawson tells my Lord
in his letter, that it was not he, but the Council of Warr that would have
"His Royal Highness" put into the title, though he did not contribute one
word to it.) But the Duke of York did yesterday propose them to the
Council, to be printed with this title: "Concluded on, by Sir J. Lawson,
Knt." and my Lord quite left out. Here I find my Lord very politique;
for he tells me, that he discerns they design to set up Lawson as much as
they can and that he do counterplot them by setting him up higher still;
by which they will find themselves spoiled of their design, and at last
grow jealous of Lawson. This he told me with much pleasure; and that
several of the Duke's servants, by name my Lord Barkeley [of Stratton],
Mr. Talbot, and others, had complained to my Lord, of Coventry, and would
have him out. My Lord do acknowledge that his greatest obstacle is
Coventry. He did seem to hint such a question as this: "Hitherto I have
been supported by the King and Chancellor against the Duke; but what if it
should come about, that it should be the Duke and Chancellor against the
King?" which, though he said it in these plain words, yet I could not
fully understand it; but may more here after. My Lord did also tell me,
that the Duke himself at Portsmouth did thank my Lord for all his pains
and care; and that he perceived it must be the old Captains that must do
the business; and that the new ones would spoil all. And that my Lord did
very discreetly tell the Duke (though quite against his judgement and
inclination), that, however, the King's new captains ought to be borne
with a little and encouraged. By which he will oblige that party, and
prevent, as much as may be, their envy; but he says that certainly things
will go to rack if ever the old captains should be wholly out, and the new
ones only command. Then we fell to talk of Sir J. Minnes, of whom my Lord
hath a very slight opinion, and that at first he did come to my Lord very
displeased and sullen, and had studied and turned over all his books to
see whether it had ever been that two flags should ride together in the
main-top, but could not find it, nay, he did call his captains on board to
consult them. So when he came by my Lord's side, he took down his flag,
and all the day did not hoist it again, but next day my Lord did tell him
that it was not so fit to ride without a flag, and therefore told him that
he should wear it in the fore-top, for it seems my Lord saw his
instructions, which were that he should not wear his flag in the maintop
in the presence of the Duke or my Lord. But that after that my Lord did
caress him, and he do believe him as much his friend as his interest will
let him. I told my Lord of the late passage between Swan and me, and he
told me another lately between Dr. Dell and himself when he was in the
country. At last we concluded upon dispatching all his accounts as soon
as possible, and so I parted, and to my office, where I met Sir W. Pen,
and he desired a turn with me in the garden, where he told me the day now
was fixed for his going into Ireland;--[Penn was Governor of
Kinsale.-B.]--and that whereas I had mentioned some service he could do a
friend of mine there, Saml. Pepys,

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