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Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, August/September 1660
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.
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER
1660
August 1st. Up very early, and by water to Whitehall to my Lord's, and
there up to my Lord's lodging (Win. Howe being now ill of the gout at Mr.
Pierce's), and there talked with him about the affairs of the Navy, and
how I was now to wait today at the Privy Seal. Commissioner Pett went
with me, whom I desired to make my excuse at the office for my absence
this day. Hence to the Privy Seal Office, where I got (by Mr. Mathews'
means) possession of the books and table, but with some expectation of
Baron's bringing of a warrant from the King to have this month. Nothing
done this morning, Baron having spoke to Mr. Woodson and Groome (clerks to
Mr. Trumbull of the Signet) to keep all work in their hands till the
afternoon, at which time he expected to have his warrant from the King for
this month.--[The clerks of the Privy Seal took the duty of attendance for
a month by turns.]--I took at noon Mr. Harper to the Leg in King Street,
and did give him his dinner, who did still advise me much to act wholly
myself at the Privy Seal, but I told him that I could not, because I had
other business to take up my time. In the afternoon at, the office again,
where we had many things to sign; and I went to the Council Chamber, and
there got my Lord to sign the first bill, and the rest all myself; but
received no money today. After I had signed all, I went with Dick Scobell
and Luellin to drink at a bottle beer house in the Strand, and after
staying there a while (had sent W. Hewer home before), I took boat and
homewards went, and in Fish Street bought a Lobster, and as I had bought
it I met with Winter and Mr. Delabarr, and there with a piece of sturgeon
of theirs we went to the Sun Tavern in the street and ate them. Late home
and to bed.
2d. To Westminster by water with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen (our
servants in another boat) to the Admiralty; and from thence I went to my
Lord's to fetch him thither, where we stayed in the morning about ordering
of money for the victuailers, and advising how to get a sum of money to
carry on the business of the Navy. From thence dined with Mr. Blackburne
at his house with his friends (his wife being in the country and just upon
her return to London), where we were very well treated and merry. From
thence W. Hewer and I to the office of Privy Seal, where I stayed all the
afternoon, and received about L40 for yesterday and to-day, at which my
heart rejoiced for God's blessing to me, to give me this advantage by
chance, there being of this L40 about L10 due to me for this day's work.
So great is the present profit of this office, above what it was in the
King's time; there being the last month about 300 bills; whereas in the
late King's time it was much to have 40. With my money home by coach, it,
being the first time that I could get home before our gates were shut
since I came to the Navy office. When I came home I found my wife not
very well of her old pain . . . . which she had when we were married
first. I went and cast up the expense that I laid out upon my former
house (because there are so many that are desirous of it, and I am, in my
mind, loth to let it go out of my hands, for fear of a turn). I find my
layings-out to come to about L20, which with my fine will come to about
L22 to him that shall hire my house of me.--[Pepys wished to let his house
in Axe Yard now that he had apartments at the Navy Office.]--To bed.
3rd. Up betimes this morning, and after the barber had done with me, then
to the office, where I and Sir William Pen only did meet and despatch
business. At noon my wife and I by coach to Dr. Clerke's to dinner: I was
very much taken with his lady, a comely, proper woman, though not
handsome; but a woman of the best language I ever heard. Here dined Mrs.
Pierce and her husband. After dinner I took leave to go to Westminster,
where I was at the Privy Seal Office all day, signing things and taking
money, so that I could not do as I had intended, that is to return to them
and go to the Red Bull Playhouse,
[This well-known theatre was situated in St. John's Street on the
site of Red Bull Yard. Pepys went there on March 23rd, 1661, when
he expressed a very poor opinion of the place. T. Carew, in some
commendatory lines on Sir William. Davenant's play, "The just
Italian," 1630, abuses both audiences and actors:--
"There are the men in crowded heaps that throng
To that adulterate stage, where not a tongue
Of th' untun'd kennel can a line repeat
Of serious sense."
There is a token of this house (see "Boyne's Trade Tokens," ed.
Williamson, vol. i., 1889, p. 725).]
but I took coach and went to see whether it was done so or no, and I found
it done. So I returned to Dr. Clerke's, where I found them and my wife,
and by and by took leave and went away home.
4th. To White Hall, where I found my Lord gone with the King by water to
dine at the Tower with Sir J. Robinson,' Lieutenant. I found my Lady
Jemimah--[Lady Jemima Montage, daughter of Lord Sandwich, previously
described as Mrs. Jem.]--at my Lord's, with whom I staid and dined, all
alone; after dinner to the Privy Seal Office, where I did business. So to
a Committee of Parliament (Sir Hen[eage] Finch, Chairman), to give them an
answer to an order of theirs, "that we could not give them any account of
the Accounts of the Navy in the years 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, as they desire."
After that I went and bespoke some linen of Betty Lane in the Hall, and
after that to the Trumpet, where I sat and talked with her, &c. At night,
it being very rainy, and it thundering and lightning exceedingly, I took
coach at the Trumpet door, taking Monsieur L'Impertinent along with me as
far as the Savoy, where he said he went to lie with Cary Dillon,
[Colonel Cary Dillon, a friend of the Butlers, who courted the fair
Frances; but the engagement was subsequently broken off, see
December 31 st, 1661.]
and is still upon the mind of going (he and his whole family) to Ireland.
Having set him down I made haste home, and in the courtyard, it being very
dark, I heard a man inquire for my house, and having asked his business,
he told me that my man William (who went this morning--out of town to meet
his aunt Blackburne) was come home not very well to his mother, and so
could not come home to-night. At which I was very sorry. I found my wife
still in pain. To bed, having not time to write letters, and indeed
having so many to write to all places that I have no heart to go about
them. Mrs. Shaw did die yesterday and her husband so sick that he is not
like to live.
5th. Lord's day. My wife being much in pain, I went this morning to Dr.
Williams (who had cured her once before of this business), in Holborn, and
he did give me an ointment which I sent home by my boy, and a plaister
which I took with me to Westminster (having called and seen my mother in
the morning as I went to the doctor), where I dined with Mr. Sheply (my
Lord dining at Kensington). After dinner to St. Margaret's, where the
first time I ever heard Common Prayer in that Church. I sat with Mr. Hill
in his pew; Mr. Hill that married in Axe Yard and that was aboard us in
the Hope. Church done I went and Mr. Sheply to see W. Howe at Mr.
Pierces, where I staid singing of songs and psalms an hour or two, and
were very pleasant with Mrs. Pierce and him. Thence to my Lord's, where I
staid and talked and drank with Mr. Sheply. After that to Westminster
stairs, where I saw a fray between Mynheer Clinke, a Dutchman, that was at
Hartlibb's wedding, and a waterman, which made good sport. After that I
got a Gravesend boat, that was come up to fetch some bread on this side
the bridge, and got them to carry me to the bridge, and so home, where I
found my wife. After prayers I to bed to her, she having had a very bad
night of it. This morning before I was up Will came home pretty well
again, he having been only weary with riding, which he is not used to.
6th. This morning at the office, and, that being done, home to dinner all
alone, my wife being ill in pain a-bed, which I was troubled at, and not a
little impatient. After dinner to Whitehall at the Privy Seal all the
afternoon, and at night with Mr. Man to Mr. Rawlinson's in Fenchurch
Street, where we staid till eleven o'clock at night. So home and to bed,
my wife being all this day in great pain. This night Mr. Man offered me
L1000 for my office of Clerk of the Acts, which made my mouth water; but
yet I dare not take it till I speak with my Lord to have his consent.
7th. This morning to Whitehall to the Privy Seal, and took Mr. Moore and
myself and dined at my Lord's with Mr. Sheply. While I was at dinner in
come Sam. Hartlibb and his brother-in-law, now knighted by the King, to
request my promise of a ship for them to Holland, which I had promised to
get for them. After dinner to the Privy Seal all the afternoon. At
night, meeting Sam. Hartlibb, he took me by coach to Kensington, to my
Lord of Holland's; I staid in the coach while he went in about his
business. He staying long I left the coach and walked back again before
on foot (a very pleasant walk) to Kensington, where I drank and staid very
long waiting for him. At last he came, and after drinking at the inn we
went towards Westminster. Here I endeavoured to have looked out Jane that
formerly lived at Dr. Williams' at Cambridge, whom I had long thought to
live at present here, but I found myself in an error, meeting one in the
place where I expected to have found her, but she proved not she though
very like her. We went to the Bullhead, where he and I sat and drank till
11 at night, and so home on foot. Found my wife pretty well again, and so
to bed.
8th. We met at the office, and after that to dinner at home, and from
thence with my wife by water to Catan Sterpin, with whom and her mistress
Pye we sat discoursing of Kate's marriage to Mons. Petit, her mistress and
I giving the best advice we could for her to suspend her marriage till
Mons. Petit had got some place that may be able to maintain her, and not
for him to live upon the portion that she shall bring him. From thence to
Mr. Butler's to see his daughters, the first time that ever we made a
visit to them. We found them very pretty, and Coll. Dillon there, a very
merry and witty companion, but methinks they live in a gaudy but very poor
condition. From thence, my wife and I intending to see Mrs. Blackburne,
who had been a day or two again to see my wife, but my wife was not in
condition to be seen, but she not being at home my wife went to her
mother's and I to the Privy Seal. At night from the Privy Seal, Mr.
Woodson and Mr. Jennings and I to the Sun Tavern till it was late, and
from thence to my Lord's, where my wife was come from Mrs. Blackburne's to
me, and after I had done some business with my Lord, she and I went to
Mrs. Hunt's, who would needs have us to lie at her house to-night, she
being with my wife so late at my Lord's with us, and would not let us go
home to-night. We lay there all night very pleasantly and at ease . . .
9th. Left my wife at Mrs. Hunt's and I to my Lord's, and from thence with
judge Advocate Fowler, Mr. Creed, and Mr. Sheply to the Rhenish
Wine-house, and Captain Hayward of the Plymouth, who is now ordered to
carry my Lord Winchelsea, Embassador to Constantinople. We were very
merry, and judge Advocate did give Captain Hayward his Oath of Allegiance
and Supremacy. Thence to my office of Privy Seal, and, having signed some
things there, with Mr. Moore and Dean Fuller to the Leg in King Street,
and, sending for my wife, we dined there very merry, and after dinner,
parted. After dinner with my wife to Mrs. Blackburne to visit her. She
being within I left my wife there, and I to the Privy Seal, where I
despatch some business, and from thence to Mrs. Blackburne again, who did
treat my wife and me with a great deal of civility, and did give us a fine
collation of collar of beef, &c. Thence I, having my head full of drink
from having drunk so much Rhenish wine in the morning, and more in the
afternoon at Mrs. Blackburne's, came home and so to bed, not well, and
very ill all night.
10th. I had a great deal of pain all night, and a great loosing upon me
so that I could not sleep. In the morning I rose with much pain and to
the office. I went and dined at home, and after dinner with great pain in
my back I went by water to Whitehall to the Privy Seal, and that done with
Mr. Moore and Creed to Hide Park by coach, and saw a fine foot-race three
times round the Park between an Irishman and Crow, that was once my Lord
Claypoole's footman. (By the way I cannot forget that my Lord Claypoole
did the other day make enquiry of Mrs. Hunt, concerning my House in
Axe-yard, and did set her on work to get it of me for him, which methinks
is a very great change.) Crow beat the other by above two miles.
Returned from Hide Park, I went to my Lord's, and took Will (who waited
for me there) by coach and went home, taking my lute home with me. It had
been all this while since I came from sea at my Lord's for him to play on.
To bed in some pain still. For this month or two it is not imaginable how
busy my head has been, so that I have neglected to write letters to my
uncle Robert in answer to many of his, and to other friends, nor indeed
have I done anything as to my own family, and especially this month my
waiting at the Privy Seal makes me much more unable to think of anything,
because of my constant attendance there after I have done at the Navy
Office. But blessed be God for my good chance of the Privy Seal, where I
get every day I believe about L3. This place I got by chance, and my Lord
did give it me by chance, neither he nor I thinking it to be of the worth
that he and I find it to be. Never since I was a man in the world was I
ever so great a stranger to public affairs as now I am, having not read a
new book or anything like it, or enquiring after any news, or what the
Parliament do, or in any wise how things go. Many people look after my
house in Axe-yard to hire it, so that I am troubled with them, and I have
a mind to get the money to buy goods for my house at the Navy Office, and
yet I am loth to put it off because that Mr. Man bids me L1000 for my
office, which is so great a sum that I am loth to settle myself at my new
house, lest I should take Mr. Man's offer in case I found my Lord willing
to it.
11th. I rose to-day without any pain, which makes me think that my pain
yesterday was nothing but from my drinking too much the day before. To my
Lord this morning, who did give me order to get some things ready against
the afternoon for the Admiralty where he would meet. To the Privy Seal,
and from thence going to my own house in Axeyard, I went in to Mrs.
Crisp's, where I met with Mr. Hartlibb; for whom I wrote a letter for my
Lord to sign for a ship for his brother and sister, who went away hence
this day to Gravesend, and from thence to Holland. I found by discourse
with Mrs. Crisp that he is very jealous of her, for that she is yet very
kind to her old servant Meade. Hence to my Lord's to dinner with Mr.
Sheply, so to the Privy Seal; and at night home, and then sent for the
barber, and was trimmed in the kitchen, the first time that ever I was so.
I was vexed this night that W. Hewer was out of doors till ten at night
but was pretty well satisfied again when my wife told me that he wept
because I was angry, though indeed he did give me a good reason for his
being out; but I thought it a good occasion to let him know that I do
expect his being at home. So to bed.
12th. Lord's day. To my Lord, and with him to White Hall Chappell, where
Mr. Calamy preached, and made a good sermon upon these words "To whom much
is given, of him much is required." He was very officious with his three
reverences to the King, as others do. After sermon a brave anthem of
Captain Cooke's,
[Henry Cooke, chorister of the Chapel Royal, adhered to the royal
cause at the breaking out of the Civil Wars, and for his bravery
obtained a captain's commission. At the Restoration he received the
appointment of Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal; he was an
excellent musician, and three of his pupils turned out very
distinguished musicians, viz, Pelham Humphrey, John Blow, and
Michael Wise. He was one of the original performers in the "Siege,
of Rhodes." He died July 13th, 1672,: and was buried in the
cloisters of Westminster Abbey. In another place, Pepys says, "a
vain coxcomb he is, though he sings so well."]
which he himself sung, and the King was well pleased with it. My Lord
dined at my Lord Chamberlain's, and I at his house with Mr. Sheply. After
dinner I did give Mr. Donne; who is going to sea, the key of my cabin and
direction for the putting up of my things.
After, that I went to walk, and meeting Mrs. Lane of Westminster Hall, I
took her to my Lord's, and did give her a bottle of wine in the garden,
where Mr. Fairbrother, of Cambridge, did come and found us, and drank with
us. After that I took her to my house, where I was exceeding free in
dallying with her, and she not unfree to take it. At night home and
called at my father's, where I found Mr. Fairbrother, but I did not stay
but went homewards and called in at Mr. Rawlinson's, whither my uncle
Wight was coming and did come, but was exceeding angry (he being a little
fuddled, and I think it was that I should see him in that case) as I never
saw him in my life, which I was somewhat troubled at. Home and to bed.
13th. A sitting day at our office. After dinner to Whitehall; to the
Privy Seal, whither my father came to me, and staid talking with me a
great while, telling me that he had propounded Mr. John Pickering for Sir
Thomas Honywood's daughter, which I think he do not deserve for his own
merit: I know not what he may do for his estate. My father and Creed and
I to the old Rhenish Winehouse, and talked and drank till night. Then my
father home, and I to my Lord's; where he told me that he would suddenly
go into the country, and so did commend the business of his sea commission
to me in his absence. After that home by coach, and took my L100 that I
had formerly left at Mr. Rawlinson's, home with me, which is the first
that ever I was master of at once. To prayers, and to bed.
14th. To the Privy Seal, and thence to my Lord's, where Mr. Pim, the
tailor, and I agreed upon making me a velvet coat. From thence to the
Privy Seal again, where Sir Samuel Morland came in with a Baronet's grant
to pass, which the King had given him to make money of. Here he staid
with me a great while; and told me the whole manner of his serving the
King in the time of the Protector; and how Thurloe's bad usage made him to
do it; how he discovered Sir R. Willis, and how he hath sunk his fortune
for the King; and that now the King hath given him a pension of L500 per
annum out of the Post Office for life, and the benefit of two Baronets;
all which do make me begin to think that he is not so much a fool as I
took him to be. Home by water to the Tower, where my father, Mr.
Fairbrother, and Cooke dined with me. After dinner in comes young Captain
Cuttance of the Speedwell, who is sent up for the gratuity given the
seamen that brought the King over. He brought me a firkin of butter for
my wife, which is very welcome. My father, after dinner, takes leave,
after I had given him 40s. for the last half year for my brother John at
Cambridge. I did also make even with Mr. Fairbrother for my degree of
Master of Arts, which cost me about L9 16s. To White Hall, and my wife
with me by water, where at the Privy Seal and elsewhere all the afternoon.
At night home with her by water, where I made good sport with having the
girl and the boy to comb my head, before I went to bed, in the kitchen.
15th. To the office, and after dinner by water to White Hall, where I
found the King gone this morning by 5 of the clock to see a Dutch
pleasure-boat below bridge,
[A yacht which was greatly admired, and was imitated and improved by
Commissioner Pett, who built a yacht for the King in 1661, which was
called the "Jenny." Queen Elizabeth had a yacht, and one was built
by Phineas Pett in 1604.]
where he dines, and my Lord with him. The King do tire all his people
that are about him with early rising since he came. To the office, all
the afternoon I staid there, and in the evening went to Westminster Hall,
where I staid at Mrs. Michell's, and with her and her husband sent for
some drink, and drank with them. By the same token she and Mrs. Murford
and another old woman of the Hall were going a gossiping tonight. From
thence to my Lord's, where I found him within, and he did give me
direction about his business in his absence, he intending to go into the
country to-morrow morning. Here I lay all night in the old chamber which
I had now given up to W. Howe, with whom I did intend to lie, but he and I
fell to play with one another, so that I made him to go lie with Mr.
Sheply. So I lay alone all night.
16th. This morning my Lord (all things being ready) carried me by coach
to Mr. Crew's, (in the way talking how good he did hope my place would be
to me, and in general speaking that it was not the salary of any place
that did make a man rich, but the opportunity of getting money while he is
in the place) where he took leave, and went into the coach, and so for
Hinchinbroke. My Lady Jemimah and Mr. Thomas Crew in the coach with him.
Hence to Whitehall about noon, where I met with Mr. Madge, who took me
along with him and Captain Cooke (the famous singer) and other masters of
music to dinner at an ordinary about Charing Cross where we dined, all
paying their club. Hence to the Privy Seal, where there has been but
little work these two days. In the evening home.
17th. To the office, and that done home to dinner where Mr. Unthanke, my
wife's tailor, dined with us, we having nothing but a dish of sheep's
trotters. After dinner by water to Whitehall, where a great deal of
business at the Privy Seal. At night I and Creed and the judge-Advocate
went to Mr. Pim, the tailor's, who took us to the Half Moon, and there did
give us great store of wine and anchovies, and would pay for them all.
This night I saw Mr. Creed show many the strangest emotions to shift off
his drink I ever saw in my life. By coach home and to bed.
18th. This morning I took my wife towards Westminster by water, and
landed her at Whitefriars, with L5 to buy her a petticoat, and I to the
Privy Seal. By and by comes my wife to tell me that my father has
persuaded her to buy a most fine cloth of 26s. a yard, and a rich lace,
that the petticoat will come to L5, at which I was somewhat troubled, but
she doing it very innocently, I could not be angry. I did give her more
money, and sent her away, and I and Creed and Captain Hayward (who is now
unkindly put out of the Plymouth to make way for Captain Allen to go to
Constantinople, and put into his ship the Dover, which I know will trouble
my Lord) went and dined at the Leg in King Street, where Captain Ferrers,
my Lord's Cornet, comes to us, who after dinner took me and Creed to the
Cockpitt play,
[The Cockpit Theatre, situated in Drury Lane, was occupied as a
playhouse in the reign of James I. It was occupied by Davenant and
his company in 1658, and they remained in it until. November 15th,
1660, when they removed to Salisbury Court.]
the first that I have had time to see since my coming from sea, "The
Loyall Subject," where one Kinaston, a boy, acted the Duke's sister, but
made the loveliest lady that ever I saw in my life, only her voice not
very good. After the play done, we three went to drink, and by Captain
Ferrers' means, Kinaston and another that acted Archas, the General, came
and drank with us. Hence home by coach, and after being trimmed, leaving
my wife to look after her little bitch, which was just now a-whelping, I
to bed.
19th (Lord's day). In the morning my wife tells me that the bitch has
whelped four young ones and is very well after it, my wife having had a
great fear that she would die thereof, the dog that got them being very
big. This morning Sir W. Batten, Pen, and myself, went to church to the
churchwardens, to demand a pew, which at present could not be given us,
but we are resolved to have one built. So we staid and heard Mr. Mills;'
a very, good minister. Home to dinner, where my wife had on her new
petticoat that she bought yesterday, which indeed is a very fine cloth and
a fine lace; but that being of a light colour, and the lace all silver, it
makes no great show. Mr. Creed and my brother Tom dined with me. After
dinner my wife went and fetched the little puppies to us, which are very
pretty ones. After they were gone, I went up to put my papers in order,
and finding my wife's clothes lie carelessly laid up, I was angry with
her, which I was troubled for. After that my wife and I went and walked
in the garden, and so home to bed.