Book: Diary of Samuel Pepys, November/December 1662
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Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, November/December 1662
15th. All the morning at the office sitting, dined with my wife
pleasantly at home, then among my painters, and by and by went to my Civil
Lawyers about my uncle's suit, and so home again and saw my painters make
an end of my house this night, which is my great joy, and so to my office
and did business till ten at night, and so home and to supper, and after
reading part of Bussy d'Ambois, a good play I bought to-day, to bed.
16th (Lord's day). About 3 o'clock in the morning waked with a rude noise
among Sir J. Minnes his servants (he not being yet come to his lodgings),
who are the rudest people but they that lived before, one Mrs. Davis, that
ever I knew in my life. To sleep again, and after long talking pleasantly
with my wife, up and to church, where Mrs. Goodyer, now Mrs. Buckworth,
was churched. I love the woman for her gravity above any in the parish.
So home and to dinner with my wife with great content, and after dinner
walked up and down my house, which is now almost finished, there being
nothing to do but the glazier and furniture to put up. By and by comes
Tom, and after a little talk I with him towards his end, but seeing many
strangers and coaches coming to our church, and finding that it was a
sermon to be preached by a probationer for the Turkey Company,--[The
Turkey or Levant Company was established in 1581.]--to be sent to Smyrna,
I returned thither. And several Turkey merchants filled all the best pews
(and some in ours) in the Church, but a most pitiful sermon it was upon a
text in Zachariah, and a great time he spent to show whose son Zachary
was, and to prove Malachi to be the last prophet before John the Baptist.
Home and to see Sir W. Pen, who gets strength, but still keeps his bed.
Then home and to my office to do some business there, and so home to
supper and to bed.
17th. To the Duke's to-day, but he is gone a-hunting, and therefore I to
my Lord Sandwich's, and having spoke a little with him about his
businesses, I to Westminster Hall and there staid long doing many
businesses, and so home by the Temple and other places doing the like, and
at home I found my wife dressing by appointment by her woman--[Mrs.
Gosnell.]--that I think is to be, and her other sister being here to-day
with her and my wife's brother, I took Mr. Creed, that came to dine, to an
ordinary behind the Change, and there dined together, and after dinner
home and there spent an hour or two till almost dark, talking with my
wife, and making Mrs. Gosnell sing; and then, there being no coach to be
got, by water to White Hall; but Gosnell not being willing to go through
bridge, we were forced to land and take water, again, and put her and her
sister ashore at the Temple. I am mightily pleased with her humour and
singing. At White Hall by appointment, Mr. Creed carried my wife and I to
the Cockpitt, and we had excellent places, and saw the King, Queen, Duke
of Monmouth, his son, and my Lady Castlemaine, and all the fine ladies;
and "The Scornfull Lady," well performed. They had done by eleven
o'clock, and it being fine moonshine, we took coach and home, but could
wake nobody at my house, and so were fain to have my boy get through one
of the windows, and so opened the door and called up the maids, and went
to supper and to bed, my mind being troubled at what my wife tells me,
that her woman will not come till she hears from her mother, for I am so
fond of her that I am loth now not to have her, though I know it will be a
great charge to me which I ought to avoid, and so will make it up in other
things. So to bed.
18th. Up and to the office, where Mr. Phillip the lawyer came to me, but
I put him off to the afternoon. At noon I dined at Sir W. Batten's, Sir
John Minnes being here, and he and I very kind, but I every day expect to
pull a crow with him about our lodgings. My mind troubled about Gosnell
and my law businesses. So after dinner to Mr. Phillips his chamber, where
he demands an abatement for Piggott's money, which vexes me also, but I
will not give it him without my father's consent, which I will write to
him to-night about, and have done it. Here meeting my uncle Thomas, he
and I to my cozen Roger's chamber, and there I did give my uncle him and
Mr. Philips to be my two arbiters against Mr. Cole and Punt, but I expect
no great good of the matter. Thence walked home, and my wife came home,
having been abroad to-day, laying out above L12 in linen, and a copper,
and a pot, and bedstead, and other household stuff, which troubles me
also, so that my mind to-night is very heavy and divided. Late at my
office, drawing up a letter to my Lord Treasurer, which we have been long
about, and so home, and, my mind troubled, to bed.
20th. All the morning sitting at the office, at noon with Mr. Coventry to
the Temple to advise about Field's, but our lawyers not being in the way
we went to St. James's, and there at his chamber dined, and I am still in
love more and more with him for his real worth. I broke to him my desire
for my wife's brother to send him to sea as a midshipman, which he is
willing to agree to, and will do it when I desire it. After dinner to the
Temple, to Mr. Thurland; and thence to my Lord Chief Baron, Sir Edward
Hale's, and back with Mr. Thurland to his chamber, where he told us that
Field will have the better of us; and that we must study to make up the
business as well as we can, which do much vex and trouble us: but I am
glad the Duke is concerned in it. Thence by coach homewards, calling at a
tavern in the way (being guided by the messenger in whose custody Field
lies), and spoke with Mr. Smith our messenger about the business, and so
home, where I found that my wife had finished very neatly my study with
the former hangings of the diningroom, which will upon occasion serve for
a fine withdrawing room. So a little to my office and so home, and spent
the evening upon my house, and so to supper and to bed.
21St. Within all day long, helping to put up my hangings in my house in my
wife's chamber, to my great content. In the afternoon I went to speak to
Sir J. Minnes at his lodgings, where I found many great ladies, and his
lodgings made very fine indeed. At night to supper and to bed: this night
having first put up a spitting sheet, which I find very convenient. This
day come the King's pleasure-boats from Calais, with the Dunkirk money,
being 400,000 pistolles.
22nd. This morning, from some difference between my wife and Sarah, her
maid, my wife and I fell out cruelly, to my great discontent. But I do
see her set so against the wench, whom I take to be a most extraordinary
good servant, that I was forced for the wench's sake to bid her get her
another place, which shall cost some trouble to my wife, however, before I
suffer to be. Thence to the office, where I sat all the morning, then
dined; Mr. Moore with me, at home, my wife busy putting her furniture in
order. Then he and I out, and he home and I to my cozen Roger Pepys to
advise about treating with my uncle Thomas, and thence called at the
Wardrobe on Mr. Moore again, and so home, and after doing much business at
my office I went home and caused a new fashion knocker to be put on my
door, and did other things to the putting my house in order, and getting
my outward door painted, and the arch. This day I bought the book of
country dances against my wife's woman Gosnell comes, who dances finely;
and there meeting Mr. Playford he did give me his Latin songs of Mr.
Deering's, which he lately printed. This day Mr. Moore told me that for
certain the Queen-Mother is married to my Lord St. Albans, and he is like
to be made Lord Treasurer. Newes that Sir J. Lawson hath made up a peace
now with Tunis and Tripoli, as well as Argiers, by which he will come home
very highly honoured.
23rd (Lord's day). Up, after some talk with my wife, soberly, upon
yesterday's difference, and made good friends, and to church to hear Mr.
Mills, and so home, and Mr. Moore and my brother Tom dined with me. My
wife not being well to-day did not rise. In the afternoon to church
again, and heard drowsy Mr. Graves, and so to see Sir W. Pen, who
continues ill in bed, but grows better and better every day. Thence to
Sir W. Batten's, and there staid awhile and heard how Sir R. Ford's
daughter is married to a fellow without friends' consent, and the match
carried on and made up at Will Griffin's, our doorkeeper's. So to my
office and did a little business, and so home and to bed. I talked to my
brother to-day, who desires me to give him leave to look after his
mistress still; and he will not have me put to any trouble or obligation
in it, which I did give him leave to do. I hear to-day how old rich
Audley is lately dead, and left a very great estate, and made a great many
poor familys rich, not all to one. Among others, one Davis, my old
schoolfellow at Paul's, and since a bookseller in Paul's Church Yard: and
it seems do forgive one man L60,000 which he had wronged him of, but names
not his name; but it is well known to be the scrivener in Fleet Street, at
whose house he lodged. There is also this week dead a poulterer, in
Gracious Street, which was thought rich, but not so rich, that hath left
L800 per annum, taken in other men's names, and 40,000 Jacobs in gold.
[A jacobus was a gold coin of the value of twenty-five shillings,
called after James I, in whose reign it was first coined.]
24th. Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and I, going forth toward White Hall,
we hear that the King and Duke are come this morning to the Tower to see
the Dunkirk money! So we by coach to them, and there went up and down all
the magazines with them; but methought it was but poor discourse and
frothy that the King's companions (young Killigrew among the rest) about
the codpieces of some of the men in armour there to be seen, had with him.
We saw none of the money, but Mr. Slingsby did show the King, and I did
see, the stamps of the new money that is now to be made by Blondeau's
fashion,
[Peter Blondeau was employed by the Commonwealth to coin their
money. After the Restoration, November 3rd, 1662, he received
letters of denization, and a grant for being engineer of the Mint in
the Tower of London, and for using his new invention for coining
gold and silver with the mill and press, with the fee of L100 per
annum (Walpole's "Anecdotes of Painting").]
which are very neat, and like the King. Thence the King to Woolwich,
though a very cold day; and the Duke to White Hall, commanding us to come
after him, which we did by coach; and in his closett, my Lord Sandwich
being there, did discourse with us about getting some of this money to pay
off the Fleets, and other matters; and then away hence, and, it being
almost dinner time, I to my Lord Crew's, and dined with him, and had very
good discourse, and he seemed to be much pleased with my visits. Thence
to Mr. Phillips, and so to the Temple, where met my cozen Roger Pepys and
his brother, Dr. John, as my arbitrators against Mr. Cole and Mr. John
Bernard for my uncle Thomas, and we two with them by appointment. They
began very high in their demands, and my friends, partly being not so well
acquainted with the will, and partly, I doubt, not being so good wits as
they, for which I blame my choosing of relations (who besides that are
equally engaged to stand for them as me), I was much troubled thereat, and
taking occasion to deny without my father's consent to bind myself in a
bond of L2000 to stand to their award, I broke off the business for the
present till I hear and consider further, and so thence by coach (my
cozen, Thomas Pepys, being in another chamber busy all the while, going
along with me) homeward, and I set him down by the way; but, Lord! how he
did endeavour to find out a ninepence to clubb with me for the coach, and
for want was forced to give me a shilling, and how he still cries "Gad!"
and talks of Popery coming in, as all the Fanatiques do, of which I was
ashamed. So home, finding my poor wife very busy putting things in order,
and so to bed, my mind being very much troubled, and could hardly sleep
all night, thinking how things are like to go with us about Brampton, and
blaming myself for living so high as I do when for ought I know my father
and mother may come to live upon my hands when all is done.
25th. Up and to the office all the morning, and at noon with the rest, by
Mr. Holy, the ironmonger's invitation, to the Dolphin, to a venison pasty,
very good, and rare at this time of the year, and thence by coach with Mr.
Coventry as far as the Temple, and thence to Greatorex's, where I staid
and talked with him, and got him to mend my pocket ruler for me, and so by
coach to my Lord's lodging, where I sat with Mr. Moore by appointment,
making up accounts for my Lord Sandwich, which done he and I and Capt.
Ferrers and W. Howe very merry a good while in the great dining room, and
so it being late and my Lord not coming in, I by coach to the Temple, and
thence walked home, and so to my study to do some business, and then home
and to bed. Great talk among people how some of the Fanatiques do say
that the end of the world is at hand, and that next Tuesday is to be the
day. Against which, whenever it shall be, good God fit us all.
26th. In the morning to the Temple to my cozen Roger, who now desires
that I would excuse him from arbitrating, he not being able to stand for
me as he would do, without appearing too high against my uncle Thomas,
which will raise his clamour. With this I am very well pleased, for I did
desire it, and so I shall choose other counsel. Thence home, he being
busy that I could not speak more with him. All day long till twelve
o'clock at night getting my house in order, my wife putting up the red
hangings and bed in her woman's chamber, and I my books and all other
matters in my chamber and study, which is now very pretty. So to bed.
27th. At my waking, I found the tops of the houses covered with snow,
which is a rare sight, that I have not seen these three years. Up, and
put my people to perfect the cleaning of my house, and so to the office,
where we sat till noon; and then we all went to the next house upon Tower
Hill, to see the coming by of the Russia Embassador; for whose reception
all the City trained-bands do attend in the streets, and the King's
life-guards, and most of the wealthy citizens in their black velvet coats,
and gold chains (which remain of their gallantry at the King's coming in),
but they staid so long that we went down again home to dinner. And after
I had dined, I heard they were coming, and so I walked to the Conduit in
the Quarrefowr,
[In two ordinances of the reign of Edward III., printed in Riley's
"Memorials of London" (pp. 300, 389), this is called the "Carfukes,"
which nearly approaches the name of the "Carfax," at Oxford, where
four ways also met. Pepys's form of the word is nearer quatre
voies, the French equivalent of quadrivium.]
at the end of Gracious-street and Cornhill; and there (the spouts thereof
running very near me upon all the people that were under it) I saw them
pretty well go by. I could not see the Embassador in his coach; but his
attendants in their habits and fur caps very handsome, comely men, and
most of them with hawkes upon their fists to present to the King. But
Lord! to see the absurd nature of Englishmen, that cannot forbear laughing
and jeering at every thing that looks strange. So back and to the office,
and there we met and sat till seven o'clock, making a bargain with Mr.
Wood for his masts of New England; and then in Mr. Coventry's coach to the
Temple, but my cozen Roger Pepys not being at leisure to speak to me about
my business, I presently walked home, and to my office till very late
doing business, and so home, where I found my house more and more clear
and in order, and hope in a day or two now to be in very good condition
there and to my full content. Which God grant! So to supper and to bed.
28th. A very hard frost; which is news to us after having none almost
these three years. Up and to Ironmongers' Hall by ten o'clock to the
funeral of Sir Richard Stayner. Here we were, all the officers of the
Navy, and my Lord Sandwich, who did discourse with us about the fishery,
telling us of his Majesty's resolution to give L200 to every man that will
set out a Busse;
[A small sea-vessel used in the Dutch herring-fishery.]
and advising about the effects of this encouragement, which will be a very
great matter certainly. Here we had good rings, and by and by were to
take coach; and I being got in with Mr. Creed into a four-horse coach,
which they come and told us were only for the mourners, I went out, and so
took this occasion to go home. Where I staid all day expecting Gosnell's
coming, but there came an excuse from her that she had not heard yet from
her mother, but that she will come next week, which I wish she may, since
I must keep one that I may have some pleasure therein. So to my office
till late writing out a copy of my uncle's will, and so home and to bed.
29th. Before I went to the office my wife's brother did come to us, and
we did instruct him to go to Gosnell's and to see what the true matter is
of her not coming, and whether she do intend to come or no, and so I to
the office; and this morning come Sir G. Carteret to us (being the first
time we have seen him since his coming from France): he tells us, that the
silver which he received for Dunkirk did weigh 120,000 weight. Here all
the morning upon business, and at noon (not going home to dinner, though
word was brought me that Will. Joyce was there, whom I had not seen at my
house nor any where else these three or four months) with Mr. Coventry by
his coach as far as Fleet Street, and there stepped into Madam Turner's,
where was told I should find my cozen Roger Pepys, and with him to the
Temple, but not having time to do anything I went towards my Lord
Sandwich's. (In my way went into Captn. Cuttance's coach, and with him to
my Lord's.) But the company not being ready I did slip down to
Wilkinson's, and having not eat any thing to-day did eat a mutton pie and
drank, and so to my Lord's, where my Lord and Mr. Coventry, Sir Wm. Darcy,
one Mr. Parham (a very knowing and well-spoken man in this business), with
several others, did meet about stating the business of the fishery, and
the manner of the King's giving of this L200 to every man that shall set
out a new-made English Busse by the middle of June next. In which
business we had many fine pretty discourses; and I did here see the great
pleasure to be had in discoursing of publique matters with men that are
particularly acquainted with this or that business. Having come to some
issue, wherein a motion of mine was well received, about sending these
invitations from the King to all the fishing-ports in general, with
limiting so many Busses to this, and that port, before we know the
readiness of subscribers, we parted, and I walked home all the way, and
having wrote a letter full of business to my father, in my way calling
upon my cozen Turner and Mr. Calthrop at the Temple, for their consent to
be my arbitrators, which they are willing to. My wife and I to bed pretty
pleasant, for that her brother brings word that Gosnell, which my wife and
I in discourse do pleasantly call our Marmotte, will certainly come next
week without fail, which God grant may be for the best.
30th (Lord's day). To church in the morning, and Mr. Mills made a pretty
good sermon. It is a bitter cold frost to-day. Dined alone with my wife
to-day with great content, my house being quite clean from top to bottom.
In the afternoon I to the French church here
[The French Protestant Church was founded by Edward VI. in the
church of St. Anthony's Hospital in Threadneedle Street. This was
destroyed in the Great Fire, and rebuilt, but demolished for the
approaches of the new Royal Exchange. The church was then removed
to St. Martin's-le-Grand, but this was also removed in 1888 to make
room for the new Post Office buildings.]
in the city, and stood in the aisle all the sermon, with great delight
hearing a very admirable sermon, from a very young man, upon the article
in our creed, in order of catechism, upon the Resurrection. Thence home,
and to visit Sir W. Pen, who continues still bed-rid. Here was Sir W.
Batten and his Lady, and Mrs. Turner, and I very merry, talking of the
confidence of Sir R. Ford's new-married daughter, though she married so
strangely lately, yet appears at church as brisk as can be, and takes
place of her elder sister, a maid. Thence home and to supper, and then,
cold as it is, to my office, to make up my monthly accounts, and I do find
that, through the fitting of my house this month, I have spent in that and
kitchen L50 this month; so that now I am worth but L660, or thereabouts.
This being done and fitted myself for the Duke to-morrow, I went home, and
to prayers and to bed. This day I first did wear a muffe, being my wife's
last year's muffe,
[The fashion of men wearing muffs appears to have been introduced
from France in this reign.]
and now I have bought her a new one, this serves me very well. Thus ends
this month; in great frost; myself and family all well, but my mind much
disordered about my uncle's law business, being now in an order of being
arbitrated between us, which I wish to God it were done. I am also
somewhat uncertain what to think of my going about to take a woman-servant
into my house, in the quality of a woman for my wife. My wife promises it
shall cost me nothing but her meat and wages, and that it shall not be
attended with any other expenses, upon which termes I admit of it; for
that it will, I hope, save me money in having my wife go abroad on visits
and other delights; so that I hope the best, but am resolved to alter it,
if matters prove otherwise than I would have them. Publique matters in an
ill condition of discontent against the height and vanity of the Court,
and their bad payments: but that which troubles most, is the Clergy, which
will never content the City, which is not to be reconciled to Bishopps:
the more the pity that differences must still be. Dunkirk newly sold, and
the money brought over; of which we hope to get some to pay the Navy:
which by Sir J. Lawson's having dispatched the business in the Straights,
by making peace with Argier,--[The ancient name for Algiers.]--Tunis, and
Tripoli (and so his fleet will also shortly come home), will now every day
grow less, and so the King's charge be abated; which God send!
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
DECEMBER
1662
December 1st. Up and by coach with Sir John Minnes and Sir W. Batten to
White Hall to the Duke's chamber, where, as is usual, my Lord Sandwich and
all of us, after his being ready, to his closett, and there discoursed of
matters of the Navy, and here Mr. Coventry did do me the great kindness to
take notice to the Duke of my pains in making a collection of all
contracts about masts, which have been of great use to us. Thence I to my
Lord Sandwich's, to Mr. Moore, to talk a little about business; and then
over the Parke (where I first in my life, it being a great frost, did see
people sliding with their skeates,
[Iron skates appear to have been introduced by the Dutch, as the
name certainly was; but we learn from Fitzstephen that bone skates
(although not so called) were used in London in the twelfth
century.]
which is a very pretty art), to Mr. Coventry's chamber to St. James's,
where we all met to a venison pasty, and were very merry, Major Norwood
being with us, whom they did play upon for his surrendering of Dunkirk.
Here we staid till three or four o'clock; and so to the Council Chamber,
where there met the Duke of York, Prince Rupert, Duke of Albemarle, my
Lord Sandwich, Sir Win. Compton, Mr. Coventry, Sir J. Minnes, Sir R. Ford,
Sir W. Rider, myself, and Captain Cuttance, as Commissioners for Tangier.
And after our Commission was read by Mr. Creed, who I perceive is to be
our Secretary, we did fall to discourse of matters: as, first, the
supplying them forthwith with victualls; then the reducing it to make way
for the money, which upon their reduction is to go to the building of the
Mole; and so to other matters, ordered as against next meeting. This done
we broke up, and I to the Cockpitt, with much crowding and waiting, where
I saw "The Valiant Cidd"--[Translated from the "Cid" of Corneille]--acted,
a play I have read with great delight, but is a most dull thing acted,
which I never understood before, there being no pleasure in it, though
done by Betterton and by Ianthe, And another fine wench that is come in
the room of Roxalana nor did the King or queen once smile all the whole
play, nor any of the company seem to take any pleasure but what was in the
greatness and gallantry of the company. Thence to my Lord's, and Mr.
Moore being in bed I staid not, but with a link walked home and got
thither by 12 o'clock, knocked up my boy, and put myself to bed.