Book: Diary of Samuel Pepys, May/June 1663

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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.
MAY & JUNE
1663

May 1st. Up betimes and my father with me, and he and I all the morning
and Will Stankes private, in my wife's closet above, settling our matters
concerning our Brampton estate, &c., and I find that there will be, after
all debts paid within L100, L50 per annum clear coming towards my father's
maintenance, besides L25 per annum annuities to my Uncle Thomas and Aunt
Perkins. Of which, though I was in my mind glad, yet thought it not fit
to let my father know it thoroughly, but after he had gone out to visit my
uncle Thomas and brought him to dinner with him, and after dinner I got my
father, brother Tom, and myself together, I did make the business worse to
them, and did promise L20 out of my own purse to make it L50 a year to my
father, propounding that Stortlow may be sold to pay L200 for his
satisfaction therein and the rest to go towards payment of debts and
legacies. The truth is I am fearful lest my father should die before
debts are paid, and then the land goes to Tom and the burden of paying all
debts will fall upon the rest of the land. Not that I would do my brother
any real hurt. I advised my father to good husbandry and to living within
the compass of L50 a year, and all in such kind words, as not only made,
them but myself to weep, and I hope it will have a good effect. That
being done, and all things agreed on, we went down, and after a glass of
wine we all took horse, and I, upon a horse hired of Mr. Game, saw him out
of London, at the end of Bishopsgate Street, and so I turned and rode,
with some trouble, through the fields, and then Holborn, &c., towards Hide
Park, whither all the world, I think, are going, and in my going, almost
thither, met W. Howe coming galloping upon a little crop black nag; it
seems one that was taken in some ground of my Lord's, by some mischance
being left by his master, a thief; this horse being found with black cloth
ears on, and a false mayne, having none of his own; and I back again with
him to the Chequer, at Charing Cross, and there put up my own dull jade,
and by his advice saddled a delicate stone-horse of Captain Ferrers's, and
with that rid in state to the Park, where none better mounted than I
almost, but being in a throng of horses, seeing the King's riders showing
tricks with their managed horses, which were very strange, my stone-horse
was very troublesome, and begun to, fight with other horses, to the
dangering him and myself, and with much ado I got out, and kept myself out
of harm's way.. Here I saw nothing good, neither the King, nor my Lady
Castlemaine, nor any great ladies or beauties being there, there being
more pleasure a great deal at an ordinary day; or else those few good
faces that there were choked up with the many bad ones, there being people
of all sorts in coaches there, to some thousands, I think. Going thither
in the highway, just by the Park gate, I met a boy in a sculler boat,
carried by a dozen people at least, rowing as hard as he could drive, it
seems upon some wager. By and by, about seven or eight o'clock, homeward;
and changing my horse again, I rode home, coaches going in great crowds to
the further end of the town almost. In my way, in Leadenhall Street,
there was morris-dancing which I have not seen a great while. So set my
horse up at Game's, paying 5s. for him. And so home to see Sir J. Minnes,
who is well again, and after staying talking with him awhile, I took leave
and went to hear Mrs. Turner's daughter, at whose house Sir J. Minnes
lies, play on the harpsicon; but, Lord! it was enough to make any man sick
to hear her; yet I was forced to commend her highly. So home to supper
and to bed, Ashwell playing upon the tryangle very well before I went to
bed. This day Captain Grove sent me a side of pork, which was the oddest
present, sure, that was ever made any man; and the next, I remember I told
my wife, I believe would be a pound of candles, or a shoulder of mutton;
but the fellow do it in kindness, and is one I am beholden to. So to bed
very weary, and a little galled for lack of riding, praying to God for a
good journey to my father, of whom I am afeard, he being so lately ill of
his pain.

2nd. Being weary last night, I slept till almost seven o'clock, a thing I
have not done many a day. So up and to my office (being come to some
angry words with my wife about neglecting the keeping of the house clean,
I calling her beggar, and she me pricklouse, which vexed me) and there all
the morning. So to the Exchange and then home to dinner, and very merry
and well pleased with my wife, and so to the office again, where we met
extraordinary upon drawing up the debts of the Navy to my Lord Treasurer.
So rose and up to Sir W. Pen to drink a glass of bad syder in his new far
low dining room, which is very noble, and so home, where Captain Ferrers
and his lady are come to see my wife, he being to go the beginning of next
week to France to sea and I think to fetch over my young Lord
Hinchinbroke. They being gone I to my office to write letters by the
post, and so home to supper and to bed.

3rd (Lord's day). Up before 5 o'clock and alone at setting my Brampton
papers to rights according to my father's and my computation and
resolution the other day to my good content, I finding that there will be
clear saved to us L50 per annum, only a debt of it may be L100. So made
myself ready and to church, where Sir W. Pen showed me the young lady
which young Dawes, that sits in the new corner-pew in the church, hath
stole away from Sir Andrew Rickard, her guardian, worth L1000 per annum
present, good land, and some money, and a very well-bred and handsome
lady: he, I doubt, but a simple fellow. However, he got this good luck to
get her, which methinks I could envy him with all my heart. Home to
dinner with my wife, who not being very well did not dress herself but
staid at home all day, and so I to church in the afternoon and so home
again, and up to teach Ashwell the grounds of time and other things on the
tryangle, and made her take out a Psalm very well, she having a good ear
and hand. And so a while to my office, and then home to supper and
prayers, to bed, my wife and I having a little falling out because I would
not leave my discourse below with her and Ashwell to go up and talk with
her alone upon something she has to say. She reproached me but I had
rather talk with any body than her, by which I find I think she is jealous
of my freedom with Ashwell, which I must avoid giving occasion of.

4th. Up betimes and to setting my Brampton papers in order and looking
over my wardrobe against summer, and laying things in order to send to my
brother to alter. By and by took boat intending to have gone down to
Woolwich, but seeing I could not get back time enough to dinner, I
returned and home. Whither by and by the dancing-master' came, whom
standing by, seeing him instructing my wife, when he had done with her, he
would needs have me try the steps of a coranto, and what with his desire
and my wife's importunity, I did begin, and then was obliged to give him
entry-money 10s., and am become his scholler. The truth is, I think it a
thing very useful for a gentleman, and sometimes I may have occasion of
using it, and though it cost me what I am heartily sorry it should,
besides that I must by my oath give half as much more to the poor, yet I
am resolved to get it up some other way, and then it will not be above a
month or two in a year. So though it be against my stomach yet I will try
it a little while; if I see it comes to any great inconvenience or charge
I will fling it off. After I had begun with the steps of half a coranto,
which I think I shall learn well enough, he went away, and we to dinner,
and by and by out by coach, and set my wife down at my Lord Crew's, going
to see my Lady Jem. Montagu, who is lately come to town, and I to St.
James's; where Mr. Coventry, Sir W. Pen and I staid a good while for the
Duke's coming in, but not coming, we walked to White Hall; and meeting the
King, we followed him into the Park, where Mr. Coventry and he talked of
building a new yacht, which the King is resolved to have built out of his
privy purse, he having some contrivance of his own. The talk being done,
we fell off to White Hall, leaving the King in the Park, and going back,
met the Duke going towards St. James's to meet us. So he turned back
again, and to his closett at White Hall; and there, my Lord Sandwich
present, we did our weekly errand, and so broke up; and I down into the
garden with my Lord Sandwich (after we had sat an hour at the Tangier
Committee); and after talking largely of his own businesses, we begun to
talk how matters are at Court: and though he did not flatly tell me any
such thing, yet I do suspect that all is not kind between the King and the
Duke, and that the King's fondness to the little Duke do occasion it; and
it may be that there is some fear of his being made heir to the Crown.
But this my Lord did not tell me, but is my guess only; and that my Lord
Chancellor is without doubt falling past hopes. He being gone to Chelsey
by coach I to his lodgings, where my wife staid for me, and she from
thence to see Mrs. Pierce and called me at Whitehall stairs (where I went
before by land to know whether there was any play at Court to-night) and
there being none she and I to Mr. Creed to the Exchange, where she bought
something, and from thence by water to White Fryars, and wife to see Mrs.
Turner, and then came to me at my brother's, where I did give him order
about my summer clothes, and so home by coach, and after supper to bed to
my wife, with whom I have not lain since I used to lie with my father till
to-night.

5th. Up betimes and to my office, and there busy all the morning, among
other things walked a good while up and down with Sir J. Minnes, he
telling many old stories of the Navy, and of the state of the Navy at the
beginning of the late troubles, and I am troubled at my heart to think,
and shall hereafter cease to wonder, at the bad success of the King's
cause, when such a knave as he (if it be true what he says) had the whole
management of the fleet, and the design of putting out of my Lord Warwick,
and carrying the fleet to the King, wherein he failed most fatally to the
King's ruin. Dined at home, and after dinner up to try my dance, and so
to the office again, where we sat all the afternoon. In the evening Deane
of Woolwich went home with me and showed me the use of a little sliding
ruler, less than that I bought the other day, which is the same with that,
but more portable; however I did not seem to understand or even to have
seen anything of it before, but I find him an ingenious fellow, and a good
servant in his place to the King. Thence to my office busy writing
letters, and then came Sir W. Warren, staying for a letter in his business
by the post, and while that was writing he and I talked about merchandise,
trade, and getting of money. I made it my business to enquire what way
there is for a man bred like me to come to understand anything of trade.
He did most discretely answer me in all things, shewing me the danger for
me to meddle either in ships or merchandise of any sort or common stocks,
but what I have to keep at interest, which is a good, quiett, and easy
profit, and once in a little while something offers that with ready money
you may make use of money to good profit. Wherein I concur much with him,
and parted late with great pleasure and content in his discourse, and so
home to supper and to bed. It has been this afternoon very hot and this
evening also, and about 11 at night going to bed it fell a-thundering and
lightening, the greatest flashes enlightening the whole body of the yard,
that ever I saw in my life.

6th. Up betimes and to my office a good while at my new rulers, then to
business, and towards noon to the Exchange with Creed, where we met with
Sir J. Minnes coming in his coach from Westminster, who tells us, in great
heat, that, by God, the Parliament will make mad work; that they will
render all men incapable of any military or civil employment that have
borne arms in the late troubles against the King, excepting some persons;
which, if it be so, as I hope it is not, will give great cause of
discontent, and I doubt will have but bad effects. I left them at the
Exchange and walked to Paul's Churchyard to look upon a book or two, and
so back, and thence to the Trinity House, and there dined, where, among
other discourse worth hearing among the old seamen, they tell us that they
have catched often in Greenland in fishing whales with the iron grapnells
that had formerly been struck into their bodies covered over with fat;
that they have had eleven hogsheads of oyle out of the tongue of a whale.
Thence after dinner home to my office, and there busy till the evening.
Then home and to supper, and while at supper comes Mr. Pembleton, and
after supper we up to our dancing room and there danced three or four
country dances, and after that a practice of my coranto I began with him
the other day, and I begin to think that I shall be able to do something
at it in time. Late and merry at it, and so weary to bed.

7th. Up betimes and to my office awhile, and then by water with my wife,
leaving her at the new Exchange, and I to see Dr. Williams, and spoke with
him about my business with Tom Trice, and so to my brother's, who I find
very careful now-a-days, more than ordinary in his business and like to do
well. From thence to Westminster, and there up and down from the Hall to
the Lobby, the Parliament sitting. Sir Thomas Crew this day tells me that
the Queen, hearing that there was L40,000 per annum brought into her
account among the other expences of the Crown to the Committee of
Parliament, she took order to let them know that she hath yet for the
payment of her whole family received but L4,000, which is a notable act of
spirit, and I believe is true. So by coach to my Lord Crew's, and there
dined with him. He tells me of the order the House of Commons have made
for the drawing an Act for the rendering none capable of preferment or
employment in the State, but who have been loyall and constant to the King
and Church; which will be fatal to a great many, and makes me doubt lest I
myself, with all my innocence during the late times, should be brought in,
being employed in the Exchequer; but, I hope, God will provide for me.
This day the new Theatre Royal begins to act with scenes the Humourous
Lieutenant, but I have not time to see it, nor could stay to see my Lady
Jemimah lately come to town, and who was here in the house, but dined
above with her grandmother. But taking my wife at my brother's home by
coach, and the officers being at Deptford at a Pay we had no office, but I
took my wife by water and so spent the evening, and so home with great
pleasure to supper, and then to bed.

8th. Up very early and to my office, there preparing letters to my father
of great import in the settling of our affairs, and putting him upon a way
[of] good husbandry, I promising to make out of my own purse him up to L50
per annum, till either by my uncle Thomas's death or the fall of the
Wardrobe place he be otherwise provided. That done I by water to the
Strand, and there viewed the Queen-Mother's works at Somersett House, and
thence to the new playhouse, but could not get in to see it. So to visit
my Lady Jemimah, who is grown much since I saw her; but lacks mightily to
be brought into the fashion of the court to set her off: Thence to the
Temple, and there sat till one o'clock reading at Playford's in Dr.
Usher's 'Body of Divinity' his discourse of the Scripture, which is as
much, I believe, as is anywhere said by any man, but yet there is room to
cavill, if a man would use no faith to the tradition of the Church in
which he is born, which I think to be as good an argument as most is
brought for many things, and it may be for that among others. Thence to
my brother's, and there took up my wife and Ashwell to the Theatre Royall,
being the second day of its being opened. The house is made with
extraordinary good contrivance, and yet hath some faults, as the
narrowness of the passages in and out of the Pitt, and the distance from
the stage to the boxes, which I am confident cannot hear; but for all
other things it is well, only, above all, the musique being below, and
most of it sounding under the very stage, there is no hearing of the bases
at all, nor very well of the trebles, which sure must be mended. The play
was "The Humerous Lieutenant," a play that hath little good in it, nor
much in the very part which, by the King's command, Lacy now acts instead
of Clun. In the dance, the tall devil's actions was very pretty. The
play being done, we home by water, having been a little shamed that my
wife and woman were in such a pickle, all the ladies being finer and
better dressed in the pitt than they used, I think, to be. To my office
to set down this day's passage, and, though my oath against going to plays
do not oblige me against this house, because it was not then in being, yet
believing that at the time my meaning was against all publique houses, I
am resolved to deny myself the liberty of two plays at Court, which are in
arreare to me for the months of March and April, which will more than
countervail this excess, so that this month of May is the first that I
must claim a liberty of going to a Court play according to my oath. So
home to supper, and at supper comes Pembleton, and afterwards we all up to
dancing till late, and so broke up and to bed, and they say that I am like
to make a dancer.

9th. Up betimes and to my office, whither sooner than ordinary comes Mr.
Hater desiring to speak a word to me alone, which I was from the disorder
of his countenance amused at, and so the poor man began telling me that by
Providence being the last Lord's day at a meeting of some Friends upon
doing of their duties, they were surprised, and he carried to the Counter,
but afterwards released; however, hearing that Sir W. Batten do hear of
[it,] he thought it good to give me an account of it, lest it might tend
to any prejudice to me. I was extraordinary surprised with it, and
troubled for him, knowing that now it is out it is impossible for me to
conceal it, or keep him in employment under me without danger to myself.
I cast about all I could, and did give him the best advice I could,
desiring to know if I should promise that he would not for the time to
come commit the same, he told me he desired that I would rather forbear to
promise that, for he durst not do it, whatever God in His providence shall
do with him, and that for my part he did bless God and thank me for all
the love and kindness I have shewed him hitherto. I could not without
tears in my eyes discourse with him further, but at last did pitch upon
telling the truth of the whole to Mr. Coventry as soon as I could, and to
that end did use means to prevent Sir W. Batten (who came to town last
night) from going to that end to-day, lest he might doe it to Sir G.
Carteret or Mr. Coventry before me; which I did prevail and kept him at
the office all the morning. At noon dined at home with a heavy heart for
the poor man, and after dinner went out to my brother's, and thence to
Westminster, where at Mr. Jervas's, my old barber, I did try two or three
borders and perriwiggs, meaning to wear one; and yet I have no stomach
[for it,] but that the pains of keeping my hair clean is so great. He
trimmed me, and at last I parted, but my mind was almost altered from my
first purpose, from the trouble that I foresee will be in wearing them
also. Thence by water home and to the office, where busy late, and so
home to supper and bed, with my mind much troubled about T. Hater.

10th (Lord's day). Up betimes, and put on a black cloth suit, with white
lynings under all, as the fashion is to wear, to appear under the
breeches. So being ready walked to St. James's, where I sat talking with
Mr. Coventry, while he made himself ready, about several businesses of the
Navy, and afterwards, the Duke being gone out, he and I walked to White
Hall together over the Park, I telling him what had happened to Tom Hater,
at which he seems very sorry, but tells me that if it is not made very
publique, it will not be necessary to put him away at present, but give
him good caution for the time to come. However, he will speak to the Duke
about it and know his pleasure. Parted with him there, and I walked back
to St. James's, and was there at mass, and was forced in the crowd to
kneel down; and mass being done, to the King's Head ordinary, whither I
sent for Mr. Creed and there we dined, where many Parliament-men; and most
of their talk was about the news from Scotland, that the Bishop of
Galloway was besieged in his house by some woman, and had like to have
been outraged, but I know not how he was secured; which is bad news, and
looks just as it did in the beginning of the late troubles. From thence
they talked of rebellion; and I perceive they make it their great maxime
to be sure to master the City of London, whatever comes of it or from it.
After that to some other discourse, and, among other things, talking of
the way of ordinaries, that it is very convenient, because a man knows
what he hath to pay: one did wish that, among many bad, we could learn two
good things of France, which were that we would not think it below the
gentleman, or person of honour at a tavern, to bargain for his meat before
he eats it; and next, to take no servant without certificate from some
friend or gentleman of his good behaviour and abilities. Hence with Creed
into St. James's Park, and there walked all the afternoon, and thence on
foot home, and after a little while at my office walked in the garden with
my wife, and so home to supper, and after prayers to bed. My brother Tom
supped with me, and should have brought my aunt Ellen with him; she was
not free to go abroad.

11th. Up betimes, and by water to Woolwich on board the Royall James, to
see in what dispatch she is to be carried about to Chatham. So to the
yard a little, and thence on foot to Greenwich, where going I was set upon
by a great dogg, who got hold of my garters, and might have done me hurt;
but, Lord, to see in what a maze I was, that, having a sword about me, I
never thought of it, or had the heart to make use of it, but might, for
want of that courage, have been worried. Took water there and home, and
both coming and going did con my lesson on my Ruler to measure timber,
which I think I can well undertake now to do. At home there being
Pembleton I danced, and I think shall come on to do something in a little
time, and after dinner by coach with Sir W. Pen (setting down his daughter
at Clerkenwell), to St. James's, where we attended the Duke of York: and,
among other things, Sir G. Carteret and I had a great dispute about the
different value of the pieces of eight rated by Mr. Creed at 4s. and 5d.,
and by Pitts at 4s. and 9d., which was the greatest husbandry to the King?
he persisting that the greatest sum was; which is as ridiculous a piece of
ignorance as could be imagined. However, it is to be argued at the Board,
and reported to the Duke next week; which I shall do with advantage, I
hope. Thence to the Tangier Committee, where we should have concluded in
sending Captain Cuttance and the rest to Tangier to deliberate upon the
design of the Mole before they begin to work upon it, but there being not
a committee (my Lord intending to be there but was taken up at my Lady
Castlemayne's) I parted and went homeward, after a little discourse with
Mr. Pierce the surgeon, who tells me that my Lady Castlemaine hath now got
lodgings near the King's chamber at Court; and that the other day Dr.
Clerke and he did dissect two bodies, a man and a woman; before the King,
with which the King was highly pleased. By water and called upon Tom
Trice by appointment with Dr. Williams, but the Dr. did not come, it seems
by T. Trice's desire, not thinking he should be at leisure. However, in
general we talked of our business, and I do not find that he will come to
any lower terms than L150, which I think I shall not give him but by law,
and so we parted, and I called upon Mr. Crumlum, and did give him the 10s.
remaining, not laid out of the L5 I promised him for the school, with
which he will buy strings, and golden letters upon the books I did give
them. I sat with him and his wife a great while talking, and she is [a]
pretty woman, never yet with child, and methinks looks as if her mouth
watered now and then upon some of her boys. Then upon Tom Pepys, the
Turner, desiring his father and his letter to Piggott signifying his
consent to the selling of his land for the paying of us his money, and so
home, and finding Pembleton there we did dance till it was late, and so to
supper and to bed.

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