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Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, January/February/March 1660/61
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
1661 N.S. COMPLETE
JANUARY, FEBRUARY & MARCH
1660-61
1660-61. At the end of the last and the beginning of this year, I do live
in one of the houses belonging to the Navy Office, as one of the principal
officers, and have done now about half a year. After much trouble with
workmen I am now almost settled; my family being, myself, my wife, Jane,
Will. Hewer, and Wayneman,--[Will Wayneman appears by this to have been
forgiven for his theft (see ante). He was dismissed on July 8th,
1663.]--my girle's brother. Myself in constant good health, and in a most
handsome and thriving condition. Blessed be Almighty God for it. I am now
taking of my sister to come and live with me. As to things of State.--The
King settled, and loved of all. The Duke of York matched to my Lord
Chancellor's daughter, which do not please many. The Queen upon her
return to France with the Princess Henrietta. The Princess of Orange
lately dead, and we into new mourning for her. We have been lately
frighted with a great plot, and many taken up on it, and the fright not
quite over. The Parliament, which had done all this great good to the
King, beginning to grow factious, the King did dissolve it December 29th
last, and another likely to be chosen speedily. I take myself now to be
worth L300 clear in money, and all my goods and all manner of debts paid,
which are none at all.
1660-61. January 1st. Called up this morning by Mr. Moore, who brought
me my last things for me to sign for the last month, and to my great
comfort tells me that my fees will come to L80 clear to myself, and about
L25 for him, which he hath got out of the pardons, though there be no fee
due to me at all out of them. Then comes in my brother Thomas, and after
him my father, Dr. Thomas Pepys, my uncle Fenner and his two sons
(Anthony's' only child dying this morning, yet he was so civil to come,
and was pretty merry) to breakfast; and I had for them a barrel of
oysters, a dish of neat's tongues, and a dish of anchovies, wine of all
sorts, and Northdown ale. We were very merry till about eleven o'clock,
and then they went away. At noon I carried my wife by coach to my cozen,
Thomas Pepys, where we, with my father, Dr. Thomas, cozen Stradwick,
Scott, and their wives, dined. Here I saw first his second wife, which is
a very respectfull woman, but his dinner a sorry, poor dinner for a man of
his estate, there being nothing but ordinary meat in it. To-day the King
dined at a lord's, two doors from us. After dinner I took my wife to
Whitehall, I sent her to Mrs. Pierces (where we should have dined today),
and I to the Privy Seal, where Mr. Moore took out all his money, and he
and I went to Mr. Pierces; in our way seeing the Duke of York bring his
Lady this day to wait upon the Queen, the first time that ever she did
since that great business; and the Queen is said to receive her now with
much respect and love; and there he cast up the fees, and I told the
money, by the same token one L100 bag, after I had told it, fell all about
the room, and I fear I have lost some of it. That done I left my friends
and went to my Lord's, but he being not come in I lodged the money with
Mr. Shepley, and bade good night to Mr. Moore, and so returned to Mr.
Pierces, and there supped with them, and Mr. Pierce, the purser, and his
wife and mine, where we had a calf's head carboned,
[Meat cut crosswise and broiled was said to be carboned. Falstaff
says in "King Henry IV.," Part L, act v., sc. 3, "Well, if Percy be
alive, I'll pierce him. If he do come in my way, so; if he do not,
if I come in his willingly, let him make a carbonado of me."]
but it was raw, we could not eat it, and a good hen. But she is such a
slut that I do not love her victualls. After supper I sent them home by
coach, and I went to my Lord's and there played till 12 at night at cards
at Best with J. Goods and N. Osgood, and then to bed with Mr. Shepley.
2d. Up early, and being called up to my Lord he did give me many commands
in his business. As about taking care to write to my uncle that Mr.
Barnewell's papers should be locked up, in case he should die, he being
now suspected to be very ill. Also about consulting with Mr. W. Montagu
for the settling of the L4000 a-year that the King had promised my Lord.
As also about getting of Mr. George Montagu to be chosen at Huntingdon
this next Parliament, &c. That done he to White Hall stairs with much
company, and I with him; where we took water for Lambeth, and there coach
for Portsmouth. The Queen's things were all in White Hall Court ready to
be sent away, and her Majesty ready to be gone an hour after to Hampton
Court to-night, and so to be at Ports mouth on Saturday next. I by water
to my office, and there all the morning, and so home to dinner, where I
found Pall (my sister) was come; but I do not let her sit down at table
with me, which I do at first that she may not expect it hereafter from me.
After dinner I to Westminster by water, and there found my brother Spicer
at the Leg with all the rest of the Exchequer men (most of whom I now do
not know) at dinner. Here I staid and drank with them, and then to Mr.
George Montagu about the business of election, and he did give me a piece
in gold; so to my Lord's and got the chest of plate brought to the
Exchequer, and my brother Spicer put it into his treasury. So to Will's
with them to a pot of ale, and so parted. I took a turn in the Hall, and
bought the King and Chancellor's speeches at the dissolving the Parliament
last Saturday. So to my Lord's, and took my money I brought 'thither last
night and the silver candlesticks, and by coach left the latter at
Alderman Backwell's, I having no use for them, and the former home. There
stood a man at our door, when I carried it in, and saw me, which made me a
little afeard. Up to my chamber and wrote letters to Huntingdon and did
other business. This day I lent Sir W. Batten and Captn. Rider my chine
of beef for to serve at dinner tomorrow at Trinity House, the Duke of
Albemarle being to be there and all the rest of the Brethren, it being a
great day for the reading over of their new Charter, which the King hath
newly given them.
3d. Early in the morning to the Exchequer, where I told over what money I
had of my Lord's and my own there, which I found to be L970. Thence to
Will's, where Spicer and I eat our dinner of a roasted leg of pork which
Will did give us, and after that to the Theatre, where was acted "Beggars'
Bush," it being very well done; and here the first time that ever I saw
women come upon the stage.
[Downes does not give the cast of this play. After the Restoration
the acting of female characters by women became common. The first
English professional actress was Mrs. Coleman, who acted Ianthe in
Davenant's "Siege of Rhodes," at Rutland House in 1656.]
From thence to my father's, where I found my mother gone by Bird, the
carrier, to Brampton, upon my uncle's great desire, my aunt being now in
despair of life. So home.
4th. Office all the morning, my wife and Pall being gone to my father's
to dress dinner for Mr. Honiwood, my mother being gone out of town. Dined
at home, and Mr. Moore with me, with whom I had been early this morning at
White Hall, at the Jewell Office,
[Several of the Jewel Office rolls are in the British Museum. They
recite all the sums of money given to the King, and the particulars
of all the plate distributed in his name, as well as gloves and
sweetmeats. The Museum possesses these rolls for the 4th, 9th,
18th, 30th, and 31st Eliz.; for the 13th Charles I.; and the 23rd,
24th, 26th, and 27th of Charles II.--B.]
to choose a piece of gilt plate for my Lord, in return of his offering to
the King (which it seems is usual at this time of year, and an Earl gives
twenty pieces in gold in a purse to the King). I chose a gilt tankard,
weighing 31 ounces and a half, and he is allowed 30; so I paid 12s. for
the ounce and half over what he is to have; but strange it was for me to
see what a company of small fees I was called upon by a great many to pay
there, which, I perceive, is the manner that courtiers do get their
estates. After dinner Mr. Moore and I to the Theatre, where was "The
Scornful Lady," acted very well, it being the first play that ever he saw.
Thence with him to drink a cup of ale at Hercules Pillars, and so parted.
I called to see my father, who told me by the way how Will and Mary Joyce
do live a strange life together, nothing but fighting, &c., so that
sometimes her father has a mind to have them divorced. Thence home.
5th. Home all the morning. Several people came to me about business,
among others the great Tom Fuller, who came to desire a kindness for a
friend of his, who hath a mind to go to Jamaica with these two ships that
are going, which I promised to do. So to Whitehall to my Lady, whom I
found at dinner and dined with her, and staid with her talking all the
afternoon, and thence walked to Westminster Hall. So to Will's, and drank
with Spicer, and thence by coach home, staying a little in Paul's
Churchyard, to bespeak Ogilby's AEsop's Fables and Tully's Officys to be
bound for me. So home and to bed.
6th (Lord's day). My wife and I to church this morning, and so home to
dinner to a boiled leg of mutton all alone. To church again, where,
before sermon, a long Psalm was set that lasted an hour, while the sexton
gathered his year's contribucion through the whole church. After sermon
home, and there I went to my chamber and wrote a letter to send to Mr.
Coventry, with a piece of plate along with it, which I do preserve among
my other letters. So to supper, and thence after prayers to bed.
7th. This morning, news was brought to me to my bedside, that there had
been a great stir in the City this night by the Fanatiques, who had been
up and killed six or seven men, but all are fled.
["A great rising in the city of the Fifth-monarchy men, which did
very much disturb the peace and liberty of the people, so that all
the train-bands arose in arms, both in London and Westminster, as
likewise all the king's guards; and most of the noblemen mounted,
and put all their servants on coach horses, for the defence of his
Majesty, and the peace of his kingdom."--Rugge's Diurnal. The
notorious Thomas Venner, the Fifth-monarchy man, a cooper and
preacher to a conventicle in Swan Alley, Coleman Street, with a
small following (about fifty in number) took arms on the 6th January
for the avowed purpose of establishing the Millennium. He was a
violent enthusiast, and persuaded his followers that they were
invulnerable. After exciting much alarm in the City, and
skirmishing with the Trained Bands, they marched to Caen Wood. They
were driven out by a party of guards, but again entered the City,
where they were overpowered by the Trained Bands. The men were
brought to trial and condemned; four, however, were acquitted and
two reprieved. The execution of some of these men is mentioned by
Pepys under date January 19th and 21st. "A Relation of the
Arraignment and Trial of those who made the late Rebellious
Insurrections in London, 1661," is reprinted in "Somers Tracts,"
vol. vii. (1812), p. 469.]
My Lord Mayor and the whole City had been in arms, above 40,000. To the
office, and after that to dinner, where my brother Tom came and dined with
me, and after dinner (leaving 12d. with the servants to buy a cake with at
night, this day being kept as Twelfth day) Tom and I and my wife to the
Theatre, and there saw "The Silent Woman." The first time that ever I did
see it, and it is an excellent play. Among other things here, Kinaston,
the boy; had the good turn to appear in three shapes: first, as a poor
woman in ordinary clothes, to please Morose; then in fine clothes, as a
gallant, and in them was clearly the prettiest woman in the whole house,
and lastly, as a man; and then likewise did appear the handsomest man in
the house. From thence by link to my cozen Stradwick's, where my father
and we and Dr. Pepys, Scott, and his wife, and one Mr. Ward and his; and
after a good supper, we had an excellent cake, where the mark for the
Queen was cut, and so there was two queens, my wife and Mrs. Ward; and the
King being lost, they chose the Doctor to be King, so we made him send for
some wine, and then home, and in our way home we were in many places
strictly examined, more than in the worst of times, there being great
fears of these Fanatiques rising again: for the present I do not hear that
any of them are taken. Home, it being a clear moonshine and after 12
o'clock at night. Being come home we found that my people had been very
merry, and my wife tells me afterwards that she had heard that they had
got young Davis and some other neighbours with them to be merry, but no
harm.
8th. My wife and I lay very long in bed to-day talking and pleasing one
another in discourse. Being up, Mr. Warren came, and he and I agreed for
the deals that my Lord is to, have. Then Will and I to Westminster, where
I dined with my Lady. After dinner I took my Lord Hinchinbroke and Mr.
Sidney to the Theatre, and shewed them "The Widdow," an indifferent good
play, but wronged by the women being to seek in their parts. That being
done, my Lord's coach waited for us, and so back to my Lady's, where she
made me drink of some Florence wine, and did give me two bottles for my
wife. From thence walked to my cozen Stradwick's, and there chose a small
banquet and some other things against our entertainment on Thursday next.
Thence to Tom Pepys and bought a dozen of trenchers, and so home. Some
talk to-day of a head of Fanatiques that do appear about Barnett, but I do
not believe it. However, my Lord Mayor, Sir Richd. Browne, hath carried
himself very honourably, and hath caused one of their meeting-houses in
London to be pulled down.
9th. Waked in the morning about six o'clock, by people running up and
down in Mr. Davis's house, talking that the Fanatiques were up in arms in
the City. And so I rose and went forth; where in the street I found every
body in arms at the doors. So I returned (though with no good courage at
all, but that I might not seem to be afeared), and got my sword and
pistol, which, however, I had no powder to charge; and went to the door,
where I found Sir R. Ford, and with him I walked up and down as far as the
Exchange, and there I left him. In our way, the streets full of
Train-band, and great stories, what mischief these rogues have done; and I
think near a dozen have been killed this morning on both sides. Seeing the
city in this condition, the shops shut, and all things in trouble, I went
home and sat, it being office day, till noon. So home, and dined at home,
my father with me, and after dinner he would needs have me go to my uncle
Wight's (where I have been so long absent that I am ashamed to go). I
found him at home and his wife, and I can see they have taken my absence
ill, but all things are past and we good friends, and here I sat with my
aunt till it was late, my uncle going forth about business. My aunt being
very fearful to be alone. So home to my lute till late, and then to bed,
there being strict guards all night in the City, though most of the
enemies, they say, are killed or taken. This morning my wife and Pall
went forth early, and I staid within.
10th. There comes Mr. Hawley to me and brings me my money for the quarter
of a year's salary of my place under Downing that I was at sea. So I did
give him half, whereof he did in his nobleness give the odd 5s, to my
Jane. So we both went forth (calling first to see how Sir W. Pen do, whom
I found very ill), and at the Hoop by the bridge we drank two pints of
wormwood and sack. Talking of his wooing afresh of Mrs. Lane, and of his
going to serve the Bishop of London. Thence by water to Whitehall, and
found my wife at Mrs. Hunt's. Leaving her to dine there, I went and dined
with my Lady, and staid to talk a while with her. After dinner Will.
comes to tell me that he had presented my piece of plate to Mr. Coventry,
who takes it very kindly, and sends me a very kind letter, and the plate
back again; of which my heart is very glad. So to Mrs. Hunt, where I
found a Frenchman, a lodger of hers, at dinner, and just as I came in was
kissing my wife, which I did not like, though there could not be any hurt
in it. Thence by coach to my Uncle Wight's with my wife, but they being
out of doors we went home, where, after I had put some papers in order and
entered some letters in my book which I have a mind to keep, I went with
my wife to see Sir W. Pen, who we found ill still, but he do make very
much of it. Here we sat a great while, at last comes in Mr. Davis and his
lady (who takes it very ill that my wife never did go to see her), and so
we fell to talk. Among other things Mr. Davis told us the particular
examinations of these Fanatiques that are taken: and in short it is this,
of all these Fanatiques that have done all this, viz., routed all the
Trainbands that they met with, put the King's life-guards to the run,
killed about twenty men, broke through the City gates twice; and all this
in the day-time, when all the City was in arms; are not in all about 31.
Whereas we did believe them (because they were seen up and down in every
place almost in the City, and had been about Highgate two or three days,
and in several other places) to be at least 500. A thing that never was
heard of, that so few men should dare and do so much mischief. Their word
was, "The King Jesus, and the heads upon the gates." Few of them would
receive any quarter, but such as were taken by force and kept alive;
expecting Jesus to come here and reign in the world presently, and will
not believe yet but their work will be carried on though they do die. The
King this day came to town.
11th. Office day. This day comes news, by letters from Portsmouth, that
the Princess Henrietta is fallen sick of the meazles on board the London,
after the Queen and she was under sail. And so was forced to come back
again into Portsmouth harbour; and in their way, by negligence of the
pilot, run upon the Horse sand. The Queen and she continue aboard, and do
not intend to come on shore till she sees what will become of the young
Princess. This news do make people think something indeed, that three of
the Royal Family should fall sick of the same disease, one after another.
This morning likewise, we had order to see guards set in all the King's
yards; and so we do appoint who and who should go to them. Sir Wm. Batten
to Chatham, Colonel Slingsby and I to Deptford and Woolwich. Portsmouth
being a garrison, needs none. Dined at home, discontented that my wife do
not go neater now she has two maids. After dinner comes in Kate Sterpin
(whom we had not seen a great while) and her husband to see us, with whom
I staid a while, and then to the office, and left them with my wife. At
night walked to Paul's Churchyard, and bespoke some books against next
week, and from thence to the Coffeehouse, where I met Captain Morrice, the
upholster, who would fain have lent me a horse to-night to have rid with
him upon the Cityguards, with the Lord Mayor, there being some new
expectations of these rogues; but I refused by reason of my going out of
town tomorrow. So home to bed.
12th. With Colonel Slingsby and a friend of his, Major Waters (a deaf and
most amorous melancholy gentleman, who is under a despayr in love, as the
Colonel told me, which makes him bad company, though a most good-natured
man), by water to Redriffe, and so on foot to Deptford (our servants by
water), where we fell to choosing four captains to command the guards, and
choosing the places where to keep them, and other things in order
thereunto. We dined at the Globe, having our messenger with us to take
care for us. Never till now did I see the great authority of my place,
all the captains of the fleet coming cap in hand to us. Having staid very
late there talking with the Colonel, I went home with Mr. Davis,
storekeeper (whose wife is ill and so I could not see her), and was there
most prince-like lodged, with so much respect and honour that I was at a
loss how to behave myself.
13th. In the morning we all went to church, and sat in the pew belonging
to us, where a cold sermon of a young man that never had preached before.
Here Commissioner came with his wife and daughters, the eldest being his
wife's daughter is a very comely black woman.--[The old expression for a
brunette.]--So to the Globe to dinner, and then with Commissioner Pett to
his lodgings there (which he hath for the present while he is building the
King's yacht, which will be a pretty thing, and much beyond the
Dutchman's), and from thence with him and his wife and daughter-in-law by
coach to Greenwich Church, where a good sermon, a fine church, and a great
company of handsome women. After sermon to Deptford again; where, at the
Commissioner's and the Globe, we staid long. And so I to Mr. Davis's to
bed again. But no sooner in bed, but we had an alarm, and so we rose: and
the Comptroller comes into the Yard to us; and seamen of all the ships
present repair to us, and there we armed with every one a handspike, with
which they were as fierce as could be. At last we hear that it was only
five or six men that did ride through the guard in the town, without
stopping to the guard that was there; and, some say, shot at them. But
all being quiet there, we caused the seamen to go on board again: And so
we all to bed (after I had sat awhile with Mr. Davis in his study, which
is filled with good books and some very good song books) I likewise to
bed.
14th. The arms being come this morning from the Tower, we caused them to
be distributed. I spent much time walking with Lieutenant Lambert,
walking up and down the yards, who did give me much light into things
there, and so went along with me and dined with us. After dinner Mrs.
Pett, her husband being gone this morning with Sir W. Batten to Chatham,
lent us her coach, and carried us to Woolwich, where we did also dispose
of the arms there and settle the guards. So to Mr. Pett's, the
shipwright, and there supped, where he did treat us very handsomely (and
strange it is to see what neat houses all the officers of the King's yards
have), his wife a proper woman, and has been handsome, and yet has a very
pretty hand. Thence I with Mr. Ackworth to his house, where he has a very
pretty house, and a very proper lovely woman to his wife, who both sat
with me in my chamber, and they being gone, I went to bed, which was also
most neat and fine.
15th. Up and down the yard all the morning and seeing the seamen
exercise, which they do already very handsomely. Then to dinner at Mr.
Ackworth's, where there also dined with us one Captain Bethell, a friend
of the Comptroller's. A good dinner and very handsome. After that and
taking our leaves of the officers of the yard, we walked to the waterside
and in our way walked into the rope-yard, where I do look into the
tar-houses and other places, and took great notice of all the several
works belonging to the making of a cable. So after a cup of burnt
wine--[Burnt wine was somewhat similar to mulled wine, and a favourite
drink]--at the tavern there, we took barge and went to Blackwall and
viewed the dock and the new Wet dock, which is newly made there, and a
brave new merchantman which is to be launched shortly, and they say to be
called the Royal Oak. Hence we walked to Dick-Shore, and thence to the
Towre and so home. Where I found my wife and Pall abroad, so I went to see
Sir W. Pen, and there found Mr. Coventry come to see him, and now had an
opportunity to thank him, and he did express much kindness to me. I sat a
great while with Sir Wm. after he was gone, and had much talk with him. I
perceive none of our officers care much for one another, but I do keep in
with them all as much as I can. Sir W. Pen is still very ill as when I
went. Home, where my wife not yet come home, so I went up to put my papers
in order, and then was much troubled my wife was not come, it being 10
o'clock just now striking as I write this last line. This day I hear the
Princess is recovered again. The King hath been this afternoon at
Deptford, to see the yacht that Commissioner Pett is building, which will
be very pretty; as also that that his brother at Woolwich is in making. By
and by comes in my boy and tells me that his mistress do lie this night at
Mrs. Hunt's, who is very ill, with which being something satisfied, I went
to bed.