Book: Diary of Samuel Pepys, June/July/August 1661
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Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, June/July/August 1661
25th. Up this morning to put my papers in order that are come from my
Lord's, so that now I have nothing there remaining that is mine, which I
have had till now. This morning came Mr. Goodgroome
[Theodore Goodgroome, Pepys's singing-master. He was probably
related to John Goodgroome, a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, who is
also referred to in the Diary.]
to me (recommended by Mr. Mage), with whom I agreed presently to give him
20s. entrance, which I then did, and 20s. a month more to teach me to
sing, and so we began, and I hope I have come to something in it. His
first song is "La cruda la bella." He gone my brother Tom comes, with
whom I made even with my father and the two drapers for the cloths I sent
to sea lately. At home all day, in the afternoon came Captain Allen and
his daughter Rebecca and Mr. Hempson, and by and by both Sir Williams, who
sat with me till it was late, and I had a very gallant collation for them.
At night to bed.
26th. To Westminster about several businesses, then to dine with my Lady
at the Wardrobe, taking Dean Fuller along with me; then home, where I
heard my father had been to find me about special business; so I took
coach and went to him, and found by a letter to him from my aunt that my
uncle Robert is taken with a dizziness in his head, so that they desire my
father to come down to look after his business, by which we guess that he
is very ill, and so my father do think to go to-morrow. And so God's will
be done. Back by water to the office, there till night, and so home to my
musique and then to bed.
27th. To my father's, and with him to Mr. Starling's to drink our morning
draft, and there I told him how I would have him speak to my uncle Robert,
when he comes thither, concerning my buying of land, that I could pay
ready money L600 and the rest by L150 per annum, to make up as much as
will buy L50 per annum, which I do, though I not worth above L500 ready
money, that he may think me to be a greater saver than I am. Here I took
my leave of my father, who is going this morning to my uncle upon my
aunt's letter this week that he is not well and so needs my father's help.
At noon home, and then with my Lady Batten, Mrs. Rebecca Allen, Mrs.
Thompson, &c., two coaches of us, we went and saw "Bartholomew Fayre"
acted very well, and so home again and staid at Sir W. Batten's late, and
so home to bed. This day Mr. Holden sent me a bever, which cost me L4 5s.
[Whilst a hat (see January 28th, 1660-61, ante) cost only 35s. See
also Lord Sandwich's vexation at his beaver being stolen, and a hat
only left in lieu of it, April 30th, 1661, ante; and April 19th and
26th, 1662, Post.--B.]
28th. At home all the morning practising to sing, which is now my great
trade, and at noon to my Lady and dined with her. So back and to the
office, and there sat till 7 at night, and then Sir W. Pen and I in his
coach went to Moorefields, and there walked, and stood and saw the
wrestling, which I never saw so much of before, between the north and west
countrymen. So home, and this night had our bed set up in our room that
we called the Nursery, where we lay, and I am very much pleased with the
room.
29th. By a letter from the Duke complaining of the delay of the ships
that are to be got ready, Sir Williams both and I went to Deptford and
there examined into the delays, and were satisfyed. So back again home
and staid till the afternoon, and then I walked to the Bell at the Maypole
in the Strand, and thither came to me by appointment Mr. Chetwind,
Gregory, and Hartlibb, so many of our old club, and Mr. Kipps, where we
staid and drank and talked with much pleasure till it was late, and so I
walked home and to bed. Mr. Chetwind by chewing of tobacco is become very
fat and sallow, whereas he was consumptive, and in our discourse he fell
commending of "Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity," as the best book, and the
only one that made him a Christian, which puts me upon the buying of it,
which I will do shortly.
30th (Lord's day). To church, where we observe the trade of briefs is
come now up to so constant a course every Sunday, that we resolve to give
no more to them.
[It appears, from an old MS. account-book of the collections in the
church of St. Olave, Hart Street, beginning in 1642, still extant,
that the money gathered on the 30th June, 1661, "for several
inhabitants of the parish of St. Dunstan in the West towards their
losse by fire," amounted to "xxs. viiid." Pepys might complain of
the trade in briefs, as similar contributions had been levied
fourteen weeks successively, previous to the one in question at St.
Olave's church. Briefs were abolished in 1828.--B.]
A good sermon, and then home to dinner, my wife and I all alone. After
dinner Sir Williams both and I by water to Whitehall, where having walked
up and down, at last we met with the Duke of York, according to an order
sent us yesterday from him, to give him an account where the fault lay in
the not sending out of the ships, which we find to be only the wind hath
been against them, and so they could not get out of the river. Hence I to
Graye's Inn Walk, all alone, and with great pleasure seeing the fine
ladies walk there. Myself humming to myself (which now-a-days is my
constant practice since I begun to learn to sing) the trillo, and found by
use that it do come upon me. Home very weary and to bed, finding my wife
not sick, but yet out of order, that I fear she will come to be sick.
This day the Portuguese Embassador came to White Hall to take leave of the
King; he being now going to end all with the Queen, and to send her over.
The weather now very fair and pleasant, but very hot. My father gone to
Brampton to see my uncle Robert, not knowing whether to find him dead or
alive. Myself lately under a great expense of money upon myself in
clothes and other things, but I hope to make it up this summer by my
having to do in getting things ready to send with the next fleet to the
Queen.
Myself in good health, but mighty apt to take cold, so that this hot
weather I am fain to wear a cloth before my belly.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
JULY
1661
July 1st. This morning I went up and down into the city, to buy several
things, as I have lately done, for my house. Among other things, a fair
chest of drawers for my own chamber, and an Indian gown for myself. The
first cost me 33s., the other 34s. Home and dined there, and Theodore
Goodgroome, my singing master, with me, and then to our singing. After
that to the office, and then home.
2nd. To Westminster Hall and there walked up and down, it being Term
time. Spoke with several, among others my cozen Roger Pepys, who was
going up to the Parliament House, and inquired whether I had heard from my
father since he went to Brampton, which I had done yesterday, who writes
that my uncle is by fits stupid, and like a man that is drunk, and
sometimes speechless. Home, and after my singing master had done, took
coach and went to Sir William Davenant's Opera; this being the fourth day
that it hath begun, and the first that I have seen it. To-day was acted
the second part of "The Siege of Rhodes." We staid a very great while for
the King and the Queen of Bohemia. And by the breaking of a board over
our heads, we had a great deal of dust fell into the ladies' necks and the
men's hair, which made good sport. The King being come, the scene opened;
which indeed is very fine and magnificent, and well acted, all but the
Eunuch, who was so much out that he was hissed off the stage. Home and
wrote letters to my Lord at sea, and so to bed.
3rd. To Westminster to Mr. Edward Montagu about business of my Lord's,
and so to the Wardrobe, and there dined with my Lady, who is in some
mourning for her brother, Mr. Saml. Crew, who died yesterday of the
spotted fever. So home through Duck Lane' to inquire for some Spanish
books, but found none that pleased me. So to the office, and that being
done to Sir W. Batten's with the Comptroller, where we sat late talking
and disputing with Mr. Mills the parson of our parish. This day my Lady
Batten and my wife were at the burial of a daughter of Sir John Lawson's,
and had rings for themselves and their husbands. Home and to
bed.
4th. At home all the morning; in the afternoon I went to the Theatre, and
there I saw "Claracilla" (the first time I ever saw it), well acted. But
strange to see this house, that used to be so thronged, now empty since
the Opera begun; and so will continue for a while, I believe. Called at my
father's, and there I heard that my uncle Robert--[Robert Pepys, of
Brampton, who died on the following day.]--continues to have his fits of
stupefaction every day for 10 or 12 hours together. From thence to the
Exchange at night, and then went with my uncle Wight to the Mitre and were
merry, but he takes it very ill that my father would go out of town to
Brampton on this occasion and would not tell him of it, which I
endeavoured to remove but could not. Here Mr. Batersby the apothecary
was, who told me that if my uncle had the emerods--[Haemorrhoids or
piles.]--(which I think he had) and that now they are stopped, he will lay
his life that bleeding behind by leeches will cure him, but I am resolved
not to meddle in it. Home and to bed.
5th. At home, and in the afternoon to the office, and that being done all
went to Sir W. Batten's and there had a venison pasty, and were very
merry. At night home and to bed.
6th. Waked this morning with news, brought me by a messenger on purpose,
that my uncle Robert is dead, and died yesterday; so I rose sorry in some
respect, glad in my expectations in another respect. So I made myself
ready, went and told my uncle Wight, my Lady, and some others thereof, and
bought me a pair of boots in St. Martin's, and got myself ready, and then
to the Post House and set out about eleven and twelve o'clock, taking the
messenger with me that came to me, and so we rode and got well by nine
o'clock to Brampton, where I found my father well. My uncle's corps in a
coffin standing upon joynt-stools in the chimney in the hall; but it begun
to smell, and so I caused it to be set forth in the yard all night, and
watched by two men. My aunt I found in bed in a most nasty ugly pickle,
made me sick to see it. My father and I lay together tonight, I greedy to
see the will, but did not ask to see it till to-morrow.
7th (Lord's day). In the morning my father and I walked in the garden and
read the will; where, though he gives me nothing at present till my
father's death, or at least very little, yet I am glad to see that he hath
done so well for us, all, and well to the rest of his kindred. After that
done, we went about getting things, as ribbands and gloves, ready for the
burial. Which in the afternoon was done; where, it being Sunday, all
people far and near come in; and in the greatest disorder that ever I saw,
we made shift to serve them what we had of wine and other things; and then
to carry him to the church, where Mr. Taylor buried him, and Mr. Turners
preached a funerall sermon, where he spoke not particularly of him
anything, but that he was one so well known for his honesty, that it spoke
for itself above all that he could say for it. And so made a very good
sermon. Home with some of the company who supped there, and things being
quiet, at night to bed.
8th, 9th, Loth, 11th, 12th, 13th. I fell to work, and my father to look
over my uncle's papers and clothes, and continued all this week upon that
business, much troubled with my aunt's base, ugly humours. We had news of
Tom Trice's putting in a caveat against us, in behalf of his mother, to
whom my uncle hath not given anything, and for good reason therein
expressed, which troubled us also. But above all, our trouble is to find
that his estate appears nothing as we expected, and all the world
believes; nor his papers so well sorted as I would have had them, but all
in confusion, that break my brains to understand them. We missed also the
surrenders of his copyhold land, without which the land would not come to
us, but to the heir at law, so that what with this, and the badness of the
drink and the ill opinion I have of the meat, and the biting of the gnats
by night and my disappointment in getting home this week, and the trouble
of sorting all the papers, I am almost out of my wits with trouble, only I
appear the more contented, because I would not have my father troubled.
The latter end of the week Mr. Philips comes home from London, and so we
advised with him and have the best counsel he could give us, but for all
that we were not quiet in our minds.
14th (Lord's day). At home, and Robert Barnwell with us, and dined, and
in the evening my father and I walked round Portholme and viewed all the
fields, which was very pleasant. Thence to Hinchingbroke, which is now
all in dirt, because of my Lord's building, which will make it very
magnificent. Back to Brampton, and to supper and to bed.
15th. Up by three o'clock this morning, and rode to Cambridge, and was
there by seven o'clock, where, after I was trimmed, I went to Christ
College, and found my brother John at eight o'clock in bed, which vexed
me. Then to King's College chappell, where I found the scholars in their
surplices at the service with the organs, which is a strange sight to what
it used in my time to be here. Then with Dr. Fairbrother (whom I met
there) to the Rose tavern, and called for some wine, and there met
fortunately with Mr. Turner of our office, and sent for his wife, and were
very merry (they being come to settle their son here), and sent also for
Mr. Sanchy, of Magdalen, with whom and other gentlemen, friends of his, we
were very merry, and I treated them as well as I could, and so at noon
took horse again, having taken leave of my cozen Angier, and rode to
Impington, where I found my old uncle
[Talbot Pepys, sixth son of John Pepys of Impington, was born 1583,
and therefore at this time he was seventy-eight years of age. He
was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and called to the bar at
the Middle Temple in 1605. He was M.P. for Cambridge in 1625, and
Recorder of Cambridge from 1624 to 1660, in which year he was
succeeded by his son Roger. He died of the plague, March, 1666,
aged eighty-three.]
sitting all alone, like a man out of the world: he can hardly see; but all
things else he do pretty livelyly. Then with Dr. John Pepys and him, I
read over the will, and had their advice therein, who, as to the
sufficiency thereof confirmed me, and advised me as to the other parts
thereof. Having done there, I rode to Gravely with much ado to inquire
for a surrender of my uncle's in some of the copyholders' hands there, but
I can hear of none, which puts me into very great trouble of mind, and so
with a sad heart rode home to Brampton, but made myself as cheerful as I
could to my father, and so to bed.
16th, 17th, 18th, 19th. These four days we spent in putting things in
order, letting of the crop upon the ground, agreeing with Stankes to have
a care of our business in our absence, and we think ourselves in nothing
happy but in lighting upon him to be our bayly; in riding to Offord and
Sturtlow, and up and down all our lands, and in the evening walking, my
father and I about the fields talking, and had advice from Mr. Moore from
London, by my desire, that the three witnesses of the will being all
legatees, will not do the will any wrong. To-night Serjeant Bernard, I
hear, is come home into the country. To supper and to bed. My aunt
continuing in her base, hypocritical tricks, which both Jane Perkin (of
whom we make great use), and the maid do tell us every day of.
20th. Up to Huntingdon this morning to Sir Robert Bernard, with whom I
met Jaspar Trice. So Sir Robert caused us to sit down together and began
discourse very fairly between us, so I drew out the Will and show it him,
and [he] spoke between us as well as I could desire, but could come to no
issue till Tom Trice comes. Then Sir Robert and I fell to talk about the
money due to us upon surrender from Piggott, L164., which he tells me will
go with debts to the heir at law, which breaks my heart on the other side.
Here I staid and dined with Sir Robert Bernard and his lady, my Lady
Digby, a very good woman. After dinner I went into the town and spent the
afternoon, sometimes with Mr. Phillips, sometimes with Dr. Symcottes, Mr.
Vinter, Robert Ethell, and many more friends, and at last Mr. Davenport,
Phillips, Jaspar Trice, myself and others at Mother-----over against the
Crown we sat and drank ale and were very merry till 9 at night, and so
broke up. I walked home, and there found Tom Trice come, and he and my
father gone to Goody Gorum's, where I found them and Jaspar Trice got
before me, and Mr. Greene, and there had some calm discourse, but came to
no issue, and so parted. So home and to bed, being now pretty well again
of my left hand, which lately was stung and very much swelled.
21st (Lord's day). At home all the morning, putting my papers in order
against my going to-morrow and doing many things else to that end. Had a
good dinner, and Stankes and his wife with us. To my business again in
the afternoon, and in the evening came the two Trices, Mr. Greene, and Mr.
Philips, and so we began to argue. At last it came to some agreement that
for our giving of my aunt L10 she is to quit the house, and for other
matters they are to be left to the law, which do please us all, and so we
broke up, pretty well satisfyed. Then came Mr. Barnwell and J. Bowles and
supped with us, and after supper away, and so I having taken leave of them
and put things in the best order I could against to-morrow I went to bed.
Old William Luffe having been here this afternoon and paid up his bond of
L20, and I did give him into his hand my uncle's surrender of Sturtlow to
me before Mr. Philips, R. Barnwell, and Mr. Pigott, which he did
acknowledge to them my uncle did in his lifetime deliver to him.
22nd. Up by three, and going by four on my way to London; but the day
proves very cold, so that having put on no stockings but thread ones under
my boots, I was fain at Bigglesworth to buy a pair of coarse woollen ones,
and put them on. So by degrees till I come to Hatfield before twelve
o'clock, where I had a very good dinner with my hostess, at my Lord of
Salisbury's Inn, and after dinner though weary I walked all alone to the
Vineyard, which is now a very beautiful place again; and coming back I met
with Mr. Looker, my Lord's gardener (a friend of Mr. Eglin's), who showed
me the house, the chappell with brave pictures, and, above all, the
gardens, such as I never saw in all my life; nor so good flowers, nor so
great gooseberrys, as big as nutmegs. Back to the inn, and drank with
him, and so to horse again, and with much ado got to London, and set him
up at Smithfield; so called at my uncle Fenner's, my mother's, my Lady's,
and so home, in all which I found all things as well as I could expect.
So weary and to bed.
23rd. Put on my mourning. Made visits to Sir W. Pen and Batten. Then to
Westminster, and at the Hall staid talking with Mrs. Michell a good while,
and in the afternoon, finding myself unfit for business, I went to the
Theatre, and saw "Brenoralt," I never saw before. It seemed a good play,
but ill acted; only I sat before Mrs. Palmer, the King's mistress, and
filled my eyes with her, which much pleased me. Then to my father's,
where by my desire I met my uncle Thomas, and discoursed of my uncle's
will to him, and did satisfy [him] as well as I could. So to my uncle
Wight's, but found him out of doors, but my aunt I saw and staid a while,
and so home and to bed. Troubled to hear how proud and idle Pall is
grown, that I am resolved not to keep her.
24th. This morning my wife in bed tells me of our being robbed of our
silver tankard, which vexed me all day for the negligence of my people to
leave the door open. My wife and I by water to Whitehall, where I left
her to her business and I to my cozen Thomas Pepys, and discoursed with
him at large about our business of my uncle's will. He can give us no
light at all into his estate, but upon the whole tells me that he do
believe that he has left but little money, though something more than we
have found, which is about L500. Here came Sir G. Lane by chance, seeing
a bill upon the door to hire the house, with whom my coz and I walked all
up and down, and indeed it is a very pretty place, and he do intend to
leave the agreement for the House, which is L400 fine, and L46 rent a year
to me between them. Then to the Wardrobe, but come too late, and so dined
with the servants. And then to my Lady, who do shew my wife and me the
greatest favour in the world, in which I take great content. Home by
water and to the office all the afternoon, which is a great pleasure to me
again, to talk with persons of quality and to be in command, and I give it
out among them that the estate left me is L200 a year in land, besides
moneys, because I would put an esteem upon myself. At night home and to
bed after I had set down my journals ever since my going from London this
journey to this house. This afternoon I hear that my man Will hath lost
his clock with my tankard, at which I am very glad.
25th. This morning came my box of papers from Brampton of all my uncle's
papers, which will now set me at work enough. At noon I went to the
Exchange, where I met my uncle Wight, and found him so discontented about
my father (whether that he takes it ill that he has not been acquainted
with things, or whether he takes it ill that he has nothing left him, I
cannot tell), for which I am much troubled, and so staid not long to talk
with him. Thence to my mother's, where I found my wife and my aunt Bell
and Mrs. Ramsey, and great store of tattle there was between the old women
and my mother, who thinks that there is, God knows what fallen to her,
which makes me mad, but it was not a proper time to speak to her of it,
and so I went away with Mr. Moore, and he and I to the Theatre, and saw
"The Jovial Crew," the first time I saw it, and indeed it is as merry and
the most innocent play that ever I saw, and well performed. From thence
home, and wrote to my father and so to bed. Full of thoughts to think of
the trouble that we shall go through before we come to see what will
remain to us of all our expectations.
26th. At home all the morning, and walking met with Mr. Hill of Cambridge
at Pope's Head Alley with some women with him whom he took and me into the
tavern there, and did give us wine, and would fain seem to be very knowing
in the affairs of state, and tells me that yesterday put a change to the
whole state of England as to the Church; for the King now would be forced
to favour Presbytery, or the City would leave him: but I heed not what he
says, though upon enquiry I do find that things in the Parliament are in a
great disorder. Home at noon and there found Mr. Moore, and with him to
an ordinary alone and dined, and there he and I read my uncle's will, and
I had his opinion on it, and still find more and more trouble like to
attend it. Back to the office all the afternoon, and that done home for
all night. Having the beginning of this week made a vow to myself to
drink no wine this week (finding it to unfit me to look after business),
and this day breaking of it against my will, I am much troubled for it,
but I hope God will forgive me.
27th. To Westminster, where at Mr. Montagu's chamber I heard a Frenchman
play, a friend of Monsieur Eschar's, upon the guitar, most extreme well,
though at the best methinks it is but a bawble. From thence to
Westminster Hall, where it was expected that the Parliament was to have
been adjourned for two or three months, but something hinders it for a day
or two. In the lobby I spoke with Mr. George Montagu, and advised about a
ship to carry my Lord Hinchingbroke and the rest of the young gentlemen to
France, and they have resolved of going in a hired vessell from Rye, and
not in a man of war. He told me in discourse that my Lord Chancellor is
much envied, and that many great men, such as the Duke of Buckingham and
my Lord of Bristoll, do endeavour to undermine him, and that he believes
it will not be done; for that the King (though he loves him not in the way
of a companion, as he do these young gallants that can answer him in his
pleasures), yet cannot be without him, for his policy and service. From
thence to the Wardrobe, where my wife met me, it being my Lord of
Sandwich's birthday, and so we had many friends here, Mr. Townsend and his
wife, and Captain Ferrers lady and Captain Isham, and were very merry, and
had a good venison pasty. Mr. Pargiter, the merchant, was with us also.
After dinner Mr. Townsend was called upon by Captain Cooke: so we three
went to a tavern hard by, and there he did give us a song or two; and
without doubt he hath the best manner of singing in the world. Back to my
wife, and with my Lady Jem. and Pall by water through bridge, and showed
them the ships with great pleasure, and then took them to my house to show
it them (my Lady their mother having been lately all alone to see it and
my wife, in my absence in the country), and we treated them well, and were
very merry. Then back again through bridge, and set them safe at home,
and so my wife and I by coach home again, and after writing a letter to my
father at Brampton, who, poor man, is there all alone, and I have not
heard from him since my coming from him, which troubles me. To bed.