Book: Diary of Samuel Pepys, September/October 1662
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Samuel Pepys >> Diary of Samuel Pepys, September/October 1662
[Charles II. determined to form his own chapel on the model of that
at Versailles. Twenty-four instrumentalists were engaged, and this
was the first day upon which they were brought into requisition.
Evelyn alludes to the change in his Diary, but he puts the date down
as the 21st instead of the 14th. "Instead of the antient, grave and
solemn wind musiq accompanying the organ, was introduc'd a concert
of 24 violins between every pause after the French fantastical light
way, better suiting a tavern or playhouse than a church. This was
the first time of change, and now we no more heard the cornet which
gave life to the organ, that instrument quite left off in which the
English were so skilful." A list of the twenty-four fiddlers in
1674, taken from an Exchequer document, "The names of the Gents of
his Majesties Private Musick paid out of the Exchequer," is printed
in North's "Memoires of Musick," ed. Rimbault, 1846, p. 98 (note).]
But yet I could discern Captain Cooke to overdo his part at singing, which
I never did before. Thence up into the Queen's presence, and there saw
the Queen again as I did last Sunday, and some fine ladies with her; but,
my troth, not many. Thence to Sir G. Carteret's, and find him to have
sprained his foot and is lame, but yet hath been at chappell, and my Lady
much troubled for one of her daughters that is sick. I dined with them,
and a very pretty lady, their kinswoman, with them. My joy is, that I do
think I have good hold on Sir George and Mr. Coventry. Sir George told me
of a chest of drawers that were given Sir W. B. by Hughes the rope-maker,
whom he has since put out of his employment, and now the fellow do cry out
upon Sir W. for his cabinet. So home again by water and to church, and
from church Sir Williams both and Sir John Minnes into the garden, and
anon Sir W. Pen and I did discourse about my lodgings and Sir J. Minnes,
and I did open all my mind to him, and he told me what he had heard, and I
do see that I shall hardly keep my best lodging chamber, which troubles
me, but I did send for Goodenough the plasterer, who tells me that it did
ever belong to my lodgings, but lent by Mr. Payles to Mr. Smith, and so I
will strive hard for it before I lose it. So to supper with them at Sir
W. Batten's, and do counterfeit myself well pleased, but my heart is
troubled and offended at the whole company. So to my office to prepare
notes to read to the Duke to-morrow morning, and so to my lodgings and to
bed, my mind a little eased because I am resolved to know the worst
concerning my lodgings tomorrow. Among other things Sir W. Pen did tell
me of one of my servants looking into Sir J. Minnes' window when my Lady
Batten lay there, which do much trouble them, and me also, and I fear will
wholly occasion my loosing the leads. One thing more he told me of my
Jane's cutting off a carpenter's long mustacho, and how the fellow cried,
and his wife would not come near him a great while, believing that he had
been among some of his wenches. At which I was merry, though I perceive
they discourse of it as a crime of hers, which I understand not.
15th. Up betimes to meet with the plasterer and bricklayer that did first
divide our lodgings, and they do both tell me that my chamber now in
dispute did ever belong to my lodgings, which do put me into good quiet of
mind. So by water with Sir Wm. Pen to White Hall; and, with much ado, was
fain to walk over the piles through the bridge, while Sir W. Batten and
Sir J. Minnes were aground against the bridge, and could not in a great
while get through. At White Hall we hear that the Duke of York is gone
a-hunting to-day; and so we returned: they going to the Duke of
Albemarle's, where I left them (after I had observed a very good picture
or two there), and so home, and there did resolve to give up my endeavours
for access to the leads, and to shut up my doors lest the being open might
give them occasion of longing for my chamber, which I am in most fear
about. So to Deptford, and took my Lady Batten and her daughter and Mrs.
Turner along with me, they being going through the garden thither, they to
Mr. Unthwayte's and I to the Pay, and then about 3 o'clock went to dinner
(Sir W. Pen and I), and after dinner to the Pay again, and at night by
barge home all together, and so to my lodgings and to bed, my mind full of
trouble about my house.
16th. Up and to my workmen, and then to the office, and there we sat till
noon; then to the Exchange, and in my way met with the housekeeper of this
office, and he did give me so good an account of my chamber in my house
about which I am so much troubled that I am well at ease in my mind. At
my office all the afternoon alone. In the evening Sir J. M. and I walked
together a good while in the garden, very pleasant, and takes no notice
that he do design any further trouble to me about my house. At night eat
a bit of bread and cheese, and so to my lodgings and to bed, my mind ill
at ease for these particulars: my house in dirt, and like to lose my best
chamber. My wife writes me from the country that she is not pleased there
with my father nor mother, nor any of her servants, and that my boy is
turned a very rogue. I have L30 to pay to the cavaliers: then a doubt
about my being forced to leave all my business here, when I am called to
the court at Brampton; and lastly, my law businesses, which vex me to my
heart what I shall be able to do next term, which is near at hand.
17th. At my office all the morning, and at noon to the Exchange, where
meeting Mr. Moore and Mr. Stucky, of the Wardrobe, we to an ordinary to
dinner, and after dinner Mr. Moore and I about 3 o'clock to Paul's school,
to wait upon Mr. Crumlum (Mr. Moore having a hopeful lad, a kinsman of
his, there at school), who we take very luckily, and went up to his
chamber with him, where there was also an old fellow student of Mr.
Crumlum's, one Mr. Newell, come to see him, of whom he made so much, and
of me, that the truth is he with kindness did drink more than I believe he
used to do, and did begin to be a little impertinent, the more when after
all he would in the evening go forth with us and give us a bottle of wine
abroad, and at the tavern met with an acquaintance of his that did
occasion impertinent discourse, that though I honour the man, and he do
declare abundance of learning and worth, yet I confess my opinion is much
lessened of him, and therefore let it be a caution to myself not to love
drink, since it has such an effect upon others of greater worth in my own
esteem. I could not avoid drinking of 5 glasses this afternoon with him,
and after I had parted with him Mr. Moore and I to my house, and after we
had eaten something to my lodgings, where the master of the house, a very
ordinary fellow, was ready to entertain me and took me into his
dining-room where his wife was, a pretty and notable lady, too fine surely
for him, and too much wit too. Here I was forced to stay with them a good
while and did drink again, there being friends of theirs with them. At
last being weary of his idle company, I bid good-night and so to my
chamber and Mr. [Moore] and I to bed, neither of us well pleased with our
afternoon's work, merely from our being witnesses of Mr. Crumlum's
weakness. This day my boy is come from Brampton, and my wife I think the
next week.
18th. At the office all the morning, and at noon Sir G. Carteret, Mr.
Coventry, and I by invitation to dinner to Sheriff Maynell's, the great
money-man; he, Alderman Backwell, and much noble and brave company, with
the privilege of their rare discourse, which is great content to me above
all other things in the world. And after a great dinner and much
discourse, we arose and took leave, and home to the business of my office,
where I thank God I take delight, and in the evening to my lodging and to
bed. Among other discourse, speaking concerning the great charity used in
Catholic countrys, Mr. Ashburnham did tell us, that this last year, there
being great want of corn in Paris, and so a collection made for the poor,
there was two pearls brought in, nobody knew from whom (till the Queen,
seeing them, knew whose they were, but did not discover it), which were
sold for 200,000 crownes.
19th. Up betimes and to my office, and at 9 o'clock, none of the rest
going, I went alone to Deptford, and there went on where they left last
night to pay Woolwich yard, and so at noon dined well, being chief at the
table, and do not see but every body begins to give me as much respect and
honour as any of the rest. After dinner to Pay again, and so till 9 at
night, my great trouble being that I was forced to begin an ill practice
of bringing down the wages of servants, for which people did curse me,
which I do not love. At night, after I had eaten a cold pullet, I walked
by brave moonshine, with three or four armed men to guard me, to Redriffe,
it being a joy to my heart to think of the condition that I am now in,
that people should of themselves provide this for me, unspoke to. I hear
this walk is dangerous to walk alone by night, and much robbery committed
here. So from thence by water home, and so to my lodgings to bed.
20th. Up betimes and to my office, where I found my brother Tom, who
tells me that his mistress's mother has wrote a letter to Mr. Lull of her
full satisfaction about Tom, of which I was glad, and do think the
business will take. All this morning we sat at the office, Sir J. Minnes
and I. And so dined at home, and among my workmen all the afternoon, and
in the evening Tom brought Mr. Lull to me, a friend of his mistress, a
serious man, with whom I spoke, and he gives me a good account of her and
of their satisfaction in Tom, all which pleases me well. We walked a good
while in the garden together, and did give him a glass of wine at my
office, and so parted. So to write letters by the post and news of this
to my father concerning Tom, and so home to supper and to my lodgings and
to bed. To-night my barber sent me his man to trim me, who did live in
King Street in Westminster lately, and tells me that three or four that I
knew in that street, tradesmen, are lately fallen mad, and some of them
dead, and the others continue mad. They live all within a door or two one
of another.
21st (Lord's day). Got up betimes and walked to St. James's, and there to
Mr. Coventry, and sat an hour with him, talking of business of the office
with great pleasure, and I do perceive he do speak his whole mind to me.
Thence to the Park, where by appointment I met my brother Tom and Mr.
Cooke, and there spoke about Tom's business, and to good satisfaction.
The Queen coming by in her coach, going to her chappell at St. James's'
(the first time it hath been ready for her), I crowded after her, and I
got up to the room where her closet is; and there stood and saw the fine
altar, ornaments, and the fryers in their habits, and the priests come in
with their fine copes and many other very fine things. I heard their
musique too; which may be good, but it did not appear so to me, neither as
to their manner of singing, nor was it good concord to my ears, whatever
the matter was. The Queene very devout: but what pleased me best was to
see my dear Lady Castlemaine, who, tho' a Protestant, did wait upon the
Queen to chappell. By and by, after mass was done, a fryer with his cowl
did rise up and preach a sermon in Portuguese; which I not understanding,
did go away, and to the King's chappell, but that was done; and so up to
the Queen's presence-chamber, where she and the King was expected to dine:
but she staying at St. James's, they were forced to remove the things to
the King's presence [chamber]; and there he dined alone, and I with Mr.
Fox very finely; but I see I must not make too much of that liberty for my
honour sake only, not but that I am very well received. After dinner to
Tom's, and so home, and after walking a good while in the garden I went to
my uncle Wight's, where I found my aunt in mourning and making sad stories
for the loss of her dear sister Nicholls, of which I should have been very
weary but that pretty Mrs. Margaret Wight came in and I was much pleased
with her company, and so all supper did vex my aunt talking in
commendation of the mass which I had been at to-day, but excused it
afterwards that it was only to make mirth. And so after supper broke up
and home, and after putting my notes in order against to-morrow I went to
bed.
22nd. Up betimes among my workmen, hastening to get things ready against
my wife's coming, and so with Sir J. M., Sir W. B., and Sir W. P., by
coach to St. James's, and there with the Duke. I did give him an account
of all things past of late; but I stood in great pain, having a great fit
of the colic, having catched cold yesterday by putting off my stockings to
wipe my toes, but at last it lessened, and then I was pretty well again,
but in pain all day more or less. Thence I parted from them and walked to
Greatorex's, and there with him did overlook many pretty things, new
inventions, and have bespoke a weather glass of him. Thence to my Lord
Crew's, and dined with the servants, he having dined; and so, after
dinner, up to him, and sat an hour talking with him of publique, and my
Lord's private businesses, with much content. So to my brother Tom's,
where Mr. Cooke expected me, and did go with me to see Mr. Young and Mr.
Lull in Blackfryers, kindred of Tom's mistress, where I was very well
used, and do find things to go in the business to my good content. Thence
to Mr. Townsend, and did there talk with Mr. Young himself also, and then
home and to my study, and so to my lodgings and to bed.
23rd. Up betimes and with my workmen, taking some pleasure to see my work
come towards an end, though I am vexed every day enough with their delay.
We met and sat all the morning, dined at home alone, and with my workmen
all the afternoon, and in the evening by water and land to Deptford to
give order for things about my house, and came back again by coach with
Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Batten (who has been at a Pay to-day), and to
my office and did some business, and so to supper and to my lodgings, and
so to bed. In our coming home Sir G. Carteret told me how in most
cabaretts in France they have writ upon the walls in fair letters to be
read, "Dieu te regarde," as a good lesson to be in every man's mind, and
have also, as in Holland, their poor's box; in both which places at the
making all contracts and bargains they give so much, which they call God's
penny.
24th. Up betimes and among my workmen, and among them all the morning
till noon, and then to my Lord Crew's, and there dined alone with him, and
among other things he do advise me by all means to keep my Lord Sandwich
from proceeding too far in the business of Tangier. First, for that he is
confident the King will not be able to find money for the building the
Mole; and next, for that it is to be done as we propose it by the reducing
of the garrison; and then either my Lord must oppose the Duke of York, who
will have the Irish regiment under the command of Fitzgerald continued, or
else my Lord Peterborough, who is concerned to have the English continued,
and he, it seems, is gone back again merely upon my Lord Sandwich's
encouragement. Thence to Mr. Wotton, the shoemaker's, and there bought a
pair of boots, cost me 30s., and he told me how Bird hath lately broke his
leg, while he was fencing in "Aglaura," upon the stage, and that the new
theatre of all will be ready against term. So to my brother's, and there
discoursed with him and Mr. Cooke about their journey to Tom's mistress
again, and I did speak with Mr. Croxton about measuring of silk flags. So
by water home and to my workmen, and so at night till late at my office,
inditing a letter from Tom to his mistress upon his sending her a watch
for a token, and so home and to supper, and to my lodgings and to bed. It
is my content that by several hands to-day I hear that I have the name of
good-natured man among the poor people that come to the office.
25th. Up betimes and to my workmen, and then to the office, where we sat
all the morning. So home to dinner alone and then to my workmen till
night, and so to my office till bedtime, and so after supper to my
lodgings and to bed. This evening I sat awhile at Sir W. Batten's with
Sir J. Minnes, &c., where he told us among many other things how in
Portugal they scorn to make a seat for a house of office, but they do
. . . . all in pots and so empty them in the river. I did also
hear how the woman, formerly nurse to Mrs. Lemon (Sir W. Batten's
daughter), her child was torn to pieces by two doggs at Walthamstow this
week, and is dead, which is very strange.
26th. Up betimes and among my workmen. By and by to Sir W. Batten, who
with Sir J. M. are going to Chatham this morning, and I was in great pain
till they were gone that I might see whether Sir John do speak any thing
of my chamber that I am afraid of losing or no. But he did not, and so my
mind is a little at more ease. So all day long till night among my
workmen, and in the afternoon did cause the partition between the entry
and the boy's room to be pulled down to lay it all into one, which I hope
will please me and make my coming in more pleasant. Late at my office at
night writing a letter of excuse to Sir G. Carteret that I cannot wait
upon him to-morrow morning to Chatham as I promised, which I am loth to do
because of my workmen and my wife's coming to town to-morrow. So to my
lodgings and to bed.
27th. Up betimes and among my workmen, and with great pleasure see the
posts in the entry taken down beyond expectation, so that now the boy's
room being laid into the entry do make my coming in very handsome, which
was the only fault remaining almost in my house. We sat all the morning,
and in the afternoon I got many jobbs done to my mind, and my wife's
chamber put into a good readiness against her coming, which she did at
night, for Will did, by my leave to go, meet her upon the road, and at
night did bring me word she was come to my brother's, by my order. So I
made myself ready and put things at home in order, and so went thither to
her. Being come, I found her and her maid and dogg very well, and herself
grown a little fatter than she was. I was very well pleased to see her,
and after supper to bed, and had her company with great content and much
mutual love, only I do perceive that there has been falling out between my
mother and she, and a little between my father and she; but I hope all is
well again, and I perceive she likes Brampton House and seat better than
ever I did myself, and tells me how my Lord hath drawn a plot of some
alteracions to be made there, and hath brought it up, which I saw and like
well. I perceive my Lord and Lady have been very kind to her, and Captn.
Ferrers so kind that I perceive I have some jealousy of him, but I know
what is the Captain's manner of carriage, and therefore it is nothing to
me. She tells me of a Court like to be in a little time, which troubles
me, for I would not willingly go out of town.
28th (Lord's day). Waked early, and fell talking one with another with
great pleasure of my house at Brampton and that here, and other matters.
She tells me what a rogue my boy is, and strange things he has been found
guilty of, not fit to name, which vexes [me], but most of all the unquiett
life that my mother makes my father and herself lead through her want of
reason. At last I rose, and with Tom to the French Church at the Savoy,
where I never was before--a pretty place it is--and there they have the
Common Prayer Book read in French, and, which I never saw before, the
minister do preach with his hat off, I suppose in further conformity with
our Church. So to Tom's to dinner with my wife, and there came Mr. Cooke,
and Joyce Norton do also dine there, and after dinner Cooke and I did talk
about his journey and Tom's within a day or two about his mistress. And I
did tell him my mind and give him my opinion in it. So I walked home and
found my house made a little clean, and pleases me better and better, and
so to church in the afternoon, and after sermon to my study, and there did
some things against to-morrow that I go to the Duke's, and so walked to
Tom's again, and there supped and to bed with good content of mind.
29th (Michaelmas day). This day my oaths for drinking of wine and going
to plays are out, and so I do resolve to take a liberty to-day, and then
to fall to them again. Up and by coach to White Hall, in my way taking up
Mr. Moore, and walked with him, talking a good while about business, in
St. James's Park, and there left him, and to Mr. Coventry's, and so with
him and Sir W. Pen up to the Duke, where the King came also and staid till
the Duke was ready. It being Collarday, we had no time to talk with him
about any business. They went out together. So we parted, and in the
park Mr. Cooke by appointment met me, to whom I did give my thoughts
concerning Tom's match and their journey tomorrow, and did carry him by
water to Tom's, and there taking up my wife, maid, dog, and him, did carry
them home, where my wife is much pleased with my house, and so am I fully.
I sent for some dinner and there dined, Mrs. Margaret Pen being by, to
whom I had spoke to go along with us to a play this afternoon, and then to
the King's Theatre, where we saw "Midsummer's Night's Dream," which I had
never seen before, nor shall ever again, for it is the most insipid
ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life. I saw, I confess, some good
dancing and some handsome women, which was all my pleasure. Thence set my
wife down at Madam Turner's, and so by coach home, and having delivered
Pegg Pen to her father safe, went home, where I find Mr. Deane, of
Woolwich, hath sent me the modell he had promised me; but it so far
exceeds my expectations, that I am sorry almost he should make such a
present to no greater a person; but I am exceeding glad of it, and shall
study to do him a courtesy for it. So to my office and wrote a letter to
Tom's mistress's mother to send by Cooke to-morrow. Then came Mr. Moore
thinking to have looked over the business of my Brampton papers against
the Court, but my mind was so full of other matters (as it is my nature
when I have been a good while from a business, that I have almost forgot
it, I am loth to come to it again) that I could not set upon it, and so he
and I past the evening away in discourse, and to my lodgings and to bed.
30th. We rose, and he about his business, and I to my house to look over
my workmen; but good God! how I do find myself by yesterday's liberty hard
to be brought to follow business again, but however, I must do it,
considering the great sweet and pleasure and content of mind that I have
had since I did leave drink and plays, and other pleasures, and followed
my business. So to my office, where we sat till noon, and then I to
dinner with Sir W. Pen, and while we were at it coming my wife to the
office, and so I sent for her up, and after dinner we took coach and to
the Duke's playhouse, where we saw "The Duchess of Malfy" well performed,
but Betterton and Ianthe to admiration. That being done, home again, by
coach, and my wife's chamber got ready for her to lie in to-night, but my
business did call me to my office, so that staying late I did not lie with
her at home, but at my lodgings. Strange to see how easily my mind do
revert to its former practice of loving plays and wine, having given
myself a liberty to them but these two days; but this night I have again
bound myself to Christmas next, in which I desire God to bless me and
preserve me, for under God I find it to be the best course that ever I
could take to bring myself to mind my business. I have also made up this
evening my monthly ballance, and find that, notwithstanding the loss of
L30 to be paid to the loyall and necessitous cavaliers by act of
Parliament,
[Two acts were passed in 1662 for this purpose, viz., 13 and 14 Car.
II. cap. 8: "An act for distribution of threescore thousand pounds
amongst the truly loyal and indigent commission officers, and for
assessing of offices and distributing the monies thereby raised for
their further supply;" and cap. 9, "An act for the relief of poor
and maimed officers and soldiers who have faithfully served his
Majesty and his royal father in the late wars."]
yet I am worth about L680, for which the Lord God be praised. My
condition at present is this:--I have long been building, and my house to
my great content is now almost done. But yet not so but that I shall have
dirt, which troubles me too, for my wife has been in the country at
Brampton these two months, and is now come home a week or two before the
house is ready for her. My mind is somewhat troubled about my best
chamber, which I question whether I shall be able to keep or no. I am
also troubled for the journey which I must needs take suddenly to the
Court at Brampton, but most of all for that I am not provided to
understand my business, having not minded it a great while, and at the
best shall be able but to make a bad matter of it, but God, I hope, will
guide all to the best, and I am resolved to-morrow to fall hard to it. I
pray God help me therein, for my father and mother and all our well-doings
do depend upon my care therein. My Lord Sandwich has lately been in the
country, and very civil to my wife, and hath himself spent some pains in
drawing a plot of some alterations in our house there, which I shall
follow as I get money. As for the office, my late industry hath been
such, as I am become as high in reputation as any man there, and good hold
I have of Mr. Coventry and Sir G. Carteret, which I am resolved, and it is
necessary for me, to maintain by all fair means. Things are all quiett,
but the King poor, and no hopes almost of his being otherwise, by which
things will go to rack, especially in the Navy. The late outing of the
Presbyterian clergy by their not renouncing the Covenant as the Act of
Parliament commands, is the greatest piece of state now in discourse. But
for ought I see they are gone out very peaceably, and the people not so
much concerned therein as was expected. My brother Tom is gone out of town
this day, to make a second journey to his mistress at Banbury, of which I
have good expectations, and pray God to bless him therein. My mind, I
hope, is settled to follow my business again, for I find that two days'
neglect of business do give more discontent in mind than ten times the
pleasure thereof can repair again, be it what it will.