The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Diary of Samuel Pepys, May 1667
#61 in our series by Samuel Pepys

Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the
copyright laws for your country before distributing this or any other
Project Gutenberg file.

We encourage you to keep this file, exactly as it is, on your
own disk, thereby keeping an electronic path open for future
readers.  Please do not remove this.

This header should be the first thing seen when anyone starts to
view the etext. Do not change or edit it without written permission.
The words are carefully chosen to provide users with the
information they need to understand what they may and may not
do with the etext.


**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**

**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**

*****These Etexts Are Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****

Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get etexts, and
further information, is included below.  We need your donations.

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3)
organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541



Title: Diary of Samuel Pepys, May 1667

Author: Samuel Pepys

Release Date: June, 2003 [Etext #4176]
[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
[This file was first posted on November 30, 2001]

Edition: 10

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Diary of Samuel Pepys, May 1667
*******This file should be named sp61g10.txt or sp61g10.zip*******

Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, sp61g11.txt
VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, sp61g10a.txt

This etext was produced by David Widger  <widger@cecomet.net>

Project Gutenberg Etexts are often created from several printed
editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US
unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we usually do not
keep etexts in compliance with any particular paper edition.

We are now trying to release all our etexts one year in advance
of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing.
Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections,
even years after the official publication date.

Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til
midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement.
The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at
Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month.  A
preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment
and editing by those who wish to do so.

Most people start at our sites at:
http://gutenberg.net or
http://promo.net/pg

These Web sites include award-winning information about Project
Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new
etexts, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!).


Those of you who want to download any Etext before announcement
can get to them as follows, and just download by date.  This is
also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the
indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an
announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter.

http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or
ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03

Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90

Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want,
as it appears in our Newsletters.


Information about Project Gutenberg (one page)

We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work.  The
time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours
to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright
searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc.   Our
projected audience is one hundred million readers.  If the value
per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2
million dollars per hour in 2001 as we release over 50 new Etext
files per month, or 500 more Etexts in 2000 for a total of 4000+
If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total
should reach over 300 billion Etexts given away by year's end.

The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext
Files by December 31, 2001.  [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion]
This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers,
which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users.

At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third
of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 4,000 Etexts.  We need
funding, as well as continued efforts by volunteers, to maintain
or increase our production and reach our goals.

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created
to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium.

We need your donations more than ever!

As of November, 2001, contributions are being solicited from people
and organizations in: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee,
Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin,
and Wyoming.

*In Progress

We have filed in about 45 states now, but these are the only ones
that have responded.

As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list
will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states.
Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state.

In answer to various questions we have received on this:

We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally
request donations in all 50 states.  If your state is not listed and
you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have,
just ask.

While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are
not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting
donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to
donate.

International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about
how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made
deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are
ways.

All donations should be made to:

Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
PMB 113
1739 University Ave.
Oxford, MS 38655-4109

Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment
method other than by check or money order.


The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by
the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN
[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154.  Donations are
tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law.  As fundraising
requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be
made and fundraising will begin in the additional states.

We need your donations more than ever!

You can get up to date donation information at:

http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html


***

If you can't reach Project Gutenberg,
you can always email directly to:

Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com>

Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message.

We would prefer to send you information by email.


**The Legal Small Print**


(Three Pages)

***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START***
Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers.
They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with
your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from
someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our
fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement
disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how
you may distribute copies of this etext if you want to.

*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT
By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept
this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive
a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by
sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person
you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical
medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request.

ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS
This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etexts,
is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart
through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project").
Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright
on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and
distribute it in the United States without permission and
without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth
below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext
under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark.

Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market
any commercial products without permission.

To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable
efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain
works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any
medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other
things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or
corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged
disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer
codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES
But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below,
[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may
receive this etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims
all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including
legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR
UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE
OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of
receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any)
you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that
time to the person you received it from. If you received it
on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and
such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement
copy. If you received it electronically, such person may
choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to
receive it electronically.

THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER
WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS
TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or
the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the
above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you
may have other legal rights.

INDEMNITY
You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation,
and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated
with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm
texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including
legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the
following that you do or cause:  [1] distribution of this etext,
[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the etext,
or [3] any Defect.

DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm"
You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by
disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this
"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg,
or:

[1]  Only give exact copies of it.  Among other things, this
     requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the
     etext or this "small print!" statement.  You may however,
     if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable
     binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form,
     including any form resulting from conversion by word
     processing or hypertext software, but only so long as
     *EITHER*:

     [*]  The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and
          does *not* contain characters other than those
          intended by the author of the work, although tilde
          (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may
          be used to convey punctuation intended by the
          author, and additional characters may be used to
          indicate hypertext links; OR

     [*]  The etext may be readily converted by the reader at
          no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent
          form by the program that displays the etext (as is
          the case, for instance, with most word processors);
          OR

     [*]  You provide, or agree to also provide on request at
          no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the
          etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC
          or other equivalent proprietary form).

[2]  Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this
     "Small Print!" statement.

[3]  Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the
     gross profits you derive calculated using the method you
     already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  If you
     don't derive profits, no royalty is due.  Royalties are
     payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation"
     the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were
     legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent
     periodic) tax return.  Please contact us beforehand to
     let us know your plans and to work out the details.

WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO?
Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of
public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed
in machine readable form.

The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time,
public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses.
Money should be paid to the:
"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."

If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or
software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at:
hart@pobox.com

[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart
and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.]
[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales
of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or
software or any other related product without express permission.]

*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END*





This etext was produced by David Widger  <widger@cecomet.net>





                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
                                  1667


May 1st.  Up, it being a fine day, and after doing a little business in
my chamber I left my wife to go abroad with W. Hewer and his mother in a
Hackney coach incognito to the Park, while I abroad to the Excise Office
first, and there met the Cofferer and Sir Stephen Fox about our money
matters there, wherein we agreed, and so to discourse of my Lord
Treasurer, who is a little better than he was of the stone, having rested
a little this night.  I there did acquaint them of my knowledge of that
disease, which I believe will be told my Lord Treasurer.  Thence to
Westminster; in the way meeting many milk-maids with their garlands upon
their pails, dancing with a fiddler before them;

     [On the 1st of May milkmaids used to borrow silver cups, tankards,
     &c., to hang them round their milkpails, with the addition of
     flowers and ribbons, which they carried upon their heads,
     accompanied by a bagpipe or fiddle, and went from door to door,
     dancing before the houses of their customers, in order to obtain a
     small gratuity from each of them.

              "In London thirty years ago,
               When pretty milkmaids went about,
               It was a goodly sight to see
               Their May-day pageant all drawn out.

              "Such scenes and sounds once blest my eyes
               And charm'd my ears; but all have vanish'd,
               On May-day now no garlands go,
               For milkmaids and their dance are banish'd."

                    Hone's Every-Day Book, vol. i., pp. 569, 570.]

and saw pretty Nelly standing at her lodgings' door in Drury-lane in her
smock sleeves and bodice, looking upon one: she seemed a mighty pretty
creature.  To the Hall and there walked a while, it being term.  I thence
home to the Rose, and then had Doll Lane venir para me .  .  .  .  To my
Lord Crew's, where I found them at dinner, and among others.  Mrs.
Bocket, which I have not seen a long time, and two little dirty children,
and she as idle a prating and impertinent woman as ever she was.  After
dinner my Lord took me alone and walked with me, giving me an account of
the meeting of the Commissioners for Accounts, whereof he is one.  How
some of the gentlemen, Garraway, Littleton, and others, did scruple at
their first coming there, being called thither to act, as Members of
Parliament, which they could not do by any authority but that of
Parliament, and therefore desired the King's direction in it, which was
sent for by my Lord Bridgewater, who brought answer, very short, that the
King expected they should obey his Commission.  Then they went on, and
observed a power to be given them of administering and framing an oath,
which they thought they could not do by any power but Act of Parliament;
and the whole Commission did think fit to have the judges' opinion in it;
and so, drawing up their scruples in writing, they all attended the King,
who told them he would send to the judges to be answered, and did so; who
have, my Lord tells me, met three times about it, not knowing what answer
to give to it; and they have met this week, doing nothing but expecting
the solution of the judges in this point.  My Lord tells me he do believe
this Commission will do more hurt than good; it may undo some accounts,
if these men shall think fit; but it can never clear an account, for he
must come into the Exchequer for all this.  Besides, it is a kind of
inquisition that hath seldom ever been granted in England; and he
believes it will never, besides, give any satisfaction to the People or
Parliament, but be looked upon as a forced, packed business of the King,
especially if these Parliament-men that are of it shall not concur with
them: which he doubts they will not, and, therefore, wishes much that the
King would lay hold of this fit occasion, and let the Commission fall.
Then to talk of my Lord Sandwich, whom my Lord Crew hath a great desire
might get to be Lord Treasurer if the present Lord should die, as it is
believed he will, in a little time; and thinks he can have no competitor
but my Lord Arlington, who, it is given out, desires it: but my Lord
thinks it is not so, for that the being Secretary do keep him a greater
interest with the King than the other would do at least, do believe,
that if my Lord would surrender him his Wardrobe place, it would be a
temptation to Arlington to assist my Lord in getting the Treasurer's.
I did object to my Lord [Crew] that it would be no place of content,
nor safety, nor honour for my Lord, the State being so indigent as it is,
and the [King] so irregular, and those about him, that my Lord must be
forced to part with anything to answer his warrants; and that, therefore,
I do believe the King had rather have a man that may be one of his
vicious caball, than a sober man that will mind the publick, that so they
may sit at cards and dispose of the revenue of the kingdom.  This my Lord
was moved at, and said he did not indeed know how to answer it, and bid
me think of it; and so said he himself would also do.  He do mightily cry
out of the bad management of our monies, the King having had so much
given him; and yet, when the Parliament do find that the King should have
L900,000 in his purse by the best account of issues they have yet seen,
yet we should report in the Navy a debt due from the King of L900,000;
which, I did confess, I doubted was true in the first, and knew to be
true in the last, and did believe that there was some great miscarriages
in it: which he owned to believe also, saying, that at this rate it is
not in the power of the kingdom to make a war, nor answer the King's
wants.  Thence away to the King's playhouse, by agreement met Sir W. Pen,
and saw "Love in a Maze" but a sorry play: only Lacy's clowne's part,
which he did most admirably indeed; and I am glad to find the rogue at
liberty again.  Here was but little, and that ordinary, company.  We sat
at the upper bench next the boxes; and I find it do pretty well, and have
the advantage of seeing and hearing the great people, which may be
pleasant when there is good store.  Now was only Prince Rupert and my
Lord Lauderdale, and my Lord, the naming of whom puts me in mind of my
seeing, at Sir Robert Viner's, two or three great silver flagons, made
with inscriptions as gifts of the King to such and such persons of
quality as did stay in town the late great plague, for the keeping things
in order in the town, which is a handsome thing.  But here was neither
Hart, Nell, nor Knipp; therefore, the play was not likely to please me.
Thence Sir W. Pen and I in his coach, Tiburne way, into the Park, where a
horrid dust, and number of coaches, without pleasure or order.  That
which we, and almost all went for, was to see my Lady Newcastle; which we
could not, she being followed and crowded upon by coaches all the way she
went, that nobody could come near her; only I could see she was in a
large black coach, adorned with silver instead of gold, and so white
curtains, and every thing black and white, and herself in her cap, but
other parts I could not make [out].  But that which I did see, and wonder
at with reason, was to find Pegg Pen in a new coach, with only her
husband's pretty sister with her, both patched and very fine, and in much
the finest coach in the park, and I think that ever I did see one or
other, for neatness and richness in gold, and everything that is noble.
My Lady Castlemayne, the King, my Lord St. Albans, nor Mr. Jermyn, have
so neat a coach, that ever I saw.  And, Lord! to have them have this, and
nothing else that is correspondent, is to me one of the most ridiculous
sights that ever I did see, though her present dress was well enough; but
to live in the condition they do at home, and be abroad in this coach,
astonishes me.  When we had spent half an hour in the Park, we went out
again, weary of the dust, and despairing of seeing my Lady Newcastle; and
so back the same way, and to St. James's, thinking to have met my Lady
Newcastle before she got home, but we staying by the way to drink, she
got home a little before us: so we lost our labours, and then home; where
we find the two young ladies come home, and their patches off, I suppose
Sir W. Pen do not allow of them in his sight, and going out of town
to-night, though late, to Walthamstow.  So to talk a little at Sir W.
Batten's, and then home to supper, where I find Mrs. Hewer and her son,
who have been abroad with my wife in the Park, and so after supper to
read and then to bed.  Sir W. Pen did give me an account this afternoon
of his design of buying Sir Robert Brooke's fine house at Wansted; which
I so wondered at, and did give him reasons against it, which he allowed
of: and told me that he did intend to pull down the house and build a
less, and that he should get L1500 by the old house, and I know not what
fooleries.  But I will never believe he ever intended to buy it, for my
part; though he troubled Mr. Gawden to go and look upon it, and advise
him in it.



2nd.  To the office, where all the morning.  At noon home to dinner, and
then abroad to my Lord Treasurer's, who continues so ill as not to be
troubled with business.  So Mr. Gawden and I to my Lord Ashly's and spoke
with him, and then straight home, and there I did much business at the
office, and then to my own chamber and did the like there, to my great
content, but to the pain of my eyes, and then to supper and to bed,
having a song with my wife with great pleasure, she doing it well.



3rd.  Up, and with Sir J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Batten, and [Sir] W. Pen in
the last man's coach to St. James's, and thence up to the Duke of York's
chamber, which, as it is now fretted at the top, and the chimney-piece
made handsome, is one of the noblest and best-proportioned rooms that
ever, I think, I saw in my life, and when ready, into his closet and did
our business, where, among other things, we had a proposition of Mr.
Pierces, for being continued in pay, or something done for him, in reward
of his pains as Chyrurgeon-Generall; forasmuch as Troutbecke, that was
never a doctor before, hath got L200 a year settled on him for nothing
but that one voyage with the Duke of Albemarle.  The Duke of York and the
whole company did shew most particular kindness to Mr. Pierce, every body
moving for him, and the Duke himself most, that he is likely to be a very
great man, I believe.  Here also we had another mention of Carcasses
business, and we directed to bring in a report of our opinion of his
case, which vexes us that such a rogue shall make us so much trouble.
Thence I presently to the Excise Office, and there met the Cofferer and
[Sir] Stephen Fox by agreement, and agreed upon a method for our future
payments, and then we three to my Lord Treasurer, who continues still
very ill.  I had taken my stone with me on purpose, and Sir Philip
Warwicke carried it in to him to see, but was not in a condition to talk
with me about it, poor man.  So I with them to Westminster by coach; the
Cofferer telling us odd stories how he was dealt with by the men of the
Church at Westminster in taking a lease of them at the King's coming in,
and particularly the devilish covetousness of Dr. Busby.  Sir Stephen
Fox, in discourse, told him how he is selling some land he hath, which
yields him not above three per cent., if so much, and turning it into
money, which he can put out at ten per cent.; and, as times go, if they
be like to continue, it is the best way for me to keep money going so,
for aught I see.  I to Westminster Hall, and there took a turn with my
old acquaintance Mr. Pechell, whose red nose makes me ashamed to be seen
with him, though otherwise a good-natured man.  So away, I not finding of
Mr. Moore, with whom I should have met and spoke about a letter I this
day received from him from my Lord Hinchingbroke, wherein he desires me
to help him to L1900 to pay a bill of exchange of his father's, which
troubles me much, but I will find some way, if I can do it, but not to
bring myself in bonds or disbursements for it, whatever comes of it.
So home to dinner, where my wife hath 'ceux la' upon her and is very ill
with them, and so forced to go to bed, and I sat by her a good while,
then down to my chamber and made an end of Rycaut's History of the Turks,
which is a very good book.  Then to the office, and did some business,
and then my wife being pretty well, by coach to little Michell's, and
there saw my poor Betty and her little child, which slept so soundly we
could hardly wake it in an hour's time without hurting it, and they tell
me what I did not know, that a child (as this do) will hunt and hunt up
and down with its mouth if you touch the cheek of it with your finger's
end for a nipple, and fit its mouth for sucking, but this hath not sucked
yet, she having no nipples.  Here sat a while, and then my wife and I,
it being a most curious clear evening, after some rain to-day, took a
most excellent tour by coach to Bow, and there drank and back again,
and so a little at the office, and home to read a little, and to supper
and bed mightily refreshed with this evening's tour, but troubled that it
hath hindered my doing some business which I would have done at the
office.  This day the newes is come that the fleete of the Dutch, of
about 20 ships, which come upon our coasts upon design to have
intercepted our colliers, but by good luck failed, is gone to the Frith,
--[Frith of Forth.  See 5th of this month.]-- and there lies, perhaps to
trouble the Scotch privateers, which have galled them of late very much,
it may be more than all our last year's fleete.



4th.  Up and to the office, where sat all the morning, among other things
a great conflict I had with Sir W. Warren, he bringing a letter to the
Board, flatly in words charging them with their delays in passing his
accounts, which have been with them these two years, part of which I said
was not true, and the other undecent.  The whole Board was concerned to
take notice of it, as well as myself, but none of them had the honour to
do it, but suffered me to do it alone, only Sir W. Batten, who did what
he did out of common spite to him.  So I writ in the margin of the
letter, "Returned as untrue," and, by consent of the Board, did give it
him again, and so parted.  Home to dinner, and there came a woman whose
husband I sent for, one Fisher, about the business of Perkins and
Carcasse, and I do think by her I shall find the business as bad as ever
it was, and that we shall find Commissioner Pett a rogue, using foul play
on behalf of Carcasse.  After dinner to the office again, and there late
all the afternoon, doing much business, and with great content home to
supper and to bed.



5th (Lord's day).  Up, and going down to the water side, I met Sir John
Robinson, and so with him by coach to White Hall, still a vain, prating,
boasting man as any I know, as if the whole City and Kingdom had all its
work done by him.  He tells me he hath now got a street ordered to be
continued, forty feet broad, from Paul's through Cannon Street to the
Tower, which will be very fine.  He and others this day, where I was in
the afternoon, do tell me of at least six or eight fires within these few
days; and continually stirs of fires, and real fires there have been,
in one place or other, almost ever since the late great fire, as if
there was a fate sent people for fire.  I walked over the Park to Sir
W. Coventry's.  Among other things to tell him what I hear of people
being forced to sell their bills before September for 35 and 40 per cent.
loss, and what is worst, that there are some courtiers that have made a
knot to buy them, in hopes of some ways to get money of the King to pay
them, which Sir W. Coventry is amazed at, and says we are a people made
up for destruction, and will do what he can to prevent all this by
getting the King to provide wherewith to pay them.  We talked of Tangier,
of which he is ashamed; also that it should put the King to this charge
for no good in the world: and now a man going over that is a good
soldier, but a debauched man, which the place need not to have.  And so
used these words: "That this place was to the King as my Lord Carnarvon
says of wood, that it is an excrescence of the earth provided by God for
the payment of debts."  Thence away to Sir G. Carteret, whom I find
taking physic.  I staid talking with him but a little, and so home to
church, and heard a dull sermon, and most of the best women of our parish
gone into the country, or at least not at church.  So home, and find my
boy not there, nor was at church, which vexed me, and when he come home I
enquired, he tells me he went to see his mother.  I send him back to her
to send me some token that he was with her.  So there come a man with him
back of good fashion.  He says he saw him with her, which pacified me,
but I did soundly threaten him before him, and so to dinner, and then had
a little scolding with my wife for not being fine enough to go to the
christening to-day, which she excused by being ill, as she was indeed,
and cried, but I was in an ill humour and ashamed, indeed, that she
should not go dressed.  However, friends by and by, and we went by water
to Michell's, and there his little house full of his father and mothers
and the kindred, hardly any else, and mighty merry in this innocent
company, and Betty mighty pretty in bed, but, her head akeing, not very
merry, but the company mighty merry, and I with them, and so the child
was christened; my wife, his father, and her mother, the witnesses, and
the child's name Elizabeth.  So we had gloves and wine and wafers, very
pretty, and talked and tattled, and so we away by water and up with the
tide, she and I and Barker, as high as Barne Eimes, it being a fine
evening, and back again to pass the bridges at standing water between 9
and 10 at might, and then home and to supper, and then to bed with much
pleasure.  This day Sir W. Coventry tells me the Dutch fleete shot some
shot, four or five hundred, into Burnt-Island in the Frith, but without
any hurt; and so are gone.



6th.  Up and angry with my mayds for letting in watermen, and I know not
who, anybody that they are acquainted with, into my kitchen to talk and
prate with them, which I will not endure.  Then out and by coach to my
Lord Treasurer's, who continues still very ill, then to Sir Ph.
Warwicke's house, and there did a little business about my Tangier
tallies, and so to Westminster Hall, and there to the Exchequer to
consult about some way of getting our poor Creditors of the Navy (who
served in their goods before the late Session of Parliament) paid out of
the 11 months tax, which seems to relate only for goods to be then served
in, and I think I have found out a way to bring them into the Act, which,
if it do, I shall think a good service done.  Thence by coach home with
Captain Cocke, in our way talking of my Lord Bruncker and his Lady, who
are mighty angry with us all of the office, about Carcasse's business,
but especially with me, and in great confidence he bids me have a care of
him, for he hath said that he would wound me with the person where my
greatest interest is.  I suppose he means Sir W. Coventry, and therefore
I will beware of him, and am glad, though vexed to hear it.  So home to
dinner, where Creed come, whom I vexed devilishly with telling him a wise
man, and good friend of his and mine, did say that he lately went into
the country to Hinchingbroke; and, at his coming to town again, hath
shifted his lodgings, only to avoid paying to the Poll Bill, which is so
true that he blushed, and could not in words deny it, but the fellow did
think to have not had it discovered.  He is so devilish a subtle false
rogue, that I am really weary and afeard of his company, and therefore
after dinner left him in the house, and to my office, where busy all the
afternoon despatching much business, and in the evening to Sir R. Viner's
to adjust accounts there, and so home, where some of our old Navy
creditors come to me by my direction to consider of what I have invented
for their help as I have said in the morning, and like it mighty well,
and so I to the office, where busy late, then home to supper and sing
with my wife, who do begin to give me real pleasure with her singing,
and so to bed.



7th.  Up betimes, and by coach to St. James's; but there find Sir W.
Coventry gone out betimes this morning, on horseback, with the King and
Duke of York, to Putney-heath,--to run some horses, and so back again to
the office, where some witnesses from Chatham which I sent for are come
up, and do give shrewd testimonies against Carcasse, which put my Lord
into a new flame, and he and I to high words, and so broke up.  Then home
to dinner, where W. Hewer dined with us, and he and I after dinner to
discourse of Carcasses business, wherein I apparently now do manage it
wholly against my Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Pen, like a false rogue,
shrinking out of the collar, Sir J. Minnes, afoot, being easily led
either way, and Sir W. Batten, a malicious fellow that is not able to
defend any thing, so that the whole odium must fall on me, which I will
therefore beware how I manage that I may not get enemies to no purpose.
It vexes me to see with what a company I am mixed, but then it pleases me
to see that I am reckoned the chief mover among them, as they do, confess
and esteem me in every thing.  Thence to the office, and did business,
and then by coach to St. James's again, but [Sir] W. Coventry not within,
so I wrote something to him, and then straight back again and to Sir W.
Batten's, and there talked with him and [Sir] J. Minnes, who are mighty
hot in Carcasses business, but their judgment's not to be trusted.
However, I will go through with it, or otherwise we shall be all slaves
to my Lord Bruncker and his man's impudence.  So to the office a little,
and then home to supper and to bed, after hearing my wife sing, who is
manifestly come to be more musical in her eare than ever I thought she
could have been made, which rejoices me to the heart, for I take great
delight now to hear her sing.



8th.  Up pretty betimes and out of doors, and in Fen Church street met
Mr. Lovett going with a picture to me, but I could not stand to discourse
or see it, but on to the next hackney coach and so to Sir W. Coventry,
where he and I alone a while discoursing of some businesses of the
office, and then up to the Duke of York to his chamber with my fellow
brethren who are come, and so did our usual weekly business, which was
but little to-day, and I was glad that the business of Carcasse was not
mentioned because our report was not ready, but I am resolved it shall
against the next coming to the Duke of York.  Here was discourse about a
way of paying our old creditors which did please me, there being hopes of
getting them comprehended within the 11 months Tax, and this did give
occasion for Sir G. Carteret's and my going to Sir Robert Long to
discourse it, who do agree that now the King's Council do say that they
may be included in the Act, which do make me very glad, not so much for
the sake of the poor men as for the King, for it would have been a ruin
to him and his service not to have had a way to have paid the debt.
There parted with Sir G. Carteret and into Westminster Hall, where I met
with Sir H. Cholmly, and he and I to Sir Ph. Warwicke's to speak a little
about our Tangier business, but to little purpose, my Lord Treasurer
being so ill that no business can be done.  Thence with Sir H. Cholmly to
find out Creed from one lodging to another, which he hath changed so
often that there is no finding him, but at last do come to his lodging
that he is entering into this day, and do find his goods unlading at the
door, by Scotland Yard, and there I set down Sir H. Cholmly, and I away
to the 'Change, where spoke about several things, and then going home did
meet Mr. Andrews our neighbour, and did speak with him to enquire about
the ground behind our house, of which I have a mind to buy enough to make
a stable and coach-house; for I do see that my condition do require it,
as well as that it is more charge to my purse to live as I do than to
keep one, and therefore I am resolved before winter to have one, unless
some extraordinary thing happens to hinder me.  He promises me to look
after it for me, and so I home to dinner, where I find my wife's
flageolette master, and I am so pleased with her proceeding, though
she hath lost time by not practising, that I am resolved for the,
encouragement of the man to learn myself a little for a month or so,
for I do foresee if God send my wife and I to live, she will become very
good company for me.  He gone, comes Lovett with my little print of my
dear Lady Castlemayne varnished, and the frame prettily done like gold,
which pleases me well.  He dined with me, but by his discourse I do still
see that he is a man of good wit but most strange experience, and
acquaintance with all manner of subtleties and tricks, that I do think
him not fit for me to keep any acquaintance with him, lest he some time
or other shew me a slippery trick.  After dinner, he gone, I to the
office, where all the afternoon very busy, and so in the evening to Sir
R. Viner's, thinking to finish my accounts there, but am prevented, and
so back again home, and late at my office at business, and so home to
supper and sing a little with my dear wife, and so to bed.



9th.  Up, and to the office, and at noon home to dinner, and then with my
wife and Barker by coach, and left them at Charing Cross, and I to St.
James's, and there found Sir W. Coventry alone in his chamber, and sat
and talked with him more than I have done a great while of several things
of the Navy, how our debts and wants do unfit us for doing any thing.  He
tells me he hears stories of Commissioner Pett, of selling timber to the
Navy under other names, which I told him I believe is true, and did give
him an instance.  He told me also how his clerk Floyd he hath put away
for his common idlenesse and ill company, and particularly that yesterday
he was found not able to come and attend him, by being run into the
arme in a squabble, though he pretends it was done in the streets by
strangers, at nine at night, by the Maypole in the Strand.
Sir W. Coventry did write to me this morning to recommend him another,
which I could find in my heart to do W. Hewer for his good; but do
believe he will not part with me, nor have I any mind to let him go.
I would my brother were fit for it, I would adventure him there.
He insists upon an unmarried man, that can write well, and hath French
enough to transcribe it only from a copy, and may write shorthand, if it
may be.  Thence with him to my Lord Chancellor at Clarendon House, to a
Committee for Tangier, where several things spoke of and proceeded on,
and particularly sending Commissioners thither before the new Governor
goes, which I think will signify as much good as any thing else that hath
been done about the place, which is none at all.  I did again tell them
the badness of their credit by the time their tallies took before they
become payable, and their spending more than their fund.  They seem well
satisfied with what I said, and I am glad that I may be remembered that I
do tell them the case plain; but it troubled me that I see them hot upon
it, that the Governor shall not be paymaster, which will force me either
to the providing one there to do it (which I will never undertake), or
leave the employment, which I had rather do.  Mightily pleased with the
noblenesse of this house, and the brave furniture and pictures, which
indeed is very noble, and, being broke up, I with Sir G. Carteret in his
coach into Hide Park, to discourse of things, and spent an hour in this
manner with great pleasure, telling me all his concernments, and how he
is gone through with the purchase for my Lady Jemimah and her husband;
how the Treasury is like to come into the hands of a Committee; but that
not that, nor anything else, will do our business, unless the King
himself will mind his business, and how his servants do execute their
parts; he do fear an utter ruin in the state, and that in a little time,
if the King do not mind his business soon; that the King is very kind to
him, and to my Lord Sandwich, and that he doubts not but at his coming
home, which he expects about Michaelmas, he will be very well received.
But it is pretty strange how he began again the business of the intention
of a marriage of my Lord Hinchingbroke to a daughter of my Lord
Burlington's to my Lord Chancellor, which he now tells me as a great
secret, when he told it me the last Sunday but one; but it may be the
poor man hath forgot, and I do believe he do make it a secret, he telling
me that he has not told it to any but myself, end this day to his
daughter my Lady Jemimah, who looks to lie down about two months hence.
After all this discourse we turned back and to White Hall, where we
parted, and I took up my wife at Unthanke's, and so home, and in our
street, at the Three Tuns' Tavern' door, I find a great hubbub; and what
was it but two brothers have fallen out, and one killed the other.  And
who should they be but the two Fieldings; one whereof, Bazill, was page
to my Lady Sandwich; and he hath killed the other, himself being very
drunk, and so is sent to Newgate.  I to the office and did as much
business as my eyes would let me, and so home to supper and to bed.



10th.  Up and to the office, where a meeting about the Victuallers'
accounts all the morning, and at noon all of us to Kent's, at the Three
Tuns' Tavern, and there dined well at Mr. Gawden's charge; and, there the
constable of the parish did show us the picklocks and dice that were
found in the dead man's pocket, and but 18d. in money; and a table-book,
wherein were entered the names of several places where he was to go; and
among others Kent's house, where he was to dine, and did dine yesterday:
and after dinner went into the church, and there saw his corpse with the
wound in his left breast; a sad spectacle, and a broad wound, which makes
my hand now shake to write of it.  His brother intending, it seems, to
kill the coachman, who did not please him, this fellow stepped in, and
took away his sword; who thereupon took out his knife, which was of the
fashion, with a falchion blade, and a little cross at the hilt like a
dagger; and with that stabbed him.  So to the office again, very busy,
and in the evening to Sir Robert Viner's, and there took up all my notes
and evened our balance to the 7th of this month, and saw it entered in
their ledger, and took a receipt for the remainder of my money as the
balance of an account then adjusted.  Then to my Lord Treasurer's, but
missed Sir Ph. Warwicke, and so back again, and drove hard towards
Clerkenwell,

     [At Newcastle House, Clerkenwell Close, the duke and duchess lived
     in great state.  The house was divided, and let in tenements in the
     eighteenth century.]

thinking to have overtaken my Lady Newcastle, whom I saw before us in her
coach, with 100 boys and girls running looking upon her but I could not:
and so she got home before I could come up to her.  But I will get a time
to see her.  So to the office and did more business, and then home and
sang with pleasure with my wife, and to supper and so to bed.



11th.  Up, and being called on by Mr. Commander, he and I out to the
ground behind Sir W. Pen's, where I am resolved to take a lease of some
of it for a stable and coach [house], and so to keep a coach, unless some
change come before I can do it, for I do see it is a greater charge to me
now in hackneys, and I am a little dishonoured by going in them.  We
spoke with him that hath the letting it, and I do believe when I can tell
how much it will be fit for me to have we shall go near to agree.  So
home, and there found my door open, which makes me very angry with Nell,
and do think to put her away for it, though it do so go against me to
part with a servant that it troubles me more than anything in the world.
So to the office, where all the morning.  At noon home to dinner, where
Mr. Goodgroome and Creed, and I have great hopes that my wife will come
to sing to my mind.  After dinner my wife and Creed and I being entered a
hackney coach to go to the other end of the town, we espied The.  Turner
coming in her coach to see us, which we were surprised at, and so 'light
and took her and another young lady home, and there sat and talked with
The., she being lately come out of the North after two or three years
absence.  She is come to put out her sister and brothers to school at
Putney.  After a little talk, I over Tower Hill with them to a lady's
they go to visit, and so away with my wife, whose being dressed this day
in fair hair did make me so mad, that I spoke not one word to her in our
going, though I was ready to burst with anger.  So to White Hall to the
Committee of Tangier, where they were discoursing about laws for the
civil government of the place, but so dull and so little to the purpose
that I fell to slumber, when the fear of being seen by Sir W. Coventry
did trouble me much afterwards, but I hope he did not.  After that broke
up.  Creed and I into the Park, and walked, a most pleasant evening, and
so took coach, and took up my wife, and in my way home discovered my
trouble to my wife for her white locks,

     [Randle Holmes says the ladies wore "false locks set on wyres, to
     make them stand at a distance from the head," and accompanies the
     information with the figure of a lady "with a pair of locks and
     curls which were in great fashion in 1670" (Planche's "Cyclopaedia
     of Costume; Vol. i., p. 248).]

swearing by God, several times, which I pray God forgive me for, and
bending my fist, that I would not endure.  it.  She, poor wretch,

     [A new light is thrown upon this favourite expression of Pepys's
     when speaking of his wife by the following quotation from a Midland
     wordbook: "Wretch, n., often used as an expression of endearment or
     sympathy.  Old Woman to Young Master: 'An''ow is the missis to-day,
     door wretch?'  Of a boy going to school a considerable distance off
     'I met 'im with a bit o' bread in 'is bag, door wretch'" ("A
     Glossary of Words and Phrases used in S.E. Worcestershire," by Jesse
     Salisbury.  Published by the English Dialect Society, 1894).]

was surprized with it, and made me no answer all the way home; but there
we parted, and I to the office late, and then home, and without supper to
bed, vexed.



12th (Lord's day).  Up, and to my chamber, to settle some accounts there,
and by and by down comes my wife to me in her night-gown, and we begun
calmly, that upon having money to lace her gown for second mourning, she
would promise to wear white locks no more in my sight, which I, like a
severe fool, thinking not enough, begun to except against, and made her
fly out to very high terms and cry, and in her heat told me of keeping
company with Mrs. Knipp, saying, that if I would promise never to see her
more--of whom she hath more reason to suspect than I had heretofore of
Pembleton--she would never wear white locks more.  This vexed me, but I
restrained myself from saying anything, but do think never to see this
woman--at least, to have her here more, but by and by I did give her
money to buy lace, and she promised to wear no more white locks while I
lived, and so all very good friends as ever, and I to my business, and
she to dress herself.  Against noon we had a coach ready for us, and she
and I to White Hall, where I went to see whether Sir G. Carteret was at
dinner or no, our design being to make a visit there, and I found them
set down, which troubled me, for I would not then go up, but back to the
coach to my wife, and she and I homeward again, and in our way bethought
ourselves of going alone, she and I, to go to a French house to dinner,
and so enquired out Monsieur Robins, my perriwigg-maker, who keeps an
ordinary, and in an ugly street in Covent Garden, did find him at the
door, and so we in; and in a moment almost had the table covered, and
clean glasses, and all in the French manner, and a mess of potage first,
and then a couple of pigeons a la esterve, and then a piece of boeuf-a
-la-mode, all exceeding well seasoned, and to our great liking; at least
it would have been anywhere else but in this bad street, and in a
perriwigg-maker's house; but to see the pleasant and ready attendance
that we had, and all things so desirous to please, and ingenious in the
people, did take me mightily.  Our dinner cost us 6s., and so my wife and
I away to Islington, it being a fine day, and thence to Sir G. Whitmore's
house, where we 'light, and walked over the fields to Kingsland, and back
again; a walk, I think, I have not taken these twenty years; but puts me
in mind of my boy's time, when I boarded at Kingsland, and used to shoot
with my bow and arrows in these fields.  A very pretty place it is; and
little did any of my friends think I should come to walk in these fields
in this condition and state that I am.  Then took coach again, and home
through Shoreditch; and at home my wife finds Barker to have been abroad,
and telling her so many lies about it, that she struck her, and the wench
said she would not stay with her: so I examined the wench, and found her
in so many lies myself, that I was glad to be rid of her, and so resolved
having her go away to-morrow.  So my wife and W. Hewer and I to supper,
and then he and I to my chamber to begin the draught of the report from
this office to the Duke of York in the case of Mr. Carcasse, which I sat
up till midnight to do, and then to bed, believing it necessary to have
it done, and to do it plainly, for it is not to be endured the trouble
that this rascal hath put us to, and the disgrace he hath brought upon
this office.



13th.  Up, and when ready, to the office (my wife rising to send away
Barker, according to our resolution last night, and she did do it with
more clothes than have cost us L10, and 20s. in her purse, which I did
for the respect I bear Mr. Falconbridge, otherwise she had not deserved
half of it, but I am the more willing to do it to be rid of one that made
work and trouble in the house, and had not qualities of any honour or
pleasure to me or my family, but what is a strange thing did always
declare to her mistress and others that she had rather be put to drudgery
and to wash the house than to live as she did like a gentlewoman), and
there I and Gibson all the morning making an end of my report against
Carcasse, which I think will do our business, but it is a horrid shame
such a rogue should give me and all of us this trouble.  This morning
come Sir H. Cholmly to me for a tally or two; and tells me that he hears
that we are by agreement to give the King of France Nova Scotia, which he
do not like: but I do not know the importance of it.

     [Nova Scotia and the adjoining countries were called by the French
     Acadie.  Pepys is not the only official personage whose ignorance of
     Nova Scotia is on record.  A story is current of a prime minister
     (Duke of Newcastle) who was surprised at hearing Cape Breton was an
     island.  "Egad, I'll go tell the King Cape Breton is an island!"
     Of the same it is said, that when told Annapolis was in danger, and
     ought to be defended: "Oh! certainly Annapolis must be defended,--
     where is Annapolis?"--B.]

Then abroad with my wife to my Lord Treasurer's, and she to her tailor's.
I find Sir Philip Warwicke, who I perceive do give over my Lord Treasurer
for a man of this world, his pain being grown great again upon him, and
all the rest he hath is by narcotiques, and now Sir Philip Warwicke do
please himself, like a good man, to tell some of the good ejaculations of
my Lord Treasurer concerning the little worth of this world, to buy it
with so much pain, and other things fit for a dying man.  So finding no
business likely to be done here for Tangier, I having a warrant for
tallies to be signed, I away to the New Exchange, and there staid a
little, and then to a looking-glass shop to consult about covering the
wall in my closet over my chimney, which is darkish, with looking-
glasses, and then to my wife's tailor's, but find her not ready to go
home, but got to buy things, and so I away home to look after my business
and finish my report of Carcasse, and then did get Sir W. Batten, Sir J.
Minnes, and [Sir] W. Pen together, and read it over with all the many
papers relating to the business, which they do wonder at, and the trouble
I have taken about it, and like the report, so as that they do
unanimously resolve to sign it, and stand by it, and after a great deal
of discourse of the strange deportment of my Lord Bruncker in this
business to withstand the whole board in behalf of such an impudent rogue
as this is, I parted, and home to my wife, and supped and talked with
her, and then to bed, resolving to rise betimes to-morrow to write fair
the report.



14th.  Up by 5 o'clock, and when ready down to my chamber, and there with
Mr. Fist, Sir W. Batten's clerk, who writes mighty well, writing over our
report in Mr. Carcasses business, in which we continued till 9 o'clock,
that the office met, and then to the office, where all the morning, and
so at noon home to dinner, where Mr. Holliard come and eat with us, who
among other things do give me good hopes that we shall give my father
some ease as to his rupture when he comes to town, which I expect
to-morrow.  After dinner comes Fist, and he and I to our report again
till 9 o'clock, and then by coach to my Lord Chancellor's, where I met
Mr. Povy, expecting the coming of the rest of the Commissioners for
Tangier.  Here I understand how the two Dukes, both the only sons of the
Duke of York, are sick even to danger, and that on Sunday last they were
both so ill, as that the poor Duchess was in doubt which would die first:
the Duke of Cambridge of some general disease; the other little Duke,
whose title I know not, of the convulsion fits, of which he had four this
morning.  Fear that either of them might be dead, did make us think that
it was the occasion that the Duke of York and others were not come to the
meeting of the Commission which was designed, and my Lord Chancellor did
expect.  And it was pretty to observe how, when my Lord sent down to St.
James's to see why the Duke of York come not, and Mr. Povy, who went,
returned, my Lord (Chancellor) did ask, not how the Princes or the Dukes
do, as other people do, but "How do the children?" which methought was
mighty great, and like a great man and grandfather.  I find every body
mightily concerned for these children, as a matter wherein the State is
much concerned that they should live.  At last it was found that the
meeting did fail from no known occasion, at which my Lord Chancellor was
angry, and did cry out against Creed that he should give him no notice.
So Povy and I went forth, and staid at the gate of the house by the
streete, and there stopped to talk about the business of the Treasury of
Tangier, which by the badness of our credit, and the resolution that the
Governor shall not be paymaster, will force me to provide one there to be
my paymaster, which I will never do, but rather lose my place, for I will
not venture my fortune to a fellow to be employed so far off, and in that
wicked place.  Thence home, and with Fist presently to the finishing the
writing fair of our report.  And by and by to Sir W. Batten's, and there
he and I and [Sir] J. Minnes and [Sir] W. Pen did read and sign it with
great good liking, and so away to the office again to look over and
correct it, and then home to supper and to bed, my mind being pretty well
settled, having this report done, and so to supper and to bed.



15th.  [This morning my wife had some things brought home by a new woman
of the New Exchange, one Mrs. Smith, which she would have me see for her
fine hand, and indeed it is a fine hand, and the woman I have observed is
a mighty pretty looked woman.]  Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J.
Minnes to St. James's, and stopt at Temple Bar for Sir J. Minnes to go
into the Devil's Taverne to shit, he having drunk whey, and his belly
wrought.  Being come, we up to the Duke of York's chamber, who, when
ready, we to our usual business, and being very glad, we all that signed
it, that is, Sir J. Minnes, W. Batten, W. Pen, and myself, and then Sir
G. Carteret and [Sir] W. Coventry, Bruncker, and T. Harvy, and the
officers of the Ordnance, Sir J. Duncombe, and Mr. Cholmely presented our
report about Carcasse, and did afterwards read it with that success that
the Duke of York was for punishing him, not only with turning him out of
the office, but with what other punishment he could, which nobody did
forward, and so he escaped, only with giving security to secure the King
against double tickets of his and other things that he might have wronged
the King or subject in before his dismission.  Yet, Lord!  to see how our
silly Lord Bruncker would have stood to have justified this rogue, though
to the reproach of all us who have signed, which I shall never forget to
have been a most malicious or a most silly act, and I do think it is as
much the latter as the other, for none but a fool could have done as this
silly Lord hath done in this business.  So the Duke of York did like our
report, and ordered his being secured till he did give his security,
which did fully content me, and will I hope vindicate the office.  It
happened that my Lord Arlington coming in by chance was at the hearing of
all this, which I was not sorry for, for he did move or did second the
Duke of York that this roguery of his might be put in the News-book that
it might be made publique to satisfy for the wrong the credit of this
office hath received by this rogue's occasion.  So with utmost content I
away with Sir G. Carteret to London, talking all the way; and he do tell
me that the business of my Lord Hinchingbroke his marriage with my Lord
Burlington's daughter is concluded on by all friends; and that my Lady is
now told of it, and do mightily please herself with it; which I am mighty
glad of.  So home, and there I find that my wife hath been at my desire
at the Inne, thinking that my father might be come up with the coach, but
he is not come this week, poor man, but will be here the next.  At noon
to dinner, and then to Sir W. Batten's, where I hear the news how our
Embassadors were but ill received at Flushing, nor at Bredah itself,
there being only a house and no furniture provided for them, though it be
said that they have as much as the French.  Here we staid talking a
little, and then I to the office about my business, and thence to the
office, where busy about my own papers of my office, and by and by comes
the office full to examine Sir W. Warren's account, which I do appear
mighty fierce in against him, and indeed am, for his accounts are so
perplexed that I am sure he cannot but expect to get many a L1000 in it
before it passes our hands, but I will not favour him, but save what I
can to the King.  At his accounts, wherein I very high against him, till
late, and then we broke up with little done, and so broke up, and I to my
office, where late doing of business, and then home to supper and to bed.
News still that my Lord Treasurer is so ill as not to be any man of this
world; and it is said that the Treasury shall be managed by Commission.
I would to God Sir G. Carteret, or my Lord Sandwich, be in it!  But the
latter is the more fit for it.  This day going to White Hall, Sir W.
Batten did tell me strange stories of Sir W. Pen, how he is already
ashamed of the fine coach which his son-in-law and daughter have made,
and indeed it is one of the most ridiculous things for people of their
low, mean fashion to make such a coach that ever I saw.  He tells me how
his people come as they do to mine every day to borrow one thing or
other, and that his Lady hath been forced to sell some coals (in the late
dear time) only to enable her to pay money that she hath borrowed of
Griffin to defray her family expense, which is a strange story for a
rogue that spends so much money on clothes and other occasions himself as
he do, but that which is most strange, he tells me that Sir W. Pen do not
give L6000, as is usually [supposed], with his daughter to him, and that
Mr. Lowder is come to use the tubb, that is to bathe and sweat himself,
and that his lady is come to use the tubb too, which he takes to be that
he hath, and hath given her the pox, but I hope it is not so, but, says
Sir W. Batten, this is a fair joynture, that he hath made her, meaning by
that the costs the having of a bath.



16th.  Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and, among
other things, comes in Mr. Carcasse, and after many arguings against it,
did offer security as was desired, but who should this be but Mr. Powell,
that is one other of my Lord Bruncker's clerks; and I hope good use will
be made of it.  But then he began to fall foul upon the injustice of the
Board, which when I heard I threatened him with being laid by the heels,
which my Lord Bruncker took up as a thing that I could not do upon the
occasion he had given, but yet did own that it was ill said of him.  I
made not many words of it, but have let him see that I can say what I
will without fear of him, and so we broke off, leaving the bond to be
drawn by me, which I will do in the best manner I can.  At noon, this
being Holy Thursday, that is, Ascension Day, when the boys go on
procession round the parish, we were to go to the Three Tuns' Tavern, to
dine with the rest of the parish; where all the parish almost was, Sir
Andrew Rickard and others; and of our house, J. Minnes, W. Batten, W.
Pen, and myself; and Mr. Mills did sit uppermost at the table.  Here we
were informed that the report of our Embassadors being ill received in
their way to Bredah is not true, but that they are received with very
great civility, which I am glad to hear.  But that that did vex me was
that among all us there should come in Mr. Carcasse to be a guest for his
money (5s. a piece) as well as any of us.  This did vex me, and I would
have gone, and did go to my house, thinking to dine at home, but I was
called away from them, and so we sat down, and to dinner.  Among other
things Sir John Fredericke and Sir R. Ford did talk of Paul's School,
which, they tell me, must be taken away; and then I fear it will be long
before another place, as they say is promised, is found; but they do say
that the honour of their company is concerned in the doing of it, and
that it is a thing that they are obliged to do.  Thence home, and to my
office, where busy; anon at 7 at night I and my wife and Sir W. Pen in
his coach to Unthanke's, my wife's tailor, for her to speak one word, and
then we to my Lord Treasurer's, where I find the porter crying, and
suspected it was that my Lord is dead; and, poor Lord! we did find that
he was dead just now; and the crying of the fellow did so trouble me,
that considering I was not likely to trouble him any more, nor have
occasion to give any more anything, I did give him 3s.; but it may be,
poor man, he hath lost a considerable hope by the death of his Lord,
whose house will be no more frequented as before, and perhaps I may never
come thither again about any business.  There is a good man gone: and I
pray God that the Treasury may not be worse managed by the hand or hands
it shall now be put into; though, for certain, the slowness, though he
was of great integrity, of this man, and remissness, have gone as far to
undo the nation, as anything else that hath happened; and yet, if I knew
all the difficulties that he hath lain under, and his instrument Sir
Philip Warwicke, I might be brought to another mind.  Thence we to
Islington, to the Old House, and there eat and drank, and then it being
late and a pleasant evening, we home, and there to my chamber, and to
bed.  It is remarkable that this afternoon Mr. Moore come to me, and
there, among other things, did tell me how Mr. Moyer, the merchant,
having procured an order from the King and Duke of York and Council, with
the consent of my Lord Chancellor, and by assistance of Lord Arlington,
for the releasing out of prison his brother, Samuel Moyer, who was a
great man in the late times in Haberdashers'-hall, and was engaged under
hand and seal to give the man that obtained it so much in behalf of my
Lord Chancellor; but it seems my Lady Duchess of Albemarle had before
undertaken it for so much money, but hath not done it.  The Duke of
Albemarle did the next day send for this Moyer, to tell him, that
notwithstanding this order of the King and Council's being passed for
release of his brother, yet, if he did not consider the pains of some
friends of his, he would stop that order.  This Moyer being an honest,
bold man, told him that he was engaged to the hand that had done the
thing to give him a reward; and more he would not give, nor could own any
kindness done by his Grace's interest; and so parted.  The next day Sir
Edward Savage did take the said Moyer in tax about it, giving ill words
of this Moyer and his brother; which he not being able to bear, told him
he would give to the person that had engaged him what he promised, and
not any thing to any body else; and that both he and his brother were as
honest men as himself, or any man else; and so sent him going, and bid
him do his worst.  It is one of the most extraordinary cases that ever I
saw or understood; but it is true.  This day Mr. Sheply is come to town
and to see me, and he tells me my father is very well only for his pain,
so that he is not able to stir; but is in great pain.  I would to God
that he were in town that I might have what help can be got for him, for
it troubles me to have him live in that condition of misery if I can help
it.



17th.  Up, and to the office, where all the morning upon some accounts of
Mr. Gawden's, and at noon to the Three Tuns to dinner with Lord Bruncker,
Sir J. Minnes, W. Batten, W. Pen, and T. Harvy, where very merry, and my
Lord Bruncker in appearance as good friends as ever, though I know he has
a hatred to me in heart.  After dinner to my house, where Mr. Sheply
dined, and we drank and talked together.  He, poor man, hath had his arm
broke the late frost, slipping in going over Huntingdon Bridge.  He tells
me that jasper Trice and Lewes Phillips and Mr. Ashfield are gone from
Brampton, and he thinks chiefly from the height of Sir J. Bernard's
carriage, who carries all things before him there, which they cannot bear
with, and so leave the town, and this is a great instance of the
advantage a man of the law hath over all other people, which would make a
man to study it a little.  Sheply being gone, there come the flageolet
master, who having had a bad bargain of teaching my wife by the year, she
not practising so much as she should do, I did think that the man did
deserve some more consideration, and so will give him an opportunity of
20s. a month more, and he shall teach me, and this afternoon I begun, and
I think it will be a few shillings well spent.  Then to Sir R. Viner's
with 600 pieces of gold to turn into silver, for the enabling me to
answer Sir G. Carteret's L3000; which he now draws all out of my hand
towards the paying for a purchase he hath made for his son and my Lady
Jemimah, in Northamptonshire, of Sir Samuel Luke, in a good place; a good
house, and near all her friends; which is a very happy thing.  Thence to
St. James's, and there spoke with Sir W. Coventry, and give him some
account of some things, but had little discourse with him, there being
company with him, and so directly home again and then to my office, doing
some business, and so to my house, and with my wife to practice on the
flageolet a little, and with great pleasure I see she can readily hit her
notes, but only want of practice makes her she cannot go through a whole
tune readily.  So to supper and to bed.



18th.  Up, and all the morning at the office, and then to dinner, and
after dinner to the office to dictate some letters, and then with my wife
to Sir W. Turner's to visit The., but she being abroad we back again
home, and then I to the office, finished my letters, and then to walk an
hour in the garden talking with my wife, whose growth in musique do begin
to please me mightily, and by and by home and there find our Luce drunk,
and when her mistress told her of it would be gone, and so put up some of
her things and did go away of her accord, nobody pressing her to it, and
the truth is, though she be the dirtiest, homeliest servant that ever I
kept, yet I was sorry to have her go, partly through my love to my
servants, and partly because she was a very drudging, working wench, only
she would be drunk.  But that which did a little trouble me was that I
did hear her tell her mistress that she would tell her master something
before she was aware of her that she would be sorry to have him know;
but did it in such a silly, drunken manner, that though it trouble me a
little, yet not knowing what to suspect she should know, and not knowing
well whether she said it to her mistress or Jane, I did not much think of
it.  So she gone, we to supper and to bed, my study being made finely
clean.



19th (Lord's day).  Up, and to my chamber to set some papers in order,
and then, to church, where my old acquaintance, that dull fellow,
Meriton, made a good sermon, and hath a strange knack of a grave, serious
delivery, which is very agreeable.  After church to White Hall, and there
find Sir G. Carteret just set down to dinner, and I dined with them, as I
intended, and good company, the best people and family in the world I
think.  Here was great talk of the good end that my Lord Treasurer made;
closing his owne eyes and setting his mouth, and bidding adieu with the
greatest content and freedom in the world; and is said to die with the
cleanest hands that ever any Lord Treasurer did.  After dinner Sir G.
Carteret and I alone, and there, among other discourse, he did declare
that he would be content to part with his place of Treasurer of the Navy
upon good terms.  I did propose my Lord Belasses as a man likely to buy
it, which he listened to, and I did fully concur and promote his design
of parting with it, for though I would have my father live, I would not
have him die Treasurer of the Navy, because of the accounts which must be
uncleared at his death, besides many other circumstances making it
advisable for him to let it go.  He tells me that he fears all will come
to naught in the nation soon if the King do not mind his business, which
he do not seem likely to do.  He says that the Treasury will be managed
for a while by a Commission, whereof he thinks my Lord Chancellor for the
honour of it, and my Lord Ashly, and the two Secretaries will be, and
some others he knows not.  I took leave of him, and directly by water
home, and there to read the life of Mr. Hooker, which pleases me as much
as any thing I have read a great while, and by and by comes Mr. Howe to
see us, and after him a little Mr. Sheply, and so we all to talk, and,
Mercer being there, we some of us to sing, and so to supper, a great deal
of silly talk.  Among other things, W. Howe told us how the Barristers
and Students of Gray's Inne rose in rebellion against the Benchers the
other day, who outlawed them, and a great deal of do; but now they are at
peace again.  They being gone, I to my book again, and made an end of Mr.
Hooker's Life, and so to bed.



20th.  Up betimes, and comes my flagelette master to set me a new tune,
which I played presently, and shall in a month do as much as I desire at
it.  He being gone, I to several businesses in my chamber, and then by
coach to the Commissioners of Excise, and so to Westminster Hall, and
there spoke with several persons I had to do with.  Here among other
news, I hear that the Commissioners for the Treasury were named by the
King yesterday; but who they are nobody could tell: but the persons are
the Lord Chancellor, the two Secretaries, Lord Ashly, and others say Sir
W. Coventry and Sir John Duncomb, but all conclude the Duke of Albemarle;
but reports do differ, but will be known in a day or two.  Having done my
business, I then homeward, and overtook Mr. Commander; so took him into a
coach with me, and he and I into Lincoln's Inne Fields, there to look
upon the coach-houses to see what ground is necessary for coach-house and
horses, because of that that I am going about to do, and having satisfied
myself in this he and I to Mr. Hide's to look upon the ground again
behind our house, and concluded upon his going along with us to-morrow to
see some stables, he thinking that we demand more than is necessary.  So
away home, and then, I, it being a broken day, and had power by my vows,
did walk abroad, first through the Minorys, the first time I have been
over the Hill to the postern-gate, and seen the place, since the houses
were pulled down about that side of the Tower, since the fire, to find
where my young mercer with my pretty little woman to his wife lives, who
lived in Lumbard streete, and I did espy them, but took no notice now of
them, but may do hereafter.  Thence down to the Old Swan, and there saw
Betty Michell, whom I have not seen since her christening.  But, Lord!
how pretty she is, and looks as well as ever I saw her, and her child
(which I am fain to seem very fond of) is pretty also, I think, and will
be.  Thence by water to Westminster Hall, and there walked a while
talking at random with Sir W. Doyly, and so away to Mrs. Martin's
lodging, who was gone before, expecting me, and there je hazer what je
vellem cum her and drank, and so by coach home (but I have forgot that I
did in the morning go to the Swan, and there tumbling of la little fille,
son uncle did trouver her cum su neckcloth off, which I was ashamed of,
but made no great matter of it, but let it pass with a laugh), and there
spent the evening with my wife at our flagelets, and so to supper, and
after a little reading to bed.  My wife still troubled with her cold.  I
find it everywhere now to be a thing doubted whether we shall have peace
or no, and the captain of one of our ships that went with the Embassadors
do say, that the seamen of Holland to his hearing did defy us, and called
us English dogs, and cried out against peace, and that the great people
there do oppose peace, though he says the common people do wish it.



21st.  Up and to the office, where sat all the morning.  At noon dined at
home with my wife and find a new girle, a good big girle come to us, got
by Payne to be our girle; and his daughter Nell we make our cook.  This
wench's name is Mary, and seems a good likely maid.  After dinner I with
Mr. Commander and Mr. Hide's brother to Lincolne's Inne Fields, and there
viewed several coach-houses, and satisfied ourselves now fully in it, and
then there parted, leaving the rest to future discourse between us.
Thence I home; but, Lord! how it went against my heart to go away from
the very door of the Duke's play-house, and my Lady Castlemayne's coach,
and many great coaches there, to see "The Siege of Rhodes."  I was very
near making a forfeit, but I did command myself, and so home to my
office, and there did much business to my good content, much better than
going to a play, and then home to my wife, who is not well with her cold,
and sat and read a piece of Grand Cyrus in English by her, and then to my
chamber and to supper, and so to bed.  This morning the Captain come from
Holland did tell us at the board what I have said he reported yesterday.
This evening after I come from the office Mrs. Turner come to see my wife
and me, and sit and talk with us, and so, my wife not being well and
going to bed, Mrs. Turner and I sat up till 12 at night talking alone in
my chamber, and most of our discourse was of our neighbours.  As to my
Lord Bruncker, she says how Mrs. Griffin, our housekeeper's wife, hath it
from his maid, that comes to her house often, that they are very poor;
that the other day Mrs. Williams was fain to send a jewell to pawn; that
their maid hath said herself that she hath got L50 since she come
thither, and L17 by the payment of one bill; that they have a most lewd
and nasty family here in the office, but Mrs. Turner do tell me that my
Lord hath put the King to infinite charge since his coming thither in
alterations, and particularly that Mr. Harper at Deptford did himself
tell her that my Lord hath had of Foly, the ironmonger, L50 worth in
locks and keys for his house, and that it is from the fineness of them,
having some of L4 and L5 a lock, such as is in the Duke's closet; that he
hath several of these; that he do keep many of her things from her of her
own goods, and would have her bring a bill into the office for them; that
Mrs. Griffin do say that he do not keep Mrs. Williams now for love, but
need, he having another whore that he keeps in Covent Garden; that they
do owe money everywhere almost for every thing, even Mrs. Shipman for her
butter and cheese about L3, and after many demands cannot get it.  Mrs.
Turner says she do believe their coming here is only out of a belief of
getting purchase by it, and that their servants (which was wittily said
of her touching his clerks) do act only as privateers, no purchase, no
pay.  And in my conscience she is in the right.  Then we fell to talk of
Sir W. Pen, and his family and rise.  She [Mrs. Turner] says that he was
a pityfull [fellow] when she first knew them; that his lady was one of
the sourest, dirty women, that ever she saw; that they took two chambers,
one over another, for themselves and child, in Tower Hill; that for many
years together they eat more meals at her house than at their own; did
call brothers and sisters the husbands and wives; that her husband was
godfather to one, and she godmother to another (this Margaret) of their
children, by the same token that she was fain to write with her own hand
a letter to Captain Twiddy, to stand for a godfather for her; that she
brought my Lady, who then was a dirty slattern, with her stockings
hanging about her heels, so that afterwards the people of the whole Hill
did say that Mrs. Turner had made Mrs. Pen a gentlewoman, first to the
knowledge of my Lady Vane, Sir Henry's lady, and him to the knowledge of
most of the great people that then he sought to, and that in short his
rise hath been his giving of large bribes, wherein, and she agrees with
my opinion and knowledge before therein, he is very profuse.  This made
him General; this got him out of the Tower when he was in; and hath
brought him into what he is now, since the King's coming in: that long
ago, indeed, he would drink the King's health privately with Mr. Turner;
but that when he saw it fit to turn Roundhead, and was offered by Mr.
Turner to drink the King's health, he answered "No;" he was changed, and
now, he that would make him drink the King's health, or any health but
the Protector's and the State's, or to that purpose, he would be the
first man should sheath his sword in his guts.  That at the King's coming
in, he did send for her husband, and told him what a great man Sir W.
Coventry was like to be, and that he having all the records in his hands
of the Navy, if he would transcribe what was of most present use of the
practice of the Navy, and give them him to give Sir W. Coventry from him,
it would undoubtedly do his business of getting him a principal officer's
place; that her husband was at L5 charge to get these presently writ;
that Sir W. Pen did give them Sir W. Coventry as from himself, which did
set him up with W. Coventry, and made him what he is, and never owned any
thing of Mr. Turner in them; by which he left him in the lurch, though he
did promise the Duke of Albemarle to do all that was possible, and made
no question of Mr. Turner's being what he desired; and when afterwards,
too, did propose to him the getting of the Purveyor's place for him, he
did tell Mr. Turner it was necessary to present Sir W. Coventry 100
pieces, which he did, and W. Coventry took 80 of them: so that he was W.
Coventry's mere broker, as Sir W. Batten and my Lady did once tell my
Lady Duchess of Albemarle, in the case of Mr. Falconer, whom W. Pen made
to give W. Coventry L200 for his place of Clerk of the Rope Yard of
Woolwich, and to settle L80 a year upon his daughter Pegg, after the
death of his wife, and a gold watch presently to his wife.  Mrs. Turner
do tell me that my Lady and Pegg have themselves owned to her that Sir W.
Coventry and Sir W. Pen had private marks to write to one another by,
that when they in appearance writ a fair letter in behalf of anybody,
that they had a little mark to show they meant it only in shew: this,
these silly people did confess themselves of him.  She says that their
son, Mr. William Pen, did tell her that his father did observe the
commanders did make their addresses to me and applications, but they
should know that his father should be the chief of the office, and that
she hath observed that Sir W. Pen never had a kindness to her son, since
W. Pen told her son that he had applied himself to me.  That his rise
hath been by her and her husband's means, and that it is a most
inconceivable thing how this man can have the face to use her and her
family with the neglect that he do them.  That he was in the late war a
most devilish plunderer, and that got him his estate, which he hath in
Ireland, and nothing else, and that he hath always been a very liberal
man in his bribes, that upon his coming into this part of the
Controller's business wherein he is, he did send for T. Willson and told
him how against his knowledge he was put in, and had so little wit as to
say to him, "This will make the pot boyle, will it not, Mr. Willson?
will it not make the pot boyle?" and do offer him to come in and do his
business for him, and he would reward him.  This Mr. Willson did come and
tell her presently, he having been their servant, and to this day is very
faithful to them.  That her husband's not being forward to make him a
bill for Rere Admirall's pay and Generall's pay both at the same time
after he was first made Generall did first give him occasion of keeping a
distance from him, since which they have never been great friends, Pen
having by degrees been continually growing higher and higher, till now
that he do wholly slight them and use them only as servants.  Upon the
whole, she told me stories enough to confirm me that he is the most false
fellow that ever was born of woman, and that so she thinks and knows him
to be.



22nd.  Up, and by water to White Hall to Sir G. Carteret, who tells me
now for certain how the Commission for the Treasury is disposed of: viz.,
to Duke of Albemarle, Lord Ashly, Sir W. Coventry, Sir John Duncomb, and
Sir Thomas Clifford: at which, he says, all the whole Court is disturbed;
it having been once concluded otherwise into the other hands formerly
mentioned in yesterday's notes, but all of a sudden the King's choice was
changed, and these are to be the men; the first of which is only for a
puppet to give honour to the rest.  He do presage that these men will
make it their business to find faults in the management of the late Lord
Treasurer, and in discouraging the bankers: but I am, whatever I in
compliance do say to him, of another mind, and my heart is very glad of
it, for I do expect they will do much good, and that it is the happiest
thing that hath appeared to me for the good of the nation since the King
come in.  Thence to St. James's, and up to the Duke of York; and there in
his chamber Sir W. Coventry did of himself take notice of this business
of the Treasury, wherein he is in the Commission, and desired that I
would be thinking of any thing fit for him to be acquainted with for the
lessening of charge and bettering of our credit, and what our expence
bath been since the King's coming home, which he believes will be one of
the first things they shall enquire into: which I promised him, and from
time to time, which he desires, will give him an account of what I can
think of worthy his knowledge.  I am mighty glad of this opportunity of
professing my joy to him in what choice the King hath made, and the hopes
I have that it will save the kingdom from perishing and how it do
encourage me to take pains again, after my having through despair
neglected it!  which he told me of himself that it was so with him, that
he had given himself up to more ease than ever he expected, and that his
opinion of matters was so bad, that there was no publick employment in
the kingdom should have been accepted by him but this which the King hath
now given him; and therein he is glad, in hopes of the service he may do
therein; and in my conscience he will.  So into the Duke of York's
closet; and there, among other things, Sir W. Coventry did take notice
of what he told me the other day, about a report of Commissioner Pett's
dealing for timber in the Navy, and selling it to us in other names; and,
besides his own proof, did produce a paper I had given him this morning
about it, in the case of Widow Murford and Morecocke, which was so
handled, that the Duke of York grew very angry, and commanded us
presently to fall into the examination of it, saying that he would not
trust a man for his sake that lifts up the whites of his eyes.  And it
was declared that if he be found to have done so, he should be reckoned
unfit to serve the Navy; and I do believe he will be turned out; and it
was, methought, a worthy saying of Sir W. Coventry to the Duke of York, "
Sir," says he, "I do not make this complaint out of any disrespect to
Commissioner Pett, but because I do love to do these things fairly and
openly."  Thence I to Westminster Hall with Sir G. Carteret to the
Chequer Chamber to hear our cause of the Lindeboome prize there before
the Lords of Appeal, where was Lord Ashly, Arlington, Barkely, and Sir G.
Carteret, but the latter three signified nothing, the former only either
minding or understanding what was said.  Here was good pleading of Sir
Walter Walker's and worth hearing, but little done in our business.
Thence by coach to the Red Lyon, thinking to meet my father, but I come
too soon, but my wife is gone out of town to meet him.  I am in great
pain, poor man, for him, lest he should come up in pain to town.  So I
staid not, but to the 'Change, and there staid a little, where most of
the newes is that the Swedes are likely to fall out with the Dutch, which
we wish, but how true I know not.  Here I met my uncle Wight, the second
day he hath been abroad, having been sick these two months even to death,
but having never sent to me even in the greatest of his danger.  I do
think my Aunt had no mind I should come, and so I never went to see him,
but neither he took notice of it to me, nor I made any excuse for it to
him, but past two or three How do you's, and so parted and so home, and
by and by comes my poor father, much better than I expected, being at
ease by fits, according as his truss sits, and at another time in as much
pain.  I am mighty glad to see him come well to town.  So to dinner,
where Creed comes.  After dinner my wife and father abroad, and Creed and
I also by water, and parted at the Temple stairs, where I landed, and to
the King's house, where I did give 18d., and saw the two last acts of
"The Goblins," a play I could not make any thing of by these two acts,
but here Knipp spied me out of the tiring-room, and come to the pit door,
and I out to her, and kissed her, she only coming to see me, being in a
country-dress, she, and others having, it seemed, had a country-dance in
the play, but she no other part: so we parted, and I into the pit again
till it was done.  The house full, but I had no mind to be seen, but
thence to .my cutler's, and two or three other places on small, errands,
and so home, where my father and wife come home, and pretty well my
father, who to supper and betimes to bed at his country hours.  I to Sir
W. Batten's, and there got some more part of my dividend of the prize-
money.  So home and to set down in writing the state of the account, and
then to supper, and my wife to her flageolet, wherein she did make out a
tune so prettily of herself, that I was infinitely pleased beyond
whatever I expected from her, and so to bed.  This day coming from
Westminster with W. Batten, we saw at White Hall stairs a fisher-boat,
with a sturgeon that he had newly catched in the River; which I saw, but
it was but a little one; but big enough to prevent my mistake of that for
a colt, if ever I become Mayor of Huntingdon!

     [During a very high flood in the meadows between Huntingdon and
     Godmanchester, something was seen floating, which the Godmanchester
     people thought was a black pig, and the Huntingdon folk declared it
     was a sturgeon; when rescued from the waters, it proved to be a
     young donkey.  This mistake led to the one party being styled
     "Godmanchester black pigs," and the other "Huntingdon sturgeons,"
     terms not altogether forgotten at this day.  Pepys's colt must be
     taken to be the colt of an ass.--B.]



23rd.  Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning.  At noon
home, and with my father dined, and, poor man! he hath put off his
travelling-clothes to-day, and is mighty spruce, and I love to see him
cheerful.  After dinner I to my chamber, and my wife and I to talk, and
by and by they tell Mrs. Daniel would speak with me, so I down to the
parlour to her, and sat down together and talked about getting her
husband a place .  .  .  .  I do promise, and mean to do what kindness I
can to her husband.  After having been there hasti je was ashamed de peur
that my people pensait .  .  .  . de it, or lest they might espy us
through some trees, we parted and I to the office, and presently back
home again, and there was asked by my wife, I know not whether simply or
with design, how I come to look as I did, car ego was in much chaleur et
de body and of animi, which I put off with the heat of the season, and so
to other business, but I had some fear hung upon me lest alcuno had sidi
decouvert.  So to the office, and then to Sir R. Viner's about some part
of my accounts now going on with him, and then home and ended my letters,
and then to supper and my chamber to settle many things there, and then
to bed.  This noon I was on the 'Change, where I to my astonishment hear,
and it is in the Gazette, that Sir John Duncomb is sworn yesterday a
Privy-councillor.  This day I hear also that last night the Duke of
Kendall, second son of the Duke of York, did die; and that the other,
Duke of Cambridge, continues very ill still.  This afternoon I had
opportunity para jouer with Mrs. Pen, tokendo her mammailles and baisando
elle, being sola in the casa of her pater, and she fort willing.



24th.  Up, and to the office, where, by and by, by appointment, we met
upon Sir W. Warren's accounts, wherein I do appear in every thing as much
as I can his enemy, though not so far but upon good conditions from him I
may return to be his friend, but I do think it necessary to do what I do
at present.  We broke off at noon without doing much, and then home,
where my wife not well, but yet engaged by invitation to go with Sir W.
Pen.  I got her to go with him by coach to Islington to the old house,
where his lady and Madam Lowther, with her exceeding fine coach and mean
horses, and her mother-in-law, did meet us, and two of Mr. Lowther's
brothers, and here dined upon nothing but pigeon-pyes, which was such a
thing for him to invite all the company to, that I was ashamed of it.
But after dinner was all our sport, when there come in a juggler, who,
indeed, did shew us so good tricks as I have never seen in my life, I
think, of legerdemaine, and such as my wife hath since seriously said
that she would not believe but that he did them by the help of the devil.
Here, after a bad dinner, and but ordinary company, saving that I discern
good parts in one of the sons, who, methought, did take me up very
prettily in one or two things that I said, and I was so sensible of it as
to be a caution to me hereafter how I do venture to speak more than is
necessary in any company, though, as I did now, I do think them incapable
to censure me.  We broke up, they back to Walthamstow, and only my wife
and I and Sir W. Pen to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Mayden
Queene," which, though I have often seen, yet pleases me infinitely, it
being impossible, I think, ever to have the Queen's part, which is very
good and passionate, and Florimel's part, which is the most comicall that
ever was made for woman, ever done better than they two are by young
Marshall and Nelly.  Home, where I spent the evening with my father and
wife, and late at night some flagillette with my wife, and then to supper
and to bed.



25th.  Up, and to the office, where all the morning.  At noon dined at
home, and there come Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, and dined with me, telling
me that the Duke of Cambridge continues very ill, so as they do despair
of his living.  So to the office again, where all the afternoon.  About
4 o'clock comes Mrs. Pierce to see my wife, and I into them, and there
find Pierce very fine, and in her own hair, which do become her, and so
says my wife, ten times better than lighter hair, her complexion being
mighty good.  With them talked a little, and was invited by her to come
with my wife on Wednesday next in the evening, to be merry there, which
we shall do.  Then to the office again, where dispatched a great deal of
business till late at night, to my great content, and then home and with
my wife to our flageolets a little, and so to supper and to bed, after
having my chamber a little wiped up.



26th (Lord's day).  Up sooner than usual on Sundays, and to walk, it
being exceeding hot all night (so as this night I begun to leave off my
waistcoat this year) and this morning, and so to walk in the garden till
toward church time, when my wife and I to church, where several strangers
of good condition come to our pew, where the pew was full.  At noon dined
at home, where little Michell come and his wife, who continues mighty
pretty.  After dinner I by water alone to Westminster, where, not finding
Mrs. Martin within, did go towards the parish church, and in the way did
overtake her, who resolved to go into the church with her that she was
going with (Mrs. Hargrave, the little crooked woman, the vintner's wife
of the Dog) and then go out again, and so I to the church, and seeing her
return did go out again myself, but met with Mr. Howlett, who, offering
me a pew in the gallery, I had no excuse but up with him I must go, and
then much against my will staid out the whole church in pain while she
expected me at home, but I did entertain myself with my perspective glass
up and down the church, by which I had the great pleasure of seeing and
gazing at a great many very fine women; and what with that, and sleeping,
I passed away the time till sermon was done, and then to Mrs. Martin, and
there staid with her an hour or two, and there did what I would with her,
--[Pepy's usual after Services activities.  D.W.]--and after been here so
long I away to my boat, and up with it as far as Barne Elmes, reading of
Mr. Evelyn's late new book against Solitude, in which I do not find much
excess of good matter, though it be pretty for a bye discourse.  I walked
the length of the Elmes, and with great pleasure saw some gallant ladies
and people come with their bottles, and basket, and chairs, and form, to
sup under the trees, by the waterside, which was mighty pleasant.  I to
boat again and to my book, and having done that I took another book, Mr.
Boyle's of Colours, and there read, where I laughed, finding many fine
things worthy observation, and so landed at the Old Swan, and so home,
where I find my poor father newly come out of an unexpected fit of his
pain, that they feared he would have died.  They had sent for me to White
Hall and all up and down, and for Mr. Holliard also, who did come, but
W. Hewer being here did I think do the business in getting my father's
bowel, that was fallen down, into his body again, and that which made me
more sensible of it was that he this morning did show me the place where
his bowel did use to fall down and swell, which did trouble me to see.
But above all things the poor man's patience under it, and his good heart
and humour, as soon as he was out of it, did so work upon me, that my
heart was sad to think upon his condition, but do hope that a way will be
found by a steel truss to relieve him.  By and by to supper, all our
discourse about Brampton, and my intentions to build there if I could be
free of my engagement to my Uncle Thomas and his son, that they may not
have what I have built, against my will, to them whether I will or no, in
case of me and my brothers being without heirs male; which is the true
reason why I am against laying out money upon that place, together with
my fear of some inconvenience by being so near Hinchingbroke; being
obliged to be a servant to that family, and subject to what expence they
shall cost me; and to have all that I shall buy, or do, esteemed as got
by the death of my uncle, when indeed what I have from him is not worth
naming.  After supper to read and then to bed.



27th.  Up, and there comes Greeting my flagelette master, and I practised
with him.  There come also Richardson, the bookbinder, with one of
Ogilby's Bibles in quires for me to see and buy, it being Mr. Cade's, my
stationer's; but it is like to be so big that I shall not use it, it
being too great to stir up and down without much trouble, which I shall
not like nor do intend it for.  So by water to White Hall, and there find
Sir G. Carteret at home, and talked with him a while, and find that the
new Commissioners of the Treasury did meet this morning.  So I to find
out Sir W. Coventry, but missed, only I do hear that they have chosen Sir
G. Downing for their Secretary; and I think in my conscience they have
done a great thing in it; for he is a business active man, and values
himself upon having of things do well under his hand; so that I am
mightily pleased in their choice.  Here I met Mr. Pierce, who tells me
that he lately met Mr. Carcasse, who do mightily inveigh against me, for
that all that has been done against him he lays on me, and I think he is
in the right and I do own it, only I find what I suspected, that he do
report that Sir W. Batten and I, who never agreed before, do now, and
since this business agree even more, which I did fear would be thought,
and therefore will find occasion to undeceive the world in that
particular by promoting something shortly against [Sir] W. Batten.  So
home, and there to sing with my wife before dinner, and then to dinner,
and after dinner comes Carcasse to speak with me, but I would not give
him way to enlarge on anything, but he would have begun to have made a
noise how I have undone him and used all the wit I could in the drawing
up of his report, wherein he told me I had taken a great deal of pains to
undo him.  To which I did not think fit to enter into any answer, but
dismissed him, and so I again up to my chamber, vexed at the impudence of
this rogue, but I think I shall be wary enough for him: So to my chamber,
and there did some little business, and then abroad, and stopped at the
Bear-garden-stairs, there to see a prize fought.  But the house so full
there was no getting in there, so forced to go through an alehouse into
the pit, where the bears are baited; and upon a stool did see them fight,
which they did very furiously, a butcher and a waterman.  The former had
the better all along, till by and by the latter dropped his sword out of
his hand, and the butcher, whether not seeing his sword dropped I know
not, but did give him a cut over the wrist, so as he was disabled to
fight any longer.  But, Lord! to see how in a minute the whole stage was
full of watermen to revenge the foul play, and the butchers to defend
their fellow, though most blamed him; and there they all fell to it to
knocking down and cutting many on each side.  It was pleasant to see, but
that I stood in the pit, and feared that in the tumult I might get some
hurt.  At last the rabble broke up, and so I away to White Hall and so to
St. James's, but I found not Sir W. Coventry, so into the Park and took a
turn or two, it being a most sweet day, and so by water home, and with my
father and wife walked in the garden, and then anon to supper and to bed.
The Duke of Cambridge very ill still.



28th.  Up, and by coach to St. James's, where I find Sir W. Coventry, and
he desirous to have spoke with me.  It was to read over a draught of a
letter which he hath made for his brother Commissioners and him to sign
to us, demanding an account of the whole business of the Navy accounts;
and I perceive, by the way he goes about it, that they will do admirable
things.  He tells me they have chosen Sir G. Downing their Secretary, who
will be as fit a man as any in the world; and said, by the by, speaking
of the bankers being fearful of Sir G. Downing's being Secretary, he
being their enemy, that they did not intend to be ruled by their
Secretary, but do the business themselves.  My heart is glad to see so
great hopes of good to the nation as will be by these men; and it do me
good to see Sir W. Coventry so cheerfull as he now is on the same score.
Thence home, and there fell to seeing my office and closet there made
soundly clean, and the windows cleaned.  At which all the morning, and so
at noon to dinner.  After dinner my wife away down with Jane and W. Hewer
to Woolwich, in order to a little ayre and to lie there to-night, and so
to gather May-dew to-morrow morning,

     [If we are to credit the following paragraph, extracted from the
     "Morning Post" of May 2nd, 1791, the virtues of May dew were then
     still held in some estimation; for it records that "on the day
     preceding, according to annual and superstitious custom, a number of
     persons went into the fields, and bathed their faces with the dew on
     the grass, under the idea that it would render them beautiful"
     (Hone's "Every Day Book," vol. ii., p. 611).  Aubrey speaks of May
     dew as "a great dissolvent" ("Miscellanies," p. 183).--B.]

which Mrs. Turner hath taught her as the only thing in the world to wash
her face with; and I am contented with it.  Presently comes Creed, and he
and I by water to Fox-hall, and there walked in Spring Garden.  A great
deal of company, and the weather and garden pleasant: that it is very
pleasant and cheap going thither, for a man may go to spend what he will,
or nothing, all is one.  But to hear the nightingale and other birds, and
here fiddles, and there a harp, and here a Jew's trump, and here
laughing, and there fine people walking, is mighty divertising.  Among
others, there were two pretty women alone, that walked a great while,
which being discovered by some idle gentlemen, they would needs take them
up; but to see the poor ladies how they were put to it to run from them,
and they after them, and sometimes the ladies put themselves along with
other company, then the other drew back; at last, the last did get off
out of the house, and took boat and away.  I was troubled to see them
abused so; and could have found in my heart, as little desire of fighting
as I have, to have protected the ladies.  So by water, set Creed down at
White Hall, and I to the Old Swan, and so home.  My father gone to bed,
and wife abroad at Woolwich, I to Sir W. Pen, where he and his Lady and
Pegg and pretty Mrs. Lowther her sister-in-law at supper, where I sat and
talked, and Sir W. Pen, half drunk, did talk like a fool and vex his
wife, that I was half pleased and half vexed to see so much folly and
rudeness from him, and so late home to bed.



29th.  Up, and by coach to St. James's, where by and by up to the Duke of
York, where, among other things, our parson Mills having the offer of
another benefice  by Sir Robert Brookes, who was his pupil, he by my Lord
Barkeley [of Stratton] is made one of the Duke's Chaplains, which
qualifies him for two livings.  But to see how slightly such things are
done, the Duke of York only taking my Lord Barkeley's word upon saying,
that we the officers of the Navy do say he is a good man and minister of
our parish, and the Duke of York admits him to kiss his hand, but speaks
not one word to him; but so a warrant will be drawn from the Duke of York
to qualify him, and there's an end of it.  So we into the Duke's closett,
where little to do, but complaint for want of money and a motion of Sir
W. Coventry's that we should all now bethink ourselves of lessening
charge to the King, which he said was the only way he saw likely to put
the King out of debt, and this puts me upon thinking to offer something
presently myself to prevent its being done in a worse manner without me
relating to the Victualling business, which, as I may order it, I think
may be done and save myself something.  Thence home, and there settle to
some accounts of mine in my chamber I all the morning till dinner.  My
wife comes home from Woolwich, but did not dine with me, going to dress
herself against night, to go to Mrs. Pierce's to be merry, where we are
to have Knepp and Harris and other good people.  I at my accounts all the
afternoon, being a little lost in them as to reckoning interest.  Anon
comes down my wife, dressed in her second mourning, with her black moyre
waistcoat, and short petticoat, laced with silver lace so basely that I
could not endure to see her, and with laced lining, which is too soon,
so that I was horrid angry, and went out of doors to the office and there
staid, and would not go to our intended meeting, which vexed me to the
blood, and my wife sent twice or thrice to me, to direct her any way to
dress her, but to put on her cloth gown, which she would not venture,
which made me mad: and so in the evening to my chamber, vexed, and to my
accounts, which I ended to my great content, and did make amends for the
loss of our mirth this night, by getting this done, which otherwise I
fear I should not have done a good while else.  So to bed.



30th.  Up, and to the office, where all the morning.  At noon dined at
home, being without any words friends with my wife, though last night I
was very angry, and do think I did give her as much cause to be angry
with me.  After dinner I walked to Arundell House, the way very dusty,
the day of meeting of the Society being changed from Wednesday to
Thursday, which I knew not before, because the Wednesday is a Council-
day, and several of the Council are of the Society, and would come but
for their attending the King at Council; where I find much company,
indeed very much company, in expectation of the Duchesse of Newcastle,
who had desired to be invited to the Society; and was, after much debate,
pro and con., it seems many being against it; and we do believe the town
will be full of ballads of it.  Anon comes the Duchesse with her women
attending her; among others, the Ferabosco,2 of whom so much talk is that
her lady would bid her show her face and kill the gallants.  She is
indeed black, and hath good black little eyes, but otherwise but a very
ordinary woman I do think, but they say sings well.  The Duchesse hath
been a good, comely woman; but her dress so antick, and her deportment so
ordinary, that I do not like her at all, nor did I hear her say any thing
that was worth hearing, but that she was full of admiration, all
admiration.  Several fine experiments were shown her of colours,
loadstones, microscopes, and of liquors among others, of one that did,
while she was there, turn a piece of roasted mutton into pure blood,
which was very rare.  Here was Mrs. Moore of Cambridge, whom I had not
seen before, and I was glad to see her; as also a very pretty black boy
that run up and down the room, somebody's child in Arundell House.  After
they had shown her many experiments, and she cried still she was full of
admiration, she departed, being led out and in by several Lords that were
there; among others Lord George Barkeley and Earl of Carlisle, and a very
pretty young man, the Duke of Somerset.  She gone, I by coach home, and
there busy at my letters till night, and then with my wife in the evening
singing with her in the garden with great pleasure, and so home to supper
and to bed.



31st.  Up, and there came young Mrs. Daniel in the morning as I expected
about business of her husband's.  I took her into the office to discourse
with her about getting some employment for him .  .  .  .  By water to
White Hall to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, the first time I
ever was there and I think the second that they have met at the Treasury
chamber there.  Here I saw Duncomb look as big, and take as much state on
him, as if he had been born a lord.  I was in with him about Tangier, and
at present received but little answer from them, they being in a cloud of
business yet, but I doubt not but all will go well under them.  Here I
met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me that he is told this day by
Secretary Morris that he believes we are, and shall be, only fooled by
the French; and that the Dutch are very high and insolent, and do look
upon us as come over only to beg a peace; which troubles me very much,
and I do fear it is true.  Thence to Sir G. Carteret at his lodgings;
who, I perceive, is mightily displeased with this new Treasury; and he
hath reason, for it will eclipse him; and he tells me that my Lord Ashly
says they understand nothing; and he says he believes the King do not
intend they shall sit long.  But I believe no such thing, but that the
King will find such benefit by them as he will desire to have them
continue, as we see he hath done, in the late new Act that was so much
decried about the King; but yet the King hath since permitted it, and
found good by it.  He says, and I believe, that a great many persons at
Court are angry at the rise of this Duncomb, whose father, he tells me,
was a long-Parliamentman, and a great Committee-man; and this fellow used
to carry his papers to Committees after him: he was a kind of an atturny:
but for all this, I believe this man will be a great man, in spite of
all.  Thence I away to Holborne to Mr. Gawden, whom I met at Bernard's
Inn gate, and straight we together to the Navy Office, where we did all
meet about some victualling business, and so home to dinner and to the
office, where the weather so hot now-a-days that I cannot but sleep
before I do any business, and in the evening home, and there, to my
unexpected satisfaction, did get my intricate accounts of interest, which
have been of late much perplexed by mixing of some moneys of Sir G.
Carteret's with mine, evened and set right: and so late to supper, and
with great quiet to bed; finding by the balance of my account that I am
creditor L6900, for which the Lord of Heaven be praised!




ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

Advantage a man of the law hath over all other people
Certainly Annapolis must be defended,--where is Annapolis?
Credit of this office hath received by this rogue's occasion
Did take me up very prettily in one or two things that I said
Father, who to supper and betimes to bed at his country hours
Give the King of France Nova Scotia, which he do not like
Hath given her the pox, but I hope it is not so
How do the children?
Hunt up and down with its mouth if you touch the cheek
Just set down to dinner, and I dined with them, as I intended
Little worth of this world, to buy it with so much pain
Looks to lie down about two months hence
Pit, where the bears are baited
Said to die with the cleanest hands that ever any Lord Treasurer
Says of wood, that it is an excrescence of the earth
Shame such a rogue should give me and all of us this trouble
Street ordered to be continued, forty feet broad, from Paul's
Think never to see this woman--at least, to have her here more
We find the two young ladies come home, and their patches off
Which he left him in the lurch
Who continues so ill as not to be troubled with business
Whose red nose makes me ashamed to be seen with him
Wretch, n., often used as an expression of endearment




End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Diary of Samuel Pepys, v60
by Samuel Pepys, Unabridged, transcribed by Bright, edited by Wheatley

