Book: Diary of Samuel Pepys, August/September 1660
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Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, August/September 1660
20th (Office day). As Sir W. Pen and I were walking in the garden, a
messenger came to me from the Duke of York to fetch me to the Lord
Chancellor. So (Mrs. Turner with her daughter The. being come to my house
to speak with me about a friend of hers to send to sea) I went with her in
her coach as far as Worcester House, but my Lord Chancellor being gone to
the House of Lords, I went thither, and (there being a law case before
them this day) got in, and there staid all the morning, seeing their
manner of sitting on woolpacks, &c., which I never did before.
[It is said that these woolpacks were placed in the House of Lords
for the judges to sit on, so that the fact that wool was a main
source of our national wealth might be kept in the popular mind.
The Lord Chancellor's seat is now called the Woolsack.]
After the House was up, I spoke to my Lord, and had order from him to come
to him at night. This morning Mr. Creed did give me the Papers that
concern my Lord's sea commission, which he left in my hands and went to
sea this day to look after the gratuity money.
This afternoon at the Privy Seal, where reckoning with Mr. Moore, he had
got L100 for me together, which I was glad of, guessing that the profits
of this month would come to L100.
In the evening I went all alone to drink at Mr. Harper's, where I found
Mrs. Crisp's daughter, with whom and her friends I staid and drank, and so
with W. Hewer by coach to Worcester House, where I light, sending him home
with the L100 that I received to-day. Here I staid, and saw my Lord
Chancellor come into his Great Hall, where wonderful how much company
there was to expect him at a Seal. Before he would begin any business, he
took my papers of the state of the debts of the Fleet, and there viewed
them before all the people, and did give me his advice privately how to
order things, to get as much money as we can of the Parliament. That being
done, I went home, where I found all my things come home from sea (sent by
desire by Mr. Dun), of which I was glad, though many of my things are
quite spoilt with mould by reason of lying so long a shipboard, and my
cabin being not tight. I spent much time to dispose of them tonight, and
so to bed.
21st. This morning I went to White Hall with Sir W. Pen by water, who in
our passage told me how he was bred up under Sir W. Batten. We went to
Mr. Coventry's chamber, and consulted of drawing my papers of debts of the
Navy against the afternoon for the Committee. So to the Admiralty, where
W. Hewer and I did them, and after that he went to his Aunt's Blackburn
(who has a kinswoman dead at her house to-day, and was to be buried
to-night, by which means he staid very late out). I to Westminster Hall,
where I met Mr. Crew and dined with him, where there dined one Mr.
Hickeman, an Oxford man, who spoke very much against the height of the now
old clergy, for putting out many of the religious fellows of Colleges, and
inveighing against them for their being drunk, which, if true, I am sorry
to hear. After that towards Westminster, where I called on Mr. Pim, and
there found my velvet coat (the first that ever I had) done, and a velvet
mantle, which I took to the Privy Seal Office, and there locked them up,
and went to the Queen's Court, and there, after much waiting, spoke with
Colonel Birch, who read my papers, and desired some addition, which done I
returned to the Privy Seal, where little to do, and with Mr. Moore towards
London, and in our way meeting Monsieur Eschar (Mr. Montagu's man), about
the Savoy, he took us to the Brazennose Tavern, and there drank and so
parted, and I home by coach, and there, it being post-night, I wrote to my
Lord to give him notice that all things are well; that General Monk is
made Lieutenant of Ireland, which my Lord Roberts (made Deputy) do not
like of, to be Deputy to any man but the King himself. After that to bed.
22nd. Office, which done, Sir W. Pen took me into the garden, and there
told me how Mr. Turner do intend to petition the Duke for an allowance
extra as one of the Clerks of the Navy, which he desired me to join with
him in the furthering of, which I promised to do so that it did not
reflect upon me or to my damage to have any other added, as if I was not
able to perform my place; which he did wholly disown to be any of his
intention, but far from it. I took Mr. Hater home with me to dinner, with
whom I did advise, who did give me the same counsel. After dinner he and
I to the office about doing something more as to the debts of the Navy
than I had done yesterday, and so to Whitehall to the Privy Seal, and
having done there, with my father (who came to see me) to Westminster Hall
and the Parliament House to look for Col. Birch, but found him not. In the
House, after the Committee was up, I met with Mr. G. Montagu, and joyed
him in his entrance (this being his 3d day) for Dover. Here he made me
sit all alone in the House, none but he and I, half an hour, discoursing
how things stand, and in short he told me how there was like to be many
factions at Court between Marquis Ormond, General Monk, and the Lord
Roberts, about the business of Ireland; as there is already between the
two Houses about the Act of Indemnity; and in the House of Commons,
between the Episcopalian and Presbyterian men. Hence to my father's
(walking with Mr. Herring, the minister of St. Bride's), and took them to
the Sun Tavern, where I found George, my old drawer, come again. From
thence by water, landed them at Blackfriars, and so home and to bed.
23rd. By water to Doctors' Commons to Dr. Walker, to give him my Lord's
papers to view over concerning his being empowered to be Vice-Admiral
under the Duke of York. There meeting with Mr. Pinkney, he and I to a
morning draft, and thence by water to White Hall, to the Parliament House,
where I spoke with Colonel Birch, and so to the Admiralty chamber, where
we and Mr. Coventry had a meeting about several businesses. Amongst
others, it was moved that Phineas Pett (kinsman to the Commissioner) of
Chatham, should be suspended his employment till he had answered some
articles put in against him, as that he should formerly say that the King
was a bastard and his mother a whore. Hence to Westminster Hall, where I
met with my father Bowyer, and Mr. Spicer, and them I took to the Leg in
King Street, and did give them a dish or two of meat, and so away to the
Privy Seal, where, the King being out of town, we have had nothing to do
these two days. To Westminster Hall, where I met with W. Symons, T.
Doling, and Mr. Booth, and with them to the Dogg, where we eat a musk
melon
["Melons were hardly known in England till Sir George Gardiner
brought one from Spain, when they became in general estimation. The
ordinary price was five or six shillings."--Quarterly Review, vol,
xix.]
(the first that I have eat this year), and were very merry with W. Symons,
calling him Mr. Dean, because of the Dean's lands that his uncle had left
him, which are like to be lost all. Hence home by water, and very late at
night writing letters to my Lord to Hinchinbroke, and also to the
Vice-Admiral in the Downs, and so to bed.
24th. Office, and thence with Sir William Batten and Sir William Pen to
the parish church to find out a place where to build a seat or a gallery
to sit in, and did find one which is to be done speedily. Hence with them
to dinner at a tavern in Thames Street, where they were invited to a
roasted haunch of venison and other very good victuals and company. Hence
to Whitehall to the Privy Seal, but nothing to do. At night by land to my
father's, where I found my mother not very well. I did give her a pint of
sack. My father came in, and Dr. T. Pepys, who talked with me in French
about looking out for a place for him. But I found him a weak man, and
speaks the worst French that ever I heard of one that had been so long
beyond sea. Hence into Pant's Churchyard and bought Barkley's Argenis in
Latin, and so home and to bed. I found at home that Captain Burr had sent
me 4 dozen bottles of wine today. The King came back to Whitehall
to-night.
25th. This morning Mr. Turner and I by coach from our office to Whitehall
(in our way I calling on Dr. Walker for the papers I did give him the
other day, which he had perused and found that the Duke's counsel had
abated something of the former draught which Dr. Walker drew for my Lord)
to Sir G. Carteret, where we there made up an estimate of the debts of
the Navy for the Council. At noon I took Mr. Turner and Mr. Moore to the
Leg in King Street, and did give them a dinner, and afterward to the Sun
Tavern, and did give Mr. Turner a glass of wine, there coming to us Mr.
Fowler the apothecary (the judge's son) with a book of lute lessons which
his father had left there for me, such as he formerly did use to play when
a young man, and had the use of his hand. To the Privy Seal, and found
some business now again to do there. To Westminster Hall for a new
half-shirt of Mrs. Lane, and so home by water. Wrote letters by the post
to my Lord and to sea. This night W. Hewer brought me home from Mr. Pim's
my velvet coat and cap, the first that ever I had. So to bed.
26th (Lord's day). With Sir W. Pen to the parish church, where we are
placed in the highest pew of all, where a stranger preached a dry and
tedious long sermon. Dined at home. To church again in the afternoon
with my wife; in the garden and on the leads at night, and so to supper
and to bed.
27th. This morning comes one with a vessel of Northdown ale from Mr.
Pierce, the purser, to me, and after him another with a brave Turkey
carpet and a jar of olives from Captain Cuttance, and a pair of fine
turtle-doves from John Burr to my wife. These things came up to-day in
our smack, and my boy Ely came along with them, and came after office was
done to see me. I did give him half a crown because I saw that he was
ready to cry to see that he could not be entertained by me here. In the
afternoon to the Privy Seal, where good store of work now toward the end
of the month. From thence with Mr. Mount, Luellin, and others to the Bull
head till late, and so home, where about to o'clock Major Hart came to me,
whom I did receive with wine and anchovies, which made me so dry that I
was ill with them all night, and was fain to have the girle rise and fetch
me some drink.
28th. At home looking over my papers and books and house as to the
fitting of it to my mind till two in the afternoon. Some time I spent
this morning beginning to teach my wife some scale in music, and found her
apt beyond imagination. To the Privy Seal, where great store of work
to-day. Colonel Scroope--[Colonel Adrian Scroope, one of the persons who
sat in judgment upon Charles I.]--is this day excepted out of the Act of
Indemnity, which has been now long in coming out, but it is expected
to-morrow. I carried home L80 from the Privy Seal, by coach, and at night
spent a little more time with my wife about her music with great content.
This day I heard my poor mother had then two days been very ill, and I
fear she will not last long. To bed, a little troubled that I fear my boy
Will
[Pepys refers to two Wills. This was Will Wayneman; the other was
William Hewer.]
is a thief and has stole some money of mine, particularly a letter that
Mr. Jenkins did leave the last week with me with half a crown in it to
send to his son.
29th (Office day). Before I went to the office my wife and I examined my
boy Will about his stealing of things, but he denied all with the greatest
subtlety and confidence in the world. To the office, and after office
then to the Church, where we took another view of the place where we had
resolved to build a gallery, and have set men about doing it. Home to
dinner, and there I found my wife had discovered my boy Will's theft and a
great deal more than we imagined, at which I was vexed and intend to put
him away. To my office at the Privy Seal in the afternoon, and from
thence at night to the Bull Head, with Mount, Luellin, and others, and
hence to my father's, and he being at my uncle Fenner's, I went thither to
him, and there sent for my boy's father and talked with him about his son,
and had his promise that if I will send home his boy, he will take him
notwithstanding his indenture. Home at night, and find that my wife had
found out more of the boy's stealing 6s. out of W. Hewer's closet, and hid
it in the house of office, at which my heart was troubled. To bed, and
caused the boy's clothes to be brought up to my chamber. But after we
were all a-bed, the wench (which lies in our chamber) called us to listen
of a sudden, which put my wife into such a fright that she shook every
joint of her, and a long time that I could not get her out of it. The
noise was the boy, we did believe, got in a desperate mood out of his bed
to do himself or William [Hewer] some mischief. But the wench went down
and got a candle lighted, and finding the boy in bed, and locking the
doors fast, with a candle burning all night, we slept well, but with a
great deal of fear.
30th. We found all well in the morning below stairs, bu the boy in a sad
plight of seeming sorrow; but he is the most cunning rogue that ever I met
with of his age. To White Hall, where I met with the Act of
Indemnity--[12 Car. II. cap. II, an act of free and general pardon,
indemnity, and oblivion.]--(so long talked of and hoped for), with the Act
of Rate for Pole-money, an for judicial proceedings. At Westminster Hall
I met with Mr. Paget the lawyer, and dined with him at Heaven. This
afternoon my wife went to Mr. Pierce's wife's child's christening, and was
urged to be godmother, but I advised her before-hand not to do it, so she
did not, but as proxy for my Lady Jemimah. This the first day that ever I
saw my wife wear black patches since we were married!
[The fashion of placing black patches on the face was introduced
towards the close of the reign of Charles I., and the practice is
ridiculed in the "Spectator."]
My Lord came to town to-day, but coming not home till very late I staid
till 10 at night, and so home on foot. Mr. Sheply and Mr. Childe this
night at the tavern.
31st. Early to wait upon my Lord at White Hall, and with him to the
Duke's chamber. So to my office in Seething Lane. Dined at home, and
after dinner to my Lord again, who told me that he is ordered to go
suddenly to sea, and did give me some orders to be drawing up against his
going. This afternoon I agreed to let my house quite out of my hands to
Mr. Dalton (one of the wine sellers to the King, with whom I had drunk in
the old wine cellar two or three times) for L41. At night made even at
Privy Seal for this month against tomorrow to give up possession, but we
know not to whom, though we most favour Mr. Bickerstaffe, with whom and
Mr. Matthews we drank late after office was done at the Sun, discoursing
what to do about it tomorrow against Baron, and so home and to bed.
Blessed be God all things continue well with and for me. I pray God fit
me for a change of my fortune.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
SEPTEMBER
1660
September 1st. This morning I took care to get a vessel to carry my
Lord's things to the Downs on Monday next, and so to White Hall to my
Lord, where he and I did look over the Commission drawn for him by the
Duke's Council, which I do not find my Lord displeased with, though short
of what Dr. Walker did formerly draw for him. Thence to the Privy Seal to
see how things went there, and I find that Mr. Baron had by a severe
warrant from the King got possession of the office from his brother
Bickerstaffe, which is very strange, and much to our admiration, it being
against all open justice. Mr. Moore and I and several others being
invited to-day by Mr. Goodman, a friend of his, we dined at the Bullhead
upon the best venison pasty that ever I eat of in my life, and with one
dish more, it was the best dinner I ever was at. Here rose in discourse
at table a dispute between Mr. Moore and Dr. Clerke, the former affirming
that it was essential to a tragedy to have the argument of it true, which
the Doctor denied, and left it to me to be judge, and the cause to be
determined next Tuesday morning at the same place, upon the eating of the
remains of the pasty, and the loser to spend 10s. All this afternoon
sending express to the fleet, to order things against my Lord's coming and
taking direction of my Lord about some rich furniture to take along with
him for the Princess!--[Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, who
died in December of this year.]--And talking of this, I hear by Mr.
Townsend, that there is the greatest preparation against the Prince de
Ligne's a coming over from the King of Spain, that ever was in England for
their Embassador. Late home, and what with business and my boy's roguery
my mind being unquiet, I went to bed.
2nd (Sunday). To Westminster, my Lord being gone before my coming to
chapel. I and Mr. Sheply told out my money, and made even for my Privy
Seal fees and gratuity money, &c., to this day between my Lord and me.
After that to chappell, where Dr. Fern, a good honest sermon upon "The
Lord is my shield." After sermon a dull anthem, and so to my Lord's (he
dining abroad) and dined with Mr. Sheply. So, to St. Margarett's, and
heard a good sermon upon the text "Teach us the old way," or something
like it, wherein he ran over all the new tenets in policy and religion,
which have brought us into all our late divisions. From church to Mrs.
Crisp's (having sent Win. Hewer home to tell my wife that I could not come
home to-night because of my Lord's going out early to-morrow morning),
where I sat late, and did give them a great deal of wine, it being a
farewell cup to Laud Crisp. I drank till the daughter began to be very
loving to me and kind, and I fear is not so good as she should be. To my
Lord's, and to bed with Mr. Sheply.
3rd. Up and to Mr.-----, the goldsmith near the new Exchange, where I
bought my wedding ring, and there, with much ado, got him to put a gold
ring to the jewell, which the King of Sweden did give my Lord: out of
which my Lord had now taken the King's picture, and intends to make a
George of it. This morning at my Lord's I had an opportunity to speak
with Sir George Downing, who has promised me to give me up my bond, and to
pay me for my last quarter while I was at sea, that so I may pay Mr. Moore
and Hawly. About noon my Lord, having taken leave of the King in the
Shield Gallery (where I saw with what kindness the King did hug my Lord at
his parting), I went over with him and saw him in his coach at Lambeth,
and there took leave of him, he going to the Downs, which put me in mind
of his first voyage that ever he made, which he did begin like this from
Lambeth. In the afternoon with Mr. Moore to my house to cast up our Privy
Seal accounts, where I found that my Lord's comes to 400 and odd pounds,
and mine to L132, out of which I do give him as good as L25 for his pains,
with which I doubt he is not satisfied, but my heart is full glad. Thence
with him to Mr. Crew's, and did fetch as much money as did make even our
accounts between him and me. Home, and there found Mr. Cooke come back
from my Lord for me to get him some things bought for him to be brought
after them, a toilet cap and comb case of silk, to make use of in Holland,
for he goes to the Hague, which I can do to-morrow morning. This day my
father and my uncle Fenner, and both his sons, have been at my house to
see it, and my wife did treat them nobly with wine and anchovies. By
reason of my Lord's going to-day I could not get the office to meet
to-day.
4th. I did many things this morning at home before I went out, as looking
over the joiners, who are flooring my diningroom, and doing business with
Sir Williams
["Both Sir Williams" is a favourite expression with Pepys, meaning
Sir William Batten and Sir William Penn.]
both at the office, and so to Whitehall, and so to the Bullhead, where we
had the remains of our pasty, where I did give my verdict against Mr.
Moore upon last Saturday's wager, where Dr. Fuller coming in do confirm me
in my verdict. From thence to my Lord's and despatched Mr. Cooke away
with the things to my Lord. From thence to Axe Yard to my house, where
standing at the door Mrs. Diana comes by, whom I took into my house
upstairs, and there did dally with her a great while, and found that in
Latin "Nulla puella negat." So home by water, and there sat up late
setting my papers in order, and my money also, and teaching my wife her
music lesson, in which I take great pleasure. So to bed.
5th. To the office. From thence by coach upon the desire of the
principal officers to a Master of Chancery to give Mr. Stowell his oath,
whereby he do answer that he did hear Phineas Pett say very high words
against the King a great while ago. Coming back our coach broke, and so
Stowell and I to Mr. Rawlinson's, and after a glass of wine parted, and I
to the office, home to dinner, where (having put away my boy in the
morning) his father brought him again, but I did so clear up my boy's
roguery to his father, that he could not speak against my putting him
away, and so I did give him 10s. for the boy's clothes that I made him,
and so parted and tore his indenture. All the afternoon with the
principal officers at Sir W. Batten's about Pett's business (where I first
saw Col. Slingsby, who has now his appointment for Comptroller), but did
bring it to no issue. This day I saw our Dedimus to be sworn in the peace
by, which will be shortly. In the evening my wife being a little
impatient I went along with her to buy her a necklace of pearl, which will
cost L4 10s., which I am willing to comply with her in for her
encouragement, and because I have lately got money, having now above L200
in cash beforehand in the world. Home, and having in our way bought a
rabbit and two little lobsters, my wife and I did sup late, and so to bed.
Great news now-a-day of the Duke d'Anjou's
[Philip, Duke of Anjou, afterwards Duke of Orleans, brother of Louis
XIV. (born 1640, died 1701), married the Princess Henrietta,
youngest daughter of Charles I., who was born June 16th, 1664, at
Exeter. She was known as "La belle Henriette." In May, 1670, she
came to Dover on a political mission from Louis XIV. to her brother
Charles II., but the visit was undertaken much against the wish of
her husband. Her death occurred on her return to France, and
was attributed to poison. It was the occasion of one of the finest
of Bossuet's "Oraisons Funebres."]
desire to marry the Princesse Henrietta. Hugh Peters is said to be taken,
[Hugh Peters, born at Fowey, Cornwall, and educated at Trinity
College, Cambridge, where he graduated M.A. 1622. He was tried as
one of the regicides, and executed. A broadside, entitled "The
Welsh Hubub, or the Unkennelling and earthing of Hugh Peters that
crafty Fox," was printed October 3rd, 1660.]
and the Duke of Gloucester is ill, and it is said it will prove the
small-pox.
6th. To Whitehall by water with Sir W. Batten, and in our passage told me
how Commissioner Pett did pay himself for the entertainment that he did
give the King at Chatham at his coming in, and 20s. a day all the time he
was in Holland, which I wonder at, and so I see there is a great deal of
envy between the two. At Whitehall I met with Commissioner Pett, who told
me how Mr. Coventry and Fairbank his solicitor are falling out, one
complaining of the other for taking too great fees, which is too true. I
find that Commissioner Pett is under great discontent, and is loth to give
too much money for his place, and so do greatly desire me to go along with
him in what we shall agree to give Mr. Coventry, which I have promised
him, but am unwilling to mix my fortune with him that is going down the
wind. We all met this morning and afterwards at the Admiralty, where our
business is to ask provision of victuals ready for the ships in the Downs,
which we did, Mr. Gauden promising to go himself thither and see it done.
Dined Will and I at my Lord's upon a joint of meat that I sent Mrs. Sarah
for. Afterwards to my office and sent all my books to my Lord's, in order
to send them to my house that I now dwell in. Home and to bed.
7th. Not office day, and in the afternoon at home all the day, it being
the first that I have been at home all day since I came hither. Putting
my papers, books and other things in order, and writing of letters. This
day my Lord set sail from the Downs for Holland.
8th. All day also at home. At night sent for by Sir W. Pen, with whom I
sat late drinking a glass of wine and discoursing, and I find him to be a
very sociable man, and an able man, and very cunning.