Book: Diary of Samuel Pepys, July/August 1663

S >> Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, July/August 1663




[Pepys may here refer either to Essay XLI. (of Fortune) or to a
chapter' in the "Advancement of Learning." The sentence, "Faber
quisque fortunae propria," said to be by Appius Claudian, is quoted
more than once in the "De Augmentis Scientiarum," lib. viii., cap.
2.]

which the oftener I read the more I admire. There found Captain Cocke,
and up and down to many places to look after matters, and so walked back
again with him to his house, and there dined very finely. With much ado
obtained an excuse from drinking of wine, and did only taste a drop of
Sack which he had for his lady, who is, he fears, a little consumptive,
and her beauty begins to want its colour. It was Malago Sack, which, he
says, is certainly 30 years old, and I tasted a drop of it, and it was
excellent wine, like a spirit rather than wine. Thence by water to the
office, and taking some papers by water to White Hall and St. James's, but
there being no meeting with the Duke to-day, I returned by water and down
to Greenwich, to look after some blocks that I saw a load carried off by a
cart from Woolwich, the King's Yard. But I could not find them, and so
returned, and being heartily weary I made haste to bed, and being in bed
made Will read and construe three or four Latin verses in the Bible, and
chide him for forgetting his grammar. So to sleep, and sleep ill all the
night, being so weary, and feverish with it.

21st. And so lay long in the morning, till I heard people knock at my
door, and I took it to be about 8 o'clock (but afterwards found myself a
little mistaken), and so I rose and ranted at Will and the maid, and swore
I could find my heart to kick them down stairs, which the maid mumbled at
mightily. It was my brother, who staid and talked with me, his chief
business being about his going about to build his house new at the top,
which will be a great charge for him, and above his judgment. By and by
comes Mr. Deane, of Woolwich, with his draught of a ship, and the bend and
main lines in the body of a ship very finely, and which do please me
mightily, and so am resolved to study hard, and learn of him to understand
a body, and I find him a very pretty fellow in it, and rational, but a
little conceited, but that's no matter to me. At noon, by my Lady
Batten's desire, I went over the water to Mr. Castle's, who brings his
wife home to his own house to-day, where I found a great many good old
women, and my Lady, Sir W. Batten, and Sir J. Minnes. A good, handsome,
plain dinner, and then walked in the garden; which is pleasant enough,
more than I expected there, and so Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and I by
water to the office, and there sat, and then I by water to the Temple
about my law business, and back again home and wrote letters to my father
and wife about my desire that they should observe the feast at Brampton,
and have my Lady and the family, and so home to supper and bed, my head
aching all the day from my last night's bad rest, and yesterday's
distempering myself with over walking, and to-day knocking my head against
a low door in Mr. Castle's house. This day the Parliament kept a fast for
the present unseasonable weather.

22nd. Up, and by and by comes my uncle Thomas, to whom I paid L10 for his
last half year's annuity, and did get his and his son's hand and seal for
the confirming to us Piggott's mortgage, which was forgot to be expressed
in our late agreement with him, though intended, and therefore they might
have cavilled at it, if they would. Thence abroad calling at several
places upon some errands, among others to my brother Tom's barber and had
my hair cut, while his boy played on the viallin, a plain boy, but has a
very good genius, and understands the book very well, but to see what a
shift he made for a string of red silk was very pleasant. Thence to my
Lord Crew's. My Lord not being come home, I met and staid below with
Captain Ferrers, who was come to wait upon my Lady Jemimah to St. James's,
she being one of the four ladies that hold up the mantle at the
christening this afternoon of the Duke's child (a boy). In discourse of
the ladies at Court, Captain Ferrers tells me that my Lady Castlemaine is
now as great again as ever she was; and that her going away was only a fit
of her own upon some slighting words of the King, so that she called for
her coach at a quarter of an hour's warning, and went to Richmond; and the
King the next morning, under pretence of going a-hunting, went to see her
and make friends, and never was a-hunting at all. After which she came
back to Court, and commands the King as much as ever, and hath and doth
what she will. No longer ago than last night, there was a private
entertainment made for the King and Queen at the Duke of Buckingham's, and
she: was not invited: but being at my Lady Suffolk's, her aunt's (where my
Lady Jemimah and Lord Sandwich dined) yesterday, she was heard to say,
"Well; much good may it do them, and for all that I will be as merry as
they:" and so she went home and caused a great supper to be prepared. And
after the King had been with the Queen at Wallingford House, he came to my
Lady Castlemaine's, and was there all night, and my Lord Sandwich with
him, which was the reason my Lord lay in town all night, which he has not
done a great while before. He tells me he believes that, as soon as the
King can get a husband for Mrs. Stewart however, my Lady Castlemaine's
nose will be out of joynt; for that she comes to be in great esteem, and
is more handsome than she. I found by his words that my Lord Sandwich
finds some pleasure in the country where he now is, whether he means one
of the daughters of the house or no I know not, but hope the contrary,
that he thinks he is very well pleased with staying there, but yet upon
breaking up of the Parliament, which the King by a message to-day says
shall be on Monday next, he resolves to go. Ned Pickering, the coxcomb,
notwithstanding all his hopes of my Lord's assistance, wherein I am sorry
to hear my Lord has much concerned himself, is defeated of the place he
expected under the Queen. He came hither by and by and brought some
jewells for my Lady Jem. to put on, with which and her other clothes she
looks passing well. I staid and dined with my Lord Crew, who whether he
was not so well pleased with me as he used to be, or that his head was
full of business, as I believe it was, he hardly spoke one word to me all
dinner time, we dining alone, only young Jack Crew, Sir Thomas's son, with
us. After dinner I bade him farewell. Sir Thomas I hear has gone this
morning ill to bed, so I had no mind to see him. Thence homewards, and in
the way first called at Wotton's, the shoemaker's, who tells me the reason
of Harris's' going from Sir Wm. Davenant's house, that he grew very proud
and demanded L20 for himself extraordinary, more than Betterton or any
body else, upon every new play, and L10 upon every revive; which with
other things Sir W. Davenant would not give him, and so he swore he would
never act there more, in expectation of being received in the other House;
but the King will not suffer it, upon Sir W. Davenant's desire that he
would not, for then he might shut up house, and that is true. He tells me
that his going is at present a great loss to the House, and that he fears
he hath a stipend from the other House privately. He tells the that the
fellow grew very proud of late, the King and every body else crying him up
so high, and that above Betterton, he being a more ayery man, as he is
indeed. But yet Betterton, he says, they all say do act: some parts that
none but himself can do. Thence to my bookseller's, and found my
Waggoners done. The very binding cost me 14s., but they are well done,
and so with a porter home with them, and so by water to Ratcliffe, and
there went to speak with Cumberford the platt-maker, and there saw his
manner of working, which is very fine and laborious. So down to Deptford,
reading Ben Jonson's "Devil is an asse," and so to see Sir W. Pen, who I
find walking out of doors a little, but could not stand long; but in doors
and I with him, and staid a great while talking, I taking a liberty to
tell him my thoughts in things of the office; that when he comes abroad
again, he may know what to think of me, and to value me as he ought.
Walked home as I used to do, and being weary, and after some discourse
with Mr. Barrow, who came to see and take his leave of me, he being
to-morrow to set out toward the Isle of Man, I went to bed. This day I
hear that the Moores have made some attaques upon the outworks of Tangier;
but my Lord Tiviott; with the loss of about 200 men, did beat them off,
and killed many of them. To-morrow the King and Queen for certain go down
to Tunbridge. But the King comes hack again against Monday to raise the
Parliament.

23rd. Up and to my office, and thence by information from, Mr. Ackworth I
went down to Woolwich, and mustered the three East India ships that lie
there, believing that there is great-juggling between the Pursers and
Clerks of the Cheque in cheating the King of the wages and victuals of men
that do not give attendance, and I found very few on board. So to the
yard, and there mustered the yard, and found many faults, and discharged
several fellows that were absent from their business. I staid also at Mr.
Ackworth's desire at dinner with him and his wife, and there was a simple
fellow, a gentleman I believe of the Court, their kinsmen, that threatened
me I could have little discourse or begin, acquaintance with Ackworth's
wife, and so after dinner away, with all haste home, and there found Sir
J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten at the office, and by Sir W. Batten's
testimony and Sir G. Carteret's concurrence was forced to consent to a
business of Captain Cocke's timber, as bad as anything we have lately
disputed about, and all through Mr. Coventry's not being with us. So up
and to supper with Sir W. Batten upon a soused mullett, very good meat,
and so home and to bed.

24th. Up pretty early (though of late I have been faulty by an hour or
two every morning of what I should do) and by water to the Temple, and
there took leave of my cozen Roger Pepys, who goes out of town to-day. So
to Westminster Hall, and there at Mrs. Michell's shop sent for beer and
sugar and drink, and made great cheer with it among her and Mrs. Howlett,
her neighbour, and their daughters, especially Mrs. Howlett's daughter,
Betty, which is a pretty girl, and one I have long called wife, being, I
formerly thought, like my own wife. After this good neighbourhood, which
I do to give them occasion of speaking well and commending me in some
company that now and then I know comes to their shop, I went to the Six
clerks' office, and there had a writ for Tom Trice, and paid 20s. for it
to Wilkinson, and so up and down to many places, among others to the viall
maker's, and there saw the head, which now pleases me mightily, and so
home, and being sent for presently to Mr. Bland's, where Mr. Povy and
Gauden and I were invited to dinner, which we had very finely and great
plenty, but for drink, though many and good, I drank nothing but small
beer and water, which I drank so much that I wish it may not do me hurt.
They had a kinswoman, they call daughter, in the house, a short, ugly,
red-haired slut, that plays upon the virginalls, and sings, but after such
a country manner I was weary of it, but yet could not but commend it. So
by and by after dinner comes Monsr. Gotier, who is beginning to teach her,
but, Lord! what a droll fellow it is to make her hold open her mouth, and
telling this and that so drolly would make a man burst, but himself I
perceive sings very well. Anon we sat dawn again to a collacon of
cheesecakes, tarts, custards, and such like, very handsome, and so up and
away home, where I at the office a while, till disturbed by, Mr. Hill, of
Cambridge, with whom I walked in the garden a while, and thence home and
then in my dining room walked, talking of several matters of state till 11
at night, giving him a glass of wine. I was not unwilling to hear him
talk, though he is full of words, yet a man of large conversation,
especially among the Presbyters and Independents; he tells me that
certainly, let the Bishops alone, and they will ruin themselves, and he is
confident that the King's declaration about two years since will be the
foundation of the settlement of the Church some time or other, for the
King will find it hard to banish all those that will appear Nonconformists
upon this Act that is coming out against them. He being gone, I to bed.

25th. Up and to my office setting papers in order for these two or three
days, in which I have been hindered a little, and then having intended
this day to go to Banstead Downs to see a famous race, I sent Will to get
himself ready to go with me, and I also by and by home and put on my
riding suit, and being ready came to the office to Sir J. Minnes and Sir
W. Batten, and did a little of course at the office this morning, and so
by boat to White Hall, where I hear that the race is put off, because the
Lords do sit in Parliament to-day. However, having appointed Mr. Creed to
come to me to Fox Hall, I went over thither, and after some debate, Creed
and I resolved to go to Clapham, to Mr. Gauden's, who had sent his coach
to their place for me because I was to have my horse of him to go to the
race. So I went thither by coach and my Will by horse with me; Mr. Creed
he went over back again to Westminster to fetch his horse. When I came to
Mr. Gauden's one first thing was to show me his house, which is almost
built, wherein he and his family live. I find it very regular and finely
contrived, and the gardens and offices about it as convenient and as full
of good variety as ever I saw in my life. It is true he hath been
censured for laying out so much money; but he tells me that he built it
for his brother, who is since dead (the Bishop), who when he should come
to be Bishop of Winchester, which he was promised (to which bishoprick at
present there is no house), he did intend to dwell here. Besides, with
the good husbandry in making his bricks and other things I do not think it
costs him so much money as people think and discourse. By and by to
dinner, and in comes Mr. Creed. I saluted Mr. Gauden's lady, and the
young ladies, he having many pretty children, and his sister, the Bishop's
widow; who was, it seems, Sir W. Russel's daughter, the Treasurer of the
Navy; who by her discourse at dinner I find to be very well-bred, and a
woman of excellent discourse, even so much as to have my attention all
dinner with much more pleasure than I did give to Mr. Creed, whose
discourse was mighty merry in inveighing at Mr. Gauden's victuals that
they had at sea the last voyage that he prosecuted, till methought the
woman began to take it seriously. After dinner by Mr. Gauden's motion we
got Mrs. Gauden and her sister to sing to a viall, on which Mr. Gauden's
eldest son (a pretty man, but a simple one methinks) played but very
poorly, and the musique bad, but yet I commended it. Only I do find that
the ladies have been taught to sing and do sing well now, but that the
viall puts them out. I took the viall and played some things from one of
their books, Lyra lessons, which they seemed to like well. Thus we pass
an hour or two after dinner and towards the evening we bade them Adieu!
and took horse; being resolved that, instead of the race which fails us,
we would go to Epsum. So we set out, and being gone a little way I sent
home Will to look to the house, and Creed and I rode forward; the road
being full of citizens going and coming toward Epsum, where, when we came,
we could hear of no lodging, the town so full; but which was better, I
went towards Ashted, my old place of pleasure; and there by direction of
one goodman Arthur, whom we met on the way, we went to Farmer Page's, at
which direction he and I made good sport, and there we got a lodging in a
little hole we could not stand upright in, but rather than go further to
look we staid there, and while supper was getting ready I took him to walk
up and down behind my cozen Pepys's house that was, which I find comes
little short of what I took it to be when I was a little boy, as things
use commonly to appear greater than then when one comes to be a man and
knows more, and so up and down in the closes, which I know so well
methinks, and account it good fortune that I lie here that I may have
opportunity to renew my old walks. It seems there is one Mr. Rouse, they
call him the Queen's Tailor, that lives there now. So to our lodging to
supper, and among other meats had a brave dish of cream, the best I ever
eat in my life, and with which we pleased ourselves much, and by and by to
bed, where, with much ado yet good sport, we made shift to lie, but with
little ease, and a little spaniel by us, which has followed us all the
way, a pretty dogg, and we believe that follows my horse, and do belong to
Mrs. Gauden, which we, therefore, are very careful of.

26th (Lord's-day). Up and to the Wells,

[Epsom medicinal wells were discovered about 1618, but they did not
become fashionable until the Restoration. John Toland, in his
"Description of Epsom," says that he often counted seventy coaches in
the Ring (the present racecourse on the Downs) on a Sunday evening;
but by the end of the eighteenth century Epsom had entirely lost its
vogue.]

where great store of citizens, which was the greatest part of the company,
though there were some others of better quality. I met many that I knew,
and we drank each of us two pots and so walked away, it being very
pleasant to see how everybody turns up his tail, here one and there
another, in a bush, and the women in their quarters the like. Thence I
walked with Creed to Mr. Minnes's house, which has now a very good way
made to it, and thence to Durdans and walked round it and within the Court
Yard and to the Bowling-green, where I have seen so much mirth in my time;
but now no family in it (my Lord Barkeley, whose it is, being with his
family at London), and so up and down by Minnes's wood, with great
pleasure viewing my old walks, and where Mrs. Hely and I did use to walk
and talk, with whom I had the first sentiments of love and pleasure in
woman's company, discourse, and taking her by the hand, she being a pretty
woman. So I led him to Ashted Church (by the place where Peter, my
cozen's man, went blindfold and found a certain place we chose for him
upon a wager), where we had a dull Doctor, one Downe, worse than I think
even parson King was, of whom we made so much scorn, and after sermon
home, and staid while our dinner, a couple of large chickens, were
dressed, and a good mess of cream, which anon we had with good content,
and after dinner (we taking no notice of other lodgers in the house,
though there was one that I knew, and knew and spoke to me, one Mr. Rider,
a merchant), he and I to walk, and I led him to the pretty little wood
behind my cozens house, into which we got at last by clambering, and our
little dog with us, but when we were among the hazel trees and bushes,
Lord! what a course did we run for an hour together, losing ourselves, and
indeed I despaired I should ever come to any path, but still from thicket
to thicket, a thing I could hardly have believed a man could have been
lost so long in so small a room. At last I found out a delicate walk in
the middle that goes quite through the wood, and then went out of the
wood, and holloed Mr. Creed, and made him hunt me from place to place, and
at last went in and called him into my fine walk, the little dog still
hunting with us through the wood. In this walk being all bewildered and
weary and sweating, Creed he lay down upon the ground, which I did a
little, but I durst not long, but walked from him in the fine green walk,
which is half a mile long, there reading my vows as I used to on Sundays.
And after that was done, and going and lying by Creed an hour, he and I
rose and went to our lodging and paid our reckoning, and so mounted,
whether to go toward London home or to find a new lodging, and so rode
through Epsum, the whole town over, seeing the various companys that were
there walking; which was very pleasant to see how they are there without
knowing almost what to do, but only in the morning to drink waters. But,
Lord! to see how many I met there of citizens, that I could not have
thought to have seen there, or that they had ever had it in their heads or
purses to go down thither. We rode out of the town through Yowell beyond
Nonesuch House a mile, and there our little dogg, as he used to do, fell
a-running after a flock of sheep feeding on the common, till he was out of
sight, and then endeavoured to come back again, and went to the last gate
that he parted with us at, and there the poor thing mistakes our scent,
instead of coming forward he hunts us backward, and runs as hard as he
could drive back towards Nonesuch, Creed and I after him, and being by
many told of his going that way and the haste he made, we rode still and
passed him through Yowell, and there we lost any further information of
him. However, we went as far as Epsum almost, hearing nothing of him, we
went back to Yowell, and there was told that he did pass through the town.
We rode back to Nonesuch to see whether he might be gone back again, but
hearing nothing we with great trouble and discontent for the loss of our
dogg came back once more to Yowell, and there set up our horses and selves
for all night, employing people to look for the dogg in the town, but can
hear nothing of him. However, we gave order for supper, and while that
was dressing walked out through Nonesuch Park to the house, and there
viewed as much as we could of the outside, and looked through the great
gates, and found a noble court; and altogether believe it to have been a
very noble house, and a delicate park about it, where just now there was a
doe killed, for the King to carry up to Court. So walked back again, and
by and by our supper being ready, a good leg of mutton boiled, we supped
and to bed, upon two beds in the same room, wherein we slept most
excellently all night.

27th. Up in the morning about 7 o'clock, and after a little study,
resolved of riding to the Wells to look for our dogg, which we did, but
could hear nothing; but it being much a warmer day than yesterday there
was great store of gallant company, more than then, to my greater
pleasure. There was at a distance, under one of the trees on the common,
a company got together that sung. I, at the distance, and so all the rest
being a quarter of a mile off, took them for the Waytes, so I rode up to
them, and found them only voices, some citizens met by chance, that sung
four or five parts excellently. I have not been more pleased with a snapp
of musique, considering the circumstances of the time and place, in all
my life anything so pleasant. We drank each of us, three cupps, and so,
after riding up to the horsemen upon the hill, where they were making of
matches to run, we went away and to Yowell, where we found our breakfast,
the remains of our supper last night hashed, and by and by, after the
smith had set on two new shoes to Creed's horse, we mounted, and with
little discourse, I being intent upon getting home in time, we rode hard
home, observing Mr. Gauden's house, but not calling there (it being too
late for me to stay, and wanting their dog too). The house stands very
finely, and has a graceful view to the highway. Set up our horses at Fox
Hall, and I by water (observing the King's barge attending his going to
the House this day) home, it being about one o'clock. So got myself ready
and shifting myself, and so by water to Westminster, and there came most
luckily to the Lords' House as the House of Commons were going into the
Lord's House, and there I crowded in along with the Speaker, and got to
stand close behind him, where he made his speech to the King (who sat with
his crown on and robes, and so all the Lords in their robes, a fine
sight); wherein he told his Majesty what they have done this Parliament,
and now offered for his royall consent. The greatest matters were a bill
for the Lord's day (which it seems the Lords have lost, and so cannot be
passed, at which the Commons are displeased); the bills against
Conventicles and Papists (but it seems the Lords have not passed them),
and giving his Majesty four entire subsidys; which last, with about twenty
smaller Acts, were passed with this form: The Clerk of the House reads the
title of the bill, and then looks at the end and there finds (writ by the
King I suppose) "Le Roy le veult," and that he reads. And to others he
reads, "Soit fait comme vous desirez." And to the Subsidys, as well that
for the Commons, I mean the layety, as for the Clergy, the King writes,
"Le Roy remerciant les Seigneurs, &c., Prelats, &c., accepte leur
benevolences." The Speaker's speech was far from any oratory, but was as
plain (though good matter) as any thing could be, and void of elocution.
After the bills passed, the King, sitting on his throne, with his speech
writ in a paper which he held in his lap, and scarce looked off of it, I
thought, all the time he made his speech to them, giving them thanks for
their subsidys, of which, had he not need, he would not have asked or
received them; and that need, not from any extravagancys of his, he was
sure, in any thing, but the disorders of the times compelling him to be at
greater charge than he hoped for the future, by their care in their
country, he should be: and that for his family expenses and others, he
would labour however to retrench in many things convenient, and would have
all others to do so too. He desired that nothing of old faults should be
remembered, or severity for the same used to any in the country, it being
his desire to have all forgot as well as forgiven. But, however, to use
all care in suppressing any tumults, &c.; assuring them that the restless
spirits of his and their adversaries have great expectations of something
to be done this summer. And promised that though the Acts about
Conventicles and Papists were not ripe for passing this Session, yet he
would take care himself that neither of them should in this intervall be
encouraged to the endangering of the peace; and that at their next meeting
he would himself prepare two bills for them concerning them. So he
concluded, that for the better proceeding of justice he did think fit to
make this a Session, and to prorogue them to the 16th of March next. His
speech was very plain, nothing at all of spirit in it, nor spoke with any;
but rather on the contrary imperfectly, repeating many times his words
though he read all which I was sorry to see, it having not been hard for
him to have got all the speech without book. So they all went away, the
King out of the House at the upper end, he being by and by to go to
Tunbridge to the Queen; and I in the Painted Chamber spoke with my Lord
Sandwich while he was putting off his robes, who tells me he will now
hasten down into the country, as soon as he can get some money settled on
the Wardrobe. Here meeting Creed, he and I down to the Hall, and I having
at Michell's shop wrote a little letter to Mr. Gauden, to go with his
horse, and excusing my not taking leave or so much as asking after the old
lady the widow when we came away the other day from them, he and I over
the water to Fox Hall, and there sent away the horse with my letter, and
then to the new Spring Garden, walking up and down, but things being dear
and little attendance to be had we went away, leaving much brave company
there, and so to a less house hard by, where we liked very well their
Codlin tarts, having not time, as we intended, to stay the getting ready
of a dish of pease. And there came to us an idle boy to show us some
tumbling tricks, which he did very well, and the greatest bending of his
body that ever I observed in my life. Thence by water to White Hall, and
walked over the Park to St. James's; but missed Mr. Coventry, he not being
within; and so out again, and there the Duke was coming along the
Pell-Mell. It being a little darkish, I staid not to take notice of him,
but we went directly back again. And in our walk over the Park, one of
the Duke's footmen came running behind us, and came looking just in our
faces to see who we were, and went back again. What his meaning is I know
not, but was fearful that I might not go far enough with my hat off,
though methinks that should not be it, besides, there were others covered
nearer than myself was, but only it was my fear. So to White Hall and by
water to the Bridge, and so home to bed, weary and well pleased with my
journey in all respects. Only it cost me about 20s., but it was for my
health, and I hope will prove so, only I do find by my riding a little
swelling to rise just by my anus. I had the same the last time I rode,
and then it fell again, and now it is up again about the bigness of the
bag of a silkworm, makes me fearful of a rupture. But I will speak to Mr.
Hollyard about it, and I am glad to find it now, that I may prevent it
before it goes too far.

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