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Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, February 1659/1660
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.
FEBRUARY
1659-60
February 1st. In the morning went to my office where afterwards the old
man brought me my letters from the carrier. At noon I went home and dined
with my wife on pease porridge and nothing else. After that I went to the
Hall and there met with Mr. Swan and went with him to Mr. Downing's
Counsellor, who did put me in very little hopes about the business between
Mr. Downing and Squib, and told me that Squib would carry it against him,
at which I was much troubled, and with him went to Lincoln's Inn and there
spoke with his attorney, who told me the day that was appointed for the
trial. From thence I went to Sir Harry Wright's and got him to give me
his hand for the L60 which I am to-morrow to receive from Mr. Calthrop and
from thence to Mrs. Jem and spoke with Madam Scott and her husband who did
promise to have the thing for her neck done this week. Thence home and
took Gammer East, and James the porter, a soldier, to my Lord's lodgings,
who told me how they were drawn into the field to-day, and that they were
ordered to march away to-morrow to make room for General Monk; but they
did shut their Colonel Fitch, and the rest of the officers out of the
field, and swore they would not go without their money, and if they would
not give it them, they would go where they might have it, and that was the
City. So the Colonel went to the Parliament, and commanded what money
could be got, to be got against to-morrow for them, and all the rest of
the soldiers in town, who in all places made a mutiny this day, and do
agree together. Here I took some bedding to send to Mrs. Ann for her to
lie in now she hath her fits of the ague. Thence I went to Will's and
staid like a fool there and played at cards till 9 o'clock and so came
home, where I found Mr. Hunt and his wife who staid and sat with me till
10 and so good night.
2d. Drank at Harper's with Doling, and so to my office, where I found all
the officers of the regiments in town, waiting to receive money that their
soldiers might go out of town, and what was in the Exchequer they had. At
noon after dining at home I called at Harper's for Doling, and he and I
met with Luellin and drank with him at the Exchequer at Charing Cross, and
thence he and I went to the Temple to Mr. Calthrop's chamber, and from
thence had his man by water to London Bridge to Mr. Calthrop, a grocer,
and received L60 for my Lord. In our way we talked with our waterman,
White, who told us how the watermen had lately been abused by some that
had a desire to get in to be watermen to the State, and had lately
presented an address of nine or ten thousand hands to stand by this
Parliament, when it was only told them that it was to a petition against
hackney coaches; and that to-day they had put out another to undeceive the
world and to clear themselves, and that among the rest Cropp, my waterman
and one of great practice, was one that did cheat them thus. After I had
received the money we went to the Bridge Tavern and drank a quart of wine
and so back by water, landing Mr. Calthrop's man at the Temple and we went
homewards, but over against Somerset House, hearing the noise of guns, we
landed and found the Strand full of soldiers. So I took my money and went
to Mrs. Johnson, my Lord's sempstress, and giving her my money to lay up,
Doling and I went up stairs to a window, and looked out and see the foot
face the horse and beat them back, and stood bawling and calling in the
street for a free Parliament and money. By and by a drum was heard to
beat a march coming towards them, and they got all ready again and faced
them, and they proved to be of the same mind with them; and so they made a
great deal of joy to see one another. After all this, I took my money,
and went home on foot and laying up my money, and changing my stockings
and shoes, I this day having left off my great skirt suit, and put on my
white suit with silver lace coat, and went over to Harper's, where I met
with W. Simons, Doling, Luellin and three merchants, one of which had
occasion to use a porter, so they sent for one, and James the soldier
came, who told us how they had been all day and night upon their guard at
St. James's, and that through the whole town they did resolve to stand to
what they had began, and that to-morrow he did believe they would go into
the City, and be received there. After all this we went to a sport
called, selling of a horse for a dish of eggs and herrings, and sat
talking there till almost twelve o'clock and then parted, they were to go
as far as Aldgate. Home and to bed.
3rd. Drank my morning draft at Harper's, and was told there that the
soldiers were all quiet upon promise of pay. Thence to St. James's Park,
and walked there to my place for my flageolet and then played a little, it
being a most pleasant morning and sunshine. Back to Whitehall, where in
the guard-chamber I saw about thirty or forty 'prentices of the City, who
were taken at twelve o'clock last night and brought prisoners hither.
Thence to my office, where I paid a little more money to some of the
soldiers under Lieut.-Col. Miller (who held out the Tower against the
Parliament after it was taken away from Fitch by the Committee of Safety,
and yet he continued in his office). About noon Mrs. Turner came to speak
with me, and Joyce, and I took them and shewed them the manner of the
Houses sitting, the doorkeeper very civilly opening the door for us.
Thence with my cozen Roger Pepys,
[Roger Pepys, son of Talbot Pepys of Impington, a barrister of the
Middle Temple, M.P. for Cambridge, 1661-78, and Recorder of that
town, 1660-88. He married, for the third time, Parnell, daughter
and heiress of John Duke, of Workingham, co. Suffolk, and this was
the wedding for which the posy ring was required.]
it being term time, we took him out of the Hall to Priors, the Rhenish
wine-house, and there had a pint or two of wine and a dish of anchovies,
and bespoke three or four dozen bottles of wine for him against his
wedding. After this done he went away, and left me order to call and pay
for all that Mrs. Turner would have. So we called for nothing more there,
but went and bespoke a shoulder of mutton at Wilkinson's to be roasted as
well as it could be done, and sent a bottle of wine home to my house. In
the meantime she and I and Joyce went walking all over White Hall, whither
General Monk was newly come, and we saw all his forces march by in very
good plight and stout officers. Thence to my house where we dined, but
with a great deal of patience, for the mutton came in raw, and so we were
fain to stay the stewing of it. In the meantime we sat studying a Posy
[It is supposed that the fashion of having mottoes inscribed on
rings was of Roman origin. In the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries the posy was inscribed on the outside of the ring, and in
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries it was placed inside. A
small volume was published in 1674, entitled "Love's Garland: or
Posies for Rings, Handkerchers and Gloves, and such pretty tokens
that Lovers send their Loves."]
for a ring for her which she is to have at Roger Pepys his wedding. After
dinner I left them and went to hear news, but only found that the
Parliament House was most of them with Monk at White Hall, and that in his
passing through the town he had many calls to him for a free Parliament,
but little other welcome. I saw in the Palace Yard how unwilling some of
the old soldiers were yet to go out of town without their money, and swore
if they had it not in three days, as they were promised, they would do
them more mischief in the country than if they had staid here; and that is
very likely, the country being all discontented. The town and guards are
already full of Monk's soldiers. I returned, and it growing dark I and
they went to take a turn in the park, where Theoph. (who was sent for to
us to dinner) outran my wife and another poor woman, that laid a pot of
ale with me that she would outrun her. After that I set them as far as
Charing Cross, and there left them and my wife, and I went to see Mrs.
Ann, who began very high about a flock bed I sent her, but I took her
down. Here I played at cards till 9 o'clock. So home and to bed.
4th. In the morning at my lute an hour, and so to my office, where I
staid expecting to have Mr. Squib come to me, but he did not. At noon
walking in the Hall I found Mr. Swan and got him and Captain Stone
together, and there advised about Mr. Downing's business. So to Will's,
and sat there till three o'clock and then to Mr. Swan's, where I found his
wife in very genteel mourning for her father, and took him out by water to
the Counsellor at the Temple, Mr. Stephens, and from thence to Gray's Inn,
thinking to speak with Sotherton Ellis, but found him not, so we met with
an acquaintance of his in the walks, and went and drank, where I ate some
bread and butter, having ate nothing all day, while they were by chance
discoursing of Marriot, the great eater, so that I was, I remember,
ashamed to eat what I would have done. Here Swan shewed us a ballad to
the tune of Mardike which was most incomparably wrote in a printed hand,
which I borrowed of him, but the song proved but silly, and so I did not
write it out. Thence we went and leaving Swan at his master's, my Lord
Widdrington, I met with Spicer, Washington, and D. Vines in Lincoln's Inn
Court, and they were buying of a hanging jack to roast birds on of a
fellow that was there selling of some. I was fain to slip from there and
went to Mrs. Crew's to her and advised about a maid to come and be with
Mrs. Jem while her maid is sick, but she could spare none. Thence to Sir
Harry Wright's, but my lady not being within I spoke to Mrs. Carter about
it, who will get one against Monday. So with a link boy
[Links were torches of tow or pitch to light the way. Ed.]
to Scott's, where Mrs. Ann was in a heat, but I spoke not to her, but told
Mrs. Jem what I had done, and after that went home and wrote letters into
the country by the post, and then played awhile on my lute, and so done,
to supper and then to bed. All the news to-day is, that the Parliament
this morning voted the House to be made up four hundred forthwith. This
day my wife killed her turkeys that Mr. Sheply gave her, that came out of
Zealand with my Lord, and could not get her m'd Jane by no means at any
time to kill anything.
5th,(Lord's day). In the morning before church time Mr. Hawly, who had
for this day or two looked something sadly, which methinks did speak
something in his breast concerning me, came to me telling me that he was
out L24 which he could not tell what was become of, and that he do
remember that he had such a sum in a bag the other day, and could not tell
what he did with it, at which I was very sorry but could not help him. In
the morning to Mr. Gunning, where a stranger, an old man, preached a good
honest sermon upon "What manner of love is this that we should be called
the sons of God." After sermon I could not find my wife, who promised to
be at the gate against my coming out, and waited there a great while; then
went to my house and finding her gone I returned and called at the
Chequers, thinking to dine at the ordinary with Mr. Chetwind and Mr.
Thomas, but they not being there I went to my father and found her there,
and there I dined. To their church in the afternoon, and in Mrs. Turner's
pew my wife took up a good black hood and kept it. A stranger preached a
poor sermon, and so read over the whole book of the story of Tobit. After
sermon home with Mrs. Turner, staid with her a little while, then she went
into the court to a christening and we to my father's, where I wrote some
notes for my brother John to give to the Mercers' to-morrow, it being the
day of their apposition. After supper home, and before going to bed I
staid writing of this day its passages, while a drum came by, beating of a
strange manner of beat, now and then a single stroke, which my wife and I
wondered at, what the meaning of it should be. This afternoon at church I
saw Dick Cumberland newly come out of the country from his living, but did
not speak to him.
6th. Before I went to my office I went to Mr. Crew's and paid Mr. Andrews
the same L60 that he had received of Mr. Calthrop the last week. So back
to Westminster and walked with him thither, where we found the soldiers
all set in the Palace Yard, to make way for General Monk to come to the
House. At the Hall we parted, and meeting Swan, he and I to the Swan and
drank our morning draft. So back again to the Hall, where I stood upon
the steps and saw Monk go by, he making observance to the judges as he
went along. At noon my father dined with me upon my turkey that was
brought from Denmark, and after dinner he and I to the Bull Head Tavern,
where we drank half a pint of wine and so parted. I to Mrs. Ann, and Mrs.
Jem being gone out of the chamber she and I had a very high bout, I
rattled her up, she being in her bed, but she becoming more cool, we
parted pretty good friends. Thence I went to Will's, where I staid at
cards till 10 o'clock, losing half a crown, and so home to bed.
7th. In the morning I went early to give Mr. Hawly notice of my being
forced to go into London, but he having also business we left our office
business to Mr. Spicer and he and I walked as far as the Temple, where I
halted a little and then went to Paul's School, but it being too soon,
went and drank my morning draft with my cozen Tom Pepys the turner, and
saw his house and shop, thence to school, where he that made the speech
for the seventh form in praise of the founder, did show a book which Mr.
Crumlum had lately got, which is believed to be of the Founder's own
writing. After all the speeches, in which my brother John came off as
well as any of the rest, I went straight home and dined, then to the Hall,
where in the Palace I saw Monk's soldiers abuse Billing and all the
Quakers, that were at a meeting-place there, and indeed the soldiers did
use them very roughly and were to blame.
["Fox, or some other 'weighty' friend, on hearing of this,
complained to Monk, who issued the following order, dated March 9th:
'I do require all officers and soldiers to forbear to disturb
peaceable meetings of the Quakers, they doing nothing prejudicial to
the Parliament or the Commonwealth of England. George Monk.' This
order, we are told, had an excellent effect on the soldiers."--A. C.
Bickley's 'George Fox and the Early Quakers, London, 1884, p. 179.
The Quakers were at this time just coming into notice. The first
preaching of George Fox, the founder, was in 1648, and in 1655 the
preachers of the sect numbered seventy-three. Fox computed that
there were seldom less than a thousand quakers in prison. The
statute 13 and 14 Car. II. cap. i. (1662) was "An act for
preventing the mischiefs and dangers that may arise by certain
persons called quakers and others, refusing to take lawful oaths."
Billing is mentioned again on July 22nd, 1667, when he addressed
Pepys in Westminster Hall.]
So after drinking with Mr. Spicer, who had received L600 for me this
morning, I went to Capt. Stone and with him by coach to the Temple Gardens
(all the way talking of the disease of the stone), where we met Mr. Squib,
but would do nothing till to-morrow morning. Thence back on foot home,
where I found a letter from my Lord in character [private cryptic code
Ed.], which I construed, and after my wife had shewn me some ribbon and
shoes that she had taken out of a box of Mr. Montagu's which formerly Mr.
Kipps had left here when his master was at sea, I went to Mr. Crew and
advised with him about it, it being concerning my Lord's coming up to
Town, which he desires upon my advice the last week in my letter. Thence
calling upon Mrs. Ann I went home, and wrote in character to my Lord in
answer to his letter. This day Mr. Crew told me that my Lord St. John is
for a free Parliament, and that he is very great with Monk, who hath now
the absolute command and power to do any thing that he hath a mind to do.
Mr. Moore told me of a picture hung up at the Exchange of a great pair of
buttocks shooting of a turd into Lawson's mouth, and over it was wrote
"The thanks of the house." Boys do now cry "Kiss my Parliament, instead
of "Kiss my [rump]," so great and general a contempt is the Rump come to
among all the good and bad.
8th. A little practice on my flageolet, and afterwards walking in my yard
to see my stock of pigeons, which begin now with the spring to breed very
fast. I was called on by Mr. Fossan, my fellow pupil at Cambridge, and I
took him to the Swan in the Palace yard, and drank together our morning
draft. Thence to my office, where I received money, and afterwards Mr.
Carter, my old friend at Cambridge, meeting me as I was going out of my
office I took him to the Swan, and in the way I met with Captain Lidcott,
and so we three went together and drank there, the Captain talking as high
as ever he did, and more because of the fall of his brother Thurlow.
[John Thurloe, born 1616; Secretary of State to Cromwell; M.P. for
Ely, 1656, and for the University of Cambridge in Richard Cromwell's
Parliament of December, 1658. He was never employed after the
Restoration, although the King solicited his services. He died
February 21st, 1668. Pepys spells the name Thurlow, which was a
common spelling at the time.]
Hence I went to Captain Stone, who told me how Squib had been with him,
and that he could do nothing with him, so I returned to Mr. Carter and
with him to Will's, where I spent upon him and Monsieur L'Impertinent,
alias Mr. Butler, who I took thither with me, and thence to a Rhenish wine
house, and in our way met with Mr. Hoole, where I paid for my cozen Roger
Pepys his wine, and after drinking we parted. So I home, in my way
delivering a letter which among the rest I had from my Lord to-day to Sir
N. Wheeler. At home my wife's brother brought her a pretty black dog
which I liked very well, and went away again. Hence sending a porter with
the hamper of bottles to the Temple I called in my way upon Mrs. Jem, who
was much frighted till I came to tell her that her mother was well. So to
the Temple, where I delivered the wine and received the money of my cos.
Roger that I laid out, and thence to my father's, where he shewed me a
base angry letter that he had newly received from my uncle Robert about my
brother John, at which my father was very sad, but I comforted him and
wrote an answer. My brother John has an exhibition granted him from the
school. My father and I went down to his kitchen, and there we eat and
drank, and about 9 o'clock I went away homewards, and in Fleet Street,
received a great jostle from a man that had a mind to take the wall, which
I could not help?
[This was a constant trouble to the pedestrian until the rule of
passing to the right of the person met was generally accepted. Gay
commences his "Trivia" with an allusion to this--
"When to assert the wall, and when resign--"
and the epigram on the haughty courtier and the scholar is well
known.]
I came home and to bed. Went to bed with my head not well by my too much
drinking to-day, and I had a boil under my chin which troubled me cruelly.
9th. Soon as out of my bed I wrote letters into the country to go by
carrier to-day. Before I was out of my bed, I heard the soldiers very
busy in the morning, getting their horses ready where they lay at
Hilton's, but I knew not then their meaning in so doing: After I had wrote
my letters I went to Westminster up and down the Hall, and with Mr. Swan
walked a good [deal] talking about Mr. Downing's business. I went with
him to Mr. Phelps's house where he had some business to solicit, where we
met Mr. Rogers my neighbour, who did solicit against him and talked very
high, saying that he would not for a L1000 appear in a business that Swan
did, at which Swan was very angry, but I believe he might be guilty
enough. In the Hall I understand how Monk is this morning gone into
London with his army; and met with Mr. Fage, who told me that he do
believe that Monk is gone to secure some of the Common-council of the
City, who were very high yesterday there, and did vote that they would not
pay any taxes till the House was filled up. I went to my office, where I
wrote to my Lord after I had been at the Upper Bench, where Sir Robert
Pye
[Sir Robert Pye, the elder, was auditor of the Exchequer, and a
staunch Royalist. He garrisoned his house at Faringdon, which was
besieged by his son, of the same names, a decided Republican, son-
in-law to Hampden, and colonel of horse under Fairfax. The son,
here spoken of, was subsequently committed to the Tower for
presenting a petition to the House of Commons from the county of
Berks, which he represented in Parliament, complaining of the want
of a settled form of government. He had, however, the courage to
move for an habeas corpus, but judge Newdigate decided that the
courts of law had not the power to discharge him. Upon Monk's
coming to London, the secluded members passed a vote to liberate
Pye, and at the Restoration he was appointed equerry to the King.
He died in 1701.--B.]
this morning came to desire his discharge from the Tower; but it could not
be granted. After that I went to Mrs. Jem, who I had promised to go along
with to her Aunt Wright's, but she was gone, so I went thither, and after
drinking a glass of sack I went back to Westminster Hall, and meeting with
Mr. Pierce the surgeon, who would needs take me home, where Mr. Lucy,
Burrell, and others dined, and after dinner I went home and to Westminster
Hall, where meeting Swan I went with him by water to the Temple to our
Counsel, and did give him a fee to make a motion to-morrow in the
Exchequer for Mr. Downing. Thence to Westminster Hall, where I heard an
action very finely pleaded between my Lord Dorset and some other noble
persons, his lady and other ladies of quality being here, and it was
about; L330 per annum, that was to be paid to a poor Spittal, which was
given by some of his predecessors; and given on his side. Thence Swan and
I to a drinking-house near Temple Bar, where while he wrote I played on my
flageolet till a dish of poached eggs was got ready for us, which we eat,
and so by coach home. I called at Mr. Harper's, who told me how Monk had
this day clapt up many of the Common-council, and that the Parliament had
voted that he should pull down their gates and portcullisses, their posts
and their chains, which he do intend to do, and do lie in the City all
night. I went home and got some ahlum to my mouth, where I have the
beginnings of a cancer, and had also a plaster to my boil underneath my
chin.
10th. In the morning I went to Mr. Swan, who took me to the Court of
Wards, where I saw the three Lords Commissioners sitting upon some cause
where Mr. Scobell was concerned, and my Lord Fountaine took him up very
roughly about some things that he said. After that we went to the
Exchequer, where the Barons were hearing of causes, and there I made
affidavit that Mr. Downing was gone into Holland by order of the Council
of State, and this affidavit I gave to Mr. Stevens our lawyer. Thence to
my office, where I got money of Mr. Hawly to pay the lawyer, and there
found Mr. Lenard, one of the Clerks of the Council, and took him to the
Swan and gave him his morning draft. Then home to dinner, and after that
to the Exchequer, where I heard all the afternoon a great many causes
before the Barons; in the end came ours, and Squib proved clearly by his
patent that the house and office did now belong to him. Our lawyer made
some kind of opposition, but to no purpose, and so the cause was found
against us, and the foreman of the jury brought in L10 damages, which the
whole Court cried shame of, and so he cried 12d. Thence I went home,
vexed about this business, and there I found Mr. Moore, and with him went
into London to Mr. Fage about the cancer in my mouth, which begins to grow
dangerous, who gave me something for it, and also told me what Monk had
done in the City, how he had pulled down the most part of the gates and
chains that they could break down, and that he was now gone back to White
Hall. The City look mighty blank, and cannot tell what in the world to
do; the Parliament having this day ordered that the Common-council sit no
more; but that new ones be chosen according to what qualifications they
shall give them. Thence I went and drank with Mr. Moore at the Sugar Loaf
by Temple Bar, where Swan and I were last night, and so we parted. At
home I found Mr. Hunt, who sat talking with me awhile, and so to bed.