Book: Diary of Samuel Pepys, January/February 1661/62
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Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, January/February 1661/62
23rd. All the morning with Mr. Berkenshaw, and after him Mr. Moore in
discourse of business, and in the afternoon by coach by invitacon to my
uncle Fenner's, where I found his new wife, a pitiful, old, ugly, illbred
woman in a hatt, a midwife. Here were many of his, and as many of her
relations, sorry, mean people; and after choosing our gloves, we all went
over to the Three Crane Tavern,' and though the best room in the house, in
such a narrow dogg-hole we were crammed, and I believe we were near forty,
that it made me loathe my company and victuals; and a sorry poor dinner it
was too. After dinner, I took aside the two Joyce's, and took occasion to
thank them for their kind thoughts for a wife for Tom: but that
considering the possibility there is of my having no child, and what then
I shall be able to leave him, I do think he may expect in that respect a
wife with more money, and so desired them to think no more of it. Now the
jest was Anthony mistakes and thinks that I did all this while encourage
him (from my thoughts of favour to Tom) to pursue the match till Will
Joyce tells him that he was mistaken. But how he takes it I know not, but
I endeavoured to tell it him in the most respectful way that I could.
This done with my wife by coach to my aunt Wight's, where I left her, and
I to the office, and that being done to her again, and sat playing at
cards after supper till 12 at night, and so by moonshine home and to bed.
24th. This morning came my cozen Thos. Pepys the Executor, to speak with
me, and I had much talk with him both about matters of money which my Lord
Sandwich has of his and I am bond for, as also of my uncle Thomas, who I
hear by him do stand upon very high terms. Thence to my painter's, and
there I saw our pictures in the frames, which please me well. Thence to
the Wardrobe, where very merry with my Lady, and after dinner I seat for
the pictures thither, and mine is well liked; but she is much offended
with my wife's, and I am of her opinion, that it do much wrong her; but I
will have it altered. So home, in my way calling at Pope's Head alley,
and there bought me a pair of scissars and a brass square. So home and to
my study and to bed.
25th. At home and the office all the morning. Walking in the garden to
give the gardener directions what to do this year (for I intend to have
the garden handsome), Sir W. Pen came to me, and did break a business to
me about removing his son from Oxford to Cambridge to some private
college. I proposed Magdalene, but cannot name a tutor at present; but I
shall think and write about it. Thence with him to the Trinity-house to
dinner; where Sir Richard Brown (one of the clerks of the Council, and who
is much concerned against Sir N. Crisp's project of making a great sasse
[A kind of weir with flood-gate, or a navigable sluice. This
project is mentioned by Evelyn, January 16th, 1661-62, and Lysons'
"Environs" vol. iv., p. 392.--B.]
in the King's lands about Deptford, to be a wett-dock to hold 200 sail of
ships. But the ground, it seems, was long since given by the King to Sir
Richard) was, and after the Trinity-house men had done their business, the
master, Sir William Rider, came to bid us welcome; and so to dinner, where
good cheer and discourse, but I eat a little too much beef, which made me
sick, and so after dinner we went to the office, and there in a garden I
went in the dark and vomited, whereby I did much ease my stomach. Thence
to supper with my wife to Sir W. Pen's, his daughter being come home
to-day, not being very well, and so while we were at supper comes Mr.
Moore with letters from my Lord Sandwich, speaking of his lying still at
Tangier, looking for the fleet; which, we hope, is now in a good way
thither. So home to write letters by the post to-night, and then again to
Sir W. Pen's to cards, where very merry, and so home and to bed.
26th (Lord's day). To church in the morning, and then home to dinner
alone with my wife, and so both to church in the afternoon and home again,
and so to read and talk with my wife, and to supper and to bed. It having
been a very fine clear frosty day-God send us more of them!--for the warm
weather all this winter makes us fear a sick summer. But thanks be to
God, since my leaving drinking of wine, I do find myself much better and
do mind my business better, and do spend less money, and less time lost in
idle company.
27th. This morning, both Sir Williams and I by barge to Deptford-yard to
give orders in businesses there; and called on several ships, also to give
orders, and so to Woolwich, and there dined at Mr. Falconer's of victuals
we carried ourselves, and one Mr. Dekins, the father of my Morena, of whom
we have lately bought some hemp. That being done we went home again.
This morning, going to take water upon Tower-hill, we met with three
sleddes standing there to carry my Lord Monson and Sir H. Mildmay and
another, to the gallows and back again, with ropes about their necks;
which is to be repeated every year, this being the day of their sentencing
the King.
28th. This morning (after my musique practice with Mr. Berkenshaw) with
my wife to the Paynter's, where we staid very late to have her picture
mended, which at last is come to be very like her, and I think well done;
but the Paynter, though a very honest man, I found to be very silly as to
matter of skill in shadows, for we were long in discourse, till I was
almost angry to hear him talk so simply. So home to dinner and then to
the office, and so home for all night.
29th. To Westminster, and at the Parliament door spoke with Mr. Coventry
about business, and so to the Wardrobe to dinner, and thence to several
places, and so home, where I found Mrs. Pen and Mrs. Rooth and Smith, who
played at cards with my wife, and I did give them a barrel of oysters, and
had a pullet to supper for them, and when it was ready to come to table,
the foolish girl had not the manners to stay and sup with me, but went
away, which did vex me cruelly. So I saw her home, and then to supper,
and so to musique practice, and to bed.
30th. Fast-day for the murthering of the late King. I went to church,
and Mr. Mills made a good sermon upon David's words, "Who can lay his
hands upon the Lord's Anoynted and be guiltless?" So home and to dinner,
and employed all the afternoon in my chamber, setting things and papers to
rights, which pleased me very well, and I think I shall begin to take
pleasure in being at home and minding my business. I pray God I may, for
I find a great need thereof. At night to supper and to bed.
31st. All the morning, after musique practice, in my cellar, ordering
some alteracons therein, being much pleased with my new door into the back
yard. So to dinner, and all the afternoon thinking upon business. I did
by night set many things in order, which pleased me well, and puts me upon
a resolution of keeping within doors and minding my business and the
business of the office, which I pray God I may put in practice. At night
to bed.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
FEBRUARY
1661-1962
February 1st. This morning within till 11 o'clock, and then with
Commissioner Pett to the office; and he staid there writing, while I and
Sir W. Pen walked in the garden talking about his business of putting his
son to Cambridge; and to that end I intend to write to-night to Dr.
Fairebrother, to give me an account of Mr. Burton of Magdalene. Thence
with Mr. Pett to the Paynter's; and he likes our pictures very well, and
so do I. Thence he and I to the Countess of Sandwich, to lead him to her
to kiss her hands: and dined with her, and told her the news (which Sir W.
Pen told me to-day) that express is come from my Lord with letters, that
by a great storm and tempest the mole of Argier is broken down, and many
of their ships sunk into the mole. So that God Almighty hath now ended
that unlucky business for us; which is very good news. After dinner to
the office, where we staid late, and so I home, and late writing letters
to my father and Dr. Fairebrother, and an angry letter to my brother John
for not writing to me, and so to bed.
2nd (Lord's day). To church in the morning, and then home and dined with
my wife, and so both of us to church again, where we had an Oxford man
give us a most impertinent sermon upon "Cast your bread upon the waters,
&c. So home to read, supper, and to prayers, and then to bed.
3rd. After musique practice I went to the office, and there with the two
Sir Williams all the morning about business, and at noon I dined with Sir
W. Batten with many friends more, it being his wedding-day, and among
other froliques, it being their third year, they had three pyes, whereof
the middlemost was made of an ovall form, in an ovall hole within the
other two, which made much mirth, and was called the middle piece; and
above all the rest, we had great striving to steal a spooneful out of it;
and I remember Mrs. Mills, the minister's wife, did steal one for me and
did give it me; and to end all, Mrs. Shippman did fill the pye full of
white wine, it holding at least a pint and a half, and did drink it off
for a health to Sir William and my Lady, it being the greatest draft that
ever I did see a woman drink in my life. Before we had dined came Sir G.
Carteret, and we went all three to the office and did business there till
night, and then to Sir W. Batten again, and I went along with my lady and
the rest of the gentlewomen to Major Holmes's, and there we had a fine
supper, among others, excellent lobsters, which I never eat at this time
of the year before. The Major bath good lodgings at the Trinity House.
Here we staid, and at last home, and, being in my chamber, we do hear
great noise of mirth at Sir William Batten's, tearing the ribbands from my
Lady and him.--[As if they were a newly-married couple.]--So I to bed.
4th. To Westminster Hall, where it was full term. Here all the morning,
and at noon to my Lord Crew's, where one Mr. Tempter (an ingenious man and
a person of honour he seems to be) dined; and, discoursing of the nature
of serpents, he told us some that in the waste places of Lancashire do
grow to a great bigness, and that do feed upon larks, which they take
thus: They observe when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl
till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves
with their mouths uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject
poyson up to the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its
course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent;
which is very strange. He is a great traveller; and, speaking of the
tarantula, he says that all the harvest long (about which times they are
most busy) there are fidlers go up and down the fields every where, in
expectation of being hired by those that are stung. Thence to the office,
where late, and so to my chamber and then to bed, my mind a little
troubled how to put things in order to my advantage in the office in
readiness to the Duke's orders lately sent to us, and of which we are to
treat at the office to-morrow morning. This afternoon, going into the
office, one met me and did serve a subpoena upon me for one Field, whom we
did commit to prison the other day for some ill words he did give the
office. The like he had for others, but we shall scour him for it.
5th. Early at the office. Sir G. Carteret, the two Sir Williams and
myself all alone reading of the Duke's institutions for the settlement of
our office, whereof we read as much as concerns our own duties, and left
the other officers for another time. I did move several things for my
purpose, and did ease my mind. At noon Sir W. Pen dined with me, and
after dinner he and I and my wife to the Theatre, and went in, but being
very early we went out again to the next door, and drank some Rhenish wine
and sugar, and so to the House again, and there saw "Rule a Wife and have
a Wife" very well done. And here also I did look long upon my Lady
Castlemaine, who, notwithstanding her late sickness, continues a great
beauty. Home and supped with Sir W. Pen and played at cards with him, and
so home and to bed, putting some cataplasm to my . . . . which begins
to swell again.
6th. At my musique practice, and so into my cellar to my workmen, and I
am very much pleased with my alteracon there. About noon comes my uncle
Thomas to me to ask for his annuity, and I did tell him my mind freely. We
had some high words, but I was willing to end all in peace, and so I made
him' dine with me, and I have hopes to work my end upon him. After dinner
the barber trimmed me, and so to the office, where I do begin to be exact
in my duty there and exacting my privileges, and shall continue to do so.
None but Sir W. Batten and me here to-night, and so we broke up early, and
I home and to my chamber to put things in order, and so to bed. My
swelling I think do begin to go away again.
7th. Among my workmen this morning. By and by by water to Westminster
with Commissioner Pett (landing my wife at Black Friars) where I hear the
prisoners in the Tower that are to die are come to the Parliament-house
this morning. To the Wardrobe to dinner with my Lady; where a civitt cat,
parrot, apes, and many other things are come from my Lord by Captain Hill,
who dined with my Lady with us to-day. Thence to the Paynter's, and am
well pleased with our pictures. So by coach home, where I found the
joyners putting up my chimney-piece in the dining-room, which pleases me
well, only the frame for a picture they have made so massy and heavy that
I cannot tell what to do with it. This evening came my she cozen Porter
to see us (the first time that we had seen her since we came to this end
of the town) and after her Mr. Hart, who both staid with us a pretty while
and so went away. By and by, hearing that Mr. Turner was much troubled at
what I do in the office, and do give ill words to Sir W. Pen and others of
me, I am much troubled in my mind, and so went to bed; not that I fear him
at all, but the natural aptness I have to be troubled at any thing that
crosses me.
8th. All the morning in the cellar with the colliers, removing the coles
out of the old cole hole into the new one, which cost me 8s. the doing;
but now the cellar is done and made clean, it do please me exceedingly, as
much as any thing that was ever yet done to my house. I pray God keep me
from setting my mind too much upon it. About 3 o'clock the colliers
having done I went up to dinner (my wife having often urged me to come,
but my mind is so set upon these things that I cannot but be with the
workmen to see things done to my mind, which if I am not there is seldom
done), and so to the office, and thence to talk with Sir W. Pen, walking
in the dark in the garden some turns, he telling me of the ill management
of our office, and how Wood the timber merchant and others were very
knaves, which I am apt to believe. Home and wrote letters to my father
and my brother John, and so to bed. Being a little chillish, intending to
take physique to-morrow morning.
9th (Lord's day). I took physique this day, and was all day in my
chamber, talking with my wife about her laying out of L20, which I had
long since promised her to lay out in clothes against Easter for herself,
and composing some ayres, God forgive me! At night to prayers and to bed.
10th. Musique practice a good while, then to Paul's Churchyard, and there
I met with Dr. Fuller's "England's Worthys," the first time that I ever
saw it; and so I sat down reading in it, till it was two o'clock before I,
thought of the time going, and so I rose and went home to dinner, being
much troubled that (though he had some discourse with me about my family
and arms) he says nothing at all, nor mentions us either in Cambridgeshire
or Norfolk. But I believe, indeed, our family were never considerable.
At home all the afternoon, and at night to bed.
11th. Musique, then my brother Tom came, and spoke to him about selling
of Sturtlow, he consents to, and I think will be the best for him,
considering that he needs money, and has no mind to marry. Dined at home,
and at the office in the afternoon. So home to musique, my mind being
full of our alteracons in the garden, and my getting of things in the
office settled to the advantage of my clerks, which I found Mr. Turner
much troubled at, and myself am not quiet in mind. But I hope by degrees
to bring it to it. At night begun to compose songs, and begin with "Gaze
not on Swans." So to bed.
12th. This morning, till four in the afternoon, I spent abroad, doing of
many and considerable businesses at Mr. Phillips the lawyer, with Prior,
Westminster, my Lord Crew's, Wardrobe, &c., and so home about the time of
day to dinner with my mind very highly contented with my day's work,
wishing I could do so every day. Then to my chamber drawing up writings,
in expectation of my uncle Thomas corning. So to my musique and then to
bed. This night I had half a 100 poor Jack--[The "poor john" is a hake
salted and dried. It is frequently referred to in old authors as poor
fare.]--sent me by Mr. Adis.
13th. After musique comes my cozen Tom Pepys the executor, and he did
stay with me above two hours discoursing about the difference between my
uncle Thomas and me, and what way there may be to make it up, and I have
hopes we may do good of it for all this. Then to dinner, and then came
Mr. Kennard, and he and I and Sir W. Pen went up and down his house to
view what may be the contrivance and alterations there to the best
advantage. So home, where Mr. Blackburne (whom I have not seen a long
time) was come to speak with me, and among other discourse he do tell me
plain of the corruption of all our Treasurer's officers, and that they
hardly pay any money under ten per cent.; and that the other day, for a
mere assignation of L200 to some counties, they took L15 which is very
strange. So to the office till night, and then home and to write by the
post about many businesses, and so to bed. Last night died the Queen of
Bohemia.
14th (Valentine's day). I did this day purposely shun to be seen at Sir
W. Batten's, because I would not have his daughter to be my Valentine, as
she was the last year, there being no great friendship between us now, as
formerly. This morning in comes W. Bowyer, who was my wife's Valentine,
she having, at which I made good sport to myself, held her hands all the
morning, that she might not see the paynters that were at work in gilding
my chimney-piece and pictures in my diningroom. By and by she and I by
coach with him to Westminster, by the way leaving at Tom's and my wife's
father's lodgings each of them some poor Jack, and some she carried to my
father Bowyer's, where she staid while I walked in the Hall, and there
among others met with Serj'. Pierce, and I took him aside to drink a cup
of ale, and he told me the basest thing of Mr. Montagu's and his man
Eschar's going away in debt, that I am troubled and ashamed, but glad to
be informed of. He thinks he has left L1000 for my Lord to pay, and that
he has not laid out L3,000 Out of the L5,000 for my Lord's use, and is not
able to make an account of any of the money. My wife and I to dinner to
the Wardrobe, and then to talk with my Lady, and so by coach, it raining
hard, home, and so to do business and to bed.
15th. With the two Sir Williams to the Trinity-house; and there in their
society had the business debated of Sir Nicholas Crisp's sasse at
Deptford. Then to dinner, and after dinner I was sworn a Younger Brother;
Sir W. Rider being Deputy Master for my Lord of Sandwich; and after I was
sworn, all the Elder Brothers shake me by the hand: it is their custom, it
seems. Hence to the office, and so to Sir Wm. Batten's all three, and
there we staid till late talking together in complaint of the Treasurer's
instruments. Above all Mr. Waith, at whose child's christening our wives
and we should have been to-day, but none of them went and I am glad of it,
for he is a very rogue, So home, and drew up our report for Sir N.
Crispe's sasse, and so to bed. No news yet of our fleet gone to Tangier,
which we now begin to think long.
16th (Lord's day). To church this morning, and so home and to dinner. In
the afternoon I walked to St. Bride's to church, to hear Dr. Jacomb preach
upon the recovery, and at the request of Mrs. Turner, who came abroad this
day, the first time since her long sickness. He preached upon David's
words, "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord," and
made a pretty good sermon, though not extraordinary. After sermon I led
her home, and sat with her, and there was the Dr. got before us; but
strange what a command he hath got over Mrs. Turner, who was so carefull
to get him what he would, after his preaching, to drink, and he, with a
cunning gravity, knows how to command, and had it, and among other things
told us that he heard more of the Common Prayer this afternoon (while he
stood in the vestry, before he went up into the pulpitt) than he had heard
this twenty years. Thence to my uncle Wight to meet my wife, and with
other friends of hers and his met by chance we were very merry, and
supped, and so home, not being very well through my usual pain got by
cold. So to prayers and to bed, and there had a good draft of mulled ale
brought me.
17th. This morning, both Sir Williams, myself, and Captain Cocke and
Captain Tinker of the Convertine, which we are going to look upon (being
intended to go with these ships fitting for the East Indys), down to
Deptford; and thence, after being on shipboard, to Woolwich, and there eat
something. The Sir Williams being unwilling to eat flesh,
[In Lent, of which the observance, intermitted for nineteen years,
was now reviving. We have seen that Pepys, as yet, had not cast off
all show of Puritanism. "In this month the Fishmongers' Company
petitioned the King that Lent might be kept, because they had
provided abundance of fish for this season, and their prayer was
granted."--Rugge.--B.]
Captain Cocke and I had a breast of veal roasted. And here I drank wine
upon necessity, being ill for want of it, and I find reason to fear that
by my too sudden leaving off wine, I do contract many evils upon myself.
Going and coming we played at gleeke, and I won 9s. 6d. clear, the most
that ever I won in my life. I pray God it may not tempt me to play again.
Being come home again we went to the Dolphin, where Mr. Alcock and my Lady
and Mrs. Martha Batten came to us, and after them many others (as it
always is where Sir W. Batten goes), and there we had some pullets to
supper. I eat though I was not very well, and after that left them, and
so home and to bed.
18th. Lay long in bed, then up to the office (we having changed our days
to Tuesday and Saturday in the morning and Thursday at night), and by and
by with Sir W. Pen, Mr. Kennard, and others to survey his house again, and
to contrive for the alterations there, which will be handsome I think.
After we had done at the office, I walked to the Wardrobe, where with Mr.
Moore and Mr. Lewis Phillips after dinner we did agree upon the agreement
between us and Prior and I did seal and sign it. Having agreed with Sir
Wm. Pen and my wife to meet them at the Opera, and finding by my walking
in the streets, which were every where full of brick-battes and tyles
flung down by the extraordinary wind the last night (such as hath not been
in memory before, unless at the death of the late Protector), that it was
dangerous to go out of doors; and hearing how several persons had been
killed to-day by the fall of things in the streets, and that the pageant
in Fleetstreet is most of it blown down, and hath broke down part of
several houses, among others Dick Brigden's; and that one Lady Sanderson,
a person of quality in Covent Garden, was killed by the fall of the house,
in her bed, last night; I sent my boy home to forbid them to go forth.
But he bringing me word that they are gone, I went thither and there saw
"The Law against Lovers," a good play and well performed, especially the
little girl's (whom I never saw act before) dancing and singing; and were
it not for her, the loss of Roxalana would spoil the house. So home and
to musique, and so to bed.
19th. Musique practice: thence to the Trinity House to conclude upon our
report of Sir N. Crisp's project, who came to us to answer objections, but
we did give him no ear, but are resolved to stand to our report; though I
could wish we had shewn him more justice and had heard him. Thence to the
Wardrobe and dined with my Lady, and talked after dinner as I used to do,
and so home and up to my chamber to put things in order to my good
content, and so to musique practice.
20th. This morning came Mr. Child to see me, and set me something to my
Theorbo, and by and by come letters from Tangier from my Lord, telling me
how, upon a great defete given to the Portuguese there by the Moors, he
had put in 300 men into the town, and so he is in possession, of which we
are very glad, because now the Spaniard's designs of hindering our getting
the place are frustrated. I went with the letter inclosed to my Lord
Chancellor to the House of Lords, and did give it him in the House. And
thence to the Wardrobe with my Lady's, and there could not stay dinner,
but went by promise to Mr. Savill's, and there sat the first time for my
picture in little, which pleaseth me well. So to the office till night
and then home.